Leila awoke with the disorienting certainty that she was not where she should be. Her last memories were a blur of desperation and combat within the S-rank dungeon, the ambush on the plane, her body battered and on the brink of exhaustion, and the blazing presence of someone preventing what she had believed to be certain death from taking her.
The chaos she felt within clashed with the serene environment she now found herself in. She was lying in a large four-poster bed, the linens of which were softer than any she had ever felt. Sunlight streamed through the open windows, carrying with it the scent of salt and exotic flowers, so different than the complete lack of oxygen as she fought for her life below the sea that still lingered in her mind.
Shaking away memories of the immense jaws that had almost swallowed her, Leila sat up and took in her surroundings. The room was spacious and decorated in a style that spoke of wealth and taste, with Victorian influences apparent in the ornate furniture and the intricate patterns on the wallpaper. Despite the room's beauty, a sense of unease settled over her. She had no memory of being brought here.
She made her way downstairs, following the sound of activity to the kitchen. The corridors were decorated with marble statues, impressionist paintings, which Leila somehow suspected were originals, and fresh flowers. She easily navigated them, pulled by her senses to the closest human-shaped shadows.
Finally, she reached a large staircase, whose marble steps and mahogany railing spoke of an attention to detail and wealth that was difficult to find these days. On the lower floor, she entered a spacious room. In contrast to the originality of the rest of the building, the living room and the kitchen had been pulled together into a more modern, open-air area.
There, she found the two people she had been seeking. The first that caught her eyes was a servant - dressed in an honest-to-god maid outfit, complete with frills and headpiece - preparing breakfast, moving with a precision and silence that seemed almost unnatural. The woman had a tight bun that kept her silver hair from spilling and must have been around sixty years old. Her face was expressionless, and she focused entirely on the task at hand, ignoring Leila's presence.
At the end of a large marble table sat the other person, the woman who she was pretty sure had saved her from certain death. She was strikingly handsome, with hazel hair that fell in soft curls, intense green eyes concentrated on a ream of papers, and an air of unstated confidence. It was clear to Leila that this woman was not ordinary; she exuded power, a tangible force that seemed to press against the very walls of the house without needing to do anything.
Her very presence was enough for the world to sit up and pay attention.
I have met many powerful people in my life: charismatic leaders capable of convincing anyone of anything, military generals who could destroy countries with a single order, and S-rank Awakeners strong enough to be considered walking, talking nuclear bombs. Somehow, no one has ever seemed as strong as this woman, and she has not done anything yet. It's like she's barely being contained in her skin.
Leila knew who she was from the moment she had split the boiling seas to prevent the Leviathan from eating her. Or at least, who she had to be: one of the Seven Sins, rogue Awakeners shrouded in mystery, spoken of only in whispers throughout the highest levels of the AA.
She had known that they were becoming more active lately, what with the whole mess her students had fallen into in that spider dungeon, but to physically meet one and more, to be saved by one, was still mind-boggling.
The woman looked up, and for a second, Leila was gripped by a strange sense of familiarity. She pushed it away, wanting her whole focus to be on her savior. She didn't expect any harm to come to her - the Sin wouldn't have saved her otherwise - but that didn't mean she could lower her guard before one of the most powerful people in the world.
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"I see you have woken up." Her voice was deeper than expected, but it fit her exactly right. "We'll have time to talk later. Let's enjoy the fruits of Margaret's hard work first."
Just then, the maid began serving the meal with an imperious nod to Leila, indicating she should sit down.
They ate in silence; the only sounds were the clinking of cutlery and the distant cry of tropical birds. Leila was torn between frustration at the lack of forthrightness, gratitude for having been saved, and awe at the power the woman held. Although the breakfast was exquisite, Leila found it hard to focus on the food, her thoughts consumed by the need to understand why she had been brought here and what was expected of her.
