"Hey Vera. I brought you flowers. I know it's not much but it's the least I can do. I mean, had I been with you, this might never have happened. So yeah." Terrence set down the bouquet of flowers on the bedside table next to Veradis' bed. " They're purple hyacinths, pink camellias and finally primrose. It means… I'm sorry, please forgive me. I'm longing for you and I can't live without you. So, please come back."
"It's not going to work. She's never going to wake."
"Korbin!"
"What! It's true! She's not coming back! The doctors said that even if she snaps out of the coma, she'd probably won't recognise us! I hate it! I-I just hate it! Why wasn't I there for her? It's all that accursed game's fault! They say something about her consciousness being stuck in the game and that her life is probably now the game! I've talked called up the company that made the game. BUT THEY ARE NOT ANSWERING! I've tried the media… everything! But it never seems to work! I hate it so much..."
Korbin sank to the ground clutching his head in his hands. Tears streamed from his eyes as he sobbed desperately. Terrence could only watch as Korbin broke down. There was nothing he could do. In fast he felt like breaking down too. But for Veradis, for Korbin, for Zenas, he had to be strong.
Cough. Cough.
"Zenas! Don't get out of bed! You're still recovering."
"Veradis would have been out of bed a long time ago."
"Yeah... She would have."
"Yeah…"
Veradis… Please wake up.
Please…
Korbin… Zenas…
No.
We need you…
"Hey Squalo. Look what I got."
"VOOOOI! WHAT DO YOU HAVE?"
"It's an invitation to join to Varia. If I do really well, I'll become one of the officers. What do you think?"
"VOOOOOOI! DO IT!"
"So what will you do once we've graduated?"
"VOOOOOOI! I will fight Tyr and become the next Sword Emperor!"
"I see. Then since I know you will win… After we graduate, we will meet up again in the Varia. Okay?"
"VOOOOI! It's a promise."
"So, I'll be seeing you."
"Yeah."
Both Squalo and Veradis turned around heading for the stage. They headed for the exit with their new goal in mind. To join to Varia as the top ranking officers
The tests were hard. First they took an IQ test. Veradis was proud to say that she had gotten 175-A genius IQ! Smirking slightly, she watched as several people were given badges with the words 'Varia Welfare Community'. In other words, the cleaners. Others with higher IQs were taken to the testing room where they would be next evaluated.
The obstacle course from hell was one. The obstacle course was absolutely agonizing to go through. Veradis had to crawl under nets placed above muddy ground, dodge fireballs and bombs that exploded from around her… etc… Simply put, it was hell. However Veradis strived for success. She refused to become a random grunt. No, she had to become a Varia Officer. Gritting her teeth, Veradis walked on through each and every challenge. She could do it.
Once the evaluations were done, all the participants went home. There were only seven of them left. The commander was going to decided who took what role before telling them tomorrow. Reaching home, Veradis greeted her father before heading to bed. Tomorrow… Tomorrow she would find out her new results. Falling asleep as soon as her head hit her pillow, Veradis dreamed…
She dreamt of three boys with black hair-her black hair her mind whispered, and green eyes. They were reaching out to her, begging her to come back. Who were they? Veradis couldn't help but wonder. Reaching out to them, a purple fire blazed around her as she tried to touch them.
No!
Purple fire swirled around her. Burning everything and lighting the world around her on fire. And then… silence. The world around her was plunged into darkness. What happened? She was alone… So alone. No, she wasn't. Around her figures appeared from the darkness. Her father Malen, Squalo… etc… They smiled at her kindly. She was not alone now. But then…
Itfeltsowrongsowrongsowrongsowrongsowrongsowrong.
But why?
Veradis woke up panting. Lying back into bed, she rolled over and fell asleep. She didn't remember anything the next morning.
Waking up, she left to the dining room. Sitting down to eat, she waited anxiously for a sign, a letter-anything. Looking at her face, her father laughed genially before passing her a cream coloured envelope. Opening it, she read the letter.
Dear Veradis,
We are happy to tell you that you have been judged and be found to be of Varia Quality. Due to this, you have been accepted into our ranks as the Varia Cloud Guardian. As there currently is a succession crisis in the Varia, please come tomorrow instead of today. Please bring your several sets of clothes to place in your wing in the castle. The West Wing will be given to you.
From The Varia Welfare Community.
(Congratulations for being the first female member!)
Veradis smirked. It seemed like Squalo had made his move. Laughing gleefully, Veradis decided to prepare a congratulatory gift for Squalo. Now, what should she get him… Frowning thoughtfully, Veradis decided to go to the basement of her home where weapons were developed. Naturally, only the less dangerous weapons were developed here. Strolling around the labs, she nodded as the scientist bowed to her as she passed.
"Quarta!"
"Yes? Metal experiment No.782 has finally been a success!"
"Really? As in no sudden explosions, no sudden increases of etcetera?"
"Yes Quarta!"'
Smiling as her present to Squalo had been chosen, she asked the scientist to send the metal to the forgers.
"... Make it take the shape of a glove with a sword protruding from it. Oh, and it should be done by… today. Place it in my room and gift wrap it."
"Yes Quarta!"
Hmmmm… Now what should she do? Walking aimlessly around, she decided to practise her tessen skills. Her technique was know as the 'Inuwashi no Hanto' or 'Hunt of the Golden Eagle'. She actually found the katas in a scroll in the library. 'Inuwashi no Hanto' was a technique that like how golden eagles use their agility and speed combined with powerful feet and massive, sharp talons to snatch up their prey, was a fast killing technique that involved getting into your opponent's guard before killing them. It was a rather elegant technique if she had to say so herself.
Leaving to the training room, she began practising kata after kata. Then, heading over to where the practise dummies were, she began to program them.
