The Bookkeeper

A brief silence settled over them as Raiden and his comrades waited for the opposing threat to come within reach. Though Raiden could feel the danger approaching, it wasn’t as overwhelming as what he had faced before. This left him wondering what they were truly up against.

Still, the moment he sensed the auras were close enough, he activated Gaze Beyond and looked through the distant forest. He saw them. Two girls.

One had dark hair with a violin on her shoulder, while the other had long white hair and a more developed figure than her companion, who appeared calm and collected. Both were dressed in black suits and wore star-shaped contact lenses.

Raiden smiled in an instant. They were Stars, and he remembered the one with the violin all too well. She had attacked them before and nearly killed him, leading his familiar, Ash, to save him and land herself in a very dire situation.

However, he knew this wasn’t his time for revenge. They had probably been sent by the kingdom, and if that was the case, attacking wouldn’t be their safest option.

Freya also activated her Gaze Beyond and described the Stars to the others in broken Persian.

"Stars?" Leo asked, both perplexed and curious. "Do you think the kingdom found your message too impulsive?"

Raiden smirked. He had said some inappropriate things in the message, but he was certain the Stars’ visit would work in his favor.

"No matter what happens, do not attack."

Each of them wore a confused expression while Raiden simply smiled, and looking at him, they knew they had to trust him. Still, Levi, who leaned against the entrance to the house, had a few concerns.

"Should I do my job?" he asked, flicking a blade across his fingers.