So, this was the end; a tiny room in a clamorous tavern.

Of all people, Akira shouldn't complain. More than once in his previous life, this was a place he wished to spend a few hours in. To take a little break from the dull routine of Sun Castle. It was a shame he had had to stick to that routine for years—years he had wasted pursuing a mirage.

Pursuing nothing.

Crying over spilled milk would not help him. Nothing would bring those lost years back. Nothing would bring Kim back. Nothing would change the fact that to the folks of Sun Castle he was a traitor, to his mother a disappointment, to his uncle a curse. A man with no place in this world; that was what Akira had become now. An outcast. Even in this tavern; once the tavern keeper learned that Akira was expelled from Sun Castle, she would kick him out of her place unless he paid for his room and his meals.

And the ale. The coin he owed the tavern keeper for the ale alone was worth a one-week stay here.

Knocks sounded on the door of his hole of a room. Has someone told her already? It was the first thought that crossed his mind. Let's hope she listens to reason. Violence was not an option he wanted to resort to; he had created enough messes already.

Akira opened the door a crack, and to his surprise, it was the teenage food server. "You are wanted downstairs, Akira Sen," the slender boy announced.

"Who wants me, boy? Your master?"

"Not her." The boy shook his small head. "It's some important customer who knows for certain that you are here."

The last trace of crapulence from last night was gone now. "What kind of important?"

"The kind that we are not used to seeing in our place. The kind who dons a purple cloak and comes in the company of guards."

Hells and demons! The little bastard should have started his announcement with 'A Purple Cloak asks for your presence.' "His guards; do they wear the same purple color?"

The boy lifted his finger to his lip thoughtfully. "I guess two of them do. The majority wear the regular silver armor."

Only one man fitted this description. Should I meet him or flee? he wondered, glancing at the small window behind him. "Tell him I need a minute to change my outfit."

"He emphasized that I'm not to return to him without you."

That irksome bastard. But after a second thought, Akira started to convince himself that there was nothing to worry about. If that 'important' mage wanted him arrested, he would have sent a squad of Purple Cloaks to his door, not this clueless boy.

Akira followed the boy downstairs, and the first thing he noted was this unusual peace in the dining hall. It wasn't surprising, though, especially after knowing who Akira's eminent visitor was. Sitting at the table in the center was Wei Sen, two Purple Cloaks on their feet flanking him, two guards posted at the closed door of the tavern to prevent anybody from entering. It would be understandable if the Commander of the Imperial Guard persuaded the tavern keeper to evacuate the hall for a while. Even she was not standing in her usual spot behind the counter.

Upon seeing Akira coming, Wei thanked the little boy before he dismissed him to join his employer outside the tavern. "Have a seat, Akira." It was more of a command than an invitation from the Commander of the Imperial Guard.

Exchanging a quick look with the two Purple Cloaks guarding Wei, Akira dragged a chair and sat opposite him, stealing a glance at the canvas bag on their table. What surprises do you have for me, Wei? "I won't ask you how you found me. I just want to know why."

Wei furrowed his brow. "Why don't you want to be found? You are a hero, young man. You stood up to the treacherous Archmage, who is also your uncle, on your own. If that's not a heroic act, then I wonder what it is."

Akira had better pick his words about his encounter against the treacherous Archmage. Nobody knew that Akira was alive today because of Kungwan himself and his daughter who had saved him more than once. Nobody knew that it was Kungwan who denied Akira's wish to be part of his...rebellion.

That was why Wei had not executed him. Not yet.

"What about the demon?" Akira asked. "Still trapped, I hope?"

Wei's judging eyes were fixed on Akira. "It wasn't you who summoned it, right?"

"I'm not a summoner," Akira denied at once, not sure if that might change Wei's opinion of Akira's heroism. "It was my cousin Kim." Her name had never been heavier on his tongue than it was now. "She summoned it to defeat me before I might finish her father off."

"Then who cast the runes?" Wei leered at him, as if he was accused of something.

"The demon was out of control, so Kungwan confined it." Akira inhaled deeply, wearing his best impassive face. "But he was too late. The demon had already killed his daughter when he was done with the runes."

"So, it was you and him." Wei's nonchalance did vex Akira. How dare he? He himself knew what it means to lose a child. But maybe that was the reason. If Wei still blamed the Archmage for Lan's death, then probably, he was gloating over Kungwan's loss. "How did that end?"

Resisting the urge to spit in Wei's face was a task requiring a tremendous effort. "My potion lost its effect, so I wasn't able to stop Kungwan from walking away."

"So, after fighting him, he just let you live?"

Akira was sick of Wei's consecutive subtle accusations, and he made that feeling obvious on his face. "Perhaps he saw that I was not worth it."

"Strange." Wei chewed on his lip. "But anyway, this is not what you are going to tell His Radiance."

Akira jerked his head backward. "The Emperor?"

