Disclaimer: I do not own Maplestory in anyway.

A/N: OMG! I'm so sorry! I had meant to get this done on time, but I couldn't get around to it. Again Sorry! I mean, I meant to have it out in March at least and look where that idea went, out the window and into the air. And finally after about four months, I finally got it out.

Chapter Thirteen Point Five: St. Patrick's Day Special

"Neinheart..." a voice stated calmly. "Neinheart! Neinheart!" Neinheart ignored the voice and continued to work on his paperwork that was on his desk. He dipped his pen into the ink well. "Neinheart!" The voice stated irritated. He noticed red from the corner of his eyes. He was about to dip his pen again when the ink well disappeared. He gripped his pen irritably and glanced up at the offender.

"What is it Oz? As you can see I'm extremely busy." Neinheart asked calmly as possible. Oz merely smiled mischievously. Neinheart stared at her annoyed. "For the last time, what is it?" Oz put his ink well down and pinched him before teleporting out of the room. Neinheart closed his eyes after putting his pen down. He brought the palms of his hand to his eyes and tried to relax and calm himself down. He heard footsteps and sighed quietly. He opened his eyes and was faced with Hawkeye standing in front of him. He was wearing his usual outfit yet Neinheart noticed that something was off but couldn't put his finger on it.

"Neinheart, I have a question." Hawkeye stated nervously. He was standing on the balls of his heels. Hawkeye wouldn't look Neinheart in the eye.

"What is your question?" Neinheart replied resignedly.

"Are you aware of what day today is?" Hawkeye asked slowly. Neinheart blinked was the today something important?

"I don't recall at the moment." Neinheart stated plainly. Hawkeye nodded to himself. Neinheart stared at him suspiciously.

"I see." Hawkeye glanced at Neinheart and then at his hand. "Then I suppose you won't mind me doing this for a second." Neinheart gave him a weird look, before Hawkeye pinched him and ran out of the door. Neinheart felt his eye twitch in annoyance. After taking a few breaths to calm his anger down, he resumed working on his paperwork.

Knight's Chamber, Ereve

"Mihile, you're next." Hawkeye stated happily after returning from his adventure with Neinheart. Mihile was standing on the stairs in his armor. Oz smiled softly while sitting with Irena, drinking some tea. Irena merely sat there sipping from her tea. Oz could tell that Irena was annoyed from the way she was holding onto her cup.

"Of course it was a bet wasn't it. I don't back down on bets." Mihile replied confidently. Mihile looked up into the tree where Eckhart was sitting. "Eckhart you should join us in the bet." Eckhart glanced down at the Dawn Warrior.

"I'd rather not. You wouldn't like having me win again." Eckhart stated plainly. Mihile grunted and glanced up at him. "Plus, I'd rather not get on Neinheart's bad side anytime soon." Mihile merely shook his head and walked out of the room. Irena stared at him as he left. Oz ran over to Hawkeye and they started talking. Irena put her tea cup down and glanced at Eckhart.

"What is the point of doing this pinching thing?" Irena asked calmly. Eckhart sighed and looked up at the sky through the tree leaves.

"It's part of the holiday. If you don't wear green you are free to be pinched by others." Eckhart replied tiredly.

"Is that so? Then that means I'm in the safe for today aren't I?" Irena stated with a small smile. Eckhart merely nodded. "Doesn't that mean you are in the danger for being pinched, Eckhart?" Eckhart nodded again. "I don't understand you sometimes."

"There's no need for you to always understand me." Eckhart stated calmly. "After all, I don't think I'm that easily understood anyway."

"Cygnus would disagree with you." Irena returned gently.

"She'll be the next to pinch Neinheart I fear." Eckhart replied knowingly.

"What do you mean?" Irena questioned. As soon as the words left her mouth, Cygnus ran pass her in a blur. Irena blinked in surprise and glanced over at the door. "That's what you meant. Poor Neinheart." Shinsoo sighed from where he laid napping. A few minutes passed and Cygnus came back into the room and sat down in a chair while Irena poured her a cup of tea. She had a small smile on. A minute or so later, Irena could hear a yell coming from the direction where Neinheart was working.

