Chapter 15 - The Quiet Before Storms
It had been a couple of days since the chaos in the commonerâs sector. The family they saved had been safely taken in by a quiet tavern. Yu Sakamotoâstill as enigmatic as everâhad stayed with them, speaking little and watching much. Andrew, who had quietly recognized the resemblance between Yu and the person on the wanted posters, chose to say nothing. Seeing the family safe and in distress he chose rather not to say anything while knowing what was transpiring. Instead, after a quiet conversation with Lucid, he helped arrange somewhere more permanent for them to stay.
Lucid, meanwhile, spent his days assisting Andrew and reading with Aliceâsomething he had only recently begun doing. Oddly enough, he found himself learning more than teaching. Aliceâs insights often left him thinking long after they closed the books.
That evening, the carriage wheels screeched over the uneven cobbled paths of Andorreaâs crumbling outskirts. Above them, the floating sector dimmed beneath the creeping haze of dusk. The familyâfather, mother, and childâhuddled quietly in the back of the carriage as it swayed through rust-worn arches and crumbling aqueducts, their silence broken only by the childâs hiccuping sobs. Lucid sat across from them, one gloved hand resting near his coatâready, just in case.
Yu Sakamoto sat beside him.
Their figure was composed and silent. Their eyes caught fragments of lantern light as the carriage rolled. Their scarf fluttered slightly with every bump in the road, but their dagger was tucked awayâits work, for now, finished.
The ride was long. Lucid welcomed the silence. Or perhaps it was cowardiceâa reluctance to speak after what heâd seen. His stomach still turned, not from the road, but from guilt. He had hesitated even if it had transpired days ago.
Yu finally broke the silence.
"You were right."
Lucid blinked. "About what?"
"About stepping in. You were going to. I saw it."
Lucid didnât answer. Was that forgiveness? A test? Manipulation? He couldnât tell.
"Why didnât you?"
The question cut deeper than any blade.
He pulled his coat tighter. "Because I had someone to protect."
Yu tilted their head slightly and finally glanced at him.
"The girl?"
Lucid nodded.
Yu leaned forward, elbows on their knees, staring at the carriage floor.
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"I thought you were like the rest," they said. "Vultures pretending to be saviors. But youâre something different. You wait. You calculate. Youâre slow to act, but when you doâit matters."
Lucid didnât know if that was praise or critique.
Yu turned their head, studying him.
"Whatâs her name?"
"Alice," he replied. "Sheâs⦠important to me."
Yu nodded. "Youâre lucky."
Lucid raised an eyebrow. "You sound jealous."
A pause, then a chuckle. Yuâs voice was less guarded now.
"Maybe I am. Maybe itâs been too long since I had anyone to protect."
Lucid leaned in.
"Is that why you do this? Hunt nobles, challenge the order, expose corruption?"
Yu hesitated.
"That family back there? Couldâve been mine."
Lucidâs breath caught. "Your family?"
Yu didnât respond directly. They removed one glove and pressed bare fingers to the wooden wall of the carriage.
"I was supposed to inherit my village. Lead it. But tradition doesnât care for leaders who donât fit their mold."
Lucid leaned closer. "They sent you out?"
Yu nodded. "With no resources, no support. Said I could redeem myself if I proved my worth. The irony? When I did⦠they sent assassins."
Lucid exhaled. "They abandoned you."
"Donât tell anyone," Yu whispered. "Especially not the girl."
"I wonât."
Yu smiled faintlyâa real one this timeâand leaned slightly closer.
"You really do take your time with things," they said, brushing his shoulder lightly. "Even when reading to Alice. You try to explain things you donât fully understand."
Lucid raised an eyebrow. "You were watching me?"
Yu smirked. "Of course. I keep tabs on people who carry that much mystery."
The carriage began to slow.
They had arrived.
The family was unloaded discreetly into a lesser-patrolled sector. Andrew had arranged a safe shelter nearby. Temporary, but out of harmâs way.
Yu helped the mother down gently. The boy clung to her, wide-eyed. Yu ruffled his hair.
"Youâre brave," they told him. "Stay that way."
Lucid stood nearby, watching. Then, unexpectedly, Yu approached him.
"You could join me," they said. "Weâre not many. But weâre capable."
Lucid considered. "You mean your syndicate?"
Yu nodded.
"Thanks," Lucid said. "But I have my reasons."
"Fair enough."
They turned to leave, then paused.
"I wonât forget this," they said. "And neither will they."
Then, for the first time, Yu reached for their mask.
"This is a thank-you," they said softly.
The scarf fell. The headwear came off.
For the first time, Lucid saw her face.
Her voice softenedâno longer disguised.
"My name is Shion," she said. "Thank you⦠for being kind when you didnât have to be."
Lucidâs expression shifted. "I already knew."
Yu blinked.
"I guessed," he clarified.
She smirked. "Of course you did."
Then she turned.
"Iâll see you again, Lucid."
And disappeared into the haze