The evening was strangely red today.


    It was as if the sun was bleeding out and its blood had tainted the blueness up above, filling the skies with its ichor.


    It was a sight that reminded Anatolia of the past as she rested at her desk, gazing out the window. The sound of the concerto written by the genius of Schwarz was quite a fine addition to the sight of the night as thetest gramophone yed it in all its glory.


    Today.


    Her ns had already kicked into action today.


    Anatolia''s eyes clouded over as the sun started to set. Her smile hardened into a gaze that would make her family writhe at the sight of. A gaze full of her pain.


    Taking a sip of her tea, she looked at the sky again.


    She had seen such skies before.


    In a time that everyone forgot but her.


    That time, she was the one in the ground while the sky weed that bastard with pure white hair. She could remember well, how cruelly pretty that sight was.


    And now, this sky was weing her.


    He must have already met her today.


    A chuckle escaped Anatolia.


    The concerto came to a postlude as the glow of the sky started to be swallowed up by the night.


    At the end, everything was always swallowed up by the night.


    ***


    The moon hung high while thedy continued her work.


    I was asked to light up all themps in the room and did so without a sound. Then, like a machine, she stuck to all the documents until she was done with everything.


    It was already 11 AM, a total of 14 hours in a sitting.


    She was finally done with everything. She poured herself a cup of water and arranged her hair. With her back toward me, she pushed her veil to the side and sipped on the water.


    As her pale fingers curled around the white cloth and pushed it to her side, the way just a few strands of hair failed to hide the nape of her neck.


    She gulped it down and gazed around. I was taken out of a daze as she spoke.


    "Let''s go."


    I hadn''t eaten or drank anything since the morning, but without word, I followed behind her.


    No other person came in sight as we passed through the castle ways. Now lit only with candles and dim magic lights, the precious paintings were covered in the darkness of the night.


    Thedy stopped in front of arge door at the end of the floor.


    She opened the door and stopped. Her veil covered face turned toward me.


    "This is my room," she said. "I''ll see you tomorrow morning."


    "I understand," I said. "Have a good rest."


    Thedy walked inside her room and closed the door behind her. In front of therge ebony gates, I waited until the sound of her steps dampened down.


    A sigh left me. With my shoulders drooping down, I stuck to the wall next to the door.


    Sensing my movement, Titania woke up.


    "Eugy, ahm what happened?"


    "She went into her room."


    Titania shot up at my words.


    "OH! Perfect, let''s run the hell out of this ce. Right now."


    I held my head and rested on the wall. This was the first time I had felt this weak over here.


    Just what the hell was up with thatdy?


    How did shest so long without any food or water? Was she seriously as strong as people like Kaiser? No chance.


    My senses had developed magnitudes beyond how I had been as ''Yujin''


    I could easily tell how strong people like Kai were these days. She wasn''t one of them.


    Even bottomless strength had a beginning.


    "What are you thinking?" Titania added. "We get out! Now!"


    I wanted to.


    I agreed.


    But.


    I was damn curious.


    I wanted to know why she was like that.


    Why she had that much strength behind her words. Her cold attitude that seemed to have made even me freeze.


    "Say, Titania."


    "What? What is it? I am sure you''re going to say something crazy."


    "Between me and her..."


    Even putting this question in words was killing me from inside.


    My fists clenched on their own as my gaze hardened.


    I didn''t want to acknowledge it.


    "Who was cooler?"


    "Eugy..." Titania''s call was filled with pity.


    "I have to know. Say it."


    "Oh you poor child. Why did you stand at the end of the line when god was handing out wisdom?"


    "Don''t change the topic," i held in my pain. "Say it."


    "She... Thatdy is way cooler than you. She''s probably prettier too."


    I knew it fuck.


    It was obvious.


    I thought I was the most handsome person around. But even with her face covered that woman exuded peerless beauty.


    And cool.


    She was cool as hell.


    As the strongest person in the world.


    This was not allowed.


    I couldn''t stand for such a thing. Absolutely not.


    Till I figure her secret. I will take to her side.


    I let go of my head and took a deep breath.


    "We''re not running away."


    "Noooo you crazy bastard!"


    I will do it.


    I will make thatdy acknowledge it.


    I was cooler than her god damnit.


    I was.


    ***


    The next morning came around faster than I had thought.


    I considered moving out to get some water at least, it has been more than 24 hours since I drank any, but in the end decided against it.


    The door to the room opened at exactly 8 AM.


    Covered in a veil and a nightdress, thedy stepped out. Her white hair glistening brightly in the wind.


    "You." She turned toward me.


    "Why are you here?"


    I tilted my head.


    "I am your guard, mydy."


    "Have you been here the entire night?"


    "Yes, mydy."


    How was that for fucking cool, huh?


    Thedy stopped and thought for a few seconds.


    "Fine." She said.


    And off she went to get breakfast.


    Why was she doing this on her own?