Going into a rather nice beautiful brunch, originally it was Karma and Leonardo who were eating. But suddenly as though it was a mere coincidence Leonora and Faust joined along as well. Making it an awkward situation for Leonardo, it actually made Karma and Leonora rather happy with more people. But for Faust he was rather happy as he knew what he had ruined.

  “So tell me, how do you two know each other?” Faust asked as he was curious about the two histories.

  “Well, Leonardo and I are…”

  “I know that!! I mean Karma and Leonardo.” Leonora was trying to talk about her brother and her, but Faust instantly shut her up. Which then got Karma talking as she was fuzzy about his memories. She was trying to recall the times she was with Leonardo. She can’t remember as much for some reason.

  “Well uh we met in high school. Uhm I was in the same class as him thanks to a scholarship. Though he was number one in all academics, I was number 2.”

  “Yeah, she was a talented student, of course. We competed once in a while in other things, but I always won.” Leonardo reminisces.

  “Bet you I can win this time.” Karma confidently said.

  “You're on. I haven’t been slacking since being a cleanser. In fact…”

  “I see then why it is that Leonora and Karma came out of the same school at the same time when she is two years younger?” Faust interrupted because they were getting too cuddly for him.

  “Oh...actually because I didn’t have funds at the time. Even with the scholarship money I didn’t have as much to continue it every year. I had to wait to get enough funds.” Karma said sadly. Though it true that as long as you are an Avalonian you would get support from the government. They still abide by the rule that you must have money to continue your education. And though they give support, letting people live within the city is already a blessing. So the funds they give is what they provide, the rest is for those who enter the city to use what they have.

  “Yeah if it wasn’t for Livia and Gilius, you wouldn’t have been able to make it,” Leonora added.

  “Hey but I made it this far. You know I’m not like Leonora, who has all the money.”

  “You could have asked me? We were friends for four years.” Leonardo interrupted as this was news to him. Though he was partially concerned, he was also interested in the fact that Gilius was the one funding her as well. Still it was more about him not knowing of her financial trouble.

  “Well I couldn’t. I mean….you were in that family.” Referring to the twelve families, it was something dangerous to be affiliated with.

  “But I mean, we are part of the order. We are supposed to help provide those who are talented individuals to the country. That is our job.”

  “But I didn’t want to cause a misunderstanding…..”

  “Misunderstanding?” Leonardo wondered. The other two were wondering as well.

  “Yeah that people think we are a couple. Obviously, we aren’t. And having your family watch me was something I’m not interested in.” Karma said as she ate her food. This made Leonardo dejected while making Faust happy.

  “I...I..see..we are just friends…”

  “It would seem that way. Anyways, let's eat!! The food is getting cold. We have a long night ahead of us.” Hearing that, everyone went back to eating. But like how Leonardo and Leonora was feeling the same emotions in the beginning was now feeling sad at the end as Leonora was nonexistent, and Leonardo realised that he wasn’t viewed the way that he had originally thought. Faust, though, just had some reassurance that things would go a lot more smoothly than he thought. For now, as he knows for sure that at least one guy was out of the competition. Now about Gilius….

  In a military office

  Returning to the base, Gilius was now reorganizing the soldiers. Just as he wanted, and because the one spying on him was gone to do his report, Gilius was alone. Things have been really easy for him for the last few hours. So much so that no one has gone against what he said. Because of his rather unimpressive heroics, he became less suspicious. This was now the perfect time for him to initiate the mission that he had been planning.

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  “Send this to Commander Dan. Tell him we will proceed with the joint investigation.” Gilius said as he then pinched the letter, which then signalled to the soldier a message in itself.

  “Yes, as you wish.” The soldier immediately grabbed it as he placed it in a secure pocket, showing that it was of the utmost importance. After leaving, Gilius looked around as he felt like even though he had a supervisor off his back, it still didn’t get rid of his unrest. He felt like there was still someone in the shadows who was constantly watching him. That was why, despite everything, he was acting like nothing happened. He then looked at an old scroll. Opening it, he then saw a rather interesting picture. It was Karma and a picture when they first met. But the picture was strange but it was reminiscing for Gilius.

  “Don’t worry..I must finish this before we leave.” Gilius then made it disappear as though it was magic as to make sure no one could see it.

  Sunset appeared as Faust turned into Fausto. Appearing he was rather frustrated. It was because right next to him were two girls sleeping on him.

  “How did this happen??” He whispered. Recalling after eating, Faust said that they needed to head back to the hospital. But that wasn’t true as Faust was trying to have some alone time and decided to have ‘study’ time with Karma. But two things didn’t work out. Karma was actually wanting to learn so she was really into studying, so Faust couldn’t do anything to hit on her when she didn’t pay attention. Two, Leonora was always being so clingy to the point that she fell asleep after being exhausted. Leonora really pushed herself today. Even after brunch, Leonora seemed to have reached her limit. Even though she was stumbling when walking back, she tried to sleep. For Karma, she was still up and about, using everything she could to study. The only thing that Karma would do is ask questions. It continued till they both fell asleep, as Faust was hating the fact that both would do anything that he wanted. Women were truly hard people to control.

