"A coin thrives on both sides. 

                                                           The head leads with the tail behind the scenes. 

                                                     For who truly possesses the image of the coin whole?" 

                                                                                               -from 'CLASSIFIED' by Prince of Endro  SCUM

                                    T/W: for Mahan (aka profanity king, dw this chapter is still PG! :D)

“Damn you, Victaros!” Anwir growled. Mahan raised an eyebrow, barely impressed at the retort.

“Feisty now, are we? Whatever happened to ‘yes, daddy dear, I’ll kiss your feet if I have to.’?”

 Mahan’s voice went up a pitch,  his lashes fluttering as his face twisted into a mocking pout. He danced ridiculously around Anwir, whose inner rage could contest with an inferno but was contained impressively- that is, except for the scathing eyes that bore into Mahan’s skull. Yet, the man in question just smirked at Anwir. 

Cy: I will not be surprised if Mahan winds up dead by Anwir before you get the chance. 

I do not mind who does kills him as long as his corpse is the final result. Ray shot back mentally as he witnessed the circus before him. 

He glanced sideways at Leila and Elena to observe their reactions and found Elena maintained an equal amount of exasperation as him; meanwhile, Leila was recording the whole shenanigan on her Intra-Memo unbeknownst to Anwir or Mahan. 

Cy:  You two would fit right together if you did not enrage her with your pathetic flirting. 

Raymond paused. 

What nonsense are you saying?

Cy: …you are kidding me. Do you not remember what you said to her in the van? 

To not disturb me? 

Cy: No! The other thing! About how her eyes were pretty-

I see the internet has finally made you delusional.  

Cy: What?! No! You clearly said-

[Battery Level Remaining: <10%]

[Intense Power Systems Are Now Offline] 

Cy? 

…

[Intense Power Systems Are Now OFFLINE] 

Well…shit. 

Ray shivered tremendously as his body demanded rest right there and then, but he forced himself upright. You can get through this, you're almost there. Cy will be there. It will be there-

“Alright, alright! Shut up!” Anwir’s feral screech pierced through Ray’s turmoil as he turned back to the fiasco at hand. Anwir stood heaving, his face a vivid red and glaring daggers at Mahan. He massaged his temples, slowly contemplating his response. 

“The Headmaster and I…are not blood related.” Anwir raised a brow at Mahan, his expression screaming: Are you satisfied? 

Mahan scoffed. 

“Details, darling.” 

“For goodness' sake,  he adopted me. The Headmaster took me in when I was nothing but a vagrant orphan and named me his only heir. Nothing more, nothing less. Now, may we please go to the exit? That was not a question, Victaros!” Anwir raged before storming onwards.

The last part was directed at Mahan, whose open mouth now shut promptly as he sauntered after Anwir. Leila followed soon after- immensely grateful for the useful blackmail- while Elena stared after Anwir distantly before she too caught up. Raymond’s curiosity sparked as he blindly followed the group. 

He is part of a family…not by blood? But how can it be? Connections can only form if both parties are in mutual agreement, and even those are temporary. 

The paradoxical thought plagued his algorithm as logic tried to prevail, but became futile. Minutes turned into seconds as in the blink of an eye the bold iron gates appeared once more, the golden halls now behind him. The sky was bursting into flames on the horizon, far more colourful than the midnight sea Ray saw last before entering the building. 

Sunrise is coming. 

Ray shifted his gaze onto the road to find three carriages present, the coaches holding their name on signs. 

Raymond Gracis. 

Leila Ravens. 

Elena Despini. 

However, ‘Mahan Victaros’ was not present, nor his carriage, as Mahan soon figured out.

“W-what? Oi! Where is mine?” Mahan turned on Anwir, who was spectating several steps away. Everyone faced him as Anwir slowly lifted his face to the light; his calm veneer was present as well as the dark, murderous glee that swirled in his eyes. 

“I apologise, Victaros. You see, while we were making our way down the stairwell, all the coaches contacted me via Intra-Memo to assert their arrival. Your coach informed me that there was going to be a ten-minute delay due to some accidents on the pathway, poor lad. Amongst this frostbite-cursed weather, I suggested the fatigued gentleman turn back.” He leaned closer to Mahan’s face, fangs now on display in his smile. 

