Maria was not one to make mistakes. Following the rules, the absence of any chaos loving instincts, the fact that she dreaded failure were all reasons why her mistakes could be counted on one hand. They weren't of a serious nature either. Maybe a wrong move, a wrong ingredient when she attempted to cook, all very ordinary faults that could be easily excused. Underestimating Maschenny though? That was a mistake with a great cost.

"I can explain." Maria said trying to regain her cool. She couldn't. Neither explain herself nor regain her cool.

"Control yourself." Maschenny shot back slightly irritated "I know you don't work with FUG."

"I do not!"

"Yes, that's what I said."—Maschenny sighed, Maria kept her mouth shut—"There is not a single, valid, in character, reason why you would keep such a thing hidden."

"Then ho—"

"Unless you were like that." Maschenny didn't say anything else other than the word 'that', with a disgusted expression, as if it gave an answer to every mystery of the universe.

"Like what?"

"Too trusting, too good and too much of a dreamer." Maschenny explained "You would never rat out your family, would you? Especially when you owe them. So, although I hate it, it was an expected form of action for you."

"I'll take it as a compliment." Maria told herself with a small smile.

"The situation was under-control and so I didn't, and won't, mention it to the King. However, Maria dear, if this behavior of yours causes any problems in the future, know that I will not be that forgiving."

Maria took a deep breath. Yet her mind didn't rest.

"And now that this is solved,"—Aguero put down his fork before Maschenny finished her sentence—"what's the real reason you came here back then?"

"Steal a flash-drive. But I would assume you know."

"Try again." Maschenny replied, her voice a whisper "It would be an idiotic move and you've said you aren't an idiot. No, you're curious. Curious enough to pull things like stealing from Khun Eduan and help an Irregular. And yet, you expect me to believe that you went through all this for a simple Lighthouse related problem that took no more than a day to solve?"

Maria had to admit that Maschenny was making a point. Being too caught up with the revelation of Khun working with FUG and climbing the Tower, she hadn't bothered herself with the flash-drive. However, she remembered that Maschenny had found odd how they would go through such lengths to steal such an unimportant thing.

"They didn't know what its exact purpose was."

"Ah, that's true. But you're a Lightbearer. You knew its exact purpose." Much to Maschenny's annoyance, Aguero didn't answer. The girl smirked. "How about we stay here for a little while longer and every time you lie to me, I cut off a finger of yours unt—"

"It was a Test."

"A Test for what?"

"My connection with Maria." Aguero explained before briefly looking up to Maria "FUG wanted to see if they, if I, could use her. See if she would choose me over you in case we needed help."

"Putting their trust on the enemy. Weak."

"It is but FUG counts on many Princesses as you've seen." Aguero shrugged "Besides, didn't you trick Jinsung not too long ago? FUG likes beating you at your own game."

Maschenny seemed satisfied with the answer she had received while Maria remained quiet. She thought of her meeting with Aguero and how it was all orchestrated by FUG. An unsettling feeling rose in her chest.

"There is another thing I don't understand." Maschenny continued "This test as you call it happened five months ago. How come you cut ties with them now?"

"I didn't cut ties. They did." Aguero told her "You've read files about me, you shouldn't be surprised."

"And yet I am."

Aguero sighed. "Have you seen White?"

"Yes."

"The Princesses?"

"Yes."

"Well, FUG is full of people like that. Over powerful people. Me? I'm a Regular, an abandoned son of a prestigious family whose most members would serve my head on a silver plate."—Maria shivered—"I'm good, I'm skilled, and I was a great ally for some time. In return for my help, FUG gave me things I wanted. A symbiotic relationship, if you will. But with them rising to the top, my help stopped being important. The giving was now one-sided. And when that happens, you stop being a symbiote."

"You're just a parasite." Maria cut him off, feeling the anger inside her. The world of the Tower was cruel, this is what everyone said, but Maria would never make peace with people close to her getting hurt.

"And what do you do with parasites?"

"You cut them off."

"There is your answer."

Maschenny looked between the two of them. Her expression troubled. Maria shouldn't, in any case, get ahead of yourself, but she could see something new in the other girl's face.

"And then you came here to use us a revenge against FUG, didn't you?"

"Use is a strong word. As Princesses, you want FUG gone. I also want FUG gone. It's a fine arrangement."

"It is." Maschenny agreed "But it could be better, couldn't it? How far does your revenge go?"

Aguero thought about it for a while. His usual smile, meant for those who did not deserve it, dropping. Maria saw his eyes shine. A passion visible.

"I want to burn FUG to the ground."

Maschenny smiled. "Okay then, here's what we do, if you help me out with my own little ambition, I'll have this little organization in a pool of gasoline awaiting your match."

"And what is that little ambition?"

Maria pressed her palms against her head hoping to disappear. If she didn't end up dying from a heart attack, she would die by Zahad's hand for treason.

