"So how's life here? Hope it isn't too hard for you.." Auden inquired, taking his time to sip from his beer.

He observed the visibly fragile girl, struggling to hold herself together. Despite inviting her for just a can of beer after their chance reunion on the bustling city streets, she had already gone overboard.

"Not really. I work. I pay bills. I survive. Quite a splendid life for a poison-souled creature like me, don't you think?" she slurred, punctuating her words with odd giggles. "Oh, and I have a pet elf."

It was clear she was losing it. Auden instinctively leaned forward, ready to catch her if she fell off the bench they were sitting on.

He felt a pang of sadness as he witnessed his sister in such a vulnerable state. She had once been his role model, someone he looked up to for both her magical skills and her goodness as a human. Though their bond had deteriorated over time, the connection still tugged at his heart. After all, blood was supposed to be thicker than water.

"Since we're on the subject -- I've heard you've been seeking out healers lately. What are you up to Ada?" he asked.

Recently, his trusted sources had informed him about her interactions with various witches, wizards, and even creatures from the Dark Side. It didn't sit well with him, so he had ventured all the way from Crepusculem to check on Ada.

"How would you know?" she slurred again, her eyes widening in what seemed to be awe. A random hiccup interrupted her drunken speech, making her giggle softly. "Oh, Audy, you sneaky little rat. You've been spying on me, haven't you?"

There it was again-Audy. He hadn't heard her use that name in years. It slipped from her lips with such ease, such familiarity, that he wasn't sure whether to feel happy or sad about it. She was pulling at the strings of memories best left buried, tugging at old scars he thought he'd long outgrown. He was supposed to be mad at her-furious, even-but the sister in question was stubbornly ploughing her way through every beer can in sight, getting more drunk and annoyingly chatty with every passing minute. And it didn't help that she seemed determined to tear down every bit of resolve he had left.

Auden huffed, feigning annoyance, but he was sure it came out as threatening as a kitten's hiss. "It's not spying. I was just... worried," he replied hastily, then instantly regretted the words the moment they slipped out.

Since the day she left home, abandoning him with the responsibilities she had cast aside, the current heir of Romersai had never referred to his sister as his sister. She bet it didn't feel like a sisterly thing to him. Not a loving one, at least.

But it was too late. Ada had already caught onto his underlying emotions, a small smile gracing her swollen lips. Her cheeks were puffy and red from all the alcohol she had consumed, and her eyes crinkled with what seemed like... love.

"Oh, Audy... you still care." She sighed dramatically, "You big softie."

"I am not a softie," he grumbled, "And I'm definitely not a rat."

"You are to me," she murmured, a lazy smile tugging at her lips. "My little Audy-Rat."

"Whatever," he muttered, unable to keep the fondness out of his voice. "Just-just stop drinking already, will you? You're going to make yourself sick."

Ada looked up at him through bleary eyes. "I'm okay, Audy. Don't worry about me. I'll find a way to solve this," she said softly, a gentle smile curving her lips. "We can go back, play catch together, perform magic... you as the heir and me by your side, just like old times."

Auden's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening. "It's already been seven years, Ada," he muttered bitterly, looking away as if the very thought pained him.

Her heart clenched at the hurt in his voice. Seven years-it must have felt like a lifetime for him, trapped in this twisted world while she struggled to find a way out. She took a slow breath, forcing herself to keep her composure even as guilt churned in her chest.

"I'm sorry it's taking so long," she whispered, the words fragile. Slowly, she reached for another can and began to open it, the repetitive motion a grounding solace. Auden protested, but Ada just swatted his hand away and proceeded to chug the drink. It burned her from the inside out, yet the pain of sorrow tearing at her heart was even more powerful.

"But I'm so proud of you, Audy. You've grown to be such a wonderful young man," she added softly, her eyes brimming with unspoken affection as she looked at him.

There was no mistaking the sincerity in her gaze. It shone with pride, admiration, and the kind of love that only a sister could have for her younger brother. He was no longer the small boy who used to cling to her hand, wide-eyed and eager to learn every spell she cast. He'd become strong-resilient, even-but beneath all that, he was still her little brother, the one she'd sworn to protect.

For a moment, Auden looked at her as if he wanted to believe her-wanted to believe that everything could somehow go back to the way it was, when she was his steady, unshakeable sister, the one he could always count on. But right now, she was too far gone, her eyes hazy and unfocused, the alcohol muddling her thoughts and emotions beyond recognition.

