Cosmos- Chapter 4 10/30/2017 Jurina

[kuro808]

Chapter 1

With the start, it must have an end. The void sucked everything out of the way leaving the black hole that seemed to continue forever. What Jurina had remembered had been gone, she continued to walk upon the air or what she had thought was air. It didn’t feel solid to her until the voice thundered from above as she tumbled to the ground, only using her hand to feel the air had made it its own space where she could sit.

“It is here where it starts.” The voice rained from above. “The name is what you must maintain.”

Jurina felt her voice whisper out. It was soft compared to what she had been used to hear. Her body was weak only to lay flat onto the surface when she felt the weight pull her further. She couldn’t ask anything until the black hole had sucked her into void again upon the grounds that the sun had only shined with the dirt slightly moistened pressed upon her fingertips. She couldn’t progress further until the sound of an animal had approached her.

She was in a new place. Away from what she knew but the language was familiar to her as she pounced up and faced the animal and its owner in the eyes. Jurina observed the owner with a hand upon the hip when the hand suddenly withdrew and went back onto the reigns.

“It’s private lands.”

“Where am I?” Jurina asked softly, hearing the voice come back to normal.

“The lands of the south. Someone had declared that.” The owner answered. “The name is Kodama no Haruka.”

“Matsui Jurina.” She answered.

“Foreigner. I suppose. I can treat you back at the house. The leaders will be able to find you like a sore thumb.” The owner assumed, pulling her onto the creature and galloped back.

She had many questions about the area. First was the vast lands like the countryside and the omission of structures were easily pointed out until riding to a small hut where they rode into the open space and jumped off as the smell of manure lingered in their noses. Jurina glanced around the area within the barn before the owner allowed her inside where more humans were inside of the bare resemblance to females as another one popped out with a long gown.

“Who is she?” The other one asked.

“A foreigner… weirdly.” The owner answered. “This is Kodama Anai no Chihiro.”

“Hello.” Jurina nodded her head. “All girls?”

“It’s a miracle I guess… somehow we got blessed with twenty…” Haruka started to state.

“Twenty five living with us currently.” Chihiro answered. “Haruka doesn’t like to stay away.”

The two laughed as they roamed around the new person. The voices chattered up, creating a mess of questions being directed her way as they were touching her hips and legs. She had noted the children were bare of clothing while their parents were clothed. Their bodies were structured differently from full mass to lemon-sized chests and the growing of hairs around the unusual places indicating puberty for most but in their presence was her as Haruka had peeled them off like an onion from her.

“It seems unusual.” Jurina noted when the talking stopped.

The people stared upon her as they knew what was wrong with her but something else had grown behind them as the boom of thunder shook the house as the children shattered away. Haruka grabbed Jurina and took her into the place before as the manure had fermented with Haruka pulling her into the empty stall. The smell of rain came instantly when she had seen Chihiro walk out into the barn.

“I can’t believe an omen has come.” Chihiro stated.

“Omen?” Jurina spat.

“In the book, an omen is supposed to come before the blessing of the lands. We have been suffering from the unusual circumstances of droughts and plagues but all are children manage to stay healthy. Although we slowly have to sell them to the castles within the lands. Three stand in the distance. Chihiro was once a high class member before insisting in being with me. Although she was also a child by budding so royal blood is still within the system.” Haruka explained as Chihiro came from behind.

“There are hundreds of offsprings between us. Most from me.” Chihiro laughed. “Something that we learned in school that is the reason why we sell them.”

“Which is?” Jurina asked.

“Sex is simply the easiest task.” Haruka answered. “Upon a certain age, you’ll be given a ceremony where you are able to conceive with others. The easiest way is to be with a friend or other members of class. When it happens over a seven day period an egg will pop out and then nurtured for another seven to get a child.”

“Upon that time, the leaders will come and observe them closely. I was once a leader of the castle but abstained upon the dedication between two of them and the eventual mating of two rivaling castles.” Chihiro added. “It gets messy to consider what had happened the one time they had a ceremony to get a group of them all in a warming hut for the future offsprings.”

