DISCLAIMER: I don't own Elsword. I only own the pseudonyms Dianthus Nera (please see profile for explanation) and Haley Moonstone.

Before reading this, I would like to emphasize that this fan fiction takes place in an alternate reality – far from Elsword Online. I still hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I had fun typing it down.

OUTLINES CHAPTER 1 – BEST SERVED COLD

The bus hissed to a stop, jolting Aisha out of her sleep. Mist had formed on the windows because of the weather. It was raining, and that was more than enough to clarify that Sander's bright sunsets were well behind her back at this point. She will miss it there, even if the heat of the summer days managed to stress her out sometimes.

Most of the passengers at the very back of the bus were already leaping off so Aisha decided it was finally her turn. She wished she could just bribe the driver into taking her back but this was really the end of her journey. Might as well get it over with. The girl sighed and grabbed her duffel bag before standing up. She hurled it towards the door – it wasn't quite heavy but it did pack some weight. She took three steps before allowing it to drop on the concrete pavement with a thump.

The smell of wet grass met her lungs and the slightest drizzle began to fall from the dark, grey skies above her. She remembered this vaguely, only it didn't feel this serene. The cold droplets came in contact with her skin, streaking down her cheeks like tears.

"Home sweet home," she mumbled.

She turned around and thoroughly scanned the advertising on the side of the bus. "Cobo Travel and Tours!" it said. That was actually one of the best travel agencies in the country. Maybe if she finally settled down in life, she would use up her savings to explore the rest of the world. She stared at the colorful images of different places until the bus finished unloading. The vehicle hissed to a start and drove away. Her former companions immediately dispersed the area, leaving her waiting in a bus stop for no one in particular.

A cold breeze slowly swept into the neighborhood. The rain drops pelted down faster. Aisha didn't waste a second in grabbing her duffel bag and taking shelter underneath the bus stop. Some people consider it a blessing to be welcomed by rain. Blessing or not, this was really inconvenient for her.

"Of all the damned days, why today?" She whispered. Good thing her duffel bag was water-proof. Thankfully, there was also a small umbrella inside. That was a doable shield against the water wonderland that surrounded her. All she had to do was wait for the rain to slow down a bit.

Aisha whisked around and eyed the board behind her. A few minutes ago, she didn't even realize that it existed. There was only one poster pinned to the corkboard behind it. It was designed in white and orange, with characters that appeared in the foreground and black text that screamed "Warmest Greetings from Velder High!"

Yeah. Warm. The irony of that statement… She ignored the thought and stared at her reflection instead. Faint black circles had formed beneath her purple eyes. Her equally purple hair had gone askew but it looked good even if some strands were framing her face in ways she did not intend. She looked pale and that was just the least of her worries.

The rain continued to drum into the aluminum roof of the shed. Be that as it may, the drops seemed less tumultuous than earlier. Aisha concluded it was the perfect time to leave. She bent down and unzipped the duffel bag, revealing the purple folding umbrella inside. She set it aside and closed her bag, making sure it was sealed. She opened her umbrella as she stood up, keeping its handle firm within her grasp. She looked at the downpour, slung her duffel bag over her shoulder and charged.

The rain was unforgiving and yet she continued to walk slowly. Some parts of her clothes were already getting soaked. So much for staying dry for at least five minutes…

Aisha managed to keep her duffel bag close to her as she passed rows and rows of houses – most of which were uniform in size and shape. She made a turn towards a very familiar street. Already, the nostalgia was creeping back into her. It had been three years since she last sauntered down this pavement. The trees leered down at her like gargantuan beasts. There was no one about. Occasionally a dog would bark at her or a cat would run towards the opposite direction. Who lets their pets out on a storm like this, anyway? How irresponsible.

With each passing street, the houses proceeded to get smaller and smaller – like matryoshka dolls. Aisha quickened her pace because her clothes were starting to stick to her skin. She couldn't wait to dry up. #80 El Street was her address. That was about a block and a half away.

"This sucks." Aisha checked her shoulders only to find that they were completely soaked. I should have stayed in the waiting shed.

