"What are you doing, Mr. Evans?"

"What do you think I am doing, Ms. Elton?"

​​

"..."

"..."

Angela could only turn her head towards Van, who suddenly lay beside her on the bed.

"..."

The two remained staring at each other for a few seconds, before finally--

"The bed is big enough for the both of us," Van said before he too turned his back on Angela and slightly pulled the blanket, "Goodnight."

"..."

"Hm," Angela could only blink a couple of times before closing her eyes. And then, after a few hours, when the two were obviously asleep, the connecting door leading to Charlotte's room very slowly and very quietly opened.

In the darkness, Charlotte stepped ever so quietly as she made her way in front of Van's bed. This was probably the most control she had on her physical strength, as her toes did not even make a sound on the brittle floor.

And then slowly, Charlotte lifted her arms, and on her hand… was a camera. She then gracefully pointed the camera towards Van and Angela, taking a few snaps before she returned to her room; her giggles, almost waking up the two.

***

In a vast and almost empty lot, the cheers of almost a thousand people thundered through the air, almost rivaling the roars of the skies themselves. The day of Adia and Van's race finally came, and with it, the outpouring of almost all the population of the city they were holding the event in.

Adia was currently stretching her legs as she looked towards the horizon, her battlefield for today. Her clothes were tight, almost lining up with her skin as it etched her toned muscles. Her hair was now fully in braids, similar to how Latanya styled hers.

Speaking of which, Van could not help but wonder if Latanya already woke up. Last he saw her, she was in a very bad state.

Evangeline had told him that Latanya wasn't really a real human. Instead, she was some sort of… weapon-- Staff of Asclepius. If Evangeline were really to be believed, then Latanya was some kind of artifact used by a God of Healing.

Was something like that really possible?

An artifact turning into a human?

And why was Evangeline telling him to absorb her?

There were a lot of things he wanted to ask her, but Evangeline remained insistent in keeping her secrets.

Hopefully, Van finds about it by himself. He traveled for that purpos--

"Mr. Va-an! Why does your gaze seem so distant!?"

Van's thoughts were then disrupted as he heard Adia shouting at him,

"Please focus on our duel! I am determined to win this race and have the White Imvubu take me as her new protege!" Adia's voice got higher and higher, causing the thousands of people watching them on the stands to go wild.

"..." Van could only let out a huge breath as his eyes scanned the people who were lined up in several rows. Seeing as they were out in an empty field… did they just set this up overnight? The stands weren't made with earth as well, but with some sort of metal. Granted, it was just his second day in another country…

...but the difference between America and a country that's not governed by the Circle was, in a word, immeasurable.

"Mr. Va-an, you're losing focus again!"

Hearing Adia shouting at him again, Van finally shook his head of the thoughts he was having and decided to focus on the match at hand. He nodded towards Adia before also stretching his legs.

"Ladies and gentleman!"

And suddenly, after a few more minutes, a voice reverberated in the air, quieting the roars of the frenzied crowd.

"We are here to witness a historical event! And rushed this event may be, still, a thousand of you have gathered! But how could you not!? After all, it is our very own Princess Adia that made this event possible!"

"We love you, Adia!"

"Represent! Represent!"

"Look here, please look here, Adia!"

Adia waved her hand towards the people that cheered for her, even letting out flying kisses before flexing her toned muscles. Although she was indeed muscular, the curves on her body still retained their femininity, causing her to be popular with both men and women.

"And his opponent, Mr. Va-an from America!"

As soon as Van's name was mentioned, the people started booing.

"..." Van could only shake his head as he sighed. He already expected the people not to like him since he was against their princess… but couldn't they have at least gotten his name right this time?

"Calm your senses, people! Maybe most of you do not know… But Mr. Va-an is the protege of none other than the White Imvubu!"

"..."

Those who were initially booing Van could not help but stop their breaths as soon as they heard that. Those who knew, on the other hand, just let out a smirk as they started belittling those who booed Van.

But after a few seconds of silence, the Ballad of the White Imvubu was hummed by the people. It was different from the previous versions that Van heard, this time, it was a bit cheery.

"..."

"Hm, hm," Adia nodded in satisfaction as the song started to echo in her ears, "Our duel will be legendary!"

"..." Van could only nod towards Adia's fiery eyes.

In the uppermost part of the stands, Charlotte was seated away from the rest of the people, and slightly behind her, was King Badru.

"I am really sorry for this, Queen Charlotte," Badru whispered as he leaned closer towards Charlotte, "I didn't expect that this many people would come."

"It's alright, King Badru," Charlotte only waved her hand.

"I have already reprimanded my granddaughter for this. But ever since their parents disappeared in the Deadzone… she has become a bit hard-headed."

"You still haven't told me what happened to your daughter and her husband."

"That…" Badru leaned back as he heard Charlotte's words, "We have the biggest Deadzone in the world, Queen Charlotte. I am afraid the leaders of Africa as well as I have sealed them off as we do not dare trek the unknowns. Only my daughter and her husband were foolish enough to try…

...and I couldn't stop them."

"..."

"That is why I can't grant you the request of traveling there, even if it is you, White Imvubu," King Badru's tone became dignified, "If even you disappear there, then Africa would truly go down a dark path. I truly am sorry for this, Queen Charlotte."

"..."

Badru could only let out a nervous breath as Charlotte's silence slightly wracked his nerves, "But… let's talk about it more later," Badru stuttered as he focused his attention on the commotion below.

"It… would seem the children had a deal that if Adia wins, she would become your protege. If she wins, are you really going to accept her?"

"I am afraid not," Charlotte bluntly answered.

King Badru's expectant face quickly died down as he heard Charlotte's quick reply, "I understand. She is not worthy of your greatness. Maybe this would serve as a lesson to sedate her a little--"

"It's not about that," Charlotte let out a small breath as she interrupted Badru's lamentations.

"Hm?"

"I apologize for my bluntness, King Badru," a smile slowly crept up on Charlotte's face as she turned her head to look Badru straight in the eyes, "But your granddaughter…

...has no chance of winning this race."