[R] – “The White-Eye hitman Evto Mugen - otherwise known as the Ghost Assassin would be ironically assassinated after being shot down by two missiles and crashing into the dense salt surface of Kirulan. White Eye and journalist ships have been permitted to land to search the wreckage under the watch of Civil Defense squads, as examinations of the incident are underway.

  Evto Mugen was known primarily as the Ghost Assassin - a name earned by his spectre-like tactics in combat and his haunted personality. Interviews with those who worked with Evto in the past detailed him as a reserved and detached man with little to say. The few reliable sources of his missions say that he would act efficiently and avoid the killing of innocents when possible.

  As for the man who killed the Ghost Assassin, they remain to be anonymous - however blood was found nearby the crash-site, allowing Kirulan Law Enforcement to identify and link the assassin in some capacity. If Eukaron is to be trusted, the man who killed the Ghost Assassin was the same who was involved in the Ubashi Plaza attack and the hero of Thousand Leaves' attack in the Envia Dome. While unidentified beyond their class, the Martian Government has sanctioned a reward of 15,000 credits for their work in defeating the fundamental powered Soul-Wielder just a few days ago.-“

  The TV to the ragged-down apartment shut off, with the glimmering reflection of the man who was just talked about on the news, Evto Mugen. Where has Evto gone after all this time?

  He stood up, his place seemed as if he had gone through a divorce and not a shed of light illuminated the place, though Evto didn’t seem bothered by this, not at all, he took solace in his current livelihood now. The former Ghost Assassin knew sustainable living, yet he chose to live on his accord away from White Eye, a smart choice from a sometimes-troubled man. Evto made himself a glass of water – shortly interrupted by a lot of rustling outside.

  Evto went to go check, seeing as a group of immature teenagers were egging at his plant pot.

  “Hey! You guys knock that shit off now. “ Evto demanded, irritated in this early morning. Despite having a lot of strength of his own, he faces disrespect, but it has never truly bothered him, at least in that manner, he can find solace by the people. His neighbor would open their door, walking out to greet Evto a good morning.

  “Sheesh- my all-brooding serious neighbor and he is getting messed with by teens huh.“ A lady with a rather curvy figure greeted Evto, this was the first time they interacted since he came here. He was always the quiet self-enclosed guy so socialization wasn’t his strong suite, yes, despite being a feared assassin, even he lacked certain major skills.

  “ Oh- erm, I suppose so…” Left confused, Evto cleaned up after the mess. He had no response aside from that; adding to the awkwardness of the current scenario.

  “I’m Lucelia. Lucelia Jia! I see that you had recently moved in, what better time than to know who your neighbors are, right?” She held a tight smile, Lucelia looked assertive, but her tone was very sweet, it caught Evto off-guard.

  “Ah- yeah, I did.. it’s nice to meet you, I’m Kyden Gurmin.” A fake name, a fake man. It was necessary, the news had reported his ‘death’ so now he walks the name of ‘Kyden Gurmin’, the new face that characterizes the past of the Ghost Assassin. Not out of character for Evto to embrace a new identity to blend in.

  “Gurmin, you have one of those names that you’ll only hear for the first time and only once.” Lucelia looked at him, shifting her head slightly, “Is that a name you just made up on the spot, hm?”

  “…No, that is my given name, I’m certain of it… is something the matter?” Avoiding to make a suspicious reaction, Evto looked as monotonous as possible but has someone already caught on to his lie? Did Lucelia see through the mask of the Ghost Assassin? If so, Evto didn’t do a very good job at keeping an identity, has he gotten rusty this early on?

  “I kid, I’m saying you just have a unique name. Well anyway, you should add some water to your plants, make sure the water isn’t from the tap as the ions would slowly kill it’s roots. I better get going now, got a meeting at the community library to look forward to. See ya around, Gurmin.” She chuckled, walking off. It seems she didn’t see through the mask rather complimented it, showing the appreciation of such a unique name that Evto had made up but alas, he was just relieved.

  “Oh- yeah, take care.” He watched her walk off, scratching his head as he looked down at his flowerpot by the door, “Hm.”

  -

  Pormuuga, a planet in the Galactical Divisionary (G.D) territory. Initially colonized by the Padamedians, a species that possess earth-like wolves features. Traits such the ear and a tail, the pure group of this species are in a complete structure of the anatomy while most of the population of Padamedians look very humanoid now.

