Warning: Bit of a graphic violence. It's a small part, but I'd rather not trigger anyone. it's marked out, so if you don't like violence, feel free to skip. On that note, Onto The Kinkou Order investigation!
"How did you sleep last night?" Kusho asks me. We had been traveling all around Ionia for the past three months, following the trail of this Golden Demon, or at least attempting to. We made a stop by a city called Navori. I turn towards him with a smile.
"For once, well. Shen really helped me. I haven't woken up screaming in a month." I reply.
"I'm pleased to hear it. There's been another murder. I will be taking Govos and Shen with me to investigate." Kusho informs me. I frown.
"I'd like to come. Maybe a pair of fresh eyes-"
"You are a comfort to us at the end of the day, someone that we strive to protect. You need not be weighed down by our burden." Kusho firmly tells me. I frown.
"You haven't gotten anywhere is a long time. I could help! Just don't leave me alone with Starshadow again. He's going to be pestering me to go help anyway." I plead.
"My word is final. You need not see what we see." Kusho turns and walks out. I glare at him while Starshadow slithers out my collar.
Well, I guess I know where we're going to be then.
"And where's that?"
We're going to follow them.
"I'm pretty sure they'll find us easily."
Not if we use magic.
"You know that makes me feel ill!"
Precisely why I want to use it. Maybe if we keep using it, we won't be as sick.
"Until then, I'm practically a walking target. No thanks."
Oh, I already know Kusho, Shen, and Govos know what you're going. They won't let anything happen to you.
"Kusho said to stay here."
Is that the farmer girl or the Aspect talking?
"What the difference?"
One will follow any rule given, the other will do what needs to be done, no matter what.
"Which one can I choose?"
You're not a farmer girl anymore, Leilah! You're an Aspect! The borealis! You are hope! How can you possibly give hope to people when you're stuck inside?
"I don't want to-"
Are you going to let that hold you down forever?
"Starshadow, I still don't feel safe, even if my nightmares stopped a bit…"
I'm sorry, Leilah, but you are going to be in worse situations. It's better to start while the Kinkou Order is here to help. I glare at Starshadow.
"Are you going to keep pestering me to go until you win?"
Well, you can always go back to the sword school and be with Yone without actually getting anything done. I don't know if he'd like that.
"How shallow do you think I am?"
Considering the fact that you refuse to do anything until I push for it, I'm going to get all my shots in. And to answer your question, you're a teenager...
"Fine, you win! And not because of Yone!" I snap. I take my first few steps outside and immediately feel on edge. I scan the area quickly, looking for unsavory people.
Knew you wanted to go too. And totally because you want to accomplish something for Yone.
"You're annoying. So, what's the first step?" I shake.
Well, we need to catch up to them. They already left! Starshadow yelps. I search the area for them, but they were much faster than we gave them credit for. Well, how do we find them now?
"Or we can go back to where it's safe?"
We're safest by them. Now, go find them. Starshadow pushes.
"You have an idea, oh great one?" I snap.
Well, I don't know! I'm not housing the Aspect. You are.
"You're the celestial!"
Oh, that automatically means I know everything? Do you finally admit to that?
"You shouldn't say such obvious lies, Starshadow. I wouldn't be able to hold your weight." I snap.
Well, do something! Starshadow retorts. I roll my eyes.
"You're not helping!"
Why haven't we mastered teleportation magic yet? Starshadow moans. That gives me an idea.
"We might not have mastered teleportation, but I have mastered light illusions. Maybe… Will you keep an eye out and wake me up if anyone comes?" My voice shakes.
You know I will.
"Thanks." Starshadow falls quiet. I take a deep breath and concentrate on connecting to that dark being.
"Hello?" I call out in my mental world. I search for the dark spot, hoping to find it. The lights shimmer in the light river.
I thought that it would be best if you didn't call for him. Aurora appears beneath me. I kneel on the edge.
"Well, as far as I know, his ability is the one that lets teleport. We need to get where the most recent murder is." I explain.
He's asleep. Though, I have to ask, why don't you use my magic? She giggles. I'm sure my confusion shows on my face.
"What can your magic do to help me?"
You carry the Aspect of Guidance or Hope. I'm sure you can find a way to guide yourself to where you need to be. She laughs.
"So, what would I need to do?"
Well, borealis' aren't exactly pinpoint accurate, they're a bit nebulous. You would still need a little bit of access to His powers as they provide the location. He's asleep right now, though… Aurora looks over uneasily to the dark hole in my river of light. I peer into the spot to see his dark ridges glow and darken with each breath he takes. He whimpers and snarls in his sleep. He looks so vulnerable and terrifying at the same time.
"How much would I access?" I ask.
It might wake him up. You would pull at his core just enough to get a location, so it's possible that it won't wake him up. My magic will do the rest. She hugs me. I jolt in surprise, but return the hug regardless. I know you've been struggling lately. I'm sorry I can't do much to help. I tear up a bit.
"Why? Why can't you do much?" I start to sob in her arms. She glows to comfort me.
