Darkness. Endless, hollow darkness.
That was all Ao saw inside his mind. He'd lost so much blood he assumed he must've died.
So this is the afterlife, huh… Feels emptier than I thought. Kinda disappointing, actually… I expected something more…
He muttered to himself, letting his imagination wander in the void. But even that couldn't keep the boredom away.
In the thick silence, a muffled noise slowly crept in.
Voices…? A crowd?
Ao's consciousness drifted back— and the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes…
…was the face of that mage, way too close.
"You're awake? Good."
A gentle voice—smooth and warm like a prince from a fairy tale—echoed right in front of Ao's nose.
He jolted violently.
"Gross—! Way too close!" Ao scooted back, hugging himself with a shiver like he'd just seen something blinding and nauseating.
"Aww, come on. That's the first thing you say to the guy who saved you?" The mage still smiled cheerfully.
Ao took a quick look around. "Is… is it over?" he muttered in relief.
"It's over."
"I'm not dead, right?" Ao raised both hands.
"Nope."
"And… the gunshot wounds?" He lifted his blood-stained white shirt.
"Healed."
"…Who the hell are you?"
"Oh dear. Someone who doesn't know me still exists?"
"Who?"
The mage sighed and stood up elegantly, giving a small introduction pose.
"My name is Toly Mil Dotal. Purple-Cloak Mage."
It took Ao a moment to fully process it.
"HUH!? P—P—PURPLE CLOAK!?"
"Yes yes. Purple cloak."
"I—I'm so sorry! I didn't realize! I'll behave, I swear—!!"
Ao immediately dove into a dogeza bow, forehead on the floor.
Shit, shit, shit. I messed up BAD. Mage ranks from lowest to highest: White, Green, Azure, Yellow, Orange, Red… and Purple.
THE Purple. Top of the top.
I'm dead. I'm so dead. They'll hashtag me as 'Disrespectful Brat' again. Just like when I barged into the school tournament as a kid…
Wait… why…
"You're probably thinking 'Why is a purple cloak here?' right?" Toly smirked. "I'm on vacation. Happened to pass by."
"…You read minds or something?" Ao whispered.
"Normally, I wouldn't be wandering around places like this. But I heard the mountains nearby are beautiful. Thought I'd take a trip."
Toly looked around, inhaling deeply—even though the air still smelled like dust and burning debris.
"I… see…" Ao sat up, embarrassed.
"But you know," Toly added casually, "If I hadn't been here, you'd be dead."
Oh no. Here it comes. The lecture. The bill. He's totally gonna make me pay him off for the healing spell—
Purple cloaks must be insanely expensive… I'm just a broke wannabe mage how am I gonna—
"Next time you try something reckless, at least THINK first."
Toly flicked Ao's forehead lightly.
Ao shrank in guilt like a turtle pulling its head into its shell.
Soon after, police arrived and arrested the three thugs. Ao was loaded into an ambulance.
Toly? He went to scold the criminals before they were taken away.
While being escorted, Ao couldn't help but wonder:
If this guy is really a purple cloak… Why is he walking around so casually? Aren't people like him basically celebrities?
And then—it happened.
The moment the police cars pulled away, the hidden crowd BURSTED out and swarmed Toly like hungry wolves.
Ao, standing nearby, was immediately shoved out of the circle.
Oh. OHHHH.
They were WAITING for the cops to leave!!
Women—ALL women, even the reporters—glued themselves onto him.
"Prince Toly! Sign please!!" "Why are you here, my prince!?" "Toly-samaaaa!!!"
Ao's jaw tightened with mild jealousy.
Toly handled the crowd flawlessly, wearing his perfect princely smile, glowing like a celestial angel descended from heaven.
After answering a few interview questions with a soft, charming voice that melted half the audience—
—he vanished into thin air in a blink.
Leaving the crowd confused and dazzled.
"Damn… he disappeared. Yep. Totally a purple cloak…"
Ao was taken to the hospital afterward.
───────────────
A chill wind sliced through the narrow alley. Barely any people. Barely any light.
Only towering buildings blocking the sun entirely.
A sleek black car waited alone beside a cramped backstreet no sane person would walk into.
From the shadows emerged a tall figure— Toly Mil Dotal.
But the prince-like smile was gone. His face was stone-cold, irritated, exhausted.
He slid into the car and sighed like a man who'd been holding his breath for hours.
"Thank you for your hard work, Sir Toly," said the driver—neatly dressed like a noble butler.
Toly slumped into the seat, almost melting into the leather. The car started moving.
"Nazami…"
"Yes, sir?"
"Do I seriously have work to do even on vacation?"
His tone was completely different—rough, annoyed, nothing like the radiant prince earlier.
"Unfortunately, yes, sir. You were the closest agent available."
"Damn it… I was having a GOOD day too. And then those reporters showed up.
Actually, no—it's that kid's fault. I wasted time because of him."
"Kid? Which kid, sir?"
"The brat who decided it was a good idea to fight criminals! Does he even think!?"
"That's normal for kids his age. Don't overthink it."
"If I hadn't healed him, he'd be DEAD and it'd be another scandal on my name!
Thankfully I got there in time. Otherwise people would blame ME again."
"Sir Toly… it's fine. He's just a child."
"A child?! Don't use that excuse! If anything happened to him, WE adults would be held responsible!!"
Nazami chuckled quietly. "Fair enough… must've been rough."
"Now I want to know how this brat grew up… Nazami!"
"Yes, sir."
"Pull up his records."
"Understood. One moment, please."
A screen on the seat back lit up with Ao's full profile.
"Oni…shima Ao. Does the name Onishima ring any bells to you?"
"None, sir."
"Huh. Sorry, my bad."
Toly scrolled—
Then stopped.
"…Hold on.
Why… does this kid… have NO listed innate magic?"
Nazami froze.
Toly's eyes widened.
"This brat… is getting REALLY interesting."
His gaze drifted to the father's name.
"Renzo, huh…
No wonder the name felt familiar."