Eclipsed

Chapter 60

Aiko and Quinn in Captivity

Aiko sat against the cold stone wall, her head bowed in frustration, deep in thought. Quinn, meanwhile, was trying his best not to stare at her. His cheeks burned red, and his mind raced with thoughts far too mature for his age. I'm trapped in a cell... with a really hot woman... this isn't so bad...

Aiko didn't notice Quinn's expression. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, her lips pressed into a thin line. The silence in the cell was heavy, broken only by the faint clinking of chains from somewhere down the hall.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside their cell. The sound drew both their attention, and a figure appeared before them.

Miyako stepped into view, her long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her sharp, dark eyes flickered with a mixture of authority and weariness.

Quinn's jaw dropped slightly, his face lighting up in awe. She's so... pretty... he thought, his boyish infatuation kicking in.

Miyako's eyes locked onto Aiko, and she spoke with a calm yet commanding tone. "Hello. My name is Miyako. What's yours?"

Aiko rose to her feet, her brows furrowing as she regarded the woman suspiciously. "My name's Aiko. But... Miyako? Ren told me about someone named Miyako. I don't know if it's you..."

Miyako tilted her head slightly, her voice steady. "Yes. He is most likely talking about me."

At this, Aiko's expression darkened. She shot up to her feet, her fists clenched. "Then what the hell are you doing here? Ren sees you as his sister, and you're trying to kill him?!"

Miyako sighed, her gaze softening, but only slightly. "You're still just a child. You don't understand the bigger picture." She stepped closer to the bars, her voice growing more serious. "Listen to me. Ren is the son of Yoruzen. You cannot travel with him—it's dangerous. Yes, we grew up together, but none of that matters anymore."

Aiko's frustration boiled over. "He might be Yoruzen's son, but has he ever even met his father? He grew up with you! You know exactly what he's like. He's nothing like Yoruzen!"

Miyako's face remained unreadable, though a faint flicker of emotion crossed her eyes. "He's still a threat," she said softly. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked away, her footsteps fading into the distance.

Quinn, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally broke the silence. "Wait... Ren has a sister?"

Aiko, still glaring after Miyako, sighed. "Not by blood," she muttered.

The two fell into silence again, the tension in the air thick as they each processed what had just happened.

The Knights' Meeting

Miyako stepped into the chamber where the knights sat around a heavy, dark table. "No luck," she said, her voice flat.

The room erupted into muttering.

"That bastard," one knight growled, leaning back. "He's manipulated an innocent girl."

Another shook his head. "Just like his father—Yoruzen's blood runs thick."

Miyako's eyes darkened, and she slammed her hand on the table. "Enough."

The knights fell silent.

"Ren hasn't manipulated anyone," she said firmly. "Aiko and Quinn are with him by choice. If you think this is about his father, you're mistaken. Ren is dangerous because he's clever and unyielding. That's why we can't afford to underestimate him."

The knights exchanged uneasy glances as Miyako turned and left the room.

Ren's Arrival in the Land of Astrothesiai