Blue

by Silenta-Atestanto

The history of our world is a simple one. An Overlord emerges to terrorize mankind, before a Hero rises up to slay him. So the cycle went, until it was broken when a succubus claimed the mantle, seduced the Hero sent to slay her, and created the stalemate we recognize today. But history is rarely ever so straightforward. I should know. I saw the events that would unfold for myself.

28. Chapter 28: Offering

Chapter 28: Offering

"Miss Promestein, is this really necessary?"

"I assure you, it is, Miss Seth."

"But, why? Abel's magic should've been enough to heal me."

"I shall be the judge of that."

Seth propped herself up on her elbows to glare at the alchemist. "What, do you not trust him?"

"That is not at all what I wished to imply," Violet replied "Although you may feel well on the surface, overexertion may cause injury to deep tissue that has yet to fully heal. And considering your injury was near the spine, in the absolute worst scenario, you may lose the ability to walk on your own. While I have every confidence in Abel's magic abilities, I will feel more at ease after conducting a full examination. Minze concurs."

Seth had been educated on a wide range of subjects- however, physiology was not one of them, so she had little choice but to take the alchemist at her word. Still… "…did I really have to take my shirt off for this?"

"I assure you Miss Seth, I have no untoward intentions," Violet replied. Her tone likely sounded reassuring to her own ears, but to Seth's, the alchemist sounded more bored than anything. "Everything I do is in the capacity of a medical professional."

It had been two days since Abel had departed to search for Kagura, with only a sword in his hand and the clothes on his back. And while most of the others (Seth and Violet among them) had wanted to join him in the search, or at the very least catch up to provide him with supplies, Abel's prediction of the bandits returning had proven true. They didn't come in the numbers they had before, but they came with surprising frequency- around five times every day- as if to probe the city's defenses now that Abel had departed. But even without his help, and though they seemingly had numbers on their side, a band of starving raiders proved little match for a smaller group of warriors that was both well-rested and better fed. And wherever the bandits appeared, the group moved swiftly to quell whatever threat they might pose.

That said, the foes they faced still had the capacity to inflict harm, great and small. Injuries were not common, but necessitated treatment all the same. As such, Violet and Minze had taken over one of the castle rooms near their quarters, converting it into an improvised clinic. The herbs needed to make medicines had long since run out in the castle's stores, and while the alchemist had her own supplies, as well as some aboard the Peregrine, she and her maid had to use them sparingly. Mostly, they used the space as a place to disinfect and bind any wounds. Time would have to take care of the rest.

But, this situation was different. Violet had noticed that Seth seemed to have difficulty getting about- walking, climbing, using her bow… even slight movements seemed labored, and though she tried to hide it, she could see the pain on the thief's face, the tension in her muscles. The alchemist had a strong suspicion as to the cause, but withheld any diagnoses until she could conduct a proper examination. Thankfully, Seth had approached her first with complaints of pain in her lower back, thus dodging the awkwardness of having to broach the subject. And so, the alchemist had brought the thief to her clinic, laid her out on a spare bedroll, and prepared to begin her examination.

"In Ordnung…" Violet said. "Miss Seth, I'm going to begin by palpitating the area. There may be some discomfort, but rest assured, I will do everything in my power to minimize the pain." With that, she began pressing down on the small of Seth's back. Quite hard, in fact, causing jolts of fire to shoot up and down the thief's spine and legs.

"Ow! Ow ow ow ow!" She squirmed, instantly pushing herself up and skittering away from Violet. "You're being too rough!"

"As I suspected…" the alchemist said, seemingly ignoring Seth's protests. "The area has yet to fully heal. I suspect that to be the cause of your recent pain."

The thief scoffed. "I'm pretty sure the real reason is because some madwoman is trying to flatten me like a piece of dough."

"Again, everything I have done thus far has been in the capacity of a medical professional. But, now that the nature of the injury has been properly assessed, I can administer treatment. Now, please lie still."

Cautiously, Seth returned to the bedroll… only to immediately jolt when something cold was touched against her back. The sensation wasn't painful (at least not initially), though it had been unexpected. "Hhaah… Couldn't you have just given me one of those potions you have?"

"That is precisely what I am doing," Violet replied calmly. "Direct application to an affected area can have a more pronounced effect than ingestion." Seth shuddered, her skin rippling from the coldness of whatever medicine the alchemist was using. "That said," Violet continued, "the salve will need some time to fully settle. I would ask that you not move until then."

"Great…" Seth muttered. Now she was stuck lying with her tits hanging out for everyone to see. …well, what little of them there was to see, anyway. …And, not everyone everyone. At least Abel wasn't here.

A short, uncomfortable silence settled in the clinic as Seth waited for the medicine to take hold. Unfortunately, the awkward peace was broken when Violet spoke up. "…Miss Seth, a question, if I may. You seem to be a very staunch supporter of Master Abel, always coming to his defense whenever Miss Meltrose speaks poorly of him. Why is this?"

"Well why wouldn't I?" the thief asked in turn. "He protected me. Saved my life." She added quietly, "…even when I didn't want him to."

"That fact is true for almost every one of us. But your support for him seems to be far stronger than anyone else. I would say that your zeal surpasses even Miss Fiann's. So again I must ask, why? Did his saving your life truly affect you so deeply?"

Seth looked ahead, "He didn't just save me. He saved a close friend of mine. She'd been mutilated, left for dead, but… he found her. He brought her back." She tensed- pain pulsed through her back, but it was distant, weak, like being pricked by pins. "And he made sure that the bastard who did all that to her would never do it to anyone else ever again."

"You must be referring to the events in Lohan," the alchemist then said. "I learned of them through a letter Amber sent to me. She had not seen events unfold for herself, but she and the rest of her company had heard reports through the Church. I think I understand."

"Do you?" Seth's gaze turned to the alchemist. "Practically every demi-human alive in Lohan at this moment is alive because of Abel. And… it didn't matter to him that they were demi-humans. All that mattered was that they were in danger. He saved them… because it was the right thing to do. There aren't enough Heroes- …enough people in this world who would do that."

"I see." Again, a silence settled between the alchemist and the thief. But then Violet asked, "But… what exactly does Abel mean to you? As a person?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Do you… have romantic intentions for Abel?"

"W-What? Where did that come from?" Seth pushed herself up- even though both she and Violet were women, she still moved to cover herself all the same.

For the first time since initiating the conversation, Violet looked Seth's way- for some reason, the alchemist's gaze made the thief feel especially vulnerable. "I think it to be a rather reasonable conclusion. Your constant support of him could be viewed as the result of an attraction to Master Abel. And I have little doubt that others in our party have reached a similar conclusion. So…" Her gaze intensified. "Are you attracted to Master Abel?"

Seth laid herself back down, unable to meet Violet's gaze. "I… I don't know…" she replied. She admired Abel, she respected him, she hated when others talked down to him, but…

"If he were to express interest in you, would you reciprocate?"

"Uh-" The alchemist had her cornered. Shameful though it was to admit, even to herself, Seth couldn't exactly say that she had never given the idea any thought. And… more than once, her… imaginings had run away from her. But she wasn't about to say all of that out loud.

But, wait. If Violet was asking how Seth felt toward Abel, did that mean…?

"Well, what about you?" Seth then asked, turning the question back on the alchemist. "What do you-" She shifted to look back, but Violet was gone. "Uh, M-Miss Promestein?"

Then, a mound of soft, warm flesh suddenly slid over Seth. A hand wrapped around her waist, and a pair of breasts pressed firmly against her back.

"I believe that you and I can help each other."

Suddenly, the alchemist's words about not having any untoward intentions sounded a great deal less plausible.

"Wh- What do you think you're doing!?" Seth squirmed, trying to slide out of Violet's grasp.

But the alchemist's grip tightened- not in a way that was painful or threatening, but merely to keep her close. "I must admit," she began, "that I have a certain affection toward Master Abel as well. And he is at an age where most young men are powerless to resist a woman's advances. I believe that if we were to combine our efforts, our chances of winning his affections would be greatly improved."

For several seconds. Seth's mouth moved, but no sound came out. She couldn't comprehend- …no, that wasn't the case at all. She understood completely. It was just that she refused to believe the alchemist's proposal. But eventually, she found her words. "Co-Com-Combine… n-no, no! No! Absolutely not!" She finally pulled herself free and skittered away from the alchemist, only daring to look back once she felt she was at a safe distance.

Violet didn't follow, remaining exactly where she was on the bedroll, head tilted in confusion, making absolutely no effort to cover her naked body, as if entirely unaware that it was something to be ashamed of. And in spite of herself, a pang of jealousy swept through the thief. Though pale, the alchemist had an excellent figure, with two especially prominent aspects grabbing the thief's attention. Though not the largest in their group- both Claire and Holly were ahead of her in that regard- Violet's breasts were still quite sizeable, their roundness matching the proportions of the rest of her body perfectly. Seth covered her own chest reflexively at the sight of them. And they had been rather-

Seth cut off that thought before it could continue, desperately searching for some way to end this interaction and put as much distance between herself and Violet as she could. "T- Th-Y-Y … Your treatment. Is it finished?"

The alchemist stood. Seth flinched, but Violet didn't move toward her, instead turning to gather her discarded garments. "Yes, it is. For now at least. But if you begin to experience any further pain or discomfort, please inform me or Minze immediately." The sudden shift back to normalcy was… jarring- were it not for the fact that the alchemist was still dressing herself, Seth could almost believe that the last few minutes had never happened.

"R-Right…" Seth dressed herself quickly and retreated from the clinic. She didn't stop even for a moment until she finally reached the guest rooms, and collapsed onto her futon with a heavy sigh. But throughout her flight back to relative safety, and even now, the alchemist's words echoed in her head.

…I have a certain fondness for Master Abel as well.

…if we were to combine our efforts, our chances of winning his affections would be greatly improved.

…he is at an age where most young men are powerless to resist a woman's advances.

Then a phantom of soft, warm flesh crept across Seth's back, two firm mounds pressing against her.

I believe that you and I can help each other.

