บท 26: Newcomers

( 3rd POV )

The sun cast long, dancing shadows across the grand, marble-floored room, illuminating the dust motes that floated lazily in the air. Inside one of the mansion's spacious chambers, time seemed to stand still as Mash Kyrielight, a young woman with a lilac hair and purple eyes, recounted the harrowing events of the past few days to the girl who had just awakened from a coma.

The girl with a striking mix of brown and white hair, leaned back against the pillows, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and disbelief. Her hands trembled slightly as she held a tablet that displayed the news, the flickering images a constant reminder of the chaos she'd narrowly escaped. Her mind racing to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

"So, you're saying that I was kidnapped by a terrorist organization because of my mutant ability?" The girl asked, her voice barely a whisper. She held the tablet in front of her, its screen showing grim headlines from the past few days. Her green eyes, though still clouded by confusion, never left Mash's face.

Mash hesitated for a brief moment, her hands tightening by her sides. "Yes," she finally responded, her voice soft, trying to deliver the information. "Apparently, Magneto needed your ability to carry out his plan. The power to absorb and copy other mutants' abilities is... astounding." She paused for a moment as she is also quite shocked after knowing the girl power.

"But according to his plan, your vitality would have been drained completely by the conversion machine once it was activated. You would've—" Mash stopped herself, the unspoken 'died' hanging in the air like a ghost.

The girl's mind raced, a chaotic jumble of thoughts. The relief of being saved battled fiercely with the fear of how close she had come to losing everything. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath as if trying to steady the storm within her. The room felt colder suddenly, as if the weight of her near-death experience had stolen the warmth from the air.

"So... I almost died," she muttered, more to herself than to Mash. Her voice cracked slightly, showing a wry smile, betraying the calm facade she was trying to maintain.

She set the tablet down on the bed, the screen flickering off as if to signal the end of the conversation—though in her heart, she knew it was far from over.

Mash shifted awkwardly, the usually confident demi-servant suddenly unsure of how to respond to the girl's bleak tone. "I-I-a... Um... I mean at least you are saved now." Her words stumbled out clumsily, and she cringed internally at how awkward she sounded.

The heavy atmosphere in the room pressed down harder, making the usually poised Mash feel as though she were standing on a battlefield without a sword.

The girl's lips twitched into a wry smile at Mash's awkward attempt to comfort her. It was a weak smile, born out of exhaustion and a need to shift the conversation away from her near-death experience. "Yeah, safe…" she echoed softly.

Her hands clenched tightly in her lap, and she stared down at them, watching her fingers tremble. "But I don't know what to do now, Mash. I've been running for so long… I don't even know where to go from here." Her voice grew quieter, more fragile. "I don't even know what happened to my mom…"

The mention of her mother snapped something in Mash's chest. For a moment, she could see herself in Anna—lost, Mash had experienced her own share of loss and heartache, imagining she is the only one who got transported into this world without her senpai or the other...

Sympathy welled up inside her, and determination soon followed.

After a moment of contemplation, Mash decided to help the girl find her mother. With a newfound determination, she stood up from the bed and offered her hand to the girl, who watched her with a puzzled expression.

"Let's go," Mash said, her voice firm. "I'll take you to see Sion-san. With her help, it won't be hard to track down your mother."

The girl looked up at Mash, confusion flashing across her face at Mash's sudden resolve. "You'd… help me?" Her voice was soft, as if she wasn't sure she was worthy of such kindness. She already feels indebted to Mash after saving her from Magneto after all.

Mash nodded firmly. "Of course. You're not alone in this anymore. And besides," she added, her usual, earnest smile returning, "it's not like I could just leave you hanging after everything."

The girl blinked, processing the warmth in Mash's words. For the first time in what felt like forever, a tiny flicker of hope ignited in her chest. She reached out for Mash's offered hand, feeling the strength in the gesture, even as the remnants of doubt lingered in her mind.

Just as Mash was about to pull her towards the door, a sudden thought struck her. "Wait… I never actually asked for your name." She chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. "I've been talking to you all this time and… Well, I never got it."

The girl stunned for a moment before she realizes that she is not yet introduce herself. Despite her jumbled thoughts, she smiles warmly toward Mash, one of her saviors.

A small genuine smile broke through her emotional fog. "It's Anna Marie," she said softly. "But… you can call me Anna."

.....

Meanwhile,

As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, the black Mustang thundered down the highway, leaving behind the gleaming skyscrapers of New York City. The city's bustling life slowly faded in the rearview mirror, replaced by a world of shadows and twilight.

