Chapter 4 The Black Knight joins the case

Kureha closed the folder and held it tightly against her chest. She was finally closer to the truth. Her mother didn’t commit suicide; she had to be killed by someone with a special weapon.
It was said publicly that there was no evidence proving otherwise. 
However, the folder and its contents, which informed her about the disorder and the statement from the little boy hiding in the closet, proved otherwise.

"Why do you have it, Uncle?" she asked, turning to Loi. He was sitting at his desk, focused on the documents concerning the academy's barrier.
"It's a copy of the folder in the chief's office," he said, looking to the side with a troubled expression. "In reality, I shouldn't have it, but I made a copy to make finding things easier. I was afraid I might forget some useful detail,” he said. "I wanted to have something to prove that Remi didn't commit suicide."
Kureha stood up and returned the folder to its owner hands.
"Thank you for letting me read it."
"Do you have any questions?"
Kureha nodded.
"Yes. Who was it exactly and why did they do that? Why was my mother the target?”
She looked out the window. Although Loi’s training equipment obstructed part of the view, she could still make out shapes behind it. Her eyes followed the light shining on the trees beyond.

"If you ever need to read it again, tell me." Professor told her.
“Okay.”
“Oh, and I have a question.”
“Yes?”
“How’s your relationship with your weapon?”
Kureha froze for a moment and bit her lip.
“That weapon stands outside to ensure that nobody interrupts me.” she answered.
“That’s not what I was asking.”
"I know," she said, dropping her shoulders. “I just don’t know how to answer that. It’s not bad, but I wouldn’t call it perfect,” she admitted. Kureha knew she wasn’t treating her weapon properly. Sometimes she was rude to it. But then she could work with it perfectly. She had always dreamed of having a weapon: a sword, a lance, a bow, or even a pistol. The idea of having a humanoid one was never something she imagined. How was she supposed to use it, let alone treat it? Should she have done things differently during the test in Room One today, or was it okay?
Everything that was happening around her recently clouded her mind.
Loi looked at her warmly.
"It's the beginning. I’m sure it’ll get better with time.”
"I hope so."

***

As she got out of the Loi’s office she noticed the knight leaning against the wall. He wasn’t dressed in his armor but people passing him still looked curiously at him. 

“Let’s go” she ordered. The knight went after her.

Both arrived in the cafeteria. The moment they stepped in, everybody fell silent. Kureha was expecting that rumors about what happened to her would already start spreading to other sections at the academy. The eyes were following both her and the one walking behind her. She took her food and noticed Luke sitting in the same bench she sat when he was reassuring her after her twenty second failed attempt at summoning.

This is a chance.

“Hi” she sat next to him.
Luke looked at her with his prince-like smile decorating his face.
“Hi, everything’s okay?”
“Not quite. I’m again an attraction but this from different reasons.” she put her food on the table and pointed with her head toward the man in his twenties standing behind her.
“Your weapon, huh?”
The knight held out his hand to Luke.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance," said a voice like a warm breeze. Luke smiled awkwardly and took the knight's hand without answering.
"So..." Luke quickly turned back to Kureha, who was sitting next to him, and noticed that she was looking back and forth. "You look like you want to ask me something."

"Yeah. What were you doing yesterday at my house?"

Luke's eyebrows rose when he heard her question.
"Oh, one of the shopkeepers gave me a bottle for free, but since I don't like drinking, I decided to give it to your father before going back to the dorm."
"Right. The shopkeepers in the shopping district like you a lot," she admitted.

I once went shopping with Luke and came back with a lot of freebies, whether they were vegetables, fruits, or drinks.

She laughed at herself when a memory popped into her head. "They thought I was your girlfriend when you brought me there for the first time."
"Right. It wasn’t easy to correct their assumptions.”
While the two were reminiscing, the knight stood up straight near the table and looked around. He noticed some students pointing their fingers at him and talking quietly to each other. Kureha seemed unbothered by it; he should have been too, but for some reason, he felt restless. He caught sight of some students taking out their weapons. None of them were living beings. He was the only one like that.

For now.

At least, that's what he wished for deep down.

