Zodiac Circle

Chapter 106: Debbie in Kokujin's World

It was a starry night in high snowy mountains. Dragons flew in the sky and roared in infernal voices. The aura overall was warm and positive, but shadowed with the ominous darkness. 

Debbie shivered once spotted the dragons in the sky. She wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm, and walked towards a large black castle that lay ahead.

Knowing his character, I believe he's in there.

Once she had passed half of her way, she heard a gruesome roar of the dragons from above - they had noticed her.

"Ah! Get off!" 

She drew a sword - her only weapon - and swung it at the ferocious beasts, but they blew fire out of their mouths and burnt it in an instant. They grabbed her and flew to the palace at an immense speed.

Ugh, why everywhere I go there are dragons?! 

Debbie felt irritated, for she remembered the dragon residing within her master's dream world. However, she had little time for lamentations - she was soon brought at the palace. Her captor dragons took human forms. They tied her with icy cold metal chains and dragged her inside. 

"Ah! Let me go! You..." 

"Shut up, intruder!"

The armoured dragon-soldiers hit her. Debbie snarled but preferred to hush.

Here, I have no powers unless the lord of this dream world grants me permission. Knowing him and how I treated him back in my dream world, I have little to no chance. 

A tiny tear fell off her eye. 

But I must still try, for Master's sake...

The dragon-soldiers dragged her into a large black hall in the palace and dropped her to her knees in front of a black throne. Debbie quivered once saw the ominous lord she had expected to meet in this dream world. His demonic grin looked more terrifying than ever.

"My lord, we've caught this intruder at the borders. She seems to be not of this world," one of the dragon-soldiers said. 

A demonic laugh sounded throughout the hall, sending shivers down Debbie's spine:

"Oh, what a pleasant surprise! Deborah Yamamoto, the Sword Muse of Byakuya, in my dream world, in such a spectacular time when my Goddess is having another dream and won't interrupt us!"

Debbie widened eyes - Tamie wasn't here?! Goodness, she was doomed!

I... I hoped on her presence! Without her, he's going to... 

Sweat poured off her forehead once she thought of all the tortures.

"Aww, even though you're a sword, your imagination on such matters is quite poor, Debbie".

Debbie shuddered - he could hear her thoughts too, just as she had suspected.

"Of course I can hear them! Or you think you're the only queen in your dream world? Your thoughts cannot save you now. Spill it out - why the heck are you here?"

"I... I've come with a request, Kokujin".

"I am Lord Kokujin here. And you think I shall tolerate the likes of you in my world? Have you perchance forgotten how you treated me in your world? Well, I certainly have not, and I am not the type to easily forgive. Or, as I've heard, you hoped on Tamie's support... Well, too bad for you - this is your unlucky day!" 

Kokujin swung his hand. The dragon-soldiers grabbed frightened Debbie and put a sword to her neck. She screamed:

"Are you insane?! I'm really going to die!"

"I know. Too bad for you..."

"Don't you have a heart? Our masters are in a relationship!"

"I know. Don't give a damn. It is not like they will ever find out what happened here".

Debbie gasped - the same excuse her master had used back in her world!

She stopped resisting. Her heart sank with sorrow.

"I will die anyway, sooner or later, by now".

"Oh? Why is that?"

"The sword is shattered. I don't mind anymore. You were my only hope, but I see I've just sped up the process..." tears trickled down Debbie's cheeks.

Just as she was prepared to die, the sword was taken off her neck. 

"You've failed... such a simple test..."

"Huh?"

"As I've told you, I could hear your thoughts. You thought of your request when you arrived, so I had heard it all before you even spoke of it: you wanted me to teach you how to fight, didn't you?"

Debbie gasped - he knew?!

"Then... why?" 

Why was he so merciless with her? He had scared her to death!

"First of all, let's name it a little payback," Kokujin chuckled as he descended from the throne. "But there was more to it - I wanted to test your heart of steel and the will to fight. You ceased fighting when you felt a serious threat. You won't get far like that," he caressed her on the long blue hair. "You are a sword, have some more dignity. Even though your blade is shattered, Byakuya can always make a new one. Main is that your spirit doesn't get shattered. I've learned it after visiting your dream world - for a muse, powers don't matter. What matters, is the strength that lies here," he put a hand to her heart. "We are muses. We must be stronger than anyone in order to guide our masters towards a brighter future. We are the ones who inspire, so we must be strong-willed before all else. Do you understand?"

Debbie widened eyes - he was right, the muse's main strengths were their willpower and their heart. She had been such a fool... She didn't even deserve to be a sword! 

She sniffed. She put her head to Kokujin's chest and cuddled with him. Kokujin raised both eyebrows, but then only chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. It was Debbie's time to get shocked and grow all red. She snuggled with him tighter and cried her heart out.

"Now, now, it doesn't befit a sword to cry!"

Kokujin laughed. Debbie continued sobbing, yet felt comforted, by his warmth.

"Stay here for some time, if you want. I do accept your request". 

"Thank you, Lord Kokujin".

"Just Jin".

What a kind weirdo... I guess a writer's muse is never easy to predict.

A happy smile covered Debbie's face.