I am not Pantheon. He took over his host. I will not take your body. I… I have to let you go through your life the way you can. Even if I so desperately want to help, because of my choice when I first arrived, I can't interfere. I wish I could, but all I can do is get Him to help.
"Bilgewater? My eyes?" I ask.
He was regenerating and healing your body the entire time, though he was rather angry about being awake because you got yourself captured. I was keeping him calm enough to ensure he would keep healing you and not attempt to possess you.
"How?" I ask.
That explanation would take too much time. You have a crime scene to get to, don't you? She gently pushes me out of my mind. The last thing I see before I leave is her reaching into the hole.
"I got an idea." I tell Starshadow. I think for a moment. Like Aurora said, the dark being is the one to take me places and chooses a location. If I can just combine Aurora's magic, targeting someone who is feeling lost or in danger… Govos! I close my eyes and try calling on the magic, hoping that the dark being's magic would find Govos and Aurora's magic would create something that could allow us to find them...
Leilah, what did you do? Starshadow asks in my mind. I open my eyes and feel a little bit proud. Right in front of us is a thin, white light. It leads to our right. I start to run, wanting to get to the Kinkou Order as fast as I can. Are you sure you can run right now? Starshadow clutches to my neck tightly.
"We need to get there as soon as possible."
Kusho told us we shouldn't!
"And you told me we should!" I yell at him. Thankfully, it's not long before we reach the city, but my recovery from Bilgewater didn't include running. I'm panting and leaning my knees for support. I can't help but look around, glancing at everything. I don't know who would want to hurt me. I instantly hate myself for it and slump down with a groan. Not even a moment later, I feel a sudden burst of energy.
Huh. Didn't know I could do that. Starshadow comments in my head.
What did you do? I ask through my mind. As we are in a city, I don't want to look like an insane person talking to no one. Better to keep a low profile. No one would want to kidnap me as long as I'm not noticed.
He's feeling a little less crabby, so I took the chance and might have used a bit of his magic to boost your energy. I'm kinda happy with it. Starshadow gloats.
You're insane. He was asleep at our lodgings! I protest.
Yeah, well he's awake and Aurora's been keeping him calm. For now anyway.
Wait a second, how do you know about that?
I can access your little world that connects to Aurora and Him whenever I want. I took a peek and used some magic before he cripple- Starshadow twists sharply against my neck. I flinch as his scales rub harshly enough to leave a mark.
"Starshadow?" I whisper.
Not doing that again for a bit. He's not happy. I'm gonna be in that mind realm for a bit. You keep following the light. Starshadow tells me quickly before his body goes limp against my collar. I roll my eyes but accept his statement. I gulp and force myself into the crowd. Everytime someone gets too close, I flinch and try to pull away. It's hard, walking in a crowd, but I'm just too desperate to get to the Kinkou Order to stop. I walk towards the middle of the city when I accidentally bump into someone.
"Sorry." I apologize, my shoulder instantly on edge. Is he going to kidnap me?
"It's alright." A gravely smooth voice tells me. He keeps on walking away. I keep moving forward. I exhale and rub my shoulders to calm myself down. I'm about to walk past an alleyway when I hear weak sobbing. I instantly turn towards the sound. It's dark enough that I don't immediately see the shape of a person until I trip over them.
-Possible Trigger Warning-
"Help… me…" A man cries weakly. I create a ball of light in my hand and scream. The man, his entire body is lacerated. Blood pools out of his wounds. I feel even sicker when I notice that his blood isn't pooling normally. It's flowing into indents in the ground. Most of the design is under him, so I don't see it. All this blood, I feel it in my eyes. I gulp and force myself to keep moving, to try to help.
"Hang on a second. I'll try to help." I stammer out before resting my hands on his side. He's so weak that he doesn't even flinch. I squirm and shudder when I realize that I am touching his ribs and organs.
-All Set -
"SOMEONE HELP!" I scream. I quickly cast a bright ball of light to illuminate us. Some passerbyers notice and scream when they see the blood of the man. "SOMEBODY HELP HIM!" I yell. Everyone starts to panic. After a couple of seconds to the sounds of everyone getting agitated, Starshadow wakes up.
Wha-WHAT IS HAPPENING?! He yelps.
"I need to calm these people down!"
You have magic, maybe that would help?
"Good to know!" I yelp before sending out a massive burst of magic. Everyone freezes, voices and all. My vision is black, but I can still feel the man's blood flowing under my fingers. I hear the Bilgewater kidnapper laugh. I quickly shake my head to keep me in the present. "I need someone to get the Kinkou Order. Is anyone a healer?" I demand, releasing my magic to allow people to do as I say. I see quite a few people go running off somewhere, hopefully to find who I need.
"I'm a nurse-"
"Good enough. I need help now!" A young man comes running to help. He stops right at the injured man's side and sighs.
"He won't make it. He's lost too much blood." He tells me. The injured man's eyes flutter. He looks so scared. I grit my teeth and dig in deep.
