[Fiore's Castle, Garden - Morning]
"So, I heard what you did," Damian said as he flashed Emily a charming grin. His hand landed on the top of her head so that he could give her a pat on the head, "I'm proud of you, little sis."
"Thanks but honestly, this wouldn't have happened if Zack didn't change his mind." She protested as she gently pulled his hand off her head.
"Well, and that wouldn't have happened if you didn't make him change his mind," Lavi added on with a smile, before stuffing his face with the warm waffles. Lavi surprises Emily all the time, like how the heck did he maintain his physique with his insane appetite?
"That's true." Damian nodded towards Lavi before narrowing his eyes to Emily, "Just accept the damn compliment."
"Okay, okay." She backed off as she raised her hands as if to surrender, "Just stop looking at me that way."
His expression softened and he let out a laugh, "That's more like it."
"Honestly, I don't trust him at all."
Yukiko's voice cut into their conversation. Everyone at the table looked over her, prompting her to explain herself. "I mean, it's obvious, right? He's from the phantom. He might just be part of a crazy plan."
"Wow, Yukiko, way to spoil the mood." Ben sighed across the table.
She pointed her fork towards him and glared irritatingly, "Shut it. I'm just saying. Besides, it's natural to doubt someone from the phantom. We all know what they're are capable of." Her words were coated with distrust, but she shouldn't be blamed.
"I'm actually with Yukiko." Ethan agreed as he joined in on the conversation, "He might be with the phantoms all along and everything he said might just turn out to an utter lie."
"Come on, I don't think he's like that." Emily groaned, "You got to trust me."
"Hahaha." Yukiko stared blankly, without bothering to cover her sarcasm, "You're kidding, right? I'm sorry but nope, I don't trust your instincts one bit."
Though she said that, it was not the case. She does trust her, but she was too embarrassed to admit it. So, she will usually put up a wall to shield herself from the embarrassment.
"Wow, you're me—"
Before Emily could finish, a voice interrupted her, "Well, I understand your doubts, but you don't have to worry."
The sudden appearance of the unfamiliar voice made almost everyone turned in the direction of the voice.
A man stood there.
He had black hair, that was tied into a short and low ponytail, revealing his dark yet alluring features. He was surprisingly tall, probably slightly taller than Damian — in other words, he was at least six feet tall. His body was covered in bandages, from head to toes, which made Emily grimaced a little.
He took a deep breath and spoke, "I might hav— Or, actually, I DID cause you all some troubles, here and there. And there isn't any excuse I can give for my actions. So, with that being said, I'm sorry."
He bowed apologetically towards the table.
Emily was a little flabbergasted, "Okay, who the heck is he?" She blinked a few times and asked the mysterious guy to raise his head. She then looked at him and asked, "I'm sorry, but who ARE you?"
He was taken aback by her words, "...It's Erik."
"Oh—WAIT, WHAT?!"
"H-How? Huh? Wha—" She stuttered. She had sooooo many questions to ask, yet she did not know what to ask first. So, it all came out in a mess.
Mary then came up behind Erik, "I know, right? He's looked completely different after I cut his hair and treated his wounds." Mary replied as if she understood what Emily was trying to say.
"Holy crap. You looked so different!" Emily said as she stood up from her seat. "You look less intimidating now."
"Really?" He replied as he fiddled with his hair, "I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult."
"Of course, it's a compliment! You probably wouldn't scare if Kate now."
"Oh no. I'm sensing a rivalry. Beck, you got some competition." Ben whispered as he gave his twin a playful nudge. "Don't lose, brother!"
Hearing that just made all the blood in his body rush to his face. As compared to Ben, there was no way for Beck to keep a straight face after hearing that.
Damian came up behind Emily, "So, looks like you're friendlier."
"Damian." Erik called out as his expression faded to an apologetic one, "Yeah, about what I did, I'm sor—"
Damian shushed him before he could finish, "You're forgiven. Don't look all sad, it's uncomfortable." He said as he let out an unwilling shudder.
"Oh, so you want me to shove you against the wall, while I claw your throat out?" Erik challenged with a lifted eyebrow.
"Well, that's a better option. I'm not used to this Erik." Damian retorted as jerked his chin towards him.
"You know, I thought I wouldn't hate you. But, I guess I was wrong. I still hate your guts." Erik smirked with his arms folded.
"Well, I can tell. You almost got them all out with your devilish spikes."
Damian spat back as a grin was tugged on the side of his lips.
"Woah, is it just me or does this look like Mary and Yukiko 2.0," Lavi commented with his mouth full.
When Yukiko heard that, she kicked his shin under the table, cracking him up.
"Okay, you two got to stop this and befriends already," Emily said as she tried to hold back her laughter from Lavi's comment. She composed herself and crossed her arms, "You're going to see him often because I'm recruiting him as a new member."
Yukiko was the first one to stand up in protest when she heard the princess, "What? You can't be serious."
"...You're Yukiko, right?" Erik asked just as Emily wanted to justify him. "I know, you don't trust me and all, but I'm going to let you know that I'm going to loyal to you all."
He then rolled up his sleeve to reveal a phantom symbol tattooed on his right arm. "Um, fire dem— I mean Beck, do you mind burning this portion off?"
The 'portion' that he was referring to was the upper half of his clearly defined bicep, where the symbol rested.
Beck's eye widened a little when he heard what he asked of him. That was too ludicrous. "Look, I know that you're trying to demonstrate your resolve. But, I think that's too far."
"Yeah, I agree with Beck. You don't have to take things too far." Emily did not like his idea of burning himself to prove a point.
Erik's expression turned soft when he heard them. There was no doubt that they were benevolent, but he wanted to do that for other purposes as well. That symbol reminded him of that organisation that he now despised.
They lied to him.
Lilian was not going to be revived, he finally understood that now. Until now, he will be blinded by that and committed many unforgettable deeds for that filthy syndicate.
But, he was given a second chance.
So, he felt that for him to finally have a new start, he needed to get rid of the mark that bound him to the organisation so that he could leave his past behind.
All of the sudden, Ben stood up and walked towards him. He pulled out his sword and said, "Well, since he doesn't want to do it, I'll do it."
Unhesitatingly, he gave Erik three strokes across the symbol. He was so quick that Emily could not even react.
She blinked once and Ben just did it
.
Crimson liquid poured out from the cuts and pain started to settle in. However, Erik still smiled and thanked Ben.
Being an ex-Phantom, Ben could understand the overwhelming guilt that Erik was feeling. So, if getting rid of the mark would diminish the guilt, he will gladly help him with that.
After all, he did the same to his mark.