  Pormuuga lies in the Southern Sector of the Milky Way, making it one of the most peaceful and beautiful planets out there surrounded by incredible wildlife and landscape. So, lies Evto Mugen, in the town known as “Vijjma”. Specifically at a local diner that almost every resident of Vijjma knows of.

  Mugen was seated at a coffee table, drinking down his morning coffee and reading old news article. It wasn’t apparent as to why he did so, but he spent his free time looking at events in the past, even events that were entirely irrelevant. The diner had a jazzy atmosphere with pinches of calm chatter spread throughout, a perfect place for a dead man such as himself.

  He took a lot of tranquility, something that White Eye could never offer. White Eye was a venom to anyone who wanted to easy way through – slowly but surely does White Eye reduce the freedom and time that was had, worse for the ones that were dependable and the Ghost Assassin was no exception to this, Evto was tired of all the hits and fighting, even before then, the Mugen Family crowned him as a prodigy; not giving him a choice of his own which is why he chose the life he has now. No more hits, no more killing and no more meaningless chaos – Evto was at peace.

  Taking small sips of his coffee, humming at the jazz playing in the establishment. Sitting alone in the corner of the diner – this was soon interrupted as a girl with a slight skimpy outfit entered the diner. She surveyed the place and noticed Evto sitting alone and away from other people.

  “..Hey there mister. Enjoying the coffee?” The girl approached Evto, uninviting herself to the table.

  “Hello. The coffee is alright- do you work here..?” He assumed she was probably just a waitress or a staff to the place.

  “Oh no, I’m a local here too. I think the coffee is great! Do you come around often?” She held a gentle smile on her, looking at Evto across the table.

  “Uhm- yeah..” He was still confused about who this girl was, curling his brows. Evto’s presence goes by unnoticed, makes sense when you think about it. He is an assassin, a nobody, only until his ‘death’ he became publicly known to the whole galaxy. So, the question is, why did this random girl come up to Evto? Why him specifically?

  “I’m Vani by the way!- sorry it’s just I saw you sitting alone and it looked as if you could use some company!” Vani was her name, she held a tight smile at Evto, inviting herself to seem welcome. Evto was still wondering about her, even with an answer like that it seems out of place.

  “I’m Kyden Gurmin, you can just call me Gurmin.” He nodded.

  “Gurmin! That’s a funny name- anyway, why are you all the way over here all alone? The town is a little small, so usually people always have company here.”

  Vani most likely knew more about Vijjma than Evto does and she was right, people normally do have company at this place, looking around the diner, it was easy to notice that everyone here was being accompanied by at least someone.

  Vijjma isn’t a special place in the regard that travelers would come to tour, but it held a charm to it, as if everyone in Vijjma always helped each other, or so it seems.

  “I don’t find myself to be that attracting I suppose. Come here often to have my coffee, so a lack of company doesn’t exactly bother me.” He responded.

  “Oh?- either you are modest or you convinced yourself of that, mister. One would think a good-looking man such as yourself would already have company-“

  Vani took off her slip-ons, slowly wrapping both legs around his leg. She gradually placed her soft hands on his wrist, gently stroking her way down to his knuckles, she smiled at him.

  “-especially with a lady, right?”

  He looked at her, letting out a breath.

  “What are you doing?”

  “-Mister, would you like to have company today? I can tell by your hands and posture that you seem so up tight- like you need some release?-“

  “No.” Evto pulled his hand back and scooted her legs away.

  “I cannot do something like that.”

  Despite being a former cold-blooded assassin and a by the book killer at that, Evto had principles. Sure, Vani was a very cute and pretty young lady, countless of guys would give anything to be in his position but not Evto, his principles and chastity enable him to decline these acts, all he longs for is just a life in solace and nothing more.

  “You seem to be a nice girl, Vani. I simply can’t do something like that, for starters I am too old for you. Sorry but please don’t ask or do that again.” Before standing off his chair, Vani grabbed onto his wrist, this time in a seductive way but in a rushing manner.

  “W-wait- I can give you a discount for my s-services, we can agree to a d-deal for just one night!”

  The girl who, not only thirty seconds ago, was attempting to seduce him now seemed desperate. On top of that, the words “services” alerted Evto of one thing.

