A/N: Hi guys! Okay, so the updates have been a bit long in between lately. I'm trying to improve my writing and do as best as I can, and that takes time. I've also posted this story on AO3 so go and check it out if you want to.
We're getting close to the reunion, people! Tick, tock, tick, tock... I went a bit meta in this chapter, bringing back the voices, psychological portrayal, and the other weird stuff (I'm trying, folks, I'm trying). I imagined Liv as an instinctual creature, guided by her intuition which should be tempered by reason. She just happens to fail to do so most of the time but it's a work in progress - a few bumps on the road are expected.
It's not just her, though. I wanted to explore the idea of actions and consequences. I wanted to see what happens when people forget about agency for a moment or even lose it entirely, leaving their fate in the hands of another person. The people that surround the OC are still people, not background noise. While the story and the majority of characters in it picture Liv as the 'main character', she is not.
A bit of digress, I don't know about you but I quite like this mini arc with Takaba and Kenjaku. It's Looney Tunes with dark undertones.
Anyway, I hope you'll like this one! Favorite/Follow/Review, you know the drill!
Cursed Love
~ Eyes On The Prize ~
February 10th, 2002. / 17:02 / Svolvær, Lofoten, Norway
The crisp air kisses her face, eliciting vibrant red patches on the apples of her cheeks. The sea rolls in waves as they break on the pebble beach. It has been a couple of years since she was last here but she could never forget this breathtaking image of nature nor this feeling of slight chill against her skin. Granted, she doesn't even feel the cold from all the excitement coursing through her veins (though that could also be because of the thick coat she's been forced to wear).
She laughs.
"Are you that happy to be here?"
Liv turns around, the smile never leaving her lips as she looks at Toji. Her master stands out like a sore thumb no matter where he is. He's larger than most men she met in her life (it's not a very long life, mind you, but still). The air around him is consistently heavy even in the joyous of times. The permanent scowl on his facial features is the most unfriendly sight one could see on a person's face.
And yet, she thinks he fits just fine here, in this moment, with her.
"Of course," she chirps. "This is the place where I was born!"
Alas, Toji cannot sympathize with her. He doesn't remember feeling anything positive about his birthplace. The Zen'in clan is a den of beasts, unforgiving and relentless to anyone unfortunate to be born into the clan. Toji is just another beast as well, a failed and rejected product of Zen'in's narrow-minded ways.
But the child in front of him is no beast.
"Can't you be happy indoors, at least?" he grumbles, resisting the urge to shiver.
Liv sniggers. "What's the matter, buffy? Catching a cold?"
He grumbles as he ruffles her blond locks. "Got a big mouth there, huh?"
Liv laughs as she tries to pry his hands off the crown of her head. "You're ruining my braids, you oaf!"
"Who are you calling an oaf, shrimp?" he laughs as he continues to annoy her further.
She whacks him or at least she tries. He catches her hand and pulls her into a bear hug, stifling her words of protest as he buries her face into his jacket. Toji sniggers as she struggles to wiggle out of his grasp. She doesn't give up though and he silently praises her for that indomitable nature.
"You're a real pain in my ass, you know," he says as he loosens his grip.
Liv cocks her head to the side and laughs. "Likewise!"
He laughs as well.
February 10th, 2002. / 17:28 / Svolvær, Lofoten, Norway
Svolvær is a coastal town situated on Austvågøya island, part of the Lofoten archipelago.
Simply put, Northern Norway - 5,000 kilometers shy of the North Pole.
Yet for a northern town, it is not as cold as the western part of the archipelago. It makes no difference to Toji, though as they enter the town at sundown and his balls are freezing. He tries to cover the lower part of his face with the collar of his jacket with little success. The tips of his ears and nose are dangerously close to falling off from the cold. On the other hand, Liv is hardly affected by the weather as she struts the streets of Svolvær without a care in the world.
"Are we there yet?" he calls out to the jittery teen who merely waves her index finger at him. "Do you even know where you're going?"
Liv groans. "For the hundredth time, yes. We just need to cross that bridge and we're there."
He grumbles as he follows the twelve-year-old toward some building on an islet. It is an apartment complex, consisting of four buildings, each five stories high. They are a bit on the rugged side, though he thinks it might be from the sea air being harsh on the facade. As they walk, he notices Liv's posture stiffen suddenly. She keeps her shoulders back, her arms locked at her sides and her step slows down. He frowns, recognizing this as a sign of caution. After a few more careful steps, she halts completely and wordlessly motions for him to do the same.
