Purple Seekers

“U-Uh!” Aisha felt a chill down her spine. She knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to argue with Rena, as was proven many times when the elf stopped numerous discussions between her and Elsword. Aisha quickly rushed over to the rest of the party before Rena went any further, shutting the door behind her as all of them walked to their destination.

With the usual chats and laughs the party had, Aisha walked beside them comfortably, used to Elsword’s complaints, Rena’s motherlike scolding, Eve’s somewhat comforting silence, and so on. But…

Several steps behind them was a white haired boy, back slouched, hands inside pockets, keeping track of the party with slow, yet heavy steps. Add had always kept his distance, even after officially joining the party, but his gaze was always fixed on the Nasod Queen, giving off suspicious glares and ominous mumbles.

“Maybe… A temporary truce?” Aisha spoke under her breath, gazing back at his magenta eyes, whose suddenly met with hers.

“...?” He kept his eyes on her for a little longer before he drew his attention back to Eve, giving a more focused look.

Woah, creepy…

She hesitated for a bit, then stopped on her tracks. The party didn’t seem to notice her distance between them, so it became easier for Aisha to draw back, eventually reaching Add and walking beside him, placing her hands behind her back. She kept Add’s pace for a good while, giving him gazes and eventually catching the boy’s attention.

“Do you need anything?” He asked, irritated. He kept his eyes on Eve, trying to study what he could.

“I should be the one asking you that. You’re the one staring at my friend that way.” She replied, leaning closer to him with a frown, as if interrogating him. “It’s really giving me the creeps.”

“Tsk. The nosy type, huh?”

“The nosy type?” Aisha mumbled, confused, but drew back her attention towards Add. “Look. You’re a member of this party now, correct?” Aisha examined his facial features more, all while trying to avoid complete eye contact. I thought it was just from a far, but… Even at this distance, he still looks tired.

“For my convenience, yes.” He added as he began to walk faster, attempting to leave Aisha behind. A sudden force pulled him back. Aisha had tugged his hoodie, immediately making him halt.

“What. Do. You. Want.” He grumbled.

The magician smirked.

“Y’know if you get too close like that they’ll think something’s up right? You do understand not everybody trusts you yet, right?” Her eyebrows furrowed, immediately followed by a sigh. “And besides, hasn’t it always been for ‘your convenience?’ Just sticking with us isn’t gonna help you get any closer to Eve and her core.”

“I saved her life.” He frowned. The magician raised her eyebrows in doubt.

“You think that’s enough to convince everyone that you’re not a threat? The fact that you ‘saved her life’ is being overwhelmed by literally everything else you’ve done.”

Add looked at her in the eye, noting their indigo colors.

“Do you care?” He squinted, trying to analyze the situation.

“Yes.” Aisha looked right back at him. For a creep like him, his eyes are… Interesting. She marveled at his eyes momentarily, immediately turning her focus back on Add.

“Why?” His tone was harsh. Cold.

“Do you trust me?”

“No, not exactly.”

“Then?”

“Listen, Add…” She paused, trying to put her words together. “You’re an intelligent person, right? Well—aside from being… Insane.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Thing is, I think you should find an alternative, besides...”

“Besides..?” Add slowed down, his interest taken.

“You only saved Eve, because you knew her codes would get damaged, didn’t you?”

“...” Add halted in his tracks, eyebrow raised, seemingly amused. “Heh. You’re not as much of an airhead as I thought you were.” He stated, continuing his footsteps.

“Elsword is the airhead here. He’s dumb, and he trusts people way too much.” Aisha paused, lowering her voice. “All of us are more than suspicious of you. This is just out of formalities, respecting Elsword’s decision and letting you in all of a sudden, despite our initial meeting.”

“Do you not approve of me being here?” His gaze strayed away from her, returning them to Eve.

Aisha turned towards the direction Add was looking towards too, walking with him at a similar pace. “Listen, from one scholar to another, you have every right to be here, but I’m just letting you know that--”

“Everyone else in the party, except Elsword, has doubts. And, just like you, they most likely know what I am after.” He completed her sentence for her, sighing, already knowing his situation.

“First, you tried to take her away from us so you could… salvage her core, and then, you show up and save her? Your actions aren’t lining up with anything. I may not know you, no, I may not know the first thing about you, but…” She took a quick pause. “There are better ways to solve whatever problems you have without taking someone’s life, and for your own sake no less. Any genius should know that.” She looked at him again, taking careful notes of his expressions.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“You’re right. I wouldn’t, but… You’re smart. Right?” Add’s eyes widened, immediately taken by surprise. He became quiet, slowly looking away as both of them continued walking. Seeing as how the conversation had ended, Aisha rushed back to the rest of the party, looking back at Add for a few seconds before joining in the Elgang’s friendly talk.

…

Ting, clank, crash.

“So… Are you moving or something?” Aisha asked, looking around the room filled with taped boxes and dismantled machinery.

The mission had ended off smoothly, well, somewhat. Add had seemingly swore off Wally, while the old man flew away, essentially escaping the El Search Party’s capture. With the mission complete, and another one was to soon arrive, the party had decided to take a moment of rest before heading off. The rest of the party returned to Elder. The mage, however, followed the scientist to wherever he had ran off too.

The room was… Ominously dark. Located right under the castle’s main hall, hidden away by security locks and a few rubble and rocks. The only light source was from the lavender colored holograms and machines drilling and scanning through things. Aisha was sitting down on a box that had seemingly been packed recently, while Add was tinkering on his desk.

“How did you get in here?” Add reached out for a tool on his shelf. The irritation practically overflowed on his words.

“Teleporting, obviously. A move that only the finest of magicians can make~.” Aisha spoke proudly. Add quietly wailed in response as the dynamo he was working on made sparking noises.

“I’ll make sure to keep you from doing that next time.” He frowned.

“Add, are you doing okay there? Did you hit your hand or something?” Aisha peeked over Add’s shoulders from a distance.

“Leave me alone. This is only a minor set back, this thing needs to be improved.” He fanned out the smoke that the dynamo had released, continuing his work on them.

“I mean, aren’t your dynamos sufficient enough?” Aisha asked, curious.

Add sighed, he put down his screwdriver loudly and glared at the purple haired magician. “Sufficient does not mean better. You of all people should know that.” He turned back to his work immediately, unscrewing the screws on his dynamos.

“Hah! I bet you’re just angry about how an old guy scammed you!” Aisha laughed, about to bump Add in a friendly manner.

