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nMarinette's POV

nWe searched for the antidote hours after hours, but all we could find were trashes.

n

"Can I help to search for it??

"

n

"No, Valencia. It's already late now. Let's find an inn for us to stay.

" I glanced at Victor whose clothes were stained with the trashes, he looked at me as if he still wanted to find it.

nI took his hands anyway, the receptionist didn't look friendly when they see two people with the disgusting smell walking inside their inn.

nBut we still got two rooms for us to stay in for the night. I shared a room with Valencia and Victor slept alone inside his room.

n

"I will take a quick shower. Don't go anywhere, okay??

"

n

"Yes, Unnie.

" I grabbed the bathrobe and dropped the wig entering the bathroom. It was nice to get the refreshing bath after many crazy things in one day.

nI kept worrying about Tristan after I finally got Marinette's past life memories. It felt a little bit terrible now when I knew how Marinette truly felt after Tristan died.

nI wanted to save him before, but now that urge kept increasing in my heart. I didn't want him to die, and taking Valencia down didn't mean he will survive either.

nThere was something on my mind the whole time. Something felt off about Tristan's death in the first timeline.

nWhen the corpse was delivered to the manor, according to Marinette's memories, there was only a wound on his chest and that didn't match with the wound caused by Valencia at all.

nValencia's sword when slashing her enemy will leave the black spot surrounding the wound but that didn't apply to Tristan's wound.

nCould it be Valencia's underling?? But how could such a weak demon defeat someone like Tristan?

nAhh...so complicated.

nMy mind is a mess because of the new memories I obtained in exchange for losing my memories.

nTrying to remember my memories from the earth is impossible for me. The deadline for me staying here also came closer too.

nAnd finding the antidote was also hopeless.

n

"Unnie!!

"

nKyaaaaa

n

"I want to bathe with you too.

" I almost fainted from the shock of seeing her barging into the bathroom. She entered the bathtub without even hearing my response yet.

n

"Wahh...it's been a long time, isn't it?? Ever since we bath together?

"

n

"Yeah, it's been a long time. Let me wash your back.

" it was a little bit awkward when we shared the same bathtub but it became worse when I saw all the scars carved on Valencia's back.

n

"It's ugly, isn't it??

"

n

"Why do you think that??

"

nYeah, I used to have a scar too back on earth. Unlike Marinette's scar which was beautiful, my scar was hideous.

n

"Well, it's not smooth...and soft...it's rough.

" she was shuttering.

nI giggled and washed her back then splashed it with the water.

n

"They once said the scar is an honor for the warrior, so don't feel down about it.

"

n

"Do you have a scar too??

"

nShe turned back to me with her puppy eyes as she put her hair back to hide her scar.

nHer eyes probably couldn't see me.

n

"I used to have one too on my face.

"

n

"Really??? But...it's smooth and soft...

" she touched my cheek and my forehead to check my face.

n

"It...it was only a temporary scar...it disappeared after years.

" I bit my tongue trying to find the ridiculous excuse.

n

"How come I never know about that??

"

n

"That's because I don't want to make you worried.

"

nI poured the shampoo on her head washing it for her then rinse it with water. Her hair was so silky. Her beauty wasn't too bad for a demon, I didn't know a demon could be this beautiful. No wonder, she was the prettiest demon among the legendary demons.

nWe put on the clothes and slept on the bed together. I felt less scared, unlike the first time she hugged me.

n

"Unnie...you won't leave me, right??

"

nI didn't expect her to ask me that. Her hands were shaking a little, I could feel it as I held her hands.

n

"I won't.

"

n

"I kept getting the feeling you will leave me.

"

n

"You worry too much. There's no way I would leave you.

" I lied.

n

"I want to hear a story before sleeping. Will you tell me a story...?

"

n

"What kind of story do you want to hear?

"

n

"Hmm...how about a story about yourself? I want to know more about you, Unnie.

"

n

"Me?? But I don't have any story. I'm just a normal girl with a normal life.

