Author's Note: You'll notice a significant difference in the description of outfits from now on. Thanks to jinismysugarmommy, who literally helped me describe every outfit I showed to them, the descriptions are now so much better ;_;. So don't go "wow" over my description, it's not my mind that wrote it 🤣.

I swear the first thing I'll do when I rewrite the story is improve the descriptions and fix the damn plotholes ._.

The guide found himself in a panic.

He was always selected to be the guide for honoured guests from other continents, and he had come across many strange requests from them. However, he had never come across the guests that questioned him the fastest way of making money in this continent. 

Simply because...the guests themselves never had a lack of money.

He had always prided himself in dealing with the ridiculous guests, and answering their strange questions.

“I...apologise, young mistress,” the guide maintained his smile with difficulty. “I am afraid I do not have enough experience to answer that question.”

The guide imagined that the raven-haired beauty in front of him would start exploding in frustration. It was always the rich and beautiful that had an eccentric temper. 

He braced himself, wincing in a discreet manner. 

“Oh, that’s fine.” Cecil responded, waving it off easily. 

“Oh, it’s fine--” The guide did a double-take. “It’s fine?!” 

Cecil nodded. “It’s fine.”

“Just like that?” The guide couldn’t help but ask, he hadn’t met such an easy-going guest. 

Cecil nodded again, slightly confused. “Just...like that.”

K’xug and Xue were having a small, silent conversation among themselves. 

Hana was still admiring her surroundings.

So pretty! 

So colourful! 

It...kinds of reminds me of candy. 

Hana smacked her lips together, starting to crave for something sweet.

“Mister, is there a shop around here that sells something sweet to eat?” Hana questioned cheerily.

“...th-there are a few famous dessert shops around Akai,” the guide explained, recovering from his shock. “Would you like me to show you around?” 

Hana nodded eagerly. “Mhmm!”

Cecil was looking forward to trying the local desserts, turning to look at Xue and K’xug. 

The two of them did not have any qualms following along. It wasn’t like they were in urgent need to do anything at this current moment. 

***

The four of them sat inside a cafe with wooden tables and chairs. A waitress walked towards their table. 

Her uniform consisted of a beige sushi chef coat with three-quarters sleeves, a black kimono collar with Geta and Zori embroidered on the collar and the ends of the sleeves. There was a waist-down apron, with its thread being long enough to be tied up into a bow at the front. The apron had the same print as the collar of her uniform, and the look was completed with straight black pants and comfortable shoes. 

She served the four people their order, which are four bowls of the same dessert that was recommended by the guide.

It was shaved ice with strawberry syrup and sliced strawberries, along with three small dango. 

“Enjoy your meal.” 

The waitress bowed slightly, pressing the empty tray to her chest before walking away.

Hana dug into her dessert, making a pleased noise. “So sweet!” 

The guide started to give them a brief history about Akai, the main port of the second continent, Tul. One would even regard this city as the capital of this continent. 

“Our continent is known for its craftsmanship in everything, ranging from jewelleries, accessories, furnitures. We are also known for our architecture which is different from the other three continents. The nickname for our continent is “The Four Cities of Arts” and many come here to train in their craftsmanship or to admire the skills of our artisans.” 

“The Four Cities of Arts?” Hana questioned with bright eyes. “What does that mean?” 

K’xug and Xue listened half-heartedly. 

Meanwhile, Cecil already had an inkling of the history of this continent due to reading the book. However, she still paid attention since this time, they had a guide and he might include other details that the novel did not mention.

“Unlike the other three continents, we do not have a specific ruler for this continent. There are four rulers, who are the lords of each city in this continent. Each city specializes in certain arts, and with the skills of four cities combined, it gave birth to this nickname of this continent.” 

“Who is the lord of this area?” Cecil asked. 

Recalling the story from the original novel, she did not have the answer to this question. 

“This port is considered the capital,” the guide explained patiently. “A long time ago, the ancestors of the lords came to an agreement that the port should be under the management of all of them. None of them are above the other when it comes to the management of this port, Akai.” 

Cecil knew from the novel that there was a dispute among the four lords, thus, she knew that there was definitely some internal discord within them. However, since it was only briefly stated by the author, Cecil did not know anything more. 

Well. 

Not that it has anything to do with Xue and Hana, or the other soul fragments. 

However, Cecil could not deny that deep inside her, she was curious to find out more about this continent, and what it has to offer. Moreover, she still wanted to find another way of earning quick money, instead of taking requests from the notice board. 

“What other interesting places are there over here?” Hana asked, kicking her feet up and down underneath the table. 

“We have a famous shopping district in Akai as well, our fashion here is well-loved by many women and men…” 

Hana listened attentively to the man, whereas, the other three started to keep to their own thoughts, enjoying their dessert. 

