You didn't know what to expect when you moved to finish your last task at Alpheus Mansion.

One thing was for sure it wasn't Anastacius and Jennette's interaction. It left an odd bitter taste in your mouth.

Because no matter how much you searched for deception on Anastacius face, there wasn't any to find. He wasn't acting, there was genuine affection in the way he smiled at her, his hand softly patting her head.

Perched on the branch overlooking the inside of the mansion through a glass window, you frowned. Now what? You came here for Jennette's sake, to free her from the reins of her Father but now as the things were, you weren't sure what to do.

Of course, it wasn't going to completely deterred from your end goal. This was the last remnants of loose threads you wanted to tie up and be finished with. Only now you need to reevaluate your plan.

Stifling a groan, you push off the branch and onto the roof before making your way inside. Waiting in the room you observed was Anastacius'.

Sighing, you leaned back against the sofa and crossed your legs, closing your eyes as you focused on the stinging pain travelling through your body in rapid succession. It was dull like an itch on the back where your hands couldn't reach. Or like a pulsing headache that was more of annoyance and bother rather than concern. At least to you.

You promptly ignored it. It was a sign the time was closing in and that you need to hurry up. So..bothersome.

Tapping your legs, you went over the plan, calculating all the ways it could go wrong and coming up with countermeasures. You had been planning it for a long time. Half a month to be exact, right after the baffling revelation at the debutante. You would've preferred if Ether was here with you but you had to leave him behind to deceive Claude. Leaving under his watchful gaze was hard even with the help of Ether. Keeping him in dark would be even more difficult. You hoped Ether wouldn't screw up his disguise.

It didn't take long. Soft footsteps stepped into the room and the sound of the opening and closing of door accompanied it.

Immediately the steps halted and you opened your eyes with a small smirk. "Hello, Anastacius."

Anastacius stiffen. "You..."

You snapped your fingers feigning a thoughtful expression. "Oh wait you're going by another name. What was it? Hmm- never mind that. You don't look happy to see me. Shame."

Anastacius forced himself to move, taking stiff steps closer. "How did you know?"

You cocked your head to the side, "You made it easy. Sneaking around in open. Almost as if you were practically begging to be found."

Anastacius smiled crookedly. "Who knows. Maybe I was luring you into a trap and you willingly fell for it."

"Ah," You nodded. "That's where you are wrong, Anastacius. I did come here willingly- not to fall for your trap but to eliminate you. After all, you are last on my bucket list, one I need to tick off."

In a flash, his eyes flashed red and a burst of explosive red attacked you. You easily deflected it and it crashed against the wall behind you creating a sizable dent.

You whistled, "Poor Alpheus. He's not going to be happy with you wrecking his place, you know."

He growled aiming another attack. You created a shield to counter and flashed behind him, kicking his legs. Grunting he fell on his knees and you pressed a knife to his jugular. "Move and you die. Now, why don't you show yourself, you bastard."

Anastacius begin laughing. "A brat like you will kill me, don't make me laugh! I'm not weak to die by your hands!"

Black magic burst from him forcefully, throwing him back against the wall. You groaned in pain as you slid down. You grunted as a wisp of black coiled around your body and neck pulled you upright.

Anastacius- no a sinister presence inside him spoke, "You made a grave mistake, coming here all alone. The one to die won't be me but you."

The black wisp dug into your neck, breaking the skin. Cuts appeared all over your body and you coughed up blood.

Unfazed by it you cracked a bloody smile. "Your laugh sure is a creepy one."

Pure white light poured out of you and filled the room, smothering the black magic. Anastacius screamed as his skin burnt.

You shrugged off your shoulders, cracking up your neck as you wiped the dripping blood off your chin. "I'm a Healer mage, my magic is pure as it comes. Your black magic stands no chance against it."

"You toyed with me." He shook in anger, eyes glaring at you with pure hatred.

You beamed at him, "Yeah, to bring you out I had to play damsel. Pretty neat trick, huh?"

Anastacius tried to move but his body was paralyzed by the pure magic flooding the room. Growls ripped through his throat as you slowly walked towards him nonchalantly. "You'll pay for it. I will make sure you pay with your life. You'll pay for looking down at me!"

