章 242: [49.5] Zephyr POV: Resentment of the Past and Hope for the Future
…Modern Day…
I looked at the golden-haired brat who was still unconscious.
I bet Reika is going crazy at the party all by herself.
Hopefully, she'll make a friend.
She needs to have a life outside of the golden-haired brat and me.
I let out a sigh and closed my eyes.
Why am I thinking about her right now?
It's not as if I actually care.
Reika is just an insignificant quirky human that I don't care one bit about!
…But maybe I should try to wake up this golden-haired brat again.
Not because I'm feeling generous to her…
It's just so she can leave me alone!
Yup. That's right. Not for her sake, but for mine.
Mine.
I connected with his mind and entered with only minor resistance.
I looked around at the garden filled with bugs and flowers.
I turned up my nose, "So smelly."
I walked down the path of flowers silently judging his choice of a happy place.
He's never shown any interest in gardening, yet this is where he feels comfort?!
Each flower showed a specific memory, playing on an endless loop.
I paused when I found a black root surrounded by dead grass.
I started following it and as I did, the flowers around me were turning brown and dry.
Not good.
The curse is already taking effect.
I stopped to look at a dying flower and saw a little girl with a smug smile.
Reika was such a bratty little child.
Just seeing that image gives me PTSD.
I looked at the rest of the flowers to find they all had images of her. In fact, only the memories of Reika remained as the others were forgotten due to the curse.
D*mn.
This kid is really obsessed with her.
What did she do to make him so obsessed?
I passed by another flower and saw the image of Reika jumping over his body to protect him from the kidnappers that were hitting him.
Eh?
That's all?
She only saved his life and he fell in love immediately?!
Who would fall in love just from that!?
I paused.
…Let's not think too deeply about that.
I followed the path and found a large tree with a large twisted trunk and dead branches. Ominous creeks groaned as it moved from the imaginary wind.
At the base of the trunk, Cyrus lay embedded into that tree with his eyes closed. Dead vines crawled along his body, holding him to the tree to be consumed.
The curse mark pulsed violently, spreading the poisoned veins further.
A shadowy figure stood in front of him as if guarding him.
His orange eyes glared at me.
It was the embodiment of resentment.
I cleared my throat, "Listen. I know you didn't like Alora. But is this really necessary?"
The dark crackling voice responded, "...Necessary."
"He's only related to her. He isn't her, you know."
"He's… Her…"
"Ugh. Listen, I know you're mad, but I am too! She went and had a child with another man! Don't you think I'm mad!? I'm super mad!!!"
My eyes teared up, but I quickly rubbed it away.
I cleared my throat, "-Anyway. I'm mad, but you don't see me cursing her."
The shadowy form stood staring at me, "Necessary."
My eyebrow twitched in irritation, "IT'S NOT NECESSARY! I am the one who should be upset, not you! So just drop your resentment already!!! It's unwanted!"
"Necessary."
Ugh. Why is resentment so hard to reason with!?
I let out a frustrated groan, "Oi! Just leave him alone, okay!? Reika is going to cry, and if she does, I will beat you up!!!"
A flicker flashed in his eyes, "Rei…ka…"
Cyrus let out a groan as the poisoned veins became more animated at the sound of her name.
Oops. Did I just make things worse?
"That's it! You leave me no choice! I will just have to rip you to shreds!!!"
My claws appeared and I charged at the figure.
*SLAM*
A noise came from outside of the mindscape, causing me to pause.
The resentment around Cyrus started to pulse and dig further into his body.
"Rei…Ka…"
Sudden shock waves sent me flying back.
I was sent flying through the mindscape until I crashed back into my real body. I was in my fox form in order to fit on the bed, but was startled awake by the slamming of a door. I jumped up in a panic, "Who is there!?
Someone crashed onto the floor beside the bed and reached up to ruffle my hair, "Just me~"
Eh? Reika?
Why is she acting-
The overwhelming stench of alcohol reached my nose. I hopped off the bed and raised my fur to warn her of my irritation, "Why do you smell like an alehouse?!"
She reached her arms out to me, "Kitty, kitty~ Let me love you!"
DID SHE JUST CALL ME A CAT!?
I'm a fox!
A FOX!
She suddenly pounced on me and littered my fur with kisses.
"What is wrong with you?!" I hissed and clawed at her to get out of her arms. As soon as I was free, I sprinted out of the room, "Get away!"
I didn't give her another chance to catch me and ran out of the room, leaving her behind.
I probably shouldn't have left her all alone with Cyrus.
Eh. Caldwell is there. What's the worst that will happen?
Caldwell flew over me as he too was trying to escape.
I looked at him in disbelief, "Oi!? Aren't you an adult!? Go back there and supervise!!'
He scoffed, "You dumb fox. Don't you understand when to leave two people alone!?"
I suddenly felt triggered and jumped in the air to swat him down, "YOU DUMB OWL! SAY THAT TO MY FACE!"
He hooted smugly at me before flying away.
ARGH! I HATE that guy!!!
I transformed back and stomped into Reika's room and slammed the door behind me. I fell into the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The silence was so deafening I wanted to claw at my ears. There was no way I would be able to fall asleep tonight.
I curled up into a ball and whimpered.
Why did I ever have to fall in love with Alora?
….A few days later.
I sat at the dinner table pushing around my food.
Cyrus sat next to Reika, so closely in fact that it was disgusting.
The Headmaster and I both glared at him as he tried his best to eat his meal and ignore us.
Ever since they brought him here he hasn't left. Doesn't he realize this isn't his house!?
Reika casually flicked her vegetables onto his plate, acting as if she hadn't.
He paused to give her a look, but she ignored it and took a bite of her steak.
Della cleared her throat, "Reika…"
Reika flinched and looked at her full of guilt, "I didn't put my vegetables on his plate!"
"No, not that." She paused and gave her a look, "-Although stop doing that. You need to eat vegetables to stay healthy."
She averted her gaze and took a drink from her glass.
Della reached out to hold the Headmaster's hand, "We have something to tell you."
The Headmaster put down his drink and held her hand back, "Ah, yes."
Reika froze, "...Why are you two holding hands."
I sat on the edge of my seat with a large grin, "Oho! This is going to be good!"
I wish I had popcorn!
Della smiled back at the Headmaster, "We're getting married!"
Reika let out a screech, "WHAT!?"
Cyrus smiled at the two, "Congratulations."
Della giggled, "Reika. We are hoping that you will give us our blessings and be there for us at our wedding as the Maiden of Honor."
Reika looked as if she was short-circuiting, "BLESSINGS!? WEDDING?!"
I snickered smugly, "Told you they were hooking up."
Reika turned pale and fell to the ground.
Cyrus quickly dove to grab her before she hit the floor.
Della panicked and ran over to her, "Reika! Darling!!!"
The room froze over as the Headmaster panicked, "Call a doctor!!!"
I casually took another bite of my steak, "Heh. That went well."
クリエイターの想い 
Nekoru
Nekoru That's all for this week!
I hope you've enjoyed a Zephyr focused chapter~
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