Erica reentered the apartment, closing the backdoor quietly. She walked to the room that Yuki and Akira shared and peeked inside. Akira was sitting beside the bed, her eyes worried as she stared at Yuki. Yuki still laid there on the bed, her eyes closed but her mind was anything but calm.
‘Dreams,’ Erica thought as she peered into Yuki’s turbulent mind. ‘Strong ones.’
“How is she?” she asked out loud.
She took a seat on the bed and glanced at Akira who was on a chair next to the bed.
“She’s the same as before,” Akira replied quietly. “Though, she does seem to be having a dream or something. She’s been turning a bit.”
“I see. Um, it’s getting late,” Erica whispered, turning her head away. “We should be heading to bed.”
“You’re right.” Akira let out a sigh before continuing. “Zoe did say that all she needs is rest. She’ll be fine.”
“She’ll be fine,” Erica smiled.
“Then, we should sleep. Are you going to go to your room right now?”
“I was, but…”
“But?”
“I’m worried,” Erica said. “I don’t know, but I don’t want to be separated from her right now. She scared me for a bit.”
“I understand. There’s plenty of room here if you want to sleep here. I don’t mind and I’m sure Yuki won’t either. If anything, you could sleep in here anytime you want.”
“Thanks. I’ll see. I’ll stay in here for now first. You can sleep.”
“Alright.”
Akira touched Erica’s arm lightly before walking to the other side of the bed. She slipped inside quietly, and pulled the blanket over her. Erica moved down from her seat on the bed and took the chair that Akira was on.
‘Yuki,’ she thought, a sigh escaping her.
She stared at the face of the person who she had been living with for months now. The face of the person who had helped her in her times of need. When she was hungry, poor, or captured, she was there.
‘But what have I done for you? I haven’t repaid you for what you’ve given me.’
It felt like all she ever did was watch from the sidelines. Every mission. Every task. She stood there as Yuki and Akira went to work. Those rare times that she was asked to help felt more like pity then it did a request. Almost as if she was asked to do something to make her feel better.
‘I want to help you.’
But she was weak. She knew that for years. Compared to those she was around, she was the weakest. She never fought. Only hid behind them.
‘And if you fall, what am I supposed to do?’ she asked. ‘Run? Hide? Surrender? I can’t do that.’
Erica stood.
‘I want to help, Yuki. I want to help you. Just like how you’ve helped me. I can’t hide anymore.’
She slipped out of the room, slowly shutting the door behind her. Then she walked out to the back of the apartment where her hand went to her pocket and she took out an earpiece.
“Call Vii,” she said as she placed it in her ear.
A ring rang out from the piece and Vii picked it up immediately.
“Hey~,” she said. “What’re you doing right now? It’s pretty late you know.”
“Vii, can we meet?”
“Ah, oh,” she replied. Her voice became quieter. “Right now?”
“If you can. Where are you right now?”
“I’m at the base but I can go meet you. You’re at the apartment, right?”
“Let’s meet at Fenrir Park,” Erica said. “I want to talk about something.”
“Okay. I’ll be there within a few minutes.” Vii disconnected and the earpiece went silent.
Erica took out of her ear and placed back in her pocket. She went back inside the house and peeked into Yuki’s room. She was still asleep, her face calm. Erica felt no surging emotions coming from her. Satisfied, she closed the door and headed out.
She walked to the park, the trip taking only a couple of minutes. There she sat in the courtyard as she waited for Vii to come. The soft sound of the splashing water behind her from the fountain accompanied her as she waited. Another couple minutes and she saw Vii walking to her, waving. Her fox ears wobbled a little as she jogged toward Erica.
“Erica, hey,” she smiled. “What was it you wanted to talk about?”
“Hey, Vii,” she replied, giving her a small smile in return. “I’m sorry for calling you out so late.”
“It’s fine. I’m the one that decided to come out. Can I sit?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
Vii sat on the metal bench with Erica and stared at the floating lights that illuminated the brick path of the park. They were silent for a few moments as they watched the scenes around them.