“So how exactly the succession goes?” Jurina pondered.

“I had decided my deputy to take over upon my leave which had also happened on the other end however the web was spun upon the ceremony which all of us had gotten a few eggs which will become the elites.” Chihiro answered.

“This is quite difficult to understand.” Jurina held her head as she leaned back onto the stall.

She saw the two nod as they walked back into the main house. The creature roared towards her. Her eyes turned to the creature as it turned into a hen with a long neck and pearl-colored feathers. She watched the transformation back to a human shape with the amber red hair and a large smile.

“Churi!” Jurina mouthed.

“Ha! You were the omen.” Churi smiled back.

“What do you mean by that?” Jurina moaned.

“I was hearing the conversation between you guys and laughed that I finally had brought the correct thing from the void. Usually they would die on the land but I figure it was a human but it had to be before the onset of the destruction of our former world.” Churi elaborated, pulling an item from her ear. “That is quite stressful.”

“What exactly is this?”

The question couldn’t be easily answered by Churi but with the rains it made it hard to settle into the barn that had a stench. They stepped to the entryway and Churi illustrated the situation. The screen came up from her eyes as it appeared on the wall. The world known as Earth was decimated however it had been saved by the creators by making the voids. Every creature had a void although puling everything into every which way possible. Death was inevitable however each void was a chance of rebirth to another void and only one they can live on.

The explanation by Churi was easier to catch her status but the aspect of creation was against all odds in her knowledge was now becoming overwhelming as Churi had touched her head and fell to the floor. Jurina began to see everything in sight although it was the fast skimming of the history when she had seen the three leaders in front of her and shot back up.

“The reason why you’re here is simple… there is a revolution brewing. The problem is who.” Churi exhaled.

“We must stop it?” Jurina pondered.

“That’s something that will have to come at a later time and be neutral to all parties ahead. Although going back to Nagoya would bring back a lot of memories.” Churi stated as the duo popped their heads out.

“We have some food so you can eat.” Haruka shouted as Jurina walked in as she saw the chicken like creature back in the pen.

Jurina had delve into it when the image of children being hatched from eggs had settled in her mind when the news popped up on the screen. It was tame. Many happy stories of the people but the brewing of trouble was on her mind as well when the stew had appeared in front of them. It was red; a crimson color that shocked her. She didn’t want to know the purpose but it was sweet like ketchup to her taste buds. She smiled upon her hosts as they picked it up with ease as Jurina followed them.

The sense of being in a small house in the middle of nowhere haunted her but it was also a place for shelter for the time being while the sun set and headed back to the adjacent when Churi had pulled the thick item from under the hay for her as she stood out into the night sky.

“Protect her.” The voice whispered.

“I will.”

[MaYukiIsLife]

The sense of being in a small house in the middle of nowhere haunted her but it was also a place for shelter for the time being while the sun set and headed back to the adjacent when Churi had pulled the thick item from under the hay for her as she stood out into the night sky.

“Protect her.” The voice whispered.

“I will.”

I wonder who tasked Churi with protecting Jurina... This is quite an interesting plot so far

[kuro808]

The sense of being in a small house in the middle of nowhere haunted her but it was also a place for shelter for the time being while the sun set and headed back to the adjacent when Churi had pulled the thick item from under the hay for her as she stood out into the night sky.

“Protect her.” The voice whispered.

“I will.”

I wonder who tasked Churi with protecting Jurina... This is quite an interesting plot so far

It'll come with time however... the pairing should be coming out soon 

Two

Jurina awoke to the sound of crying as the small humans were herded into the box being pulled by the creature. A large hen pulling a box with Haruka straddling over the creature’s back. She pulled her body up and followed them out as Haruka had allowed her to follow by its side when the noise died from behind. She glanced back, wondering of their safety as she felt a sting on her neck as Haruka had shook her head.

