Year 3988, 16th Day of the 9th Moon
Fliamma Kingdom, Continent of Humana

THREE DAYS passed after Aricson and Elise officially became a couple. Nothing had really changed aside from the fact that they were both swamped.

The only bright side of this was they were now spending time together with how the library had been fully converted into their working space. She became a witness of how hectic he was with knights coming every now and then or an orb would magically float in the air.

Contrary to what she thought, she did not have an ounce of annoyance with all the disturbance. Everyone was walking on eggshells and even before the orbs could activate, Aricson already cast a spell while she did her thing without any disruption.

"Miss, is this it?"

Water splashed the moment she heard someone. Half of her face sunk when her hand slipped from the surprise. All her reminiscing died away as she got up and turned to see Aya who was holding a wristwatch.

"Yes, thank you. Please put it in the dresser," she said as she got out of the tub.

Dell quickly assisted her and wrapped her with a towel. At first, it was weird to have someone do such minor chores for her but their persistence won.

They dressed her up while she listed the things she needed to do in her mind. There was still zero progress on the light element and she was currently stuck on her research. She might need to ask Aricson to bring her to the Medical City today.

She wanted somebody's opinion and Gustavious was the sole person she could ask. He and Aricson were the only ones who knew about her experiment.

If he allowed to, it could also be a date for them. It was killing two birds with one stone. She fiddled with the watch, grinning foolishly at what they should do later. It was already plenty that they spend time together despite their tasks but having a date was a different matter.

"Miss, pardon my rudeness, but can I ask something?" Aya questioned after they were done.

"What is it?"

"That is quite... a unique artifact, Miss. Can I ask where you got it from, Miss?"

She arched a brow. Even if her maids did not talk too much, it was usually Dell who spoke more about little things. Perhaps something like a wristwatch did not exist in this world that even made such an austere individual like Aya to be curious.

"This was a gift."

"Oh. It's beautiful, Miss."

"I agree, Miss. It's so convenient than a pocket watch," Dell inserted.

Aya sharply faced Dell and sent her a glare before facing Elise. "Ah, please excuse our hasty remarks again, Miss."

"It's okay."

Elise got up while Dell opened the door. Aricson's hand that was about to knock hung in midair.

"Good morning," she greeted, slowly getting used to being fetched before they would proceed to the dining hall.

"Good morning," he returned while the servants dispersed themselves.

"By the way, here." She handed him the golden watch. "It's real gold, for your information, and it might not be much but this is my repayment."

The growing debts of his family were already uncountable. He had done so much but she did nothing in exchange. When she realized the fact, her obstinate pride would not let her sleep unless she gave something in return.

"There's no need for this. The day you saved Hadrien was already a favor I cannot repay," he said.

"But—"

"It's yours, keep it. It might be important to you."

It was indeed important. It was a gift from her parents when she graduated from university and had been wearing it ever since.

"Can't you just keep it for me?" she asked, trying not to fully admit half of the reason she wanted him to take it. It was quite a selfish reason, to be honest, but it was the only thing she could give as a keepsake.

"Alright."

Her teeth showed with complete satisfaction and snatched his hand. "Good! It'll definitely suit you! You're always busy and time is essential in your work. I surmised you don't have this in your world but this will be useful for you."

Aricson glanced at his hand where she locked the accessory.

"So it's a smaller version of a pocket watch. It does feel light and handy," he commented.

"Oh, speaking of the pocket watch, does it also run on batteries? I don't know how long the batteries for that one will last so I'm assuming you have one here too."

"What are batteries?"

"That small object inside that makes the hands of the watch operate," she explained as her brows furrowed. "If you don't have batteries, then what do you use for your watches?"

"We place an orb inside the watch."

"Really? Those things do have a lot of uses!" she exclaimed. "Does it even run out? Or does the orb last forever?"

"It can last unless the spell cast in the orb is broken."

"Wait, I remember you have machines and there's also the iron carriage, is it also operated by orbs?"

Aricson nodded and explained as he took her hand and led her to the hall. By the time they reached the dining area, she was more in awe.

