Chroma and Achromos

Chapter 15: Three Years Ago

Chroma inhaled the surrounding air deeply and let out a long sigh. He then looked at his hair, which was now silver in color. All day, he's been thinking hard to figure out what he should do. And now he has set his heart.

The sound of Achromos footsteps that felt heavy was getting closer. Chroma squeezed her finger, feeling an overwhelming unease. He himself did not know whether his decision this time was right or not. And he also did not know how the Achromos reaction would be.

The door finally opened, revealing the figure of Achromos who put on an unpredictable face. He said nothing and walked into the closet. Chroma was a little surprised to see Achromos not reacting. Was the light so dim that he couldn't see his hair?

Chroma gulps. His anxiety had now increased tenfold. Just looking at Achromos' face made him want to dig a hole and hide.

I can't run away! I've decided! Inner Chroma convinced herself.

Achromos, who was wearing a nightgown, walked over to the bed. Without opening his voice he immediately broke down and closed his eyes.

"A-Achromos!" Chroma finally. His throat feels so dry.

"What?" Ask Achromos after a while.

"Something I want to talk about." Answer Chroma.

Achromos opened his eyes and looked at Chroma's agitated face. He glanced at Chroma's hair in slight surprise but he sat on the bed without saying anything.

"What do you want to talk about?" Ask Achromos.

Chroma again swallowed. This time he did something like this. It was only natural that he felt extremely agitated. His hands felt so cold.

"I don't know what you'd do if I said it. But I'll keep talking." Added Chroma.

"I'll hear you." Reply Achromos.

Chroma inhaled a deep breath and swallowed him once more.

"Achromos, I'm not Princess Jane. My name is Chroma, and I'm on a mission to disguise myself as Jane. The purpose of my mission this time is to kill you." Chroma said in a slightly raucous voice.

Achromos did not sound hearing the words Chroma— made Chroma feel unusually worried. He could not guess what Achromos was going to do. Will he be beheaded? Drowned in the sea? Or tortured to death?

"Chroma, huh?" Achromos.

"L-yes!" Chroma.

"So that's it." Achromos.

I don't think he wants me to call Jane. His inner.

Chroma was immediately astonished to see the Achromos reaction. Why didn't he feel surprised? Or angry? Why does he just say that?

"That's all?" Ask Chroma.

"What do you want me to do?" Ask Achromos.

"But-but! I have deceived you! I've been hiding a lot of things from you too! I am the enemy! You're not worried that I'll kill you one day?? I could've kept my mission, right??" Chroma did not want to believe it.

"If you were going to kill me, you wouldn't bother to reveal your identity, would you?" Achromos.

"That-that's.." Chroma was at a loss for words. He did not expect Achromos to take it for granted. But he has prepared his heart with all the possible consequences.

"Again, I was expecting it." Achromos.

"Eh, you mean?" Ask Chroma.

"You know, Cain's actually a genius investigator. I asked her to investigate you because Braz suddenly asked me to marry you. I felt suspicious and Cain finally investigated Jane. He also knows you're a fake Jane because when you were attacked, the famously protective King Hecca did nothing. Not even his star did anything. Though Cain several times saw Princess Jane's kstaria wandering in the palace. Second, you also contradict the information about the real Jane. Third, when Cain said you were gray, he told me it wasn't gray hair, it was real hair." Achromos.

"If you know..why don't you kill me right away??" Chroma said in disbelief.

"I originally intended to catch you, but somehow I felt that you who were struggling to become a princess were so adorable that I unconsciously did nothing." Answer Achromos.

"But, but. why?" Chroma said still in disbelief.

"After all, even if you're undercover, is it true that everything you do is pretend?" Ask Achromos. "What's the moment you get excited when you see a flower in the greenhouse also pretend? Or when you feel shocked when I hug you for the first time? Or when you said what you said this morning?"

Chroma felt her tongue. His throat began to hurt withstanding the crying.

"Chroma, tell me. Is everything you do pretending? Is there not a single bit of you who really is? If you don't explain, I won't understand." Add Achromos.

"I.. I'm not pretending." Chroma finally answered.

"What about what you said this morning?" Ask Achromos.

Chroma was silent for a while.

"I. I. don't pretend.." Speak Chroma in a very small voice. A thread of tears dripped again from his eyes that were still a little careless.

Just then, Achromos pulled Chroma into his arms. The tiny body trembled while sobbing.

"Chroma, then. there's nothing to be concerned about, right?" Gentle Achromos. Chroma immediately shook her head in disagreement.

"You don't understand.." Sluggishly. "There's one more thing I haven't said."

"What?" Ask Achromos.

"The story of what happened three years ago."

