Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"Where---" he blinked as the phone hung up immediately.

What's with that?

She just called and acted so mysteriously.

He turned to the Valet waiting and stepped out of the car, tossing the key.

A woman on green dress?

He sighted the lady standing close to the door as he scanned through the area.

"Hello" he greeted, walking closer.

"Yvaine Dumroe says---"

"Follow me, Sir" the lady bowed slightly, leading him off.

She led him into an elevator, opened a hatch and typed a code.

What's the need for all these?

He looked around, surprised as the elevator moved.

Downwards? Wasn't this the ground floor?

A base, huh?

How interesting...

"We're here" the lady turned to him as the elevator dinged.

"I'm not allowed to follow you in" she turned back, against the door and shut her eyes.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. Why was she turning back and closing her eyes.

He glanced at her as he stepped out.

"Glory to Sirius— honor to the Lord of Lumina" the lady muttered repeatedly as the door shut.

How ominous— the place was so beautiful.

Candles were lit, hung around the room. An altar stood at the middle of the room with 5 chairs and an empty space between two of the chairs with only a dagger.

"I thought it'd take you longer" Yvaine's voice cut through from the end of the room as he stepped closer.

Apart from the many lights that illuminated the roof of the place like stars, only one shined bright enough to make the room visible.

"Should I have waited longer?" He mused, still scanning the room.

"I thought it'd be best to seize such a great opportunity"

"You've shown your seriousness" she chuckled, walking towards the altar with a bowl.

"And your skill" she mused, "$100 million to $2 billion"

As expected. They were monitoring me.

"Is this just going to be just the two of us?"

"Hello, Trent..." A familiar voice cut through from a dark end of the room.

The Madam?

He blinked, squinting his eyes to see her properly.

She was in a spot too dark for him to see even as he drew closer to the altar.

So, Scarlet didn't have any mission.

Bringing me was, huh?

"It's nice to finally meet you, Madam"

"Likewise..."

"Mis---" Yvaine paused as the madam coughed, "The Madam here will see us complete everything"

Yvaine dropped the bowl on the middle of the altar and sat down.

Trent reached the altar and stood, glancing at the spot where the Madam stood for a clearer view.

"That space..." Yvaine started, "It belonged to a member of the high table who's fallen out of grace"

He looked around the spot he stood.

Out of grace?

"Sirius doesn't forgive traitors"

A traitor?

"What should I do to keep the grace?" He asked, looking at her.

"You'll know that when you become a full member"

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at it,

"No signal?" He muttered,

"Signals are cut when you enter the room. Don't worry, take this..." She pulled a small device and stretched it.

"Attach this at the back of your phone and the signal will come back up"

"Alright" he collected it and placed it under his phone.

"Do I just make the transaction and it'll be complete?" He asked, glancing at her.

"There's a little bit more" she mused, handing him a paper— the account details.

He held the paper and logged into the secret account and proceeded with transferring $1 billion into the account.

"Done" he looked at her, turning the phone screen to her.

A buzz sounded from where the Madam was.

"Received" she muttered, looking at her phone.

"That's great" Yvaine mused, "Let's get the other part started..."

Immediately she pushed a button, holograms of people— faces blocked and unclear, popped at the head of all the chairs.

"It's not yet your turn to sit here, baby" a voice chuckled, from the chair Yvaine sat.

"You'll soon be with the stars..." Another voice mocked from the seat close by Trent's right.

"She's your heir, no?"

So, that's the Duke... Who are the others?

"Uh..." He waved his hand, interrupting their banter.

"The new seat?" one asked,

"Yes. This is Trent Ackerman" she stood up and walked behind the seat she sat on.

"He looks like a fine lad.. It's good---"

"What's the update?" An older Man's voice cut in, calmly, but firm.

Definitely the leader.

An eery silence followed and Yvaine bowed down,

"Sirius' light will Illuminate the world..." She muttered

Everybody else repeated the words, including the Madam from where she stood.

"Tell me what's going on, Wanda" the Man spoke again.

Wanda?

What was this eery feeling that followed with the name?

It couldn't be, right?

Trent turned, curious if she'd walk closer, but she didn't.

