AN: Wow, it took me a while, huh, sorry bout that. By the way, I thank for my best friend for helping me out for this and for "EnvyGamez" for beta reading this :)
Chapter 24: Guilt
Once Mishelle saw the Rise of Thorns crying, too focused to the spider mage, she took this as an opportunity to escape.
She tried to move her body, fidgeting her arms so she could grab another kunai to cut the vines. But the vines were so tight, the summoner couldn't even move her fingers. She had the option to use Flash, but the sound of casting the flash spell will surely be heard and alert the plant mage. Her katana was too out of reach and impossible to get because of the vines all getting in the way on the floor. She literally had no way to escape… or so she thought. She was left with one final option.
Mishelle sighed. She really didn't want anyone to get involved, even Zyra. But in order to get out alive, and to leave no witnesses, she had no choice but to kill Zyra too. The plant mage didn't seem like she alerted the other summoners yet, so killing her would mean Mishelle still had a chance to get away with this. So she casted Flash, and landed on the floor. She almost stumbled because of the jolt of pain from her injury, but she managed to stand up straight. The summoner then took out her last kunai.
Zyra looked behind and saw the summoner. She laid Elise's head down gently and got up, without leaving her sight at the summoner. Mishelle could feel burning anger inside of her so strong, she almost stepped back. She knew her mind was set to one thing: to kill the summoner.
"I really wish you didn't come back for her, Zyra. Now you left me no choice. I'm sorry, but I have to kill you." Mishelle said, trying to steady her breathing.
"You're sorry… for me, but not for Elise? Really? Everyone thinks that Elise is the monster here, except for me. Well, I'm seeing one right now."
"I guess we have our own perspectives on what a monster is. You just don't know how it feels like to lose someone… Oh wait, now you do. Haha. Anyway, so, are we just gonna talk? Are we gonna fight?"
"Trust me, Mishelle. This won't even be a fight." Zyra raised her right hand, and vines started to move around, surrounding the summoner. Mishelle took out another black, small sphere, threw it on the ground, and it exploded to black smoke to hide herself.
"You won't escape!" Zyra moved her vines towards the door, but it hit nothing. Instead of running away, Mishelle dashed onto to the plant mage, aiming for Zyra's heart. Quick in response, Zyra commanded the vines from under Mishelle to grab her legs and right arm, stopping her in her tracks. The two women's faces are now very close, mere inches to one another, and Zyra made a hateful smirk at the summoner.
"Told you it won't be a fight, you are no match for me. Now, I will make your death slow...and painful!"
Mishelle then let go of the kunai from her right hand and caught it on her left. She slashed forward, starting from the vines tied to her right arm then towards Zyra, but the champion managed to grab the summoner's hand tightly. In response, Mishelle pulled her left hand, along with Zyra, then swung her right fist. She punched Zyra in the face, which made Zyra stumble backward and tripped over Elise without noticing. Mishelle then quickly slashed the vines that was tied to her legs and hid herself into the smoke again.
When Zyra got up, the summoner was gone. She looked around cautiously. After a few seconds, the smoke disappeared, but Mishelle was nowhere to be seen in front of her.
"SHOW YOURSELF SO I CAN KILL YOU!" Zyra yelled in anger.
What she didn't know was that Mishelle was already behind her.
"You're already dead." Mishelle said as she plunged her blade at the plant mage as Zyra turns around.
Just before the kunai landed, a sticky, heavy thing like a ball hit Mishelle on her arm, pushing her way back that she hit the wall, letting go of her kunai.
The summoner screamed in pain, sure that her arm was broken. She couldn't move it because it was stuck on the wall. When she looked, she saw what appeared to be a huge mass of spider web. Shocked, she looked at the front. Her eyes we're wide open on what she saw. She could not believe it.
"W-what the..." Mishelle muttered.
Elise slowly opened her eyes, waking up from getting hit by something heavy. She tried to lift her head, but instantly felt a nocuous headache.
