Konoka screamed, dropping the book.
"Ow," The head winced.
Konoka swiped the nearest book, raising it with trembling hands. A pair of shoulders followed the head, then a body and a pair of legs all clad in a night-shirt and pants. Climbing out of the book and shaking a leg, the girl that had come out stretched.
"I hope you're not planning on hitting me with that. It's been through two fires and a faery attack," She said, looking at Konoka nonchalantly. She had a monotone voice, reserved.
"I…w-what did you think I'd do?" Konoka stammered putting the book down. "You scared the pants off me."
"Ah…well sorry about that I didn't expect company," She said. "Who are-?"
"Konoka!" Setsuna skidded into view, almost crashing into the wall of the bookcase. "Are you ok?"
"Y-Yeah but…"
"Oh Konoka?" The girl echoed. "The gypsy?"
"How do you know my name?" Konoka looked at her, confused.
"Konoka, is everything alright?" Nodoka cried out, almost colliding with Setsuna.
"Y-Yeah," Konoka nodded. She started to put the book down.
"Nodoka told me about you," The girl pointed her thumb at Nodoka. "I was away in one of my worlds when you came. Nodoka saw the whole thing through her window."
"This is Yue," Nodoka said. "She's a story bard like me. Jumping into her own worlds that she created is a favourite hobby of hers."
"Mm but Nodoka's the one that more gifted," Yue replied.
Nodoka looked sheepish. Setsuna, looking relieved crossed over to Konoka kneeling down to pick up the book she'd dropped.
"Konoka," Setsuna said slowly. She was getting up, tracing the spine with a finger. "I thought Nodoka told you not to read the books with the gold spines."
Somehow Konoka felt like she'd been caught in a naughty act. She swallowed. Setsuna didn't sound angry but her voice was tight.
"Y-Yeah but I thought I'd take a little peek. The book looked so enticing and…I'm sorry," Konoka said.
Setsuna closed her eyes. She seemed to be counting her head. Then letting out a deep breath she said, "It's alright. Just don't do this again ok?"
Yue pulled something out from her pockets-a small shining blue crystal.
"Found it," She announced.
As Setsuna put the book back in its place Konoka looked at the crystal. It was transparent and had sharp, angular edges. It was doing something odd though-whenever the light caught it the crystal it would reflect bright green and red light.
"What is that? I've never seen something like that before," Konoka asked, shielding her eyes and squinting.
"I'm not quite sure myself. Sometimes when I create these worlds small details like the environment tend to appear without my knowing. It's only when I go inside that I discover things like this that I didn't write in the story before I put the book together," Yue said. "It's a good thing though. It means I have more materials to play and experiment with."
"Yue's an alchemist. Whenever she goes into the world of the stories she's created she brings home things like this," Nodoka explained.
"I can break this down into its finer compounds and extract the minerals," Yue murmured. "For the Elixir…"
Beside her Setsuna gave a jerk of her head, a very bird-like motion and asked, "Elixir? You're still working that?"
"Of course you know I never back down from a challenge," Yue nodded.
"What elixir?" Konoka looked at her.
"An elixir that would eliminate emotions completely," Yue said. She looked at the crystal again, "I've been trying to find the last ingredient for the elixir for over a year now and I think this crystal may be the one."
"But…that's horrible," Konoka's forehead creased, perturbed by the idea. "Emotions are the most important things for people. Without them we'd just be robots."
"Well this is purely for experimental purposes. To separate emotion from humans would be like separating water from a river. It's illogical and ludicrous," Yue reassured her. "I''m only doing this because of a bet I took up from Al years ago when I joined the palace."
"It's horrible. I wouldn't want to live without feeling anything," Konoka shivered.
Setsuna paused with her hand on the spine of the book, her expression growing distant for a split second. Slipping it off, she turned to Konoka and extended the book to her, "Well since you've already started would you like to finish reading the rest of the story?"
Yue was looking at her thoughtfully. Konoka was slightly unnerved but she decided not to let that show. Konoka reached out for the book, taking it. As their hands brushed against each other Konoka felt something-a flash of pulsing, raw untapped power that lurked just beneath the surface, primal and beastly. It didn't feel like a demon's. Konoka looked at Setsuna in surprise but she didn't seem to notice anything. As she took the book Konoka felt Nodoka's heart quicken. She was nervous for some reason.
"Do you need it?" Konoka asked her.
"No take it," Nodoka shook her head, her hair falling over her eyes. "It's fine."
Setsuna headed over to the door, pushing it open and gestured for Konoka to go first. Glancing at Nodoka and Yue Konoka said, bowing, "Thanks for letting me burrow your book and I'm sorry about dropping you Yue."
Yue gave her a slight smile, "It happens. You're not the first one so don't worry."
Konoka smiled back at her then said to both of them, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," They echoed.
As Konoka walked out she heard Setsuna asking Nodoka in a low voice, "Are we filled for the opening show?"
"Yes," Nodoka replied. "Booked out."
