Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ２０-𝓐𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓼 𝓪 𝓟𝓸𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓷

Flora thought she misheard it. The angry words from Indigo's mouth.

“Did you do this, Flora? Did you kill them?” Indigo repeats with anger in his tone.

Flora forces herself to talk despite her now profound fear of Indigo.

Flora: “No… it didn’t mean. It was Kazuyuki. He… Kazuyuki! Tell him!” Her response did not relieve Indigo's anger.

Indigo: “Kazuyuki? So you are working with him?”

Flora: “Nooo! That's not true! I'm not!”

Tanya: “Liar! You killed my sister… you helped him harm Madam… Lily's death is your fault.”

Indigo: “If you're so innocent, why is Tanya saying these things… why are you always getting away with these things… what makes you so special?”

Flora: “W-what… Indigo… what are you talking about?”

Indigo: “I always have my doubts… how someone like you can even enter the Red Moon Academy after failing the trials… yet somehow they let you in. That should have been impossible unless you did something. Or someone did behind the scenes… I put up with it for a while because of your sister…but I'm tired of hearing your sister making excuses for you.“

Hearing those words makes Flora's blood run cold. She thought if there was someone who did believe in her during the trial, it would be Indigo.

‘It wasn't me…’ but she thought no matter what she said, it wouldn't change anything. She knew once Indigo made up his mind on something, it was hard to change his mind.

Sherry retreats to Indigo's side.

Sherry: “Dear Indigo. I have something to confess. Your father was alive.” Indigo snapped out of his anger and looked at his aunt in surprise.

Indigo: “Wait… he is? Where is he?”

Sherry: “Was… the truth is your father was killed by those moderators for his discovery of forbidden knowledge. It wasn't fair, was it? He was such a kind man. Yet his life was taken away. I wept for him for a long time, but then I discovered his research. A way to -< ꈼꌅꌅꂦꌅ ꈼ ꌅꌅꂦꌅ ꈼꌅꌅꂦꌅ ꈼꌅꌅꂦꌅ ꈼꌅꌅꂦꌅ >-” Her body distorted for a second once more, making Indigo terrified.

Indigo: “What in the world is that… what is happening to you… and is Father…”

Sherry: “Ah, that? Do not worry, my dear. That is the proof I have obtained the same knowledge. And yes, gone. I have brought your father back with my knowledge… kept him safe from the gods… protected him. For that I apologize for not telling you. But today this moderator had discovered where he was alive and killed him again!” She wrapped her arms around him.

Sherry: “But fear not. If we kill them… I will use my knowledge to bring back those you love. It is me they are after now. You care for your aunt, right? Won't you help me get your father back?” She suddenly moved Indigo out of the way before she jumped sideways.

A wave of lightning had rushed over their pathway, merely missing their touch by a centimeter.

Sherry frowns while Indigo picks himself up from the ground.

Sherry: “Dear moderator, we were having a family moment. Could you not interrupt?”

Kazuyuki chuckles.

“I apologize, he says sarcastically.”

Kazuyuki: “I forget to see you guys as people sometimes. Because you're all so weak yet greedy. You really think you could <- ꍟ꒓꒓ꆂ꒓ ꍟ꒓꒓ꆂ꒓ ꍟ꒓꒓ꆂ꒓ ꍟ꒓꒓ꆂ꒓ ꍟ꒓꒓ꆂ꒓ ->”

He disappears and appears again next to Flora's side, putting his hand on top of Flora's head. Mochi growls at him, clearly displeased.

“Don't bite me again, dumb dog.” He snaps his hand, and Mochi turns tiny again and was caught by Kazuyuki's tail.

Bark Bark!

Kazuyuki grins.

“We'll see you guys in a bit,” as he said that, Flora could feel the air near her distorted, and their body started to fade.

Indigo: “Hey! Come back-”

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The atmosphere around them had changed, and Flora and Mochi found themselves in a dark, blank space. Kazuyuki stood in the midst, staring into the darkness.

“Ah…that was shitty,” Mochi heard the man say. Mochi still didn’t trust the man, but could sense the environment was less hostile. He stood close to Flora, who buried her head in her knees and hugged her knees. He could feel sadness and disappointment from her.

Bark Bark!

He weakly barks to get her attention

Kazuyuki: “Get up. You look pathetic. “

Flora: “What does it matter… I'm always pathetic. Indigo thinks I was involved in the murders…”

Kazuyuki: “I mean, didn't you? You teamed up with me.”

Flora chokes up on her tears.

Flora: “I didn't want to… I just didn't know what to do… I want to do the right thing…”

Kazuyuki: “The right thing? And what exactly is right?”

Flora: “Not… murdering.”

Kazuyuki: “Even if that person is bad?”

Flora: “What… no Shana… she was just following orders and… Sherry was trying to protect her family.”

Kazuyuki leans closer to her and whispers in her ear. “But they broke the rules. They are traitors. They wanted to kill you, didn't they? Not only that, but they turn your friend against you.”

Flora gasps, letting her tears flow more painfully.

“It's their fault…. Yes… But… I don't know… I'm so angry and… confused.”

Mochi rubs his nose against her leg as a resort for comfort. He wishes there were more he could do.

