Chapter 26
As Evangeline ventured deeper into the haunting forest, the ethereal figures crystallized before her. It was a stark contrast – the familiar face of Mana as she appeared before Evangeline's rebirth, and the more recent addition to her life, Toshiko. Their lips met in a passionate embrace, an intimate dance that sent shockwaves through Evangeline's soul. Betrayal and jealousy churned within her, threatening to consume her completely.
Evangeline desperately attempted to speak, to intervene, to bridge the agonizing distance that separated her from this agonizing scene. But her voice refused to emerge, her limbs remained paralyzed. She was condemned to watch this heart-wrenching spectacle, an unwilling spectator in her own nightmare.
The torment seemed to stretch on for an eternity, every second a merciless reminder of her own powerlessness. As the kiss deepened, the forest itself seemed to conspire, the trees twisting and contorting, casting sinister shapes upon the forest floor.
The intensity of her jealousy ignited into a burning rage, a wildfire of emotion threatening to engulf her. She longed to scream, to shatter this cruel illusion, to break the chains that bound her to this agony.
Then, in an instant, everything changed. A pair of comforting arms enveloped her, drawing her into a soothing embrace that brought solace to her tormented soul. As suddenly as it had begun, the nightmare was over.
Evangeline awoke abruptly, her eyes adjusting to the dimness of Mana's room. The darkness still held sway, and in the silence, she sensed warmth and security enveloping her. She turned her head and saw Mana, the source of that comforting embrace, still fast asleep beside her.
A gentle smile lingered on Evangeline's face as she slipped back into the tranquil embrace of sleep, nestled securely in Mana's arms. The nightmare that had haunted her seemed to retreat, its lingering horrors fading into the recesses of her mind.
This time, her dreams were kinder. She found herself in the company of the Mana she knew from a time before her reincarnation. They were in a simple, cozy house, sharing breakfast, conversation, and laughter that flowed like a soothing river. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated happiness, a stark contrast to the torment she had endured earlier in her nightmare. As the dream unfurled, their connection deepened, culminating in a tender kiss, mirroring the passionate embrace that had tormented her not long ago.
However, the dream's tranquility was abruptly shattered by the sound of her name being called. She awoke, blinking in the dim daylight filtering through the room. It was Mana, her voice filled with anger.
"Let go of me, Evangeline," Mana's words were sharp and edged with annoyance.
Evangeline snapped to full wakefulness, her gaze darting around the room. Confusion clouded her senses. It was daylight, a new day, and the nightmare should have long dissipated. Yet, she found herself still holding Mana tightly in her arms. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, Mana. I didn't mean to... I didn't do it on purpose. You were the one who hugged me first," Evangeline stammered, her eyes meeting Mana's.
Mana blushed in response, offering no counterargument. She had, indeed, initiated the embrace.
"In any case," Mana began, her voice slightly hesitant, "don't misconstrue this, Evangeline. It was just... I felt sorry for you because you were having a nightmare," she admitted, her cheeks taking on a delicate shade of pink.
What Mana hadn't revealed was the events of the previous night. Evangeline's screams had shattered the silence, yanking her from slumber. It was evident that Evangeline was trapped in a nightmare, a turmoil of distress. In the midst of her tormented cries, Mana distinctly heard her own name called out.
Driven by a potent, instinctual force, Mana had drawn Evangeline into a soothing embrace. The moment their bodies touched, a remarkable tranquility washed over Evangeline, silencing her distress as though it had never existed. After witnessing the peaceful transformation in Evangeline, Mana, still flushed with the memory, had slipped back into slumber herself. The recollection of that intimate moment left Mana's cheeks flushed once more.
As they prepared to face the day, Mana, now standing, was momentarily detained by Evangeline, who clasped her wrist with a hesitant hand.
"Wait, Mana," Evangeline implored, her voice laced with embarrassment. "I wanted to thank you for what you did."
Mana's response was modest but firm, "It's nothing, Evangeline. Anyone would have done the same. However, don't misconstrue our situation as a bond of friendship."
Evangeline nodded, and a weighty silence hung between them before she mustered the courage to broach another topic.
"Actually, Mana," she began, her cheeks flushed anew, "I had a question for you."
Mana's curiosity was piqued. "Go on," she encouraged.
Blushing even deeper, Evangeline finally asked, "Do you remember what happened in the infirmary yesterday, before you saw Seiko and me arguing?"
