A Fractured Bond

“Could you finally tell me what exactly transpired? Why did that demon beast appear there? And why is Night Moon wounded to such an extent?”

Mid-sentence, Chloe inadvertently let out another burp, causing her small face, which had only just begun to cool, to flush crimson once more. Yet, her eyes remained clouded with bewilderment. The events of the past few hours felt like nothing short of an absurd dream—utterly chaotic, yet leaving an indelible mark that her small mind struggled to comprehend.

Her slightly distended belly remained hidden beneath the quilt, her small hands folded upon it, yet they could do little to quell the persistent gurgling sounds emanating from within. ‘Ugh! Everything I consumed was liquid, making it nearly impossible to prevent my stomach from churning with peculiar noises. We both had to do things because of the dark energy, so why does Tia find it so effortless? It’s utterly unfair!’

“Night Moon and I detected the demon beast’s presence, so we set out to handle it. Who could have foreseen its astonishing resilience? Had I not intervened precisely when I did, Night Moon would likely be buried beneath the earth… As for why the demon beast fled towards you, I am truly at a loss.” Tia recounted the events with genuine sincerity.

Chloe, who had been listening in silence, began to scratch her fingers together, applying more and more pressure until her delicate skin threatened to break. Observing her sister’s dispirited demeanor, Tia felt a pang of unwillingness, reaching out to grasp her hand, yet her hand hesitated in mid-air before slowly retracting.

“You understand, don’t you? When demon beasts emerge, casualties are almost always inevitable. In that moment, my sole concern was Night Moon’s safety. For anyone else, merely sustaining injuries or fatalities would be considered a stroke of luck.”

‘That’s not lucky in the slightest!’ As if a raw nerve had been struck, Chloe’s fingers clenched, tearing the skin on one of her hands. Her voice trembling, she challenged, “Aren’t you supposedly so formidable? Why couldn’t you even defeat a simple demon beast? I’ve always known your cursed ability is only good for tormenting me! What use are you for anything else? Teacher Rona!”

Pointing an accusatory finger at Tia’s nose, Chloe cried and cursed, her mind attempting to retrieve those fleeting, beautiful memories. Yet, they appeared like damaged film, impossible to clearly discern. ‘Rona… who is that…? It feels like a profoundly important person, yet simultaneously… not.’ Her mind seemed to have fractured, arbitrarily erasing certain segments, leaving only the poignant sorrow.

She gazed at the blood-stained fountain pen resting on the table, momentarily unable to recall its origin. A sudden haze clouded her vision as the freshly introduced impurities within her body began to take effect. Her pupils flickered incessantly between a vibrant gold and a delicate pink, her eyes appearing unfocused and utterly vacant. Her pink lips parted ever so slightly, and a thin stream of crimson blood silently trickled from the corner of her mouth, slithering downward like a sinister viper, staining the pristine white quilt with a stark patch of scarlet.

Witnessing this unsettling sight, Tia was instantly thrown into a state of disarray. She longed to call out for Lucas, but he had vanished. She alone remained, lucid and observing. Her breathing grew increasingly ragged, as a profound fear of loss seized her very soul. The girl’s lips, in that moment, seemed to curl into a mocking sneer.

‘No!’ Tia lunged forward, enveloping the girl in a fierce embrace. Gazing at those crimson lips, now made exquisitely alluring by the fresh blood, she instinctively leaned closer… “You still have me…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Her breath was abruptly cut short. Just as Chloe’s eyes threatened to roll back from the lack of oxygen, a dazed, muffled sound suddenly emanated from nearby.

‘This is… Ah!’ Tia, who had just immersed herself in a passionate outpouring, was instantly jolted awake. Chloe pushed her away with all her strength, then greedily gulped down air. ‘Are you out of your mind!’

Tia gazed into Chloe’s eyes, which had now returned to their familiar amber gold. She couldn’t help but let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief.

‘Chloe and Senior Tia…’ The girl’s sweet, lingering voice trailed off, her mind utterly blanked by the shocking scene unfolding before her. Though she had long mentally prepared herself, mere imagination paled in comparison to the shocking reality. Especially now, with the protective curtain gone, she felt a crucial string snap in her mind, reducing her to a babbling idiot.

‘My heart aches so profoundly! Doing it behind my back might have been tolerable, but to do it right in front of me—isn’t that a pure flagellation of my very soul?! Why did you lift that veil? That was Night Moon’s modesty curtain!’

Upon realizing that their ‘sisterly’ transgression had been witnessed, Chloe abandoned any thought of chastising her ‘perverted’ sister. Her mouth opened, ready to conjure an explanation, yet some matters simply defy articulation. Instead, her face burned crimson, only serving to confirm any suspicions.

‘Are you truly in… that kind of relationship…?’

‘Yes.’

‘No!’

Despite their contradictory replies, Night Moon knew to disregard Chloe’s denial. After all, Chloe was the ‘weak uke,’ naturally too shy to have such matters known by others.

“But… aren’t you sisters…?” Still unwilling to accept the situation, Night Moon lowered her head, unwilling to let the glint of tears in her eyes be seen. Beneath the quilt, her hands clenched the bedding.

“We are not biological sisters; this is merely a… designation for a certain lifestyle…” After a prolonged silence, Tia finally managed to articulate such an abstract explanation. In her heart, the concept of ‘sister’ as embodied by Chloe seemed to diverge ever further from the ‘sister’ represented by Yilan.

‘She’s a perverted fetishist who enjoys playing these kinds of… ugh…’ Chloe, intent on exposing Tia’s wicked deeds, had her mouth swiftly sealed by Tia with a speed that defied perception.

‘Tell your mother whatever you wish when you’re home, but do not utter a word of it outside.’ Chloe’s ear tickled, as Tia’s warm, moist breath brushed against her neck.

“Even so… sigh… I wish you both happiness. I truly envy such a beautiful relationship as yours.” Night Moon visibly relaxed, slumping like a small dog drenched by rain, retreating into a shadowy corner.

Tia’s heart swelled with genuine joy, for having the first true witness to their relationship seemed to solidify its legitimacy. Yet, the reality was far different.

As Tia brought her nose close to a mass of golden hair, thoroughly inhaling the alluring scent, a sudden, forceful push sent her reeling back.

“I have never once felt happy being with you.” These were not vehement, explosive words, but a whisper as sharp and precise as a surgeon’s scalpel, mercilessly laying bare Tia’s innermost being.

Chloe threw off the quilt, her hand pressed against her still slightly distended belly, and began to limp towards the door.

‘You cannot leave!’ Tia cried out, a raw, instinctive plea.

Chloe halted, turning back with an impassive face, the faint breeze stirring the golden strands framing her features. ‘Are you going to stop me again?’

…

Chloe opened the door and continued her exit. Tia remained silent, uttering not another word. Only when the desolate, chilling wind from outside swept into the infirmary did Tia finally snap back to reality. Her gaze fell upon the empty bed, her fingers gently tracing its surface, where a faint residual warmth and the lingering scent of milk still remained.

“Senior Tia?” Night Moon, however, was utterly bewildered. She pulled the quilt higher.

‘Hiss~’