Eve walked through the forest she grew up in and smiled happily as she spotted a shimmering gold feather falling gracefully from the trees. The girl stopped in front of a 200ft tall Balsa Tree, pulling out an elegant silver key with a few Pink Tourmaline gemstones encrusted in the bow, she held the key in front of the tree and used it as a key to a lock. The spot where the key and tree trunk met glowed the same shade of pink as the ones encrusted on her key, lines sprouted from the spot, and after a few moments a door was formed, it took only a few more seconds before the drawing of the door turned into a real one. Eve smiled as she opened the door and entered, she closed the magical door and turned to leave before she had turned back to see the door already turn back to a drawing and start to fade.
∞
“Your bandages doing okay Gabriel?” Hazel asked quietly before she nibbled on a piece of string cheese.
Gabriel chuckled at her question, “I’m fine Love, don’t worry so much.”
‘Is he flirting or is he being serious?’ Ace thought as his eyes darted to Gabriel then to Hazel who sat in front of him and his sister.
‘This is just too cute.’ Rachel thought before she quietly squealed.
Gabriel heard that however and turned to her, “Something wrong Rachel?”
“Nothing!” Rachel exclaimed her cheeks reddening in embarrassment.
Hazel and the boys gave her teasing looks as her face grew even redder, after a few more seconds Hazel and the boys burst out laughing.
“We’re just teasing Sis.” Ace said in between laughs.
Rachel made a noise before she hid her face in her hands, “Hazel, I will never tease you ever again.”
“Somehow I doubt that.” Hazel said smiling at the younger girl, “But hey, at least now you know what I feel.”
The boys only laughed harder at this before a familiar voice called out to them, “Ace! Gabriel! Hazel! Rachel!”
The four of them turned their heads to the source before their eyes landed on Eve who was quickly walking up to them.
“Eve!?” Ace asked surprised at her sudden appearance.
“What are you doing here!?” Eve and Hazel asked simultaneously.
“My mom’s a part of this branch.” Eve answered before she shook her head, “But never mind that! What about you four? Carla and Eliza told us what happened in the forest and-”
“Are you going to try and kill me too?” Gabriel asked quietly before Hazel gently held his hand.
“… Of course not.” Eve said gently smiling at him before she folded her arms, “But I DO want an explanation.”
Gabriel sighed before he and the other three Monster Hunters recounted the events of the other night.
“Woah.” Eve awed as they finished their tale, “Seems like you four have had a busy two or three days.” She then turned to see Hazel and Gabriel’s intertwined hands, “So who confessed first?”
Both Hazel and Gabriel gave her confused looks before they noticed that they were still holding hands. Flustered the two quickly let go of each other’s hands and looked away, a blush clear on both their faces.
“Well, are they or are they not?” Eve asked turning to the twins, “Come on, I need to know.”
The twins looked at each other and smirked before Ace – who sat in between the two girls – leaned in and whispered, “Gabriel was the one who confessed first. Rachel and I heard it and everything!”
“No way.” Eve whispered in delight as Ace leaned back, “Wait ‘til the others find out about this! They’re going to freak out!”
“I’m afraid I cannot allow you to share any information about our branch Ms. Nevermore.” A voice said.
“And why is that, Charles?” Eve asked, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were threatening me. So, are you?”
Charles only stayed silent before he sighed, “If you want to know any more details, I suggest you talk to either your mother or Chancellor West.”
“So, you say,” Eve said as her eyes locked on Charles’ back as he walked away.
“By the way, who’s your mom?” Ace asked as Hazel’s and Gabriel’s faces began to cool down, “You said that she was a part of the branch.”
“Oh, she’s the head of the Healer Ranks.” Eve answered before a low growl finished her sentence, “Sorry about that.”
“Did you already eat?” Rachel asked her eyes narrowing a bit.
‘Since when has Rachel ever looked so threatening?’ Gabriel thought his eyes widening a bit.
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“Yeah, I ate just before I left The Hideout.” Eve answered, “But the spell might have drained more of my energy than I thought.”
“You can cast spells?” Ace asked surprised.
“Ace, you can talk about magic and spells later!” Rachel scolded him, “Right now she needs to at least eat.”
Eve and Gabriel looked at her weirdly before both Ace and Hazel broke into quiet laughs.