“Keep. Your dirty Elrian hands off me. Who knows, you could turn me into a Phoru and put me in a hat or something.” He scoffed at Aisha, his palms holding her fist before she could have bumped onto his shoulder, however a part of him felt a sense of dread. Her hands feels… Freakishly strong. He managed to hide his fear, but a part of him began to understand something. She… does hit people with that staff-- He had soon realized that perhaps any physical contact to the magician would have been best avoided.

Aisha’s eyes widened slightly, surprised. “Pfft, please! You insult me and all phorus! I’d rather have you turned into a bat!” She proclaimed, placing her right hand on her hips and left hand on her chest, proudly speaking. “You’re a nocturnal rodent anyway! You’ll fit in just fine!”

“Eurgh. You’re as brute as that one mercenary Vergnert and you don’t see me pointing it out, correct?” He said, flinging her hands away from him before he could get into further contact.

Excuse me!? Vergnert?? I am so much more ladylike than that! Aisha ignored the comment, understanding that they won’t get anywhere. She continued to stare at him doing his work. “Hey.” She tried to catch his attention again.

“What do you want?” He continued fiddling with his machinery, only half heartedly paying attention to the curious magician.

“How do you know about Elrians? That’s history long passed, and you act like you were there when… The incident..” Aisha began trailing off, still curious, yet her mind had already passed by her words.

She saw Add flinch from behind, as if he had just realized something. “That’s none of your concern.” He became quiet, leaving the magician to wander off around the lab.

If he is moving… Where to? Honestly… Aisha looked back at him while looking at the hastily taped boxes. He doesn’t look like the type of guy who actually reevaluates his plans… She looked back at all the boxes, labeled accordingly. He… Does have an irritatingly nice handwriting. She teleported her notebook in, and opened it, skimming through the pages. Why does this feel so unfair. She sighed as she continued to look around.

Another day had passed, another short conversation, and another moment of silence. Each day had been the same, she had visited him often; she didn’t know if he was okay with it, but he had stopped complaining and let her visit as much as she wanted. He was constantly going back and forth with his research, packing, and “assisting” the party, but he kept his goal clear and set. Aisha had kept a close eye on him, but then... She just somehow found herself busy and a few years had passed, and once again, she had no clue what Add was up to.

Aisha sighed. “Talk about workload.” She mumbled, looking at a paper of requirements. I’m the Battle Magician for Ishmael’s sake! You’d think they’d be a little nicer with me and these nonsensical tasks. She took a close look at the chapel. It’s in ruins… Ugh… She sweated, trying to hold her ground. “Ghosts don’t exist. Ghosts don’t exist. Ghosts. Don’t. Exist.” She repeated to herself, slowly making her way into the Underground Chapel. “If this is what it takes to become stronger… I’ll do it!”

She heard a voice, and felt a tap on her shoulder. “Hey.”

“EII I  PP P” She swung her staff behind her, hitting something, she teleported a bit further off into the distance. “GHOSTS DON’T EXIST. GHOSTS DON’T-” She looked behind her, looking at a familiar figure. “Add..?”

“You…” His mouth was drawing blood and his cheeks were swollen. “Gr.. ape..he..” He fell.

“ADD!” She ran towards him. “Add are you okay!?” She held his body, making him sit up. “Come on you have too much of a thick skull to die, right??”

Add slowly reached for his face, caressing the pain away. “Eugh..”

“Oh good, he’s alive.” She sighed in a relieved manner. “Phew. Almost thought I ended up being the cause of your death.”

“What a brute…” He sat up slowly still holding onto his face.

“Y’know what? Maybe I should hit your head again.” Aisha watched him squirm, taking out a flask with a strange, pink substance. He poured a bit of it onto his palm, wiping it on his face.

“I’d prefer you not to.” He looked directly at her, the swelling on his face calming down and the blood cleaned off.

“What’s... with the eyepatch?” Aisha reached out for it, only for her hand to be pushed away.

“It’s nothing.” He stood up and wiped the dirt off his clothes. “Honestly you could kill someone with--” He felt a tug. “What are you doing?”

Aisha was tugging on a long tail-like metallic object drawing out from his belt. “What is this thing for?”

“Right, and your dumb ribbon puffs have any use.” He looked at her from head to toe. “And what’s with the get up? It’s weird.”

“No, it’s cute! Only perfect for a magical girl!~” Aisha winked, hands posed in peace signs.

Add backed away, freaked out by her sudden change of demeanor. “What...?”

Aisha flinched. She held her face and began shaking, her ears and face becoming visibly red. “I-I’m sorry-- I didn’t mean to--” She sighed. This pendant is gonna be the end of me. I need to watch out more. “Anyway, I could say the same to you. Look at you, an eyepatch? A tail? And you really couldn’t keep those flasks somewhere they won’t break?”

“I don’t have the luxury of magic like you do, airhead. Whatever’s going on with you and your choice of power, you’re clearly losing your mind.” He looked at her, arms crossed.

“Manipulation of time and space, and whatever choice of power you chose, you’re clearly not doing well either.” Aisha placed a hand on her hips.

“We-- You chose the same? But then how...?” He put his hand on his chin, beginning to get lost in thought.

“You... too then?” Aisha leaned closer to his side, inspecting Add carefully.

“What are you looking at?”

“I mean--” Aisha looked at him skeptically. “You messed with time and space didn’t you? As much as I hate to say it, trying to control time and space comes with a price. We’re both intelligent enough to know that, Add, please don’t take me for a fool.”

Add stayed quiet, evidently irritated.

“So I’ll say this once again, what’s with the eyepatch?” Aisha’s eyebrows furrowed. She was concerned, but there was a sense of anger within her voice.

“Nothing you need to butt into.” Add scoffed, passing by her as he made his way to the Underground Chapel.

Aisha hopped next to him and began to walk by his side. “You can’t hide it forever, you know that.” She said in a quiet voice.

“Hide what, exactly?” Add tried to avoid her gaze, keeping his eyes on the crumbly ground of the chapel, entering its ruins.

“I can tell by the flasks. By that eye you try so hard to keep hidden, Add.” She frowned. Aisha’s usual “magical girl” seemed as if it had worn off. Even with a glance, he could tell her eyes were filled with worry.

“...There are toxins in your body, correct?”

“So what?!” He stopped and turned to face Aisha. “You said it yourself, right?” He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “It’s a price we have to pay with meddling with time and space--”

“And even so, I can’t believe you were so reckless as to mess with things you cannot understand!”

He frowned, visibly angry. “And what do you know? You’re after power, power you lost because you were careless! And I’m…”

Aisha flinched, Add’s words had clearly stung her. She turned her gaze away from Add as they kept walking deeper into the chapel, only focused on their argument.

“...Look. I...” Add sighed, trying to spit out words he never thought he’d have to use.

Aisha looked back at him, her eyes were glimmering.