Her head was throbbing like crazy, that Elise placed her hand on her head. She looked around, seeing nothing but smoke and vines on the floor. She thought she was just hallucinating because of the pain, but she could feel the smoke on her skin, the vines on her hands. When she looked down, she saw a katana protruding from her chest.
"Look at that... I've been impaled". She thought to herself. Then after about a few seconds, her mind clicked. She remembered Mishelle at her back… a sudden hit at the back of her head… and the sword run through her.
Mishelle... stabbed me? I-I don't understand, what did I do? Did I go berserk? The spider mage thought. She noticed that the smoke was starting to dissipate, and when it did, she saw Zyra in front of her, standing, looking around and yelling. Then she noticed someone behind Zyra; a girl who appears to be holding a knife. It was Mishelle, and she was about to attack.
Almost instinctively, Elise shot a huge ball of web from her hand at the summoner, and Mishelle flew and crashed to the wall, making Mishelle scream in pain.
When Mishelle looked from her arm to the spider mage, having trouble standing, but was really alive, even with a sword run through her, she was shocked beyond belief. Suddenly, Elise shot another web to Mishelle's other hand to make sure she doesn't get away.
As for Mishelle, she suddenly started screaming and flailing, feeling angry and at the same time disappointed at herself, seeing all of her plans fail, knowing now her chances of escape are diminished, but that wasn't all. She didn't know it yet, but there was another reason why she was raging.
And as sudden as she lost it, the summoner dropped her head down, instantly stopped screaming and flailing, gave up fighting and escaping, as all she awaits now is punishment. Elise raised an eyebrow, a little surprised on how she easily gave up.
Zyra, ever since Elise saved her, was still looking at her. After Mishelle's tantrum, she walked to the spider mage and cupped Elise's cheek with shaking hands, her face still shocked as she could not believe this.
"El... a-are you really… alive?" Zyra muttered, tears streaming down her face. Unexpectedly, Elise smirked in a cocky way and chuckled.
"Honey, dear, have you forgotten? I am an immortal being, I will not die that easily from a simple stab. Really! Don't cry, it's just a flesh wound. Haha…" then her smile instantly disappeared as she remembered the time when she saw Zyra kissed someone and remembered that she ran away. Remembering her cowardly act, she looked away to the other side so her cheek wouldn't touch her hand. She then took a step back, too embarrassed to look into Zyra's eyes. The spider mage's face was in deep red, feeling like she will die out of embarrassment as her stabbed heart beat faster.
At first Zyra got confused at her sudden gesture and embarrassment, then she remembered the past events a few days ago. Zyra stepped forward. She really wanted to comfort her, to hug her and reassure her that she still loved her. Zyra stepped forward, but it only made Elise took another step back.
And so the two went silent, standing and doing nothing, letting the awkwardness sink in and grow even more. Until finally, after a few seconds, the spider mage spoked first.
"Z..." she said, which made Zyra's heart flutter with joy as she heard her still use her nickname she gave her.
"...Do you... Do you still love me?" Elise felt it was a stupid question, but Zyra took a step forward and took the spider mage's hand and pressed it on her chest. Elise eyes widened, and finally looked into Zyra's yellow eyes.
"Of course I do, El. Nothing will change that. My heart belongs to you and only you. I'm sorry for all of this, I shouldn't have been so soft on Aaron and let him come near me."
"...No." Elise muttered as she pulled back her hand from Zyra's grasp and looked down.
"I'm the one who should be sorry. If it wasn't for my sudden assuming mind and my habit for running away, none of this would have happen in the first place. I'm so sorry, Z. Will... will you forgive me?"
Zyra then walked up to the Spider Queen and placed her hand on her shoulder, while her other hand caressed Elise's cheek and lifted it up just enough for her eyes to focus on hers.
El, don't apologize. You did nothing wrong..." Zyra closed her eyes and leaned closer to kiss the spider mage. Elise too, did the same and leaned closer, and closer… then Zyra's chest accidentally pushed the katana at the hilt, piercing it deeper into Elise.
Elise went wide eyed and pushed Zyra away. Clearly the two forgot about the katana.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Elise winced.
