A Sudden Shift

"Kanon, how were you able to learn how to fight like that?" Sena asked, maintaining her float as she stared at the night sky. 

"I want to be able to defend myself, too, with grace and finesse. You looked amazing earlier."

Kanon fell quiet for a moment, choosing her words carefully so she wouldn't sound boastful. "You just have to focus your feelings properly, Ms. Yukari," she advised warmly. 

"I'm sure you know how much your emotions can impact your abilities, especially if you have any other than not wanting to be hurt." This came from her brief observation of Sena's reaction to Kishi earlier.

Taking Kanon's advice earnestly, Sena recalled a book titled Unspoken, Unburied: The Forces Beneath the Skin. Perhaps it could help her learn to harness her emotions into something she could control.

"Are you not afraid of being hurt, Kanon?" she asked, genuine interest brimming within her.

"Yeah, I guess..." Kanon replied, her voice thoughtful. 

"But more like, I want to believe that I can dodge and defend myself. Instead of focusing on being hurt, I want to think that even if I am, I'll be able to overcome it," she smiled, a flicker of pride in her expression. 

"Being hurt is just part of the process, Ms. Yukari. I dodge and defend myself not because I don't want to be hurt, but because I know how much it will hurt if I just accepted it." She tried to impart her knowledge with a gentle emphasis.

Sena realized just how mature Kanon could be when given the chance. She'd seen her as an older sister, showing great concern for her brother despite her typically boisterous and giddy personality. She sensed Kanon's deep determination to develop and bloom. 

I've been too scared, wanting to live my third life to the fullest, but guarding myself so carefully, I forgot what it means to try. 

Sena contemplated. She was thankful to have gotten to know Idris and the Regal siblings. 

This quiet moment of reflection with Kanon, especially, made her think there was more to being worried, more to being overprotective of herself.

"Thanks, Kanon. If it's not too much to ask…I have a book about harnessing emotions into abilities. Would you help me go through it?" Sena asked, her voice a little tentative.

"I've been thinking about asking Idris," she added, sounding shy, "but…well, him being blind, I don't really know how to bring it up," Sena confessed a bit shyly, careful not to insult Idris's incapacity.

Kanon chuckled softly. 

"Heh. Yeah, I get that. If it has something to do with books, it must feel pretty awkward asking a blind man for help," she teased, then her grin widened. 

"But isn't it amazing how capable Mr. Noorgareth is? I bet whatever's in that book of yours, he'll know exactly how to show you."

The girls laughed together.

"Ugh, he'd probably brag about how amazing he is," Sena said, rolling her eyes in mock exasperation.

"Hahaha! Yeah, he probably would!" Kanon shot back, a mischievous grin matching Sena's. The bond between them felt stronger than ever in that moment.

"Are you two finished talking about me?" Idris's voice came suddenly from the shore.

Both girls flinched so hard they nearly sank, thrashing for a moment to stay afloat. Neither had sensed him arrive. They ducked lower in the water, leaving only their heads above the surface, mortified.

"Kishi is awake, and I've prepared dinner," Idris announced calmly. He held out two folded robes. "I have these here. Come out, and let's head in for the night."

"Let's go, Ms. Yukari!" Kanon beamed, swimming for the shore.

"But Kanon," Sena whispered urgently, "we're in our undergarments!"

"Oh, it's fine, Ms. Yukari," Kanon said with a giggle, waving her hand dismissively. "Mr. Noorgareth is blind!"

Idris stretched out a hand, his face turned deliberately in another direction. Despite his blindness, he sensed Sena's wavering embarrassment and didn't want to be called a pervert yet again. 

Kanon took a robe from Idris's hand. He waited for Sena to do the same, and in just a moment, their hands brushed lightly.

Idris turned fully around, facing the path to the house in dignified silence.

Kanon and Sena picked up their scattered clothes and hurried after him.

"Kanon, lead the way," Idris instructed. "I'll secure the perimeter as we return."

And with that, Kanon giggled, grabbing Sena's arm with one hand and clutching her clothes in the other. Both girls gleefully ran towards Idris's house.

— — — 

As the reinforcements arrived at the first Western Lord Manor's conveyance gate, they were met by the lord's private guard. 

