'You think I would annihilate your precious products just like that?' The twenty children she saved are becoming stronger with each passing day. When she removed their impurities and made them healthy again, she also removed the switch that controlled their emotions. A switch that Kal put in them to make them obey him.
'The children are alive and they will become strong. They won't destroy the world as you want but will protect my family and this world.' Her gaze brimmed in confidence as she stared into Darius's eyes. This was the plot twist that she had specially prepared for Exitium. A twist that they would never expect.
In this stifling atmosphere, Eugene's hands clenched tightly. Her eyes showed horror. Euria was weird when they were in Zene and she now understood why Euria acted that way. That day, Euria was very out of it. She acted suspiciously and was very quiet. To this day, her weirdness was still memorable to Eugene.
On the day Kal's children had passed away, she had a deep conversation with Euria. But did Euria take her words to heart? Was that why the children were taken out of the picture?
-Flashback-
"Sister! Sister! Do you miss the times before we started training?" Euria asked with her cheerful voice.
'..... what is she talking about now?' Unable to keep up with Euria's franticness, Eugene repeated Euria's question.
"Times before training?"
Euria nodded, "Hn!"
Eugene looked at Euria blankly but decided to respond anyway, "Well… Times before training was alright. Before I realized it, time had passed in a blink of an eye." she replied with full honesty. Though she didn't remember what she did daily before she began training, there were a few moments that were etched into her mind.
Like the time Euria stuffed paper down her throat...
"It was alright…" Euria repeated Eugene's words. "But do you miss it?" she asked again.
"Do I miss it?... No, not really." Eugene shook her head.
Euria blinked slowly as she stared at Eugene's eyes that were looking at her own.
"Why not?" in a voice softer than a whisper, Euria asked.
'Why..?' Eugene tapped the bed with her finger and hesitated, "Because…"
'Because I need insurance!' she thought quietly!
Locking eyes with Euria, Eugene came up with a genius answer on spot and answered with all seriousness! "Because… life's just starting!"
"Life's just starting! Every day has become more… more fun! More healthy, and more… meaningful..!" she somehow managed to put every random word together to come up with this genius-like line.
Euria's eyes widened and she chuckled, "Life's just starting?" she repeated as she broke into sets of giggles.
Eugene took Euria's reaction the wrong way and thought that Euria took her words as 'Life wasn't fun before training' so she quickly rephrased her words.
"I mean! Life was alright before training! It was fun too! But Euria…"
"We have grown. We already had fun every day, 24 hours, 7 days a week. Right now is the time to be taking up some not-so-fun stuff to make way towards our future. Just like Louis and Ramon did when they turned three. With the basics of training and studying, we can do whatever we want to, and be whatever we want to in life. Take training for example," Eugene paused,
"With training, you gain strength. The more you train, the more strength you have to protect. For example, if something bad happens one day in the future, you can protect yourself, your mother, your father, Louis, Ramon, Aernest, Aeselak, and Aedelak. You can help them when they're hurt. You can keep them safe just like how they are keeping you safe now. You can do that, with training, and with studying."
"Protect?"
Eugene nodded. "You don't want anyone to be hurt right?"
Euria nodded. She didn't want anyone to be hurt.
Seeing Euria understand her words, Eugene nodded in excitement!
"Then.. you have to take training seriously!" she thought for a bit longer before adding, "You can take playing seriously as well!" For a second there, she forgot that Euria was just three, and playing should also be prioritized!
Euria's lips formed a straight line before nodding. Albeit hesitantly.
Eugene's hand's trembled. She did not understand Euria's wary expression back then but now she did. And after that conversation, Euria must've taken measures to protect their family. Even if it meant… taking out the children.
Eugene's hands reached to her chest. A very suffocating feeling wrapped her heart up.
This wasn't Euria's first time living. This was already… a fact.
Maybe all Euria wanted was to live peacefully with her and everyone. Maybe all she wanted back then was to enjoy peace. And to do that, she had most likely given up on whatever power she has and the will to become strong.
However, she did not understand that and forced her ideal's on Euria. That becoming stronger was the only way to protect them, that becoming stronger was for the sake of peace.
What if she hadn't said that that day? Would Euria just move according to fate? Would she just live however long she had with them and then die when the time comes?
Euria's changes. It was because of her words.
Eugene stared at her palms as she glanced at Euria.
The surrounding area was quiet when Euria said something incredibly puzzling. Something that astonished everyone here, including Eugene, Moniqua, and Aernest, as well as their enemy, Darius.
"I will go with you."
No one was able to speak when Aernest shouted out loud, "What?!" He turned around almost immediately and held onto Euria's hands.
"What are you saying Euria!" Eugene turned to her side and glared at the pale girl. What does she think she's saying all of a sudden?
Moniqua stepped forward and moved Euria behind her, "No! You will not go anywhere!" She doesn't understand why Euria was suddenly like this but there was no way she was ever going to let their daughter go with them, ever! There was not a single chance she was going to allow for that to happen.
"What is your condition?" a soothing voice spoke. Everyone turned to the calm Darius who showed no expression on his face.
"Don't touch my family."
Before Eugene and Moniqua could protest Darius agreed almost immediately,
"Alright."
Eugene's hands were clenched tight as her eyes glared at Darius.
The first domino was when their grandmother died. When the domino fell, it hit the second tile with a force much greater. It was like a chain. Like a force of gravity that turns into enough energy to topple dominoes bigger than itself. And this situation… was the bigger domino that was about to topple over.
The condition Euria laid down stuffed whatever everyone wanted to say back down their throats.
"Don't touch my family." The way Euria accentuated her words was both powerful and strong. As if she was not going to tolerate any other condition. Her words punched deep into everyone's heart, as her words weighed heavily on their hearts.
"Alright," Darius responded, his expression completely serious.
His word made everyone snap out of their frozen state. There was no way they were going to let Euria go! It was not an option!
"No. I will fight you to death. Bring you straight down to hell even if I must die." Moniqua said through her gritted teeth, "You will never take my daughter away." She stated. Her position on Euria's matters was precise and clear.
Euria didn't say anything and only looked at the man. She knows the person in front of them well and used to be close to him. However, something happened and that positive feeling she had for him diminished. But even though they were no longer friends, she knows his personality enough to know that he was someone who kept his words.
Which means, she could trust him.
Euria pulled her hand away from Aernest's grip and turned around.
She scanned each and every surrounding carefully as if she wanted to imbed whatever memories she made in each and every place, to her mind. She then turned to Aernest who was staring at her with widened eyes from having his hands pulled out. Her lips curved into a small smile to reassure this brother of hers and then turned to Eugene whose eyes were already staring straight into her eyes.
Euria's lips lowered down and she could no longer smile. Though there were no words said between the twins there was a subtle atmosphere around them that did not allow for anyone to mingle in. As if it was an area no one could touch. Euria's and Eugene's heartbeats pounded fast and loud, this could be heard by Aernest who could do nothing but turn away. Even he knows when not to interfere.
Of course, the twins had a special relationship no one could ever fathom.. Though they have drifted apart for more years than they have been together, there was a bond between them that could never go away.