Lilia's Tale: Freyja's Endeavor

Chapter 52: Punishment

I expected to be far more capable of talking to her than I found myself. I wanted to say something, but no matter how much I tried, nothing would come out of my mouth. Cassandra ended up being the first to break the silence.

"Thankfully, you should be fine. I recommend resting for longer, however."

"Ah, okay," she replied.

I could hear the fear and anxiety in her voice. This only served to make my guilt increase as I gave up on even just apologising. Instead, I laid back into my bed, hoping for things to get better with time.

I did not get to wait much longer however, as someone quickly started knocking at the door. Cassandra did not even wait and told whoever was behind to enter, so Mark did.

"You're awake, Sayuri? Are you feeling bad anywhere?"

"My shoulders feel stiff."

"I have verified twice now," Cassandra mentioned. "She will not have any lasting impacts. I can guarantee her health so long she rests for the rest of the day."

"That is great to hear. Now, Lilia, are you awake?"

"She was earlier, so I believe she should still be."

"Good. The principal thought this over and decided on what punishment to give you. He saw it as a regular fight between students, so you will be punished as such. One week without being allowed out of the dormitory, including this weekend."

Hearing the mention of not being able to get out this weekend suddenly woke me up from my groggy and depressed state. I did not have time to spare to skip my training with Souji and the Nightbreakers, and I had to deal with Inari and her mental training too.

"Wait!" I shouted as I sat back up, realising a second too late what I had just done. "Ah. I'm... sorry for shouting..."

"The punishment was already chosen. There is nothing I can do or say or wait for."

"I...really have to go out on weekends. I don't have a choice."

"A punishment is a punishment."

"Her leaving on the weekends is of utmost importance," Cassandra chimed in. "Part of what is to be done this weekend especially, is particularly important for such accidents not to occur again."

"...If you have reservations, ask the principal," he eventually confessed after a short silence. "It's not up to me to decide after all. I'll tell him to come to you."

"...Thank you," I meekly replied as he left.

I laid back down in bed, impatiently waiting for an answer, though somehow as afraid and anxious as ever. No matter how much I tried to understand these feelings, no explanation came to mind. I kept trying and trying, each failure only growing this overwhelming despair within me.

Eventually, a knock on the door was heard. I barely managed to keep myself sane as I climbed down from the bed, opened the door, and went back in it. I was too mentally exhausted to even look at who it was, let alone try to understand what the person said.

It was only once I felt a glare on me a little later and turned to stare directly at Tanaka-san that I could figure out what he was saying.

"So, apparently you want to discuss your punishment?"

"Ah, uh, yeah. Cassandra can explain."

"Shouldn't it be for you to explain? It is your own punishment after all."

"Right now I don't know. Sorry."

I turned around again, still as incapable as ever. I did try to listen, however, as my conscience still cares to know what else I would be punished with.