remove your mask

Morning arrived at the Ravenhart estate, casting a soft golden glow over the sprawling gardens. Birds chirped in the crisp air, and the scent of freshly bloomed roses mixed with the damp earth. A young maid, dressed in a simple uniform, hummed as she watered the plants, her mind preoccupied with the day's chores.

As she moved to the next row of flowers, something unusual caught her eye—a figure curled up in the bushes.

She frowned. "Who in the world would sleep here?"

Irritated, she marched toward him, ready to scold the careless intruder. But as she drew closer, her breath hitched. Her watering can slipped from her grasp, crashing to the ground.

The figure wasn't sleeping.

All color drained from her face as her eyes widened in horror. His throat was slashed open, his lifeless eyes staring blankly at the sky, his blood staining the soil beneath him.

A scream tore from her lips.

Then, as if in a horrifying chain reaction, more screams erupted across the estate.

From the front courtyard to the servant quarters, every maid who stepped outside was met with the same gruesome sight—bodies strewn across the gardens, their limbs twisted unnaturally, throats gaping like grotesque smiles. Pools of blood seeped into the cobblestone paths, soaking the flower beds in a crimson tide.

Aurora sat behind her desk, sunlight streaming through the tall windows, casting golden hues across the room. The scent of parchment and ink lingered in the air as she flipped through the documents before her. the room was silent—until the heavy doors swung open.

The guards entered, their boots clanking against the polished floor. Their faces were tense, their movements stiff. Aurora barely glanced up, her fingers still gliding over the papers.

"So," she asked, her voice calm but firm, "whose corpses were they?"

The guards exchanged uneasy glances before one of them spoke.

"They were all assassins, my lady."

Aurora's pen paused mid-stroke. She finally looked up, her sharp blue eyes locking onto the speaker.

"All seventy-three corpses?"

The guard nodded stiffly. "Yes, my lady. Each carried deadly poison and lethal weapons—that's how we confirmed their identities."

Aurora leaned back slightly, her gaze shifting toward the open window. The morning sun illuminated her face, but her expression remained unreadable.

"Any guesses on who is behind it?" Her voice was steady, but there was an underlying sharpness that made the guards shift uneasily.

Beads of sweat formed on their brows. One of them swallowed hard before speaking.

"W-Well, my lady… it's the young master's new bodyguard. The one who wears the red Asura skull mask and black dress."

Aurora's fingers twitched. Bodyguard? What bodyguard?

Her thoughts raced. She had never seen such a man, never heard his name whispered among the estate's ranks. Yet the scariest part was not the secrecy—it was the sheer impossibility of what they were implying.

Seventy-three assassins. Dead.

All of them seasoned killers, trained in poison, stealth, and lethal arts. Not a single one survived to tell the tale. And this mysterious figure—the man wearing the skull mask—had wiped them out alone?

Her mind reeled, but her voice remained composed, though it carried an icy edge.

"I have never heard of him. When did he join? Who hired him as my brother's bodyguard? And why—" her voice rose slightly "—was I not informed? This is my brother we are talking about!"

Her composure cracked for a brief moment, allowing a glimpse of raw frustration and tension. She had spent years protecting Zed, fighting off the vultures circling their family, only for him to start keeping secrets from her?

The guards visibly recoiled at her outburst, their knees slightly buckling under the weight of her presence. One of them finally stammered out a response.

"M-My lady… Young Master Zed hired him himself… a-and he ordered us not to speak of it, so we obeyed."

Aurora's expression darkened. Zed… hired him personally?

Her hands clenched at her sides. Just how much had he changed? Had she been so absorbed in running the estate that she failed to see what was happening right under her nose?

Exhaling sharply, she turned away. "Leave. Call Zed here. Now."

The guards wasted no time, scurrying out of the room as if their very lives depended on it.

A few moments later, the heavy doors opened again.

Zed stepped in, moving with a calm yet unnerving grace. The dim candlelight cast sharp shadows over his face, making his cold, unreadable expression even more intimidating.

Aurora had always known her brother to be different. He had a mind bit sharper than any noble's, a gaze that saw beyond facades. But as she looked at him now, she felt something she had never felt before.

A chill.

Zed sat down, his eyes meeting hers with an almost detached gaze.

"You called me, sister?"

His voice was neutral, emotionless, yet it carried a weight that pressed against the room.

Aurora clenched her fists. The tension she had been holding back finally snapped.