"Next time, look at the label before giving any alcohol to my dad." Kureha's firm voice brought the knight back to reality. He looked down at the two students talking.
"I'm sorry. I’ll remember next time.”
"I hope you will."
The knight kept smiling as he observed their conversation and laughter.
But that smile was far from bright.

"Okay, let's set aside the issue of my dad's drinking for now." Her voice's tone shifted, changing from its previous warm hues to a different shade.  "I have another question, but I think we should talk about it somewhere else.”
Kureha looked straight at Luke, who was surprised by her sudden seriousness.
"No worries. You can ask me anything," he replied in a soft manner.
"It's about my mother's death. You were there.”
Luke froze for a moment, unable to move. His bright eyes looked as if they were covered by a dark cloud, and his face had a somber expression.
"You're right. We shouldn't talk about it here. Let’s move to another place.” He stood up and carried the plates of food back. Kureha quickly finished her lunch and followed him.
The knight silently went after them.

***

They were in the courtyard behind the academy. Nobody was here and it was a suitable place to discuss matters that one would prefer not to be overheard. It was a rather deserted area. Weeds grew freely here, and ivy covered the walls. Luke and Kureha stood on the unmoved lawn while the knight leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.
“What do you want to know?” Luke's bright tone was nowhere to be found. His voice was icy cold.
“I’m sorry. You probably don’t want to talk about it.” Kureha looked at the boy with his back turned to her. His lack of eye contact with her was apparent.
“If you knew that, then why did you ask?” He was clearly angry. He might have said she could ask anything, but she should have known that "anything" doesn't mean "everything."
“Wait, how did you even know about that? I only told you that your mother saved me when I was a kid, and then Loi adopted me. I never mentioned that…” His eyes looked as if the clouds covering them had finally lifted. “Professor Loi told you, didn’t he?”

Kureha looked pale and turned her head to the side. Her reaction was all the confirmation he needed.
"Ugh! I would prefer if you didn't know because I knew it would end up like this. You’ll start interrogating me about your mother’s death to find some clue!” He walked around frantically, ruffling his hair angrily. “Sorry, but I won’t help you. I already told the police everything back then.”
Kureha bit her lip.
"But..." she started silently. "Maybe you've remembered something." She looked him straight in the eye. His gaze met hers, and her sincerity irritated him.
"No," he answered.
“So, besides what I already read about your questioning, there’s nothing else?”
“Nothing.”
His frigid eyes widened suddenly, he looked up and then turned to Kureha. “Wait, how did you read it? I don’t think the chief would easily allow you to read a document about a case that was thrown away.”
“I can’t tell you.”
"Well, obviously you can't.” he murmured to himself and the added in a louder voice “I should have known that the moment you got your weapon, you'd start meddling in that case."
It was the first time Kureha had seen Luke so agitated and angry. His usual bright attitude, which always helped cheer her up when she was feeling down, was nowhere to be found.

"Okay. Then I won’t ask you about that anymore,” she said.
“I would appreciate that.”
"Instead," she said, walking closer to him, "have you seen anything strange when you came to the academy after you met with my father?"
“Huh?” Luke's face showed even greater puzzlement, and he looked at her with a questioning gaze.
"I'm not accusing you of anything. I just want to know if you saw anything. You were the only one there at night.” she continued.

In addition, he was responsible for lighting the library's light. It's strange that that suspicious guy didn't do anything to him. Especially if you take into account that all the guards stationed at the academy back then disappeared. It doesn't look good for Luke.

"The police already asked me about that. I think the cameras prove my statement,” he said, clearly offended.

He thinks I suspect him.

"I just want to know if you saw or heard anything."
Luke rolled his eyes and answered.
"After I gave your father the wine and realized that you weren't home yet, I decided to go back to the dorm and prepare dinner. When I arrived, I put the rest of my groceries in the small kitchen and started cooking. After eating, I wanted to finish the essay about how the functions of weapons change depending on their master, but I noticed that I didn’t have the necessary book. I called Professor Loi, who gave me permission to come back to the main building. I found what I was looking for in the library.”
“And that’s it?”
“Yes. As you know, the library is soundproof. I only found out that something was going on when I got out. I heard loud blasts and ran to where they were coming from. There were a bunch of police officers and you were in the middle with a bloody leg. I ran straight to you, worried, and now I’m being accused of allowing those crazy people in!” He screamed and breathed heavily.

