Chapter 103

(Raphtalia)

"You sure you want me here?" Sadeena asked as the two stood waiting by the shore, the dim starlight and a few lights from the village the only light as the sea lapped at their feet.

"She didn't say 'come alone', so yes." Raphtalia replied with a frown.

"Why? You're not hoping to... I dunno... tie her down or something." She chuckled, "That sounded better in my head."

In a way, that was kind of exactly what Raphtalia hoped. But thinking on it... "I doubt we could, even together."

"Sure she's going to show up? Got a lot of work to do, and it's getting late." The taller woman commented, squinting her eyes at what might be tomorrow's dinner if she could get a boat to fish off of...

"I'm not a child. You don't need to worry about that!"

Sadeena sighed, "I'm a friend, and you've been running around like a headless..." She shook her head.

"You should really trust your friends more." Kodori said from behind them both, making both of them jump a little at the suddenness. "Sorry I'm late, but would you believe time runs a little differently between here and where I'm working?"

The two of them turned to look, and yes, there she was. In the gloom she seemed little more than a shadow. "Friends?" Raphtalia started, "You have some nerve-"

"Take your hand off your weapon." Kodori said quietly, "Or this will be a very different conversation."

Raphtalia paused, and had to look down at her hand to confirm she had nearly drawn the Katana.

"Good." Kodori said, "You have Rifana to thank for me being here, so be sure to do so. What's the problem?"

Sadeena put a hand on Raphtalia's shoulder, silently supporting her while she collected her thoughts. "You left." She said finally.

"No I didn't." Kodori replied, lifting a hand so she could pat the Book Shield on her hip. "See? Still here."

"That's not what I meant and you know it!"

"What do you want from me Raphtalia?" Kodori asked. "What more can I give you?"

The questions rocked the raccoon girl, and her mouth worked without sound for a moment.

"I pulled you from the cages. I gave you medicine. I taught you to fight. Cooked you food. Taught you to cook. Freed your villagers. Helped you start rebuilding your home. And all while saving your world from the sky falling on your heads." She sighed, "What could you possibly need me for right now?"

"And now you're just... putting us aside? You needed us too! You couldn't fight without us!" Raphtalia retorted.

"Raphtalia." Kodori closed her eyes and bowed her head, sighed, then looked up, "Where's the fighting?" She made a little show of looking left and right, "Where are the Waves?" This time she did a full, slow, turn in place, "Where are the Vassal Weapon users who are trying to kill the Heroes?" She looked directly at Raphtalia.

She had to clench her fists to stop herself from putting a hand to the Katana's pommel.

"Exactly. You don't need me right now. Your village? Your people? Your problem." Kodori said.

"How... how can you sound so cold about this? After all the work you've put in, why can't you stay?"

"BEC..." Kodori stopped, took a breath, and started over, "Because, I am a prisoner here. And while you deal with this," She made a dismissive 'over there' motion towards the village, "I am trying to figure out a way to get home. The Waves? Your people? You? All things I've had to do, so my prison doesn't get destroyed with me inside it."

"It really is just a job to you." Raphtalia said with something close to fury.

"Yes it is."

"Then why bother getting friendly with us? Why bother bonding with people at all, if all you're going to do is leave?"

"Sometimes it's hard to remember you're still a child. Then you say things like that." Kodori chuckled, "Getting along with my co-workers makes the job easier." She held up a finger, "Now before you say anything. I'd like you to think of one time I didn't try my best." She lowered her finger, "I get it, Raphtalia, I really do. But the only reason, the real, true reason I've worked so hard, is so I can put it aside and not worry about it while I go and do other things."

"So that's it then?"

"You don't need a hero to plow a field, though, yes, there is a Shield for that." Kodori shook her head, but gave the Book at her hip a pat.

"What if you find a way home before the next Wave?"

"Sadly, I doubt it. But Ren is back on track, and I've set things in motion to get your world even in terms of fighting power to Kizuna's." Kodori shook her head. "When the Waves start up, I'll be there. That's my job. But until then? I'm on vacation."