This is one of those moments when he wishes to be able to hear her mind the same way she can hear his. Oftentimes, her body language doesn't mirror her intentions and he finds that disadvantageous, especially when he needs to know her next move.
She turns around. "Stand back and don't follow."
He shakes his head. "Not gonna happen."
She frowns in response and waves her hand at him. "Go and hide then."
"I am not gonna leave you alone in the middle of nowhere, kid," he argues.
Liv smiles at him as she says, "I'm going to be fine, you worrywart. Besides, you'd just attract more attention anyway."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he retorts.
She frowns before rolling her hazel eyes. "It means your head is too big."
"Kid - "
"Just do as I say, okay?" she asks, hugging him by the elbow. "Please?"
Grumbling, he complies and steps into the shadows, pulling his hood over his head. He crosses his arms and waits, his eyes fixed on her small frame.
Meanwhile, she takes a deep breath and then makes a tentative step toward the front side of the complex. Their apartment is in the third building in the row, fourth floor. Liv doesn't have many memories from that place, save the few scant recollections of birthdays and Christmas celebrations. Seems like a different life, she thinks to herself sadly.
Once at the front door of the building, she hesitantly looks at the mailboxes and searches for her father's name. Thoraldsen, Nilsen, Hagen, Berg, Dahl. She sees no Drakon among them. Maybe he's using the house name, she wonders and looks closely for 'Dreki'. Magnus Dreki, Magnus Dreki, she repeats to herself while biting the nail on her thumb. She sighs as she realizes there is no Magnus Drakon, or Magnus Dreki, or any Magnus in this building.
Turning around, she runs a hand across her forehead. Quarter-way across the world, she thinks to herself bitterly, for nothing. With a heavy sigh, she heads back toward where Toji has been hiding, utterly disappointed. However, before she can even make another step, she realizes something - or someone - is blocking her path. A tall figure, roughly the same size and shape as Toji, is standing in front of her with their hands shoved into the pockets of their leather jacket. It is a man, she realizes from the thick blond beard hanging off his chin. Long blond hair covers the crown of his head while a pair of wide hazel eyes stare at her. Her eyes grow double in size, a sob caught in her throat as she takes in the man's withered appearance.
She can tell that things have been rough on his side as well.
"Pappa," she whimpers.
November 27th, 2016. / 07:53 / Svolvær, Lofoten, Norway
The improvised reverse summoning ritual proves to be a success.
Liv has managed to get herself and her crippled companion overseas in the blink of an eye. The snowy beaches of Svalbard shift momentarily into the majestic fjords of the Lofoten archipelago. They land face-first into the dirt, with her plummeting into the cold ground while Mimir bounces off several times before rolling to a stop a short distance away from Liv. Groaning, the Shuuin mistress turns onto her back, her entire body sore from the sudden impact. She hisses as the strain in her lower back sends bolts of pain up and down her spine.
"Shit," she curses. "I think I pulled something."
"I think I broke my nose," she hears Mimir complaining and lifts a brow.
"You feel pain?" she inquires curiously.
The severed head scoffs. "Of course, I can feel pain!"
"Okay, fine," Liv lifts her hands in defeat. "Sorry that I asked."
Leaning on her elbows. she pulls herself back on her feet before reaching for the head. She dusts off the dirt from its beard afterward for which Mimir is sincerely grateful. It may just be a severed head but it does not wish to suffer being dirty.
Dusty, maybe.
Dirty? Never.
"You said this wouldn't hurt," Mimir says with accusation in its tone.
Liv merely lifts a brow in response.
Mimir rolls its eyes before asking, "Where are we anyway?"
Liv takes a look around before answering, "We're close to the fishing town of Svolvær. See, there's the runic circle I told you about - "
Lifting the head, Liv turns it toward a large stone inscribed with the same strange runes he saw her drawing in the snow previously. The circle is surprisingly, still intact (considering it is no longer in use).
"There used to be a dragon spirit lair in this very spot," Liv comments, her tone soft and almost sad. "My father took care of it."
"Dragon spirits are rare," Mimir counters. "It must've been ancient."
Liv nods in agreement. "Considering that this is not a large settlement, I'm kind of baffled it existed in the first place."
"Is it gone?" Mimir asks and the fat silence answers. "I'm sorry."
"You'd be the only one," she says somewhat bitterly. "Those that killed it had little understanding of its nature and they feared it because of it."
