Ger's world had come to an end when he only saw how his siblings had turned out. He saw three of them being dead. After knowing that kind of situation that he had been, he wanted to die in front of them. He wanted to be with them. It's because all along, he planned to get them away from the old man however, he never knew and expected that one day it will all crumble like a castle on a dangerous cliff.
It was only after hearing what Finneas had said that broke his thin line of control. There, darkness immediately took his mind and he was doing something that he thought he couldn't do.
He was hurting himself, he was smashing his head to the wall. However, after for a while, he wasn't even satisfied he was searching for a knife. There, he remembered how the old man died. There was a knife piercing down his chest which is part of his heart
"UGH!"
He continued shouting and he couldn't care less if there were people hearing him or none. It's because in his mind right now, all he wanted was to die together with his siblings. He couldn't think straight more. The reason is that --- his future – the future that he had established hard in his mind together with his brother had been gone. He couldn't even take revenge to the people because it was already worthless. The precious people to him had already died in front of his eyes
"UGH!"
There, he was shouting while walking like a drunken man. His head was full of crimson liquid yet he couldn't care. Now he's walking towards the dead old man not with his vision but with his senses. After finding the man, he immediately pick the knife harshly making a slice towards the dead old man's body. Yet, all he felt was excitement
"UGH! Hahahahahahahhhaa!"
He shouted and laughed at the same time however, during those time that he had laughed tears had already been streaming down his face.
"My life will come to an end right now!"
Then he sliced his hand as if it was a meat to cook. He never hesitated. Yet, it only took him few seconds for the pain to take effect. Now, he wasn't of control of himself anymore. His body immediately almost fall to the ground when a wall caught her back making him seat towards the cold stingy crimson ground with his own liquid. He doesn't know why but he just chuckled like a crazy man. Then, blood spluttered outside of his mouth --- a mouthful of blood making him laugh even more until his vision was slowly fading until he heard some noises of footsteps outside
'I guess life never truly saved me after all. Rather, those footsteps were maybe from those men that killed my family and that old man. However, I wanted to say to them that they're already late at killing me. I already did it to myself as an atonement of not saving my only siblings'
***
"Are you done with your shopping, Elyx?"
"Hmmmm, let's see… this and this and this hmmm, I think there's something more missing to that --- Oh! And let's go to this shop"
'Not again?!'
Victoria could only roll her eyes knowing that Xyle was a bit too much for her. she's a lady for Pete's sake however she's also the one that's handling the ones that Xyle was buying. The reason was because she's the loser that's why she needed to do what the winner ordered her.
"Oh! Didn't you say that this store is one of the store that people always visits?"
'I give up with this stubborn person right in front of me. I wanted to slap him hard so that he could see that I'm a lady not some servant! However, I couldn't even do that kind of thing because she knew that she had to abide for the rule of the game that she had made herself. It's because she thought that she could win but in reality --- he just tried her confidence. She knew deep inside that Xyle is a genius psychopath in the original novel'
"It's not me that said that, Elyx"
"Huh? Sometimes you're confusing as hell right now Victoria"
"Alright, alright! It was Sir Howald that recommended this place for me, alright?"
'What? So she's not afraid of talking to a man, is that it?'
"Who's this Howald man that you're talking about, Victoria?"
From the moment that she heard him questioning her, she immediately widened her eyes. It's like she can't believe what she's hearing.
'Is it me or is it just because of what I heard? Did I hear it right? He seems demanding when I talked about Sir Howald. He even wanted to know Sir Howald's identity! Huh?'
"It seems like you didn't hear what I just said earlier, Victoria. Well, let me repeat those words for you. Who is this man you're talking about named Howald, Victoria?"
'Oh! It's because he needed to know everything about the people. That's what a psychopath person is capable of. Oh goodness! Just relax and breathe a deep one then calm yourself in front of him, Anne --- no the new Victoria'
Then after having those thoughts, before answering Xyle, she immediately took a deep breath and exhale slowly. Right at that second, her expressions from being confused earlier had been now softened.
