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.

29. Chapter 29: Embers

Chapter 29: Embers

Claire sighed. Something that did not go unnoticed by her companion. "C'mon, Prez, really?" Raine said, exasperated. "Isn't it a bit early in the watch to be sighing like that?"

The witch wasn't wrong. The two of them hadn't even been at the city walls for an hour yet, which only served to aggravate Claire further. "I just don't see why we're the ones who have to do this," she grumbled. "Doesn't the city have guards for shit like this?"

"Guess you didn't hear about it then. So I can't blame you for not knowing," Raine replied. "Last night, some bandits got a lot closer to the city than the ones before them. Almost got over the walls, in fact. The garrison pushed 'em back, but now the daimyo wants fresh eyes on the walls. Can't say I blame him, really."

Claire did in fact remember that. Or rather, she remembered being woken in the middle of the night by the sound of alarm bells and panicked shouts from the castle guards. The situation had been dealt with before she and the others could reach the city walls, so Claire had assumed it'd been nothing worth worrying about. Clearly, however, she'd been mistaken. Even so, it didn't stop a huff from escaping her lips. "That daimyo needs to learn a thing or two about the meaning of hospitality."

"You know, I'm sensing some animosity here," Raine said, a note of amusement in her voice.

"Oh, fuck off," Claire snapped back, though there was no real bite to her tone. Though she bristled at being ordered around- and by a male no less- Claire couldn't fault the daimyo's reasoning. A group of skilled, battle-hardened adventurers was a valuable resource, especially with the local garrison pushed to its limits and on the verge of starvation. Using them to help shore up the city's defenses was a sensible plan. But that didn't mean Claire appreciated being treated like a common footsoldier. Especially when she hadn't even been consulted in the matter first.

"Well, look on the bright side," Raine suggested, her tone lightening. "You get to spend some quality time with yours truly. What more could you ask for?"

Claire rolled her eyes. "For you to have a nicer ass and bigger tits."

Raine laughed. "Sorry Prez, but I think I've done all the growing I'm gonna do in one lifetime. Guess you'll have to make do with what you've got."

Claire's eyes briefly swept over Raine's body. It was true that the witch didn't have much to offer in terms of physique, but what she lacked in curves, she more than made up for with personality. It was just a shame that much of the time, that personality could be best described as "grating."

"Then I'll settle for you keeping your mouth shut," Claire said dryly. "And keeping watch like you're supposed to."

Raine's shoulders slumped in an exaggerated way. "Aw, but then I can't tell you all the jokes I've been saving up!" She instantly perked up. "Like, why did the soldier ask the carpenter to build him a ladder?"

"Please don't…" Claire groaned, bracing herself.

"Because he wanted to take his job to new heights!"

A pained moan was Claire's only reply. She was never going to make it to the end of this watch. The witch at her side was going to drive her to utter madness before then. For a moment, she lamented that she had spent so much time training with the staff rather than some manner of stabbing implement.

But Raine wasn't finished. "Don't worry, I have plenty more of these. Now… oh I know! Why don't ghosts ever take holidays?"

Claire's only response was another pained groan, as she again lamented her distinct lack of stabbing implements.

"Because they have no body to-" Raine abruptly stopped.

Claire sighed, turning her eyes toward the witch. "…well come now, don't leave us all in suspense."

Next to her, Raine stood practically frozen, bent forward slightly, squinting as if trying to see something at a great distance. "Is that what I…" she said faintly.

The president turned her eyes out over the fields outside the wall, but she didn't see any bandits, monsters… she didn't see anything unusual at all. But suddenly, Raine reached over and tilted Claire's head back. "No, not down there! Look up!" She then pointed at the sky.

Again, the president didn't see anything at first. But then she saw something. A bright white spot moving across the sky. At first, Claire thought it was a star… but it was moving far too quickly for that. And besides, the sun, while low on the horizon behind them, still shone brightly… too brightly for any stars to be visible yet. "What is that?" Claire asked softly.

"It… I-It's Blue!" Raine shouted, her voice echoing across the city walls. "Yeah, that's Blue! And that girl he's carrying… it must be the daimyo's daughter!"

Claire could only stare, first at Raine, then at the white spot. That was the degenerate? How could she tell? To the president, it just looked like a white speck moving across the sky.

Then without warning, Raine rushed toward the ladder leading down to the ground. Instantly, Claire knew what she was about to do. "Hey what the fuck do you think you're doing!? Get back here! "

But Raine was already halfway down the ladder. "I gotta tell the others about this! I'll be right back! Just keep an eye out and tell us where he lands!" The witch didn't wait for a reply before disappearing from sight.

"Hey- Raine, you- …fuck!" Claire snarled. It seemed like the rest of their party took leave of their senses at the mere mention of the degenerate, leaving her alone to act as the voice of reason. And as much as she wanted to chase after the witch, to drag her back to her post while giving her a piece of her mind, she knew someone had to take the role of "responsible adult" in situations like these. So with a heavy sigh, Claire turned her attention back to the wasteland beyond the city walls… though her gaze would regularly drift to the sky, watching the distant speck move closer and closer.

---

For what felt like an eternity, the giant skeleton loomed over the three, its eyes boring into them with contemptuous silence. Abel could only stand frozen under the monster's gaze, trying to build the nerve to strike first, but each time, fear kept him rooted in place. In front of him, the fox growled viciously, but it too remained in place, though whether because it too was paralyzed in fear, or because it was trying to protect him and Kagura, Abel couldn't say.

The skeletal figure finally moved first, drawing a massive clawed hand back, the cracking of its joints echoing through the desolate landscape. In that moment, Abel knew they were going to die. No matter how hard they fought, no matter what tactics they employed, this thing would simply shrug all of them off before crushing them without so much as a second thought. But just as the giant skeleton thrust its hand forward to crush them, the fox tensed, its fur shining as small flickers of orange flames danced over its body, before it launched itself at the skeleton, swathed in flames like a tiny meteor. It slammed into the skeleton's chest with a hiss and a crackle, the ground rumbling as the force of the blow pushed the skeleton back.

In that instant, the distortion surrounding the skeleton flickered, and the feelings of despair and hopelessness flooding through Abel suddenly vanished. He gasped, shaking his head as if emerging from a dream, before realizing the fox was still locked in combat with the giant monster. The fox clung to the skeleton's chest, biting and clawing, its flaming form blackening and charring the massive bones. But the skeleton showed no sign of pain- it barely reacted to the assault at all as it reached up, seizing the fox in its claw and viciously throwing it aside like a ragdoll. The fox yelped when it slammed into the ground, skidding to a halt some fifteen paces away, the shine in its fur dimming and the flames vanishing as it lay still and unmoving. All the while, the skeleton's hateful gaze had been fixed on Abel and Kagura, barely leaving them for even a moment during the brief exchange, its eyes blazing with a terrifying intensity.

With an angry cry, Abel charged the skeleton, closing in a matter of seconds before swinging his sword with all his strength. The swing was aimless and unfocused, but it still connected, slicing through the air and cracking against one of the skeleton's ribs. But that was all. The blade failed to cut through the bone, barely even chipping it. The shock of the blow reverberated up his arm as if he'd struck a stone wall, causing him to stumble back, the tip of his sword scraping across the ground as he staggered. He was wide open, something the skeleton didn't miss, as one of its claws lunged toward him once again.

Abel didn't think. The wings of light erupted from his back, and he darted to the side, the skeletal claw just missing him. Before the skeleton could withdraw, he focused, forming a blade of light in his off-hand and swinging it at the giant's arm. But just as before, the blade of light glanced off the bone, leaving only a black mark on the surface. The skeleton drew back its arm, before sweeping it across the ground where Abel had been standing a split-second before. The young man leapt back, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow. But what was he supposed to do now? His swords- both steel and light- were completely ineffective against this monster. The air around the skeleton began to distort, and once again, despair began to claw at Abel's heart. What should they do? What could they do? Run away? There was a chance they might escape… but what would happen to the kitsune? And what would happen if the skeleton followed them all the way back to Enji?

Abel gritted his teeth, trying to force down the rising tide of hopelessness threatening to overwhelm him. They couldn't run- he couldn't run. He had to stay. He had to fight. But how? His swords were useless… so what could he use? He glanced over at the fox, still lying motionless on the ground. Flames? The fox had used fire against the skeleton, but it hadn't been enough. Ordinary fire hadn't hurt it… but maybe Angel Fire could.

He focused, feeling heat surge through his veins, focusing into the palm of his hand. The skeleton had begun lumbering toward him again, and he thrust his hand forward, shouting "Angel Fire!" A wave of searing, blinding white flames erupted from his palm, shooting out towards the monstrous skeletal figure, engulfing it entirely, crackling and roaring as they licked across its bony frame. But then, a blackened arm shot out, sweeping over the ground again and extinguishing the flames with a hiss. The skeleton was scorched and blackened, but otherwise unharmed, its sockets seeming to burn with renewed rage. And it wasted no time retaliating, raising a fist high overhead before slamming it down toward Abel, who had to roll out of the way at the last second, the ground cratering where its fist had struck.

Dammit, was this thing immune to magic entirely? It had been a long time since he'd fought anything that could resist his powers- until now, only Guillaume Rouque and his flesh golems held that distinction. But even their resistance had limits. But this monster… it seemed to shrug off everything he could throw at it. The distortion around the skeleton grew more pronounced, the despair and hopelessness building in Abel reaching new heights as it lurched forward once more, his mind racing, searching his memory for something- any scrap of information which might help.

…and he found one. One of the spells Niel had taught him when they were in Furni, when Wyvern Company had been evaluating his abilities. A spell that, according to her, was particularly effective against foes with a strong affinity for fire… or the undead. Again, Abel held out a hand and focused. But rather than searing heat, cold flowed through his limbs, wrapping around him like invisible ropes. The mana within him dripped from his fingers, already shaped into its intended form- a sphere of water. Then, holding his hand up to the sky, Abel cried out, "Aqua Vitae!"

The water sphere rose high into the air before bursting, falling upon the skeleton like rain. Abel had never encountered the undead before on his quest, so he'd never had the chance to see just how effective it truly was. And the results were immediate. The air filled with a loud hiss, steam rising from the skeleton as the droplets fell upon it. And for the first time, the skeleton flinched, raising one arm above its head as if to shield itself while dragging itself back with the other, the distortions surrounding it weakening, before fading entirely. As the distortion faded, the despair gripping at Abel's heart began to slacken, a cautious hope rising in its place.

He could hurt it. He could still win this.

But he didn't have time to dwell, as the skeleton shuddered, as though shaking off the lingering effects of Aqua Vitae, and then charged, tearing deep gouges in the ground with its claws. Its movements were clumsy, uncoordinated, but taking the full brunt of even a single blow would be fatal all the same. Abel may have found a way to fight back, but being able to harm this monstrosity wasn't the same as being able to kill it. He couldn't afford to be reckless.

Abel dove to the side as the skeletal fist crashed down where he'd been standing moments before, narrowly avoiding being pulverized. It immediately followed with a wild swing of its other arm, forcing him to scramble backward, barely managing to escape beyond the skeletal giant's reach. It was fast in spite of its size, the baleful flames in its sockets blazing with an unholy light as it drew back its arm for yet another strike… giving Abel the opening he needed. He raised his hand, aiming it not toward the sky, but instead directly at the half-skeleton's ribcage. "Aqua Vitae!" The water sphere erupted again, and the hissing sound filled the air once more as the droplets struck the monster. Again it recoiled, trying to shield itself from the liquid assault, but this time, Abel didn't wait for the skeleton to recover. He charged forward, lashing out his sword at one of the skeleton's arms, sinking the blade deep into the bone. Abel pushed harder and harder, trying to drive his sword through the monstrous limb, but the blade refused to budge. Then, the skeletal giant pulled its arm back, Abel's sword still lodged in its bone, dragging him along with it. The sudden change in direction caused Abel to lose his grip, flinging him aside- wings of white fire erupted from his back, stopping him in midair. But the half-skeleton was no longer focused on Abel- it had turned its attention toward-

"Kagura!" Abel didn't think. He simply darted toward the giant skeleton, a sphere of water forming in each of his hands. As he neared however, the skeleton's head snapped toward him, eyes alight with eldritch flame. It reached up, trying to grab him, but Abel dived to the side, throwing one of the water spheres directly at the giant's skull. But the watery sphere didn't break and splash over the skeleton- instead, it struck with the force of a cannonball, piercing through the rim of its eye socket and through the back of its skull, blackened, charred bone fragments erupting from the wound like shrapnel. "You want more!?" Abel shouted, already throwing the second sphere. The second sphere struck lower, around the skeleton's collarbone, but its effects were no less devastating, punching through bone and sending jagged shards flying in all directions. The skeletal giant recoiled as steam poured from its "wounds," the eldritch flames in its remaining socket flickering… before it suddenly blazed even brighter. The steam pouring from its body blackened, before coalescing into a shadowy sludge that flowed across the skeleton's body, spanning the gaps in its bones with hair-thin strands of darkness that thickened with each passing second.

It could heal itself. And within a matter of seconds, the gaping holes in its skull and torso had closed, the sludge solidifying and shifting to a bleached white that merged seamlessly with the surrounding bone. The skeletal monstrosity glared down at him, its eyes blazing with renewed malevolent intent. If not for the chips of bone scattered across the ground, Abel would have believed that he had never injured it in the first place. He'd been given a glimmer of hope, only to watch it snuffed out once more.

The mana coalescing around Abel's hands dissolved. What did he do now? What could he do? How could he fight an enemy that could regenerate from any wound he inflicted on it? He was out of ideas. Out of options. A new wave of despair washed over him, consuming him so utterly that when he finally noticed the skeleton's next attack, it was too late to evade it. The skeleton's fist struck him with the force of a battering ram, knocking him out of the air and sending him tumbling end-over-end across the ground. Loud cracks rang out each time he struck the ground, accompanied by jolts of searing pain as his bones snapped under each impact. When Abel finally came to a stop, all he could do was lie in a broken, crumpled heap. The world spun around him, his vision dimming at the edges. All the while, a single thought filled his mind.