Mimir hums but says nothing else. Instead, Liv rests the enchanted head on her hip before taking in the sight of the fjords ahead. No matter how many times she sees this same view, it never grows dull. She could watch it for hours, day by day, and never get bored.
Sights can be deceiving, pup.
"There you are," she mutters to the insufferable voice inside her head.
"W-What?" Mimir stutters.
Liv sighs exasperatedly. "Oh, nothing. Just a phantom, that's all."
Now that's rude.
You've been silent for a whole day. Do try and push it for another one, Liv retorts inwardly.
But you need me, pup.
The Shuuin mistress takes a deep breath, calming her raging fury. "I don't need you."
Mimir blinks. "Um, alright?"
"I'm not talking to you, head," she half-whines.
Mimir hums. "Alright."
Even a reanimated head knows you're insane.
Oh, shut up, you neurotic hag.
Quoting your husband at me?
Liv ignores how the mere mention of Satoru forms a lump in her throat. She closes her eyes and takes another three deep breaths before opening her eyes again.
"We need to find some way to reach my spies," she says evenly, ignoring the whispers of her ghost. "That means exposure so I'll have to hide you somehow."
"I'm," the head says, finding the proper word, "a large head."
Liv almost chuckles at the witty remark. "My kimono sleeve should be a good fit."
"If you say so," the head mumbles as she carefully places it inside the said sleeve, tucking it deep into the fold.
"Comfy?" she asks, securing the fit of the sleeve so the head doesn't roll out of it.
Mimir hums in agreement. "Surprisingly yes. Soft fabric."
Liv smiles. "Glad to hear it, head."
Is that all he is? A head?
Liv doesn't answer the phantom. Instead, she clears her throat before making her way upshore, her sights set on her hometown. Meanwhile, her thoughts are occupied with figuring out a way to get back to Japan. She finds boats and cars to be too tedious and time-consuming for travel. If she sneaks onto a ship, she'll have to stay hidden for days on end which is not easy. Traveling by car is convenient and while she enjoys the road, without a passport or any money, she's better off going by foot. Given her circumstances, there is no option that is legal by any means.
Smuggling, she thinks to herself as she sighs. Damn.
Smuggling means she needs help from the criminals. The Shuuin have a history with the underground, mostly because the information is more accessible and valid than the baseless gossip in the jujutsu society. Liv has personal ties to the underground, courtesy of being the student of the Sorcerer Killer. It wasn't public knowledge but her name was known to a select few that could be trusted (or bribed into being trusted). One person in particular comes to her mind and she really doesn't want to ask him for a favor.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, she reminds herself.
Succumbing to despair. Shameful.
Desperate times, nor despair, Liv retorts inwardly. I've yet to fall.
Then tell me this, the phantom inquires further. Why are you going back in the first place?
Liv halts her step, the question bothering her. Rei's questions have the annoying tendency to be bothersome. Shaking her head, Liv continues upshore, mustering all the strength she can to push the intruding, unnecessary thoughts out of her mind.
Eyes on the prize, she recalls Toji's words from their numerous training sessions. Eyes on the prize.
What is the prize, pup? Where are you going exactly?
I'm going back to them, she responds to the lingering ghost.
And then?
She doesn't know, at least not yet. The freedom she imagined turned out to be something entirely different. It is an uncharted territory, with no signs on the road - heck, there is no road. A wasteland of equal opportunity and damnation, a pitless void and sea of wonder at the same time. She's frightened and excited, wary and curious.
So no, she doesn't know what the prize is or where she is going exactly. She's not sure how she feels about it or how she should feel about it.
But it'll be fun to find out, she muses, one corner of her lips tugging upward.
November 27th, 2016. / 10:06 / Shuuin Manor, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
"Impossible!"
Satoru takes a sip of the tea in his hand before answering, "That's the information I got, Mathias. It's from a reliable source."
"I'm telling you, it's impossible," the older Drakon further argues. "Even if Gakuganji wanted to send someone after Liv, he needs the approval of the rest of the Council."
"Does he?" Satoru asks in return. "Those are his men."
Mathias shakes his head. "None of the Council members have such privilege. All of the spies, assassins, and bounty hunters are strictly monitored by the HQ as a whole. They are deployed once all the Council members agree. I'd have known if there was ever such intention."
"You're her brother," Satoru points out.
Mathias sighs. "Had the Council agreed to Gakuganji's request behind my back, I'd have heard their thoughts and informed you myself."
Satoru frowns, putting the cup down and lacing his fingers. Mathias' statement makes sense given the man's Inner Eye ability.
