Phantom in Memory

Chapter One - First Meeting

It was dark, maybe three in the morning when he first visited me. He demanded to join the Heroes, and insited only I'd know if he was capable of the job or not. I hesitated; I barely recognized the man! Then he gave me a single hint; his calling card he left when he stole something. A rose. This man had stolen multiple things from me before; first, a pen I always wrote with, second, a drawing that Afrien did for me. Third, and finally, my favorite book, a copy of Dante's Inferno. He merely smiled, and flicked a card in my direction, of which trick could potentially kill if done correctly, so naturally I shifted so that it only caught the hem of my sleeve.

"You're Phantom, the Master Thief...what, no, why would you let yourself be seen by me, of all people?"

"I wish to join the Heroes. If you'd look at the card, you'll find my reasoning to join such a boring group of people. If you do accept me, do not expect to see me coming to many meetings. If you don't, well, you'll see me again—and there'll be more reason to let me join."

He tilted his head slightly, and with a warm smile, vanished in a swirl of golden cards. "Adieu for now, my lady."

As I watched him vanish, I only became aware that he had left a single, blue rose on my lap. I looked down, surprised to see it. "He left me a rose...? I'm not sure whether this is supposed to be bribery, or flattery...either way I'm almost terrified I never saw him move...for him to move so quickly..." I shook my head, smiling slightly. "Perhaps he does have excellent reason for joining..."

I moved to pick the card out my desk, and wound up cutting my finger on the card's edge. "—! Ow..." I put my finger in my mouth instinctively, and stood up to find a bandage in the medicine cabinet of my bathroom. I opened the door, which I know I didn't close myself, to find an assassin crouched on the floor. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground, with my weapon inches from my hand, and both of my arms pinned by the assassin's hands to the cold ground. I struggle, screaming for help from Aran, Luminous, someone. Everyone, however, had left to go to a meeting with the Resistance, so I was left all alone in the building. So I thought I was going to die.

As the assassin pulled a knife to kill me with, and lunged downwards with it, I rolled to my left, and towards my pinned arm and weapon. It wasn't necessary to use it, though. A card had pierced through his chest, and gotten itself stuck in the assassin's heart. He then collapsed on top of me, eyes rolling back in his head. I soon realized I was breathing heavily, as if I had, for some unknown reason, chosen to run a mile. I put my right hand on my chest, trying to gain control of my breathing.

I attempted to lift the assassin up, but the corpse was too heavy. I felt my eyes begin to close, and I was running short of breath. Thankfully, Aran was not too far away... I felt the heavy weight being lifted off my chest, and I sucked in as much air as possible, rolling on my back. I saw Luminous and Aran, and smiled faintly. "Thank you both..." Then, from what they told me later, I had fallen unconscious.

I woke up much later. The sun was shining brightly, and Luminous had fallen asleep in the chair next to me. I stared at the ceiling for a moment, and then attempted to get up. When I was finally sitting up, I reached for my Dragon Master robe, putting it on over the white dress I was wearing. I then gently shook Luminous. "Hey, are you going to wake up...?" He tried to swat at me, and rather flimsily as well, so I merely laughed, and stopped. 'Alright. Be confused when you wake up, you big dork." I walked towards the door, and put on the boots I wore as part of the Dragon Master dress code, grabbing my weapon as I left. Then a pale hand belonging to Luminous laid itself on my wrist. I smiled, and turned to face him. "I'll be fine. I simply couldn't get enough air with that body on top of me." I stood on my toes and kissed his cheek in a friendly gesture, and walked towards the kitchen.