"I want to destroy the Tower." Maschenny stated with a wicked smile "I want to destroy everything."

"Did you guys try the chicken? I thought it was lovely." Both Khuns ignored Maria.

"You're a Princess of Zahad, a very prestigious position to have. Why throw it away?"

"Curiosity."—Aguero chuckles—"The system is rotten. The rules overbearing. The most powerful Princesses all turn traitors in the end but they still hold on to their power. I don't like the lack of punishment, just I don't like the fact that Zahad sits like a king in his little throne measuring how much power I can or can not have."

"So, you're going to create an uprising?"

"No, FUG is already doing that. I'm going to obtain every weapon from the 13th month series while Zahad and FUG tear each other apart like the animals they are."—Maschenny grins even wider—"And when one emerges victorious, if one emerges at all, I'm going to give them a friendly reminder."

"Which is?"

"I'm the apex predator."—she leans back against her chair, both Maria's and Aguero's eyes on her—"So, Aguero, where is your spot in the chain? Down with the animals or on top with the Gods?"

"With the Gods." Aguero doesn't hesitate when answering. Maschenny seems, for the first time, the most content with his answer. She looks at Maria expectantly. Maria thinks of the Princesses, the other one, the runaways, the dead, and of a sick and twisted Zahad. She thinks of family and the only image in her head, the only thing she can think of, is the two people in front of her. No matter how sad it was for her. She nods. Maschenny raises a glass.

"A toast for the three Khuns that matter," Maria sees a glimpse of sadness in Maschenny's eyes that is gone as quickly as it came "we will bring this Tower to shambles."

.

Six months passed and Maria had never felt happier and more worried at the same time. She was living in a dream, a little fantasy she had never expected to come true. Despite Zahad, and possibly FUG, waiting for them at the corner, Maria lived some mundane months with what seemed like a family. As much as a family, three members of the Khun family could be considered. But Maria would joke with Maschenny and the other girl wouldn't ignore her entirely. She could even complain to Aguero about Rankers and visitors or even Maschenny, but never anything serious, everything she imagined siblings would do together. Truly, Maria lived a blissful life no Khun could ever imagine.

And then night came and Maria could hear mumbles from Aguero's room and see his melancholic expression when he thought no one was looking. Truly, Maria wasn't the best at reading other people, but when Aguero would stare at the night sky while messing with his earrings, Maria couldn't ignore it. Yet she had to. Just like she ignored the golden eyes and the Aguero's sudden change of behavior compared to the last time she had seen him with Ran.

Maria was a dreamer. This is what her mother used to say. What Aguero used to whisper. What Maschenny used to shout. It was true.

And Maria wanted to dream a little longer.

.

"We have a surprise for you."

"No, Maria has a surprise for you." Aguero argued "I'm just here to make sure you don't die."

Maschenny was about to open her mouth but before she managed to utter any words, Maria had handed her a plate with something brown-ish. Maschenny sighed. For a pacifist, Maria surely did like to poison them. "I mean, at least they're not black like last time."

"Yes! I'm getting better at it."

"If you ignore the coal-y flavor at the tip, it's not that bad." Aguero said causing Maria to smile proudly at herself. Maschenny carefully took a bite and, surprisingly, swallowed it.

"Raise two hands if you feel your pulse quickening." Maria punched Aguero's arm.

"It's edible."

"Well, that's half the work." Suddenly, Maria's eyes widened. "Shit, I've left the oven open!"

Maschenny hoped they had insurance.

.

Khun Maschenny Zahad had always worked alone. It was the only way she knew how and it had paid off greatly. She didn't know when it stopped. She blames Aguero, his arrival causing her to form a team. She blames Maria because she was her first partner, even if she only wanted to use her as a pawn at first. She blames Ran, his absence and hatred still having an effect on her. But mostly, she blames herself for wanting to be a God even though she still couldn't get rid of the most humanly traits.

"Do you want to know a funny thing?" she utters one day to Aguero. He turns his head to face her. Maschenny isn't ready for that look. She thinks of Maria, she thinks of Ran, she thinks of Aguero.

The voice inside her, the one that dreams of destruction, the one that awaits the Fall, screams at her. It begs her to stop. Maschenny, however, finds herself unable to listen. "I trust you."—Aguero opens his mouth to speak—"It's not a blind trust, do not get ahead of yourself. I'm just saying that if I had to jump from the top of some stairs, three or four steps separating me from the ground, and I could clearly see the other side and you told me to jump, I would. In most scenarios, at least."

"I think you have too much faith in me."

Maschenny laughs but she can't help thinking that she does. This new situation might be different, it's certainly different compared to the world she had imagined living, but this didn't mean it would be bad. She could still reach the Top. Just, in this scenario, she wouldn't have to be alone.

.

Three nights later, Khun Aguero Agnis calls someone.

(The night weeps.)