"Oh gods! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I forgot! Um… Here, lemme just..." Zyra then grabbed the blade's hilt with both of her hands.
"Uh… ready?" the plant mage asked, and Elise nodded in response.
"Okay, um, one, two..." Zyra then pulled the katana out of the spider mage, causing more blood to come out of the wound. Zyra then dropped the blade out of shock as her attention went back immediately to the spider mage.
"Oof! Oh my Vilemaw! Damn! Finally, that felt a little better."
"El, you're bleeding! A lot! We need to cover that up!"
"Z, it's ok. Leave it be, it will regenerate... though it I am not regenerating as fast as I usually do. Maybe because I haven't drank blood for a while?"
"Then... Then drink mine instead!"
"No need."
"I'm serious!" Zyra said, and Elise saw what seemed like excited anticipation in her eyes.
"Uhh, no. That won't be necessary. And trust me, you will die out of lack of blood"
"B-But..."
"Z..." Now, Elise thought, it was her turn to comfort Zyra. She put her hand on the plant mage's shoulder and her other hand on her cheek as she caressed it.
"Z, you saw me stood up with a blade pierced through me like I've never been stabbed at all. I will be alright. I promise." Zyra sighed, but nodded. Suddenly, she leaned closer and kissed Elise, which the spider mage returned with equal passion. Oh, how long have they missed the feeling and the taste of their each other's lips.
"Oh gods, can you two stop with the lovey dovey thing and just kill me already?!" Mishelle chimed.
The two champions then stopped their frolicking and looked at the summoner, who they completely forgot about.
"Oh yeah, you" Elise spat as she walked to the summoner, but then Zyra grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Wait, you're not actually going to kill her, are you?"
"Z, of course I'm gonna kill her. She'll find another way to threaten us if we don't."
"El, what? No, this is wrong, you should not do this."
"Hey!" Mishelle chimed in "before you kill me, I just want to know. Artificial immortals aren't really immortal. Their weakness is the heart, so why didn't you die from it? You weren't originally undying, so that spider god must have given you immorality, which makes you an artificial immortal."
"That's because Lord Vilemaw's magic is unique. Those artificial immortals that you have read from history came from spell books or sometimes from other gods, but Lord Vilemaw? No dear, the spider god's magic is way different that even predates our current history. I may have a weakness, but striking me in the heart is not one of them. But I am impressed on your knowledge about the history of immortal beings. Too bad it won't save your life."
"Heh. That is too bad alright. Let's just get this over with…"
"Why do you want to die so badly all of a sudden?"
"Because death is better than what my future consequences will be."
"Huh. Good point. Might as well give you what you want." Elise raised her arm, Zyra then stopped her by grabbing it.
Elise faced Zyra. "Z… what are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Zyra said back.
"At first, you wanted to kill her, and now you're trying to defend her?"
"Because I thought I lost you, and...and I was so angry, I lost control. Now that I see you alive and well, I changed my mind. I also promised Kolminye not to kill anyone."
"What? Just what are you afraid of? They will not know."
"You know what I'm very well afraid of, El. You say they will not know now, but they'll find out sooner or later. I'm scared of being locked away, not being free and roam around as I please, but what I'm most afraid of… is to be separated from you again."
"I… understand your fear, Z. But you know Mishelle. Even if we lock her away, she will find a way to escape. I know her well enough she is capable of that. If we let her go now-"
"She must have had a reason, El. Just like I had one before I thought you were… dead. I hate her as much as you do for trying to kill you, but please El. Let's do this the right way."
When she saw Zyra's pleading eyes, the spider mage couldn't help but give in to Zyra's request as she sighed and nodded.
"Alright. Anything for you." Elise lowered her arm.
"What!? Oh, come on! Just kill me already!"
Suddenly, the three women heard an echoing clapping sound coming from nowhere. The champions searched the room, but there were no other person aside from Mishelle, whose hands were bound to the wall. Then the lights went on, and they were all blinded. They got too used to the room being dark.
