Falling through the air, Alexia barely had time to register the wet sensation before—
Splash.
She shot up, sputtering. Water dripped from her lashes, clinging to her skin like cold fingers.
The fountain. Of course.
Hugging her shoulders, she sighed, tilting her head back. Above, fireworks painted the sky in bursts of color. But the joy in them felt distant—like a celebration she no longer belonged to.
"Brother."
The word slipped out, quiet. Hollow.
Her gaze wandered through the garden, tracing familiar paths. Shadows clung to the places they once played, once laughed—when things had been simpler. When he had just been her annoying older brother, and she had been his sassy little sister.
Her soaked dress clung to her, heavy, but she barely noticed as she stepped out of the fountain.
"Meow."
Inferno padded beside her, golden eyes watchful. She ignored him.
Her mind was trapped in echoes.
"Lex! Lex! Look! I found a blue and white frog! I've never seen one like this before!"
"Lex, happy birthday. I hope this one will be best one yet."
"Sister, I'm glad that no matter what happens, we'll always have each other."
"If I ever catch you… I'll never let you go."
[How did Host know that would wake him up?]
"To me, Lucius is my brother first and foremost. He just needs a little... occasional… okay… frequent reminders… sometimes."
A bitter laugh crawled up her throat, but it died before it could escape. Instead, her vision blurred.
She wiped her eyes quickly, almost angrily.
"I knew it. Everyone I try to hold onto eventually dies...they change into something I can't recognize."
She pressed her lips together, tuning out the world.
"Where am I even going to stay?"
She walked aimlessly, leaving a damp trail behind her.
"I hate fate! Why did that have to happen?!"
Frustration surged. She picked up a pebble and threw it forward.
A sharp yelp cut through the night.
"Ah! What the heck?!"
Alexia blinked.
A figure stepped into view, green eyes flashing, silver curls tumbling down her back. In the moonlight, her lilac skin shimmered, ethereal.
Alexia stared.
Not in awe.
Just in mild, exhausted disbelief.
Of course. The one time she threw a rock, it had to hit someone.
"Why would you do that? And... oh. Wow."
The lilac-skinned stranger blinked, her green eyes widening as she took in the sight before her—a drenched, disheveled girl stumbling past, glaring at the ground like it owed her money, her neck and cheeks marked with... questionable bite marks.
The stranger coughed, her face flushing faintly. "You've, uh… got something on your cheek. And your neck. And… basically your entire—Hey!"
She broke off with a huff as the girl brushed past without so much as a glance.
Leaning back, hands planted on her hips, the stranger squinted after her.
"You DO realize you just hit me in the face, right?" She gestured dramatically to the reddening bruise on her cheek.
Alexia didn't slow down, barely sparing her a muttered, "Sorry."
The stranger blinked again, momentarily stunned by the sheer audacity, before her lips parted in exasperation.
"Seriously?" she muttered, watching Alexia march off like a woman on a mission—or maybe just on the verge of a breakdown.
The ethereal stranger stepped forward and lightly grabbed Alexia's shoulder.
"Hey… oh."
She froze, blinking as she found herself face-to-face with Alexia's dead-inside stare—a stare so devoid of energy it could probably stop time itself.
A raised eyebrow. A sigh.
"Oh… sorry," the stranger mumbled instinctively, letting go like she'd just touched something radioactive.
Alexia huffed, shook her head, and continued walking without a word.
The girl blinked, momentarily stunned.
Then it hit her.
"Wait a damn minute!" she yelled, throwing her hands in the air. "I'm the one who got hit in the face! YOU should be apologizing to ME!"
Her indignation bubbled up fast, and with a fierce glare, she stormed after Alexia.
"What's your deal? You hit someone, look like you crawled out of a dumpster, and—no offense—but also like you just had an affair while still undergoing childhood! You're all gloomy, dead-eyed, and—wait, do you even have manners?"
Her lilac skin flushed as she barely took time to breathe. She threw her hands up dramatically.
"And you're IGNORING me! You act just like my brother." She huffed, narrowing her eyes in exasperation.
A pause. Then, almost as if she couldn't stop herself:
"Did you just get dumped? Or have a messy breakup? Ugh, why do people even get into relationships? They're so overrated."
She slowed down, folding her arms thoughtfully, caught up in her own rant.
"Family is way better. My brother is the only person I—AH!"
Her musings were cut short as another rock smacked her right in the face.
Alexia glared, silent tears brimming in her eyes.
"You know what I think?! Family relationships are overrated! Keep your brother to yourself!"
Panting, she shot one last heated glare before storming off, dripping water like a very pissed-off, very emotionally-damaged rain sprite.
The stranger watched her go, blinking.
"…Why do I feel guilty? I'm the one who didn't get paid, lost my brother, and got hit in the face with a rock." She mumbled to herself, pouting.
But then her gaze flickered to the retreating, drenched figure in front of her.
The tension in Alexia's shoulders. The way she moved like someone carrying the weight of the world and the audacity of a wounded cat.
Her lips parted slightly. Then she sighed.
"Okay, fine."
Without overthinking, she jogged after Alexia.
