Outside the biggest shopping complex in Imperius City, capital of Avaloria, a girl leaned against a luxurious car, thumbs dancing across her EtherPad.
No one seeing her could ever say that the girl standing before them was a victim of abyssal corruption in the past.
People passing by couldn’t help but slow, stare, and whisper—as if srized—but she didn’t spare them a glance.
She only watched the screen, ruby red eyes intent, the faintest crease on her brow.
It was Lily Dragonheart.
Her outfit scread rebellious teen—distressed midnight jeans artfully torn at the knees and thigh, a fitted white graphic tee tucked under a cropped charcoal bomber jacket with silver zippers, and chunky black combat boots laced to the ankle.
Fingerless gloves hugged her hands; a slim choker and a tiny crescent-moon earring glinted when she turned.
Her silver hair spilled in sleek, luminous waves past her shoulders, catching the sun like liquid starlight.
Those ruby-red eyes—bright, steady, impossible to ignore—could snare a heart at a glance.
She was just shy of fourteen, yet already taller than most of her peers, the confident lines of her posture making the crowd feel like background noise.
A pair of girlfriends ca striding along, noticed their boyfriends rubbernecking, and—*smack, smack*—delivered synchronized cuffings to the back of two heads.
One guy stumbled on the first step of the mall stairs, another clipped a planter. Mutters of apology, glares from their partners.
Lily never lifted her gaze.
She was too busy calling her brother.
Again.
Her call history showed a rciless column of redials. She sighed, cheeks puffing.
’That stupid idiot. He totally forgot our plan and now he’s too scared to pick up my calls.’She stabbed the call button for the twentieth ti.
A voice drifted from the driver’s seat through the cracked window, dry and amused. "He stood you up, didn’t he?"
Lily glanced toward the car. Alyssa sat behind the wheel, releasing a long, theatrical sigh before pushing the door open and stepping out. Heads swiveled again—the crowd was defenseless against this entrance, too.
Even in her forties, Alyssa carried a magnetic, mature beauty that turned a sidewalk into a runway.
Her black hair fell in a glossy cascade to the mid-back, side-parted to fra sharp cheekbones and intent, dark eyes.
She wore a tailored black blazer cinched at the waist over a silk charcoal blouse, a high-slit pencil skirt that flashed just a whisper of motion, and tall heels that clicked with easy authority.
If soone had asked for a "mature Selena Vega" made real, the answer would have looked a lot like Alyssa.
Lily’s thought bubbled up, half exasperation, half awe. ’Who would say she’s in her late forties? Now I get why my brother is scared of her charm.’
Alyssa surveyed the young n hovering near the entrance, tilted her head, and licked her lips in mock predation. "Wow. A lot of eager pups."
Lily’s face went beet red. "Ms. Alys—"
Alyssa’s eyes narrowed a fraction.
Lily stopped herself imdiately, stared at the concrete. "I’m sorry..... Mother."
Alyssa’s smile softened. "Now that’s my girl." She folded her arms, leaned on the roof, and let her voice go warm. "Tell what’s bothering you. Bu I can already guess—he stood you up on his promise, again?"
Lily puffed her cheeks and nodded. "He promised to buy whatever I want. And there’s a new pastry shop that opened today that I really wanted to try. I’m going to make him pay for this."
"And what exactly are you going to do?" Alyssa asked, one brow arched.
A devilish little grin took over Lily’s face. "Recently he opened another secret account and started pouring a lot of money into it. He thinks I don’t know. But I’ve already hacked it. I know all his passwords."
Alyssa’s eyes glittered. "Oh? I didn’t know you were a hacker, too."
"Well, I spent all that ti in the hospital," Lily said matter-of-factly, shrugging. "There wasn’t much to do besides watching things online and learning. I tried my hand at... everything. I can even butcher a pig and a reindeer, if you’re curious."
"I’ll pass," Alyssa replied with a very careful smile. "But you, little lady—you and your brother never cease to amaze . I’ve never seen anyone as quick as you. You might give him a run for his money."
Lily straightened, smug and adorable at once. "Of course. That dumbass is no match for ."
Alyssa chuckled, then nodded toward the mall doors. "What do you say we go inside and spend his savings on whatever we like?"
Lily’s eyes lit like twin fireworks. "That’s not a bad idea."
"It’s certainly not," Alyssa said, already sliding on a pair of sunglasses.
"I want to see the look on his face when he checks that account," Lily added, wicked delight in her voice.
"Sotis," Alyssa said as they started walking, "I really do see your brother in you."
"Is that a complint?"
"What do you think?"
"I’ll take it as a complint."
