Ronin managed to reach Castle Calegana without many obstacles. His brows were furrowed, blood still dripping in a trail from his hands.

But it had dried now from the cool air of the night, and once he opened the door….

He was surprised by how bright it was there. Despite showing no signs of light outside.

The chandeliers that overhang were numerous, yet the vibrancy of the place seemed to have nothing to do with them. It was as bright as broad daylight here.

And there were many people dancing, celebrating a certain event. He scanned the area for the Crow Baron or Cermin, but they were never to be found.

Then, an announcer came from the wings of the second-floor staircase. He cleared his throat, and announced:

“The young master has arrived. Everyone please applaud for his success in the fields of academe.”

Ronin watched with narrowed eyes as this person came down from the stairs and everyone applauded for him.

He doesn’t know him. He was wearing a mask and a wide smile.

Yet there was something enchanting about his appearance, beckoning to him. His hair was black unlike Cermin’s, and his eyes were the color of roasted hazelnuts.

He seemed to be looking directly at Ronin and offered his hand.

“My most honored guest is here. My dear friend from far away, Doctor Ronin Willowe.”

Ronin did not say anything while the people clapped for him again. He knew that ‘Doctor’ did not mean someone in the medical field.

It was someone who was the master of a field of study, like a Doctorate degree holder.

The whole scene was strange. It had the appearance and formality of the 18th century, and yet Ronin was very much sure….

That this person was not from there, but the modern times.

The late 21st century.

He was Ou’s friend, yet he referred to him by his alias Ronin Willowe.

Smartly so that the system or the people around them would not realize they were outsiders.

That was what was so enchanting to the person. He moved in a way that was smart and callous like Ronin, but without the cynicism.

He was well-liked, admired, and had a bright face and demeanor.

Though his face was mostly hidden by that white mask with yellow stars decorated on it using gitter.

He had walked down and went to approach Ronin, who merely observed him.

“Shall we go talk away from here, my friend? I know how suffocating the masses if for you.”

“Alright.” Ronin simply said. “But won’t you let me eat something from the buffet first?”

He smiled. “But of course. This way, my friend.”

They went to the pantry and discussed several topics. Very deep and engaging ones that Ronin never had with Cermin.

They talked about social and political issues, the psychology of celebrations, things that people from the academia loved to prattle on and on about.

He was adept in every aspect of humanities and social sciences, but also earth science and discoveries.

“You see, this flower over here at the vase is a Papaver somniferum. Also known as the opium poppy.” He told Ronin. “But do you know that many breeds do not produce opium at all?”

“Then it shouldn’t be named opium poppy.” Ronin said, only staring at his wine glass and examining it.

“Well, it has been suggested that it would be called ‘Breadseed poppy’, as all varieties have edible poppy seeds used for bread.”

A lot of people would find their conversations boring, but as intellectuals with thirst for knowledge, any new information gained was interesting to them.

Ronin had drunk up this man’s random facts and his very educated opinions, like drinking wine. The hours went by and people were still dancing and dancing…

Never getting tired, repeating the same routine with smiles on their faces.

“Why don’t we go out of here now? I can notice your distaste for people who just follow routine and the pressures of what socialization should be.” The man told him.

“Perhaps. They act like rabbits, do they not?” He pointed with every girl-boy pairing. “Only following their natural instincts of breeding and repopulating.”

“Using fanciful words to explain their ‘love’, when 9 times out of 10 it was simple biological connection. The pull they have on each other is just their hormones telling them to have sex and make babies.”

The man chuckled. “You despise sexual intercourse, don’t you, my friend?”

“I just find it tedious. It doesn’t appeal to me.” Ronin shrugged. “It’s all just shallow people following the laws of reproduction.”

“Find a suitable mate, compete with other rivals. Then procreate with that mate. Like animals.”

They walked up the staircase, the man leading him while holding an opium poppy. “Well aren’t we all animals in the end? You can be as smart and intellectual as you want, but you will have hunger and thirst.”

