Chapter 14

Disclaimer: I do not own Elsword nor its characters.

Aisha found herself muttering pretty string of curses and insults upon finishing tutoring Elsword for the day while walking through the hallway. Why does she have to tolerate the Elbrat anyways? It was driving her nuts every time.

At least he was learning; the faster, the better.

"I swear to Lady El..." the purplette trailed off when she stopped in front of the entrance to the ballroom, where the Grand Piano was sitting in the center. Without thinking, she made her way up to the percussion and sat down.

Aisha sighed while thinking that maybe a little music will soothe her mind. Heaving a breath with her hands hovering above the keys, she started playing. Her fingers gracing across, playing whatever song that comes to mind and continued onto different ones once the previous tune was finished, though she did avoid playing a certain one on her mental list.

The music calmed her down as she closed her eyes. She felt someone's presence looming over her but she knew who it was without even looking.

"What is it Add?" the Elemental Master queried nonchalantly without stopping the music.

"You gotten rusty," the Mastermind criticized, crossing his arms disapprovingly. "I detected several mistakes. You haven't been practicing have you?"

Aisha slowly came to a stop before turning to look at her friend straight in the eye and scowl. "Oh please, like you're any better than me?"

"Yes." he said simply which made Aisha sigh in exasperation.

"You and your superiority complex."

"Well, I'm the one that taught you how to play the piano first so of course I'm always superior."

The purplette eye the young man strangely, causing Add to snap at her to demand the purplette to stop staring.

"Shouldn't you be bothering Eve right now?" she asked suspiciously. Aisha noticed that since Add came for a visit, he haven't been causing any major nuisance to her friend. If Add stop chasing after Eve's Code, then she could only assume that the world is going to end.

She wanted to change the topic anyways since she didn't want to hear Add's criticism when it comes to the piano. Childhood friend or not, he's brutal when it comes to the topic, even when they were young.

The Mastermind grumbled something that Aisha couldn't understand.

"Sorry but could you say that again?" the purplette demanded.

"Are you deaf?" Add berated but still repeated what he said before Aisha does anything that would spell trouble for him. "I said that that infuriating Vixen keeps on intruding into my plans that I could not get anywhere near the Nasod without a piece a metal of a spear thrust at my gullet. She's probably searching for right now."

Aisha tried to suppress her laughter but couldn't do it entirely as she let out a snicker. "You two seem to be... getting along nicely."

The Mastermind rolled his eyes and scoffed. "As nicely as nitric acids are combined with hydrazine."

"Hey, at least it won't explode the whole palace," Aisha reasoned.

Add growled, knowing that Aisha wanted to pry into his business and changing the subject but he's not going to give in that easily. "Back to the previous topic, I just want to say -"

"ADD! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

"- That it was hollow -"

"I TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU FOR ONE SECOND AND YOU GONE TO BOTHER EVE HAVEN'T YOU?!"

"- if you're not going to take it seriously then quit while you're ahead before you regret it." The young man finished as if the interruption never happened. He checked the time and estimated that he still have time before he finds another quiet sanctuary, away from Ara.

"And if you really lost interest because of one stupid reason, then I suggest you do," Add continued, his eyes never leaving Aisha while hers were downcast towards the ground while her bangs overshadowed them. "Nothing good will come out of it if it will only remind you of that miserable mistake that you made in the music piece."

The Mastermind cast his glance to the corner of his vision for the shortest period when he caught a flash of red. No doubt knowing who was eavesdropping on them and it only vex Add even more.

Add may be psychotic, but he isn't oblivious to that someone's feelings... as long as Nasods aren't involved. Aisha told him all about Elsword but he never spoke his opinion of it before since he hated meddling with someone else's life.

If Aisha knew him, then she will surely understand what Add was trying to tell her.

If you aren't even going to try, then just give up all together and move on with your life.

Harsh but insults and criticisms were the only way that Add could get his point across every single time, though not many people really found the hidden meaning in his unique choice of words.

And no, Add does not have romantic feelings for the magician in front of him. He may have a long time ago but that turned into sibling affection once he realized that he only saw the purplette as a little sister. She and her family took him in when his parents died so they were like a second family to him - even if he decided to move to Elder. So whoever that hurts her - or anyone of the Cerise blood line - will have their doomsday coming sooner than they expected.

