The King

Chapter 2

Iruma woke up shattered. He had a vague nightmare the night before. At breakfast, the blue-haired man sat brooding, hardly touching his food. Sullivan was very much concerned about the condition of his adopted grandson. After saying goodbye, Iruma went off to school, and Sullivan, once the boy was gone, went to Amelie's father to find out where the girl had disappeared to.

***

- Listen Henri, explain to me one interesting thing.

- What's that?

- Where is your lovely daughter now?

- What is it? Why are you suddenly interested? - The head of border control was sitting at his desk, bogged down in papers.

- Well, here's the thing. Iruma's worried sick. He's worried.

- Iruma? That unassuming kid with the blue hair.

- That's right. So, where's your pretty little girl?

- I don't know. I just got back from a three-week business trip today, and I have no idea what's going on at home. So why do you ask?

- Well, here's the thing. She didn't show up at school.

- What? - the sound of the pen fell silent for a second, and then Henri continued with his pen on the paper - As soon as I get home, I'll know what happened. Will that be all, Sir Sullivan?

- Yes, that will be all.

Sullivan got up from the small sofa and headed for the exit. Just before the door he stopped and turned his head.

- Here's the thing. If your daughter is missing for a reason, and someone is connected to it, I don't envy those who would be to blame.

- And I wonder why?

- Why? Isn't it obvious? Iruma is trying to find her. And he is, after all, my grandson.

Sullivan smirked and walked away.

***

Iruma walked around like he was drowning in water all day. Asmodeus and Clara, no matter how hard they tried, could not cheer him up. His best friends had never seen Iruma so downcast. Normally so calm, so positive about everything, he was now a pale shadow of himself. Even Kolego's teacher felt uncomfortable around the blue-haired boy. To say nothing of the rest of his classmates. It felt like death itself was walking around the school. In the evening, Iruma couldn't sleep while lying in bed. The words of the ring poisoned his mind as he pulsed in the stream of his own thoughts. After a few minutes he managed to fall asleep. The next morning Iruma overslept and got dressed and headed to school without even eating or waiting for his friends. On arriving at Iruma's house, Clara and Asmodeus were very surprised. They were able to catch up with Iruma on the way, and they all walked to school together. Upon arrival at the school, the company went straight to class. After two lessons, the trio headed to the canteen. On the way, Clara and Asmodeus tried to find a way to cheer Iruma up. Three upperclassmen walked past them, chatting about something of their own. But by chance, Iruma heard something that made him stop and turn around. Clara and Asmodeus didn't realize it right away, but when they did they also stopped and looked back.

- Repeat what you just said.

The address to his person made one of the upperclassmen stop and look at whoever was talking to him.

- What? Who the hell are you? What do you want?

- Repeat what you just said about Amelie.

- What? I said I was sick of her and I'm glad she's gone.

Iruma still had his hands in his pockets and walked towards the senior, stopping a meter away and looking up. There was something in the blue-haired man's gaze that made the older student recoil.

- What do you want? You want trouble?

- Apologize.

- What? Who are you to tell me what to do?

- I said apologize.

- Fuck you, you're an upstart. Get out, or else...

He wasn't allowed to finish his thought. Iruma's ring spontaneously shifted to the second level, and in the next second the blue-haired fist flew into the senior's stomach and he flew into the wall. Iruma was about to deliver another punch, but the man who had settled on the floor began apologizing frantically.

- Alright alright. I'm sorry, I won't do it again. I take it back. I promise it won't happen again.

Iruma stopped the blow. The ring returned to its previous state. Turning away, the blue-haired man walked on toward the dining room. Clara and Asmodeus came out of their stupor and ran after him. The rest of the day passed without incident. The rest of the day passed just as quietly, except for the fact that Iruma was still walking around as slumped. When he got home, the boy locked himself in his room. Sullivan and Opera were very worried, but they didn't interfere for fear of making things worse. And Iruma was eaten up inside by his own contradictions. On the one hand the desire to find Amelie himself, on the other not to interfere and let Grandpa handle everything. Staring at the night sky and the white, red tinged moon that reminded him of Amelie, Iruma tried to calm the essence of the ring that kept whispering to him to go look for the demoness himself. Finally, after a few minutes, he managed to fall asleep.