The faint glowing crown's light, gleaming the room with it's radiating jewels, dazzling the room with the golden crown. Leon with Azon behind him stared at it for a few seconds.. Azon's lip twitches, his glaze startled, fixed over the crown, murmuring in lower tone.
"The Bloody Crest.. The luck craved by Hell.."
It was a renowned name given to the crown centuries to centuries. Yet Leon titled his head down and again upwards, glancing behind Azon.. Azon could only witness concerned eyes before they titled back..
"This is -3 level artifact, there's no way we can concealed it.. Lingering here will cause madness or hallucinations beyond control.. I don't know..."
Leon muttered, gulping his throat..
THUD!
THUD!
Hearing those footsteps approaching from behind, they both turned to saw the whole group standing before the door. They entered the room, taking good look of surroundings, amidst the room, everyone's gaze locked over the crown..
It's glittering light which had shrouded the room, their gaze can't escape its gleam , no choice but to glared upon it, the room went silent for a moment as if silence wrapped them like a blanket. Everyone had understand it wasn't something easy to tackle with, yet..
"Yoo!. Does anyone have camera?. I need to take a photo wearing it.. This would get viral.."
Zack shattered the silence, scratching his neck with a faint smirked over his cheeks. Everyone stared at him, quite seriously..
"Did I say anything wrong?."
He asked, as everyone yelled at the same time, except Azon and the soul..
"Yes!."
Zack takes a step back subconsciously, his jaw slightly dropped. As Ender cleared up his throat.
"What is this anyway?."
His gaze fixed over Leon who had an undreadable expression.. For a minute, it was silence with everyone glaze except Azon fixed over Leon.. Then finally, Leon declared with a sigh.
"-3.029.. The bloody crest, luck craved by hell, this is the artifact we all are trying to find, at last it was kept here.. Yet.."
Leon continues with a pause.
"We can't touch it, just staying here for 10 minutes will cause madness and hallucinations, we have to contact other orders or government.. But seeing this, the enemy will take advantage of this scenario, thus burying this whole mystery to history.."
The room went silent again, Azon leaned to wall, Ruis and Zack at door's frame, Lisa aside the door while Ender, the soul and Leon to other side.. Everyone were lost in their thoughts.. Except Zack who had tired eyes..
~ I really wanna go now..
He wondered while others had undreadable expression, then the soul takes a step towards the crown, no one care; witness it, then another, this time some glance at her but didn't seem to think much about it.
Then another her lips quivered, this time..
"Hey Anastasia!. What you think you're doing?."
Ender called her, everyone focus shifted to her, standing before him, not facing anyone..
She mumbled.
"I think I can do this, ever since I have been here, I have a unexplainable feeling lingering over my body, maybe this is the key.. To know myself.."
Her fingers twitches abruptly, fiercely.. She was shivering, yet sighs, a faint smile appeared on her cheeks..
"You crazy!. If we can't handle it, how can you. Think logically.."
Ender tried to stop her, but she extended her arm towards the crown, Ender tried to move forward but Leon stopped him, blocking his path with his arm.
Within this moment, everyone got altered seeing what would happen, what could happen?.. As she touched it, with her both bare hands..
The light energy penetrated her hands, her eyes became white, she froze there, no twitching, no shivering, nothing just standing there like a sculpture..
Ender with a straight expression tried to grab her but Leon with a nod, Ruis and Zack grabbed him. Ender tried to fight off but he was overpowered, Ruis and Zack managed to hold him till the end..
"How pathetic.. You're the one who's thinking emotionally here.."
Leon spoke with a clumsy tone, hearing these words Ender stayed silent, not moving a inch as he mumbled..
"It's not emotion.. it's instinct.."
Hearing those words, Leon was quite surprised as if he understand what he had meant, he sighs and said firmly.
"She's recalling her memories.. Her past.. Something more than her name.."
"Even if the truth hurts."
Azon mumbled, Leon's lips twitches, quivered as he spoke.
"Even if the truth hurts, it'll be better to know then be a fool."
[ PAST MEMORIES ]
Many Years Ago..
[ In another city.. Escrole ]
It was a sunny morning, cobblestone streets were crowded as usual. Someone wearing a red yukata walking steadily, a smile on her cheeks as she went to a big building and opened the door. The shopkeeper's bell rang..
DING!
DONG!
"Hello everyone!."
She waved her both arms it was a reception area in her sight, marble titles with a yellow carpet in the center, table and couch on the side, then at the reception there was a young lady, she had dark spots beneath her eyes as if she hadn't slept properly, but hearing the fuss, she opened her eyes to witness her..
"Hey Anastasia!. How's going?."
