"My, My. What is happening here?" Sheira's voice reached the trio.
The moment the princess approached, the divinity within the blessed children dampened, something that Hikari and Azure were used to, but it was a brand new sensation to Ilya.
The bracelet glowed a faint crimson.
"Who are you?!"
The woman's presence made the dark roots holding Hikari weaken enough for Hikari to escape with ease.
"Just Azure's friend. And I see that you made her bleed, which makes me very displeased." She spoke with anger, and the air was filled with mana and divinity.
Well, I suppose my control with this bracelet should be sufficient to scare this bitch.
Unlike the past, where she was helpless and relied on Azure to save her, this time it was her turn to repay the favor and save her best friend.
Ilya's tongue clicked, and she disappeared into the shadows, forming right above Sheira.
Sheira closed her eyes and gave Ilya a smirk as the dark weapon dispersed at the mere contact with her.
"You are lucky her fiancé isn't here, you would not have a chance to even throw an attack," Sheira said, reaching forward and grabbing Ilya's wrist.
Ilya struggled.
Her eyes were glued to Hikari, who was in the process of healing Azure.
"I will kill you, you filthy elf!"
Sheira tightened her grip, shattering Ilya's wrist. "Easier said than done."
The blessed child merged with the mists and made distance.
"You and this academy can die! I only need Hikari alive!" She shouted, however, before she could even cast her spell, the sheer power she felt coming from the woman trumped even her, it was on the level of the Peron's most venerable child.
My lady, you did not show me this monster.
Her heart strained against the strangling mana, and her breathing grew shallower. She formed her weapon again and prepared to dash forward. Sheira ripped aether and formed a fireball.
However, just as she was about to obliterate Ilya, Hikari teleported between them. "Both of you stop! You morons!"
Ilya stopped her charge, her consciousness fading as the crushing power of the nascent goddess gripped her mind and soul.
While most would be able to retain their consciousness within her unfocused presence, the same couldn't be said about a direct target.
Ilya would suffer the full brunt of her power.
Sheira's fireball dispersed. "Hikari, she hurt Azure. I do not tolerate that."
"I know, my sister in faith is a dumbass! Please do not kill her!" She pleaded before turning to the unconscious Ilya, "And you, stop killing anyone who disagrees with you. I will go with you and finish the mission assigned to you!"
"I will still report this to Aqua, Hikari. You really are proving her right. Perhaps I should start hating blessed children, too."
A shiver ran down Hikari's spine. "Please do not tell her what Ilya did, I promise it will not happen ever again! My sister in faith is just an arrogant bitch!"
Sheira chuckled. "I guess I can let this go for now. Did you heal my friend?"
"Yes, she will be completely okay. I am sorry again, I will carry Ilya out of here."
"Go, I do not want to see her ever again, and you'd better pray she doesn't run into Aqua with that kind of behavior."
"I understand, " She stated and then bowed before disappearing in a flash of light.
Thank goodness I rushed here as soon as I felt something wrong.
She dashed next to Azure and lifted her head. "How are Hikari and Azure related to that bitch?!"
"Sheira! What happened?!" Mia's voice reached her.
"Well, there was someone called Ilya, who attacked Azure."
Mia's eyes widened, and she beckoned Sheira over. "Oh no, come bring Azure to the infirmary!"
Sheira nodded and quickly scooped up the champion.
***
Azure's eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar ceiling. Her head throbbed with a dull pain.
The smell of medicine and healing reached her nose, and her eyes darted from side to side. Her bed was surrounded by curtains, and next to her was a table with a small selection of fruits.
Next to the table was a chair, and on it sat a familiar figure.
Sheira's worried expression slowly faded, "Sleeping beauty finally awakened?"
Azure groaned and pushed herself upright. "Yeah, I got beaten in a single hit by someone other than Aqua."
"Eh, that was Ilya, she is extremely dangerous and I don't think even Hikari could fight her without accidentally destroying the academy."
"What happened then, Sheira?"
"Well," She said, raising her chin high. "I crushed her and told Hikari to get her out of my sight."
Azure's lips widened into a thin, proud smile. She grew so powerful.
"Is someone proud of me? I see you smiling~."
"Of course I am proud, you used to be a helpless little girl, and now you can deal with someone of Ilya's caliber."
Sheira chuckled before swiftly grabbing a piece of sliced fruit and bringing it to Azure. "Say 'Ahhh'~."
Her face reddened. "I am not some leper. Come on, I can eat it by myself…"
However, Sheira was unrelenting, she brought the fruit closer.
Azure sighed and opened her mouth. "Ahhh."
"Good girl," Sheira teased before putting a slice inside Azure's mouth, which the girl quickly chewed and swallowed.
"Sheira, leave me some knightly dignity."
"You had any of it left?"
"Mean, not my fault, Aqua is such an amazing woman that makes me forget that I am supposed to be a knight."
"Oho, so now that she is gone, you will behave like your station demands?"
"No, currently I am just a student, I want to enjoy this vacation, and hopefully nothing else ruins it."
Sheira scratched her cheek. "I hope so too, I do not want to spend all night staring at you and wondering if you will be okay."
Despite her best attempts to hide it, Sheira's face had red traces typically remaining after crying.
I am sorry, Shei.
"I should get up and go train. This merely showed me how far I have to come to even stand above blessed ones much less Aqua."
Sheira grabbed Azure's shoulders and pushed her down. "No. You will stay here for a little longer, then you need to go to the headmaster and Mia to explain what exactly happened. I wasn't there for the beginning of the interaction after all."
A groan escaped Azure's throat. "Again… that little squire is really annoying."
"I think they just want to know if you are alright. Mia spent all night with me looking over you."
Azure rolled her eyes, "I guess it's not a problem."
Sheira grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the bed, "We can go together. I am sure it won't be too much of a headache."
A chuckle escaped her lips, "Sure, but I am missing my Aqua already," She said, staring at her ring.
Sheira blinked, "If you can be a lovestruck mess, then you are completely recovered. Come, let's go."
Azure turned her gaze downward. Her uniform had a gaping hole in it, leaving her toned stomach visible for everyone to see. "Wait! I need to put something under my uniform!"
"What, saving the view for Aqua?" Sheira said, giggling.
"Yes, now go bring me a new uniform, chop chop!" Azure ordered.