The Wingman’s Rebellion

A family visit. Such a sweet and relieving thing to happen to someone admitted in a clerical church.

Although my stomach churns as if I want to jump out of the window even if it means meeting the annoying press and Alliance officials.

Looking at the nun's smiling face, it seemed that she was relieved that a family member finally decided to check on me.

It must have been worrying for the healing staff since the past few days, no parent or guardian of mine came to see me.

'...These people must not be aware of my reputation among the household if they're acting like this...' I concluded while walking down the corridor.

Climbing up a floor through some stairs, the old nun further led me to a secluded area where visitors must be accomodated.

Multiple rooms were available.

I even dare say that they've vacated the place for privacy and security measures considering that an important household head was visiting.

Stopping by a room, the nun turned and told me that my uncle was waiting inside.

After the nun had left, I opened the door with a calm face while withholding the tension I was feeling inside.

Opening the door, my eyes locked on the man with his trademark dark pink hair sitting on a couch by the large window.

Noticing my arrival, he stared at me for a few seconds in silence.

"...You've become stronger..in this short amount of time.." he said in a calm tone.

I kept my expression from showing any kind of reaction to his remarks, reminding myself that recklessly talking with this person feels like a life and death battle everytime.

"I've heard about the incident. Those assassins were quite daring to attempt such a  thing.." some hint of anger was mixed with his voice.

Although I'm pretty sure it's because the order tried to eliminate his one way ticket to finding his eyes.

"Luckily all the victims survived but I do wonder..." He then looked at my eyes.

"...What were they actually aiming for?.."

'....This guy...I see, the Alliance is on him huh..' I thought as I didn't look away for a minute from his deep dark blue eyes.

"Isn't it obvious, they wanted to kill all of us there" I answered back immediately.

"I see so that's what you think, is it? However I think so otherwise" 

"...What?..." I asked while my palm started to feel sweaty.

"I've heard a lot of things about your achievements. Quite impressive for someone like you" he steered the conversation.

"Gaining an achievement in the first layer, defeating the elven princess who's 4th in succession in a mock battle, and managing to get into a party with the childrens of Stranford, Cross, and Rozenthine..."

I felt parched as he continued to list down what I've been doing in the academy. This fact only made me wary that this person was really keeping an eye on me.

"Such important people. Furthermore, Brian Silvious, Amana Reandelle, Shivan Teller, Donovan Yorden and Sophia Foxx" he said as if he had prior knowledge about these people.

"All of them were of high status except for three other students namely Meyn Chasire, Eliya Leivin, and-"

His eyes then glowed red, not intending to hide his deformity from me.

"..Jun Carter. You know him don't you?"

'..Jun..why is he asking about him? He even used his eyes. I'll answer him first, I can't let myself fall into his pace and become suspicious' I mused.

"...Yeah I know him. He's a classmate and a party member of mine"

"Quite a distant description...are you not friends?" his innate skill was activated.

"We're not" I answered without hesitation in my voice and in my eyes.

"....I see but no matter" waving his hands slightly he continued.

"Do tell me what you think, when they came to kill all of you, did it ever occur to you that they might have come for a certain person in mind. For example, a...filthy fallen offspring" 

Pressure then came down on the room as if he wasn't going to let me dodge the question. Dark pink hues were coming off his body.

"....No, I'm pretty sure they purposely came to kill all of us without one specific person in mind, not Jun nor anyone for that matter" I told the truth.

'In the first place, they really didn't know who Jun was at the time. It would only be later that the order would take notice of him'

Roland stared at me with his Eyes of Truth for a few seconds and then deactivated it quickly after confirming my answer.

Letting out a deep sigh, Roland got off from the couch as he passed by me towards the door.

He then stopped after touching the door knob, he still didn't turn to look at me and I also just look straight ahead the window.

"Keep your end of the deal. Fall behind in the academy and I will let that be a sign of breaking your promise"

"Only those at the top may be allowed to dive further below where you say my eyes lay. Continue with what you have been doing but don't even think that your power can ever trump mine" 

He opened the door slightly as he further spoke in his cold monotonous voice.

"Remember that you're only alive because of me. Furthermore, don't dare to smear our name, Irisville"

"That is the least you could do for someone with tainted blood flowing through you"

Leaving those words behind, he finally left the room and offically ended his visit.

Letting out a deep breath, I leaned on the walls. 

'...The Alliance, just like in the story, they're wary of Jun after this incident but I didn't know that Ronald ever held such interrogation in this arc. Maybe because of the deal that he agreed to come here and dig out some information..' I thought, a little unsure of the reason why he actually came.

