The relic was hidden so cleverly beside other gems of light that, had it not been for Kyoko's experience with relics or her current sensitivity to dark energy, she would have never noticed it. Her stomach dropped at the thought of unknowingly being led away into a room with Sozen… away from other humans… where her cries might not be heard…
Calm, complete unawareness. Kyoko strove to embody its appearance. Best to pretend she was unaware rather than flee the scene like a rabbit from a lion. Sozen would surely chase her down.
"You are unwell," said Sozen, his concern appearing genuine. "We should bring you back to your rooms."
"No need," said Kyoko, taking a step away from Shoko. She winced for emphasis, rubbing her shoulders. "It's just my illness acting up. I should go find Hiroaki and let him know I don't feel well." she looked to Sozen. That's right. He'd offered her a job. One she'd originally been excited about. "I'm sorry about this. Please, I'd love to come see the research, but I don't think I'm up for it today."
His response was not immediate. Whatever plans or thoughts this man was making, Kyoko had no idea. Now that she saw him as the silver-tongued slimeball that he was, he was too difficult to read. His disappointment and concern were so believable she wondered if even Lory would be able to see through it on first inspection.
"Yes, of course," said Sozen. "I don't wish to have you stain yourself. I will come by at another time when you are feeling well. In the meantime, I'll speak to the heads of medicine to see about getting you on the team."
Motivated by the desire to live, Kyoko forced an excited smile to appear on her face.
"Yea, please, that would be amazing," she said. "Thank you so much for this opportunity."
And she curtseyed to him. An embodiment of darkness that probably wanted her dead. He returned with a modest bow of his head. Shoko gave her own curtsey, unaware of the extent of the posturing buried beneath their actions.
It was impossible not to hurry. It was even harder to keep her breathing straight. Kyoko pressed through the clinic, blindly asking people if they had seen Hiroaki. A guard finally managed to stop her, concerned she was not in bed as she was supposed to be.
"Where is Hiroaki," Kyoko cut in, her voice sharp. "It's an emergency."
He must have seen the panic in her eyes as the man didn't give a vague answer like the others had. Stupid mage. This was the worst possible time for him to be avoiding her. There was an Accursed in the clinic! Here. And he knew her. Knew so much about her.
The guard lead her to one of the larger research laboratories. Kyoko didn't wait for him to walk in and announce her or anything. She barged in, startling several other workers with the racket. She frantically whipped her head down the rows of tables, looking for the demure man. Ah! There he was. In the center row standing next to Iizuka who held a ledger and pen. They were both staring at her, one in annoyance, the other in fear.
"Hiroaki!" said Kyoko, dodging around the mass of research materials and sprinting up to him. "I need to talk to you. It's important."
"Kyoko, what's wrong?" he said, shying back from her. His initial fear had morphed to concern and confusion. "Are you alright?"
"Please," said Kyoko. "Now, it can't wait! He's here, and I don't think I fooled him with my acting. He could be on his way and-" she gasped. "He's here. He's part of the research. What if he's been behind it the whole time. Which means they've been causing the rot. They probably made the tree sick in the first place. Oh shoot, and now that he knows I'm here he probably knows about Cain. They'll try to kill him again and-"
"What is wrong with you?" cut in Iizuka. "Just barging in here and ranting like a lunatic." Her glare turned to the soldier that had brought Kyoko in. "I thought my instructions were clear on this matter."
Kyoko reached out, desperately taking hold of Hiroaki's hand. He jolted, still staring and trying to take in the whirlwind that was Kyoko. She had startled him too much. Relied on a calm demeanor she knew he did not have. She forced herself to slow down and take a breath, leaving Iizuka to continue her rant at the guard.
"Sozen is here," said Kyoko slowly, letting the words sink in. "I just met him in the park. He's an Accursed."
Silence met Kyoko's words. The chill that the Accursed name brought was amplified tenfold by her accusation of someone they knew. Every occupant of the room started with horror at her words, auras bright with fear and disgust. Judging by their expressions, the disgust was directed toward her for accusing someone that had helped the city so much. This was not going to be easy.
"How dare-" said Iizuka. Her rage seemed to be too much for her to speak properly, opting for a sputtering outrage. "Out of all the- I can't believe you would just to-" Her fury was back on the guard, a resolute finger pointed at the exit. "I want her out! Now!"
