DARIA : AKATSUKI HOUSEHOLD
Two guards, dressed in sharply tailored black uniforms, stood rigidly before Mrs. Akatsuki.
Their posture was perfect disciplined, silent sentinels against the serene backdrop of the estate.
Mrs. Akatsuki sat in the summerhouse, her presence composed yet commanding.
She wore a gown of deep emerald green, flowing gracefully to the floor.
The snug bodice was embroidered with subtle golden vines, and the sleeves tapered elegantly at her wrists.
As she lifted the cup of tea to her lips, the gown shifted with her, catching the morning light and shimmering softly with each delicate fold.
" It had been two months and three weeks since Derek had followed Lady Marcelline.
He had not returned.
That must mean he had followed her all the way to Tikka, she thought, her brown eyes narrowing slightly. Even so, he should have been back by now."
She sipped her tea with calm precision, the steam curling upward, blending with the fragrance of jasmine and the soft rustle of leaves from the surrounding gardens.
The summerhouse sat beside a marble fountain, its waters glinting in the sun, and the surrounding hedges were sculpted into precise geometric shapes. Birds chirped faintly from the towering trees at the edge of the garden, and sunlight filtered through the latticed windows, painting the floor in soft patterns of gold.
"Keep watching over my daughters at school," she said, her voice even but carrying unmistakable authority.
"Yes, ma'am," one guard replied, eyes unwavering, standing a little straighter as if the command alone had strengthened his spine.
DARIA — LIRIEN
(Two months and three weeks ago)
The road through Lirien twisted beneath the forest canopy, sunlight fractured into shifting patterns across the dirt path.
A fine coach glided along the trail, polished mahogany gleaming, brass fittings catching the sun. Crimson curtains, embroidered with gold, fluttered lightly in the wind.
Two black horses, sleek and muscular, moved in perfect rhythm, hooves striking the road like a measured drumbeat.
Suddenly, the horses halted.
A massive tree had fallen across the path, trunk thick and solid.
Leo, the coachman, descended with unhurried grace.
His green hair caught the morning light, neatly combed, contrasting sharply with his tailored dark suit. At sixty-seven, he moved with the precision of a predator, eyes calm, assessing the obstacle. Without a word, he approached the log, fingers brushing its surface.
From the forest shadows, figures emerged, bandits, faces wild, crude weapons in hand. Their presence was a tangible threat.
The coach door opened, and Lady Marcelline stepped lightly out, gray eyes narrowing as she surveyed them.
Calm yet commanding, her voice carried across the tension.
"Gentlemen," she said, nodding toward Leo, "give them something. Enough to make your trouble worthwhile. Step aside, and we will be on our way."
Leo tossed a small pouch of gold coins.
The bandits laughed, harsh and jagged.
"Coins? Who do you think we are? We take everything you have and we'll have a little fun while we're at it!" one shouted.
Marcelline's smile vanished. "Leo," she said without hesitation, "take the log off the road… and kill them, I don't have time for this."
"Yes, my lady," Leo replied calmly. Five bandits had already surrounded him at the log, while six more pressed close to the coach, weapons raised and teeth bared.
In the span of heartbeats, Leo struck.
His hands moved with immense speed, each blow precise and brutal. Bones shattered. Organs were ripped. Blood sprayed in arcs across the log and ground.
"What's this?! So much bloodlust… someone else is in that coach!" one bandit shouted as panic spread. The others scattered into the forest.
Leo created water from nothing, washing his hands clean before casually tossing the log aside, as if the obstacle had never existed. Within seconds, five bandits lay dead, their screams silenced, blood pooling beneath them.
Returning to the coach, Leo's composure remained unshaken. "Some managed to escape," he said plainly.
"Move on," Marcelline commanded, her gray eyes scanning the road.
"We will reach Eiravon tonight. I won't spend another night in this coach," she added.
The horses resumed their steady pace.
Hidden above in the trees, Derek watched silently. His red hair caught the light, and his black suit was perfectly fitted for agile movement. With a fluid leap, he dropped down beside the sprawled bandits.
"You were given a chance," he murmured, scanning the fallen. "But your greed got the better of you. I'm sorry it had to end this way. I would have buried you… but I'm pressed for time."
He bowed briefly, then turned, continuing his silent pursuit of the coach.
WEEKS LATER
"My lady, we are here. Within a couple of days, we will be out of Daria," Leo said as the horses trod carefully.
"Is that guard still following us?" Marcelline asked from the coach.
"Yes, my lady. Would you like me to put him out?" Leo asked.
"Not you, Leo. I want to see this myself. Mrs. Akatsuki's guards… I've heard they're very strong, not easily broken. Let's see what he's made of."
Leo bowed slightly. "Understood, my lady."
"I'll drop you here," Marcelline said. The coach halted. She stepped down gracefully, wheels turning and driving away behind her.
From the canopy above, Derek observed.
"No guards. Just walking… is she sending a message that she knows she's been tailed, or does she realize I'm here?" he muttered, adjusting his stance.
Marcelline's sharp gaze swept across the horizon, unreadable.
"This is Eiravon. Beyond the Great Ocean lies Tikka, Lake Vail. I'm almost at my destination. Shy, or should I call you out? You've been following me for some time. care to introduce yourself, or keep hiding?
Derek dropped silently, landing before her. "You noticed," he said, running a hand through his hair. Tall, lean, with a toned, agile build.
"I thought I could follow you to Tikka unseen… I guess I miscalculated."
"You were sent to gather information on me," she said, her voice cold, cutting through the air.
"I'm not someone you sneak up on. Knowledge is power. People die for it before it's extracted. I've heard about Mrs. Akatsuki's guards," she added, letting out a small smile.
"I don't see a human standing in front of me. I see information, every heartbeat a coin, every thought worth more than gold. Mishandle it, and it's deadly. Connection is key to wealth; information is what keeps it moving."
Derek's lips curved in a faint, amused smile. "Thanks for the compliment, I never thought I had this much value to be honest " he said.
A black shadow emerged beside her, forming from nothing, menacing and obedient.
"Bring him along. Alive," Marcelline commanded, she continued walking, leaving Derek to his fate