He was going to die here.

Abel thought he would be… dismayed by the thought. Terrified, even. But instead, a hot pulse ran through him. The pain in his body began to recede, drowned out by white-hot flames of rage. He had fought bandits, assassins, more monsters than he could count… even one of the Overlord's generals had been unable to withstand his full fury. And this… this thing, this mockery of life, would be no different. He had fought far worse. Far more dangerous. A monster like this was nothing compared to those battles. Nothing compared to him. It was just another foe.

Just another thing in his way.

Painfully, Abel pushed himself back to his feet, his wings flaring, burning hot and bright, little more than two jets of fire erupting from his back. The pain still flared through him, and only one of his arms worked properly, the other hanging limp at his side, but he didn't care. A new blade of light formed in his hand, white flames dancing across its length. He was going to end this. Here. And now.

The half-skeleton struck first, sweeping out a clawed hand as if swatting an insect. Abel made no effort to evade it, instead swinging his blade to meet the blow. The force of the two colliding sent a shockwave rippling through the air, both Abel and the skeleton soaring backward from the sheer power of their clash. Abel again righted himself in midair, while the skeletal giant thrust a claw into the ground, bringing its slide to a sudden halt. Their eyes locked on one another, the skeleton's eldritch flames burning with a malevolent intensity, while Abel's white flames blazed like a miniature sun.

The hot pulse within Abel grew stronger, rage surging through his veins. Fury seeping into every fiber of his being. He knew what he had to do. Knew what he wanted to do. He'd had enough of this blight's defiance. Enough of its existence.

With a furious roar, Abel darted toward the skeletal giant. Its eyes flickered in surprise as he closed the distance between them in an instant, before it again raised a massive hand to swat him away. But Abel wouldn't give it the chance, darting to the side before swinging his blade at the skeletal arm before his foe could even begin to react. His blade sliced through the air, leaving a trail of white fire in its wake, before biting into the bone, sinking deep. Abel grit his teeth, pushing with all his might, forcing the blade deeper, and deeper, and deeper … until the glowing edge finally emerged from the other side of the skeletal forearm.

The skeletal giant reeled, a fountain of dark ichor spewing forth from the stump as its arm clattered to the ground. The severed limb blackened, before exploding into a cloud of dark ash that dispersed across the battlefield, the stench of death and corruption spreading as it dissipated. Abel didn't pause, though, not for even an instant. With a feral cry, he launched himself at the skeletal giant, heedless of the danger, his blade carving through the monster's ribcage in a blur of white light. The half-skeleton swung its remaining at Abel wildly, but its attacks were clumsy, desperate… and easily avoided. Ichor leaked from its wounds, flowing in rivulets to bridge the empty spaces Abel carved out between each blow… but its regeneration simply couldn't keep pace with Abel's relentless assault. The creature staggered, bones snapping like brittle twigs and falling away… until finally, with a deafening crack that echoed across the desolate landscape, the skeletal giant collapsed. Not in a heap, but in a cascade of shattered bones that exploded the instant they touched the ground, leaving behind only a scattering of dust and the lingering stench of decay.

Abel stood panting amidst the ashes, his chest heaving with exertion, his blade crackling with white flames. His veins still pulsed with the heat of his rage, though slowly, it ebbed away, the fires surrounding him beginning to dim. And at last, Abel lowered his blade, letting the white flames sputter out. He took a deep breath, then another, feeling the tension drain from his body, the rage seeping from his very soul. He looked down at his broken arm, wincing slightly as he flexed it, but there was no pain, only numbness. He laid his other hand on it, focusing, but all he received in response was a stabbing pain in his temples. He was out of mana.

Abel let out a slow sigh, then turned away from the ashes of the skeletal giant. He'd won. He'd defeated the monster. That should've brought him relief, peace… but instead, all he felt was emptiness. A void that stretched endlessly inside him. He could feel the heat of his rage still smoldering somewhere within him, but now that spark had nothing to consume. No enemy to fight. No goal to strive for. And so it began to die, the void within him growing colder with each passing second. But at the very least, he could take some small comfort in knowing that Kagura was still safe.

…or so he hoped.

Turning, he limped back to the boulder where he'd left her, his broken arm weighing heavily on his shoulder. But as he neared, his eyes widened, and his pulse began to quicken. Kagura was nowhere in sight. Her pack leaned against the side of the boulder, but she herself was gone. Panic set in, the lingering heat in his veins instantly doused by a cold chill. He'd been so consumed by rage, so blinded by the battle, that he'd lost track of everything else. Had something happened to her? Had something else attacked while he was busy fighting the skeletal giant?

Abel's heart hammered in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he scanned the area frantically. But there was no sign of her anywhere. No sign of any other foe either, for that matter. Just an endless expanse of desolate wasteland stretching out before him. The silence was oppressive, heavy with foreboding. And in the midst of it all, Abel stood there, frozen in terror, his broken arm dangling at his side, and his mind spinning with a thousand terrible possibilities. Where was Kagura? What had happened to her? Was she even still alive? He knew only one thing for certain: he had to find her. He reached up to his collar with his good hand, fingers fumbling with the chain around his neck, when a crushing force seized him around the waist, pulling him off his feet. Abel struggled against the iron grip, kicking and flailing, but the grip was too tight, too strong. He twisted his head to see who or what had grabbed him, and his blood ran cold.

The giant half-skeleton. Its body was a patchwork of ashes, bone shards, and black ichor, but there was no mistaking the emerald green flames blazing in its sockets. Somehow, it was still alive. And Abel was utterly at its mercy.

The skeletal claw around Abel's waist tightened, crushing his ribs and driving the air from his lungs. Abel gasped, kicked, and squirmed, but he might as well have been struggling against a statue. His vision blurred, stars bursting before his eyes as the skeleton's grip tightened further. As a cold darkness gripped at his consciousness, he tried desperately to reignite the flame of his rage. If he could just find the spark, maybe he could break free… But there was no fire left to kindle, only a frigid void.

And with that final spark extinguished, Abel felt his mind slipping away, the blackness closing in around him like a shroud. He wouldn't escape. Not this time. He would never see any of companions again. He would never see Lailah again. Would they… ever find out what happened to him? Would they mourn? Or would they simply move on, their time together becoming little more than an ever-fading memory, a footnote in their lives?

His vision was almost entirely consumed by darkness. But even now, the half-skeleton's baleful eyes bored into him, their emerald flames burning brighter than any stars. And as his consciousness finally slipped away, the last thing he heard was the sound of a loud, echoing crack … and a surge of pain when his body suddenly struck the ground below him.

The shroud around his mind was torn away, and his consciousness rushed back into him. It took a few seconds for him to understand what had happened- that he wasn't dead, that he hadn't been crushed by the half-skeleton's claws. He was lying on his stomach, his cheek pressed against the dirt. Slowly, he pushed himself up onto his elbows, looking around groggily.

The half-skeleton loomed over him, its claw raised high above its head. But rather than striking, it stood utterly still. The fire in its sockets blazed wildly, casting a flickering green light over him. Abel's mind reeled as he struggled to make sense of it all. Why hadn't it killed him? Why was it standing there, motionless? But then, Abel saw something wrapped around the skeleton's body. Ropes? No, they were far too thick to be ropes. They looked more like… vines. Thick, gnarled vines that had grown directly from the earth itself to ensnare the half-skeleton, winding around its limbs, in-between its ribs, completely and utterly immobilizing it. Abel's mind screamed with confusion as he stared at the sight before him, before a voice called out to him. "Lord Hero!"

Abel wheeled around, his eyes wide. There, emerging from the standing stones, was Kagura. She was unharmed, untouched by the battle. Relief surged through him, before he realized the daimyo's daughter wasn't alone. A figure stalked alongside her- a fox, but not the golden fox he'd seen before. This one was larger, its fur the color of midnight, making it look like a shadow come to life. It was the other fox, the one that had led through them through the woods at the base of Hinode. But its demeanor was much different now. Gone was the playful innocence from before. Instead, it moved with a predator's grace, its eyes fixed intently on the half-skeleton.

"Kagura!" Abel croaked, stumbling over to her. "What… what happened? Where were you?"

"This kitsune …" she replied, glancing at the black fox. "It came to save its companion. It led me to safety as well." She gestured towards the immobilized skeletal giant. "And when it saw that you were in danger…"

Abel looked back, incredulous. The skeletal giant was still bound in place, its emerald flames burning wildly, the air filled with loud creaks, seemingly unable to break its restraints. His gaze then fell on the black fox, his mind racing. "You're telling me that… this fox…" He pointed at the vines. "…did that? "

" Kitsune are powerful spirits," Kagura said, her voice measured. "And those that serve the gods are even more so, being granted a fraction of their power."

Vines again. It must have been part of the power Isha gave to her servants. Oko… had used vines too, when- …Abel pushed that thought aside. He then realized the back fox was staring at him. As if waiting for something. Something from him. Abel swallowed hard, meeting the fox's gaze. "Th-thank you," he managed.

The fox tilted its head, then gave a single nod, before its gaze then shifted to the half-skeleton. The giant skeleton strained against its bonds, but they didn't break. The vines didn't even move. Even its flames had dwindled, growing dimmer. "What… what is this thing?" Abel finally asked.

"I believe… that it's a gashadokuro. A kind of spirit born when those who die in battle- or from famine- aren't given proper burials. Resentment for the living builds in the hearts of these restless spirits, and in time, they merge together into a monstrous creature which roams the land at night, stalking humans to bite off their heads and drink their blood."

Famine… then this thing had probably formed because of the blight. No wonder it was so relentless, its hunger so unending. But then Kagura continued, "It's strange, though…"

"What?"

"Legends always said that gashadokuro are completely invulnerable, dying only when the malice that led to their creation is completely spent. Yet… you were able to wound it."

Wound it, maybe, Abel thought bitterly. But not kill it. Not even close. In fact, what Abel had thought to be a fatal blow had merely been the skeleton playing dead, waiting for an opening to strike. He turned his gaze back to the half-skeleton, his stomach roiling at the sight of it. He didn't want to think about what would've happened if the black fox hadn't shown up.

A spark ignited in Abel's chest. A small one, but enough to give him the strength he needed. He focused, and a blade of light formed in his hand. It was shorter than he would have liked, and weaker too, but it would have to do. "Lord Hero?" Kagura asked warily. "What are you-"

"You said that these things roam the countryside at night, feeding on people, right?" he asked, interrupting her.

For a moment, Kagura stammered. "Eh- …y- yes, but-"

"You also said these things were supposed to be completely invincible. But I managed to hurt it."

Again, Kagura repeated, "Yes, Lord Hero, you did. But-"

"If I can hurt this… gashadokuro, then it must mean it isn't fully formed yet." He took a wavering step toward the bound skeleton. "That means we can kill it before it gets too strong. We can-"

But this time, Kagura interrupted him, her voice hard and clear. "Absolutely not. You're not going anywhere near that thing again, Lord Hero!"

"And why not?" he asked in turn. "You said this thing will only die once the malice that formed it runs out. But how long will that take? How many people will it kill before then? How many people has it killed already? "

Kagura opened her mouth, but no words came out. Instead, she looked down, averting her gaze. And that was all the answer Abel needed. "…We can't just leave it here," he said, his voice quiet but resolute. "Not when there's a chance to stop it."

Kagura said nothing, but Abel could feel her eyes on him. He knew she was worried- and not without good reason. He'd fought the gashadokuro, and he'd lost. Badly. It had broken his bones, and nearly crushed the life out of him. And now he was suggesting he try again, all while he could barely stand, much less fight. But he had to try. For the sake of those who would be slaughtered by this monstrous creature, if he did nothing.

Abel turned to face the half-skeleton, feeling the heat inside him begin to spread, the embers of his rage stirring once more. Ignoring the protests of his battered body, he took step after slow, agonizing step toward the skeletal giant. But then, all at once, the air was filled with a loud crack, like the breaking of wooden boards. The vines… they had wound around the gashadokuro even more tightly, its bones bending at increasingly awkward angles. Its emerald flames flickered wildly, and for the first time since Abel had laid eyes on it, the skeletal giant let out a sound- a pained squeal, like shattered glass scraping against stone. Abel froze, the blade disappearing from his hand, watching in stunned silence as the gashadokuro thrashed about, straining against its ever-tightening bonds. There was a deafening crack as one of its arms was bent backwards, before snapping in half entirely. Ichor gushed from the stump, splattering across the ground as the gashadokuro 's movements grew even more frantic. But the vines only continued to tighten around the skeletal giant's frame, forcing its bones into increasingly twisted and unnatural positions, until they too began to snap, breaking off piece by piece and shattering to dust. Even its skull wasn't spared, as vines wound their way around its jaw, forcing its mouth open as wide as it could go. And then, as the skeletal giant's struggles grew even more desperate, the vines began to pull. The gashadokuro 's bones shrieked in protest, but the vines pulled harder, until- with a final, sickening crunch- the skeleton's head was wrenched from its neck. The decapitated corpse collapsed as the skull rolled across the ground. The baleful emerald flames flickered once more, before finally dying out entirely.

But the black fox seemingly wasn't finished. The vines wrapped around the half-skeleton's bones, slowly dragging them beneath the earth, until every last fragment was swallowed up by the dark soil. The black fox then turned to Abel, its gaze no longer piercing and intense, but soft and almost… fond? But then, it turned, trotting away from the divots left in the earth- the only proof that anything had ever been there at all- and disappeared as its dark coat melded seamlessly into the surrounding shadows. But, just a few moments later, it reemerged, carrying something in its mouth, before dropping it at Abel's feet. It was a cloth bundle, not unlike the one the golden fox had brought them, but rather than more food, it was filled with leaves, flower petals, roots, and other plant parts. Kagura knelt beside him, examining the bundle with a curious frown. "These plants…" she began. "I think I recognize some of them. These here-" She reached up, picking up one of the dried flowers. "These are otamaki flowers. And those…" She pointed to a broad leaf resting next to it. "…are yomogi leaves. And that root next to it… I believe it's an aji root." Kagura looked back at Abel, her expression thoughtful. "All of these plants are used to make medicines."

