Mysterious Man

After a while, Kyle found himself being taken to what seemed like a factory.

Black smoke was coming out of its six chimneys, and he could hear the sound of steel being hammered even from the outside.

The smoke also started getting thick as he neared the factory. He could barely see the blue sky, and he couldn't help but remember his days in the streets of Melthorn City.

He somehow missed that city… Although he only fused with the memories of the previous Kyle, he still felt like it was his own memories.

He shook his head to clear his mind as he looked around his surroundings.

Aside from the factory they were heading to, he was able to see the middle-size airship where he came from. It was docked at a nearby dockyard together with three more airships of the same size that are being painted and repaired…

He can see the logo of the Vermont Academy on this airship, so he can't be mistaken.

Anyway, he could tell that it was a middle-size airship since Kyle had already seen a large one passing above Melthorn City before. Its size was comparable to a castle.

If he compared it to the one he's seeing now, he could tell that it was not even half of the large airship…

Kyle then shifted his gaze to the other side and confirmed that there was a huge fortress, or perhaps, a castle that should be the Academy itself.

'Now… What's going to happen to me?' Kyle asked himself. He's heading towards the factory outside the castle.

Perhaps because of the smoke being produced, the factory was built quite far away from the academy where students should be studying. Not too far from this factory was a row of residential buildings that also seemed abandoned because it was so big, but he couldn't even see any children playing outside or pedestrians walking in the streets. It feels desolate.

Of course, he might be mistaken because of the angle he's viewing the area and because of the noise coming from the factory that's messing with his mind.

Kyle considered jumping out of the cart, but the road ahead felt ominous. He hadn't seen any people aside from the laborers in the dockyard…

The only sound he was hearing was the hammering of steel and the smoke belching out of the chimney of the factory.

Creak. Creak. Creak.

Suddenly, the three carts separated. One of them was headed to a small gate going to the eastern side of the academy castle, and the other one was going to the residential area.

As for his cart, it was still headed to the factory…

'Oh no…'

Kyle suddenly heard someone's footsteps, and he couldn't help but hold his breath. He wasn't sure whether he was in trouble right now, so he had no idea how to handle this situation.

He glanced ahead of them and realized that a bulky middle-aged man, together with a teenager who seemed to be a laborer at the factory, was looking at the cart he was in.

They didn't stare too much, perhaps because they were also uncomfortable in front of the zombie who was pulling the cart.

Since Kyle was unmoving, they didn't notice that he was actually alive…

Kyle then heard the teenager speak in a soft voice as they passed by.

"Are they students of the Academy who died outside? They all look younger than me…"

Hearing this, the middle-aged man shook his head and answered.

"It's another batch who failed the assessment of the Academy. Do you remember that black potion you saw before?"

"Yes… You told me not to even touch it."

"Mhmm… It's the Darkness Possession Potion. You'd end up like this if your curiosity got the best of you…" said the middle-aged man, who then urged the teenager to continue walking ahead.

They only have half an hour to take a break, and they can't waste their time here.

Kyle somehow felt that it was his chance to get away. Those two guys are definitely 'normal' people. Perhaps, they could help him in his situation and leave this place.

He looked at the zombie, or whatever abomination it was, and prepared to jump out… He moved the hands and feet that were covering him to adjust his position.

However, at this time, he heard a voice close to him.

"One of them is alive? Did Lesley make a mistake? Is it a delayed reaction? This is interesting…"

He didn't know when but a man wearing a faded brown coat and tight trousers were already watching him and talking to himself. He seemed so mysterious since Kyle didn't sense his presence until he had spoken.

'No…'

At this moment, Kyle's vision was locked onto a pair of eyes that were crystal clear, like sapphire. It feels like his mind is being muddled. He has to think of something…

The zombie had already stopped pulling the cart as soon as this unknown person arrived, and Kyle had no idea what was going to happen to him.

Nervously, he said, "Hello there…"

"Mhmm… I can feel that the Darkness Possession was completed in your body. You have a weak life force with you, but you can definitely be accepted even with your current state…" said the mysterious person.

He then touched his beard for a moment as if he was considering what to do.

In the end, Kyle wasn't even able to introduce himself, and the man didn't even ask any questions to him.

He just ordered the zombie laborers.

"It'll be a problem for Lesley if he joins the ceremony… Just bring him to Mr. Heinz. He'll know what to do."

Kyle was confused about what was going on and wanted to say something in reply. However, he was stunned by a sudden magical scene happening in front of his eyes.

The mysterious man, who was previously scratching his beard, suddenly summoned a cane and tapped the ground.

With a thud, a strand of Kyle's shadow suddenly extended and went to the tip of the cane before returning to normal.

It didn't hurt him, but he felt quite uncomfortable seeing a part of his shadow had gone to the cane.

"It's a normal procedure…"

The man said as he revealed a smile showing his perfect white teeth before disappearing into nothingness.