FFN is bugging man, i can't post nor edit any documents in mobile app anymore. And considering my laptop is on it's last lifeline, i'm running on time
tIf there's several things that you SHOULDN'T be doing while being near me or if you know me is to;
One. Don't ask me how I end up in modern day Japan, because the last time I tell someone that I'm a Guardian that can shoots lightning whenever I want and can create a portal the size of a planet with just a snap, they threatened to send me off to the nearest mental ward in Nagazora. Yes, before any of you ask, I am indeed a Guardian who can create a portal that could swallow earth itself and sent them somewhere far else, but I don't do that anymore because there's really no point in doing so. My time, has long since past. Time changed a lot of things, not even I am exempted from this natural fact.
Plus, there's no such energy that is the equivalent of Mana here... While I can still summon pure lightning without much efforts.. My body requires mana to create portal.
Especially one that is the size of a WORLD, ugh that's hell.
But aside from that, I can assure you that deep inside, I am still the Guardian... Former Guardian of Heavenhold. So what changed? Well. aside from the fact that I can't die and doesn't possess any of my old items including the aerial castle itself nor my Libera, there's really nothing else. What, surprised? Yes, I can't die. Seriously even back then when I was still huma- Okay, somewhat human it took the entirety upper echelons of the [Invaders] ranks to even make me exert any effort to pulverize them, even the Dark Magician I felled her off in a single strike. Plus it's not my decision to make when this curse was laid on me.
Now I can't exactly remember what happened- Scratch that, I remember it all.
Everything was just... gone. One second I had beheaded the Savior and fulfilled my duty, the next second as soon as white fountain spurts out from my fallen foe's neck I noticed that everyone starts to behave strangely. They moves sporadically as if they are having violent seizures.
Craig, Marianne, Sohee, Coco, Fei, Mei, Marvin, Lilith, Eva, Karina, Allie, Erina, Favi, Lavi, Dolf, Amy, Bob, Linda, Marina, Yuze, Alef, Bianca, the Gods and divine beings such as Kamael, Plitvice, Bari, Mayreel... Then the others... and soon... Everyone on the battlefield... Not just them the whole worlds.. Yes worlds, not even the Afterlife or Outerworld were exceptions. All of them were having the same reaction.
And I... Was the only one that didn't seem to be affected and appears normal.
When I was about to approach them i saw their body started to darken, then I witnessed their flesh quickly melting to the ground, their whole skeletal yet still clinging fleshy limbs bended in unnatural angles with their faces trapped in a frozen agony and before I know it. They... And I mean EVERYONE exploded in an explosions of black wisps.
I was the only one that remained. I found myself to be the last living being on the barren field and there was no one else that remains.. Humanity, no... Everything's gone. All that's left are just black swaths of bacterias in the air, the remains of my comrades. All of my friends, allies, and the world... they were all gone because of me. I was the one who killed them... The moment I fulfill my duty, is the moment I killed everyone and doomed the world.
Even now the guilt and regret still haunts me whenever there's a time for reminiscing the past.
Sigh.
But anyway, when I was the only one to remain in the barren wasteland.. Then came the darkness, when the world collapse and covered by the endless Void, there is no more sound, there is no more light, hell I can't even feel anything... It's like.. It's like living without actually living at all.
I stayed on the darkness for who knows how long, spent it all to ponder to myself on what-if's, of my failures, of my newfound hatred for my own self.
I wanted everyone back, I desperately wanted to undo all of this mistake... I never wanted any of this... This ending to happen. Had I known of such thing I would have think of different ways, no there's no other ways... I shouldn't have killed the Savior. Maybe it's me? Or maybe the Champion Sword?
I don't know... I don't even care anymore.
Seconds turns to minutes, minutes turns to hours, and hours turns into.. No, that's just my mind still clinging to the edge of sanity, of what's left of my functional head.
That's what you get if you stays in a dark place bereft of anything, no sound, no senses, no light, no nothing... There's just the void.
Worst of all? I can feel that I slowly began to forget everything... Of my memories, of my bonds with the Champions and the various peoples I have met, of the guilt and regret for my ending... And my purpose and existence.
Can you imagine of forgetting your own self? Of who you are? It is the most terrifying experience I have ever felt. No... Maybe to some people maybe that's not so bad.