"She hasn't reached out yet?" Satoru asks suddenly. "No call? No text? A postcard, maybe?"
Mathias does his best to hide the tension in his body as he lies (sort of, kind of), "No."
Satoru cocks his head to the side. "You know, there's one thing I don't understand. How are you so calm?"
Mathias frowns. "What do you mean?"
"Your sister is gone, the clan is leaderless at the worst time possible," Satoru recites, counting on his fingers. "The higher-ups are treating you like shit - I mean, you have it rough, dude."
The older Drakon agrees with his brother-in-law. As it were, all of his points are valid. You're also getting on my nerves, he inwardly adds another point as he glares at the flippant Gojo clan head sitting opposite him. He has ditched the blindfold in favor of sunglasses which makes him less mysterious overall. He's also not wearing his uniform. You're having a morning off, Mathias concludes bitterly. You could've just called instead of interrupting my morning off.
He sighs again. "I don't have the luxury of acting out whenever I'm stressed nor do I have overwhelming strength to just do what I want, when I want."
Satoru pouts. "So you just, what - take it?"
Mathias quirks a brow at him. "Take it? No, I deal with it."
"Same thing," Satoru waves him off dismissively.
"Not the same thing."
The sudden change in Mathias' demeanor doesn't go unnoticed by the Gojo clan head. It's not the first time the older Drakon challenges him in such a manner but it is the first time he challenges him in person while Liv is absent.
"Do elaborate," Satoru goads him, enjoying the banter.
Mathias doesn't need to read the man's thoughts to know he's being lured into an argument. Unlike his sister, he's not interested in having elaborate conversations with his brother-in-law on abstract topics. He has enough on his plate. He just wants to enjoy his weekend in peace.
"I won't," he says evenly, his blank stare void of any emotion he might be feeling. "Is that all you needed from me?"
Satoru flashes him a toothy grin. "Don't tell me you'll throw me out, Mathias?"
The older Drakon sighs as he ignores the fact that Yuki said pretty much the same thing not half an hour ago. "I had enough interactions with Special Grade sorcerers for one morning."
His confession tickles Satoru's curiosity. "That would explain that unfamiliar cursed energy residual I found at your doorstep."
Mathias quirks a brow. "You've never met Yuki Tsukumo?"
Satoru shakes his head. "Not once."
It is understandable. Yuki is not only his senior but also sort of a rogue sorcerer. His knowledge of her is limited to what he's heard through the grapevine and what he's heard from Suguru during their high school days. Apart from her Special Grade status, Satoru knows little else of the infamous good-for-nothing. What was she doing at the Manor, then?
"Liv," Mathias answers his silent question. "She was looking for Liv."
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that," Satoru comments with a hint of discomfort, referring to the Inner Eye.
Mathias merely blinks at this comment.
"You know, that Great Mother of yours," Satoru muses, "she could get inside my innate domain."
"I know," Mathias says, his statement sounding more like a question.
Satoru hums. "She said thoughts are prone to change whereas the heart is more - "
"Is there a point to your question?" Mathias cuts in curtly.
The intrusion is borderline rude, something both men are aware of. Granted, Satoru doesn't care about his brother-in-law's behavior and Mathias is too tired to give a shit whether he's being rude or not.
"Liv said she mastered the Inner Eye," Satoru answers, circling back to the subject at hand. "Can she reach inside someone's innate domain as well?"
His brother-in-law doesn't answer immediately. His lips press into a thin line as he looks to the side. Satoru waits patiently nonetheless, curious about the extent of his wife's abilities.
"The Inner Eye isn't a cursed technique," Mathias says slowly. "There's no set standard for one to follow to master the ability."
Satoru lifts a brow. "What do you mean?"
Mathias hums as he tries to explain the best he can, "It's like being able to run. You can be a casual jogger or you can be an Olympic champion. It all depends on how far you're willing to go. The Inner Eye follows the same principle."
"So," Satoru hums, tapping his chin, "it can't be mastered in the true sense of that word?"
"All I can say for certain is that Liv is the most powerful out of all the Shuuin," Mathias answers honestly.
While Satoru is aware that the Shuuin may be (are) biased in their opinion of their mistress' abilities, he cannot deny that there is some grain of truth in their beliefs. After all, he's witnessed her do stuff that is not supposed to be possible (and this is coming from The Strongest himself). Her demeanor, her confidence, and her knowledge - all of it evident as far back as their high school days. All of it attesting to her 'hidden' strength.
