Evil incarnate.

"We're done." Jack sighed as he fell on his couch, exhausted.

"I'm getting better everyday!" Phina laughed. "Just watch, I'll overtake you soon!"

Phina had been training like a demon even when she was supposed to be resting at home. She had finally forced Jack to block on of her attacks. If she had not been blindfolded, she might've gotten a solid hit in! She beamed as she looked at Jack, who has been dodging like there was no tomorrow today. "So, what's for tomorrow?"

"Rest. Lots and lots of rest." Jack said as he covered his head with a wet towel.

"What are you talking about? Tomorrow's our last day to train before the exam!" Phina felt this joke to be a bit cruel, especially when her life's direction is on the line. "Seriously though, are we going to train without the blindfold tomorrow?"

"I told you." Jack took the towel off his head and looked at Phina with a strange expression. "You're going to rest."

"You're serious?!" Phina felt her world crashing down on her.

"You've been fighting almost nonstop for almost a week now, just chill." Jack glared at Phina, hinting that he knew of her 'secret training'. "Read a book or something. Actually, you can start now."

Jack handed Phina a book titled 'Beginnings of a Legendary Legend'. "It's a children's novel written from the perspective of the person destined to be the world's strongest fighter. You can start reading tonight before bed. Bed, Seraphina. Bedtime, sleep…REST."

"I get it! God damn…" Phina cursed as she grabbed the book. She sat beside Jack as she started reading "…"

"What's wrong?" Jack asked.

"What's this language?" Phina asked. She had never seen this language before. For some reason, she understood everything everyone spoke to her, she could even read their words, but not write. Yet, this book before her was in a completely different language.

"You can't read ancient Loadian?" Jack held back a laugh.

"Try losing your memory, then we'll talk!!" Phina shouted as she blushed in embarrassment.

"What's with all the damn noi-…" Fardo froze a little when he saw Jack and Phina on the couch. "I…what are you doing in my house?"

"I've been living here for a week." Phina looked at him with a shocked face. She was by no means a quiet and polite guest. "Did you not notice?"

"Sh-Shut up!" Fardo was a little more lenient on Phina but he was by no means her friend now. "At least I'm not homeless!"

"Might as well be homeless…" Jack said underneath his breath.

"Not with this again, Jack!" Fardo rolled his eyes. "How about tomorrow we go and do something? I'm free so I was thinking of taking a break. Let's go train together."

Jack's eyes practically glowed. While his rank was higher than his brother's, his skill was nowhere near Fardo's!

"W-What about me?" Phina asked, feeling awkward while interrupting the moment.

"You will read." Jack smiled. Nothing could ruin this moment right now.

Fardo was naturally happy to see his brother happy…but his eyes widened in realization. That didn't go unnoticed by Jack.

Jack sighed deeply as he asked, "Plans with Kara?"

"I'll cancel, I've hung out with her a lot recently." Fardo said in a hurry.

'Recently, huh?' Jack thought to himself. He then said, "It's okay, no need to cancel…where are you going?"

"The Dark Caverns." Fardo said with a hint of shame. It was the place Jack always wanted to go to, especially with his brother. "You can come with us!"

"No." Jack said coldly. "Have fun."

Fardo sighed as Jack went into his room. "Why's he like this?"

"It's because you didn't give a shit about him when you were in love." Phina said as she skimmed the back of the novel.

"No one asked you!" Fardo raged.

"I'm serious." Phina looked at the man. "He built this weird image in his head that you hate him. If Kara's involved, you shouldn't tell him. He literally hates her. YOU made him hate her. Why are you so blind to it? From what Jack has said, you're this amazing, intelligent, skillful and aware man. You're just ignoring it aren't you?"

"..." Fardo was stunned silent. How has a woman that has known him for less than half a month have him figured out so fast? He sighed helplessly, "What do you suggest I do?"

"Beat the crap out of him." Phina smiled as she set the novel down on the table. "Jack respects your power, if nothing else. Flaunt it to him. Tell Kara to meet you somewhere and bring Jack along when you head there. You can train with your brother and relax with your wife afterwards. They won't hate each other. Want to know why?"

