The winds of change blew strongly on Arthur's face as he wrote up a storm. A significant headwind was firing towards him as he wrote his magnum opus.
He sat at a desk facing towards the window as the sunlight from outside hit his silken face. The sound of his lens hitting the paper filled him with a sense of euphoria even if he was being forced to write it by his parents. His neurons fired up in a flurry and he penned the last few words of his manuscript.
Arthur: Finished!
He said.
*Creek*
The door opened and in came one of his servants.
Mayashi: Did I hear the magic words?
Arthur: Ah, mayashi. You came in at the perfect time.
Arthur stood up with the manuscript in hand.
Mayashi: The first draft is done, right?
Arthur: Yes, Hopefully father will like it. Though seeing as he hates romance novels…. I don't know.
Mayashi: He hates Romance in general. It's a wonder his marriage is even still in order.
Mayashi rolled her eyes.
Mayashi: I must say young master, I am impressed by your increasing writing speed. You finished writing this novel in under a month! A new record.
Arthur: Aye. I don't know if that's a good thing though. The quality might suffer.
Mayashi: Heh, Knowing you, I highly doubt that. Even at your worst, you're still at your best. If that makes sense.
Arthur: Hahaha! I suppose so.
Mayashi chuckled and looked to the side.
Mayashi: I suppose I should be giving this to your father then?
She walked up and grasped the manuscript.
Arthur: Yes.
Mayashi: I assure you, he will be proud and happy to see this.
Arthur: I doubt that.
Arthur scoffed.
The servant took the manuscript from his hands and walked out of the room. Arthur observed as the sultry woman left, leaving him to his own devices.
Mayashi: Do you want me to make you some fish and chips on my way back?
Arthur: That would be nice.
Mayashi: Ok then!
Arthur: Jolly good.
Arthur: *Phew*
Arthur sighed and sat back down.
Arthur: (Her,Simon and Serella are the only ones I can trust. Though Reishi is definitely up there too.)
Arthur: (Still, I've only just gotten to know her….)
Arthur: (Argh! What are you saying Arthur? You can't distrust your friends right now.)
Arthur parried his thoughts and shook his head. He spun around in his chair before pondering the mysteries of life. He sighed heavily as looked at his desk; Even though he hated writing books for his father it still gave him a sense of purpose and something to do while he was bored.
Realizing that he had nothing to do now, he stood up and walked out of his room.
The hallway outside of his room was a long incredulous affair. With large railings gilded with gold on the side and a large fish tank at the end of the hallway. Though it wasn't for fish, it was for squids like Arthur mentioned before.
Large paintings were mounted on the wall, they were painted by Arthur's cousin and Simon's older sister - Serella. They varied in style from classical art painting to more modern collectivist art.
Arthur: Ah, simon.
Simon: …
Simon was in the middle of the hallway looking at one of serella's paintings.
Arthur: Something wrong?
Simon: is it just me or is serella's art getting a bit more abstract?
The painting Simon was looking at was essentially a white canvas with some red lines doodled on top of it.
Arthur: Ah, I see what you mean.
Arthur: Well, I like to think that the state of the artist's mind often reflects in their own art.
Arthur: Serella has been mystically transported to a foreign land, having no idea what's what. She's estranged from this foreign society in a way that is abstract to her, and that reflects In her art.
Arthur explained to Simon.
Simon: Gee, does everything have to have a philosophical meaning to you?
Arthur: Well, either that or she's getting lazy I suppose.
Arthur chuckled.
Arthur: I must admit too, that I've gotten a bit slouch in my writing, no thanks to father's insistence.
Simon: I swear your father wasn't like this in the UK
Arthur: Eh, I think because of his position at the company, his competitive side got the better of him. No doubt helped by Japan's own competitive culture.
Arthur replied. He looked at simon.
Arthur: I do miss the uk….
Simon: Me too.
Arthur: Our maid asked me if I wanted some fish and chips...
Arthur: -And it reminded me of Fischer and how made his own fish and chips.
Simon: He used to call it 'Fischer and Chips' as I recall.
Arthur: Hahaha, yeah….
