Secret hopes are like hidden snacks—you think no one knows, but everyone can hear the crinkling wrapper.
Grandmaster Of Lust Mages
I must have been fifteen when I first met Violan. It was pure coincidence—I was closing up the pub when he noticed me. He came straight over, flanked as always by at least three apprentices.
"Come with me, boy," he grinned confidently, already sure of his allure.
Violan quickly realized I was too young to be working in a pub so late at night, and he added that if I became his most devoted follower, I would never have to work again. I raised an eyebrow and declined with a casual shrug. I think, in that moment, an entire world crumbled inside the legendary beauty of the lust mages. He was so stunned that he let go of my hand, which he had taken at some point, and I simply walked away.
After that, Violan kept approaching me, almost begging me to join him—not literally, of course. A proud mage like him would never beg, but he was close to it. He tried bribing me with all sorts of earthly pleasures, mostly by promising extravagant meals, but none of it had the desired effect.
One day, when Alex and I were desperately short of money, I finally accepted his offer. Violan was taken aback by my sudden change of heart, but he quickly recovered, smiling brightly and even humming on the way to his mansion. His house was massive, fit to rival royal residences, but it was necessary—Violan had about fifty people living there, mostly apprentices training under various lust mages and the Grandmaster himself.
The apprentices greeted me warmly, chirping and leading me to a grand dining room where Violan had laid out a lavish feast in my honor. I ate my fill and asked Violan to pack some food for me, which he did without hesitation. Perhaps he thought he could win me over in time.
I dined with him a few more times before he realized I would never become his disciple. I still remember the shock on his face when I told him he was dealing with a monster. After that, Violan stopped trying to recruit me as his apprentice and treated me more like a friend instead. I soon discovered that Violan flirted with everyone he liked.
"I like you," he would say sweetly, resting his chin on his clasped hands as he watched me.
"That's good," I replied indifferently, continuing to eat my soup.
"Do you like me too?" he asked, his voice gentle.
I tilted my head. "Maybe."
Violan must have thought I was just shy because he giggled at my answer.
"Do you think I'm beautiful?" he asked again.
"No," I replied flatly.
Violan's lips trembled and his eyes widened. I never saw him so shocked before, and I couldn't resist a wicked laugh.
"You should see your face!" I teased.
Violan blushed, visibly embarrassed. I should have felt privileged to see him so flustered, but instead, I was just amused. Nothing more. He pressed his lips into a thin line and, in a fit of frustration, told me to leave. I walked out of his mansion in high spirits.
The next time I visited, the apprentices clustered nervously behind me. Violan wasn't hostile, but the warm smiles he had first greeted me with were gone. Still, he prepared a feast just as lavish as the first time, with even more desserts than before.
"So," he began, unusually hesitant for him, "you really don't think I'm beautiful?"
I looked at him calmly. "You're beautiful, but that doesn't mean I want anything from you."
Violan was looking at me for a long moment, his eyes sparkling as if he'd been waiting centuries to hear those words.
"I'll forgive your insolence," was all he said with the tiniest smile in the corner of his lips.
After that, tales spread among his apprentices of a monster who had refused Violan's love.
"I should have known," sighed the apprentice mage beside me, grasping the situation immediately.
Violan patted his apprentice's shoulder kindly. The punks nearby shifted uncomfortably, their gazes darting around as they fidgeted. One of them, Red Hair, was stuffing his face with the reddish mass he'd been eating when we arrived. I realized I hadn't heard their voices for some time.
Violan glanced at the punks, and one of the larger ones suddenly collapsed, losing his balance entirely. Blue Hair quickly scooped up his friend, looking concerned. Violan merely sighed.
"If you eat too much Seduction Pudding, I guarantee you won't leave the restroom for three days," Violan remarked as Red Hair swallowed the last spoonful. Red Hair sheepishly put the Seduction Pudding back in the cupboard without a word.
"Did Belizár ask you to use your magic on me yet?" I asked.
Violan nodded without hesitation. "But don't worry Shay," he said with a sly smile, "I won't get in your way."
"All right," I replied.
And Violan gave me one of his trademark grins.
The first message from Lil popped up on my phone as I was still watching the punks with Rolo and Mose.
Touble's Chauffeur: [Shay, we need to talk. I know what the Syndicate is after.]
A cold chill ran down my spine, but before I could respond, another message buzzed in.
Touble's Chauffeur: [Get over here.]
Touble's Chauffeur: [I don't care what you're doing. Drop it.]
I wanted to write back something along the lines of 'Well, aren't you a fiercely persistent one? I'm tempted to keep you waiting just to see how charming you really are'. But I knew better. Lil would have burned my ass for it.
There was no mistaking the urgency in her words. Lil didn't panic easily, which meant whatever she had discovered was serious—serious enough to make even her unflappable demeanor crack.
[On the way.]
