ALAYA

The location he had been given was for a house that stood incredibly close to his own. As Adrian exited the cab, he couldn't help but muse, 'Now, this is surprising. Have they been right here all along?'

Adrian came to the realization that these mysterious individuals likely possessed extensive knowledge about him, possibly for quite some time. When he reached the door and was on the verge of knocking, it suddenly creaked open, revealing a remarkably elderly woman. Her advanced age prompted Adrian to quip silently, 'Who's this corpse?' Yet he opted to keep the thought to himself.

"Nice to see you, Grandma," Adrian addressed the elderly woman, conveying deep respect in his words.

"Who are you calling a grandma, you jerk? Anyway, come in. 'She' wants to speak with you," the elderly woman retorted, leading Adrian inside. The interior of the house appeared entirely ordinary. In the kitchen, a man was busily preparing a meal.

'Isn't it peculiar that everything appears so normal? What exactly was I anticipating?' Adrian couldn't help but contemplate this as he followed the elderly woman deeper into the house.

Upon entering the living room, Adrian spotted three individuals engrossed in a card game. They briefly glanced at him before returning their focus to the game, seemingly uninterested in his presence.

'Way too normal.'

"Alright, wait here with these folks. 'She' will be here shortly," the elderly woman instructed before ascending the stairs.

"Who are you guys?" Adrian queried, taking a seat on the couch next to a bald gentleman whose head gleamed so brilliantly that it captivated Adrian's gaze for a few seconds.

"I'm utterly baffled as to why she's so fixated on you. I can't fathom what's so exceptional about you," remarked the bald man, his disdainful gaze never wavering from Adrian. "She's kept us waiting for an eternity, and frankly, I doubt you could even harm a fly."

Upon hearing the derisive comments, Adrian responded with a faint smile. However, a thought suddenly dawned on him: 'Why am I waiting here for her?' Before he could further contemplate the matter, he swiftly seized the bald man's head and forcefully hit it with the card table where their game was in progress.

It took a few moments for the other two individuals to grasp the situation as they gazed at Adrian. He casually remarked, "I didn't like his shiny bald head." Adrian then rose from his seat, prompting the two men to stand as well, prepared for whatever actions this seemingly unhinged man might undertake.

'How I've missed days like this,' Adrian mused to himself as he made a swift move, advancing toward the man on his left. The red-haired individual to his right snapped his fingers, conjuring a golden, dome-shaped shield that enveloped both of them. Adrian delivered a powerful punch to the shield, causing it to develop fissures.

"The Sun Dog? That's unexpected. What exactly are you guys, and why are you targeting me?" Adrian inquired, and with a tap of his cane, he caused the shield to shatter.

The red-haired man struggled to grasp what had transpired, but in a matter of moments, his vision was obscured. Adrian's powerful kick sent him hurtling into the living room, resulting in a cacophony of shattered objects. As he attempted to regain his footing, he found himself pinned beneath Adrian's boot.

"You guys are incredibly feeble. What made you think you could challenge me? I was genuinely looking forward to this encounter, but now you've only left me feeling disappointed," Adrian chided as he stood over the incapacitated red-haired man.

"You can't just barge in here and trample on us like this," the bald man protested, his eyes turning a fiery shade of red and his nails extending several inches in length.

"A vampire? Really? Now I'm genuinely intrigued to find out what brought you all together," Adrian commented before raising his foot and delivering another forceful blow to the red-haired individual beneath him.

"Alright, I believe that's quite the greeting." Pivoting to face the source of the voice, Adrian saw a young woman descending the staircase, her lustrous, golden-blonde hair cascading in gentle waves over her shoulders, framing a delicate and enchanting face. Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with an otherworldly radiance, their shade a captivating shade of cerulean blue, and they held a sense of unfathomable wisdom.

Her attire was equally captivating—a flowing, ethereal gown that seemed to shimmer as if woven from stardust itself. The dress clung gracefully to her form before flaring out in a frothy cloud of iridescent silk. Each step she took was graceful, like a waltz with the very air that surrounded her.

Her presence was magnetic, a fusion of timeless elegance and a touch of the ethereal. As she descended the stairs, her aura seemed to weave an enchantment, captivating the very essence of the room and all who beheld her. It was clear to Adrian that she was no ordinary being, and he couldn't help but be drawn into her mesmerizing aura.

Adrian didn't tear his gaze away from her, his mind awash with curiosity and a sense of familiarity. 'Her aura is unfamiliar, yet I've sensed it somewhere before,' he contemplated, his thoughts unraveling like an intricate puzzle within the recesses of his mind.

"Did you call me here?" Adrian inquired, his voice laced with a hint of frustration. He was growing increasingly uneasy with the feeling of being manipulated and kept in the dark.

"That would be me," she replied, her voice smooth and composed, showing no signs of irritation at Adrian's earlier actions. "Although I anticipated a less... physical welcome," Alaya's words were measured as she drew nearer to him. Her expression turned serious. "You shouldn't have touched that mirror," she added, taking a seat and fixing her gaze on Adrian.

"You could've given us a heads-up about his penchant for violence," remarked the remaining man, who had managed to avoid a blow from Adrian.

"What's the deal with the mirrors? You could've sent a message or food if you wanted to convey your intentions," Adrian inquired, his tone exuding a mixture of annoyance and curiosity. He stopped exerting pressure on the red-haired man and returned to his seat.

"I know exactly who you are and why you're the way you are." Alaya dropped a bombshell that left Adrian's mind reeling with intrigue.