Mana took a brief pause, her thoughts darting back to that perplexing moment.
"I'm sorry," Mana admitted, furrowing her brows in contemplation, "but I don't recall what you're referring to. What exactly happened?"
Evangeline's cheeks retained their fiery hue as she recollected the intimate exchange.
"Did something embarrassing happen?" Mana inquired, her curiosity further piqued.
Evangeline hesitated for a moment, struggling to articulate her thoughts. "No, don't worry," she began before her sentence was abruptly truncated by the creaking of the bedroom door. Toshiko had entered.
"Mana, what are you doing?" Toshiko's tone was tinged with suspicion as his gaze bore into Evangeline like a storm cloud. "Classes are about to start. I've come to help you, and I don't trust that girl you've got with you."
Mana, registering the urgency in Toshiko's words, realized that they were running out of time. She decided to defuse the situation gracefully.
"Alright, Toshiko," she replied with a warm smile, "we'll be ready in a few minutes. Can you give us a moment to change?"
Toshiko reluctantly conceded, albeit with a stern warning. "Fine, but be quick. I'll be waiting."
With Toshiko out of the room, Mana wasted no time and headed for the bathroom, tugging Evangeline along with her. In a brisk 15 minutes, they had both showered and changed.
As they prepared to leave, Mana couldn't shake the feeling that Evangeline was withholding something. Her answer had sounded evasive. However, she chose not to press the matter further, aware that time was of the essence. They exited the room and made their way toward Toshiko, with Evangeline reluctantly trailing behind Mana.
Seeing Mana's arrival, Toshiko greeted her with a smile and moved swiftly toward the duo.
"You slept well, Mana. I hope this girl didn't bother you," Toshiko remarked, casting a disapproving glance in Evangeline's direction.
Hearing Toshiko's words, Mana felt her cheeks grow warm, recalling the events of the previous night. Toshiko, however, found Mana's reaction somewhat peculiar. Before Mana could offer a reply, Evangeline interjected with a mischievous grin peeking out from behind her mask.
"We slept wonderfully, didn't we? We even cuddled during the night," she remarked.
In an instant, the smile vanished from Toshiko's face, and Mana swiftly administered a light smack to Evangeline's head.
"Evangeline, cease your nonsensical talk. Toshiko doesn't need to entertain such falsehoods," Mana rebuked her, her tone laced with irritation.
To divert the conversation away from the awkward moment, Mana promptly changed the subject.
"Let's not dawdle. We should head to class before we risk being late," Mana suggested, and she took Toshiko's hand in hers, causing both of them to blush.
As they proceeded toward their classroom, Evangeline couldn't help but seethe with frustration upon seeing Mana and Toshiko holding hands. Her anger escalated when, unnoticed by Mana, Toshiko flashed her a triumphant grin, elated that Mana had taken her hand. Although Evangeline seethed internally, she managed to regain her composure, and at last, they arrived outside the classroom. There, they encountered several students and even the school principal, who cradled Seiko in her arms.
Upon noticing Mana and Toshiko clasping hands, the principal couldn't conceal her disapproval. Mana, detecting the principal's disapproving gaze, quickly released Toshiko's hand, leaving Toshiko somewhat dejected but not daring to voice his disappointment.
"Madam Principal, what brings you here?" Mana inquired with a warm smile, her demeanor calm and welcoming.
"I've come to return Seiko to Evangeline, and I also have an announcement to make. I'd like both of you to accompany me to the courtyard," replied the principal. Seiko, the mischievous little creature, leaped from the principal's arms onto Evangeline's head.
As they made their way to the courtyard, they were met with a scene of students congregating and chatting among themselves. However, the moment the principal's voice resonated through the courtyard, a hush fell over the assembly, and all eyes turned toward her.
"Greetings, dear students. I'm sure you're all curious as to why I've gathered you here today," the principal began, her voice carrying an air of mystery as she addressed the expectant crowd.
A palpable tension gripped the students, and some couldn't help but recall past instances when they'd been summoned in this manner, leading to uncomfortable apprehension.
"I can sense your anticipation," the principal continued, a somewhat sinister smile curling on her lips, sending shivers down the spines of many students.
Her unsettling grin fueled the unease that had settled over the crowd, and they waited in suspense for the principal to unveil the purpose of this unexpected gathering.
"What I'm about to share with you today is..." she began, her voice trailing off, leaving the students on edge.