Self-reflection and the second trial

Blair began to run over what had happened in that trial, but um. 'How did I pass anyway?' She asked herself, mulling over everything from top to bottom. The only thing she was truly clear about was her desire to take down Zane and those like him, but what was the end goal really? She was originally doing this for Nora and Ellinor, right? However, she didn't exit until she came upon the realization of her desire to create a place for everyone to be free and enjoy life. Much like this old arcade, that had once brought her and many others happiness, if only for a short time.

Her eyes closed as she began to think about Nora and Ellinor once again. Thinking back to that moment, seeing Nora before her like she were a pet. It didn't make sense. Sure, they had naughty fun and Nora seemed to love it when Blair took charge, but Nora taking the place of a pet was simply too far. Hmm, then there was Ellinor. She was in a place where Blair would have thought Nora should have been, her happy and bubbly girlfriend. Her lover, other half, and center, yet, Ellinor was there instead. Why were these two in places she herself would not have expected?

She, she loved Nora, right? Regardless of how little time she has known Nora and Ellinor, they had both been friendly and dear to her. Heck, out of the two Nora has had more time to express her affection towards Blair where Ellinor had not. Sure, Ellinor has been nothing but kind to her, but was this really enough to be called love? Blair sighed as she mulled over this longer, but she realized one simple, realistic, but hard to swallow fact. She didn't actually love either of them. They were dear to her to be sure, but she wasn't in love with either of them.

What hurt more, was that she knew both of them loved her deeply. Well, Nora was no longer in love with her, but that was due to Zane's interference. To say they have been reset would be putting it kindly. It was more like Zane had **** them both to take ten steps back from the starting position.

She shook her head and thought, 'Even if I do not love them. I cannot simply abandon them. They both deserve better. I need to free Nora from her father, and Ellinor. Well, Ellinor from me. If we actually had a chance to date, I might find that I love one of them, right?' She felt her resolve return, but she knew this wasn't the real answer she was seeking. There were many more pieces to this puzzle, but in order to get to them, she would need to finish the rest of these trials, or so she thought.

Blair's thoughts were interrupted when she heard a knock on the door's archway. When she looked up, she saw Yoshito was standing in the doorway with a soft smile upon his face. He entered the room and started to speak. "I see you've finally awoken. I was beginning to worry. Congratulations on passing your first trial." She smiled weakly with a nod and said. "Thank you, but I don't think I have earned it. Um, did I pass out?" She looked up into Yoshito's eyes, her cheeks were turning a crimson red with embarrassment.

Yoshito chuckled, walking to the side of the bed before sitting down beside her. Blair's eyes began to watch his tails with delight as they swayed gently while he spoke. "I wouldn't say that, but I hadn't expected it to take so long. I will tell you what I saw from the outside. While you were mentally focused on your trial. There was a point that you were so focused that you were unable to maintain your physical balance. Once you were starting to wobble, I picked you up into my arms and walked you over to the bed. I figure the trial must have been very eye opening for you."

Blair nodded while reaching out for one of Yoshito's tails and gently hugged it. Her eyes closed as she started to shed a few tears, nuzzling that tail gently with her right cheek. She let out a breath before starting to speak. "Yes, it was far more than I had expected." She felt Yoshito's hand gently touch the top of her head and lightly caress as he spoke. "I understand. If you don't wish to continue. I won't think any less of you. You are precious to me, Blair." Her eyes opened and looked to him, her vision was slightly blurry from her tears, but she could see a little smile from Yoshito all the same. He watched her while continuing to speak. "However, if you wish to continue. I won't stop you, but I will ask for one thing in return. Please, do not take on more than you can handle."

She nodded slightly, but as she let go of his tail she said. "Thank you for your concern, but I must continue. For my friends, you, and myself." He nodded slightly and started to get up before saying. "You know where I will be when you are ready." She got up from the bed and gently reached out for his hand with hers. Her fingers intertwined with his, squeezing gently before saying. "We'll go together then."

After which, they walked out to the stones, but Blair noticed something different. The Blue Spiritual Stone of the Flame was no longer glowing. Was this a sign of her passing its trial? She wondered, but after walking to the stones with him, she looked over the stones again. She could feel a pull towards the white and red stones. She began to wonder, 'Has my previous trial given me more insight?' When she reached out her hand, she could clearly feel the pull towards each stone, but after a short deliberation. She noticed the pull towards the White Spiritual Stone of the Flame was a little stronger. She wasn't sure what this signified, but she was about to find out.

Trial two, Life

Unlike the previous trial, the world did not skew, but instead her vision filled with light and the world around her grew almost unbearably warm. When the light faded, she could see several intense visions of survival of the fittest. One male lion fighting another for dominance. A sudden and unexpected scene of ****, his victim later giving birth to that man's child and that cycle continuing. Dirty politicians getting more money and power through corruption of like minded people, crushing their opponents in cruel ways, but just when it was becoming unbearable to watch something unexpected filled her vision. Yoshito, Nora, Master Tong, and other like minded people. They were strong and focused. Clearly standing up for what they believed was right. They knocked out the legs from underneath those who had heavy burdens of misdeeds.

Her vision became hazy for a moment, but before long, her vision cleared. The sight before her was quite the shock, she was certain she was back in Zane's mansion. Nora came running in and hugged her left arm tightly and said. "My father has another task for us today. Are you almost ready to go?" Blair looked down at herself, noticing she was wearing her combat gear. She even had her weapons on, but this couldn't be right. She tried to open her inventory and received an error message saying.

Everything has a time and a place.

You cannot do that right now.

She wasn't sure what to make of that, but looked to Nora and nodded saying. "I think so, but what are we doing today? Are we going to have time for us?" Nora smiled, but shook her head slightly and said. "So long as we're together, it doesn't matter what we do, right?" Wait, were they following Zane because he was strong? He, wasn't right, but he was strong. When that thought hit her, the world shattered around her. The vision of Nora was gone which filled Blair with sorrow. She reached out, missing the shards as they crumbled into dust. She screamed out as pain filled her once again, but the only word that came out was. "Why!?"

You, know why. You've known all along.

Blair's mind filled with that answer, but as she thought about it, the world filled in around her. She was surprised by what she saw. She was back at home. Where her father and mother lived. Her father was sitting on his recliner in the living room, an array of empty wrappers, dirty plates, and garbage littered the ground and furniture around him. She knew this wasn't her real father, but it hurt all the same. It was his arrogance, complacency, and lack of empathy that drove her mother away. At least there she could feel some sense of worth and progress.

Blair had done something similar, she had let herself drown in the pleasure and joy of video games. It allowed her to hide from her real problems. Her father's sinfully lazy attitude towards anything that required effort on his part. This was not something she could fix, not on her own at least. Much like the problems she was facing in life, she needed to light a fire under it to get things started.

Why do you need that fire?

That question filled her mind as the world shattered yet again, replaced by the battle scene just before she was **** out by Skyler and his cat, Sakura. She tightened her right hand into a fist while staring at Zane and said. "To move forward and clear the way for freedom! To save Nora, Ellinor, and Master Tong!"

What will you give for that power?

"Everything!" She screamed out.

Acceptable

The light went out as her strength faded from her, but at this moment she felt a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. What would she find when she opened her eyes again? Did she pass this trial? What did life have to teach her?