Currently, Elsword was on the top of that list of his.

Both of them were silent on the matter but Aisha excused herself moments later after hearing Add's advice. She understood, but it was easier said than done.

Before she even headed out of the room, Ara barged in with a spear already in her hand with her hair disheveled after all the running.

"THERE YOU ARE!"

"... Crap." Add muttered when he lost track of time from talking to Aisha.

"I SHOULD PUT YOU ON A LEAS - oh hey Aisha."

Said girl blinked at her, seeing Ara's red face from the game she was playing with Add. She couldn't help but laughed a little. The Sakra Devanam cast the purplette a look of confusion, not understanding why Aisha was laughing.

"Hey Add," the Elemental Master looked over her shoulder with a smirk playing on her lips. "Teach Ara how to play the piano."

"WHAT?!" The ebony girl and the white haired male screeched at the same time at Aisha's suggestion. The purplette shot Add a look before leaning over to whisper in Ara's ear.

"Punish him for me," she began. "and then I'll drag Elsword with you to go shopping in Ruben."

She left without hearing Ara's response nor did she see her reaction. Even if Add was trying to help her, he should have tried to word it better. She wouldn't let him off the hook for insulting her piano skills like that without anything in return.

"I'll pick up Add's dead body once you two are finished," Aisha called out once she was outside and slamming the door shut.

She was already feeling better just seeing the two's antics. It reminded her of her and... "Elsword?" she muttered when she saw his back a little ways at the end of the hall before he made a turn and disappeared.

What was he doing here? Aisha thought with creased brows. Wasn't he supposed to be decoding the Ancient Runes?

Shaking it off, Aisha headed in the opposite direction, pretending as if she never saw the redhead.

Add sighed in annoyance, sitting himself on the bench in front of the piano while mentally cursing Aisha for this. Just what kind of punishment was this?

"... You play the piano?" Ara inquired dubiously, staying in the same spot that she had been since Aisha left. She didn't think the young man was into music since he was obsessed with Nasod machinery.

Hearing that already made the Mastermind stand up with his hands in the air.

"Not worth answering or the time so I'm leaving."

The Sakra Devanam hesitated for a second before grabbing Add's shirt sleeve, thereby stopping him. "W-wait!" What am I doing?

She didn't know what she was trying to do or what came over her but curiosity took over and before she knew it, she asked if Add could play something for her.

Add stared at the ebony girl for the longest time as if she grew two heads. He should have snapped at her for dirtying his coat by now but he didn't, which was strange. And when Ara asked him to play a song, he merely raise an eyebrow and looked down at the grip Ara still has on him.

"Ah - Um..." She realized this and quickly let go and avert her gaze. Her arm went across her chest to rub the other one in nervousness. "I... I just want to see if you're as good as Elsword."

The Mastermind scoffed. "You want to compare me with that amateur?"

Ara glared at the white haired male. "He is not an amateur thank you very much. Believe it or not he's -"

"Whatever," Add interrupted, heading back towards the piano. "I don't need your opinion about him if I already have my own."

The Sakra Devanam blinked, completely ignoring what Add had just said because of his current actions. "You're actually going to play?"

"I don't see any harm in it," Add replied leisurely. "since it's music, I'm less uptight." He wondered for a moment why he had just said that to someone that he deemed a nuisance but only dismissed it off as just a simple slip of the tongue.

"Huh?" Ara piped in confusion, sensing a different aura emitting off of Add... slightly different. Was this what Aisha meant when she said that Add was unpredictable? The sound of music filled the room, snapping Ara out of her stupor to be amazed at how smoothly Add was playing. Even if she didn't know much about whatever he was playing, she couldn't help but find it beautiful.

Ara slowly walked over to the Mastermind, finding him with his eyes closed and the most serene face she had ever seen him have since they met. She didn't realize that she was observing his facial features until the word 'cute' crossed her mind. She turned scarlet and turns around to hide her face even though Add had his eyes closed.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" the Sakra Denvanam muttered to herself and then hit herself on the head for the thought to cross her mind.

Add opened one of his eye when he hear incoherent words. "If you keep hitting your head, you'll actually become an idiot." he remarked when he saw what the ebony girl was doing though he didn't stop playing. "But do keep it up; it would be amusing to see you become a cretin."

