Feeling they had made good time and were just under a day from home, Yuzuki and Suzuran decided to take a break. They basked in the serene beauty of the landscape, the cool breeze and expansive view providing a perfect end to their day.

​

As their horses enjoyed a well-deserved rest and nibbled on their food, Suzuran and Yuzuki decided to take a brief walk to the other side of the hill before them.

​

“This is such a breathtaking view. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an open field like this before,” Suzuran said, her voice filled with awe as she took in the expansive landscape.

​

“I know, right? It’s almost as beautiful as you,” Yuzuki replied with a flirtatious grin.

​

Suzuran’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson at the compliment. She quickly took Yuzuki’s hand in hers, her grip warm and reassuring. Yuzuki smiled, starting to lead them into the field, but Suzuran pulled her back into an embrace.

​

“You don’t get to make a comment like that and just walk away,” Suzuran retorted playfully, pressing Yuzuki gently onto the grass. She then lay on top of her, her eyes twinkling with affection.

​

It was the perfect moment for the two of them to be alone. They kissed passionately as if they had been apart for years. A gentle, cool breeze swept over them, adding to the intimacy of the moment. Yuzuki gazed up into Suzuran’s eyes, captivated by her beauty. For a moment, their kisses slowed, and they exchanged heated looks, their mutual desire evident. Suzuran took the initiative, trailing kisses from Yuzuki’s lips to her neck, and then down to her chest.

​

“Suzu…” Yuzuki breathed out a soft moan, her voice full of pleasure.

Encouraged by Yuzuki’s reaction, Suzuran continued her affectionate assault, her lips exploring every inch of her torso.

​

“Suzu…” Yuzuki repeated, her voice now tinged with urgency.

​

Undeterred, Suzuran pressed on, determined to elicit another moan.

​

“Suzuran, stop for a moment,” Yuzuki's voice carried a note of concern.

​

Suzuran froze, confusion crossing her face as she sat up from Yuzuki’s lap. “Did I do something wrong? I’m sorry.”

​

“No, it’s not that. I hear something in the distance. It doesn’t sound right,” Yuzuki’s ears twitching as she focused on the distant noise.

​

Both of them quickly rose, with Yuzuki straining to identify the source of the sound.

​

“What is it?” Suzuran voiced her anxiousness.

​

“The sound of wings, maybe three or four creatures, and a horse,” Yuzuki’s gaze scanned the horizon.

​

“Which way? Can you tell?” Suzuran’s voice was filled with urgency.

​

“That way,” Yuzuki pointed toward a larger hill that they would need to cross to see what lay beyond it.

​

They sprinted toward the hill, their hearts pounding with anticipation. As they reached the top, the sight that greeted them was startling. Four massive dragons were in pursuit of someone on horseback, heading directly toward them.

​

Two of the dragons, armored in gleaming white scales, were swooping down on the rider, while the other two, fire dragons, unleashed torrents of flame from their mouths, aiming at the horse.

​

“Is that four dragons?” Yuzuki voiced her confusion. “What the hell is going on, why are there four dragons here?”

​

“I don’t know. Dragons rarely cooperate like this in Valralor. Something is definitely wrong,” Suzuran said, her face etched with concern. “Could these be from Draconia?”

​

“Looks like we’ll find out soon enough. Let’s go!” Yuzuki urgently grabbed Suzuran’s hand and pulled her back to their horses. They mounted their horses and headed off. As they closed in on the scene, they saw that the rider was cloaked, their movements erratic as they dodged fireballs and returned fire with dark magic.

​

“What do we do, Suzu?” Yuzuki shouted over the roar of the approaching dragons.

​

“Save them first, ask questions later!” Suzuran shouted back. They charged forward, racing to intercept the dragons and the cloaked rider.

​

The rider, caught in a desperate struggle, locked eyes with Suzuran. It was clear that this person was pleading for help, their situation growing increasingly perilous as the dragons closed in. Yuzuki, now close enough to engage, stood on her horse, preparing to strike at the nearest dragon. The urgency of the situation heightened as they braced for the confrontation.