Silence stretched for a moment, then, "At least give Tetsu a visit."

"Did that already." Kodori replied with a shrug.

"Can't we help you, then?"

"No. You'd be kinda bored honestly." She paused, looked to the side as if someone had tapped her shoulder, then turned back, "This is just a case of 'best person for the job'. Sadeena, give her a hug or something for me." And she was gone.

No noise, no magic, and oddly enough, no footprints in the sand.

"She wasn't even here." Raphtalia said looking at the ground where Kodori had been 'standing'. "Its... it's hard to swallow."

"She's right though." Sadeena said, giving Raphtalia a hug before the raccoon girl could move away. "Sure, its a cold and mercenary way to see things, but she's here on a job, and the job is over for now." It took a moment for Raphtalia to hug her friend back, "Not everyone sticks around after work. Ha."

"Am I really the best person for the job then?"

"She thinks so, and so do I." Sadeena replied, taking advantage of the hug and patting Raphtalia's ears, "Lots of work to do, and you'll need sleep to do it."

(Rifana)

"Well that could have gone better." She gave Kodori her very best glare.

"Yes, it could have." Kodori sighed, immune to Rifana's dire look and attempting to placate her with a headpat, "If this world wasn't on an almost literal doomsday clock, I might have worked here. But I have my own family to return to. Now, can you please let me get HIDA?"

Rifana crossed her arms, opened her mouth, and... Nothing. She tried to speak, to refuse, to demand she really make things right between her and Raphtalia. But she just couldn't speak!

"You said you would once I'd talked to her." Kodori said softly, "You made a promise. A contract that must be fulfilled."

Rifana took a moment to calm down, relaxed, then sighed, "That's not very nice you know." She said as the inner wall of the tree groaned a little, HIDA's compartment opening. Only once Kodori had gathered the innocent looking slab of glass and plastic could Rifana speak against her, "You are still being really cruel to her."

"What would you have me do? Take her away from her work, so she can stand around and just... what? Watch me hammer metal, mix potions, and do things that will hopefully never concern her? I don't have the tools or space here. And you know the instant I pause my work to rest, eat, or use the outhouse, someone is going to distract me." Kodori rubbed her face, looking tired, "Please, keep watch here. If you really need me, you know how to call me."

"Fine..." Rifana grumbled, "Not going to say anything?"

Tenno, who had been statue still the entire time, finally moved and offered Kodori a hexagonal wooden tube. Kodori put her hands on it, but before taking it she leaned forward so Tenno could touch her horns with his antenna, "Thank you. I will do my best for this one, and make sure her mate is worthy."

Tenno buzzed his wings a few times, the pitch changing subtly.

"Of course." And Kodori took the tube. "HIDA?" She looked away as Tenno jumped into the air to return to his Empress.

"Yes boss?" Of course HIDA had been listening the entire time, but like Kodori, she was trying to be mysterious, only making herself known when addressed directly.

"Going to put you in a Faraday cage." She said, setting the tube down carefully and taking out a strange looking box made of metal mesh. "Can you shut down completely? Manual activation?"

"Do you think that's necessary?" HIDA asked as Kodori held her up so they could talk face to face-time. "I mean... there shouldn't be any of that around, right?" On her screen, little icons were being put into boxes as she closed programs.

"I'll let you draw conclusions when I get you set up again." Kodori gave HIDA's avatar a headpat, "Your sister is going to be jealous when we get back."

"Heehee... Okay. Total shutdown?"

"Everything, including internal clock."

"Hoooo-kay then." And with a last little icon being packed up, she waved and the screen went black.

Kodori put HIDA's 'body' in the mesh cage carefully, closed it, and put it in a pouch, "Thank you Rifana." And she vanished.

(Motoyasu)

He had to admit, S'yne was a very capable fighter. Her weapon, usually a giant pair of scissors, wasn't as powerful as the Spear, but it had a lot of tricks. It could send out binding strings, waves of very painful little needles, allow her to teleport short distances...

