?


    Joey stared down into his drink, his own reflection shimmering in the amber liquid, a mirror to his turbulent thoughts. He deliberately tuned out Arthur''s words, creating an awkward silence that hung heavily in the air. Arthur let out an exasperated sigh, realizing that Joey was grappling with the weight of something profound. Unbeknownst to Arthur, that dream had shattered Joey''s world, exposing truths he hadn''t been prepared to face.


    "Koby," Arthur addressed the mage, his energy brimming, "How''s your mobility? Have you adapted to your new way of life?"


    Koby chuckled, scratching his nose self-consciously. "I still forget sometimes and reach for things with my missing arm. It''ll take a while to get used to, but as long as I can still fight and read, it''s not all that different."


    A mischievous glint sparkled in Arthur''s eyes as he produced a parchment from his robes, revealing aplex spell diagram and incantation. He extended it to Koby with a smile. "In fact, I have a solution for that. This spell diagram and incantation will allow you to materialize objects using ether. You can rebuild your arm with this."


    Koby''s brows furrowed in confusion, his dark green eyes blinking at Arthur. "Wait, what? Are you just giving me another spell without asking for anything in return?"


    Arthur grinned, his demeanor rxed. "You did ask me to be your teacher, didn''t you? I''ll share my knowledge with you in exchange for your feedback on the spells. I don''t use most of them, so I''d appreciate it if you could document your experiences in a grimoire."


    Koby nodded, his lips pressed tightly together as he clutched the scroll. "I won''t forget this, teacher."


    Joey, who had been brooding on the sidelines, couldn''t hold back his contempt any longer. He mmed his ss onto the table and stood up abruptly. "If you want to be hispdog, then be my guest. Just don''t wag your tail around me, pup."


    Koby''s anger red, and mes danced at his fingertips as he snapped back, "What did you say? I won''t tolerate your insults, you bastard. Take it back or prepare to be scorched."


    With a sardonic grin, Joey threatened with his fist, challenging Koby''s fiery rage. As the tension escted, Koby unleashed a torrent of mes toward Joey.


    But then, Arthur intervened. He pped his hands together, and the mes turned to wisps of smoke, while the force field surrounding Joey shattered. A ripple surged through the space, freezing both fighters in their tracks. As beads of sweat trickled down their faces, they turned to Arthur, their expressions a mix of confusion and awe.


    "I consider usrades after what we''ve endured," Arthur began, his face obscured from their view. "No one elseprehends the horrors of the ninth castle or the heartache of the tenth trial. It wasn''t a mere coincidence that we came together and conquered that dungeon."


    "We were neverrades," Joey retorted with a scowl, retracting his clenched fist. "You wanted to believe we were, just because we lent a hand. But in the end, only Dal stuck by your side. I even contemted killing you."


    "I overheard those conversations," Arthur acknowledged, turning toward them with a gentle smile. "You have every right to consider it, given what you''ve learned about my true identity. Yet, you''ve kept that secret safe, even to this day."


    "Maybe I''m just afraid of how you''d retaliate," Joey smirked, but Arthur merely shook his head. He rose from his seat and approached Joey, attempting to pat his shoulder.


    "Don''t touch me," Joey warned sharply.


    "I might not know exactly what you saw in that tenth trial," Arthur said softly, his gaze prating, "but I can make an educated guess. You glimpsed a future that goes against everything you believe, something you yearn for but deem taboo. What if I told you... I could help you attain that future?"


    "That''s not what I want," Joey replied firmly, swatting Arthur''s hand away. "I just want you all to leave me alone. I have my own goals, and I won''t let some brat tame me."


    Arthur sighed as Joey walked away, disappearing into one of the designated houses. He then turned to Koby, who still seethed with anger, his disposition transformed after relinquishing his arm.


    "You were ready to pick a fight with him," Arthur remarked, chuckling as he gestured for Koby to sit. "Sometimes, rage needs to be restrained. I may not often advocate for it, but I understand the wisdom behind doing so."


