"Did you shed any tears at all since you woke up Ryuga?" Mavis wastes no time asking Ryuga.
"No. I had none."
"I see. That is why I sensed that from you."
"You're talking gibberish right now."
The alchemist fixed her posture and her expression became somewhat unfathomable.
"Ryuga. What I sensed from you the day I first met you in the library, was a burden of building and pent up emotions. I felt anger, sadness, rage and most of all, pure and deep hatered etched into your heart." Mavis again looked Ryuga dead in the eye.
"And I can still see it all just by looking at your eyes."
"Is that so? That's a shame." Ryuga responded nonchalantly.
"It's not a shame it's dangerous. Nobody knows when you'll suddenly fall apart or explode. If you are to survive, you need to deal with that." Finally she begged him.
"I refuse. I am not a tool of the empire, as such I rather die than let myself be used as a guinea pig." No hesitation was in his rejection. And his eyes appeared to be more piercing than ever. He was aware of what Mavis was trying to get him to do.
"Then you will lose the power given to you."
"I'd like to see that happen."
What Mavis said wasn't a lie or a fact. In truth, a person's ohra takes the shape and colour of the depending on the feelings within their subconscious. If Ryuga 's feelings are what she said they are, then his would lead to a terrifying and so destructive kind of power it will either swallow him up, or he will loose his it for good.
"I know you want to protect your sister. You won't be able to do that if you lose your power. Better yet, your life."
"Then its a good thing I have no plans of dying. I will exploit this weapon I got to the limit. And I will get my hands on whatever I want. I know now, that no power or ability is ever out of a person's grasp." Ryuga 's bold and calm claim alrmed the alchemist. Causing her eyes widen her eyes in surprise.
Her reaction is exactly what he expected. And this proved his theory. The alchemist doesn't dislike him. Her feelings and behaviour towards him are a result of her fear.
"And above all that, you're horrible lier Mavis. You've sensed my emotions because you've been trying to manipulate them so you can control me. But you failed miserably." Ryuga 's words hit like a shock of lightning.
"But how did you—"
"I didn't notice it at first. Hence in the past few days, I worried I might really die. The increasing effects caused the resemblance to pulsate so much I was forced to use it."
"But you never had training?"
"Exactly what surprised me. I trained so much to gain an axis star, but wasn't able to. But I only had to think about the sword within me and I was instantly able to use it."
Ryuga got up and gazed at the sunset with a somber expression on his face. Then a chuckle escaped his lips. Then he turned to leave, but came to a halt before going far.
"Two things though. I hope you never use your ability on me ever again. And I hope I never have to protect my friends from your schemes again. You can keep the book."
Ryuga spoke without looking back, and left the garden with his footsteps echoing in the silent garden.
"I look forward to our next little game. Try to make it fun."
…
…
…
[The Imperial Castle- The Next Morning]
Ryukka walks in to find Ash, Ryuga and Allura sitting around the table on the balcony having breakfast.
"So how was your training yesterday?"
"It wasn't all too bad." Ryukka answers Ryuga, dragging Ash aside to make space and sits in between them.
"It was too easy for my expectation." Ash, who looks like is on the verge of exploding with anger, also answers.
Irla walks in with her trolly of food and beverages. "I guess you must be a prodigies, you too of course Sir Xicor Ryuga."
"Just Xicor please. I dare not make royalty bow to me." Ryuga sounded sincere, but the simple hidden message was that he didn't want get friendly with someone of nobility.
"Brother, ban we talk outside?"
"Sure, please excuse me my lady, Ash be sure to behave, will you?"
Ash, knowing it was a provocation simply scoffs and goes on eating.
…
…
…
[Near The Fountain In The Garden]
"I'm sure you hate me for failing to keep my promise."
"No, I don't. I know you did all you could, I just miss my brother, the one I grew up with, the one I love. But you've changed a lot since that day." Allura holds Ryuga 's hand.
"I'm glad to hear that. It's not like you to demand private talks. I made a promise to protect you with everything I've got, but I don't think that's what you need."
"What I need are my powers, too bad mom and dad didn't unlock my true abilities." Allura looks down in disappointment.
"There's a way to release them, but if they're released you'll get sucked into the triangle and be lost forever ."
"Get lost to the triangle, what's that?"
"The Bermuda Triangle. Your powers were not sealed because they made you sick. The true origin of your power, you won't get out till you master your powers. At least that's what came to understand."
"Is that why I have a magic mark on my chest? Wait, you were able to unlock them." she looks at her brother with hopeful eyes.
"Not really, that's just a limited time spell I created. You have a black stone inside you, it is suppressing your powers."
"Then I can just remove it."
"That is enough. I've said a little too much let's go inside, the others are waiting." seeing the hope in her eyes get even more, Ryuga ended the conversation.
"But I promise little sister, you will use your powers one day." with that he left.
…
…
…
[Around The Breakfast Table]
"So if I may ask, why is her highness having a meal with us today?" Ryuga finally addressed the elephant in the room. Silence reigned in the room as if all sound was sucked away.
"I just thought we should get along since we'll be training together. Unless I'm inconveniencing your."
"No need, I was just curious. Then, a toast to that, anyone got anything else…" Ryuga raises his glass.
"It feels good to be surrounded by different people, sometimes my family and duties can be tiring. So, cheers to new friends." Irla raises hers.
"I could never have moved on if it wasn't for you guys, I also couldn't dream of having lunch with the princess. Cheers to that." Allura follows.
"I just hope to get through everyday happy. Without someone poking at me." Ash speaks looking at Ryukka.
"Well, I'll hold onto my wish until I need it." Ryukka simply raises hers.
A normal morning of the newly formed group went on undisturbed as they enjoyed a rather happy breakfast.
Unbeknownst to them, this was just a prologue to the beginning of a disaster.
[The ruins of Arcadia]
A dark cloud glooming over the gates of Netherworld that open slightly, a light Earthquake shakes the ground shallowly. Immense dark energy is seeps in a large cracks around the gates and disappears.
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