Blanc's Perspective
Part 1: Night (Forbidden Cave)
"We're taking orders from the officials," the Captain declared with a nervous edge, casting furtive glances at his subordinates, as if seeking their support for the shaky ground beneath his words.
"Oho, now that's the answer I wanted to hear," I responded, a sly smile playing on my lips. The air was tense, and I was ready to unravel the secrets veiled in their words.
"Don't kill us as we're only following orders," One of the soldier pleaded, desperation etched across his face, his eyes darting between me and his comrades.
"Hmph, I find it rather heroic to spout such nonsense. I simply cannot sympathize when you claim innocence just because someone higher up gave the command," I retorted, my dissatisfaction with their justification evident. "Is that the excuse you tell yourselves before you sleep at night? That as long as it's an order, you're free to do as you please?"
"Maybe I should kill all of you now," I mused, a cold edge to my voice, contemplating the consequences of their actions.
"You realize that if you do anything to us, the whole country of Sunaria will chase after all of you," the Captain attempted to assert, a last-ditch effort to salvage some control over the situation.
"Is that a threat I'm hearing?" I asked, fixing him with a gaze as icy as my powers, a silent warning that I wouldn't hesitate to take drastic measures.
"Urkh," the Captain grunted, a feeble attempt to regain his composure after my cold stare put him in his place.
Despite my inner turmoil, I restrained myself. Striking them down impulsively wouldn't serve our cause. I needed to play this smart, using them as evidence for the upcoming trials.
"Who were you working for?" I questioned, extracting the final piece of information I needed before deciding their fate.
"The Sunaria's Minister of the Military, Lord Vicker," the Captain revealed, exposing the puppet master behind this sinister plot.
"Will you let us go after we tell you everything you need to know?" They pleaded for mercy, a desperation in his voice that echoed through the cave.
Most of the questions had been answered, yet I couldn't act recklessly. Tatiana would react strongly if I were to execute them here. Reluctantly, I decided to hand them over to Lily. Despite my reservations about her methods, she proved to be the most efficient in handling such situations. Gathering their confessions, along with the evidence, should be enough to bring this dark chapter to a close.
"Do you know how many people suffered because of this?" Tatiana suddenly interjected, her voice cutting through the tension, her sword dragging along the ground as it clinked against the stone.
Tatiana stepping out of the barrier surprised everyone, myself included.
"What are you saying?" the Captain responded, seemingly indifferent to the suffering caused by their actions.
"Families and innocent people have died because of your actions. It doesn't matter if you were ordered to do it; I can't forgive you," Tatiana yelled, an unexpected anger surfacing.
Tatiana brandished her sword, ready to strike one of them, her eyes filled with tears and determination.
"Tatiana, don't do it!" I called out, puzzled by this uncharacteristic behavior. Perhaps bringing her into this situation was a mistake.
"I can't forgive you. Please forgive me, Blanc…" Tatiana uttered, holding her sword high, poised to strike, her eyes welling with tears. Her body seemed compelled to act, conflicting with her inner turmoil.
*Struck.* The movement stopped just before the blade reached its target.
"Huh?" I sighed in relief as Tatiana halted the sword, sparing the soldier.
"Just when I thought that I could get some rest, now this happened," Tatiana spoke, her tone oddly different. There were no tears or hesitation—just pure confidence.
"Ahaha, you aren't planning to do it anyway," mocked one of them , taunting Tatiana for not following through.
"…Did I make a joke, mongrel?" Tatiana retorted, looking at the insolent soldier. In an instant, she swung her sword, severing the life of the provocateur alongside his head.
*Swing.*
Part 2: Night (Forbidden Cave)
The cave is plunged into a tense silence as that soldier's life is abruptly extinguished.
"AH!" His death cry echoes, filling the cavernous space. Tatiana, holding the bloodied sword, gazes at it with an unsettling calmness. She nonchalantly inspects her dress, ensuring not a speck of blood tarnishes her pristine outfit.
With deliberate intent, she brandishes the sword, sending arcs of blood splattering onto the faces of the other men. A twisted smile forms on Tatiana's face, reveling in the terror that grips the soldiers. Their screams of horror are stifled by the power of my abilities, echoing in a distorted symphony.
