Chapter 18

"Thought I might find you here."

"Hmm?" Keira's eyes fluttered open, and she took a deep breath as she stretched her arms. I fell asleep.

"Morning, sleepyhead." Rui leaned down, waving to her. "Glad you actually slept; I was worried about that. Not that I had time to check on you, since I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow." He stretched his stiff neck out. "Did I miss anything? Fiona said something about Aria vanishing for a while, but I think she likes having alone time. Either that, or she wanted to check out the underground more." He shrugged.

I wonder where Aria went without telling anyone... Can't be surprised about it, though. She lightly touched her necklace.

"So, up for breakfast?"

"Yeah, sure. Thank you, Sora. I'll be back soon." She stroked Sora's fur and got up as Sora neighed.

---

"There you are." Aki stood up as soon as Keira entered the common room with rows of tables, mostly full of people eating. He had plates set up on both sides of him with flatbread, cheese, dates, and a glass of goat's milk. "Please sit." He motioned to the seats.

Keira stared at the dark bags under his eyes. Is he okay? He doesn't look like he's slept... but we need him for the other seal, and I was hoping to leave later today. "Thank you." She sat down beside him.

"Oh, more than I was expecting." Rui sat down on the other side, across from Fiona, rubbing his hands as his stomach grumbled.

"Good morning, my heroes." Malik sat down next to Keira with his own plate of food.

Fiona froze with a piece of flatbread halfway to her mouth.

"Please continue on. It's normal for me to eat here with everyone else," Malik assured her.

She looked around at the other people, and no one was paying any attention to him, so she continued eating, although taking smaller bites.

One on each side... Keira shook her head and started eating. Who has the time to think about that? Focus on the mission and only the mission. Matsu depends on this.

Aria passed by at the far end of the room, munching on a rolled-up flatbread.

Really doesn't like to stay with the group unless she has to... I hope she's okay. I wonder if it's my presence. I'd rather be an outcast than leave her out.

"Is there anything not to your taste?" Malik asked. "I can request something else for you."

"No, this is all fine. Thank you." Keira watched Aria head towards the bedroom hall and continued eating. "How did you guys manage to move so many people underground? I know you said magic to help with food, but this is still quite the feat."

"It's not like we didn't have an underground network before this happened, though it hadn't been used in a century. We expanded it with the help of some earth mages and worked quickly from there."

"I'm surprised the monsters didn't just go underground after you," Aki said and sipped his milk.

Malik gestured toward a magical circle with several symbols as a seal embedded into the stone wall beside them. "Our ancestors made this place with a different, weaker seal, likely in case something like this happened. I'd rather have never needed to use it, but I am thankful they made it."

Keira's eyes traced the lines of the seal.

Are the symbols what create some form of barrier? Can it be replicated, or is there a ritual? Does it only work underground?

Aki followed her line of sight, and his eyes widened. "That looks familiar... I know I've seen it somewhere."

"Likely in one of the royal texts in the library," Malik said.

"I see..."

"Hey, can I get seconds, or is that too greedy?" Rui asked, having polished off his plate of food before anyone was halfway through theirs.

"Seconds are most definitely available to you."

"Awesome, thanks." Rui hopped to his feet and headed to grab his second helping.

"So, Aki, my friend, are you well enough to help recreate the second seal, or do you need more rest before trying?" Malik asked, glancing around Keira at him.

"I-I can try, though I admit I'm not at my best." Aki held back a yawn and looked away from him.

"I don't mind if you stay longer." His gaze trailed over to Keira. "In fact, I welcome the company."

"Thanks, but considering we don't know how well things are going at home, and if the seals were attacked again, I think we should move along as quickly as we can," Keira said, finishing off her plate. "Thank you for the food."

"Any time, we have plenty."

Rui came back with a plate stacked high. "Sorry, but I'm super hunger today for some reason, and I can't believe they gave me so much. People here are so generous."

"As it has always been. It is the way of our people."

"Great people, great food. Glad we were able to help the kingdom out," Rui said and dug into his new plate of food.

Fiona stared at him, eating. "Are you sure you're chewing your food?"

"Hmm?"

"Nothing." She sighed. "I'm stuffed." She pushed her plate, still half-full with food, away from her.

"More for me." Rui took her plate and emptied onto his before setting it back down.

"Because you didn't have enough already?" Fiona grumbled. "Where does he put it all?"

Rui flexed his bulging biceps and kept eating.

"Right..."

"He does exercise enough for this to be okay, most days." Keira stood with her empty plate.

"I'll take that." Malik took her empty plate and handed it off to someone who popped up beside him out of nowhere. "Would you care for a walk?" He held his elbow out to her. "It's always good to have light exercise after a meal."

This feels dangerous to say yes to and to say no to...

"Can I come, too?" Aki stood, nearly knocking his chair over. "I'm interested in the layout of the underground, or the town; either works for me."

Rui snickered, shaking his head as he continued to stuff his face. "You two are in over your heads." His voice came out muffled.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Keira said, resisting the urge to smack him in the back of the head.

He swallowed. "Yes, ma'am. Sorry about that."

"So... commanding." Malik smiled, a sparkle in his eyes as he watched her.

"Let's go for a walk." Keira walked away, ignoring his outstretched elbow.

"Coming!" Aki rushed to follow.

Thud.

"Ow..." He tripped over his own chair. "I'm okay." He quickly got up to follow Keira and Malik.