"It's his ring," said Kyoko, ignoring Iizuka. "He's got light rings beside it to help mask the darkness but it's there. I know it because I've seen other relics before."
The room was buzzing. The other physicians mumbled to each other as they watched the scene play out. Iizuka, who had gotten tired of being ignored, stepped up to Kyoko. She was stopped short by a hand flung out to silence her. Hiroaki didn't even look at Iizuka, eyes locked with Kyoko. There was a strange fear in that gaze.
"Which ones," said Hiroaki. "Describe them to me. What relics have you encountered?"
Where to even begin? "The first was a pendant owned by a man named Reino," said Kyoko. "It had an obsidian rock in the center with gold wires looping around it. It could create dark seeds that corrupt the soul and eventually change a person into a dark creature. Then there was a rod made of some dark metallic metal topped with a purple stone. Its wielder was-" she lowered her eyes for a moment. "Hirotaka Ogata."
The murmurings around them grew.
"There have been two more I've seen at a distance," said Kyoko. "A blood red knife owned by a half snake woman named Naomi, which allowed herself to split in two, and a hammer owned by a large animal-like man I never learned the name of. He could summon a shadow wolf. Then there was another one… A vambrace formed by the man that caused the marks on my shoulders."
She pulled back her sleeve for emphasis. The scales of darkness seemed much more sinister voicing their origin in the open like this. Hiroaki kept staring, their black reflected in his eyes. Then he suddenly turned to Iizuka.
"Take the guard," he said. "Alert General Kuresaki immediately about what you heard here."
"What?" sputtered Iizuka. "You're going to listen to her baseless accusations?"
"The things and names she gave are sensitive pieces of information," said Hiroaki, turning back to Kyoko. He looked grave, not fragile like he usually did. The heavy expression did not suit him. "Very few people could have told me what you just did Kyoko, which tells me you are either telling the truth or working with the Accursed. I hope for the city's sake that it's that latter."
His expression told her he strongly suspected it was the former.
The soft slap of sandals stopping made Kyoko and everyone turn toward the door. The blood drained from Kyoko's face.
Sozen stood in the doorway, arms folded and staring straight at Kyoko.
"For shame Lady Kyoko," said Sozen, looking upon her as if he were greatly disappointed. "I offered you a job and this is how you repay me? I understand that my wealth and prestige may cause others to be jealous but this?" he shook his head. "I'm hurt."
Kyoko didn't respond. She felt the room relax as people saw his reaction. Saw the absence of malice from the man. He was good at pretending. Very good.
"Please excuse us, Sir," said Iizuka. She sent Kyoko a harsh glare. "This youth's nonsense will not be taken seriously. We truly appreciate the things you have done for the city."
"Really?" said Sozen, his expression hardening. "That's not what it sounded like to me. It seems that you mean to throw me in jail? This is the repayment I get for my services to the kingdom? The magistrates are more corrupt than I realized."
Bitter. Angry. He played the emotions of those around him perfectly. Even Kyoko felt a moment of shame for accusing him of what he was. Then her eyes drifted to the ring again. The relic.
"It's not being taken seriously," said Iizuka. "Do not worry, we will not sully your reputation with misunderstandings like this. You don't have to come with us."
"I'm sorry," cut in Hiroaki suddenly. "But that is not true."
He turned to Iizuka, frown deep. "Do as you were told. Alert the general about the situation. I don't care if she accused the duke of being an Accursed. We cannot afford to take these things lightly."
"But-"
Hiroaki's glare suddenly intensified. Iizuka stepped back, shocked. Kyoko herself was surprised as well. Since when could Hiroaki make that sort of expression? Wasn't he always the weak one?
"Do your job, Iizuka," said Hiroaki. "And you as well, soldier."
Iizuka hesitated, then nodded, taking a step toward the exit. She had just passed Kyoko when the door suddenly slammed shut. Everyone jumped, fear bubbling around them.
Sozen was still smiling, but it seemed frozen, insincere. The casualness of the expression clashed with the intensity of everyone's attention. Kyoko's mouth was dry. Oh hell, she took all her previous thoughts back. Seeing even a glimpse of his true feelings did not feel like a good sign. Not at all. She'd take his seemingly sincere business smile any day.