“Don’t worry.” She warned as Jurina had felt the morning dew soaking up through her skin upon the fertile ground.

“Lots of land.” Jurina noted.

“We used to do a lot of rice. It’s harder with the poachers and no guarantees of the three leaders currently.” Haruka explained.

The air was crisp with the sun barely peeking through the clouds as they continually walked along the path. Jurina glanced around fully that the three leaders were strong while even one being outside of the realms that they weren’t able to visit as the sounds of claps came into their peripherals and Jurina scanned the area as Haruka halted with the two horses like bullets coming their way. Jurina placed her hand upon the creature when the horses stopped with two women with shoulder-length black hair staring down.

“Surprising they would send out people.” Haruka noted to the two.

“We heard of the poachers and even the other leaders are aware of it. The concern is that person who you were with.” One of them quickly pointed out.

“She’s a friend. There is no harm that will come to her.” Haruka announced. “Jurina… it would be best to follow them.”

She glared up to the fellow woman. The heart dropped into her stomach upon what she had done but saw the face that would indicate much worse than expected if she had continued and nodded. Jurina saw their hands extended and felt the heavy shackles placed upon her wrists before being pulled up onto the horse while the other had been escorted in the same direction.

Haruka for one was not resisting to what they were, police in Jurina’s eyes as the woman galloped away from the group. The breeze drew her back as they sped through the land before the weight had taken them along a bridge and then through the tunnels. Jurina kept her head down as they screamed through the darkened passageways. The scent was easily sewer however the smell of something else came into mind as they exited into the room and dropped her off.

“No funny business. Just stay here until you are summoned.” The female ordered as the stench was now of soup.

It was fragrant. She had grown desperate for it as the stomach growled. Jurina reached out for the bench and sat with her hands upon her lap. Within a day she had been free but trapped in a foreign world. She had pondered over the words when the voice echoed as a plasma came from the wall.

“Hey!” The object called. “Don’t worry you’ll be fine.”

“What exactly is this?” Jurina asked.

“It’s a prisoners’ cell.” The object laughed. “Beyond the obvious, they will feed you unless to oblige to not take their food. Just take it for your own sake.”

“Why wouldn’t they take advantage?” She pondered when the plasma gripped her on the shoulder.

“You ate their food back at the poor couple’s house. The abdicated queen although had her issues but it wasn’t because of the current regime but she had sensed something wrong. Within her mind, she had a successor in mind that would be better suited for the overall climate.” The object explained as the door opened.

“You may come out and follow me.” The voice called as Jurina followed her out into the passageway.

She sensed change from the previous visit although not knowing where she was heading to, had been lingering on her mind as she slowly felt the puddles of water reaching her ankles when they got the stairs that reached up into hallway. The guard shifted the weight over to the other end as she was much smaller than her, proceeding to the bronze doors. It opened with the loud creaking sounds to another pathway to the one chair.

“Come closer foreigner.” The voice sounded as Jurina trotted over to the presence of the woman with the crown.

“Hello.” Jurina bowed.

“It’s Natsumi. Matsuoka no Natsumi.” She stated when Jurina dropped to her knees. “Okay. Good.”

“I have only come to visit.” Jurina stated.

“I don’t see any problems.” Natsumi sighed. “We do need to shore up defenses. I am hoping you can be our representative for your alliance against the outside threats.”

“I agree. Although I don’t have any experience in that area.” Jurina replied when the woman smirked.

“We are in the midst of training. The other two leaders are sending their best warriors to the grounds. All the weak go to the jails in our areas although you were in the waiting chambers.” Natsumi informed her as the guard pulled her away.

Jurina walked out through the front to the market with the people. All were dressed differently. The group had shoulder-length hair but all were noticeably the same with their chests. She walked up to one and followed her to the stall. The surface, elevated to her hips, was laid out with different types of food. Jurina scanned it personally with the woman turning to her. Her growls would have awoken the sleeping when she felt a tug on her clothing.

“Here…” The little girl mentioned as the face mixed between two of figures before, accepting it quickly.

