At night, the street in front of the house became even more deserted and dark due to the lack of lighting, except for the neighboring place which was very crowded as it was also a drinking spot. Today, customers came in with a decent number of simple needs such as printing, cutting, and clipping. So, as usual, everything could still be done in a relaxed manner.
Tonight, after finishing up with the last customer, Julius was ready to close his shop. His two employed students also went home to finish their assignments, so they said their goodbyes to their boss first.
"Alright, I'm going home now. See you tomorrow, sir."
"Okay, be careful on the road. Thank you for your help," Julius happily replied.
It seemed like everything was done. As for cleaning up the place, it usually would be done in the daytime before the shop opened. So, everyone could leave at their own leisure.
But it was different for Mr. Hendri, he was still here typing on his laptop. Like any other writer, he was the one who enjoyed sitting all day just to think about what he would write. If there were ideas, his hands would work, but if there weren't any, he could only daydream.
"So... any good ideas today?" Julius asked.
"Huh? Since when did you become interested in someone who writes books?"
"Well... Hahaha."
"Parenting isn't easy, you know. Especially when the child isn't even yours," Mr. Hendri replied while packing his things to go home.
Julius looked down, unsure of how to answer. Actually, he just wanted to relax and deal with problems like earlier. But as a human being, he also felt annoyed when his simple requests were always violated by a child who was very close to him.
"About Zeyn... that child is always hard to talk to, he is already an adult but even more careless and stubborn," Julius said.
With ease, Mr. Hendri sat back in his chair. He sipped a cup of coffee that had been on his desk since this afternoon.
"There's an old saying, 'You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.' You have to realize not everything will go your way. Especially if you think you can handle it all alone."
"But..."
"Zeyn is not a child anymore. I'm not asking you to stop being firm, but it's good to start trusting him. Anyway... he might be more mature than us, considering he often meets The Serpent Queen," Mr. Hendri said.
Julius suddenly jerked in surprise upon hearing that name. But whoever was referred to as 'Serpent Queen,' his previously relaxed expression turned serious. That title... made the hairs on his neck stand up until he swallowed his saliva.
"Yeah... maybe I went too far earlier, grabbing his collar like that."
"Getting scolded in front of others like earlier must have been painful."
With both of his fists clenched, the desire to curse himself ravaged his heart so deeply. A look of regret immediately haunted the man. Julius had just realized that he had embarrassed his foster son in front of others.
"Zeyn..."
"It's okay, we humans are emotional beings, especially when we're under stress. Besides, copy shop businesses are not so modern anymore, considering that nowadays many people do their own printing."
"Yeah, that's true, hahaha."
"Okay then, because it's already time, I think I'll have to massage my feet later at home since I've been sitting for too long."
The man then got up and took his coat from the jacket rack. He walked out lightly, patting his boss's shoulder before leaving. This made a smile spread across Julius's face. So he stood up to escort him to the front door. As usual, they walked out and looked at the surrounding sky, which was already devoid of stars.
"Uh, Mr. Hendri... about Zeyn... can you... umm..."
"Hm? If you're talking about your problem with him, it's better to talk to him directly. My problem is just to be his... spiritual teacher."
"Well, that's true, but..."
"Don't worry, he must have a reason for using his powers. Who knows, the world might slowly become crazier. Even normal, ordinary people could be swallowed up in it."
"Wait, what?"
"Okay, see you," said Mr. Hendri casually as he walked away.
"Oh, O'okay. Thank you for your advice."
A sign of respect was given by Julius with a light bow of his head. Anyway, that man was older than him. When it came to noble values, he felt that his psychological knowledge could never be the same as Mr. Hendri's.
* * *
Night had settled over the village, draping the streets in quiet, heavy darkness. Dim lamps glowed faintly along the winding road, their lights barely reaching the dense forests beyond.
This was Dewi Ijo Village—an isolated settlement at the far eastern edge of Grimoir City, resting at the border of thick woods and rolling hills. At this hour, it felt as though the entire village was holding its breath.
At one green-painted house, the front door creaked open. A middle-aged man stepped outside, handing over some money with a grateful bow.
"Thank you so much. Thanks to you, our child has recovered," the man said softly.
Zeyn adjusted his glasses and pulled up the hood of his robe, bowing in return before leaving without a word.
As he walked away, the man's wife emerged from the house, carrying their child.
"He's already gone? You should've offered him something," she muttered, glancing down the quiet path.
"You know he doesn't like to talk," the man replied, shaking his head. "Besides, we already gave him a token of thanks. What matters is that he healed our child."
The woman watched Zeyn's fading figure, a flicker of sympathy in her eyes. He had no family, lived alone deep in the forest, and spoke to no one—yet still chose to help, even when many here still whispered about him in fear.
"Thank you, Zeyn!" she called out suddenly, her voice cutting through the quiet night.
"Hey, quiet! Don't shout like that," the man hissed, pulling her back inside. "And don't go calling his name so openly. We don't want to get tied up with… her."
Soon, the couple disappeared back into their house, leaving the street silent again. Zeyn, hearing the distant shout, allowed himself a faint smile.
Not far from the village, an old gate stood, its wood warped and weathered with age. Beyond it, the forest thickened, shadows stretching deeper with every step. Hidden among the trees stood a modest house, small and worn yet sturdy, with lanterns swaying on either side of its porch.
Julius had built the house long ago, salvaging it from what was once a crumbling shack—this was where Zeyn had lived ever since he was a child. Its remote location wasn't a coincidence; people had once been too afraid to live near him.
As Zeyn approached, his sharp red eyes narrowed.
"...Oh?"
Someone was already waiting near his door. Mr. Hendri stood there calmly, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he glanced around the area.
"Your house feels crowded too," Hendri remarked casually.
Zeyn's gaze softened slightly. "I don't mind. Honestly, I see them as family," he said, his voice calm. "I imagine you understand. You can see them too, after all."
They weren't speaking about neighbors—but about spirits.
In places like this, it wasn't unusual for unseen presences to gather. Spirits drifted through the woods, some strong, some faint. Some with forms, others only fragments. Yet these were only the mild ones, lingering at the forest's edge.
"Tomorrow, or the day after… she'll come visit," Hendri said.
Zeyn paused at his doorstep, his hand resting on the door handle. He let out a quiet breath, his face unreadable.
"Good night, sir," he said softly.
"Rest well."
Hendri turned to leave, his footsteps steady as he walked back toward the village. He hadn't come for small talk—only to deliver a message. Something had guided him here tonight, as it always did.
As he walked away, Hendri glanced back, watching Zeyn disappear into the house.
"I hope she finally stops seeing you as a child, too."
* * * *