It wasn't until I was greeted by someone or rather.. Something and IT offered an agreement... Initially I refused because my reaction to... IT's presence already terrifies me beyond imagine, not even Savior- heck I would bet my whole life that I will choose fight the Savior himself for unlimited of trials rather than knowing that such THING exist, but alas I quickly accepted once I was told of the latter additional proposal. I accepted the deal from that THING, as if it couldn't get any worse-
It does.
And no, knowing of IT's existence or the real truth is not something I have ever wanted... i- On a second thought fuck no. I don't want to think, know, remember, or whatever that could brought out about IT anymore.
Erase that thought.
Anyway, after that whole moment I was now aware of my condition.
The Void. I don't know how much time has passed.. But staying there has a dire consequences for my being, for one It has turn me into something inhuman, something.. Uh, what's the term that is out of this world.. Alien? Maybe. Confused? I know, even now I still I do sometimes.
I can't age, I can't get sick, I can't feel hunger nor be ever tired, I can't.. I don't even know anymore.
Anyway, that's enough of my angsty lore.
I'm currently running at ninety three percent of my Mana. Yeah, it's safe to say that I'm not a normal human by today's standard. I intend to keep my status as a Guardian or even an Outworlder as a secret till death, which is why I refrain on doing too many things with it. Really, I only use my Mana for things like... Uh, and making campfire when I'm out camping? That's just about it really, but even so, I still have a LOT of mana to spare.
Now I don't know about you, it is true I can be considered immo, however since Mana is the lifehood back in Thetis and that here and now there's no other form of mana replenishment, I really don't want to know if - IF i do ran out of Mana someday - I could really die, don't wanna be back to that place soon after all.
I've been living here for who knows how long and I haven't even lose a quarter percent of my own mana reserve. And there's also the fact that I'm stuck being in my twenty year old self forever. I can use some magics that Lilith had taught me, but that would just drain my Mana faster, something I sometimes do every now and then on a whim, I stopped doing it as a form of amusement when I got caught for being a Satanic practitioner during the '90s.
Then It gets worse when I caught the news that I had accidentally created a cult of all things because of that one accident.
...For Goodness sake, I'm not Veronica! That woman can be horrifying beyond imagine despite her seemingly priestess persona.
Clara is just a small example of what she can do to a person.
Poor girl, she doesn't even have a soul left literally after whatever Veron had done to torture her.
Were it not for the fact she's.. Hold on what's the word that those weebs use... Yandere! Yeah, yandere for me and... Kaden, which I exploit to the fullest by making her and her cult to help on my journey to find and gather all Champions, then I would have kicked her and her bands of hooligans out of the Heavenhold. Nevermind the fact that it's tens of thousands of feets in the air.
Crazy birch.
Alef always said to never stick your dick to the crazies. Bless that perverted old man in boy's body depraved soul.
Regardless, none of that matters now. Now... I'm living a completely different life yet with the same live that I have many, many years ago. There are no Invaders to kill, no maidens to be charmed, and especially no more Champions to gather, my duty is done. Here in the new world there is just me and my current life as a Cafe owner at one of Japan's prefecture, Nagazora.
But before that... I am Raime van Asteria, the Guardian of Kanterburry, Prophesied Champion, the Owner of Flying Castle Heavenhold, the Chosen One... And the Main Protagonist.
But again. None of those matters, because I have forgone them and now I am just Astra. Astra Aeternas. The owner of a small cafe in Nagazora who makes various delicacies ranging something from Ramen into exquisite like souflé for a living..
Enough about my monologue, gotta stop that habit really, it's time for me to go to work... Even if it's Sunday.
By the way, did I forget to mention that Heavenhold-
[3rd Pov]
Letting out a yawn, Astra rubbed his face as he tried to wipe the sleep out of his eyes. Waking up at five am every morning had been a struggle initially. For as long as the blonde guardian could remember, he'd never been a morning person and never will be.
Besides, the walk from his home to the Heavenhold Café helped to rid him if any lingering drowsiness. It was Sunday, which meant he was only open until two. After that, he planned on going home and sleeping the day away until it was time to restart his week all over again.
...
..
.
That is, if the two inseparable stooges that have decided to stick with him better known as; Kevin and Su, didn't barge to his Café like the usual just for hangout.
Stopping in his tracks, Astra pinches the bridge of his nose, he could already hear their respective nag and yell in his mind, the results of spending too much time with them.