To distract herself, she observed her surroundings. The mansion itself was a marvel of architecture, blending Victorian elegance with the lush, vibrant beauty of its tropical setting. Every detail, from the polished silverware to the immaculate condition of the furniture, spoke of meticulous care and attention. Yet, for all its beauty, the house felt more like a museum, isolating and strangely oppressive in its perfection. It wasn’t lived in.
The Sin, as if sensing Leila's turbulent thoughts, finally broke the silence. Her voice was smooth and commanding, yet there was an undercurrent of something else - amusement, perhaps, or curiosity. "You must have many questions, Leila Walker."
Leila met her gaze, trying to mask her apprehension with a semblance of calm. "I do. You saved my life, and for that, I'm grateful. But I don't understand why. Why me? And who exactly are you?" The last question was more rhetorical; Leila had her suspicions, but she needed confirmation.
The Sin's smile was enigmatic, her eyes gleaming with an unreadable emotion. "Let's just say I have a vested interest in ensuring you stay alive. As for who I am, you already know, don't you? I am one of the Seven Sins. My real name is not important, but you can call me Sloth."
Leila's pulse quickened at the confirmation. Sloth was one of the few Sins that allowed herself to be loosely monitored, so her being there to save her when she should have been on the other side of the world meant that things had changed more than she initially believed.
"What could possibly interest someone like you in a freshly promoted A-rank Awakener like me?" Leila asked, her voice steady despite her turmoil.
Sloth's gaze softened, just a fraction, but it was enough to make Leila realize that there was more to this Sin than the whispers suggested. "You have potential, Leila Walker, potential that should not be wasted. And as for why, I am repaying a debt. Let's keep it at that."
“To whom?" Leila asked, her curiosity piqued.
Sloth merely shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "That is not for me to reveal. In time, you may learn the truth. For now, know that you are safe here from those who sought to harm you and that I will offer you shelter and protection until you are ready to leave."
Leila sat back, digesting Sloth's words. The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken questions and the weight of the Sin's gaze upon her. The older woman must have known something of what happened to her, or she wouldn't have been there to save her in the first place, which told Leila she needed to keep her guard up.
I'm grateful she was there, but it's just too convenient for it to be a coincidence. Sloth is known to be very indolent, moving only when absolutely necessary. Her every action is conjectured to be planned years in advance, which means there is a lot more going on than I can see now.
After a moment, Sloth spoke again, her tone more serious. "Before I saved you, you were fighting for your life. Tell me, what happened?"
Leila recounted the events leading up to her dire situation - the betrayal by Roman, her old rival, and his escape with an expensive teleportation device just as she had begun to turn the tides of the battle. She spoke of being stranded in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, forced to contend with S-rank monsters drawn to the surface by the conflict, her desperate struggle against the Leviathan that had overwhelmed her flames, and finally, Sloth's timely intervention.
Leila watched the woman closely as she spoke, searching for any sign of reaction, but the Sin's expression remained inscrutable. When she finished, Sloth nodded, seemingly satisfied with the account.
"Things are beginning to move, Leila Walker," she said, her voice carrying a weight that suggested the gravity of her words. "Forces are at work, forces that seek to plunge the world into chaos once more. The equilibrium is changing, and we, those who have remained in the background, must now become active."
Leila felt a chill run down her spine at the implications of Sloth's statement. The idea of a cohesive force working to disrupt the fragile balance of the world was daunting. “I would like to know more. What can you tell me?" she asked, her sense of duty overriding her initial reluctance to get involved in such large-scale conflicts.
Sloth regarded her for a long moment before answering. "For now, you must rest and recover. If you want to peel the curtain and peer at the truth of things, I will explain what’s happening. You could play a crucial role in what is to come. But remember, the path ahead is fraught with danger. The choice might appear to have been taken from you, but there are always alternatives. Think deeply about whether you really want to know the truth. "
As breakfast concluded, Sloth stood, her movements graceful and assured. "I will leave you to your thoughts. When you are ready, we will discuss what comes next."