Chapter 12
A New Friend
"It's okay, Mizuki. We're here—I'm here."
Third Person's Point of View
As soon as the unfortunate incident finally seized to disrupt and destroy the premises any further, numerous knights and clerics arrived to amend the commotion and the scene of destruction.
The streets that were once filled with stalls and stores for motley goods and services which was burned to crisp by the wildfire, are now in the process of restoration and repair by their owners and the local carpentry group under the monarchial government of the kingdom.
Idleness doesn't quite fit with the Cerulean standards now that money is the heart of the kingdom. If the situation is fixed posthaste, money also comes in quickly.
"A-are they alright, Lord Magnus?"
"Can you find me the first aid kit, kiddo? We're having bit of a situation here. Don't tell Raven, by the way," Magnus requested as he laid the two injured bodies on the bed of one of their guest rooms.
"Y-yes, Sir!"
"And can you hand me a stick of cigarette when you get back? That would be nice," he sighed as he twisted both of his shoulders. The trip back to the shop was like hell for him. The weight of Hiro and Mizuki numbed his nerves away.
"How in heaven can two kids get injured under your care?! Magnus?!" Raven barged in, creating quite the ruckus as she forcibly pushed the door down.
"M-my apologies, m-my lord. I tried to s-stop her!" Bree cried. Magnus sighed at his wife's outburst that it was enough for her to give him a headache. The pain on his shoulders was enough to pester him. He signaled Bree to give him the pack of cigarettes that she was holding and walked outside to smoke.
Raven sensed that something was troubling her husband so she decided to ignore his reaction. She grabbed the first aid kit that Bree was holding and tended the two who was laying in bed.
Back before Kichi went back to ask for help, the couple already knew that this was going to happen. They are, however, still not sure that it was them but there's a high possibility that the enemy already made their move.
The two women decided to keep the silence inside the room as they aided their patients.
"Hnggh..."
Mizuki lifted herself up so she can sit up. She was still in a daze that she felt her head spinning despite not moving. She could feel the pain on her abdomen where Zeus pierced her. She widened her eyes as she realized that she's in a stranger's house.
"AHHHH! Who are yo—" She couldn't finish her sentence because of something clogging her throat which made her cough.
Blood.
Blood was all over her hand that she used for covering her mouth. Panic quickly risen more as she tasted the tangy rusted taste of blood on her mouth with some of it dripping on the corners of her mouth. She could feel horses running on her chest while her hands was trembling as flashbacks were beginning to haunt her.
"Calm down. Drink this," the woman beside her gently said. Mizuki paused and stared at her as she slowly averted her gaze back and forth from her to the glass of water she was offering. The lady smiled at her to assure that she meant no harm. Oddly enough as it was, Mizuki quickly found comfort on that gentle smile and was flushed for the kind gesture. The smile suited the woman because despite of her age, she was still quite younger looking. The roses and flowers on her head added more youth to her face, which emphasized her smile. The violet dress she was wearing added feminity and gentleness to her whole being like the softness of her voice.
"Are you hungry, dear?" she asked.
"A-a little. But I doubt t-that I'm even allowed to eat. M-my stomach's pretty busted. I'm not even sure why I'm still alive."
The sting on her abdomen wasn't unbearable as she thought it would be while the gentle tips of her fingers touched the white bandage that was wrapped around her. How could it not hurt when the bandage is almost soaked in blood?
"I wouldn't disturb your wound any further, if I were you. I casted a spell on you that's why you're not feeling the extreme pain your wound is supposed to be causing you, if that's what you're wondering. It's not much, but it's enough to keep you alive while your body recovers. I guarantee that it'll work since that spell was from a good friend of mine which was an elite magic user," she smiled as the girl in front of her slowly fiddled with the glass she was holding.
Raven noticed the silence and anxiousness the girl was putting up so she decided to leave her alone and insisted to get her food from the kitchen.
Mizuki turned her head only to see her saviour covered in bandages with a maid sitting on a chair beside him, sleeping. She felt a lump on her throat as she realized the situation she has put him into.
Before guilt could put her up to tears, she closed her eyes tight and slowly absorbed the situation. She was relieved that he was safe, despite what happened but she was also self-reproaching herself. She deserved getting hurt, doesn't she? After being a thief for so long, this was the karma she was waiting for. But why did it had to involve someone else? Why not her and her alone? Why Hiro? Why—
"You're finally awake, I see."
She swiftly opened her eyes and turned her head towards the door frame where the voice was coming from. The smell of burnt tobacco leaves quickly conquered the air as a man leaned on the doorway, intensely staring at her.
