-Chucks in the long overdue update of this story -
Don't expect too much and Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Elsword.
The assassin blinked, the arm locking onto the trigger of one of his Silver Shooters still outstretched in an attempt to launch a bullet at the Nasod Queen's. He had been frozen in his space when something suddenly decided to drop in out of nowhere, landing with a loud crash.
He uncharacteristically guard lowered for the split second when he tried to figure out what just happened, which proved to be is fatal mistake.
Eve didn't seem unnerved by the sudden interruption and instead, detecting the hesitance through her sensors, leapt into action. They had been equally matched before but now, the queen's Nasod Spear threatened to slit Chung's throat after bypassing the outstretched arm.
"Tch." Chung's other hand tightened his grip on the other duel pistol at his side while his mind calculated the time it would take to aim at the Nasod, pull the trigger, and coming out unscathed. Probability of that happening was slim. Too slim.
Silence hung in the air while hollow amber stare into intense cerulean. It was broken by neither, but by a third party's groan, followed by a chain of curses.
"I swear to Lady El, I'm going to kill that albino, code-obsessive psycho no matter what Aisha says!"
It was only now did the two heed to the event that had occurred before; Eve looked in pure curiosity while Chung in shock and disblief.
"What the..."
Before them sat someone that almost mirrored the Assassin, minus the hair style and the design of the armor.
Baffled, paw-printed blue orbs surveyed their owner's surroundings before they landed on the two figures that seemed to have frozen in action of their battle. His eyes furrowed in confusion as he took the pair's appearance.
"... Eve?" He labeled the Queen upon recognition despite the slight appearance change. He then moved onto the person whom she had her weapon against.
Both pairs of blue eyes stared at each other in a mix of shock and confusion.
"... What?"
Eve merely tilted her head - if she was surprised, she didn't show it. "Seiker, I did not know that lowly humans have acquired the technology to create clones."
The Assassin directed his attention back to the Queen of Destruction and answered her in a calm, yet incredulous fashion due to her comment. "They didn't." His eyes then trailed the spear at his threat, which brought him back to his own peril.
"Well?" He asked impatiently, waiting for the final strike. He knew that the queen would slice him despite the strange situation that was happening right now. Somehow, he knew that Eve wouldn't let anything slip from her mind despite any kind of distraction.
Eve stared back at him idly for a moment and surprised Chung with her unexpected retraction of her Nasod spear. "I do not desire to slaughter someone that perks my interest."
"What?"
"Besides," Eve changed the topic without skipping a beat, turning to the other Chung look-alike. "we have more... interesting matters to attend."
The assassin raised a brow at the odd behavior. It was... simply uncharacteristic for the queen to spare anyone's life, but he decided not to question it for now. His attention was once again, switched to the blonde who seem to have recovered from seeing a double and was staring at Eve.
The look-alike knitted his brows as he scrutinized the Queen of War. "You're... not Eve are you?"
Said queen tilt her head while the assassin cocked another brow, his instincts telling him that this person was not asking in a literal sense.
"Elaborate." Eve demanded, her voice tinted with curiosity, which is the only emotion that Chung knew that she could express. If more, then he would be damned.
"Eve is the name that I am registered under, yet you question it?" She stepped forward with grace, the heels of her shoes tapping against the concrete floor.
"What?" The look-alike blinked, scratched the back of his head, a habit that Chung have himself when he was younger. "Sorry, that's not what I mean. I meant that -"
"Tell me," Eve cut in, towering over the blonde and leaning in on him. "why do you resemble the former Prince of Hamel?"
"Huh?"
"Silvia." The assassin decided to enter the conversation, folding his arms and glaring at the back of the queen. He got this nagging irritation in the back of his head when the Nasod Queen enter his double's personal space. "I know for a fact that he is not the former prince."
Eve's eyes traveled to the corner of her sockets. "Then are you verbally admitting that you are the aforementioned prince?"
"Was." Chung corrected with hostility in his voice.
"Wait, wait," The other blonde interrupted, placing the attention back on him. "What do you mean former prince?" He cock his head innocently, looking from Eve to the assassin. "Last time I checked, I am the crowned prince of Hamel."
The queen gazed back at Chung with a look that looked suspiciously like 'what-do-you-have-to-say-to-that?' look.
