"My dear students, I apologize for what happened." The Queen’s words were filled with sincerity, her posture radiating humility. "I failed to assess the potential dangers and thus put all of you in peril."
It was the first ti they had ever witnessed the Queen humble herself. Remorse heavy in her voice, they were unprepared for such an act. The teenagers knew no one was to bla. It was inconceivable that the Queen could have foreseen such an eventuality in what had appeared to be a simple mission.
Link asserted that it was no one’s fault, and Coleen and Eirin signified their agreent with nods. Regina’s eyes soon settled up Eirin, and the teenage girl’s brow knit in subtle apprehension. The Queen then persisted in inquiring about Eirin’s well-being, to which Eirin could only offer a weak smile, unable to articulate a proper response. Her mind was still in a disarray, and she was emotionally disoriented.
"I know this might seem like a bribe, but take these."
The Queen recompensed the students for their ordeal by increasing their allowances. Even though Eirin was unsure how she would utilize the funds, they received the compensation with gratitude.
After their brief eting with the Queen, Eirin and Coleen passed the shadowed hallway, worn out by their arduous journey. Their eyelids were already drooping, and their footsteps were heavy as they shuffled along, simply aiming to reach the female dorm.
The mont Eirin opened the door, Coleen collapsed onto the floor, making Eirin’s eyes widen in alarm as she feared for her friend.
"I’m sorry, my body just relaxed on its own, hehe."
Eirin heaved a sigh while assisting the other girl to her feet as they entered the room.
"Do you want to take a bath first?"
"Nope, you should go first, Ei."
The sheer fatigue made Eirin too weary to refuse. She longed for a bath and imdiate slumber. When had this room beco such a haven? A great sense of belonging settled over her, as if she were finally ho.
Eirin entered the bathroom and as she disrobed, she saw her reflection in the mirror. She stared at her neck and noticed that no discernible marks remained from Shade’s grasp. As her fingertips traced her neck, mories of how Shade appeared above her surged through her thoughts. The mory of suffocation made Eirin frown.
It was terrifying, yet sohow, Eirin could not remove Shade’s image from her mind. Despite the near death experience, Eirin did not harbor the sa dread she felt for those n who had sexually harassed her.
’Why? Why is he different? Was it because I tried to... kill him as well?’
Even after the warm bath, Shade preoccupied Eirin’s mind. What Link had told her further confused her. Her hair still dripping wet as she walked out of the bathroom. She retrieved a fresh towel from the closet and dried her hair.
Eirin giggled softly at the sight of Coleen sleeping while clutching a slice of bread. "Where did she get that?" She walked towards Coleen and tapped the young girl’s arm while softly calling her na.
"You should take a warm bath first before sleeping," the teenage girl said, but she soon giggled at the sight of Coleen still chewing the remaining piece of bread in her mouth.
"Are we not friends yet, Ei?"
Coleen pouted, her eyes slowly blinking open. Hearing that reminded Eirin of her persistent formality, using Coleen’s full na instead of her nickna.
"We are friends. Now, please take a bath before you fall asleep again," Eirin said as she retrieved the bread and returned it to the plate on the bedside table. She guided Coleen to the bathroom, and after that Eirin sat on her bed and exhaled deeply.
The silence caused her thoughts to wander, pondering the plight of the concealed village of Dalry. What was currently happening to the people? And what about the man restrained in the lowest depths of the dungeon?
Eirin clutched her chest, a residual ache settling there, the sensation of agonizing pain stubbornly clinging to her thoughts. She stared out the window, lost in contemplation of the inexplicable events that had unfolded.
A face soon appeared in her mind. The gri-streaked and battered appearance of a young man.
"What could he be doing right now?"
Eirin’s thoughts about the young man halted as her eyes found Coleen as soon as she got out of the bath. Her ssy clothes and drowsy appearance caused Eirin to smile and sigh. Her hair still thoroughly damp, while both eyes were already closed. She must have been exhausted, Eirin thought.
"Coco."
Coleen imdiately opened her eyes after Eirin called her nickna. Eirin patted her bed, prompting Coleen to approach with a smile and sit on Eirin’s bed. The teenage girl brought out a new towel to dry Coleen’s hair.