"

n

"How about your love story??? You gotta have one, right?? Tell me, tell me!! Who is your crush??

"

nWhy did you want to know that anyway??

nWell, I used to feel a little tiny bit of love for Ji-hoon. But I gave up on that love long ago. We were better as friends.

nThat's kinda all of it.

n

"I don't have one.

"

n

"Ehh...

" she sounded so disappointed.

n

"What about you, Valencia??? Do you have one???

"

nShe giggled and whispered into my ears even though it was only the two of us in the room,

"Don't tell anyone even that monkey, Victor. The truth is...I crushed on Lucas.

"

n!!!

n

"Lucas??

"

n

"Ahh...it's embarrassing.

" she covered her blushing face when she revealed her secret to me. That name kinda rang a bell to my mind.

nCould it be, Lucas her underling?

n

"How long have you been loving him??

"

n

"Maybe around thousands of years ago...

"

n!!!

nThousands of years ago??? Did...I fail on manipulating her memory?? I was so sure I completely erased any trace of her being a demon and the demon world from her head.

n

"Why don't you tell him about your feeling??

"

nFor a moment, her lip didn't have the smile anymore, she smiled back and murmured to me,

"I think it's better that way. We've always been friends for many years, I'm afraid things will never be the same if I told him about my feeling.

"

n

"Oh...Valencia...

" I hugged her to comfort her. Her sad voice broke my heart, but what broke my heart more than that was the fact I knew Lucas was also thousands of years old. That meant he wouldn't be some low-ranked demons.

nIn addition to that, to stand behind Valencia for that many years, his power couldn't be underestimated.

nTristan would already arrive at the border by now, if Valencia is with me. That only meant the demon he will deal with is Lucas.

n

"I never knew you love Lucas if you didn't tell me. How did you fall for him anyway??

"

n

"He's kind...his voice was so sweet, even though I couldn't see him, he is handsome...and he is strong.

"

n

"How strong??

"

n

"Hm?? He's even stronger than me.

"

nWhat???????

nStronger than Valencia, the third-ranked demon?????

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nAurora's POV

n

"Oh, almighty commander Tristan, are you pretty sure this guy is just some low-ranked demon???!!! He is literally beating the sh*t out of us.

"

nKyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

nJust when I was complaining to Tristan, the sword almost cut my neck, I could barely stop it in time with my super strength.

nWe could only get ten to fifteen soldiers from the illusion. We were brought back to reality after I broke the void myself.

nWe thought it would be easy since the illusion magic-user will be weak when we attacked them head on but we were completely wrong.

nThe white-haired crimson eyes demon could be the second rank or even the first legendary demon if he wanted since that guy was a nutcase to deal with.

nDemon Art: Illusion

nHe spread the smoke jumping into mid-air with the sword coming to my neck, we thought when inhaling the smoke would lead us into his illusion but it was more than that.

nTouching the smoke will trap us.

nI was brought back to the illusion with Sun-hee as my friend, bla bla bla...

nI controlled the illusion and watched Sun-hee in front of the convenience store hit by my car more than ten times already.

n

"Eun-Kyung, focus.

" I snapped back to reality breaking his sword immediately. Then he took another sword out.

nSeriously!!!!

nThat guy who knew my real name kept calling me that, the soldiers were confused since they didn't know he was calling me.

nI glared at him and then focused on the demon again.

nDemon Art: Illusion

nAgain??!

nDemon Art: Illusion

nAHHH

nDemon Art: Illusion

nOh my freaking god, just stop already!!!

nDemon Art: Illusion

nHuff huff

nMy legs gave up on me falling to the ground as I couldn't keep up with the same things over and over again. My mental health was on the verge of collapse.

nAt a time like this, some underhand tricks would be a miracle.

n

"Eun-Kyung, rest for a while.

" he picked me up with both of his arms.

nWe switched, again and again, to regain stamina for the past hours but the demon didn't even rest once.

n

"Commander, you rest too. We could hold off for a while.