Abel looked down at the bundle again. Medicinal plants… while he would have preferred his own magic to mend his injuries, they would serve as a temporary stopgap, at least until his mana had recovered. He glanced over at Kagura. "Kagura. Can you help me prepare them?" he asked, trying to keep the weariness from his voice.

Kagura nodded, her brow furrowing in concentration as she carefully began to separate out the various components of the bundle. "Of course. Leave everything to me."

---

The sun was already high in the sky by the time Abel and Kagura finally set out once more, leaving the standing stones- and the buried gashadokuro- behind. Abel's wounds still throbbed painfully, but it was a distant ache now, and he could walk without collapsing. Kagura had worked tirelessly through the night, combining the various medicinal plants into a poultice that would ease his pain. It was admittedly a temporary measure at best, but it was better than nothing, and Abel was grateful to be able to stand on his own again. The black fox had long since vanished, disappearing at some point during Kagura's preparations, though Abel couldn't help but worry. Though the foxes were strong, it was clear that they could be wounded- perhaps even killed. The golden fox had been injured trying to protect him and Kagura…

Kagura glanced at him, her expression concerned. "Are you alright, Lord Hero?" she asked gently.

Abel forced a nod, trying to hide the lingering unease. "I'm fine," he lied, not wanting to burden her with his fears.

But Kagura persisted, her voice reassuring, but firm. "If you're in pain, then I can make more medicine for you."

"It's not that," he replied, shaking his head. "I was worried about those foxes. The… kitsune. Especially that golden one. It got hurt protecting us." He felt a pang in his chest at the memory.

"I know," she replied faintly. "But… kitsune are much hardier than you might expect. And… I believe that Lady Oko- perhaps even Isha herself- sent them to provide whatever aid we required. If circumstances required that they give their lives in our defense… then I'm certain they would have done so without hesitation." Kagura's words were laced with a quiet conviction, but also a hint of sadness, as if she too feared for the well-being of the kitsune.

Abel nodded, his gaze drifting away from Kagura's solemn face. He knew she was right; these creatures were certainly stronger than ordinary foxes- perhaps even stronger than humans- so in all likelihood, the golden fox would be just fine. Still, he couldn't shake the nagging worry that lingered in the back of his mind.

Silence reigned as Abel and Kagura continued onward, each lost in their own thoughts. Abel tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, focus on the small green shoots sprouting from the barren ground, focus on the brilliance of the sunlight shining down on them… but his thoughts kept drifting. And not to the battle with the gashadokuro. But to what came before. Their meeting with Isha's guardian, Oko.

The rite.

Abel had been deliberately trying not to think about it. And he had a feeling Kagura had been doing the same. But with every step that took them closer to Enji, Abel realized that they were merely delaying the inevitable. The subject would have to be broached eventually, especially if Saburo or his companions questioned them about what they did to lift the blight… and he wasn't sure he was prepared for the conversation it would inevitably spark. He glanced over at Kagura, but she seemed lost in thought, her expression distant. He took a breath. As awkward and uncomfortable as the topic was, he knew he needed to bring it up. And sooner, rather than later.

"Kagura," he finally said, his voice rough. "About… what happened with Oko…" He trailed off, unsure how to continue.

The daimyo's daughter glanced his way, her expression difficult to read. "We did what was necessary to save the people of Isha." Her tone was matter-of-fact, but there was an underlying tension in her words.

Abel hesitated, searching for the right words. "I know. I just… I can't help but wonder if… there was another way. If there's something else I- we could've done…" His voice drifted off, uncertainty gnawing at him.

A long silence settled, one that was eventually broken by Kagura. But what she asked him caught Abel completely off-guard.

"Do you… despise me, Lord Hero?" she asked quietly, her eyes downcast.

"W-What?" he stammered. "N- No, why would you think that?" If blame could be placed on anyone, then Oko should be the one to bear it. Or her predecessor, who created the rite to begin with. Or perhaps Isha herself, for allowing such a ritual to be performed in her name. But not Kagura.

She looked up, her gaze searching his face. "Had I known what the rite truly entailed, perhaps I wouldn't have sought out Oko so readily. And even when I did learn the truth… I still chose to proceed." Her voice was laced with regret, and an unmistakable hint of self-loathing.

Abel stopped in his tracks. His mind searched for some sort of reassurance, some way to alleviate the guilt clearly weighing on Kagura. But, this sort of thing had never been his forte. Words of comfort eluded him, leaving only awkward silences and-

"Wait," Kagura abruptly said. "I think someone's coming this way."

She pointed ahead, and Abel squinted, trying to make out the figures approaching them. The flat fields, along with a lack of trees or buildings, made spotting them easy, but conversely, the fact that the strangers were headed straight for them meant they had likely seen Abel and Kagura as well. Abel's hand flew to his scabbard, drawing the blade clumsily- his arm was still broken, his mana recovering only enough for him to heal himself a small amount at a time. "L-Lord Hero!?" Kagura stammered.

"Kagura, be ready to run," he ordered, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. Though in the end, he needn't have worried. The figures emerging from the distance didn't appear hostile, and as they drew closer, Abel recognized them. One was a dark-skinned woman in blue, red hair tied back; another was blonde woman in black and gold, a spear hung across her back; and the last was a woman with wild, dark green hair, a lute hung across her back, clad in a grey tunic and loose red trousers.

Raine, Lailah, and Fiann.

Abel sheathed his sword, breathing a sigh of relief. "It's alright," he said faintly. "Those people- they're my friends."

It seemed the three recognized him as well, because their approach sped up dramatically. Raine reached them first, leaping toward Abel with her arms outstretched. "Blue!" she exclaimed, nearly knocking him off his feet, and sending sparks of pain shooting through his body arm. Abel winced, but managed to keep his balance as Lailah and Fiann caught up. "You're alive!"

Abel hissed with pain, trying to pull himself from the witch's grasp. "Sorry to make you all worry." He tried to sound casual, despite the throbbing ache of his injuries.

Lailah stepped forward, concern etched on her face. "Abel, are you… alright? You look…" She trailed off, her gaze sweeping over him.

"It can't be that bad, can it?" he asked. But then, Raine pulled a small mirror out of her pocket and held it up to him. The reflection staring back showed him a battered and bruised figure that he barely even recognized. Abel's eyes widened at the sight, the stranger in the mirror copying the movement, and before he could stop himself, he said, "Oh. Maybe it is that bad…"

"What… happened to you?" the priestess asked.

"We ran into a monster called a 'gashadokuro;' a… ghost, made from all the people that died because of the blight," Abel explained, wincing as he moved his left arm slightly.

Rainel let out a low whistle. "That must've been one nasty fight." She then drew close, offering her shoulder. "C'mon, let's get you back to the city. You look like you could use the rest."

Abel graciously leaned against her, allowing her to support his weight. As he did, Fiann held up her journal for him to see, a message written within, eyes fixed on Kagura with a suspicious glare: [That girl. Is she the daimyo's daughter?]

Right, he hadn't introduced Kagura to the others, and judging by the curious glances being exchanged between the girls, it was clear they were wondering about her as well. Abel cleared his throat. "Uh, everyone… this is Kagura. She's… the daimyo's daughter." He then shifted his attention to Kagura. "And Kagura, these are my friends, Lailah, Raine, and Fiann."

The confusion on Kagura's face began to fade. Only then did he realize that she likely hadn't understood a single word of their half of the conversation. But after hearing Abel's assurance, she bowed toward them, and said, "I am happy to meet you all."

The others looked at her with confusion, before Raine replied, "Uh, yeah. De-ki-te u-re-shi-dess to you as well."

"We shouldn't just stand around," Lailah said after a moment. "Let's get moving. The daimyo will want to hear about this."

And with that, the group set off once more, Abel leaning heavily on Raine, while Kagura stuck close to his side. As they walked, Raine leaned in close, asking Abel in a low voice, "So… what exactly did you and Miss Princess get up to while you were gone?"

Abel swallowed hard, knowing he'd have to tell her- and the others- about the rite soon enough. But almost instantly, Lailah cut in. "Raine, now isn't the time for gossip. That can wait until we're back in the city."

Raine rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Fine, fine… we'll talk later, then."

---

It took a day and a half of travel before Abel, Kagura, and the others returned safely to Enji. And practically the moment the party was securely inside the city gates, Kagura was quickly whisked away by a retinue of attendants and guards. A few among their number however had come not for Kagura, but for Abel, intending to escort him to meet with the daimyo directly. However, upon seeing his condition, they decided the meeting could wait until he was rested and recovered from his injuries. So, Abel was brought back to the Azai castle, not to meet with Saburo, but to have Violet and Minzei tend to his wounds.

"…alright, Sir Abel. We're going to reset your elbow," Minze said. "I have to warn you though- this is going to be quite painful."

Abel took in a deep breath, bracing himself. "Okay… I'm ready."

The maid gave him a small nod, before gripping his left arm, one hand on his wrist, the other just below his elbow. Then, she pushed upwards, slowly bending his arm. Abel grit his teeth so hard he thought they might shatter, trying and failing to suppress a shout as what felt like a hot spike stabbed into elbow, fire exploding through his nerves. He fought the urge to pull away- though with the grip Minze kept on him, he likely couldn't have, as much as he might've wanted to. And after what felt like an eternity, there was a pop, and the pain subsided almost instantly, replaced by a dull ache that was infinitely more bearable. Somehow, that had been more painful than almost being crushed to death.

Minze released her hold on him, giving Abe's arm a gentle pat and Abel himself a small smile. "And that should be everything," she said, before looking toward Violet. "My Lady, are you finished with Sir Abel's potions?"

"Nearly…" she replied, watching intently as a yellow liquid boiled in a small flask. "They need a little more time."

"I see," Minze said. "We'll deliver it to Sir Abel once it's complete, then. In the meantime…" The maid's attention shifted back to Abel. "You should rest. And avoid any strenuous activity even after taking the potions, at least for the next few days."

Rest… that word sounded like music to Abel's ears. In all honesty, the only reason he hadn't immediately collapsed into his bedroll the moment he made it back to the castle was because the others almost certainly would've fussed over him until his wounds were treated. Now, all he wanted to do was climb into bed and sleep for the next week or so. "Yes, ma'am," he agreed tiredly. "And, thanks. For… everything."

He stumbled out of Violet's clinic, making the short way down the hallway to his own quarters. As soon as the door closed behind him, Abel let himself collapse onto his bed, not even bothering to remove his filth-encrusted clothes. He simply lay there, staring up at the ceiling with half-lidded eyes, listening to his heartbeat slow as exhaustion finally took its toll.

Abel wasn't sure how long he had been asleep- it could have been minutes, hours, or even days- when he felt the bed shift beside him, and heard a soft voice say, "Lord Hero."

He opened his eyes, to find a white-haired, red-eyed woman looking down at him. He jolted, almost crying out before he recognized her, biting down on his tongue to stifle the noise. "M-Maki?" he croaked, his throat parched and dry. "What are you… doing here? How did you even get here?"

The serpent-woman tilted her head, as if confused. "I am a serpent, Lord Hero. And serpents are masters of moving unseen."

Abel could only blink in confusion, her words not actually explaining how she'd gotten into the castle. But before he could ponder the matter further, Oko's parting words echoed in his mind.

If this altar can be found on or near Isha, she will find it. And once she does, you will know.

"You… found it, then?" he asked in a faint voice. "The altar?"

Maki's gaze turned distant, her eyes glazing over like the surface of a still pond. "I can't say that I found the altar. But… I'm confident I know where it is."

"What's that supposed to mean? Where is it?" Abel demanded, already feeling a knot of dread tightening in his gut.

Maki's eyes narrowed slightly, taking in Abel's exhausted state and bandaged arm. "As a servant of Lady Oko, I wield power second only to the guardian herself. And because of this power, I believed that there was no place in Isha that was beyond my reach. But in my search, I encountered something today that I never have before: a barrier, that even my powers could not breach."

"And… you think the altar is behind this barrier?" Abel asked, already knowing the answer.

But before the serpent-woman could answer, a knock sounded from the door. "Master Abel, are you awake?" Violet's voice asked from the other side.

Abel froze, eyes fixed on Maki. The last thing he wanted was for her to be discovered here- but it wasn't like the room had anywhere for her to hide. Another knock sounded at the door, more insistent this time. "Master Abel?" Violet called again.

With a heavy sigh, Abel pushed himself up to sit, wincing at the pain in his arm. "I'm coming," he said hoarsely. Then, he turned to Maki, motioning toward the corner of the room that was out of view of the door. He said nothing, not wanting to alert the alchemist to her presence, hoping the serpent-woman would understand. Even so, when he opened the door, Abel only opened it wide enough to peer out, positioning himself to block Maki from view. "What is it, Violet?" he asked quietly.

Violet looked Abel over, or at least what little of him she could see, her expression concerned. "Your potions are ready," the alchemist replied, holding up two vials- one filled with a pale yellow liquid, the other a clear liquid. "I actually finished preparations some time ago, but Minze insisted on waiting until you were properly rested before delivering them."

"Ah, thanks." Abel took the vials. "How long was I out?"

"Quite a while," Violet admitted. "Almost an entire day. Although given your ordeal, I suppose that would be understandable."

Abel began to shut the door again. "Well, thanks again for everything. And be sure to pass that on to-"

But Violet stepped forward, blocking the door with her foot. "Master Abel, before you take those potions, may I… step inside? Just for a few minutes."

Abel hesitated, eyes darting over to Maki briefly. The serpent-woman watched him expectantly, seemingly unconcerned about being discovered. "…what for?" he asked cautiously, hoping Violet wouldn't notice his wariness.

"I merely wanted to assess how your injuries are healing," she replied calmly. "I have read previously that a Champion's natural healing abilities far exceed those of an ordinary person. And I was curious to see if that remains true, given the severity of your wounds."

