Gifted

When Charlotte, Shiro and Shawi arrived at the guild mansion, everybody was already back and were waiting for further instructions or an explanation for the abrupt alert that they've received. But once the three arrived, a loud siren resounded across the Castle.

"What is that?" Isabelle asked, in confusion, to no one in particular.

"That Castle has been invaded" Cameron said with dread in his voice, as his face began to pale.

He and the rest from the Castle had the same worried and alarmed expressions in the faces, making the rest from Crystal Mist wonder what or who could've made everyone act like the world is ending.

"The siren signifies that once it goes off, the Chaos and Shadows have successfully stepped on the Castle's soil" Maria said with a cold voice, as brief worry flashed across her face.

"Wait! It thought the Castle was a safe place that's hidden so well? How can the Chaos and Shadows find this place?" Alex asked with a mixed of worry, panic, and bubbling anger in his voice. He was worried because he almost died once in the hands of those Shadows, but he was also angry because he almost died in the hands of those Shadows. After everything Alex went through, it was safe to say that he absolutely despises Shadows and Chaos alike, with so much passion.

"I'm afraid, that is a question that I'am unable to answer" Maria said as she massaged her temples. "But every Castle dweller should have already seen this invasion happening."

What Maria said made everyone turn to her with great surprise.

"What do you mean?" Pearl was the one who asked the question in everyone's mind.

"The Grandmaster has already lived for a very long time and his Gift has already greatly weakened. As everyone of you know. the Grandmaster was the one that created the Castle with his Gift. And with the same Gift he has hidden and kept the the Castle safe from every invader. In short, the Castle is connected to his life force. The more his life force weakens, the more the Castle's camouflage is also weakened, thus revealing it's location to every hostile invader." Maria said with a somber expression.

"B-but that's impossible" Ji Soo said with a terrified voice.

"Nothing is impossible in this world Ji" Bobby gently said, as he wrap an arm around Ji Soo's shoulders.

Suddenly realizing something Andrew walked towards June and with a low voice he said "Bro, how did you know? You called everyone back because you know that the Castle has been invaded right?"

June looked at his brother with a trouble expression, not knowing what to say without sounding crazy. But after a couple seconds, he just decided to lay it all out there, and make everyone that could here him be the judge, whether they're going to believe him or not.

"You remember when I told you guys about the voice that led me where to find you?" June asked, to which Andrew responded with a nod.

Of course, he remembers. That is one, if not the most important day of his life. That was the day that absolutely changed his life forever.

"That same voice was the one that told me to act fast in order to save Jordan's life" June said, which made Andrew's eyes widen in surprise.

On the night of battle with Luke, Andrew thought that Luke only wanted revenge on June, but he never expected for Luke to use Jordan in his revenge, when they faced him at the football field. Andrew finally understood why June was so adamant on facing Luke, even if that means he's was going alone. He already knew that Jordan is facing death's door and that if June didn't hurry, Jordan will be entering that door.

"That voice only told me to call everyone back, but I never expected that this invasion was the reason. Usually, I can talk to the voice on a normal basis, but right now, it told me that someone or something is blocking it from talking to me. Now that I think about it, a Chaos must've be the one behind it." June explained. June is 99.80% confident in his guess that a Chaos must've been the culprit on why he can't talk to Ignis. And if his theory is correct, then that same Chaos must've been the reason for the invasion that happened, it was the only logical explanation.

Andrew understood what his brother said about his suspicions, because once upon a time, he almost lost his life to a Chaos. Why they let them live? Andrew didn't think too much about, or he should he say that he never wants think about it; as he was just thankful that he is still alive. The capabilities of a Chaos is so unknown, that it's terrifying to even think about it.

Andrew was about to ask his brother on the best course of action to take, when multiple extremely loud and strong explosion suddenly occurred, shaking the whole Guild mansion.

Even before anyone could react properly, Fluer already duck, cover and holded her way under the nearest mahogany table, while screaming hysterically. The whole thing would've looked comical if not for the dangerous situation that they are in, at the moment.

"Pull out all the footages that we can access around the Castle" Isabelle instructed Alex and Pearl with great urgency.

As Alex and Pearl got to work. With great speed they were able to pull up the requested footages.

In the Castle, Maria's Guild mansion is located the furthest from all the other guilds and the Castle hall. Imagine if the Castle is a city, Maria's Guild is located at the outskirts of it. This fact gave a little bit of comfort in Maria's heart, as they are the furthest from where the chaos is happening, giving them some time to plan out the best coarse of action to take.

Seeing the Castle fall under Chaos, filled everyone watching with dread. There were many Gifteds that were sheltered that they didn't stand a chance when facing even the lowest kind of Shadow.

