Another story

The moonlight and the scarlet orchestra of blood: act 0: An unexpected presence

"Tch, damn brat, ruining my outfit like this," a wealthy merchant muttered angrily as he strode through the desolate streets of Fontaine, His blond hair and finely tailored clothing, now drenched from the rain, added to his irritation. The relentless rain matched his foul mood, and the gray sky seemed to conspire against him. His day had already soured after being ejected from a sewing shop for his outrageous behavior.

As he hastened to his opulent home, a cloaked figure suddenly bumped into him. The figure's dark cloak concealed their face and form.

"Sorry, mister," the figure said, barely pausing before slipping away into the downpour.

"Can this day get any worse?" the merchant snapped, glaring after the figure. As he picked himself up, he realized, with mounting rage, that some of his precious belongings were missing.

"Hey, you! Return what you've stolen, or I'll have you thrown into that filthy underwater prison!" he roared, chasing the figure down a narrow alley. His cruel smile widened as he saw them cornered against a high wall.

The figure fell to their knees, and their voice choked with desperation. "Please, sir, my family is starving. I'm so sorry, but we're desperate."

The merchant's laugh was harsh and unfeeling. "Spare a penny for someone like you? Don't make me laugh," he scoffed. "Now, return my belongings before I decide to deal with you more harshly. Your pitiful plight doesn't interest me in the slightest."

His eyes were cold and unyielding, filled with disdain as he looked down at the desperate figure.

"Despite today being so dreadful for me, I'm feeling merciful," the wealthy merchant chuckled, seeing the figure approach slowly. But his smile vanished when the figure suddenly grabbed his neck and slammed him against the wall with inhuman speed. The attack was so swift that he barely had time to react. He'd expected this vermin to either run away or fight ineffectually, but it happened in a flash.

"Release me this instant!" he screamed, struggling to free himself, but his efforts were futile.

"Why should I listen to someone who has no sympathy for someone like me?" The figure's voice had shifted from pleading desperation to sinister delight, their tone unnervingly cheerful. The merchant felt a malevolent smile beneath the figure's cloak, if it could even be called a smile. At that moment, his ego shattered, replaced by a paralyzing fear as the grip on his neck tightened mercilessly.

"I'll pay you anything!" he gasped. "Take my belongings! I can even buy you anything you want—just spare me!"

"If you hadn't fallen for my little act and hadn't pursued me, perhaps you would have lived," the figure said, their twisted joy palpable. "But alas, you followed me like a puppet under my control."

"I am here for someone and i have to find him first, but you mentioned making some sewing shop regret kicking you out, right? Don't worry. Consider it a payment from my side. I'll make that request come true along the way" the figure said, their laughter echoing. Two red glows pierced through the cloak. The merchant tried to scream, but with the grip tightening around his neck, he could barely make a sound. His body began twitching and convulsing as asphyxiation set in. The alleyway glowed ominously red. Alone in the alleyway, the merchant met his end. The last thing he saw and heard before losing consciousness were the crimson eyes of something not human, staring into his soul, and the laugh that no human could produce, mingling with the rain.

A while later, at the merchant's house, a servant hurried to the door to greet him, soaked from the rain.

"I'm sorry, sir! I didn't expect it to rain so heavily," she said, bowing her head with her eyes closed.

"Prepare me a new outfit, make it brown," he replied, dismissing her surprised reaction as he walked in.

"I think I might have hit my head while coming back. Is there any meeting scheduled I should know about?" He turned to face the servant.

"Uh, yes, sir. You have a meeting with someone to discuss future business plans soon," the servant responded, her voice tinged with apprehension, expecting him to lash out as he often did when irritated.

"Good. Now, prepare my outfit," he said bluntly before going inside. The servant watched him, puzzled but relieved at his unexpected calmness.

Meanwhile, in the alleyway, as the sky cleared, a member of the Maison Gardiennage, responsible for Fontaine's security, discovered an old, worn-down cloak lying on the ground.