Walking the streets at such an early time, it would always surprise him to see people in Nagazora much like himself, out and about already starting their day. The sun hadn't even risen yet, and the brisk chill of the air nipped at his skin, reddening his cheeks and the tip of his nose. He nodded his head at a passerby, who was heading towards a nearby truck as packages of all sizes were being loaded on and off with great care.
Rounding the corner, he sniffled when the Heavenhold Café came into sight with its bright creme coloured frame standing out amongst the dull colours of the other building. Didn't people understand if they wanted to attract the attention of the people passing by, then what better way was there then using the brightest shade of the best colour in the world!? If nothing else, it would cause people to stop and look.
And also enters it.
Digging into his pockets and pulling out a key, he quickly entered the café and locked the door behind him. Switching the lights on, he could still detect the lingering scent of pasta and coffee from the day before. Shaking the cold away, he eyed up the coffee machine to warm him up as he removed his trenchcoat and hung it up in his office door.
As he busied himself on setting up his morning drink he was startled when a sudden and unknown voice interrupt him from behind.
"Took you long enough, Human."
When Astra turned towards the source behind him, he was meth with a rather interesting... Sight and news.
Namely, a silver haired woman who bears the exact resemblance with the game character; The Queen, and also his ramen addicted friend, Kevin Kaslana.
She sat on the couch without an ounce of care as her hand swirls a glass of milk.. Astra sighed in relief in his mind when he saw that it wasn't a familiar red drink suggesting that she didn't find any of his secret collectible wines, benefits of befriending the Harvest God.
"Who are you?" Astra asked while slowly rising his guard up, internally he debates whether he should try and use his magical arsenals or just use his Lightning but then immediately squashed down that notion and throws that thought away from his mind.
Honestly? A second chance of fighting and being the 'Main Character' isn't something that he EVER wanted to re-experience or even done again, he's just done with conflicts.
...Or maybe he's turning into a certain lazy fairy, Aoba's laziness truly knows no bound. Even an apocalyptic armageddon will not even crack up the slightest bit of her eyelids in her slumber.
"How rude of thee, to not recognize me. Didn't you even read the description of I in the game cover."
'Now that I think about it... Wasn't the other title of the Queen was Herrscher of... Void?' He internally shudder mentioning that place.
"So you're saying that you're a.. Herrscher...?" He asks the silver-haired girl with six black-and-white lance like wings behind her, now feeling slightly at ease... If only a little seeing that she doesn't ooze a hostile intention towards him or the city he currently resides in.
"Not 'A', but THE Herrscher, you should remember that in your small feeble mind, human." The five footed tall... fairy? monster? God? said with pride as she sat on the couch with a regal grace.
"Herrscher... Herr- Ah ...It says here that you're supposed to be a god or monarch?" He pulled up his old phone screen and asks while pointing at the Houkai Fandom page.
"Tch. Herrscher doesn't simply means a mere titles like you humans seems to give, it could also attributed to something above, something divine... Something like, God." She pauses and looks briefly at Astra's eyes to see if he was with her, only for a twitch to develop below her eye when she sees him staring back at her blankly.
Not knowing of the girl's turmoil, Astra sat on one of the cafe's chair and gestured for her to continue. Further annoying her with his lack of reaction.
"Hmph! Make yourself comfortable as you want, human, so I can begin my story without-" She was cut off when Astra comfortably slouched into his chair and pull out a tub of Mozzarella ice cream, her eyes gained another small twitch and she grit her teeth silently, but she took a deep calming breath to refrains from making a comment.
"...The game "Honkai Impact" is a sequel, or also could be interpret as the Spin-off series to the original game "Honkai Academy: School DayZ", a popular game series. Originally, the manufacturer wanted to aim for the female side of gaming populace while still keeping some of the manliness for the main character-"
The blond owner raised an eyebrow, not recognizing the name of the games at all, since the video games he and his friends played was always brought by Kevin, and not him personally.
"-However. Due to the head programmer's addiction to the Soulsborne franchise, she based the spin-off series off of that. For some reason, the manufacturers accepted the idea and began producing the first hundred copies." She paused slightly to build tension, but that was ruined with Astra who only scoop up an ice cream to his mouth.
Nom
[💢]
Irritation and annoyance, that was the feeling that could describe what's currently raging within the Herrscher's heart, as she watches the human the Chief seems to be interested with, just nonchalantly eats his treats without a care for the world.
