Chapter 3 Of Pasts and Memories

Trivia #3: Whenever a test or something along the lines goes awry or something happens then whoever was behind it had a "misfortune" afterwards, Eve thinks it's only Yunuen who did something. When in reality Yunuen roped in way~ too much people that heard of the news and were more than willing to move around. Eve has no idea about this at all

Khun Aguero Agnis is an excellent observer. He was after all raised in the Khun family where deceivers and trickery were thick at the very core, he was one of the best fighters in terms of slyness in his family. Noticing people's abilities and talents, intentions and the lies mixed in their words. Those were all easy tasks for him to do, such was the life of someone raised in the Khun family.

He didn't miss how her lips curl up into a smile, softer and much more mellow than the ones he used to. The words Yunuen said a while ago were ringing in his mind, of how Evolet was extremely easy to be happy with the simplest things and how she was actually shy of praises and such. Elio gave her a cup of lavender tea without a single word from her and she seemed to really appreciate it, murmuring a small thank you that the waiter replied to with a proud grin. And Khun briefly wondered if Bam had ever noticed the small things that she was so joyous of. He wanted to know her more, discover all those little hidden sides of her.

Evolet Euterpe is interesting in many ways for him. She is someone with an open book yet hiding endless secrets and codes under those pages. She cares and loves to no end, giving without expecting anything in return. Yet she fights and defends without mercy when it comes to it, and Khun knows she's done far more behind the scenes.

Bam may have no idea but Khun was somewhat aware that Evolet isn't entirely innocently kind as she was. The fact that she managed to sneak on the Archimedes with a second identity and even predict what would happen beforehand was enough evidence to Khun. Evolet Euterpe was two sides of the same coin and Khun was more than eager to figure out the side she was hiding from the others.

Before he could further deepen his thoughts, his view was suddenly obstructed as Lucio stood in front of him menacingly. The chef had pulled him away before he could even sit with Evolet earlier. Both Khun's smile and his patience right now were as thin as a thread barely holding on from snapping. Except it had snapped long ago and he was refraining from carrying out a murder immediately out of basic courtesy.

Lucio was smiling politely at him, but Khun would be blind if he couldn't see the malice behind his gaze. "Could you please not look at Eve-sama like that?"

"It's my job as the team leader to look out for all of my team members." Khun replied with a calm but rather sharp tone. The Lightbearer had expected Lucio to retort back with another sarcastic insult or something along the lines. So he wasn't surprised as the blond once again smirked mockingly at him. But the flash of pain and frustration in his sky blue orbs didn't go missed by Khun either. Without a doubt there was a deeper story to his behavior.

"Don't speak like you know everything or you've looked after her properly all this time. You don't know anything, none of you do." Lucio's reply was dripping with venom, barely masking the pain in his tone. He hated it when those clueless people say they're taking care of her, that she's having fun climbing the Tower with them, that they sound like they know her when they don't.

They have no idea what she's been doing for all of them behind the scenes, what she's been preparing and planning, what she's been through all along. They were clueless on how climbing the Tower would only bring her endless suffering and pain. He hated the way their fate was already set in stone and there were no other options for them. All that there were are expectations and demands, pressure and conflict were all that surrounded them as the blessed ones from the Tower. It wasn't a blessing, it was a curse and it always has been from the very start. And out of anyone else, Lucio was aware that Evolet was the one who knows it best.

To both Lucio and Elio, Evolet was someone whom they view as their savior and the only one who could possibly understand their suffering in the fullest. She was the one who extended a hand to them amidst the hands that were trying to drown them in the darkness, the one that told them that it was fine to deny their destiny and the fate that was set in stone for them. She is their undying light and their breath of life. They'd follow her to the ends of the world and do every command she may say to them even if it meant their death. Well not that Evolet would ever allow them to do so.

The sensation of cold iron shackling his wrists and ankles were still clear to him, shards of the past haunting him as a chilling vengeful ghost in his dream. He was born to be a saint, both him and his twin brother were. They were no more than dolls controlled helplessly by the strings of fate, wearing trembling smiles as they did what was expected of them.

They were raised in a temple, or perhaps more accurately confined in the temple for most of their life. Of course being a child and the only education they received were from the temple itself, Lucio never found the need to question why he and his younger twin were treated differently than the other kids in the temple. They were the only ones with shackles around their ankles, still restraining albeit made out of gold and adorned in the finest of jewels. They were the only ones without permission to go outside the temple unlike the others.

But they were allowed better treatment from that so Lucio simply accepted the fact that it was normal. They were in a way raised lovingly, praised for the deeds they did as their so-called responsibility. They had the most luxurious necessities provided to them and while Lucio thought their teachers were rather strict, at least they were supportive of the twins. The twins also cared deeply for each other, constantly looking out for the other. As long as he and his twin were happy then he thought nothing else mattered in their life.

Their schedule was a repetition of rest, food, bathing, studying, and most importantly listening to the believers' worries and pleas. They would sit on top of a pedestal, clad in the purest white robes as they wordlessly listen and give their blessings to the worshippers as if they were the Gods who would grant them. They would heal those who were injured whether they were heavy injuries or light, gaining the people's awe and admiration.

