The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. As the sunbeam landed on the sheet of the bed, it illuminated a tangle of long chestnut hair.
On the nightstand, a faint pulse showed the Slate's screen, displayed an already on read message from mother.
The figure slowly stirred, her eyelids opening slightly and revealing its silver orbs. Kara closes her eyes again, the Slate's persistent hum syncing with her headache, yet she feels herself unable to go back to sleep.
With a resigned sigh, she sat up, stretching lazily. The blankets slipped down, revealing a wrap bandage around her left arm and shoulder. She felt a dull ache tugging at her muscles as she moved.
"Are you awake, Young Miss?" a voice announced from the doorway.
Kara looked up, her posture still sluggish. She yawned, swiping a hand through the air to mute the Slate's notifications.
"Is that you, Skye?" she said in a low voice.
"Yes, it's me." The figure smiled and casually entered the room to move back the curtains, letting sunlight flood the room.
The brunette groaned as it momentarily blinded her, she felt the rays on her bandage cheeks, stinging her a little.
"What are you wearing? It's still early to be... wait.. is that a new wig?"
"It is! I thought I'd try something new." Skye grinned, tucking a strand of long, teal hair behind her ear. "I think I'll stay with this for a while."
Kara see through one eye open, her lazy gaze lingering on her attendant's fabric uniform. Skye's side ponytail framed an emerald green eyes.
"It's... definitely eye candy," She rested her head, drowsiness clouding her thoughts. Her gaze was drawn to Skye's hair. "Is that a hairpin? A dragon? Ah, it's a snake with legs, right?"
"I don't know how you come up with that.. but it's a griffon," Skye corrected, tilting a head in confusion. "The same design your father wears on his cloak pins. Guardianship, remember? Madam Glory gift it to me.. and she had one with you too."
"Is that.. so.." the brunette yawned once again, her fingers brushing the bandage on her cheek as if recalling a touch long withdrawn, "I'm going back to sleep."
"It's almost noon, though."
"..You're kidding?" Her silver eyes snapped open in shock, and she pause. "Ah.. aww, my drowsiness is gone.."
"You really should improve your sleep schedule, it'll be problematic in the future." Skye raised a finger in warning.
Kara, waved it off, "Yeah, yeah. But I'm not a morning person to begin with."
"And that is your problem to figure out."
Skye moved closer to the bed, sitting down with a hairbrush in hand. And gestured for her to move closer, ready for their daily routine.
Kara obliged, seemingly used to this exchange. "I can manage myself, y'know?Getting ready and stuff.."
"I'm well aware," Skye replied as a matter-of-factly. "But Young Miss tends to laze around, leaving dirty clothes anywhere and small bits of garbage stuffed under the bed."
Kara looked away, embarrassed. "W-Well... that's..."
"Not to mention what's inside the sofa. I wonder how many pieces of garbage have been stuck there?"
"Stop, that's too much information!" she rebuked, refusing to believe her sneaky habits were always being monitored.
"Master Davel asked again if you've reviewed the training manuals he left. The ones you ask for a copy."
Kara's shoulders stiffened. "Not yet." she mumbled under her breath.
Skye gently poked the bandage on Kara's cheek. "Chin up, you seem a little grumpy today."
Kara looked away, her lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not."
The teal-haired girl chuckled, "Speaking of which, your Soul Academy enrollment is approaching. Are you ready?"
Kara groaned, burying her face in the pillows. "Ready? Never. It's going to be so much work, and so competitive. I just want to stay in bed forever."
"Don't worry, Young Miss. You're natural at this, and I'm sure everything will turn out fine." Skye smiled, finishing making the braid on the brunette's hair using the gifted hair tie on the ends. "I know it's daunting, but you have incredible potential. How about I cheer you up? Tea? Coffee?"
"Hot chocolate."
The teal-haired chuckled softly, "As always. Coming right up."
Kara paused as she stared at Skye, her fingers lingering on the hair tie. "Ah, Skye. There's something..."
"Yes?"
Her lips parted, and words were left halfway, a flicker of doubt crossed her eyes. She chewed inside her mouth, her gaze darting away.
Finally, she shook her head, forcing a weak smile. "Actually.. nevermind. Don't mind it."
Skye watched the girl in confusion. Worried that there might be something bothering her, but held back a words. Prying further might only push Kara away.
"I'll prepare your hot chocolate, Young miss. You don't have to push yourself."
"..Yeah."
