"Yes, that’s my name but… do I know you?” Rina asked as the burly man walked up to her with the little girl in his arms.

“Oh- ahem! My name is Kenos and I was a friend of Riley’s.” I said and Rina gasped.

“Really? Where is he?” She asked but her face went from surprised to cautious as my face twisted.

“Where is he?” She asked.

“He… passed away, almost two years ago.”

“My goodness.” The man gasped before glancing at Rina who’s face had twisted into a frown.

She must have realized this and so she deeply sighed before weakly smiling.

“Would you like to come in?” She asked but I shook my head.

“N-no. I wouldn’t want to impose-“

I stopped upon seeing a single tear falling from Rina’s right eye.

It fell alongside one which fell from my left eye.

I quickly wiped my tear.

“Alright.”

Rina nodded before leading me into the house.

Quite a bit had changed but a lot had stayed the same.

The cream-coloured curtains still hung and the old stove could still be seen in the kitchen.

However, the old red carpet had been replaced by grey childproof paddling, a new fridge stood in the kitchen and the old yellow lights had been replaced with brighter white ones.

Several toys also littered the living area around a new wooden dinner table.

Rina led me to the living room where she sat on one of the new couches

There wasn’t much space for my wheelchair but I managed to find a spot next to the couch next to Rina’s.

The man gently placed his hand on Rina’s shoulder before leaving the room.

Rina took a deep breath before gasping.

“Would you like some water?” She asked.

“A glass would be perfect.” I smiled.

Rina nodded before offering me a glass.

I downed the water and we sat in silence for a moment while staring at each other.

“Oh- allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Kenos Rahad. I’m from Acan and yeah. That’s just about it.” I said with a weak laugh but Rina simply smiled in response.

“Ahem. I actually came here today because it dawned on me, after all this time, that I had never offered my condolences. So here I sit.” I said only for Rina to laugh lightly.

“Are you sure you’re Riley’s friend? You speak so formally.” She said.

“Ah- well, one cannot change the way they speak. Although I agree that, at first glance, he seemed like a carefree person.”

“Carefree… yeah. That’s what he was.” Rina muttered before sitting upright.

“The fact that you’re here means that he went and made himself a few friends. Did he ever do anything or just sit around doing nothing like always?” My sister asked.

“He… he did a lot of things. He helped many people find new and more fulfilling purposes, he offered a home to the helpless and he stood up for them in dire times.”

“Huh? Now I’m definitely suspicious. The only person he ever cared about was himself. It was always about his comfort, his entertainment and his joy.” Rina said with a smile.

“I find it hard to believe that he ever lifted a finger to help anyone. But… if he really did do all those things then I guess he wasn’t all bad, right?” She asked.

“Y-yes, I suppose.”

“Mmm. So, when exactly did you become friends with him?”

“Two or so years ago. We found each other when we were both in terrible places but, with a little bit of hard work and a lot of patience, we got out.”

“Could you be less vague or is it a sore spot?” Rina asked.

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“I would love to tell you everything he and I did but… I can’t. At least, not in detail-“

“Then how can I be sure you’re not lying?” Rina asked. Her expression stiff.

“Ah- good point. Mmm…” I droned.

[Mmm…]

“Mmm…”

We droned.

“Can you keep a secret?” I asked but this only made Rina’s face stiffen further.

“Yes, but if it turns out that you and he were into some shady shit then please leave me and my family out of it,” Rina said with a worried expression but I chuckled.

“No, it’s nothing like that,” I said while raising my right hand.

Rina then gasped as I created a dark ball in my hand.

“I believe you deserve to know the truth. Some of it, at least.” I said but it looked as though Rina was panicking.

“You can use magic?” She asked in a hushed scream. Her face was covered in fresh sweat and her eyes were quaking.

“Yes and-“

I stopped as Rina rapidly shook her head.

“No, no, no. You have to leave.” She said while standing up.

I nodded before making my way out with Rina walking cautiously behind me.

She opened the door before taking a deep breath.

“I do not want to involve my family with the government.” She said with a worried expression but I shook my head.

“No, I have nothing to do with them,” I said.

“That may be true but I can’t have you near here. How long will you be in town?” Rina asked.

“A few days maybe. Why?” I asked.

“Alright. I’d love to learn more about Riley’s secret life but it’ll have to be somewhere else. Give me your number.” Rina instructed and I complied.

“Alright. Goodbye.” She said before softly closing the door.

A moment passed.

I then sighed before wheeling my way down the street.

[Fuck.]

“Fuck.”

I cursed while going to the nearest convenience store where I got some food.

I then got a room at a nearby motel where I ate in silence.

“I…” I tried speaking but no other words left my mouth.

I’d fucked up.

