Itsumi sank to her knees, hands curling fistfuls of rock and sand under her fingernails. The energy coming from the city felt awful. A dark vortex had formed, expanding outward every second. She didn't even react as dirt pelted her back and Jelly yelled for her to flee. There was no point.
The Dark Djinn had been revived.
They'd lost. There was no way they could defeat this thing. They might as well lay down and die.
The fighting grew worse. Her brother skidded across the rocks, magic sparking around him as he struggled to hold his ground. A sand colossus took a swing at Tsuyoshi's open back.
Brother!
Something rocketed into the sky.
Itsumi flinched, despite the thing being miles away. It tore through the air and past the clouds, a column of blinding light and fire. She gapped, squinting through watering eyes as every bit of despair in her heart vanished. It felt like hope. Like home.
Rosa.
She didn't know how she knew, but she did. That column of light, coming from the mass burial grounds, was Rosa. She had finally returned.
The column of flame started to wane. A section broke away, still blazing as it came hurtling toward them. It flew faster than any spell Itsumi had ever seen, and she had only a second to fling a hand over her eyes before it crashed into the Accursed. It leaped away a second later, wings unfurling in a shower of sparks as a Phoenix soared away toward the city.
There she was. Their demi-goddess was back.
Rosa didn't slow as she sped toward the city. Everywhere she passed over, the ground turned warm and bright. Creatures screamed and men cheered. Itsumi herself couldn't believe it.
The clang of metal snapped her attention back to the fighting. Her brother! Was he alright?
Whatever monster that had been attacking him was gone. He was fine, staring at the place where the Accursed had been. A latticework of flame caged Miroku, the Accursed just visible within, red-faced and howling.
Something else was falling from the sky. Itsumi squinted against the light surrounding whatever it was. A second later, the light dimmed, and Itsumi could finally make out the form inside.
It was a woman.
Unlike Rosa, she wasn't covered in flame; instead, long lengths of fabric wrapped around her chest and hips and trailed behind her like fluttering wings. No ornaments adorned her save a single blue sapphire threaded through a simple chain resting on her collarbone. The gem was broken and rough, but it was somehow that much more beautiful.
That cloth… Itsumi knew that material. Knew the starburst patterns and gold thread. It was the drapery she and Hikaru had picked out for Kyoko and Cain as a wedding present to decorate her patient room. The present she'd left at Kyoko's gravesite hours ago.
Kyoko?
The apparently very much alive Kyoko landed just in front of them, bare feet skimming the ground. She looked the same, but also not. Still the same slight figure with expressive eyes currently narrowed in concern, but there was an aura about her that made her feel both foreign and familiar.
Itsumi stumbled to her feet, sprinting to her brother's side. Kyoko already had her hands on a wound, magic carefully stitching and soothing the broken skin. Her brother was taking the appearance of Kyoko about as well as Itsumi was, mouth open and bug-eyed.
Then Itsumi noticed what Kyoko was doing. Her magic. She was using light magic.
That was what felt so different about Kyoko. She felt not only like a light user, but like Rosa. The women's gold eyes blazed brighter than ever, almost like real fire.
Itsumi practically fell to her knees beside her.
"But...how?"
Kyoko didn't even look up, like coming back from the dead while floating from the sky and feeling like a demi-goddess was a normal occurrence.
"Long story," said Kyoko. "The gist of it is that Rosa and I are bound to each other. When she came back, I came with her."
Okay, yeah. Itsumi had forgotten that Rosa had been residing in Kyoko's essence when she died. Still didn't answer the five hundred other questions it prompted.
Duchess Woods joined them, gripping a battered shoulder and beaming at Kyoko as if she were the demi-goddess herself. Murasame limped closer as well, but the other soldiers hung back in varying degrees of shock and reverence. Most of the nearby monsters were either dead or dying, their corpses scattered on the broken ground. The once hopeless battle had thinned out with the Accursed pinned.
Much of this was noticed subconsciously, her attention fixed on the woman in front of her. Kyoko looked back at the prison surrounding Miroku, frowning.
"That won't hold for very long," said Kyoko. "Rosa will join the main fight soon and much of her energy will be focused on that."
"He won't give us much trouble," said Duchess Woods. "Rosa's return has boosted our strength."
"That won't be enough. Miroku possesses the last relic and Vaith can't be defeated until it is broken. He'll be pouring much of his magic into Miroku to stop that from happening. And while I don't doubt you and…" Kyoko paused, giving Tsuyoshi an apologetic nod. "I'm sorry, I don't know your name."
