A girl sat on a chair on a balcony overlooking a bustling town beneath. A veil covered her face, from head to down, leaving a few strands of her hair exposed. On the left was white hair, and on the right was black hair. Her blue eyes glowed slightly beneath the veil as her mind wandered to the boy.

The boy she had fallen head over heels for... And that too for no apparent reason. The boy was blind, so he never saw her, but she admired him a lot. Despite his inability, he proved to be strong. His strength wasn’t the explosive kind where people could crash boulders with their fists or conjure storms. No. His strength was the kind that made him survive in a harsh place like the Shadow Fang Sect. She had stolen his first kiss and given hers in return, as childish as it sounded. Well, she was in love.

She had been sent on a mission, and it was a very long one. She didn’t know if he was safe or even alive, but she could only hope for the best. She had been called back to the sect for the disciple evaluation. She had to partake, so she had to halt her mission and was preparing to return to the sect. For her, the contest was but a formality. After all, she was stronger than even some core disciples. This wasn’t arrogance, but the honest truth. Her mission was a mission specifically for the top disciples among the core disciples. Per actual ranking, she was an inner disciple, but because of her strength, she had been given such a mission.

"I hope you are well... Ren. We will meet very soon... Very, very soon," she muttered as the cool breeze of the night drifted, bringing with it the fragrance of night flowers. The moon seemed to glow slightly, as if assuring her that her wish and hopes would be granted and made true.

’Why do you like him, though? There must be a reason...’ A voice suddenly said in her mind, making her smile slightly beneath the veil.

’You know what I am... I mean my true self. I cannot take this veil off because of that, and I can never find true love... That is supposed to be my curse. But Ren... He’s different. Maybe it’s because he’s blind, but it was love at first sight for me. The way he walked, the way he talked, the way he used his intelligence to achieve victory, and the presence of strength in him. You could also feel it right? That insane amount of power in his frail body,’ She said in her mind, to whatever being was in her.

’I did. If he weren’t blind and had a better master, I doubt you would even be a match for him,’ the voice answered in its soft, feminine voice.

’Exactly! That was part of the things that drew me to him. But the main thing was that when I went close to him, I didn’t feel my curse acting up,’ The veiled girl commented, her smile widening.

’You mean...’

’Yes. He’s perhaps the key to erasing this curse.’

’Doesn’t it mean that you are just using him?’

’It might seem so, and initially, I had that thought, but after the few times we met and had a conversation, I couldn’t help but be drawn to him. He’s... special.’

’So you are going to keep your promise of keeping your virginity for him?’

’Uh... I made that decision in a rush, but if I should meet him today, I would throw myself at him.’

’I apologize for my transgression, but you are being very stupid right now. He probably feels nothing for you. At most, the only thing he would be thinking about is "Who kissed me that time?" You are making idiotic assumptions about him liking you back.’

’No, you’re right. But at least let me act stupid for once. I can’t be my true self at home, because I’m the outcome of a forbidden love, and those people involved are blaming me as if I were the one who made them fall in love.’

’That’s some weird way to describe your parents.’

’It’s the truth, though. At least in my imagination, I can be free to do whatever I like, and that includes...’

’Fantasizing about a blind boy who doesn’t know you.’

’Well...’

’Don’t come up with another excuse. I see everything you dream of. Literally... everything.’

’Even that?’

’Especially that...’

Silence settled after that statement by the voice in her mind. Her eyes stared ahead, in anticipation of returning to the sect to meet him. To meet Ren.

After a few minutes of silence, the voice spoke in her mind again.

’He’s on the move. Will you finish the second part now, or after the contest?’

’Let’s finish it now. I can’t be having additional thoughts when Ren is involved.’

’You are obsessed!’

’It is love!’

’This and that are two different things...’

’...’

The girl completely ignored the voice in her mind, jumped onto the balcony, and stared down. Her eyes glowed beneath the veil, as her left eye turned red and demonic. Her gaze zoomed onto the people going about their lives on the ground, and locked onto a man in cowboy clothes. It was a weird choice of clothing considering the kind of settlement and culture here. Not as if she cared. She was just doing her mission, and her target was someone who deserved no kind of pardon or second chance. She just wanted to get it over with and rush... return to the sect to see her love and savior.

Horda was returning to his inn after spending some good time at the brothel, when he felt a chill down his spine. Looking around, he spotted no one. He shrugged and resumed his pace, only to discover that he was going downwards instead of forward. His eyes managed to noticed the abscence of legs before his mind processed the pain and the horror of what had just happened.

"I’m sorry you had to meet your end like this, but I’m in a rush now. Otherwise, I would have been a bit gentle... probably..."

And that was the end of the road for Horda.