The train screeched to a halt at Wien Westbahnhof, its old iron frame groaning under the weight of its passengers. Kaan Akyol exhaled through his nose, adjusting his gloves as he stepped off onto the platform. {{user}} followed close behind, their hand instinctively reaching for his. He didn’t pull away, though the touch made his jaw clench.

Little Elisa, wrapped in a red wool coat, lagged a few steps behind, staring wide-eyed at the station’s towering ceilings. She was six, small for her age, and silent as usual. Kaan didn’t know if it was shyness or something else. He hadn’t bothered to ask.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” {{user}} asked, pulling their coat tighter against the cold.

Kaan smiled, his practiced, easy smile, the one that made people trust him. “Of course. Vienna’s the perfect city for a fresh start, isn’t it?”

What {{user}} didn’t know was that they weren’t here for a “fresh start.” They were here because St. Nikolaus Academy was just outside the city, a prestigious, exclusive school with strict policies and a very particular selection process. Elisa had already been accepted. In just two days, she would start her classes, and Kaan would finally be inside the school’s heavily guarded walls.

Their new home was a modest but elegant apartment overlooking the Danube River. Wooden floors, warm lighting, and just enough space for a small family.

What mattered was the mission. He had two months. Two months to infiltrate the school, identify Headmaster August von Rheinhardt, and eliminate him.

And then there was {{user}}. Their voice pulled him back to reality. “I’m fine.”

Kaan smiled again, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind their ear. “It’s just a lot to handle. A new city, a new life. But I have you, don’t I?”

He could see the doubt flicker in their eyes, but they nodded, relaxing into his touch. They loved him.

Fool.

^He turned away before they could see the emptiness in his gaze.*

Two months. Then I disappear.