Part 2 - Once again, Night

Konota averted her gaze, her lips pressed into a thin, tight line.

"Hey, why aren't you saying anything?" I pressed, feeling a strange heaviness in the air.

She let out a long, weary sigh. "The Morningstar and its crest... I never meant to walk out of the room with this hakama on," She said, shaking her head. Her eyes finally met mine, somber and burdened. "Please, don't tell anyone that I'm a Morningstar. Not a soul."

"What? Why? What's going on, Konota?" I asked, confused by her sudden shift in tone.

"You don't know...?" She looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Luna hesitated, then spoke up. "Kiara, the Morningstar... they're a famous clan—"

"Infamous," Konota interjected sharply.

Luna turned her head, startled by Konota's interruption. "Infamous? But aren't they the ones who contributed to so many advancements in metalwork? They've crafted some of the world's most sought-after weapons and tools, haven't they?"

Konota let out a bitter chuckle, her eyes hardening. "Yeah, they do all that. But that's just the surface. The Morningstar family has another side... a darker one. We've been involved in underground trading, smuggling, and dealings that would make most people's skin crawl, but not many know of that side, only because The Morningstars' have their way." 

She sat down, leaning against the tree, her shoulders slumped as if the weight of her words bore down on her. "There are two branches in the family: the main branch and the side branch. The main family handles the dealings, both normal and shady, while the side family focuses on the metalwork."

Luna's voice trembled as she asked, "S-So, which branch are you from, Konota...?"

"I'm from the main branch," Konota admitted, her gaze distant, staring into the fog. "But I spent a lot of time with the side family. I tried to stay away from the messier side of things."

I swallowed hard, my heart sinking. "You said you wanted to earn the family name... What did you mean by that?"

Konota gave a small, sad smile. "What I meant was... I wanted to bring honour to the family. I wanted to change what people thought when they hear 'Morningstar.' I didn't want them to see us as monsters or criminals. I wanted to prove we could be something more. Something better." Her voice cracked slightly. "But... I wasn't strong enough. I failed. I lost... and now my eye... Maybe the Morningstar name really is destined to stay in the shadows, tied to shady business and fear."

"No!" Luna suddenly blurted out, her voice shaky but firm. "That's not true! You—You're not like that!"

Konota blinked, surprised by Luna's outburst, and then let out a soft laugh. "I get it, Luna. You don't have to say anything else."

"We're not going to run from you, Konota," I added, stepping forward. "We know who you are. We know you're a good person. You're not defined by your family's past, and we're here with you no matter what."

A genuine smile spread across Konota's face, her usual calmness returning. "You guys... you're really something else."

Without warning, she reached out and ruffled both mine and Luna's hair, a loud laugh erupted up from her chest, loud and unrestrained. "Jeez, what did I do to deserve friends like you?"

I couldn't help but grin, feeling a warmth spread through me despite everything that had just happened. Luna smiled too, her cheeks flushed from both the earlier tears and the comfort that Konota's laughter brought.

"Thanks, you two," Konota said softly, her voice brimming with gratitude. "For being my friends. For sticking by me."

...

We shared our experiences and chatted idly and soon, we walked back to the city. Despite everything that had happened, the tension was fading. The sun had already begun its descent, casting long shadows over the streets. A cold breeze swept through the narrow alleys, but rather than being ominous, it felt refreshing.

"You three!!!" A familiar voice echoed down the street, sharp and stern.

Oh no...

I slowly turned my head, already knowing who it was.

"Just where have you been?!" Lyra shouted, marching toward us.

The three of us braced ourselves as Lyra unleashed a verbal storm, her arms crossed and her foot tapping impatiently. But oddly enough, the scolding didn't feel as heavy as it should have. There was a sense of normalcy, a strange peace, even while she reprimanded us. It reminded me of how we were before—all of us still together, despite everything that had changed.

In the middle of her lecture, a question popped into my head. "Oh yeah! What happened with Sable and Corin??" I blurted out, interrupting her mid-rant.

Lyra paused, blinking as if momentarily confused, then shrugged. "Huh? Oh! Sable lost. It was an interesting fight, but Corin won Group B. You missed it—Sable put up a good fight. Her cloak lifted and metal spikes shot out from her. She reminds me of a porcupine," She mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

I couldn't help but smirk at the image of Sable bristling like a spiked creature. "So Corin is the finalist, huh..." I muttered.

Before I could say anything else, Konota hit me on the back—hard. "That means your fight is next, Kiara!" She said, far too enthusiastically.

I winced, rubbing my sore back. "Ow, Konota! Could you ease up a bit?"

But then it hit me like a bolt of lightning. "Wait—my match?! How did I forget?!" My heart skipped a beat as the realisation washed over me. "I'm fighting Bronwen... That guy... Ugh," I groaned, feeling an involuntary shiver of disgust crawl down my spine.

"Oh, come on!" Konota grinned, slapping my back once again—this time even harder, causing me to stumble forward. "It's gonna be super easy for you! You got this!"

"Konota! You're going to break my spine at this rate!" I yelped, half-laughing, half-in-pain as I straightened up. "And Bronwen isn't exactly... Ugh I just don't like the way he down on us!" I grumbled.

Konota just shrugged, grinning even wider. "You've fought tougher enemies before. Just do your thing. Crush him. Show him that you're one powerhouse!"

Lyra smiled softly, "We'll be cheering for you, Kiara."

I sighed, a mix of anticipation and dread swirling inside me. The weight of my upcoming match with Bronwen was starting to settle in, not because I was afraid, but because it'll be my first time being in a giant arena fighting... But, despite everything, there was something comforting in knowing that I wasn't alone. 

Konota and Luna would always be by my side—no matter what.