The four of them had spent the last couple of days (despite Rishia's grumbling) figuring out each other's fighting styles. It might have seemed like overkill, but he was glad he had insisted on it. They had watched a match between Itsuki and a trio of dwarf mercenaries, and somehow, the solo archer had come out on top. Short to mid-range magic, defensive buffs and barriers, Itsuki had ripped through it all. And when the crowd tried to 'support' the Bow Hero's opponents, he shot the mages casting the buffs!

All the while screaming about 'justice'. Turning everything into some kind of 'injustice' against him. Three on one (even though he had agreed to the match?) unfair, unjust. Getting support from the crowd paying the arena mages (clearly written in the rules that it was allowed) unfair, unjust. Using magic he didn't know, yup, unfair, unjust.

And when he won? It was because of his Justice, proving he was right all along, that he was just punishing those who didn't follow his rules.

It was clear he was falling into madness. But what ever that madness was, it was giving him power enough to overcome three on one odds as an archer. Even S'yne admitted she couldn't have handled him alone.

So yes, they had spent a couple days training together. But that wouldn't be enough. It was clear they not only needed to beat him, they needed to crack his delusion. Break through the same madness that nearly overtook Ren and him.

And there was another thing... They couldn't really hurt him. From what little S'yne had been able to explain, the Heroes of her world were killed, and the only reason she'd survived, was because she wasn't actually there when they'd been killed. Discounting Rishia, who didn't even want to fight him really, they had to use kid gloves.

So, it was on the evening of the second day when Motoyasu asked no one in particular at the dinner table...

"What would Kodori do?" He mumbled as he cut up a bit of steak.

This got the other three's attention, then three different reactions. Rishia meeeeeh'ed quietly and poked at her food. Kuro frowned, and their newest member tilted her head slightly.

Now under scrutiny, he paused bringing his fork to his mouth, "Well, she always seems to have a plan when she fights. We have a good party balance, but so have all the other teams he's beaten. Level wise, he's at least par with me, but at range he's top class. And aside from that one day we tried to train, I've never once seen him miss a shot."

The four of them took a moment to poke at their food, then Kuro mumbled something.

"Hmm?" Motoyasu asked, "Idea?"

"Make him angry." She said, "The first thing she does, is make her opponent angry. When we hunted monsters, she'd play to its instincts. A predator will chase running prey. An Herbivore will run from danger. Either way, they're too distracted to see a trap."

Another moment of food study/consumption.

"The bow." Rishia said quietly, "I think... no. I know how to make him mad."

It took a tiny bit of convincing, but S'yne convinced the Master of Wagers to let Rishia fight Itsuki.

Alone.

Before convincing the Master of Wagers, Rishia had convinced the others she could do fight him. That it was a matter of trust. Trust? Yes, they had to trust she could do it, and she didn't trust them not to hurt Itsuki. But they all knew that look in her eye. She had a plan, she had conviction, and... She really cared about the outcome.

Oh, sure, the others wondered why they'd spent that time training if she was just going to try and solo the Bow Hero. But Rishia just shook her head to everything except S'yne putting a cute little stuffed usapil on her belt 'just in case'.

So, with Motoyasu, Kuro and S'yne (wearing a hood to at least pretend she was hiding from the public) Rishia entered the arena armed with a half dozen different throwing weapons, a bow, and a dragon-bone sword long sword Raphtalia had given her.

"From the Gate of the setting sun! The newest rising star of the Arena! The Arrow of Justice!"

Itsuki's entrance wasn't flashy, but the people who had been watching him since his arrival cheered for what they knew would be a good show. He didn't wave, or bow, but he did have a smile on his face. As if this was what he deserved. That all was right in a world clever enough to contain him.

The announcer (unknown to just about everyone) did a double take at the bit of paper he'd been given for the Challenger. But he got a thumb up from the Master of Wagers and got back to work, "And from the gate of the rising moon! A true disciple of the only person to ever have been banned from the fighting pits of Zeltobe! Rishia Ivyred Ragnarok!"

And the crowd went nuts. Everyone who'd been to the arena more than once knew that name. And only someone insane, or honest, would ever use it here. If she were lying, it would be obvious, but if not, well... Money well spent for sure.

