๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐พ๐๐ธ๐ฝ
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โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โพ
๐ธ๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐ป๐ โง ๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ โง ๐ธ๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐น๐
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
๐ธ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐พ โง ๐โ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ โง ๐ธ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐พ๐พ๐พ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โง ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ โง ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โง ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฝ๐๐๐พ๐ธ ๐ท๐๐ถ๐๐น โง ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐กย
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ๊ฐแดส แดส๊ฑแดษชแด สแดษชส: แดสแด สแดสแดแดสแดส
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โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โพ
โ ๐๐๐น ๐๐๐ ๐ผ'๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ถ๐๐พ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ถ ๐ท๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐๐, ๐ถ๐๐น ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ธ๐ฝ ๐๐๐๐. โ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
Her older sister was a powerful combat-Caster. However, she was reported as killed in combat when ๐ป๐ธ๐ด๐ ๐ ๐๐น ๐๐๐๐๐ธ was thirteen โง ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, all shifting shadows and deceptive rays of light โง A cunning strategist. Works closely with ๐ด๐ถ๐ธ ๐๐น ๐ด๐๐บ๐ธ๐ฟ๐ behind the scenes โง Brutally analytical; unyielding. Can come off as quite callous โง Went missing for a few months when she was fourteen. ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก, ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก
๐น๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ โขโข ๐ถโ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐.
๐ฉ๐พ๐ธ๐๐๐ถ๐๐(๐) โขโข ๐น๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐ก๐ '๐๐ก๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐ก'
๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ธ๐พ๐๐ โขโข ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐
๐๐๐ โขโข ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐ 23 ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ต๐พ๐๐๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ & ๐ต๐๐น๐พ๐ถ๐ธ โขโข ๐โ๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ด๐ข๐๐ข๐ ๐ก 30๐กโ, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ ๐ช๐๐พ๐๐๐๐ถ๐๐พ๐๐ โขโข ๐ด๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ? ๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฆ, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐ฟ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐พ๐ธ๐ โขโข ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ต๐๐. ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ #๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฝ๐๐๐ โขโข ๐ฟ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐ ๐-๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค.โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
๐ถโ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก. She plays with light and shadow and air, creating precise, intricate illusions that can fool almost everybody into believing that what she's created is real. ๐ด๐๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐ข๐โ ๐ โ๐'๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐ค๐๐, she makes up for it with her tricksy spells and enchantments, woven together in the ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ-๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ that Chae's become notorious for.
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
๐ซ๐๐๐พ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐พ๐๐ โง ๐ฏ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐ ๐๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐พ๐ธ: ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ฝ & ๐๐๐ธ๐ถ๐ โง ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐พ๐๐๐ & ๐ข๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐ โง ๐๐ถ๐๐พ๐ธ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐๐ท๐ถ๐
In addition, Chae works closely with ๐ด๐ถ๐ธ ๐๐น ๐ด๐๐บ๐ธ๐ฟ๐ to run a small, elite force of surveillance and reconnaissance operatives, led by Ace herself. Chae doesn't go into the field very often, but she provides the operatives with crucial magical skills and items.
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐(๐) ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
๐ถโ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ , ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐, โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. She's not afraid to get her hands dirty, nor is she incapable of using standard weaponry (like the Lycans and Vampires), ๐๐ก'๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ก โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. Chae has a sharp, precise style of spell-casting, carefully planning and calculating every move she makes, down to the tiniest little adjustments. She's especially good at using illusion magic to her advantage, bending light and shadow (and even sound and smell and taste!) to her will in order to ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ' ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ .
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
Although her preferred magic will always be casting illusions, she's very good (๐ โ๐'๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐, ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐) at all sorts of other magic types, notably ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (especially in the context of manipulating fire and earth), as well as decay magic (growth has, and probably will always, elude her - especially with the whole partially-soulless thing); she's quite good at calligraphy; ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ก๐๐๐๐ - ๐ โ๐'๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ; certainly not the most powerful Caster in terms of raw power, but she makes up for it with her ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ก๐ ; can be extremely persuasive when she wants to be; can also be charismatic (albeit in a vaguely terrifying way); nobody has ever accused her of being less than perfectly attired; ๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ and other forms of far-sight magic; has taken a liking to small, easily concealable throwing daggers
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
At a first glance, Chae has your typical cold (๐๐๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐?) bitchy queen bee-esque personality. She firmly believes that it is better to be feared than loved, and she holds herself with an air of haughty aloofness. Chae is perpetually annoyed at something, though she rarely makes rash decisions because those take so much...effort. ๐โ๐'๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ' ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ , โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, though there are certain subjects (๐ ๐ข๐โ ๐๐ , ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ค, โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐) that you really do not want to bring up in front of Chae. Chae can be impossibly snooty, and really, really mean, when she wants to be (she's just generally not a very nice person), ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ (trust me on this - werewolf claws have nothing on the metaphorical claws of alpha bitch queen bees. Nothing).
๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ค๐, ๐ถโ๐๐'๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ allow her to holistically assess any situation, no matter the circumstances. She is calm and collected under pressure, and she prefers not to mince her words, getting straight to the heart of the matter in the bluntest way possible. ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐, ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐ , and she's definitely not one to ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ . ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐, Chae has never been afraid of taking risks. She's not stupidly reckless, but nobody would call her a wimp, either.
๐ต๐๐๐๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ถโ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, however, lies a fear of being seen as weak or pathetic or vulnerable; she hates being seen as ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ - ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ข๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก, ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ . Because that's what she's living for, after all; ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐.
Chae doesn't speak of what happened when she ran away from home, seemingly disappearing into thin air, all those years ago, but never doubt this for a second: ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ก. Every. Single. Second. And it fills her with hatred, boiling restlessly in her gut, and it makes her angry. ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐-โ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
For the first half of her life, ๐ถโ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐.
๐ฝ๐-๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก, effortlessly winning the approval of both their family and the king and queen, and gods, yes Chae wanted to be like her, but more than that, ๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ฝ๐-๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ก๐๐.
And she did. At least, Chaeโs pretty sure she did, anyway, because even though ๐ฝ๐-๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ (and as a Caster, too! Everyone knew that Lycans and Vampires were more likely to join the ranks of the hunters), her older sister of ten years always made time for her. Ji-young was effortlessly charismatic, and smart and witty and everyone was always raving about her prowess on the field, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐คโ๐ ๐ฝ๐-๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ข๐โ๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐. Not their parents, or all the fancy important people she worked with, but Chae.
๐ด๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐. Killed in combat, they said. And thirteen-year-old Chae was shut in her room for most of the funeral, ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐.
Chae went missing for two months when she was fourteen, almost an entire year after Ji-young died. ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐พ๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, so everyone assumed that sheโd been abducted by demons, and possibly killed. Her parents - ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก - managed to confirm that she was still alive through a series of complex rituals and spells, but thanks to whatever the demons had done to mask their presence, ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐.
๐ผ๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐กโ, ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐คโ๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐โ๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก. It was stupid of her, in hindsight, but sheโd read all sorts of stories about how they could bring back the dead. And so one night, wreathed in shadows, ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฆ. What she found there was . . . worse than sheโd expected.
๐ต๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐. ๐โ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐. Ji-young wasnโt dead, not really. Sheโd been turned into a demon after one of them ripped her to shreds in battle, and even though it had only been a year, ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐.
Her sister, who was now a demon, was part of the group that confronted Chae as she moved deeper into demon territory. ๐ฝ๐-๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก, ๐๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐กโ๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ก โ๐ข๐๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก, ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ . Chae tried, desperately, to reason with what was left of her sister - because, while Ji-young was scarred and cut up in a million different ways and it looked like her hands had turned into talons larger than Chaeโs head, she still spoke with her sisterโs voice and her hair was still dyed the same platinum blonde with the same roots growing out and her eyes still looked like Ji-young - ๐๐ข๐ก โ๐๐ (๐๐๐๐๐๐?) ๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐.
They brought her back to one of their strongholds and left her in the dark. ๐ด๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐, ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ โ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ข๐โ๐ก โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐.
Chae had known what was going to happen, and she was absolutely terrified. Somehow, in some way, she ended up with the demon that her sister had turned into, and ๐ฝ๐-๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐, ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐.
