Assuming you know someone by their first impression is like tasting a meal by its aroma—you may miss the true flavor entirely.
Seen
Mazen appeared near a small house in the woods. Simon had to struggle to keep up with him, but he managed not to lose the dark mage. Despite the pulse of magic that cloaked the house from prying eyes, it proved ineffective against Simon's otherworldly gaze. And Mazen, being a powerful mage, could easily see through the most elaborate illusions with a little concentration.
The door opened for Mazen he didn't even have to knock—he entered confidently. He found himself in a narrow hallway with hangers on the wall holding various coats and a shoe rack below, cluttered with boots and canvas shoes. Mazen proceeded past the stairs leading upstairs, through a cozy living room, and along a tidy kitchen, until he reached a glass door. He opened it and stepped into the fresh air, finding himself in an elegant rose garden.
Jelal stood a few steps away. Like Simon, I was struck by the subtlety, warmth, and splendor of the mage's magic, yet Mazen seemed well accustomed to it. For a moment, I observed his tall form, his broad shoulders, and his long dark hair swaying gently in the breeze. He wore a comfortable-looking white T-shirt and grey linen trousers. Jelal was clearly aware of Mazen's presence but made no move to turn around.
Mazen approached the man, who continued to admire the beautiful, fragrant rose garden and the eternal sunset—the same blood-red sunset they had all watched when founding the Shadow Veil Syndicate.
They stood in silence, savoring the view. Jelal sipped from a cup of aromatic wild cherry and rosehip tea. That was the moment, Mazen suddenly noticed the cup in his own hand, the steam rising gracefully from the fragrant liquid, filling the air with its intoxicating aroma. Jelal was surrounded by this scent.
"To what do I owe this visit, Lord Mazen?" Jelal asked finally, his voice velvety and cheerful.
"I can't visit my apprentice without a reason?" Mazen responded, his tone mild.
Jelal chuckled, his laughter was so pure and innocent it could make even the darkest of souls waver.
"You've never visited me before without a reason," Jelal said. "I don't think it's any different now."
"You're right," Mazen admitted. "I came for a reason."
Jelal turned to him curiously. For the first time, Mazen met the boy's gaze—soft and warm like melted chocolate.
"I'd like to ask you not to join Belizar's alliance," Mazen said, a rare request not the usual orders, demands, or threats.
Jelal chuckled again, though this time with a touch of nostalgia.
"Oh, yes," Jelal began wistfully. "I heard the news that you've become a member of mixed-blood's court."
"Yes," Mazen replied, perhaps a shade cooler than necessary, I was sure pride still hurt him months later.
"At first, I didn't want to believe it," Jelal continued. "You were always so stubborn, never letting anyone control you. But he enslaved you."
"I am not a slave!" Mazen retorted angrily.
Jelal hesitated for the first time since their meeting. "Not?"
"Of course not," Mazen growled. "I am no one's servant!"
"So what is the Hueless King for you?" Jelal asked, tilting his head slightly.
Mazen pondered for a moment. "An ally," he said finally.
Jelal's smile was knowing, with only a subtle curve of his lips. Mazen could tell he'd been caught.
"I'm very curious about this new king," Jelal said. "The nobles I've seen so far have been indifferent to their people's fates."
"Yes, Shaytan doesn't act like a noble or a king at all," Mazen mused. "But maybe that's why everyone follows him. They stay by his side and would sacrifice their lives for him because they know he would do the same in return."
Jelal's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Tell me about this king of yours."
"Shaytan is very cunning and calculating," he mused further. "At the same time, I think he would do anything for his own."
They fell silent for a moment.
"He doesn't believe in white or black magic," Mazen said quietly. "Just magic itself."
For him, that might be the most important thing. I knew that most people saw the world in black and white. I knew that even if I could explain to them the true nature of things more clearly than the sun, they wouldn't change. Because people, including mages, don't like change—and even if mages want to defy this, they are horribly and pathetically human. I knew this, and I knew no one would support my idea, yet I took Mazen alongside me. That was what made him stick by me.