"Uh… c-can't we- …wouldn't it be better to do that in your… clinic?" Abel stammered, trying to think of a valid reason to prevent Violet from entering his room that wouldn't arouse suspicion.

"The examination will take no more than a few minutes," Violet assured him, before- with a strength that caught him by surprise- she pulled the door open and slipped past him into the room. Abel wheeled around, calling out "Wait!" instinctively, eyes turning to the corner where-

…s-she was gone. His eyes quickly swept over the whole room, but Maki was nowhere to be found. He even looked up to the ceiling, expecting to spot the serpent-woman clinging-

"Master Abel?"

Abel was abruptly wrenched out of his racing thoughts. "H-Huh? What, what is it?"

"I will need you to remove your shirt and jacket before I can begin my examination."

"Uh- o-oh. Sure…" Violet watched patiently as Abel fumbled with the buttons on his shirt for a few moments. Once he had his shirt off, the alchemist stepped closer, lifting one hand to gently touch his ribs. Her fingers lingered for a moment before moving to his bandaged arm. Abel tried to focus on the gentle probing of Violet's fingers, but his mind was in turmoil. Where could Maki have gone? Had she slipped out while his attention was diverted? Or was she somehow still in the room, watching both of them unseen?

Abel suddenly flinched, letting out a small hiss when Violet pushed her fingers against his ribs a bit more forcefully than he expected. "Ow! Careful, please…"

"Remarkable…" she said, seemingly oblivious to Abel's discomfort. "Only a few days have passed, yet your injuries are at an incredibly late stage of the healing process. Ordinarily, it would take several weeks to recover from wounds like yours. But based on what I see here… you would recover fully by tomorrow, perhaps two days at most. It seems a Champion's capacity for self-healing far exceeds even my expectations." Her attention then shifted to Abel's arm. "Now, let me see how your arm is recovering…"

Violet watched with keen eyes as she instructed Abel to move his arm this way and that way, flexing his fingers, rotating his wrist. He winced once or twice as a sharp pain lanced through the limb, but otherwise cooperated diligently. Again, the alchemist marveled at the speed of his recovery- according to her, it could take several weeks for a wound like his to heal, and even then, a patient might never regain a full range of motion. But once again, based on her observations, Violet assessed Abel would be fully recovered in no more than a day or two.

With her assessment complete, Abel expected Violet would see herself out. But instead, she lingered. Something Abel quickly noticed. "…Violet? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, exactly…" she began. Something about her voice sounded strange- almost as if she was nervous. "But… there is something I have been… curious about." The alchemist cleared her throat, and for a moment, her gaze drifted away from Abel's face, as if looking at something he couldn't see. "Master Abel," she continued, "is there… anyone that you are… interested in?"

Abel blinked, taken aback by the sudden change in subject. "'…interested in?' Interested like how? "

Violet fidgeted, an uncharacteristic flush creeping onto her face. "W-What I mean is… is there anyone you have… romantic inclinations toward?"

"Roma- wh-d-eh-" Abel stammered, utterly caught off guard, face burning. "W-W… Where did that come from?" he managed to squeak out.

The alchemist merely stared back in confusion. "From your response, Master Abel, I assume that the answer is no. Would that… be a correct assessment?"

Once again, Abel could only stammer. In truth, he'd never even thought about that sort of thing. He liked the others- he liked Lailah, but… he'd never considered anything beyond friendship In truth… Violet's question opened a series of other questions that Abel himself didn't have answers to. His eyes began to dart around the room, searching for some way to escape the rapidly building awkwardness. "…I-I-"

But whatever feeble excuse Abel may have given was interrupted by another knock at his door. "Lord Hero?" an unfamiliar voice asked. "This is Sister Yumie. I have a message for you."

Abel nearly breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for any escape from the uncomfortable conversation. "Y-Yes? What is it?"

The door slid open, and Yumie stepped inside. "Lord Azai has requested your presence at once, Lord Hero. He wishes to speak with you regarding what transpired between you and Lady Kagura before your return to Enji."

Abel's stomach dropped, what little relief he'd felt evaporating in an instant. He'd hoped to discuss the… encounter with Oko with Kagura, to craft some sort of plausible series of events that conveniently excluded the rite and what it entailed. But the timely arrival of his friends, along with Kagura being whisked away as soon as they returned to the city, meant that conversation never had a chance to happen. But now… there would be no avoiding it. And with Kagura's own father no less… did he know? Had Kagura told him? His mind spun with a thousand possibilities, trying to anticipate every terrible-

"Lord Hero," Yumie then said sternly. "I would ask that you not keep the lord daimyo waiting."

"Ah- y-yes, of course," Abel managed to choke out, forcing himself to focus on the present moment. "I'll be right there."

Violet seemed to sense the shift in mood, her expression turning serious. "I will leave you to attend to this matter, Master Abel. Please do not neglect to take the potions I prepared for you." With that, she excused herself and left the room. Abel barely registered her departure, his thoughts consumed by the looming confrontation ahead, before he too departed, Sister Yumie following close behind.

Soon- much too soon, in Abel's eyes- he and the older priestess stepped into the castle's audience chamber. Saburo was already seated on the dais on the far side of the room, flanked by guards, fixing Abel with an unreadable gaze- Kagura sat beside him, her head bowed, as if deliberately trying to avoid looking his way. Abel swallowed hard, trying to steel himself for what was about to come. "Lord Hero," Saburo began, his voice just as cold and unreadable as his expression. "I realize that you have not yet fully recovered from your injuries, but I am afraid this discussion cannot wait."

Abel nodded stiffly, trying to convey that he understood the gravity of the situation without actually saying anything incriminating. He waited for Saburo to continue, his heart pounding in his chest, his palms growing slick with sweat despite the cool air of the audience chamber. Whatever was coming, he knew it was going to be bad. Very bad.

"…Kagura has informed me of some of what transpired during her absence," Saburo finally said, seemingly no longer interested in building tensions further. "She told me that she was not abducted, but that she departed the castle of her own accord. And that she left in order to… negotiate with an entity she named as Isha's… guardian. Is that correct, Lord Hero?"

"Y-Yes, Lord Azai," Abel confirmed, his voice wavering slightly. "Kagura did… leave willingly. And she did go to meet with Ok- …with the guardian."

Saburo leaned forward, his expression dark, anger simmering just beneath the surface as his piercing gaze bored into Abel. "And what, precisely, occurred during these negotiations?"

He knew.

There was absolutely no way Saburo could not know.

Abel's mouth went dry, his mind racing for a way out. But he knew there was none. That there was no use in lying now. But even so, he still tried to stall, to delay the inevitable. "L-Lord Azai, I…" He trailed off, unable to find the words. What could he possibly say? What excuse could he possibly concoct?

The silence stretched on, heavy and oppressive, until finally, Saburo spoke again. His voice dripped with contempt and disgust. "Do you believe that by refusing to speak, you can escape the consequences of your deeds? That silence will absolve you of your sins?"

Abel's mouth moved, but words refused to come out, no matter how hard he tried to force them. "I… I- I-! "

A hand suddenly laid itself on Abel's shoulder. "Didn't I say that it was unbecoming of a man to stammer so much?"

Abel jumped, letting out a shrill cry in response to the voice suddenly speaking into his ear. He whirled around, only to find himself facing a completely unexpected figure.

Oko.

The others recoiled in shock, the guards fumbling for their weapons- it seemed her appearance had been just as startling to them as it was to him, as they made a number of surprised comments: "She came out of nowhere!" "I was looking right where she is now! She wasn't there a second ago!" "Horns? Is that an oni?"

But there was someone who was not surprised in the slightest.

Saburo. The daimyo rose to his feet, seething. "You." he spat. "You dare show your face here of all places."

Oko gave a little smirk, but her eyes were serious. "This island, and all that lies upon it, belongs to the goddess who grants it its name. And as its chosen guardian, there is no place upon its surface- not a single speck of its soil- upon which my feet may not tread." She stepped forward, arms clasped behind her back. "Your clan may rule over men, Lord Azai, but it does so only at Isha's pleasure. A lesson you appear to have forgotten. One that your daughter has chosen to remember in your stead."

Saburo snarled, baring his teeth. "You presume to lecture me, demon? You, who brought such ruin down upon us!?"

"I do presume." In an instant, Oko was suddenly at Saburo's side. "Because your ancestors swore an oath to my master. An oath that you, and your father, and your grandfather before him, all failed to honor." Again, in the blink of an eye, Oko was gone- this time reappearing next to Sister Yumie. "Tell me, what lies has this one been pouring into your ears?" She gestured to the older priestess. "Did she tell you that not honoring your oath to the goddess would leave me vulnerable? That your refusal to honor Isha's rites would somehow weaken me?" Oko let out a derisive snort. "I am not some beast which can be starved into compliance. Nor a flower that wilts under neglect."

For a moment, all was silent- even Saburo, who glowered but said nothing in reply. But then, Yumie stepped forward, hands raised in a strange gesture. Was she preparing to cast some sort of spell? "You may be able to sway the minds of the faithless, demon, but not I! My faith in the Celestial Master will shield me from your sorcery!"

Oko watched the older priestess impassively. "Lord Hero, please allow me to handle the discussion from here. You shouldn't keep Maki waiting."

"You will hold your tongue, demon!" Yume roared, rounding on Oko. "In the name of Ilias, I command-"

But Oko paid no heed to the older priestess's words, laying a hand on her shoulder, and leaning in close. Then, in a voice loud enough for him to hear, the guardian said, "Mon maître était déjà vieux lorsque ton Héra s'est assise pour la première fois sur son trône de mensonges." At this, Yumie fell to her knees with a gasp, clutching at her chest, eyes wide as if in pain.

My master was already old when your Hera seated herself upon her throne of lies. That was what Oko had said. But while he had understood the guardian's words, it seemed they had some hidden meaning behind them, one that he didn't grasp. But that the older priestess did.

Oko then glanced toward Abel once again. "Go on now. I told you- Maki is waiting for you."

" You will remain where you are, Lord Hero!" Saburo ordered sternly. "Until you have answered for your actions!"

Abel hesitated, torn between obeying the guardian's command and the daimyo's order. But in the end, it was Oko's commandment that won out. His body moving as if guided by strings, Abel turned and hurried from the room, not daring to meet either Saburo or Kagura's eyes. He could hear the daimyo shouting after him, demanding answers, but he ignored it, fearing that if he stopped, even for a second, he might not be able to start moving again. He burst through the door leading outside, quickly shutting it and putting his weight against it as though some monster were chasing him, panting for breath. As he did, the earth rumbled, and he faintly heard Oko speaking harsh words, presumably to the daimyo: "…that these lands that Susanoo consecrated in the names of the gods are a gift. And your residence here is a privilege, not a right. One that may be revoked at any moment…"

But any further attempts to eavesdrop were interrupted by a voice saying to him, "Lord Hero." Abel jolted, looking around, but saw nothing. Was it… Oko again? It didn't sound like her voice, but- "Down here, Lord Hero." This time, the voice came from the ground, a few steps away. Abel followed the voice, and found a small, red-eyed, white-scaled snake, curled up on the floor.

"…Maki?" he asked hesitantly, feeling like a fool the moment the question left his mouth. Looking at the snake, it was identical to the white serpent he'd encountered under Hinode in every aspect, save for size- there was nothing and no one else it could have been. Although, seeing her as she was now, he could understand how the white serpent had managed to slip into the castle without being discovered. And how she'd escape Violet's notice.

"As I was saying before, yes, I believe the altar you're searching for is behind this barrier I found," Maki explained, as if the interruption to their conversation had been mere moments before, rather than several minutes of chaos.

"But… what about Oko? Will she-"

Maki raised her head off the ground, her eyes unblinking, her expression unchanging. "Lady Oko is more than capable of handling the situation. Your presence would likely only serve as a distraction. Leave her to handle the negotiations."

Abel glanced back toward the audience chamber doors. "Are you sure? I feel like-"

"I am certain, Lord Hero. Besides, you already have a mission. And it isn't to assist Lady Oko." The white serpent slithered across the ground, quickly climbing up Abel's body, resting itself near his shoulder. "Now, shall we proceed?"

Abel shivered slightly, the sensation of the serpent winding around one of his limbs bringing back a number of memories he would… rather not remember. But he forced himself to focus on the task at hand, taking a deep breath. "Alright. Where was this barrier you found?"

As it turned out, contrary to Abel's concerns, the barrier wasn't far at all… relatively speaking. Maki directed him to the red cliff overlooking Enji, following a steep and treacherous path… or, it would have been, had Abel not been to simply fly over the most difficult parts. And, soon enough, Abel himself found the barrier Maki discovered. It was marked by four stones standing to form a square, with a small building in the center of them- a shrine of some kind, Abel assumed. Each stone had strange runes carved across their surface, but strangely, Abel couldn't read them. A strange feeling settled over Abel, as his ability to understand languages had never failed him before. Were they meant to be some sort of warning?

"This is it," Maki said, sliding off of Abel's shoulder, growing much larger than before… though nowhere near the massive size she had been within the caverns of Hinode. "The altar should be concealed within that shrine."

Abel focused, briefly feeling his amulet pull toward the structure, confirming that one of Alondight's altars was indeed inside. However… "And… how am I supposed to get past the barrier?" he asked, eyeing the runes warily.

Maki slithered up to one of the stones, eyes scanning over the runes. "'I, Kaito of Yutu, priest of Isha, in Her holy name, the name of her Guardian, Uru, and the Lord Daimyo Azai Gorou, hereby raise this barrier,'" she read, "'which shall bar the way to all, save those who bear the mark of the gods upon their souls.'" The serpent then glanced at Abel. 'I believe that 'those who bear the mark of the gods' refers to Heroes like yourself. So, you should be able to pass through without issue."