  “Services.” He looked down at the pleading Vani.

  “Are you-“

  “L-listen, just for this one-time- one night! I can do whatever you want me to, anything! Heh- not an offer I really throw out there, y’know??”

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  She was desperate for this offer, too desperate as Evto noticed but he still cannot do it.

  “That isn’t point, Vani was it? As I said, you seem like a nice girl- I just met you, so I don’t know what you have going for but my advice is that whatever business or profession you are in right now to do this, please reflect for your own good.”

  “..”

  Vani stood up, looking away from him.

  “Reflect? I don’t have a choice mister.”

  “Huh?” He grew concerned at her response.

  “If I don’t make business- I’ll be in trouble…”

  Vani, a girl who seems to be in her early 20s, not particularly tall, followed by her soft pale skin with a beauty mark near her lip, hazel-colored eyes that reveal their brightness when struck by sunlight. The color of her hair was a dark brown; the style of choice was half-cut bangs with the rest in a ponytail stretching to her lower back. Vani is in fact a pretty woman.

  It questions why she is involved in this business in the first place if everything on the surface seems in place, Evto picked up on it, shouldn’t always judge by the surface alone.

  “Trouble? What do you mean?” He asked.

  “I’m sorry, mister. It was rude and inappropriate for me to invite myself to your table. Please forgive me.” Vani slid the seat back into the table, grabbing her belongings.

  “Mister Gurmin, forget that I even came up to you, please.” She nodded her head before hastily leaving the diner.

  “Wait.”

  He couldn’t really do anything to stop her, but what she had said was left in his mind, no choice? Does Vani do this because she doesn’t have a choice? Lots of questions but if he wants to stay out of trouble it’s in his best interest that doesn’t involve himself.

  .:. That girl seems troubling, I hope she can straighten out whatever she has going on. .;.

  As much as he didn’t want to keep thinking about, seeing a young girl like Vani doing things like this, it made him rethink if Vijjma is the place that it tries to depict itself to be. At the end however, he wants to live in solace, he can’t get involved.

  -

  A couple hours later, Evto finally left the diner, slinging his coat onto him.

  “Hey!- HEY! SOMEONE STOP THAT GUY!”

  A voice screamed down the sidewalk, a man in dark clothing was full sprinting his way down holding a bag. Evto turned his head, noticing the man, combined with the words that were being shouted, it was in fact a robber.

  He casually planted his foot out right as the robber was going run past, tripping over and landing hard. The bag fell at the foot of Evto and the robber couldn’t risk it, thus continuing to run off.

  “Huh.”

  He picked up the bag and turned over to where the voice was coming from.

  “Damn bastard-!” A store clerk rushed by, sighing in relief that the merchandise was repossessed, specifically Quants.

  “Oh- thank you so much, buddy! That fucking guy got me while I was restocking. I swear you can’t trust the people of this town!” The clerk grabbed the bag from Evto.

  “Thankfully good people like you are still around, otherwise that bastard would’ve ran off with my money. So, I appreciate that pal, your name?”

  The clerk was very appreciative that Evto stopped a robbery, rightfully so.

  “It’s Kyden.”

  “Well- Kyden, for doing such a good deed for me, my store is just a couple walks down from the diner, it’s a clothing store, specifically formal fitting. You seem like the kind of guy who can always have a suit on stand-by. So, if you plan on stopping by everything in the shop is all half-off just for you!”

  Store clerk guy happened to be spot on, Evto fits that description very well and he fits even better in formal fitting. He wasn’t just a hit-for-hire; he is a good-looking man outside of that, a lot of women would be attracted by his fashion and charm.

  “Why thank you. I may need a suit here soon, so I’ll gladly stop by when I have the time. You are..?”

  “Oh, I’m Daniel!” Daniel gave him a firm handshake.

  “Daniel, thank you Daniel.”

  “No- thank you! Anyway, I better get back to work. This place got a curfew for that damn gang secretly running the streets.” Daniel chuckled.

  “I’m sorry? A gang?” He tilted his head at Daniel’s comment; he wasn’t made aware of any gangs in Vijjma if he recalls.

  “You gotta be new here- there is a gang in Vijjma, they call themselves the ‘Frame’. You probably couldn’t have known unless you’re a local that’s been here for a while. They run this place discreetly, even got some of the local authorities under their thumbs! It’s crazy shit, dare tell me.”

