"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

The man dragged a finger along the shimmering glass. All the while he had a broad smile on his face. With the rest of him obscured by various shadows. Even without any hat or bright light source other than the beautiful woman standing nearby.

"I'm all alone for ages, and you decide to show up only after someone else?" She said with a frown.

The vague idea of a man shrugged. "I was tied up. Besides, we both know the path was closed."

She crossed her arms and turned her face away. Immediately, the smiling man was cast into darkness. Like all light that was around him had been sucked away.

"This isn't exactly a social call," the shrouded man who was all smiles said. "You see, I'm sort of a free agent now."

"Free? Does that mean?" A spark of hope shone in her voice.

The man let out a small chuckle. "I'm afraid not. My escape was only on a lucky technicality."

She turned around and he was immediately illuminated. "Then, what...?"

It was like a spotlight was put directly on him, and yet he was still obscured in the shadows. Everything except his broad smile.

"Nothing for you to worry about. Just..." he paused a moment before he added, "Just be ready. It's coming sooner than anyone thought. Everything is going to change."

She sat down on a chair that wasn't there a second ago, and put her head in her hands. "Of course my two visitors both bring me terrible news."

The man turned his back to her as he reached up towards his head. His hand moved to grab a hat that was no longer there. He froze for a moment, and then smiled warmly.

"Maybe if you offered your guests a drink instead of taking one from them you'd get a higher quality of visitors."

She smiled as she silently feigned innocence.

"I'll leave the door open for you. Try not to cause too much trouble." The man said before he stepped through the giant archway.