A month flew by in the blind of an eye.

During that time, Kale and I took on many small jobs that Peter found for us.

We helped an old woman find her pet cat (her name was Lily), a man who got scammed and lost all his money, a lady who wanted to get evidence of her cheating husband, a boy who wanted to lose weight to become popular, a busboy who got beaten up by difficult customers, and even a little kid who needed help finding his wallet. 

He had 3 copper coins in that wallet, and we got paid 1 for finding it. 

I was able to make exactly 6 silvers and 73 coppers from working during that month. Although it wasn’t a lot, I eventually found out how Kale and Peter were able to get by.

“My boy, have you eaten yet? You look famished! Here, take this bread that I baked today.”

“Vyn! It’s a hot day, isn’t it? One second, let me get you some water.”

“This one’s on the house. Thanks for your help last time!”

“Please take this! Without your help, I would have never caught that dirty cheater!”

Every time I walked by the marketplace, I’d end up having to use both arms to carry a load of goods. The amount kept growing as the days went by, until it reached a point where it had become a sort of fad amongst the locals. I thought about refusing some, but couldn’t after seeing the proud look in their eyes. 

THUD!

I dropped the load of food, drinks, and gifts onto the office table.

“Ahahahaha well this might be even more than Kale’s ever got!”

“Hmph All these years of being at their service, and I get less love than the newcomer.”

“Well you can’t really help it can you? Not with a face like that…”

“W- What are you saying?! I’m a handsome guy!”

Kale looked at the mirror, turning his face side to side.

“Sure sure you’re handsome… A handsome delinquent! Look at your sharp eyes and slicked hair! And now look at this cute and innocent face.”

Peter put both of his palms on my cheeks and squeezed them together. 

“Ib’m mnot cute.”

I regretted it the moment I said it because of the look I got from both Kale and Peter. It was the same look the old lady had when she was petting her cat.

Knock Knock

“Hello, may I come in?”

We heard a lovely voice coming from behind the door.

“Hahaha looks like your girlfriends here”

Kale looked at me with sparks of amusement in his eyes while my face turned pale.

“I swear I’ve never seen her act like this before, she’s like some ki-”

“I can hear you, Kale.”

A head with silky long purple hair peaked into the room. 

I could feel my back getting wet from sweat, and my heart was beating like a wild animal trying to escape. 

‘Calm down.’ 

“Ria, how many times do I have to tell you not to come here?” 

“Why not? I won’t understand anything you talk about anyway.”

“It’s called client privacy!”

“Okay fine… I just wanted to give Vyn his lunch for today.”

They bickered like real siblings. I could tell how close they were.

The beautiful mass murderer turned to look at me with her sparkling pink eyes. 

“Here you go, Vyn. I hope you like it… I made it better than last time.”

She had rosy flushed cheeks on her fair skin from embarrassment. If I didn’t know anything, I may have imagined a future with her. 

After that night when I met her, I realized I had been acting recklessly. I expected the Dark order to take some interest in me after Mr. Bozzelli’s disappearance, but I didn’t think they would send a numbered member.

The Black Order was an alliance between different groups of black mages. The head of each group was granted a number within the Order. They kept their identities a secret from one another, and the only purpose of the alliance was to cooperate against the common enemy, the Church. There were Six numbered members that were mentioned in the story. 

‘I guess it does make sense to send Sixth to investigate... To them, it was probably the surest way to get information.’

Sixth was a black mage with psychic specialties. Even now as she stood in front, I could feel her mana being used. It was trying everything it could to get into my head and uncover every secret hidden within me. 

I was able to last this long because I knew the one weakness to her spell. In order for her to readme, I had to think about her. The more intense the thoughts and emotions were, the easier it was for her see my secrets.

So I decided that the safest thing to do now was to completely empty out my mind.

“Vyn, you shouldn’t keep a lady waiting.”

“Oh sorry. Thank you…”

“…”

My halfhearted response made the air around us tense. 

I could feel the mana flow around me grow stronger, so I quickly started to think about what food to feed Rene later. 

‘Maybe I’ll pick up some peanuts or grapes- no, wait she got sick from that last time. I think I'll do more research on what ferrets can eat… that way she…’

As I blankly stared into space while keeping my mind completely empty of Miriam’s existence, Kale broke the awkward silence.

”Ahem Well Kale and I have to get to work now, so you should go back to the restaurant, Ria.”

