As soon as Ras leaned back in the chair, watching the black flame dance on his palm, he noticed Violeta staring at him in silence, wearing that same vacant expression as always. But her lips moved softly, barely audible.
—"Master… what… what will become of me now?"
Her voice was weak but sincere, like a whisper filled with resignation.
Ras glanced sideways at her, lowering his hand and blowing out the flame with a soft breath.
—"I don't know yet…" he replied calmly. "But for now, don't leave this room. No one must see you. Understood?"
—"Yes, Master," she answered, lowering her head again, letting her gaze drift back into emptiness.
Ras sighed, stood up, and left the room.
The sun was blazing over the training field when Ras arrived. In the distance, he saw Lili and Susan training with Gaius—sweaty, bruised, but still standing. Susan was the first to notice him.
—"Ras!" she called, walking toward him. "Where were you? Why did you take so long?"
Ras smiled with his usual warmth.
—"I went to eat at the castle restaurant. Then I wandered around a bit to clear my head."
Lili joined them, wiping sweat from her neck with a towel.
—"Weren't you tired? Now you're strolling around while we nearly die here?"
—"Sorry, I didn't know you missed me so much," he laughed teasingly.
—"Don't get cocky!" Susan replied with a soft smile.
At that moment, Vaelis appeared among the trainers, and upon seeing Ras, he stopped with a piercing look.
—"Weren't you with Eron?"
The girls turned their heads in confusion.
—"Who's Eron?" Lili asked.
—"No one important," Ras replied with a light smile, brushing it off.
Then he looked at Vaelis.
—"Yeah, I went with him. But after we trained, he said I had the rest of the day off. So I decided to head back."
Susan frowned.
—"Training? Didn't you just say you went to eat?"
—"I did. And right after, I ran into Eron. He offered me a quick training session. It was short."
—"That sounds fishy…" Lili said. "They work us like dogs every day, and you get to go for a walk?"
—"Unfair, right?" Ras replied, laughing. "Well, if it makes you feel better… I'm heading back to training now."
With a wave, he walked away toward the mage's building.
When he reached the magic practice hall, Supreme Mage Alzareth was already waiting, along with a new group of apprentices.
—"Ah, Hero Ras… about time."
—"Here I am."
—"We'll do the same as yesterday," the mage said bluntly. "Fire your lightning at the test dummy. We'll keep measuring your potential."
Ras stepped onto the platform, raised his hand, and fired a level 1 lightning bolt—just like last time. Then again. And again. The dummy barely shook. The indicator didn't move from level one.
Alzareth clicked his tongue.
—"Stop…" he said, clearly disappointed. "I don't know what's going on with you, but this makes no sense. Your performance is pitiful. Honestly… you're disappointing me."
Ras lowered his hand, but his smile remained intact.
—"Then let's try something different."
—"What do you suggest?"
—"Hit me," Ras said, serious for the first time. "Use the simplest spell you have. I want to test a theory."
Alzareth gave him a strange look, then raised an eyebrow.
—"And what the hell would that prove?"
—"Trust me. Just a small experiment."
The mage gave a short, arrogant laugh.
—"Very well. Your funeral. Don't come crying afterward."
With a simple gesture, a small water orb shot from the mage's staff and struck Ras in the chest, knocking him to the ground.
Ras stood slowly, brushing off his soaked shirt. Then, he closed his eyes, raised his hand, and let out a dramatic scream.
—"AAAAAAHHHH… I feel… I feel… something!"
And in that moment, a black flame burst from his hand—more intense than ever. The Eternal Flame erupted, launching at the test dummy, which was reduced to ashes in seconds.
The entire room fell silent.
The magic gauge spiked to an abnormally high value. Dark energy spun through the air as if trying to devour everything around it.
Alzareth's eyes widened.
—"What… what the hell was that?!"
—"Dark magic," Ras said, his smile returning. "Is that alright?"
The mage took a step back.
—"That's impossible! Dark magic can only be used by demons! Not even royal mages can handle it…!"
—"And yet… I can," Ras replied casually.
Alzareth stared at him, eyes cold. This was no longer a clumsy apprentice. He could no longer treat him like a failure.
—"Listen carefully…" he said dryly. "From now on, don't leave your room without direct authorization. This goes far beyond expectations. Wait until dinner. Someone will come for you."
—"Am I in trouble?"
—"I don't know yet. But someone will evaluate you… soon."
Ras nodded, as if it was all part of a plan he'd already anticipated.
—"Alright. Whatever you say, Master."
