Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Togashi-sensei. I only have my OC. Currently rated T for violence, cursing and possible smuts but this will change. This story starts from Yorknew arc, my favorite arc.
The cover picture was art made by KiwiKong, a talented artist on Twitter (source: (/)kiwiwikong). It kinda perfectly matched my OC's physical descriptions.
PROLOGUE:
I have recurring dreams in which Lukso valley still exists.
In my dreams, I travel to the end of the earth, make friends, and pursue countless expeditions. When I come back, Pairo is always there waiting for me with all my fellow Kurtas. I spend many blissful days recounting the adventures to my beloved brethren.
I prayed to the Lord to let me live in those beautiful dreams forever. Everything I hold dear was right there with me.
But my prayers were never answered.
CHAPTER 1: Professor Ellis
Ionia University.
It's a private academic institution known for its highly sought-after degree programs and ludicrously expensive tuition fees.
In autumn, everything looked dewy and magical. The University's massive campus was adorned by the majestic red color of maple trees and the dreamy hues of golden sunlight.
"Oh, is it that time of the year already?" A man in his late 40s peered at the calendar lying on his office desk. 31st of August.
"I'd appreciate it if you would grant me a month's leave this year too, Dean Smith," A young girl in a purple suit said, giving him a respectful bow.
Her milky brown hair was neatly made into a bun. Her dress code, though strictly formal, wasn't enough to camouflage her juvenile features.
"Of course, Clandestia!" He laughed. "We have already agreed on this every year, haven't we?"
"Thank you so much, Sir."
It was a sabbatical that she had taken every year, so Sir Dean was quite aware of what her leave was reserved for.
"Send my good wishes to your cousin, please?" The Dean smiled.
"Yes, Sir. She will be very happy."
"She must be," he chuckled. "Having a good cousin like you who's willing to take a month's leave every year just to celebrate her birthday."
"Haha. I'd be sure to remind her so." She said with a cheeky grin.
"But you're kinda worrying me, my dear." The Dean laughed.
Clandestia tilted her head quizzically.
"You seem to forget that you're only 17." He said, a warm smile reaching all the way to his wrinkled eyes. "You should spend more time for yourself like… going on a trip with your friends, doing something you like, or getting a boyfriend."
"Oh, don't worry, Sir." Clandestia winked playfully and replied, "My cousin has a dozen suitor candidates waiting for me."
Clandestia had lost both of her parents years ago. And Dean Smith of Ionia University, being one of her father's acquaintances, had always been kind of like a surrogate father to her.
"Well, have fun selecting." He chuckled.
"I will, Sir. Take care." With their current business concluded, she turned on her heels and left the Dean's office.
An incoming call got her attention as she left, and Clandestia pulled out her cell phone immediately beaming at the caller ID as she answered. "Yes, cousin?" She said, hearing the excitement of her cousin on the other line. "I'm on my way, Neon," she chuckled and then exclaimed, "of course, see you soon, missy!"
As she ended the call, Clandestia found herself out in the campus' front yard. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the soft, dewy morning air.
Ah, university life. I'm gonna miss this for a little while! She thought, pulling the clip out of her hair. Brown tresses eagerly broke free from the tight formal bun, cascaded down her back, and flowed merrily to the wind. Alright, time to see my spoiled cousin! She smirked, treading out of the campus, unaware of the glances from the students passing by.
"Omg, check that out! Is she a freshman, too?" A first-year student exclaimed.
"Holy shit. Is she from our department?" Another freshman guy said. "I'm gonna ask for her digits. Totally my type!" He smirked cheekily.
"Hey, suckers!" A second-year student called out to them, hands on her hips.
"Quit gaping at the lecturer." She said, looking askance at the duo.
"The what?!" The two freshmen asked in disbelief.
"Professor Ellis. That girl!" She groaned. "Ah, you freshmen should do some research before you hit the campus! If you wanna save your own asses, I mean!"
"Impossible! She looks so young!" One of the two guys uttered with skepticism.
"Well, of course. Because she's still a minor!" The girl said matter-of-factly.
"You're kidding, right?" The boys scoffed.
"You guys are impossible!" The girl rolled her eyes. "Child prodigy. A Professor since 14. Currently working for our Uni while also being a Psychiatrist at Ionia Hospital. Does it ring any bells?"
"OMG." The two boys shrieked. "So that chick was her?"
Clandestia Ellis, very often mistaken for a student, had become one of the youngest professors and board-certified psychiatrists in the world while her peers were still busy fooling around in high school.
16 hours later.
At the Nostrade estate…
In a chamber filled with transitional-styled furniture pieces, Clandestia was fast asleep on the king-size bed, shifting restlessly in her exhaustion. Her long flight had efficiently worn her out, and while initially she only wanted to take a short nap it somehow turned into an unnecessarily long slumber.
In early September, the weather was cool and soothing but she was breaking out in cold sweats. Her slender figure curled up into a ball as she unconsciously tried to hug herself.
