First thing first, SORRY I'M LATE! (oh hey a Title Drop)
College is really driving me insane!
But oh well, enjoy the next chapter of "Third Day" saga~
"Was it obvious? We'll return to Lighthalzen this afternoon. Don't forget that Rene's still there, dimwit."
Digotz couldn't help but feel annoyed at this situation. Everything happened so fast during the last two days, and he never got the clear explanation of whatever was going on. Well, except Kat's explanations of his motive in simple and clean words yesterday. He loved how honest and straightforward he is sometimes. Unlike that person.
"D-Digotz...", Harley called hesitantly and shook his head, "I-I mean, Digz, let's eat already~! Mom made Honey-dip Fried Chicken, and it's delicious!"
Thud.
That feeling again. He swore that him and Harley had met before, but he couldn't remember. That Valkyrie from yesterday restored all of his memories, yes, but there's no traces of Harley whatsoever.
Why Harley called him "Digz" even though he never told him to use that name?
Could it be a-
"Oliver, don't pull my ponytail!"
"Here goes nothing!"
The sight of Mr. Hilpert, uh, "cuddling" Harley's back broke Digotz's train of thoughts. It's so amusing to see his favorite author showing his true colors. He always admired Mr. Hilpert's works. Even when the books were banned on Lighthalzen, he quickly stored them at his Kafra storage to preserve them.
"Everyone, I think our Alran here wants to clean up himself. Why don't we wait for him in the dining room?", Mrs. Helena said as she detransformed into her usual appearance. Harley and Mr. Hilpert looked at each other in disappointment, and released their transformations.
As they were leaving, Digotz noticed something.
Elise was nowhere to be seen.
Was she angry? No, that couldn't be.
That Elise. She is mysterious as always.
After done cleaning himself and changing his clothes, Digotz ate alongside the Grisheims, Elise, and Mr. Hilpert. Harley was right; Mrs. Helena's Honey-dip Fried Chicken was delicious! It reminded him of Doc's cooking he ate when they lived together nine years ago. Of course, Mrs. Helena is Doc's wife after all.
He noticed that Harley had been continuously staring at him since they came to the dining room. Did he feel the same too? Elise, Mr. Hilpert, and Mrs. Helena were doing their own things, acting as if nothing out of ordinary happened. Maybe him and Harley should talk.
As he washed the plates together with Harley, the latter whispered to him.
"Digz, let's talk in my room. Just opposite of your -actually my brother's- room."
He just nodded.
The two then walked towards Harley's room. Unlike his twin's room, Harley's was tidier, grimmer, and full of books. As the two sat on the bedside, Digotz glanced at two photo frames on Harley's desk.
The larger frame contained what looked like a family portrait. Probably taken not too long ago, since Harley and Mrs. Helena looked almost like how they are now. Doc was almost unchanged since he last saw him. And it's his first time seeing Harley's twin. He looked identical to Harley, except with much shorter hair and noticeably manlier build.
The smaller one, however, had a teenage girl -a Sage, it seems- with two boys who looked like Harley and his twin. Harley was smiling and making a peace sign with both hands, his twin did the same only with winking, while the girl was smirking and circling her arms around them.
"That's me and Harold."
Digotz glanced at Harley, now sitting on his bed. Harley just smiled and continued his sentences, "And the Sage's name is Elrayne. She's like an elder sister to us. But…" he paused, "… she's already away from this world."
Feeling that this is what Harley wanted to tell, Digotz took the small photo frame and handed it to him. As soon as Harley received it, he began looking at it tenderly. Digotz then decided to sit and lay his body next to him, waiting for the Professor to be done with his nostalgia.
Just like when he found out about Nel's "death", huh.
After ten minutes of silence, Harley spoke, "Hey, Digz. I know you know I know, but do you want to ask me something about my behavior?"
Digotz closed his eyes and replied, "Yes", he paused, "In particular, why do you call me with my nickname even though we've never met."
"Elise told me to call you with that name."
Digotz metaphorically facepalmed. Why didn't he think of the most obvious choice? The Grisheims have known Elise for who knows how long. Of course she would tell them right before he arrived.
"And besides," Harley continued, "I know about this 'déjà vu' feeling you have."
"Oh?"
Harley paused. His face paled and he started giggling like an idiot.
"Ah, never mind! What did I just say?"