As he slowly walked away from the training grounds, still smiling, a thought pierced his mind like a silent dagger:
"Now they truly can't ignore me."
Ras returned to the castle hallways, his footsteps echoing against the silent stone floor. His smile remained fixed on his face, but his thoughts were far deeper than what he showed on the outside.
"Now they can't ignore me anymore. Dark magic… eternal flame… the fear in the Supreme Mage's eyes… that was truly satisfying."
He arrived at his room, opened the door calmly, and found Violeta sitting on the bed, dressed in the maid outfit that had been brought earlier. She sat completely still, her eyes lost in the void as usual.
But as Ras closed the door, she slightly turned her head toward him. Something in her gaze had changed, even if just slightly—as if her mind was slowly starting to rebuild itself.
—"You're back, master?"
—"Yes… and I've got good news," he said, sitting in front of her.
—"News?"
—"Today, I showed the black flame to the Supreme Mage for the first time."
Violeta's eyes widened ever so slightly.
—"You used the Eternal Flame… in front of a human?"
—"Yes. But I pretended it was a spontaneous awakening. They interpreted it as if my body was reacting to training. Now they think I'm special. Different."
Violeta lowered her gaze.
—"That's dangerous…"
—"I know. But it's also the only path to survive here. If I don't prove I'm useful, they'll discard me."
—"And what will they do to you now?"
—"No idea. They told me to stay in my room until dinner. Seems there'll be an evaluation."
Violeta clenched her fists unconsciously.
—"And if they try to kill you… because they don't understand what you are?"
Ras chuckled softly.
—"Kill me? I'm immortal, Violeta. That no longer worries me."
She stared at him for a few seconds.
—"But… doesn't it hurt when they injure you?"
—"I can pretend it does," he replied with a smirk.
—"So everything you show… is a lie?"
Ras looked at her silently for a moment, then said:
—"Everything I show… yes. Because in this world, if you don't wear a mask, you die."
Violeta lowered her head.
—"Then… am I also just part of your lie?"
Ras walked up to her, placed a hand on her head, and gently caressed her hair.
—"No. You're a tool… but you can also be more than that, if you learn how to play the game."
She didn't know how to interpret that answer. But something deep inside told her that Ras wasn't like her previous masters.
Then she ask.
—- "You killed that man without hesitation, and you doesn't seem to care. Master, what are you? An assassin?
Raz laughed
—"Tonight… things might change," Ras added, standing up. "If you want to survive… be ready."
Dinner time arrived. Soft knocks echoed at Ras' door. A maid's voice called out:
—"Hero Ras… the royal family is waiting for you in the great dining hall."
Ras adjusted his clothes, fastened his belt, and took a last look in the mirror. His reflection was still there, contradicting the myths from his previous world. That detail still puzzled him.
—"Time for the performance," he muttered.
He walked confidently toward the grand dining hall. The doors opened solemnly, and everyone inside turned their eyes toward him.
The king, the queen, Princess Ariane, the younger princess Elysia, the Supreme Mage Alzareth, and Vaelis were already seated. Susan and Lili were also there, visibly tense.
—"Raz… welcome," said the king with a polite smile. "Please, take a seat."
Raz took his place calmly. His usual smile was still present, but his aura had undeniably changed.
—"I was told about your training today," the king said, breaking the silence. "It seems… you discovered something interesting."
—"Yes, Your Majesty," Ras replied serenely. "Something unexpected… a magic I didn't know I had."
Ariane narrowed her eyes.
—"Dark magic, right?" she asked, with a venomous tone.
—"It seems so."
—"And how do you explain that?" the king questioned. "Dark magic… is exclusive to demons."
—"Perhaps… this world gave me something new," Ras said, folding his hands on the table. "Or maybe… I was always meant to wield darkness."
A heavy silence fell over the table. Only the clinking of cutlery on porcelain could be heard.
—"What kind of spell did you use?" asked the queen.
—"A black flame… that slowly consumes its target and never extinguishes, unless the opponent is stronger than the caster."
The king frowned. Lili and Susan exchanged surprised looks.
—"Isn't that… too dangerous?" the king asked.
—"Yes," Ras admitted. "That's why I chose to keep it hidden until I could control it. I don't want to be misunderstood."
—"But it's too late for that," Ariane cut in coldly. "If you can use demonic magic… doesn't that make you a demon?"
Ras stared at her. For the first time, his smile faded briefly.
—"I'm not a demon… I'm the result of what YOU summoned into this world. Nothing more, nothing less."
