Mana Academy (IC) (Open, Fantasy)

[Luminesa]

Elizabeth Tsukuyomi


"A more important question would be where are we now. About two hours ago we entered this plane as a method of quick transport back to France. Moving ones body through such portals is easy enough, and could be done much quicker. But moving magical power, that's another thing all together. So now we're aboard a physical representation of my mana. A mental model of the Imperial Japanese Navy ship Yamato. And just now, it seems we have drawn the attention of a resident. Hopefully I can simply scare it off. Might be a good idea to cover your ears."

Tsukuyomi didn't give Soleil much time to protect his ears, as the shadow in the mist approached closer. Just as some definition was beginning to come to the form, fire and thunder rippled off of the ships port bow. Everything seemed to shudder and shake around them. After that the scene returned to silence. there was no wind, even as the ship moved through waters obscured by mist. Even the smoke from the cannons seemed to just hang in the air just past the barrels.

The strange new presence seemed to attack Soleil's senses from the beyond, even as Tsukiyomi was speaking. It was dark...and cold...something inhuman. He almost froze-up, but then Tsukiyomi told him to cover his ears. He obeyed her, and watched with awe as the fire and thunder blasted through the shadow, and seemed to rock the ship and everything around it. When the noise settled, he remembered how to breath and exhaled loudly. "...Ahhhh...what...was that?" he inquired.

He then looked around at his surroundings. The mighty Yamato was cruising through an endless ocean, Stars began to twinkle above them. A silky must covered everything. Deciding to go meet with his captain and teacher, he slowly began to walk from the tower toward the deck, downstairs. In this dimension, however, he seemed more capable of moving. He was able to walk downstairs with far less pain than he imagined he could, and he eventually made his way to the deck.

They were indeed going to France. It seemed that was where Tsukiyomi had decided he needed to be. Was she bringing him to his aunt? Would she leave him there? There were so many questions he wanted to ask, but that he also did not want answered. He stood next to her, panting slightly from the long walk. "...Why...why are we...going back to France?" he asked.

[Chrome Legion]

Elizabeth Tsukuyomi


Liz let out a sightly, and almost imperceptibly slumped. The ship was a direct extension of her being, and it took effort for such a display of power. With so much of her power invested in the construct like vessel, Tsukuyomi's ethereal body seemed much dimmer.

"I can't honestly say what that was. This place touches on many others. It is a place of wanders, travelers, and at times things that seek to prey on those. I doubt I truly hurt what ever that was, but I did enough to show that we are not easy enough prey to be worth it. It's good to see you able to move around so well. You have a connection to the other I suspected leaving the prime might help rejuvenate you. As for the purpose of our journey, you are the heir presumptive of House Rise. A message needs to be sent that you are unavailable for the duties that would be expected from that role, and that you are protected."

[Luminesa]

Elizabeth Tsukuyomi


Liz let out a sightly, and almost imperceptibly slumped. The ship was a direct extension of her being, and it took effort for such a display of power. With so much of her power invested in the construct like vessel, Tsukuyomi's ethereal body seemed much dimmer.

"I can't honestly say what that was. This place touches on many others. It is a place of wanders, travelers, and at times things that seek to prey on those. I doubt I truly hurt what ever that was, but I did enough to show that we are not easy enough prey to be worth it. It's good to see you able to move around so well. You have a connection to the other I suspected leaving the prime might help rejuvenate you. As for the purpose of our journey, you are the heir presumptive of House Rise. A message needs to be sent that you are unavailable for the duties that would be expected from that role, and that you are protected."

"...I-It is still somewhat painful...for me to walk...A-And...I-I do not know if this will last, when we leave the portal...B-But..." he answered. It was as expected, he was going to be facing his role as the heir to the Rise clan. However, he was not going back home to remain there, or to face Blanchefleur alone. Rather, Tsukiyomi was going to declare to his aunt that he was giving away his position on the throne. He was her heir. She was his Noble House, now.

He looked toward her current form, as luminiscent as it was, and he thought also toward the form she kept as she was by his bedside. Were these forms that he would also learn to take? She had said that he would inherit her powers. What would happen to his current body, when he learned such things? Would he become like his new mother, a being that threw away body-after-body, as it lived beyond the reach of any normal human?

He stared down at his hands. Light Mana flowed along with his Wind Mana, beneath the skin, away from his sight. Yet what if he could see beneath his skin at the Mana? What if he was mortally-wounded, as he had been in the bar fight, and instead of falling away and having to watch his teammates get hurt, he could simply throw away his form and become stronger? Was this possible? What would happen to him as he did so? Shaking his head, he disregarded such dangerous questions, and he stared forward at the sea in front of him. "...I am ready to learn your ways...I will protect your magic with my life, and preserve it as you want me to...Mother..."

The final word came softly. He was only a few hours removed from the loss of his actual mother, which had left him feeling both relieved and empty. He had not been able to see the body, even, as his teammates had burned it and left it behind. Yet now, as he stood next to his teacher, who had sworn to protect him, who looked at him with kindness and who had decided to give her life to protect him, he felt overwhelmed with love for her. She was never angered by his constructs, by the gentle way he used his magic, or by his stutter even. She loved him. She genuinely loved him. And so his declaration of loyalty to her poured out, though very soft and sweet. "...I-I will be...happy...to leave all of this behind...and to join you...I will be your family..." he whispered, as he stepped forward to stand next to her on the deck.

[Finsternia]

Artosh Luxenia

Artosh slowly turned the knob and peeked inside, taking note of Rabbit's sleepy voice and messy hair. "Bunny-chan, did I wake you up?" He then got inside and closed the door behind him. "I... I just want to see if you're alright. We haven't talked to each other after the fight and I was auite anxious about your being. I've also checked the students' injuries and I believe they are fine now." Artosh jumped into Rabbit's bed and bounced quite a bit as he sighed. "Hey. Do you remember the times when we hanged out together? Especially when we have no job duting those days. We would just marathon horror movies for the entire day. I still remember myself literally pissing my pants." He chuckled a bit at his own self-deprecation and looked at Rabbit. "How are you? Were you harmed?"

He did not see you become a monster. Be glad...ah but wait! He did see you become a monster, in his nightmare! Yes, how does that feel? You're one of his nightmares now, aren't you? I wonder how many other students feel the same way, outside of your precious Henry and Aria. Perhaps now they would all rather you dead as well.

Rabbit's hand twitched, slightly, as he thought, and he did not lift his eyes to look at Artosh. "It is good that the students are well...And...I am happy that you are safe as well...I...did hurt my back, in the fight...but that was because..." He sighed deeply. "...I used my powers...when I said I would not...I knew Aether was merely playing dead, but for some reason my mind told me she was dead...I was overwhelmed and I...I used my powers...all of the students saw me for what I am...except Soleil, Catherine, Katelyn, and Ambrosia, they do not know yet...but they will know soon...At my trial, they will know..."

Can you imagine what would happen if you dropped your humanity altogether, like Adriana did? If you showed him what you truly were, right here? Think about the terror on his face. The same terror of the last person who saw that form, over a hundred years ago...You remember...Even your own father was terrified...Artosh would be no different...if he saw your bloodlust at its core, the pure darkness that holds you together...The reason why you can never truly love...

The voice in Rabbit's head had returned, as his sense of belonging and self-control had diminished during his fight with Solaine. He began to feel its effects, the way it taunted him and reminded him of what he was. He flexed and relaxed his hand, as though he was uncomfortable with the way he was sitting. He finally lifted his face and moved the hair out of his eyes, but he only continued to stare straight ahead as usual. "...They will know everything, Artosh. And I will not live."

Artosh Luxenia

Artosh's eyes widened for a moment before he brought his palm to strike Rabbit's cheek with a resounding clap. "Do you need me to slap the sleepiness in your head? What the hell are you talking about?!" Artosh gave an irritated sigh at his best friend as he straight straight at the masked professor's milky eyes. "Do you think that those lovely children would condemn you? You've done what you saw was right at that moment. To protect the children. I haven't heard of a single word from them about chaining you to a post and going Joan of Arc on you. Those children love you as you've loved them. They are not Katelyn who sees demons in every shadowed corner."

But the idea of Rabbit unleashing those black tendrils made him shiver in his mind. He can just see the carnage, how Rabbit's been forced to use his true power. 'If Rabbit haven't used his powers, the children's injuries might have been worse... The results might have been worse...' Artosh shook his head, dispelling the idea of the students dying, before speaking again. "The Abendroths and Von Kressels are behind you, Bunny-chan. Lord Aloysus himself saw the goodness in you and your innocence. You've fought beside the students and shielded them away from harm. Mana's own children... Do you think they will sell you for any petty reason?"

[Luminesa]

He did not see you become a monster. Be glad...ah but wait! He did see you become a monster, in his nightmare! Yes, how does that feel? You're one of his nightmares now, aren't you? I wonder how many other students feel the same way, outside of your precious Henry and Aria. Perhaps now they would all rather you dead as well.

Rabbit's hand twitched, slightly, as he thought, and he did not lift his eyes to look at Artosh. "It is good that the students are well...And...I am happy that you are safe as well...I...did hurt my back, in the fight...but that was because..." He sighed deeply. "...I used my powers...when I said I would not...I knew Aether was merely playing dead, but for some reason my mind told me she was dead...I was overwhelmed and I...I used my powers...all of the students saw me for what I am...except Soleil, Catherine, Katelyn, and Ambrosia, they do not know yet...but they will know soon...At my trial, they will know..."

Can you imagine what would happen if you dropped your humanity altogether, like Adriana did? If you showed him what you truly were, right here? Think about the terror on his face. The same terror of the last person who saw that form, over a hundred years ago...You remember...Even your own father was terrified...Artosh would be no different...if he saw your bloodlust at its core, the pure darkness that holds you together...The reason why you can never truly love...

The voice in Rabbit's head had returned, as his sense of belonging and self-control had diminished during his fight with Solaine. He began to feel its effects, the way it taunted him and reminded him of what he was. He flexed and relaxed his hand, as though he was uncomfortable with the way he was sitting. He finally lifted his face and moved the hair out of his eyes, but he only continued to stare straight ahead as usual. "...They will know everything, Artosh. And I will not live."

Artosh Luxenia

Artosh's eyes widened for a moment before he brought his palm to strike Rabbit's cheek with a resounding clap. "Do you need me to slap the sleepiness in your head? What the hell are you talking about?!" Artosh gave an irritated sigh at his best friend as he straight straight at the masked professor's milky eyes. "Do you think that those lovely children would condemn you? You've done what you saw was right at that moment. To protect the children. I haven't heard of a single word from them about chaining you to a post and going Joan of Arc on you. Those children love you as you've loved them. They are not Katelyn who sees demons in every shadowed corner."

