{As I open my eyes, the first thing I notice is...change.
Not the change in scenery: from a metallic island of death and despair to my old bedroom.
Not the change in company: from an old mentally deranged Scientist and thousands of victims to the bored faces of Mother Naosuke twirling two needles, Father playing around with Aeron, Boman in a corner, Uncle Durandez speaking with someone at the doorway, and sister Alianne, who I assumed was in a prison cell before my mission.
Not my change in attire, from a suit covered in dripping blood that just wouldn't stain or stick, and Not a change in the atmosphere: Where I once felt like giving up due to the horrible screams and absolutely no way to correct my blunder, although Father probably wouldn't see it as a mistake...to a quiet, calm and almost peaceful Familial setting, one which I never experience in my usual everyday life.
It was an odd change in perspective. Like...everything felt at my fingertips as unfamiliar power coursed through my body from the cells to my veins. I felt...groggy. Like the world right now was a dream. Happy, with a strange pleasure pairing together with the overflowing sense of strength that I can only surmise is that 'origin energy' stuff the...fragment....said had transformed my soul. I also feel a heavy, overpowering sense of anger. Anger at myself for speeding of the death sentence placed on those 23,000 victims. Anger for letting them die, after my careless and fear-filled attack stirred the greedy fragment awake that absorbed their souls. Anger at Professor Watts for causing all of this by misinterpreting the fragment's wish: from 'anyone willing to die', to 'anybody you're able to find and try to brainwash'. Which, by the way, they didn't seem all that brainwashed to me. I wonder what that was all about.
I was enraged at the security guards...for the suffering they caused to the victims on baseless whims.
I was angry at the victims themselves, for blaming me when I only thought about helping them. Weren't they going to die anyway? Even if he said something unclear to me about souls, their bodies would still have...I don't know. I'm just frustrated, right now.
I feel angry at everything. Including my family. My brother was nearby, yet he didn't lift a finger to help, because of what? 'Orders'? Beatrice and Kifah were nearby, but they only came because of the mission. Was I just a mission target to them? Oh, and then there's Father. What am I to him, anyway? Sending me false intel about our 'trustworthy' doctor. Didn't that cause all of my suffering??
Just why am I so angry..so happy...to be angry?
I can't hold it in any longer. The room looks like it's starting to spin, I feel really hot and tired...but also...
I can't hold it in any longer. Just what am I to them? The fragment's words keep 'ringing' in my head too. Save when I feel like saving...Kill...when I...Agh...}
Mother Naosuke: “Oh good. He's awake. Nice job ending the target with these two needles. The first one missing the target's artery was unnecessary though, unless you were going to interrogate him for intel. I'm returning these to you, cleaned. Next time, stick to the mission and end his life with one, swift strike. Letting him spot you was also a mistake, so...”
Father: “Now-Now, Nao-Nao~ let's hear what he has to say first. Tyler: What in the world happened...specifically to your soul?”
After Naosuke placed the twin needles on Noel's blanket, he effortlessly brought them back to himself, while retracting his right hand beneath the warm and thick fabric.
Noel/Tyler: “....”
{I can tell Alianne's eyes softened for a split second, before turning away with an obnoxious chuckle. Feeling remorse maybe? For playing tug-of-war over who gets to manipulate my thoughts? I...hate...}
Alianne: “Bahahaha~ completely ignored! Nice job little bro. You completed the mission, flawlessly, ahahahaha! Dad you really raised a great hitman! He kills when he doesn't intend to, but when he WANTS to...the kid freezes up!! Beautiful. Just, beautiful.”
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Beatrice: “You're sure speaking out of character. Don't you always 'dote' on him?”
Alianne: “Stuff it, pig. I'll treat whoever I want however I like.”
Beatrice: “I look NOTHING like a pig! You take that back right now or-”
Father: “Enough! Tyler. I asked you a question, so speak up.”
The only ones to notice something was strange were Naosuke and Aeron. Naosuke saw Tyler's right arm twitch, the very arm that held both needles. That reminded her of an extremely bad habit she's always reminding her students to correct. It's the pre-twitch that sometimes occurs when one is about to throw projectiles at a target, almost like aiming, but much more minimal in movement.
Aeron picked up something completely different. Noel's eyes were dull and unfocused, yet he carried an eerie calm to his composure even as Alianne and their dad spoke to him. It was as if, he wasn't even registering their words at all.
