Chapter 12: Fiery Passion Part V
The Kinomoto elders waited for Kimi in the large chamber adjacent to the Hall of Legacy. When the attendants came to fetch her, they glanced at her friends and said in a tone heavily implied that they were not welcome and slammed the doors in their faces.
Cornelia let out an indignant scoff. "How rude!"
"I guess we're not important enough," Irma shrugged. She stuck her tongue out at the doors as if that would help.
Will rolled her eyes and shook her head. Yet, her heart was pounding against her chest, a feeling of uneasiness began to take over. Will paused. Whatever was going on beyond those doors would not bode well for Kimi or any of them. Call it a Guardian's tuition. Will turned to Taranee and asked, "Can you open a telepathic channel so we can see and hear things from Kimi's perspective?"
Taranee blinked at her. "I don't know, Will. I don't want to be invasive—"
"I'm sure Kimi won't mind," Will cut her off. Realizing that she said it too quickly, she added, "I'm saying something bad might happen, and we should be ready to jump in."
Taranee studied her but then nodded. "If Kimi gets angry, I'm blaming you."
Taranee closed her eyes, and their minds were linked. Still, she was careful not to alert Kimi of their spying.
The chamber was as high as the rest of the building with tall vaulted ceilings supported by columns encircled by dragons and phoenixes, intricate carved and dusted in gold. Kimi sat in the middle of the chamber, staring at the three figures before her on an elevated alcove. Taranee studied them.
The three highest ranking members of the Kinomoto clan, Orube's voice rang through their shared thoughts. That's the daimyo, Lord Isamu, in the center! To his right is his brother, Lord Osamu, and on his left is his trusted advisor and wife, Lady Kazue.
Shhh! Kimi will hear you! Irma thought.
Taranee rolled her eyes. Calm down, Irma. I've set up the channel so the six of us can still communicate telepathically without Kimi hearing.
Good to know, Cornelia thought, almost sarcastically.
The three elders were tall and darkly handsome in their richly embroidered kimonos. All had dark eyes that were black as coals. Both men sported a short mustache and a goatee, and their hair was neatly tied in top knots, while Kazue's hair was coifed in a simple, traditional Japanese hairstyle with a lot of hair ornaments sticking out, giving her a halo effect. Taranee was reminded of Hollywood actors from the 1940s who have aged gracefully.
The woman turned to them—Kimi, that is. A soft pulse radiated from within Will's chest again. She frowned, wondering why she was still feeling nervous. She placed a hand over her chest, urging her heart to calm down.
Through Kimi's eyes, Taranee stared at her again. The woman was beautiful, but something about her was unsettling, and she felt that her friends thought the same. Kazue had a set of lines around each side of her mouth that suggested her lips were usually drawn down in an expression of disappointment. Kazue glared down at Kimi from her advantageous position like someone who had just spotted a giant cockroach and considered the best way to swash it.
At last, the daimyo spoke. "Your esteemed uncle has led us to believe that you have been fairly mistreated. Is this true?" The Guardians held their breaths. His voice was brisk and cold like icebergs scraping against one another in a turbulent sea.
Kimi did not answer. Instead, her hands clenched her purple skirt and kept her expression stoic.
"Let me rephrase the question, child," said Lord Osamu. His voice was like the dead of winter. "Do you think your past deed as the Guardian of Light has gone unnoticed? That you are being unappreciated?"
Kimi lifted her head. "I do not know what you wish to examine me on, Osamu-dono. Perhaps you wish to ask me of such things I would not tell."
Wow, that's one way to dodge a question! Irma's laughter echoed through their minds.
The others shushed her.
What?! Irma asked defensively.
Taranee cursed under her breath. In haste, she'd accidentally dropped her telepathy. Muttering an apology, she scrambled to reconnect. By the time she did, they had already missed a few fragments of the conversation.
"With all due respects, Isamu-dono, I do not believe this is the right time to discuss such a matter—"
"On the contrary, we've postponed this for far too long—over three years since your ascension as Guardian!" interrupted the daimyo. "You've done so much for us and this world, especially in dealing with the dark creature of Shinrinkage…"
Taranee froze, and her blood turned into ice. The way Osamu mentioned the name of the village felt wrong. She glanced at Will, who shared her sentiment.
"We've not done you kindness, my child," said Lord Osamu. "Let us rectify this mistake now while we still have the chance."
"But—"
"Listen to your daimyo, child," Kazue cut her off. "Had you not ascended, you should have been married to a noble gentleman years ago. We've given you leeway because Kandrakar demanded your duty and service to the Light."
Isamu nodded. "Now, you must demonstrate that loyalty to this clan."
Lady Kazue flicked her fan, and a lacquered tray hovered towards Kimi. She glanced down to see it was laden with envelopes—dozens of them tied neatly with red and white ribbons.
"These are letters of proposals from thirty-three of the noblest gentlemen," said Kazue. "Ten are from the heirs of prosperous businesses; eighteen are high government officials, including the young Minister of Finances; and the remaining five are princes from minor branches." She smiled at Kimi as if she was more pleased with herself for receiving this much.
Kimi picked up one envelope and, with her magic, sensed the flowery words written inside, all describing her beauty and what an honor it would be to be her husband if she chose.
Isamu stroked his goatee. "Consider this a boon for all your work as Guardian! After your mission, you may choose any of these men as your husband. And when Lusteria is cleansed of Seiryuu's magic, you will meet your betrothed on your wedding day and relinquish your Guardianship to a successor."
Kimi held her breath. Her friends paled as they exchanged looks of disbelief. Kimi, no longer a Guardian? What about her brother? What about the bond they share? The months they spent working together? Would Kimi give it all up?
There is no way Kimi would accept it! Hay Lin thought.
A derisive snort escaped Orube's lips. I knew the elders were manipulative, but to ask her of such a thing is—
Quiet! I can't hear what they're saying! Taranee hissed. She tried to tune back into the conversation. Once more, they've missed a few dialogues, but not enough to be hopelessly lost.
"Banish such ridiculous notion, child!" Lady Kazue snapped. "As a noble lady of the Kinomoto clan, you are responsible for performing your duty to this clan!" Then she smiled and softened her voice like that of a caring aunt. "We are your family and have provided everything you need or will ever need to live an honorable life."
Taranee clenched her teeth. It was a load of crap! How could Kimi stand being treated this way?
Kimi's gaze fell back down onto the tray of letters. She'd never met any of them before and already knew their words to be lies. It was so superficial! They've seen and heard of her from afar, but none of them bothered to try to know her.