As their eyes adjusted to the light, a shimmer was forming near the door, and the figures solidified. Grand Summoner Kolminye appeared from her invisibility spell, and with the grand summoner were four champions: Yorick, Zilean, Sona and Soraka.
"Oh... My... GODS." Kolminye squealed in delight. "Zyra! I'm so proud of you! I knew I could trust you!" Kolminye hugged Zyra, and the plant mage winced as she felt her bruised body being touched. Kolminye immediately let go of her.
"Oh! Sorry, sorry. Anyway." The grand summoner turned to look at her companions. "You four, you know what to do."
Sona, Yorick, Zilean and Soraka nodded as they started working. Sona and Soraka guided Zyra and Elise to the couch as they started healing the two, while Yorick was working on getting the sticky, strong web out from Mishelle with his raw strength. Zilean was working on fixing the cracked walls and destroyed furniture by reverting it back in time. The grand summoner then looked at the spider mage with a disappointing look as she sighed.
"To be honest, I don't know what to say about you, Elise. Yes, you improved by allowing companionship, but if it wasn't for Zyra, you were more than ready to kill again. And you, Mishelle…" Kolminye then looked at the summoner. "Guess your father's idea failed."
"Failed? My father's idea?! What!?" Mishelle exclaimed.
"Well, it was your father's idea to assign you to be Elise's bound summoner, to get you some closure, and for you to monitor her yourself so Elise wouldn't do anything bad like luring your mother to her death." When the grand summoner said it, all of the people in the room had a look of surprise as they stare at Elise, then at Mishelle. As for Elise, she too was shocked at that information. She could not remember who that person specifically was, for she has done that before to hundreds more victims, and just looked down, trying to recall on who it was.
"Come on, guys. Get moving. You already heard the story." Kolminye called, and the champions proceeded back to their doings.
"B-but, he said it was your order to make me Elise's bound summoner." Mishelle said.
"But he was the one who proposed the idea to me and to the other grand summoners. I only signed the necessary papers. To be fair, I was against the idea, but the other grand summoners agreed to it." Kolminye said.
"It won't be revenge, but it will be justice for what happened to Reila and to all the others that fell to the same fate."
Mishelle remembered what her father said before when she was given the mission.
"Um, Kolminye?" Zyra called.
"Yes?" Kolminye happily said as her angry expression was gone instantly and was replaced by a joyful face when she looked at Zyra.
"Uhh… we want a clearer explanation, grand summoner."
"Ah, yes. You see Zyra, we've been here since Elise was able to subdue Mishelle. It wasn't fast, but I gathered these four champions and went here immediately after I sensed trouble. I also casted an invisibility spell to observe what you will do. As for the champions I picked, well that much is obvious. Soraka and Sona to heal injuries, Zilean to revert back all the damage that had been done, and quite possibly to revert anyone back to life if need be. As for Yorick, he is here to forcibly stop the fight if things get out of hand.
Us grand summoners have this secretive way to know when there is trouble and know which champions we will summon to match the situation. It's one of the powers we are given when we were appointed to such an honorable position, and we've been doing this since the beginning. Mishelle is not the only one who holds a grudge against champions. This is just typical for us and my gods, though I've never thought before that this job would be like a nursery school. Absolute childcare, have to monitor everything." Kolminye then paused for a second to scratch her head, then continued.
"Though unlike other troublemakers we've faced so far, Mishelle was... um... not so typical, we we're always on time before a suspected summoner hurt or even kill a champion, but Mishelle is slippery. She's quite skilled, and not just in martial arts, and very sneaky. She successfully 'killed' Elise without anyone noticing. It's a good thing she is alive. Even I did not know how different an artificial immortal Elise is. If it wasn't for that, the Institute's reputation of no harm between champions and summoners would be tarnished."
As Kolminye finished, Soraka and Sona proceeded to heal Mishelle, who was now free from her bounds but was being watched carefully by the Sheperd of Souls.
"For your sake, don't even think of escaping." Yorick warned.
"Six champions and a grand summoner, while me being unarmed? Believe me, I know when I'm defeated." Mishelle admitted as she sighed.
