Chapter Restructured & Expanded: 16-02-23.

CHAPTER IV
Bryce (Fragmented)

XVII • CM Mynetdæg of Sōlmōnaþ
(The 17th Day of Cake Month, Coin Day, 900)

What is Viola thinking? Natsuki still couldn't fathom what's happening: She's injured, yet she feels no pain? Neither can she still remember anything at all! She truly has no choice—"Tell me everything." Natsuki adamantly demands. "I'm tired of being left in the dark!"

Viola supposed she ought to tell her something.

"I must brief the Night Patrol." Tomoe reported, nodding to the Arcewælcyrge and departing.

Once the door inside this communal room closes, it's just Natsuki, Viola and a vague tension.

"Come sit." Viola headed for the table and sat herself down, crossing a leg atop the other. She expectantly stared at Natsuki who remained idle by the window. Apparently not then, since Natsuki is glaring at her with such suspicious eyes.

"You're hiding something." Natsuki accuses.

"Am I?" Viola smiled wryly, eyes narrowing faintly. This Ánhere of hers—she is not used to being questioned like this. Beneath her gaze, she examined as Natsuki tensed up. It is clear that Natsuki's apprehensive around her. "What is it that you wish to know?"

"What are the HiME? Who are you? Why are the Ánhere and Wælcyrge so important here yet… yet this is your quarters?" She gestured to their surroundings. "What did you mean about breaking realities?"

Those are some curious questions indeed.

Natsuki refused to leave the counter's side, glaring out the window towards the blurred Moon.

For a time Viola mulled over these questions, gaze falling to the oaken table.

"What's with the star?" Natsuki interrupted her train of thought, pointing at the crimson smudge. "V-Viola, please—I'm so confused! I don't even remember who I am!" Alas, the continued stare only increased Natsuki's anxiety and exasperation. "Say someth—"

"—Our world shares its realities with others.

This silenced Natsuki instantly.

"Once, we were one. Legend has it there was a great disaster that devastated our world, ripping our realities apart."

What? Natsuki stared at her speechlessly. "W-what do you mean? What are you talking about?"

"Natsuki, wherever you originated from, is connected to Earl somehow. Due to unknown circumstances revolving around the Carnival, your soul strayed into this reality."

This surely makes no sense? "How do I know you aren't lying?"

"Whyever would I lie?" Viola slipped a hand beneath her ruffled shirt to reveal a chained violet crystal. "This is called an Anchor. It is theorised this is a fragment from that disaster."

Natsuki hesitantly moved from the window to stand before her. She watched Viola balance the crystal between her thumb and middle finger. An excruciatingly overpowering foreboding emitted from it. Yet, for some reason, it felt familiar. Why… is that? "What does it do?"

Viola stressed a smile which piqued Natsuki's curiosity. "Unimaginably awful things." Rising to her feet, her Ánhere uneasily backed away. Unsheathing her rapier from its harness, she regarded her momentarily. She looks anxious, but no matter, this has to be witnessed.

"What are—" Before Natsuki could conclude her sentence, Viola performed the impossible.

Lifting the rapier, Viola then angled the blade downwards. Next, she laxed her grip upon the hilt, allowing it to fall. However, there is never a clang. Instead, it remained suspended in mid-air. Wisps of emerald encircled this weapon to twist around Viola's arm until pouring into the Anchor.

"It manipulates time and space." Viola declared, the rapier fizzling faintly in and out of existence. 'I should not tell her that it can manipulate people, though.'

That's… that's impossible. Is this what Viola had done to her? The foreboding from before intensified within Natsuki, her eyes remaining fixated upon the Anchor. "Who…" She breathed—"Who are you?"

"I am Shizuru Viola, the Arcewælcyrge of Windbloom. Likewise, I was Anchored by this same crystal."

No. This makes no sense! Natsuki unconsciously backed further away from Viola, her expression changing a multitude of times. How could her reality be the same as this place? If she had a previous existence at all? "T-then what's a HiME?"

"Sometimes the HiME phase through realities, though it's rare they make it alive."

"Alive? Then why am I alive? Or you?" All of these questions were merely becoming more questions! This is answering nothing! Suddenly, Natsuki's demeanour altered, courageously pushing into Viola's personal bubble. "Who am I? P-Please… who—"—The Arcewælcyrge remained silent, transforming her desperation into anger. "Who am I?!" Snatching up the woman's collar, Natsuki's strength immediately left her. Her weight leaned into the taller woman and she stared at the floor.

It's no use, is it?

"I am sorry. I cannot answer that, Natsuki. You may never know and neither do I." Viola murmured softly, the Ardour from her Anchor now waning between their bodies. As soon as she said this, Natsuki's eyes bolted back up to hers. "I was in your situation for the longest time. I understand." She placed her hands against Natsuki's wrists, delicately tempting them to release her. "We shall take a step at a time, alright? That much I can promise you."

"I… okay." Natsuki loosened herself from Viola, sliding a hand down her own cheek.

What is she supposed to do? Could she trust this Arcewælcyrge? "...What about Tomoe? Where did she come from?"

"I do not know either."

This makes absolutely no sense.


XVIII • CM Bæþdæg of Sōlmōnaþ
(The 18th Day of Cake Month, Bath Day, 900)

The next morning, the storm had finally cleared.

It's still soaking wet outside, but at least it's no longer raining. Natsuki peered skywards, observing as the clouds loomed overhead. It reminded her of just how insignificant she actually is.

In her other reality, had it been any different?

Wandering down the Palace grounds, she kept a lookout for any servants or guards. To put it simply, she has snuck out. This Palace is getting awfully clammy and she desperately sought to be alone.

After yesterday's predicament, spending time in solitude is a godsend.

So many questions are clogging up her mind: The HiME, alternative realities, Wælcyrge, Ánhere… What does any of this mean? She hadn't the faintest clue, but she will find the answers. Because if she doesn't?

Natsuki feared she'd go insane.

Turning the corner into the gardens, Natsuki baulked for much to her chagrin, someone familiar's here. "You—!"

"—It's you!" Nao exclaimed, sitting at a stone bench alongside the path.

The woman has a book in hand—The Wyndlósma Chronicles, by Takamura Shiro—what on Earl is that book? Natsuki hadn't the faintest clue, nor did Nao seem very interested in it.

"I have a name, ya know?" Nao slipped a ribbon between the pages then closed the book. "Amazing, I know." She dryly grinned before her expression went stale.

"Well, whatever." Natsuki mumbled. "Is there anything actually interesting to see here?"

"Why? Sightseeing?"

Natsuki's gaze narrowed, unable to quite discern this annoying redhead's personality. She could not tell if she's purposefully being irritating or genuine. Not to mention, she's unaware whether Nao is a tittle-tattle. After all, Natsuki's tactic of remaining unspotted has been destroyed.

"I'm not telling you anything about this dump until you start saying my name."

A sigh released from Natsuki. "Fine. You're Nao, right?"

"Bingo." She sang, shoving the book into Natsuki's hands as she approached. "Hold this for me a moment." Ignoring the responding grunt, Nao unpocketted a nail file, starting to work on a split nail. "There's a bunch of places no one goes to anymore. There's also lots of secret tunnels thanks to Anchoring."

Again with that terminology. Natsuki remained silent, listening to the redhead's gossip. If she plays her cards right, maybe she can learn something.

"We have underground tunnels mostly, but the Palace is nothing compared to the Founder's Ruins."

"Founder's Ruins?"

"Hm?" Nao eyed her. "Oh, did I catch your eye?" She grinned obnoxiously, returning her nail file to her pocket. "Be careful asking around about that place, you never know who's listening in." Snatching back her book, she retreated down the pathway. "Ciao."

What.

Coming to a halt, Natsuki watched after the retreating redhead who practically strutted. Everything about this woman annoyed her. Ugh.

Either way… it seems there are multiple places of interest located here.

Natsuki surveyed the area, finding nothing out of place or of fascination to warrant examination. Perhaps she is expecting too much from overly managed gardens? But, unfortunately she has already been out for quite a while. She should probably return before the others catch on.

Turning on her heel, Natsuki began making her way back to the Palace.