Simon: There was Muhammad too. He taught me how to play duel monsters. Though he was always flirting with me and Serella while doing so…..
Simon scoffed.
Arthur: Yes…. He was quite the fellow.
Simon: I miss that…. I miss all of it. Japan isn't bad but isn't like the old kingdom.
The two of them reminisced on their previous time in the UK. The foggy island was their home and no matter which country they moved to, the feeling could not be replicated.
Simon: Aye. At least we didn't have the shadowmancers there.
Arthur: Oi! Don't bring them up! I Want to start my morning in a good mood.
Simon: Are we just going to ignore the fact that several of our classmates have been attacked in the past few weeks?
Arthur: Ugh, I just feel so helpless I wish I could do something.
Simon: Don't we all? I hate that they can basically do what they want, unimpeded.
Simon sighed.
Simon: What do they even want?
Arthur: Chaos, I presume.
Arthur: Though, I suppose their motives are even beyond me….
?: I guess that's my cue!
Arthur and Simon: …!
A dark mist began to envelope the hallway and a strange voice called out.
The mist spread throughout the hall and covered the ceiling in an almost snake-like motion. The mist was like a fog as it covered every area of the house in thick blanket sheet. Both the boys began to cough and hack up as the mist enter their illustrious lungs.
the mist seemed to coalesce into one shape in front of them, A feminine one.
It appeared to be a woman in a black robe that wrapped around her body. She had a curvy figure and big backside that was nearly about to burst out the robe and reveal itself. She was a little bit shorter than Arthur and had a somewhat foreign accent though it was covered by her intense sounding voice when speaking.
Arthur: Heavens!
Simon: What the deuce?
?: Morning. I am shadowmancer-
Simon: Who the hell are you and how'd you get in our house!?
?: …..
?: As I was saying, I am shadowmancer unit-
Arthur: Simon get back! It's one of those hooligan shadowmancers! We need to-
?: WILL YOU TWO SHUT HELL UP AND LET ME DO ME DO MY VILLAINOUS INTRODUCTION?
The shadowmancer pulled out a roll of tape that magically seemed to unravel itself and apply itself to both of their mouths.
?: Hmph! As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted! I am shadowmancer unit 1405491! I am here to carry out the will of the masked queen!.
Arthur: Urgh!
Arthur ripped off the magical tape from his mouth!
Arthur: What the hell do you want with us? You cretin!
1405491: I just said I'm carrying out the masked queen's will! Jeez, you people are rude and daft!
The shadowmancer bemoaned!
Arthur: You….. You're not planning to steal our souls…. Are you?
1405491: Nope. Not yet, at least…..
1405491: -But you two will be a part of our queen's plan.
Arthur: Excuse me?
1405491: You see, we need some bait to ensnare the one of the Queen's heart.
1405491: -And you two are perfect!
Simon: You bastard! We aren't your toys to mess around with!
Simon scolded. His anger and rashness peaked! He balled up his fist and rushed towards the lucid shadowmancer. Each step he took parted the purple mist like moses and the ocean. He prepared to strike the mancer right in the gut!
1405491: You are even less than a toy! You are my puppet!
The shadowmancer reached her arm out and shouted. A storm of mist surrounded her arm and a metal object appeared to shoot out of her hand. They flew towards Simon and surrounded him!
Chains wrapped around Simon's arm and stretched around his body.
The chains cut sharply into his clothes, revealing his bare flesh underneath. What was especially shown was his back. His back was pretty average, not muscular nor flabby but it had a smooth sensual look not uncommon to those of the british.
1405491: Ah she really wanted me to capture the blue haired one. Oh well. You'll do too!
1405491: Plus you're cute!
The shadowmancer yanked on the chains that bonded Simon, pulling him closer to her. He was now within arm's reach of the shadowmancer!
1405491: Dissapear.
Simon: AHHHHH!
The mist around the mansion coalesced around the shadowmancer and Simon, creating a sort of whirlpool as it swirled around them. Both of they're bodies turned purple with them evaporating into the mist as if they were insoluble. Arthur could only watch on as his cousin was taken away from and into an unknowable state.
Arthur: Simon!