CHAPTER 4: TO LOSE HER - ACT 2
"The court must have no members of the public present," I advise. "Only the judge, court clerk and counsel must be there. We know the mind controller is somewhere on the West side, but their identity still remains unknown."
"Right. Toma, Aya, please make the necessary arrangements for the court," my father commands.
"Yes, your majesty," the two knights respond together. They bow and leave the garden.
My father and mother look at Kiyori in the distance, standing at the edge of the pond. Her face is neutral, but I know she's apprehensive.
"Her chances of gaining refugee status are not great, Goyasaku," states my father. "Everyone knows how many sorcerers have tried to kill you."
"I know… But I don't believe she's our enemy. We have to at least follow our royal protocol, and let her say why she left the East side."
"I agree. That information could be very significant," adds my mother.
My father puts his hands on his hips. "Hmmmm."
After some deliberation, he finally looks up at me. "I trust your judgment, Goyasaku. But the security for this trial must be substantial."
"Yes, father. I'll arrange a carriage to transport the Princess discreetly."
"Right. Get her there in the next two hours. Miss Momoka?"
She heeds my father’s call, and walks over to us.
"Greetings," my father continues. "You and your coven are best placed to be the Princess's bodyguards. I assume there is a great deal of trust between you all now?"
"Yes, your majesty. Akashi has vouched for Princess Kiyori, and I trust my child's judgment."
"Hmm? The two know each other? Has Akashi been on the East side before?"
"Yes. She was hired by an East side Governor last year, and was granted a visa to work over there. Naturally, Akashi met many officials close to the Governor, including members of the East side monarchy. The Princess has not yet told anyone why she'd left, nor can any of us hazard a guess."
Father anxiously strokes his beard. "I see. Not everyone on the East side is evil, of course, but they'll surely send over the rotten apples to recover the Princess." He faces the head witch. "Miss Momoka, I know I've asked a lot of you recently, but will you accept this mission of protecting the Princess?"
"Yes, your majesty," she replies without hesitation. I wish I shared Momoka's confidence! "I will assemble my witches and bring her to the court."
"Thank you, ma'am. I'll arrange additional security around the building. The undercover approach is probably best!"
"Your support is appreciated, father," I say as I bow.
"Good luck, son!" blesses my father. My parents leave the garden.
I look back at Kiyori, and she's now looking at me. I see a bead of sweat on her forehead.
***
Ban pulls along an old stagecoach, with Esuko holding the reins in the front driver's box. I ordered Eren to levitate high in the sky to observe our journey, and warn us of any danger up ahead.
Inside the carriage, I sit next to a tense Kiyori. Akashi and Momoka sit opposite us.
"If what I've read is correct, whenever the mind controller is ruling their victim, the two's eyes will become the same color," says Momoka.
"Ah! Princess Kiyori's eyes turned navy blue when she was being controlled," Akashi recalls. She pounds her fist onto her palm. "So that's the giveaway!"
"Right. If you see anyone with those eyes, I have two sets of potions you can use on them." Momoka takes out two small vials from her cloak. "The green potion is a dispellant, and the red potion creates a sleeping gas. If in doubt, knock them out."
Momoka hands us all a red and green potion vial each. I'm glad she only gives us one of each. Any more could easily be abused by the mind controller.
"Thank you, Miss Momoka."
"You're welcome, your highness."
Everyone pockets their vials apart from Kiyori. She stares at hers on her trembling palms. "This… was a terrible mistake! I've put you all in terrible danger!"
Her raised voice catches our attention.
"Princess… Do you have a good reason for coming here?" I gently ask.
She sighs, closing her eyes. "Yes. Of course I do," she quietly replies.
I place my hands under hers, and close them around her vials. She looks up at me, and I shoot her a reassuring smile. "That's all that matters."
She relaxes her shoulders a little, and tries her best to smile back.
I will put my faith in her.
Huh? Her hands… How did she get them so soft!?
***
We arrive at the courthouse, and I escort a black hooded Kiyori out of the stagecoach.
Eren floats down to us, and all four witches assemble at the court's entrance. Toma and Aya are standing guard at the door.
"Alright. Just as we planned… Eren, you observe from the air, and Etsuko, you circle the courthouse and observe from the ground. There are many guards wearing plain clothes hidden amongst the villagers nearby. If there is any danger incoming, we follow the emergency procedure. Is everyone clear?"
"Yes, your highness," the witches and knights all respond.
