The sacret swordswoman

Many students gathered in the main dining hall of Onmyou. Sunlight poured in through skylights and windows, illuminating the room filled with tables. Eleonora stood in line, yawning and unaware of the surrounding conversations. She helped herself to a delicious and varied breakfast, savouring the opportunity to relish the food. Sitting alone at a table, she picked up her chopsticks and joined her hands together.

‘Bon appétit.’ A loud crash interrupted her, silencing the room briefly, followed by whispers. ‘A storm? How strange. There wasn’t a single cloud. The sky was clear,’ she thought, searching for Yumiko amidst the commotion. Unable to find her, or Serizawa and the vice principal. ‘Today won’t be a peaceful day either.’ Nora’s face lit up as she looked down at her plate of breakfast. ‘Well, it’s none of my business.’

***

A student stood at the sports pavilion entrance. A white band wrapped around her forehead, securing her long, burgundy hair. Her shinai was balanced on her right shoulder. Another student, taller and also in Onmyou sports gear, approached her with a bokken, a sturdier version of her bamboo sword.

‘Good practice, first-year,’ she notified kindly.

‘You’re…’ the other girl recognised her. ‘Sae Mukoda, the undefeated one from Sujin.’

‘Wow! So you know who I am!’ Sae’s voice sounds excited.

‘Of course, you defeated my secondary in the inter-school championships two years ago. What I didn’t know is that you were also a witch.’

‘Yeah, well, it’s not something one can openly proclaim, right?’ Sae patted her back. ‘And you are…’

‘Oh! I’m Hiiragi Nakabayashi…’

‘Nakabayashi? Sorry, I should recognise the name, but I’ve been away from kendo since I entered Onmyou. We can only compete internally, so I miss the competition. But knowing my position, I couldn’t go to an ordinary preparatory school, even if I didn’t use my powers.’ She looked down; her face was a mask of melancholy.

‘You still practice out of discipline. I respect that.’

‘Oh, it’s not just discipline!’ Sae was reinvigorated. ‘Training clears my mind and prepares me for Onmyou tournaments. If you’re looking for a good fight, you’ll find them satisfying. They’re popular among the students.’

‘Tournaments?’

‘Two of them: at summer school fest and the Tri-House Tournament held every two years.’ Sae pointed to the main building. ‘The main event of the summer festival is a Capture the Flag tournament; and the Tri-House tournament is traditional vs one.’ Her face lit up with a visible excitement. ‘Last year, I advanced to the top 16 and lost to Shirohime, the champion.’

‘Sounds exciting.’

‘It is, believe me. Battles are allowed only in tournaments. Well, in gymnastics practices too…’

‘I wish we could face each other, Captain.’ With a light, cheerful voice, Hiiragi challenged her.

‘Sure, I accept the challenge, Nakabayashi,’ Sae offered her hand. They were interrupted by a thunderous sound. Hiiragi turned, witnessing a massive lightning bolt that disappeared quickly.

‘Whoa, that lightning just hit around here.’ Nakabayashi exchanged glances with Sae. The first-year student was taken aback by the bewilderment on her captain’s face. ‘Something wrong?’

‘No, it’s nothing…’ Yumiko’s pillar of fire ascended into the sky shortly afterward. Sae tapped Nakabayashi’s shoulder and ran towards it. ‘Sorry, we’ll chat later.’

‘A fight?’ Hiiragi didn’t avert her gaze from the direction where both the lightning and the gigantic tower of fire had been seen. ‘I should stop it, but I also don’t want to get involved where I’m not needed.’ She glanced at her bamboo sword, pondered for a few seconds, and ran in the direction Sae had gone. Several minutes of running passed, and she stopped at the main entrance when Fuyume’s voice caught her attention.

‘‘You won’t escape!’ Hiiragi averted her gaze, watching as Sae disappeared a little further away. She ventured along the main path and didn’t take long to spot the girl with greyish hair, who was trying to catch up to Ayumu.

‘A boy?’ Surprised, she gripped her sword. ‘I should help stop him.’ she thought. He left her behind a little. Fuyume was out of breath. The silver-haired student's gaze and the young boy's eyes met again.

