[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDpU536W-FM]Smooth, sweet, and foreign music[/url] blared atop a particularly tall building in the town. Beside the boombox from which the music poured, a Russian boy reclined in a beach chair. A hands-free reading apparatus held a textbook open above him as he relaxed on the rooftop surrounded by music. The cool night air danced across Ivan's skin as he studied. A windsock picked up the shift in the wind from atop a pole, and in turn Ivan noted the change.

He gave the bow in his hand a gentle squeeze as he turned the page. He'd been rushed to Japan due to the immediate urgency of the situation, so he hadn't been able to get a full working knowledge of Japanese. He knew enough to just barely scrape by, but that was not enough; he had a country's reputation resting on his shoulders, so he couldn't accept mediocrity. As such, he spent his nights studying the language, working to become fully literate and fluent.

As he was The Prince of the Sun, Ivan's fighting prowess was reduced at night; his finisher could work on the sunlight reflected by the moon. [i]But on a night with clouds like this[/i], he thought, [i]it simply isn't worth the trouble of running through the streets without direction[/i]. As if sensing the boy's thoughts, Makar huffed his agreement from his cushion beside Ivan's chair.

However, Ivan wasn't helpless on this cloudy night - not by a long shot. In fact, that was exactly what Ivan was being. As Ivan turned the page again, he felt a Shadow's presence about half a kilometer to his east. Judging by the constant appearances and disappearances of the Shadows to the north of him, Ivan could tell the other Princes were probably hunting in that area, leaving the east unoccupied. [i]This[/i] prey would be [i]his[/i].

Ivan brushed the textbook holder aside as he sat up, readying his bow. He sighted down the shaft, searching for the telltale visual distortions that marked a Shadow's presence from outside its barrier. A flickering shadow caught his eye, marking his target's location. He carefully raised his bow straight toward the sky from that point, drawing one of the special arrows he'd prepared for night sniping sessions. He pulled until his hand found his cheek, then let the arrow fly.

Off into the heavens it soared, seeking to join the stars hidden above by the clouds. As if it had been turned away by the heavens themselves, the arrow turned, curving gracefully back toward the earth. About 100 meters above the ground the arrow burst like a firework, sending streaks of light in all directions. A whistling, buzzing sound screamed through the night to all who could see the event as flechettes made of magical light streaked down from the arrow's burst. The deadly hail fell, impaling all Shadows below but harmlessly dissipating on contact with anything lacking Cosmic traits.

Ivan nocked another arrow as he strained his senses, hoping he'd made the kill in a single shot and wouldn't have to expend a second arrow for such a simple beast. Luckily, the presence faded to nothing, telling Ivan he'd scored another kill. With a smile, Ivan lowered his bow and used the tip of the arrow to burn another tally mark onto the wall. 27 in total he'd killed from this seat, and he'd not kept count of his kills on his feet.

Satisfied, Ivan swung back into the chair, pulling the textbook back into place. [i]I'll let those princes to the north have their fun[/i], he thought. [i]I've got all I need right here.[/i]