The Spectator of Continuum

Upon returning home and taking a relaxing bath, Eve slumped down in her comfy bed.

She reviewed the supposed plot while gazing at the ceiling.

According to the furball, Hemiura will wiggle out and finally declare her rotten existence to the Tang family towing Evangeline's half-sister Halesia, in more or less nine months.

She needs to prepare something. At least, lay an outline of what she's supposed to do to give them a warm welcome, especially for that woman.

[ It's quite taxing waiting for you, Hemiura.]

For a moment, she wondered how that woman was faring.

Eve recalled she had gracefully bestowed Hemiura several "gifts" before.

[ She should have been enjoying them, right?]

Now thinking about it, it has been a while since she had given her such a wonderful present.

In any case, adding more isn't that bad, so, Hemiura wouldn't mind such petty retribution, would she?

After all, how could those tidbits of punishment compare to her sins? Excluding her atrocities towards the Tang family, this life, and the previous one, the amount of immorality she had committed should seize her a spot in the world record. Not counting her criminal acts, the amount of men she had entangled with, equates to how many families she had torn to pieces.

She thought that it would be nice if Hemiura could be punished appropriately, like hacking her in half, since she takes pleasure in splitting families apart. However, Eve understands it is morally wrong hence, won't perform such a thing. Not to mention, it's such a gross, messy job to do.

[ Well, it would be better to punish her slowly. Then, let her savor the taste of self-induced destruction.] A sly concept has formed in her head.

Making up her mind, she uttered another "bonus" for the vixen.

" I wish Hemiura Qin would stab her little toe in every corner and every piece of furniture there is."

Eve closed her eyes to enter dreamland after sending such affection to wherever that person may be hoeing at.

However, a gossipmonger that believes gossip has no curfew had clutched her ebbing consciousness.

( Host, why do you always target that Hemiura? Shouldn't you deal with her daughter instead?)

Halfsie is no stranger to the weird wishes Eve has been spouting for the heavenly being's mother.

It even heard her hex with words like "soul-sucking crater of a zit" or "step on lego" stuff. Those softly-spoken curses could be considered vicious to such a degree, nevertheless, it won't harm Hemiura's life.

If the host wanted to torture her, she might as well send her to the dungeons to be abused to her heart's content, right?

Thus, it has always been curious about her obsession with persecuting Hemiura. Though she is indeed nasty to the core, she isn't the goal after all.

How could Halfsie comprehend that despite Eve letting Hemiura furbish her business whoreganization, she won't let her hoe in peace.

She could be deemed petty for pulling "pranks" on Hemiura but, what else could she do? They have yet to meet, prompting Eve to curb her longing by giving her various appetizers first.

( You wouldn't understand.) Eve spoke slowly, miraculously tranquil after being disturbed from her slumber.

( Try me, host.)

A few seconds later, Eve's calm voice responded.

( Evangeline's past life, I've seen it myself.)

[ Well, obviously???] Halfsie mused but opted to swallow such words. Naturally, she would see the vessel's past life since the plot and memory have been given to the tasker, right?

The furball, nonetheless, failed to discern the meaning beyond Eve's words.

Eve received Evangeline's lifetime's worth of memories. Therefore, in that fleeting moment, aside from getting the plot from the system guide, she experienced that life, as seen from Evangeline's point of view.

That's why she can at least, somewhat say, that she had lived that time together with the original vessel.

She might not be afflicted emotionally by those entanglements, but she had developed something on behalf of Evangeline- the feeling called "loathing".

Eve felt intense disgust towards the culprit who caused Evangeline immense suffering and despair.

For her, Hemiura is simply an insatiable thief, whose tremendous greed she had concealed amidst her well-constructed hypocrisy.

[ How revolting.] Her azure orbs dimmed as unpleasant memories emerge in her mind.

Fortunately, the furball's chattering distracted her.

( ...okay??? Then why not start with the heavenly being, host?) Halfsie could only ask anew.

This time, Eve did not respond.

Well, she truly doesn't care about Halesia that much. Above all, Halesia hasn't done anything towards her and the Tang family yet. Moreover, in the past life, aside from several words she had inadvertently spoken, she has not directly caused Evangeline nor the family any substantial harm.

Corrupting the heavenly being is indeed the goal but, the idea of tormenting someone who hasn't provoked her isn't her cup of tea. Such action is simply distasteful.

That's why she decided not to directly harm Halesia. Still, some things might end up testing her moral integrity. Just take it as her tribulation, eh? If she really is the heavenly being that resists corrosion and ultimately emerges with her holier-than-thou self, then she'll leave her be.

[...after all,] Eve lowered her eyelids and recalled Evangeline's past life.