‘Are you okay?’ the young man showed consideration. The swords woman narrowed her eyes. Something was eluding her, but she couldn’t allow an intruder to roam freely in an all-girls academy. The temperature suddenly dropped, surprising her. Ice trapped Ayu’s legs, and several circles formed around him, surrounding him. This alarmed Hiiragi.

‘She’s going to kill him!’ She ran out, trying to stop Fuyume before she finished casting her spell, which undoubtedly would have had a disastrous outcome. But something moved even faster than her. She could see Yumiko emerging from a cluster of flames, standing between Ayumu and Fuyume. She noticed the horrified expression on Ayumu’s face. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Disappear.’ Yumiko’s voice was icy and sharp. A brilliant magic seal of light formed above her hand.

‘Don’t do it!’ Ayu tried to stop her, but was useless. Hiiragi moved quickly, avoiding the flames. Yumiko’s face showed coldness and madness. Before her eyes, flames erupted from the magic circle, heading towards the grey-haired girl. The boy appeared, standing between Yumiko and Fuyume. Hiiragi swung her sword, conjuring a gust of wind to halt the flames and give them time to escape. She hid and observed as the flames roared and ash rained down. Hiiragi scrambled forward, her heart pounding in her chest, her pale fighting aura burning, deflecting the raging flames. She got far enough away; still terrified by what happened.

‘What was that?!’ she had seen death up close. Hiiragi recalled Yumiko’s terrifying face; as she had been willing to eliminate a fellow student without batting an eye, without hesitating for a single second. Like an impassive executioner, without the slightest trace of remorse. ‘Is she insane or what?’ The gasps of Ayumu alarmed her, and she turned her gaze towards them. She braced the sword and approached slowly. If someone could explain what was happening, it had to be him. ‘Don’t move!’ The boy opened his eyes, and their gazes met.

***

Sakai stopped in the clearing where a forest used to be; everything around was charred by Yumiko’s flames. The smell of burned wood and hot air filled the scene. Haruna and Akina remained unconscious on the ground. Sakai sighed as she saw them lying there.

‘I should have expected this.’ A circle with a rune engraved in it was drawn around the twins. Sakai approached, examined them, and clapped her hands. ‘Wake up, it’s time to work.’ They both seemed disinclined to wake. Aki was the first to respond as she scratched her head.

‘Masami? Is it time for breakfast already?’

‘Do you think this is a dining hall or what?’ Masami mocked her. Haru surveyed the scene with her eyes.

‘But what happened here?’

‘And you’re asking me, airhead? You’re hopeless… Look at the mess you’ve caused over some desserts! I’m giving up mine; I don’t care who is the older one, just divide them and be done with it.’

‘Wait, we…’ Aki tried to make an excuse. She vividly remembered Yumiko’s angry face, and her own face turned pale again.

‘And what’s wrong with you now?’ Masami looked at her with confusion. ‘Well, whatever. I need your help…’

‘For what?’ Haru hesitated. Her friend smiled mischievously, though it was fleeting.

‘I discovered something quite interesting in the bathhouse… but it’s top secret. I can’t tell you anything, no matter how much you ask.’

‘A secret?’ Haru’s face lit up. ‘Did you hear that, Aki?’ She looked at her sister. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘Yes, yes, it’s top secret!’ Masami persevered with his performance. ‘Have you noticed anything unusual? Right?’ She focused on Haru. Masami prevented her from speaking. ‘I don’t know, perhaps a boy?’ She drew another mischievous smile.

‘A boy?’ The image of Ayumu appeared in Haruna’s mind, and she also paled, remembering what had happened.

‘Bingo.’ Masami started playing the drama. ‘Oh, you’re putting me in a difficult position! You are my best friends, but I should squeal about you to the student council and the disciplinary committee.’ She glanced sneakily at the two of them. They reacted by jumping nervously towards her.

‘We know nothing!’

‘What am I going to do?’ She averted her gaze. ‘You’re lying to me, although I considered you my loyal friends. But, if you share what you know…’ she tempted them. ‘Maybe I can help you,’

‘Y- you won’t betray us, right?’ Aki hesitated, turning to her. ‘I don’t want to encounter that demon president again.’

‘Demon president?’ Masami narrowed her eyes. ‘I promise you, if you tell me what you know, I won’t utter a word. Deal?’ Haru swallowed.

‘Well… you see…’ she began…