"Elyx, if you're asking me then might as well ask my father about it. Period"
"I'm not requesting those answers from you Victoria.as the winner of the game --- I'm commanding you to answer my question"
A serious deep voice had echoed inside her ears that made her unconsciously shiver.
'Relax, just relax right now'
"…"
However, before immediately responding again, she heaved a sigh
"Alright, you won. Sir Howald was my father's personal knight"
"Then?"
"Then what?"
"Then what happened?"
"Oh! You mean why I was here with him? I ask father for me to go out to the market with some fresh air and buy my favorite bread towards the bakeshop"
"Bakeshop? Hmmm, interesting. Before we go inside of this shop let's go first towards that bakeshop"
"Huh? If you're going to say that, then might as well we should have gone there earlier. Right now it's probably closed"
"They're early at closing their stores"
"Well, it's because the owner is already old"
"I just don't know why people that are old still persisted to work"
"It's because Xyle --- they want to be an asset towards the society. They never wanted to be like a parasite who only gets benefited from the society, at least that's what I know for the old man in the library. So I hope you understand it well enough"
"…"
Xyle wasn't able to respond back. He knew that Victoria was now serious considering that she only said his real name. it made him be surprised and just with that he never like what he had heard. However, he had been enlightened just by her simple words
"Alright, however, you should call me what you used to call me earlier"
Now, the serious deep voice had turned to be soft. Xyle was even averted his gaze from her and instead looked elsewhere. It's because he doesn't want her to see his current expression. He doesn't want her to see how those heat waves travelled through his cheeks. He even felt like he's saying some weird words to her. Yet what caught his attention was some giggles from the lady
"Alright, I'll only call you Xyle when you already knew that I'm serious for the matter, right Elyx?"
"Hmmm"
"Now, instead of going towards the bakeshop for now, let's go in here instead. I'll teach you baking with Greya --- oooppsss again Greya was our lady chef. Might as I add that if you ever question who's Greya again"
"Hmmmm, you already know me, huh Victoria"
"That's what friends are for, Elyx"
Then immediately, Victoria had took one of his arms and pulled him closer to where the shop was with their coats. Yet. Fior Xyle --- it never escaped his eyes how gorgeous and genuine the lady was.
'Maybe the reason why I wasn't disgusted to her at all was she's different from my mother. She's a lot more real than any ladies hiding from their masks. Then it would truly hurt a little --- if I become her friend, right? There's nothing to lose there'
With that thoughts of Xyle, he immediately accepted Victoria's proposal
'Friends'
Then unconsciously his lips had already lifted upwards. His lips had lifted like he had seen someone he can truly rely on
***
"Way to buy many things Elyx"
"Well, expect more from me now Vcitoria"
"Alright, alright. However let's now go to the place where I'll be giving these muffins"
"Alright"
'The young individual was a lucky one after all, huh?'
Then they immediately went towards the place only for Xyle to stopped Victoria from walking. He already sensed that something was wrong inside. The smell had already affected his sharp senses making him feel like something had taken place inside of the that alley
"Stay in here"
"No! why would I? besides I'll be giving this to the young boy we've saved"
"Young boy?"
"Yes, so please Elyx I'm not kidding this time"
"Alright, however, stay right behind me"
After saying those they immediately went inside only for Victoria to smell something stingy and what caught her eyes was blood. There was blood everywhere. That's the time that Xyle immediately covered her eyes. However before covering them full, her sight went towards a young man who's back was leaning towards the wall with his slowly closing eyes
"NO!!!! Xyle we've got to save this young man, please! I'm not leaving if we'll not be able to save him!!!"
'Who is that young man even for you? The one that you saved?'
"What are you talking about Victor----"
However, he wasn't able to continue what he was saying when he saw her crying
"Please…."