Elsword suddenly sneezes and feels a chill run up his spine. He must have caught a little cold somewhere. Seriously, this should've not happened, they are going to fight tomorrow and he cannot catch a cold right now.

"Hey dork, are you ok?"

There would only be that one person who calls him straight out dork, it's Aisha. It's not like he hates her or anything, he is just not used to this little witch being nice. They argue everyday and he knows that. They hate each other and he knows that. They do not care about each other... do they?

It's a little bit off topic but do they really not care about each other? On the battlefield, she always gets his back. He attacks, she defends and when she attacks, he defends. Their combos are almost insane, not even a fly can break through. But they only do that because they have to protect each other as teammates... right? He suspects that reason. The vibe around Aisha has changed, there is that little feeling of a more emotional Aisha. She might not show it but it's obvious, everyone would be a able to see that and read her like a normal open book. He can tell when she is mad, he can tell when she is sad, and he adopted the habit to stay away from her during those time.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He laughed it off. This Aisha is worried, her voice was shaking a little bit. She is not even holding a book like she usually does no matter what is the situation. And her eyes are just really bright. According to his observations, (he started to sound like Add, heck) Aisha tends to over thinking when her eyes are bright (not literally, it's just how he see it) She was really scared after their fight with Ran, she just kept thinking about the worst case scenario even when they had all made it back safely to the castle. "You should rest and pack up later."

"Huh? Is the dork worrying about me?" Aisha said in a mock tone. She didn't want to, it was just... a natural habit she took in because of their countless fights. It's hard to fix it, and she doesn't know why. She just feels embarrassed when she says something nice to Elsword, as much as how she really wants just to say thank you.

"Of course no! It's just going to be a pain if you, of all people forget something!" Elsword slightly raised his voice. He is just like Aisha, he just hates to admit that he is being nice to her, of all people. But he really just wants to say yes.

"I'm not you, little brat. You should be the one who needs to pack up because you always forget to bring some really necessary stuffs."

But it's fine this way to both of them. It would be so weird if either of them act nice toward each other.

"What about you?! You forgot to bring your own MP potions, and me, of all people have to share it with you because I don't really use it!!"

"Shut up! It's not like I want to share it with you!! Dork!"

"Nerd!"

"Spoiled brat!"

"Grapes hair!"

...

And the insults go on for an hour or so. But it's fine this way, as long as they are still near each other...

~oOo~

His arm is acting up again, not in a bad way, he can still control it but in a mental way. Raven can hear it, those voices whispering in his head, those anguish screams from the scars he bears, and the cry of her heart which used to be with him.

He can tell, can really tell where are those really came from. It's not anything new at all, his arm has been cursing him for so long that it's not new anymore. Ironically, it's a blessing to carry this nasod arm of his. And ironically, the reasons are all those above. He laughed at himself sometimes thinking about it, he is really going crazy, such a pathetic man...

"You are a monster..." It whispered, repeated the words again and again like a broken record. Yes, he is a monster.
"These are your sins..." Those scars screamed out those words in pain. Yes, he has sins.
"Stop... Raven... Please stop suffering..." Her cry formed words begging him. But no, he doesn't have the right to.

"I am so pat–" There is a knock on his door.

"Raven? I just want to check. Can I come in?" And the soft voice rang out brought him back to the world where he is living in.

He stands up and opens the door. It's Rena.

"Oh my Raven, are you ok? You were crying, weren't you? What happened?" Rena reached out both of her hands, and gently touched Raven's cheek. There are still tears lingering on his bottom lid, his cheeks still have the wet feeling from tears, and his hands are really shaking.

Raven was crying, he knew but he just can't. His mentality is not stable because of his arm, he just has to cry. Everything is so painful. He may be strong, but it's just so painful to bear when your own arm breaks your mentality.

So he seeks for comfort, reaching to the first person nearest to him for consolation. And so he hugs Rena, feeling the warm of her body embracing him back. He feels the consolation he is seeking for, and it's just the matter of time until he is fine again.