Eren floats back up into the air, and Etsuko starts walking around the building.
I face the two knights. "Toma, Aya, we're ready."
They both bow, and open the court doors.
"Prince Goyasaku and Princess Kiyori!" Toma announces.
Kiyori and I walk in, followed by Akashi and Momoka.
I haven't been here for a long time. It's still beautifully furnished, with oak wood seats and tables, as well as stone statues of past judges lining the inside walls.
We walk down the aisle on the marble floor toward the front seats. The counsel and the court clerk are already present. I show Kiyori to the front bench, and we take our seats there. Akashi and Momoka sit on the bench behind us.
I nod to the clerk, and she begins the proceedings. "All rise for Judge Zeko."
We all stand up.
From the back chamber enters the judge, a short, middle aged man with a white wig and a long grey beard.
He takes his seat at the higher bench. "Please be seated, all."
As we all take our seats, Zeko eyes our front bench.
"Greetings, Prince Goyasaku and Princess Kiyori. I have been briefed on this case, and this hearing will now proceed. Princess Kiyori…"
She stands.
"You are to make your case as to why you should be granted refugee status on the West side. If your case is accepted under our law, then you may stay here. If your case is not accepted, then you will be escorted back to the East side with immediate effect. Is that clear?"
"Yes, your honor."
"Please, take the stand."
Kiyori nods and walks to the table in front of the judge. The clerk begins taking notes.
"Princess Kiyori, seven days ago you were discovered in the West Forest after being injured from a fight there. Prince Goyasaku brought you to the local surgery, and you have since recovered. Now, please present your case for coming here."
"Yes, your honor. My elder sister is the head sorceress of the East side, and the queen of that land. She believes that sorcerers are superior to the witches and normal citizens of the West side, so she is planning on wiping out the population here, then taking over the entire island."
Her words trigger gasps and shocked looks from the judge and the counsel, but they don't surprise me. Yeah, I should be horrified, but a part of me has already accepted that the East side wants everyone on my side to be gone…
"She plans to do this by poisoning you all. As you know, your honor, the island's clean water comes from the mountain on the East side, and it flows into the West side in the form of multiple streams and the one central river. Under international law, no-one on the East side is allowed to tamper with the mountain's water, and besides, harming it would negatively affect the water on the East side anyway."
"Hmmm… We've always known that the mountain's water posed a risk to us during our current war with the East side, but are you saying that risk has now come to fruition?"
"Yes, your honor. It has."
Huh?
"The head sorceress plans on poisoning the water, after the people on the East side are made immune to it. No-one on the West side will survive that attack."
What? She can't be serious! I hear more gasps from the barristers behind me.
"Has the immunization process on the East side already begun?"
"Yes, your honor. Despite my protests, the head sorceress will go ahead with her attack."
"That's insanity! If she does that, then she will have broken international law, and the rest of the world will be out to get her!"
Kiyori shakes her head. "Your honor, she does not care about her own wellbeing. She only cares that her plan is executed. You see, she despises anyone who is not a sorcerer. She wants her kind to rule the world. If her plan succeeds in wiping out the witches and the citizens on the West side, then other clans of sorcerers on the other islands with the same views will copy her plans. Her genocide will spark a revolution across the lands!"
At this point, everyone in the room is starting to nervously sweat.
"Then we must act fast to stop them," announces Judge Zeko. "Princess Kiyori, please tell me why you came here."
Kiyori takes a deep breath, and clasps her hands together. "Your honor, I was in danger of being executed. The head sorceress grew tired of my pleading for her to stop. She threatened to kill me, so I ran away. My aim was then to get to the West side, and work with the monarchy here to thwart her plans. I'm sickened by the idea of killing countless innocents, so I want to use my position to stop this war before it becomes an unhealing wound on the world!"
Kiyori…
Father was right. Not all the sorcerers on the East side are evil.
"Hmmm…" The Judge thinks to himself. I sure hope he hurries up. We're all actually in more danger than I originally thought!
Zeko raises his wooden hammer. "Princess Kiyori, I hereby grant you refugee status-"
"Your honor!" Aya bursts through the door, and everyone eyes the entrance. "I apologize, all, but there's a sorceress heading straight for the courthouse!"
"Huh? Akashi, Momoka, guard the princess!" The two witches jump over my bench and surround Kiyori. I dash over to the entrance.
Gazing up in the sky from the court's door, I see a ball of black energy hurtling towards us like a shooting comet. That's not good!
