Siblings of Battle

Running through the rubble, Mitsuna had to ignore the royal knights and guards surrounding the area.

Most, if not all of them were dead. She did not have the time to check.

Passing under an overhead bridge, or what was left of it, Mitsuna jumped high and activated her combat skills.

The dust surrounding the area held some similarity.

Taking a glance around, she continued.

'From the surrounding mana... there are survivors. Though they seem to be hiding.'

Reaching the castle, its current image overlapped with the one in her memories.

Some leaves on the surrounding trees were breaking slowly with black cracks slowly spreading.

The guards and knights she got to know were now almost nothing more than dust and armour.

Biting her lip, she slowed down for a second.

Shaking her head she, yet again, continued.

Reaching the entrance to the main castle, a familiar corpse could be seen slowly fading away.

"Ah. Princess... It seems you have returned rather early."

The figure said, coughing while clutching a large ever-burning feather that seemed to have been cut in half.

"...Achillie."

"Reporting..."

"Where is my family."

"They are currently supposed to be dining. But I doubt they could enjoy such luxury at this time."

"You seem more. Stiff."

"Well, sh*t happens when you are on your death bed."

"I'll come back."

"I fear it's too late... Do me a favour..? My son. Make sure he grows up fine. I sent him to a school in the East some time ago."

"...What's his name?"

"Same as mine."

"I'll find him. Sooner or later... I have to go. Rest well."

"It seems I've held you for quite a while. Go."

Achillies was a good man. This everyone knew. Whether they worked at the castle or not, knew him personally or just heard of him, his reputation was just a step below the royal family.

Passing corridor after corridor, Mitsuna's memories flashed before her eyes. Each lasting slightly longer than the last.

Suddenly stopping, she looked back only to see a broken wheelchair.

Yet another memory played. A smiling brother and tasty treats. It was then replaced by the real world. A dusty and bloody hallway.

Mitsuna ran.

'A broken wheelchair doesn't mean... it can't.'

Passing a familiar window, she glanced out of it with a frown on her face.

Fire, dust and death now permeated the air above the city and its surrounding lands.

Reaching the dining hall, Mitsuna kicked down the door.

Looking inside what she saw was. Herself, swinging a blade at her father's neck.

Slicing it halfway through, the image glitched and blurred as the image of Mitsuna was replaced by Natash, holding the same sword that killed her father.

Rushing to him, Mitsuna caught him as he fell.

A light smile was on his face as Mitsuna's eyes were full of tears.

And just like Empathy, he turned to dust the very same way.

Clutching the dust in her hands, a tear fell to the ground.

Not realizing that Natash was raising her weapon right beside her, she instead was woken from her trance by an explosion from behind her.

Natash was blown away as Mitsuna could hear someone speaking.

Turning to look behind her, tears filled her eyes as she embraced the only family member left. Jameson her brother was alive.

Not even thinking about the fact that he was standing, Mitsuna hugged him as tightly as she could, not wanting someone else to be turned to dust.

Receiving a pat on the head, Mitsuna heard Jameson speak.

"We can talk a little later. For now..."

Jameson turned to Natash who stood up from the rubble.

"I want a little revenge. Can you help?"

Letting go of her brother, Mitsuna turned to Natash with a hurt expression.

"Mhm."

She gripped her sword.

'Sorry, Natash.'

She completely forgot about forgiving her at this point as Mitsuna held her sword.

A pressure descended down on the castle.

Both Mitsuna and her brother were enraged.

Natash. Nay, this beast dared to disturb the peace of this family.

Natash split into clones as Mitsuna took her stance.

'Lethality. What I want is to kill.'

The clones closed in on Mitsuna as Natash herself rushed at Jameson.

Thrusting her sword while covering it in aura, the clones suddenly had multiple holes in their body despite being meters away from Mitsuna.

A slight look of surprise appeared on the faces of both Natash and Jameson.

Mitsuna had a cold look in her eye as she set her sights on Natash.

Sprinting at full speed, her advance was covered by spears and balls of flame.

Natash dodged the projectiles and cut them down.

As the last spear headed towards her, she cut in it half diagonally only to see a familiar aura covered blade aiming for her neck.

Natash jumped back only to be stopped by ice spiked mana thread.

Mitsuna then used both Sakura Monsoon and Full Eclipse at the same time.

The monsoon of petals cut deep into the back of the knee and any other tendon they could reach as Mitsuna's blade gathered speed and went straight for Natash's neck.

As it was about to be blocked, Natash noticed a rather strong spear of fire going for her head and legs.

It seems as though Jameson held back at first to give himself this chance.

Natash then used a Technique.

Counter.

The spear was thrown off course and the blade barely missed its mark, only leaving a scratch.

Natash raised her sword up high and cut down. Yet before it could slice Mitsuna to pieces, a flame shield appeared.

It did not stop the attack as it flew straight through.

But in the end, it still missed, only cutting through a few petals.

Natash then suddenly felt a scar appear on her body as Mitsuna had appeared behind her and used Cresent Eclipse.

Stumbling forward, she was then hit by a few javelins of fire that launched her into the wall.

Mitsuna and Jameson were pushing her back. Mitsuna could deal with her Techniques and illusions since she has seen them a good few times while Jameson covered for his sister's lack of fire power and blocked all openings. A near-perfect team.

Natash stood up.

'She' then thought: 'Damn, this is getting tricky.'

It would seem that fighting Mitsuna's parents really took a lot out of her.

A lightbulb switched on in her head as she created more clones.

Aryamis and Midithyr both appeared but before they could do anything they were blown up and cut to pieces.

"Do not desecrate the dead. They are gone and I have accepted that. Natash, just give up."

Mitsuna spoke. Although it was a lie that she had accepted her parents' deaths, she currently needed to find an opportunity.

'I don't think I could destroy any more of those illusions if I don't want to become crazy. We need to end this.'

Appearing on her brother's side in a torrent of sakura petals, Mitsuna shared a few words.

"Can we do it?"

"We can. I have enough Mana to destroy the castle, if you distract her I could deal the finishing blow."

"On it."

Taking a step forward, Mitsuna narrowed her eyes as another memory overlapped with her vision.

It was of her and Natashs' first spar. Now it would be their last.

On the corner of her vision, a notification sprang up.

['Lethality' has been implemented into Sword Style: Cresent.]