  Daniel seemed a little nervous but humorous talking about it.

  “-so you stay safe out there pal, if you come across ‘em, stay cool alright? They don’t really mess with civilians but won’t hold back if the gang members are being messed with.” Daniel gave a pat to his shoulders before walking back to his store.

  “..”

  .:. Frame, Vijjma’s gang. .:.

  = = =

  After some time of walking, Evto made it home. It was dark, it was late, but he was used to the dark and if anything had happened during the dark, it was always Evto that caused it.

  He approached the stairs to his apartment, before taking a step further, he noticed his neighbor, Lucelia, watering her plants this late.

  “…”

  “Late night watering?” He decided to be the first one to talk, to make himself grow accustomed to this town’s etiquette.

  “Hm- oh, hey there.” Lucelia turned her head back, standing up straight.

  “I usually give them lots of water, it is important to stay hydrated, us alike.”

  She placed down the watering can next to the pot, Lucelia seems to like plants quite a bit, she has four pots sitting outside her home, even telling Evto that he should water his own plants.

  “So, I guess that means I’m a plant who hydrates off coffee then.” He responded humorously, yes, even the Ghost Assassin is capable of such a feat.

  “Oh jeez- a plant that only feeds off coffee won’t live that long. I wouldn’t like to be your plant.” Lucelia smiled, responding to his remark wittingly.

  “Maybe not.”

  Lucelia was going to go back inside but before doing so, this was the opportunity for her to know Evto better.

  “Say, Gurmin, hydration in mind, would you like to come inside for a drink? We should get to know each other if we are going to be neighbors.”

  Lucelia offered Evto a drink. It seems much like Evto, she doesn’t seem to have a lot of company.

  He had no reason to refuse; it wasn’t like he had anything to do or any mission contracts waiting for him. He is past that life, this offer simply meant he is right where he wants to be.

  “Why not, a free drink is free.” He walked over, Lucelia nodded and open her door for him, inviting the man into her own home right next door.

  -

  Upon entering, it was immediately noticed that Lucelia had even more plants at her windowsill, she likes flowers a lot by the looks of it.

  “Have a seat on the sofa, do you like Jirubian Spirit?” Lucelia offered and asked.

  “Jirubian Spirit? That’s quite the price to have, I’ll have a glass then please.”

  Evto was slightly surprised that Lucelia owned such a drink, obviously he doesn’t and has no business to know of Lucelia’s financial livelihood, but the Jirubian Spirit is known to be an expensive drink to buy due to its fine-class nature.

  “Here you go sir.” Lucelia walked over with two glasses in her hand, giving one to Evto.

  Evto took a sip, enjoying the drink and the warm welcome. This truly is the solace he longed for. Going from assassinating high-profile targets to getting involved with a war that his younger sister brought upon him to being hunted down and reportedly ‘killed’ to now succumbing to the peace he found himself in, with the presence of his flower-loving neighbor.

  “Tell me a bit about yourself.” She sat next to him on the same sofa, sipping on her glass.

  “Where’d you come from? Got any hobbies?”

  Hobbies, one hobby alright. These were questions that would kill Evto to answer not because it was against his former oath or code but because outside of his work, he was just a normal-living guy with no hobbies whatsoever.

  “I moved here from Sky-City, down at Jupiter. I wanted a quieter life, so I figured this was the place. As far as hobbies, I used to hunt but I don’t do much of that anymore.”

  “Sky-City, that place is luxury, and you decided to leave? I would kill to live in such a nice place like that, Vijjma is nice don’t get me wrong, but a woman should have her excitement and Sky-City seems like the place.”

  Lucelia silently judged Evto for leaving a nice place for a small town like Vijjma.

  “It wasn’t so much of the place that was the problem, it was my family. I was meant to be an heir to something but growing up, it felt manipulative and abusive to a certain capacity, so I just left. I left that place a long time ago I just didn’t find a steady place to stay up until now.”

  Lucelia nodded, smiling.

  “My family sucks, I left them a while ago too. Not for the same reason as yours, but you tend to realize that people close to you restrict your freedom of things. Expecting so much than what you even expect for yourself, I found myself here. A place where I can enjoy the pretty landscape and the flowers, it fills me with solace.”

  Lucelia smiled, taking sips off her drink.

