Apology

-----Kaede's POV

Todays the day when Gabriella comes back. With Yui out with her parents, I'm spending some time with Olivia. With neither of us having any plans, we've just been hanging out in her room.

Kaede: "What time did you say Gabriella will be back?"

Olivia: "Generally it's before nightfall, but she can come back earlier."

So in other words, we have no clue when exactly she'll return. I don't want to risk leaving in the off-chance that she does return while I'm gone, so I choose to remain in Olivia's room. Mai also took the time today to visit mom to see how she's holding up, leaving just Olivia and I alone.

Kaede: "So how's the enchanting class going?"

Olivia: "Great! I'm still struggling fitting my mana inside this stone."

She's holding onto the stone in question with both hands, moving it around as if inspecting it.

Kaede: "Could you try doing it right now?"

Olivia: "Huh? Sure. But don't expect anything, haha."

She closes her eyes for extra focus, giving me the sign to keep quiet as I watch on. I notice the stone immediately begin faintly glow in the palm of her hands with a blue hue to it. It's similar to when I pour mana into summoning crests on the ground, but I don't see any kind of crest on the stone. After what felt like 20 seconds, she opens her eyes as the light coming from the stone disappears, appearing to remain just an ordinary stone.

Kaede: "Did it work?"

Olivia: "No. If it did, then it'd be dripping wet."

Kaede: "Are you just pouring your mana inside it?"

Olivia: "Yes, but more so pouring my mana into the crest I already made inside the stone."

Wait. You can do that? Creating crests without actually seeing it? And Olivia managed to pull it off?

Kaede: "That's cool!"

Olivia: "Thanks. I only just recently figured it out thanks to Gabriella. But I'm still having issues with activating my crest."

Now this I could maybe help with! I remember Violet teaching me the "flow" of the crest. Maybe it works similarly in context to enchanting?

Kaede: "Hmmm. Could you try it again? But go slow this time."

Olivia: "You look like you know something."

Kaede: "Maybe."

Olivia: "Hehe, alright."

She closes her eyes and the same blue light slowly glows from the stone.

Kaede: "Focus on the crest itself. Do you know where it starts?"

Olivia: "W-what do you mean?"

Kaede: "When you first created it. Where did you start?"

Olivia: "...I think the center? That's how we were taught."

Kaede: "Right. Now try and slowly pour your mana into that spot specifically, not the whole thing."

Olivia: "What?"

Kaede: "Just try."

Olivia: "..."

Some time passes as I could feel the strain coming from Olivia, but after a few moments, she lets out a sigh as the blue light fades from the stone once more.

Olivia: "That's too difficult. Pouring your mana in such a tight spot."

I was really hoping that my help would just immediately solve the issue, but maybe Olivia just doesn't have the greatest control over her magic.

Kaede: "How many people in your class can enchant this stone?"

Olivia: "Just Gabriella at the moment. She's amazing."

Hearing Olivia giving her praise just makes me feel more guilty about what I did. I swear I'll apologize correctly, and properly make things right.

Kaede: "You'll get there as well, so try again."

Olivia: "It's quite draining you know."

Kaede: "Just take it easy. Only use a sliver of your mana."

Olivia: "I-I'll try, but I'm not sure how small I can go."

Wait. Humans have vessels right? And they're attached to the heart. So if someone's heart is beating fast, would that mean more mana would be needed? It's just a theory, but maybe if Olivia slowed her heart rate, maybe she could draw out less of her mana.

Kaede: "I wanna try something."

Olivia: "What is it?"

Kaede: "Close your eyes."

Olivia: "I need a break if I'm going to go again-"

Kaede: "No no, this won't involve mana. Just close your eyes."

Olivia: "Okay."

Following my words, she closes her eyes and I also do the same.

Kaede: "Now take a long and deep breath."

I would be more specific with the kind of breathing, but Olivia and the majority of people I've seen in this world, they all breathe with their stomachs, unlike how Yui and I normally breathe. So Olivia will be doing it properly I'd imagine. We both take a deep breath.

Kaede: "Now slowly breathe out. Make sure to completely empty your lungs as comfortably as you can."

I could hear her exhale just like I said as I also follow suit.

Kaede: "Now again."

We repeat over and over, taking our time to slowly bring as much air into our lungs, before emptying it moments later. Olivia doesn't talk throughout all of this as she obediently follows my lead. I hope it's working for her, because right now, my body is feeling quite relaxed now.

Olivia: "This is nice."

Kaede: "Few more times."

Olivia: "Mm"

To think I'll be doing breathing exercises in this world. I taught Yui how to do this back when we first met. She was always out of breath during training, so we tend to take some time and relax by doing this, usually when laying down.

Kaede: "Okay. How do you feel?"

Olivia: "Rejuvenated. I feel like I just woke up from a relaxing dream."

Kaede: "Great. Now try and pour mana into the crest like how I said before."

