Arc Within the Night

prologue

"Lady Hinode, His Lordship wants to see you in his office."

Lord Bokuto's assistant, Ayane, spoke in her customarily firm tone, and her facial expression and body language screamed both wariness and seriousness.

I stood up and followed her up to His Lordship's office. As I walked through the corridors of our house, the servants curtsied and showed their utmost respect for me, treating me as if I were their master's  biological daughter.

As we arrived at the office door, I knocked till I heard a faint 'Come in,' and as if on cue, I opened the door and entered the room that witnessed all of my sufferings, joys, fury, and gratefulness all at once with the man who helped me thrive to who I am now.

When I entered the room, he was facing the large glass window. But as I approached him, he swiveled his chair to face me and said the words that would forever alter the course of my existence: "It's time, Akiara. You need to get out of here and locate the missing parts of the puzzle that we have been searching for a long time."

A week later...

Phew! Finally, after a long journey from Kyushu I arrived at Mahou, the capital of Venoir, which is my country. After what Lord Bokuto told me I spent two days in Kyushu packing and bidding my farewells. And three days booking portal flight from Kyushu to Mahou and thank goodness Lord Bokuto has some connection or else I might have arrived here later than sooner. And aIso I have to fix my enrollment in the biggest most renowned camp in Venoir—thank the heavens I got here on time or I might have missed the chance to enroll. And for the past two days, I've been attempting to blend in and adapt to my new environment because who knows how long I'll be here, right?

"Please! I beg for your mercy! Please do not hurt my boy!" The woman dressed in a clothing that was sewn together in pieces. She was pleading the Adrekov or the Shieldbearers that works for the government to release her son. And seeing the young boy that the Adrekov was clutching tightly he sure is the one that the woman was referring to.

People around were already staring at the scene, but it seemed normal to them, as no one attempted to intervene.

As I was about to approach, a deep baritone voice spoke from behind me.

"Interfering will only make the situation worse. Playing like a hero no longer exist in this world, Miss." He spoked.

When I turned to look, there was no one to be seen. Yet, I could sense his presence fading away, as if carried away by the wind. I tried to find him but saw nothing. I chose to ignore it and left the place to return to the inn where I was staying because the next day, I would head to camp as classes were set to begin.

As I lay down on the soft bed, I could already feel exhaustion taking over, and my eyelids drooping heavily. I didn't force myself any further and surrendered to the darkness.

When the night is up
And the moon looms over like a light
I sing you a lullaby
Asking you to sleep tig–

"But dada Zu wanna see the bright stars!" the young girl with a long lilac hair demanded to her father.

The father chuckled and said, "The Aster event happens tomorrow, sweetie."

"The Aster event? Tomorrow? So, one more night, Dada?" the little kid's starlight-like eyes grew big of what she found out.

"Yes, my love. One more night. So you should sleep now or else your mother will get angry at you."

"Awight, awight, dada. Zu will sleep no–" she was cut off when they heard a huge explosion. "Dada, what's that?" the kid asked with pure confusion lingering in her eyes.

"Nothing, sweetie." the father genuinely smiled and tucked her daughter in her bed. "Tanya will stay here with you tonight so you better sleep now, okay?" the father said as he kissed his daughter's forehead.

"Tanya, if something happens," the man looked at his daughter "You know what to do, right?" he asked and the woman responded, "Yes, Your Lordship."

Minutes after the man left explosions and screams were heard outside the room leaving the woman left with child no choice but to lead themselves to safety.

"Tanya, what's happening? I'm scared." the child said as she hugged her favorite blanket.

"My lady, it seems li–" another voice interjected before Tanya could finish her words. "Tanya! Leave the mansion now! Take the Young Lady to safety!" a man shouted making both the young lady and Tanya terrified.

"My lady, we have to go now."

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to see the stars, my lady." Tanya said as she carried the child in her arms and opening the secret door in her room. "Quick, my lady. Crawl until you reach the other side."

But unfortunately, just before they could close the door a huge ball of fire blasted at them.

♡♡♡

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