I turned to Rolo and Mose, who were still engrossed in the tattooed punks.
"Stay here as long as you like," I said with a grin. "Have fun."
Rolo nodded, his eyes still sparkling with curiosity as he watched the punks boast about their ink. Mose, too, seemed in his element, asking questions and jotting down notes on rune design.
I made my way outside, feeling Violan's presence behind me. He followed me quietly.
We stopped at the edge of the alley, the night air cool and heavy with unspoken words.
"Shay," Violan began, his voice softer than usual, almost hesitant. "I don't want you to die."
I blinked, caught off guard by the bluntness of his statement. "Vio—"
"I've been worrying about you a lot more lately," he admitted, his caramel-colored eyes locking onto mine.
I offered him a smile. Violan, for all his charm and bravado, rarely let his guard down like this. His caramel-colored eyes, usually so composed, were now full of concern.
"I'm not planning on dying anytime soon," I assured him.
I reached out and touched his arm gently, a brief, affectionate gesture meant to reassure. Violan's breath hitched, and he glanced at my hand, then back at me, his expression conflicted. Then his expression softened, a mix of surprise and something deeper. There was a vulnerability in his gaze, a rare crack in his otherwise impenetrable demeanor.
"Just wait and see," I said quietly. "I'm going to bring change."
For a moment, Violan just stared, surprised by my words. Then, a slow smile spread across his face again, softening his usual aloof demeanor. It was a smile that held warmth and relief, and for a moment, he looked less like the Grandmaster of The Pink-robed Mages and more like a friend who had finally found solace.
"You always say exactly what I want to hear most," he murmured, his voice tinged with fondness. There was a glimmer of emotion in his eyes, something that hinted at a thousand years of unspoken fears and hopes.
I laughed, a genuine sound that echoed in the narrow street. "Good. I'd hate to disappoint you."
Violan's smile lingered as he watched me go. I knew I'd left him with more questions than answers, but for now, that was enough. I had a promise to keep, and Lil was waiting.
(...)
I arrived at Lil's place, and the usually inviting atmosphere felt strangely distant. Lil greeted me at the door with a cool nod, her smile polite but unenthusiastic. As we settled into her study, the room's dim lighting seemed to accentuate the tension in the air.
"So, what did you find out?" I asked, trying to bridge the gap.
Lil's expression remained guarded as she started to speak. "The artifact Belizár is searching for is called the Moonlight Casket. It's an ancient relic, older than even the oldest mages."
Her tone was clipped and formal, and despite her words, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. As she finished explaining the details, I couldn't help but probe further.
"Why would Belizár be after something like that?" I asked, trying to gauge her mood. "Is it really that powerful?"
"It's beyond powerful," she replied, eyes flickering briefly with their usual intensity. "The casket is said to hold… possibilities. It's tied to old magic—something even the Ancients feared." She paused, hesitating before adding, "But it's nothing more than a fairy tale until proven otherwise."
I nodded, but her clipped responses didn't sit right with me. "You sound like you don't believe it's real."
Lil shrugged, still avoiding my gaze. "Belief isn't the issue. Whether it's real or not, it's what Belizár believes that matters."
"Lil," I began carefully, "is there something wrong?"
She looked at me with a practiced aloofness, shrugging off my concern. "It's nothing. Just preoccupied with matters of great importance. I assure you, it has nothing to do with you."
There was a snap in her tone, and I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the uncharacteristic bite in her voice. "I wasn't saying it was," I replied calmly. "But you seem... different."
She sighed, tapping her fingers impatiently on the armrest. "You're imagining things."
"I don't think so," I countered. "Come on, Lil, talk to me."
The silence stretched, and just when I thought she wouldn't say anything more, she spoke, her voice low and almost angry.
"So, did you enjoy the time you spent with Violan?" the sharp edge in her voice didn't go unnoticed.
The abruptness in her question, though masked with casual indifference, made the underlying meaning clear. I blinked, taking in her tense posture, the way her words were laced with an unmistakable sting. It was more than just casual curiosity—there was an edge to it, something personal. I chuckled, finding her reaction both amusing and revealing.
"You're assuming something that isn't there," I said, laughing softly. "Actually, Violan and I didn't—"
Lil's eyes narrowed slightly. "Didn't what?"
I grinned. "Didn't get up to anything you might be implying." My grin widened, as I leaned back. "Lil, take a closer look. Do you notice anything different about me?"
She frowned, scanning me more closely, her eyes narrowing as she realized the change wasn't what she'd assumed.
"You didn't..." she started, trailing off as the realization dawned.
I smirked. "No, Lil. Violan just had a little fun with my look, nothing more. It was just a change in appearance."
Her face went through a rapid series of emotions—confusion, realization, and then a flush of what could only be described as embarrassment, albeit subtle. She quickly masked it, but the moment had passed.
"Well," she said, regaining her composure, "I suppose that explains it. Violan must have been quite generous with his magic."
