My lips were dry to the point of cracking, but I had to know for certain. I leaned forward, putting my hands on the ground to get a better look at this man’s disheveled appearance. “Ming Yi?” I asked, wondering if I’d heard him right.

Kneeled before me, the eye-patched man adverted his gaze, dropping his hold on my chin. “You may never see him again. My condolences,” he said, though from the way his jaw was stiff he sounded insincere.

He took hold of the chains on my wrists, gently lifting them until I was standing with my back against the wall, hands pinned over my head. Around him, the glowing bubbles slowly rose and fell, as if eager to grab his attention. His intoxicating, single bright green eye watched me with hunger, as if yearning to ignite the darkness. The depths within his pupil suggested he could with the way it seemed to embody ancient dragons and monsters from the underworld.

I watched him as he grinned at my impassive reaction. Within moments, he dissolved my restraints, letting them pool into a puddle of liquid before taking a step back. “You’re not a very popular person, huh?”

“That’s a vast understatement.” I probably looked undignified standing in torn clothes and smelling like weeks old salad, but I found a piece of self-confidence from before, and offered him a smile that was far too kind to be pleasant. “But I guess you can relate. Sailors aren’t too fond of your shenanigans,” I said, taking a dramatic bow. “God of the Sea.”

The man gave a lopsided smile, amused by my theatrics. “The name’s Kazuo,” he insisted, gesturing to the open door. “After you.”

We went up the staircase together, my gaze following him the entire way to the top. I couldn’t shake the impression there was something horribly wrong with this man. One moment, he looks as though he wants to take my life, and the next, he’s helping me escape. I kept a healthy distance from him, letting my eyes adjust to the sun-bathed hallways.

Not much has changed since I’ve been inside the palace, except I noticed the guards were gone, but that thought became replaced with the sound of footsteps. I cursed under my breath, preparing to run. Instead of doing so, however, Kazuo held my arm in place.

With ease, he swept me behind him, shielding me from view. He folded his arms and stared at the two men that appeared in the entryway.

The guard unsheathed his sword, pointing the weapon at Kazuo’s waist, where a much more beautiful sword hung by his belt. “I believe you have something that doesn’t belong to you,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t you know the legend behind that cursed item?”

Legend? What legend would I not know about? I’ve never heard such a story about a sword.

“Is it really that sword?” the second man asked in awe.

Am I the only one that doesn’t know about it? The situation kept getting more frustrating by the second. I kept my ears peeled, listening for more intel.

“Get a hold of yourself,” the first man said, reprimanding his comrade. He sighed as if realizing the scene he made. He looked back at Kazuo like he was a fly that wandered inside. “I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Kazuo didn’t seem bothered in the slightest, revealing a crooked smile. “Not a problem. I was just on my way out.” He reached behind him and took my hand, leading me through the corridor.

Behind us, I heard water splashing on the floor, two large thumps, followed by an onslaught of coughing. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what happened. If the situation wasn’t serious, I would’ve laughed.

Kazuo pushed open the nearest window, allowing a gentle breeze inside that pulled at our clothes. “I’ve drawn a map of the place before I got here. This path will be safer.”

Peering down at the distance between us and the courtyard below, my vague smile disappeared.

Kazuo was watching my reaction contemplatively. His frown changed into a teasing, roguish grin. “Do you not want to be carried?” he inquired.

I scoffed and walked away from the window. The intense déjà vu made my heart skip a beat, recalling the time Ming Yi saved me from meeting with my father. My lips pursed, debating whether to reveal the truth. “You remind me of someone I used to know.”

There was a long pause. “Were you close to this person?”

I hadn’t expected him to respond, but when he did, I turned around to face him again. Words couldn’t express what I felt for Ming Yi. He could’ve done anything and I would’ve continued to cherish him deeply. “He was my best friend,” I finally said.

His single bright green eye smoldered as though he hadn’t expected this answer. He blinked several times, processing my words.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” I said, offering him a faint smile of reassurance, but the lie was like bitter poison on my tongue. “If he’s alive somewhere, I just hope he’s safe.”

We stared at each other for a moment, an unsaid emotion stirring between us. My mouth opened, about to ask why he knew Ming Yi, when the sound of hurried footsteps approached our direction.

Kazuo grabbed my hand and yanked us out the window.

My heart raced as we fell to the ground at alarming speed, Kazuo carrying an excited look on his face the whole way. He broke our fall with an onset of water, much like a slide that we rode to the bottom. I almost tripped over my feet upon landing on the grass, but Kazuo grabbed my shoulder to steady me. He did the action so naturally, as though it meant nothing, and continued to lead our path into the city.

People swarmed around us, going about their business. With Kazuo’s tousled hair and loose pirate clothes, I was certain he couldn’t hide even if he tried. As though reading my thoughts, he was making a point of standing out like a sore thumb. Although, I suppose, given the less desirable state of the city, neither of us would draw much attention.

In merely five years, the crime that took place near the church overcame the city, shifting from poverty to a breeding ground for corruption. There were thieves lurking in broad daylight, hushed voices unveiling secrets, and the sweet scent of booze mingled with perfume. Beyond the illusion of glamor, I could distinguish the scent of decaying corpses, making my nose twitch with displeasure.

I followed Kazuo into a bathhouse, where placed two coins on the countertop and muttered about coming back later.

The owner gave me a private room with a tub. Half an hour later, I emerged from the water smelling quite presentable. I found a pair of clothes left folded on a dresser nearby and dressed myself.

