The Aetherial Accord

Luciana stepped out into the chill of the early evening, Again, pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders. The gas lamps were just beginning to glow along the cobblestone streets of the lower district, casting flickering shadows on the worn brick walls of the alleys. Her heart pounded as she navigated the familiar route, weaving through crowds of weary workers and street peddlers. Tonight was one of her rare chances to visit Yvette.

The secret weighed on her like the heaviest of chains. For years, she had kept her daughter hidden from the prying eyes of the upper world. Yvette's eyes—their crystal pink brilliance—were both a blessing and a curse. She knew Glenn would not understand. To him, Yvette would be nothing more than another piece for his collection, a rare gem to be hoarded. But to Luciana, Yvette was her heartbeat, the only light in a world of servitude and despair.

As she reached the small, crumbling house at the edge of the district, Luciana paused to catch her breath. She knocked softly, her hands trembling. A faint shuffling sound came from within, and the door creaked open.

"Mama" Yvette whispered, her voice weak but filled with joy. She was only twelve, butcher hollow cheeks and frail frame made her look far younger. Her eyes, however, shone with an unnatural brilliance, catching the dim light of the room and refracting it like shards of glass.

"Yvette," Luciana murmured, pulling her daughter into a tight embrace. She held back tears as she felt how thin the girl had become. "Here, i brought you a parcel of bread and cheese."

Yvette nodded eagerly, taking the small bundle of food from her mother's hands. "I knew you'd come back, Mama

Luciana smiled, though her heart was breaking. "Of course I would. I always will."

***

What Luciana didn't know was that she had been followed. Glenn stood in the shadows of the alley, his tall figure cloaked in darkness. He had grown suspicious of Luciana's frequent disappearances and had decided to investigate. He watched as the servant he trusted revealed a part of her life he had never known.

Through the cracked window, Glenn saw the glimpse of a little girl. At first, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. The dim light of the room seemed to bend and dance around her eyes, their crystal pink glow both mesmerizing and unnatural. His heart raced, not with fear, but with the thrill of discovery.

So this was her secret. A child. A treasure hidden in the filth of the lower district.

'Luciana's voice broke through his thoughts. "Yvette, you must be careful. No one can know you exist. Promise me."

"I promise," Yvette said, her voice small but resolute.'

Glenn smirked in the shadows. It was too late for promises. He had seen her, and he would not forget. The wheels in his mind began to turn, the beginnings of a plan forming. He would bide his time, wait for the right moment. Luciana's betrayal had disappointed him, but the discovery of the child far outweighed any anger he felt toward his servant.

For now, he would let her believe her secret was safe. But soon, the child would be his.

Glenn then disappeared into the night, his mind already calculating how to claim the rarest treasure he had ever encountered.