Chapter 24

"This is... magnificent work!" Rui whistled, looking at Keira's new armour. Instead of a smooth, steel look, it had a small integrated pattern that he was assured was stronger than steel. "And you did it so fast! If we were sticking around longer, I'd be looking to get a new one of my own."

"You can always come back later to get as much armour as you need. I'll gladly make it." The blacksmith rubbed his hands together. "I also make weapons and farming tools. Or anything you need metal for."

"Good to know. Thank you."

"Can we go back yet?" Fiona asked, fanning herself with her hand.

"I thought you wanted to be out here to shop?"

"At first, sure, but it's too hot to shop! I can't take it much longer."

"You didn't even buy anything other than that pancake thing you took one bite of and pawned off on me."

"Well, jewellery isn't much use out here, and I don't want to weigh us down, so it's best not to buy much..."

"Sounds like Keira's already gotten to you."

"Of course she has, especially when it makes sense..." Fiona poked at Keira's armour and froze, a sudden chill running through her.

"What's wrong? The armour seems perfect to me, so—"

"Shh." Fiona closed her eyes, a faint green aura around her. "Oh!" she gasped, her eyes shooting open as her heart raced.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"T-there's a demon nearby... and it feels stronger than anything I've sensed before."

Rui looked around, then looked to the sky, searching for any plumes of smoke. "Seems quiet to me."

Fiona shook her head and gripped his hand. "There's definitely a powerful demon nearby."

"Dammit." Rui cursed under his breath. "Guess we should head back and deliver this while looking for the demon. Let me know if we get close to it." He held the armour in one arm and took her hand to lead her through the town.

She stared at their clasped hands in wonder.

"Are we getting closer or farther from it? I can't help but worry it'll go after Keira while she's weak... Fiona?"

"Hmm?" Her head snapped up, her eyes finding his.

"Is it moving? Are we getting closer to it?"

"Oh..."

"Is it too hard to track it while moving? I'll lead you, so you can try to focus."

"It's fine." Fiona laughed awkwardly and took a deep breath. "I can focus... totally fine..."

"I'm surprised there hasn't been any screaming in the streets if a demon is nearby..."

"Are you doubting me?" Fiona huffed.

"Nope, not at all... just worried." Rui weaved through the crowd in the market, his grip on her hand tight.

"Oh, we're getting closer."

"Keira..." Rui's jaw tightened, and his pace quickened.

"Hey, don't go too fast. I'm not tall like you, so it's harder for me."

"Sorry, but I have a bad feeling. Wait, I have an idea." Rui stopped and knelt down in front of her, one arm ready for her as he kept Keira's armour secure in the other. "Hop on."

"What?"

"I'll give you a piggyback ride. We can get there faster that way, and you should be able to concentrate easier."

"Uh..." She stepped back.

"Come on, time's wasting away." He glanced back at her. "Don't tell me you're worried I'll drop you? Just hold on tight and you'll be fine."

"Ugh, fine." She hopped onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on as he stood and took off running. "Oh! What are you doing?!"

"Getting back faster." He darted down a back alley to avoid the crowds of people.

She scrunched her eyes closed, gripping tightly as she focused her power on sensing demons. "It's... getting farther away?"

"It is? Which way?"

"Are you going to chase after it?"

"Maybe..."

"Oh!"

"What? What happened?" Rui looked around, expecting to find demons coming at them.

"It's gone." She got off Rui.

"It vanished?"

"Yeah... It seemed like there was a burst of energy and poof, it vanished."

"Weird, but I suppose it's a good thing." Rui sighed and poked at the armour.

"But I swear I felt Keira's magic too."

Rui froze. "Why didn't you say that earlier?! Hop back on." He knelt down again.

"But why? The danger is gone."

"And the question now is why it's gone. Keira could've been in a fight with it, and I'm not there to back her up."

"Well, it's not like you two are attached at the hip, right? Besides, it's Keira; she'll be fine. And since the demon's gone, she likely got rid of it." Fiona sighed, hand over her heart.

"You do remember what condition she was in when we left, right? And if she had to fight again, who knows what happened?"

"Oh."

"So, are you coming, or are you sticking around town on your lonesome?"

Fiona pouted. "You think I can even survive out here on my own? I'd probably trip, face plant into the ground, and get robbed..." she mumbled, staring at the floor.

"You could've just said you're coming." Rui held his hand out to her.

She stared at it for a few seconds before taking his hand. "Thanks," she whispered, though he didn't hear her.

"By the way, I didn't really want to leave you out here on your own, anyway. I know you have strong wind magic, but it's too easy to get jumped from behind, or for someone else with magic to come at you. I'm not sure how safe the area is, but you're safer with me around." His grip on her hand tightened.