But the idea of Rabbit unleashing those black tendrils made him shiver in his mind. He can just see the carnage, how Rabbit's been forced to use his true power. 'If Rabbit haven't used his powers, the children's injuries might have been worse... The results might have been worse...' Artosh shook his head, dispelling the idea of the students dying, before speaking again. "The Abendroths and Von Kressels are behind you, Bunny-chan. Lord Aloysus himself saw the goodness in you and your innocence. You've fought beside the students and shielded them away from harm. Mana's own children... Do you think they will sell you for any petty reason?"

When Artosh had first touched his face, it had been a soft touch. It had caught Rabbit off-guard specifically because he was so used to being slapped. Yet now his hand met Rabbit's cheek harshly, like an explosive cracking across his face. His eyes became huge, and he slowly turned toward him. He put a hand on his cheek and felt the sting of his friend's hand. He then closed his eyes for a moment. "...Artosh..." he mumbled.

His initial feeling was that he wanted to fall back in bed and never wake up, that perhaps Ruta would enter the room and kill him in his sleep. Or that Aether might kill him with a kiss. Suck his soul out and leave his cold body as an eternally-sleeping husk. Anything to kill the emptiness he was feeling. He only wanted to feel the love Artosh was describing to him, to let it fill him and to wash his pain away. Yet it was difficult, as he fought away his ebbing and flowing self-esteem.

"...I-I did not...mean to seem distrustful of the students...Heheh...I...I suppose I am not used to...so many people wanting to protect me...and all at once...I-I am only worried that once the trial happens...Ah, but why am I thinking of this...you are right..." He shook his head, and then finally smiled sadly at him.

He slowly understood that Artosh was not being cruel, but that he was trying to get him to look around at the people who loved him. Rabbit's depression had absorbed him like quicksand, and he had forgotten that most of the people around him saw his true form and still loved him. Artosh's slap had been the arm jerking him out of the quicksand, and showing him that the trees in the jungle around him would still surround him and give him shelter, even as he had fallen for a moment. "...Thank you...I-I'm only nervous, because...if we have an actual trial, I do not know what will be raised against me...I do not know...what the Committee might know about me..."

He finally opened his eyes, and they were black with purple irises once again. Even as he spoke understandingly to Artosh, his body had switched into a sort of automatic defense-mode. Unable to see the attack coming, it had become frightened and then almost-feral, in a matter of seconds. Even as Rabbit had become a teacher with a kind heart and a penchant for "mothering" his students, his body's old habit were hard to break. "...Things such as...those that you have only seen in your dreams..." His eyes slowly turned back, and now the other Mage could see his reflection in Rabbit's mirror-clear eyes once again.

[Luminesa]

She was in her room. Well, it was her room now. She wasn't sure how she'd gotten there. She was just sitting down, and the moment before Momoko had been smiling at her and everything had been okay and--

Now it wasn't.

She wakes up to the birds chirping, unsure of the place or the time. She is about to go back to sleep--no point in getting up, after all--when the memories of the day before flood her mind. That pink-haired girl in her class, she'd just skipped up with a grin and invited her to come and visit a park. Her, Akuma Himiko. No one ever invited her anywhere. She'd thought she might have a heart attack. But she doesn't mind, of course not. Even though her father will probably shout and hit her for going out without permission, even though the other girl will probably get tired of her company and never even look at her again, Himiko wants to take the opportunity. She's excited, and she gets up in a moment.

I'll go. I'll go. Whatever might happen. I'll go. Even if it's just a dream.

She dresses in a dark purple sweater--it isn't very cold outside, but the long sleeves and high neck help hide the bruises--and black pants, lacing up boots over the top and carefully applying just the right amount of makeup that will hide the marks on her face without making it obvious that there's something to hide. It's an art, in a way, and one she's had a long time to perfect.

As she leaves the house, her heart races, although she can't tell whether it's out of nervousness or excitement. All she knows is that every step she takes brings her closer to Kageyama Momoko.

The park was in the midst of a small, tranquil town, with colorful houses and filled with trees. She can smell all manner of wonderful scents, hear the laughter of children, and best of all, see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, an opportunity that will pass very soon. She wonders if Kageyama-san invited her to look at the blossoms. She hasn't been to a flower viewing since her mother died, and she thinks it would be nice. It wouldn't be official--no one else seems to be there--but she doesn't mind that at all.

She notices for a moment that some of the blossoms remind her of Kageyama-san's hair. It is a pleasant reminder.

She makes her way through a group of children playing with a ball, and finds herself at the park. It isn't a playground, of course, but--ah, now she sees others taking their chance to look at the flowers. There are a lot of them... families included.

Uneasiness settles in her stomach. She feels so foreign in the middle of these loving families, like an intruder that might be thrown out at any moment. She regrets coming.

She is about to turn back, to go home and return to the oblivion of sleep, when she sees Kageyama-san.

The light shines upon her kind smile, and for a moment, Himiko forgets the dull ache in her heart, and feels as though she has been friends with this girl for years. It is a good feeling.

"Good morning," Kageyama-san says cheerfully. "May I just call you Himiko-chan? I just like your name, it's so cool that you share the name of a queen, you know?"

Himiko is now completely sure that she is going insane. She doesn't care, and she nods feebly, replying, "G-good morning, Kageyama-san..."

"You didn't have any trouble getting here, right?" Kageyama-san asks, starting to skip along and gesturing for Himiko to follow.

"N-n-no... I didn't have any trouble," Himiko repeats numbly, mentally cursing herself for stuttering. Much to her surprise, Kageyama-san leads her to a small mat where she has a little picnic set up for them. There is tea, bento, mochi, dango, strawberries... Himiko can't believe Kageyama-san went to the trouble of doing all of this. And there's no one else here... is it all for her?

"Kageyama-san," she says quietly, "d-didn't you invite anyone else?"

"No," Kageyama-san answers cheerfully. "I thought you seemed lonely, always off by yourself, so I figured you might like to have a little party--but I didn't want you to get too crowded, so it's just us for today. You don't mind, right?" For a moment, she looks concerned, and Himiko's heart skips a beat.

"N-no! I don't mind, Kageyama-san! It's okay, I don't know if I would have been able to handle too many people, you were right! I w-wish you had told me that you'd been planning to bring food, though, I would have brought something..."

"But your lunches are always so small, Himiko-chan," Kageyama-san replies seriously. "I didn't want you to have to worry about it. Now you can eat as much as you want!"

Sure enough, Himiko is allowed to eat her fill. And even after that, Kageyama-san takes her to visit different shops, to get pictures under the trees, to do all sorts of things that normal girls do, things Himiko hasn't done in years. Hours pass, and soon enough, the sunset shocks them and Himiko realizes she has to go home. Kageyama-san just smiles and thanks her for spending such a nice day with her.

Himiko, caught by surprise, barely manages to stammer out a response, and then turns and runs, crying all the tears she had held back.

She doesn't deserve it.

She had had the very best day of her life.

"Kageyama-san..."

The girl has so many friends. Why would she bother with Himiko?

She's not worth it.

In a world where everything was either painful or pointless, she had found her, a tiny glimpse of hope in the form of a doll-faced girl.

She was the only thing that could make Himiko excited to wake up. The only one who treated her like an actual person, the only one who seemed to tolerate her presence.

She could remember every type of smile the girl ever made.

The strained, fake smiles she'd give when she was feeling down and didn't want to worry anyone. The self-conscious, shy smiles that would come when she was feeling flattered. The grins of sheer joy. The smile that was a way of concealing her laugh. And of course, the one that would always make Himiko's heart skip a beat. Just a small, turning up of the corners of her lips. What made it so special was that she smiled with her eyes. They sparkled.

Himiko wanted the girl to love her back. She wanted it so badly. It would never happen.

I do the things I do because of you, Momoko-chan. But it will never be enough. I am pathetic. How can you stand to look at a failure like me? How can you possibly care for me? She began sobbing, tears coursing down her face and falling, splashing onto the sheets she lay on and darkening them. Why did I ever think you could love a weakling like me? Your love is pure—mine, mine, ha! I dare call this abomination love! You feel love, I can't feel it. I can't feel anything like love. I'm not good enough. I'm not like you, I can't be like you, I can't be enough for you, why am I so useless?

She didn't realize that her nails were digging into her cheeks. Her eyes, so often deadened, burned with a maniacal light. I want you. I want you. But I can't have you, I can't ever have you, you don't love me, why not? You were so kind to me. Pathetic little Himiko-chan. So fragile, so scared. You were kind. So wonderful. I loved you. I still love you. As much as I can love, I love you. But you don't love me, why don't you love me? I tried so hard. Why isn't it good enough? Why?

Why don't you love me, Momoko-chan?

Momoko had decided to put her bags down in her room, now that she had re-introduced herself to the Mana teachers and staff. She wanted to relax, but she could not. She knew Himiko was probably upset. Since Himiko was in another dorm, however, she had to leave her dorm to go check on her. Thus she walked across campus, and she looked for Himiko's room. "Himiko-chan! Himiko! Himiko-chaaaan?" she called, as she walked through the halls. In the early morning, the atmosphere should have felt very peaceful and lulling. However, she felt very nervous, as she knew Himiko was depressed about rooming alone. She might even do something to hurt herself. Finally, she found Himiko's room, and she peeked in. "...Himiko-chan?...Are you okay?" she called, gently.

[Charlia]

She was in her room. Well, it was her room now. She wasn't sure how she'd gotten there. She was just sitting down, and the moment before Momoko had been smiling at her and everything had been okay and--

Now it wasn't.

She wakes up to the birds chirping, unsure of the place or the time. She is about to go back to sleep--no point in getting up, after all--when the memories of the day before flood her mind. That pink-haired girl in her class, she'd just skipped up with a grin and invited her to come and visit a park. Her, Akuma Himiko. No one ever invited her anywhere. She'd thought she might have a heart attack. But she doesn't mind, of course not. Even though her father will probably shout and hit her for going out without permission, even though the other girl will probably get tired of her company and never even look at her again, Himiko wants to take the opportunity. She's excited, and she gets up in a moment.

I'll go. I'll go. Whatever might happen. I'll go. Even if it's just a dream.

She dresses in a dark purple sweater--it isn't very cold outside, but the long sleeves and high neck help hide the bruises--and black pants, lacing up boots over the top and carefully applying just the right amount of makeup that will hide the marks on her face without making it obvious that there's something to hide. It's an art, in a way, and one she's had a long time to perfect.

As she leaves the house, her heart races, although she can't tell whether it's out of nervousness or excitement. All she knows is that every step she takes brings her closer to Kageyama Momoko.

