Yukina, you are special… You're truly one of a kind. You shouldn't worry what others think, or if they call you a monster.
"Who's that…?" My body's submerged, it's extremely cold… I can't move my arms. My eyelids are glued shut, but I know I'm stuck in darkness.
A woman's voice kept resounding in my mind, she sounded solemn‐ she was trying to console someone. There was some joy, but she was mainly solemn.
Don't worry if others dislike you for your bloodline, it does not define your future. You determine your future, my dear… Aw… what's with that look?
You're afraid? Afraid of what? Sweetheart, you have nothing to be scared of; your grandma and grandpa are just worried for you.
What's this woman talking about…? Who's she talking to…?
Hehehehe… you're so sweet. You are so unlike what they said, I believe you will have a bright future. Just be yourself my daughter… you'll be loved by who you come across…
Her voice was beginning to soften— turning quiet. Then, it became muffled. Like she was trying to speak through multiple layers of walls. "Oi! Can you hear me!"
As I floated here, questioning who it was… a second voice appeared, it was familiar. Younger than I could recognize— it was mine, specifically, Yukina's. Was I witnessing more?
Mom… why is this- why is this happening to me…? Mom… why…? Why… why… I'm trying‐ I am….
She sounded scared, her voice echoing louder. I could hear her cry, she was in agony. Her breaths were heavy, catching onto air that was not there.
What… just what did she go through…? My spine's screaming, and her voice was growing desperate.
NONONO! LEAVE ME ALONE! PLEASE NO LEAVE ME ALONE! LEAVE ME-
Her voice… it just kept growing louder. It stabbed into my head, stabbing.. I'm scared, she kept begging, screaming. I can't move, I cannot block any sound‐ I'm thankful that I couldn't see.
Her shouts reached to the point my whole being shook. My bones rattled, her agonizing screams started breaking the darkness around me. Ever so slightly, I saw cracks, they expanded by the second.
My thoughts were overwhelmed, I can't understand the blubbering mess Yukina roared. It just kept echoing, echoing… even when the void was taken over by a light.
My mind was going to explode… I can feel it slipping… spiraling…
Another voice overpowered Yukina's cries.
"You're sure she's been healed?"
James… please wake me up- I can't hold it… I'm dying… I can't hold onto this much longer, I don't have a hold… I'm falling-
"Once she wakes up, we'll see. I can't say for sure if she can see fine. But, once she's awake, we can ask her."
As his words disappeared, my mind went blank… I fell into the void, losing all sense of self…
Eventually, I felt myself stir. My body was heavy, and my mind felt like it became eighty pounds heavier. I could only see clear in half my vision, the other half was blurred.
What was that…? I wondered, the screams were echoing in my mind. Looks like I'm back to the waking world… The room was all around me.
They left me alone… Due to my vision, I had to turn my entire body. The other bed had Allisa and Melinda sleeping next to each other… I lowered my gaze, James was on the floor, he was paler.
He tried his best… Despite half my vision being blurred, I felt my heart warm. Well… I hope my vision isn't blurred forever! Do you know how bad that would be?
I don't have human ears for glasses; it's possible, but it'd be odd wearing them with one lens in. We'll see how long it lasts…
"Really disorienting…"
I almost fell when I stood up. It felt similar to having a headrush randomly. And no, my diary, I stood slowly. My eyes were focused on the ground.
And yet… well, I stepped too fast and was now sprawled on the ground. Curses stormed out of my mouth as I clutched my foot.
"Yukina?!" I heard Melinda and James shout my name.
"FFF-! FUCK!"
"Yukina, sweetie, what happened?! James! Heal her!"
"I-"
"Fucking! Did you even heal my damn eye?! I CAN BARELY SEE JACKSHIT!"
They stayed silent as I agonized over my damn foot… Has it been more recently I've been getting more HURT?! It's basically every damn day!
Is there some sick fuck of a god staring down at me?! What the hell did I do to them?!
FFFUCK! That hurts so bad… Did my toe break?!
