Everything was dulled. Every sensation that entered my body seemed to be diminished considerably. It's odd, but I wouldn't call this an uncomfortable state of being. No, I'd say it was far more comfortable than I would have ever imagined. It's like existing while also not having to fully endure the noisy outside world.
That feeling wouldn't last. Yes, I knew from the start that it wouldn't last, but I still dared to indulge myself in it. To enjoy something whilst also knowing in your heart that it won't last... I wonder if that's foolish?
I blinked, the world around me coming into hazy focus. Above me, the ceiling light momentarily blinded me, but soon something came into view. It was a face, one that I took quite some time to recognize. It was a girl, one whose face displayed an extreme level of concentration, so much that you'd think she was attempting to dissect the very air that surrounded her.
"Oh, splendid! The awoken state has rekindled thy weary gaze, noble Veri," Tiana said, her voice soft and sweet but laced with an unnecessarily formal tone. Her fingers, surprisingly gentle, brushed against my face and sent an odd shiver down my spine. Along with that, she was an odd softness underneath me.
'That other senior that Fang wanted to introduce me too... Wait, why is she... Actually, why am I looking up at her right now?'
"Dear Veri, you were passed out for a short interm! I'm exceedingly pleased to see that you have awoken."
"Oh, so that's what happened...", I replied to her in a dreary voice, but I attempted to match her way of speech with a similar flare. "I must thank you for your consideration. In my current state, the vast majority of my power has been sealed off and I am unable to fight at full strength. If that wasn't the case, I surely would've made short work of that tiny devil. Now then, how long was I out?"
"Approximately, oh… a brief interim! Yes, precisely that," she replied, waving her hand in what I'm sure she thought was a sage-like manner. "You have been temporally misplaced, as it were, but I have tended to thee most vigilantly in this lapse." She paused, her brow furrowing as though she were genuinely wrestling with the next big word. "Reclusively."
That last word didn't match up with the rest at all.
"Veri. You needn't thank me for what I've done.," she replied with a warm expression. "'Tis but my duty as a compatriot in arms and... er... a person of goodliness."
While it looked as though Tiana was a walking mismatched vocabulary and a bit of an airhead, she was certainly yet another good person.
"Veri, I must say though. For some time now, I've been losing feeling in my legs. If you don't mind, could you get off?"
Hmm?
It was then that I realized what the softness I'd been feeling underneath me truly was. For the duration that I'd been knocked out, I've been quietly lying in Tiana's lap.
Well, at least I can check this off the bucket list of things to do before I die. A lap pillow truly is something every man must experience once!
Slowly, I got up from her lap and looked in front of me. It seemed like Fang and Kana had just begun their match.
I stood up, taking a moment to stretch and shake off the lingering fuzziness. Tiana gave me a bright smile, though I could see her knees bending awkwardly as she tried to shake some life back into her legs.
"Veri, it was indeed an honor to serve as thy… how do I put it… cushionary pillar." Her voice lilted with pride, and her shoulders straightened in a self-important way. She really seemed to be proud to have been of service. Somehow, her graceful demeanor made even that seem like it wasn't vainglory.
"I'll be sure to repay the favor one day. You know, you really are a monster in sheep's clothing. After seeing you and Kana fight I'd assumed you were some bloodthirsty beast, but even you can play the part of a nice girl. You'd do good to not underestimate my observational abilities. I see you for what you truly are."
I'd only intended to poke a bit of fun, but she seemed to be deeply worried by my statement.
"Please don't think poorly of me! I was only acting that way because of my 'Battle Ogre' ability! In cases of battle, I am capable of amplifying my essence into a more… hm… carnivorous state of being."
"Meaning?"
"The more damage I take, the stronger I become, but in return, I also lose my sanity in equal parts."
"I think I get it. I think Reinhard has a divine protection that works like that."
"Reinhard?"
"It's nothing."
Looking toward the sparring area, it seemed like Fang was having a hard time trying to keep up with Kana in a swordfight. I guess the outcome was expected. Kana's ability stacks the deck completely in her favor.
"Well, look who's back from the brink!" Farra beamed as she approached us, her smile practically a weapon in its own right. Her eyes sparkled with an unsettling friendliness, and she looked straight at me. "Congratulations on that win, Veri! Quite the unexpected comeback you pulled."
"It was nothing but child's play. Hopefully, my next opponent won't be such a bore.", as I spoke, I couldn't look Farra in her eyes. There were two distinct reasons for this. First of which was the unnatural gleam in her eyes. I get the feeling that Farra wasn't the best liar, even I was able to see that she had ulterior motives. The second reason was the shaking in my hands. Just thinking about having to go through another match like I just had was causing me to shake.
