Under the Covers

"Listen to me closely girls," he started. "I have secured a contract that could get us out of this hellhole."

"Who is the target?" One of the girls asked confidently.

Sasha could not believe the courage of her sister who sounded as though she was eager to get the job done.

The ecru-haired girl nervously tapped her leg on the ground. 'A contract that would get us out here? That's huge,' she thought.

Sasha had failed each of the recent mission assigned to her and self-doubt had started to creep up on her. She didn't believe in herself anymore and thought she couldn't achieve anything anymore.

"Not 'who'," said the ecru-haired girl's father. "... 'What'."

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"Not now," Hunter whispered as he got memories of the purple-eyed girl. While the sprite had been seeing steady memories of Sasha since their only meeting at the watchtower months ago, the rate of new memories had increased tenfold after he left Sector 5. He wondered if there was a reason for it or whether his brain was giving him memories of one of the souls residing inside him while searching for his missing memories.

"Hunter! HUNTER!" The sprite blinked before turning to the peach-eyed woman. "What?" he asked.

Diana used her head to gesture forward, the sprite turned to see an orcane in front of him, holding a tray containing several drinks. "Would you like a drink, Sir?" She asked.

The sprite shook his head. "No, thank you."

"Are you okay?" Diana asked with a worried look on her face.

"I'm fine," he replied.

"You've been really out of it since we arrived at Dreieck," Diana pointed out. "I think you should call the doc," she added.

"I'm fine, really," Hunter insisted. "This is the first time we are spending time together that's why you think something's wrong with me but let me remind you I fainted during the Inter-order competition final," said the sprite. "Right before I finished you off too," he added.

Diana smiles. "That is true. I thought you had us beat," she said.

"I'll call the doc, just in case," he assured.

"Thank you."

An orcane wearing a suit approached the duo with a slight smile on his face. "Welcome to Erste Winkle, it is an honor to have a member of the esteemed Drumalak dynasty in our city," he said.

'Just how many times are they going to mention that they are honored she's here?'

"The Governor has asked me to welcome you on his behalf to Erste Winkle, home of the orcanes, descendants of the legendary orcs," the orcane said. "The Governor would like to apologise for his absence today which was a result of earlier commitments he made but reassures he would welcome you personally as early as his schedule allows him to."

[I see what you mean.]

"The Governor has asked me to prepare a five-star suite for you ... And your assistant. If you'll follow me," he said turning around to lead them both to their suite.

"Hold on," said Diana. "The other Drumalaks ... Are they also in five-star suites?" She asked.

"No," he shook his head. "They're all enrolled at Erste Winkle University and are staying at the dormitory there," he stated.

The elemental turned to Hunter who gave her a small nod. "How can we enroll?"

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•Leinheim

Jason wipes the blood on the corner of his lips. "You've got some nerve ..." The Archaeon said. "Many have suffered for doing less," he added before charging.

Max scoffs before ducking under his attack and using her leg to sweep him off his feet and knocking him to the ground.

"Uff!" Jason groaned. "I give up, you're undefeatable," he said.

"You told me not to hold back," said Maxine, giving the pearl white-haired boy her hand to help him up to his feet.

"I did ... But I didn't expect you to," he admitted. "I thought you'd hold back and when I knock you down I'll be like: 'I told you not to hold back'."

"I wish I could help with your fantasy but I hate losing," said Maxine.

"Not just you," Jason said. "Everyone is afraid of losing someone or something ... Some more than others."

Jason sighs. "Do you have the document on the Black Cloud you were telling me about?" He asked.

"Yes sir," the curly-haired woman nodded.

"Good. Ready a car for two, we are going to see a good friend of mine," Jason said before walking out of the room.

Max made her way to the garage to find a two-seater when she caught a figure in her peripheral, the brown-eyed woman quickly turned to see who the person was.

"Lord Kilian ..." She said.

"Just Kilian is fine," he said. "You're Maxine, right? Maxine Esposito?" He asked.

"Yes."

The beige-eyed man started towards her. "It must be like a dream to you, being able to give back to the organization that saved your life," he said.

Max stared at the bald man's face as he approached her, she clenched her fist behind her back. "This isn't my first time working for the Archaeon Foundation," she stated.

"I know," said Kilian. "I know you've worked for the Obelisk, the Bureau ... I also know about your baby sister," he added.

Max's face remained stoic as she replied. "My sister's identity isn't a secret. Just like me, her education is sponsored by the Archaeon Foundation."

"Yes," Kilian smiled. "Vania Esposito, B-grade and a year two student in the Archaeons School of Mysticism," he said.

"Is my sister causing any problems in school?" Max asked.

"Your sister hasn't done any wrong and pending your response, she's also safe and sound." The Archaeon was now an inch away from Maxine. "Who did Jason meet with at the Eleventh Eleven restaurant?" He asked.

Maxine stared at the beige-eyed man. "I don't know, it was not in his schedule and he only told me he was going there thirty minutes before we left. When we got there, he asked me to wait outside," she said.

"I see, he doesn't trust you yet," said Kilian. "Keep doing what you're doing and earn his trust. You're to report everything about Jason to me; the clothes he wore, the food he ate, where he slept, everything. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Also, take the gray car," he said.

"What's happening here?" A third voice asked.

They both turned to see Jason in front of the garage. "Are you poaching my assistant?" Jason asks.

"No," said Kilian. "Maxine was just telling me how much she loves the gray car over there, apparently she used to have a similar car back at home," he added.

"Is that so?" Jason asked.

Max smiles. "Yes sir," she replied but once Kilian turned his back on her, she shook her head 'no'.

Jason chuckles. "I see ..." He paused. "I don't like gray, let's take the pink one," said Jason walking over to the pink car.

Kilian stares at the brown-skinned woman as she walks past him and into the pink car.

"See you later, Kilian," Jason waved at the older Archaeon as Maxine drove the both of them out and away.

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