Siaara, don't be afraid

Afternoon at the Café..

It was around midday when Lucien walked into the café once again.

Siaara, busy recording orders, greeted without looking up, "Welcome!"

But the moment she lifted her head and saw Lucien standing there, her smile disappeared. Her brows furrowed, and irritation laced her voice.

"You again?"

Lucien, completely unaffected by her annoyance, flashed a charming, almost dangerous smile. Amused, he thought to himself, They really are alike. No wonder they ended up together.

But pushing that thought aside, he spoke in a teasing tone, "Siaara, is this how you always welcome your guests? I might just have to file a complaint with the owner."

Siaara clenched her fists. Grinding her teeth, she returned his smirk with an equally venomous one.

"Oh, don't bother, sir! Why go through all that trouble? I'll file a complaint against myself," she snapped.

She was about to walk away when Lucien stepped in her path.

"Oh, come now, Siaara. No need to take it personally," he chuckled. "I'm just here for a cup of coffee, brewed by none other than Chef Leon himself."

Siaara glared at him. In a cold voice, she said, "Then go have your coffee and stop messing with my head. It's not a cake I can serve you on a platter."

With that, she turned back to her work, ignoring him.

But Lucien?

He made himself comfortable at the same table he had occupied the day before. A mysterious smile played on his lips, as if he knew something no one else did.

The waiter took Lucien's order and headed toward the kitchen. Meanwhile, Lucien sat back, waiting for his coffee, his eyes gleaming with an odd spark—like he was here for something far beyond just a simple drink.

In the Kitchen…

Leon was busy with his work when the waiter relayed Lucien's order. His hands froze mid-action. His grip tightened slightly, and in the next moment, a strange silence echoed in his mind.

Lucien… what are you doing here again?

The words weren't spoken aloud. They rang directly in Lucien's mind—telepathy.

Sitting at his table, Lucien's smirk deepened. His gaze remained fixed on Siaara, as if she were an intriguing puzzle he was eager to solve.

Without changing his expression, he responded in his mind, Oh, Leon… why are you always so tense? I'm just a simple customer enjoying my favorite coffee.

A faint golden glow flickered in Leon's eyes. He knew one thing for sure, Lucien never did anything without a reason.

Don't lie. Your presence here… it's not just a coincidence.

Lucien tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his smirk widening.

"Coincidence?" he whispered under his breath, amused. "No, Leon… this is fate."

The café door swung open.

But this time, something strange happened.

A deafening silence filled the space. Time itself seemed to freeze—the ticking hands of the clock, the aroma of coffee lingering in the air, the people seated at their tables, everything turned still, as if trapped in a photograph.

Yet, three people could still move—Leon, Lucien, and Siaara.

Siaara, who had been working just moments ago, felt her heartbeat hammering against her chest. An eerie sensation crawled over her skin, but she couldn't quite grasp what it was.

Leon stepped out of the kitchen, his movements swift and precise. At the same time, Lucien rose from his seat.

Their eyes flashed—deep, mysterious gold illuminating within them.

Siaara's breath hitched as she looked at both of them. Her pupils constricted.

Her instincts screamed that something was very, very wrong, something she had never encountered before.

"What's going on?" Siaara whispered, panic seeping into her voice.

But before anyone could answer, The bracelet on her wrist flared to life, glowing with an intensity that was almost blinding.

The radiance spread, consuming the café in waves of brilliant light. It grew so intense that both Leon and Lucien had to shield their eyes.

Lucien narrowed his gaze into the brightness. "What the hell is this, Leon?"

Leon, using his power, barely managed to keep his eyes open. His gaze locked onto Siaara, who was clutching her wrist tightly, her face twisted in pain.

"It's Siaara's bracelet," Leon muttered, his voice edged with uncertainty. "But I don't know why it's glowing with such power."

And then, The door creaked open once more.

A shadow drifted in.

A headless figure floated through the air. It had no eyes, yet somehow, Siaara could feel its gaze boring into her soul.

The moment she saw it, her breath hitched. Her eyes widened in sheer terror.

"You… are the one," the eerie voice of the spirit echoed, reverberating through the room.

At that moment, The light from Siaara's bracelet flickered, dimming.

Leon and Lucien's expressions darkened instantly.

They knew exactly who had sent this entity.

Lucien glanced at Leon, but Leon's eyes were already burning with fury.

"Siaara, don't be afraid!" Leon's voice was firm and commanding.

But it was too late.

The moment Siaara let fear take hold, the bracelet's light faded further. A sharp burning sensation spread through her wrist.

She gasped in pain, her legs giving out beneath her as she collapsed to the floor.

Lucien instinctively stepped forward, reaching out to help her, "Stop!"

Leon's voice thundered through the café, making the air grow thick with his command.

For a brief moment, the entire space felt suffocating.

Leon strode toward Siaara, his dark golden eyes glowing with raw power, a power that only surfaced when he was at his fullest strength.

Lucien observed him with growing intrigue. "So, you're actually going to try and save her?"

Leon didn't respond.

Instead, he gently lifted Siaara's face, his expression unreadable.

"Siaara, you're afraid. You need to control yourself."

Siaara's gaze flickered weakly toward her wrist, which was still burning red.

"But… it… hurts…" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"I'm here."

Leon's voice was quiet but unshakable. "Don't be afraid. As long as I'm with you, no one can lay a finger on you."

Something in his words resonated within Siaara, grounding her.

Her erratic breathing slowed.

The more she steadied herself, the less intense the burning sensation became.

And as she found her focus, the bracelet's glow flared up once more, stronger this time. Its light pushed back against the dark energy around them.

But the brightness was too much.

Lucien closed his eyes briefly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Interesting…" Yet, the headless shadow remained.

"What now?" Lucien murmured.

Leon's gaze turned ice-cold as he stared down the spirit.

Then, summoning the full force of his power, he declared, "Now, your game ends."

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