Not like Koji…she thought.
Kishimoto Koji, the boy who'd annoyed her when they first met. Still, he was the only one who fought to get to know her! Coming off as arrogant and aloof at first, Koji was blunt in his honesty and wasn't afraid to knock her down or some sense into her! And during their few dates, he proved that he could be kind, caring, and thoughtful—and he respected her enough not to push her for answers. When she's with him, her heart is filled with bliss. Was this love? It was terrifying but also exhilarating. She'd seen love before and how her friends talked about it, yet she wasn't sure if she understood it. She didn't love Lexamus the same way he loved her. But Koji was different.
"Well?" Lord Isamu demanded, the coldness in his voice bringing Kimi back to where she was. "What say you, daughter of Kotone?"
Kimi's head turned so fast that she almost snapped her neck. With practiced movements, she steadied her emotion and fixed her expression. Kimi wasn't sure if she could love Koji, but she knew she was starting to like him a lot. She wanted to see where their relationship would take her, even if she got hurt. She knew she would rather risk that pain than being trapped in a life of misery with a husband of their choosing.
Her heart burned with resolve. "Isamu-dono, there is no doubt that you wield considerable power," Kimi finally said in a steady and willful voice. She pushed the tray of letters to the side and prostrated herself respectfully to him one last time. "But I am afraid this is an order I cannot and will not follow."
Taranee and her friends held their breaths. The tension in the chamber thickened. The elders stared at Kimi as though she had sprung an extra head. They had expected such an answer from her, but it was still a surprise to hear it.
"What did you say?" Lord Osamu asked in a low and dangerous tone.
"Don't be ridiculous! You have no choice in the matter!" Kazue snapped.
"On the contrary, as the Guardian of Light, I am in a unique position to decide my fate, and I have no intention of marrying anyone yet," Kimi said. She got to her feet without bothering to wait for their permission. She waved a hand at the tray of letters. "Least of all to these men you're forcing upon me under a false gesture of gratitude."
"Have you forgotten yourself?" Lord Isamu demanded, rising to his feet. "You dare defy your daimyo? You dare defy the wishes of your esteemed elders?"
Kimi looked at him. "Even if you were the Emperor, I do not believe you have the power to force an unsuitable marriage upon anyone for your convenience."
"You insolent, wretched girl!" Osamu sneered. "If the Elders of Kandrakar sent you to Earth to learn anything, then you have learned nothing!"
She turned to him. "No, Osamu-dono, I've learned everything! And I learned it all from those I am proud to call friends."
Kazue snorted. "Do you mean those Earthlings? They are a disgrace to the Guardianship! Saved for the Basilíadian, they know nothing of the way of the warriors, nothing about tradition, and nothing of family honor!"
"They are more family to me than the three of you had ever been," Kimi said.
Will found herself smiling, even though she was still peeved at Kimi about what happened to Matt. Could this be the same girl they met months ago in the Dark Forest?
Isamu glared down at Kimi. In a calm but dangerous tone, he warned, "You may be a Guardian, but your duty is to this clan and this kingdom first, and anything less makes you a traitor."
"And there is no mercy for traitors," Osamu added. "Remember what happened to your father."
Kimi stiffened. Still, she didn't back down, her defiance unwavering. "If disobeying your order is a crime punishable by death, then your only choice is to kill me," Kimi said.
Her words were so calm that a curtain of silence dropped on everyone as heavy as if it was weaved from metal. The elders stared at her, stunned at her level of audacity for calling their bluffs.
It took Osamu a few seconds to collect himself. "Do you think this is a game?" he asked. "Mark my words, little girl. There will be severe consequences for your dissent!"
"You have no real power over me," said Kimi. "Any that you had before was nothing but a well-crafted illusion, an illusion that I have foolishly believed until now. It took me months of living on Earth with these new Guardi—my friends," she corrected herself, "to make me realize that while I do have a duty to Kandrakar and the Light, I must not forget the duty to my heart. And right now, my heart tells me to be who I am without being beholden to your dictation."
Kazue's hands trembled with fury, threatening to snap her closed fan into pieces. "If you do this, you will be ousted from this clan forever, just like your father!" she warned. "You will have nothing—no gold, no connection, and your reputation will fail!"
"Cast me out if you wish, but I have no intention of staying when all you've offered me is a gilded cage." Before Kazue could object, she added, "I'll make this simple for you: I am leaving Lusteria. After I find Kyochi and we set the balance straight, I am taking him to Earth where we can start over. We will only return to Lusteria for missions, nothing more."
The elders did not respond; they seemed frozen in place. Kimi paused to appreciate the effect she had made on them. Burning the sight of their fury into her mind, she smiled and gave them one last bow. "Farewell."
She turned to walk away.
The silks of Kazue's kimono rustled as she rose. "You'll regret this," she said in a soft voice.
Kimi paused in her stride. Something crawled down the base of her skull. Before she could comprehend it, pain exploded into her flesh. Taranee and her friends screamed and recoiled from the shock. Through her sheer will, Taranee didn't lose the telepathic connection.
Kimi spun on her feet, but the chamber was spinning. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor. Through her blurred vision, she looked up to see a smirking Kazue looming over her.
"What…what have you done to me?" she gasped.
Kazue chuckled as her husband and Osamu joined her, equally looking pleased with themselves.
"I told you that you'll regret this," Kazue smiled.
"Did you think we would let you walk away as easily as that?" asked Osamu.
"Believe me, child, there are other ways to hurt you," Isamu whispered.
Kimi screamed and clutched her head. Something was worming its way into her mind, gnawing and clawing! It tore down her mental defenses as if they were made of cardboard before diving into her consciousness, memories, and thoughts! She tried to resist, but it was dark and slippery, evading her like an eel before burrowing itself where she couldn't reach. Her head began to pound; each bite was like having someone smashing her skull with a hammer.
A blood-curdling scream filled the chamber.
Taranee lost the connection, falling back as if she had been hit.
"Tara!" Will cried. "What happened? What's going on in there?!"
Taranee gasped and turned to Will. "You…you were right! Kimi…she's in trouble!"
Will clenched her teeth. She couldn't take this anymore! She knew they had to intervene! She turned to Cornelia and said, "Knock it down!"
Cornelia stared at her but didn't need to be told twice. Her hands glowed, and she slammed them into the doors.
BANG!