Their world didn't appear as advanced as she had experienced but it was fascinating how innovative they were with their own machinery. However, using orbs that were filled with magic instead of electricity was undoubtedly an ingenious idea.

She had not cared about it in the past as long as she was comfortable and she could do her reading and researching but knowing that information made her regard this world in a new light.

Upon entering, their clasped fingers were quickly broken off after she noticed the persons sitting at the long table. She was caught off-guard by the arrival of his siblings. It was usually just the two of them here since no servants could come unless called.

Aricson reeled to her and intertwined their fingers once again. She glared at him and his brow twitched but did not say anything.

"Eat, eat, you have nothing to do but eat! You're Prince Raven's Ward yet you're here. What if something happens to him while you're still idle? My goodness! You're stressing me out! I— Morning, Brother, Elise. It's good to know you're fine— Oh my!"

Faylinn's eyes widened as they landed on their hands. Erkhan twisted and an impish grin formed on his face.

"I knew it!"

"Knew what?" Another voice interrupted behind them.

"Elis has agreed to be my lover," Aricson replied as she tried so hard to hide the color tainting her cheeks. She just wished she was not as red as a tomato with all their gazes.

"How unsurprising. Still, congratulations, Aricson. At least you didn't reach a century being a virgin," Brennan commented, peering over them before he went to his seat.

Aricson pulled the chair to his side and she sat down before he could take a seat as well. She could not even lift a spoon with all their focus on her.

She straightened her spine, meeting their stares.

"If you want to say something, say it," she spoke.

Faylinn laughed. "Well, we already assumed it with how the two of you are always together but it is still astonishing when it comes to our brother's mouth."

"For sure. I thought it might take a year but I was proven wrong." Erkhan seconded.

"And now you owe me a thousand chrysos," Brennan added.

"You still remember that?"

"Of course. That's why you should never bet against me, Younger Brother. I always win," Brennan smugly replied.

"Did you two gamble again?" Aricson's stern tone interrupted them.

"He did it first," Brennan said and pointed at Erkhan.

"You played me! You said Eldest Brother has rusty flirting skills and he cannot even touch a woman's hand without blushing. No wonder you let me choose first. I should have followed my instincts! You ba—Ow!"

There was a rattle under the table and Brennan's lips arched yet there was a menacing warning to Erkhan. 

 Aricson did not seem to mind while he took a ladle and filled her plate. "Now... Can anyone explain why have you decided to gather on a weekday when you all have work to do?"

"Oh, Eldest Brother, what is that on your hands?" Faylinn suddenly questioned.

"A wristwatch."

"A wristwatch? That is so handy! It's like a pocket watch! Where did you get it?"

"It's from Elise."

Faylinn faced her, full of curiosity.

"I don't know. I can't remember where it came from," she answered under her questioning gaze.

Aside from evolving her traditional medicine treatments, Elise was becoming top-notch in lying. The words escaped her mouth smoothly as if it was the truth.

Aricson did say she could tell them but divulging her secrets would complicate things. It was enough that Aricson knew the whole truth. She only needed one person so she would not forget that there was another life waiting for her.

"Can I commission one for myself?" Excitement twinkled on her irises.

"Of course."

"Brother, let me borrow—"

"Tell me first why you are here," Aricson prodded. His arms propped his chin and glanced at his siblings one by one.

"Don't tell me we cannot come here now that you have a lover?" Brennan teased.

"Answer."

Brennan's face immediately morphed into sobriety. Those scarlet eyes of his glimpsing at her were exactly the same as Aricson but there was no bit of warmth in it.

"It's alright. You can tell her."

"How trusting... Ferios."

The twins had their mouths opened but she could not hear a thing. She peeked at Faylinn and Erkhan who didn't seem perturbed.

"Is it always like this?" she asked.

"Kind of. Don't worry, Elise. It's not that big since if it is, Elder Brother would have gathered everyone and told us," Faylinn said.

Right after Faylinn spoke, Aricson's voice resounded again. "How about you, Sister?"

The typically chattering Faylinn appeared deaf and chewed on her food.

"Faylinn."

"She's been dismissed for a month, Eldest Brother." It was Erkhan who responded.

