In The Academy As Sukuna

Ch 40 - A Sister's Love and Loss

"The darkest hour is just before the dawn."

Seraphina Nightshade, one of the owners of the largest and the most widespread spy networks across all countries.

Her name was spoken in whispers by everyone who knew of her.

'If you have a name, she has all the information on you,' was a popular saying about her information network.

From a young age, she had practiced the art of manipulation and leadership relentlessly, perfecting her every tactic.

Under her sophisticated and professional exterior lies a strategist.

Her view of the world was akin to a large chessboard, with everyone and everything merely a piece to be moved, or to be sacrificed.

One person, though, she cannot view in such a way. Her sister, Dravenna Nightshade is the only person she feels compassion for.

Dravenna was unlike her sister.

She had an interest in art, and spent almost all of her life following that interest.

Even though she was a co-owner of the Shade spy network with her sister, she didn't contribute to it at all.

In other words, if she were to die right this instant, nothing would change in the information network.

Seraphina's view of her sister was her sole weakness, a weakness which could be exploited effectively and quite easily.

.

.

.

The setting sun painted the sky a pretty orange as both the sisters, Seraphina and Dravenna, sat in their garden, admiring the scenery.

"It was a day like this," Seraphina started, her voice low, her eyes glinting with melancholy. "When I decided to make Shade."

She picked up the glass from the table, which was half-filled with red wine.

Dravenna sighed, smiling, as she continued to draw the scenery in her sketchbook, pausing to take a sip of coffee.

"Why do you bring that up?" Dravenna asked, not taking her eyes off the sketchbook as she drew the picture with practiced strokes.

"Nothin', just remembered it," Seraphina said, her calm and polite façade breaks down every time she spends time with Dravenna.

"And, I can't stand you talking about throwing around colors all day," She continued, her voice carrying a playful undertone.

Dravenna's smile only widened.

"It's better than talking about weird fetishes of mafia bosses you find everyday," Dravenna replied, her brows furrowing as she thought of the conversations of that topic.

"It's fun though...sometimes it's like...how did they even find that out?" Seraphina replied, leaning back on her chair as she took a sip of wine.

Dravenna slightly chuckled, remembering some of them.

A peaceful silence followed, the occasional scratching of pencil on paper breaking it.

Dravenna suddenly sighed. "You've built an empire, Sera," she said, her tone concerned. "But you need to take care of yourself."

Seraphina took another sip from her glass, her expression uncertain.

"It's not like I don't want to," she said as she looked up at the sky. "I just don't get time."