"Good evening, Mr. Wanderer. Never thought to see you here," said Ferdinand, smiling.
"What are you doing here?!"
"Walking home. And you?"
"I'm going home, sir."
"So, we're doing the same thing. Impressive. Keep doing. It's good for your health."
Ferdinand turned to Lux, stared at him in curiosity and scratched his chin. "Hmm…"
Arthur looked at Ferdinand. His heart beat harder.
"And who is this gentleman?" asked Ferdinand.
"This is, uh, my cousin, Kevin."
Lux looked at Arthur in confusion before understanding him and playing along with him.
"Good evening, sir. Nice to meet you." Lux gave Ferdinand his hand.
"Nice to meet you, too, Kevin." Ferdinand shook Lux's hand. "What brought you here?"
"I came here to visit my cousin. We haven't met for a long time, so I want to check if he's okay or not."
"A long time, eh? How long?"
"About five years."
"Usually, a person won't come to visit their cousin without an important matter. You two must be so close."
"That's right!" Lux wrapped his arm around Arthur's neck.
"Have you ever attended his birthday party?"
"Yes, I always go."
"When is his birthday?"
"Excuse me?"
"I'm just curious. Normally, I'll give my students a present on their birthday if I know it. So, I just want to know when Arthur's birthday is so I can prepare a present for him?"
"Wow! You're such a good principal."
"That's not true. So, when is his birthday?"
"His birthday is the first of November."
"Really? Why do I recall that his birthday in his profile is not in November?"
"Oh, my bad! That's the other cousin's birthday."
"Are you really his cousin?"
"Yes, I am!"
"If you say so, then I'll ask you one more time. When is his birthday?"
"His birthday is…"
Ferdinand stared at Lux with a smirk. Arthur helped Lux by writing the numbers on his back with his finger, while maintaining a normal expression.
"The tenth of July!" answered Lux.
"Hmm…" Ferdinand scratched his chin. "Correct! That's Arthur's birthday."
"Hold on! If you already knew his birthday, why did you ask me?"
"That's because I want to check if you're really his cousin or just a lowly stranger trying to fool my student."
A chill ran down both Arthur's and Lux's spines.
"Why do you think I'm a stranger?" asked Lux.
"He hasn't told you yet. Arthur met a stranger this morning, and the stranger was trying to take advantage of him. To ensure that my student won't be fooled by him, I forbid Arthur from being involved with him."
"He wasn't trying to take advantage of me!" shouted Arthur.
"Shh! Adults are talking," Ferdinand pressed his finger on his lip.
"As you can see, I can tell when Arthur's birthday is. A stranger can't answer that correctly, right?" said Lux.
That's right. But even a stranger can answer that question correctly if they were helped by someone." Ferdinand looked at Arthur, before returning to Lux. "But since you can answer the question, without any help, that means you're really…"
"His cousin."
Ferdinand creepily smiled. "That stranger!"
Arthur and Lux looked at Ferdinand in shock.
"But I answered your question correctly!" shouted Lux.
"Yes, but with the help of him." Ferdinand looked at Arthur.
"But I didn't help him!" yelled Arthur.
"Do you think I didn't see you writing numbers on his back?"
Arthur was surprised. "I didn't do that, headmaster!"
"Arthur, Arthur, Arthur," Ferdinand shook his head as he said his name. "You're a good kid, and a good kid shouldn't lie."
"I didn't lie, I swear! He knew my birthday all along."
"And how did he know your birthday?"
"I visited him when he was born, and I remember the date," said Lux.
"Yes, that's how!" said Arthur.
"Enough! I'm tired of your games, Arthur. This man isn't your cousin, and he would not know your birthday if you didn't secretly tell him!"
"I think you're overthinking, principle. He's really my cousin."
"Really? Are you sure he isn't the stranger you just met this morning?"
A chill ran down Arthur's spine. "I'm… I'm sure, sir."
"You're good at many things, Arthur, but lying is not one of them."
"I didn't lie to you! I told the truth! He's my…"
"It's okay, Arthur." Lux stepped forward and blocked Arthur with his hand. "I'll deal with him. No need to lie anymore."
"Looks like someone is ready to tell the truth," said Ferdinand.
"Yes, you're right, I'm not his uncle and I'm the man who talked to him this morning."
"See, Arthur? Telling the truth is easy."
"If you don't mind, please answer my questions? How did you know I'm the stranger and not his cousin?"
"You two might not know this, but I was behind you all along at the crossroad, and I'm sure that an uncle won't ask his nephew for a name."
"You were there?!" said Arthur in surprise.
"Yes, son," replied Ferdinand.
"No, you're lying. You weren't there. I remember," said Lux.
"Maybe you didn't see me," said Ferdinand.
"Forget it. I don't want to know anymore. What I want to know right now is why you prohibited this boy from talking with me?"