  “My only issue was that I didn’t get a lot of company, being alone all the time is pretty hard, especially when you come from a rough background, you know?”

  Evto understood a lot of what Lucelia had said, the Mugen Family was nothing but abusive toward their heirs, Evto was the first son of the generation, he received the most cruelty from them all in so they could carry the Mugen Legacy through an empire that being Nextellar Star Clan.

  He never cared for any of that but never had the choice except to leave his family behind and so he did. It hadn’t stopped there, he had no talent to properly fit into society, no interests to keep him afloat among The World, that’s where White Eye came in and turn him into a weapon.

  Only until now he finally acted for what he wanted but throughout all those times, one thing was clear: He was always alone, much like Lucelia, she is alone too.

  “Yeah, it doesn’t matter how far you come or where you plan to go, doing it all alone cripples the result. I like the quiet life, but I know I cannot sit alone forever.” He sipped his drink.

  “Mhm- you said that your hobby was hunting. What kind of hunting?” Lucelia wondered.

  “I used to animal hunt as part of a training that my mentor made me do to survive, I ended up being good at it, so I stuck to it. I don’t do much of it anymore, even now that I appreciate all life.”

  Lucelia raised a brow.

  “Animal hunt? Well- I can see that you have the physique to do something like that, but your tone and body language doesn’t really suggest that.” Lucelia looked Evto top to bottom.

  “Are you sure it was wild animals that you were hunting? Maybe you were hunting something else.”

  Lucelia stared.

  “What if it was?” He answered.

  “…Nah- you seem too sweet to even hurt a fly. I’ll assume you weren’t hunting, more of just surviving aggressive wildlife!” Lucelia laughed, having more of her drink.

  “Never know when I might need the training, for all I know you could be an aggressive animal, Miss Jia.” Evto humorously responded.

  “Are you calling me an animal? Mister Gurmin.. how disrespectful!”

  Lucelia laughed, Evto smiled. She leaned in closer to him.

  “I wouldn’t know.” Evto took a sip before placing his glass on the table in front.

  Lucelia placed her hand on his bicep, a similar situation with a different setting.

  “Would you like to know me then, Gurmin?”

  Lucelia had long and soft black hair, having it’s own beauty supported by her crimson and sometimes luminescent eyes, long lashes and a plump lighter skin. Her physical introduces a mature yet soft curve as if she stays in shape. A woman set to possibly be in her late to early 30s, much closer to Evto’s age and all her features seemed to be in perfect contrast to Evto’s physical appearance.

  Lucelia’s face grew red, possibly from either the drink or flushed from what she had said to him.

  Evto’s response to this was uncertainty, unlike the last time, this wasn’t out of principle but rather curiosity since this would be a first proper experience, especially with another woman of his age.

  “Since you came here, I been curious about you. You always look as if you’ve been hurting, but for the first time, I saw your smile. Kyden-“

  He went in for the kiss.

  An ever-evolving assassin, White Eye’s shadow killer. The Wielder of the Soul of Annihilation-

  -has finally took the step to kiss a woman on his own.

  -

  Couple of hours later...

  Evto let out a breath, wrapping him and Lucelia with a blanket in her room… on her bed.

  “-what a funny place to be, I spoke to you this morning for the first time and now here I am, laying on your chest, in nearly the same day.” Lucelia ran her hand softly and slowly across Evto’s chest, leaning her head onto him.

  “Yeah, it is a bit funny.” He responded.

  “..”

  “You know, I can tell that you have secrets, scary ones. A man of secrets, you come from some place darker than what you told me, don’t you? You don’t have to tell me but just know that I can see it hurts you a bit. Let’s not be alone together, Kyden.” Lucelia closed her eyes.

  .:. Let’s not be alone. .:.

  -

  [ The next day ]

  Evto was having his daily coffee at the usual diner. After his experience with Lucelia the night prior, he felt quite rejuvenated and more motivated to put himself out there. He looked out the window and watched the people of Vijjma in the spurring beautiful sunlight shining over Pormuuga.

  ..

  “Hey- mister.” A familiar voice approached Evto. He turned his head and now had company.

  Vani, from yesterday, sat down.

  “Mister- I need your help..”

  Vani was bruised from several points on her neck, countless of band-aids and bandages as well as a mean black-eye.

  Evto acknowledged.

  “Who did this?”