Abel hesitated, still feeling uneasy. But… if Maki believed he could get past it, then he would trust her judgment. Taking another deep breath, he began approaching the shrine with slow, cautious steps. An energy began to build in the air as he passed between two of the standing stones, his ears filled with a hum that made his very bones rattle… but it dissipated almost the instant his foot landed within the square marked by the stones. "Well, that was easy…" Abel murmured, somewhat relieved, before continuing to the shrine. It was a small thing, with no windows and only a single sliding door on one side. And sure enough, once he opened the door, Abel was greeted by the sight of a long rectangular slab of white stone resting atop two smaller, square slabs.

Alondight's altar. His third.

Without a moment's hesitation, Abel reached out, laying his hand on the altar's surface. And as soon as his hand brushed his surface, his vision was filled with a blinding light.

---

Before Abel even opened his eyes, a wave of blistering heat swept over him. And once he did, Abel was greeted with a vision of fire, and a cavern of red stone. In front of him was a black staircase leading up to a great bronze door, flanked by a pair of dog statues cast in gold. Behind him were pools of what could only be liquid stone, glowing in an orange light, the air above them dancing and shimmering with their intense heat.

What… what was this place? Was this… Hell?

But before he could ponder further, a hollow barking reached his ears. He looked, to see one of the dog statues turned toward him, its eyes glowing in a blue light. It barked, though its tail wagged vigorously, a show that the dog-statue was not hostile.

A moment later, the bronze door creaked open, and a woman's voice called out, saying, "Oh, what is it now, Boota? I just gave you-" The voice immediately stopped as soon as its owner's gaze fell on Abel. She was a taller woman- older than Abel if he had to guess- with short, wavy red hair, dressed in a white shirt and loose black trousers over a thick leather apron. But what stood out the most to Abel was that she had only one eye. She wasn't missing an eye, in the way that Cinquedea was- the stranger literally had only a single, massive eye which dominated her face. The one-eyed woman's brow furrowed when she saw Abel. "What… a visitor?"

Cautiously, Abel raised a hand. He was never armed when he visited the domains of the gods, although right now, he couldn't help but wish that he were. "H… Hello. I'm… Abel. Bacchus's Champion."

The woman's brow furrowed further, before her eye widened in surprise. "Oh! You carry Ariadne's Amulet. That's right, we've been expecting you." With a mighty push, the one-eyed woman opened the bronze doors wide, before beckoning for him to enter. "Please, come in. And… don't mind the mess."

As Abel stepped into the chamber beyond the door, his nose was assaulted by a cacophony of smells: molten metal, sulfur, ash, and countless other things too faint to identify. In the flickering light of braziers and the glow of molten metal, he saw rows upon rows of furnaces, each churning out metal of various types. A thousand hammers clanged rhythmically upon a thousand anvils, shaping countless unseen items into being. Between the furnaces and worktables, people bustled about, of seemingly all races- humans, elves, goblins… Abel was certain he'd spotted a few orcs among their number. There were even some races Abel didn't recognize at all: a squat man who stood at only half his height, face hidden behind a thick black beard; a woman whose upper body looked human, but below the waist had the body of an entire horse; and yet another woman with red skin, four arms, and four glowing yellow eyes.

Abel looked around, marveling at the sight. He had been to a number of gods' domains before, but never one that was so… busy.

"This is the Forge," the one-eyed woman then said. "Hephaestus's domain. All Relics used by Heroes were made in this very chamber. Including the Relic hanging around your neck at this very moment."

Abel looked around, at all the various tools, materials, and workers, before coming back to look at the woman who had greeted him. "Are… you Hephaestus?"

"Wha- me?" She looked utterly taken aback. "Of course not! I don't even have my own workstation! I just… watch the door, mostly. Master Hephaestus is up there." She then pointed to a towering structure deeper into the cavern- a pyramid with the very tip removed, and a long, tall flight of steps rising up each side. Abel couldn't see anyone on top of the pyramid, but it was so tall, so far away, that seeing anyone would be difficult. "Normally Master Hephaestus is always busy inspecting the forgemasters' creations, but he is expecting you. So I'm sure he can spare at least a few minutes to meet with you. Still, I'll come with you, to remind him just in case."

So Abel set out toward the pyramid, the one-eyed woman at his side. The pyramid grew larger and larger as they neared, until it more closely resembled a mountain by the time they reached its base rather than a man-made (or in this instance, god-made) structure. As they ascended the stairs, Abel expected the heat to die away, but if anything, the air was even hotter than it was near the forges. By the time he reached the platform at the pyramid's summit, Abel was drenched in sweat, feeling as though his skin was going to melt off his bones. Even the one-eyed woman, who had been otherwise unbothered through their climb, looked winded.

Stretched across the top of the pyramid was a large worktable, laden with countless weapons, armor pieces, and other items. And seated in front of that table was a man. Or at least, Abel thought it was a man- his entire body was hidden beneath a suit of golden armor, so well-crafted that there was not a single gap in it, as if the suit itself were the man's skin.

The golden man picked up one of the items from the table: a hammer with an enormous stone head and a short handle. He threw the hammer with a surprising strength- it flew some distance away, before abruptly stopping as if some invisible hand had caught it. It then flew back to the man's hand, before he casually tossed it aside. "Crap." He picked up another weapon- a sword- and flicked his wrist, causing bolts of lightning to race up and down its blade, before tossing it aside as well. "Crap." He picked up yet another item- a small black stick. Again, he flicked his wrist, causing it to both lengthen and widen, until it was the size of a large stone pillar. "Hmm… crap." He tossed the black pillar aside, making the whole pyramid shake and several other items in the pile to clatter to the ground. Then, he reached for a different item- a silver platter with a matching silver cover placed atop it. He removed the cover, revealing a leg of some kind of roasted meat, still steaming faintly. "Oh? Does this make a roast every time I take off the cover?" The armored man set the cover on the platter and immediately took it away again- as he pulled away, a second leg of meat tumbled from under the cover and rolled onto his worktable. "Hah! Brilliant! Bring this back to Chu-Nam's forge! Ask him how many times a day it can be used. Actually, send him to me right away!"

At his command, a pair of small brass-colored owls grabbed the platter and cover in their claws before flying out over the seemingly endless spread of forges. As they passed, Abel realized the owls weren't merely brass-colored , but likely actually were made from brass, with blue gems fitted into where a normal owl's eyes would go.

As the man watched the brass bird take wing, he finally noticed Abel and the one-eyed woman. "Oh. Rikho. Is that a new apprentice? I told you to bring new arrivals to Kalvis for orientation."

"Uh, no, Master, the one-eyed woman- Rikho, apparently, replied. "This is the bearer of Ariadne's Amulet."

"Ariadne's Amulet…?" The golden man suddenly stood and drew himself closer. As he did, his chestplate… opened, revealing a shriveled, almost skeletal man within, bald, his skin marked with numerous white spots, surrounded on all sides by strange levers, buttons, and lights shining and blinking in every color Abel could name. He leaned out of the armor as he looked at the younger man closely. Or rather, at his neck, where the amulet would have been. A pair of lenses moved in front of his left eye from behind his ear, as if guided by his thoughts, before his eyes widened in surprise. "Ha, so it is! Then you must be one of the Champions I've been waiting for!" Laughing, the man pulled back- the chestplate closed once more, and the suit of golden armor lumbered back to his desk. "Ariadne's Amulet is one of my proudest works, you know. When people think of Relics, they always think of things like swords, axes, bows- but such little imagination! A sword can't help you find your way to the nearest town if you get lost. It can't tell you if someone speaks truth or lies. It can't grant sight to a blind man. And you certainly can't eat one." He- or rather, the armor's helm- then looked back toward Abel. "So, I trust you've found my creation useful?"

Abel had. Disappointed as he had been initially, the amulet had helped him more times than he could possibly count, even though his journey was still far from over. "Y-Yes, Lord Hephaestus. I have."

"Master Hephaestus is a bit… eccentric, as you can see," Rikho said in a low voice, leaning towards Abel. "He-"

"Rikho, is that any way to speak about your master?" the golden man interrupted, sounding genuinely wounded by her words. "I'm not an eccentric. I'm a visionary! I see potential in all things! Even in those things that others might overlook." The golden man gestured towards an empty chair beside the massive table. "Now, why don't you have a seat, young man? Tell me all about your adventures so far. I do love a good story, especially when it involves one of my creations."

All of a sudden, the door next to Hephaestus's worktable bulged, as if it were a door someone had crashed any moment, Abel expected a doorway in the air to open, revealing Bacchus, having come to collect him. But while the doorway did open, it was not the god of wine on the other side.

"Waaait!" she shouted. "Hold it! Hold everything!" She immediately wiped her brow with her arm. "Ah, oh it's hot." She looked toward Hephaestus. "Heff, I need to borrow the kid for a minute."

The goddess who emerged was incredibly short- that was the first thing Abel noticed. If she were to stand right in front of him, she would end up staring directly into the center of his chest. Her dark hair- the exact shade lying somewhere between a dark green and black- flowed down her back, reaching almost all the way down to her ankles. She was clad in a simple white tunic that, due to her stature, reached all the way down to her knees, with no shoes- not even sandals. But, in spite of her youthful appearance and energetic demeanor, there was an undeniable aura of authority around her. And her eyes shone with a brilliant green light, belying a great power that the rest of her appearance masked.

"Hestia?" the golden man asked. He sounded unimpressed but concerned. "What are you doing here?"

Hestia. Abel had heard that name before. Raine had mentioned once that of the mid-tier deities, only Hestia had more influence than Bacchus.

The goddess scoffed. "Weren't you listening, old man? I just told you- I need the kid!"

Abel jolted. "Wha- me? "

"Yeah, you." She quickly walked over, grabbing Abel by the wrist. "C'mon. You'll understand once you're in my domain." And without waiting for a response, Hesita dragged Abel through the still-open portal.

In an instant, the sweltering heat in the air was replaced by a much less oppressive warmth, though the shift was so abrupt that Abel felt as if he'd been dipped into a cold bath. He glanced around, and saw that he was standing in a road, surrounded on both sides by farmer's fields. A small cottage stood at the far end of the road, smoke rising from its chimney. But Abel didn't have much time to take in the sights, as the goddess dragged him forward, headed toward the villa.

"Uh- L-Lady Hestia?" Abel began, stumbling as he tried his best to avoid tripping and falling on his face- at the goddess's pace, she might've just kept dragging him along even if he did fall. "Why am I here? I only found one altar."

"Oh I know. But you did save two of my servants from fading into oblivion from not being venerated for a long time, you know. And to express their undying gratitude for your deed, they wish to pledge their eternal service to you. …Well, not eternal eternal. They're still my servants. But I'll loan them to you, at least until you finish your quest," Hestia said as they approached the villa, her voice like a river, fast and seemingly endless.

Abel blinked in confusion. Saving Hestia's servants? When had that happened? But strangely, what most readily came to mind was… "I thought all the spirits in Isha were servants of the Guardian."

Hestia glanced back, eyes flashing. "And just who do you think appointed Oko to her position?"

That's right. Different civilizations called the gods by different names. Artemis had told him as much when he'd met her. Then Zipangu's name for Hestia must have been…

As the cottage neared, Abel noticed that the fields weren't empty. They were being tended to, as was the villa. But they weren't being cared for by people, but… animals, of seemingly all types: cats, ravens, dogs, horses- even a few predators, like bears and wolves. But every one of them- no matter what they were doing- paused as Hestia neared, giving the goddess a respectful bow before returning to their tasks.

Once they were in front of the cottage, Hestia finally released her grip on Abel's wrist. The air was filled with a wonderful scent, like baking bread and roasting meats. Abel's stomach growled noisily, which made him realize he hadn't eaten anything since before his return to Enji. Abel thought the goddess would invite him in, but she glanced back to him and said, "Wait here for just a moment. I'll get them for you," before stepping inside the cottage. Not long after, the door opened again, and Hestia stepped out, followed by two figures.

It was the foxes from before. The golden furred for with two tails, and the giant, black-furred fox. They sat before him, tails waving slightly, looking at him expectantly.

"Well, here they are," Hestia said. "Oh, one thing before I forget. I know I said loan my 'servants' to you, but both of them have duties and responsibilities, so I can't let both of them leave. So… you can only take one with you." The goddess flashed a broad grin. "Choose wisely!"

Abel's eyes flicked between the two foxes. There was no denying both could be incredibly helpful- the golden fox with its fire, and the black fox with its vines. The black fox had saved his life, stopping the gashadokuro from crushing him- and by extension, had saved Kagura as well. On the other hand, the golden fox had been hurt trying to defend the both of them, and it had brought them food when their supplies had run out… but at the same time, the black fox had brought herbs to help heal his wounds. He glanced at each of them in turn- both had proven themselves in their own ways, and he didn't want to insult their efforts. But, as Hestia said, he could only choose one to accompany him. And so… Abel made his choice.

Raising a shaking hand, Abel pointed at the fox to his left. The golden fox. "Uh… I'll take that one."

Instantly, there was a pop, and a burst of smoke surrounded the golden fox. As it cleared, rather than a fox, there was now a girl with short golden hair in its place, bowed low, her head nearly touching the ground. She was clad in light clothes, colored black with an iron-grey trim, but it wasn't her attire that drew his eye. Rather, it was the two golden tails at her waist, and the golden ears perched atop her head.

"Thank you for your generosity, Lord Hero," she said in a melodious voice, before lifting up her head to look him in the eye. "My name is Tamayatsu." She tilted her head, giving him a brilliant smile. "I hope you will treat me well in your travels."

Tamayatsu… he recognized that name. The shrine in the village where he'd met Kagura had been dedicated to her. Then that meant…

There was another pop and another burst of smoke, this time from the black fox. "Oh, that's not fair!" a shrill voice shouted, even before the smoke began to clear. "I'm the one who saved him from the gashadokuro! He should've chosen me!" In the black fox's place stood a woman with long, sweeping black hair, with black ears sprouting from her head and a black tail near her waist. She was taller than the golden-haired girl- taller even than Abel, with a short, loose black skirt and a loose black shirt with verdant green trim. But the biggest difference Abel took notice of after her height was… in the area around her chest. Two very… very prominent differences, ones that her loose attire struggled to contain. He tried not to stare.