Kureha realized an obvious thing.

I wasn’t the only one who had a hard time getting through the interrogation.

"Again, I'm sorry," she said and extended her hand in apology. "I was only thinking about myself. You’re right. I only got my weapon. I don’t even know how to use it, and yet I’m jumping straight to the case I always wanted to solve.” She laughed softly with her eyes glistening.
Hearing her words, Luke looked down at her and took a deep breath.
"I shouldn't have lashed out like that. Sorry.” His lowered his head and ruffled his hair. "One warning: Before you jump into questioning someone like that, try to put yourself in their shoes.” he pointed out to her. Then he quickly grabbed her hand, accepting her apology.
"Okay. But I don’t think I’ll be able to do that once I’m a police officer.”
She could finally look him in the eye.
"Yeah." Luke let go of her hand. "I need to refresh myself," he said, flashing her his usual smile. "I'm still a little angry and need some time alone." he added.
"Of course," Kureha said as Luke walked away.
He passed the knight, who opened one eye slightly to look at the boy. The knight furrowed his brow when he saw the annoyed expression and dim eyes on Luke’s face.
After Luke disappeared from Kureha’s view, she curled up into a ball.
"I think I almost lost a friend."
The knight came closer to her.
"You did. I didn’t expect you to jump immediately into asking a question that could trigger negative memories in someone else.”
“If you’re so smart, how would you do that?”
"I would get him drunk."
Kureha looked up at the knight, bewildered.
"That's crazy.”
"But it has a high probability of working, and if he’s drunk enough, he won’t remember anything."
"Yeah, but Luke doesn't drink. You heard him saying that.”
"Oh, right."
"Just like that, your idea got dropped."
"All that was required of you was to inquire in as courteous a manner as possible."
"It didn't go well."
"From what I observed, it was close to a disaster. That boy was really angry," the knight said as he patted her head. Kureha hugged herself tighter.
With a furrowed brow, the knight uttered,"I think we should go to your professor.” 
"Why?" she asked.
“Because someone might lash out at him.”
“Luke? At Uncle Loi?"
She looked up at the knight, who nodded. "Nah, I don't think so. They'll probably just argue a little."
"In any case, I'd like to verify that."
Kureha rolled her eyes as she stood up.
"If you insist."

***

Just as she had expected, nothing had happened. Loi looked surprised when she returned to his office so soon. When she asked about Luke, she found out that he wasn't there. She closed the door and glared at the knight.
"We should wait nearby," he said confidently.
"No, we won't," she said, completely ignoring his desire to protect the professor from his son's outburst. "I have lectures to attend, so we can't."
She glanced at the knight and asked:
"Could you dematerialize now? I don’t know if there will be a seat for you, and I wouldn’t want you to just stand there like a statue like you did in the cafeteria.”
Their gazes met, and his eyes shone delicately. The knight remained silent for a moment before smiling happily.
“I don't mind standing.” he answered.
“Why?”
“Umm. Remember what you said about the owner getting information about their weapon?”
“Yes, to be honest, I’m surprised I haven’t yet.”
"That's because I didn't dematerialize. When I do, I become part of you. It feels like a ghost or an evil spirit clinging closely to you. When that happens, you’ll get the memories. It might be overwhelming at first. Of course, you won't see everything at once. I’ll try to slow the flow down a bit."
Kureha looked at him and grinned.
"So that's the real reason why you didn't want to dematerialize? You didn’t want me to see your story.”
Knight looked away.
"It works both ways." he murmured.
“What?”
He repeated louder, “It works both ways. I'll be able to see your memories, too."
Kureha tilted her head and held up her chin, then asked,
“How much?”
"At first, the strongest ones. Then, after a while, I will be able to watch a movie with your emotions attached."

Her face changed colors like a rainbow. She felt frightened, then embarrassed, and then she started contemplating something deeply.
"Yeah, there are things I wouldn't want you to see," she admitted, her voice slightly shaky.
“Likewise.”
"But you said it's possible to stop the flow of memories."
"Yes, but not all of them."
"Okay. Do your best. From now on, I’ll make sure there’s a seat ready for you next to me in the future lectures.”