I look back inside the courtroom. "Judge, evacuate!"
"Yes, your highness! Everybody scram!"
The court staff and Judge Zeko race out the building via the back doors.
I wolf whistle as loud as I can, and the surrounding civilians look at me.
"Dear citizens, I order you to get away from this courthouse immediately!"
"You heard the Prince!" shouts a knight hidden in the crowd.
"Everyone start running!" roars another.
The crowd panics and starts running away.
I draw out my sword, and place my left hand on its handle. "Ancient light, increase my might!" It begins to glow blue.
I then shoot a glare at Akashi and Momoka. "Get her out of here!"
"Right! Time for a quick getaway, your highness!" exclaims Akashi, tugging at the princess's arm.
"Huh?" Akashi looks upon a frozen Kiyori, and becomes horrified. I look up at her, too, and see that Kiyori's eyes have turned navy blue!
What the? That's impossible! None of us here have mind control powers!
Suddenly, Kiyori headbutts Akashi's face and knocks her to the ground.
Angered, Momoka pulls out a red vial. "Pleasant dreams!" She throws it Kiyori's feet.
The red vial stops a few centimeters from the ground, and it just floats there. Damn it! Kiyori is using her wind powers!
Momoka looks up in frustration. Kiyori shoves out her palm, sending a huge wind that knocks the head witch flying back.
Just before Momoka hits the ground, she stops mid air surrounded in a purple glow. Eren floats into the building through the open door, and she uses her levitation powers to gently land Momoka back on her feet in the center aisle.
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
"Yes. Thank you, Eren. Your highness, the vials won't work on the princess!"
I observe Kiyori, or more accurately, the husk of Kiyori. She just stares at me with those darkened, emotionless eyes!
"We don't have much time before impact!" shouts Toma as he monitors the incoming comet. Etsuko arrives at the door.
"Right! Etsuko, heal Akashi! I'll deal with the princess!"
"On it, your highness!" Etsuko runs over to Akashi, who's on the floor groaning with a bleeding nose.
Kiyori raises her palm and is about to blow Etsuko away, but I slash my sword at Kiyori. She sees my incoming shockwave, and uses her wind powers to help her jump high over my attack.
Instead of landing on the ground, Kiyori uses her wind powers to float high up in the air.
I race over to her. "Kiyori! Wake up! There's dark energy heading straight for us!"
She doesn't move an inch. Whoever's controlling her is trying to kill us by keeping us here!
Argh… What do I do? I have the option to run away with the others, but I can't just leave Kiyori here to be struck by that comet! Whoever's attacking would rather kill her than let her help us, it seems!
Getting rejected by her is one thing, but losing her through death is just… just…
As I close my eyes and grind my teeth, I remember her words…
"You know I'll always hold you accountable for that, right?"
She said them so gently… As if she had so much faith in me, as I had in her.
I will not lose this battle…
IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT HER!
I raise my sword, and slash at the wooden stand beneath her. "Yah!"
The shockwave hits the furniture, and sets it on fire. I then slash at the wooden stands at either side of the court, and they set on fire too.
She instinctively tries to blow the flames away, but her winds just make them more violent.
Akashi's testimony was correct; The wind she produces is oxygen, and oxygen fuels flames!
Realizing that her wind will just make things worse, she ceases and gives me an ice cold look.
She's met with my determined gaze. "Kiyori… I will keep my promise to protect you!"
I pick up Momoka's red vial from the floor.
Kiyori starts to cough as the smoke rises into the air. The oxygen she's using to make her float begins to heat up and burn her dress.
I sheath my sword, crouch down and place my hands on the ground ready to jolt forward.
She starts coughing violently, and she begins descending to the ground. She's way too distracted with the smoke and heat to blow me away.
Now's my chance!
When she finally descends enough, I spring forward from the floor, then jump up and tackle her.
As we fly through the air and over the fire, I pour the vial into her mouth.
Although this happens over a few seconds, this moment feels like it lasts for a lifetime.
As the red potion enters her mouth, her eyes return to normal for a brief moment. She takes in the sight of myself risking it all to save her. And then, her eyes close, just as we're consumed in a bright light.
SHHHHHHHH… KA-BOOOOM!
The energy comet finally strikes the court, and the building's walls and fire is blown away.
I've… never experienced anything like this. The impact was so… devastating!
Urgh… I can't see a thing now. Am I… dead?
