3.

Found

"See, there, now you look like a respectable young man, and not a hoodlum," Even said. They'd gone clothes shopping, mostly because nearly all of Ienzo's things were worn, and he needed clothes for school.

School. He looked at himself in the mirror, the gray sweater vest, dark slacks. This was all so surreal. He felt, again, guilty about the money that was being spent, though Even always assured him they were "provided for" and did not need to worry. "It is nice, to pick what I want to wear, rather than costumes or castaways." Or illusions.

"I agree wholeheartedly-I never want to wear denim again if I can avoid it." The way he snarled out the word made Ienzo smile. "Come now. Buck up. Lots to do still, and we don't want to be late, do we?"

His heart skipped a little. "...I suppose not."

It was odd to move in daylight, uncomfortable. Ienzo had to consciously remind himself not to cast an illusion, to get used to the world seeing his face. To save his energy. Pedestrians' eyes slid off of him like he was nothing remarkable, and he hoped dearly he wasn't. After all, if anyone was looking, likely they'd be looking for a princess . He couldn't even be sure Saϊx had gotten a good enough look at him in his baggy clothes and hat to really discern the… changes. Even seemed to sense his anxiety and patted him on the small of his back.

They took a streetcar across town to the university. The smell of salt and the sea was stronger here, and when they got off at the station, Ienzo could see it, the thin blue band in the distance. The sight of it evoked memories ( playing with Braig in the waves as Father watched nearby, as Even fretted for his safety ) that Ienzo had to swallow down. "They can truly get wards all the way down to the sea?" he asked instead.

Even adjusted his glasses. "Just to fifty kilometers outside the water-then it becomes a legal issue." He rolled his eyes.

"I should like to meet that magician."

"More like a team, I assume, but quite. It's nothing to be underestimated. You know." Lowering his voice. "You're capable of such things on your own."

"...I'm painfully aware." He exhaled. "It's a shame I cannot make myself useful without starting international conflict."

It was meant to be a joke, but Even's smile seemed fake.

The university was old, one of the oldest in their country, the rolling lawns well-manicured. Ivy climbed up the stern brick buildings, curling in the dully-colored shingles. There was a fountain in the main courtyard, and pre-season students gathered here, drinking coffee, playing frisbee, flirting. Ienzo felt as though he were observing wild animals in their natural habitat; Even granted him a moment. Finally, he turned away.

Some of the buildings were modern, architecturally impractical with their metal and glass. "Is this giving you nostalgia for your own time at university?" Ienzo asked drolly.

Even wrinkled his nose. "Ah-not quite. Moreso… reminding me of that time."

Ienzo knew Even had met his father at university-the man hadn't even known Ansem (then only a noble, not a king) was royal. Apparently he was the only one willing to challenge Ansem's ideas-hence, the pull between the two. "I'm sorry."

Even smiled tiredly. "No matter."

In the cramped registrar, Ienzo used his forged papers to enroll, took a rather unflattering photo for his student ID. Signed up for some classes-slim pickings at this point, he ended up with a rather more eclectic schedule than he would have wished-and this settled, they went to buy books, passing a building labeled as the library on the way. Ienzo had not been to a proper library since- It almost felt as though his heart were crying out.

Even must have noticed this desire. "I suppose we could take a few moments," he said instead. "I should like to see the resources here for myself. Text me when you're ready to move on."

He was being set free. Unreal. Then again, it wasn't exactly realistic for Even and Aeleus to hover over everything he did. In an emergency… Ienzo was more than capable of defending himself. So Ienzo wandered.

The library was four floors built into a hill, the first of which had a cafe in the lobby, and a checkout and research desk. Pleather armchairs and small tables were scattered across the space, along with banks of computers. Large, long windows let in a lot of the rosy daylight, with chandeliers compensating the difference. He thought he felt the hairs on his arms rise with a sort of pleasure.

Ienzo took one of the staircases down to the second floor, which comprised of nonfiction. He ran his fingers along the spines absently, just to feel them. Aisles and aisles and aisles of books, which for the majority of his childhood had been his only companions. The thrill of being able to read voraciously again had him near tears.

The next floor had more study space, along with study pods and conference rooms for student gatherings, and a small display for so-called "Zines." Ienzo was less interested in these at the moment. He went down to the last floor, the only one partially belowground, and there it was.

Fiction.

How else had he gotten through what he did without some kind of escape? Without someone else's story to comfort him? Even before all this desolation, he'd loved stories.

Then the memories, without warning- let her enjoy her book, Even. Fiction instills a sense of empathy.

But she'll fall behind-

Did you spend your childhood days hovering over calculations?

I… suppose not.

Really, Even, sometimes I think you should invest yourself more in stories.

Ienzo was startled from this reverie by a loud bang , which immediately sent a fizz of adrenaline through him, his magic waking up and prickling under his skin.

Another bang, then a growl, and a man's voice- "fucking shit. "

A growl?

Ienzo moved cautiously towards the noise, gripping the small knife in his pocket. He poked his head around one of the shelving units.