“I called you because I needed to talk to someone that knew more about my past,” Erica said quietly. “It’s about Yuki.”
“Did something happen to him?” Vii asked.
“No, she’s fine. For the most part,” Erica replied. “She’s recently had some troubles with her emotions. According to Zoe, any strong emotions could damage her mental health right now.”
“That doesn’t sound fine.”
“She also said that a few days rest should fix it.”
“Oh, that’s better.”
“But the reason why I called was because I was asked to help Yuki. To monitor her and protect her.”
“That’s great,” Vii smiled. “I’m sure you’ll do a wonderful job.”
“I don’t know how,” Erica said. She turned and looked at Vii right in the eyes. “I can’t protect her. I can only watch her as I am now.”
“I’m sure you can do,” Vii said, placing a hand on Erica’s arm. “You’re perceptive of emotions. You can help monitor him in case things start to go bad.”
“Yeah, I can do that. But I can’t protect her. I can tell others to help her but I can’t do anything.”
Vii stayed silent.
“And, Vii. Yuki almost died,” Erica continued, her voice cracking. “When she came back after the fight, she looked physically okay but her life signs were almost gone.”
Vii pulled her in and gave her a hug.
“I felt so powerless. Yuki saved me but I couldn’t do a thing to even help her,” Erica whispered.
“So what are you planning to do?” Vii whispered back.
“I can’t stay like this.” Erica gently pushed Vii away. “I can’t hide. I need strength. So I can stand with Yuki and support her. Especially now when she’s vulnerable. I want to repay her.”
“Then…,” Vii said as her eyes widened.
“You know that oath I made years back? I’ve finally found someone who I’m willing to die for.”
“Are you sure? Have you gotten over their deaths? Your actions?”
“I never will,” she laughed darkly. “Everyday I pray. I beg. I cry. But I never expect them to forgive me or for me to forgive myself. But this is different. With this, maybe I can redeem myself. And protect what I have now.”
“I see.”
Erica held out her arm and turned it, exposing her wrist. A tattoo was drawn on it, an elegant piece of work that swirled around.
“Can you?” she asked.
“You won’t regret this later, will you?” Vii asked, her eyes sharp.
“I won’t. And I’ll never.”
Vii nodded and grabbed her wrist. Her hand warmed as she began to chant softly under her breath. The tattoo glowed and began to rise slowly into the air, the mark cleaning lifting off of Erica’s skin.
“Release,” Vii breathed.
The hovering mark shined and dissipated into particles that floated away, leaving Erica’s wrist unblemished. She gasped as mana rushed through her, filling her rapidly as it went through the old pathways that she had forgotten. She stood from the bench, staggering as her mind grew sharper and her body warmed.
As she stood, a ghostly aura surrounded her, a sea of violet. It swirled and twirled around as it grew tighter and tighter until it exploded out with a brilliant flash, illuminating the courtyard. And where Erica was stood a graceful alluring being, her skin fair and her dark hair flowing. She seemed to have grown, her clothes a bit stretched as it hugged her curves tightly. She spread her wings, jet black and dragonlike. Horns curled elegantly out of her head, curving back towards it.
She held out her hand and a spear formed in the air which she grasped firmly. Lightning crackled as it ran about the spear, licking the air around it. She turned and went to the fountain. Her glowing violet eyes greeted her as she stared at her reflection. Then she looked at the spear in her hand.
“It’s been a while,” Erica said.
“It worked,” Vii said. “You really did find someone you would die for.”
“I wasn’t sure before, but the last couple of days has shown me everything I needed to see.”
“Welcome back,” Vii said to her.
“Don’t greet me just yet. Let’s see what happens first before we do that,” Erica smiled. “Thank you, Vii.”
“I kind of missed this you,” she smiled back. “You look stunning.”
Erica twirled her spear with a practiced hand and lightning jumped out from it, striking the ground as she slammed it down.
“I guess you can say that,” Erica laughed.
