"I want to understand how your abilities work," Rosalind replied, stepping closer toward Aiki. "How were you able to control enough fire to destroy the Burned One's cinder core?" When their eyes caught the light, she stopped advancing for a moment, thinking they were going to use their powers. Once she realized he wasn't going to, she kept going.
–
Farah's long legs aided her quick pace through the halls. "Aiki!" she called out their name as she strode through the corridors. "Aiki!"
"M-My power allows me to essentially convert my life force, or others', into fire… so I expend my energy to manifest fire, more or less…" Aiki replied stiffly, lowering his head a bit as Rosalind approached him. "I had to expend a lot of energy to create enough fire to kill the Burned One, which is why I passed out after we killed it…" They explained. "Eiji's power also expends his energy, but to heal."
"So if… say… for the sake of your own survival, you had to drain another's energy to create your fire…" Rosalind's eyes glittered, and she arched her eyebrow. "Could you do it?"
–
Farah became increasingly worried as the minutes passed and Aiki wasn't anywhere in sight. "Come on, Aiki," she muttered as she rounded another corner. "Where in the Otherworld are you?"
Aiki looked very tense and uncomfortable at the question, going paler. "I-I… um… in theory… hypothetically… yes." They replied, anxious and stiff. "B-But I don't like to use other people's energy because it's really hard to know their limits… l-like, I couldn't kill myself with it because I would pass out before that happened, but… I-I could go too far by mistake with someone else…"
"I see," Rosalind said slowly. A smirk grew on her lips as she took a few more steps toward Aiki. Intimidation tactics were something very familiar to Alfea's current headmistress, and she was not hesitant to use them, especially when a situation demanded for it. "What if I were to tell you the only way I would allow you to go home was if you used your powers and drained someone else's energy while doing so?"
Aiki stepped back again and bumped into the desk, trembling a bit harder. "W-Why would… why would you want me to do that?" They asked weakly. "You're much stronger than me… y-you don't need me to use my powers for anything. I'm not… I refuse to kill anyone… especially not for you." He drew in a wavering breath, which caught in his tight throat. "What purpose could you p-possibly have for me?"
Rosalind laughed. It was a twisted, drawling noise that sounded especially unnatural coming from her. "Your powers piqued my interest, and there is something I need from you now that I know more. It's simple. You pay me a small favor… and I let you leave the Otherworld safe and sound. I can only imagine how your family must feel about your disappearance. Your brother? Won't he be worried?"
"I-I'm not going to agree to anything until you give me more information… I don't want to hurt anyone." Aiki whined softly when Rosalind brought up Eiji, a pang of homesickness hitting them hard. He closed his eyes and turned his face to the floor. "I'm not doing anything until you tell me exactly what it is you want me to do…"
Rosalind glanced at him briefly then rolled her eyes. "Fine," she relented. "But keep in mind, this is your only ticket back to the First World. That I will make sure of." The unmasked threat hung in the air as she continued. "I need you to use your powers and drain Farah's energy instead of your own."
–
Farah stopped in the middle of the hall. Her eyes turned silver-blue, but she neither felt nor heard a thing. Rosalind must not have been using her abilities anymore, or she'd gotten too far out of Farah's rage. The latter was definitely not an option – it would have been impossible for Rosalind to outmaneuver Farah in these halls. "Damn it," she cursed softly. A sigh escaped her lips. "Aiki… where are you?"
Aiki crossed his arms shakily, trying to stand his ground. They didn't want to do anything that would hurt anyone else, especially not Farah. "What are you wanting me to do with my powers, and what are you planning to do to Farah after she's weakened? I'm sure you wouldn't want me to drain her energy for no reason. And I don't want to do it if she doesn't know about it. She deserves to consent to this sort of thing."
"Consent!" Rosalind laughed again and shook her head. "That is a privilege Farah has lost. How you perform your magic is up to you, though it would be very unwise to use it against me," she added sharply, cutting her eyes dangerously as she said this. "My intent with Farah is none of your concern, and you'll stop asking questions if you know what's good for you. I need to know. Would you like to see your brother again or not?"
"I'm… uncomfortable leaving Farah compromised if you're planning to hurt her somehow." Aiki replied softly, cowering a bit. His eyes welled up with tears and he closed them, fidgeting with his hands anxiously. I can't be stuck here forever, but… I don't want to hurt people in the process of leaving. It's not right to be so selfish.
Rosalind sighed. "I'm not going to hurt her. It only hurts her when she fights it. She does it to herself – first withholding information from me, hiding it when I ask her to reveal it, and resisting when I attempt to find it myself. In reality, you'd be doing her a favor. She would be in less pain, not more, thanks to you."