[ I don't think you're that holy, Halesia.] An unknown glimmer flitters her orbs.

[ Prove me wrong, and I won't deny you your rightful place.] An evil smile bloomed on her face.

Sensing that its host is up to no good, the gossip-parched Halfsie, yearned to be updated;

( Host, what are you thinking?)

( If I choose not to corrupt the heavenly being, what will happen?)

Now it's the furball's turn to be quiet. How could Halfsie respond to such a query when the system manual has merely one sentence on it.

( ....host, I don't know.) It pitifully murmured, like a dying mosquito.

Eve tilted her head, feeling a sense of Deja Vu.

E: ( Will I be punished?)

H: (...)

E: ( Will my soul be obliterated?)

H: (...)

Halfsie wanted to cry without tears. Now, it fully understood the contempt the host had upon seeing the system manual. It's indeed a piece of shitty contraption. To think it was so proud to have it before, it can't wait to throw that scarp metal to wherever shit place it came from.

Scarp metal system manual: Duh, we came from the same place.

Perceiving the host is still going with the interrogation, the furball opted to escape.

H: ( psshhh... psshhh.. Host.. host... what was that? pssh psshhh. It seems the signal isn't good today. psshhh pssshhh.)

Eve: ... ( What a dumb excuse.)

H: ( This is not an excuse host! psshh pssshhh. okay... psshhh really it's legit.. psshh pshhh.. See you tomorrow... pshhh pshhh goodnight host! )

Then silence ensued within her consciousness.

Eve: ...

Eve momentarily considered erecting a tomb for Halfsie's IQ. What happened to the "I am an almost-all-knowing-system-guide" it proudly declared months ago?

In any case, it's about time she prepares for her academic acceleration.

[ Halesia is aiming for Callidus Academy wasn't she?]

Be it for Sarien or other things that tempted Helesia to do so-Eve will make sure to be there.

[ How interesting.] She giggled.

When Eve was in a trance, her phone ringed.

Seeing an unknown number on the screen made her curious.

" Hello," Eve spoke.

" You heartless girl." A frosty voice instantly jabbed her ear.

Eve frowned and instantly dropped the rude call.

She mounted the phone on the nightstand and adjusted herself back to sleep, not minding the minor episode.

When she was about to enter dreamland, a familiar ringtone sounded yet again.

Drowsy, Eve didn't check who it was and directly answered the phone.

" Hello." Her voice was soft and somewhat hoarse.

However, the person on the other line did not appreciate it.

" You dropped my call? How could you? It's me..." The continuous reprimand was too much for the sleepy Eve to handle and directly dropped the call.

When her phone rang the third time, Eve's brows furrowed to a significant degree.

She was about to block the caller but tapped the wrong button, causing her to answer.

" Don't drop..." Said the caller but didn't get to finish his sentence, for Eve had successfully blocked him.

Eve eventually entered dreamland, not knowing what blunder she had committed.

***

Meantime in Helios castle;

" Very good." Xaphael stared at his phone with a gentle expression. If not for the biting chill emanating from him, one would think the smile on his face genuinely meant he is pleased.

He mounted his phone back on his table, producing a crisp sound, like a string snapping off.

He folded his hands before his chin, with his eyelids lowered, hiding his frosty orbs.

[ Truly a heartless girl.] He gritted his teeth.

It's been a month since the girl left, and she has yet to send him a single mail.

Worst, he remained blacklisted and hence can't reach her.

His patience has run thinner each passing day, and, ultimately decided to call her using another number but, what did she do?

She dropped his call three times. THREE DAMN TIMES.

Just thinking of it makes him wanna whoop her butt.

[ That ruthless girl.] His gray eyes almost screamed his frustration.

" Balin." He beckoned with an irritable grunt.

" Master." Balin lowered his head, condoling Xaphael's woeful state.

He recalled that since the young madam left, his master has been having bouts of extreme moods.

One minute, he loses focus, then smiles gently. The next second he frowns as if someone asked him his pair of pants.

The glare and chilly atmosphere combo have shrouded the castle a perfect ambiance for an early Halloween.

If he misses the young madam, why not go and get her, right?

But no, he stays here, generously providing an early dose of winter chill.

Anyway, not like he can say something. He could only watch his master act like he is having his second wave of puberty.

" Her birthday is next month, isn't it?" Xaphael questioned.

" Yes, the young madam's birthday will be on the 25th of July. Should I start preparing for gifts to send, Master?"

" No need. " Xaphael answered with a smirk.

Balin threw him a suspicious glance and asked,

" Master, you would prepare her a great gift, wouldn't you?"

" Of course." Xaphael grinned meaningfully, not minding the reproving look from his guardian.

[ I'd give her a great gift, alright,- me.] His chuckle filled the study room.