Goro leapt out the window, landing quietly on the stone pavement that led out to the backyard garden. He glanced around, hearing the distant fighting noises and he clicked his tongue. 

The light rain and cloudy night sky shielded Goro from the lights, and all he had to do was make his way around the chaos. He did not want to get noticed by his enemies who were fighting off his subordinates around the vicinity. 

He could care less what happens to his subordinates. 

He only had one priority in his mind right now. 

I need to return and inform the Master of the situation. 

I am probably not safe here anymore. 

“Hahaha! Yun was right again after all!” 

Goro twitched, hearing a familiar voice that infuriated him. 

The voice that belongs to the person that always interfered with his Master’s grand plans. The one who was causing his Master to lose his precious resources bit by bit. 

Haru and Yun stepped out from the shadows, the stone lanterns around the garden revealing them. 

Haru had a proud grin on his face, his feet stepping on a stone statue that decorated the garden. Whereas, Yun stood beside Haru with his arms crossed. 

“Ephert wouldn’t simply leave Goro here without any plans,” Yun stated. “Seeing the weird weapons they used from earlier, it’s just a precaution I took since Xue and Cecil would not be able to keep up their guard constantly.” 

Yun knew K’xug and Hana were enough to handle the guards themselves, since one of them was overwhelming in strength. 

Goro gritted his teeth, taking out his claymore. 

At the same time, Yun whipped out his fan and Haru cracked his knuckles. 

“Two against one,” Goro barked out. “Where is your dignity as a fighter?” 

Haru snorted. 

Yun closed his eyes, shaking his head. 

“Dignity?” Haru grinned further. “Kiyae was right to call you a red-haired idiot.” 

“We are pirates just like your master made us to be,” Yun adjusted his glasses. “Playing dirty is what pirates do, no?” 

“Bullshit! It’s all just an act anyway!” Goro snarled in response, clenching his jaw. “You just act as pirates to steal the people that were sent here for Master!” 

Haru dropped his smile. 

Yun wore a solemn look. 

“Sent here? For that disgusting prick?” Haru clenched his fists, his voice low. “They were all tricked to come here, to fulfill their dreams and to be kidnapped to be used as slaves.” 

“Captain.” 

“Stand back, Yun,” Haru growled out. “I’ll fight him on my own.” 

Yun glanced to Haru, seeing the anger unbridled in his orange eyes.

It was unlike the carefree Haru image everyone was used to seeing. 

Yun closed his eyes, taking a step back. 

That’s right, among all of us…

Our captain, Haru, is the one who suffered the most. 

Yun smiled. 

“Beat him up good, Haru.” 

Haru looked at Yun, a smirk on his face as he coated his fists in a bright orange flame, similar to the colour of his eyes. “You don’t need to tell me twice.”

Goro and Haru charged at each other. 

***

“I did it,” Jehan laughed happily to himself as he coughed out more blood. “I really did it.” 

Jehan lifted his head up, smiling at Xue with his blood-stained teeth. 

Cecil was silent, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed quietly. 

“Moreover, in front of you,” Jehan murmured out, still smiling. “Looks like my host isn’t all that almighty.” 

“...”

Xue exhaled sharply, his face a deadpan. 

He was clearly not bothered by Jehan or his words, because his priority was another person now. 

He was still hugging Cecil close to him, his arms around her waist and his lukewarm expression grew gentle. 

“Cecil.” 

“...”

Cecil did not respond. 

Jehan was piqued at Xue’s indifference, gritting his teeth. 

“Yo-you, don’t you care?!” Jehan pointed at Xue. “Just watch, I’ll steal all the power and soul fragments from you!” 

Xue ignored him again. 

He would get his soul back anyway. 

Why would he care about some useless provocation? 

Cecil crying in his arms was more important now. 

“Cecil, are you okay?” 

“I...I can’t believe that they…” Cecil mumbled out, still trying to recover from the shocking scene. “They didn’t even know me…” 

“...!”

Jehan was currently being treated like empty air, especially by the person he was trying to provoke. 

He was irritated. 

“I’ll steal her away too, Cecil Lan!” Jehan hissed out. “Your money, power, title, woman and much more! They will all belong to me!”

Xue stiffened. 

Cecil slowly lifted her head up, tears clinging to her eyelashes. 

Seeing that their attention was on him now, Jehan was satisfied as he grinned devilishly. He started to ramble on about his grand plans to take over Xue’s position as the host. 

