Ivana looked at crying Ilaya. She wanted to continue their conversation, but she wanted to give her space for now. She's wallowing in her grief and it's not right for anyone to force her
'If I stepped out of the line like the last time. I had a feeling that Ilaya would really treat me as her enemy. That's not good. It's much better to tame her than to make her submit'
Then, Ivana waited. After a while, Ilaya's wailing turned into sob as she speaks
"Kyora, how can I remove my curse? I'd rather lose my power if it means that I'd be free from my curse"
Ivana was stump too. She didn't even understand their powers so she had no clue. Then, she said to her
"Ilaya, I really don't know how to remove it. What I think that we need is that we need to find others like us to find a solution. But, it seemed pretty hopeless. We'll need to search the world to look for the non existent power holder like us"
Ilaya didn't answer as she became sad as she said to Ivana
"This curse is really terrible. I feel like my heart is going to burst when I am feeling their love for me. Even now, there's a pain like a thorn stuck in my heart"
She frightenly asked Ivana
"I am going to die if I continue to be with them?"
As Ilaya asked, she suddenly felt that it's better to die than to be alone. If she's going to be lonely all her life, isn't it better to just die?
Ivana looked at her deeply before saying
"Ilaya, we can remove our curse. Or rather, we can try to find a solution. Suicide is cowardly. Don't be selfish to them and to me. I helped you so I expect that you will help me too"
Ilaya looked down, ashamed of her thoughts as she nodded. Then, she asked Ivana
"What did you find out based on my curse?"
Ivana thought for a bit before saying
"Since you felt pain from being loved. It's either you suffered a heartbreak and leads you to awakening your power. Or… you lost someone that you truly cared about and that leads you to suffer whenever someone shows love to you"
Ivana then sipped at her tea as she said to Ilaya
"Of course. I'm not entirely sure about that. But based on my experience, that is the process that I had observed from myself. So there's a high chance that it's true"
As Ilaya heard what she said, a profound grief erupted from her heart. She felt that she once remembered this feeling, but she didn't know anything because of her blank memories
She suddenly felt something in her face as she confusingly touched the tears streaming to her face
"Huh? Why… I am feeling like this? Why I am crying?"
Ivana looked at her strangely and said
"What are you talking about? Aren't you always crying?"
Ilaya immediately countered her
"No! It's not because of my problems or anything. It's about what you said. I suddenly felt so sad all of a sudden, but I don't know why I am crying like this"
Ivana turned annoyed as she clicked her tongue
"Tsk! Your missing memories is really troublesome. If you just remember it, we wouldn't be in the dark like this"
Ilaya became annoyed too as she wiped her tears and said to her
"Well, sorry. It's not like I wanted to lose my memories too. I want them back so much that…"
Ilaya suddenly stopped speaking and became thoughtful as she pondered
'If I'm going to choose between my memories or my curse, which would I choose?'
She really hates her curse, but she really wanted to remember everything. Being alone is full of suffering, but not being complete is so much worse
Then, she became depressed as she realized that there's something more terrible than her curse. Her missing memories
As Ilaya became gloomy, Ivana seemed to remember something as she asked her
"Ilaya, shouldn't you call Nicole? I put her in charge of strengthening your body, but she also hated someone breaking promises with her. She's probably very irritated at you right now"
Ilaya suddenly jumped from her seat as she shouted
"Ahhh! That's right! I need to call her now!"
Before Ilaya managed to dial her number, Ivana said to her before getting up her seat and walking towards her collection
"Ahh. Tell her that you're with me right now. I'm going to test you after your talk"
'Test? Isn't it just beating me out?'
She became nervous about her impending suffering as she dialed Nicole. After a few rings, her call was answered. Then, a comically cute voice sounded angrily
[Ilaya! Why didn't you return!? I waited for you!]
Ilaya became apologetic as she she said to her
"I'm sorry Nicole. The boss picked me up on the way. She said she's going to test me for something, so I couldn't call you immediately. I really wanted to call you but, the boss didn't let me"
She sneaks a glance at Ivana who's staring at her collection with a happy expression. When she's sure that Ivana didn't hear her lies. She continued say in a low voice
"So I'm really sorry. You know that I wouldn't forget you. It's just our boss is really strict"
Nicole on the other line got pacified by her lies and she said to Ilaya
[Is that so? If that's what happened, then it's okay!]
Ilaya sighed in relief as she shifted the blame to Ivana. As she's being proud of herself, Nicole said to her
[But that doesn't mean that I will forget waiting for two hours for nothing! I even wear my favorite clothes! This won't do! I need to talk to the boss when I see her!]
Ilaya became covered in cold sweat as she realized that honesty is the best policy!
'If Nicole found out that I lied to her, I'll be alone at that base! My conversation partner will leave me! And Kyora will also be angry that I used her as a scapegoat! Oh no!'
Ilaya hurriedly said to the fuming Nicole
"Just let the boss off the hook. She is really trying to do her best to help me despite her busy schedule. So, just let this one slide okay? You're a kind person so you'll understand her right?"
Ilaya had no choice but to save Ivana. Despite her willingness to cause trouble for her. She's going to be swept in the mess that she had created if this continues. Knowing Nicole temperament, she used flattering words to make her happy
[Hahaha! That's right! I'm an understanding woman, so I shouldn't mind every little thing! You're right Ilaya, I will lower the intensity of your training just for tomorrow! I'll have more things to do! Bye bye!]
The call ended and Ilaya felt relieved. She almost lost her friend. Then, she looked at Ivana who's studying a katana and headed towards her. Ivana saw her and she flatly said to Ilaya
"Its annoying to be used as a scapegoat you know"
Ilaya immediately froze as she looked at Ivana with fear in her eyes. She couldn't help but feign ignorance as she said
"What are you talking about? Scapegoat?"
Ivana glared at her as she said to her
"I planned to teach you some basic movements using blades for today. But you're rather asking for a beating, so change your clothes. There's some bodysuit there in the corner"
Ilaya was consumed by extreme regret.
'I should've just been honest!'