" Tristan didn't even listen to the mage soldier who shooting beam out of the staff. Tristan got up and rushed back to the battlefield but I pulled his jacket.

nHe turned to me frowning his eyes,

"I have to save them.

"

n

"We need a plan.

"

n

"What plan??

"

n

"We can't fight him with the brute strength alone...shouldn't a commander like you know about this???

"

n

"What do you want to do then?? Trap him in his own illusion??

"

n

"!!

" That wasn't a bad idea.

nWhat if we pulled him inside the illusion with us to earth with magic that couldn't be used there, he wouldn't be able to pull the new swords from his magic inventory.

n

"Your face is saying you got an idea.

"

n

"Well...it's better to test it out, isn't it??

"

n!!!!

nHaa???

n

"Eun-Kyung, your chest is glowing.

"

nI covered my chest glaring at him. I thought he meant something perverted.

nI looked at my chest and it was the necklace the one was glowing. It was the necklace Aurora never took off once in her life.

n

"I saw the necklace somewhere before...

"

n

"Aurora's mother said it was the gift from a duke during her era.

"

n

"A duke during Aurora's mother's era?? Isn't that my father?? Could this be my mother's necklace??!!

"

nWhat's this guy talking about?? Why would duke Jellal give such a valuable thing of his beloved wife to a random kid?? Was he doing the giveaway event or something??

nAhh...

nOut of a sudden, even the small heavy rock, I couldn't hold it with my superstrength.

n

"Eun-Kyung, are you alright??

"

n

"My power is decreasing...

"

n

"Oh no...it must be because we stayed inside this portal for too long.

"

nThe owner of the necklace, could you hear me?? I'm the mountain spirit.

nI glanced at Tristan when the voice was ringing in my head, by the look of it, I'm the only one who could hear it.

nYes, I can hear you.

nAre you Princess Athena?? I thought you died long ago.

nNo, I'm not. I'm Eun--I mean I'm Aurora.

nDid Athena give the necklace to you??

nAurora--I mean me, I mean I got it from the day I was born.

nWe can discuss about that later, for now, you must listen to me. You must get out of that realm created by the demon Lucas in the next hour or else you will die when the necklace ran out of power.

nWhat??? Can't I just take the necklace off instead??

nI still have more to say. The necklace can be used as a weapon too, especially in a situation like this. The necklace only broke when the magic inside it is too much or completely gone.

nWhat do you mean using as a weapon??

nI will save you if you swear that you will return the necklace to me when you defeat the demon.

nAlright. Tell me already.

nIn the realm of demon Lucas, the small realm created by him didn't have any sunlight as it is covered in the darkness. Your necklace will be draining bit by bit but if...

nIf what??

nIf you take another person's power, you will fill the magic inside the necklace. That meant you could take another person's power as long as you're in that realm.

nIsn't that a little bit overpowered??

nIt's your choice to use it or not. But beware, if the necklace contained the magic power it wouldn't be able to handle. It will break and you will die. Well, good luck.

nWait!!! Wait, how do I take someone's magic??!!

nHmm?? The only way I know it kissing, I guess...

nWhat???

nIt's the easiest way...

nThen do you want me to kiss the demon??? Do you think the demon will say 'Oh you want a kiss to steal my power, let's kiss.'??

nAnother way is dangerous and might kill you too...

nI'm gonna die anyway...just tell me.

nDrink the blood of the person you want to steal their magic. Their blood contained a part of their magic energy.

nBut...but...if I drink the demon's blood...wouldn't I turn to...

n

nThe mountain in the southern empire,

nThrough the gate of the remaining statue of princess Athena was the realm of the mountain spirit.

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"My lord, do you think that woman named Aurora will succeed??

"

nThe mountain spirit shook his head replying to the little elf,

"I don't know either...if Athena was the one wearing the necklace, I wouldn't doubt...but the one wearing it was only an inexperienced warrior.

"

n

"I hope she knows what she's doing...

"

nTo be continued....!

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