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“Ohnoohnoohnoohno I’m going to be late for the ceremony!”
Early that morning, Reingar’s School President was seen rushing across the hallways without doing as much as brushing her messy hair or changing her pyjamas – something Karin immediately heard and noticed.
“Hey Yuna, what’s with the rush?” she said, effortlessly catching up with the girl.
“I almost forgot – I was supposed to attend Ezera Foundation Day today! What time is it now!?”
“Um… Eight in the morning?”
“Oh, so it’s not that late then!” Just like that, the chase stops to a screeching halt. “Thank the Goddess…”
“Right, so can you go back to your room and at least wash your face? You do know that there is still a dress code in this school, and Katis won’t be as lenient to you as I will.”
“Yeah, I’ll go now. By the way, do you want to come with me? Tamarinne is coming too.”
“Mmmmm… I’ll pass. I’m pretty busy today.”
“Is that so… There’s people as far as the Eastern continent attending today, but if you say so…”
“Wait, did you say the Eastern – Ah!”
“Karin? Are you okay?”
“…I’m fine, just tripped on something. What did you say about the Eastern continent again?”
“Yeah, people from the East! Ras said that there’s this girl that saved the entire continent who will be attending as well!”
“Hmmhmm… One girl that saved the entire continent, you say?”
“Hmm? You’re interested now?”
“Mmmmm… I’ll give you my answer later. Go wash your face first.”
“Alright, but let me know quickly.”
Yuna hurries back to her room, completely unaware of that ever so slightly change in tone…
“…Why, I am quite interested…”
…and a sadistic smile that’s slowly widening.
_______________________________________
“Haaaaaahhhhhhh… The sun is about to set already…It really doesn’t feel like half a day has passed.” Adin sighed.
Indeed, all the new places she had seen, all the new dishes she had tried, all the new visitors she had met today, it was a lot more than an average day back in Natalon. Even so…
“It’d take a lot more to wear those springs in your boots down, right?” Taeyou asks, already knowing the answer.
“Yup! Nighttime is where the real festivities begin, after all! There’ll be the biggest feast in the kingdom’s history for everyone attending!”
“Right. And what about tomorrow? Do you have any plans?”
“…Ummmmmm…I’m not sure, actually. Where can we go from here?”
After today, most would return to their homes – even Ras and Meru would depart for Erasia. But…
“I don’t want to go back to Natalon just yet, though… Staying in here for a while would be nice… Maybe we can visit a neighbouring city?”
“May I suggest Reingar?” That’s when Yuna pops out from nowhere right next to Adin –
“Wah! Who are you!?”/“Hmm? Who are you?”
“Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you! Let me reintroduce myself – My name is Yuna Woo, the School President of Reingar! You must be the young heroine of Natalon, right? Nice to meet you!”
“School… President?” Adin tilts her head.
“Oh, Reingar is both an academy and its own city. So I’m effectively the City President, haha.”
“I didn’t expect someone so young could be the President of an entire city.”
“Of course I’m young! I’m not even twenty years old yet!”
“Taeyou! Don’t comment on girls’ age so bluntly!”
“Aren’t you the savior of Natalon before you’re old enough to drink?”
“Managing an entire city is a lot more than saving it!”
“…Wait, have we introduced ourselves yet?”
“Oh, there’s no need, I knew you two already! Adin and Taeyou, aren’t you? I told you, your victory spreads a lot further outside of Natalon already!”
“Right… That’s… really cool…” Adin could barely hide her flustered smile.
“So, back on topic!” Yuna claps her hands. “What do you think about a tour around Reingar tomorrow? It’s the hub of knowledge of Ezera! We’ve got magic, Machinery, and… well, a lot of those two!”
“Hehe, that sounds amazing. I’ll definitely have to see it!”
“And what about you, Taeyou?”
“No need to ask. If she doesn’t drag me with her, I’ll have to look after her anyway.”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The three chatted some more until the sun is halfway set.
“*sigh* Guess Karin won’t be able to come after all…”
“Hmm? Who’s Karin?”
“She’s a friend of mine in Reingar. She was pretty excited to come see you in person, but I guess she’s still occupied with her patrol shift.”