Lucio fully noticed the greed and expectations in their eyes. He has no idea why they are doing this but follows nonetheless, he doesn't want to find out what would happen if they disobeyed. He didn't want to lose whatever normalcy and peace they had in their life. And he was absolutely correct that he didn't want to know when it did happen.

Elio had fallen sick before he knew it and Lucio fully panicked over his younger's flushed cheeks, his temperature far too high for the older's liking. Mustering all his strength, Lucio attempted to heal the sickened twin with all the knowledge and power that he had. But the chilling realization washed over him like icy water as his twin wouldn't heal up no matter how desperately he used his powers. He questioned why he had this power if it couldn't help his precious ones. Instead he rushed to bring Elio to one of the priests, begging for them to help him.

The only response he received in return was the cold apathetic gaze of disgust, narrowed eyes as they told him to bring his brother away and how they said that was why kids are annoying to take care of. Hadn't the twins given their best to the temple? Hadn't they always followed what was ordered of them obediently? No matter how many times he screamed for help for his younger twin until his throat was raw and bloody, Lucio found himself abandoned and thrown aside akin to a worn ragdoll. He waited for days, doing all that he could to take care of Elio and pleading for any kind of help from the temple only to be met with silence.

So instead he ran, carrying his weakened twin gently so as to not rustle him from his painful slumber as he made haste to the gate of the temple. Nor Lucio or Elio has ever exited the temple however the older twin firmly believed that there would be someone who could help them outside, there had to be. His sky blue orbs glimmered with hope as the gate came to view, a budding optimism that his twin could finally receive proper treatment.

A small hesitant and childish smile bloomed on his expression, naively finding reassurance in himself that at last he could seek help for Elio. Outstretching one of his hands to the seemingly blinding light of the gates leading outside, he could nearly feel tears bubbling up out of relief. Perhaps after Elio was healed both of them could just live outside the temple happily together? Or maybe they could climb the Tower like they've always imagined and dreamt about before. They'd run free without anyone to restrain them.

Yet all his hopes and dreams were shattered the moment he touched the gate, the shackles on his ankles glowing brightly as chains formed out of thin air and yanked him away from any chance of freedom. Both twins tumble to the ground with a loud thud, bringing about jeers and mocking laughter as a few people went out of their way to see the pitiful escape attempt the twins made.

Lucio could only whimper helplessly as he clutched the sick Elio closer, trying to protect him the best he could as the older twin that he is. He should've known how foolish it was for him to have even thought of escaping, that he— they were only marionettes strung up on strings and the choice was never in their hands from the very start.

Lucio merely complied as the priests came to take him away, staying wordless even as he was dragged away from Elio. He understood that there was no point in rebelling against them, he was powerless in his current state. He uttered no words of protest even as his twin was thrown mercilessly into a dusty old abandoned room, biting back the insults at the tip of his tongue.

His cerulean blue eyes darkened, harboring only the intent of revenge and greed of power for all that's been done to him and his twin. For what did he need these healing powers of his if he couldn't even use it for his twin who is the only person he has. He desired something more, to go against those who dares to hurt them, to protect them from the dangers around them.

He sat atop the pedestal as he usually would, though alone instead of with his twin. It felt endlessly empty and incomplete without Elio beside him, but he kept it all to himself. Fighting back here wouldn't do a thing, it'll only guarantee him worse treatment and he didn't want anything to happen to his twin. So he'll wait, patiently as a hunter would for the right moment to strike its prey. Slowly but surely, he'll search for a way to turn this around. Even if he was aware that there was no way out.

When Lucio first met Evolet, she already appeared as the goddess of salvation and revenge in his eyes. Salvation for him and revenge of death for the others in the temple. He would gladly pick death together so long as he could drag the rest of them to hell too. Clothed in a pure white chiton dress and simple golden accessories that accented her striking blue-violet gaze, she seemed like a goddess who descended from heaven. What he would later know as her kind and loving gaze was nowhere to be seen, in place of it was a look of the cold and calm foreboding of a silent storm.

The temple was deathly silent as they made way for the purplette, not a single soul daring to cross her path. Whether they hated her or adored her, each and every one of them are well versed in that legend as FUG members and they would never attempt to mess with her. She is the beloved one of the Tower, who bears the most precious blessing a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶r̶u̶e̶l̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶c̶u̶r̶s̶e̶ of them all. The fate of the Tower depended on her, one would start many wars just so that she'd fall into their hands. The Tower was theirs for good so long if they had the Crown.

When Lucio first met her gaze, all he could think of was how similar they were. He was designated to heal and bring blessings to the people while she was to bestow rule and power to the King. While it may be true that they have different purposes, there was only but one thing that tied them together. Because by the end of the day they were meant to be used, strung up like the dolls of destiny they were with empty gazes. All they could do was give until their very last drop, until they were useless and thrown away by others.

A/N:

If... I made a discord server would you join...? I̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶d̶y̶ ̶y̶e̶t̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶I̶ ̶a̶m̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶r̶n̶,̶ ̶y̶e̶s̶—