"... Is that... the Izumi Heiress?"

"... "Look at the crest on her robes."

"... It’s called a kimono, dumbass."

"... It’s her, the ’Blossom of the North’, Izumi Ayako!"

Mist from the boiling river began to thin, revealing the wreckage of the street and the stunned faces of the onlookers. Whispers of reverence rippled through the crowd as this new figure entered the scene.

Kurt kept a firm grip on the hilt of his black sword as his eye tracked even the slightest shift in her movements. The calm pressure he felt radiating from her was far more dangerous than Ryuuji’s explosive rage.

Yuna landed softly beside him as she observed the situation closer.

"Yuna, who is she?" Kurt gestured with his head.

"That is Izumi Ayako, heiress to the Izumi clan. Like Emelie Herst, she is the strongest student from Skyward Academy. The Izumi clan is legendary, second only to the Shogunate clan itself – the Wrights of Myria. In the North, her name is law."

"An impressive introduction. I thank the maid for her knowledge."

The voice came from directly behind Kurt’s ear.

Yuna spun around instantly, her daggers flashing into her hands, her heart hammering against her ribs. But Kurt didn’t turn. He kept his gaze fixed on the person still standing on Ryuuji’s head.

"You’re not going to defend your back?" the Ayako behind him asked in a tone carrying a hint of mild surprise.

"Defend from what? I don’t feel another presence nor killing intent behind me."

"Hmm. Is that so? What about now?" In a blink, the figure on Ryuuji’s head vanished into a flurry of cherry blossom petals.

Simultaneously, the air behind Kurt turned deathly cold. He quickly spun on his heel, coating his black sword in mana and swung.

CLANG!

The sound of metal on metal rang out like a bell. Kurt’s blade was met by a slender, elegant katana, its steel shimmering with a high-frequency blue mana coating that mirrored his own.

For a second, they were locked in a stalemate, however, Kurt mana shone more brilliantly as he slowly started cutting through hers.

Ayako’s eyes widened. She felt the sheer physical power behind his arms. Suddenly, she noticed she was pushed back an inch-by-inch.

"How marvelous..." A small, delighted smile touched her lips.

Using the momentum of Kurt’s force, she leaped backward, her body as light as a feather. She performed a mid-air flip and landed gracefully on her geta sandals, sheathing her katana. The hostility vanished as quickly as it had appeared. She stepped forward and performed a deep, formal bow toward Kurt and Yuna.

"I offer my humblest apologies," Ayako said with clarity and sincerity.

"The actions of Yamada Ryuuji were beneath the dignity of our homeland and traditions. He has caused you great distress and has disturbed the peace of the people. I will see that it is rectified."

"Izumi-san!"

Ryuuji burst out of the river, dripping wet and shivering with fury. He propelled himself onto the pavement, his face bruised and swollen from Kurt’s punch and kick.

"Why are you bowing to this nobody?! He struck me, heir to the Yamada clan and member of the ten representatives! He should be in chains!"

Ayako turned her head slightly, her gaze turning into shards of ice. "Ryuuji. You will be silent. And then, you will bow."

"I will do no such–"

"Now."

Ryuuji’s mouth hung, then snapped shut. He looked at her serious expression and realised that if he pushed further, the next person to hit him wouldn’t be one-eyed nobody, but her. Reluctantly, his face boiling with humiliation and rage, he bent his back and bowed.

"I... I apologise for the trouble," he muttered through gritted teeth.

"You’re forgetting someone," Kurt glared at the top of Ryuuji’s head. He then turned and waved toward the carriage which had taken up safety down the street.

The horses trotted over and soon enough, the carriage door creaked open. Hope stepped out, her eyes red from crying, and she walked over to stand behind Kurt, gripping the fabric of his leather jacket.

"Now, apologise to her for being a bully." Kurt said to Ryuuji.

Ryuuji clicked his tongue, looking like he wanted to spit, but a sharp cough from Ayako made him flinch. He bowed lower.

"I am sorry... for hurting you and calling you mean things, kid."

Hope looked at him for a moment, then peeked at Kurt, who gave her a reassuring nod.

"Thank you for apologising. I’m sorry too for bumping into you." she said softly.

Ayako looked at Kurt, her curiosity clearly piqued. "May I ask for the gentleman’s name?"

"Why? So Mr. High & Mighty here can go find my family and ’destroy’ them like he threatened? I think I’ll pass."

"I give you my word as an Izumi," Ayako said firmly. "I will not allow the Yamada clan to take any retributive action against you for this encounter. Ryuuji’s behaviour was a public disgrace; he has no legal standing here."

Kurt paused, searching her eyes for a lie. Finding none, he sighed and lowered his guard.

"I’m Kurt. Kurt Rossana."

"Rossana? I have not heard of such a family name."

"I get that a lot. I’ve been told it’s a blessing from the Goddess."

"I see... Rossana.. sama?" Ayako said, testing the name. "In any case, I appreciate your cooperation."