"..." The assassin's brow twitched and demanded in the same manner that Eve did, "Name."
"What?"
"Your name." He repeated impatiently.
"Uh... Chung Seiker." The double answered.
"The hell?" The assassin stared at the one claiming to be "Chung Seiker" incredulously before narrowing his eyes in suspicions. Just because he denied being the lost prince does not mean he will deny the fact that he is Chung Seiker. Knowing that someone else who looks like him and baring his name irked him. He was positive that he had no living relatives of the same name or of the same appearance. He knew that the Seiker surname was not a common one and belong only to the long line of Guardians.
The assassin stepped closer to the other blonde, anger raising when he couldn't find any trace of a lie on the guys face.
Once he was next to the Queen of Altera, he drew his Silver Pistol at him, glaring darkly. "You dare to use a name of the Seiker family? Speak the truth now or I will not guarantee a painless trip to the afterlife."
Eve observed the assassin intently, the corners of her mouth curved ever so slightly upward though it could have been one's imagination.
The other Chung became alarm at the danger facing him and looked at the pistol wielder calculatingly, just like he had before. "I don't know what you're talking about but what I said was the truth."
He stood up cautiously, the grip on his Destroyer that was settled behind him tightened as if ready to defend if worst comes to worst.
The Silent Wolf noticed yet more of the similarities that they share and if he hadn't took note of the paw-printed irises and the brown tipped hair that looked like ears, he wouldn't even spare the guy a second glance before killing him. And the fact that they're Destroyers were the same yet modified differently sent him into devising up theories as to what was going on.
"Hm..." The Nasod Queen spoke up, humming in amusement. It was an imitation, sounding more robotic that what it should be, that send a chill down the Deadly Chaser's spine though it didn't have the same effect on his double. "Perhaps I should conduct another test."
Immediately, before the newcomer could question what she meant, Chung immobilized the Queen from doing such a thing by gripping a hold of her shoulder.
"Oh no you don't." He commanded with such finality that it surprised even himself.
Eve gave him an inquisitive look. "And why is that, Seiker?"
The fact that she actually heeded to his words astounded him, for he didn't think the Nasod Queen would listen to anyone's command other than her own. His astonishment was gone in a fraction of a second, settling on a scowl.
"It's like actually seeing myself letting you kiss me and I do not want to be reminded of that." Well... that was his reason but it was also because he had this indescribable, irritating feeling when Eve actually suggested it to someone else.
"Wait, what?" The other Chung asked incredulously when he heard it.
"It's none of your concern." The assassin snapped coolly.
Eve just watched him for a second before directing her gaze back to the other blonde and remove Chung's hand away. "Very well."
Again, he was surprised that she actually listened. Was this actually the Queen of Destruction that slaughtered those who crossed her path without a second thought? The one who did not tolerate anyone who questioned her authority and who followed no one but her own judgement?
Well, he shouldn't be the one to question her motives since he didn't know her that well. He only ever heard her through others and somewhere in his mind, he knew that what he heard were always exaggerated.
The other Chung sighed due to the extended silence that befell them. "I think I might know what's going on..."
Eve raised a brow. "Oh? Pray tell."
The double leveled a gaze with the assassin. "I'm guessing you're also Chung Seiker of Hamel?"
"There's only one." He retorted back.
If Chung's attitude had affected him, he didn't show. Instead, in directed his gaze to Eve. "You have an inbuilt DNA test application right?"
"Correct."
"And judging from the conversation just now, you have used it on him?"
"Correct again."
"What are you -"
The other Chung cut him off, continuing what he had in mind as if the Deadly Chaser hadn't said anything at all. "I just need a confirmation of my theory before I explain."
He held out his hand, silently making a request of the Queen of Altera.
The queen took his hand without hesitance, making a small cut with one of the blades that she had stored in a different space, and allowed the blood to seep into her lips before she removed his hand.
The two blondes watched silently as Eve begin to process the acquired information, though one can barely tell if she was actually doing it or just standing there in deep thought.
"Identity acquired: Chung Seiker, former Prince of Hamel. Occupation: Assassin."
The other Chung frowned, as if he didn't like the information he heard. "Correct, wrong, and wrong." He turned to the Deadly Chaser with a look of disbelief. "You're an assassin?"
