''So, how much did you know?''


    "That you''re only but a shell living off as Mystique Blackwell," Ashtra responded with his grin now went ear to ear as he paused for a while. "Miss Quinn?"


    While Nathalie, as usual, kept up a straight face, her heart raced— the palpitations kicked in. She couldn''t help but tried her best to resist the tingling sensation that coursed through her body.


    In her mind, he would somehow pry into his thoughts, but she never thought it would be the one to hit the nail on her head.


    "Since you opened this up, I was so curious…" He started to doodle his fingertip on the table. "While that simpleton moved through his emotions when it came to you, that Nathan man somehow made sense to his head, which was also boring... "


    Nathalie agreed in silence, not exposing her inner monologue, lest he''d get a chance to read what was on her mind. But then, something caught her attention.


    ''Also?''


    "Certainly. I''d thought it would''ve been so surprising to see the reaction of Arnold knowing of your sudden change."


    His words got her taken aback, now gawking at him from how he blurted out all of a sudden.


    It was another bomb that dropped on her without her having to prepare what awaited such revelation.


    Out of all people, it had to be his father, Arnold; which she never wanted to tell him at all.


    ''What?'' she breathed.


    "You''ve heard me loud and clear."


    Ashtra leaned back at the chair, peering towards the bustling lights a few miles away from them.


    Nathalie had so many questions in her mind but left her mind suffering from a block as she couldn''t even get herself together with it like she was about to lose all of her composure in front of him.


    But only one word popped up, thinking aloud and enough for him to hear it.


    ''When?''


    "When you say?" Even at that moment, he acted like he had time to ponder, now looking up as he scratched the underside of his chin. Only then he glanced back at her with a smug smirk on his face. "Ever since you woke up?"


    The pupils dilated real quick as she couldn''t believe any of the words he claimed, but he wasn''t the type of person to lie either.


    From there, he spilled how Arnold knew the sudden changes found within Nathalie. He trembled with the thought of it at first, but upon learning there was nothing bad that happened since she was the only daughter he had.


    But then, he wasn''t too unfamiliar with the same thing that happened to Athan, a part that changed his way of life, and then somehow found its way to give her a similar chance.


    To fix what needed to be done.


    While he was skeptical, it didn''t get the best of him.


    Whenever he had interaction with her, he oftentimes resonated the genuine vibe she brought to him afterward.


    "You''d always look for him, even for something so silly. Aside from the banters with him, ask for help and even advice… Everything he noted, he loved every second of it— As a blessing in disguise, you were still his little girl."


    Nathalie had such trouble trying to take a deep breath as her chest tightened and the sudden onset of swelter bloomed on her face with her eyes a tad blurry.


    "From there, he realized how much you''ve changed. No wealth and fame brought you so much happiness when it came down to him as well as the people around you hold dear."


    ''So, he knew just as much since then? Why didn''t he tell me?''


    "He never had the chance, and even if he did, he wouldn''t as he knew better. Do you want him to act the way that hot-headed knight did?"


    She shook her head, which then proved his point.


    So far, she was beyond grateful to have a father like him for he also changed for the better, and didn''t have to wait for such a miraculous occurrence to happen for his part. He regretted so much throughout his life and seized the moment.


    Arnold was wise enough and proceeded with a thought in mind that so much of the events traumatized Nathalie. So he never dared to say it to her face, for what happened to her in the past was far too much, and even ended up destroying her life.


    Nathalie looked down as she took her time, breathing in and out; she couldn''t be thankful enough for what the constant stress and anxiety fed to her went all for naught as it got lifted off her chest.


    "The part that intrigued me was like you know me for more than a millennium but I had no idea who you were…" he trailed off his voice with a gaze that seemed to pierce through her soul; although, this wasn''t the time to falter and kept up her pace.


    In retrospect, she remembered how he got impressed by her; learning the foolproof method that Athan planned to get him only soured his interest, and not until he got to meet her at that moment.


    "So, I wasn''t really surprised, after connecting the dots from different people, and what the juicy revelation I got was from that knight."


    Nathalie gulped hard as she braced what he had to drop this time around. She long wished for Keith to return, but it seemed like their conversation went far too long.


    "That… Smartphone, was it? The one you have there, I suppose it''s the one you''d show me other than giving me a performance, isn''t it?"


    ''Agreed, but all of our stuff got stolen.'' She predicted that with his ever-so-curious trait, it would eventually leave a mark on his head. ''So, we might''ve to wait for it. I think that would be alright for you.''


    "Not a problem." Ashtra now had a lopsided grin as he leaned forth once more alongside his interest piqued. "Since I told you far too much, why don''t you tell me this… Other you…"


    ''That''s true. Though I''ve been me this whole time.''


    "Oh, really?" he mused. "I remember how he saw that smartphone beaming with light and a face of yours with blazing red hair."


    Right now, to say astonishment was an understatement.