Zephyra's Diary: That's how they started calling me "Iron Maiden"

   If someone had told me years ago that I’d be scouted by a noble to become its assisstant, I would have laughed in their face. The thought of moving from an orphanage to the world of high society felt more like a poorly written fairy tale than real life.

   Turns out I was wrong.

   The first time I saw Lucian’s residence, I didn’t know how to react. The car pulled into a quiet, estate surrounded by towering trees and trimmed hedges. The mansion itself stood at the heart of it all—tall and elegant, with sleek stonework and glowing crystal lamps lining the walkway. I stood frozen wondering if I had been brought to the wrong place. Marble floors, glass chandeliers, spiraling staircases... 

   I kept thinking that it was all just a dream and I will wake up at any moment. Even when Lucian led me inside, casually introducing me to the butlers and staff like I belonged there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was walking through someone else’s life.

   But going back to the topic. 

   Before I could even begin working with Lucian, I had to educate myself, and not just in engineering or programming. Mathematics, magical structures, the finer points of noble customs and etiquette and much, much more. As someone who grew up learning how to dodge suspicion at a marketplace, the thought of sitting upright and studying all day was almost laughable.

   More than once, I questioned whether agreeing to Lucian’s arrangement had been a mistake. The sheer volume of information I had to absorb was suffocating. I’d easily fall asleep at my desk, face pressed against the pages of some dull book about magical theory.

   Still, whenever I wanted to quit, Lucian was there. He’d show up with a cup of coffee and some offhanded remark that made me grit my teeth and push through. He believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.

* * *

   Three years. That’s how long it took for me to be ready.

   By the time I’d finished my education, Lucian had taken over as the head of the family. To celebrate, there was a ball—grand and overwhelming in every sense. The ballroom was filled with nobles wearing clothing more expensive than everything I’d ever owned. It wasn’t just his night, though. It was mine too. My debut as his assistant.

   At first, it was going well. I was polite, quiet, as I studied to be. People greeted me with smiles that never quite reached their eyes, and I smiled back just as politely. But then came the whispers:

   “She’s the orphan, right?”

   “Honestly, it’s a bit ridiculous. From the streets to a noble’s side? What is she, some charity case?”

   “Bet she still smells like the slums.”

   "..."

   They thought I wouldn’t hear them, but they were wrong.

   At first I tried to ignore it. 

   I reeeeeaaally tried. 

   But at one point something inside me snapped. I walked straight over to the group—three men and one woman, all probably around my age but with egos twice as big. I didn’t say a word. I just slammed my glass onto the nearest table, grabbed the collar of the loudest one, and decked him right across the jaw.

   He hit the floor like a sack of potatoes.

   The others barely had time to react before I swept the woman’s legs from under her and elbowed another guy in the gut. The last one ran away. Smart choice.

   There was silence across the ballroom. Dozens of nobles staring at me in horror while I stood there, fists clenched, breathing heavy, not even bothering to fix the loose strand of hair falling over my face.

   After that night, people started calling me "Iron Maiden". The rumors started to spread that I could kill someone just by looking at them, or that I could beat up a dragon with one punch.

   Of course, Lucian wasn’t exactly thrilled about that incident. He pulled me aside once we were back home and scolded me for around 3-4 hours. Try to imagine sitting seiza for such a long time... it hurts...

   Anyway... Work began shortly after.

   At first, I wasn’t sure how well I’d do. Both the expectations and the pressure were high. But once I found my rhythm, everything clicked. Designing machines, solving problems, creating things that actually made people’s lives better—it felt natural. Turns out I had better talent for that than I expected.

* * *

   As time went on, my relationship with Lucian changed. We were partners, but it became something more. He wasn’t just my colleague or my boss—he was my anchor. We supported each other, balanced each other out.

   When I turned 25, he proposed to me. I’ll admit, I didn’t see it coming. But it felt right.

   Our wedding was beautiful. I can still remember all the details. But what do I remember the most is the peace that came after. A home. A family… our son.

   It was perfect. I had so much more than I ever thought I deserved…

   …But nothing stays perfect forever.

* * *

   It happened during one of our family dinners.

   The evening had been calm. The dining room was softly lit, filled with the quiet clinking of utensils against porcelain. I sat across from Lucian, our son Noah between us, swinging his legs under the table as he happily devoured his meal.

   He’d just turned six and was in that stage where every bite came with a story, his words tumbling out between chews. “And then, the bunny ran around the garden—really fast! I tried to catch him but he was like—whoosh!” He waved his fork in the air, sending a bit of rice flying. 

   Lucian chuckled, placing his glass down. “So, the bunny outran the mighty Noah?”

   Noah puffed out his cheeks. “Only this time! Next time, I’ll be faster!”

   I smiled, watching the two of them. These quiet dinners weren’t always filled with deep conversations, but they were warm. Moments like this made everything else fade into the background.

   When the plates were cleared, we all thanked for a meal and started to rise.

   That’s when one of the butlers appeared, bowing slightly at the entrance. “Master Lucian, your younger brother has arrived. He says it is urgent.”

   Lucian paused, surprised. “Victor?”

   The butler nodded.

   “That's rather sudden... Take him to my office.”

