I walked past a row of boutique shops on the way towards the St. Antonia Island's waterfront, stopping to glance at the cafe we were at on Saturday.

The streets of St. Antonia Island were lined with elegant shops, each with a unique and inviting facade, and I could smell the aroma of freshly baked goods wafting from their doors. The sun was high in the sky and the street was relatively empty - with only a few elderly couples walking arm-in-arm down the sidewalks, enjoying their afternoon stroll.

I glanced up and saw the sign of the coffee shop that we'd gone to, with a little cartoon cat and a tea cup. I paused, taking a moment to take it all in.

I was still surprised by how peaceful and serene the island was. Almost every major city back on Earth had taken some serious damage during the Fourth Chaos War, and it was hard to imagine a world where such destruction wasn't ubiquitous. It felt like I was in a different time and place, like a fairy tale or a dream. There were no traces of chaos beasts, or signs of a struggle, anywhere to be found in Shoreline City.

I'd grown up with a collapsing global economy, and a planet that was struggling to keep itself hanging on to the vestiges of industrialization and civilization. I'd been raised on stories about a world where everything had been taken from people, and that they were struggling to rebuild.

Shoreline City was a paradise in comparison, even though it wasn't perfect.

I crossed the street and walked down a small alley between two shops. It was narrow, and lined with old stone buildings, some of which were partially covered in ivy.

The cobblestone pavement was smooth under my feet as I walked down it. It felt like stepping into a painting.

I took a moment to take it in, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin, and the gentle breeze that blew through the air.

And I listened to the music that carried in the wind.

It was faint, and muffled, and distant.

The wind blew again, carrying with it the faint sound of music, and the melody grew louder and more pronounced.

I smiled, exhaling as a calm washed over me.

Who else could that be?

I'd been all around St. Antonia, and there was no other place on the island where you could get the right vibe and acoustics for violin music. Not like that. For someone that took the gestalt seriously, like Natasha, you had to play where the surroundings and environment could add something.

And this was a very particular and distinct sound that could only be created by playing in an area with the right acoustics.

It was hard to tell which way the sound was coming from. The music seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It felt almost supernatural in nature, and the only way I could describe it is that it felt magical, in a very literal sense.

But I had a strong feeling I knew where it was coming from.

It would be one hell of a coincidence if the mysterious musician I'd spooked last time I was down here would turn out to be her after all.

I was almost certain now. This was Natasha.

The tune she played was haunting and sad. The melody was slow and melancholy, but the rhythm was strong and forceful.

I closed my eyes, letting the music carry me, as if I were being swept away by the nearby flow of the river. It was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

I turned a corner, and saw a large garden. The garden itself was a maze of paths and small clearings, and there was a small, wrought iron gate in front of it.

A tall, wrought iron fence lined the edge of the property, with vines growing up along it. The gate had an intricate design on it, with vines and leaves curling around the bars.

There was an archway over the top of the gate, with a sign hanging above it that read "The Waterfront Garden."

It looked like something out of a fairy tale. A small, quiet space that was filled with plants and flowers.

The music was clearer now, coming from the direction of a small, round gazebo that sat at the center of the garden.

The gazebo was made of wood, and had a domed roof with a large window. It had a circular floor, with a wooden railing around the edge. There was a set of steps leading up to the entrance, and a bench inside. It was surrounded by plants, including a rose bush and some ferns.

I walked up the steps to the gazebo, quietly sitting down next to the violinist on the bench.

Natasha's eyes were closed as she played her violin. Her fingers danced over the strings, creating a beautiful, mournful sound that echoed throughout the garden.

She was still a bloody mess, and the tears were running freely down her cheeks. She looked tired, and her eyes were red from crying. Her clothes were wrinkled and stained with blood. She slowly closed out the piece, her face relaxing into a calm, meditative state.

She opened her eyes, blinking for a second as she slowly looked up at me.

"I'm not gonna make you talk if you don't want to, but I thought you'd need someone," I said, looking into her red, misty eyes.

Natasha sniffed and smiled weakly at me before looking away.

"Thank you," she replied quietly. "Um. I won't run away this time. Just give me a minute."

I gave her a small smile, nodding in acknowledgment.

