[Pon]

The room begins to turn completely dark as a purple aura begins to fill the room. The Lady sits down in a chair and stays calm as

Ria’s and Aba's bodies begin lighting up with the same deep color purple.

Ria says,

“What's going on!?” The Figure responds with, “Do not fear. This is a test of power. You shall be rewarded soon.”

Aba then says,

“But what kind of test!?”

The Figure responds with,

“You don't need to know.”

“Just stay still.”

The room then goes silent and all the sounds stop. Aba and Ria lay on the floor completely unconscious. The Lady checks their pulses to make sure The Figure didn't just kill her kids. They seem to be in good health so she goes back to her chair. She wants to question what the Figure has done but before she could say anything, The Figure explains that the “Society” wouldn't allow her to tell exactly what it did.

The Lady then says,

“Thank you for this.”

She then leaves the place and runs off to find somewhere for them to live.

[Later…]

The room remains bathed in the faint, fading traces of the purple aura as the Lady quietly stands, adjusting her cloak. She glances one last time at the unconscious forms of Aba and Ria, still lying peacefully on the floor, their chests rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The figure’s words echo in her mind—this "test" has been done, but for what purpose, she still does not know.

Outside, the capital city's streets are alive with the soft hum of evening activity. Vendors are closing down their stalls, and people mill about, preparing to retire for the night. The Lady walks swiftly through the alleyways, her thoughts racing. She had been in the presence of power, real power, and she knew all too well that the Society’s involvement would mean consequences—soon.

But now, she had to focus on finding a safe place. Somewhere they could hide, somewhere the Society wouldn't easily find them.

[Later...]

A few hours pass, and Aba and Ria finally stir, their eyes fluttering open to the dim light of an unfamiliar room. They are lying on makeshift beds in a small, dingy apartment. The walls are cracked, and the smell of musty wood fills the air. It is a far cry from the mansion they had left behind.

Ria sits up first, rubbing her head, her wings still tingling with residual energy. "What... what happened?"

Aba, groaning as he pushes himself up, mutters, "The last thing I remember is that purple light... and then nothing."

The Lady steps forward from a shadowed corner of the room. "You’re safe, for now," she says quietly. "We’re in the capital. The figure's test is complete, but I don’t know what it means yet. The Society will be watching us. We need to stay hidden until I figure out our next steps."

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Ria frowns, still trying to shake off the grogginess. "The Society... do they control everything here?"

"More than you realize," the Lady replies, her voice tinged with worry. "They have eyes everywhere. But there’s someone here, someone powerful, who may be able to help us—if she can be trusted."

Aba's eyes narrow. "And if she can't?"

The Lady looks out the window, her gaze hard and determined. "Then we’ll have to find another way. But for now, we have no choice."

[Later...]

As night falls over the capital, the streets grow quieter, the city wrapped in the eerie stillness that only arrives after dark.

The Lady, Aba, and Ria make their way through the winding alleys, avoiding the main roads. The capital feels different at night—more menacing, as though unseen eyes are watching their every step.

They stop at an old building at the edge of the district, its windows boarded up and its walls covered in grime.

The Lady knocks three times on the door, pausing for a moment before knocking twice more. The door creaks open, revealing a dimly lit interior and a hooded figure standing in the doorway.

"You brought them," the figure says in a low voice, gesturing for them to come inside. The Lady nods and leads the way, Aba and Ria following close behind.

Inside, the room is filled with strange artifacts, candles burning on shelves, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

The air is thick with the scent of incense and something metallic. The figure removes her hood, revealing a woman with piercing, unnaturally bright eyes.

"So," the woman says, her gaze flicking between Aba and Ria, "these are the ones who underwent the test."

The Lady nods. "Yes. Can you help them?"

The woman steps closer, her eyes narrowing as she examines the two. "I can help them... but help comes at a price."

Ria shifts uncomfortably, her wings twitching. "What kind of price?"