Cecil scooped up a portion of her dessert, a part of it dripping onto her hand. 

The guide noticed it, instantly pointing her towards the area for washing her hands. 

Cecil stood up from her seat, and Xue’s eyes followed her instinctively. She was glancing down at her hand, trying to prevent the melted ice from dripping to the ground. 

She lifted her head up, glancing about and noticing how crowded the restaurant was. A waiter hurried past her, pushing a cart of steaming food and soup, she stepped aside to let him cross.

Just then, Xue seemed to have realised something and he rushed towards the raven-haired woman. 

“Cecil!” 

Cecil heard a yelp beside her from the waiter as Xue called her name, she was startled to see the pile of food toppling towards her. She stepped aside, avoiding the food but the hot, steaming soup in the cart was already spilling right on her legs. 

She had no time to react. 

Just in the nick of time, Xue managed to utilise his water element to stop the soup in mid-air. He hurried to Cecil, pulling her aside. 

A few splatters of hot soup landed on Cecil’s legs but since it was covered by her dress, she only felt a small burning sting. 

Chaos ensued, plates clattering all over the wooden floor and food strewn about. Startled screams and yells were heard all around the restaurant. The waiter had tripped over something, causing the entire cart to turn over along with him, and his face planted onto the floor as he groaned. 

“Oh my god!” 

“He-he stopped it!”

“The girl would have gotten burned by the soup!” 

Cecil blinked in shock, looking up at Xue beside her, his arm wrapped around her body. He glanced down at her entire body, concern written all over his face. 

“Are you okay? Did you get burned anywhere?” 

“I-I am, and no burns,” Cecil was still in shock. “Thank you, Xue.” 

Xue sighed in relief.

“Young mistress, young master! Are you okay?” The guide rushed up to Xue and Cecil, fussing over them in concern. 

“Yes,” Cecil nodded slowly. “Thanks to...Xue.” 

The restaurant started to fill with curious and amazed murmurs. 

“Are you okay?” 

The colleagues of the waiter helped him up, and the waiter furrowed his eyebrows. 

“I’m--I’m fine, I tripped over something--” 

“It was these bastards here,” Xue interrupted, glaring at the customers on the table beside them. “They tripped you with their leg.”

Meanwhile, the group of customers at the table did not dare look at Xue in the eyes. One of them, an average-looking man, gulped nervously. He retracted the leg that he had stuck out underneath the table slowly.

Alas, the man was too conspicuous and everyone had seen his leg. 

Xue placed the soup back into the large bowl, pulling Cecil further away just in case. He continued glaring at the customer, anger welling up within him. 

If he had not caught them in time, Cecil would be covered in burns all over her leg due to the soup. Moreover, with her dress, it would no doubt trap the heat even more and she would have no choice but to rip the dress in front of everyone. 

The customers and staff members in the restaurant started to give reproachful looks at the same customers. The more bolder ones started yelling at them to leave the restaurant. 

Their faces burned with humiliation, they started packing up and leaving the restaurant. 

Xue was boiling with rage, resisting the urge to punch them in the face. Ever since he had come to realize his own violent tendencies when he was angry, he had been trying to control it. 

He didn’t want to look so violent and angry in front of the people he treasured anymore, especially Cecil. 

Isleif: “Are you just going to let them leave? Just like that?” 

Xue stiffened. 

Isleif: “If you weren’t there, Cecil would have been badly burned.” 

Isleif: “If you weren’t there, Cecil would have to tear her dress right in front of her everyone, showing off her skin to all these men with lecherous thoughts.” 

Those images ran through his mind, and the anger that Xue managed to push back started to rise up again.

Isleif: “Why are you letting them off so easy?” 

Isleif: “Burn them back with the soup.” 

Isleif: “Drag them away and torture them.” 

Isleif: “Kill them.” 

Isleif laughed, his tone sardonic and taunting. 

Xue inhaled shakily, his eyes following the customer like a predator. They were only mortals, it would be so easy to torture them for trying to hurt Cecil. 

Isleif: “Xue, why have you become so soft?” 

Isleif: “It’s only because you were like this, you allowed those angels to walk over you and stab you in the back.” 

Isleif: “It’s only because you were like this, it was so easy for people to betray you.” 

Isleif: “Kill them, Xue.” 

Xue gritted his teeth.

Isleif: “Kill them, kill them, kill them!” 

Isleif: “You are becoming too soft! They are going to walk all over you again! Kill them all!” 

Xue squeezed his eyes close. 

***

Meanwhile, the other soul fragments started to feel the mood of Xue fluctuating. It was growing more angry, more violent. 

They were confused. 

They were angry like Xue earlier, but not in this manner. 