Leilah, don't-
"I don't have a choice, Starshadow!" I snarl. My hands glow. The nurse looks at me confused.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to save his life." I snap. I call on the magic that saved my life in Bilgewater. If it can regenerate my eyes, I bet it can save his too.
He's too far gone, Leilah. Starshadow mutters in my head mournfully. Your magic won't keep him alive.
"I have to try!"
Let him go, Leilah.
"Not yet."
"Help…" The man starts to cry. He looks so afraid and in pain. I cry. He reminds me of myself when we escaped. When I died. That's when I know I can't save him. And I have to accept it.
I change how I use my magic. No longer do I want it to heal. I just want him to stop hurting. His glazed eyes relax as my magic does as I want it to. He still looks afraid to die.
"It's ok, sir. You'll be ok." I murmur in his ear. Something in my chest loosens, but I decide to ignore it for now. With one final push, I create a little borealis right in front of his eyes. He focuses on the lights and gives a soft smile. He looks like he's at peace now. His eyes close for the last time. I finally acknowledge my own feelings. I feel my own peace as well. I know that Bilgewater will always haunt me, and I know that sometimes it will be harder than I want it to be, but I will be ok. The anxiety in my chest disappears.
Leilah?
"I'll be ok. That's all that matters. Everything will be ok afterwards." I give a small laugh in relief right as my stomach starts to rebel.
"Miss? Are you o-" The nurse can't even finish when I turn to the side and throw up. I can't get the image out of my head, his fear and pain. It's overwhelming me. The magic I used also playing a part in my illness. Once I can't throw up anymore and only dry heave, I curl into a ball. His death starts to mix with my experience in Bilgewater. I know how bad torture is. I know what he felt as he died. I was lucky enough to have Starshadow to bring me back. This man has no one. Just knowing how he felt cripples me. I just cry. It's so hard to breath. I feel the nurse check my body for wounds. He sighs, relieved, when he finds no injuries. Once he's done his check, he stays nearby. I relax a bit. Even if I feel like I've accepted what happened to me in Bilgewater, I still feel better when someone is nearby. I don't know how long it was before the Kinkou trio arrive. I couldn't stay conscious long enough to know.
"Leilah?" Shen's voice calls to me. I groan and struggle to open my eyes. "Leilah, are you ok?" He asks. I finally manage to open my eyes enough to see Shen kneeling in front of me.
Starshadow, can you talk for me?
"Leilah wore herself out trying to keep the victim alive. When she realized she couldn't save him, she made it so that he would pass peacefully and now can't do anything except think." Starshadow informs Shen, annoyed.
"That corroborates with the public's story." Kusho interjects. "I'd just like to know what you think you were doing here?" I flinch at his disapproval. He's been so kind to me, and I let him down.
"She wants to help, Kusho. Quite frankly, so do I. Even if she looks young, she's really not. She's two years younger than Shen and Govos. She can know." Starshadow defends me.
"Master, maybe they can help. She was healing the man. There are signs of the wounds closing from magic. And she might have encountered the demon. It would be best to keep her by our side from now on to ensure she is safe." Govos tries to help. Kusho thinks for a moment.
"Very well, on the condition that she trains her magic. I will not have her passed out like this again." Kusho relents. I smile.
"That's nice and all, but can we get Leilah's story?" Starshadow snarks. I roll my eyes and give Starshadow my side. He's quiet until I finish telling him. "After she was done running to find you guys, she exhausted herself. I used a bit of magic to help her get back on her feet and got knocked out for it. That's all I know. Leilah said that she kept going, trying to find you. Near an alleyway, she heard someone cry for help. She walked in and tripped over the victim. Right then, she tried to get help by yelling. Adrenaline must have kicked in here, since she lasted so damn long I'm amazed she didn't pass out before he died. I woke up as the crowd noticed and started to scream. She stopped the panic and had some people get you guys. A nurse stepped up and assessed the man as a lost cause. She chose to give the man a peaceful send off before the toll of using magic affected her badly. She threw up and passed out. Right now my magic is keeping her awake." Starshadow finishes. He starts to sound a bit breathy.
Are you ok? I ask
Yeah, I'm fine. Just need to check, did I get everything? Starshadow starts to pant.
I think so. I try to think of anything else that stood out to me. I bumped into someone just before I found him, but I didn't get a good view. Probably not important.
Probably. You rest now.
"Shen, would you take her back to our lodgings? We will discuss how to train her when she's capable of being awake. Govos, with me." Kusho instructs. I feel Shen pick me up right before Starshadow's magic no longer supports my conscious thought.
Maybe these three can teach me more about my magic than the monastery could.
Yeesh, Leilah, you really need to get that magic under control, but it's nice to see her in an emergency and keep her head super calm. She's certainly going to need that. I'm glad that she's truly starting to accept what happened to her and she's feeling a bit better, though it's too bad someone had to die for it. Still, progress! She's outside, she's pushing past her own pains to help others. She's going to be ok, as she said.
Hello, ordinary people! I'm incredibly happy that so many of you have kept up reading this so far. Have a great day and be extraordinary!