Chapter 4 Of Conflicting Feelings and Contradictions

Trivia #4: Among her allies in FUG, they all can agree that Evolet's paperworks skill is god-tier. She can get more work done than 10 people at once and they're more than happy to work with her

Perhaps a small fire of jealousy had lit up in their first meeting for Lucio. After all, if they were indeed similar then why did she have the privilege to roam free, why did she not have shackles binding her feet, nor did anyone jeer or hold mockery in their eyes. Was it because she would be the one to bestow the power of rule? Lucio has no answer to that but he adored her, even if a part of him was envious of her.

No one defied her as she ordered them to leave the room, leaving her alone with Lucio who sat unmoving on the pedestal. Lucio noticed how her expression softened amidst the deafening silence between them, stepping closer so that she was standing right in front of the pedestal. The blond flinched slightly as her gaze landed on the shackles around his feet, biting his lips as he attempted to hide it. He didn't want to be viewed as weak and give an opening.

Evolet didn't speak a single word, instead kneeling in front of him and grasping his shackled ankles gently. He pondered if he should resist a little, but decided against it as she stared at him silently as if asking for permission. He sensed no malice nor any sort of hidden intentions, instead in place was a plea to let her help him. So albeit hesitant, he allowed her to fiddle at his shackles despite how he looked away in shame.

Though the purple herself didn't pay attention to that, merely sighing in relief as he granted his silent permission. She stared at the glorified golden shackles, tapping at the jewels adorning it a few times and searching if there were any keyholes. Much to her disappointment she found none. So instead she conjured up a familiar golden string seen only to her, telling Lucio to close his eyes to which he did obediently. And in one smooth motion, both shackles around his ankles clattered to the floor, cut to pieces and leaving him breathless as a heavy burden was lifted off of him.

Lucio grasped his feet in disbelief, staring at the marks left from the long years he's been shackled. But it was the proof that he was finally free, after all this time. His breathing hitched, heart jumping somersaults yet eyes blurry and dazed over with shock. Was it truly as simple as that? Would he be free after this? What about Elio? What about the priests, wouldn't they just chain him up again? What if his newfound freedom was taken away from him? No, he couldn't let that happen at all costs. He must—

"You don't have to make such a scary expression. They won't be able to lay a hand on you or your brother anymore."

Just on cue with her words, she motioned towards the door as Yunuen came in while carrying the sickened younger twin carefully so as to not drop him. Lucio's lips pursed, sky blue orbs glistening as he held back his tears and rushed to see Elio. He couldn't express the relief he felt as he saw that his twin's complexion was much better than before, grabbing at Elio as Yunuen lowered the unconscious male with a blank look. The older twin hugged his younger twin as close as he could, careful to not disrupt him and appreciating the fact that he finally felt whole again.

Hands trembling and his gaze of a childish hope, he reluctantly gazed at his savior. Gratefulness was all he had in his heart, but his mind was full of doubts for the reason why she even did this. His tone was raspy and unsure at best, but he summoned all the courage he had and asked his benefactor. "Why did you help us?"

Evolet wasn't the least surprised at the question, staring into Lucio's eyes sincerely with a look that held a sense of nostalgia. She saw a reflection of herself in him, someone who longs for nothing but freedom and a life of their own without being controlled by the fate bestowed to them. Her smile was of bittersweet memories, her screams ringing about in her mind wildly as it would every night. The burden of a thousand lives that she carries with her will never go away no matter how much she wished for it to. She didn't want another to suffer like she did. "You just… remind me of the past… I suppose."

Lucio was still somewhat doubting her, staring at her intently as if he could read her thoughts if she stared hard enough. Her lips curled lightly in understanding, gaze was crystal clear without a single hint of lies in the unclouded night shade. She scoffed in mirth as the older twin huffed, glancing at her with cautious curiosity as she spoke tenderly to him. "Both of you have the potential, you two should live for yourselves instead of being restrained here. Your freedom should've been yours from the start and the path to choose should've been in your hands instead of in theirs."

Perhaps it was her nightly gaze that spoke of the same experience, shining ever so softly despite the blaring pain and longing subtly hiding behind it. There was something about her that seemed oddly familiar to him, something that urged him to trust her yet unwilling to give up on his wariness. She didn't glance at him in the way that others would seek to exploit his power, nor did she stare at him with disgust or envy as others would.

There was indeed warmth in her gaze, but he couldn't sense compassion nor pity or attachment. Instead what he noticed was an undying flame of loneliness and dedication, one that was prepared to meet a bitter end yet refuses others to subject to the same fate. He thought of how contradictory it was, the story that she tells in the broken gaze of her blue-violet shades.

It was as if he was standing in front of a shattered mirror that was clumsily put together, reflecting all the best possible parts of himself in every shard despite its brokenness. She cries and pleads silently behind the cracks with a tearful encouraging smile, longing for everything that she could never have while pushing others to reach beyond their boundaries. A little bit kind, an overloaded selfless, mayhaps too caring they say. Far too selfish is what she can only think of for wanting anything. Each and every part of her contradicts herself and Lucio despises her for that. He loves her dearly for the same exact reason.