Natasha sighed and looked away again.

She put the violin and bow away, cleaning the dust off of it with a cloth, and placing them both into a leather carrying case.

We sat there for a minute as I took Midori's lunch box out of my bag, placing it in my lap.

"Midori handed me this," I said. It had a blue and black plaid design, with a lid that had a picture of a chrysanthemum on it.

I opened the lid and revealed a number of neatly-cut, hearty sandwiches inside that looked like they were packed with some sort of spiced meat with neatly wrapped in fresh romaine lettuce. It looked absolutely perfect for comfort food.

I picked up a sandwich and offered it to her. "Are you hungry?"

She shook her head.

"You really should eat," I insisted. "Midori handed this off to me."

She looked at the sandwich, and then back at me, before finally reaching for it. She bit into the sandwich and chewed slowly. Her eyes were closed and her expression was pensive as she chewed. After swallowing, she nodded and gave me a small, sad smile.

"I guess I should thank Talia too. This is her handiwork, I imagine?" she said. She was staring at the food with a wistful expression. Her eyes seemed to be far away, and I couldn't help but wonder where her mind was at.

I smiled. "Small world, huh? I didn't know you knew her too."

"Midori was a bit of a mentor for me when I was out east, so it isn't too much of a surprise that our circles of friends overlap," Natasha replied. She sighed and looked down. "And I feel a bit guilty that I've neglected that. She was a better friend than I deserve."

"Hey, don't talk like that. It's okay."

"Ugh. You wouldn't understand. She was always there for me. Always looking out for me, always caring, always making sure I was okay, and then..." Her voice trailed off, and she looked down at her food again. "I'm such a bad friend."

"Aw... c'mon now," I replied.

I could see the guilt in her eyes, the way she was beating herself up over what happened. I didn't know what happened, but it must've been serious.

She sighed. "I haven't been a very good friend to her. I don't even know what to say."

I didn't want to throw out any platitudes without context. But I did want her to feel better.

"I'm not gonna say I get it, because I don't," I began. "But man, standing up to a group of assholes and saving some girl you don't know the way you did... that was really impressive, Natasha. You have guts."

Natasha blinked. "W-What? I-I... um."

She blushed, looking down and taking a bite of the sandwich to cover up her embarrassment.

I chuckled. "You get what I'm saying, right?"

She shook her head, taking another bite of her sandwich.

I decided not to push the issue and let her eat.

"I-I was actually the reason Kordelia was being picked on," she said, holding onto the sandwich.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise, and then quickly lowered them when she flinched at my expression.

"Oh... how so?" I asked, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.

"I've had a few encounters with the Countess' clique and... they hold grudges. She was just... a target of opportunity," Natasha said quietly.

"You mean you were getting bullied too?"

Natasha looked at her food again, before looking at me and nodding. She sighed and looked back down.

"Do you have a minute or two?"

I patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Wouldn't be here if I didn't, would I? Talk your heart out."

She nodded, sitting quietly for a second.

"I didn't mean to and I was too naive to realize I was doing it. But... Caroline's family legally adopted me back in the day."

I nodded, taking it all in. That much I'd gleaned from Midori.

"I hid behind Caroline's influence when we were still friends. I wasn't the most humble kid when I started finding myself in school with them. I mean, it's not like my parents couldn't have afforded it back when they were on the rise, but they were working class and upwardly mobile. I grew up in the suburbs. And I had to learn a lot, and Caroline and a few other kids helped me. She and the others were so kind to me and helped me fit in. But..."

"But?" I prompted, after Natasha took a long pause.

She sighed, looking at her feet.

"Because of how Caroline helped me, I thought I was untouchable. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I was an outsider who consistently placed near the top of the class rankings in primary and middle school. And for someone who didn't come from a family that practiced magic, I had a really high magical talent score. And... I wasn't afraid of the nobility like everyone else, because Caroline and I were so close and she'd always had my back. I didn't really know how things worked. A lot of the Old Families took me as an upstart who was overreaching my station. They'd say that the Voidwalkers' generosity was wasted on the likes of me and that I was nothing but a freeloader who was riding the coattails of better people."

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"Damn."

