Chapter 12: Emma and Shun.
The murmurs of the townsfolk outside conveyed a venomous disdain for Roy's name; their irritated glares followed his every movement. To them, Roy's return from the dead was not a miracle, however, it was rather an inconvenience, shattering their fleeting joy over his supposed demise. Even the children, who had once cherished tales of heroes, now regarded him with palpable disdain. Nobles, embittered by Roy's defiance of their authority, were no strangers to plotting his downfall. Yet, every assassination attempt against him ended in failure—a fact that only intensified their hatred. Roy leaned back in his chair, exhaling a plume of smoke from his hookah while the glow of the moon began to dominate the darkening sky. He mused silently, reflecting on the complexity of life. *"Life is a game of hope,"* he thought. People claim to lose hope; however, they wake up each day, striving for better—wealth, power, fulfillment. This hope, fragile yet indomitable, kept them alive. The stars above shone with brilliance, worshipped by some in Narzan as divine entities. Roy found the idea laughable. Why worship something so distant, so indifferent? Suddenly, a sharp knock echoed through the room.
**Thuk, thuk, thuk.**
"Come in," Roy said calmly.
Grey entered with a subservient bow. "Sir, I've ordered every conceivable dish available in Narzan. The delivery will arrive shortly." Roy chuckled at the butler's extravagance. "Every conceivable? Well, I trust our guests possess a bottomless appetite. Alright, you're dismissed—for the moment. By the way, where are Shun and Emma?" Grey adjusted his collar. "The young ones are at the academy, sir. When news of your alleged death reached them, they were distraught and refused to attend. Convincing them to go proved to be a monumental task, but they have been diligent in their studies since." Roy nodded, reigniting his hookah. "Good. Inform me when they return." Grey left, leaving Roy to his contemplations. He stared at the illuminated city below, noting the stark contrast between its vibrancy and the cold glares he received from its inhabitants. The scorn of the masses mattered little to him. He found solace in the quiet company of the crows perched on a nearby tree. The people of Narzan despised these black birds, viewing them as harbingers of misfortune. Roy, however, perceived a kinship. *"The most reviled man and the most loathed bird... How alike we are."*
As the night progressed, the sky continued to darken (further), with the full moon casting an ethereal glow over the cityscape. Soon after, a rhythmic knock on his door disrupted his solitude once again. However, this intrusion felt different—he couldn't quite place why. Although he was accustomed to the silence, the persistent sound seemed to resonate through the stillness of the night.
**Thuk, thuk, thuk.**
Grey peered inside (the dimly lit room). "Sir, Emma and Shun have returned. They haven't seen me yet. Should I inform them about you, or would you prefer to surprise them?" Roy smirked faintly (and with a hint of mischief). "Let's give them a big surprise." "Understood, sir." Grey exited, descending the balcony using a rope to avoid crossing paths with the children. Meanwhile, downstairs, Emma and Shun entered the mansion. Emma, with her black hair and blue eyes mirroring those of her elder sister Erika, scanned the entrance hall, her voice resonating through the quiet home. "We're back! Mister Grey? Mister Grey?" Shun, the blond-haired boy sporting an impish grin, folded his arms. "Where's that old geezer?" Emma scolded him sharply, her annoyance palpable. "Shun, show some respect! Don't call him that!" "Yeah, yeah, I don't care. He's probably out shopping." "Maybe," Emma replied, her tone softening slightly. "Let's check upstairs." The siblings climbed the stairs and began inspecting the rooms. Upon reaching the weapon collection room—a locked sanctuary housing Roy's prized treasures—Shun's eyes sparkled with mischief. He relished sneaking into this forbidden room, marveling at the unique and expensive arsenal that Roy had meticulously accumulated.
"Come on," he urged (nudging) Emma, "let us take a glimpse. I possess the master key." Emma shot him an exasperated glare while crossing her arms. "Absolutely not. If we are caught, Mister Grey will scold us for days. You can go if you wish; however, leave me out of this." "Suit yourself," Shun replied, shrugging nonchalantly. He retrieved the master key from his pocket and approached the locked door. Emma retreated to her room, slamming the door forcefully. "Do whatever you like," she called from behind it, "but do not drag me into trouble!" Meanwhile, Roy waited patiently in his own room. The faint clinking of Shun's master key against the lock brought a smile to his face. *"That boy never changes."*
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone