A QUEST OF DEATH : Dawning Darkness

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With everything Ada's life was getting busier day by day. Every day in the evening the Dark Lord would pick her up from the cafe. And after every practice session he would drop her back at her apartment exhausted and very much ready to just jump onto the bed.

It was one of those casual Tuesdays. As the day's hustle and bustle slowly faded into the tranquil embrace of the evening, Ada was finally ready to call it a day, emerging from the cosy café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee still lingering in the air. She locked up the cafe, bidding farewell to her colleagues, David and Lucy, who waved back with warm smiles.

Leaning casually against a nearby lamppost, Devereaux watched Ada's graceful movements with quiet admiration. The soft glow of the streetlamp illuminated his features, casting a gentle halo around him as he stood in the shadows. His silhouette etched against the fading light of the day. As Ada turned and caught sight of him, a warm smile lit up her face, mirroring the soft glow of the evening light. Their eyes met, locking in a silent exchange filled with warmth and affection.

"You're early," Ada remarked, her voice carrying a hint of surprise as she approached him with a welcoming smile.

"Am I?" Devereaux replied, his gaze never wavering from her, his eyes drinking in every detail of her presence.

Together, they strolled down the quiet alleyway, side by side, the soft glow of streetlights casting gentle shadows around them. Ada's fatigue from the day was evident, her movements reflecting the weariness of her body.

"Tired?" Devereaux inquired, concern lacing his tone as he observed her subtle gestures of exhaustion.

"Mhm. Long day," Ada admitted, her hand instinctively reaching to massage the tension from her neck, a sign of the day's strain.

"We need to train today too, right?" she continued, her gaze turning to Devereaux with a curious spark. "Are we going to practise swordplay, or...?" Her words trailed off as she awaited his response.

Ada directed an inquisitive glance at Devereaux, taking note of his usual attire with a hint of curiosity. Instead of his typical hooded cloak and veil, he was now clad in a classic trench coat, hands tucked casually into the pockets. His raven hair was slightly ruffled, a telltale sign of the nap he had taken in the afternoon on Ada's couch while she was away.

Despite the change in his appearance, Devereaux exuded an air of timeless elegance, his demeanour as enigmatic as ever. He looked every bit the enigmatic figure he was known to be. Ada couldn't help but admire the way he effortlessly carried himself, each movement poised and deliberate.

Devereaux flashed her a charming smile, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Well, I was thinking we could skip training today," he replied, his tone casual yet tinged with anticipation. "What do you think?"

"Skipping training?" Ada echoed, a mixture of surprise and amusement crossing her features as she looked up at Devereaux with wide eyes. "Really? That's unlike you. Why the change of heart?"

Devereaux met her gaze with a faint smile, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "Well, there's somewhere I want to go with you today," he explained cryptically, a sense of anticipation lingering in the air.

***

When the Dark Lord had mentioned wanting to take her somewhere, Ada hadn't quite imagined it would entail scaling the tallest building in the city of Serenal. The glass surface of the building was smooth, cold beneath her fingertips as she tentatively reached out to find purchase on the ridged edges of the pattern embossed onto the glass. Each foothold felt precarious, and Ada couldn't shake the sensation of vertigo creeping into her senses.