The first thing that he saw as he woke up was the shaft of moonlight piercing the darkness in his room through the window which face his bed. He shook his head to decline drowsiness that was threatening him back to sleep. He sat up and stared at the clock then to the window, he was surprised that he slept more than his regular sleeping hours.

The cloudless night sky above Kayon City was blotted by thousands of stars, too many for the human eyes to count, but he did anyway just to pass time and tire his mind to put asleep. He was about to go back to sleep when he heard chants outside.

A chilly breeze washed over him when he opened the shutters. He observed the outside world: cars racing by, a dragon-shaped figure swaying down the street, and a marching band playing music, drummed pounding hard that prompted some people to dance on the sidewalk. Although he found it all unfamiliar, it was entertaining for him.

Unnoticed by Alastor, Linda walked in quietly and took a seat next to him. She was observing silently. His eyes remained fixed by the parade outside, while Linda observed him with curiosity and concern. She understood that the previous mission exhausted him and was grateful for his efforts. After a while, he heard a rustle of clothes. Linda was waiting patiently.

“Al, would you mind telling me what’s on your mind?” she asked. Ever since his position moved up, the Grandmaster made considerations and sent Alastor to Kayon City as a pledge member of the Glade. This is his first mission for a while. Though, he was still adjusting to the unfamiliar culture of the city and to them of course.

The chilly wind found its way through the room again, and Linda’s blonde hair fluttered. She grew tired of waiting for his attention and persisted, “It wouldn’t hurt if you talk to me, right?” At last, Alastor spun around and she asked, “What’s bothering you?”

He sighed and sat with his back straight up and said, “I couldn’t help but feel intrigued and amazed by all of this. It’s kind of new to me.”

“I was like you before. The first time I got out into the Glade, the outside world amazed me, but the mission kills the fun.” Linda offered a half-smile.

“Isn’t it terrible to be in debt?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Glade sheltered us, but we have to repay it by getting sent to the field then they expect us to fight for the cause we are not familiar with.”

Linda shook her head. “We all have purpose, Al. The Glade did not force us to take missions, we could have chosen other paths, yet here we are, unable to bear just to watch people struggle, but you already understood that. And to respond with your second statement, I believe that every mission we had has a purpose. The glade wouldn’t just throw us into the battle we knew nothing of.”

There was silence.

“So, what’s your story?” Linda asked after a while.

Alastor was puzzled by what she was talking about and replied, “Story about what?”

Linda rose and walked towards the window, peering out.

“Well, about your life,” Linda clarified.

Alastor keenly gazed at Linda, and she noticed it and became startled. “Are you angry?” Her heart began to throb faster than normal, and she couldn’t look directly at him.

Alastor didn’t want to talk about anything related to his past and subconsciously gave Linda a cold stare. He noticed a sudden change in Linda’s facial expression, likely from him being undoubtedly cold. It wasn’t that he intended to do it, but more like it was a habit he couldn’t get rid of.

He sighed and tried to steer the conversation to the last few minutes, saying, “Don’t worry. I’m not angry about it. Just don’t ask that kind of question. I have no idea what to say about that.”

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Despite his reassurance, the tension in her heart persisted, and her conscience grew. “Ugh, I apologize. It’s not like I purposely want to intrude on your privacy. What I want to say is—is…” She paused, realizing that her words were lost in thought.

“What do you want?” He asked, his voice was instigating something which made her even more uncomfortable. He was doing it on purpose.

Linda bit her lips, and the awkward atmosphere grew intense. “Maybe I just want you to be more open with us. We barely talk in private, and as a leader, I think the connection is essential to trust. You purposely lagged behind to face the enemies alone. You could get hurt, you should have told me that you were planning that in the first place.”

“But I didn’t and I’m fine.” Alastor’s rested legs moved to the floor, and he stood straight, facing Linda. She was intimidated for a moment because of the height difference, but she managed to maintain her composure despite the difficulty of making out of his reaction. Alastor was tall with healthy light skin and eyes deep and dark. “I guess that’s why you guys are sometimes uptight when we have a meeting, especially you.” he remarked.