Perplexingly though, as she continued this trek, a grimy, unsettling dampness oozed against her abdomen. Daunted, Natsuki indecisively slid a hand underneath her tunic. It's then that a sickly feeling floods her.

Blood.

She pulled out her hand to inspect it, staring at stained fingertips.

"I—huh…" How has this happened? Viola instantaneously came to mind. She needs to find her! Regrettably… it would seem she is lost upon entering a discreet door. Here the corridor looks like any of the others—tall with dark timber panels. Candlelight hardly illuminated anything, making either route appear endless.

Hopeless, almost.

Of all the times for this to happen!

Within the confusion, Natsuki somehow stumbled when overwhelming pain advanced upon her. In fact, she has no idea how long she had been down. Only the realisation that she had actually fallen only occurred when Viola loomed above her.

Viola has been looking for her?

"You are hurt." Viola murmured quietly as she knelt down, looking breathless.

Wavering in and out of consciousness, Natsuki is only half aware Viola picked her up. "P-put me down." She stammered, easily silenced upon the stare she received. Has Viola said something else? She did not know.

She…

The pain dispersed, but the darkness swallowed her up.

When Natsuki's next conscious, it took a second to realise where she resides.

She is in the quarters—has Viola carried her the entire way?

"Stop beating yourself up, Shizuru. It's not your fault she ran off when wounded."

"It is, Tomoe. I told her far too much. She went to seek answers because I did not explain them properly."

The voices were coming from another room inside the communal room. Natsuki looked at the door, then drifted her sight upon the ceiling above. It seems she's been placed on the bed.

Placing a hand atop her stomach, she pressed down delicately. The pain's still there, but only a little. What is going on?! Natsuki didn't understand whatsoever!

"And what would you say, Shizuru? The more you try to explain, the more she'll get confused. We can only comprehend so much."

How much did Tomoe know exactly?

This is just… Natsuki sighed.

Curiosity getting the better of her, she started painstakingly untying her tunic. Beneath were clean bandages which were already tarnished by blood. Just how much has she bled?

It is then that Tomoe opened the door, her and Viola entering without her noticing. Tomoe shut the door just hard enough to grab her attention.

"Wha—" Natsuki froze, but got interrupted mid-sentence. Not vocally, but by Viola's touch.

"You gave us quite the scare." Viola pointed out as she clasped a hand atop Natsuki's forehead, leaning over her. "Please, I must see your wound, the stitches may have come loose again."

Again? Wait, she hadn't had any stitches before—just how long has she been out cold?

"Natsuki, please. You tore your wound when wandering through the grounds."

"Well, okay." She mumbled, bashfully splaying out her tunic to reveal her torso entirely. At this point Natsuki's far too exhausted to care. "Can you explain what is happening to me? I didn't feel pain before. Why would it matter if it split open?"

The two older women looked at each other. There are so many reasons why that's bad!

It's like they were plotting their next move telepathically or something. Who knows. Natsuki could only give them a desperate look, gaze veering once Viola examined her body.

"The blood has already gone through to the second layer." Viola hovered her hands above Natsuki's injury. She did not touch her, but kept her palms close enough to feel the wound's heat. "I need to replace the bandages."

"W-wait, you're removing them?"

"Of course?" Tomoe arched a brow at her, Natsuki merely throwing her a tense stare. She loosely crossed her arms upon this exchange and focused on Viola instead. "Should I notify Helene?"

"No, fetch me the medical supplies."

Tomoe nodded to the Arcewælcyrge's command, exiting the room without another word.

"What's up with her?"

"Hm, Tomoe? She tends to keep to herself. I would not worry about it. Can you sit up?" Viola helped ease her up, getting to work delicately unwrapping the bandages from Natsuki's torso. "Listen Natsuki, I will tell you the reason you did not feel pain before."

"H-huh, why?" There is a reason? "It can't be any worse than a flying rapier."

"Those of us—Wælcyrgan especially—with high concentrations of spiritual energy—or Ardour, as we name it—can temporarily ease wounds." Viola paused from tending to Natsuki's bandages, peering into viridian eyes. "With the Anchor, I can transfer some of my Ardour into your wound."

"So you're saying you're magically healing me?" That… kind of makes sense, nodding unsurely. "How does it work?