Chung rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Been one for years and don't change the subject. You better have a good explanation as to why you took my name."
He twisted his pistol before pointing it at the other blonde's forehead. "I do not tolerate outsiders bearing what should only belong to the Seiker bloodline."
The other either wasn't scared or had skillfully masked it under that smile of his. "At least we have something in common."
The assassin narrowed his eyes. "What?"
The other Chung waved him off. "Do you believe in the existence of the parallel universe?"
The Deadly Chaser merely frowned at that.
"It's a possibility that I have yet to overlook." Eve decided to answer, already getting the hint and looked him up and down. "Are you claiming that you are not of this world?"
The Tactical Trooper nodded. "You see, I have this psychotic friend-"
Eve suddenly raised a hand up as a sign to stop Chung from explaining. "Hold that though." She then brought out a translucent screen with a swipe of her hand. "It seems my code have detected another's."
"Ah, Eve must have came too!"
"Pardon?" The queen inquired.
"Err... my Eve."
"What?" The assassin snapped back from his thoughts, staring at his counterpart with a cocked eyebrow.
The other blushed profusely at his mistake while shaking his head and waving his hands back and forth frantically. "N-no! I mean the Eve from my world!"
A certain spot warped in the sky, forcing the some white, fluffy clouds to move away and others to become twisted with the space. A small hole was formed, enlarging within mere seconds before something fell out in a blur, followed by another and it closing up after the delivery.
"Huh?" Emerald eyes blinked as she felt air rushing pass her.
Rena looked around, wondering how she had gotten from sitting in a chair and drinking out of her smoothie to... the sky? Wait. Sky?
She then brought her gaze to the earth, seeing it rapidly approaching before letting out a yelp of surprise. She then acted quickly, bring her body forward so that her surface area increases.
Muttering a an incantation under her breath, she could feel the wind aiding her yet it wasn't enough to slow her fall to the forest below.
"Whoa!" She brought her feet down first, hoping that would help. Her wind magic had taken enough effect for her to make her body feather-light that she was able to land on a branch, leap to another to avoid the otherwise painful impact.
She released a breath of relief, her hand resting against the body of the tree she was standing on. She looked up at the sky through the leaves, seeing that that had brought her here already disappeared.
A frown marred her otherwise beautiful face as she wondered what had happened. However, her thoughts was lead to another when she heard a collision nearby.
She was going to check it out, if a familiar husky voice didn't freeze her in her place.
"Rena?"
Her emerald eyes darted down to meet surprised amber.
"Oh!" Her face light up immediately, hopping down gracefully and tackling the man in a bear hug. "Raven~! Long time no see~!"
"W-wha...?"
She release her hold on him a little, looking up at him with a cute pout. "That's all you have to say to me? We haven't contacted each other in months after the wedding, y'know! I was getting bored out of my mind since Elsword was busy with his transition to becoming a crown king, Elesis is as harsh as ever on him, I couldn't go visit you guys in Velder since I was needed at all times in Ruben and why are you here? Wait, when did your hair get that long?"
Then upon closer inspection with no respect with the other's personal space, her eyes widen. "Oh my El! Did you dye a part of your hair red?! I didn't know you're the type of person to do that! Not that it doesn't look good, I think it looks great but it's like you're a completely..."
"Rena?"
"... different... person..." The elf finished her rant slowly, revelation hitting her like a break. "Oh El."
"..."
"Y-you're not Raven... are you?" She finally asked after a moment of silence. Her cheeks heat up and she jumped away from him, sending him an abundance of apologies. "I am so so so sorry! Oh my El! I though you were - I mean you look just like - Sacred El, I just hugged a stranger." Her clapped her hand over her mouth at the last part. That was supposed to be in her mind, but she spoke it out instead!
She felt herself shrinking further from the embarrassment. She was really making a fool of herself in front of this man. "A-ah... s-sorry, that was supposed to stay -"
"In your head?" The Veteran Commander finished for her, chuckling in amusement. His eyes changed to that of a distant gaze as he smiled wistfully at a wide-eyed elf. "You're just like Rena four years ago."
"Huh?" The elf knitted her brows in confusion, cocking her head to the side. "but I am Rena. Rena Lire."
