Hina's POV:
"The palace is well guarded from the outside, but it's pretty defenseless within. They believe that the magical auras of the high ranked royals who lives within its walls are more than enough to defeat any intruders. So as long as we can get in, we should be able to reach our destination. And that should happen as soon as possible" a seemingly tired Kuro-san told. Ayane kept her gaze glued to the wooden table, apparently unfazed by tihe content of this conversation. But a glint of sadness made itself visible in the ocean blue eyes of hers. Youya-chan on the other hand seemed very conflicted on what to think about this matter.
"Haha, breaking into the most secured place in the kingdom?! That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in my life!" Rin started laughing from his place on the couch. "The strongest magician is really something else! Hahaha, I totally love it!" He then added, emphasizing on the word 'strongest' in an ironic way, while still too busy laughing to notice Ayane's hole-digging glares.
I sighed and turned back to the couple sitting in front of me.
"I understand what you are after, but I believe that we have to take it slowly and come with a firm and well thought plan. We do also need to gather some human power to be able to implement our goal with a guaranteed success rate. I believe that it's not too hard to find revolutionary proponents whose life has been crushed by the deeds of the government" I started reasoning, to make them well aware of the steps we should be taking before jumping right into the fire.
Ayane glanced at Kuro-san, unable to conceal her worries. His breath was getting shallow and he seemed unfocused. I probably should let him rest for the mean time, I told him what I had in mind so I am quite satisfied for now.
Ayane held the hand he was resting on the table, while he held his head with his other palm, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"The king..... he's currently sick, we.... should use this opportunity..... to assassinate the queen and the king. We can't wait..... it's now or never" he said while struggling with his breathing. His voice was not loud at all, it was rather worrisome how inaudible it was.
"B-but that's.... that's very risky, a-and, if I may say, even foolish. I get that your strength and capabilities are not to doubt, but we can't be so hasty, especially in a very sensitive topic like that!" I tried to oppose, but he seemed so determined that he wasn't willing to hear me out. Well he was planning to do it alone from the beginning so it's not a surprise though.
Ayane gave me a pleading look to end the discussion as she was worried sick about his wellbeing.
"Let's discuss this later, I think you should get some rest for now, you don't seem very well to me" I said as I stood up and walked to the couch to get a blanket, he seemed like he would really use one right now.
"The strongest, they say. What a joke" I heard a very low mumbling from the one and only Rin on the couch. I pretended not to hear that and walked back to Ayane.
Before I could give her the blanket, the pattern of the curse started spreading from its place on the left shoulder. Kuro-san bite his lip and swallowed the argue to scream as he shot his eye closed.
Ayane jumped backwards in sheer panic, and what also seems pain, as she let go of the infected left hand. The very tip of her point finger turned black and an identical mini pattern appeared on her finger, it kept creeping upward to the wrist.
She fell immediately to the floor and screamed, clutching her wrist with an iron grip that her hand stated turning a purplish blue.
"What is this! It burns! It burns!" She kept screaming. Youya-chan was staring unable to move a finger in shock. He stumbled forward and dropped to the floor beside the screaming Ayane.
While she was blinded by the uncontrollable shock of pain, she pulled a small knife that I gave Youya-chan earlier that he kept in his belt. She swung it down to her wrist in an attempt to excise it.
My body moved on it's own when I saw the horrific scene unfold and I slapped the knife away from her hand.
"Ayane! What do you think you're doing!" I yelled in panic and disbelief.
She started crying and her whole body shooked violently. Was she having a seizure?! Was it an heart attack?! What the hell is this curse?! I knew it was not to be taken lightly but I've never thought it was this bad! Oh god what should I do?! Will she die like that?!
Then I heard a thud, and Kuro-san was suddenly sitting beside me. He reached for Ayane's infected hand and took the knife on the floor with the other hand.
Right when he touched her, the pattern started withdrawing back to his hand. He bit into a piece of cloth that he stopped in his mouth and then he dug the knife into his shoulder.
The room bursted with his pitch black aura that the wound started soaking in.
Rin jumped up from his seat and took a defensive stance immediately. Feeling crushed by the intense aura.
The pattern didn't withdraw as it usually would do, instead it became lighter gray gradually until it vanished.
Kuro-san spit the cloth from his mouth and gasped for air. Followed by heavy panting from both him and Ayane.
"You really should stop touching me, goddamit!" He roared in agony and anger. He leaned back on the wall, still sitting down on the floor, in an attempt to fix his breathlessness.
"It's infectious" he added when he calmed down a bit.
"W- what the hell was that unleashed power?" Rin asked defensively with slight apprehension that didn't suit his character at all.
"Sorry, didn't have time to control the amount" Kuro-san answered closed eyed.
I could tell that Youya-chan was scarred for life. He sat hugging a whimpering Ayane with an utterly terrified expression on his face.
He rocked her back and force, but I can't be sure if that was for Ayane to calm down or rather to calm himself down.
"I-is it okay to touch you now?" I asked when my attention landed on his still bleeding shoulder that by the looks of it should get fast treatment.
He nodded. "This should hold it for a few hours"
I took the piece of cloth from the ground to tend the wound. But before I could get closer Rin stood infront of me defensively, with his back to me while facing Kuro-san.
"N- no, don't go near him! We c-can't trust him. He's dangerous"
Totally perfect. Not only Youya-chan, but even Rin is scarred for life too!
"We... don't have time. We need.... to move soon. As.... soon as possible" Kuro-san whispered to particularly no one, before losing consciousness from the blood loss....