The Journey of the Lost

Raizen and Kurogane ran as fast as their legs could carry them toward the battlefield, where angels were desperately fighting against a horde of demons. The sky was dark, and it felt as though the entire world was collapsing. Lightning streaked across the horizon, and the cold wind carried the sharp scent of blood and ash. The angels, exhausted and wounded, could barely hold back the assault, while the demons roared triumphantly, surrounding them like a pack of starving wolves.
— We don’t have time! If we don’t get there soon, those angels are dead! Raizen shouted, glancing worriedly at the field littered with corpses.
Kurogane ran behind him but suddenly tripped over a rock and fell with a dull thud. His sword slipped from his hand and rolled a few meters away.
— Are you an idiot? How do you manage to trip on flat ground? Raizen yelled, turning back in anger.
— Shut up and run! Kurogane snapped, embarrassed, quickly getting up and brushing the dust off his heavy armor.
Without wasting another moment, the two resumed their sprint. When they neared the angels’ line, they drew their swords and leapt into the midst of the demons with a battle cry. Their precise strikes felled several enemies in a single motion.
— That’s what you get, you bastards! Kurogane shouted, satisfied, slicing through a demon with his massive sword.
Raizen turned toward the angels, but his smile froze on his lips. The sight was devastating. Nearly all the angels had fallen, either dead or gravely wounded. Only one remained conscious. Kneeling and trembling, the angel slowly raised his head and, with pain-filled eyes, whispered:
— S-save… her… please…
With a bloodied hand, he pointed toward a girl lying unconscious on the ground. She held a magical bow in her weakened grip, and her long, pale purple hair was strewn across her angelic face. She was beautiful, but her body was covered in wounds, and the pallor of her face betrayed how close she was to death.
Raizen followed his gaze and clenched his teeth.
— We’ll save her… But first, we finish this!
Around them, about twenty demons still remained. Kurogane, covered in blood and dust, paused for a moment, panting, then grinned.
— Let’s see who kills more! he said, trying to lighten the mood.
— You don’t stand a chance, kid Raizen replied, raising his sword and preparing for battle.
The demons attacked from all sides, and the two threw themselves into the fray. Their swords flashed like lightning, and blood flowed in waves. Despite their exhaustion, Raizen and Kurogane fought like cornered beasts. Every step, every strike was a fight for survival.
Suddenly, a massive demon raised a dagger and hurled it straight at the unconscious girl. Before Raizen could react, the last living angel lunged in front of her and took the blade in his chest. A dull, lethal piercing sound followed.
— No!!! Raizen cried out, horrified.
The angel collapsed, his clouded eyes turning toward the two once more.
— S-save… her… please… he whispered with his final breath before his body fell lifeless.
Raizen closed his eyes for a moment, rage boiling in his veins.
— We have to hurry! he shouted, diving back into the fight.
— I know! But these demons keep coming from everywhere! Kurogane replied, cutting his way through with his massive sword.
With their last strength, the two managed to take down most of the demons, though they were wounded and nearly spent. Only a handful of enemies remained.
Kurogane glanced at the girl, then at Raizen.
— Take the girl and get her to the village! he said seriously.
Raizen looked at him, confused.
— What about you?
— I’ll handle things here! Go, or it’ll be too late to save anything!
Raizen hesitated for a moment, then understood. He leapt forward, scooped the girl into his arms, and began to run.
— Don’t you dare die! We still haven’t settled who’s stronger! he shouted over his shoulder.
Kurogane gave a bitter smile.
— Fine… If I die here, it means I don’t deserve to avenge my clan… he thought, gripping his sword tightly.
He raised his eyes to the demons still surrounding him.
— Come at me, you bastards! he growled, charging into battle with a war cry.
As Raizen raced toward the village, the girl slowly opened her eyes and looked at him, confused. His blood-red eyes seemed menacing. For a moment, she thought she’d been captured by demons, but she was too weak to react. She fainted again, and Raizen gritted his teeth, pushing forward.
Time was against them.
Raizen reached the village, and the peasants, their faces full of worry, quickly gathered around him. Exhausted, he dropped to his knees, the girl still in his arms, trembling faintly.
— Quick, save the girl! he shouted, his voice hoarse with concern.
The villagers, moving swiftly, took the wounded girl and helped Raizen to his feet, rushing them into a modest inn. There, an old woman with a gentle yet powerful aura began tending to Raizen, while others cared for the girl, who seemed nearly lifeless. The old woman, her hands trembling, set to work healing the girl’s deep wounds.
— Mother, what terrible wounds! the old woman exclaimed, watching as blood soaked the girl’s clothes. I need to hurry!
As she worked carefully on the injuries, Raizen glanced around, his tired, worried eyes drifting to the ceiling.
— I hope that bastard doesn’t die… he muttered, mostly to himself.
Shortly after, Kurogane staggered into the room and collapsed onto a nearby bed with a heavy thud. Looking at Raizen with an amused smirk, his eyes still half-closed from exhaustion, he said:
— Looks like you’re still alive. What a shame… — he quipped sarcastically, flashing an arrogant grin.
