The streets of Ravencroft were lively, noisy. Through the car windows, I could see people smiling, laughing. They seemed alive, enjoying every moment.
But the more I watched them, the more my heart tightened. How could they be so… careless? How could they smile, here, with everything that was happening behind this facade?
It was a stark contrast to the video the Red Star had shown us. A contrast I couldn't erase from my mind. Yet, despite the frustration that overwhelmed me, a strange calm settled within me.
My hands were clenched so tight they hurt, turning red. I watched them, as a reminder of everything I couldn't control yet.
Sery, beside me, pinched her lips. Her gaze, lost in the passing city, betrayed her confusion. She hadn't expected to see such a peaceful, normal city. Yet, she knew, just like me, that it was all just an illusion. A carefully crafted facade. Sery, she was sensitive to misery, to injustice.
I remember, when we were six, she cried when one of our friends had no food, while we had more than enough. She found it unjust. She was right, of course.
Seeing her, I knew she wanted to act, that she was burning with the desire to change things, but she didn't have the power. And me, what could I do? What could we do, at thirteen?
But I had forgotten one thing.
I might not have the strength.
But I had the power.
I am Zikron ZETA.
I am the law.
And if my father does nothing,
I will.
Pery, who had been watching us, understood our frustration. He gently patted our heads and said in a calm, reassuring voice:
"Don't worry about Ravencroft. The emperor will take care of this situation."
I had doubts. But I said nothing. Sery just nodded.
Suddenly, the car slowed down. It parked, and we had arrived. The Red Star got out first, followed by Sery. I exited last, glancing around us. Before leaving the car, the Red Star handed me a hooded cloak to conceal my face, to avoid the crowd gathering around us. As soon as our feet touched the ground, journalists rushed toward us.
There were about ten of them, armed with cameras, ready to capture every moment.
The gazes immediately turned to Raphael and Zeyone.
They took us for bodyguards. No one paid us any attention, and that suited us. The entire scene was centered around the Red Star and Sery.
"Why didn't the authorities react sooner, despite the numerous complaints?" "Is there a message from the emperor regarding this crisis?"
The questions came one after another, a myriad of flashes blinding us every second. Sery, she was constantly being photographed, but the journalists didn't really care about her. She was too young. But her father was there. And he had that power. That title. That respect.
On my side, I let myself be engulfed by the atmosphere around us. The air was fresh, almost cold. The buildings surrounding us seemed to want to touch the sky. As if those who built them were trying to reach something greater. How long had they taken to erect these monsters of metal and glass?
A raindrop fell, then another. Little by little, the sky darkened. A guard approached, opening an umbrella.
"Thank you," I said to him.
"I'm just doing my job," he replied solemnly.
I gave him a distant glance before turning my attention to Zeyone and Raphael. They seemed to be having a serious discussion, their expressions marked by palpable concern. But I wasn't there for them. I kept observing the city.
The people, they were watching us with eyes full of hope. Hope, which I had a hard time understanding.
That's when I realized: it was the Red Star. He wasn't just a legendary warrior. He was the embodiment of what they hoped for. Of what they believed was possible. He, the Red Star, the warrior whose name was engraved in everyone's hearts. This warrior who, wherever he went, gave hope for a better tomorrow. Wherever my father was, the Red Star was always there, faithful to his role as protector. He was the one everyone admired, the one no one doubted.
I remember my own thoughts when I was younger: Why did my father choose him to be his child's mentor, without even knowing if it was a boy or a girl? But it didn't matter.
The Red Star was my father's best friend. And to me, he was a second father. I grew up listening to him, learning from him.
I understood why they were looking at us with those eyes full of hope. The Red Star is here, so everything will be fine.
But me… I wasn't convinced. Hope, yes. But at what cost? And what I had seen in the video… wasn't I just partaking in this farce?
"What do you think?" Sery asked me, in an uncertain tone
I looked at her. She seemed lost. It was hard not to understand her state of mind. I felt the same way. The images of chaos from the video clashed with the artificial peace reigning here. How could I explain this contrast?
"I'm waiting to see how our little stay goes," I said calmly. During these two days, I would have my answers, but for now, my main concern was to go get Ester—this was the reason for our visit.
A group of men emerged from the building across from us, and at the head of the group was a woman with black hair cut into a bob, her face shaped like a heart.
"Hello, Red Star, welcome to Ravencroft," she said respectfully, slightly lowering her head.
Pery looked at her and gave a slight smile. "Thank you for your welcome, Mrs. Vhall."
"You can call me Eloise," she emphasized, before throwing a brief glance at us.
The rain was falling on her umbrella. Her staff behind her was starting to get wetter, but their seriousness did not waver.
She signaled for us to follow her inside. We followed her into her company. The interior was decorated in gold mixed with brown, giving a warm ambiance.
At the reception, a woman was working. As soon as she spotted us, she stood up frantically.
"Hello, ma'am," she said, looking behind her and spotting the father-daughter duo. Her eyes widened. "It's an honor to meet the Crimson family."
Sery simply nodded awkwardly, and Pery returned her greetings.
"Clara, find the best rooms for the Crimson family," Eloise said while typing something on her tablet.
Zeyone, who had been calm until then, said, "We'd like the best rooms too," he said with a sincere smile.
Eloise looked at him coldly, scanning him from head to toe, then asked a question that made the tension rise. "Who are you?"
Sensing the tension rising and a hint of murderous intent coming from Eloise, Raphaël quickly drew his sword and pointed it at Eloise.
"Be very careful with what you're about to do," he said.
Pery watched the scene with amusement. He had told us to hide our identities outside, but not in front of the elites.
But Zeyone and I deliberately kept our little "disguises," me with my hoodie and Zeyone with his mask. I had simply forgotten, and Zeyone, I don't know why, kept his mask on.
Eloise looked at Raphaël with annoyance. She probably wanted to kill him, but she hesitated. Zeyone, as if realizing this, chuckled slightly and started to remove his mask.
Eloise, Clara, and her staff's eyes widened.
Before their eyes, a young man who resembled the emperor in his youth, but with a slight difference. His face wasn't as cold as the emperor's, but much warmer, while being much more mysterious.
Honestly, seeing their reactions, I almost wanted to laugh.
"Younger master!" Eloise said, her face turning pale. To have murderous intent toward a member of the imperial family was a direct death sentence, no questions asked.
"My apologies, I didn't recognize you, it's a shame. I greet the young dragon," she said, lowering her head. Clara and the rest of the staff followed her gesture.
"It's alright, my fault, I should have taken off my mask earlier. Zikron, take off your hood."
I obeyed her "order," and at that moment, Eloise's gaze widened even more. Clara was looking at us with eyes shining with admiration, while the staff looked as if they had seen a ghost.
Sery shook her head with a mocking look. Pery, who was watching the scene with amusement, said, "For any information or questions, the young masters will answer your inquiries. I am here only to protect them, so I will stay in the background."
Eloise, who had straightened up, regained her composure, nodded, and said in a respectful but firm tone, "Please follow me to my office."
"I heard you're going to an orphanage in Ravencroft, called 'The Emerald House,'" she said as she walked ahead. Her heels echoed on the floor with each step, and she threw glances around, signaling some employees to get back to work quickly. The building had more than 100 floors. I looked around while we followed Eloise. The place was really chic. Honestly, the air was pleasant.
Zeyone was listening attentively to Eloise, a stoic look on his face. Raphael was calm and nonchalant, just behind Zeyone. Glancing over my right shoulder, I noticed Sery, who was standing behind me, admiring the view from the windows overlooking the city of Ravencroft. We were on the 88th floor, and the view was splendid.