"After briefing him about the recent events, he demanded to meet you in person." Wei paused, as if observing Akira's reaction to this 'great' news. "I guess he wants to hear your account in your own words," he opened the canvas bag and let the item inside it slide across the table, "while wearing this."

A storm of clashing feelings overwhelmed his heart as he gaped at the red cloak before him. His red cloak. The ultimate prize he had been so desperate to lay hands on. The damned cloak he hated the most. He took the liberty of feeling the silky texture, which was supposed to have the same texture of his lame pink mantle, but something about this one felt different. Felt special. It must be special. Befitting the Light's own soldiers in his holy...

Slow down, Akira, he told himself, realizing that he had been carried away a little bit. Had he just forgotten the truth he had learned a few days ago while fighting that demon? Hadn't he realized how blinded he and his mother had been because of their obsession with this bloody cloak?

"Beautiful," Wei allowed himself a lopsided smile of satisfaction, "isn't it?"

This beautiful piece of silk was the root of Akira's misery. "Am I to return it after the meeting?"

Wei chuckled. "It's all yours." His smile faded as he added, "But first, we must rehearse your account before you stand before the Emperor."

Akira didn't like the sound of this. "Is there something in particular you don't want the Emperor to hear?"

Wei's lopsided smile was back, as if appreciating Akira's understanding. "You see, Akira; the Emperor is the Light's shadow on this Earth, a holy man burdened by the glorious mission of leading us through the dark. Such a holy being does not like to be bothered by too many details. He is more into the big picture, leaving the details for our humble selves to take care of."

Wei was either too eloquent or too nonsensical. "Meaning?" Akira tilted his head.

"You are a hero. Your uncle is a traitor. That's all His Radiance must hear, in case he allowed you to talk, of course." When Akira squinted at him in confusion, Wei continued, "Don't give me that look; His Radiance might just summon you to thank you for your heroic endeavor. But in case he grants you the chance to talk, remember; stick to the main events that serve the story of your heroism. How you survived, how Kungwan confined the demon, how his daughter died; all of this is irrelevant." Wei leaned back in his seat. "Have I made myself clear?"

Akira found himself balling his fists beneath the table. You bastard! Kim's death is not irrelevant, you bastard! "It's all clear to me, Commander," Akira hissed curtly. "This is all about you and Hanu Sen covering up your failure in stopping my uncle."

Akira might have gone a bit too far, but he would do it again if he had the chance. It was the least he could say to this sad being.

Wei's reaction was not what Akira expected, though. "How do you define failure, boy?" The commander smirked. "Because I don't think that Kungwan himself would consider the half-dozen mages who followed him to Gorania a success."

Only six? For a legend like Kungwan, the number was too low indeed. "What about the supplies, Commander? You caught the ship, right?"

Wei took a breath, obviously exerting some effort to appear reserved. "It is just a matter of time."

"What?" Akira didn't bother concealing his gloating smile. "You haven't caught it yet?"

"Son, we have an armada and a sea demon that cover the entire Koyan Sea," Wei forced the words through gritted teeth. "There is no way for them to make it to Gorania without us spotting them."

You know nothing about the Wraith, Commander. Not that Akira complained, but the Emperor's fools were too cautious to act upon Akira's first warning. Another reason for Akira to celebrate Wei and Hanu's failure.

"Just a hypothetical question." Knowing how dangerous the likes of Wei could be, Akira didn't wish to deprive himself of the joy of teasing this rascal. "What will happen if Kungwan's ship sneaks past your armada and your sea demon?"

"You had better wish this doesn't happen, young man." Wei sounded menacing as he leaned forward, his jaws clenched. "Because regardless of what you might say in your defense, it will always be on you." He pointed his finger accusingly at Akira. "You; the one who misguided us with his false information."

You can't hear such a threat from the Commander of the Imperial Guard and take it lightly. "You will blame me for your slow reaction?"

Wei slammed his palm across the table. "Talk to me in a way I don't like, and I will make sure you are tortured before being executed for all the crimes you committed and even those you didn't."

Akira should have known better than to provoke a man so close to the Emperor. I must get out of here. And by here, Akira was considering places beyond this tavern.

"I would never dare to offend you, Commander." Hopefully, it wasn't too late for Akira to play nice. "When is the meeting with His Radiance?"

Akira's sudden apologetic tone seemed to please the commander. "Tomorrow, after we have captured Kungwan's ship. A good moment to stand before the Emperor, if you ask me." Wei curled his lip in disdain, as if saying, 'You don't deserve the honor, boy.' "Until then, you must clear your head and think of every word you are going to say to His Radiance."

"In case he allows me to talk, of course." Akira echoed Wei's statement, and surprisingly, the commander's grim expression relaxed a little upon hearing this.

Wei rose to his feet, staring judgingly at Akira. "Regardless of your upcoming meeting with the Emperor; you did the unthinkable when you decided to face someone like Kungwan on your own." The commander leaned toward Akira as he added, "You can be the next champion of Sun Castle. Don't let your foolishness take that from you."

