Illusion of Integrity

Hidden Truths

****** In the Duke's Family Guest Room *****

"It's an honor for us that Your Highness The Prince is coming." Bernidas bows while giving a greeting, besides him is Lea, does the same thing while grabbing on her husband's arm.

"Duke Bernidas, manner is unneeded between family." Prince Exed replies, his blue eyes drifts around to every corner of the room.

"Family doesn't invade each other, Second Prince."

"Do you think this is an invasion? After all of the sabotages you have done, personally I'm rather confused with your remarks."

Bernidas is surprised, for awhile his mind enters a deep thinking, with the goal is unknown. Prince Exed with his blond hair, the second royal prince is a very influential person. Negotiation doesn't suit his taste. Every of his actions are always precise, bold, and calculated.

After a few moment, Bernidas's mind is interrupted by Prince Exed's voice.

"I hope that you are not trying to stand in front of me."

"Nephew, is there a need for such army? If it's true that what you are looking for is in our house, we hope that you will wait and we will surely bring it to you."

"Auntie, I won't bother you. Soldiers! Check this place!"

Bernidas and Lea just stand there in silence. As the head of the house, he just smiles and stares toward Prince Exed. He completely ignores those soldiers, until finally, he speaks, "The person you are looking for is in the basement, at the south end of this house."

Prince Exed tiltes his head while glancing at Bernidas. No one knows what he is thinking, and then he commands one of the soldier to search the mentioned place.

"Maybe you have the time for a tea? Let's talk in the family room."

Without further ado Bernidas walks away with Lea acoompanying him, Prince Exed is just several steps behind, following them. After they arrive, Lea tells the maid to serve the tea and snacks. The three of them sit in the family room, with few soldiers are guarding the perimeter.

"How is Brother doing?" Lea opens the conversation.

"He is fine, most of his time are spent preparing the Kooper Bridge construction."

Even for a split second, it can be seen that Prince Exed is nervous answering her question. Trying to cover it, he then asks a question towards the couple.

"Uncle, auntie, I don't know what you know. But for me, its scary imagining a creative person planning something evil."

"We are not endangering your life." Bernidas just smiles and takes a cup of tea the sips on it, "Prince, if you may."

"Uncle, what are you looking for?"

What I'm trying to find, is the same with you, a chance for better survival. The difference is that you can fight, but we can only evade."

"If you are avoiding the political conflict, why avoiding me?"

"Do you remember the event of 30 years ago?"

"When a human named Datta came and gave something?"

"No, before that."

"What happened before that?"

"He demolished half of Eve kingdom, the fairy kingdom, the thing that he gave to us was originated from there."

"And the connection?"

Bernidas puts his cup away while staring at the prince.

"He doesn't know, because the King have no intention to tell him or he will never be told at all?"

"Brother haven't tell you because he loves you." Lea butts in.

"Auntie, it's scarier to know nothing than know something dangerous. Because know nothing means we will never be ready. And when it happens, it will be too late."

Bernidas and Lea give a bitter smile when they hear it.

After a few seconds staring at each other, the prince then takes his cup and sips on it, "Uncle, father doesn't believe in you."

"I know. So, have you finally found the thing you were looking for?"

Prince Exed takes a glance at his subordinate near the door and stays silent with the soldiers speechless behaviour.

"Sorry for taking your time."

He then rises, followed by Bernidas and Lea and walks toward the gate.

After everything is settled, Lea glances toward Bernidas and asks, "What do you think, Darling?"

"He pretends to know nothing. The King ordered him to take Hiveri. Taking back the spy was only a bluff. If that wasn't the case, of course he will just go away after I told him the place we are hiding the spy. But sure enough, he doesn't understand on why should he takes the Hiveri."

"So, he failed?"

Bernidas smiles at his wife question. He rubs her hair gently and replies, "What do you think?"

***** In The Training Ground *****

"Sis, seriously, this is not easy you know." Riss pants heavily while giving a tired glare toward her sister.

"Uh huh, we already know that you both actually have different skillset. It's like different mode. When Rainbow comes in, she can copy. But one of the skill is gone when Black comes in, that's weird. It means, either Black lacks the strength to accepts Rainbow's skill, or, it becomes an exclusive skill for Rainbow. My point is, by training to switch mid-movement repeatedly, you both will synchronize better and can switch mid-battle, unleashing different type of skills unpredicted by the opponent, even if you have different skillset. But of course, you both have to understand each other better."

"I see, that makes sense. You are smart."

"Meh."

["Will this going to work?"]

"We won't know if we don't try."

['Okay!"]

"Let's try the double c***k again." Says Fenicia.

"Okay, [c***k] [Black Joker Shifting]" Rainbow Riss blinks forward and punches, but nearly the end of the motion, she passes the control to her Original Riss, the Black Riss, "[c***k]" She blinks again and do another punch with a loud banging sound, "We did it!"

["Heh, not bad."]

"Ehehehe."

"I think that's it for now. Dad and Mom is finished too, I think. Go take a shower, Sis. I don't wanna get close to you." Fenicia walks away and goes inside the house.

"Ah, now that I think about it, next month I will be coming to school." Black Riss is having a mind conversation with her Rainbow Riss, the alter ego.

["This world has school?"]

"You mean, you didn't have one?"

["I can't remember. But I somewhat know what school is."]

"Well that's good enough, maybe?"

["Let's go, I need to think again on what we did just now. You go shower."]

"You are just being lazy."

["I'm better at thinking."]

"Weird excuse."