"Klaus, get up here!" The command rang out, resonating in the stillness of the room.
A soft whisper of a response came from the chamber door, creaking open to reveal the individual summoned.
Klaus stepped into the limelight, a figure wreathed in an ensemble of cobalt blue and midnight black pant , his white hair disheveled, lending an air of untamed wildness to his demeanor.
His countenance was neutral, yet the confidence etched in his gaze was evident.
As he stepped into the room, a palpable hush fell. Margaret, Valeria, and Keira's eyes were drawn to him as if magnetized. Despite the silence, their gazes were a language unto themselves, a symphony of unspoken dialogue.
The room was thick with anticipation and after a couple of seconds the silence was broken.
"Are you ready?" Margaret asked.
Klaus responded with a simple nod, his eyes shifting to Keira. She stood resolute, arms crossed over her chest in a show of stern defiance. He then turned his gaze to Valeria.
Their eyes interlocked, a silent conversation playing out in the fraction of a second.
A smile teased the edges of Valeria's lips as she broke the silence, her voice brimming with impatience, "Master, what are you still waiting for, my hands are itching you know."
Margaret's lips parted, a single, barely audible word slipping out. The room shifted at her command. The walls lined with books morphed into a desolate landscape, transforming the cozy chamber into a grisly battlefield.
Klaus found himself standing on sandy ground littered with skeletal remains and other grim remnants of wars past. His eyes widened in shock, his brows knitting together. The once familiar surroundings had morphed into a haunting echo of a battleground.
His eyes met Valeria's, her smirk a stark contrast against the grim surroundings. Margaret and Keira had ascended to a podium, their positions a silent declaration of their roles as spectators.
Margaret's voice echoed across the battlefield, ringing with an authority that left no room for dispute, "The both of you may begin."
As Margaret's words hung in the air, Klaus assumed a battle-ready stance, his unwavering gaze locked onto Valeria. Not a blink escaped him as he kept his eyes trained on the woman before him.
Valeria's smile widened, a glimmer of excitement dancing in her eyes. With a burst of energy, she propelled herself forward, her fists clenched tightly. Klaus wasted no time in responding, hurtling towards her, his determination etched on his face.
Keira's voice broke through the tension, her tone retaining its usual softness despite the intensity of the situation.
"Who do you believe will emerge victorious?" she inquired, her gaze fixed on the impending clash.
Without hesitation, Margaret's voice cut through the air, brimming with unwavering confidence. "Valeria," she replied, her conviction unwavering. Her eyes remained fixed on the two combatants, moving towards one another.
"Although Klaus possesses exceptional potential, he pales in comparison to Valeria's strength. After all, she is my student."
Keira nodded in understanding, absorbing her aunt's words. "But what if, by some chance, Klaus manages to win?" she questioned, a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.
Margaret's certainty brooked no doubt. "Impossible. It would defy all logic for Klaus to overcome Valeria. I would even be surprised if he managed to land a single blow on her," she replied, her conviction unshaken.
Keira turned to face Margaret, her brows furrowing in confusion. "So, despite knowing that Klaus stands no chance against Valeria, you deliberately instigated this battle between them?" she pressed, seeking answers.
Margaret nodded, her eyes never leaving the unfolding spectacle. "With Klaus, it is impossible to read his moves and predict his abilities. I wanted to ensure that he possessed no hidden fighting skills, and even if he did, I aimed to crush his spirit," she explained, her voice laced with determination.
The gravity of Margaret's intentions settled upon Keira, her mind processing the revelation. "Why?" she pressed, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Shock etched itself across Keira's face at her aunt's words, her expression a vivid tableau of confusion.
"Don't misunderstand my intentions, Keira. I have Klaus's best interests at heart," Margaret said, her tone soothing. "But there will come a time when he recognizes his uniqueness, his divergence from the norm."
"That realization may inflate his ego, and I intend to tether him to reality, to ensure he understands that no matter how extraordinary he is, he still needs my guidance." She added.
As Margaret's intentions unfurled, Keira's expression morphed from shock to utter disbelief. Her aunt wasn't jesting—she was deadly serious.
"You're being unnecessarily possessive, Margaret! You're overthinking this!" Keira burst out, her voice shaking with a mix of incredulity and concern. "Isn't there a more reasonable way to approach this?"
Margaret shrugged nonchalantly. "Perhaps there is, or perhaps there isn't. Nevertheless, I refuse to leave anything to chance. This is my chosen strategy to ensure Klaus remains mine."
As Keira took a deep breath, her gaze returned to the battlefield. Her face was a mask of worry and consternation.
The air seemed charged with a looming sense of dread. Margaret's obsessive possessiveness toward Klaus was more than unnerving – it was downright terrifying.
"Keira, trust me, everything will proceed according to plan," Margaret reassured her, a twinkle of determination in her eyes. "Now, sit back and watch as my plan come to fruition," she added, her lips curling into a smile of satisfaction as her eyes returned to the unfolding spectacle on the battlefield.
Bang!
With a resounding crash, Klaus and Valeria's fists met in a violent collision. The earth seemed to shudder beneath them, and for a moment, time itself seemed to stutter.
The impact etched a hint of pain across Klaus's face, a fleeting grimace before he recomposed himself. Valeria, on the other hand, remained neutral, her expression unchanging as if the blow had no effect on her.
"I told you, didn't I?" Margaret's voice rang out in triumphant vindication.
But her words had barely left her lips when a trail of blood trickled from the corner of Valeria's mouth. The shocking sight caused Margaret's eyes to flicker in surprise, her body springing from the seat as if jolted by an unseen current.
Valeria, who had previously been indifferent was now reeling backwards, her body trembling and blood trickling out of her mouth.
"Y-You…" Valeria's voice wavered, her eyes widening at the sight of Klaus's other hand curling into a clenched fist.
Yet, Klaus remained expressionless, his clenched fist becoming the sole focus of the battlefield. With an unexpected burst of speed, he lunged forward, his fist cutting through the air in an uppercut that collided with Valeria.
The force sent her spiraling through the air before she crumpled onto the ground, her body rolling uncontrollably before coming to an abrupt halt.