Tsk… C-Come on, don’t look at me like that. Urgh, fine! His lips began to shake, trying to spew out the few words he had to speak, but it was just too difficult for him.

“I-I’m…” He frowned, frustrated. Come on, Add, this isn’t so hard. Just a few stupid words, right?!

Aisha tilted her head in confusion, eyes locked on Add.

“I... guess I’m sorry, okay?” He mumbled as his face faded into a soft red, sweating from the shame of having to apologize, specially to Aisha, who he thought was the last who’d take his words to heart.

Aisha’s eyes widened. The chapel was empty enough to let Add’s voice echo and go right into her ears. She was expecting an apology, yes, but she didn’t think Add of all people would be able to give one.

“Uhm... Add. Did you just apologize?” She placed both her hands on her chest, staring at him as if she had just made him spew out something impossible to the boy.

“...I’m not repeating myself.” He averted his eyes from her. He tried to walk ahead, hands in pockets, but Aisha kept up with his pace.

Aisha let out a soft giggle, happy with Add’s adorable response. She kept her hands behind her back and continued to stare at him for the sole purpose of getting another reaction out of him.

“Say, Add. It’s hard for you to be honest with your feelings, huh? You should try it more often if you ask me~.”

“D-Don’t be stupid. I did it just so you’d stop looking at me with those dumb puppy eyes, it was freaking me out.” He frowned, trying to cover his face with the neck of his jacket, looking at everything but the magician.

“I told you before, don’t take me for a fool, Add.” She kept her soft smile and content stare on Add. To think I’d see him like this. If he’d be more honest with himself, I’d…

“In any case,” Add cleared his throat and let go of his jacket, returning to his composed self. “What are you after in a place like this?”

With that, Aisha had realized what she was thinking. She quickly turned away from Add and towards the chapel’s dark hallways, smiling nervously.

“W-Well! Um... I’m after some objects called Moonstones, and that would be all I need.” And I hope I find them soon. I don’t know how much more I can last in this place, it gives me the creeps!

“Tsk. You’ve got it easy, huh…” Add’s spirits were low already when he heard he had to defeat Amethyst, who was rumored to be hiding deep inside the Chapel. Finding him was already a difficult task. I-I hope I find that demon soon. I can’t handle being in this place! Old, dusty, totally unhygienic! And... N-No. There’s no way they exist, right?!

They both looked in different directions, driven by their own thoughts to be wary of their surroundings. They were, instinctively, drawn close to each other by fear, until Aisha’s shoulder touched Add’s.

“E-Eeip!” Both Add and Aisha flinched at each other’s touch. A moment was needed for the two to calm down and continue deeper into the place.

“W-What, scared of ghosts?” Aisha smirked, lightly hitting his arm with her elbow.

“O-Of course not! Only little kids believe in that crap. That explains why you’re so scared of them, grape head. I’m just disgusted by the poor higyene of this place.” Add shrugged, a smug look forming in his face.

“Hey! I-I’m not scared either! Anyone would get the chills from this cold, empty place! It’s dark, and moldy, and--”

Suddenly, a deep roar erupted within the hallways of the chapel. Both Add and Aisha stopped in their tracks, and the light atmosphere became much heavier and tense.

“Amethyst…” Add grumbled, staring deep into the halls that led to the hellish sound. It had seemed that it noticed them and made itself present, breaking the duo into a cold sweat.

Add and Aisha prepared themselves when the demon began emitting threatening growls that echoed within the cold, dusty innards of the Chapel, as if the whole place was shouting at them to leave at once.

“Is… that what you’re after? And I thought getting the Moonstones would be a difficult task…” Aisha’s gaze didn’t leave the dark hallway, gripping her staff in anticipation. It had already made itself clear of its nefarious intentions, and both Add and Aisha were more than ready to take it head on.

“Stay out of this, grape head. You’ve got your own job to finish, right?” Add started making his way towards the menacing presence. With each step he took, purple flames erupted from the torches at each side of the long, wide hallway. The chapel may want them gone, but Amethyst would much rather make its guests’ visit… permanent.

“Listen… I know what you’re gonna say. The usual ‘this ain’t your business’ am I right?” Aisha quickly caught up to him and tugged tightly on one of his ‘tails’, forcing him to go a few steps back. As Add turned to her to scold her, she noticed her glimmering eyes once more.

“Oh gods, don’t do this again…” He frowned, trying to turn his gaze away from hers. Aisha puffed her cheeks as she tightened the grip on the boy’s makeshift tail. But as a few more seconds passed, she simply let go of it. Although her eyes were still like shining sugilites, she kept a determined look on her face.

“Let me help you. You don’t have to do this alone, you airhead.” She responded, staring deep into Add’s magenta eyes, waiting for a response in return.

“I-...” Add mumbled, seemingly troubled. In the end… no matter what I do or say, I can’t even stop her from getting in my way. You sure are a handful, grape head.

He composed himself, and gave her a smug smile, crossing his arms as he turned his back to her, facing back to the chamber of the chapel where Amethyst was waiting for them. “Just don’t get in my way, got it?”

Aisha’s eyes widened. She sure didn’t expect Add to give in this easily. Well… one step at a time, Aisha. She smiled brightly as she caught up to him once more. They still had a few more minutes until they had to brace themselves for a fierce battle… but the atmosphere felt lighter. “Hey, just make sure you don’t get tossed around so much, got it? I’ve got your back as long as you’ve got mine.” Aisha nudged at Add’s arm, maintaining her smile as she looked up at the boy, who’ve kept his eyes on the tall, wide doors at the end of the hallway. They knew what awaited them beyond that door. But somehow…

They felt safe.

“You’re kidding me, right? If I let them get a scratch on you, I’ll be the one getting a beatdown afterwards, you brute.” Add chuckled. The duo now stopped, only a few feet away from the heavy, ancient doors that would lead them to Add’s target.

“Oh, boo hoo, my hero.” Aisha sulked, nudging Add’s arm a little harder this time, making him stumble to the side. As she watched the boy try to regain his balance and give his usual, irritated grumble, her smile returned. “We’re stronger. We can do this, Add.”

I know, you grape head… I know, but... I’m not your hero. My ideals and what I have to do to achieve them. They do not match with such a title.

…

…

… A week had passed since they had met at the Underground Chapel by mere coincidence. A week since they had successfully defeated Amethyst, a swift combination of magic and science was too much for the ancient demon to take hold of. Not much after that, the duo began searching and scavenging for the moonstones Aisha was after.

With a few bruises here and there, but content with the result of the trip to the chapel, Add now sat in his laboratory, which was disassembled and moved to a different building in Feita’s outskirts.