"Tsuyoshi," he blurted, cheeks red. "Momose. Tsuyoshi Momose."
Kyoko looked to Itsumi.
"My brother." Itsumi offered ain explanation of the last name.
Kyoko gave a fleeting smile. "I'm sure the two of you could bring him down if given enough time, but time is unfortunately against us."
For a moment, Itsumi thought Kyoko's hair was catching fire. Her aura was so bright, but that wasn't it. No. The very tips of the hair… They were turning orange.
Kyoko saw the changes in her hair from the corner of her vision. She grimaced. It was a handy visual representation, but the speed of the change suggested they had even less time than she'd guessed. It didn't help that she couldn't focus on healing Tsuyoshi properly thanks to the torrent of light magic that currently ripped through her insides like a tornado, slowly tearing at the edges of her essence and soul.
If she stopped healing Tsuyoshi, closed her eyes and focused on her essence, she could slow the process. But that wasn't an option. Not yet. First, she had to secure the probability of victory. Then, and only then, could she meditate.
Itsumi was staring at her hair. A lot of people were staring at her. One person, in particular, caught her interest.
"Murasame!"
The man blanched. He cast his gaze around him as if there were some other Murasame Kyoko was yelling at. She scowled, beckoning him toward her. He stumbled as if pulled by a string before until he was right in front of her. She yanked him down by his vest, forcing him to kneel which allowed her to slap a palm to his forehead.
"Do you swear to fight for the light?" she said. "Bring honor to the kingdom of Ashuron and serve the demi-goddess until your last breath and all that?"
"What are you–"
"–Just answer the question!"
He swallowed, eyes wide as they locked with hers.
"I mean, obviously yes. But–"
Light flowed through her and into Murasame. He stilled, mouth opening and closing silently like an out-of-water fish. Kyoko pulled away, the light and connection staying with Murasame. He now felt the same as Tsuyoshi and Duchess Woods. He was now a champion.
"Three champions should make the fight a lot faster," she said. "Don't worry about trying to use it since you're not used to light magic. Just fight normally and the magic should naturally boost your abilities."
Murasame grimaced, expression half mad. "The dead are walking. Why not make me a champion while we're at it? Sure. That makes total sense."
A boom turned their attention back to the Accursed. The cage was starting to crack.
Kyoko grabbed Itsumi's hand.
"Sorry, Tsuyoshi, but that's all I can manage right now. We need to get back."
She tugged Itsumi away from the field, running to a group of soldiers on the outer ring that looked less ragged than the rest. Duchess Woods yelled instructions to the men, telling people to stay back and protect Kyoko and Itsumi.
An invisible force pushed Kyoko forward, stumbling. Miroku had broken from his cage. The fighting had begun again.
The accompanying wave of magic surged through her, upending the delicate balance she held. She stalled, nearly tumbling when Itsumi kept trying to run.
"Kyoko," panted Itsumi. "We have to–"
"–I can't."
Kyoko squeezed her eyes shut. The magic inside her had become more volatile. Her whole body trembled, her grip on Itsumi's hand becoming impossible to control. Itsumi's own grip redoubled, anchoring Kyoko's consciousness. Dimly, she heard the Duchess instructing the soldiers to surround and protect them.
Far away, she could feel Rosa approaching Kuon. Reaching for his consciousness.
Please, thought Kyoko. Choose to come back, Kuon. We need you.
Kuu found his son lying amongst the rubble. He ducked his head against the gale caused by the rising vortex, blinking sand and dirt from his eyes. Magic could only protect him so much as he stumbled and collapsed by his son's side.
They were too late. Kuon was already dead. No twitch of the eye. No breath. Nothing.
Kuu's heart splintered. He knew this would happen. He knew. But he hadn't been ready. He gripped the hem of his son's shirt, wishing there was a way to drag him back home. He had felt the death of the inhibitor, but that loss was nothing compared to this. His son was—
—something was coming.
The shift came from a great distance. Light punched through the gale of dark magic around him, getting closer. His men cried out to him in shock. Dyrus, the only one that had managed to stay by his side, pulled out his sword. They all bore marks of the rot, but despite being the worst off, Dyrus kept his balance.
They soon stood slack-jawed as the light grew. Kuu sat back on his heels, knowing he should feel awed as warmth like the rising sun chased away the cold. But he couldn't. Not with his son dead.
