Ascension of Chaos

Ashley

This is honestly the first time I'm getting a good look at my siblings in a while. And it's the first time all four of us are together in one place at that.

But despite all that, I just stay perfectly quiet as I drink my punch and watch the two approach Blake and I.

As for Blake? He narrows his eyes on the two while they approach. Clearly wondering what they're planning on doing by approaching us.

The two of them have rather odd expressions though. Mostly because I've heard that the two are very cold people in general. Despite that not really being what I remember from my childhood.

Yet despite that, both of them look as awkward as school kids right now. Even if they're also still outwardly cold to those people watching us.

Regardless though, the two slowly walk up to us before finally stopping just a meter or two in front of our table. Then I notice some sort of shadow field appear around us, most likely to stop eavesdroppers. And once that's set up, Elizabeth finally speaks.

"It's been a while, Blake, Ashley," Elizabeth says with a nod of her head and an awkward smile.

I just stare back as Blake nods his head at her in return and says, "Yes, it has."

Then silence befalls our little group. Silence that's only broken again when Seth asks, "How've you been?"

That question makes my eyebrow twitch with irritation. But I don't answer it despite that.

"Seriously?" Blake asks with a frown on his face, apparently uncaring about holding his own irritation at that rather careless question in.

Seth immediately covers his mouth when he no doubt realizes exactly what he did. Asking how we've been after the two of them literally abandoned us to our parents before the System.

Elizabeth actually flinches at his question now that I think about it, clearly understanding how bad a move it was.

From what I remember, Elizabeth is four years older than me and Blake. Although she looks closer to six or so years older thanks to our becoming Successors and appearing younger. Meanwhile Seth is four years younger than me and Blake but looks just two or so years younger.

Speaking of Elizabeth, she suddenly bows her head to us and says, "I'm really sorry for everything you were put through. I didn't know they were treating you two so badly and just wanted to-"

"Enough," I finally speak myself instead of just letting Blake handle all the talking. And the moment she hears my voice, she lifts her head to look at me. "I don't much care about any of that anymore. If you want to be allies, then please speak with the Tower Master or Dhalia. But I don't really consider you siblings or enemies."

Elizabeth looks a little heartbroken at my words, which is a little surprising. Meanwhile Seth just looks downcast.

Neither of them try to cling on or anything though as they both turn to leave after one last short apology and a farewell. Heading straight to the Tower Master to rather clearly discuss an alliance.

Of course, Blake mentions the same thing to them about talking with his own Tower Master for an alliance with him too. But that's really all he says before they leave.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

And once they're gone, Blake turns to me and asks with his head slightly tilted, "You sure about this?"

I nod my head and take another sip of my punch before answering, "Yeah. I don't really remember spending any real time with them as a kid. All I remember is them abandoning us. So I can't really think of them as siblings."

Blake nods his head at that.

"I also don't really blame them for leaving since they experienced similar difficulties," I continue with another sip. "What I do blame them for is trying to act like it never happened before they apologized. But since that's all, I'm only against forming a personal relationship with them."

He nods again before the two of us just sit here and drink our separate drinks. Meanwhile our older and younger siblings discuss things with our own otherworld allies and subordinates. Specifically the subordinates since they're both talking to the Tower Masters of the Tower of Chaos and Tower of Magic.

And the Tower Masters do consider themselves our subordinates since we're Successors to the Primordials they serve. Albeit Blake less than me, seeing as there are dozens of Successors of Magic. Unlike me where I'm the only Successor of Chaos.

Actually, now that I think about it, I just noticed that Blake's name was changed as well. So he's Blake Sinclair Etheria.

Which means he's just like me and has taken on the Primordial's name.

A faint smile spreads across my face at that realization. Even as I continue sipping away at my punch.

That smile doesn't last long though, because it doesn't take much longer before the Enforcers enter the ballroom. With the White and Black Enforcers obviously escorting each other.

Yet despite everything, the first thing I feel when I see them isn't disgust or distaste.

It's surprise at the sight of the chaos energy literally pouring out of a mark on their bodies. A mark that I can see made out of pure chaos energy and in the form of a raven.

Right. I almost forgot that Chaos cursed them.

And it must be a pretty nice one considering that the two don't do anything to me or Blake. At all. The only thing they do is glance our way, nod once, and proceed to mingle with the other people at the ball and dance together a couple times.

I feel the faintest hint of a smile returning again at the sight, only for it to freeze a little when I notice someone sitting next to me. Someone no one else in the ballroom seems to notice.

Chaos.

When'd he get here? And why is he just sitting at a table drinking wine with a smug smile on his face?

"Because I'm finally able to show off to those two bastards who your real parent is," Chaos answers my thoughts out loud, startling Blake who apparently didn't notice him either.

Neither of us get a chance to say anything back to him though. Not before another person appears sitting at our table with her chin resting on her hands and her elbows on the table.

"You really have changed quite a bit, haven't you Chaos?" Etheria says with more than a little intrigue in her voice. "I guess this is what parenthood does to a person."

Chaos laughs at that, surprisingly not drawing any attention to our table despite the two Primordials being here. Which I guess must mean they're hiding their presences from everyone else.

Although it looks like the Enforcers can tell something's up, considering how they keep looking around the ballroom with more than a little confusion on their faces.

I guess they can sense them since they're Successors too.

On that note, I know I've seen the two of them in their younger forms on electronic billboards and on the news, but it's so weird to see them like that in person. It's almost like they're entirely different people.

Because they don't look anything like I remember now.

Way too young.

Then again, Successors are an entirely different breed from normal people. After all, we don't age past our prime. Nor do we ever get sick.

All because of the Primordial blood inside of us.

Although judging by Chaos and Etheria's current conversation, it looks like just being a Primordial doesn't mean they're mature.

Chaos winks at me, no doubt listening in on my current thoughts as he tries his hardest to tease Etheria. Which he fails at rather miserably when Etheria points out something rather embarrassing that he did thousands of years ago.

When he tried holding a massive birthday party for her on a day that wasn't even her birthday. Just because he heard something about women not liking birthdays. Something about it reminding them of their age. Which I guess is something I've heard some women before the System say, not that I'd personally understand. Only to be told by Etheria that she didn't care about any of that.

After that Chaos apparently turned the Tower Master who gave him that advice into a chicken for a few decades.

I pity that Tower Master.

Anyways, our little discussion is interrupted when another person suddenly appears at the table. One I never would've expected.

Because while I don't actually recognize her appearance, I do recognize the Virtue energy I can sense coming off her clone in waves.

The Primordial of Virtue.