Inu wandered through a town, following Liv's trail. He hoped he wouldn't find it. His mind itched with regret. He should've told her about the Hexa as soon as he could.

Seeing as the Shadow hadn't managed to do its job, the six most capable individuals were sent after her. It had happened after Inu began his journey to find her. Odds were, she didn't know. And despite the King's Eyes making her the most powerful Intra Sorcerer in the nation, she wouldn't survive the Hexa.

The Hexa was composed for any mission in war, holding both Inter and Intra Sorcerers. Three of both. For all main categories.

With Inter, they could move quickly due to Space, control circumstances like weather due to Nature, and create various weapons and objects with Matter.

With Intra, they could bulldoze all obstacles with Body, spy with Senses, and surpass the opponent's intellect with Mind.

If Liv didn't avoid them, she would be trapped and made into prey. Even the Empt wouldn't save her when faced with the Hexa. Not with how Hakro Manus operated. Inu wouldn't let her die by that animal's hands even if it was the last thing he did.

***

Liv shut her eyes and let her mind drift. The water was nice and cold. It did wonders for her feet.

Stratum was a ridiculously large nation. Traveling it, careful not to show any kind of obvious pattern was rough if you were trying to get somewhere. That monk had figured it out, nevertheless. But now he was dead.

Suddenly, Liv let her head hang loose and squinted her closed eyes. She shouldn't have killed him. She shouldn't have. Ever since then, her usual visions were replaced by ones where he saw the man get ripped apart by the Shadow. Over and over.

'He was less afraid of me than my own parents,' she thought with a sad smile. 'Or maybe he was acting. Luring me into a trap.' She pressed her cold fingers to her eyes. 'Yeah, that's it. I did what I had to do.'

She opened her eyes and looked at the pond she had her feet dipped in. So calm. She took a small stone and threw it. It sunk into the water without sound and ripples spread in the water. Perfect circular ripples that then faded into the calm of the pond.

Her eyes. He said it would all be over if not for her eyes. But no blind girl survived a world like this. And more than that the idea made her angry. It brought up the memory of her father fighting for her to keep her eyes.

The King's Eyes were supposed to be active from birth. That's why the Shadow was known for killing children. But Liv's eyes were not active. They were dark yellow, but they did not gleam with the power that had terrorized the world.

They decided to let her see only for her to see them dead by her effect. And now she was supposed to give up her eyes again. But for who? For Inu Aomon the wandering philosopher?

"Hey." A hand touched her shoulder, but before she could teleport or make a knife from the dirt and put it through the man, she saw that it was just a boy no older than her. Just a local. Quickly, she squinted her eyes. He smiled. "A beautiful day, isn't it?"

Liv's heartbeat slowed as she turned back to the pond and shut her eyes just in case. "Yes, it is."

She probably should've said something more. The silence lingered as the boy thought of something to say. It was a little uncomfortable. Liv put a hand over her eyes like she was blocking the sun and opened them just enough to see. The boy was just sitting there, looking at her.

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"Ah, sorry, haha, I was just... You're very beautiful."

Liv almost opened her eyes in surprise. Then she turned away.

"Uh, are you laughing?"

Liv put her other hand up. "No, no, I'm just my eyes are sensitive, so I have a headache... and my face feels hot."

The boy chuckled. "Oh, I got some tea that's good for headaches at home. It's nearby."

Liv should've rejected it, but she hadn't tasted tea in a year. "I would like that."

The walk there didn't take long. Not much was said on the way. The boy introduced himself as David. Liv brushed some of her black hair in front of her eyes.

"'And we're here. Welcome to my humble residence," David said with a bow, acting all noble.

The residence wasn't all that humble though. It was a large cottage that seemed well-built.

"It's nice," Liv commented. "Do you own it?"

"Yeah, Father and Mother left it for me," David said as he opened the door.

Liv walked in and smelled the wooden scent inside. It really was nice. Reminded her of home. David offered her a seat and started preparing the tea he talked about.

When it was ready he sat down with her, smiling from ear to ear. "Come on, give it a taste. It has great healing powers."

"Yeah, yeah," Liv said with a little chuckle and sipped the tea. It was good. Really good. She raised her head. "This is really—" She lowered her head in a panic and there was a moment of silence. Then glanced at David while squinting. The boy was frozen in place.

Hoping he didn't see well enough, Liv laughed it off. "As I was saying—"

David fell over on his chair and scrambled back, begging that she wouldn't hurt him. He said he wanted children and a tea shop. Liv didn't know whether to cry or laugh, but there was one thing she did know for sure.

"You know, I would tell you that I'm a person just like you. That I won't hurt you. That my eyes don't make me insane like the Red King you've heard stories of so that you would avert your eyes from the slaughter of innocents. But I'm afraid a thousand years of brainwashing trumps my logic," Liv said as the boy whimpered in the corner. Then she raised her cup of tea. "Thanks for the tea. You can go now. Go tell everyone. Say it rains dark yellow."

***

"Ye, me eyes saw someone like that the sun before this one," the bearded man said from behind the counter before gesturing to the fish. "You be hungry?"

Inu held up a hand and thanked the salesman before walking away.

'A day ago?' he thought. 'She has no idea who's on her trail!'

Inu rubbed his forehead and grumbled. Then he heard screaming in the distance and raised his head. It was a boy running down from the hills.

***

Liv finished her tea and was about to get up and go when a familiar face showed itself. Her visions had betrayed her. Inu Aomon was alive and well.

She tensed for a moment before assuming her usual loose posture and giving an amused smile. "I don't believe I've ever met a man like you."

Inu bowed lightly as he entered before sitting down, not asking for permission this time. "It rains dark yellow. What might that mean?"

Liv gave a mischievous grin. "The Gods piss on humanity."

"Ah, I see," Inu said, seeming a little embarrassed as he straightened his robes. "I appreciate your sense of humor—"

"You do, do you?"

"...but I'm here on urgent business."

"I heard your offer. Do I have to kill you personally this time to hammer it home?"

"No. I have accepted your refusal. I'm here about the He—"

"By the way, how did you survive the Shadow?"

"I'm adaptable."

"Aha, so you're a sorcerer. I should've known with all that confidence of yours. What kind? A sui generis?"

"The Hexa is—"

"Adaptable? But not a mimic, right?" Liv didn't listen, her attention on the intriguing enigma. "No, that wouldn't work. The Shadow doesn't let anyone off easy when it's hunting. You had to avoid at least one attack, right? For that, you wouldn't just need movement, you would need reaction. In other words, your adaptability is Intra... and related to Body... maybe Senses. Am I getting this right?"

Inu swallowed silently, apparently waiting for her to finish since he realized who held the power in the conversation.

Liv smiled. "So you're limited to reactions, are you? In other words, if I were to put you in the Empt, and say, slice you with the insubstantial matter I can access there, you would die like everybody else." Inu tensed a little leading Liv to give a small laugh. "Still feeling confident?"

Inu slammed his hands on the table. "Liv! I am not here to fight you. The Hexa is after you! They could be right on your tra—"

Suddenly a thundering sound shocked both Liv and Inu. The cottage wall exploded inwards, and in the middle of the explosion was a man with tied up, messy blonde hair and narrow eyes.