XXVII - The Intruder Who Attempted to Assassinate the Princess

The sun cast over horizon, in the gates of Asahi Academy, Aurora was officially discharged from the Infirmary, the thin strip of her bandages remain present on her cheek.

On her hand, she picked up a newborn kitten, inside in the hallway, abandoned, its mother was nowhere to be find, its small paws kneading the fabric of her uniform, hearing the little purr that made her heart swelled in affection, ears flatten on her hair despite her arrogant personality, she have a gentle side inside of her heart.

The fragile kitten let a high-pitched mew, its small eyes were shut, but it felt her warmth like it was mistaken her as its mother.

Mew.

Aurora in the other hand, found on its small back, stroking it with a gentle hand.

"It's alright, little one. I've got you." she whispered softly, she'd remember at her young age, she found Rocky, the second cat of their family after Mr, Whiskers—the rare male calico cat.

"Miss Chu?"

Aurora shift her attention toward the voice—it was the same healer, calm, soft-spoken, who'd heal her wounds when she remain unconscious.

"Here," Aurora said simply, gently placed the fragile kitten.

"Please, look after it while I'm gone in the library."

The healer nodded, accept it back.

"I'm promise." she promised, before turned to her heel with the small fragile thing was under care.

Leaving Aurora staring alone, her long dark blue hair with crimson streak whipping from the air. The air become normal, gentle, unlike she face yesterday—the storm, strong air like a hurricane, but now, the realm was safe, for now on.

"Miss Chu?"

Then, a soft yet familiar voice interrupt the silence.

"?"

Aurora shift her attention, it was Professor Zamora—wearing his signature cloak, his weathered gaze stared at the mismatched ones beneath his glasses.

"Ah, good morning too you, how's your feeling? Unusual? Chill? Anything else?"

"Nothing, Sir. I-I'm feel fine, now." Aurora responded, her regal posture returning, bowing in respect.

"Good," Professor Zamora offered her a approval nod, adjust his glasses with single hand.

"Now, the lecture is started, Miss Chu."

"W-w-wha—?! I-It's already starting?!" Aurora stammered, her regal confidence vanished, replaced in panick look, at the same younger version of herself.

"You're late." Professor Zamora sighed, tilted his head.

"Now, go. I hope Professor Augustus won't marked you as absent—"

"Thank you, sir! I-I see you later!" Aurora erupted, waving her hand one last time, nearly tripped over by the pebble as she rushed toward the library.

Professor Zamora facepalm, mumbled under his breath.

Sighs… she remain clumsy at all.

꒰ა ✦ ໒꒱

Inside the library, Aurora remain focus on the lecture, unaware, seated near the window, beside her, Quincy, then Sarah pouring on their books together, however Charlotte, meanwhile was now in the different wing at the academy that morning—some matter in knight duty, called by the guard. 

The unfamiliar absence left into the odd, unfamiliar quiet on her side.

Sarah read the scroll, whisper to herself, her dark purple eyes narrowed as she remain focused on the difficult word.

Whisper—a ghost harmless fire creature made by Quincy's spell floating beside her, it let out a high-pitched chirp, it didn't said a word, instead it observe her.

Unbeknownst to them, hiding behind the oak haven tree, a mysterious figure in cloak surveyed the window, his gaze narrowed in high interest at the dark-blue hair with crimson streaks, catching morning light through the window, unaware that someone might lured her from the shadows.

The Dawn Wing…Finally, I found her…

He crouch behind the bushes, beyond the library window, he adjust his grip on the arrow for a moment, slowly drawing his weapon to his level, aiming directly at the target he want.

It's time to say goodbye, cat girl.

He took a long breath, then, released the arrow from his grip.

The arrow cut silently through the air, faster, than any student could react.

Sarah stared at the window, her dark purple eyes widened in horror, immediately shift her gaze toward Aurora.

"Aura—watch out!" she shouted, raising from her desk, chair scraping hard against the wooden floor as she stepped between her friend and the upcoming arrow towards Aurora. 

She raised her hand to cast a magical barrier to shield her friend from the sudden ambush.

But before she could make an action, Aurora's ponytail has been tear by her own hair, sensing the threat without reaching through her mind, or hesitation.

Hair strands began to unraveled and molded from midair alone, into a familiar shape of the single wing—the Dawn Wing. Unfurling by instinct alone.

The arrow now struck with speed, the glass window shattered into thousands shards, students scattered from their desk, leathered books and scrolls sat abandoned, quills sat forgotten on the ink, the class has been dismissed due the unknown threat.

Instead, it deflected the shot clean, causing it to shattered into pieces, but remains of wood and feather.

The hair survived, didn't tear apart, didn't separate or shattered from the arrows impact. It was miracle at all.

Aurora didn't moved, remain sat on her desk, staring down at her notes—no, but beneath her bangs, her mismatched eyes weren't the familiar mismatched anymore.

Both bled into a single, furious shade of crimson, pupils molding into thin slits as her aura grew darker almost she was… in feral mode.

Sarah cover her mouth with her hand, her purple eyes widened in both awe and disbelief.

"A-Aura?" Quincy asked softly, her voice become smaller, her glasses slipping from her nose, staring at their friend's unusual behavior.

What happened to her?

Wait… someone trying to eliminate her?

Or she was… gone quiet?

W-w-what's going on?!

Where did the arrow came from? Maybe someone looking for her.

Whispers and murmurs spreading further, faster than anyone else, staring at their classmate.

Before they could report the incident towards the minister.

Aurora snapped her head, didn't rise from her seat so much become a blur of motion, crimson eyes locked on the shadowed figure, hiding behind the oak haven tree, her gaze narrowed.

Got you.

From the distance, the clocked figure shivered from her gaze, crossbow slipping from his grip, taking a step back away to fled.

W-w-what…?! What kind of power is this girl!?

But he regret his own actions, do not mess the princess.

I-I need to tell this to prince immediately!

Whip—!

His eyes wide in horror, the hair strands coiled around his form in a single decisive strike before he'd manage to fled out from the bushes.

He have no time to scream, the another strands coiled around his torso, his arms—not enough to tightened harder, enough to make a warning clear—the mercy, the only reason to let him breath.

"H-Help me—!"

He crawled, forcing himself to dragged out from the princess's grip, but the strands yanked him free from the shadows, dragging his trapped form inside the library.

—Towards the shattered window. His body hit the library floor hard, gasping, thrashing helplessly against her grip.

He lift his head weakly, his face went cold, Aurora rose fully now from her seat, approaching him without using her fans.

Her piercing gaze landed on the helpless Assassin, now coiled by her own power.

"Who sent you here?" she asked, her voice low and eerie calm that sending shivers through the Assassin's spine. This isn't her anymore—the girl who'd stammered way through breakfast from days ago.

This time, this felt older, dangerous, the Dawn Wing itself seemed to be landing her.

The door slammed open. Charlotte and Aria arrived lately, behind them, Professor Zamora followed suit, then the guards arrived as well from the ambush.

Charlotte on her upgraded armored shining from the sunlight, her brown-golden eyes widened, staring between Aurora and the clocked figure now his face exposed.

At the furious princess in front of him. His mission to send the news about the Dawn Wing has been failed.