Jelal nodded vigorously, and then his eyes lit up. Mazen must have sensed something coming, but he couldn't stop the inevitable.
"I've made up my mind," Jelal grinned.
"Made up your mind about what?" Mazen asked.
"I'm going to see this king for myself," Jelal chuckled, excitement evident in his chocolate-brown eyes.
"Just don't stir up too much trouble," Mazen pleaded. "I don't want you to confront him."
"I'm going to confront him anyway," Jelal declared, his voice ringing with melodious mirth.
"What?!" Mazen blurted out.
Jelal watched the older mage with a kind glance, chuckling a few times.
"I wonder if he will live up to my expectations," Jelal added.
In the next moment, Mazen disappeared from the pleasant rose garden, leaving Simon alone with Jelal. The ghost froze, though Jelal shouldn't have seen him, he looked straight at him. Then Jelal simply chuckled and banished the confused ghost with a wave of his hand.
Simon released my hand, and I opened my eyes.
"That mage," the ghost began softly, "is dangerous."
I nodded. "Go home and don't leave the house for a while, okay?"
Simon nodded, his essence unusually cold. Even if he didn't say it, I could tell he was terrified by his encounter with Jelal.
I continued on my path, heading toward a location known only to a select few: the mage's secret dimension. Of course, the fact that I wasn't looking to take any mage under my wing didn't mean I was averse to negotiating with them.
"Olie, Eddie," I greeted the two magicians. "What's up?"
Olie took a swig of his beer—never a good sign.
"Things aren't looking great," Eddie said.
"So, what happened?" I asked.
"The new king is starting to make moves," Olie announced.
"And what do you think of him?" I inquired.
"Nothing," Olie replied grimly.
"Hm?" I raised an eyebrow. "Do you feel left out, Olie?"
He merely growled something under his breath.
"This monster appeared and sent a message to most of the neutral mages," Eddie said, his usual composure wavering. "We were discussing with Sinrad and Valentine what the grey clans should do when the letters arrived."
Eddie's eyes were fixed on me, but it was Olie who asked the next question first, as usual.
"So, when did you pick up this title, Shay?"
I chuckled. "Was it that obvious?"
"Of course," Olie said, a hint of irritation in his voice. "We saw that video of you making all the mages kneel. Even though your face was blurred, it was clear who you were. The recognition was immediate."
"Interesting," I mused. "I'm sure it made quite the impression."
"We were the only ones who didn't get a bird," Eddie added.
"So?" Olie pressed. "What's your point?"
"I'm going to build alliances," I explained. "But how was my letter received?"
"Most were quite positive about a potential alliance," Eddie said. "But first, the Hueless King needs to negotiate with them personally."
"What about Syndicate?" I asked.
"Snow White won't be joining the party," Eddie began. "And Jelly won't be making any announcements."
I wasn't surprised by Eben's passivity.
"What do you know about Jelly?" I asked.
"Not much," Olie said. "He only shows up at the Syndicate meetings, and no one knows where he disappears to. Anyway, there's an interesting rumor among the mages."
I raised an eyebrow.
"We heard he was white at first," Eddie said. "Someone killed his brother, and he took revenge. That's when the dark ones took him in."
"He was supposedly able to kill another mage without even touching him," Olie added. "No one heard a single magic word, and it all happened so fast, like in a single moment. After that, the whites got scared and tried to hunt him down."
"Interesting," I mused.
"Will you boys do something for me?" I asked with a sly half-smile.
Olie and Eddie exchanged looks.
"Come on, it's nothing serious," I added, seeing their concern. "It's just that if I don't come back by the beginning of the week, you'll need to spread some rumors."
I leaned closer to Olie and whispered in his ear. He stiffened for a moment, and when I moved away, he blinked at me in shock. After a beat, he nodded.
(...)
The afternoon after the meeting with the mages, I found myself in the corner of the living room, nursing a cup of cocoa with my most practiced scowl. Alex and Rolo were sitting across the room, chatting animatedly, their laughter echoing through the space.
My phone buzzed again, and I didn't need to look at it to know what it was—more memes. I had seen enough of them by now to recognize the relentless nature of their spread.