A student had been backed into a corner and was flailing wildly with their bag, attempting to drive away the creature aiming for their chest. A creature black as ink, darkness boiling off of it-

A Heartless? But wasn't this place supposed to be warded against-

"Help me! Oh god-"

Ienzo couldn't be sure if the student had seen him or was just crying out. Even would tell him to leave well enough alone. But Ienzo could not in good conscience do that-besides, there was nobody else down in this forgotten corner of the library. He pulled at his magic, letting it warm his skin, and then launched a volley of hard light blades through the Heartless's back. It was a weak one; it vanished instantly.

The student was still crouched against the wall, breathing heavily. Ienzo could see him more clearly now; his blonde hair must've been eclectically styled before all this, but in the ensuing scuffle had gotten mussed. The knee of his jeans was torn, and bloody, and he moved his left arm flinchingly, like it hurt. The terror in his sea-green eyes hadn't faded, however. "Your hair," he said breathlessly. "It-it's glowing."

Ienzo touched it. Stupid. Now he was going to have to wipe this poor man's memories. "Are you alright?" he asked instead. "Your knee…"

He looked at it, as though startled to discover the blood. "I'm more worried about my hand. I caught myself with it when that thing threw me."

He'd already come this far. "Let me take a look at it."

The boy winced when he took a step forward. "You're a… magician," he said.

"Obviously." He had to fight to stop scowling, reminding himself the man was likely in some kind of shock. He took another few steps forward and offered his hand.

Shakily, he placed his injured one in Ienzo's. Even without a spell Ienzo could tell it was broken, the blood vessels broken and starting to swell.

"Of course it was my fucking left hand," the man said, and his voice broke a little. "It'll probably never be the same-oh mother fucker !" His voice hitched in pain as Ienzo set the bone and healed it with another spell.

"I should've warned you that it hurts. Sorry."

The boy flexed his hand. "Huh."

"A simple "thank you" would suffice." Ienzo moved to fix his knee while he was at it.

He blinked, smoothing the hair out of his eyes. "No, I… yeah, totally, thanks, I'm just-" He took a quick breath. "You saved my bacon, man. I'd have been…"

"One with the darkness," Ienzo said dryly.

He furrowed his brows. "Is that what that thing was? A Heartless?"

"Quite."

"I thought they were… old wives' tales."

"I'm confused too." He began picking up the boy's papers, which were spread everywhere, to delay the inevitable. He hated doing this; it always made him feel dirty. The papers weren't essays, but rather compositions. Music. He stared at it, dazed.

"Oh… I'm a musician," the boy offered shyly. "I'm a Music Ed major. Which is why I was so freaked out when that thing broke my left hand."

"A stringed instrument, then?"

He nodded. "Not sure if you've ever heard of it-sitar. One way to stand out, I guess."

Ienzo handed over the papers. "I wasn't sure how to order them."

A laugh. "I'm sure I can figure it out." He offered his now-unbroken hand. "Demyx."

"What's that?"

"My name?"

Ienzo blinked. He really should wipe the last fifteen minutes from this man's memory right now. He seemed the chatty type, which was so not good for this situation. "I'm… Ienzo." Demyx's hand was warm, the fingertips rough and callused. "I should… get going. I still have to go buy books and whatnot, and I'm sure you're busy." He could still do the spell once he'd turned his back. Simple.

"Wait, wait, wait. Hey." He frowned. "You just saved my life, dude. At least let me buy you a coffee, or something. Or show you around. You're new here, right?"

"Well-"

"Please? I'll feel guilty otherwise."

He wavered. He'd let go of Demyx's hand, but he could still feel it in his, the magic under his skin prickling in a way he did not know how to read. Accepting this offer would just make him feel worse about the inevitable oblivion, and would be all the more jarring for this man. "I'm not-"

Demyx sighed. "It's because of the magic, isn't it?" he asked. "You're scared I'll go blabbing all about your secret."

Ienzo blinked.

He reached into the collar of his t-shirt and brought out a small pendant on a strip of black twine. It was the exact color of his eyes, the shape of a teardrop, curving slightly to the left, as though it had been a circle once, halved now. In this poor lighting, Ienzo could barely see a rune. He wasn't sure what the character meant, but he didn't need to know, exactly.

Demyx had magic blood too. "But if you have magic, why didn't you-?"

His expression hardened a little, and he tucked the charm back under his shirt. "It's a story for another day," he said simply. "But I won't tell anyone, Ienzo."

"I suppose I should say-thank you." He swallowed. He was feeling something, but he wasn't sure what. He hadn't thought he would ever run into another person like him, however faint and dilute Demyx's bloodline was, for his hair to still be blonde. Most magicians were… if not in hiding, then snatched up by local governments for use, or… depending on where they were… worse.

He chuckled weakly. "So, coffee?"

"...Sure."

He and Demyx walked in silence back up to the cafe. Demyx got them both matcha lattes, and for a moment they just sat drinking. "...So," Demyx began at last. "You're a… freshman, or what?"

"Freshman, technically." Ienzo wrinkled his nose.

"You don't look like a naive eighteen-year-old."