The real question is, what her abilities are exactly? Is she just psychic? Could she be physically gifted as well? Is her Viking mambo-jumbo more potent than she told Masamichi in the interview? So many possibilities, so many options - which one could it be? It seems the Shuuin themselves are not certain. This means, Satoru still has to wait for Liv to return to get the answer to that question.
What a pain, he groans inwardly.
Meanwhile, Mathias silently overhears the internal monologue of his brother-in-law. For someone who's supposedly self-absorbed and arrogant, finding everyone as weak and beneath him, Satoru is rather obsessed with Liv or more precisely, with her talent for sorcery. Given that she spent most of her adolescent life away from the Shuuin, one can only guess what she had learned from the likes of Toji Zen'in and Masamichi Yaga, as well as their father. Mathias is perfectly content to live out the remainder of his life without witnessing her in action (or being on the receiving end of her fury).
But you are not satisfied with that alone, he realizes as he glances at the Gojo clan head. That realization begs the question in Mathias' mind and invokes a hint of wariness in his heart. Why is her strength that important to you?
November 27th, 2016. / 10:31 / Shuuin Manor, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
"Hear anything?"
Tove sighs for the umpteenth time.
"I wanna know what they're talking about," Rune says excitedly only to be shushed by Tove. "Sorry - "
Rune then squats next to the spymaster before leaning in to eavesdrop as well. The two are in Tove's room, right next to the living room where Mathias and Satoru are. It was Rune who heard them talking in the living room when she was coming out of the bathroom. The young woman spared no thought as she rushed to find Tove. She knew there were only so many excuses for the Gojo clan head to visit the Manor - all of them equally important. Rune rocked the spymaster awake from her much-needed slumber, only to then urge her to listen in on the men's conversation. They overhear the majority of the exchange, with tidbits lost here and there. From what they can gather, the entire meeting is more or less about the higher-ups meddling in matters that are none of their business.
"Oh, crap," Rune curses.
Tove swallows a lump in her throat. "We're running out of time."
"Are we?" the redhead spy inquires hopefully. "Neither of them sound that worried."
"Gojo never shows weakness," Tove whispers before sighing. "Mathias, however, has his hands tied, much like the rest of us."
Rune looks downward in defeat, the weight of the spymaster's words suddenly overwhelming. There is nothing more dreadful than the feeling of 'helplessness'. Unfortunately, all spies working under Liv Drakon feel that sentiment rather often - too often for comfort.
"She will return," Rune ponders out loud, "right?"
Tove is deliberately silent since she cannot answer that question truthfully. As compensation for her ineptness, the spymaster brings a comforting hand on the redhead's shoulder, squeezing it slightly. She even musters a smile, though it never reaches her brown eyes in earnest.
"They're talking again," Tove mutters, pressing her ear against the wall. "Gojo is asking about Liv's mind-reading ability."
"Like that's her only virtue," Rune rolls her eyes as she scoffs. "Our mistress is intelligent, courageous, resourceful - "
"That's a lot of complex words coming out of your mouth, Rune," Tove teases.
"What I mean to say is," Rune sighs, "why bother worrying over whether she can hear his thoughts or not?"
"Then let me ask you this," Tove counters. "Do you think Gojo wants his every thought to be easily accessible?"
Rune pouts. "I don't follow - "
"He is the strongest sorcerer alive, with Limitless and the Six Eyes at his disposal. The world rests on his shoulders, depending on his every decision," Tove clarifies with genuine sympathy. "Having his thoughts known is one thing, but his heart? It must be daunting and intrusive."
Rune frowns. "Why should it matter that much in the first place? It is our mistress we're talking about. Aren't they friends?"
Once again, Tove finds herself unable to provide an answer. Despite knowing Liv quite well and being acquainted with her difficult past, whenever the subject of Satoru Gojo came up, however, her mistress would become somber and even sad. For a long while, Tove believed that there had been a past friendship or even relationship that simply grew estranged. Yet, given Satoru's lack of concern for his missing wife, Tove is rather curious herself whether the two were ever friends and if so, what were they then?
Taking a deep breath, she answers the best she can at this moment, "Maybe he just feels wary. If Liv can do it, chances are someone else can do it too."
"We don't know anything for certain, though," Rune argues. "Chances are also that she can't do it."
"We know that," Tove agrees, adding, "but he doesn't."
Rune frowns, disagreeing. Before she can voice her thoughts, however, her phone starts to ring in her back pocket. She looks at the screen where the caller ID is displayed and her eyes widen. She reads the neat text before turning to stare at the spymaster. Tove frowns in return, slightly confused.