KILLING STROKES-SWITCHED ON
MAIMING-SWITCHED ON
TACTICS-SWITCHED ON
OVERRIDING WORD [STUN]-SWITCHED ON
HITMAN-SWITCHED OFF
ASSASSIN-SWITCHED OFF
MAFIA GRUNTS-SWITCHED ON
[START]
Veradis pressed start before moving to the center of the training room. Closing her eyes, she focused on her surroundings.
There!
Spinning around, she brutally cut open the dummy before kicking another dummy in the chest.
Slice.
Punch.
Punch.
Stab.
Kick.
Punch.
Slice.
Punch.
Kick.
Kick.
And then… Slice.
Veradis straightened up from the crouch she was in. Closing her tessen, she watched dispassionately as the dummy slid of the blade and landed on the ground. Around her, all the training dummies were utterly decimated. Veradis smiled before leaving, a manic light in her eyes. Fighting was one of the only times she felt truly alive. That she was real… that she wasn't just some sort of ghost. That she was alive… That she truly belonged to this world.
Leaving the training room, Veradis wandered around the house quietly. What to do now? Sighing tiredly, she looked at the clock. It was only 5. She still had at least 3 hours before it was an acceptable time to head to bed. Frowning, she decided to see the results of the fight between Squalo and Tyr. How would she go about doing this? Why, hacking of course! Smirking slightly, Veradis went back to her room before switching on her computer. Hacking into the Vongola website, Veradis eagerly scanned it for clues.
*New*
New Varia Commander.
Squalo Superbi.
~Gained the title after killing Tyr. Has gotten rid of his left arm.
New Varia Cloud Guardian.
Veradis Leonor.
~First Female Member
New Squad Leaders.
-Marcus Bufera
-Eldric Constane
-Fillion Sorene
-Scirro Parre
-Odiare Bene
-Tuoso Impe
New Varia Intelligence Gatherer Head needed!
~Previous one was killed due to treason.
What? Squalo had gotten rid of his arm? Veradis scowled angrily. Than moronic imbecile! Glaring at the computer, Veradis became glad of her present to him. Hm, the Varia needed a 'Head of Intelligence' right? Since Squalo was the new Varia Commander he had better give the position to her… or else. Feeling slightly happier, Veradis was alerted to a new notice on her computer.
*New*
New Varia Commander.
Xanxus.
~Squalo has become Varia Second in Command with the Commander being Xanxus.
New Varia Commander.
Squalo Superbi.
~Gained the title after killing Tyr. Has gotten rid of his left arm.
New Varia Cloud Guardian.
Veradis Leonor.
~First Female Member
New Squad Leaders.
-Marcus Bufera
-Eldric Constane
-Fillion Sorene
-Scirro Parre
-Odiare Bene
-Tuoso Impe
New Varia Intelligence Gatherer Head needed!
~Previous one was killed due to treason.
… Squalo…
Veradis gritted her teeth angrily. Why the hell did he pass leadership to Xanxus-someone whom they barely even knew? This was going to be hell.
"Must not kill Squalo. Must not kill Squalo." She hissed out the words with great venom. More like 'must kill Squalo!' Veradis clenched her fist itching to punch Squalo wherever he was. Growling to herself, Veradis went to the kitchens to grab something to eat. Hopefully imagining Squalo's face when she tore into her sandwiches would calm her down. Going back to her room, Veradis decided to retire early. The sooner she'd sleep, the sooner she'd be able to wake up and punch Squalo in the face.
Lying somewhere in a hospital bed, Squalo shivered. Veradis wouldn't be so hard on me… right?
The next day, when Veradis woke up, she immediately began preparing to go to the Varia Castle. What did she need? A suitcase, her clothes, her weapons, Squalo's gift...
Once she was prepared, she left her house and began to run to the Varia Castle. Hidden deep in the woods, it was tiring for a normal person to search for it-but then again, she was a mafiosi. Her stamina exceeded most people. Reaching the castle, Veradis shoved her acceptance letter in the face of one of the servants before demanding them to take her to her new room. Putting down her things, she asked them to lead her to where Squalo was.
"Now Squalo, are you out of your fucking mind? What possessed you to do something like that?"
"VOOOOOOOOI! My flames reached out with his and harmonized! In fact, the bond seemed to have been formed approximately 2 years ago!"
"You mean during the Mafia Competition?"
"VOOOOOOOI, YES!"
Veradis closed her eyes and focused on her flames. In her mind's eye she saw a giant circle of purple flames that kept moving around. As she inspected her flames thoroughly, she noticed a slight orange tinge to some of her flames. She was in a partial harmony with Xanxus.
"Fuck!"
"VOOOOOOI! WHAT?"
"I have a partial harmony with Xanxus! Oh god, what am I going to do?"
"VOOOOOOOOOI! Aren't you the new Cloud Guardian anyway?"
"Ah, good point. Anyway Squalo, I brought you a gift. You can wear it over what remains of your left hand. That way you'll have a weapon with you always."
"VOOOOOI! Thank you! Anyway, you should go report to the boss."
"Yeah, yeah." Veradis walked away from Squalo. Calling a random grunt, she ordered him to take her to Xanxus.
"Purple Trash."
"Stuck up moron."
"Is that how you talk to your boss?" smirked Xanxus.
"Fine. Stuck up boss. Or would you prefer Imbecilic boss? Or maybe Shitty boss? Hm… Oh! I know, how bout Useless boss?"
"... Dare to say that again?" Xanxus held out his gun.
Gulp.
"Ummm… No. Anyway, I was going to ask if I could take over the post and be the new Varia Information Gatherer."
"Fine. Purple Trash."
Veradis growled inwardly as she turned to leave.
"By the way, our flames have formed a partial harmony."
Behind her, she heard Xanxus choke on his wine.