“You will have instinct. Desires. And when you have those, it makes you want to possess things. To own them and have no one else take them from you.”

Ronin raised an eyebrow. “Do you like to possess things?”

“Oh, very much. I like the feeling of ownership.” The man said, then frowned.

But he kept spilling his guts to Ronin. “I came from a rich family, who could easily deliver my desires for me with money. But it’s not enough. I wanted perfection, the perfect life.”

“For that to happen, I need to be everyone’s perfect ideal. I need to give them the perfect life so they will give me the perfect life.”

Ronin raised an eyebrow. “And what is a perfect life for you?”

“A perfect life would be….. Well, have everything. Have everyone. Own them and their desires.”

He smiled giddily, sniffing the opium flower.

“I thought I only wanted that from women, and you were right. It was my shallow biological response speaking. I wanted to get their desires to get in their beds.”

“But now that I have seen interesting things like this……. I……”

Ronin prodded him on as he reached the bedroom. “You?”

“I started to think that I want the desires of men too. Desires of men like you, not-so-simple men like you who aren’t driven by biological desires.”

He looked around, confused. He was supposed to be the one leading Ronin to this bedroom…

Yet why does it feel like it was Ronin who led him hear instead, having the lead and slowly cornering him to sit on the bed?

His mind can’t register that anything was wrong, yet he can still feel it. His heart pounded in fear yet also anticipation on what might happen.

He was a hungry intellectual after all that wanted to gain as much new knowledge as possible.

“We are very much alike. I guess that’s what makes your role not so difficult for you, isn’t it?” Ronin towered over him at the edge of the bed while he was sitting down.

The man did not answer, and just smiled.

“I… Your perfect ideal is him, but as an intellectual who fits you. Same personality, same face, same background as friends. But different lives as two people with the same amount of IQ.”

“And yet, you’re forgetting one thing.” Ronin said as he took out his overcoat before things get messier.

“If only I had known…. That this would be the last dream I would have, then I would have savored it.” The man said. “I really did enjoy the mental chit chat with you.”

Ronin gripped his neck now, taking out a knife that he had long took and had been hiding since they were talking.

“Well, I needed to make you believe that I am completely enamored by you and this dream. This ‘perfection’ you crafted for me.” He said, aiming the knife on his neck.

“But I had long known that pursuing perfection is just for fools. A happy life where he is the way I wanted is nothing but fiction.”

The man caught his breath and asked. “Who is he? It seems that even you don’t know, but I really want to know who he is before I die.”

Ronin had used One Word Command on him since he arrived, which was ‘Follow’. Everything Ronin says or gestured for him to do, he followed.

And now he was on his own bedroom, high from an opium poppy, and had a knife on his throat.

The Crow Baron had been bested in his own game. Ronin had completely taken advantage of his desire for possession and control…..

And became the one controlling and possessing him the whole night.

Yet somehow, the Crow Baron did not feel any regret in his last moments. It was like he was experiencing something unlike before, something…..

Perfectly beautiful in every single way.

“Ah, so you have been hideous your whole life. Very much like me.” Ronin told him. “Until you receive the life of the consumer, the devourer of life instead of being devoured by it.”

The Crow Baron wearing the face of the man Ronin desired not as a lover, or as a friend…. But completely something else.

“Why did you want him in the first place? I don’t unders— Ack!”

Ronin had plunged the knife into his stomach. “I wanted him to die. That’s all I ever wanted, to see him again and kill him.”

The Crow Baron’s eyes widened as Ronin twisted the knife deeper into his gut.

“I wanted to do what he may have done to me. I don’t care if he became my ideal friend, became like the smart intellectual I always wanted him to be.”

He smiled, as he took out the knife, letting the blood splatter.

The Crow Baron stood up and staggered, his hand that touched the blood marking and staining the wall.

Ronin just walked calmly after him and kicked him down.

“Ahhhhh!” He fell, and Ronin planted his foot on his masked face.

“My perfect life would always end with him dying.”