Itsuki's smug expression dropped off his face as Rishia stole the show just by showing up. The shock turned to anger when he saw the bow in her hand, as well as the other things she had hooked to her belt.

"You dare mock me like this?" He yelled over the cheering crowd. "After what you did? You're challenging me with a bow?"

"I'm here to find the kind Itsuki who saved me from being sold into slavery. The one who saved my family from the corrupt bandits who ruined them. I can't believe that the person in front of me, who ran away from his responsibilities is the Itsuki I know!" Rishia declared, "We need the Itsuki I know, to save the world from the Waves!"

"My responsibilities? MY responsibilities?!" He laughed, "It is clear that the only responsibility I have, is to correct this world! Those people who tried to ruin your family? Your parents who gave in and were about to sell you? The corrupt nobles running people into ruin? That was just the start!" He started to draw the Bow, "And I'll start by beating you, for being ungrateful and disrespecting my Justice!"

And he fired.

The arrow flew true, straight for Rishia's heart. But with hands glowing a pale blue she drew back the heavy war bow and fired a single arrow, her smooth motion including a slight sidestep. The two arrows passed by each other in the air...

Itsuki's shot missed Rishia by the width of a finger, while Itsuki suddenly recoiled as a heavy arrow ricocheted from the Bow's upper limb, shattering with impact but still rocking the Bow Hero back a half step.

"What was my crime, Itsuki? You left me on Cal Mira with no explanation, while the other two laughed behind their hands!" She drew a second arrow, but only readied it.

"You, who had no combat power. No magic. No real ability, got recognition over me!" He snapped, firing again, this time with an arrow laced with flaming energy.

Rishia hardened her features, and continued with 'the plan'. With a smooth motion, she once again drew and fired, releasing her breath and the words, "If I am weak, how can I draw this bow?" Her words punctuated by the two arrows meeting in mid air and bursting into sparks.

"That's just a scrap of wood and string!" He yelled back, drawing and firing again.

This time, Rishia tossed the bow aside, and took a simple sling of leather from her belt. With a dancing hop and twist in the air, the length of the sling extended, the 'cup' already loaded with a simple metal ball. Then as the arrow passed by her harmlessly, one of her feet touched down, she and the sling spun, and she released the metal 'shot'.

With a whip-like crack the metal orb left the sling and clipped Itsuki in the shoulder. "Justice is the result of truth, and balanced with Mercy!" Rishia didn't bother loading a second shot into the sling, instead tossing a 'war dart' (the original 'lawn dart') at Itsuki.

"Sil-" Who's next shot was thrown off into the crowd as the war dart hit the Bow. "Now look what you've made me do!" As the crowd cried out, one of their number falling with a smoking hole in their shoulder.

Rishia was holding back tears. She didn't want to do this, but... But love had to be tough sometimes too. "This is what she meant!" This time, she spun in place, a metal rimmed disc of clay zipping away from her as she extended her arm.

The discus was a little short, but when it bounced off the ground Itsuki had to abandon his shot to roll out of the way. "Don't you dare mention her!"

"This is what Kodori meant when you three needed to learn some skill!" Of course, Rishia mentioned her. "All you've done since the Third Wave is complain about her being wrong! How she's cheating! How you are right because you think justice is on your side!"

This time Rishia had to roll away from a shot, but in return, as she rolled to her feet and did a neat little pirouette, she hit Itsuki in the gut with a small Shot Put. He got back to his feet quickly enough, but was growling as he did so.

And when he focused on Rishia again, she was holding the sword. "If I didn't have to carry all of that, I could have beaten you with sticks and rocks." She said, "Because you refuse to see room to improve yourself."

"I'll show you." He growled, "That she's wrong. That you're wrong! I am the strongest! And I will bring justice to this world! LAW FANATIC"

And his bow transformed. The almost artistic looking limbs became angel wings, the grip, where the eye-like gem was, where the arrows appeared when he fired, was framed by two smaller wings. And shocking everyone watching, six white wings sprouted with a little burst of ethereal feathers.

