EXPLAIN

My eyes widened in surprise as I looked up at the student's face. She was older than me – maybe by two years? Her eyes were sharp and as blue as the sky, framed by a few loose strands of dark hair that fell around her face. She had an air of confidence that was weirdly unsettling.

"I think you confuse me with someone else," I whispered, trying to sound calm. "I'm not the Shadow Dancer. He is being executed as we speak right now."

"Axel?" Mira called out. "Are you coming?"

"Y-yeah," I stammered, quickly letting go of the girl's hand. "I'm coming."

I walked toward Mira without turning my back on the mysterious girl. She kept her eyes on me until I exited through the front entrance and closed the door behind me.

I had no idea who she was or how she had discovered my true identity. However, it didn't matter much since the public believed the Shadow Dancer was being executed. I doubted the guards or anyone else would take a high schooler's word seriously if she tried to rat me out.

"Who was that girl?" Mira asked, raising an eyebrow. "One of your fans?"

"Pfft… I wish," I replied. "We just bumped into each other."

"Mmm, is that so?" she said, tilting her head slightly.

"Yup," I nodded, trying to brush off the encounter. "So – picking flowers, huh? Why can't you just buy a perfume like everyone else? Why make one yourself?"

"It's relaxing. Also, perfumes are expensive. Like… super expensive."

"Hmm…" I said, turning the corner and reaching the back garden.

The garden had a relaxing atmosphere that seemed to belong to another world. At its center stood a majestic tree, its leaves glowing with an otherworldly light that cast a soft, shimmering glow around the area. There were benches scattered about, perfect for reading or daydreaming, and a stone fountain where a cat was lazily sleeping, its soft purrs blending with the gentle sound of trickling water. The greenery was lush and vibrant, just the way I liked.

Mira crouched and brushed her hands against a set of flowers near one of the fountains. I did the same but quickly realized I had zero clue what I was looking at. They were just… flowers. My knowledge about them was non-existent.

"So…the artifact," she began, her eyes focused on the flowers. "What does it do?"

"Nothing," I lied, trying to sound casual. "I already fenced that off."

"Ah…" She picked a flower and carefully placed it inside a bag dangling from her belt. "Wish I could've seen it. Was it at least shiny?"

"Yup." I sat on the edge of the fountain, watching her work. "It was. No wonder the King himself wanted it."

"I still can't believe you managed to steal that." She picked another flower. "Was it only guarded by the guards? Not the Captain?"

"I stole it before they could get to their Captain. That was some luck on my part, I'm not going to lie." I said, exhaling and leaning back.

"Are you finished?"

"A bit longer," Mira replied, carefully selecting another flower. "Just need a few more, and I'm done."

"Hmm. Just don't pick out the whole garden."

"I won't, don't worry." She chuckled, fixing her bag. "How's Sura?"

"Good. Her school is further away from our house. I had to get a carriage for her from 8 to 5, like she's some sort of celebrity or something."

"Oof… carriage services charge ridiculous prices."

"I know, right? It's idiotic." I stretched and shut my eyes for a moment. "Well… since James is out of the picture, I might actually gather up some coins to move out. We practically live in a shithole."

"You guys can move into our house. My father won't –"

"Your father would think he owns us and try to make us into one of his lobotomized goons. No, thank you. I can take care of me and my sister on my own."

"He won't." She stopped picking flowers and turned to face me. "You are being unfair."

"Trust me," I hopped off the fountain and stretched my arms above my head. "I know your father better than you do, Mira."

"Look, I admit it. He can sometimes be a jerk. A moron. But he's a good guy."

"Yep. He's good at using people."

Mira sighed deeply. "Let's just stop. I won't argue with you because of my father."

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the girl who had tried to pickpocket me earlier. She was watching me from a second-floor window, her silhouette just visible for a brief moment before disappearing when I looked up. I wasn't sure if what I saw was even a person or just another random student. But – my instincts told me I was right to be jumpy: I had to deal with her before it was too late.

"Hey – I think I forgot my second pouch in the classroom. I'm gonna go grab it."

"Huh?" Mira said. "You carry two pouches?"

"Yeah, I was going to give the other one to my sister, but I forgot." I lied so convincingly that even I almost believed it. "Sorry, it'll only take a minute."

"Okay, sure. The class is about to start anyway. See you at the training grounds?"

"Yep. See you."

As Mira returned to picking flowers, I hurried back toward the school, glancing up at the window where the girl had been. I had to figure out who she was and why she knew about me.

Ascending the stairs, I came face to face with the girl who had accused me of being the Shadow Dancer. The corridor was empty, filled with paintings depicting various magical landscapes and heroic deeds. The walls were lined with small, lantern-like objects that illuminated the area with a soft, magical glow, casting a strange yet beautiful light.

She moved closer, and I took a step back. She raised her hands, as if to say, 'I have no weapon, I'm not a threat,' and then backed off. Despite her gesture, I remained wary, keeping my eyes locked on her every move.

"Who are you?" I demanded. "Why did you call me the Shadow Dancer?"

"I can't die yet… Sura," she said, mimicking my voice. "That's what you said, right? Then I saw you getting shot in the eye."

"How do you know my sister's name?" I narrowed my eyes. "Wait – you're… You're that thief. You tried to steal Mia's corpse."

"Yeah – then you stole it back from me. Where's the honor among thieves, Axel?" She even knew my name… "Now, explain this to me, please. How are you still alive?"