Naosuke: “...He wouldn't dare....”
Aeron: “Something is...”
With a skip to her step, the chuckling Alianne came forth to stop their Father from hitting Noel. She put her arms up playfully as her laughter echoed. Immediately a thick cyan blue barrier covered her body, and a second one covered Noel's bed before connecting behind her, where the first one encapsulated her form. Seeing this, her Father snorted. A golden punch materialized from thin air, striking a single point on her barrier, however no damage was dealt.
Alianne: “Now, now, Father! Leave my poor little brother alone~ He just came out of a very traumatizing situation, hmm~”
Father: “Little brother? Wasn't he just a 'research subject' in your eye, to anger me?”
Alianne: “True, but he's ALSO my little brother~ haha. He's both! I can't stand by as you bully him~”
Kifah: “You're jokes are of poor taste, Alianne. It's clear to everyone you just want to anger father further.”
Alianne: “Shut up, computer.”
Kifah: “I-I am not...a computer. I'm just...logical.”
Father: “Are you going to move, Ali, or will I have to move you?”
Alianne: “Just try it, if you can~ hahaha! Right, baby br...o?”
*Splurt!*
Right as she turned her head, Alianne felt a cold sensation spreading from in between her shoulder blades. Her barrier, at the back, facing Noel's bed, had a small hole in it. What was surprising, was an odd black and purple energy eating away at what was supposed to be an anti-ability barrier.
Her father was the first to react. He punched the barrier, shattering it in an instant before reaching for what appeared to be a thin needle, the likes of which Naosuke uses all the time.
That's right, it was one of the two she had just handed Noel!
Father: “....What...??”
Although everyone in the room has amazing reflexes, nobody truly expected a needle thrown by Noel to reach Alianne.
First: Each family member has a magical marking on their souls. This prevents them from betraying the family and 'killing' is considered betrayal. When an attempt is made, their soul is burned intensely as their physical movements reach a snail's pace.
Second: Her barrier blocks all physical and magical attacks up to a certain level. She isn't immune to everything, but low level physical attacks like what her brother Noel can dish out should be blocked effortlessly. Even Naosuke's personal needles would find it difficult to create any sized hole in her defenses.
With these two thoughts in mind, even Naosuke didn't react, only watch, once she saw Noel's hate-filled glare first cast his needle at her.
In short, nobody expected Noel to attack his sister from behind, or succeed in doing so, at the very least.
It wasn't until the needle was pulled out that their Father noticed a thin strand of black and purple energy, like a centipede spreading across her back. It caused Alianne obvious pain as well, as she bit her bottom lip while her Father ordered her not to move.
Yet, while everyone's attention was focused on Alianne...only Aeron was quick enough to halt Noel's next strike.
A second needle, imbued with black and purple energy, being used like a dagger as it stilled an inch away from his Father's neck.
Aeron tightened his grip on Noel's wrist, but didn't speak. Normally, there was no need to ask stupid questions in their Family. Everyone's instinctual reaction, instead, was to analyze the differences occurring around them and in their target.
In this case, everyone except Durandez, who just reentered the room - curious over the commotion, was currently trying to analyze Noel for changes from the day he first received the Island mission, to today, where he now donned a cruel smile and bright purple irises.
Beatrice: “Did he crack? Maybe sis weakened his mental state more than we all thought...”
Alianne: “...I did not...I think..”
Father: “Dura...isn't this...?”
Durandez: “Hm...?...Hoh~”
Noel quickly reached for Aeron's arm, only to be flung overhead by the older brother. Regaining his posture, a purple and black light, started to glow at his fingertips. The boy vanished from sight for a split second before reappearing behind his Father. That's when...
Uncle Durandez grabbed hold of his arm, similar to Aeron...but instead of flinging him away, he ripped the purple and black energy away from Noel!
Everyone saw as the fierce energy writhed and smashed into what appeared to be a flask made of invisible energy. Cracks would form, but heal in an instant before the darker force could create an opening.
Uncle Durandez: “Hohoh~ This really IS identical! It's just like that Egyptian woman we fought all those years ago! So pure in nature...is it really origin energy?”
Father: “I don't know, it looks MUCH different from the energy Angelica, Jraeden and the others use...but seeing as the Chaotic Alliance owes me a...favor..for covering their mess up a second time from the Order Alliance's watch...let's invite them over to ask.”