“After all, there is no point in coming all the way here if you could make the way back yourself. Oh, but goodness me! It slipped my mind that your temporary residence is in the Central District of Endro, is it not? That is practically what? TWO hours away from here, give or take by bus, mind you, which are all closed at this hour unfortunately.” 

Anwir spun on his toes, leaving a flabbergasted Mahan as a result. Yet, before he shut the mansion’s door, Anwir winked back at him. 

“Have a nice stroll, Victaros.” 

Slam! 

The warmth of luxury remained forever blocked to the group as they were left to their own devices. Mahan’s figure trembled furiously as his fingers twitched rapidly in silence. Leila turned towards Elena and Raymond without hesitation. 

“Have fun dealing with him.” With that, she strode off to her carriage without another glance. The remaining two shared a look as mutual understanding passed through them both. Elena entered her carriage without a second thought as Ray just closed his carriage door. However, a soft knock held the carriage fast. He glanced at Mahan’s sheepish face from the open window, which refused to meet Ray’s sharp gaze. 

“You would not by chance be ablecto lend me a hand now, would you?” Mahan asked.

Raymond saw hope shimmering like stars in Mahan’s eyes, which he was more than happy to annihilate but a thought struck Ray…why do it outright when you could tear his hope slowly to shreds? Ray plastered a sympathetic smile, his hand raised as if to allow Mahan access. Yet, in a swift motion, he made an ‘L’ shape as Cy taught him to, whispering at Mahan’s dumbstruck expression. 

“L.O.L.” Instantly, Ray knocked on the carriage wall, and sped off, leaving an enraged and cursing human at the mansion’s gates. 

“WALKING PIECE OF SHITES, THE LOT OF YOU!”  

Mahan’s shrieks were the last thing Ray heard as the carriage rode off into Endro’s misty air once more. Relishing this momentary peace, Ray relaxed into the soft cushions, breathing freely with no humans to judge. In his silence, however, his algorithm circled back to his curious idea on humanity, Anwir’s words ringing in his ears. 

“He adopted me.”..... 

A family not bound by blood. If that is possible… am I not currently matching those requisites with those hindrances? 

Raymond was interrupted harshly from his musing as a glaring red panel appeared. 

[Battery at 2%, Entering Recovery Mode] 

Ray huffed as a twisted smile made its way

. 

Right, how could I have forgotten? We are not even human to begin with.

With that bitter reminder, Raymond fell into slumber’s tight grasp. 

They all left you, have they? A voice asked in his ears.

Shut up. 

That is what an angel gets, no matter how pious they are- did I not warn you? 

Mahan clenched his jaw as the menace in his head continued its spree of burning taunts. However, could you call something that was part of yourself a menace? Mahan paused at the thought before dismissing it, a trivial thing it was and pointless to wonder after spending seven years listening to it. When he first heard it on that balcony so long ago, Mahan thought it was his saviour from death. 

Yet, his ‘saviour’ soon morphed into something which posed death as a better alternative. For a while, pills and concoctions of various colours managed to mull over its sinful tune, but it always found a way to breach past any defence. After all, this voice was just another part of him, and sounds like him too. Two personas sharing one vessel. Mahan went so far as to even get professional treatment, but the answer remained the same: ‘You are the one creating these personas, only you could get the acceptance you need.’

Mahan snorted. 

“Acceptance, my foot.” 

After numerous strains and battles, the two agreed to a sort: in sunlight, the world would witness a monstrosity, and when stars encompassed the sky, the angel would be allowed to fly for respite. Although tonight this monster breached the contract. Mahan glanced around the shadow-conquered sidewalks for people before returning focus to his head. 

We agreed that the night was when I would reign. Why did you interrupt at the gala? 

If I did not, your face would be scarred more than it already is. 

OUR face. Moreover, if you had not aggravated Raymond, we would not have ended up like this! Furthermore, if you had just STAYED IN YOUR FORSAKEN CORNER without provoking Anwir, I would be halfway home! 

Sometimes society requires the propagation of fear, especially in your current situation. Applying for a ‘teacher’? How childish….but your supposed coworkers…they pique my interest. 

Mahan stilled as he felt a single bead of sweat drop to the concrete as fury boiled. 