The doors crashed like thunder. Cloud of dust barely had time to clear before the Guardians rushed in. Taranee, Irma, and Hay Lin spotted Kimi sprawling on the ground several feet away and flew to her side.
KIMI! Taranee cried, screaming in her mind. Kimi! Are you all right?
Kimi moaned, her face flushed with sweat and her eyes fluttering as she struggled to speak. "It hurts…my head…it hurts so much…"
Placing a hand on her forehead, Taranee noticed her temperature rising quickly, which alarmed her.
"Kimi! Kimi, can you hear us?" Irma cried. Turning to Taranee, she said, "What's wrong with her?!"
"I don't know! But her temperature is really high!"
"Get it out! Please!" Kimi begged. Without realizing it, she grabbed Hay Lin's hand, startling her. "Oh, gods…please! Make it stop!"
"My head…my head…" the pleading in Kimi's voice terrified Hay Lin. She tried to pull her hand away, but Kimi had a death-liked grip. With her other free hand, she repeatedly palmed herself in the head in a futile attempt to dislodge whatever was attacking her.
Will, Cornelia, and Orube rounded on the elders with murderous looks on their faces. The three Kinomoto elders dusted themselves and matched their glares.
"What the hell did you do to our friend?!" Will snarled.
Cornelia raised a glowing green hand, the rubbles around their feet quivering, ready to strike. "Start talking!"
Isamu's eyes bored into them like drills. A mixture of disdain and loathing was evident in his expressions. "Insolent fools! How dare you come in unannounced?" he demanded, ignoring their questions.
Without warning, Osamu unsheathed his katana and ran at her, his speed almost as fast as Kyosuke. Taken by surprise, Orube barely pulled her sword up in time to block his attack. Sparks flew as their blades crossed.
"That this is a clan affair, Basilíadian!" Osamu hissed. "Outsiders should stay out of it!"
"Like hell we are!" Will cried and whipped out her bolas. It's been a while since she had used it, but it felt good. Pulsating with energy, the bolas turned into a lasso, and she swung to wrap it around Osamu's arm.
Kazue raised a hand and began to chant a short incantation to aid him. Cornelia stomped a heel onto the ground, and a wall of earth rose behind Kazue. With a hard yank, Will swung Osamu around and slammed him into Kazue, knocking the two of them into the wall, hard.
"You would dare strike the elderly?!" Osamu glared, coughing.
Will was unfazed. "When you're trying to kill us? Damn right, I am!"
"Onee-sama! Are you all right?" Osamu asked, turning to Kazue.
Kazue moaned and nodded. Osamu helped her up but realized that his arm felt numbed; pins and needles stabbed his nerves, no thanks to Will's charged bolas. His right arm was now useless with a sword.
"You will die for that!" he snarled at her.
"I like to see you try." Orube ran straight for him, her sword flashing.
Using his good hand, he threw his katana like a javelin at her. Orube knocked it out of the way, but it was only a distraction as Osamu blasted her back with a powerful beam of light.
Will threw her bolas again, this time binding both Osamu and Kazue together.
"Nice work," Cornelia smiled.
"You, too, but keep sharp! It's not over!" Will warned.
"Yes, it is," said a voice behind them.
Will and Cornelia gasped and spun around in time for him to conjure a pair of giant shadow hands around them. They tried to blast their way out, but Will's energy had no effect on the shadows, and the tight space gave Cornelia no room to maneuver. The darkness surrounded them, morphing itself into a box.
"Will! Cornelia!" Orube cried. Back on her feet, she ran for Isamu, but he sidestepped and backhanded her across the face. The blow was so powerful that she went flying into the box. It absorbed and trapped her with Will and Cornelia.
Isamu strode towards his wife and brother and released them. They were trapped like rats. Frustrated, Will pounded against the surface of their prison, but it refused to yield. She cursed her stupidity for taking her eyes off Isamu.
"Dammit! There must be a way out!" Will hissed.
Cornelia turned to Orube. "Any ideas?"
Orube didn't have time to answer before another blood-curdling scream caught their attention. Everyone turned to see Kimi writhing in pain, making the others panic.
Isamu smirked. "It looks like the host isn't compatible with it."
Orube, Will, and Cornelia exchanged looks. It? What is it? What did he mean?
"How long do you think she will last before it consumes her, dear wife?" Osamu asked.
Kazue considered his question. "Had she been born a shadow-wielder, she might have lasted half as long as Minamoto-kun. But from the looks of things, she'll be lucky to survive in the next ten minutes," she said.
Orube gaped. This woman was enjoying this! She was savoring every second of Kimi's suffering. This woman was abusive, petty, spiteful, greedy, destructive, and poisonous! "Damn you, Kazue! You and your lot!" Orube cursed, but Kazue ignored her. On the other hand, her husband glanced her way and shrunk their box-liked prison for her rudeness.
"Be silent, or I'll crush you like the insects you are," he said in a quiet, deadly voice.
Will, I'm getting a bit claustrophobic, warned Cornelia's voice in her mind. Conjuring a diamond-tipped weapon, she tried to cut an opening, but she barely made a scratch against the darkness. If we don't get out of here, Kimi's not the only one in trouble.
"We must find a way to help her!" said Taranee. "Irma, use your new healing magic on her!"
Irma nodded and placed both hands on each side of Kimi's head. A soft blue aura glowed as Irma washed her in her thin layer of healing water.
"You're wasting your time," Kazue smiled. Irma ignored her, too focused on her important task. "Soon, she will convulse, and nothing can stop it from killing her from within."
Will let out a frustrated scream and slammed her hand into the barrier, but the shadow didn't budge. "MONSTERS! You don't deserve to have the Guardians' protection! You're not even worthy of Kandrakar's blessing!"
That seemed to incite a reaction. Kazue whirled on her. "How dare you address me in such a tone? Do you know who I am?" Kazue strode closer to the box and looked down at her. Will had to admit that she was surprisingly tall. "I am Kinomoto Kazue, daughter of Kinomoto Kiyoshi, the previous daimyo, and Kanzaki Chiaki, the great-great-granddaughter of Kinomoto Kohei, a former Guardian of Darkness! I am the wife and advisor to Lord Kinomoto Isamu, the current daimyo, and sister-in-law to Lord Osamu."
Will narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. She noticed that this woman wasn't in a hurry to be Kimi's great-aunt.
Seeing her defiance, Kazue held her closed fan up and whispered a word, and the prison became charged with black lightning. The prisoners screamed. Will gasped and fell to her knees. This energy…it was charged with darkness…not even Nashter, the Runic of Energy and Will's antithesis, had magic this corrupted!
