Yvira
What just happened to Nazun? Where'd he go?
I held Kozuna close, checking his pulse the moment he fell unconscious. I couldn't even imagine the level of pain he was in.
The sound of chopper blades spinning came to a stop. I short-glanced over my shoulder when I heard the footsteps, thinking Zara had arrived. However, I very wrong. A number of Ozukashi soldiers aimed their guns at us, and at the center of the group stood an older man in a lengthy, shimmering silver cloak. My gaze narrowed. Where was Zara?
A council member's cloak?
I quickly pulled Kozuna's ripped glove over his curse seal as much as I could. "H-hello-"
"On the fucking ground, now!"
"Hands in the air! Keep 'em where we can see 'em!"
"Not ONE fuckin' move outta ya!"
My lips pursed and hands flipped to the sky in compliance. I didn't have a clue what was happening. All I knew was that a bunch of soldiers were pointing guns at Kozuna and me. My heart was ready to jump outta my chest.
I gulped quietly. "W-what's going on? What'd we do?"
The man in silver approached, and my gaze centered on him. His skin was of an almond brown, and his short hair of a luscious, shiny black. His gray, nigh-unfeeling glare sent chills down my body. Suddenly, I remembered his name. I'd read about him before.
Livian Ozukashi of the High Council.
"Grab the girl. Keep your eyes on the cursed kid." Livian folded his arms behind his back. "He could be tricky if he gets away."
Two of his guards grabbed my biceps and jerked me away from Kozuna. I tried to fight for a second, but quickly realized how little it would help. And with me out of the way, Livian knelt beside Kozuna.
"Now, where is it…"
Livian twisted Kozuna's unconscious head around, pulled on his arms extensively, and soon degloved Kozuna's left hand. That was when his twitchy eyes finally stilled into an agitated squint.
"Biiingoo."
"Councilor Livian! What do you guys want with Kozuna!?"
"Seems my reputation precedes me." Livian glanced back at me with a lifeless look. He tossed Kozuna back into the sand. "Clan Lord Izanai has personally requested I investigate the disturbance. Rumors of a rogue curse wielder running amok and causing massive destruction. It would seem we've found the culprit, as well as a conspirator."Livian groaned as he came to a complete stand. "Young lady, would you care to explain why you were tending to a curse wielder's wounds?"
"Kozuna's innocent! There was another curse wielder attacking- Nazun Ozukashi! He's the one who did all this! Kozuna fought him! He defeated Nazun to put an end to all the chaos!"
"Is that so? Then would you care to point out this Nazun Ozukashi?"
"I- um… I can't."
Livian's head cocked. "And why is that?"
"Heee… escaped…"
"How convenient. If you're going to lie to my face, at least make it convincing. Where did this Nazun character go? Do you see them anywhere? Were there any witnesses? And might I mention: anyone who knew of the kid's curse is subject to prosecution, the same as him. I'd think carefully about what you say next."
I averted my quivering eyes, trying to come up with something. All I could draw was a blank, though. I couldn't go anywhere; soldiers had guns pointed at me, and one of the highest-ranking members of the Ozukashi was clearly preparing to punish me somehow.
What's gonna happen to me? What's gonna happen to us?
"Judging by your clear nervousness, can I assume you and Zara here knew about this boy's curse before all of this destruction occurred?"
"Zara?"
Livian stepped past me. His guards cuffed and dragged Kozuna and me along. When they turned me around, I realized Zara had been handcuffed further away. She and I made eye contact.
"She was hurrying toward you two when my men and I were dropping in. One might think she was in a rush. Almost as if she were involved in whatever was going on and wanted to cover her tracks. Rather suspicious, wouldn't you say?"
I gritted my teeth, but kept them tucked away. What was I supposed to say?
How would Kozuna handle this?
"Silence is the best answer you can provide, but it's also the most telling. It's quite apparent that the two of you conspirators knew ahead of time. The mad scientist renowned for her studies on curses and curse-related technology, and soomme random teenage girl? You must be Kozuna's girlfriend, based on the way you were clinging to him."
"Okay, maaayybee I am his girlfriend, but that has NOTHING to do with this! Nazun attacked long before Kozuna showed up to fight! I'm telling you, Kozuna's innocent! Talk to-"
"Yvira!"
Zara's glare intensified, and the veins in her eyes almost bulged, screaming at me to shut the hell up.
Livian paused in place. "Talk to who exactly?"
I turned away and bit my own tongue. "No one."
"Withholding information won't do you any good, young lady. Remain silent for now, but your interrogation will reveal everything in due time."
At that point, the soldiers threw Zara, Kozuna, and me into a chopper and strapped us down tightly. I seethed in place, almost growling as I struggled to free myself of my bonds. It wasn't working, though. Not one bit.
"Yvira. It's better to just comply for now. Plenty of people witnessed Nazun and his Soul Colossus in action. We'll have the chance to plead our case and a higher possibility of survival if we don't resist. Understand?"
"…this is bullshit," I mumbled to myself.
Kozuna saved the city. He deserves better than this! We all do!
