- Bird and Cloud -

ALTAIRA'S POV

When I first opened my eyes, I never expected myself to be a small baby.

When I first opened my eyes, I realized that I had somehow reborn with my memories of the past still with me.

When I first opened my eyes, I didn't know where I was. I didn't know where I have been reborn. I was in a strange and random place.

'Charlotte! Where is she?'

The car crash had killed me, I know that. But what about Charlotte? I struggled to look my left and right only to find myself alone in the room.

'Ah.... she's missing....!'

She was probably still alive. She probably survived the car crash. I knew that I should have felt happy about it but...

Tears dropped from my eyes as I began to cry like how a baby would.

Or maybe she had died. She had died and reincarnated, separated from him.

Being born as the oldest son in that cold family... she was my only source of warmness. When I first saw my younger sister, I immediately knew that she was a gift sent by Gods for me, someone who will care for me... someone who I will protect.

The moment when I saw such a fragile creature sleeping peacefully on the bed... I knew that we would always be together regardless of the situations, since no one wanted both of us.

In their eyes, we were just tools.

But fate was too cruel as it separated both of us.

Was it wrong for me to wish for her to die together with me at the time? If I have to be reincarnated to a random place like this, I wanted her to be on my side as well. That way... that way we will have the chance to go through our lives like before....

'I couldn't leave her alone in that cursed mansion. Who will comfort her? Who will accompany her? Who could understand her as better as I am? Who will protect her for me?'

I never trusted my parents. The moment I learnt the cruel truth... the moment when my father looked at me as if I was his biggest enemy... like I was someone who shouldn't have existed... when he said it clearly those painful words, our relationship as father and son has ended.

Ah... there was no such of relationship from the beginning.

"I will never be your father. You are just a thing that our parents had been waiting for to bind me with that woman. Don't expect me to treat you like you are my son... for that will only bring you disappointment."

"You will never be my son."

I hated that man. I despised him. Since he didn't need me as his son, then I would never see him as my father. I promised to myself that I would never see my parents as my real parents. They were just the one who brought me to the world. That's all.

'How cruel and cold- hearted he was. To think that he was able to say those words to a kid....'

I wish I could grit my teeth and clench my fists-- no, I wish that I could just punch that man right on his face and beat him. I was wrong at the time. Rather than running away and lived just like how he wanted, I should have punched him first and spent all his wealth. I should have drove him mad before dying like this.

But unfortunately, I didn't have this chance anymore.

As I was crying loudly worrying about Charlie, worrying about her life there and complained about our sudden separation like this... the door was opened by someone.

That was the first time I saw her.

"Really, where are the people who are responsible to take care of my new little brother?"

Her long blue hair was just like the blue river flowing and reached her waist. Those blue eyes were the eyes of a predator. Her skin looked rather pale and she was dressed in blue dress that was stained with blood... along with the silver and well- designed dagger.

'B- blood?!'

The first time I saw her, I was very scared and terrified.

Who wouldn't be terrified to see a girl walking towards him while holding a bloody dagger?

'Is she here to murder me? But I haven't done anything yet aside from crying. Where have I offended this psycho?'

She looked at me rather... arrogantly. She stared at me several moments that it made me wonder what she was thinking. I could only guess, since her stoic pretty face only told me that she was observing me.

'Will she be cruel enough to kill an adorable baby like me?'

But to be honest, I didn't sense any hostility from her. Those predatory eyes just looked at me with... pure curiosity. Just like Charlotte's always- curious- eyes but more dangerous. And I didn't look away. Somehow, I couldn't look away from those curious but cold and lifeless eyes. I didn't have that courage.

"So......... you are my new little brother....?"

I knew she was saying something but I couldn't understand her words. The language was so foreign... just like her dress. Seeing her dress that was stained with blood, I couldn't help but to shiver.

"You are so small. How are you going to defend yourself from assassins and enemies?" She asked and poked my cheek.

"......"

'......Are you kidding me?'

My veins popped as I glared at her. She wasn't intimidated at all. Rather, she continued to touch my cheek and even played with my little and small hands.

'Are you bullying me just because I couldn't fight back? Wait until I get older!'

I didn't know who this person was but when she looked at me, somehow her gaze had softened. Her eyes became more gentle which kind of surprised me.

Honestly, if she smiled more, she'll look more beautiful.

'....... what am I thinking? She's a freaking killer for heaven's sake. I'll get killed if I make a wrong move. And from the start until now... she has been teasing me with her bloody and dirty hands.'

"Altaira... mother names you with that name, wishing that you could soar on the sky... while my name means the cloud itself."

I tried to slap her hand away but seeing how she smiled and chuckled, she must be thinking that I'm playing with her.

"The cloud and the bird... I wonder whether you and I will get along or not."

'Put your hands away! Wash them first! Do you think it's alright to touch a baby with bloody hands? How unhygienic!

Even a tigress won't eat its own cubs.

In the eyes of others, she was that heartless and ambitious villainess who would use all kinds of methods and manipulate everyone for her selfish desires,

But I know that they viewed her like that because they envied and misunderstood her.