​

Yuzuki leapt into the air, her kusarigama swinging with precision. She struck one of the armored white dragons, severing a wing and sending it crashing to the ground. The dragon roared in pain but continued its relentless pursuit of the cloaked rider, now crawling on all fours and ignoring Yuzuki's presence.

​

Suzuran dismounted her horse as the cloaked rider passed by her. With a flash of amber, she unsheathed both blades and struck at the second armored dragon. In an instant, the dragon was sliced to pieces, falling in a heap.

​

The cloaked rider glanced back and saw that the dragons were being dealt with by the two women. Debating whether to help or flee, the rider ultimately decided to return to the fight, determined not to abandon them.

​

The fire dragons, now within range of Suzuran, flew past her as she prepared to engage them. To her surprise, they ignored her and continued their attack on the rider. Suzuran chased after them with confusion filling her mind.

​

Meanwhile, Yuzuki caught up with the injured armored dragon, her kusarigama delivering a powerful swing that severed its back legs, rendering it immobile. As she approached to finish the dragon, she noticed something unsettling: despite its severe injuries, the dragon was still determined to reach the cloaked rider. Yuzuki positioned herself in front of the dragon, but it weakly shoved her aside with its face as it continued its crawl.

​

“What in the world is going on? This is downright eerie. They’re completely ignoring me to get to that rider,” Yuzuki muttered to herself.

​

“Suzu! They seem to be focusing solely on that person! Something’s insanely wrong here!” Yuzuki shouted over to Suzuran.

​

Suzuran, who had only faintly heard Yuzuki, agreed internally that something was terribly wrong. Yuzuki swiftly dispatched the dragon in front of her and called for her horse to catch up. As Suzuran approached the two fire dragons from behind, they unleashed torrents of flame upon the cloaked rider, who had turned back toward them.

​

“Watch out!” Suzuran screamed toward them.

​

The rider conjured a massive magical barrier with their dark magic, intercepting the dragons' fiery breath. The barrier began to crack under the intensity of the attacks. Suzuran raced toward the rider, hoping to reach them in time. With a cry, the rider shattered the barrier, sending shards of magical energy flying at the dragons, causing them to crash and slide to a halt.

​

But as the dust settled, the dragons, now on all fours, renewed their assault, spewing another wave of fire. The rider dodged to the side, but the second wave caught them, setting their cloak ablaze.

Panicked, the rider tossed aside the burning cloak, revealing a woman beneath, with her appearance similar to Kurohime more than Crystal or Ember.

​

The dragons attacked again. The woman managed to evade the first dragon but was caught by the second, which sank its teeth into her leg. The bite tore a large chunk from her leg, and she screamed in agony as blood poured from the wound.

​

Suzuran, having caught up, sprang into action. She unleashed a flurry of attacks, severing the wings and front legs of both fire dragons. Though the dragons were immobilized and severely injured, they still attempted to reach the rider. Suzuran quickly adjusted her focus, slicing off their heads with two swift, amber-gleaming strikes. Landing gracefully, she sheathed her blades and rushed to the woman’s side.

Yuzuki arrived moments later, grabbed pieces of cloth from the woman's outfit to bandage the severe injury.

​

“Yuzuki, how quickly do you think we can get her back to the guild?” Suzuran asked urgently.

​

“We should be able to make it by the end of the day if we push our horses to the limit, but we risk injuring them or exhausting them completely,” Yuzuki said, while preparing to wrap the woman’s leg.

​

“It’s a risk we have to take. Bandage her well to stop the bleeding, and give her something to knock her out,” Suzuran instructed.

​

Yuzuki, after bandaging the woman as best as possible, reached into her own pouch and retrieved a small vial. “Here, drink this. It will help with the pain and allow you to rest while we get you to safety,” she said, offering the vial to the woman.

​

The woman hesitated for a moment but, overwhelmed by pain, took the vial and drank it completely.

​

“Don’t worry, we wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble just to betray you. We’ll protect you and make sure you are healed up,” Suzuran said calmly to the woman.

