The Uninvited Guest

"Yeah," Leonardo replied stately, as the gates opened on their own. The heirs began leaving slowly, with Alain first, walking alongside Itami.

The heads, however, didn't leave yet, seemingly caught up in their own problems.

"That was the heirs' meeting—now it's time for yours," a voice announced as the gates leading toward the halls closed.

Anna walked over to Leonardo, matching his seemingly slow pace. "Leonardo, we'll take the lift to the 1,307th floor; that's where we stay."

"I still can't imagine the size of this," Leonardo responded, glancing beneath his feet. "Just the meeting room alone… If I hadn't already seen the museum, I might've fainted at its sheer scale. I'm on top of every one of them right now," he added slowly, a hint of awe in his voice.

"Uh, yeah—we'll have to do it soon. We only have a year, you know," Anna said, increasing her speed as she walked toward Elara, who was chatting with Mei-Ling.

"So, now's the time," said Marquis, who had been by Leonardo's side this entire time, quietly observing.

Anna and he acknowledged each other without a word. The tension between them shimmered—palpable, unspoken. They clearly hated each other.

"I suppose so," Leonardo replied.

"We talked after the incident."

"Yeah. You saved the people on the train, all by yourself," Leonardo said.

"You're making me sound like a hero," Marquis replied with a quiet laugh, hands slipping into the pockets of his sweater.

"You aren't?" Leonardo asked, his face tightening in confusion.

"No."

"How old are you again?" Leonardo tried to ask before Marquis interrupted.

"You sound like Anna."

Chandeliers hung from the tall ceilings. The flames danced as if alive, their glow reflecting off polished surfaces, filling the corridor with a golden hue.

"I'm seventeen," Marquis finally said.

Their footsteps fell onto plush carpets, muffled into near silence, adding a strange calm to the otherwise imposing structure.

"That should've been obvious," Leonardo replied, holding his chin in thought.

"How so?" Marquis asked, intrigued.

"To others we'd sound cold, no? The way we act—irrational to emotionally oriented people. But in truth..." Leonardo tapped his temple. "We just try to be logical in every situation. Whereas you try to be illogical—when you are."

"We are not in any way similar, Leonardo," Marquis said, his tone deepening. Guilt flickered behind his voice. "We've met for maybe a few minutes total. What makes you think you know me?"

"Because of your lateness," Leonardo answered.

Marquis stared confused and dumbfounded but pressed no further.

"Ever since I came outside the Stem, I've seen death," Marquis said quietly. "And I think it's an aftereffect. From institutions and people who spread lies and twist truths. I must change that." He paused. "Leonardo, I'll be blunt with you—I don't think you'll survive."

Leonardo was momentarily taken aback by the bluntness, but then nodded slowly, understanding the weight of the words.

"You came late because you wanted others to think you were busy with the explosion. Maybe you were. But it's evident—you waited. You care how people see you. And people like that are logical," Leonardo said.

Marquis stopped walking, momentarily stunned.

"You also care about their opinion. Is that why you accepted being a guide?" he responded quickly, the fire dimming inside him.

"I accepted it because I had spare time. All attention-seekers might be logical, but not all logical people are attention-seekers," Leonardo replied, his tone near agreement, prompting Marquis to speak again.

"But as long as I stay with them, I'll do everything in my power to help them," Leonardo added. His amber eyes sparked, blending deeply with his brown skin. His determination burned through, the candlelight flickering in reflection.

"That was, uh..." Marquis paused. "You have time? You do know this quest can go on for decades, right?"

"I really don't know until the tour guide is back," Leonardo said, quickening his pace as they neared the lift. Can I trust myself telling him? Would it be advantageous to me?

"Tour guide—?" Marquis began, trying to keep up.

"I can't wait to see the 1,307th floor," Leonardo said cheerily, a stark contrast to the tension just moments ago.

"You're really confusing, you know," Marquis muttered, shaking his head, both exasperated and intrigued.

A figure walked alongside Aymara, seemingly her guide.

His presence was as imposing as the black void surrounding him. His flowing black robe, edged in silver embroidery, cascaded over his form, shrouding him in reverence and authority.

Two intricately crafted crosses adorned his chest. His face was obscured by a veil of glimmering white chainmail, falling from a crown to his shoulders, concealing his identity.

Leonardo hesitated, his words caught in his throat as the towering figure passed.

"Aymara..." he murmured, catching a glimpse of her retreating figure before turning his gaze back to the figure.

The man halted—precise and deliberate, like a guardian.

The chainmail veil shifted slightly as he turned. Though his face remained hidden, the weight of his gaze was undeniable.

"Oh, sorry," Leonardo stammered. "I didn't mean to make her sad, she was just—"

"Creepy," Anna said from across the room, talking to Elara and Mei-Ling about something else entirely.

What are the chances, Leonardo thought.

The figure raised a hand, silencing him.

"It's alright," he said, his voice deep and resonant—like distant thunder. "I'll deal with it. I'm Xaltal."

He extended a gloved hand toward Leonardo.

Leonardo hesitated only a moment before reaching out, feeling the cool firmness of Xaltal's grip. The touch was brief, but it conveyed a strange sense of finality.

"Leonardo," he said quietly, though it felt inadequate in the presence of such a figure.

Xaltal then turned to Marquis.

Without a word, Marquis extended his hand. Xaltal took it with the same measured grace. Marquis, usually composed, paused subtly as their hands met.

Leonardo noticed the height difference. Xaltal towered over him—not surprising, as Leonardo was painfully aware of his own short stature.

But what struck him more was how Xaltal dwarfed Marquis, who stood a solid 5'11". Xaltal—easily 6'4"—was a giant among men.

He offered a slight nod, then turned away. Leonardo watched him go, a mix of relief and curiosity knotting in his chest.

"Well, he seems kind," Marquis said, breaking the silence and pulling Leonardo back to the present. His tone was casual, but there was an edge—like he was still processing the encounter.

"Yeah..." Leonardo replied, his voice trailing off. The image of Xaltal, veiled and towering, lingered in his mind.

Marquis snapped his fingers in front of Leonardo's face. "Hey, let's not get lost in thought. The lift."

Leonardo blinked, then nodded. "Right, let's go."