Chapter 139-Drawn lines

Chapter 139: 139-Drawn lines

"What exactly do you expect me to do?"

"Aren’t you friends with Luan?" the cloaked woman asked. "Use that connection to get closer to Maisa. Help her in whatever way you can."

Her voice was calm, almost patient, but there was an unmistakable warning beneath it. "Just follow the guide you’ve been given. Do not act outside the script."

Zaden stared at his sister. At this point, he wasn’t sure which part of the situation was more absurd. The part where his sister had kidnapped him during the school break, dragged him to a village that didn’t officially exist, and brought him to a secluded hacienda whose grounds were unmistakably marked by the Palace and now she stood before him wrapped in a dark cloak that concealed her entire face.

He narrowed his eyes. "Zazen, why are you so obsessed with Maisa and the Fiery Four getting along?"

Before she could answer, a heavy bag was tossed into his arms. Zaden nearly stumbled under its weight.

He looked down at it. It was a bag full of sources; weapon, supplies, and money. It’s probably enough to keep him comfortable for months.

There was a brief silence before Zazen continued. "Don’t worry about why. Just focus on your task, and you’ll be rewarded."

She spoke as though the matter were already settled. Just then, footsteps approached from the darkness.

Two cloaked figures hurried toward them, their faces hidden beneath black hoods. Like Zazen, they were blackbloods, and both immediately lowered themselves into respectful bows.

"Miss," one of them said. "The Master has sent word."

Zazen’s expression changed. For as long as Zaden could remember, the Master had communicated through her.

Every instruction, plan, and secret, they passed through Zazen before reaching anyone else.

She was the bridge between the Master and his subordinates, the one person trusted enough to know the machinery behind his plans.

So, hearing a message directly from a lower-ranking subordinate immediately irritated her. Zazen slowly turned toward him.

"Oh?" she tilted her head. "What did he say?"

Her voice was soft and almost pleasant. However, her eyes were anything but. The subordinate couldn’t see her face beneath the hood, but somehow, he could feel her gaze cutting through him.

It was like being stared down by a predator. He instinctively stepped backwards before lowering his head even further.

"The message is as follows," he cleared his throat. "The new player has proven that they can not be underestimated, but... the mates are the ones you need to watch most carefully. All of them are moving off-script. They are getting farther away from Maisa than the Master finds comfortable."

Silence followed his words. Zazen blinked once and then blinked again. She slowly rolled her neck, trying to relieve the tension building along the veins in her head.

’Of course.’ She already knew where this was going. "Knowing the Master," she said quietly, "he included instructions on what we’re supposed to do next."

"Y-Yes." The subordinate’s voice trembled. "He said that, besides Zaden, you are also to approach the True Heart and assist with the mission on the ground."

Zazen froze up. For a moment, she genuinely thought she had misheard him. On the ground? That meant that she had to approach Maisa, stay near her, protect her, and, worst of all, she would have to leave the Master’s side.

Her fingers twitched beneath the cloak. She wanted to stomp her foot against the ground and protest like a spoiled child, but that would be unbecoming so, she didn’t.

Zazen had built an image around herself, and she refused to let something as petty as disappointment crack it. She inhaled slowly and then exhaled. ℴℴ𝘮

The subordinate continued. "With how fierce our enemy has proven to be, the Master says you are the only one he trusts to keep Maisa safe and ensure the Flower of Fate blooms."

Zazen’s eye twitched. The only one he trusts? Of course, only her master would offer a compliment and a command in the same message. Thus making itt an order she couldn’t refuse.

She turned her head toward Zaden. Her brother was already staring at her. He knew her well enough, and he could see the fury she was desperately keeping buried beneath that composed expression.

Zazen was a fiery blackblood who had spent most of her life giving orders rather than receiving them. She was accustomed to being the hand that moved the pieces on the board, not one of the pieces being moved.

Yet now, the Master had placed her directly on the battlefield, and she had no choice but to obey.

Zazen took one final breath before stepping forward. "Well," she said flatly, "looks like we’re going on the mission together."

Zaden scoffed. He could practically see the anger boiling beneath her skin. "Isn’t that a dream?"

The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable. Zazen shot him a sideways glance.

"If the Master wasn’t backing our family, providing our resources, and ensuring that we continue to enjoy the life we have..." Zaden shrugged. "I wouldn’t waste my time getting involved."

Zazen leaned closer. "Trust me," she whispered, "no one hates this more than I do."

She hated the idea of going far away from her master and leaving an opening for someone else to get close to him, especially since she was yet to win over.

Still, she straightened. Her expression became cold again. "Instructions received," she looked toward the two subordinates. "You can both leave."

They didn’t need to be told twice. The two blackbloods bowed and disappeared into the darkness almost immediately.

Lingering around Zazen when she was irritated was practically an invitation to die. She had never been known for patience when someone challenged her authority and the Master had only encouraged that nature.

Among all his lackeys, Zazen was different. She was the only one trusted with the Master’s plans in their entirety, the only one given authority to make decisions in his absence, the only one who could act without constantly seeking permission and expect no punishment afterwards.

The Master didn’t simply trust her. He spoiled her. Among the many gifts he’d given her was the Fireside Blade, a weapon capable of slaying a vampire with a single strike.

Zaden had always found that fact both impressive and unsettling. Once they were alone, he looked at his sister.

"So," he asked, "what does the Master actually want to achieve when all of this is over?"

Zazen’s gaze shifted toward him. "That information isn’t part of your task."

She reached up and removed her cloak. The dark fabric slid from her shoulders, revealing a gorgeous blue jumpsuit beneath it, perfectly fitted against her figure.

"There is no reason for you to know."

Zaden frowned. "You always say that when I ask important questions."

"Because it remains true," she turned away from him and smiled. "Come on, brother."

She began walking toward the exit. "Let’s go make friends with the Chosen One."

Zaden stared after her for a moment before following. Neither of them spoke again but both were aware that a war had just begun.

The pieces had been moved into place. The hidden players had finally stepped onto the board.

On one side stood Maisa and those gathered around her, on the other side stood Taratoya and Katrina, and now, Zazen and Zaden were entering the battlefield.

The distance between the three sides was shrinking. The lines were being drawn, the drums of war had begun to sound and neither side yet understood how close they were to the moment when the first blood would be spilt.