Aiki turned his ears back, clearly not reassured. "B-But… I would be hurting her by doing that. It would be a disservice to her, and she would be… upset." They looked away, trying to keep their tears from falling. He really just desperately wanted to go home, honestly. They wanted to see Eiji and their parents and go back to school like normal. He didn't want to have to be stuck here indefinitely.
Rosalind was clearly beginning to lose her patience now. "I will ask you this once more and once more only," she sneered, stepping an uncomfortably close distance to Aiki. Her eyes narrowed. "Do you want to see your brother again?"
Aiki fell back against the desk a bit, unable to keep the tears from spilling over onto their cheeks. He trembled and drew in a harsh breath, terrified and upset and unsure what to do. The confliction was awful, and they felt like they were going to be sick. "P-Please… don't… d-don't do this to me…" He whispered weakly. God, where's Farah? She must've noticed I haven't come back… I wish Eiji were here…
Rosalind seemed to feed on their torn emotions. "I feel it," she whispered, her eyes turning grey with the activation of her powers. "Your pain… your fear… your conflict. Farah can't save you. Your brother can't save you. Right now, you have to make a choice."
–
Farah suddenly felt a flash of magic. Rosalind. She quickly took off in a dead sprint in the direction she felt the pull. I'm coming, Aiki, she thought as she ran. Hold on.
Aiki hiccuped weakly and rubbed at their eyes, trying to avoid eye contact with Rosalind. Her gaze was far too intense for him to handle right now. "W-Why can't I just go home? If you wanted to spar with Farah or something, y-you could just do it… you don't… you don't need me. You don't need me!" They insisted, begging at this point. "P-Please! You don't need me!"
"No, I don't," Rosalind agreed. "I could simply get rid of your right now if that's what you prefer. But I'm giving you a chance. If you know what is good for you, you will take it. My knowledge of fairy abilities and history is much more vast than Farah's. I know many things she doesn't, but there is one thing she knows that she is relentless in keeping from me. The knowledge she has will impact the rest of the Otherworld. And I'm giving you the ability to liberate her from pain in the process."
Aiki was sobbing weakly at this point, steadily losing their coherence as they fought with their emotions. I can't stay here… please… but I can't leave Farah vulnerable for Rosalind to take advantage of on my way out, either. He wrapped his arms tightly around himself, trying not to throw up. "I-I don't— p— p-please…" They stammered, choking on their words and coughed. "W-Why is it so important that you know what… w-whatever it is…?"
Farah felt the use of magic increase, and she knew she was getting closer. She also began to feel an overwhelming rush of fear. With a sinking feeling, she realized that she was nearing the headmistress' office. "Oh no," she whispered.
–
Rosalind felt the mix of feelings pouring out of Aiki. "I will better be able to protect Alfea from threats, like the Burned Ones. I will always protect Alfea." Suddenly, Rosalind felt a rush of upcoming magic. Farah. She glared at Aiki, knowing she had little time left to convince him with Farah on her way. Discreetly, she used her magic to lock the door to her office. "My patience is wearing thin," she sneered.
Aiki was only growing more and more distressed the more information they got, and they were having trouble breathing and speaking. "H-How could— one piece— of information…" He choked weakly, more tears rolling down his cheeks, "… b-be so— important…? Nngh… aaGH!" The little flames suddenly appeared around Aiki's shoulders and flickered before swirling around them, quickly growing. He wasn't trying to attack, but was subconsciously trying to protect himself since he was so terrified and distressed.
Rosalind's eyes widened, and she took a quick step backward. Perfect, she thought, unlocking and opening the door.
As she approached, Farah saw the door swing open. "Aiki!" she yelled, bolting up the stairs and into the office. Her eyes widened at what she saw.
"Now!" Rosalind snapped, pointing at Farah. "Do it now!"
"No, no, no, no! I-I don't want to h-hurt—…" Aiki choked and staggered, falling to their knees as they screamed. "I'm sorry… I'm s-so sorry…" And suddenly, his flames were growing as he took a large amount of energy from someone else. But, not having practiced taking energy from anyone but themself, they were just taking it from whoever was closest to them.
Rosalind felt her energy being drained. "No!" she yelled, staggering back. "Drain her!" With a burst of magic, she shoved Farah forward and into closer proximity to Aiki.
It was the strangest feeling. Farah didn't know quite what was happening, all she knew was that her body suddenly became numb. Her mouth was slightly agape, and she collapsed her knees, then to her side. "A-Aiki," she whispered, feeling an energy loss worse than anything she'd ever felt before. She leaned on a table, still alive and conscious, but unable to do much else other than breath.
All the time, Rosalind watched in amazement. "Yes!" she encouraged.
