You and Kirishima walked around the outskirts of the palace at a slow and lumbering pace, your horses easily able to walk through the snow that covered the ground. There was nothing but silence around you, just the wind and rustling of branches, occasionally accompanied by a snort or huff from Yonaka. The brilliant black horse had truly become a comfort to you, finding that just getting to ride him even for a moment calmed your nerves. He was the only horse that you were allowed to ride anyway, since he would refuse to go even a step out of bounds without Bakugou or Tsuyu being present. You wouldn't even attempt to run at this point anyway, not with the freezing weather or Bakugou's right hand man watching your every move.

The redhead seemed quite relaxed, even if he did have his weapon at the ready, his white and brown freckled horse following every silent command or gesture. Eventually, Kirishima couldn't help himself and he just had to talk, pulling your gaze away from the forest beside you. "This snow is really starting to fall, isn't it? The clouds are dark!"

"Yes, there might be a storm coming soon. Don't worry, Kiri, we'll go inside after this last stretch." You found it difficult to even find the energy to talk, unsure if it was the cold or how heavy your emotions were. It felt as if there were weights on your shoulders, crushing you to the point that your chest would surely collapse. "This little walk has helped me… Thank you."

"No need to thank me, [L/N]! I haven't really done anything to help, I just didn't want you to be out here by yourself."

"That's more important than you know… I–"

Suddenly, you found yourself unable to speak as you saw a figure in the distance, seemingly walking towards you. It was odd to see anyone out here walking, as you were currently behind the palace closer to the mountains on an unused path. Were they a villager that was lost, or perhaps someone that did maintenance on the wall? You hadn't seen anything wrong on your small venture, but there could have been something you missed while in a daze.

Noticing the person as well, Kirishima spurred his horse to walk a bit faster, to where he was right beside you instead of behind. You could feel an uncomfortable tension, as he must have thought the wanderer was odd as well, but you decided to stay quiet for the time being. That is, until the stranger grew closer. Instantly, you noticed the mask he wore, which highly resembled… a beak. It covered only his nose, mouth and chin, curving down with a unique and ornate pattern. It immediately made you think of the plague doctors from a different time in a completely different country, and you found yourself highly curious.

Was this man another traveler just like you? How could he possibly be using that particular style in this era, when there were no resources that proved their existence? At least, there hadn't been any that you had ever seen, but spending time racking your brain for information wasn't something you cared to do. All you wanted to do was talk to him, even if Kirishima would try and stop you.

Just as the man began to pass you both, you pulled on Yonaka's reigns to stop him. "Excuse me?" Ignoring the way that Yonaka snorted in annoyance at being stopped, you gazed down curiously at the man beside you, who had looked up at you out of the corner of his eye. His yellow gaze was nearly piercing, filling you with a sense of fear that you couldn't quite understand. Still, you persisted, swallowing the fear down. "I just… your mask is very interesting."

"Ah, you think so?" Nearly instantly, the man's demeanor changed, relaxing his shoulders as he smiled at you with his eyes. Reaching up, he ran a gloved finger down the curve of the beak, before tapping against it softly. "You are kind, miss! Most people are frightened of it."

"May I ask where you got it from? Or… if you made it?"

The man gave a soft ruffle to his short dark brown hair, which was quite messy already. "It was made for me long ago. Unfortunately, that place no longer exists."

"I see…" For a moment, you let your eyes glance over the stranger's body, noticing that he was quite nicely dressed in dark purple and black robes, even with some type of white fur around his shoulders. You assumed that either he was wealthy or some type of performer, but nothing about the way he dressed matched either description fully.

"What is it for?" Kirishima was the next to ask a question, either being curious or wanting to make his presence known. "It's very peculiar and unnatural."

"Ah, you know…" Shrugging casually, the man turned his yellow gaze towards Kirishima, seemingly quite calm. "I have a few reasons. Mostly, because I hate human filth." His voice becoming dark, you instantly felt your stomach swell nervously, clutching onto Yonaka's reins tightly. You could hear Kirishima shift nervously as well, but before the redhead could interject, the stranger continued.

"It's odd to see you out here as a chaperone for [L/N] like this… Red Dragon Kirishima Eijirou." The yellow gaze moved back to you, and just like before, you could feel it pierce through your flesh like a blade. "She must be valuable… and important to General Bakugou."