Add and Aisha had agreed to part ways after they were done with their tasks, and with that out of the way, Add could finally resume his research on the materials he got from the numerous demons he had to defeat. Add insisted on keeping those fragments for further research instead of letting them “go to waste” when he was told they would be taken for the army of Feita’s benefit, and of course, the least they could do was let him take it.

He was intrigued to find out how it would benefit his cause and how much it could impact his efficiency and resistance to meddling with time and space. As soon as he finished setting up every folder, every cable and monitor, he sat down and gave an exhausted groan, letting his head bump against his arms, which served as a cushion for his cold and hard desk.

“I just have to put this stuff through the scan, huh…?” He raised his head just a bit, enough to see the many monitors light up, with the biggest one in the middle popping up a small window with the message ‘Please insert the sample into the slot for further inspection.’

Add stood up from his chair and proceeded to place one of Amethyst’s powdered fragments into a small vial, which was then deposited into a tube next to the monitor.

He impatiently looked at the monitor, waiting for the bar of the window to load up, but just as it was about to be completed, all of the monitors began to turn an alarmed red. The window in the monitor now read ‘ERROR! UNIDENTIFIED SAMPLE. IMMEDIATE DESTRUCTION OF THE VIAL IS ADVISED.’ as the tube near the monitor began to shake.

Add’s eyes quickly widened as he rushed over to retrieve the vial from the tube, just as a small piston was about to crush the sample. He implemented this feature to prevent anyone from testing with his own equipment, but he never thought it would backfire this way.

He had saved the sample, but the alarm kept on ringing and blaring everywhere. With a strong shade of red and sirens filling the room, Add became extremely irritated, leaving the vial in its respective slot before rushing over back to his computer.

After some typing and meddling, he found himself in another window, now asking him to insert a voice recorded password.

“Come on… come on. Just shut up already!” He began to lose his composure. Suddenly, a sharp pain filled his left eye, holding it tightly with one of his hands while he gripped one side of the keyboard.

Calm down, me… you can still do this. You just gotta make this stupid thing work! He reassured himself as he pressed one button to begin the recording. The sirens ceased, but the lights were still blaring. This didn’t decrease Add’s pressure and stress in the slightest, but if he wanted this to stop, he had to enter the password.

He took a deep breath and stood up straight, placing both of his hands on his chest.

“Edward Grenore pledged a promise.”

After a few seconds, the monitor began to scan Add’s voice, shifting into a loading screen. The lights warped from a bright red to their usual blue, and the whole system was completely powered off. He sighed as he sat down on his chair once more, leaning it backwards and holding his face with both of his hands.

“It’s okay, Add. You’re getting there. Trial and error. Just…” He began to tighten the grip on his face and grit his teeth. The pain in his eye was gone, but the strain in his heart was still there.

“Bear with it just a little longer… I’ll finally be able to see you again.” There was nothing else left in this room but the boy’s dread. Engulfed in darkness and silence, all he could do was to bring himself back up.

From beyond the crates and scrap, from beyond the scattered nuts and bolts and crumbled blueprints, the small gap in the door of his laboratory began closing. A rapidly beating heart was the only sound behind that door.

What Aisha had witnessed was beyond her expectations. Even so…

I… I see. You’re in pain, aren’t you? You’re all alone in this path, towards a goal that brings you nothing but frustration. Add… no, Edward. I’m so sorry.

She held her chest tight as she looked up into the star-filled night, taking a deep breath, as if she had accepted the boy’s feelings as her own in that exact moment.

It’s alright. You don’t have to do this alone anymore.

She began stepping away from the small building, looking back at it for a few seconds before making her way back to Feita. Determined.

I’m here, Edward Grenore. I’ll be your hero.

     The ceiling: cold, and empty. She blinked, once, twice, and maybe more. She sighed.

     “Ahhhh!” She placed her hands over her eyes. “I’m probably tired...” She turned around and shoved a pillow on top of her head. She needed to sleep.

     She couldn’t.

     She sat back up, irritated. “Why is it suddenly so difficult to sleep?” She threw her pillow to the side and slouched over, pouting.

     “Hah!” An idea sparked through her head, as a creeping smile ran across her face. “That shut-in is still awake… Right?” Her eyes sparkled. “Right!” She cheered. “THAT SHUT-IN IS STILL AWAKE!”

     She immediately stepped out of bed, making her way towards a table; on them were two pink ribbons that she quickly pulled out. She split her hair into two portions, and held one portion, tying each side as fast as she could. She walked towards her door opening it and immediately shut it close, leaving only silence within the empty bedroom.

     Aisha walked down the hallways, making sure each step made it to its destination as echoes trailed behind her. She took a sharp turn at the staircase, and went downstairs. Eventually the floors transitioned from wood to marbles.

     Right at the very end of the hallway was a large gray-blue door with light blue glowing patterns and a familiar symbol. The door was held together by a frame, with red glowing patterns, slowly fading in and out.

     “Two possibilities!” She stated to herself. “Either he took his time building security for this door, or he rushed since he was excited for a workplace for his own.”

     Aisha walked towards the door, waving her hand, and poking at the security locks. The tip of her finger suddenly gave off a light pink glow, she moved her hand away slowly, with light trailing behind it, and paused. The trail of light remained where it was, and the place her finger had stopped began spreading its light, affecting the red patterns of the frame and turning it slowly it into light pink as well.

     “Now…” She examined the frame, as the patterns began changing from red to light pink. She momentarily closed her eyes, a pause, and silence. She began to swiftly move her hand in patterns, as the light behind her finger drew a line, a symbol and a glyph and with one last final sweep, Aisha opened her eyes once more. The glyph slowly grew stars on each edge, and with a short and final burst, the frame made a mechanical sound. The red patterns turned lavender, the systems had begun processing the commands, slowly unlocking the door.

     “It was the second possibility~! As expected, I’m always right~.”

     CRASH! A loud sound came through the still unlocking door. Aisha gasped, taking a few steps back. The sounds began coming one after the other, all being accompanied by a mad man’s laughter.

     “OPEN YOU STUPID DOOR!” She grumbled as she tried to push it open.

     She quickly stood back, looking at the corners of the door. NO...! Each corner had small devices stuck onto the frame with glowing symbols, that felt like they were beginning to mock her. A teleportation barrier- I can’t teleport inside— Urgh… Fine. She bent her back to the side, facing the door with her arm, she charged towards it, slamming to it, over and over again.

     “When did he even add those!?” She gritted her teeth, looking above the door’s still unlocking frames as she continuously tried to push through.

     The unsettling noises showed no signs of stopping, it got louder with each passing second as it overruled the mechanical sounds of the door had made behind it.

