Erika merely tilted her head as she continued, ignoring Misaki's plea. "What happened to you, Misaki? Ever since you met that boy—what was his name again? Oh yeah, Xavier. Ever since you met Xavier, you've completely changed."
"What happened to your Yamato pride, Misaki? Why have you degraded yourself to this level? You're not the little sister I once knew."
Hearing those words from her sister, Misaki gritted her teeth, anger flaring in her eyes. "'No longer the little sister you knew'? You never truly knew me to begin with. This family never cared about love or kinship—you all only ever prioritized power and the image of our clan. Nothing else ever mattered to you."
"You never knew me, Elder sister. So stop trying to play the role of something you're not."
Though Erika's face remained stone-cold, the sting of Misaki's words was undeniable. With a calm tone, she replied, "Misaki, if I didn't care about you, I wouldn't be here right now."
"I can't just let you go out at this hour. What if you disappear like that boy, Xavier? How do you think that would affect me—or Sayuri?"
Misaki froze, her breath catching in her throat. Hearing such concern from Erika—the sister she secretly admired alongside their grandmother, Lady Mai—left her momentarily speechless.
Erika continued, her voice tinged with an unfamiliar sadness. "Maybe I've expressed my care for you in the worst way possible compared to Sayuri, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you or your safety, Misaki."
"But if you still insist on going, you'll have to prove to me why I should let you."
Holding up Misaki's bag, Erika's gaze hardened. "Take this from my grip within the next fifteen seconds, and maybe I'll consider it."
A bead of sweat rolled down Misaki's chin as she clenched her fists, thinking anxiously. How am I supposed to do that? She knows damn well I don't stand a chance.
Then, realization struck. She's testing me. She wants to see if I'll back down before even trying—because she knows that I know the sheer gap between our worlds.
In that case, I'll show her. I'm not the little girl she used to know. I've changed.
Their eyes locked, an unspoken tension thickening the air. As the moonlight bathed them once more, Misaki shot forward, lunging for the bag in Erika's grip.
But in a blink, Erika vanished from sight.
Misaki's eyes widened—before she felt a swift, precise kick to her leg. Her balance shattered, she tumbled, her body skidding across the rooftop before slipping toward the edge. Her heart pounded as she barely caught the ledge in time, legs dangling over the vast drop below.
That was close... Misaki exhaled sharply, her fingers trembling as she hauled herself back up. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she wasted no time. She had to keep going.
The clash continued, each second feeling like an eternity. But only nine seconds had passed. Every move Misaki made, every strike, every tactic—it was useless. Erika danced around her effortlessly, evading each attempt, tripping her whenever she failed. It wasn't just a fight—it was humiliation. And it was infuriating.
As Misaki lunged again, Erika sidestepped with ease, countering with a sharp kick that sent her crashing backward.
"Five seconds left," Erika taunted, her cold gaze betraying a flicker of amusement.
Misaki growled in frustration, slamming her fist against the rooftop. I can't keep this up. I have to end this now. Everyone is waiting for me back there.
I have to win this.
For Xavier.
Memories of her closest friend flashed through her mind, reigniting her resolve. Clutching her chest, she made her decision.
I have no choice but to use it here. Even if I haven't reached this level of power yet—even if it wrecks my body—I have to.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. Erika watched, brow furrowed. What is she doing?
"Giving up already?" Erika mocked. "Don't be like that, Misaki. You still have three seconds left."
Before she could utter another word, Misaki vanished.
A blur of crimson, pink, and violet lightning erupted where she once stood. Erika's eyes widened in shock.
"What the—?!"
Reacting instantly, Erika leapt back to create distance. "You'll have to be faster than that to catch me off guard," she taunted.
But then—she felt it. Something was off.
Her eyes flicked to her right hand—the hand that had been holding Misaki's bag.
It was empty.
Stunned, Erika whirled around.
Behind her stood Misaki, breathing heavily, bag in hand. She met her sister's gaze with unwavering determination.
"I win."
Erika was momentarily stunned, but then, to Misaki's surprise, she burst into a sudden laugh—one filled with joy, amusement, and even a trace of relief. Tears welled in her eyes as she exhaled softly.
"Fine," she said, shaking her head with a smirk. "You win."
She crossed her arms, her gaze steady. "Go find that friend of yours," she continued. "I won't stop you. And no one else from our family will either—I'll make sure of it."
She leaned in slightly, her expression turning almost playful. "How about that, little sister? Does that suit your liking?"
Misaki blinked, momentarily taken aback. She had never seen Erika like this before—so openly expressive, so... human. It was jarring.
"Uh… sure," Misaki answered awkwardly, unsure how else to respond. "That's fine with me."
Adjusting her bag over her shoulders, she prepared to leave, but before she could take a step, Erika stopped her. With a swift motion, she tossed something in Misaki's direction. Instinctively, Misaki caught it, her fingers tightening around the familiar shape of a katana's hilt.
"Use that if you run into any kind of trouble," Erika instructed, her voice steady.
Misaki glanced down at the weapon, her eyes tracing its craftsmanship. This wasn't just any sword—it was forged from rare, powerful materials, far beyond the standard blades of any other clan. Before she could question it, Erika continued.