"What's wrong?" she asks.
Rune answers by showing her the display. Shortly afterward, Tove's eyes widen as well and she looks back up at the redhead who is already slightly shaking with nervousness.
Needless to say, Satoru and Mathias' ongoing conversation is quickly forgotten.
"Answer it," Tove says.
"What if it's something bad?" Rune says with a shaky breath, her eyes looking frantically all over the floor. "He never calls and he rarely answers when I call - "
Tove grips her shoulders and forces the young woman to look her in the eye. "Rune, answer it."
The redhead nods but her finger is yet to swipe upward. She stares at the name of the display for a few more moments before she musters the strength to respond to the call. Bringing the phone to her ear, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
"Pappa?" she almost whimpers. "Pappa, you there?"
There is silence following her question. Tove observes her silently though not calmly. She feels her calves tense and her shoulders roll upward as she submits to anticipation. Rune is not much different, cold sweat emerging on her temples and the back of her neck. She then frowns and Tove hears murmurs coming from the device. Rune meets Tove's expectant gaze with a rather perplexed look on her face.
"Mistress," she murmurs in utter disbelief.
November 27th, 2016. / 09:32 / Svolvær, Lofoten, Norway
Liv takes a deep breath as she makes sure Mimir is hidden deep within her kimono sleeve (who has been warned previously to keep its mouth shut). She stands just a few dozen meters from the fjord's shore, just outside her hometown. She would've admired nature's beauty in any other circumstance. Albeit, she has other pressing matters to attend to. Opposite her is a lonesome fisherman who has been sitting on a three-legged stool, his fishing road embedded into the sand and gravel beneath him. He wears a typical fisherman's outfit, including knee-high boots and a fisherman's hat that hides his auburn hair.
Right where I expected you to be, she thinks to herself. You really don't change, old man.
Thorald Hagen is what one would call a man of steel. Staunch, reserved, no-nonsense type of guy, he has lived his life within a simple set of rules. He does everything in moderation, not too much but not too little. He has simple tastes and humble desires. He takes action when required but otherwise lives a calm and slow life.
However, when it comes to Liv Drakon, he forgets about all of his rules.
He despises her and loathes her so much that he wishes death upon her. He spits on the ground three times as if she's a black cat crossing his path (he actually does it the moment their eyes meet which she finds very much like him). Fury blares from his honey-colored eyes as he bares his teeth at the Shuuin mistress.
"Drit og dra," the man seethes as she approaches him. "Away with ya'!"
Liv bites back a retort. "Nice to see you too, Uncle Thorald - "
"Don't call me that, heks," Thorald growls, spitting toward her feet.
Liv ignores the jab as she continues, "I could use your help, you know."
Thorald meets her hazel eyes and sees none of her father's reflection in them, however much he may wish to. All he sees now is her accursed mother.
"I ain't givin' ya' nothin'," the man says dismissively, turning on his heel.
Unfortunately for him, his path is blocked once more by the Shuuin mistress. "Please, listen to me - "
"Forlate!"
Within the blink of an eye, she stands very close to him, inches away from his face. Dread overcomes him as her hazel eyes glow red and the air around them becomes heavy. Startled, he takes a step back.
"Ya' can't attack me," he says weakly, holding onto his last slivers of courage and composure. "I know ya' can't - "
"I can now," Liv says calmly, taking a step forward, "but I won't - for Rune's sake."
She stretches out her hand, palms facing upward. He gives her a dubious look.
"Your phone," she clarifies. "I need to make a call."
Dumbfounded, Thorald doesn't react at first. Phone? he wonders, bewildered. Absentmindedly, his hand reaches for the back pouch of his vest and he pulls out his device. Liv waits patiently as he unlocks the phone before handing it to her. Astonished, it takes him a while to realize what he has done. Why am I so afraid?
"Because you're weaker than me and you worry what I could do," she says before tapping her left temple with his phone. "Mind reading, sorry, can't help it."
She lifts her index finger as she says, "I won't take long, promise."
As she presses the device against her ear, he simply observes. That's all he can do. As a Window, that's all he could ever do - watch and do nothing. He's not a Dreki shaman, he can't bind or kill spirits. He can't even stand up for himself against a proper shaman.
He abhorred his weakness the most when Liv coerced his daughter into service, forever taking her away from him.
Meanwhile, Liv searches the (short) contact list for Rune's number and dials it quickly. It feels like an eternity while she waits for her to pick up. One ring, two rings, three rings.
"Pappa, you there?"