"I'm sorry," said Sozen, inclining his head toward Iizuka. "But I can't let you do that. It would set me back quite a bit."
Iizuka took a step back, eyes wide. "I-I'm um, sorry but I have to follow Mage Hiroaki's orders and…" she trailed off.
The guard by the door finally did something. He stepped up between Iizuka and Sozen, pulling a sword from his belt to point it at the Accursed.
"I'm sorry sir," said the guard. "Please don't resist. It will be better if you just-"
The guard suddenly stopped. The sword fell to the ground with a clatter, hands flopping slack to his side. He slumped to the ground face first, a metallic scent wafting into the air from the impact of his fall. The smell of blood.
Someone screamed. The room was in full panic, men pushing at each other to back into the sides of the room. As sudden as the flurry of activity was, it stopped just as abruptly, everyone transfixed by the scene. Sozen, just calmly wiped a hand on his robe, grimacing.
"Blood is not as hard to get out of clothing as everyone says it is," he said. "But it is damn annoying to explain."
Kyoko's stomach curdled as a coil of anger rose. It wound in her jaw, tight as hatred ruled her body. This man was yet another part of the suffering the Dark Djinn had brought. Another unrepentant part of the death around him.
"What do you want, Sozen?" said Kyoko harshly.
Sozen stopped, giving Kyoko a touched look.
"Thank you," he said sincerely. "I'm so glad someone finally asked. It's been, 'Sozen do this'. 'Sozen, make that'. No one's bothered to ask what I wanted out of the collaboration. Honestly, they have no business sense for these sorts of things. What good is war if you can't benefit from it?"
The man was walking, slowly and deliberately. Kyoko mentally traced his path. He was going toward Iizuka. Imagining the fate of the soldier happening to Iizuka made Kyoko move. She planted herself in front of Iizuka, spells of defense forming on her fingertips. They shimmered in the air before her, a pathetic barrier between the Accursed and her, but it was something.
"Stay back," said Kyoko, voice shaking, "Don't take another step."
Sozen stopped, giving Kyoko a pitiful look.
"Oh Kyoko," he said, still slowly approaching her. "Don't you know no one is going to live through this? You're all going to die from a tragic accident caused by the unstable magic inside this laboratory."
Iizuka gave whimper from behind.
"I won't let you," said Kyoko, her magic humming before her. They kept backing up, Iizuka clinging to Kyoko.
"Let me? Let me!" Sozen shook his head. "The only thing that stopped me from killing you months ago was the order to leave you alone. I don't know what plans the Djinn has for you but be lucky he has any. It's the only thing that's kept you alive."
"And those orders are now gone?" said Kyoko, stalling for time. Sozen had already proven talkative. If she could just keep him talking until Cain arrived they may have a chance. What was taking him so long anyway?
From the corner of her eye she saw Hiroaki. He stood behind Sozen, magic slowly swirling as he formed a spell. It was powerful, but it would take time to fully form. She needed to keep Sozen distracted until then.
"You can just kill me and there won't be any consequences?" said Kyoko. "I doubt the Djinn is very forgiving."
Kyoko's backpaddling stopped with a jolt. Shoot, they'd hit a counter. Iizuka was suckered so close to Kyoko it was hard to hold her shields.
Sozen stopped as well, an unnatural glint in his eyes.
"Oh, but you see, we lost track of you after the attack," he said. "And you have yet to turn up on the radar. A pity really. You could have tragically died out in the sands and the master would never know."
Kyoko's insides turned cold.
Hiroaki's spell went off just at that moment. It exploded in a whirl of flame and ash, swirling around the Accursed.
Iizuka scrambled away, sprinting around the other side with a cry of terror. She wasn't the only one. The men in the room took the opportunity to sprint for the door.
Kyoko had only taken two steps before coming to a halt. The mob dashing for the exit had slowed, coming to a crawl before everyone crashed to the ground in a heap of flailing limbs. Iizuka didn't completely fall as the others hand, staggering into a counter, eyes glazed over. What the…
The flames around Sozen suddenly dissipated. It revealed the Accursed beneath, small plating of armor creeping up his neck from below his robes. The right hand that held his relic was covered in the same metallic covering. It oozed a grainy smoke that shimmered a dark blue.