Everyone has secrets they don't want others to know, right?
But how am I supposed to write a report about his story if the only thing I know is that he burst into some pope’s residence? I guess I'll have to ask him to tell me more about himself.

***

After finishing and sending out new ideas for the barrier renovation, Loi could finally take a break. Outside, the sun was setting, slowly giving up its place in the sky to the moon.
"A spy..." His thoughts circled around what he had heard during his talk with the chief. "Who could it be?" He leaned back in his chair and took out a sheet of paper to write down his suspicions. The biggest one was apparently his adopted son, Luke. But the boy himself couldn't have done something like that so easily. Even with a fragment of Stormbringer, he didn't have the strength to fight against a group of experienced police guards.
“It had to be someone the guards knew who could evoke less suspicion. Maybe someone from the staff?” He was talking to himself when he heard someone knock on the door. He quickly hid the sheet in the closest drawer of his desk.
"You can come in," he said.
The door opened, and Luke entered the room. He had a lowered gaze, slumped shoulders, and clenched fists.
Kureha was here earlier and asked about him. Perhaps something... Loi thought.
"Did something happen?" he asked, standing up from his seat and coming closer to the boy, looking worried.
"Did you tell Kureha about me being there back then?" Luke asked coldly, still looking down.
Loi widened his eyes.
"Yes. I thought you had already told her. She knew your mother saved you, and..."
"I didn't tell her everything," he said in a low and heavy voice. "I'd rather be the one saved by her mother than the one who was there and didn't do anything." Luke added, his voice tinged with anger.
“How did you even come up with something like that?” Loi touched the boy’s shoulders. “Kureha definitely doesn’t think like that.”
“Can you be sure?”
“Yes.”

Loi wanted to hug the boy, but he pushed him away. Despite his well-built body, Loi tumbled to the ground. He looked up to find his adopted son gazing at him with glistening eyes.. His face was contorted as if he were looking at an insect.
"Don't touch me," Luke said coldly.
Loi couldn’t say anything. Luke had never acted like that before.
He was usually a bright boy who loved spending time with his sister's daughter.
Now, his piercing gaze made him feel as if Luke could kill him with it.

Luke discreetly stowed his right hand within his vest pocket, swiftly taking out a thin strand.
It was a strand of silver hair.
Loi’s eyes widened, and the color drained from his face.
“Don’t tell me…”
Luke looked at him with a twisted face.
"Don't tell me what? That I’m a spy?” He covered his face with his hand and started laughing. "It may surprise you, but I'm not one. This thing...” He started staring at the strand. "It's a gift I received for helping my family."
“Your family? What do you mean?" Loi had a puzzled look on his face.
“They aren’t a family in the way you understand the word. It’s much bigger than that. Much better.”
When he started talking about it, his eyes lit up, and a twisted yet warm smile spread across his face. It was a combination that Loi never thought he would see on Luke’s face.
"They're definitely better than someone like you, who talks too much and steals secrets." Luke sighed. The strand in his hand turned into a silver sword, the tip of which he aimed at his adopted father. "Where are the documents you showed Kureha? Tell me,” he demanded.
“What documents?” Loi looked directly at Luke with eyes full of surprise.
"Are you serious? Are you going to play like that?” The cadet sighed in disappointment. But that moment of his frustration was exactly what Loi needed to activate his armband. He put his hand on it, ready to use it.
For some reason, however, he couldn’t feel its cold metallic surface when he touched it.
He turned and noticed that his hand was cut off.
Loi turned to Luke.
"What? That wasn’t me,” the boy said, smiling innocently.
Loi looked at the boy; the color drained from his face.
Then, he felt someone's breath near his ear.
"Hello there," a voice as sweet as honey whispered in his left ear.
A shiver ran down his spine as he quickly turned around and ran from the owner of the voice and collided with the bookcase.
The person who had been standing behind him a second ago wore a pink mask with a dark heart where the right eye should have been. They wore a hood that hid their appearance. Their baggy, dark clothes made it hard to tell if they were a man or a woman.

