AKARI

Once the morning comes, I tie up my long blonde hair in a ponytail before I grab a white fur winter scarf to go with my silver armor chest-plate, silver gauntlets, blue skirt with white winter thigh-highs, short ankle-high Timberland boots, and a white fur coat. I then grab a leather knife holder and strap it around my right thigh in case of an emergency, a beautifully crafted silver knife with a pearl handle residing within the holder.

"Alright," I breathe out as I look in the mirror, my scythe strapped across my back. "Time to go wake Sora then."

I head out of my room and make my way to Sora's hallway, hoping to get the chance to talk to him before we have to meet with the others. I told everyone about the mission last night and they all agreed it was fine. However, the one person I didn't get to talk to about it yet was Sora.

I raise the back of my hand to knock on his door only to be surprised by him opening it before I can knock. I find myself scanning his appearance down to see that he has on a black jacket with fur around the hood over top of a white v-neck, black combat boots, and black jeans. He also has his staff strapped across his back and a white beanie on and black gloves. However, the thing that surprises me the most about him already being ready is actually the fact that Raciel's necklace is around his neck.

Sora's eyes trail down to see that I'm staring at his necklace and he frowns slightly before he tucks the emerald vial part of the necklace underneath his shirt.

"Well, are we ready?" He asks.

"But, I didn't even tell--" I start.

"Isabella did," Sora explains. "I saw her in the dining hall last night whenever I...she's really nice, you know."

"Whenever you?" I raise a brow, my eyes flickering back to where the necklace is hidden.

"Whenever I finished talking to Raciel," Sora finishes somewhat hesitantly.

"It's okay to talk about it, you know," I offer him a small smile. "I already know. Most of us do."

"Right," Sora clears his throat before he forces a smile.

"Hey, are you guys ready?" Shae asks, having just exited his room and spotted the two of us.

"Yeah," Sora nods and I glance back to look at Shae, him being dressed in a tan and army green fur coat with a white shirt, blue jeans, and tan work boots. "We're ready."

"Hi, guys!" Isabella cheers as she runs towards us from the other hallway, a smile wide on her face as she waves to us in her white winter coat that's zipped up with white jean shorts, white winter leggings that go to her thighs, and white converse that go up to her knees, her long brown hair pulled up into a ponytail with a french braid running around the side.

"Are you four done loitering in the hallway or are you just going to stay here all day?" Gambit sighs as she climbs up the staircase to the headmaster's office and looks at the four of us.

"Are you going to dress like we're heading to the snowcaps?" Shae muses.

"Hey," Gambit frowns and motions to her black armored top that fits like a tube top and her black cotton shorts with a purple sash wrapped around her waist, black greaves, black lace finger-less gloves, black gauntlets with purple trim, purple infinity scarf, and black ankle high boots with heels on them and silver buckles, "there's absolutely nothing wrong with my outfit."

"Perhaps," Shae frowns, "or perhaps you'll freeze your ass off."

"Yeah, yeah," Gambit sighs. "If you really care about being that chivalrous, perhaps you could lend me your coat if I do. In any case, are we all ready to go?"

"We're still missing Clea though," Isabella frowns.

"I saw her down at the dispatch center," Gambit says. "She's been waiting there for about fifteen minutes already, actually. She even stopped by the dining hall and got a box of glazed doughnuts before that."

"Alright," Shae nods. "Let's go then. We wouldn't want to keep her waiting any longer or delay our mission."

With that, the five of us head down to the dispatch center where we meet Clea, who is already standing by the gateway. Clea smiles whenever she sees us and I make note of her bold fashion choices once again, instead this time she has pink and black eyeliner instead of blue and gold to match her black coat, pink sweater, black slacks, black gloves, and pink and black polka-dotted slippers. I'm not quite sure why she's wearing flats to snow covered mountains, but I suppose as long as she can manage.

I throw a weary glance between Clea and Sora, knowing that it's not safe for them to be around each other. However, I couldn't point that out to anyone without any suspicions being drawn. So, I suppose I'll have to grit my teeth and try and keep them as far apart as possible.

"Alright," Gambit places her hands on her hips. "Where we're going, it won't be easy. However, I know that we can do this. Let's just take it one step at a time and work together, alright? Is everybody ready?"

We all nod in response before Gambit nods in return and then the six of us head through the gateway to travel to our destination.

