Chapter 3: Alexander Kreity

"No, stop it!" In the dimly lit hall, amidst the flickering lanterns, a man struggled to find solace upon the sofa, wrapped in a blanket to ward off the chill. Yet, he continued to pant, his mind besieged by an unseen force.

[You have to do this!] The voice persisted, causing the man to flinch and squirm under its sinister influence.

"Nay," he protested.

[You have no other choice.] [The world is not fair. If you don't bite now, you will be bitten upon.]

The voice's chilling words echoed through his mind, sending shivers down his spine.

[Take up the task and-]

[…]

[Ah, it appears someone is at your doorstep.]

With these words, the voice faded away, jolting the stranger awake.

Huff, huff!

His breath was unstable, a result of the nightmarish vision he had just experienced. The only image lingering in his memory was that of a terrifying face - adorned in red, with a pair of gleaming golden eyes and two enormous brown horns.

"Not again..." The stranger placed his right hand on his face, trying to calm himself. Just then, he heard persistent knocks on the door.

Knock, knock!

Knock, knock!

Before the wooden door marked with the name 'Kreity', Stynus stood, his countenance adorned in the fashion of the era, having just returned from his visit to James' abode. The door cracked open, revealing a man obscured in the dimness, with faint glimmers of light teasing the shadows.

"Good morning," Stynus greeted in a genteel tone.

The enigmatic figure, his voice tinged with a mixture of sarcasm and vexation, inquired, "What business have you here?"

"Haha, why, can I not pay a call to an old acquaintance?" Stynus replied with an air of polite intrigue.

"Nay, you cannot," the man curtly responded, attempting to close the door. But with a swift movement, Stynus halted the door's closure with his left hand.

"Stay your hand, Alexander!"

"Ha... come in," Alexander finally opened the door, welcoming Stynus inside. The room was dimly lit and chilly, with a poorly lit fireplace failing to offer much warmth. The lanterns provided the only solace, albeit a meager one.

Smiling, Stynus removed his hat and coat, hanging them neatly on a hanger. Taking a seat near the sofa, he raised his left hand, causing a subtle twitch in his fingers that resulted in the lanterns brightening up the room.

Alexander, seated beside Stynus, wrapped in a blanket, gazed at him intently as the room became well-lit. Stynus returned the look, observing Alexander's handsome features - fair skin and brown hair atop his head.

"So, what's the real reason for your visit?" Alexander inquired, rubbing his hands to fend off the lingering chill in the room.

Stynus couldn't help but chuckle. "Come on, you forgot what day it is today?"

"It's... it's Saturday. Did you really come just to ask that?" Alexander gave Stynus a perplexed look.

"..." Stynus grinned.

"I knew it. It's your birthday! Come on, man, you just turned 21; you can't be so forgetful like an old man!" Stynus retorted, his voice carrying a touch of humor.

Alexander maintained his gaze on Stynus, not readily admitting to his forgetfulness. "And you expect me to remember that first thing in the morning?"

"What time is it even? Six?" Alexander added, trying to get his bearings.

"Close. It's three past six," Stynus corrected Alexander with a playful smile.

"Whatever," Alexander rolled his eyes, sighing in exasperation.

Stynus was in a mood to joke. After all, why not? He hadn't seen his friend in two long years.

"Come on, don't be so grumpy. Smile," Stynus encouraged.

Alexander remained perplexed and stared intently into Stynus' eyes.

Stynus' smile faded as he closely examined Alexander's face. "Alex, have you not been getting enough sleep lately?" he asked with concern evident in his voice.

He had noticed the dark circles and slightly swollen eyes the moment he walked in, but he was too busy cracking jokes to bring it up immediately. However, the concern kept weighing on him, and he thought it best to make Alexander comfortable first before asking.

"Aye... It's been tough lately," Alexander admitted.

"Why? Do you have trouble with your work?" Stynus inquired, genuinely curious.

"Well, kind of," Alexander replied with a sigh.

"Oh? What is it? Care to tell me?" Stynus asked, genuinely wanting to understand the cause of his friend's distress.

"The usual, Styn. Bullying," Alexander sighed, revealing the source of his troubles.