The park was in the midst of a small, tranquil town, with colorful houses and filled with trees. She can smell all manner of wonderful scents, hear the laughter of children, and best of all, see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, an opportunity that will pass very soon. She wonders if Kageyama-san invited her to look at the blossoms. She hasn't been to a flower viewing since her mother died, and she thinks it would be nice. It wouldn't be official--no one else seems to be there--but she doesn't mind that at all.

She notices for a moment that some of the blossoms remind her of Kageyama-san's hair. It is a pleasant reminder.

She makes her way through a group of children playing with a ball, and finds herself at the park. It isn't a playground, of course, but--ah, now she sees others taking their chance to look at the flowers. There are a lot of them... families included.

Uneasiness settles in her stomach. She feels so foreign in the middle of these loving families, like an intruder that might be thrown out at any moment. She regrets coming.

She is about to turn back, to go home and return to the oblivion of sleep, when she sees Kageyama-san.

The light shines upon her kind smile, and for a moment, Himiko forgets the dull ache in her heart, and feels as though she has been friends with this girl for years. It is a good feeling.

"Good morning," Kageyama-san says cheerfully. "May I just call you Himiko-chan? I just like your name, it's so cool that you share the name of a queen, you know?"

Himiko is now completely sure that she is going insane. She doesn't care, and she nods feebly, replying, "G-good morning, Kageyama-san..."

"You didn't have any trouble getting here, right?" Kageyama-san asks, starting to skip along and gesturing for Himiko to follow.

"N-n-no... I didn't have any trouble," Himiko repeats numbly, mentally cursing herself for stuttering. Much to her surprise, Kageyama-san leads her to a small mat where she has a little picnic set up for them. There is tea, bento, mochi, dango, strawberries... Himiko can't believe Kageyama-san went to the trouble of doing all of this. And there's no one else here... is it all for her?

"Kageyama-san," she says quietly, "d-didn't you invite anyone else?"

"No," Kageyama-san answers cheerfully. "I thought you seemed lonely, always off by yourself, so I figured you might like to have a little party--but I didn't want you to get too crowded, so it's just us for today. You don't mind, right?" For a moment, she looks concerned, and Himiko's heart skips a beat.

"N-no! I don't mind, Kageyama-san! It's okay, I don't know if I would have been able to handle too many people, you were right! I w-wish you had told me that you'd been planning to bring food, though, I would have brought something..."

"But your lunches are always so small, Himiko-chan," Kageyama-san replies seriously. "I didn't want you to have to worry about it. Now you can eat as much as you want!"

Sure enough, Himiko is allowed to eat her fill. And even after that, Kageyama-san takes her to visit different shops, to get pictures under the trees, to do all sorts of things that normal girls do, things Himiko hasn't done in years. Hours pass, and soon enough, the sunset shocks them and Himiko realizes she has to go home. Kageyama-san just smiles and thanks her for spending such a nice day with her.

Himiko, caught by surprise, barely manages to stammer out a response, and then turns and runs, crying all the tears she had held back.

She doesn't deserve it.

She had had the very best day of her life.

"Kageyama-san..."

The girl has so many friends. Why would she bother with Himiko?

She's not worth it.

In a world where everything was either painful or pointless, she had found her, a tiny glimpse of hope in the form of a doll-faced girl.

She was the only thing that could make Himiko excited to wake up. The only one who treated her like an actual person, the only one who seemed to tolerate her presence.

She could remember every type of smile the girl ever made.

The strained, fake smiles she'd give when she was feeling down and didn't want to worry anyone. The self-conscious, shy smiles that would come when she was feeling flattered. The grins of sheer joy. The smile that was a way of concealing her laugh. And of course, the one that would always make Himiko's heart skip a beat. Just a small, turning up of the corners of her lips. What made it so special was that she smiled with her eyes. They sparkled.

Himiko wanted the girl to love her back. She wanted it so badly. It would never happen.

I do the things I do because of you, Momoko-chan. But it will never be enough. I am pathetic. How can you stand to look at a failure like me? How can you possibly care for me? She began sobbing, tears coursing down her face and falling, splashing onto the sheets she lay on and darkening them. Why did I ever think you could love a weakling like me? Your love is pure—mine, mine, ha! I dare call this abomination love! You feel love, I can't feel it. I can't feel anything like love. I'm not good enough. I'm not like you, I can't be like you, I can't be enough for you, why am I so useless?

She didn't realize that her nails were digging into her cheeks. Her eyes, so often deadened, burned with a maniacal light. I want you. I want you. But I can't have you, I can't ever have you, you don't love me, why not? You were so kind to me. Pathetic little Himiko-chan. So fragile, so scared. You were kind. So wonderful. I loved you. I still love you. As much as I can love, I love you. But you don't love me, why don't you love me? I tried so hard. Why isn't it good enough? Why?

Why don't you love me, Momoko-chan?

Momoko had decided to put her bags down in her room, now that she had re-introduced herself to the Mana teachers and staff. She wanted to relax, but she could not. She knew Himiko was probably upset. Since Himiko was in another dorm, however, she had to leave her dorm to go check on her. Thus she walked across campus, and she looked for Himiko's room. "Himiko-chan! Himiko! Himiko-chaaaan?" she called, as she walked through the halls. In the early morning, the atmosphere should have felt very peaceful and lulling. However, she felt very nervous, as she knew Himiko was depressed about rooming alone. She might even do something to hurt herself. Finally, she found Himiko's room, and she peeked in. "...Himiko-chan?...Are you okay?" she called, gently.

As soon as she heard Momoko's voice, Himiko's hands dropped, and she tried to compose herself. It wouldn't do any good to let Momoko see her in such a state. There might be some way to get the pink-haired girl to return her affection, but that couldn't have been it. There had to be something else...

"Hello, Momoko-chan," Himiko replied, smiling thinly and hoping that the lines on her cheeks had faded. "Did you manage to get settled in? Is your room nice? So different from how they do things at home, but this seems to be the sort of place you would enjoy... Is something the matter? You look worried..."

[Luminesa]

Momoko had decided to put her bags down in her room, now that she had re-introduced herself to the Mana teachers and staff. She wanted to relax, but she could not. She knew Himiko was probably upset. Since Himiko was in another dorm, however, she had to leave her dorm to go check on her. Thus she walked across campus, and she looked for Himiko's room. "Himiko-chan! Himiko! Himiko-chaaaan?" she called, as she walked through the halls. In the early morning, the atmosphere should have felt very peaceful and lulling. However, she felt very nervous, as she knew Himiko was depressed about rooming alone. She might even do something to hurt herself. Finally, she found Himiko's room, and she peeked in. "...Himiko-chan?...Are you okay?" she called, gently.

As soon as she heard Momoko's voice, Himiko's hands dropped, and she tried to compose herself. It wouldn't do any good to let Momoko see her in such a state. There might be some way to get the pink-haired girl to return her affection, but that couldn't have been it. There had to be something else...

"Hello, Momoko-chan," Himiko replied, smiling thinly and hoping that the lines on her cheeks had faded. "Did you manage to get settled in? Is your room nice? So different from how they do things at home, but this seems to be the sort of place you would enjoy... Is something the matter? You look worried..."

Himiko's face did not look...normal. Her eyes were sunken and her face seemed more drawn. Perhaps the lighting made her seem worse than she actually was? Momoko stepped into the room and flicked the light on. "...Himiko-chan...you are the one who looks...worried...Y-You look horrible, actually...Are you...u-upset that I'm rooming with Sadako?..." She felt she knew the cause, and averted her eyes. "...Th-The rules state that people who have the same...element...have to room in the same building...s-so...I dunno if I would have had a choice...Y-You're not...angry, are you?" As unstable as Himiko was, she was not sure if she would try to just talk, or scream at her again.

[Charlia]

As soon as she heard Momoko's voice, Himiko's hands dropped, and she tried to compose herself. It wouldn't do any good to let Momoko see her in such a state. There might be some way to get the pink-haired girl to return her affection, but that couldn't have been it. There had to be something else...

"Hello, Momoko-chan," Himiko replied, smiling thinly and hoping that the lines on her cheeks had faded. "Did you manage to get settled in? Is your room nice? So different from how they do things at home, but this seems to be the sort of place you would enjoy... Is something the matter? You look worried..."

Himiko's face did not look...normal. Her eyes were sunken and her face seemed more drawn. Perhaps the lighting made her seem worse than she actually was? Momoko stepped into the room and flicked the light on. "...Himiko-chan...you are the one who looks...worried...Y-You look horrible, actually...Are you...u-upset that I'm rooming with Sadako?..." She felt she knew the cause, and averted her eyes. "...Th-The rules state that people who have the same...element...have to room in the same building...s-so...I dunno if I would have had a choice...Y-You're not...angry, are you?" As unstable as Himiko was, she was not sure if she would try to just talk, or scream at her again.

Himiko's eyes widened a fraction, and focused directly on Momoko's face. "Angry? No, of course not! I couldn't fault you for following the rules, Momoko-chan... You're a good girl that way, you always have been... Sometimes I wonder if you've ever done anything wrong in your life..." She chuckled. "Sometimes, I even wonder if you're human... I haven't known you for your whole life, so for all I know you could have just appeared out of nowhere, I'd never know the difference. You might even be a hallucination, or an imaginary..."

Her face drained slightly, and she breathed the last word.

"Friend..."

She blinked, and seemed back to normal. "You're too good for this world, Momoko-chan, that's what I'm saying..."

If I believed in a god... She would be like you...

[Luminesa]

Himiko's face did not look...normal. Her eyes were sunken and her face seemed more drawn. Perhaps the lighting made her seem worse than she actually was? Momoko stepped into the room and flicked the light on. "...Himiko-chan...you are the one who looks...worried...Y-You look horrible, actually...Are you...u-upset that I'm rooming with Sadako?..." She felt she knew the cause, and averted her eyes. "...Th-The rules state that people who have the same...element...have to room in the same building...s-so...I dunno if I would have had a choice...Y-You're not...angry, are you?" As unstable as Himiko was, she was not sure if she would try to just talk, or scream at her again.

Himiko's eyes widened a fraction, and focused directly on Momoko's face. "Angry? No, of course not! I couldn't fault you for following the rules, Momoko-chan... You're a good girl that way, you always have been... Sometimes I wonder if you've ever done anything wrong in your life..." She chuckled. "Sometimes, I even wonder if you're human... I haven't known you for your whole life, so for all I know you could have just appeared out of nowhere, I'd never know the difference. You might even be a hallucination, or an imaginary..."

Her face drained slightly, and she breathed the last word.

"Friend..."