"Zaramatsu, please, don't make a fuss," Tamayatsu then said. "The Lord Hero has made his choice. We must respect his decision."

"I-I… I know," the black fox-girl began weakly. "It's just… oh, I never get picked for anything important! Never!" she shouted, shaking her arms and stamping her feet, before she glared at Tamayatsu, her cheeks puffed out, tears building in the corners of her eyes. Despite her appearance, she was behaving like a child.

The golden-haired fox-girl let out a sigh as she turned toward Abel. "I ask that you forgive her, Lord Hero. I'm afraid my younger sister has always been prone to outbursts like these when she doesn't get her way."

Sister? Younger!? Abel could only balk. Heights and hair colors aside, the two fox-girls looked nothing alike- the shapes of their noses, their brows, their eyes, their jawlines… all of them were completely different. The only feature they shared in common was their eye color: a rich, earthy brown.

…but then, a sense of guilt began to set in. The black fox-girl- Zaramatsu- was entirely correct. If not for her intervention, Abel wouldn't even be alive to witness their exchange. His gaze turned away from the two foxes, and toward Hestia. "Uh… is it too late to change my choice?" he asked, feeling sheepish.

The black fox-girl beamed. Meanwhile, the golden fox-girl recoiled as if suddenly stung by an insect, tearing up almost instantly. "W-What? Lord Hero, have I done something to offend you? Do you not want me to come with you?" Her voice cracked, and she sniffled.

Instantly the guilt returned. Twice as strong this time. "No, no! That's not it at all!" Abel quickly clarified, raising his hands defensively. "It's just… both of you saved me. And Zaramatsu… well, she literally saved my life. It wouldn't be fair…" He trailed off, unsure how to articulate the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. How could he possibly choose between two beings who had shown such kindness?

"Hmm-Hmm! My, what a predicament!" Hestia chuckled, her voice like chimes tinkling in the breeze. "But worry not, Lord Hero. Because I'll make a deal. I can't let both of them leave permanently, but…" She paused, letting the suspense build, before continuing with a mischievous grin. "But I can let them switch places whenever you want. That way, someone's always back on Isha, but they can both accompany you on your journey." She looked toward the three, a satisfied smile on her face. "How does that sound?"

"Yes!" Zaramatsu cried out eagerly.

"Do you truly mean that, Lady Hestia?" Tamayatsu asked hopefully.

Hestia laughed to herself, the satisfied smile on her face deepening. Had… this been her plan the whole time? Had she meant to let both fox-girls accompany Abel, but forced him to choose between them, just to see their reactions? …A small flame began to stir within Abel.

But before he could speak, to reprimand the goddess for playing with their emotions, the air next to him buckled violently. Once, twice… and then upon the third time, it crashed open, and a blue-haired, horned figure stumbled through, accompanied by a cacophony of music and laughter, and the overpowering scent of wine.

"IIII'mmmm heeeeereeee!" Bacchus cried excitedly- her face was flushed red, and she wavered on her feet. Her eyes fell on Abel, struggling to focus. "And there's my favorite Champion! Aren't you looking sharp today?"

"Uh… thanks?" Abel replied, confused.

The horned goddess's gaze shifted to the two fox-girls, her eyes growing wide with excitement. "Oh, these must be the girls Hestie's loaning out to you!" The goddess then reached out, grabbing one of Zaramatsu's breasts, making the black-haired fox girl squeak. "Oh look at the milk jugs on this one! And you!" She then reached for Tamayatsu with her other hand, grabbing her around the waist, hand roaming freely over her back, her rear, her thighs, eliciting a loud squeak from the gold-haired fox girl as well. "You cover it up, but you've got a great figure under all this! You might not have the other girl's tits, but damn, these thighs! And that ass …" Bacchus slapped Tamayatsu's rear, causing the golden fox-girl to cry out again, before she looked to Abel with a big smile, still shamelessly groping the two fox girls. "I am so glad I slipped those silver marks in your pockets before you headed out. Now you've got two cuties who'll…" Bacchus abruptly trailed off, her eyes falling on Abel… or rather, on something next to Abel. "Oh? And how did you get here?"

Abel looked over. It… was the one-eyed woman from Hephaestus's Forge. Rikho. Had she been dragged along with him this whole time? She backed away cautiously, eye darting around nervously. "I… really need to be getting back to the Forge…"

In the blink of an eye, Bacchus abandoned the fox-girls, slipping a hand around the one-eyed woman's waist. "Oh, don't go! I've got a few things Heff made for me laying around somewhere. Why don't we chat about them over a cup of wine or two?" The goddess's hand slipped onto the cyclops's stomach, under the thick apron and white shirt, causing her to let out a surprised squeal. "Oh my. Such strong muscles for a girl… but let's see if you're still soft in all the right places." Bacchus's hand quickly slid up to Rikho's breasts, while the other grabbed around her rear.

"Nuh… noo! Sta-haah-p it!" Rikho squirmed in Bacchus's grasp, eye squeezed shut, though whether it was because she genuinely couldn't break free, because she didn't want to hurt Bacchus in her struggles, or because she didn't want to escape, Abel couldn't say.

But then… Bacchus's eyes fell on Abel once more. "Aaaaabellll!" The word was half-mirthful and half-threatening as she eyed him, as if he were a particularly delicious cut of meat. Her gaze made Abel instinctively take a step back. "You had me so worried you know, fighting that big scary monster! Y'know if things were up to me, the only sword you'd ever have to fight with is the one you've got riiiiight he-" Suddenly, the goddess pitched forward, hitting the ground face-first. Abel jolted, before cautiously approaching his patron, kneeling down to inspect her closely. She was breathing, but unconscious.

"What… what was all that about?" Abel asked, looking about to the others in confusion. Though as they straightened their disheveled outfits, they seemingly didn't have any more answers than he did.

"We're celebratin' ya finally gettin' laid, duh," a familiar voice with a distinct accent then replied. Abel looked to its source- the still open portal, to see a familiar black cat striding through it, a cup of wine clutched in her teeth. Bastet. She tilted the cup back, taking a drink, before setting it aside. "Still, I was expectin' that squinty-eyed redhead girl ta be the one ta stick her claws in ya first, Champ. Glad I ain't the bettin' sort. And uh… sorry ya had ta see all that. Bacchi tends ta get a bit handsy when she's drunk. And she's been at it fer near three days now."

Abel could only stare at the feline goddess in confusion. Bacchus had been celebrating… that, of all things? But- perhaps fortunately- before he could ruminate further, Bastet sauntered up to the unconscious god of wine, before grabbing her wrist in her teeth. "I'll get 'er home. Stay safe out there. An'… ya should swing by ta visit Bacchi more often, Champ. She spends a whole lotta time worryin' about ya, y'know." With that said, she disappeared back into the portal, dragging Bacchus with her the whole way.

Hestia clapped her hands together, dispelling the portal and causing everyone present to jump. "Ahh! Now, that was quite a show." She sighed, shaking her head, yet smiling. "Alright, kid. Normally your patron would be the one to see you off, but since she's a bit indisposed, I'll do it for her."

"But what about-" Abel began.

"You just leave everything to me," the goddess replied. "This is my domain, which means it's my job to clean up the messes visitors leave behind." She stepped in front of Abel, looking up at him with her vibrant eyes. "…Take care of them, okay?" Then, Hestia tapped Abel's forehead, filling his vision with a bright light.

When it faded, Abel was standing in front of the altar once again. Letting out a breath, he turned around, but rather than Maki, he found the golden-haired fox-girl and the black-haired fox-girl waiting for him just outside the barrier.

"Wait, why're you both here?" Abel asked, the question escaping before he realized it.

"As long as you're here on Isha, we'll both be able to accompany you, Lord Hero… so long as Lady Hestia has no pressing matters for us to attend to," Tamayatsu said.

"Why did we end up all the way over here?" Zaramatsu asked, taking a step forward. "I thought Lady Hestia would put us-"

"Wait, don't-!" Abel shouted.

But it was too late. A shimmering white wall formed between the stones as the black-haired fox-girl tried to step through them, and she was blown back as if the ground under her feet had exploded, landing on the ground some distance away. "Sister!" Tamayatsu yelped, rushing towards Zaramatsu, who groaned as she sat up, clutching a scrape on her arm.

Abel rushed over as well, checking if she was alright as Tamayatsu hovered over her sister. "Are you hurt?"

With a groan, Zaramatsu shook her head, looking up at Abel. "It doesn't look too serious," she said, getting up. Even so, Abel extended his hand and focused, bathing the black-haired fox-girl in a white light that mended her wound.

"Sister, you need to be more mindful of your surroundings," Tamayatsu scolded gently. "It's like Lady Hestia said: your blessings make you stronger, but they don't make you invincible…"

The argument between the two fox sisters faded, as Abel turned his attention back to the altar briefly. Three. He'd found three altars. It hadn't been easy, by any stretch. But he'd survived, and now, he was one step closer to the end of his quest. One step closer… to facing the Overlord.

But that was for another day. For today…

His gaze turned back to the two fox-girls. Zaramatsu was back on her feet, standing in front of one of the rune-covered stones. She reached out and touched it gently… only to be blasted back again. Tamayatsu dashed forward, catching her sister before she could hit the ground.

…he would have to explain to the others that two new companions would be joining them.

---

"Haah… I really should've seen this coming…" Claire muttered.

"Oh don't be like that," Raine said, leaning in and nudging the president's arm. "I saw you making eyes at that blonde one. And that black-haired one… god I just wanna bury my face between those cans!"

Claire scoffed. "Oh please…"

"Seriously Prez, you look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't suck those bad girls dry."

"I would, but most people tend to frown on discussing things like that over dinner." Claire gestured to the others around the table. One of the girls Abel had brought back with him, a blonde girl named Tamayatsu, had cooked a feast for all of them. Presumably to soften the news that she and her "sister" Zaramatsu would be joining them from that day forward. The president couldn't help but to shoot a glare at the black-haired fox girl. It was bad enough with the glasses-wearing Vulkan, but now this girl-

"Oh… oh I get what this is. You're jealous!" Raine squealed, clapping her hands together.

Claire's eyes narrowed at the witch. "And what would I possibly be jealous of?"

"Well, two things, specifically. Right around here." The witch made an obnoxious show of waving her hands in the air just in front of her chest, miming the presence of a pair of absurdly large breasts. "You're always giving Jugs the stink-eye whenever you get a glimpse at her outside her armor. And now I get what's going on- you hate girls with bigger tits than yours!"

Claire turned away, mumbling. That witch was far too good at reading people for her own good.

Raine leaned in with a sly grin. "Well? Am I wrong?"

"…It's a waste, is all," Claire whispered through gritted teeth. "Anything that you can't fit in your hand isn't worth having."

The witch laughed, poking Claire's ribs once again. "Well I've always loved them big myself."

The president's eye drifted down to Raine's chest… or rather, her lack of one. "Huh. Can't imagine why."

"Hey, I'm just saying: if the gods had reasons for making me a woman, they could've had the decency of giving me my own pair of tits to play with."

Claire rolled her eyes so much she was amazed they hadn't fallen right out of her head. "You are utterly insufferable. Did you know that?"

"Oh, I know," Raine replied, smirking. "Now eat up, Prez. We don't want Goldie to think we're not grateful for her cooking."

When Abel had returned to the city with Tamayatsu and Zaramatsu in tow, Raine had been waiting for him at the gates. Apparently, Oko's negotiations with Saburo were… not proceeding well. In fact, whatever discussion they were having was so intense that it made the Azais' entire castle shake. The tremors were so severe in fact that the captain of the garrison ordered all the servants and guards to evacuate, forcing the castle residents to seek refuge elsewhere. The others ended up having to do the same, claiming one of the city's abandoned buildings- an old smithy- as their own, at least until things settled down.

In spite of the hunger he'd felt in Hestia's domain, Abel simply sat pushing his food around his plate rather than eating it. He couldn't help but worry, and that worry seemed to fill his stomach better than any meal.

"Something bothering you?" Seth asked, her eyes falling on his plate. Unlike his, the thief's plate was practically scraped clean. "You've hardly eaten anything…"

He let out a sigh. "I'm worried about Kagura. I know Oko said to let her handle talking to the daimyo, but…" He trailed off. In all honesty, he had trouble articulating exactly what had him worried. He was certain that the guardian wouldn't harm Saburo or his daughter, but there were a lot of other things that could happen, things that would cause Kagura to hold a deep grudge against Oko, and by extension, against Abel as well. The guardian could, for example, force Saburo to abdicate in favor of Kagura, or even exile him from Isha entirely. And who knew how Sister Yumie might be influencing the situation? In fact, the older priestess's actions raised its own series of questions. Lailah had told him that part of the Church's duties was to negotiate with spirits of nature. But Yumie seemed set on eliminating Oko, rather than trying to come to some sort of agreement with her. But… perhaps that was because she was a worshiper of Ilias first, and a priestess of the Church second- and past experience had shown Abel that the followers of Ilias would not permit anyone or any thing to challenge the Chief God's authority.

As if cued to his thoughts, a faint tremor rumbled through the ground, making everyone's plates rattle and small trails of dust fall from the ceiling."Guess they're still going at it," Raine said, shrugging as she took another bite of food.

"Should we really leave things like this, though?" Holly asked, her voice laced with concern. "Maybe we should send someone back to the castle to mediate…"

"I'm certain that won't be necessary," Niel replied. She was seated on the table, a tiny plate laid out in front of her with miniaturized versions of the dish everyone else was enjoying, specially prepared for her by Tamayatsu. "The islands of Zipangu are under the jurisdiction of Hestia and other gods, and they may govern them however they see fit. And as Hestia's representative, Oko is the ultimate authority here, whatever that Sister Yumie may say to the contrary."

Under Hestia's jurisdiction… Abel recalled how his powers had failed in the caverns under Hinode. And how his powers never worked while he was visiting the gods in their own domains. Was that the reason? Because this island- or at least, the grotto where Oko resided- was considered part of Hestia's domain? Before he could ask however, his thoughts were interrupted. "Lady Oko's more reasonable than you might think," Zaramatsu said, hardly looking up from her plate- already on her fourth. "And besides, she wouldn't do anything to harm the Lord Hero's wife or his family."