"Sure if you're undead by the time I'm done with you."

You pressed your hand flat against his forehead and zapped your magic right through him.

It screamed. The piercing scream made you cringe but you continued. The sinister presence inside Anastacius

struggled and thrashed around to get away from you, from the light magic scorching its body. You never give it a chance, binding him with your magic.

The door burst open and an alarmed Roger stumbled inside. "What is going on here?!"

"Yo." You raised your hand in a casual greeting.

Shocked Roger only stared at you with disbelieving eyes, his jaws slack and stammered out, "W-What--?"

"Sleep." You didn't him time to process anything and snapped your fingers. Instantly his body crumpled on the floor. You made your magic affect everyone in the mansion so no one would interfere and in turn, get caught up in the mess.

You hummed, "Almost there..."

A black shadow shot out of Anastacius, darting to the other side of the room. Anastacius slumped on his hands, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead and temple.

You glanced at him from the corner of your eyes as you kept guarded eyes on the menacing shadow. "Feels good to have back control of your body, huh?"

Anastacius grimaced, looking at you with surprised eyes, still panting, "Since when did you...?"

You smirked, readying yourself for an attack. "I've been keeping a close eye on you for a couple of days now, figured it out along the way. Plus I always get nauseated around you, it only happens when I'm in close proximity to black magic."

Anastacius dropped his gaze, harshly glaring at the floor, "Why are you helping me?"

"Oh don't get me wrong. I'm not helping you. I only want you to destroy that thing over there. You only happened to benefit from it." You said pointedly.

Your palm lit up with white electricity, gathering into a condensed ball of dense cleansing magic. "Shall we get over with it?"

The shadow let out a growl, sounding like a screech. It frantically distorted, almost like it was panicking. "Don't you dare!"

You laughed, "You bet your dead ass, I'd dare."

Just as you were about to land the finishing blow, the door opened again and your eyes widened in horror.

"Uncle Roger?!" Jennette cried out and leaned down to shake the unconscious man. She looked up, her wide eyes shocked. "Lady (Y/n)?"

Not her!

The shadow lunged at her.

You jerked forward but you were too far away. "Jennette, move!"

You wouldn't reach her. A flash of desperation made your eyes sting.

Too quick to fall in despair, you forgot one thing. You were not the only one who cared for her. There was another present.

Anastacius shielded her, his back bleeding as the shadow sank his claws. Anastacius gritted his teeth in pain, tightly curling over Jennette. Before he threw himself away her unconscious body when felt the shadow take control of him. He yelled at your frozen self.

"Don't just stand there! Finish us! This is your only chance to kill him!"

What? He wasn't implying what you thought right? There was no way he was willingly sacrificing himself.

But his pained grimace expression told otherwise.

You shook your head, "Just shut up for a second! I'm trying to think, dammit."

Anastacius writhed, "What is there to think about? Kill me and he'll die with me. Isn't the reason you came here for?"

"No! I'm not letting you die a martyr death, you rotten son of bitch! You're supposed to be the villain, not the hero!"

Anastacius stumbled on his feet, his body now fully in control of the spirit. "Just do it, dammit."

You swallowed hard when a crazy smile cracked up his lips. You licked your dry lips.

"Hey you bastard, do you remember the times you tried to kill me?"

He looked at you exasperated. "What? Now's not the time."

"Do you remember it or not?"

Anastacius choked out with a strained voice. "Twice. I tried twice. You're still alive though so that doesn't count."

You smiled sweetly, "And do you remember the one time you locked me in the White Tower under probation so I couldn't meet Claude?"

"I don't see the point of bringing up the past. Especially now."

You bounced on your feet like a giddy child, fueling his wariness and agitation. "Ah, there is a point. Have you heard about paybacks?"

"What?"

"It's payback time!"

You threw yourself at him. As your body came into contact with his, you zapped him with electricity. The moment he screamed and weakened from your magic, you ripped the spirit out of him and flung it across the room.

You panted, breathing wheezing out of your throat as your ears rang from abuse of your magic core. Anastacius stumbled over Jennette as black magic lashed out in your direction.

"Having trouble?"

The black magic was nullified.

