DARIA: AKATSUKI HOUSEHOLD
A towering guard dressed entirely in black stood at the iron gates of the Akatsuki estate.
As the visitor approached, he pushed the gates open just enough to let her step forward, his imposing frame blocking the path beyond.
"State your business," he said, his voice firm and measured. "Who are you here to see? Do you have an appointment with Mrs. Akatsuki?"
The woman did not hesitate.
"Tell her," she replied calmly, "that Lady Marcelline Veyra is here on business."
After a few minutes, the gates swung open wide, and Lady Marcelline was escorted across the meticulously maintained grounds toward a house nestled within the garden.
Near a fountain, Mrs. Akatsuki sat inside a summerhouse, sipping tea.
Her short black hair framed a pair of calm brown eyes, and she wore a flowing green gown, soft and elegant, its delicate folds catching the morning light with a subtle shimmer.
The estate itself was pristine.
Ivory stone walls rose high and smooth. Arched windows reflected the sunlight in gentle golden hues, while balconies curved outward, adorned with delicate ironwork shaped like blooming lilies.
The dark steel gates, trimmed with gold, proudly displayed the Akatsuki crest at their center.
Grass stretched evenly across the courtyard, hedges were trimmed to perfection, and marble fountains sent steady streams of water through circular gardens.
Guards in tailored black suits were stationed at the gates and along the perimeter. They stood silently, moving only when necessary.
Lady Marcelline approached the summerhouse and greeted Mrs. Akatsuki.
"Good morning, Mrs. Akatsuki. It's been a while," she said as she took a seat opposite her.
Her gray eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the garden.
Mrs. Akatsuki set her cup down and regarded her with measured calm.
"I hear you're here for business," she said.
Lady Marcelline poured herself a cup of tea before replying.
"I know you've been busy managing the company and handling the situation with the villages. Three villages were affected by an unknown disease: Orienta, Azura, and Vylonia."
She took a sip before continuing.
"By the way, congratulations on joining the King's Board of Advisors," she added with a polite smile. "As they say, there's nowhere money can't get you."
Mrs. Akatsuki's gaze sharpened.
"Could you go straight to the reason you're here, Lady Marcelline?" she asked.
"What's the rush, sweetheart?" Marcelline replied smoothly, lifting her cup.
"I'm here on behalf of my daughter, Sakura. She studies at the same school as your daughters—same class, same training. They're close friends. Moving your daughter from the senior class would break their bond. Don't you think that matters?"
Mrs. Akatsuki's lips pressed together.
"And what does that have to do with me? You cannot dictate my family's arrangements. Your daughter must be a bad influence on Kokoro. If anything, I should transfer her to another school entirely."
She took a slow sip of her tea.
Marcelline's smile faltered slightly, though her voice remained smooth.
"Sigh. I don't want to mix work with personal matters. It goes against the contract I signed. But it seems you've left me no choice, Mrs. Akatsuki."
She placed her cup down.
"Besides, this situation started with you. Don't blame me."
Her expression remained pleasant, but her words carried a quiet threat.
"On Ferron 12 of Tempra, you reached out to the League of Assassins in Tikka to eliminate someone. I wonder who that might be."
Mrs. Akatsuki's expression remained unchanged.
"All related documents and files have been recorded and kept. I know who runs it all."
Marcelline smiled faintly.
"Asking a favor wouldn't hurt. But imagine the consequences if word got out..."
Before she could continue, Mrs. Akatsuki's eyes narrowed.
"It's fine. You've proven your point."
Marcelline inclined her head slightly.
"Things shouldn't have escalated this far. I did warn you. I trust you will honor your end of the deal."
Mrs. Akatsuki's expression darkened, calm but chilling.
"And about that day..." she said quietly. "I want it kept secret. Never use it against me again."
Her eyes hardened.
"Should you try, it won't be your leg leaving my estate. It'll be your head rolling out."
Lady Marcelline smiled.
"I'll be taking my leave now. Thanks for your time."
She stood and left the summerhouse.
"Derek!"
Mrs. Akatsuki called sharply.
A young man dressed in black immediately stepped forward, walking briskly toward the summerhouse.
"Get me everything on Lady Marcelline Veyra—her movements, her connections, everything."
She paused for a moment.
"And I want all information on her daughter, Sakura. Trace her if necessary. If it means following her to Tikka, then so be it."
Her voice remained calm.
"No one comes into my house to threaten me without facing the consequences."
DARIA: PALACE
KING'S COUNCIL
A small, urgent meeting had been convened by King Dorman Dane to address the escalating crisis of Soulrot and its impact on the villages.
More than 14,000 people had been affected, while 3,000 were still missing.
The affected villagers had been evacuated from their homes and placed under the care of the kingdom's best doctors and researchers, who worked tirelessly to find a way to restore those afflicted by Soulrot.
Recognizing the complexity of the affliction, the king extended a request to the medical experts of Fulton.
The Church of Fulton dispatched several doctors, who accepted the invitation without hesitation.
Humans weren't the only ones affected. Demi-humans had also fallen victim to the disease.
The doctors were drawn not only by the severity of the crisis but also because Soulrot bore a striking resemblance to a phenomenon they had been studying for some time, alongside the ongoing issue of counterfeit Diochrome and other precious gems.
Dead Deathweavers were brought in for examination, and extensive research began.
Two months of experiments and careful observation followed.
Slowly, the afflicted began to recover. Their bodies healed first, but their memories returned only gradually, piece by piece.
Meanwhile, the king deployed elite warriors to every state within Daria.
Each state received one top-tier warrior, accompanied by a personal squad. They were tasked with maintaining stability and easing the people's fears.
Their presence served as a visible reassurance: the kingdom was still in control, and no one was left unprotected.
Among the affected, one man remained untouched.
Gorrick, a captain who had been brought in by the Moonveil Sisters, had not succumbed to Soulrot. Fortunately, the sisters had been able to trap the soul responsible for the disease before it could leave his body.
The Soulrot had not claimed him.
He was placed under constant observation, and after some time, the researchers came to understand his condition.
If the soul ever left the victim's body, Soulrot would be activated.
That was the only reason Mr. Gorrick had remained unaffected.
The kingdom's recovery had begun, but the threat was far from over.
Three thousand people were still missing, and a large-scale search and investigation was carried out.
Weeks passed.
AZINEX INDUSTRIES
Azinex Industries, an emerging Cogtech company and the only one of its kind on the continent, had just unveiled one of its most ambitious creations: the Ariancam.
Small, hovering orbs no larger than a fist, the Ariancams captured every visual detail while monitoring vital statistics in real time.
This was no ordinary surveillance device.
It marked the first mass application of what Azinex proudly called Dio-Tech—machines powered and enhanced by Dio and Eno.
After rigorous testing, scrutiny, and deliberation, the invention received formal approval from the King himself.
Within weeks, Ariancams were deployed throughout Daria.
Their silent presence drifted through streets, marketplaces, and alleys, recording and relaying information with unerring precision.
The elite forces that had been stationed across the kingdom's states were called back, their positions replaced by a combination of standard guards and Ariancams.
At the same time, teleportation hubs began construction in major buildings, linking every state directly to the capital.
This network promised instantaneous transportation in the event of emergencies, ensuring that Daria could respond to any threat with unmatched speed.
This was the birth of Dio-Tech.