And she smiled knowingly as if she completely understood both him and the dark ending that awaited her. He didn't back off when she patted his head lovingly as if he was someone dear to her. She cared far too much for someone who shouldn't and Lucio just knee he'll only feel pain if he got attached to her. How selfish she was to suddenly barge into his life, saving him like the blessed one she was despite bearing the same pain as he did. Appearing like a savior of his life when he never asked for one, he never did despite how he understood he needed one.

"Live for yourselves. No matter what it is that you want to do, I'll support you as long as it's not something bad for you and so long as you don't become my enemy. Well, for now let's get you two out of here first so your twin can receive further treatment. You can discuss what to do moving on forward with your twin after he wakes up. Don't worry, you have all the time in the world to decide. After all, you're free now."

Lucio could only label himself as an utterly hopeless fool, breath taken away as Evolet stood in front of him with an outstretched hand. Her hair swayed gently as a small breeze flowed, the light gracing her at the perfect angle and gently shimmering as if she was truly an ethereal being. Oh how he wanted to utter the thoughts inside his mind and inquire what if he wanted to live for her. He was but a caged bird freed from its cage, yet fatuously choosing to stay by the side of she who freed him rather than grasping the endless horizon of the sky that awaited him.

A foolish lamb he was to dedicate himself to her who lived only for the King. She was the Crown bound to the King, the blessed one of the Tower that would determine its fate and bring about their new ruler. She lived for no one but the one true King that she would crown. He opted to live for her regardless, infatuated and infuriated by her existence and her very being. The Tower was indeed cruel to chain the so-called blessed ones with the curse they bear. There was no such thing as a blessing, it has always been a curse, Lucio thought.

Would she ever look his way, see him the way he gazed at her and thought of him the way he viewed her? He wanted nothing more than to show her the world she had brought him to. He desired to stand by her side and break her out of her hypocritical stage where she tells others to be free and live for themselves when she doesn't.

But he recognized the gaze she held in those kind blue-violet orbs of hers. Just as he would never give up on her, nor would she on her King. She regarded her King the way Lucio regarded her as his enviable caged savior, bringing grace to all but herself like the hypocrite that she was. Except there's no envy nor hatred like he possessed, all that there was pure adoration and love of dedication to her own death. They were both foolish, but she was more so and will always be. He took the hand she outstretched to him regardless, and he would never let go till the end of the Tower and beyond.

""Lucio.""

He was promptly brought back to reality when Evolet called his name, a stern look in place of her usual kind gaze. Her shoulders were tensed up, her tea long forgotten on the table when she stood up abruptly. It was a telltale sign that he should stop what he was about to tell Khun. Evolet has never been keen on others knowing her backstory, even in FUG only a selected few close to her were aware of what had actually happened on the Outside while the remaining only knew the legend spread amongst FUG. So instead Lucio shut his mouth begrudgingly, knowing he could never go against Evolet.

Our resident bluenette Lightbearer was extremely curious at his newfound possible information source and the possibility to perhaps uncover something about his Defensive Wave Controller. The way her calm nightly gaze became alarmed, a sense of desperation of hiding a piece of herself that the team should never know. They had no idea of the pain she was burdened by, nor the blessing and curse she carried with her. And it should stay that way as she wanted it to, so long as they were safe and they could keep climbing the Tower as the familial team they were then she would do everything in her power to keep it so.

But Khun had long seen past the facade that she put up, effectively spotting the cracks and the pain seeping out of it. He was no less eager to know the story behind it, though he wasn't insensitive enough to bring it up again as Evolet motioned to him and Lucio to settle down and sit together with her and Elio so they could finish whatever business they came here for.

Well, Khun supposed he could always take his time to figure her out. Just as it always has been with the way of the Khun family, slyly and silently moving in the shadows of the night unknowingly. He'll figure her out for sure and understand what she went through, he'll hear the story of her past and walk her story of the future alongside her without a doubt.

With all of them finally calming down and seated, Evolet released a sigh of relief and glanced at Elio who was beside her. "Elio-kun, you can start now."

The blond nodded excitedly as a light blue Lighthouse emerged in visible mode and enlarged itself, various data of this Floor displayed on the screen which Khun observed carefully with a low hum. It turned out Evolet simply brought him here as the team leader so that he could work out a plan for the Floor Test with the data provided to him by the twins. Granted, it raised the question of what kind of connection she had with the twins and the cafe.

Though certainly it wasn't surprising in a way, considering that the cafe turned bar at night was a famous information trading spot. However the fact that she knew the twins managing the cafe on this Floor personally and how they treated her were suspicious. He glanced at the purplette briefly, mentally noting to ask her later once this meeting was over.

And certainly he had to inquire why she only brought him with her, leaving the others at their rented house even if he had an inkling as to why. Really, he has his hands full trying to figure her out, doesn't he. She was far too addicting and intriguing for him to stop trying though. Besides, it's always the ones who are insane enough to think that they can rule are always the ones who do. So long as he believed that he could do it, he would succeed because he is the ruler, Khun Aguero Agnis.

A/N:

So yes- as what I promised before- the Catoru server is done and I'll just put the link down here I suppose...? Just erase the spaces in between later m'kay? I look forward to chatting with you sweethearts~

https : / / discord . gg / vtKkf5zRBx