The smoke and dust finally clears, and I find myself lying on my stomach alone.
What the? I'm inside… a crystal dome?
Oh, yeah… Etsuko must have healed Akashi in time, and Akashi made this crystal shield to protect me!
I look around, struggling to see someone… Anyone…
Suddenly, I see a figure standing in the center of the court's ruins.
I squint to make out the silhouette. "Huh? Akashi… Is that you?"
The figure notices my voice, and starts walking towards me. As it takes the form of a person, I realize that it's certainly not my wingman! It's someone whom I feared would arrive sooner or later…
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Prince Goyasaku. I've heard so much about you!"
"You… you're…"
"That's right, your highness. I'm Queen Natsuya, the head sorceress of the East side."
As some of the dust clears, I finally see her full form. She's a tall woman, I'd say in her mid-thirties. She wears a long black dress and black crown, which both heavily contrast with her long white hair. Her look is so simple, yet her presence is overwhelming.
"I believe you have my sister?"
"Huh?" I instinctively look around for Kiyori. She's nowhere to be found. Eren must have followed the emergency procedure and moved Kiyori out of here. I sure hope they're safe.
I struggle to push my chest off the ground. "She… was granted refugee status. She'll stay on this side now."
She tuts. "Oh really? Well, we can't have that! I have to protect my land's secrets at all costs, you know!"
"It's too late, your majesty!" I continue to push myself up, and eventually I get to a crouching stance under my dome. "She's already told us about your plans for the mountain's water. Why… Why do you want to kill us all? Why do you hate us so much?"
My shouting is met with her raising her nose at me. "Hmph! The fact that you're currently helpless against me says it all." She glares at me and hisses, "Everyone who's not a sorcerer is just a waste of time… and wasting time is not on my agenda!"
She walks up to me and places her hand on my dome. Dark energy from her palm starts pressing onto the crystal, and it slowly but surely begins to crack the surface.
"My kind are clearly superior," she declares with a smile. "It's inevitable that everyone else will die out. I'm just, you know, speeding up the process!"
Oh crap! At this rate, my dome is about to shatter! If it does, at the very least I'll suffer multiple cuts and wounds!
"Stop right there!"
"Hmmm?" The queen closes her hand and stops using her powers. She turns around.
Akashi walks into sight from the dust. Incredibly, she's showing no signs of fear, even though she knows full well who's standing before her.
"You're too late, your majesty. Princess Kiyori is in a safe place, and you're trespassing on this land."
"I see. And why would I care about that, Akashi? I can easily find her, and frankly, I can trespass wherever I want! It's not like anyone can stop me!"
"Oh yeah? I managed to hurt you back then, and I can do much worse this time around."
The queen crosses her arms. "Ha! And people criticize me for being big headed!"
Huh? Akashi fought Natsuya before? What on Earth did Akashi get up to when she worked on the East side?
"Just tell me where my dear Kiyori is, and I'll let you both live. Doesn't that sound like the deal of the century?"
Urgh! She's so charismatic that I actually WANT to take that deal!
"No, Queen Natsuya…" A crystal knife forms in Akashi's hand. "After all this time, you're still as clueless as a log. I'm giving you a chance to get out of here unscathed!"
"Ha! You're only resorting to insults because you know you've lost. I remember you doing the same thing when you lost your lover boy!"
Akashi takes a step back. "Huh? That has nothing to do with this!"
"Ah. Bitter, bitter Akashi. She'd put all her eggs in one basket, then tripped and fell over! Just because he didn't love you back, doesn't mean it's all over for you!"
"Shut up!"
Oh, no… she's talking through gritted teeth… "Akashi! Don't listen to her! She's just taunting you!"
"Still, I can't believe you thought someone like that would go for someone like you," the queen continues. "Successful romance is about setting realistic expectations, you know. Eagles go for eagles, not chickens!"
"I'll kill you where you stand!"
"Ah… So this is personal!"
"Akashi! Get a grip!" I shout. "Don't fall for her trap!"
"So what's it gonna be, Akashi? Will you give me what I want, or will you try to destroy me once again?"
"You know the answer to that, your majesty!"
This is bad.
Akashi launches herself at Natsuya with all her might. "Yarrrrghhhhh!"
Natsuya smiles. "Hmph!"
A dark energy wall appears before Natsuya. Akashi gasps. She's moving too fast, and she's about to run into the wall and get vaporized!
