~ He who watches the world with closed eyes - IV ~

Xi Ken.

Zuen Ken.

I wondered why there was this Zuen before his name Ken, like why couldn't I call him Xi Ken instead, but maybe that was some addressing form which I wasn't aware of...

"Then Zuen Ken, I introduce myself as-"

"Raven, I heard."

When did he... oh, I blushed, I had been very loud when I fell, of course I had also been muttering about outshining the seniors and what not.

I reluctantly accepted that he had sharp ears.

"Then..." I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, like did he want me to leave, or did he want me to stay, since for now I could presume he would never answer my questions if I asked them directly.

"You can rest here, your master might be occupied."

"How are you so sure he is my master," I questioned genuinely, "I mean even I don't know if the one you are talking about is the same one I had traveled so far to face."

"There is only one master in this sect."

"Oh..."

"Are you hungry?"

Not expecting that sudden question, I felt warm, like my family was here with me, it reminded me of the days back then when mom would ask me the same question. Her kind eyes staring at me to see if I was simply skipping meals when I refused.

Ah, that hadn't been too long away, but the days here felt so stretched, I wasn't sure I could have handled it back at the cottage, all alone, and labeled as evil, so coming here felt kind even, for better or for worse.

"We ate in town, some noodle dish."

"Then what do you want to do? Since resting here doesn't seem to be in your mind." His voice dipped slightly as if he was chuckling at me, mocking me in his own way. But also, it did not seem like he was being rude, but rather generous with his offer.

But why was I getting so many weird vibes from him...

"I am a-afraid you would do something to me in my sleep."

"...oh," he sounded hurt, but that must be my delusion right. I heard him continue though, and it was even more... sad. "My status has never faced such extreme suspicion, this is..."

"Well I will take some rest if you are adamant," I retorted boldly, "but in return I need for you to give me your word that you will not harm me." Because even if he did harm me, the worst would be I would die faster from his hand than that master's who was lying in wait for me in some main sect hall. Either way I seemed to be doomed.

"I will assure you that my promises are kept, but how will you know whether I speak lie or truth?"

"I wouldn't, but now that I think about it, that master might kill me anyway, so better you than him. At least I know your name."

My answer must have amused him, as I heard him ask, "What crime did you commit?"

I rolled my eyes, "Crime you say... huh, nothing really, I told my senior I wasn't his Raven and he didn't believe me, so I tried proving myself that I spoke the truth, but turns out, I am some evil force who has some powers which the senior feared, so he gave me an inking and brought me here. I am quite unlucky if you think about it."

I expected a reply from the stranger, but when emptiness filled the void, I started thinking if I said something wrong. Was I too optimistic to think everyone had some goodness in them and that I could make friends amid this chaos?

Seems like it.

"... you are inked?"

I snorted rather rudely, "Yup, wanna see the ink, it still hurts."

"Are you, not aware that getting inked is a serious matter?"

The question seemed to be mocking me for real this time. But I didn't want to appear as a fool. So I defended myself, "I was told that inking just seals my power, what is so weird about it?"

I heard the man exhale, his profile shifting as if he was finally turning towards me to give me his full attention, "To dominate a man, you ink his body, to suppress a soul, you ink his 'soul'. Not many find getting inked a hilarity like you do, it is meant to degrade a person. I assume you impulsively took it?"

Through the entire explanation, I was left speechless. "B-But he said..."

"He fooled you."

And I got fooled.

Groaning, I laid back on the floor, my mind crying at the unfairness of it, "I will tell you something okay, as it is I am going to get killed..."

So I took an hour just to explain the man what I went through, even that butterfly part and that red strings tree. I left out nothing.

"...so you see where I am coming from?"

The man had been quiet throughout my rant, but when I finished he very skillfully avoided my story, only sparing a few words of "I see, it seems unfair."

I frowned, "Say something else! You don't believe me right? Right? But tell me why I would lie, I am-"

"I can help you escape your sentencing, but you will have to promise me one thing in return."

