Yami no Aite (闇の相手) The One Who Stands With Darkness

Once afternoon arrived, the Crisis Marshall surveyed seven carriages, each laden with resources. These would transport the 35-person reinforcement team, including himself, to Aurea Reach.

As he awaited confirmation from the Daughters of the Ash, he noted one Sister had already joined the troops. 

He ran through his checklist: a royal squadron, ten foot soldiers, four earth wielders, six construction workers, eight male nurses, two female nurses, and a single male and female physician. All present and accounted for. 

Noticing the distinguished Dr. Chase Ashriel among the reinforcements, the Marshall couldn't help but initiate conversation.

"We are honored by your participation in this expedition, Your Highness," he greeted, placing his right hand over his chest and bowing his head low.

"Please, save me the formalities," Chase advised gracefully. Despite his Ashriel lineage, he found the title "Highness" far too grand for himself. "Kindly address me as you would any other physician."

The Crisis Marshall understood, yet curiosity gnawed at him. "Pardon me, Your Grace, but why were you sent instead of your female or other male counterparts?" he ventured.

Chase offered a gentle smile, explaining another urgency unfolding within the palace grounds. 

"A new Defender, or perhaps a new Daughter of the Ash, has just been born. We received news that the Infinite Hourglass produced yet another glimmering diamond three days ago. The Defenders and Daughters, along with the majority of the head female physicians, have been dispatched to locate the divine offspring."

With a nod, the Crisis Marshall understood. 

He directed Chase to a more suitable carriage with a lighter load. "Please pardon us for not securing a more appropriate transport," he apologized.

Chase smiled reassuringly. 

"This is perfectly fine. I've undertaken multiple expeditions with far less; please be at ease." He raised a hand in a calming gesture.

By dusk, all carriages had set off, heading west towards the devastated lands of Aurea Reach.

— — — 

That same evening at Aurea Reach, Kanan rested on one of the provided beds within the makeshift tents. He was utterly spent after a day of damage mitigation with the remaining foot soldiers. 

He couldn't believe he'd already spent two whole days here, and still no reinforcements had arrived. He wondered just how slow their mode of transport was in these parts, or perhaps how sluggish the capital's response truly was. 

Hmm. Maybe they don't encounter earthquakes as much, he mused. 

He hadn't realized Azarette still had such outdated valleys within its borders, completely devoid of conveyance gates. 

Heck, even a faster transport like the volt carriages would have surely reached this country by now. But I was mistaken.

He recalled learning about Volt carriages, a century-old technological marvel from Ugarta, harnessed the populace's numerous Volt wielders to power their engines. Such a system was later adopted and enforced by Enmaat's leaders. 

Am I in the boondocks or what? Heh. Maybe I am, he thought, letting out an exasperated sigh.

— — — 

As Kanon rushed towards her brother, pinned against the bunker wall, Idris calmly walked towards Sena's trembling body slumped on the floor. "Sena, it's okay now. You did well," he offered a steady hand to help her rise. 

With a subtle wave of his hand, the very roots that had held Kishi now stretched forward, weaving into a makeshift gurney that gently lowered him to the ground. 

Kanon immediately hovered over her brother, checking his pulse with frantic fingers.

Idris tilted his chin towards the siblings. 

"He's okay, Kanon. He just passed out from the shock and the impact. I'll submerge him in a recovery bath shortly," he assured his concerned student, his voice a soothing calm.

Sena peered at Kishi, worry etched across her face. She couldn't fully grasp the chaos that had just unfolded. Her gaze drifted to her hands, as if to find fault in them for the event that had transpired.

Idris stepped over to Kanon, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "Kanon, why don't you and Sena head home? I'll carry Kishi there."

Kanon looked up at her teacher, then quickly turned her gaze back at her brother, the worry now visibly lifting from her features. 

"This is what you get for being so arrogant, you twerp!" she muttered, flinching as she playfully flicked her brother's unconscious forehead. She rose, then marched over to Sena, urging her to return with her.

Back at Idris's house, he carefully laid Kishi down on one of the couches. Then, with a practiced ease, he moved to the washroom to prepare a recovery bath that was nothing short of miraculous. 

He drew sulfuric water, warmed precisely to a soothing, muscle-melting temperature, and then commanded the very essence of the earth to release its golden tears: a generous amount of candelilla wax. 

As the wax floated and melted into the steaming water, he introduced a dollop of shea butter, not just for its rich emollient touch, but for a subtle, earthy fragrance that promised comfort. 

This unique blend was designed to swiftly ease every knot of muscle pain and banish the bruising Kishi had inevitably acquired throughout the day's rigorous training course.

Sena and Kanon settled onto the balcony, the evening air gentle on their skin, waiting in quiet anticipation for their own turn to experience Idris's remarkable recovery bath.

