88: The Gem of Requiem

The full moon was a beautiful sight to behold. It shined down on the trio and their companion with its bewitching glow. It pulled at Maria's instincts but it was far easier to control this time because of the gem on her neck.

"Tell us if you start feeling affected by the curse. We can allow you to sit out" Nao's assuring voice came from behind and Maria allowed the concern to wash over it.

It felt good to have someone check on her with such an unwavering concern after a long time. But then again, Nao had been such a person since the start and her concern was an ever-present factor while growing up for Maria.

"Don't worry about me. The gem is a big help to me. You should be more concerned about Suna right now. Something is wrong with her" Maria gently nudged Nao toward Suna's direction and the attention was instantly off of her.