The sleek car cut through the evening air like a panther on the hunt, its engine growling as if anticipating the road ahead. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension, an unspoken weight that hung in the air, like the calm before a storm.

Da Vinci-chan, her usual confident smirk gracing her lips, had one hand casually gripping the steering wheel, her other hand tapping along to a tune only she seemed to hear.

She hummed an old Italian melody under her breath, a quiet contrast to the roar of the Mustang's engine. Every so often, she would glance at the rearview mirror, her gaze falling on the silent figure in the backseat.

Beside her sat Waver Velvet, or as the world had come to know him, Lord El-Melloi II. His brows were furrowed in deep thought, his fingers adjusting the glasses perched on his nose.

Weariness hung on him like a cloak, his mind burdened by countless questions and concerns. 'What am even I doing?' he thought, glancing toward Da Vinci out of the corner of his eye.

In the backseat, A teenage girl sat, her face half-illuminated by the passing streetlights. She was young, maybe a bit younger than Mash. Her black hair framed her face, a stark contrast to the punk-inspired clothes she wore. She stared out the window, her big brown eyes reflecting the city that had been her prison for so long. Her mind raced, swirling with confusion and doubt.

The cityscape soon gave way to rolling hills as the Mustang sped toward the outskirts, where Chaldea's new mansion stood. It was a blend of old-world grandeur and modern innovation, a fortress hidden in the serenity of nature, far from prying eyes.

As they approached the towering mansion, the car passed through an invisible barrier—the mansion's bounded field, a defense against threats both magical and physical. The car slowed, and the tension inside followed suit.

Da Vinci pulled up near a grand fountain that shimmered under the faint glow of twilight. Water cascaded down the marble structure, its sound breaking the oppressive silence. The Mustang's engine purred to a stop, and Da Vinci glanced back at the girl with a soft, reassuring smile.

"We're here, Daisy. Welcome to your new home."

The 'adopted' girl—Daisy—was the purpose of Waver and Da Vinci this time, or more accurately, the purpose of Chaldea. She was one of the people they decided to recruit this time as she was also one of the easiest targets for them.

From Ken's description and the information they gathered with the help of SHEBA, Olga and the others learned about her situation. Previously, the girl, whose full name was Daisy Johnson, was an orphan at St. Agnes Orphanage.

She didn't know about her real parents at all. She had been in the orphanage all her life and was tracking her parents' information using the computer she built in the basement of the orphanage. The dean of the orphanage said that Daisy built her own computer by scavenging useful parts from neighboring places and using her part-time job salaries.

SHEBA also managed to find out about her infiltrating a government site and even some of their secret servers just for the sake of searching for her real parents. A girl younger than Mash managed to do that with combined junk? Without a doubt, she was a talent.

Especially for the current Chaldea situation, which was very much lacking in staff and talent. This was without counting her unawakened Inhuman blood, which Daisy herself still didn't know about.

Daisy's eyes flickered with uncertainty as she stood before the massive, foreboding mansion, its towering walls casting deep shadows across the courtyard. A cold wind brushed against her face, the kind that carried the scent of rain and damp earth, making the already tense moment feel heavier.

"Home... right," she muttered under her breath, her voice thick with skepticism. She couldn't help but feel a deep wariness toward the people who had just 'adopted' her.

Nothing about this situation seemed normal, and the towering mansion only added to the unease bubbling in her chest.

Waver stepped out of the sleek black car and circled around to open her door. His movements were deliberate, as if he was trying to appear calm, but the tiredness in his eyes betrayed him.

"Sigh... I know this is all very sudden, Daisy," he began, his tone soft but weighed down by fatigue. "We mean you no harm. You have a lot of questions, and I promise we'll provide you with the answers."

Daisy hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Waver, then shifted toward the woman standing beside him. The two of them were supposed to be her new 'parents,' but everything about their demeanor screamed otherwise. The idea of them being a couple, much less her guardians, felt like some poorly written cover story.

With a sigh of her own, Daisy finally stepped out of the car, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as if to shield herself from the absurdity of it all.

"Fine... Mr. Vinci," she replied flatly, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she intentionally botched the name.

But the moment the words left her lips, Waver visibly shuddered, his entire frame stiffening as though someone had just run an icy finger down his spine. "Please don't, don't call me with that name again..." he muttered, a strained edge creeping into his voice.

