"Stand back."
Goosebumps rose on the skins of the group of people wearing all black clothing to blend into the night. Each carrying their own weapon that gleamed in the moonlight, be it a gun or a knife. Hearing those two words, something stirred in their minds, but since those words were not directed at them, they were not affected much. Not as much as Shadow Fang.
It was like a magic spell was cast.
Shadow Fang had frozen in place, unable to move forward even an inch. His usually strong and swift body did not listen to his command.
Step. Step. Step.
Sounds of feet steadily moving forward as the shoes kicked the ground was heard.
Their positions once again reversed, Ian came to the front of Shadow Fang.
Suddenly, all the men felt unnerved.
A special energy seemed to sizzle and snap in the air like electricity.
Instead of goosebumps, pricks of pain and numbness stabbed at their skins. Gulping, every one of them subconsciously wanted to step back, their instincts warning them of a dangerous predator, one they cannot afford to provoke. None of them, however, took a step back, refusing to believe in their own battle-honed judgements. Unable to see Ian as a threat with his age and tenderness, a childish hint of innocence about him.
This would be their worst mistake.
Step. Step. Step.
Step. Step.
Snap.
The sound of a finger snapping seemed to make them come to their senses from the weird trance-like state induced by the rhythmical steps.
Hanging heads lifted up from their downward facing postures bringing up countless pairs of blank eyes all looking at Ian. As if only he existed in their eyes. In their world.
Snap.
Ian snapped his fingers.
The blank looking eyes seemed to turn back to normal. Looking the same as before. Yet still, they did not move or show thoughts and actions of their own.
"Listen to my voice."
An airy, dream-like voice seemed to drift and float in the air, entering every ear. None can resist its pull. None can oppose its command.
"Do everything I command."
"Never sprout rebellious thoughts."
"Never betray me; your loyalties are forever mine."
One command after another registered into the brains of the men in black clothing holding weapons that seemed to have lost their previous glow. Not even one of them will ever be able to go against the master of this voice. From this moment on, Ian is their master. If he tells them to die, they will die.
That mesmerizing voice sounded again. "Now go back. Never tell a soul about what happened here tonight. Rise up in ranks and report back to me with important information from your organizations. Always be ready when I call for any of you."
With this, Ian turned back. Then he paused as if remembering something, and added an additional order, "Shadow Fang is dead. He died by your hands. Report your mission as complete."
Then, with a single snap of his fingers, the weird and fantastical aura filling this place seemed to disappear. Everyone came back to reality.
No one questioned Ian's appearance. No one looked or even glanced at the shocked Shadow Fang.
The men in black bowed to Ian and left quickly back to Shadow Fang's organization to report their mission success.
Shadow Fang found it impossible to believe what had just transpired. He had been chased and shot, a teenager appeared, he had been ready to give up his life to let the teenager escape from here, but then…
But then…!
Shadow Fang could feel his heart beating fast. Faster than the first time he went on a mission and got the blood of someone else on his hands. Faster than the times he almost died. Faster than anything else in the world.
He didn't know what this strange and unexplainable feeling was. Excitement? Disbelief? Fear?
In the midst of his confusing thoughts, Shadow Fang suddenly felt faint and dizzy as his head throbbed and his heart pounded. He stumbled. His body swaying strengthlessly.
He fell back.
A pair of thin arms reached out to catch him before Shadow Fang could fall onto the hard, stone ground.
Though thin and tender, that pair of arms held unimaginable strength and power as it steadily held onto the dizzy Shadow Fang who at the moment could not stand from blood loss.
As Shadow Fang's consciousness faded into darkness, he heard the boy say.
"——"
And then everything went black.
*****
Beep… Beep… Beep…
The monitor constantly beeped as it served as an indicator of the existing life of the person lying on a bed next to the machine.
Steady and strong, the person showed no signs of his condition worsening.
The person's consciousness drifted up, the fog in his mind clearing a bit. He seemed to hear someone talking next to him.
To the side of the bed was a man in white coat standing next to a young teen.
The man in a white coat had long white hair tied up neatly in a low ponytail, which swayed with his moments. His skin was pale from the countless hours he stayed up late and through the night to tend to patients. Not even 30 years old, he exuded an experienced and professional vibe.
His honey orange eyes stared at the clipboard in his hands as he explained the patient's current condition to Ian.
"... from what the data says, this man's life is no longer in danger. Though his blood loss was severe, it was supplemented in time, although he will enter a period of weakness after he wakes up. He will need about 2 weeks to recover."
Ian nodded as he seriously listened.
Ian said, "Thank you, Doctor Isaac."
Doctor Isaac shook his head with a smile, not accepting Ian's thanks. He worked for Ian's brother Angus, naturally this was his job.
Doctor Isaac was about to leave when Ian stopped him. "Mr. Isaac, can you not tell my brother about him? I will tell my brother myself."
Doctor Isaac nodded and left.
With the departing footsteps of the doctor, the patient's consciousness drifted into the dark once again.
*****
"Argh…" Shadow Fang groaned. Slowly coming to, the man lying on a bed sat up. His tense head whirled in confusion and slight exhaustion.
Even before his mind cleared, Shadow Fang checked out the surroundings and saw an unfamiliar room. On guard, Shadow Fang carefully detected for any immediate threats despite the discomfort of his aching head, and was relieved to find none.
The room was bright as the sun shone its rays inside, patterning the floor with the shadow of the window's designs.
