Ray scratched his head in confusion, sitting on the wooden chair as he watched the lunatic lying unconscious on the white bed of the infirmary.
Outside the window, the sky had already darkened. The dim streetlamps flickered faintly, and students were returning to their dormitory castles.
"Must help… help no matter what… sister!?"
The man with messy hair suddenly bolted upright from the bed, flailing both hands in the air as if grasping at something. But he clutched only emptiness. Cold sweat drenched his back, and his eyes trembled with fear.
"I… I lost…"
"That's right. Now tell me everything—why did you do all this?" Ray asked, frowning as he bit into an apple with a loud crunch, sitting right beside the bed.
The young man slowly reached for his glasses on the stand, put them on, and looked for his bag. "Coffee…"
Ray shook his head and set the bag out of reach, pouring water into a glass instead. Karua chuckled softly in his throat as he stared at the glass filling with water and bubbles. He obediently took it from Ray, only to pour it right back into the jug without drinking.
Then he refilled the glass himself, drinking it down in one gulp. Again he poured a second glass by himself and drained it once more.
Ray frowned, muttering inwardly, What the hell is wrong with him?
The quiet atmosphere grew heavier. The brown-haired boy studied him with suspicion while Karua finally set the empty glass down.
"I have to go… I don't have time to explain."
"Hey. I don't know what's going on, but you could ask someone for help, you know? You can't do everything alone, Karua. Just tell me. Maybe I can actually help."
"Heh-heh-heh. You're far too kind, Ray. Ah, but beware… one day that kindness will betray you. Someone will use you until you can never trust anyone again…"
Ray only smiled and shook his head. "I've already decided this is how I'll live. The one who saved me taught me that. I'll be honest with everyone as much as I can, because honestly, I'm not good at living any other way."
Karua's eyes deepened. He didn't laugh at Ray's absurd idealism—he merely smiled faintly.
"Then you should understand me, Ray. I've made my decision too. I'll handle my matters on my own. So… heh-heh… stay out of it."
The words struck Ray like a mirror image of his own resolve. He frowned in annoyance, opened his bag, and summoned Phoenix. Nixie spread its blazing crimson wings, circling the infirmary with noble grace.
"You want Phoenix Tears, don't you, Karua? Fine. I'll give them to you. Go help whoever you want. Just think of it as me helping myself—because I'm sick of you picking fights with me."
This time it was Karua's turn to grimace. He could tell Ray's words were a lie—born from concern, not self-preservation. After two weeks of watching him, Karua knew well enough: this man was a fool, but a fool with a good heart.
Ray looked at Nixie. "Give me some Phoenix Tears, please."
But the noble bird only perched on his shoulder and glared, screeching sharply as if to say: You think I can cry on command? Ridiculous. It pecked Ray's head once and flew back into the bag.
Karua chuckled. "See? Heh-heh… Do you understand now, Ray? This is why I had to kill you…"
"Ah, so there's no other way? What if I read it a touching story to make it cry?" Ray joked, though he knew the bird couldn't read.
Karua lay back down, exhausted, relaxing as he whispered, "I came here for Professor Vitsani's Phoenix Tears."
"Oh, but when you met me, killing me seemed easier, right?" Ray asked, chomping on another apple.
"Easier and faster," Karua said with a smile, lying on the bed. "Ah… I won't apologize. Everything I did, I chose to do for my own goal. No matter how kind you are, Ray, you shouldn't forgive me."
Ray groaned. "You're insane. Broken common sense. Psychopath."
"Heh-heh-heh. That's why I wanted to kill you quickly. Ugh… what a shame…" Karua's eyes grew strangely sorrowful. "I can't kill you anymore. Not for reasons, not for strength. You're still far too weak compared to me. I'll have to return to training… If I can claim the title of King of the Black Dragon House, then perhaps I'll obtain Phoenix Tears."
The sleepless man with dark circles under his eyes rose from the bed.