Liv's heart clenches at the sound of the redhead's sad tone. "Not quite, sorry."
She hears a sharp intake of breath. "Mistress."
Liv chuckles. "One and only."
"But, how, why, where - "
"All in good time but for now," Liv cuts in gently, adding, "I need you to do something for me - all of you."
November 27th, 2016. / 13:18 / Ueno, Tokyo, Japan
Si-Woo Kong loves money.
He loves what money provides him: protection, comfort, and food. It feeds his appreciation of nicotine (he says he's not addicted) and it also funds his strange habit of collecting exotic fishies.
The man realized his absolute adoration of the coin back when he still worked as a detective for TMPD. Witnessing a crime and the ugliness of mankind never seemed to leave a substantial impression on him. People are ugly and they are capable of heinous crimes, but he never thought it was that big of a deal. It is just the way the world is. In retrospect, he thinks his callousness and casual disregard for the wrongdoings of others was what made him go underground in the first place.
Also, there's the fact that crime pays more than honest work.
It has been roughly twenty years since he began his career as a handler for the curse users operating in the underbelly of Japan's jujutsu society. Si-Woo is not a sorcerer himself, although he can see curses much like the Windows. His knowledge of curses is substantial at this point, having worked with numerous individuals who were themselves knowledgeable of the matter. Knowing about curses, however, changed little the way he does his job.
Again, he loves money - everything else is irrelevant.
That is not to say he doesn't like other things besides money. Apart from collecting fishies in his aquariums, he's also fond of expensive cigars. His job can get a bit nauseating whenever he needs to entertain pompous bastards. However, he can't blame them for enjoying the finer things in life. Luxurious cars, mansions, high-end restaurants - just to name a few. Si-Woo is a bit more modest (shocking) when it comes to such things, limiting his refined palate to tobacco and cheese.
But again, all of this can be bought with money.
It is safe to say that in Si-Woo's mind, everything has a price - he just wants to be able to afford it. Even as he walks around Ueno Park for some change of scenery, the sight of the homeless wretches reminds him of the time he was close to being homeless as well. If things had turned out differently, it would've been him squatting with all of them in makeshift shelters made of cardboard and blue tarps.
Thanks to all the gods above, he praises silently, my life turned out for the better.
As he passes the small 'village', Si-Woo fishes out a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket. Pulling out a single cigarette, he puts the rest of them back inside the pocket before searching for his lighter. After a few failed attempts at finding the stupid thing, he rolls his eyes and groans.
"Where did I put the damn - " he mumbles with the cigarette stuck between his teeth as he searches his pockets again.
He finds the lighter in the breast pocket of his blazer. The man sighs in relief before lighting up the cigarette. Taking the first puff, he breathes in deeply, savoring the burning sensation in his windpipe before blowing it out.
That's when his phone starts ringing.
"Man can't even smoke in peace these days," he grumbles as he reaches for the device in his left pocket.
Si-Woo frowns as he looks at the display. The caller ID spells out a 'private number'. Most of his contacts are memorized so he rarely receives phone calls from unknown callers. Private numbers are also a common occurrence in his line of work.
Curious about the caller, he swipes upward before pressing the phone against his ear. "Yes?"
The other side remains silent for a moment. "Am I speaking to Si-Woo Kong?"
"Depends," he answers evenly. "Who is this?"
The female voice chuckles as she answers, "No need for this game of pretense, Kong-san. I merely wish to employ your services."
"Oh?" Si-Woo hums. "I do not come cheap, miss - ?"
"Dahl," the woman replies curtly.
"Dahl-san," the man says. "How did you get this number?"
The woman chuckles again. Si-Woo doesn't like the sound of it - it is too familiar to his ears (annoying, too).
"I've been ordered not to reveal their name," the woman says coyly. "You will meet them soon anyway."
"That's still in the air, as far as I'm concerned," Si-Woo drawls, taking a long drag of smoke out of his cigarette.
He hears the woman hum from the other side. "They did say you're a wary one."
Si-Woo frowns. "What do you want, lady? Time is money."
"Indeed," the woman concurs. "The nature of this assignment is delicate so I'd ask for a meeting in person."
The man scoffs as he puffs out another smoke. "Fine. Meet me in - "
"I'm already here, Kong-san."
Alarmed, Si-Woo starts to look to his left and then to his right, searching for anyone who might stand out. Apart from the homeless and the pedestrians, he can scarcely see anyone suspicious. He then looks over his shoulder, checking if someone's shadowing him. The only shadow he sees is the one of his own back.
