The woman, in all her golden brilliance stood over her in silence. She said nothing, merely looked at her as if she was observing a small animal.

  Yuzuriha was also silent for a while until she couldn’t take it, as it was starting to become awkward. She tried to say something, but then realized how pointless it would be since sound didn’t travel in this place.

  Also she couldn’t move her body anyways, so she was at the mercy of this strange golden woman.

  ‘I…who are—’

  As if responding to her thoughts, the woman got closer to her then raised both arms with unhurried grace. Her warm, soft hands came to rest against Yuzuriha’s delicate cheeks. She gasped internally.

  The reason for that was because her touch was strangely familiar, though she couldn’t recall why. And that giggle made it all the more worse.

  It was delicate, delighted, and almost childlike, yet wrapped in something motherly. Its radiance seeped through Yuzuriha’s skin and threatened to undo her entirely.

  ‘Could she be…an angel?’

  In the presence of this golden woman, her defenses were non-existent and the dread, panic she felt earlier had completely dissipated. For a moment, for a dangerous moment, she wanted to lean into it, she wanted to rest, she wanted to just let it take over her.

  It felt warm. It felt safe. Why did it feel safe?

  ‘No! It’s wrong. This is wrong. I shouldn’t…I can’t…Get away from me!’

  Yuzuriha attempted to push the woman away once she realized that according to Japanese myth, spiritual death beings known as shinigami could take on beautiful or appealing forms to tempt or trick their targets into giving up their lives.

  In some instances, a shinigami might appear as a beautiful woman to lure a lonely man to a cliff’s edge, where he falls to his death.

  It might appear as a lost child to lure a compassionate person into a trap. Such was the case with what Yuzuriha was dealing with right now.

  ‘Get away, you wench! I’m not passing on that easily!’

  As hard as she tried, her cries didn’t seem to have an effect on her. She continued to caress Yuzuriha’s cheeks with motherly love as she continued to giggle.

  Soon enough, the space around her was filled with overlapping noises, voices stacked over voices, speaking languages she didn’t understand. They were getting louder by the instance and the space seemed to distort.

  Yuzuriha wanted to grit her teeth at the pressure but she couldn’t. She wanted to cover her ears to escape from the weight of them pressing down on her skull, but she couldn’t manage that either.

  She was forced to endure all of it.

  That was until one line tore itself from the mess.

  “Wake up, Miss Drapes. We are almost there”

  Her world snapped back to reality, she opened her eyes and came into view with her usual astris perception, the familiar lattice of flowing energy surrounding her like a net.

  She was no longer inside the chamber of the weapon’s shop, but rather, the pleasant streets of Fens.

  With that came the very real and very bizarre sensation of being carried, piggyback style just like Leo carried her the first time.

  When she tilted her head slightly, her sight painted the picture clearly. It was broad shoulders beneath her arms, a gait too steady to mistake. She was riding on Arthur’s back.

  ‘What? What the hell? I’m still alive?!’

  The moment the realization hit, any semblance of drowsiness was obliterated by panic. She shoved her fists against his shoulders, writhing her legs in an attempt to break free.

  “Let me go!”

  Yuzuriha screamed so loudly it caught the attention of people passing by. Arthur seemed to be confused, he turned his head back a little just enough for his voice to carry over his shoulder.

  “What’s the problem now? Stop wriggling, you’ll fall!”

  He shifted his hold on her to ensure she didn’t fall onto the cold, unforgiving concrete. He didn’t release her though.

  “Don’t touch me! Let me go right now! You…you were going to kill me!”

  Arthur halted his steps.

  “What?”

  “I know it! Don’t you dare deny it. You wanted me dead but I…but I survived. I’m still here you snake! You fiend!”

  Now there was a gathering. A few townsfolk had gathered around the duo causing a scene. Whispers spread among them as an older woman shook her head with a heavy sigh.

  “Poor lass”

  “Abducted in broad daylight, I tell you. Thugs are shameless”

  “Monster in human skin, that one. It's always the handsome ones”

  “She said kill…”

  “Oi, young man! Put the lass down!”

  Grunted a shopkeeper.

