AND WE'RE BACK ON TRACK: I managed to write almost three chapters in the past week so my buffer is back in place for when I will most likely need it again in the coming month. Anyway, don't let me distract you since I know you all came here for the exciting continuation. On with the show!
Lieutenant Inspector Konoe called for the immediate assistance of the Healers that were on hand in the arena to take the two unconscious Spellweavers to their sick bay for examination. He cursed himself for allowing it to happen; he should have known better than to bring them into the arena during an exercise. Spellweavers were typically not trained to listen for the sound of wave rifle blasts to dodge out of the way. While it did not appear as if either of them were physically hurt, it was curious indeed how they both collapsed not long after the Archweaver managed to deflect the incoming fire.
"Extreme exhaustion from excessive spell usage," the Marshall Healer told him when he went to check on their status an hour later. "It usually only occurs in Provisional Weavers who deplete all of their energy trying to weave a spell too complicated for their skill but this is the first time I've seen a simultaneous case. Whatever trick they pulled up there must have wiped them both out."
"Will they be alright?" he was already dreading the report he would have to send to their superior about this.
"Oh yes, with a bit of rest and some of our replenishing fluids, they should be fully recovered by tomorrow morning," the Healer promised as she scanned the chart in her hand. "Most Weavers require a bit more time to heal, but these two appear to be surprisingly resilient."
He breathed a sigh of relief before thanking the Healer and departing for his office. Sitting at the console on his desk, he began to compose a brief report to be encoded and securely delivered to the Spellweaver Main Edifice. He adjusted his glasses on his nose as he thought about how best to word his description of the day's incident. Hopefully there would be some consolation in the fact that the two Weavers' recuperation had a positive prognosis.
Kyoko cracked one eyelid open at a time, allowing her eyes to adjust to the ambient light in the room. The last thing she remembered was standing in the arena and watching the blast wave she knew was coming straight towards her get diverted at the last second. After that, there was nothing. Now, she was in a strange white room with a killer headache. She assumed, from the smell of disinfectant, that she must be in a Healer establishment of some sort. Of course, she could always look around, but the pounding in her head was convincing her otherwise. A quiet groan escaped her lips and she closed her eyes again.
"Kyoko, is that you?" a hoarse voice came from her right. "Are you alright?"
"Ren? You're here too?"
"Yea," he trailed off as if he was about to say something more but let the silence hang in the air instead.
"Does your head hurt as much as mine?" she brought a hand up to her forehead, as if touching it could somehow dull the pain. "What happened?"
"I think we both used up all of our energy trying to get that wave away from you," she could barely make out what he was saying as he mumbled tiredly.
"Oh," she did not remember actually activating her barrier draft but everything happened so fast and her memory was missing a lot of details about what occurred so she supposed it was possible.
At that moment, a Healer entered their room and saw the girl holding her head. The man laying on the other bed in the room appeared to be trying to open his eyes with little success.
"Ah, you're both awake, it seems. You must be made of some pretty tough stuff to be up so soon after complete exhaustion like that," the Healer chirped with a wry smile. "I bet that headache must be awful."
"You're telling me," Kyoko moaned and Ren grunted in agreement.
"Well I have some replenishing fluids for you mixed with a serum to help you sleep to help speed your healing along. Oh, I hope you don't mind that we put you together in one room," the Healer apologized. "We have a small facility here so we have to conserve space where we can. Then again, it didn't seem like you two wanted to be separated."
"We're in too much discomfort at the moment to complain about anything other than this excruciating headache," Ren gingerly cleared his throat and chimed in. "I think we'll be just fine."
Kyoko tried to nod and winced as it made the pain in her head worse. The Healer laid a calming hand on her arm before placing a glass into her palm and closing her fingers around it.
"Can you hold this well enough to drink from it? Good, go ahead and drink that," she instructed. "And I'll take this other one over to your… husband? Boyfriend? Colleague?"
"The last one," Kyoko croaked between gulps.
"Well, the way you two were holding on to each other when they carted you in here, I honestly wasn't sure," the Healer admitted off-handedly, causing Kyoko to nearly choke on her medication.
The sleeping serum was fairly fast-acting, much to her relief since all she wanted to do was escape the awkward silence in the room after the Healer left. It was a good thing he could not see her face was at this moment from where he lay across the room; judging from the heat that radiated from them, she guessed her cheeks were nearly violet. She fought the urge to ask Ren if he knew what the Healer was talking about. He was probably just as embarrassed as she was.
"You were about to faint and I didn't want you to get a concussion from hitting your head on the ground," his voice broke the silence suddenly.