"He's sent the money"

"Alright" the leader chuckled,

"Trent..." He called,

"Sir..." Trent bowed, instinctively,

"There are countless places we fund and economies that need our help to flourish" he added, clearing his throat.

"We are not bound to nations so we do not discriminate or involve in affairs of countries, even though we hold deep ties to their systems"

He paused for a while,

"We are focused on balance— a balance of the world we live in. Is that clear?"

Trent nodded, glancing at Yvaine.

"It's clear"

"Good. I hope you'll meet my expectations" he chuckled,

"Yvaine... Continue"

"Yes, Sir" she bowed, picking the bowl up and walking towards Trent.

Trent looked at her, surprised and anxious about what was going to happen.

"You'll place your hand into this bow of water and say some words after me" she stretched the bowl forward.

Just that?

He placed his hands into the bowl and looked at her,

She nodded, with a grin.

"Sirius..." She began,

"Sirius..." He repeated,

"The bright night star... Illuminator of our dark world"

He repeated after her.

"I have come— Man born of darkness with the hope of light" she paused and nodded at him,

"Say your name"

He nodded back,

"I have come— Man born of darkness with the hope of light, Trent Ackerman..."

She chuckled,

"To seek your grace and beauty, To walk the part of darkness filled with your light..."

He continued.

"I promise to uphold with absolute service your grace and make it shine on the world"

After he repeated it, she smiled and tuned to the holograms.

"Sirius' light will Illuminate the world..."

He repeated the words with all of them and she turned to him.

"You can take your hands off"

He removed his hand from the bowl and turned to the holograms.

"Take the dagger from the floor" the leader instructed.

The dagger?

Trent bent down and took the dagger.

"That's your token as the sixth seat"

Trent scanned the dagger carefully. There was an inscription of the word, Six, on it with an obsidian engraved too.

Her ring and necklace had obsidian too. Was this of some significance, or did the Queen---

"Welcome to Lumina, Trent"

Finally decided to share the name, huh?

"Lumina?" He asked, faking surprise.

"We are the greatest organization on the planet and as a Member of the high table, you will have everything you want"

Everything?

"Just how far will that be?" He muttered, glancing at Yvaine.

"As far as you can imagine..." the voice by his right, replied with a laugh.

"There is no barrier..." Yvaine shifted closer to him, "That's what's the light of Sirius offers"

He looked at the dagger and then at the seats. 6 seats... The six letters of Sirius?

"As the Sixth seat of Lumina..." The leader cleared his throat.

"You will be known as Stella— A star, unfitting for a mortal but made possible with Sirius' light"

What?

Stella?

Yvaine chuckled, looking at his expression.

"Let me do an introduction, Lord Stella" she curtsied.

A sudden switch?

What's with that cringe name?

"Lord Seraphim— Light of Sirius" she began, introducing the leader.

"Lord Ignatius..." She stretched her hands towards the one at his right.

"Lord Raphael..." towards her father's seat.

Damn... Such cool names.

"Lord Isadora..."

"Yo..." The person with the seat spoke softly.

Another man?

Wait. Isadora? He chuckled softly.

An unfortunate one too.

"Lord Uriel..."

"I look forward to meeting you, Trent..." A lady's voice cut through.

"Me too..." he nodded.

"And you..." Yvaine turned to him with a grin, "Lord Stella"

He forced a smile, tilting his head mockingly as she smiled at him.

"Thank you for the introductions, Yvaine..." The leader spoke,

"From now on, you are a new being..." He paused,

"What will you do about the Handler's Program?"

Trent twitched.

He'd expected them to know but didn't expect the question.

He cleared his throat, glancing at Yvaine.

"I'll continue my life as it is... with service to Sirius"

Ugh. That sounded cringe as fuck.

"Good. Your profile will be given a boost. Take care of him, Wanda"

"Yes, Sir" the madam walked forward, slowly from the shadows.

"Sirius' light will illuminate the world" he spoke and logged off.

The others repeated and logged off too.

"Congratulations, Lord Stella..." Yvaine chuckled, curtsying.

"You don't have to do that" he huffed, glancing towards the madam.

"You'll be in my care, Trent..." she mused, walking closer.

Holy...

He blinked, narrowing his eyes in disbelief as the light shone on her face.

W–Wanda Kravenberch?