Doors to the surgery room were opened and from them stepped the doctor. He looked at Diarem and asked:

“Are you an acquaintance of William?” Asked the Doctor.

“Yes! I’m his son.”

“He’ll live but he needs to stay in the hospital for a month to get better. Luckily the wound in his stomach wasn’t deep and didn’t hit any vital organs.”

Diarem tried walking to the room but the doctor stopped him.

“Son, you can visit him tomorrow. He needs to rest as much as he can, especially after surgery.”

Diarem couldn’t get any sleep after that and he didn’t go to school the next day. All he could think of was his dad and how would it end if he were there.

Jasmine and Charlotte were waiting for Diarem in school by their usual spot but he didn’t come. Actually, he wasn’t present for the whole day. After a long day in school, Charlotte walked Jasmine to her house. Jasmine and Diarem don’t know and never have been in Charlotte’s house. Her home was the opposite way from school than Diarem’s and Jasmine’s house. She walked to the place named “Under Black Rose.” It was the bar close to the river and port of Monlo. Inside behind the bar, Alex was cleaning glasses.

“Hi, Charlotte. How was your day in school?” Asked Alex with a smile on his face and then he hummed while he was cleaning.

Charlotte sat on the chair and laid her head on the table. She looked tired.

“Exhausting day I see. You want the usual?” said Alex.

Charlotte looked at him with big eyes, she stretched her arms forward like she wanted whatever Alex offered her. Alex gives her a blue smoothie with a straw. She was drinking it with the biggest smile on her face that she almost never shows in school. Charlotte slowly drank it and took joy with every single sip. Charlotte summoned her spirit friend. Crow wanted to talk for Charlotte but Alex started petting him.

“Hi there Os.”

Charlotte slapped his hand so the crow could talk.

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“Do you remember Diarem? That guy with rare magic?” Asked Charlotte.

“It’s hard to forget him! Why do you ask? Are you in LOVE with him?” Asked Alex while giving her a smug face.

Charlotte turned red a little bit and looked around if no one else was in the bar.

“Little bit...” Said Charlotte.

“I knew it!”

Charlotte tried slapping him but he easily stopped her. Elaine walked to the bar and immediately said:

“We need to talk. Alex.”

They walked to the office leaving Charlotte in the bar.

“Have you heard? About robbery in the area around Charlotte’s school?” Asked Elaine.

“I heard from one guy that there was a robbery but not exactly who and what they stole.”

“The one robbed was Diarem and his dad is now in hospital after an attack from the robbers.”

"You mean that special boy?"

"Yes."

Alex slightly opened the door to check if Charlotte is still there. She was sitting in the same place petting her crow.

“It would be good to not tell Charlotte about that.”

Diarem finally had a chance to visit his dad after surgery. It was the only thing that he was looking forward to since he heard about the robbery. When he entered the room he saw his dad in the bed reading book.

“Thank the gods that you are safe Diarem.” Said William with relife.

Diarem brought fruits and a few sandwiches with him that Helen made. They had a short talk about William’s health and Diarem’s school. It was time for another treatment for William so Diarem was asked to leave. Before Diarem left his dad warned him.

“Diarem… stay far away from men in red suits…”

While Diarem was walking to his home he saw two men in red suits. He ignored his dad's warning and followed them. They turned into some back alley knowing that someone follows them.

Alex saw Diarem going there so he decided to cheek on him. When Alex walked into the alley he saw Diarem and two Red Hats lying on the ground.

“So you know who attacked your father…”

“I don’t know how I have forgotten fight with them and this eye guy but they will pay…”

“You want revenge? I know how you feel… at least partly. Now you have no chance of beating the whole gang but you can get stronger.” Said Alex and gave a business card to Diarem.

On white paper, there was a Black Rose and the text “Under Black Rose. Bar”

“What’s your job or rather what are you doing?” Asked Diarem.

“I'm a simple bartender but if it’s not enough I work for a gang. Want power? You can get it there.”

Alex left Diarem alone with no more information than a business card and that he works for some gang. Diarem wanted to get stronger but those red suits men also work in a gang.

“What If Alex's gang does the same job as… those guys… I don’t want to be the same as they are… but I can’t do nothing after that.”