"For a former detective, your instincts are lacking."
Snapping his head forward, Si-Woo faces the intruder. The first thing he notices is that she's holding a phone against her ear. The second thing he notices is her brown eyes.
"Apologies, I didn't mean to startle you," she says politely, offering a polite bow.
"You didn't," he lies.
He sees a smirk form on her lips for the briefest moment. It disappears after he blinks. He thinks he shouldn't blink anymore. The woman raises her head, her brown hair cascading down her front side. The purple of her suit dominates her overall visage. She then pulls her hair back, revealing a silver dragon on her shoulder pad and a spider lily above her left breast. His eyes widen as he realizes who she is.
"A Shuuin spy asking me for help," he muses in disbelief. "The world is coming to an end."
"I will be brief and to the point, then," she says somberly. "I need you to smuggle someone from overseas."
Si-Woo's brows rise in surprise. Trafficking is not his expertise as he's rarely approached with such requests. I'll need to pull some strings for this one.
"It's not easy to get someone on the island but under the radar," he says. "It's going to cost you a lot."
"Payment is no issue, I assure you," she says and clasps her hands behind her back. "All I need is for the passenger to arrive safely in Japan."
"And this passenger," Si-Woo inquires, "they're unable to fly commercial?"
Her face betrays no thoughts or emotions as she answers, "I did come to you, didn't I?"
Si-Woo smirks. It is not often he meets a Shuuin spy. They're a cloak-and-dagger type, a rarity, skulking their asses around shadows. Shrewed, tactic, merciless - just a few of the epithets they enjoy in the underground.
"Where is this passenger?" he asks as he beckons her to join him on the nearby bench.
She sits next to him, keeping a respectful distance. "Norway, in a small town called Svolvær on Austvågøya Island."
He tries not to make a face. The name sounds so guttural.
"And the payment?" he asks, taking one final puff of smoke before extinguishing the cigarette under his foot.
"The passenger will pay on the sight," the woman responds cooly.
Si-Woo chuckles. "So mysterious."
"You will be amused, Kong-san," the woman says coyly. "Count on it."
He looks at her sideways, not doubting her words for a second.
November 27th, 2016. / 10:48 / Shuuin Manor, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
"She has gone insane," Mathias murmurs.
Tove nods in agreement. "Second that."
Rune lifts her hand in the air. "Me too."
Satoru pouts. "I think it's a solid plan."
The silence that follows his statement is deafening. Everyone present gives the white-haired sorcerer a blank stare. Mathias even rolls his eyes.
"Of course, you'd endorse her lunacy," he sighs, running a hand through his hair.
Satoru smirks. "She is my wife. I've made a vow to support her and all those other - things."
"If she jumps into the fire, will you follow then?" Mathias quips with Satoru shrugging in response.
"Herre," Tove warns. "Now is not the time. Our mistress asked us for assistance."
While true, her statement rings hollow in the ears of the older Drakon sibling. His frustration is bubbling. The situation is developing in a strange direction and while his gut tells him to trust his sister, his rationale is telling him otherwise.
"This is too dangerous," Mathias shakes his head. "Bringing a cursed weapon is one thing but a cursed corpse?"
"Cursed head," Satoru pointlessly corrects his brother-in-law.
Mathias takes a deep breath before continuing, "She could've told us why she's bringing that thing with her."
Tove says softly, "She wouldn't do this on a whim - "
"Don't underestimate her frivolous side," Mathias argues.
Tove frowns. His sudden change of demeanor alarms the spymaster. The Drakon siblings often have their disagreements but Tove had never seen any Shuuin revere their mistress more than Mathias.
Before she can question him about the matter, Satoru beats her to it, saying, "What's the worst that can happen anyway? The HQ finds out?"
Mathias tries his best not to strangle the man (not that he could, anyway). He settles for glaring at the man instead.
"She gave us a clear and concise plan," Rune says sheepishly, hoping to break the tension. "Yes, it's crazy but we've done crazy things before."
She looks at Mathias before her gaze shifts to Tove. The spymaster musters a small smile in return before placing a comforting hand on Mathias' shoulder (it brings him little comfort, though).
"She's coming back," Tove says to the older Drakon, rubbing his back. "After she's back, we'll figure out the rest."
Mathias sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. He hesitates before nodding, patting her shoulder in return. The words do not bring promise of comfort or conclusion - perhaps they're not meant to. All they are is a statement, a fact.
Their mistress is coming back.
The rest will have to wait.