"I'm here, stop crying Raven." She whispered. The comforting soft voice reached him as the shaking started to disappear. "You have me, you have the El gang. You are ok Raven, don't worry too much." Rena gently squeezed him showing the protection he is in, and the love he is having.

"Hey Rena." Raven whispered. He is ok now, but he doesn't want to leave this warm, it feels so good. So he just stayed there, face buried in her shoulder. "Yes?"

"Let's get married." As bluntly as he could get, he just blurted it out. He doesn't care if they are not dating, he just wants to marry this woman right now. She is like Seris, but she is better. And plus, it's time to forget and move on.

There was silence, but there was reaction. Rena's face turned red, and she hid it under her bang. She is half embarrassed and half confused. Isn't this going on so fast?

Thinking he had said something, Raven peers his left eye up just to see the reaction he wanted. He smiles. He really wants to marry this lovely woman.

"Well... I'll tell you if you come back safely after this..." Rena mumbled, circling her and acting like a middle school girl.

"Then I'll take it as a yes that you agreed to be my girlfriend." And she can feel the smile on her shoulder.

"Idiot..." And she lifts his head to give him her first kiss.

~oOo~

Since they are going out on battlefield tomorrow, Eve decided to help Chung with his Silver Shooters. Of course Chung is doing some maintenance with his cannon too, so they are both busy. Though Chung offered to take a look into the drones too, but Eve declined. She said they had had 5 maintains on a row, so it would be best for them just to help around before fighting to make sure they work properly.

"Hey Eve, do you think we will be ok?" Chung asked. He is not doubting, he is just making sure. He doesn't want this to turn like last time. Plus, having Add fixing Eve again is... he just doesn't like it. And yes he is jealous.

"According to my calculations, as long as we follow our plan, it would go smoothly." Eve answered. Her answers are just the same but Chung doesn't mind. It makes things easier to do with a calm mind believing in the success they are going to achieve.

"Ahh... it's so you Eve." Chung chuckled as Eve got a little confused with the change of attitude. But she shook it off because it's a really human thing for her. Chung just love this side of her. "Aren't you worried?"

Eve stopped her movements for a moment and just sighed. She just doesn't get it, why are human so worried even when they know for sure that they are going to win? Is it another human trait that she has to adapt? If it is, then she shouldn't. It's not good to have doubt. "Chung, we will be fine. It's not just you and me, it's everyone."

"Hm, I know. But I hope you are not worried." Chung puts down his tool for a quick rest. His arms feel like it would go off after another minute, he has been working for hours. This is one of the biggest maintain he has ever given  his cannon. So he rest for 10 minutes, sitting in front of the cannon looking at Eve. He feels bad, she has been working too so she must be tired, even if she is a nasod.

"Eve, you should rest..."

"I'm fine Chung, I don't need to rest right now. Plus, I'm almost finished." Eve said, focusing on the final steps to finish the Silver Shooters. It feels precious to her, even though she didn't create it. But she can feel the life of it, she can feel the hard work of it to protect its master. She really puts a lot of effort into this because it's really precious.

Chung looks at her smiling at the way she is taking care of the Silver Shooters. It looks like she is putting another lucky charm on it; It looks like she is adding another layer of protection on it; It looks like she will always be there by his side. And so he comes by her side, showing his thank you by a hug and the whispers of love.

"Love you so much Eve."

"Go back to work Chung."

"Love you."

"Chung, go back to work."

"No, love you."

"If you love me then get back to work."

"It hasn't been 10 minutes yet! But love you a lot."

"It has been 10 minutes 0.34 seconds."

"Fine." He pouted but went back to work anyway. Although he didn't catch the part that he wanted to hear, at least Eve said "I love you" back.

~oOo~

"Add, let me go! I need to pack up!" She struggled to get out of the tight hug she is having, though it got tighter every time she tried.

"No, Eun already packed up for you. Stay here." He whispered into her hair, feeling the familiar scent of her usual shampoo.

"But she put nothing but orbs in there."

Child, you put nothing but MP potions. Not even one HP potions

"Let Eun take care of it, stay here with me." He kissed her down from the top of her head to the rear of her shoulder blade. He is having a bad feeling about this, about everything. Something just doesn't seem right, and he feels like he is here. And if the person he is thinking about is really here, Lusa is going to die.

