the last hurrah

The masked man wasted no time, his composure cracking as he realized the sheer power standing before him. With a swift motion, he raised both hands and chanted, his voice echoing through the room like a thunderclap. "Seventh Circle Absolute Offense Magic: Gray Pillar!"

A massive column of blinding gray energy surged forth, the sheer force of it causing the walls to shudder and crack. The spell was devastating, a testament to the masked man's mastery over offensive magic. It roared toward Shaun with the intent to obliterate everything in its path.

But Shaun didn't move. He didn't flinch. As the attack bore down on him, he calmly raised a hand, his aura shimmering around him like an impenetrable shield. The Gray Pillar crashed into his barrier, the impact shaking the very foundations of the mansion. Yet, the spell did nothing. The aura absorbed the attack effortlessly, dispersing the overwhelming energy into harmless light. Shaun continued his slow, deliberate stride forward, his expression unreadable.

The masked man's confidence faltered, panic flashing in his eyes. He glanced at the ruined remnants of his spell, then at Shaun, who was now mere steps away. Without a second thought, he turned and began to retreat, chanting under his breath. A rift in the air tore open—a teleportation spell. He lunged toward it, desperate to escape.

But escape wasn't an option.

From the shadows, Umbra, Shaun's black bird familiar, streaked through the air like a harbinger of death. With a shrill, otherworldly cry, the bird struck. The masked man's teleportation spell collapsed as his left leg, left arm, and part of his abdomen began to disintegrate into nothingness. Umbra's mastery over void and spatial magic rendered the masked man's body a feast for the void, the flesh dissolving into oblivion.

Before the masked man could even scream, Shaun's second familiar, Tempest, a shimmering bird with eyes that glowed like swirling galaxies, descended upon him. Tempest's power surged, diving directly into the man's mind. In a single second, the masked man's consciousness was dragged into a hellish storm of agony, fear, and despair. Tempest's ability to manipulate minds unleashed an eternity's worth of suffering within the span of a heartbeat. The masked man's cries never came; his body stiffened as his mind unraveled into madness.

And then, silence.

The masked man's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, his face twisted in an expression of pure terror. Shaun stood over him, his cold, calculating eyes briefly flickering with disdain before returning to their usual calm.

"good job guys you know your stuff i am proud of you" Shaun murmured, stepping over the remains. The familiars cawed in response before disappearing into the shadows, their task clear. 

The Countess leaned against the crumbling wall, her body bloodied and broken, her breaths ragged. Her eyes, wide with disbelief, remained fixed on Shaun. He was just a boy—a ten-year-old boy. Yet, the power he had unleashed was beyond anything she had ever imagined.

In her mind, she replayed the moment he dismantled the masked man's spell, the sheer ease with which he countered it, and the terrifying efficiency of his familiars. She wanted to speak, to thank him for saving her, but her voice caught in her throat. Instead, she whispered faintly, her words barely audible, "...What... are you?"

Ikos lay sprawled on the floor, his body battered, his strength nearly gone. Blood trickled from his lips as he tried to push himself up, only to collapse again. He stared at Shaun with a mix of awe and guilt.

"My lord…" he muttered, his voice weak but heavy with remorse. "We... failed to protect your honor you had to be humiliated because of me." His hands clenched into fists, frustration mingling with guilt. He had underestimated and somewhat insulted Shaun—grossly so. And yet, despite his failure, Shaun had returned and single-handedly turned the tide his failure as butler and knight of his lady countess redwood ate him alive.

Sally and Mindy were huddled together, holding onto Rosie's unconscious body. Their faces were pale, their expressions torn between horror and relief.

Mindy whispered, her voice shaking, "How... how is he this strong? He's just a child…"

Sally tightened her grip on Rosie, her gaze fixed on Shaun as he stood amidst the destruction, unscathed. "He's not just a child," she said quietly. "He is someone incredibly capable and powerful we better not make him our enemy ."

Glide, unconscious and slumped against a shattered column, was blissfully unaware of the horrible fate that awaited her. Her face, twisted in pain even in unconsciousness, was a stark reminder of Shaun's overwhelming dominance.

shaun:"umbra throw this girl in basement than let tempest do her job to make her suffer every bit and take every single information needed and when she is no good and suffered enough throw her near jim he must hungry want some human taste"

Umbra, absorbed Glide into the abyss of its darkness. The faint, haunting cries of the unconscious assassin echoed for a moment before being swallowed completely. The bird vanished into the void, leaving nothing behind.

Shaun turned his focus back to the battered figures before him, his expression devoid of any warmth. He walked toward the Countess, each step echoing ominously in the destroyed room. His gaze swept over her, assessing her injuries and the state of her companions, as if calculating their worth.

