Chiaki cocked her head, trying to make sense of what she had just heard, then shook it to clear her thoughts. The absence of specific details about their relationship left her feeling hesitant to move forward. Sensing that Yu mentioned nothing at all, she shot him a sharp and disappointed stare, her eyes narrowing.
“... You did not mention you are one of the 36 Heavenly Leaders, did you?”
Vincent’s mouth fell open.
“The 36 Heavenly Leaders? Yu was that high of a position in the army?”
Ason's fingers tapped on Vincent's shoulders, grabbing his attention.
“36 Heavenly Leaders...? What’s that?”
“Let me explain. The army I lead has a composition of 36 Heavenly Leaders and 72 Earthly Comrades, thus the 108-Army. In my current regime, the 36 Heavenly Leaders hold high-level government positions. While some of Earthly Comrades returned to their normal lives or stayed in my army under the leadership of the new Magister Militum, Melpomene Ashurabanipal.”
Lycoris looked at the position of the sun, then at her watch.
“My guards will be here shortly.”
At the entrance of the park, a group of four vehicles had gathered, including a grand limousine and three sophisticated black cars. Lycoris's guards came to retrieve their runaway queen, their appearance scaring and dampening the park’s playful atmosphere. Cassiopeia walked up to Yu and whispered in his ears.
“I used Marieta to track you down. Originally, she was going to warn you and stop those three herself, but I guess she couldn’t make it in time. But... did you really have to kill them, though? I thought you swore off killing people?”
Yu shook his head.
“They threaten to kill them.”
“I see, I don’t think that’ll be the end of them. There are still some who still want you dead. If you don't want If you don't want If you don't want your new friends to get in trouble, keep them away from Asura’s problems and your personal vendettas. My advice is to deal with the Red Wing quickly before giving those kids a chance, then leave their lives.”
Her arms wrapped around him, creating a cozy and secure feeling, like a warm blanket. Yu resembled a lifeless puppet with no signs of emotion or movement. Cassiopeia redirected her gaze towards Lycoris, noticing the furrowed brow and clenched fists that revealed her clear displeasure.
“You know I’m not a cougar, Lycoris. But… Yeah, this is weird. I can’t do it. That was my attempt at being caring…. and it’s not me.”
Yu replied:
“It doesn’t suit you.”
Lycoris and her Princeps Officii bid farewell and walked over to the limo. Yu extended his steel baton. He felt the satisfying click of it locking into place. Without warning, he dashed towards Lycoris, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the air as he moved faster than Ason, Chiaki, and Vincent had ever seen. In a matter of seconds, he closed a ten meter gap between himself and Lycoris, getting close enough to touch her. The baton arched through the air, poised to strike the queen of Asura.
When Chiaki observed the scene, she noticed something that caught her attention. Throughout the whole time, Lycoris kept her eyes fixed on Yu as if she was expecting an attack from him. As the baton came down, everyone heard a sharp noise in the sky. The baton slipped out of Yu's grasp and fell to the ground. He was almost close enough to grab his baton when another sudden noise made it jump out of his immediate reach.
With a forceful impact, Yu's right knee slammed into the ground, eliciting a sharp cry as he grasped his hand. Lycoris towered above him, looking down as he knelt before her. Once Yu adjusted to the sharp pain, he looked up at Lycoris and flashed her a reassuring smile.
“See, you don’t need me as Praetorian Prefect... You have them. Also, not like you need it yourself since I’ve never been able—”
“I may have Gilden, Crimson Moon, and the rest of the Heavenly Leaders and Earthly Comrades, but it is you I want you to be my Praetorian Prefect. Remember that...”
He stood up with his back straight up.
“The recommendation is already honorable enough. Then I owe you a real straight forward answer. After my business here, expect me to go back to Asura. I’ll bring them too.”
Lycoris then stuck her tongue to his offer.
“You alone are enough.”
The queen’s praetorian guard opened the door for her, and she stepped into the limo, her eyes never leaving Yu. The avatar friends rushed over to Yu. While Vincent was near Yu, he discovered a rubber bullet lying on the ground.
While she was being driven in the limo, Lycoris could not hold back her tears and they flowed down her cheeks. As the sun set, Cassiopeia gazed out the tinted window and at the colorful sky.
“Two birds with one stone, huh?”
