–Wake up–
The sound of soone's shouts woke up Rio, as his thoughts of the past stopped. He opened his eyes, as he looked at the sky.
Seeing the normal sky and sun, cald his mind.
'Fucking dungeon'
He cursed that damn dungeon that refused to leave his mind.
"Brother, wake up already. Didn't mother warn you not to do this? Why're you even sleeping here?" Alia's voice broke through the silence, her presence casting a shadow over him. He couldn't help but smile at her familiar face.
"Morning As." Rio said, as he smiled and sat up.
"Seriously, even after all these years, you're still the laziest guy I know." Alia said, as she sat beside him, when he signaled her.
"Co on. I'm not that lazy. Right?"
"Yeah yeah." Alia rolled her eyes playfully.
"So, where were you yesterday? Mother said, you went out." Rio asked, changing the topic.
"Yeah, Becca ca with Bernhardt and others. They wanted to et you, but since mother refused everyone's entry, we just t at the restaurant and talked." Alia replied.
"How are they?" Rio asked, curious about what's happening with all these old acquaintances of his.
From the news articles he read -after that incident back then, even the Royal Family were partially blad for the breach in security and loss of lives.
Though it all led to nothing, as what's done was done, and people forgot all about it after so ti. King did so charity and killed so scapegoats in a dramatic way and that's all it took him to change everything back to normal.
But who knows what's been going on in the Royal Palace now, since it's been 2 years since then. He was actually curious about the situation in Haven, since the plot was about to begin.
"Everyone's fine. They gave so gifts and ssages for you, wanna hear them." Alia said, as she prepared to bring them out through her storage ring, but Rio refused her.
"Nah, not in the mood." He said.
He didn't want to read Bernhardt's ssage in front of anyone. After all, unlike others, Bernhardt wouldn't talk or write about formalities for him. If he is still the sa as when he last t him, that is. So he decided to check them, when he's alone. "Just send them to my room, I'll read them later."
Alia nodded her head. She looked at Es standing a little far and said -"She's really acting like a shadow now, isn't she?"
"Yeah. She's been following three steps back ever since I woke up. You didn't bully her, did you."
"If anything, I was an even better master than you." Alia smirked, with a little proud expression. "She was a bad shadow though. Did you know she took holidays on her own wish? And I had to drive my own cars around." She continued with a smile, her words making Es flinch, but she stayed silent. After all, it was true.
"She did what now?" Rio looked back at Alia, his amused tone from earlier turned to surprise.
"What?" Alia's smile stiffened when she heard him speak.
Ignoring his sister, Rio turned back at his shadow and asked "Es, is that true?"
"Master, that _ "
"I don't need your excuses, Es. Did you leave her alone or not?" He asked seriously, as his calm deanor now gone, replaced by a stern expression.
"I did, master." Es replied, her words barely above a whisper.
Her words only fueled his anger, as he clenched his fists. His nails, digging into the garden grass. But he ignored it, as he said angrily "Did you forget what a shadow's job is? Or are you taking things too lightly now?"
" _ " Es had no words as she hung her head low. Alia, seeing this scene, tried to intervene by saying "Brother, I was just joking."
"Not now, Amy." Rio said, stopping her from speaking further. He looked back at Es and said "Answer ."
"I apologize, master." Es said Apologetically, as she went on her knees.
"What did I always tell you? Did you forget that too." Rio said, glaring at Es.
"I rember, master." Es said, her eyes still fixed on the ground. She rembered what he always used to say, even the last ti when he t her, before that incident. He ordered her to keep Alia safe. And yet when he was gone and she was given that job, she neglected it. The disappointnt and anger she could hear in his voice was only making her more guilty now.
"Then you ignored them, because I was dead. Is that it?" Rio said.
"Master _ " Es looked up at the ntion of his death again. Her eyes were scared, but when she t his gaze, the one which used to be filled with care and gentleness, was changed with only anger now. "I _ I'm sorry master."
Ignoring her apology, Rio kept glaring at her as he shouted in a cold tone "If you can't do your job, you can leave. There are many others who _"
"Brother. Enough." Alia said, as she shook his shoulder. "You can leave us alone Es. Just wait outside."
She said, turning towards Es, who was barely holding back her tears.
Es stood up, bowed and left. Her head still hung low, as she was now too scared to now et his gaze again. The disappointnt in his eyes cut deep, and even though he didn't finish his sentence, she understood what he was going to say. And that hurt, a lot.
"What was that?" Once Es left, Alia turned towards Rio, whose eyes were still fixed on the entrance where Es left. She could see he was angry, too angry over a little thing. She could guess why he might be worried for his safety, but she was still in Damascus. And no one would hurt her here.
"Nothing." Rio said as he tried to calm himself.
The second he heard she was out alone, all the plotlines of every scenario started playing in his head.
He had changed stuff, a lot of it, when it ca to her safety, but that also ant that there were now chances where fate could pull so pranks and he wouldn't even know.
If she was alone and at that ti, she t protagonist or worse those bastards from the cult _
He wasn't nearly on the level to solve those issues. If sohow that plotline went haywire, all he did, all he suffered and sacrificed for, would just turn out to be a waste.
"I need you to tell if Erza ever does that. Shadows don't get leaves. Rember that." Rio said, as he turned to her.
His stern words and serious expression made Alia bury her questions that she wanted to ask, as she just nodded her head and stayed silent.
They both just stayed still for a few minutes, lost in their thoughts.
"I'm sorry" Finally Rio broke the silence as he spoke.
"So wanna tell what happened?" Alia asked, seeing he was now back to his usual behavior.
"Maybe later."
"Hmm" Alia nodded her head. She hesitated for a mont, but then she said "Can I ask you a question?"
"When did you need permission from ? Ask away."
"Are you angry at ?" She asked slowly, while gathering her courage.
"Of course not," He replied imdiately.
"But you were angry at . Back then. You know what I'm talking about right?" Alia said, hesitantly.
Hearing her words made Rio silent for a second. He closed his eyes as he rembered what she was talking about. The scenes of that ti played instantly in his eyes in that one blink that lasted a mont. But pushing his thoughts aside, when he rembered the plotlines that were coming, he replied
"I can never be angry at you As, so don't ever think that. I was just upset that day, nothing else. Promise."
"I'm sorry. That, because of _ " She was saying as he held her shoulders and turned her face to his side and said - "What happened back then, was not your fault Amy. Don't ever think like that."
"But it was _ " Alia said, as so tears ford in her eyes. The genuine care she saw in his eyes, only made her feel more guilty now.
"Hey, didn't you hear what I said? And besides, I'm back now. So stop blaming yourself for nothing. It's all in the past now, so just forget it." He said, as he held her hand.
Alia cried so more, as she hugged him "I missed you brother. I missed you so much."
"I missed you too." He said, as he patted her back and joked- "Now stop crying. You're making all emotional with those tears of yours. Father would kill if he saw you crying."
"Stupid" Alia said, with a weak smile. As she wiped her eyes.
"Ohh calling stupid huh. Now can I ask you sothing?" Rio said.
"And when did you need permission from ?" Alia said, his own words back.
"Why're you joining the sunshine academy?" Rio said, finally talking about the topic that really mattered now. The progress of plot.
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A/N - one more chapter, before academy arc starts.
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