The Plan

-----Yui's POV

The soldiers didn't come back to the guild, but from the looks of outside, they seem to be going through every home and store, searching for Lilith, like she's some kind of fugitive. It dawns on me now that we can't stay here like this, putting Fleur and Faye in danger for hiding her here. But at the same time I need to get back to the city, and I don't want to be selfish and ask the others to wait before we go to Yarene.

Kaede: "Yui..."

Yui: "Hmm?"

Kaede: "I'll go where ever you go."

Seems like she could tell what I was thinking. Even still, I'm still trying to make up my mind. I could easily just send a letter to my parents and Luna, but that seems quite sad. Yarene is like an entire new country basically from what I heard, so I'm unsure if I can even send letters from out there. Plus there's the academy to think about as well. Yeah...

Yui: "I can't go just yet."

Kaede: "I understand."

Olivia: "I'd hope so! I promised I'd be there for you, but I don't think I could follow you to Yarene..."

Lilith: "You don't need to go out of your way for me anyways. I think I'll just go back with the soldiers. I don't want to bring unnecessary trouble for you, Fleur, Faye."

Fleur/Faye: "Mmm-"

The two sisters nod their heads, agreeing with Lilith.

Mai: "Are you sure you want to go back?"

Lilith: "...Yes. I'm used to it anyways."

I could feel a strong presence coming from Kaede. Turning my head I could see she's clearly unhappy with Lilith's response.

Kaede: "Used to it?"

Lilith: "Selene-"

Kaede: "Getting whipped and tortured like that, you're saying you're used to that?"

Lilith: "..."

Kaede: "I don't care what you say, I'm not letting you get hurt like that."

...

The room became quiet as the pressure emanating from Kaede is making it hard for any of us to speak up, like our throats were being cinched tight.

Mai: "I'll take her."

It was Mai who broke the silence, garnering all of our attention.

Mai: "I'll take Lilith to Yarene."

Lilith: "No. You-"

Mai: "It's the most obvious answer is it not? I can keep you hidden just like I did earlier. It'd be a safe travel."

Kaede: "Wait. Can't you just teleport to Yarene?"

Mai: "I could if I had been there myself. But I can get there just fine with walking."

Interesting. So there's limitations to Mai's magic as well. I wonder if her magic is unique to her or if any of us could learn it.

Lilith: "But-"

Kaede: "No. Go with Mai. It's the only option we have. And I'm for sure not letting you go back to THAT life."

Lilith: "...Mai?"

Mai: "That's the name Kaede had given me. Sorry for not introducing myself."

Fleur: "Huh. So you do have a name."

Faye: "Why did you not tell us?"

Mai: "I was told to keep it a secret. But since Kaede said it, I assumed now is the time to introduce myself."

Sicily: "Then-"

Mai: "Hmm?"

Sicily: "Nevermind."

Fleur: "Well if Lilith is going with Mai, then I'll start packing some food for your travels."

Olivia: "I-I'll help you!"

Fleur: "Hehe, thank you."

Lilith: "..."

Faye: "I'll attend downstairs while you prepare."

Fleur/Olivia: "Mmm!"

Yui: "!!!"

Suddenly, that sharp, burning pain in my stomach returns as it slowly spreads to cover my body. I try and contain it as much as possible to not worry anyone in the room. Looking around, it looks like it went unnoticed.

Lillian: "Yui?"

Nevermind.

Kaede: "Yui!"

Thanks to Lillian, Kaede immediately took notice as she runs over to me. My legs start to give out as I use Kaede as support to keep me up. It was then that I realized how nice Kaede smells as I can feel the pain subsiding ever so slightly.

Yui: "I'm okay."

Kaede: "You sure?"

Yui: "Mmm."

It's quite strange. The pain just before was so intense that I would've collapsed if it weren't for Kaede. But now as more time passes while in Kaede's arms, the pain is subsiding more and more. Could it be because of her healing me? But normally the pain would just stay the same; this is different.

Fleur: "Okay. Olivia, let's go."

Olivia: "Ah- Mmm!"

The two of them go downstairs with Faye, leaving the rest of us in the room. Kaede slowly brought me to the side of the bed, sitting me down along next to her.

Lilith: "W-what's wrong with her?"

Lillian: "We still don't know."

Mai: "From what I know, she should have died days ago."

Sicily: "Died?!"

This is news to me. Hearing that I should have died is a bit worrisome as I cling to Kaede's arm.

Kaede: "Mmm. You can tell them."