"Are you sure the documents are here?" they asked sweetly, turning their attention to Loi's adopted son.
"Yes. Kureha asked me about it." Luke answered, biting his nail angrily.
“He knows where it is?”
“Yes, but he won’t say anything, acting like the idiot he is.”
"That's a pity."
The person with the pink mask came closer to Loi, who was still in shock and unable to believe how much Luke seemed like a stranger to him now, and tilted their head. "Tell me where the documents concerning Remi Thornlee's death are." they ordered.
Professor Loi grinned, but then he noticed his bleeding arm pointing toward the shelf where he had hidden the purple folder.
His lower lip trembled, and he started to shake his head in panic.
“Don’t be so sad,” the honey-like voice tried to reassure him. "You did well listening to me." The mysterious person turned to the indicated shelf and started searching through it.
"Hah! This is definitely it," they said, taking out a purple folder.
Loi broke out in a cold sweat.
"I don't even have to order you to confirm it," they said, standing up and patting Loi on the head. "Your face is all I need to see."
"He really is an idiot. He put a closed case in a folder for closed cases.” Luke let out a sigh, feeling disappointed.
"Or maybe he’s a genius trying to hide something obvious under the light. After all, someone might think he has it just because he was studying it to write a paper on it,” they said cheerfully.
"Who knows?"
"Okay, we have to get rid of the evidence," the sweet voice said to Luke. "Use that thing."
Luke sighed and came closer to the professor, who was leaning against the shelves with trembling lips and wide-open eyes.
"Bye-bye," Luke said as he swung his sword toward Loi's chest, but a clanging sound resounded in the office.

The blond-haired boy let go of his weapon and looked at the black sword that had parried his attack.
The sword’s owner looked at him with obsidian eyes.
"Ugh, I made it here in time."
"Luke, stall him!" the masked one ordered.
"Are you kidding me?" The boy took up his sword and attacked the black knight again. His movements became more sophisticated after hearing the masked one’s words. He aimed for the knight’s throat, but the knight quickly pushed him away by kicking him in the stomach.

Outside the office somebody’s running steps could be heard.

"Uncle!" Kureha appeared at the door and ran toward her uncle. 
She gave in to the knight's insistence and allowed him to peek into the professor's office after her lectures.
However, she did not expect to witness another attack.
Luke’s eyes widened when he saw her, failing to notice the black knight strike him in the stomach with the back of his sword again and kick him toward the gym equipment under the window.
The boy groaned.
The masked one, noticing the situation quickly, screamed, directing their voice at the professor:
"Lose your mind!"
Their voice made Loi lift his head. His face started twitching as if something were trying to escape from underneath it. Eyeballs seemed to want to burst out of their sockets, and his whole body convulsed. Kureha hid her trembling, open mouth behind her hands.
The knight rushed to her side, taking a defensive stance and firmly grasping the hilt of his sword.

The masked figure stood up and turned to Luke.
"Stand up and pierce that old man!"
Luke swayed from side to side, but he stood up anyway and slowly started walking toward Loi, who was being looked after by his trembling niece.
The knight prepared himself to stop him.
"Not so fast," the masked one laughed in a honeyed voice. "Kureha, dear, what do you say about dying just like your mother?"
The girl, who was trying to stop the bleeding by tying her jacket around her uncle's arm, stood still and unblinking as she heard this.
"Don't tell me it was you!" Gritting her teeth, she bypassed the knight and ran toward Luke, who was trying to reach Loi's body. She tried to grab the silver sword in his hand, but the knight caught her by her shirt collar and threw her out of the room.
"Kill yourself!" Another order from the masked one echoed in the room.
But Kureha couldn’t hear it anyway.
She was covered by the knight’s black mantle and felt his hands tightly covering her ears.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" She screamed, kicking her legs and punching the knight's hands. Her knuckles began to bleed from the knight's protective metal armor.