You jumped, whipping your head to the familiar voice. "What are you doing here?!"

Slowly Celestria materialized from thin air, smiling eerily. "I wished to see you fight against your last obstacle. See you overcome it. I'd say I'm quite disappointed."

You growled under your breath, "Look you--"

"Mi'lady Midnight?"

"Huh?" You looked at the black shadow now morphing into a human-like silhouette. It was frozen in shock and seems to be gawking at Celestria.

You shuddered, feeling disturbed and uneasy. "You know it, Crazy Lady?"

Celestria hummed indifferently as she gazed at the black silhouette. "His name is Aeternitas. He was the candidate I selected back then. Unfortunately, his soul wasn't compatible. And the darkness seething within him was- is incorrigible."

Celestria's eyes flashed as a cold smirk curled up her lips. "Weak and pathetic, he wished for power. Envious of those who had it." Her lashes lowered as her whisper dropped to venomous hiss "Powers is always feared as much as it is revered. Weak seek it while resenting those who have it." In the end, she glanced at Anastacius with a sharp look in her eyes.

Anastacius flinched back. He watched warily, extremely confused at the new eerie presence and turned situation. He cradled Jennette closer to his chest as she fainted from shock. Hot and cold shivers were running down his spine at the brief look of the inhumane entity.

Your eyes widened at her cryptic words as you stepped sideways to block her view of Anastacius. "That name....he's a member of the Imperial family. Why is he in that state? You know it, don't you?"

"Yes, it's merely retribution for going against his fate," Celestria said, eyes coldly staring at the pitiful hovering shadow of a person he was supposed to be. "That is his karma. The consequence is bestowed on him for desiring something that does not belong to him and forcefully stealing it. As a repercussion and punishment, he was turned to that cursed state."

You shuddered, clutching your forearm as you saw the shadow- Aeternitas in a new light. He has karma too..?

Fear coiled in your stomach and for a split second, you wondered if he regretted his decision, if he ever second-guessed his quest for power that led him to this inhumane state. That quickly disappeared when the black silhouette openly showed his hostility.

"I don't understand." The black silhouette - Aeternitas shimmered almost like a helpless child, inching closer, his gnarly voice laced with deep betrayal, "You were the one who granted me the gift of immortality. So why are you on their side?! Why?!"

Celestria stared him down like he was dirt latched on her dress, her voice cold and harsh. "I do not take sides. Neither am I interested in favouring anyone. You wished for something and I simply granted you the means of power to achieve it. It's the same with this child. Do not point fingers at me when you're lacking. Your own incompetency has led you to the current circumstances."

He was enraged, his crazy eyes glowing crimson, "You betrayed me! How dare you! Are you looking down on me?! I'll destroy you! I'll destroy each and every one of you! Just you watch!"

Aeternitas darted towards the window and smashed right through. The broken glass came in your direction. Your magic defected them.

"No, you don't." You gritted your teeth as you made a move to run after him.

"Do not go after him." Celestria's voice halted you. Her eerie mist wrapping around you. "Let him go. His end isn't fated by your hands or mine but at the hands of the one who was the catalyst for his fall."

Clicking your tongue in annoyance, you turned to face her and crossed your arms. "Who?"

Celestria delicately shook her head, "Unfortunately I cannot give you a name. Be rest assured he won't be a hindrance to you anymore. You already accomplished what you sought after. He's merely an annoyance you need not pay any mind."

You raised an eyebrow, still skeptical. He seems very much bothersome to you.

Celestria smiled ambiguously and vaguely tilted her head. "My interference with inevitability will breed nothing but more disaster. My role here is done. I'll take my leave."

Just like that, the disaster cooled down and silence settled in the room.

You closed your eyes and huffed out a frustrated breath, "I swear to God, that woman.."

Sighing, you looked at Anastacius and Jennette cradled in his arms. You crouched in front of him and handed him a purple vial.

"Here, drink this. It's a potion I made, it'll make your body resistant to possession."

He hesitated, dubiously staring at the vial.

You rolled your eyes, "It's not poison."

Pursuing his lips, he took it. Under your expectant gaze, he gulped it down in one go. "You say you're not doing this to help me yet your actions contradict it. I don't get it."

