Part III : Imbalanced, Weiss

  "When time comes to a still, what meaning do I have?"

  The choir sang in unison, their voice harmonizing and creating a perfect dance with the piano. Each note bouncing across the chapel echoing against the wall.

  The children stood on the stage, dressed in white robes.

  Weiss struggled to reach the high notes as her voice cracked on every peak. While Yui effortlessly reaches the peaks of the notes, her voice is like wind soaring in the sky.

  Their voices end on a high note as the song concludes.

  Father stepped up from his chair and headed to the pulpit, preaching about Arvad and his influence. It's content is not interesting enough for Weiss to remember.

  Once the service ended, the children quickly headed to the canteen for lunch.

  "C'mon." Yui dragged Weiss' arm with her as she walked to get some food.

  Weiss looked back at her shoulders to see Father distributing a red vial..

  Her gaze wandered far longer than intended, the sight of the people full of gratitude towards the church and some were even kneeling in front of father. However, the twisted knot inside her heart lingered, one she tried to untangle many times before but it stayed as a mark.

  "Don't look back."

  The girl said with a stern tone as she dragged Weiss with her.

  Though it did nothing to dissipate the tightness in her chest, her mind kept wandering to the same thought.

  Everything felt like a blur, the world around her blur and time melts into a pot of uncertainty.

  Voices muffled, flowing deep under her thoughts, her body swept across the wave moving aimlessly through the ocean of thoughts.

  What's the point of it all?

  Plak!

  A palm smacked her back with full force, kicking her head out of her daydreaming.

  "You're out of it."

  The eyes glaring with a gaze sharp enough to cut through her soul.

  "It's nothing." A smile formed to dust away Yui's worry.

  "Wow, what a load of nothing." The edge in the tone is sharp enough to cut through the front.

  "I'm serious.." She grumbled under her breath.

  Yui put up her hand in front of them to present her argument. The untouched food in Weiss' lap like it was just fresh out of the pot.

  "Anyway..."

  As easy as that she shrugged it off.

  Yui lets out a loud exhale and looks her up and down before speaking "Come on and finish it, we still have a lecture after this."

  On the weekend, after the usual sermon Father usually held a lecture about the church's beliefs for the children there after lunch. As much as Yui doesn't care about it, she had nothing to do.

  Weiss nodded quickly, stuffing the chewy food into her mouth. It's sweet flavor bursting through, although it's probably tastier when it's hot.

  "What a messy eater."

  After finishing her share of food, they got up and walked towards the hall putting the empty lunchbox into the shelf, then continuing to the lecture hall.

  Although, there's about sixty children living in the church, not all of them attended the lecture for various reasons, mostly ditching. Both Yui and Weiss entered in the middle of the lecture, taking a seat on the fourth row of seats and settling down at the edge so they had access to the view outside the window.

  Father delivered his lecture with poise that demands attention from everyone in the room. The place allows his voice to bounce across the space where everyone could hear it with a clear volume.

  "Arvad came to this world with one purpose, to save humanity from its fate and mold the world into his ideals." Father's body language conveyed everything, his arms moved with elegance and command, showcasing Arvad's divinity in just his lecture alone.

  The statue of Arvad behind him towers over him but it doesn't steal the attention of anyone from him and Weiss was no exception, her attention is on the speech.

  "By defeating The Primordial Beasts, he placed his order upon the world—

  "Is Arvad even real?" Yui comments on it in a mocking tone but not loud enough to be heard by anyone else but Weiss and herself.

  "Huh?" Weiss looks at her while tilting her head sideways

  "Come on, if he was trying to save us the world wouldn't be such a bad place." A defiant tone paints her statement that earned an amused gasps from Weiss. Her comment loud enough to be heard by a few people besides her—

  "Shh.." Yui jumped at Sister Dahlia's face beside her. She looked at her with a gentle yet firm expression before she pulled back into her upright posture.

  Yui mumbles incoherently before shutting her mouth with her lower lips protruding forward, which earned a small giggle from Weiss.

  The lecture continued on for who knows how long, Weiss is starting to get sleepy, her eyes drooping.

  Seeing that Yui rummaged through her pockets, the sound of her clothes rustling catches Weiss' attention. A box, with something that rattles inside of it, opening it revealed some nuts and dry fruits.

  "Want some?"

  Without hesitating Weiss took some and shoved it in her mouth.

  "Slow down! This is rare stuff I got with my hard work ya know?" She scolded loudly.

  The kids around them looked at them with worry and laughter.

  Weiss happily chomped on it without a care in the world until—

  "Mind if I have some?"

