"Mom... I just want t-this..."
Her voice trailed off, barely audible, as she timidly pointed at the mouthwatering spread of food laid out on the table.
Sara's innocent gaze, magnified by her big, pleading eyes, struck a deep chord within Hannah's heart. The impenetrable walls of resistance crumbled under the irresistible force of her daughter's cuteness.
"F-fine."
Hannah relented, her voice filled with a mixture of exasperation and affection.
"Just... take some for your brother as well."
Hannah couldn't help but facepalm, her hand meeting her forehead in a gesture of resignation.
"But-"
Before she could finish her protest, Sara swiftly turned around, a mischievous smudge of grease already adorning her lips.
"Y-you... ugh, whatever..."
Hannah sighed in defeat.
"Just please stay put in your room. Don't leave under any circumstances, do you understand, Sara?"
Seeing her daughter nod eagerly, resembling a pecking chicken, Hannah knew that Sara was more than capable of taking care of the house and her sleeping brother. With a final sigh, she relented and made her way out of the kitchen.
"Good."
Hannah muttered to herself.
"Mom has some business to take care of."
Hannah walked out of the kitchen, making her way towards the door of their apartment. As she reached the threshold, she couldn't resist stealing a glance back at her daughter, who stood there with a piece of chicken half-stuffed into her mouth, a comical sight that tugged at her heartstrings.
"Sara."
Hannah's voice softened, filled with love and warmth.
"I love you, dear."
Sara, her expression momentarily puzzled by the unexpected declaration, quickly responded with an endearing smile.
"Ah... I love you... too?"
Hannah's smile widened at her daughter's adorable confusion. She turned away, facing the heavy metallic door that recognized her identity through a quick scan.
*Click*
With a satisfying click, the door opened, granting her passage.
*Click*
And once again, the door closed, sealing Seraphina in the embrace of her solitude. She stood there, her countenance marked by a pensive gaze that hinted at the depth of her thoughts.
"Verily, this woman exhibits a remarkable degree of consideration."
She murmured softly, her voice carrying a touch of admiration. With a casual shrug of her shoulders, she dismissed the notion, for she surmised that Hannah would likely embark on a pursuit of the elusive Plunderer.
Serenity enveloped her as she leisurely made her way back to her room, seemingly unfazed by Hannah's nocturnal escapade. Her natural disposition to remain detached from matters of trivial import shielded her from concern, and she possessed unshakable confidence in Hannah's capabilities.
"She possesses an ample reservoir of competence."
Seraphina mused, and with a gesture imbued with a hint of authority, she commanded the door to her room to close, severing the connection to the outside world.
And yet, as her gaze settled upon Jin's tranquil countenance, her contemplation did not waver. A flood of thoughts surged within her, carrying her deeper into the recesses of her mind.
"...Countless are the moments I have beheld your slumber, Jin..."
She murmured, her voice a gentle whisper caressed by the weight of her sentiments. Seating herself gracefully upon the floor, she retrieved a concealed book from beneath their shared bed, though its presence held no true sway over her thoughts at this moment.
Her once-crimson eyes, remnants of her former existence, briefly flitted across the expanse of her current earthly brown orbs, a fleeting remembrance of a time long past. In a monotone voice, she voiced the intruding doubts that had crept into her consciousness.
"Why do I persist in tending to your care...?"
She thought out loud.
"Is it not an undue burden upon my path?"
As if a thought had been buried within the deepest parts of her mind temporarily escaped, she voiced out her true feelings.
"Perhaps... I should divert my focus towards locating my fellow companions... whose worth in the present moment surpasses your significance... leaving yo-"
*SLAP*
However, before she could delve further into her musings, she abruptly brought her palm against her cheek, the resounding slap reverberating through the room.
Such self-inflicted violence served to interrupt the negative trajectory of her thoughts.
"Nay... this line of reasoning is erroneous."
She declared, her expression unyielding.
"This woman, Hannah, who has tended to my well-being ever since birth, merits my loyalty. Moreover..."
Her attention shifted to Jin again, who slumbered peacefully, his breath a steady rhythm that resonated with her resolve.
"I pledged an oath, long before this juncture, a vow unto myself... to never forsake those entrusted to my guardianship."
In the depths of her eyes, a flicker of crimson surged, a silent testament to her rekindled determination. Her unwavering gaze remained fixed upon Jin, imbued with an unyielding dedication reminiscent of the former ancient Celtic warrior who had endured the fires of torment and the hell on earth.