"Ms. Yukari, were you scared earlier? I sure was scared for you," Kanon said, leaning slightly on the balcony's railing. "But then I blinked, and my brother was already at the wall. Maybe I should have worried for him instead, hehe," she chuckled softly, though a thought lingered: she could have been a better sister if she'd been watching his back.

"I'm sorry, Kanon, I didn't mean to hurt him. I just didn't want to get hurt myself," Sena sighed, trying to comfort Kanon, yet still struggling to comprehend how she'd thrown Kishi with such force.

"That's okay. It's not like he's a frail boy, anyway. I just haven't seen him unconscious before," Kanon replied. "He's been training with Mr. Noorgareth for two years now, but I know Sir Ashriel's training with him since he was ten was far more intense." 

She gazed at the skyline, deep in thought. Her brother wasn't easily defeated; she worried about the sheer force it took to render him unconscious so quickly, especially in his true form.

"Sir Ashriel? Do you mean Doctor Chase Ashriel?" Sena inquired, scratching her temple.

"Oh, no… Uhm, there was an old sparring instructor here before. I was still in the conservatory at the time, so I don't know much about him," Kanon explained. 

"But he, too, bore the Ashriel bloodline, so I understand how it's confusing, hehe." She tried to brighten her mood, but couldn't help but look further into the moonlit horizon, lost in remembrance.

"How about you, Kanon? How long have you been training with Idris?" Sena asked, her interest piqued. She wanted to get to know the girl better.

Kanon looked up and tilted her head, a thoughtful hum escaping her lips. "Hmmm, almost two years now. Mr. Noorgareth was recommended to me by Kishi, so here I am!" She beamed a bright smile at Sena, a small shrug accompanying her words.

"Is that a normal thing to do here in Azarette?" Sena inquired.

"Oh, yeah! Absolutely!" Kanon affirmed with an energetic nod. 

"We're from Ophiyllion, but it's totally normal to be an exchange student, especially if you have abilities and divinity you want to enhance. Azarette, Enmaat, or Kaelshara would be your top choices. Our country doesn't really focus on ability enhancement, so we either find a foreign tutor or just travel across borders to get that training ourselves." 

Kanon gestured with her hands, making little arcs in the air as if charting a journey. "It's super convenient too, since Mr. Noorgareth lives right by the border of Azarette and Ophiyllion. So, my brother and I don't have too many problems crossing countries."

A sparkle entered Kanon's eyes as she leaned slightly closer. 

"I would've loved to study in Ugarta, though! I hear they have such amazing advancements there. Maybe after my course is finished here, I might beg my parents to let me travel there. My mother actually studied in Ugarta, you see!" she added, a touch of wistfulness in her voice. 

"Besides, even if we are noble children, we're more like... lesser nobles, so we couldn't really afford to send a tutor to us, hehe." She gave a quick, almost embarrassed little laugh, as if admitting they were the "poorest" among nobility.

"Maybe Ms. Yukari, you too were an exchange student… until you lost your memory, that is…" Kanon's voice softened, and she reached out, gently patting Sena's arm. 

"Maybe your parents or family might be expecting you to return after some years, and they would welcome you with such joy and glee, so proud of your accomplishments. I'd like to think that for you. I know my parents would be just as proud of me and my brother if we traveled across nations to gain and develop." She smiled widely, her gaze full of genuine warmth for Sena.

Sena felt a sharp pang of pain in her chest, a familiar ache. 

The thought of being welcomed or deeply missed by a family was a yearning, a beautiful fantasy she wished could be hers. 

But she had none. 

No family to come from. 

No family to return to. 

No historical dignity. 

Nothing. 

She swallowed the ache in her throat and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, trying to look unbothered. She forced a fragile, half-smile, struggling to hide the profound sadness that had just washed over her.

For a moment, a brilliant idea dawned upon Kanon, making her eyes sparkle in the moonlit night. 

"Hey, Ms. Yukari, wanna sneak out and swim in the lake out back? Mr. Noorgareth is sure to take his time washing my unconscious brother!" she proposed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. 

"Wouldn't it be fun to wash the grime off our backs there instead of waiting here doing nothing?" she urged. 

Sena's solemn expression slowly brightened, but she flinched, imagining Idris scolding them. Yet, she instantly shrugged off the fear; they were perfectly capable of doing whatever they wanted in their free time. 

She nodded in excitement.

"That sounds so fun! But how are we supposed to sneak out?" Sena asked, a flurry of scenarios about avoiding Idris and his questions running through her head.

"Ahaha! That's easy! We can just jump off here and make a run for it! Come on! I'll show you!" No sooner had Kanon spoken than she swiftly hopped onto the balcony's railing and launched herself gracefully backward, landing with barely a sound on the ground below.

Sena was both in awe and shock. 

She couldn't for the life of her imagine executing such a move. 

Panicking slightly, she fanned her face with her hands, pacing briskly back and forth the short balcony, contemplating how she was supposed to jump off or land with any grace.

"Kanon!" she tried to whisper, her voice raspy. 

