“I know that you drank the flask because you thought it’d make you stronger, Lewir,” Ninéya said. She faced Lewir, who had the nerve to barge right in the throne room without any other words, his horns vividly glimmery and his hair shinier than usual.116Please respect copyright.PENANA5kvILXa5Wh
“It does make me stronger,” Lewir said. He wasn’t lying. It made him stronger. The veins within had been on edge ever since he almost burnt his stomach with the burning liquid. The fire blossom extract had almost torn apart his intestines, but Lewir was stronger than that.116Please respect copyright.PENANAXCzNntxJnU
“Of course it makes you stronger, darling,” Ninéya grinned, “but don’t forget that I will always be stronger than you.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAmIIVraiN2T
“I know that I can’t defeat you on my own,” Lewir said as he approached Ninéya but was halted by the two guards on his way.116Please respect copyright.PENANAGZRngR0izA
“Then why did you come here, brave one?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAwfX0ApQfhW
A smirk curled on Lewir’s lips, just like it did on Ninéya’s.
It was the next morning and the weather was a bit more gloomy than usual. Aris and Lemennie had both been on edge and Vastice noticed this incredible tension between the two of them. The two females had both been racing to talk with Elliot. He deserved to know. And at one point, when everybody had split up and the three of them were alone in the entrance hall, Elliot was confused above all.116Please respect copyright.PENANAWW9xXNE4te
“What’s up?” he asked, awkwardly standing in the entrance hall, his mother to his left and Lemennie to his right.116Please respect copyright.PENANA71i27H0fU0
“You need to know something,” Lemennie said.116Please respect copyright.PENANASjVaIEL09V
Elliot eyed her with a harsh suspicion, but that didn’t stop Lemennie from looking him square in the eye.116Please respect copyright.PENANAFEHsWe5d1E
“Son, I think you need to listen to me,” Aris said calmly.116Please respect copyright.PENANADbxKKVzlgp
“I have more right to say this to him,” Lemennie said. “After all, I haven’t been hiding anything for eighteen years.”116Please respect copyright.PENANACFf56vwUOj
“I have just as much right, Lemennie. And I -”116Please respect copyright.PENANAdYZFOqeON1
“What is going on?” interrupted Elliot with an unwished snarl.116Please respect copyright.PENANAHvCpMkA99c
“Listen to me,” Aris sighed. “I am your mother.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAtxGFiXweqm
Elliot had already proceeded to turn to his mother and cancel out Lemennie, but then she opened her mouth.116Please respect copyright.PENANAifuThuEZKj
“And I am your sister.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAYw79PG1FjF
A silence fell heavily over the room, and both Elliot and Aris were stunned both verbally and physically. Elliot built up the courage to face Aris, whose jaw was on the floor. Her eyes filled with guilt and regret and she swallowed loudly.116Please respect copyright.PENANA1zh7Gd9ouw
“Elliot… I -”116Please respect copyright.PENANAACtpBVFG0r
“My sister?” scowled Elliot as he looked at Lemennie and then back to his mother.116Please respect copyright.PENANAE473qhVxbg
“Half-sister,” corrected Aris with forced class.116Please respect copyright.PENANAhISPcXZpdi
“Same mother or…?” 116Please respect copyright.PENANApxBwKJ5Pxe
“Same father,” corrected Lemennie, and she soon realised that that wasn’t the reply that Elliot had subconsciously wanted to hear. Another silence fell over the room, and now it was Lemennie to force class back in her attitude. She knew that Elliot didn’t want to hear that they came from the same father, as he didn’t even know his father. Unfortunately, Elliot was smart, and both Aris and Lemennie soon knew he’d piece everything together. 116Please respect copyright.PENANA6k2Rt5I8P8
“Your father is…” Elliot’s voice faded away in the end as he had to force himself with every muscle in his body to turn to Lemennie and face her. He had never been fond of Lemennie, both know that he told him that they were related by blood and shared the same father, he wasn’t sure whether he should hate her more or love her more. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAkcQp2yJp0p
“Garlath,” whispered Lemennie quietly. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAW9yYL84Sm2
“Garlath?” frowned Elliot, confused to a height.116Please respect copyright.PENANAh0XSebpByx
“A demon,” nodded Lemennie. “A devil.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAnPuKicBfoc
“So if I am no elf like my mother, then I must be…”116Please respect copyright.PENANAeTgIaTc9jL
“A devil like your father,” Lemennie finished.116Please respect copyright.PENANA3Z9lNE0DJ3
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAdbUMIVhhBB
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was ready,” Lemennie whispered. “You don’t meet your long lost sibling every day.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAHeTZoX0kJQ
“You knew about me?”116Please respect copyright.PENANA0kpcho00xi
“Of course I knew about you. Do you think I didn’t know what my father did when he wasn’t in the core?”116Please respect copyright.PENANATyAZ8YRqRy
“I am sorry, Elliot,” Aris interrupted. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but I just didn’t know if you were prepared to hear it.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAIdEyLak7ls
“You know that I have been trying to figure myself out for years and you just kept everything hidden,” Elliot replied. “How could you not tell me?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAFuEeOdOue9
“Because it all is very delicate,” Aris mumbled.116Please respect copyright.PENANA3RPBCqv5ck
Lemennie turned to Aris. “I think you should tell him the entire story, Aris. Not just you and Garlath’s business.” She then walked away, and Aris and Elliot were both left in the entrance hall, facing each other.116Please respect copyright.PENANAfchgTKkGHc
“Let’s go somewhere private, Elliot,” Aris sighed. “There is a lot I need to explain to you about the Grand Battles.”
Bethil had taken Daphne aside and they both sat in their bedroom where Bethil was awkwardly sipping a cup of tea. He hadn’t really prepared for much after he had decided to take some alone time with Daphne.116Please respect copyright.PENANAUtyUjom8U6
“What do you want to talk about?” Daphne asked with a blank face. She could taste the tension that hung in the bedroom and she wasn’t sure if she was a fan of it.116Please respect copyright.PENANATQdWB5oK1d
Bethil sheepishly laughed and he scratched his scalp. He then took another large sip of tea and put the cup on the cupboard. 116Please respect copyright.PENANA87sC3muTkN
“I would like to talk about us,” he said.116Please respect copyright.PENANAlF48gnQhnu
“About us?” Daphne answered. She suddenly longed for a cup of tea to drink away the awkwardness. Despite her feelings for Bethil, she didn’t want it to be super serious or anything. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAoaCloWzK0o
“I know that after the incident with Sarkhan and Mounty you have not really thought about settling down with anybody, but I -”116Please respect copyright.PENANApTfOlh3auG
“You hope to be the exception? The person to change my mind?” Daphne asked a bit more stern than she’d hoped for. She couldn’t help but raise her brow as well. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAjQVJAOMljH
Bethil groaned in frustration as he sat down next to her and tried to look her in the eye. “I don’t mean it in some pushy way,” he sighed. “I just don’t want to continue doing this if you’re not looking for a future.”116Please respect copyright.PENANA88U6xjRzNH
“I thought you were more free-spirited than that,” Daphne responded.116Please respect copyright.PENANAkrqpqZ7nL7
“What do you mean?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAFjqPgpM9Wk
“I just always viewed you as an outgoing guy,” Daphne shrugged. “I won’t deny that I have feelings for you, Bethil. I truly do. I just don’t think that starting a serious relationship is the best decision for us now. Everything is so unstable and wonky…”116Please respect copyright.PENANAqmflozJbB9
“And I thought you were more of a risk-taker,” Bethil said, hiding his hurt behind a cheeky grin.116Please respect copyright.PENANAsvspnN7Trw
“I’m always up for a challenge,” agreed Daphne with a defeated yet affirmative nod.116Please respect copyright.PENANA0JzgFoX12x
“I am not forcing you into anything. Just do not lead me on, Daphnelle. And do not do that to yourself either,” Bethil sighed as he stood up, grabbed his cup of tea and shut the bedroom door behind him. Daphne rubbed her face and sighed deeply. Don’t do that to yourself. Nice one.116Please respect copyright.PENANAQzg0JM3X78
That night, by the dinner table, Remna informed the four heroes that they had another offer for an appointment with Ninéya the next morning. They all agreed to it and Remna left the room after wishing them a good meal.116Please respect copyright.PENANAkzzsThs7gq
“So, what did you guys do today?” Jarco asked.116Please respect copyright.PENANAJC6g1A5WsW