The silence that settled in the room was so profound, that for a moment, Abel thought he'd gone deaf. But that was disproved when Seth asked haltingly, "I-I'm… sorry, what- what did you just say?"

Zaramatsu smiled broadly. "A wedding among ruling clans isn't officially recognized until the current head and their intended spouse consummate their union under the guardian's watchful eye. So according to the ancient customs of Isha, the Lord Hero and Lady Azai are married now!"

There was a shattering of porcelain. Abel looked, to see Fiann splattered with tea, her hand clenched in a fist, tea and blood and porcelain shards leaking through her fingers. But it wasn't just her. All eyes were fixed firmly upon him, with varying degrees of shock, disbelief, anger, and even a hint of jealousy.

"Abel." Raine then said, in a harsh voice he had never heard from her before. "Explain."

Abel had thought having to explain what had happened between him and Kagura to Saburo would have been difficult. But this … this was worse. Much, much worse.

But, with the expectant gazes of no less than nine women weighing down upon him, Abel's resolve crumbled, and he began to recount the events that took place while he was away, beginning from when he found Kagura, until they had performed the rite… or at least, as much of the rite as he could remember. It was as though a fog had settled in his memory, a euphoric haze that gave only brief glimpses of what transpired, like shadows cast by flashes of lightning.

When he finally finished, there was an eerie stillness in the room. Then, Fiann shot to her feet, stomping toward the door, axe already in hand. And the moment after, Raine was behind her, arms grabbing her around the waist, slowing the bard's march but not stopping it entirely. "Hey- no! Bad! Sit back down! Hey someone gimme a hand!"

At this, vines snaked up from under the floorboards, winding around Fiann's legs, holding her in place. She raised her arm, preparing to chop through them with her axe, only for more vines to entangle her arms. They creaked audibly as the bard strained against them, but it seemed even her prodigious strength was unable to break them. Abel's gaze turned to Zaramatsu- and as he expected, she was on her feet, hand outstretched, eyes flashing with arcane energy. "I don't know what you were planning," she began. "But I promise it would've ended very badly for you."

Once again, a tense silence settled. "…So then," Claire began, eyes narrowed. "This… guardian caused the blight here, and in order to end it, you and the daimyo's daughter had to perform some sort of… sex ritual?" She leaned forward, glare intensifying. "Do you realize how utterly absurd all of this sounds?"

Abel struggled to swallow. Hearing it described in those words did make it seem absurd. And Abel would admit, had someone else told him such a story, he wouldn't have believed a word of it. "I-I- I know how it sounds," he stuttered. "But… i-it's not like I knew what the rite was before we met Oko!" He gestured helplessly at himself. "Neither of us did! And if there'd been another way- anything else… I swear, I would've done it!"

And yet, even as he protested, the weight of their gazes weighed down upon him, making Abel doubt himself. Which wasn't helped when the president shot him with an accusing glare. "So, if you could've avoided it, why didn't you?"

"Now wait just a minute!" Seth then said, also jumping to her feet. "How was Abel supposed to know what this rite involved if Kagura- a member of the clan who's apparently been performing it for centuries- didn't even know about it?"

"Not to mention," Violet added, "if this rite was performed at the behest of a goddess's steward, would that not imply a certain degree of… coercion? I admit I am no expert in the dealings between gods and mortals, but it seems to me the problem lies more with this guardian's actions than with Master Abel's."

Her words brought Abel some small measure relief. But they only seemed to incense Claire further. However it wasn't her who spoke next. "Ignorance of a law doesn't absolve one from breaking it," Niel said. "Whatever his reasons, it doesn't change the fact that Abel deflowered the daughter of a local lord. Hero or not, something like that isn't easily forgiven."

"And what was he supposed to do then!?" Seth snapped. "Was he supposed to sit around in the Azais' library looking up every last obscure custom of theirs on the off-chance that he might stumble upon something relevant?"

Niel shook her head. "I'm not saying Abel shouldn't have acted. What I'm saying is that he should have put more thought into the consequences of his-"

"Do you think I didn't!?" Abel shouted, shooting to his feet. "What was I supposed to do? Just let the guardian kill Kagura!? What would I have said to Saburo!? And if I tried to fight the guardian, what would've happened then!? Yeah, it might have ended the blight, but what if it didn't ? What if Hestia decided to punish everyone by sinking the whole island into the sea!?"

"You don't know for sure that anything like that would've happened," Niel countered, the words belying her disappointment.

"And you don't know that it wouldn't have!" Abel snapped back. He raked a hand through his hair, chest heaving with exertion, eyes wild. "…Do you think I wanted this? That I enjoyed it!? All I wanted was to help Kagura end the blight. Was what we did the best option? I don't know. But it was the only one we had!" He sank back into his seat. "And… it worked. The plants are coming back- I saw them! And you- …you must've seen them too."

He fell silent, chest still heaving, awaiting yet another rebuke, another accusation that he hadn't done enough… but none came. Instead, there was just silence. Until Minze rose to her feet. "I think that's enough." Her voice was calm and measured, but it still managed to sound like a soft warning. "Sir Abel, no one here is accusing you of not acting in good faith. And as for everyone else… I realize that you may not agree with Abel's decision, but arguing about the past will not change it. The only thing we can do now… is determine how to proceed from here."

Silence settled for a third time. The others' gazes still lingered on Abel- some with pity, others with concern, Claire's with unabashed contempt and Niel's with disappointment… but the weight seemed to lessen a little. He breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for the reprieve. "So… how do we proceed from here?" he asked, voice still rough.

A faint rumble passed through the ground, almost imperceptible beneath their feet. "For now…" Minze said slowly, "it seems we'll have to wait until the guardian finishes… negotiating with Lord Azai. Though whether or not that will happen any time soon, I can't say." She then let out a heavy sigh. "In any case, I would ask that you continue resting, Sir Abel. You're still recovering from your injuries, after all, and I doubt today's events have done you any favors."

"But I-" he began, his mouth forming the protest automatically. Yet it was all for naught, and his protest died before the words could fully form. Abel let out a weary sigh. He was exhausted, both physically and mentally. And if they were going to be waiting around for Saburo and Oko to reach some kind of agreement, there was no reason to not rest. "Yeah… alright." He climbed back to his feet, before glancing at Zaramatsu. "Oh. Zaramatsu? You can let Fiann go now."

"Eh- are you sure, Lord Hero?" The black-haired fox-girl still had her hand extended toward the bard. Fiann herself was still wrapped in vines, but although none of them had broken, she'd still moved about a half-step toward the smithy's front door, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she seethed silently.

"Fiann…" he began. "I'm going to ask Zaramatsu to let you go. But you have to promise that you won't go and try to hurt Kagura, or Oko, or anyone else, alright?"

The bard looked toward him, but gave no response.

"… Fiann," he said, a little more harshly this time.

Fiann continued to look at him with cold dead eyes. But after a moment, the light returned to her eyes, and she gave a small nod.

Zaramatsu sighed. "Alright then," she said, and the vines retracted, snapping back underneath the floorboards with audible pops. Fiann rubbed her wrists, shooting before shooting a murderous glare at the fox-girl. However, after a few moments, she stalked away, falling onto one of the bedrolls laid out on the smithy floor.

After a moment, Raine stood as well. "Honestly, I think Psycho's got the right idea. Let's get some rest and figure things out in the morning." She stretched, yawning widely, before ambling over to a nearby pile of blankets and flopping down upon them.

As the others started to disperse to their own makeshift beds, Abel made his way to the back of the smithy, where his own bedroll sat, pushed against the far corner, behind a smelter.

But before he could climb onto it, a hand laid itself gently on his shoulder. "Abel," a voice said.

Lailah's voice.

Fearfully, Abel turned to face her. Throughout his entire recounting, his eyes would regularly glance over at the priestess, trying to gauge her reaction. But she gave no sign of anger, or even disapproval. In fact, she seemed to give no emotion at all, and the lack of reaction- even now- only heightened his anxiety. "Lailah-" he began.

But she interrupted before he could say anymore. "I know," she said.

"…You know?" Abel echoed.

Lailah nodded, her gaze fixing on him. "I knew… from the moment we found you and Kagura. I… I could…" she glanced around, as if ensuring no one was eavesdropping. "…I smelled it on you. You and Kagura."

"I… I see," he replied. It felt as though the bottom had fallen out from his stomach, and his legs grew weak. "Then… are you… mad at me?"

She looked away. "…I was. And, even now, part of me still wants to be angry with you. But… I can't be. Because I know that… you didn't do this for yourself. That you didn't… want this."

" I didn't," he insisted. "That's the truth."

"I know. I know you. I know that you wouldn't do something like this unless it was the only option." She then turned away completely. "I can't hate you, for what you did. But… I also can't forgive you."

The priestess's words lanced at Abe's heart like a spear of ice. "Lailah, I-"

She held up a hand, silencing him. "Please… don't." There was a catch in her voice. "I want to forgive you. I want to be able to forgive you so badly. But right now, I just … I need time. So please…"

"…Alright," he said, his voice cracking. "I… I understand." He felt like he'd been punched in the gut. Everything else faded into background noise, leaving only the weight of Lailah's words. His throat constricted, and his eyes stung. "…Goodnight," he whispered, turning away to stumble back to his bedroll, pulling off his boots and letting himself fall back against the worn leather.

He lay there for a long while, staring at the ceiling, listening to the quiet noises of his companions settling into their own beds. And in time, the roiling in his heart began to settle, and his breathing evened out into slow, steady breaths. And as his consciousness began to fade, a strange thought came to him: he realized he never drank the potions Violet had prepared for him. He'd have to find some time to… apologize to her… for letting them… go to waste. His eyes closed…

…and when they opened, a grey ceiling hung over him. He sat up, quickly realizing he was in the grey room where he had met Edelweiss. And before long, the room's only door creaked open, and Edelweiss herself stepped inside.

"Did I keep you waiting?" she asked.

"What's this about?" Abel asked in turn. Edelweiss hadn't spoken to Abel in a long while- not since they'd left Caral Marsh, some months before.

But Edelweiss didn't answer. Instead, she crossed the room, before kneeling down in front of him, putting a hand on each of his shoulders. "Abel… I'm… I'm so sorry that this happened to you."

He frowned, confused by her words. "Sorry?" he repeated, his voice softening slightly. "What are you apologizing for?"

Edelweiss… averted her eyes. "Yesterday, when Violet and I were conducting our examination, I… observed something… unusual in your physiology." Her fingers curled around his shoulders tighter, almost uncomfortably so.

"What, with my injuries?"

"No. Something else," she said, shaking her head. Then, finally looking up, she met his gaze. "I noticed that your pupils were incredibly dilated during your examination. But… it wasn't until Lady Violet's comment about coercion earlier that I realized what it meant." She took a deep breath. "…I don't believe that you and Kagura were fully in control of yourselves during this… rite."

"What do you mean we weren't in control? And what do my eyes have to do with anything?" Abel's tone grew more heated as he struggled to make sense of the older woman's words.

"Well… I believe that the guardian may have exposed you- and Kagura- to some sort of substance, one that… altered your state of mind. That lowered your inhibitions, made you more suggestible… it may have even altered your memories of what took place." Her voice was soft, but insistent. "To put things simply… I think you and Kagura were drugged."

Abel's incredulous laugh echoed through the grey room. A substance that 'altered his state of mind?' That was ridiculous! He'd been himself the whole time!

…Hadn't he?

The laughter died, replaced by an unsettling feeling, like ants crawling under his skin. His heart began to race. "B-But- wh-why? How-?" His questions trailed off, lost in confusion and growing dread.

Edelweiss stepped away. "The 'how' is simple. Although rare, there are a number of herbs and roots known for their ability to manipulate a person's mental state. And as a servant of Hestia, the goddess of agriculture, the guardian likely can access some of those very same materials. As for the 'why…'" She shook her head slowly. "I'm afraid I can only speculate. Perhaps the guardian believed it would make you and Kagura more pliable- less willing to object to performing the rite."

Abel's mind reeled at the implication of Edelweiss's words. And worse yet, he couldn't refute them. The memory of the rite was hazy, fragmented- Abel had thought it was because the sensations had been so overwhelming, so intense … but now, he wondered if something else had played a role. And… Kagura's demeanor seemed to shift during the rite as well. At the start, she'd been reluctant, hesitant. But as things progressed, she'd seemed to grow bolder, more aggressive, almost… predatory in her assertiveness.

The unsettling feeling returned. Abel clutched at his arms, his fingernails digging into his flesh. Had everything he and Kagura had done… had it really all been because of some… plant? Had he- had they- really not had any choice at all?

He looked up at Edelweiss. Her expression was grim, but… sympathetic, and a feeling he couldn't describe welled up in his throat. "…Is there a way to prove it?" he asked, his voice quiet and hoarse. "Can we see if that… stuff is still in our bodies?"

Edelweiss shook her head. "Not reliably. These substances tend to pass through the body fairly quickly, leaving little in the way of evidence." She took a step closer, placing a hand on his shoulder again. "But Abel, I need you to remember this- what happened to you wasn't your fault. You're not to blame for anything that happened, and neither is Kagura. You were a victim here. You both were."

He wanted to believe her. Needed to believe her. But the doubts lingered, gnawing away at the edges of his mind. Abel closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing, to calm the storm brewing inside him. But as soon as he closed them, memories of the rite surfaced, filling his vision. Of him and Kagura, tangled together, moving as one. Her hands gripping his sides. Her voice moaning his name.

Abel's eyes snapped open and he gasped, jerking back from Edelweiss's touch as if burned. "Don't-" he snapped. He took a few deep breaths, trying to get his heartbeat under control. "Don't… touch me."

Edelweiss drew her hand back. "Abel, it's alright," she said, her voice low and soft.