He remained dull as Rosa descended before him. Her gold and red feathers glowed a soft light that the dark didn't penetrate. As her claws clattered to the ground, her form shifted into a woman. Her jaw was sharp, brow heavy with a sunburst crown with jewels that sprinkled down delicate sleeves. Though he had never seen the face, he knew instinctively that this was her true appearance.
She didn't glance at any of them, bending down to touch her fingertips to Kuon's forehead, eyes closed. Then her lips twisted.
"Buy me some time, King of Ashuron," she said. "This will take a moment."
Kuu's heart thudded painfully. There was no way. He was dead. She couldn't be insinuating…
"Can you save him?"
She turned quick eyes on him, searching for something. His soul felt so raw, so exposed, he was sure she saw everything. After a pause, her seriousness didn't soften, though her voice did.
"I'll do what I can," she said. "Now go. Buy me time."
It was then that Kuu saw that the djinn was moving toward them. The monstrous tornado of destruction. Its four arms were encased in wicked vambraces, knocking aside homes and brick to get to them. To get to Rosa. The creature's black eyes were fixed on the demi-goddess, its intent clear.
Nothing made sense, but there was a chance to save his son. That was all Kuu needed to know.
He stepped away from the demi-goddess, drawing his hilt and forming the shining blade with light magic.
"I leave him to you, demi-goddess."
He'd give his son all the time he could, no matter the cost.
When Kuon imagined death, he'd never imagined this. It was a desert with endless rocks and sand falling from invisible points of the sky. A red sun crested the horizon, either rising or setting, he couldn't tell which.
And I am dead, aren't I?
"You are. But that can change."
He turned. A woman the color of the sunset stood before him; her eyes fixed intently on him. Though he had never seen her true face, he knew Rosa instantly.
"What do you mean that could change? Are we not both dead?"
Rosa tilted her head in acknowledgment. "You are, but I am not. I never was. Even as a weakened demi-goddess, it would be very hard to permanently kill me. But I digress." She gestured to his feet. "You still have regrets that hold you back. Why?"
"I don't understand."
"Why does a part of you wish to remain dead?"
It was then he became aware that he couldn't move. Not in any direction at least. His feet were frozen as surely as if a spell kept them there. The cause of his immobility dawned instantly and clearly.
"I'm a murderer," he murmured. "Not only Rick, but the men I killed when I first became an Accursed. It would seem… unfair to get a second chance when they couldn't."
Because that's what this was, wasn't it? A second chance to do things right.
Rosa acknowledged his worries with a nod. "It would be unfair, but it would be more uncommon for a life to have been fully fair."
"Doesn't change the reality of how I feel."
"I see." Her eyes flicked down for a moment, sadness coloring her features. "I'd hoped you would see the error in this thinking by now. You've already given your life as penitence."
Kuon shook his head. "It's not an error. It would be wrong to forget the lives I took. I decided to take responsibility for it. My life was the least of what I could give."
"And as a result, you wish to end your life?"
"Not at all."
He closed his eyes, letting the unnatural landscape be replaced with the one in his mind. Ashuron. He remembered the clatter of people, the scalding wind, the smell of the first season's harvest. He thought of the peoples' worries, the recent battles and how much he could still do to help. How much he wanted to lead them to a better future.
"I wanted–want to live. I just couldn't justify keeping the happiness I'd obtained if I wasn't willing to sacrifice myself."
Which was what ended up happening. He opened his eyes to see Rosa curl her lips in frustration.
"Then, if it's sacrifice you seek, come back to the living,"
The world around them wavered then faded away like a mirage. They now floated above a terrible scene. Darkness and dust surrounded them, a gale buffeting the world. At the center was the Dark Djinn. Its enormous four arms crashed into the already broken homes of Mosall, trying to flatten the people that darted between the rubble. He recognized one of those streaks of yellow surrounded by a latticework of spells. His father fought the Djinn.
"Passing on would be the easier action." Rosa's gaze was fixed on King Kuu. "Remaining, remembering, fighting. That would be harder." Her voice rose in attempted levity. "It would also give you more opportunities for repentance."
The scene disappeared. He was back in the center of the strange desert, the landscape silent save for the soft shifting of sand. He felt something in him shift as well. He raised a foot, finding he could do so.
"Can I really come back?" He tried to hold his hope at bay, but it slipped through, making his voice rasp with want. Even as Rosa nodded, he couldn't fully allow himself to believe it. He could go back and help. He could live again!