An awkward shrug came out of a part of the group, but Jarco just decided to dismiss that.116Please respect copyright.PENANANAI9gDdSOI
“We actually went to visit Bentham with Remna,” Anevay said, referring to herself and Elliot. “They taught us how to make chopped beer.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAjx8xvHSoOO
“Getting drunk, ay?” grinned Daphne.116Please respect copyright.PENANAfaHnwzlukx
Anevay chuckled lightly and she then turned to Jarco and Lewir.116Please respect copyright.PENANAw6RIijYpig
“Did you guys hang out today?” she asked.116Please respect copyright.PENANAFnqSnZ9mwJ
“No,” Jarco replied. “I had to take care of some business with Clyon, actually.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAmEAtoA0tuS
“Clyon?” muttered Ane before she ate away the disgust with a piece of fresh meat. “What business did you have with her?”116Please respect copyright.PENANABsDWqW9CCr
“We had to talk it all out,” Jarco said. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAEq9v5dX70w
“Did you forgive her?” Lewir asked, raising his eyebrow.116Please respect copyright.PENANA4VNQUt0UEJ
“I didn’t, and she didn’t ask for it either. We chatted over some tea, caught up with each other, talked out some open wounds and then I just left,” Jarco shrugged.116Please respect copyright.PENANAaV16pELNM9
“Right,” mumbled Lewir. It was off. It wasn’t right, but he wouldn’t start that discussion now.116Please respect copyright.PENANA7Fq5AXVCCU
“Very brave,” complimented Aris. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAfJLdsQcIut
“Sarkhan and I found a well,” Peita spoke. “It’s one of those wishing wells.”116Please respect copyright.PENANArTdYipCpFm
“Never imagined you as somebody to toss coins in wishing wells,” Anevay replied.116Please respect copyright.PENANAgCHWDyG0TF
“I didn’t waste any coins,” Peita responded. “We did find out something very peculiar, though.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAXNhl0DvKLl
“What?” Ane asked, her interest immediately piqued. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAgFQnRhkspF
“I had the audacity to toss a coin,” Sarkhan answered, “but we figured out there wasn’t any water in the well. Being the curious being Peita is, she had to risk taking a dive and she was sure I could help her out with some magic.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAvM1GHe2pE4
“You could’ve broken your legs,” Vastice mumbled.116Please respect copyright.PENANAdJmd6L0BTZ
“I didn’t, though,” grinned Peita cheekily. “In fact, I found out that the well is just some type of entrance to a tunnel.”116Please respect copyright.PENANANesICgEC7N
“Cheers to finding a tunnel,” Mounty replied sarcastically.116Please respect copyright.PENANAjqHGqo1IgU
“Hear us out,” Sarkhan chuckled. “I followed her down the well; turns out the tunnel is not just any underground tunnel.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAEQUPHP32G1
“Then what is so special about this tunnel?” Mint asked, more curious than she’d admit.116Please respect copyright.PENANAhkt1Lz5xed
“The tunnel is directly connected to Ninéya’s steambath,” Peita grinned.116Please respect copyright.PENANAuO3yfXxjvC
“That is oddly perverted,” Bethil replied.116Please respect copyright.PENANAhxKNBmUVVm
“However,” continued Sarkhan, ignoring Bethil’s remark, “we found out that the tunnel also leads to a very particular place.”116Please respect copyright.PENANA6cv6vdUOqj
“Spill the beans,” Ane said.116Please respect copyright.PENANAc85Sz5TPN4
Sarkhan and Peita shared a somewhat hesitant glare, but then Peita turned to the others.116Please respect copyright.PENANAlbKr3XpkGg
“We think it could be a tunnel leading to the core. We didn’t go further, because the magic leaked through the tunnels felt like poison to us. We couldn’t go far enough, but judging from the descriptions of what the core feels and smells like, we sort of have that as our top answer; We kind of hoped that Lemennie could go and have a look and see if it truly is the entrance to the core,” she said confidently. 116Please respect copyright.PENANApBPBGaGXZv
“Great,” Lemennie said. “Throwing me with the sharks?” A broad grin appeared on her face.116Please respect copyright.PENANAevuR1oEOXv
“You get me,” Peita laughed. “Anyway… can you maybe check tonight?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAA6VakEMAea
“I can give it a go after dinner,” she said with a forced smile, before she subtly glanced in Elliot’s direction, whose expression revealed his own very interest for the revelation.116Please respect copyright.PENANA7yJWxGfDZ4
