Moments later, Violet found herself at the station receiving a reprimand from her mother.
"Violet, you've been into another needless fight four times already this week. I can't believe you can't learn to manage your feelings," Kaida bickered.
“Well, I was being harassed by them! They even made fun of you.” Violet answered in a defiant manner. “I was just protecting my honor.”
"Violet, I know it's difficult for you, but fighting won't make things better."
Violet, unable to contain herself, banged both of her palms on the desk and abruptly rose from her chair.
"You tell me that all the time, but it never works. Mom, I'm beyond being made fun of! My father, who is he? How come you won't tell me right now?" Violet let out her rage before Kaida could answer.
As she attempted to give her daughter advice, Kaida's tone softened. "As for your father, it's not something I'm ready to discuss right now. It's for your own good. Just focus on making better choices, okay?"
"You think you are protecting me, but you're just making everything worse! I'm tired of being picked on, and I deserve to know who my dad is."
Kaida finally got up from her chair, declaring she had had enough of Violet pressuring her mother.
"That's it, sweetie. You're going to be grounded for the remainder of the week while you clean out the garage."
“But Mom..."
"No 'buts'! Ran will take you home. I need to get a lot of work done."
Akane enters her office and gives Kaida a quick smile in return as Violet exits silently.
Akane caressed Kaida on the shoulder and said, "They just grow up so fast...I remember the day when she was born, it was a bundle of joy."
Kaida was gazing at an old photo of Violet as a newborn.
Kaida laughed and looked at the picture. "Go on...Are you here to remind me of my parenting skills, Akane? Time does fly, and Violet has a mind of her own. I just hope she'll understand the choices I've had to make."
"You're doing a great job, Kaida. Juggling work and being a single mom is not easy. Parenting is never easy." Akane nodded.
While meandering through the workplace, Akane had a sudden epiphany.
Akane, worried about Kaida and Violet, said, "You know, perhaps you should spend more time with Violet. She needs you, especially now. With your pension, you could retire early and let Ran take over as the chief. She's been doing a spectacular job keeping our city safe."
"We moved our precinct from Lavendhite to Sunset City when Violet was born, intending to give her a fresh start. I can't just step back now," Kaida said. "Akane, you know how much I love my job. Retire early?
Meanwhile, back in Rare's dark castle...
“It's been a year, and these low-level demons serving as teachers are taxing my patience. When can we unleash a more fearsome demon that will stir some real damage?” Vinerva said with evident discontent.
"Remember that the Arcane Barrier limits the demons that we can summon. It will eventually weaken and allow one of us to pass through," Daido said. "We have nearly enough Celestial Essence gathered, so it will soon allow one of us to pass through."
"Then, figure out how to get things moving more quickly! I'm itching for some chaos."
Vinerva let out a frustrated sigh as the stronghold doors opened. Her flamboyant brother Maximus Groovewave arrive to the scene.
"Thirsting for bloodshed, my dear Vinerva? Well, you know what they say: patience is the key to a groovy apocalypse!" Maximus teased.
Vinerva looked at him scornfully and remarked, "This is no time for your eccentricities. We need to break through the Arcane Barrier sooner rather than later."
"Ah, Vinerva, you wound me! But fear not, for I, Maximus Groovewave, have just the thing to speed up our plans with a touch of pizzazz!"
From his coat he withdrew a strange flashing crystal.
"Look at this cosmic energy, the Funkadelic Flux Crystal! We'll make that barrier dance to our music!"
Vinerva arched an eyebrow. "A Funkadelic Flux Crystal? Are you serious?" She asked.
Maximus winked and said, "Oh, my darling sister, seriousness is for those who lack style. Now, watch as we groove our way to triumph."
Vinerva sighed, "I'd rather not. Daido, please tell me you have a more sensible plan."
The scene cuts back to Sunset City. Ran takes Violet home while she sits boredly by the passenger window.
"I know black cherry is your favorite, Violet. Would you like some ice cream?" Ran asked, trying to lighten the mood in the car.
"I'm not a child." Violet grumbled.
"Oh my goodness, it's ice cream. How could you refuse? You used to adore getting ice cream when I was your babysitter."
"Thanks, but I just want to go home, Ran," Violet responded with an air of defiance.
