Chapter 16 - Undercurrent

In a dimly lit chamber, A scene of torment played out. A man was tied to a chair, his cries of anguish bouncing off the cold, metal walls as the woman in front of him inflicted unbearable suffering upon him.

Her flowing white hair draped over her shoulders, giving her an ethereal beauty that clashed with the cruelty in her eyes. Despite her well-proportioned form, her actions spoke of malevolence.

Shortly, another figure, a man, joined in the scene.

"Mistress Lyanna," he addressed her, his words careful, "Master Magnus has called a family meeting and attendance is mandatory."

The man's words caused Lyanna to shift her gaze from her current target to the stranger who had just arrived. Her piercing stare seemed to penetrate right through him, sending a shiver down his spine.

A palpable feeling of discomfort crept over him as he grasped the full extent of her abilities and savagery. 'Scary!' he thought, his inner voice tinged with a mix of apprehension and awe.

The man found himself captivated by the intense gaze of the woman before him, feeling overwhelmed by her.

Lyanna, the mysterious leader of the Silent Nexus, had always been known for her cold aura and strategic precision. Every action she took was carefully calculated, reflecting her ability to foresee outcomes.

However, the pain she had inflicted seemed to reveal a chilling and yet fascinating aspect of her character. With a subtle hand gesture, Lyanna signaled for the man to leave, returning her focus to her ominous work.

Time passed, and eventually, Lyanna emerged rom the chamber, a wicked smile playing upon her lips. Her earlier coldness had transformed into an almost giddy anticipation. "Finally," she muttered to herself, her voice excited. "It's going to get interesting around here."

***

In a fancy dining room, Nathan, a man with a friendly round face and a head full of white hair, was having lunch with his family, chatting and laughing.

Suddenly, his butler quietly came over and told him about a family meeting. Nathan's face changed for a second, showing a bit of worry before he put on a polite smile again.

"Thank you, Ren" he murmured, his tone composed. With a graceful bow, the butler withdrew, leaving Nathan to navigate the sudden shift in atmosphere. As his family members turned to him, curious, Nathan's wife voiced her concern. "Is everything alright, dear?" she inquired.

Nathan's smile remained fixed as he reassured her, his eyes meeting hers with a reassuring gaze. "It's nothing to worry about, my love," he replied, his voice carrying a soothing undertone. 'Things are about to become troublesome.'

A more somber thought echoed in his head. As the

head of the Ravencrest Consortium, Nathan's foresight allowed him to recognize the ripples of change that this unexpected family meeting would undoubtedly bring.

With a final sip of his wine, Nathan took a moment to gather his whirlwind of thoughts.

***

In the middle of a field littered with lifeless bodies, there stood a lone figure radiating power and destruction.

His commanding presence and white hair stood out against the chaos surrounding him, his immaculate outfit a sharp contrast to the violence of the battlefield.

Suddenly, another man appeared in front of him, sinking into one knee. But the high-ranking warrior showed no signs of being surprised by the unexpected arrival.

The Grandmaster-rank's voice resonated with authority as he spoke, a reflection of his status.

"Echo, I hope no one escaped?"

His inquiry was met with affirmation. "No, Master Sirius," the man replied, his tone confident.

"There's a message from home, master ", Echo stated.

With Sirius curiosity piqued. "Oh, what's that?" he inquired.

As Echo conveyed the news of Ariel's death and the family meeting called by Magnus, Sirius became livid, his features contorting in anger.

"Ariel was killed?" he seethed, he was in disbelief . The thought of anyone daring to challenge the Ravenstein family incited a burning wrath within him.

His next words were decisive, resonating with a chilling finality. "We're pulling out," he declared, his tone dripping with venom.

The implication was clear — those responsible for Ariel's death would face the wrath of the Ravensteins. His word carried weight as this man is the head of the Raven Vanguard, Sirius Ravenstein.

Simultaneously, the ripple of consequences spread across other locations, mirroring Sirius's decision. The very foundation of power and influence trembled as different Ravensteins emerged from where ever they were.

The landscape of the human domain was poised to shift, and the lives of countless individuals would be irrevocably altered by the decisions made within that fateful family meeting.