The gang gathered around Chiaki's dining table that night, the sound of pages turning and pens scribbling filling the room as they prepared for the upcoming finals and graduate placement exams. Chiaki demanded that Yu take care of all the food preparations for her important visitors, expecting nothing less than perfection in every dish. After a few hours of study, Vincent and Ason locked themselves in an intense gameplay on the couch, while Yu multitasked in the kitchen, preparing snacks for their friends.
On Chiaki's bed, Guiren and Chiaki laid beside one another, close enough to be in each other’s warmth as they listen to the gentle rhythm of their breaths.
“Guiren...”
“Yeah?”
“So, what did you think about the whole thing regarding Yu?”
Guiren pulled Chiaki's head close to her chest, running her fingers through Chiaki’s hair.
“… Are your boobs getting bigger?”
“Shut up, Chi. You know I’m self-conscious about it.”
“Yeah… I’m more of a butt person. Can you get that bigger, too?”
Chiaki gives mischievous pinches to Guiren's rear end multiple times. Guiren slapped her hand away.
“Stop that. Anyway, there was nothing peculiar that caught my attention. Their reluctance to provide specific information made me suspicious. Without a doubt, Yu and Lycoris are concealing something, and the queen is pushing Yu to reveal it.”
“So, Yu took part in both wars then.”
“How old is he again?”
“23. A year older than us.”
As the information processed in her mind, Guiren pressed a finger against her soft lips.
“So he was 20 or 21 when he took part in the East Rebellion.”
Chiaki moved her ear to Guiren’s chest, listening to her heartbeat.
“Guiren...”
“Chi?”
“What do you listen for when you use your abilities?”
“Irregular changes in heartbeats.”
“Do lies change someone’s heartbeat?”
“Sometimes.”
“You know every time I’ve ever lied to you, then?”
“Sometimes I can make accurate guesses.”
They smiled in unison, and a small laugh escaped Chiaki's lips.
“Say, you think we’re ready for the Red Wing?”
“I think so. We’re much stronger than last time.”
Guiren blinked.
“There is one thing I don’t get, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Masters refuse to engage in any kind of war, even if it involves the U.W.F.. I'm curious to know the circumstances that allowed Yu to take part in the Asuran War. He was under a master, right?”
Chiaki took herself off Guiren’s chest. Frowning, she thought back to the words the queen mentioned during their talk at the park.
(“For a short time during the Asuran War.”)
With a leap, Chiaki sprung out of bed and dashed towards the kitchen, the floorboards making a creaking noise as she hurried, with Guiren trailing after her. Guiren's pleas fell on deaf ears as Chiaki became lost in her own thoughts and fixation, losing a bit of touch with reality. The moment Yu placed the food on the table, Chiaki shot him a scornful stare.
“Food! Wait no! Dude, there's no way you trained under a master. They wouldn't have allowed you to be part of the wars!”
Ason and Vincent could not ignore Chiaki's alarming words, prompting them to turn around. The abrupt absence of sound was loud for all.
“Lycoris nor I lied to you. A master did train me, and I was involved in both wars.”
“But… how?”
As he shut his eyes, memories overwhelmed his mind, each one as clear as the last.
“Let me start from the beginning, then.”
“Sure, lay it on us.”
“First off, my master… she chose me out of pity.”
"What do you mean?”
“When I was a kid, my family got killed in a raid or ambush. My sis lost her life protecting me from a hitman. My memory is hazy, but I recall someone aiming their firearm at me before everything faded to black. Before I knew it, I was on my master's back.”
“So Yu, when were you planning on telling us about everything?”
“... After finding the Red Wing, I’m sorry. I was clueless about the right approach. When you all brought up the Red Wing and how it destroyed your family and your aspirations of becoming a master, I hesitated.”
“I don't understand why or how it would make a difference! I don't really get this. Come on, tell me what you're hiding. You seemed shady from the day I first saw you near those dead bodies! Who were they, Yu?”
Guiren's hand pressed against Chiaki's shoulder, pulling her back into the depths of her seat. She motioned to Yu with a dismissive wave of their hand, showing that Chiaki’s question was not worth answering.
Yu gave a quick nod.
“Can I ask my own question? Can you explain the avatars to me?”
“Is that a serious question?”
“Yes, I’m really serious. I’m ignorant of the matter.”
A deep sigh escaped Chiaki's lips, her shoulders sagging in resignation. She cast a sidelong glance, hoping someone else would take the lead and explain the topic instead. Vincent cleared his throat, inserting himself into the conversation with Yu.