Later that night, Ane, Elliot, Bethil, Daphne, Lemennie, Peita and Sarkhan had all gathered around the well somewhere in the woods. It was a simple stone well with no water in it, just like Peita and Sarkhan said.116Please respect copyright.PENANA3RPfk7cohT
“Good luck,” Elliot said. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAWoBqXwxR6g
“Thank you,” Lemennie replied, a bit surprised. She then threw her legs over the stones and swiftly jumped down. And she immediately felt it. Though she had hoped Peita and Sarkhan were wrong, she couldn’t deny that it felt just like home the moment she wandered through the tunnel. There were no annoying turns, except for one, which led to the bottom of Ninéya’s steambath. A little layer of magic absorbed any water that Ninéya would eventually drain. A tad impressed by the usage of magic to perform such a technical issue, Lemennie continued her travel down the tunnel. A few steps later, she knew exactly what Peita and Sarkhan were talking about. The scent - or better said, stench - was vivid and obvious. A sharp, electric sensation also hovered across the tunnel walls. For Lemennie, it only bothered her the first couple seconds because she hadn’t felt anything like this in years. She figured it must’ve been quite the bother for the other two. The stench reminded her of the boiling lakes in the core, where the devils would sometimes sacrifice innocent beings. She hated to admit that even she took joy in that sometimes, though as she grew up she sort of realised that it was more than wrong. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAS3ymQ6k2o3
Lemennie reached the end of the tunnel sooner than expected, and she stood still by the exit. Her heart felt heavy and her mind felt dizzy and hazy. She found it hard to comprehend everything that was going on in front of her. An entire landscape spread out in front of her, with no sky or sun. Boiling lakes had found their way through the cracks of the dry earth. It was a barren landscape, and Lemennie remembered it very well. The entrance of the tunnel was located in the wall of a huge mountain, whose rocks were an orangy red. It was metres above the ground, and Lemennie could perfectly see the landscape spread out in front of her. Tiny villages had been built here and there, patchy and irregularly. No single plant, no single tree, just the dry, rocky grounds and the boiling lakes that shone a brilliant red. Though there was no sky to look at or no sun to shine, the crimson canvas that made its way across the entire surface of the ceiling. It gave off a hellish light, and Lemennie remembered everything that she witnessed here. She immediately noticed the tallest building in the core as well, high and sturdy. Built with brown rocks and no windows or openings to let some air through. She figured they lit up everything with torches inside the academy. She saw some tiny devils leave the academy building, and she remembered when she was like that. Red, leathery skin, two fierce horns on her forehead, eyes as black as the abyss and sharp teeth like a wolf’s. A tail, long and pointy. Especially when she saw families of devils playing like tiny puppets in the villages. She also noticed the other demons, with cracked wings and a rotten skin. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAfHxgm0RfMJ
And though Lemennie knew very well that these beings were all evil to the core, no spot of light inside their darkened souls, she was born here. It felt nostalgic, and she suddenly felt a pang of pain in her chest upon realising she hadn’t seen her family in so long either. They’d never approve of her now, though. She had given her life and intelligence and potential to technology, machinery and innovation. She had no place in her heart to become one of them. She wouldn’t a part of the third outbreak. Somewhere, deep inside, that hurt her.116Please respect copyright.PENANAf8s1MlE4Xu
And suddenly, she saw him. And he saw her too. Tall, about two and a half metres if not more, muscled and strong. Skin the colour of rotten blood and horns as vicious as the claws at the end of his arms. Feet like an animal’s, good for running and chasing. And a tail, long and pointy, just like everybody else’s. His eyes were deep and dark and he had been smiling, revealing his sharp teeth, before he noticed Lemennie in the opening of the tunnel. It wasn’t that he necessarily felt sad, but Lemennie could tell his expression didn’t change into anger. She could tell that he wasn’t angry or frustrated or that no wrath was in the bottom of his heart. That didn’t stop her from tearing her eyes off the landscape and walking back.116Please respect copyright.PENANAYcqeN4Os6U