"Well uh…" Zyra muttered "Now that I know that, I guess now I want to know why Mishelle wanted to kill Elise."
"That... You have to know from Mishelle herself." Kolminye said as she winked at the plant mage. When the room was finally back to normal and all the injured was healed, a sudden knock was heard from the door.
"Oh, finally. The two are here".
"Um, who is here, grand summoner?" Zyra asked.
"You'll see. You can come in!" The two people outside entered, and Mishelle was utterly, inevitably dismayed when she saw Lux and her father, Hideo. The two of them saw Mishelle, and without hesitation, they rushed to Mishelle and asked her if she is okay and well. Lux cried at the sight of Mishelle, and Hideo looked much more worn out than usual.
"Guys, guys, I'm alright." Mishelle said to the two.
"Mishelle, you have a lot of explanation to say, and what is Lux doing here? She and I we're both called separately here by Kolminye, saying it was urgent, but she wouldn't tell us why."
Mishelle looked irritably at the grand summoner, who didn't seem to notice. Mishelle just sighed and scratched her head.
"Trust me dad, it will be very, very long."
"Sona, Soraka, Zilean, Yorick. You may go now. I can handle this. Again, thank you for coming to help." Kolminye said to the four. Sona, Soraka and Zilean nodded as they walked out of the room, except for Yorick.
"Yes, Yorick? What do you want?"
"I was just wondering..." Yorick leaned closer to Kolminye as he whispered in her ear, and the grand summoner only chuckled at the Shepherd's request.
"Yorick, dear, you know that changing the Maiden's name into… that, is so childish. I am sorry but, your request is denied. Is putting the Maiden into the dungeon with Nocturne not enough for you?"
Yorick growled. "Fine, but don't come summoning me again when the Maiden helped Nocturne escape from his prison... again."
"Don't worry, Yorick. The new barrier spell will be a hundred percent more effective. They won't be able to pass through that." Yorick just sighed but nodded as he walked out of the door, leaving Elise, Zyra, Mishelle, Lux, Hideo, and the grand summoner in the room. Kolminye averted her attention to Mishelle as she listened to her story.
After about half an hour of explaining her plans, on how she tricked Zyra's ex-boyfriend that he has a chance to get Zyra back, on why she always sneaked in Elise's adobe, on why she chose this night to attack. Upon hearing this, Elise just stared at the ground, and somehow, she felt… what do humans call it? Guilt. She felt guilty to the mortal. She never usually felt guilty to whoever or whatever mortals has done. For others, she only ever felt guilty whenever she did something wrong in front of Zyra. Elise wondered why. Maybe she thought it's because she had become too attached to Mishelle. She also felt sorry for Lux, seeing her speechless and disheartened on what she had heard. It made Elise feel downhearted as she looks down.
As for Lux, she's having mixed feelings about Mishelle. She didn't know if she should be happy that she's alright, to be mad for what she did, or to be sad for what Mishelle went through.
Mishelle father's just sighed, stood up and walked to Elise.
"Are you alright, Spider Queen?" Hideo asked. Elise was surprised, looked up and saw his sad, yet calm eyes.
"Y-yes. I'm alright" Elise replied. The two just looked at each other for a moment. Elise felt very awkward, especially for Hideo because, right in front him, was the woman who killed his wife. Everyone was expecting Hideo to be mad, to be rude at the spider mage. Or a sudden outburst, like a calm before the storm.
"Ahem!" Everyone else jumped, even the grand summoner. "Anyway, forgive me Spider Queen, for all of this. Now Kolminye! Can you transport us to Mishelle's room? I would like to have a word with her."
"Uh… yes. Of course." Kolminye replied. Elise was a bit surprised at the grand summoner's worried face. But she couldn't blame her. They all felt it; the father of one of the strongest ninja warriors in history could easily cause tremendous destruction right now if he chose to. If he was the one who planned to assassinate her, she felt, deep down, he would be successful.
But the surprises didn't end there.
"Wait, you're just gonna let her go? After all that she did?" Elise exclaimed at Kolminye. Elise felt guilty, but she also felt it wasn't right that Mishelle was to be left unpunished.
