'Will you tell me who hurt you?"
I imagine saying, You.
"I did it to myself."'
- Song of Achilles
Ren and Matsuri walked halfway out the room until she whispered something to him. His expression changed, with his smile disappearing and his lips pursed.
"Actually, I do have something to ask of you. Do you have a moment?" Ren said walking over to Xiaomao.
"Hey things are still in order right?" Xiaomao asked Second Reality to confirm.
Second Reality nodded looking toward Ren, everything is still on track.
Ren pulled her over to the side, towering over the short girl. Staring at her like a hawk, he clenched his fists.
"Have you heard the rumors?"
Acting puzzled, Xiaomao gave Ren a look of bewilderment.
"What rumors?"
He gave her a sharp look and sighed, placing his hand on his face rubbing it hard.
"That you used magic to hypnotize me. That's why I supposedly talk to you. Oh and there's another rumor that you killed Lady Airen, but we all know that's not true."
Xiaomao yawned, her expression not even changing. "Do you think I hypnotized you?"
Ren shook his head no, crossing his arms getting impatient.
"Why aren't you doing anything about it? Don't you want to stop these rumors!?" He exclaimed, "stop acting like these rumors are nothing but a grain of salt to you."
The girl breathed in sharply, and brought her palm to face Ren.
"Ren. I could not care less for these rumors. If you believe they are fake, they are fake. I do not care what they believe. If people wasted their time on useless rumors, where would society come to be?"
"Well, that's rubbish!" he said walking away from her.
"I don't care," she said. After noticing him walk to the exit she called out, "Make sure Matsuri gets home alright."
In response he raised a hand, letting her know that saying it wasn't necessary.
After his silhouette disappeared, she bid farewell to Naveen and walked off to her own home.
Waking up tommorow, she sluggishly got up to do her usual garden work. Completing that with no complications she headed to the academy.
Walking towards the academy she could hear many mumbles and whispers beside her.
However she couldn't stop grinning, which was weird to the outsiders. Seeing her grin made them all believe she was going to hypnotize them too, resulting in the crowd to scurry off.
She sat in her usual spot, infront of Matsuri. She started overhearing all the conversations around her.
"Oh my god, that's her. I heard she's friends with Ren. No way that's possible, Ren hasn't considered anyone a friend for years."
"Hmm? I didn't know about that." She said out loud to Second Reality.
Yeah, maybe a new variable. Second Reality muttered staring over to Ren who came to the classroom.
Ren didn't look her way, which was totally fine by Xiaomao. She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone at all.
More and more of the rumors could be heard, but honestly she didn't give a shit. People talk and walk. Xiaomao just let the words go pass her ears.
She looked around, feeling the people staring her down. She grinned to herself, and stared at you.
You ready Second Reality?
"You bet I am," He said putting his hands together.
|Mind Manipulation Lvl ?? Activated|
Thin purple smoke began to cloud the classroom. None of the students noticed, slowly they began to daze and rest their heads on the table.
"What the fuck? Where the flip is the purple smoke coming from??" Ren shouted out, he was outrageous.
Not only did was he already annoyed that Xiaomao didn't care for her self image, but now students were dropping to the table, probably because of the purple smoke.
What on earth? Why is Ren still awake?? Oi didn't you use the strongest smoke?
"Yeah, calm down. Probably a new variable or something. Just play it out." Second Reality said.
If you say so. New variable my ahh. Is that all you say?
Quietly, Xiaomao placed her head on the table and pretended to go unconscious. Ren walked around, baffled.
He stormed around the classroom as if that would bring any answer to what was going on.
| I wonder where Xiaomao came from. Wasn't she a commoner from the village? Does that mean she's a thief? She can't have been a healer with being a lowly Rose member. Maybe she stole a relic and used it on Ren? Perhaps that's the reason of his unusual behavior.|
Second Reality imported the information to everyone's memories scurrying them in open areas.
Slowly Xiaomao took away all the purple smoke, letting all the students wake up.
Like zombies, all the students sat up cracking their back as they do so.
Avoiding Ren's piercing gaze, slowly she slipped out of the academic chambers, not caring whether or not the professor noticed. The professor couldn't blame her for leaving since he wasn't even here yet.
She stealthily ran to her dorm, closing it shut.
"Finally, we're done with that." Xiaomao exclaimed plopping on her bed.
Second Reality transformed out of his spiritual form into his physical form, laying on the bed next to Xiaomao but immediately looked to the side. Silently, he went back to his spiritual form.
"Done with what? Care to share?" Ren said, demanding, standing in front of Xiaomao's bed. Crossing his hands, he carried a scrunched face with pouty lips.
Xiaomao stood up from the bed, "Wait, what now?" She turned to look at Second Reality with a puzzled expression and immediately turned back to Ren. "How did you get in?" '
"That's not important at the moment." He crossed his arms, and giving her a pleading stare he said, "Answers Xiaomao, I need answers. I don't like being kept in the dark and lied to. Tell me what's going on, I can help shoulder whatever it is."