"What's going on there?" Fiona asked, staring at the three of them as they left the dining area.

"Two very different males pining after a clueless woman with no interest in romance. She's too busy saving the world for that."

"Wait, Malik likes her? I thought he was a flirt at most."

Rui shrugged and kept eating.

---

I think I'd rather walk alone right now. Keira walked through the underground, taking note of each seal she passed, while Malik and Aki stayed beside her, one on each side.

"Here is where we set up our medical ward." Malik explained each place they passed by. "It was hard to get supplies down here at first, but a few brave souls gathered them from above for our healers to use."

"How do the seals actually work?" Aki asked. "I've been wondering about the crystal seals, but these are interesting, too."

"It stops the demons from sensing us, but I don't actually know if it would stop them from entering."

"Oh, I see."

"With even the one seal set up, they likely can't get down here, though."

"Once the second seal is working, are you going back above?"

"I imagine many will want to, while others will be afraid. I'll keep this open for those who wish to stay here for now. It might be best to keep this up to par in case something happens again, anyway."

"Good plan." Keira nodded and headed for the exit, going to the castle.

"It's not as interesting out here right now without any people around—"

"Can we go to the library again? There might be more information."

"I have Lee and Noi still looking through our old tomes. If they find anything, they'll inform me immediately," Malik explained.

"Oh, I see."

"You can join them if you want. I'll even walk you there."

"We should be getting to the next seal as soon as possible," Keira said, leading them out of the castle. "It'd be best to get the kingdom running close to normal. Are people already leaving the underground?" She gestured to a couple of people heading down the street.

"Not that I knew of. I didn't give the go-ahead yet." Malik frowned, squinting as he tried to make out who it was.

"Do you want them apprehended?" Keira asked, itching to go.

"Well, it's best if they stayed underground until I said otherwise..." Malik trailed off as Keira bolted towards them. "Is she always like this?"

"Pretty much," Aki said, smiling. "Always heading straight into the fray. I don't know anyone else as admirable, or like her at all. Always so brave..."

"Do I need to stop her from killing them?"

"I... don't know. I think that depends on them."

"Halt!" Keira yelled as she closed in on the men in brown cloaks.

They both stopped and turned to look at her. Their eyes widened, and they took off running.

"Tch." Easier to deal with monsters. They come straight to you most of the time. She dashed forward and jumped over them.

They skidded to a stop, one of them falling over.

"Did you not hear me? Or would you like a taste of my blade?" She drew her sword.

"We're sorry." They both bowed to her, their heads touching the ground.

"What are you doing out here without authorization?"

"Keira." Malik rushed to catch up to her. "Be careful not to scare them too much."

"Why not? It's dangerous out here still, so they shouldn't be here yet."

Malik smirked and shook his head. "You are right on that, my dear, but based on how they're quivering, they're no threat to you."

Keira silently sheathed her sword, slowly ending with a clang as she stared down at them. "That can easily be faked, but I'll hold back."

"T-thank you." They bowed to her again as they backed away.

"Here." Malik held his hands out to them. "Talk to me as I walk you back."

"Thank you, My Lord."

Keira sighed and looked around the barren streets with sand blowing in.

I feel like I'm wasting too much time. This isn't productive.

"Keira, is something wrong?" Aki asked.

"Any chance we can get this seal done in the morning and let you guys have a nap before heading out at night?"

"You want to leave at night?"

"It's cooler." Sora will definitely prefer it. "We won't have to worry about heatstroke then, and we can make some progress toward Suikara."

"Suikara? Is that where we're headed next? I thought we'd stick around and look for more information about the seals. There has to be a reason it's not quite the same."

Likely because of a sacrifice I'm not willing to let others make... "I'm more worried about whether Suikara was attacked, too."

"Oh, I see. That is a troubling thought. We didn't know Tanten had been attacked, so I understand your urgency."

"Back to the matter at hand, do you have enough energy for this?"

"Well... I'd be better with some more time to recover."

Keira held her hand out to him. "You said you didn't know if you could siphon energy, so why don't we find out?"

Aki shook his head and stepped back, waving his hands. "I can't do that! What if I can and I take too much?! Who knows what could happen to you?"

"I'll be fine."

"You don't know that."

"I will be. I have plenty of energy."

"And yet Rui says you barely sleep."

Curse him. "Just do it, Aki. It's best to know if it's possible. It may come in handy in the future." She stepped toward him.

"B-but I could hurt you, and that's the last thing I'd want to do."

"I'll be fine. Even if you take too much, you can always give it back."

"Oh... I guess." Aki frowned and looked away, still uncertain.

Keira took a deep breath to calm herself. "Please."

Aki's lip quivered as he glanced at her. "How can I say no to you?" He lightly took her hand and closed his eyes to focus.

Green fire surrounded their clasped hands.

Energy drew out of Keira slowly through her hand, taking some of her warmth with it.

It's working.

A chill ran through her body, but she fought back the urge to let go.

"Ha!" Aki gasped as his eyes opened, letting go of her. He stepped back and looked at his hand. "It worked? Wait, are you okay?" He cupped her cheeks, taking in her slightly paled complexion.

"I feel fine." She brushed his hands away.

"I can give some of it back."

"No, don't. I'm fine," she said, a slight growl in her voice.

"If you say so..."

"Good to go now?"

"I'm fine. More energy than I ever remember having, but I don't know about the others."

"Guess we should find out if they're ready."