Deviant: No Longer Human

Seraphine acknowledged with a soft nod, her movements graceful as she wiped her lips with a tissue. "But the queen there has a husband," she added, an offhand comment that seemed loaded with unspoken implications.

Wang Xiao\'s brows furrowed in suspicion at this seemingly random piece of information. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked, puzzled by her intentions.

Seraphine\'s lips curled into a mysterious smile, her response a simple, "Nothing," leaving a trail of questions.

"..."

Wang Xiao was left in a state of speechlessness, he burned with the desire to beat her, but her cunning wits allowed her to slip away from the impending violence, using her lack of words as a shield.

Seraphine\'s tone took on a bitter edge as she delved into her past, revealing a connection that caught Wang Xiao off guard. "Ericka and I attended the same university," she began, her voice tinged with a mix of resentment and nostalgia.

Wang Xiao\'s interest piqued, sensing the conversation was veering into unexpected territory.

"She was the daughter of Henrik Sørensen, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Norhaven government. As you might imagine, the government and the monarchy in Norhaven are closely interlinked," Seraphine elucidated, painting a picture of a world where political and royal lines blurred.

Wang Xiao, puzzled by the direction of this revelation, questioned its relevance. "How does her background matter to me?"

"Because the person we\'re going to meet is her daughter—the second princess," Seraphine revealed, connecting the dots in a way that Wang Xiao hadn\'t anticipated.

Wang Xiao\'s skepticism was immediate. "I want someone reliable, not some kids."

Seraphine\'s response was swift, imbued with a conviction that brooked no argument. "Don\'t underestimate them. Ericka\'s entire family possesses exceptional intellect. Ericka herself is a scientist. The last time I met her, she complained about her daughter\'s disinterest in science, lamenting how she\'s always glued to her computers.

It was as if she was boasting about her daughter being a genius," Seraphine recounted, her irritation at the memory evident.

"Being obsessed with computers doesn\'t automatically make you a genius," Wang Xiao retorted, his own experience coloring his skepticism. He didn\'t see his own tech proficiency as anything extraordinary.

"You don\'t understand. Her daughter is a prodigy!" Seraphine insisted, her emphasis on the word \'prodigy\' leaving no room for doubt. "I looked up a name she mentioned in passing, and you won\'t believe what I found."

Wang Xiao, still harboring doubts, watched as Seraphine searched for an electronic device. Impatiently, he tossed his phone towards her. She quickly navigated to a search, inputting a few keywords before handing the device back to him.

"Check for yourself," she urged.

As Wang Xiao scrolled through the news articles that popped up, his initial skepticism melted away, replaced by a flicker of surprise.

___________

21th September, 2026!

A figure stood atop the clock tower, casting a long shadow over the bustling streets of Norhaven\'s capital.

Wang Xiao, his silhouette etched against the sky, surveyed the city below with a keen eye.

His attention was drawn irresistibly to one building in particular, standing out among the urban landscape: \'Sunflower International Middle School.\'

Amidst the sprawl of concrete and glass, this institution was his singular focus, his predetermined destination.

The sun, high in the sky, bathed Wang Xiao in a brilliant light, highlighting the determined set of his jaw and the intense focus in his eyes.

From this vantage point, he observed his target, the school that housed the individual he sought.

On this day, his interest was piqued not by tycoons or political figures but by someone much younger, a girl still in middle school.

His mission was clear, though fraught with moral ambiguity — he was here to abduct her.

Down below, within the walls of Sunflower International Middle School, the day\'s lessons had come to an early end.

Freya Astrid, the daughter of Ericka Sørensen and Magnus Bjørnson, emerged into the sunlight, her steps light with the joy of unexpected freedom.

Freya, with her bright eyes and carefree spirit, was unaware of the danger lurking just out of sight, her thoughts occupied with plans for the afternoon now that school had been dismissed early.

Her hair, a deep shade of crimson, cascaded down her shoulders and was gathered into an elegant bun atop her head, secured with a golden accessory that hinted at her noble lineage. Tendrils of her vibrant hair framed her face, highlighting her porcelain skin and the rosy flush of her cheeks.

Her eyes, a clear, mesmerizing hue, were accentuated with delicate makeup that enhanced their natural allure, giving her a look that was both innocent and wise beyond her years. A black bow adorned one side of her hair, adding a touch of youthful charm to her sophisticated appearance.

Freya\'s attire spoke of her status and her family\'s influence; she wore a dark, tailored jacket richly adorned with golden embroidery and decorative buttons that gleamed in the sunlight.

The jacket\'s design was both stylish and commanding, leaving a blend of royal elegance and modern fashion sensibility.

Even in the joyful abandon of school\'s early release, there was an air of refinement about Freya that set her apart from her peers.

Unbeknownst to her, this same striking appearance made her all the more noticeable to the watchful eyes observing from the clock tower above.

Her distinctive look, marked by the vivid red of her hair and the regal cut of her clothes, would make her an unmistakable target for Wang Xiao\'s planned abduction.

"Why did mom call me early today?" Freya\'s mind churned with curiosity as she meandered through the school grounds, her footsteps buoyant yet absent-minded.

The unexpected call from her mother had been both a surprise and a disruption, leaving her to wonder about the urgency that warranted an early departure from school.

Her slender fingers adjusted the strap of her schoolbag, a subtle motion that spoke of her unease.

The early release, though welcomed, was unusual — her mother, wrapped up in the world of science and politics, seldom made such impromptu requests.

Back at the hotel in Norhaven, Wang Xiao had been biding his time, a strategist waiting for the right moment to act.

Seraphine had ventured out early to the castle to liaise with Ericka, leaving Wang Xiao with a task that piqued both his interest and skepticism.

Seraphine had entrusted him with a crucial role — to watch over Freya, who was momentarily without her usual security detail.

While Wang Xiao was not one to take orders, the request aligned with his own objectives.

Yet, he harbored doubts about this girl, this young \'stick\' as he dubbed her.

Could she genuinely possess the abilities Seraphine claimed she did?

Shaking off hesitation, he made his move with the grace of a seasoned knidnapper.

Whoosh!

In a single, fluid motion, he leaped from the clock tower, descending like a specter into the quiet anonymity of a shadowed alley.

_____