​

After a few minutes, her pain subsided, and she slowly drifted into a sleep-like state.

​

“We have limited time before she wakes up and feels immense pain again. We need to go now,” Yuzuki commanded.

​

“Agreed, let's move!” Suzuran replied.

 

They quickly made their way back to the horses, which had luckily stayed nearby despite being frightened earlier during the fight. They carefully placed the woman onto the back of Yuzuki’s horse, and Suzuran led the way.

​

They raced throughout the day without stopping, even though the horses' pain was audible. Riding late into the night until the village's glow finally came into view.

​

Nova, having heard the girls approaching on horseback from a distance, was already waiting outside the village. Seeing Suzuran, he bolted towards her, sensing the urgency of the situation.

​

“Nova?!” Suzuran voiced her surprise as Nova ran up alongside her horse. “Can you get Gelina and warn her we have someone injured? We need her healing quickly.”

​

Nova barked in reply and bolted back into the village, moving with lightning speed as he absorbed elemental power and used wind magic to accelerate. Suzuran slowed down to let Yuzuki catch up, as she had pulled too far ahead. She checked on the woman, who was still asleep and breathing, though her bleeding remained severe as it was already seeping through their temporary bandages.

​

As they finally arrived in front of the guild hall, Yukari and Gelina were already waiting. They rushed to Suzuran and Yuzuki's side.

​

“What happened?” Yukari walked up next to Yuzuki and saw the woman on the back of the horse.

​

“She was attacked by four dragons. We intercepted and helped, but one of them took a significant chunk out of her leg. She’s been bleeding badly,” Yuzuki explained, while carefully getting the woman off the horse and onto her back.

​

Gelina examined the injury as they ascended the steps to the guild hall. “I need to treat this wound now if she’s going to survive. She could die within the next hour.”

​

Heading inside, Yukari quickly guided them immediately to the left to the partially finished infirmary, where two beds were already available.

​

“Set her down here. I’ll start healing her immediately,” Gelina commanded.

​

Yuzuki gently placed the woman on the first bed as Gelina quickly went to work. Her hands transformed into her slime form and enveloped the woman’s gaping wound. Gelina’s healing began working instantly, emitting a small white glow from the wound.

​

“This will take some time. I may not be done until morning, but hopefully she’ll wake up recovered by then,” Gelina explained.

​

Yukari then pulled both Yuzuki and Suzuran outside the infirmary into the dining hall, asking for the full story, to which they both recounted what had happened.

​

“Four dragons attacking her simultaneously? This should never happen here in Valralor. Dragons are solitary and territorial; they don’t cooperate,” Yukari stated.

​

“Do you think this could have originated from Draconia?” Yuzuki asked.

​

“Southeast of Draconia, though? Would they really go to such lengths this far out?” Suzuran questioned.

​

“It depends on who she is, I would guess,” Yukari stated.

​

“If the capital of Valralor found out about this, it could potentially mean war with Draconia,” Yuzuki explained.

​

“For now, we keep this within the guild. We’ll find out what’s really going on after we talk to her... if she survives the night,” Yukari stated, looking at both girls. “Did you notice anything about her beforehand?”

​

“Well, she’s a dragon woman, but she gives off an aura similar to Kurohime,” Suzuran explained.

​

“Do you think she could be from hell, like Kurohime?” Yuzuki asked.

​

“I’m not sure, but Kurohime has a unique aura that I don’t sense from Crystal or Ember.” Suzuran explained.

​

The three women sighed, contemplating the events that had just unfolded. Each lost in their thoughts about the implications of the encounter.

​

“Where is everyone else?” Yuzuki asked.

​

“Well, since you two arrived in the latest part of the night, the only one awake is Crystal,” Yukari said.

​

“Where is she?” Yuzuki inquired.

​

“I believe she’s relaxing in the hot springs in the back,” Yukari stated.

​

Yuzuki sighed, “I’d rather not disturb her then. The last thing we need is a naked, panicked girl running through the guild hall.”