She blinked, and seemed back to normal. "You're too good for this world, Momoko-chan, that's what I'm saying..."

If I believed in a god... She would be like you...

Her words became less and less understandable as she spoke, and she started turning Momoko in her mind like a ballet-doll in a little music box. It was disturbing. Momoko Kageyama, not human? A hallucination? Just an imaginary friend? None of these things made any sense to the pink-haired girl. Himiko could see her, could she not? She was right in front of her, speaking to her. Her eyes grew wide with apprehension, and she backed away slightly. "...Himiko-chan...Ahhh...I..." Yet then she had an idea. She went and grabbed Himiko's hand, steeling her resolve. "Himiko-chan, we are going to the nurse. Something is very wrong with you, and you need help!" she exclaimed.

[Charlia]

Himiko's eyes widened a fraction, and focused directly on Momoko's face. "Angry? No, of course not! I couldn't fault you for following the rules, Momoko-chan... You're a good girl that way, you always have been... Sometimes I wonder if you've ever done anything wrong in your life..." She chuckled. "Sometimes, I even wonder if you're human... I haven't known you for your whole life, so for all I know you could have just appeared out of nowhere, I'd never know the difference. You might even be a hallucination, or an imaginary..."

Her face drained slightly, and she breathed the last word.

"Friend..."

She blinked, and seemed back to normal. "You're too good for this world, Momoko-chan, that's what I'm saying..."

If I believed in a god... She would be like you...

Her words became less and less understandable as she spoke, and she started turning Momoko in her mind like a ballet-doll in a little music box. It was disturbing. Momoko Kageyama, not human? A hallucination? Just an imaginary friend? None of these things made any sense to the pink-haired girl. Himiko could see her, could she not? She was right in front of her, speaking to her. Her eyes grew wide with apprehension, and she backed away slightly. "...Himiko-chan...Ahhh...I..." Yet then she had an idea. She went and grabbed Himiko's hand, steeling her resolve. "Himiko-chan, we are going to the nurse. Something is very wrong with you, and you need help!" she exclaimed.

"...Something... is wrong with me?" Himiko repeated blankly. "You... you think something is wrong with me, Momoko-chan? Ah... I see... I understand, I do... Something's wrong with me... That's why... That's why... But I don't need to see a nurse, Momoko-chan, don't you understand that?" Standing up, she hugged the pink-haired girl, burying her face in the other's shoulder. "You're the only one I need, Momoko-chan... as long as you're here, everything will be all right... Please don't leave... Please... don't ever leave me..."

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Henry Von Kressel

The night would be a quiet one, at least compared to the ones at Paris. No longer the thoughts of being incapable of saving Ambrosia and Catherine haunted him. No longer the thoughts of losing against Solaine would disturb his sleep. However... Ironically, this room, now without his former roommate Andrius, seemed distant from any feelings of home. He woke up earlier than he expected, realizing that he needed to calm himself down a little bit, and for the first time in his years at Mana, he realized that one facility of the school that could be used for it.

Quickly taking a bath and donning what now would be the robes of his crest, Henry walked through the hallways, until he reached a wooden door, with a small glass at its center that allowed an outside observer to see if the room was occupied or not. Above it, a sign showed that it was the Musical Room of Mana, magically enchanted for a better acoustic than an average room, without letting the sound escape from inside excessively, which avoided the disturb of the sleep or concentration of the students.

He calmly stepped in, remembering the last time he played an instrument. It was at his last summer with Vladimir, hours before they started to travel due to his uncle's researches. Despite this being a moment of relaxation, the weight of the burdens were different. At this last occasion, it was the worrying future that took away his peace. Now, that future came. There wasn't a safe place to run to, if Henry didn't work on building one.

He sat himself in the piano, looking at the instrument, as his fingers slowly ran through the keys, as he remembered his practicing days. After a quick search on his cellphone about the notes, he made small changes in a few sections to adapt it to his voice... and then, he started.

Oh sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Where you gonna run to?
All on that day

Well I run to the rock: Please hide me
I run to the rock: Please hide me
I run to the rock: Please hide me, Lord
All on that day

But the rock cried out: I can't hide you
The rock cried out: I can't hide you
The rock cried out: I ain't gonna hide you, guy
All on that day(...)

And soon as the song ended, and Henry's fingers slowly let the keys, his hands went to his face, as he asked himself.

Where are you going to run to, Henry?

[Chrome Legion]

Elizabeth Tsukuyomi


"That is far more than I request of you for now. You are young, and I am patient. Take care of yourself, mind your sudies, and continue support others when they needed it. More complicated things may come later. I hope you do find happiness in that. And, hopefully things will calm down soon around your family. With the stirrings in Europe I don't think think Rise will be in any position to make moves across the Atlantic. Your... " for a moment Liz paused, then mulled over the next word, as if it wasn't exactly what she wanted to say, but she couldn't think of a better alternative "mother overstepped herself. The consequences of her actions are already beginning to play out. And with that... there is something I wish to discuss with you. We have a some time yet before we arrive. There is an idea I would like you to give thought to. Don't renounce Rise entirely. Remain the heir presumptive. With out Rise we could see greater harm in the power vacuum, and having a strong house in France is important. I feel there is something else in Europe, some other force is making ready to take the stage. And if that force is one of evil a reformed house Rise could be instrumental in facing it."


Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Feeling, the true feeling her magic granted, was starting to return to Catherine. As more and more of the substance binding up her magic was purged she could slowly feel her extra senses returning to her, including the presence of Erebus touching on the edges of her mind. She still couldn't quite call on him to return vision for her lost eye, but she could start to work on at least stabilizing her broken bones. Catherine focused on her leg, she hated being stuck in this room, and with what seemed to be possibly unstable company. Plus, she wanted to get back to her room. There was still much planning she had to do, and this time she couldn't afford any errors.

[Luminesa]

Elizabeth Tsukuyomi


"That is far more than I request of you for now. You are young, and I am patient. Take care of yourself, mind your sudies, and continue support others when they needed it. More complicated things may come later. I hope you do find happiness in that. And, hopefully things will calm down soon around your family. With the stirrings in Europe I don't think think Rise will be in any position to make moves across the Atlantic. Your... " for a moment Liz paused, then mulled over the next word, as if it wasn't exactly what she wanted to say, but she couldn't think of a better alternative "mother overstepped herself. The consequences of her actions are already beginning to play out. And with that... there is something I wish to discuss with you. We have a some time yet before we arrive. There is an idea I would like you to give thought to. Don't renounce Rise entirely. Remain the heir presumptive. With out Rise we could see greater harm in the power vacuum, and having a strong house in France is important. I feel there is something else in Europe, some other force is making ready to take the stage. And if that force is one of evil a reformed house Rise could be instrumental in facing it."


Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Feeling, the true feeling her magic granted, was starting to return to Catherine. As more and more of the substance binding up her magic was purged she could slowly feel her extra senses returning to her, including the presence of Erebus touching on the edges of her mind. She still couldn't quite call on him to return vision for her lost eye, but she could start to work on at least stabilizing her broken bones. Catherine focused on her leg, she hated being stuck in this room, and with what seemed to be possibly unstable company. Plus, she wanted to get back to her room. There was still much planning she had to do, and this time she couldn't afford any errors.

Soleil stared out over the railing. He did not want to be anywhere near his old family. With his mother and cousin dead, he had no reason to remain close to them. He wanted to remain with Tsukiyomi, and to give his old family no way to take him back. After all, the chance always remained. He could always be taken. Blanchefleur was sly and had many ways to force him away from her. He sighed shakily, thinking of those horrid things his aunt might be planning.

"...M-Mother...I-I...won't go back with them. I may be the heir...b-but I will not go back with them...They are my clan, but you are my family...Please..." He turned around and stared up at her, his eyes wide with fright. Being brave was still something he was learning. Living in fear was like a dark cave, and while the light of courage was beautiful and invigorating, it also still intimidated him. If he was ever sent back, or if there was even a chance he could be sent back, he felt he would break.

"...D-Do not make me...g-go back there..." he whispered.

[Finsternia]

Henry Von Kressel

The night would be a quiet one, at least compared to the ones at Paris. No longer the thoughts of being incapable of saving Ambrosia and Catherine haunted him. No longer the thoughts of losing against Solaine would disturb his sleep. However... Ironically, this room, now without his former roommate Andrius, seemed distant from any feelings of home. He woke up earlier than he expected, realizing that he needed to calm himself down a little bit, and for the first time in his years at Mana, he realized that one facility of the school that could be used for it.

Quickly taking a bath and donning what now would be the robes of his crest, Henry walked through the hallways, until he reached a wooden door, with a small glass at its center that allowed an outside observer to see if the room was occupied or not. Above it, a sign showed that it was the Musical Room of Mana, magically enchanted for a better acoustic than an average room, without letting the sound escape from inside excessively, which avoided the disturb of the sleep or concentration of the students.

He calmly stepped in, remembering the last time he played an instrument. It was at his last summer with Vladimir, hours before they started to travel due to his uncle's researches. Despite this being a moment of relaxation, the weight of the burdens were different. At this last occasion, it was the worrying future that took away his peace. Now, that future came. There wasn't a safe place to run to, if Henry didn't work on building one.

He sat himself in the piano, looking at the instrument, as his fingers slowly ran through the keys, as he remembered his practicing days. After a quick search on his cellphone about the notes, he made small changes in a few sections to adapt it to his voice... and then, he started.

Oh sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Where you gonna run to?
All on that day

Well I run to the rock: Please hide me
I run to the rock: Please hide me
I run to the rock: Please hide me, Lord
All on that day

But the rock cried out: I can't hide you
The rock cried out: I can't hide you
The rock cried out: I ain't gonna hide you, guy
All on that day(...)

And soon as the song ended, and Henry's fingers slowly let the keys, his hands went to his face, as he asked himself.

Where are you going to run to, Henry?

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor strode the nightly halls of Mana with orbs of frost fire hovering about him as light sources. Allistor's the reason why Aquo students have this sort of urban legend about a revenant that is stalking the Aquo headquarters with the long souls of the dead accompanying the ghastly shade. In truth, he was just trying to memorize and familiarize with the place to compensate for his terrible sense of direction. He discovered various secret passages that connected the Aquo headquarters to the various parts of the school due to that.

Allistor is wearing a hoodie made of fox fur, oddly making him look so soft and fluffy, black denim jeans and, curiously, normal sneakers. Glacia is always wrapped around her spot, snuggly tucked between the furs and Allistor's body heat. Allistor's right hand clutched his violin case and on his left hip is where Mizar is strapped. As he wrapped his left hand around the Music Room's doorknob, Henry's voice rang through the empty cold air, eliciting a raised eyebrow from the young noble.

