Going to get so more writing done. Hope you guys are ready for some more crazy plot twists...or maybe just a plain simple plotline...
____________________________________

        "So you require our help to restore this world," Ciel stated. He and his younger sister Terre sat across from Add and Paradox as if they were mafia bosses. As far as Add knew, they very well could be especially considering the fact that they were technically assassins. "In short, yes. I originally planned on seeking you out but I hadn't realized you were this age. I assumed Wolvernian was the hitman in thus time period but it seems I was mistaken," Paradox conversed. Add simply stayed quiet and listened.

         He was never one to easily accept the help of others so if Paradox was asking these children for their help, things must be serious. Add knew Paradox to be far more stubborn than he was when it came to certain things. After they'd all eaten dinner, Ciel had called a meeting to order, giving Verni instrutions like he was the adult rather than Verni. Add did not find this strange since he knew more about Ciel now but he did think that Ciel must be rather dangerous if a grown man if afraid to defy him.

          "Ciel, I think we should test them," Terre said before taking another bite of her cookie. "Hm? Test them you say? What sort of test did you have in mind? They can't do any of the jobs that we do," Ciel inquired. Terre smiled at him and if Add had not already known what occupation these children had, he wouldn't have suspected Terre's innocent smile to hint at something more sinister. "Couldn't they just help out? They wouldn't have to do anything at all but watch. Think of it as a test for both of us. They'll get the chance to see how we do things and we'll get to see if they truly need our help," Terre said.

          She finished off her cookie and reached out to Verni signalling that she wanted another one. He didn't hesitate to bring her the platter containing the heart shaped cookies. "I'm sorry, Paradox, but my sister does bring up a solid point. We took you in amd listened to your requests and although you seem sincere, we can't fully trust everything you say. We'll need some form of confirmation, a test of commitment if that's what you want to call it," Ciel stated corssing his arms as he spoke.

         Add wondered just how young these children were when they were exposed to the dark side of Lanox...if there was even a light side to begin with. "We don't know what the time anomaly is yet so it wouldn't hurt to take a quick test," Paradox said. He slightly smirked, somewhat interested in whatever challenge they'd have to face. However, Add was not. He could care less about the challenge or even gaining Ciel and Terre's help. He was more worried about the end result and he kept thinking about what Paradox had told him.

         When he first sent Ara away to wherever she currently was, he kept saying that he couldn't bring her back. Appatently he had tried to bring back his daughter from this place and failed many times so that only meant that Paradox really didn't know how to bring Ara back. Once they'd stated walking and Paradox had gone slightly back to normal, he'd told Add that they had plenty og time to find Ara which made him realize that it wouldn't be a simple task. Paradox clearly implied that it could take years and Add began to dread things as he thought about his condition.

         "Add, are you alright? You seem to be lost in thought. Is something bothering you?" Ciel suddenly said. Add focused his attention on the ten year old, caught of guard by the sudden attention on him. "I'm fine. Just thinking about something else," Add said staring Ciel right in the eyes. They were sharp and held traces of deadliness. It was clear that the boy was searching for something by looking Add in the eyes but there was only one thing Add wished to hide and he doubted Ciel could figure it out by looking at him.

          "If you wish, you can have a little time to yourself. Verni, show Add to the bathroom please," Ciel said not really giving Add the option to stick around. Add was actually grateful for the space though. He stood up glancing to Paradox who didn't seem to be paying him any attention before heading off. Once Verni led him to the bathroom he closed himself in and locked the door giving a sigh of relief for he didn't have to try upholding his facade. Etna had given him slight burns from her attack but Add was suffering from far worse, a problem he didn't even truly understand.

         As if his body realized he was away from the others, he began to feel sick and had to lean against the sink. It had begun in Hamel although he hadn't realized it then, the fact that he was dying. After he'd discovered that huge amount of power he'd used against Astrin, Add began to feel more of his energy outputting than normal. He didn't think anything of it until later on in Altera when his dynamos upgraded themselves and acted on their own. Even then, he wasn't aware that he was slowly dying. He didn't find out until recently when he and Ara went back in time to save Elsword.

