Episode 12 - Pasts and Surprises

–– BLUE TEAM POV ––

Duke was writing in a paper a new strategy he had planned for the coming match. It was finally their turn. He was obviously nervous, but he believed in himself and his team, which he has only known for a short time.

– Ok guys, I got it! The perfect strategy!

Duke was Laeva region's leader. Since he was the leader, it's to be expected that he was strongest of his region, thought he never was good at coming up with strategies. He'd always leave that to someone else, but he was the best at performing them perfectly, without a doubt. Duke was one of the most relaxed people in the entire coliseum. He loved to play with his teammates and make them feel relaxed, preventing them from getting too nervous to fight. Everyone looked at Duke, who had the paper glued to the wall with both of his hands.

– Duke… we can't see anything… —said Zacharie—.

– Oh, right! —he let the paper fall to the bed— right, now you can, look at this perfect strategy!

– Do you think it'll work? I heard from Ethan that the Black Team did the same and they lost. —added Damien—.

– That so? But there were weak! You need to trust in your team, man! —he gave him a friendly clap in the back— or don't you want to live to be with Agatha?

– Wh-what are you saying!?

– Bro… I've seen you looking at her from afar… It's obvious that you like her! Hahaha!

Damien's face became as red as a tomato. He couldn't really deny what Duke said. It was true that he was starting to like Agatha, since he was spending a lot of time with her thanks to Regina and Ethan. Both girls were inseparable.

– Can I add something, Duke?

– 'Course, Elise! What do you have to say?

– I have an idea.

Elise took the paper in which Duke had been writing all his ideas. Elise was one of the most experienced soldiers from Maeva, she had participated in multiple wars up this date, it was her who made the strategies to follow during the process. Duke couldn't hide his surprise. Elise's strategy seemed more than perfect, with that, they could win, no doubt.

– Elise what a big brain you have! I love how you think! Now we can definitely win with that.

– That's my Elise! —said Merissa, throwing herself at her—.

– I forgot how good you were on this, Elise. I'm impressed. —said Zacharie—

– .…! I-it's nothing… —she looked away, feeling how a blush started to creep up her cheeks—.

– Oh? Do I feel love in the air?

– N-NO!

Elise took Merissa by the wrist and both got out of the warehouse as fast as lightning. Zacharie just looked down with a smile, seeing Elise like that made him happy. He liked seeing her more relaxed after all that happened. He knew that she was doing all of this just to fight for her sister. For her to have a safe place to return to, to get back what was taken from her. That determination was what made Zacharie fall in love with her.

Elise and Merissa were in a bench below a tree. Before going there, they went to the cafeteria to get their assigned basket. For a few seconds, they stayed silent, just eating. It was Merissa who broke the silence first.

– Hey, Elise…

– Mh?

– Do you still hope that… you know… Maeva will come back?

Hearing that name, Elise dropped the small bar she was starting to eat. She wasn't expecting to hear her sister's name so suddenly.

– …Why do you ask? —Elise turned to look at her—.

– A long time has passed… and we don't even know if her memory's been erased…

– Of course it's been erased! If not, then what was the point of getting her somewhere else? It's been a long time… but… the war is going to end soon… I know…

– Don't you see the mess we're involved in? I don't think this will end the war… if anything, it will cause another one.

– Merissa, I'll fight for Maeva. Once everything is safe, she'll come back.

– Do you remember anything from your childhood with her?

– Not much… we were too young… but I remember that we both liked to read books… and just play in the garden…

Without noticing, Elise's eyes began to tear up. She touched her face and noticed how it was starting to get wet. And so, she covered her face with both hands and started to cry. Merissa got closer to her and hugged her tightly.

– She'll come back, Elise.

Zacharie was behind a near tree, clenching his fists. He couldn't bear to listen to Elise cry.

–– WHITE TEAM POV ––

The entire White Team was in the training center. Zane, their leader, was the strongest of them all, and helped each one in specific training areas. Zane was from Kaela region, which was famous for the quantity of mines they had, and for the mining itself too. It was the only region that had natural underground mines, reason why a lot of merchants went there to buy minerals.

– Is everybody alright?

Zane was the only one who could still stand after that training. Everybody else was sprawled on the floor, drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted.

– We're… alright…? —said Wes, wheezing between words— Of course not! We're exhausted! Playing the drums for 10 hours straight is easier than this…

– Oh right! You were in a band, Wes. What made you become a soldier?

Wes looked away.

– Well, I guess you don't want to talk about that. What about the others?

– May our Lord forgive you for these sins…

– Eh?

– We're really exhausted, Zane. —said Gin— Can we stop now? We'll continue later.

– Sure, it's alright. You can go and rest!

They could get up with the last of their strength, stretch and made their way to their warehouse. Once there, everyone flopped to their beds.

– Aaah, finally! My back was killing me… —said Gin— Are you alright, Mikaela? You haven't said a word.

– E-eh? A-ah! Y-yea I'm fine… —she said with a nervous laugh—.

Kiran got up first.

– I'll go to pray for us. Does anyone volunteer to join me?

No one said anything.

– Tch. You all should be grateful that I'm being merciful with all of you sinners.

And with that, Kiran left the warehouse.

– That guy's crazy… —said Wes—. AAAAHHH! I NEED TO PLAY THE DRUMS!

– Can't you use those pencils?

Gin took some pencils that were in one of the nightstands and threw them to Wes. Wes took them and his eyes lighted up like a kid with a new toy. He quickly sat up close to the table next to his bed. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and, after a few seconds he started to play as if he was playing real drums. Gin and Mikaela closed their eyes and let themselves get carried away by the rhythm resonating all around the warehouse. When Wes finished, Gin and Mikaela clapped at the same time.

– Ooooh you're good, Wes! You should play in a concert when we win and get out of here.

– I'll do that for sure, don't doubt it!

Meanwhile, Zane was walking around the coliseum. He noticed a familiar figure and hid behind a tree, it seemed to come from the same direction as him. "Gin?" He asked to himself.

– Are you sure you're okay, Ray? Don't you want to eat anything else?

– Don't worry about me, Jade… I'll be okay…

– Really? … You haven't eaten a lot…

– I'm okay.

– Gin? What is he doing with someone from the Orange Team? —whispered Zane, behind the tree—.

– Oh? Zane? What are you doing in that tree?

Zane jumped out startled.

– G-GIN!? But…!

– But? Oh? Jade!

– Gin!

Both got closer and hugged each other.

– Wait what. What is happening???

– Oh, she's my twin sister, Jade.

Zane let out a deep breath. He didn't expect Gin to have a twin. Knowing that, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. Two sisters in different teams. Things won't end up fine for them. He shook his head and just smiled, trying to avoid thinking about that.

TO BE CONTINUED.