The sound of whistles and heavy boots echoed down the street as the prefects finally arrived. A squadron of armored men pushed through the crowd, led by a captain who looked particularly stressed.

"We have received reports of an earthquake and a boiling river!" The captain stopped when he saw Ryuuji. "Yamada Ryuuji? Witnesses say you were the one who initiated a high-level elemental discharge."

"What?! It was a... friendly duel!" Ryuuji shouted.

"It was a public disturbance," the captain countered. "You’ve cracked the foundation of the roads and boiled half the fish in this district. You’re coming with us."

"I’ll replace the damn fish!"

Ayako stepped in, placing a hand on Ryuuji’s shoulder.

"Go with them, Ryuuji. I will contact Sensei and explain the situation. Perhaps some time in a cell will help you find the manners you’ve lost."

Defeated and fuming, Ryuuji was led away in mana-suppressing cuffs.

"With that settled," Kurt said, turning to Yuna and Hope. "We have work to do. It was nice meeting you, Izumi-san."

"The pleasure was mine," she replied. She watched them walk away with a faint light in her eyes. "I hope one day we might have a proper duel, Rossana-sama. One without distractions."

Kurt raised a hand in a wave as they reached the steps of the Bureau. However, when they reached the top, they found Ayako standing right there beside them.

"Why are you still here? I believe we already had our very emotional farewell." Kurt asked, genuinely confused.

Ayako blinked as a slight blush of embarrassment touched her cheeks.

"Ah... this is actually where Ryuuji and I were supposed to go. I’m afraid I have a terrible sense of direction, and I was following him but lost my way. Now that he is... detained... I shall have to handle our business here myself."

She looked down and noticed Hope staring at her from behind Yuna’s apron.

"My, where are my manners? My name is Izumi Ayako. What is your name, little one?" Ayako crouched down and asked.

"Hope," she whispered.

"Hope. A beautiful name. I am truly sorry if that hot-headed man scared you."

"It’s okay," Hope said, her shyness fading. "He already apologised."

"Oh? You are very mature for your age, Hope. Most children would still be hiding."

Hope continued to stare, her eyes traveling over Ayako’s intricate hair ornaments and clear skin. She looked away, then looked back, repeating the motion several times.

"Is something wrong?" Ayako asked.

"You’re... you’re really pretty," Hope blurted out.

Ayako went wide eyed for a second then let out a genuine laugh, while Yuna clicked her tongue and muttered under her breath.

"Honestly, Hope. Is everyone from Myria ’pretty’ to you? You said the same thing to me."

"N-No! I mean, she’s pretty, but Yuna is the prettiest! I promise!"

Yuna looked away as her ears turned red.

"Whatever. Don’t be silly." But a small, rare smile crept onto the corner of her mouth.

"Alright, enough diddly-daddling," Kurt clapped. "We still have much to do and haven’t even gotten started. Let’s get inside before another ’representative’ falls out of the sky."

"That would be quite the sight to see." Ayako giggled and followed them inside.

.

..

...

While the sun shone brightly above, the world below the city remained draped in shadow.

Deep within the labyrinthine sewage systems of Eldoria, a secret stone door sat flush against a mossy wall. Behind it lay a dry, magically ventilated chamber. It was a hideout for those the world had forgotten.

In the corner, a makeshift shower stall hummed with the sound of running water. Gary was inside, rinsing the grime of the city from her skin, her mind focused on their next move.

On a nearby cot, Austin lay sprawled in bandages. His body twitched from the nightmare he was currently having.

In this nightmare, he was running through the dormitory hallways. His lungs were burning, but the footsteps behind him were steady. He tripped over his own feet and fell flat on his face. When he turned over, Emelie was there.

She didn’t look like the girl he knew from the game. She looked like a vengeful spirit. Her silver hair was matted with blood, his blood, and her eyes were voids.

"You think you can just do whatever you want?" she whispered.

"I’m sorry!" Austin screamed, scrambling backward. "I’ll never do it again! I’ll leave Amy alone! I’ll leave the cult! I’ll do whatever you want! Just, please!"

Emelie didn’t answer. She stepped onto his chest, the weight of her boot crushing his ribs. She leaned down as her hands reached to his throat. Then, she began to squeeze. The world turned black, the sound of his own pulse thundering in his ears until– 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"NO!"

The real Austin vaulted upright in his bed, screaming at the top of his lungs, his eyes bulging with terror. He was drenched in a cold sweat, his hands clawing at his own neck.

The shower cut off instantly. Gary hurried out of the stall, completely naked and dripping wet as her heart raced.

"Austin! You’re finally! You’re okay!"

Gary rushed to the bed and threw her arms around him.

Because of the height of the cot and her position, her wet breasts squished directly into his face as she sobbed with relief.

Austin, still half-trapped in his nightmare, panicked. He shoved her back with all his might, scrambling to the far corner of the bed.

"Who the fuck are you?! Where am I? Where is she?! Where’s Emelie?!"