As the door closed, Kara let out a long sigh. In that moment, the cheerful daytime feels like a display, making her sink back into the bed. The silence of her room, combined with the weight of solitude.
It felt almost oppressive, highlighting the dust motes that danced lazily in the still air. She stared at the ceiling, the ornate soft glow suddenly seeming dull and lifeless.
'I was supposed to ask Skye a favor, but..'
Her fingers brushed along the silky stands of her chestnut hair. It did take a while for her to notice just how long has it been since she isolated herself, and never fully exploring the world with eagerness like she used to.
And with the conflict and confusion she feels at hand.
'It doesn't feel quite right.. I'll just be a bother to them..'
Kara's arms covered her eyes, her thoughts drifting. She imagine the honored school her parents recommended to her, with them talking about how they were once students there, and soon, she might become one too.
She knew they're trying.
But the only problem..
Is herself.
The Academy, felt like a monsterious shadow that threaten to swallow her whole.
Her emotion were like a bumbling mix of bad ingredients. She thought it was a good idea to enter the Academy at first. But the more she thinks about it, the more hesitant she felt.
Is it fear? Or is there something else entirely?
'Facing my parents now would be too selfish..' She let out another long breath. 'All these time.. I'm the one creating the distance between us.'
"Still brooding, my descendant? Such a gloomy face on a bright sunny day."
Kara flinched, her eyes snapping open. Lamia, her form shimmering into existence within [Crimson Valley].
Ancestor grinned, her crimson hair a vibrant display. "Honestly, you're more dramatic than a soap opera heroine. It's almost impressive."
The brunette scowled, pulling the blankets tighter around her. "Oh, shut up.." she mumbled, her voice muffled by the fabric.
Lamia tapped a long, perfectly manicured fingernail against her fang, "You won't get anywhere with just laying there, you know~"
The brunette suddenly sat up, startling Ancestor with the quick response. It was just a teasing comment, but she didn't expect that it would too effective on her descendant.
Kara slaps her cheeks, taking a deep breath. "Right... if I keep this up. I'll end up like before," She quickly get out of bed, grabbing the crimson valley with her.
"Huh? Hey?! Where are we going?!" Lamia's complaints trail off as she gets away again without her consent.
.
.
.
.
Kara zoomed down the path on the outskirts leaving their home. The hood of her jacket was pulled low, hiding her face. Trailing a few paces behind, Yuri bounced along, tongue lolling happily.
He looked like a particularly fluffy cotton ball with legs.
She reached the town. The market square was busy. Lots of people, noise, and smells.
Vendors hawked their wares, children shrieked with laughter, and the general cacophony of a busy market day filled the surroundings
Kara however, choose to ignore it. Instead of walking the easier path, she decided the long detour to go around the crowd.
"The Best Energy Tonics this side of the river!" A burly man blocked her path. He grinned as he spotted her, his voice booming cheerfully, "Hey there, miss! Looking for a way to boost your energy? These tonics are..."
Kara inwardly groaned, clutching her jacket hood as if to shield her presence. She opened her mouth to politely decline, but hesitate when she felt a knot in her throat.
'I should wait for him to finish.. but what do I say after that?'
"They're all-natural, guaranteed results! Just one bottle will...."
Kara's eyes darted around, searching for an escape. A wave of panic rose in her chest, a sensation that made her body tense up.
"Um... I don't need.." She mumbled, hoping he'd take the hint.
"Pardon?" The man smiled, his voice slightly louder now. "Did you say something?"
"...."
Tension raise her lungs, like an ocean suffocating her whole.
The brunette stared blankly at the ground, her breath hitched the more time passed. Her heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs, as Kara's vision was getting unsteady.
'I want to leave..' She hold her own sleeve in a tight grip, as her last plead remain unheard.
The man's cheerful demeanor, while seemingly harmless, felt overwhelming.
What would she do at a time like this?
If she can do it, leaping out of this conversation would be a tempting idea. She could swing from that tree and onto the rooftop of the bouquet store.
'As if i can do something that cool. Not only It's not allowed..'
She's in the midst of despair.
Kara froze in place, already trapped from the man's hyper advertisment. 'Im going to look like a rude customer too..'
"Sooo.. What do you think? You'll buy one, right?" At his side, a figure approached, swatting his head mercilessly. "Guh—!!"
"Dang it, Jun! You scaring another customer again!" The woman shouted, annoyance in her voice. "When will you learn personal space, man!"