She didn’t attempt to reject the offering and thanking her immediately as she walked off to the other end where sign for recruitment had been posted when the black-haired woman stood beside her, lowering her hood. The eyes fierce stare at the entry way into the building, taking the step forward as Jurina followed her from behind. The official stopped her while the other woman walked through when she stared upon her.

“Natsumi allowed you?” She stated.

“Yes. Matsuoka…” Jurina started.

“Right. You will attend the outdoor class in a few. We can’t afford you a room for the time being.” The official mentioned as the path was set to the right.

Her concerns only grew with the food in hand as the corridors grew dark when the blinding light from outside caught the glimpse of the whole marketplace. She paused to stare out at the group of people before following the official to the courtyard where a few had been lounging as she joined them. The eyes stared back as if she was a new piece to them as the bag came to her and saw the clothing. The female pointed to her as she noted the issue. Jurina took a step before seeing her shake her head, motioning to strip in front of the group.

She was used to with it. She made no qualms against it as she got down to her bare skin. Jurina for her age was shaped perfectly although her complexion was fair compared to the others. Jurina pulled up the pants and throw the shirt over her body as she took to the open space under the tree. She instantly felt a nudge into her side as the group stared down upon her, the instant of brown came to her eyes.

The moment brought her to the ground when she felt the ground quake under her. The strength grown immensely as she grabbed the foot by her shoulder and pulled her, the member dropped onto her back as the vision quadrupled when she had opened her eyes to the attacks and slap them each away. Her fist came, taking one to the other end of the courtyard as the rest followed when her fists stopped.

“Stop!” A uniformed woman came up and stared upon her. “Where did you come from?”

“Sakae, Nagoya.” Jurina answered when the group stared upon her.

“Sakae… Nagoya.” The woman exhaled. “No such place.”

“That’s where I am from.” Jurina roared as the uniformed woman stared.

“It has been gone for centuries. It would be impossible. The realms of the directions are only presence to us. We are…” The woman stared back when a person stood from above.

“Let her be! Chiharu hold off.” Natsumi commanded.

“You’re lucky.”

The leader had stepped up when the rest had stepped away as the leader approached the woman. “Your power is through the roof. I sense it. We have to be committed to continue training however you will not be proven.”

Jurina saw the threat not to be empty. She knew she had to gain trust of somebody within their realm. She nodded to the idea as another woman came from the corner of her eyes and stepped in front of Natsumi. She turned with a smirk aimed towards her. The story wasn’t as amusing to the others but she stepped up with the sharp cap.

“The place of Sakae is mystical. As other places… I have heard of them and it fell in fire because of the previous revolutions and I have fate in her.” She snickered. “The priestess is happy.”

“What do you mean?” Jurina asked.

“I’ll explain later but you must go through training first.” The woman smiled. “Natsumi~”

“Rino… I have confidence in your insight.” She bowed when the rest dissipated from the woman as she sat. “Your wounds have healed too.”

Jurina glanced at her body and shook her head that the truth was now in front of the others as she was human in the previous life.

[kuro808]

Chapter 3

The night played out as all were in the yard to only cater with the food given to them while they were talking with Jurina sitting in the corner only to be exposed by the moonlight. She had grown weary of everything that was happening and only to feel her mortal body cave in as she felt the urge to collapse. Jurina pulled herself up and saw a tree in the other corner. She acknowledge danger would come lurking to the reasoning but she had felt an energy that seemed to draw her in before the darkness had consumed her body.

“Jurina… I never thought you would come to this side.” The voice called as Jurina’s head craned up.

“Churi?” She called.

“Yeah… have this drink.” Churi chirped as the vial, cold in her hands, was given to her.

“What’s in it?” She asked.

“Don’t question. Just drink it.” Churi yelped when she consumed it like water.