Fardo looked at Phina with a hesitant expression. Phina continued, "It's because Kara hates Jack because he gives her a hard time, and Jack hates Kara because you spend more time with her than you ever do with him. If you hang out with Jack while also hanging out with your wife, you eliminate both problems."

Fardo thought about it for a while, he then sighed. "I...guess that can work. Thanks."

"Don't thank me with words," Phina said as she threw the novel to Fardo, "read for me."

"W-What?" Fardo was flabbergasted as he caught the book. "Y-You can't read?"

"I can read normally, just not... ancient Loadanian? I think that's what Jack called it." Phina said as she sat comfortably on the couch.

"L-Loadian." Fardo corrected awkwardly. He sighed as he took a seat, "I guess I've got time for a chapter or two."

"How about ten? Then we can call it even." Phina smirked.

"..." Fardo rolled his eyes. "Fine."

He then started reading from the first chapter. "Listen, child. You must go into the World, and accomplish your goal. If you win, you get unending power. If you lose, you suffer horrible defeat."

He then continued to read for a few hours. Unknowingly, he had read over ten chapters.

"Unhand my wife, fiend, or you and all of Asenu Domain will feel my wrath!!" Fardo read aloud. He had gotten through a forth of the book before realizing that he had been reading for a while. "Sorry, I got lost in reading. It was surprisingly fun reading for you."

"It's been fun." Phina said as she yawned. "Thanks for reading the novel, teach me how to read ancient Loadian some time."

"I thought it was a...never mind, I think I just need rest. I'll go and rest before I head out." Fardo looked at the slight sunlight leaking through the window. "I'll find a time to spend time with Jack and Kara later."

"Sure." Phina said as she put her head down to sleep.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Oh, help me, Elliot!!" Phina yelled as a giant golden dragon pulled her from beside Elliot, a handsome young man with blonde hair and one blue eye and the other red.

"Unhand my wife, fiend!" Elliot yelled as he unsheathed his sword. His glorious golden armor sparkled as he faced the mighty dragon.

"I am Sharaf of the grand Dragon race!" Sharaf, the giant golden dragon, spoke with a condescending tone. "You shall address me with either, 'Your Eternal Majesty' or 'Mighty Dragon Lord'!"

"Help me, Elliot!" Phina said as Sharaf tightened his grip.

"I said UNHAND HER!!!" Elliot yelled with rage, then turned cold with a breath. His eyes turned from emotional to logical everything went into a state of existence beneath him, or to be precise, merely part of him. He and the World were one. Completely and utterly in sync.

"Yes, Elliot! Show him the power of your Sync Mode!" Phina said with happiness and eagerness.

As Elliot rushed Sharaf, a bright light flashed before Phina. She opened her eyes to Jack practicing his swordsmanship in the kitchen. His abs made even Phina jealous. Although she was talented and gifted with this strong and muscular body, it was obvious that she had not put in as much effort in her past as Jack had.

Phina's face flushed a deep red that went from her ears to her neck as she recalled her dream. 'Do I really want a knight in shining armor to save me? Am I that type of woman? I can't be! I shouldn't be...although, it did feel nice to be protected by someone.'

"Finished catching up on sleep?" Jack turned to the living room as he detected Phina's Life Energy circulation grow out of rhythm. He quickly wiped the sweat off his body and wore a shirt before wearing a locket and tucking it within his shirt.

"I didn't know you wore a necklace." Phina said with a raspy voice. Her bed hair made her look like a cavewoman.

"It's a gift from my late mother." Jack said lightly. He then quickly brushed the matter aside, "Well, since we're not training today, how about we play a game?"

"I'm up for a game, just don't cry when you lose." Phina boasted, some liveliness in her voice.

"The game's simple." Jack started explaining as he grabbed a box full of cockroaches and another box full of iron nails. "I'll release the cockroaches into the living room, then each of us gets half of the nails. Use the nails to kill the roaches while sitting on the couch. Whoever kills the most after an hour is the winner, and the loser sleeps in the living room tonight."

"..."

"..."

"...You're fucking evil."

"I know." Jack smirked as he let out the cockroaches. He sat next to Phina on the couch and handed her some nails. "Begin!"