Seth bolted upright, heart racing. But after a few moments, her heart settled. …damn it, why was she letting this get to her so much? It was obvious that someone - most likely Raine- had put those ideas into Violet's head. And Violet, being as socially unaware as she was, agreed to try them without even questioning Raine's motives. This whole situation was ridiculous, and Seth was better than to let it consume her. But…

But…

Now a seed of uncertainty had taken root within her. And once again, the sensation of soft warmth crept along her back, a pair of slender hands gently wrapping around her waist, a pair of large, shapely breasts pressing against her-

Seth jumped to her feet, and stormed out of the room. She'd seen some of the soldiers armed with bows, so surely there was a place somewhere in this castle where she could practice her archery, and certainly not dwell on how soft and warm and full Violet's breasts had felt… no, she definitely wouldn't think about that in the slightest.

At the same time, back in the clinic, Violet was engaged in her own ruminations. Specifically, about her proposition to Seth.

On paper, the logic had been sound- they had a mutual interest in Master Abel, and combining their efforts to win his affections would surely increase their chances of success. But Seth had rejected her proposal. And quite vehemently at that. It was puzzling. Yet, intriguing at the same time. It was clear to Violet that there was an error in her reasoning. But where? What was it that she had misunderstood?

Violet had come to learn that, in a sense, social interactions were not dissimilar to alchemy. They required precision, patience, and an understanding of the materials one was working with. And much like with alchemy, if the elements were used improperly- if a reagent was not correctly measured, if a reagent was contaminated in some way, if initial conditions were unfavorable for a particular process- then the result would differ significantly from the desired outcome. As her interaction with Seth had demonstrated.

Conditions… perhaps that was where her mistake lay, in her initial assumptions. After all, if one's hypothesis was flawed, then the conclusions drawn from it would be similarly skewed. She would need to reassess her starting point, and to do that, she needed more information.

Firstly, how did Seth view Master Abel? Was her view toward him that of simple admiration, or did something deeper - or at least, the desire to form something deeper- exist within her?

Secondly, why had Seth rejected her so forcefully? After all, the alchemist was fairly certain she hadn't suggested anything that could be considered inappropriate in her proposal. True, the proposal itself was unorthodox, but as a scientist, Violet recognized that advancements rarely came about while remaining within the bounds of conventional thought. Not to mention, young men around Master Abel's age were allegedly enthralled by the sight of women embracing one another in the throes of passion… or, so she had once read. Although, upon retrospect, perhaps she should have reserved that information until after she had secured Seth's cooperation.

Violet sighed. Unfortunately, without more data, it would be difficult to make accurate assessments about Seth's feelings or reactions. And speaking to her now would likely only serve to worsen the tensions between them. Loathe though she was to admit it, Violet was very much outside her realm of expertise, navigating the uncharted waters of human relationships.

…perhaps the best course now to call upon an outside expert. And a candidate readily sprang to mind.

After all, she was the one who told her that capturing a young man's heart required both boldness and finesse. And what could be more bold than cooperating with a woman who shared her interest in Master Abel in order to win his affections? If nothing else, she would be pleased with the initiative Violet had shown thus far.

Yes… yes, Minze would certainly have invaluable insights to offer.

She always did.

---

With an angry shout, Abel thrust his sword through the floating, flaming skull. The tip pierced through the foe with ease, and with a flick of his wrist, he cut the skull in half. But as it dropped to the ground, the flames died away, revealing nothing more than a paper lantern… or rather two halves of a paper lantern. It was one of now a dozen of its kind lying on the rough path that led toward the heart of Isha. But a shriek from behind told him that not all the foes had been dealt with. He turned, just in time to see another of the flaming skulls lunging toward a collapsed Kagura. He didn't think- he simply thrust his hand out and shouted "Angel Fire!" the white flames from his palm swallowing up the skull's red flames in an instant. She shrieked again, flinching away from Abel's flames, but unlike the skull, she had been spared from being engulfed.

A quick glance around confirmed that all their foes had been dealt with, but even so, Abel hurried to Kagura's side. Though she didn't appear injured, he extended a hand and focused, bathing her in a soft white light. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"I… I'm fine…" she replied. Abel continued extending his hand, to help pull her to her feet, but she waved it away, rising to stand on her own shaking legs with her own strength. "Is it… always like this?"

"It is. But usually, I have my friends to help out." As Abel said this, he realized just how true his words were. For arguably the first time since his quest began, he was truly fighting on his own. Even in the beginning, all the way in Hokes, he had Lailah, and Holly, and Niel to watch his back, and that number had only grown since. But now, it was just him- though he traveled at Kagura's side, she couldn't protect herself the way the others could.

"…what were these things?" Abel asked. He prodded one of the lanterns with his sword, but it did not stir. "Were they… ghosts?"

Kagura approached, and bent down to pick up one of the lantern pieces with trembling hands. "No. These are chochin obake. A type of tsukumogami."

Abel sheathed his sword. "And those are…?"

"Human tools that have taken a will of their own, either in gratitude for being well cared for, or out of resentment for being neglected. Given their temperament, I assume these were the latter. And given the state of affairs here on Isha, we should expect to see more of them."

Abel nodded, before his attention turned to the great mountain looming before them, its flat stone face in shadow, the sun only just rising over its peak. "Let's keep going."

It had been two days since the two set out from the village- three since Abel had left Enji, and six since Kagura had left. Little by little, Hinode grew larger with each passing day, with farmers' fields and rolling hills giving way to a thick-but-lifeless forest, but the progress was achingly slow. Kagura had lived a sheltered life in the confines of the Azai castle, and was very much unused to the rigors of travel. The two would have to make stops regularly to allow her to rest and recover her strength. Even then she still struggled, frequently- and quite literally- needed to lean on Abel for support. While he couldn't fault Kagura for her determination, it was clear that the daimyo's daughter was not well-suited for this kind of journey, even in circumstances where there wouldn't have been any real danger. Part of Abel wanted to simply lift her into his arms and fly the rest of the way to the mountain… but he doubted he had the strength to fly himself there, much less carry another. And, he had the impression that Kagura would not be especially appreciative of his efforts. All Abel could do was support her, and help her reach Isha's guardian, no matter how difficult that proved to be.

However, another concern quickly came to both Abel and Kagura's attention as they ventured further inland: their food supply. While Kagura had some provisions, there was only enough for the journey to Hinode, and not for a return trip to Enji. Meanwhile, Abel had set out with no supplies at all. And before this, Kagura had been traveling alone- there was no chance the provisions would last now that Abel was traveling with her. They had to find something to fill their stomachs.

Fortunately, that proved to be something of a self-correcting problem. While they had yet to encounter another wendigo, there were still plenty of other fearsome foes on the path who viewed a pair of young travelers as easy prey- among them wolves, and boars, and mantises as large as horses, along with other strange beasts that Abel didn't recognize, but Kagura did. One was a trio of blindingly fast weasels she called "kamaitachi;" yet another was a starved, talon-handed, bird-headed man that the daimyo's daughter identified as a "tengu." But regardless of what form the threats took, all swiftly met their end at the edge of Abel's sword. And not long after, that same sword would be used to strip the flesh from their bones to feed the young travelers. Abel had little experience butchering animals- the closest he'd ever come was cutting the heads off dead chickens, with the actual slaughter and preparation of cuts having always been Master Rachel's responsibility. So, he had no idea which parts of the animals were meant to be eaten, and which parts discarded. And even if he managed to make a decent cut of meat, the only means he had to prepare it was by roasting it over a fire, with no way of preserving it for later. Abel would admit, his efforts failed more often than they succeeded, but at the very least, the two of them weren't forced to go hungry.

Abel gave their surroundings another quick glance, before his attention returned to Kagura. Her face was flushed, and she was breathing heavily, having yet to rise from where she'd fallen. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm sorry…" she answered. "I don't think I've fully recovered. I just… need a moment to catch my breath…"

Abel gave her that moment, slowly scanning their surroundings in case another predator chose that moment to strike. But nothing approached. In time, Kagura's labored breaths slowly died away, and she finally pushed herself to her feet. "Alright, I think I'm ready. Let's…" She abruptly trailed off.

Abel glanced back, gripping his blade, just in case something had managed to catch them by surprise. But, looking around, he saw no obvious threat. "…What's the matter, Miss Kagura?"

She was staring at him intently. Or rather, at something behind him "Look there."

Abel did. And he too fell into a shocked silence.

It was… a sapling, a few steps away. It was small- not even reaching up to Abel's knee. But the small green leaves sprouting from its thin branches left no doubt that it was alive.

Cautiously, Abel reached toward the sapling. He moved slowly, as if expecting it to… well, he wasn't quite sure what. Vanish? Tear itself from the ground and flee deeper into the dead woods? But, it did nothing of the sort. Not even when Abel grabbed one of the small leaves and plucked it, looking it over closely. He didn't know anything about plants, but the leaf was a vibrant, seemingly-healthy green- something that felt out of place compared to the world around it.

"I thought the blight caused all the plants on Isha to die out…" he said faintly.

"Not all of them," Kagura said, stepping closer. "Merely those we humans would find edible." She crouched down, looking at the sapling. "Even with the blight lasting as long as it has, scouts still manage to find deer and other game to hunt from time to time. It raised hopes that perhaps there was some untouched glade where the blight had yet to reach. But then again…" She stood again with a dour expression. "The blight was meant to punish men. Why would animals be made to atone for sins they had no part in?"

Abel recalled that Sister Yumie had said the same thing when they'd arrived. "Still, maybe this is a good sign," he said. "It might mean we're getting close to the guardian."

They pressed on. And indeed, as the mountain drew closer, they found more plants- and with them, more signs of life. Deer, birds, squirrels, other smaller creatures, and even a few lone wolves, though as they were seemingly better fed, they took no interest in the two travelers. But as they progressed further, the brush thickened, slowing their progress. At the same time, the ground underfoot began to slope- gently at first, but more and more sharply as the mountain loomed ever larger above them. Their already slow progression came to a near-standstill. They were so close…

But again, Abel restrained himself. Kagura may have ordered him to protect her, but he doubted she would be appreciative of any efforts to expedite their journey. It was clear the journey itself had meaning, if only to the daimyo's daughter. And it was clear that unlike the gods of his homeland, the gods of Zipangu, or at least their guardians, had a more immediate influence on the land and those who lived there. Perhaps, at that very moment, the guardian was watching Kagura- watching both of them- measuring her resolve. If this was meant to be some sort of test, any interference could reflect poorly on Kagura, and reduce her chance of lifting the blight.

