I was dashing through the city at full speed, blurring across rooftops and past the Eiffel Tower. The familiar iron lattice swept by in my peripheral vision as I maintained my enhanced pace.
As I made my way across Paris, I was left with only one goal here before I used the money I'd received from Kagami. After this delivery, me and Marinette should relatively be fine and she theoretically shouldn't be asking for my miraculous back.
Even if it didn't go fine, I always had my backup plan, though it would make things far messier for myself.
But looking at the two letters in my hand, it was clear she'd given me the wrong two letters. It didn't help that they were both white, but I did remember something of the sort happening in the series.
Regardless, I needed to hurry. The sun was pretty high up, but I didn't understand what he meant by the sun's peak. Gotta look it up when I land.
The riverbank came into view below, the Seine flowing peacefully through the heart of Paris. I spotted my target sitting alone on a bench near the water's edge - Marianne Lenoir, her silver hair pulled back neatly as she watched the boats drift by.
I dropped down behind some trees and transformed back, the Snake Miraculous disappearing from my wrist before I approached her bench.
"Excuse me, Madame Lenoir?" I said, walking up to where she sat. She looked up at me with polite curiosity.
"Delivery for you, madame," I said, offering the white envelope with a respectful smile.
"Ah, thank you, young man." She accepted the letter graciously. "How thoughtful, I hope its who I think it is."
"My pleasure," I replied.
She pressed a few euros into my palm before I could decline. "For your trouble."
I made my way back toward the trees where I'd hidden, already waiting to use the Snake Miraculous. Sass and I had waited behind the treeline for a few minutes, transforming again as I heard the first sounds of distress from the bench area.
Purple energy crackled around Marianne's form by the water. I could see her twisting into something else entirely—robes flowing like shadow, a massive pen clutched in one gnarled hand.
Backwarder. Whatever had been in that letter had triggered her akumatization.
I launched myself from the trees, landing near the bench where Backwarder now stood. I whispered out second chance to start its activation. The akumatized woman whirled toward me, eyes blazing with purple energy.
"The past must be corrected!" she shrieked, swinging her massive pen. "These failures cannot stand!"
I dodged the temporal energy trailing from her weapon, it was a rapid fire and landed onto items in the environment, turning a tree into a sapling, sending cars backward.
"Second Chance"
As her attacks proved unpredictable I decided to restart, it would be good for my image if I simply let people get hurt. Each reset gave me better positioning, better understanding of her patterns.
On my third attempt, I managed to wrap my lyre, around her pen arm, yanking the weapon from her grasp. I hadnt even thought of using it till now. It clattered to the floor and shattered on impact, releasing the dark butterfly.
I caught the akuma before it could escape, crushing it between my fingers. The purple smoke began to dissipate, but I knew the damage would remain without proper purification.
"De-Evilize!"
Ladybug swung down from a nearby building just as the healing light washed over the riverbank area capturing the butterflies dark aura. She looked surprised to find the situation already resolved.
"You defeated her alone," she observed, landing gracefully beside where Marianne now sat in confusion on the bench.
"The akuma was straightforward enough," I replied, watching as Ladybug immediately went to check on the victim. Dark circles were visible even through her mask, and her movements carried the practiced efficiency of someone who'd done this too many times recently.
"What happened to me?" Marianne asked weakly, the letter now pristine in her hands.
"it's over now," Ladybug assured her gently, helping her to a chair. Taking out another letter from her grasp.
As Ladybug prepared to leave, I made my observation. "Another akuma today. They seem to be happening more frequently lately."
She paused, her grip tightening slightly on her yo-yo. "Hawkmoth has been more active recently."
"Must be exhausting, always being the first to respond," I said casually. "Good thing Paris has such a dedicated protector."
For a moment, something tired flickered across her features. "Someone has to keep the city safe."
"Miraculous Ladybug!"
Ladybug swung down from a nearby building just as the healing light washed over the riverbank area. She looked surprised to find the situation already resolved.
"You defeated her alone," she observed, landing gracefully beside where Marianne now sat in confusion on the bench.
"The akuma was straightforward enough," I replied, watching as Ladybug immediately went to check on the victim. Her movements were efficient but carried a certain weariness.
"What happened to me?" Marianne asked weakly, the letter now pristine in her hands.
"You received some upsetting news, but it's over now," Ladybug assured her gently, helping her to a chair. She pulled another letter from her yo-yo and placed it beside Marianne on the bench. "This should be the correct correspondence."
Marianne looked between the two letters in confusion. "I... I'm not sure I understand."
"Don't worry about it," Ladybug said softly. "Just know that everything is as it should be now."
As we prepared to leave, I glanced at Ladybug. "Another akuma today. They seem to be happening quite frequently."
She nodded, her expression growing slightly more tired. "Hawkmoth has been more active recently."
"Good thing Paris has dedicated protectors," I said neutrally.
"We all do our part," she replied, then swung away into the afternoon sky.
---
Master Fu's massage parlor sat tucked between a bakery and a small café. Both Marinette and I arrived within minutes of each other, using the side door to enter.
"Come in," his voice called from within.
We found him arranging something in his drawer. He looked up as we entered, his ancient eyes moving between us.
"Tell me did it go well," he said simply.
"There was a mix-up with the letter deliveries," Marinette began, her voice carrying a slight edge of fatigue. "I accidentally gave Luka the wrong letters. One was meant for Marianne, but another contained content that triggered her akumatization."
"I handled the situation just fine," I added. "Ladybug stepped in to resolve the damage."
Master Fu nodded thoughtfully. "And the correct letter was delivered?"
"Yes," Marinette confirmed before shaking her head and looking at me. "The situation is resolved right?"
I nodded.
"I see." His weathered hands folded in his lap. "This is the third akuma incident this week."
"Hawkmoth's activity has increased," I acknowledged, and I noticed she rubbed her temple briefly—a small gesture that spoke of strain.
"Indeed. And our protectors, have responded to each one promptly," Master Fu observed.
I remained quiet, letting the implication hang in the air. Master Fu's eyes grew thoughtful as he studied Ladybug's or Marinettes posture, the subtle signs of exhaustion that even her heroic bearing couldn't entirely mask.
"Perhaps," he said slowly, "it would be wise to consider additional support structures. The burden of 'delivering letters' grows heavier each day."
Marinette straightened. "I can handle it."
"Of that I have no doubt. But even the strongest foundations benefit from reinforcement."
I watched the exchange with careful neutrality, satisfied that Master Fu was drawing his own conclusions about the situation.
After Ladybug left, I lingered for a moment.
"Your observations during today's incident were astute," Master Fu said quietly.
"I simply reported what I saw," I replied.
He nodded, clearly processing more than just this event. "Thank you, Luka. Your assistance continues to be valuable."
The sun had begun its descent toward the horizon, casting longer shadows across the city. Master Fu's comment about "the sun's peak" made a little sense—timing was crucial in this business.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through.
Oh Kagami and adriene texted me about there trip well that couldve been helpful earlier.
I scrolled to Max's contact as I walked away from the massage parlor.
He picked up on the second ring. "Luka? What's up?"
"I need you to send a message to the class group chat," I said, maintaining an even pace. "Tell them I'll be away for a while."
"Away? For how long?" Max's analytical mind was already working.
"Not sure yet. Could be a few weeks, maybe longer."
"Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, just some things I need to take care of." I turned toward the Seine. "You'll handle the message?"
"Of course. Should I include any details about—"
"Just that I'll be out of contact until I get there. Thanks, Max."
I ended the call before he could ask more questions. The fewer details circulating, the better.
It was time to set things in motion.