"What?!" Ara turned sharply to glower at the Mastermind for yet another insult but then she thought of something and smirked. "Uh huh, so you don't think I'm an idiot to begin with then? How nice of you."

Add accidentally pressed the wrong key, ending the song horribly off - key and loud.

"I'm impress that you understand what I'm saying," he replied sardonically while sanding back up to leave. "Now if you don't mind, I rather not waste any more time with a despicable vixen such as yourself, Soap."

Ara's eye twitched at the nickname. "Oh no you don't, if I don't keep my eyes on you,who knows what you'll do. You're going to stay here and..."

"... And what?" The Mastermind hissed, eyeing the girl in suspicion. She better not say what he think she will be saying.

"... And do what Aisha told you to do."

Damn it! Add mentally cursed. "I don't teach those who are hopeless and that's final."

"What do you mean I'm hopeless?!" Ara retorted, stomping over to Add and jab him on the chest. "Just so you know, I'm a fast learner!"

"That can only take you so far," Add replied in an even tone.

"At least give me a chance!"

He sighed in exasperation and cross his arms. "Fine. Go."

Ara faulted slightly at his words. "W-what?" she said nervously.

"You want to try right?" The Mastermind explained, gesturing to the piano. "Let's see where you are before I decide. Or... are you backing down already?"

He gave Ara a smirk which only annoyed her even more and replace her uneasiness with anger. "Fine! I'll show you!"

She made her way up to the piano and sat down, but she didn't know what to do after that. She had a few lessons before but she never did understand the concept of music. She knew little songs that she could play but looking at the smugness that Add was giving off, she just played whatever that came first to her mind.

However, once Ara plays off - key for the first few seconds, Add exploded.

"What the hell are you trying to play?! It sounds like a nail against a chalk board!" Add upbraided. "I thought you at least know the basics or play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!"

"... That was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star..." Ara mumbled, looking down at her lap, trying to hold back tears.

The Mastermind clicked his tongue when he saw Ara on the verge of crying. If there's something he couldn't stand, it's a crying girl. He rather deal with the complexity of time travel instead of being near a girl who was crying or bout to cry. And if Ara was anywhere near as close as Aisha when she was younger, then he's going to be deaf soon.

"Ugh..." Add rubbed his temples. "Fine. I'll teach you the basics but that's it. Just don't start blaring in my ears, they're on the verge of being impair as it is"

"Hey Elsword," called a certain blonde prince. "Is there something wrong?"

Said redhead cast a look over his shoulder before flopping down on the grass. "And you think there's something wrong because...?"

"You're outside, lying on the grass, not studying, not frustrating over runes, you know." Chung answered causally, standing beside him.

Elsword scoffed. "You really think I'm that type of nerd? I'm only doing it to avoid Ara... and a certain topic that I don't want to name."

His blonde hair friend sighed. "Can't run forever you know, Elsa is coming back soon."

The Rune Slayer scowled, having the urge to change the subject as soon as possible. "Where's Eve? Aren't you afraid that Add's going to attack her or something?"

Chung sat down and laughed. "Nah, he can't. Not without Ara intervening every single time."

Elsword raised an eyebrow, what exactly did he miss? Chung proceeded to describe all that was happening since Add's arrival and finally understood why Ara hadn't bother him as much as she did before. Guess Add do have his usefulness once in a while... even his words were on point. Which remind him...

"I say they're like old married couples - no offense." The Tactical Trooper added the lost two words hastily though he doubt that it even offended his red haired friend. Elsword snapped out of his thoughts and turn his head to the blonde next to him.

"Why would I be offended by that?"

"Figures," Chung shrugged nonchalantly. "They remind me of you and Aisha."

"What?" The red head deepen the frown on his face. "We are not couples. Heck, I don't even like her!"

"You say that now but the way you act around her contradicts your words," Chung reasoned. "You been pretty active ever since you met Aisha, as oppose to your laidback personality, and if you don't like her then why do you bother teasing her?"

"It's amusing to see her reactions," Elsword snorted.

"My point exactly."

"Huh?"

"Don't you ever regret breaking up the engagement with her?" Chung asked instead. "If you don't, good for you; but if you do, then do something about it."