Chae remembers what it felt like. ๐ผ๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ , all at once. But after a short while, it . . . stopped?
When Chae looked up, Ji-youngโs eyes were staring intently at her. It was too dark for her to see anything else, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ โ๐ ๐ ๐๐ค ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ข๐โ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐.
Chae woke up in the middle of nowhere, and she slowly made her way back home. Everyone fussed over her when she returned, but she just wanted to be left alone. And when they asked about what had happened, where sheโd gone, ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ โ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก. Every time someone pressed her for information, Chae said: ๐ผ ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
{ ๐๐๐น ๐พ๐โ๐ ๐ถ ๐๐พ๐, ๐พ๐โ๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ ๐๐พ๐. ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฝ๐พ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐พ๐๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ ๐พ๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐๐พ๐๐ ๐พ๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐น ๐๐พ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐. }
After a while, it became clear to Chae that something inside her changed. ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ . . . ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐? Like sheโs watching the world pass by through a TV screen. ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ , ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ , ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก. The only thing that still feels normal is the anger.
So thatโs what Chae lives on, nowadays. ๐โ๐โ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐, and her ideas for neutralizing the demons are ruthless and cruel, even to some seasoned veterans. Chaeโs learned how to hide some of the more jagged bits of her anger, ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐, but people arenโt exactly 100% fooled - they call her { ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ } for a reason, after all.
Whatever. Chae doesnโt care. ๐โ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐, and sheโll be damned if anyone stands in her way.
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
๊ฐแดส แดส๊ฑแดษชแด สแดษชส: แดสแด สแดสแดแดสแดส
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โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ร๐๐๐ โพ
{ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ } Percy and Chae's parents know each other, so the two of them became friends through their families. As children, they trained together and were actually fairly close, but ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ๐๐๐๐ค๐ (๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ , ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ, ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ก-๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐), ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐ก. At Mystic Lair, they're sort-of rivals - Chae really, really, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ doesn't care enough to acknowledge anyone at the Lair as a rival, but if she did, Percy would be rival #1 - ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐โ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐โ ๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐คโ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ฆ๐๐ . Chae, for her part, doesn't actually know what Percy's been up to, but she thinks that she's flashy and frivolous and believes that she's constantly fooling around.
๐ด๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ฆ'๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก. Percy is a ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐, flashy and forceful and unstoppable, while Chae, for all that she lacks Percy's brute force, is the ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐๐ค๐ , weaving her spells together to keep them hidden until just the right moment.
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
{ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ } Chae first noticed Kai when he was assigned to sit in on planning sessions that Ace held with her team (which includes Chae). ๐โ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐, โ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ค โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐. She didnโt really care for Kai before he cleaned up his act, but once she did, Chae was appropriately impressed. Kai had originally approached her during his second year for some help with more theoretical classes, and once Chae saw that he was serious about it, she agreed to give him guidance. ๐โ๐๐ฆโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ฆโ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐โ ๐๐กโ๐๐, and Chae trusts him to have her back in a fight.
The one thing that they occasionally clash on is Chaeโs brutal honesty. ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐พ๐๐, ๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐คโ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐โ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐กโ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ , Kai will step in and try to lessen the impact of her words (as if doing that would solve anything!). Ace usually intervenes before anything gets too out of hand, but ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก.
๐๐๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐ด๐๐, ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐พ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ด๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ . ๐พ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐โ๐ก ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐โ๐ก ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก ๐ด๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ข๐โ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
{ ๐๐๐๐๐ } Chae is pretty disparaging towards Halen, ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐'๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ. She thinks he's too flashy and too loud, but would freely admit that his magic is pretty damn powerful (followed immediately by a snub towards his general character, of course). ๐โ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐กโ๐๐ข๐โ ๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐'๐ก ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐๐ก.
