CHAPTER 9: A RIFT BETWEEN FRIENDS

The sun was bright and warm as Myura made her way to the town square, her satchel swinging lightly at her side. The streets were bustling with life—merchants hawking their wares, children laughing, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the air. It should have felt like any other day, but Myura couldn’t shake the feeling that something was… different.

She glanced at Zenko, who floated invisibly beside her, his golden eyes scanning the crowd. “You’ve been quiet,” she remarked. “Everything okay?”

Zenko tilted his head thoughtfully. “I could ask you the same thing. You’ve seemed… off lately.”

“Off?” Myura frowned. “What do you mean?”

Zenko didn’t answer immediately. “It’s nothing,” he said finally, though his tone was far from reassuring. “Maybe it’s just my imagination.”

Myura shook her head, dismissing the thought as she spotted Kazuki waiting by their usual meeting spot near the fountain. She raised a hand in greeting, her smile widening. “Kazuki!”

He turned at the sound of her voice, his deep blue eyes locking onto her. For a brief moment, he froze, as though startled by something. Then he forced a smile and waved back. “Hey, Myura.”

Her steps faltered slightly at the odd look in his eyes, but she quickly brushed it off. “Sorry I’m late,” she said, falling into step beside him. “The market was packed today.”

“No worries,” Kazuki replied, though his voice sounded distant. He glanced at her again, his brows knitting together, before looking away. “Let’s go.”

AN UNEASY TENSION

As they wandered through the market, Myura noticed Kazuki’s behavior becoming increasingly strange. He kept glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, his movements stiff and hesitant. When they stopped at a stall selling pastries, Myura reached into her satchel to grab some coins, and Kazuki flinched.

She froze, her hand still in her bag, and looked at him. “Kazuki? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he said quickly, his voice higher than usual. He turned away, avoiding her gaze. “Just thought I saw something.”

Myura frowned, her unease growing. Kazuki had always been shy, but this was different—he seemed genuinely uncomfortable. She opened her mouth to press him further, but Zenko’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“He’s acting strange,” Zenko said softly, his golden eyes narrowing. “And it’s because of you.”

“Me?” Myura thought back, confused. “What did I do?”

Zenko hesitated. “I don’t know… but there’s something about you that’s changed. I can feel it too, even if I don’t understand it.”

Myura’s frown deepened, but she pushed the thought aside. Whatever it was, she’d deal with it later. For now, she just wanted to enjoy her day with Kazuki.

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THE AURA REVEALED

As the day wore on, the tension between them only grew. Myura tried to ignore it, chatting about her training and the strange things she’d seen in the forest, but Kazuki’s responses were short and distracted. His eyes kept darting toward her, filled with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.

When they stopped by a quiet bench near the edge of the market, Myura finally confronted him. “Okay, Kazuki,” she said, crossing her arms. “What’s going on? You’ve been acting weird all day.”

Kazuki stiffened, his gaze fixed on the ground. “It’s… nothing,” he muttered.

“It’s not nothing,” Myura pressed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “You’re avoiding me, and you won’t even look me in the eye. Did I do something wrong?”

Kazuki’s jaw tightened. “No, it’s not that.”

“Then what is it?” Myura’s voice softened. “You’re my best friend, Kazuki. You can tell me anything.”

He finally looked up, his blue eyes meeting hers—and for the first time, Myura saw the fear in them. “It’s you,” he said quietly. “There’s something… different about you.”

Myura blinked, taken aback. “Different? What do you mean?”

Kazuki hesitated, his hands clenching at his sides. “I can see it,” he said finally. “This… darkness around you. It’s like an aura. And it’s huge and leaking off of you. It's so ominous and thick.”

“Darkness?” Myura echoed, her confusion deepening. She glanced at Zenko, who floated silently nearby, his golden eyes narrowing.

“I told you something was off,” Zenko murmured in her mind. “But an aura? I didn’t think it was visible. I think Kazuki can see it since he's a light and holy magic user.”

Kazuki continued, his voice trembling slightly. “It’s like a shadow following you, Myura. I don’t know what it is, but it feels… wrong.”

A Rift Grows

Myura’s chest tightened as she tried to process his words. She had always felt something different about herself, especially since bonding with Umbra, but she had no idea it was something others could see. “Kazuki,” she said, her voice trembling. “I didn’t know…”

He shook his head quickly. “I’m not saying it’s your fault. But it’s… scary. You don’t even realize how much you’ve changed.”

Tears pricked at the corners of Myura’s eyes. “I’m still me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m still the same person I’ve always been.”

Kazuki hesitated, his expression softening. “Maybe. But whatever this darkness is… it’s affecting you. And I don’t know if it’s something you can control.”

Myura looked down, her hands trembling. “I didn’t ask for this,” she said, her voice cracking. “I didn’t ask to be… different.”

Kazuki reached out as if to comfort her, but his hand faltered halfway, and he pulled back. “I just need time,” he said quietly. “To figure this out.”

Myura nodded slowly, her heart heavy. “Okay.”

REFLECTION

That night, Myura sat on her bed, staring at her hands as the candlelight flickered across her room. Zenko floated beside her, his golden eyes watching her closely.

“You didn’t know,” he said gently. “How could you? This darkness… it’s now a part of you. But that doesn’t mean it defines you. When you absorbed Umbra, he increases the dark aura you gave off. I didn't notice until I tried to really look”

Myura clenched her fists, her crimson eyes shimmering with determination. “Kazuki’s my best friend. I’ll prove to him that I’m still me.”

Zenko smiled faintly. “You will. But the road ahead won’t be easy. Darkness like yours… it has a way of testing those who carry it.”

Myura nodded, her resolve hardening. “Then I’ll pass every test. Whatever it takes.”

As the candle burned low and the room grew quiet, Myura lay back, her thoughts swirling. She didn’t know how she’d mend the rift between her and Kazuki, but she knew one thing—she had to learn how to hide the darkness Umbra gave to her.