"Thanks." Fiona bit her lip, holding back a smile.

---

"Everything looks okay from here..." Rui mumbled as they approached the gate to Asher's place. "Hey, anything happen while I was away?" he asked the guard.

They looked around and sighed, leaning in closer. "There was a demon attack, but the Ice Queen drove it away."

"Drove it away, but didn't finish it off?"

"No, it fled."

"Thanks." Rui's brows furrowed as he headed inside with Fiona. "Hopefully, everybody is okay..."

No one was downstairs, so they headed upstairs and found Keira's old, damaged room.

"Damn... Gone for a few hours and this happens. Hey," he called out to the assistant from earlier who was carrying an empty tray. "Where's Keira now?"

She bowed her head and pointed at the room across the way before scurrying past him.

"Thanks." He watched her go and sighed. "Is it me or was she afraid of me?"

Fiona shrugged. "Maybe you were coming off as brutish or something. You do that sometimes."

"I guess so... Wouldn't know how to fix that if I tried." Rui walked up to Keira's new room and knocked. "It's me."

There was a thump followed by a rustling sound. "It's open," Keira called out.

"Hey, we heard about an attack?" Rui walked in, still holding Fiona's hand.

"Yup, but it ran. It's fine... for now."

"And you're okay? No injuries? Though I guess if Aki is around, he would've healed you by now..."

"He gave me a little bit of energy, that's all." She brushed her hair back, and her eyes landed on their hands. She raised an eyebrow and gestured toward it. "So, is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"Hmm?"

Fiona pulled her hand away, her cheeks flushed. "He was keeping me safe in town. Uh, now that I've seen you're okay, I'm going to rest and hope a demon doesn't come for me as well."

"Yell if something happens! I'll come running," Rui assured her and watched her rush down the hall to her room. "Now that we're alone, care to go into details?"

"Not really."

"Even more reason for me to push for them. I saw the damage."

"We've taken out plenty of demons that could easily cause that damage. It's not a big deal."

"Except that's the thing: I heard that it ran, not that you got rid of it." He closed the door and sat on the bed beside her. "I should've brought something to drink," he mumbled. "I know you weren't feeling the greatest, with the giant hole in your gut recently—"

"I'm fine now, thanks to Aki."

"Well, I know he helps massively, but even he has his limits. Anyway, I can't help but worry with you fighting in your condition, and I'm wondering how it managed to get away."

Guess I should tell him more about it. Keira told him about the demon and the fight briefly before sitting in silence for a while.

"Weird no one else came running... but it also attacked when almost no one was around. That's suspicious. And talking? That's news to me. They always growled and barked or squawked, but..."

"What's wrong?"

"I think I read about a demon like that. Red eyes, short horns, wings like a bat, and a human-like form. It was in one of the books in Malik's royal library. Had a terrifying picture next to it." Rui shuddered and closed his eyes as he thought back. "I think they called it an archdemon. But it said they usually lead armies of weaker demons, and this one was on its own?"

Keira nodded. An archdemon? Isn't that what Shun said was being held in the other realm by the seals? If Rui is right, then one got through already... "Then I just missed my chance to get rid of one of their leaders?"

"Hey, hold on now, that's not what happened. If it were an archdemon, then who knows what would've happened if the fight kept going. We could've lost you, especially since you didn't have any backup."

"I think I could've taken him if I tried harder."

"At what cost? We both know you push it too much sometimes. I haven't seen your hair changing colour like it did in the past." He eyed her hair carefully. "So I guess you're okay, but we don't know what happens if it turns completely white."

Keira's jaw tightened. Definitely can't let him know.

"Sorry for getting all doom-and-gloom on you." He bumped her shoulder with his. "I can't help but worry about my partner, that's all. Anyway, I should let you rest and take a nap myself. We're leaving tonight, right?"

Keira nodded.

He stood and stretched. "You know what? Maybe I should find Aki and Malik and have a drink before bed. None for you this time; you're recovering."

Keira rolled her eyes and lay back on the bed.

"Goodnight," Rui said as he left.

"Night..."

An archdemon out despite the seals not all being completely broken? Unless... No, I can't think like that. Matsu is still safe, and Tanten's seals have been somewhat revived. If all the seals were broken, everywhere would be overrun by now. He must've slipped out of the broken ones in Tanten... What if he was from Hannki where the seals had been broken before? What if he's the one that attacked the seals in Matsu, but only cracked it.

"Ha..." Keira wiped the sweat off her forehead and rolled over in bed, trying to get comfortable.

Ugh, who can sleep in these conditions?