Blanc's Perspective
Part 1: Blanc's World
"Ugh..." The dream dissipates, leaving a bitter taste on my lips. Memories, twisted and distorted, echo in the recesses of my mind.
"Elder sister!" The warmth of our castle during spring, the scent of blossoms, and the embrace of my elder sister—all shattered by the hands of fate.
"Big sister will always protect you, Blanc, my little snow." Kindness wrapped around me in the garden as my sister lost herself in a book.
The narrative unravels after my kidnapping, a dark chapter orchestrated by a secret agency during the coup. Tests and training erased my past, crafting a new identity as a powerful esper. In time, I broke free, obliterating the shadows that haunted me.
"Come with me, Blanc. We can be a family." A glimmer of hope in the form of new friends, a makeshift family in a humble abode. But tragedy struck when their village fell prey to rebels during a harsh winter.
"Let us in!" Desperation filled the voice of a woman with her child, seeking refuge.
"This is closed for today! Get out of here; you all carry diseases." The officer's callous words pierced through the biting cold, denying sanctuary to those in need.
"Hey, what the hell is this? Our town got attacked by the rebels, and now you won't let us pass?" The woman's plea echoed with frustration.
"Hmm…" The high-ranking officer, a puppeteer in this grim play, contemplated the suffering before him.
"General! The situation is under control!" A soldier reported, setting the stage for a heartless command.
"Kill all of them. They are rebels planning to attack from inside." The general's order hung in the air, ushering in a cruel symphony of gunfire.
*Bang bang bang*
"AHHH!!" The air filled with the cries of those seeking refuge, a cacophony of despair. Blood painted the snow, staining it a dark crimson. The woman and her child, innocent souls, fell victim to the brutality.
"Why…?" My psychic shield protected me, but I struggled to comprehend the senseless violence unfolding.
"Oh, we have an esper in our hands?" The general, fascinated by my abilities, couldn't resist probing further.
*Swish*
"It seems just a brat with little power after all. Get all of these bodies burned; we don't want an outbreak." The general, believing he had rid himself of an inconvenience, turned away callously.
"You…!!" Rage surged within me, and with a wave of my hand, an impenetrable ice barrier formed, deflecting his attack effortlessly.
"ARGHH!!" The closest soldier, frozen in an instant, became a testament to my unleashed power.
"Hey! Shoot that esper; don't stop!" The general, now desperate, commanded his men to focus their fire on me.
*Bang bang bang* Their bullets danced harmlessly against my icy fortress, a futile attempt to break through.
"Ice touch…" My voice carried the weight of command as I unleashed my psychic abilities, freezing all who stood in my path, turning them into statues of frost.
"ARGHHH!!!" The general, encased in ice, shattered into a myriad of crystalline shards, the echoes of his demise reverberating in the frozen air.
**Blanc's Perspective**
**Part 2: Blanc's World**
The echoes of the nightmare linger as I stagger away from the gruesome tableau, leaving the chilling scene behind. The blood-soaked memories cling to my psyche, refusing to relent. My family, once a source of warmth and care, now stands frozen, their lives stolen in an instant. A bitter taste rises in my throat, and I can't contain the torrent of emotions that escape as I kneel on the frozen ground.
"ERRGHHH!! Sorry, sorry, sorry," my anguished cries fill the air, hands pressed against the unforgiving earth in a futile plea for forgiveness. The remnants of my family now lie frozen, a stark reminder of the love and warmth that was so brutally taken from me. With solemn reverence, I conjure an ice flower, a fragile tribute to honor their memory.
"After all these years, my pursuit of vengeance culminated in confronting Aurelia Whitewinter!" I declare, facing the queen who had wronged me. In the climactic moment, I take Aurelia's life, yet she expends her final moments embracing me, utilizing her last vestiges of energy for a poignant farewell.
"I've been waiting for you, Blanc, my little snow princess," Aurelia utters, her serene smile signaling a peaceful acceptance of her imminent demise, undeterred by the fact that I, her once-beloved sister, had become her executioner.
To my astonishment, I discover that she was, in fact, my elder sister. The realization of our shared bloodline sends me spiraling into an everlasting winter of emotions, a tempest of conflicting feelings that only intensifies.
Now wielding the formidable power of the Queen of Whitewinter, I cast my influence across the land, plunging it into an eternal winter.
"Blanc, you don't have to do this…" implores my friend, a compassionate voice breaking through the tumult.
As anticipated, my friend, the one who had saved me in the past, steps forward to oppose me, driven by a noble quest to restore peace to the fractured realm. Her unwavering determination stands as a stark contrast to my newfound abilities and the conflicted path I have chosen.
The morning sun breaks the icy hold of my dreams.
*Knock, knock.*
"May I come in, Lady Blanc?" Lily's soft inquiry punctuates the stillness.
"Come in," I respond, still reclined on the bed, my gaze fixed on the ceiling.
