The Frozen Hour

Anna slowly opened her eyes and looked around. When The Guide had sent her back she thought she would return to her world… to her home… Now however, She stood at a lake filled with deep black water.. There was nothing except the black water there…

Soon, however the water started to ripple violently, the water parted as golden threads started to come out of it, All of the threads started to merge with one another at the centre of the lake, soon it took the shape of an egg, complex geometric patterns and other symbols started to form and vanish on the egg's surface

When Anna looked at it she felt familiarity towards the egg, It felt like something that belonged to her and her alone, She continued to look at the egg and suddenly

"AUUURGHHHHHHHH!"

A mind-piercing headache attacked Anna, causing her to fall to her knees while clutching her head in agony. Veins bulged on her forehead, and her face was distorted by pain. After a few moments, the pain subsided. Anna looked at her hand and mumbled.

"W-what is going on?" Anna was both shocked and horrified by the current events, She gulped a few times to try and calm herself

However, It was like the very world didn't want her to take a breather from the horrifying pain she had just endured

The golden egg started to ripple as a few golden threads loosened and started to move towards her, when Anna looked at the threads she became even more horrified she felt like she was at the end of her life

Slowly, the threads reached her and began to coil around her body. The pain started to fade. Anna felt a sense of calm and soon closed her eyes. The threads coiling around her began to glow brighter with each passing moment—then suddenly, they exploded. Anna could be seen floating within a torrent of broken golden threads. Her once-shining blue hair began to ripple, strands turning to liquid silver under the light. Her emerald green eyes darkened, shifting into pools of onyx so deep, they seemed to consume the very light around them. And within those eyes—faint shapes danced: ancient symbols, geometric patterns, and unknowable forms that flickered into being and vanished just as quickly. Creation and destruction, locked in endless rhythm. But Anna remained unconscious. Her face was blank, untouched by fear or wonder. She hovered amidst the broken threads like a maestro conducting a silent orchestra—one whose music had not yet begun.

***

Unknown-

Somewhere, a room bathed in soft red light could be seen. Multiple glowing red runes were engraved into the tall, dark walls. At the far end of the room stood a magnificent throne made of dark stone, adorned with silver patterns. Red light pulsed from it like vines, flowing beneath the throne like blood. Seated upon the throne was a man with white hair, a demonic black-and-red mask, and a crimson coat adorned with silver embroidery. His very presence exuded power and control.

He sat upon the throne, his posture relaxed contrasting with the ominous room, He slowly opened his eyes looking somewhere and a chuckle escaped his lips..

"Marvellous" Praised the demon.

"Zaria…." He called out

***

The starborne Mansion-

A shiny blue haired girl about 20-21 years old lay on the bed, Her breathing calm and steady… Indicating that she was still alive..

Damien sat beside Anna's sleeping figure as he held her left hand in his palms, He had a solemn look on his face as he remembered the words of the doctor

'Miss Anieal seemed to have hurt her brain due to the accident which might delay the recovery. We estimate the recovery to take at least a month.'

"But… 28 days have already passed but there's no improvement… no sign of her waking up.." Damien blurted out with a defeated look

"Maybe I should take her to Azor?" Damien continued to mumble

"Maybe a midnighter can heal her?"

"But what if… they hurt her instead? After all she is a Starborne too…"

"What should I do father… If only you were still here…" Damien said as he shook his head and stood up

He walked forward and kissed the forehead of the sleeping Anna

"Wake up soon… Anna"

Damien said as he walked out from the room with a clenched fist

"2 more days…."

The sleeping Anna still lay like a log on the bed however… There was someone else who was looking at all of this with a shocked and confused look on her face.. Yes it was anna in her soul body standing beside where Damien was few moments ago

'Azor? What's that?'

'Midnighters? The ones Amaya told me about? But wasn't that just a joke?'

'Why would they hurt me for being a Starborne? Who will hurt me?'

'Father? What does father have to do with this?'

Anna was lost out of her mind… even though she knew about things such as The spirit realm or the awakeneds… she hadn't thought Damien would be tangled with them…

'Well, I guess it makes sense… he's the head of one of the biggest corporations. Connections like that come with secrets.'

Anna nodded her head as she found a desirable conclusion of Damien's relation with these midnighters..

Anna turned around and looked at her body which was on the bed

'I look cute and beautiful, even when I am half dead…' Anna thought like a complete narcissist…

Damien who had just walked out of Anna's room stopped and called out

"White"

"Yes, Young Master"

"Make sure to check on her time to time"

"As you say"

White bowed towards Damien, Seeing that, Damien continued to walk out of the room

Anna was standing beside White as she looked him from up to down 

'Not bad' She said as she looked at his well-toned body

White turned towards Anna's room and entered it with silent steps… He leaned at the corner wall of the room.. While he continued to look at Anna

"I wish you would wake up soon, Miss Anieal otherwise… Young master might have to return to that treacherous place" White said as he heaved a sigh

'Huh? What do you mean?'

