...

Add unexpectedly began to cough; it wasn't your usual, average cold cough, it was much more violent. 

My pupils enlarged with surprise, worry, and fear. "Add!" 

His condition gradually grew worse. A short duration of time later, he vomited blood, as it splattered all over the floor. The ground was now contaminated, its painted white colour was stained with a bloody red from the illness.

"I-I'm fine, A-Ara. This is the t-toll I must take, for travelling outside so much for the past f-few d-days. I-It's worth it, though. B-Because I got to sp-spend time with you. Again, I'm f-fine." he forced a small smile, but soon after, he spat out blood. 

"No, you're not!" I argued. 

"Y-Yeah, I am."

"Your attitude is awfully ingrained." I rolled my eyes.

"S-Says you."

"Don't talk. It'll strain yourself, and I don't want you to suffer from even more pain." I ordered.

I looked around. Was there anything I could do? The Self-Defense Spirit buff I passed onto Add during the events of the Night Market in Altera seemed to have worn off already, which was unfortunate. I would've given it to him again if this was a good time to do it, but it wasn't. Kissing an ill man when he's coughing and bleeding out was definitely a terrible idea.

Quite suddenly, a third person joined our 'party'. It was the mysterious being whom I kicked at the festival; he had introduced himself as Glave. Confusion filled my mind. What the hell was he doing here? How did he know the password? Was he an acquaintance of Add?

The unknown man blinked, his eyes still glowing brightly. That was all I could see, due to his mask concealing almost everything on his face. Slowly, but surely, he started to creep me out, even though I was supposed to be used to fearful things such as this.

"I demand you to tell me why you're here, Glave. What is your relation to Add?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"How forceful, kekeke..." he laughed.

"Answer me!" I shouted, louder than necessary.

"Well, I suppose it's about time to tell you guys. My previous name was Add; and I'm sure you can guess my relation to him now, can't you?" he explained.

"Then you're..."Before I could finish my sentence, he interrupted me.

"Another version of him."

My rhetorical question was answered. He wasn't an acquaintance of Add, but he was Add.

I glanced at the Add I was familiar with, and his eyes were rather dilated.

Almost everything Sakra Devanam told me made sense now. Was this why Glave claimed to be my lover when the gang of idiots surrounded me? Because he technically was, but at the same time, he wasn't?

One thing, however, remained unclear. "Why does your physical appearance differ so much in comparison to him?" I inquired, pointing to the Mastermind.

"In the past, I looked similar to him, somewhat." he responded. "Except my hair wasn't nearly as long, and it wasn't tied into a freakishly girly ponytail."

I nodded in agreement to Glave's statement. "Hmm, I see. I do admit that it is awfully feminine, since I mistook him for a woman when we first met."

Add forced out a yell. "Hey!"

"Hush. I told you to shut up earlier, didn't I? It's for your own health." I said.

Glave chuckled. "Anything else you'd like me to elaborate on?"

I shook my head. Now that the explanations were out of the way, I needed to protect Add from Glave. I also had to find a cure for his sickness. 

"Splendid, because now it's my turn." a new voice spoke, although there was no one to be seen. How many interruptions were there going to be before I could actually proceed on with my task?

...

---[CHAPTER 16 - PARTY : END]---