She came out of her reception, greeting her wholeheartedly by hugging. Then she scrubs her eyes while Anastasia glazed at her with concerned look on her face.
"You right Elizabeth?. It seems like you haven't slept last night."
"Yeah.. You're right. Just juggling I'm checking documents you know.."
She giggled as they both chortle together.
"Ah you know, captain got a new mission for you. It's a new case. You should discuss with him."
Elizabeth spoke with her lips curved to a smirked.
"Ah missions.. They're pain in the ass. I wished I would live in a world full of peace and joy.."
Anastasia spoke while scratching her hair. Her expression became irritated. Yet her crimson eyes had softness within them.
"Hahaha, but that's not the case, we need to fight for peace here, even for internal peace.."
Elizabeth spoke as she patted her shoulder. She continues with a pause.
"You should go now.."
Hearing her words, Anastasia made her way..
Moments later..
"Captain!."
She opened the door, it was a simple room with a young man sitting to his chair, his glaze on the newspaper.. Getting distracted by the noise, he titled his head up to saw Anastasia standing there with a smirked..
"Ah Anastasia!. How many times I had to told you to knock?."
He said adjusting himself as he takes newspaper to side his desk.. Anastasia just standing there, leaning onto door in a instant was sitting on the chair, infront of him, seeing this the captain got back off a little surprised as if she teleported.. Seeing his reaction, she giggled..
"Hahaha!. Got you!. You can't escape spechser charm.."
She said with her finger pointing at him, whom he cleared up his throat..
"Well anyways you should already know why you came here.."
She gaves a lazy nod, leaning to the chair..
As he takes a file out of his drawer.. Handling it to her.
"This is your case.. You need to go Riven this week, we can't miss this case, it would benefit our organization by great amount."
"Ahh!. Why the hell am I tangled in these things?.. Well at least I have a week though."
She gets up from the chair, as soon she was about to leave, the captain ordered..
"Oh wait.."
He mumbled as she stopped there before turning around.
"Ahh damn you Ethan!, you can't say things on first half.."
Hearing her words, he spoke with a sigh.
"How rude.."
She didn't say anything, just walk forward and clenched her arms to the chair.. He sighs and spoke firmly..
"We have a meeting dinner with ECO this night. Will you go with me?."
"Is that supposed to be a date?."
She said with a smirked.. A teasing smirked..
"Ah!. Who you think am I!?. I'm Ethan Neil, captain of Weamer Order!.."
"You're quite dense person, but it doesn't matter I like it.. Will come!."
She turned behind and says while waving her hand behind him, while he had a slight blush on her cheek..
Then the time pass, so much that the sun was going to west, Anastasia walking in narrow alley crooked lamps flickering with plenty of other people aside other path, she had a bag of fruits in her hand as she stopped on house; taking out a key from her pocket and clicked the door..
CLICK!
She entered the house, it was a small hallway with a room aside, she place her pump small heels on the shoe rack, wear her slippers and started strolling. Her exhaustion faded the moment she step inside..
"I'm home!."
She exclaimed, before her was a well refined room of divider furnitures, counch, table and carpet in bottom, in the center of carpet were two kids a boy and a girl, the boy had similar hair and eyes like her yet the girl hair was black. They're playing carrom but hearing her voice, their attention diverted as they glanced upon her..
Leaving everything behind, they rushed and hugged her..
"Sissy!. Why we're you so late!?. We're so bored.."
The boy asked, clenching himself harder to her..
"Ah!. I'm sorry, will care next time. You both must be hungry right?. Here wash and eat these fruits first, for then I'll prepare our dinner.."
She handled them the fruits bag and scrubs their hair gently by her both hands as she went to another room which was aside the door.. This was her room as she closed the door, she takes a deep breath..
~ Damn.. How can I leave them?. It's not possible for me.. Maybe I should cancel it, anyone can go beside me right?.
As she lay down in her bed for some minutes, thinking about her life.. Her parents had died in a protest which became a mass murder when she was 16, her little siblings were only 9 at that time.. Incomplete in her studies, she choose a path as a waiter in restaurants first.. But seeing it wasn't enough, she leave it..
Choosing a path of an Astran, was a difficult path of her life.. It was risky, hazardous and full of uncovered mysteries.. She choose it because to take care of her siblings, taking spechser as her trame, she had been an Astran for 3 years now.. Her siblings go to school and she's also managing her higher studies with her job as well..
She gets up before going to fresh herself up..
Moments later..
Her siblings sitting in a small table with two small chairs of their size, napkins tugged on their necks while plates chattering with their tiny hand gripping spoons.
"Here I came!."
