Submerged: The Earth's Remains

Chapter 10

"Mother"
~One and a half a week before the fight~

Aluna's POV

Aluna sits in the desk inside the student council room. Darkness fills the room as the light outside becomes blocked by the blinds. In order to see, she lights a small candle as she sorts papers. She does not want to be disturb so she works in the dark as it looks like no one is present inside.

Unexpectedly, a knock hits the locked door outside of the room. Curious on who would disturb her, she opens the door, with the papers in her hand.

She gasps, barely audible, dropping the papers to the floor.

"A-Ah, what brings you here...?" Surprised, she asks, trying to be polite as possible. Aluna gulps at the presence of the Vice Principal, RoseLin.

The vice principal invites herself in and closes the door. Afraid, Aluna asks what's wrong as she notices the anger and disappointment in her eyes. Intimidatingly, the vice principal walks towards Aluna with a terrifying demeanor. In fear, she walks backwards cautiously, trying to protect herself.

The vice principals heels tap lightly on the ground as Aluna's heart slowly drop. The only thing that could be heard in that quiet room is the whispers of Aluna and her heart bursting.

Aluna stops, blocked by her desk hitting her back. Without warning, the vice principal shoves a piece of paper in her face.
On the piece of paper, it shows people's battle results and ranking. A student named Phoenix managed to steal her first place spot, even if she is a junior.

"What is this? You were beaten by a junior? You're such a disappointment." She spews out of her mouth.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize anyone could beat me and so I wasn't at my full potential that day." Suddenly, while she replies, she gets slapped harshly on the cheek, leaving a red mark on her face.

"As the student body president, you're supposed to be setting an example. Half-assing things aren't acceptable."
"I understand that you will reflect on this won't you?" With pure disappointment in her eyes, she glares at Aluna.

"Yes... mother." With fear in her eyes, she manages to whisper a reply back.

The vice principal slams her fist onto the desk, loud enough for the sound to echo in the room.
"Don't call me that if you can't make me proud!"

Aluna starts to shake and the vice principal notices.
"You're not going home today. You're sleeping here for tonight. You need to learn your lesson for being weak."
She takes her leave, slamming the door closed after threatening Aluna, knowing that she's already shaken up.

Aluna grabs the piece of paper shoved onto her face and tightens her fist, crumpling the piece of paper inside her palm.

"Who is this?" Angrily, she murmurs, her face darkening.

_____________

Phoenix cannot bear watching the dispute any longer. She turns to look at Xyphia, shaking in fear.

Help her!

Noticing that Xyphia is spacing out from the dispute, Phoenix heads towards her, putting her palms on her shoulders.

"Xyphia, help her. You're the only one who can. You're her best friend, aren't you?" With serious but determined eyes, Phoenix stare directly into Xyphia's wavering eyes. Phoenix's whole team watch the two talk to each other.

"N-No, I have no right to interfere... Aluna only considers me as her subordinate." Looking down, Xyphia mumbles.

Abruptly, Phoenix laughs from her comment.
"Do you really believe that?"
She smiles slightly with a genuine expression.

Xyphia relaxes with her subtle but soft smile.
"I did. But now I won't."

Xyphia takes Phoenix's hands off her shoulders and makes her way towards Aluna's mother. Her expression changes, turning calm and collected like how she usually is.

"Vice Principal Rose, I demand you as the Vice President, as a student, and as Aluna's best friend to refrain from hurting her." With a determined expression, she glares right into her soul.

"And you think you have the right to order me?" Amused, she asks Xyphia, tilting her head.

"X-Xyphia stop..." In pain, Aluna manages to say.

"What are you doing just standing there!? You know well that you can expel the poison from your body so why won't you?!"

Aluna hesitates to make a move.

I think she knows she can. But she doesn't want to anger her mother even more.

"Expel." With shaky hands, she grabs her calligraphy pen from her hair and writes on a piece of paper, placing it on her belly.

"What do you think you're doing?" Shouting, she glares at Aluna. She clenches her fist, wanting to teach her a lesson.

"Mother, tell me. TELL ME WHY ARE YOU CHEATING ON DAD WITH HIM?!? WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT HIM!" Releasing all her built up emotions, Aluna shouts as loud as she can, making sure she can be heard. Once more she glares at the Principal, tears dropping from her eyes.

Before the vice principal could even reply back, she continues.
"Tell me... Why can't I ever be enough?"

"Because you were born. I wish I was never forced to marry your father, I wish that you weren't fucking born!" With cold and stoic eyes, she glares at Aluna. "If you can't even beat one girl then you truly have no use to me."

Everyone goes shocked with her choice of words. Even Serena's eyes contract in fear. Someone who lives in fear.

Aluna snaps.
She can't accept the words coming out of her mouth.

Screams mixed with cries fill the air. Grasping onto her dao sword tightly, she stands up, shaken up.
"Oh? What're you going to do about it?" With a creepy and amused smile, the Vice Principal asks, face to face with her daughter.

Aluna attacks.
She disappears into the air and charges at her mother with an inhumane speed.
Still, the Vice Principal does not bat an eyelid.
She is not afraid.

Quickly, she reappears and points her sword at her mother's throat, her eyes red, tears streaming down like a river.
"Kill me." With absolutely no fear, the Vice Principal whispers, wanting to die.

Aluna brings the tip of the sword, closer to her mother's throat.
But she can't bring herself to do it.
She can't bring herself to kill her.

Suddenly, a loud clank hits the floor, a loud thump following after, filling everyone's ears.
"Mother... why can't we just be happy together?" She whispers, hugging her with her arms on her shoulders.

"After trying to kill you, I don't think that's going to happen." The Vice Principal does not move her hands away from the floor, keeping them glued to the ground.

"I'll forgive you, just please don't beg to die..." She sobs, begging.

"Aluna, again with your silly fantasies. Just kill me. I'm a horrible mother." With sad and distressed eyes, she mumbles.

"No! You'll be a more horrible mother if you can't raise me better after this." Aluna shouts, trying to prove her mother wrong.

"Do it." Without hesitating to reply, the Vice Principal grabs the sword from the ground and hands it to Aluna.

"NO! NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU BEG, I'M NOT MOVING FROM THIS SPOT." Throwing her sword across the courtyard, Aluna hugs her mother even tighter than before.

A moment of silence fills the air.
"Fine." She lifts her hands from the ground and embraces her.
"I'm sorry."