Chapter 93

Shukona POV

I stood up, blinking as I pressed my head against the wall and looked up. I placed my palm on top of my chest, trying to check if I was still breathing. I gulped, feeling my chest raising and lowering with each of my sighs, nodding to myself.

I’m fine. This is fine. Everything might not be going so well but I can get through this.

A certain brown haired girl sat up, ruffling her hair. I dashed towards her side, embracing Nikami while I shook.

“Nika! You’re alright?!” I exclaimed, the frown on my face turning into a bright smile, as if a trunk was lifted off my shoulders. Her calm presence and soft smile was something I really needed, just thinking about how much she gives me pride and comfort in the darkest times can already give me confidence that everything will be alright. That smile I will do anything to protect.

I pulled my arms away, facing her with a teary glance. I expected her to be teary eyed as well, knowing how emotional she actually can be.

But all I got was a scowl.

“Do you mind not touching me so casually?” Her calm presence was replaced by a glare. As if she found a maggot.

“I-I deeply apologize elder brother.” I froze up, blinking at a similar glare of a man with red eyes and green hair replacing Nikami’s place. I shook, taking a step back and quickly bowed down. Yet no matter how much I bowed down, he wouldn’t stop giving me these chills and icky sensations inside of me. I felt so dirty in his gaze, I was a mere pig. No, I was less useful than that, I was nothing more than manure and mud.

“What elder brother are you talking about? Do I look like a man to you? No, look at me, I will ask you again,” She grabbed my green locks and it ripped it up, gritting my teeth at the stinging pain while tearing up. “Do I look like a man to you?” I could barely make out her face, only seeing a pair of red eyes glaring down at me as she yanked my head higher.

“N-no… I’m so sorry…” My face paled with the horrible stares she was giving me, panting as I laid under her surveillance. Any wrong move could put me in immediate danger, something more horrible than just physical violence.

No, I don’t want her to berate me, she was more than family, I can’t live with the fact that I disappointed her. Those green eyes are now that man’s eyes, did I disappoint her that much? Whatever I did wrong, I’ll gladly change. I don’t care if I’m seen as replaceable or nothing by my own family.

Just not Nikami.

“That’s enough!” A special voice rang in my ears as I laid there shaking, grabbing Nikami’s hand and shoved it away from my hair.

I looked up with my shriveled hair, seeing my dearest sister gripping the wrist of my elder brother. They both glared at each other while I was too stunned to even move, I felt small, helpless, always needing my bigger sister's help again. Maybe I should just… Stop thinking at all. I will keep relying on my sister, it's not my fault! I’m not to blame! I’m just… A kid after all.

Third Person POV

“Wh-what got into you Shiromoru-sama?!” The knight ran and stood in front the hyperventilating taller noble, covering her with her arm.

“Common sense, what got into you? How dare you shout against me, mere knight.” Nikami snapped, glaring up at Saboten and scoffed.

Shukona clung to Kikyou, making her lose her grip and balanced herself against the force of someone much taller than her.

“Yo-you… You aren’t Shiromoru-sama… She… No, she’s not you! She can’t be, she’s not like this… Who are you, imposter?!” Saboten gripped her blade and took it out. Her sword almost fell out of her palm, but was captured by her other arm. She knew that her arm wasn’t working properly for some reason, yet these tears that burned at her core made her blind from any numbness she felt.

“You do know pointing a weapon at a queen is a federal offence right?” Nikami stared at the gleam of the sword, her sight being reflected back at her.

“You aren’t Shiromo-” Saboten was interrupted by her sister waving her hand in front of her face, pulling the wailing Shukona to her side and running her hands through her hair then adjusting her glasses.

“Please stand down…” Kikyou took a deep inhale, being hit with so many problems. She couldn't focus on a single thing. The room fell silent as the mage thought, her legs were acting like weak vines, hoping to crawl to another place. She wished to dash out of this room and go back to drowning into her books. She doesn’t want to help.

She really can’t bear the responsibility of taking care of people who have strength unlike her.

“You’re still hesitating? Pathetic.” Kikyou was snapped out of her daze, mouth agape at her words.

You have a job, and even if that was pushed to you, only YOU can do it. So stop running away.

Ajisa… She doesn’t know where she is right now or how she is doing, but all she can really ask of the heavens is that she’ll be alright. She… She can’t stop hesitating, she had always hidden under this cloak of her’s each time there was danger.

“Shi-Shiromoru-san…” Her eyes went soft, closing it and shutting her lips.

She really is weak isn’t she? Even in Nikami’s situation, she was still supporting her like this. Every turn, she knew what to do, but her body wouldn’t do it. Fear was an understatement, she was more than terrified.

“I’m sorry.”

“Impudent mage.”

“O-onee-sama! What’s happening with her and Amatarini-sama?! It’s not just me right, they’re both acting weird!” Saboten voiced her concerns, voice cracking.

“I-I know they’re just both…” Kikyou chewed on the end of her fingers, keeping her mind out of the situation and trying to avoid it. Her lips were stained with blood, but despite tasting that rust in her mouth she continued. A large hand took her wrist and gently pulled it away, Shukona glaring down at her with a pouty expression.

