Me: Hi! Here's chapter 17~ Enjoy~

Edited - 5/14/2024

Beta'd by IHaveNoIdea8

….

Morning

I was standing beside Shion, who looked annoyed with Jade. I wondered why she was so annoyed with him?

"The operation begins at noon. Our ships will be deployed in the Central Ocean and Ispanian Peninsula." Goldberg told us.

"They'll take longer to get in position than the Albiore." Nordheim told us, "Standby in the Central Ocean beneath Eldrant and wait for our arrival."

"Understood."

"The artillery bombardment will begin as soon as the allied forces arrive." Jade told Luke, "With that support, we will breach Eldrant from below, where there is less anti-aircraft fire."

"We'll destroy the anti-air facilities if possible, and then go after Van."

"Our final objective is the release of Lorelei. I think that covers everything."

"Okay, your turn, Luke. This is the final battle, so give the order and make it good!"

"M-me?" I felt sorry for Luke, I felt like Anise was putting too much pressure on him.

"Well, you're more or less the leader now." Tear told him.

Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to give his orders.

"Okay. Everyone, we're going to protect our world!"

Everyone went on the Albiore, I barely listened and went into my La La Land, but I snapped out of it when I went flying and my face hit the floor of the Albiore. I yelled in pain, almost falling on my ass when I stood up, but Shion caught me and helped me to a safe spot to hold onto something while the Albiore was shaking. We landed on Eldrant, and we found the Albiore III. Noelle and Shion ran over to the driver of the Albiore III, his name was Ginji, who was Noelle's brother. He was badly hurt, Noelle said she would stay with her brother while we all went on ahead.

But before I left I sent one of my orbs of light to surround Ginji healing his injuries, Noelle blinked and then smiled thanking me. I nodded and quickly rushed after the others since I made sure they were ahead of me a bit.

After a while of walking around Eldrant, we ran into Legretta. Shion wanted to take her out so she joined us. We beat Legretta good, whatever Legretta did to piss off Shion must be a really good reason to kick her ass. Shion was a very skilled swordswoman. Before I knew it, Legretta was on her knees with Tear standing in front of her.

"...Tear." she raised her right hand pointing her gun at Tear "You got one thing wrong. People don't just lay down their lives for nothing. At least...I didn't...I loved him and his ideals... I was willing to die for him."

I felt bad for Legretta right there, thinking that could have been me if Sync hadn't fallen into the core. I knew how she felt, I loved Sync and I would die for him.

"That is my will... That's...all..." then she fell to the ground, "Van... Reform this...twisted world..."

I wanted to cry for her, but I looked away.

"Major..."

"Tear... Are you okay?" Luke walked over to Tear, a worried look on his face.

"...Yes. There's no time for grief now. Let's go."

"...You never change. It's okay to cry, you know."

"I won't cry. Crying won't change anything. If I can't control my emotions-."

"You're a poor soldier." Anise, Natalia, Shion, and I all said at the same time.

"Tear wouldn't be Tear if she didn't act tough."

"Tear needs to be the ideal soldier. Otherwise, in her mind, Legretta's death means nothing. It's one way of overcoming the loss." Jade said. Shion scowls at her brother, I still can't believe they are siblings not by blood but still...

Luke frowns "...You all understand Tear a lot better than I do." He sounded dejected by that...he's so dense he doesn't realize he's jealous.

"...That's not true."

"Huh?" Luke looks at Tear confused.

She sighs softly "Never mind. Let's go."

We went further in, and there was something in my gut telling me something bad was going to happen. When we went into this one area, Shion was standing beside Luke, talking with him, when suddenly the spot they were standing on turned into a big hole, making them both fall. Shion screamed and Luke yelled out in surprise.

"Uah!"

"Kyaa!"

"Luke!" Tear went down on one knee looking down into the endless hole it seems.

"Damn it! We could jump in and..."

"No." I look at him frowning, that was his sister that fell.

"Jade!" Guy looked upset like I was.

"If he drops out of the running here, he's nothing more than a burden. As for Shion, she'll be okay."

"But the others are after the Jewel of Lorelei that Luke has, and we can't forget Kairi has the replica jewel of Lorelei." Natalia points out, with worry for both Luke and me.

