Struggling For Control

[Eugeo POV]

Ever since Cedric and I found Reine in the snowy forest, I had a nagging feeling that something was wrong with her, especially regarding her behavior. This growing unease raised several red flags in my mind.

Watching her engage in a fierce duel with the formidable swordswoman named Barghest only deepened my doubts.

It wasn't just her remarkable sword skills that bothered me, but rather the sudden change in her demeanor after blocking a lightning-fast attack, sending shivers down my spine.

To make matters worse, the shift in the color of her eyes, from their gentle blue hue to a menacing crimson red, was deeply unsettling to witness.

"Hey, what's with the long faces?" Cedric's voice called out to me and Leafa.

I hesitated for a moment before deciding to share my concerns with Cedric. "Her eyes.... They're red again."

In response, he redirected his attention to the duel, and I could see the unease on his face, mirroring our own. 

With that being said, I also returned my gaze to the battlefield, observing Reine closely. She continued to block her opponent's attack until something unexpected happened.

Reine swiftly disengaged and used her fist to punch the swordswoman. Although it didn't deal any significant damage, it knocked her opponent back a few feet.

The gasp of surprise from the onlookers filled the air as Barghest staggered backward once again. Reine's unexpected move had caught everyone off guard, including me.

Despite the blow, the swordswoman regained her footing quickly, displaying remarkable resilience. In response to that, Reine's eyes narrowed intensely as she analyzed her opponent.

"What is she doing?" Leafa mumbled, asking her brother about Reine's actions.

Cedric, who had been quietly observing the duel, responded to his sister's question, "I'm not sure, but it looks like Reine is trying to assess her opponent's capabilities. You know, testing the waters."

Leafa and I nodded in agreement, realizing that this duel was far from over. Reine had shown her prowess with a blade, but now it seemed like she was exploring other ways to gain an advantage.

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The battle continued to unfold with breathtaking intensity as Reine and Barghest clashed in a series of rapid exchanges.

The swordswoman unleashed a barrage of slashes, her blade cutting through the air with blinding speed. However, something had changed within Reine.

Unlike earlier in the duel when she primarily focused on defense, deflecting and countering her opponent's strikes, Reine was now on the offensive. She met Barghest's attacks with a terrifying display of aggression, her sword swinging with deadly precision.

Every strike from Reine was fierce and relentless, as if a different person had taken over her body, one who was determined to win this battle at any cost.

Barghest, despite her considerable skill and strength, found herself struggling to keep up with Reine's newfound ferocity. The once-confident swordswoman was now forced into a defensive stance, desperately blocking and parrying Reine's relentless onslaught.

Yet, the swordswoman pushed herself to her limits and tried to regain her superiority by increasing her attack speed. It seems to catch Reine off guard and she eventually loses her grip on her sword.

Then, in a surprising turn of events, Reine extended her arm towards the swordswoman, creating a ball of wind in her palm. It was a perplexing development, and unease settled in my chest.

In that moment, she unleashed a powerful gust of wind that not only knocked Barghest off balance but also sent some of the innocent bystanders stumbling backward, catching them off guard with the unexpected force.

"Hey Reine!" Cedric shouted, stepping forward to get her attention. "What the heck are you doing? You're attacking innocent people!"

"..."

However, despite his words, Reine seemed unbothered and continued to direct her wind attacks at Barghest, causing chaos and destruction in the process.

It was becoming increasingly clear that something was very wrong, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were witnessing a side of Reine that we had never known before.

"Eugeo, let's go stop her," Cedric urged, rushing towards the chaos.

I widened my eyes, surprised by his unexpected decision. " Wait, Cedric! She's too dangerous."

"I know, but at least we need to try and calm her down," he said, his determination unwavering.

Without any other choice, I reluctantly followed his lead, hoping to somehow put an end to Reine's rampage.

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[Cedric POV]

The scene before us had descended into chaos.

Reine, the newfound companion we had rescued from the snowy forest, was unleashing powerful wind attacks, wreaking havoc on the street. Innocent bystanders were scrambling to avoid the unexpected onslaught.

Something was gravely wrong with her. It was as if she had lost herself entirely. The Reine we had spoken to earlier in the bedroom was gentle and kind, a stark contrast to this destructive force we now witnessed.

"Eugeo, we have to do something," I urgently whispered to my friend, my voice filled with worry.

He nodded in agreement, his eyes locked onto Reine. "I know, but how do we even approach her? She's like a completely different person."

I scanned the chaotic scene, my heart pounding with fear for our friend. Her sudden transformation was deeply unsettling, and it seemed like she was beyond reasoning with.

"Ther has to be a way to make her snap out of this," I muttered to Eugeo, my mind racing for a solution. "We can't just let her continue like this."

As we cautiously approached, I noticed a brief pause in Reine's relentless attacks. Seizing the moment, I called out to her, hoping to reach the person we had come to know.

"Reine! It's us, Cedric and Eugeo!" I shouted, my voice struggling to be heard over the chaos of the street.

Eugeo chimed in, his voice heavy with concern. "Reine, you're not yourself! We're here to help you!"

However, Reine ignored us, as if our words were swallowed by the storm of her power. She's still fixated on Barghest, her attacks unwavering.

Eugeo's frustration mirrored my own. We needed to think fast, or this situation would only spiral further out of control.

Then suddenly, a commanding voice cut through the chaos. "Hey, you! That's enough!"

We both turned, stunned to see Leafa standing not far away. She looked determined, her eyes locked onto Reine.