“Oh, well that’s a shame…”
“Yeah, I think you two would get along nicely –”
“Hmmhmm… One girl that saved the entire continent, you say?”
…Hmm? Why did I recall that just now?
.
.
.
.
.
…I guess that was a bit strange, coming from Karin…
“Yuna? Are you okay?” Taeyou asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine, I just remember something…”
…Why do I feel so uneasy? Oh well, it’s probably nothing.
“How about I take a picture of you two so I have something to show her?”
“Sure thing –”
In just a few seconds, Yuna pulls Adin and Taeyou close to her, pulls out her phone, almost blinds them with the flash, and finishes changing the photo’s lighting and filters.
“…What just happened?”
“I guess that was what they call a camera?”
“Right, I should’ve told you two about the flash. Let’s take another –”
Just then, a chill runs down Yuna’s spine.
“Ah!”
“Yuna, what’s wrong? You almost dropped your device!”
“I’m fine, I just tripped on something –”
But the worst part…
- Why do I have this sense of déjà vu?
…Wait, don’t tell me –
“Yuna, there you are! Sorry that I couldn’t come here earlier, I had to finish my shift first!”
Karin finally made it here, but while at any other time Yuna would just run up to her, this time her instincts are saying the opposite.
“We need to run, now.”
“Wait, why? Isn’t that your friend?”
“I’ll explain later, for now we need to hide –”
The moment the three of them turned their backs, however, a bright red blade would stop its flat side right at their necks.
For a moment, they could only hear the sound of wind.
“Don’t worry, Yuna. I’m not thirsty for blood today.” A complete reverse in tone from what they heard just seconds earlier. Cold, and callous.
“*sigh* I’d still rather you not show up at all, though…”
“…Is she… that friend that you introduced to us, Yuna?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Ah, so she has introduced me to you? How nice of her. That should save me some time then.”
The girl casually sheathes her sword. Snow white hair, stark red and black clothes.
“Karin Fantaria here.” She smiles calmly, baring her teeth. “It’s a pleasure.”
_________________________________
“…So wait, is she the Karin you talked about or not? I’m kinda confused…”
“Hm. All in your chest, not much left in your head, huh? Well, I’ll show you. This is the –”
“Blood Blade.”/“Blood Blade…?” Yuna attemps to explain, but Taeyou also seems to remember something.
“Hmph. How impolite.”
“Eh? Taeyou, you know something?”
“I’ve heard about that blade once before… but how did it make its way here, halfway across the world?”
“Hmmhmm – That’s a good question. You see –”
“She… asked for it one winter.” Yuna bluntly cuts in once again.
“Can you stop interrupting me!?”
“She thought the blade would be a great weapon to help her hunt down criminals, so –”
BANG!
She didn’t get too far before a sheath out of nowhere bashes her unconscious.
“Yuna!”
“Hey, what’s your problem –”
An intense crimson glare from Karin’s left eye. She is furious.
“!”
“Hey, Taeyou. Can you come here for a moment?”
“What is it?”
“Can you tell me more about that blade?” Adin whispered.
“From what I’ve heard… It’s a sentient cursed blade that will bind to those seeking to wield it.”
“So when she learned about the blade…”
“I honestly didn’t think the blade could travel so far from Natalon… but then again, considering the tremendous magical power it's rumoured to possess...”
...Tremendous magical power…Sentient cursed blade…
The two of them looks back at the cursed swordsgirl – she’s looking elsewhere, but still sulking.
“…What happened to the people that used the sword?”
“…They’re driven insane.” Taeyou’s expressions tenses up. “The rage of the spirit trapped inside the blade would slowly erode their mind until they die. Then it would just wait for a new wielder to repeat.”
“…What? You’re kidding, right!? That’s terrifying!”
“Hey, are you two done with the chattering?”
“Ah, sorry! Just give us a few seconds! – Why would she even want something like that!?”
“I don’t know why either… but you know what to do, right?”
“Right. We can’t let her wreak havoc in here.”
The two of them turns back – right now it really looks like Karin is just a tick or two away from blowing up completely.
“…Excuse me, Karin? Can I ask you something?”
