He, who mastered illusions

A charm can deceive many eyes;
The most foolish of the fools,
The most faithful puppet of  ghouls
But never the brain of the wise

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Eva paused in her tracks upon stumbling on a peculiar scene. She squinted her eyes and ducked behind the tall, thick hedges.

The misted glass clouded the view of the three silhouettes. Short-haired men, whose heights were almost the same, sparred, two against one. A boy, who she presumed was Calvin, waved the sword as he sliced through the evading shadows, but it never hit.

He was composed. His movements adhered to the book with no sense of improvisation. He danced with his blade, striking shallow but quick blows.

It doesn't look like a real fight. But damn, I don't think I could keep up with them in a fair match.

Eva lumbered nearer, mesmerized until she reached the opening of the greenhouse.

I must introduce myself again. Here goes nothing.

Various scenarios played in her mind as she knocked on the door. She revealed her most cheerful smile and allowed her ashen hair to sway with the breeze.

There is no room for mistakes. If I need to lie again, then I have no option but to do it right.

The door—molded from thick glass, framed in wood—creaked as it opened. The warmth blew and left her face dripping with sweat.

"You came early," Calvin greeted, smiling with a trace of annoyance.

Sweat saturated his face, including his clothes. His collar bones protruded from his tanned skin, exposed slightly by an unbuttoned pair at the peak of his tunic. He raced against his breath as he clutched on the sturdy door.

Eva cocked her head. "Was I interrupting something?"

"Not really. No. I was just surprised you didn't get lost on your way here."

Calvin's words passed through her ears as she shifted him to the side. "Do you mind if I come in?" Eva didn't wait for his answer.

Through the glass, covered with dew, the light scattered into various colors. A sea of perfume crashed into Eva's nose, and after the door flattened on its frame, the humming wind was silenced.

She roamed through the dome supported by pillars wrapped with ivy. Smoothened pebbles composed the floor, shimmering in a glossy white. The pots of marble, each containing a different bonsai, bloomed in different tones.

After a few more steps, she reached a bed of flowers. A slight smile formed on her lips as she gazed at the colorful scenery. It was rare for her to find a single flower in her old home, and now mountains of them were before her.

They all looked so fragile, so vulnerable, yet beautiful. One pluck could take their blooming life away, ending their delicate charm.

Her train of thoughts came to a halt as two man-like figures caught her eyes. If she wasn't mistaken, they were the ones she saw sparring with the Calvin.

They stood motionless, facing the back wall. If Eva hadn't seen them earlier, then she could've certainly mistaken the two as statues. Furthermore, their back profiles were weirdly identical, down to the last detail. Eva wandered closer, compelled by her curiosity.

Twins? Perhaps.

As the maiden stretched her arm over one of the men's shoulders, Calvin screamed. "Uh — wait!" His warnings flew past her ears.

Eva had already pulled one of them to face her.

The maiden screamed, loud as thunder crashing a soundless night.

"W-what is that!" She pointed her finger at the two faceless figures. Her skin turned frigid; her muscles lost strength.

Their bodies were indistinguishable from each other, square to the sparsest aspect of their clothes, hair, and hide. A barren lump of skin took up the place of their features, with depth and ridges instead of eyes and nose. They were soulless puppets with no face, an empty shell in the form of a man.

"It's fine. They won't harm you," the boy said. He trapped his laughter and waved his hand, causing the two life-like mannequins to crash on the floor. Their muscle and clothes changed into a mass of smoke, which dissipated in a mere second.

"They're not real. See?"

"What in the hell's bottom pit was that?" she bellowed, voice shaking. She placed her palm over her scarlet cheeks. It was the first time she accidentally showed that side of her—and adding salt to the wound—it was in front of a boy.

"They're just mirages," he explained, still keeping his simper inside his cheeks.

"That's impressive. But for the sake of my sanity, please, don't let me see those again. I have enough nightmares as it is. I don't need faceless men chasing me in my dreams, thank you very much."

He shied away from Eva, tilting his head a few degrees. "Do you really think it's impressive?"

This boy is too easy to flatter. No doubt Faun frequently takes advantage of this.

Calvin grated his voice, clearing the rosiness of his cheeks with it. "Just to let you know, they only appeared like that because I wasn't able to conjure up their faces properly."

He drew his sword from the ground and plunged it inside its sheath, subsequently taking his leather vest and coiling it around his arms.

At this point, Eva's pulse soothed down. Amusement replaced her shock—not for Calvin, but for the plan she had just crafted to gather more information. Oh, what a mastermind she was.

"With all the bizarre sorcery I've seen, yours takes the trophy," Eva said as she sat at the edge of a marble pot. "Tell me, what is the limit to things which you can make? Like for example, can you create a duplicate so recognizable, that no one can tell it apart from the real one?"

"Oddly specific, but to answer your question, no. I'd rather not get too in-depth with my technique, but sorcerers like me create illusions. One can't make something out of thin air, but you can very well fool the senses to the point that it might as well be there."

"Sorcerers like you? So, there are multiple kinds of sorcerers?"

"I don't want to get in trouble. It's prohibited to teach regular people anything about sorcery without going through the process."

"I just thought you could humor me a bit. You seemed proficient with your abilities, and I'm sure you'll be a great sorcerer someday."

"You really think so?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. You see, as an illusionist, people's impression of me is crucial. Unlike being a healer like Doctor Harbor or an enchantress like Faun, I rely more on my enemies to defeat themselves or at least rattle them a bit."

As I said, he is too easy.

"I see. I see. Well, thanks for answering my question. Also, it slipped my mind, but I don't think it's a great idea for me to go out."

"Why is that?"

Eva dipped her head. "Reasons I can't share with you."

"Is it about your hair?"

"Partly, yes."