Allistor waited for Henry to be done with his song before barging in, the door's hinges slightly creaking. "I thought I've heard a banshee haunting the corridors but what a surprise, it was you." He closed the door behind him and placed his violin on a nearby chair as he joined Henry by the piano, his hands playing idly. "Never thought of seeing you here, at this hour. Had something in your mind, Henry?"

-snip-

Artosh Luxenia

"A trial cannot happen without any solid evidence. The Commitee won't just act by a crazed girl's ramblings." Artosh clearly had enough of Katelyn's behavior. Rabbit and Sage's trial, Saturninus' death, all leads back to Katelyn for him. Perhaps he should consult John, Ruta, or Miss Joan about the idea of a psychiatric office in Mana. The children has seen more than enough shit that could inflict mental trauma on a normal person ten times normal.

Artosh shook his head and looked at Rabbit. "Never count your enemies. Count your friends. It doesn't matter if the entire world is your enemy. If you have someone to lean on, someone you can depend on, someone who would stand for you, you can take on anyone. We are here for you Bunny-chan."

[Luminesa]

Henry Von Kressel

The night would be a quiet one, at least compared to the ones at Paris. No longer the thoughts of being incapable of saving Ambrosia and Catherine haunted him. No longer the thoughts of losing against Solaine would disturb his sleep. However... Ironically, this room, now without his former roommate Andrius, seemed distant from any feelings of home. He woke up earlier than he expected, realizing that he needed to calm himself down a little bit, and for the first time in his years at Mana, he realized that one facility of the school that could be used for it.

Quickly taking a bath and donning what now would be the robes of his crest, Henry walked through the hallways, until he reached a wooden door, with a small glass at its center that allowed an outside observer to see if the room was occupied or not. Above it, a sign showed that it was the Musical Room of Mana, magically enchanted for a better acoustic than an average room, without letting the sound escape from inside excessively, which avoided the disturb of the sleep or concentration of the students.

He calmly stepped in, remembering the last time he played an instrument. It was at his last summer with Vladimir, hours before they started to travel due to his uncle's researches. Despite this being a moment of relaxation, the weight of the burdens were different. At this last occasion, it was the worrying future that took away his peace. Now, that future came. There wasn't a safe place to run to, if Henry didn't work on building one.

He sat himself in the piano, looking at the instrument, as his fingers slowly ran through the keys, as he remembered his practicing days. After a quick search on his cellphone about the notes, he made small changes in a few sections to adapt it to his voice... and then, he started.

Oh sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Where you gonna run to?
All on that day

Well I run to the rock: Please hide me
I run to the rock: Please hide me
I run to the rock: Please hide me, Lord
All on that day

But the rock cried out: I can't hide you
The rock cried out: I can't hide you
The rock cried out: I ain't gonna hide you, guy
All on that day(...)

And soon as the song ended, and Henry's fingers slowly let the keys, his hands went to his face, as he asked himself.

Where are you going to run to, Henry?

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor strode the nightly halls of Mana with orbs of frost fire hovering about him as light sources. Allistor's the reason why Aquo students have this sort of urban legend about a revenant that is stalking the Aquo headquarters with the long souls of the dead accompanying the ghastly shade. In truth, he was just trying to memorize and familiarize with the place to compensate for his terrible sense of direction. He discovered various secret passages that connected the Aquo headquarters to the various parts of the school due to that.

Allistor is wearing a hoodie made of fox fur, oddly making him look so soft and fluffy, black denim jeans and, curiously, normal sneakers. Glacia is always wrapped around her spot, snuggly tucked between the furs and Allistor's body heat. Allistor's right hand clutched his violin case and on his left hip is where Mizar is strapped. As he wrapped his left hand around the Music Room's doorknob, Henry's voice rang through the empty cold air, eliciting a raised eyebrow from the young noble.

Allistor waited for Henry to be done with his song before barging in, the door's hinges slightly creaking. "I thought I've heard a banshee haunting the corridors but what a surprise, it was you." He closed the door behind him and placed his violin on a nearby chair as he joined Henry by the piano, his hands playing idly. "Never thought of seeing you here, at this hour. Had something in your mind, Henry?"

-snip-

Artosh Luxenia

"A trial cannot happen without any solid evidence. The Commitee won't just act by a crazed girl's ramblings." Artosh clearly had enough of Katelyn's behavior. Rabbit and Sage's trial, Saturninus' death, all leads back to Katelyn for him. Perhaps he should consult John, Ruta, or Miss Joan about the idea of a psychiatric office in Mana. The children has seen more than enough shit that could inflict mental trauma on a normal person ten times normal.

Artosh shook his head and looked at Rabbit. "Never count your enemies. Count your friends. It doesn't matter if the entire world is your enemy. If you have someone to lean on, someone you can depend on, someone who would stand for you, you can take on anyone. We are here for you Bunny-chan."

"...You are right...I am merely too concerned over phantoms...things that are not there...and I am not concerning myself enough with the people around me..." He wanted to stop thinking about his past, about the possibility that someone would find something horrible he had done in the past and would use it against him. He would never hurt the children, and he knew that. Yet at the same time, the tape played over and over in his mind, everything that could possibly go wrong...

Never count your enemies. Count your friends.

Rabbit heard this and thought for a moment. How many enemies had he made in his lifetime? Quite a few. He had made so many, in fact, that their faces and names no longer existed to him, only their souls. The remnants of the people who had beaten him, bullied him, and used him. Only one remained, but he quickly shook his head to avoid thinking about him. He then turned to Artosh and smiled. "...Yes...count my friends...Well...for starters...I have you..." he whispered, moving his hand until his found Artosh's, and squeezing it tight. "...Aether...Henry...Aria...Catherine...Shaun...Allistor...and the rest of the students...I do not think as often as I should about all of you...heheheh..."

Perhaps it was a concept that was foreign to him. It was easier to count enemies, when most of his life he had been surrounded by them. It was a way to survive, knowing the enemy. Fighting the enemy. Leaving them and moving to the next one. Yet now there seemed to be another way. Counting friends as a way to survive. As he spoke them aloud, he realized that just the names calmed him. They were anchors in a sea of nothingness, of lost names and faces. They were home.

"Counting friends...heh...perhaps I could try that from now on...I wonder..." he whispered.

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Henry Von Kressel

The night would be a quiet one, at least compared to the ones at Paris. No longer the thoughts of being incapable of saving Ambrosia and Catherine haunted him. No longer the thoughts of losing against Solaine would disturb his sleep. However... Ironically, this room, now without his former roommate Andrius, seemed distant from any feelings of home. He woke up earlier than he expected, realizing that he needed to calm himself down a little bit, and for the first time in his years at Mana, he realized that one facility of the school that could be used for it.

Quickly taking a bath and donning what now would be the robes of his crest, Henry walked through the hallways, until he reached a wooden door, with a small glass at its center that allowed an outside observer to see if the room was occupied or not. Above it, a sign showed that it was the Musical Room of Mana, magically enchanted for a better acoustic than an average room, without letting the sound escape from inside excessively, which avoided the disturb of the sleep or concentration of the students.

He calmly stepped in, remembering the last time he played an instrument. It was at his last summer with Vladimir, hours before they started to travel due to his uncle's researches. Despite this being a moment of relaxation, the weight of the burdens were different. At this last occasion, it was the worrying future that took away his peace. Now, that future came. There wasn't a safe place to run to, if Henry didn't work on building one.

He sat himself in the piano, looking at the instrument, as his fingers slowly ran through the keys, as he remembered his practicing days. After a quick search on his cellphone about the notes, he made small changes in a few sections to adapt it to his voice... and then, he started.

Oh sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Where you gonna run to?
All on that day

Well I run to the rock: Please hide me
I run to the rock: Please hide me
I run to the rock: Please hide me, Lord
All on that day

But the rock cried out: I can't hide you
The rock cried out: I can't hide you
The rock cried out: I ain't gonna hide you, guy
All on that day(...)

And soon as the song ended, and Henry's fingers slowly let the keys, his hands went to his face, as he asked himself.

Where are you going to run to, Henry?

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor strode the nightly halls of Mana with orbs of frost fire hovering about him as light sources. Allistor's the reason why Aquo students have this sort of urban legend about a revenant that is stalking the Aquo headquarters with the long souls of the dead accompanying the ghastly shade. In truth, he was just trying to memorize and familiarize with the place to compensate for his terrible sense of direction. He discovered various secret passages that connected the Aquo headquarters to the various parts of the school due to that.

Allistor is wearing a hoodie made of fox fur, oddly making him look so soft and fluffy, black denim jeans and, curiously, normal sneakers. Glacia is always wrapped around her spot, snuggly tucked between the furs and Allistor's body heat. Allistor's right hand clutched his violin case and on his left hip is where Mizar is strapped. As he wrapped his left hand around the Music Room's doorknob, Henry's voice rang through the empty cold air, eliciting a raised eyebrow from the young noble.

Allistor waited for Henry to be done with his song before barging in, the door's hinges slightly creaking. "I thought I've heard a banshee haunting the corridors but what a surprise, it was you." He closed the door behind him and placed his violin on a nearby chair as he joined Henry by the piano, his hands playing idly. "Never thought of seeing you here, at this hour. Had something in your mind, Henry?"

Henry Von Kressel

Laughing at his friend's joke at him being a banshee - at least he hoped it was a joke - Henry lifted up his head and looked at his strangely soft friend, looking at his hood with a certain look of confusion,

"Hope I didn't bring any death around here. Don't worry: I might be screaming, but I'm not Japanese and I don't like boys, so zero chance of finding 'tall, slim boys who can really eat a lot very cute'. Serial heartbreaker right there.

But unfortunately... Yes. Never slept properly in Paris. It didn't seem to... Bring back my energies, which in turn kept stress piling up continuously, and when I realized, even my room didn't seem like it was a safe place anymore. The failure of saving Ambrosia and Catherine disappeared, the fear of Solaine disappeared as well, but it allowed for a bigger problem, Allistor.

When I came back to Mana there was this... Lawyer here. Turns out that Vladimir died, and left the whole inheritance to me. Including his lordship. My aunt will represent me in the Committee, but... In a question of hours this my last bits of peaceful life will go away, as the rest of my family will also know it about it. So I came here, to do something that often helped me relax... Playing some music, letting it fill your head but instead if making it weight more, makes it feel lighter... And you? Something on your head that is bothering you other than your fox hood?"