          While he and Paradox had been separated, he'd coughed up blood thinking it was somehow Raguel's doing but one he'd returned home, it happened again. Luckily, no one was around to witness the incident but Add had panicked. He refused to tell anyone of the incidents and once he began looking into a way to get stronger, he saw just how much his health was declining and immediately began looking for a way to fix it. He had been considering whether or not he should inform Ara of his condition but now Ara was gone and he had at most a year to live according to his calculations.

          Paradox couldn't garuntee Ara would be back before then and this is what had been bothering Add all the while along with Ara possibly being in danger. A sudden fit of coughing came over Add and he quickly covered his mouth only for his hand to be stained in red once the coughs had stopped. It scared him, knowing that he was dying from an unknown cause. He quickly washed off his hand making sure to erase any traces of his blood but he still felt sick and his energy was leaving him. This had never happened before. Usually he'd be able to go on as though nothing happened but perhaps his stress was making things worse.

           Add could only lean against the locked door hoping that his sudden nausia would go away so that he could fix the anomaly and find Ara. His strength continued to leave him and he slid down the door so that he sat on the floor with his back pressed against it. He activated his eyes' special ability and began to analyze his condition holding his breath when he saw the results of his test. The holographic screens that only he could see showed that his vitals had spiked and stress was certainly linked to it but what he wasn't expecting was the analysis below that.

          His dynamos power output was far greater than what he could handle and so was his own natural magic level. He hadn't noticed it before but now the results on the screens made it clear. Add sighed and scrolled down seeing that his vitals were stabilizing but he still felt his energy leaving him. Another fit of coughing interupted his analysis as his vutals suddenly spiked again. The screens vanished and Add again held out his red stained hand. His vision began to blur sending his mind into panic as he tried to stand to at least escape the locked bathroom but his body would not listen to him.

          He let out a whimper as he sunk down to the floor falling limp despite his desperate attempts to fight whatever was happening to him. It was then that heard a knock at the door and Paradox's voice followed. "Add, stop worrying about Ara. She'll be fine. Ciel needs to ask you some questions. He thinks your hiding something and won't help until you prove that you aren't so get out here," Paradox said from the other side of the door. Add couldn't answer. He was already doing whatever he could to keep himself conscious.

          "Hey, I know you hear me. Don't make me walk through this door," Paradox growled but Add still gave no answer. He heard Paradox sigh in aggitation before he appeared in Add's line of sight with his back turned. He quickly turned around with a look of surprise as he noticed where Add was. "What the hell," he muttered, quickly dropping to Add's side to aid him. "What happened to you? Hey, can you hear me?" Paradox said as he too seemed to panic. He didn't hesitate to pull Add to him cradling him as he stood.

          Add tried to explain, to say anything at all but he couldn't. His eyes closed against his will but he was still able to hear what was going on around him. "What happened to him?" Ciel must have said. "I don't know. Just help him. I can't lose him too," Paradox said. Add didn't understand why Pardox would say such a thing when he clearly held great disdain for Add. "Wake up, kid. Come on. We still have to go save Ara," Paradox said. Add felt a light smack to the side of his face. For a moment Add opened his eyes seeing Paradox's and Wolvernian's faces but his consciousness faded faster than before.

           Wolvernian suddenly took a small flashlight and pointed it into Add's face. "His eyes aren't dialting. This is serious. Ciel, go get my briefcase. Terre, I need my alchemy equipment as well. Paradox you need to give him some space. You'll suffocate him if you don't. He isn't getting enough oxygen," Verni stated. Again Add closed his eyes against his will. The last thing he heard was Paradox's voice saying, "Don't you dare die. I mean it, don't you dare." And Add's world went black.
____________________________________

Hmm...should I continue with this or switch back over to whatever is going on with Ara? I don't know...we'll see. Until next time you awesome readers!