Without a second thought, he placed his hand on the trunk of her shoulder, trying comfort her in any way.
Xiaomao was at a loss of words, not only did she have no idea of how he came in, she didn't know what to tell him. She knew it wasn't possible to open the thunder in her heart, not when her main goal was to ■□■□ ■□■ ■□■□ □■□ ■□. She had to keep quiet, the truth will have to wait.
So she decided to finally speak, letting the words flow in whatever path they fell. "Well, it's just too much to unpack." She confessed truthfully, beginning with that. She paused to see whether or not Ren would reply, but he didn't.
"So from the start, you already know I didn't kill Lady Airen. That case is clear, I had no side strings, but that's the thing. I didn't have any side strings in the rumors either, also why on the flora soul would I dare to make rumors for myself?"
Ren didn't believe a word that was coming out of her mouth.
Delaying for a second she continued after no reply from Ren, "The purple smoke however, I did have something to do with. I was conducting an experiment to see if it could provide a boost in luck. One of the voices in my head convinced me, so you definitely cannot blame me."
Xiaomao crossed her legs and stared at Ren, his face was unreadable at the moment. She knew she wouldn't be able to hold on much longer, needing to know his internal thoughts she activated her ability.
|Mind Manipulation Lvl ?? : Activated|
|Mind Manipulation Lvl ?? : Deactivated|
Xiaomao gave a sharp glance to Second Reality, What are you doing? Let me activate the power!
Second Reality spoke in a quiet tone,"Now is not the time for this. Use your brain."
Xiaomao frowned silently but stopped arguing, she then stared at Ren trying to unravel his internal thoughts.
Finally after what felt like an eternity Ren spoke up. His tone dropped to a whisper that carried more weight than his anguish.
"Xiaomao." He said beginning, leaving a pause to recollect his thoughts. "Is this what you think of me?"
"...What?" Xiaomao blinked, too stunned from the harsh tone in his voice. She couldn't understand why *this* was the thing he decided to say.
"Is this what you think of me!?" He exclaimed loudly, standing directly in front of her.
His voice rose now, ragged and wounded, carrying a stabbing tone with his words. "You think I'm just some noble's son? Some tool who'll nod off and say, "Yes ma'am, yes ma'am," while you feed lies to me? I'm not stupid Xiaomao, I know that you just spurted up nonsense right now."
Staggering, he pointed to Xiaomao and in a harsh whisper he said, "I know damn well you aren't crazy Xiaomao. So quit acting like one."
He paused to catch his breath, then spoke in his raw form, his voice hoarse, not from rage or anger- but from betrayal. "How dare you Xiaomao. Matter of fact, how dare you!"
His heart beat wildly, continuing he said, "Was this all I meant to you? Just this pawn you tossed around when the story gets tough?" His eyes, now red rimmed, blazed under his wrath of betrayal. He met Xiaomao with a glance of disgust and disappointment.
He wasn't going to comfort her now. Not at this point.
It was far too late.
He stared at her, searching for any answer her darken dull eyes could shine. Not finding anything. He took a deep breath.
"TELL ME XIAOMAO OF THE FLOWER CLAN, IS THIS WHAT FRIENDSHIP MEANS TO YOU?"
Xiaomao couldn't move, it was as if she was frozen in place. Her right hand trembled as her nails from her left dug deep into her skin. Her eyes filled with terror froze in place as well. She didn't know what was going on.
Ren let out a final blow, "Was I even your friend?"
She couldn't say a word.
"I thought you were different Xiaomao, and you know what was the worst part? I really thought you cared. I guess it was my fault at the start believing that."
Ren's voice went back to normal, his empty cold voice echoed across the dorm room.
"Do me this one thing Xiaomao, unless you want to truly say what happened speak. Otherwise, don't bother to come speak with me at all."
Ren said, finishing off his last strand of loose emotion. He waited for a good minute, noticing Xiaomao's quiet response.
Breathing heavily after seeing she wouldn't respond, he left the building. Leaving Xiaomao inside.
Xiaomao stood there silently watching the silhouette of Ren disappear. Her knees buckled from the cold pressure that spiraled across her body.
Was I ever his friend? Or-
"Stop it □□■■■. You know this had to be done." Second Reality spoke, urging her to listen.
Kneeling on the ground, Second Reality sat next to Xiaomao.
It was for the best. All part of your plan, remember? He said, transmitting the message telepathically.
"Is it though? What if I made a mistake back then? Is it going to work out?" Xiaomao whispered in a hoarse tone.
Yes, we both looked over it. Our lives have not gone all in vain.
Second Reality wrapped a blanket around Xiaomao, she slowly leaned on bed frame and fell into a deep slumber.
Second Reality tucked her in, floating over to the desk area. He stared at her in position, sighing indirectly after thinking.
It was nearly time.