Her body shook as she stared out and saw the people standing around in the two corners. Jurina stared out with the body slowly tingling throughout her when the hand gripped her in the shoulder and brought her into the blank realm. Jurina stood in the void to navigate it and picked up her feet to the gleam in front of her. She jot over when the weight had thrown her back and felt something placed around her neck and immediately squeezed the wrist.

The sound of the joint popping upon the moment had drawn the rest to come over. Her hands swam across the bodies with the sounds of fireworks working through her mind as the darkness had cleared upon the moonlight as the bodies laid in the courtyard. Another attack had gave her a weird sense that she can’t continue the assault upon them and fled to the door, opening it up to the figure with black hair and the hood lowered.

“You want to fight?” The figure asked.

“No!” Jurina answered. “I wanted to escape.”

“Please return out there. It is good to continually beat them up. There’s the guards, Chiharu and Chinatsu still watching over.” The figure explained and discharged her out the door.

Jurina sensed what was coming to her. It wasn’t a courtyard but a stadium that she was placed into. The ideas rushed through her mind like a torrent. Her wounds and aches were healing however what would happen if she had managed to get them to the final ounces of life and then a rage enveloped her. Jurina gripped the oncoming person and threw her into the wall. The group stood in shock when the person came upon its feet only to taste the ground again.

Her senses hit the peak when every challenge had been blocked, returned with ease, and thrown into the pile of bodies that was accumulating. Jurina couldn’t imagine the carnage until the flag had been waved with the last few trotting back with the glimpse of the light overhead. Jurina saw the bodies and crumbled to the ground. The night was one she hadn’t imagined when she finally managed to collapse onto the earth.

“We will move you to the infirmary.” The voice called before the weight of her eyelids managed to win her over seemingly the only defeat she had suffered.

Jurina awoke to the sound of birds and a female in a white dress, sitting by her side. As she bent over, it was the sight of the two orbs that caught her eyes before she sat back with a smile upon her face. Jurina drew a smirk upon such things although awkwardly she had only seen them while backstage and one pair was enough to stop her from blushing freely as she turned back.

“You are okay to be released.” The woman responded. “Chiharu and Chinatsu are waiting…”

The two walked in with black gowns and saw her prance up to her feet. Their eyes scanned the woman with Jurina touching her body. She wasn’t certain to why she was stripped down of her clothes but the immediate reaction had brought her into a bad situation as the two lined up, one in the front and the other in the back as they walked out to the corridor.

The cold floor made her body shiver as they continued to set the path in front of her to the next window when she had seen the courtyard from the distance, passing by slowly before being prodded into the door. Jurina stood when the woman she had seen earlier had scanned her from head to toe. Vividly remembering her name, Jurina mouthed it with the woman smiling back.

“Pure virgin.” Rino smirked. “Not too many get through like this.”

“Yes… but why is that a concern?” Jurina nodded.

“Many warriors learn the ways of intimacy early in life. They believe in the art of the war yet have to be embraced. The blood lines have been mixed for centuries. Yet you are here in pure form like a god-created creature.” Rino elaborated as she walked in the black gown with her fingertips tapping the chin.

“I beat…” She started.

“Yes our foot soldiers. They are meant to be killed, slaughtered, and served to the upper warriors for meals. It has been nice to not do it to dirty our hands.” Rino laughed. “Don’t be alarmed about that though. You’ve been fed the weaklings. As in your former area of Sakae… there have been numerous stories.”

“What exactly had happened?” Jurina asked.

“I can’t tell you personally but a commander has come to grab you into the elite team. I’m an only a subject to her but she is willing to continue what you’ve been working on.” Rino smiled when the door opened to the taller figure with the same gown with red stripes along the arms. “Mariko… I wonder when I was going to see you.”

“After being sent away from the main lands and landing here to the new queen and a subservient person like you… I’m aware of what is intending to want me to continue.” The woman replied with an etched smile.

“You have her under your wings.”

Jurina followed Mariko out and into the dark corridor as the smell of something rotten tickled her nose. She hated it as it grew closer when her eyes caught the process with three people shoving it into a machine. The echoes of their voices screamed into her mind when they escaped to a room with the white gowns.