Cecil knew Jehan from the novel. 

He was the evil soul fragment Xue would encounter in this continent, however, once again, the appearance of this soul fragment was earlier than expected. 

Jehan was greedy, arrogant and an attention-seeker, and he didn’t like it if anything stood in the way of his goals. Even if that person was his friend or lover, he would not hesitate to hurt them to achieve his goals. 

The moment Xue encountered this soul fragment in the novel, they would already be engaged in a big fight and Xue would win. 

However, the victory wasn’t easily achieved. He was heavily injured since the soul fragment was stronger than he expected, after absorbing more souls. 

Thus, that led to an infamous romantic scene in the novel. 

It was a favourite scene of every reader. 

Cecil thought back to the novel, and she finally recovered from the shock. 

That romantic scene was now thrown out the window, since Xue...likes her.

That’s right, Xue...likes me.

We still need to talk after all this. 

Those souls of Xue, they are now inside Jehan. 

This is no time to be crying. 

Cecil lowered her gaze, sneaking out her dagger and turning it into vines. The vines slowly crawled its way towards Jehan, who was still rambling away confidently. 

Meanwhile, Xue listening to all of this could not be bothered. 

Stealing Cecil away? 

That was something he would never allow, unless she left on her own accord. 

He continued observing Cecil who was silent this entire time, his arm tightening around her waist. 

He was growing frantic about the lack of response from Cecil. 

His soul fragments had sacrificed their last moments to protect her, and he was surprised himself but that was something he would do anyway. 

However, he did not expect Cecil to be this distraught over them.

The soul fragments in his mind were fretful over her as well. 

“Cecil, please say something.” 

Cecil snapped out of her daze, glancing back to meet Xue’s concerned grey eyes. 

“Sorry, I’m okay,” Cecil smiled softly, her eyes still red and she lowered her voice. “You need to absorb him now, Xue.” 

Before he gets anymore stronger and hurts you in your battle. 

She held back the next few words she wanted to utter out. 

She still remembered the punishment that awaited her if she were to spoil the storyline that was laid out for Xue. 

“Don’t bother, right now, he’s not my--” 

“Go, Xue,” Cecil urged, glancing at her vine that was attached to Jehan’s ankle. “If you let him escape and get any stronger…” 

“...alright.” 

Xue released Cecil. 

“Why are you not listening again?!” Jehan barked out. “You don’t take me seriously, don’t you? I even have this--” 

Jehan wanted to take out the marble, when he felt something dragging him harshly by the ankle. He yelped in alarm but was quick to recover, slashing the vine attached to his ankle. 

He looked at Cecil, grinning. 

“I really think you will be more fun compared to Hana Katae--” 

Xue appeared from above, aiming his spear down at Jehan. Jehan barely managed to get out of the way, the spear nicking him on the arm. 

Cecil knew Jehan had a fatal weakness. 

He derived joy from his opponent’s anger and misery. Hence, he would not leave until he got what he wanted, which explains why he hadn’t escaped earlier despite knowing Xue was stronger than him right now. 

Compared to the past, the current Xue was much more stable and hence, the provocations from Jehan meant nothing to him. 

Jehan looked towards Cecil, and he smirked. 

“Even if I am weak right now,” Jehan dashed towards Cecil with his claws aimed at her. “At least compared to you, I am stronger.” 

Cecil narrowed her eyes. 

Thinking of holding me hostage or taking me away? 

As if I’ll allow that. 

Cecil started distracting Jehan with her rock, making it swirl around him like a fly buzzing around him. From time to time, Cecil seemingly aimed for his vital points but she would retract it and go back to buzzing around him. 

Naturally, Jehan could not ignore the damn rock and his pace towards Cecil slowed. 

Xue took this opportunity to launch his attack again, the tip of his spear covered in foxfire. Just like before, he wanted to trap his opponent in a column of foxfire, ensuring they couldn’t escape. 

Even his soul fragment wouldn’t be able to dispel the unique flames, since they weren’t on the same caliber. 

Jehan smirked, knowing he would be able to dodge Xue’s spear. 

However, he did not expect the flames from Xue’s spear to flare up and surround him in an instant. 

“Damnit!”  Jehan widened his eyes, glancing around frantically and he put his hand behind his neck. “Hey, creepy demon! You can sense it, don’t you?!” 