With a flick of his wrist, the Accursed flung a spell at Hiroaki.
"No!"
The mage threw up a defense spell in time, but the Accursed's magic tore through it. Blood spurted across the floor as Hiroaki fell to the ground.
Dropping her own spell, Kyoko took several steps toward Hiroaki, then fumbled. Why was the world spinning? She couldn't… couldn't move very well… what?
The hard cold of the floor hitting her knees jolted some consciousness back into her. Her breathing came in ragged breaths, squinting up at Sozen. At the scene of death around her.
"What…" she wheezed. "What did you… do to us? In the air?"
"Very clever," said Sozen. She couldn't see him anymore, her vision kept coming in and out of focus. "I find chemical weapons are always overlooked in tense situations such as these."
She felt his presence now. It was close. Dark and evil. Her shoulders were aching from the proximity of the magic.
A cold hand slipped around her neck. It yanked her upward, shooting pain through her jaw and neck as it took the brunt force of her weight. Unable to breathe, her lungs were already burning. Her arms refused to move. In her ear she could hear the vile man, taunting her as she died.
"Do you know how long I prevented your little discovery from being made?" he growled. "Did you really think you were the first to think of using sandgrass as a base? You've cost me quite a bit of money. Decades of delays. Decades of resources pulled into the only other cure. Gone, all because of you."
The hand tightened. Pain intensified. Then it lessened, everything did as her conscious started to slip. Her last thoughts turned to Cain.
Kyoko suddenly dropped to the floor.
She coughed, only able to focus on her breathing. Slowly, her other senses came back. First was the dull throbbing pain in her neck and shoulders. Her head felt sore. She must have hit it.
Sounds were coming back as well. They were muffled as if cotton had been stuffed in her ears. She strained to make sense of it, to blink the haze away.
Kyoko forced her muscles to work. She worked her fingers, magic straining through her essence as she wove a simple spell to filter the air she breathed.
It worked almost instantly. Her head was clearing, allowing her to stagger up.
She saw what had stopped Sozen. It was Cain. He had made it.
Pieces of the door lay strewn across the floor. Shards of glass, books and paper fluttered to the ground amid a battle that was still going. Sozen had spell after spell shooting toward Cain, but for some reason, her love was losing ground. Sweat and blood covered his face as he threw up shield after shield to protect not only him, but those on the ground.
"Cain" she croaked out. He couldn't hear her above the din. She needed to tell him about the poison in the air. To filter it so he could fight properly.
A spell cut through Cain's hip.
Kyoko's straggled cry went unheard and unheeded as Cain fell to his knees.
Everything was on fire. It was a cold flame, freezing him from the inside out. The shadows around Cain only served to intensify the arctic frost. His healing abilities were at their max, barely keeping him conscious as each struggling breath took in more flames.
Cain raised his head. Blood spilled into his eye, forcing him to close it against the red liquid. A mass of darkness stepped closer, an unknown enemy that had dared to hurt Kyoko. Dared to hurt his light. But even as it stood before him he could barely sense it. Why was that?
"I Didn't expect to see you here, Kuon," said the mass of darkness. There was a man somewhere underneath it, but Kuon could hardly see it. "Though I shouldn't be surprised. Sheesh, I'm glad It works on you as well. Makes this a lot safer."
Cain tried to form a spell, to move, anything! But he couldn't. It was taking everything he had not to pass out from some unknown suppresser and the wound on his hip. Why wasn't his healing magic working? This man was weak! He should be able to crush him easily.
The other Accursed turned away from Cain and moved toward the only light in the room. Toward Kyoko.
A small flame sparked in Cain's chest. It was different from the other flame, the cold one that halted his magic and movements. This one was warm. Powerful. Hungry.
"St-stop," grunted Cain. It didn't stop the man. He raised a hand above Kyoko. A hand to kill.
The flames ignited.
Cain welcomed them, their encompassing heat. It burned through the cold like a desert heat wave. It drove away the cold. Drove away his paralysis… and it drove away his consciousness.
Kyoko recognized that sound. The shifting clink of metal. The Accursed halted on his advance, hand still raised as he glanced over his shoulder.
Cain had activated his second ability. His ultimate defense. Metal armor slipped into place above his skin, black humming through the interwoven breaks in the armor. The grated helm slid across his face, hiding it from everyone. A dark knight stood in the room, a cloak of shadows fluttering behind him.
