CHAPTER 14

The faithful morning came. It was bright and beautiful with cool breeze. Along the shimmering sandy shore of Phoebus, a port town ninety-mile south of Windbloom, several ships lined up, ready to receive travelers from all over the world.

Absorbed by the breathtaking view, Principal Kruger stood at the marble gate with Ms. Steinberg, who was carrying two rectangular boxes in her hands. With backpacks over their shoulders, Natsuki and Shizuru quietly approached the two elders. Haruka, Yukino and Akane were not too far behind.

Natsuki was clad in a white, long tunic, allowing air to circulate and slowing dehydration in hot, dry air. A kufiyya (head-cloth) over her head, held on by a black agal (wool coils). She preferred Arab male attire, while Shizuru opted for the women wear. The taller girl was clad in long, black cloth, a golden adornment decorated on the chest. Her head and face were protected by a bourque. The only thing Natsuki and Shizuru had in common was a pair of sunglasses in their inside pockets.

The principal turned to the girls and smiled. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

Natsuki glanced down, jeered at the sarcastic remark.

"I have already informed the Count of your expected arrival at his castle. He is waiting for your sincere apology. This will be a tough lesson for both of you. Stick to your route and everything should be fine. Remember, you both must return together."

Natsuki nodded obediently, while Shizuru just listened.

"I know how dangerous the desert could be. Since you are not allowed to use your robes, you will need some protection…" The principal turned slightly as Ms. Steinberg approached her with a dreadful look in her eyes. "I've granted a sword for each of you. Use it wisely."

Ms. Steinberg looked up at the principal, her mouth trembling slightly.

"I'd like a gun," Natsuki said casually.

Ms. Steinberg spun around, fiercely staring Natsuki. "These two swords are one of the most precious treasures in the world, passed on through many generations of Garderobe principals. How dare you refuse it!"

Natsuki gulped. She had never seen Ms. Steinberg this furious before.

"Which is mine?" Shizuru asked quietly.

Ms. Steinberg's eyes widened as she glanced back at the principal, seemingly struck by another horrid comment. When the principal didn't seem to react, Ms. Steinberg turned to glare at Shizuru.

"None of them is yours. You're just borrowing it for a short while only."

Shizuru surely sensed the demeaning attitude in her teacher's voice. She forced herself to ignore it at the thought of Ms. Steinberg saving her life from the fire. "I'm sorry. Which one I can borrow?" she corrected herself.

"Does it matter? Whichever lighter is for me." Natsuki took a careful peek at the boxes.

Principal Kruger smiled warmly and put her hands over the girls' shoulders. "There will be a time to decide it. Now, go on, both of you."

Haruka and the gang walked up to Shizuru to bid her farewell.

"Take care, all right? See you in a bit." Haruka winked.

"Stay warm during the night, Fujino," Yukino added.

Akane almost had a tear in her eyes. "I'll be waiting for you, Shizuru-chan."

Natsuki looked away, secretly bummed that no one was here to send her off.

"Hey, fast girl, bring me back a scorpion or two. I wanna try them sometimes."

Natsuki's head shot up at the delightful voice. Grinning, Mikoto advanced towards the girls.

"Sempai! What are you doing here?" Haruka yelped.

Mikoto meowed in slight embarrassment. "I've come to see the girls off. Good luck, and don't forget my gift!"

Chortling, Shizuru put her sunglasses on and walked through the gate, waving back at her friends.

"I won't," Natsuki assured Mikoto, a smile appearing on her face at last. She then nodded at the principal and followed Shizuru.

Principal Kruger watched the two disciples journeyed into the vast, golden land. The voyage would be the test of strength and will for both of them. If the Kuga girls were destined to join the Army of Caligo, their friendship would be needed, if not absolutely necessary to pull Fujino back. On the other hand, if Shizuru died during the expedition, it could wreck any plan the Knights of Caligo might have in mind. At this point, the principal could only pray for Natsuki's safety.

Eventually, the sight of the two girls disappeared behind the slopes of sand.

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Back at Garderobe, Yukino followed Haruka into her dorm room. They had just returned from Phoebus and were exhausted even more by endless questions from their peers about the two girls.

Haruka sprawled on her bed, yawning. She had woken up so early this morning to send Shizuru off, now she needed a nap. Yukino promptly poured a glass of water for her friend.

"Thanks," Haruka said, sipping it.

"Do you think Fujino will be Okay?" Yukino sat down next to the blonde. Even though no one had said a thing since the incident, fearing that it would worry Shizuru even more, they all had seen the catastrophe firsthand. It was no accident.

"Someone wants her dead, that's for sure," Haruka said firmly. "While it's a harsh punishment well-deserved of burning the library down, I believe the principal know the truth. She wants them out of the campus for a while. For what? I don't know." Haruka scratched her head.

"Wouldn't it be safer to keep them here? I mean anything can happen out there." Although Shizuru rarely talked about her life prior Mr. Kuga-era, Yukino could guess how hard it must be. Yukino sympathized with Shizuru even more when the girl was involved in troublesome business quite often. For a girl with a rough past like this, becoming an Otome seemed to be the only way out. But she feared that Shizuru's path might not be paved with roses like others'.

Yukino didn't need to say anything; Haruka could read her like an open book. The blonde girl reached and grabbed her hand reassuringly. "She'll be fine. She might appear a little helpless here and there, but a few days across the desert won't kill her. Come on, chin up."

"But it was a demonic spell, wasn't it? We saw it with our own eyes. They used it inside our school, Haruka-chan… in our school…" Considering how strange Shizuru acted before the library incident, Yukino feared the worst of what could happen in the desert.

To Yukino's surprise, Haruka sat up and drew her into the strong embrace. "Silly, Yukino! It doesn't matter where they use it. As long as I'm here, you'll be safe."

Yukino couldn't help but close her eyes, resting her chin on the other girl's shoulder. Haruka knew her so well without exchanging a word. But there was something the blonde never saw it through, and Yukino only prayed that just one day Haruka would open her eyes.

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The sun was setting, and Akane retreated to her room. She sat down at the desk and started to write a letter.

'Dear, Mr. Kuga…

I'm sorry to inundate you with my letters. But this one is urgent. I believe that the principal might have already informed you about the library incident. Shizuru-chan is punished and sent off to Ventulus at the moment. The trip will be tough, but I'm sure that you must have heard about the demonic spell cast in our school. I believe someone is trying to hurt Shizuru-chan. Please, Mr. Kuga. Please help her…'

Akane stopped for a moment to take a deep breath in. She knew she might be overreacting, but Shizuru was her only friend—the one who truly cared for her. She would do anything to protect the girl.

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Deep blue began to invade the clear skies. The first day of the journey finally ended. After putting up a bonfire underneath a rocky cliff, Natsuki and Shizuru sat down and started to unpack some dry food. They would set up a camp here tonight.

Natsuki was the one taking the lead today, making good use of the computerized map from Ms. Steinberg. All Shizuru did was following her twenty steps behind. The only time they talked to each other was when Natsuki was so exhausted, and Shizuru offered to hold the heavy, velvet box for her.

Natsuki looked up from her food when Shizuru sneezed. The chestnut-haired girl pulled her bourque closer around her neck, muttering something to herself. Without much thought, Natsuki grabbed an extra scarf from her backpack and threw it across the bonfire to Shizuru.

The taller girl hesitated before taking it. "Thank you."

"Suzushiro didn't prepare it for you?" Natsuki popped a water capsule into her mouth. Two capsules per day would be enough for her body to last in the desert.

"With all her good intentions, she's still not my mother," Shizuru said quietly.

Chuckling, Natsuki lit up a cigarette. "That scares me. Your mother must be real bossy."

"I don't remember having one. And you shouldn't smoke; it'll dehydrate you."

Natsuki paused, realizing her mistake. All of the Kuga girls must have had the same fate like Shizuru, enabling her father to take them in. Reluctantly, Natsuki stabbed the cigarette into the sand.

Getting up, Shizuru brushed the sand from her clothes and crawled into the white tent. Soon, Natsuki followed. They both lied flat on their backs next to each other, wrapped in a wool blanket. Silently, they just stared up at the white, wrinkled ceiling of the tent.

"I'm sorry I got you in trouble," Shizuru finally said.

Natsuki mentally debated for a while before she spoke. "I didn't mean to mention your mother."

Shizuru just sighed and flipped to the side, her back facing Natsuki. "Good night."

"Why do you think we're here when they know we didn't start the fire?" Natsuki couldn't help it. She was curious herself and eager to know Shizuru's take on this. After all, they were on the same boat now. Shizuru kept quiet, but Natsuki continued. "I'm sure the door wasn't locked—"

"It was… It was just like what Sagisawa-san showed us, only more powerful… and sinister…"

Natsuki's brows knitted. "You got yourself an enemy or what?"

"Are you my enemy?"

Shizuru's question came so simply it struck Natsuki. Without another word, they both remained silent until they fell asleep. It was supposed to be a calm night, but either of them could sleep soundly until they found the truth.