“Here’s the garments for you. Just slip it on for now. There is a purification process with these garments before we give you the gray ones to officially be part of the rank and file. You seem not to be of here or a foreign place that was called Sakae.” Mariko shook her head. “Thousands of years have passed…”

“If you have a story, please go ahead.” Jurina forced her smile when Mariko made a fist promptly as she slipped on the faded garment over her body.

“First, you have to go through the process of understanding our history. The more you know, the higher the importance. We also develop more about you as it continues on. People work as high as they can without noble bloods although some become guards as you see with the two who escorted you from the infirmary. In addition, the mixture continues in a way that doesn’t sacrifice the true blood lines over time.” Mariko paced around Jurina upon the explanation.

“You’ve been helpful.” Jurina nodded when she felt the grip around her neck, the slow grip tightening like a vice.

“Don’t be snotty.” Mariko warned, releasing the grip. “I was expelled but it doesn’t change where I stand.”

The room was filled with books, dusty and all of the same hue of brown around her as she picked up one about tactics that got her attention. She opened it as the text was in a foreign language. Jurina closed the book, placing it aside when she heard a chirp from the highest window and lightly gliding down when it formed into a human with violet hair and landed in the corner.

“Jurina! You’ve arrived this far.” The figure hugged her.

“Churi? Why do you keep hiding in different forms?” Jurina asked.

“I can’t be seen in any form… they know more about me than you so I’m just keeping you alive.” Churi grinned.

“I was in different situations that would have gotten me killed.” Jurina argued.

“Yeah~ yet you’re here when the history of the south has been archived. All this information you need to cram before the next stage starts. Honestly…” Churi chimed in when Jurina grabbed her by the collar and slammed her into the wall.

“I can’t read any of it.” Jurina growled.

“That I can’t help you…” Churi moaned. “It could be worse.”

“What exactly is worse?” Jurina grinded her teeth.

“Dead!”

Jurina allow Churi to escape her grip as she turned to the other end to another book that was labeled, “Alphabets.” She picked it out and read the first page with a translation guide and a pair of glasses inside. She placed it upon her eyes and felt a charge run through her brain. She touched it as it was fused to her skin and began to yank at it. Jurina wasn’t sure of it when she glanced down at the book and saw where the text had changed into the langue she knew and began to read the passage.

“The first test you have passed. The time for you to learn is now. These glasses will fuse permanently and thus your next step is to find the other items along your path.” She read and turned to Churi.

“I’ll be out of here.”

Jurina shook her head as she grabbed the previous book and continued her reading to the urge of the bladder holding as she saw the bucket in the corner, squatting to the scent of roses had turned her stomach when the hatch open of the door to a box. She let the gown down and saw the box with bowls of rice and a stew. The same one from Haruka earlier and ate it. The slight spice caught the back of her throat as she finished it quickly and turned back to the books.

From above, Churi glanced down when she felt a touch upon her shoulder. “What is it, husband?”

“Our mother has called. She is pleased with our creation.” The other woman smiled.

“I see. I will watch over her.” Churi answered.

[MaYukiIsLife]

  I love this fanfic btw Kuro.

Also wondering who Churi's 'husband' is....

The fact that she is trying to help Jurina is sweet but... it's at the wrong times, I guess?

they know more about me than you so I’m just keeping you alive

Oo Is this some sort of dystopian world where members rule over other members? That's why 'they' know about Churi? And who's 'they'?

Churi chimed in when Jurina grabbed her by the collar and slammed her into the wall.

Jurina should at least be a bit thankful that Churi's trying to help her...

[kuro808]

I love this fanfic btw Kuro.

Also wondering who Churi's 'husband' is....

The fact that she is trying to help Jurina is sweet but... it's at the wrong times, I guess?

they know more about me than you so I’m just keeping you alive

Oo Is this some sort of dystopian world where members rule over other members? That's why 'they' know about Churi? And who's 'they'?