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
{ ๐๐๐ } ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ก ๐ธ๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐กโ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐. In all honesty, Chae didnโt really notice Ella at first - she was just so much younger, and didnโt really seem all that special in comparison with the other kids her age and older. ๐ผ๐ก ๐๐ ๐โ๐ก ๐ข๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ด๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ก๐๐๐โ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ for an especially talented student that Chae really notices Ella. She only needs to see her in action once to realize how Ella could be a valuable asset to the team
As time goes on, Chae recognizes her potential, so much so that ๐คโ๐๐ ๐พ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ โ๐โ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐, Chae immediately jumps to her defense. And she does care about Ella, in a way - she reminds Chae of herself, when she was younger. ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐ธ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐, if her sister was still alive, and if she was still wholly, well, alive.
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
{ ๐๐๐๐๐ } Chae doesnโt know what exactly her deal is, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ โ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ถโ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐โ๐ก. At all. Of course, she doesnโt know anything about Charlotteโs background (other than the fact that sheโs the daughter of Seleneโs king and queen), but really. ๐โ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐???
Naturally, the two of them met at a fancy official event when they were younger, ๐กโ๐๐ข๐โ ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ . In fact, Chae doesnโt recognize Charlotte as anything other than a total slacker until a training mission gone wrong, when theyโre ambushed by demons while out in the field. ๐โ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ (๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐) ๐ก๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐, and it all comes out: the reason behind Charlotteโs fear of demons, and how this manifests itself. ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, and she herself confesses about what happened when she went missing. They donโt become BFFs overnight, but they finally reach some sort of understanding.
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โพ
COMING SOON
ย
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ๊ฐแดส แดส๊ฑแดษชแด สแดษชส: แดสแด สแดสแดแดสแดส
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โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โฝ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ โพ
๐๐๐๐น๐ถ๐, ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ฝ, 2020โโโโโโโThe first day back at Mystic Lair. It was Chaeโs second-to-last year, so she had a pretty good idea of how shit worked by now, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ ๐, ๐กโ๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐โ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ.
โโโโโโโChae couldnโt even begin to fathom how Eleanora felt about the entire thing. She remembered what she herself had felt after she got the news about her sister: ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐, โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ , ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐. Perhaps there was still the consolation that the missing brother in question was still alive, but with the demons, who knew how long that would last.
โโโโโโโChae was itching for a chance to ask about the details โ she was sure that she could help, in some way - but unfortunately, that would have to wait until lunch. ๐โ๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐, ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐, ๐ค๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, which meant sitting through the requisite orientation as he went over the rules. Chae had heard them enough times by now to have them memorized, but she tried to pay attention nonetheless, in case there were any changes from last year.
โโโโโโโChaeโs schedule for the upcoming semester were standard Caster fare, for the most part. ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐, as brewing the Elixir needed to defeat demons was always going to be a top priority. Her Theories of Magic class might prove itself to be a difficult, because although Chae had decay magic down pat, ๐ โ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐๐๐ค๐กโ ๐๐๐๐๐. Probably had something to do with losing a good chunk of her soul to a demon, but sometimes it just be like that.
โโโโโโโIllusions and Glamours would be a breeze - in fact, it would be one of Chaeโs favorite classes if it was anything like the other illusion-casting classes sheโd taken in previous years - ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก. It was no secret that Chae wasnโt the traditional combat-Caster; her sister, Ji-young, had fit the mold better than Chae ever had. She had the raw power to back up her magic that could blindside an opponent in less than a second, and as much as Chae hated to admit it, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐, ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐กโ ๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐, would always be better suited for fighting demons in a head-on fight than she would ever be.
โโโโโโโChaeโs specialties were a bit less flashy and forceful. ๐ผ๐ ๐ฝ๐-๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ , then Chae was quicksilver; her magic played with light and shadow and air to cast intricate illusions, unpredictable yet deadly precise, and gone in a flash. Chae knew that sheโd never be a typical combat-Caster, but she was fine with that - so long as the others accepted her as one of their own, she was happy to stay out of the spotlight, providing less obvious forms of support with her tricksy illusion magic.
โโโโโโโPerhaps that was why sheโd liked Eleanora from the start, even when they were still โAceโ and โStoneheartโ to each other. ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐-โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ, ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐คโ๐ ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐. She didnโt care about other peopleโs opinions, so long as you gave her enough to form her own.
โโโโโโโChae also had to admit that Eleanora was very good at keeping her emotions in check. Sheโd seen her stay calm and collected in every situation imaginable, thinking everything through with a detached sort of logic so that she could get her team back safely. ๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก . . . ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ข๐โ๐ก? ๐โ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐โ.
โโโโโโโChae, Ace, and Kai usually ate together, going over plans and strategies in the mess hall. All three of them had jam-packed schedules, and the headmaster had made it clear for them: their work as an elite surveillance and reconnaissance unit would take precedence over all of their other studies. Still, it was good to take advantage of free time, such as lunch.
โโโโโโโWhen Chae sat down with her tray of food, ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐. She was doing a good job of hiding it, of course, but Chae had known Eleanora for long enough to see straight through her.
โโโโโโโSure, itโs her brother, Chae thought to herself, but her familyโs been grooming her to be a hunter since before she could walk. Is it something else? She told me that the demons hadnโt hurt him yet, but did they change their minds? Did they already kill him?
โโโKai, who Chae knew as the Hierophant, joined her at the table before Eleanora arrived. He sent her a sidelong glance; Chae duly ignored him. She knew what he was thinking: ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก. Well, fuck that, Eleanora was her friend. She wouldnโt be insensitive (or sheโd try not to be, anyway), ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ค. ๐โ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก โ๐๐ค ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ.
โโโโโโโโAce,โ she said, quietly. Eleanora looked up, seemingly realizing Chaeโs presence for the first time.
โโโโโโโShe smiled faintly. โHey.โ
โโโโโโโChae gave her a scrutinizing look. โ๐โ๐๐กโ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐? ๐ท๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐?โ
โโโ โSupernovaโs giving you a hard time again?โ added Kai, smiling sympathetically.
โโโโโโโEleanora hesitated, then shook her head. She sighed heavily, and gave Chae and Kai another faint smile. โNo, I - itโs just been a long morning,โ she replied. She poked and prodded at the unidentifiable food on her tray, then got up. โIโm going to go see if I can find the professor who teaches Incantation for the Dark Arts. Weโll probably need one of their students for the next operation.โ
โโโShe paused, glanced back at Chae and Kai. โ๐ผโ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐กโ๐๐?โ
โโโโโโโChae nodded, unsure of how to proceed. Kai looked sympathetic, and he was saying something to Eleanora, but Chae couldnโt bring herself to pay attention to the rest of the conversation. ๐ผ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ค ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ , ๐๐ ๐คโ๐ฆ ๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐โ ๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐.
โโโโโโโChae turned to Kai, after Eleanora had gone. โIs it just me, or does it feel like sheโs not giving us the full story?โ she asked. โ๐ผ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก - ๐ผ ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ค. ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ผโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐.โ
โโโ โHer brother just got taken away. She just needs more time,โ Kai said in a low voice. He cut a piece of chicken and stuffed it in his mouth.
โโโโโโโChae hummed tunelessly in agreement. Then, carefully, she asked: โ๐ป๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข?โ
โโโโNot really. I didnโt see her at all during training this morning. Why?โ
โโโโโโโChae was quiet for a moment. She wasnโt entirely sure how to explain the feeling she had. โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ฝ๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ข๐ . ๐ผโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐.โ
โโโKai smiled at her, again. โNothing to worry about. Those demons have nothing on us. If we have to get a rescue mission going, weโll do just that.โ
โโโChae let the corner of her lip twitch upwards in a faint smile, despite herself, and laughed mirthlessly. โWell, youโre right about that,โ she said. โThough Iโm sure that if a rescue mission was a plausible course of action, they already would have put one together. ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐."
โโโKai seemed to consider this for a moment. โPossibly,โ he said, finally. โBut I reckon Ace would have said something about it. At least, to any of us.โ He shrugged. โ๐ด๐๐ฆ๐ค๐๐ฆ, ๐ผโ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ โ๐๐.โ
โโโChae sighed. โI suppose youโre right,โ she admitted.
โโโThen, Kaiโs glance flickered downwards to the food on her tray. โAre you going to eat that?โ
โโโChae rolled her eyes, but pushed the tray towards him. โYou can have it; Iโm not very hungry. In fact, I should probably get going myself.โ She was gathering up her things when someone else approached the table - what was her name again? ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐; ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐๐?