Kazue leered. "So, little one, you out to know now of your place and pay us the proper respect." She smiled, her words were so condescending that they grated on Will's nerves.
Panting, Will struggled to glare up at Kazue. "I've heard your asserted ranking, ma'am. Now hear mine," she declared, getting to her feet. "I am Will Vandom, daughter of Susan Vandom-Collins, step-daughter of Dean Collins, Ph.D., and professor of history at Sheffield Institute! I possess the power to manipulate energy and quintessence, the essence of life! I am the current Keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar and the leader of the five Elemental Guardians!"
Cornelia and Orube stared in awe at the shimmering pink light radiating from her.
Will pressed a hand to her chest. "Within me is the legacy and power of Xin Jing, the Nymph of the Elements! She stood against the Jade Emperor and freed the Four Dragons from their unjust imprisonment! And together with the other Great Nymphs, she created Kandrakar, the Fortress of Light!" With each word, energy pulsated out from Will like ripples in the water, slamming into the black walls of their prison. "Your insult is inadvertent due to ignorance! You know nothing about my friends or me! You don't even know enough about Kimi and Kyochi and all they've suffered for your sakes!"
The three elders stared in surprise as her electricity crackled with great intensity. Under such pressure, the shadow prison began to falter, and cracks began to form.
"Brace yourself!" Orube ordered as she and Cornelia ducked. There was no need because Will's terrifying power passed through them without harm. She only had eyes for the three wicked clan elders.
Witnessing her rage up close, Osamu turned to his twin. "Isamu, we need to leave!" he said, but it was too late.
With a mighty cry, Will's energy slammed against the prison once more, shattering the blackness as if it was nothing. The surge came for the elders so quickly that they didn't have the chance to brace for it.
Silence followed suit. Cornelia and Orube blinked and glanced up to see an aura of pink energy still pulsating from Will.
"What about the Kinomoto elders?" Cornelia asked, trailing off. She turned to see three figures lying several yards away. Will's energy pulse must have swatted them against the wall and rendered them unconscious.
"They're not going to stay unconscious for long," Will clenched her fists, absorbing what's left of her attack. "C'mon!"
Without another moment of hesitation, the three of them joined the others.
Orube held her breath when she saw how pale Kimi looked. Pressing a hand to her forehead, she was shocked at her rising temperature. "She's burning up!" Orube cried. She turned on Irma. "Why isn't your water healing her?"
"I don't know!" A frustrated cry escaped Irma's quivering lips. "I…I… don't know what's wrong with her!"
"But you were able to heal us back in Annam!"
"But I knew what your injuries were! And Kimi isn't suffering from third-degree burns or lethargy this time!" Irma pointed out. "Even if her injury is internal, I would have found it! Whatever it is, it's incorporeal! I don't know what it is!"
"My head…my head…it hurts…" Kimi whimpered.
A thought came to Will. She turned to Taranee. "Do you think Kazue did something to make her think she's under attack?"
Taranee blinked. "You mean like a psychic attack?" Will nodded. Taranee turned to look at Kimi. She looked delirious as she lay there on the ground, her skin growing paler and hotter by the minute. Irma tried to help her by giving her an ice bath.
"Taranee, you gotta dive into her mind and see if you can find anything."
Taranee stared at Will, dumbfounded. "Reading people's thoughts is one thing, Will! Diving into their mind…who knows what might happen? I might damage her psyche!"
"Taranee, we don't have a choice! If you don't do something, she will be stuck like this, or worse!" Cornelia said.
Taranee's eyes darted between her friends and Kimi. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "Okay, here I go…"
Irma shifted to the side to allow Taranee some room. Placing a hand over Kimi's forehead, Taranee closed her eyes and opened her mind.
Once again, Taranee found herself in an endless voice surrounded by floating crystals, each filled with a memory from Kimi's past. This is how the Guardian of Light perceived her psyche: a plain that goes on forever, and the most prominent memories are crystallized as if they are treasures to be preserved.
I have to tread carefully, Taranee thought. I'm in her head…
The first time Kimi brought them here, she had warned them that some of these crystals contained her most private thoughts, and others held very dark and painful memories. If Taranee disturbed something and were swallowed by the illusions, she would be the one to suffer permanent damage.
The thought barely finished when something brushed against her fingers. Taranee yelped and spun around to see nothing, just a cluster of crystals. Taranee squinted, studying the crystals. Like rusty knives, the edges were rough and jagged, while the memories inside the crystals were dimmed and gave off an agitated pulse.
What is going on? Taranee wondered.
Hasssssskkkkksss…
Taranee gasped. She spun around, but saw nothing. Taranee conjured a small flame to light her way.
Hasssskkkshhhskkk!
She was certain that she did not imagine it! The sound was like a gurgling screech. It dragged out the noise, sending shivers down her spine.
Khaaasssssskkksss!
Bracing herself, Taranee made her flame bigger and ran after the fleeing darkness.
"Stay back!" Taranee warned. She spun on her heels.
Nothing.
She held out her flame to illuminate the place. There was nothing. Taranee blinked in confusion. How could this be? I thought for sure I heard some—
Hhhssskkkksss…
Turning around, Taranee screamed when something huge and black with red eyes lunged at her!
Taranee screamed as she slammed back into her body.
"Taranee!" Will cried. The others stared at her. "What happened in there?"
It took Taranee a moment to remember her whereabouts. She glanced down to see her hands trembling and her brows sweating. Her chest felt heavy as if filled with lead.
"Something is crawling around in Kimi's mind!" she gasped, half-choking on her words. "It…I don't know what it was…but…"
"But what?" Will saw the fear in her friend's eyes.
"It's evil, Will…feral and vicious…it's eating Kimi's mind! And it almost got me, too."
Will gulped, rendered speechlessly. She glanced over her shoulders at the unconscious elders then back to Kimi. What had they done to her? she thought.
Kimi's sudden intake of air alarmed them. A searing pain shot through her limbs as she screamed, every thought and memory ripped from her mind. It was the sort of pain that filled every crevice of her consciousness.
"What the—?" Irma gasped.
Kimi's eyes widened, and it looked like they would bulge out of her sockets. Her scream subsided, but then her body began to convulse.
"What's happening?!" Hay Lin asked with a panicked expression.
Taranee cursed as she scrambled back to Kimi. "She's going into a seizure!" she cried. She grabbed Kimi's shoulders and realized she was also struggling to breathe. "Kimi! Kimi, look at me!"
