n

n

n

"I...am an Element. A Chaos...Elemental.

"

nThe five of us stared at the crimson beauty in awe. After a few seconds, I was the first to come back to my senses.

n

"H-Hold on, what?

" I asked, making sure what I heard just not was correct.

"You're...an Elemental? As in the most powerful race on the face of this planet?

"

nShe nodded.

"We Elementals may be strong individually, but there are very few of us, and we all hate each other...

"

nFeng Mian the noticed something off.

"But wait...if you're an Elemental, then what element are you...?

"

nThe red-haired girl wrinkled her nose a little.

"Didn't I already say? I'm a Chaos Elemental.

"

n

"A Chaos Elemental...?

" Yu An Yan echoed in confusion.

"What is that? I've never heard of it.

"

n

"Is there even an element called Chaos?

" Feng Mian said, suspicious.

n

"There is,

" the red-haired girl replied firmly.

"I am the only Chaos Elemental, however.

"

nThe other girls were still skeptical.

"That's just what you are saying...sorry, but it's really hard for us to believe you,

" Feng Mian said.

n

"No, I've actually heard of the Chaos element before...

" I interjected quietly.

n

"You have?

" Yu An Yan asked.

n

"Yeah.

"

n

"Well...what is it?

"

nI sighed and began explaining.

"The Chaos Element...it's something written about only in legends. Apparently, the entire universe was created from something known as the Primordial Chaos - thus, it could be said that the Chaos Element is the beginning of everything. However...no one has ever awoken this element before, so before long it became nothing more than a forlorn story...

"

nQing Yue seems to be the only one that followed what I said.

"Huh...I see. So the Chaos Element actually exists, and this girl right here is living proof of that?

"

n

"Well, not exactly living, per se, but...

" I remarked.

n

"I am living,

" the girl unexpectedly rebutted.

"I just do not need to breathe, eat, or drink like humans do.

"

n

"Er...okay then,

" I replied hesitantly.

"But more importantly...what is your connection with me? You called me 'master'. Do you have the wrong person...?

"

n

"No, master. You are my master. I am sure of it.

" She sounded very determined and confident when she said that, but even then I had my doubts.

n

"Uh...how do you know?

" I asked carefully.

n

"I can sense the Chaos within you, master.

"

n

"The Chaos...within me?

" I touched where the stone pendant used to be, at my neck area.

n

"That is correct. I'm sure you've noticed, master. Your magic is very different from everyone else's, no?

"

nI narrowed my eyes.

"How do you know...?

"

nThe girl sighed.

"To be honest, your lie back in that meeting room wasn't that much off from the truth.

"

nI raised an eyebrow hearing this, and she continued.

n

"I am not a golem of any kind, but the part about the stone pendant is true. This body you see now is my original form, but I have stayed dormant within the stone pendant for millennium and millennium, waiting for the right person to come.

"

n

"And since you have awoken now, you're saying I am that 'right person'?

" I concluded.

n

"That is correct, master.

"

n

"H-Hold on, I still don't get it,

" Feng Mian cut in.

"How is he the right person? Just a month ago, he didn't even have magic!

"

nThe red-haired girl glared daggers at Feng Mian, and I felt a dangerous killing aura emitting from her. The other girls must've felt it too, since they backed away from her quickly. However, the girl herself didn't seem to care or even acknowledge that fact, and continued in a low voice.

n

"Do you not find it odd he was able to suddenly awaken magic at the age of 14?

" she said coolly.

n

"W-Well, I did, but I never really thought about it too hard...

" Feng Mian replied meekly, clearly intimidated by the crimson beauty.

n

"Wait, that means...the voice I heard at the time, that was you?!

" I asked in surprise, finally recalling the events that had transpired that day, now that she had brought it up.

nThe girl nodded.

"It seems master finally remembers.

"

nI clenched my fists. The voice I heard at the time...was this short girl in front of me.

"At the time...why did you tell me to kill Feng Mian?

"

n

"E-Eh?!

" Feng Mian blinked at me, surprised at my words. I never told her about how exactly I was able to awaken my magic, so it was understandable she would be confused. Well, technically, I had forgotten what happened as well until today, but...

nThe crimson-haired girl closed her eyes.

"There's a good chance she will betray master, that's all.

"

n

"Wha-?! What's going on?