At that moment, Xue sensed something and hopped away from the column of foxfire that surrounded Jehan. 

The presence of dark magic. 

Xue dispelled the flames in an instant just as Jehan was covered in a shroud of dark magic. 

Cecil gasped quietly. 

“To think this is how my brother wanted to use this spell,” someone sighed out, a hint of laziness in their voice. “Just how reckless is he becoming?” 

Cecil furrowed her eyebrows. 

Xue glared at the person as the shroud of dark magic cleared up. 

This voice…

The cobalt-blue hair was a telltale sign for the two of them, along with his lazy demeanor. 

“Hello, Xue.” 

Cecil groaned, her palm on her forehead. 

“Why is it even you?” Xue spoke coldly. 

“Well that,” Veau smiled lazily, shrugging. “...is something you have to ask my dear half-brother.” 

Cecil frowned deeper. 

It’s Zeau once again. 

He is planning to hurt Xue both mentally and physically by utilising his soul fragments. 

He was the one behind all of this, even in the novel. 

Cecil lowered her hand, glancing at Veau and Xue.

For Veau, however, whether he was cooperating with Zeau or making independent decisions, is something I can never figure out. 

Veau extended his hand out. 

“Time to fulfil my temporary role here.” 

Dark magic merged on the palm of his hand.

Xue cursed to himself, seeing the ominous black ball on Veau’s hand told him everything. He grabbed Cecil without any hesitation, pulling her along. 

Cecil already knew what would transpire was bad. 

“Run!” 

Xue placed his hand on his chest, clicking his tongue. 

He hadn’t gotten even half of his powers back, and he could not even conjure the slightest amount of light magic. 

This was the only choice. 

“What is he planning to do?!” Cecil questioned urgently. 

Xue and Cecil jumped out of the broken window at the same time. 

“A dark magic explosion!” Xue exclaimed. 

K’xug should be able to sense it earlier! Knowing him, he should be somewhere nearby!

“K’xug!” Xue yelled out. 

A shadow swooped down from the air, his wings flapping as he grabbed Xue and Cecil, flying away from the area. 

Boom! 

The top part of the house exploded into pieces, a black swirling mess spilling out from the interior and shooting into the air. 

The chaos died down from the sudden explosion, the impact causing the people nearest to it to be blown away from the shockwave. 

Hana was already warned by K’xug to stay further away, and the guards around them were all groaning on the ground. She peeked out from the stone lantern, gasping at the house that was being blown into pieces. 

“Just to be safe…” Hana muttered to herself, using the water around her to create barriers made of ice in front of her. 

“Ensure my safety first!” Hana huffed proudly. “That’s what Cecil and Xue always told me!” 

If Xue, Cecil and K’xug was here, they would have nagged at her to hide behind any objects and not just stand there.

Just then, one of the debris flew her way, destroying her ice barriers. 

Hana panicked, flailing her arms and legs. 

Her ice barriers slowed down the momentum of the debris, and it ended up hitting her on the forehead.

“Ouch!” 

Hana cried out, hiding behind the stone lantern and rubbing at her reddened forehead with a pout. 

“I should have stayed still…” 

***

Yun was supporting an injured Haru with his shoulder while Haru dragged an unconscious Goro behind him. The explosion happened without warning, making the two of them shoot up their head in surprise. 

“I did say to go in with a bang,” Haru winced, rubbing at the cut on his lips. “But not to this extent.” 

Yun caught a glimpse of the ominous black aura surrounding the house before it disappeared without a trace. 

“I don’t think it’s them, captain.” 

“They definitely aren’t human,” Haru grumbled out. “Ow, ow ow, damnit, it hurts everywhere.” 

Debris were being flung their way as well, and Yun simply swung at his fan a few times. Several mini tornadoes were created, sucking in the debris and creating an unobstructed pathway for Yun and Haru. 

“Yun Yun is so reliable.”

“Stop calling me that.” 

“Hahaha--ow ow, my lips!” 

“You asked for it, captain.” 

“Why are you always so cold, Yun Yun.” 

“...I should let one of the debris hit you.” 

“Hahaha--” 

One of the debris almost smacked Haru. 

“You...you were really planning to let me get hit?! In this state?!” 

“You’ll survive, captain.” 

“You heartless strategist!” 

Yun sighed. 

Haru grumbled on and on, whining and complaining about his injuries at the same time. 