Setsuna murmured something then headed out, closing the door behind her.
"Do you guys do shows all the time here?" Konoka asked.
"Once a month," Setsuna said. "We change it every year. Tomorrow's our opening for this year's new show. If it goes well we'll run it every fortnight one month from now until we change it again next year."
"Sounds like fun," Konoka said.
"It's not really," Setsuna said, starting to walk down the corridor. She made a face, "Haruna always finds a way to make it chaotic. Al does the same thing but more stealthily and we always lose a worker because of some mishap with a dangerous animal Haruna's created."
"What?"
"Don't worry they're just paper dolls basically," Setsuna said, catching sight of Konoka's paling face. "They're not real and neither are the animals but it makes a mess."
Konoka had fallen into step beside Setsuna and the two were walking in a comfortable rhythm. They passed arched windows that over-looked the grounds. Konoka caught a glimpse of the colosseum which was whole again, a flawless dome glass, four entry hallways and metal cages hanging from the ceiling by a chain made out of glowing golden light with fixed robots inside that were de-activated. It looked like it'd never been touched.
"Whoa," Konoka whispered as she saw the chains glitter. She'd never seen anything like that before back at home.
Then she realized Setsuna had continued to walk ahead, walking towards the stair-case at the end of the hallway.
"Wait for me!" Konoka cried out, running to catch up to her with the book in her arms.
Setsuna stopped, turning. She didn't seem to realize Konoka wasn't walking beside her.
Once she caught up Setsuna had a curious look on her face and said, "So what part of the story were you up to anyway?"
"The part where the prince was about to be executed," Konoka said.
Setsuna's face was unreadable, a mask made out of porcelain. Konoka thought she saw something in her eyes when she answered but as soon as she cared to look properly Setsuna's expression was guarded again.
"That picture on the front of the book…it looked like you," Konoka said.
Setsuna's head jerked to the side slightly, much like a bird's. She looked at Konoka, "You're mistaken. Nodoka used me as inspiration for her story about the prince. She has a very active imagination."
They walked in silence for a short while. Konoka snuck glances at Setsuna along the way. Since the windows were so large and the moon was facing this side every time she walked underneath the light that was streaming through her form would change for just a few seconds. Her hair would shift to white and her dark brown eyes lightened to a gentle, clear light blue. And her wings appeared again, folded inwards and shimmered, the feathers looking fuller and softer.
"Secchan…have you ever thought that maybe some stories might be true?" Konoka asked as they neared the stair-way.
Considering Setsuna said, "Some."
Konoka smiled at her, striding past her. She said, "Maybe you weren't just blessed."
Setsuna looked at her confused, "What are you-?"
"Thanks for vouching for me. I'll be a good worker I promise," Konoka hugged her.
"Don't mention it," Setsuna stiffened underneath her pushing her away gently.
Konoka pulled back, crossing her arms and gave Setsuna a firm look, "You can't keep on doing that."
Setsuna rubbed the back of her head, a slightly embarrassed look coming to her face and mumbled, "It's…I mean I'm not very good with that kind of stuff."
"I'm not going to bite," Konoka laughed, enveloping her in another hug and pulling away.
Setsuna looked terrified but she was trying not to show it.
"You should sleep. Rehearsal starts early tomorrow," Setsuna said thickly.
"Oh alright then," Konoka said.
As she started to walk down the stairs Setsuna reached out, "Do you need any help finding your way back to your room?"
"I'll be fine," Konoka said smiling. She summoned a ball of fire to her palm, "See? I've got a light."
She leaned forwards playfully, pretending she was going to kiss her. Setsuna froze. When Konoka pulled back, giggling Setsuna seemed to relax a little. She was so easy. She started to walk down the banister, one hand on the banister the other holding the fire out so she could see the steps in the dark. She paused further down, glancing over her shoulder. Setsuna was watching her, her expression calm once more.
"Setsuna…" Konoka hesitated. "What happened to the prince? He wasn't really executed was he? I mean, it wasn't his fault what he did."
Setsuna's eyes flickered, pain flashing in them for just a brief moment enough for Konoka to catch.
"He was saved and after that…well he lived out the rest of his life as a normal person working hard and earning a living," Setsuna said after a long moment.
Konoka's eyes held hers and something passed between them, a static of tension but strangely, curiosity then Setsuna said curtly, "Goodnight Konoka."
She turned around, the darkness swallowing her.
"Goodnight Secchan," Konoka murmured and continued down the stairs.
She heard a chuckle ring through the air and a faint voice, Setsuna, drift through the air, "Secchan?"
Konoka's lips turned in a satisfied smile. She sounded like she'd liked it and Konoka was sure...sure that Setsuna had been the prince. Maybe, just maybe she could lie low until she was safe. She'd never been with a bird demon prince before after all. Her mother had always told her to keep her heart, as well as her mind open.
A.N: So originally this was part of chapter four then I realized it was waaaaaay too long so I put it in a separate chapter. Til next time Blue out-