Utensils clattered as Faylinn sent a seething glare. "You snitch!"

"It won't be long and Brother will know it anyway," Erkhan retorted and shrugged his shoulders.

"How about you? You should be back in the academy yet you're still here. Brother, why are you not reprimanding him?" A trace of sulkiness was on Faylinn's voice as she talked to Aricson.

It was amusing how Faylinn was behaving coquettishly with her lips pursed. A small laugh escaped Elise's lips. No matter the age, acting childishly was the only key to letting an older sibling succumb. Even her own brothers fell for that. Unfortunately, not Aricson.

"Did you get into a fight again?" he continued his assault of questions.

"Most probably. That Third Prince and her always finds a reason to fight—"

"Why don't you just shut up and eat?" Faylinn snapped back at Erkhan who kept answering for her.

"Erkhan," Aricson called, now directing his attention to his younger brother.

It was his turn to be deaf and did not even utter a sound but Aricosn did not let him off.

"Why are you here? You're an instructor in the academy. You should be teaching in class and not loitering here early in the morning. Brennan and Faylinn can stay but you have to return to the academy."

"But I'm a Royal knight, not an instructor!" There was an indignant expression on his face.

"I'm not notifying you. This is an order."

"Then replace Sapphire as the Ward. I can't work with her."

"Talk to Uncle Orin if you want to negotiate."

Erkhan grumbled beside her but said nothing more. Peace resumed at the table until they finished. Brennan left first with Erkhan towed on his side.

"By the by, Elise. Will you go to Blaze with me?" Faylinn put down the napkin and her lips were lifted on both corners.

"I'm sorry but I don't think I can—"

"Come on! Help me. We're going to spy on our rival's boutique. It'll be fun. Besides you've been staying here like forever. Aren't you bored?"

"I don't mind actually."

Faylinn's persuasion failed and she veered to Aricson. "Brother! Please let Elise go. A man too possessive is not good for a healthy relationship."

"It's not that, Faylinn. It's just I'm planning to ask Aricson to go to meet Lord Gustavious today," she defended.

"Is that so? I'll accompany you after then," she replied.

She glanced at Aricson, silently asking for help.

"It's alright. You can go with her. I also have something to do today," he said.

"Okay..." she mumbled but her mood plummeted. They only have days left and they had been busy. She appreciated the calm silence between them but she wanted to date too.

'My god! I'm really becoming a whiny girlfriend.' She had to scold herself. In the past, one of the reasons her relationship failed was the fact that she could not give time to them but now that she did, he was even worse of a workaholic than her.

"Geez. Why do I feel like I'm separating two lovers?" Faylinn uttered as she shook her head.

INSTEAD OF going back to her bedroom, Elise was dragged by Faylinn to hers. The inside was as she expected. The pink frilly interior exuded the princess-type room.

Faylinn opened another door. The walk-in closet's size was double her bedroom and that said a lot. It was even two stories high! Faylinn rang a bell and maids came not a few minutes after.

The dressing up that usually took not even half an hour had taken more time with how nitpicky Faylinn was. She finally settled down with an aquamarine gown while Elise was given a vintage pink one with its floor-length skirt.

"I think I'm okay with what I'm wearing," Elise said.

"No can do. We're disguising ourselves as very rich customers and we need to wear gowns. The more fabric our dress has, the more extravagant we look in their eyes."

"That's a strange analogy," she commented but eventually agreed.

"Exactly my point. Look at Pristine's design, even if it was a short dress, she managed to make it elegant but those seamstresses don't even have an ounce of creativity," she complained.

The two got ready and proceeded downstairs. As they were walking to the exit, a loud crash erupted. Both women flinched and Elise stared back to where the sound came from.

"Get the hell out of my way!" Brennan roared while the maids trembled on their feet.

His footsteps stomped away and the maids quickly cleaned the shattered porcelain.

She heard a sigh behind her, who was also watching the commotion.

"Elder Brother sure is going worse. He's usually easygoing but after his sleeplessness, he has been lashing at everyone. I swear he's the friendliest among my siblings, even Erkhan can be put to shame."

