LM0012 Palace of the Shadow King

In the quiet, small village and mountain area located in the northern part of Kyoto, Japan, stood the Kageōden which meant "Palace of the Shadow King", an imposing mansion that had withstood the tests of time. Its façade was a testament to centuries of history, with dark stone walls and towering wooden beams that seemed to stretch endlessly toward the sky. Ivy clung to its surface, adding an air of mystery to the structure, while the ancient cedar trees surrounding it created an almost ethereal atmosphere. The roof, covered with intricately designed tiles, curved upward in traditional Japanese style, and the windows were framed by delicate wooden shutters, hinting at the elegance and secretive legacy hidden within.

Inside, one of the rooms exuded an air of calm. It was a space untouched by modern distractions, where time itself seemed to slow down. The soft sound of water trickling from a bamboo fountain filled the room, its rhythmic flow adding to the tranquility of the environment. Sitting at a low table on the tatami, his posture perfect and his presence almost ethereal, was a handsome young man. His eyes were closed, his features serene, and there was an undeniable aura of peace surrounding him—his quiet composure perfectly in sync with the peaceful surroundings.

He wore a black kimono, the fabric rich and luxurious, every fold and crease precisely placed. The kimono itself seemed to reflect the deep heritage of the Kageōden, a reminder of the lineage he came from—a family with roots that went back centuries. In this moment, he appeared as though he was part of the very walls, as if he had always belonged to this place. His silence was not one of solitude, but of quiet understanding, his mind attuned to the subtle rhythms of life in the palace—like the steady trickle of water, ever constant, ever soothing.

Hizuki Kagerou, the master of the Kageōden, which symbolized the sun and moon, shadow and wolf, a figure of mystery and serenity, connected to a legacy far older and more powerful than most could ever imagine. His presence was as timeless as the palace itself, grounded in a legacy that transcended ordinary understanding.

The peaceful silence was abruptly disturbed by the echo of footsteps on the wooden floors, a clear sign that something urgent had arrived. The footsteps were deliberate, a sharp contrast to the calm that had enveloped the room moments before. Soon, a young man dressed in a simple servant's kimono entered the periphery of the space. His attire was far more humble—made from a coarse, muted fabric, it was cut plainly, without the intricacy or elegance of the master's robes. The kimono's sleeves were modestly short, and the stitching was utilitarian, designed for function rather than beauty. He wore a small wooden name tag pinned near his chest, marking his position in the hierarchy of the palace.

The servant stopped at the edge of the balcony, not daring to cross the threshold into the room where Hizuki sat, respecting the unspoken boundary that marked the sacred space of the master. His posture was respectful but tense, aware that even in his lowly station, every action had to be performed with precision.

"Master," the servant called softly, his voice carrying the weight of deference.

Hizuki's eyelids fluttered open, revealing eyes unlike any the servant had ever seen. One eye shimmered like molten gold, a fiery hue that seemed to burn with quiet intensity. The other was icy blue, cold and sharp, as though it had been carved from the frost itself. The servant felt a shiver run through him at the sight, instinctively sitting up straighter under the weight of the gaze that seemed to pierce through him.

Hizuki said nothing, but the stillness of the moment seemed to stretch, holding both of them in a space where words weren't necessary, but the silence carried a heavy, unspoken message.

The servant froze in place, his mind momentarily blank, as though the very air had been stolen from him. He couldn't bring himself to speak, his body tense and rigid, completely captivated by the intense gaze of his master. The raw, magnetic force of Hizuki's presence was overwhelming—so powerful that even his instincts, honed through years of service, could barely process the weight of the moment. The servant felt as if he was standing on the edge of a vast chasm, caught between awe and terror, utterly at the mercy of the master's gaze.

But just as the silence seemed unbearable, the soft sound of footsteps reached the room—lighter, more measured, and undeniably familiar. The newcomer's presence was immediately different, more casual, and it broke the tension in the air.

"Hizuki, stop scaring your own people," the voice said with a playful chuckle, the tone teasing yet affectionate. "I could feel your aura oppressing from the gate."

The door slid open, revealing a tall, young man who carried himself with an easy confidence. His clothes were a blend of sharp sophistication and modern ease, well-suited to the autumn season. He wore a tailored dark green coat with a structured, military-inspired cut, its silhouette accented by polished silver buttons. Beneath the coat, a charcoal turtleneck hugged his frame, and slim-fit trousers in a deep brown paired with sleek boots that were both stylish and practical for the season. The man exuded a refined, effortless charm that made him seem almost out of place in a room steeped in ancient tradition, but there was no mistaking the familiarity in his easy grin.

His longish, curly reddish-brown hair framed his face with a carefree elegance, the natural waves catching the light as he moved. His amber eyes twinkled with a playful energy, the color reminiscent of warm honey under sunlight, contrasting the cool serenity of the room. There was a mischievousness to the glint in his gaze, as though he always knew something others didn't, and he enjoyed every moment of it. Despite his casual demeanor, there was a sharpness beneath it, a sense that he, too, held his own power, albeit with a lighter touch than Hizuki's commanding presence.

His voice, too, carried a playful edge as he leaned casually against the doorframe, a subtle challenge in his gaze. "Could you tone it down a little bit?" the man asked, his voice light but filled with a knowing warmth.

Hizuki's sharp eyes flicked toward the newcomer, and for a brief moment, his gaze softened. Slowly, he withdrew the intensity of his presence. The energy that had once vibrated through the air like a looming storm began to recede, leaving behind an almost imperceptible ripple that still resonated in the room.

Hizuki Kagerou's aura was like that of a superior predator, raw and primal, capable of inducing a deep, visceral fear in any weaker creature. It was the force of someone who commanded respect and fear without uttering a word—an invisible weight that bore down on everything around him, like the presence of a wolf in a field of prey. It was a force that could set the air quivering and leave even the most composed feeling vulnerable, as if the slightest wrong move could lead to dire consequences.

When Hizuki retracted it, however, the atmosphere lightened, though not by much. His presence still lingered like a faint but constant pressure, and the servant, who had been trembling moments earlier, slowly exhaled a breath he didn't realize he was holding. His hands relaxed at his sides, but the unease remained.

The newcomer, unaffected by the lingering aura, raised an eyebrow, a subtle challenge in his gaze as he leaned casually against the frame of the door. His smirk was knowing, as though he'd seen this before. "Really, Hizuki, you need to chill," the newcomer advised as he attempted to enter the room. However, before he could step into the room from the balcony, Hizuki unleashed an aura stronger than earlier, freezing even the newcomer on the spot as he looked at him in confusion.

"Boots," Hizuki uttered, his voice calm yet firm.

The newcomer's eyes widened in realization, and with a quick, almost theatrical gasp, he immediately removed his shoes, leaving them by the balcony. With a playful, exaggerated hop, he stepped into the room, as though there was some kind of invisible barricade he was carefully navigating, though there was none.

He turned to the servant, who had just recovered from the second onslaught of aura. The servant was visibly shaken, but with a polite nod, the newcomer waved him away. "I'll take it from here. You go do your stuff."

The servant hesitated for a moment, glancing toward Hizuki for permission. Hizuki's gaze met his, and after a brief, silent moment of acknowledgment, the servant curtsied respectfully before hurrying away, leaving the room in a more relaxed atmosphere.

"So, what does Beta Jushin Kagerou want with me?"