The old man, Mr. Takabana, sat across from me, that knowing smile still playing at the corners of his lips. His assistant stood a step behind him, silent and watchful. Something about the way the old man spoke—his calm, measured voice, the way he seemed to see through me—it was unsettling. He had mentioned that "that person" referred me highly. There were a few people who could be described that way, who might have said something good about me. The headmaster of the academy came to mind—the old king, perhaps. That old man was influential, respected, and knew me well enough to provide a recommendation. But those thoughts, the musings about who could have led him here, could wait.
Right now, the pressing issue was the fact that this old man wanted me to become Takabana Maya's bodyguard.