After putting the satchel on my waist, I paused in front of the mirror. The beautiful white robe had silver dragons sewn into the fabric that cascaded down the torso to the bottom. My dark brown hair reached my ankles, and when I reached my face, I saw a pair of tired blue eyes staring back.

I turned away, returning to the lobby. Sunlight beamed through the paper windows and warm-colored curtains. My sandals clacked against the tiled floor, leaving a soft echo in my wake.

With a deep breath, I delved into my satchel and withdrew the cloak. I swiftly threw it over my shoulders and head, then proceeded into the city. The familiarity of walking around undercover brought back a bunch of memories that I buried the instant they surfaced. Times when I roamed these streets with Ming Yi… Times when I hadn’t failed so many people.

Once I found the pathway I was searching for, I headed towards the oldest and darkest parts of Cassanova.

“He was in my bathhouse! I’m certain it was him!” The bathhouse owner was speaking to a female guard, flinging his arms around in distress.

I scoffed at the sight, moving on my way to pass them.

“You should really watch what you say,” the woman guard warned, lowering her voice. “After all these years, even if he were alive, the last place he’d be is here in this godforsaken town. Now stop trying to stir trouble and go on your way.”

Apparently, others had caught wind of their conversation and the concept of the lost prince making his return to get revenge spread like wildfire, but their gossip did little to stop my pursuit. Moving through the streets, I walked past the dragon statue, finally stumbling upon the Church.

Once I found the pathway I was searching for, I headed towards the oldest and darkest parts of Cassanova.

“He was in my bathhouse! I’m certain it was him!” The bathhouse owner was speaking to a female guard, flinging his arms around in distress.

I scoffed at the sight, moving on my way to pass them.

“You should really watch what you say,” the woman guard warned, lowering her voice. “After all these years, even if he were alive, the last place he’d be is here in this godforsaken town. Now stop trying to stir trouble and go on your way.”

Apparently, others had caught wind of their conversation and the concept of the lost prince making his return to get revenge spread like wildfire, but their gossip did little to stop my pursuit. Moving through the streets, I walked past the dragon statue, finally stumbling upon the Church.

The door swung open before I even knocked.

“We’re closed,” Aelius said, nose buried in a book. He pointed to a scrap of burned paper hanging from the handle, only to curse at the state of the parchment. He looked up, surprised I was still standing there. “Listen, we’re short-staffed and have been closed for a long time. I’m really sorry, but I can’t solve your troubles.”

After a moment, his rich brown eyes narrowed in my direction, before he sighed, opening the door much wider for me to step through.

“Come to the kitchen,” he said. “I’ll make you something to eat.”

When we arrived at the kitchen, I removed my cloak and took a seat at the table. “Hello, Aelius,” I said in a brighter tone than I felt.

Aelius took one look at me in recognition and nearly fell over.

“It’s good to see you, too,” I laughed.

He dropped into the seat across from me, shoulders sagging as though he had received a tremendous shock. “Zhen Xue?!” he exclaimed. “My gods… I feel like I’m staring at a ghost.”

“Well, there is a second time for everything,” I offered in solace.

“Li Wei told me you might show up, but I didn’t know that he meant in person. He told me how you were unwell.” He looked me over, jaws clenched. “How are you doing?”

The thought of all that has happened made my throat constrict, proving that I have not fully healed from the aftermath of the war. “I’m dealing.”

He gave me a pointed look. “As a doctor, I don’t feel right letting you walk out of here in this condition, so I hope you’re not planning to waltz out of here after our conversation.” He sighed long and hard, seeing that he was correct, and folded his hands on the table. “Zhen Xue, let me put it to you this way. If something happens to you, Li Wei will make sure this entire world burns. This isn’t your choice here. I’m coming with you.”

Although aware of his good intentions, I frowned at the sight of dirty dishes and liquor bottles scattered across the countertops. “Not a doctor here, but you’re not looking so good yourself.”

“My biological family has been deceased for a long time,” he explained, pushing back into his chair to ease the tension in his jaws. “Being alone isn’t anything I’m not familiar with. I’m dealing with things in my way.”

“Why did you never leave?”

“Where would I even go?”

Aelius was a depressed person by nature because of his past, but it was hard to watch him throw his life away. He was not only skilled as a doctor, but a fighter as well. He could climb any rank or settle down anywhere he wanted. “Don’t you have aspirations and things you want to accomplish?”

“I do,” he finally said. “I’m just… waiting for the right opportunity.”

I remembered my old life with my job and how I once waited like him, too. “Opportunities don’t always come to pass. Sometimes you have to make them possible.”

“I’m guessing this is one of your clairvoyance coming into play again?” he asked with half a cheeky smile, probably lighter than he felt.

“You are a brilliant writer. Don’t give up your passions.”

He frowned, watching as I got up from my seat. “I’m guessing you’re going to ignore my suggestion?”

I gave him a vague smile. “Naturally.”

Aelius leaned back in his chair again, letting out a deep sigh. “Keep yourself safe. These doors will always be open to you.”

I left without another word, deciding to leave my cloak in the satchel. It was dark enough that I didn’t care about wearing it again, nor cared about much of anything, for that matter.

“There he is!” a familiar voice shouted, followed by hurried footsteps.

The two guards that Kazuo almost drowned, and the owner from the bathhouse, were suddenly chasing me down the streets. Not feeling the urge to run away, I turned around to fight and release my pent up frustration.