Her gaze lingered on me with a mix of curiosity and lingering irritation, the atmosphere between us had shifted, and I couldn't help but smile at the subtle interplay of emotions.
She waved a dismissive hand, trying to brush off the slip in her composure. "It's not like I care who you spend your time with," she said quickly, her tone overly casual. "I just don't trust Violan. That mage is... complicated."
I watched her, half-smiling. "Complicated isn't exactly a deal-breaker for me."
Lil huffed, clearly annoyed with my response. "That's not the point, Shay. Violan's not... stable. Violan's emotions change like the wind, and you know how dangerous that can be. He's ancient—his kind of magic, his whims—they can't be taken lightly."
I nodded, but there was something else there, hidden behind her words. "And that's what you're worried about? His fickle love?"
Lil looked away, her fingers drumming restlessly against the arm of her chair. "Of course it is," she said, almost defensively. "You're too important to be tangled up in someone else's mess. Violan's got a lot of mess."
"You think I can't handle him?" I asked, my voice softening.
"It's not that," she insisted, but the words felt rehearsed like she was struggling to find the right excuse. "I just don't want you to get caught up in... things."
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, she almost seemed to be convincing herself more than me. I tilted my head, studying her with a knowing smile. "You are not worried about Violan, are you? That's fine, but don't try to disguise it as something else."
Lil's jaw tightened, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. She opened her mouth to argue but then stopped, exhaling sharply. "What? Now you think you can see through me?"
I shrugged, leaning forward slightly. "It's because you're not as unreadable as you think."
Lil's expression flickered, a dangerous glint in her eyes as she forced a sharp, almost mocking laugh that didn't quite reach her smile. "Oh, please," she said, her voice dripping with icy disdain. "You know nothing."
I raised an eyebrow, feeling the chill in her words, but there was a flicker of something behind her icy demeanor—something raw, barely contained. "Maybe," I said calmly, "but I know enough to see you are acting weird."
Lil's eyes narrowed, her smile tightening. "I'm just stating facts. You're reckless, Shay. Always have been. You get too close to people that can hurt you, and you're too damn stubborn to see it."
I leaned back, letting her words wash over me. I couldn't argue with the truth of it.
"Dangerous to be close to you too, isn't it?" I replied, my tone soft but pointed, watching the way her composure wavered for just a second.
Lil's cold demeanor faltered, her eyes flickering with something raw—anger, fear, maybe even guilt—but she masked it quickly. She crossed her arms, the motion defensive, almost like she was trying to shield herself from something she didn't want to admit.
"You make it sound like I'm the problem," she said, her voice dripping with irritation, but there was a waver beneath it. "This isn't about me. This is about you walking into danger like it's nothing."
"I'm not saying you're the problem, Lil," I said, keeping my voice calm. "I'm just saying we're all dangerous in our own ways. And you don't get to lecture me when you've danced with fire just as often."
Lil looked away, her gaze distant. For a moment, she seemed lost in thoughts she'd never share with anyone.
"Stop turning this around," she said, finally meeting my eyes again. There was a flicker of something like pain, though she was quick to bury it. "I'm trying to keep you alive, Shay."
I reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face, and for once, she didn't pull away. "You don't have to. I am strong."
She stared at me, her gaze searching, as if trying to find something in my eyes that she could trust. The silence between us stretched, heavy with unspoken words, until finally, Lil sighed and looked away, her shoulders slumping just a little. "You're such a pain," she said softly.
She ran a hand through her hair, feigning a casualness that didn't quite land. "Anyway, it's not like I'm losing sleep over it. I just... needed to say something."
I gave her a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to worry about me so much, Lil. I can take care of myself. But if you're going to worry, at least let me be the one to help you. I'll get the information about the Moonlight Casket. That's what I do best—gathering information."
Lil's eyes widened slightly, her surprise evident. She had always been accustomed to working alone, standing against the odds by herself. Her gaze flickered with hesitation and a hint of vulnerability, a rare crack in her usually impenetrable facade. "You want to... help me?"
I nodded, my expression sincere. "Of course. You don't have to do it all alone anymore. Let me handle this part."
Lil looked away, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. She seemed to be grappling with the idea as if the notion of relying on someone else was unfamiliar and uncomfortable. "I'm not used to this," she admitted quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "I've always handled things on my own. It's hard to let go of that."
I reached out, gently touching her hand. "You don't have to do it all alone. You've been carrying a heavy burden, and you don't have to anymore. I'm here to help."
Lil's gaze met mine again, her eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge my sincerity. The silence between us stretched, heavy with unspoken words. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders relaxing just a little. "You're really a pain, you know that?" she said, though the bite was gone from her voice.
I gave her a warm, encouraging smile. "I know you're strong and capable, but you don't have to carry it all on your own. Let me help."
Lil hesitated for a moment longer, then nodded reluctantly.