Chapter 1 ~The Strange Gate~

"Legend says that she is the most suffering person that the world has ever seen... In a world where there were no other beings like herself, she began to question her existence. Her conscience wandered through her every memory. Who would have known the limits of her grief? She wandered and wandered until she found out, that miserable face. She realized… she realized who she was…"

Leaena woke up from her dream.

"Again the same dream..." She complained while getting up from her bed. She freshened up, put on a casual suit, and readied herself. She and her friend were hanging out today.

***

"Hey, I'm bored. Who would hang out like this?". Leaena, who was sitting on a bench in the park with her friend, complained.

Her friend, Raehith, who was licking ice cream, said, "Why don't you train yourself a bit more before you get your Hunter ID?"

Raehith, who was with Leaena when she started high school, is her very closest friend. They were LITERALLY known as the 'Goddess Duo' in their school. It isn't easy to see people as beautiful as them in this cruel world. Leaena is just some centimeters taller than Raehith. One is beautiful with sharp features, just like her brother i.e., Raehith, and the other is elegant and mesmerizing; yep, that's Leaena Leonard. Well, she got her looks from her handsome dad and beautiful mother.

"But I've been training for weeks. Look, I can even control aura now." Leaena clenched her fist, and yellow smoke moved around her fist. Raehith suddenly smacked her hands.

"O-Ouch! What was that?" She growled.

"Idiot. Don't you know that showing your powers in public is a violation of Hunter's law?" She said.

"I'm not even a hunter yet."

As these two were bickering his voice crept in.

"So this is where you two were."

A man, taller than both of them, walked towards them. He gets more lethally handsome. His jawline is so finely carved, and his handsomeness is on par with Joonghyuk. And those matte black hair always reminded Leaena of Kuro (the Black Melano Betta she had at her family's mansion). Him wearing his formal suit made him look more like a gentleman. And that one black-and-white bangle? That's too hot to handle.

"What happened, Zecora? You didn't go to your raid?" Raehith asked.

"Well, the thing is, I didn't get to raid."

"There was a commotion at the association because this wildcat's name popped up," Zecora said while sitting down on the bench with us.

"Huh? My name?" Leaena asked confusedly.

"Yeah. There was a Gate that appeared in the Azad market not long ago. It was measured as B rank, so the India hunter association decided to send a group of C rankers…"

India Hunter association... hearing that reminded Leaena how drastically this world has changed… Strange circular gates have occurred; there's no doubt about that, but the peninsular states i.e., Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have all been washed away and are now floating as an island on the Indian Ocean. What a drastic change, I know, right?

"…They would have been able to clear it just fine, but they came out after two hours without killing any monsters. It's been the same situation for 3 days."

"3 days? Any reason why they can't clear it?" Rae asked in curiosity.

"This is where Wildcat's name popped up. Some guy named Drax or Wax or whatever said that there was a girl who leeches Rae 24/7 and that she would be able to clear this Gate."

"Ugh… That bastard Wax." Raehith cursed him.

"What…? Wait, what's with that me leeching Rae 24/7 phrase?" Leaena boiled and stood up from the bench. Soon she felt a pair of big hands on her belly, which pulled her roughly. Zecora pulled her and made her sit on his thighs.

"Hey! Get away from Lea now, Zecora!" Rae shouted at him but this guy…

"Mhm." He hummed with a gentle smile on his face and ignored Rae. "I'm gonna kick that bastard's ass." He continued with that same face.

How could he curse with that same angelic face? Boy's got some dangerous talents for sure.

"He is stalking Rae, and this child doesn't even know of it." Zecora continued, with a face full of anger, while untying his tie with his fingers.

He was frowning. He was really angry thinking that his beloved sister is being stalked. He always changed his expressions so fast and easily, from that angelic face to something more grim and ruthless. Leaena liked this side of him too.

"I had placed a detection artifact on her, but I didn't notice anything like stalking," She said confusedly.

Rae's eyes widened after listening to her friend say that she put a detection spell on her. She was more surprised because even though she was a Mage-class hunter she didn't realise that.

"That's because that thing was only level 2, but my spell is on level 8. The difference is too large." Zecora said while nuzzling his nose in Lea's dark, night-blue hair.