When he finally spoke, his tone was cold and deliberate. "Who might you be? The way you're injured, it's clear you're not one of the assassins. So why are you here?"

Ikos, his voice strained and filled with desperation, quickly interjected. "Master Shaun, this is the Countess of Redwood. She came to meet you, but then... all of this happened."

Shaun's sharp eyes narrowed slightly, shifting from Ikos to the Countess. "Meet me? Why would a figure like you bother with a so-called noble in name only—a nobody like me?" His voice carried no bitterness, only a flat, matter-of-fact tone that made his words sting all the more.

The Countess straightened slightly, her pain evident but her pride unyielding. "Do not belittle yourself, Lord Shaun. We have heard of your great deeds—the way you've helped the townsfolk and protected them from harm. We wanted to see you personally to offer our gratitude. And even now, we've witnessed your greatness firsthand, seeing how you saved us."

Shaun's expression didn't change, his gaze unwavering and unreadable. "You're good with words," he said bluntly. "I guess that's how real nobles operate. But let's make one thing clear—I didn't save you. I was simply cleaning my house of vermin. That's all."

The Countess's lips parted as if to respond, but Shaun continued, cutting her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "And whatever schemes you were plotting, keep me out of them. You came here because of Heron, didn't you?" He let out a bitter chuckle, his voice dripping with disdain. "In the end, you just handed him a golden opportunity—to kill two birds with one stone. Lucky for you, I happened to come home in time."

Ikos clenched his fists, his body trembling with the urge to speak, but the Countess placed a hand on his arm, silencing him. Her gaze softened, as if silently pleading with Shaun to understand, but his cold demeanor remained unshaken.

Shaun's attention shifted to Rosie, his sharp eyes softening ever so slightly as he took in her unconscious form. "Even that girl got caught up in this mess..." His voice trailed off as his gaze swept over the ruined room, the bloodstained walls, and the bodies of his loyal servants.

His expression darkened. "My house is wrecked, my servants are dead... How annoying." He exhaled deeply, his tone shifting from frustration to icy resolve. "Heron... I guess I'll have to deal with him next. If he thinks he can keep bothering me like this, he's got another thing coming."

The room fell silent once more, the weight of Shaun's words sinking into everyone present.

The Countess, battered and bruised, looked up at Shaun with worry etched on her face. Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried to sound composed. "What do you mean, Master Shaun? What are you planning to do? Please, don't do anything hasty."

Shaun paused, his back turned to her. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, and for a moment, there was silence, save for the faint crackling of flames still burning in the wreckage. Then, he let out a low chuckle, though it lacked humor.

"Hasty?" He shook his head, his tone calm but carrying a dangerous edge. "No, this isn't hasty. I've been preparing for this for months. It's just the right time."

But as he finished speaking, his expression shifted, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "Oops," he thought to himself. "I'm talking too much. Almost gave away too much information. Can't have that."

He turned his head slightly, enough for the Countess to see his sharp, calculating eyes. "Anyway, it's none of your concern. Rest here or do whatever you want. And please... take care of that girl, Rosie, while you're at it." His tone softened just a fraction as he mentioned the unconscious child, but it was fleeting.

Shaun began walking away, his presence as commanding as ever. As he reached the threshold, he stopped once more, glancing back over his shoulder. "I'll remove the spell on the estate. After that, I'll be... busy. There are funerals to prepare for."

Without waiting for a response, he disappeared down the corridor, his steps echoing faintly in the devastated mansion.

As Shaun turned away, Countess couldn't help but watch him go. Her breath caught in her throat, a strange and sudden wave of exhaustion overcoming her. It was as though her body had been holding back the weight of the entire day, and now, the release came all at once.

Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor with a soft thud. Sally and Mindy quickly rushed to her side, their arms steadying her before she could fall completely.

"Lady, are you alright?" Mindy asked, her voice filled with concern.

Ikos, standing a few paces away, sighed heavily, his gaze filled with a quiet understanding. "She's exhausted. Everything that's happened... it's taken its toll."

He looked over at Sally and Mindy, nodding to them. "Let's move her somewhere safer. We can't have her resting here."

The two women nodded, gently helping Countess to her feet. Ikos, ever the dutiful servant, took Rosie in his arms, making sure to check on her before turning to follow them. Countess, still weak, allowed herself to be guided, but as they moved, her voice, though faint, broke the silence.

"Ugh... I'm so tired... to the point where even that ruthless boy... he almost seemed like a cuddly cat plushy." She let out a soft, defeated laugh. "You won't believe how hard I was trying not to just scoop him up and cuddle him. To think... someone so cute could have such terrifying power."