Erica reentered the apartment, closing the backdoor quietly. She walked to the room that Yuki and Akira shared and peeked inside. Akira was sitting beside the bed, her eyes worried as she stared at Yuki. Yuki still laid there on the bed, her eyes closed but her mind was anything but calm.
‘Dreams,’ Erica thought as she peered into Yuki’s turbulent mind. ‘Strong ones.’
“How is she?” she asked out loud.
She took a seat on the bed and glanced at Akira who was on a chair next to the bed.
“She’s the same as before,” Akira replied quietly. “Though, she does seem to be having a dream or something. She’s been turning a bit.”
“I see. Um, it’s getting late,” Erica whispered, turning her head away. “We should be heading to bed.”
“You’re right.” Akira let out a sigh before continuing. “Zoe did say that all she needs is rest. She’ll be fine.”
“She’ll be fine,” Erica smiled.
“Then, we should sleep. Are you going to go to your room right now?”
“I was, but…”
“But?”
“I’m worried,” Erica said. “I don’t know, but I don’t want to be separated from her right now. She scared me for a bit.”
“I understand. There’s plenty of room here if you want to sleep here. I don’t mind and I’m sure Yuki won’t either. If anything, you could sleep in here anytime you want.”
“Thanks. I’ll see. I’ll stay in here for now first. You can sleep.”
“Alright.”
Akira touched Erica’s arm lightly before walking to the other side of the bed. She slipped inside quietly, and pulled the blanket over her. Erica moved down from her seat on the bed and took the chair that Akira was on.
‘Yuki,’ she thought, a sigh escaping her.
She stared at the face of the person who she had been living with for months now. The face of the person who had helped her in her times of need. When she was hungry, poor, or captured, she was there.
‘But what have I done for you? I haven’t repaid you for what you’ve given me.’
It felt like all she ever did was watch from the sidelines. Every mission. Every task. She stood there as Yuki and Akira went to work. Those rare times that she was asked to help felt more like pity then it did a request. Almost as if she was asked to do something to make her feel better.
‘I want to help you.’
But she was weak. She knew that for years. Compared to those she was around, she was the weakest. She never fought. Only hid behind them.
‘And if you fall, what am I supposed to do?’ she asked. ‘Run? Hide? Surrender? I can’t do that.’
Erica stood.
‘I want to help, Yuki. I want to help you. Just like how you’ve helped me. I can’t hide anymore.’
She slipped out of the room, slowly shutting the door behind her. Then she walked out to the back of the apartment where her hand went to her pocket and she took out an earpiece.
“Call Vii,” she said as she placed it in her ear.
A ring rang out from the piece and Vii picked it up immediately.
“Hey~,” she said. “What’re you doing right now? It’s pretty late you know.”
“Vii, can we meet?”
“Ah, oh,” she replied. Her voice became quieter. “Right now?”
“If you can. Where are you right now?”
“I’m at the base but I can go meet you. You’re at the apartment, right?”
“Let’s meet at Fenrir Park,” Erica said. “I want to talk about something.”
“Okay. I’ll be there within a few minutes.” Vii disconnected and the earpiece went silent.
Erica took out of her ear and placed back in her pocket. She went back inside the house and peeked into Yuki’s room. She was still asleep, her face calm. Erica felt no surging emotions coming from her. Satisfied, she closed the door and headed out.
She walked to the park, the trip taking only a couple of minutes. There she sat in the courtyard as she waited for Vii to come. The soft sound of the splashing water behind her from the fountain accompanied her as she waited. Another couple minutes and she saw Vii walking to her, waving. Her fox ears wobbled a little as she jogged toward Erica.
“Erica, hey,” she smiled. “What was it you wanted to talk about?”
“Hey, Vii,” she replied, giving her a small smile in return. “I’m sorry for calling you out so late.”
“It’s fine. I’m the one that decided to come out. Can I sit?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
Vii sat on the metal bench with Erica and stared at the floating lights that illuminated the brick path of the park. They were silent for a few moments as they watched the scenes around them.
