Saturday, 21th August, 02:40:
Lucian awakened and gradually sat up. He remained in that position for half an hour, staring blankly ahead, without moving a muscle.
Suddenly, he burst into a rather subdued laughter before returning to his slumber.
"haha hahahaha haha hahaha."
...
07:15
Lucian awoke to a delightful aroma wafting through his room. He couldn't resist its pull, as if entranced, he followed the scent trail to the living room, where he found Henry at the gas stove.
"The smell of your cooking roused me. Good morning," Lucian greeted.
"Good morning, brother. It's good to see you in a better mood than last night," remarked Henry.
"Yes, I've had a lot on my mind lately. It'll be sorted out soon," Lucian assured before adding, "I'm going to freshen up."
After a refreshing bath and donning clean clothes, Lucian returned downstairs to join his brother for breakfast.
With his meal finished, he set off to visit Lucy Hall, anticipating the pleasure of her exceptional coffee, a far cry from the brew at home.
...
Knock.
The door creaked open after a few minutes, and she peered out. "Not now, I have a client inside."
Lucian inexplicably felt a pang of embarrassment. "Alright," he mumbled, before retreating to a spot about twenty meters from her house.
Time seemed to stretch on as he waited. Eventually, he spotted the man emerging, prompting Lucian to approach once more.
Knock.
Another moment passed, leaving Lucian puzzled about the delay. Frustration building, he rapped harder on the door.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
Lucy finally opened the door, her expression apologetic. "Sorry, I didn't hear you knocking. Come inside."
They settled in the living room, and this time Lucy didn't even ask if he wanted coffee. She simply went about making it, familiar with his preference.
Lucian reached for a cigarette, preparing to light it, but Lucy promptly intervened. "Don't smoke in here, put it out."
He shot her an irritated look and extinguished the cigarette, now waiting for his cup of coffee.
Once she finished brewing, Lucy joined him, and he got straight to the point. "Do you know who Levi and Melissa are?"
Her expression turned puzzled. "How do you know about them?"
He went on to explain everything that had transpired the previous night, withholding only details about the black orb and Melissa's powers. He chose to bend the truth slightly, sharing essential information while keeping his own secrets.
"You're downright crazy," she remarked.
"I know," he admitted.
"Those two are part of a team called the Sunners. He, from what I've heard, has a high-powered Pact. The girl, though, is even scarier. No one dared to even mention her when I was in Belfed," she recounted, her memories resurfacing.
"She didn't seem that scary," he remarked.
Lucy chose to pivot away from the topic of the girl, redirecting their conversation. "You should let them handle this. It's their job."
Lucian wore a smug, confident expression. "Haha. They don't even know a single Bart family member. Remember, we didn't include William in the report? It'll take them a while before they find out about him and track him down. We, on the other hand, know exactly when and where to show up."
Lucy's left eyebrow quirked slightly, showing her uncertainty. "How do we know when and where? Is he still in the bar even after the raid? He's not that stupid, right?"
"He'll be leaving soon. We have to be there at exactly 10:50," Lucian assured.
"How did you get that information?" she inquired.
"I have my sources," he replied cryptically.
I have Selena.
...
10:47, Near Rusts Shab:
"Are you certain your information is correct?" Lucy inquired.
"Oh, I am. Don't worry about that," Lucian assured, checking his pocket watch.
They waited; each passing second felt like an eternity. Finally, they spotted him—William Bart emerging from the bar.
"He's here!" Lucy exclaimed, her confidence bolstered by the accuracy of the information.
William continued down the street, and they followed, with Lucian mirroring Lucy's every move, deferring to her experience.
They blended into the crowd, positioning themselves so the people ahead obstructed any view William might have had if he turned around.
He made several turns, eventually stopping near a sizable house. After scanning the surroundings without noticing anyone, he entered.
"Could this be their residence?" Lucy pondered
The absence of guards revealed their first prize, but left them pondering the next move, like chess players staring at a board with infinite possibilities.
"We're going in," declared Lucian.
"No. There's no way we're going inside. You've gone insane," Lucy retorted.
"Hahahaha, don't worry. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve," Lucian reassured.
He closed his eyes and whispered, summoning Selena, "Should I come in?"
"There are five people inside, including William. The lowest Pact is 1, the highest 4," Selena's voice reached only Lucian.
Well, she didn't mention we'd be killed.
"Let's go, be ready," Lucian directed.
Lucy hesitated but ultimately followed, placing her trust in his plans. Together, they approached the front door.
Knock Knock.
The door swung open, revealing an 18-year-old man, likely a Pact 1, judging by his appearance—a novice.
Lucy swiftly conjured a ball and launched it at the man, catching him off guard. It singed a portion of his left chest, causing him to scream. Lucian swiftly silenced him with a powerful blow, rendering him unconscious.
"Blind, 5 seconds," Lucian instructed.
As they entered, they were met by three other members converging from different directions. William advanced towards them, while a man and a woman prepared to unleash air bullets.
Lucy used her power and blinded them all, creating an opening. Lucian closed the gap on William, delivering a powerful diagonal slash across his midsection. William's agonized scream echoed through the house.
Meanwhile, Lucy armed herself with a silver knife. She hurled it at the older man, who narrowly evaded it and retaliated with air bullets. Lucy dodged gracefully, her eyes on Lucian, who charged like a force of nature.
The woman joined the onslaught, making it increasingly difficult for Lucian to evade. Nevertheless, he pressed on, enduring the pain and closing in on his targets.
