BZZZT!
The moment Shion's lips brushed Rin's, the world cracked apart. It wasn't a normal touch; it was like striking two flints in a storm. A sound like static thunder snapped through the hall, echoing in the air. Rin's whole body convulsed, her breath snagging in her throat as green sparks erupted from her hair. Her eyes glowed like polished jade under a full moon, brighter than any torchlight.
Before she could even gasp, her feet left the ground. She floated, weightless, her hair lifting as if under water. Her fingers trembled with light, each fingertip spitting out small, crackling sparks.
For an instant she looked like a miniature goddess of lightning—fierce, unbound, and terrifyingly beautiful. Even Shion, who had prepared herself for some sort of backlash, stared up at her in shock.
Guards burst into the hall, boots slapping stone. Akari skidded in behind them, her breath catching as her eyes widened.
"No one but my beloved Selene is allowed to kiss me!"
The voice that rang from Rin's lips wasn't her own. It was deeper, older, like a chime wrapped in thunder. It rolled across the walls, making the sconces tremble.
Then, just as suddenly, the light died. The sparks faded, her body sagged, and she dropped to the floor with a soft thud. The glow drained from her eyes like water slipping through cupped hands. The honeydew jar she had been carrying had fallen and shattered, the golden-green liquid pooling between her and Shion.
"Oh—what happened? Cousin Shion, are you okay?" Rin scrambled on her knees, reaching out with shaking fingers. "I'm really sorry… you kissed me and I… snapped. I don't even remember—so, so sorry."
Shion sat on the floor, speechless, her hair damp with sweat. Her pupils were blown wide; her lips parted but no sound came. One of the guards bent down and helped her up. She clutched his arm weakly, still trembling, and let herself be led away without a word.
"Was that lightning coming from you?!" Akari crouched low, her voice both scared and thrilled.
"Yes… I guess." Rin's eyes darted to her hands, then to Shion disappearing around the corner. "Sorry," she murmured again, her voice so small it barely reached her cousin.
"Cool! Let me see that again. Wow, unbelievable!" Akari clapped her hands together like a child at a festival. "Too bad I didn't see exactly how you struck Shion. That must've been super cool." She laughed—"hahahaha"—the sound bouncing off the stone walls.
"Hey, don't you see? I almost killed her! I didn't even know how it happened." Rin's shoulders slumped as she knelt by the broken honey jar, fingers curling into fists.
"Serves her right, trying to kiss someone's fiancée," Akari said, still laughing. "Hahaha! Wow, cousin, one night with the Ice Queen and you've got powers. Imagine more nights—maybe you'd become immortal!"
Rin shot her a helpless look, then back to the sticky puddle on the floor. Her engagement ring glittered faintly on her finger, the only solid proof of her bond with Selene. "What am I going to do? That was the last jar. I needed to take it to the Clan Lord…"
"What is that anyway?" Akari finally straightened, trying to hide her grin.
"It's honeydew. I was hoping to get the product approved before distributing it," Rin said, picking up the broken pieces carefully. The scent of the liquid clung to her hands—sweet, green, a little like spring leaves.
"Honeydew? As in honey from bees?" Akari pinched a drop off the floor and tasted it. "Hm—sweet, but not like honey."
"Because it's honeydew from ants." Rin's lips pressed into a thin line.
"What… since when do ants produce honey?"
"Oh cousin, it's a long story. But the giant ants and their Golden Queen are trying to create a business here in Kaida. And I happen to be—" she mimicked the Queen's voice softly—"'the middleman.'"
Akari blinked. "Are you talking about the same ants who almost killed you two days ago?"
"Yes. Those ants. But the Queen has reformed. She's not planning to eat anyone anymore. The only thing in her head now is money and paradise."
"You're saying that like it's a good thing," Akari muttered. "You made a truce with her. What if they attack or… eat humans again?"
"I assure you she won't, Cousin Akari. If she does, I'll be accountable. Don't worry. I'll inform the Clan Lord too."
"Okay, if you say so. Just be careful." Akari tilted her head. "So you didn't only visit the Maiden Club before coming home, you also went to visit the Golden Ant?"
Rin's cheeks puffed slightly. "I'm really sorry, Cousin Akari. Selene brought me home and the only thing on my mind was to find my engagement ring. So I went to check the Maiden Club, then the Cave, and I found it." She spoke so quickly it sounded like a rap, then held up the ring like proof.
"It's okay," Akari said softly, though her eyes stayed sharp. "But I'd like it if you were more honest with me instead of avoiding my questions."
"Okay, Cousin Akari. I won't keep anything from you again." Rin's voice was small but sincere.
"Good. Then show me your lightning power. I want to see it!" Akari's excitement bubbled up again.
Rin smiled faintly and tried to summon it—but nothing. Not even a flicker of green. She frowned.
"Mai has to zap me for me to regain the lightning power. It's only temporary. Using all that energy on Shion must have exhausted it."
"Oh—so you got the power because Mai struck you yesterday?"
"Yes. And today too. But I'd have to get zapped again… nooo…" Rin clutched her arms. "That hurts so much."
Her gaze fell to the spilled honeydew. "What do we do? This can't be wasted. It's so precious. I don't want to give the Ant Queen a long explanation about why I need another sample."
"Don't worry, I got you, cousin." Akari raised her hand slowly. The honeydew lifted from the floor in glittering strands, floating like amber beads in the air.
"Wow, you can do that?" Rin breathed.
"It's liquid form, so yes." Akari's eyes glinted mischievously as she shaped the floating honeydew.
"What… what happened?" Rin asked warily.
Akari burst into laughter again. "No one but my beloved Selene is allowed to kiss me—hahaha!" She mimicked Rin's thunder-voice perfectly, even adding a dramatic pose.
"What are you saying?" Rin's eyes widened.
"Don't you remember saying that?"
"I did not say that!"
"Yes you did! You sounded so scary. Hahaha!" Akari stood, guiding the floating honeydew toward her. "I better find a jar or something to put this in." She walked away down the hall, still laughing. "My beloved Selene… hahahaha…"
Rin stayed frozen, staring at her own hands. "Did I actually say that? In front of everyone?" she whispered, hugging her arms to her chest. A cold chill crawled up her spine.
"Why is it… getting so cold?"
She turned slowly. Ice curled along the stone floor like fingers. Selene stood there at the end of the hall, her presence quiet but heavy.
And Selene wasn't smiling.