     Open She pushed. Open! Once more. Open! Another. Please--- She was beginning to get tired and her arms were beginning to feel sore. Please... I don’t want to be too late. Please...! She stood back, this time a bit farther, she readied herself and ran towards it.

     SLAM! It opened. “Add, what the hell is wrong with you!?” Her voice echoed through the room.

     It was… a mess. Papers were on the floor, old books toppled over one after the other, scrap metal scattered everywhere, and the only light in his lab were huge, red error signs overrunning the large room. And there he was, right in the middle of the mess. A boy with white, lavender tinted hair, a menacing smile across his face, and eyes swollen and tired. He took a moment to look at her, but his eyes went shut and he fell against the floor.

     Aisha slowly stepped in the room. His Dynamos are still floating around him so he’s still conscious. She thought, slowly making her way towards him. As soon as she reached her hand out to him, a small, purple electric sphere flew past her and into the wall, leaving a trace of smoke and a faint hissing sound.

     Aisha’s eyes were widened, quickly glancing at the walls behind her, and then at the dynamos, now aiming at its target. “W-Wait--”

     She was interrupted by another particle blast, quickly teleporting away before it reached her. Desperately trying to evade the continuous blasts of energy aimed towards her, she held her hand out as particles of pink and purple bubbles of light collected on her hands, making her staff appear right at the palm of her hands. She circled her staff around her, creating a magical barrier.

     “Snap out of it!” A particle hit her barrier, she squealed, it had bounced off the barrier and towards the wall, but there was still a faint sense of fear running through her.

     “Add! It’s me, Aisha!” She tried to reach out to him, but Add was barely conscious, and at any given situation, the dynamos were made to protect him at any cost. Although he never thought of any of the party members as a threat, this was beyond his control.

     The holograms changed its message. “INTRUDER” It said, as its color changed into another shade of red. Dynamos had become violent, syncing with the lab’s demands to protect Add.

     They aimed at her, and this time more precisely. “Damn it, he seriously needs to add a team recognition system.” She glanced at the giant table with buttons and keyboards at the center of all the holograms.

     “Then again, this guy never considered us to be of any sentimental value.” She sighed, simultaneously teleporting towards the keyboard and placing another magical barrier behind her.

     Electric particles continuously swarmed towards her, bolting onto her barrier one by one, slowly cracking her shield open. “Come on, come on...” Aisha looked at all buttons. “How was it again--” The barrier made another cracking noise. “Eip!”

     “Focus, Aisha, focus!” Aisha instinctively pressed on the different buttons and keys, all in perfect order, tapping each key one by one, sliding each hologram across one another until the central hologram turned from red to light blue.

     “Voice Recognition Required” The text on the hologram flashed, waiting for an input.

     “Ugh! Really!?” Another cracking noise came onto the barrier. “Eii--!” Aisha shook her head and sighed. “Okay okay…” She closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down.

     She waved both her hands in opposite directions, gleams of purple, pink, and white bubbles of light trailed behind her fingers. She slowly placed her hands on her neck, making their way up, covering her mouth, she then opened her eyes and spoke slowly:

     “Edward Grenore pledged a promise.” Aisha’s voice was that of a deeper tone, it sounded more masculine as it reverberated towards the systems. The rest of the holograms turned blue, the room began dimming as they all closed one by one, the dynamos stopped, falling to the ground where Add had once stood.

     Edward Grenore pledged a promise. A replay.

     Edward Grenore pledged a promise. Another.

     Edward Grenore pledged a promise. And once more.

     “How did she...” Add spoke under his breath, eyes widened, replaying the last thing his security cameras had last recorded. “How... did she know...?” He was lost, with no words to speak, and no sound to make, but his thoughts were pulsating, trying to find an answer.

     He remained unsure, at a standstill, as the record automatically replayed from the very start. Add what the hell is wrong with you!? The clip’s audio echoed throughout his room, as he silently looked for a conclusion. He sat down carefully, closing his mouth, covering them with one hand.

     “All this time…” Add quietly spoke to himself. He reclined his chair, massaging his head carefully. Every single move I had made… She was there... He thought to himself, as a surge of mixed emotions flew right through him. Always.

     Just outside his door, was the purple haired magician, her hands behind her as she leaned on the wall. Her eyes gazed at Add’s door in hesitation, then slowly traveled to meet the cold, wooden floors.

     “Rise and shine, nerd!”

     Aisha barged in, slamming the door open and startling the restless man. He flailed his hands in surprise, causing the coffee cup to spill over a pile of blank papers. Add quickly turned and glared with eyes wide open, his vision fixed on the excited magician.

     “What?!” He yelled, standing up from his chair as soon as he could.

     Aisha walked towards him, slowly making her way through his room. “Our deal, remember? We’re starting today!” She smiled, adding further irritation to the restless young man.

     “We’re actually going to do this?” He questioned her, looking at her with a face of disbelief.

     “A deal is a deal, Add.” The girl gave him a concerned look. “ Otherwise, you’ll just keep having those panic attacks of yours.”

     Add let out an exhausted sigh, crossing his arms firmly. “Alright then, genius. What do you suggest we do?” He said, massaging both of his tired eyes.

     “Let’s go outside to refresh your memory!” She jumped excitedly, clasping her hands together.

     “No way.” The response was instantaneous.

     “Excuse me?!” Aisha protested, puffing her cheeks.

     “Listen here, you shut-in!” She quickly grabbed his arm, but stopped as soon as she felt a short shock surge through her body.

     “Hm..?” Add looked at her, confused. “What’s wro--”

     She started squishing his arm repeatedly, inspecting it, making sure her senses weren’t failing her.

     “Y-Your arm…” Aisha mumbled, her hand trembling lighty as she grabbed his arm with both her hands to get a better understanding of the current situation.

     He squinted, staring at her in confusion.

     “What… About my arm…?” Add frowned, unable to comprehend any move the magician would make next.

     A small tear formed on her eyes. Aisha sniffled, her voice cracking with each passing second.

     “Y-You’re so thin--!” Suddenly, a burst of tears sprouted from her eyes, unable to fathom Add’s physical health. “Have you eaten anything!? How long has it been since you actually ate something? No wait-- DO YOU EVEN EAT ANYTHING BESIDES COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE?”

     “Ah.” Add’s eyes widened, glancing left and right, instantly realizing he hasn’t eaten anything proper for quite some time.

     “Hm.. It’s been awhile, but I don’t think that’s something you’re supposed to worry about. I have work to do and this is completely unnecessary.”

     “Add,” She paused, taking a closer look at him. “Are you dense?”

     “What?” Add was dumbfounded. Of all people Add had met in his entire life, the mage was the only one who was straightforward enough to tell him his flaws without even the slightest feeling of dread.

