He scoffed, "How convenient." He silently opened the window and stepped outside. 

He set a barrier device in Lucien's room and shut the window. 

He slid down the roof and landed silently on the ground. 

He made a clicking sound and a red-eyed crocodile skink crawled up his leg and onto his shoulder.

"Good boy, Ryu."  He ran in the direction he last saw movement. 

He wandered into the middle of the forest and climbed a tree. 

He spotted a group of 4 on the other side of the forest. 

He got within hearing range and heard them whispering, "Arwin and Morana should have been in this area. They were commanded only to go this far." the first one said.

"Do you think... the shadows demon got them?" Spoke the second one. 

The third one shook his head, "Impossible, they were warned to retreat if there were any signs of Nyssa."

The fourth kicked the ground in frustration, "No one knows who that is. We don't even know if it's a human."

Killian approached them and coughed making his presence known, "Who's 'it'?" 

The four people quickly got into a fighting position, "Who are you?" 

Killian chuckled and nonchalantly lifted his hands, "Relax, I'm a friend, not a foe." 

They looked at each other in confusion, "I work in the guild with you guys. How can you not recognize me?" 

He said as he made a hurt expression. "I feel as if a flaming arrow was thrown straight. at. my. heart." 

he ended his words with a menacing smirk.

A flaming arrow hit one of them and flew right through their chest, Killian stared at the man as he fell to the floor. "Oh my, my apologies. I think I jinxed it." he shrugged. One of the men shouted angrily and threw a dagger his way. He brought up the iron in the dirt and shifted a force field. 

The men stumbled back in shock, "He's a Metal manipulator? Didn't he just create a flaming arrow?" 

He looked at them in amusement. "You still have the time to wonder about my ability? 

If you're so curious I'll give you an up-close demonstration." He smiled. 

He infused some of his aura into Ryu, causing Ryu to grow the size of a bear. "I would turn him into a full-sized dragon but that would draw too much attention." He added casually.

He drew up the metals in the ground and created a globe-like forcefield,

 "Ryu, give these gentlemen the show of their lives." 

The mini dragon let out fire and he shaped it into mini bullets from behind his shield. 

The men began to run for their lives as they were taken down one by one. 

He placed the metals back into the dirt. "Good work, Ryu." 

Ryu went back to his mini-self and climbed back onto his shoulder. 

He jumped in surprise at the sound of clapping behind them, "Well done, Killian. However, there will be situations where you will have to handle it quickly. You were a weapon, but not a shadow." 

Killian laughed sheepishly, "Common it was my first time, let me enjoy it."

Nyssa stepped out of the shadows, "You're crazy." 

He chuckled, "I prefer creative." he stepped into the clearing and formed several metal bullets.

Neri watched as Killian absorbed the metals in the ground and formed thousands of bullets.

She chuckled as she got into a fighting stance, "It seems my student has gotten confident."

She looked into the midnight sky and smiled, "Let's begin, shall we?

Killian lifted his hands and pushed forward all the bullets zoomed at Nyssa. She looked at him and smirked.

Suddenly she was gone, "New ability I see. Did you get severe poisoning again?"

He felt something brush against his shoulder, "It seems you've truly become the shadows."

"Enough talking, focus." he heard her voice behind him. 

He turned and threw a flame dart but there was nothing there.

"I see what this is. You're using me as a test subject." a shadow grabbed his leg and he stumbled to the ground.

As he lay on the floor he spotted Nyssa standing in a tree. He threw a bullet her way but she was gone.

"Over here." he turned at her voice and there she stood with a sword in her hand.

She ran at him and swung her sword at him, he flipped over the blade. He created his sword as he flipped.

He landed and blocked her next move, Nyssa barely reached his shoulder yet she was just as strong as him.

"Your strength always surprises me." He said as their swords clashed. 

He jumped back and dodged her swing. 

He had an opening, he swung towards her side but she jumped up and used his blade to flip over him. 

She landed behind him, her sword pointed straight at his neck,

 He slowly turned around, "You would be a dead man," she said as her gaze bore into him. 

"You never cease to amaze me, little Nyssa" He chuckled. 

She scoffed, "You are only 4 years older than me." 

He pushed her sword down and walked up to her, "And taller." 

She rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Well, it's of no use if you can't beat me."

They looked out to the field, "Is that a training arena I see in the distance?"

Neri nodded, "It's pretty modern, much better than the one at the base."

She began to walk back to the mansion, "Where are you going?' Killian asked.

"Back home," she replied.

 Killian jogged up to walk beside her, "Will you be attending breakfast with Lucien and Lord Alen?"

She shook her head, "Kier my eldest brother, and my father invited me to the training grounds. He wants to teach me some self-defense"

Killian burst into laughter, "If they only knew..." 

She chuckled, "I got to battle him once, if it weren't for my ability he would have definitely won." 

"It seems the House of Rue is talented indeed. Do you plan on telling them of the Shadows? They currently stand in a neutral position."

Neri waved him off, "No need, we already have the support of House Ikar."

Killian stopped in his tracks, "You know... you can't hide it forever. There will come a time when the guild will need your presence. How will you explain it to them?"

She turned to face him, "And when that time comes I'll handle it."

He sighed, "As you wish." 

They arrived at the mansion, "Will you go through the door or back through the window?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course, I'm going through the window."

Suddenly a light went off the barrier device on his chest. "Crap, Lucien stepped out of his room."

Neri ran inside, knocking Nathan over, "Ouch" 

She got off Nathan, "I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you alright?" 

Nathan nodded as she helped him up, "I was just about to go out and look for you." 

He turned back and yelled, "Keir! I found Neri!"