"And Caroline... I could always tell when she felt embarrassed of me. I don't think it was because we were from different backgrounds or anything, but because of the trouble I'd get myself in."

"Trouble?" I asked, tilting my head to one side.

"She... was really good to me, and she treated me like an older sister would," she began. "But I wasn't a very good younger sister in turn."

"What happened?" I asked.

"I'm not so much these days, but I used to be pretty competitive. I'd never admit to it then, but I was. I didn't want her and the rest of our circle of friends to see me as someone lesser than them. And when you're adopted into the Kong Clan, a prestigious and old clan from the Five Sacred Mountains, that means a lot of martial training. I took it very seriously and I really pushed myself. They'd taught me a lot of things and helped me learn and practice how to do basic spellwork. But when the noble kids saw me, an outsider and a commoner, learning magic and doing so well in the class rankings, it was a threat to their pride. And, I think they were jealous, and wanted to put me in my place. They were all high born, and many of their families were Old Families or had deep connections. And when I refused to give in and give them a win, they started getting even more vicious and cruel."

"That's... horrible."

I'd learned very early on to keep my head down. You just didn't survive that long if you stuck out too much.

Natasha nodded.

"The Kong clan was a major house from an alliance of mages in the mountains that had allied with the Yue tribes and British to settle the area. A lot of the South's arcane defenses practically depended on them. And since the family was one of the most prominent houses from the region, I got some protection from being the target of their bullying. But it came with a cost, too."

"What kind of cost?" I asked.

She bit her lip, looking at the sandwich.

"Caroline. She's a highborn. To be exact, she's from a highborn clan that was already on top of society. I was just some nobody who didn't belong there. The other kids would do little things like hide my books or trip me in the hallways, or they'd start spreading nasty rumors. But then I started fighting back, and it made things worse for me, and it made things worse for her. After a while I learned to just take the insults and the teasing and not react. I wasn't the humble commoner that they could take for granted and ignore. And I wasn't the noble girl who had everything that Caroline had."

"So... what changed?"

"I think that was the biggest point of tension in our friendship. But she started standing up for me when she found out what I was going through," she explained. "I think that made the bullying worse outside of my view, and it started affecting Caroline. I think that's why things went bad for us."

"Made things worse?"

Natasha nodded. "The bullying stopped for me, but Caroline had to sort of learn to put on a public mask to survive in high society. And it took me way too long to notice. And I wasn't helping her with my own attitude problems, but I didn't really see it at the time. She had a reputation as an upstanding and noble lady in public. And she had to learn to be vicious in the social game to keep the wolves at bay, because the highborn girls can be worse than boys. But... Caroline and I were close. And she always looked out for me, and she was the best friend I ever had. She and the rest of my circle were the closest people to me in that school."

Natasha's voice trailed off, and she looked away for a moment.

"It wasn't her real self though, she was so kind and genuine. And she was the first friend I ever had. But to make sure nobody messed with me she'd play into the social games and let them see the worst in her, so she could scare the others into keeping a distance from us. And I guess it was a big deal, because she didn't really want anyone to know who she actually was."

I didn't know what to say. It was like I was hearing a different side to the story. It made me wonder just how much I missed.

"I mean, she still had the best intentions in mind," Natasha said. She took another bite of the sandwich. "I think it was a big source of stress and hurt for her though, because I was so blind to the whole thing."

Natasha took a deep breath. Her eyes were closed, and her voice was shaky.

"The bullying and political games didn't stop for Caroline, and she never shared her struggles with me. I didn't know how much of a burden I was for her, or that she'd have to sacrifice so much of her mental health to defend me. I thought it meant that I had to prove my worth to her, so I worked twice as hard to be better. I wanted her and her family to be proud of me. And I did do well. I was consistently side by side with her as one of the five best students for our grade. I thought that would make the bullying stop. But I think it made things worse."

Natasha sighed and took a deep breath, taking another bite of the sandwich.

"I won't go into the final incident that shattered our friendship, but she was right to end it and cast me aside. I think she probably wanted to do it for a while. And now I can see that. And it hurts. Because I loved her, and I would do anything to make her happy and to be a better sister. I'm so selfish and naive, and I've caused her so much trouble."

I didn't know how to feel about what I had heard.