" Feng Mian was still confused, and glanced back and forth between me and the red-haired girl.

n

"...Never mind,

" I said, wanting to change the topic.

"More importantly...if what you said is really true, then you surely can answer all of my questions, correct?

"

nThe girl shook her head.

"There are things even I do not understand. However, I will do my best to answer your questions, master.

"

nI nodded, satisfied.

"Then...first off, what's with my sudden awakening? Like Feng Mian said, I was born without magic. How did I awaken this...Chaos within me?

"

nThe red-haired girl stared at me as if saying 'that's it?'.

n

"That is easy,

" the girl replied nonchalantly.

"You simply activated the power dormant within you, master.

"

nThe power dormant within me...?

n

"So in other words, in reality, I had magic all this time, but just never activated it?

" I asked.

nShe nodded.

"From what I know, the Chaos Element requires three factors to activate the first stage: a firm determination, unshakeable resolve, and strong negative emotion. Master accomplished all three of those on the day those three maggots decided to attack master.

"

nThree maggots...? Uh, how do I put it...her use of words and personality did not fit her exterior image at all. I expected someone more cheerful and playful like Qing Yue, but she was the complete opposite. Ruthless and cold.

n

"Hang on, I swear I just heard 'the first stage',

" Yu An Yan, who had stayed silent until now, interrupted.

n

"Yes. Master has only successfully awoken the first stage until today. The second stage was awoken during the battle - though it was hardly even worthy of being called a battle - earlier,

" the crimson-haired girl replied.

n

"And I assume Xuan Kai awakening the second stage was what allowed you to return to your original, humanoid form?

" Feng Mian concluded.

nThe girl didn't say anything in response, but instead merely nodded.

nI fell deep into thought. To summarize, I was in fact born with an innate element all along. However, my magic was very special and unique. I had to fulfill certain requirements to unlock it. And apparently, there were also several stages to it, meaning I could get stronger with each evolution. But that leads to my next question...

n

"How many stages are there in total?

" I asked the scarlet-haired loli. Since she had answered every single one of my questions so far without any hesitation or signs of confusion, I expected her to also be able to answer this one with no problems. However...

n

"Unfortunately, even I do not have that information, master.

"

n

"Huh? O-Oh, er, that's okay. I wasn't expecting you to know everything at all. Nope, not one bit,

" I replied hurriedly after blinking a few times in surprise.

n

"I am very sorry, master,

" the girl said apologetically, and bowed down like a maid.

n

"N-No, I already said, it's fine...

" I murmured, and felt heat rise to my cheeks. This was embarrassing, having this scarlet goddess call me master and bow down to me like so.

nI felt a bit dejected at not being able to find out just how far I can still 'level up', but then the girl spoke again.

n

"Master...perhaps I should rephrase,

" she said after seeing my crestfallen face.

"I said I did not have information on this matter, but what I really meant was 'I do not have the full extent of information on this matter'.

"

nI perked up, hearing this.

"You mean...you still know a little bit?

"

nShe nodded.

"Yes. In fact, I should know everything regarding the Chaos element, since I was born directly from it, but...somehow, no matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to recall the complete information. In human terms...my memories are sealed, by an unknown force. My inference is that you, master, have to get stronger. As your partner, my strength increases along with yours. I believe once you have broken through more seals and advanced to higher stages, not only will my fighting power also be increased, I will be able to remember more information as well.

"

n

"...I see,

" I replied.

"Well, just tell me what you kno-

"

n

"Huh?! Since when were you his 'partner'?!

" Feng Mian cut in out of nowhere.

n

"That's right! You can't just go declaring things like that out of the blue!

" Yu An Yan joined in heatedly.

n

"Hmm....a new love rival has been detected,

" Qing Yue murmured quietly to herself as she devilishly stared at the crimson-haired girl around her own height.

n

"Master, these three bitches are disturbing our conversation,

" the girl to which these statements were directed at glanced at me, and brilliantly brushed off the other girls' words.

n

"Uh, language...?

" I muttered hesitantly.

n

"M-My apologies, master. I did not know you disliked such language,

" she responded timidly.

n

"I-It's fine, but, uh, these four girls here are friends, alright? So...you can treat them more nicely,

" I said with an awkward laugh.

nShe bowed down deeply once more.

"If that is what master wants.

"

n