Only until James moved his stunned ass and healed my foot did it fucking stop. Suddenly he backed up when I glared at him.
"What the fuck did you do…?"
"E-Eh?"
"I CAN BARELY SEE! DON'T EH ME! I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO HEAL MY EYE!"
"I-I did…"
I couldn't respond, only shaking my head as the response.
I'll just keep my damn eye shut. I already grew used to it the past damn week… I'm going to see Mister Takeda… He's way better than this dipshit…
He sounded so confident in healing my eye… Now my vision is god damn fucked, completely removed my sense of balance— Mister Takeda should be in the dining hall…
I straggled all the way over there. Just in time, I found Mister Takeda sitting down. He really loves the girly clothes… huh?
He always wakes up in a white dress. Not a night gown, or any night clothes.
"What's the issue now? You look terrible." Takeda looked at me, he looked bored.
"Can you do something about my eye?! I can barely see out of it!"
"Did that moron not heal it properly? Let me see." He pulled open my forced eyelid shutting, a bright orb pierced through the blurriness. "Well, it's healed properly… Your pupil is reacting to the light…"
"I can barely see… "
Mister Takeda kept it there, his head moving slightly. Away, then around, like he was checking things out.
"Your eye is developing cataracts…"
"...I'm sorry… what?"
He removed his hand away from my eye. Then, he stood straight up and backed a few steps. "I'm in awe with that moron, he managed to save it."
After he said those words, I could feel the flame in my heart burn. My anger was rising, does this life actually fucking hate me…?
Why am I suffering? Next thing I know, I'll go completely fucking blind…I've never gotten a damn break, it's injury after injury.
As I held my tongue, a voice I wasn't expecting popped out.
"Why am I still a moron then?" James asked, I completely forgot he was there. He sounded dramatic and saddened by the insults. "I spent hours operating on that eye, can't I get a thanks?"
"It's pretty much what it used to be…"
"Miss Yukina… thank him. That Moron did his best." Mister Takeda said, from my good eye he looked up at James. There was a slightly fangy grin.
"Well… thanks for making my balance shittier…" I muttered, I closed my eye again. The blurriness was fucking with my balance, I couldn't walk here without closing it.
I suddenly felt something thunk against my head.
"If you had me heal that damn eye I would've removed it. Even in this damn world, eyes are a complicated matter, you dumbass."
"..."
He's being genuine, the seriousness in his voice— it was stern, he wouldn't lie… He didn't hit my head hard, but it was to get the point across.
"Sorry…" I whispered. I can still feel the anger in my core… But Mister Takeda's hit and scolding brought me back. "Thank you… I'm- I'm sorry for getting mad."
James stayed silent, yet, I could feel his glare at my back. I royally pissed him off…
"..."
"How much can you see out of it?"
"Not much…"
Mister Takeda had me close my good eye. My half perfect world turned into a blur. Barely able to see the outline of him, he had me watch his "hand."
On a count of three, he slowly moved it. Left… right, up, down I had to muster my entire focus to keep track.
Only when he moved it slightly faster, I lost track of it. My head started to sting, but I kept trying.
"It's that… bad huh?" Mister Takeda mumbled. With his approval, I closed that eye and opened my good one. "It's a miracle that you can still see."
I let my head hang, "see" my ass! After a moment I agreed with him. It's my life for now, not worth complaining anymore.
Doesn't mean I'm accepting it fucking gracefully…
James left in a huff, leaving Mister Takeda and I alone. Thunk!
"Ow…?" He hit me again on the head.
"That's for being a fool too, even after a year here you didn't change…"
"..."
"Mathew, losing a part of your vision isn't the worst case scenario."
"..."
That's funny as hell for you to say… You're the one that caused it to happen…Ahh… well fuck.
"That look tells me you're blaming me…"
"And it looks like you're still sharp. I do blame you, " I responded, getting to my feet before continuing. "If you didn't leave me stranded, I wouldn't be in this situation."
Mister Takeda didn't respond, only nodding his head. Next thing he did, he turned around, wordlessly, it was as if he had nothing to respond with.