Raizen replied with the same humor:
— How could I die when I haven’t beaten you yet? He leaned back, chuckling lightly, feeling a sense of calm despite his battered state.
The two fell into a deep, restful sleep, each lost in their own exhaustion.
Morning came.
A sharp, panicked scream echoed through the room, jolting Raizen awake, haunted by the piercing sound.
— Where am I?! the girl cried, her trembling voice thick with fear.
Kurogane, still groggy and exhausted, leapt out of bed, only to stumble and crash to the floor with a loud bang.
— Who’s yelling at this hour?! he grumbled irritably, trying to stand but betrayed by his fatigue.
Raizen, still bleary-eyed and nursing a headache, looked up just as a large vase flew toward him and struck him square in the head, making him groan.
— Ow! What are you throwing?! I’m not a demon! Well… I am, but I’m not! he said, attempting a bit of humor to ease the tension.
Villagers rushed in, and the village leader quickly explained what had happened, calming everyone down. Within minutes, the girl seemed more at ease, though she still couldn’t grasp how a demon could have saved her.
— You’re saying this sinful demon saved me? — she asked, her voice quivering, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Raizen raised an eyebrow and replied with an amused smirk:
— Who’s sinful? You should be thanking me, you know! His growing arrogance was unmistakable.
Kurogane, uninterested in their exchange, shoved a pillow over his head and shouted in frustration:
— Shut up already! Leave me alone, I want to sleep! He wrapped himself in a blanket, covering his head and plugging his ears.
— Calm down! There’s no need for panic, little girl. No one here means you harm the old man said.
The girl looked at him, wide-eyed and trembling, continuing her story.
— But he’s a demon… she said uncertainly, then asked with deep unease: — Where’s Asherion?
— Who’s that? the village leader asked, a bit puzzled.
She answered immediately:
— He’s an angel with long white hair, dressed in shining armor her words hanging in the air heavy with sorrow.
Raizen looked down, a shiver running through him. His expression darkened, and with a low, sorrowful voice, he said:
— He’s dead… He gave his life to save you.
The girl froze, stunned. Tears welled in her eyes, but she said nothing. She fell silent as tears began to fall, and the old woman tending her wounds gently stroked her head.
— Everything will be alright… the old woman whispered soothingly, wrapping her in an odd but comforting calm. What’s your name? she continued.
The girl looked up and, with a trembling voice, replied:
— Mizuki… My name is Mizuki.
— What a beautiful name… the old woman said with a warm smile.
Raizen sat quietly, observing the strange atmosphere that had settled in the room. The villagers left, leaving the three to rest.
Raizen murmured dreamily, still amused:
— Mizuki…
The girl, without looking at him, snapped angrily:
— Did you say something, you monster?! But then, with a subtle shift in her expression, she added more softly: Thank you for saving me… but that doesn’t mean I’ll see you any differently. You’ll always be an evil demon.
Raizen paused, confused for a moment, but with a faint, confident smile, he leaned back and stretched out on the bed.
The next day, as if nothing had happened, the three stepped outside. The villagers awaited them, gathered with serene faces and grateful gazes. The atmosphere was peaceful, the sun casting gentle rays over the village that had just survived a nightmare.
— Looks like you’re one of us, haha! the village leader said with a gentle but slightly confused laugh.
Raizen shot him a tired look, but before he could respond, he sighed deeply and shouted in frustration:
— One of you?! I didn’t sleep all night! Kurogane snored so loud I couldn’t even close my eyes! He glared murderously at Kurogane.
Kurogane raised an eyebrow and replied with his usual seriousness:
— Me? Maybe you’re mistaken. For all we know, Mizuki was the one snoring…
Mizuki lost her patience. Without warning, she swiftly kicked Kurogane in the head.
— You’re the idiot, you giant! Who’s snoring now?! she yelled furiously.
Kurogane clutched his head and glared at her irritably:
— Hey, shorty, why’d you hit me?!
The villagers, who had been watching the scene intently, burst into loud laughter.
— Hahaha, what a lively bunch!
The three looked at them, baffled, not understanding why everyone was laughing.
— Looks like you’ve bonded quickly! the old woman who had tended to them said, smiling kindly.
— Bonded? Us?! they all shouted in unison, indignant. Then, unexpectedly, they each turned in a different direction, sulking like children.
The village leader approached them, his expression warm.
— We thank you from the bottom of our hearts! If it weren’t for you, our village wouldn’t have survived. You’re the hope of this world. Don’t give up!
Raizen, Kurogane, and Mizuki gave faint smiles, each feeling a renewed sense of purpose from those words.
— Helping those in danger is our duty! Raizen said with a strange grin, in his usual playful tone.
— Odd to hear that from a demon… Mizuki muttered, though her expression was more relaxed. Then she turned to the old woman: Thank you, grandma. And all of you, for saving me.
The villagers gave them supplies and food for the road, and with warm goodbyes, they escorted them to the edge of the village.