"Well, yes. To make catch on what's been happening when you were absent, Mishelle and Lux's relationship became officially public. If the public were to hear about what happened here tonight, not only will they look down and suspect Mishelle, but they will suspect Lux as well. Do you understand?"
As much as she hates it, Kolminye was right. This event would ruin Lux's reputation, not just to the public, but to her family as well. Elise thought it was a little unfair on how justice was run in the Institute. Then again, she did break a lot of rules and did way worse crimes in the past, and she was still roaming freely. Well, freely enough that she feels comfortable about it. Also, agreeing feels like the least she could do, after what she had done to Mishelle in the past.
"I suppose it's alright." Elise said calmly.
Kolminye smiled. "Finally, some sense into you. So, Zyra, I will leave you and Elise to your own devices, alright? I just have to transport these two and I'll take a rest for tonight."
"Don't worry, grand summoner. I'll take care of El. You may go ahead and transport them." Kolminye chuckled quietly and smiled at the cute nickname that the plant mage gave to the Spider Queen.
"I need to talk to Mishelle, too. Please take me with them, grand summoner." Lux requested. Kolminye looked at Hideo to see if he's okay with her coming. Hideo nodded in response.
Zyra didn't know if anyone else noticed, but Mishelle was shaking ever since her father said he would talk to her, though she thinks Lux might have noticed it, too.
"Alright. Gather up." Mishelle, Lux, and Kolminye then stood up and gathered into a circular position. As for Hideo, he first took the katana that was left on the floor, then proceeded to join the other three.
Kolminye muttered a spell as the four started to glow. After a few seconds, the four disappeared. Leaving the two mages in the room.
In Mishelle's dorm room:
The four appeared in the middle of the room. Mishelle spoke first as she faced his father in anger, but also with fear in her eyes. She said to herself she would face any punishments given to her by the Institute, or even death from Elise or Zyra, but she wasn't prepared for this. She couldn't hide it from Lux, but her body was shaking from the dismay she was feeling because of what punishment her father would give.
"S-so, what you gonna do, huh? Punish me?! Shout at me for disobeying you?! For taking revenge and not following the Ionian way?! You're gonna disown me?!"
Lux looked at Mishelle with shock, then looked at Hideo, then at Mishelle again. "Mishelle! Calm down-"
"Or what?! Don't just stand there! Say something, gods damn it, Da-!"
Hideo unexpectedly dropped the blade as it clanged on floor, moved forward and hugged her daughter. Mishelle went silent and shocked at his sudden action.
"Mishelle, I would never do those such horrid things to you. Even if you made a criminal act, it won't change the way I look at you. I love you as much as I loved your mother, no matter what. I know it hurts my dear, but I want you to know you're never alone. I'm here, Mishelle." Mishelle stood there for moment, her shaking hands slowly creeping up to her father's shoulder until finally, she hugged her father tightly, and began to cry on her father's shoulder. Mishelle and her father kneeled down while hugging, whispering to him how sorry she was as she kept bawling.
After a short crying session, Hideo parted from embracing his daughter, wiped the tears from her face and looked at Lux, who was also crying hard.
"So, you're the one who successfully swoon my daughter."
"Uhh… yes!" Lux wiped the tears from her face and stood up straight. "That's me, alright! I'm Luxanna! But you can call me Lux!" she said with her well known, very cheerful voice as she offered him a hand to shake. Hideo smiled as he shook Lux's hand.
"I guess it's true what they say. They hear nothing but gleefulness, as if they could hear the rainbows and sunshine."
"I-I'm flattered! Thank you. Um, if you'll excuse me."
Hideo made way as Lux walked past him and towards Mishelle who was looking up to them. "Now, as for you, Mishelle." Lux looked at Mishelle with anger written on her face.
Mishelle looked down and scratched her cheek, getting ready to be scolded as usual by her lover again. But instead, Lux kneeled in front of her and hugged her. Mishelle could hear her sniffling.