During the time Shadow Fang had been unconscious, he had been cleared by the doctor and was moved to another room. This room was close to Ian's bedroom.
As Shadow Fang felt his throbbing headache subside, he jolted. He remembered everything that had happened that night.
Goosebumps rose all over his body as a shudder ran through him. Even now, he could still remember that unique sensation, the inviolable power of Ian's voice, everything, as though it's happening right now. He couldn't understand how it all happened. What made him listen to the boy? What made them obey his orders?
As an assassin, he had seen many strange and unexplainable things on his missions, but none of them were ever close to what he had experienced that day. In that hour. In that very second.
A thought suddenly rose into Shadow Fang's mind.
Suddenly, the door to the room opened. Shadow Fang jumped off the body alertly.
A short figure came inside the room with a tray containing a glass of water and a bowl of congee.
Seeing that Shadow Fang was awake, the short figure smiled and approached Shadow Fang with the tray.
Placing the tray on a table, the short figure walked to Shadow Fang.
As the figure walked past the window, the first thing that was highlighted by the direct light of the sun was the hair. Lustrous, silky light purple hair that went from a darker shade to a lighter shade as the eye went down shone in the light, giving off a mystical glow.
Although Shadow Fang's guard was still up, his vigilance wasn't as strong as before.
They remained as they were. In silence, nobody spoke.
A complex and complicated expression appeared on Shadow Fang's face, revealing the conflicting emotions in his heart. After a while, Shadow Fang's face returned to normal as if he figured something out.
"...Thank you." Shadow Fang said awkwardly and hesitantly. "Ahem, thank you for saving me back there."
Ian gently smiled. Shadow Fang was taken aback by the maturity and depth of Ian's smile, once again feeling the mysterious and dark aura that emitted from such a young and innocent-looking boy.
Ian said, "There's no need to thank me. I only happened to pass by last night."
"Not just that. You also treated my wounds. So, I'm very grateful," Shadow Fang sincerely said, his eyes revealing a bit of the complex feelings toward the decision he had made in his heart.
Ian noticed but he didn't ask anything.
Ian said nothing and walked back to the table and took the bowl of congee and then handed it to Shadow Fang. Shadow Fang took it only to feel that it was warm, not hot or cold. So he directly drank it from the bowl almost without chewing, resembling how a heavy drinker would gulp down a large bowl of alcohol. If it weren't for the rice being small and mashed to tiny little pieces, he would've choked.
Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, Shadow Fang held the bowl in his hands not knowing where to place it.
Ian smiled. He reached out, took the bowl, and said, "Now then. Since you've finished, I'll leave you to rest." With that, Ian approached the door quickly and left without letting Shadow Fang say anything
The door closing behind him, Ian showed a mysterious smile. Humming a little song to himself, Ian walked away in a good mood.
Going into the kitchen, the kitchen helper who cooked the congee hurriedly took the bowl from Ian's hands. How could he dare let young master Ian work! If the boss finds out, he'll be stuffed into a sack and thrown into the sea!
"Young master Ian, how can someone such as you do such heavy work. You should call me next time, I'm always at your beck and call." The helper flattered and said nervously.
Ian glanced at him, seeing his sweating face and slightly trembling body, Ian looked away indifferently.
"It's fine. I won't tell my brother. It's not like my hands are broken and my legs crippled," Ian said as he began walking out of the kitchen.
"No no! How would I dare think so! I didn't mean it that way!" The helper hurriedly tried to explain after Ian's shrinking back.
"I know."
Going back to his room, Ian shut the door behind him.
Knock, knock.
Not even a moment later, someone knocked on the door behind Ian.
"Young master Ian, your brother would like to see you." Someone respectfully said through the door after politely knocking on Ian's door.
Ian's head perked up.
"Got it. I'll go now!" Slamming open the door, Ian zoomed out, eager to see his brother.
"Ah, young master Ian, master is in…" The subordinate wasn't able to inform Ian of the location his boss was at before Ian disappeared out of his sight.
***
"Brother!" Ian burst into the study.
On the desk near the floor to ceiling window piles of confidential documents stacked up into mountains. The mountains were pushed to either side to dig out flat plains where a document file labeled "Confidential" and a gold pen were laid.
Angus stood looking out the window drinking a cup of coffee. He turned to greet his energetic little brother.
"Ian."
Ian's smile brightened. Sincere in his joy.
"Brother, why are you looking for me?"
Angus chuckled. "Can't an older brother look for his little brother without a reason?"
Ian hurriedly waved his hands. "Of course! Of course! I would love it if you called for me more, but aren't you busy? I don't want to bother you."
Angus paused. He didn't know that Ian had felt this way. His heart softened at the sight of Ian's consideration. Thinking of his friend complaining about how inconsiderate and rebellious his little brother and sister were, Angus cannot feel the same as Ian was far too obedient and never caused him any trouble that he would have a headache over. This gave him sweet distress—he didn't want Ian to force himself, he wanted Ian to be free and do whatever he himself wanted to do instead of being overly considerate of his brother.
Angus sighed and put down the coffee cup. Reaching out to pat Ian's hair, Angus said gently, "You will never be a bother to me, Ian. You can come see me whenever you want."
Ian nodded obediently. Inwardly, Ian smirked to himself. That means I can follow you on your business trips! After all, brother, you just gave me permission.
A tail seemed to pop out from behind Ian, raised high with pride and smug like a noble cat.
Angus shuddered from a sudden chill.