They traded identical, villainous little laughs and strode forward. People moved aside on instinct.
"Let’s go!" they chorused, pushing through the doors of the shopping complex.
—
Two hours later, they erged victorious.
Behind them trailed a small procession of twenty tired staffers, each burdened with shopping bags in both hands and even draped across their shoulders, more looped around their necks like fabric garlands. The shock on the porters’ faces said it all. The line looked like it belonged at a royal dowry caravan.
Alyssa turned with effortless command. "Take everything to the address i gave you."
The line of carriers nodded in perfect synchronicity and hurried away.
Lily stretched, savoring the fizz of victory. "That was so much fun. We should do this more often."
"We should," Alyssa agreed serenely. Then, with the innocent tone of a banker counting vaults: "How many more secret accounts does he have?"
"I’ll tell you... when he opens another one," Lily said, failing to suppress a mischievous smile.
They both laughed—low, conspiratorial. The pigeons on the awning actually fluttered off, as if spooked by the sound.
Lily’s EtherPad buzzed in her palm. She glanced down at the caller ID.
**Beloved Cringe Lord**
Her breath caught. She looked up at Alyssa, alarm blooming. "What should I do? It looks like he found out."
Alyssa turned away at once, checking invisible ssages on thin air. "Oh, I just rembered—I have so very important work."
"Don’t you dare," Lily said, grabbing her around the waist from behind. "Isn’t now the ti to show your motherly love and shield ?"
"I spoiled you just like a mother should," Alyssa said sweetly, prying at Lily’s hands with zero effect. "Now it’s ti for Momma to go back to work. Give your brother my love."
"You can’t leave alone! You were in on this too," Lily accused, eyes narrowed to ruby slits.
Alyssa sighed, then offered a compromise. "I have an idea. When you et him, use your signature puppy-dog eyes. He always forgives you when you—"
"It doesn’t work anymore," Lily groaned. "He built immunity."
"That... is a problem," Alyssa admitted, genuinely thinking.
She snapped her fingers. "There’s only one solution." She stepped away, heels already turning her toward the curb. "Goodbye!"
Lily latched on again. "Please don’t leave ! this ti He’ll definitely punish . Take with you."
Alyssa paused, weighing it. "You want to co with ?"
Lily nodded furiously. "I promise I won’t cause trouble." She deployed the eyes. The ones that had made nurses, doctors, and even lucifer morningstar submit.
Alyssa winced, hand to forehead. "Okay, okay—stop with the puppy-dog eyes."
"Yay!" Lily crowed, smirking in triumph.
Alyssa couldn’t help but smile. "All right, kid. We’re going to et Aldric Verlane. I have business with him regarding the sudden destruction of a small kingdom."
Lily blinked. "Aldric Verlane... I’ve heard that na. Isn’t he—"
"The Headmaster of the world’s number one academy," Alyssa finished. "Where your brother studies. At least, used to. Now he seems to have... free rein."
Lily stopped hearing everything after Zenith Academy. Stars lit in her eyes. ’The world’s number one academy. Where Brother studied. Where Big Sis Charlotte, Seraphina, Ava... and Brother Draven and Alden are. I want to see it.’
"You really want to see it, don’t you?" Alyssa asked, amused.
Lily nodded so fast her silver hair flashed like a signal flare.
"All right. Selena is there—she’ll give you a tour." Alyssa opened the car door with a click.
"Let’s go."
"Let’s go!" Lily echoed, practically vibrating.
They slipped into the car; the engine purred; the luxury machine rolled into the traffic, a spear of polished shadow in the afternoon light.
—
anwhile...
A sixteen-year-old black-haired boy stared at his EtherPad like it had grown fangs. He had been staring for half an hour, unblinking, expression blank with disbelief.
’One hundred million credits,’ he thought numbly. ’My blood and sweat... gone in one hour.’
He scrolled, refreshed, scrolled again. The numbers did not repent.
’How could this happen? I never did wrong to anyone. I never scamd anyone out of their hard-earned money. So why , god, why —’
Then taking a deep breath he thought.
’There’s only one culprit I could think off and she’s also not picking up my calls which makes her even more suspicious."
Suddenly a hand tapped his shoulder. He turned to find Carter Brown, eyes wet, face twisted in the exact sa tragic grimace as alex has.
"Sir," Carter sniffed, "we... we cleared the rift."
Alex’s eyes shimred. "Carter... I’m a good man, right?"
Carter said, valiantly choking down a sob.
"Of course you are, sir,"
Alex said "Ofcourse i am, then why ."
Carters mouth twitched as he bit back a retort.
Then he said. "Also... we found sothing very mysterious in the rift."
------
A/N:
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