Newfangled Horizons
Chapter 01: Hardship's Quarter
By Twisted Eternal Wolvetta
The click of Nina's heels resounded against metallic steps as she rushed into the Underground Facility. Her Robe rattled and swayed, weighing her down to add upon her exhausted body. On the final stretch of steps, she halted midway, heaving for breath. Along the platform, Garderobe officials stared at her in shock. Gaze veering and exchanging between persons, Nina frantically searched the crowd. Where is she? Where is Nao? The panic swelled, transforming her legs into lead. N-no, she has already lost Sergei! S-he can't lose—
"—Nina Wáng?" Headmaster Kruger marvelled in awe. By her side within a chair was the Archmeister who looked awful. She had also been petrified by Yuma, so surely Nao is— "W—"
"—W-where is Nao?!" Nina jumped into action, confusion transmuting into anger when Yukariko hindered her way. "Miss Steinberg, I—" Suddenly embraced by her former teacher, Nina went totally rigid. What?
"She is fine, but you mustn't disturb her." Yukariko hushed into her ear, somehow knocking the wind from Nina's sails. "Just a few minutes ago her body went back to normal. Give her time. You're welcome to remain here until she recovers."
"I—...thank you." Nina's shoulders were grasped by the teacher and squeezed. Being eased back, Yukariko smiled at her. "Is it really fine though? After all I…"
"You were a young girl manipulated by an entire organisation, including a corrupt Grand Duke. It is not your fault."
Yukariko knew precisely what to say. Nina stared at her somewhat aghast. Had she experienced something similar…? Guided over to the haphazard metal chairs, Nina was plonked next to Yukariko. She refused to acknowledge the others within the Underground Facility—especially the Columns. Frankly they terrified Nina. But Nao was one as well now. Nina's eyes hardened with the realisation, getting lost within her own mind. Was she… Nina frowned. It's right, isn't it? She is afraid of those in power. The recognition struck a nerve deep within her psyche. So few people ruled over so many lives. How is that…—
"—Nina." The Headmaster had approached her without Nina realising. The flinch thrown Natsuki's way made her pause before she ushered Yukariko away. Sitting where the teacher had been, she angled the chair to face her former student better. "Don't be too hard on yourself."
'Easy for you to say.' Nina thought internally. Kruger looked as though she hadn't slept in days and her expression was terrifying. That glare alone could probably halt an entire army if needed. "Thank you, b—"
"—It wasn't your fault, you know?" The Headmaster remarked, almost as if she had read Nina's mind. "You were being emotionally manipulated, and the stakes were high." She would not acknowledge her father, the potential to trigger something was too high. "But I must ask you: Are you sure you wish to stay within a double contract with Her Majesty?"
That had been hours ago and Nina was staying within the guest quarters.
Dressed within borrowed pyjamas, she sat atop the bed, arms wrapped around her legs. The room was almost identical to the student dormitories. How is she… responding to this? Weary bronze eyes wandered across the quarters, stuck in hazy thought. Those words from the Headmaster would not escape from her mind. How is she supposed to react to that?
The contract has only just started sinking in for Nina. If either of them were injured, they would know about it. Unconsciously reaching for her ear, she fiddled with the Neptune Emerald. It felt cold—unlike the Ultimate Black Diamond. That cursed GEM had been red hot to the touch. For her father—Sergei—she had sacrificed her very soul. Did she regret that? Nina was unsure.
"Incoming call from A.Y Sky Blue Sapphire."
Fumi Himeno's voice resonating within her head made her jump. Absently accepting the line, Nina immediately regretted it when Arika shouted over the line.
"Nina! I got Mashiro to Garderobe, where are you?"
"Arika, lower your voice." She winced, only now recognising how late it was. "It's nearly midnight, what held you up?"
"Oh, sorry… Everyone told us off, we just got away!"
She's still loud. Nina sighed, rising from the bed to head for the window. Opening the double Florentine doors, she leaned onto the sill for a better vantage point. Pitch-darkness greeted Nina, the twinkle of the Administar illuminating the sky above her. "I'm in the visitor accommodation. Mashiro will know where it is."
"Okay. We'll be there in a minute."
Nina supposed she needed the company. Already she spotted the azure streak of Arika's Robe within the sky. Waving, she signalled the fellow Meister Otome over. The Queen was the first to enter, landing onto the floorboards noisily.