Olivia: "Okay."

With her eyes still closed, the stone in her hands begins to glow, but only this time, it was a lot weaker than the previous attempts. It must've worked.

Olivia: "Huh?"

Kaede: "What?"

Olivia: "I did it?"

Kaede: "Stay calm, remember, deep breaths."

With my instructions she breathes deeply as she continues to pour mana into the stone, causing the stone to gradually grow brighter.

Kaede: "You following the flow of the crest?"

Olivia: "I think so?"

Kaede: "Just follow where your mana naturally wants to go."

Then after a few moments, Olivia opens her eyes in excitement as the glowing blue light begins to fade away. I was curious as to why she was happy since it appeared to look like she failed, but after the light finally faded, I noticed the stone in her hands was causing her hands to become wet.

Olivia: "Kaede! I did it!"

Kaede: "Congrats!"

I was about to hug her, but she beat me to it, pouncing onto me as I gently wrap my arms around her. I've never seen Olivia this happy before, and after we finally break apart from the hug, I could see tears are welling up in her eyes.

Olivia: "Thank you!"

Kaede: "Hey I didn't do anything. That was all you."

Olivia: "Not at all! That breathing thing really helped!"

Kaede: "Hehe, I'm glad."

This pretty much confirms my theory then. Might not work with people who are not human, but at least in this case, it could mean that the faster a human heart beats, the more mana will be generated.

Suddenly, we hear the door to the room open before closing a few moments later.

Gabriella: "Olivia?"

Olivia: "Ah-"

She quickly wipes her face before sitting up. I also take the moment to sit on top of one of the beds in the bedroom before Olivia walks out to greet Gabriella.

Olivia: "Yes! I'm still here."

Gabriella: "Wait. What's that?"

I can no longer see their interaction as I'm hidden in the bedroom, but I can more or less guess that Gabriella has spotted the stone in Olivia's hands.

Olivia: "Oh! I was practicing just now and I finally did it!"

Gabriella: "Can I see?"

Olivia: "Yes!"

It's relieving to hear that they are on speaking terms, and Gabriella actually sounds happy to be talking with Olivia. It could be wishful thinking, but maybe Gabriella came back early to see Olivia? She did just call out her name just before.

Gabriella: "It's perfect! My hands are soaked."

Olivia: "Thank you."

Gabriella: "Guess our room belongs to the best students in the class, hehe."

Olivia: "I-I'm not that great."

Gabriella: "Can you really say that when the others are still struggling? Some are still stuck on creating their crests."

Olivia: "T-true."

Gabriella: "Now come on. Let's go out and celebrate, my treat."

Olivia: "Really?"

Gabriella: "Mhmm! Just let me get washed up first."

I start to hear footsteps coming closer. I prepare myself, taking a deep breath for what's to come. And just as Gabriella comes into view, our eyes lock onto one another as her happy expression turns sour.

Gabriella: "Y-you?"

Kaede: "Can we talk?"

Gabriella: "Why are YOU here?"

Olivia: "She was helping me with some things."

Gabriella: "..."

It might not mean anything in this world, but I slip down off the bed and get on my hands and knees, bringing my head to the floor, begging for forgiveness.

Gabriella: "W-what are you-"

Kaede: "I'm sorry! I truly feel bad for how I treated you before. I didn't mean for it to happen at all. I'm sorry."

I refuse to lift my head off the floor as I plead. Can't say I've never done this before, not even in my past life.

...

The silence is heart wrenching to say the least, as I wait in anticipation for what she says.

Gabriella: "What was that?"

Kaede: "It's an act for forgiveness."

Gabriella: "Not that. I'm talking about what you did to me a week ago."

I truly do want to explain, but I can't talk about me being a vampire to her. Especially since our relationship is quite volatile right now.

Kaede: "My emotions got the better of me and my magic just slipped out on you."

Olivia: "Y-yes! She was just mad how you were treating me before."

Gabriella: "...So it was just you exerting your aura onto me?"

Is that what I was doing? I thought it was part of my vampiric powers. Yui was there so I could talk about this later with her, but for now I'll play along with this.

Kaede: "Yes! I'm truly sorry Gabriella."

Gabriella: "Hah~ Yes yes~ Now could you get up from the floor? This is weird."

Finally having got permission, I raise my head to look up at her. I expected to see that same sour expression, but now the corners of her mouth are ever so slightly risen up to form a little smile. Just that small smile alone calmed my heart.

Gabriella: "Apology accepted."

Kaede: "Thank you."

Gabriella: "Now if you can excuse us. I need to wash up."

Olivia: "Wait. Why not have Kaede join us?"

Gabriella: "What?"

Olivia: "You two just made up, right? Maybe going out together would be fun!"

Gabriella: "...Only since it's your celebration... Fine."

Kaede: "I'll get ready as well!"

Olivia: "Yes! We'll meet you by the gate."

Kaede: "Mhmm!"