𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑴 𝑶𝑭 𝑺𝑯𝑨𝑫𝑶𝑾𝑺 ⇢ Gojo Satoru

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐗𝐋𝐕𝐈 - 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐋

CONTROL. GOJO SATORU WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT; he'd grown up with the word shoved down his throat – he had it etched into his skin and marked upon his back like a burning brand, a constant reminder of what awaited him. It was also a promise, a whisper of what he'd eventually earn when his mother passed, and then when his grandmother would come face to face with the Maker and the Architect of Fate.

Unfortunately for him, Gojo Sene was quite reluctant to die. She was a good woman, raised him since he was a babe and after his mother – her daughter – passed during childbirth, but Sene was still a Gojo, a cutthroat sorceress by definition, and age hadn't make her any kinder. For as long as she lived, Satoru would be bound by the chains of propriety and the precedent set by the woman, however long that be.

Gojo shook his head, ridding himself of the thoughts as he stepped into the dim-lit hallway. It was almost nightfall, bright stars shinning in the night sky while he calmly waltzed down the narrow hallway of L'École des Sorciérs de Paris. The place was nearly deserted this late at night, yet as the sorcerer stopped in front of the closed oak doors to Léa Dubois' office, he was still able to hear the hushed whispers on the other side.

Satoru paused; he had no intention to eavesdrop on whatever conversation was happening in the office when he first made the quick trip to France, but now that he was standing outside its walls, curiosity got the best of him. The young Gojo heir adjusted his blindfold, leaning against the wall in a feigned disinterested manner as he parked his ears up, sharpening his senses in an attempted to make out whatever was being said.

"... and you're sure about this?" a voice asked and, judging by the thick French accent dripping from each word, he guessed this was Léa.

There was a beat of silence and Satoru held his breath. Then, another voice. This one was softer, a distinct feminine ring to it as it spoke in a hushed tone. It was also a familiar voice, one he'd heard plenty of times at diplomatic meetings and at Léa's fancy parties. He also recognized the woman speaking, a petite with a short blonde bob and her pretty sparkly eyes – it was easy to tell with his Six Eyes, even through the thick walls of Dubois' office. She was the secretary of the German faction, a young woman who had been working under The head of the Berlin Universität for the past five years.

"Yes" the woman said in broken English "They've confirmed at least two sightings near Berlin and another two in Munich"

Satoru had no idea what the conversation was about, yet he was still able to notice the distinct tone of worry laced with the secretary's words. The sorcerer leaned in closer, his side now pressed against the wall as his face rested on the pale blue wallpaper.

"I hope you understand the situation you're putting me in, this is a real scheiße" the woman seethed, anger melting through her words as she stared sharply at Léa.

Madame Dubois pursed her lips, taking a deep breath before turning towards the window. The sorceress took a good look at the night sky, fidgeting with her silver bracelet and turning back to stare at the secretary. Léa appeared calm and placid, but the way she turned the links on her bracelets gave her away. She was nervous – panicked, one might say. Whatever business this was about, it weighed heavily on her soul, and Satoru could clearly tell.

"There's no need to panic, I'll handle this discreetly and you should do the same on your end" Léa crossed the room in short strides, walking over to the German secretary until she could breathe in the scent of her perfume.

The woman leaned forward, her red lips grazing her ear as she spoke once again.

"This doesn't leave my office, is that clear?"

It wasn't a threat. Léa Dubois didn't need to issue such things, not when the coldness in her eyes betrayed her intentions, as did her perfectly manicured nails as she squeezed the woman's shoulder with an encouraging nod. The poor German woman looked at the sorceress with an unsure gaze, and although she could still feel Léa's nails digging into her shoulders, she still hesitated.

The woman was clearly trapped in a precarious situation, although created by her own hand. When she didn't immediately answer, Léa's smile thinned as her hand dropped from the woman's shoulder to her wrist, which she quickly twisted while her nails dug into her skin.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" she asked, a dangerous tone behind her words.

The secretary shook her head furiously and Léa let go of her wrist, walking back a couple of steps while the woman rubbed her hand, Dubois' hand print still visible on her skin even though she'd barely applied any pressure. Even now, with many years under her belt and greying hair, Léa Dubois was still a major threat. That woman hadn't been voted as the Head of The Magistrate on a whim, she was one of the strongest sorceress of her generation, and she wore that with pride.

The German woman duck her head in shame, still rubbing the spot on her arm.

"I'll take care of things, but..." she stopped, hesitating momentarily before finally speaking "What of the Kinzoku? If we're to–"

The secretary didn't get to finish her sentence. In less than a second, Léa had crossed the empty space between the two, pressing her palm against the woman's mouth as she choked back a surprised gasp. Léa held her head high – even now, she was still as elegant and composed as ever.

"Be quiet," she commanded, her tone regal despite the harsh look in her eye "someone is listening"