Queen Of Adis

"Tee-hee-hee~" The Cheshire cat let out its signature laughter to Haru as it went up on the kitchen countertop and rubbed its soft fur on her arm.

"Aww, Vesta!" Haru put down her bowl of her ice shaved dessert and carried the grinning cat in her arms. "Oh, my! It seems you got fatter after all these--"

"Screech!"

She was unable to finish her statement when the cat made a shrill noise and bared its claws at her.

"Vesta, no!" Elior immediately barked his order to stop his cat from doing whatever she was planning.

Vesta, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and made a grumbling sound as though she was telling her companion that she knew what she was doing.

Haru just laughed and hugged her furry friend tighter. "Don't worry, she won't hurt me."

"Idiot, took you long enough to remember my lover. Tsk!" Vesta suddenly used telepathy to talk to her.

"Kyaa!" She screamed in surprise and inadvertently dropped the cat on the floor.

Vesta screeched yet again and clawed the base of the kitchen counter to vent out her anger.

Elior carried the cat in his arms and coaxed her to calm down. "Now, now, I'm sure Haru didn't mean it."

"Ah, that's true. I'm so sorry, Vesta. I swear I didn't mean it. I was just surprised." She raised her right hand to pledge her innocence, but she also talked to the fat cat with her expressive eyes. 'Stupid, who says to startle me with telepathy?'

Adis faced the pope and went straight to the issue. "Old man, there's trouble. I think Haru might have... altered the time."

The newly arrived gentlemen took their seats and listened to Adis and Haru's story about the change of events in Mireville and the Blood Hounds clan.

"Eh? Wait, wait! You mean the cyclops, Imnus, is already dead? And the Blood Hounds are still alive?" Zen was taken aback from the revelation. "Shit! That is real trouble."

Aquarius closed his fan loudly while in deep contemplation. "It seems that the entire history was affected by the time distortion, except our own memory. I wonder why?"

"Perhaps, it's because of our power. After all, those who have lower status and abilities cannot touch us."

Though Elior looked like he already anticipated it, Haru still smiled apologetically. "The past Elior warned me that there might be a consequence and he told me to seek your help." She then looked at everyone in the room. "I'm sorry that I caused you trouble again."

Elior sighed and let out a kind smile. He suddenly had a dazed look when he finally found his voice. "I hope you will listen to this old man's tale?"

When everyone fell silent, he began his story. "Hundred years ago, there was a priest famous throughout the land due to his kindness and healing ability. Everyone was also fascinated with his heterochromia eyes. His left eye held the calm shade of the ocean while his right held the stunning hue of amber."

Haru covered her mouth with her hands to prevent any noise from coming out. As she watched Elior's amber orbs flickered with light, no one noticed that her own eyes were also glowing.

The pope continued, "Although his vision was not as powerful as those who possessed two golden orbs, he had a very distinct ability, -- he could alter the course of time. However, just like everyone else who shared the same faith of a seer, his mind and heart were unable to take it.

"One day, a demon showed himself to the good priest and told him that he possessed the lost art of Steal. With just a mere touch of his hand, he could take his vision and end his suffering. Desperate to remove his 'curse', the blessed one fell into the temptation of the devil. But, the wicked demon didn't just steal his vision, but his other abilities, as well as his life."

As the golden light in his eyes faded, Elior's focus had finally come back to reality. With a sad smile, he unveiled everyone's silent question. "The name of the priest is Eleazar, my twin brother."

While Elior was emotionally invested in his storytelling, Haru's vision was also active and she could clearly see what happened to Eleazar; a man whose right eye was gouged out while tears of blood were pouring from his left eye, and his arms were amputated. With his blood pooling under his body, he was forced to watch while the monster replaced its right eye with his amber orb and the way it slowly stitched the arms it stole to its own body.

As though his sufferings throughout the years weren't enough, with his own cursed eye that was now being used by the monster, he saw how it sank its claws in his c.h.e.s.t and took out his still-beating heart, leaving a huge gaping hole on his body. Before his breath finally snapped, the monster bit his heart and gradually ate it in front of him.

Haru couldn't help it anymore and shut her eyes tight to stop the vision. She instantly felt sick and unconsciously pulled Adis closer to calm her nerves, but she inadvertently threw up on him instead.

While all the men around her wrinkled their noses, Adis looked worried and his hand immediately stroked her small back, ignoring the fact that she just soiled his clothes.

"What happened, Haru? Are you using your vision again? You still don't have control over it, silly." Adis drenched his handkerchief with warm water and dabbed it on her lips. "Please tell me where it hurts."

"I'm okay, now. It was just... too much for me to see." She breathed out while beads of sweat formed on her forehead. She faced Elior whose complexion wasn't good either. "That monster... So in order for him to get the ability, he had to put it on his own body? But, why did it has to eat Eleazar's heart?"

"Ugh! I think I'm going to retch, too." Zen covered his mouth upon hearing the details of their vision. "Why must you tell it out loud?"

"Indeed, what happened to him was too much for anyone to bear. It took me a while before I could even accept it." Elior's shoulders sagged in sadness. Then she looked at Haru to answer her questions. "That monster clan believes that by eating someone's heart, it will amplify the power they have stolen."

Everyone's back stiffened as they now put two and two together.

It was Aquarius who had the courage to voice out his conclusion. "That monster... belonged to the Blood Hounds clan, isn't it? And since they took the ability of Eleazar, that clan was able to change history."

"That's correct," the pope nodded his agreement.

"Then, sister-in-law doesn't have to worry anymore since it was not her who altered the time," Zen added.

But Elior shook his head as he creased his brows. "You three have lost your touches, huh?"

"What do you mean, old man?"

"Did you forget? Before they are known as ability stealers, the Blood Hounds are famous summoners back in the olden days. The majority of the ritual circles being used nowadays are their creation. Now, tell me, was it really just a mere coincidence?"