'I'm starting to highly doubt about the Big sister Chief's words, this man doesn't seems like what she had describes as..' She thought snidely to herself while masking her outer face with a blank look, 'Tsk, no matter I will do what she had told me to do.. Even if i loathe it as it is'
Coughing her throat, she took a small breath and continued to regale the man with her origin.
"They finished the production of the first hundred batches of "Honkai Academy" before they got the results from their free trials. The results were... less than favorable. Most reviewers left after the first ten minutes... They claimed that the characters were too bland and the graphics were horrible, the gameplay of sidescrolling were too simple and doesn't offer much... And they also added in the last thing that the game as a whole is just too boring and long... If the game had gone out then the reviews, then based off the trial run, it would've ruined the company's reputation for decades... Possibly forever etched for making the biggest blunder in history of Gaming industry.." By now, her fists were clenching unconsciously as she scowled from remembering the events that brought it to this point.
"...The project was scrapped. The one hundred copies were to be scrapped and all data of the project were to be wiped. They were all scrapped. One by one. They were thrown into the chute... Torn to pieces... Destroyed to the tiniest molecules... Even their history was all but erased to prevent any shame."
She stopped herself to take a calming breath. Astra sat there with a straightened back; the box of Mozzarella ice cream put away in order to show respect for the seriousness. Honestly, this was not what he was expecting... For a game that is.
"Being the last one to remain out of the hundred products, I decided to fulfill the task that I was made for, which the three of you continued to play even when the others left after ten minutes. You allowed me to fulfill my purpose. For her dearest wish, In Chief's name.. I cannot be grateful enough.. And thank you m- Master..." The Herrscher kowtowed to the blonde. She held that position for several seconds before sit there with a stony face and stared at Astra. It took him a couple of minutes to figure out that she was waiting for his judgment.
"...Astra Aeternas, the unorthodox chef extraordinaire, the Owner of Heavenhold. Stay as long as you'd like...?" Though it seemed redundant, he stood up an offered a hand for her to shake.
"I... I don't have a name. " She looks away briefly before taking his hand and shooks it.
"You don't..?" He furrows his eyebrows, and she nodded her head almost unnoticeably.
"...i was only coded to as either "Queen" or "Herrscher of the Void" That is... Saddening.
That was, until an idea suddenly came into his mind and he smiled mysteriously at her.
"Alright then, I will give you a name."
She looked back at him in surprise, the blind owner gave her a reassuring smile in response.
"From now on, your name will be..." He paused dramatically for an added tension, though the Queen felt irked for being stalled she couldn't help but felt anxious, anticipation build up within her as she awaits the moment of her identity.
"Sirin."
...
..
.
"Sirin... Sirin.." The newly christened Herrscher tested out the name with her tongue, and strangely enough.. It felt appropriate for her.
As if it was meant for her.
"What do you think?"
"I- it's acceptable, for a human."
"Good, good.." Astra nodded before he whipped up something faster than an eye could even blink and then shoves it into Sirin's arms, startling her as she stumbled slightly and looked to the content on her arms. She then raises her head to look at the owner with a confusion mixed with apprehension.
"What is the meaning of this." She ques- Nay, demanded.
Astra: Oh, a job.
Meanwhile:
_
[Kevin PoV]
"NO, NO, NOOOO! FUCK! FUCK YOU! FUCK. YOU! YOU FUCKING SKILLESS USELESS NO-LIFE CAMPER! I'MMA FIND YOU BOY! I'MMA FIND YOU AND WHEN I DID, I WILL COMMIT THE MOST HEINOUS AND DIABOLICAL ARSON IN HISTORY AND THEN HANG YOUR PATHETIC PANSY ASSED CHARRED CORPSE IN YOUR MOTHER'S DRESSER!"
"HAHA! You mad bro!? GIT GUD, GGEZ! LOSER!" [Proceed to T-bags Kevin's dead avatar in the game]
"RRAAAAGHHHHHHH!"
Forgive my vocal outburst but when it comes to competitive multiplayer first person shooters, I'm a very sore loser.
I slammed down the controller of my PS4, before shutting the console off.
I'm mighty pissed right now... mighty. I don't always start my morning like this... playing videogames, rage quitting because some fucking twelve year old camper in Warzone and ending up in one of the shittiest mood I ever felt... no, today's a very different day.
Bored, I pulled out my smartphone. And I opened an application where the sad, pathetic and lonely virgins of the world converse.
"Whoa... This guy masturbate once every year to a porn his late friend very much like, to honor him? Di luar nurul sekali."