She broke into a run even if she was afraid of slipping. Her sneakers were comfortable enough to give her better movement anyway, even if the rain had soaked them to the point that even her socks were wet. She wasn't holding her umbrella at the correct angle anymore so she was getting drenched. To hell with the cold. She just wanted to get to her house so that her adjustment period could begin. Apparently, she was so absorbed by this thought that she nearly tripped on a tree root which had sprawled itself across the concrete pavement. Thankfully, she didn't fall. Freaking tree root! Freaking tripping hazard!

Her sneakers splashed across puddles as she slowed down. All this running was exhausting her further. God knows she was never the athletic type. Looking around, she noticed she had already arrived at her destination. At this point, the foreboding dusk was even more prominent as the streetlights blinked on. She could see the front lawn of her house. As she walked closer, she realized the many factors that made it very distinguishable among the others. There was a "sold" sign waiting to be uprooted. The grass needed mowing. The tree still had a tire swing – probably already housing mosquito eggs because of the neglected water inside Leaves were all over the roof. Fortunately, it seemed someone with a kind heart had raked the lawn. The place still looked cozy despite its unkempt exterior.

Aisha adjusted her grip on the umbrella as she walked on the stone pathway that ultimately led to the wooden door. At that instant, the outlines of her past began to pop up in her mind. She could remember her old self – now dead in her memories – as a fragile girl who always hesitated before opening the door. Every damned day, she would hear her parents fight – about the bills, about the electricity, about who was more responsible and about her.

"You gave me a daughter, woman!"

"If you didn't get me pregnant, that girl wouldn't be here and I wouldn't even be your wife!"

Aisha sighed. Her parents were among the outlines as well. And as much as she wanted to love them, her bitterness made them the subject of her hatred. Aisha casted her gaze towards the door knob. When her fingertips came in contact with the cold brass, she inserted the key into the keyhole and turned. One slight push was all it took for the door to creak open. Aisha's hands instinctively searched for the light switch and she managed to flick it on without even looking.

As she paced into her home, Aisha folded her umbrella and scanned the entire place. It smelled like old books. Tomorrow, she'll have to shop for air fresheners or something, even if she somewhat liked the scent. Her footsteps echoed as she walked. Most of the furniture were placed exactly as they left them, save for the fact that there were no family pictures present.

Aisha dropped her duffel bag on the floor and removed her sneakers. She crouched down, then proceeded to open her baggage. She took out a pair of rubber slippers, which were currently wrapped in plastic, and immediately tore the cover apart. She wore them and approached the couch. She sank into the leather, allowing her palms to feel its coolness. She stared at her reflection on the flat-screen TV in front of her. The landlady assured her it worked but she didn't bother turning it on. She looked absolutely worn out. "Welcome home, Aisha."

Reestablishing the fact that she wasn't exactly dry, she walked back to her duffel bag and dug up a red skirt and a blouse. She hurried to the bathroom and slipped them on before returning to the couch.

As much as she wanted to rest, her mind was going through a lot. Maybe in a few weeks, she'll find solace within the four walls of her household. That luxury certainly wouldn't exist now. There was also the fact that she'd be starting school in less than a week at Velder High itself – the extravagant academy that came in the form of a palace-like structure. Oh what would her parents say if they found out she was going to study there? Not that they actually cared but the thought itself was thrilling. She didn't know how the school got her address at Sander, but she was still summoned to be one of the beneficiaries of their scholarship program. It's one of the reasons why Velder High remains popular – they offered scholarships, sponsored by huge companies, to gifted people. It was a little late for the invite though… This was her last year in high school. Aisha had promised to do her best because this particular institute had the best connections to Hamel University. It'd better be worthwhile.

The rain outside had quieted and all Aisha could hear was pitter-patter. She thought of the things she really needed – a laptop, an internet connection, and food. The latter two would be a problem if she doesn't find a part-time job to sustain her. Maybe she could hit a nearby café and ask them if they're hiring. 200 ED an hour would be a decent salary.

"Gosh I have so much to worry about," Aisha said to no one in particular.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound of someone knocking on the old wooden door reached Aisha's ears in a millisecond. She wasn't expecting visitors, especially since she just moved in.

"Who is it?" She called, feeling slightly nervous.

"Hi! It's your neighbor, Rena!" A chirpy voice retorted.

Aisha walked towards the door and opened it slightly. What greeted her was a tall blond girl with olive-green eyes, staring down at her from her doorstep.

"Hi... Uhm… Rena… I'm Aisha… Pleasure to meet you…"

Rena smiled. "I was going to invite you and your family over for dinner. Are your parents here?"