Without warning, the boy took a step towards her. She had no time to respond when he laid his palm atop her head. A raging force, gentle yet powerful, heated her summit.

"W-what are you doing?"

His warm fingers rubbed the roots of her silky hair. And at the corner of Eva's eyes, the ash-gray shade turned darker until it reached a vibrant chestnut-like color.

Calvin took a step back, leaning his head and squinting his eyes. Then, as if astonished by his masterpiece, he brought out a wide smile.

Eva stammered. "I-it looks too real." At that moment, a thought brushed in her mind.

What if — What if he could also change my face?

Her tongue urged to ask him, but she did not.

They'll find it suspicious if I ask them that.

"Say. Do you like it?"

"It's alright," she timidly said.

"There wouldn't be any sorcerers in town, so the chance of anyone seeing through the illusion is very slim. Still, you have to be careful."

"How about the smell of my curse? I'd hate to be ostracized by pitchforks and torches. That wouldn't be a pleasant welcome, don't you think?"

"Only sorcerers can detect the reek of death. You'll be fine."

She shook her head and jolted to stand. "Perhaps. But I need to be certain. Maybe you can give me a blade? I'm sure you have a spare sword or two."

Calvin hesitantly looked away. "I'm sorry. Faun believed you might ask that, so she told me beforehand not to give you a weapon under any circumstance. At least, not until the masters come back."

Eva faced Calvin's back as he moved toward the exit. He opened the door, allowing the wind to blow on them both.

The maiden rolled her eyes as she followed him. "Fine. But I must ask, what do you plan to do in town, and why do you need me with you?"

"We just need to buy stocks." He paused for a second before continuing. "And also, don't discuss anything regarding the Whisper Mansion or sorcerers, and especially about where you came from. Understood?"

"I get it, but you didn't answer my question. Why do you need me to go with you?"

It was like talking to the wind until the boy answered, bashful.

"I just want to have your company," he said as he turned around, covering a half-smile.

* * *

"Done!" Calvin exclaimed.

The grand wagon they took faded in a thick fog, but as Eva stepped into the place where it was once parked, her toe jabbed against an invisible wheel.

"You brought that to yourself." He scoffed as she writhed in a jolt of pain. "The wagon is still there, just hidden. Let's hurry before anyone finds it."

The boy and the maiden followed a barren path leading to the heart of the forest. A grove lit by the noontime sun surrounded the edges of the dirt road. After a while of walking, they arrived at the town's middle, a modest fountain made of gray bricks.

"What are we here for again?" Eva asked.

"Supplies. Remember what we've discussed. You don't need to talk to people that don't concern you."

"I'm not fond of chatting anyway. It won't be a problem."

The houses bathed in the salmon light, as did the prudent villagers strolling around. Children rushed around her, their yell fading as they sprinted to the distance. The combined essence of baking flour, dried berries, and dust swayed in the chilly atmosphere.

Eva tucked her hands inside her clothes and kept her view down low. And just like any rural village devoid of any visitors, she attracted a million eyes.

Dames in grimy clothing and chaps igniting cigars dotted every chair and corner. They passed by bakeries, blacksmiths, and pleasure houses. The small town turned out not to be very small after all.

Through all the lowly structures they passed, only one radiated an air of elegance—the church.

At the peak of the middle tower was a cone dome embezzled in ruby. A fabric sheet, pinned at the summit, waved with the breeze like a mermaid's tail. The silver gates stood, surrounded by crimson stone walls. It was a small city inside the village in and of itself.

"That's the Friscan Church. I bet you don't have that in your place."

"We don't believe in a god, so why would we bother?" She flinched. "The only thing I'm seeing is a throne for the wealthy. How can they stomach living in that kind of place when everybody around them drowned in poverty."

Calvin's eyes swelled in size. "Simmer down before anyone hears you! The church's influence is vast in this place!."

"Why? You're a believer too?" She smirked.

"Not as much as other people. Faun and I," he took a deep breath, "have our reasons. But the masters are different, especially Master Whisper. I don't know anyone more devout than him."

Eva gave no retort. Instead, they continued moving, stopping in each stall and picking a bag of supplies every time. They toured around, circling throughout the market and encountering a bunch of stops.

In both of Eva's hands were packs of all sorts of vegetables, twice as much as Calvin's. Suddenly, the boy's reasons for taking her became clearer.

When he stopped in his tracks once again with his gaze stuck on a shop, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Are you serious? Haven't we exhausted every store in the land yet?"

"I swear this is our last."

She sighed. "You said that a few stops ago."

"I only need some newspapers. You can stay here —"

She nodded in weariness. Wait — Newspapers!

Her exhaustion dissolved at hearing the word. "I'll go with you!" she exclaimed.

The chime sounded as Calvin pushed the door forward. He went straight to the counter.

"Copies for the whole week, please!"

The vendor whisked behind to pull his order, and Cal did nothing but drum his fingers over the board. As he loitered, Eva brought down the bags she was carrying and rushed to one of the many copies on display.

She pressed her palms against the glass and read the top headlines.

"Princess Astra comes back to life after being murdered. 'It's a miracle,' says witness."

"Princess of Astra survives assassination. Manhunt endures."

"Family of Astra offers a million gold bounty atop assassins' heads."

Her soul sank. The light around her dimmed, turning black. Calvin called her name in the distance, but it waned as it got to Eva's ears.

Darius was right. People are looking for me. Crap. How long will I be safe here?

She lumbered outside, hoping to whiff a fresh set of air. Under the shallow sunlight, a voice erupted beside her.

"Miss, I think you've dropped your bag," a little girl said and pointed at the floor.

"Thanks."

She lost in her thoughts as she picked the bags one-by-one. And as if her mind wasn't chaotic enough, the lassie giggled. "You smell funny. It reminds me of my Mama."