"Pinch me…I must be dreaming. " Eleanor said, admiring the large façade of Luina. Her jaws dropped as soon as we arrived here.

At the back, someone snickered. I already knew who that was and whenever he did that, it meant something was about to erupt.

I distanced myself from Eleanor. Boris also knew what was coming and hid behind my back.

Behind Eleanor, who was pacing back and forth at the large gate, Sheng emerged behind her. He stalked behind her. She was unaware that danger was near her. She knelt down, feeling the water from the small waterway that stood between the gate and the land. She jerked her fingers.

Slowly, she turned around but it was too late.

With one push, Eleanor plunged on the waterway. Luckily, it wasn't deep.

Eyes glowering, she climbed up.

"What the hell is that for!?" She yelled, twisting her dress and skirt.

"What?" Sheng asked, trying to hide his laughing face. "Taking a bath is a good way to wake up, Ele?"

"Ele?"

"Yes. Calling you Eleanor is tiring. Besides, Ele is a good nickname isn't it?"

She smacked her fist. "Are you mocking me?"

"No!" He avoided her gaze. "I was just playing tricks on you."

"They're the same!" She screamed and chased him.

Boris and I were on the bridge. The two were still running in circles. One thing for certain, Sheng is talented at running and flustering people with his stupidity.

"You know…." I said, licking my lower lip. "Ele does sound nice."

"You think so?" Boris asked. "Try saying that to her." He pointed at Eleanor, who drew her guns and fired haphazardly at Sheng.

I coughed. "But Eleanor sounds royalty...right?"

"Wake up your mind, Cador." Boris said and went inside, dragging Eleanor's and Sheng belongings.

I sighed and followed him.

It's going to be a long, tiring day.

I kept wondering why Sheng always picked on us, especially Eleanor. Was he being a nice guy or a man who needed special attention? I couldn't tell since I didn't have any proof. Sheng is a different person. I, who had seen many things couldn't understand his nature. He's a complete mystery to me, even to my comrades. He had a habit of changing moods everyday. Sometimes, you could talk to him like an ordinary person and mostly, he would ignore you, stating that he didn't want too. You could compare him with a female's mood swing.

But, Sheng isn't a girl and he doesn't act like that. His mood swing is different from other girls. How could I say it? No words could describe his mood swing.

Did he want attention, which people would always talk to him? No, I think not. He preferred to be alone, since I'd seen him do that. Was it to kill boredom? Well, that was Boris' idea but I believed that Boris' idea might be correct.

According to the documents, Sheng came from Ligthalzen, after finishing his training under a scientist. No wonder his abilities revolved on computers and communication devices. He must have trained from the University, where smart, rich kids study. I forgot the scientist who taught him but that person was a well-known figure in Ligthalzen.

I was twenty five at that time and Eleanor and Boris were with me. We just established Black Wings in Prontera, the same time "they" established it in Payon. We had help from a certain group. Since we needed members, we tried to recruit but it failed. It was hard to recruit people, especially if you're not a group associated with the monarch.

Sheng came and offered his services. I didn't care about that time since we really needed members. We accepted him, even though I didn't know his past. The only thing I knew about him was that he studied in Ligthalzen.

And that's it. He was eighteen when he studied there. It took him ten years before he joined us.

His past is a complete blank. I tried to gather information but I failed to find anything.

But in my heart, I trust that guy. He would never do anything stupid that could cause his friend's lives.

Still, I am curious to know his past.

But for now, I better focused in this mission.

Since Sheng made Eleanor furious that I had to stop her from killing him and Boris had to tie Sheng's mouth, sending those two together to investigate the castle would mean sending a bag of dynamite and a lighter.

So, I took Eleanor with me while Boris had to control himself from Sheng's insult and trickery. Boris was reluctant and disappointed that he had to watch over Sheng. I could watch him but seeing that his mood swing had taken a route that I didn't want, I just had to give Sheng to Boris.

Eleanor? No, I could handle her. I've known her ever since Boris and I met her at the dense forest of Payon. I was twenty five at that time and it was winter in the north. Boris rounded a wrong turn and we ended up meeting her in a cliff. She was wearing a large boulder and was tied to with it.

At that time, I wasn't interested with her. The only thing I wanted was to get out of there as soon as I could. She looked back and her eyes told me something. I quickly saw the pain that she experienced and something supernatural. At first, I couldn't believe it, that something like that really exists. I always thought that they were only fictional but I looked at her—the face, the outfit and especially her ears— it makes sense.

Pity took over me and I talked to her. Boris did that same.

And eventually, she calmed down and told us to that she didn't want to end her life.

At the end, she joined us, wanting to see the world and we'd been together ever since.

It's been three long years but it felt like an eternity. Exaggerating, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

Taking Eleanor wasn't a great idea and pairing with snickering boy isn't my style.

But still, I couldn't mix these two since they might create chaos and pandemonium inside Luina. I don't want this place to be destroyed by those two nincompoops. They're like walking time bombs. One false move and kaboom, consider Luina to be in the Midgard's World Record for lasting three seconds while two individuals beat each others.

