Echoes of Legacy

"Mission Critical: Last Chance"

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Mayumi stumbled into her room, her exhaustion overwhelming her. As she collapsed onto her bed, she barely noticed her surroundings. In her tired state, she inadvertently triggered her magic, causing objects to whirl around the room in a chaotic frenzy. The bookshelf toppled over, and Mayumi was pinned beneath it, wincing in pain as she struggled to free herself.

Jack entered just as the commotion reached its peak. Seeing Mayumi trapped and injured, he approached with a smirk, though his eyes betrayed a mix of concern and amusement. He helped her up, gently moving the debris aside.

Mayumi, still dazed and murmuring about her fate, barely registered Jack’s presence. He watched her for a moment before speaking, “Uncle Dark is here waiting for you.”

Confusion crossed Mayumi’s face. “Uncle Dark? I don’t know him.”

Jack nodded, his tone shifting to a more serious note. “Uncle Dark is your mother’s elder brother. You might not know him well, and it might be for the best. Just know he has his own way of handling things. Be respectful and serious when dealing with him.”

Mayumi’s eyes widened with realization. “Oh, you know him?”

Jack’s expression was guarded as he murmured, “It’s better if you don’t know too much. Just heed my advice and stay focused.”

Before Mayumi could ask more, Jack added, “I’ll clean up your room. You should go and meet him.”

With a grateful smile, Mayumi hurried out of the room. She found Dark waiting in the corridor, his imposing presence and stern demeanor immediately putting her on edge. He handed her a locket, the same one her grandmother had mentioned, but his gaze was judgmental, as if appraising her worthiness.

“You’re not ready for this right now,” Dark said tersely, before turning to leave.

Mayumi’s heart sank at his words. “But… can’t we talk?”

Dark’s back remained turned as he walked away, leaving Mayumi feeling the weight of unresolved tensions and unspoken conflicts, particularly those involving her mother, Zeo. The sense of rejection stung, but she forced a smile and returned to her room, clutching the locket tightly.

As she entered her room, now cleared of debris thanks to Jack’s intervention, Mayumi sat down on her bed. The room was quiet, the earlier chaos replaced by an oppressive silence. Despite her earlier smile, sadness washed over her as she stared at the locket, her thoughts drifting to the unresolved family issues and the challenges ahead.

---

That evening in the luxurious garage, Rimmy was adjusting Jack's tie with a practiced hand. As she finished, Jack gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before heading towards the car. Rimmy’s face took on a serious expression.

“Jack, I’m sorry, but the driver will be an hour late.”

Jack frowned but shrugged. “Alright, I’ll use the time to get my team together.” He glanced at Rimmy, who nodded and went to fetch them.

Soon, Rimmy returned with Jack’s team. Their disheveled appearances and red faces suggested they had been drinking. Rimmy, clearly exasperated, was about to address them when John hurried in, pulling a stumbling Mayumi away from a container of petrol.

Mayumi, clearly inebriated, fell into Jack’s lap. Jack looked down at her with a mixture of amusement and concern. “Kiddo, you’ve had a bit too much to drink, haven’t you?”

Mayumi mumbled something incoherent. Jack leaned in with a teasing tone, “I’m just wondering which of my esteemed team members thought it was a good idea to let a child drink petrol.”