Chapter: Log cabin

Twilight Initiator(S), Zed, Son of Shadows, Shadow

Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 4, Day 5

City of Valenwood, north of the Imperial Territory

-It wasn't necessary for you to come with me, you know.

-You should be grateful that I'm accompanying you instead of complaining.

-So, how should I address you?

-I think you should start by calling yourself 'Your Majesty.'

-You're very brazen, aren't you?

"I'm well aware of that, but don't you think it's the best way to respect your elders?"

-We're the same age, plus I'm taller than you, which could also be considered being older in another sense.

-You may be right, but we're not talking in those terms.

-Then what?

-What I mean is that I'm superior to you in social class.

-Does my presence in your house bother you?

-No, that's not what I meant. It would be utterly brazen, as you say, to be ungrateful to the person who saved my life and gave me a second chance. What I mean is that you need to stop being a commoner.

-I'm considering many possibilities.

-I know, but we both know what the quickest option is.

-I suppose so.

-...-

-We're almost there.

Outside the beautiful houses built with all the luxuries and details possessed by the highest class in the city, beyond the clean streets and beautiful flowers adorning the windowsills, lies the dark side of the same glamorous city. A small part of it where diseases are common, where children die of hunger almost every day, where decay abounds in every corner, garbage is strewn everywhere, and men sit on the ground with vacant eyes staring at a specific spot. Some of them are even dead, their flesh rotting in the heat of the two suns.

-I don't think this is an appropriate place for Your Majesty to be.

-It doesn't bother me. I was in the same condition a few days ago. You get used to it quickly when you're the one rotting.

-You're right.

Occasionally, you could see women hiding their foul smell or diseases with makeup. This did not prevent some men from exchanging a few copper coins...

-What did you come to this place for?

-A favor, you could say.

-I understand that you don't know anyone here.

-Well, let's say your investigation failed.

-So, you knew, huh? Well, I wasn't really hiding it. You're a boy full of mysteries to me at the moment. You awaken my curiosity.

-I would say it's an invasion of my privacy. Aren't you a bit of a stalker?

-No, it's called investigation to avoid misunderstandings or losses.

-I still think it's stalking... What have you found so far?

-You want to know?

-Yes, even I'm curious about it.

-Well, what I found is that in a span of three months, you arrived in the city. Since then, it's as if you disappeared until you showed up at the city gates a few weeks ago. So, you must have come from the nearest city.

-I see.

-Do you really not remember anything?

-No, my mind is very foggy.

-Changing the subject, why do you want to go to the academy?

-To learn.

-You're annoying.

-So are you.

*****

Cristina Karzak, Heiress of the Noble House of Valenwood

Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 4, Day 5

City of Valenwood, north of the Imperial Territory

Looking around, there's a small wooden house a bit further away from the suburbs. This abandoned house is in complete silence. Watching the boy in front of it, he gazes silently at the house.

In the morning, he said he had to go somewhere. I was curious, so I decided to follow him. He refused at first but couldn't stop me. He never told me where we were going, only that I could do as I wished. And that's what I did.

I don't know why, but talking to him is interesting. It's like having a conversation with myself. It's kind of fun, I think.

Zed walked silently towards the house, and following behind him, I could see something strange: his shadow. It moved oddly, as if shifting from one shadow to another momentarily.

Bang

The door opens... darkness looms through it. He enters without hesitation, as if he can see inside. I've always kept my eyes on him. He is strange, as if he is not from this world. His magic, or whatever it is, is rare. It's dark, like him. It's mysterious, and it fills me with intrigue. I want to know who he is. I want to see it myself.

Entering the house, a foul smell fills my nostrils. I know this smell. I've smelled it every second, minute, hour, week, and month. The smell of death. I'm used to it. It doesn't cause me disgust or revulsion. I'm familiar with this smell.

Zed crouched at a point that seemed to be a bed. For a moment, a small light entered through the open door, and I saw it: a small hand, a girl's hand, purple and lifeless. A corpse.

I remained silent. He told me it was a favor. Could it be that he has some kind of connection to that girl? I don't know. I'm not sure. I investigated, but it was as if this young man were completely invisible. There are no records of him, nothing about him in this city, which makes me think he is from another city. But I can't investigate outside this city. After all, the journey between cities is very long, and information can get distorted along the way.

-What do you think happens after death?

A rather abstract and confusing question. Pursing my lips.

-According to the churches, it depends on the god you believe in. If a soul dies, it goes to the domain of the god it believed in during its life, preparing for reincarnation. Other churches say it's the beginning of a new life. Others say you'll be with your god for all eternity.

-Isn't it strange? I believe that after death, the only thing waiting for you is a deep darkness. Everyone says the same thing: light and hope. But what about darkness and tranquility?

The shadows in the house stirred for a moment. I could feel it. I could even see it. Zed's name grew much larger than before, engulfing the girl's body on the bed.

-You're strange.

-I know.

I want to know who you are. You are my new interest, very interesting. You are very curious, very deep, very elusive, very intelligent, very handsome... You intrigue me, Zed. But you are still weak, a big problem.