Sylvia's POV

As soon as I arrived on some island and be under training by the 'Norma-sympathizing terrorist' that Julio described of, I knew my quest for redemption has just begun. First things first, Tusk puts up a spare room for me to stay in for a week.

Just how did this guy survive from living away in an urban country?

"Since you're just a kid, I'm going to go easy on you," he started. "For today's training, I'm going to teach you on how to hide. In other words, stealth."

"Okay..." I said.

"Now, think of it as hide and seek. I'll hide and you seek, but try not to stray away from me. The first time your sister went to this island, she got bit by a snake, and I had to save her life by sucking out the venom. Understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Good."

As soon as he close his eyes and started counting, I looked for a hiding spot where he can't find me. I thought the bush will help, but I have to make sure there are no snakes under it. I looked at it, and it's safe so I used that as my hiding spot. I hid there for minutes until I saw Tusk is looking for me. It seems he can't find me, and now I understand what does stealth means. As he walked off the same spot where the bush is near, I waited for another minute before I heard him saying that I win and that I can show myself to him, and so I did.

"You're good, Sylvia. Now you're learning," Tusk said. "Let's try something difficult."

He sets up a obstacle course with three rocks and a flag at the end of the course.

"For this next lesson, you'll try to get the flag without being detected by me," he said.

As he looked away, I hid on the first rock. He didn't see me, so I was clear to go for the second rock. I repeat the steps with the third rock and I get my flag.

"Good job, Sylvia. You're learning how to do stealth," Tusk applaud.

"Thank you, Tusk. I can do this," I said.

"I know you can. This is one of the things you big sister lacks."

"And what's the other thing?"

"Modesty."

I blushed when he said that.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I looked embarrassed.

"I mean, what you're wearing right now is the same clothes Ange wore to your so-called rescue," Tusk explained. "It's time you learned another lesson."

He sets up another obstacle course involving with some device with a laser that spins like a circle.

"Just walk past this object without having the laser touching you," he instructed.

"Another test to prove my infiltration, right?" I asked and he nodded. "Alright, time to get moving."

I'd say this is going to be tough since I'm in an enclosed space with the laser moving around. Maybe if I can try this...

I put myself to a wall and walked past the laser, succeeding my exercise.

"Congratulations, Sylvia. It looks like you're going to need the lesson to dodge those lasers if you want to avoid being seen," Tusk said with his arms crossed.

"Thanks," I replied with a smile.

Just then, we saw the clouds darken, and before we know it, rain comes out.

"Today's training is done. Let's go for shelter!" he exclaimed.

As soon as we head to his hut, he is preparing my lunch for the day, and it's fish.

"Thanks," I'm ready to eat my meal, and he joined me. "Tusk, isn't it?"

"Yes, what is it, Sylvia?" the boy turns to me.

"I need to understand something. You saved my sister, so what are you?"

"I'm neither a Mana user nor a Norma, that's what. You can say I'm an Ancient Human," he replied.

"Ancient Human?" I asked with curiosity. This is one term I never heard of.

"Let's just say we have bad history with a long-time enemy who has created a new humanity that can use Mana," Tusk explained.

"Enemy?" I asked.

"If you care to hear more, you can talk to the commander of Arzenal, Jill, or you can spy on her if she ever tells Ange about this little story."

"I'll remember that. I can't believe I betrayed her because I thought she killed Mother when in fact, she was only trying to defend her, and I thought she left me paralyzed even though she felt remorseful for this. I'm such an idiot," I started to look down on what happened.

It was then that I was hugged by Tusk. He's trying to give me hope from this.

"It wasn't your fault, Sylvia. Well, it kinda is, but you were just manipulated by the current ruler of your hometown who is your brother," he said.

"Julio..." I said and I started to cry with tears in my eyes. "Because of this, I'm sure Angelise, Ange, or whatever her name is now will never forgive me for this betrayal even I'm going to help her."

"Don't give up on hope, Sylvia. Isn't that why Lelouch broke you free of the Mana user's programming in hating Norma? So that you can make amends with Ange on that night you betrayed her?" Tusk questioned.

"Tusk, I..."

"Just say you're going to repent your sins against her. I'm sure when you helped her enough as Zero, then she will forgive you."

I wiped off the tears in my eyes as I found comfort from him.

"Then I could only hope that would happen."

Suddenly, my walkie-talkie is giving a ring, and I answered. I know Lelouch is giving me a mission.

That night, Tusk has me sent to the bottom part of Arzenal. Good thing I'm wearing the armor and Zero costume to hide it. Of course, the mask is included. Lelouch told me that for my first step in atonement is to bring back a Norma baby taken away from her Mana mother.

Where did I learn this mission? It looked familiar.

It is then that I realized that Lelouch wanted me to retrieve Serra from the base so she can go home to her mother. He's just showing me that Mana users and Norma could get along with each other, and that's what Mother and Father wanted from the start.