Aisha didn't know whether she should talk to this girl, let alone accept the invitation to dinner. She had never met this stranger before! Truth be told, if she encountered someone from before, she would recognize them. This one was a new face entirely – and a beautiful one at that. Aisha was aware that she had to start making friends in the neighborhood ASAP but getting killed in the process was not a part of her plan.

"Uhm… I'm kind of alone now so—I can't…"

The girl – Rena – grimaced. She looked genuinely hurt. "I see… Well that's embarrassing… I just wanted to get to know my neighbors a bit more…"

Aisha bit her lip. What if she wasn't a serial killer in disguise? Maybe she really just wanted to have dinner. Oh for god's sake! Take the leap, Aisha! This is an opportunity to make new friends! Aisha stepped outside and clung to Rena's wrist. "W-Wait!"

The blond girl was taken aback by the action. She stopped dead on her tracks – not that she had taken a full step anyway.

"W-What time would it be?"

Rena smiled. "Since you're all by yourself, would you like to come over now?"

Aisha's eyes glimmered at this newfound opportunity. "Yes!"

Okay, so maybe she was a little bit too trusting and naïve, but women do have their "intuition". In this case, Aisha found Rena to be trustworthy and kind. Even as the said girl led her to the doorstep of her house, she wore this welcoming smile. Her features displayed honesty, most of all. Aisha had a feeling they would become great friends.

"Welcome to my humble abode!" Rena stated as she opened the door.

The smell of pine greeted her the moment she stepped in. The entire ambience of the face felt nice. There was harmony in the way all the furniture and décor were placed. A lot of thought probably went in the placement. It was absolutely gorgeous.

"Please sit," Rena stated, gesturing to the brown fabric sofa.

Aisha obediently propped herself down. She eyed the glass table in front of her, and the little chandelier above. "Your house is beautiful… It would be a tad humiliating for me if I let you visit mine…"

The girl laughed at the comment. "Come on… Your house isn't that bad. The front lawn needs a little mowing, that's all."

Aisha rolled her eyes. "Trust me, that's the least of my problems right now…"

Rena fell quiet for a second and Aisha glanced back to see where she went. The girl disappeared into the kitchen for a bit and came back. "You wouldn't mind a vegetarian meal for tonight, would you?"

"You should have warned me," Aisha joked. "No, I wouldn't mind at all… I'm famished as heck. I would love to munch on cabbages right now."

"I hope you're not being sarcastic."

"Why should I be? It was a bit unexpected but I'm cool with it… Yay for veggies!"

Rena was practically grinning. "To be honest, it's the first time inviting someone over for dinner… I didn't exactly know how to explain that I was a vegan…"

"Now I feel sort of guilty that I declined your invitation at first."

"No worries," Rena stated. "I'm probably the worst person ever to invite you over at such a wrong time. I mean, you must be tired from the journey." There were a few clinks and clanks that accompanied her voice. Aisha guessed that she was fumbling with utensils – or preparing the torture room or something. She should seriously stop watching shows about cannibal psychiatrists and stuff.

"Don't worry about it. I'm not that tired or busy anyways," Aisha stood up. "I'll help set the table. It's rude of me to just sit around."

Rena appeared once again, holding four plates along with knives, forks and spoons on top. "You're not being rude… Thank you, Aisha."

"Are you expecting other guests?" Aisha asked as she took two plates from Rena and began distributing them on the table.

"Well… Not really," Rena stated. "I live with my boyfriend. I asked him to get some salad dressing a while ago. He probably left a few minutes before you arrived."

"I see…" Aisha stared at the two extra plates. "So… You have a kid?"

Rena laughed. "No… I'm just assuming that he's bringing a friend back here with him. No one takes this long to buy a bottle of salad dressing."

Aisha chuckled. "Point taken…"

Rena was about to say something again but she stopped when she heard the sound of a car closing in on the drive way. In a moment, the sound died down. Two car doors opened and shut almost simultaneously. This was followed by a rhythmic beep and two knocks.

"They're here!" Rena exclaimed. She didn't wait a second before answering the door. "Raven!" She greeted the man on the doorstep with a hug.

The man paced inside and Aisha couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated by his features. Sure he was the tall, dark and handsome type. He looked like an ex-delinquent who did a bit of soul-searching. Still, he was quite the looker. Aisha couldn't help blushing when she saw him.