  Arthur, utterly confused, tried to reason with the gossiping crowd but it was pointless. Their whispers only grew louder. It was only a matter of time before they attracted real trouble, and so, he turned to the flailing blind girl.

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  “Miss Drapes, I don’t understand why you are behaving in such a fashion, but you’re making this worse for both of us”

  Yuzuriha knew what she was doing was pointless and could potentially land her in greater danger. However, she didn’t care. Logic had no place when fear had already rooted itself into her mind.

  “Put me down then! I’ll happily go back to my sister alone—!”

  “Oi! Hey, you there!”

  Her panic suddenly ceased when a new voice introduced itself. The crowd parted very dramatically, or at least that’s how it seemed.

  From there, a figure no older than 15 years old strode forward. He was dressed in a patched frock coat two sizes too big for him, carrying a wooden walking stick like a sword.

  The strange young man raised a finger to the sky then lowered it toward Arthur. The way he gestured around a lot, Yuzuriha could imagine the glowing portrait of self righteousness on his facial expression.

  “I am Elias Darren! Protector of the meek, foe of darkness, and a future bishop of the Sunclad in the Church of the Cruel Sun! You, villain. Unhand that maiden at once!”

  ***

  “For too long, this small village has turned a blind eye to injustice! But no longer! Just like the teachings of Lady Uriel and my great grandfather, Saint Vicar Darren, I—Elias Darren, shall bring forth justice!”

  He introduced himself again in the most obnoxious way possible. He had both Arthur and Yuzuriha blinking in confusion.

  The crowd however, didn’t seem all that surprised at his antics. If anything, they seemed more disappointed in him than what was happening.

  “Elias, get back here. You’ll get yourself hurt!”

  An older man called out.

  “Grandma Opal’s going to box your ears if you get your clothes torn again”

  Another added, it was a young woman this time. A small child clung onto her skirt.

  As much as they pleaded with him to get back, their concerns fell on deaf ears. Elias wasn’t going to back down, he firmly stood his ground and thrusted his stick sword forward, nearly smacking a bystander in the nose.

  “Unhand her, brigand, or face righteous punishment!”

  He put on quite the display of heroism, however, Yuzuriha could see what others could not. Though his voice was bold and his stance was proud, his astris trembled like a cornered small animal. A rabbit would fit the description.

  That’s right, his very core screamed with fear. It must have taken everything he had just to stand there.

  ‘Who is this guy? Is he serious?’

  Her heart sank a little. This boy was stepping into something he wasn’t ready for at all. She doubted he could even back up his bold proclamations.

  Meanwhile, Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose

  “Stars Above, how did I end up in this?”

  He shook his head then stared at the young man.

  “Look kid, this is not what it looks like. It’s all a misunderstanding”

  Like the villager’s words, Arthur’s also fell on deaf ears. Elias puffed his chest even more.

  “A likely story! Prepare yourself. This is the moment where I make my debut! I will stop you, and save her, and then the Church will have no choice but to accept me into their ranks!”

  “You’re a fool, no church will–”

  Arthur said flatly immediately after.

  “I am a hero!”

  It seemed as though these two were going to start having a back and forth. Before she could interfere, Arthur tilted his head back toward her.

  “Miss Drapes, Hold on tight”

  “Eh, wait, what?”

  In an instant, her world of colors became blurry. She saw his body pulling lines of force through the air, rippling with power with every step he took.

  The two of them had vanished like smoke between the lines of the villagers, leaving them in gasps, swishing skirts and flying hats.

  “...Wait! Come back! That was my moment!...O-oh Stars, my legs..”

  Once he realized what just happened, Elias tried to chase after them, but his knees buckled down, leaving his ‘debut’ ending in the dirt.

  Arthur didn’t run for long, once he was certain that he had lost the prying eyes of the villagers, his speed gradually lessened.

  They walked for a while in silence, by then, Yuzuriha had already stopped struggling. Her fists were tucked against his shoulders as she tried not to think about the dozens of gawking faces they had left behind.

  She couldn’t see their facial expressions but imagining them was making her feel bad.

  Shame burned hotter than fear more than ever.

  ‘I made a complete fool of myself…and him. What in the world was I even thinking?’