Beneath the aloof and cold eyes of predator,

There lies a woman with her own honor who seeks to be remembered, who seeks to be one of the best.

But as much as she desired to be remembered by all people in the tower, known for her strength and intelligence, the said ruthless girl was never actually ruthless.

Rather, in order to protect those who supported her, she was forced to be ruthless and villainous.

And if I knew what kind of ending I will bring to her...

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THIRD PERSON POV

PRESENT TIME

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"Brother... what does this mean?"

Charlotte looked at Altaira. Her eyes wanted to hear answers and explanations from her trusted brother who kept the fact that he actually had a hidden sister.

"I'm hurt, Altaira," Anan spoke with a calm tone. "You actually hid my existence from your younger sister? Am I really such a terrifying demon in your eyes and heart?"

Altaira clenched his fists further. Anan observed her opponents' movements and gestures, every single action could not escape from her sharp eyes like an eagle as she assumed her opponent's emotions and strategize her plan.

'How dangerous,' Charlotte thought about her brother's sister in the tower.

"... Charlotte, this fight is mine," Altaira said to her. His blue eyes were still looking at Khun Anan Rain and he looked worried and solemn this time. "You have to step aside and let me finish this."

"But...."

"She's indeed my older sister. The older sister who have always raised me, protected me, taught me and later on became the biggest regret that in my life," Altaira explained to Charlotte.

Anan just looked at Altaira. With her poker face, it was hard to tell what she was thinking. Not even Altaira was confident that he could read her mind, despite she being his older brother in his second lifetime. She could be planning to spare him, toy him, or dispose him.

"Anan... I'm here to solve things between the two of us," said Altaira solemnly. An electrical spear appeared on his right hand as he walked towards Anan. He stopped, maintaining his distance with his big sister and then pointed his electrical spear towards Anan, "Let's solve it quickly."

"Are you sure that this is what you want?"

Charlotte thought that Anan felt disappointed. After all, anyone would be sad and disappointed if her younger brother who she cared and protected for hundred of years suddenly become her enemy. And she could understand her brother's reason wanting to solve the grudge between the two of them and kill Anan. Anan was his sworn enemy and in order to move forward, she must die.

"... Now that you appear as my sworn enemy," said Altaira. "I have to get rid of you, before you hurt my comrades."

Charlotte thought that she was disappointed. So when she heard Anan's next words, she was quite surprised.

Anan actually smiled after hearing Altaira's words.

"So it seems like after my death, you've found some nice comrades to climb the tower. Very well, since you are more than ready to fight against me..."

She also created an electrical spear to fight against Altaira.

"I would also not hesitate."

Looking at Altaira who she knew was feeling more and more tense, she spoke few more words,

"I'll take your words seriously. From now on, I'll fight for my own survival."

Even if she was just a data, she still wanted to survive.

Altaira gulped. Like what Anan guessed about him, he was quite tense. It wasn't just because he was fighting against his sister as his sworn enemy, but also because he knew his sister was a dangerous opponent. Even though in the Hidden Floor, the strength of one's sworn enemy is the same as the hero and her strength has been drained when she fought against Charlotte before fighting her, but there were many factors that could determine who will win.

Experience, knowledge, creativity, arena, and many more. His sister was a tough opponent and he himself was unsure whether he could win. His sister was serious this time.

She swung her spear and then charged towards him. Since she was a lightning element user, she could increase her speed and appeared in front of Altaira instantly. Altaira was prepared and blocked her electrical spear. He adjusted his speed and position for defense while Anan kept attacking him.

Charlotte was amazed. To think that all these years she thought that her brother was just an idle and ordinary man, she must have misunderstood him and looked down on his ability to hide his real strength. In ease, he managed to defend himself from Anan's deadly attack.

Anan then gathered her strength on her spear, trying to stab Altaira who blocked it with his spear but was pushed back by the strength on the spear. After he blocked her spear, he wanted to look for Anan who disappeared. He lifted his head and found that Anan was on the air, wanting to hit him with her spear. But he jumped and dodge that.

"You are still dodging my attacks like usual," said Anan. "It appears to me that you are waiting for me to be exhausted, considering that I've just fought a worthy opponent."

She glanced at Charlotte. Altaira had nothing to disagree with Anan since he knew that in the term of energy, he had the advantage.

Anan closed both of her eyes. The opponent standing before her knew a lot about her to the point that he was very dangerous. While she, on the other hand, after years disappearing from his life, she knew that some things had changed.

"Since you are planning to play in that way, I'll be glad to help."

As her cold blue eyes were glowing brighter, the glow of her lightnings were getting brighter as well.

[Anan's Territory- Storm]

Charlotte felt that Anan's strength was increasing suddenly. The lightning around her was getting stronger and more dangerous. Altaira felt the same thing. And it wasn't only that the offensive power that the lightning possessed was getting more dangerous, Altaira felt like his power was being suppressed.

The lightning surrounded the two of them, leaving Charlotte outside.

"Brother!" Charlotte wanted to get close and help him, knowing that this could be very dangerous. However, the lightning that surrounded the two of them like a cage preventing outsiders became an obstacle for her.

"You can't be serious. This trick again?"