"See that tiny bracelet on the hilt?" she pointed. "If you ever find yourself in a dire situation, channel your ethereal energy into it. It'll immediately alert me to your location."
Misaki stared at the blade, momentarily speechless. This isn't just a weapon… she realized. She had this prepared for me in advance. Did she know what I was planning before I even did?
She clenched her fingers around the hilt. It didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was finding Xavier—everything else was secondary.
Taking a step back, Misaki bowed her head slightly. "Thank you… for this."
Erika simply smiled. "You should get going before someone finds us here."
Misaki gave a firm nod before turning on her heel. With a swift leap, she vaulted off the rooftop, disappearing into the dense treetops below. Erika remained standing where she was, her crimson-pink hair swaying in the night breeze as she watched her sister go.
Huh, she mused. Did she really just use 'Ragnarok's Pulse' against me back there? At this age already?
'Ragnarok's Pulse'—one of the defining techniques of 'Stormheart,' the second stage of the Yamato Clan's royal ability, Tenrai no Chigiri, also known as the Covenant of Celestial Thunder. A technique that wreathed the user's body in powerful lightning, exponentially enhancing their speed and physical prowess.
Erika's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. It had only been for a brief moment, but Misaki had tapped into power far beyond her current capabilities. A power that had taken her and other members of their family fifteen years to master—yet her little sister had already begun to grasp it at such a young age. Just like Lady Yamato Mai.
"You really are special, Misaki," Erika murmured to herself, pride evident in her voice. The wind carried her words away as she gazed up at the sky, the proud smile lingering on her face. "Just like I always knew."
--------
Time passed, and Misaki finally arrived in the Kingdom of America via RealmHall. As she reached the meeting place, she was surprised to see that everyone was already there, waiting for her.
"You're late," Jack remarked, visibly irritated.
"Oh, sorry," Misaki replied with a playful grin. "Something came up, so I had to handle it before coming. Forgive me for taking so long."
Jack clicked his tongue. "You better be. I was freezing out here, you know."
Misaki smirked. "You could've worn something heavier, Mister Grumpy Pants."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?" Jack snapped, veins popping on his forehead.
"Mister Grumpy Pants," Misaki repeated, giggling at his reaction. "And you sure do act like one!"
"Take that back!" Jack demanded, flustered.
Before the teasing could escalate, Jason, maintaining his usual calm demeanor, interjected, "We should get moving. It'll be a long trip."
Jupiter stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Misaki's shoulder. "Don't worry about being late. Just know that we need you for this mission. You're the only one who knows where Xavier is."
The moment his hand touched her shoulder, Misaki felt a jolt run through her. Her breath hitched, and for some reason, her heart started racing. She locked eyes with Jupiter, but instead of pulling away, she found herself momentarily lost in them.
"Y-Yeah... you're right," she stammered, suddenly hyper-aware of how close he was.
Jupiter lingered for a second before pulling his hand away, his eyes briefly scanning her face as if noticing something. Misaki let out a small sigh of relief, but at the same time, there was a strange, lingering warmth where his hand had been.
Why does this always happen when I see him? she wondered, her cheeks growing warm again. Ever since he saved me during the Forest Crown Hunt, I... She shook her head, trying to push the thought away.
Noticing Misaki's flustered expression, Elowen asked, "Are you alright, Misaki?"
"Yeah, your face is bright red all of a sudden," Sophie added.
"Did you catch a cold?" Emily asked, concerned.
Snapping herself out of her thoughts, Misaki clapped her cheeks with both hands. "I'm fine, I'm fine! No need to worry so much. I'm not sick."
Jupiter, still watching her, raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"You sure?" Arie questioned, also skeptical.
"Yes, I'm sure," Misaki affirmed with a determined nod.
Just as they were about to leave, a faint voice called out, "Wait...!"
They all turned to see a familiar figure approaching. To their astonishment, it was none other than Princess Jasmine Jin-ah Lee of the Great Empire of Korea.
"Wait!" she called out again, breathless from running. "I'm coming with you!"
"What?" Jason asked, baffled. "What do you mean you're coming with us?"
Catching her breath, Jasmine stood tall and clarified, "I mean that I want to join you in finding Xavier."
"Your Highness," Emily spoke cautiously, "why would you suddenly want to do this?"
Jasmine's expression was unwavering. "Because I need to know where Xavier is. I can't just stand idly by while someone I consider a friend might be in danger."
Her words carried weight, and everyone exchanged uncertain glances. Misaki, after a brief silence, asked once more, "Are you sure about this, Lady Jasmine?"
Jasmine's hazel-green eyes burned with determination. "Yes. I want to come with you, and I'll regret it if I don't."
With a small sigh, Jason nodded. "In that case, you're welcome to join us. We have no objections. The more, the better."
"Now, let's get moving," he said to the group.
As they set off, Jasmine looked down at her palm, her fingers tightening into a fist. Just hang in there, Xavier, she thought. I'm coming to save you. I won't let anything harm you.
I promise...
Meanwhile, Misaki stole a glance at Jupiter, her fingers unconsciously brushing against her shoulder where his hand had been. Why does he make me feel this way? she wondered. It doesn't make sense... does it?