Nico and Norlan grew closer with each passing day, their friendship blossoming naturally as they spent more time together in the grand halls of the mansion. Norlan, with his easygoing charm and humor, was everything Nico had needed to break out of his shell. They would often sit by the fireplace in the library, Norlan sharing stories of his adventures while Nico listened, admiring how carefree and confident Norlan was.
(Following Days)
Charles Adams, a businessman that oversees product and trading facilities.
Whenever Charles brings Lord Dunebarren to the workplace, it always boosts morale. His presence motivates the staff, giving them a sense of responsibility and fulfillment. Moreover, the economic flow has improved significantly. With that, Nico Dunebarren was officially a lord of the mansion.
In the workplace, Lord Dunebarren saw something extraordinary. A device he was unfamiliar with. He asked Charles what it was. Charles explained, "Oh, that? It's just a device that lets you know if you have a sigil and basically a detail about what your sigil is about."
Lord Dunebarren wanted to try that device and Charles wagerly let him. A man working with the device assists Lord Dunebarren by placing his hand in this device and began to analyze him. After analyzing it showed a text to him which he could only see.
Charming Dominion - akin to [Dominance], the user manipulates the emotions and the perception of the target/s, making them susceptible to any commands given by the user.
Charles: "How about it? Did any text appear to you?"
Lord Dunebarren: "Uhh, no. Nothing."
Man: "That's okay. Some of us awakens our power at an unexpected time, or never at all. But since you are a noble, I am sure that you're definitly going to get a powerful sigil."
Charles: "Yes, I agree. Someone like deserves a powerful sigil."
Lord Dunebarren (smiling) "U-uh, thanks."
[Nico's Room]
Nico discovered that he was a sigil user.
Nico:, "So that's what it is... It all makes sense now. Why did I even think I deserved this kind of life? That's funny. For a second, I thought things were actually getting better. But people don't love me...They just follow because I have the power to make them. And the worst part? I'd never even use that power like that..."
Suddenly, there was a loud noise outside his room. It took the attention of Nico and he slowly went to the door to listen carefully. It seemed that there was someone arguing outside his room. Out of curiosity, he opens his door to see what the commotion was about.
When Nico opened the door, he stumbled into a horrific sight—a mansion resident towering over a maid named Fiora, his face twisted in rage.
[Fiora Lavigne, Mansion Slave (Black Beauty. Asian Model]
Mansion Resident:
"You filthy insect. Be grateful you're even allowed to walk in this place with your disgusting feet. You were a damn prostitute, now you can't even serve coffee right? People like you should rot!"
He struck Fiora across the face, hard. The sound echoed. She staggered back, eyes wide, lips bleeding.
Mansion Resident:
"You should be thankful you've got that body. Now, get to my room—I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!"
He grabbed Fiora by the hair and threw her to the floor like trash.
Nico's heart dropped. Without thinking, he stepped forward, his voice shaking but loud.
Nico: "Y-You! Stop!"
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Nico (thinking): "What the hell am I doing...?"
The man turned toward him with a scowl.
Mansion Resident: "Who the hell are you?"
Nico stammered, trying to speak.
Nico: "I... I'm Lord Dunebarren. You can't do that to her!"
Mansion Resident: "Oh yeah? And who the fuck are you to tell me what I can't do?!"
He marched over and without warning, drove a fist into Nico's gut. Nico collapsed, coughing on the floor, breath stolen from him.
The tension snapped as Charles suddenly entered the room.
Charles:"What's going on here?"
Mansion Resident:"This bastard's trying to stop me from disciplining my slave!"
Charles glanced between the two. His voice shifted, light and dismissive.
Charles:"Ah... I see. Lord Dunebarren, you want a slave, don't you? You like her body? I'll get you one."
Nico: "W-What? No! That's not what I meant—!"
Charles waved it off with a fake smile.
Charles: "Forgive him. He's not mad at you—he's just jealous you have such a fine piece of property. Let's not cause a scene. Enjoy your night, sir."
Mansion Resident:"Heh. You should've just said so! I'll share her with you anytime."
Still groaning on the floor, Nico slowly sat up. Charles crouched beside him and offered a hand.
Charles (quietly): "My lord, I'll get you a proper slave. One with quality."
Nico stared at him, horrified.
Nico: "You treat people like this...?"
Charles: "Of course. That's how things are. They're not people like us."
Nico didn't respond. His hands trembled as he looked toward Fiora—bruised, silent, eyes lowered.
Nico (thinking):
"This place... is rotten."
Norlan Smith, a Royal Knight and the apprentice of Valoria's 5th Blade, Rokhan Bloodborne, headed to his mentor's unit base as he always did—for training.
While gearing up for their session, the two exchanged words.
Rokhan: "Norlan."
Norlan: "Yes?"
Rokhan: "Don't you think it's a little too peaceful today?"
Norlan: "Isn't that a good thing?"
Rokhan: (gritting his teeth): "Our skills will rot in peace. It's been seventeen years since the war ended. What's the point of being a Royal Knight anymore? I'm one of the strongest knights in Valoria, yet I barely get deployed. This title means nothing now. I can't take this stagnation."
Norlan: (smirking): "Well, that's the point of training, isn't it? You can still feel the thrill of battle—at least a little."
Rokhan: (raising an eyebrow): "Think you can keep up with me?"
Norlan: "I'm more than enough to take you on... just as long as you don't use your powers."
Rokhan: (laughs) "Hah!"
While the two sparred in a friendly match, a figure from the Supreme Cavalry watched them from a distance—silent and still. Then, without a sound, he moved in a blur and vanished.
