"The stone… has been stolen! How is that possible?" Master Hoshino's voice boomed across the empty hall. He sat rigidly on his high seat, eyes wide with disbelief, as Selene stood calmly before him, untouched by the shock.
"Someone from your clan stole it," Selene said, cutting straight to the point. She didn't want to waste time listening to his taunts.
"What do you mean… someone from my clan?" he said, incredulous, his voice rising. "That stone has been guarded for centuries by the most powerful queen in Kaida. Who would dare challenge you?"
Selene didn't flinch. Her presence was steady, almost serene, and for a moment, the hall itself seemed to hold its breath.
"Which house do you suspect, Queen Selene?" he pressed, a hint of suspicion creeping in.
"Your house," Selene said without hesitation. "The one with the purple hair. I need her here… to confirm."
"This… this is an accusation?" Master Hoshino's voice faltered slightly, though he quickly recovered with a scoff. "Lady Shion is not capable of such an act. And I thought the monks would give their lives to protect the stone. Yet even they… fail to guard something so sacred. Why would Lady Shion even be on that island in the first place? That place is too sacred… too hidden."
The scoff didn't sit well. In an instant, the hall trembled, the marble floor cracking faintly beneath their feet. Ice crept along the walls as Selene's presence expanded, freezing the room with an unyielding chill. Even Master Hoshino's high seat groaned under the sudden pressure. He gripped the arms of his seat, chest rising and falling rapidly, powerless. No force in Kaida could touch her. She had existed long before his ancestors, an immortal who had seen centuries pass.
"Anyone there!" he shouted, voice echoing through the hall. A guard hurried in, bowing deeply.
"Get Lady Shion here—immediately," Hoshino ordered. The guard disappeared as quickly as he had come, leaving Master Hoshino staring at Selene, his breaths harsh, uneven, the cold from her presence brushing against his skin.
.....
"Are you blaming me… for something you failed to protect?" Shion's voice was calm, unwavering, carrying a quiet strength as she looked directly at Selene. Fear didn't touch her.
"I am not blaming you," Selene replied, her voice even, though her eyes sparkled with accusation. "You were the last person seen in the temple. And the moment you left… it was gone. Isn't it obvious?"
Shion tilted her head slightly, voice soft but deliberate. "I don't even know what you're talking about. I've never laid hands on it—or set foot on that island. But… if the stone is missing, you should find it soon—before it falls into the wrong hands. I've heard many stories about the stones of Kaida… and the one you, the Ice Queen, is protecting. The dark stone has to be the most dangerous one, right?"
Selene's eyes narrowed, sharp and calculating. "How do you know it's the dark stone I'm speaking of?"
"Every generation knows," Shion said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, like the wind brushing through ancient halls. "The dark stone… is the only stone kept in your care, Queen Selene. And if I had it… you would sense it. But you don't."
"I don't know how anyone could take it," Selene said, stepping closer, eyes sharp.
"The crest… it's carved from ancient runes. No one is meant to possess it. If it's in your hands… return it. The longer it remains with someone, the stronger its control becomes."
Shion's eyes glimmered faintly, a small, confident smirk playing on her lips. "Now that the stone is missing, finding it is your priority. And… since you'll be busy, it looks like the wedding won't happen."
Selene's voice was cold, unyielding, like ice forming on still water. "Even if the world were ending, I would still marry Kisaragi."
Shion's jaw tightened slightly, just enough to betray the weight behind her restrained composure—but outwardly, she remained calm, her expression unreadable.
"Have you confirmed it now?" Master Hoshino's voice rang out from his high seat, calm yet biting, carrying a hint of mockery. "Lady Shion does not have the stone. If you wish, I can summon every purple-haired girl in my clan for you to see, Queen Selene."
"There's no need," Selene said, turning gracefully. "I'll find it—it's my duty, after all." Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she left the hall, leaving a quiet tension in her wake. Shion's lips curved into a tiny, knowing smirk.
Then Master Hoshino's voice cut through the quiet, deeper, heavier. "Do you have it?"
The weight of it pressed against Shion like winter air. She bowed low, chest tight, feeling his gaze pierce her very soul.
"No… Father, I don't have the stone." Her hands trembled slightly, tiny quivers betraying the truth she held.
He rose, deliberate, each step echoing through the hall. His hand, cold and unyielding like iron, rested on her shoulder. He lifted her chin gently, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"Then… why are your hands shaking?" The words were sharp, slicing through the stillness.
"I… I don't have it. I've never even laid eyes on it," she whispered, voice small, fragile—but earnest.
His gaze lingered, searching, trying to see past the surface. "What happened in Suho?"
"They… they refused to pledge loyalty. We fought back… but lost most of the guards. I swear, Father… I never set foot on that island." Her chest heaved, soft, uneven breaths betraying the fear she refused to name.
"So… you failed. Just a simple mission… and you failed. Are you really worthy to be my successor?" His voice cut sharper than a blade. Shion's knuckles curled tightly, fingernails biting into her palms.
He let go, stepping back toward his high seat. "Next time, I'll send Akari. Let's see how successful she will be."
Her knees hit the floor before she could think. A silent, desperate plea rooted her there.
"I… I will do better, Father!" Her voice cracked, spilling determination into the quiet room. "I'll return to the land. I'll make sure they pledge their alliance. I'll do anything you ask… I will not fail!"
She swallowed hard, chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm, heart hammering beneath her ribs. Master Hoshino saw it all—the fear, the tension, the quiet desperation of a girl determined not to be overshadowed. Yet he said nothing, only returned to his seat, the room falling colder in his silence.
"The next mission will be reported to you soon. Fail… and forget about being my successor." His words lingered, sharp and unyielding, leaving Shion with nothing but her resolve—and a silent promise to herself.