“So, what did you find?” Peita asked curiously.116Please respect copyright.PENANAW7wpdKOLKD
“You were right, Iopeita,” Lemennie replied with a bright smile. 116Please respect copyright.PENANA4Y1LESpwTx
“Are you serious?” Peita asked. She suddenly wasn’t so enthusiastic about her discovery anymore. Perhaps because she knew the gravity of that now.116Please respect copyright.PENANAVf2XR2EFBg
“Yes,” Lemennie said. “I saw my home.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAnUbSyk8zyL
“We found the core now… so that changes everything,” Ane mumbled to herself.116Please respect copyright.PENANAAgFObnjAi2
“Let us still talk with Ninéya,” Elliot said. “I know it is not favourable right now, but I think that is better than to wipe out the core.”116Please respect copyright.PENANA2xgeas2Nxy
He said that because part of him still wanted more information from Ninéya, but also because the other part of him knew that the core, even if he wouldn’t like to admit it, was the place where his father lived.116Please respect copyright.PENANAigD8bfaei8
“We will share the news with the others tomorrow,” Ane said. “We should go get some rest now.”116Please respect copyright.PENANA7iPE0WrSyd
The group headed back to their bedrooms to take some proper rest. Tomorrow would be a big day, regardless of what would happen.116Please respect copyright.PENANASna83Qcim0
“Did you really make amends with Clyon, Jarco?” Lewir asked. Two were lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.116Please respect copyright.PENANAk5i8uHpIkw
“No,” Jarco replied.116Please respect copyright.PENANAjQr9NF5wYO
“Then what did you do?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAeX6EJW3hbd
Jarco didn’t reply and he didn’t turn to Lewir, just like he turned to him.116Please respect copyright.PENANACTLOIab8l9
“You killed her, didn’t you?” Lewir asked, softly. It didn’t feel like an accusation, and instead felt like an actual question of genuine interest. However, Lewir got no answer. Jarco just rolled on his side, away from Lewir. 116Please respect copyright.PENANA5mkuhNG7vX
“Good night,” he said.116Please respect copyright.PENANAGWUnjnc5Ll
“Good night,” Lewir replied, knowing very well that the man lying next to him had spent his afternoon killing Clyon.116Please respect copyright.PENANAo3r8JcA2ra
Anevay and Elliot were both in their bedroom as well, Anevay writing in her notebook on the bed and Elliot staring out the window lazily. He considered telling Ane everything. From him being a devil to the actual quest. Yet he couldn’t get it over his heart. They’d both understand that they would be permanently split up. Elliot wasn’t sure if he was ready to say goodbye to Ane, though he knew that this was a greater cause. He couldn’t watch the world die because he wanted to be with the girl he loved. It was a conundrum that he didn’t know the answer to, and for the first time in years he wanted to give up.116Please respect copyright.PENANAFhW9wMQUzz
“What is wrong, Elliot?” Anevay asked, sensing Elliot’s unease.116Please respect copyright.PENANAvLZfkM0G8E
Elliot walked to the bed and lay down, staring at the ceiling above him.116Please respect copyright.PENANAdRQReZPQRv
“Just a question I cannot seem to find an answer to,” he mumbled.116Please respect copyright.PENANAqrp8QxH5bu
“What is the question?” Ane asked.116Please respect copyright.PENANA15OdpuWqqB
Elliot turned to Ane. He looked at him, with those silver eyes. Always so calm. She was always so comfortable in whatever she did even if it could kill her. So composed, so confident. She trusted her comrades just as much as they trusted her. And she was beautiful, and strong, and Elliot would miss all of that. He would miss the spirit that lived within her and the spirit she gave the others. He would miss her drunk, with those hazy eyes and a bit of a lisp as she sang to the songs that would be played by little music bands in the corner of the pub. He would miss the way she danced as if she hadn’t ever lived in a castle, just as much as he would miss the way Ane would draw herself as a strong-headed, respectful figure in front of grand figures that would intimidate many. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAbQaxhbRrgM
“Nothing,” Elliot answered.116Please respect copyright.PENANAbubaUTa29b
“If you say so,” Ane replied, and she turned back to her book.116Please respect copyright.PENANAAxOx71SShV
Elliot didn’t realise that he would strongly regret not taking this chance to tell her what he truly had thought. None of them realised many things at that point.
