>>5650193You watch them stare off for a moment before your brain kicks back into gear, you turning back to your daughters. You kneel down beside Okira, looking her over as Caulifla gently lifts her. She cradles Okira's neck as she rolls her over onto her back then picks her up. Okira closes her eyes, mumbling as she then slowly opens them.
“S-Sis?” she asks, sounding a big groggy. “Whaaa...?”
“You okay?” she asks, Okira looking from your sister to you, confused.
“Huh? Y-yeah?” she replies, still confused. “Did something happen?”
“Don't you remember?” you ask her, hearing King Cold saying something to Caulifla's Stand. She clearly hears whatever he said, her head snapping around towards King Cold while your attention is entirely on your youngest daughter.
“No?” she says, suddenly looking worried. “Di-did something happen?”
“King Cold got you with his Stand.” you say, taking your daughter from her sister's arms as she stands up, turning fully towards King Cold as you start listening to them as well. “But it's okay.
“If YOU hadn't tried to stab ME with it, you'd still have your little knife!” Caulifla calls back, a note of anger in her voice. “Because of you, Triumph lost its ability to help other people and heal their injuries! For that, you can suffer with those burns, because I'm not helping you!”
“You insolent-!” King Cold starts, clenching his fists and letting his pale aura start to come to life with a whisper around him. But your daughter isn't backing down, clenching her fists and Ascending in a burst of sparks.
“Protect me.” Caulifla calls to her Stand, it flashing into that same suit of armor around her once more before addressing him again. “You hurt my sister, and took away one of my ways to help her and countless others. This is the LEAST you deserve.”
But instead of arguing his point with her, King Cold turns to you.
“Are you going to permit her to speak to me in such a manner?” he asks you, a note of venom in his voice. “Or will you disrespect me as well?”
“So far she hasn't said anything disrespectful, King Cold.” you answer calmly, seeing the anger on his face. “Were my daughter to speak out of line, I would correct her. But everything I've heard has been true. You DID attack my youngest daughter right in front of my eyes, even if she wasn't your target. Much as Caulifla wasn't your target but you still would have stabbed her.”
He's left speechless at that, opening and closing his mouth a few times before he finally manages to find his voice.
“We're done here. Leave.” King Cold says curtly, crossing his arms. “Should I have need of you, Karn, I shall call.”
cont