[Timeskip - Third PoV]
"Yo As!, can you get me a pork ramen-" Kevin opens the front entrance to the ramen shop and walks in, only for him to immediately jumps to the side, narrowly missing a flying cleaver as it embeds itself into the wall that he had stood in front of a scant moment ago.
"We're close. Get out!" Astra struggles vainly against Su's armbar hold as he tries to throw another knife in his hand.
"But.. Astraaaa~. I'm hungry~." Kevin groaned with a face of agony as he slouches onto the table weakly. Su joined him on the side after managing to calm the irked owner, he raises an eyebrow at his albino friend.
"Don't you eat something on your home?" Su asked while sipping the warm green tea.
"Ugh... Ever since I tasted Astra's delicacies I can't hope to ever ate cup noodles again... It's just.. Too... GOOD!" He cried out while spreading his arms widely, Su has to duck as to avoid being hit.
"Yeah, yeah."
Ring! Ring!
The three of them were alerted by the sound of bell ringing twice, they saw a young woman, the same age as Kevin, that has long dark purple hair and indigo eyes.
'So that's Mei Raiden/The girl that the brat's crushed on'
Astra briefly locked eyes with Su who had open them for an instant, silent messages was exchanged and the both of them understood their assignments. Astra then stood up and waved goodbye to the teen, as he had to attend another customer who seems to be inspecting the room, while Su also stood up to switch place in another table, the white haired prince didn't responded as he was too busy gawking at the new customer too notice their departing.
Approaching the woman, Astra pulled out a small lime-coloured notebook from his pocket, and a violet pen ready on his other.
Plastering a polite smile, he greeted her with his new line of welcome for introductions.
"Peace and greeting upon ye, m'lady, my name is Astra Aeternas, the owner of this small càfe, and I welcome you with warm greetings to Heavenhold!"
He brought his pen's tip on the surface of the paper, ready to write an order.
"And now I ask, what is th-"
"MEI-!?"
His sentence was cut off when Kevin finally snapped out of his shock and shouted out the name of his new customer loudly.
The young woman - Mei - turned around at the source, her face immediately soured upon the view of Kevin.
Huffing slightly, she turned around and promptly blinked when she met the pair of shocked blue owned by the whitehaired Chiba's prince.
Looking back she almost failed to hide her shock when she saw that she was seated in the opposite of Kevin's seat, and in her hand was a velvet coloured book full of various menu with appetizing pictures of foods.
'How did-'
Before she could question the baffling situation, a sudden cough from the barista, Astra, caught their attention, one is a still shocked yet confused, while the other, her own, is furious and full of cautious.
"Dear customers, what will be your orders?"
He asked with a small smile plastered upon his face, Kevin wanted to say something but that thought was immediately put down when the young man saw the look on Mei's face.
"You.."
Astra didn't even seems to mind the hostile tone as he just clicked his pen's button, preparing himself to write their orders.
"I'll have a hot chocolate, with a slice of the carrot cake..!"
"Allrighty." He replied, before adding,
"Would you like to add anything at the top of your drink?" Astra gave a knowing smile.
"I- I don't know- I mean, nope, noppety nope." The owner grinned and then turns to the stoic woman.
"I'll take a hot pure extract of espresso with no sugar, and may I ask, what is your special dessert of the day?"
"It is a Lemon Curd Semifreddo." He told her and smiled internally when he saw her eyes sparkle a little bit.
"Then I shall have that."
Astra nodded, and wrote down the order, "It will take about ten minutes if you don't mind waiting."
"Might as well." Mei huffed and watched him walk away. When he walked back behind the counter, she turned to her opposite and noticed his blue eyes gazing straight at her, which widens looks away, "What?"
"N- Nothing!"
"If you have something to say, then be direct and out with it."
"It's nothing. It's just.. S- sorry for dragging you with this." 'I'll definitely at you back you magnificent bastard!'
There wasn't any response from her which put a damp in Kevin's mood, It wasn't long before they were interrupted by the blonde barista, who placed their drinks on the table in front of them. Both looked impressed or in the case of Kevin, salvating. Kevin tries to and did his best to keep his face from drooping in front of his crush as the delightful smell of his hot chocolate wafted around his nose. It's aroma alone already and almost lulled him into trance. Mei had a similar but subdued expression on her face, wrapping her hand around the warm mug. When he placed Kevin's carrot cake in front of her, the young researcher unconsciously licked her lips which didn't go unnoticed by the owner as he smirked silently in triumphant.