"Nooooooo!" I rip out my green vial, and smash it on the floor. A plume of green smoke fills the dome, then shoots out of its cracks and enshrouds Natsuya. She coughs, the dispellant causes the sphere to become dust, and the queen's energy wall fizzles out!
"Huh?" Natsuya steps back in confusion.
Akashi's crystal sword vanishes too, but she maintains her momentum as well as her closed fist!
CRACK!
Akashi punches Natsuya in the face. The queen is knocked back into me. As I'm still crouched, I grab her legs, then toss her over my shoulder.
She crashes into a pile of burned furniture. "Arrghhh!"
I quickly face Akashi, who stands before me.
"Akashi! Don't ever fall for that again! When someone taunts you, you laugh it off and maintain a cool head! Do you understand!"
My adrenaline is pumping hard, so I can't help but raise my voice. But I won't apologize. She has to learn!
Huh?
I see some tears run down Akashi's cheeks. She looks down in shame.
"I'm sorry! I thought I could, but… I guess I can't let go of my past…"
I find myself calming down a little as I try to empathize with her. "Akashi…"
"Arrrghhh!"
I look to my side. Natsuya screams as she leaps at us, holding a thick, burned plank of wood. By the time Akashi notices her, she is struck on her head and is knocked down. "Urgh!"
Natsuya swings at me next! I draw my sword. It may be powerless after it was hit with the dispellant, but it slices up the plank of wood before it hits my head perfectly fine!
I then kick Natsuya in her chest, and she's knocked back onto the ground.
"Akashi!" I race over to her, and kneel at her side. Her head is bleeding, but she's still conscious.
"Hey, aren't you going to comfort me, too, Prince?" the queen taunts as she rubs her sore upper body. "Come on over here and give me a cuddle!"
I don't hesitate to give her an angered glare. "You've gone too far, your majesty. I now have no choice but to kill you!"
Some blood runs down from her mouth, as she menacingly grins through her disheveled hair. "Heh-heh. Many have tried, Prince, but all have failed."
Even without her powers, she still wants to fight?
She picks up a sharp wooden stick from the floor, and holds it like a knife.
I'm not wasting any more time with this creep!
"Haarrghh!" I launch myself at Natsuya and swing my sword at her. She dodges my attacks, and manages to cut my arm with her stick.
Upon seeing my injury, Akashi's adrenaline spikes. Her eyes widen and she flips up onto her feet. She then jumps into the fight, dodges Natsuya's stabs, then manages to elbow her in her chest, pushing her away.
A terrible thought suddenly crosses my mind… All the while we use up our time and energy on Natsuya, the person who put Kiyori under a mind control spell is still out there!
"Akashi, she's stalling for time!"
"Right. Let's finish this!"
Natsuya launches herself at us once again.
Akashi takes out her red vial and slides it across the ground behind us.
When she gets close enough, I grab Natsuya's arm, and throw her over my shoulder as hard as I can. She lands on the red vial, and the impact causes it to explode.
Natsuya is surrounded by a red plume, then Akashi and I jump away so that we don't breathe in the sleeping potion.
The plume clears, and Natsuya lies there unconscious.
"She'll be out cold for the next four hours," notes Akashi.
"Good. You watch over her. I'll check on Kiyori!"
"Yes, your highness!"
I dash out of the court and race through the village streets. Luckily there's no one in my way after the evacuation order.
So many thoughts run through my head to the point where I feel no exhaustion from all this running. I just want Kiyori to be safe!
I reach Takumi's surgery and burst through its wooden doors.
"Kiyori!"
I frantically look around the garden.
Huh?
I observe Mamoka, Eren, and Etsuko standing frozen ominously in the middle of the garden.
Near the door of the garden, I see two knights lying on the ground!
"Aya! Toma!" I dash over to them both. They're still breathing, but it must have taken a lot to knock out my two toughest knights!
What's going on here?
I look back at the witches who continue being still as stone.
I draw my sword. I know they're my allies, but I can't take any chances right now.
I slowly walk toward them.
Suddenly, they all turn around to face me, and the sight is horrifying.
They all have navy blue eyes!
This can't be happening!
I try to run away, but it's no use.
"Argh!" I find myself surrounded in a purple glow, levitating off the ground. My sword is pulled away from me, and it's stabbed into the ground. I struggle, but it's no use. Eren's powers are way too strong!
I rip out my red vial and throw it at the witches, but Etsuko jolts forward and catches it! What the? When did she get so fast?
