"Zeo! Let's play chess!" Hector said suddenly, "ha? You want to lose again?" Zeolite ask, "nah, this time I'm gonna win!" Hector grinned, "Whatever, let's go." Zeolite sigh.
They were in the guild, Ashley and Theresa have gone somewhere leaving the boys, and so, Hector decided to go challenge Zeolite.
"Why didn't you tell me that you need to buy groceries?" Theresa ask while helping Ashley with carrying her groceries. "Told ya, I forgot." Ashley said grinning, "Jeez." Theresa sweatdrop. Along the way, they passed a shop that seems new, Theresa is a little bit curious, she see Ashley is busy playing with kids, and she don't want to disturb their little moment so she come in alone.
"Welcome, welcome!" an old granny greet her, "hello ma'am, I didn't see this shop often, were you new?" Theresa ask, "Why yes I am young lady!" The granny reply happily, "Oh I see. Hope you like it here!" Theresa smile warmly. "Are you gonna stand there forever? Tell me what you want to buy!" The granny said irritated, "a-ah, I just wanted to check what's here." Theresa reply a nervous smile on her face.
The granny act seems weird, she always looks like speaking with someone, when there are only Theresa and the granny. "A-Ah! Young lady! I have a recommendation for you! It's an exclusive!" the granny said, her voice seems nervous, she takes out a necklace. "T-This is exclusive! Would you buy it?" The granny seems desperate to see it, "U-Um no… I didn't bring my money with me." Theresa said smiling nervously.
"Whatever! Please wear it!" The granny said, she seems panicking, "I-I can't! I-It's yours!" Theresa declined stepping back, the granny just steps forward holding out the necklace. "Please young lady!" the granny cried, Theresa panic when she cried, "U-Um! Okay! I will wear it!" Theresa said taking the necklace from her and wear it. "…Now your life is his…" The granny muttered, "hm? What's that ma'am?" Theresa ask clueless, she didn't hear it clearly, "N-nothing young lady! You should go home!" The granny said pushing her to the door.
When she get outside, she can see Ashley looking for someone, Ashley eyes landed on Theresa, she immediately approaches Theresa. "Where were you? I'm worried!" Ashley said relief, "I've just returned from that shop." Theresa said pointing behind her, Ashley looks at Theresa and the "shop" repeatedly, and say, "The heck, what shop? Are you sick? Let's go, they must be waiting." Ashley said dragging her, "by the way, when did you wear a necklace?" Ashley ask suspiciously examine the necklace.
"I get it from a granny that work in that shop." Theresa said, Ashley frown and nod, "you're definitely sick." Theresa shook her head, "no, I'm not, I'm perfectly fine!" "did you not see the shop behind me before?" Theresa ask, "no, I see a wall. You must be hallucinating." Ashley said shaking her head, "but!" Ashley cut her off "Nope! Let's go!" Ashley said dragging her to the guild.
A man miles away is seen on the rooftop, staring at them and smirk, "she's easy to fool. But I'm afraid the other girl is harder." He said, "jeez, I don't get pay enough." He sigh, "it still needs a lot of work." He scoffs scratching his head.
"Oh! You two! Where were you?" Hector ask the two girls, "she's helping me with groceries, nothing to worry about!" Ashley grinned, Zeolite stays quiet and stares at Theresa necklace, he senses something, but decide to stay quiet about it.
A few hours pass and Ashley start make her move.
She stares at her surrounding, before scooting closer to Zeolite. Zeolite noticed her and said, "what the hell are you doing? Don't get close to me." Zeolite said, "this is urgent! I think I don't like that necklace!" Ashley whisper, "what, you're jealous? You want one too?" Zeolite ask resting his chin on his palm. "Oh hell no! It just! I don't know! It seems suspicious!" Ashley said again, "Do I give a damn?" Zeolite ask, "I know you're a cold-ass dude, but if something happening, I want you to help us. If we're in trouble." Ashley said, "and why's that? I think you guys can protect yourself?" Zeolite ask closing his eyes. "Stop being a jerk!" Ashley said punching his side, "oof." Zeolite said.
"Whatever, I'm going home." Ashley said stomping out from the guild, Zeolite just rolled his eyes, "man, can you be softer to her?" Rex ask, his a member of Fiery Spirit too. "Tch, shut up." Zeolite said standing up, and goes outside.
He goes to near Ashley's house first, he didn't see her around, then he remembers every time she's sad or angry, she would always go to the hills. He quickly runs there.
"Jeez, why am I crying over him?" Ashley muttered, wiping her tears off, then she hears a stick being stepped on, she quickly stand up and got into a defensive stance. "Who's there?!" she yelled, a man stepped out from the dark "Oops, I broke my hiding." He said, his gaze land upon her, "call me commander D, and I'm here to execute you." He smirked, Ashley's eyes widened, the man suddenly in front of her, Ashley falls backward because of the sudden move, she can see him holding a knife, she closed her eyes shut, instead of pain, a clash between steels happened.
"You're not hurting her!" she can hear Zeolite voice roared. "Didn't expect you to appear here, mister Zeolite." Commander D said smiling with his eyes closing, "what the? Where did you learn my name?!" Zeolite ask, "son of the bastard Charles and Traitor Charlotte-" Zeolite cut him off by swinging his sword at him, "don't talk about my parents like that!" He shouts with full hatred, commander D simply use both of his hands to stop him.
"My, my, seems like they didn't tell you much huh? Let me ask you. Why does your father disappear, and why does your mother left you?" Commander D asks calmly, "I..." He can't answer this, he don't know what his parents truly feel. "Lose at words? Let me take my leave then." Commander D said, teleportation spells formed around him.
"Escarcha. I believe your little friend's life is in danger." He said while holding a Rose. The rose then withered away. Ashley's eyes widened, Rose is the symbol of Theresa. "Wait!" Ashley yelled, but Commander D already disappear along with the teleportation spells.
"Theresa! Theresa's life in danger! We should hurry and tell the other!" Ashley said to Zeolite who is kneeled down on the ground, Zeolite didn't answer her, "Wake up!" Ashley said pinching his cheeks. "ow." Zeolite said rubbing the spot she's pinching. "let's go! We have to tell Hector and Theresa about this!" Ashley said dragging him.