He doesn't want it to happen. He doesn't want to leave Ara alone anymore. But it is just his faith to die. They might be dating for just a few days, but he has been observing her for months (not as bad as stalking Eve, just a little bit better) Aside from Eun, Lusa is the only one who understands her sadness. Ara is still just a broken piece of glass that needs to be fixed

That's why he accepted Eun's offer, he wanted to bear the pain with Ara too. It might help, it might heal her scar. It might, just might but he believes, he believes in that word might.

"But you need to pack too! So at least let me go and help you pack! Lusa!" Ara dragged out the 'a' whining. She knows she can't win by force, so just let the cuteness do its job. And it works, Lusa released her with a flustered face as he tried to hide it. She just giggled and pulled him to his room and helped pack his things. "Why is cuteness so dangerous? Gosh..."

"MP potions check... AP potions check... Orbs... Water... Fire... Wind... Poison... check! Add, you need anything else???" Ara spun around looking at the doing-nothing-but-stare Lusa. He shrugged and just kept staring as Ara gave him a confused and angry look. Seriously, she said help, not do all the work. But she went back to check all the things they need again anyway.

"Lusa, you shouldn't be siting here and stare." Eun appeared in her usual attire, though she look cleaner this time.

"She said she would help. Plus, I don't really need anything." Lusa said sheepishly. All in his mind is the clumsy woman in front of him, anything but her goddess beauty.

"At least do it together." Eun scolded. Lusa is so out of character that it makes him look like some creep. But it's fine, as long as it's Lusa.

"Nah, I want to record this beauty into my head." He does sound like some creep (technically, he always sounds like a creep) but who knows what would happen. He might die tomorrow, he might die the day after that. He might even die in the next few minutes. So let him take his time to admire this, let him take his time to love Ara till the last minute.

"Seriously. I wish I can just kick you right now." Eun sighed.

"Sadly you can't, spirit Eun." Add mocked back.

"If it's not because of Ara's sake, I would have cursed you to die." But then there was silence. Yeah, he would be dying but who knows when. Who cares anyway, if you know you are going to die, present is all you have now.

"Hey Add." Ara called out. No answer.

"Add?" No answer.

"Hey Add–" She turned around, greeted by a hug from Lusa. She was surprised, almost confusing until he snuggled closer as if they were still far away. And she hugged him back tighter to show him how close they are.

"Love you Ara. I love you so much. I want to love you forever." Add said, hands making it way up to her face.

"I love you too, Lusa. I'll always love you. And we both know that." And Ara, too, touching the purple line on his face.

They kiss. His hands snake to her back, and hands wrap around his neck.
They kiss. Savoring each other taste as if it's their last time.
They kiss. Really passionate that they forgot the time.
They kiss. The action for one line three words "I love you."

~oOo~

Omake:
-Somewhere in a corner-
Elesis: Again, I'm single. *cry*

~oOo~

Woohoo!!! Good to be back~
And 2.5k words in 2 days, I broke my record of 3k words in 3.5 days lol xD

Anyway~

I had a writer's block... took me a while to even start the chapter. I rewrote it like 4, 5 times xD but when I started, I just keep writing for 2 days straight. Thought I didn't waste my time doing nothing, I got some one-shot in on FF . net (And spent 90% of my time playing other games)

And I think I fail at setting up the mood. Oops...

And anyway~

I feel like this doesn't have a plot? Idk, I just wrote whatever was on my mind and somehow connect the chapters together. So does this have a plot? I need to know so I can think this through and fix it (again)

And any anyway,

So I'll let you all readers, decided on the ending~ not literally write them out (that's my job) or give me ideas (Also my job) I want to see how the ending would please you guys.

REMEMBER: This book is connected to the final book of the series. Whatever the ending you chose, there is no guarantee for part 4 to even come out.

So choose carefully, SD or LP?

And you guys have all the times until the date of chapter 15! Leave it in the comment!

(Don't ask why or what for what, just choose using your instinct!"

Later~