The guard offered apologies for the head master's unavailability, explaining he was currently overseas. The head butler, instead, would provide guidance and assistance.

The Crisis Marshall immediately informed the head butler of their urgent need for supplies to be transported to the devastated lands of Aurea Reach.

"We have prepared some donations ahead of time," the head butler responded. "Our private guards noted that a foot soldier actually stopped by recently to request passage through our gate, but unfortunately, our Gate Keeper was not on duty that evening."

The Crisis Marshall presented a formal letter to the lord's manor, a gesture of gratitude from the King's High Office for their support. 

He then inquired if their conveyance gate was still connected to the second Western Lord's Manor's gate, given its closer proximity to Aurea Reach.

The Head Butler shrugged, bowing his head in apology. 

"Unfortunately, that gate has been sealed off for some time now. We haven't received any incoming transmissions from their Gate Keeper in a while. My sincerest apologies for not being able to assist you and ease your travel." As he spoke, the head butler offered more carriages to accompany them on their journey.

The Crisis Marshall then sternly advised the head butler to report this immediately back to the capital, emphasizing that it was required by law for all conveyance gates at each lord's manor or estate to be fully functional. The head butler agreed.

The head butler also extended an offer to house the team in the manor's visitors' lounge for the night. However, the Crisis Marshall decided they must press on. He calculated that if they maintained their pace, switching drivers between shifts, they would arrive at Aurea Reach by tomorrow's sundown.

The head butler understood, and with that, the reinforcements from the capital resumed their journey.

— — — 

Back at Idris's house, Kanon practically dragged Sena towards the washroom. 

"Come on, Ms. Yukari! Let's wash together! Allow me to scrub your back," she chirped, full of eager enthusiasm.

Sena flinched at the invitation. Still adjusting to her female form, the thought of being fully exposed and naked with another woman, even Kanon, made her deeply uncomfortable. 

"I—I really appreciate that, Kanon, but I must decline," she stammered. "Please, by all means, go ahead before me."

Kanon seemed poised to protest, but a flicker of understanding crossed her face, and she didn't press further. 

Kanon and Sena took their turns washing up for the evening before heading into the dining room to join Kishi and Idris.

The rich, comforting scent of butter-aged steak hung heavy in the air, its deep, savory aroma mingling perfectly with the fragrant steam of vegetable stew. 

All four of them hadn't had a proper meal the entire day, their focus consumed by the rigorous training session. 

Idris, with his usual foresight, had ensured the meal was hearty and nourishing. A perfect complement to the healing and relaxation they all desperately needed at the end of such an intense day.

Sena, her fork hovering mid-air, kept glancing at Kishi, who remained quiet and withdrawn, clearly awaiting an opportunity to apologize.

Idris, sensing the coiled tension within Sena, decided to shatter the heavy silence. "Kishi, care to tell us what drove you earlier to make use of your full tiger form?" Idris inquired, his voice devoid of taunt.

Kishi carefully placed his fork and knife down, his gaze fixed on his plate as he answered. 

"I was driven by intense aggression and frustration. Instead of allowing myself to concentrate, I kept failing miserably, session after session. I just wanted to take that anger out." 

He paused, biting the side of his lip, every word laced with palpable self-loathing. 

"Even if it meant I had to take it out on Ms. Yukari," he finished bitterly, looking away, trying to hide his face.

Idris formed a subtle half-smile, almost proud of Kishi's admission. "I appreciate you reflecting on your actions," he uttered with an almost paternal tone.

Sena knotted her brow, almost in disagreement. "But Idris, you did taunt him," she said, her defiance contrasting sharply with Idris's smug, paternal pride.

"I did," Idris admitted matter-factly. 

"Here's the thing, Sena, your emotions will drive you, either forward or back. They will give you direction or purpose, whether that originates from good or bad intentions. Whether you like it or not, your emotion is the fire that will ignite the powers within you." 

He leaned forward slightly. "You were driven by fear; Kishi was driven by misplaced anger. If we were to place those emotions on a scale, yours dipped far heavier than his petty aggression and frustration. Which is why you were able to defeat him without even trying."