No…
Cain had once again allowed the darkness to take him.
Sozen took a step away from Kyoko, eyes wide in fear.
"What the hell…" he mumbled. "That can't be good."
Sozen turned away, raising his hand to the wall. He blasted it aside, fleeing before the dust even had time to dissipate. Before Kyoko had time to blink, Cain had flown past her and out into the streets. The air pressure he created in his wake knocked her aside as she fell with a cry. Kyoko scrambled to her feet to stand at the opening the Accursed had created, peering out.
She couldn't see them. They were already far away. Explosions and screams drifted from a great distance, the source constantly changing.
Kyoko was trying hard not to cry. She'd done exactly what she'd told herself not to do. She'd gotten herself into an impossible situation and Cain had been forced to use dark magic to save her. Shoot, he should have found a different method to save her or just let her die. This was hell.
She took a shaky breath to stabilize her heart. She could do this. She could salvage the situation.
The hall connecting to the room was full of activity. People were dashing back and forth, confusion causing them to panic at the mess. Someone was already calling for more guards. Judging by the destruction happening out in the city she doubted they'd get any. It didn't help that everyone that entered the room was suddenly staggering around from the lingering unknown chemical in the air.
Kyoko swept her hand in a circle. Magic wind circled around the room, creating a current that pushed the air inside the room out through the hole the Accursed had created. She hoped it had caught the remains of the agent.
"You!" said Kyoko, pointing to a physician with a large mustache that looked mostly cognizant. "Come over here, I need your help. Mage Hiroaki is down."
The physician thankfully listened, stumbling next to her as she bent down over Hiroaki. He helped her gingerly push him to his back. Kyoko let out a grateful hiss. The mage was still breathing. His face was pale, but not much more than usual. They just needed to close the wound, give him a blood replenishing potion and he should be fine. Hopefully.
"You're in charge," said Kyoko, nodding at the scene. "Most are just knocked out from some airborne agent. Get everyone clean air and medicine for a headache and they should be fine."
"B-but," sputtered the man. "What are you-"
"I have to go," said Kyoko already sprinting away. "I leave this to you."
She needed to stop Cain as soon as possible, or they'd have a lot more bodies to tend to.
The town was in chaos. People ran with abandonment, screaming in fear as they scrambled over each other to get away from the noise. Kyoko tried to push through them, but the wave of bodies was too powerful. She couldn't win against the stampede.
Someone elbowed Kyoko in the ribs. She went down, feet stomping on her as she struggled to rise. Her bones creaked, and she gasped at the pain. With a push from her magic, Kyoko flung herself through the crown to the side of the road, managing to roll into an alleyway. No one was here, and it allowed her to struggle to her feet. She placed her hands on her knees, breathing hard as sweat trickled down her body. Stars, everything hurt! Her vision kept blurring, head swimming. And on her shoulders, a terrible ache was growing.
Kyoko squeezed her eyes shut, shaking away the haze.
That had been stupid. She needed to think more clearly. How was she going to get to Cain when everyone was running away from him?
Another blast sounded followed by more screams. The town was going to be torn apart by the fighting.
Kyoko looked around, spotting a barrel. She walked toward it, testing its strength with a hand. It seemed stable. She looked at the houses she stood between. Looked at their flat roofs. Well, it was a good thing she had so much practice using pulse magic through her feet.
Kyoko turned around, walking several paces away from the barrel. Ten paces away, she spun on her heel, sprinting toward the barrel. One step away, she gave a magic assisted jump, pushing hard from the ground. She sprung up just high enough, landing on the barrel. With another push of both feet, she shattered the container as she soared into the air and on to the roof.
Kyoko landed with a slight stumble, grimacing at her lack of control. That was a bad sign. She'd normally be able to control a jump like that.
Up here it was easier to assess the scene. The solid stream of people beneath her scrambled to get away. Soldiers were trying to lead them away calmly, but with little success. Small fires and smoke dotted the city. Judging by the most recent explosion Kyoko was about five blocks away from the fight. Good. Now, if Cain could just stay there until she arrived.