"Oh, it's this cramped place."
…She deemed this small? Nina peered across the huge chamber speechlessly. But it's gigantic! An entire Artain family would happily live inside this room. Those families were big. "Nao still hasn't woken up." The anxious nerves from before returned, causing Nina to frown. She felt rather conflicted about why she cared so much for the Column. It made sense, she guessed. After all, Sergei had rescued her from the streets around the same time Nao had been. They were both Artain orphans who had lost everything and shared the same age bracket. The only real difference is Nao hadn't received an adoptive family. Because of that, she had become illusive and distant. Truthfully it was a miracle that their relationship had continued in the first place. Artain orphans very rarely united after being whisked away.
"Nao's stronger than that!" Arika declared as she made herself at home, plopping down onto the bed backwards. "Mashiro, Nina! Come here!"
"What? No way." Mashiro grunted, crossing her arms. "I sleep in pyjamas."
"Doesn't it matter?"
Yeah, now Nina remembered why befriending these two took her so long.
There's no helping it, she guessed.
Striding over to the bed, Nina sat herself down meekly. The redhead immediately embraced her joyfully, laughing.
"Arika!" The warning fell on deaf ears until the orphan suddenly went mute. Nina stared at the far wall, trapped within a distant memory. This reminded her far too much of Erstin. For the longest time she had desperately sought to keep her dear friend out of mind.
Garderobe is a wretched place, isn't it? She had lost Erstin, her father and herself here. If it wasn't for Nao's survival, she would not be here.
"Nina?" Mashiro had approached, giving Arika a concerned look who returned it in full.
"Hey, Nina; didn't I tell you, you shouldn't keep things to yourself?" The Sky Blue Sapphire moved Nina to face them. Sullen eyes remained downcast, distant by whatever hardship she conjured. "It's about Ers, isn't it?"
"How did—" Nina's gaze shot up, a frown scrunching her face.
"—Because you love her." Arika said easily. "Well, not the like-like you have with Ser—"
"—Do not complete that sentence!" The Artain shouted in vehemence.
"This is getting us nowhere." Mashiro grumbled, shoving herself between her two Meister Otome. "Arika! You're being too pushy!" Turning to Nina more, the Queen grasped her hands. "Nina. Before you showed up at Cat God Mountain, me and Arika had a huge argument." She examined Nina's eyes, catching sight of a multitude of emotions. Stress, anxiety, curiosity… perhaps other things, as well. "It nearly got us killed. Now that I am also your Master, I need you to be totally open with me at all times, okay?"
Arika stared at them slack-jawed. Is that what she and Mashiro look like when they're alone?
"I… don't know if I can." Nina admitted slowly, her thoughts immediately returning to Erstin and Nao.
"It takes time to change, I of all people should know that." Mashiro scoffed at herself. "I've said it before but I'll say it again: No way would Erstin blame you for what happened that day. She was being manipulated too! None of us saw it coming!"
That's true. Arika mutely recollected. Even as Ers' roommates, they hadn't picked up on anything. They should have known better. The Ho clan were almost driven extinct during the Dragon King War. Erstin had been her family's last ditch effort to return to their golden age. But at what price? She'd still be alive if it wasn't for her family and the Schwartz.
"But I killed her." The words were spat out with self hatred.
"I—" Arika tried but was cut off by Mashiro.
"—She was trying to stop you and Arika from killing each other! She knew the danger she was putting herself into!"
Nina tried to find the words to berate herself further, but was unable. Her mouth moved yet no words were produced. Gaze exchanging between Mashiro and Arika, her eyes soon fell groundwards again. "I…" She sighed, pulling a hand from Mashiro's to clasp her forehead. She attempted to soothe the quickly forming migraine along her brow, but alas, it was unsuccessful. "I'm sorry… I thought I had gotten over all of this in Artai."
"That's just because you had no one to talk to." Arika pointed out, standing to approach the open window. Vaulting her torso onto the sill, she partially stretched outside. Within the distance along the mountainside, she could see the Headmaster's office. All the lights were still on. "I'm going to tell the Headmaster we're here."
"Hm." Mashiro nodded in approval, soon left with just Nina.
A solemn silence swarmed the room.
The next few days were going to be painstaking.