"No, no it's not," he replied, shaking his head. "I'm supposed to be a Hero. But… but what kind of hero just lets himself get taken advantage of like that? What kind of hero just lets himself get… gets…" His words trailed off into incoherent muttering as he covered his face with his hands, trying to block out the memories.

Edelweiss said nothing. There was just a brief silence, before Abel felt her hands wrap around his wrists, and pull his hands away from his face. "You may be a Hero, Abel. But you're still only human. You can't know everything. You can't prepare for everything. But that doesn't mean you've failed. It just means you're someone who makes mistakes."

Abel jumped to his feet and pulled away, wrenching himself out of Edelweiss's grasp. "But this wasn't a mistake! I didn't trip and fall or miss a block- I-!" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "A-And what about Kagura!? What am I supposed to say to her- say to her father!? 'Hey, I know I defiled your daughter but I'm pretty sure it wasn't really my fault because of some plant!' How is that supposed to make things any better!?" His voice rose with each word, until he was shouting.

Edelweiss held up her hands, palms facing Abel, and took a step back. "Sir Abel, please, calm yourself. You're not going to help yourself or anyone else by losing control like this." Her tone was firm, but there was a hint of something else beneath the surface. Was it fear? Worry? … disgust?

Abel turned away, unable to bear Edelweiss's gaze. "Just… leave me alone," he said, his voice harsh.

There was a moment of silence, and Abel thought the older woman might have left. But then he felt her hand on his arm, and she said, "Sir Abel, please. Look at me."

But he refused. He didn't care if she was right. He didn't care about anything except getting away. Away from the questions. Away from the shame. Just…

…away.

" Please." Her voice was quiet, and he felt her grip tighten.

It was her tone- that was what broke through to him. Edelweiss's words were always calm, collected, confident. To hear her plead like this… it gave Abel pause. Slowly, he turned around.

And before he knew what was happening, Edelweiss had pulled him into an embrace, her arms wrapping around him tightly, squeezing him against her. He froze, stunned, before the realization that he was being held sank in. He tried to pull away, but her grip tightened, pulling him even closer. And somehow, despite everything, Abel couldn't resist the comfort of her touch. It felt so warm, so…

Safe.

"This wasn't your fault," she whispered into his ear. "What happened wasn't your fault. You didn't choose to be drugged. You didn't choose for Kagura to be involved. It wasn't your fault, Abel. You didn't choose this. You didn't deserve this…"

Tears began to prick at the corners of his eyes as her words slipped into his ears, in spite of his best efforts to hold them at bay. He had learned long ago that tears were an enemy- just another weakness to be exploited. But now, in that moment, he felt as though nothing could reach him. As though nothing could hurt him in Edelweiss's embrace. One tear rolled down his cheek, and then another. And before he knew it, he was weeping openly, crying into the older woman's shoulder as tears streamed down his face unchecked. And all the while, Edelweiss held him tightly, stroking his back as she continued to whisper those comforting words. That it wasn't his fault.

…He almost believed her.

---

Kagura wandered the empty halls of her clan's castle. She didn't know where she was going or what she sought- she just needed to move. Oko had released her from the audience chamber hours before, telling her to get some rest- a command that she had refused to obey at first, until her father sided with the guardian, ordering her to rest, insisting that he could continue the discussion alone. So, reluctantly, she acquiesced, returning to her chambers. But as she laid on her bed, her mind refused to slow, replaying the events of the past few days over and over again in her head. Eventually, she got fed up with rolling over in her bed again and again, and decided to get up and walk the halls of her ancestral home.

But her steps brought her no comfort, nor did the familiarity of the castle corridors. In the darkness, shadowy forms slithered and twisted at the edges of her vision, prickling at her skin, as if to taunt her. This old castle, for so long a sanctuary, now felt like a tomb, suffocating her with its silence. She wandered without direction, her steps carrying her aimlessly through the corridors, her footsteps echoing loudly in the stillness. And all the while, the shadows crept at the edges of her vision, mocking her, sneering at her, dark tendrils reaching out and stroking her exposed skin like grasping fingers.

And the further she wandered, the tighter the castle walls seemed to close around her, crushing her beneath their weight, making her feel as though the very stones were conspiring to bury her. But no matter where she went, the darkness persisted, always there, always watching. Before she realized it, she began to run, the cold wooden floors biting into her bare feet as she fled down the corridors. But her desperate flight served only to deepen the sense of claustrophobia, the walls closing in around her with each racing step.

She spotted a door. Without thought, she barreled through it, not caring what lay beyond, slamming it shut behind her with all her strength. She held the door… but nothing came through. No shadowy hands clawing at her, no slithering shapes, no voices whispering in her ear. There was just… silence. She let out a shaky breath, and turned to face the room, to see what refuge she had found.

In the room behind her, racks of weapons lined the walls. Helmets, shields, swords, spears- everything that a soldier would need for battle. The castle armory. A faint, bitter laugh escaped Kagura's lips. She'd never had much interest in the weapons used by warriors. Even so, she walked over to one of the weapon racks, running her fingers over the scabbard of a katana. She had never wielded a weapon before- had never even so much as held one before a few days prior- but now, the sensation of a sword against her hand felt strangely… comforting.

Kagura's fingers curled around the sword, and she pulled free of its rack, holding it before her. It was lighter than she'd expected, yet she could feel the heft of it in her hand, the weight of its history. She wondered briefly if it was a weapon wielded by one of her ancestors, a name she knew only from ink scrawled on an ancient, yellowed scroll. Then, with one hand on the hilt, and the other on the scabbard, Kagura slowly drew the sword. The blade scraped against the scabbard, releasing a piercing, metallic whine that echoed through the empty armory. She raised the katana high, letting the cold metal hover at eye level. In the darkened room, the curved blade seemed to glow, a beacon of light in the darkness, driving back the shadows.

Then, the sword came whistling down, carving a line through the air as the sharpened steel gleamed in the darkened armory. It cut through the darkness, severing the shadows that hung like a shroud. It was a strange feeling- to stand there, holding a sword, striking the air with a weapon meant to cut flesh and bone. But there was a catharsis in it, a release of the tension that had been building up since leaving Hinode, and the longer she held the sword in her hand, the more she felt the burden lift.

Kagura's father had once told her that in order to rule, one needed a strong will. He had been right, of course, but she realized now that it wasn't just about commanding others. Ruling oneself took an equal amount of fortitude. And in that moment, standing alone in the castle armory, surrounded by the weapons of her ancestors, the memories of the past few days flooded her mind once again. There was the rite, of course- but also the battles before, the fear, the helplessness…

And in that moment, Kagura made a decision.

Never again.

Never again would Kagura allow herself to be a victim. Never again would she cower in fear, letting others decide her fate. Never again would she allow herself to be powerless.

To be weak.

She swung the sword again, and again, cutting through the air, each slash carrying a piece of the anger, the fear, the weakness she held inside, leaving her lighter, freer, stronger. With every swing, she cleaved away a piece of the darkness. And when she finally lowered her sword, panting softly, she found herself exhaling a breath she hadn't even known she'd been holding.

The shadows were gone, sinking back into the darkness from which they'd emerged. And now, the armory was no longer an oppressive, suffocating place. It was simply a room, filled with the weapons and armor of her ancestors.

Slowly, she sheathed the katana, running her fingers over its scabbard. But she didn't return the blade to its rack. Instead, she slipped it through her obi, the sword hilt resting against her side.

It was a reassuring weight.

---

Darkness. Niel floated in darkness. Or rather, she was darkness. And darkness was her. She was everywhere, and nowhere. Everywhere she looked, she saw the same, infinite black. She saw… herself.

But soon, the void opened, revealing a bleaker, deeper, darker abyss. An empty, bottomless pit. The very manifestation of nothing, marked only by two orange flames.

"So… you find yourself before me once again," the Fallen said.

Niel didn't answer. She didn't have to answer, nor did she wish to. She didn't even flinch away as the yawning abyss drew near to her. She only stood, staring straight ahead, into the void.

The darkness around her writhed and seethed. She felt the presence of a hundred, a thousand, a million hungry mouths, all reaching toward her. "…Ignoring me, are you? Do you hope that if you simply refuse to engage me, that I will lose interest?" The Fallen drew even closer, radiating a searing cold, a freezing heat so intense, it would have consumed Niel, if she'd had a body.

Still, she said nothing.

The void grew even larger, the twin orange flames becoming the size of twin suns, blazing with hatred. "But you will take the power I offer, little angel. I have foreseen it. Just as I foresaw My King lying with another woman, and a stranger to us at that. 'But how?' you ask? 'How can you see how the threads of fate weave together?' Well… Ilias names me 'the Fallen.' Did you never wonder what domain I ruled before then?"

The shadow shifted to Niel's side. "It was fate, of course. My role was to weave together the threads of mortals in accordance with Ilias's will, into her perfect vision of the world." Images appeared before the former angel: glowing white figures, marching in unison, white threads wrapped around their necks. "Neat. Orderly. …And so very dull." The shadow circled around the former angel. But in spite of its movement, its voice remained clear. "Under her direction, mortals would have been nothing more than automations, marching in mindless obedience to their directives. No will. No freedom. It would have been no different from being dead. Except Hades wouldn't have received any of the benefits." A pause, and the shadow stopped, its gaze turning away. "…Oh, right. Hades is dead now, isn't he? Who's the god of death now, his daughter?"

The threads tied around the figure's necks came undone, and the glowing figures ceased their march. "In any case, I refused to have anything to do with Ilias and her 'grand designs.'" But before the threads could vanish, a blazing, scorching hand made from brilliant flames shot from the darkness, and seized them in its grasp. "She was outraged of course, and tried to seize my domain for herself. She nearly got it, too. But then… I destroyed it." The entire image- the figures, the threads, the hand- all shattered as if they'd been painted on a window's surface. "Crushed it with my own two hands. Destroying it meant I lost most of my power, and some fragments found their way into the hands of other gods. But I was willing to pay that price… if it meant the fate of mortals would fall beyond Ilias's grasp.

The abyss circled around Niel, before finally coming to a halt in front of her. "But, though I cannot weave the threads as I once did, vestiges of my former power lingers." The dark figure extended a hand. Thin, glowing white threads wrapped around the tips of its fingers. "I can still see where the threads lead, even now." The shadow leaned close. "I can even give them a small tug here and there. In that way, I'm not too differen-"

" I don't care about that! "

Niel's words echoed in the void. And for the first time, the void did not respond.

"I… I don't care about you. Or your past, or why you hate Ilias, or any of that! All that matters is that… I'm weak. I can't cross a room or climb to sit in a chair on my own. I can't fly or use any of my magic anymore. I have sleep, and use the toilet all the time. And… I can't protect Abel. Not like this."

Niel had held her tongue as Abel recounted his ordeal. And though she had spoken harshly to him, her words did not reflect her true thoughts. Her true feelings. She had seen the despair in his eyes, the regret. She had wanted to comfort him, to assure him that everything would be alright, but her mouth instead formed those hurtful words. Those criticisms. Those lies.

Because in that moment, as Abel despaired, all she could feel was shame. Because in that moment, she was confronted by a simple, inescapable truth.

She had failed.

She had failed to protect him.

And she would never forgive herself for it.

But now… now, she could make amends. She could correct her error. She could ensure that the man she had vowed to protect would never be harmed again.

"So… I'll do it." Niel glared at the void.

"I'll take your damned halo."

The abyss shifted, and Niel had the sense that the entity before her was… smiling. Wordlessly, it brought up a hand, the black, spiked halo hovering over its fingertip. Niel reached for it, but abruptly stopped, just before her fingers brushed against its surface.

"I want you to know this though. I don't trust you. Not for a single second."

The shadow shifted again. "I don't need your trust. I already told you what I need you to do."

"Right. Protect 'your king.'" Niel took the halo in her hands. Just by its touch, she could feel the power circulating within.

"Correct. That is your one- and only- directive. And unlike Ilias, I will place no restrictions upon you. Fulfill the task which you have been given, and I will be satisfied."

Niel tried to take the halo, but the abyss suddenly reached out, gripping the metal ring tightly. "But remember, I'm not as powerful as I once was. And I'm certainly nowhere near as powerful as Ilias. Meaning you won't be as powerful as you once were, either."

The angel's grip tightened, the spines in the halo's surface digging deep into her hands, "…will I be strong enough to protect Abel?"

The abyss's response was, for once, a very simple, direct reply: "Yes."

Niel let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. "Then it will be more than enough." And with that, she took the halo, and placed it on her head.

In an instant, a surge of blazing power flowed through her. She felt it course through her veins like liquid fire, burning away all weakness, all doubt, until nothing remained but unyielding purpose. The shadow around her receded, revealing her arms, her legs, her body. She was no longer one with the void. She was Niel. She was an angel.

And something so much more.

Niel awoke.

She sat up, looking around. She was with the witch and the other women, lying atop a small mat which served as her bed. Nearby was the witch, arm outstretched toward her, in case Niel required any assistance with… physical matters.

Even since losing her power, she'd been in the witch's self-appointed care. But her services would no longer be necessary. Even now, she could still feel it. The inferno flowing through her veins, begging to be released.

She sat up, and focused, bringing up a hand. Wicked black flames ignited from her palm, casting a searing light across the room. Clutching her fist extinguished them in an instant. A breath escaped from Niel's throat. Then… a laugh. Without even having to think, wings emerged from her back and she took flight, soaring out of the tiny smithy and into the sky above, losing herself among the countless stars.

Power thrummed within her, begging to be unleashed. The desire was too strong to ignore. Too powerful to resist. It demanded to be sated. So Niel turned, unleashing a blast of black fire from her palm. And another. And another. And before she knew it, she was whirling and diving through the sky, unleashing blast after blast after blast, her laughter ringing out into the night. She felt powerful. …No. She was powerful. Powerful enough to do anything.

Strong enough to protect anyone.

To save anyone.

To end anyone.

And best of all, the power was all hers.

Hers to do with as she pleased.

Her laughter rang out as she streaked across the sky, like a comet made of shadow.

Free.

Niel was…

Free.