The living area was so silent that a pin drop could be heard. They watched as Gifted after Gifted got massacred. Some unfortunate Gifteds turned into Shadows against there own will, making everyone's heart drop to the ground. They watch helplessly as people of their kind, wear tormented expressions in their faces as they slowly turn to the very thing that they hated that most.

Minerva's heart twisted painfully, upon seeing her kind getting devoured and killed. Clenching her fists, Minerva started walking out of the living area only to be stopped by Maria.

"Where are you heading Minerva?" Maria asked, still with a calm voice.

"I can't just watch idly as my kind gets killed" Minerva responded with a hint of accusation in her voice. She didn't understand why Lady Maria isn't doing anything, when Gifted are being killed. She didn't understand how she could still stay so calm, when the castle is literally falling right before their eyes. So yes, Minerva wasn't afraid to let Maria hear the accusation in her voice.

"I understand how you are feeling Minerva, as I'm feeling the same. But if you let your emotions cloud your judgments, then you best believe that you won't last long before you yourself get killed" Maria said with sternness in her voice. "If you want to go, then go ahead. I will not be stopping you" In the end of the day, everyone in her Guild is already old enough to make their own decisions, so if Minerva wanted to leave, then she will let her. Her letting her Guild members leave on their own doesn't mean she didn't care about them, she just didn't want them to feel like their being held against their will and that they have no say in it what so ever. She also wanted them to learn that their actions have consequences. She has already done her job in teaching everyone in her Guild, now it's up to them on how will they use her teachings.

Maria's calmness should not be mistaken for indifference, because everyone should best believe that Maria is the one being affected the most out of everyone. She just didn't want to make a rash decision base on her emotions, as that direction can only lead to destruction. She didn't care if she was viewed as someone who didn't care, because her ultimate goal is to make sure that the Gifteds that placed their trust on her will stay protected and alive.

Minerva was consumed with anger when she heard Maria's reply. She didn't understand why Maria was acting like she didn't care at all. In her anger, she stormed out of the living area. She was about to leave the Guild mansion when a firm hand suddenly grabbed her arm to stop her. She turned to glare at the person who had the audacity to stop her; coming face to face with Chen who had a somber but stern expression in his face.

"Minerva it's not like you to be consumed by your emotions easily. I completely understand what you are feeling right now, but I think no one here understands more than Lady Maria. Lady Maria lived in the Castle way longer than both of us. So, if there's someone here who is agonizing about wanting to do anything, it should be her. Lady Maria is right. If we make a move right now, we'll only make things worse. If we died because of our foolish actions, then won't that bring more heart ache to Lady Maria's heart. Please, Minerva, put your trust in Lady Maria once more, just like how you trusted her when you had nowhere to go" Chen said with full of sincerity, as he gave Minerva's arm a light squeeze. Chen always held himself back when it comes to Minerva, because he believed that Minerva is a strong woman. But when she started becoming irrational because of her emotions, he knew that he had to step in. He couldn't let the person that he adores the most, to go and practically commit suicide.

Thankfully, what Chen said, snapped some sense into Minerva and began thinking with her head once more. But then she became curious about one thing and asked.

"Why did you say 'we' instead of 'you'? Are you saying that you'd still follow me, even if I foolishly charged without thinking?"

With her questions asked, Chen only gave Minerva a gentle smile and nodded. It really is amazing, what love can do to a person. Even to the death, he will foolishly follow her.

At that moment, Minerva truly understood Chen's feelings towards her. For the longest time, she just ignored Chen's feelings for her, as she believed that love is something that can make a person weak. But once she got out of her father's guild and entered Lady Maria's guild, her entire perspective changed. Her view one life widen as she continued to grow in the care of Lady Maria, the teachers, and her peers. She finally understood that there is more to life than just power and being strong.

With a sigh, she tried removing Chen's hand on her arm, but Chen tightened his grip, terrified that Minerva was still going to leave.

With a gentle smile Minerva said "Don't worry, I won't leave"

Hearing the words that came out of Minerva's mouth, Chen finally breathed out a relived sigh. Chen released Minerva and was about head back to the living area, only to be surprised when Minerva actually held his hand.

"M-minerva?" Chen could only say her name, as he didn't know what exactly to say. He kept looking at their joint hands, then to Minerva, then back to their joint hands, then once again returned to her.

"Look, I need someone who is rational enough to stop me from foolishly charging out of here" Minerva only said, but it absolutely made Chen's day.

The Castle is literally falling apart, but for Chen? "It was truly a great day to be alive" he though.

Chen and Minerva went back to the living area hand in hand, only to be greeted with the same utter silence and tense atmosphere, just before they left.

When Maria saw Minerva returned with Chen, she gave them a quick nod of approval before returning to watch the live footages.