Oh, great. Now I have no more ways to defend myself!
Momoka pulls my sword from the ground, and focuses her lifeless eyes on me.
"No! Miss Momoka! It's me! Your prince!"
Why am I wasting my time shouting at her? She's not herself. It's the mind controller who's in charge now, and I have no idea who it is!
Perhaps… I'll never know who it is now…
SHING!
Huh? Lasers strike my sword and knock it out of Momoka's hand.
We all look up.
Ban flies through the sky, high above us. A girl jumps from his saddle…
It's Akashi!
She free falls through the air, and a long crystal spear forms in her hand.
"HARRRRGHHHHH!!" With all her might, she hurls the spear at the witches, and it flies toward them at great speed.
What is she doing? Is she trying to kill her own friends?
The witches aren't doing anything to stop the spear. I guess the mind controller doesn't care if one of them is killed?
THUNK!
The crystal spear stabs into the ground, very close to Mamoka.
Huh? The spear… missed?
But then, I see it!
Momoka's cloak pocket was ripped by the spear, and her red vial falls out onto the ground before any of them realise! As it explodes, they are suddenly engulfed in a red plume, and they all collapse onto the floor unconscious.
My mouth is wide open as I watch all this. Akashi managed to spear Mamoka's pocket from that distance with 100% accuracy! She needs to teach me that sometime!
Eren's spell is broken, and I land, not so gracefully, on my backside.
Looking up, Akashi continues to sky dive towards the garden. She puts out her hands, and a crystal slide forms from her palms out before her! She rides it down on her stomach. Akashi curves the slide just before it reaches the ground.
Huh? That slide… It's aiming at Aya and Toma!
As Akashi reaches the end of her curved slide, she flies through the air horizontally from the momentum towards my two knights. Crystal forms over her first as she gets ready to land a punch.
What the?
"Eat this!" she yells.
Suddenly, Toma leans up with his eyes closed and raises his shield to block Akashi.
BOOM!
Akashi strikes Toma's shield, and the impact causes a massive wave of dust! The shields of my knights, just like our swords, are enchanted, so they would stand a chance against Akashi's crystal powers.
I cover myself with my cape as the cloud of dust and dirt washes over me.
Why did I wear my most expensive clothes today?
As the dust settles, I stand up, uncover myself, and check my knights. The impact has knocked Toma to the ground unconscious, and Akashi stands over Aya.
"Toma!" I run over to him and kneel by his side. He's bleeding in a few places, but he's still breathing.
Damn it!
"Akashi! How dare you attack my knights!"
"Stay back, your highness," she commands.
"Huh?"
The coldness in her voice unsettles me.
Akashi lingers over the seemingly unconscious Aya. A crystal knife forms in Akashi's hand.
"Dame Aya, back in the court, I noticed something. When I looked at the soles of Queen Natsuya's shoes, they had no soil on them whatsoever. She did not arrive at the courthouse from the forest and the village after the comet struck; She was inside that comet. So, how did you know that the ball of energy was a sorceress?"
"What?" I can't believe what I'm hearing! I walk over to my knight, and stand by Akashi's side. "Aya, are you… the mind controller?"
She remains perfectly still.
With her silence… No, her ignorance… I realize the answer.
I close my eyes for a brief moment, then open them up again. "Aya… You've betrayed me."
She finally opens her eyes. Those… navy blue eyes.
Aya slowly gets to her feet, then gazes at me with a smirk.
"Oh please, Goya. I never did such a thing. I was merely following my heart."
My fists clench. "Huh? What are you talking about, Aya? Why would you attack us? I took care of you! I gave you a noble career! I even gave you my blessings when you married Toma!"
"Oh, who cares about all that?"
I'm taken aback by her laid back tone. What on Earth is going on here?
Aya places her hand on her heart. "I'm only after one thing, Goya… And that's you. After all, you're the love of my life!"
I feel a darkness engulf me. I don't know how to react. I don't know what to say.
Aya… has feelings… for me?
That can't be!
No woman wants me! They all reject me! They always prefer some other guy!
But then again… If she was willing to cause all this havoc just to have me to herself… Then I guess her words… really are the real deal!