His first shot was nearly contemptuous. His eyes literally glowing red with mania, he fully expected Rishia to dodge, or fall with that single shot. But instead, she swung and sidestepped, his arrow scattering into sparks against her blade.

"Not bad! Starlight shot!" This time, he fired into the air, the single glowing arrow of energy hitting its apex, then falling as a shower of deadly light.

Calmly, Rishia stabbed her blade's point into the ground, and that glow that coated her hands since the first exchange crept up from the ground. The black blade glowed a gentle blue, and with a spin, twist, and thrust into the air, "Muso Thrusting swordcraft: Circle!"

The air reacted as if it were made of water, a ripple of energy radiating out from the blade and blocking the shower of arrows before it could hit her.

A little of the contempt left Itsuki's face, and he levelled his aim at her, "Meteor shot!"

This arrow was brighter, but Rishia started running towards him, "Hidden art first stance! SUN!" Her arm and wrist bent and turned, the glow making it look almost like a circle in the air in front of her, and the arrow splashed against the aura harmlessly.

The next shot was right behind that one. "Second form! Moon!" This time, she swung in a perfect horizontal slash, a dome of shimmering energy breaking apart Itsuki's arrow. Now only a single pace from Itsuki, she slid to a halt, her right arm drawn back as if making ready to thrust her blade, "Third form! Star!"

The angelic wings around him curled inwards defensively as was looked like Rishia's sword stabbed at him again and again! Much like the Hero's own 'starlight' attacks, this was a product of skill and Rishia's willpower, not some gimmick magic item! Itsuki was thrown backwards as a hundred points of light showered into him with explosive force!

He rolled backwards, his body smoking, his wings burning. "No." He said as he got up from the ground, the wings on his back snuffing out as they burned away... only to be replaced by wings of black skin and bone, devil wings. "My justice will not fall to a weak girl who believes someone who cheats, buys slaves, and bullies the weak is in the right!"

(Motoyasu)

"Wow... He really hates her." He said, his hands gripping his upper arms so he wouldn't jump in and interfere.

"I'm a little surprised you don't, stupid master." Kuro mumbled, though she was clinging to Motoyasu's side for the exact same reason he was gripping his arms.

"Nah, she gave me the best little sister ever."

"Stupid master..."

(Back to action)

"Shadow Bind!" Itsuki shot an arrow at Rishia, but it was low to the ground and easy to sidestep. It was only when she suddenly couldn't move, that she caught on to the attack name, a glowing arrow planted firmly through the heart of her shadow on the ground. "Binding arrow!" He shot a second time, this time hitting her in the gut, but the arrow itself flowing around her and wrapping her arms to her side with a loop of green energy.

She struggled, but couldn't break free, "This... Won't beat me!" She grunted, "I won't lose to this!"

"You will." And he raised his hand upwards, "Let his foolish sinner pay for her transgressions, with her being roasted to death in a Brazen Bull!"

Everyone watched as a glowing portal formed, then spit out a giant bull head made of golden light and fire. As it lowered itself towards the arena floor, Itsuki continued his insane chanting, "Let her writhe in pain as her dying screams are converted into the cries of a raging bull!"

And with a chilling silence at odds with the flaming bull's head, it split down the middle. Inside were row upon row of spikes, similar to an iron maiden.

And it slammed shut over her.

But nothing happened. No screams, no cry of pain, not even a little smoke.

Then the Bull's head was sheared clean in two, sideways, falling into quarters to reveal Rishia standing there, gasping for air, with a blade that looked to have melted about half way up the blade. Her clothes were a little singed, but otherwise, the sword seemed to be the only casualty.

"HA! You sing her praises, but look at the weapon she gave you!" He was shocked that she'd broken free from what was supposed to be an ultimate skill, but it looked clear it would be all downhill for her from here.

"This wasn't you." She gasped, recoiling as Itsuki fired at her, and she only just managed to parry the shot. "This was me."

Looking at her as she stumbled to her knees from parrying another arrow, "Now you understand the difference between you and I, between her and I! Give up!"