"Go call for help," he said firmly.
"No!" she protested. "Uncle! Luke! They’re still inside!”
"CALL FOR HELP!" he repeated, his voice harsh.
Kureha’s eyes welled up with tears as she looked up at his cold eyes.
"Don't you think you're taking too much time?"
The masked one came out of the office, but the knight threw a sword at them as soon as he heard their voice. The sword pierced their shoulder and dragged them toward the desk, which shattered upon impact.
"Shut up," the knight said coldly.
He left Kureha hidden under his cloak and went into the office.
Inside, Luke was already near the professor, his sword lifted. The knight grabbed Luke by the collar and slammed him onto the masked one, who groaned when they felt Luke’s weight. The sword that had pierced the shoulder disappeared into thin air, only to reappear in the knight’s hands. He lifted the sword and took a stance, ready to pierce both bodies before him.
"Stop! Don't kill him!" Kureha appeared in the office again.
But as soon as she appeared, the blade started falling.
Clang!
At the last moment, Luke opened his eyes and used the silver sword to protect himself and the masked one.
"Thank goodness that bastard's stupid sword sticks to you like glue," he said, breathing deeply with an anguished expression. "Mandragora! Wake up!" he screamed, desperately trying to stop the black blade from going through their hearts.
"Fall down," a sweet murmur spread. The ground around them started cracking as if an earthquake had hit the entire office. The floor on which Luke and the masked one had been lying broke down, and they fell with it.
The knight took a step back, quickly catching Loi and Kureha before the office collapsed completely.

A shrill cry of "Burn!" reverberated throughout the area.

When they appeared in the corridor, the office exploded, as did the area underneath it where the two had fallen. The fire had consumed all the furniture and every piece of paper in Loi’s office.

***

The piercing sound of sirens broke the silence enveloping Kureha.
She sat, covered by a blanket, in the back of an ambulance. Her eyes were still wide open. The sight of her uncle's body convulsing, foam coming out of his mouth, and his lifeless eyes still made her shiver as the paramedics took him away in the ambulance.
She curled up and hugged herself tightly.
A shadow appeared before her.
Kureha lifted her gaze.
"At least it's not that stupid weapon," she said, looking away.
Before her stood Boleslava Sophia Lawana, the police chief of Modar.
"You have a talent for getting yourself into trouble. Not even two days pass before all the chaos gathers around you,” she said harshly.
Kureha turned around. The blue and red lights made the bags under her eyes more visible.

"It looks like you won't be able to explain the situation for a while," she said, exhaling. “Where’s your weapon?”

"He's somewhere," Kureha answered in a dry voice.
“What do you mean, somewhere?”
"I told that thing I didn't want to see it right now.”
Boleslava furrowed her brows and raised her hand, but she took a deep breath and lowered it when she saw that Kureha had closed her eyes, awaiting the hit.
"I'll talk with you later," the chief said sternly, turning to one of the officers. "Take that girl home. I’ll interrogate her tomorrow,” she ordered. One of the police officers saluted in answer. Then, she went looking for the knight.
The police officer dressed in special section clothes helped Kureha stand up and then helped her into the car. She murmured her address to him, and he escorted her home.

When she arrived at the door, she could only look down. She rang the bell, and when the door opened, her father, who was waiting for her, immediately dropped his smile when he saw her.

He extended his hand toward her, trying to hug her.

"Kureha, what happened?"
She just passed him and went in.
"That thing will tell you when it'll come back," she answered. "I'll be in my room. Leave me alone.”
Her father dropped his hand and looked at her with moist eyes.

***

Bolselava didn't have to look for very long. She noticed that knight had been hiding near Kureha; he was standing in the shadows behind the fire truck. His eyes were fixed on the firefighters trying to extinguish the flames caused by the Masked One’s voice.
"I'm sending your 'owner' home," she informed him.

"I'm glad to hear that. She needs to cool down,” he answered in an unbothered voice. His eyes reflected the fire, making them glisten as if they were a magical barrier protecting whatever was inside from leaving.