White walked towards the mirror beside the dressing area and stared at it. A few moments later he started to remove his hood and mask. Anna intently looked at White but when she looked at his face she was shocked out of the world

'W-what?'

***

Somewhere in The Necron City

A hooded figure who appeared to be a male could be seen moving through the dark alleys of the Necron city. His steps were rushed, A few moments later he stopped in front of the wall. He took out a vial containing red ominous looking liquid. He threw the vial on the wall and suddenly the wall rumbled and red vines started to erupt from the wall and pulled it open… A few hooded figures came out from the inside

A hooded figure with red mask came forward and asked with a commanding tone

"The code?"

"M-may the world be purified w-with b-blood, M-may the moon burn i-in crimson" said the hooded man with trembling body

The hooded figures parted as the masked said

"Enter"

The masked figure entered the opening within the wall as the hooded man followed behind him

"You can remove your hood now" said the masked figure his tone a bit gentler than before

As soon as the masked figure said so, the hooded man removed the hood from his head and a man of short dark blonde, dark blond moustache, deep grey eyes, broad build came into the view..

His eyes were looking throughout the room with vigilance

"Let's move" Said the masked figure on which The dark blonde haired man nodded and started to follow him

Soon they stopped in front of an ordinary door which the masked man knocked for a few times

"Come in" Came a gentle yet commanding voice

The masked figure gestured The dark blonde haired man to enter as he left the area

The dark blonde haired man opened the door and an ordinary room with grey wooden chairs and table came into his view. Another masked figure could be seen sitting at the head of the table. His mask however was different as it had a small horn on its forehead.

"Lord high priest" The dark blonde haired man greeted the one horned masked man

"Lord Turner" The high priest replied in a gentle and calm tone

"You are late… I believe things didn't go as we hoped" The high priest continued a bit of disappointment could be heard in his voice

"I-I tried my best, My lord" Said Mr. Turner as he lowered his head in embarrassment.

"I know… I know lord turner.. You would never dare to betray us.." The high priest said his voice was a bit colder at the end

"Y-yes" Mr. Turner shivered upon hearing that

"How did it go with Damien Starborne?"

"H-he haven't contracted me yet"

"Hmm… that's unlike him.."

"I've found out that Anieal Starborne haven't been seen in public after the accident"

"Hmmm…" The high priest stroked his chin in deep thought

"Take 4 of the acolytes with you and tell them everything you know about Starborne Mansion" The high priest said in a commanding tone as he looked at Mr. Turner

"B-but" Mr. Turner however were sweating buckets over it

"They will sneak into the Starborne Mansion and try to kidnap Anieal Starborne from there" 

"B-but won't that alert Damien Starborne?!"

"We don't have to worry about that.. For now" The high priest said in a calm tone

"O-okay" 

"You may leave"

As soon as the high priest said so Mr. Turner bowed his head and left the room..

"Hah.." The high priest heaved a sigh as he thought of ways to deal with Damien soon however he shook his head as he spoke

"Looks like I have to move myself this time" 

***

Anna was lying beside her body with a shocked look on her face

'So he is White?'

'But isn't he too young for something like that?'

'How does that even make sense?'

'Am I dreaming? Hallucinating?'

'My life was so easy a few weeks ago and look at it now.. Hah..'

Anna stood up from the bed and started to roam around the mansion

Her eyes then fell on a White was feeding Veylor with his hands while Veylor was sitting in his lap

"Meow..!"

"W-wait I'll get more"

"Myu.. Myu.." Veylor Nodded at his words

"Y-yeah"

Anna looked at all of this with a confused look on her face soon however she burst out in laughter

'HAHA! W-what is going on here?! It's like Vey is his boss'

'Khekhekhe!' Anna continued to chuckle for a few moments

Suddenly Veylor looked towards her and

"Myu?!" Veylor said as he tilted his small head in confusion

'Huh?!' And Anna did the same while looking at Veylor

Just then

"Here! Lo- Vey" White entered the room with a plate containing meat

"Myu!Myu!" Veylor turned to look at White and ran towards him

Anna seeing that shook her head 

'What am I even thinking? How could Vey even see me?'

'Must have been the wind' 

Anna looked out of the window and gazed at the bold sun trying to hide behind the darkness while the shy moon mustered the will to show itself 

Anna suddenly jumped from the window and started the float mid-air she then walked on air and made her way towards the top of the mansion

Anna sat there gazing at the sunset

'It's beautiful… but it still pales in comparison to The Spirit Realm'

Soon she remembered the words of The Guide

'Haha! Spirit realm is not your average backwater place after all'

Anna started to chuckle as she looked at the setting sun, She continued to sit there even after the sun was set and the moon had taken its rightful place

Anna stood up and looked at the moon…

'The Midnighters… I wonder what they are like…' Anna thought as she shook her head and started to descend towards the window of her room

Even though this wasn't the first night of her life… It is going to be one of the nights she will remember the most…

Footnotes:

—————

Crimson Moon ranks:

Acolyte → Priest → High Priest