The Bookkeeper

Late afternoon shadows stretched across the ground as Raiden and his subordinates stood before the house, their gazes drawn upward with confusion and mounting dread, an unnatural chill creeping through the air around them.

"We are in very big trouble," Leo said, his voice tight as he swallowed nervously and sweat beaded on his forehead.

"How is this possible?" Freya asked in Noorian, her words edged with uncertainty.

Raiden fixed his gaze on the transparent white cube materializing around them, its walls extending from the forest's edge to the mansion's far end, trapping the entire estate within its confines. Like being sealed inside a twenty-foot-tall box. He felt no panic, no fear—only the methodical need to understand what confronted them.

"Let me check if Free can fly beyond it," Freya said, motioning to her familiar. But as Free prepared to take off, Leo's voice cut through the air, sharp and terrified. "Stop!"

He couldn't understand what Freya had said, but he clearly understood what was about to happen. Freya realized it too and quickly stopped Free from flying.

Raiden took a confused glance at them both. "What's going on? Do you know something, Leo?"

Leo swallowed hard and stared at the cube once more. "Yes, this is the marked barrier," he whispered, terror evident in his trembling voice.

He gestured toward the barrier's edge where it met the forest. All eyes turned to follow his direction. Three birds fluttered frantically against the transparent wall, unable to break through. As they watched, another bird flew in from the trees—only to find itself immediately trapped with the others, all of them now caught in the same invisible cage.

"Only white crest bearers can create the marked barrier. But casting one this size, the person would have to be sixth realm or higher."

He turned to Raiden. "Once cast, the caster marks someone inside as the target. The barrier can only be broken when that person fulfills whatever command was given.

He paused for a moment while Raiden watched him expectantly. Freya, on the other hand, remained confused; she couldn't understand a word they were saying.

"If the caster's command involves death, the marked person must die before the barrier will break. Same if the command is as simple as 'sleep'—the barrier breaks the moment they sleep." He waited for the words to register. 

"It traps everything that enters: insects, leaves, maybe the air itself. But mainly, it's meant for you, bookkeeper."

Raiden stared at the barrier once more. The oppressive feeling that had been weighing on them—it was this barrier all along? After over a week of silence from the kingdom, was this finally their move? His thoughts spiraled through possibilities, each question leading only to more uncertainty.

"Everyone can enter the barrier easily, but once inside, no one can leave until the marked person fulfills whatever command they were given."

As soon as he stopped talking, Freya turned to Raiden. "What is he saying?"

Raiden carefully explained everything to her, watching as the same dread that plagued Leo crept across her face.

"What do you think the command is?" she asked, her gaze locked on Raiden while he studied the barrier.

"Death," he said, his voice dry and distant. "The bookkeeper must die."

Freya's expression grew dark. "I have a war to fight, then," she said, her voice just as cold and distant as Raiden's. Her fingers found the bandage on her head, touching it gently.

Silence settled over them as they stared at the barrier, each lost in their own thoughts. Despite the determination written on their faces, Raiden understood the truth: this was his battle to fight. He was the marked target, and he needed to be strong enough to face whatever came, but his weakened body betrayed him at every turn.

His ribs hadn't fully healed yet, and any attempt to fight would only worsen his injuries. Frustration coursed through him, his hands curling into tight, sweaty fists.

Just then, Freya's voice cut through the silence, edged with alertness. "People are running toward us from the forest."

Fear shot through Raiden, making his heart stutter, yet euphoria flooded his body at the same time. A devilish smile pulled at his mouth despite his trembling body.

"Two people, a boy and a girl. The boy looks injured."

Raiden's expression dropped instantly. He activated his gaze beyond, scanning through the forest, and there they were. He found them, but his focus locked immediately on a little girl in ragged clothing. She was surrounded by an enormous dark aura. Her dark hair flickered within the shadowy energy, and her golden eyes were filled with fear and desperation.

Raiden's gaze snapped to the other figure: a guy stumbling forward, one hand pressed to his bleeding gut while his blood-soaked clothes clung to his body. His long dark hair whipped behind him as he gasped for breath, but his grip on the little girl's hand never loosened.

"Levi?" The name escaped him, tinged with disbelief.

Leo, who had remained quiet, turned sharply to Raiden with surprise written across his face, then looked back at the forest. In that instant, Levi and the girl passed through the barrier. 

Levi immediately collapsed, and the girl began pulling at him desperately, trying to get him away from the dangerous zone. Leo sprinted toward them without hesitation.

"Are they enemies?" Freya asked, confused.

"No, Freya. That's Levi, one of our comrades. He's just returned from his mission, and it looks like he saved that girl." Raiden spoke gently, his eyes fixed on the pair.

His mind flooded with questions. The terror in Levi's eyes was completely out of character, and Raiden hadn't anticipated this level of devotion from him. More perplexing still was the girl's aura—how could such a small child generate an aura that towered nearly as high as the barrier? Did corruption always create such overwhelming power in crest bearers?

Leo used his ability to nullify Levi's weight. The girl appeared wary at first, but once Levi grasped her hand reassuringly, she helped support him as they moved toward Raiden and Freya.

As they approached, Raiden quickly signaled Leo to start healing Levi while motioning for the girl to remain where she was. He smiled gently and knelt down in front of her. Curiosity gnawed at him—he wanted to check her number, but like Speed, she was wearing a black turtleneck that covered it. Her golden eyes darted nervously to the pavement, filled with confusion and fear.

"Do you want to see your brother?"

Her expression changed immediately, and she nodded firmly, her eyes lighting up. Raiden's smile broadened as he extended his hand to her. She hesitated, clearly wanting to place her hand in his, but something made her keep drawing back.

Raiden understood instantly. She wanted to trust him but couldn't quite manage it. That was entirely understandable, given her circumstances.

"That's fine," he said gently. "Follow me." He turned and walked toward the house with Freya, while the girl lingered behind before eventually trailing after them.

Her eyes continued scanning around anxiously until Raiden guided her to Speed's room. Speed acknowledged the visit with casual disinterest, not sparing them a glance as he stared at the opposite wall. The little girl remained rooted in place, her golden eyes trembling as she witnessed her brother chained up like a prisoner.

Raiden looked over at her as her aura suddenly expanded, pulsing against the ceiling and sending gusts of wind through the room.

"Speed, your sister is here," he announced urgently, hoping to spark their reunion before she lost control completely.

Speed spun around to face her. "Soul?" Relief and joy flooded his voice. Immediately, Soul's aura shrank back to normal as she rushed forward and flung herself into his arms.

As the siblings began to cry in each other's arms, Leo rushed into the room, looking past Freya to address Raiden directly. "Raiden, Levi needs to talk to us—it's urgent."