"She definitely needs to," Bolselava agreed. "Before I let you go after her, I want you to tell me what happened." She took out a recorder and held it in front of her.
“No problem.”
The knight described all the events that unfolded from the moment he appeared in the office to protect Loi. They stood there for a few minutes while Lawana processed what she had just heard.
After all, there was another person who possessed a weapon with abilities similar to her Excalibur.
She gritted her teeth, then broke the silence by asking the Black Knight another question.
“Why did you appear there?”
“I wanted to stop a pointless fight,” he answered.
“What do you mean?”
“He looked really angry after talking with the la...my owner. I thought he might do something reckless. A mistake that young people usually make.” He looked down at his hand and clenched it into a fist. His eyes, however, weren't looking at it but at something that Boleslava couldn't see.
"Young people, huh? You look quite young yourself.”
The knight looked at Boleslava with widened eyes.
"I don't want to hear that from an old lady who looks like a little girl," he answered with a grin, but his eyes, despite the flames, didn't reflect any light.

"I see that your emotions are also more on the negative side." Boleslava pointed out. Glancing to the side, she noticed that Kureha was already inside the car and had driven back home. She turned her gaze back to the knight.
"Do you need me to drive you to her, or will you go there on your own?"
“You don’t have to worry. I only need to dematerialize. My owner will have to bear with it for a moment.”
“Bear with it?” The chief looked puzzled.
“I'm not in the mood to block anything.”
“Huh?”
He disappeared, leaving Lawana with a questioning gaze.
"What do you mean by that?"

***

Kureha collapsed onto her bed. She felt terrible.

The memory kept repeating in her mind over and over again.

Her uncle, Luke and that thing.

"What the hell are you doing?! Go save Luke!" she screamed, embracing Loi, who was lying unconscious on a cold floor. They were both leaning against the wall in the corridor, far from the fire.
"I doubt they're still there," he answered.
“Luke could be there! Didn’t you see that masked bastard controlling him? He was probably left behind when he wasn't useful anymore!"

"I understand that you can't control your emotions right now. I really do. Please listen to me, and let's wait for help together," he said warmly.
“No! Stop spouting nonsense!”
The knight clicked his tongue.
"I'll stay here and look after you until help arrives." His voice, which until this time had been like a breeze, now reminded her more of a blizzard.

“I don’t care. Go and see…”
The knight didn’t let her finish, fiercely kneeling before her to look her in the eyes.

"Don't you understand? Your family is lying here. He is in a horrible condition. You won’t be able to protect him or yourself if anything happens,” he said in a chilling manner. “Besides, that boy was letting himself be controlled.”

“There must have been a reason for that." Kureha grumbled angrily, giving the knight a side glare.

"Do you want to negotiate with an enemy?" His snarky reply made her grit her teeth.
"Luke is not an enemy!" she declared loudly.

"If you think so."
“Don’t argue with me. Go see for yourself. He’s still there!” She burst into tears and screamed.

Luke would have been my brother if my mom hadn't passed away.
Thanks to Uncle Loi, he became my family anyway.
I don't want anything to happen to him.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said firmly.

"Why aren't you listening? You’re my weapon!” she lamented, slamming her fist into the floor.
The knight stood up and took a step back.

"Why can't you just be an object? A sword, a bow—anything! Why couldn't I summon a normal weapon?" she continued. “You stupid thing!”

The knight didn’t utter a word. His gaze focused on the surroundings, and his ears tried to listen for any other sounds that Kureha’s screams could cover.

Seeing that he ignored her, she added,

"I guess the side effect that you gave me is the fact that you're human."

The knight finally looked her in the face. His eyes widened. The darkness of his hair made the pale color that covered his skin stand out even more. He lowered his head and took a deep breath.
"Like I said, I'll stay here until help arrives," he repeated quietly, his voice trembling slightly.

Whenever she thought about that scene, she felt like throwing something.

 Lying in her bed, Kureha clenched her fist.

How could that thing not obey her? If it were her weapon, it would listen to her orders!

And that desperate attempt to win her over by saying that this knight could understand her feelings?

She started punching her pillow, then screamed into it.

Nothing was working out as she wanted. To make matters worse, Loi is in the hospital, and Luke disappeared without explaining anything.

I shouldn’t call him a thing. I am the worst. I might have summoned him but… I really should learn more about him...maybe then I could stop treating him like that.

Her eyes swelled up with tears. She kicked her legs nervously in the air, then angrily took out the blanket and lay down. After an hour of frantically searching for a comfortable sleeping position, her eyes closed and she fell asleep.