  Yui almost drops the small box at Father's voice. The same gentle tone but somehow she sensed that he's pissed off.

  "U-uh.. Sure?" Her voice shakes as she is sweating bullets.

  After the lecture both of them stayed at the hall, and their father scolded them for their behaviour.

  "Don't do it again, okay?" Father shook his head as he took the box from Yui.

  She reaches up to grab it but her attempts are futile, she pouts and her lips quiver as her eyes get glassy. Weiss notices it panics and looks at father with wide and pleading eyes.

  "Please don't take it.."

  Father sighed in exasperation and took some nuts for himself before handing it back to Yui, patting her head after.

  "Don't do it again, I won't be as lenient."

  While walking back to their rooms, Weiss occasionally glanced at Yui who's holding her tears.

  She must've worked really hard to get it.. Thankfully father is really kind.

  Her hands reached to pat Yui's head "Don't cry, Yui.."

  She stopped on her tracks, slowly looking at Weiss as if she just did something as horrible as talking during the lecture.

  Weiss flinched a bit bracing herself—but there's nothing, yui simply exhaled and nodded.

  Then she pushed the box of dried raisins and nuts to her—"Take it."

  Weiss didn't know how to respond,

  Why would she give that to me?

  Yui didn't say anything else and parted ways with Weiss, leaving her puzzled with the box in her hands. "Wait—" Before the words could reach Yui the door to her room closes.

  She sighed knowing that Yui probably won't give any explanations and ate some of the nuts.

  -

  Flashes of light and the sound of a beeping machine passed in an instant as the world around Weiss closes and her body unable to move from the pain that's spreading from her arm.

  Tears prickled at the edge of her eyes but she shut her mouth shut with her mouth.

  This is the last one for this week—just hold it..

  It felt like an instance, yet a long time as well. Despite being a routine for her for a while now, the only thing she couldn't get used to is the pain and how it made her feel after.

  She weakly pushed herself up the bed, before father helped her.

  "You did well." His hand ruffled her locks of hair.

  She looked to the side where the man with white coat that had always drawn her blood was cleaning the equipment and then he gave her a cup of blood to replenish her stamina.

  The smile he gave is warm and kind but she could never look him in the eye for some reason. She wanted to say "thank you" But the words got stuck in her throat as she gazed at him, instead she just nodded.

  Bam!

  Suddenly—the door of the room opens forcefully with a hard push from someone outside, the culprit? Yui.

  Weiss' head turned to her, surprised by her appearance.

  "Yui—

  Her words stopped after seeing the expression on the girl with twin tails. The sharp big eyes that were usually filled with warmth and softness despite her demeanor is now fueled with swirling emotions.

  Anger, guilt, regret or something else? It's hard to tell.

  The man with white coat caught off guard by the appearance of Yui steps forward to confront her but father's arm stops him.

  Finally, unable to swallow her emotions any further Yui shouts at them.

  "Why are you doing this to her?!"

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  Father didn't flinch at all, instead he explained with a firm yet soft tone. His hand reached towards her.

  "Calm down. You see... Weiss has—"

  Yui smacked his hand before it could reach her.

  "I know that already." She admitted begrudgingly.

  "Then, you should understand." A statement devoid of any mercy.

  Yui scoffed, unable to wrap her mind around it.

  "You're hurting her." Her tone was strained and full of guilt.

  "I know that and it doesn't make this any easier for me, Yui."

  "You're doing this.. For what?! Because all that crap you spout?!"

  Father's eyes almost twitched at that, but he held it back, sighing and stepping closer to Yui.

  Weiss glanced between them hastily, sensing the increasing tension. She tried to say something but her weak voice failed to break the tension. The man in the white coat quickly dismissed himself from the room, yet no one noticed it.

  "What she has is a blessing given by Them. It should be used for good." Father knelt in front of her.

  "You're deciding that on your own—does this make you happy?!" She looks at Weiss with anticipation mid sentence.

  Father quickly corrected Yui. "Weiss decided this on her own."

  Yui baffled by that look at Weiss, expecting her to deny that—instead Weiss averted her gaze as if she's ashamed about it, tears prickling in her eyes.

  "Hey, you're not serious.." Yui's voice trails off.

  "Yes, He's only trying to help..."

  Yui's eyes widened at her admission, she shook her head in disbelief. Then, her gaze went back to meet father's.

  "She's just a kid.." Her tone this time lacked any bite to it.

  "It's her responsibility."

  The boiling anger returned to her as she slammed her hand against the door causing Weiss to flinch, yui immediately regrets her outburst as she sees Weiss' eyes full of tears.

  "Please, don't fight.." She practically begged.