Silence returned.
—"Raz…" the younger princess spoke timidly. "Aren't you afraid of what you are?"
Ras looked at her gently and smiled again.
—"No. I'm afraid of those around me. Not myself."
The king leaned back in his chair, his face unreadable.
—"Starting tomorrow… you'll be evaluated by someone special. We want to know exactly what you are."
—"I accept," Ras said without hesitation. "I'm ready."
—"I hope so," Alzareth muttered, still eyeing him cautiously. "Because this kingdom does not tolerate anomalies."
—"Neither do I," Ras replied, his smile hiding a cold intensity behind his eyes.
Dinner had come to an end. The servants began clearing the plates. Raz, with his usual pleasant expression, stood up as soon as the king ended the gathering. He offered a short bow and quietly left the hall.
As he stepped into the corridor, Susan and Lili quickly intercepted him.
—"Raz, can we talk to you for a moment?" Susan asked, her voice serious, though concern flickered in her eyes.
—"Yes, please," Lili added softly, looking at him with a gentle expression. "We wanted to ask you about what happened today… about that dark magic…"
Raz looked at them both and, with a soft but evasive smile, replied:
—"Another day, alright? I'm really tired. I need some rest… Good night."
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and continued walking toward his room, showing no emotion on his face.
Once he entered his room, the silence welcomed him like an old cloak. Violeta was sitting in the corner, hugging her knees to her chest, her face buried between her arms. Her aura was still heavy and dark… as if the scars from her past still clung to her.
Raz walked over to the tray of food he had prepared earlier. He served some bread and warm soup into a ceramic bowl.
—"Eat something," he said softly, approaching her.
Violeta slowly raised her head. Her expression was that of someone on the edge of collapse. She didn't speak. She just nodded faintly, took the bowl, and began eating in silence, as if her body moved purely by instinct.
Without saying anything else, Ras began to undress slowly, leaving his clothes draped over a nearby chair. He lay down on his bed with a deep sigh, staring at the stone ceiling.
—"What a day…" he murmured. "And there are still many more like this to come…"
He closed his eyes. His physical fatigue wasn't much, but his mind carried too much weight.
And then… sleep came without warning.
He was standing in front of a small wooden house, old and rundown. The poorly nailed walls let the wind slip through, and the roof was barely held together by rusted sheets of metal. It was his childhood home… or what used to be.
The door was wide open. A blood-curdling scream shook him.
—"NO! Please, stop!"
He ran inside with the money his boss had given him for delivering the package hours earlier.
There was his older brother, being brutally beaten by a large man with a hood covering his face. His brother was bleeding, barely able to move, but still trying to defend himself.
—"Stop it! Let him go!" Ras shouted and jumped on the attacker, punching him with all his strength.
But another man appeared from behind, hitting Raz in the face. He fell to the ground, dazed, his vision blurry. From the floor, barely conscious, he saw them dragging his brother out the door.
—"NOOO! BROTHER!"
He crawled toward the kitchen, grabbed an old rusty knife, and with rage burning in his eyes, he lunged toward the nearest attacker. The scene turned chaotic… blurry… blood, screams, pain…
Ras woke up abruptly, gasping for air, drenched in cold sweat, his eyes wide open. He sat up in bed, clutching his chest as if he could still feel that phantom blow.
—"Haa… haa… damn it… again that dream. A few days ago, I dreamed about the part before this one, when I complete the job. Why did I now dream about this part, when they took my brother away?"
He looked at the window. It was still night. The room was cloaked in shadows, dimly lit by the moonlight seeping through the curtains.
And there was Violeta, watching him silently from the corner, her eyes fixed on him.
She didn't say a word. She didn't move. She simply stared… with that same vacant look, although now, something faintly different lingered in the air.
Raz ran a hand down his face, still trying to calm his breathing.
—"How long have you been watching me…?"
She didn't answer. She lowered her head slightly.
—"Were you dreaming?" she finally asked in a soft, hollow voice.
—"Yeah," Ras replied dryly.
Violeta pressed her lips together.
—"Your face… looked like a lost child's."
Ras fell silent. He closed his eyes and rested his arm across his forehead. He clenched his jaw tightly, as if trying to hold back more than just a memory.
—"Sometimes…" he murmured, "there are things you can't erase… not even if you become immortal."
Violeta didn't respond. She leaned back against the wall again, hugging her knees.
—"Then… maybe you're not as empty as you seem," she whispered, barely audible.
Raz didn't say anything. He just went to sleep.