"My Lord, as I have already said...SMOKING ISN'T ALLOWED ESPECIALLY NEAR RECOVERING PEOPLE!" Bree shouted. She quickly swatted away the smoke using her hands (as if it was effective) and held her breath as she formed a cross with her two forefingers which was directed to Magnus.
Mizuki got a little bit surprised with the maid's sudden reaction because she thought that she was sleeping. It made her wince from the sudden pain she felt as her abdominal muscles contracting from a little jump scare from the surprise.
Bree continued to frantically swayed her hand through the air, with the other pinching her nose. Magnus sweatdropped at her weird countermeasure to prevent the smoke from going in any further so he decided to dispose it by using his ability which made the cigarette turn to dust. He opened a window to let the smoke die down so Bree quickly grabbed a piece of cloth and fanned away the remaining smoke out towards the open window.
"So little missy, what's your name?" Magnus asked as he walked towards the bed she was occupying.
"M-mizuki..." she trailed off as she looked down on the glass she was holding.
"So Mizuki do you know the guy who attacked you?" Magnus asked as he pulled a chair and sat on it backwards, his chin resting on his hands. She was afraid that he was going to ask her about this. The flashbacks were starting to resurface in her head again which made her bit her inner cheek.
"I see. I think this isn't the right time to talk about this. My apologies," Magnus muttered and stood up realizing that she was still in a state of shock.
"I don't...I don't know him in person b-but he said his name was 'Zeus'...." Mizuki croaked, still fondling with the glass.
Magnus raised his eyebrow with the sudden change of action she has put up. Maybe she isn't as weak as he thought she is.
"Anything else you know about him?"
"... and he keeps on blabbering about him being the God of lightning."
"I see. A self-proclaimed lightning God huh? Tsk. Imagine him facing with an actual God. I wonder how far his ego can get him," he snickered which made Mizuki lighten up and smiled a little.
"If it wasn't for this kiddo over here, you could have been crushed into a pulp by now," he chuckled while turning his head towards Hiro.
Mizuki glanced over him and sadly smiled.
"HIROOOOO!!" A loud voice coming from the hallway boomed towards the room. The door slammed open, revealing Raven, a girl with short blonde hair, and a boy who was crying his heart out (almost pathetically).
"Mi-Mizuki?!" the boy pounced with his mouth wide open.
"You know her Kichi?" the short girl with blonde hair asked.
Kichi ran to Mizuki and climbed on her bed. He crawled towards her and neared his face with hers, squinting his eyes as if examining every detail of her face.
"Wh-wha? Kichi?" Mizuki stuttered with wide eyes while placing her hands on his chest and gently pushing him.
Kichi neared his face even more with Mizuki's grip tightening around his shirt. She could feel his heartbeat against her hand as he narrowed his eyes, fixing eye contact with her.
"U-uh, Kichi. What are you doing?" the short blonde girl interrupted.
The boy decided to ignore what his sister remarked and fixed his gaze on Mizuki's lips from her eyes. Mizuki bit her lips as she felt the sting on her wound because of the so-called butterflies in her stomach.
Kichi smiled widely at her, his eyes nearly hidden as he quickly placed his hands on both of her shoulders.
"It is her!" Kichi blurted.
"Kichi. As a woman, it is my responsibility to make sure that no one in our kin is harassed in any form of assault," Xael warned in a stern low voice while gripping one of his shoulders. The minute she felt that Kichi was causing the girl to feel uncomfortable, she immediately reprimanded her brother.
The cold hand resting on his shoulder was enough to make Kichi's skin crawl. He could feel the back of his head burning with Xael's intense stare. Kichi could feel cold sweat dripping from his forehead so he decided to step out of Mizuki's bed. Chills ran down on his spine as he looked at Xael's cold dark hooded expression that he quickly ran towards Bree and hid from under her dress.
A loud screech from Bree quickly entered everyone's ears as she kicked the intruder of privacy under her dress with her face red as a tomato. Xael's eyes widened as he saw her brother lying on the floor while clutching his stomach so she ran towards Bree who was ready to kick him again.
"Wait. Kichi you know her right?" Xael cut in while hugging Bree from behind so she couldn't go any further towards Kichi.
"H-hime..." Bree stuttered, her face redder than before.
"Hmm?"
Bree looked back and forth from Xael's face to her hands wrapped around her.
"I—I...nothing," she said and relaxed under Xael's embrace.
"She's one of the friends I made during your birthday party..." he groaned, clasping his stomach where Bree had hit him.