[Chrome Legion]

Elizabeth Tsukuyomi


"I'm not saying you should go back to them. Not in the slightest. I'm arguing that you should keep what ever titles it is you hold. Rise in it's current form will collapse. Weather it is in months or years I can't say. What I am hoping is that you could be in a position to see a new house... err... rise from the ashes. Not that I can particular see this happening for the next decade or so. But that would require forgoing more formal adoption. I'm not sure how much that means to you, but I know things like that can be important. It wouldn't change the fact that I will not allow your aunt to have influence on you. But we have almost arrived, this is just something for you to think about."

Slowly stars began to shine through the thick fog in front of them, as they approached what looked like a crack in the sky. They couldn't see the ground yet, but even now water from the hole in the planes was starting to pour out over the french country side, near an idyllic chateau, one that had turned into a battlefield before they arrived.

[Luminesa]

Elizabeth Tsukuyomi


"I'm not saying you should go back to them. Not in the slightest. I'm arguing that you should keep what ever titles it is you hold. Rise in it's current form will collapse. Weather it is in months or years I can't say. What I am hoping is that you could be in a position to see a new house... err... rise from the ashes. Not that I can particular see this happening for the next decade or so. But that would require forgoing more formal adoption. I'm not sure how much that means to you, but I know things like that can be important. It wouldn't change the fact that I will not allow your aunt to have influence on you. But we have almost arrived, this is just something for you to think about."

Slowly stars began to shine through the thick fog in front of them, as they approached what looked like a crack in the sky. They couldn't see the ground yet, but even now water from the hole in the planes was starting to pour out over the french country side, near an idyllic chateau, one that had turned into a battlefield before they arrived.

"...A-Alright...If you say so..." Leadership of the clan. He had never thought of his life outside of being the heir, the son, the tortured shadow of someone above him. Yet now, soon, he would be given the leadership of his clan. He blushed at the thought. What would he do as the leader of such a clan? How could he, a single Light Mage, reverse the thousand years of darkness that his family had wrought on the world? When he became Head, he would inherit many enemies, many of whom he did not even know. Yet then, there was no use in fearing shades that he could not know anything about.

He bowed his head, and listened to the gentle murmur of the sea below him. The starry ocean of this realm...if he could perhaps rule this, that would be easy. He could be an artist, and make everything continually as beautiful as he wanted it to be. He could wave his hands and weave the stars, make the waves dance, make the moon sway in her spot in the sky, and live in celestial bliss. Yet this was not the world he belonged to, not yet. The ability to create such realms, as Tsukiyomi did, would not come for a long time. Right now, his Light was being called to a much more dreadful task, as a kitten might navigate someone else's home to make it their own. "...I-I just...want to be with you...Once I am Head...th-then...maybe we can be a family...M-Maybe we can...find peace..."

On the other side of the dimension, Blanchefleur Rise had gotten the news. Her own son had betrayed her, days after her daughter had killed herself in despair. She had not found herself surprised at Celestine's death. She was always a weaker-willed girl, finding her Dark powers more useful for reckless fun than for murder. She would have rather drank and partied using her powers, and she continually brought home unworthy suitors. Thus she only felt a faint disapppointment at her daughter's demise. If she felt anything else, she drank it down with a glass of wine that night, and then she moved on.

Yet Saturninus was different. She was almost certain he was a success, though he had been much harder to train than Celestine. He had a much softer heart, a much more conscientious mind, and he had struggled to kill even once. Yet once she got him to do it, she had made sure to give him whatever power he wanted, to make it easier. Eventually she smothered and killed his conscience. She was sure of it. Then, in an unexpected move, he had partnered with her sister, when Blanchefleur had all-but-promised him whatever power he wanted. Her convoluted "love" made it impossible for her to see that her son had wanted the one thing she had refused to give-"freedom".

Blanchefleur let out a dignified huff, at the idea. She had scoffed at the idea of "freedom" long ago, as her father and her father's father had taught her. The family tradition was to be valued above everything. This tradition brought stability and control, it gave the family the ability to do what it wanted. Wasn't that freedom enough? They could bring Europe to its knees in a few years' time, if they so wanted, and yet this generation of children seemed almost entirely disinterested with such things. Celestine wanted a boyfriend. Soleil wanted his animals. Pierre wanted a wife. Saturninus wanted...what? What could he have possibly wanted? The question struck her over and over, like a lance trying to find a hole in chain-link armor, in order to stab the person beneath it. Yet it never struck.

Hadn't Blanchefleur done everything right? Her useless, laughable little sister certainly did not, and her irresponsibility had led to her death. The Head of the Clan wasted no tears for her, and was glad that she had no remains for a funeral. To her, it would be a waste of a coffin. Yet she could not understand. As her son's body awaited transfer back to France, and she would soon look upon the boy she had seemingly turned into the rightful heir, she wondered what he had wanted to do with his "freedom". For a moment, a strange thought came to her, to perhaps ask try to ask him what he thought. Yet then she smothered the thought, as she always did, with a few sips of wine. She could hold a seance, if she wanted such answers. Even better, she could do her research and bring him back from the dead for a short time. Then she would have her answers and would think of him no more. She smiled at her own organized, legalistic ways, and she walked to the entrance of the castle to look out at her domain.

She would not have seen him, but the same ghostly being that had stood beside Soleil at Saturninus's death now stood on the balcony, still dressed in mourning. His face was invisible beneath a black veil, and his eyes were closed. When Blanchefleur walked by, she hardly noticed him. Yet the ghost remained there, standing beside her. It said nothing, as though it was perhaps waiting for her to start the conversation. The wind passed through its cloak, and it did not move, though Blanchefleur's platinum-blonde hair swept slightly in the wind. The ghost turned toward her, and reached a hand to touch it. His hand passed through it, and rested on her cheek. He ran his hand down her face, though unable to truly touch her, and then he put it down.

[Finsternia]

"...You are right...I am merely too concerned over phantoms...things that are not there...and I am not concerning myself enough with the people around me..." He wanted to stop thinking about his past, about the possibility that someone would find something horrible he had done in the past and would use it against him. He would never hurt the children, and he knew that. Yet at the same time, the tape played over and over in his mind, everything that could possibly go wrong...

Never count your enemies. Count your friends.

Rabbit heard this and thought for a moment. How many enemies had he made in his lifetime? Quite a few. He had made so many, in fact, that their faces and names no longer existed to him, only their souls. The remnants of the people who had beaten him, bullied him, and used him. Only one remained, but he quickly shook his head to avoid thinking about him. He then turned to Artosh and smiled. "...Yes...count my friends...Well...for starters...I have you..." he whispered, moving his hand until his found Artosh's, and squeezing it tight. "...Aether...Henry...Aria...Catherine...Shaun...Allistor...and the rest of the students...I do not think as often as I should about all of you...heheheh..."

Perhaps it was a concept that was foreign to him. It was easier to count enemies, when most of his life he had been surrounded by them. It was a way to survive, knowing the enemy. Fighting the enemy. Leaving them and moving to the next one. Yet now there seemed to be another way. Counting friends as a way to survive. As he spoke them aloud, he realized that just the names calmed him. They were anchors in a sea of nothingness, of lost names and faces. They were home.

"Counting friends...heh...perhaps I could try that from now on...I wonder..." he whispered.

Artosh Luxenia

Artosh smiled and squeezed Rabbit's hand back. At that moment they looked like siblings, twins even, sharing their worries and problems with each other. The white haired mage felt reassured now, that Rabbit's finding newfound strength in his students. The masked teacher might be a walking arsenal of nukes but his heart is as soft as his namesake's fur and as fragile as a frozen rose. "It's not 'could' Bunny-chan. It's 'should'." Perhaps the idea of taking strength from friends is foreign to Rabbit. Perhaps the first person to say that was him. He felt a bit of pride and joy swell inside him. It felt like they were both kids and they are learning things from each other time to time. "So, are you still afraid to face the Commitee? With an entire army of your own?" Artosh said with a smile and he held Rabbit's hands, cupping them with his own warmth.

Henry Von Kressel

Laughing at his friend's joke at him being a banshee - at least he hoped it was a joke - Henry lifted up his head and looked at his strangely soft friend, looking at his hood with a certain look of confusion,

"Hope I didn't bring any death around here. Don't worry: I might be screaming, but I'm not Japanese and I don't like boys, so zero chance of finding 'tall, slim boys who can really eat a lot very cute'. Serial heartbreaker right there.

But unfortunately... Yes. Never slept properly in Paris. It didn't seem to... Bring back my energies, which in turn kept stress piling up continuously, and when I realized, even my room didn't seem like it was a safe place anymore. The failure of saving Ambrosia and Catherine disappeared, the fear of Solaine disappeared as well, but it allowed for a bigger problem, Allistor.

When I came back to Mana there was this... Lawyer here. Turns out that Vladimir died, and left the whole inheritance to me. Including his lordship. My aunt will represent me in the Committee, but... In a question of hours this my last bits of peaceful life will go away, as the rest of my family will also know it about it. So I came here, to do something that often helped me relax... Playing some music, letting it fill your head but instead if making it weight more, makes it feel lighter... And you? Something on your head that is bothering you other than your fox hood?"

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor suddenly banged the piano's keys in shock as he stared at Henry with wide eyes and a creeping blush on his face. "What? I am not thin!" He said as he lifted his hoodie and shirt to show his muscled stomach. "I got some flesh in me! And..." He then nonchalantly let go of his clothes. "Katsuko, is that her name?, might be quite cute but it is unnerving how she's like a little Mercillia."

Allistor then listened to Henry and his little noble woes. He and Henry always shoved those things back to the dark corners of their might but the chains of command and authority always had their way back to choke them by the neck. "Old Grandpa's dead huh... Quite a surprise but... I'm sorry about that Henry. But hey, atleast you're not getting your father's lordship. If he ever wants you to take his lordship too."

"And the reason why I'm here is to practice music. Wouldn't want to bother the sleepy heads back at the quarters." Now, the idea of lordship also bothered him. It's going to be his eighteenth birthday soon. He's going to succeed his father soon. He shook his head and sighed. "You also need to find a wife soon too Henry." He said as he giggled a bit, covering his mouth so that his voice wouldn't echo around the room.

[Kingdom of Irhk]

"...You are right...I am merely too concerned over phantoms...things that are not there...and I am not concerning myself enough with the people around me..." He wanted to stop thinking about his past, about the possibility that someone would find something horrible he had done in the past and would use it against him. He would never hurt the children, and he knew that. Yet at the same time, the tape played over and over in his mind, everything that could possibly go wrong...

Never count your enemies. Count your friends.

