Third Person's POV
Seraphina's Office
Peyton-Rose stopped in her tracks.
Her body went still the moment Seraphina called her that name.
"Piper Redding."
Slowly, she turned around.
Seraphina stood there with a faint smile on her lips, not warm or kind, but the kind that said she had already won.
Peyton-Rose's eyes trembled. She glanced at Crayon.
Crayon gave a small, polite nod and quietly walked out of the office, leaving them alone.
Silence filled the room.
Tears gathered in Peyton-Rose's eyes.
"I… I thought…" her voice shook, "I thought there was something between us."
"..."
Peyton-Rose stepped forward, her breathing uneven.
"I really love you Seraphina," she said quickly. "I thought you loved me too. The way you look at me, the way you touch me…", Peyton trailed.
"Do you love me or not?" she asked, her voice breaking. "Just say it."
Seraphina still said nothing.
Peyton moved closer again, desperate now.
"Say something. Please…"
In a flash, Seraphina grabbed her.
Her grip was firm as she dug her nails into Peyton's skin.
Peyton gasped as her body stiffened, her face turning red from the pressure.
"Listen carefully," Seraphina said calmly.
Peyton trembled.
"I made you who you are," Seraphina continued. "I made you the most feared assassin in the whole of Thide Country."
Tears slipped down Peyton's face.
Seraphina leaned closer.
"I am your mistress. I am your God." she said softly. "And you will do as I say."
Peyton nodded quickly, her body shaking.
Seraphina's grip tightened slightly.
"Or your dirty little secret will be out in the open."
Peyton swallowed hard.
"Yes… mistress," she whispered.
Seraphina released her slowly.
Then she smiled as tears began to drop down Peyton's cheeks.
"Don't cry, my little Piper", Seraphina said, cleaning the tears off Peyton's cheeks. "Don't cry."
****
A Quiet Coffee Shop
The bell above the door chimed softly as Elena stepped inside.
The air was filled with the smell of fresh coffee.
Agnes was already seated.
Elena walked over quickly and sat down, her eyes full of anticipation.
Agnes placed an old journal on the table.
"This belonged to your grandmother," she said.
Elena's hands trembled slightly as she picked it up.
She didn't open it yet.
She just held it to her chest, her heart beating fast.
"I was thinking of going back to my hometown," Agnes said quietly.
Elena looked up. There was a brief silence and then she sighed.
"Agnes… I need to ask you for a huge favor."
Agnes studied her face for a moment.
"What is it?" she asked calmly.
Elena tightened her hold on the journal.
"I want…", Elena started.
****
Eldreada State – A Safe House
The room was dim.
Alexander sat alone, staring at a photograph in his hand.
He didn't move for a long time.
"Elena…" he whispered, tracing the picture with his fingers.
He brought the picture closer and pressed a soft kiss against it.
The door opened and Sebastian walked in.
"Master," he said, stepping aside.
A young woman entered behind him. Her body was marked with tattoos, and her eyes were sharp.
"She's the one…," Sebastian said. "The hacker."
The woman smirked slightly.
"I'm the one who cracked Thide's nuclear power source," she said proudly.
Alexander didn't react.
He lit a cigarette calmly and took a slow puff.
Smoke filled the air.
"If you can find the mastermind behind the Five Foes organization," he said, "I will quadruple your reward."
The woman's eyes lit up.
She rubbed her hands together and moved to the system immediately.
Sebastian stood beside her, watching closely.
The sound of typing filled the room.
Time passed slowly.
Alexander stood still, smoking in silence.
Then—
"I've got something," she said.
Her voice was lower now.
"I'm detecting a signal..."
She paused.
"It's coming from Wan State."
The room fell quiet.
Sebastian turned to Alexander.
"Master… your orders?"
Alexander exhaled smoke slowly.
"There is going to be war," he said coldly.
He paused.
"And I already know how it ends."