Sosuke tore the envelope open with a thumb and unfolded the letter. His eyes darted across the page, each line tightening the muscles in his face. The words sank in slow, heavy, and his breath caught.
"What is it?" Rin tilted her head, studying his reaction.
He folded the letter in half, trying to hide the tremor in his hands. "Nothing important."
"Then tell me."
"I–I…" His voice faltered. Sosuke shoved the letter back into its envelope and avoided her gaze.
Rin pushed herself off the bed, her feet hitting the wooden floor with a sharp tap. "Sosuke," she said, arms crossing. "What did it say?"
He hesitated. "I can't tell you." His tone came out quiet, but firm.
"Why not?"
"You wouldn't like it." He took a small step back, shoulders lowering as if to shrink from her eyes.
Rin lunged forward, reaching for his hand. "Let me see!"
Sosuke twisted aside, narrowly slipping from her grasp. His back hit the wall, the sound of it echoing faintly in the quiet room. "Rin, calm down!"
"If this is how you're acting about it, then I know it must be bad." She planted herself in front of him, blocking the only way out.
Sosuke rubbed a hand down his face, exhaling through his nose. "You're overthinking this." He held out the letter, reluctant but yielding. "It's from Aurelius. He wants me to come in for a meeting. Said it's a special opportunity for my future."
Rin snatched it and scanned the neat, formal script. Her eyes narrowed before she tossed it back at him. "A 'special opportunity'? The last time he said that, you ended up joining The Starborn."
"What's wrong with that?" Sosuke frowned, clutching the letter again. "At least it's something. I'm tired of just existing with nothing to do. I've always had orders, a direction. Without it, I feel useless."
Rin's jaw clenched. "He's replacing one project with another. You can't see it? He's building something new, and he's using you again." She let out a sharp breath and turned her back to him. "You finally have freedom, Sosuke. Why are you so eager to hand it away? Can't you just live for yourself?"
The letter slipped from his hand and fluttered to the floor. He stared down at it, silent for a moment. "No," he said finally. His voice was low, almost hollow. "I can't. It's only been a few months, and I already feel empty."
Rin's head snapped around. "What are you talking about?"
Sosuke's fingers tightened into fists. "I can't stand being alone with my thoughts. I need something to keep me busy." His voice cracked under the strain. "I can't even look at myself anymore. What do I have left?"
Rin took a step closer, her expression softening. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"I thought I just needed time. I didn't think it would stay like this."
"You have to tell me, Sosuke. How else am I supposed to help you?"
He shook his head, eyes dark and distant. "You wouldn't understand."
"Then help me understand."
"You make it sound too simple."
Rin's chest rose and fell slowly. She reached for him, fingers brushing against his hands before wrapping around them. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Then start somewhere. I want to listen. Please."
Sosuke's throat tightened. He met her eyes, then looked away. "Why?" he murmured. "Why do you even want to?"
"Because I care about you," Rin said. "And because you don't have to carry all of this alone anymore. There's no mission waiting tomorrow. No one giving orders. It's just you, finally free to breathe. So talk to me."
He exhaled sharply, pulling his hands from hers. "I can't dump all that on you."
"I want you to."
Silence hung heavy between them.
Sosuke turned toward the door, his steps slow but steady. "I have to go," he said. "Tell your father I said bye."
Rin's face tensed, worry clouding her eyes. "You can't just leave like this…"
But he already had one hand on the knob. The door creaked open, and he stepped into the hall. The sound of his boots faded down the corridor, then out through the front door.
The quiet that followed pressed into the house, leaving Rin standing alone in her room, the letter lying on the floor where he'd dropped it.
——
The building stood in the heart of the capital, its exterior all white stone and glass. Years of construction had finally brought it to completion. Now it belonged to Gabriel Aurelius, newly designated as a federal center for national affairs. The scent of fresh paint and marble polish still lingered in the halls. Every corridor gleamed, quiet and cold.
The office door creaked open. A woman stepped in, holding a clipboard. "Mr. Aurelius, the meeting is ready for you. The participants have arrived."
"Thank you. I'll be right there." Gabriel smiled faintly and adjusted his cuffs. "You can take a break while I'm busy."
"What if someone else comes?"
"I don't want any interruptions." Gabriel rose from his chair and walked toward the door, voice lowering. "Nor do I want someone undecided."
He followed his secretary down the hallway. Their footsteps echoed sharply on the polished floor before stopping at a tall pair of double doors. The brass handles were shaped like wings.
Inside, eight people waited around an oval table beneath a hanging crystal light. Gabriel entered calmly, posture straight, smile unwavering. "Welcome." He took his seat at the far end. "I appreciate you all coming. I'd like to take the next hour to discuss a very important opportunity."
The secretary placed a neat stack of folders in front of him. Gabriel flipped through them one by one, the paper soft against his gloves. The others sat still, waiting.
"I'm pleased to see that most of you accepted my invitation." Gabriel clasped his hands together and leaned forward slightly. "I can all but guarantee every last one of you will end up accepting my offer." His tone carried quiet certainty. "As you all know, Westoria has been undergoing a… management issue. The king's death during the war left the throne empty. With no heir, the High Council law states that I would act as temporary head of government until further notice."
He raised a finger as if marking a point in a debate. "With this authority, I've established a new agency within the federal structure: the Sovereign Intelligence Service, or SIS. Each of you here was chosen for leadership, skill, or particular expertise that this nation needs."
He leaned back slightly. "Any questions so far?"
"What makes this service so special?" a voice asked from the middle of the table.
Gabriel looked up and smiled. "A wonderful question, Estrella."
Several heads turned toward him, some surprised to see the young man sitting among them.
"I'll get into that in a moment." Gabriel turned another page.
"Will there be a lot of action?" another man asked. Sosuke glanced sideways. It was Klein Winslow, Clyde's older brother.
"That depends on your skill set," Gabriel replied, smiling. "Now, if there are no other questions, please direct your attention to the folder in front of you."
Everyone opened theirs in unison. The SIS insignia, a stylized silver eye over a crown, was printed on the first page.
Gabriel began reading. "The Sovereign Intelligence Service is tasked with three core objectives:
One. Root out any remaining Astorian influence.
Two. Monitor the elite clans of Westoria and investigate corruption within their ranks.
Three. Secure and study any signs of the Blight, ensuring its eradication is absolute."
He looked up. "Each agent will operate with national authority and full jurisdiction across all provinces. Missions are confidential and handled independently from the regular military. All field reports are to be directed to me personally."
He paused, then added, "However, the SIS will operate under a shared mandate. Each appointed agent holds equal authority in council decisions. Should all members reach a unanimous agreement, they have the legal power to overrule my judgment. This ensures balance, transparency, and the prevention of abuse of power."
The room stirred with quiet nods. The structure felt deliberate, almost constitutional.
Gabriel continued, "Your service will ensure stability. The threat of civil war among the clans grows by the day. The SIS will act as an unseen shield, stopping chaos before it reaches the people."
He placed his hands flat on the table. "This is not just another assignment. It is a long-term effort to protect Westoria from tearing itself apart. If what matters to you is peace, this is where you belong."
The room went still.
"That concludes the meeting," Gabriel said softly. "All those who wish to accept my offer, remain seated."
Two participants stood. Their chairs scraped against the floor as they exchanged uncertain glances and walked out. The rest stayed where they were.
Gabriel smiled, rising to his feet. "Very well. I have high expectations."
He closed the folder before him with a gentle snap. The room fell silent once more, and the faint hum of the building's new ventilation filled the air.
Outside, the flag of Westoria waved against the pale morning sky.