The murder of Sam Sandler

 In her house, Ecatrina sat on the couch as the granny robot vacuumed the carpet. She turned on the news and saw that there had been yet another murder of a businessman. He was a recently employed lead marketing manager. The screen then showed a man with the description, Name Joseph Sandler, age 32, married with, children. This was the 3rd murder, but since it was in the same district this time. She quickly got up making sure all windows and doors were closed.

 After making sure all the doors and windows were locked, she sighed. Feeling relieved Ecatrina went to the kitchen. She opened the door to the refrigerator. In there was white rice with chicken.

 She took it out and placed it in the microwave. Ecatrina at first didn't make the necessary connections that she should have. While thinking about how to make sure Mahir doesn't get hurt.

 She realized, all those recent strings of murders had happened to businessmen and the man who was shown in the news was a businessman with the last name Sandler. The Sandler family was a rich family founded during the 1640s. Bokuden's first appearance was also around the 1640s in the spirit world.

 The 1940s to the 1960s are known as the revolution of mankind against nature. Technology evolved at its fastest rate. The one who developed the technology to build Sonia was a member of the Sandler family Mendez Sandler and his team. His family is still the richest in all of Sonia.

 Ecatrina sat on the couch once again. Ecatrina sighed as she continued to eat her food and clicking through news channels. She was about to head to her room when suddenly the front door swung open, and a man entered. Axel entered with a smile and Ecatrina immediately relaxed seeing a smile on his face. This meant everything should have gone well. He was working really hard on a matter which he kept top secret even from her. He hadn't returned home for two whole weeks. With a satisfied sigh, he entered the living room and immediately sat on the couch. 

 Then told the granny robot, "Shut off the TV."

With a soft beep, the TV powered down, its screen fading to black. Ecatrina quickly sprang from her seat and crossed the room to sit right next to Axel on the couch. The space between them was filled with tension as Ecaterina's urgent presence seemed to demand an explanation.

Without waiting for her to say anything, Axel turned to her and asked, "What happened?"

Ecaterina's face, usually bright and lively, was now clouded with worry. "I made a friend," she said, her voice a mix of excitement and concern.

Axel raised an eyebrow and gave a brief nod. "Good," he said, his tone encouraging yet reserved as if he was expecting more.

Ecaterina's eyes, usually full of spark, were now shadowed with unease. Axel noticed this shift and his voice grew more concerned. "Is there a problem?"

Her shoulders slumped slightly as she replied, "Yes, my friend Mahir is getting bullied."

Axel's expression grew serious. "Why?" he asked, clearly troubled by the news.

Ecatrina bit her lip, her fingers nervously drumming on the armrest. "I think it's because she has no magic."

Axel's brow furrowed in confusion. "You think? Also, that isn't enough of a reason for her to get bullied. Is she ugly, antisocial, poor, or anything like that?"

Ecaterina shook her head firmly. "No, she's not ugly—she has a kind face and a warm smile. She's not antisocial; she's friendly and tries to connect with others. And she's definitely not poor; her family is well-off and known for their kindness."

 She paused, searching for words. "I don't think anything else could be a reason. It really just seems to be about her not having magic."

 Axel's face hardened slightly as he absorbed her words. "Then she is not getting bullied for the reasons you've mentioned. Even if she is being bullied, it likely has to be something personal or specific to her interactions with those individuals. Don't jump to conclusions about something as a lack of magic in Solia Isn't a big deal for the rich in Solia. Sometimes people are just cruel for reasons that have nothing to do with the person they're targeting."

He gave Ecatrina a pointed look, his eyes reflecting a mix of frustration and concern. "Also, your grandpa has decided not to search for us on the surface, at least for now. He's focusing his efforts elsewhere."

Ecatrina looked taken aback by the abrupt shift in conversation. Axel's tone had changed, becoming more businesslike, as if he was trying to push aside the emotional weight of the discussion.

He then stood up, his movements deliberate and a bit tense. "I need to go to my room," he said, his voice carrying a hint of finality. "We'll talk more about this later."

As Axel turned and headed towards his room, Ecatrina sat there, processing the jumble of emotions and information. The weight of the conversation lingered in the air, leaving her with a mix of unresolved concerns and a lingering sense of urgency.

 "Wait, why were you gone for two whole weeks?" If it was anyone else in the family Ecatrina would not have asked, but she knew her uncle never took anything the wrong way. Instead, he likes outspoken people.

 "I just had to check a few things out. Learn the ins and outs of this city. Met a few people. You Know as they say there is nothing more exciting than moving to a new place." He was being vague on purpose, and she knew that.

 " I saw Bokuden…" Ecatrina confessed. That piqued Axel's interest and he came back and sat on the couch.

 "I saw a rat without eyes while I and nanny robot were walking. Eerily no one else noticed the rat's presence. Then I saw it again inside the train station sniffing something. The rat smelled something on Mahir." Surprisingly her uncle smiled as she told him what happened.

 " Something is brewing… stay away from Mahir." He suggested this to Ecatrina and walked away.

 ***