Exiting the classroom, he made his way to the only person standing among the bustling crowd of students while observing the model of the ship in his hand.

It was a combination of machinery, gold, and wood. The perfect mix of all elements pushing the limits of technology to a new level, the prototype of the new ship his uncle's son Haniel wanted to build and use to transport things from the east gate to the mainland faster and safer.

Adel observed the model with great focus until his azure eyes finally shifted to him through his golden-rimmed glasses.

"Is everything all right?"

Hildebrant lifted his head with a smile.

"Yes, why wouldn’t it be?"

Adel shook his shoulder and stored the model in his bag.

"Teacher Simon this week looked as if someone killed his entire family, and he was prepared to butcher the one responsible for it. No one even dared to breathe while he was in class."

Hildebrant raised an eyebrow.

"So?"

Both began to move through a corridor full of students hand in hand ignoring some glances thrown their way.

"I also heard your uncle invested in a dyeing workshop and Creao Alliance generally doesn’t like these factories."

Hildebrant did not take it to heart and walked out of school with Adel walking next to him.

"My uncle said I quote “What can these little useless artists do to me.” So, you can imagine how much their dislike will help them. Even this morning he cursed all Tengoku people without care."

Stopping on the edge of the road he let the wave of carriages pass before his face. Wind from their movements made his veil flutter and also let some dust fall on his friend's face. Breathing it in Adel began to couch out what little did get into his throat while cowering his mouth.

"Plus."

He said and turned his face to a couching Adel who looked as if he would die any second without any mercy.

"Creo Alliance doesn’t care about the dyeing workshop specifically. They care about the paint they will be missing if it's used for dyeing which can be easily resolved if new ships are invented and transportation of raw materials from the east gate is guarded. That’s why I would ask you to work harder on your prototype."

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Finishing his couching and taking out a napkin to clean his face Adel threw him a glance.

"For someone who is always locked in a dark room with nothing but brush and paint you are well informed. Also don’t worry ships are almost ready to go in just five months and they can go to the east gate and back on a test run. Not even pirates will be able to battle my ships."

Hildebrant smiled.

"I hope so. My mother taught me knowledge is power."

Adel snorted.

"Mine taught me never to believe others. Not even your own family."

Pain and anger flashed past Adel's eyes but after a while, all emotion disappeared leaving a calm and intelligent visage of his friend.

Hildebrant knew what worried his friends and because of that on the way they did not utter a word just stared and observed as streets changed and houses around became less prominent and also smaller and built from less rich materials until both of them stood before giant wooden villa surrounded by half-naked women and old gentlemen staring at them from afar.

"Can't they control themselves?"

Adel said looking at the woman with rose-red lips, white hair, and the figure of a Feyren Republic girl. She did not wear anything on top, exposing her gorgeous, curved body while lifting Singhboard with the words Galantine beauties.

People who passed around her and her colleagues could not help but take a peek against their wills. Not even children were spared from her and her friends flirting smiles and winks, his friend was no exception.

Adel's cheek turned red and Hildebrant wickely smiled.

"I did not expect you to have such a taste. Feyren Republic girl and Tengoku phalangites? What rich tastes. Don’t you want also to take my aunt's friend as wife? I promise she might be a pure Golden Empire noble, but she should be more experienced than any of them."

Hildebrant mocked without mercy, but Adel just calmly shook his head.

"No, thank you, my range of dating is from 14 to 25 anymore and I would need to go to my doctor for help. But I might consider if your aunt's friend looks at least half as good as one of the girls here."

Hildebrant smiled.

"She might not look that good, but she had money."

He gestured with his hand while Adel touched his golden-rimmed glasses.

"Money can’t buy love."

But they can buy materials.

"Wait here. I will be back shortly after asking my aunt for the keys."

Hildebrant looked at Adel with confusion and then looked back at the building with a signboard showing names of Galanties beauties and then back at Adel.

"You, Aunt, manage the brothel?"

"Brothels."

Adel answered and then went inside.

None of the girls tried to stop him and one of the shorter ones even made way while jumping as if scared of his presence before approaching him with a wicked smile.

Ignoring his friend's problem Hildebrant gazed at the shining ball of light in the sky and then finally opened newspapers he bought in the morning and began to read page after page leaving no information behind.

Not even a minute passed when from the side of his vision he noticed shadows around him, and other people beginning to move, and before he could understand what was happening mass of shadow rose from the ground to cover the sky in a dome of darkness.

Hildebrant wanted to move but found out he was frozen in place, his shadow slowly twisting around him like a living being began to shroud him until he could not move, breathe, or hear. All he could do was stare at the now dark sky, watching as shadows from all around him and people surrounding him began to rise and twist around his and other people's bodies.

They just stood there unmoving, unable to do anything against an unknown force.

Hildebrant fought with all his might, trying to move his muscles and tendors until his eyes began to bleed but even with all his will he could not run away from his own shadow.

Darkness consumed him and then his conscious descent into a new dream.