Rabbit heard this and thought for a moment. How many enemies had he made in his lifetime? Quite a few. He had made so many, in fact, that their faces and names no longer existed to him, only their souls. The remnants of the people who had beaten him, bullied him, and used him. Only one remained, but he quickly shook his head to avoid thinking about him. He then turned to Artosh and smiled. "...Yes...count my friends...Well...for starters...I have you..." he whispered, moving his hand until his found Artosh's, and squeezing it tight. "...Aether...Henry...Aria...Catherine...Shaun...Allistor...and the rest of the students...I do not think as often as I should about all of you...heheheh..."

Perhaps it was a concept that was foreign to him. It was easier to count enemies, when most of his life he had been surrounded by them. It was a way to survive, knowing the enemy. Fighting the enemy. Leaving them and moving to the next one. Yet now there seemed to be another way. Counting friends as a way to survive. As he spoke them aloud, he realized that just the names calmed him. They were anchors in a sea of nothingness, of lost names and faces. They were home.

"Counting friends...heh...perhaps I could try that from now on...I wonder..." he whispered.

Artosh Luxenia

Artosh smiled and squeezed Rabbit's hand back. At that moment they looked like siblings, twins even, sharing their worries and problems with each other. The white haired mage felt reassured now, that Rabbit's finding newfound strength in his students. The masked teacher might be a walking arsenal of nukes but his heart is as soft as his namesake's fur and as fragile as a frozen rose. "It's not 'could' Bunny-chan. It's 'should'." Perhaps the idea of taking strength from friends is foreign to Rabbit. Perhaps the first person to say that was him. He felt a bit of pride and joy swell inside him. It felt like they were both kids and they are learning things from each other time to time. "So, are you still afraid to face the Commitee? With an entire army of your own?" Artosh said with a smile and he held Rabbit's hands, cupping them with his own warmth.

Henry Von Kressel

Laughing at his friend's joke at him being a banshee - at least he hoped it was a joke - Henry lifted up his head and looked at his strangely soft friend, looking at his hood with a certain look of confusion,

"Hope I didn't bring any death around here. Don't worry: I might be screaming, but I'm not Japanese and I don't like boys, so zero chance of finding 'tall, slim boys who can really eat a lot very cute'. Serial heartbreaker right there.

But unfortunately... Yes. Never slept properly in Paris. It didn't seem to... Bring back my energies, which in turn kept stress piling up continuously, and when I realized, even my room didn't seem like it was a safe place anymore. The failure of saving Ambrosia and Catherine disappeared, the fear of Solaine disappeared as well, but it allowed for a bigger problem, Allistor.

When I came back to Mana there was this... Lawyer here. Turns out that Vladimir died, and left the whole inheritance to me. Including his lordship. My aunt will represent me in the Committee, but... In a question of hours this my last bits of peaceful life will go away, as the rest of my family will also know it about it. So I came here, to do something that often helped me relax... Playing some music, letting it fill your head but instead if making it weight more, makes it feel lighter... And you? Something on your head that is bothering you other than your fox hood?"

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor suddenly banged the piano's keys in shock as he stared at Henry with wide eyes and a creeping blush on his face. "What? I am not thin!" He said as he lifted his hoodie and shirt to show his muscled stomach. "I got some flesh in me! And..." He then nonchalantly let go of his clothes. "Katsuko, is that her name?, might be quite cute but it is unnerving how she's like a little Mercillia."

Allistor then listened to Henry and his little noble woes. He and Henry always shoved those things back to the dark corners of their might but the chains of command and authority always had their way back to choke them by the neck. "Old Grandpa's dead huh... Quite a surprise but... I'm sorry about that Henry. But hey, atleast you're not getting your father's lordship. If he ever wants you to take his lordship too."

"And the reason why I'm here is to practice music. Wouldn't want to bother the sleepy heads back at the quarters." Now, the idea of lordship also bothered him. It's going to be his eighteenth birthday soon. He's going to succeed his father soon. He shook his head and sighed. "You also need to find a wife soon too Henry." He said as he giggled a bit, covering his mouth so that his voice wouldn't echo around the room.

Henry Von Kressel

"Oh no, she's not like a little Mercillia. Except for the shouting part, obviously. Katsuko lacks the talent for bloodlust and the capacity of chaining offenses together along with her speech skills. Your mother's pretty good at it. And yes... In a way Vladimir was a better grandfather than Albrecht, despite the fact that he was my uncle, it was hard to imagine him at my father's side...

Regarding my father's lordship... That's a complicated debate currently. See, my father is trying to place Hans as his successor, but as your mother might have left implied with polite words, he is failing to win the sympathy of many of my relatives. The second option would be Amber if she wasn't the daughter of my father's least favorite brother. My mother is... Against having any more sons or daughters, and by internal house laws he would be complied to give it to me if he can't work a way out. This is what putting him on stress. A lot of stress, if I know him.

Marriage? Not so soon, I suppose. They will expect me to become a valorous man, one that will be able to have political influence as a single man and then multiply it when I marry. Of course, they will be listing a lot of potential candidates, even a few of your family if I'm good with my guesses, and push them towards me. At the level they play, they can pay someone to study here to see if I end up liking them. Well... At least I still have the Music Room.

And you? Is there something troubling your head?"

[Luminesa]

"...You are right...I am merely too concerned over phantoms...things that are not there...and I am not concerning myself enough with the people around me..." He wanted to stop thinking about his past, about the possibility that someone would find something horrible he had done in the past and would use it against him. He would never hurt the children, and he knew that. Yet at the same time, the tape played over and over in his mind, everything that could possibly go wrong...

Never count your enemies. Count your friends.

Rabbit heard this and thought for a moment. How many enemies had he made in his lifetime? Quite a few. He had made so many, in fact, that their faces and names no longer existed to him, only their souls. The remnants of the people who had beaten him, bullied him, and used him. Only one remained, but he quickly shook his head to avoid thinking about him. He then turned to Artosh and smiled. "...Yes...count my friends...Well...for starters...I have you..." he whispered, moving his hand until his found Artosh's, and squeezing it tight. "...Aether...Henry...Aria...Catherine...Shaun...Allistor...and the rest of the students...I do not think as often as I should about all of you...heheheh..."

Perhaps it was a concept that was foreign to him. It was easier to count enemies, when most of his life he had been surrounded by them. It was a way to survive, knowing the enemy. Fighting the enemy. Leaving them and moving to the next one. Yet now there seemed to be another way. Counting friends as a way to survive. As he spoke them aloud, he realized that just the names calmed him. They were anchors in a sea of nothingness, of lost names and faces. They were home.

"Counting friends...heh...perhaps I could try that from now on...I wonder..." he whispered.

Artosh Luxenia

Artosh smiled and squeezed Rabbit's hand back. At that moment they looked like siblings, twins even, sharing their worries and problems with each other. The white haired mage felt reassured now, that Rabbit's finding newfound strength in his students. The masked teacher might be a walking arsenal of nukes but his heart is as soft as his namesake's fur and as fragile as a frozen rose. "It's not 'could' Bunny-chan. It's 'should'." Perhaps the idea of taking strength from friends is foreign to Rabbit. Perhaps the first person to say that was him. He felt a bit of pride and joy swell inside him. It felt like they were both kids and they are learning things from each other time to time. "So, are you still afraid to face the Commitee? With an entire army of your own?" Artosh said with a smile and he held Rabbit's hands, cupping them with his own warmth.

Henry Von Kressel

Laughing at his friend's joke at him being a banshee - at least he hoped it was a joke - Henry lifted up his head and looked at his strangely soft friend, looking at his hood with a certain look of confusion,

"Hope I didn't bring any death around here. Don't worry: I might be screaming, but I'm not Japanese and I don't like boys, so zero chance of finding 'tall, slim boys who can really eat a lot very cute'. Serial heartbreaker right there.

But unfortunately... Yes. Never slept properly in Paris. It didn't seem to... Bring back my energies, which in turn kept stress piling up continuously, and when I realized, even my room didn't seem like it was a safe place anymore. The failure of saving Ambrosia and Catherine disappeared, the fear of Solaine disappeared as well, but it allowed for a bigger problem, Allistor.

When I came back to Mana there was this... Lawyer here. Turns out that Vladimir died, and left the whole inheritance to me. Including his lordship. My aunt will represent me in the Committee, but... In a question of hours this my last bits of peaceful life will go away, as the rest of my family will also know it about it. So I came here, to do something that often helped me relax... Playing some music, letting it fill your head but instead if making it weight more, makes it feel lighter... And you? Something on your head that is bothering you other than your fox hood?"

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor suddenly banged the piano's keys in shock as he stared at Henry with wide eyes and a creeping blush on his face. "What? I am not thin!" He said as he lifted his hoodie and shirt to show his muscled stomach. "I got some flesh in me! And..." He then nonchalantly let go of his clothes. "Katsuko, is that her name?, might be quite cute but it is unnerving how she's like a little Mercillia."

Allistor then listened to Henry and his little noble woes. He and Henry always shoved those things back to the dark corners of their might but the chains of command and authority always had their way back to choke them by the neck. "Old Grandpa's dead huh... Quite a surprise but... I'm sorry about that Henry. But hey, atleast you're not getting your father's lordship. If he ever wants you to take his lordship too."

"And the reason why I'm here is to practice music. Wouldn't want to bother the sleepy heads back at the quarters." Now, the idea of lordship also bothered him. It's going to be his eighteenth birthday soon. He's going to succeed his father soon. He shook his head and sighed. "You also need to find a wife soon too Henry." He said as he giggled a bit, covering his mouth so that his voice wouldn't echo around the room.

"...I do feel...much better...It does help to remember all of the people on your side...all of the people who care about you...But...I do need to find a way...to get rid of one thing...I have to get rid of it before it destroys me..." Rabbit closed his eyes, and his tone became more sober, as he changed the subject. "...Artosh...I need to get rid of Mikhailov...I need to...move past him. He is still there...I made the mistake of...sealing away his soul...but I must get him out. There is only one way..." A tear fell from his eye. Whether it was from incoming pain or from fear, it could not be said. "...Before Katelyn comes back...tonight...I will release the seal on his soul. I may need your help...Nobody else can know...I do not want him to hurt anyone...but we have one chance to make this work...Will you help me?"

[Luminesa]

Her words became less and less understandable as she spoke, and she started turning Momoko in her mind like a ballet-doll in a little music box. It was disturbing. Momoko Kageyama, not human? A hallucination? Just an imaginary friend? None of these things made any sense to the pink-haired girl. Himiko could see her, could she not? She was right in front of her, speaking to her. Her eyes grew wide with apprehension, and she backed away slightly. "...Himiko-chan...Ahhh...I..." Yet then she had an idea. She went and grabbed Himiko's hand, steeling her resolve. "Himiko-chan, we are going to the nurse. Something is very wrong with you, and you need help!" she exclaimed.