"Mm?" sleep was already taking a strong hold on her.
"I got to you… just before you fell…. didn't want you to get hurt," she could tell he was about to fall asleep as well.
"You saved me… thank you."
She thought she heard him mutter something about never forgiving himself but the medication had taken its toll and they both fell into a drug-induced slumber.
Lt. Inspector Konoe was all stuttered words and profuse apologies when they were released with a clean bill of health the following morning. After thanking the Healers for their care, they were escorted to what looked like an underground monorail stop. Apparently, as part of their apology, the Defenders arranged for them to be taken via subterranean transport to the next town over where the closest Spellweaver satellite location so they could travel back to Central City as themselves without having to drain their energy by using a disguise. They were also warned that Lory had been informed about the incident and was expecting to be briefed on the details when they returned to the Main Edifice.
The trip back to the city was blissfully uneventful and their conversations, much to both of their surprise, were not at all strained by recent events. Kyoko wondered if he was just trying to keep her mind off of what happened and, honestly, she appreciated that. His gentleness caused her mind to raise unnecessary thoughts that she fought hard to dismiss. Ren's smiles came easily and genuinely as they talked and they made her heart do uncomfortable things to the point that she was afraid she could not bear anymore. Yes, he saved her life, but her immense feeling of contented bliss in his presence seemed overly ample for mere gratitude. That is, until he paused as they approached the steps of the Main Edifice in the late morning of the following day.
"I don't know if Grand Archweaver will give us a chance to do this again but, despite what happened towards the end of it, I really enjoyed working with you," as he spoke, he suddenly looked so serious and so sad that her heart stopped its somersaults to ache for him.
"I did as well," she wished she had more profound words to say at the moment, but she had no idea how to handle his sudden mood change other than to offer a nervous laugh. "I guess we should go face the music?"
And without another word, they entered the building.
"As you both know, I received word from the Defenders of the… occurrence that happened a couple days ago at their facility," the Grand Archweaver steepled his fingers and began once Ren and Kyoko arrived and were seated.
"We were informed as much by Lt. Inspector Konoe," Ren confirmed.
"Well, then," he shifted his attention. "Kyoko, can you give me an account, in your own words, of what happened?"
"I imagine this was already in the report," she was taken by surprise when he called on her to respond. "But, we were in the observation balcony of the training arena when a stray wave rifle shot ricocheted and headed towards me. And from what I was told Archweaver Tsuruga and I both activated drafts to divert the blast. I believe his succeeded, but since we both put our full energy into the spells, we collapsed from exhaustion soon after."
"What exactly do you mean by 'from what I was told'?" he queried.
"It all happened so quickly that I am afraid I do not recall all of the details properly from before I blacked out. Archweaver Tsuruga was kind enough to help me fill in the blanks as he was conscious long enough to grab me before my head hit the floor," she looked over at the man sitting beside her with a grateful smile.
"Have you ever overused your energy until you've collapsed like this before?"
She pondered for a moment before replying, "No, I do not believe so. I do get tired from time to time but I have always tried to be mindful of the physical toll Spellweaving takes on my body so that I avoid overdoing things. However, considering the panic and urgency of the circumstance, it is plausible that I would omit that consideration in the interest of preserving life and limb."
"Thank you, Kyoko. As you know, I appreciate both of your efforts with this project and I'm sorry it had to end so unpleasantly but I am very glad that you are safe," he apologized. "Please know that I think you did excellent work and I look forward to seeing your efforts when you decide to go for your Master designation."
"Thank you, sir. I appreciate the vote of confidence."
"If you don't mind, I need to speak with Ren privately about his next project. You are free for the remainder of the day to get some rest. Be sure to report to the Provisionals floor tomorrow morning for your new assignment."
Dismayed, she looked sadly at Ren for a moment before rising from her seat. They really were going to be split up after this. All of her hopes that they might work together in the future were dashed to pieces as Lory dismissed her from his office. She gestured to both of them and, with a stiff goodbye, she exited the room.
Once the door closed fully behind her, Ren swallowed thickly as he saw the gaze of the man across from him. He knew her explanation raised several red flags in the Grand Archweaver's mind. Now that they were alone in his sound-proofed office, he was loathe to find out just how much of a dressing down he was about to receive for his actions. Holding back a wince, he braced himself for a whole new line of questioning.
"Okay, now tell me what really happened, Ren," Lory eyed him suspiciously.
"I'm willing to wager you've already guessed what actually happened without me having to tell you," he said with a resigned sigh. "I had no other choice! There was no way I could get to her fast enough to do anything else."
