[center][url=https://postimg.cc/jnhLP7k4][img]https://i.postimg.cc/fyGm47cp/Shuukos-Banner.png[/img][/url][/center] The beatings continued to rain as though they were painless hailstones and yet, they still broke bones. Like the fists and feet of so-called gods, they inflicted wounds in places one could not see. Hidden from the naked eye, they would then fester until someone came along to prod them with innocent intentions. Or perhaps in the case of Michi, malicious ones. It was inevitable. People would always rip open the wounds of an injured fawn. Their smiles would become wider. And they would never stop clawing at it until its blood ran dry. No castle could stand forever. No mirror could remain intact forever. The besieging army would eventually ram through the portcullis, then head straight towards the tower, in which lord, lady and their precious children lived. Knights would draw their swords, then replace the banner above the keep with one writ in blood. It was inevitable from the very first day of the fortress’ inception. This was merely a bundle of rocks. A damaged piece of glass hiding cracked silver where myriad reflections collided. And yet… It held out for long enough in the face of adversity. Because in the end, Haruna came. She was a true friend that cast the whole world into familiar darkness and pained, agonising rest. Hotaru’s voice cut through it. [color=#D8CD9F]”I couldn’t even touch her.”[/color] In the mental space of Takae Shuuko, the warrior sported bruises. Not the all-encompassing ones which caused Sylvia’s breath to be shallow, which rendered her skin pale and painted her skin with all-too-familiar fractures. [color=#D8CD9F]”She’s… She’s….!”[/color] A hiccup cut her off. For once, Hotaru could not finish her sentence, nor carry on with zeal. [color=red]”She is the best friend that one could ever extend their hand towards,”[/color] finished Ember for her, speaking between two shallow breaths. Hotaru whirled at her, all but ready to unleash hell on the schemer for not helping them this time, only to be met with a visage barely more suited for life than that of the protector. The only difference between them was that Ember did not have cracks on her very being. [color=red]”I refuse to condemn you, or to engage you with words, Hotaru-san.”[/color] A gasp. Ember’s voice remained level. [color=red]”So please remember this well and know what happens if you do not let the voices of others reach you. It is not only you who are suffering, Hotaru-san. And there are far more things in the world than a grudge against those who have driven their wicked knives into our body.”[/color] Ember knelt down beside Sylvia and took the protector’s hand into her own. A pained smile showed on her face, despite her soul demanding that she vomit up blood and bile. She remained strong. Tall. Like the eldest was supposed to be. [color=#D8CD9F]”You look like absolute shit.”[/color] [color=red]”Have you ever taken the time to turn your eyes towards yourself, Hotaru-san?”[/color] Ember started to carefully remove Sylvia’s garments, trying to soothe the injuries with her hands. [color=red]”It just so happens that it helps tremendously with what you wish to accomplish.”[/color] [color=#D8CD9F]”If you’ve never taken the side of that girl-”[/color] Hotaru all but growled her words, like a caged animal. [color=red]”Then we have not a single clue as to what would have happened.”[/color] The schemer responded with her usual, calm clarity. [color=red]”I reiterate the same lesson as I have tried to teach you before this all happened. This is your fault, your mistake as well. I have already admitted where I fall short. Have you?”[/color] The warrior snarled in response, but averted her head from the scene. Her fists drove into the non-existent ground, shattering it into non-existent spiderwebs. [color=#D8CD9F]”Why? Why did she hurt her?”[/color] [color=red]”Because that girl could see everything we tried to keep hidden.”[/color] The schemer did not speak lightly. Her voice trembled while red tendrils reached out towards Sylvia, trying to see if they could find anything. [color=red]”Or more than enough to know what to rummage through. We could have mitigated the damage if we stuck together.”[/color] A sigh. [color=red]”Hotaru-san. This is solely my cross to bear. When you have chosen to hurt Sylvia, you have forsaken her. Be aware that if you want to take revenge on Michi, then I can not stop you now. But I will not help you either. Because Sylvia is…”[/color] [color=red]”She is precious to me.”[/color] Hotaru swore she could hear her own heartbeat thunder in her ears. [color=red]”So I ask once again: Is she really precious to you?”[/color] [hr] On the outside, Takae Shuuko’s body seemed calm. Her eyes remained close, as though she was at rest, though an observant individual could notice the rapid movement of her eyes beneath closed lids. It was almost as though she were looking for something, frantically, desperately. She did not react even when the window shattered into pieces, nor when Tsubomi’s body reached out towards Michi. But it only took a couple more seconds for yellow eyes to open up and regard the room around them. [color=#D8CD9F]”You… you…”[/color] Hotaru struggled with words as much as she struggled with her body. It felt as though dozens upon dozens of needles had been driven into her, scrambling all of her nerves and without Ember helping her, she could not reach out to a more intact clone. [color=#D8CD9F]”You’re pathetic.”[/color] She stood up, knocking down her chair. [color=#D8CD9F]”You attacked us at our weakest.”[/color] A sneer appeared on her face. Her teeth ground. [color=#D8CD9F]”You hurt the weakest!”[/color] She roared. Like a lumbering, wounded giant, she stumbled towards Michi. [color=#D8CD9F]”Reverse it. Now.”[/color] The warrior bore the physical pain well. Yet when hands grasped for her heart, when poison seeped into her veins, her voice cracked. She had intended to shout at Michi, to rip her limb from limb and yet she ended up sounding as though she begged the cause of Sylvia’s pain to end it. Like a prisoner pleading for mercy. She felt like she was going to be sick.