"What?" I immediately felt very awake and excited, yearning to know what he had in his mind.

"If I take you as my disciple, reasoning being that my aim is to show you the path of good and undo the evil in you... these fools would believe me."

...fools he says.

"Y-You can do that?"

"I will give you my word," He promised boldly, his voice as melodic as an angel's for me.

"Then," I hesitated, "I can trust you aren't taking advantage of me right?"

He replied even if a bit late, "I will not deceive you, but you have to keep your promise."

"Fine, what is it?"

"You will only chant what I ink down for you."

I didn't get what he meant, was he an ink master as well? "What do you mean? I am not good with this world references."

"I will give you a brief," he supplied, "in this world there are two kinds of people who dictate the hierarchy. One who are ink masters, who use their ink and brushes to put on spells, and the other is a chant master or chanter, one who chants what he reads. And generally, one master from each diversity would team up to eradicate evil forces and protect the ordinary citizen. But once they become a pair, the chanter loses his ability to chant after reading from any source, he can only put forth power when he reads what his partner, the ink master writes."

"Well... then what do you want from me... I assume I am a chanter...?" I spoke with confusion, "but I seem to be at a disadvantage, I mean you want me to be your partner? Didn't you hear that I am not from this world and-"

"I know that," the stranger cut me short, "but I am asking something even more... delicate of you."

"W-What?" I felt on edge. It was good that he seemed to be believing me, but now what.

"Since you were inked upon, taking you as a partner would be a disgrace to me, although, if you have my ink instead of your senior's... then I have no qualms."

"You... how can you..." I stammered with shock. Did I hear that right? "But then wouldn't that mean I would be your slave?"

"...no, there are different forms of inking, I will put one on you that doesn't restricts your powers."

I stared at his silhouette with worry, was he also bluffing me into something?

"I won't force you," he softened the blow, "chose wisely if you want my help, I don't force anyone against their will."

I wondered if his benevolence was genuine. The person seemed too high and might to do the bad deeds, but even Rai Xo had been clean on the first look.

"I will even send you back if we get the chance."

Oh...?

"Zuen Ken, we have a deal," I smiled sweetly, grinning at him.

"Seems so."

~~

Early in the morning the next day, I found Adam dragging me to the main sect hall, muttering with a stutter how immature I was, to getting lost and end up sleeping in some random house.

I hadn't met Xi Ken before I was dragged out, but with how vacant the room had been, I assumed he had taken off without waiting for me to come around.

And turns out, the night yesterday, many evil forces had attacked the main sect hall, so that was the reason why Rai Xo and Adam had left early.

Thankfully I did not meet any evil, because... my mind could only suffer so much.

Adam filled me in on their master who had been told full details about my involvement with evil and also the missing Raven.

So the master had summoned me to the hall, to pass a judgement upon me.

After crossing various old style ancient housings, and contoured lawns, we finally entered a giant monastery, rising high as four stories.

Even the inside was the same, exhibiting a delicate wood, marble and stone work. And by the far end, set to perspective between two huge pillars, sat a council, the leading man sitting in the middle.

"Master Rao Za," Adam bowed, cupping his hand in front with a show of respect. "I have brought you the culprit."

"Then let us decided how to discard his evil," the old man at the center boomed, actually enjoying himself under the appreciation of his council men and students.

But I wasn't enjoying the show anymore..."D-Discard?" I asked in panic.

"What else?" Rai Xo muttered, rolling his eyes.

"B-but you," I felt very disappointing, I was right in assuming that the master of Rai Xo was dumber than him.

"Master, please pass the judgement," Rai Xo commented,

But just when he was about to speak up some other nuisance, the door to the Hall was pushed wide open, and in entered a man, showing no fear or hesitancy in disrupting the master.

"Xi Ken," Adam gaped from next to me. Staring at the man who had just arrived.

What? That beautiful man was Xi Ken?!?

Wow...

Models from every era would be jealous of him if they ever saw him.

I was sure.