"Am I also correct in my assumption as to why you have not told her the truth about how you did it?" he accused.
"You are the only one who knows about my past. I can't jeopardize my position here like that."
"But she is obviously a part of that past if she has that stone in her amulet. I saw how it changed color when you were sick," he reasoned. "Have you ever done this to her before?"
"I would never do something like that to her," he was taken aback. "Not unless it was absolutely necessary which, in this case, it was."
"Clearly, but why are you denying yourself the support of someone who knows, and accepts, the real you?" he pleaded. "You need to tell her."
Ren took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair before he answered, "Because the person she knew all those years ago does not exist anymore."
"Oh, don't give me that self-effacing atonement nonsense," he admonished him with a stern look. "I know you like to paint yourself as the martyr for what happened during that campaign but you were a cocky, teenaged Battlemage with something to prove back then. Is it really so bad to start forgiving yourself?"
"I still don't feel like I should be forgiven," he murmured almost painfully.
"Learning from your mistakes is part of being an adult," Lory's voice took on an instructive, but consoling tone. "But so is growing and moving on. If you keep making yourself go in circles because of one major turning point in your life, then have you really learned anything?"
Ren gave no response so he continued.
"You have won the trust and admiration of one of my best up-and-coming Weavers to the point that she wouldn't dare question your actions or motives. I want you to take a good look at yourself and think about what you have done to earn that respect. Until then, no more high-risk assignments for either of you."
"But—"
"Do not push me on this." he cautioned. "I'm sure she is as grateful as I am for the quick thinking you displayed to save her life. However, you are not to work together again until you come to terms with yourself and tell that woman just how much the two of you are really connected."
"Understood," Ren mumbled petulantly. He did not see the point in arguing.
"Good, then you are also dismissed," Lory said with finality. "Go home, get some sleep and take the time to think about all this, will you?"
The Grand Archweaver watched him depart with a curt nod, letting out a long, tired sigh once he was alone. It was times like these when he seriously considered contacting the young man's father. But, a promise was a promise and he was not one to break them. One does not call the country's famous former governing council member simply because his son is being difficult.
Later that afternoon, Kanae bumped into a stylish young woman with short, sleek auburn hair and flawless makeup as she exited the Framer shop where she was picking up her cold weather cloak for her next location assignment. The woman eyed her disdainfully at first before a look of realization crossed over her face. Her expression vaguely reminded her of a certain peppy little Spellweaver she had not seen in several days. When she went to move out of the way and continue down the sidewalk, an arm shot out and stopped her. She turned to look back at the woman.
"You're Kanae, right?" she said with an almost predatory smilie.
"That depends on whose asking," she replied defensively.
"Oh your best friend was telling me all about you the other day," she gushed. "You know, the cute one with that adorable short haircut?"
"O—kay?"
"I wished I could have had more time to speak with her but she was in a hurry when we met," her hand was lightly petting Kanae's arm and it was making her uncomfortable. "Would you be a dear to pass a message along to her for me?"
"I'm not sure if I'll see her before I leave town again…" she broke off.
"Oh, please, do humor me, won't you?" the saccharine smile was starting to get on her nerves.
"Fine," Kanae said flatly.
"Tell her that I still cannot find the right shoes to match my purse," the woman said with near undetectable wink.
Kanae's eyes widened as she deciphered the code and nodded solemnly at the woman. "I certainly shall Miss… I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."
"Natsu," she purred. "I'm not sure if I'll get to see her before I head out of town myself, but I appreciate you getting the message to her. Take care!"
Kanae watched the woman sashay down the sidewalk before collecting her wits and walking as quickly as her feet could carry her back to the Spellweaver campus. She had not heard that code phrase used since she and Kyoko were Provisionals. It was a nonsensical sentence they came up with to use with each other when they were out at night in the city alone and one needed to covertly alert the other that someone was making them uncomfortable. After that seemingly random exchange on the street, she was now sure of two things; that woman was actually Kyoko and she was in danger.
DANGER DAYS: THE TRUE LIFE OF THE FABULOUS KYOKO MOGAMI - Seriously this girl is like a magnet for trouble, isn't she? There must be some conspiracy between my keyboard and my fingers where they just keep making terrible situations for her. I almost did a dual chapter release since I was so ahead of the game but I still need to do some selective editing and cleaning to the the next chapter before I'm happy with it.
Also, congrats to Darklife21 for paying attention to the hints thus far. I still don't have a gold star sticker to give you so this is the best I could do (which is, honestly, not that great).
Be kind and drop a line and I'll see you all in the next chapter!
AUTHOR OUT!