YOU will stay in your line from here on out. Or should I coerce you to?

Mahan could practically hear shrill laughter ringing around him despite the lack of witnesses.

I know you, Mahan- I AM you. You think such a meek threat would phase me?

I warned you. 

Hey, what are you-!

Rolling his eyes, Mahan pulled a small vial from his coat pocket. Gently tapping the end so purple tablets fell onto his palm. Without hesitation, he plopped them into his mouth and swallowed, grimacing slightly at the aftertaste. 

I'm going to feel that tomorrow. He thought ruefully as he continued his stroll. In a finger snap, that awful voice dispersed from his head as silence washed over in cheerful waves. Whilst not a long-term solution, it was the only buffer Mahan had when things cascaded out of control. Granted, whenever his counterpart took possession of his body, its first mission was to destroy all his medicine. Yet, Mahan had his secrets and his places to hide where even shadows could not reach.  

For a while, Mahan continued aimlessly, breathing in the frigid air. He reminisced fondly about his first arrival in Endro from his hometown in Neora a week ago. Compared to Neora’s constant warmth, the iciness of Endro caused him to swear ferociously. Although he could feel himself slowly grateful to the alertness it provides, for his life was never allowed any semblance of comfort. A sudden ding wrenched him away from memories, which caused Mahan to pull out his Intra-Memo. A rectangular grey hologram appeared. 

[New Message from: ‘ARES’]

He clicked on the holographic again, the panel now elongating into a chat space as a type box appeared. 

ARES:

Target detained, Chairman. 

[Image Loading….]

Once loaded, the image depicted a broken man strapped to a wooden chair. He had a bloodied gag around his nose and mouth, chestnut hair tousled and ripped in parts and bloodshot eyes that spoke of horrors beyond imagination.

Mahan tutted. 

“Thought he could run, did he?” 

Chairman:

Has he confessed?

ARES:

Target has refused to be compliant. 

Eliminate? 

Mahan weighed his strategies before typing his response. 

Chairman: 

Eliminate the Target. Scrub the family as well. 

Contact ‘ACE’ to wipe the household and residence.

Update the client afterwards.

ARES: 

Understood, Boss.

However, the client has been radio-silent in terms of payment.

Chairman: 

Eliminate them as well.

Mahan once again paused before hastily adding on.

Send transportation now. 

I will be waiting. 

[Link Attached]

ARES:

Understood, sir. 

Transport will arrive in 10 minutes.

[‘ARES’ has enabled ‘OBSCURITY’: ]

This Chat will be DELETED in 10 seconds.

Mahan sighed in content. Another night, another successful operation- and he managed to gain transport as well! He grinned. 

Screw you, Anansi! 

Mahan was about to shut his Memo off before another message popped up.

“Oh for the love of-” 

He stilled at the user. 

[New Message from the P.I.A (A.E)] 

In the back of his mind, Mahan felt his counterpart stir from its induced slumber. 

You cannot just look into my business. What happened to our agreement? It whined. 

So now you care about it? Tsk. The sun's not up yet, meaning I can play all I want, including with your own dolls. Mahan replied spitefully. Despite its protests, Mahan clicked the pop-up, which led to a familiar discussion. 

A.E:

Have you met our agent yet? 

Mahan smirked at the question; his mind rewinding to Elena’s awkwardness from earlier brought sensations of amusement to the surface. His smile grew further as he responded to his correspondent. 

Apostle V: 

For a spare, she seems slightly compatible.

Completely inept at socialising, though.

A.E:

Who would ever want to socialise with you? 

Apostle V:

Why you-

Mahan suddenly remembered their first encounter and his original burning question that lay abandoned amongst the tribulations he underwent. 

Apostle V:

Is she privy to my identity? 

A.E:

No. 

Apostle V:

Then how does she know my name?

A.E

The other Apostles thought it best to…provide extra resources. None of them know that you are also in the target location, however.

If she knows your name, it is likely from the files given.

Apostle V: 

Good.

Speaking of scum, continue to keep me posted on their ‘side-gigs’ as well.

A.E:

Sure. 

And about the agent? Should I keep tabs? 

Apostle V:

Heh, you wound me. 

I’ll observe her closely.

After all, the game is only fun from the sidelines.