"And thus... before you can spread your wings once more."
Seraphina whispered softly, her voice carrying a blend of determination and tenderness.
"I shall keep you safe, not for the sake of your significance... but for the sanctity of my oath."
As the words lingered in the air, a solemn promise began to take shape, transcending the confines of their chamber and reaching the very core of her being. It was a pledge born from the depths of her ancient soul, bound by the unyielding strength of her convictions.
For Seraphina, her oath held a significance beyond measure, a steadfast commitment to protect those entrusted to her care. It was a pledge woven into the very fabric of her being, an unyielding promise that transcended the whims of fate and the passage of years.
As she gazed upon Jin, a flicker of ancient fire ignited within her eyes, illuminating her resolute expression. The burdens of the present were cast aside, replaced by the enduring strength of her conviction.
"And so, I shall honor this promise, from the echoes of the past to the ever-present now."
She declared, her voice infused with the weight of countless battles fought and victories won.
"I will not falter... not this time... not again."
And so, her attention had at last been diverted, returning her focus to the book she had clutched steadfastly since the inception of her ruminations.
The Book of Harmony, written by Aurelia Winterborne.
The book spoke of attuning one's aura to the natural rhythms of the universe, of channeling energy with grace and precision.
Seraphina's eyes traced the elegant calligraphy that adorned each page. Sentences and passages leaped out at her, revealing secrets of balance, flow, and resonance within the realm of aura manipulation.
However, as she was engrossed in her book, she remained oblivious to the subtle twitch of Jin's finger.
"..."
A faint glimmer of awakening stirred within him, a sign of his journey back from the depths of slumber.
...
...
...
In the midst of the night, as the sun sank below the horizon, the magnificent city of Heliosia emerged as a radiant oasis amidst the vast expanse of desert. Its futuristic architecture and vibrant lights painted a mesmerizing tableau, akin to a kaleidoscope of colors brought to life.
Within one of the bustling districts, a figure darted across the rooftops with unparalleled speed, their breaths ragged and heavy. To the untrained eye, their movements were a blur, rivaling the swiftness of a cheetah in pursuit of its prey.
"Huff... damn! DAMN, IT!"
The figure gasped, panic evident in their voice. A quick glance backward revealed a relentless pursuer closing in, instilling a sense of urgency and fear.
"You should be directing your attention elsewhere, criminal."
A chilling voice resounded from above, accompanied by a flash of silver that sliced through the air, narrowly missing the figure's eyes.
"Tch!" The figure swiftly evaded the lethal strike, their body twisting and contorting with a remarkable display of agility and reflexes. The deadly flash whizzed past, its intent to maim or kill thwarted by the narrowest of margins.
Amidst the tense standoff, a brief moment of respite settled upon the rooftop, shattered by the runner's heavy panting, filling the night air with a symphony of urgency. Shadows danced and flickered, accentuating the gravity of the situation as the pursued and the pursuer locked eyes in a battle of wills.
But the chase took a sudden turn as the figure, driven by a surge of adrenaline, abruptly changed direction, sprinting toward a new escape route. However, fate had other plans, for as the figure turned, a devastating force struck with bone-crushing power, shattering his facial bones and sending him hurtling through the air like a lifeless ragdoll.
Cracks resonated through the night as the criminal's body careened across the rooftops, bouncing and tumbling until finally coming to a bruising halt at the precipice of a building. His breath grew heavy and labored, mingling with the steady flow of blood that trickled down his battered face.
Hover cars passed by, their lights streaking into blurry lines as the cityscape swirled in his disoriented vision. Gradually, the sound of approaching footsteps reached his ears, growing louder with each passing second.
Struggling to regain his bearings, the criminal strained to turn his battered body toward the approaching figures. With a mix of defiance and disdain, he managed to muster a chuckle.
"Heh... COUGH... five of you against one of me... so much for..."
Before he could finish his taunting words, a suffocating force gripped him, lifting him from the ground, and leaving him suspended in mid-air. The Plunderer's futile attempts to break free only resulted in futile thrashing and desperate gasps for air.
One of the smaller figures, who nonchalantly had her hands behind her back, indifferently stared at him, however, he knew that this surge of sudden telekinetic force came from her.
"I'll give you this much, five of us may have been excessive for the likes of you. For a man who bears the nickname of the Plunderer, I find it rather amusing that your prowess falls far short of your bravado."