     “Any genius should know that lack of food, is complete lack of knowledge.” Aisha proclaimed, placing both her hands on her hips.

     “And where did you hear that?” Add said with one eyebrow raised.

     “Common sense, genius.”

     She held his face, squishing his cheeks and stretching them. “No food means lack of energy, lack of energy means, you’ll be unable to think straight, and being unable to think straight would lead to faulty results, unmoderated research and unjustified reasoning.”

     She then pat his cheeks. “The great minds of the world didn’t just lock themselves up in a room waiting for a miracle, they knew how to take care of themselves. Had they not done so, they would have died before their hard work and effort could have seen the light of day.” She stopped petting his cheek and left her statement off with one final pat on his head.

     Add frowned. Aisha did have a point, and that’s what bothered him most. For him, the thoughts of what he did always come to mind, but they didn’t affect him as much as they had recently.

     “You talk too much for an airhead…” He mumbled. She had won the argument, and Add hated nothing more than losing.

     She sighed.

     “Now!” She grabbed his arm again. “Let’s get you some food and we’ll start talking about that friend of yours!”

     The worried magician began dragging him out of his office, having Add pull and complain along the way. He tried to escape her grasp, but she held him tightly, calmly walking towards the main door.

     “I said it’s unnecessary! Gods, you’re such a brute!”

     “Hah! Yeah, a brute saving a very scrawny little prince, locking himself up in the tower instead of trying to escape!” She replied mockingly, quickly opening the entrance door as light flooded the hall and filled Add’s irritated eyes.

     “Aggh!”

     He whined and hissed, putting his hand over his eyes,.

     “Huh…?” Aisha halted in her tracks “Add… Tell me exactly, how long has it been since you’ve even felt the sun?”

     “Why would you need to know that?”

     “Because it’s already afternoon and you’re somehow blinded by something everyone sees everyday.” Aisha retorted, crossing her arms and sighing. “Whatever, let’s just go eat.” She grabbed his arm and dragged him across the village, looking for a place to have lunch.

     The two eventually found a small restaurant. Aisha let go of Add as soon as they reached its front doors. The restaurant was small, but there was enough space for the both of them. Above the door was wooden sign that had the word “Serendipity” carved nicely on it.

     “Hm. Small place, seems nice though. So what do you think?” She smiled, looking back at Add.

     “I don’t particularly care.”

     “Figures.” Aisha looked at him, irritated. “Do you even care about what goes through your system? I could take you to a shady looking restaurant and I doubt you’d care.”

     “If it’s sufficient enough for me to stay up and do my research, then yes, you are correct. I would not care.” Add crossed his arms and made a small grin.

     “You’re such a masterpiece sometimes aren’t you?” She sighed. “Well whatever, let’s just get inside shall we?” Aisha grabbed Add by his sleeve as she entered with him by her side.

     Why does she care…? Add looked at her from the back. Why did she always care..? His thoughts raced, his memories recalling times where the magician would pester him about his daily activities while the rest of the party did their own work.

     The restaurant was nearly full, only a few tables were left. After asking for one, Aisha walked towards it - Add in tow - and they both took a seat. While Aisha was already checking out the menu card, Add was staring blankly at the place. He needed to continue his research, and for that he needed to be able to endure a “stable” turn in his life, as told by Aisha. Even though she’s the one that’s been keeping me from continuing my research… Add thought. As much as I hate to admit it, she does have a point. So, for my sake… He closed his eyes, thinking of his mother. No.. For her sake, I’ll tolerate this a bit longer.

     “Hey, Add!” Aisha waved her hand in front of his blank face, startling him. She placed the menu card on his side of the table, smiling lightly. “What do you want to eat?” She asked, patiently waiting for an answer.

     “I’ll just take whatever you order.” He sighed, sliding the menu card back to her as he rested his arms and head on the table.

     Aisha pouted, looking at Add with a displeased expression.

     “Alright then, blueberry risotto it is.” She took the menu, called for a waiter and ordered their food.

     “So tell me about this friend of yours.” Aisha asked, resting her head on both her hands.

     “Hm?” Add was dozing off. I didn’t think this through… Will I have to do this everyday now? He thought, realizing an error in his plans.

     “Your friend.” Aisha repeated herself, hoping it would get his attention.

     Add sighed and reluctantly sat back up.

     “Where do you want me to start?”

     “Do you remember what she looked like?”

     “No.”

     “Her voice?”

     “Irritating.”

     Aisha squinted her eyes.

     “Are you sure you two were friends?”

     “Hmm…” Add gave it a thought, trying to recall his memory.

     Edwaard! Her voice echoed through his head, remembering the sounds of small footsteps running towards him and a bouquet of flowers being held together by small hands.

     “...” Add sat in silence. When did that happen? He pondered. No.. Did that ever happen? He began doubting his memories, but a part of him began feeling lighter. The words unconsciously left his mouth: “In... a way.”

     “For you to admit something like that?” Aisha let out a small chuckle. “Must have been close, huh?” She sat right back up, noticing their order coming their way. “Ah thank you.” She thanked the waiter, picking up the spoon.

     Add was staring off into space, seemingly unaware of his surroundings.

     Aisha was about to take in a spoonful of her food, but then she stopped, looking at Add dozing off.

     “Hey, mister shut in!”

     “What?” He looked at her, then his food. “Right.” Add dug in, staring blankly at the spoon before taking a small bite of the risotto. The moment he tasted it, Add’s eyes widened, giving the dish a quick glance before digging faster into his food.

     Aisha paused, amazed at the sight of Add, who’s only “delish delicacies” were bars of chocolate - occasionally bread - , and coffee.

     “D-Do you…” She let out a quiet giggle. “... Like it?” Her eyes sparkled as she rested her arms on the table, leaned her chin on her hand, and stared at Add with delight. Her smile grew bigger each second, as she swayed happily from side to side. “I knew you’d like it. I have such good taste!”

     Add noticed the satisfied magician clapping her hands in joy, realizing that he had lost his composure. Ashamed, he dug the spoon back into what was left of the blueberry risotto, and straightened himself, staring at Aisha nervously.

     “What is it?” He protested, raising his voice a little.

     “See? Wasn’t so hard, right? Ohohoho!~”

     …

     Huh…? What’s.. His vision blurred, his surroundings dimmed out, leaving him and the magician under a single spotlight. Everything began to dim around them; bit by bit, everything was being engulfed in darkness. Aisha’s laughter faded until he could no longer hear her. The little light they had left suddenly shut close. Not a sound was left.

     Add looked behind him. The scenery had changed. It was… His home. Everything beyond his space was fading into small bubbles of light, slowly dissipating to the empty space.