He smiled despite himself. "Not quite. Ah-some family trouble derailed my studies for a while." "Trouble" was putting it lightly.

Demyx nodded. "Do you know what you want to major in?"

"...You think I would." He shook his head. "My father wants me to go for the sciences. My heart has always been with literature, or library science, but… likely I'll just eat my table of crow and go for international relations." He sipped.

Demyx cocked his head. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why go for something you don't care about?"

"It's… not always that simple," Ienzo said.

"Why not?"

He smothered a flicker of irritation and, he suspected, despair. "My family has… certain expectations of me."

"So? It's your life."

He smiled a little. "It is, but…" He trailed off vaguely, hoping Demyx would draw his own conclusions.

"The pressure?" He nodded. "Yeah, I… know what you mean." For a second, his expression became pinched, morose, before it resumed its previous cheer. "So what do you do for fun?"

Ienzo laughed despite himself. He'd never had much time for fun. "I suppose this sounds rather pathetic… but mostly I read ."

"What do you like to read?"

Ienzo looked into the mouth of his coffee cup. "Fantasy. Science fiction. Anything with good enough worldbuilding to… spirit me away. Though of course I do love the classics in their turn."

"So you don't exactly get out much."

Ienzo felt vaguely naked. He realized this was one of the first times he was having a conversation with someone his age, and felt a blush heat his cheeks. Before he could brush it away with an illusion, Demyx added,

"Hey, no, I get it. Stuffy strict parents. Bet they've been keeping you on a short leash. You look so tense ."

He felt another small laugh leave him. ""Short leash" does not even begin to cover it."

Demyx smiled. Ienzo felt that unnameable feeling again, prickling in his magic. He was fairly sure Demyx wasn't spellcasting on him, to cause it. Perhaps he was simply reacting to the magic in the man's blood? Or else… the way this warm light was hitting his green eyes. Perhaps-

"But you're in college now," Demyx asserted. "You get to cut loose, have some fun. Really find yourself, and all that crap, you know?" He leaned forward a little. "Listen, if you need some help, I'm happy to be of assistance."

"What, you're a party animal?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Not really , but… well. I've got friends who'd be more than happy to show you how to have a good time."

Friends. Plural. Ienzo again felt that flash of despair, but kept his face neutral. Would Even ever allow him to go to a party, a nightclub? Would it be too dangerous?

He was here to live a normal life.

Ienzo nodded once. "I'd be willing to give it a try."

Demyx's smile sent another current through him. "Awesome."

After this Demyx insisted on showing Ienzo around campus. Ienzo could have easily gotten a campus map, but it was a somewhat useful experience. "Do not ever eat at the Caf if you can avoid it," he whispered theatrically. "The only edible thing they've got there are the chicken fingers, and that's 'cause they come frozen in big bags. None of the people there can pass a ServSafe test. My friend Lea worked there for all of ten minutes. Disaster. "

"Where should I eat, then?" Ienzo asked, amused.

"Most of the cafes have decent soup and sandwiches and shit. The only good place that has anything hot is the Mount." He gestured vaguely towards some building in the distance. "Every other Thursday they have salmon. Though if you want it you have to be prepared to wait a while. It is to die for."

"That, or you're starved of a good meal," Ienzo said.

"Same diff," Demyx said, with a shrug. "Anyone who's smart just buys groceries and cooks for themselves."

"Sounds like you've been here a while."

Again, that pang of pain on his face, quickly covered up. "This is my last year. After this… I mean, who fucking knows."

"You said you're Music Ed. Can't you follow it up with a Master's?"

A wry chuckle. "I'm not made of money. Gotta pay the first one off first, you know?"

"...Indeed," Ienzo said, because he did not know how else to follow that up.

Demyx brought him back to the library. "Hey, give me your phone," he said.

"What for?"

His expression became a little sly. "You know, Ienzo, when someone tries to give you their number, you're supposed to just roll with it."

His heart started a little, and thoughtlessly, he complied.

"...Sweet. Hey, text me any time, alright? I still kind of owe you one." He winked.

"...Sure," Ienzo said dazedly.

Before he could really comprehend this, though, he saw Even striding towards him, looking as though he had smelled something sour. " There you are," he said. "Why haven't you answered my calls?" Then he saw Demyx, taking him in with something like disappointment.

"He offered to show me around campus, and I took the invitation," Ienzo said. "Demyx, this is my father, Even." It had once felt unnatural to refer to the man as such; in the beginning it had functioned as a cover story. Now, given that he'd raised Ienzo far longer than Ansem had, it was simply truth.

"Nice to meet you," Demyx said, sticking out his hand.

"...Pleasure," Even said coolly. "Well, Ienzo, it's going to be dark soon. We should finish our affairs here and get going."

"I'm sure I'll see you around," Demyx said. "Later." He saluted once and ran off.

Even scoffed. "Well, I suppose it was nice of him to do that for you. Though that hair is… something."

"You said yourself "college students do torrid things to their hair.""

"...I know." He wrinkled his nose. Then, lowering his voice. "Just… be careful who you become friends with, yes?"

"...Quite."