"I think it was the biggest mistake of my life, not appreciating her friendship and her loyalty enough," Natasha continued.

I didn't say anything for a moment, letting the silence hang between us. It felt like there was a lot more to this story than what she'd told me. But it sounded messy enough already.

"And now... well. St. Antonia's is one of the most prestigious secondary schools and colleges in the western hemisphere. A lot of the same people that were at Zhou Ling International are here, and they know that I don't have the backing or connections to back me up anymore. So... well, they've always hated me. And when my life went downhill and they could target me more openly, I ended up dragging that poor Kordelia girl into my mess," Natasha said.

I nodded silently as she caught her breath.

"I was just being friendly. Chelsea saw it the other day and she latched onto her. She started harassing me and I tried to just take it. And then Kordelia got targeted and dragged in and... yeah," she said quietly. "I didn't mean to involve her, but she got dragged in. She was really nice and she was just a bystander. When I stumbled on them again, they were torturing her for even associating with me and I just couldn't take it."

"Wow," I said. "That's beyond messed up."

"Yeah. I know. It's all my fault, really. I was the reason she got bullied in the first place. And I'm the reason that she was being bullied today, too."

"No, that's not true at all," I said, shaking my head. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's not your fault that you were being bullied, Natasha. It's not your fault that they bullied that other girl, either. You did nothing wrong, okay?"

I didn't realize how angry I sounded until I felt the emotion welling up inside me.

I looked down at the ground, and tried to get my emotions under control. My heart was racing, and I was trying not to let it show on my face.

"Some people think of themselves as being better than others, and they'll do whatever they can to keep their place at the top," I said, trying to control my voice. "And if that means hurting people who aren't like them, or who are just trying to make a name for themselves, then so be it. They don't care about the people they're hurting. They don't care about anyone else but themselves, or the people they see as their equals. They'll step on anyone who they can to get ahead. It's not your fault, Natasha. You were just trying to be a good person and do what you could. And I know that."

"I just wish I could be better at this..." she said, tears welling in her eyes again.

"Hey," I said softly, reaching out to take her hand.

She flinched for a second, and then let me take it.

"You're doing just fine," I said, squeezing her hand gently.

I didn't realize how badly I wanted to hug her, until my arms wrapped around her shoulders.

She stiffened, but she didn't push me away. She just let me hold her for a few seconds.

"We're only human at the end of the day. And that means we're gonna fuck up sometimes. But it's how we learn and grow from it that matters."

I released her from my hug and patted her on the shoulder. The blood stains were starting to dry up on her uniform, but it looked a mess. She was probably gonna need to put in some serious work it to get it out.

Natasha gave me a weak smile.

"I'm glad you were here today, Ikki," she said. "You're a good person and you should probably keep your distance from me. But, um... thanks."

"Hey. Come on. I think it's a little too late for that. You don't need to deal with this on your own, and we're gonna have each others' backs, right? We'll have to deal with that bullshit together."

Natasha frowned again, looking at the sandwich and finishing it.

"You don't understand..." she replied.

"I know. But it doesn't matter," I said. "I bounced a guy's head off the grass like a football in front of everyone and suplexed a girl from that posse. I think I've got my own problems to worry about now."

"Honestly? I don't think that was a good idea, Ikki. It'll be a bigger mess than you think," Natasha said.

"I know," I said. I wasn't going to pretend I hadn't thought this through on the way here.

I'd probably made a mistake, but... it was done now. I just had to live with the consequences.

"I don't know who that kid was, but he was holding down Kordelia while Chelsea beat her and they had a magic binding thing on you. He didn't seem too interested in stopping them."

Natasha winced.

"He really isn't a bad kid deep down. Just a bit... well. Politics happen. I can't blame you, but... I feel responsible. They were going to come for me anyways. I can take it. But now they're going to go after you too. I'm really sorry. That's why I said to stay away from me."

I laughed. "Yeah. Maybe. But I wasn't just gonna sit by and watch you get hurt. My dad raised me to stick by my ideals."

I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm come over me. I'd been raised by my father, who'd instilled a strong sense of right and wrong in me. He wasn't with me here, but I felt that his teachings were always with me. And it gave me a little peace of mind when there was a massive portal between my family and myself. It was hard being away from them, but it was something that had to happen, eventually.