Rolo was in the middle of some story, hands gesturing wildly, but it was the chuckles of Alex that caught my attention. I already knew what was happening. They were talking about the memes.
"He's basically the meme king now. He's officially reached peak memeability," Alex said between fits of laughter, his voice light, almost sing-songy in its mocking delight.
"I don't know how he does it!" Rolo said, his eyes sparkling with humor. "It's like, he just stands there, and suddenly poof, people are kneeling. And the best part? No effort."
It does take effort, shitty gremlin child!
"Exactly!" Alex agreed, wiping his eyes as if the image alone was making him cry with laughter. "It's like they're having a heart attack from just being in his presence. It's terrifying."
"I'm right here," I muttered, rolling my eyes and taking a long, exaggerated sip of my cocoa. If I couldn't stop them from talking about it, I might as well make it look like I didn't care.
Rolo grinned, glancing over at me. "Oh, come on, Shay, don't be so dramatic." He leaned back, eyes gleaming. "It's not every day you get your own fan club."
Alex snorted, shaking his head. "Fan club? That's an understatement. The memes are spreading faster than wildfire. I bet half the continent knows about 'The Hueless King' by now."
"Great," I muttered, my voice a mock growl. "Just what I needed. More reputation."
Rolo put on an exaggerated serious face, his voice dropping into mock reverence. "Oh, but Shay, it's Hueless King Supremacy. You're basically a living legend now. People are gonna write songs about you!"
"Songs?" I shot him a withering look, but it only made Rolo laugh harder.
Alex chimed in with a grin that was far too pleased with himself. "Yeah, Rolo's right. There'll probably be a ballad. You know, something about your overwhelming aura and the way the sun can't even look at you because you're just too powerful."
I sank deeper into my chair, fully aware of the ridiculousness of my situation. "I'm gonna start charging for these meme appearances," I grumbled. "At least that way I'll get something for it."
Rolo snickered, clearly not taking me seriously. "How about you just go full villain and start sending them out as official greetings?" He made an exaggerated evil laugh. "'I am the Hueless King, kneel before me—'"
"That's not funny," I said, though I couldn't quite hide the smirk threatening to break through.
Rolo laughed again. "It's hilarious, Shay. Get used to it. You've created a legend."
"Ugh, I swear..." I muttered under my breath, but I couldn't quite stay upset. It was ridiculous, but deep down, I knew they were right. I stared at them both, wondering for the thousandth time how I ended up in these situations.
Rolo leaned over, peering at Alex's phone with interest. "You know, I can't say I didn't see it coming," he said, shaking his head. "But still, I didn't expect it to be this ridiculous."
Alex slid the phone over to me, tapping on the screen to bring up the first meme. It was a still from the moment when I had stared down the mages, each of them trembling in fear as they collapsed to their knees. The caption read:
'When you see your boss walk into the room like…
"My job's about to get a lot harder."
I let out a sigh. "Great, more work jokes."
"Look at this one." He swiped to another meme, and this time, it showed a close-up of me having breakfast with the caption:
'When you're just existing and people start kneeling in front of you like it's no big deal.
*Meanwhile, the Hueless King is like: "I'm just trying to enjoy my breakfast, guys."'
I groaned and rubbed my temples. "Why does everything revolve around me being terrifying?"
Alex chuckled, showing me yet another meme. This one was a side-by-side shot: one of me having breakfast, while a group of mages were kneeling in the background, sweating and looking horrified. The caption read:
'Hueless King Aura: 1000% Intimidating, 0% Tolerant of nonsense.'
"The internet loves it," Alex said, clearly enjoying himself. "Here, check out this one. It's top-tier. "
It was an image of me standing casually while an unamused mage stood off to the side, captioned, 'You're about to be the plot tool, pal.'
I stared at it for a moment before letting out a resigned laugh. "Okay, that one's not that terrible."
"Oh, this one's my new favorite." Alex tapped again, bringing up another meme.
'The Hueless King doesn't do small talk. He does big moves.' It was a picture of me walking into a room while everyone around me was visibly nervous.
