The first round of matches was over for the day. Everyone went to go relax, including Hao and his followers. They weren't the only ones to find the hot springs. As Hao stood up to get out of the Hot Springs, a few of the X-Laws began an attack.

"Not on my watch." Nova countered the attack and sent them stumbling back.

"It's Nova!" Opacho jumped with glee.

"Attacking a man while he's having a bath, that's just gross."

"Don't get in our way!" Marco shouted to her.

"Since I'm not an officiant, I have no obligation to stand by. If you attack, I will defend him." She revealed a spirit ally, a white wolf. "White Claw, get ready."

"Hey! How did you get that spirit!" A voice shouted from the trees. It was Nichrom, accompanied by Magna.

"This spirit has been with me for most of my life. How do you know it?" She spoke without even looking at him.

"That doesn't answer my question!" His anger grew.

"If you insist on knowing, I inherited it from my mother!"

"Wha...?!" It suddenly dawned on him.

"Who are you...?" When she turned to face him, she was in shock to find he was still alive. "Nichrom?! Is it really you?"

"Nova... I thought you were dead."

"I could say the same about you."

"Lord Hao, what's going on?" Opacho asked him.

"It seems to be a family reunion." Hao said calmly.

"Nichrom, is my twin brother. We were separated when we were little and it seems we both thought the other was dead." She lowered her weapon. White Claw stood down. "I suggest you leave, Marco, save this for another day. You already lost enough today." Whatever it was Marco could sense about her, it was enough to make him agree to backing down.

"Another time then. But mark my words, we won't show mercy." He adjusted his glasses and left.

"We have a lot of catching up to do, Nichrom, but for now, I just want to use the hot spring." She smiled, her body relaxed.

"Uh... sure. Now that you're here though, you should rejoin the Patch, officially. It's your birthright, you belong with us."

"I know, that's actually why I thought about dropping out of the tournament. I knew I wouldn't make it all the way anyway, but I want to be sure I'm strong enough to serve the Shaman King." She looked over to Hao, who seemed pleased to hear her say that.

"So does this mean you are siding with us then?"

"Of course, I know that Lord Hao is going to be the Shaman King, therefore it is my duty and wish to aid him."

"That's good to hear. I'll leave you to it for now, but do come see me later."

"Sure thing, bro."

"Nova, I want to ask you something. Why don't you and I go for a walk together after this?" Hao asked her.

"A moonlit walk would be quite relaxing."

"Excellent, I know this land well, so I know the best places to go."

"Cool." She threw her clothes to the ground and got into the hot spring, which surprised a few of them, Hao knew she was going to do it and had closed his eyes. "Well aren't you the gentleman." She laughed.

"I don't need to hear your thoughts to know you were going to do that. Wouldn't you rather go with Team Flower though?"

"You're kidding right? You know Kanna hates me, and I just don't see me getting along very well with those girls. I'm comfortable here, if you guys are?"

"There'll be no objections, after all, we're all just here to relax."

That evening they went on their walk, during which Hao finally told her about his past and his motivations for becoming see the Shaman King.

"You know, now that I know all that, it makes total sense, and it makes me want to help you even more."

"I'm glad to hear it. It's nice to finally have someone I can share all that with as well."

"I can't imagine how hard it must have been, holding onto to all that, alone, for a thousand years." She looked as though she was about to cry and so he put his arm round her.

"I want to ask you something. After I become shaman king, I want you to become my wife."

"Wife? You gotta be joking...?." She smiled awkwardly. His expression straightened and in a different tone he said...

"I'm serious."

"I'm flattered but we hardly know each other and I've never even considered dating before so..."

"Well have a think about it, my offer remains." They spent the rest of the evening looking at the stars and Nova opened up about why she had left the Patch in the first place.

"Well so far this has been a pleasant evening, and your company isn't too bad, I suppose." They came to the end of their night.

"How does coffee sound?" He asked.

"sure, when?"

"Tomorrow? You're not just saying yes because you feel obligated to though, are you?"

"Your insecurity is showing. I suppose it's because you're so used to not having to wonder what's on someone's mind. I want to go. Don't worry, if I didn't I'd say so, I promise."

"See you then."

"Patch cafe, tomorrow at noon!" She walked away, leaving him up on the hill, frustrated because she was right. He didn't know how to handle not being able to hear her thoughts.

Later that day she went for a walk by the river, where she found team The Ren and Funabri Hot Springs in a fight with some of Hao's followers.

"Nova, what are you doing here?" Nichrom shouted at her.

"Relax, Nichrom, I know not to interfere." She smiled at everyone. "I'm not here to pick sides, I wish to remain a neutral party."

"How neutral can you be when you've sided with Hao?" Ren asked her.

"It is my duty as a patch member to assist the shaman king, or do you mean because Hao and I are becoming friends?"

"We're friends too, aren't we?" Yoh asked.

"When did that happen?" Ren shouted.

"You associate yourself with them?" Nichrom seemed even angrier and she didn't know why.

"What's your problem, Nichrom?"

"My problem is, you're going round being pally with the one who killed our brother, Chrom! That boy there, Tao Ren!" Both Nova and Ren gasped and looked at each other in horror.

"Wait, Chrom was..."

"My older brother. Nichrom is my twin. And now that I know you killed Chrom, I don't think we can ever be friends, Tao Ren." She looked down and disappeared.

"That's it? She's not going to get mad or anything?" Horohoro was confused by her reaction.

"It's not that surprising. We were separated when we were little, I was able to stay with Chrom, whereas I had assumed Nova had perished along with our mother. Nova barely knew Chrom in reality. That doesn't mean to say she doesn't care about him."

On her way back to Hao, fighting back her tears, she came across the two kids and the Golem. They were being held hostage by Team Flower, who were about to take the kids' souls for Hao. This angered her. She decided to confront Hao.

"Great Omniyoji, Hao Asakura!" She shouted, fists clenched.

"What has you all riled up?" He smirked.

"You... why are you threatening innocent children. After what you told me earlier, how could you! You're a hypocrite!" As she shouted at him, Nichrom appeared in front of her and slapped her.

"How dare you talk to Lord Hao like that, insolent sister."

"Did that make you feel better?" She said coldly. "I can't forgive either of you." She walked away, not looking back.

"Lord Hao, I apologise for my sister."

"No need, she'll come back to me. Oh and Nichrom, don't ever hit her again." His eyes were cold and full of anger. It scared Nichrom, so he knew he messed up big time and was lucky to be let off with a warning.

"Forgive me, Lord Hao. I apologise, it won't happen again."

"She may be your sister, but she's going to become my bride. I can't stand by and let anyone strike her like that, can I?"

Nichrom was starting to think that perhaps Hao genuinely did like Nova, and even cared for her. That was more than could be said for anyone else, other than Luchist and Opacho. So far though, the feeling didn't seem to be mutual.