As he said so, he jumped up from the bed, pulled Digotz up, and dragged him in front of the cupboard. Harley then opened the cupboard and pulled out some of his clothes: a white long-sleeved blouse, a blue clothes with yellow cross pattern, and another white shirt with short sleeve. Harley proceeded to match the clothes to Digotz's posture one-by-one, causing the latter to look dumbfounded at his behavior.
"What are you doing, Harley?"
Harley winked at Digotz and shoved the blue clothes to him, "You need disguises, you know. And besides, your current clothes are a little too tight for summer."
Oh yeah, he's right. Besides, his clothes was still drenched in blood thanks to yesterday's incident.
Then, the two spent half an hour to find and try Harley's clothes. They even went back to Harold's room and "raided" some of his clothes. In the end, Digotz picked Harley's short-sleeved white shirt, Harold's blue jeans vest, and his own pants.
Harley gave a thumb-up to Digotz and winked at him. It seemed like the code fit.
After finished his lunch and bid farewell to the Grisheims, Digotz went straight to The Republic's Government Office. It's been a long time since he took a stroll around Juno. The floating city is mostly unchanged since him and Maku went here four years ago. Except the amount of adventurers who were walking around the town.
But that's a given, since more and more children are inspired to become adventurers, right?
As he arrived in front of The Government Office's entrance, Digotz saw two guards were leisurely eating burritos. Knowing who they are, he coughed to get their attention. The guards stopped eating and shifted their sight at him. Their eyes widen and their jaws dropped as soon as they saw his face.
Digotz sighed, "Hubert, Shawn, you've not changed at all. Still chilling around every time there's no guests, huh?"
One of the guards, the one with crimson hair, licked his lips and then saluted, "N-No Sir! I was just hungry, Sir!" As he said that, the blue-haired guard punched him on the head and forced him to bow.
"Forgive us, Sir. It was Shawn who wanted to eat these burritos. I tagged along because I pitied him."
Digotz sighed. These two, Hubert Rhodoen and Shawn Glaciar, are the two doorkeepers who served the government office since Father was declared as president. Although they're a bit incompetent, their dedication and will to protect the Republic are very strong. Those, along with loyalty, are the most important things for a Republic's employees to have.
But that's not important right now.
"Let me enter this Schwartzvalt Republic's Government Office building", Digotz ordered to both soldiers.
Hubert and Shawn threw away their lunches and saluted.
"Yes, sir!"
The first thing he noticed when he entered the building was the empty receptionist desk.
And the second thing was the name plate that was sitting nicely on the top of the desk.
Schwartzvalt Republic's Presidential Secretary: Hes O'Neil
Hes O'Neil? Was that the alias "she" used when they first met many years ago? He remembered the way "she" said the name when Maku introduced them to each other before that disastrous blind date.
Digotz wanted to examine the table further, but his current priority was to meet with his Father. And so, he walked towards the entrance of president's office.
He knocked the door a few times and greeted, "Father, I'm home."
No response.
Then he glanced at the clock on the right side of the room. Twelve past twenty. Ah, it's time for that already.
After a few seconds, Digotz began to knock the door like a madman and shouted, "IT'S LUNCHTIME ALREADY, FATHER! NOW RAISE UP FROM YOUR GODDAMN CHAIR AND EAT!"
Soon after, several crashes and hurried footsteps were heard from behind the door. Predictable.
After a few minutes, a man's voice was calling from behind the door, "Come in!"
And so, Digotz entered the room.
As he looked around the office, the first thing he noticed was...how things were unchanged since the last time he entered the room four years ago. The work table was still full of documents sheets and papers. The couch was still patched with random cloths. And the President himself was still looking sleepy, as if he had no sleep for the last few days.
No, scratch that, it's obvious that he had no sleep for more than one day. Wonder what kind of works those scums put him in.
And when the President finally saw him, his eyes widened.
The two exchanged a look for a few seconds.
Digotz greeted, "I'm home."
The President just smiled.
"Welcome back, Alexander."
Digotz and the President sat on the guests' sofas, face to face. A moment later, Hubert and Shawn entered the office while carrying the afternoon tea set. As they enjoyed the tea, Digotz told his Father about everything that happened during the last four years.
…The endless bickering between him and Maku, his newfound friendship with Kat, Elise and Rene, and the news of Nel's "death"…
After everything was said and done, Digotz bowed at the President, "Father, forgive me for making you worried."
The President closed his eyes and let a sigh of relief, "Apology accepted. Still, I'm surprised that you recovered this fast from your battle yesterday."
"Pardon?"