Sighing quietly, he stood and moved around the table. Without a word, he settled beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and drawing her gently against his side. Ada immediately curled into him, as if seeking refuge, her body relaxing against his warmth. It was like rain to a desert, and she leaned in desperately, soaking up the comfort he offered as if it were the very thing keeping her together.

"Do you not want me to be proud of you?" Auden asked softly, glancing down at her as he reached for the beer can she still stubbornly clutched in her grip. He tugged it gently, his fingers deftly prying it loose, and this time, she let go.

Ada chuckled, a sad, broken sound that held none of its usual mirth. "I know you love me," she murmured, her voice fragile and strained. It was a simple truth, spoken so softly that it almost shattered the moment.

"I wish you didn't," Auden whispered back, the words slipping out unbidden.

Ada closed her eyes, the weight of his words sinking deep into her chest. For a long moment, she didn't speak-couldn't speak-her thoughts tangled in a mess of regret and pain.

"I failed, didn't I?" she murmured before he could stop herself. Her gaze dropped to the table, and he stared at the empty cans littering the surface, her mind drifting back to a time when things were simpler. When she'd been the strong, unbreakable one, and he'd been the naive little brother who believed she could do no wrong.

Auden swallowed hard, blinking rapidly to clear the sudden sting in his eyes. Damn it, Ada... How could she still say things like that, still look at him like he was something good, something worth believing in? After everything-after all the lies, the betrayals, the paths they'd taken that had driven them further and further apart-how could she still trust him?

He stared down at her, his chest aching with a mess of emotions he couldn't name. Slowly, carefully, he shifted, adjusting her so that she was more comfortable against his side. For a long moment, they just sat, his hand hovering uncertainly over her hair before finally settling gently against her shoulder.

"If only I could ask Gagagore for help, things would move faster," Ada murmured, taking a gulp from the newly opened can, her gaze distant.

"Gagagore?" Auden repeated, careful to keep his voice neutral. But his blood ran cold at the mention of the name.

Gagagore. Of course, he'd heard it-no one who moved in the dark circles he did could miss that vile snake of a creature. It'd be absurd for him, of all people, to claim ignorance, especially since he'd already sold his soul off to that very drakened spirit.

"Yeah, if only he were here to help me," Ada continued, oblivious to her brother's rising tension. Auden kept his face carefully blank, schooling his expression into one of mild disinterest as his sister rambled on. He didn't dare let his guard slip, didn't let a single trace of recognition show. Not now, not with her like this.

"I don't know who he is, but I highly advise against involving him," he said smoothly, even as his throat tightened with a lump of unease.

Ada looked at him and snorted softly. "Oh, silly you. You wouldn't say that if you knew who he was."

Auden forced a smirk, shrugging casually. "Don't tell me. I'm better off not knowing your friends from the Dark Side."

"Incorrect," Ada countered, pointing at him with a lazy but oddly determined gesture. "He, my dear brother, is so powerful that you must know about him. That necklace you protect with your life... if he ever gets hold of it, you wouldn't even be able to imagine the consequences for the world."

He could feel the blood draining from his face, but he kept his expression schooled, dropping his gaze to the can in his hands. "Still not interested. Unless he can destroy it for me," he remarked flippantly, casting a quick, sidelong glance at her.

If Ada were sober, he wouldn't have dared to tread this close to the truth. She would have read his face, caught the slip of fear lurking beneath his mask, and known exactly what he was trying to hide. Even if she couldn't see through his lies, she'd definitely sense the chaos swirling in his aura. But in her current state, Ada was too intoxicated to pose any harm, let alone comprehend.

"Oh, if that's what you wish, you might as well ask him," she sighed, almost wistfully. "He most certainly can fulfill your demand."

Auden clenched his jaw, fighting to keep his reaction in check. He felt a twinge of guilt for manipulating her like this, for playing along when he knew damn well the kind of danger Gagagore posed. But he had to. If it kept her from looking too deeply, from digging up truths she was better off not knowing, then it was worth it.

Ada gave him a long, considering look, as if she was trying to figure him out through the haze of alcohol clouding her mind. But then she shook her head, dismissing whatever thought had crossed her mind.

"Shame he's imprisoned. I can't find where they've put him."

A/N: Cause the chapter was quite long I had to chunk it into three parts. Hope you don't mind.