“…Alright…”

She put on a fake smile and left the office.

“Vyn, what’s wrong with you?”

”Ha…”

I hunched over in frustration. Even if I could convince Kale of the truth, he wouldn’t be able to hide the fact that he knew from Miriam. 

Kale patted me on the shoulder.

“It’s okay, I’ve been there. You’ve never dated, have you? Hahaha I’ll help you!”

I looked at him hopelessly. 

***

The job we had today was a little more dangerous. We were asked by a woman to help find her husband who had gone missing for a few weeks.

Her husband was a herb gatherer.

He would go into the forest in the morning, and come back before dark with precious plants to sell.

But when the seasons changed this year, he started coming home with nothing. It was hard for him to see their children hungry, so he decided to explore a riskier area known to grow the rarest of plants. He went into the Dark forest. 

‘I feel safer with you.’

I put a hand over my bag, where Faye was in deep sleep. I started carrying it around me, just in case it woke up while I was out working.

”You’ve probably heard the scary rumors about this place, but it’s not that bad. The stories got a bit out of hand in order to keep children away from here.”

He was right. We had been walking for some time now inside the dark forest, but hadn’t run into any monsters or danger. It was just quiet and eerie. Even after reading the story, this place was a mystery to me.

”Have you been here before?”

”A while ago, I had to come here because of my crazy teacher. She was hoping to find a monster I could fight against… but luckily this place was surprisingly safe.”

“I didn’t know you had a teacher.”

”Yeah, she’s probably still bullying kids at the Acadia.”

”??”

”Oh, didn’t I tell you? I’m an alumni.”

”!!”

I didn’t know!

”To be honest I wasn’t a great student. I skipped a lot of classes and fell asleep during lectures. My teacher was the only reason I didn’t drop out. She made me believe I could become a master one day, and it turned out half true!”

”But I’ve seen you use aura before. Doesn’t that make you a master…?”

Kale shook his head.

”You can only say that because you haven’t seen real aura. Mine… is nothing compared to it.”

”But-“

Kale stopped suddenly. 

”You know… I’m curious about you too.“

”…”

”Whenever Peter and I ask you about your past, you get this sad look on your face…”

I didn’t realize I did that.

”Are we not friends?”

”We are!”

”Then why do you hide from us?”

“I-I…”

’I’m worried you’ll be disappointed in who I really am.’

”Who are you really?”

I flinched when I heard a coldness from Kale’s voice that I had never heard before. The forest felt darker than it was a moment ago, and the air was heavy. 

“What is that white sword you use?”

”How did you use magic before with no mana?”

”Where did you come from?”

”Do you have a family?”

“How did you kill Bozzelli?”

Kale continued to ask me questions without a moment of breath. When he turned around, I could see his eyes were dark with no light in them. Only a faint purple glow around the edges of the pupil. I remembered the spells that Faye would use that had this color. 

‘Mind control!’

I looked around, but all I could see were tall trees and darkness.

’Miriam must be watching us from somewhere…’

Kale drew his spear.

“Kale, snap out of it! You’re under a spell!”

I knew that if Kale used his aura, he would be able to break through the spell.

”Tell me everything!”

Kale swung his spear at me. 

‘Barrier!’

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG

Kale swung his spear ruthlessly. His mind was being controlled, but his body remembered everything. 

‘Invisible arms!’

Six long transparent arms shot up from the ground and grabbed onto Kale. It was a skill I made from copying Mr. Bozzelli’s shadow arms. 

Spear skill

’6 hit strike!’

Kale only swung his spear once, but it cut down all six of the transparent arms that I had summoned. 

He ran towards me again.

‘I’m sorry, Kale!’

’Magic missile x7!’

I could feel a large amount of mana flowing out of me that formed into 7 balls of light that shot forward like bullets. 

Spear skill

‘Critical point!’

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Kale move his spear with the slightest movement. He hit each magic missile just enough to make them change its direction. They flew past him, only an inch away from his body.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The magic missiles destroyed the trees behind Kale, opening up the view behind him. 

“Ugh….”

Kale was holding his head with one hand. I could see the blade of his spear glowing slightly red. His aura was trying to wake him.

’If it’s now it might work… but I need more mana!’

The purple in Kale’s eyes grew stronger, and Kale stood up again. He charged at me, thrusting his spear forward.

I waited until he got close.

Right before the blade touched my barrier, I released the spell and reabsorbed my mana from it.

’Mind control!’