[Luna & Ria]
In the late, Ria walked alone, clutching the straps of her bag so tightly her knuckles were white. Her face was drawn, lost in a spiral of guilt and self-recrimination.
[Luna has been ignoring me for three days now. ] she thought miserably. [But I don't blame her. If someone tried to kill me... I wouldn't want to be their friends anymore, either.] Her fist clenched harder.
"Ria! Wait up!"
The sudden, loud shout from behind startled her, making her jump. She slowed hesitatingly and then stopped but keeping her gaze fixed on the ground.
Luna reached her side, breathless.
Ria spoke without looking up. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Luna ignored the question. "Were you avoiding me?"
"I–I thought you were ignoring me." Ria stammered, twisting her fingers. "I thought you didn't want to talk to me after I almost..."
"Hey." Luna cut in, her voice softening slightly. She placed a hand lightly on Ria's arm. "I didn't die. And I know it wasn't your fault, Ria."
Ria finally looked down, her lower lip trembling. "But still, I'm sorry."
"Come on." Luna said, shaking off the tension and taking the lead. "Let's go grab something to eat. I'm starving."
A few minutes later, they settled into a quiet corner booth at a small café. And they ordered simple cakes and coffee, eating in relative quiet until Luna leaned forward.
"You know, we need to find a third member fast." Luna said, crumbling a napkin nervously. "The Game is starting soon. And as you saw..." she clutched her own forearm. "Grantham doesn't want anything to do with us anymore. But I don't know where we would even start, or if there's still anyone willing to join forces with others."
Ria nibbled on her cupcake, worry clouding her eyes. "Why don't we just hide until the Game starts?"
Luna sighed, shaking her head. "Hiding won't work. Remember, that if there's more than three of us left when the Game starts, the Game itself will choose it's participants."
"What if we might be lucky and be one of the chosen ones?" Ria asked, clinging to the idea.
"The Game doesn't do luck, Ria." Luna retorted. "If it did, then my mom would still be alive."
"I'm sorry." Ria whispered.
"It's fine..." Luna said, forcing a gentle tone. "And yeah, I've been meaning to ask, why did you accept the Game's request?"
Ria's face instantly fell, the sadness deepening to agony.
Luna immediately raised her hands in surrender. "No, hey, it's okay! Forget I asked." she said quickly
Ria ignored her, staring past Luna's shoulder as she finally spoke. "To help my little brother. He's been sick from ever since he was born. And right after my mom died, our dad left us, so he got worse. We live with our grandmother now and she works so hard to pay for his medicine."
Tears welled up, blurring her vision. "I want to help but I can't because I'm scared of people. I'm useless, Luna. And... when I saw the Game's request, I felt a sense of hope that maybe I could help but I can't. I'm still as useless as ever." She was openly crying now, her shoulders shaking.
Luna reached across the table, grabbing Ria's hand with fierce sincerity. "Hey! You are not useless."
Luna squeezed her hand reassuringly. "You know, I've even realized that you're stronger than my brother, Damien. You might not know how to control your ability but you're the second strongest person I know. Even if you choose to hide until the Game starts, you'll be okay because if there's more than three left, the Game chooses the strongest. So you will make it."
Ria slowly wiped her tears, lifting her head. "I don't want to hide anymore..." she whispered, her voice firmer than Luna had ever heard it. "I want to be useful. And I will protect you until the end, Luna."
Luna beamed. "Right. I'll hold you to that." she said, before glancing out the window. "Dammit, it's late. Let's go home."
They rose, paid for the meal and walked out, holding hands as they navigated the darkening streets.
As they turned onto a quiet residential street, a voice drawled. "Well, isn't this quite amusing."
Elena stepped forward, walking slowly.
Luna instinctively pulled Ria behind her, stepping forward into a defensive posture.
"So, Damien sent you to do his biddings?"Luna asked.
Elena walked slowly, circling them like a predator, a smile playing on her lips. "Why would I do anything on behalf of that idiot? I'm simply here for my own sake. And I want her." She pointed directly at Ria, who flinched behind Luna.
