As Lily looked upon the legion of Sona and Tayo clones filling her room a genuine smile finally touched her lips. It was the satisfaction of a creator. Her creations stood before her.
Each one was a symbol of her power. She addressed the silent hovering figures.
"All of you wait outside."
In perfect synchronized obedience the copies of Sona and Tayo flew out of the room. They settled in the garden. Their forms dotted the landscape like statues.
The faint glow from their wings looked strange in the night light. A silent obedience was in all of them. They were made to obey orders without question.
Lily gave them one last look.
Then she turned and opened the door to her room stepping out into a long corridor. The smile was gone now. It was replaced by a clear expression of worry that tightened her features. Her fists clenched.
"I have to tell the Clan Leader" she murmured to herself as she walked.
Her voice was lost in the corridor’s silence.
Fear is clearly visible on Lily’s face.It seems that Lily is afraid of the clan leader who is none other than her father. The most update n0vels are published on novel✦fire.net
The corridor was dark and cold. Old portraits of their ancestors hung on the walls.
She felt their eyes staring at her as if they were judging her every step. She felt this every time she came here. A burden a fear of failure.
Her path led her to a large imposing set of doors at the end of the corridor. She stopped before them and knocked three times. A sharp precise rhythm against the heavy wood.
She took a deep breath and prepared herself. The people inside would not forgive her mistake easily.
A moment passed and then a deep voice resonated from within. "You may enter."
As soon as Lily hears the voice from inside, tension is clearly visible on her face.
Lily pushed the doors open and stepped inside. The room was spacious and sparsely furnished. A middle-aged man with sharp severe features sat behind a large desk.
Near him an old man with his eyes closed sat peacefully in a high-backed chair. A teacup rested in his hands. The air in the room was heavy. There was a silence that spoke more than words.
As soon as she saw them Lily dropped to her knees. She bowed her head low to the floor. "Clan Leader" she began her voice respectful and subdued "a problem has occurred."
The middle-aged man looked up. His gaze was cold and dismissive. "What trouble have you caused now Lily?" His voice was filled with fatigue and annoyance as if he already knew the news was not good.
Keeping her head down she replied "My Tayo copy... was captured by The Union."
The middle-aged man’s brow furrowed in irritation. He placed his hands on the desk and stared at them. The old man who had seemed to be dozing slowly opened his eyes.
He did not move. His voice was quiet but it carried immense weight.
"And?"
Lily’s body tensed at the old man’s simple question. She became even more nervous. Her throat went dry. "I believe... they saw me."
The middle-aged man let out a long weary sigh. "Was your mission a success? Did you find the leader of The Union?"
Lily remained silent for a few seconds. The weight of his question was pressing down on her. Finally she answered her voice barely a whisper. "Clan Leader forgive me. I was not successful."
The middle-aged man closed his eyes. A look of profound disappointment was on his face. "I expected as much from you Lily" he said his voice dripping with contempt.
"You are a stain on this clan. You are fortunate to have received those powers by mistake. Otherwise you would have been dealt with long ago." His words were like a whip. Each word hurt Lily’s self-respect.
Lily trembled at his words. Her hands clenched into fists on the floor before her. She wanted to say something to defend herself but she knew it was useless. Her voice had no weight in this room.
"That is enough." The old man’s voice cut through the tension. He placed his teacup down on a small table beside him. He looked at the middle-aged man.
"I told you before to listen to me and give this mission to Kaido. His new awakening power is highly compatible with this sort of task. He could have completed it with ease." There was no anger in his voice. Just a truth that could not be ignored.
The middle-aged man sighed again this time with resignation. He turned his head slightly toward the elder.
"As you wish Clan Elder." His voice still held disappointment but now there was obedience in it too. It was clear who held the real power in this room.
He then lifted his hands and clapped once. The sound was sharp and clear in the quiet room. Instantly two figures dressed in full ninja attire appeared from the shadows.
They knelt silently. They appeared as if they had always been there just invisible.
The middle-aged man addressed them without looking at them directly. "Kaido is being summoned."
"Yes my lord" the ninjas replied in unison. Then they vanished as quickly as they had appeared leaving no trace. Their existence was momentary. It was only to hear an order and obey it.
Silence descended upon the room once more. The Clan Elder closed his eyes and picked up his teacup again. The Clan Leader stared off into the distance his expression unreadable.
And Lily remained kneeling on the floor her head bowed as the three of them waited for Kaido to arrive. Every passing second was like a punishment for Lily.
She was crushed under the weight of her failure. And now she had to face the person who was going to take her place. The silence of the room signaled a new threat hanging over her.