Spoke one of the figures, blood dripping from their hand, a testament to the forceful blow that had sent the criminal sprawling across the rooftops.
The criminal's eyes darted to the figure who spoke, a smirk etching across their bloodstained face.
"That... does not change the fact that you're all cowards..."
A brief moment of silence followed the telekinetic figure's gaze intensified toward the speaker. Slowly, the girl amplified the force she exerted, further squeezing the criminal's neck.
"Grghh!"
Their eyes locked in, her cold countenance freezing his gaze still.
"Is that the best you can come up with?" The girl's voice carried an air of cool confidence, dismissing the insult with a hint of amusement.
"I alone would've been enough. All you did was take some 'souvenirs' with you before your inevitable end."
The criminal, despite his struggle for breath, retorted with defiance.
"Referring to my victims as souvenirs... GRRRGHGH!"
His words were cut short as the girl twisted his neck and contorted his body in an unnatural and brutal manner. A flicker of cruelty danced in her gaze, reflecting the depths of her murderous intent.
"..."
Silence enveloped the rooftop as the city below buzzed with the sounds of hovercars and bustling activities, blissfully unaware of the confrontation taking place high above.
"Pest."
With a final word filled with disdain, the girl released her grip, allowing the corpse to plummet to the ground below, a macabre testament to her power.
"We're going back to the academy."
Her voice carried a resolute tone as she turned away from the scene, her focus shifting to the imminent return to their educational institution.
The remaining four individuals exchanged glances, a shared understanding passing between them. One of them casually shrugged, a nonchalant expression on their face.
"Might as well, right? Our job here is done."
However, the largest figure among them, the one whose powerful punch had left the criminal's face in ruins, spoke up.
"Should we not clean up this mess?"
Another member of the group shook their head, their bored expression unwavering from the beginning till the end.
"Our task was to dispose of the target, not to tidy up afterward."
With a collective agreement, their shadows merged with the darkness, their forms gradually fading from view. They made their way toward a colossal structure that loomed on the horizon, an imposing edifice that housed the mightiest of Aura Users.
As they vanished into the depths of the night, their purpose and destination remained shrouded in mystery, their presence a mere whisper in the bustling city of Heliosia.
"..."
As the silence settled over the rooftop, a figure emerged from the shadows, making her way toward the scene of the confrontation. It was Hannah, driven by an unreadable expression on her face. Her eyes, keen and observant, scanned the area with an unwavering focus, taking in every detail with sharpness.
"Looks like I've missed the party. Hopefully no apparent 'twists'."
She muttered under her breath, her voice filled with frustration and annoyance.
With a swift motion, she raised her hand and uttered a command.
"Bring it to me."
In response, a shadow rippled beneath the ground, snaking its way toward the corpse. Emerging as a massive hand made of darkness, it gently lifted the lifeless body and placed it before Hannah.
She approached the Plunderer's body, her hands covered with a layer of that shadow that hovered above it with a mix of caution and curiosity. She carefully examined the wounds, studying the precise nature of each injury. The brutality of the attack was evident, leaving behind a trail of destruction and carnage.
"His face caved... as if smashed by an unstoppable force."
Hannah murmured, her voice laced with a hint of awe and intrigue. She traced her gaze across the cracks on the rooftop, following their path as they extended across several adjacent structures. Her sharp eyes, akin to those of an eagle, pieced together the puzzle, leading her to a chilling revelation.
"They played Ducks and Drakes with him it seems... how brutal."
{Ducks and Drakes which references the English term for skipping a rock across a body of water.}
She mused. The sheer force and impact that had shattered the Plunderer's face left no room for doubt. This was no ordinary attack.
"It seems that this man met his demise at the hands of an Aura user."
Hannah concluded, her voice tinged with a mix of certainty and curiosity. The level of mastery and power displayed in the assault surpassed anything she had encountered before. It hinted at the presence of an individual with a deep understanding of Aura manipulation.
Closing her eyes, Hannah's mind raced, contemplating the possibilities and piecing together the fragments of the puzzle.
"An Aura user specializing in physical enhancement, capable of delivering devastating blows... and another with the ability to unnaturally twist and manipulate this body, perhaps through telekinesis."
She pondered aloud, her voice filled with analytical precision.
After a while, she soon sighed in tiredness.
"This will be a lot of... paperwork."
...
..
.