But there was a change in Kagura. Though signs of exhaustion were obvious, she pressed on, never stopping for more than a few moments, even when Abel urged her to rest. Perhaps his words had a more profound impact than he expected… or perhaps with their goal so close, she found a strength within herself that she hadn't been aware of. But regardless of the reason, Kagura moved forward at a steady pace, with Abel just ahead, ready to confront any approaching dangers.

Which came much sooner than expected. Tossing out an arm, he gripped his sword and ordered, "Wait." Kagura halted, following his gaze to the source of his warning.

It was… a fox. A fox with fur as black as night, almost resembling a shadow come to life. But this fox was no ordinary creature. For one, it was massive - bigger than a fox or a wolf, nearer to a deer in size. And second, it stood on its hind legs, absolutely towering over the both of them, as if deliberately trying to draw attention to itself. But as soon as both Abel and Kagura had laid eyes on it, it dropped down on all fours and turned, before standing stiffly, its body pointing deeper into the wood.

Abel relaxed, though only slightly, keeping his grip on his weapon. "What's it doing?"

Kagura let out a small breath. "Kitsune…" she said softly. "A messenger of the gods. They can take many forms, but they favor foxes above all others."

Abel wasn't sure what to make of Kagura's words. In spite of its size, there didn't seem to be anything unusual about the fox. If nothing else, at least it wasn't aggressive.

…but then the fox looked back toward them, and tilted its head in the direction its body was facing.

Abel was certain he hadn't imagined it. And it hadn't been some random movement. It was a very deliberate, very human gesture. One with a very clear meaning:

Follow me.

Kagura stepped past Abel, taking several wary steps toward the black fox. "Kagura, wait!" He called, hurrying after the daimyo's daughter. But well before either could draw close, the black fox bounded ahead, yipping excitedly, before stopping a short distance away, looking back in their direction. The two approached warily, but again, the fox bounded away, before suddenly stopping and turning around once more. The sequence repeated several more times- Abel and Kagura approached, only for the fox to dart away as they neared. Despite its size, it had no trouble weaving its way through the trees, though it never went so far ahead that Abel and Kagura lost sight of it, as it regularly stopped and looked back toward them, as if to ensure they were following. But after a few minutes, as the woods began to thin, the fox suddenly darted away once more. But this time, it didn't stop. It didn't even look in their direction. Kagura ran ahead as she chased after the fox, Abel scrambling to follow her, but when they emerged from the trees, they found themselves on a barren, stony slope, the black fox nowhere in sight.

Kagura stumbled to a stop, panting heavily, looking around in confusion. Abel caught up, similarly winded, and scanned their surroundings. The slope was bare, with nothing in the way of crags or outcroppings. But even so, the fox was simply gone, as if it had vanished into thin air. Abel swept his eyes over the slope again, certain he must have missed something, when a bright glint caught his attention. When he looked toward it in full, he saw that it was… a second fox, one with golden fur that shone in the sunlight. It was much smaller than the black fox- nearer in size to normal fox- but it too had a distinct characteristic that marked it as something other than ordinary. In this case, it didn't have one tail, but two, swaying side-by-side, as it sat on the slope, as if it had been waiting for them.

Once again, Kagura began to approach. But unlike the black fox, the golden fox remained stationary, watching her with an almost curious expression. It wasn't until Kagura stood directly in front of the fox and reached out a hand that it finally reacted. With a flick of its tails, it hopped back, then turned and padded away along the mountain's side, Kagura and Abel following. But once again, after only a minute or two, the fox suddenly raced ahead, darting around a large boulder and out of sight. Kagura ran after it without hesitation, with Abel racing after her in turn. But when Abel rounded the boulder, as before, the golden fox was gone.

Panting, Abel stumbled to a stop next to Kagura. "I told you to wait, didn't I? There could've been something dangerous waiting for us."

Kagura turned toward him, her expression strange. "Something dangerous is waiting for us," she said, her voice low. "In there." She pointed at something on the slope, hidden in the boulder's shadow. Only, it wasn't a shadow. It was a great, gaping maw in the side of the mountain, its edges lined with sharp stalactites, the passage beyond shrouded in darkness.

A cave.

"Kagura…" Abel started, but the daimyo's daughter was already moving, striding purposefully toward the dark entrance. "Hold on just a moment!"

Kagura did stop, but only for a moment as she glanced back at Abel. "Lord Hero. I believe we've kept the guardian waiting for long enough," she said bluntly, before striding into the cave, disappearing into the shadows. Abel had no choice but to follow.

But the moment Abel's foot touched the cave's floor, he felt… wrong. Weak. As if someone had cut a hole into him and all of his strength had leaked out. In truth, he'd felt peculiar ever since he and Kagura began following the black fox, but he had thought little of it. But the shock of all his strength leaving him was too powerful to ignore. He staggered, falling to a knee as he clutched his chest, heart racing, feeling as if he were trying to breathe with a pile of bricks pressing down on him.

Ahead, Kagura stopped. "Lord Hero?"

Abel didn't answer immediately, instead, he focused, trying to ignite his wings of light. They did, but they began to flicker, before snuffing out entirely, like a candle in a strong wind. It was the same when he held up his hand and tried to use Daylight- all that emerged from his palm was a feeble white puff that quickly flickered and disappeared. Struggling to his feet, he finally replied, "My powers… something's stopping them from working."

If Niel were with him, she'd probably have some kind of answer as to what was happening. But now, he was at a loss. Had the guardian made some sort of barrier meant to block magic? Or, was it the nature of the place itself? He could feel… something in the air. A warmth, or… a pulse. …A breath. Something was down there. Something very powerful. The fact that even he could feel it, when he'd barely even set foot in the cavern, was testament to that.

This time, it was Kagura who came to Abel's side. "Are you alright?" she asked, concern clear on her face.

Abel… wasn't alright. Ever since Hokes, when Niel had first used the powers within him, he could feel the strength her blood gave him, pulsing faintly within him like a second heartbeat. But now, he felt… hollow. Like a husk that could crumble away at the slightest touch. But Abel forced himself to stand, stumbling as he did. "I'll… be fine," he replied weakly. He then looked to Kagura, expression serious. "But, listen. If we run into something down there, something… dangerous… then you need to run. Don't worry about me- just get yourself out of there."

Kagura's eyes narrowed, an unreadable expression on her face. "…we have come this far together, Lord Hero," she then said in a firm voice. "I will not abandon you when we're so close to the end."

Abel was silent. He knew he should argue against the daimyo's daughter, but at the same time, he knew that his words would never be able to sway her. Kagura was stubborn, and determined to see this through to the end. Even if it meant risking herself alongside him. So, he said nothing, merely nodding to her, before setting off into the darkness of the cave, the daimyo's daughter at his side.

Instantly, the two were plunged into shadow, and the slope beneath their feet reversed direction, now descending downwards sharply into the earth. The air was cold, the walls were rough, and the path forward was narrow, forcing the two to move slowly, one-at-a-time as they descended. Though strangely, despite traveling deeper and deeper into the earth, they were never plunged into absolute darkness. The air itself seemed to be filled with some sort of light, like moonlight filtered through clouds, casting everything in shades of blue and gray.

After descending for a few minutes, once Abel felt… not necessarily better, but less weak, he asked Kagura, "Do you… have any idea what to expect from the guardian? What's it like?"

But Kagura shook her head, just before squeezing through an especially narrow crevice, her reply echoing throughout the passage. "I'm afraid I can't say. Though powerful, and exceptionally long-lived, the guardians appointed by the gods are just as mortal as anyone else. The guardian from Nobumori's time is almost certainly not the guardian who serves today. That said, the gods are inclined to choose guardians similar to themselves in nature. As god of the harvest and home, Isha is warm and gentle, so it's likely her guardian will be of a similar temperament."

That was a good sign. Hopefully that meant negotiating with the guardian would be a simple matter. Or at least that it would be less inclined to try and kill them both on sight.

Eventually, the slope beneath their feet leveled out, and after squeezing through yet another narrow crevice, the passageway widened out into a cavern littered with rough stone columns, its ceiling lost in darkness. The air here was still, and silent, broken only by the faint sound of water dripping somewhere nearby. On the cavern floor, a dark, velvety moss grew silently in scattered patches. Though otherwise seemingly empty, the cavern filled Abel with a sense of dread. If this were a story, he could imagine it as the lair of some terrible beast, one that hid itself behind the rocky columns as it stalked its prey. As soon as he thought this, he saw movement at the edge of his vision, near one of the columns. But when he turned to look, there was nothing there.

The two of them ventured deeper into the cavern, Kagura boldly, Abel decidedly… less so. But after seemingly only a few paces, a voice rasped out from the shadows above them:

"I can smell the blood that runs through your veins, little girl."

Kagura squealed in terror, rushing behind Abel and clinging to him in fright. Abel drew his sword, eyes sweeping across the cavern, but the source of the raspy voice was nowhere to be found. "Who's there? Show yourself!" he demanded. In the corner of his vision, Abel saw movement again, this time above him. His gaze darted upward… and his blade nearly fell from his hands.

Above him, wrapped around one of the stone columns, was a snake. An absolutely enormous snake coated with ghostly white scales. Abel had thought the snake in Caral Marsh had been massive, but this snake was on an entirely different level, closer to the hydra in size. Abel may have slain objectively stronger foes, but at the moment, he was alone, and without the power Niel's blood gave him. If this monster wanted a fight, he wasn't sure he could last more than a few minutes.

The snake wound its way down the pillar to the cavern floor- Abel was struck by how, in spite of its size, the white serpent's movements were utterly silent, without so much as a rustling of its scales. When it reached the ground, it reared up, raising its head high above the two humans, forked tongue flickering between its jaws as it surveyed its new visitors. Abel swallowed hard, gripping his sword tightly.

