Scene 4 - Confrontation

Now in the safe room, the two sisters leaned on a nearby wall relaxing. Next, by them was their spirit weapons floating around out of boredom awaiting their next task.

“Ah, sister we're all bloody… It stinks I wanna take a bath...”, Xue pouted, feeling the stench of blood sticking to her body and clothes.

Rune looked at Xue and then noticed the smell and stickiness on her body as well. She gave Xue a strange look, “Do you wanna get clean?”

Xue looked at her sister in awe, eyes shining, “You brought along a bath?!?”

Looking away from her sisters gaze Rune blushed, “It isn't exactly a bath since I didn't bring enough water. It's something else…”

Tilting her head in confusion, Xue replied, “If it's not water what is it? Whatever it is, I'll use it. This smell is unbearable!”

Rune smiled and blushed, then rummaged through her ring storage, “You sure?”

Not understanding why her sister was so hesitant, Xue replied with annoyance in her voice. “Yes, I can handle it anymore! How am I going to get to sleep with this covering me!”

“Alright then. Don't say I didn't warn you.”, Rune had a stiff smile while she pulled out a wooden tub and a large clear flask with a small stone floating inside it.

Rune’s face was frozen stiff and her eyes hollow as she poured the flask into the wooden tub. Xue felt something was off with her big sister’s expression and tried to walk away, only to feel a warm body latch onto her in an iron grip.

Fear clawed up Xue’s back, “S-s-sister? What are you doing?!? What is that noise, it sounds disgusting!”

A monotone, faint whisper entered Xue’s ear., “Don't worry, big sister will enter together with you.”

Turning her head, Xue saw a clear object squirming rhythmically, its glowing blue eye stone shining brightly at the two sisters as if it were regarding a snack.

Xue struggled to break free of Rune’s iron grip, “On second thought I don't need a bath big sister. Why are we inching closer? Let me go, please? Stop sister, please? Don't bully your little sister! You're joking, right? Right?”

But Xue’s pleas were for naught, and Rune’s continued to show the same, stiff smile, “Don't worry, it'll only take a few minutes and we'll be clean. Endure it!”

“I don't wanna endure it! Besides, what happens if someone walks in!”

“Don't worry, Mear and Roko can watch the entrance. Now let's dive in.”

Xue's forehead began to sweat as she became increasingly frantic,“You're kidding right big sister this is all a big joke, right? Haha, you got me. Now let me go!”

“Don't worry, the slime will be gentle. Leave it in the hands of your big sister.”

As they inched ever closer to the wooden tub Xue struggled more and more, trying to escape her sister’s grasp. “No no no no no! Stop it, big sister! No. NOOOOOOO!”

*Splash*

“NOOOOOOOooooooo…”

…

“You're a bully big sis,” sulked Xue, clutching her body tightly with a blanket. The terrifying experience had left her feeling betrayed and violated.

Rune stared back with a dull gaze, absently tossing a small ball of fire from hand to hand, “It wasn't that bad. We did it together and got clean, right?”

Xue shivered with tears in her eyes, Mear holding onto her for support, “I don't think I can marry anymore…”

“What marriage? You're too shy little sis.”

“Why you!”

|N|I|G|H|T|

Time passed, and before long the first day came to a close. Despite being spread out, none of the siblings were eliminated from the contest, and a few had even formed teams.

Len lay licking her wounds, uncertain about her path.

Ren and Nena sat together with Jao and ate food together merrily.

The twins bickered while Drake tried to sleep his eyes bloodshot.

Saren ate in silence while reading a book, his weapons spirit sitting cross-legged near the safe room entrance.

Vince felt tired after fending off the jungle girls who insisted on sleeping together in his sleeping bag. “Rune would kill me,” he told them “No.”

Rune and Xue despite their minor argument, slept in each other's arms as their weapon spirits guarded the entranceway.

|C|U|R|S|E|

When the two sisters were deep asleep, Mear spoke with Roko, her eyes full of seriousness, “Why are you acting like a curse weapon? Do you want to be 'erased’?”

Roko tilted her head to the side raising her hand under her chin,“Whatever do you mean? I was just helping my new Master fulfill her desires.”

Mear snorted. “Cut the bullshit jester, before entering this labyrinth she wasn't this bloodthirsty. What did you do to my master's big sister?”

Roko chuckled, and her eyes narrowed to small beads, “I didn't do anything foolish feline, she travels the path of the Asura. This is written in blood since a time before our time. Master’s little play will be nothing more than a joke when she grows up.”

Mears’ eyes widened with shock, “An Asura! Why are you not keeping her in check! If she falls too low she'll fall and become a d--”

Roke cut Mears off with a laugh, raising her arms wide to her sides. “I can't. No matter what I do, she won't listen to me, despite her charming appearance! The main thing in her mind besides her family is revenge!

If I take that away from her she'll never grow as powerful as my old master. I'm willing to risk it. Risk being called a cursed weapon and destroyed if I have a chance to reach a higher realm and become a God Slayer!”

“You're mad!”

Roko shook her head in displeasure, “I'm not mad you just don't have the resolve!”