Anevay didn’t really know why she was sat here now. She needed Ninéya for answers, but she got the majority of the answers she needed. She knew the location of the core, she knew what Ninéya was. All she had to do was just to destroy or seal the core. Perhaps she needed answers for that. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAE4GXgTCSFK
“I actually did not call you up here for answers I could provide for you,” Ninéya said. She was mindlessly looking out the windows, her back turned to the four heroes around the round table.116Please respect copyright.PENANAE32PwkmmXQ
“Then what is the occasion?” asked Ane, hiding her sudden worry that perked up.116Please respect copyright.PENANA7IzPs9rvcI
“Clyon was murdered yesterday,” Ninéya said. She turned around swiftly and faced the princess of the north, who was hiding her reaction behind her silver eyes as well as she could. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAmYHm0nSk5r
“By whom?” asked Daphne, who had no problem showing off her piqued curiosity.116Please respect copyright.PENANA9ycywzTnuO
“That is what I am asking you,” Ninéya replied calmly as she took place around the table. “I figured you guys could return the favour for me.”116Please respect copyright.PENANABf2EsYOcrB
“Are you targeting one of us?” Elliot asked, not necessarily feeling attacked.116Please respect copyright.PENANAufAUhNLu8T
“Of course,” Ninéya said. “Do you mind?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAMtuN6Zdyms
“Certainly we do not,” Elliot answered equally calm. “I understand that we are the foreigners here so we are obviously a main suspect.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAW1BvM2xhJ2
“Glad we agree,” smiled Ninéya, though it wasn’t a genuine smile.116Please respect copyright.PENANAWfCUuLeCMN
“Do you want us to help you out?” Bethil asked kindly, albeit a mischievous helpful.116Please respect copyright.PENANA1g5fWAXaQk
“I’d appreciate it a whole lot if you could inform me who murdered Clyon. She was a trustworthy comrade to me,” Ninéya spoke. “Whoever committed such a foul act deserves their just punishment.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAGfyAJgQpQD
“Of course, Ninéya,” Anevay replied. “We understand that. However, we hope you understood it from our perspective as well.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAA0fL6rOAxd
“Then what does your point of view contain?” 116Please respect copyright.PENANA2gaYQVj0z9
“We are not certain that it was one of us, even though that may seem the most plausible. And even if it were to be one of us, it is still a bit of a stretch to assume we would tell you, knowing you would most likely execute them. Do not get me wrong, though; I will never justify their act or say that what they did is accepted. Just like you protect your folk, we protect our folk,” the princess said, staring Ninéya right in the eye. Both of the ladies were as diplomatic and classy as ever, but the others could sense the tense atmosphere and could almost hear the crackling of the electricity that ran between them. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAgUABRyu3ua
Ane knew she was walking on the edge. And she wasn’t sure whether Ninéya would let her walk there or whether she’d push her off. Ane knew very well that what she’d said didn’t necessarily enhance the possibilities of a proper cooperation between them, but it was what she stood for and what she believed in. Why would she hide that from Ninéya? They were both strong leaders with firm standpoints and they both had the rights to let themselves be heard by the other.116Please respect copyright.PENANAnv0zN94u7g
“Well said, princess Anevay,” Ninéya said as she leaned in. “I completely understand you and totally feel what you’re saying.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAVijFehEJMR
“Thank you.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAceNdt4yVtU
“I also hope you still see my perspective.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAwLXvjk9uc5
“So let us agree to disagree,” Ane proposed. “After all, this is not the main matter here.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAWiZqAAPTJk
“Completely fine,” Ninéya smiled. “I shall not expect your cooperation in this matter, and I hope that you can accept it when I punish one of your men as well.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAgOxsHTcQPP
Anevay had issues agreeing to this, but what point would it have to refuse that? It would just show that she didn’t agree to disagree and instead just wanted it her way either. Sacrifices had to be made, sure. She strongly hoped it wasn’t one of their comrades.116Please respect copyright.PENANAaS40YiRQpL
She swallowed her selfishness and nodded. “Very well.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAsW9tLeRMgt
“Now, over to what you were here for… the core?” 116Please respect copyright.PENANAA7R5BGAnPf
“Eh, actually… I have some things to share with you all,” Elliot interrupted. He didn’t feel all too comfortable spilling this secret in front of Ninéya as well, but he knew very well that she would figure out sooner or later. He sighed deeply and faced his dearest comrades, and then began talking.116Please respect copyright.PENANAKhR2MeviZI
“I cannot believe you did not tell us the moment you knew!” exclaimed Ane as she exited Ninéya’s office.116Please respect copyright.PENANAHDZzaXhGT5
“What is happening?” frowned Remna. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAW4yOCVBUMS
Ane turned to Elliot, who sheepishly told Remna that he was a humanised devil.116Please respect copyright.PENANA5HMvOByZWd
“You are a what?” she frowned.116Please respect copyright.PENANAZn6yGwaajm
“Why did you not tell us?” Bethil asked, a lot kinder than Ane. “We are your best mates, Elliot. Surely you could trust us.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAf1lM6LFtNJ
“I only just figured out as well,” Elliot shrugged.116Please respect copyright.PENANAvJXi7dMIyB
“We could have avoided this meeting with Ninéya,” Ane spoke. “Now we are saddled with the entire Clyon issue as well.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAv3S16lDsYn
“We were saddled with that issue even if we had not met up with Ninéya,” Elliot countered sharply.116Please respect copyright.PENANAk8mjMXOwO2
“Clyon issue?” Remna frowned.116Please respect copyright.PENANA9xzejsMvoR
“She is dead,” Daphnelle answered a bit more heartless than intended.116Please respect copyright.PENANADMuPBPxb1s
“Excuse me?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAVq5mzXQW1O
“Murdered,” clarified Daphne.116Please respect copyright.PENANAwZBckN8DMe
“By whom?” 116Please respect copyright.PENANAM4uWrmTwve
“We do not know,” hissed Ane. “Ninéya told us that she would definitely punish whoever did it, and I think we are all pretty sure it was one of us.”116Please respect copyright.PENANA9HCOq4qCka
“Calm down,” Bethil uttered. “Let’s not speak with heated heads.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAmJecmoJVjr
“I just do not understand why you did not tell me,” muttered Ane. The two went into a discussion while Daphne tried to console Remna for the loss of her cousin. Bethil just couldn’t bear the drama, so his skin made place for feathers as he flew through the window in the shape of a pigeon. 116Please respect copyright.PENANA1R0UEdRCda
“I will see you guys later,” Remna said, a tad upset over the death of Clyon. She stepped in the elevator. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAuRKtkLeGJn
“Ane, please calm down,” Daphne said. “Elliot’s just found out and he had to process it as well. Be reasonable. He’s told us now anyhow, so what does it even matter?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAuNsF9rbhId
“What matters is that we cannot keep secrets for each other! It is all far too crucial. If Elliot had just told us earlier we could have already solved a whole lot.”116Please respect copyright.PENANA9MDl7Zqrh3
“Not really…” mumbled Daphne.116Please respect copyright.PENANAGlNQlUG4xR
“Do you want me to sacrifice myself and say goodbye to all of you?” Elliot frowned.116Please respect copyright.PENANAoq4WjtQTb0
Anevay faced Elliot, who seemed upset more than anything else. Honestly, she wasn’t sure about the answer. She had travelled so far to rescue the world, and she definitely wasn’t going to let all of that go to waste. Livi and Marrie would never forgive Ane for letting them die in vain, but Ane wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Elliot either. She didn’t want to let him go. Of course she didn’t; she loved him. So then what could she do? 116Please respect copyright.PENANAmyxXzhOo9g
Daphne tasted the awkwardness in the room, and she backed off by jumping down the elevator shaft where she landed on her two feet with the help of a bit of magic to prevent her bones from shattering apart. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAGSV1z8ttkG