Kara's mind snap back to reality, watching in wide eyes as the woman turn towards her, face softening. "Just ignore him, Miss. He's just an idiot, you can go ahead now if you want." She smile as her hand wave dismissively.
"S-Sorry.. I'll go now.." The brunette took her leave immediately, still catching their voices along the way.
"And you! Is your braincells on the leave or what? If you actually want someone to buy them, sell them to a guy! Not a kid!"
"Ow!Ow! Oww! Your ripping my ears!"
Kara continues her path, not daring to look back. Yuri sensed his guardian moving and simply jumped off her now-loosened hood, emerging with only his fluffy tail dancing from side to side.
The town's noise faded as Kara and Yuri slipped into the forest's edge. Sunlight dappled through the leaves, creating shifting patterns on the forest trees.
But it wasn't quite as deserted as Kara had hoped. A couple of hikers with backpacks bigger than themselves were just entering, chatting away.
With the grace of an agile squirrel decent apon her, she instinctively jumped onto the nearest tree, her movement swift and careful.
Until a twig snapped under her weight.
CRACK!
The hikers stopped mid-sentence, their heads swiveling like startled owls.
They looked right. Kara was like a human chameleon against the bark, perfectly staying still on the left. Eyeing the hikers with a wary expression, she would rather risk falling out of the tree than be in their line of sight.
They looked left.
WHOOSH!
Kara was now on the right, her hood practically swaying roughly with a dizzy Yuri inside. It was like a bizarre game of human hide and seek, played with a persistent brunette and unaware strangers.
The hikers exchanged confused glances, their expressions a mixture of concern and suspicion. Were they hallucinating? Had the forest spirits finally decided to play a prank on them?
They decided to run for it, clearly deciding that whatever was happening, it wasn't worth investigating further.
"I TOLD YOU THIS WAS A BAD IDEA!!" One of the man screamed.
Kara watched their retreating figures, feeling bad for them. 'I shouldn't had scared them.. oh well..'
She got over it pretty fast.
Now no longer needing to dodge anyone, she slowed down her pace, still keeping a watchful eye. The occasional thump or rustle was completely unavoidable, but the hikers, thoroughly spooked, she doubt they'll ever want to go back to the woods again.
Kara moved with the ease of someone who knew these place like the back of her hand.
"I honestly cannot comprehend why you keep running away, Kara," Lamia mused as she appeared on her descendant shoulder. "It's almost like you're allergic to human interaction."
Kara stopped in front of a gently flowing lake, looked around, and found a secluded spot. She places her hand against a tree, watching the sunlight play among the leaves.
"Not quite," she finally said, her voice low. "It's not about liking or disliking people. It's about... well, it's complicated."
Her eyes wander around the tree's body, finding a spot to attach [Crimson Valley] so Ancestor could watch her train.
Lamia chuckled. "For you people, maybe. For a demon who's seen centuries of human drama, it's pretty straightforward. You're afraid, aren't you?"
"No!" Kara retorted, her tone clipped. She sighed, and her hand ran through her hair. "I just.. don't like feeling vulnerable."
"Humans are inherently vulnerable creatures. What's stopping you from experiencing something so simple?" Ancestor crooks her eyebrows, genuinely confused.
"Just look at him," Lamia pointed at Yuri accompanying other smaller creature, darting around with an energy far from the brunette's quiet demeanor. " He leaps into things without a second thought, forging connections effortlessly. He carries none of the past's burdens."
Kara's eyes followed Yurii, his happy barks and noises were like sounds of joy and laughter children make, their innocence is their shield from reality.
An aching sense of yearning flickered in her gaze, swiftly shaken beneath her mask of indifference. Yet, witnessing Yuri's carefree spirit stirred up a flood of memories, a fragmented glimpse she could only let out a sigh with.
In those flashes, she saw a sunlit classroom filled with laughter, a group of students talking joyfully, and the warmth of friendship surrounding her.
In the end, that was all just a child's naivety.
.
.
.
"...why is she always so quiet?.."
"... I rarely hear her speak..."
Sitting on her desk, she absently scrolled through her phone, her thumbs moving restlessly across the screen. It might have been your typical teenager habits, but she realize that she have been doing this everyday.
At every. Single. Time.
She tried to bother herself and ignore it, but the whispers still reached her, slithering into her ears like insidious insects.
'Shut up..'
"...poor thing, it must be so lonely..."
