Inverse System

The room they walked into was minimally decorated, an enormous looking no interior wall room with only a futon in the corner.

"The hell's up with this house? Where's the kitchen? Where's the bathroom?" Quint asked as he looked around.

"All upstairs. I use this room as my bedroom. I like having space whilst I sleep," Sho explained as they all stared in bewilderment, as this much space was simply outrageous.

"Well, this house isn't even mine anymore. Rein—" he was interrupted by a whack on the shoulder, Rein indicating him to stop speaking.

"What are you talking about? This is your house," Rein eerily smiled at him as he didn't want the others to know that he bet the dorm room.

"O-oh, yeah, it's totally my house, hahaha…" He feebly laughed as he tried covering up his words, the Econican prince not being a good actor.

Saphrilla looked at Rein with furrowed eyebrows and a frowning expression as he covered for Sho, Rein not noticing the glare she was giving him.

"Enough. Chloe, you're coming with me. I'd suggest the rest of you leave as well," the prince demanded.

"The rest of us? What's that supposed to mean? The king didn't order you to come get Chloe?" Xenia inquired.

"Dude, we came here so you could explain yourself. Sit your ass down and start explainin'," Quint remarked angrily, not caring that he was speaking to the prince of Orthlys.

"... The new queen, Stepmother… She's suggested to father that we deploy troops around this gulf and barricade it. I'm not sure whether he'll agree or not, but in the case that he does, I don't want her getting caught up in it. If the troops invade, she'd be vulnerable in the city, and—"

"Hold on there useless prince, slow down a little. This city is getting barricaded? But this is neither Orthlys nor Econican territory, and even if it was, there's a temporary untold peace at the moment. Any way you look at it, it's illogical," Sho intervened.

"Are you even listening to yourself you idiot? You said it yourself… This peace is only temporary… That woman… Something about her makes me shudder in fear. I have a bad feeling about it, and that's why I'm here. I'm only telling you this for your own good, please just listen to me," he pleaded, bowing his head down to Chloe.

"Zane… I'm sorry, but I can't come back yet," she declared, making him raise his head in panic.

"Huh?! Why? Why not?!" Zane asked, confused.

"I've just recently found a new purpose in life," she subtly glanced at Rein for a split second, nobody noticing but Rein, whose hair was still black, his energy draining every second he maintained his transformation.

"I'm not abandoning it to accept a fate that's being forced upon me, a fate that I resent. No, instead, I'll fight that fate, and make my own path. That's what I've decided, and I'm not going to back down now," she spoke with great conviction as Zane stared at her, admiring her tenacity with hints of jealousy in his eyes.

"I… I see… I wish I were as strong as you…" Zane uttered as he stood up in acceptance, Chloe standing up after him.

"You misunderstand, brother. I'm not strong. In fact, you're much stronger than I am. However, this isn't only my strength, but the strength of everyone I've decided to believe in. Those who also believe in me," Chloe exclaimed as Rein laughed softly, standing up beside her.

"Thank you for telling us about this prince Zane, you can put your faith in us. And if you can't do that, then put your faith in your sister. If you don't trust your sister, then you've no right to force her into anything. You do understand that, don't you?" Rein stated.

"Yes… I leave Chloe in your care. That crazy principal is here too, so I guess I shouldn't be too worried…" The prince uttered as he took his leave.

They all said goodbye to the prince and saw him out the north tunnel, except Sho, who seemed to have a rivalry with him.

The prince ran back through the north tunnel past the teleporters and emerged north of the gulf, as his knight, Artus was waiting for him up there to transport him back.

However, as he emerged, he wasn't only met with his knight, but an entire battalion of troops behind him, who seemed to be awaiting his arrival.

"A-... Artus? What's this..? This was supposed to be a personal visit to my sister…" Zane uttered in shock as he gazed upon the countless soldiers stretching across the horizon.

"Step aside your highness. Anyone standing in my way in these situations is an enemy. For your own good, I'd suggest you back off and let us fulfill our orders," the commander of the army, Artus, spoke in an authoritative manner, Zane taking a step back out of fright.

"Believe in those who believe in you," Chloe's words popped up into his mind as he stared at the overwhelming number of soldiers.

"Hell, I'm not running away from this. Hey, Artus! Duel me, and  if I win, you and your troops must back off!" Zane summoned his scythe and swung it in Artus' direction with conviction, the commander laughing as he heard the request, getting down off his horse.

"This mission is a direct order from his and her majesty, so I can't afford any risks to compromise it. That being said, I accept your challenge," Artus unsheathed his greatsword, laughing softly with his raspy mature voice.

"Excuse me? You just said you couldn't afford any risks, yet you're taking one right now," Zane retorted.

"Haha, that's right. This isn't a risk. I've taught you next to everything you know, you have 0 chance at beating me," Artus scoffed, which upset Zane, swiftly taking off from his spot in a forceful gale and slicing at Artus, causing an explosion of air to erupt from the point of impact as his scythe collided with his greatsword.

Their hair blew out in the wind as it dissipated, Zane suddenly noticing that Artus was holding a wooden branch rather than his greatsword. Artus pointed up with his free hand, causing Zane's attention to be diverted to the aerial greatsword that spun above him.

"I'm disappointed in you, your majesty. Rule number 1 of combat: never let your guard down," suddenly, Artus disappeared from his position and appeared above Zane, catching his greatsword mid-air with one hand and landing on the prince in the other, pinning him to the ground as the battle came to an end.