​

“Aside from all this chaos, how did your trip to Alderford go?” Yukari asked.

​

“Fine, actually. We almost had them attack us, but luckily the pendant you gave us saved us,” Yuzuki replied.

​

Yukari smiled and gave a small laugh. “I figured it would come in handy for them to see a family pendant that was given to me by the… what would she be now? The grandmother.”

​

Suzuran showed a bit of disappointment as she looked at Yukari. “Did you know they would attack us?”

​

“It was a possibility that crossed my mind,” Yukari confessed. “Did they want to know what happened to me?”

​

Suzuran nodded to confirm they did. Yuzuki pulled out the three books and the outfit from her pack and handed them over to Yukari.

​

“Oh? You found my old outfit. Gods, did I miss this outfit,” Yukari smiled.

​

“Darn, I was hoping you wouldn’t want it anymore,” Yuzuki pouted.

​

Yukari giggled, “Darling, this outfit was tailored specifically for my lovely twins,” she said, pointing towards her breasts.

​

Yuzuki couldn’t help but glance at Yukari’s cleavage since she was pointing directly at it.

​

“Stop looking…” Suzuran pouted, giving Yuzuki a light scold while she apologized nervously.

​

“I wonder how Kurohime will react to this if this woman is actually from hell,” Yukari wondered aloud.

​

“I guess we will find out in the morning. She’s a late riser, so we should be up before her,” Suzuran said, glancing towards the infirmary.

​

“Get some rest, you two. I’ll stay up with Gelina to make sure everything goes smoothly,” Yukari nodded at both of them.

​

Yukari immediately retreated to her library to stash the three books away. She was happy that Rose did indeed make it to Alderford, but was sad she would never see her again. “I hope you lived your life to the fullest sweety,” Yukari murmured to herself, thinking of Rose.

​

Suzuran and Yuzuki headed upstairs to bed. The magical lanterns illuminated the hallways with a soft, dim glow as they ascended. Once in their room, Suzuran took the first bath while Yuzuki put her things away.

When Suzuran finished, Yuzuki went to clean up, her mind filled with thoughts of the earlier battle, how she struggled to keep up with Suzuran. After both had bathed, Yuzuki sat on the bed with a heavy sigh.

​

“What’s wrong?” Suzuran noticed Yuzuki’s troubled expression.

​

“I felt so useless during that fight. You took down three dragons while I struggled with one. I know you’re incredibly strong, but it’s just…” Yuzuki sighed deeply, her voice filled with disappointment.

​

Suzuran silenced her by placing a finger on Yuzuki’s lips. “Don’t ever doubt yourself. Never again. Do you hear me?”

​

Suzuran knelt in front of Yuzuki, taking her hands and kissing them gently. “You inspire me to be better, to be stronger, to fight harder.”

​

“Are you sure I’m not holding you back? I’m not getting in your way?” Yuzuki asked, seeking reassurance.

​

“Never. Do you realize how amazing you looked when you jumped off your horse and sliced off that dragon’s wing?” Suzuran smiled.

​

Yuzuki couldn’t help but smile back, “Promise?”

​

“I promise,” Suzuran giggled, her eyes filled with warmth. “You know why?”

​

Yuzuki seemed curious, “Why?”

​

Suzuran leaned in for a tender kiss. “Because I love you.”

​

Yuzuki gasped, her smile widening. “You said it first!”

​

“I don’t mind taking the lead sometimes when you won’t,” Suzuran teased, slowly pushing Yuzuki back onto the bed.

​

Suzuran flashed a devilish grin, her fingers tracing the scar on Yuzuki's thigh. "Do you remember that night when an arrow pierced your thigh?" she purred.

​

Yuzuki's breath hitched as Suzuran's kisses smothered her, sending shivers down her spine. "Yes," she managed to gasp.

​

"How about we recreate that night," Suzuran suggested, her eyes filled with lust. "But this time, I’ll be tending to something else between your legs."

​

A deep blush spread over Yuzuki's face and she struggled to control her breathing. "Oh wow," she murmured, "you really are taking the lead."

