Esmeralda & The Free Ss


    In her hands was a red dagger, glowing ominously under the courtroom lights, the kind of weapon that could unsettle even the most hardened of warriors. The dagger pulsed with malevolent energy, its sharp edges glittering with bloodlust, while the hilt absorbed the light like a piece of the abyss itself.


    The cursed aura it exuded made the entire court shudder in unspoken terror. This was no ordinary weapon.


    Emberly''s heart skipped a beat as she saw it. Her breathing became shallow, the icy calm demeanor she wore slipping away as fear wed at herposure. She knew that dagger well. It had nearly imed her son''s life. Worse, she knew of the curse bound to it—a Godly Rank weapon, an artifact capable of erasing even an Obsidian''s soul from existence.


    There would be no reincarnation. No redemption.


    Seeing her master''s distress, Emilia pulled her into aforting hug, gently patting her back, while Anastasia raised her glowing hands, her Life Mana pouring into their mother. The golden-green light shimmered as it weaved into Emberly, calming her, steadying her breath.


    The courtroom watched in stunned silence. Few knew the true significance of that weapon, but those who did, those with knowledge of ancient times and the Obsidian legacy, sat frozen in their seats.


    Esmeralda, the vampire with the blood of Count Drac, held the dagger with an unsettling nonchnce, fully aware of the stir she was causing.


    Emberly regained herposure but couldn''t tear her eyes away from the cursed weapon. It had a history, a dark one only her family and Emilia truly understood. The Elemental Deity had once wielded this weapon in his battle against Lucy, he''s one of the most powerful beings in the God Realm. Though it hadn''t donesting damage to her, the dagger had wounded her.


    As punishment to House Obsidian , the Elemental Deity cursed the de before leaving it behind when he ascended.


    That dagger... it could annihte an Obsidianpletely—body, soul, and spirit.


    It had been lost to time, the curse forgotten, but it had found it''s way into Ss''s hands back then. Ss hadn''t even realized the depth of the curse bound to it. He had believed it to be his key to destroying the Obsidian family, and he nearly seeded. Pyris had been inches from death.


    Emberly''s grip on the bench tightened. She fought to control the fear rising in her chest, the same fear she had felt when she discovered Ss had used it to attempt to murder her son.


    "A Godly Rank weapon!" someone whispered from the jury, their voice trembling.


    Ss, standing with his typical arrogance, widened his eyes at the sight of his sister. "Esmeralda?" he called, surprisecing his voice.


    Esmeralda smiled, a wicked gleam in her crimson eyes. "Yes, brother."


    Ss stiffened at her response. He could read the malice behind her sweet tone. Esmeralda was more than just a sister. She was dangerous, cunning, and known as the ck sheep of the Count Drac bloodline.


    She had always been the outcast of the five Drac siblings, but here she was—testifying against her own brother.


    Esmeralda stood tall, her ck dress hugging her perfectly sculpted figure, showing just enough tomand attention while maintaining a cold, calcted elegance. Her medium-sized chest was modest but perfect for her frame, and her curves were impable, as if carved by the goddess of beauty herself. White hair, streaked with ck strands, fell over her shoulders, framing her pale face.


    Her blood-red eyes glimmered with danger and amusement. Every move she made was with purpose, and every nce she cast sent chills down Ss''s spine.


    "Allow me to present my solid evidence, court of the jury!" Esmeralda''s voice wasmanding, crude but confident. She showed no respect for the court, nor her brother. She had an agenda, and no one could stand in her way.


    The judge, calm and collected despite the chaos unfolding, simply nodded. "Of course, you may."


    Esmeralda''s lips curled into a wicked grin as she held up the dagger. "This is the weapon my brother, Ss, used in his attempt to murder a six-year-old boy—Pyris Obsidian." The courtroom went deathly silent as she spoke. "He managed to infiltrate the Obsidian estate using his Space Element, leaving no trace behind. However, this dagger was left behind.


    If it pleases the court, I have video footage to present."


    The judge gave a nod of approval. With graceful precision, Esmeralda walked to the disy screen, inserting a ck sh drive into the port. The room dimmed as therge screen flickered to life, showing the captured footage.


    In the grainy night-vision recording, Ss was shown sneaking into a dimly lit room. He was holding the same red dagger, gripping it tightly as he approached the bed where young Pyrisy asleep, blissfully unaware of the danger looming over him. The dagger in Ss''s hand emitted a faint red glow, reacting to the presence of its intended victim.


    ____


    The courtroom was transfixed as Ss knelt on the bed, hovering over Pyris with the weapon raised, his intention to strike the boy''s heart clear. The dagger hummed with an eerie red light, almost as if it was hungry for an Obsidian blood.


    But just before the fatal strike couldnd, a voice shattered the silence.


    "Pyris!" Emberly''s voice echoed in the room, freezing Ss in his tracks.


    In a sh, the scene shifted. Emberly, fueled by fury and maternal instinct, stormed into the room, her icy aura filling the space. The portal Ss had opened to escape began to crumble under her overwhelming power. But with quick reflexes, Ss tossed the dagger into the portal just before it closed.


    The video ended abruptly, and silence reigned once more.


    The courtroom was stunned. Everyone knew of Ss''s obsession with House Obsidian, but to see the actual footage, to witness the cold-blooded attempt on a child''s life, left them speechless.


    Ss, however,ughed. "Hahahaha!" Hisughter cut through the tension, dark and cruel. "Do you truly believe this? Do any of you actually believe this pathetic footage? A murder attempt? On a child?


    I never did such a thing!" His voice boomed across the courtroom.


    "You''re being yed for fools!" Ss sneered. "Do you really think I would ruin my life— as one of the few Six Elements Awakened over a boy? Pyris means nothing to me. This is all a setup because I''m the only one who canpete with Obsidian Tech! They want me dead, silenced forever. The Obsidians have orchestrated this entire trial!"


    His voice rang with conviction, and his words held a strange, twisted logic. His contributions to Obsidian Tech a decade ago were significant, and though their technology had surpassed his inventions, he had indeed yed a part in their earlier sesses.


    His argument made sense to those who didn''t know the depths of his madness.


    "Why would I, a man revered for my Six Elements, risk it all for a boy who was nothing back then and is still nothing to me now?" Ss pressed further, his confidence growing as murmurs spread through the court.


    Esmeralda, however, was unmoved. "Because of your obsession, Ss. You''ve always med the Obsidians for your failures. You said it yourself—''If it wasn''t for that cursed family, I would have Father''s blessing. I would be the next leader!'' You hated them for that!" Esmeralda''s words hit Ss hard, hisposure slipping for a moment.