Anevay and Elliot went to their bedroom in silence, where they stood together on the balcony in silence. Elliot brought up the question from earlier again, but calmer and more considerate now.116Please respect copyright.PENANAO6tkvXgMVW
“I do not know, Elliot,” Ane whispered. “I want this all to end. We have come so far… Do you really want to let all of that go to waste just because I cannot say goodbye to you?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAUuBaWPRtcB
“You were not upset just because I did not tell you, right?” Elliot mumbled, who began to understand that Anevay was reacting so heavily because she had trouble expressing the mere sorrow that grew inside of her.116Please respect copyright.PENANAnOHDsuhAZK
Ane nodded quietly. “Sorry about that, by the way.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAed0S2H1k6N
“I should have told you.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAFe0hEJZ4xR
The princess let out her tears, along with a waterfall of words.116Please respect copyright.PENANAA0kXLdilZX
“Just when everything seems to be going so well, when we think that we are so close, we are hit by this news. Nobody will want to leave you behind, Elliot. How can you even think you can sacrifice yourself? After everything that we have all been through… We are a team. We are a perfect team. Not just you and I together, but everybody else together. And remember when you immediately agreed to tag along with me? I did not need anything more to realise that you would always have my back. We do not believe in fairytales, but I believed in forever. I believed that we were inseparable. I believed in all the good stuff that we had ahead of us. 116Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZSmbFJBVB
And then Bethil joined us. At first I thought that maybe you would develop feelings for him, but not once did you look at someone else the way you look at me. Remember Rok and Bel in Iccarslot? That could be us, albeit taller and less malicious. Just living an easy life. I know that we both are totally up for adventure and magical escapades, but as long as the calmness that my life will meet in the future will be with you, then I do not mind losing the ability to go out. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAJI0cH6HP86
And remember the forest, where we got split up from the others? When we met Aethul. What the hell were we going to do with Aethul? Sharran’s Valley was definitely something. Imagine you knew your true nature back then, you totally would have been the hero of us all. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAVIunFUCkt7
And in Taverness, where you met your sister, though you did not even know she was your sister back then. I could tell you were totally lusting after all that intelligence and knowledge in the libraries of Taverness. You cannot ever deny that. I suppose that what makes you the brain of us all. The critical thinker, the one who uses his mind before he leaps. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAKWX15nxEer
And now… here. I was so convinced we would have a happy ending. After demolishing the core and sealing it back up, we could go home. We could go back to Hilltop, or even Kinslot for all that matter. We could have just been happy together. Now that I know that these will be the last days with you by my side, I am not sure what to think. Not sure what to say. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAc46MK2nAUE
You are the most beautiful blue I have ever laid my eyes upon. And your heart is the strongest gold that anybody else has. Your aura is just a piece of art, my dear, and so are you. You are so integer, and I just wonder how we are so lucky to be with you. Guess that is a part of my fortune. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAtCfujETDTp
We are strong for each other. You are a part of my confidence and happiness, Elliot.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAN5muOyxqLe
Elliot had wrapped his arms around her, and they held onto each other so tightly that they would almost melt together. They wanted to become one, right here, right now. The moment was pure and silky and Ane was afraid that it’d wither too soon. So she held onto him, and he held onto her. His heart was full of her and it was warm and soft and he never remembered his heart beating so intensely and so in sync with Anevay’s. 116Please respect copyright.PENANAgUl7pxKvi8
“I love you,” he whispered.116Please respect copyright.PENANAvh54H9MMQ0
She tightened her grip.116Please respect copyright.PENANAs4hS6jtlTp