It was Raven's turn to be confused. "But you're so..." He trailed off and shook his head. "No, never mind." He gave the elf another look over, frowning.
"You can't be Rena. You always wear your Night Savers attire ever since your Right of Command."
Rena was even more baffled at this. "The Night Savers? I was never associated with the secret order let alone before their leader. Heck, I never even met them before."
"What's going on?" The Veteran Commander asked to no one in particular.
"Oi Birdy," came an irritated voice that caught both of their attentions. The rustling of the bushes was followed by Add and the two twins. "didn't I tell you stay in one place?
Before Raven could answer, Rena spoke. "Add? You're here? I thought you were in Hamel."
"Why the hell would I be..." The Diabolic Esper trailed, his eyes narrowing at the clear view of the Grand Archer. "You're not supposed to be here."
"Of all the..." The Blade Master mumbled when he had crash-landed. He plowed into the ground, creating a wide furrow. It was surprising how he hadn't die yet, consider he had fallen some 400 miles into the solid ground.
He sat up, massaging his aching head with his human hand.
Out of nowhere, his instincts told him that he was in danger and immediately, he leapt away from the arrows coming his way. Upon closer inspection, the projectiles were... twigs?
Several seconds later, he scratched that off and re-identified them as exploding twigs.
His arm went up to block the wind of the explosion and the smoke and debris from the detonating twigs. He felt a presence behind him and reflexively turn, holding his up blade to guard against something that attacked him from behind through the smoke.
The sound of metal clashing against metal rang in his ears. His amber eyes caught sight of a figure within the dust, though blurred. They stay in that position without budging.
It wasn't until the attacker spoke that he registered the wielder of the golden dagger as a female.
"State your business human." And that told him that he was not facing a human. "What is your reason for invading this camp?"
Invade? His brows furrowed in confusion. He didn't invade anywhere. He was just going through his usual training regiment with the soldiers of the castle when he was suddenly free falling from the sky.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding." He said calmly. There was a moment of silence before the attacker broke it.
"... Raven?" The hostility in her voice disappeared, replaced with surprised.
The Blade Master frowned at the recognition, wondering if he had met anyone who lived in a forest before. Remembering none, he decided to voice his confusion. "Do I know you?"
A soft wind past by, carrying away the smoke away and revealing a blonde elf with intense yet surprised emerald eyes.
"What the..." Raven muttered and it took him a few more seconds to be able to pinpoint why the attacker look strangely familiar.
"Rena?"
The two of them pulled away and their stance relaxed.
"What are you doing here?" She inquired, sheathing her Erendil into the holder strapped around her waist. "Weren't you supposed to wait on the outer edge of the forest with Add?"
The other raised a brow. "Add?" Last I heard, he was in Hamel.
"Lady Rena." Two elves appeared by her side.
"Is he an intruder?" One of them asked warily.
"It's alright Agnis." She addressed the one of the left. "Go tell everyone to resume what they were doing."
They nodded simultaneously before disappearing into the trees. It was then Raven noticed the cloaked elves that surrounded them, each with either bows or swords in their hands. Did he somehow ended up in elven territory?
"Raven," Rena started, hopping into the mini crater and approaching him with concern. "You're not hurt are you? And since when did you change your appearance?"
"... I..." He couldn't find the words to answer. If he knew Rena, then she would have tackled him or something, blabbering on and on about the most random topics.
Looking into those tired but worried emerald words, he found himself telling him that the elf standing in front of him wasn't the cheerful elf that he knew. This one's eyes held so much more experience of world, seen too much, just like his. They lost the peaceful innocence glow in them.
"You're..." He scanned her attire, coughed discreetly and looked away immediately. Despite the warrior-like air it gave off, hat she was wearing was a bit... revealing. "... What are you wearing?"
"What?" Rena frowned in confusion. "What do you mean by that? I always wear this in case there ever a sudden attack. You know we can never let out guard down nowadays."
Okay, this was definitely not the Rena he know. If she was, then the elf would have teased him or something. This one was too careful and prudent, but they were still similar.
It seems that Rena had caught on and she went on back to alert, placing her hand on the hilt of her weapon. "Who are you?"
"... Raven Corvus." He answered, treading carefully.
