The Veil

Chapter # 3

After changing her attire into the one her mother has provided, (name) finally left her room.

She wandered around the vast hallways of her house that resembled a castle than a house.

She strolled towards the back gardens, she has yet to meet her fiance.

The whole exterior of the castle-like house was cloaked in the finest marble.

She looked up and realize it was a full moon night in the middle of summer.

Every leaf and flower in the garden was bathing in the sweet glow of moonlight. The flock of Peacocks was sauntering around the area quaking gleefully.

She smiled but it vanished instantly.

(Name) took a deep breath, "why my nerves are all over the place today?" It hurt her pride to admit but for the first time in all her life (name) was anxious.

And then she felt the presence of another person in the vast garden.

It was a sorcerer but the aura held overwhelming power.

She shuddered, looking ahead she saw a man standing just beside the flock of Peacocks probably admiring the proud creatures.
His presence was burdensome to her, but she walked toward the man.

Before she can utter a word, he turned around.

He was still a few feet away from her, but she noticed he was a very tall man.

His hair was white almost resembling her grandma's and his complexion was very pale that it glowed under moonlight.

What was most surprising to her was that he was wearing sunglasses in the middle of the evening.

"Hello," he uttered in her native language with a heavy Japanese accent. she didn't answer, "I'm Satoru Gojo,"

'Oh, so this is him'  she again kept her silence.
"I know I suck at (native language) but I don't think it's as bad," the man muttered guessing that she was just confused.

"No, it's good for a beginner such as yourself," (name) responded in Japanese to the unsuspecting man.

The way his neck almost snapped to look at her was hilarious, she smiled sweetly.

"I..." He was as speechless just as she has been a moment ago.

To her surprise, he chuckled. To (name) his laugh was very silly but not repulsive at all.
"I'm guessing you already know my name, but what is yours?"

She stared at the lanky man, 'does he not know me?'

"Well..." He looked at her expectantly.

"(Nickname)!" She heard Arshi scream.

"There you are!" She panted as she stopped beside them, "your mother told me to get you but you were not in your room or anywhere in the house. Do you know how difficult it is to look for someone in this house, (name)?"

(Name) wrapped her arms around her chest. "I told her I'll be there in a few moments."

"Yeah, but..." Arshi's eyes drifted towards the man, "hey, you must be Satoru Gojo. I'm Arshia or just Arshi, (name)'s best friend."

Gojo had no choice but to shake hands with the woman who almost rivaled his height.
"It seems you two have already met and you must be having deep chitchat over something relating to your future,"

"Arshia..." Oops, (name) sounded irritated.
Arshi knew she had only a few moments to escape her inevitable doom. So she ran.
(Name) shook her head at the antics of Arshi.

"So, you are (name)?" She disregarded the fact that the white-haired man was still beside her.

"Are you not talkative? Or just shy to see me for the first time," she can smell how smug he was.

"I talk enough," she turned to face him.

"Really, could've fooled me." To her horror, he was now invading her personal space.

"I---"

"You are prettier than I expected," he told her.
What was she supposed to say after that? No one has ever called her pretty yes, they have called her many different names and titles. A child of prophecy and the only girl born in the family after five generations, the chameleon.

"It's surprising how your curse energy can blend in with normal humans, a true chameleon as the title goes"

'Of course, the title' somehow left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Inside," she muttered not even trying to hide her bitterness.

"Wait, let me escort you." She didn't answer as he followed her inside.

"Awww, look at the young couple," her mother cooed as they reached the huge living room where all the elders including his parents were sitting.

"Hello," (name) smiled at the couple after throwing a glare at her mother who completely ignored it.

"You are certainly very beautiful, my dear" the woman who (name) assumed was Gojo's mother--- considering they had the same nose bridge--- hugged her soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

"Thank you," (name) couldn't help but smile, his parents seemed like very nice people.
"Satoru will be the fortunate man once you are married,"

At the mention of his name, (name) looked at the man who was already looking her way.
She didn't know what to make of the man, as he has his eyes constantly covered.
After the introduction, she sat down.

The men left the women to chat in the living room, "so, did you like him?"
Arshi whispered.

"No, I can't tell how he is just by a short little conversation," her response was dry, Arshi sometime wondered how someone who can read people by gazing at their eyes can be so dense and barren when it came to her own emotions.

"That's fair, we can't expect you to fall head over heels for him in just the first meeting,"

"...he was intriguing"

Arshi grinned, she knew (name) loved a good challenge and she was given one in form of Satoru Gojo.

Author's Note:

😏