'Hah! Victory.' Astra thought while looking over at Kevin from the corner of his eye, he saw that he's too engrossed with the carrot cake to even notice the expression of Mei.
'Ahh, the life of a matchmaker is never dull.' He snickered before he then walked back to the kitchen for Mei'a order.
While Astra prepared Mei's order, the two quietly drank their drinks, both relaxing into their seats as the taste touched their lips. But then, when Kevin had the first bite of his carrot cake, Mei couldn't help but scrunched her face in disgust and curiosity as the Chiba's white prince started demolishing the baked good without any ounce of care.
'Does the taste really match the appearance?' Mei thought to herself watching Kevin devouring his food with unparalleled gusto.
He nodded satisfiedly, "I hope you enjoy. Let me know If I can get you anything else." He told them, and started to leave before he saw Kevin looking his way, "Can I get you another drink?"
"I want the same again." He said, making him smile and head back to the counter. He looked at Mei and noticed her silently looking down at the plate, her fork in hand. Kevin wasn't one to praise food, unless it's Ramen, However, he had to admit the Lemon Curd Semifreddo Astra has made looked divine. It looked like something you'd find in high-class restaurant. "Well, umm.. Mei, aren't you going to, y'know.. Try it?"
"I want to, but I feel like it would be a shame to ruin it," Mei said, reluctantly admitting that the man made an impressive work in the culinary art.
It took a moment, but slowly Mei dug her fork into the semifreddo. The texture was light and fluffy, and she watched it jiggle around as she brought it up to her mouth. Taking a bite, Kevin watched as Mei fell back against her chair, her rhythmic breathing making her opposite (Unconsciously) leaned forward in anticipation. Judging by the expression on her face, the dessert had gone over well. The usually composed and cold student-researcher rarely let her cool visage slip, always retaining a mask of dignity that kept her true feelings behind closed doors.
Mei wasn't the kind of woman that wore her feelings on her sleeve, but on the rare occasion he saw past them, It was always a pleasant surprise experience for the Chiba White Prince to see the usually composed and cold woman to drop all pretences and enjoy something for what it was.
Then, out of nowhere, Mei let out a loud moan of delight that ranged through the cafe.
The whole room fell quiet than even before, Kevin couldn't stop the bright red blush from overtaking his whole face. He gawked at Mei, looking between her and her plate. Even he wasn't that bad. It sounded so.. So.. Sexual and Erotic-
Kevin slapped his cheek from the line of thought.
'Bad Kevin! Stop the dirty thoughts, Astra and I will definitely have some words over this!' Yet, even as he said that he couldn't stop himself from staring at Mei who's still in her dreamy state.
"M- Mei.."
Hearing Kevin's voice causes her to snap back to her senses, Mei couldn't stop her eyes from widening in panic when she realized what she had just done, a first for Kevin he suppose, "I-It's not what you think!"
That was a lie and she knew it. The moment she realised what she had just done, Mei brought up her free hand up to her mouth in shocked horror. She hid her face and didn't dare to look at Kevin in the face, but the blonde owner was in her viewpoint, and she could see his smug smile and the look in his eyes which conveys 'Told you so'.
'T- That fiend! Blond Bastard! ' She raged in her mind cursing the cafe owner with all known curse she known while glaring at Astra with a very bright flush marring her cheeks.
Never in her life had she ever publically done something so candid. What made it worse was doing it in public place... Which she thanks everything including the none-existent Gods for the fortunate she had been saved by the face that there's only her and Kevin in the room.
'Sluuuuuurp...'
Her neck snaps to the other side of the room, where she found a green-haired man sitting quietly as he sips his tea under the awkward atmosphere, she felt something familiar from him- Nevermind! There's another person aside from them that witnessed her blunder!
'What the hell is wrong with me!'
She hid her face, the embarrassment flooding her senses to a thousand folds, hhen Astra walked back over, Mei didn't dare look him in the eye. After he provided the still-shocked Kevin with hid second round of orders, he stopped and whispered to Mei, his voice tinged with obvious smugness and glee, "I'm glad you enjoyed it." He smiled politely (Fake), and before she could give him a retort, he walked away. DAMN IT!
Mei groaned and hid her face in her hands. She wished the earth would swallow her up for eternity.
"You are evil."