I had a whole new life now.

A whole new set of rules.

I was going to live my life with conviction and I'd take what comes with it. My family would always come first, but I just couldn't let that injustice go.

Natasha sighed.

"Your father sounds like a wonderful man. It's such a shame though. I hope he understands that he raised a bit of an idiot."

I laughed.

"Yeah. Decent test scores or not, I'm a bit of a knucklehead," I replied.

"Maybe, but you're a brave, principled knucklehead. And... I do think we're going to get along well," Natasha said, smiling and giving me a playful jab to the ribs.

She blushed again and then looked at me for a long time, before she spoke again. "I... I think I'm going to go clean myself up now, Ikki."

"That's a good idea. I've gotta go check in on a few things too back at the lab. Let's walk back together?"

Natasha nodded. I picked up her violin case and her backpack and I started walking back with her.

We walked in silence, enjoying the peace and quiet, the sound of the nearby river's current and the occasional breeze through the trees. The early afternoon was cool and the air smelled of fresh-cut grass. The sky was a brilliant blue and there was a light breeze that made the leaves on the trees sway gently. I could hear the birds chirping, the rustle of leaves in the trees. The sound of the rivers parting around and through the island was soothing.

"I'm gonna try and talk to Kordelia tomorrow," Natasha said. "I just want to see if she's alright. She didn't seem to be too badly hurt, but I still feel terrible."

"Yeah, that sounds good. She was actually worried about you, you know? If anything you're the one who got roughed up the most."

"That's sweet of her, but... I'm okay. It'll heal."

I frowned and shook my head. "That's not really the point. You should at least get yourself cleaned up. And I know it'll be a tough talk to have, but you should talk to Midori. She worries about you a lot, you know?"

Natasha nodded, but she didn't say anything more. I think she was trying to avoid thinking about it too much.

"When I'm ready..." she finally murmured, before trailing off.

We kept walking, enjoying the peace and quiet. Eventually, we reached the main gate.

"We've both got classes to attend in a few minutes," she said, looking up at the sky. "I should get myself cleaned up."

I nodded.

"You're right. It was a long, long day," I said, sighing. "I'll catch you later. But seriously. I've put myself into your orbit already. And if they're going to come after you, then they'll come after me too, and that's just a fact now. I've got your back, okay?"

Natasha nodded, her face blushing. Her lips parted as she tried to find the right words, and I could see a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"Hey. If anything comes up, or if anyone gives you a problem... I'm a call or text message away, got it?" I said. "Just say something and I'm there."

"Okay..." Natasha replied.

"I'm serious. You're not alone, and you have people who are here for you," I said, patting her shoulder.

She smiled, her face turning a little red.

"I... I understand. Thanks."

"Anytime," I said, grinning.

Natasha's cheeks flushed a little and she gave me a shy smile before turning away, picking up her violin and heading towards one of the buildings. She looked back over her shoulder and gave me a wave goodbye.

I waved back, and she continued on her way. I turned and walked the other direction.

"Man," I said, taking a deep breath and stretching. "How fucked am I? Like. Really, on a scale from 1-10?"

The sound of the river and the wind carried on through the trees. I could hear the sound of the birds chirping, and the sound of the river and wind was soothing.

Rai-chan chirped, her tone indicating she wasn't particularly sure either. "Well... we're gonna have to see, Ikki," she said. "But that kid you punted across the lawn was Count Darpel's son - who owns a good chunk of what would be North Carolina on Earth. A man known publicly for his temperament and thirst for battle. I'm gonna guess a... seven?"

"I was hoping you'd tell me you'd give me a three. But, that's just how life goes, huh?" I said.

"Yep," Rai-chan replied. "I don't think you could've just left Natasha to get beaten to death."

"Yeah... but man. A Count? I knew he had some big bucks behind him, but... damn," I sighed. "But... what was I supposed to do?"

I could almost see Rai-chan shrugging her shoulders. "It is what it is," she said. "At least he'll think twice before pulling that crap in front of everyone again."

"Fair," I said.

I took a deep breath and exhaled.

"But yeah... it is what it is."

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