Chapter 4

This shouldn't be happening so soon after the last time... My fixes aren't working for long enough. "I'm sorry, girl." Keira pushed her horse to go faster. "I know we just got back recently, but this can't wait, Sora."

Wanting to avoid any crowds of people, Keira headed down empty back alleys and skidded to a stop on the outskirts of town next to the tall, clear crystal seal with a large crack in it.

"Tch. Can I even fix such a large crack?"

Screams pierced the air, followed by multiple crashes.

Something already came through? Dammit, I didn't get here fast enough. They'll have to wait. I need to fix the seal first.

Keira's nails dug into her hands as she resisted the urge to go after the demons. She rushed up to the crystal and ran her finger along the fresh crack.

These gashes... did someone attack it? It's not breaking on its own?

Dark smoke plumed from it.

Dammit. More demons are coming soon.

She placed both her hands on it, surrounding the crack, and closed her eyes to concentrate.

Magic flowed through her hands, her ice-blue aura growing as she focused. She opened her eyes, and magic erupted, crawling up the crack, sealing it.

"Ha..." Keira braced herself on the crystal as her legs wobbled.

That took more than normal.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to stand straight up.

I don't have time to waste on being weak.

With an ice sword summoned, she took off toward the screams.

Her legs burned, and she nearly stumbled more than once, but a demon crow caught her eye, circling above a little girl and her small puppy in an empty alleyway lined with houses.

"Watch out!" Keira yelled as she lunged toward them. With her ice sword held up to block, she wrapped her other arm around the girl and her pup.

The demon crow slammed into her sword, and she cringed.

"Ha!" She swung her sword toward it and clipped its wing.

It hit the ground, squawking, and started to grow.

"No, you don't!" A flaming sword sliced through the crow before its transformation finished.

"Rui..." She gazed up at him, and Aki behind him caught her eye.

Did Aki bring him here?

"Why didn't you grab me before running off?!" Rui growled, his fire magic bursting up through his hair.

"No time. Besides, you're here now, and the crack has been sealed."

He huffed and held his hand out to her.

Keira glanced down at the girl and her dog, both shaking. "It's okay now. You're safe." She ushered them toward him.

"I meant... never mind." Rui knelt down and picked the girl and her dog both up in one arm. "I know a safe spot nearby." He glanced at Aki. "Stick with her."

Aki nodded, and Rui took off. He held his hand out to her, since she hadn't stood yet.

"I'm fine." She used the sword to push herself to stand. "There are more demons around—"

Aki's eyes widened. "Keira, your hair."

The tips of her hair had turned white.

Not again. I overdid it. "It's fine... It'll go back to normal soon enough, but don't mention it to Rui."

"But if it's not a big deal—"

She shot him a glare, and he clammed up. "Just keep your lips shut unless you want to have an issue with me."

He swallowed hard. "At least let me help you regain some power." He held his hand, engulfed in green fire, out to her.

"You can do that? I thought you just slowly heal wounds?"

"Not exactly. My powers have more uses than that."

She latched onto his hand, and energy flowed into her. Wow. "Thanks." She took off running, her hair once again a piercing black.

"Wait for me!" He chased after her, stumbling over his own feet and knocking over a stray broom leaning against a brick house as he felt the drain. "Maybe I should work on being a better power source," he huffed as the distance between them grew.

He rounded the corner to the main street and found her slicing down a hulking green ogre. "How?" he huffed. "I wasn't that far behind."

She kept going, ice sword in hand, as her eyes scanned the area. I can't leave any to roam the city.

After traversing several barren streets, footsteps marched toward her.

"Lady Sakurai!" The head of the royal guards, Kageru, rushed up to her with his elite soldiers behind him. "Miss Fiona has sent word that all the demons in the area have been eradicated."

"Good." Keira nodded, but still kept her eyes peeled.

He cleared his throat and leaned a bit closer. "You might want to return to the palace promptly; your dress is in quite disarray," he whispered.

Keira glanced down at where she had ripped it. "I did that on purpose so I could move."

"I see... but we can't have our heroine traipsing around in disarray. People might think you almost lost."

Her eye twitched. "You have to be kidding me. I'm a fighter; it makes complete sense for my clothes to end up ripped!" She clenched her fists, resisting her urge to clock him as she stared straight into his eyes.

He cleared his throat. "I understand that, but still—"

"Tch. I'm heading back, okay?"

He held his hand out to her and motioned back toward his horse.

"How can they treat her like this?" Aki mumbled, inching closer as he tried to think of something he could do to help.

"I think she'd rather take Sora home." Rui came up beside them, riding Sora, and offered her his hand.

Always has my back. She gripped Rui's hand and noticed Aki watching. Guess I owe him even more now. She gave him a small nod.

"Alley-oop." Rui pulled her up in front of him, and she automatically took the reins, his arm around her waist. "You know, you don't have to take over right away. I can ride us back, especially since I know you're tired from fixing a seal."

"She's my horse, so I'll take the reins." She glared back at him. "Where's your horse, anyway? Shouldn't you ride your own back?"

"I... didn't bring mine. I ran out here after that guy in green—"

"Akihiro."

"Uh, sure, I guess that could be his name. Anyway, he rushed over to tell me about the seal breaking and you taking off, then said he was off to tell the king."

He told Rui first? Why?

"It's a good thing he came to me, considering that crow demon was about to transform while you were busy protecting the little ones, as always," Rui said, looking around for Aki, who vanished into the emerging crowd, now that the danger was gone.

"If I don't, who will? It's not like they can defend themselves."

"I know, I get it, but you have to protect the whole kingdom—"

"Don't you dare say I should've left them."

"I never would. But maybe stepping in front of them with your sword is enough, rather than making them feel safe in your arms, as you handicap yourself in the fight."

"But then, if I automatically moved to dodge, they might've gotten hit."

"So you'd rather chance taking the hit instead?"

"Isn't that obvious? You should know better than anyone how I work, Rui."

"I do, but I worry you're getting more reckless. If we could add more people to our group, at least we'd have some extra backup."

Then we'd have more people to worry about. She gritted her teeth.

"I'll take that as a no." He sighed. "But something has to change. You can't keep this up, Keira. The seals are breaking more often these days."

"Because someone is breaking them."

"What?"

"There were marks on the crystal. Someone did this on purpose. They're trying to overrun the kingdom with demons."

"But... why? Someone from another kingdom? Let them run us over, then take over, claiming to save us?"

"I don't know. Have you heard about the seals in other kingdoms? I don't know if anyone outside our borders is having the same issue."

"I guess we have a few things to work out."

"But is he even going to let me go far enough for this? It's hard to even stay out of here for more than a day anymore."

Rui sighed. "I think he's just worried something will happen while our hero is gone."

"Tch. Don't get on that bandwagon. You're as much of a hero as I am."

"I'm handy in a fight, but I can't use my magic to heal the seals like you."

Not these ones, anyway.

They approached the gate to the palace, and the doors opened.

Back again.