“Proceed.” she scowled.
“Umm…” Adin takes a deep breath. “Do you want to… have a duel with me?”
“…”
The cursed girl is silent, her face covered by her hand.
“…Hehe…”
Then she laughed.
“…Hahahaha…”
Then laughed some more.
“…Ahahahahahahaha…”
Then laughed even more.
“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Then she lunges towards Adin in a flash, gripping both her shoulders tightly, still smiling maniacally.
“Of course I want to duel with you, you idiot! Why the hell do you think I came here for!?”
At least she lightened up…
“Yeah, I figured as much. How about we take it outside and avoid causing a commotion –”
Though she would be pulled miles away by a bolt of lightning before she could finish her sentence.
“…”
“*sigh* I’ll take care of Yuna, then.”
_____________________________________
“…”
“…”
“…Mmmm… Where are we going?” Yuna opened her eyes to see herself being princess carried by Taeyou.
“Oh, you’re awake. We’re going outside of Ezera for a bit.”
“Outside…? *sigh* Did Adin accept the duel with Karin?”
“…”
“…”
“…Yuna, what – who exactly is this Karin? It’s not the normal Karin that you wanted to introduce us to, isn’t it.”
“…We just call her Blood Blade Karin. Her alter ego, of sorts.”
“So it’s not the Blood Blade itself fully taking control?”
“Well, for the most part, it is… But lately I feel like she’s more… Karin, than the blade. …You get what I mean?”
“…Kind of.”
“Yeah, even the normal Karin can be pretty overzealous. Don’t worry, she’s kind. …Karin, I mean.”
It didn’t take too long for them to reach the border.
“Leaving already, you two?” a guard asks.
“Ah, no – we’re just walking outside for a bit. We’ll be back before night comes.”
“Did you two see anyone rushing past the gates?”
“You mean that madman that ran all the way over there? What, do you know them?”
“…Nope.”/ “Just curious.”
“Alright then, be careful. Let me know as soon as possible if you saw them again.”
“…”
“Wasn’t that guard a bit too lax for an event this big?”
“Let’s just consider ourselves lucky.”
The sky above them is starting to darken.
“…*sigh* She really gets on my nerves sometimes. As if I haven’t had enough Student Council duties everyday already…”
“…How long has she been using that sword?”
“A few years now. Two, three…”
“I’ve heard many users before her are fully corrupted by that blade in less time… So she must be very strong mentally.”
“…”
“…For how long, though?” she mumbled.
“Hmm?”
“…For how long can she hold on… before…”
“…”
Her grip on her coat’s sleeves tightens.
“…”
“…I don’t know if anyone else had told you this before, but…” Taeyou hesitates. “You should have faith in your friend. She managed to hold on for this long… maybe she’ll even be able to master the sword.”
“…”
“…Was that too positive thinking?”
“Maybe. But… Yeah, maybe that can happen, unthinkable it may be. It’s not like there’s much else I can do anyway. …I haven’t been lucky with my research, if you couldn’t tell.”
“Well, we know the High Shaman herself in Natalon, maybe the royal archives would have something… But even if it doesn't, we'll help you find a way. We promise.”
“…Right. Thank you.”
“It’s the least we can do.”
_____________________________________________
It took another while for Taeyou and Yuna to find where Adin and Karin is – in the middle of a thick forest several miles away.
“Right, you can drop me off mow.”
“Oh, right, there you go.”
“Took you two long enough. Now we’re all set and ready, aren’t we.”
“…Can we get this over quickly? It’s getting dark in these woods, who knows what’ll –”
“Oh, sure! You read my mind.”
Her stance begins to lower, the cursed blade peeking out of its sheath giving off a harsh crimson glow.
“Just one blow each. With everything you and I got.”
Just a hundred meters away, a warm golden glow also starts to emanate from the four seasons’ sword, its wielder’s eyes narrow.
“…I’m ready whenever you are.”
Wind rises from their feet and circles around their bodies, soon spiraling and swaying everything around them to watch them on.
For just a few seconds that the two steadied their stance, the pressure was almost palpable. The only two spectators held their breath, eyes fixated on either sides of the field.