I just hoped Boris could put a leash on Sheng.

Eleanor and I took the west wing of Luina while Boris investigated the east wing. Eleanor was still angry with him that I had to drag her until she couldn't see his laughing face.

But as soon was we entered the large chamber, all the hatred Eleanor stocked in her brain disappeared. Even my irritation was gone as my eyes lay upon the beauty of this chamber.

I think we arrived at the largest dining hall that I had seen. Crystal clear chandeliers made out of expensive diamonds hung on the ceiling and the ceiling itself were painted with angelic beings. On the center of the ceiling was a female angelic being, holding a majestic, royal scepter and was surrounded by six-winged beings. They held incense and offered flowers to the Queen. A royal, white light shun behind the girl. At the farthest corner of the ceiling, heads of infants with wings were singing praises to the Queen.

What a marvelous sight! Seeing this masterpiece, it awoke my thirst for beauty and perfection. I didn't mind staying here for eternity and gazed upon the beauty of this masterpiece especially the queen. Such beauty! Such charm! She had captured my heart, my mind and my soul.

But the feeling of sensation and admiration vanished in an instant.

"Start looking for clues!" A female voice roared.

And just like that, my heart wept for the demise of my admiration as I searched for clues.

After investigating the dining chamber, we headed upstairs and entered Leslie Mason's bedroom. According to Leone's information, she was last seen here, an hour or two before the sentry reported that she went missing. Also, the battle against the hooded figures occurred in this room.

I lay flat on my stomach and peeked under the bed. I only saw several shoeboxes and junks. I even saw candy wrappers lodged on the springs.

"Find anything?" I asked, poking my head out of the window.

When she didn't answer, I looked back. Eleanor was at the leftmost corner of the room, tickling the small plant. She lifted the vase and wiped the dust.

Did she really think that there would be a clue underneath that vase?

Oh well, she might have.

We're just lucky we're not looking for Leslie in person but for clues.

A thought entered my mind. Was it possible for Leslie to be in that vase?

"Cador!" Eleanor yelled, glaring at me, hands on her hips. "Stop slacking and start looking!"

"Yes mistress…" I murmured.

Eleanor checked the drawers and started to inspect its content. Seeing that the only place I hadn't looked was Leslie's dress cabinet, I took the chance. I slowly opened it and a series of expensive gowns, dresses and coat greeted my eyes. Most of them were expensive. It would take me years just to have that expensive fur coat, made out of pure Sasquatch. On the ground were shoes—several of them—and they were shining like a pure diamond.

Unfortunately, I didn't find anything out of the ordinary. I already inspected the cabinet for any secret buttons. The only thing left for me was to lick it, hoping that my saliva would activate the secret button.

Seeing that this cabinet was no used, I shut it tight and checked the second cabinet. My eyes stared at the lingerie and silky panties. My jaws dropped. No words formed at my shaking lips. Oh God, did I discover a gold mine? Am I dreaming? Everything was so shiny and the scent—oh how I love the scent of it. I wasn't sure but perhaps it was strawberry scent that my nostrils caught.

To prove that this was no dream, I shakily held the silky underwear. The garment was so thin and transparent that I could see my fingers. Am I in Eden now? Surely, I must be.

"What do you think you're doing, Cunningham!"

Oh no!

Slowly, I turned my head. Eleanor was standing behind me. A furious aura of red energy oozed from her body. Her green eyes flashed, pupils glaring at the core of my soul.

I slumped against the wall.

"I hate three things…" She said, playing with her revolver. "You know them?"

I gulped. "Ah…Sheng?"

"Number three. What about the others?"

I'm screwed.

She holstered her gun. "Since I'm a nice girl, I'll tell you. Number 2. I hate rats but nature created them so I can forgive them but…"She leaned closer. My hands were shaking. "I can never, ever forgive…. "

So much for paradise.

Anger flashed in her eyes. She quickly and swiftly grabbed my shoulders and threw me outside like a rag.

Inside our hotel suite in Hotel Crème, one of the best hotels in Midgard, we gathered all the data we had and we obtained rather, disturbing findings.

Luckily, Leone financed our mission, so was it a crime to stay on a five-star hotel?

"So," I said, rubbing my neck. The damage from Eleanor's judo throw was still present. "What did you find?"

"Next time you did that thing again, Cador… I swear, I'm gonna break your neck." Eleanor said.

"Not that 'finding' Eleanor. I mean the—"

Sheng whistled. "Oh, what did you find?"

"Yeah right, like I'm gonna tell you, faggot!"

"Ouch! You break my heart, Ele."

She jumped out of her seat and slammed her hands on the table. "Stop calling me that!"

There they go again.

I hid my face behind my hands.

"Hey Boris…"

But he was already sleeping.

"Oh God, will somebody please kill me?" I murmured and left the room.

Might as well get myself drunk than listening those two bickering at each other.

And I hoped that April 14 would be a good day.