After cleaning up the garage for a short while, Violet quickly returns home. Her loneliness and sadness quickly take hold of her, and as she looks at the calendar, her fury flares up.
Violet started crying and said, "So much for my birthday. It's like mom doesn't even care. She probably forgot about it."
When Violet was sweeping the garage, she bumped into a car that was hidden beneath a big sheet. Curious, she pulled the old sheet off, scattering dust all over the place. Violet stepped back, coughing, taking a moment to gather herself before she saw a red Ferrari, its colors faded, suggesting it had not been touched in a long time.
"I had no idea my mother had this."
Forced to give in, Violet opened the door and peered inside. The interior was dusty, and the air smelled musty and abandoned. Despite this, Violet started to look around the car's compartments, finding a secret cabinet that she carefully opened to reveal a picture that caught her off guard.
Violet blushed and stared at the photo, saying, "It's mom when she was younger. Who is this man?" Turning it over, she saw the names "Auroa" and "Kaida" written in a heart shape on the back, which explained the man's identity and highlighted their relationship as a loving couple. The photo was taken in 1989 and captured a moment captured in time.
Violet was shocked and confused to find that Auroa's hair was the same shade of purple as her own. Her mother Kaida was shown in the picture, looking slightly drunk and cuddling Auroa. It appeared as though they were both joyful, caught in a moment of carefree delight.
Violet said to herself, "Is he... my dad? The resemblance, the purple hair... Could it be true?"
Violet was left in a state of introspection and yearning for the truth due to the uncertainty surrounding her lineage. It was while she stood in the garage that a mysterious force within her started to stir, and she was unaware that this awakening would cause a reaction.
The scene returns to the gloomy stronghold, where Count Daido used his crystal ball to detect a signature that belonged to his brother Auroa.
"That's not possible…"
Count Daido furrowed his brows, then strained his eyes to concentrate on the energy's precise location in Sunset City. Daido was intrigued by this unexpected disclosure and hurried to tell Mr. Rare of the shocking information.
"Father, there's a strange energy surge in Sunset City. It has the distinct aura of Auroa."
In the depths of the fortress, Mr. Rare was shocked by the news. As he looked deeper into the crystal ball, a shocking discovery came to light. He realized even though Auroa was dead, he still had a connection to the living through his granddaughter Violet.
Rare started to direct his energy towards Violet's house and said, "Auroa's blood flows through that girl. Daido, this changes our plans. This grandchild will be a valuable pawn in my game. We shall exploit this to our advantage."
Mr. Rare stared into a mystical scrying pool, a device that let him see what was happening in the real world, while Violet, oblivious to his presence, sobbed in her garage. Tears were falling from Violet's eyes as she held the photo of Auroa and Kaida, a reflection of the sadness that had engulfed her on her birthday. The room shook with her sobs, and her heartbreak grew more intense by the second.
Violet sobbed, "I wish I could destroy her. Miyu always parades around, showing off in front of June, and I'm just here, forgotten. Why does everyone forget my birthday? Even mom doesn't seem to care."
Violet's feelings reached a fever pitch as she spoke, misinterpreting her wishes in the warped world of Mr. Rare's comprehension.
Ignorant of the underlying undertones behind Violet's comments, Rare pondered, "Ah, the pain of teenage angst. She wishes to destroy Miyu."
Violet was surprised a few moments later when she heard Rare's voice reverberating in her head.
"Come, child. Come to your room. On your sixteenth birthday, I have a gift from a loving grandfather. Don't be afraid; I'm not going to hurt you."
The unsettling voice of Rare raced through Violet's thoughts, sending shivers down her spine, yet curiosity and the promise of a gift drew her in the direction of her chamber, and as she sped up the stairs. Violet paused as she got to her bedroom door, feeling a strange, otherworldly presence in the space. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open to discover an odd sight.
Violet yelled, "Show yourself!"
A mysterious portal seemed to lure her from behind the vanity mirror by the closet, which flickered with an unnerving darkness; as she approaches the mirror warily, Rare's demonic visage comes before her.
“It appears that fate has brought us together on this memorable day, my lovely Violet. Happy 16th birthday.”
Bonus Sketch: Umi & Violet - (By Rebyo -2022)
Bonus Sketch 2: Mr: Rare - (By Max M. 2023)
Bonus Sketch 3: Mr. Rare on throne - (By Max. M 2023)
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