“I-”

“Wh-why do you not want to say it Onee-sama…? Do you not trust us enough? Why are you stalling?!” Saboten snapped, taking her shoulders and pushing it to face her. That action alone made her heart stop, as if all of her mana was being taken away. Ahahaha… Was she cursed too?

“They’re both cursed.” She finally said it, those three words poured out all of the air in her lungs. She can’t ever take this back now, she was involved already but now she’s already wound deep into this. She can’t let Shoubu take everything because of this.

“Huh…?”

Kikyou couldn’t face her sister, a pang of guilt struck her heart, her sister wanted to be a mage after all, and her showing off her mana sensitivity was boiling water to the wound. She glanced at Nikami that was glaring at her soul, and then immediately turned at Shukona.

“Amatarini-sama has a black haze around her eyes, I-I think that it’s disturbing the normal way she sees thi-things… Shi-shiromoru-san’s is much worse… It’s covering her whole head.”

“So they’re both cursed too, huh? I knew something was wrong the moment Shukona-sama called you onee-sama. She’s acting childish, quite cute if I’m being honest.” A chuckle came from the entrance of the room, Shoubu still transitioning from her crazed smile to her gentle one. A small white haired girl was on the ground getting dragged by the collar, having the water and shackles trapping her.

“Yasachu!” Nikami dashed towards the princess, eyebrows arched and mouth in a frown.

“What in the world did you do to her?” Nikami questioned, a growl itching from the back of her throat while Shoubu only laughed.

“Ara ara, I didn’t know a curse could take away your manners, do I have to knock you want too?” Shoubu continued to chuckle, sparks were being thrown with each of their glares.

“Please don’t hurt Nika, I beg of you, your highness.” Shukona let go of Kikyou, made a deep bow to Shoubu which made her gentle smile twitch.

“Ah, I see. Shukona-sama still knows what reality is… Hmm, she wouldn’t hurt anyone. It’s getting late so,” Shoubu snapped her fingers, “Kiyu, Shukona-sama has taken a liking to you. Perhaps you could sleep with her to make sure she wouldn’t do anything bad? Sleep in the library if you need to, I know you’ll be researching… Seeing how injured your fingers are.” Shoubu knew about her habit, chewing her fingers to focus.

“Shiromoru-san, you’re coming with me. Since Yasachu is as well.” Shoubu lifted her finger, jerking it towards her while pointing at NIkami.

“Who gives you the right to say that? Yasachu’s coming with me.” Nikami wouldn’t budge, balling her fists and took another step forward. Saboten held the hilt of her sword and observed them, but Shukona placed her palm on top of Satoten’s hands. Shaking her head.

“You do understand that she’s in my mercy, yes? If it weren’t for Kiyu’s wishes, I would have placed a large scar on her pretty face.” Shoubu lifted up Yasachu’s chin and trailed her fingers on top of her cheek.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, but I did, dear.”

“Such impudence.” Nikami flicked her arm to the side and a large spike was formed on the ground, bringing frost and headed towards Shoubu. Kikyou swayed her arm to the side and protected the knight who was about to get in between the two, Shoubu opening her mouth and casted,

“” Gems shot out of Shoubu’s palm, phasing into Nikami’s ice. The ice reversed it’s target, going to Nikami instead. Taking a few steps back, Nikami created more icicles in her side and shot it towards Shoubu, more gems were shot out, hitting the ice directly and speeding to Nikami’s neck.

It stopped as it grazed her sweating neck, burning it with the cold, Nikami gulped.

“Please be reminded that I am your senpai, and that I have awakened earlier than you did.” Shoubu scoffed, holding one of the blue gems that popped out of her palms. Her personal magic Tide jewels could make her control anyone’s water related magic as if it were her own. Nikami stood no chance, be it magical or physical.

“<Auth-” Nikami opened her mouth to cast her own personal magic but was silenced by Kikyou’s vines around her mouth. Damn it, why did she have to go against the two most powerful people in this school? She simply wanted to be with Yasachu.

“Nika!” Shukona yelled, being held back by the knight while holding back her anger. Gripping the shirt of the taller woman, she narrowed her crimson eyes down at the ground. She really wanted to scream, to just tell Nikami off. She knew it was rude to do so, but it was in her blood to want to protect her princess. She’s a knight.

“Am-amatarin-”

“Call her Shukona.” Shoubu sliced Kikyou’s words, taking a step forward and faced Nikami’s glares head on.

Kikyou gulped, nodding as she held Shukona's hands, pulling on her and straightening her back and cleared her throat.

“Shukona, le-let’s go and rest. You’re tired aren’t you? Don’t worry about it, Ga-gakerumi-sama will be coming with us, and Shiromoru-san will be safe with Shoubu’s presence… Saboten, please carry the pr-prince with us…” Kikyou pulled on Shukona, which she reluctantly followed. The knight nodded, biting her lip with furrowed eyebrows and picked up Raijin from her bed. Glaring at Nikami as the door was slammed shut.

“Ufufufufu, it seems that she isn’t pleased by your behavior.” Shoubu chuckled and turned back to the silenced queen candidate and smiled.

“Do you want to continue with this endless farce that I will win in the end, or will you cooperate and keep this little girl safe?”

Damn you, witch.