Erasing my presence…
It was a great idea,
Concealing both Ren and Riku
But something tells me…
The Mistress can see us
.
The sharp crack of whips echoed through the air, accompanied by the cries of slaves punished for failing to provide the overseers with answers. Hidden in the shadows, I stood perfectly still, controlling my breathing, my presence and sound meticulously erased. Ren's hand rested on my shoulder, his grip tense, while Riku clung to my tunic, trembling against my side. Every muscle in my body was coiled, my concentration stretched thin to maintain our stealth.
The faint sound of approaching footsteps made my heart pound. These steps weren't hurried or angry like the overseers'—they were measured, deliberate, and carried an air of authority. The mistress. Her presence alone seemed to command the atmosphere, as if even the air bent to her will.
Ren leaned closer to me, his voice barely a whisper. "She can't see us," he murmured, though the tremor in his words betrayed his uncertainty. Riku stayed silent, his small fingers tightening their hold on my tunic. Despite Ren's reassurance, a chill ran down my spine. The mistress didn't need sight to see—I could feel the weight of her attention like a spotlight piercing the darkness.
The mistress slowed her steps as she neared, her blindfolded gaze turning slightly toward us. Her lips curved into the faintest of smiles, and her voice, calm and quiet, carried an edge of knowing. "Your skill is remarkable, Xuê. Erasing your presence so completely, silencing even your breath... impressive." She paused, tilting her head slightly. "But presence and sound are only part of the equation. Magic reveals far more than the senses perceive."
My breath hitched, my heart racing. How much did she know? Did she sense everything, or was she bluffing? The thought barely had time to form before her attention shifted.
Her head turned ever so slightly toward Riku, the boy shrinking further against me. "This child..." she murmured, her tone contemplative. "His mana is shaped differently. Bigger than most, brighter... and touched by yours." Her smile deepened, a hint of curiosity flickering across her expression. "How intriguing."
I stiffened, my mind racing. I'd barely begun to understand my own abilities in this body, let alone how they might influence someone else. The thought of Riku being affected because of me was both alarming and baffling.
The mistress straightened, her hands clasped loosely in front of her. "Follow me," she said simply, her tone leaving no room for argument.
My muscles tensed further. Ren whispered sharply, "Does she mean us?"
"Yes," I replied softly, my voice steady despite the chaos in my mind. "Stay close. Don't make a sound."
With reluctant nods, Ren and Riku clung closer to me, trusting me completely to keep our presence erased. We moved as one, our steps silent and deliberate, trailing after the mistress. The strain of masking all three of us pushed my abilities to their limits.
As we passed the overseers, the mistress's voice broke the oppressive silence. "Enough. Punishment achieves nothing here. The Master has no use for broken tools," she said, her words sharp yet calm. The overseers hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances, but ultimately stepped back, muttering under their breath.
We continued through winding corridors, the tension thick in the air. My mind swirled with questions. Why was the mistress doing this? How much did she truly know? And what did she intend to do with us?
Finally, the mistress stopped in a secluded room, the faint light from a single lantern casting long shadows. She turned to face us, her blindfolded gaze seeming to pierce through my carefully constructed walls. "You intrigue me, Xuê," she said, her voice soft but commanding. "But it's not just you anymore. This boy..." She gestured toward Riku. "His mana has been shaped by yours. Why?"
Before I could muster a response, a sharp pain exploded in my side. One of the mistress's maids, had stepped forward and kicked me hard enough to send me stumbling. The sudden shock shattered my concentration, breaking the stealth that had kept us hidden.
"Answer the mistress when she speaks," the attendant barked, her tone harsh and unforgiving. My body screamed in protest, but I managed to steady myself, my teeth clenched as I glared at the ground. The spell was broken; our presence was now fully exposed.
The mistress raised a hand, silencing the feline attendant with a simple gesture. Her voice, calm yet sharp, cut through the tension. "That's enough. Xuê will speak when she is ready." Her head tilted slightly, as though studying me even without her sight. "Take your time, child. I'm patient."
My thoughts raced, the weight of the mistress's words pressing down on me. I glanced at Ren and Riku, their expressions mirroring my unease. The air in the room felt heavier, charged with unspoken expectations. Gathering my breath, I finally found my voice, though it wavered slightly. "I... don't know why," I admitted, my gaze flicking briefly to Riku. "It's not something I meant to do."
The mistress folded her hands, her voice steady and calm as she addressed us. "Naming someone is no trivial matter in this world," she began, her tone laced with quiet authority. "It is an act imbued with profound meaning and power, particularly for those who are sensitive to mana."
Her head tilted slightly, as if assessing our understanding. "A name has the potential to shape the individual it is given to, resonating with their very essence. It can amplify or alter innate abilities, changing the course of their life in ways both subtle and monumental." She paused, her blindfolded gaze turning briefly toward Riku.
"In some cultures," she continued, "it is believed that a name bestowed by someone significant binds their destinies together—for better or worse. For those attuned to magic, naming creates a tether between the giver and the receiver. This connection can be a blessing, but it can also be dangerous, for the bond is not easily broken."
Her words hung in the air, the weight of them settling over me like a heavy cloak. "The implications of such a bond are vast and unpredictable. To name is to take responsibility, to intertwine your fate with theirs. Consider this carefully, Xuê," she said, her voice softening slightly. "There is power in the act, but also great consequence." She paused, her expression unreadable behind the blindfold. "Tell me, Xuê, after you named the rabbit boy, did you feel... unusually tired? Did you notice anything strange?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but the words came out before I could stop myself. "His name is Riku," I said firmly, the correction slipping past my lips. The attendant's sharp intake of breath cut through the silence like a blade.
The maid's ears flattened, a low growl rumbling in her throat. "How dare you speak so insolently to the mistress!" she hissed, stepping forward as if to reprimand me.
But the mistress raised her hand, a silent command that froze the room. Her blindfolded gaze turned to the maid, and though her expression remained composed, the weight of her displeasure was palpable. "Tomoe, that's enough," she said, her tone icy yet calm. "Xuê has answered as she sees fit. Your outburst is unnecessary."
Tomoe stiffened, her defiance evaporating under the mistress's unyielding glare. She took a step back, bowing her head in submission. Around the room, the tension rippled through Ren and Riku, both averting their gaze in deference. I remained still, meeting her unseen gaze.
She turned her attention back to me, her tone softening just slightly. "Naming is a sacred act, Xuê. When you gave Riku his name, you tied a part of your mana to his existence. It's an exchange of energy, a bond that strengthens the name but comes at a cost to the namer. This is why you may have felt drained afterward."
I didn't feel drained at all. My head tilted slightly in confusion, wondering what she meant by that. The mistress mirrored my movement, tilting her head with a contemplative expression.
"Ah, never mind," she murmured, almost to herself, her tone thoughtful. "With a mana pool as vast as yours, it's no wonder you didn't notice. Naming someone with your reserves would barely register as a strain." "With a mana pool as vast as yours, it's no wonder you didn't notice. Naming someone with your reserves would barely register as a strain."
She let the words settle before continuing. "The stronger the name, the deeper the bond, and the more it can shape the one who bears it. Riku, for instance, has likely grown stronger because of your choice. But the bond you share also makes him uniquely tied to you. Protecting him is now as much your responsibility as his growth is a testament to your will."
Her head tilted slightly, as though studying me. "I wonder, Xuê... did you realize the significance of what you were doing when you gave him that name? Or was it merely instinct?"