"Lies," She spat distastefully, much to Raven's surprised. "If you were, then your Nasod arm wouldn't look like that. I know Raven."
She started to withdraw her Erendil, pointing it at the Blade Master. "And you're nothing like him."
"What are you talking about?"
"I found Raven~!"
"What the -"
A green blur locked hold of the Blade Master, sending both of them crashing to the ground a few meters away from where Raven originally stand.
"Rena..." He croaked warningly when his oxygen supply was cut off. "Let go."
"Great. We got more annoyance." Add muttered while he and another Raven came into view. The Night Watcher was thrown when she saw another version of herself, and even more so when she saw two Ravens.
"Rena." The Veteran Commander greeted with a nod.
She could only return the gesture wordlessly.
They haven't even started searching for their friend and they already wounded up in a complicated situation.
"... The hell?" The Deadly Chaser said aloud for the second time that day as he watched the Tactical Trooper worrying over one of the newcomers. One that resemble too much like the queen that he was supposed the kill.
It was like seeing himself worrying over the Queen of Altera, which is very uncharacteristic of him and he would never do that. Ever.
He wasn't even supposed to be here in the first place. In broad daylight. But that robotic queen forced him but pointing every weapon in her arsenal at him. Yeesh, she really would do anything to get her way.
"Will you clam it princy?" the other new comer snapped, a man that the assassin heard of to be a prominent engineer of Velder. And for some reason, he wasn't too fond of him. He didn't have to worry about the guy trying to befriend him because the feeling was mutual.
"Who are you calling princy?" The two Chungs spoke in unison and glared at the Mastermind, then looked at each other. It seems that they have found something that they both have in common.
"Listen Add, if you hadn't blow up the place," The Tactical Tropper started. "We wouldn't even be in this mess. Why the hell did you have to barge into the castle? I thought you gave up on getting Eve's code already."
"I was bored." The albino male replied as if it was the most obvious thing ever.
"We were in a freaking important meeting!" The Tactical Trooper exclaimed in fury, suppressing the urge to throttle the man.
"Chung." The Code Battle Seraph spoke up beside him.
"What?" The Hamel Prince asked in a somewhat irked tone but not as fierce as the one he directed towards Add.
"We need him alive to know what's going on."
"..."
Add scoffed. "As if you can kill me."
"Hey," The Deadly Chaser started, frowning. "If what you said was true... then Hamel didn't fall in your world?"
"World?" The Mastermind parroted before the other Chung could reply. "More like timeline."
"Alternate timelines?" The Code Nemesis inquired with interest. "Pray tell, did you also manage to develop the technology to cross time and space like that despicable commoner that once barged into my throne?"
"No," The Mastermind retorted. "I may be crazy -"
"You are crazy." Chung muttered.
Add ignored him and continued. "-but even I know not to cross over dangerous lines. Something transported us here."
"And interrupted our fight." The assassin mutter almost indignantly. Not that he was complaining, he was at a complete disadvantage back there; him with only his pistols and Destroyer while the Nasod was able to summon a near infinite about of weapons.
"You mean you two actually tried to kill each other?" The Tactical Trooper said incredulously.
"What other possibility is there?" The Code Nemesis asked, folding her arms and shifting her weight to one side. "After all, he is an assassin with a vengeance."
"My actions are justified." The Deadly Chaser defended, glaring at her. "You are a tyrannical queen who brought Hamel to its end and subjugated Bethma and Feita."
"You what?!" The other Chung exclaimed, the news being an eye-opener.
The Code Battle Seraph narrowed her eyes at her double, then stepped forward. "Is what he said correct?"
The Code Nemesis leveled a gaze with her and responded with an almost haughty manner. "Yes."
"Despicable."
"Pardon?"
Tension rise between the two queens, with the Battle Seraph summoning her drones and force fields. "I may not have rule over this Altera, however, it is still essential the same as my country. The kingdom of Altera have made an alliance with Hamel and I will not tolerate anyone breaking that covenant. For you, who is myself, to lay a hand on Hamel, it is the same my breaking my words."
".. Intriguing." The Code Nemesis stood high and regal against the other. "And what threat do you pose against me, who as most would dub, a queen of destruction?"
"Oh this is going to be good." Add chuckled, watching by the side as the queens started to call forth their weapons of choice.