"I don't know what's going on! I don't know what to do!" Irma cried.
"I can't get enough air into her!" Hay Lin cried. "Irma, help me hold her down—"
"No! Don't do that!" Taranee cried. "Don't hold her down or try to stop her movements!"
Irma whirled on her. "Then what do you suggest we do, genius?!"
"Wait! I think…" With great care, Taranee turned Kimi on her side. She knew enough that they could help keep Kimi's airway clear. But aside from this, she was also at a loss. Kimi's seizure refused to subside, her convulsion turned more violent, and the expression on her face was pure despair and torment.
"It's not stopping!" Cornelia cried.
Will seethed and looked at Taranee desperately. "There must be something we can do?!"
Taranee shook her head. "I don't know, Will! I don't know how to help her!" She racked her head and pulled her hair. She was supposed to be the smart one! Yet, no idea came to mind. Hot tears welled up in her eyes, fogging her glasses.
"The only person who can help is Kyochi…" Orube said remorsefully. "He's the only one with extensive knowledge in medical emergencies."
Cornelia rounded on her. "Well, Kyochi isn't here!"
Hay Lin began to sob. "Irma…there must be something you can do…"
Irma shook her head and wiped her tears of frustration. "I don't know! I really don't know, either…" She glanced down at her hands and balled them into fists. "Urgh! What's the point of having these new powers if I can't even use them properly?!"
Hay Lin had no answer to that, but she fully understood Irma's despair. Unable to help herself, she crawled to Kimi's side and tried to soothe her agony by brushing strands of her hair out of her eyes. "Oh, Kimi…please…you're fine…you have to be…you've always been so strong…"
Kimi gave one loud, startling gasp. They stared in horror as her eyes turned black like a demon. Kimi began to choke.
Orube gasped, recognizing the condition. She…no…it can't be…
Taranee's eyes widen in horror. "No! No! NO! NOOOO!"
"What is it?! What's wrong?!" Cornelia cried.
"I can't sense her mind! It's almost gone!" Taranee cried. "Will, we're going to lose her!"
Will stared at her, her heart heavy with a sense of uselessness. How could this have happened? With all this new magic at their fingertips, how could they, as Guardians, still be so powerless?
It can't end like this…Will thought. She inched closer to Kimi but could barely recognize the girl in front of her. Recent memories of their arguments flashed in her mind. It seemed so petty and superfluous now. Guilt filled her chest. Please, she thought, surprised that she was praying to whatever god was willing to listen. Please, save her! Kimi's almost like a sister to us! Guardian or not, she's one of us…now and forever…
At that moment, a warm sensation bloomed inside Will's chest. They stared through visions blurred by tears. Soft lights filled the chamber. Hearing their pleas, the Heart of Kandrakar and the Jewel of Life appeared. In one of their darkest hours, the two ancient talismans appeared to answer their call.
Colored lights from the Jewel and the Heart blended like a symphony, bathing all seven of them in their harmonious rays. Kimi gasped and stopped convulsing, the darkness in her eyes banished. Deep in her head, the healing rays expunged her mind of the creature and restored the memory crystals to their former splendor.
A calming breath of relief escaped Kimi's lips. Her friends watched in amazement and relief as color returned to her face. The Jewel of Life dimmed as it descended back into her chest. Slowly, Kimi's eyes fluttered open.
"Girls?" She glanced around, looking like she had just woken up from a bad dream. "What…what happened?" she asked.
Kimi slowly sat upright, and everyone stared at it, wondering what it was doing. Her friends exchanged looks. Before any of them could give her an answer, the Heart of Kandrakar glowed and hummed a soft tune.
Will frowned. It was the same hum she'd been feeling earlier.
"Will, what's going on?" Irma asked.
"It sounds like…it wants to tell us something…" Hay Lin said. Leave it to the Guardian of Air to understand its obscure song on the wind.
"Yeah, maybe…" Will said slowly. She reached out a hand to grab it. The light shone brighter between her fingers. In an instant, the talisman plunged all of them into the past.
Isamu and Osamu were born into the lowest ranking branch of the Kinomoto clan and were mistreated and abused by their higher ranking relatives. Even Takao and Akihito, the twin sons of the daimyo's sister, thought little of them. To most, Isamu and Osamu were borderline servants. Despite their lowly birth, they had the right to present themselves before the three Sacred Talismans for the chance to ascend as Guardians, earning the love and respect of millions across the stars. Thus, when news of the previous Twin Guardians' abdication spread, the brothers rushed to the sacred temple, praying and hoping that the Sacred Talismans could see into their hearts and understand that in all their suffering, they were worthy to bear the mantel of Guardians.
The Sacred Talismans were released, weaving their way through the crowd of young prospects. One by one, the Sacred Talismans dismissed each pair of siblings, but paused to hover before Isamu and Osamu. They held their breaths, believing that they had finally arrived…the Jewel, the Sword, and the Mirror must have seen something within them! Surely, this was their moment!
But then, they were knocked to the ground, and the Sacred Talismans passed them over, flying straight into the hands of their cousins—Takao and Akihito! Isamu and Osamu watched in dismay as their rivals ascended, wings spread and their powers were blazing in glorious auras of black and white!
Despair turned into hatred in the hearts of Isamu and Osamu. Never had they hated anyone more. To them, Takao and Akihito have cheated them of their destiny, stolen what should have been theirs! From that day, they vowed vengeance on those two. Damn them! Damn them and their descendants for eternity!
For several years, Isamu and Osamu served as underlings to the daimyo, Lord Kiyoshi, and his family. Osamu didn't think they could have stooped any lower, but Isamu saw a great opportunity when he learned of Kiyoshi's secret. The daimyo has three daughters; his two oldest were twins and very lovely. But the third and youngest, Kazue, was seldom seen in public. After a few years of serving as footmen, they were promoted to the level of bodyguards and were placed near Kazue's chambers. There, the brothers learned the truth of her confinement: she was skilled in dark magic, a forbidden practice for shadow-wielders. Kazue practiced necromancy, weaving spells, and curses with the blood of her victims, and enjoyed inflicting pain on others. When her mother died in childbirth with the baby, Kazue used dark magic to resurrect them and proudly showed off her skills to her father. But the corpses were soulless and held no warmth and kindness of those who had passed. Horrified, Lord Kiyoshi immediately beheaded his dead wife and child and clamped dark iron manacles around Kazue's neck. Ashamed of his daughter's terrifying power, he had her locked away and placed under constant supervision. The truth of her confinement was never revealed to the other clan members.