•••

Three years ago.

"Ash!!" Chroma scattered and hugged Ash who had just arrived at the palace. His crisp laughter echoed in that vast space. Ash just chuckles while holding Chroma's body and kissing her forehead.

"Chroma, are you healthy? Sorry I left long enough. In exchange I will play with you until I am satisfied!" Ash is happy.

Chroma instantly dented her smile and pursed her lips.

"Who? How pouting?" Ask Ash wonder.

"Ash? Are you crazy? I'm not a kid anymore! I'm thirteen years old! I don't need to play with you!" Chroma's fuming with annoyance.

Ash's laughter instantly broke.

"Yes, geez! I forgot to! Maybe it's because you're always rolling on me like a monkey kid every time I come home." He said with a joke.

"Well! Please don't reveal my habits! It's all because you taught me, right?" Grunts Chroma while pinching both of Ash's cheeks.

"Eh? Since when did I teach you that? Didn't you cry when I was staying and immediately hug me when I came home?" God Ash.

"That was it first!" Chroma. Ash only chuckles back while peeking at Chroma's cheeks slowly, making Chroma immediately pinch Ash's head.

"The relationship between the two of you has not changed at all, yes.." Leon who had just been silent to watch their behavior finally spoke up.

"Haha! Just tell me you're jealous, Leon! Admit it!" Tempt Chroma with pleasure.

"Whoever is envious, Miss.." Reply Leon lazily.

Ash only chuckled for a moment, but after that the look on his face changed slightly.

"Chroma, you better not wander outside the palace just yet for a while now. I'll keep you company so you don't get bored." He said while lowering Chroma.

"Why?" Ask Chroma.

Ash only smiled faintly without answering Chroma's question.

"Leon, I'm going to sleep with Chroma tonight, so please don't let anyone in at will." Said Ash casually.

"Yes-Yes-Your Majesty! Wait up! W-why do you order such a thing??" Asked Leon with a flushed face. Ash simply raised his eyebrows in confusion.

"What if I want to sleep with my own sister? I haven't seen him in a month! I don't want anyone interrupting my time with the precious Chroma!" He hugged Chroma tightly. "Yes, right, my Chroma?"

"Hmph! If you're that dear to me, I'll let you know!" Chroma Timpal.

"Look, Leon! Chroma just let me! Why are you asking again?" Ask Ash.

"Huh?" Ash and Chroma asked at the same time.

Leon simply shook his head while smiling knots. Indeed if others saw them, they really did look like big sister. But for him who knows their situation, letting them sleep together is enough to make him worry. But his worries seemed to be in vain. They are real families.

•••

"Chroma, don't ever get out of here! Remember that! Wait till I get back!" Ash cried while locking the wardrobe door in his room without waiting for a response from Chroma.

Chroma curled up in confusion and fear in the closet. The sound of slashing and the clanking of swords rang out from outside. What the hell is going on? Suddenly, Ash holds her sleeping self into a closet and locks her inside.

"Ash.." His whisper worried.

Before long, the sounds of explosions and screams sounded. Chroma immediately felt fear and was unusually worried about the state of the palace. Without a second thought, he broke down the closet door and ran out.

Chroma immediately pecked as soon as she stepped her foot out of the room.

The view he saw was horrible. All the people he knew, servants, bodyguards, and royal soldiers laid lifeless. Not far away, he heard Ash's scream.

"Asha.. Ash!!!" With tears streaming out, Chroma ran as fast as she could. He searched, searched, and searched for Ash. But what he met was Leon's body that was sprawled without life.

"Le.. on?" Panggi Chroma. He approached Leon's body and shook it slowly.

"Leon. wake up, Leon.. Don't pretend to be asleep.." His word.

"Leon! Leon!! LEON!!!"

Chroma was sitting on the floor limply. He can't believe what happened. Everything happened so fast. He doesn't want to believe. Some of his heart still hoped this was all just a nightmare.

"Oh! I finally found you!"

Chroma stared at the black-robed figure who in an instant was already standing before her. The figure stepped closer to him while grinning.

"It's so hard to see you! As expected, the silver chief was indeed a member of the Artemis Clan, it was hard to defeat. He even managed to sniff out our plan to catch you. Plus he's stubborn, I've been beating repeatedly, still fighting." Said the man casually.

DEG!!

Hearing the person mention the 'silver head', Chroma immediately rose to her feet.

"What.. did you do to Ash?" Ask Chroma.

"Hm? Ash's? Oh, the silver head? So that's his name? Haha, I just played with him for a while!" The answer.

Suddenly, Chroma darted and attacked the person with her knife. But the man could still dodge, even though his cheek was slashed and the hood that covered his head was now torn.—shows his pale-skinned face.