"Grit your teeth."

"Wha--"

He didn't get a chance to fully say the word when a fist slammed on his left jaw and his head jerked to the side.

His eyes wide stared bewildered as he covered his reddened left cheek. Once looking at your burning eyes, he understood and slowly exhaled through his nose.

"Grit your teeth again."

"Your payback isn't over yet?." He groaned.

"No."

He accepted the second punch to his face that left his ears ringing loudly.

"That felt good," You beamed happily. "Turn around. I'll heal your back."

Anastacius did albeit cautiously. Carefully he held Jennette, wincing as his ripped skin stitched together. He was confused, lost and bewildered. Did he say confused?

"What will you gain from helping me?"

You paused your healing before replying, "I want you to take care of Jennette."

Anastacius confusion deepened.

"I know you're suicidal. You're trying to end your life since you're being controlled by that creepy spirit. You deliberately let those clues so you would be found. Once found, you would definitely be given the death penalty." You softened your harsh tone when he flinched and stiffened. "Am I wrong?"

Anastacius remained silent.

"Look, I don't like you. There are too many people you hurt because of your inferior complex. Especially Claude. And for that, I'll never forgive you."

"I'm not asking for your forgiveness nor his."

"No one is giving you." You said sarcastically. "To be honest, I'd rather have you far away from everyone. But Jennette needs a father- a family and I saw you care for her."

You saw how gentle he behaved with Jennette. You wanted it to be a farce, just him faking. The ever so slight softening of his eyes, his eyes paying close attention to her words. All them spoke -- screamed the truth in your face.

He cared for Jennette. Genuinely.

"Jennette is the only family you've left. She is the only one who can accept all your faults and still love you unconditionally."

"There is no such thing as unconditional love," Anastacius said through gritted teeth, his hands on Jennette shaking mildly.

You scoffed, ready to retort but thought against it. You need to set aside your biased feelings and focus on what needs to be done. "I'll tell you something. Your family was shitty, especially your bitch of a mother and bastard of a father. That's what brought Claude and you close. You both sought what your so-called family couldn't give- familial love."

Anastacius dimly smiled. "What makes you think that? There was no familial love between us. Just bitterness."

"Whose fault is that?" You snapped before composing yourself. "You can lie to yourself all you want. I don't care. It's not my place to say anything, or judge anything. That right belongs to Claude and him only."

"And you're right about unconditional love. Of course, there isn't such a thing. People are not gonna stay trapped in bonds that only hurt them. That toxic and downright idiocy. If you want something, earn it. Be worthy of the love you desire. Whining and throwing tantrums isn't going to get you shit. And if you earned it, protect it. Because once you lose it there's no getting it back. Lucky for you, Jennette will give you a chance even if you're a rotten bastard."

Looking down at the child sleeping in his arms, Anastacius made a strained expression, "Does my little brother knows this? Did he approve of your act of kindness?"

You ignored his heavy sarcasm and continued. "I'll give you one chance. Take care of Jennette because I know to some extent you do consider her your daughter, your family. But if you failed, I'll take it upon myself to fulfill the role of a family to her. I'll love her unconditionally. That child has suffered enough because of the shitty adults in her life but no more."

You sighed, rubbing your nape as you pointedly looked at him. "As for Claude, it's up to him to decide whether he wants to forgive you or not. You can't reverse the pain you caused him. And every hatred, resentment and ounce of grudge against you is justified, deserved."

Anastacius bitterly scoffed. Maybe some part of him wanted a different reply. "I know that. You don't need to lecture me."

"Good to know you have got a heart." You nodded with a sweet smile and Anastacius scowled. "Now, let's move on to the important part."

You placed your palm on Jennette's chest and closed your eyes in concentration. Jennette's body jolted a few times and a string of sickening black magic came out of her and was absorbed into your skin.

"What are you doing with her?" He sounded alarmed.

"I'm extracting the black magic from her. Now shut up. I'm trying to concentrate."

"She... that will kill her!" Anastacius shouted.

"No, it won't. I'm replacing it with my magic."

He breathed through his clenched teeth and relaxed but watched you with wary, tired eyes.