One watches with trust… the other stares with worries.
And then, just when the pressure reaches breaking point –
The blades are unsheathed.
“GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT, ADIN!”
For a split second, Adin could only hear a ringing silence. She can only see a blinding light severing the trees, growing larger and larger as it reaches her.
Then, a huge jolt across her body rocked her muted senses– as if she was really struck by lightning from the skies.
But she hadn’t fell. She’s pushed far back from her position, but still standing, just barely, holding back the wave of crimson lightning with nothing but her thin blade.
The spectators exclaimed her name, but they were drowned out by the roar of the raging storm. She cannot afford any time to respond anyway – right now, all her attention is on the force of destruction just a couple of inches from her face.
The cracking sparks burning at her skin. The sheer force pushing her back until her feet are dug into the ground. The intense pressure stopping her from breathing, let alone screaming.
The might of a dragon.
If she lets her grip on the blade for just a second… she’d take the full force of the storm head on.
There’s only one thing in her mind right now –
With every last bit of strength, and all the grace of light bestowed upon her, before she loses consciousness…
She has to push back.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
Her blade shines violently like a golden star, beams of light pierce through the red storm –
And then, a deafening, blinding explosion blew everyone away. A nova of light briefly illuminated the entire forest.
“…”
“…”
“…Ah…My ears are still ringing…”
“Adin! Are you okay?”
“Yeah… I’m fine.” The girl is kneeling and panting, her senses still in a daze, but her light is still shining.
On the other end, however…
“Karin! Karin, can you hear me? Karin!”
…is a girl half unconscious, but still standing, clutching her now faded red sword.
“…Step aside.”
“Karin!” Yuna tried to stop her, but she was violently shoved aside.
“You still aren’t satisfied yet? She did what you asked for!”
“Like hell I’d be satisfied! That wasn’t her full power, was it!” Nearing the end of her cursed powers, yet Karin is still no less frustrated.
“Taeyou –”
“Stay back, Adin. It doesn’t look like she’ll relent.”
This time, it’s flames that she’s facing on the other side. Flames burning and rising high like torrents in the ocean.
“Stand down!”
“Tch - I told you not to STAND BETWEEN US –!”
“KARIN!”/“STOP IT!”
Right at the moment his spear and her sword collides.
“You can step aside, Taeyou. Just… let me talk to her.”
“…”
“…Okay.”
“Karin. Don’t.”
“…”
“…Fine.”
“…”
“…You’re still mad at me, right? Anything else I can do?”
“…”
“*sigh* Don’t patronize me. It makes me sick. I’m probably a year or two older than you, you know.”
Karin sits down on the cold dirt and sheathes her sword. Adin follows.
“Tell me how you got this strong. Make it short.”
“…”
“…Alright. To make it quick… I was blessed. Both of us were.”
“…”
“…Taeyou and I were chosen to be successors of Silvana – one of the five Spirit Lords. And since the Seasonal Swords are created by and imbued with the power of the Spirit Lords… Naturally, I was able to wield them.”
“…”
“…Go on.”
“Eh? I thought you said short –”
“Not that short. What, this sword was just handed to you for free because you were the Lords’ favorite child? Anything else you went through? Trials, tribulations, what you gained, who you lost?”
“…”
“…”
“…Who I lost, huh…”
"..."
"..."
“…Right. Anything else happened?”
“…”
“…To be honest… Way too much. Way too much happened in just a few months… and now I’m recalling it, it even felt like it was just weeks.”
“…”
“At this time last year… I was still just a carefree girl running like the wind. A girl that didn’t remember about her special past, and why she was sought after her whole life.”
“About the discord between the tribes of Suin, the survival of the Shadow Elves, the resistance of the Human factions, the God of Revolution and the dark star that’s encroaching our world…”
“Just a girl who’s only concerned about skipping her duties to eat some snacks.”
“…”
“And yet… here I am. The little girl that traveled across the entire continent. The girl that wielded all four Seasonal Swords that stopped a dark revolution. The savior of Natalon.”
“And yet… Even after all that has happened, all the battles I’ve fought…”
“…Sometimes I just want to leave all responsibilities behind and return to the normal, carefree life I once had.”
