Good evening Yue,

I just arrived here in my child's ancestral home but it was really shocking to undergo that sudden interrogation which happened a while ago. Sir Silva told me too that my child will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow.

Hmm.. I don't know what to buy for him as a gift. There aren't any stores in here either. Well, what else would I expect on this castle on top of a mountain?

...Hmm.. My child was right. This place is indeed boring compared to our home in the real world.

Out of my weariness, I decided to take myself outside the guest room for a stroll. As I walked around the silent halls, I noticed a tower secluded from the rest of the castle. The door was slightly open, inviting me to come. Out of curiosity I went inside.

The door suddenly closed the moment I stepped in. The aura of the place was unwelcoming to me that I felt like I want to shiver. I couldn't see anybody nor anything inside. Darkness filled all its corners. When my eyes finally adjusted itself to the blackness all around, I saw precious gems arranged so beautifully. I gazed onto those crystals fascinatingly. The Zaoldyecks are indeed wealthy. But I don't care at all. What I cared about is my child.

His name is Alluka, right? I felt a bit awkward upon realizing the fact that I have never asked for his name. I have given myself to him yet I don't know even a slightest information about his life nor his background. But that was the nature if our love. Never inquisitive.

My thoughts were distracted by the gleam of the sheen surface of a mirror reflecting the slightest parcel of light upon me. I walked towards the shiny thing and stared at my reflection. I have never changed indeed. I wonder what my comrades would say if they could see me now. I shook my head at such thought. But I froze when I saw my reflection smile at me.

I released my ten, trying to fight my shock. The image on the mirror laughed at me.

"It was so long ago. Do you remember me, Feitan?"

My mind went blank. "W-who are you?"

I stepped back as the man went out of the mirror. His clothes looked different though but has the same color as mine –black. But his hair was so long as if it was never cut for hundreds of years.

"You are strong indeed. I thought you have died when I left you at Ryuuseigaii thirty-two years ago. Impressive."

He walked towards me. I won't step back. I wasn't afraid of him. I have seen things even terrible than this. He can't scare me. But I never expected to talk with someone with the same face as mine.

"I suppose you are angry with me for throwing you there, my little one. But then, you must thank me for it. I gave you a chance to live longer." He smiled at me again almost sweetly.

"You –you are my father?" I asked.

"Well, sort of," he replied. "Anyway, I came here to tell you that you are so stupid indeed to look into this mirror. You see, this pretty thing is the gateway of our exalted place to the world of these ordinary humans."

"What exalted place?" I asked. I was really confused by this man's long speech. "And I'm a human! Don't you ever forget that!"

"By appearance, yes. But originally, you're not," he said calmly grinning at me. "We are descendants of the intellectual dragons which took human form.

"Our ancestors wanted to have human bodies so much," he continued. "That's why every hundred years, a newborn male is thrown into the world of humans to serve as sacrifice. If he dies, the Great Spirit will bestow our land with much, much blessings. If he lives, he will be hunted down and be burned by the Fires of Heaven to assure that our human form remains. You get it?"

"What do you mean?" I asked. I found no more words to say. Not even the slightest insults I used to throw at my opponents.

"Ah, your stupidity pains me much, my dear. You are the sacrifice, Feitan, and by simply looking into that mirror, the high priest was informed that you are alive. Therefore, by sunrise, he will arrive here to finish you off." He looked at me smiling an unfathomable smile. "You should be glad I warned you. Goodbye, my little one." He walked back to the mirror but I stopped him by holding his hand. "What?" he asked not looking at me.

"What will I do now? I don't want to die." For the first time in my life I felt so helpless. I would enter into any compromise. It's okay for me to die of course. But I can't die at that date. Tomorrow is my child's birthday.

He looked straight into my eyes. "Are you thinking about your beloved? Tomorrow's the anniversary of his birth, right?" he asked.

Without a choice, I nodded. I don't know how this bastard knew about my child, but I don't care at all.

"I can't do anything to help you," he said. "But perhaps if your ashes will be sprinkled into his face, he will receive the gift of eternal youth. You will die but at least he will be given the privilege to retain his youthful looks till his deathbed." He pulled his hand away from mine. "That is all I could ever tell you. Goodbye now. I wish you luck, my son. Goodbye."

And he went back to the mirror.

It was almost midnight when I returned to the room given to me in this castle. I never thought that I was indeed destined to die an offering. A sacrifice. That may be the the reason why I suffered a lot. I am a sacrifice.

Ah, my mind was so confused. I buried my face into the soft, fluffy pillows but I can't sleep at all. How about my child? Ah. I'm indeed stupid.

I don't know if this is a joke or real. Do you know, Yue? Ah. I think I'll be giving you my last gaze. Goodbye to you.

Feitan