"What do you mean?" Shinso asked, feeling a little puzzled and bewildered.

  Humphrey's gaze remained analytical, as if he were studying every intrinsic crevice and nook of the boy's psychology with a mere glance. His large, dark-colored hands remained in his pockets, and he continued to stand straight like a figure of majesty. The cold wind blew through his short black hair as he spoke once more.

  "You're hiding too many things on the inside." His voice came out low, not in the form of a sinister growl or an act of purposeful intimidation, but more like he was studying a small insect with the curiosity of a house-cat.

  Humphrey turned around, facing away from Shinso. The leather coat he was wearing had the Mother Nature insignia stitched into the back, billowing with the wind that tousled the trees and snow.

  "I can see why you digested your potion at such a quick rate. You're always a judge, not to others, but to yourself."

  Shinso's eyes widened, recalling his own memories. There were memories he'd rather not remember or attempt to remember. He recalled every whisper, insult, and rumor in his direction. He had been bullied, harassed, and shamed for the very abilities he had inherited from his own mother. He also thought of my current predicament, how he had failed countless times to protect me from danger and threats.

  Shinso sighed softly, his voice trembling a little as he sputtered. "You're... good at reading people, Humphrey."

  Humphrey stifled a chuckle, remaining solemn with his back turned to the boy. "My son told me the exact same thing."

  "Your son?" Shinso arched an eyebrow, unaware of this matter.

  Humphrey nodded slowly, his dark-colored eyes briefly softening. "My son was named William, someone I'd consider to be a lot like you. He was curious, and he always sought to do the right thing regardless of the price."

  The man fell silent, his fists clenching at his sides. "Where he was holy, he was also cursed. He had a lover, one whom he failed to save in an accident involving a wild animal. He blamed himself, resenting his abilities and turning away from the Pollinators. Later, he committed suicide in his room."

  The man's expression quivered as he looked back at Shinso, his boots crunching in the snow beneath him. "Advancing to Altruist is where he shattered. He denied the principles given to him, retorting them as forced and chaotic. Due to this, he coughed up so much of his potion he fell ill for a period of time."

  "If I become an Altruist, would I suffer a similar fate?"

  Humphrey sighed softly, his gaze locked on Shinso. "Fate isn't determined by a glance, it's determined through our actions."

  Shinso fell silent, absorbing and reflecting on Humphrey's statement. He remembered the psychological changes enacted by the Scale-Shifter potion. He remembered the interaction with Aaron, how he volunteered to search for me regardless of the outside world. If he were to truly shift his own internal scales and overcome everything, he had to truly dissect the meaning behind what an Altruist truly was.

  ...

  I finished my oatmeal, pushing it aside and leaning back on my bed. Letting out a low sigh, I turned to the window, watching the sunlight seep in through the curtains. At this moment, the door opened, and Damien sluggishly walked in, clad in a loose pajama set. He collapsed onto the makeshift bed in the corner, instantly falling asleep.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  "He woke up too many times last night," Olivia said as she stood in the doorway, rubbing her eyes.

  "I'll guess you were the only one being woken up? From what I've heard, Aizawa sleeps like a dead brick."

  Olvia shook her head, her brows furrowing slightly in a temporary state of recollection. "Aizawa was awake until about three in the morning. He sat in the lobby with Aaron while waiting for everyone to return back to the apartment."

  I remembered the state of the lobby last night after I had entered, I scoffed. "He must not know I came back; he's most likely turning the place upside down."

  "No, he knows alright." Olivia suddenly smiled, turning to the large doors obscured by curtains.

  "I don't think I was dreaming, but a raven stopped by on our balcony, leaving us a letter informing us of your condition."

  "W-what?" My eyes widened.

  Was it Kael? How did he know of my predicament, alongside the people to contact? I stood up slowly, stretching as I approached the closet. Usually, I'd vie for my black coat and cravat, but that clothing was dirty and smelt of snow and sweat. I opened the closet, taking out a white undershirt, a sleeveless black and brown vest, and some dress pants. Alongside the outfit, I gave my black coat a quick smell to ensure it was still wearable.