"Zed… what is happening to you?" Her voice wavered slightly, the frustration, the worry, all surfacing at once. "As the days pass, you're becoming more and more unfamiliar to me. And now, I hear you've hired a bodyguard—without my knowledge! Who is he? Why didn't you inform me?"

Her words tumbled out, fueled by the growing fear gnawing at her heart.

Zed didn't respond immediately. He simply gazed at her, his piercing blue eyes holding something unreadable. Something distant.

Aurora had always believed that, no matter what, they were in this together. But right now… right now, it felt like she was looking at a stranger.

Zed let out a small sigh, his cold expression softening just a little.

"I'm sorry, sister. I should have told you sooner. Let me clear all your doubts."

With that, he slowly removed his gloves, revealing a tattoo of a coiled snake etched into his skin.

Aurora's breath hitched. Her eyes widened in shock.

Before she could even react, Zed spoke again.

"Heed my command. Come forth, Vasuki."

The tattoo began to glow, an eerie blue light radiating from his arm. The coiled snake came to life, slithering out of his skin like liquid energy. It moved gracefully, shifting and twisting midair before solidifying into a stunning blue blade. The weapon gleamed faintly in the sunlight, its surface reflecting an almost otherworldly glow.

Aurora could hardly believe what she was witnessing.

"This is my Soul Blade," Zed continued. "I found it alongside Sir Jaeger when we ventured into the Golden Wave, and…"

His voice trailed off. His fingers instinctively tightened around the hilt. His expression darkened. He closed his eyes, as if pushing away a painful memory.

And then—

A presence.

Out of nowhere, an entity materialized beside him.

Aurora barely had time to register what was happening. First the snake, and now—

Her breath caught in her throat.

He stood there, silent. Cloaked in black, his attire drenched in dried blood. His hands, too, bore crimson stains. The air around him felt suffocating, as if an abyss had opened up in the room.

And that mask.

The red Asura skull.

Aurora's mind screamed. This… this is the man who killed seventy-three assassins in a single night.

Her vision swayed. The shock was too much to handle all at once.

Her legs gave out.

Darkness took over.

A while later, Aurora stirred awake, finding herself lying on the office sofa. Her heart still pounded against her ribs, remnants of fear lingering in her chest.

She blinked, regaining her senses.

And then—

She saw him.

The masked entity was sitting across from her.

Aurora felt the blood drain from her face, but this time, she forced herself to stay composed. He… he's shorter than I expected. Almost the same height as Zed.

The way the guards had described him, she had pictured a monstrous figure. A walking calamity.

But now that she truly looked at him, he was… different.

The air around him was still unsettling, yet there was no hostility.

He was just sitting there, quietly observing her. His posture wasn't rigid, nor did he exude any intent to intimidate.

As a sister, it was her duty to acknowledge those who protected her family.

Aurora took a deep breath, then stood up. Gathering her dignity, she bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you for protecting my brother. I may not know your name or origins, but you have my gratitude. Without you, I fear Zed would be in danger far greater than we could imagine. For that, I owe you a debt."

The entity tilted his head. Then, to her surprise, he simply raised both hands and shook them, forming an 'X' across his chest. A silent refusal.

It's not a big deal.

That's what he was trying to say.

Aurora blinked. The infamous masked reaper… was this nonchalant?

Aurora, regaining her composure, cleared her throat. She wasn't the type to let a favor go unanswered.

"Regardless, I insist. You protected my brother, and as his sister, I must show my gratitude properly."

The masked entity remained silent, tilting his head slightly as if unsure how to respond.

"If there is anything you desire, name it. Wealth? A weapon? A title? Just say the word."

He shook his head again, his arms forming an 'X' in front of his chest. Nope. Not interested.

Aurora narrowed her eyes. Stubborn, huh?

Zed, watching this exchange from the side, leaned back in his chair, amusement flickering in his cold blue eyes.

But Aurora wasn't done yet.

She crossed her arms. "I won't take no for an answer. You must want something. Food? A rare artifact? Maybe a—"

The entity suddenly raised a single hand.

Aurora's eyes lit up. Finally, he's going to ask for something!

Then, he pointed at her teacup.

Silence.

Aurora blinked. "…Tea?"

He nodded.

Zed sighed, leaning forward slightly. "That's enough, sister." His voice carried a strange weight, his usual coldness laced with something deeper.

Aurora, still watching the masked entity with wary eyes, frowned. "What do you mean?"

Zed exhaled through his nose before turning to the figure beside him. "Remove your mask."