"...You think that would actually scare me. Hah, try again, asshole.." my voice seems to reach a pitch at the end trying to mask my damn nervousness.

My hands clenched in frustration after hearing him spout bullshit all over again.

Having to deal with him always reminds me why this bond by blood is something that I loathe to the core of my soul.

Standing up from my spot, I opened the door and decided to spend the rest of the day finishing those orange slices left from my room.

And as I got out, someone called out to me

"...Ray Irisville..." a familiar voice reached my ears.

"Ah...you're here too, princess"

Amana was just came out the other room as me. It seemed like she was also having a visit of her own.

She also seemed disheveled and tired, she wore a patient's gown like mine. Despite her tired look, she still looked beautiful.

I guess it was a trait and demeanor that a princess should alway have.

"...You.."

I could have sworn that she was going to berate and insult me once again. It was almost like an automatic function with her when she comes across me.

But surprisingly she just turned around in a hurry and ignored me as she went down the stairs.

".....I guess she wasn't in the mood for a fight?" 

Shrugging my shoulders, I watched her figure leave.

----

(We can't trust the academy to protect you princess)

(Please listen to the pleas of your royal guards. Despite the Queen's wishes, the council has also deemed that this barrier nation is a risk for your safety)

(This doesn't only concern the assassination attempt on your life, the news of your defeat by the hands of a lowly human has reached of your faction)

(Now is not the time to be stubborn princess, soldifying your standing on the throne comes first)

(This duty of unification....it is second to empowering our own nation and for that we need someone of worthy of the throne to return)

(Councilor, I understand that you are an essential supporter of my faction but....don't forget not to step out of line...)

(..I-it's not what you think princess Amana, I'm just worried for your safety and our nation's own interest)

(So am I councilor. I must fulfill my own duty for the unification of the barrier nations. Do you think if I go back on my word, the Queen, and our people will deem me as worthy of the throne. No! they will not!)

(...Princess...)

(Princess...Amana..)

(Please leave me be. I will not cower just because of such mishaps. Now leave, I will stay here and that's final)

Amana was sitting on chair in her room while she felt the wind flow from the open window.

Remembering the visit of her councilor and her royal guards, she didn't feel good even though she had returned to a stable state after being healed a day ago.

She still remembers how helpless she was when she fought the wolf back in the fifth layer.

All her party members were wounded to the point of death, it was also the same for her. 

Amana thought she had become a little bit more stronger than before, after practicing her spirit arts and bow mastery, it still wasn't enough.

Ever since she had come to this nation, all that she had experience in the short span of a month was-

".....Defeat after defeat..." she murmured.

Even during the visit, Amana had thought that it was allright to leave.

All she needed was the throne and just by looking at her abilities which has improved drastically after she had started training, she was sure she could take it if she really wanted but-

"...I don't want to leave.." she murmured.

"...and I still don't undertand...why did I do that?"

Aman then thought back to the horrifying events that had happened, more specifically when she saved someone.

Looking at his actions, she didn't understand why Ray risked getting ripped to shreds by the giant wolf at the time.

She couldn't even understand herself at the time when she assisted him. Her body moved on it's own on the middle of that chaos.

Furthermore, she couldn't get a man's certain words out of her mind.

(Remember that you're only alive because of me. Furthermore, don't dare to smear our name, Irisville)

(That is the least you could do for someone with tainted blood flowing through you)

She didn't mean to eavesdrop but with her superior hearing, she caught what the intimidating man had said.

And when she peeked at the man leaving, she knew he was related to her worst enemy.

The pink hair and the blue eyes, they were very similar. The only difference was the cold voice and the demeanor he exuded.

Amana then saw Ray come out the room and the moment he did, so many things came to mind to her.

Questions about the fight. Why he did those reckless things, who he fought, what was going through his mind, what was his relationship with that man, what those words meant and-

"...What were you feeling back then?" she mumbled.

Alas she could not ask those questions plaguing her mind.

Everything felt heavy and confusing but more than that, Amana felt scared of her own decisions for the first time.

The doubt that she had never felt, it was a fearful thing to feel but- 

(...You think that would actually scare me. Hah!, try again, asshole..)

When she heard his false bravado, his voice breaking at some point as if masking his fear.

Amana could not help herself but think it was a pathetic display but more than that, she almost burst out of laughter herself.

And in that moment, she felt light and clear although she tried hard not to show her laughter at the time in front of him.

"...I won't show you such an embarrasing sight, Ray...Irisville" a defeated smile crept on her face looking through the window as she peeled an orange slice.