Amara woke up late, her wounds still burning like embers under her skin. The first person she saw was Amina, sitting beside her, watching over her sleep with expectation and worry etched on her face. Ignoring the pain, Amara pulled her sister into a hug—it was the first time she saw her awake and well since the chaotic events of the previous day.
She hoped it had all been a terrible nightmare, but judging by the bandages on herself and on her sister's body, it was obvious everything had been real.
As they pulled away from the hug, Amina smoothed her sister's hair in a gentle gesture, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Amara smiled genuinely and asked in sign language if she was okay.
"I'm fine," Amina replied in sign language. "The one who's not okay is you. We were worried because your bandage was bleeding again and you took a long time to wake up. There are many injured here, and the doctors are prioritizing pure-blooded Aokainese. Miyu argued to get you treatment, and our mother was even braver—she said she would go after Emi Miyamoto, the Cobalt Flame who helped us yesterday, and she managed to find her leaving the shelter. Mom explained your situation, and Miss Miyamoto returned and ordered a group of doctors and nurses to take care of the mixed-bloods. That's how a doctor came here, changed your bandages, and applied some medicine. I also had my bandages changed and have been here waiting for you to wake up ever since."
Pride filled Amara's chest upon hearing how brave her mother had been to ensure medical care for her daughters and all the other mixed-bloods. Dona Lina had always been that way—never backing down when it came to her family, always willing to fight for equality and for their rights.
"That's just like Mom. I'm glad everything worked out and that Miss Miyamoto was kind to us again… but… where is everyone?"
Indeed, only Amara and Amina were in the dormitory at that moment.
"They went to have lunch in the cafeteria. Mom said she'll bring us food."
Amara tried to sit up and felt a sharp pain in her abdomen—that was where her deepest wound was. Amina stopped her from moving again and, visibly irritated, said in sign language:
"Don't even think about getting up. You lost a lot of blood and you're running a fever. You're staying here and resting, and whatever you need, I'll do it for you!"
"Amina, you're hurt too!"
"But I'm doing better than you, sister. Dad told us what happened and how you would have died if it weren't for the Hinoken leader."
Amara couldn't hide her irritation at the mention of Ryu. She quickly tried to mask it, but Amina was too sharp to miss such expressions.
"Wait, wasn't he the one who killed the Sombros that attacked you?"
"Yes, and I already thanked him."
"Then why do you look upset?"
"I'm not upset!"
"Amara, you can't fool me. Your mouth says one thing, but your body says another."
She took a deep breath. It was impossible to hide anything from her sister, who missed nothing with her sharp eyes and perception. So Amara decided to tell her everything that had happened since Ryu saved her, and all he had said to her. Amina looked perplexed and now just as upset as her sister.
They continued communicating in sign language, as it was the only way the Hisakawa family communicated with Amina.
"So he helped out of obligation, huh? What a shame. For a moment, I thought Tsukishiro was as kind as Miss Miyamoto. Now I see the Cobalt Flames helped the mixed-bloods and foreigners because of Miyamoto. Since she's second-in-command, she must be the one influencing the whole group."
"At least we have someone there who cares about us. If it weren't for her influence, where would we be now?" Amara reflected.
The twins fell into thoughtful silence for a moment, until Amina suddenly stood up as if she had just remembered something important. Amara watched her grab a blister pack of pills from the bedside table and open a bottle of water. Amina gave her the medicine and then checked her temperature. Smiling, she said the fever was already going down.
"Look at that—I'm the family nurse, but you're the one taking care of me."
Amina laughed, poured tea for both of them, and sat beside her sister. They stayed there, communicating in sign language, while the pain seemed to fade for a little while.
Time passed until Dona Lina, Mr. Hisakawa, and Miyu arrived at the dorm. They were all cheerful and relieved to see Amara awake and well. Amara and Amina ate their meal while Miyu chatted non-stop about everything she had seen in the shelter.
It was past five in the afternoon when the twins were treated by a grumpy doctor under Miyu's supervision, who made a point of loudly stating she was a lawyer and would document any negligence or prejudice from him. Dona Lina monitored everything closely, helping where she could, and Hisakawa sat in his new wheelchair, reading a book he had brought in his suitcase.
As soon as the doctor left, without saying a word or even looking the patients in the eye, a loud siren blared through the shelter, silencing everyone. Then Ryu's voice echoed through the speakers:
"Dear citizens of Mizuki, this is Ryu Tsukishiro, leader of the Hinoken army. I'm here to inform you that the poisonous gas has finished being released throughout the city. At this moment, our troops are collecting the bodies of the Sombros and ensuring there are no survivors from the operation. The barrier on the border between Mizuki and the Northern Nefari Kingdom has been repaired, but we remain on alert for any new incidents."
"Good afternoon, my name is Emi Miyamoto, I am the second-in-command of the Hinoken army, and I ask for everyone's understanding—we cannot release you from the shelter yet…"
Emi's speech was cut short by murmurs of disappointment from the people.
"It's a matter of safety. The toxic gas we released in the city needs to dissipate to ensure there are no health risks. That won't take long."
"In addition, the city of Mizuki is now under the command of the Cobalt Flames. Its mayor, Mr. Tachibana, is currently in the city hall's underground shelter. So, following the governor's orders, I—Ryu Tsukishiro—along with Emi Miyamoto, Daiki Kurosawa, Hana Shimizu, and Shiro Inoue, are in command of this shelter as high-ranking warriors of the Hinoken army." — Ryu announced in an authoritative tone.
More murmurs of discontent spread throughout the shelter.
"Our top priority now is to treat the many injured in this attack. Although our medical team is limited, we are doing everything we can to organize care and ensure everyone is treated," Emi added. "That is all for now, thank you!"
The speakers shut off, and loud chatter began echoing through the corridors of the shelter.
"How nice, the mayor hiding in his private shelter and leaving the people in the hands of an army," Miyu said, crossing her arms in displeasure.
"But it's better for the Hinoken to handle this than that selfish mayor. If it were up to him, the mixed-blood and foreign population would already be dead outside the shelter gates," said Dona Lina firmly.
"I agree," said Amara. "At least we have Emi Miyamoto to defend us… But what she said about having too few doctors and nurses to treat so many people really got to me. I wish I could work with them!"
"Don't even think about it, daughter," Hisakawa, who hadn't taken his eyes off his book, interrupted. "You are seriously injured and in no condition to work."
"But Dad…" She dared to protest.
"No, Amara, you are forbidden from leaving this room," her mother said so sternly that even Miyu flinched.
Amara gave up arguing—for now.
"Mr. Hisakawa, what's that book about?" Miyu changed the subject to break the tense atmosphere.
"The Five Classes of Nefaris," by Theodore Rupert. It's a very old but valuable book that explains the existing Nefari classes and their species. I couldn't leave home without this beauty—it's a precious source of information in case we have to face more of those creatures…"
"Rioji, you've been studying Nefaris since I met you. There's nothing about them you don't know," Lina remarked.
"There's always something humans don't know, dear… Even though the Nefari dominion is over, we can't forget they were one step ahead of us for ages…"
"Dad is right," Amina said in sign language after silently observing for a long time. "After this attack, it's clear the Nefaris never accepted defeat. Now… they seem ready to reclaim what they lost."