Norlan came back to the mansion. He saw Nico, feeling down.
Norlan (entering, noticing Nico): "Hey. You look like someone just punched the moon out of your sky."
Nico (glancing up briefly): "...I'm fine. Just tired."
Norlan (sitting beside him): "Tired, huh? Is that the kind of tired that goes away after sleep, or the kind that stays even after a full night's rest?"
Nico (quietly): "...I don't know."
Norlan (nodding, not pushing): "Well, whatever it is—you've made it this far. That means you're tougher than whatever's dragging you down."
Nico (gives a small shrug): "...Maybe."
Norlan (with a light grin): "Hey. You don't have to carry everything alone, you know? You've got me. And I give great advice—top-tier stuff."
Nico (finally smirks): "Oh yeah? Like what?"
Norlan (grinning): "Like this—go take a nap, eat something good, and if anyone gives you trouble, just tell them the Fifth Blade's apprentice said to piss off."
Nico: "Fifth what?"
Norlan: "Oh, you didn't know? I'm the apprentice of the Fifth Blade of Valoria."
Nico: "What's a Valoria?"
Norlan: (grinning): "You don't know that either? Man, you've been living under a rock.
The Seven Blades of Valoria are the most powerful knights in the entire Majestus Empire. They're led by the Supreme Cavalry—the King's right hand. People see them like gods: flawless, noble, terrifyingly strong, and, for some reason, ridiculously good-looking too."
Nico: "Ohhh. Cool!"
Norlan: (smirking) "Hey, I made you smile."
Nico: (chuckling): "Yeah... thanks. I think I'll head back to my room. I actually am tired—physically this time. Haha."
Norlan: "Haha. Alright. Rest up, my lord."
Nico gave a small wave and headed to his room. But just as he reached for his bed—his vision blurred. His legs gave out, and he collapsed before he could lie down.
Nico woke up with a jolt as his alarm rang. It was 7:00 AM, and his class was 7:30 AM. He made a mistake thinking that he had set his alarm to 6:00, but instead it was 7:00.
His heart raced, and he jumped out of bed. He splashed some water on his face, grabbed a sandwich, and quickly put on his school uniform. He ran outside and hopped on his bike.
He knew a shortcut to school. But as he turned a corner, he accidentally bumped into Jeonne, who looked just as rushed.
Jeonne: (sweating)
"Oh, hey Nico."
"W-wanna ride?!" Nico replied, stuttering.
Jeonne quickly jumped on the back of his bike, and they hurried to school.
When Nico arrived, he realized he forgot his bike lock. He decided to leave his bike in the school guard's room for now.
[School Bathroom]
A few hours later, Nico went to the bathroom. Inside, he overheard three guys talking.
"Man, we found this bike and sold it. Made a ton of money!" one of them said, laughing.
Nico's heart sank. He stepped forward and asked, "Did you find the bike at the guard house?"
The guys nodded. Nico's stomach tightened as he realized it was his bike they had sold.
"That was my bike! It was a gift from my sister!" Nico said, his voice shaking with anger.
But instead of feeling sorry, the group sneered at him. "So what?" one of them said.
When Nico kept pressing them to bring it back, the group got irritated. "You're not getting it back," one of them snapped.
They cornered him and started beating him up, making fun of him for not giving up. Nico fought back as much as he could, but he was outnumbered. He was brought inside a bathroom stall. One of them guards the bathroom's door in case someone enters. And then, someone entered the bathroom. One of the bullies threatened him to get out, "Are you fucking deaf? I told you to fuck off."
Unfortunately, that person was having a bad day. He beat up all the bullies and stopped them. He then saw Nico.
Jeonne: "Why were they bullying you?"
Nico (Internal Monologue) "Saying that I tried to fight them for selling my bike sounds embarrassing."
Nico: "I-I didn't pay them my debt"
Jeonne: "You should pay your debts next time. But that doesn't mean they can hurt you. Let's go see the nurse, yeah?..."
The nurse treated Jeonne and Nico and sent them away. After the class, both of them walked outside together.
Jeonne and Nico both headed towards the school gate. Arriving at the gate, he wrote something on a piece of paper and gave it to Nico, "Here, call me if you ever need someone to talk to or if those bullies come back." Nico took the paper and put it in his pocket, "Thank you, Jeonne"
Jeonne says, "Anyway, I have to go somewhere. Take care of yourself, Nico" as he gestured goodbye to him and parted ways.
Nico: "I don't even have a phone..."
Nico went back home to Starlight, and sank onto the bed immediately. He looks at the picture of his sister by the bedside.
Then he looked up and stared blankly at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting. "I feel like I'm not in control of my life. Days just pass by so fast..." he muttered to himself, the weight of routine pressing down on him. School was a blur of monotony, one day blending into the next.
The next day. Nico walked through the familiar hallways, noticing something different. Jeonne was absent. He shrugged it off, thinking nothing of it.
The second day. Same routine. Same classes. But again, Jeonne was missing.
The third day. Jeonne was absent once more. The day felt dull, repetitive. The same faces, the same conversations—only without Jeonne.
The fourth day. Whispers filled the school. Nico overheard a few students talking about how Jeonne hadn't shown up for four days in a row.
A knot of worry formed in Nico's chest. He tried to shake it off but couldn't help thinking something was wrong. He wanted to reach out, but frustration hit him—he didn't have Jeonne's phone number. "Why didn't I ask for it sooner?" he thought bitterly.
"What's happening to Jeonne?" Nico murmured, his concern growing as the days passed by, each one more hollow than the last...
-EPISODE 9: END-