A sinister procession of death trailed Yohana like a ghostly shadow, forcing her into a ceaseless flight, a hunt for a sanctuary where her name was whispered by no one.
The world had become a graveyard, and she, its reluctant harbinger.
Then came a day when a note found its way to Yohana, commanding her to commit a macabre act in service of the unseen puppeteer. The note later introduced themselves as The Shadow.
The words etched onto the paper were chilling, demanding she employ her herbal expertise to orchestrate a death that would masquerade as nature's handiwork.
She resisted, resolutely denying this ominous request. Little did she know that her defiance would cost her dearly. A painful price paid in the currency of Per's death left her raging with despair and helplessness.
Fury and sorrow converged within her. With a heart heavy with the weight of vengeance, Yohana yielded to the sinister note's commands.
But, even amidst the cold grip of vengeance, she couldn't shake the haunting specter of her first kill. It was a memory so raw and tormenting that it lingered like an unrelenting phantom.
"But my first kill…" Her voice trembled as she spoke of it, and her body quivered involuntarily, as if trapped in the clutches of that nightmarish recollection.
Fabian reached out, taking her hand in his own. His touch was grounding her in the present, and the tender caress of his hand upon her head brought a fleeting moment of solace.
As his lips met her forehead in a gentle kiss, Yohana clung to that tender affection, seeking refuge from the relentless darkness of her past.
Her eyes clenched shut, she muttered softly, the words a mere whisper, "It still haunts me."
He squeezed her hand gently, a gesture of comfort and understanding. "You did a good job," he affirmed, his voice imbued with warmth and a touch of sadness.
"I know that taking a life is never a good thing. But in your case, you did what you had to do to stay alive. I'd rather have you branded a criminal than risk losing you forever."
Yohana's gaze held Fabian's, her eyes reflecting the weight of her past choices. She spoke, her voice laced with the heaviness of unspoken agony.
"The note... it knew about us, about our family. After my first kill, I couldn't bear the weight of that trauma any longer. I vanished, hid from the world, drifting from one place to another, scraping by on the streets."
She paused, a shiver coursing through her as the chilling memories resurfaced. "But when I finally mustered the strength to rebuild my life, that note reared its sinister head once more. This time, it demanded my compliance with a gruesome ultimatum—it would harm you or our parents if I dared to defy its will."
Fabian's expression shifted, his eyes shimmering with emotion. He drew in a deep breath, the weight of unsaid words pressing upon him. His lips parted and closed several times before he finally found his voice.
"I'm so sorry that you had to go through that alone," he managed to say, the words carrying the burden of guilt.
"I was ashamed of the person I had become," she continued, her voice tinged with sorrow.
"I couldn't find the courage to face you. Of course, I missed you, father, and mother. But how could I miss you when I was fully aware of the sins I had committed?"
Yohana's mind raced with the surreal twists of fate that had led her to this moment. If she hadn't found herself in Runa's body, if she hadn't crossed paths with Fabian at that fateful party, none of this would have transpired.
Overwhelmed by the rush of emotions, Yohana buried her face in the bed, allowing her pent-up feelings to pour forth.
For years, she had concealed these emotions as she fought for survival, but now, in this moment, she finally felt the release she so desperately needed.
Yohana's voice quivered with sorrow as she asked the question that had haunted her for so long. "Tell me, Fabs, and please be honest, are you disgusted with me now?"
Fabian gently lifted her chin, ensuring their eyes met. His response was unwavering. "No. Never."
"But I killed people!" Yohana's voice was laden with anguish. "Do you remember the list of people close to the Zamek family with suspicious deaths? I killed them. All of them!"
Furrowing his brows, Fabian pressed his lips together in a solemn expression. "I know," he said softly. "I know that you're The Raven."
"What?"
"There is an assassin feared among the nobility, who is often referred to as The Raven. I had my men investigate the assassin, and I found connections to you," Fabian explained.
Yohana stammered, her mind racing as she tried to comprehend how her carefully hidden identity had been uncovered.
Fabian continued, "I wouldn't even have noticed that it was you if you weren't my sister. But you are, and I have known you and your small habits."
Tears welled up in Yohana's eyes as she stared at her brother, a mixture of emotions swirling within her.
"I was waiting for you to tell me. Thank you, sister, for trusting me enough to tell me," Fabian said, taking Yohana's hand and kissing it gently.
He went on, "Also, I have received relevant news about your employer, The Shadow. Upon investigating The Raven, I found out that her employer is a part of the Ancient Humans, the very organization that bears the symbol of two circles overlapping."
Yohana squinted as realization hit her. "My murderer!"
"Yes," Fabian affirmed, "it is highly likely that the one who ordered your murder is your employer, The Shadow."
"Hmm… It's possible." Yohana pondered for a moment before muttering, "Is he a part of the Ancient Humans? He seems powerful."
Fabian nodded thoughtfully. "Of course, he would be powerful. I'm guessing that he's in the top position of the organization, if not the leader himself. It required someone with considerable wealth and influence to be in contact with the Zamek family, who are in West Matzovia.
"Moreover, West Matzovia is currently in conflict with East Matzovia. Him being brave enough to maintain the relationship with Zamek was proof that he was not one to fear the tumultuous political dynamics of those kingdoms."
Yohana continued to mull it over and came up with a theory. "He must have a strong connection to the royal family."
Fabian nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's exactly my thought. I will find the time to visit the exile house and talk with the former prince. If your memory serves you right, and someone has been posing as him in exile, I believe that the real former prince could have something to do with this."
This spontaneous visit to her brother's residence turned out to be incredibly productive. As Yohana left the Reinhard manor, she felt as though a heavy burden from her dark past had been laid bare and her brother had accepted her despite the choices she had made.
She had also gleaned more information about her potential murderer.
In truth, she wasn't all that shocked that her own employer might be orchestrating her death.
The Shadow had always been a figure of cruelty. From the moment he had appeared with that first note, ordering her to kill, and subsequently employing her to end countless lives, he had never shied away from death.
Perhaps her value to him had diminished, or maybe her recent job performance had been subpar. Either way, The Shadow had apparently decided that Yohana was no longer a valuable asset.
Suddenly, she was reminded of Runa's words. Runa had a strong hatred for The Shadow. Did that mean the two of them knew each other?