Sally and Mindy exchanged glances, and Sally spoke up first, her tone amused. "Yes, my lady. Even I was feeling that way... There's something about him. Despite how cold he is, there's something almost... endearing about him."

Mindy, who had been walking beside Sally, added with a thoughtful look, "Master Shaun has this... charm. If he tried, he could definitely be one of the most adorable 10-year-olds around. Not the traditional handsome type, but definitely cute. Too bad that's not his priority."

Countess sighed heavily, leaning against Sally for support. "I know. I just... can't get the thought out of my head. How could someone with such a terrifying presence have such a cute face?"

Ikos, walking ahead of them, couldn't help but feel a little perplexed by their conversation. Are we really talking about the boy's looks? The same boy who just incinerated a beastman without breaking a sweat?

But then, the conversation shifted, and Ikos caught himself in the middle of the next thought. It was time to face the reality of their situation. As they moved to a safer place, he spoke up, his voice steady but tinged with sadness.

"We should talk about Harold and Smith... both of them gave their lives today," Ikos said, his tone somber. "Their deaths... it's something we can't ignore. They were strong, they were loyal, and now... they're gone. We should not forget them we should show our outmost respect for those 2 fallen servants no warriors i will even stay till their funereal"

countess:"so will i"

Sally and Mindy both nodded, their faces solemn.

After a long moment of silence, Mindy broke the stillness. " We need to heal and rest, but we also need to figure out what we're going to do next. What about Master Shaun? What's his plan for Heron?"

Countess, though tired, straightened up slightly, gathering her strength. "I'm not sure, but from the way he said it... he's going to finish Heron, break him, or maybe do something against him. I don't know the details, but... I believe he won't let Heron go unpunished."

Sally sighed, her voice quiet but firm. "It's best if we stay out of Shaun's fight with Heron. No good will come of getting involved. Let him handle it. Besides, we might benefit from observing him, seeing how he plans things. If he succeeds in whatever he's planning, we could gain something from it."

Ikos glanced back at them. "Exactly. No matter how this plays out, it'll be best for us to keep out of his way... and at the same time, observe. He's unpredictable, but if we stick close, we might be able to use this to our advantage."

Mindy gave a thoughtful nod. "And avoiding becoming his enemy is key. If we end up on the wrong side of him, we'd be in far worse shape than we are now."

Countess closed her eyes, her face pained but resolute. "Yes. We have to avoid that at all costs. Shaun is not someone we can afford to be against."

As they continued on, heading toward a safer space to rest, Countess's thoughts were consumed by the strange, complicated boy they'd just met. A boy whose power was unmatched, whose charm was unsettling, and whose future would no doubt shape the path of everyone around him.

Shaun wandered through the deep, sprawling garden of his mansion, the air heavy with the scent of freshly cut grass and the faint perfume of flowers blooming in secret corners. The estate, though marred by recent chaos, still held the quiet allure of a place that had seen many years pass in its walls. He moved with a deliberate pace, his steps slow, almost as if savoring the peace in this forgotten corner of the mansion.

"Ignis is this the place" ignis gave spark of fire in approval

The giant tree at the center of the garden loomed before him, its massive trunk twisted with age and wisdom, branches reaching far and wide as though seeking to touch the heavens. Shaun knew this tree well. It had stood for centuries, guarding secrets older than the mansion itself. A strange connection to the earth seemed to pulse through the ground beneath his feet, and despite the eerie calm that enveloped him, Shaun felt a stirring of something deep within.

He walked closer, his eyes scanning the base of the tree where the ground appeared more disturbed than usual. The soil, soft and yielding, betrayed the marks of someone—or something—having recently moved it aside. As Shaun knelt down, his fingers brushed the earth, pushing aside the dirt with ease. A hidden passage, worn with age but still intact, revealed itself to him. It was a narrow, stone staircase leading downward into the earth, cloaked in shadows.

Shaun hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward. He knew what he was about to find. His hand instinctively reached for the dagger sheathed at his side, and his aura began to hum softly, preparing him for whatever lay ahead. The passage was cramped, the air damp with the scent of stone and time, but Shaun moved with purpose, his footfalls muffled by the cool stone beneath him.

At the end of the passage, he reached a heavy iron door, its surface engraved with intricate symbols of old—sigils that pulsed faintly with a power only the keenest of senses could detect. This door had been sealed for years, a barrier that only the most trusted—or perhaps the most reckless—could breach. Shaun's fingers brushed against the cool metal, and the door creaked open slowly, revealing a small, dimly lit room.

The room was sparse, save for a pedestal at its center. On that pedestal rested the artifact—The Eyes of Symphony.