Fire blasted through the room, the sound of meat and bone snapping followed, a chunk of burnt meat went flying. Smoke and dust followed, and the shockwave sent Azaroth staggering backward.

Azaroth looked up, he expected the explosion to have caused more damage to him than this but he was unhurt, only his ear rang. Two leaves floated before him and two behind him creating a transparent pink shield between them.

So that was what happened, Evernight had moved at the last second to protect him with the shield. Azaroth didn’t know if it was a calculated move but he was grateful, but not stupid.

"Danm!" The ringing in Azaroth’s ear had lessened and he could hear as Evernight complained. "I hate the smell of burning flesh but it seems the Inferno Legion is in love with it."

"Well, that’s what exploding with fire will get you," Azaroth said.

Evernight grumbled as the shield popped out of existence and the dust reached them, he started dusting his red and black Hound uniform. "I don’t know their obsession with fire! It’s not like they were forced to learn only this technique!"

"Aren’t others like this? The dominant outposts, I mean don’t they learn just one technique like the Inferno Legion?" Azaroth asked.

Evernight snorted in disgust. "Of course not! The families of Great Clans have their technique exclusive to them but they don’t care how others learn their techniques. Only the Inferno Legion cared that only Fire technique should be learned in their territory."

"That’s one of the reasons The Yama project is interesting." Evernight said and looked at Azaroth.

But Azaroth wasn’t looking at him, he was looking at where the Hound was. Of the Hound only his feet remained where Evernight had ordered him to stop, the rest of him had been blown to bits.

The floor was charred and Azaroth marveled at how such a small mask could cause such a big explosion. And at how really powerful the mask was, even the Hound’s feet hadn’t disobeyed Evernight’s order.

"Are you going to clean this up?" Azaroth gestured to the mess around them with his right hand while his left clutched his sword. He hadn’t let go of the sword since he came here.

"What! Of course not! What do you take me for?" Evernight said in disgust as if he couldn’t stand the thought of cleaning.

"What happens if they found his body?" Azaroth asked, the body would surely be found, it happened just outside the dormitory and Azaroth wanted none of it traced back to him.

"Nothing. It happens occasionally you know, their mask would malfunction and they would blow up. They will think this is just a normal occurrence.... but then again..." Evernight trailed off.

"Then what?" Azaroth demanded watching Evernight deep in thought.

"The real deal is them wondering why they don’t hear the explosion. Even the dormitories close to this one should hear it if I wasn’t shielding from sound." Evernight said.

Azaroth shrugged. "Maybe they would think the explosion was small?"

Evernight nodded. "I doubt that but that’s the only thing we can do. Just know that a seed of suspicion has been planted, you might be surprised what it might grow into."

Azaroth hated that, anything shouldn’t be traced back to him, not when he wasn’t prepared. He checked his two cores, feeling them out, both of them had reached the peak and Kael had told them they should advance to Initiate level very soon but none of them had advanced yet.

Evernight struck out his hand, his fingers were long and well-kept. "Well? Do we have a deal?" He asked.

Azaroth stared at his white mask, at the smiling face on it and the flower-filled socket. He put out his hand and Evernight’s hand swallowed Azaroth’s own as he clasped it.

"We have a deal," Azaroth said. "You help me with the mask and I help you with the monster."

Evernight laughed and shook his hand roughly. "Welcome on board! Welcome!"

Azaroth sighed and yanked his hand away before Evernight removed it from its place. The man was stronger than he looked with that slender build, and he didn’t know his strength.

"Remember Evernight, I owe you nothing," Azaroth said sudden and cold. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"What are you talking about?" Evernight asked, confused.

But Azaroth wasn’t fooled. Since he had met Evernight everything the man did seemed calculated and planned, nothing seemed to pass him.

And Azaroth knew Evernight would use a little boy’s emotions against him but Azaroth had learned.

Even though his father didn’t participate in the politics of the continent he still taught Azaroth what he knew about making deals and ways in which he could be manipulated since he was eight.

His father didn’t teach him how Azaroth could manipulate others, only how he could detect and remove himself from manipulation.

It’s not like it takes much to flip it upside down and know how to manipulate others with it.

Azaroth had always wondered why his father who knew so much had always fallen into manipulation then. It had hit him weeks ago, even when his father saw manipulation he would still walk into it. Because he was weak.

Azaroth moved closer to Evernight, making his voice colder. "I am twelve and you are powerful. You knew the mask was going to explode and yet you brought me close. Then you shield me from it. Let me guess, so I can be indebted to you?"

Evernight stared at him. His flowers grew dark then he bent his head and his shoulder started shaking.

Azaroth frowned, what was Evernight doing... then he narrowed his eyes. Evernight was laughing! A deep silent laughter that shook his small frame and made his shoulder quiver.

Then Evernight stopped he looked at Azaroth who took a step backward instinctively as he saw Evernight’s face.

His eyes were glowing a deep pink and the flowers shifted and shuddered. The smiling drawing on his face moved, smiling wider.

Then he spoke. "Azaroth! Work for me!"