Mariatheartist, Guest 1 and 2, Shinigami Merchant, a, Mistoka (It's an official account!) and Peacelover26. Thank you for your reviews! I truly appreciate them. Yuugi is a nut that is for sure. XD Hope you enjoy this chapter. Mistoka, you're slowly getting closer to the right spelling with each review. I believe in you. Also, good catch on the temples Guest. I was thinking church as a religion not a place, but it can get confusing. I'll go back and fix it to be less confusing in a bit. For now, I wanted to post a new chapter. Enjoy!
Seto was awake this time when the puffball came into his room. Because of this, he was able to see how the monster got into the room. The thing came from the bottom of the door, somehow flattening itself enough to fit through the crack between the frame and the floor. It came out with a pop, smiling with its eyes when it saw that Seto was already awake.
"It's about time you got here." Said Seto. "I was about to leave you behind."
The monster let out a wet sputtering sound. It sounded like it had blown a raspberry at him. Seto ignored it, strapping on his sword and marching out of his quarters. The walk through the city seemed to go a lot quicker as he knew his destination. He left his horse at the inn like last time, venturing down the slums. The puffball stayed with him this time as it hovered through the whole trip.
He arrived at the old building, stepping into the semi dark room. The occupants from last time were still there, each a different degree of miserable in their illness. Kisara was nowhere to be seen. Seto walked to the back of the building, checking the other rooms. She wasn't there either.
"You sir." Said Seto, pointing to a man that looked the least ill. "Have you seen the white haired maiden?"
"She went to get water some time ago." Said the man. "At least, I think she did."
Then she would return soon. He didn't wish to waste time, but walking around aimlessly trying to find her was likely to make this trip longer. He tried to find the least dirty spot in the room, talking refuge by it and staring out of the window. He ignored the whispers of the other occupants as they pointed at him. More than once he heard the word 'priest' and 'Kisara'.
He stayed there for a few more minutes, the hushed gossip buzzing around him falling on deaf ears. He was starting to consider leaving and coming back tomorrow when something flew through the open window. It was the puffball. Seto hadn't noticed it leave.
The thing seemed to be agitated. It was making loud 'Kreee'! noises, grabbing Seto's cape and tugging on it. Seto got the hint, brushing the monster from his clothes.
"I understand. What trouble will you lead me to this time puffball?" he said.
The thing bobbed in the air, motioning for Seto to hurry. He followed it, taking his time to stroll out of the building. The monster was so insistent that Seto felt a flicker of concern. What had this thing so upset?
He sped up his pace into a quick walk. The puffball led him down a few more streets, puffing at him to hurry the whole time. He was just about to call at the thing in annoyance when they passed the entrance of an alleyway, Seto stopping automatically at the scene before him.
Four people occupied the dark passage. Three of them stood above the fourth, all of them so filthy they could be mistaken for animals. Their heads snapped up at Seto's entrance, cruelty and hunger in their eyes. One of them was knelling, strands of silver tangled in his hands. Seto could just see Kisara's face under the mess of hair, eyes closed. The man dropped their captive, the weight falling with no resistance.
A flame of furry shot through Seto. The strength of it surprised him, but it felt right, stroking his desire to make these miserable pests disappear for their insolence. They drew their own weapons of crude daggers and knives, growling at Seto.
"Check it out, it's a priest." Said one.
"Wonder what a pretty thing like him is doing down here." Said another.
"Does it matter?" said the last. He was the biggest, some form of muscles actually visible compared to the other two who were as scrawny as chicken bones. "Hey, if you leave your purse and clothes without a fuss, we won't cut yah."
"At least, not too much." chuckled the other. It sounded like a rattling of cans.
In response, Seto drew his sword, slowly advancing on the three. He didn't need to summon is Ka and sully it with their blood.
"If you value your worthless lives," Said Seto, voice low. "I suggest you don't try me."
The leader sneered, obviously delighted with Seto's response.
"It's been a long time since I spilled priest blood." Said the man. "Can't fault us for trying priest."
The smallest shot forward, attacking Seto from the side. Seto moved to block, but from the corner of his eye saw the other coming as well. It was a pincer attack; one they had obviously done many times before. So childish.
Seto moved seamlessly to block the first attack, sending them backwards. He dodged the second attacker, easily getting close enough to see their eyes widen in surprise. He took advantage of the opening, slicing the length of their arm with his sword.
Droplets of blood spurted from the wound as the boy howled in pain. Seto didn't have time to watch. He turned, catching the other one's attack by grabbing his arm. He yanked them forward, kneeing them in the stomach. They dropped, knocked out by the strength of Seto's kick.
Only the big one was left.
Seto raised his sword, eyes burning with fire as the blood of the man's comrade dripped from the blade.
The man fled.
Seto lowered his sword, allowing his furry to abate to a low simmer. He glanced at the one he had cut, the man crying in pain as he huddled against the wall. His hand was limp, the tendons severed permanently.
