Last Straw

Althea was sitting on a bench under a tree in the middle of the park. It was Zero Squad's day off, although they still had to go into action when a warden ever does show up, Althea decided to venture Tabogon on her own. That way she could know the area better and honestly? She was getting bored just staying in the base all the time. It was getting on her nerves. Plus, both Ash and Grey needed someplace else to play around.

She was watching her familiars play with the local kids and she couldn't help but smile at the sight. But her happiness did not last long. She sensed a familiar and revolting (at least for her) aura coming closer to her. She wanted to leave and not talk to that guy, but she knew the two of them had to settle their problem with each other.

'Might as well talk to him now.' she thought bitterly and waited for her brother.

"It's such a peaceful town." said Alexis the moment he sat next to her. "It reminds me of our own hometown."

"Sund was your hometown, not mine." Althea retorted in a monotone voice. She was trying her best not to lash out at the man who once betrayed her and destroyed her life.

"But you were still born there with me. You're going to have to accept that sis."

Althea felt like a vein burst inside of her when she heard him call her 'sis'. She never liked it. She faced Alexis and held his collar.

"Listen here you twat." she growled. "I don't have a brother who throws his powerless sister in the mouth of a warden so he can escape. I don't have a brother that killed his fiancée just because she was better than him. And I definitely don't have a brother who killed the man I love for his own benefit!"

Althea accidentally yelled the last one which made everyone in the park look at them. They were trying to be discreet at it but it was hard to peel one's eyes away from a beautiful teenage girl with silver hair and a handsome young man with gold hair.

Alexis was silent at his sister's statement. But rather than remorse and apologize, he was rather annoyed at her. For him, it was their fault. And whatever happened when they were ten was definitely her fault. He was the future leader of the Stanley Family, his survival was priority. His fiancée, no ex-fiancée, was annoying him for showing off just because she was the daughter of a marquise. And Elijah was definitely a hindrance to his plans so he needed to go.

Those were juts some of his thoughts and his sister could not understand it! He had his own hardships as well!

"Don't say it's because your own hardships!" Althea exclaimed to him which made him freeze. "The Stanley's gave you everything. You had everything you wanted even without working for it. You're the one who doesn't understand because you're trapped inside your own world where only you are important. Wake up from it Alexis!"

Alexis clenched his teeth and was about to strike her but a hand stopped him. The two looked up and saw Percy holding Alexis' hand firmly in place.

"There's a law in the Philippines where you can't hit a woman unless it's self-defense. It applies to both normal citizens and wielders." Percy said in a dangerously low voice. "You still don't have the right to hit her even if you're her brother."

"I don't have a brother. I'm a Niadgel, he's a Stanley." Althea pointed out rather strongly. "I'm a silver head, he's not."

Percy found her explanation unreasonable but he was used to her antics already so he just let it go.

"Stay out from this." Alexis hissed.

"No can do. I'm her direct superior and she's under my family's protection. I think it's you who should stay away."

Alexis hissed but he stopped himself. There was something about the young man that stopped him. He was feeling the same aura he usually feels on Arthur. The aura of a relic king candidate.

He immediately wondered. When he woke up in that island for who knows how long ago, there were four mages that were given the task of choosing a relic king candidate who could rule the relics and kill the original warden king. He saw the four mages, and his sister was not one of them.

"Who are you?"

"Percy Ashtein."

'Isagani Ashtein's relative?' Alexis thought. 'He was a candidate as well, and was favored to become the king, if it wasn't only for the queen-rank warden.'

"Althea doesn't like you and our military forces are not quite at ease at the presence of soldiers from the British Royal Air Force. So why don't you pack up and return to the country you serve."

"You're a relic king candidate." Alexis said which made both Percy and Althea freeze. "Althea, your presence in this world is because of him?"

Althea steeled herself. "So? What's it to you?"

"There are supposed to be only four cardinal mages."

"Jonathon said I was a special case, but I am entitled in following and protecting my relic king candidate."

"This is nonsense."

"It's not. His presence is the proof of it." Althea replied. "You should return to where you came from Alexis and let us live our lives separately."

"You're still a brat after all these years. We already gave you a compromise back then so you can return to the family but you blew it!"

"The Stanley's mean shit to me. Go Alexis. The next time we meet, I won't be as calm as this time."

Alexis, being the hot-headed and prideful guy he was, wanted to lash out at his own sister. But they were stopped when they suddenly heard a crack in the sky. The trio looked up and saw a big rift forming in the cloudless blue sky. And behind it was a very powerful aura. Even more powerful than a knight-rank.

"Shit." Alexis swore.

"It's a bishop-rank." Althea added.

Percy was the first one to wake up from his shock and stupor. He immediately contacted Daniel and told him of the situation.

"I'll send all available units there. Prioritize evacuation of the civilians." Daniel replied.

"Yes sir." he turned to Althea whose gaze was still stuck to the rift. "Special Officer! It's time to go to work!"

Althea gave a positive and was about to move away, but Alexis held her arm. "What do I have to do for you to accept me and forgive me?"

"Seriously?" she scoffed. "How about swallowing your pride and actually apologize? Now if you won't be helping us, stay out of our way."

Alexis just watched Althea and Percy guide the citizens to the evacuation areas, stunned. Swallow his pride? Apologize? Why did he need to apologize?

Of course, Althea already predicted such train of thoughts from Alexis and just shook her head in disbelief.

'He's hopeless.' she thought.