Soon, the serpent spoke once again, its words slow, but loud, like the rumbling of a distant earthquake. "You are quite bold, to invade another's home with weapons drawn and make demands of them. Tell me, are all mortals so foolish, or is it merely the pair of you?"

Abel remained silent as Kagura stood behind him, clinging to his shoulder, trembling so violently that it made him tremble as well. But after drawing in a deep breath, she drew herself up, and stepped out in front of Abel. "I… am Azai Kagura, daughter of Azai Saburo, daimyo of Tonbau," she declared loudly, as if shouting would somehow give her authority. "And I have come to perform the rite of my clan in my father's place." But despite her words, she couldn't mask her fear completely. Her voice wavered, and her legs shook, threatening to give out under her.

The serpent considered her for a long moment. "So, at long last, your clan has remembered its oath to Isha. How… refreshing." The snake then drew close to the both of them- as its breath washed over them, Abel was struck by the scent of pine needles. Despite its monstrous form, it smelled… clean, and natural, almost pleasant. But that mood was instantly soured by the serpent's next words.

"But do you truly believe that if you performed your rite, all would be instantly forgiven? In neglecting your oath, you have committed grave offense against Lady Isha. And such transgressions… must be punished."

Kagura's legs were shaking again. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't stop her voice from shaking as well. "If… it will save my father's people, I am willing… to pay whatever penance is required."

"The pact between Nobumori and the guardian was one sealed in blood. And it is in blood that your transgression will be repaid."

Blood… Abel was afraid he knew exactly where this conversation was headed. As the snake began to rear back, he dived toward her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her away, just as the snake rushed through where the daimyo's daughter had stood. The two of them crashed to the cave floor painfully, the impact forcing the air from Abel's lungs. He rolled off her, gasping. "We need to-"

But Kagura rose to her feet, still trembling. "Don't interfere, Lord Hero," she commanded, her voice low, but firm.

Abel's hand shot out, grabbing Kagura's wrist. "Dammit, no! I'm not letting you do this!"

"But… I must!" Kagura reached for the bronze pin in her hair. But past exposure ruined any element of surprise, and Abel caught her by the wrist before she could stab him.

"And what am I supposed to tell your father!?" He twisted Kagura's wrist, forcing her to drop the pin. "What do you think will happen if he finds out what you did!?"

"He'll understand! He'll realize my sacrifice was necessary to save our people! Any king would sacrifice a single person- even their own child- if it would save a thousand more! That's what it means to rule!"

"Will he!?" he shouted, his words echoing in the cavern. "Even if sacrificing yourself ends the blight, if Sister Yumie has your father wrapped around her finger like you said she does, then he's going to march every soldier he has to this mountain to kill the guardian! You'd die for nothing!" The way Kagura was acting… Seth had been the same way: certain that her sacrifice was a necessary price for the sake of her goals. That may have been the case with the thief, but there was no way Kagura feeding herself to this monster would end other than with a lot of people dead. "And if you die, a lot more people are going to die after you!"

"And if I don't do something now, everyone will die!" she shouted back.

"And who is this?" the snake then said, its blood-red eyes shifting to Abel. "This matter is between the guardian and the Azai's heir. You have no business interfering."

There was something odd about the snake's choice of words. Almost as if… "And who are you?" he snapped back. "Are you Isha's guardian?"

The snake was silent.

Abel pointed his blade at the serpent. "Are you!? Answer me!"

The snake's eyes narrowed, its pupils narrowing to thin slits. "I can sense that you have some measure of power, child. But you would need more years than a human has in their lifetime before you could stand as an equal to a servant of Isha. Much less make demands of one."

Abel's grip tightened on his blade. "You're still not answering my question."

The serpent's mouth twisted. "…And what could you possibly do to force an answer out of me?"

Abel didn't reply, as he gripped his sword in both hands and lowered himself, preparing to charge. In truth, there was probably little he could do. But contrary to his expectations, he wasn't entirely powerless. Even without his wings, he could outrun the serpent's strikes. He could only hope his arms were similarly endowed.

The serpent had no words for Abel either. It merely let out a rumble as it slowly drew back, baring fangs longer than Abel was tall, and letting a hiss that sounded like the creaking of trees in the wind.

But before either could move, a new voice broke the silence. "Enough, Maki."

Abel jolted. As did Kagura, and- to his surprise- the white serpent. The voice hadn't been particularly loud, but it almost sounded as if its owner were standing right next to him. But there was no one else in the cavern.

The serpent withdrew, before… bowing its head, eyes closed. "Milady."

Meanwhile, Abel remained tense, sword still in his hands. The fact that his suspicions had been correct- that the serpent wasn't the guardian- only served to deepen his apprehensions. While thankful to avoid a fight, if this unseen newcomer could command the serpent's obedience with only a single word…

But Abel had little time to dwell, as the voice spoke once more. "The blood of Nobumori flows in the girl's veins. And the boy… Maki, bring our guests to me. I wish to see them with my own eyes."

"As you wish, milady." The serpent turned, and began to slither away. But again, the voice spoke to her.

"And, Maki… there's no need to wear that form anymore. These two are no longer trespassers, but my honored guests."

The white serpent's gaze turned toward the cavern ceiling, as if reluctant to comply. But then with a shudder, the snake… began to change, its body twisting and contorting in all sorts of impossible angles, shrinking down to a form that, while still taller than either Abel or Kagura, didn't utterly dwarf them: that of a red-eyed woman with long white hair, clad in plain white robes. But, much like the foxes, the serpent-woman had distinct features that marked her as something beyond the mundane: black marks on her cheeks, resembling a pattern of scales; thin black slits for pupils; and a long tail covered in white scales that emerged from the back of her robe. Despite the radical change, however, the serpent-woman seemed just as imposing in this form as she was in the previous. Nonetheless, she gave a small but respectful bow to Abel and Kagura, before gesturing for them to follow. "Come. My master awaits further within."

Kagura followed the serpent-woman further into the cavern. Abel hesitated, before sheathing his sword and following as well. The unease he felt before lingered within him, only growing stronger as they descended further into the caves, but he wouldn't abandon Kagura now. After all, it was entirely possible that the serpent-woman's master was not as benevolent as her words made her seem. And so long that there was even the smallest chance that Kagura was still in danger, Abel would not leave her side.

Eventually, the serpent-woman led them to another cavern. It was smaller than the first, its walls and floors free of moss, and smooth, as though someone had spent hours beyond number polishing them until they shone. Various objects were scattered about the chamber- scrolls, statues, books, and various other items which probably would have been more at home in a museum rather than in a cave at the heart of a mountain. At the center of this collection sat a chair of carved stone, its occupant shifting as Abel, Kagura, and the serpent-woman approached.

It was a slender girl with sharp features, and short, deep, dark purple hair with blunted ends that reached her chin, parted by a pair of red-tipped horns sprouting from her forehead. Her eyes, a vibrant green that shone in an eerie light, were narrow, and lined by red makeup that gave the girl a sly, mischievous air. But it was not her appearance that was the strangest aspect about her- that would have been her attire. From her neck down, the slender girl was clad in some sort of black outfit the likes of which Abel had never seen before… only, that wasn't quite true. One of the Heroes he'd met in Lescatie wore an outfit that was strikingly similar- Lavian, the girl whose Relic was a massive, flying suit of gleaming armor. And like Lavian's strange garb, the slender girl's suit clung to her body tightly, preserving her modesty while leaving absolutely nothing about her figure to the imagination. Thin, glowing green lines in the same shade as her eyes ran through the slender girl's garb like veins- but strangely, there were no seams, no buttons or fastenings, no sign of exactly how one was supposed to don or remove the strange clothes, as if the suit really was a second layer of skin.

The slender girl regarded Kagura with a neutral expression, her fingers drumming against the armrest of the stone chair. "So, the Azai clan has come at last to pay homage to Isha and her appointed guardian."

Kagura dropped to her hands and knees, her forehead touching the cave floor. "We have," she replied, her voice muffled. "I am Azai Kagura, daughter of Azai Saburo, daimyo of Tonbau and master of the Azai clan." She raised her head, though only slightly. "And by what name shall I call you, O Guardian?"

The slender girl touched a hand to her chin, as if in deep thought, a sly grin breaking across her face. Several moments passed before she answered. "…Oko."

"Very well…" Kagura raised her head. "…Lady Oko."

Oko's focus then shifted to Abel. Unlike Kagura, he hadn't knelt, or shown any other sort of deference toward her. The guardian's eyes sparked, though whether it was because she was offended or intrigued remained unclear. "And who is this you have brought with you? I sense the power of Doukan and Gia within him, but he is a foreigner to these lands." She leaned forward. "I would very much like to know he acquired these powers."

Abel stood firm, despite Oko's intense stare. "I'm Abel. Champion of Bacchus, a god in my homeland across the sea. I'm here because Kagura asked me to bring her to you."

Oko's eyes flashed again. "Ah, you're a Hero, then." She rose from the chair, before giving him a deep, mocking bow. "Truly, you honor us with your presence, Lord Hero." She straightened up, her grin widening.

Abel bristled at her tone, but forced himself to not respond. He very much doubted that the serpent-woman would stand idly by while he insulted her master… assuming the slender girl didn't decide to address his impertinence herself. And anything he did might reflect poorly on Kagura as well. At best, Oko might refuse to lift the blight, even if Kagura performed the rite. At worst… well, he didn't want to think about the worst. All he could do was play along, hold his tongue, and hope for the best.

The guardian returned to her throne, her gaze shifting back to Kagura. "In any case, it is quite fortunate that you came here with a companion, heir of the Azai. Had you come alone, things may have ended… less pleasantly."

Kagura looked up from where she was kneeling, trepidation clear on her face. "W-Why is that… Lady Oko?"

Oko tilted her head, her smile slowly fading. "Do you… not realize what the rite entails, heir of the Azai?"

Kagura didn't answer.

Oko drew herself up, surprise clear on her face… but only for a moment, before a sly grin reappeared on her lips. "…I see." The guardian leaned back in her seat, her strange smile widening. "Stand. And approach me."

