At the Astra castle, Theo strode purposefully through the corridors, his white hair catching the light. The maids watched him pass, their eyes filled with admiration and barely contained excitement.
"It's Sir Theo. He's so dreamy," one maid whispered to her companion, her voice a barely contained squeal.
"aaahhh thuuu," Theo sneezed suddenly, interrupting the moment. 'Did I catch a cold?' he thought, continuing his rapid pace without breaking stride.
He approached a grand door adorned with intricate crystal designs that seemed to shimmer and dance in the light.
With a decisive push, Theo entered the room, which stood empty yet exuded an air of regal sophistication. Gems were strategically placed around the chamber, casting subtle reflections that made the space feel alive with hidden energy.
Without hesitation, Theo knelt and bowed his head to the seemingly vacant seat before him.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. A cool breeze swept through the room, carrying with it an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
A faint sound of bells rang out—ethereal and haunting—and when Theo raised his head, a figure now occupied the chair.
"It's good to see you again, my lady," he said, his voice laden with sincerity. "I've been greatly awaiting your return."
The woman before him was a vision of otherworldly beauty. Long red hair cascaded around her shoulders, framing a face with piercing crimson eyes.
Her hourglass figure seemed sculpted by divine hands, an appearance so perfect it bordered on the supernatural.
'My lady Aimi,' Theo thought, a sense of worry creeping into his mind. 'She has taken her true form. It means things are serious, so if we don't play our cards right, the kingdom could perish.'
"I hope I didn't take too long," Aimi said, her lips curving into a devilish smile that sent a subtle chill down Theo's spine.
"You anticipated my return. It's good to see you remain so loyal to the kingdom."
"Of course, my lady," he replied, gratitude evident in every syllable.
Her eyes began to glow—a subtle yet unmistakable sign of her power. "Speaking of loyalty, did you complete the task I gave you?"
"Yes, I did," Theo responded quickly and calmly. "One of the members has already made contact with me, and I've retrieved the item you wanted."
A fleeting look of concern crossed Aimi's face. "How is Chihiro doing?"
"The princess has been fine," Theo explained, his voice softening. "You need not to worry you were only gone for a couple of days."
"I'm glad to hear that. We'll pay her a visit later. For now, give me the item, and let's go," she commanded, her tone leaving no room for discussion.
With a magician's flourish, Theo produced a white mask from seemingly nowhere.
It was intricately designed to resemble a fox, covering the entire face with an almost living detail.
"Have you verified its authenticity?" Aimi asked, already lifting the mask to her face.
The mask seemed to transform her, making her appearance even more complete. "Yes," Theo explained, "and as you requested, no one knows of its capabilities. To the masses, it will appear as nothing more than an ordinary mask."
As they walked through the castle's hallways, everyone they passed stopped and bowed deeply, a testament to Aimi's significant standing.
"There's something I want to avoid from happening at all costs," she mentioned cryptically.
"What could that be?" Theo asked.
"I don't even know myself," she replied, a hint of hesitation in her usually confident voice. "That's why we're going to see her."
Theo's deep voice betrayed a hint of nervousness. "Wait, surely you don't mean her?"
"Unfortunately, she's our only option if we want to know how things will proceed," Aimi said, her confidence returning.
"If you order it, my lady, I have no problems," Theo responded gently.
They descended a long, winding staircase, eventually reaching a room that defied expectation.
Bright and colorful, it resembled a child's playground on an impossible scale—swings, colorful baseball bats, and an array of stuffed animals scattered about. At the center of this surreal space sat a girl.
Long black hair obscured her eyes. She wore a black dress styled like a Japanese maid outfit, with miscolored makeup that looked like frozen teardrops. Her slender figure seemed both fragile and dangerous.
"Oh, I, I, I haven't had visitors in a looong time... What brings you here?" she stammered, her voice a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
'As if you don't already know we were coming,' Theo thought to himself.
This was Lilith—a name whispered with fear and respect. An elite-level individual with mysterious origins and multiple abilities. Theo knew her reputation: a person with an unparalleled hatred for humanity, considered the most dangerous being alive.
" Lilith, there's something I need you to look into," Aimi said in a serious tone.
"Hehehehehe," Lilith started laughing, her voice shifting. "You... need me. Will you get me out of here?" Her tone changed to a low, delicate whisper.
Lilith rose, and the chains on her arms, legs, and neck became visible—heavy, metallic restraints that clinked with her movement. As she walked towards Theo and Aimi, Theo's thoughts raced.
'Lilith Nightmare—one of the elite-level stage individuals with multiple abilities,' he reflected. 'No one knows where she's from or what made her this way. I've never met a person with more hatred for humanity than her. She is clearly the most dangerous person alive.'
When she reached Aimi, the chains suddenly stopped her. Lilith strained against them, trying to force her way forward, but failed.
"Letting you out is beyond my capabilities," Aimi declared, her authority clear and unquestionable. "I need you to look into two events that happened today around this time."
She continued, her voice precise, "One should involve two students—a boy and a girl. The other should involve three rookie adventurers."
"So, so you're only here because of my eyes," Lilith stammered, a profound sadness creeping into her voice. "It seems like everyone is only after my eyes, like always."
Theo's heart softened. 'Lilith mostly stammers when she talks about her eyes—a clear sign of a terrible past. Having Divine eyes which have the power to see anything, she must have had a rough childhood. I can see how everyone would try to exploit her.'
"Hey, am I going to die in here?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and resignation.
"Yes, but that's entirely up to you," Aimi responded without hesitation.
'She didn't have to put it so bluntly,' Theo thought. 'But I guess that's just how my lady is.'
"Hehehe hehehe," Lilith's laughter turned creepy, echoing through the colorful room.
She leaned backward, and her eyes began to glow—both orbs emitting a deep purple light that filled the room with an ominous, dark aura. Laying on the ground with a smile, she began to speak.
"I—i see. So these are two groups," she said, her voice catching. "One has a boy with little or almost no magic, and they have been spirited away to another place." She paused, letting the information sink in.
Aimi and Theo stared at her with calm, expectant expressions.
Continuing, Lilith added, "The other group is at the abandoned factory near the Neo Dungeon. It—it's impossible to miss it."
'These events trigger the fall of the kingdom which has stood for almost a century,' Aimi thought to herself. 'Now that we know who is specifically involved, we have a clue on where to start.'
"Thank you for your assistance, Lilith," Aimi said coolly. "I'll pay you a visit later." Her tone suggested unfinished business.
Before Theo could move, he felt something touch him. Turning back, he found Lilith's face suddenly right in front of his.
"Well, we'll meet another time, Lilith," he said, walking away.
As they climbed the stairs, Aimi instructed, "Theo, head to the factory and observe. Only interfere if things start to look bad."
"As you wish, my lady," he replied with sincerity.
"Theo, there's makeup on your cheek," Aimi said, letting out a chuckle.
Theo moved with light speed, quickly removing the mark with his hand. "What? When did this happen?" he asked, confused but maintaining his calm.
Then he remembered. 'It must have been her before I left the room. But why would she...?'
And just like that, the two progressed to different locations—Theo heading to the abandoned factory, and Aimi going to the Mana Academy.