This time, Rae growled. Both of them weren't her lover to put these types of things on her.

"Well… I had my suspicions, but thanks for confirming it, brother."

"Mhm. But I should remind you that this problem arose because you are single. Stop sticking with my wildcat and go find someone for yourself." Zecora said while clutching Lea hard, and Lea just laughed it off awkwardly.

"Tch. That's none of your business. But I'm more concerned about the Gate that only she can clear."

Even Lea was concerned about that matter.

"Hey Rae, let's raid that gate tomorrow morning. Zecora, can you please make the arrangements for us?" Lea asked Zecora as she got up from his thighs.

"Sure. My guild will do anything for you as long as I'm the guild master." He said smiling. Oh... I forgot to tell you guys, right? He is Indus's 2nd best guild, the Gemini Guild's guild master- Zecora Marila.

~Next Day~

Lea equipped herself with the necessary items. She didn't wear her regular artifacts- Black Choker and Black Earrings. They aren't necessary, she thought. The amount of trust she puts in those siblings is just ridiculous. This trio was the type who would bathe together without any problems.

"Gender doesn't matter. All that matters is that we are friends."- This was the quote written on the bathroom door. Although it was ripped off by Lea's brother. If it wasn't for her brother then this trio would've even done mass genocide together. Though her brother joined and it became Quadri.

This was going to be her first raid. She isn't even a hunter yet so problems could arise but Zecora can take care of everything. She arrived at her destination. Rae was standing beside Zecora who was waving his hands. Lea smiled.

"Good Morning guys."

"Good Morning."

"So, what are the plans?"

"Take my word, you both should go together. There isn't anyone willing to tag along with you two and I can't let any of you go alone in there. If I wasn't bound by my responsibilities here, then I would have also joined you. Sorry." He answered in a sad tone.

Rae clicked her tongue and cursed her brother from inside. She is really sick of seeing his pitiful act.

"No, no. You've done enough as it is. No need for you to feel sorry. You heard him, right, Rae? Let's go together. You are B rank and this gate is also B rank so it would be easier to clear this gate, I guess."

Rae's grunted thinking that Lea fell for Zecora's act.

"Hey, you listening or not?"

"Oh, Yes… Let's go."

"Oh! Wait a minute, please. Lea, c'mere." As Lea was ready to enter the Gate, Zecora prevented her. He pulled out a glowing crystal ball.

"What do you think you're rank will be? Guess that." He invited while gesturing for her to put her hand on it.

This Bastard! Is he trying to make us late? This is what Rae thought. Well, she isn't completely wrong.

"Oh, sure." Lea smiled as she put her hand on it. The ball shone too much and it was blinding their eyes.

"Damn, Lea. I expected no less from you. You're really an A-rank hunter." Zecora beamed and his eyes lit up. Lea was also happy.

Though Lea was not that much surprised. Considering the family she belongs to, this is common.

"Hey, Lea! I'm so happy for you!" Rae screamed as she embraced her. But while doing this she looked at Zecora who was clenching his lips.

Look at me. I win. - Rae smirked.

Her smug face was enough to make Zecora twitch his eyebrows.

You cockroach! Come back soon and I'll deal with you later. - Zecora grinned. He looked like a demon.

As these siblings were fighting with their glares Leaena's laughing voice crept in.

"Ugh… You're squeezing me so tightly." She laughed.

Wait… That sounded wrong. VERY wrong in many ways.

"Stop this. You should go in now." Zecora, who was trying his very best to separate these two, said.

"I was going to," Rae replied while grinning.

"Please come back safely. I'll be waiting here." Zecora said, whose jealousy was now replaced with concern.

"We will! Don't make that sad face, brother." Rae replied and Lea smiled while waving. He was afraid to send these two alone, but again, he didn't have any other choice.

Zecora waved until the duo stepped inside the gate and disappeared.

"Now, let's get back to work," He said while adjusting his cuffs and handing the ball to the staff. His amethyst eyes were glowing with seriousness.

~ To be continued.

-My fav lines-

Look at me. I win.

You cockroach! Come back soon and I'll deal with you later.