"Your body only died recently," she said. "As it died from the cursed detachment of the soul and not due to any physical trauma, I can repair your essence which will allow for the reattachment. Now that I have recovered and all taint of your connection to the Dark Djinn has been dispersed with your death, the repair would be easy. The only problem would be returning your soul to the body. That, I cannot do—unless you are willing."
"Which is why you showed me the scene of my father fighting. To get my feet moving."
She gave a dry smile. "I knew you were likely to come around eventually, but that was the present, Kuon. Not foresight. We need to return now if we are to defeat the Djinn. I can't do it without you."
He had to help Dad. And he couldn't leave Mom either. He'd chosen to selfishly not think about the pain his parents would go through with his death. But now… his stomach turned at the thought of it. If he could come back, he owed it to them to take the opportunity.
Thank goodness Dad wasn't around for my death. Kuu would never have to have that pain fully realized.
Rosa reached out a hand. He snatched it without a moment's hesitation.
Light and warmth filled him. First in his toes then migrating to his head. With it came an understanding. The faintest presence of another soul bound to Rosa, alive, and well.
It wasn't just Rosa that had come back.
Tears sprung to his eyes. The hope he'd been holding at bay burst out. What guilt he had for his part in Kyoko's death was suffocated by the sheer force of his relief. He could have collapsed and sobbed for joy.
"Rosa," he croaked. "Please, tell me I'm not imagining that."
Even Rosa's guarded expression couldn't stem the overwhelming relief sending shudders through his soul. He already knew her answer.
"I don't have time to explain in-depth," said Rosa, her voice coming in a rush. "Please trust me when I say I'm doing what I can to make it permanent. The best thing we can do for her is to defeat Vaith. Now."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
He collected his magic, feeling his essence recover under the power of the demi-goddess. He felt their souls bonding, thin and delicate at first before strengthening. The preparations were done. All that was left was the oath.
He breathed in, ready to bond with Rosa a second time. And maybe, maybe, this time he would make choices that wouldn't hurt the ones he loved.
"I, Ren Hizuri, dedicate my life to the light. I will fight for the welfare of Ashuron, and for the demi-goddess, whom I serve."
Kuu ducked against the shattering of magic and brick. It battered against him and his men, destroying their combined spell. He had no time to acknowledge the fresh cut on his leg or the arm that burned when moved. He couldn't flinch when another one of his men fell from a rooftop. This was war. He had to be stone.
"On me!" Kuu's voice was whisked away by the roaring vortex, but his men already knew to look to him. They copied his movement and spell, braiding the light together to form a long golden rope. They threw it around one of the Djinn's four wrists, anchoring the other end to the ground as far from Kuon as they could.
The Djinn broke this one faster than the last. The gust that came with it knocked Kuon on his back. It blew the breath from his lungs as she struggled to get back up.
Move, damn it!
A hand hauled him to his feet. He couldn't even identify who held him as they yelled commands to the others. He could just make out the fuzzy spray of yellow filling the air. More spells attacking the Djinn.
This wasn't working. What ground they did keep lasted less than a second. He couldn't keep the Djinn from his son. His vision cleared just in time to see another spell from his men shatter. The flecks of light scattered in the air as the djinn slammed one of its enormous hands down on Rosa. Down on Kuon's body.
No!
The wind blew sand into his eyes. He blinked against the tears, a strangled cry caught in his throat. Then stopped.
Yellow rays of light peaked between the djinn's fingers. Slowly, the palm began to rise. The djinn growled a low thunder of frustration as he slammed the other three hands as well. The struggle between light and djinn wavered, and Kuu knew they needed help.
Kuu shoved himself upright, stumbling as he formed another chain of light.
"Help them!"
Three other chains of light appeared. So few. We've lost so many. They joined Kuu's as he wrapped his spell around the top hand and pulled. It felt like he was trying to move a mountain.
Kuu drew one hand to the side, pulling more magic into a spell there. A spear of light formed. He kept it small, packing it tightly as he could with light magic. Sweat beaded his forehead as he focused on the two spells. When the magic was on the verge of bursting, he hurled the spear at the djinn's eye.
His spell sputtered, choked by the miasma. But it made it. The flimsy spear knocked the corner of Vaith's left eye. He'd missed!
But the distraction did its job. Though the djinn's flinch was minimal, it was enough to tip the scale. Magic exploded under the djinn's hands as a tornado of fire rose from the ground. Rosa emerged from the mouth of the blaze, her form growing and growing. Kuu gaped as the now enormous phoenix dove her claws into the djinn's chest, knocking it back onto the buildings.