"...Something... is wrong with me?" Himiko repeated blankly. "You... you think something is wrong with me, Momoko-chan? Ah... I see... I understand, I do... Something's wrong with me... That's why... That's why... But I don't need to see a nurse, Momoko-chan, don't you understand that?" Standing up, she hugged the pink-haired girl, burying her face in the other's shoulder. "You're the only one I need, Momoko-chan... as long as you're here, everything will be all right... Please don't leave... Please... don't ever leave me..."

Momoko stepped away. She could feel the friction coming off Himiko's body. Something was seriously wrong. All of her friend's movements were like a zombie's, slow and uncoordinated. Her words were slow and dream-like, fragments of sentences and thoughts thrown together in desperation. She then took more steps back, and she shook her head. "...H-Himiko-chan...y-you need to see the nurse...You need to see someone...something is wrong...Please...Why don't you listen to me?" She did not raise her voice, but she did beg for Himiko to be honest with her feelings. It hurt her to watch her friend in pain, in fright. She only hoped she was saying the right things to her.

[Charlia]

"...Momoko-chan?" Himiko's eyes were dull, but they fixed on the pink-haired girl as soon as she'd stepped away. "...Don't go..." She took a step forward, towards Momoko. "Do you remember, Momoko-chan? Do you remember when we met, after I'd been released from the hospital? You asked if I was all right... You invited me to a park... You were so kind to me... Akuma Himiko, the weakling that no one wanted... And you... Beautiful, like a porcelain doll..." Himiko's eyes closed briefly, and she hugged herself, smiling. "So gracious and delicate. I had so much fun that day... For the very first time since my mother died, I felt happy. But I got home late, and my father was angry... But I didn't mind, I didn't... Because I had a friend... My precious new friend, Kageyama Momoko... I wasn't alone... That's when it started, Momoko-chan... Even back then, you were working magic and making miracles. You just didn't know it..."

She smiled again, walking a little closer.

Momoko backed away slightly, and squeaked in surprise when she felt Himiko's hands on her wrists, felt herself being pulled forward, almost tripping over herself in the process.

"H-Himiko-chan?" she stammered. Something was definitely wrong, she knew it. The sugary sweetness in the other girl's voice, something she'd never heard before, not directed at her. It didn't sound like her friend at all, it sounded so wrong.

"For so long, Momoko-chan," Himiko whispered, not sounding all the way there, "I've loved you. I've always loved you. Unlike everyone else, you looked at me... you saw me... you cared... Can you believe how much I love you? But you... You can be friends with me... but I'm not good enough for love... is that it?"

Something terrifying had entered Himiko's voice, and Momoko started trying to pull away--but Himiko had come a long way from the fragile girl she'd been when they'd first met. Her grip was like iron, drawing Momoko ever closer.

"Momoko-chan..."

Before Momoko could reply, Himiko released her wrists. She gave the girl no time to run, though--she simply wrapped her arms around the frightened mage, pulling her even closer, pale hands melting into pink hair. The world tilted, the black-haired girl bending the other girl back just a little bit, leaning in--

Momoko's eyes went wide with shock, a stifled squeak escaping her as Himiko kissed her. Of all the people to give her her first kiss, she'd never thought it would be Himiko. The girl was her friend. Why was she doing this? Something was horribly wrong, but Momoko's mind was too muddled for her to react.

After what felt like hours, Himiko finally pulled back, but did not release the other girl. A slow smile crept across her face. "I've wanted to do that for so long," she whispered. "And now that I've finally done it..."

Her hands crept downwards, brushing against Momoko's neck and then seizing tightly around it. A sharp exhalation was forced from the pink-haired girl's lips, and she kicked uselessly as she felt Himiko lifting her off the ground, the deadness still present in her eyes.

"Why don't you love me?" Himiko whispered. "Why not? Why am I not good enough for you? Is it because I'm a 'demon'? Yes, that's it, isn't it? A goddess descended to earth, someone like you, could never be with someone like me... Just like Matsushita-san always said. I am a devil..."

Her hands tightened.

"And if that's what I am, then this is what I have to do, isn't it?"

She smiled thinly, pain flashing briefly in her eyes.

"It's in my nature... to destroy everything I love... to destroy everything good... It's just my nature... But don't worry, Momoko-chan... I won't ever forget you..."

Blackness crept in around Momoko's vision, and she was sure she was going to die.

Then something changed.

The dullness vanished, replaced by confusion--and then shock, horror, as Himiko realized what she was doing. Her grip loosened, and she pulled back, freeing Momoko, whose body fell hard on the floor, like a doll's. Himiko looked dazed, and she backed away, pressing herself against the wall and breathing hard, looking at the pink-haired girl with terror and mumbling a single word to herself, over and over again, having reverted back to her native language in her horror.

"Akuma... akuma... akuma... akuma..."

Her voice was hoarse, her words quavering, but she continued to mutter even as her legs gave out beneath her and she fell.

[Luminesa]

"...Momoko-chan?" Himiko's eyes were dull, but they fixed on the pink-haired girl as soon as she'd stepped away. "...Don't go..." She took a step forward, towards Momoko. "Do you remember, Momoko-chan? Do you remember when we met, after I'd been released from the hospital? You asked if I was all right... You invited me to a park... You were so kind to me... Akuma Himiko, the weakling that no one wanted... And you... Beautiful, like a porcelain doll..." Himiko's eyes closed briefly, and she hugged herself, smiling. "So gracious and delicate. I had so much fun that day... For the very first time since my mother died, I felt happy. But I got home late, and my father was angry... But I didn't mind, I didn't... Because I had a friend... My precious new friend, Kageyama Momoko... I wasn't alone... That's when it started, Momoko-chan... Even back then, you were working magic and making miracles. You just didn't know it..."

She smiled again, walking a little closer.

Momoko backed away slightly, and squeaked in surprise when she felt Himiko's hands on her wrists, felt herself being pulled forward, almost tripping over herself in the process.

"H-Himiko-chan?" she stammered. Something was definitely wrong, she knew it. The sugary sweetness in the other girl's voice, something she'd never heard before, not directed at her. It didn't sound like her friend at all, it sounded so wrong.

"For so long, Momoko-chan," Himiko whispered, not sounding all the way there, "I've loved you. I've always loved you. Unlike everyone else, you looked at me... you saw me... you cared... Can you believe how much I love you? But you... You can be friends with me... but I'm not good enough for love... is that it?"

Something terrifying had entered Himiko's voice, and Momoko started trying to pull away--but Himiko had come a long way from the fragile girl she'd been when they'd first met. Her grip was like iron, drawing Momoko ever closer.

"Momoko-chan..."

Before Momoko could reply, Himiko released her wrists. She gave the girl no time to run, though--she simply wrapped her arms around the frightened mage, pulling her even closer, pale hands melting into pink hair. The world tilted, the black-haired girl bending the other girl back just a little bit, leaning in--

Momoko's eyes went wide with shock, a stifled squeak escaping her as Himiko kissed her. Of all the people to give her her first kiss, she'd never thought it would be Himiko. The girl was her friend. Why was she doing this? Something was horribly wrong, but Momoko's mind was too muddled for her to react.

After what felt like hours, Himiko finally pulled back, but did not release the other girl. A slow smile crept across her face. "I've wanted to do that for so long," she whispered. "And now that I've finally done it..."

Her hands crept downwards, brushing against Momoko's neck and then seizing tightly around it. A sharp exhalation was forced from the pink-haired girl's lips, and she kicked uselessly as she felt Himiko lifting her off the ground, the deadness still present in her eyes.

"Why don't you love me?" Himiko whispered. "Why not? Why am I not good enough for you? Is it because I'm a 'demon'? Yes, that's it, isn't it? A goddess descended to earth, someone like you, could never be with someone like me... Just like Matsushita-san always said. I am a devil..."

Her hands tightened.

"And if that's what I am, then this is what I have to do, isn't it?"

She smiled thinly, pain flashing briefly in her eyes.

"It's in my nature... to destroy everything I love... to destroy everything good... It's just my nature... But don't worry, Momoko-chan... I won't ever forget you..."

Blackness crept in around Momoko's vision, and she was sure she was going to die.

Then something changed.

The dullness vanished, replaced by confusion--and then shock, horror, as Himiko realized what she was doing. Her grip loosened, and she pulled back, freeing Momoko, whose body fell hard on the floor, like a doll's. Himiko looked dazed, and she backed away, pressing herself against the wall and breathing hard, looking at the pink-haired girl with terror and mumbling a single word to herself, over and over again, having reverted back to her native language in her horror.

"Akuma... akuma... akuma... akuma..."

Her voice was hoarse, her words quavering, but she continued to mutter even as her legs gave out beneath her and she fell.

Momoko rose from the floor slowly. Her breathing was fast, her stomach was upset, her entire body was shaking. Her throat was tight and sore, and she felt she was about to suffocate. She ran out of the room as fast as her wobbly legs would take her, and she began to scream around campus. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" All of the pain and terror inside of her erupted, outside in the cold sun. She stood in the middle of the courtyard, and her breathing quickened. She began to look around, her eyes wild and filled with confusion. She could not process her thoughts. Something would not let her.

Why don't you love me? Why don't you love me? Why don't you love me?

Her best friend had raped her. That was all there was to it. She had kissed her lips hard and long, and then she had tried to kill her. Himiko Akuma, one of her closest friends. She put her hands around her throat, as though she was still choking, and she screamed again. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Tears streamed down her face, and she finally fell to her knees. "...Ah...Ah...Himiko...Himiko..." she mumbled.

Midori rushed outside, while Katsuko ran across campus. Midori reached her first, and she knelt next to her. "Momoko? Momoko?! Momoko-chan, tell me what's wrong. Momoko? Can you breathe? Can you cough?" she inquired.

As if in response, Momoko began to cough violently, before the sobs got louder and drowned the violent sound. "...H-Himiko...sh-she...she attacked me...sh-she...sh-she..." The sobs came back and drowned her words as well.

Midori's eyes got huge, and she turned urgently to Katsuko. "Get the teachers. Whoever is here in campus, get them. Whatever students you can find too. We need to look for Himiko and restrain her. Go!"

Like a bullet, the redhaired girl ran away, and she began to scream for help. "HEEEEEELP! MOMOKO IS HURT!!! MOMOKO IS HURT!!! SOMEONE!!!! HEEEEEEEEELP!!!" Himiko of all people, hurting Momoko? This made no sense. It was utterly horrific. She knew it could only get worse as well, as Momoko was too traumatized to tell the whole story right now.

Rabbit heard from his room, and he quickly grabbed his mask. Letting go of Artosh's hand, he stood quickly. "We will talk about this more later. It seems our duties call us. Follow me," he ordered Artosh.