“…But that’s no longer possible, isn’t it.”
“…”
“…Well, on the bright side, I still have a long life left, haha.”
“I still have a long way to go. To hone, to fight, to protect. I can no longer ignore what’s happening in Natalon, and what will happen in the future – I have to live up to what I’ve been given, my title as the Savior.”
“…And at the same time, there’s so many places outside of Natalon that the Adin back then wanted to travel to… and I now have the time to see them all.”
“…”
“…So… yeah. Seems like I’ll be really busy in the future. But I know that, no matter what may come...”
“…It'll be bright.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…*sigh* You really are made of sunshine, huh…”
“Huh? What does that mean – Ow!”
“…Look. You’re irritating as hell.”
“…Haha…Sorry that I meandered there…”
“Your power, your attitude, your optimism, even just sitting here next to you, your light radiating onto my skin… it’s enough to make my blood boil.”
“…”
“…But… I don’t hate you, alright? Anyone that can put up a good fight still earns my respect.”
“…Thanks. That’s good to know.”
“Okay, now stop smiling at me like that.”
“Aren’t you like her sister or something.”
“Silence. Return to the earth you laid on and stay there.”
“And you need to return back to the sword and let Karin be. I’m getting tired of having to run after you and clean up your messes.”
“Oh no, I made the School President mad. Whatever am I going to do against you and your Guardian – Owowowowowowow!”
“…”
“Hey, get off my back - ”
“…What am I even going to do about you…?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…What do you want me to do then? I can’t promise you I’ll act nicer.”
“Just… don’t go too far away from me.”
“…Sure. That I can do.”
“…Your hair is turning black again.”
“Of course it would. Hey, you two, I’m going to be out for today. Anything left you want to say?”
“…Next time we meet, you have to tell me more about yourself.”
“…Well, what more do you want? A crazy girl met a crazy sword and become an even crazier girl. That’s all you need to know.”
“Come on, is that it? I want to know more! What are your interests? How often do you clash with the real Karin? How many people in Reingar did you fight? Do you wear that eyepatch for show or –”
“Hey. You’re being annoying again.”
“Hahaha, sorry. I just want to be your friend.”
“…”
That same smile, obnoxiously bright as ever.
“…Or do you want us to remain as rivals?”
Though, this time…
“….Ha. Just rivals.”
…it’s responded equally in kind.
“If you want those answers though, you’ll have to defeat me next time. And I’ll make sure to make it hurt.”
“Sure. I’m looking forward to it.”
“You’re not going anywhere without me watching you, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll behave, Miss School President.”
“…Hm. Good girl.” A satisfied Yuna pats Karin’s head with glee.
“Hey, am I your child or something?”
“…”
“And you, kid with the spear. Taeyou, wasn’t it? You’re going to say anything, or do you just want to watch?”
“…”
For a moment, Taeyou looks at Yuna's eyes. She too, would look back at him.
He could still see the fear and worry in her... but now, there's also peacefulness. Not as a sign of her accepting what has been done to her friend and letting it be, but rather finding comfort in that, at least for now, she can still keep her by her side.
And if that's how she feels...
“…Stay safe out there, alright? Your mom’s going to be really sad seeing you get hurt.”
“Forget I ask anything. Swallow your spear and die.”
____________________________________________
That night was the biggest night of celebration Ezera had ever seen, with heroes and people from four continents all gathering to celebrate.
Adin and Taeyou returned just in time to be bombarded with questions at the dinner table, luckily giving Yuna and a now-exhausted Karin room to breathe.
Despite that, the four of them still quite some time chatting about all kinds of stories, even after the party was over.
It seems like, even with the little time they spent together, they already became close friends.
“Hey, Taeyou, look at this.”
“Hmm?”
On the train back to Reingar, Adin and Karin had fallen asleep, resting their heads against each other.
“Adorable, isn’t it? And I still heard them talking so much just a minute ago.”
“Yeah. Good to know she made another friend.”
“We should get some good rest as soon as we arrive as well.”
The two still awake watches the mechanical city still running tirelessly late into the night.
“We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”