Rimholm University: Clandestine

Chapter 47

"You know who am I." The voice laughed in a wicked way, making Mira grab the pair of scissors on the drawer's top. She held it tightly as if her entire life depends on it. Her hand is turning pale and started to tremble. She scanned every angle of the four walls, checking if there was a familiar silhouette standing on the corner to watch how miserable she is.

"I don't know you!" She yelled in fuming anger. They laughed once again, sending shivers all over her. The lights started to flicker until it dies. Mira swings the scissors in the air, "Leave me alone!" She cried out as her eyes began to water in distress.

"Mira!" Zachary rushed to the girl but got immediately backed away when she mindlessly swings the sharp object in her hand. Mira screamed and wield the scissors the second time. Zachary grabbed her hands so as the scissors. He caged her on his arms tightly, securing and preventing her to do anything. She squirms under his arms. Mira stepped on his foot before using her knee to hit Zachary on his lower then snatches the scissors back to her.

She can't feel nor see him anymore. In her sight, she's still inside the same room, standing alone while not letting her guard down. Mira's senses are surrounded by a haze of fear as the laughter gets louder. The black smoke slowly spread on her vision. Their laughter echoed along with the corners, getting louder till the thing that possessed it appears standing beside her.

"Look how miserable you are. Who's your aiming out? I'm right here." A shadow surrounded with black smoke taking the form of a person emerged in front of her. Mira can't reckon its gender or take a single glimpse on its face yet the familiar pair of glowing red eyes made its remarks on her memory.

"I'll kill you." Mira emotionlessly said before pouncing on it and running the scissors on its chest with her full force. She almost pierced the cold metal through its chest yet she hit herself on the cold floor. Mira groaned in pain. She's about to stand up when a pair of hands pinned her down.

"Calm down a bit, Mira. Listen to me, please." Zachary called her out, trying to bring her comfort. Soft and thin lips pressed against hers that halts Mira from attempting to escape from getting pinned down. The smoke disappeared from her senses. Zachary's uneasy facade meets her vision. There, the realization that the shifter is pinning her down knock on her mind. Zachary get off her then seated beside her. Mira noticed his wounds and ripped clothes, she stood up quickly.

"Z-Zach?! What happened to you?! You're--" Mira got horrified as her eyes laid upon the metal tainted with crimson-colored liquid. The scissors created a small clink soon when it hits the ground. Zachary smiled innocently and held her face, "You scared me. Are you alright now?"

First, Mira woke up with a chasm inside her. Next, Mira learned that she can't use her magic anymore. Also, she found out that her familiar got into the same boat as hers. Lastly, Mira got tricked by the illusion and hurt Zachary. Mira had enough of everything. It all happened the moment she opened her eyes. Now, she started to be angry at herself. Having a bloody sight of Zachary who managed to smile at her pushed Mira into her breaking point.

"I'm sorry, Zach," Mira said in a coarse and meager voice. She wants to raise her hand to reach him out yet the very agitation halts her from doing it. Her heart sank deeper when Zachary made an effort to grasp her hand. Mira wiped those salty tears before scurrying out of the infirmary.

"Mira! Wait!" Mira started to run fast as she can knowing that Zachary can effortlessly keep up with her, "Go back there, Zachary!"

"I won't stop following you if you keep on doing that!"

"Don't be stubborn! Let's end this. We both have enough!" Mira replied while making her steps bigger, ignoring the fact that her legs are aching. The sun honored them with its blazing light before it sets down to the horizon, the paths are too silent and the northern wind caused the leaves to dance along to its gentle demeanor.

"It's alright. Just a small wound. Things like that won't take my life away, Mira. Don't think too much of it." Mira stayed on her spot. Zachary unhurriedly walks towards her, indicating not to do any harm. At the moment, Zachary fondled her. Mira started to burst into tears of anger, sorrow, and confusion, "If you're not ready to tell everything, I'll wait. I won't rush you. Just clear your mind first. I'll give you space. I don't want to let you go. "

"You need to, Zachary. I don't want to be everyone else's burden. Don't worry, I still help you as I promised," She wiped her tears, "Sorry I hurt you and you need to see me on this state, Zachary."

"Please, not on this way. It's alright to be vulnerable sometimes, Mira. Don't need to restrict your emotion so much." Zachary held her hands gently, "Don't forget that everyone got awareness to be free to feel everything that revolves around them. But please, don't scare me like that." He planted a small kiss on the back of her palm. Zachary won't care if it's the same hand that roughly takes his life away. Despite his deep and bleeding wounds, all he paid his attention to was the hands' owner.

"Before we get into the game's venue, I heard a voice speaking to me. I don't know who or where that is but I tried to ignore it. During the game, I heard it again until earlier. I don't think it was an illusion. I think my mind is giving up, Zachary." She began to whimper one more time. Zachary held her close, patiently listening and waiting.

