As Mischa strolled toward the outskirts of the streets, both briefcases in hand, the sound of her heels softly clicked against the cracked tiles.
Just as her shadow reached the threshold, she paused the silence felt thick in the air; she turned her head slightly, her gaze drifting back to Mya calm, deliberate, and unreadable.
"My dear, why don't you come with me?"Mischa said gently, her voice smooth like honey over a sharp edge,
Mya's eyes widened in confusion. "W-What…?"
Mischa offered a faint smile, the kind that could make you trust her even when you knew better.
"I can tell my young master about your situation and with the right persuasion and payment... he could make your problem disappear."she continued, her tone both delicate and commanding.
The words hit Mya like a spark in her chest. For a moment, it felt like time stood still.
Her sisters. Ano. Nui. The faces she thought she'd lost forever.
"You mean…he can really help me get them back?"her voice quivered, a tear rolling down her cheek,
Mischa tilted her head slightly, her eyes shimmering in the flickering light.
"As I just said ,with the right persuasion my young master can achieve almost anything."she replied softly
Assad's expression turned steely. He could sense the hook hidden beneath her sweet words, the subtle, silent tug of manipulation but Mya's fragile hope was too delicate to dismiss.
Mischa stepped closer, her presence both calming and suffocating.
"Come along, dear, it's better than just sitting here waiting for ghosts,"she whispered.
Mya hesitated, her hand hovering in the air, trembling just inches from Mischa's gloved palm.
The flicker of hope in her eyes began to overshadow all reason. Maybe this was it, maybe this was how she'd finally reunited with her sisters.
That's when a low, rasping chuckle sliced through the air. It wasn't loud, but it pierced the room like a knife through glass.Mischa and Mya froze. Mya blinked, confusion washing over her face. Mischa's expression sharpened, her eyes darting toward Assad.
Assad sat slouched at the table, his gaze fixed downward. His expression looked… defeated.Was it because of how suddenly Mischa knew what he was thinking about or about how she predicted the call that would come from Taura.
But it was none of these. So what could have been the cause of this. Assad then fixated his gaze at the table not moving for that exact moment. Mya witnessed this and was a bit worried for Assad but on the other side the offer that Mischa presented to her was already tempting as it is.
The very fact of someone with higher power and status helping does sound suspicious at first if you think about it but it also makes it better. Mya looked at the quiet Assad once more before deciding her choice. The moment alone was a little bit awkward and it was making Mischa more and more impatient but she didn't want to show it.
That's until Mya slowly stands up catching Mischa off guard at first but then shows a supportive smile almost as if she is saying that Mya did the right thing. Mya suddenly turns to Mischa's direction and takes her first step, then another follows.
As Mya kept taking her small steps takes a second to look at Assad who was still quiet then her mouth moved and she whispered the words,'I'm sorry but I need the help'. Then she goes to Mischa's direction.
A sudden chuckle is heard making Mya freeze and Mischa turns to see who it was.
"Funny,using pretty words to toy with a desperate child."
The statement made Mischa chuckle as well as the very person who she believed that she played with her words smoothly is all of a sudden acting tough.
"Oh and why do you think that I'm playing with a young girl. That's a bit harsh to a fairly rated woman like myself."
Assad bestowed a sly grin, almost as if he was mocking her words.
"I'm sorry, never meant to be a bit harsh. But your way of using slight playful manipulation to get into the minds of children is already…concerning. Since I'm the one who should be helping this girl, I should be at the very least worried for her. However that feeling of worry is just…not really sinking in for me." Assad said, his voice manifesting a slight boredom.
Assad's words hit Mya like a truck and it wasn't the assertion he gave but how he said it. The sound of his voice changed like it did a complete one-eighty, switching personalities within a second.
The face that started to give her some hope, the calm and almost therapy-like voice that guided her into telling her story and that sweet smile that made her blush a bit, even if not from love but from something else. The fake hero that attempted to save her sister but eventually failed was now gone, just like that.
At that very moment Assad finally rises from his seat and walks towards Mischa,his movements were a bit slow but not calculated. He then reaches her and looks straight at her face. Surprisingly they are the same height which made the scene look like a gladiator stand off.
Mischa tilted her head and did not remove her gaze from Assad. This was getting more and more exciting for her, especially how it was leading so far.
"I don't know your motives right now boy but if it's a fight that you wish for then I will gladly accept your challenge. Just don't go crying to your mother and yelling that you have a boo-boo." Mischa remarked.
Assad didn't move, not even an inch. A small threat like that would scare him in fact that was way too little for someone as dangerous as him.
"Heh, is that so? Well just for your information my mother I have no clue who she is. I lived with my father who died a clean one hit kill so he's out of the picture. So if I do get beaten up by you I wonder who will I cry to." Assad stated.
"Then there is only one way to go cry to your daddy and you should already know what that is correct?" Mischa inquired.
The answer was already clear and it made Assad even more hyped for this upcoming battle.
"Oh we will see what that is."