Mochi turns to Kazuyuki, frowning. He was unsure of many things, but one thing he had an idea of was the fact that this man was one of the reasons Flora was upset.

Bark Bark!

-Make her feel better!- He curses that at times, when he barks, no one could understand.

Kazuyuki gave him an unimpressed look before placing his hand on Mochi's head.

“So damn annoying…” His hand glows, making Mochi light up. His body warps into a different shape.

Flora looks up curiously to see what Mochi is turning into. When Mochi's body dims, Flora widens her eyes.

Mochi finds himself on the ground with his butt flat, and he looks to see his hand rather fleshy.

Mochi: “Waur! Waurrrr!” -What happened to my body?- He notices his voice changes and sounds deeper.

Kazuyuki: Oh geez…why did I think it would make you less annoying? It's not like you actually know how to speak a language.“

Flora: “W-what! Did you turn Mochi human?”

Kazuyuki: “Shut up! I thought he would stop barking if I temporarily modified his body. I was clearly wrong.”

Mochi took a look at his clothes to see that he was wearing a similar armor like before, but it was more catered to his body shape. Underneath the armor was a thin top and sweatpants. He immediately chews on his sleeves, trying to get the clothes off.

Flora stops by, pulling his face away.

Flora: “Noo, Mochi! That is meant for you.”

Mochi noticed the change in her mood as she felt his hair as well.

Flora: “Wow… your hair feels silky. I like that it's white like your fur.” She pulls his cheeks, feeling the skin.

Mochi: “Waurrrr! Wauurr!”

Flora: “What is it, boy?”

Mochi licks her cheeks, making her push his face away.

Flora: “Awww, gross! Bad dog. Don't want you to do that in that form.”

Mochi saw the man sitting next to Flora, making him growl.

The man glares at him.

“Shut up, dog.”

He then turns to Flora.

Kazuyuki: “You guys can stay here for the time being. I’m going after that woman, Sherry.”

Flora looks at him in disbelief.

Flora: “You're still going after her?”

Kazuyuki: “Well, yeah. It's my job.” Flora gets up and stands in front of him.

Flora “Please wait…c-can't you just let this one go?”

Kazuyuki: “No. My boss was the one who told me to take this case so it can't be let go, and if I let her go, she's just going to use that knowledge to revive dead people.

Flora: “Is that so bad… don't you miss anyone?” Her question made him pause for a second.

Kazuyuki: “No, I don't. I don't make the rules. There's a reason we created rules. There needs to be a balance for this world, and such knowledge must not fall into the wrong hands. But tell you what. Why don't you and I compromise?”

Flora: “Compromise…?” She looks skeptical.

Kazuyuki: “Sure. You don't want everyone dead, right? I can revive some people. If you help me get Sherry down, I promise I will revive everyone and alter their memories.”

Flora's face looked a bit hopeful.

Flora: “You can do that…?”

He patted her head.

Kazuyuki: “Sure. If you've done your job well, I can make that Indigo guy fall in love with you- OW!” Flora hits him in his chest!

Flora: “No! Don't! That's awful of you! You shouldn't manipulate people's minds like that.”

Kazuyuki: “Geez! Stop hitting! I was joking! I swear I sense weird tension between you two, so I thought it was hilarious.“

Flora: “Indigo and I are… Were just friends.”

Kazuyuki sighs.

“Look, I'll fix the misunderstanding, too. It will be as if you guys never fought.”

Hearing that, Flora calms down a bit.

Flora: “You promise?”

Kazuyuki: “Yeah, yeah. Now let's go.” He walks further away before Flora grabs him.

Flora: “Wait, before… can we bring my sister? I just have a feeling she might be able to convince Indigo better than I.

Kazuyuki sighs, and the atmosphere changes again, and this time Mochi sees that they were in Autumn’s room. The group heard banging and turned to see Autumn banging on her door to get out. A magic circle was glowing on her door.

Autumn: “Help! Can someone hear me? Please! I'm locked in my room!”

Flora: “Autumn?”

Autumn turns to face the group.

“Flora? And… who are these guys?”

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Autumn took the time to digest the information.

Autumn: “So… Sherry had used forbidden knowledge to revive Indigo's father, and then Mr. Kazuyuki killed him because he was supposed to be dead, and then Sherry turned Indigo against Flora and tried to kill her?”

Kazuyuki nods.

Kazuyuki: “That’s the gist. And I promise Flora here that if I can get rid of Sherry, everyone else gets to live, and I will revive any unnecessary murder.”

Autumn: “Okay.”

Flora: “Eh.”

Flora and Kazuyuki furrowed their brows at her.

Kazuyuki: “You're rather accepting.”

Autumn looks down.

Autumn: “Believe me…this situation is hard for me to process, but… I’d rather trust someone who has been protecting my sister than someone who was after my sister. Indigo is not a bad person. I love him with all my heart. But I'm afraid this time Indigo is misguided. So please, Mr. Kazuyuki. Help us put a stop to this.”

Autumn walks up to Mochi and puts her hand on his head. He looks at her in wonder.

Mochi: “Arre wauur?”

Autumn: “Mochi, I will transfer some information to you. I want you to follow my instructions…but first, Mr. Kazuyuki. Can you modify Mochi to a more convenient form? Something that's suited for battle.”