The woman smiles, but there is no warmth in it. "Knowledge. You will need to understand your powers, what they can do... and what they will cost you. Power never comes without sacrifice."

Aba steps forward, his jaw clenched. "And if we refuse?"

The woman's eyes gleam in the candlelight. "Then you’ll face the Society unprepared. And they will devour you."

A heavy silence falls over the room as the weight of her words sinks in.

[Later…]

Aba sits quietly as he sees this though. The Woman and the Lady argue over what they should do about the two children.

As the Woman gets more and more ticked off at The Lady, She shoots a small fireball at The Lady.

Before the Fireball can make contact with the lady, who is already in the dodging motion, Aba catches the fireball and stands in front of the Lady. Aba then puts his arms up to cover the Lady. The Lady is surprised by this effort to protect her. Shes impressed by this action that Aba just preformed.

Aba stands tall, his arms raised in a protective stance in front of the Lady, the heat from the fireball still radiating in his hands. The Woman, her eyes narrowing in surprise, lowers her hand slowly as she observes him.

"You…" the Woman mutters, her voice laced with a mixture of intrigue and irritation. "You’re quicker than I expected."

Aba clenches his fists, still standing protectively in front of the Lady. His expression hardens, and without taking his eyes off the Woman, he says, "I won’t let you hurt her."

The Lady, recovering from her initial shock, steps forward, placing a hand gently on Aba’s shoulder. "Aba, it’s okay. I can handle myself."

But Aba shakes his head. "No. You’ve done enough for us. I won’t let anyone hurt you after all you’ve done."

The Woman chuckles darkly, crossing her arms. "Such noble words for one so young. But you misunderstand me, boy. This is no game. Power requires strength, and sometimes strength requires… conflict." Her eyes flicker with a dangerous light as she speaks, the room growing tenser with each word.

The Lady steps forward, her voice sharp, cutting through the tension. "Conflict? You’re testing them more than you’re helping. And I won’t stand for this any longer. I brought them here for guidance, not a battle."

The Woman tilts her head, her smile fading. "Guidance? I told you before—help comes at a price. And these two…" she glances at Aba and Ria, "…are far from ready for what lies ahead."

Ria, who has been quietly observing the exchange, finally steps forward. "Then why don’t you show us what lies ahead?" she says, her voice defiant, wings slightly flaring out as if ready for a fight. "We’re not afraid."

The Woman’s eyes gleam with amusement. "Oh, you will be. Soon enough."

Without warning, she raises her hand, summoning a gust of wind that blows through the room, extinguishing the candles and plunging them into darkness. The only light remaining is the faint purple glow still lingering around Aba and Ria’s bodies.

Aba tenses, ready for anything, but the Lady places a hand on his arm again, more firmly this time. "Aba, Ria… this is part of the test. She’s not going to hurt us, not yet."

The Woman’s voice echoes through the darkness. "Smart of you, Lady, but only partially correct. I may not intend to harm you directly, but I cannot guarantee your safety if you choose to walk this path."

Suddenly, the darkness lifts, and the room is bathed in an eerie purple glow, far more intense than before. The Woman stands in the center, arms outstretched, as an ethereal figure materializes behind her—a towering, shadowy form with glowing eyes and an air of immense power.

"This," the Woman says, her voice almost a whisper, "is what lies ahead. The Society, the power they wield… and what you two are destined to face."

Aba and Ria stare at the apparition, their hearts pounding. Aba feels the weight of responsibility growing heavier on his shoulders, while Ria’s wings twitch with a mix of fear and determination.

The Lady steps forward once more, her voice steady but urgent. "We’ll face it together. But only if you help them control their power, not test them like lab rats."

The Woman smiles faintly, lowering her arms as the shadowy figure fades. "Very well. I will train them. But remember, once this begins, there’s no turning back. The Society will know of their existence soon enough. And they will come."

The Lady nods, her gaze unwavering. "We’ll be ready."

Aba tightens his fists, his resolve hardening. "Whatever it takes, we’ll be ready."