30 HySy ArtMask Studio (1/2)

Lucien woke up early in the morning and the first thing he did was drinking morning coffee. Drinking morning coffee was ritual and most important tradition to him. Traditions were like Holy Decree to people of Aeon House.

Another tradition for Lucien was morning training with his katana. He did it every day to keep himself in good shape. Now when he didn't have any of Royal Guards to train with him or his mom to train with him he could only do some shadow training.

His morning training took around two hours. He practiced basic stances at first and then proceeded to more advanced ones. Now that his kenjutsu was at Samurai Realm he was wielding his katana more naturally and more experienced.

After finishing his morning practice he went to the 4th Ward. This ward was for ghouls uninhabitable. Together with 1st, 2nd and 3rd were too uninhabitable for all ghouls cause they were close to ”the main nest of doves”.

It took some time for Lucien to find the exterior entrance to the HySy ArtMask Studio. It was located in some back alley, where everything was sprayed with graffiti. On the exterior was one smaller wooden banner with HySy mark on it. Lucien opened the door and went downstairs where the entrance to the shop was located.

Entrance to the shop was a very small and narrow place, lit only by a bright red light. The door was made from the combination of wood and some iron. It looked nice and the glance. Lucien entered the shop and saw its entire beauty.

The floor was practically chessboard, with black and white squares pattern on it. In the middle of the room and beside walls were big glass showcases with some masks displayed. On the wall, masks were hanging and some of them were scary like from a horror movie.

The main designer Uta was nowhere to find.

”Nec possum tecum Vivere, nec sine te.”

Screamed Lucien at the whole studio. He knew that Uta was here but probably was crafting some new masks and listening to music through the headset. So he said one quote that would bring him here for certain.

”I can live neither with you, nor without you.”

Said another voice coming from the backroom. The tall, lanky young looking man appeared. With black hair, styled into an undercut. Various tattoos covered his arm, and a sun tattoo covered his entire left pectoral region. His eyes were like those of kakugan. Black sclera and red iris. Clothed in gray tank top underneath a black wrap sweater, along with harem pants and sandals. He also wears a black necklace with round, white gems hanging from it.

”Hello, Uta-san.”

Greeted Lucien politely. When Uta saw Lucien he expression remained the same but he knew who he was. As Uta worked with Aeon House for a very long time he knew inheritor from the first glance. Lucien also knew Uta had a personality like this. He has a very nice way of speaking and seems to be friendly. His expression almost never changes but he had an amusing way of teasing people. Of course, he has a sadistic and savage form from his youth but it appears that he left those way behind him as time passed.

”Lucien-san, welcome to my shop. Come to the back room to sit.”

Lucien followed Uta to the backroom and both of them sat down at the chairs. The backroom was actually Uta's real workplace. Here was his workplace, his table, and sketches of masks. Lucien fleetingly looked through all sketches before looking at Uta.

”Here this is my gift to celebrate our first meeting and to beginning of our friendship. From this day we are friends.”

Said Lucien with a smile as he took out one blood essence refined from agents of V. Blood essences refined from ghouls could be eaten by ordinary ghouls too.