Elsword stayed silent for a few minutes after the Tactical Trooper finished. He didn't expect his friend to be observing his behaviors throughout all of this, which could be... creepy but now that he thought about it, he did made it pretty obvious.

"I don't mean that I'm against you and Ara's engagement but you aren't even happy with that are you?" Chung spoke again after receiving no reply from the red haired prince. "Maybe you can -"

"She hates my guts." Elsword interrupted absentmindedly, catching the blonde off guard with what he was trying to say.

"... Sorry?"

"I can't talk to her without as much as an insult thrown into the fray or without starting a fight," Elsword elaborated, looking over to Chung with hard eyes. "I don't think I want to spend a life time arguing with someone over nothing."

"If you think Aisha despise you, then you sadly miscalculated." spoke a voice in relative monotone.

"Eve," Chung greeted, looking over to his side to find the Battle Seraph sauntering over.

"Apologies for eavesdropping but I cannot stand aside when someone has the wrong information," the silverette cast a look over to Elsword before turning to Chung. "and have you seen Aisha? I cannot locate her."

"No... But want me to help you search?" Chung offered to which the Nasod nodded gratefully.

Before the two leave completely, the blonde said one more thing to Elsword. "The choice is yours whether you want previous one back or to move on."

"... Damn." Elsword muttered after a moment, hearing similar things twice already.

"Eve, why are you looking for Aisha?" Chung queried out of curiosity while they walked down a hallway.

"I want to ask if she will be coming with us to the Harmony Festival," the silverette replied simply.

"O - oh..." the Tactical Trooper stuttered with a hint of disappointment, his shoulders sagging slightly, realizing that of course Eve would want to Aisha to come along. They're close friends after all. It's not that Chung didn't like Aisha's presence and all, he found her pretty fun to be around with. But...

"Is there something of the matter?" Eve inquired, tilting her head slightly in the blonde's direction.

"Nothing..." Chung sighed.

Eve creased her brows. "That is not what it seems like to me. I learn from Aisha and Rena that when humans sigh or their shoulders droop, they are disappointed or upset about something."

"Uh..." Chung stared at the silverette blankly before chuckling slightly and patting her on the head. "It's nothing, really. So don't worry about it."

Despite maintaining a poker face towards the blonde male, Eve's heart sped up whenever Chung patted her head but she could not find the reason. She never dealt with this kind of emotion before nor did she expect to this unidentified emotion to come to her. It was a strange feeling but she didn't exactly dislike it, it was just foreign to the poor Nasod. She will have to discuss it with Rena and Aisha.

"Emotions are incomprehensible." Eve muttered under her breath.

"Hm?" Chung gave the Nasod a questioning look when he heard Eve mutter something.

"Nothing." the Battle Seraph replied curtly.

"You sure?" the Tactical Trooper pressed on with a look of concern.

"Affirmative."

"It's okay to speak out your mind y'know. If there's anything on your mind, you can talk to me," Chung offered before taking Eve by the hand. "C'mon, let's go find Aisha."

"..." Eve stared at the back of Chung's head while he dragged her throughout the palace. She does wonder why she doesn't tell him what she was thinking. They were good friends, probably on par with Aisha and Rena. It just... never crossed her mind to share her thoughts with him or was it because she didn't want to? She have been told that males and females have different mind sets.

Humans are indeed strange.

"Chung, may I ask you something?" Eve spoke up after a few minutes of wondering around and ended up outside again.

"Shoot."

"Shoot?" Eve furrow her brows, perplexed. Why would he want to be shot by one of her lasers?

"Just means to continue." Chung explained.

Eve nodded in understanding before she continues."... What does it mean when -"

"Eve, Chung, what are you guys doing out here?" asked a certain purplette that they been searching for. The two look to their right to find Aisha standing close to them with an amused look.

"Erm... we were..." Chung scratched the back of his head while trying to laugh it off. He mentally wished that Aisha came out just a few seconds later since he wanted to hear what Eve was going to ask of him. He have the strangest feeling that -

"Did I interrupt something?" Aisha queried with a knowing look, snapping Chung out of his reverie.

Eve shook her head. "No, we were searching for you."

The purpette immediately frowned, assuming the usual. "What did Add do? I thought he was being punished by Ara."