"Hey. Do you, uh… wanna talk about your problems?" Her voice was softer now. "Sometimes it helps to get things off your chest."
For a moment, Alexia hesitated. She turned, studying the girl's face with an unreadable expression before exhaling heavily.
"Just a... quarrel," she muttered.
The girl squinted, unimpressed. "A quarrel? You're soaking wet, covered in bite marks, and look like you got exorcised mid-dinner. What kind of 'quarrel' was that?"
Alexia twitched but said nothing.
The girl huffed, shaking her head before taking a closer look at Alexia's face.
Then, she froze.
Oh, sh*t.
Why does she look exactly like the princess I saw tonight?
With frantic movements and a face quickly draining of color, she fell to one knee and bowed.
"Y-Your Highness! I apologize for not recognizing your greatness!"
Alexia's mouth twitched. Hard.
Why. Does. This. Keep. Happening. To. Her.
The quiet night was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps.
Alexia turned sharply, her body tense as she scanned the path ahead. In the moonlight, a figure emerged—silver-haired,slender, of average height, yet unmistakable with his lilac-toned skin.
Her gaze flicked down to the girl still kneeling beside her. With a sigh, Alexia gave her a light nudge with her foot.
"For Lugus' sake, stand up already. Is that your brother?"
The girl hesitated before lifting her head. The moment her eyes landed on the lilac-skinned man, relief flickered across her face.
Then, just as quickly, she turned back to Alexia with a sheepish chuckle.
"Affirmative, Your Highness. That's my brother."
Alexia gave her an unimpressed look, then leaned in slightly.
"You two should keep your distance," she muttered. "You don't want to be claimed by him one day."
The girl stiffened, her eyes widening. But Alexia didn't wait for a response. She turned and strode forward, water still dripping from her dress as if she were a vengeful spirit haunting the garden.
The girl—now standing—watched her go, a flicker of bewilderment in her expression.
By then, the lilac-skinned man had reached her side.
She glanced at him, lips pressing into a scowl. "Eli! Where have you been? I searched everywhere! I thought that shady employer of yours had finally kidnapped you."
Eli blinked, then, with a calm smile, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notepad.
With practiced ease, he scrawled a message and held it up:
Eve, don't worry. I was only husband-hunting for a drunk woman.
Eve raised an eyebrow. "Elias… you know I can't read that."
Elias sighed, his expression unreadable. Without missing a beat, he simply turned the notepad around—then pointed at Alexia's retreating figure.
Eve's eyes followed the direction of his finger.
"Oh, her?"
Then, as if sharing a forbidden secret, she leaned in and whispered,
"She's the mysterious princess of Aethera they introduced today."
A pause. A slight blush.
"…I may have offended her."
Elias just stared. Deadpan. Silent.
Eve huffed, folding her arms. "It wasn't intentional, okay?! She's the one who injured me first!" She pointed at the fading bruise on her cheek like it was a personal betrayal.
Elias raised a brow. Then, with the weight of an older brother used to his sibling's antics, he simply shook his head.
Before Eve could argue, he took her hand—gently but firmly—and started walking.
Eve's eyes widened. "Wait—where are we—"
Too late. Elias was already tapping Alexia's shoulder.
A low grunt. A sharp glare. Alexia turned.
Elias just smiled softly. Then, without hesitation, he hugged her. A steady, quiet embrace. A hand patting her back.
Alexia froze.
Then, before she could stop them, hot tears slipped down her cheeks.
Eve watched in stunned silence.
"…What? How?"
Elias just shook his head, and Eve—pouting—turned away with a quiet grumble.
Alexia pulled back quickly, cheeks flushed. "Um… sorry about your shirt."
Elias shrugged, already pulling out his notepad.
Not the first time it's gotten stained tonight. I prefer tears to vomit, anyway.
Alexia stared at him.
Eve sighed. "Just roll with it."
Elias ignored her and scribbled another note.
Do you want to stay with us? I'm guessing you don't want to go back to the palace anytime soon.
Two reactions.
Alexia: Wide-eyed.
Eve: Absolutely horrified.
"Really?"
"No way!"
Elias, unbothered, nodded.
Alexia hesitated—just for a moment. Then, before anyone could talk her out of it, she grabbed his arm and bolted.
"Let's go."
Eve stood frozen, processing what just happened.
Her brother. The princess. Running away. Together.
Then, realization smacked her.
"DID MY BROTHER JUST KIDNAP THE PRINCESS OF AETHERA, OR DID THE PRINCESS KIDNAP MY BROTHER?! HEY! WAIT!"
She ran after them, panic laced in her voice.
***
In a dark room, a blue haired man just stared.
First at the room's interior, then the bed sheets and then the vanity and instantly came to a silent conclusion.
This was not his room and the owner had a pink fetish.
Aqua shifted uncomfortably in the pink bedsheets.
Then a splitting ache ran through his head. He groaned rubbing his head in pain.
The room door opened, and a pink haired girl appeared a tray of food in her hand.
Her eyes widened slightly when she noticed the movements on the bed. But then her lips curved into a playful smile.
" Darling, you're awake! "