Stationed as her new watchdogs, the brothers confided in her their hatred and predicaments, and Kazue shared her resentment for her father and sisters. Together, the three of them plotted a coup, one that would free Kazue and legitimize the brother's growing ranks. They carried out their plans in secret and with great patience. They waited until the daimyo trusted the brothers enough to elevate them amongst his advisors and eventually his right hands.
They tricked the daimyo, making him believe that Isamu was powerful enough to control and hide Kazue's abilities. Eventually, he asked for her hand in marriage, and Kiyoshi foolishly agreed, believing that his new son-in-law could keep his tainted daughter in check and thus protect their reputation and legacy. Little did he know he had just handed Isamu the key to his downfall.
Over the next three years, Lord Kiyoshi's closest allies died, including his two eldest daughters and their husbands. A slip of untraceable poison here or a timely accident there—whatever the situation was, Isamu, Osamu, and Kazue were careful to make it appear that their victims had died from natural causes. Eventually, Lord Kiyoshi's health failed, and he found himself on his deathbed. With no one else eligible, he named Isamu his heir and died believing his legacy was secured.
Isamu rose as the new daimyo of the clan. No one, not even the Guardians, Takao and Akihito, questioned their legitimacy. Osamu became his right hand, and his wife became his new advisor.
The new clan elders subjugated their kinsmen from henceforth. They wielded their powers at almost every opportunity: Most marriages were arranged to serve their purposes; every child's future was decided, and every business deal and secret transaction was carried out to whet their appetite for power. Isamu and his inner circle encouraged those like-minded to be as controlling and oppressive to their children. If a kinsman refused to conform, Isamu would make their lives as unbearable as possible. Any who dissented against or threatened their seats of power quietly disappeared.
So many lives were destroyed because of Isamu and his cohorts. They'd never forgive Takao and Akihito for stealing their destiny, and they worked hard to make them and their descendants' lives as difficult as possible. Akihiro's spirit was broken when his beloved granddaughters were forced to marry a cruel shogun, which resulted in one sister stealing his Sacred Talisman, the Sword of Heaven's Revolution, and herself to a distant world, never to be seen again. Her sister, forced to take her place as the new bride, committed suicide.
They were the only two who successfully escaped the Kinomoto elders' control, albeit at a heavy price. One other came the closest to displacing Isamu and the elders' seat of power: Kohaku of the Watsuki clan.
Watsuki Kohaku's marriage to Takao's granddaughter, Kotone, was purely for the convenience of maintaining a peaceful alliance between their two clans. Despite his cold disposition, he grew to love his wife and children and knew who to blame when Kotone's mental health declined. There was no denying the fact that Kohaku did delve into the dark arts to increase his shadow-wielding. The Kinomoto elders claimed he was obsessed with the power of darkness. In truth, he did it to protect his family. When Kazue learned of Kohaku's intent on siphoning their magic and displacing them, she warned her husband and brother-in-law. Together, the threesome orchestrated Kohaku's execution. With careful words, they'd convinced the Twin Guardians and the newly appointed Chancellor Komei to confront and arrest Kohaku, ordering them to use deadly forces if necessary.
That night, misguided beliefs and strong words were exchanged before a fight broke off. The pounding rain drowned out the sound of a battle and screaming. A flash of purple light could be seen through the silk screens, followed by wailing and despair. Silence.
It was three years ago, not long after Kimi and Kyochi ascended as the new Twin Guardians and not long after Kazumi's marriage to Minamoto Seiji. The young man opted to become Chancellor Komei's protégé, and he worked diligently to spread his liberal ideals. While Seiji's words fell on deaf ears to those who were old and too used to the status quo, the younger generations showed interest in what he had to say. Even worse, his growing popularity amongst the youth coincided with the residents of Shinrinkage's dissent. The shadow-wielders of the isolated village refused to submit to Isamu's growing power. They hardly recognized his role as daimyo and refused to do business and trade goods with his clan. When Seiji's liberal views reached their town, the locals considered sending one of their own to the capital to challenge Isamu's seat. Unable to tolerate any of this, the Kinomoto elders plotted their downfall.
One night under a new moon, Kazue used blood magic to hex Seiji, corrupting and twisting his heart and soul. All the hatred, cruelty, malice, fear, and despair she'd collected were mixed and turned into an ikiryo, a living curse. Taking the shape of a particularly large centipede, a mukade, Kazue sent it to bite Seiji while he slept. He slept fitfully, believing everything he saw was a nightmare. In truth, he was twisted into a monstrous being, completely under Kazue's influence. She'd sent it to kill the residents of Shinrinkage, and she did it once every few nights. Seiji never suspected that it was he who had been the monster all along. He died believing that he was corrupted…
…his death had an enormous effect on those who survived…Kazumi, his new bride, was widowed mere weeks after their marriage…her reputation tainted…as was Kimi's…simply for surviving the battle…
The truth was too much to bear. Unable to take it anymore, Kimi reached out to the Heart of Kandrakar and smothered it between her hands.
They gasped for air as they had just broken the sea's surface. Will turned to see her friends were just as shaken as she was. The visions had lasted seconds, but it felt like an eternity. She turned to Kimi, still trembling, her hands desperately clamping down on the Heart as though afraid it would continue to reveal those haunting memories.
"Kimi, please…" Will nudged gently. She placed a hand over Kimi's cupped hands. "Here, give the Heart back to me."
Kimi bristled when their hands touched, and Will thought she would jerk away. Instead, she slowly unfurled her fingers, freeing the Heart to return to its master. Will gave her a sad smile and placed a hand on her shoulder. "C'mon, let's get going."
Will turned to the others, and they all silently nodded in agreement. They were about to leave when a sound caught their attention. The Guardians spun to see the elders had come to.
"So, you're still here," Osamu seethed, his eyes glaring at them. His hand flew to the hilt of his sword. "Are you so desperate for your punishment?"
Isamu helped his wife to her feet, and she glared daggers at them. When she noticed Kimi was well, she seethed in frustration, clearly not what she'd expected.
"So, you survived," Kazue said, almost mockingly.
The Guardians bristled. Kimi stared at Kazue as if seeing her in a new light. She felt as though she'd been gutted. Rage filled her heart, and her stare turned poisonous.
"MURDERERS!" Kimi screamed and tried to rush forward but was quickly held back by Orube and Taranee. "LET ME GO! MY PARENTS AND SEIJI ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF THEM!"