Hearing a voice they both got altered, with an excited expression over their face. Anastasia came in the room, wearing a simple house dress with a pot in her bare hands..
She placed it on the table, as the siblings cheerfully give her their respective plates, she takes out fried chicken rice with sliced carrots and capcium. Sitting cross legged on ground as the table was small enough so she didn't need a chair..
"All praise the Greatest loved!."
She exclaimed before her siblings, as they started their dinner with some banters and teases..
"Sis!. I got A grade on maths!."
Her brother roared as some rice was around his lips..
"Sis!. I got selected in badminton!."
Her sister this time yelled as she choked off, Anastasia patted her back gently while giving water..
"Oh well.. You two must sleep early tonight okay, I'm going for some groceries.. When I return you must be sleeping on bed.."
Anastasia said with a little serious expression just to keep them on line.
"Okay.. Can I go too?."
Her brother mumbled with pleaded eyes.
"Yeah sis!."
Her sister exclaimed, slamming her tiny hands on table.. She pondered for a moment before answering.
"No.. But tomorrow I promise we'll go for ice cream and park, how's that?."
She said with a warm smile..
"Okay!."
They both exclaimed at same time.. As she pointed her arm at their plates to finish..
Moments later...
Now both of them had gone to sleep, while Anastasia in her room was getting ready, wearing a blue dress with beautifully design sleeves, she put on her lipstick, gets up and takes her clutch..
As she leave the room, she heard a voice, within her..
~ Hey Anastasia!. I'm here..
It was Ethan, her expression puzzled as she went to the main door, opening it to saw Ethan wearing a causal suit as if he was going to wedding standing with the carriage of their order as well.. Startled, she closed the door, locking it with her keys before putting them to her clutch, standing infront of Ethan, she said with a clumsy tone..
"I can walk.. Teleport to your given address, what's this for?."
She crossed her arms, looking at him with undreadable expression..
"Uh.. Well, it's my task to take care of my members right?. Anyways let's go."
He moved a little aside so that she can went in first, which she did with a sigh, undreadable expression, with Ethan going then, both sit on opposite sides in the carriage.. As the rider whipped his horse as it snorted, stamping it's feet on cobblestone bricks as it continues it's journey..
Moments later..
Their meeting with the ECO had went well, perfect, it was almost midnight now, the blue moon shimmering its gleam everywhere..
Anastasia and Ethan were sitting next to each other on a bench, they're sitting infront flowing river, iron ceiling fence the sounds of water flowing, the cold winds rustling through the water, it was calm and cleared..
They both were tired so decided to spent some time here, for a moment it was silence between them, nevertheless Ethan take a glance over Anastasia, careful enough not for her to notice, maybe it was her charm that made him do it..
He could see the blue faint light, glimmering under her silver hairs, her eyes closed as started to open. Ethan quickly shoved his eyes to other side..
"You good?. If you want we can go now.."
He mumbled, trying to make the situation comfortable between them.
"No.. I'm good.."
She muttered, scrubbing her forehead and eyes.
"You sure?."
He looked at her this time, she was quite bad at drunk, even though they both were drunk.. She was quite bad at drinking compare to him.. As she gave a lazy nod..
As he relaxed himself with a sigh of relief, suddenly he felt something clenching his arm tightly.. Confused, he looked aside to saw Anastasia gripping his arm quite tightly..
"What?."
Puzzled at what should he do.. She leaned her face to his shoulder, was she this drunk, he wondered.. Even though his face was turning red, breathing heavily, his heart beating faster than ever.. He control himself..
~ I– I can't.. She's just drunk, that's it..
A faint blue energy emerged within him. He was making himself stay sane at any cost, even though many werid feelings were being born in his heart, the ones he never considered important, what was this feeling?..
He grunts and tilted his head towards her.. Her warmth, unreal scent everything was so different.. So immense, as if it was a dream..
This time she opens her crimson eyes and looked at him, he looked at her.. Time seemed to fade away, Ethan could clearly tell from her eyes she was sleepy, not in herself right now.. He tried to titled his face to other side.. But..
She titled it back towards her, both were red like a pomegranate, Ethan tried to mumbled something but can't, words can't be made by his tongue, Anastasia slowly pulled herself closer to him.. Closer and closer..
They could hear, feel their breaths, their hearts beating faster and faster.. For a moment their breaths aligned, the river forgot to flow..
– What the hell you think you're doing!?
Their inner voice yelled at them so loud at the same time that they came back to their senses.. Now looking at each other..
"Aghhh!."
They both exclaimed, pushing each other apart..
Minutes later, both were sitting at corner of the bench at opposite side. As Ethan mumbled, his face still red.. Same for her as well..
"W –We should go now.."
She nodded off..