Chapter 21: The Lord and The Shadow

  The fading light of the desding sun cast long shadows through the museum's windows as rad turo Nadeko, he asked with his curious blue eyes. "Tell me, Nadeko, what's your take on why we don't use firearms in modern warfare?"

  Nadeko's attention was on some old armour of Alexander as she sidered the question. "I would say it's due to bat efficy. Traditional ons—arrows, spears, swords especially—have proven far more reliable in rge-scale flicts." Her voice had the weight of her academid practical knowledge.

  "Iing perspective," rad hen lowered his voice. "Have you ever entered aion of S(c-3)-16?"

  Maya, who had been studying a nearby viity, drifted closer. "S(c-3)-16?" Her eyes widened with i. "Some sort of neon?"

  Cra remained silent, but her attention never wavered from the versation. She was w for a moment,

  Was my brother always this smart and easy to verse with ?

  rad's lips curved into a slight smile. "ly. It's a theoretical element—ohat Intellex researchers believe could revolutionize firearm funality in our world."

  "You're quite the ons schor, aren't you?" Nadeko's face softened into a rare smile—one rad had never witnessed before.

  She's not my type, but I must say that guy is fortunate indeed.

  Nadeko leaned closer, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "Speaking of Intellex, there are rumours about their colboration with Aurelius. My boyfriend Jared—his father sits on the parliament's inner cil—says even he's bee in the dark about certaiings between their leader and the president."

  "Is that so?" rad's eyes narrowed imperceptibly. Now that's fasating.

  After expl more exhibits, the group found themselves at a restaurant tucked away in a quiet er of the passing streets. The establishment's wooden sign had a feeling of authenticity and fort.

  "The prices here are quite reasonable," Nadeko mentioned as they approached the entrahe smell of freshly baked pastries wafting through the air.

  rad patted his notably light purse. "Thank the heavens for that—we're ly swimming in Sili at the moment."

  Nadeko's ughter burst forth without any prior notibsp; "By the gods! I've never met a man so refreshingly ho about his finances!"

  "Why wouldn't I be?" rad shrugged, genuine fusion crossing his features. "It's simply the truth."

  Maya, who had been watg their exge with keen i, gathered her ce. "Sir. rad—"

  "Just rad, please."

  A faint blush colored Maya's cheeks. She uttered his h great difficulty "rad... Cra mentioned you're dating someone. Is that true?" Her heart fluttered anxiously, hoping against hope.

  "Indeed," rad's face had a natural smile. "Xie Lianhua. Perhaps someday I'll have the pleasure of introdug her to you all."

  Though the inal rad initiated our retionship, having her as my partner feels nice. She at least has the beauty that I admire.

  Nadeko nearly dropped her teacup. "Xie Lianhua? From the Sce Department?" Her voice carried equal parts shod admiration. "rad, you've mao date one of the uy's most sought-after beauties!" She leaned little close and tinued in a low voice “But rad there are some rumour about her being dangerous”

  "The rumors exaggerate," rad interjected smoothly. "She's remarkable. Beautiful and smart. I was surprised she accepted my proposal."

  Their meal arrived in stages: steaming tea served in delicate por cups at 2 Sili each, Sternfall pastries arranged on paies for 20 Sili, and carefully prepared lunch boxes at 10 Sili per person. Cra's fresh juice sparkled iernoon light. The total of 122 Sili seemed a reasonable price for the pleasant meal oable.

  As the afternooo a close, they bid their farewell with genuine smiles on their faces.

  "Don't fet about our library pns," Nadeko reminded rad, adjusting her bag.

  Maya's voice was soft but clear. "Goodbye, Cra. Goodbye... rad." Her eyes lingered on him for a heartbeat lohan necessary.

  "Thank you for including us," Cra's gratitude was sincere.

  "Safe travels," rad offered them a warm smile as the sisters boarded their waiting carriage, the horses' hooves clig against the now retively less busy streets.

  "Finally, some pead quiet..." Cra breathed ohey were alone.

  "It was a good day," rad began walking.

  Cra shot him a sidelong gnce. "Hmph..."

  "What?" rad's fusion was genuine.

  "You seem to have quite the effe dies," Cra observed, moving ahead of him with practiced grace.

  "I'm not sure what you mean."

  Cra's voice took on a pyfully stern tone. "Remember, any additions to our family require my approval, especially if it's your future wife. Uood?"

  "Yes, ma'am," rad's sarcasm was evident in his mock salute.

  Their shared ughter echoed in the evening air.

  Cra pressed closer to her brother's side. "Today erfect, rad."

  "That it was..." he agreed softly.

  Whether in my former world or this one, family truly is life's greatest blessing.

  Night fell like a curtaihe Valor residence. rad stood from his desk, having finished his daily diary entry. The silehat desded was absolute—rad’s heartbeat could be heard in the room. The gray stone walls seemed to absorb what little light remained, leaving only the periodical tig of the cloark time's passage.

  rad's eyes closed for a moment. When they opehey had transformed—as deep and mysterious as o depths, carrying the weight of something beyond mortal uanding. They held the presence of an Essentia.

  "Anira." rad called out.

  Suddenly the darkness around him began to shift like a liquid shadow. From this ethereal darkness emerged a figure of breathtaking elegance as if she had been in slumber for eternity—Anira Veil. Her corset dress seemed to be made out of the very fabric of the night itself, with whispers of mist ging to her form like a sed skin. Dark gloves enhanced her graceful hands, while crimson eyes blood red starred with an iy that could freeze the blood of any mortal being. She was rad's shadow, Mistress of mystery, the night, made flesh.