"Hey! Your body is screaming exhaustion. Rest first!" Ray protested, pushing him lightly on the shoulder. Karua collapsed instantly, his frail frame falling like a feather.
Karua laughed maniacally, a hollow sound that sent shivers down Ray's spine. Nurses rushed in, tending to him. Soon the chaos settled, and they gave him sleeping medicine.
But before drifting off, Karua muttered, "Ray… I request—no, I'll hire you. Please, take care of the sick woman inside my bag… cook for her, help her eat. She's… important to me." His voice trembled with fear as he confessed his secret.
Ray's face lit up with a grin, delighted that Karua trusted him enough to entrust such a thing.
"Sure. I love meddling anyway. I'll help for free."
Karua glared.
"Ah, fine, I'll charge you then!"
At last, Karua smiled weakly, trusting him. He drew Ray into his bag and fell asleep on the infirmary bed.
…
Ray stepped into Karua's bag-world. It wasn't as vast as his own, but still luxurious—a grand palace perched atop a towering mountain. Below stretched meadows and a lake, where Karua's beasts dwelled.
The dizzying height made Ray step back from the balcony window, retreating into the golden bedchamber.
Everything gleamed with wealth: gilded furnishings, ornate tea sets, an unfinished chessboard, towering shelves of books, some lying open on a reading desk. The king's bed itself shimmered gold.
And on that bed lay a young maid with long black hair, sleeping alone.
Ray inspected the chamber, then wandered into the kitchen. Though fully equipped, he wasn't skilled at cooking. In the end, he reheated food Karua had already prepared, placing it on a tray and carrying it carefully.
As he entered the chamber again with steaming fish soup, the maid stirred, half-sitting on the bed. Her gaze fixed on him in suspicion.
"Who are you?"
Ray walked slowly toward her. "Ah, I'm Ray Landrol. A… friend of Karua's. He's sick, so he asked me to look after you." He set the tray by her side and sat down.
"Friend?" Her brows rose in disbelief, her tone sharp. She clearly found it hard to imagine Karua having a friend.
"Uh… maybe 'enemy' is more accurate," Ray admitted, scratching his cheek.
The long-haired maid with bangs framing one eye chuckled softly. She was beautiful—gentle and elegant—though frail and thin, just like Karua.
"Heh… yes, that sounds more like him. My brother has a terrible personality. No way he could have friends." She covered her mouth with a laugh—then coughed blood.
"Are you alright!?" Ray panicked, looking around for something.
"It's normal," she said calmly. "The Dafger family curse. My mana is poisoned, slowly eating away at me until I die. Punishment for helping Karua escape the clan." She smiled even as blood stained her lips. Ray hurriedly offered her a cloth.
He asked softly, "What exactly happened?"
The maid, pale and fading, sat gracefully, folding her hands on her lap. Her weak smile carried both dignity and sorrow.
"I am Karua Dafger's half-sister… or you could say illegitimate daughter. A servant's child. I was raised as a servant still. I became his caretaker since he was little. That's why we're close."
Ray listened intently.
"The Dafger clan is one of the three houses ruling Dagasia. When our father died, the seat of head was left vacant. The siblings fought each other for the throne. And I knew—Karua, the youngest, would be the first to die. So I took him away. But betraying the clan as a servant awakened the curse."
She coughed blood again. Ray carefully wiped it away and offered water. She nodded in thanks.
"I'm dying. But I don't mind that. I only fear for him. He changed after the betrayal, after being hunted by his own brothers. His faith in people was destroyed."
Ray swallowed hard.
"I'm all he has left. When I'm gone, I fear he'll never trust anyone again. But now… it's alright. At least there's you, Ray. Even if I die, my little brother will still have a friend. Thank you… for treating him as such." She smiled sweetly.
Ray clenched his fist, then spoke with determination to Kana Dafger.
"The throne of the Black Dragon House… I'll climb up to it myself. I'll help him too!"
…