"No!" She pushed herself back up, "You taught me that true justice never gives up! Even in the face of despair!"

"Fool! You're evil!"

"There can't be only one justice! That's just tyranny!" She raised the sword in her hand, even as more bits of the broken blade cracked and fell away from it.

"Anything against MY justice is EVIL!"

Then something strange happened. Itsuki's bow wasn't raised, yet, a single beam of light shot from its eye-like gem. Rishia raised her blade to parry, but instead of being hit, the blade itself was replaced. In her hands was what looked like a dagger with the blade of a spear. Just past the grip, behind a 'skull crusher' spike, was a green gem with the telltale iris of a Weapon.

"I'm sorry Itsuki. But even your bow is crying for me to save you from your misplaced Pride." She said, the Weapon in her hands morphing into a bladed boomerang, the Gem now resting in the centre crest of the weapon.

"Impossible! The Bow would never betray me!" And he drew back again, black arrows forming all around him and holding position as if held by invisible archers.

"Rolling Spin!" She called out, throwing as Itsuki fired.

The myriad of arrows formed into a roaring beast of purple fire and fangs, but the pure blue nimbus of the boomerang ripped through it as if it were nothing, slamming into Itsuki. As he staggered backwards, the Weapon was already back in Rishia's hands as the long dagger, "Air Strike Throw! Second Throw! Tornado Throw!" One after the other, elemental bolts of energy slammed into Itsuki before he was wrapped up in a bladed twister of wind!

Then it was over. The devil wings on his back were in tatters. His arms were limp at his sides, and he fell to his knees, his eyes devoid of vigour. "I just... needed to get stronger... to see my justice done..."

And he fell onto his face.

It took a moment, but the crowd remembered they were here to see a fight, and that was an epic one to be sure. As they roared approval, the Weapon in Rishia's hands changed back into what was left of the dragon-bone sword, then turned to powder in her hands. She hardly cared though, as she ran towards Itsuki.

Respect was the name of the game in the Arena, so even though he lost, Itsuki was brought to the Arena Clinic. Thanks to 'the system' Itsuki himself was physically whole. Some healing magic, a bandage or two, and his body was fine.

But it seemed the lights were on, but no one was home. Whatever he'd done, what ever that darkness was, it had left a mark on him that seemed to have left him nearly comatose.

"We take care of our fighters." The doctor had said, "And he's earned enough that he could stay here a year if need be. Otherwise? I've never seen anything like this."

"Will he be okay? We kinda need him for the Waves." Motoyasu asked.

Rishia, Kuro and even S'yne gave him three different dirty looks.

"What? It's true!"

"Well, again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with his body." The doctor shrugged, "And if this is just a case of shock, he'll come to. It's not uncommon for magic types to burn out for a day or two after a high magic fight." He gave Rishia's shoulder a pat, "Good job out there. But unless you're hurt?"

"No... I'm okay. Can I stay here?" She asked, not looking up.

"No loud noises, otherwise? No problem." And with a nod to the other three, he left.

Kuro broke the silence once the doctor's footsteps faded from hearing. "You're going to stay?"

"He took care of me. So now it's my turn." Rishia replied. "Can you tell Raphtalia?"

"She'll understand, sure. I'm more worried about the old lady..." Motoyasu shivered.

Itsuki twitched, like a puppy having a bad dream, then went still again.

"What about you?" Motoyasu looked to S'yne.

For a long moment, it looked like she might not answer at all. It wasn't uncommon, since her Weapon seemed a bit dysfunctional. But she put on a thoughtful face, took a deep breath, then said, "static offer." She frowned, shook her head, and just gave them a bow. When she straightened up, she was smiling. Then, she waved and walked out of the clinic.

"Such a strange lady." Motoyasu said, "Shall we get going then?" He asked Kuro.

"Just a moment." She said with that weirdly mature properness... Before spoiling it and giving Rishia one of her super hugs. "Good luck." She said, letting go and tilting her head down just a little.