"Oh, she's that girl you were dancing with, wasn't she?"
"Sure is. I bumped into her because of that big buff guy that scared me."
"Then you asked her to dance?"
"No! Of course not. She asked me out"
"She asked you out?"
"Yep"
"Oh, I see. Letting the woman do all the work? That's kinda low, little bro bro."
"Wha—?"
"Birthday party?" Magnus and Raven interrupted.
"Oh. I forgot they were here," Kichi whispered to himself.
"Why weren't we invited?" Magnus raised his eyebrow as he side-glanced his wife, waiting for an answer.
"Remember the prank I made on Serenity?" Raven muttered while scratching her head
"You pranked my Mom?"
"Well...She got furious and...banned me....from the castle..." she chuckled nervously.
"You pranked the Queen...? Of Furia...?"
"...Yeah..."
"Wow. You must have guts to try and pull up a prank on her," Xael laughed.
"WAHHHHH! Hirooooo!! I wasn't able to help you in time, I'm so so SO sorry!! I was too scared to fight that scary looking guy. And now...and now you're dead," Kichi loudly mourned. His sobbing was a bit over the top which made every person in the room look at him.
"He's still not dead though," Mizuki bluntly pointed out. She was half-smiling while looking at Hiro who was covered in Kichi's tears. The small twitch on the corner of her lips didn't escape from Xael's eyes as she low-key gripped the bandage on her stomach.
"Uh-uhmm. I would like to apologize for my knight's performance. For not saving you like a professional and all," Xael somberly apologized as she looked down to her feet, gripping her green skirt.
"N-no it's okay. If he wasn't there I would be dead meat by now," Mizuki nervously laughed as she waved her hands in the air to disregard what Xael has said.
"Are you sure?" Xael persistently asked as she stared into her eyes.
"Y-yeah. Don't worry. I—Ouch!" Mizuki exclaimed as she clutched her right eye.
"W-what's happening to me?" Mizuki nervously stuttered as her right hand also glowed together with her right eye. The white light glowing from her palm emittered a warm pressure that quickly distributed around her body but the light on her eye caused a searing pain which gave her a headache.
"I missed seeing this," Raven smirked as she stared at Mizuki like a specimen she was studying.
"Z-zuki?" Kichi continued to cry as he grabbed her shoulders and stared deep into her eyes.
"K-kichi?" Mizuki trembled as she stared back at him. Before she could even utter one more word, the pain on the pierced wound she had from the fight briskly increased as light was coming out of it that made her scream even more.
"Arghhhhh!"
"M-my lady? What's happening?" Xael uneasily asked.
"Oh look. Your hand is glowing again," Raven bluntly remarked, unconcerned with what's happening around them and Xael's question.
Xael directed her attention on her palm. Her eye wasn't glowing anymore and it wasn't uncomfortable like before. It was glowing brighter than last time.
"Do what you have to do, kiddo," Magnus encourages as he nudged his head to Mizuki.
She was crying.
"No... Please....No... Not this..." Mizuki softly mumbled over and over again, clutching her head. She was crying with an emotionless face as she rocked herself back and forth to ease herself.
"M-mizuki?" Xael called out as she walked towards the edge of her bed.
Mizuki harshly snapped her head towards her and widened her eyes. She kept mumbling to not go any closer over and over as her tears flowed on her face.
"N-no...Anything but this...STOP LEAVING ME BEHIND!" Mizuki snapped. Xael couldn't understand what she was saying but she could see that something was hurting her. Mizuki's face was full of anger and longing. Her eyebrows creased and gritted her teeth but the tears continued to roll down her face.
"It's okay, Mizuki. We're here—I'm here," Xael gently mumbled as she grabbed Mizuki's glowing palm and carrassed her fingers.
"I won't leave you behind," Xael whispered as she gripped Mizuki's glowing hand with her own. Mizuki was surprised of the sincerity she never experienced from anyone that it made her intertwine her fingers with Xael. She looked at their hands as the last tear from her eyes dropped from her chin before the light between their hands glowed even more.
"Black Kybus," Raven mumbled. A black cube made of darkness surrounded the two of them as a loud exploding sound boomed inside the room.
"Cool..." Kichi mumbled as he stared at the cube full of curiousity.
"H-hime!" Bree screamed as she ran towards it.
"I wouldn't touch that cube if I were you, sweetheart," Raven warned.
"Release her!" Bree shouted with worry in her eyes.
"No can do, dear. If I summon back that cube, this shop might explode into ashes. After touching the guardian's hand, the power immediately transfers into her body. She has to adjust for a bit before she can contain her powers..." Raven explained as she stared at the black cube in front of them. The explosion was slowly getting quieter.