"Leafa, get back!" I shouted, fearing for her safety. "It's too dangerous here!"

"No, I want to help too, brother," she declared, denying my warning. "I won't stand for this mess."

Furrowing my brows in apprehension, I couldn't help but worry about the danger Leafa was currently facing. Thus, I moved towards my sister, inching towards her in case something happens.

However, the moment Leafa gets too close to her, Reine glared at her and points her arm towards my sister. "Don't come any closer or I'll shoot you."

Hearing her harsh threat, we were left in a state of shock. Reine's once-kind demeanor had vanished entirely, replaced by a menacing and aggressive persona. It was a chilling change to witness.

Leafa, undeterred by the threat, stood her ground. "Please, stop this madness, miss. You're hurting a lot of innocent people."

In response, Reine narrowed her crimson red eyes and manifested a ball of wind from her palm before responding in a harsh tone. "I don't care."

"Hey Reine, stop!" I shouted, desperately trying my best to save my dear sister.

Just then, as the ball of wind was about to be unleashed, a hand suddenly grabbed Reine's arm, changing the projectile's line of fire. It barely missed Leafa by an inch, leaving her unharmed.

I was relieved to see that someone had saved my sister. However, what surprised me was the one who done it. Apparently, it was Reine's other hand that grabbed her arm, as if she was struggling to stop herself.

---------------------------------------------------

The situation grew more perplexing as we watched Reine in this bewildering state. It was surreal and unsettling to witness her apparent struggle with her own self.

Reine's right hand maintained a tight grip on her left arm, showing no sign of letting go. Her aggressive self, with narrowed crimson red eyes, displayed frustration and internal conflict through her actions.

She desperately attempted to break free from her own grip, but it remained steadfast, causing her to grunt angrily.

Seeing this internal struggle within Reine only deepened my worry.

It was as if there were two conflicting minds battling for control within her body. Her eyes flickered between crimson and blue, a visual representation of the turmoil raging within her.

"Reine, please, you have to fight it!" I called out, my voice filled with desperation.

Eugeo echoed my plea, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. "Don't let the violent side of you take over your body!"

"Miss Reine, we're here for you," Leafa voiced her resolve, even though she was afraid. "You're not alone in this."

"Urrrgh, shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Reine's violent side yelled, clearly annoyed by our words.

However, it seemed to reach her on some level. The expression on her face contorted with a mixture of agony and determination.

Reine continued to wrestle with her own hand, struggling to regain control over herself. Even her body staggered from side to side as if the internal battle was taking a physical toll on her.

"Barghest! Finish her off quickly!"

In the midst of this chaotic internal struggle, I heard the elf noble ordering his swordswoman, taking advantage of the distraction. She lunged forward, sword ready to strike.

"Hey, look out!" Eugeo shouted, urging Reine to get out of the way.

With a surge of adrenaline, I subconsciously dashed toward her, intending to save Reine from the incoming attack. 

With a surge of adrenaline, I subconsciously dashed toward Reine, intending to save her from the incoming attack. However, just as I was about to reach her, something unexpected happened.

Reine's crimson eyes returning to their usual gentle blue, and her right hand released its grip on her left arm. She swiftly turned toward the swordswoman, her expression now filled with determination.

In an instant, Reine conjured a concentrated gust of wind, not directed at the bystanders this time, but squarely at Barghest.

The force of the wind was so strong that it sent the swordswoman hurtling backward, crashing into a nearby building with a resounding thud.

The shock of this sudden turn of events left me momentarily frozen in place. However, it seems Reine had somehow regained control and used her magical skill to protect herself.

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As the dust finally settled, Barghest lay among the wreckage, battered but conscious. She struggled to get back on her feet, still clutching her sword tightly.

Meanwhile, Reine had regained control of her actions. Her eyes darted around, taking in the chaos she had inadvertently caused.

"What happened here?" Reine asked, her voice filled with confusion and concern.

Eugeo, Leafa, and I cautiously approached Reine. Our worry now mixed with a sense of relief that she seemed to have returned to her normal self.

"Reine, are you okay?" Eugeo asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

She turned toward us, her gaze finally meeting ours. There was a flicker of recognition in her gentle blue eyes, as if she was piecing together the events that had just transpired.

"I... I don't remember anything. Everything is a blur," Reine admitted, her voice trembling, tears also pouring from her eyes. "I don't know what happened."

"Shhh, it's okay," I reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder to offer comfort. "It's not your fault. Right, guys?"

"Yeah, he's right," Eugeo nodded, his voice soothing. "We know it's not you who did it."

Leafa held onto Reine's hand, offering her a gentle smile. "It's okay, Miss Reine. I know you didn't mean to hurt people."

Reine wiped away her tears, giving us a grateful smile in return. "Thank you, all of you. I'm lucky to have you as-"

"Halt, stay where you are!"

Suddenly, a commanding voice interrupted our conversation. We all turned our heads and saw a group of knights in full armor approaching us while riding on horses.

Instinctively, we stood in front of Reine, protecting her from these newcomers. They all dismounted from their horses and approached us. One of them stepped forward and stopped in front of us.

"Can we help you, sir?" I asked the knight nervously, wondering about their purpose.

The knight remained silent at first, looking at me and my companions before his eyes stopped on Reine, and declared steadfastly, "That young lady behind you is under arrest."

"""What?!"""

All of us were taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. Reine, who had just regained her composure, looked bewildered and frightened by the knight's declaration.