The Professor|| Sylus

Who?

Time passed, and eventually, Mei had to return to her apartment to gather some things, as she would be staying at Sylus's mansion for the week. Although she was quietly pleased with the situation, the thought of spending time at his mansion, with Mephisto still keeping an eye on her from afar, still made her feel like this isn't real. But when she arrived at her apartment and saw the door ajar, dread crept in. The door was unlocked.

For a moment, Mei considered calling Sylus, but she hesitated. He was supposed to be resting, and she didn't want to burden him. Biting her lip in uncertainty, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. The sight that greeted her was a nightmare. Her belongings were destroyed—shattered glass, torn fabrics, and broken furniture littered the floor. The once-cozy space was a wreck, and her heart pounded in fear as her mind raced.

Her breathing quickened, but she forced herself to stay calm. Tiptoeing through the mess, she made her way to the kitchen and grabbed a knife, her knuckles almost white as she held it tightly. Carefully, she checked each room, her eyes scanning for any sign of movement. Despite her caution, the apartment was eerily empty. Whoever had done this was long gone.

Mei hurriedly gathered whatever remained intact—clothes, personal items, anything salvageable. As she stuffed them into her bag, a flutter of wings caught her attention. Mephisto had entered through the window, its dark form perching silently as it observed her.

"Don't tell Sylus about this," Mei whispered urgently, her voice trembling. She didn't want to alarm him, especially when he was supposed to be resting. Mephisto tilted its head, its black eyes reflecting her troubled expression.

A thought sparked in Mei's mind. "Can you scan the room? Show me what happened here before I arrived?"

In response, Mephisto's mechanical eye flickered red. A beam of light swept across the room, and within seconds, a holographic projection materialized before Mei. She gasped in shock as the scene unfolded—a masked figure, a robber, had ransacked her apartment. She watched, horrified, as the intruder ruthlessly destroyed her things, turning her once-peaceful home into a place of chaos.

"W-what was he even looking for?" Mei muttered under her breath, her mind racing. She couldn't shake the feeling that this break-in had something to do with the three enemies Sylus had warned her about. Whatever the intruder wanted, it wasn't random. The thought sent chills down her spine, and with a growing sense of danger, she knew she couldn't stay there any longer. She quickly fled the apartment, leaving behind everything that was too broken or dangerous to carry.

As she hurried down the street, her phone buzzed. It was Ayako, her best friend. Ayako wanted to meet at a nearby café, and though Mei felt drained and alarmed, she couldn't turn her down.

When they met, Ayako didn't even wait for her to sit down before launching into a tirade.

"I know something is wrong! You haven't contacted me, and that's not like you!" Ayako's voice was sharp, loud, and filled with frustration.

Startled, Mei covered her ears slightly, her heart sinking at the sight of her friend's anger. "Nothing's wrong, I'm fine...I keep telling you I'm fine," Mei pleaded, but her voice lacked conviction.

Ayako wasn't convinced. "I thought you were my best friend! We usually tell each other everything, but now you're hiding something. I can feel it!" Her eyes were wide, a mix of hurt and determination flickering in them.

Mei's guilt twisted inside her. She looked at Ayako, feeling a pang of pity. Her friend deserved the truth, but how could she explain everything? How could she tell Ayako that the rumors at University—the ones about Sylus being seen with a girl at the mall—were true, and she was that girl? How could she reveal the danger she was entangled in?