I realized I need to be hidden from the other Normas living in the area. Luckily, I hid in some tight space to let two Norma pass by. I went to the elevator, and hid on some box. Just then, I hear singing.

It is sister's voice and I saw some kid looked away. Perhaps that can be a great distraction.

"Does this adventure of hers now involves singing?" I asked myself quietly.

I managed to get myself to a room where there are prison cells. I wonder why are there prison cells. Is it because the island also has rules?

Before I went there, I passed the guard who is sleeping and took the keys from her. I opened one of the cells where my sister is sleeping with another Norma. I decided to have this moment before getting Serra so I took off my mask. I sat down the spot where Angelise is sleeping. When I looked at her, she's so cute. I caressed her hair softly. She is sleeping like an angel.

What have I done?

I left the cell afterwards, but not before I gave her flowers and chocolate as a sign of apology. Too bad she won't know I gave her those because when she read this note I left her, it would be someone else who gave her those things. All I need to do is getting Serra and I'm done so I put the mask back on before leaving. I successfully got her and I'm about to leave the base when...

"So, are you an intruder?" a voice asked and I turned around to see Momoka. She looks angry as she grabs a kunai from her right hand.

This means she wants to fight me.

"Look, I don't want any trouble," I said with reassurance with my hands in front of her direction.

"I saw you touching my Princess Angelise's hair. What are you doing to her?" she demanded.

"I-It's not what it looks like," I stuttered.

"You're trying to hurt her, aren't you?"

"No, I..."

Before I could finish, Momoka started to charge at me with the weapon and I dodged that. She swings her kunai at me several times and I was forced to defend myself. Luckily, I grabbed her wrist.

"Will you just let me explain?!" I demanded.

"Not until I want you to tell me why are you hanging around in Angelise's cell," she demanded before sending a kick to my head. Luckily, I was wearing the helmet as protection from the attack.

Why does Momoka, of all people, have to be a ninja maid?

"I was just checking on her, that's all! Lelouch sent me!" I cried and Momoka stopped her attack on me when she heard those words.

"Lelouch sent you?" she asked.

"Yes, he did," I replied back.

"Who are you?" Momoka asked me and I should have known.

"I am Zero, the leader of the Black Knights," I exclaimed, although I look embarrassed since I don't have a team to lead. I'm just by myself.

"So it is true. You're Zero, aren't you? I can't wait to tell my princess about you!" she looked excited.

"Will you calm down, Momoka Oginome?" I tried to get her to calm down since her excitement could wake Angelise up.

"How did you know my name?"

"I know about you, Momoka, including being Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi's guardian. I heard about the news of her she tried to rescue me-," I explained before I realized I almost give out my secret identity. "I mean, her sister known as Sylvia Ikaruga Misurugi, but she got betrayed by her hands, and because of this, she was almost hanged."

"Wow. You're good, Zero," Momoka stated as I grab a hold of the baby Norma. "What are you doing to her?"

"I'm going to give her back to her Mana user mother. I understand that Mana users and Norma should get along with each other, not fight each other."

"That's what should have happened, if it wasn't for her brother," she added.

"Julio... I'll see what I can do, but in the meantime, don't tell her about my visit and give this letter to her by tomorrow morning," I instructed as I hand out two envelopes to her.

"What's this?"

"One envelope that has the letter A is the first letter she should read, and the other envelope with the letter B is the full statement of a person's case."

After this conversation, I flew off with the jet boots that was from my armor. I flew back to my former hometown where I hand the baby in front of Serra's home and I hide from the bushes to see what would the mother think of this. The woman, who has lost her baby because of my sister, saw the basket, and she looked happy to see it is Serra. Not only that, she got an apology letter that I wrote, and it's signed under Angelise's name.

That would be my first step of atonement.

Before I went back, Lelouch told me there's another thing I should do to throw Julio while we helped Ange secretly. He told me to fake my death, that's what. Following his instructions, I wrote a fake suicide note.

My dear brother,

When you find this letter, I shall have disappeared.

To tell you the truth, I was about to leave with Lelouch to take a vacation from the whole ordeal that had happened after our dear sister's execution for being a Norma. But then, I discovered a truth, an awful truth. She isn't the monster I envisioned her. She wasn't to blame for what happened that caused Mother's death, and she wasn't to blame for how I lost my ability to walk.

You tricked me, didn't you?

You used me to hurt Angelise. I can't believe I trusted you, brother. I fell into despair from the truth, so I decided to take my own life.

When you find this letter, I have died.

Signed,

Your Beloved Sister,

Sylvia Ikaruga Misurugi

As I end my writing, I burned down my entire bedroom to fake my death. If he saw that letter, I'm sure he won't report that to the news and will blame sister for this.

I went from afar to see my former home, and I know what should be my destiny.

Sylvia Ikaruga Misurugi is dead. She died from the guilt of learning that her older sister is not the monster she imagined, and in her place, is a masked warrior who will atone for her sins named Zero.

That is my destiny.