"It's been awhile since I use this technique," Anan spoke. "I thought I would never be able to do this. My domain, territory."

'Domain?' Charlotte heard everything outside the barrier.

"Your domain increases the offense and suppress the others," Altaira began to explain. "It suits you rather well, considering that you are the type of person who never hesitate in raising your spear and throw it to opponents' weaknesses. But this kind of thing wastes a lot of energy and with your current power, you will only last for 5 minutes."

"Indeed. It suppress my opponents' strengths and increases my strength, mainly in attack power, accuracy and speed with me sacrificing most of my energy as the payment. With my current state, I could only use it for 5 minutes."

"Do you really think that just in 5 minutes... you could kill me? I'm sure that you are aware that overconfidence is too unwise, right?" Altaira asked in ease.

Charlotte felt that her brother was provoking Anan. He was provoking her to go all- out. But what good would that do for him?

"You are wrong. 5 minutes... would actually be more than enough to solve things among the two of us."

Altaira frowned when he heard those words.

"This time... you better fight me like you are going to kill me," he said solemnly. "I won't let you escape. There's no way for you to run."

"Why do you think this barrier was created? Isn't it to prevent the two of us from leaving this arena until the victor has been decided?"

Charlotte hated standing outside. She wanted and could help, but knowing that her brother had again and again emphasized his desire to have a proper fight with his sworn enemy, she couldn't just interfere. But if she just stood at the outside and waited for them to finish their fight, then wouldn't she be just an audience?

She didn't like the idea of having to watch her brother fight while she could only be the audience and watched him being wounded and injured. But if she wanted to be respected by someone, she should learn how to respect others first. It seemed like unless it was life- threatening, she couldn't directly interfere.

The sound of footsteps distracted her. When she turned around, she found a familiar- looking woman. The woman who wounded Khun Aguero Agnes badly, the woman who had resentment towards the son of a woman who had adopted her, someone who she thought had betrayed the whole family.

Kiseia.

Charlotte frowned.

According to the plot, Kiseia would appear right before Bam and challenged him, though she was defeated and surrendered on her own after knowing how powerful Bam could be. And right at that moment, with the orb that he used along with the power of the thorn, he threatened Kiseia not to harm Khun again.

At this point, Charlotte wasn't really surprised that changes would happen. Her presence along with the others will definitely make the plot change. It was just the matter of time.

But she really hoped not to see this woman. At least, it would have been better for them not to see each other for one month first. In that way, she could lessen her anger a little. In that way, perhaps it would be slightly easier for her to refrain herself from doing things that she would regret.

"Why are you here?"

"... not so friendly, I see," she spoke.

"Do you expect me to be friendly to someone who attempted to kill my friend?"

"I recognized your voice. You are the one who rudely interrupted my conversation with my brother, right?"

"Yeah, it's me. Got a problem?" She challenged her.

"You seem to care for him a lot," Kiseia said. "You must be one of his closest allies. Or maybe closer.....?"

"Since you know that we're close allies, you should have left quietly when you had that chance," Charlotte spoke. "Because when you show yourself right in front of me, I couldn't help but wanting to stab you once for what you did to him."

Kiseia said nothing for a moment before she spoke,

"... even if I try to leave and escape quietly..."

She remembered Charlotte's fight against Anan. She was sure that she was someone who she could never defeat. Not when the one who summoned her was just an ordinary regular with the lack of talent in shinsu. Not when the one who summoned her was just an ordinary person in front of this monster who will never stop growing and getting stronger.

"... there's still a chance of you noticing me and kill me off, right?"

It was not like she never thought of escaping and going to her brother to kill him when he was distracted, but she knew that if she made a wrong move or moved recklessly, she might accidentally found herself die from the attacks of these two people.

"......."

Putting herself in Kiseia's position, it wasn't like she didn't understand that feeling. It was once what she felt whenever she watched two strong people fighting. Just like when Karaka was fighting against Yuri, Data Edahn was fighting against Data Zahard.

And Kiseia was right with the fact that she might kill her off if she notices her. It was because, from someone whose name she didn't want to mention, she learnt that she can't spare anyone with the seeds of betrayal with them. She didn't want what had happened to her brother happened to him again and the others.

Charlotte pondered for awhile before she spoke, "What about this? We make a deal."

"What deal?"

"I will let you leave this place alive," said Charlotte. "But in exchange, tell me everything that you know about those two over there."

She pointed her sword at Anan and Altaira.

"The two of them, huh....?"

Seeing Kiseia's expression, it appeared to Charlotte that she might have one or two ideas about Altaira and Anan. As expected, it was better not to be reckless or impulsive in "getting rid" of someone.

Charlotte knew that she couldn't ask Altaira directly as he would not tell her. The downside of being playful and childish all the time was that no one could trust you with their important matters. It was either because they view you as a child or they didn't want you to worry at all. She also doubted that Khun would tell her. Khun and Altaira looked like the former was always annoyed with the latter one, but the two of them definitely trusted each other.

Heck, Altaira even told the trio protagonists about her identity without telling her. And neither of them bothered to admit that they knew that she was someone else from the beginning.