"Precisely. So the enemy must have a safe path leading to Luke's location. Let's go on ahead and look for it."

"Luke! Please be okay!"

"Damn... I hope they are okay..." I bent over the hole trying to see if I could see where the hole went, but before I could see where the hole went, it closed over.

Shion's POV

Me and Luke finally landed, but thankfully for me, I landed on Luke. I knocked the breath out of him when I landed on him. I stood up, helping Luke up along with me. I was about to ask where we were when I heard his voice.

"You..."

"Asch! What are you doing here?!"

"Asch, you're okay!" I ran over to him and hugged him, not even caring that he hated hugs! I missed his grumpy attitude.

"H-hey! Let me go, Shion!" I giggled and looked at his red face.

I let him go, letting him speak to Luke. I stayed right beside him with a cat-like smile, my hands behind my back. I was really happy to be beside Asch again. But something inside me told me something bad was going to happen.

"Humph. I could ask you the same thing. House Fabre must have very stupid genes. Even my replica fell into the same trap... You even got Shion to fall into the trap too!... Disgusting."

"Hey, be nice Asch, he didn't know."

"Yeah, don't say things like that!" Luke told Asch, pretty upset at what he said.

"It's true!"

Luke started to look around to change the subject, "Isn't there any way out?"

Asch went to the middle of the room and put his hand to the ground, making the big white door open, but when Asch took his hand away it closed again.

"One of us has to stay here."

Luke walked in front of Asch and held out the Jewel to him, making Asch look confused.

"...What are you doing?"

"If only one of us can get out, you should be the one to go. Use the key to free Lorelei-"

"Stop it! Just stop! Are you trying to insult me?" I flinched at Asch's tone. He was pissed off. I didn't think he should get angry at Luke, he was just doing what he thought was best.

"No. I'm a replica. My hyperresonance isn't as powerful. If our skill with the sword is equal, then the one who is better in another area should go."

"...Now that you're not just putting yourself down, you're even more irritating!"

"Asch! Stop being that way with Luke! At least he's trying!"

"Stay out of this, Shion! This doesn't concern you!"

I shut my mouth eyes wide at how he yelled at me.

"Asch..."

"Better in another area? You don't know anything. How can you possibly say that? You couldn't possibly know which of us is better!"

"Either way, I'm..."

"Shut up!" Asch interrupted Luke.

I gasped when Asch turned around, facing Luke with his sword pointed right at him.

"Asch! What are you..."

"Only one of us can leave this room and take Shion with them. The stronger one will destroy Van!"

Luke tried to talk some sense into Asch, but he refused to listen. They started to fight, and I chewed on my bottom lip nervously while watching Luke and Asch fight it out, until Luke actually beat Asch, which surprised me.

"Damn it... The original lost to the replica..." I ran over to Asch, worried about what he was going to do. I got especially worried when he tossed the sword to Luke's feet. "Take it."

Luke picked the sword up, "Asch... I..." Before Luke could say anymore, a group of Oracle Knights came in, demanding the Key of Lorelei.

"Stop! Hand over the Key of Lorelei!"

Asch opened the big white door and told Luke to leave. Luke ran over to the opened door, but I stayed right where I was. Asch knew I didn't want to leave without him.

"Shion, leave!"

"No! I want to stay right here and help you fight those stupid Knights!"

"Don't make me knock you out, Shion!"

I was almost in tears, "You stupid bastard! You only care about holding them off. You don't know if you will die or not! I could help you instead of worrying about you to death!" Tears started to fall on my face.

"...Tsk, why do you get all emotional when this happens? Just go with my replica so I can take these idiots down and close the door."

"...Why can't you understand, Asch?! I..."

'It's now and never' I thought to myself as I took a deep breath.

"The reason why I care so much about your well-being is because... I love you okay? Happy now? That's why if you're going to be stupid and get yourself killed I want to be there to smack some sense into you!"

I glared at him while he wore a shocked expression on his face, and then his expression changed to a sad look, which confused me.

"I'm sorry Shion..."

"Sorry? For what?" I frowned at him, and before I could react, he knocked me out, punching me right in my gut which I knew for sure would hurt when I woke up.