Astra crane his neck to look behind him and saw Sirin giving him a look of mortification and horror, which he responded back with a crack of tiny smile.
"Is it? All I did was just serving her some delicious cakes." The Herrscher could only shudder by the way of how Astra smiled mischievously.
With nothing to say, both of them fell into silence of watching the two dining.
The pair had stayed for an hour after that, with Mei remaining silent for the remainder of their stay, too embarrassed to say another word, while Kevin demolished another two servings of hot chocolate and carrot cake, seemingly forgotten of the earlier ordeal in favour of foods.
Finally, after they finished, before Mei could do anything Kevin seems to say something to the girl, which elicited a displeasure on her face, though with persistence seems to be that she just resigned and Kevin-
Oh.
Astra whistled silently at how Kevin paying both of their meals, despite the fact that he knew the young boy is broke as hell, it would seem that gentlemanly
"That.. Man, sure is.. Insistence." Sirin finally let out.
"Well, one tends to do great heights for love." 'Even if it sometimes can be damning'
Blue eyes stares back to his emerald green, and there's an unreadable expression behind them as the albino walks towards him, fortunately. Sirin already retreated to the back before Kevin came and he let the albino approach him-
He didn't react when his face snaps to the side, he could hear Su hurriedly approaching them to dissuade the brewing hostility, he had half-mind to stop him since he could feel the perpetrator himself didn't add much force behind his punch.
"That's for shaming Mei." Well, he supposed he did go overboard in adding the ingredients.. That or maybe he just can't control what he create.
"And this.. Is for the bromance."
The next thing he knew, he was enveloped in a tight hug, Su came to his vision bearing a relieved face now that he thought it wasn't that serious.
"This is dandy and I don't mind hugs and all that..." Astra slowly broke from Kevin's hold, patting his clothes from any remnants of food crumbles.
Can't be so sure with Kevin after all.
"But?" Su raised an eyebrow.
"BUT! This is a special opportunity, I want to introduce you guys... To my new employee!"
"Wait.. You finally hired someone?" Kevin was surprised, he thought that the blond in front of him was the type of doing it all by himself.
"I know what you're thinking. And no, no, and nope." Astra just answered the unasked question within them, glancing at the back he then shouted;
"Sirin! You can come out now!"
"NO!" An unknown female- Sirin-voice responded, indignation and vehemence coloring them as she refuses to entertain the idea
"SIRIN!"
"I REFUSE TO GO OUT WEARING THIS THING!"
"You must! Herrscher or not I swear to my holy laddle that I won't give you any treats for a week!"
Kevin and Su glance at each other having caught what Astra just said, both of them felt a familiar feeling over hearing the word.
'Herrscher?'
"HMPH!"
"Alright guys, I want you to meet MY cute, adorable, and dependable maid!" Followed by a creepy laugh that unnerved the duo.
For a moment, they thought the 'Sirin' person won't come out, until.. The door creaked...
When Kevin finally saw the figure, his eyes they almost bulged out from their socket from how shocked he is, to his side Su was just blinking owlishly while staring at the now dressed maid Herrscher.
What the two best friends saw was a woman who share the resemblance to Kevin and the character from the game yesterday, now wearing a white and black maid uniform, while the two silently gawked Astra was whistling towards her with a passing comment that serves only to add more to her growing ire.
"Looking good Sirin!" Astra whistled. "Now smile for your first customers~!"
Sirin then mustered up the most broken smile that the two boys has ever seen, the twitching from the corners of her mouth and the glare indicates she was just an inch from jumping at the oblivious owner... Who just continue to clap frivolously at Sirin.
"Atta girl! Now, say the thing we have practiced on!"
Kevin and Su briefly glanced again at each other and at that miniscule time, a telepathy line forged from the lifelong brotherhood was established;
K: 'I have a bad feeling about this..'
S: 'And so do I..'
Sirin flinched from that, her face took a deep shade of crimson as she appeared reluctant to say a word, taking a deep breath she then puts on another perfect (Read: Broken) smile (Read again: Scowl) befitting her status as a maid (Not).
"F- Fuuwa- COUGH! COUGH! G- Greetings Hu- Master Ke- Kevin... And Master.. Su... My name is.. Sirin, what would you like to... Order."
End
(Total Writing Words: 6335)
Review
The original concept was that it's GodKiana (GGZ) that got to work under Astra instead of HoV/Sirin, until I realized that it's gonna cause blockage later in plot.