Crimson Raven | [MYTHICAL SERIES BOOK 2]

EIGHT || Grim Apologies

THE CASTLE HAD A CHILLY ATMOSPHERE TO IT AS MAMORU and Kurorai approached it. It wasn't as dangerous as it had been years ago, but for the android, it brought a wash of agony and dread. It looked the same as it had done before, with no damages or anything. Well, except for the inside probably.

Mamoru looked over at her, noting the said emotions reflecting in her eyes. "...Are you sure you want to do this?"

Kurorai looked over at him, brushing a strand of her white hair absently from her face. "I am. What about you?"

Not expecting her to ask that, he frowned, sighing to himself. "Honestly? Pretty scared, but...we need to do this, one way or another."

They looked back at the castle and headed on over, with Kurorai taking a moment to recall where the entrance was. To their surprise, the door was already open.

In fact, it had been blown to smithereens, the pieces still on the floor. This made the android and detective stop in their tracks.

"...Uh, it wasn't like this before." Kurorai noted, her crimson hues flickering over to the vacant entrance. Even if parts of her body were metal, she still felt a chill go up her spine. Even if she was sure that nothing would go wrong in finding Eleni, she couldn't help but feel concern start bubbling up inside her at a fast rate. "Eleni must've gotten here in a hurry."

"That, or something could've tried to track her down. Somehow." Mamoru agreed, prior to recalling the one diamond earring of Bastiaan's that he was still looking over. That was when he realized the grim reality of it. "....Or someone."

He picked up the pace, his shoes hitting across the paved floor. Kurorai immediately followed suit, the detective's words causing their concern to continue lingering highly. 

"Hey, Mamoru. Wait!" Kurorai caught up with him. "What is it?"

"The earring. Bastiaan had one just like it!" Mamoru noted to her as they fell into a synchronous walking rhythm. "I had been wondering what it's purpose was. But given that all of the people in this organization wear this, then that means Airalos could be very easily tracking them. To make sure there are no loose ends."

"...That sounds..." Eerily similar to how Acacius used the dark flames on me and Kuroma.

"Very dark, but it is true." Mamoru voiced, unaware that wasn't what Kurorai was going to say. "Let's get going."

Kurorai nodded and they continued going on, deciding not to talk any further. The dark bricks and lack of furniture was definitely ominous, but the damages of the fight with Sakari years ago still stayed there. As an annoying reminder of the past, of what she and Kuroma were forced to do thanks to Tobias.

Due to the stillness of the whole place around them, Kurorai was able to hyperfocus on the scenery around her. After turning several corners and feeling like they were getting nowhere, Kurorai halted when a sound alerted her.

"...Hold on." Kurorai held up an arm, listening once more. "I hear something."

Mamoru looked at her with a raised, quizzical brow. "What do you hear? I can't hear any—"

The android shushed him, muttering something about entities being able to hear sounds a lot more higher than humans could. "...It sounds like someone's crying. I think that's her, Mamoru. It's coming from over there!"

She pointed to the room they were near - which happened to be the throne room. With a shared worried glance, they picked up the pace, finding themselves shocked at how much light spilled into the room.

...Given that there was no windows at all.

In fact, it came from a figure's eyes. The earring of theirs was glowing a bright magenta, unmistakable in the dim room. The light was almost blinding and Kurorai almost felt her blood run cold at realizing what it meant.