Kagura did as she was told, rising and approaching the guardian. Abel moved to approach the throne as well, but the serpent-woman stepped in front of him, as Oko held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks. "My words are meant only for the Azai heir's ears, Lord Hero. You will remain where you are."

Abel frowned, but moved no further, keeping a wary eye on the two. Oko beckoned her closer, and Kagura leaned in. Once she did, the guardian whispered something in her ear. Kagura was turned away, but from the way her body jolted, it must have been quite a shock to hear. Oko's eyes then fell on Abel, and she said, loudly enough for him to hear, "…do you now understand what you must do?"

Kagura turned to Abel, her face pale. She looked back at Oko, who said nothing more, merely giving the daimyo's daughter a small nod. When Kagura looked toward Abel once again, her expression was flat and unreadable. "Yes," she replied stonily. "I understand completely." The daimyo's daughter then reached up, pulling the comb from her hair, letting it fall around her shoulders. At first, Abel was utterly baffled, watching as Kagura untied her sash, then let her coat slip from her shoulders and fall into a heap on the cavern floor. It wasn't until she opened her shirt, revealing that she was wearing nothing underneath, that the realization struck him.

"K -Kagura!?" Abel stammered, covering his eyes as the daimyo's daughter bent over to remove her shorts. "What are you doing!?"

"What I must," she replied simply.

There was a quiet patter of approaching footsteps. Abel dared to peek through his fingers, only to instantly regret it. Kagura stood just a few paces away, naked, her face flushed, looking much less stoic than she had just a few moments before. He retreated, covering his eyes once more, only for Oko to snap her fingers- in response, vines burst from the ground, slithering up his body and winding around his limbs. But the vines didn't merely bind Abel in place- with terrifying swiftness, they slipped under his clothes, peeling them away until he too was utterly naked.

Abel let out a strangled gasp, his face burning. He struggled, but the vines held firmly. He focused, trying to summon a blade of light to his hand to cut through the vines… but where his magic had been reduced to a flicker at the cave's entrance, now it failed entirely. "What- What is this!? What are you doing!?" he demanded, voice wavering.

"The heir of the Azai is preparing to perform the rite of her clan, of course," Oko said calmly. "In accordance with the oath agreed upon by Nobumori and my predecessor, when the head of the Azai clan takes a wife, he must consummate his marriage before the eyes of Isha's guardian." She looked towards him with a knowing smile. "I realize that the two of you aren't actually betrothed, but to show my respect for the Azai heir's determination to reach me, I will overlook this fact."

Abel strained, pulling against the vines, to no avail. "C-Consummate!? …What does that mean?"

Oko's strange smile widened, and she regarded him with wide, predatory eyes. "It means I'm going to watch the two of you have sex."

"Wh-! Dh- de- s- se…" He couldn't say it. As hard as he tried, the word simply refused to pass his lips.

"Oh my," Oko purred, leaning forward, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Look at you, standing there stammering like a maiden. It's quite unbecoming of a man, don't you think?" Maki remained silent as she looked on, her expression passive, but from the way her eyes gleamed, Abel suspected the serpent-woman wasn't as disinterested as she let on.

Kagura had finally come to a stop, within arm's reach of Abel. Her face was still flushed, her eyes downcast. When she stepped closer, he tried to pull away again, but once again, the vines held him in place. "K-Kagura…" he whispered, voice trembling.

For several long moments, there was only silence, as Kagura averted her gaze."Lord Hero…" she finally began. "…Abel. I won't ask you to forgive me. But… please…" Her eyes finally met his. "Please just…" She hesitated, then stepped even closer, her chest pressing against his own. "…bear with me. "

Abel's heart hammered in his chest, the heat in his face so strong it felt like it was melting. Kagura's body was… soft. Warm. And pressed so closely against his own, he could feel her heartbeat, just as thunderous as his own. Then, she shifted, dragging her… her breasts across his chest. She shuddered, and bit her lip, but didn't step back. If anything, she pressed against him even more firmly, her heavy breaths broken by the occasional soft gasp or faint moan. If it hadn't been for the vines holding him up, Abel was certain his legs would've given out from the sensation. But Abel wasn't the only one affected. Kagura's breaths grew more ragged, and she pushed against him more firmly, two hard points digging into his chest. The sight, the sounds, the feeling… it was almost too much for him to bear. His head spun, his vision blurred, and his mind reeled as the sensations whirled together in an intoxicating spiral. "Kagura…" He couldn't find any words beyond her name. The only thing his mind could focus on was her touch. Her warmth. Her scent. He was drowning in it all, unable to resist, unable to look away.

But then a jolt snapped Abel from his trance, and a sharp, keening cry escaped his throat. Kagura had slipped a hand between their bodies, her fingers lightly brushing against his… his… length. Reflexively, he tried to pull away, but the vines ensured he remained pinned in place. She didn't move- her fingers simply remained still, resting against him. Yet even that gentle touch was enough to send a shock through him, as if he'd been struck by lightning. But the shock wasn't unpleasant- far from it. Even so, Kagura's hand darted back, as if she'd been suddenly burned. In spite of himself, Abel pulled against the vines, not to escape from Kagura, but to somehow draw her hand back to him. To… make her touch him again.

As Abel writhed, Kagura's hand returned. But this time, it did more than brush against him. It wrapped around him, her grip tentative. Abel gasped, a shudder running through him at the simple act of her touch. Kagura's fingers curled around him, moving up and down his length slowly, as if learning the shape of him. The sensation was overwhelming, sending sparks dancing through his veins. "Nnneeh…" The warmth, the pressure, the slow, rhythmic movement of her fingers. The world was melting- he was melting, fading into nothingness, leaving only one sensation behind. Kagura. Her hand. That was all he could focus on.

Kagura bit her lip, her breathing becoming more erratic with each passing second. But, was it her breaths? Had she said something to him? He didn't know. Even if she had, he wouldn't have been able to respond. He could barely think through the haze of pleasure coursing through him- an intense, building heat that seemed to be consuming him from the inside out.

Kagura's hand continued its slow, torturous pace, her grip tightening ever so slightly. Abel could feel every finger wrapped around him, could feel her palm against his sensitive underside. He was teetering on the brink, a coil inside him wound impossibly tight, ready to snap at any moment…

…but it never came. Kagura's hand slipped away, leaving him feeling bereft and… unfulfilled. The sudden loss of contact left Abel's body protesting the absence of her touch, and he pulled against the vines again, letting out a pitiful sound, the need inside him screaming, demanding to be quenched. But Kagura's attention was turned elsewhere- specifically, toward a very particular part of his anatomy below the waist. Her gaze locked onto his manhood, eyes wide, the redness in her face creeping down her neck, until it seemed her whole body was flushed. For a few agonizing moments, she simply stared, transfixed, even sinking down to her knees, bringing her face level with his hips.

The haze was beginning to clear, and in an instant, Abel was mortified to find himself the object of such intense attention. He tried to turn away, but of course, the vines held firm. Yet, at the same time, there was a small part of his mind- a dark, shameful corner- that was intrigued. That wanted to see how things would play out. But even that corner could only watch, utterly unprepared for what came next. Kagura leaned in, her tongue slowly emerging, before she gave his tip a cautious, tentative lick.

It was brief, and light, barely even a touch. But the sensation still sent a jolt through Abel, far stronger than her earlier touches had been. His hips jerked, the vines creaking in protest as he strained against them. Again, Kagura pulled back in surprise… but after only a moment, she returned. And, as if emboldened by his reaction, she gave his length a firmer lick. Abel's breath caught, his body arching involuntarily, as if to force himself deeper into her mouth. Again, the vines creaked, but they proved stronger than Abel's desires.

Kagura didn't stop there. Each lick grew longer, more confident, sweeping up and down his whole length, exploring him, learning his shape, his taste. Abel's mind reeled, nearly overwhelmed by the intensity of the sensations- of pleasure so raw, so primal, it bordered on pain. Once again, he teetered on the edge- the edge of what, he didn't know. All he knew was that Kagura's tongue was driving him there, mercilessly, relentlessly. His vision began to blur, his thoughts scattering as he felt her breaths against him, heard the soft, wet sounds of her mouth as she worked him over. And still, the vines' grip held firm, keeping him helpless, trapped, as Kagura brought him closer and closer to… to something. Something he couldn't quite grasp. Something he couldn't prepare himself for.

Then all at once, it hit him. Like a physical blow, a wave of pure sensation crashed over him, tearing through every fiber of his being. Abel screamed, the sound torn from his throat, echoing through the cavern. His vision went white, his body convulsing as a rush of blazing heat flooded through him. It was overwhelming. Unbearable. …And the most wonderful sensation Abel had ever experienced. He never wanted it to end.

But to Abel's disappointment and relief alike, it did. The blinding white light slowly faded, leaving Abel lying limp in the vines, utterly drained. Panting heavily, he struggled to focus on the blurry figure kneeling beside him. Kagura. Still staring at his spent member, her face flushed, her lips glistening with saliva. She looked… dazed. Shaken. As if she'd never experienced anything like that before either.

Abel tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "K-Kagura… t-that was…" He trailed off, searching for words. But none came. What could he say? How could he describe something so… indescribable? That it was incredible? Terrifying? Life-changing? But nothing that came to mind felt adequate. Finally, he settled for the simplest truth. "I've… never felt anything like that before."

The vines withdrew, and Abel collapsed to the floor. His legs refused to support him, his strength completely drained. Some part of his mind told him that he should probably cover himself, but his body was too fatigued to bother. Instead, he simply lay there, trying to catch his breath, and process what had just occurred. All the while, Kagura stared at him intensely, her expression unreadable. Abel waited for her to say something, anything, but she remained silent. Something about the way she was looking at him made him feel… exposed. Vulnerable. As if she could see right through him, to the very core of his being. Then, she began to crawl towards him, her movements slow and deliberate. Abel tensed, unsure of what to expect. But before he could react, Kagura covered him, pressing herself against him, her breasts pillowing against his chest, her thighs straddling his hips.

