Chapter Text
“...By the way, don’t forget to pick up your medicine, son. I already paid in advance, so you only need to get them,” a low voice resounded over the phone.
“Mhm,” Emil answered as he walked through the slums of the kingdom of Heliusol.
Any noble walking through these slim alleyways and brown, worn-down sheds would most likely keel over and pass out. The air smelled of sweat and dirt and felt almost stuffy, to the point that Emil had a hard time breathing.
Suddenly, a woman dressed in a brown cloth and holding a bowl approached him from behind, tapping him on the back softly.
“Would you be so kind as to give me some coins?”
Emil’s expression softened. He shook his head after briefly looking through his basket.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t bring any money with me today. But I do have some food with me.”
“O-oh, thank you very much! I am so grateful for your kindness,” the woman took the food and swiftly hurried to a group of small children.
The phone resting in his hand started vibrating again.
“Also, remember to never show your dark magic in the academy tomorrow! I want you to enrol and graduate safely. If anybody ever asks you-”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Emil quickly hung up the call and resumed to giving out food. Just like that, he spent the afternoon in the poorest part of the slums, hoping these actions would cleanse himself of the sin that is his soul-consuming dark magic.
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“Finally, you came. I almost thought you forgot about your medication,” a man dressed entirely in black said.
His face seemed rather youthful; however, his knowledge seemed far beyond his years. Emil knew that the man must be over 60, at the very least. People like him, those with rank A+ or higher magic capabilities, often stop aging in appearance. In fact, the first ruler, who formed the Empire, was rumoured to be an S+ rank mage, not only looking youthful throughout their whole life, but also living longer than any human has ever lived before.
“Sorry.”
Elvire of the underworld.
That is the name this mysterious man went by. This infamous man clad in black was known by every criminal organization, especially dark mages. Using his reality manipulation magic, a type of magic that can alter people’s perception, he helped them blend into society as common citizens.
“Alrighty〜, Here you go!“, a kind looking woman said as she handed Emil a packet of pills.
“By the way, I have modified these to work a bit stronger at the request of your father. Don’t take more than 1 a day, unless you want to cough up blood. The side effects themselves are already quite severe, so use them sparingly.”
“Thanks.”
The exchange was short, and soon Emil slipped back out of the dark alleyway to go back home.