โโโIn any case, Chae didnโt stick around to find out. She left without acknowledging the other girl, letting Kai talk to her in peace.
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โโโChae was so distracted by Eleanoraโs strange behavior that she didnโt even notice Percy - er, ๐ฟ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐, they werenโt friends anymore, and she really should stop thinking of her by anything other than her assigned codename - sitting right there as Chae brusquely brushed past a group of people on her way out of the mess hall, accidentally jostling someoneโs bag in the process.
โโโโHey, watch where youโre going!โ one of the vampires called irritably, and Chae snapped herself out of her reverie to turn and glare daggers in their direction. Lucifera was sitting next to the vampire in question, and looked about as happy as Chae did to be seeing her. ๐โ๐๐โ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ, ๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐.
โโโChaeโs gaze skipped over the other vampires to meet Luciferaโs. For a few seconds, the two of them glowered at each other, before Chae simply turned on her heel and left, without saying a single word.
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
โโโ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ , but Chae found that after her busy morning, she was more than happy to simply let Whistlerโs words flow through her as she tried to forget about her hunch regarding Eleanora.
โโโUnfortunately for Chae, it wasnโt long before they were being assigned partners for the potion-brewing labs. She sighed and rubbed her temples - ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐ก๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ค๐๐๐, and by the sidelong glances the other cadets were shooting her, they all knew it - and Chae listened closely until she heard her name.
โโโโHeart of Stone and Storm-Maiden,โ Whistler read off her list, and Chae let her gaze flit across the room until she located the other girl, a dark-haired Caster who was almost an entire head shorter than she was. Have I met her before? Chae wondered herself as she gathered her things and walked over to their assigned table. I remember her family, but not Storm herself.
โโโOnce everyone had gotten settled, Whistler started explaining their task for the first class. ๐ผ๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐โ๐ก ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐. Storm was doing the same, and as they worked to prepare the ingredients, Chae didnโt bother with pleasantries or small talk. Potion making wasnโt her greatest strength, but Chae was by no means bad at it, and she noted that Storm herself seemed competent enough. Good; that would make her life a lot easier, once they started delving deeper into the course.
โโโWhen they were dismissed, Chae once again didnโt bother with pleasantries or small talk. After briskly ensuring that everything was put away, ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐.
โโโHer friend and comrade looked up as Chae walked through the door. As expected, the room was still empty. Eleanora smiled as Chae walked over and stood beside the chair she was sitting in.
โโโโHey, Chae. Whatโs up?โ the Lycan gave Chae a small, tired smile, brushing a strand of her dark brown hair out of her face.
โโโChae was quiet for a moment. โHowโre you holding up?โ she said, finally. Then, โ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ก ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐ค๐๐๐, ๐๐๐โ๐ก?โ
โโโEleanora, like Chae, was quiet for a moment before she responded. โI know,โ she replied, softly. โThank you. I . . . I know that you, more than anyone, would know what itโs like.โ
โโโChae glanced down at the reminder of her sister. She drew in a breath, and gave Eleanora a wan smile. โYeah,โ she replied, โ๐๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐โ๐ก ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ต๐ข๐ก ๐ผ ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ . . .โ she trailed off, and Eleanora gave her another small smile.
โโโโThank you,โ she said again, and then the two of them fell silent as the other hunters started filtering into the meeting room. It wasnโt long before the meeting got underway, and as Chae had expected, the top priority was recovering Eleanoraโs younger brother. ๐ป๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ ๐ฟ๐ข๐๐ฆ๐, ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ข๐๐ก๐๐. ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ โ๐๐, and that information could prove itself to be dangerous, depending on what the demons already knew.
โโโOverall, it wasnโt a very productive meeting. The higher-ups bickered amongst themselves, and Eleanora was still being uncharacteristically quiet, so it fell to one of the other Lycans to provide their perspective on things. Chae chimed in when she could, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ โ๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ. It grated on Chaeโs nerves, but for Eleanoraโs sake, she kept her temper in check.
โโโWhen the meeting was over, Chae was positively exhausted. And it was still only the first day of the semester.
โโโโโโโโโโโ โ โขโ โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ โขโ โโโโโโโโโโโ
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