Warmth Through a Sword

"Sarah."

Sitting inside a massive bedroom, Bo sat in front of Sarah on the bed, hoping to tell her something. He'd led them specifically to that room, and Sarah sat, unsure as to the reason why. Still, she listened intently, sensing it was something important as Bo wasn't usually one to confront without a solid reason.

"Yeah? What's up, Bo?"

Bo twiddled his fingers, his lips shifting as he prepared to speak. Sarah saw his demeanor, her heart sinking as she processed the clear sign of emotion he was exhibiting.

"Wait a second! Don't tell me…"

...

Miya lie in a room with a blank ceiling. Noise could be heard to her left, attracting her attention, but something else was on her right. Chance was asleep in the bed with her, silent as she looked to what had initially attracted her attention. It was Nifla who sat in a chair, playing online video games.

She sat with her feet on the custom seat, her attention glued to the screen.

"How do you do that? I don't mean to be rude-- I'm just curious..."

Nifla turned around in her chair, blinking constantly, but it slowed as her gaze came across Miya. She wore her hair completely down, only reaching to her chest and curly. The curls wrapped around her torso and was a bit messy in the spot where she'd been wearing a headset. The only thing she wore was a t-shirt that reached completely down to her shins, seemingly a man's shirt, but Miya didn't assume.

Her headphones lie upon her shoulders as Miya thought to herself, observing her attire.

'Might just be her style.'

Nifla spoke, interrupting Miya's thoughts.

"This was my friend's shirt. He gave it to me before he passed away... Are you feeling well?"

Nifla dropped out of the chair, giving Miya a look at her true size. She stood a little shorter than Miya was and was eye level with her as she sat up in the bed. Nifla held her hands at her side, and Miya felt something strange about her presence.

"I play games all the time. Blinking continuously allows me to see the screen a bit... It's still fun, I guess."

She didn't seem confident, and the game continued to run behind her, seemingly an online game. Miya's curiosity rose, the game itself also intriguing her.

"What was it like before?"

"It was a lot easier to do simple things, and I didn't need to be helped around places. Blinking a lot drains my energy, so I try not to so often... Playing games is something I do when I want to go to sleep, now."

Nifla walked around the room to the end of the bed to turn on the wide screen TV that sat on the wall. She sat on the edge, her eyes not directed toward the screen

"I don't bother watching TV; I just listen. Some channels are still entertaining."

Nifla kicked her feet as she listened to the TV, and Miya sat on the bed's edge, pitying Nifla. Suddenly, Nifla spoke.

"No need to pity me, Miya. It's my fault it happened anyway."

Miya felt worse after she said it, but didn't truly know what Nifla meant by it. She eventually remembered her conversation with Parisa at the bar, reminding her of Nifla's ability to hear through the loud crowd outside the door.

"That's a long story, so I'll tell you the short version. I have a lot of abilities, more than anyone in the world since last time I checked."

She turned the TV off again. Miya thought to herself how she must feel about things she might have loved before her curse. Still, Nifla continued to list, both of their eyes shining through the dark room.

The only remaining illumination in the room was the gaming monitor beside Miya.

"Teleportation, enhanced hearing and sight-- not anymore... eternal cut…"

Miya sat, astonished by the extensive list she presented toward her.

"Spacial awareness--I can see things for about 300 meters around myself... enhanced speed and power, cloaking, shrinking and growing--people and objects... Also, mind reading, etc."

"Wow."

Nifla giggled for only a moment, quickly returning to her sullen, depressed state.

"I know right…that wasn't my reaction."

Although Nifla asked her not to, Miya couldn't help but pity her. It reminded her of her own situation, and she realized how fortunate she was compared to her. Nifla'd had her entire livelihood robbed from her while Miya had lost her memories, but she lives a normal live besides that fact. Miya stopped talking for a while, and Nifla did as well.

Suddenly, Nifla stood, her muscles tensing, forcing herself to grow a lot taller before. She nearly touched the roof and an intense, screeching aura filled the room, it's noise only dampened by the crowd outside. Muscles covered her body, but she remained slender, the shirt she wore still a bit big for her.

"Wow."

Miya stared at Nifla's empowered form in surprise and wonder. Nifla seemed embarrassed by her form but decided to show Miya anyway.

"This form is a secret, but I trust you, Miya. The first time I used it since I'd lost my sight was on a mission, not long ago."

"Really?! You don't seem to like the form a lot. I think you look pretty."

Nifla just smiled and walked toward Chance, waking him up with a single touch. Chance spoke before even opening his eyes.

"Nifla? Where am I?"

His torso slowly rose, revealing his unbuttoned white shirt. His body lay exposed, but he seemed comfortable around Nifla, making no reaction as they spoke. His body was toned, nearly rivaling Nifla's physique, and Miya listened, mesmerized by the both of them.

"Myself and Parisa's room."

"Oh…why?"

Nifla became a little angry, questioning him in a manner similar to a mother.

"You passed out again! Why try drinking if you know you can't handle it?!"

Chance rubbed the back of his neck, his face turning a little red as he spoke, shyness seeping through his voice.

"I…I was trying to impress Miya."

Miya continued to listen as Chance spoke, her body shivering as she heard those words. Her face turned red as well, and Chance continued to laugh at himself. Chance seemingly had no idea she was in the room, paying her no attention as Nifla sighed.

"I should've expected that..."

A smug grin grew on her face as she looked toward Miya, Chance's eyes not following.

You can have another try."

"Huh? How?"

Nifla gestured to Chance's left, causing his attention to shift. His face immediately turned beet-red.

"Um…Forget what I just said--I...um…"

Miya smiled at him, flattered by his attempt, but she didn't want him to sacrifice his night for her. Chance looked away, embarrassed at himself, then grabbed something seemingly out of nowhere.

"I--I've been planning to give this to you since we'd met... A friend of mine, a member of the sleep clan... She used to use this katana. It's a very valuable weapon-- a blessed weapon... Would you like to see it?"

"Really?!"

Nifla stepped away from Chance as he pulled out a katana with a hilt that shot out in two directions. The grip had a blue and black design of a dragon and serpent.

Miya took the katana, and it reacted to her touch, it's blue glow intensifying as she made contact.

"Wha--What's it doing?"

"It recognizes you. It must be since you have some connection with my late friend... I believed it would serve as a good katana even if it didn't react."

Miya held the sword while it reacted to her. The grip shifted to where the dragon and serpent intertwined, and the blade became a solid blue. Chance continued to speak as Miya felt around the blade, her eyes scanning its surface. It felt weightless,

"Headmaster approved of me giving this to you, but he wants you to only use it in life threatening situations. I don't know why, but those are his orders, and I'd respect them."

"I understand..."

Miya stared at the blade. The blade itself seemed to remind her of something…