Kyoko ran to the other edge of the wall, leaping with her assisted magic from one roof to the other. When buildings didn't offer her a clear path, she found other ways to move closer. Crates, flag poles. An occasional dip back into the streets below only to soar back overhead. She noticed people from below pointing at her as she ran across the rooftops.
She skidded to a halt, breathing hard as she had finally arrived at the scene.
Cain stood in the center of a town square. What had probably been a stone fountain lay in pieces, precious water leaking out onto the streets under smashed stone. The closest houses were completely obliterated in a pattern that suggested where Cain now stood was the originator of the destruction.
He wasn't alone.
The claws on his gauntlets had extended, their pointed fingers piercing straight through the now unarmored Sozen. The merchant was covered in blood. Limp. Showing no signs of life save his fluttering eyes.
"Cain!" yelled Kyoko.
The man didn't hear her.
Kyoko's eyes widened in horror as she watched dark magic start to pour out into Cain's hand. It streamed through the tips of his fingers and out into Sozen. Where it spread, dark purple crystal-like stone appeared, but the stone didn't seem to be covering Sozen. It seemed to be changing him.
The man didn't scream. He gave no struggle or cry as the magic slowly encased him. His eyes closed as the last bit of magic turned him into a crystal statue.
Cain ripped his hand from the center of Sozen. The action shattered the statue, pulverizing Sozen into a million pieces.
Stunned, Kyoko raised a hand to the blemishes on her shoulder. On the crystal-like marks that sat there.
Was… that what would have happened to her? If she hadn't been able to stop Cain? Would that happen now?
Cain's cry shook her from her shock. The Accursed roared with the strength of an angry beast, wild and powerful. His magic was growing. He needed to be stopped.
Kyoko pushed from the rooftop, nearly breaking an ankle on her landing. The world was fading in and out of focus. She didn't have much time.
"Cain," called Kyoko. "That's enough. You're done. You can come back now."
The Accursed twitched, face turning in the direction of her voice. His movements were slow and deliberate, every flex of his muscles conveying raw power and strength as magic rippled through the armor. The sun's light couldn't pierce the darkness Cain emitted. He had brought the night, and it spread around him like a fog to cover the sun's brilliance.
Kyoko took a cautious step toward him, hands out with palms up. They were sweating despite the shiver that swept through her body.
"That's right Cain," said Kyoko. "It's me. It's Kyoko. You know me." Her face twitched in a desperate smile. "I'm right here."
Cain swayed but made no move to retreat or come closer. That was fine. If she could just get close maybe-
People were approaching. Civilians who stumbled from the rubble or advanced due to curiosity. The onlookers Kyoko could ignore. The soldier, however, she couldn't.
There were dozens of them, a single officer shouting orders to the men to form ranks and prepare to attack.
"No, stay back!" called Kyoko to the officer. The man didn't listen. He yelled at Kyoko to get away from Cain. From the monster. Several others did as well, people crying at Kyoko's stupidity.
Someone threw a rock at Cain. It hit his shoulder, disintegrating on contact.
Cain reacted.
Badly.
His neck snapped toward the assailant.
Kyoko acted on instinct, springing with all the magic she had through her feet.
It had been the right move. Cain had done the same, only toward the person who had thrown the rock.
Wind and sand blinded Kyoko as she skidded to a halt, squeezing her eyes shut as she flung her arms aside. Muscles tense, a cool breeze chilling her sweat, Kyoko didn't move, firmly standing her ground. She didn't need to open her eyes to know that Cain was stopped right in front of her. She could feel him. Feel his palpable darkness.
The people screamed. She heard civilians scrambling to escape. She heard the men preparing to attack as the commander continued to yell at her to run.
"Don't come closer!" Kyoko roared at the men, praying they would listen. "Stop. Don't attack him."
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
Cain claws were inches from her chest. A deep breath made them brush against her collar, their touch both searing and chilling. His helm was focused solely on her, and she couldn't help a smile.
"You've already come so far," she said. "In the past you flung me aside. Now you can stop yourself mid-attack. I'm proud."
Kyoko slowly brought her arms back in from the side, encircling them around Cain's wrist. She ignored the yells from the soldier, her burning hands, and especially the slow creep of those crystals on her shoulders. She concentrated on staying conscious as Cain slipped in and out of focus.