"...Imagine a pitcher with water exactly in line with its rim. No matter how careful you are, you always spill it when you carry it. That spilled water represents the uncontained power of a guardian. She has to learn to balance it out or else her power will continue to manifest into a physical form which eventually cause us devastation," Magnus explained further as Raven finally snapped her fingers to summon back the black cube when the explosions disappeared.
"H-hime?"
"Bree?" Xael called. They still couldn't see her because there was still residual smoke around them.
"I'm surprised you're still alive, kiddo," Magnus abruptly commented.
"True. That cube only seperated you guys from the shop. I couldn't actually manifest a specific barrier for someone exclusively like your Dad," Raven shrugged.
"But I guess that just proves that you are truly a daughter of Serenity and Fendrel. No doubt," she continued.
"It's my earring. It released some kind of a barrier. My Dad gave it to me on my birthday," Xael uttered as she caressed one her blue earrings.
"Zuki?" Kichi croaked as he crawled towards her bed.
"What happened to her?" He asked as Mizuki was laying down, unconscious.
"I-I don't know. After the blinding light disappeared, she immediately collapsed back to the bed," Xael said.
"Not to worry. Her body has to shut down so it can adjust her power," Raven explained as she fixed Mizuki properly on the bed.
"A while ago...she kept mumbling that I was going to leave her. I barely even know her. What was that about?" Xael trailed off.
"After you made eye contact with a guardian, their deepest darkest memories haunt them. Their feelings and emotions get amplified in the process. If they succeed on controlling it and keeping it at bay, then they are worthy to be a guardian," Magnus explained as he leaned on the door frame, his hands over his chest
"Look..." Raven mumbled while staring on Mizuki's clavicle. A small flick of light was coming out of a spot on her collarbone. It was forming a figure—a burning snowflake.
"Is she dead?" Kichi sobbed as he clung on one of Mizuki's arm.
"No, she isn't. But you will be if you don't stop harrasing her," Xael warned and glared at him which made Kichi yelp out of fear, immediately releasing his grip from Mizuki's arm.
"Unghh. What happened? I feel dizzy," Mizuki groaned, finally waking up.
"You passed out."
"I—the wound!" Mizuki lightly touched her abdomen and it wasn't hurting anymore. She gripped the end of the bandage to unwrap it around her. It's gone. The wound is gone. No scar, No blood. It looked like the wound didn't exist in the first place.
"I-it's gone—Ouch!" Mizuki yelped as an area around her clavicle was emitting pain.
"Easy there, kiddo. That symbol is where your power comes from. It may take a while to adjust. As long as it's still glowing, I suggest you take it easy," Raven advised as she pushes Mizuki down on the bed.
"Wha—? Symbol? Power? What is happening?" Mizuki started panicking because she was starting to get more and more confused than she already was.
Everyone filled her in about being part of the guardians and what-not.
"Whaaaaa? I was chosen to be one of them?"
"I guess?" Xael said also confused.
"B-but my powers aren't even that strong nor convenient," Mizuki said.
"Really?"
"My power only activates when there is moonlight. I can't use it during the day. So if that upcoming war which you are saying occurs on daylight, I wouldn't be of much help..." She looked on her lap as she nervously played with her fingers.
"Even so, you were chosen weren't you?" Magnus interrupted.
"I guess..."
"So are you in or not?" Kichi asked.
"I..."
"Ughh..."
"HIROOOOOO! You're alive!" Kichi turned towards Hiro and clung on his body while sobbing. Hiro winced in pain when Kichi's weight applied pressure on his aching muscles and bruises.
"L-lord Kichi. Please get off of Hiro. It seems that his body still isn't in its best condition," Bree requested with worry and concern on his face.
"B-but I don't want tooooo," Kichi whined and clung on Hiro harder which made him yelp from the pain.
Xael secretly snickered because of how unfortunate Hiro's condition was.
"I can hear you laughing, princess. You don't have to hide it," Hiro sarcastically said with a crumpled face. He finally released himself from Kichi's grip when he got scared from his glare.
"Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't hide how good it feels to see you in pain." Xael finally released the laugh she was holding and even clutched her stomach.
"No. You shouldn't hide it because you look cute when you smile," Hiro bluntly said which made Xael stop. She squinted her eyes to try and figure out what game he was making her play but he only smirked harder.
"Just kidding. It's just amusing to see you blush." Hiro laughed as Xael's face grew red as a tomato.
"H-hey Hiro..."