"Raven, this is our neighbor," Rena gestured toward the purple-haired girl. "Her name's Aisha."

Aisha waved nervously. "Hi!"

Raven smiled at her. His lanky build easily overshadowed her smaller frame. He extended a hand toward her and she took it, resulting in a very awkward handshake. "Nice to meet you, Aisha."

"Aisha?" A very familiar voice resonated from the doorway.

Raven glanced back. "You know her Elsword?"

"I'm not quite sure if I do," The other guy retorted with a tone of sarcasm. And yes, she knew that name better than anyone.

Elsword – the little kid who had so much potential as a jock. He was her former friend and at the same time, her enemy. He was more of the latter anyway. Whereas she excelled in academics, he excelled in athletics. However, he was two years younger than her and much more immature. They used to run into each other a lot and yell (mostly) harmless insults – until he hurt her pride by mentioning her family's condition. He apologized but it was useless. She disappeared the next day. She was fifteen back then. With the not-so-peaceful manner of living she experienced, she just had to get away especially since the only friends she had in the world were using her misfortunes against her.

"Hello Aisha, welcome back to Velder," Elsword said, rather sarcastically. "Last time I saw you, you were so desperate to leave."

God, she couldn't bear to look at him. He sounded almost the same. His voice was certainly deeper but kind of cool-sounding. She was so curious about his appearance but she just couldn't bring her face up. "Bet you missed me, tomato head!"

"You know what? I kind of did – in your dreams!"

Aisha couldn't react to that one. Instead, her head snapped upward and her eyes immediately landed on him. If her jaw could drop, it would have. He was a few feet away from her. Right now, even with the slight distance, he towered over her easily. She would also be lying if she said she didn't find him attractive because – damn – puberty had been kind to him. He still had the same red hair and the burning gaze everybody talked about. Though the way he stood was completely different– like he had fought battles while she wasn't around.

"Aww. Is poor Aisha at a loss for words?"

"Quit flattering yourself." Aisha folded her arms across her chest.

"There's the signature move," Elsword stated, patting her on the shoulder. "Come on. You should eat. You got thinner." He pinched her right cheek.

"Stop that!"

"Make me!"

"Guys, simmer down," Rena suddenly interjected in an attempt to pacify the two.

"Don't stop them. This is kind of amusing," Raven said, poker-faced.

"We're about to have dinner so simmer down!"

The entire house quieted.

Rena sighed. "Gosh, I wasn't expecting this… You two could start a riot."

"Sorry about that," Aisha said. "How embarrassing. The situation would've been a lot better if it wasn't for this guy."

Elsword rolled his eyes. "Wow. And here I was thinking you're the mature one."

"That's enough Elsword! Be a wee bit more hospitable to Aisha," Rena stated.

"Yes, boss!" Elsword stated, drawing out the vowels.

Aisha and Rena took a seat next to each other, thank goodness. Raven and Elsword began picking at the vegetables the moment they sat down. Everyone was wordless at first. Only the sound of chinking tableware could be heard.

Rena tried to lighten the mood by starting a conversation. "So… Aisha. Do you need help with your front yard? We could assist you…"

"Yeah, I'd hate to say this but I could use a bit of help. I lack enough time to clean the place. School starts in three days and I still have to present my documents."

"You're going to Velder High, aren't you?" Raven chimed in.

"Why yes. It's the main reason why I transferred back here," Aisha said.

"Wow, I couldn't imagine schooling at Velder High…" Rena stated whisperingly. "It looks so prestigious and classy."

Elsword cleared his throat. "It's not all that."

"It still has connections to Hamel University. When I received their offer for a scholarship, I couldn't turn it down," Aisha stated, recollecting the moment she picked up the letter from her mailbox.

"Who's sponsoring you?" Raven asked.

"Sandtilus incorporated," Aisha replied. "I still don't know how they manage to track people down. It's kind of scary."

"You deserve it though," Rena smiled again.

"Yeah. Congratulations," Elsword stated bluntly before chugging down a glass of water. "You might be seeing plenty of me so… I hope you're happy with that decision."

Aisha took a sip from her glass of water. "I hope so too…"

Seeing him every day wouldn't hurt. Even if he still ranks number one on her must-hate list.