However, before what might turn into something near a nuclear war, more interlopers dropped in between them.
"Found the other nuisances." The Diabolic Esper announced, hovering in midair with Yin and Yang after opening up a rift.
"Warn us next time!" An Indignant Grand Archer exclaimed in the pile of limps.
"What would that accomplish?" He shot back. "You'll still fall through the rift." His attention is then caught onto the two Nasod Queens and smirked. "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise."
"Will, you two don't seem to differ." Chung glared at the time-space manipulator.
The Diabolic Esper cackled while the Mastermind mutter something incoherent.
"Daddy, daddy," Yin called, bring some attention to herself. "Are they twins too? Like Yang and me?"
"Yin," Yang answered before their father could. "They're not. Remember what dad said when we visited mom?"
"Oh!" She then light up at a sudden idea. "Does that mean other mommy's here too? Since the other daddy is here?"
The Diabolic Esper didn't respond for a moment as a look a sorrow waved over him. "No Yin... it's more complicated than that. Your mommy is not here, so other mommy won't come either."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"It means that other mom can't be here if mom isn't here." Yang tried to clarified.
"Oh..." Yin deflated dramatically.
The Tactical Trooper stared at the twins during the conversation, then at the Diabolic Esper, then at the Mastermind. His mind able to piece something together but not quite. "Don't tell me..."
Add, sensing what he was thinking about, only turned away. "I'm not going to say anything."
Rena giggled, having been untangled. "Aren't they just cute? And to think we might be blessed with those two angels when we get back home~ Ne ne Add, can I be their Godmother?"
"What the hell?" Said Add replied incredulously. "You're jumping too far ahead of yourself!"
The Night Watcher frowned, walking up to the Mastermind and towering over him. "You better make sure no harm will come of her."
The Mastermind scoffed. "You're certainly not like that chirpy elf over there."
The Blade Master silently agreed. Of the time he had spent around the happy-go-lucky elf, the serious face did not fit her. It made him all the more glad that the Rena he knew was still that cheerful elf. But would there ever be a time where she would become like the head of the Night Savers? Just thinking about placed a weight on his shoulder.
The other Raven sighed. "I would like it if we can get back to the more important matter at hand." He looked at the Add with the twins. "Care to explain now? Or are there more people to group up with? I'm still kind of thrown that the Nasod Queen and the infamous assassin are involved." He mumbled the last part to himself.
"Depends on if any of you care for the brat." He answered irately, his mood soured even more just thinking about that certain someone.
"Brat?" The Veteran Commander raised an inquisitive brow.
"He probably meant Elsword." The Grand Archer supplied with a giggle. "Him and Aisha always gang up on poor Elsword."
"... What would you want of the tyrant?" The assassin inquired.
At this, the ones from the other timeline looked alarm, minus Eve.
"... Don't tell me he isn't one in where you come from."
"Charming playboy sure," Rena supplied. "But not a tyrant. He's a good boy. Elesis wouldn't have any of that if she have a say in it."
"... Is not the Ruben Queen deceased?" The Queen of Destruction brought forth another alarming information.
"WHAT?!" The Grand Archer exclaimed, appalled at the mere thought.
"I see." The Nasod concluded with the reaction. "It is certainly true that our timelines differ. Perhaps the two Ruben Kings are meeting as we speak and perhaps even attempt to take the other's life if what I perceive of the king with whom I have an alliance with is correct. He has a tendency towards violence. "
"Raven!" Rena all but shouted, grabbing the Blade Master by the shoulder and shaking him hard. "We have to find Elsword - I mean Elswords! We can't let them kill each other!"
"Shouldn't you tell this time's Add that?" The other responded while trying to stop the elf from giving him a headache.
"Oh yeah," Rena stopped and turned to said Add.
"Come any closer and I won't guarantee your well-being." The Diabolic Esper threatened before the blonde eccentric elf could even say anything.
"Yesh, what's with you guys anyways?" The Grand Archer pouted, looking at the other group almost disapprovingly. "You're all down in the dumps and serious! I mean, look," She pulled the Code Battle Seraph close to her. "Even cute little Eve here is more lively than all of you combine."
"... That's exaggerating it a bit." The Tactical Trooper sweatdropped.