"Ups! Almost just!" Said relaxed.

"WHERE'S ASH?!!" Chroma screamed while looking at him sharply.

"Oh, looks like I've woken a tiger." He said, chuckling slowly.

"ANSWER ME! OR I'LL KILL YOU!!" Chroma again.

The man took a few steps back.

"Wait first. Don't go berserk! I'll have trouble fighting you. You're the most powerful former assassin in Ellios Kingdom, I could be really dead." His word.

Without further ado, Chroma immediately shot out and returned to attack him at high speed. The man parried Chroma's blade with his sword several times, yet he was increasingly pushed back.

"Wowow! Patience first! I'll be really killed!" Exclaimed that person while continuing to fend off the Chroma attack that felt increasingly heavy and fast.

Lothawat! I could die if this keeps on! Her mind was a little panicked.

Chroma continued to attack that person mercilessly. He was blinded by anger and hate. Ash is the most valuable person in his life, and also the people in Ellios Kingdom. They gave Chroma a home so warm. They accept Chroma as it is. And now everything is destroyed in a few minutes. Chroma vowed not to forgive anyone who did.

JEBE!!

After a very fierce fight, Chroma's knife finally managed to plug into the person's stomach, making fresh blood flow just like that.

"Damn.." Smile at that person while smiling.

"Chroma. You don't understand." Said.

"I don't want to understand." Chroma replied as she turned her knife and made the person spit out a thick blood.

All of a sudden, two men who were also wearing black robes appeared and pulled the person away, making Chroma's blade detach from her body easily.

"Why did you almost die?" Ask one of the two. The guy grinned.

"He's so strong, don't make him go berserk." Said the man.

Chroma did not understand what was happening, but he resumed his attack, making the two newly arrived people try to dodge. Faintly, Chroma saw silver mandala-shaped earrings on their ears.

"It's getting dangerous! We better get back first!" Excite one of them.

"Chroma. I'll be back.." Said the man while grinning.

All of a sudden, they all turned into black smoke and vanished from before Chroma.

Chroma gasped for a moment but immediately gritted her teeth furiously. He threw his knife on the floor violently.

"Damn! DAMNIT DAMNIT!! OHHHHHH!!" His screams.

"Chro.m.." A faint sound made Chroma come to her senses from her anger and immediately ran towards the source of the sound.

"God!" Chroma immediately knelt down as soon as she found Ash lying in a pool of blood.

"Asha.. Ash's.. What am I supposed to do?" Chroma said as she sobbed.

His mind is so tangled. He has absolutely no idea what he should do. Ash's condition looks so awful. He felt desperate. Calling a royal physician was impossible because the entire palace had already been massacred. What else is the fire starting everywhere.

"Chro. ma. I'm sorry.." Lirih Ash while rubbing Chroma's cheeks slowly, incised a thick blood stain there. His breathing seemed to be getting slower and heavier. Chroma immediately grabbed her hand and grasped it tightly.

"Why is Ash apologizing?" Ask.

Ash showed a very special warm smile.

"I. failed to protect you.. I can't keep my promise.." His word.

Chroma shakes.

"No! Ash. Don't say such a thing! You're still going with me, aren't you, Ash? You're not gonna leave me alone, are you??" Chroma shakes while looking at Ash with nanar.

"Chro. ma. I can't.. You gotta. go.. This place will be destroyed.." Ash's voice was getting quieter and louder.

"Well! I don't want to go! I'll stay here!" Chroma disagreed.

"Chroma.you are my sister.. For.. the last time.. can't you.. obey.. your brother's words?" Ask Ash.

"Asha.. Ash's.. It's all my fault! They're after me, right?? It's all my fault!! I'm sorry!! I'm sorry!!" Pekik Chroma's.

Again, Ash showed his trademark smile that was now mixed with deep sadness. His weakened hands, trying to tighten his grasp.

"Chroma. promise me. You won't kill again.. You've had enough. men.deri.ta.. K.au. ha.r.us.ba.ha.gia.."

Ash's eyes dimmed. His breathing seemed increasingly faint.

"Ak.u..u.nya.yang.imu..sam.pai...ka..pan...pu.nu.."

Ash's last words were heard in the midst of the blazing flames. His thin hands were no longer holding Chroma's hands back. Chroma called Ash's name many times, begging him to open his eyes until his throat hurt. He cursed whoever was to blame, himself, those black-robed people, even the gods. But as much as he pleaded and cursed, the now closed eyes never opened again.

That night, at the Ellios Royal Palace, only the sound of flames blazing and the desperate cry of a woman could be heard.

———