The man veered right, the woman to the left. Lucian chose to pursue the woman, striking her abdomen with his sharpened nails. She crumpled to the ground, the man momentarily forgetting about Lucy, who was now closing in on him.
The once pristine marble floor was now stained with crimson. The man, though shaken, tried to flee towards the backdoor. Lucy, quick on her feet, retrieved her knife and sent it flying, striking him in the back. He stumbled forward, collapsing.
As they surveyed the aftermath, Lucian and Lucy took in the sight of the aftermath—a battlefield that miraculously claimed no lives, a testament to their careful precision in avoiding critical points.
"You're injured, let me tend to that," Lucy offered, her fingers gently tracing the air bullet wounds that had either hit or grazed Lucian.
"No need, it'll heal," Lucian dismissed, his resilience evident.
In the swirl of conflicting emotions—victory, regret, and the weight of their actions—Lucy mustered a breathless, "We did it."
"It's not over yet," Lucian cautioned, his eyes scanning for any sign of the highest Pact member of the Bart family, waiting for the inevitable strike.
"Come out! There's no use in hiding," Lucian's voice echoed through the cavernous halls.
Then, descending the grand staircase, a distinguished man of about 45 made his deliberate approach. Despite the tableau of his incapacitated kin, his demeanor remained eerily composed. Each measured step resounded, the imposing cane in his hand, its tip a pale shade of green. He donned an immaculate, dark suit, crowned by a modest top hat.
"Impressive. But you've erred. It would have been wiser to end them. That way, you might have at least achieved something before meeting your demise at my hands," the man intoned with calculated calmness.
He continued, "You must be Lucian Wright, the last devout follower of the Goddess of the Moon."
Lucy regarded Lucian with a quizzical expression, but he remained fixed on the approaching man. Finally, he asked, "Why were you targeting me and my family?"
The man descended the staircase, drawing nearer, and responded casually, "Oh, dear. Your mother didn't tell you, did she?" He paused, now just five meters away from them.
Lucy readied herself to conjure a fireball, but Lucian's raised hand signaled her to hold.
"No, she didn't," Lucian confirmed.
"Very well, then. I suppose I shall enlighten you—perhaps it will jog your memory before I steal you of it," the man remarked.
He continued, "Your mother entrusted you with a family legacy, a duty to keep the faith in the Goddess of the Moon alive. You see, there were originally four families tasked with preserving this legacy. One of those families possessed the heirloom—an ancient ritual designed to forge a Pact with 'Her'. The Barts, we, exterminated two of those families, leaving only the Wrights and us. Since we lack the ritual, it only means that you have it."
As the two were talking, Lucy stood on the sidelines, her expression a mix of confusion and concern.
Keep the faith in the Goddess of the Moon alive? Family legacies, heirloom. What have I involved myself in. Damn you, Lucian.
With this revelation, Lucian's understanding expanded, connecting the dots from the intruder's attack, the Wrights' surveillance, and the ancestral legacy he glimpsed in Lucian's original memories. The encounter in the narrow street and the mystical ties to the Moon Goddess fell into place.
So, within these four families, one held a sacred heirloom that entailed the ritual I performed. For who knows how many generations, the Bart family pursued everyone, seeking to claim that ritual,
Lucian concluded, the pieces finally fitting together.
"Why do you want it?" he asked.
"Power," said the man in a cold, deep voice.
"Do you want to see the 'Power' you missed out on? Hahahaha," said Lucian, mocking the man.
The once-calm man was now fueled with anger and he dashed towards Lucian with incredible speed. Lucy, overcome with fear, dashed away, realizing they were on a different level than her.
The old man's fists were surrounded by swirling winds, resembling a helicopter's blades.
Lucian swiftly fled, buying himself enough time to formulate a plan. He suddenly stopped and turned to face his pursuer.
He summoned the Void's shadow onto both of his hands and swiftly directed them towards the man's hands. The shadow disrupted the swirling air, which could potentially sever a hand on contact. His shadow then seized the man's hands, pulling him to the ground.
This entire sequence unfolded in mere seconds, leaving the man who had been closing in on Lucian sprawled on the ground.
He had turned the man's own momentum against him!
With his transformed nails, Lucian approached the man, crouching behind him and applying pressure on his neck.
"I ask, you answer."
Meanwhile, Lucy observed from the background, struggling to make sense of the lightning-fast events.
"What is your name?" demanded Lucian.
"Rubert Bart."
In an attempt to unnerve the man, Lucian pressed his nails a bit harder, drawing a small amount of blood. He continued, "Are there any more of you? Do these others here know about me?"
"No, just us. A few died attempting to attack your friends. Only I know about you."
"Where's your power now?" asked Lucian, provoking.
"Inside your father's heart," said the man, his tone sounding genuine.
Lucian couldn't believe what he had just heard. Overwhelmed by emotions, he lost control. He swiftly slashed the man's throat, gripping his head tightly and ruthlessly pounding it against the floor.
Meanwhile, Lucy was both horrified and alarmed. She hurried toward Lucian, her voice desperate as she screamed, "Stop! Please, Lucian!!!"
It took a moment, but Lucian finally regained his senses. He looked down at the gruesome scene before him, the man's head shattered against the marble floor. His hands and clothes were stained with crimson. Lucian watched in disbelief, struggling to comprehend his own actions. He glanced around, his mind teetering on the edge of collapse, a torrent of negative emotions overwhelming him.