"Now where were we?" Tatiana's smile widens, her eyes glinting with a chilling anticipation, ready to deliver another fatal blow.
"Wait a minute!" I interject, determined to halt this macabre dance. Tatiana, in her altered state, acknowledges my interruption with an icy stare.
"Who are you?" I demand, casting an accusing gaze at the entity controlling Tatiana's body.
"What do you mean, Blanc? It's your dear friend Tatiana, right?" The response is delivered with Tatiana's visage, but an ominous shift in energy lingers. A sinister air envelopes her, a stark departure from the Tatiana I know.
Regardless of the changed energy, Tatiana's demeanor grows even grimmer, casting shadows over the cave's walls.
"You're not Tatiana; she would never hurt another person like you did," I protest, grappling with the horror of the situation, desperately seeking answers about the force manipulating Tatiana.
"Hoho, the infamous Ice Queen who doesn't care about others. Do you really know about others and care for someone?" Tatiana's laughter, devoid of fear, rings through the cavern, mocking me openly.
"You better shut your mouth now," I command, attempting to wield my powers once more, yet they fail to manifest.
"What's happening?" Confusion clouds my mind as the force restraining Tatiana resists my influence. It becomes apparent; this mysterious power operates by its own rules.
"You can't do it? Because your power relies on space, we are not in the same place as before. It changes over time," Tatiana astutely points out, unraveling the nature of my spatial abilities.
"How is that possible?" I ask, grappling with the implications of this revelation.
"With magic, of course. You can't fathom the ability as you've lost the capacity to do it," Tatiana remarks, a condescending edge to her voice as she reveals her knowledge of the magical realm, a facet I lack.
Magic? It doesn't matter; I'll think of something.
"Let me end them first," Tatiana proposes, poised to strike again. However, before the fatal blow can be executed, the sword shatters upon contact with the ice shield I create.
*Clank!*
"You really are persistent, Lady Blanc. However, Aeris, cast 'Wind Lance'!" Tatiana commands, and Aeris, with swift precision, conjures a powerful gust of wind within the confined space.
"AHHH!!" The howling wind wreaks havoc, tossing the soldiers like ragdolls against the cave walls. Lumina, dutifully protecting her master, shields me from the destructive force.
"Good work, my child," Tatiana commends Aeris, a twisted satisfaction in her tone.
"What are you planning to do?" I inquire, wary of Tatiana's next move.
"Me? Nothing. How about I end you now, Blanc?" Tatiana's smile widens as she takes a step closer, a palpable malevolence emanating from her.
"What?" I find myself restrained by Aeris, preventing any escape, while Tatiana inches closer to me.
"As expected of the Ice Queen, still strong after all," Tatiana congratulates, acknowledging my resistance against her psychic manipulation.
"Who are you?" I stall for time, hoping against hope for a revelation.
"...As I said before, I'm Tatiana Tremaine, the Villainess." Tatiana, with a grim smile, declares her identity, embracing the role of the antagonist.
"Are you saying you're the real one?" The realization dawns on me, contemplating the existence of the authentic Tatiana.
"Perhaps, I leave it to your imagination, my little snow princess." Tatiana mocks, reveling in the confusion she instills.
"?! Haah… ha…" Gasping for air, beads of sweat cascade down my face.
"Ufufu, did I just remind you of someone?" Tatiana teases, deriving pleasure from my apparent distress.
"You can't be right?" I muster the strength to challenge this malevolent force.
"How about this, Blanc?" Dark light envelops Tatiana, transforming her appearance.
"Big sister…?" My voice falters as I'm confronted with the image of my elder sister, an exact replica.
"That's right, I missed you very much, my dear sister. After you killed me, of course." Tatiana, not merely adopting the appearance but also wielding the memories of my sister, utters a chilling revelation.
"…" Unable to stand against this haunting revelation, I succumb to the overwhelming fear of my past returning to haunt me.
"Now, I advise you don't get too close to Tatiana, for your own good." Tatiana's warning is soft, almost caring, as she kisses my forehead.
*Chuu*
"It was pleasant to meet you, Lady Blanc." Tatiana bids farewell, and immediately she collapses.
She falls, and Aeris releases his hold on me.
"What am I doing?" Aeris returns to his usual self.
This turned out to be pretty fun after all. Excitement courses through me.
**-Chapter 50 End-**