The two of them, along with the unconscious and battered Goro, slowly made their way to the entrance of the house.

Just then, the two of them encountered K’xug, Cecil and Xue along the way. 

K’xug scared the life out of Haru and Yun when he landed in front of them from the air, his wings still on display. 

Haru ended up making a weird sound, before he whined about his torn lips again. 

“Your lips seem to be the least of your concern,” Cecil furrowed her eyebrows, her voice concerned as she scanned Haru up and down. “Seeing your state, I wouldn’t be surprised to find any broken bones in your body.” 

“Heh, you should see the other guy.” Haru sniffled, wanting to rub his nose proudly and he groaned in pain again.

Cecil took a look at Goro.

“He is definitely in a more tragic state,” Cecil laughed softly, nodding in agreement before she sighed. “But Haru, it must still hurt.” 

Haru grimaced.

“Don’t worry,” Cecil smiled. “I’ll do my best to help you recover as painlessly as possible.” 

Haru looked at Cecil, wanting to tear up. 

It isn’t just Hana. 

Cecil is an angel too! 

An angel! 

Haru wanted to reach his hand out to Cecil, feeling grateful, when he felt a shudder down his spine. 

Cecil was still smiling kindly at him, and Xue stood beside Cecil, a chilling look in his eyes. 

Haru stiffened, hiding behind Yun. 

Yun, on the other hand, widened his eyes at Cecil’s words. “I have been wondering for a while now, are you a healer, Cecil?” 

“I am training to be one myself.” 

“Is that so?” Yun adjusted his glasses, smiling. “It’s really good to have an ally like you.” 

“Likewise.” 

K’xug patted Xue on the shoulder, smiling helplessly. 

Are you trying to kill him with your stare? 

Haru whimpered. 

Cecil glanced back to Xue at that moment, and Xue softened his look in an instant. 

“Where’s Hana?” 

Just then, they heard someone calling out to them. 

“Everyone, over here! Hey!” Hana called out, waving enthusiastically. “Look at--oh my god, Haru Haru! What happened to you?!” 

Hana rushed over, clearly concerned over Haru as she touched his cheeks carefully. 

This time, Haru felt another chilling gaze on him, though it wasn’t as intense as Xue. 

...but it was still bad. 

He turned stiffly towards K’xug, cowering back from Hana.

Next time, when I get injured, I can never appear in front of these two. 

He hid behind Yun once again, whimpering. 

Nevertheless, the team completed the mission. 

Kidnapping Goro was a success. 

***

Shin sat up on the bed, hugging his knees to himself as he laid his head arms. 

He stared at the empty space in front of him, recalling the memory of how powerless he felt before Ephert. 

The conversation he had with that cruel man. 

“Mom, dad…” Shin muttered to himself, his expression blank as he clutched the necklace around his neck. “You are...are you guys really…” 

An image of an ash blonde-haired man flashed through his mind. 

He clutched his head, letting out a choked cry. 

“Mother, father…” 

“I miss you.” 

“I will avenge you.” 

“I miss you so much.” 

“Why did you leave me?” 

“I will kill him.” 

Shin squeezed his eyes close. 

“These memories…” Shin winced out, still clutching his head. “They are his...but they are--mine.” 

Tears leaked out from his eyes, not knowing if it was his own pain or the pain of the person from his mind. 

...no, he knew deep inside. 

It wasn’t just him alone. 

It was both of them. 

Shin gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to cry out in pain. “We are...the same...person.” 

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

Why is she so concerned about you? 

Why is she smiling so brightly at you? 

Don’t you dare hold her hands. 

Don’t you dare touch her. 

I cannot obtain her heart. 

...but I want to continue keeping these feelings of mine. 

So, I can do nothing but openly display this jealousy of mine. 

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

She is concerned for him, like a friend. 

...but I am a friend too. 

She is concerned for him, like a normal person. 

...but I can’t stop myself from being jealous. 

I cannot waver. 

I am jealous. 

I cannot waver. 

...but I am still jealous. 

I...I...cannot--

Damnit. 

Now I know how Xue feels. 

《 stop 》

***

Author's Note: Yes, yes. I know mostly everyone is waiting on pins and needles for the official kiss between Xue and Cecil.

It will happen, I assure you. I will ensure that the moment is tantalizing, slow and genuine, well, to the best of my (mediocre) writing abilities *shrug*.