​

After completely undressing, they let the cool night air caress their bare bodies. Suzuran started with gentle kisses on Yuzuki's lips, then trailed down her neck and stomach, finally reaching her thighs. Yuzuki couldn't help but let out a moan.

​

"Suzu...please," she begged, her heart racing and her body begging for more.

​

Continuing her teasing kisses, Suzuran made her way towards Yuzuki's inner thighs, feeling the heat radiating from between her legs. "Please what?" she asked with a devious grin.

​

"I can't wait any longer," Yuzuki whimpered, "please..."

​

Suzuran gave a small lick to Yuzuki's inner thigh, causing her to jump and release a loud moan before quickly covering her mouth with both hands.

​

"Yuzuki! We're going to be heard!" Suzuran whispered urgently.

​

"I don't care anymore!" Yuzuki pushed Suzuran's head back down between her legs.

​

Suzuran’s tongue explored Yuzuki as much as possible. No longer able to resist, Yuzuki wrapped her legs around Suzuran as waves of pleasure consumed her mind. She struggled to keep her moans to a minimum, experiencing something completely new for the first time. With each touch of Suzuran's tongue, Yuzuki's body arched with pleasure.

​

After what felt like an eternity of ecstasy, Yuzuki begged for a small break to catch her breath. But Suzuran had other plans, going back to teasing and pleasuring her without mercy. "Suzu, please," Yuzuki pleaded, "it feels so good but I need to rest for a moment...please..."

​

Finally giving in to Yuzuki's demands, Suzuran brought her head back up and gave her a wicked smile as she licked her lips. "Did it feel good? Is this what you wanted all along?"

​

Yuzuki's face was flushed from the intense pleasure, but she managed to nod eagerly. "Mmmhmm," she breathed out, finally able to calm her breathing.

​

Suzuran slowly crawled on top of Yuzuki, straddling her as they both caught their breath. "What's next?" she asked with a playful grin.

​

"If we're still… reenacting… from the other night," Yuzuki said between breaths, "then it'll be this." Suddenly, Yuzuki flipped Suzuran onto her back and smothered her with passionate kisses. 

​

Her lips trailed down Suzuran's body, switching between soft kisses and teasing bites. Suzuran's moans grew louder when Yuzuki's hand wandered down to her inner thighs. Without hesitation, Suzuran spread her legs wider and felt Yuzuki's fingers enter her slowly, sending waves of pleasure through her body.

​

"Hey, you said not so loud," Yuzuki whispered playfully.

​

Suzuran could only respond by pulling Yuzuki closer and engaging in a wet, passionate kiss. As Yuzuki's fingers continued sliding in and out, Suzuran's moans escalated until she couldn't hold back any longer. With a final lengthy moan, she trembled and shook as an intense orgasm washed over her.

​

"Yuzuki...please...let me rest..." Suzuran pleaded, catching her breath.

​

Yuzuki wrapped her arms around Suzuran as they cuddled together, both of them visibly satisfied.

​

"That was amazing," Suzuran smiled.

​

"We're just getting started," Yuzuki grinned mischievously.

​

The rest of the night was filled with passionate moans and attempts to remain quiet, not wanting to wake their sleeping roommates.

​

Unfortunately for Crystal, who had been sitting in the lounge area just outside their room drying herself off, she could hear everything. At first, when she returned from the hot spring outside, she thought they were arguing and was about to knock on their door. As she heard more moans and wet kisses, she realized what was truly going on. Flushing red with embarrassment, she decided to give them privacy and quickly retreat to her room before she caved into her own desires.

​

The next morning, Suzuran and Yuzuki were the first two awake despite giving into their sexual desires the night before. They joined Yukari and Gelina downstairs for breakfast. In the kitchen, the clattering of pots and pans could be heard as Azure and Scarlet prepared breakfast, having woken up shortly after Suzuran and Yuzuki.

​

“How is she doing?” Suzuran asked, standing next to Gelina, concern evident in her eyes.