The Veteran Commander chuckled softly behind the Blade Master. "I almost forgot that Rena used to be like that."
His counterpart watched him from the corner of his eyes, having heard what he said but decided to keep his questions to himself. As the group watch the Grand Archer blabbering on and on, the Code Nemesis took the chance to look between the other Eve and Chung, then at the assassin who hasn't left yet.
"You."
He shot a back back at her. "I have a name. Might want to us that."
"That is of trivial matter." She brushed off the churlish comment. "What would you say if I allow you to live?"
The assassin snorted. "As if my life is ever under your jurisdiction?"
"That is not an answer."
"Fine." Chung sighed in exasperation. "I'll still kill you on the first chance that I get. Even though I'm an assassin, I will not overlook the unjust that you have inflicted upon your people. You have no right to be a queen. Besides, I don't plan on abandoning a job that I took up."
The silverette hummed in thought. "Very well. Apple. Proto. Come this instant."
At her call, the two Nasod, who found the Battle Seraph and Mastermind and brought them outside of the palace, immediately came to her biding. "My previous edict will be revoked as of now. You. Seiker. What is the name of whom you took this task from?"
"Why would I tell you?"
"I asked."
"..."
"Well?"
"... I have this policy, and it says that I don't reveal my clients' names for the sake of safety and secrecy."
"How very humble." She commented, her tone making it seem more like an insult than a compliment. "Disregard it for this moment and I assure you, nothing will come of harm of them."
Chung searched her eyes from any sign of falsehood but there weren't any. He still couldn't figure out what the queen was up to, but whatever it is, she's serious about it.
He still didn't' trust her.
"I have a policy of my own." She added when he didn't reply. "And it dictates that as the queen of Nasods, I do not go back on my words."
Chung wasn't sure if she was mocking him or not, but he relented with a sigh, already learned that she wasn't going to back down until she gets the answer she wants. "... Lento and Allgero of Feita and Stella of Bethma."
"I appreciate the corporation." Eve turned to her two advisers. "Inform those humans that as of today, I, Eve Silvia of Altera, relinquish the possession of Bethma and Feita back to their former citizens."
"WHAT?!" Chung exclaimed in shock, bringing attention to him but he didn't bother to care. Did he hear it correctly? What kind of ruler forsakes over their lands so easily as if they mere mere toys that they were tired of?
"And Seiker," Eve re-directed her gaze back to the assassin, a noticeable twinkle in her eyes. "This situation has stolen my attention and I am curious as to what is happening and so, I will hire you as my personal guard."
"Excuse me?" The assassin couldn't believe what left the queen's mouth. And it wasn't even a question, it was a statement. He wondered if she was out of her mind to hire someone who had tried to take her life.
"No, you are mistaken."
And he realized that he had spoken that out loud.
"I merely require your presence."
"For what?"
"Reasons you need not to know."
His eye twitched. This queen..."Hell no."
"I will triple the amount that was offered to you when I was assigned as your target."
The assassin normally would lose his composure in front of anyone but he had already lost it too many times in front of the Nasod queen. Even now, his jaws were left hanging slightly open.
"Do we have - what is it that you humans say? - a deal?"
"..."
She took the silence as a yes. "Perfect. From now till I will not be in need of your service, you are to stay at my side at all times. I will not tolerate disobedience for you will be facing my entire arsenal if that were to happen." She then noticed everyone else staring and tilted her head as a gesture of confusion. "What is it that caught most of your interest?"
"Did you just..." The Night Watcher started but she left the sentence hanging.
Silence fell upon them but broken by two cackling Adds.
"Looks like the little queen bought herself a dog!" The Mastermind exclaimed.
The Deadly Chaser was left beyond speechless to retort back at Add. He couldn't believe it. Did he just sign a contract without even having a say in it? And why didn't he reject the proposal in the first place?
Oh right, she'll probably shove an army's worth of artillery down his throat and then some more. He hated how the spoiled queen would actually do anything to get her way.
I have no idea what happened towards the end. It all... sort of went out of my hand.
Ah, for people who got confused halfway through, I decided to let my other story to cross over. Will, I was going to say characters crossing over but they're the same ones except for different classes lol. (That's why I named the chapter title Heads & Tails :p)