"Well, my niece is taking the loss a bit hard. I mean she—Oh, now that I look there's something in your eye. Here, how about I get it for you." She leaned in a bit closer and began squinting as if inspecting a rare artifact.
I was left stunned and confused. Out of every possible interaction we could have had, this wasn't one that I would've expected.
Before she was allowed to get too close, a cool voice entered the fray.
"Let's not crowd him, now," Cacophony remarked. She'd been eying us from where she was seated. Her very presence was an increase in temperature and her side-eyed glare was hot enough to melt through whatever facade Farra was attempting to put up.
"Oh! No, of course not," Farra said quickly, taking a subtle step back with a look that didn't quite meet Cacophony's eyes. "Just wanted to check in after such a battle. You know, make sure he's in good health and all…"
"I have to admit that he took quite the beating during that match, but my Veri would never lose to some random chump!"
"Hmm? 'My Veri'? I'm sorry that my memory is so foggy, but I'd like to ask once more, what is your relationship with Veri?"
"Lucy it's hurtful that you'd forget so soon. As Fang mentioned before I'm a family friend, but honestly I'd consider myself to be family. My name is Alicia Polica. Once again, it's nice to meet you. Why don't the two of us have a nice long chat.", Cacophony replied with a smile that felt less like kindness and more like a line drawn in the sand.
"I don't see why not. Let's talk.", Farra replied.
Cacophony's acting more defensive than usual and all this secrecy and passive-aggressiveness is making my head spin.
Cacophony's attention returned to me, her expression softening. "How about some fresh air, Veri? A moment outside might help clear your head."
I attempted to make a statement of protest, but Cacophony quickly shut that down.
"Veri, go outside. Now."
Left without a choice, I found myself walking toward the entrance. I slipped through the doors and stepped outside, the evening air sharp and cool against my skin. Unexpectedly, the quiet was a welcome change of pace.
I took a deep breath, letting the freshness settle my mind, each exhale clearing away the lingering haze from the fight.
As I walked further from the building, the faint crunch of gravel underfoot grounded me. I glanced up at the sky, the sharp green leaves of palm trees swaying gently in the wind. Ah, this chilly winter breeze. Even if people from other places in the world wouldn't consider this to be a true winter day, I can't help indulging myself in it.
My thoughts turned to Cacophony—her sudden intervention. Her protectiveness felt almost… personal. But it was hard to tell with her; every move she made seemed to still be just beyond my understanding. In comparison, I find Fang to be far simpler, though I bet that's because I'm only comprehending a small fragment of him.
What about Kana and Tiana? Or Meiying and Farra? If I tried—could I ever dream of understanding them?
It might be hubris to think that I'd ever be capable of understanding them. I mean—I can't even recognize if Fang and I have become friends.
Lost in thought, I wandered past a short alleyway and in my peripheral vision spotted something. I hadn't fully registered what it was by the time I'd turned my head toward that alley.
A man was slumped against the wall, his head tilted back as if he'd simply collapsed. And standing over him, hand resting against his face, was a girl. She was young—maybe a year or two younger than me, with short, curly blonde hair framing her face. Her entire outfit was white, from the plain dress that hung softly to her knees to the delicate lace of her cardigan. But it wasn't her appearance that unsettled me.
It was the air around her. It was like everything that surrounded her was being violated by a disturbingly eerie aura. It was a similar sensation to when I'd first met Cacophony, but in one distinct way, it was different. This sensation felt cold and wrong, it was something that was distinctly foreign to this very world.
At a mere glance, I'd say that the girl standing in front of me had the elegance and beauty of a doll. It's what caused her to both stand out and blend in. While she had the appearance of a normal human, she lacked that needed feature that let people be human.
I couldn't shake the feeling that she was a virus—an infection looking to spread, to break into our world through the small cracks.
She stared down at the man, her face perfectly blank, but somehow, I could tell she was… disappointed, as if something hadn't gone as planned.
The alley was dim, but as she tilted her head, a glint of light caught her eyes, revealing something distinctly unnatural—a pattern within her irises. It was only when she shifted her gaze to look at me that I could tell what they were.
As that girl watched and observed me, she smirked. In that same instance, I watched and observed her, and I saw what was in her eyes, I saw that unnatural shape in her irises.
Those unmistakable cross-shaped marks.