​

“She made it through the night,” Gelina’s voice was calm and reassuring. “She fought off a lot of the pain, and I managed to keep her temperature regulated. She should be fine, but it will take time.”

​

“Will she wake up soon?” Yuzuki inquired, her tone a mix of curiosity and worry.

​

“I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the smell of food wakes her,” Gelina laughed softly. “Her stomach was grumbling all night.”

​

Just then, the door to the guild hall creaked open. Suzuran, Yukari, and Yuzuki turned to see who it was.

​

“Akame?!” Suzuran exclaimed, her surprise evident.

​

Akame stepped inside, her expression unreadable as she set down her equipment.

​

“Why are you back so soon? Where’s Kurami?” Suzuran's voice tinged with concern.

​

“Everything’s fine,” Akame assured her. “Kurami continued back to Opal’s Reach. After some talking, she decided to spend a couple of weeks at home before moving Grammy over here. She suggested I come back in the meantime.”

​

“Did I miss anything?” Akame asked, her gaze shifting between them.

​

“How about you put your stuff away in your room, and we’ll fill you in afterward,” Yukari suggested gently.

Akame nodded, picking up her things and heading upstairs to her room.

​

“This just got a lot more interesting with Akame back. Guess we’ll be finding out a bunch of things today,” Yuzuki said, exchanging a glance with Suzuran and Yukari.

​

“Yes, it seems so,” Yukari agreed.

​

Yukari then walked back around the corner into the infirmary to speak with Gelina.

​

“Was that your leader, Akame?” Gelina asked, her curiosity piqued.

​

“Yes, it was. Are you ready to meet her?” Yukari asked, making sure Gelina was prepared.

​

“I am. It’s fascinating; she’s completely hiding her aura. Even this close, I can’t sense any power from her,” Gelina replied, her tone thoughtful.

​

Suddenly, the woman Gelina was healing started to regain consciousness, her hands twitching slightly. “Oh, she’s waking up earlier than I expected.”

​

Yuzuki, Suzuran, and Yukari quickly gathered around Gelina and the woman. As she opened her eyes, she saw the four women looking back at her, and panic flashed across her face. She tried to sit up but was halted by the pain that still lingered.

​

“It’s alright! You’re safe now. Miss Gelina here healed you,” Suzuran said soothingly, trying to calm her.

The woman looked down at her leg, remembering the excruciating pain and the missing chunk, now healed and mercifully free of agony.

​

“What is your name?” Yukari asked gently, her voice calm and steady.

​

The woman hesitated, her eyes darting around as if trying to assess her surroundings. “What happened to the dragons chasing me?” her voice tinged with fear.

​

“They’re dead.” Suzuran replied firmly.

​

The woman sighed in relief, her body relaxing as she realized she was no longer in danger. “Morye. My name is Morye.”

​

“Nice to meet you, Morye. Welcome to the Crimson Moon,” Yuzuki said, offering a warm smile.

​

"Crimson Moon?" Morye repeated, confusion evident in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm not used to all of this." Her stomach growled loudly, causing her to blush in embarrassment.

​

Yukari smiled gently. "Would you like to eat? I think breakfast is just about ready." She gestured towards the dining table, where the clinking of plates and the aroma of food filled the air.

​

Morye nodded hesitantly. With the support of the group, she slowly got out of bed and made her way to the dining table. 

​

"Dig in! There's plenty to go around!" Azure chirped, her cheery demeanor infectious.

​

Everyone grabbed a plate and began eating. Morye, initially cautious, soon abandoned her reservations as the delicious flavors overwhelmed her senses. She ate ravenously, clearly starving. A half hour later, the table was cleared, and everyone leaned back, satisfied.

 

Scarlet crossed her arms, a slight pout on her face. "I can’t believe none of you waited for all the other members."

​

Suzuran, already up from her chair, wrapped her arms around Yuzuki’s neck. "Sorry, I was still so hungry after last night. I guess you could say I needed a second round," she whispered teasingly into Yuzuki’s ear, causing her to blush deeply.