The suddenness of her movement caught him off guard, and a surprised yelp escaped his lips. He raised his hands to push her away, but she interlaced her fingers with his, before pinning them to the cave floor by his head. Abel's breath hitched, his eyes widening. "Kagura!?"

An answer came, but not from the daimyo's daughter. "I must admit, your display thus far has been much more entertaining than I anticipated," Oko then said. "But I'm afraid you and the Azai's heir aren't finished quite yet, Lord Hero. The rite has yet to be completed."

"W-What!?" he sputtered, struggling under Kagura's grip. "Th-That wasn't enough!?"

Oko's grin widened, eyes glinting with amusement. "Of course not. The rite has yet to be completed. One final step remains."

The guardian said no more. But she didn't need to. Abel knew exactly what lay ahead. He… he, and Kagura were… were… were going to-

Kagura laid herself against Abel, the sensation of her body pressing against his sending sparks shooting through his nerves. Her ragged breaths were hot against his skin as she looked down on him with a fierce, almost predatory gaze. "Lord Hero," she whispered. "Please don't fight this."

Abel opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. The heat of Kagura's body was searing, her scent, her softness… it all made his head spin. All he could do was stare up at her, frozen in place, unable to move… unable to resist. …No. No, that wasn't right. It wasn't that he couldn't resist. It was that he didn't want to resist. There was a voice in his head urging him to resist, that there was something wrong with what was happening, but that voice grew dimmer by the second, lost beneath the pleasant haze building within him. Kagura leaned down, her lips brushing against his ear. "Bear with me just a little longer. Please…" Her breath danced across his skin, sending shivers down his spine. "Just… bear with me…"

Abel's thoughts fragmented, any thoughts of protest or resistance fading into insignificance as Kagura's body pressed against his, her warmth seeping into him, her scent enveloping him. "W-Wait, Kagura-" he managed to choke out, but it sounded weak even to his own ears, his words lost beneath his own ragged breaths.

His protest went ignored, one of her hands releasing one of his own. She reached down between their bodies again, and wrapped her fingers around his spent member. Abel gasped, his hips jerking reflexively at the touch. He'd thought he'd be too drained to have any reaction, but apparently his body had other ideas- Kagura's touch coaxed him awake, his length slowly hardening again, filling out with every heartbeat. As if it were eager to plunge back into the blissful oblivion Kagura had brought him to. But once again, Kagura's hand slipped away, just as the tension within began building. Abel let out a disappointed groan, his body protesting her absence… though, they would not be apart for long.

Abel could feel the heat coming off her, even before she lined her hips up with his. She looked down at him with glassy, unfocused eyes, her whole body glistening with sweat, heaving from quick, shallow breaths. All at once, the voice from before, the one urging him to resist, pierced through the haze in his mind. Kagura… she wasn't in control of herself. Something had stripped away her reasoning, her self-control, leaving behind a beast driven by instinct. But… was she? He didn't know. But the seed had been planted, and the very thought that the girl on top of him was acting outside of her will…

His hands shot out, reaching for Kagura's waist. "Kagura, you need to get off me right-"

But the words died on his lips as Kagura suddenly thrust herself down onto him, taking him deep inside her in one swift motion. Abel's cry echoed off the cavern walls, his back arching as dark spots danced across his vision, and a shrill ringing filled his ears. All the while, Kagura's own voice pierced through the haze in his mind, a long, keening wail escaping her lips, her walls clamping down on him like a vise, rippling with each pulsing beat of her heart.

For a moment, Abel was paralyzed, his mind reeling from the sudden invasion of his senses. He was drowning, suffocating under the onslaught of sensation, his nerves burning as if set ablaze. And the onslaught only worsened when Kagura began to move, rising up until only the tip of him remained inside her, before slamming back down, burying him to the hilt. Over and over, her hips slammed against his with wild abandon, her movements frantic, their sheer force driving the air from his lungs and blurring his vision.

It was too much. Too intense. Too overwhelming. Pain and pleasure weaved together into an unbearable hell of sensation. He reached out, to… to what? To push her away? To pull her closer? He didn't know. But before he could even decide, Kagura's hands found his again, her fingers interlacing with his, her fingernails digging into his skin. "Abel…"

His name. Spoken in a voice he'd never heard from her- from any woman- before. A voice that sent shivers down his spine, making every cell in his body vibrate with tension. And finally… Abel's thoughts shattered, fragmenting into shards of color and sound, as his body detonated in a blaze of light and sensation. He thought he screamed, he thought he felt his arms wrap around Kagura's body, but he couldn't be sure, as his senses melded together in a chaotic kaleidoscope of euphoria. A kaleidoscope that quickly melted away, the colors and sounds and feelings fading like mist, until all that remained…

…was darkness.

---

Hands. A thousand hands were grasping at him. They were everywhere, pushing, pulling, tugging, twisting. He tried to run, but the hands pulled him back. They dragged him down, holding him against some unseen surface. He struggled, but it was no use. There were simply too many, and with each passing moment, they grew stronger, binding him in place, crushing him beneath their collective weight.

Only, it wasn't a legion of disembodied hands restraining him anymore. Now, he was trapped beneath a woman's body. All he could see of her was a vague silhouette, a hole in the darkness that plunged into an even darker, bleaker abyss… but he could hear the heavy rasp of her breaths. He could feel the weight of her body on his, the softness of her skin brushing against his. She leaned back, a curved white line appearing where her mouth should have been, making the silhouette appear as though it were smiling. Letting out a small, low laugh, she leaned forward, pressing her front against his. He flinched, but there was nowhere to go, no way to escape. The woman's head tilted, and her lips brushed against his neck, her tongue sliding along his bare skin. He shuddered, whole body trembling. Then the silhouette put her lips against his ear, her breath a hot whisper.

"Bear with me, Lord Hero."

And then the silhouette opened its mouth wide, before sinking its teeth into the side of his neck.

Abel jolted awake with a strangled scream, the dark silhouette dissolving as he bolted upright. He was drenched in a cold sweat, his heart thundering in his chest, his breaths ragged. Where… where was he? What had happened?

Slowly, his surroundings became clear. He was lying on the stone floor of the cave, Kagura curled up beside him, her chest rising and falling in deep, slow breaths. She was naked, her skin flushed, her hair wild… which led Abel to realize that he too was naked. Instantly, he jumped to his feet, ignoring the aches his muscles gave in protest, and began frantically searching for his clothes. He found them nearby, piled in a crumpled heap, but before he could dress himself, a silky voice called out to him. "You're awake at last."

Abel whirled around, clothes in hand, to find himself facing a horned, slender girl seated on a throne of rock, her eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. Oko.

"I must say…" the guardian began. "I have borne witness to many consummations of heirs to the Azai line. But I have never seen one with such… vigor. Your initial reluctance worried me at first, but you more than made up for it in the end. Well done."

Abel remained silent. Praise was the furthest thing from his mind. He felt… filthy. And not because of the dirt from the cavern floor. The memories were disjointed, hazy, almost as though some part of his mind was trying to shield them from him. But the emotions remained vivid. Confusion. Fear. Shame. … Ecstasy .

However, before he could ruminate further, Kagura stirred next to him. She opened her eyes, blinking a few times, before suddenly letting out a sharp cry, scrambling to her feet as she rushed to collect her discarded garments. Averting his eyes, Abel quickly pulled on his clothes, keeping his gaze firmly on the floor to avoid meeting hers. A few moments of awkward fumbling later, they were both dressed once more.

The silence that fell in the cavern was suffocating. Abel didn't dare look at Kagura, and he doubted she wanted to look at him much, either. The moments passed, as Abel built the nerve to speak up… but in the end, Kagura beat him to it. "Lady Oko…" she began, voice shaking. "Is it done? Have we completed the rite?"

"Yes, you have," Oko said, her smile never faltering. "You have fulfilled your duty as the heir to the Azai clan."

"And… the blight?" Abel asked, finally finding his voice.

Oko stood. And perhaps for the first time since meeting, the guardian's smile faded. "It has been lifted, Lord Hero. It will take time, but life will return to Isha. And so it shall remain, so long as the Azai clan honors their oath."

Abel exhaled, relief washing over him like a wave. Hearing that was enough to make everything he- everything they'd endured almost worth it. He glanced toward Kagura, but his relief quickly faded when daimyo's daughter wouldn't meet his gaze. Her expression was… difficult to read. But she didn't seem pleased, or relieved, as he would have expected. If anything, she looked… guilty. Ashamed. Even a little frightened.

"We-" he began haltingly, "We should… go back to Enji. I'm sure your father will want to hear the good news."

Kagura nodded, but she said nothing, and she still wouldn't look at him. Instead, she turned to leave, pausing only to cast a final glance over her shoulder. In that moment, Abel swore he saw something flash in her eyes- something that made his stomach drop. Regret? Anger? …Pain? He couldn't tell. But whatever it was, it vanished just as quickly, leaving behind only a haunted look that seemed to bore into his very soul. And with that, Kagura departed, leaving Abel alone with Oko.

Abel moved to follow the daimyo's daughter, but the guardian called out to him. "Lord Hero, a moment, if you would." Abel hesitated, glancing back at Oko, who gestured for him to approach. He did so cautiously, and not without some indignation. After everything he and Kagura had been through, she had the nerve to ask for more? Even if she was the appointed servant of a goddess, Abel's patience was wearing thin. Whatever Oko wanted, she needed to say it quickly. He didn't intend to linger, and he certainly didn't intend to offer the guardian any more 'service.'

"What do you want?" he asked brusquely.

But her response caught him entirely off guard. "This isn't about what I want. It's about what you want. Or rather, what you need." She turned away, taking a few steps, before glancing back at him. "You came from across the sea to find an altar, yes?"

"Wh- How did you-?" Abel started.

But Oko cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Countless spirits dwell in Isha, Lord Hero. Kind spirits, cruel spirits, wise spirits, and foolish spirits. But all share one thing in common: all are servants of the goddess." Her smile returned. "And by extension, servants to the guardian who rules in her name." She took a few more steps, gesturing with her hand as she spoke. "So, when a spirit tells me of a ship full of travelers landing on our shores, one of whom bears a holy mark upon their soul, I take notice. When a spirit tells me that this traveler is searching for a certain altar, I listen. And when my patron tells me that the very future of the world rests upon this traveler's success…" She trailed off, turning fully to face him, her gaze piercing, unflinching. "…I act."