“I am not uptight. You’re uptight.”

Alastor sighed. “Listen to me. I don’t talk too much, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have faith in you guys. I’m different, alright and I don’t care. It’s none of my business to change whatever you think about me. What matters is the mission; personal information would hinder each of us in fulfilling our mission.”

“You’re so strange,” Linda said.

Alastor let out another heavy sigh, expelling the air weighing on his chest, as he ambled towards the door, pressing the switch to turn on the lights. He realized what Linda was wearing - a long T-shirt that covered down near her knees, with her slender legs exposed, and her silken blonde hair ponytailed with a ribbon.

Linda noticed his gaze and shouted, “What are you looking at?!”

Alastor realized the tense atmosphere and averted his eyes, pretending to ignore her words. He walked back and sat near her while staring back to the view. He fell silent for a few moments before saying, “Yeah, well, thanks to you the drowsiness is gone. Tell me, Linda. Do you believe everyone is destined for something?”

“Not really. You?”

He shook his head. “No, but I hope so.”

“Hm. I’m curious, what is your goal? The Glade doesn’t restrict our people as much. Some people I knew left and lived their life. I’m sure you have something else set on your mind after this mission.”

Alastor looked away and stared down the plaza. The people halted and lined at the sidewalk. They watched several participants in the costume parade. On top, in the sky, fireworks exploded with beautiful colours that he couldn’t forget.

“I wished to be wrong.”

Linda’s brows met.

“What do you mean?”

“Ever since then, I believe that nothing comes good in this world. I am trying so hard to be optimistic like you guys, but… you know where we came from. You know what the directors instilled in us. I am the only encumbering factor in this group.”

“That’s not true.” Linda cut in. “You are just as important in this team. You did something unthinkable and lured the enemies off our back.”

“No. I am no better than them. I kill because I have no purpose. The thing that keeps me here is because I am nobody and the Glade, it’s the only thing that serves my life a purpose.”

“What about the people we’re helping?”

“What about them?”

“Aren’t you doing this because you feel sorry for them?”

Alastor looked down. “Of course, I do, because they have something that I don’t; life.”

“Don’t you think you’re being too hard on yourself?”

“The truth is hard to swallow, Linda, and that’s a good thing. It’s what strives us to keep in touch in reality.” He briefly paused before continuing, “You guys are lucky that you had something in the past to hold onto, to remind you what you are, and to believe what you are meant to be. I didn't have anyone before I joined.” Alastor withdrew his eyes from below and shot her a look, the kind of one who’s seeking empathy. “I want everything I know to be wrong. I want someone to prove it to me. So that I won’t remain neutral.”

“There’s a belief, a century old passed down by the wisdom of old men alike – that each one of us are fated on something, whether it’s glorious or tragic; a Call of Fate. That is something powerful that no man can turn their back against. You will find it, Al. Someday you will.”

Linda rose from her seat and walked to the door, quite enough that Alastor thought she was still there until he looked around. She was about to open the wooden door when someone knocked first. “Al, have you seen Linda? She’s not in her room,” a boyish voice said, rattling Linda.

He looked at her, and Linda gestured to be silent about her being in his room. Alastor knew what she meant.

“No, I haven’t seen her. I just woke up, and I’m watching the parade up here,” he replied.

Tin added, “Oh, about that, Cid is here, and he has something to tell us. Come to the meeting room, okay?”

Tin left and Linda exhaled loudly.

“What was that again?” she asked.

“Cid is here. She wants us to come to the meeting room,” he replied.

Alastor opened the cabinet, grabbed a towel, and proceeded to the bathroom. He turned to face Linda and said, “The next time you come here, don’t wear that. They might think differently about us.”

“I know that!”

When Linda left the room, a totem caught his attention, a rather odd one shaped like a monk wrapped with a tiny ribbon. He smiled. He hid it in his pocket before going out.