  As much as Yui liked to comfort her, her own mind is too much of a mess right now and she stormed off from the room, leaving only a dead silence in her wake.

  Weiss stood up to chase after her, but once she reached the door, she glanced back at father.

  He's slightly startled by it but waved his hand to give his permission causing Weiss to immediately run to get Yui, albeit a bit slow.

  After father was the only one left in the cold white desolate room, he sighed. His breath long of exhaustion and his eyebrows crunched up as he contemplates Yui's words.

  "She's just a kid.."

  He got up and walked towards the calendar which marked the schedule of the blood draws.

  Grabbing a pen from his pocket, he scribbled over the schedule next week for Monday and Friday leaving only the one for Wednesday intact.

  He lingered in the room for a moment, before leaving the room.

  -

  A few days had passed without Yui and Weiss talking to each other. Despite Weiss' insistent knocking at the door everyday by lunch, Yui avoided her everytime.

  Did I do something wrong?

  A pit formed in her stomach, a reminder of something she doesn't want to remember.

  Even when Yui was in front of her, as many times as the words were on the edge of her tongue—it refused to come out.

  I don't understand.

  She finds herself stepping away more and more, yet her gaze never leaves her.

  The thought keeps bothering her even during the night, she found herself unable to close her eyes and relax, her hand unconsciously gripping her wrist.

  The silence in her room felt too loud, the moon shines like it's taunting her. Her own shadows covering the light.

  Her fist curled in the sheets, finding something to anchor herself, her head buried upon the pillow yet it provides no solace upon her.

  She got up to find something to occupy her mind across the room, there's nothing but books and some kind of instrument left from the previous occupant.

  Her hand found a random book from the shelves, its weight almost causing her to stumble forward. She quickly adjusted her center of gravity to hold it and sat down.

  She absentmindedly flipped through the hundreds of pages.

  Wow, how interesting..!

  The text on the page blurs together into a bunch of scribbles.

  Then, she threw the book on the bed and walked towards the door, tracing the door knob before pulling it down.

  She pushed the door with force—

  Plak!

  The door smashed against something from the other side followed by a suppressed groan.

  "Yui!?"

  Yui tumbled backwards holding her forehead in pain, she leaned against the wall opposite to the door, then her gaze met hers. Her eyes filled with mixed emotions, one of them. Annoyance.

  Weiss recognized that look and blurted out—

  "Sorry." The both apologized at the same time, leaving them looking at each other with confusion.

  "What are you apologizing for?" Yui inquired, her voice full of edge but not towards Weiss.

  "For.. What I've said earlier and.." Weiss gestured towards the now reddening forehead. It looks like it'll last for days.

  Yui rubbed the spot in response, "You don't need to be sorry, you didn't do anything."

  Weiss felt her heart get lighter from her response, but still the thought nagged at her head.

  "I'm sorry for getting upset at you." Yui apologized, her voice meek and soft. Her hand gripping her arm tight while her pupils dart around the place.

  "Why were you upset?" As if her mind had a mouth of its own, the question that she held back so badly comes out causing a bit of a rise in her heartbeat at her daring attempt.

  The words drew Yui's breath out, her throat tightened slightly but she managed to stammer out a response.

  "I wasn't upset—Well, I was but not at you.." She tapped her heel against the floor and her hand twirling her pigtails.

  "It's just, when I saw you in that room and father was.. Ugh.." The words come out quicker than intended.

  "It feels wrong, it's like you were just that.

  I know how it feels, everything revolves around—"

  The ramblings stopped, her face twisting like she's regretting every word that came out.

  "Never mind."

  "Yui.."

  Then, loud footsteps can be heard through the hallways, Sister Dahlia walking and knocking on each door of the rooms.

  "You kids better be sleeping!"

  Immediately her figure and voice triggered an alert in both of them and Yui quickly dragged her away to the opposite ends of the hall.

  "Let's go somewhere else." The tone is almost urgent.

  "Where?!"

  "I know a place."

  Dahlia caught a glimpse of two figures disappearing from the hallway.

  "Not again."

  Yui led them to the bathroom, where she immediately climbed up the toilet seat to open the small window on top.

  "What are you doing?!" Weiss couldn't believe the sight.

  "Sneaking out, duh." Her tone is so casual as if it's a regular occurrence.

  "In the middle of the night?!"

  Yui slides the window to the side to open a gap big enough for them to slip out.

  "Come on." Without a hitch her body slipped through the gaps. Weiss muttered under her breath before following suit.

  Once out, Weiss fell down the window not expecting the height, falling straight down.

  "Ackh!" The scream loud enough to be heard from inside the church as her body slammed against something soft.