The air was still, the silence stretching out, broken only by the distant drip of water. Finally, Abel found his voice. "…Why are you helping me?"

Oko laughed, a high, musical sound that echoed through the cavern. "I merely do as my patron bids me, Lord Hero. Isha's will is my will, and hers is the power I wield. Nothing more. Nothing less."

Abel… wasn't quite sure how he should feel. The last thing he needed was yet another god meddling in his affairs. But unlike Ilias, at least "Isha" wasn't actively trying to stop him from finishing his quest. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that the motives of Oko's patron weren't entirely altruistic. But if he wanted answers, he wasn't likely to find them here. Oko seemed content to speak in riddles and half-truths. "…Alright then. Where's the altar?" he asked simply.

"As we speak, Maki is scouring the island in search of it." Now that Oko had mentioned it, Abel noticed the snake-woman was absent. "Rest assured- if this altar can be found on or near Isha, she will find it. And once she does, you will know."

For a moment, Abel was stunned, though he tried to not let it show. He didn't actually need Oko or Maki's help finding the altar. But he couldn't bring himself to decline the guardian's offer. Even Bacchus- his own patron - had never helped him so directly. It was… in all honesty it was a bit unsettling. It seemed that whenever the gods took interest in him, nothing good followed. But for now, it was enough that she didn't consider him an enemy. "Thank you," he said stiffly.

"Of course, Lord Hero." Oko bowed slightly, arms outstretched. "Now, I believe I've kept you long enough. Go, and may Isha's blessings go with you." With a curt nod, Abel left the cavern, hurrying to catch up with Kagura, feeling the weight of Oko's unblinking gaze upon his back all the while.

Compared to the descent, Abel's return to the surface took no time at all. And it wasn't because he was now familiar with the path, or because the weight of uncertainty had been lifted from his shoulders. There had been only one entrance to Oko's grotto, but the path he now tread was not the same as the one he and Kagura had entered through. Had… Oko done this? She'd said that she governed the island in Isha's name, but did that mean the very ground under his feet could bend to her will? If Saburo had raised an army to attack her, could she have simply closed the caverns leading to her grotto? Or commanded the earth to open up and swallow them whole? Abel rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling the mountain's weight pressing down on him. If Isha and her guardian truly held such power, then perhaps it was best that they didn't see him as an enemy.

Finally, the faint light within the cavern gave way to the harsh glare of sunlight, and Abel found himself once more outside, the taste of fresh air filling his lungs. And as he looked out over the landscape, it was clear something had changed. It wasn't as though the land were suddenly bursting with life, but there was an unmistakable shift in the air. The blue of the sky, the white of the clouds drifting overhead, the green of the few plants they'd seen, the glint of sunlight shining on the distant sea… all of them seemed brighter, more vibrant, more… alive than before. For a moment, Abel was struck by the sight, the memory of what he had endured in Oko's company momentarily slipping away. But soon enough- much too soon- Abel tore his gaze away from the scenery. It was too early to bask in his and Kagura's victory- until the two of them were safely behind Enji's walls, he couldn't allow himself to let his guard down.

Abel turned, looking up and down the mountainside, until a splash of pink among the grey stone caught his eye. Kagura was nearby, staring out over the landscape, seemingly just as enraptured as he had been. She took no notice when he called out her name, nor when he approached. It wasn't until he finally touched her shoulder that the daimyo's daughter moved, jerking back, before turning to face him with an expression that was… difficult to interpret. Was it relief? Regret? Something more? Abel didn't know, but her eyes seemed to bore into him once more as she spoke. "Lord Hero," she said tersely.

"Kagura…" he began cautiously. "Is… is everything alright?" Abel regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. Of course things weren't alright. And he was probably one of the last people she wanted to talk to about it- even if he was just as much of a victim in the situation as she was.

Several moments passed in silence. Then several more. For a moment, Abel thought she might just ignore him entirely. But at last, she shook her head. "...I did what was necessary to save my people. My own feelings are… inconsequential." The words were flat, devoid of any emotion, but the pain and guilt lurking beneath them couldn't be hidden. She looked away, seemingly unable to meet his gaze. "That is all."

Abel wasn't sure how to respond. It was clear that Kagura was trying to convince herself more than Abel. But what could he say to a declaration like that? The weight of responsibility, the pressure of duty… as a Hero, he had faced it before, felt the pull of obligation. But, leadership was a realm entirely out of his depth. People may have followed him, but he didn't lead them; not truly. He had no idea how to advise her, or even how to acknowledge her pain without making things worse.

"…We should get moving," he said finally. "Even if we ended the blight, it doesn't mean we're safe out here."

Kagura gave an almost imperceptible nod, before her gaze swept over the landscape. After a moment, she pointed. "There." He followed her gesture, and saw a city along the shore, not far from a cape rising high above the sea, its side lined by a vibrant red cliff. Enji.

It was strange. Abel's journey to find Kagura- and then bring her to the guardian- hadn't been very long. But seeing Enji in the distance, he suddenly felt as though he hadn't seen civilization in weeks- months even- and he was filled with a sudden, deep yearning for the security that came from sturdy walls and roofs. And beds. Soft, comfortable beds. The mere thought made his muscles ache… and the thought of having to make the entire trek back on foot seemed almost unbearable.

Kagura had already started down the slope before Abel could gather himself. "Kagura, hold on just a moment," he called out. She stopped and looked back, though she said nothing in response. Abel took a deep breath, deciding to be bold. "There's something… I'd like to try. Something that might get us back to Enji faster."

"…And what's that?" Kagura asked warily.

He hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. "Well… it would be easiest to just show you. Will you… trust me?" he asked, knowing full well that his request might fall on deaf ears after everything they had been through. But to his surprise, Kagura nodded- albeit hesitantly.

With a quiet sigh of relief, Abel stepped forward, before reaching out and lifting Kagura up in his arms. As he expected, she immediately began to struggle against him, pushing at his chest and trying to wriggle free. "W-What in the world do you think you're deeeeeaaaaaahhhh!" Her protests shifted into terrified screams as wings of light ignited on Abel's back, carrying them both into the air. Abel gritted his teeth, fighting to maintain his concentration as Kagura continued to flail against him. Though ultimately, Abel didn't go very far. He landed roughly some twenty paces down the slope, stumbling for a moment before regaining his balance, thankfully keeping his grip on Kagura. Although, even if his grip had faltered, it was unlikely the daimyo's daughter would have fallen, with how tightly she clung to him. As he straightened, Abel looked down at Kagura, bracing himself for her reaction. Which was… surprisingly mild. Although perhaps that was because the shock hadn't worn off yet. "You… you could have warned me, Lord Hero," she said faintly. Abel couldn't help but feel that she had intended to give a much harsher response.

"Sorry…" Abel began. "But… I wasn't sure if I was strong enough to carry you. If I told you first, but it turned out I couldn't actually do it… I didn't want to get your hopes up over nothing." Though even now, as he stood with Kagura in his arms, Abel didn't strain nearly as much as he had when carrying others before- just days before, he could barely keep Seth on her feet. He doubted he'd gotten that much stronger since then… maybe Kagura was just that light. "…I''m sorry," he repeated.

For a moment, Kagura said nothing, staring at him with a look that Abel couldn't quite decipher. "…Next time, please warn me. I'd rather not be caught off-guard like that again."

"R-Right," Abel replied, shifting slightly to adjust his grip on her. "Now… shall we be off?"

A single nod was her answer. With another deep breath, Abel's wings ignited once more, lifting them both into the air. This time, however, Kagura didn't struggle, instead clinging tightly to him as he soared into the sky above.

---

By the time the sun began to set, Abel could feel his exhaustion catching up with him. Carrying Kagura took less effort than he'd anticipated, but flight still demanded much from him- and after everything they'd been through in the past few days, Abel's reserves of energy were running perilously low. His wings flickered slightly, sending them dipping toward the ground, Kagura tightening her grip on him in response. Abel tried to steady himself, but he knew he wouldn't be able to keep this up for much longer. Enji lay ahead, but it was still some ways off- too far for him to reach in his current state. He needed to rest.

"Kagura…" Abel began, but his voice cracked slightly. He cleared his throat, trying again. "I need to land for a little while. I can't keep flying much longer."

The daimyo's daughter looked at him with concern. "Lord Hero?"

Abel forced a small smile onto his face. "I'm fine, don't worry. I promise I'll get you to Enji- I just need to rest for a bit first." He scanned their surroundings, searching for a safe spot to land. The two were past the forest at the base of Hinode, drifting over what had likely been rolling plains. They didn't give much in the way of shelter, but at least they could easily spot any approaching threats. A short distance ahead, Abel spotted a cluster of rocks jutting out of the earth. They would have to do. "Hold on," he said quietly, before angling their descent towards the rocky outcropping. He touched down as gently as he could, but the landing was still rougher than he would have liked. Abel stumbled, nearly losing his balance, but managed to catch himself before he could fall. Kagura slid out of his arms as soon as his feet hit the ground, and once she was safely on her feet, he collapsed onto the rocky ground, leaning back against a boulder. He closed his eyes, taking slow, deep breaths as he tried to calm his racing heart and replenish his dwindling strength.

There was a rustle of fabric as Kagura sat beside him. "Lord Hero…" Abel opened his eyes to find her looking at him with a furrowed brow. "…Are you certain you're alright? You seem… unwell."

Abel let out a breath, before shutting his eyes again. On the way to Oko's domain, Abel had been the one constantly checking on Kagura, making sure she was alright. The irony of their roles being reversed was not lost on him. "…I'm fine, really. Just… tired. I'll be okay after I rest for a bit." He hoped that was true. His body felt heavy, his limbs leaden, and every inch of him ached. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so exhausted. But he couldn't afford to dwell on it. Not when Kagura was counting on him to get her home safely. "Don't worry about me," he added, forcing a small smile onto his face. "I've been through worse."