  “Why, Fausto, why did I have to fall for someone who idolizes you?” If there was one thing that Faust was hating was Karma wanting to save lives. He is Menace, the legendary assassin that everyone fears. And Karma…..doesn’t appreciate that.

  “It's not my fault you like her. You said you could get her. I thought you were serious.”

  “But this woman…. obsess about saving lives that much.”

  “Then find a way. But don’t ruin my reputation.” Fausto said.

  “What does that matter? I was the one who helped create it.” Though Dr. Fausto was a household name. Menace, his assassin persona, was the reason that Fausto was famous.

  “You…” Fausto was going to talk back, but then he noticed someone waking up.

  “Cough...cough..” Leonora was waking up, but she was coughing seriously as though she couldn’t stop. Trying her best to hold it in, the struggle was fruitless as she couldn’t control it.

  “Are you alright??” Fausto said as he then checked on Leonora. But something was going on with her body. Then the coughing stopped, but she started to heat up. “What is going on with your body??” Carrying her up this, then got Karma to wake up, as she didn’t expect the sudden movement.

  “OWWW what is that….?” Karma wondered as she rubbed her head.

  “Something is wrong with Leonora!!!” Fausto said as she was looking at her body, as she was getting hot. Not in the wrong way, but the fact that she was turning into a living microwave wasn't a good sign. Karma was immediately alarmed as she was worried as well. She then tried to do something.

  “What is going on?” But looking at Leonora, this was beyond what a normal person turning hot was. Furthering the trouble, Leonora was choking as though her lungs stopped working. This was rather strange that Fausto knew was beyond what modern-day diseases could do. Turning gold, it seem like she was glowing as something was wanting to forcefully come out. Getting brighter every second, things weren’t looking too nice.

  “This is not something normal. Her body is planning to explode??”

  “Exploding? But how?!!!!” Karma said as she wasn’t aware of the situation. But then, as she tried to touch Leonora’s body. “Ahhh!!” Karma burned her hands instantly as though her flesh was being destroyed even without touching her. But what was worse was that it started to burn beyond that. “Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!" Screaming in agony, she fell on the floor as the pain started to course throughout her body.

  “Karma!!!” Fausto said as he went to help Karma.

  “Is she okay?!!” Faust said in panic. Fausto then looked.

  “Not good, her body is being destroyed by Leonora’s massive energy.”

  “Heal her!!!! Do it now!” .

  “But..”

  “Doesn’t matter, do it!!!” Faust screamed in his head. In panic, Fausto used his shadows as he was going to heal. But unexpectedly, Karma, who was in pain, started to have a dark shadow energy surrounding her. It was crazy as Fausto and Faust were surprised. The shadow then erupted out of her body and it then flowed to her arms. In an instant, the shadows covered all her burned skin. Karma didn’t know what happened, but the shadow then disappeared as her arms were healed……What?

  “Fausto...She really is…?” Faust was in awe to what had just happened. But Fausto had no time to think about that. Leonora was in serious danger. But neither can reveal anything as this isn’t something that should be known.

  “Karma!!”

  “Yes?”

  “Go out and guard the door!! Whatever you do, don't let anyone inside!!! There is much to talk about, but you need to first not reveal anything okay??!!” Karma was confused. In fact, this was the first time she couldn’t understand what type of phenomenon it was. But knowing that Fausto was trying to save Leonora’s life, Karma understood.

  “Got it!!” as she then left the room. Fausto then looked at Leonora as she was still in pain. She was getting worse as the energy was terrifying. Just getting close was burning his skin. Even the room was about to melt with her in close proximity.

  “Dang it, if you were here, it would be easier,” Fausto noted. He then covered the room as she was starting to glow bright gold. It was burning Fausto’s skin so badly that even his shadow couldn’t heal enough of the damage. Even the surroundings was starting to burn by her mere presence. Despite that, Fausto came closer and closer. His skin was burning even faster as parts of his bones were starting to unveil itself. He had to stop it as soon as possible as his body could no longer keep up with the damage. Especially since it was also painful. When they say women were hot, he never thought this is what they meant.

  “Fausto, her body can’t contain the energy. You have to inject all of it into our body.” Faust said. Shadow dwellers and Diviners are in opposite powers that usually don’t align themselves to each other with their powers. Especially with shadow dwellers who are more vulnerable to Diviners. However, because Fausto and Faust have both powers, Fausto is able to absorb divine energy into the body. Albeit not as easy as Fausto would like it. Like Karma’s skin that was burned, it was going to be just as painful.

  “But how!!!” Recalling the last time he took her energy. He was able to take some but not all of it. “Is there a fast way to take Diviner's energy?”

  “Then you're going to have to do it!!!”

  “Do what?”

  “Make out with her!”