"Despite everything that happened to you, I'm still mad at you, but not because of what you did, but on what you didn't do. You didn't open up to me. You didn't trust me strong enough, keeping all these secrets from me. To think that I thought you already made peace with it like you said back then. Please Mishelle, no more secrets. Tell me everything so that I could help you." Lux leaned back and looked at Mishelle, both of them in tears. "I'm your girlfriend, aren't I?"
"Y-yes. Okay blondie. I'm sorry." Mishelle whispered.
"Um, excuse me?" Kolminye said. Everyone forgot that she was still there. "I expected Hideo to make the punishment for you Mishelle, but it looks like I was wrong. Remember Mishelle, you will not go unpunished. Elise is right, in a sense. Someone has to pay for what you did tonight." Hideo was going to chime in, but Kolminye held up her hand. "I won't say who, or what the punishment will be… for now. But I will issue one. Expect it soon." After a while, the others nodded.
"Looks like my work here is done for now. I'll be leaving all of you here, alright? I would stay, but… I'm so sleepy right now." Kolminye yawned, which quietly annoyed the others.
"Don't worry, Kolminye I'll make sure we'll take care of ourselves." Hideo replied. Kolminye nodded as she casted a teleport and started to glow blue.
"Oh, yeah! Hideo! I told you so! Looking forward to that five thousand gold." Kolminye added as she winked, then finally disappeared.
"Um, five thousand what now?" Mishelle asked.
"Uuhhh, yeah. Almost forgot about that. You see, Kolminye and I made a bet if you and Elise will get along or not. I was the one who said that you'll get along." Hideo mumbled as he looked down and scratched his head out of embarrassment.
Despite everything, Mishelle and Lux laughed, which made Hideo laugh too. "Well, after I prepare some tea, why don't you tell me how your relationship started?"
In Elise's room, just right after the others teleported:
"Wow. What a night, huh." Zyra uttered as she laughed nervously. She looked at the spider mage as she was still looking down and still not saying a word.
"Umm... hey El, dear? Are you alright?"
"Z..." Elise said as she finally looked up at the plant mage "Tell me… what is this feeling? I felt sad for Mishelle, for Lux, because of what I've done that I can't even remember. Is this what humans call… guilt?"
"El, I too, am not a human as well, but we've been around with them for quite some time now, and I guess it is safe to say… yes, I guess it is guilt." Zyra said as she sighed and leaned on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
As for the spider mage, she leaned forward and went back to looking at the ground, letting the silence grow around them, as they sat there, resting, not moving an inch.
As she collected her thoughts, something just clicked on Elise's mind; about the plant mage, and the recent events that the Rise of Thorns went through just to see her, and at this, she felt even guiltier. She never felt more sympathy to anyone in her entire immortal life.
So Elise sat up straight, shifted her body to face the plant mage, and without any warning at all, she cupped Zyra's right cheek, making the plant mage face her. Elise leaned closer, slowly, until Elise finally kissed the plant mage. Despite all odds, this feeling never changed, as if it felt like it's their first kiss, as if they just kissed after a thousand years.
"You've... You've been through so much." Elise said softly. "And... and I still feel like this is all my fault that you've suffered so much. I know you will say something like, 'it's not your fault' or, 'don't be sorry' and all that, but you saying that just don't feel right for me. So instead of feeling sorry for myself, I'd rather show you on how sorry I really am". Elise smiled as she held Zyra's hand, helped her stand up, and guided her to the bedroom.
"And where are you taking me?" Zyra asked, curious on what the spider mage had in mind.
"You'll see..."
AN: Google search: Define Immortal
Immortal
-living forever, never dying or decaying, not liable or subject to death.
I got you, didn't I? Hehehe, haHAA XD
...
But then again, I feel like I did not fool you guys at all, because like, I think you guys know that I'm too vanilla of a person to kill a character.
Oh welp :/
Also, sorry for the long wait, things just get pretty hectic, and finding another part-time job is harder than I thought it will be. Kek, gonna save up for le college. :p
Also, le super duper powerful gaming pc, here I come! AWOO! (OwO)