"Good God, Alexander? You? You're being bullied?" Stynus couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Alexander remained silent, unable to bring himself to speak about the torment he was enduring.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"God forbid me from saying this, but I wonder who has so much guts to bully you? He must surely be crazy." Stynus questioned, his concern growing.

Alexander's silence confirmed the truth.

Stynus immediately stood up and moved closer to Alexander, crouching down to meet his eyes. "Listen, you are the heir of one of the three greatest families to ever exist, the Bolts," he began, his voice firm and reassuring.

"You are the youngest title holder in the entire history. You are the only person to have qualified in all three highest professions," Stynus continued, listing Alexander's impressive achievements.

"And most importantly, you beat me! You beat me in solving mysteries two years ago, not once but hundreds of times."

"So tell me, Alexander. Why aren't you proud like your old self? Why do you decide to suffer?" Stynus asked, urging his friend to open up and share his burden.

"You seem... much weaker in comparison to the past," Stynus observed, his voice laced with worry. "Just what happened?"

A moment of internal struggle flashed across Alexander's face before he chose to remain silent for now. The weight of his secret burden kept him from sharing it, even with his closest friend.

Stynus, sensing the gravity of the situation, moved closer and took a seat beside Alexander.

Seeing as Alexander had no intentions to share anything, he decided to speak his concerns.

"I came here to ask for help, Alex," he finally revealed.

Alexander's eyes darted toward Stynus, now curious and concerned. "Help with what?"

"Jack, the Reaper," Stynus replied solemnly, causing Alexander's heart to skip a beat.

"The Reaper? What about him?" Alexander asked, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and curiosity.

Stynus paused for a moment, carefully choosing his words. "Oh, come on, have you not heard about him?" he inquired.

"Of course, I have. But what help do you specifically need, Styn? What exactly do you want to know about the Reaper?" Alexander asked, trying to steady his voice.

Upon hearing this, Stynus merely stared at Alex. It was as if, his intuition warned him.

With a heavy sigh, Stynus rose from his seat, his eyes never leaving Alexander's troubled face. "Alexander... I'm not sure what's wrong with you. Your eyeballs are trembling, your voice is shaky, and you're sweating profusely even in this cold," he observed.

"I hope what I'm imagining is far from the truth, but please tell me, you are by no means connected to the Reaper," Stynus said, pointing his cane at Alexander with deep concern, as if searching for any signs of dark secrets hiding beneath the surface.

Alex's trembling ceased abruptly as he absorbed the unexpected revelation. 'Should I…?', he pondered for a moment, contemplating the notion of sharing the secret that weighed heavily on his conscience, but he couldn't muster the courage. Clenching his fist, anger swelled within him, for disclosing the truth might aid his friend, Stynus.

"Styn, I am indeed connected to the Reaper, but not in the manner you presume," Alex finally confessed, drawing Stynus's curiosity to approach closer.

"Continue, I'm all ears," Stynus urged.

"A year ago, I embarked on the pursuit of Jack," Alex disclosed, a sense of pride in his voice. "I managed to corner him," he added, pride now tinged with a hint of regret, "but I failed to apprehend him."

Stynus, taken aback by his friend's candid admission, couldn't help but smile. He had always believed in Alex's potential to become the finest detective, and now it seemed more apparent than ever.

"Then join me, and together we shall make another attempt!" Stynus proposed, revealing his recent involvement in the investigation of James Jorvan's demise. However, to his bewilderment, Alex's reaction was far from what he expected. In an instant, Alex turned pale and rushed to find a bucket, barely managing to contain his sickness.

"Alex?" Stynus questioned, his confusion mounting as he watched his friend move to the distant corner leading to the kitchen. Hurriedly, he approached Alexander, offering reassuring pats on his back.

"What's wrong?" he inquired, genuinely concerned.

"I'm sorry…" Alex muttered between his tears, prompting Stynus to seek clarification. "I'm sorry, Stynus…" Alex continued, his words laden with sorrow and regret.

Perplexed by the sudden emotional display, Stynus witnessed a remarkable transformation in Alex's countenance. Despite his tears, Alex now wore a sinister grin, resembling that of a maniac.

