Elian crouched a while longer, pulling in the last shreds of aura from Hart's corpse.
The veins in the man's neck had snapped, his spine still hooked to the head swaying from the vines of the man-eating plant.
When Elian finally stood, he kicked the corpse lightly aside, a careless nudge, and tilted his head back as if stretching before fully turning to Jupiter.
He shrugged.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't kill the rat. Call it karma." His eyes drifted to the headless body, then to his bloody stick.
"The flower did him in. Man-eating thing chomped his head. I tried saving myself, used a skill, and I accidentally blasted his head off."
His system pinged again,
[You could have saved him by hitting the plant's root instead. You have a passive weak point analysis skill.]
Ah, right.
[You saw the weak-point of the plant. Yet you went for the blossom, killing him.]
Elian scratched at the back of his head, sighing through his teeth. "Thanks, system," he muttered.
Then, he turned to Jupiter again, walking closer to her. "Like I said—I didn't kill him."
Another system notification blocked his vision.
[The Constellation 'Devil Maker' is delighted in your first kill.]
Huh? So they've been watching the whole time?
Elian just noticed those constellations have been quiet for a long time, reminding him that they saw all that he'd been doing.
And knew he had the resurrection skill.
Maybe they just react when I do something they like?
But they are always watching.
After all, this is a game.
However, Jupiter's expression shifted. Her flat face dropped to a more serious one. Her shoulders were more stiffened, eyes scrunched up as she stepped closer, her voice low.
"You're not shaking. The head of a man is still hanging there, and you're not shaking."
Now, they were both standing opposite each other, and Elian remained stoic, acting as if he knew absolutely nothing.
Jupiter's hands grabbed his, her grip tightened on his wrist.
Elian raised a brow in confusion. What is she doing?
"Low-class pawns don't have the guts to keep their knees steady when they see that," Jupiter continued
Her boots pressed into the wet soil, closing the little space between them.
"Even now, standing in front of me—you don't cower. You didn't cower with Aven either. I'm an S-class Bishop. Normal citizens can't stand within arm's reach of me without their aura tearing them apart."
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "So tell me, Elian. Is it a system error? Because when I checked your stats, I saw nothing but pawn. Low numbers, worthless skills. And yet… here you are."
Elian has to ask, he tried jerking his hands away from her. "Are you interrogating me because you think I killed Hart? Will you turn me in?"
Something inside her face dropped then, the careful sincerity washing away like paint stripped from canvas. A dry laugh broke out of her throat.
"Not that I give a shit about him. Hart couldn't even fake strength right. Worthless human. I'm glad you killed him. He was very annoying."
Elian raised his brows, a huff of laughter curling out of him.
Even with the divine bite to her mana, Jupiter's words made her sound almost petty. Bishops carried purity, or so they claimed. But purity didn't hide the stench of disdain.
"I won't tell anyone what you did," Jupiter added, a sly smile touching her mouth.
"Buuuut… you'll do one thing for me," she let go of his wrist, lifting her fingers to rest on her chin.
Elian rolled his shoulders, dismissive.
"Thanks, but I didn't kill him. And I'm not shaking because I've seen worse in dungeon raids. Corpses aren't new. Doesn't mean I've killed anyone before."
He let his eyes cut to the tree-line. "And I still need to find my sister. Rin. That's the only thing I'm after."
Jupiter's face steadied, the playful edge draining away. She studied him a moment longer before breathing out. "Then I'll follow you."
"No," Elian shot back, turning his face away. "You've got those kids you saved to watch. Take them back to the dome."
Silence held for a stretch before she relented, stepping back, and sighing out loud. "Fine. Fine. You didn't even get to know what i— As you wish."
She raised one arm in defence, smiling again and winking at Elian as the shadows of the broken building swallowed her frame until she was gone, her voice now echoing from a distance.
For the first time, Elian was alone again.
He sighed, walking out of the jewelry shop. More burnt down buildings filled his visions as he walked further into the streets.
I wonder where Rin is. I really hope she's safe. She's really smart, I know. But…
He couldn't even recognize where he was, eyes scanning fallen skyscrapers. And desperately searching for a working transportation because it looked like he was far from home.
There were no apartments here. What even is this place?
If it weren't for Aven taking my body to God-knows-where all within a span of minutes that I was dead. I have no idea where I am.
More ruins followed him, but then he felt it. Someone was here.
The prickle started low in his spine, eyes watching.
He turned sharply. The trees blew against the night wind, branches clawing at one another. Then a blur of pale hair and limbs launched out of the dark.
He staggered as a body collided into him, arms wrapping his shoulders, mismatched eyes staring close into his own.
"Pawn! Pawn! Pawn! I found him!"
[Is that the hottie rich unhinged twin who has a stupid crush on you?]
Huh? Suckerbot what did you just—
"Sun?" Elian blinked hard. "What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were in the dome. Crix and Aven were supposed to be watching you—"
The boy smothered his face with both hands, squishing his cheeks with a giddy obsession of a cat. "Oh. You've got a little blood on you." His voice was calm, almost formal, but the grin tugged wide, almost foolish.
He tugged at Elian's chin and rubbed the streaks with the hem of his spotless coat, ignoring how the fabric was staining red. "Don't want your face covered in dirt, my Pawn."
[The Constellation 'Timid Bride of The West' eyes twinkle in adoration.]
[Okay, this is weird.]
[The Constellation 'Hunter of Lost Lines' coughed out loud.]
Urgh, what is wrong with this—
But before Elian could shove him off, another weight slammed from behind. Arms hooked his ribs, and the air burst out of him. A girl's laugh broke near his ear.
"Moon," Elian rasped, caught between them. "Y-you too?"
She hung off his back like a child, voice easy and careless. "Yeah, yeah. Why so serious? You thought we'd sit all pretty in that dome forever? You're more fun. Cute."
[The Constellation 'Timid Bride Of The West' is squealing in adoration.]
[You have been gifted 2000 coins.]
Elian stared at his screen in shock. What… what is happening? Why is…
Is she enjoying this?
Elian's muscles tensed, now focusing on the twins, but his hands stalled. He couldn't bring himself to push them away.
Something about the way they clung to him, laughing, carelessly dragged up memories of Milo. His little brother who used to hang on him the same way.
They reminded him of how playful Milo was. Even if they were white pieces, Elian couldn't push them away.
And they bore no thoughts to harm him too.
His breath came sharp. "Why aren't you in the dome? You were supposed to be guarded."
Moon peeked over his shoulder, her mismatched eyes catching the dim light.
"Oh, that? We got into a little fight with Aven. Then the dome cracked. It got unstable. And—" She smirked, almost gleeful. "It broke."
It… broke?
Author's note: I just barely passed my exam. And it's not good. So I'll take a lil time to myself. I hope you like this chapter. Please support the best way you can.