    "I won''t let another man trample on my pride, teacher," Koby dered as he sat down, his eyes still locked in a heated re at Joey. "He acts like a child, as if we didn''t sacrifice our own happiness to be here."


    "Joey''s anger isn''t about the sacrifice itself, but rather what he sacrificed," Arthur exined with a wry grin. "A man who refuses to confront his deepest desires isn''t someone you should allow to provoke you, my dear disciple."


    ***


    The shattering sound of ss filled the room, liquor sttering across the walls like crimson streams. Joey let out an exasperated huff as he stumbled towards a chair, barely managing to copse into it. He sprawled onto the floor next to it, staring at the ceiling as he took in deep breaths of the cool air in his new abode. Every memory of that fateful moment haunted him, gnawing at his conscience.


    "The moment I left that dream, this nightmare began," Joey muttered through clenched teeth. His eyes welled up, and he quickly covered them with trembling hands. "How am I ever going to face her after this?"


    His heart felt like a soiled rag, wrung out to thest drop. Joey wondered if he might just wither away right there, but an intrusive rm jolted him back to reality. He snapped his eyes open, staring at the holographic projection before him, beads of cold sweat forming on his skin.


    "It''s been far too long since myst report," Joey muttered, his gaze fixed on his young mistress attempting tomunicate with him. "How can I bear to see her face without being reminded of what I''ve done? What I''ve allowed myself to be?"


    Joey felt an urge to decline her request, an impulse to spare himself the agony of facing her. But he knew that if he did, she would grow suspicious, perhaps even believe he was dead. With a trembling hand, he epted hermunication.


    "Greetings, mydy," Joey stammered, avoiding her gaze by staring at the ground. "I apologize for my prolonged silence. Much has transpired since ourst conversation."


    "Save your excuses, Joey," came the cold voice of his young mistress, her anger thinly veiled by her icy demeanor. "You warned me about a man and then vanished without a trace. You will face punishment once your mission isplete."


    "I...I deserve it, mydy," Joey murmured, his eyes still averted. "I''ve uncovered the truth about his real identity, which may provide insight into his intentions within the tower. Despite some setbacks, I still maintain contact with..."


    "What has happened to you?" the youngdy interrupted, her tone growing more intense. "Lift your head and speak to me directly. Your words are slurred, and you haven''t met my eyes once."


    Joey knew he was cornered, so heplied, slowly raising his gaze to meet hers. Unlike before, he saw her form seated in avishly adorned chair surrounded by vibrant flowers. Her long, flowingvender hair framed her face, and her piercing violet eyes bore into his with a furrowed brow.


    "Are you drunk?" hisdy inquired, her fury evident. "You allowed yourself to reach such a state despite the mission I entrusted you with? Have you grown weary of life, Agent?"


    Joey confessed without hesitation, his gaze captivated by her beauty like never before. He had never looked at hisdy with such frivolous eyes, but the happiness he''d experienced had changed everything, making him unable to tear his gaze away. "Yes, mydy. I''ve grown weary of living."


    "Clearly so," the youngdy responded with cold anger that she struggled to conceal. "I''ll send someone to rece you in Xeloria. Return to my side so that I can discipline you for this recklessness."


    Joey couldn''t find words to reply, his head lowering to the ground once more. The pain of her disappointment cut deeper than any physical wound, but he knew he had failed her as an agent. Still, he had to issue one final warning.


    "I must caution you, mydy," Joey spoke with his gaze fixed on the floor. "That man is even more formidable than we had feared. During my journey alongside him, I''ve unraveled his true identity. He is... the prophesied Demon King."


    "That''s nothing but a myth," hisdy replied with a skeptical frown, her disbelief palpable. But Joey lifted his eyes, determination etched across his face, to convey the sincerity of his words. "How certain are you?"


    "I would wager my life on it, mydy," Joey dered, pushing himself up from the floor. "That man will bring the Red Tower to its knees, erasing the millennia of history it holds."