Kael emerged in the shadowed corner of a narrow alley, the scent of blood and void ichor still clinging faintly to his coat. The stone beneath his boots was cracked and stained with old grime, and somewhere nearby, a rat scurried into the shadows.
The masked figure stood silently for a breath.
Then, with a flick of his fingers, the smiling white mask dissolved into motes of golden light and vanished into his storage.
He reached into his coat and removed the A-rank badge, staring at the black and silver sigil for a long moment before slipping it into a hidden storage pocket.
The illusion magic wrapped around him pulsed gently, then unraveled.
His elegant coat and formal wear faded like mist, replaced by a new illusion: simple, civilian clothes. Faded gray tunic. Plain black trousers. Soft boots. Nothing that would draw a second glance.
Kael stood there a moment longer, breathing in the scent of the alley.
And instantly regretted it.
«...Ugh.»
The stench was thick , rotting meat, sewage, and something moldy. He wrinkled his nose and stepped forward quickly, brushing his hands together.
Note to self: I need somewhere to stay. No more reappearing in trash alleys.
Now that he had money , and a storage vault , there was no reason to rough it anymore. A hotel near the guild would be logical. But more importantly…
His thoughts drifted unbidden to her.
The cheerful girl with snow-white hair and warm crimson eyes. The one who had smiled at him not with fear, but kindness. Sincerity. She had offered him a free meal simply because she could.
Liora's Hearth.
He wanted to be near it.
Somewhere he could return to… without a mask.
But first , clothing.
The scent of freshly tanned leather and rich fabric greeted him before he even reached the storefronts. Clothing shops lined both sides of the cobbled street, window displays glowing with enchanted mannequins that rotated gently to show off stitched tunics, embroidered jackets, and feathered cloaks.
Kael selected a shop that seemed moderately high-end , not noble-tier, but respectable.
A soft bell rang as he entered.
The interior was warm, lined with wooden shelves and glass display cases. A portly man with gold-rimmed spectacles looked up from behind the counter, his expression wary but professional.
«Welcome, sir. Looking for anything in particular?»
Kael smiled politely. «Sets of civilian wear. Comfortable. Urban style. I'll take at least six full sets.»
The man blinked. «Six… Certainly. Would you like measurements, ?»
«No need.» Kael stepped behind a corner, dropped the illusion briefly to reveal his true body, then returned to it. «Trust me, I'll fit anything.»
«…Right.»
The tailor scrambled to prepare the outfits. Kael selected a variety: tunics, coats, boots, gloves, and belts. Neutral colors. Nothing flashy.
When the stack was complete, he placed a handful of silver coins on the counter.
The man counted. Then blinked.
«This is… exactly correct.»
Kael nodded, then glanced around.
No other customers. No obvious surveillance.
Good.
He raised a hand casually and muttered a single phrase:
«Forget.»
A pulse of mind magic rippled outward in a gentle circle, brushing over the tailor's thoughts. The man's eyes glazed over for a moment, then he blinked and looked down at the now-empty counter.
Kael had already stored the clothes in his dimensional vault.
To the tailor, he had never been here. No face. No memory. No missing merchandise.
The perfect cleanup.
Kael adjusted the fresh shirt he'd changed into , this one real, not an illusion , and stepped outside into the city streets once more.
After an hour of searching and comparing, Kael stood in front of the one building that had caught his attention.
A tall structure made of smooth white stone, trimmed with blue crystalline latticework that pulsed softly with enchantments. A pair of magical fountains flanked the entrance, casting glittering droplets into the air. Golden letters above the door read:
The Azure Garden Hotel
It was clearly expensive.
The attendants were dressed in formal suits, and a magical kiosk near the entrance scanned IDs with shimmering light.
Kael didn't hesitate.
He had money now. And he wasn't about to sleep in an alley again.
He stepped inside, marveling briefly at the polished black-marble floor and enchanted chandeliers that hung like floating stars from the ceiling.
But as he approached the front desk, he suddenly remembered,
He didn't have an ID.
Not as Kael.
His real identity , what little there was , didn't exist in any official record. The only ID he had was…
His eyes narrowed.
Of course.
He turned and walked calmly into the nearest restroom.
Locked the door.
Raised his hand.
The illusion melted away, and the mask returned , smiling white porcelain, smooth and haunting. His outfit shifted back to the Ghost's attire , formal, dark, clean. The A-rank badge pinned visibly to his chest.
He stepped out.
And walked to the front desk.
The receptionist, a young man with short blond hair and an enchanted quill in his pocket, looked up with routine politeness.
«Welcome to the Azure Garden. How may I assist, ?»
Then he saw the badge.
The A-rank.
His demeanor changed instantly. «O-Oh! My apologies, sir. Forgive me. We don't often receive hunters of your rank. Are you here to book a room?»
«Yes,» Kael said calmly. «Long term. Start with one month. I'll decide after that.»
«Of course! W-We'll prepare one of our private suites. Top floor. Mana insulation, magical soundproofing, high-security door locks. Complimentary maid service and daily food delivery. Does that satisfy?»
Kael nodded once.
The man quickly typed into the enchanted crystal pad on the desk. «And ID?»
Kael handed over the ghost ID provided by the Guildmaster. It shimmered with verified enchantments.
The receptionist blinked. «Guild-registered… personally assigned by Master Volkar…»
His bow deepened. «Everything's in order. Please follow the attendant , she'll show you to your suite. Payment is upfront for VIP stays. That will be, »
Kael dropped a pouch onto the counter.
It jingled.
The receptionist paled as he peeked inside.
«…Paid in full.»
Kael followed the hotel attendant, who walked him past velvet curtains and up a glowing mana-lift to the top floor.
The room?
Luxury incarnate.
Wide bed with enchanted heating sheets. Crystal balcony overlooking the city skyline. A small private library. A bathtub that cleaned itself. A spell-arrayed desk for correspondence. And a personal teleportation rune tied to the Guildhall.
Kael stood silently in the middle of it, taking it all in.
Warm light. Clean air.
No blood. No screaming. No void.
Just silence.
A place that could feel like his.
He stood at the window, gazing out at the shining city.
Then turned.
Walked out the door.
And headed toward the one place that had left an imprint on his heart.
The moment he crossed a dark turn in the street, he took off the mask, and stored it.
He was Kael again.
The lanterns were just being lit as Kael arrived. Warm, gentle light spilled onto the plaza outside, casting golden patterns on the stones.
He stood across the street for a moment, watching through the window.
There she was.
Her white hair glowed under the light, tied up in a simple ribbon. She was laughing again, balancing two trays while chatting with a pair of older patrons.
Her smile hadn't changed.
Kael's chest tightened a little , a strange sensation, not unpleasant, just unfamiliar.
He stepped forward, pushing open the door.
The little bell chimed.