Lucien stirred from his slumber, his consciousness gradually emerging from the depths of sleep. As he blinked away the haze of drowsiness, the events of the previous encounter with Akashi flooded his mind with startling clarity. His heart raced, and beads of sweat formed on his brow as he struggled to comprehend the implications of their interaction.
"You're up?" came Akashi's calm voice, cutting through the silence like a blade. "That was rather fast, I must say. Quite impressive, that body of yours."
Lucien's eyes widened in realisation as he stared at Akashi, a mixture of fear and curiosity swirling in his gaze. This time, however, there was a palpable shift in the dynamic between them—a subtle but undeniable sense of power radiating from Akashi, as if he held all the cards in their twisted game.
Hesitant but unable to suppress his burning questions, Lucien finally spoke. "What did you do to me?"
Akashi's hand drifted to his pocket, retrieving a small bottle filled with a dark, ominous liquid. With a nonchalant demeanour, he replied, "Shadowthorn Serum. This poison is derived from a rare plant found in the darkest corners of the forest. When injected into the bloodstream, it initially causes dizziness, blurred vision, and eventually loss of consciousness. However, the effects wear off after a few hours, and the victim wakes up with no lasting harm. Well, I guess in your case, it was only thirty minutes."
A flicker of confusion crossed Lucien's features as he struggled to grasp the implications of Akashi's revelation. "You were so deluded with your obsession of amusement when you pinned me to the wall that you didn't notice me inject the poison into your bloodstream," Akashi added, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement at Lucien's oversight.
Akashi crouched to meet Lucien's gaze, his eyes alight with a mysterious intensity. "Regarding your brother, it was a twist of fate that our paths crossed. But perhaps it's a fortunate twist nonetheless."
With an air of confidence, he continued, "I have an ambition, a pursuit that promises excitement beyond measure. If you crave diversion, I can offer you an abundance of it. Will you join me in this endeavor?"
Lucien's demeanor remained composed, though his mind churned with uncertainty. "And what might this grand ambition entail?" he questioned, his tone measured but tinged with intrigue.
Akashi's smile widened, a hint of cunning dancing in his eyes. "Oh, it's magnificent indeed," he replied cryptically, leaving Lucien to ponder the enigmatic nature of his proposition.
Lucien's tone was resigned as he acknowledged, "Seems I've got no choice. You hold all the cards now, especially when it comes to my only family."
Akashi's expression softened slightly. "If we're going to work together, I'll make sure your... other side stays hidden from prying eyes," he assured, recognizing the weight of Lucien's predicament.
Lucien's nod was begrudging, a hint of disdain colouring his acquiescence. "Fine," he conceded, though his reluctance was palpable.
As Akashi delved into the topic of Lucien's abilities, the latter paused for a moment, his expression clouded with frustration. With a heavy sigh, he explained, "My quirk goes by the name 'Bullseye'. It enhances my eyesight immeasurably and allows me to summon 'Starvol'."
Akashi's curiosity was piqued. "Starvol?" he prompted, seeking clarification.
Lucien clarified with a hint of pride, "Starvol is my bow. It's capable of firing infinite arrows, as long as I still draw breath."
Lucien's eyes gleamed with pride as he spoke of Starvol, a relic passed down through generations of the Agar family, tracing back to the very first generation of quirk users.
With a flick of his wrist, he conjured Starvol into existence, the bow materializing in his hand with a faint shimmer of celestial energy. His fingers traced the elegant curves of the bow, feeling the smoothness of its surface and the power thrumming within.
"It's not just any bow," he explained, his voice tinged with reverence. "Starvol is a manifestation of our family's legacy. Crafted from the finest materials and imbued with the essence of our ancestors' power, it's more than just a weapon—it's a symbol of our heritage."
He paused, his gaze drifting to the bow at his side, a faint smile playing on his lips. "With Starvol, I can unleash arrows infused with the energy of the stars themselves. Each shot is precise, deadly, and endless, carrying the weight of generations past with it."
Akashi's response to Lucien's explanation is a simple nod, though his acknowledgment carries a weight of acknowledgment. "Understood," he remarks, his tone measured and neutral, a veil over his true thoughts.
Lucien, now composed after his earlier display, shifts the conversation to Akashi's mysterious nature. "Is it true you lack a quirk, or is that a guise for your true intentions?" he probes, his gaze piercing, searching for any hint of deception.
Akashi's reply is concise but enigmatic, his expression inscrutable as he meets Lucien's gaze head-on. "Indeed, I do not possess one," he confirms, leaving his true motives shrouded in secrecy.
Sensing an unsettling undercurrent in the air, Lucien decides it's best to depart, a sense of impending doom lingering in his mind. "I'll take my leave now," he announces, his voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and doubt.
As Lucien makes his exit, Akashi's gaze shifts to the window, his thoughts veering into the depths of contemplation. In the silence of the room, he murmurs to himself, "ɐɥnsʇɐꓨ"