  "Yes, my lord." Her voice carried turies of devotion.

  Even Xie's beauty, which matches my preferences perfectly, ot quite pare to Anira's otherworldly perfe. She exists beyond mortal standards.

  "Have you eaten today, Anira?" rad's question held genuine .

  "Since being oh your shadow, my lord, sustenance is no longer a y—though I retain the ability to eat. Shall I prepare coffee for you?"

  "We are going outside tonight. We di one of the te-night establishments."

  "Actually," rad's tone shifted, being more focused, "I want to increase my power rapidly. Your teleportation ability—could it take us somewhere I might gain real bat experience?"

  "As you and, my lord."

  "However," Anira's tone grew serious, "I must inform you of the limitations. Teleportation draws heavily on Brahman energy, with costs varying by distand frequency. The entropy of Brahman itself introduces additional variables. I would reend limiting yourself to two teleportations per day, my lord."

  "A reasonable suggestion," rad aowledged thoughtfully.

  "Anira, regarding the firearm I saw in the museum today—Alexander Gustavo's creation. What do you know of it?"

  "It is a gamma grade artifact, my lord. One of Alexander's final works."

  "What?" The revetion hit rad like lightning, his mind rag to the implications.

  Artifacts, acc to Anira, could possess world-ending power. Wars had been fought over their possession. A, o seemingly in a mere public museum. Is this even making any sense?

  "I uand your fusion, my lord," Anira tinued, her crimson eyes knowing. "But artifacts vary greatly in their nature. Some annouheir power openly, while others ceal it expertly. Brahman defies many of our theoretical uandings, as we've withroughout practices. The firearm you speak of is what we call a locked artifact. These are artifacts which present themselves as mere historical pieces without any Brahman fluctuations"

  "Locked?"

  "Yes, my lord. Alexander secured it with a password. Without it, the artifact appears as nothing more than a on item of i"

  "Do you know the password, Anira?"

  "I'm afraid not, my lord. That child kept it as his personal secret."

  rad's mind whirled with possibilities. A on that aligns perfectly with my principles of surprise, uainty and caution. Currently at tier 0, acquiring su artifact would signifitly boost my capabilities.

  "Anira, we're going to steal that artifact from the museum."

  "As you wish, my lord." Her response was immediate, absolute.

  "What's your maximum teleportatie?"

  "Approximately 16 meters, my lord, though various factors affect this."

  "That's... somewhat limited..."

  Anira's beautiful features clouded at her lord's apparent disappoi. rad, noting her rea, quickly amended his statement.

  "I mean to say, it's araordinary ability—perfect for bat. We'll simply ize differently for longer distances."

  "Mm." Anira's slight nod carried lingering traces of vulnerability.

  She's far more sensitive than I initially realized. Each day reveals new facets of her personality. How delightfully amusing.

  "My lord, there exists an infieleportation system within Are Veil, however..."

  rad's i peaked at 'infinite'—a cept that seemed to viote everything he'd learned about Brahman.

  "However?"

  "It's not traditional teleportation, but rather a coordinate-based physical transmission system. It identifies locations with Brahman fluctuation patterns simir to Are Veil's aablishes es. But I must advise against its use for now, my lord. The risks are siderable."

  rad nodded in agreement.

  "I'll o ceal my identity. What disguise options you suggest, Anira?"

  "I have several solutions, my lord. My Guardian Bond ability will mask your Brahman fluctuations and signature. As for physical disguise..." Anira gestured, and darkness formed into solid form before them.

  Ability: Guardian Bond (Passive - Auto)

  Your repertoire of abilities never ceases to amaze me, Anira.

  In her hands materialized a high quality fabric of some otherworldly ins. The cloak bined deep bd matte b perfect harmony, its length flowing like liquid shadow. Crimson ats provided striking trast, while the overall design exuded bality and and. The trim details which seemed to be made out of literal mist and practical arm straps elevated it from mere clothing to wearable art. rad was instantly captivated.

  "This is incredible, Anira! Who crafted it?"

  "I did, my lord." A slight blush graced her pale features.

  "You tio surpass all expectations, Anira. It's perfect."

  "These gloves should plement it well, my lord." She presented a pair of sleek, fingerless gloves designed specifically for his martial arts-focused bat style.

  After donning the cloak, rad pulled up the attached hood. "How do I appear?"

  "You are always magnifit, my lord. One final touch..."

  Before rad could question further, a mask of pure darkness appeared around his eyes. It shifted and swirled like captured shadows, as if one were peering into the abyss itself. Only his deep blue eyes remained visible, now seeming to glow with otherworldly power.

  rad turard his panion, and Anira froze, her heart skipping a beat. She bent her knees slightly in graceful curtsy, her beauty rivaling the night. With downcast eyes that somehow enhanced her allure, she spoke:

  "I, Anira Veil, stand as my Lord's Shadow for as long as eternity persists."

  "Let us begin, Anira." rad's voice had transformed, resonating with mystery and power.

  Mist began to fill the chamber, thiough to obscure but thin enough to be invisible to mortal eyes. Outside, moonlight illumihe world with silver. The eternal night tinued as a boy in a cloak and a girl with crimson eyes vanished, leaving oy air and lingering whispers of power.

  Ability: Mist Teleportation