Chapter 9: Adora's Resolve

“Congrats, Verso. And welcome to the crew.”

With a flash of light, the instruments in his hands disappeared, leaving him awestruck. Verso clenched his fists, feeling satisfied with his new power. Without so much as a word, he got up and left the gym. Ashura watched him depart before slumping down against the wall.

“Phew~! That friggin’ ruled! I got to see a real swordsman in action AND we got a drummer!” Resting her arms behind her head, Ashura sighed. “Wish he stuck around a bit longer so we could hammer out some of the details, but it’s fine. We’ll see him in Muse class, right Addy?”

“...” The other girl was silent, currently curled up in a ball next to Ashura.

“Oi, what’s up? Why you actin’ like- WHOA!” Without warning, the rockstar was shoved out of her body and sent tumbling away. “What the hell Adora, what gives?!”

Ashura stopped dead in his tracks as he began to hear muffled sobbing from the girl. As a specter, he was able to get a better look at how he left the body. Cuts and bruises littered Adora’s form as she kept crying to herself in pain. Shame filled Ashura as he silently watched the girl before him raise a finger to each wound and slowly cast a mend spell on them.

When she finished, all that was left was a sniffling little girl, shaking from her confrontation. Ashura rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, unsure of what to say.

“I-er… hey, I-I’m s-”

“Don’t. J-Just… don’t.” Adora’s muffled voice cracked. “You… You just never listen to me. I-I didn’t want to fight him. We had perfectly good scarecrows in here to use. But you just do your own thing.”

“Hey, wait I just-”

“You just go for the first thing that pops into your mind! I don’t know what your life was like before you met me, but now things are different! You may not have cared about what happened to you before, but this time… someone else has to deal with your consequences.” Adora’s eyes were red with tears as she shot a glare at Ashura. The rockstar wanted to fight back, to say that she was wrong… but he couldn’t.

“...”

“...”

The duo sat in silence for a while, the only noise being the faint ticking of the clock in the room. Adora had finished crying, yet her gaze remained empty. Ashura on the other hand, sat next to her with a distant look in his eyes. He let out a long, regretful sigh as he broke the silence.

“You’re right.” Ashura slumped his head back, his bangs shadowing his eyes. “You’re totally right. My whole life was just 27 years of fuck-ups and mistakes. Nothing really mattered though, if I messed up, I took it like a champ and moved on. Getting beat up, getting shot, getting robbed, losing my parents… eventually, I think I just got numb to it all. Shitty events just kept piling up and  just kept blending together, I suppose.

“In my past life, I just let them happen and went self-destructive. Because, well, no one else was getting hurt but me. But you're right; this isn't my body anymore. I got you to deal with now, and I can't be letting you make the same mistakes I did. I’m sorry, Adora.”

“...We should go back to class, before people get worried.” Adora quietly slinked back on her school bag and went to leave the gymnasium. Ashura floated behind her, watching a final tear streak down her ward's face as they departed.

x-x-x-x-x

Upon arriving in the classroom, the duo found it devoid of any students. Ashura glanced around the room and even the hallway, but not finding anyone.

“Guess it’s lunch time? A bit early to start but…”

"Aha! There you are, Mouse Girl...!" A snarky, yet out-of-breath voice hit their ears. Adora turned around to find a panting Sirene. The sweat beading off her forehead clearly showing her exhaustion. "Y-you would not believe it!"

"M-Miss Sirene? What are you-" Immediately, the freckled girl shoved a note in her face. She carefully grabbed it and began reading. Her face grew pale as she read the contents of the letter.

“Hold on, what's going on?" Ashura came up next to Adora and began to read the note as well.

Dear Miss Rockett,

Firstly, I wish to thank you for your assistance earlier to help me unlock my talent for Musedom. With this power, I will now be able to confront and defeat the Lyre Beast that has been lurking in the school cellars for years. I am confident in my ability to subdue the beast and free this academy from its eventual uprising, as is my duty as a Knight of Rovia. Should I fail, it was simply because I was not strong enough, do not mourn for me.

-De’Ondre V.

The girl and rockstar stood in stunned silence at the last will of Verso. Sirene looked incredibly worried as she took back the letter.

"Lady Elzette went to accompany him down there as well! Those two seemed pretty confident in their skill, so why don't you go down there and show your support?"