The next champion of Sun Castle, the words echoed in Akira's mind, even after Wei and his men left the tavern. I can be the next Minjun. The tavern keeper and her customers were back, and Akira was still sitting at his table, stuck in his thoughts, his hollow eyes fixed on the red, silky prize.

Maybe there was still a place for him in this world.

* * *

Akira would be surprised if Wei hadn't assigned one of his men to tail him. Those honeyed words about the next hero wouldn't fool a child. Wei and Hanu would never trust the likes of me. Until further notice, they would keep him under their watch, counting every breath he took if they must. What should he do to win their trust? He had no idea, and he was not even trying to figure it out. All that preoccupied his mind right now was the visit he felt compelled to pay today.

Now clad in his Red Cloak, Akira didn't have to pay the coachman who had taken him to his destination—not to mention how grateful the coachman must have felt for serving one of the Light's holy soldiers. After the carriage had left, Akira stood in front of the door of the house he hadn't thought he might voluntarily return to anytime soon. For a second, he felt that coming here wasn't worth it because simply, it wouldn't change anything.

Would it?

Akira drew in a deep breath before he knocked on the door. Deep inside, he hoped that his mother wouldn't answer, not because he was worried about her endless ridiculing. No, not this time. He just didn't like the sight of her face. The face that reminded him of a lifetime of shame. Of worthlessness.

Of delusions.

The door was opened. First, there was that blank expression on her face, as if she was unable to process the picture her eyes had just captured. Two seconds later, the eyes widened, the eyebrows rising, the forehead wrinkled. Now she knew what she was looking at. The thing she surely had trouble with was: how?

Akira smiled crookedly. "You are not letting me in or what?"

Chiaki took him off guard when she lunged toward him—a move he didn't expect from a lady her age—and...hugged him? Yes, this was a hug indeed. It felt strange for someone whose last hug had been ten years ago. And it was not from this lady even.

His mother held his hand as she walked him inside, and Akira didn't protest. Once the door was closed, she began, "So, the rumor from Sun Castle is true." She didn't utter a word for a moment as she got busy contemplating her son, a rare smile plastered on her face. Akira didn't remember he had seen that joy in her eyes before, not since his father's shameful execution. No, not just joy. It took Akira a moment to realize that there was something else in her beaming eyes. Pride.

"What rumors came from there?"

"Your uncle's treachery." Her hatred for Kungwan was no secret to Akira. "Yesterday, I found everybody in the school talking about the letters he left." She pressed her lips together, and a few seconds later, he realized she was trying to stop the tears from welling up in her eyes, but to no avail. Gently, she laid one hand on his cheek. "And the fearless lad who made a stand against him."

Akira couldn't deny the satisfaction he was feeling right now. Fame and respect had never been more than two alien words to him, but that was something from the past, it seemed. Wei was not messing with him; Akira was already the new champion of Sun Castle.

Elated, and also curious, he asked his mother, "Do you have any idea what those letters were about?"

"Lies of a demented old man. One of my fellow teachers has a daughter in Sun Castle, so she got a copy. Can you believe the desperate bastard? He wrote a letter to every single mage in Sun Castle." She scoffed when she added, "The audacity! The coward doesn't only justify his treachery with mere delusions; he begs us not to fight him."

Let me guess? You never read the letter, Chiaki. Because I believe the demented old man is trying to say that he has left Koya to prevent a war, not to start one. A war that will pave the way for the invincible demons to take over our world after annihilating all of us; Koyans and Goranians alike.

"You think anybody would fall for his lies?" Akira feigned a smile. "I heard he had some followers."

Chiaki waved dismissively. "You mean those fourteen mages? Let them all burn in hell. We don't want them. They will regret it when the next Archmage leads us in the Third Crossing and vanquishes them with the Goranian scum they belong to."

Fourteen? Wei was talking this morning about six 'traitors.' Either Wei lied (How surprising!), or the traitors were growing in numbers by the hour.

"If all Koyans are as faithful as you are, Mother, then make no mistake," Akira took off his red cloak and tossed it toward the nearest chair, "we are all doomed."

Akira headed to the door, leaving his speechless mother behind him. His last statement must have taken her by surprise.

"Akira!" His mother picked up the cloak and strode after him. "What is the meaning of this?"

"You have always wanted that cloak. It's all yours." Akira took a vial of his experimental potion out of his pocket and inspected it. It was almost but not completely empty, and that was all he needed. Two drops would do to help him wield an invisibility shield for a minute. And he could make good use of this minute to lose whoever was keeping an eye on him. "You can take it and show it to the folks in your school to avenge your hurt pride."

This did not amuse his mother, and he knew that. "Is that a stupid joke? You can't leave your cloak here and go outside just like that."

"I don't think I will need it where I am headed." Akira was now invisible as he summoned the shield. "Took me long enough to realize that you need the red cloak more than I do."