"Are you surprised, Goya?" Aya asks. "You're the only one I've ever liked, and yet, you've always ignored me, treating me like just a friend. Oh, there were perks to that, of course, but I always wanted more. I decided to get with your best friend to make you jealous of him, yet no envy could be found on you. Then, you started hanging around with this little witch, and alas, I ended up becoming the jealous one! Ha-ha! I can't make someone kill themself as one's survival instinct is too strong, so I tried controlling that dumb Princess when I saw her wandering the forest to do the dirty work. I thought her wind powers would be enough to close the deal, but in the end, she was totally useless. And when I found out you and her were getting all romantic together in this beautiful garden, I nearly had a heart attack! Am I really that terrible, Goyasaku? Am I really… not good enough for you?"
I feel hollow.
This whole time I was searching for a woman who truly likes me, and there was one right here the whole time?
Am I going nuts here?
Did I really ignore her?
I do recall Aya asking me to go places with her, and sometimes I did... But we just did that as friends. I even remember her saying how much she likes me, and I just… laughed it off as a compliment!
I was blind, and now she's gone insane.
This can't be happening!
"Aya…" begins Akashi.
"Hmm?"
The crystal knife in her hand turns to dust. "Listen to me… I know what it's like to lose the love of your life. It's tragic, but you can't let your loss consume you. Obsessing over negative things is the same as drinking poison."
She then walks up to Aya, and extends her hand out to her. "Please, forget about it all and move on!"
SLAP!
Akashi backs off, places her hand on her reddened cheek, then looks back at Aya with fiery eyes.
"Like hell I will! You failed big time, Akashi, but the same won't happen to me!" Aya faces me. "I can still become your queen, Goya! Don't forget, I have the most useful power of all. I planted the idea of a genocide in Natsuya's mind, and I can just as easily unplant it. Know what I mean?"
"What?" I yell. "You're really going to hold our own people hostage just to force me to marry you? You've lost it!"
"Oh, there'll be no force required. In the end, Goya, getting with me will yield plenty of advantages. I can end our island's war. I can remove that energy wall. I can even make Natsuya call off the genocide. Our marriage… will be beneficial for all!"
Akashi spits blood from her mouth. "Not if I stop you!"
"Don't waste your breath, witch! You know no-one can attack me!" Aya crosses her arms and Akashi grits her teeth. "Well Goya, I hope my message is loud and clear. You've know about my plans to poison your water, and you know how to stop it all. As for that dumbo, Kiyori, don't worry about her. I'll look after her real good!"
My shoulders tense up. "Aya… If you hurt her in any way…"
"I know, I know. I'm not stupid! Sure, I hate her with every inch of my body, but it's not worth killing her and making you bitter about it all through our marriage! Think about choosing me, Goya. I'll see you in a week to hear your response. See ya!"
Aya smiles and waves, then calmly walks away.
Akashi and I just stand there. Motionless. Powerless. We can't just attack her, or she'll control our minds!
All we can do is watch her step out the door of the garden.
After she's gone, I fall to my knees and grit my teeth. I'm so exhausted. I'm so confused.
This is unreal.
I need to regain control over myself, and decide what to do!
My knight has turned against me, and the woman of my dreams has been taken from me…
I'm sick of all this.
I'm tired of running into unbreakable walls every single time I try to find a queen!
Even if I marry Aya, it just wouldn't feel right!
I truly am cursed to be alone…
And I will die alone…
"Hey," comes a familiar voice.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look to my side, and Akashi is kneeling down beside me, smiling away.
She usually says something nice, but no words sound.
I just gaze at her. Even though she's tired and injured, she's still giving me warmth, reassurance and hope through her expression and presence.
I return her smile.
I then rise to my feet, and wipe the tear from my cheek.
"I will get a queen. One that is right for me," I declare. "And I won't let anything or anyone get in my way."
"That's the spirit, your highness! And don't forget, you have a super powerful witch helping you every step of the way! Cya-hahahahaha!"
Although I'm aching all over, I feel good inside.
Where is Akashi finding all that positivity from?
"You know, your highness, women totally love it when guys take charge, no matter how bad the situation is."
"Right!" I look up to the clear blue sky, and press my fist to my chest. "I take full responsibility for this situation. I will rescue Princess Kiyori, and her kiss better be as soft as her hands, dammit!"
Akashi jumps up and down with excitement. "Yay! Great display of bravery, your highness!" She gives me a wink and a thumbs up. "Women love it when guys show that!"
So… it's up to me, Akashi, and my team of witches to save Kiyori.
Don't worry, Princess, I'm on my way!
I'll even get Akashi to make you your favorite soup again when we get back together.
And I'll be right by your side… sharing it with you!
