Chapter 19: Arrival of the Eastern Guardian
The afternoon sun bathed the Augustine estate in a warm, golden light. Argus stood in the courtyard, waiting for the arrival of the Eastern Guardian, Suzume. Anticipation buzzed within him like a coiled spring ready to be unleashed. His thoughts kept circling back to what his mother had said the night before—about Suzume being powerful but unconventional, about how she would push him in ways no one else could.
Beside him, Evangeline's dark eyes remained calm, though Argus could sense the faint undertones of amusement in her gaze. She always seemed to know more than she let on, her plans running deeper than anyone could guess.
"You're restless," she observed, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder.
Argus gave a small nod. "I'm just curious to see what she's like."
Evangeline's lips curved into a soft smile. "Suzume isn't like the tutors you've had before. She will challenge you, but that's what you want, isn't it?"
Before Argus could respond, he saw movement at the far end of the courtyard. A figure approached, and Argus's heart quickened. As she drew closer, he could make out the details of her appearance. Suzume walked with a casual confidence that radiated strength, her posture straight but relaxed, like a tiger strolling through its domain.
Her kimono, haphazardly draped over her slender frame, did little to hide her striking beauty. Her long dark hair was loosely tied back, a few stray locks framing her sharp, angular features. Her breasts were bound with bandages, visible through the loose fabric of her robe. Despite her somewhat disheveled appearance, there was an undeniable elegance to the way she carried herself. Her face held a mischievous glint, as though she found the world amusing and hardly worth taking seriously.
In one hand, she held a flask, which she casually took a swig from as she neared them. Argus could feel the intensity of her presence even from a distance—a raw, untamed power that she carried without restraint. She was beautiful, but in the way a storm could be beautiful: unpredictable and dangerous.
As she stopped in front of them, her sharp eyes landed on Argus. She tilted her head, appraising him with a crooked smile. "So, this is the brat I'm supposed to train, huh?"
Argus blinked, caught off guard by her bluntness. He had expected someone more... formal. His tutors had always carried themselves with a level of seriousness befitting their titles, but Suzume was the opposite of that.
Evangeline's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold edge creeping into her voice. "Yes, Suzume. He's my son. I trust you'll take care of him... but don't let any ideas cross your mind. He is not yours to toy with."
Suzume snorted, taking another swig from her flask before tucking it away. "Relax, Eve. I know how protective you are of your little prince. I'm not here to mess with your precious son, just to make sure he's not as pampered as you've been keeping him."
Evangeline's lips tightened, though she remained composed. "I trust you to push him. Just don't forget who he belongs to."
Suzume grinned, unfazed. "Yeah, yeah. No funny business with the brat." She cast a side glance at Argus. "Though, I think your mother's more concerned with keeping you all to herself."
Argus watched the exchange, caught between curiosity and mild amusement. Suzume was the first person he had seen speak to his mother so casually, almost mockingly, and yet Evangeline allowed it.
Evangeline stepped closer to Argus, cupping his cheek gently, her eyes softening. "Do your best, my love. Suzume is rough, but she'll make you stronger. Trust her, but remember where your loyalty lies."
Argus nodded, his voice calm. "I will, Mother."
With that, Evangeline straightened and turned to leave, her presence still commanding even as she walked away. Suzume watched her go, taking another swig from her flask before focusing her full attention on Argus.
Once Evangeline was out of sight, Suzume raised an eyebrow at him, her mischievous smile returning. "So, brat, ready for your first lesson?"
Argus stood straight, meeting her gaze steadily. "I'm ready."
Suzume chuckled, a rough laugh that made it clear she wasn't convinced. "We'll see about that."
She turned and started walking toward the training grounds, motioning for him to follow. Argus fell in step beside her, the air between them charged with a strange energy. Once they were far enough from the mansion, Suzume came to a stop, her playful demeanor fading into something more serious.
"Before we start anything," Suzume began, her voice low and firm, "you'll call me 'Master.' Got it?"
Argus hesitated for a moment. He had called his tutors 'Master' before, but something about Suzume's demand felt different. Her sharp eyes locked onto his, daring him to disobey. With a slow nod, Argus replied, "Yes, Master."
A satisfied grin spread across her face. "Good. Now we can get started."
She circled him, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. "So, brat, tell me about your powers. Void manipulation, right? What exactly can you do?"
Argus took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I can manipulate the void within me, but only in close proximity to my body. I've been working on control and refinement, but I haven't pushed it beyond that yet."
Suzume studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if she were weighing his potential. "Hmmm, flow and control, huh? Let me guess, you've had a tutor or two try to make you 'let go' already?"
Argus blinked, remembering his music lessons with Calista. "I've been taught to let the void flow... similar to how I was taught to play music. It's about finding balance."
Suzume raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Music, huh? Well, magic and music aren't the same, brat. You might've learned to let it flow, but this isn't about balance. The void isn't just something you guide—it's something you surrender to, something you become."
Argus frowned, her words unsettling him. "But my tutors have always emphasized control. Even when I let the void flow, I have to maintain some control, or it'll become dangerous."
Suzume rolled her eyes. "Dangerous? That's the point, brat. Power isn't about safety. Power is about pushing beyond those limits, about finding out what happens when you stop being so cautious. You're still afraid of what the void will do, aren't you?"
Her words hung in the air, challenging everything Argus had been taught up until this point. Control had been the foundation of his training, and although he had begun letting his powers flow, control still helped him maintain that flow, like the river edges guiding the river. But Suzume's approach was different—more fluid, more instinctual.
"Show me," she said suddenly, stepping back and crossing her arms. "I want to see what you can do. No holding back."
Argus gritted his teeth, manifesting the void around his hand, he tried pushing the void further, but it resisted. He could feel it—his power, just beyond his reach, waiting for him to let go. But something inside him hesitated, unsure of what would happen if he released it completely.
Suzume sighed, shaking her head. "You're afraid. You can feel it, can't you? That power inside you, waiting to be unleashed. But you're scared of what it'll do." She stepped closer, her voice lowering to a near whisper. "Power isn't something you fear, brat. It's something you embrace."
Her words cut deep, and Argus felt a flicker of anger rise within him. He wasn't afraid—he was just cautious. But Suzume's challenge, the way she looked at him, dared him to prove her wrong.
With a sharp inhale, Argus let go. The void surged forward, spiraling out from him in dark, swirling tendrils that lashed against the air with raw, unrestrained force. It moved beyond his control, wild and unpredictable, but Argus didn't pull it back. He let it flow, just as Suzume had told him.
For a brief moment, the world around him seemed to hold its breath. The air grew thick with energy, and the ground beneath him trembled as the void responded to his release.
Argus felt something inside him loosen—like a dam breaking. For so long, he had feared what would happen if he let the void slip from his grasp, but now, with Suzume's words pushing him, he embraced the chaos. The feeling was terrifying, exhilarating, and freeing all at once.
Suzume's grin widened. "Now that's more like it."