​

A yawn from the stairs drew everyone's attention as Kurohime descended. Morye and Yuzuki continued to eat while the rest greeted her.

​

"Good morning, so nice of you to finally join us," Yukari said with a playful tone.

​

Yuzuki, finishing the last of her meal, called out, "Good morning, Miss Kurohime! I see someone slept in today."

​

"I needed to after Fae woke me up, complaining she couldn’t sleep from all the noise coming from above her from last night due to two love birds," Kurohime retorted.

​

Suzuran and Yuzuki turned red, exchanging embarrassed glances. Suzuran mouthed, "I told you we should have been quiet."

​

A sudden clatter interrupted the banter as Morye’s fork fell to the floor. She was staring at Kurohime, her expression frozen in shock. Slowly, she rose from her chair and approached Kurohime, her steps unsteady.

​

"Miss Morye, are you okay?" Yuzuki asked, concerned.

​

Kurohime's eyes widened as she recognized the woman before her. "Morye?" She blinked rapidly, clearing her vision. "Morye, is that really you?"

​

Morye’s eyes filled with tears as she broke into a sprint, knocking over her chair in the process. She threw her arms around Kurohime in a tight hug. "Kurohime! I thought you were dead! After everything that happened to the kingdom!"

​

Kurohime's own eyes welled up. "I’m alright, Morye. It was a long journey, but I met some wonderful friends and joined their guild."

​

Morye pulled back slightly, her face a mix of relief and astonishment. "Your majesty, you joined a guild?"

​

The room fell silent, the air thick with surprise and curiosity. Everyone around the table stared in shock, collectively exclaiming, "Your majesty?!"

​

Suzuran’s voice broke the stunned silence. "Wait… Hold on… Kurohime, you're royalty?"

​

Another voice came from the stairs. "A queen, to be exact." Akame descended gracefully, her presence commanding attention.

​

Kurohime bowed her head. "I’m sorry for keeping it a secret. I feared knowing my past would change how you see me."

​

Suzuran stepped forward, her expression softening. "You don’t need to apologize. You’re family here, and you can trust us with anything, whenever you’re ready."

​

Turning to Akame, Suzuran asked, "But sister, you already knew?"

​

Akame nodded. "Yes, but Kurohime asked me to keep it a secret. I promised to let her reveal her past when she felt comfortable."

​

Morye, who had been watching Akame intently, suddenly recoiled, fear evident in her eyes. She backed away, stumbling down the stairs.

​

“Morye? What’s wrong?” Kurohime’s voice trembled with concern as she noticed the fear in Morye’s eyes. Her gaze shifted to Akame, confusion and worry evident in her expression. Akame’s own face mirrored this concern.

​

“Retribution, what are you doing here?” Morye’s voice was filled with shock and fear.

​

Yukari’s eyes widened, connecting the dots of what Morye just said.

​

“This is my guild, my home,” Akame replied.

​

“Morye, it’s alright. Akame can be trusted,” Kurohime interjected, her voice calm but firm.

​

“You trust her?” Morye looked at Kurohime with disbelief.

​

“Why wouldn’t I trust her?” Kurohime’ confusion growing.

​

“I’ve seen her in the paintings in the seers' chambers,” Morye said, her voice trembling.

​

“Seers' chambers?” Kurohime’s brows furrowed. “We didn’t have seers in Cindermaw. What are you talking about, Morye?”

​

Morye shook her head, struggling to find her words. “I... I was given away by my father to Draconia for diplomatic purposes.”

​

“Draconia?!” Kurohime’s voice rose in anger as she stood, her posture tense.

“I think we all need to calm down and sit down to talk this over,” Akame said, trying to de-escalate the situation. “Azure, could you please wake up the other members and let them know we have an urgent meeting?”

​

“Yes, ma’am!” Azure responded, heading upstairs to wake Akiko, Crystal, Fae, and Ember.

​

As Azure worked to gather the others, Scarlet began clearing the table but left some plates of food for those who had yet to eat. Once everyone was gathered and seated, Akame took the lead from the head of the table.