"FOR MINERVA'S SAKE, ENOUGH!" Neinheart practically screamed. He stormed into the room as Eckhart sighed and glanced at the sky longingly. "Eckhart, come here for a second. I need to talk with you."

"Of course." Eckhart replied softly and jumped down from his tree. When the two of them were far away enough, Neinheart glanced over at him. "What's the matter?"

"Could you do me a favor?"

"That would depend on the favor, Neinheart." Eckhart replied softly. Eckhart could see the irritation and stress that the other three knights manage to make Neinheart feel displayed on his face. "Neinheart, what is the favor?" Eckhart asked after a sudden bout of silence from Neinheart.

"Could you take care of my paperwork for a few days?" Neinheart asked calmly. Eckhart nodded.

"Do be careful Neinheart. The Empress can't afford to lose her tactician." Eckhart stated clearly. Neinheart smiled gently. Eckhart blinked in surprise at the sudden smile.

"Thank you, Eckhart. I won't be away for long. Just enough time to cool down and not kill some knights for annoying me."

"Are you going where I believe you're going?" Eckhart inquired gently. Neinheart nodded. "I see. You'd better get going before the Noblesses start deciding to pinch you too." Neinheart nodded and left Eckhart alone. Eckhart shook his head and walked over to Neinheart's desk and glanced at the amount of paperwork. "Do you ever get smaller when he's working on you?" Eckhart sighed and sat down and picked up the first one and started working. Cygnus came walking in with her head looking from one side to the other. Eckhart glanced up and blinked calmly before focusing back on the paper in front of him.

"Eckhart? What are you doing here?" Cygnus asked as she walked over.

"Doing people favors..." Eckhart mumbled softly before glancing up at Cygnus. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Oh yes, I was wondering where Neinheart went. He just suddenly disappeared." Cygnus asked with a cute tilt of her head. Eckhart sighed and closed his eyes.

"He did not tell you?" Eckhart spoke quietly. Cygnus nodded. "He went over to Rien for a few days in order to cool down."

"Why did he go there? There's nobody there except for penguins."

"Ah, there is one person there; a woman a few years younger than Neinheart." Eckhart stated knowingly while putting the paper into a pile.

"Oh~ I forgot about Lilin. Why would he go there though?" Cygnus inquired questioningly. Eckhart smiled behind his mask.

"You know he was originally from Rien don't you, Your Majesty?" Cygnus nodded slowly unsure where the conversation was going. "His family is from Rien."

"I do not understand what you're trying to say, Eckhart."

"Your Majesty, I would recommend you don't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you."

"I promise it won't leave my lips."

"Alright, he went to Rien to see his younger sister."

"Younger sister? NO way! Lilin is his sister? I never knew that. Neinheart never said anything…" Cygnus exclaimed in surprise. Eckhart chuckled and put his pen down.

"Neinheart isn't the type to talk about such things." Eckhart replied gently while looking at the sky. Cygnus followed his gaze and smiled softly.

"Eckhart, why do you continue to hide things from us; even though you know so much about us?" Cygnus inquired softly.

"I believe you already know why, Your Majesty." Eckhart replied solemnly. Cygnus looked down at her hands. Eckhart watched her knowingly.

"Because you are the Knight that walks within the darkness…" Cygnus mumbled quietly, "The Knight that fights where the rest cannot fight. Should the Knight of Darkness ever betray his Empress, he shall have punishment worse than the others." Eckhart merely smiled sadly under his mask and returned to work.

I shall always bare the harshest punishment, I shall always be your ears and eyes in the darkness, I shall always fight until I have nothing else to give, and I shall be your loyal knight even if my actions would prove otherwise.

A/N: Not much of a happy ending on this one. I hope you aren't angry about it. The ending lines are Eckhart's thoughts if it wasn't really clear. Review please. See you all next chapter.