Seems as though Kaede and Mai had a small conversation with their minds before Mai continues to explain.

Mai: "It's to do with Kaede's blood. From what I've gathered, it's like a poison that kills their victims quickly."

Sicily: "Then how is she still alive?"

Kaede: "It's just a theory, but I think my blood inside Yui has become integrated with her own thanks to my healing magic."

Yui: "So, the pain I felt just before was-"

Kaede: "That- Mmm... How do you feel now? Be honest."

Yui: "I feel fine now. Thank you for healing me."

Kaede: "...But I didn't heal you just now. I was going to until you started feeling better."

So I was right in thinking that. So then why did my pain just vanish? Even now, the pain feels like it was never there in the first place.

Mai: "...Yui. Could you move away from Kaede?"

Kaede: "Huh?"

Mai: "I want to try something."

Mai seems to be thinking what I'm thinking, but Kaede seems to be against it. However, I sit up from the bed and move to the opposite side of the room, standing next to Mai as I look over towards Kaede.

Kaede: "What's happening?"

Mai: "How do you feel, Yui?"

I take a moment to concentrate on my body, but there's still no pain that I can feel.

Yui: "I feel fine."

Mai: "Maybe give it a moment. Actually-"

Out of nowhere, Mai erects a barrier, cutting off my vision from Kaede and everyone else, leaving me on one side with just Mai.

Mai: "How about now?"

Yui: "Still the sa- mnnnng!"

Suddenly, the pain comes back slowly. I can feel the heat brining up inside me once more as it spreads across my body.

Mai: "Interesting..."

The barrier collapses, revealing everyone else in the room. Kaede looking to be furious, but the moment she sees me, she runs over to me before I collapse. Using her as support once again.

Kaede: "What did you do, Mai?!"

Mai: "Nothing. But It seems like you two are linked somehow."

Kaede: "What?"

Yui: "It's true. She didn't do anything to me. The pain just came back once I was cut off from you."

I found myself able to talk steadily as the pain was calming down once more, regaining the strength in my legs.

Kaede: "S-so what. We have to stay together or else Yui dies? Is that what it is?"

Mai: "That would be my guess, yes."

This would be frightening if this was happening with anyone besides Kaede. It would seem like a curse, but I find myself not bothered if that is in fact true.

Lillian: "Wait, so Yui is now bound to Kaede?"

Mai: "If you put it like that. I guess she would be. Actually! You just gave me an idea, Lillian."

Lillian: "Hmm?"

Mai: "Kaede. Could you cut your hand?"

Kaede: "Why?- Oh."

Looks like she caught on to what Mai is planning as she immediately grows out one of her nails before slicing the palm of her hand open.

Mai: "T-that's enough!"

I could see Mai was visibly in pain, but I didn't feel anything.

Mai: "Yui?"

Yui: "I didn't feel it."

Sicily: "Woah! So Mai can feel what Kaede is feeling?"

Maybe not exactly, as for Kaede, it looks like nothing was happening as she held a straight face while cutting herself. It sure is scary how she can just do that and looking to be not be feeling anything. Meanwhile, Mai is holding her hand despite nothing showing on it. After a few moments, Kaede finishes healing her hand before she drinks the blood that has collected.

Mai: "So Yui's not bound like that. Hmm~"

We didn't do any more experiments after that, but I did remain by Kaede's side for the remainder of that time. The pain never returned again which only confirmed that I am linked to Kaede somehow.

Fleur: "We're back~"

Olivia: "We made a whole bunch!"

Fleur and Olivia returned with a couple boxes of food, placing them down by the side of the door.

Lilith: "You really didn't need to-"

Fleur: "Hey... Yarene is far journey, you'll need it. Plus, Kaede is fond of you, so I want to help. And you'll be helping us by leaving, so it's better for the both of us."

Lilith: "Mmm."

I don't know if its just me, but Fleur still seems like she's not too fond of Lilith herself. Which I can understand since they're both technically mothers of Kaede.

Mai: "I won't be needing these, but I'll carry them."

Lilith: "Huh?"

Mai places a hand on one of the boxes before it vanishes in a dark, purple mist before doing the same to the other box.

Lilith: "W-what?!"

Mai: "Don't worry. I just sent them to my pocket dimension. Actually, it works in a similar way to those bags, Kaede."

At this point, I'm not even surprised anymore when it comes to Mai. And looking around, it seems like the only people who are surprised are Fleur, Lilith and Olivia.