CHAPTER 13 - SUPPRESSED SHADOWS

The late afternoon sun warmed the bustling streets of the market as Myura hurried toward the fountain. The chatter of merchants and customers filled the air, and the scent of fresh bread and sizzling meat wafted through the crowd. Her crimson eyes scanned the familiar space until they landed on Kazuki, leaning casually against the fountain’s edge.

He looked up as she approached, offering her a small wave. “Hey, Myura.”

“Hey!” she called back, her smile bright as always. But beneath her cheerful facade, her heart felt heavy. The effort to suppress her aura had left her drained, and every step she took felt like wading through deep water.

Kazuki didn’t seem to notice her fatigue. “You took your time,” he teased lightly.

“Sorry! Got distracted,” she said, brushing off the question as she fell into step beside him. “So, what’s the plan today?”

Kazuki shrugged. “Nothing special. Just figured we’d hang out.”

His casual tone put her at ease, but she couldn’t help noticing the way his eyes flicked toward her now and then, as if searching for something. She tightened her focus, imagining the dark, swirling shadows within her being sucked inward, hidden from view. She didn’t know how long she could keep it up, but for now, it was working.

UNSEEN OBSERVERS

As the two strolled through the market, chatting and laughing, two cloaked figures moved silently among the crowd. The knights, sent by Father Malric and the captain of the church guard, kept a careful distance, their eyes locked on Kazuki. The taller knight, his face partially hidden by his hood, gestured subtly to his companion.

“Stay close,” he murmured. “The artifact is reacting, but it’s extremely faint. If the source is here, we’ll know soon enough.”

The shorter knight held a small magical orb in his gloved hand, its faint glow pulsing softly. The artifact hummed quietly, its light flickering faintly as they followed Kazuki and Myura through the stalls.

“He’s with that girl and they seem to know each other quite well,” the shorter knight said. “They’re always together. If he knows anything about dark magic, she might be involved.”

The taller knight nodded. “We’ll wait. If the artifact reacts more strongly, we’ll have our answer.”

CRACKS IN THE FACADE

Myura and Kazuki stopped at a stall selling roasted meat skewers, where Myura eagerly bought two and handed one to Kazuki. “Here, my treat!” she said, grinning.

Kazuki accepted it with a small smile. “Thanks. You’re in a good mood today.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Myura replied, her tone light and teasing. “Hanging out with you is always fun.”

Kazuki chuckled, but there was a hesitation in his voice. He couldn’t shake the unease lingering in the back of his mind. Her aura… it’s different now, he thought. It’s barely there. How is that possible?

Despite his confusion, Kazuki decided to push the thought aside. Myura seemed happy, and for now, that was enough.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

As they wandered further into the market, Myura’s cheerful demeanor began to falter. The strain of suppressing her aura was taking its toll, her head growing light and her breath uneven. She glanced at Kazuki, who was distracted by a display of trinkets, and forced a smile.

“I’ll be right back,” she said quickly, stepping away before he could respond.

Kazuki raised an eyebrow. “You okay?”

“Yep, just fine!” she called over her shoulder. “Don’t wait up!”

RELEASING THE SHADOWS

Myura ducked behind a row of buildings, finding a quiet alley where the noise of the market faded into the background. She leaned heavily against the wall, her head pounding and her chest heaving as she let out a shaky breath.

The shadows around her began to ripple faintly, her suppressed aura spilling out like smoke escaping a sealed jar. The oppressive weight she’d been holding back surged forward, and she closed her eyes, focusing on releasing it to ease the strain.

“Better,” she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible. “Much better.”

THE ARTIFACT’S EXPLOSION

The knights, still tracking Kazuki and Myura from a distance followed Myura and watched from a distance,they stopped suddenly as the artifact in the shorter knight’s hand began to glow brightly. The soft hum grew into a sharp, high-pitched whine, and the orb pulsed with an intensity that made the knight’s hand tremble.

“She’s letting out her aura!? It was suppressed?,” the taller knight said, his voice tense. “This is so much dark energy.”

The shorter knight stared at the artifact, his eyes widening in alarm. “It’s reacting too strongly! It’s—”

Before he could finish, the artifact shattered with a deafening crack, shards of glowing crystal scattering across the cobblestones. The knights stepped back in shock, staring at the remains of the orb in disbelief.

“That wasn’t just dark magic,” the shorter knight muttered, his voice shaky. “That power—it’s… overwhelming.”

The taller knight clenched his fists. “We need to report this to Father Malric immediately. If she’s the source…”

“She’s dangerous,” the shorter knight finished grimly. “Let’s go.”

BACK TO KAZUKI

After catching her breath, Myura pulled her aura back in, forcing it deep within herself once more. The shadows around her stilled and retracted back inwards, and she straightened, wiping the sweat from her brow. “Okay,” she said softly. “I can do this.”

She returned to the market, finding Kazuki where she had left him. He looked up as she approached, his expression softening. “Feeling better?”

“Much better!” Myura replied, her tone bright and cheerful. “Sorry about that. Had to take care of something.”

Kazuki studied her for a moment, his blue eyes searching hers. The flickers of darkness he had seen before were gone, replaced by a sense of normalcy that left him confused. It’s like it was never there, he thought. How is that possible?

Despite his lingering doubts, Kazuki decided to let it go. Myura seemed happy, and for now, that was enough. “You’re weird sometimes, you know that?” he teased, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Myura laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Takes one to know one.”

As they continued to wander through the market, the tension between them eased slightly, though Kazuki remained cautious. In the back of his mind, the priest’s warning lingered: Darkness will always reveal itself, no matter how well it’s hidden.

THE KNIGHTS’ REPORT

Back at the church, the two knights knelt before Father Malric, their expressions grim as they recounted what had happened.

“We’ve confirmed the presence of dark magic,” the taller knight said. “The artifact reacted violently—so much so that it shattered.”

Malric’s eyes darkened, his hands tightening into fists. “Then there is no doubt. This girl you speak of is the source.”

The shorter knight hesitated. “Her power, Father… it’s unlike anything I’ve seen. If we act now—”

“We will not act yet,” Malric interrupted sharply. “Continue watching her. We must proceed carefully. Darkness must be eradicated, but we cannot afford reckless action.”

The knights bowed their heads and left, their footsteps echoing through the stone halls. Alone in the dimly lit chamber, Malric turned toward the altar, his voice a low murmur.

“Darkness has no place in this world,” he said softly. “And I will see to it that it is purged.”