Of course, she would react like that.

Who wouldn’t after seeing a scarred man using darkness magic of all things?

Then there’s the fact that the government was indeed tracking down magic users and people from Edenton.

What was I supposed to say or do?

[Hey, at least you got to see her, right?] Kenos asked.

“Yeah, but we didn’t talk long enough for me to ask where mom is?”

[True but, like I said, at least we know that Rina is fine, right?]

“Yeah.” I sighed before falling onto the bed.

I closed my eyes but just before I sunk into unconsciousness, my phone vibrated.

I grabbed it, expecting a message from Zuri but my eyes widened upon seeing that it was Rina.

[Meet me at the Coffee shop on 8 Marauder Drive at eight in the morning.]

She instructed.

[OK.]

I responded before dropping my phone and sighing deeply.

[Yey! She wants to talk! And here I thought she was gonna call the cops on us and have us hunted!] Kenos said and I couldn’t help but laugh as my heart joyfully danced.

I then closed my eyes and with a smile on my face, I went to sleep.

.

..

Morning came and, after a quick shower, I changed and rushed to a nearby restaurant where I had breakfast.

I then entered the dark world and boarded the Vessel of Hope or Voh, I then tidied it up with the help of Kenos’s shadowy minions before making my way to the coffee shop Rina had mentioned.

I actually knew where it was since it was along the path we took as kids from school to home.

I entered the shop and raised a brow upon seeing Rina sitting by one of the tables in the back only she looked… beautiful.

She wore a pair of matte black heels, formal dark green pants, a white silk blouse, and a dark grey coat hung from her chair.

I nervously wheeled myself to the table and she looked me over. Her dark brown eyes made slightly larger by her glasses.

“Good morning.” I greeted.

“Mmm.” She sounded in acknowledgement before placing her phone on the table.

“Did you spend the night somewhere nearby?” She asked with the slightest bit of concern showing on her face which was adorned with minimal makeup. Some dark blue lipstick and the faintest streak of green eyeliner on the outer corners of her eyes.

“Oh- Yes. There’s a motel not too far from here.” I said with an awkward smile.

Rina nodded before taking a single deep breath.

“Sorry for kicking you out last night, I hope you understand that it was for the safety of my family,” Rina said with a rather formal tone.

“Don’t worry too much about it. Actually, I was surprised you invited me into your home in the first place.” I nervously chuckled.

“I was… overwhelmed at the thought that someone had seen my brother. I didn’t even think about how careless I was being until later on.” She said with slightly lowered eyes.

“Anyway, we can freely discuss everything here. I trust the owner and this place rarely ever gets customers anyway.”

“I see. So… where do you want me to start?” I asked.

“The beginning, if you don’t mind.”

I nodded before giving her a summary of my life in Edenton although I told the story from the perspective of Kenos.

I also left out the part about the fact that I got reincarnated as a goat and merged souls with Kenos because I didn’t want to shock her that much.

Rina blinked several times as I concluded retelling what happened just before I got here.

Everything involving Caligo and the sword.

“Uh-“ Rina sounded but I could tell that her mind was struggling to piece it all together and so I chuckled.

“Don’t worry. I know it’s a lot to take in but-“

“No,” Rina said.

“Pardon?”

“Your story was pretty straightforward. The one thing that I found unbelievable was how you described Riley or Katsíki. It almost feels like you were talking about a different person. Did he ever tell you about what he was like before?” Rina asked with a saddened expression.

I shook my head.

“Ever since the beginning, he was everyone’s favourite. Our parents loved him unconditionally and do you know how he repaid their love?” Rina asked and again I shook my head all while my heart ached.

“With pure apathy. Preschool, grade school, high school and even the moment our father died, he would just stand there, as if he was bored out of his mind.”

I wanted to look away, run or hide but I kept my gaze locked with Rina’s as she spoke.

“I’m sorry if it seems harsh-“

“No, it’s fine. I mean, you can never really know someone unless you’re in their head, right?” I asked with a weak laugh and Rina nodded.

A waiter then asked if we wanted anything and I got some plain old coffee. Same for Rina.

“Oh- I couldn’t help but notice how well you’re dressed., I said in a desperate attempt to change the subject.

“Oh? Thank you. I’ll change into some scrubs later though.”

“Scrubs?” I asked with a faint frown.

“Yes. I’m a doctor. Ah- I suppose you wouldn’t know. Although I wonder if Riley ever talked about me.” She said but all I could do was lower my head in response.

“I’ll take that as a no. Well, there isn’t much to know about me. Spent most of my life in Riley’s shadow, acted out in an attempt to escape it, found myself in a dark place but I lifted myself out of it thanks to Thomas and my dear sweet Fia.”