The storm of pink leaves tumbled Azaroth, rolling and pulling him sideways. His vision rolled and his stomach clenched as if they were been sucked out.

Azaroth had been gripping his sword all this while and he struggled to unsheath it. He shouldn’t have relaxed around Evernight! It wasn’t like Azaroth trusted Evernight to begin with but isn’t it too early for betrayal?

Unless Evernight had said something he shouldn’t have.

Azaroth had lost sight of Evernight in the storm and all he saw was pink. It surrounded him and entered his mouth.

Azaroth focused and summoned normal essence into his hand then punched the leaves. It was like punching a feather for all the help it did.

When Azaroth thought he would finally stop breathing with the leaves pressing against him and filling vision. He was dropped unceremoniously on the floor.

Azaroth was up the minute his body touched the floor, he put energy on his feet and launched himself at Evernight, his sword ringing as he drew it.

"Why do you want to kill me?" Azaroth’s red eyes glowed as he pointed his sword at Evernight. Azaroth’s heart spiked up a little as Evernight looked at him through rose eyes.

Azaroth couldn’t read what those eyes.

Evernight spread his hand. "Kill you? There is no reason to kill you, Azaroth. Not when we are in the process of making a deal."

Azaroth’s sword didn’t waver, even when Evetnight came close and put his throat just inches from his sword.

"Then what’s that all about?" Azaroth asked.

"All what?" Evernight asked in a voice that lacked anything but curiosity. Evernight raised his left hand and caressed the black sword inches from his neck. He murmured. "What a good material!"

"You want to kill me with your leaf technique and you almost did too, I was minutes away from suffocation." Azaroth bared his teeth.

"Oh, that!" Evernight gestured to some leaves still floating around them. The mass of leaves that made up the storm had disappeared suddenly just like they came, only a few floated around them. Glowing softly.

"It is just my way of traveling short distances. Kept me from making unnecessary noises." Evernight put his rose eyes close to the sword. "The Inferno Legion isn’t sparing any expenses with this Yama project."

Azaroth ignored him about his sword. "Is that also how you entered my room and the crypt?"

"Your room, yes. The crypt? No!" Evernight clapped and it echoed strangely. That was when Azaroth looked around.

They were in front of a large wooden door painted with a snarling dog with flames coming out of its mouth. Opposite the door is a large space filled with training mats and dummies, and far off is another door.

At first Azaroth thought they were on the floor of his dorm but when it hit him about where he was he moved forward and brought the sword to Evernight’s flesh.

"You are betraying a deal that was never confirmed?" Azaroth asked flatly.

"Of course not!" Evernight protested.

"Then why bring me here? This is the dormitory of the Hounds! This is where some of them sleep!" Azaroth said as calmly as he could.

"I know. Are you not the one who asked me for demonstration of how the Hound’s mask works? You have to see to believe." Evernight said.

"Won’t they wake up and sound the alarm?" Azaroth whispered. He didn’t trust this man who behaved more like a kid than Azaroth did.

Evernight laughed loudly and Azaroth clenched his jaws. This man is finally mad.

"No, see." The leaves floating around them suddenly shone bright with pink light. The space around them lit up and Azaroth followed what Evernight was gesturing at.

Faint pink smoke surrounded them. It filled the whole space, the smoke was so thin it wouldn’t be noticeable unless you were looking for it.

Azaroth raised his brows at Evernight. So?

"This room....this whole building is under my skill. Everyone I want asleep would be asleep, nothing can wake them unless I want to. Also, the whole building is soundproofed awakened senses won’t even be able to scan with essence." Evernight said.

Azaroth paused, he looked at Evernight with new eyes. No wonder he was sent, Azaroth thought. He was a very capable spy despite his...personality.

It seems his technique was tailored for spying.

Azaroth finally sheathed his sword but he pointed his finger at Evernight. "Don’t ever come to my room unannounced and don’t sneak up on me. Also don’t use that leaf storm on me again." Azaroth warned.

All this man’s skills were terrifying if thought about. Azaroth thought. That skill that allowed you to enter places unseen and unheard while being carried by leaves. Not to talk of putting a whole building of Hounds to sleep and blocking sound.

"It’s not walking distance. It’s teleportation, though a very small one. I wish I could go a longer distance too!" Evernight sighed.

"And?" Azaroth raised his brows. This man was sneaky as can be.

Evernight sighed again, this time deeply. "You are interesting, Vacuums. Very well I promise but if it’s very needed I will do all I can if related the deal."

Azaroth nodded. "So what are you going to do? How do you want to prove how the mask works?"

"Isn’t it obvious? You bring out a Hound and try!" Evernight giggle.

So that’s why he brought me here and put the Hounds into sleep, Azaroth thought.

"Morning is fast approaching and I want to sleep so be quick about what you want to do." Azaroth said. Masking his curiosity with a flat voice. He really wanted to know how Evernight want to go about it.

Evernight nodded then he clapped. Inside the room in front of them, Azaroth heard something swirling like hundreds of peppers rubbing together.

Then they started poring out. Leaves. Hundreds of leaves passed through the space under the door and above it.

Swirling and rubbing together to create a mass of rolling pink leaves that glowed. The leaves formed a sphere and hung in the air, rolling gently.

Evernight pointed to the sphere. "Welcome our guest for tonight!"

The sphere of leaves flashed once and then collapsed, the leaves disappearing before they reached the floor.

What reached the floor with a dull thud was a sleeping Hound.