"Ms. Quartzen informed me yesterday. You fought an Agent, did you?"
"…Yes."
"What did you do that those people had to send an Agent to deal with your matters?"
"Just the usual stuffs," Digotz paused, "You know: sneaking into the slums, breaking into labs, foiling their plans for yet another time…"
The President let out a laugh before he could even finish his sentence. Knowing what that meant, he followed the laugh by giggling.
"So, what kind of plans did you foil all these times, son?"
"Well, there was a time when I broke their strange machines" Digotz giggled, "You should look at those scientists' faces; they're soooo hilarious!"
Digotz deeply inhaled before continuing his story, "And then, there was the time where I ended up befriending a new recruit of Rekenber…"
The President closed his eyes and crossed his arms, "That one who ended up fighting with you, am I right?"
"…Yes."
The President took the teapot and added some more tea to Digotz's cup. He also took a cupcake and ate it. Digotz, knowing the meaning of these behaviors, emptied his cup in a single gulp.
"Don't worry Father, I'm over it now. Mindless revenge won't solve anything, right?"
The President just nodded and continued eating.
After the two men had their afternoon tea party, Digotz headed toward his own room, of which door was opened by Hubert and Shawn during the tea party. Even though it's already four years since he last stepped inside, it's still clean as ever. In fact, it's just like that Harold's room. Which means…
…which means, somebody's been cleaning the room ever since he left, huh…
Digotz shrugged at this thought that had just crossed his mind. Wasn't it obvious that Nel did it?
Ignoring the pause he just had, Digotz continued hoarding for clothes, Potions, and other personal belongings that he left in this room and packed them in his old travel bag.
The sky had shifted its color to warm orange when Digotz re-entered the President's office. As he expected, the President sat on his main desk's chair to enjoy the afternoon sky. Digotz knew that Father likes to enjoy Juno's afternoon sky, but this time he had to interrupt this moment to bid his temporary farewell.
"Father, I'm going to go on an adventure again."
After a few seconds of silence, the President turned his chair around, stood up, and made his way to Digotz's front.
"Just like four years ago, huh. I guess history repeats itself, then", Digotz shrugged and gripped his left hand, specifically around the bracelet that housed his Crystal.
"Form Cha-", before Digotz finished the invocation, the President grabbed his left hand and removed his bracelet. The President took a ring and a necklace from his pocket, unchained the Crystal from the bracelet and put it along with the ring on the necklace, and tied it around Digotz's neck.
Digotz observed the necklace and noticed what the ring really is, "Father, this is-"
The President laid his right hand on his right shoulder and nodded, "Yes, your engagement ring. You asked me to keep it since you were about to Transcend, remember?"
Digotz sobbed a little and shed a single tear. As he wiped the tear, the President hugged him tightly, "You were such a crybaby back during our early days as a family. But look at you now, gentleman. You've grown up."
After done crying, the President pulled himself from him and looked at him with assuring smile.
"Now, do your best."
Digotz nodded, and once again raised his left arm, "Form Change!"
The sun had already set when Digotz finally exit The Republic's Government Office. He's supposed to walk straight to the Grisheims' house now, worrying that Elise would get annoyed at him. Instead, Elise was already waiting in front of the guards' post, yawning and crossing her arms in boredom.
"You're late."
"Sorry, I just had, you know, family stuffs."
"Got yourself any potions or restorative items ready?"
"Of course."
"Well then", Elise said as she opened her pocket bag and took a Blue Gemstone. She clasped the stone with both of her hands and started praying.
"O force of fourth dimension, let us transcend this barrier known as Time and Space! Warp Portal!"
A portal manifested on the ground in front of them.
"Any last words for the big daddy?" Elise asked as she walked to the portal's entrance.
Digotz shifted his sight at the government office, put a confident smile, and raised his fist at the office's direction.
"Father, this will only take a night! And Nel, we will meet again! This time, I'll drag Maku too!"
Ignoring Digotz's enthusiasm, Elise reminded, "Oi, you go first."
Digotz turned his attention towards Elise and approached her, "No, ladies fir-"
Elise put her right hand in front of Digotz's mouth, "I was the one who summoned the portal, remember?"
"Tch, whatever floats your boat then."
Digotz shrugged and ran towards the portal, with Elise followed soon after.
Maku, wait for me!
Nel, stay alive!
I will join the fray in an instant!
-TO BE CONTINUED-
Yeah, yeah, this is a bit short, but I guess it's better than nothing...