The group of men surrounded Akira, their faces sneering and aggressive.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here," one of them said, his voice dripping with malice.
"The infamous Akira, all alone and vulnerable."
Akira's eyes flashed with anger, and she stood tall, her hands on her hips.
"What do you want?" she spat, her voice cold and deadly.
Stellen looked up at Akira, her eyes wide with concern, but she continued to suck on her lollipop, her expression unchanging.
"Hehe come here little lady," a greasy man said as he licked his disgust lips as he walked over toward Akira and tried to reach for her the next moment she kicked the man and sent him flying.
"Stellen do you want to help mama?" Akira asked with a slay smile.
Stellen's eyes lit up with excitement, and she jumped up from the ground, her lollipop still clutched in her hand.
"Yeah, Mama!" she exclaimed, her voice high-pitched and eager.
The greasy man struggled to get to his feet, his eyes wide with shock and pain.
"You...you little...!" he started to say, but Akira cut him off with a swift kick to the stomach.
The other men in the group took a step back, their faces pale and hesitant. Akira's eyes flashed with warning, and she cracked her knuckles in preparation for a fight.
Stellen, however, simply walked up to the greasy man and looked him straight in the eye.
"Mama says you're a bad man," she said, her voice sweet and innocent.
"And bad men get punished."
With that, Stellen reached out and touched the greasy man's face, and a burst of dark energy shot out from her hand, sending the man crashing to the ground.
The other men turned and ran, abandoning their friend and fleeing in terror. Akira watched them go, a proud smile on her face.
Stellen, on the other hand, simply looked up at Akira and smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Mama, can we go get some ice cream now?" she asked, her voice sweet and innocent.
Out the window there was a man who saw this his eyes widen when he saw the woman and the little girl fighting both of them are harsh and cruel. The man was indifferent and cold he was the man from before who kept on bidding against Akira he smirked mmm are they sisters or mother and daughter?
The man's eyes lingered on Akira and Stellen, a hint of curiosity in his gaze. He nodded to himself, his smirk growing wider.
"Interesting. The woman's skills are impressive, but the little girl's abilities are...fascinating." He turned away from the window, his eyes never leaving the scene etched in his mind.
He walked over to a nearby chair and sat down, steepling his fingers together as he thought.
"Mother and daughter, perhaps? The resemblance is there, but the little girl's powers...they're not normal. Not even for a child of a skilled warrior like the woman."
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he pondered the possibilities.
"I'll have to keep an eye on them. They could be useful. Or, at the very least, entertaining."
A small, cold smile played on his lips as he continued to think, his mind already spinning with plans and strategies. The woman and the little girl had no idea what they had just gotten themselves into.
"Your highness," A man walked inside the private room.
The man from before, the one who had been watching Akira and Stellen, looked up at the newcomer, his expression unreadable.
"Ah, Ryker," he said, his voice low and smooth. "What news do you bring me?"
Ryker bowed slightly, his eyes cast downward.
"Your Highness, I have received word from our sources that the woman and the little girl have left the area. They were seen heading towards the eastern district."
The man's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing.
"I see. And what else do you know about them?"
Ryker hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper.
"They are...not ordinary, Your Highness. The woman's skills are impressive, but the little girl's powers are...unlike anything I've ever seen before."
The man's expression remained unreadable, but a hint of interest flickered in his eyes.
"I see. And what do you propose we do about them, Ryker?"
"Sir your nephew and the woman used to date we looked into it seven years ago there was a scandal. She disappeared seven years ago. But no one knows what happened after she disappeared without a word."
Ryker's words hung in the air, and the man's expression turned thoughtful.
"A scandal, you say? And my nephew was involved?" He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.
"Find out more about this woman and her connection to my nephew. I want to know everything."
The man's voice was low and even, but a hint of intensity crept into his tone. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he thought.
"Seven years ago, you say? That's a long time. I wonder what happened to her...and why she's back now."
He looked up at Ryker, his eyes piercing.
"I want you to dig deeper. Find out what really happened to her, and what her connection is to my nephew. I want to know everything."
Ryker nodded, his expression serious.
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll get right on it."
The man nodded, his eyes never leaving Ryker's face.
"See that you do. I have a feeling that this woman is going to be...interesting."
Ryker bowed and turned to leave, but the man's voice stopped him.
"Ryker?"
He turned back to face the man, who was now standing up and walking towards the window.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
The man's eyes were fixed on something outside, and his voice was low and thoughtful.
"I think it's time we paid a visit to my nephew. I want to know what he knows about this woman and her return."
Ryker's eyes widened slightly, and he nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll arrange for a meeting."
*The man turned back to Ryker, a cold smile spreading across his face.
"I'm looking forward to it. I think this is going to be a very...enlightening conversation."
"Oh and how is my little son?" The man asked he was worried about his six year old son he doesn't talk much and dislike being around people his little prince.
Ryker's expression softened, and he smiled.
"Prince Kaito is doing well, Your Highness. He's still a bit... reserved, but he's making progress. His tutors are working with him, and he's showing a keen interest in his studies."
The man's eyes lit up with concern, and he took a step closer to Ryker.
"And his...condition? Is he still experiencing the... episodes?"
Ryker nodded, his voice low and gentle.
"Yes, Your Highness. But they're becoming less frequent, and his tutors are learning how to manage them. He's a bright and curious child, and with time and patience, I'm sure he'll thrive."
The man's expression was a mix of worry and determination. He nodded, his eyes never leaving Ryker's face.
"I want to see him. I want to make sure he's okay."
Ryker bowed.
"Of course, Your Highness. I'll arrange for you to see him immediately."
The man's eyes seemed to bore into the distance, his gaze intense and unfocused. He rubbed his temples, trying to massage away the growing sense of unease and confusion.
"Who is she?" he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. The aura around him pulsed with an otherworldly energy, as if his very presence was a storm waiting to unleash its fury.