Chapter 19: I Want More

"I don't think we should be signing up for this, something feels . . . wrong," says Charlotte, scanning the handout again.

Adora nods, "Yeah, I don't know about this," she says as she looks at Arcat, only to find him signing the handout.

"Done," he nods his confirmation to the guy at the register.

As soon as Arcat says that, the paper and him, both burst into blue flames, and they watch as his body starts to disappear from view.

"What the–?!" exclaims Charlotte, jumping away in panic.

Neo has no reaction, his entire attention is on the application handout as if he doesn't register anything happening around him.

Adora waits, calmly looking at Arcat.

"Interesting, What do you have in plan for me, Sheehan?" muses Arcat.

He looks at Adora, "Hon–" he gets cut off before he can say anything, his body fully disappearing from view.

For a heartbeat, a moment of complete silence passes before anyone speaks.

"Haco," says Adora as she stalks towards the register.

Haco jumps off her shoulder and starts walking next to her, still in her cat form. She lets out a loud roar, making everyone but two people on level zero shake in fear. The ground under Haco's paws cracks with each step towards the register.

"I don't care if this gets recorded, I don't care if this might cause more problems or even war later," starts Adora as she reaches the counter.

She looks at the guy behind the register, who gets paralyzed in fear after meeting her gaze, "If anything bad happens to my husband, there is nothing in this existence that will save you from me," she says coldly.

"Now, explain," she lowers the animosity a little, just enough for the guy at the register to be able to move his throat.

"I expected nothing less from one of the pets of the Kayn," he says quietly, just loud enough for Adora to hear.

He clears his throat, "Don't worry, ma'am. Your husband is safe."

After a few seconds of hearing that, Adora smiles, "Thanks for clarifying then," she says as she calms down and backs off, contemplating something.

Charlotte is on her knees, shivering, "What the?! What the heck was that–?!" she starts in a shaky voice, before getting interrupted.

"I am in, I signed it," announces Neo suddenly.

As he looks up from the handout, he finally sees what is happening around him, "What happened here–" he says when Charlotte shouts at him, cutting him off.

"Why did you sign it–" is the last thing he hears before he completely disappears as well.

Eyes glued to the location Neo just disappeared from, Charlotte's brain feels like a mess, and she raises a trembling hand to her pocket.

Before she can reach into her pocket, she feels a hand on her shoulder.

She looks up to check who it is, finding a female figure dressed in beautiful, white clothes, an enchanting border lining the glowing silk clothes. Trailing her gaze upwards, Charlotte finds a part of her face covered in an alluring mask when she finally locks her eyes with the female figure.

"Be still and unyielding, Striver. All is in order," says the female, her voice gentle.

Charlotte feels as though time starts moving slowly at that moment, and her heart feels calm. She looks around her . . . she was almost there, almost to where Sharara was. But nevertheless, there is one missing to reach the point of full clarity.

The female figure then elegantly jumps, floating in the air, and lands next to another figure in similar attire as her. They are both standing in front of the register.

Adora observes what is happening quietly, a smile on her face.

As Haco comfortably jumps back on her shoulder, she meets the female figure's eyes and purrs happily.

"One application, if thee may," requests the male figure.

The guy behind the register hands over an application with a bow.

The male uses the tip of his glowing finger to sign the application.

"One,"

And the both of them disappear.

"Charlotte," says Adora as she walks towards her, "I want to go in as well,"

Charlotte looks up at her.

"Want to come with?" asks Adora with a smile as she extends her hand toward Charlotte.

Charlotte grabs her hand and pulls herself up, "Yes, let's go. I need to find Neo. Also maybe, I'll understand what's missing," she finally decides.

The both of them sign the application and burst into blue flames, disappearing after a heartbeat.

"Damn! Sheehan, you owe me one for this, that was intense!" says the guy behind the register.

Now, all that is left are two more. Ten seconds later, two figures walk in.

"Welcome to Monopoly Reality! How may I help you?" asks the guy behind the register.

"Second strongest pilot with his pet! No idea as to what those other two things even were!" says a man with a circle on his left cheek.

"I am so excited to see how everything will come full circle!" he continues.

"Aren't you? Zahtan?" he asks finally.