   Before the conversation could continue, I glanced at the clock and ruffled Noah’s hair. “Alright, little bunny chaser. Bedtime.”

   “Aww… But I wanted to say hi to Uncle Victor.”

   “Next time,” I said, picking him up. “If he stays too long, I’ll make him read you a bedtime story himself.”

   Noah giggled, already half-asleep by the time I tucked him under the blankets. I kissed his forehead and quietly shut the door behind me.

   By the time I got to the office, Victor was already there. He always had a restless energy around him, he had a habbit of coming to our residence with some gifts for Noah. Of course most of his visits were mostly about his new bussiness ideas and asking for financial support. But don't get me wrong. He is not a bad person and Noah likes to spend time with him, so we are always welcoming him here with open arms. Though usually he informs about his visits beforehand.

   Tonight something felt different. He didn’t even greet me. His jaw was tight, movements too quick, his eyes sharper than I remembered. There was something beneath the surface, something frayed and volatile.

   We sat down.

   Without wasting time, Victor launched into it.

   He began outlining his latest project, he is planning with his colleague. He spoke of gene modification—pushing our biology past natural limits. Unlocking potential never seen before.

   “This isn’t just science,” he said, leaning forward with that fervent gleam in his eye. “It’s the future. Imagine what we could achieve—stronger bodies, sharper minds, the ability to overcome any obstacle. We could change the very course of history.”

   He sounded like a visionary. Or a madman. It was hard to tell the difference in that moment.

   I glanced at Lucian, who remained silent. His fingers were steepled, his gaze fixed on his brother. I knew that look—it meant he didn’t like what he was hearing.

   Eventually, Victor finished. The room settled into silence.

   Lucian spoke quietly, but firmly. “No.”

   Victor’s brow furrowed. “Huh? Just like that? I know that I don't have good luck with bussiness, but this time is dif—”

   “What you’re proposing isn’t evolution—it’s experimentation. You’re talking about using living beings as test subjects. It’s unethical, inhumane. Did you truly believe that I would support something like that?.”

   Victor’s face shifted. The excitement drained, replaced by something... darker.

   “Unethical? Inhumane?” he repeated, disbelief tainting his tone. “You don’t see the bigger picture. This isn’t about morals—it’s about progress!”

   “There are lines that shouldn’t be crossed, Victor.”

   Victor’s voice edged toward desperation. “You’re making a mistake. Do you think the world will wait for you to catch up? If we don’t do this, someone else will!”

   “I’ve given my answer. It’s final.”

   Victor stood abruptly, the chair screeching against the polished floor. He didn’t hide his anger anymore. His fists were clenched tight at his sides.

   “You’ll regret this,” he hissed. Then he turned and walked out, the door slamming behind him.

   The room was quiet again.

   Lucian let out a breath and rubbed his temples. “What's gotten into him?” he muttered. “First time I heard him so desperate.”

   I said nothing, just nodded slowly. But... his words echoed louder in my mind than they should have.

   Something about the way he said it… It didn’t sound like frustration. It sounded like a promise.

   And that’s what unsettled me most.

* * *

   The next day, we took a break from work.

   Lucian suggested a trip to the beach. The moment he brought it up, I saw Noah’s entire face light up. He bounced on his toes, already rattling off all the things he wanted to do. Lucian even laughed more than usual, joking that he will try to squeeze the whole fridge into the car.

   It was shaping up to be a perfect day.

   Just as we finished packing and were about to leave, I realized I had forgotten my phone. So I ran back inside to get it.

   I remember the feeling. The door closing behind me. My feet tapping lightly across the floor. I remember where the phone was—on the kitchen counter, where I’d left it after checking the weather one last time.

   But before I made it back outside, this happened.

   The explosion tore through the morning with a roar so loud and violent it felt like the world itself had shattered. The windows shook in their frames. The ground trembled beneath my feet. Time seemed to stop for one breathless moment—and then I saw the fire.

   Flames erupted from the driveway, swallowing the car in an instant. A burst of orange and black, followed by a wall of smoke that billowed upward, blotting out the sun.

   I didn’t think. I just ran.

   I stumbled over the doorstep, down the path, toward the wreckage that had been our car. My skin burned from the heat, the searing wave of it biting into my face and arms as I forced myself closer. The stench of gasoline and scorched metal wrapped around me, choking and thick, clawing at my lungs.

   “No...” I couldn't believe what was happening. “Noah! Lucian! No!”

   There was nothing left but a twisted heap of metal and flame. Glass shattered across the driveway. Parts of the engine smoldered, unrecognizable. And somewhere in that mess—within the heart of the fire—I saw them.

   Or what was left of them.

   I barely recognized the shapes, burned and blackened. There was no movement. No sound. Just the crackling of fire and the sharp hiss of heat devouring everything it touched.

   I couldn’t breathe. My legs gave out beneath me, and I dropped to my knees, my hands trembling, my face soaked in tears. My screams didn’t stop. They kept pouring out, wild and broken, as the weight of it crashed down on me.

   All I could feel was the hollowness in my chest. The emptiness where they had been. The silence that followed was louder than the explosion.

   In that moment, everything was gone. My family. My world. Burned to ashes in the blink of an eye.