"Nothing of that degree," the silverette replied. "I merely wanted to ask if you will be coming with us to the Harmony Festival, later in the evening. Chung informed me that it is best to visit during the night."

"Chung did?" Aisha cast a quick glance over to the blonde standing next to Eve. She put the two and two together and it clicked. "Ah, about that... Eve, as much as we're best friends and all, I'm sure you'll have the best time if it's only you and Chung."

"Wait, what?" said blonde did a double take.

Eve only gave the purplette a bemused look.

"I er... Ara and I will be going with Elsword and Add," Aisha explained while her mind raced faster and faster by the minute, trying to think up of something quick. "Raven will be coming too since he's my bodyguard and all, Rena will most likely come as well, so it'll be a large group and we'll end up splitting up anyways. I can keep a tab on Add so that he doesn't ruin your fun. It's you're first Harmony Festival after all, you need to have the best memories from it."

"Isn't this your first visit as well?" Chung pointed out though he was grateful that Aisha was trying to help him.

She gave the blonde a 'you-want-to-ruin-this?' face. "If it makes you two feel better, we'll go together but then split up once we arrive," Aisha replied and then leaned in the prod a finger against Chung's chest repeatedly. "you better show Eve a the best time ever or else you'll be facing my Elemental Storm."

The Tactical Trooper chuckled nervously but grinned knowingly. "Thanks."

Aisha nodded with a satisfactory smile before turning on her heel and skipped off while waving carelessly. "I'll see you two later!"

"We're what?" Add deadpanned when Aisha told them what they were going to be doing in the evening and throughout the night. Let's just say, the Mastermind wasn't exactly a fan of spending a night outside doing things that he consider frivolous.

"I think it'll be fun!" Ara piped while clapping her hands together in front of her.

"No." was all Elsword said while he crossed his arms and leaning back on the couch. He's been to plenty of those festivals at least four times already and they were all pretty much similar so there's no point going to this one.

"For once, I agree with the cretin." Add remarked, leaning against the wall while he sort through files in a translucent screen that was hovering in front of him.

"It takes one to know one." Elsword retorted, glaring at the Mastermind.

Aisha's eye twitched in annoyance at the two boys in the room. "I don't care about what you two want. We're going and that's that!"

"Make me." the red head challenged. Aisha rolled her eyes and summon her staff. Add and Elsword widen their eyes, knowing exactly the magician was going to do. They wanted to escape to a safe distance but Aisha chanted the spell for Binding Circle, which froze the two boys on the spot. An arcane circle enlarged beneath all of them and teleported the four outside, right in front of the entrance to the palace where Chung, Eve, Raven and Rena were waiting.

"Nice work Aisha," the elf applauded. "I didn't have to go with you after all."

Said girl huffed indignantly. "Please Rena, have more faith in my magic."

"... I think you should unbind them now Aisha," Raven remarked, seeing that Add and Elsword were still frozen with their eyes wondering around impatiently.

"Fine," Aisha drawled. With a snap of her finger, Aisha lifted the spell, setting the two boys loose from their confinements.

"Cheater." Elsword mutter, putting his hands in his pant pockets.

"Oho?" Aisha said sardonically while placing the back of her hand next to her mouth and gave the red head a look of superiority. "Aren't you the mature one for using that as an excuse."

"If you're as mature as you say," he retaliated. "then you should be fine going by yourself. Only kids would plead others to go with them."

A tick mark appeared on Aisha's head. "What did you say?!"

Before another full scale argument could ensue, Rena and Raven pulled the two away from each other.

"Let's get going before I get a migraine." Rena stated matter-of-factly.

Aisha's response to the reviews:

To Arrow-chan3 - Don't blame it me! It's not my fault if the author wrote me like that! And I'll stop being a tsundere when Elbaka stops being a baka.

ragna0011 - Confess? Me? To that Elbrat?! In a thousand years maybe! There's no way our engagement's going to reform as long as I have a say in it. If he can't convince me then I'm not doing it.

HakaiElementalVocaloid - Isn't it? But as long as it features Elbaka's idiocy, then I'm okay with it. That height disadvantage... e.e... isn't there a story out there that have me being the taller than Elsword?! I'm sick of being short all the time!

Me: Thanks for the reviews! And sorry about Aisha's bad mood, she's upset that she's too short to reach her staff last chapter.