  Before I left, I headed to the laundry room of the apartment, throwing my clothing into the water basin left in the corner, leaving a sign to indicate to anyone who entered that my clothing was currently soaking. I would have snagged a quick pastry from the counter before I left the apartment, but a notice regarding the grain shortage indicated they'd need time to concoct a new recipe for pastries that used less of the ingredient.

  I made my way through the streets of the kingdom, dodging the occasional carriage that passed by me. If I stepped away by a hairsbreath, the coach would often curse under their breath. The reputation and refinement of the carriage services here, alongside their sheer popularity, must have involuntarily maneuvered their behavior, as they didn't make an effort to attack or assault me. That would damage their reputation by a marginally large degree.

  Rounding the corner, I shoved my hands into my pockets as I approached the Indulgence District. The name was deeply contradictory to the actual purpose. Usually, indulgence would be linked to secrecy, lust, and engaging in lewd, criminal behavior. However, unique wordplay, coupled with reputation, must have rewritten the word to be something more of 'indulging in everyday pleasantries.'

  I scanned either end of the street, looking for a bar that looked familiar to me. I was looking for the one Kael had taken me to in particular. At this moment, an ink-black raven landed on a streetlamp, looking down at me with its empty black eyes before cawing softly.

  "Is it you?" I shoved my hands into my pockets, chuckling softly.

  The raven swooped down, abruptly transforming into human form. They had crimson-colored hair, matching eyes, and elven ears. This time, they were clad in more casual attire than last night. Kael nodded his head, gesturing for me to step forward.

  "Why else would a raven perch before a human?"

  With the snap of his fingers, me and him were suddenly transported to not a bar, but another place entirely. It was dimly lit, coupled with a fireplace, a bookshelf, and the head of a moose suspended over the fireplace. Before us was a circular table, coupled with a tea set and a few pastries stacked up. They were darker in color, some of them burnt to a crisp.

  "Why fly as a raven if you can teleport on a whim?" I asked, reaching for a chocolate pastry on the table. When I bit into it, it tasted almost sour. I spat it out, wiping my tongue and lips with a napkin.

  "I can only teleport a short distance from where I stand. If I could do more, I'd have no need for a raven form."

  Kael chuckled as he sipped his tea. "But I like to be a bird; it's more versatile."

  He fell silent, stirring his beverage with a small spoon before speaking in a low voice. "I assume you came here to accept my mentorship?"

  I shook my head, recalling Olivia's words. "A friend of mine said a raven delivered intelligence regarding my condition."

  Kael abruptly fell silent, almost choking on his tea. He stifled a cough as he swallowed it, massaging his larynx. The man cleared his throat, smiling as he spoke once again.

  "That wasn't me, but an accomplice of mine."

  I felt a little puzzled, arching an eyebrow. "Is this your charity organization? Can they turn into ravens too?"

  Kael suddenly laughed out loud. "No, no, no, boy. Being able to transform into a raven means I can also communicate with them. If I were to directly go to their establishment and leave a report, I'd attract suspicion—especially since the presence of other Seekers would surely highlight my peculiarity."

  "Strange. I still find it weird how Aizawa hadn't taken action. Aren't messenger birds a few centuries out of date?"

  "What do you mean?" Kael's gaze suddenly turned analytical. "We use messenger birds all the time when postal services are stagnated."

  I instantly realized my contradiction—I had said something that someone from back home would say! My face flushed as I coughed, purposely adjusting my leg under the table, kicking it upwards and spilling the tea set to the floor.

  "I-I...sorry." I moved in a flurry, moving to pick up the mess I had made.

  "No worries," Kael said with a now collected smile.

  Now that I looked around, I finally gained a small insight with this location. The floors were lightly carpeted, and the air smelt with a pleasant aroma. The curtains were drawn, and a small, four-post bed was nestled in the corner. On the silk sheets was a small canister of something.

  "W-what even is this place?"

  "My apologies, I forgot to clarify. This is the second floor of a bar, famous for hosting the best orgies in the kingdom."