The still-fresh memories of their charade at the orphanage, where Waver had been forced to pretend to be part of a loving couple with Da Vinci, made his stomach churn. The awkwardness, the cringe-worthy moments of forced affection, all of it haunted him like a bad dream. The great El-Melloi II, a man who had faced down Servants and monster alike, had never been so close to the edge of losing his composure.

He could almost hear the mocking laughter of his king, his disciples, and even a certain young lady from his teacher's family. Their ghostly laughter seemed to echo in his mind, amplifying his embarrassment.

Watching Waver's visible discomfort, Da Vinci couldn't help but smirk. The self-proclaimed genius found the situation thoroughly amusing. "Fufu, what's the matter, 'Dear'? " She teased, her voice lilting with playful cruelty.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief—it wasn't every day she got to see the famously stoic Waver Velvet crumble under the weight of social awkwardness.

Waver's face twisted in frustration as he massaged his temples, clearly trying to stave off a headache. "My god... Could you please stop, Da Vinci? Olga is waiting for us," he muttered through gritted teeth, his patience running thin.

"Moh, you are not fun, Lord El-Melloi." Da Vinci pouted theatrically before waving him off. "Fine, fine. Let's go," she added with a grin, striding toward the mansion's entrance as if she hadn't just thoroughly embarrassed him.

Meanwhile, Daisy watched their exchange in silence, her eyes wide with confusion and disbelief. These two were supposed to be her new 'parents'? But from the way they were bickering, it was painfully obvious that they weren't a couple at all. And if that was a lie, what else had they fabricated about this whole situation?

Daisy's mind raced. 'What have I gotten myself into?'

Everything is looking SUS for her.

As they approached the mansion, the massive entrance doors swung open, revealing a grand foyer bathed in soft golden light. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling like shimmering stars, and intricate artwork adorned the walls—courtesy of Olga and the others who had painstakingly decorated the place.

The scent of old wood and polished marble filled the air, an atmosphere that spoke of history, elegance, and power. It was a stark contrast to the cold, sterile halls of St. Agnes Orphanage where Daisy had spent her life.

Da Vinci, ever the dramatic one, spread her arms wide as they stepped inside. "Tada! This is our mansion and your new home." She declared, her voice booming through the vast space. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she spun around to face Daisy.

"I know, I know. It seems too big for just us, right?" She paused, catching the skeptical look in Daisy's eyes. The girl wasn't convinced.

Da Vinci's grin didn't falter. "But, truthfully, it's not just us who live here. Like Waver said before, there are others. You'll meet them soon enough." Her explanation was quick, almost casual, though Waver occasionally added a few comments here and there, his voice still carrying that note of exhaustion.

As they moved deeper into the mansion, their footsteps echoed off the marble floors. The grandeur of the place was overwhelming, but it wasn't long before they stumbled upon two girls in the middle of a hushed conversation.

One had striking lilac-colored hair, while the other sported a mix of brown and white strands, a curious contrast that caught Daisy's attention.

The two seemed engrossed in their discussion and didn't notice Da Vinci's approach. Da Vinci the ever-mischievous servant, crept up behind the lilac-haired girl before suddenly lunging forward to hug her from behind.

"Mash!" she cried out, her arms wrapped tightly around the startled girl.

Mash reacted instinctively, almost flipping Da Vinci over her shoulder in a move that looked straight out of a WWE wrestling match. But at the last second, recognition flickered across her face, and she stopped herself.

"Da Vinci-san...!" Mash stammered, letting out a relieved breath. She relaxed into the hug, though her posture remained tense from the sudden surprise.

"Mash-chan! I miss you!" Da Vinci purred, hugging her tighter and snuggling against her, much to Mash's visible discomfort.

"U-um... Da Vinci-san, you were only gone for a few hours..." Mash muttered, her voice slightly muffled as she struggled to breathe under Da Vinci's twin peaks.

"But I didn't see you at breakfast!" Da Vinci whined, her tone playful as she swayed back and forth, still clinging to Mash like a child to her favorite stuffed toy.

Mash sighed softly. "I was delivering breakfast to Anna's room. Fortunately, she has woken up by the time I got into her room." Mash explained, trying to gently pry Da Vinci off her.

Mash paused for a moment, casting a soft glance toward the girl beside her before addressing Da Vinci. "Da Vinci-san, this is Anna—the one I mentioned earlier," she said, gesturing toward the girl with the mix of brown and white hair.

