Turning back the clock by a few days. After using a legendary grade spatial item to escape the Dark Palace, Nox had used her newly stolen multi-elemental body transition pill as it was called, to repair her damaged spirit core. The major issues were fixed, and she could now use some small-scale magic no problem, but the core still needed time to stabilize before she could use it at full power again. However, she had another big problem.
Soon after her fight with the Dark Lord Tian Taio, the Dark Empire had issued a bounty on her head throughout the continents. Being limited to the 3rd tier of magic by her core was inconvenient, and it would be difficult to wander around freely with this little power. So, she decided to assume a new appearance and identity. She used her core and aura to change her body to that of what a male version of herself would look like, which much to her annoyance was much taller than her original genders body.
She shortened her hair and pulled out a pair of long, black gloves with numerous gems of varying colors affixed to the knuckles, while putting on a new transparent mask, invisible to the naked eye, to replace her old one. Her looks were rather beautiful, rivaling those of the dark lord's. The biggest difference when comparing the two handsome men would have to be the impressions they gave off.
The Dark Lord looked like a sinfully seductive young man, while giving off a fierce and prideful presence. Nox's male form was more of an angelic beauty, giving off a gentle and harmonious presence. She now looked like a young adult male, with silver hair and blue eyes.
Having finished her change, she decided to walk around looking for work. While walking down the street in the eastern city of Shiro, she couldn't help but notice the huge castle shaped building on the edge of town. The area within its outer walls spanned larger than the city itself. While heading towards it to get a closer look she was approached by a group of girls in white school uniforms.
"Hey, there handsome! Want to have a drink with us?"
"Oh my gosh! How can such a pretty face belong to a man? What kind of makeup do you use to get your skin to look so smooth?"
"I bet he came her from the 'Purple Palace'."
The reasoning behind why Nox doesn't show her, now his, face, is unrelated to why he wears a mask. He has no gripes about showing his appearance. The reason why he almost never wears this transparent mask is all because of his eye-catching beauty. It always attracts too much unwanted attention. This also applies to his female form, as it isn't all that different in the looks department.
"Hey, are you looking to join the magic academy, by any chance?"
Just as Nox was trying to politely decline their invitation without making a scene, one of them mentioned something he found interesting.
"If you are. Don't be afraid to come aske this senior if you need help studying."
"Beautiful young miss. Might I confirm that large building in the distance to be an educational facility for mages?"
"OMG! His voice is so smooth!"
"And that elegant yet gentle speech!"
"I must have died and gone to heaven."
While the gaggle of giggling teenage girls were making a fuss around him. Nox was considering his options, while remembering his time with a certain bad boy named Zhang Wei.
"I hate to be rude to such fine young maidens, but I have an appointment that cannot be delayed any farther. So, if you could find it in your heart to forgive me, I have to go now."
After saying those words, Nox disappeared from the center of the mob of fangirls surrounding him. He eventually reappeared in an empty alleyway not too far away. Fearing he might get ambushed again, he activated an invisibility enchantment on his clothes before making his way towards the magic academy.
…
Meanwhile, in a certain Dark Palace. The dark lord sat on his throne while listening to a report.
"It would seem the damages to the palace was limited to the treasury, as the blue flames reversed any collateral damage from his majesty's battle."
"And?"
"A-All the servants harmed during the fire festival, was healed by the flames. We have suffered no significant loss other than the damage to your highness's body, and the theft of the heavenly body transition pill, as well as the legendary grade spatial artifact." The underling said, as his voice started shaking in fear of his superior's angry tone.
"That is not what I asked." The dark lord said with an annoyed expression
"Th-This subordinate begs for his majesties mercy, as I have failed to grasp the great lord's intent." The servant said as he began kowtowing.
"Where is she?" He said as his crimson aura started leaking out in frustration.
"Th-The c-criminal ha-has yet to be apprehended. We are currently attempting to trace the location of the criminal's spatial transfer, but the concealment effect and range of the artifact has made deducing such information from the remaining spatial distortions difficult."
"Difficult? Not impossible then?"
"Well…"
"How long will it take before we know her location?"
"…"
"ANSWER ME!"
Just as the lord seemed ready to execute the unfortunate man in front of him, the doors to the extravagantly decorated throne room opened. And through the gates came a rather tired-looking black-haired elf with green eyes, and a rather spirited floating child with rainbow-colored eyes in a jester's outfit.
"No need to yell darky my boy! We already finished." The jester said in a cheerful tone.
"Seriously. What the hell happened while we were gone? You better give me a raise after this." The tall green-eyed elf said.
"Who raised you to be such an inconsiderate man? How could you heartlessly demand money from this man after he was so savagely beaten to a pulp in his own house? Where did that sweet and innocent little boy my sister raised go?" The jester said as he moved to hide behind the elf.
"She was the one to beat that innocence out of me. Also, stop using me as a shield when the boss looks pissed!" The elf said as he tried to move away from the jester clinging on to the back of his pitch-black robe.
Seeing the pair of idiots playing around in front of him the dark lord lost his patience.
"ENOUGH!!!"
And with that the two quieted down, as they could see their boss look ready to kill the next person to speak up without permission.
"What have you found?" He gestured for the elf to speak.
"I couldn't pin the exact location, but I did figure out a general direction and range."
"Which was?"
"Before I answer. I want to know who attacked us." The elf said in a serious tone, as his green eyes began to glimmer.
"…"
"I could tell from the residues. Whoever it was, it wasn't working for those guys. Nor does it match any master, beast, spirit or god I know of. So, I want to know, just what kind of enemy attacked us?"
"It wasn't an enemy."
"What? If it wasn't, then what happened?"
"It was just a lovers-quarrel. Nothing you need to worry about." The dark lord said with a soft smile on his face.
"What the hell kind of domestic dispute throws an entire city into a panic like this?"
"That's not important now little Alex! Quickly, go call a doctor."
"What!?"
"Can't you see that lewd smile on his face! He obviously has brain damage."
The two continued bantering while the dark lord started losing himself in his daydreams.