Alex scrolled some more.
'When the Hueless King speaks, even the echoes know when to stay silent.' Another picture of me demanding compensation from Livius leaving everyone speechless—literally, everyone's mouths are closed, eyes wide.
The next meme was showing me casually chatting, followed by a group of people dramatically falling to their knees.
'Hueless King, after asking a simple question: "Do you understand?"
Everyone: kneels.'
The next one—again—was just a loop of kneeling mages. 'When someone questions the Hueless King's plans: "You may kneel now."'
'Hueless King: Could solve world peace. Prefers to sip cocoa and let people kneel.'
I was literally tired of seeing the GIF of mages falling to their knees.
'The Hueless King's hobbies: Making grand entrances and sending everyone into existential crises.'
Well, this one was just showing unfortunate mages having a mental breakdown in real time.
For variety's sake, the last meme was of me confidently walking toward a group of people with the caption: 'The moment you realize your bad decisions just caught up with you.'
Rolo laughed so hard he nearly fell off the chair. "Shay, this is the best thing that's ever happened to you. You're like, the living embodiment of 'don't mess with me'."
"I'm not trying to be that," I muttered, sinking deeper into my chair. "I'm just trying to get things done."
"Hey, the memes are getting things done, aren't they?" Alex said with a grin. "I mean, people are definitely paying attention to you now. You could probably use this to your advantage, Shay. You're basically a viral sensation."
I gave him a side-eye. "Great, viral and deadly. Just what I always wanted."
Rolo chuckled and clapped me on the shoulder. "Embrace it, Shay. You've got the whole world—well, at least the internet—at your feet now."
"Great," I muttered, staring down at the phone, which was now flooded with meme notifications again. "Just what I needed. More distractions."
"Oh, no," Alex said, "this is the best distraction. These memes are gold."
I buried my face in my hands, but I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "Fine. Maybe it's not all terrible."
"Well, don't worry," Rolo said, grinning like an idiot. "We'll make sure the memes keep flowing. Your legend is only beginning, Shay."
"Wonderful." I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "I've got a reputation to maintain."
"Sure, sure." Alex shrugged.
"I'm done with you guys," I muttered, but I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped.
But then let out a deep sigh. How was I supposed to get anything done with all these notifications?
[Can you mute the fan page for a while? It's getting a bit too much.]
I sent the message to Ábel, hoping he'd understand. It was his fan page, after all. His creation. His "masterpiece".
The phone buzzed. It didn't even take him a minute.
Nearly-Nailed-It Ábel: [Why? Are people being mean? Should I block them? I could go live and show everyone how amazing you are. Maybe post a video of you beating up some random monsters to prove you're the real deal?]
I rubbed my forehead, feeling the start of a headache. [No, it's not that. It's just... overwhelming.]
I waited, glancing at the memes and fan art flooding in. Some of them were funny, but most were just... a lot.
Another buzz. Ábel didn't waste time.
Nearly-Nailed-It Ábel: [Come on, Shay! You've earned this! Those memes? Hilarious. You're literally a legend now. You're really cool!]
I stared at the screen, feeling my eye twitch. Legend. Ábel loved to toss around that word like it was nothing.
Nearly-Nailed-It Ábel: [Well, you are kind of a big deal, aren't you? I mean, everyone knows the Hueless King. You've got this overwhelming aura thing going on. It's... awesome.]
I could almost hear his voice in my head, cheerful and oblivious.
[I'm not asking you to stop being proud, but can you please just... mute it for a bit? I just need a breather, Ábel.]
There was a long pause before his reply came through. I could almost see him sitting there, probably grinning at his phone, completely unaware of the disaster that was my life right now.
Nearly-Nailed-It Ábel: [I'll think about it, but no promises. The people need to know how great you are.]
I stared at the message, the words this is your time ringing in my head like an obnoxious ringtone.
I tossed the phone on the desk and rubbed my temples. Being the Hueless King was no joke. Sure, I had power, sure, I had authority, but what did it all mean if I couldn't even have a quiet moment without some random fan getting a little too into it?