"Lady Blanc, I finished my task," Lily reports, tending to me with warm water and closing the curtains, ushering in a moment of tranquility.
"…" Though I usually respond, today I remain silent, wrestling with the tumultuous thoughts that churn within.
"Lady Blanc?" Lily inquires, her concern palpable.
"How was she?" I finally ask, avoiding Lily's gaze, a subtle reference to Tatiana without explicitly mentioning her.
"Lady Tatiana currently sleeps. There's nothing noteworthy to report," Lily answers with precision, her gaze revealing a readiness to delve deeper into the events of the day.
After a brief silence, Lily's curiosity surfaces. "Did something happen after all?" Her worry is written across her face, reflecting a genuine concern for my well-being.
"…No, nothing," I reply, reluctant to revisit the events of the day, even in my thoughts.
"Your eyes, Lady Blanc, seem as if you've witnessed a ghost. Your body still trembles," Lily observes keenly, noting every subtle change, her perceptive nature cutting through my attempts to conceal my turmoil.
Lily, ever perceptive. I muse to myself.
"Can you leave me alone now? I don't wish to speak of this any further," I request, my voice steady, but the exhaustion evident in the lines of my face. Privacy becomes a sanctuary, a brief respite from the prying questions and the storm within.
"But…" Lily begins, her eyes reflecting an earnest desire to help, to share the burden of the unseen struggles.
"Leave this instant!!" My command, though clear, carries an undercurrent of vulnerability, a plea for solitude in the face of internal chaos. With a breath, I ready my hand, a conduit for the psychic energy that courses within me.
"My apologies, Lady Blanc." Lily bows respectfully, her exit swift yet respectful, the door closing behind her with a soft click.
"Ahh…" I sigh, the weight of the interrogation momentarily lifted, allowing me to breathe.
"What should I do now?" I contemplate, the room's silence offering no answers. Deciding to seek solace in a bit more rest and an early sleep, I shrug off the events of the day.
The bed, a refuge, beckons, promising a brief escape from the tumultuous reality outside. With a heavy heart, I retreat into the embrace of my dreams, hoping for a respite that the waking world has denied me.
Part 3: Study Room (Morning)
The morning sunlight bathes the study room, illuminating the lingering discussions between Sakuya and me.
"What brings you here?" Sakuya's entrance is devoid of pleasantries, a direct and no-nonsense approach.
"Heh, the Queen of Tyrant hasn't changed a bit," I chuckle, attempting to inject a bit of levity. Sakuya, however, remains stoic.
"Sigh… Is this about Tatiana?" Sakuya sighs, clearly understanding the gravity of the situation.
"!? Yes, have you experienced something similar?" I press, hoping Sakuya might share her own encounters.
"It was expected, just like before. Not Tatiana, as we know," Sakuya reveals, transporting us back to a pivotal moment.
In the heat of battle with the guardian, Tatiana falls, losing consciousness.
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Sakuya," Tatiana says upon recovering, bowing with newfound grace.
"Are you Tatiana?" Sakuya questions, noting the remarkable shift in demeanor.
"Yes, I am the real Tatiana. It's an honor to meet the so-called Queen of Tyrant," Tatiana responds with gratitude.
Returning to the present, Sakuya reflects, "Her speech changed entirely, as if it were the most natural thing in the world."
Understanding the parallels to my own experience, I acknowledge, "So, it was the same as what I witnessed yesterday."
"I figured it out when I was in a similar situation," Sakuya discloses, having been closer to Tatiana than most.
"What are your plans regarding this? Are you not concerned?" I question Sakuya's seemingly indifferent stance.
"Nothing. She can't harm me, and I can't harm her. It's how it has always been," Sakuya declares, standing up and leaving me perplexed.
"What do you mean?" I seek clarity, confused by Sakuya's nonchalant attitude.
"You may do as you wish. As you said, don't get in my way," Sakuya replies before disappearing into thin air.
"If I may, Lady Blanc," Lily interrupts, entering the room and revealing her eavesdropping.
"You may not," I retort, dismissing Lily's attempt to engage.
Lily offers an explanation, suggesting that Tatiana might be suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), a condition stemming from severe childhood trauma.
"Are there ways to trigger it again?" I inquire, contemplating the possibility.
"Possibly, but it would require some form of trauma," Lily suggests, prompting me to ponder our limited knowledge of Tatiana.
"Perhaps if you asked her directly, she might reveal more," Lily teases, provoking my frustration.
"You're not helping," I snap at Lily.
"Wait, there might be something we can use," I realize, a spark of an idea forming.
"You mean... that thing?" Lily questions, surprised by my unexpected request.
"Yes, unfortunately, I am serious," I confirm, my tone grave.
"What is it again?" Lily genuinely doesn't recall.
"Argh! Just fetch me Seraphina and Media immediately," I order Lily, setting the stage for further discussion.
- Chapter 51 END -