Rishia took advantage of that, and gave the weird little feather on Kuro's head a pat. Just one, you know, for luck, and said, "Thank you. If... no. When he wakes up, I'll find you guys again."

(Rishia)

Some time later, she had only left Itsuki's side once for a little personal care. Before she re-entered the room, she sighed, and stepped inside. "I hate you, you know."

Kodori was sitting on the stool opposite the one she'd been using, and didn't even look up as she entered, "Your senses have sharpened a lot. Suppose I won't have to ask if the old lady has been teaching you anything." She spoke quietly, respectful of the sleeping Hero between them.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, just as quiet as she sat down opposite her.

"Picking up some new employees, and waiting to talk to you." She replied, "Maybe ask a question or two, if you'll let me."

"It's your fault he's like this." She hissed, her old nervousness gone in the face of the one who had tormented Itsuki. Sure, she knew she hadn't, not really, but after hearing Itsuki say it, she couldn't really let it go either.

"In a way, very much so." She said, not denying anything, "It's a curse." She continued, "I'm not sure why, but the Weapons are..." She paused, still not looking over Itsuki to look her in the face, "It's happened to me several times. When I was on the verge of losing control of my emotions."

Rishia kept silent, but her hands were gripping the short skirt she had over her pants.

"First, it was Wrath. I knew it for what it was, but as usual, the Shield was offering me something I was already better at, before coming here." Kodori shook her head, smiling bitterly, "It felt like a knock at the door, but I didn't even answer. The second time, it was here. I needed to win, my team needed to win. So we could get a class up ritual done. That time, I didn't turn the power away, and again, I knew what it was when it 'knocked'."

"Greed?" Rishia guessed.

"Pride." Kodori shook her head, "Just like him. The Shield just... let me do something I could already do without it." Now she looked at Rishia, her molten copper eyes almost glowing, "The big differences between him and I, is experience. And this." She tapped one of her horns. "My race eats curses. Too much though, and it leads to madness. Who's to say that I might end up like him, if I keep trying to save everyone."

Rishia felt a little stab of hopelessness. "Then..."

"No... He'll come around." She shook her head, "The status magic will show it as a timed effect. When I did it, I 'ate' all of the bad effects on my party. I took the burden onto myself. But all those effects were on a timer. So it should be the same for him."

There was a long moment of silence, then, "ask." Rishia said.

"What happened? What was that weapon?"

Rishia took a moment to put it into words, then said, "The Holy Bow... it... I'm not sure. The weapon I used felt real in my hands, but I could tell it wasn't actually there. I could hear the Bow asking for my help to save him. Kind of... Like a feeling? Or hearing a child crying behind a door?"

She stopped when Kodori reached over Itsuki to pat her shoulder, "Thank you. You did really well, by the way. Very creative. Almost exactly how I'd do it, too."

Rishia brushed the hand away, "I know." She gave Kodori the same intense look, "Was that all?"

"Not quite. Here." She moved her hand away, paused, then extended it again, "Since you're going to be stuck here for at least another day, you might want one of these." It was a nice little polished dome of crystal, set into a silver base. "It's not perfect, not yet, but I hear it will be all the rage very soon."

Rishia took a moment to let her Status figure it out, and went a little wide eyed at what it told her.

"I'm sorry I couldn't stop this." Kodori said as she stood up silently, "But I'm sure your love will help him come back to his real self."

And between one step towards the clinic door, and the next, she was gone.

Notes!

Yup, a little more of Kodori being Kodori, and a slightly earlier, but no less significant fight, with a guest appearance from the Vassal Throwing Weapon.

Yes yes, for all you puritans out there, Myne is supposed to have latched on to him, given him some kind of 'powerful artifact' for the bow, and whispered sweet poisons into Itsuki's ear. But she's not here, and Itsuki was already unable to accept more than a few things about what was going on.

Thank you for reading! And if you want to see any full colour art, join the discord!

aKAQg4bnYu for the discord! As well as ways to support me!

And my actual book, Were Too? is on Inkitt.

And! I'm looking into getting some story themed merchandise made. Join the Discord to find out more!