3. Lies


Desperation is suffocating.

It presses down on your mind so that you feel like you're drowning.

But you're not drowning.

Because you're alive. And desperate to live.

Chung and I cycle through many different plans, arguing and debating to only find one common question: what is our goal?

He wants to free Hamel. I want to learn again.

We both want the former Elrios back.

But when the entire world is looking for you, how can you do anything? You can't just merely crawl out of the hole you've been staying in and tell the world, "Hey, here I am. I'm just going to flip the world's logic right-side up again without you coming after me."

I wish it were as simple as that.

"Everything goes back to Raven and how he became a conqueror," I say as I scratch more lines onto a web of ideas on the dirt floor.

Chung studies the diagram, his blue eyes following every line and bubble I have drawn, all of them leading back to one point: Raven.

Who is he and why has he chosen to take over Elrios? It's as if he suddenly rose up from nowhere and decided he wanted to rule the world.

But he can't have. To harness that much power and control so quickly, you can't be nobody.

"Raven…" Chung mumbles to himself, a far-off gaze taking over his features. "It's a familiar name, but I can't seem to place it."

"Or you know other people by the name of Raven," I reply, slightly annoyed at the useless tidbit.

"Perhaps." His face reverts back to its thoughtful expression as he focuses on the web of questions once more. "So what do you propose we do?"

I carefully weigh the pros and cons of my next statement. "Well… would it be possible for us to sneak into Hamel?"

He stares at me as if I grew three heads overnight. "Are you asking for a death wish? Because I can give it to you instead of risking my own neck."

"No, no. We're not going to make much progress if we stay here. If we hole up here forever, what are we going to accomplish?" I pause, waiting for my words to sink in. "Exactly, nothing. We can go to Hamel and see what the situation there is like and then plan accordingly. We both know the nooks and crannies well enough to hide, right?"

Chung purses his lips together, a pensive look crossing his face. "Hmm."

"We need to know more about Raven before we can do anything. And about the brainwashing. And his motives. And how to fix everything. And – "

"Okay, I get it. I promised to help, so I'll help," he cuts me off. Going to his bookshelf, he grabs a dusty tome and brushes it off gingerly, as if the book would shatter under his touch.

It's a detailed map of Hamel, every alleyway and underground tunnel outlined in detail.

"This is a hidden tunnel into the heart of the palace. If you're sneaky enough, you can actually get to the conference rooms through these tunnels and listen in if anyone's there." He points to a winding, narrow line on the map.

"What about this tunnel then?" I gesture at a wider tunnel that seems a lot comfier to wait in.

"Those are used by our guards during important meetings in case something goes wrong. They're known by some of the staff and are – I mean, were – patrolled."

"Well," I start, staring at the colorful mess of lines on the yellowed parchment, "we have somewhere to start. How long would it take to get to Hamel?"

He gives me a quizzical look. "A few hours by foot then boat. But are you sure you're up for it? You still look pretty beat up to me."

A twinge of pain shoots through my left shin as he says that. I am still bruised and sore from days of strenuous travel. I hide my pain through sheer determination, knowing that my ragged sleeves would hide the worst of it.

"I'll be fine. I had a lot of practice running in the past few days, you know."

He snorts, the closest thing one can get to a laugh nowadays. "I'm sure you have. That doesn't mean that you're in shape to be running back into Hamel."

With his doubt, my own feeling of dread starts to rise like sour bile. I quash it down immediately.

If Hamel is where the end started, then Hamel will be where the end will end.

"I'll be fine."


Once again, my lungs are filled with fire. I trip blindly through the dense grassland, the ruts in the ground seemingly grabbing at my ankles as I stumble into Chung again and again.

"We can rest if you'd like," he offers. He holds out a canteen of water.

I gratefully accept, trying to hide my fatigue as best as I can. "No, we need to keep going." I successfully hide the exhaustion from my voice and grip the canteen to steady my shaking hands. "We still need to steal a boat to Hamel, you know."

"Yes, but – "

"My, my. Sorry for breaking up this midnight party, but I have a job to do," a male voice calls out from above us.

It's a voice I recognize, but the cold timbres brings shivers up my spine. It's a voice that I remember to be warm and stubborn.

At least, before everything changed.

Chung and I turn instantly to the source. The shivers instantly spread to my knees and arms.

It's the same red hair and crimson eyes. But the messy red hair I used to know has been replaced into something more stylish, black streak running across one side of his forehead. His eyes are flat, the lively spark I knew completely gone.

"Elsword." The name is now foreign to my mouth. This isn't the Elsword I know. This isn't the same study buddy or sparring partner I've come to know in my years at Hamel.

This is just another person, another under Raven's influence.

Elsword shifts, holding a sword in both of his hands. His glazed eyes remain soulless, but his stance shows his readiness to strike.

Chung follows suit, cannon in a defensive pose. I brandish my wand, mind racing for a spell to disarm Elsword.

"Aisha," Elsword calls back, the voice menacing and grating on my ears. It reveals the emotion his eyes cannot express. I watch the sharp, jagged teeth form the sound of my name. "Always the good student. Who would've thought that you'd be hanging out with this traitorous bastard?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Chung stiffen, his fighting stance shifting slightly but not enough to distract him from the impending fight.

"And who would've thought that you'd lose so quickly to Raven?" I taunt him back, trying to emulate his tone as my arms quiver slightly with pain and fatigue. My staff feels so heavy in my jelly-like arms. "I thought you were stronger than that. But you lost. You couldn't even put up a fight."

I know I wouldn't last long in this fight, and, though I don't know how strong Chung is, I know that the both of us wouldn't walk away with four intact limbs.

Chung furrows his brow. He knows that I'm trying to anger Elsword, but he doesn't know the reason.

"You're weak, Elsword. You're pathetic."

With that, I rush towards him at the best speed I could manage. He raises one sword, easily blocking me, while aiming for my abdomen with the other.

Elsword snarls at me, a red aura starting to glow around him. I just barely manage dodge his attack, the blade grazing the side of my hip and leaving a bright trail of blood on my stained white coat. "Weak? Pathetic? It's only because of Raven I changed. It's thanks to him I'm so much stronger. And I'll show you how much power I now have!"

Chung enters the fray, missiles flying from his Destroyer. Mumbling a spell, I stop the projectiles midair.

"Chung, just run!"

"But – "

"No buts. I need you to leave. I'll take care of it." I cast a spell, feeling the last of my strength being sapped away as I forcibly teleported Chung to Hamel. His shocked face, blue eyes wide with alarm, is the last thing I see before the portal closes. "I'm sorry."

I turn to face the bloodthirsty sword wielder, a humorless smile crossing my face. "Now we can fight."

I close my eyes as Elsword dashes toward me, both blades gleaming in the faint moonlight.


A/N: Because I might as well update before school takes over my life. You'll see more Chung action once the TT update comes. For now, enjoy evil Elsword.

Reviews are appreciated. -Hinthint-