Kagura studied him for a long moment, as if trying to gauge the truth of his words. Then, she set her pack on the ground, and began searching through it. "You should eat something," she said quietly. "It'll help you recover…" Kagura trailed off, as she began searching through her pack with increasing urgency. After a few moments, she shut her pack with a look of dismay on her face. "I… I'm sorry, Lord Hero. But… it seems that I've misplaced my rations." Her words hung in the air, heavy with guilt.

With another breath, Abel slowly opened his eyes, before climbing to his feet. It seemed his respite would have to wait. "…Guess my break's over, then. Let's keep moving."

But Kagura reached out, grabbing Abel's sleeve. "Lord Hero! You shouldn't push yourself so hard!" She looked up at him with concern etched across her features. "You're in no condition to fly right now."

Abel was well aware of that. "Then I guess we'll just have to walk," he replied. Though his legs protested the idea, he was determined to press onward as he took a step forward… only for his foot to catch on a rock, causing him to stumble. Kagura quickly moved to support him, and as he leaned heavily on her, he realized that he hadn't fooled her one bit.

"I won't allow it," Kagura said firmly. "I may not know what dangers lurk around here, but I certainly know better than to venture into unknown territory with a man who can barely stand. We'll stay here until morning."

Abel opened his mouth to protest, but the words died on his tongue. Kagura was right. Even if he could manage to put one foot in front of the other, he was in no shape to protect anyone, much less himself. With a sigh, he nodded in acquiescence, before sinking back down onto the rocky ground. "….Alright. We'll stay here. But only for tonight."

Kagura nodded, her expression softening slightly. Then, she moved to sit next to him, setting her pack beside her. "…I'll… take the first watch. You sleep, Lord Hero. Try to recover your strength." Abel started to protest, but Kagura held up a hand, silencing him. "We both need to rest, but you need it more. So, sleep. Please." Her voice was gentle, but insistent.

With a small sigh, Abel nodded. As he settled back against the boulder, Abel glanced over at Kagura, finding her watching the horizon with an intent gaze. "…Thank you," he said softly.

Kagura's gaze flicked to him for a moment, before returning to the horizon. "You've done more than enough for my sake. I can do this much at least in return."

Abel drifted in and out of consciousness, his sleep fitful and shallow. Every time he began to slip into deeper slumber, some small sound or sensation would jolt him awake again. A bird call echoing through the night. The chill of the wind on his skin. The shifting of loose stones as Kagura moved. Each time, his eyes snapped open, heart pounding, hand flying to his sword. But each time, there was nothing. No threat, no danger. And yet… there was something that lingered. An unease, a tension, a sense of… anticipation. He didn't know where it came from. But it remained, like a constant pressure on the back of his neck.

Time passed- whether minutes or hours, he couldn't say- but though there was no sign of any approaching danger, the tension persisted. And Abel grew weary with the waiting. It was almost maddening, this feeling of being perpetually on edge. He needed a distraction, something- anything - that would keep his mind occupied. He glanced over to Kagura… only to see that she was slumped against the boulder, head lolled to one side. Abel frowned. He should wake her. He knew he should. But something stayed his hand. No… best to let her sleep for now. He could handle things on his own. For a little while, at least.

So Abel stood, stretching as he climbed to his feet. He took a moment to test his footing, pleased to find that his legs were steadier than they had been earlier. His exhaustion hadn't abated, but at least he could move without stumbling. He made his way to the edge of the rocky outcropping, scanning the horizon with narrowed eyes. There was nothing out there. No movement, no sound, no hint of danger. Just the empty plains, swathed in shadow.

But even so, Abel couldn't shake the feeling that something was out there, watching them. Waiting for the right moment to strike.

He sighed. The fatigue must have been playing tricks on his mind. Still, he found himself glancing over his shoulder, half expecting to see some shadowy figure lurking just behind him.

Abel shook his head, chiding himself for his foolishness. There was nothing out there. Nothing at all. He turned in a different direction, but as he did, he thought he saw something in the corner of his eye: a faint, flickering glow. Abel tensed, hand flying to his sword hilt as his eyes scanned the plains. There, not far away, was a glint of light. Two glints. Two eyes, staring at him from the darkness. Abel's heart leapt into his throat. Someone- or something - was out there. Watching them. And now it knew that he knew it was there.

Abel ripped his sword from its scabbard, holding it in front of him as he backed towards Kagura. His eyes quickly swept over the surroundings, searching for any sign of additional threats. But there was nothing else. Just those two gleaming eyes, and oppressive silence. "Kagura!" he hissed urgently, hoping to rouse her. "Kagura, wake up! There's something out there!"

But Kagura didn't stir. Abel cursed inwardly, and began backing toward the daimyo's daughter, his gaze focused on those unblinking eyes, which closed in as he retreated. If it was truly alone, Abel might be able to handle it- maybe not kill it, but at least drive it off. But if it had companions… Abel swallowed hard, fighting down a surge of fear. And then a second surge of fear when his back hit the boulder Kagura was resting against.

"Kagura!" He reached down, grabbing her by the shoulder. "Kagura!"

At last, the daimyo's daughter stirred, blinking groggily. "Wh-What? What is it?" she mumbled, voice thick with sleep.

"There's something out there," Abel whispered harshly. "We need to go. Now."

Abel's eyes never left the dark shape as it crept closer, its features becoming a little clearer. Was it a wolf? No, that wasn't right- it was too small, too low to the ground. A dog? …Perhaps. It moved like a hound, stalking forward with slow, deliberate steps, its tail held low. Abel watched it warily, ready to lunge forward at a moment's notice. But even as he stood tense, ready to strike, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The creature didn't seem aggressive- its movements were cautious, but not predatory. They weren't the movements of a predator stalking its prey. And there was something… familiar about it. But it wasn't until the beast drew even closer that Abel finally recognized it.

It was a fox. But not merely a fox. It was the fox they'd encountered on the slope of Hinode. There could be no mistaking the faint golden shimmer of its fur, nor the two tails that streamed behind it.

"That's… the kitsune from before," Kagura murmured, sounding just as confused as Abel felt. "What is it doing here?"

Abel quickly noticed something about the fox had changed from their previous encounter. It was carrying something in its mouth: some sort of bundle. Slowly, carefully, the fox padded closer, dropping the bundle at Abel's feet before drawing back, watching them expectantly.

However, Abel remained still, refusing to take his eyes off the creature. Though it seemed peaceful enough, he couldn't entirely dismiss the possibility that this was a trap, a ruse to make them lower their guard. "Kagura," he said quietly, "check that package. But be ready to run."

"Y-Yes, Lord Hero," she replied nervously. Abel watched in the corner of his eye as she bent down, picking up the bundle, and carefully unwrapped the fabric. Inside were two identical boxes. She opened one, and her eyes went wide. "Lord Hero, it's… food!" she exclaimed.

"What!?" Abel's gaze turned to Kagura fully. But the daimyo's daughter hadn't been mistaken, or lying- she'd opened both boxes, revealing that each contained a veritable bounty of rice, meat, and vegetables. And not just that: small wisps of steam could be seen rising from the boxes, as if the food within had been freshly prepared.

Letting out a relieved sigh, Abel sheathed his sword. "I think I understand now…" he said, his gaze falling on the fox. "Oko sent you to help us, didn't she?"

The fox tilted its head, ears perked up, as if acknowledging Abel's words. The hero smiled feebly, reaching down to pat the fox on the head. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "We really needed this." The fox nuzzled his hand, purring happily, its tails twitching when Abel's hand rubbed its ears.

"We should eat, Lord Hero," Kagura then said. "Before it gets cold."

Abel didn't argue. He was too tired to argue. Too hungry to argue. He simply took one of the boxes and ate its contents ravenously. It wasn't the most elaborate meal, but after days of nothing but preserved rations and whatever meat Abel could scrounge, a hot, freshly-cooked meal was practically divine. Abel devoured everything within moments, leaving nothing but an empty box. Kagura showed a little more restraint, but still ate heartily, and just a few moments after Abel had finished, she too was done. The two of them sat together in silence for a long time, savoring the lingering taste of the food and the comforting warmth that spread through their bellies.

And yet, even as Abel savored that fleeting comfort, his unease never truly dissipated. His eyes kept straying to the fox, watching it warily, waiting for some sign that it wasn't what it appeared to be. But the fox only sat calmly, regarding them with tranquil eyes, its tails curled neatly around its body. Abel sighed softly, shaking his head. He was just being paranoid again. Oko wouldn't send them a gift, only to have it turn on them. Would she?

As he pondered that question, the fox's ears pricked up. It rose quickly to face the darkness, growling with its hackles raised. Abel felt his stomach drop, and he scrambled to his feet, hand on his sword hilt. Something was coming. He could feel it. And then he heard it, a distant rumbling noise, like thunder in the distance. But the sky above was clear, and the stars shone brightly. No, this was no storm. It was something far worse.

"Kagura, stay behind me," Abel ordered as he drew his sword.

"What, what is it? What's happening?" she asked as she slipped behind Abel, panic creeping into her voice.

Abel didn't answer. He barely heard her. All his senses were focused on the darkness ahead, trying to pierce through it, to catch even the barest hint of whatever was coming their way. And then, out of the darkness, it emerged. A skeleton. More accurately, half a skeleton, dragging itself forward with its arms, its spine abruptly ending just before its pelvis. Ordinarily, Abel wouldn't have found such a foe very threatening… if it weren't for the fact that even without legs, this skeleton stood three times his height, its skull alone just as tall as he was. The air around it shimmered and distorted, as if reality itself was bending to accommodate its presence. And its eyes… within its sockets burned an otherworldly green fire, radiating an aura of pure malevolence.

The fox snarled, crouching low as if preparing to pounce. Abel gripped his sword tighter, muscles tensing. This wasn't just the skeleton of some giant- it was something much more powerful. More dangerous. Something that didn't belong in this world. As the skeleton drew closer, Abel could feel its power washing over him, a dreadful energy that chilled him to his very soul. He tried to speak, to shout some defiant taunt at the monstrosity… but the words caught in his throat. He could only watch in mute dread as the skeleton loomed ever closer, its burning gaze fixed upon them.