"Because you're a stranger, and a stranger can't be trusted. That's why I don't want a good student of mine to get involved with a man like you."
"Not all strangers are bad people."
"True. But for the safety of my students, I ban them from being involved with any strangers."
"I think you're too pessimistic. Some of them are good people who only want some help or to make a new friend."
"New friend or new follower? I know you, stranger. You can't fool the boy, but not me. I know what you want from my students, and I won't let that happen."
"Truly? Tell me what I want from him then?"
Ferdinand grinned. "You want him to join you, fight for you, and help you accomplish your foolish dream."
Lux stiffened and looked at him in surprise. When Arthur saw Lux making a face like that, doubt started to grow inside him.
"That's… not true! You don't know what I want. You're lying!"
"I'm lying? Are you sure it isn't you who's lying?"
"What's he talking about, Lux?" asked Arthur.
"Don't listen to him, Arthur, he's just blathering."
"I'm telling the truth, Arthur. I know this man like the back of my hand. You can't trust him, but can trust me," said Ferdinand.
"Don't trust him, Arthur. I don't want anything from you really!"
"What do you think, Arthur? Who do you believe? Me, your headmaster who cares about you, or this stranger, whom you've known for less than a day?"
"I, uh, I," said Arthur.
"Believe me, Arthur, I'll never lie to you," said Lux.
"Trust me, son, and your life will be safe and sound," said Feridnand.
Arthur's head swirled with hesitation, not knowing who to trust.
"I don't know!" shouted Arthur.
"What a shame! If you don't trust me, kid, then say goodbye to your school." Ferdinand walked away.
"Wait!" Arthur ran after Ferdinand and Lux followed Arthur. When Arthur caught up with Ferdinand, he quickly said, "You're mistaken. I didn't mean I don't trust you, I just... I just..."
"You made your choice, Arthur, and now, you have to live with you."
"Please, headmaster, don't do this. I don't have a place to go, and my aunt will be heartbroken if she knows I got expelled."
"You can make a friend with a stranger and lie to the person who cares about you. I don't think finding a new school would be that hard for you."
"Please, Principal Ferdinand, please!"
"You can't do this!" shouted Lux as he caught up. "You can't fire a student just because he doesn't trust you."
Ferdinand stopped and looked at Lux and Arthur. "I have power; I can do whatever I want, and you two can't stop me."
Lux tramped to Ferdinand with a red face, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him close.
"I'm only a mere bodyguard, but I'll never stand by and let powerful people use their power to bully others."
"If you think you can do anything to me, then be my guess." Ferdinand opened his arms.
Lux drew his fist to punch Ferdinand in the face, but Ferdinand didn't flinch even a bit.
"No, Lux, don't do it!" shouted Arthur.
"What are you waiting for? Punch me, throw me, kill me. Do what you prefer."
Lux kept glaring into his eyes with a grunt.
"Oh, I forgot; you're too good to do such things. You're the keeper of justice. You believe in peaceful means. You avoid using violence. And those, my friend, make you weak."
"No, the person who always uses violence to solve problems is a fool and a weak. Violence must be used only when necessary."
"It's needed right now, or else I won't change my mind."
"Oh, there are many non-violent ways to change your mind."
"Guess what?! I don't care which method you'll use anymore; that boy will never set foot in my school again, and you can't change that!"
"And I'll never let you go until you stop this crazy!"
"If you want me to stop, then make me! Take some action!"
Ferdinand and Lux glared into each other's souls for a while.
"You know what? I changed my mind, I won't kick that kid out anymore."
"Huh?!" exclaimed Lux and Arthur at the same time.
"You heard me. That boy will still be able to study at my school, and I will forget everything that happened this evening."
"No, I won't believe you! You must have something under your sleeves!" shouted Lux.
"Hey! I offer a peaceful way to end this disagreement, as you prefer. Are you sure you will not accept it? Besides, if you reject the offer, I think we have to resolve this in an ugly way."
Lux pushed Ferdinand away. "Fine! But if I find out that you don't keep your word, I'll come back to you."
"I'll be waiting."
"So, you won't expel me anymore?" Arthur asked Ferdinand, filled with worry.
"Yes, son. You can show your face at my school this Monday as usual."
Arthur didn't like his tone, but he didn't want any more argument, so he just sighed in relief and unwillingly said, "Thanks, Principal Ferdinand."
"You're welcome, kid. Alright! If we're finished, I'll head back to my home now."
Ferdinand walked away.
"See you soon, Arthur Wanderer," said Ferdinand without looking back.
"See you later, Headmaster," said Arthur in a harsh voice.
Ferdinand looked at Lux out of the corner of his eye. "You too… the Prince of Light."