"Mathew, I apologize for what I did, " He gave his apology, following it up with something addressed. "It was a lapse of control, I saw it as a chance. However… I do have a proposal."
I crossed my arms, glaring at him with the one eye I could see him with. Mister Takeda turned slightly where he could only look at me with one eye.
"I'll try to find a way to heal your eye; if I can't, I'll buy you a special pair of glasses. But I need to earn money for it, and the guild does not know of my vampirism…"
My teacher stopped, bringing a hand to his chin before going on further. "I'll accompany your party for some time… Mister James and the rest agreed as you were recovering."
… My mind was blank hearing that, furthermore my anger subsided.
I don't think that's such a good idea. Yes… he was someone I once knew, but I don't know if I can trust him anymore. Even if he is genuine, he mentioned losing control twice.
He wasn't trying to convince me right now; there's remorse in him, in the past… when he had wronged a student, he'd try to compensate them. I don't know how expensive glasses are, they seem expensive.
"Ah, yes, " Mister Takeda paused for a moment, calling me over with a smile. "Mathew, I can also teach you magic."
**********
"Oh, hey Yukina!"
In the outside yard, I can see Shaun and Mister Takeda standing next to each other. The latter was wearing that same necklace, allowing him to stand in the sun. He and Shaun seemed to be waiting for me.
I returned his greeting with a wave. Both of them waved back, once I was a few feet in front of them did I say something. "Um… I think I can use a sword now…"
"Ahaha, yeah I heard your arm was good, " Shaun said with a smile, he turned around and grabbed a wooden sword from behind. "I'll finally show you how to hold a sword. For today's lesson, you and Miss Shen will have a slight spar."
That… explains his outfit. I noted, glancing towards my teacher. He wasn't in his usual suit, or dress. Short sleeves, hair pulled into a ponytail and shorts. That Shen body really is nice… Wait, what am I thinking about–
If I hadn't known this was my old teacher, I wouldn't be able to handle my glances. Anyways, Mister Takeda and I took our places.
Twenty feet apart, he had a relaxed stance. Feet shoulder width apart, arm dangling to the side, the tip of his sword nearly scraping the ground.
Before I set off my attack, Shaun had shown me the correct way to hold this. Right hand just below the guard, the other under.
I needed my hands firm, but not tight. Fluid movements, if I tense up too much I'll hurt myself.
It started, I had to be on the defense. My foot disallowed offensive measures, so Mister Takeda came at a small jog.
He raised his arm high, and brought his sword down.
Holy fuck… My mind raced, I managed to block it, but I was almost pushed to the ground. The swords whined, they wanted to snap on half.
I didn't get a chance to breathe, he pulled his arm back— jumping too, and before I knew it I was on the ground.
My ribs were screaming, I couldn't tell what happened.
Before I could scream, they were healed. The pain was gone, after a moment of breathing I got back up.
I was sent to the ground, more than ten times. Mister Takeda would not let me rest, I blocked an attack, then he'd use the advantage of my blindspot…
By the fifteenth time he stopped. Instead, his attacks became lighter, much easier to react to.
Seventeenth spar round, he attempted to smack my ribs. His sword came swooping in from the right, the sounds of our swords clacking resounded.
Finally… I breathed a sigh of relief, I managed to block his second strike.
"Finally, kid… Don't get too relieved!" Mister Takeda exclaimed, I felt something push my skull up. Everything became bright…
What the fuck…? It's- I saw stars, I felt my body smack the ground. Nothing hurt, but I couldn't see anything.
"Miss Shen… Aren't you going too hard on Yukina?"
"Kid won't learn anything if I go too easy."
I felt something warm enter my body, then a sharp pain stabbing at my stomach.
"AH!" I bellowed as I shot straight up. "What the fuck was that about?!"
"Get up, last a few more rounds and I'll teach you magic." Mister Takeda pointed his wooden blade at me.
"Isn't this too hard on someone as delicate as me…?"
"..."
I felt something thunk against my head, and I flopped to the ground.