"Mizuki?" Hiro's eyes widened when he saw Mizuki. She was in a perfect condition unlike him.
"I-i'm sorry. F-for what happened..." Mizuki bit her lip to distract herself from feeling even more guilt. She was too embarrassed that even maintaining eye contact was difficult for her.
"I-it's okay. As long as you're not hurt," Hiro nervously laughed and scratched the back of his head which made Mizuki even more enbarassed.
"Come to think of it, how come you're not hurt?" Hiro wondered when he noticed that she was in perfect condition.
"So you want me to be hurt?" Mizuki quietly asked which made everyone look at Hiro.
"No! I mean, we just went into a battle and and—"
"Calm down," Xael warned. Mizuki was getting even more anxious when Hiro was nervously explaining himself.
"The light healed her!" Kichi enthusiastically explained
"The...light?" Hiro asked, confused.
"I think so?" Kichi was dragged by Hiro's confusion that it even made himself confused.
"You found the first guardian," Magnus replied, sipping coffee from his mug.
"Coffee..." Mizuki mumbled as he stared at Magnu's mug.
"I see. So Mizuki, did you accept our invitation about becoming a guardian?" Hiro asked as he looked at Mizuki who was still staring at the cup of coffee.
"How did he know that Mizuki was the guardian we discovered," Kichi whispered on Bree's ear.
"It would seem that Hiro isn't a dunce like you, Lord Kichi," Bree apathetically said.
"Dunce? I like it. Dunce. It sounds fancy." Kichi nodded and smiled.
"Mizuki?" Hiro called when she didn't respond. Her eyes were fixated still on the cup.
"Huh? Oh. Uhm...I'm still not sure..." Mizuki mumbled as she frustratingly massaged her temples. Everyone side-glanced each other and decided to not push the topic any further.
"Hey kids. I know you're all excited and all but it's getting late," Magnus interrupted as he glanced over his watch.
"I feel sleepy," Kichi yawned.
"Come on, children. It's time for bed. Kichi you can take Mizuki's bed," Raven announced and clapped her hands.
"Aye, aye..." Kichi mumbled as he slowly collapsed on the bed even before Mizuki could stand up.
"As for you three girls. Im afraid the other room only has two beds."
"That's okay. Bree and I could share the same bed." Bree got slightly flushed with the idea with sleeping with Xael—her hime! Her master!
"H-hime. I—"
"No buts! I know you'll decline but I'm not taking no for an answer," Xael firmly said and smiled.
"Hime..."
"So that means Mizuki can take the other bed. Alrighty then! Let's get you ready for bed," Raven happily said as she clasped her hands together, leading the three girls out if the room.
"Hey Mizuki! I know I can't force you in becoming a guardian but I hope you consider it!" Xael suddenly said, placing her hands over Mizuki's shoulder as the three of finally arrived to their room.
"O-okay, but I really don't know if I'm even qualified in being a guardian..."
"It's okay if you're not sure. I don't even know what I would do if I was in your shoes. What about you Bree? What you do if you're in Mizuki's position?"
"A-ah! I would most definitely join, hime. Someone just put their life on the line to save me so it would be the least thing I could do to thank that someone," Bree said, without even looking at the two who was staring at her.
"Bah! I would do that if Hiro wasn't the one who saved me," Xael commented as she rolled her eyes which made Bree chuckle a little bit.
("Onee-chan! One day, I'll be a guardian so I can help you get better and save people!"
"I'm sure you will! Because you are my little brother."
"I love you, onee-chan"
"I love you too, Kiel")
"Mizuki?"
"Huh what?"
"You're spacing out," Xael said.
"O-oh, sorry" Mizuki awarkdly smile because Xael was staring at her with furrowed eyebrows.
"Lady Mizuki..." Bree was beside her, handing her a handkerchief.
"Wha—? Why?" Mizuki asked, confused on why she was handing her a handkerchief.
"You're crying..." Bree softly whispered.
"H-huh?" Mizuki placed her fingers just below her eyes and noticed the tears flowing on her eyes. It just suddenly came rushing down that she hardly even noticed that she was crying.
"I think I just need more sleep," Mizuki said and smiled because she noticed that the two of them were getting worried. The two girls just smiled back at her and decided to just let the topic go and decided to sleep.
Mizuki laid in her bed as she replayed that scene with her brother over and over again, her tears wantonly streaming down her face. She refrained herself from sobbing so the two girls won't wake up and be worried again.
("I love you, onee-chan")
"Kiel...I don't remember nor am I sure about your face anymore but I do know one thing—and that is to find you. No matter what."