"It would be dangerous to keep me around from all of you. What if I attacked everyone? So, please. I beg of you." Zachary forced a bitter smile as he slide his arms away from her. Mira took deep breaths then stepped away, without any intention to meet his gaze.

"I don't mind getting hurt. I don't mind if one day you pushed a knife on my chest. I don't even mind everything at all because it's you. Even that cost my life or the empire waiting for me outside. I don't care if I lost it both as long as you're safe in sound."

"You have people to lead. You don't need to sacrifice those important things just for a piece of extra luggage like me. Don't be selfish, Crowned Prince Zachary Beaumont Levine. I thought it was just a contract? There's no such a thing written on it that involving personal feelings or any other personal agenda is included." Mira replied coldly, catching Zachary off guard.

"I just made that contract! I do that because I got tired of watching from afar! I got driven by my greed! I made that just to keep you close to me! Is it bad to be selfish just for a while?" Zachary's eyes glister in gold.

"W-What?" Mira's stone-cold expression got softened. The lamp post lit up that makes the whole path a link of jewels. Zachary's golden eyes outshine them, making Mira's breath hitch for a moment she meets it.

'Tell her if you got a chance.'

"I wanted to be selfish for once, Mira. I wanted to do it with someone I love." He chuckled with bitterness laced on it, "I wanted to run away with you. Explore the things in this world. That is what I always dreamed of."

"This is getting out of hand, Zachary. Get yourself together! I'm a human and you're a shifter! I'm nothing against your kind! I closely kill you! I do nothing but bring you problems!"

"How about you? Do you even like me? For once, did you care for me?"

"I did! That's why I'm asking you to let me go! If this thing continues, it'll hurt you more! Are you out of your mind?!" Mira brushed her hand on her soaked eyes in resentment.

"Alright, let's talk again when your head is cool. I can see where this will ended up." Mira turned her back at Zachary and took a step further. Zachary sprawled himself on the nearest bench while his gaze is tailing Mira.

"How can I tell you everything on this point?"

"You forgot to fix your clothes, Zach. Here wear this first." Lady Selene handed him clean and folded apparel. Zachary hoisted a problematic breath while changing his clothes, "I forgot it. How long have you been in here?"

"Before you chased her. It happened that I'm sitting here while using my magic so no one will notice me." Lady Selene crossed her legs while looking at the seven moons above, "Mira is too conflicted at this moment. I can't see any point of get mad at her. The word got to Lady Marionette, we and Mira's guardians are going to talk about this."

"Her core is shattered, Lance and even her mother said they cannot fix it. Her Majesty also said that she tried to look for another physician who can do it but she failed too."

"Right, you can't rejuvenate someone with your magic. What about Salem? We know that when it gets to those terms she's knowledgeable."

"She's out of sight. She disappeared without a word and appears again like a mushroom. I'll try to use my contacts to find someone who can heal her." Zachary reclined after rolling the shabby fabric on his side.

"Elamir doesn't cast a spell on you but it hits you hard," Lady Selene chuckled, "Mira changed you so much. Well, let's set that topic aside, we still need to figure out a way to help her."

"None inside the University should know that we're dealing with this matter, sister. We can't be nonchalant on allowing them to take a two high on this news. I should look for him or her inside of university walls. But still, I can't move to identify those who can lend a hand here inside." Zachary rubbed his temples. Lady Selene smiled and tapped his shoulder, "The four council from seven nations got their eyes locked at the six universities."

"It's all my mess." Mira curled herself, sobbing and looking at her hands. She leaned herself to the bark behind her to relieve the tension on her. Zachary's state keeps on replaying in her mind. The silence of the woods gives her small comfort.

"You're not the only one who gets your foot into it, Amira." A soft-spoken voice said. Mira didn't respond when a person appeared right beside her. Her warm presence gives serenity to the dazed girl.

"Are you going to kick me out, Lady Marionette?" Mira asked. Instead of the answer that she expects, the woman beside her laughed. Mira swiveled her attention to the cloaked woman. Her eyes widened when she saw her unfamiliar face, "Who are you?!" The woman placed her index in her lips, motioning to Mira to keep her voice down.

"I'm strolling around but I found you crying in here. You're holding too much pain in you, you rarely cry, do you?" She leaned her face on her hand, eyeing Mira in amusement.

"How did you know?"

"People aren't that good at hiding their emotions. They tend to do that most of the time. So as you, Gloucester. I won't wonder anymore if that Levine will get crazy by chasing you. You got the beauty inside out. The beauty that enticed everyone who laid their eyes upon you."

"Are you---"

"Before I forgot, I'm Cyra. It's nice to meet you despite this kind of time." Cyra held Mira's hand and shake it. Mira allowed her with a small yet clueless laugh. Cyra's comfortable presence washed away the violent storm on Mira's mind. Cyra scanned Mira's arm closely, making Mira snatch her arm away, horrified by the sudden action.

"Wow, you got some of them. I've expected it to be someone else."