I moved through the streets, eyes scanning every alleyway, every shadowed storefront, searching for any sign of Orion's followers. So far, nothing.
BEEP!
My communicator buzzed. I pulled it out, hoping for some kind of lead.
"Somu, found anything?" I asked, eager to get into action already.
"I was actually going to ask you," she replied. "I've got nothing on my end."
I frowned. "Ah, damn. Well, let's just keep looking—something's gotta turn up."
"Yeah. Stay on guard, Akame," she said, her tone firm.
"I know, I know. You too. Good luck, Somu."
I shut off the communicator and exhaled, glancing around. The city was alive with movement—cars, chatter, the hum of neon signs—but despite the noise, I couldn't shake the feeling of isolation.
I stood there in the middle of the street, searching for anything off. A sign. A clue. Anything.
Then, something caught my eye—a small, weathered church that seemed strangely out of place amid the city's chaos. It wasn't the towering spires or intricate carvings that drew me in—it was the quiet. The city noise seemed to fade the closer I got.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The air was cool, the scent of incense lingering in the air. The sound of soft chanting echoed through the hall, but the source was hidden from view.
"Hello?" I called out, my voice reverberating through the empty space.
From behind the altar, a figure emerged, tall and imposing yet serene. He wore a simple, yet striking white robe. But what caught me off guard was his face—there was something about it that felt… familiar. His eyes were kind, but they held an unsettling calm, the kind of calm that made me feel like I was being observed rather than welcomed.
"Akame," the priest said, his voice low and smooth, tinged with something like quiet amusement. There was no surprise in his tone, only recognition.
I froze, a chill creeping down my spine. "What did you just say?"
The priest's lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's been a long time, my nephew. You've grown."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. This wasn't some stranger. This was family.
"Cairon," I whispered, the name dawning on me. My uncle. I hadn't seen him in years, and the last time I had, I didn't even know he was still alive.
His smile widened, though there was an underlying sadness in his gaze. "You look just like your mother. She'd be proud of you, Akame." His words struck me harder than I expected, hitting me with a mix of emotions. My mother's death—her absence—felt so real in that moment.
He spoke again, "I'm sorry for what happened to her, but now it seems you're a Guardian. Do you have a mission here?"
"Yeah, I do," I responded. "I'm here to find Orion's followers, gain information on how to stop him." I hesitated for a moment before adding, "What about you? I haven't seen you for a long time…"
Cairon smiled, a soft expression that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I've just been here in Delmaris, offering my guidance to lost people. My role as a priest, after all." He lifted his head slightly, the chain with a cross bouncing gently beneath his robes.
His gaze settled on me again, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was sizing me up. "So, I heard about the incident at the hotel. It was you and your partner, wasn't it?" he asked, his tone calm but with a sharp edge of curiosity.
"Yeah, that's right," I said, a grin tugging at my lips. "Nothing me and my partner couldn't handle."
Cairon's gaze lingered, but he only nodded, that faint, unreadable smile never leaving his face. "I'm glad to hear that. It seems you've grown into something… quite strong."
Cairon's expression remained calm, but there was something unreadable behind his eyes. "Orion's followers… a dangerous group. But danger often thrives in the places no one pays attention to."
I crossed my arms. "Yeah? And where would that be?"
He let out a quiet hum, tilting his head slightly. "Delmaris has many voices, Akame. The loudest ones demand attention, but the quiet ones… they see things others don't." His gaze flickered toward the stained-glass windows, the soft glow of light casting faint colors over his white robes. "There's a place in the lower district—a forgotten corner of the city. People go there when they have nowhere else to turn. If Orion's followers are moving in Delmaris, the shadows will know before anyone else."
Something in his tone made my stomach knot. He wasn't just throwing out rumors—It felt like he was leading me somewhere deliberately. "You sound pretty sure about that," I said carefully.
Cairon smiled, but it felt almost… distant. "I listen, Akame. The world is always speaking. You just have to know which voices matter."
I exhaled, glancing toward the door. The lower district. It wasn't much, but it was a start. "Alright. Thanks for the tip."
I turned to leave, but before I reached the door, I hesitated. Something about all this—it didn't sit right. I glanced back at Cairon. "Be careful, Uncle. I don't know what's going on yet, but it feels like something's coming."
For the first time, his expression flickered, just for a second. Then, just as quickly, he was composed again, offering a small, reassuring nod. "We're always walking toward something, Akame. The question is whether we recognize it before it's too late."
His words followed me as I stepped out of the church and into the city's noise. I wasn't sure what I'd find in the lower district, but I knew one thing for certain—It'll lead me closer to Orion.
***
Inside the church, bathed in dim candlelight, Cairon remained still, his gaze lingering on the closed doors.
"You should be rejoicing," he murmured to the empty space, his voice carrying a quiet amusement. "You're getting one step closer to your goal. For an upcoming Guardian like you… should have a powerful villain to defeat."
A small smile tugged at his lips, though it did not reach his eyes.