Rihan Daniel (2): I am Lucie, The Number 6

The story accelerates 4 years later to the 5th month of the Year XX74.

Samsara's headquarters looked majestically in the southernmost region of Beta Utora. That time, the names of the new 14 strongest warriors of Samsara were just announced when I back from the mission.

The names are not much different from three months ago. The first to seventh positions are still the same. While the other positions changed by the order. Except for number 13.

I walked tiredly to Lady's private room to report where still wearing my signature mask; the plain white mask with one hole in the left eye. Lycan the number one and Melati the number two at the same room. Looks like they're in middle of discussion about something. No wonder because both of them are also Arinas.

"My sweet Lucie, you're back." Lady greeted gracefully with red lipstick on her lips. The same color also implied as nail polish on her ten fingers.

At that time, Lady's appearance was like a noble queen in a mighty kingdom called Samsara. She is highly respected in terms of demeanor and feared, yet admired in beauty in the same time.

I admire her too. In all my life, I have never seen such an elegant and beautiful woman.

"I'm back." I answered with sufficient vocabulary as usual.

Lady smiled contentedly. "What was it like this time?" She asked curiously.

"Cut off both the hands and feet of the head of the family. Letting the blood drip while watching his other family members burn alive." I explained the torture method that I used to annihilate the second most influence family of the Dragons after Vaiskylers. The Ragnvald family.

Lady opened her furry fan and began to fan herself slowly in enjoyment. She seemed to be in a very happy mood. "Eidanwarg, Frostfall, Rosenhill, Goldkin and now the Ragnvald." She muttered in contentment.

"All that's left is Kane, Waldermar and Vaiskyler. Quite a hassle but we're not in rush." Lady started thinking about her next move.

"I'm excused to take a rest. Call me whenever you need." I never took interest in Lady's next plans. I prefer to wait for orders like a docile little dog.

"Lucie…" Lady called out to me and I turned around with a low bow.

"Yes?" I answered politely in a low tone.

"It's been 4 years and you're still as rigid as a statue. Why can't you relax a bit once in a while?" Lady always asks me to be more relaxed and open. But, I can't.

How could I possibly relax after slaughtering an entire family of my own People? Up until now, my hands are still clenched tightly trying to hold back that dreadful emotion. Luckily my face was covered by a mask.

"Refusing to answer unimportant questions. Good! That's why I took interest on you." Lady praised with a glim smile.

"Your hard work will be paid off. Now, go and take a rest." Lady didn't hold me any longer because someone knocked on the door from outside.

A guard from the research lab came to report in a disheveled condition. I walked passed on him at the door. At first glance I heard something about prisoner running amok, trying to escape and killing many researchers. After that I left since I took no interest.

Actually, it's quite normal for a prisoner to try to escape or just kill a person or two. The research lab which is located on floors 39 to 43 underground is a hell for the prisoners who are becoming the research subjects. Either they are the guinea pigs of Samsara's various prototype medicines, or whose powers are the targets of research. None is better than the other. Both are suffered equally.

I had just faced Lady in her private room on the 45th floor underground, thus I had to climb up one level to get back to my room on the 44th floor. Just as I set foot on the last step at the top of the stairs, someone bumped me very hard. I almost slipped backwards. But luckily, I managed to grab the banister and regain my balance quickly. My other hand reflexively embraced the mysterious person who just bumped into me so she or he not felt down.

The mask that I wear made the pursuing guard turned pale. As if they were afraid something bad would happen to me and to them too.

"M—Master Lucie…." The head guard ventured two steps forward and greeted me in tremble.

I cast an unfriendly glare from behind the one eye socket behind the mask.

"Master, don't touch her for too long. You can be cursed by curse of death." The head guard looked panicked and restless.

I glanced briefly at the figure still in my arms. A girl, about three to four years younger than me. Her face looks unfamiliar. But there was a kind of warm feeling that suddenly rose within me. The feeling was so nice that I didn't want to let her go.

"I'm fine." I said coldly while going all the way up to the 44th floor.

After making sure the girl and I weren't on the edge of the stairs, I loosened my grip. The naive girl took this opportunity to continue her escape plan. She ran swiftly towards the stairs to the down level. Hence, I grabbed her hand violently in the next second. "Where are you going?" I asked with a high and cold intonation.

"Let me go! I want to go out!" She screamed loudly like a whining child.

"This is underground. If you want to run, you have to go upstairs." My words seemed to have torn the girl's little hope. I feel a bit sorry for her.

Samsara's guards—the frog-faced and burly human-bodied—had ventured to approach. They worked nimbly to seal the girl's hands, feet and neck.

"Master Lucie, forgive us for this mess. This was supposed to be private floor of the 14th strongest warriors. But instead, we were presumptuous to enter this floor." The head guard bowed apologetically over and over again.

"Then why did you guys just let this prisoner run so far?" My voice sounded judgmental.

"Be—Because of the sudden outbreak of the Deadly Black Flame. Many of guards died because of it. That's why we don't dare to go too near and wait for Lady's instruction." The head guard reasoning while wiping the beads of sweat off his forehead.

I glanced at the girl for quite a time. The number 4-42-1 clearly visible on her arm. Means, she was a level 4 prisoner which is Samsara's most important prisoner.

"Who's she?" I asked half curiously even though I knew I would forget it quickly.

"Um…." The head guard looked hesitant to answer. Naturally, because all the personal identities of these important prisoners were top secret and only Lady and some high-level professors in the research lab know who they really are.

"The identity of a level 4 prisoner is actually top secret. But since this is Master Lucie and Master has been kind enough to help us, then I will only tell Master alone." The head guard's words were fawning.

Who doesn't want to lick the Number 6 who is also Lady's most favorite?

"Alvi Veenessa Endley. The only daughter of the ruler of the Ifrits." The head guard spoke in a whisper.

Instantly, my mind seemed to have crashed into an endless abyss. I was so shocked that my posture couldn't hide it. But luckily the head guard always kept his head down when he spoke, so he didn't catch my surprise gesture.

"I see. Take good care of her." My words are a request for help as well as a warning to them.

I hurriedly walked away with a mixed and confused mind. The emotions that I had been pressing for these 4 whole years seemed to crumble with the appearance of that girl.

That day was my first encounter with Alvi after 4 years of running away from Tanah Agra. My mind shaken. I was so angry.