"Kimi, stop!" Orube warned.
"I understand your feelings, but we can't!" Taranee urged.
Kimi ignored them and tried to break off, but knowing her murderous rage back in Joseon, they held firm. Her piercing blue eyes focused on Kazue. "You're a necromancer! A blood witch! The worst kind of shadow-wielder out there!" she spat the words as if they were poison. "Lord Kiyoshi was in his right mind to imprison you. I only wished he had the guts to execute you when he had the chance!"
"We've seen and fought evil before, but you three are some of the worst!" Irma spat. "Even Zhu Que was never this duplicitous!"
Hay Lin stepped forward. "You're no kinsmen! You're not even family! Real family doesn't do any of this to each other! They would never condone cruelty and abuse!"
"You orchestrated my father's death sixteen years ago," Kimi said. "And when Seiji became a threat, you've cursed him and turned him into that…that thing! What's worse? You've used me to kill him!"
Kimi scanned the elders and saw their auras flickering with agitation. She'd never realized a sickening hue, like a lingering poison in their auras.
Isamu and his cohorts were stunned to see that the Guardians had learned their secret. When the realization settled, they narrowed their eyes. "How did you find out?" Isamu asked.
Will gave a derisive scoff. "The Heart of Kandrakar showed us!" she said. "I guess it read your black hearts and history during our match. Face it: your dirty secret is out!"
One of Kazue's eyes twitched. For once, she looked afraid, but it only lasted for a moment as she gave Will a slow smile that sent shivers down her neck. "Well, I supposed there's no point in keeping any of you alive," she said.
Will gasped. Something really was squirming near the base of her skull. Frowning, she reached up and grabbed something long and thin, pulling it from her red hair.
A large, red-and-black centipede with yellow legs wriggled between her fingers. It coiled around, twisting back to bite her hand. She yelped and threw it to the ground. The others followed her gaze and shrieked.
Heart pounding, Orube unsheathed her sword and tried to kill it, but it avoided her blade. Kimi fired thin laser beams at it from her finger, but it dodged her attacks, slithering back and forth around their legs, making it hard for her to aim and fire.
Kimi muttered a curse, realizing that this was the thing that Kazue had sent to kill her. "Don't let it bite you!" she warned. "It's a mukade! They are vicious and poisonous creatures!"
"Geez, I never would have guessed!" Irma said, the sarcasm dripping from her mouth. She tried to stomp it underfoot but missed. "Damn, it's fast!"
Infuriated, Will sent a sharp electrical charge at it, her attack precise and too quick for it to dodge. The mukade screeched as though in agony before slipping into the floor's cracks.
"It's over," Will said, turning to face the elders.
"You would think so, Guardian," Kazue smirked.
With a crash and a splintering of boards, an enormous serpentine monster burst out from under the ground, rising twenty feet into the air. The lights above reflected off its hardened carapace. The Guardians stared at the dozens of segmented legs skittered over broken boards and stoned tiles. A hissing sound commanded their attention. They looked up to see a bulbous onyx head whirling around. It paused to stare at them with crimson red eyes; yellowish ichors dripped from its mandibles.
Osamu smiled, and Kazue laughed. She glanced at her creation and pointed her fan at the Guardians. "Go forth, my omukade, and feast!"
The giant, man-eating centipede reared its head with a piercing screech and lunged for them.
"MOVE!" Will cried.
The Guardians took to the air, and Orube managed to jump high out of the way. The omukade crashed into the wall, leaving a big gaping hole. Before it could turn around, the Guardians aimed their attacks on its carapace.
Taranee's eyes widened when she saw her fire and Hay Lin's air blades dissipating against its shell. Irma created ice spears, but her water constructs shattered like glass.
"What the hell?!" Irma cried. "What is this thing made out of?!"
"Try your weapons!" Will ordered and pulled out her bolas.
In a flash, the others conjured their magical weapons: Irma's tambourine, Taranee's ball, Cornelia's ribbon, and Hay Lin's fans. Unfortunately, this idea was just as ineffective.
"Our weapons aren't making a dent on this thing!" Cornelia cried. "It's like this thing is made of steel!" She wished it was made of steel. At least she might have been able to tap into her earth magic and do something about it.
Isamu brushed the dust off his robes. "Come now, Kazue! Osamu! While they're preoccupied, we will take our leave."
"Are you certain you wouldn't want to watch them die, Nii-san?"
Isamu gave his brother a look. "We've wasted enough of our precious time with these children."
"Isamu is right," Kazue nodded. "We were supposed to meet with the shogun for the next phase of our plan." She glanced over their shoulders. "Do not worry. My omukade is the scourge of dragons! Those Guardians will not last in the next half hour."
Convinced, Osamu tucked away his sword. "Very well. Let us leave."
Seeing the elders fleeing, Kimi screamed and tried to go after them. Orube yanked her back by the arm, just in time to prevent her from getting crushed by the omukade's tail end. Flashing her sword, Orube swung and slashed at its jet-black carapace, but the blade screeched off the armor, leaving only scratches.
"Aim for the legs!" Kimi said, manifesting her own katana.
Together, they slashed through as many of its legs as they could. Black ichor spurt from the cuts and six appendages clattered to the ground, twitching and thrashing about. They looked up, but the omukade barely noticed.
A volley of ice arrows, fireballs, wind blades, and electric whips came down from above, aiming for the head. The attacks bounced off of the creature's skull. Meanwhile, Cornelia slammed her hand to the floor and crystal spires jutted from the ground. It coiled around Cornelia's spires as though they were boulders to be climbed over.
"Dammit!" Will swore. "Cornelia's right! Every part is armored! How are we supposed to kill it?!"
Every part is armored. "Will!" Taranee gasped, turning to her. "Its eyes!"
Will smiled and aimed for one of its eyes. Black blood squirted from its socket. The giant centipede shrieked and thrashed about wildly. Its armored body crashed against the walls, shaking the building. Immediately, Will regretted her action.
"WILL! WATCH OUT!" Taranee cried.
A large piece of the ceiling came crashing down. Swiftly, Taranee and Hay Lin dove in and dragged Will away, only to watch it coming down on the others below.
"GIRLS!" Irma cried.
Thankfully, Cornelia stopped it with her magic. Unfortunately, the omukade was still thrashing about, and the building was coming down on them all! Everyone huddled together and with a mighty cry, Will and Kimi conjured a thick dome over their heads. Cornelia released the rubble; it crashed down on them along with the rest of the debris.