"Alex?" Stynus was utterly confounded, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Stop me… Styn."

"Save me…", Alex said, tears cascading all the way to the floor.

"It's me. I'm…" Alex began to say, and in an instant, a crimson haze enveloped the room. Stynus, with swift determination, ventured into the crimson shroud, wielding his cane and invoking the incantation, "Winstor!"

The tip of his cane glowed with a brilliant azure light, and a powerful gust of wind swept through the room, dispelling the crimson mist. The fireplace and lanterns, extinguished by the haze, needed rekindling.

After the haze had vanished, Stynus found himself alone in the room, with Alex nowhere to be seen. In Alex's place, a solitary card remained, bearing the letter "J" and the joker emblem - the very mark of the Reaper.

"Alex…" Stynus's eyes trembled, a reddened hue gradually enveloping them. "You are the… Reaper?" he gasped, falling to his knees, grappling with the enormity of the revelation.

His voice quivered as he struggled to comprehend the dreadful reality before him. "What happened…?" Stynus uttered, his mind reeling with shock, and his heart burdened with sorrow. He couldn't shake the image of Alex's once cheerful face, now contorted by the revelation.

"How did this happen?" Stynus questioned himself, trying to find answers amidst the turmoil of emotions. His heartache was palpable as he continued to mourn the loss of the friend he thought he knew.

In the depths of despair, memories flooded back, and Stynus recalled the happier times they had shared. "Where did it go wrong?" he lamented, beating his head against the floor in frustration.

"What did this wretched world do to you?" he cried, tears streaming down his face, each droplet a testament to his anguish. He clenched his fist, his anger rising with every pounding thud against the unyielding ground.

"Two years ago…" Stynus muttered, his mind grasping at any possible catalyst for Alex's transformation. "Was it because of that?!" he bellowed, his anger now evident in his crimson eyes and the grinding of his clenched teeth.

Stynus couldn't bear the weight of guilt that settled upon his shoulders, realizing that he bore some responsibility for Alex's current state. "I should have noticed sooner…" he reproached himself, tormenting his soul with the thought that he could have prevented this tragedy.

Upon arriving at Alex's place that day, he had sensed something amiss, for the usual radiant smile that adorned Alex's face was conspicuously absent. Though they were not roommates in the past, their daily encounters in the mornings allowed Stynus to bear witness to Alex's infectious happiness. Except for that one incident, which now haunted his thoughts incessantly.

Leaving the confines of the house behind, Stynus stepped into the bustling streets, the outside world seemingly oblivious to the turmoil within his heart. He reminisced about the times when Alex had been his constant source of comfort and support, always there to lend a helping hand during difficult times. Stynus treasured those memories and cherished the warmth of Alex's smile that could brighten even the darkest days.

"My best friend, were you hiding so much pain behind the mask?" Stynus wondered aloud, his voice tinged with sorrow. The revelation of Alex's connection to the dreaded Devil's Curse weighed heavily on him, leaving him heartbroken and seeking answers that could never be provided.

Tears streamed down his face as he walked the crowded streets, hiding his anguish behind a hat. He couldn't fathom why Alex had chosen to keep this torment concealed, never uttering a word about the curse that plagued him. The burden of the unknown truth gnawed at Stynus's soul, leaving him yearning for a chance to rewind time and offer his friend the solace he had provided so freely.

"Why did you never tell me that you were affected by the Devil's Curse?" Stynus wept openly, the pain of regret and loss overwhelming him. In the face of this unanswerable question, he sought solace in the memories of their friendship, a bond that had weathered many storms but ultimately succumbed to the shadows that loomed over Alex's heart.

'Stop you.'

'I have to stop you, just like you asked me to.'

'Don't worry, my dearest friend, for I, Stynus, promise you that I will definitely save you.'

Note:

[4] Three great families: The Storm, The Bolt and The Night.

[5] Alexander Von Bolt - age 21; heir of the Bolt family; Assumed disguises with the names: Alexander Kreity; Jack; and many more.

[6] Three Great Professions: the Wizard; the Scholar; the Seeker.

[7] Winstor - A wind spell that brings forth a gust of wind; power level depends on the strength and desire of the invoker.