     “I knew you’d like it, Edward!” A child’s voice squealed. Add turned his line of sight back to where it originally was, only to find a young girl sitting in front of him, excitedly clapping her hands. He couldn’t make out her image - everything around him was faint and unclear, including the young girl in front of him.

     “Uhm... Yes.” He nodded. “Mm...” He looked down, his hands were smaller, his height was shorter, and his voice was higher.

     What Aisha said…

     “Say, Edward…” The girl stopped laughing, but kept a gentle smile as she held her hands together. “Are you...”

     “OKAY!?”

     His sight shifted back to normal. Aisha was quickly waving her hand in front of Add’s face, waiting for any kind of response.

     It’s actually working?

     “Add!” Aisha called out again, noticing his eyes were finally begin to focus.

     “Ah… Sorry.” He mumbled. The mage stopped - her eyes wide open and her mouth half open in disbelief.

     “Y-You… Apologized...?”

     “We should… Go now.” Add quickly answered, brushing off Aisha’s comment. “I’ll wait for you to finish your food… We’ll leave right after.”

     “Ah.” Aisha straightened herself, darting her eyes away. “Right...”

     They paid the bill and left the restaurant, Add walking briskly as Aisha tried to keep up with him.

     “Hey, Add.” She looked up at him, concerned. “What happened back there? Are you alright?”

     He didn’t answer. Instead, he increased his pace, leaving Aisha farther behind with each step.

     “A-Add, wait up!”

     She tried to catch up to him, her worries growing bigger. “What about the deal--”

     Add paused his steps, but he didn’t look back.

     “Aisha.” His tone was lower than usual. “Is it okay if we… Leave this for tomorrow?” He resumed - walking even faster than before - without waiting for a response.

     She was perplexed, standing still as she watched him disappear into the crowd. She hunched her back forward and sighed.

     “When I said you should call me by my name I didn’t mean it like that.” Aisha followed his direction, walking back to base.

     A small memory played out, one from not too long ago.

     “Idiot! Why won’t you just leave me alone!?” Add tried to turn his back, one of his eyes was already covered by an eye patch, but the other.. Was being covered by a newly trained battle magician, standing behind him.

     “Hmm?~” Aisha mused. “How about calling me by my name instead of ‘idiot’ like you always do? Have a little respect will ya?” She let out a short snicker, mocking the time tracer.

     Add pushed her away, making her step back.

     “Leave me alone, you’re just a nuisance.”

     His voice was sharp and his anger was clear. Aisha remained silent, unable to grasp the situation.

     “It’s--” She puffs her chest. “Aisha! A-I-S-H-A!” She yelled, hoping he’d listen to her plea.

     Even for just a moment.

     Even for just a second.

     Even for...

     ERROR

     An alarm went off.

     ERROR

     A second went off.

     ERROR

     A third, a fourth and a fifth. It was an endless array of messages, mocking him, pushing him, breaking him, until it was all… Red. He slowly opened his eyes and quietly stood up. His eyes only stared at one of his many holograms, his mind halting, processing what was going on, but then it hit him.

     He grinned. “Aha… ha..” He placed both of his hands over his eyes. A pang of emotions ran through his veins. “Ahaha… hahah..” His back curled up almost immediately and before he knew it—CRASH. Throwing everything on his table to the floor, swiping them away left and right, slamming the desk, making some of the books topple over. A maniacal laugh seeped through his throat, dominating over the sounds of alarms ringing through his ears. Nothing matters, He thought, throwing out everything in front of him, unable to bear the thought of failure.

     He was growing weak, he was tired, restless, exhausted, but most of all... He was sick of every single one of his attempts being nothing but failure. Just as soon as he was about to give in, the door slammed opened. Light seeped into his room and there stood a clear silhouette.

     “Add, what the hell is wrong with you!?” A voice echoed through him. He turned his head slowly and there she was—long purple hair, lively indigo eyes, and an irritated expression. It all blurred out right before him, his eyes began closing until his sight was no longer there.

     Regret was a feeling Add had become accustomed to. Resentment, anger, frustration, bitterness, agony - he never showed them; not ever had he showed them. His maniacal laugh only hinted at a man whose thoughts had been distorted, but as soon as silence caught up with him, a revelation would draw out of his tired mind and it all became audible in his silence. He found himself staring at a dead end, the path had already been faded, the floor and everything around him shattered into glass pieces. He felt weightless. Drowning into a never ending abyss suddenly felt more like a gift than a punishment.

     And then, there was nothing, empty, white. It blinded him, but a part of him felt… Safe. Peaceful. At ease.

     He slowly opened his eyes. Around him was an endless field of small blue flowers  scattered everywhere. He noticed he was under the shade of a tree, he could hear its soft rustles as the graceful wind passed by him. Small blue petals danced around the endless field as the soft blue sky greeted him with a friendly gleam of light.

     He felt light and refreshed, his head against a comfortable surface, and a soft and calm melody accompanied by a sweet and familiar voice.

     “Oh.” The humming pauses momentarily, a chuckle followed right after. “You’re up sooner than I expected.” The voice spoke, caressing his head gently.

     It seemed like a dream, or perhaps a memory of more simpler times. A record of sorts, replaying events of his younger years.

     Her gentle hand continued to stroke his hair, resuming the soothing melody that he had just heard, mixed with the rustling of flowers, swishing louder than the wind allowed them to, then followed by weak footsteps, cushioned by the thick layer of petals and dirt.

     “Edward!” A distant voice called out to him. The voice was childlike and high pitched, it had a tone of excitement and curiosity in it, and a small part of Add couldn’t help but feel relieved. The name had become unfamiliar to him, but hearing it once more gave him a sense of nostalgia.

     “Edwaaard!”

     ...

     “Edwa…”

     …?

     “Edw...dd!”

     …

     “Add!”

     The voice suddenly became louder and closer, but it didn’t sound like the one in the whatever kind of sleep-deprived dream he just had. Unfortunately, even though he had come back to his senses, he was being shaken by someone, making his head spin even more than it already was.

     His eyes tried to open as fast as they could, but everything still seems to be blurred. He could only make out a tinge of purple and nothing more. Right then and there he figured out who it was, but a part of him remained unsure.

     “Get…” He grunted, placing his palms on his forehead. “Out...” His whole body felt numb, and he couldn’t think straight. He was stressed and lacked the sufficient amount of sleep to even function.

     The girl’s facial expression went from worried to irritated.

     “What--!? After I--” She paused, trying to calm herself down. “I give up, you nocturnal rodent…” She sighed, letting this one pass by her.