"Keep the wound clean so it doesn't get infected." Said Seto, pulling out a cloth and cleaning his sword. "There's a free clinic near the palace that can help. If you can survive long enough to get there."
The boy stumbled to his feet, running down the alley where his friend had left. Seto ignored his departure, walking to the fallen maiden. Carefully, he turned her over.
He drew his breath in a hiss. Her body was bruised, broken and sporting several cuts. A long gash ran across her collar bone, still bleeding fresh blood. The purple and red stood out sharply on her pale skin, as white as death. She was breathing, but it was shallow, her face pained.
The puffball came out, giving a soft cooing sound in sympathy. It put a tender claw to the girl's face. A soft glow issued from the paw, drawn into the girl's body. Her breathing quieted, becoming more even and controlled.
"So you can heal." Said Seto to himself. "I wouldn't have taken you for a light type."
Carefully, he scooped the maiden into his arms. He made sure to cradle her head against his shoulder, heedless of the grime staining his pristine white and blue robes as he walked back to her home.
He gained more attention than usual in his journey. Before, most would notice him, but avoid him since they didn't want any trouble. This time, beggars and children pointed, running to tell their friends. Seto wasn't sure what to make of it and ignored all of it.
He made it to the home, walking through the large entry room. As he entered, several of the occupants called out to Seto, asking what had happened, and if she'd been attacked on the way home again.
He didn't answer, taking her to her room and lying her down. He quickly found her medical supplies, preparing the linen. He didn't have any healing spells that could add to her comfort at the moment. The puffball came with him, finding a cloth and wetting it before handing it to Seto. He was just cleaning the large cut when someone else entered Kisara's room.
"Where is she? Is she alright?"
It was an older woman, puffing hard as if she had come running. She had lines of worry on her face, accompanying to age lines around her eyes.
"Are you the priest she met yesterday?" she asked Seto.
"I am." Said Seto. "And who are you?'
"I'm Horimia." Said the woman. "My husband technically owns this place. We Took Kisara in when she showed up years ago."
She knelt down by Kisara, placing a tender hand on the girl's forehead. She brushed the hair from her face, revealing the purple bruises. Seto continued his work, doing his best to heal what he could. He worked in silence for a while, the puffball occasionally helping him. The thing was surprisingly quick to pick up on when Seto needed something. All the while, the woman didn't leave, one of Kisara's hands in her own as she watched Seto care for her.
Eventually she spoke again.
"I wished I could find a way to stop this happening," said Horimia.
Seto glanced at the woman, just catching a tear slide down her cheek.
"The slums are a dangerous place for anyone, especially a young woman." Said Seto. "It is tragic, yet also inevitable.
"But you don't understand, she gets it worse than the others." Said Horimia. "They seek her out because of her fair skin and light hair. They attack her because she looks different from the rest of us."
"You say that this is a normal occurrence?" said Seto. It would make sense. In the slums, anything that stood out or was different became a target for others. If Kisara had been taught to use her Ka when it wasn't corrupted, then she would have been able to protect herself, her strength able to rival even the gods. Unfortunately, she had to rely on her physical strength, which as inherently weak as her Ba was strong.
"They never leave her alone." Said Horimia. "I remember the day she showed up, begging for any scrap of food we could give. She would flinch anytime someone reached towards her. I've seen a lot of cruel things in this world, but I never again want to see a child with such lost eye as the ones Kisra gave us."
Horimia took the cloth from Kisara's head, wetting it again before replacing it. The older woman's smile was sad, caring and full of hurt.
"It's so sad. The girl has such a tender heart, but it's been trampled on by those around her." She continued. "It wasn't until she learned to care of others that Kisara began to recover. She established this place, refusing to accept pay and doing all the work herself. She finds true joy in helping others, but with this corruption, it's taking that away from her."
Horimia turned to Seto, who was listening silently to the woman's tale.
"I beg of you, do everything you can to remove this corruption from her." said Horimia. "She's been so distressed since it acted up, but since you came, she's been herself again. Happy, and full of life. You've given her hope, but she's also been pushing herself. I'm scared for her priest. Please tell me you will take care of her."
Seto knew she was earnest. It was obvious that Kisara was loved by this woman, and those that she had been caring for here in this building. They all said her name with a special tenderness. He could now place the eyes that had followed him as he carried Kisara. They were afraid, but not of Seto. For the poor girl he had been carrying.
Carefully, Seto against took Kisara into his arms. The woman stood with Seto, hope and confusion in her eyes.
"What are you doing with her?" said Horimia.
"I'm taking her to the palace." Said Seto, already walking out of the room. "Your words were unneeded. I have already promised this maiden that I will remove the corruption from her."
He just saw the relief in the woman's face as she bowed in gratitude, her thanks unintelligible from the tears falling down her face. Seto didn't look back as he walked back to the palace, the girl's body carefully positioned in front of him on his horse during the whole journey