"H-Huh? But where is everyone else?"

"Downstairs in the viewing room, watching the match! If you go there, you might even learn a thing or two from your betters. I'm off for now, just wanted to make sure you knew your place compared to them. Ta-ta~!"

Adora's legs were shaking as Sirene left the class. Sir Verso and  Lady Elzette, fighting the Lyre Beast?!  They were in a lot of danger! Sure, only Musica can harm the Beast, but it was only two student against it. They needed back-up, but...

“What's the matter, Adora? Let's get a move on already.”

"Huh?! Wait, nonono, I can't do that!"

"Come on, you can feel it too. I dunno what that Lyre Beast thing is, but from the sounds of it, those two need the help. So let's go join the others and-"

“NO!” Adora shouted in fear. “I-I’m not going down there! I–It was already too much for me earlier, and now you want me to risk my life once more?!” Adora suddenly felt a spectral hand slap her across the face, hard. She let out a cry before looking back to a glaring Ashura.

“Listen up, Adora! I’m not gonna take no for an answer this time! Verso and Elzette are down there playing their hearts out against that thing. They're risking THEIR life for all of you! And you’re just gonna let them die because you’re too scared?! FUCK THAT! They may be strong, but if they need a band to beat that thing, then they need a goddamn lead.”

“But what if-?”

“Dammit Adora, no more ‘What-Ifs?’! Remember my first lesson to you? This is the time now, you gotta stop thinking about what-ifs and start actually doing something! And right now, that something is hauling your little ass down to that basement and helping your friends not die!”

“I-” Adora gulped hard and closed her eyes. Her fists shook in fear and her heart raced horribly. But despite everything, through her tears and anxiety, Rottweiler formed itself in her hands. Feeling the cool metal of the guitar, Adora dashed out the classroom and sprinted towards the cellar door. “I’m on my way!”

x-x-x-x-x

“It’s not… backing down…!”

“Huff, huff… We must… keep going… Sir Verso…!”

Verso and Elzette were struggling in the cellars of Starlight Academy, facing down an unholy beast. A shadowy figure with an open maw that resembled a harp’s strings roared at them, its guttural screech reverberating throughout the underground room. Its outburst crushed the duet’s melody, making them clutch their ears in pain.

“GAU-GAROOUUUU!!!!”

The dark-skinned boy panted hard, drumming hard but to no avail. The drill-haired girl was desperately running her viola’s bow, her palms bloody due to overplaying. They were running themselves ragged playing against the musical monster, wincing in pain at their sore limbs.

“I am… sorry for… bringing you into this…” Verso huffed out, sweat pouring off his forehead. Elzette chuckled to herself, giving him a defeated smile.

“No worries, my dear Junior,” Emerald eyes glared defiantly at the Lyre Beast, fiddling away at her viola still. “It was my decision… to join you down here. My only regret… is not being able to hear… Miss Rockett’s Music… one more time…”

“Heheh… I must agree. We should…”

“Get the band together, right?”

The drummer and violinist whipped their heads back, with even the Lyre Beast pausing its assault to stare curiously at the newcomer. Standing before them was Adora Rockett, ruby eyes filled with both fear and resolve. She glared at the inky-black monster, its sickening yellow eyes shooting one back. Rottweiler was slung across her chest as she took a step forward.

“Miss Rockett…?”

“Adora, dear?”

“I’m… I’m sorry I’m late, everyone.” Adora gave the duo a shaky grin. "B-But I'm here now. And we will take on this monster together, all three of us!"

“But darling, you are shaking so bad. Are you sure you wish to join us?” The Lyre Beast snorted at this, waiting patiently to see if the blue Muse would join in. Adora’s expression turned fearful for a half second when she looked back at the monster, but she shut her eyes and bit her lip.

“T-To be honest, I am terrified. My heart is racing and my legs won’t stop sh-shaking. But… knowing that you two are down here when I could have helped… that would make me feel even worse!” Ruby eyes opened, a burning blue flame of a rockstar burned behind them. Verso and Elzette watched in awe as the once-shy girl’s eyes flashed Sapphire as her hair flared out and a familiar, sharp tooth grin stretched across her face.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself, Adora. Now then, Let’s Get Ready to Rock, Bitches!”