“I called you because I needed to talk to someone that knew more about my past,” Erica said quietly. “It’s about Yuki.”
“Did something happen to him?” Vii asked.
“No, she’s fine. For the most part,” Erica replied. “She’s recently had some troubles with her emotions. According to Zoe, any strong emotions could damage her mental health right now.”
“That doesn’t sound fine.”
“She also said that a few days rest should fix it.”
“Oh, that’s better.”
“But the reason why I called was because I was asked to help Yuki. To monitor her and protect her.”
“That’s great,” Vii smiled. “I’m sure you’ll do a wonderful job.”
“I don’t know how,” Erica said. She turned and looked at Vii right in the eyes. “I can’t protect her. I can only watch her as I am now.”
“I’m sure you can do,” Vii said, placing a hand on Erica’s arm. “You’re perceptive of emotions. You can help monitor him in case things start to go bad.”
“Yeah, I can do that. But I can’t protect her. I can tell others to help her but I can’t do anything.”
Vii stayed silent.
“And, Vii. Yuki almost died,” Erica continued, her voice cracking. “When she came back after the fight, she looked physically okay but her life signs were almost gone.”
Vii pulled her in and gave her a hug.
“I felt so powerless. Yuki saved me but I couldn’t do a thing to even help her,” Erica whispered.
“So what are you planning to do?” Vii whispered back.
“I can’t stay like this.” Erica gently pushed Vii away. “I can’t hide. I need strength. So I can stand with Yuki and support her. Especially now when she’s vulnerable. I want to repay her.”
“Then…,” Vii said as her eyes widened.
“You know that oath I made years back? I’ve finally found someone who I’m willing to die for.”
“Are you sure? Have you gotten over their deaths? Your actions?”
“I never will,” she laughed darkly. “Everyday I pray. I beg. I cry. But I never expect them to forgive me or for me to forgive myself. But this is different. With this, maybe I can redeem myself. And protect what I have now.”
“I see.”
Erica held out her arm and turned it, exposing her wrist. A tattoo was drawn on it, an elegant piece of work that swirled around.
“Can you?” she asked.
“You won’t regret this later, will you?” Vii asked, her eyes sharp.
“I won’t. And I’ll never.”
Vii nodded and grabbed her wrist. Her hand warmed as she began to chant softly under her breath. The tattoo glowed and began to rise slowly into the air, the mark cleaning lifting off of Erica’s skin.
“Release,” Vii breathed.
The hovering mark shined and dissipated into particles that floated away, leaving Erica’s wrist unblemished. She gasped as mana rushed through her, filling her rapidly as it went through the old pathways that she had forgotten. She stood from the bench, staggering as her mind grew sharper and her body warmed.
As she stood, a ghostly aura surrounded her, a sea of violet. It swirled and twirled around as it grew tighter and tighter until it exploded out with a brilliant flash, illuminating the courtyard. And where Erica was stood a graceful alluring being, her skin fair and her dark hair flowing. She seemed to have grown, her clothes a bit stretched as it hugged her curves tightly. She spread her wings, jet black and dragonlike. Horns curled elegantly out of her head, curving back towards it.
She held out her hand and a spear formed in the air which she grasped firmly. Lightning crackled as it ran about the spear, licking the air around it. She turned and went to the fountain. Her glowing violet eyes greeted her as she stared at her reflection. Then she looked at the spear in her hand.
“It’s been a while,” Erica said.
“It worked,” Vii said. “You really did find someone you would die for.”
“I wasn’t sure before, but the last couple of days has shown me everything I needed to see.”
“Welcome back,” Vii said to her.
“Don’t greet me just yet. Let’s see what happens first before we do that,” Erica smiled. “Thank you, Vii.”
“I kind of missed this you,” she smiled back. “You look stunning.”
Erica twirled her spear with a practiced hand and lightning jumped out from it, striking the ground as she slammed it down.
“I guess you can say that,” Erica laughed.