Perspiration beaded her knitted brows. Her whole body was quivering.
In her dreamland…
She saw a pair of eyes.
A bright shade of scarlet.
Eyes that looked full of rage and torment.
Whose eyes are those?
But she had no time to wonder as she suddenly drifted into a white blank space.
Clandestia… Clandes…Tia… Elusive, raspy voices invaded her ears.
"What are you?" She quivered.
"You know who we are!" She heard whispers mixing with faint eerie laughter. "You .are. our. possession!"
An indescribable pain sunk in and her knees went weak. They're the "grim reapers".
How could they still exist?
She thought they were gone for good after what happened 4 years ago.
How did they come back?
"You're lying." Her lips trembled. "Get out of my mind!"
"Stop denying what you are!" Their unearthly susurration drew closer and clearer. "You are us. We are you!"
"NO!" She screamed. "I'm nothing like you!"
She shot up in bed with her eyes wide open. Her heart was beating like a million miles per hour.
"Huff…Huff…" She gasped for air like a pathetic fish stuck on a shore. Her deep purple eyes were misted with tears.
She frantically scanned her surroundings.
White bedsheets, pastel violet walls, and a faint lavender aroma filled the air. Sunlight was seeping through the windows.
This was her room at the Nostrade mansion.
She hugged her chest, trying hard to calm herself down. Tears were flowing out of her eyes uncontrollably.
The nightmare ended but it's still awfully vivid in her mind.
What was that? It couldn't be a regular bad dream.
Realization struck her hard. It was a prophecy from the "grim reapers".
Her curse was coming back!
Suddenly, there was a wooden rapping-like noise outside her door
"Lady Clandestia." She heard a woman's voice.
It was one of the Nostrade's maids.
"Yes, come in." She dried her tears and composed herself.
The maid promptly walked in and bowed at her.
"Lady Neon invited you over to her room, Lady Clandestia."
"Alright, tell her I'm coming over." Clandestia sighed. She guessed her rest must wait for now. But a quick shower was still needed though.
After changing into her comfortable pajamas, she followed the maid to Neon's chamber.
Clandestia arrived at a pink room. Everything was pink, even the bedsheet.
It's so Neon-like.
"Tia!" Neon jumped on her feet in excitement.
Clandestia already expected it but as Neon threw herself on her, she almost lost her balance.
"Hey, easy!" She wriggled her way out of Neon's suffocating embrace. "I know you miss me but don't strangle me to death!"
When Neon finally let go of her, she was gasping for breath. "Neon, do something about your way of greetings! Either I'll die of a heart stroke or of suffocation. And your poor cousin hasn't even had her first boyfriend yet."
"Ok, ok." Neon pouted. "But don't complain about your love life if all you've been doing is burying your nose into a book. You're really wasting that beautiful face!"
Their little banters made all the maids in the room smile.
It was quite refreshing for them to see Lady Clandestia here at the Nostrade mansion every year. Even their spoiled and fussy little Miss Neon was livelier with Lady Clandestia around.
From what they know, Clandestia's father was Sir Light Nostrade's little brother. Unwilling to continue the Nostrade clan's business, he got himself disowned to marry an ordinary woman with no connection to the underground world and even took her surname. Clandestia followed her mother's surname, too. After Clandestia's parents died years ago, Sir Light had taken custody of his niece for a couple of years until she moved out on her own to pursue her academic life.
By the time Neon was done with her dramatic greeting ritual, a husky male voice was heard from outside.
"Boss, the new bodyguards are here. Would you like to see them?"
"Yes, let them in, Dalzollene." Neon said, dragging Clandestia to sit beside her and wait for the new bodyguards to make their entrance.
At Neon's permission, four people walked into the room and promptly introduced themselves.
Clandestia took the liberty of observing the four.
There was one tall and sexy woman with fiery red hair called Baise. Then there was a hairy bulky guy named Basho who looked like the 1970s cowboys you see in movies. Another one was Melody- a short woman with buck teeth and a bald head but strangely, she gave off a very comforting vibe.
The last one was a guy who seemed to be around her age with medium blond hair who went by the name Kurapika. From the sound of his exotic name, Clandestia made a quick guess that he was some kind of ethnic from the East. He wore blue tribal clothes that accentuated his light skin.
He was definitely handsome. Though "handsome" might not be the exact word to describe Kurapika. If she had to pick a word, it would be… beautiful! She was briefly reminded of a classical oriental literature piece named Tale of Genji she came across a while ago. She did not expect to find a real-life comparison to the portrayal of a man like Genji. But there he was, an astonishing beauty with perfect features that might even appeal to both sexes!
In contrast to his striking beauty, the guy possessed a rather distant, stoic, and cold demeanor. There was definitely something uncanny about him as her gaze continued to linger.
The moment his almond-shaped black eyes met her, she involuntarily gasped in revelation.
A/N: Ionia means "amethyst".
