"Look, that's our ride," Mell said, her voice bordering on excitement, as she pointed towards a black vehicle on the side of the road.
Getting a little closer Jaylen scanned the vehicle up and down, though he didn't know much about magic cars he knew enough to pick out a good car from a bunch of rubble.
Its low-slung body that hugged the ground, sharp angular edges, flared fenders, and flashback profile, rarely seen on most cars, instantly revealed what car it was.
"A vortex shadowcaster." He mumbled aloud, his fingers lightly trailing over the hood.
"Yep, Vortex Shadowcaster 2024, designed after the original created back in 2024." As Mell walked over to the driver's side, she glanced at Jaylen with a small smile on her lips.
Opening the passenger door, Jaylen took his seat in the leather chair. Its texture was refined and smooth, and it offered the perfect level of comfort.
"Strapped in?" Mell asked after clicking her own seatbelt into place. Jaylen gave a slight dip of his head in agreement.
As she turned the key to start the car liquid mana began to course through the arcane conduits like veins of shimmering light. Each pulse mirrored the steady beat of an unseen heart, as the mana moved The conduits were illuminated from within by the mana's ethereal brilliance.
As it flowed, the mana crackled with hints of energy, leaving behind faint wisps of luminescent mist.
The mana-infused rotary reactor harnessed this arcane flow, each turn of its components fueled by the swirling magic. The reactor hummed with a low, resonant thrum.
Reaching into the top of her dress, Mell pulled out a pair of shades. She wore them on her face and grabbed hold of the steering wheel.
Jaylen's heart skipped a beat as she turned and looked at him with a smile. A sinking feeling filled his chest, and he shouted out, "Wait, Aunt Mell!"
"Let's Go!!!" Mell slammed her foot onto the gas, sending the car flying forward into the busy street. A trail of faint, shimmering mist flowed out of the quad exhaust, giving the car an almost spectral appearance.
Seamlessly blending into traffic, onlookers watched in awe as they zoomed past them continuing down the road.
Inside a particular café, a large man in a trench coat kept his eyes locked on the direction the car zoomed off in, his exact thoughts unknown. Then a voice yelled out to him breaking his thoughts. "Sir!"
He averted his gaze and glanced at his companion seated opposite him. "What is it, Mina?"
His cold detached voice echoed reaching her ears, her body trembling ever so slightly, "I...I just wanted to know if everything was alright"
Mina frantically waved her arms around as she clarified "I Mean, it's just that you seemed to focus intently on that car, and I was just wondering–"
"Mina" He interrupted in a clipped tone.
Mina felt her mouth snap shut instantly, her amethyst-colored eyes widening with shock as the weight of her mistake sank in.
His eyes narrowed, a fierce intensity in his gaze, as his words emerged like a low growl, clawing their way through the tension in the air. "Your duty is to do what I command, not concerns or worries"
Mina hung her head low her voice barely above a whisper "Yes… Sir"
"As for that car, it doesn't matter, just a familiar face" The Man paused, glancing back for a fleeting moment before turning away, his gaze fixed once more on the road where the car had just disappeared.
'I hope you've gotten stronger so we can continue our little game.' A shadow played at the corners of his mouth, twisting his smile into darkly amused, like he was savoring a cruel joke.
Back in the car, unaware of the events happening in the café, Mell and Jaylen were in the midst of their own conversation.
"If you turn on your Index, I've gone ahead and sent you all the information on food establishments in the city of Hope," Mell said as she lowered the speed of the car to a crawl before stopping at the red light.
"Thanks, Aunt Mell, I'll take a look now"
On his wrist, a black inconspicuous band rested this was an index, a device capable of accessing the grand Akashic Records but only the records for the planet of Yonus.
But there was a major flaw some information was missing or redacted and needed to be recovered before anyone could see it.
Clicking the power switch on the side, a blue square on the top flashed to life and emitted a beam of light into the air, forming a hologram in front of him.
[Index Activation detected]
[Verifying User Please wait…]
[…]
"It's still slow as always" He muttered, exasperated, his eyes glued to the flickering dots.
Crossing his arms with a deep scowl he grumbled, "Take your time. I can wait"
[User identification verified]
[Welcome Origin]
"It's still calling you that?" Mell's gaze darted to the index finger resting on his wrist, but she quickly refocused on the road ahead.
"Yes and it's noticeably slower than everyone else's despite being the same model" He answered while swiping through the pages of information on his screen.
Mell tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel, a thoughtful hum escaping her as she glanced over.
"You're sure you don't want me to take it to Sabrina for a quick look?" she asked, her voice light but her gaze questioning.
"No, that's fine. No need to bother her and have her look for something that's not there again."
Even if she looked at it again Jaylen knew nothing would be found again, it was a familiar tune he had danced to every time he looked for answers to anything involving him.
It was clear if he wanted to know he had to get stronger until his fist was big enough to get answers himself.
"As you wish, Young Master," Mell tried to speak, but Jaylen was already lost in his thoughts, his full attention fixed on his index. Her words slipped past him, unheard and unheeded.
***
After driving for some time the car halted in front of a large gate where a crowd could be seen walking in.
Still, deep in his research of food establishments, Jaylen hadn't realized their arrival until Mell's voice woke him up.
"Young Master, I'm sorry to distract you, but we have arrived at the academy,"
As Jaylen's gaze drifted from the screen before him, it was suddenly captured by the imposing silhouette of the large gate, 'The Starfall academy lies beyond these gates'
"Thanks, Aunt Mell I'll see you later" Jaylen's fingers tightened eagerly around the door handle, excitement bubbling as he prepared to step out.
"Be safe, young master, and don't get into too much trouble" Mell responded smiling.
"Huh, what kind of trouble would I get into"
Mell fixed him with a vacant stare for a moment before turning away, her lips moving subtly as she whispered a few hushed words just for herself. "You are definitely your mother's child"
Not sure how to feel Jaylen exited the car but as he scanned the area his gaze shifting from one spot to the next, a puzzled look crossing his face
"Where's Lilith?"
As if answering his question, loud exclamations began to ring out from the crowd as a path opened up straight down the center of the crowd leading to him. All eyes turned to the figure making her way toward him.
Her long charcoal hair flowed behind her. Her ice-cold gaze was piercing and unyielding, casting an authoritative calm over those she passed.
Heads turned, whispers softened, as her striking features and confident stride left the crowd momentarily spellbound.
Dressed in a sleek black blazer, embroidered with a green balance scale. A gray skirt skimmed gracefully over her figure, balanced by black leggings that extended up to her thighs.
Caught between admiration and a touch of intimidation, The crowd's attention never left her creating a ripple of silence that followed her every step.
In that charged moment, she arrived before Jaylen, her gaze steady and intense.
"Lilith" he spoke, his voice matching the atmosphere surrounding her.
"You're late," she said without a hint of hesitation.
"Huh"
"Come on let's go" She beckoned him to follow.
Watching her walk away Jaylen muttered under his breath "Mask on"
Almost instantly after saying those words, Jaylen's entire demeanor shifted; his eyes were filled with a chilling coldness and indifference that would scare anyone away.
His movements became more graceful and controlled, each step the perfect definition of majesty.
Almost as if manifested by his family's will, a dark shadowy aura surrounds his figure, serving as a true testament to his nickname: The Ice-Cold Prince of Darkness.
As he slowly approached the gates, he thought to himself, 'At Starfall Academy, I'll become the force I need to be. And I'll settle the score, no matter who stands in my way.'