Rachel gave them a look before Ace calmed down enough so that he could explain the reason for his sister’s sudden personality switch, “Rachel’s always been like this. Growing up she always used to take care of our younger siblings so she develop a motherly nature towards pretty much everyone.”
“I see,” Gabriel replied.
“Here Eve, have an orange.” Rachel said handing the girl a peeled orange.
“Thanks, Rachel,” Eve said gratefully taking the fruit from her.
They all fell into a peaceful silence as they all ate. The five of them ate their lunch for a few more minutes before Gabriel winced a little as he gently touched his bandaged abdomen.
“Gab, are you okay?” Hazel asked as she put a hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah, but I should go to Ms. Amelia just to be sure.” Gabriel said as he stood up, “Want to come with me, Amore?”
“Sure, I’m done eating anyway,” Hazel said standing up.
“Wait, you’re Healer’s name is Amelia?” Eve asked looking at the two, “Cyan hair, yellow eyes, wears a white robe?”
“Yeah.” Gabriel said nodding a bit, “Do you know her?”
“She’s, my mom.” Eve replied, “Mind if I tag along?”
“That alright with you Love?” Gabriel asked turning to look at his new girlfriend.
“Yeah, I don’t mind.” Hazel said blushing a little before she turned to the twins, “You want to come with me?”
“Sure.” The two siblings said as they stood up before they made their way to the infirmary.
As the group walked the wooden halls Rachel pulled Hazel and Gabriel back out of Ace’s and Eve’s hearing range.
“So, are we setting Ace and Eve up or what?” Eve asked, “You know since the two of you are dating now.”
“Oh definitely.” Gabriel said smiling before he turned to Hazel, “You in Amore?”
“Of course.” Hazel said with a smile and a small blush on her face, “I think they would be good together.”
“You think?” Rachel asked cocking her brow at the girl before continuing, “Or do you know?”
“Either one works just as well.” Hazel said shrugging before she looked at the two walking in front of them, “What do you think they're talking about?”
“Magic probably.” Rachel said before she sighed and folded her arms while lowering her head, “Guys, d-do you think we should change branches?”
The two looked at her with wide eyes before Hazel asked in a quiet voice, “W-why are you asking us that Rach?”
Rachel only stayed silent as she gripped her upper arms harder before Gabriel’s eyes widened in understanding, “You don’t know if we can trust Chancellor Nevermore anymore, do you.”
Rachel only stayed silent as she eyed the floor.
“Rachel, you shouldn’t keep your thoughts to yourself.” Hazel said softly, “Especially after everything we’ve gone through these past couple of days.”
Rachel only smiled at them before Ace called to her, “Hey Sis, do you mind if I talk to you for a second?”
“Oh sure.” Rachel said walking up to her older brother.
∞
“You doing okay Rach?” Ace asked as his sister reached him and synced her steps with his, “You seem quieter than usual.”
“It’s complicated,” Rachel mumbled quietly.
Ace chuckled at his sister’s answer before he pocketed his hands, “Well don’t leave me in suspense Rachel.”
“I’m contemplating on whether or not I switch branches,” Rachel answered quietly.
“…Is it because of Chancellor Nevermore?”
“That’s one of the reasons.”
“Well, then what are the other ones?”
“It's because of how narrow they are.”
“Narrow? About what?”
“Their rankings, their lack of various offices.”
“Offices? Rachel, are you thinking of trying another mantle?”
“It did cross my mind a few times…”
“…Why do I feel like you’re hiding something else from me?”
“…”
“Rachel, what else are you hiding from me?”
“I-I feel like they’re a bit too hostile towards monsters.”
“…Rachel we’re literal Monster Hunters, we kill THEM for Novas.”
“And Gabriel’s a literal MONSTER HYRID that’s been living with us for nearly an entire year.”
“…Are you sure you REALLY want to do this?”
“Yes, I think – I know that I’ll be able to help more people here.”
“Then I’m changing branches too.”
“What!? Ace you don’t have to-”
“I know I don’t have to do this Rach but I want to.”
“…I feel like I only bring you more trouble everywhere we go…”
“Hey, you’ve never brought me any trouble that I couldn’t handle - that job belongs to those two.”
“Hazel and Gabriel?”
Who else?”
Rachel laughed a little at this before she held her brother’s hand, “Thanks Ace, I really needed that.”
“That’s what I’m here for Lil’ sis.” Ace said smiling at her.