"If you want her, you'll have to go through me first." Luna said, flames igniting around her fists.
"Oh, you think I want to kill her?" Elena chuckled, pausing her circle. "You've got it wrong, darling. I simply want to give her a chance to help her brother."
Luna snapped, "How do you know about her brother?!"
"I was simply passing by the café and accidentally heard everything. It was just a coincidence." Elena replied.
Luna's mind raced. [If she was so close that she heard us talk, why couldn't I feel her mana like I do now? ]
Elena looked directly at Ria, ignoring Luna. "What do you say, Ria? Join us and you can be able to help your brother. I mean, as you can already feel, I'm stronger than miss grumpy there. And my acquaintance is two times stronger than me. So the three of us, we won't have much trouble getting the Desideria Tria." Elena slowly extended a hand forward.
Luna's heart began to hammer against her ribs as she felt Ria shifting behind her. Ria stepped out from behind Luna, her face resolute despite her trembling legs. "No." she said. "I will never join you. I am with Luna until the end."
"It's such a shame..." Elena sighed, her voice laced with mock regret. "I'll have to kill someone as gifted as you."
Elena shot forward. And drew her twin, wickedly curved daggers. Luna reacted instantly, the flames igniting on her hands coalescing into multiple fire spheres which she launched in a rapid volley.
Elena sliced the first one she met but it exploded on impact, sending her skidding backward on her daggers and heels.
When she raised her head, several more spheres were coming. And she began to sprint, circling the girls, each sphere that hit the ground exploding beside her.
[She's trying to attack from behind.] Luna thought, manifesting other spheres behind her to protect Ria's flank.
Elena suddenly dissolved into a shadow blur, vanishing into the dark patch cast by a nearby tree.
Luna gasped, her eyes widening.
Elena reappeared from Ria's shadow and kicked her. She crashed into Luna, sending them both tumbling violently across the pavement.
Elena shot forward again. Luna regained composure immediately and raised her hands to defend but Elena was already there, her dagger plunging toward Luna's guts.
But Ria intercepted the blowx she threw herself in front of Luna and the dagger plunged deep into her waist.
Ria screamed.
Luna instinctively swung a flaming fist, forcing Elena to jump back. And she spun toward Ria, crouching beside her, hands pressing against the wound.
"Ria! Are you okay?"
Ria was crying but she nodded. "Y-yeah." She pressed her own hand to the wound and the tissue around the edges of the cut instantly froze into a jagged layer of ice. She screamed again as the ice formed, sealing the blood.
"Wow." Elena said, stepping back slightly, impressed. "You just made my efforts look useless."
"Shut up, you bitch!" Luna roared, her anger spiking.
And a large fire sphere formed instantly in Luna's hand and shot forward with impossible speed.
Elena dodged it though, but the sphere split into dozens of smaller spheres that swarmed her. Five hit simultaneously, the explosions engulfing Elena.
And when the smoke cleared, her clothes were half-burnt and she couldn't stand straight, swaying precariously.
Luna stepped forward, her fists flaring, ready to end the fight.
Elena merely smiled. "Now, Jester."
A purple card shot through, it too fast for Luna to track. And it grazed her cheek, leaving a stinging cut, before continuing its devastating trajectory.
Luna turned, screaming. "RIA!"
The card pierced a hole directly into Ria's guts. Ria made only a small, choked sound before collapsing to her knees.
Luna got to here and caught her before she could fall completely. "Hey, Ria! Stay with me!"
She placed Ria's hand on the wound. "You have to freeze it! Freeze it like you did before! Then we'll get you help!"
Ria's eyes started tearing, as stared up at Luna.
Luna shook her, tears streaming down her own face. "Come on, use your ability! RIA!"
Ria gently grasped Luna's hand. "Leon." she whispered, a faint smile touching her lips. "My brother's name is Leon. Please take care of him, Luna. And tell him that... I love him so much." Her tear-filled eyes closed, the tears spilling onto Luna's sleeve.
"No, Ria! You tell him yourself!" Luna shook her again, cradling her friend to her chest. "I won't do it!" Luna screamed, holding her close and releasing a long, agonizing wail.