  Instead of the hard rocky ground she was met with Yui. Lifting herself up she saw Yui struggling beneath her weight and rubbing her previously door-kissed forehead.

  "Sorry—"

  The words cut short as she finally noticed how.. Pale and skinny Yui is.

  Was she... Always this skinny?

  Yui pushed her away weakly and got up.

  "Come on, before we get caught! Especially after that loud scream."

  Despite her clear weakness, Yui's steps are still fast and light as she dragged Weiss through a small road in the forest, not long after they're greeted by a small town. Being in the middle of the night didn't stop the activities that are still going on in the city. Bars and tavern still open and a bunch of stalls are set up to prepare for a festival.

  Yui rummaged through her pockets and pulled out some silver coins, pumping her fist in excitement.

  "Time to get those midnight sales buns!"

  Weiss felt herself dragged by the flow of waves that is Yui, everything felt like a blur. Chatter and laughter filled the air and the lights blended together. The buns she bought were warm and sweet, a delight to her tongue.

  Although, there's few people who gave them odd looks whether because of them being kids running around in the middle of the night or her appearance, it didn't matter. Like the wind, time passes quickly and the dark blue skies now coloured by the colour orange.

  "It's almost sunrise." Yui's previously excited expression turned soft, her eyes almost reflecting the melancholy.

  "You want to watch it?" She turned towards Weiss

  A beat.

  " I know a place."

  A nod.

  Their steps slow, as they walk away from all the noise and people.

  A faint smell of salt,

  the wind's getting stronger,

  Sounds of waves crashing.

  Yui hadn't uttered a single word since the town. Her gaze unfocused but straight towards the destination.

  "Are you okay?" Weiss couldn't hide the worry in her voice.

  A small nod "We're close."

  The trees got fewer as they traversed towards the source of the wind, until finally the sea greeted them with large waves. It stretched far beyond what they could see.

  Sands slipped in their shoes as they walked towards the edge of the waters.

  "It's pretty isn't it."

  A statement that requires no confirmation.

  The sun slowly emerges from the edge of the horizon, burning the sea red.

  Weiss couldn't take her eyes off the light that reflects on the ripples of the surface of water.

  It spanned infinitely across the horizons as if in the grand scheme of things, she was nothing.

  Just a small child in a vast world.

  Yet, her shoulders feel light.

  Her heartbeat slows down, her mind clears of any worries.

  A drop of water wets the sand.

  "Are you..?" Yui's question trails off.

  She wipes the unknowingly bubbling tears within her eyes and waves her hand frantically.

  A huff that's almost fond escapes Yui.

  Yui let the wind guide through the locks of hair before looking back at Weiss.

  "Have you thought about... What are you going to do after this?"

  "Like after we grow up?" Weiss asked innocently.

  "Yeah." Her response was almost too quick.

  Weiss thought about it for a second. "I don't know, right now.. I think I'm happy with this.." The last sentence is quieter than usual.

  Then she shot back at Yui "How about you?" Her eyes were full of expectation.

  Her hand tightens slightly before responding with a tone that's slightly bitter.

  "I haven't really thought about it."

  "I see."

  A few seconds passed without any of them speaking. The sound of the waves adding to the tension between them.

  Sensing the awkwardness Yui quickly ran towards the waves, making a gesture to persuade Weiss to join.

  "Come on, it'll be a Weiss if we don't test the waters!" The horrible joke she forced to lighten the mood, which was met with a loud laugh from Weiss.

  "That's so stupid." She quickly ran towards Yui and immediately buried her hands in the waters and splashed them on Yui.

  "Hey!" Yui chased after Weiss splashing waters simultaneously.

  The chase was cut short as Yui got hit by one of the waves causing her to fall into it, looking like a wet cat.

  A wild giggle draws her attention despite the salt in her mouth and the aching eyes.

  "Don't you dare laugh!"

  She got up on her knees to continue the chase, then a sharp pain filled her chest and her hands came up to her mouth—

  Dong dong

  The sounds of bells coming from the town, signified the sun rising and the morning coming.

  Drawing Weiss' attention, her ears perked slightly before turning to Yui "I think we should get back, Father will—"

  Her stomach churned, her hands dropped to her sides, lips trembling.

  "Yui.."

  Finally she sees the whole picture. Yui who was once so lively now her face drained of color as her hands shaked with the splatter of blood all over it.

  Weiss rushed towards her almost falling into the water herself—

  "I-I'm fine." She pushed through the hoarse and painful throat to reassure her. Even smiling through the blood on her lips.

  How can I believe that?

  A drop.