Da Vinci immediately released her playful grip on Mash, her curiosity piqued. She studied the girl in front of her with narrowed eyes. "Anna?" she muttered, "The one who was in a coma for several days?"

Anna, having just snapped out of her reverie, opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word in, Mash was already moving on. With a calm smile, Mash gestured toward the others behind Da Vinci. "And over there," she began, her voice steady, "is Waver Velvet-san, also known as Lord El-Melloi II."

Waver, standing somewhat stiffly with his hands shoved into his coat pockets, gave a short nod, adjusting his glasses. His tired eyes flickered momentarily toward the group, though he didn't seem particularly interested in the introductions.

Mash hesitated for a moment before gesturing toward the newcomer standing awkwardly behind Waver. She feigned ignorance, pausing as though she wasn't entirely sure of the girl's name. "And the girl behind him is…"

"Her name is Daisy," Waver interjected, his tone clipped, saving Mash from the awkward pause. "She'll be living with us from now on." His voice carried a note of finality, as if the decision had already been made, and nothing more needed to be said.

But at that moment, Daisy's world felt like it had come to a crashing halt. Her mind raced, her thoughts colliding like a flurry of lightning strikes. She kept staring at Mash, her eyes wide, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. Words formed in her head, but they refused to spill out coherently.

"I-I… Y-you…," Daisy stammered, her voice trembling as she tried to string together a sentence. Her gaze darted between Mash, Da Vinci, and Waver, trying to make sense of everything.

She Daisy Johnson by no mean a stupid person, the mansion, the odd dynamics between Waver and Da Vinci, the way they carried themselves—it had all been off from the start. But now, with Mash standing in front of her, the final piece of the puzzle clicked into place.

Daisy's hands clenched into fists at her sides as she took a shaky breath. "A-are you the one who—" her voice cracked slightly as she spoke, her heart pounding in her chest.

"T—the one who fought wearing a knight suit… slamming that giant shield into the ground? The one who materialized that gigantic white wall at Metahumans Night!?" Her voice rose with each word as she struggled to contain the flood of emotions surging through her.

Mash blinked, taken aback for a brief moment. "Metahumans Night?" she repeated slowly, her brow furrowing in thought. Then, as realization dawned on her, her expression softened. "Ah… you mean the night Magneto attacked." She paused, then nodded with quiet certainty. "Yes. That was me."

Her words hit Daisy like a tidal wave. The world seemed to spin for a moment as the weight of it all pressed down on her. The woman who had held back Magneto's raw power, who had fought with the strength of a knight straight out of a fantasy novel, was now standing right in front of her.

She has been following her news for the last couple of days, best to say that she is her fans already. This also one of the reason why she is shocked by the current situation.

"My name is Mash Kyrielight, Master Ken first servant and also his shield. Nice to meet you, Daisy." Mash introduce herself toward the dumbstruck Daisy with a warm smile.

Daisy stood frozen, her body numb, her mind still grappling with the enormity of what she'd just learned. Her thoughts were a chaotic swirl, making it impossible to form any coherent response.

She felt like her brain had short-circuited, unable to handle the information overload. This can't be real. This can't be real!

She stared at Mash, her mouth agape like a pufferfish. Mash and Anna exchanged a quick glance, concern flickering in their eyes as Daisy stood there, looking utterly dazed.

Da Vinci, sensing the tension, let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of her neck as she stepped forward. Her usual playful expression had been replaced by something more apologetic.

"Sigh, It's my fault," Da Vinci admitted with a sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I was going to tell her everything when we met with the Director, but… well, you know how plans go." She chuckled softly, though the humor didn't quite reach her eyes. There was a hint of regret in her tone as she glanced at Waver.

Before they had left the orphanage, Waver had insisted she be upfront with Daisy as soon as they arrived at the mansion. But she thought it'll be more fun to tease the little Daisy and watch her shocked expression when she meets the whole crew at Olga's room.

Now she regrets it, because Daisy's brain is now malfunctioning, too overwhelmed by the sudden information. Daisy would never think that the people who just nuke'd the supervillain Magneto is the one who are adopting her.

Da Vinci stepped closer to Daisy, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder in an attempt to ground her. Daisy blinked slowly, her gaze finally lifting to meet Da Vinci's. Her eyes were still wide with disbelief, but Da Vinci's touch seemed to pull her back to reality, Da Vinci could only smile wryly with a hint of apology.

"Welcome to The Chaldea, Daisy Johnson."

.....

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A/N: Please donate your power stones and leave more reviews for my story, I appreciate it and thank you for your support!