'I doubt.' She kept the remark to herself. With how he secretly scrutinized her every time, it was hard to visualize him as a carefree person like Erkhan. To put it in simpler words, he was the most cynical she had encountered.

They arrived outside and Aricson was waiting for them. Her footsteps quickened, completely forgetting the sulkiness earlier from his lack of effort to have a date with her.

"Will you be alright riding the carriage?" he asked and moving her to his embrace.

She inclined her head and draped her arms on his waist. She came prepared this time. After their trip with Isabella and Exel, she decided to make medicine to stop her motion sickness. She even asked Orin to make it a pill so it would be easier to take.

It was not that she was so weak she could not handle a little trepidation but she did not want to repeat that squeamish accident where she barfed on Isabella's dress.

"Alright. Take care." Warmth brushed her forehead as his lips descended and her mouth tugged upwards.

"You too."

"Pardon me but please be considerate to the single person here," Faylinn, who was already inside the carriage, chided but there was a smile on her lips.

No one responded but a faint shade of pink tinted Elise's cheeks while she brainwashed herself to get used to this already. 'I must or I'll die from shame every time.'

UNIFORMED LADIES approached the pair the moment they stepped in. What followed was a whirlwind. Faylinn let Elise try dozens of dresses and was asked about her comments. She didn't know trying clothes would be this tiring.

"I knew you will suit anything, Elise!" Faylinn beamed. "We'll get these three."

"What happened to your spying?" she whispered when the shop assistant left. It was even useless to have their so-called disguise since Faylinn was immediately recognized.

"I hate to confess but they do have some nice designs but not as good as our shop's Pristine of course. Why don't we visit her after?"

"I still need to meet Lord Gustavious later," she reminded.

"Ah yes. We can do it after. It's almost lunchtime and you must be famished. There is a new restaurant on the next street. I heard they have the best steak there. Why don't we go there after I pay?"

Faylinn settled the accounts and the boxes disappeared from her sight and she arched a brow. Recalling last time, Erkhan was carrying all their boxes.

"If you can keep it with magic, why did you let Erkhan carry it from last time."

"You still remember that? He's not fond of using magic when necessary. I don't really get it. I mean, isn't magic convenient? But he refused to do so. I can count on my hands the times he uses his magic. Well aside from his sacred artifact though, since it is already imbued with spirits..."

Per usual, Faylinn was able to expound her words on such a simple question. It was only her holding the conversation as they departed the shop. She never seemed to run out of topics to say even when they crossed another block.

"Kya!" The abrupt shriek caused heads to turn to them.

She swiveled just in time Faylinn's palm raised to the man's face but it was caught by him.

"Such a girly scream," the man jeered.

If there was one thing this world never lacked, it was the number of good-looking people but his arrogant bearing was evident with that taunting smirk plastered on his face.

"You bastard! Why did you avoid it?"

"Do you think I would like to be slapped?"

Faylinn's nose flared, her lips pressing together when she used another hand and the sound of flesh meeting flesh rebounded.

"Hah! I have another hand, bastard."

'Dryann and Faylinn are certainly sisters.' She noted to herself watching how proud Faylinn was after landing a hit.

"Be thankful I don't hit girls."

"Oh my! Did I hear that correctly? Isn't that just a lame excuse for losers like you?"

The man stood tall, his jade eyes were filled with contempt, and sneered. "Must suck to be punished. You deserve it."

It happened in a flash. Elise jaw dropped the moment the silver tresses were yanked by Faylinn and the same guy was pulling her hair as well.

"You bastard! Just disappear already!"

"Let go, you ape! We both know you'd die of boredom without me!"

"As if! It would be a blessing to Elith to see you gone!"

The riot gathered attention. She immediately stopped them but the two were so strong they didn't even budge. They were in the middle of the streets but they seemed to have forgotten they were adults, not kids rolling around in a hair-grabbing fight.

She tried again and a few people aided her to split them apart but their mouths were unrelentingly throwing insults at each other. She tried to calm Faylinn but it was to no avail.

"Elkdfjskkjsdksl..." Elise's movement stopped.

The whisper was so close to her but when she checked her sides, no one was at an inappropriate distance from her.