"This must be how it feels to have an older sister," Coleen murmured, her eyes closed again as she relaxed her head on Eirin’s lap.
Eirin chuckled. "But you do have an older sister." The words slipped out before Eirin could censor them, and the sudden heavy silence that followed made her eyes widen in imdiate regret. She winced, the painful mory of Coleen and Calixta’s strained relationship resurfacing.
"I’ve never experienced this kind of care before. They don’t treat like their little sister," Coleen chuckled softly. "Was I too fast? I’m not even your best friend, yet I’m already claiming you as my sister. Isn’t that funny?"
Eirin didn’t quite grasp the full implication, but she offered a smile. At the sight of it, Coleen’s gazed at the floor.
"I’m sorry, Ei."
A sudden pang of emotion tightened Eirin’s chest as she heard her nickna once again. She stared at Coleen’s vibrant purple hair as she gently stroked it. "You’ve got nothing to apologize for." Her soft hand offered solace, and Coleen slowly lifted her gaze to Eirin.
"I’ve always thought of this, but purple hair really does suit you."
Coleen’s smile brightened as she sat beside Eirin. "You really think so? I’ve been thinking about dyeing it a different color," she said, sheepishly twirling a strand of her hair.
"It isn’t your natural hair color?"
Coleen burst into laughter. "I’m not a ligma after all, they’re the ones with the colorful hair colors, and I’m a human so I have natural black hair. It’s certainly botherso to bleach my hair every ti I change the color, but it’s also enjoyable."
Despite being unable to fully grasp Coleen’s aning, Eirin watched her chatter. The two continued their conversation, which eventually drifted to the origins of Kara and Coleen’s rivalry. They lay on the sa bed, gazing up at the painted clouds adorning the ceiling.
"I’m sorry for being an to you. You didn’t deserve to be treated like that."
Eirin held Coleen’s hand and said, "It’s fine now. That was all in the past anyway."
With the whistling wind knocking on the glass window, the two continued their conversation, their voices the only sound filling the room. The girls giggled and conversed freely until, slowly, they succumbed to the deep embrace of exhaustion.
The wind outside continued its relentless tapping against the pane, and the room was otherwise silent. Peaceful and tranquil, as if nothing troubleso had ever occurred.
anwhile, inside the silent, empty chamber, a man wearing a black suit entered. His rose-pink eyes swept the gloom, quickly locating the swivel chair facing the window.
"You knew, didn’t you?" His deep, calm voice filled the chamber.
The man continued walking towards the desk, and the person seated in the swivel chair slowly rotated to face him. It was a woman, her azure eyes gleaming under the moonlight that stread through the window. It was Regina Virelli, the Queen of Næra.
"Arthur," Regina’s soft voice spoke his na.
Arthur Blade brushed back his golden-brown hair. "Why didn’t you tell about it?" His eyes, full of unspoken questions, watched her, leaving the Queen visibly hesitant.
Regina stared at the towering stack of papers on her desk. She tapped a nail against the armrest of her chair. "I didn’t know."
Arthur clenched his fist and bit his lower lip. Lies. He continued staring at the woman, observing her beautiful appearance, yet looking into her eyes that held solitude. "Aren’t we a team?"
A small smile played on Regina’s face as she gazed out of the window. "The elders are quite displeased with what happened. They’ve been insisting I put Scarlett on probation due to these events."
Arthur sighed. "That girl truly has not changed. Can you believe what she attempted to do to one of our students? She—"
"We shall cease discussing the past. What we need to discuss is the future. Eirin gained her Flair, and we remain uncertain of what her ability truly is. Even Master remains silent on our inquiries."
The abruptness with which Regina cut Arthur off caused the man to bite his lower lip again. It was as if Regina was trying to avoid the topic at all costs.
"What about Shade?"
Regina flinched. She crossed her arms, a gesture of discomfort, as she faced the man with an artificial smile. "He requires reprimand. It was the elders’ decision. Shade Cromwell is to be segregated from the other students for a while."
"For soone who detested the elders’ decisions, you certainly obey them like a dog."
Arthur strode out of the room, leaving the Queen stunned by her subject’s sharp words. She pressed her fingertips to her temple, exhaling a weary sigh, before looking at the moon once again.
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