​

“Well then, this isn’t how I expected the day to unfold,” Akame said, looking around the room. “Before we dive into the matter at hand, let’s address a few things. Besides Morye, I see we have another new face here. Would you mind introducing yourself?”

​

Gelina rose from her seat and bowed gracefully. “My name is Gelina. I am a slime and a healer. Miss Yukari has allowed me to stay here until your return so you could evaluate me.”

​

“You’re a slime?” Akame’s curiosity was piqued.

​

“Yes,” Gelina confirmed, shifting into her slime form momentarily. “I have two forms: my true slime form and a human form.” She transformed back into her human form.

​

“Interesting,” Akame said, nodding. “You’re welcome to stay until things settle. We’ll revisit this matter later. Is that acceptable?”

​

“That’s fine with me,” Gelina replied, resuming her seat.

​

“Now, let’s focus on Morye,” Akame continued. “What brings you to our guild?”

​

Yuzuki and Suzuran stood up to recount their encounter with Morye. Akame also seemed to be slightly alarmed about the dragons attacking this far into Valralor. Ember and Crystal also voiced their concern about this as well.

​

“How do you know Kurohime?” Akame asked, her tone inquisitive.

​

“I served as Kurohime’s loyal bodyguard and one of her best friends,” Morye explained. “I grew up with her when I lived in the Kingdom of Cindermaw with my aunt and uncle, and later became her bodyguard when she was the crowned princess. I served her faithfully during her reign as queen for five years, until I was forced to return home with my father.”

​

“Who is your father?” Akame inquired.

​

“His name is Noxus, lord of undead dragons,” Morye answered.

​

Akame’s face shifted, recognizing the name.

​

“You know that name, don’t you, Akame?” Yukari prompted, her voice edged with curiosity.

​

Akame sighed deeply, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the dining table as she gathered her thoughts.

 

“You called me Retribution, didn’t you? And you mentioned seers’ paintings of me?” she asked.

​

“Yes,” Morye confirmed, her voice steady but tinged with anxiety.

​

“Why did you call me that and why are there paintings of me?” Akame pressed.

​

Gelina interjected, her voice steady. “It’s because you’re a harbinger, aren’t you, Miss Akame?”

​

A ripple of confusion spread through the room. Only a few members knew the true meaning of the term “harbinger.” The expressions of Yukari, Gelina, and Akame shifted, revealing a complex web of emotions.

​

“Well, whatever that name means, it’s clear it’s significant given the change in everyone’s expressions and tone,” Suzuran said, her arms crossed over her chest, her voice tinged with worry.

​

Akame leaned back in her chair, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.

​

“Morye, how did they come to have paintings of her?” Kurohime asked, her curiosity piqued.

​

“The seers of Draconia have the ability to perceive things beyond their immediate surroundings,” Morye explained. “They have visions of powerful beings, though they don’t know their true names. Instead, they create paintings based on their visions, depicting them and their possible names. The last time I was taken to their chambers, the newest painting I saw was of a crimson oni girl beneath a bright red moon, surrounded by dead bodies in a small village. Her age seemed to be that of a teenager.”

​

A hush fell over Yukari, Kurohime, and Suzuran as they absorbed the gravity of Morye’s words. Morye continued, her voice steady but solemn.

​

“The name of that being was Retribution,” she revealed.

​

Suzuran rose from her seat slowly, her face pale and her eyes welling with tears. “Akame… why is she referencing that night?” she asked, her voice trembling. “What haven’t you told me about that night?”

​

Yuzuki reached out, holding Suzuran’s hand. She turned to Akame, her gaze pleading. “I think it’s time you share everything, for your sister’s sake.”

​

Akame locked eyes with Suzuran, seeing the anguish reflected back. She took a deep breath, the weight of her words pressing down on her.

​

“I knew I would have to reveal this eventually,” Akame addressed the entire group. “I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I wish Hana and Kurami were here to hear this, but if I’m going to reveal everything, I need to start from the beginning.”

​

With that, Akame steeled herself to recount the events of that fateful night at Whisperwind Village.

​

End