  She bit her lip, looking at the broad shoulders of Arthur. He hadn’t said anything since. He must have been angry, after that display, who wouldn’t?

  Mustering up courage to force out an apology, she opened her mouth and softly said.

  “Mr Ainsbury, I…”

  “My Sealed Technique, [Resonance]. I believe I owe you an explanation”

  The gentleman interrupted her before she could, and she blinked at his words.

  “Your…what?”

  He continued.

  “It is derived from a rather peculiar Inscription. It allows me to manipulate vibrations. Everything vibrates, after all. Steel, glass, air, even the cords in one’s throat. By weaving those vibrations together I can form constructs that slice through steel.

  That is how I disabled you earlier as well. Not with a strike of the hand, but with a bit of temperament in the air”

  “Oh…”

  So, that’s what happened. What she experienced truly was a dream. That golden woman , what was she then?

  “The Condition for it, though. Is inferiority, I cannot employ it unless I acknowledge someone else as my better. To admit such to a blind girl who only just picked up the sword…wounded my pride. Perhaps it might be the doing of the Sacrament, but truth be told…”

  He chuckled lightly, then exhaled a breath.

  “You are a genius, Miss Drapes”

  Yuzuriha’s heart skipped a beat, utterly stunned. She was at a loss for words. Noticing that, Arthur went on.

  “Do not expect others to share such matters so openly. Tansy, the poor woman, is too much of an airhead to realize she cannot reveal her Condition so casually. Most will guard theirs closely. That is often the one advantage low level Ascendants like us have”

  “...Then why tell me?”

  It took a bit of hesitation for the gentleman to answer her question.

  “So that you may trust me”

  Those words sank into her like a pebble dropped in deep water, sending ripples across her heart. She didn’t know what to say. Her throat tightened, and no suitable words came to mind.

  After a short pause, she laid her head against his back, burying her blushing face in his comfort.

  “...Sorry”

  She mumbled, her words muffled by the fabric of his coat.

  “I’m sorry for all of it. For…being a mess. For yelling and calling you names. I’m sorry. I’ve been through so much these past few days. I can’t tell what’s real anymore. I don’t even know who I am, or….. what I am. I mean I do, but at the same time I don’t. It’s maddening…”

  For the first time since reincarnating into this world, she allowed herself to be vulnerable and Arthur did not ostracise her for it. He did not interrupt her, the steady pace he walked in gave her the right space to let it all spill.

  Upon realization of this, Yuzuriha sighed and said in a heavy tone.

  “Sorry. I shouldn’t bother you with my problems”

  They would only complicate their relationship, saying that much to him was a mistake to begin with…

  “Nonsense. It is only proper for a lady to lean upon another when troubled. Better to share the weight than drown beneath it”

  Arthur said with such firmness and comfort, her lips quivered, almost forming a smile. And that’s when her blush deepened against her will. Now she truly did not know what to say, only hiding her face in hate of how flustered she felt.

  “That said, Miss Drapes. You are quite mature for your tender age. It’s—”

  “WAAAAAAIIIITTTTTTT!”

  And just like that, whatever semblance of peace they had immediately shattered as they both turned their heads back.

  There, staggering down the street with his patched frock coat flapping behind him and his wooden stick dragged across the cobblestone, was Elias Darren.

  He seemed exhausted. His chest was heaving a lot, he had one hand clutching his side and he could barely stand on his feet.

  “You! You…cowardly knave!”

  Elias stabbed his stick at Arthur like a lance.

  “Running away before…before my heroic justice! That…that was my...moment!”

  The way he was so exhausted he even struggled to line his words right. Before they knew it, his knees gave away again and he collapsed face first into the dirt with a groan. Passed out.

  “Persistent little fool”

  “Pfftt hahaha…”

  Yuzuriha couldn’t help it. She tried to cover her mouth but she let out a loud laugh, the first real laugh she’d had in days.

  And in that laugh. She began to feel lighter, more free in a sense. She thought of her name, of who she was then, who she was now and of all the doubts gnawing inside her. For now…for now, perhaps she could be just this.

  ‘Yor Drapes, was it?’