“The elemental avatars are God’s vessels of power. At the very least, that is what the worshippers of the avatar believe. There is a pair of every Avatar. The reason behind the current state of things is still unknown. Legends and sacred writings refer to five incarnations symbolizing different elements.”
“I see... So, who are the other avatars?”
“Well... I’m not one. Ason is the fire avatar, Guiren the earth avatar, and...”
Everyone but Yu’s eyes looked over at Chiaki.
“... Chiaki, the wind avatar.”
“Chiaki’s the... wind avatar?”
“Why is it that surprising to you?”
“No... it’s nothing. I wouldn’t guess that someone like Chiaki was an avatar. She doesn’t use her abilities at all.”
“It’s ok! Chiaki uses her powers for the wrong reasons.”
The intense quietness allowed everyone to hear their own heartbeat. Yu questioned if Vincent's remark to Chiaki was an unintentional insult. He scanned the room, searching for any sign of amusement in response to Vincent's comment, but found none.
“Wait, really?”
Chiaki hit Yu on the back of his head with her phone, causing him to flinch. In order to ease the discomfort from the pain, Yu used an open palm to rub the spot.
“What's that supposed to mean, dude? Are you saying I cheated gym class using my avatar powers?”
“I never mentioned that!”
“... Well, I don’t show it off like Ason.”
“Yo, don't involve me in your mess. And let's be real, you cheat at anything that involves changing direction! Cleaning, sports, or whatever, you name it!”
It took some time, but Yu eventually pieced together the puzzle and realized what was going on. The day Chiaki's bo-staff was used to attack him had an abnormally high velocity. Earlier, she vanished from the table, leaving no trace, only to reappear and strike Yu without warning.
(Chiaki uses her abilities to manipulate her surroundings?)
To grab everyone's attention, Vincent let out a sharp cough.
“Lemme just sum it all up. After taking out the Avatar Brigade, we all want justice done to the Red Wing… or even all of the Six Blades.”
Yu nodded.
“Alright, fair. I promise to tell you everything after the Red Wing.”
Ason sprawled on the table as he ignored any semblance of manners. He leaned forward, his fingertips making contact with the plate as he assessed the temperature of the food.
“Can we just eat first?”
“Not like the food will do you good. Your grades are almost at the freaking bottom.”
“Okay Chi, same with you.”
“...so I'm gonna chow down, too. Don't let us down, Prof V. You'll take care of us, won't you?”
Ason's remarkable ability to generate a relaxed ambiance provided a much-needed relief from the previously tense atmosphere.
According to the clock, it was past 1:30 AM. Chiaki, Ason, and Vincent all drifted off to sleep on top of their books, and the soft sound of their snores echoed throughout the room. Yu's attention was fixed on the lone photograph near the entrance. He devoted his attention to thoroughly studying the intricacies of every face in the picture. Chiaki still had her long and smooth hair, and she stood next to a young Guiren who also had long hair.
Yu's gaze fixed on the two older women in the picture. In his mind, one was a breathtaking sight. The defining features of her hairstyle were her straight hair, flowing down to the middle of her shins, and her perfectly parted bangs. Maybe Guiren had a sister who was older than her. Yu's attention was drawn to a second woman standing next to the first woman. With great care, Yu focused on tracing the delicate features of the woman's face. Closing his eyes, he used his thumb to cover the woman's face.
“… Eufrosina.”
“Correct, and the other lady next to her is Faye.”
Guiren's sudden appearance jolted Yu into a state of alertness, his eyes flying open.
“You can talk, after all?”
“I don't really enjoy it. Wanna step out for a bit, Yu?”
The cool, crisp air created a refreshing and clean atmosphere during the night. Silence permeated the peaceful and elegant surroundings. The moon, with its luminous light, brought solace and comfort to the two quiet individuals.
“Yu, I don’t trust your motives. I knew because your heart skipped a beat and started racing at the park.”
As Guiren spoke, Yu's face shook with a mix of emotions - shock, understanding, and perhaps a little fear. Yu met Guiren's gaze, noticing the slight tremor beneath her feet. While scanning around Guiren, Yu saw the rocks hovering in the air and wondered how they were defying gravity.
“I am the avatar of earth and I can sense any seismic activity. If I have at least one body part touching the ground, I can sense heartbeats, traffic, waves, and other things from the floor. You're about to see why I'm the most feared avatar in the world.”
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