Churi chimed in when Jurina grabbed her by the collar and slammed her into the wall.

Jurina should at least be a bit thankful that Churi's trying to help her...

To answer the question, yes although it goes back to the issue of Sakae which the answer will come over time although the reason for starting in the south is to develop what has been laid out with these chapters. They... are a lot of people which came after the first and this last chapter. Although all this mystery is quite ongoing

[kuro808]

Chapter 4

Jurina slept on occasion to conserve her energy but she was concerned over the every little piece of information that was being jammed into her brain. The ideals were archaic however fair in the eyes of what could happen in the future. She managed what she could with the knowledge until the door knocked and she was pulled out to be placed into the dark room. The door closed behind her with the void of light surrounding her.

Training had been difficult with people now she was isolated from the others as she closed her eyes briefly. The sound of an engine awoke her and snapped her head back in the darkness. Her hand felt the floor, moist by something and patted everywhere to follow a small stream to something firm and touched upwards to the warm sensation before the humidity grew. Jurina felt her weight being taken back and the air out of her chest was like squeezing out a balloon.

The being was swift, knocking her around until she saw a light from above. The eyes glowed neon towards her. She pulled her hips up, cocking her legs back, and boosted her body upwards. She only had view of the eyes and ran when she heard the breathing of the being coming after her. The eyes weren’t glowing but she knew the area was about three body lengths based on the pathing. Jurina tagged the wall to avoid the monster although the running had been swift between both however the monster was much larger than her.

She ran to the next wall and felt an item stick to her hand. She closed her grip around it and felt the charging of her body. It charged forward towards her and slid out of the way with the rubble from the top raining upon her. Jurina saw something glow but much larger than the eyes as the body suddenly came into view. A lizard-like monster twice her height and took up a quarter of the room. The weapon as she view it had a long swivel type blade. It felt like ice in her hands but gave her strength instantly.

With the new found equipment, she could see it but it quickly disappeared. She reached back for the wall and felt the humidity grow. She flipped the handle and swung the arm back. The warm liquid came upon her however it turned into ice as a muffled roar came and jumped backwards. The view had given her perspective and the massive gash upon its neck. Jurina saw it charge again and leapt forward. She sensed the gash with her hands and gripped the other end of the blade. Jurina yanked it backwards to the final cry.

The cold liquid soaked the clothing as she saw the severed head and gripped it from its still warm nose. Jurina walked to the opening and followed her way through the corridors to the metal door upon her touch. It flew open to the sunlight and tossed the head forward to the people that had seen her from before.

“She’s our new ice princess.” Natsumi smiled.

“Confirmed.” Rino nodded. “Congrats… this weapon is now yours.”

“Can I be cleaned up?” Jurina asked as the two smirked back.

“For now.” Natsumi grinned. “We have an assignment for you.”

She exhaled as she followed Rino up to the next floor with the sunlight still burning her eyes from the darkness. Jurina rubbed her eyes upon the cold liquid burning her skin when the guide had turned back.

“That weapon is now part of you. Press your hands together upon the handle and it’ll transform.” Rino advised.

Jurina followed as the cold fuse melted and flipped back the blade. She trailed up to the next floor with the three staircases behind her and saw the empty room ahead. The woman pointed to Jurina the bath along the corridor and the room next to it. She saw the stacks of mattresses and turned back to view the emptiness around her. Her body warmed up with the sun however the bath was split in two. The translation came quickly that one was to rinse and the other to dip.

The rinse was towards her left as she stripped off the soiled clothing and saw the copper pot to the side of clear water. Her reflection came back as the hair was frizzled and the face covered in blue. She picked up the pot and dipped it into the ice cold water. She picked it up and felt the icicles run down her exposed body. Jurina let out a moan into the room as she turned back and glanced at the reflection that was now showing the roof above her.

She shook her head and saw the water had washed something away, touching the floor frantically. The loss of her reflection forced her to touch the water with the pot as the image came back in the ripples. Jurina jumped back with another pot of water to drench the skin and scanned the area with the bricks about a body length away as she heard footsteps behind her.