"I can't do that!" She scrunched her face, her mouth forming a grimace. 

She kept fanning her face as she debated whether to simply take the stairs and walk out the front door, risking bumping into Idris and being bombarded with questions, or perhaps even enclosed again by his barriers.

Kanon waved her hand, gesturing for Sena to come down. "You can do it! Just believe in your legs. You're very strong, Ms. Yukari! Just try it!" she urged, a wide, excited grin plastered on her face.

Looking down at Kanon, Sena tippy-toed keenly, her hands held tightly to the railing, gripping for support. She then pushed her feet together, bent her legs and in one swift motion, she launched herself off the balcony, legs extended into the night air like a parkour enthusiast.

And in a split second, her feet touched the ground with unexpected ease and comfort. 

But then, gravity asserted its pull, causing her legs to give way. 

She stumbled, tumbling onto her feet and accidentally shoving Kanon to the side. Both girls collapsed into a heap, snickering.

"Let's go, Ms. Yukari! Keep up!" And with that, Kanon led the way, bounding forward with long, finessed strides like a gazelle. 

Sena went running after her.

Sena watched, mesmerized by Kanon's majestic movements. The girl jumped and twirled with unrestrained glee, darting forward excitedly and hurriedly. 

Sena marveled at Kanon's boundless stamina; after a rigorous day of training, she still pranced around with such energy, sneaking towards the nearby lake. She quietly assessed her own stamina and stability. 

She felt a growing comfort and familiarity within these woods, the same ones she and Idris had explored just yesterday while finding truffles. 

Seeing Kanon navigate the terrain as if knowing every twist and turn by heart clearly showed how much time she'd spent in these parts.

Not long after, and with far less effort than she'd anticipated, Sena was greeted by an almost familiar clearing opening onto a small, circular, clear lake. 

The moon, a radiant pearl, cast its shimmering reflection across the water's surface, while fireflies flickered and danced like scattered jewels in the soft night air. The surrounding trees and their leaves swayed gently, enhancing the already entrancing ambiance of the scene.

Sena took a deep breath; not a single bead of sweat formed on her forehead.

"We camp out here a lot, Ms. Yukari! We should suggest it to Mr. Noorgareth and Kishi tomorrow. It'll be fun!" Kanon quipped, her voice brimming with gleeful anticipation.

Sena nodded in agreement.

She eased back onto the soft patch of grass directly in front of the lake, which resembled a pristine, moonlit pool. 

Her legs stretched out before her, and she propped herself up on her arms, leaning back in a posture of relaxed contentment. 

She took a moment to fully appreciate the serene beauty of this part of forest, feeling a deep sense of ease as a soft smile lingered on her lips.

Watching Kanon excitedly strip down her training attire, leaving only her undergarments, highlighted the girl's defined physique. Her arms and legs showcased the fine curves of someone dedicated to training, a body that had clearly gained strength and form. Petite and slender, yet undeniably strong, she did not look fragile at all. 

Sena looked at Kanon with adoring eyes. 

Recalling her own self-imposed training in Silvershroud forest, she wondered if her own limbs had gained a better form compared to the day she'd first woken up beside the river.

Kanon then darted back to the edge of the clearing, thrusting herself forward into a swift cartwheel that seamlessly transitioned into a powerful lunge towards the water's calm surface. 

She submerged herself completely for a moment, then reemerged with gleeful eyes, floating serenely on the water's surface as she stared up at the night sky. 

Sena chuckled to herself, gathering the courage to be bold, just as Kanon had shown her. She glanced subtly from left to right, as if checking for any lurking presence beyond the thicket. 

Exhaling a sigh of relief while scrunching her face to quell any embarrassment, she finally raised her off-white gypsy top, unlaced her black, below-the-knee boots, and finally shed her juniper green cargo pants.

She felt exposed, yet at the same time, liberated. 

She wanted to trust Kanon's unrestricted confidence and unyielding will. 

She wanted to trust Idris's assurance that he knew anything and everything that grew within the bounds of his abode. 

She wanted to embrace the forest she now stood in, to allow herself to be unapologetically free from the unintentional restraints she had bound herself in.

Left with nothing but her undergarments, she dipped her toes into the lake, testing the calm water's surface. 

Then, slowly, she waded in, submerging her entire being. She felt the slight chill of the water deep within her bones, as if being baptized for the first time by the forest's unyielding acceptance and rejuvenation.

She then slowly stretched her arms forward, pushing and pulling through the water with a gentle, rhythmic stroke. 

Just a short distance from where Kanon stayed afloat, Sena looked up at the moon, relaxing her body to float as well. 

They now floated, bodies outstretched, facing away from each other so that their heads lay almost side-by-side, close enough for a whispered thought to carry. 

Above them, the velvet expanse of the night sky blazed with a million stars, each distant point of light shimmering in the inky black. 

Both girls simply lay there, suspended between the cool water and the vast cosmic tapestry, appreciating the breathtaking beauty above.