Held Back by Love

Anna wore a serious expression as she gazed at the moon from her room's balcony.

White stood behind her in silence, a worried expression etched on his face.

Predicting White's worries, Anna spoke.

"Speak." Anna said as she continued to gaze at the cold moon.

"Miss Anieal… I don't think you had to do that." White said as he turned his head to look at her.

"Do you think so?"

"Yes?" White tilted his head in confusion.

"Hmm… if I had let her go, those behind her would continue whatever they are planning. After all, the softer I act the harder they will come at me." Anna said as she turned and looked into White's eyes.

"So you did that to push them back?" White questioned as he couldn't believe Anna, He still remembered how Anna was after she killed that kidnapper at The Lunar's blessing.

"Yes." Anna agreed with a nod.

White stood silently as he looked at Anna for a few moments.

Anna, sensing his gaze, spoke.

"You don't have to worry about it, White."

"But-" White tried to argue, but…

"You may leave." Anna stopped him.

White lowered his head as he spoke.

"As you say, Miss Anieal." White said as he left the room.

Anna, now alone in the room, moved towards the chair Sakura was on. She sat on it as she rubbed her face with her hands.

'I had to do it…' she reminded herself as complicated thoughts started to brew in her mind.

Soon, she heaved a sigh.

"At least, I learned more about my star trait from this." Anna mumbled to herself with a bitter smile that touched her lips.

'Seems like the black threads are tied to one's end, huh…' Anna thought as she closed her eyes and rested her head on the headrest of the chair.

"Hah…" Finally a long sigh escaped her lips.

***

Anna stood inside Damien's room with a lowered head as Damien looked at her with a dumbfounded look.

"What did you say?" Damien questioned.

"A maid tried to poison me." Anna replied with a slight pause.

"How can that be?" Damien mumbled as he continued to look at Anna with the same look.

"She was paid to do it." Anna replied as she lifted her head and looked at Damien.

"I see…" Damien paused for a few moments and continued "Where is she?"

"Dead." Anna replied without even flinching.

"Is that so? hmm." Damien nodded as he rose from his chair and pulled Anna into a hug.

"Are you fine?" He questioned with a tone filled with worry.

"I am." Anna replied with a nod as she hugged him back.

Damien broke the hug after a few moments as he asked.

"Did you find out anything from her?" Damien questioned as he looked at Anna.

Anna nodded and started to speak.

"Her memories were edited."

"A Midnighter with abilities related to memories, huh. That doesn't help much." Damien said as he rubbed his chin with his left hand.

"That was your first kill, wasn't it?" Damien said as he looked at Anna with complicated emotions hidden behind her eyes.

Anna once again lowered her head as she spoke.

"She wasn't."

"Huh? What?" Hearing that, a confused look appeared on Damien's face.

"I killed someone before that." Anna answered his confusion.

"What?" Damien spoke with a stunned look on his face.

"When?" He questioned.

"When I went to The Lunar's blessing."

Hearing that, Damien started to rub his face with his hands and closed his eyes. 

Damien opened his eyes a few moments later as he looked at Anna with determined eyes.

"We should return to Azure." Damien concluded. 

"What are you talking about?" Anna said as she looked at Damien with a frown on her face.

"You've already been attacked two times within the last week. So, it's better to return to Necron City." Damien said with a solemn look on his face. 

Hearing that, Anna spoke with a stutter as a deep frown took place on her face. 

"B-but" 

"Anna." Damien said in a strict tone, stopping Anna from saying anything.

"Life is not a game, Anna. It's too dangerous. We will leave for Necron City tomorrow." Damien concluded as he looked out of the window with a solemn look on his face.

"But what about what I want?" Anna questioned as she looked at Damien with a downcast look on her face. 

Damien quickly turned as he looked at Anna with a frown on his face. 

"What do you-" 

Anna interrupted him as she spoke 

"I want to learn about the runes, I want to travel around. I don't want to run away from them from time to time." Anna said loudly as tears welled up in her eyes. 

"Anna." Damien called out to her with a frown on his face, his tone soft. 

Anna didn't reply as she turned around and left the room with quick steps with tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

Damien looked at the departing figure of Anna with a complicated look on his face. 

Moments later, he walked towards his chair and collapsed into it. After a few moments, he closed his eyes with a sigh.

"Hah…" 

Anna walked through the hallways of Kinten villa with quick steps. She soon reached her room and collapsed onto her bed with a thud.

Anna knew that Damien was right, but becoming a stronger Midnighter and traveling around the Azor was her goal and she felt lost when Damien told her to return to Azure without asking about her opinions.

Anna looked up at the ceiling without any expression on her face. A few moments later she heaved a sigh as she spoke.

"Hah…Damien is correct, I should take this seriously. It's too dangerous to stay here." Anna mumbled to herself with a guilty look on her face.

"I shouldn't have acted like that. I'll apologise to him tomorrow." Anna finally decided to follow the arrangements of Damien.

"Meow…" Veylor purred, seemingly calling out to her.

Anna turned towards Veylor as she spoke with a small smile on her face.

"Vey" 

Veylor moved towards her and rested in her embrace.

"Myu!" 

"You know we're going back to Starborne mansion tomorrow."

"Myu?" Veylor tilted his head, puzzled.

Anna embraced him tightly as she closed her eyes.

Damien leaned against the doorway of Anna's room. He looked at the ceiling as he clenched his fists.

'I have to take care of those pests, and I have to do it fast.' Damien thought as his eyes shone with a determined glint.

Damien heaved a sigh as he lowered his head and started to move towards his room.

His steps fell heavier and more resolute than before as he walked through the illuminated hallways of Kinten villa.