“Hey…you still washing?” The naked woman asked.

“I’m looking into that room.” Jurina pointed as the smile came back. “Mariko?”

“Yeah? Oh you’re the one I dropped off at the library.” She laughed. “It’s hard to tell without a body.”

“What does the water do?” Jurina asked.

“You appear invisible until you lather up. I can tell your voice just not seeing your body.” Mariko snickered. “I betcha you never seen another naked woman.”

Jurina felt amused by her body although the problem was to realm of comparison. She was slender although endowed on top while she was a bit smaller and rolled the pot back to Mariko as she grabbed the first brick when the voice called out, “Don’t grab any one! There is a new bar.”

She saw it going deeper into the room with the heaviness catching her by surprise. Gripping it with two hands, she tossed it onto the floor and saw it glide across the area to the pot, knocking it into the wall. Jurina watched it collide with another wall and the shelf of silver-colored pots. The explosion of sound caught her by surprise when a grunt escaped to the brick’s location. She reached down and felt something soft in her free hand before the pain of her hand being slapped away.

“I’m not yours idiot.” Mariko snarled as she glanced around. “Stop grabbing it.”

“Sorry.” Jurina moaned, picking up the brick.

“I’m getting amused but still you have to watch out to not be open to touching without commitment.” Mariko warned as she could view the body. “You actually look good.”

Jurina managed a bit of lather to cover the body although the tarry substance only reveal more of the body in the makeup. Jurina grabbed the pot and washed it off again. The woman escaped the room to pass by Mariko with the brick in hand to place in the other room. She sped back to the main corridor and ran into the bath as the momentum took her into the dip and flew into the air. The splash spread upon the voice screeching as she reached the bottom and emerged to paddle to the shallow end.

“Hey no diving here.” The voice called out.

“Sorry!” Jurina called back.

The water was divine clear as she saw her hands glow coming out from the pool. She scanned the area of the mist and took to the corner with the voice speaking in the other corner fading away. She sat with the line up to her neck. The steam created a veil around he as the next voice was the familiar one as she dipped further into the water. Jurina drew closer as another voice came into her realm and stopped as she felt something pull her across the water with the veil blocking their views.

“This is Jurina.” Mariko introduced although into the steam wall. “Here’s the secret committee of guards. Sakura and Sae. The other castle hasn’t committed another person but found you.”

Nodding her head, she couldn’t tell the image of the two but waddled forward when she saw the shadows. The steam choked upon her as she drew closer before stopping again as she felt a chill run down the shoulder. She turned swiftly and felt the sting across her face. Jurina flushed to the back rest when she felt the item back into her hand.

“She has a weapon?” The voice called out.

“How did she get a weapon?” The other voice called out as Mariko rushed through the veil.

“Don’t panic.” Mariko warned.

“Who touched me?” Jurina growled.

“It is Sakura. Sorry… you were closing in too close.” She answered. “It’s harder to tell with our conditions.”

Conditions. She could see people clothes but while naked was the slim opportunity but standing to bow before dropping down into the pool had brought the group closer although only the shadows to see them. The group withdrew from the pool and walked to the next room where the robes were hung on the rack as she wrapped it around her body and then turned up.

“You are Sakura.” Jurina smiled.

“I am happy you got here but I still have to go through the trial.” She nodded when the other glanced towards her.

“We have to go back to the chambers.” Mariko warned.

The four walked down the corridor before splitting off to the rooms although the bare room she had faced was now only lit by the moonlight. She grabbed the bedding and dropped it on the floor. The smell of the wet pasture lingered in her room as she turned away from the opening and closed her eyes.

The cold sensation opened them briefly as the blade flipped open. Jurina pounced onto her feet as she glanced out. The smell of smoke was brought out when the head turned back. The flame was like a ball but the image stuck as she scurried back and gripped the weapon to hope for the sunlight to hide the fact of her knowledge.