Lux looked at Ferdinand in shock before gritting his teeth and striding after him. He grabbed him by the shoulder, wheeled him around and yelled at his face, "How do you know that title?!"
"Title? What title? I didn't mention any title." Ferdinand stared into Lux's eyes with a grin.
"Stop lying! I heard you calling me 'the Prince of Light' with my own two ears."
"I think you heard things, my friend. I've never heard that word before."
"You're lying. I heard you calling him 'the Prince of Light' as well," said Arthur.
"Really?! I wasn't aware of that."
"Tell me the truth, or else I'll punch you in the face right now!" shouted Lux, raising up his fist.
"Please, don't do it! I can't take your punch! It'll damage my striking face," mocked Ferdinand.
"No one in this world should know that title, except you're …"
"Who knows?" Ferdinand shrugged.
Lux released the collar and grabbed his neck instead.
"Who in the world are you?!" shouted Lux.
"Can't you remember your old friend?"
"No, I've never met you before. Who are you?! And how do you know I'm the Prince of Light?!"
"You can't remember me? What a shame! But I don't blame you; my appearance is so different from the last time we met."
"Give! Me! An! Answer!"
"Fine! If it'll make you remember me, then I'll give it to you." Ferdinand stretched his mouth to Lux's ear and whispered. "You and your siblings are fools. No matter how hard you try, you'll never stop my master."
Ferdinand slowly pulled his face away from Lux's ear, and Lux stared at him in shock.
"You're Farsilon's servant," said Lux.
"Servant?! No! More like an agent," said Ferdinand.
Lux gritted his teeth and swung his fist at Ferdinand's face.
Ferdinand grabbed Lux's fist and shook his head slowly. "Tsk, tsk. Using violence is not good." said Ferdinand, before kicking Lux's away from him.
After Lux stopped staggering, he assumed a fighting stance. "What are you doing here?!"
"Going home."
"Nonsense! Tell me the truth!"
"I'm telling you the truth."
Arthur looked back and forth between Lux and Ferdinand. Lux glared at Ferdinand as if he wanted to kill him, while Ferdinand gazed at Lux with mocking eyes.
"What's going on?!" shouted Arthur.
"Stay behind me, Arthur!" shouted Lux.
"Stay behind? Why stay behind? I'm just an ordinary human, not a devil or something." Ferdinand grinned.
"Yes, you're right. You're no devil. You're far more than that, if you work for Farsilon!" yelled Lux.
"What are you two talking about?!" said Arthur.
"I'll explain everything to you. But now, stay behind me."
"You say as if I'm a monster who is going to slaughter that innocent boy," said Ferdinand.
"You two are scaring me!" shouted Arthur.
"No need to fear, Arthur; there's nothing to worry about. Nothing bad will happen if this man doesn't do anything stupid first."
"I won't do anything stupid unless you make me do it, and if you dare lay your finger on him, I'll kill you!"
"Your friend is losing his mind, Arthur. Come to me, before he does something crazy and hurts you." Ferdinand gave Arthur a hand.
"Don't go to him, Arthur! Don't trust any word he says! He works for the god of evil!"
"What do you mean?!" Arthur looked at Lux in fear.
"Yes, what do you mean, my friend? My boss is the god of evil; he's just an ordinary employer. Nothing less, nothing more."
"When will you stop lying?!" shouted Lux.
"And what about you, Lux? When will you stop lying? You're not a bodyguard, and you didn't come here to protect anyone. You came here for the boy, to take advantage of him, and when he's useless to you, you'll dump him like trash, just as you did to your friends."
"That's not true! I've never abandoned my friend."
"Tell that to your dead friends."
"Shut up! You don't know anything. I… I didn't have a choice.
"You have a choice, Lux, and you choose to leave them. And you'll do the same after you squeeze every profit from this young man."
"No, I'll never forsake him, and I didn't come here to take advantage of him!"
"Then, why did you come here? Why did you make friends with this boy?"
"Because I… I want him to…"
"To what? To work for me? To be my slave? To die for my dream? I told you, Arthur, this man can't be trusted. In the end, all he wants from you is a benefit!" said Ferdinand.
"Is that true, Lux?" Arthur looked at Lux doubtfully. "You came to me to take advantage of me, and when I have nothing left for you, you'll trash me."
Lux crouched down and grabbed Arthur's shoulders. "No, Arthur. That's not true. I'll never do something terrible like that."
"Then, why did you come to me?!"
Lux was quiet for a moment. "Because I need your help, Arthur."
"My help?"
"Don't get involved with him, Arthur, this man is more terrible than you think. Your life will be doomed, if you associate with him," said Ferdinand.
"Yes, Arthur," said Lux. "But I won't force you; it's up to you whether you'll help me or not."
"What do you want me to help with?"
"I'll tell you all the details and every truth later. But now, I want you to believe me. Can you do that for me?"
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