"I don't wanna be in that kind of position.."
A tightness clenched her chest. The phone slipped from her numb fingers, clattering onto the desk.
"...she needs to make friends..."
"...maybe she's just shy..."
The whispers were annoying, their tone laced with persistent sympathy that felt like a personal insult to her.
'Shut up.'
Her fingers tightened into a fists, the nails digging into her palms. Those forced smiles, the kind words that felt hollow and insincere, a hand offering help that she didn't want.
The warmth of genuine connection was now a bone-chilling coldness in her eyes.
'I don't need your pity.'
.
.
.
.
.
"What is it that holding you back, Kara?" Lamia's voice cuts through,
A memory resurfaces, sharp and cold and new.
...
There's no one else to blame, you see.
The only prison, is... the doubt within me.
.
.
.
A lifetime ago, it seems, a distant, fading scene,
Her face, a half-forgotten dream.
"If you want to get anywhere in your life, learn to speak up."
Those harsh words, were her desperate attempt to slap me into reality.
"This kind of dream won't get you anywhere.."
Someone who i should adore.
Instead, she left a wound that bleeds forevermore.
"...Why can't you be normal?"
A poisoned dart, a burden that is hard to bear. Leave me in the shadow that no one seems to care.
.
.
.
.
.
.
BANG!
"Good, another clean aiming on the third." Lamia nodded, her arms crossed. "Now, try shooting while you're transporting, just like we practiced."
"Using my Arcana? Alright." She stepped back to gain momentum, her sight staying locked on the target ahead.
The breeze danced against her skin as Kara breathed in the crisp air, centering her focus. She visualized the red spider lilies blooming in her mind, their vibrant petals ready to spring to life.
Then, she moved.
WHOOOSH!
In a flash, a circle of crimson flowers erupted at her feet, and she vanished from sight—only to reappear in a burst of petals just a few steps away.
BANG!
She fired at the target mid-transport, the bullet soaring through the air as the flowers lingered momentarily where she had just stood.
ZOOOOOOM!
BANG! BANG!
Kara felt the thrill of adrenaline coursing through her as she transitioned between spaces, the world blurring around her. With each movement, the flowers left a shimmering trail behind, fading into the air like wisps of smoke.
"Hop!" Kara leaped into the air, summoning another cluster of flowers beneath her, propelling herself higher.
She twisted in mid-air, her gun steady as she aimed at the target from above.
"Now!'' Lamia shouted, and Kara pulled the trigger again.
BANG!
This time, the bullet struck true, hitting the target squarely in the center.
"Yes. You're getting the hang of this, my descendant." Lamia smile in approval.
Kara landed gracefully, the crimson spider lilies had bloomed and faded in a blur of motion, leaving only a faint scent of pollen in the air.
Yet, as she lowered her weapon, a noticeable shaking ran through her hands.
A single crimson petal, detached from her hair, drifted slowly to the ground.
She frown, her face furrowed with stained dislike.
"That tremor... it speaks of a deeper unease. It's not just about the physical exertion, is it? It's the same hesitation I see when you face people." Lamia's voice out, though calm, held a note of understanding.
Kara breathe a sighed of exhaustion, "I don't know.." She massaged her temple, her fist tightening around the cool metal of the gun. "Whenever i think about having to attend the Academy, i get all bump out.."
"Do you really hate it that much?" Ancestor asked gently.
She hesitated. "I... I don't know. It's like whether i like it or not, i won't have a choice but to accept it eventually. It's expected of me, i guess."
The brunette kicked at a small stone, sending it skittering across the forest floor. The simple act seemed to release some of her pent-up frustration.
"If you're worried about fitting in, you can leave that to me." Lamia said casually, "I've navigated social complexities for centuries. I can help you strategize, create a plan---"
"No, you just don't get it.." Kara groan in annoyance, her voice sharper than she intended.
Lamia raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Kara, i'm no mind-reader. I can't know what you're thinking if you don't tell me. Your being complicated right now."
Kara's shoulders slumped. Lamia's directness, while a sharp response, cut through her defensiveness. She got remained about her rude tone toward her mentor, making her feel ashamed.
"I'm sorry, Ancestor.."
Lamia's expression softened. "Why don't you take a break for today? Let's head back. I believe you earned a cup of hot cocoa."
"Haah... i guess that could work." She packed up, the sky slowly turning pink as the sun setting down the horizon.
At the end of the day, her chest still remained heavy..