Sena contemplated Idris's every word. 

A chilling thought took root: what if her own unpredictable mood swings, soaring too high and plunging too low, became the driving factor behind her abilities, ultimately causing her to unintentionally hurt someone?

"C—can you help me control it?" Sena asked, her voice barely a whisper. 

"I want to be able to defend myself properly." 

Her gaze, now fixed on Idris, held a desperate plea. "I want to live my third life to the fullest, no matter what. But I also want to protect people around me, not just myself."

Kanon and Kishi's ears twitched at her admission of a 'third life'.

Idris, knowing the siblings had heard her despite her quiet, slow utterances, decided to press her once more. 

"Sena, I still don't understand what you mean when you say you want to live your 'third life'. Care to enlighten us?" Idris spoke carefully, threading lightly on what he sensed was a very sensitive subject.

A violent wave of memory suddenly overwhelmed Sena, crashing over her like an icy deluge. 

"Care to enlighten us, deary?" a soft, yet haunting voice played over and over, echoing relentlessly in her skull.

"Care to enlighten us, deary?" 

"Care to enlighten us, deary?" 

"Care to enlighten us, deary?" 

She flinched, instinctively propping her elbow on the table and leaning her head into her hand. 

A piercing, nauseating pain struck her head like a lightning bolt, fragmenting the memory even further. Obscure faces and blurring images of old smiles flashed and tore through her mind, making her feel intensely disoriented, as if she was going to throw up. 

Her stomach churned violently.

"I—I'm sorry, Idris, I don't feel so good. Can we talk again tomorrow?" She struggled to keep herself composed and balanced, her body beginning to tremble intensely.

Idris sensed her wavering and trembling. He reached out to steady her shoulders, but she flinched away, batting his hands off as if burned. 

Struggling, she pushed herself up from the table and hurried towards her room without another word, leaving her untouched food behind.

Kanon's face was etched with raw worry and concern. "Mr. Noorgareth… Does that mean Sena might be a Nitheful?"

Idris let out a long, dejected sigh. "Haaahhhhh… I don't know, Kanon. I can't be sure." He admitted, visibly deterred.

"But you can see her soul, right?" Kishi faced Idris, concern also dawning starkly on him. "What does she look like to your perception? You can tell us that much, right?" he asked anxiously, his voice tight.

Idris's jaw tightened. 

He had almost forgotten Kishi knew about his soul-sight. "She might be," he said sullenly, the words heavy with implication.

"Tsk!" Kishi clicked his tongue, a wave of regret washing over him as he reflected on how he had treated Sena from the very beginning. 

All three took a moment of silence, the unspoken understanding hanging in the air: once the Daughters had a glimpse of her, she might very well be treated as a maledict in need of purging.

"Then she shouldn't be here in Azarette at all," Kishi advised strongly, his mind already racing and planning. 

"I'm sure we can accommodate her at our estate; she can even work there and study in the conservatory Kanon studied from." His concern for Sena had clearly grown, propelling him to action.

Kanon's face softened with pity for Sena. "No wonder she's staying here with you. I never took you for someone who would dismiss protocol, Mr. Noorgareth," she sighed, then continued with renewed urgency, "No wonder she was so scared of getting hurt. She just wanted to live her life. She really shouldn't be here in Azarette, Mr. Noorgareth!"

"We can't decide for her," Idris interrupted, cutting through the siblings' racing thoughts and overwhelming concern.

"Then let's educate her! So she can decide for herself!" Kishi slammed his fist on the table, the plates rattling. 

"Because if she chooses to go to the capital at this point, there might be no going back for her once the Daughters get their hands on her. Who knows what 'purging' means in their compendium!"

"Kishi, calm down. She's not a maledict to be purged. She might be an Ashriel for all we know," Idris advised, though his tone lacked conviction.

"Do you really believe that, Mr. Noorgareth?" Kanon questioned, doubting her teacher's words. 

"With the exception of Doctor Ashriel and his late brother, do you really believe that Ms. Yukari won't be treated as a maledict?" Kanon's voice was stern now, eyes fixed on Idris.

Idris leaned back, brushing a hand over his face. He admitted, "I don't know."