"Come back, Ren," said Kyoko. "I'm safe. Come back to the light. Come back and-"
The darkness swallowed her, and she again fell to its depths.
In a suffocating haze of blackness, the light flickered. The beautiful, wonderful, agonizing prick of light wavered like a candle drowning in a sea of melted wax. It shook Cain to the core, fear rippling through him at its waning. The light needed protection. It needed his help.
Cain tore through the darkness. Each mental shove took the equivalent energy of lifting a horse. Everything burned from the strain as he shoved again and again, the weight slowly doubling and then tripling in difficulty.
Then it was suddenly gone.
Cain's helm shattered just in time to see Kyoko fall. He scrambled to catch her, the rest of the armor crumbling away as she sank into his arms. They both went to the ground as he gently shook her.
"Kyoko," he said, trying to keep his panic at bay. "Kyoko. Wake up. Please."
His lover didn't stir, head lolling to rest on his arm. She was breathing at least, but the marks on her shoulder had come back, larger than before. Why was this happening again? Why hadn't they figured anything out yet? Turbulent emotions still bubbled dangerously on the surface of his self-control. Dark marks spun from his relic, crawling up his arms to run across his face. Though he did not wish to use his other form again, the marks threatened to change him forcefully if he didn't find control. The only thing stopping him from falling was the knowledge that it would only hurt Kyoko if he did so.
"Step away from her, you monster!"
Cain raised his head.
He was surrounded by swords and spears, their tips pointed at him. Few soldiers in the circle managed the task without quivering. Too many didn't. Their steel wasn't concerned if it focused on him or Kyoko as it shook beneath trembling hands.
Their lack of control didn't help Cain's turbulent emotions. Anger was now his predominant feeling and he knew the men could see it in his gaze. If they didn't lower their weapons from his lover soon, he would not be responsible for his next actions.
"Hold your ground!" called someone from the back of the circle of men. "I said hold!"
Murmuring came, and the group in front of Cain moved aside as someone strode through the crack.
Cain didn't know the man, but his uniform and calm demeanor identified him as someone with power. The military uniform looked more like a costume than a practical outfit. It had too many metals of honor and ropes decorating his shoulders and chest. Strands of gold intertwined with red cords indicating his rank as a General. This must be the man in charge of Mosall's entire defense.
The General planted himself one step in front of the circle of men. Not too close, Cain noted. His distance was probably instinctual as Cain could sense powerful light magic from this man. He was a magician.
The man gave Cain a long look, brow wrinkled due to an upward curve toward the center halves of his eyebrows. Neither of them moved as they both assessed the other.
Then the man finally spoke.
"Good work men," he said. "It seems you've managed to catch the Accursed."
Cain didn't respond. Judging by the lack of reaction from the men, they had all guessed his identity as an Accursed as well. They'd seen his armor, and the sinister glow of his relic wasn't exactly subtle.
Another man stepped next to the general, a colonel based on his uniform. He swiftly related information in the man's ear while shooting glances in Cain's direction. While spoken in hushed tones, Cain could make out the gist of their conversation. A quick report of what had happened.
Cain could see the order of death on the commander's face as it grew grave.
That could not happen. In a situation like this where chaos ensued, and truth was often blurred, decisions made in the heat of the moment were not often the most rational, but now was the first moment of calm to change that.
Kyoko needed help, and she wasn't guaranteed that despite the situation. Unless Cain did something, she could end up being neglected and eventually… Well, Cain would not think of it. His emotions were too volatile to do so. Running was not an option. He needed their help, and they needed to see the threat was already gone.
"General," said Cain suddenly. "I would like to make an agreement between us."
The man's eyebrows raised farther, still curved in their permanent disapproval. He obviously hadn't expected Cain to speak, least of all give a proposal. The level of uncertainty grew in everyone's faces. He might have made things worse.
"An agreement?" said the General slowly. "Is this how you chose to beg for your life? I thought the Accursed had more grit than that."
"My life is not the one at stake here," said Cain. Indeed, he could tear through the men like a scythe through the grass, but power wasn't what he needed right now. "It's my wife."
"Your wife?"
It took a moment for the words to register. When they did, the man's eyes slid to Kyoko's unconscious form then back to Cain. While still hostile, Cain could see a plan formulating in the man's head. Cain knew generals. Knew how they thought. They understood the importance of information, of winning wars in ways other than beating their enemies over the head with a brick. While all the men around him quivered in fear, the general formulated a scheme to make use of his enemies. It was that logical thinking that Cain planned to exploit.