"Elgskahkadbddkdjgl..."

It was the voice again.

'Oh my god! Am I really chased by ghosts?'

She chilled in her spot, only to realize that everything was in complete silence. It was not that she was frozen solid due to her fright but she literally could not move.

'I must be going crazy!'

Dawdling taps of shoes eventually resonated. So slow that her imagination ran wild. She badly wanted to close her eyes but even that was freedom was taken away.

"Harbinger."

The drawl of his words was spoken so comfortingly as the spring breeze that her heart calmed down in a second. A man's fingers cupped her chin and she was met with, yet again, another handsome man. However, his eyes startled her. If the most she had seen had the colors of gems, this man had eyes as if they were real jewels. Those were not regular irises.

"Should I just kill you?" His lips curled in such a gentle manner but the words that were spoken were lethal.

The warnings in her mind ran rampant yet her heart did not have an ounce of apprehension.

"Elfdkjldlg..." The ghost's voice echoed in her head again.

"But... you're still a life. What should I do? It's only one life so it wouldn't be that much, I presume."

The man spoke as he appeared to be studying her face. She was taken aback by the deep gaze that seemed to penetrate her being.

"You resemble her so much but you're not her."

Elise wanted to struggle but the disturbing murmurs and the man in front of her would not let her.

"You're conscious?"

She didn't know what made him notice but his mouth uplifted. His face came too close and those green eyes shone brighter with amusement.

"This is interesting. There is something different in your soul. I'm curious why the prophecy came now. If they were to announce your existence it should be in your coming of age but it seems like you're way past it. You're way older than the others."

The grip that was invisibly holding her back had been loosened. A sharp intake of breath escaped her lips. She stepped back and thought nothing but escape.

She was not even several strides away when a black outfit resembling an Eastern historical movie appeared right before her. It was as if the same nightmare in the isle had replayed.

"State your name, girl."

She tightened her mouth.

"Don't be such a naughty child. It won't be good for you if you pissed me off," he said and took a handful of her hair but he stopped midway.

"A multi-colored hair with the soul of a Mundran," the man remarked and suddenly laughed out loud.

This guy was certainly creeping her out.

"Heh... Fascinating. You're different from your predecessors. Is this what they mean by a being like no other? Or... Is this because you look like her?"

His eyes were staring at her but his distracted gaze was obvious. She took the chance and fled from his hold but her whole body had become restricted.

"Don't test my patience, girl."

A cold sensation ran through her body as she had trouble breathing. It was like an invisible force was choking her.

"Never mind. You are entertaining," the man said before freeing her from whatever that was.

She collapsed on the ground, coughing as she tried to stable her breath.

"Now, tell me your name."

Her stubbornness was still adamant despite facing death but her voice just came out.

"Elise."

"Hm..." A grin broke out from his lips." Rejoice, girl. You piqued my interest therefore I will let you live but..." He gave another eerie pause as his smile grew wider. "I don't know how long you'll stay alive as others also wished to kill you."

"Why do they even want to kill me?" She gaped, her face morphing into confusion.

"You are the Harbinger, girl."

Her eyes widened further, having no idea why that would make people kill her.

"What is the Harbinger, even?"

He kept calling her that since earlier. He smiled and pulled her up without evading her eyes.

"Isn't the word explanation itself? You, the Harbinger, are the stigma of this world. The taint that will cause ruin to Elith." His words halted as if remembering something. "Nevertheless, it's not too bad to see some old friends again once the world ends."

As soon as he finished his sentence, the flow of time resumed with not a single trace of his blonde strands.

"Elise! Why did you leave me with that pest?"

Faylinn's shout woke her from her trance but her mind still came back to what happened. Her brain sought to comprehend what he meant.

"Are you fine? You look pale."

She nodded but, internally, she was already screaming. 'What on earth was that!?'

༻❁༺

U n S c e n e s

Q: Lady Faylinn, who was the person you are fighting with?

Faylinn: An arrogant egotistic jerk of a bastard who thinks the whole world revolves around him.

(＃'Д')

Note: Thank you heihyunn for spending your time in giving a critc on my story. It's greatly appreciated <3