After hours, their surroundings stilled into an almost eerie silence.
"Is it…is it gone?" Hay Lin whispered, almost too afraid to speak as if it could hear her. Cornelia waved her hand, clearing the debris on their protective done. With another wave, she removed the air of the dust.
Looming over them is the great centipede demon, the scourge of dragons, and the essence of pure evil. With its remaining good eye, it stared at Will and hissed, splattering acidic ichor all over their shield.
"Great, you've pissed it off!" Irma cursed.
The omukade roared and crashed its head against the dome. Kimi gasped, feeling the layer of her light shattering like glass. To everyone's surprise, Will's energy layer of the dome still held. The omukade screeched and rammed into the shield again and again. A sound reverberated every time it struck like the ringing of a cast-iron bell, but the shield never gave in to the centipede's strength. It seemed to glow brighter with every blow, its smooth surface crackling with pink and white electricity.
Will smirked. "Kinetic force shield," she explained to her friends. "We learned about kinetic energy in class last week, which was on my mid-term exam. I experimented by making a smaller version with my magic just yesterday."
Irma raised an eyebrow and whistled. Her friends were equally impressed. Orube, not familiar with science as she is with magic and martial arts, looked skeptical.
"Are you sure the omukade can't break through?" she asked.
It was Taranee who explained. "It's kinetic energy, Orube. It matches oncoming force. If you keep hitting it, your energy is redirected back at you."
"But we're still trapped!" Kimi pointed out.
Will suggested that they use teletransportation, but the omukade coiled itself around their protective dome, slowly squeezing tighter before they could.
"What's happening?!" Cornelia cried.
Will cursed. She'd forgotten that kinetic energy doesn't hold under steady impact. The omukade increased its pressure on them, slowly bending and warping the shape of her dome. Gritting her teeth, Will focused more energy on the shield, but she could feel it caving to the monster's might. They couldn't cast any teleportation spell of the sort under such conditions. It won't be long until it breaks and they're toast.
The omukade gave one final squeeze. They gasped as the dome collapsed, leaving them vulnerable. The omukade lunged for them, its mandibles wide open for the kill.
A deep and thunderous roar reverberated through the air. The Guardians covered their ears and glanced up in time to see a flash of metal slamming into the omukade.
Kimi gasped. "Silverlore!"
The metal dragon reared his head and dug his steel talons into the omukade, piercing through its carapace. In one swift move, Silverlore turned it over until everyone could see its soft underside and sank his teeth into it. They winced as they heard a sickening crunch, followed by a horrible shriek from the centipede.
"Kimi!" cried a familiar voice.
They turned to see Komei and Kyosuke behind them, their weapons glistening in hand.
"Uncle! Grandfather!" Kimi threw her arms around Komei. Tears spilled from her eyes. "The elders…Kazue…a necromancer!" she sobbed angrily. "They killed Seiji-kun! They tried to kill my father!"
"As I suspected," Kyosuke nodded solemnly. He glanced around, taking in the scene. "Komei, you know what do you. I'll handle Isamu and his lots."
"What are you talking about?" Orube asked.
Komei held up his feathered fan. "I'm sending you into the Dark Forest. Then I'm going back to the palace to confront Kenji."
Kimi jerked back. "What?! NO! We have to go after Isamu and—"
"No, you and your friends are needed elsewhere!" Kyosuke said, cutting her off with a firm glare. "It is not your destiny to stop the Kinomoto elders."
Kimi wanted to protest further, but a mighty screech reverberated through the air, deafening them into submission. They looked to see Silverlore and the omukade thrashing violently back and forth.
"Kimi, your grandfather's right! We have to go!" Orube cried.
Her friends braced themselves and stood together. Seeing light and air encircling them, Will knew all too well what would happen. "Everybody, hang on!" she ordered.
"Please! Don't send me away! I can't leave you! Not now!" she begged, unwilling to leave. Her cry died on the wind.
"Go! You must go into the Dark Forest and find Kyochi!" Komei shouted. The wind spun faster and faster, howling like a wolf in the night.
"Grandfather! Uncle!" Kimi cried, but Orube pulled her back into the group.
With a flick of his fan, Komei's torrent of air circled them like a tornado. Spinning faster and faster, they were pulled into the sky, the destroyed complex and the Kinomoto land disappearing beneath them.
As swift as the wind, Komei's magic deposited them gently to the ground.
"No!" Kimi cried, springing to her feet, but it was too late. The dust from Komei's air-wielding settled, only to be replaced by a lonely silence.
Her friends fought the urge to throw up. Composing themselves, they glanced around and were almost as breathless as Kimi. They'd never been here before, but they instantly recognized the place: After three years, it remained desolate. Skeleton frames of broken buildings were illuminated by the pale light of the moon. Moss and grass grew wildly, overtaking this place that was once filled with life.
Now only the dark silence thrived here. The darkness and its ghosts.
"This…this is…" Taranee's voice trailed off.
Orube nodded somberly. "This is Shinrinkage…or what's left of it."
To be continued…
Cultural references:
"-dono" is the suffix for lord or lady.
Mukade - centipede. They're real in Japan. Nasty critters. If you ever get bitten by these things, it hurts like hell. Sometimes called "little dragons", they're often seen as symbols of evil, making them perfect pets for a necromancer like Lady Kazue.
Omukade - In Japanese folklore and mythology, it's a giant man-eating centipede. According to legend, they are the scourge of mighty dragons and one of the few ways to kill them is with human saliva. Thankfully, Silverlore isn't your ordinary dragon, but an alien made of metal.
At last, the Guardians finally know the truth. Because Kimi is a light-wielder, she would most likely have died before Kazue's curse could take hold of her and turn her into the same creature as Seiji. Thankfully, the Jewel of Life is a talisman that can heal anyone on the brink of death as it banishes the darkness from her body, mind, and soul.
In physics, kinetic energy is the movement energy of an object. It can be transferred between objects and transformed into other kinds of energy. That's why Will's kinetic shield can absorb the omukade's kinetic energy, like strikes and punches, and converts that energy into itself to make it stronger. However, her shield loses stability when slow and steady pressure is applied.
Author's note: I'm sorry for taking so long with this chapter when I promised it would be up in a few days after my last update. Things have been rough for me these past few weeks. I've been dealing with a lot, including high stress. After this chapter, I am going to take some time off for mental health reason. I'm still writing, just not uploading. I had hoped to finish this arc by this December. Hopefully, I still can. Until then, see you later.