     Add’s vision had finally begun to clear up, slowly regaining his composure. He sat up and curled back as the usual heavy headache kicked in. His… other kind of headache, the one that seemed like one big purple blur, took shape. That familiar high-pitched voice, those ridiculously strong arms, that bratty, determined tone and…

     “That despicable, bright purple hair…”

     “...That. Is not the worst thing you’ve called me.” She said in a slightly irritated tone, keeping an eye on him. “I guess I could tolerate that.” Aisha gently placed her hand over Add’s forehead, using her frost magic to simulate an ice pack.

     “Stop... That…” Add protested, too weakened to move a muscle. “Don’t rub your useless magic on me, I can do this myself.” He managed to wobble a little, regaining balance right before slipping back onto the floor.

     “Without my magic you wouldn’t have been able to fix up this huge mess you made.” She said, trying to suppress her anger. “Don’t go around calling it useless when you can’t even fix your personal space with your cheap machinery.” She abruptly answered, pressing her hand harder against Add’s forehead.

     Add quickly grabbed Aisha’s hand, brushing it away as he stood up.

     “You did what?!” He stomped and raised his voice. One thing he couldn’t stand - besides Aisha’s bratty attitude - was the invasion of his privacy. “You touched MY workspace, with your FILTHY magic?!”

     “Hey!” She stood up as quickly as he did, startled. “You should be grateful I actually cleaned up this cave of yours!” She puffed her cheeks. “Jeez, all you do is complain about how busy you are, but you’re just a shut-in!”

     “I’d be able to advance with my research if she stopped messing with my head… If she stopped showing up every time I close my eyes…! If she...” He slammed the desk, dropping the half-broken mug Aisha had picked up, shattering it into tiny pieces, making the now concerned mage take a short and quiet step away from the angered young man. The loud sound made Add’s ears ring, worsening the headache Aisha had just started to relieve.

     He held his head in pain with increasingly louder grunting, forcing him to sit back down until his ears stopped ringing. “I-If she…” His arms felt weak, and he felt lightheaded. The pain was gone, but he could barely stay still. Aisha held his forehead once again, this time emitting a bright pink light.

     “Would you stop wasting the little energy you have left on being a big baby?” She pouted, easily overpowering what little strength Add had remaining.

     “Big... Baby?” He looked at the magician confused, nobody tested his patience as much as the girl that stood before him. He was beyond irritated, but he was too tired to retaliate.

     “Say, Add…” She lifted her hand away from his forehead, allowing him to lean against the wall as he let out weak and quiet grunts. “I practically just babysitted you, the least you can do is tell me what is wrong with you. This isn’t the first time I hear you having a madman party so early in the morning.”

     He slowly brought his hands to his face, leaving a small gap so he could stare at the ceiling. “Will you… Leave me alone to work if I actually tell you?”

     “That would depend on your answer, obviously.” She sat in front of him, crossing her arms as she looked right at him. With her increasingly overwhelming, intense stare, Add was forced to return it.

     Add sighed, unable to bear the feeling of defeat. “... T-Tsk… Fine, then.” He sat down, his back hunched over, and his arms resting on his knees, reluctantly making eye contact with the curious magician. “It is… About my m-” He pauses, contemplating whether or not he should give the girl an honest answer.

     “About..?” Aisha prolonged the question, trying to keep Add’s attention on her.

     Add closed his eyes momentarily, looking for an excuse. He couldn’t simply tell her everything, but he knew Aisha well. He knew she wouldn’t leave him alone even if situations asked for it. “It was a childhood friend of mine. Yes.” He said, covering up the legitimate reason for his worries.

     There was a long pause, both parties shared a blank stare with each other.

     “I see…” Aisha replied, she tried to hold her laughter back, but a small snicker went past her mouth. “So even someone like you could be so normal.” She was shaking slightly, trying to respect Add’s situation and not break the mood.

     “Excuse me, what was that?” Add’s eyebrows furrowed, noticing the girl’s sudden change of mood.

     “N-Nothing, nothing!” She answered quickly, trying to avert Add’s menacing gaze, she then clears her throat. “Ah-hem!” Her expression reverting back to that of a serious one. “As for your for your problem…” She closed her eyes, placing a finger on her chin, thinking of an answer.

     “Oh!” Aisha exclaimed, hopping up and immediately sitting beside Add. “I have an idea!” She looked at Add with starry eyes and confidence, seemingly excited for another mundane thought.

     Add cringed at the sight of the magician scooting closer and closer towards the little bubble he wouldn’t tolerate anyone getting too close to.

     “Hey, grapehead, you’re getting uncomfortably close--” He retaliated, attempting to slither away from the excited girl.

     “Okay, okay, whatever! Just hear me out, will you?” She firmly grasped Add’s shoulders, staring right into his eyes, widened by the magician’s sudden actions. “Let’s make a deal.”

     “A deal?” Add questioned her intentions, he knew Aisha was a headstrong person, but to even suggest something as ridiculous as a deal with him made him wonder how far the magician would go.

     “A deal.” She nodded. “What would you say if we… Jog your memories?”

     “What…?” He questioned her even more, his eyes locked on hers, hoping he could get a clear answer.

     “Jog your memories! Trust me, Add, it works!” She answered instantly. “That way, you’ll stop causing such a scandal every now and then; I’ll be able to sleep peacefully, and you can continue with your research safely! It’s a win-win situation!” She proclaimed, standing up and placing both her hands on her waist.

     The immediate answer was “no”, but Add had an epiphany. “I might consider it.” He grinned lightly. “But under one condition.” He added, just before the magician could celebrate.

     The girl tilted her head. “And that condition would be?” She hurriedly sat back down, crossing her legs and arms, ready to listen to his request.

     “You will NOT use your magic to manipulate me in any way possible, understood?” He looked at her, waiting for a proper answer.

     “Hah! Do you think I depend only on magic?” Aisha gave a confident smile. “Obviously, It’s a very simple task, y’know!~” She said flipping her hair. “We’ve just got to re-enact everything you remember from that childhood friend of yours. No magic whatsoever!” She stood proudly. “Ooohohohoho~!”

     “You’re getting ahead of yourself.” He grunted, yet he kept his mischievous smile hidden, thinking menacingly. If it’s easier to mess around with you that way. I’m betting that, at one point, you will be forced to use your little cheat sheet.

     “Alright, grapehead… A deal it is, then.” He reluctantly stretched his hand towards her, leading to a handshake as they both kept their eyes on each other.

     “Roger, nerd!” She squeezed his hand tightly, nearly making him flinch, both wearing intimidating stares, letting go of each other soon after. Add stared at her walking out his door, her purple hair swaying left and right. She turned and took one last look at him once more and closed his door shut.