19 Azusa

Raven and the others are still talking casually in the Knights Hut when the paddle of water went up the table and formed Feena's message.

They abruptly stood up and run towards the location where they found both Karen and Feena unconscious with blood surrounding them.

Without further ado, they stopped a carriage and brought the other two to the hospital. As they nervously, wait Feena and Karen's mothers arrived.

"How are they?" Hanae, Feena's mother, asked.

"The doctor is still operating on them," Raven answered.

Just then one of the doctors came out.

"How are they, Miori?" Itsuko, Karen's mother, was the one who asked.

"Otome is still taking care of Feena's wound, but rest assured that both of them are fine. Both wounds are deep but it didn't hit any vital spots. With proper diet and proper rest they'd be good as new."

With that everyone released a sigh of relief.

"We will be going to the Head Knight's office. Auntie, please excuse us for now," Raven politely said.

Both Hanae and Itsuko nodded their heads.

Upon arrival, they could already hear some voices inside. After knocking they entered and found that all their fathers are inside talking to Yukimura.

"We have to find the person responsible to this incident. He didn't only go against a knight inside the kingdom but he also went against the daughter of a duke and an earl," Ryosuke, Feena's father, said with a stern voice.

These 4 people were in the kingdom during this time in order to report the updates on the borders and other issues of the kingdom.

"We are checking into it already, we only need to wait for both of them to wake up in order to hear what happened since no one was around other than them during that time," Yukimura answered.

He then looked at the other three.

"How did you find out about what happened to the two of them?"

"Feena had sent a paddle to us since they are not yet that far from where we were," Raven answered.

"Why are you there?"

"Both of them have decided to celebrate Raven's promotion," this time it was Mamoru who answered.

"Only the five of you?"

Both Hideyoshi and Mamoru looked at Raven, hesitating whether to answer or not.

"Eureka was with us for an hour before she left for her duty," Raven answered.

"Why is she suddenly with you?"

"Feena and Karen invited her, she was also promoted so they decided to."

"Anyway you have to solve this as soon as possible Sir Yukimura, there is someone within the kingdom doing something so evil."

"If Feena has no means of sending any message, their life would have been in danger," Genjiro, Karen's father, said.

Teiji, Mamoru's father, looked at his son and said, "Feena is your fiance, be sure to take good care of her. You have to keep on protecting her until your marriage."

Something passed through Mamoru's eyes as he nodded.

"You too, stop goofing around and be serious about your life already," Kohei, Hideyoshi's father, lectured him.

The four of them stood up and said their goodbye to Yukimura since they are still busy. And Ryosuke and Genjiro had to visit their daughters.

"Go and take a rest already," that's all Yukimura said as he motioned them to leave.

After going out.

"Waaahhhh, I thought your father is going to get mad at us again for being with Eureka," Hideyoshi released a mouthful of air.

"My father is not some evil monster," Raven coldly said.

"You know that's not what I mean," Hideyoshi defended.

All of them know that Raven's father is stern but is kind. Though they also know that he really didn't trust Eureka.

"Stop thinking about that. We have to focus on what happened to Feena and Karen," Raven said.

*****

Eureka and her unit, consisting of five people, were assigned to the northern gate, which is 2 hours away by horse. Their shift starts at 10 in the evening and ends at six in the morning.

Upon arriving in the city, they've heard the news of Feena and Karen's attack. And the fact that nobody saw what happened.

After some thought, Eureka walked towards a fruit stall.

"Captain, are you visiting them?" one of her subordinates gleefully asked.

"Them?" Eureka asked.

"Obviously, miss Feena and miss Karen," another one answered.

"What of it?"

"Can we go with you?" another one asked.

Eureka narrowed her eyes as she looked at them.

"Come on Captain, it is a fact that those at the higher squads are quite popular. And miss Feena and miss Karen are one of the most popular," another one explained.

"We've heard about you being close to them," another one said.

"I'm not close to them."

"Then that they are your friends," the final member said hesitantly.

"They're not my friends."

"Uhmm, then that they are your acquaintances."

Eureka paid for what she bought and started walking towards the hospital.

"Come on, please let us come?"

"Suit yourself," she answered as she continued walking towards the hospital.

These five men happily followed her.

Upon arriving, a lot of people were already in front of the hospital visiting, who is being stopped by the staffs. Eureka stood there watching everyone trying to enter.

"Just walk pass through them," someone said beside her.

"I'm losing interest in going," Eureka answered not looking at Akito who spoke beside her.

"Give me a moment," Akito said before going to the entrance.

"If I still see you in the count of three, I'm going to inject you with the best poison that I have," after saying that, he started counting.

But with just the count of one, the entrance was deserted.

The ones behind Eureka looked at her with amazement.

"Captain sure is something. She is even friend-" Eureka looked at him, "acquainted with the imperial doctor."

She started walking entering the hospital. Those five behind her looked at Akito and said that they were her subordinates.

Seeing that Eureka didn't mind them behind her, Akito allowed them to enter.

Upon arriving at Feena and Karen's room, someone is standing in front of the opened door.

"Oh Azusa, are you visiting them? Why don't you enter?" Akito said.

Azusa looked at him and Eureka before leaving without saying anything. Eureka noticed that when Azusa looked at her something felt amiss.

'Was it envy?'

"Wait, Azusa," Akito tried calling her but to no avail.

He sighed and looked at Eureka, "Just tell those two girls that Azusa came by, I bet they'd be delighted."

Eureka nodded and walked towards the room followed by those five, but upon entering they found out that the two was still sleeping.

'No wonder she just stood outside even though the door is open.'

"That's too bad, they're asleep," one of her subordinates said.

"You have nothing else to do here. Go and sleep, we still have training this afternoon," Eureka faced them and commanded.

The five of them could only sigh in defeat and said their goodbyes to her.

*****

Eureka was watching the two of them sleep while standing beside the door when the door opened and Raven entered.

"You're here, I bet this two would be happy that you visited them."

"Have you heard who attacked them?" Eureka instead asked.

"What they said a while ago was that a wind passed by them before they started bleeding."

"Then who is your prime suspect as of the moment?"

"A wind ability user."

"He's not," Eureka firmly said.

Seeing her expression, Raven couldn't help but ask, "How are you so sure?"

"If you are attacked by an ability, for the next fifteen hours there would be remnants of that ability. But their wounds have nothing," she answered.

"You came here to check their wounds?"

"Why would I come if not for that. A case happened within the kingdom, finding out the culprit I need to see the victims."

Raven looked at her unbelievably.

"Then who is the attacker?"

"A Speed ability user. Only those people could produce wind on their tracks. Using a normal sword or dagger to attack these two, but it seems that there is hesitation."

"I thought so as well. The wound was deep but it didn't hit any vital spots. If the attacker really wanted to, he could have killed them then," Raven answered looking at the two sleeping people.

Eureka stood straight and started walking out of the room.

"You're leaving? Aren't you going to wait for them to wake up?"

"I've stayed for an hour, I still need to train those in the other units by 10," she said as she walked down the hall.

She suddenly looked back as if remembering something.

"A girl named Azusa came here a while ago. But she only stood outside the open door," she finished and really left this time.

"Azusa?" Raven knows that name of course, but it's been so long.

As he approached the bedside table, he noticed the basket of fruit sitting there. He then looked at the door.

'She acts indifferent and cold but still she has kindness in her.'