Chapter 28

The ground shook and trees crashed as something large rushed towards them.

"I was hoping to avoid any fights on our way there, but it seems they're coming for us," Ferran warned the others as he pulled a grimoire out of his bag and flipped it open, holding his hand to the book as he chanted.

"Now what?" Rika asked. "I didn't exactly learn to fight demons yet." She glanced back at Wolfe.

"I'll do my best to keep you safe." Wolfe drew his sword.

"I can keep her safe while you fight." Kael held his arms out.

"I thought you said you excelled at fighting? Now's the time to prove it."

I can't sit here like a useless lump. I'm the saint; shouldn't I be able to vanquish demons with my light powers? Or something like that... Rika bit the inside of her lip as she gazed into the distance, waiting for the demons to show.

"There might be more than I thought coming," Ferran said, the green glow of his magic surrounding him as he scanned the area further.

Oh, geez.

The rumbling got worse as they closed in on them.

What's this feeling? She held her hand over her heart and felt her magical powers pulse. Is it responding to my desire to fight?

"I guess I should get ready, too." Kael held his hand out, and a bow appeared, garnering an unusual stare from everyone. "What? Isn't this normal? Oh, right, Thornburg doesn't have our devices to help convert magic into a physical weapon." He shrugged. "If we work things out, maybe we could even share some of our magical tech."

"Tch, he's just showing off now," Wolfe complained.

"Wolfe, if there's an opening, maybe you should go ahead to the dais with Rika," Ferran suggested.

"And leave you here to fight them? I don't think that's a good idea. Besides, she needs you for the ritual."

"Ra!" A demon crashed through the trees and roared at them, shaking everything.

Rika clamped her hands over her ears, grimacing. "Geez, what is that? Is that a giant wolf?"

"Oh, is he here for his family member?" Kael glanced at Wolfe. "Looking for a reunion?"

"Shut up," Wolfe snapped at him. "It looks like a wolf, but look at the horns and glowing red eyes; it's a demon."

Kael smirked. "More than demons have red eyes, but I guess they are demonic. At least mine seem a bit that way, too."

Ferran blasted the demon with a fireball, and Kael shot off a few magical arrows, aiming for its eyes.

It roared again, stomping its feet as their attacks hit, and a bunch of smaller demons popped out of the bushes, surrounding them.

One lunged at Wolfe and Rika. He slashed through the demon with one hefty swing, and the lifeless body hit the ground near the others.

Two more crawled over it to attack them.

"Tch. How many are there?" Wolfe complained as slashed through another, and the next one caught his sword in its teeth, trying to wriggle it from his grasp.

Ferran sent off one attack after another, using a barrage of different elements to find its weakness.

Kael shot into its eyes again and turned his attention to the ones circling behind him. "Want some of this?" He snickered and pelted them full of arrows that vanished immediately after hitting.

The crowd of them grew, and Kael jumped off his horse, summoning a sword. "Like a pack of rats, aren't you? Coming out of the woodworks in mass." He went on the offensive, charging towards them, taking them out left and right.

"Ha." Wolfe kicked at the demon biting his sword and hopped off his horse as another one lunged at them.

I have to help. Rika focused her powers into the palms of her hands. I need a powerful blast to vanquish the demons. She opened her eyes to see an energy ball in her hands. Is this enough? I need more. The energy ball pulsed in her hands, growing stronger. More!

Light exploded from her energy ball in a wave that knocked nearly everyone over, eradicating the small demons, and disturbing the animals.

I did it? Rika looked at the scorched mark where the small demons were. "It worked!"

Mack kicked up into the air, feeling the electric buzz from Rika's wave.

"Ah!" Rika clung to his mane, gripping tightly as he bolted. "Where are you going, Mack?!"

"What was that?" Wolfe jumped to his feet and looked around.

"Where's Rika?" Kael asked, noticing the horse missing beside them.

"Crap." Wolfe spotted his horse in the distance. "Ferran, go after Rika!" Wolfe yelled at him, being the only one still on a horse.

"But the demon—"

"Go!" Wolfe cut him off. "We'll deal with the big one."

"Oh, we are?" Kael raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think you'd want my help, but I suppose I must." He sighed, hand over his heart. "If you ask nicely."

"Attack the damn thing before it kills us both, you intolerable—"

"No, no." Kael held up a finger. "That's no way to ask for help."

"Fine, I'll deal with it myself." Wolfe took off towards the demon.

"Aw, you gave up already? That's no fun. Oh well. I guess I'll still play with you." Kael summoned his bow again. "I can't let Rika be sad because Wolfe was eaten by a wolf demon."

Oh my gosh! Where is this horse taking me? I thought he was used to battle, so why'd he take off?! Rika scrunched her eyes closed as she clung onto Mack, her hair whipping in the air, and branches scraping up against her legs. "Ow!" Please slow down. Her stomach churned.

I'm doomed.

"Miss Rika!" Ferran yelled at her from a distance, struggling to close the distance. "Tighten your grip on him with your legs and pull on the reins!"

"Ferran?" Still clinging to Mack, she peeked back with one eye. It's him. He followed! But how is he supposed to help? He's not getting any closer.

"Pull on the reins!" he yelled again.

The reins. They were squished under her, right there if she could manage to move her hands. "I can't!" Rika cried out.

"You have to! There's a cliff up ahead!"

Did he just say, a cliff? Crap, crap, crap. Shaking, she sat up a bit to look ahead. The trees thinned up ahead, opening up to a beautiful sky, and a massive drop just beyond. Tuck and roll? No, that'd leave Mack to go off the cliff. I can't do that to him. To Wolfe.

Rika took a deep breath and sat back, grabbing onto the reins. Holy crap, this is fast. She pulled on Mack's reins, but he didn't slow down.

"Harder!" Ferran yelled.

"At least turn!" Rika kept pulling on the reins. "This isn't working." And that cliff is getting closer. Crap! "Please stop, Mack!" she pleaded with him.

Bam! A lightning bolt struck in front of Rika, courtesy of Ferran, who was hoping he'd stop Mack, or at least prevent him from running off a cliff. Ferran was slowly catching up now. Mack kicked up his front legs again.

"Ah!" Rika squealed and grabbed his mane with one hand.

Mack turned and took off again.

Oh, come on! "Please stop, Mack." She stroked his mane, tears in her eyes as she struggled to hold on. "The demons aren't here." Wait, it wasn't the demons that scared him; it was me! Guess my powers, no matter how warm, won't help him stop, then. "Calm down, Mack," she whispered, still stroking his mane.

This isn't working.

Bam! Lightning struck in front of Mack again. This time, Mack came to an abrupt stop.

"Ah!" A sense of weightlessness took over for a brief moment as Rika launched into the air, arms flailing.

Splash! Rika hit the water hard and gasped, breathing in lake water. No! She swung her arms, trying to swim up. It didn't work. The layers of fabric pulled her down.

Stupid dress is too heavy... This is some way to go...

Her arms stopped moving as she sank deeper into the water, staring at the light from above.

Splash!