Mr Light let out a short laugh and lifted one hand toward the far side of the balcony.

As he walked down, he called for the young man, "Olive."

Olive, who had been standing near the corner, stiffened. For a brief moment he remained where he was, his shoulders drawn tight, before he walked over.

Gesturing between Olive and Fei Ming, Light’s mood brightened. "You two already know each other," he said with a relaxed tone. "That makes things easier. Olive, show him around."

Olive stopped a few steps away from Fei Ming. Eyes flickering toward him, he looked back toward the training yard below, then later fixing his gaze at Fateless.

"...Hi," Olive muttered.

Then he turned his body away again, walking off immediately.

"Bye."

Blinking twice in surprise, Light lifted a hand after him. "Olive," he called again. "You two got along in the Carnival game. Where are you going?"

Olive waved without turning around. "Can’t. Someone needs me."

"Who?" asked Light.

The young man continued walking. "Uh... Daniel. Yeah. Daniel needed help with something."

He reached the stairway and disappeared down it before either of them could respond.

Light watched him leave, then chuckled quietly to himself.

Standing before them, Helena cursed again under her breath. She was still standing near them with both hands gripping the sides of her head.

When she realized Light spotted her again, she turned immediately and began walking away.

"Helena."

Her shoulders stiffened.

Stopping, she slowly turned back.

Each step she took toward Light looked forced. When she reached him, she bowed.

"Yes?"

They spoke quietly for a few moments.

Fei Ming remained a few paces away, not bothering to eavesdrop on them.

At the end of the conversation, Light reached forward and patted Helena’s head.

"Good work these past weeks," he complimented her.

Helena stood rigid until he removed his hand.

Light gave a small nod to both of them before turning and walking down the balcony corridor. "I have a few issues to attend to. I will catch up with you later, Fateless. Give me a few minutes."

Once he disappeared around the corner, Helena straightened and exhaled sharply.

Walking toward Fei Ming but stopping several steps away from him, she crossed both arms tightly against her chest.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" she asked.

Fei Ming blankly stared at her. Scanning her appearance, he saw she hadn’t changed much. But he noticed a more defined muscles in her arms.

Looking up, he taunted. "Afraid I’ll kill your friends, Helena?"

She groaned loudly and dragged both hands through her hair, gripping the strands near her scalp. Her pacing covered two short steps forward before she stopped again.

"Fuck everyone," she spat. "I’m done talking with you."

Stepping closer and jabbing a finger hard against the center of his chest, Helena continued her pep-talk.

"The way your brain works is shit. So stay out of my business and I stay out of yours. That also doesn’t mean you’re free to do whatever the fuck you want. Got it?"

He caught her finger and flung it aside.

"I’m also done talking with an idiot."

Without any more exchanged words, he left.

Helena stood there for a moment watching his back as he walked away. Then she groaned again and ran one hand down the length of her hair before turning toward the opposite side of the balcony.

Fei Ming had already reached the stairway.

Halfway down the corridor, he saw Light again.

The man stood near the entrance of another hallway speaking with two faction members.

When he noticed Fei Ming approaching, he dismissed them with a short nod and turned toward him.

"Everything alright?" Light asked.

Fei Ming stopped in front of him.

"I want to learn combat," he blurted out. "And sword fighting. I lack basic combat skills."

Light listened to him.

"I’ll help around here in exchange," Fei Ming added.

The older man smiled and raised one hand toward him, aiming to pat his head, but Fei Ming avoided it.

The hand stopped midair before Light lowered it again and chuckled.

"There’s no need to pay anything back," he replied. "Just contribute to the faction."

Studying Fei Ming for a moment, the dead calm in his face made Light tilt his head to the said, then adding,

"You should join my faction officially. I invited you in the past, yes?"

Fei Ming gave a short nod.

Returning the gesture, the older man stepped aside, letting him pass.

Fei Ming continued down the corridor and returned to his room.

Justice still slept on the bed.

Walking to the window again and looking down toward the training yard below. Two men continued sparring under the lanterns, wooden swords striking against each other.

He watched their movements closely, following the path of each strike and the way their feet shifted across the ground.

Justice’s breathing remained slow behind him.

Hours passed, and nighttime came.

When the yard finally emptied, Fei Ming left the room.

He walked through the building corridors and down the stairs before stepping outside the faction gates. The streets beyond were quieter, lit only by scattered lanterns mounted along the walls.

Moving along the road quietly, he let the cool air settle against his skin.

’Faster,’ he thought. ’I need to progress faster.’

Just then, footsteps approached behind him.

Three men stepped out from a narrow alley and spread across the path in front of him.

"Hey! Hey you!" One of them walked forward and shoved Fei Ming back against the wall. The impact pushed air from his lungs as the man leaned closer.

"You’re one of Light’s students, right?" the man asked.

Another man stepped beside him and ran a hand across Fei Ming’s shoulder.

He recoiled back.

"Students usually carry money."

The third laughed. "Haha. Shit. That bastard could accept this fucker and kick us out?" His grin widened. "You’re rich, yeah? Come on, give us them coins, yeah? We wanna be Light’s students too. Haha."

The man’s hand remained on Fateless’s shoulder.

The contact lingered longer than necessary.

Fei Ming’s hands moved. Fingers closed around the first man’s head.

The next moment he slammed it hard against the wall.

BAM!

His skull caved in and shattered and the man collapsed to the ground.

"Oh my—fuck! You fucking bastard. Are you fucking insane?!"

The other two raised their fists.

One swung toward Fei Ming’s jaw.

He missed. Catching his breath, he gritted his teeth and swung at him again.

Taking a step back, Fei Ming’s polearm blade appeared in his hand. Tightening his grip on the shaft, he slashed the nearest man. Blood splattered on his face.

THUD!

"Aaarghh!!!" Screamed the man as he clutched his severed hand

The others paused. Trembling, one fell to his knees.

Seeing their faces, a tremor ran down Fei Ming’s spine, and a warm feeling bloomed in him. Lifting his head up, he inhaled and exhaled. "Ahh..."

Yes. That’s the face someone should make when they face death.

Just like that. Exactly like that.

How he had longed for this feeling.

The men screams filled his ears and when one tried escaping, a duplicate of the Sword of Justice swirled past him and—

STAB!

Half the young man’s body slid off and hit the floor. All his intestines came pouring down.

As the blood flowed from the lifeless body, Fateless stared at it. Euphoria washed over him. Eyes fully dilated, he cracked a wide grin.

This feeling had answered one question for him.

That part of him still existed.

He still enjoyed death expressions.