"Listen to Lady Zara, Yvira. She's one of the brightest Ozukashi you'll ever meet, and yet even she refused her opportunity to join the council when the position was offered. She allowed Vice Commander Helix to grab the spot, that fool." Livian took his seat in the cockpit as the pilot began to lift off. "Just goes to show that all the intelligence in the world doesn't mean shit if you pick the wrong side. The boy will be going straight to trial when he awakens. But you two? You'd better cooperate if you want a shred of a chance at keeping your lives. You two, and anyone else involved."
Anyone else? Like Kaiten and Shin? What about Anari and Nikai?
Zara didn't bother responding, and by then, I got her drift. My irate gaze wandered beyond the window, watching The Primary as we flew.
The remaining invaders began retreating after Nazun's defeat, yet the city remained covered in smoke, flames, and rubble. Fire trucks wailed their sirens down the roads. There was much work to be done, and none of it would be finished anytime soon. I could only silently hope Anari and the others got away safely.
Zara sighed, folding her legs and shutting her eyelids. "So, would you mind telling us precisely where we'll be locked up, Livian?"
"It's Councilor Livian. And we'll be dropping you three off in Sand Tower."
I know the place. A maximum-security prison where they hold the most dangerous criminals, but especially curse wielders. Never thought I'd see the day when I'd be transported to prison, let alone Sand Tower.
"Ah." Zara scoffed a smirk onto her face. "So, you really think we're that much of a threat, huh? Kinda flattering, in a way."
"I'm not taking any chances." Livian finally turned back to face us a little. "Not when curse seals are involved."
***
It felt like an eternity, flying through the sky with my hands shackled. Eventually, however, Sand Tower of the central district popped into view. A rounded, sky-touching spire of beige sandstone and rusted steel culminating into forty-five floors. I didn't wanna begin to imagine what might happen if anyone else was found out.
Especially Nikai.
To our knowledge, he's still underground, fast asleep, and in the safest position of us all. But he'll still transform when he wakes. What happens after that?
I couldn't get any answers. Not while Livian was still around. But our time with him was nearing its end. Our chopper landed on top of Sand Tower, and Livian's guards forced us outside. Zara and I almost tripped on our way down.
Livian took his time unlocking the stairwell. "If anyone else knows about Kozuna's curse, now would be the time to speak. You all might get a softer sentence if you leave nothing of the truth out."
Zara and I slyly turned our eyes toward one another and kept quiet. We followed the slippery sandstone steps down until we reached the top level of the prison. That floor only contained a handful of cells. However, one was actually occupied.
A boy was lying on a stone bed in there. The left half of his hair was shiny silver, and the other side was black with glowing teal highlights. His skin was a pale brown- clearly malnourished- and he looked dead inside. There was absolutely no spirit behind his turquoise eyes.
I could tell his appearance was undoubtedly the byproduct of a curse seal, but I couldn't stop my eyes from quivering a little. Even if he'd been using his curse for evil, why would they have him locked up and not executed?
"Who's he?"
Livian unlocked the cell right beside the other boy. He had his guards strip Kozuna of his weapons and gear, and then they tossed Kozuna on the floor without a care in the world. I bared my teeth at the sight and had to fight myself not to fight the men holding me back.
Cursed or not, what kind of thanks is this for protecting the clan!?
"None of your concern, girl. Keep walking."
"He's got a curse seal, right? Is he waiting for trial or something?"
Livian didn't respond for a change. Instead, he kept completely quiet.
"At least tell me why his skin is so pale! What are you people doing to him?"
"Would you shut your damn mouth already?" Livian groaned out loud. "The kid's pale skin is a side effect of his curse. Dumb bastard tries to use his power to escape all the fucking time. That's what happens. Sand Tower's got anti-curse technology built in the upper levels. Prevents the activation of curses. Lil' dumbass over there keeps receiving backlash from unsuccessful activations."
Livian and his guards pushed Zara and me into an elevator. He took us six floors below.
To the regular cellblock.
***
Warm lights that we'd have to get used to flickered off the walls. Our sand-and-steel section was populated with bloodthirsty murderers, rapists, and other assortments of filth. Some of those creeps practically drooled over the sight of Zara and me. Others were already annoyingly catcalling. There were also peaceful protesters in cells, though. Seeing them made me realize what happened when outspoken beliefs didn't align with the acceptedones of the clan.
We're the only women in here?
Livian soon unlocked another dirty, dusty sandstone cell, and then uncuffed Zara and me. His soldiers shoved us inside. I didn't get a chance to lift a finger before I hit the ground and heard the door slam shut. All we had was a bunk bed, a small table with a couple of chairs, and a barred window with a terrible view of the central district.
"Be sure to behave yourselves. You'll be brought in for questioning soon."
What a class act…
Livian barely waved. He and his soldiers abruptly headed back to the elevator. And that was precisely what Zara and I were waiting on. Other inmates might've been shouting inappropriate things, but we had to ignore them. Interrogation was coming, and we needed to prepare our story.
Zara warned Kozuna about the consequences of publicly displaying his curse, and now we're all paying the price. And to top it off, there's still the Nikai situation. You're all that's left. I hope you can at least get things under control with Nikai and his curse, Anari.