"Ah!" Lunae reeled back in her seat, relying on Sonera's hold over her to maintain balance. "It's Lila!"
She had been reaching out with her Psionic gaze, monitoring her friends' condition as best she could. Lunae soon felt the peril that had fallen upon both Lila and Ivy, and felt woozy as a result. It wasn't long before she became visibly worried.
"They need our help." Sonera shot up from her seat. "Now."
"Wait, Sonera!" Lunae tried to stop her companion, reaching for her in vain as Sonera bolted towards Yrix's office.
She scampered in pursuit as fast as her legs could carry her, but it was too late; Sonera was mere inches away from the door. Lunae didn't even have the time to check on the other girls and missed Rena as she collapsed into Alia's arms, clearly affected by Imura's lingering presence. All she could focus on was Sonera.
"And where do you think you're going?" Yrix boomed, slamming the door behind her as she stood in Sonera's path. "Imura is not to be interrupted."
"Get out of the way," Sonera growled, clenching her fists.
Yrix tilted her head impatiently. "You've served your purpose so far. But there are still consequences to your actions."
"She's my friend." She paused, correcting herself. "Both of them."
"Do they really matter that much to you?"
Yrix didn't bother giving Sonera time to reply. She could see right through her intentions as if they were a glass pane. A flick of the Arch-Flayer's wrist sent both girls skidding backwards, sending a clear message not to press the matter.
"Sonera-." Lunae gasped, trying to reach Sonera before she did something stupid.
The assassin quickly regained her footing, disappearing in a flash of flame as she tried to blitz past Yrix.
"Their lives don't belong to you, little girl," Yrix growled, grabbing Sonera out of her own transformed state before flinging her back towards the bunks. "They were mine the moment I laid my eye on them. So too is yours."
The Arch-Flayer snapped her fingers, causing the entire room to shift as both bunk and student went flying backwards, slamming into the back wall as some of them slipped into the hallway leading to the cafeteria. Only Sonera had the mind to summon a fiery blade, digging it into the ground to hold herself in place. She knew her resistance was folly.
But she had to try.
"Still here? Struggling against the endless tides." Yrix recited to the girl, clearly amused by her efforts.
"I made you a promise." Sonera seethed with anger.
"And yet you lack the strength to fulfill it."
Yrix looked past Sonera, her mind racing with possibilities. If only, she thought, Sonera's spirit could match the physical limitations of her frail body.
"Ah." Yrix nodded to herself. "Of course. I was waiting for an excuse to have this conversation."
The Arch-Flayer reached out, grasping onto something remotely with a tight grip. Sonera could feel its touch, realizing a part of her had been latched onto. She spun around with panic painted across her face, realizing it was her companion who had been called forth.
"This little fraud." Yrix chuckled as Lunae tumbled into her grasp, squeezing her by the neck. "You care for her. Even more than you care for them."
Lunae screamed out in pain, her tail appearing behind her as it writhed in agony. She was being crushed. And Sonera could feel it. She could see the girl reaching out for her as she shut her eyes.
"Let her go." Sonera barked.
"Don't think I didn't notice your vain attempt at pacism." Yrix stared at Lunae in disgust, shaking her around like a toy. "Your mother would be ashamed of you. And frankly, so am I. It will not stand."
"I said let her go!"
"Make me." Yrix chided. "Because if she doesn't get her act together soon, and start taking some lives, I will euthanize her."
Lunae began to weep, unable to defend herself as her legs dangled in the air. Her one attempt at appeasing Yrix nearly destroyed her current self. As things stood, she was doomed. At the very least, she had wished to spend some more time with Sonera before her fate was met. But it seemed she was already running out of time.
The Arch-Flayer continued her rant, shifting her gaze to Sonera. "Oh, you thought I couldn't tell? Your little therapy sessions are a shapeless attempt at thwarting my plan for you. Have them if you so wish, but you will fight, and you will become my Psions."
Sonera had nothing to say. All she could give Yrix was that wordless stare, promising her in a thousand words that she would find the strength to one day kill her. Though it seemed Yrix was just as excited about that as she was.
"Why don't I just crush her now?" Yrix mused. "Would make you a better warrior."
"Sonera!" Lunae cried, sobbing as she reached out toward Sonera with a feeble hand.
Sonera tried to reach out and grab Lunae, but her Psionic grasp was instantly overwhelmed by Yrix, and she was thrown back.
"Or maybe it's too early for this test. Perhaps when you can hold your ground." Yrix sighed. "We'll see. It all depends on Lunae here."
A radiant knife came sailing at Yrix from behind, only to dissipate in a flash of purple energy. No attack by means of Sonera's current ability could penetrate her barrier. It was all so hopelessly futile.
"I am patient." Yrix finished.
With the flick of her wrist, an invisible hammer struck Sonera across the face, knocking her to the floor as she fell unconscious. With another equally casual motion, she threw Lunae to the floor like trash before retiring back inside her office.
She had made her point.
"Sonera-." Lunae coughed, her head reeling from the lack of oxygen as she crawled towards her companion. "I'm sorry."
Using her remaining strength, she cradled Sonera as the girl's lifeless body sank into her embrace. The room around her reorganized itself, leaving the students in fearful silence.