“Something’s wrong with Xue.” Kai said, rubbing at his chest with a frown.

“His state of mind is becoming violent and wild.” Zasiok nodded, feeling equally uncomfortable though he remained stoic. 

“Those bastards tried to hurt Cecil, it’s obvious.” Leonaut answered.

“No, not like this! This...this feels like…” Kai shook his head, frowning deeper.

“It--it feels like Xue going back to his old self.” Alric spoke up this time, growing nervous. 

He did not like feeling this bloodthirsty, he had never felt this way before.

“Even I do not feel this angry when I do not have food.” Sid added on.

At that moment, Zasiok glanced around, noticing one of them missing within the lobby area. “Where’s Isleif? I can’t...hear his thoughts.”

Kai contemplated, feeling uneasy.

All of them could communicate with one another, and they can all be heard. However, with good concentration, they could solely communicate with Xue, and only with Xue. 

...but Kai never taught anything like that to Isleif.

Kai gasped in realisation. 

“Goddamnit, it’s him! He learned it on his own!” Kai cursed to himself, yelling at the other soul fragments. “Hey! Find Isleif, quick! And if you do, punch him right in the face! Or kick him!” 

The soul fragments scrambled around, and Kai dashed to his room along with Zasiok. They found Isleif sitting at the corner of his bed, a devious smirk on his face. 

“Found you!” Kai hollered at Isleif, rushing up to him. 

Isleif turned to look, only to be kicked right in the face. He fell off the bed, rolling on the ground and crashing right into the wall. 

“Ugh!”

Isleif tried to push himself up, only to feel a weight pressing down on his body and he kissed the ground. Zasiok was sitting right on top of him, hands in his pocket. 

“Get the hell off!” 

“No.” 

“You bastard,” Kai crouched down, pointing at Isleif who was glaring up at him and Zasiok. “You are taking advantage of Xue’s weak state of mind due to his anger, manipulating him.” 

“Tch.” Isleif clicked his tongue. 

He couldn’t believe he was discovered so quickly. 

***

Cecil felt the grip around her body tightened up, and she furrowed her eyebrows. She glanced up at Xue with her crystalline onyx eyes, seeing the ash blonde-haired man that seemed to be struggling with something. 

“Xue?” 

Alas, Xue did not hear her and she realised something was wrong. 

Whereas, at this moment, Kai started to speak up as he shut Isleif up successfully. 

Kai: “Oi, Xue! Snap out of it!” 

Kai: “Are you really letting yourself be easily manipulated like that?” 

Kai: “I don’t know what Isleif said to you, but don’t lose yourself in anger again!” 

Kai: “We know you have been trying to change, don’t give in now!” 

Kai: “We know it better than anyone, because...because we are you after all!” 

Zasiok continued sitting on Isleif, smiling slightly. 

Leonaut was digging his ear with his little finger, grimacing. 

Leonaut: “If I am slowly starting to accept myself as you, surely you can do better, Xue.” 

Alric sat on the couch, wringing his hands nervously. He was gathering up the courage to speak up to Xue.

Alric: “Xue, underneath it all...you are actually a decent person.” 

Alric: “Ha-hang in there.” 

Sid raised his arms up in the air.

Sid: “Hang in there! My saviour!” 

Unfortunately, Xue was drowning in the deepest depths of his mind where it was filled with threads of the ugliest thoughts. The threads had been slowly unentangling itself and crawling its way up, ever since his encounter with Veau on the cruise ship. 

With Isleif’s words, it expedited the threads to crawl up even faster, pulling Xue in like a siren luring in unsuspecting sailors. 

The restaurant was still trying to recover from the chaotic mess, but for Xue, nothing existed in his world right now. 

Nothing except his abhorrent and sinister thoughts.

Nevertheless, if Xue had been somewhat clear-headed, he would notice how he was currently being dragged out of the restaurant by someone.

“Xue.” 

Someone's calling me. 

"Xue."

Who's calling me?

"Xue."

Their voice. 

It's so gentle...and warm. 

Do I deserve to be called in such a way?

Suddenly, a pair of petite hands caressed his cheeks. "You are okay."

It was as if someone lifted the dark veil over his eyes, and he saw a pair of clear, onyx eyes staring right at him. 

"You will be alright, Xue."

***

《 start 》

It’s simple, just kill them.

Make them fear you. 

Why act so kind and soft? When they did not even listen to you? 

You will be hurt again.

Torture them to death. 

Don't let your guard down.

Kill them all. 

You are so weak. 

Kill them. 

You don’t deserve anything. 

End it all.

You want to make them fear you again?

You are a monster. 

Kill them!

You will be betrayed again.

Kill them. 

Monster.

Kill--

《 stop 》