"What are you suggesting?" said the general.
"Bring Kyoko to Mage Ogata," said Cain. "Have him cure her. You promise to do that, and I'll come with you willingly."
The idea was tempting, Cain could see it in the general's face. But it was also risky. In the general's eyes, he had the upper hand with Cain surrounded. The proposal may be a ploy to later escape with less fuss.
On the other hand, Cain could be telling the truth and they could learn much from a willing prisoner with a hostage to lord over his head.
"I accept," said the general lazily. "On the condition that you leave your relic in my possession."
Cain's insides twisted. He hadn't expected that, but he should have. It was the logical step to take. To disarm the enemy.
"I cannot," said Cain. "If I am separated from it for too long, I will die."
The soldiers murmured in surprise. That piece of information was not public knowledge. The fact that Cain had so casually given up a weakness of the Accursed would be telling of his sincerity.
"You would not want it anyway," continued Cain. "The relic emits a dark power, tempting those that surround it. Even the most steadfast of men may find themselves charmed by its call."
"Than what of your companion?" said the general. "There were reports of two Accursed. Will he promise the same?"
Cain's expression darkened. "He was not my companion," he said. "And you will not have to worry about him. I saw to that."
The colonel standing by the general whispered something into the man's ears, pointing at the center of the square. They would see nothing of Sozen except glittering rock, but they were free to look if they wished.
"Very well," said the general. "But my conditions do not change. Release the woman and your relic, or we will force them from your dead body."
Cain's grip on Kyoko tightened. What could he do? He could run, leave Kyoko behind and hope they would take care of her. But that was unlikely now they knew her association with him. Taking her with him was out of the question now that the illness had relapsed. It would just grow worse around him.
He sought the answer in her, even as she lay unconscious. Her face was serene and beautiful, but it was also full of pain. The dangers she had taken so willingly by staying by her side had caught up with her. She risked herself so easily for him. Took his pains without faltering. He had to do the same for her.
Cain laid Kyoko down on the ground with a love and tenderness these men would never understand. He then stood, aware of their collective breath as he reached up and unclasped the relic from his wrist. The removal hurt, and Cain hissed through his teeth as he peeled the thick band from his skin. Unveiling the arm revealed a blackened mass, the winding marks converging into one dark whole.
Cain tore the tattered sash from his waist. The men jumped at the action but didn't attack. They watched in dazed fascination as Cain wrapped his relic within the cloth. Under the same still air, Cain walked toward the General, each step measured as a threat in their eyes.
He stopped, holding the wrapped relic to the man.
"Don't let it touch bare flesh," said Cain. "And keep it far away from my wife. Its magic will only make her illness worse."
The general, without letting his eyes leave Cain, took the relic from his hands with an open amount of skepticism. Only when his hand touched the bundle did his gaze flicker to the abomination. His mouth twisted into a sneer.
"Then we are agreed," said the general. "In exchange for your cooperation, we will take care of your wife."
Thanks for reading!
You know how you have that great friend that you bounce ideas off of? Your sounding board? Well, I want to tell you all a story. We all know Im0uto is my beta and I can tell you dozens of stories explaining why she's amazing, but I just wanted to share this one.
My husband is also a writer (better than me and much closer to publishing than I am) and he got stuck on the ending of his latest book. I couldn't help him get him on the right track, so I suggested we call my sister. He scoffed about calling "The Evil One" for help (It's his nickname for her. No joke.) but eventually relented due to desperation.
5 minutes into the conversation, Im0ut0 had Mr. Blushweaver scrambling for his computer to write down all the ideas he got from talking with her. Eat it sucker!
Alternate names for Im0ut0: Interdimensional sounding board.
LOL Mr. Blushweaver. That gets me every time.
Anyhoo I couldn't help while reading this chapter thinking "Sozen used stun spore. It's super effective!" but chances are pretty high Blushweaver won't let me put that in. But apart from that OMG! Isn't this a fab chapter! Oooo so much is happening! How will it resolve? (I know but that doesn't help you poor souls that don't)
Have fun waiting!
-Imouto