Ashley
"Ashley," he says back to me with a smile on his face. One that almost makes me smile in return.
But I don't. Instead I wipe my tears and ask, "How did you find me?"
That has him raising a brow as he replies, "I just had to look for the large army of monsters chasing after you."
My brows furrow a little at that and I almost frown, only briefly noting the fact that I seem to be showing a bit more expression now than before as I wonder just how close to Blake's side of the Unique Domain I got during the chase. Not that it matters much, considering how we're both alive now. And that's all that really matters.
For some reason Chaos sends a wave of happiness through our bond before it instantly cuts off. As if he was instinctively responding to my thoughts just now. Or maybe the more expressions I'm showing.
Not sure which.
Either way, I go ahead and continue, asking Blake, "Why did you enter the Unique Domain?"
He blinks at me, seeming surprised for a moment. Then he just smiles and answers, "Because you're my sis."
That leaves me opening my mouth to respond, only to find that I don't know what to say. So I close my mouth again. Going silent.
Because I'm his sister...
His smile fades a little bit as he asks, "How much do you remember...?"
I begin frowning at him, startling him with the display of emotion.
"I don't remember anything, and I don't want to remember," I answer without a hint of hesitation, startling him in the process.
The two of us stare at each other for several seconds before he gives me a sad smile and says, "I'm glad you're beginning to express yourself more. Even if just a little bit."
My frown vanishes again as my face turns neutral and I blankly stare at him.
I did notice that I'm starting to express things more, but I didn't realize it's enough for others to notice...
"Does it bother you?" Chaos asks, making me glance up at the ceiling in silence.
Does it?
I stare for several seconds before sighing.
No, I don't think it bothers me.
I first noticed it after the council meeting. Like some sort of wall had broken down within me. Then with every interaction with family I've had. Especially Blake.
Walls shattering one after another.
Chaos's tone takes a drastic turn as he says, "Be warned that the entire universe will be focusing on you in one way or another once you do that. You will be a Unique Monster in the form of a user and Successor in their eyes."
Similar to you in a way, right?
I feel more than a little surprise pass through our bond before he answers quietly, "Yes."
Also, you certainly sound like you're confident I'll make it out of here alive and win. What happened to that whole, what was it, three percent chance of surviving?
He doesn't respond.
I raise a brow, but he still doesn't say anything.
Well, whatever. Not really sure how I feel about being called the King of Destruction, but I'm pretty sure people are already calling me the Crimson Wraith and other such nicknames. So what's a new one?
That's too far away to think about anyways.
I send out another pulse of destruction mana to sense the surroundings, finding quite a few monsters in the surroundings in the process. But none of the monsters are very powerful. And none of them seem to sense us either.
Which is good.
I try to sit up again before quickly finding that I'm actually able to do it this time. Albeit with some struggle.
A glance at Blake and the cavern around us makes me realize that Blake was probably in a tough situation of his own before he saved me. Considering how exhausted he looks. Even more exhausted than I am.
And if I was being chased in a massive death march yet he's still in worse shape, I wonder what happened to him to put him in that state?
"He had his own run-in with the kobold lord of his fortress and lost," Chaos answers for me, reminding me that everything in here is being livestreamed for anyone to see.
A thought that has me glancing upwards only to narrow my eyes a bit.
Hey, Chaos?
"Yes, dear daughter of mine?" Chaos replies immediately.
Would you consider adding a feature to let me turn off the livestreams permanently so that no one can ever watch me again?
"I cannot," Chaos replies once more, sounding a little disappointed himself that he can't. "It would require at least a majority of the Primordials to approve, and the only ones I can see approving it would be Gaia and Etheria."
Well, it was worth a try.
Wait a second... why would the Primordial of Magic help?
"Because even if we broke up some thousands of years ago, we still dated for a thousand years or so," Chaos answers rather nonchalantly, leaving me blankly staring at the ceiling again. Until I glance at Blake, remembering that my twin brother is her Successor. "Yes, she was absolutely thrilled to hear that she's pretty much become my step-sister."
I stare at Blake for a few more seconds before muttering out loud, "I doubt that..."