The ground heaved. Kuu tumbled into the man beside him, Hiou, sending them both to the ground. He rolled to his side and groaned. Stars, the arm he'd used to throw the spear scorched so hot he thought it would melt off.
Then he heard it. The voice that drove out all pain.
"Dad!"
Kuu rolled upright. He choked, scrubbing away the tears so he could see his son properly. His beautiful alive baby boy. Kuon still wore his ragged clothes and dirt covered him from head to foot, but he was alive. Stars, and his aura felt whole. Not a single speck of darkness corrupted it. The contract of the Phoenix shone bright in his soul as he hurried toward them, face hard in concern.
He reached out, Kuon taking his hand as if he was the one in danger of disappearing.
"Son," he struggled out. "You worried me to death."
Kuon's eyes glittered in amusement, still dark but unmistakable. "You look plenty healthy to me."
Kuu barked a laugh, half choking on tears. "Not at all. I don't approve of your antics. Your mother would have…"
His throat constricted, unable to even joke about what Julie's reaction to Kuon's death would have been.
Kuon understood, pain coloring his features. "Then let's keep this our little secret," he said. "Like the pie incident."
"With the alligator and Shin?"
"The very same."
Kuu laughed again, a broken but relieved sound. He cut off with a cry as pain stabbed through his hand. The burns were smarting worse than ever, and the pain in his side was making itself known as well.
Kuon stared at Kuu's hands and side, then looked over to where the phoenix still battled the Djinn. The fight was leveling what was left of the city, new fires burning bright against the miasmic haze.
The rest of Kuu's men arrived. There were only eight of them left, all bloodied, pale and bearing signs of the rot. Dyrus limped and Champion Galyth swayed as if he may faint at any second. Hiou had an impressive black mark on his cheek, the splotchy skin darkening with every second. To his credit, the barely-of-age young man didn't look too fazed. With a stab of panic, Kuu realized Shin was gone. Had he been taken out by the Djinn? Or was he sneaking around like he was prone to doing?
"You all need to get out of here," said Kuon. "Anyone who isn't a champion can't stay."
"No." Kuu said, any warmth gone. His voice was sharp with the command he wielded. "We came to fight, son. We are not fleeing."
"The miasma will kill you." Kuon put the back of his hand over his mouth, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "This is going to be a drawn-out battle. We need to wait until the last relic is destroyed. Until then, we have to distract and kill the Djinn over and over. Forcing him to focus more energy on this fight than the one with Miroku. Which means–"
One of the Djinn's arms crashed into the building one street over. Even from that distance, the rubble and dust that flew had them ducking, throwing up shields to block the shrapnel.
The fight moved on, Kuon slowly lowering the shield he had placed over everyone. It was an impressive bit of magic, something that would be considered powerful even if one didn't consider the oppressive dark magic dampening its effects.
"Which means we'll act as bait," finished Dyrus. The captain's beard was still thick from his time in retirement, grayed from the ash and dush that coated it. "Not the first time I've played this game, my prince. It won't be the last."
Kuon wanted to argue. It was obvious as the lad hesitated, and Kuu loved him for it. He would be a compassionate leader, but it looked like he also knew how to make the hard decisions.
"Alright," said Kuon, his voice barely audible over the clash of titans behind them. "But fair warning—the second Miroku dies, the Djinn will become more powerful. It's also the second we will need to strike, so be ready."
Kuu clenched his fist shut, the pain pulsing through his flesh with each rapid heartbeat, but he barely felt it. His heart was too full of pride.
"You have a plan, don't you son?"
Kuon's eyes glimmered, and Kuu recognized the sight. "It won't be easy, but I think it's worth a shot."
Thanks for reading!
I'm back! Sorry, got a new baby, a new house, and just worn out in general.
Thanks again for everyone's patience! Hope you all are doing well and that this can make your day. KYOKO IS BACK Y'ALL! THERE'S NO WAY I'M BRAVE ENOUGH TO KILL HER WHO WOULD DO THAT? NOT ME!
…Probably.
Updates will be every other week. I know I said previously it was going to be every week but I need to be nice to my two editors. They are busy too.
-Blushweaver
Blushy, saying "got a new baby" sounds like you picked one up at the convenience store, which I have under good authority is not how babies work. Lol. I for my part will do my best to not slow down the review process, although I now have my own baby.
-Im0ut0
Do not trust Blushweaver. I have seen her plans.
-Mr. Blushweaver