Requeim of Reverence

Audel Emporio awoke with a start, breathless and sweating with the frantic beat of his heart beneath his ribs. The candle on his desk shone weakly, the melting wax oozing down its sides like some form of molten lava, exposing a mountain of books piled around it. The place had a smell of antique paper mingled with the light haze of candle smoke.

Audel tossed his gaze around the dimly lit room. The only other presence was his elder brother, James, who collapsed on his bed; his slow, steady breathing was not disturbed by Audel's sudden movement. He was relieved; at least James was undisturbed in his rest.

But then, the nightmare struck again.

A cold shudder crept up his spine as the fragments swept back—those bitter words mocked out in a voice neither human nor divine.

"The Judgment Day will be upon us mortals... and billions shall perish - I pictured the scarlet petals drinking it in and in the next life, I will bloom with them, bright and full."

Audel swallowed hard. His hands clenched into fists upon the lap. What could that dream have meant? Just a trick of the mind, or something far more sinister? And those cruel, ominous words-what could they mean?

It was only 4 a.m., and the city lay shrouded in an eerie stillness. A thin mist slithered through the narrow streets, clinging to the cobblestones like restless spirits. Despite the lurking danger of deadly beasts prowling in the shadows, Audel Emporio ventured outside, undeterred.

His movements were swift and precise, his breath controlled. Ducking into an alleyway, he slipped past the patrolling police force, his steps barely making a sound. Stealth was his second nature—a skill honed through necessity, a trick that had saved his life more times than he could count.

"Mr. Vestiron… it all happened after he undid the third layer of my memory seal." Audel muttered to himself, his pulse quickening at the thought.

Before him loomed a grand mansion, its towering walls silhouetted against the faint glow of the distant city lights. He knew better than to knock—no one would answer, and disturbing the neighbors would only draw unwanted attention. Instead, he did what he did best. He sneaked in.

"Forgive me, Master, but this is the only rational path." His whisper was barely audible, as if spoken to the very walls themselves, an attempt to ease the guilt gnawing at his conscience.

He took careful steps through the vast, dark interior. The faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air, mingling with old wood and candle wax. He had been here before—too many times.

And that's when the realization struck.

"Shit—"

Before he could finish his curse, a soft click echoed through the silence. A warm glow flooded the room.

Audel squinted against the sudden brightness, his gaze locking onto a figure standing across from him.

A young woman.

She wore light blue pajamas, her blonde curls disheveled from sleep, yet her glowing green eyes burned fiercely with annoyance—and something else, something unreadable.

"Audel." Her voice was sharp, laced with irritation. "What the hell are you doing here? If this is some sort of half-baked confession—"

"The seal… it's breaking apart."

The words tumbled from his lips in a desperate rasp, his vision blurring. A sharp pain stabbed through his skull, drowning out everything else.

Maria's expression shifted instantly, her anger replaced by alarm.

But before she could move, Audel's strength gave out. The world tilted, and he collapsed onto the rough wooden floor.

MARIA VOLKSLOVA

After dragging the unconscious man onto my bed, I placed two fingers against his neck, feeling for a pulse. His breathing was shallow, uneven—labored as if he were drowning in some unseen force. My brows furrowed.

Without hesitation, I extended my hand toward his forehead. A soft, golden light shimmered from my palm, casting a gentle glow over his sweat-slicked skin. Healing physical wounds had always been second nature to me, a blessing bestowed upon me since childhood. Although healing mental scars was not my expertise, I tried my best to relieve this man of his agony.

Minutes turned into hours, and I found myself exhausted. The man started breathing normally once again as I let out a sigh of relief. Laying on the couch, which was in the corner of the room, I blanketed myself with a furry lap. Before shutting my eyes, I looked at the man once again with pity.

Your fate is cruel," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "And it will only get crueler."

With that, I shut my eyes, hoping to steal a few precious hours of rest before the academy beckoned at dawn.

The moon hung high, casting a pale glow over the deserted cobblestone road. A cold wind slithered through the night, rustling the coats of the uniformed officers standing in rigid formation. Their aristocratic uniforms gleamed under the dim streetlights, yet none dared move as their leader, a tall man with a scarred face, strode past them with a heavy, deliberate gait.

"S-Sir Wolfgang, it appears that the landlord is on a business trip," One of the soldiers muttered with a trembling tone as he stood in front of a man with a scarred face.

The man he addressed—Commander Wolfgang—did not respond immediately. The soldier swallowed nervously, lowering his eyes to the ground. Another man stepped forward, who wore a different attire from the soldiers and looked more comfortable around the enigmatic man. He started with a mocking tone,

"Vestiron might be a traitor. But that doesn't change the fact that you are bypassing a private property, mister law." and added,

"And we don't really know if he had truly betrayed the country."

The commander finally spoke, his tone clipped and authoritative.

"For now, keep a close eye on the family members. The mansion isn't empty—I can sense mana inside." His piercing gaze swept over the estate one last time before he turned on his heel. "Dismissed."

As the soldiers started moving, the commander walked away. As he walked, the other man followed him and remarked from his back, "I know it's tough trying to shoulder all the burden on yourself. You have a daughter too."

"Where are you getting at?" Wolfgang asked with a threatening tone, without turning a face.

"The risks...I am talking about the risks. What will you do if the Nobles find out about your secret operation? Vestiron is quite the talk apparently."

"He's a traitor and I know it. And the Nobles can kiss my ass" The ruthless commander walked away.