Ran had tread upon these hallowed grounds once before. Sonoko had extended an invitation to this "house," as she so casually dubbed it, though the term was a staggering understatement. That visit had transpired roughly a year prior, shortly after the edifice had reached completion. Formerly a conventional mansion, the estate had undergone a total metamorphosis for reasons shrouded in mystery, emerging as a formidable, medieval-inspired citadel.
Upon its unveiling, Sonoko had escorted Ran through its gates.
The inaugural sight of the structure had left Ran utterly paralyzed with awe. The sheer, overwhelming majesty of the castle was breathtaking. Its exterior adhered to a somber, dark motif; however, rather than evoking the macabre atmosphere of a haunted sepulcher, the darkness radiated an aura of absolute superiority, aesthetic refinement, and an almost untouchable, regal elegance. Every angle of the fortress appeared to be forged from obsidian and crystalline alloys, the surfaces capturing and fracturing the light into sharp, iridescent facets.
Ran had once queried why their domicile—their castle—possessed such a Stygian exterior. Sonoko's retort had been disarmingly succinct.
"For protection."
Now, standing once more before the threshold, her gaze anchored to the towering spires within, Ran finally grasped the gravity of that statement.
Protection from the solar glare… and for the sake of Leon-kun.
Her eyes lingered on the obsidian-tinted, crystalline battlements as a thought surfaced, unbidden.
Is this not perhaps an overreach…?
Even so, merely observing the castle made it undeniably evident how profoundly the Suzuki family cherished—and shielded—their youngest scion.
Beside her, Conan, witnessing the spectacle for the first time, allowed a flicker of genuine astonishment to cross his features. His analytical gaze traced the intricate masonry and the gargantuan scale of the architecture, dissecting its design with clinical precision. The moment he absorbed the dark exterior, the logic clicked into place with a visceral snap.
"…Truly, the excesses of the elite," he grumbled beneath his breath, his eyes continuing to sweep the perimeter.
As the trio approached the entrance, the security detail stationed at the gate reacted instantaneously. Without a second's hesitation, a guard activated the hydraulic mechanism; the massive iron gates groaned softly as they parted with seamless, engineered precision.
One of the sentries hurried toward Sonoko, bowing with practiced reverence. "Welcome home, Lady Sonoko…"
Sonoko acknowledged him with a faint, weary smile and a minuscule nod. "How many times must I iterate? You may dispense with those honorifics…"
True to her nature, Sonoko harbored a deep-seated apathy for the rigid formalities of her station. She did not carry the weight of her family's influence with the typical arrogance of the nouveau riche. Yet, regardless of her persistent requests for informality, the staff remained tethered to tradition.
The guard merely inclined his head again. "I understand, Lady Sonoko…"
Hearing the repetition of the title, Sonoko let out a quiet, defeated sigh and shook her head. She turned back toward Conan and Ran, who stood in her shadow. "Come along, let us venture inside."
Ran and Conan offered silent nods and trailed after her, stepping through the yawning aperture of the gates.
Once within the inner sanctum, they noted that the thoroughfare was paved with dark, flat stones, each meticulously aligned to create a polished, obsidian-like walkway. Flanking the path were topiary bushes, sculpted into precise, inverted cones, their emerald symmetry contributing to the estate's calculated, geometric aesthetic.
Statues of celestial beings—angels sculpted from a pale, ivory cement—were positioned at deliberate intervals. Their ghost-white silhouettes provided a jarring, beautiful contrast against the dark-toned environment.
At the heart of the path stood an ornate fountain. Perched atop the basin was an elephant, balancing precariously on its two hind legs, its trunk unfurled as a steady stream of water erupted from the tip. The liquid cascaded in a rhythmic dance, filling the lower basin before spilling over in crystalline ripples. The path bifurcated at the fountain, compelling any visitor to circle the majestic centerpiece.
Ran and Conan found their attention ensnared by the display, their gazes lingering on the eccentric design as they navigated the curved stone path.
Gradually, they bypassed the fountain and pressed forward toward the colossal double doors of the castle.
As they drew near, they realized the path ahead was sheltered by a soaring ceiling. Beneath this canopy stood a phalanx of knights, each encased in a full suit of plate armor. Their visages were obscured by helmets marked with a prominent, engraved "Y" at the center. Despite the rigidity of the medium, the sculptors had etched lifelike features—eyes, nose, and mouth—into the metal, imbuing each figure with a haunting, sentinel-like presence.
Each knight clutched a broadsword with both hands, the blades positioned vertically against their chests in a gesture of silent, eternal readiness. It was as though the statues were prepared to spring into combat at a moment's notice.
These armored figures stood at the periphery of the walkway, positioned at every strategic corner. In truth, they were not merely decorative; they were structural pillars, the very supports for the vaulted ceiling above. Together, they formed a cloistered passage, shielding the pedestrians from the intrusive heat of the sun.
Conan and Ran surveyed the opulence with wide eyes, struggling to comprehend the sheer financial magnitude required to manifest such a vision.
Then, Sonoko's voice broke the silence. They turned to see her gesturing toward the phalanx of knights guarding the path.
"Did you know… those sentinels were modeled after one of Little Leon's canvases?" she remarked. "I believe the title of that particular piece was ***The Knights' Path to Light***…"
They both raised their eyebrows, the English title rolling off their tongues in a confused echo.
"The Knights' Path to Light…?"
Their eyes drifted back to the monoliths. There were ten knights in total—five on each side. Every single one maintained a sword at the center of their frame, both hands locked firmly upon the hilt, their stances radiating a sense of unwavering conviction and absolute, unwavering loyalty.
Then their gazes returned to Sonoko, and a singular, skeptical thought resonated in their minds
What painting are you even talking about…?
From their vantage point, the knight statues appeared to be cast from reality itself. At a glance, one could easily mistake them for living, armored warriors—if not for their staggering height of nearly fifty feet and their muted, stony tones of charcoal and bone-white.
For Sonoko to assert that this grand architectural feat was birthed from Leon-kun's brush seemed utterly preposterous—an absurdly astonishing claim, even for her.
Then Sonoko spoke again, her voice brimming with pride.
"Father beheld that painting, and do you know what transpired? He immediately commissioned professional sculptors and master craftsmen to manifest those figures into the physical realm."
She continued to elaborate on the genesis of the statues, detailing the arduous process of their creation. The more Ran and Conan listened, the deeper their skepticism sank—particularly as Sonoko persisted in her claim that Leon-kun's artistic genius was so transcendent that he could truly replicate the *Mona Lisa* with the casual ease of a master.
AM N. NOT.(っ－＿－)っ♤♤DRAFT♤♤