With a click of his tongue, Kirishima reached across and took the reins from you, spurring both horses to begin trotting off. In shock, you could only stare back at the stranger, forcing yourself to turn forward as he gave you both a casual wave in farewell. "K-Kiri, what was that–"

"Be quiet. Please." Kirishima shushed you, also taking a quick glance back to make sure you weren't being followed. "That man was trouble. How he knew our names is dangerous. I'm going to have to report this… There must be a spy or informant in our ranks."

Following direction to keep silent, you clutched onto Yonaka's saddle tightly to keep yourself balanced. Even if you had wanted to talk, there was no way you could gather your thoughts and questions enough to be coherent. How had that man known your name? Where did he get that mask from? Was he also from a different era? Why was he here in the first place? Was it… for you?

"Damn it…" Kirishima cursed out softly, slowing both horses down as you approached the entrance to the palace. "We didn't get his name… How are we going to explain this?"

…

"How could you do something so stupid!? I thought I told you not to converse with anyone outside of the palace without my permission! And you!" Bakugou turned his anger to Kirishima, who was standing silently beside you as you both suffered through the scolding. "You let her!"

"It seemed harmless at first, she didn't give her name or any information about herself. All she did was ask about his mask. He already knew her name before that." Kirishima frowned as he tried to explain it all, defending you to his fullest. "We have more to be worried about right now. We need to figure out how he knew her."

With a frustrated sigh, Bakugou reached up and ran his fingers through his hair, glaring down at your confused and guilty form. Yes, you had gone against one of his biggest rules and you should have known better. But you were on Kirishima's side with all of this. How did that man know you? And what was worse, were you going to be treated with suspicion again, just like when you first arrived? Were your privileges going to be taken away?

"Did you know him, Demon?"

"No." You did your best to sound confident, knowing any little waiver in your voice could be dangerous. "I didn't know him. I was just curious about his mask… It was so odd. I don't know how he knew me."

"No one has ever done this to you before?"

"No one."

With a click of his tongue, Bakugou walked away, beginning to pace as he thought. After a moment, he stopped and sat down at his table, rubbing his left temple. "We will have to do some investigating to see if there is a spy or informant for the enemy here. But until we find out, you can't go anywhere, Demon. You stay in the palace and don't leave the center boundaries unless you are with someone."

"But… the courtyard and library are–"

"I don't care. Do you really want to put your life and safety at risk for some books and a damn fish?" When his question was met with silence from you, he shook his head and waved you off with a flick of his wrist. "I thought so. Go to your quarters and stay there until Tsuyu comes to find you. Kirishima, write down everything that happened…"

As Kirishima left your side, you were effectively cut out of the conversation, which was tense and heavy. You knew that this wasn't the time to pry, nor was it the time to pout about being excluded, so you did as you were told. You left, without another peep or glance from the two men, and made your way down the halls. It was a slow and lonely walk, with only the wind to keep you company. Over the minutes that passed, it began to howl, whipping about and disturbing your clothing and hair. It perfectly matched the swelling emotions inside of you, fighting with yourself over everything that had happened that day.

You felt sad. Alone. Foolish. Angry. Homesick. Anxious. Longing. All these things were near suffocating you, blinding you to everything in your path, until you found yourself a bit… lost.

How far had you wandered? You had sworn that you were heading in the correct direction, but now, everything was unfamiliar. The darkening storm and powerful winds were making it difficult for you to really see, so out of fear, you turned to go back the way you had come and find some proper direction.

What you hadn't expected was a body to be blocking your path, your downcast eyes locked onto vaguely familiar dark purple robes.

"You seem a little lost, [L/N]. Can't find your way without a GPS, hm?"

A gasp leaving your lips, you looked up at the person before you, shocked to see that familiar form of a beak and piercing yellow eyes. Stumbling back a bit, you clasped your hands together tightly at your chest, waves of excitement and fear crashing over your body to make you tremble. "W-what? How do you know that? Who are you?"

Without answering, the stranger from the road held up a gloved fist, keeping it tightly closed with his palm facing up, right in front of your face. You wanted to run, to yell or do anything to get away, but your body just would not move. This person knew what had happened to you, and you thought that just maybe, he could help get you home.

"P-please…" You whispered, barely audible against the howling wind. "Can you get me home?"

"There is no way to return home. It's been ten years and I've accepted that fact. So should you."

As his words filled you with dread, the hand in front of you opened, revealing a white powder that was instantly displaced by the wind. Swirling in the air, you had no chance to protect yourself before it rushed into your face, making your eyes instantly burn and your head swim violently as you inhaled it with a gasp.

The last thing you saw was that ice-cold yellow gaze, before your entire world went black.