The gateway lands us about five miles from the main village of Elevenowl. Elvenowl is a place on the snowcaps that's spread across multiple different areas, the main town that's bigger than all the surrounding villages that make up Elvenowl being in the center.

We start on our journey and trek through the snowy mountaintops, the weather as of now being calm and the air still, the only snow being the snow that's constantly on the ground and around the area.

"We're not too far from one of the smaller villages that comes before the hub town that we have to reach," Shae says as he adjusts his glasses and treks along in the snow with us. "We should stop there and see if anyone knows about the runestone."

"Akari," Sora starts as he walks next to me and I glance over at him, "I've been meaning to ask you, but what exactly is a runestone?"

"There are seven runestones total," I start to explain as we walk side by side, Sora watching me, "and each runestone was forged by one sin and one virtue. Each runestone holds within it the abilities of one sin and one virtue, similarly to how the weapons that have been blessed by the Oracle work. When gathered together, the runestones can be quite powerful, so the academy has been seeking them out for a long time."

"Which one are we trying to find now?" Sora asks.

"The one that Elvenowl should have is the runestone of Chastity and Lust," I say.

"If that's the case, why isn't Merrick coming with us?" Sora frowns.

"Because Merrick...isn't seen as responsible enough in Carmin's eyes," I sigh and Sora only frowns more.

"There's a different between being irresponsible and in pain," Sora shakes his head. "How stupid."

"Yeah," I breathe out, my breath forming a cloud in the air. "I know."

Sora subconsciously reaches for his necklace and grips the charm through his shirt as he frowns and I glance over at him, frowning as well.

"I still don't get it. I mean, why would he give this to me of all people?" Sora sighs. "I'm grateful, but somehow I don't feel...worthy. Especially since..."

"Because it has to be you, Sora," I smile sadly at him and he glances over at me. "You're the only one who could possibly fulfill his wishes. Raciel may be strong and Raciel got his own justice for his family, but he knows you're the one who's capable of finding justice for everyone in the name of his daughter and his wife, in the name of all those who have been lost and all those who have been wronged to ensure that nobody is ever hurt like that again. That's why, Sora. That's why he gave it to you and that's why you deserve it."

"You really think so?" Sora breathes out, something unreadable within his eyes.

"I know so, Sora," I assure him with another sad smile. "Everyone deals with their pain in different ways. There's no formula for it, no set way for people to behave, and that's perfectly okay. For Merrick, he went into coping with alcohol and reverted to pushing everyone away again. For Raciel, he lost his ability to care about anything besides the ones he loves and all he wants to do is keep them and anyone innocent safe with a deep rage hidden inside. They're so strong in different ways, even if they slip up sometimes. The fact that they both trusted you enough to open up to you both really means a lot. You're something special, Sora. Never doubt that."

"What about you?" Sora asks, his eyes flickering across my face.

"What about me?" I frown.

"Why did you...when you first found me, why did you save me?" Sora asks. "Why did you trust me? Why didn't you tell anyone the truth?"

"Ever since I was young, I was taught that it's okay to be different," I start. "My mom believed in being respectful of all life because all life deserves its chance to live, all life exists for a reason, and you don't know their personal stories so you can't judge them upon first glance. My mom always was kind to everyone she came across and she was so independent, so caring, beautiful, and intelligent. She never stopped working hard a day in her life. One of my fondest memories of her is whenever we went to the market together and a merchant dropped all of their fruit and she helped them put all the apples back in their respective baskets. The merchant then told her she could take some for free as a courtesy for being so kind, but she declined and paid for them anyway. She bought all of the fruit the merchant was selling so that they could afford to continue their shop. He never told her, but she knew he was struggling. I don't have many memories of my parents, but I cherish the few that I do. I saved you because even though I was simply told to kill you, I couldn't do it. Who was I to judge you? It wouldn't have been right to take away your life just because of what you were, what you could potentially do. What really mattered was the place your heart is because that determines who you are, your soul, your heart, and your mind. That's why...that's why I saved you and I knew immediately after that I trusted you. I don't regret my decision at all and I never will."

"Thank you," Sora smiles warmly and I avert my gaze to the side, unsure if the burning in my face is from him or the cold. "Your mom sounds like she was amazing."

"Yeah..." I breathe out and cross my arms against my chest. "She was."