Chapter 31

Aki took off on the ice toward Keira as he screamed her name.

"Ah!" He was yanked back by his hood as red magic slammed into the ice in front of him, breaking the path.

"I know you're worried about Keira, but he's got his eyes on you!" Rui said, pointing at Azroth. "Keep your head in the game. She'll be fine; she always is." Rui slashed through a fish demon as it jumped out of the water. "Stupid piranha."

Aki looked up at Azroth, ready to bring his shield up again.

Azroth tilted his head to the side and smiled. "Tell me more about him."

"Aki?" Aria looked between them. "Why? And what makes you think I'll help you after what you did?"

"Hmm? What I did? I did exactly as promised. I brought your brother back."

"But you're controlling him." Aria pointed at the hole in the stone wall. "There's no way Wakaru would attack Keira, and I know that as a fact. Never mind how he looks... undead."

"Because he is undead. What did you think would happen when you brought back someone who had already died?"

"That he'd be my brother again!"

"But he has no soul, so I'm not sure how you can expect that."

"That's what you promised." She slammed her hands on his chest again. "Stupid demon."

"Maybe things would turn out better for you if you did your research before agreeing to work with a demon. I gave what I promised, and I got what I was promised. Deal done." He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "And I like humans that make deals with demons, even if they try to turn it around afterward. Best stick to my side, Aria; they're not going to be around much longer."

Phwee. A flaming arrow flew at Azroth, singeing his ear.

"Tch. I guess I should get rid of the pests myself, rather than wait for the others to finish the job." He glared down at Rui, who had taken Aki's bow to attack him. "Guess I'll come back for you later." He dropped Aria.

Aria screamed as she plummeted toward the water, arms flailing.

"Fiona!" Rui yelled and got a wind boost for his jump as he reached out for Aria.

He caught her and tumbled toward the water with her until Fiona caught them with her wind magic.

"Saving her after she stabbed you ruthlessly in the back? How touching." Azroth cackled and lifted his hand to shoot them both with magic.

A lightning bolt shot down between him and the others, and a green flame puffed at him from down below.

"You think that'll do anything? Cute." Azroth swung his arm to disperse the green flame.

It caught his arm and lit it on fire.

"What?" Azroth patted repeatedly on the green flame until it went out. "What in the world was that? Boy..." His eyes locked on Aki once again. "How would you like to join my army?"

---

Keira coughed up water and blood as she rolled onto her side on the cobblestone ground in the Suikara, debris from the broken wall all around her.

She gasped as a burning pain spread through her lungs.

I think the new armour helped, but I still may have broken something.

Keira sensed an incoming attack and rolled out of the way, jumping back to her feet as water smashed into the ground where she was. She backed away as she built up an ice shield from the ground up as another wave of water splashed at her.

You'd think he'd at least be a little tired after using that much magic...

"Since when are you one to run and hide?" Wakaru asked.

Keira froze with her eyes wide. He talked? I thought he was an undead zombie. "Waka?" She swallowed hard. No, no matter what he says, it's not really him.

Magic water rammed into her barrier again, cracking it before breaking through.

Keira stared into Wakaru's grey eyes, missing their usual light, but she hesitated. It only looks and sounds like him.

The crystal under her armour warmed again.

Are you responding to your body?

"It's a shame it's come to this. I sacrificed myself for you, only to come back to kill you."

"You don't have to fight me, Wakaru."

"I have no choice in the matter."

"If the archdemon is controlling you, just fight it. You're strong; I know you can break free."

"No, I can't. When he brought me back, I became imprinted."

"But he's not even here to give you orders." Keira pointed out the hole where Azroth fought the others.

"He doesn't need to speak them to me, just send orders— Arg." Wakaru held onto his head and went silent.

"Wakaru?"

His eyes dimmed further. "I'm sorry, Keira, but either I kill you, or you kill me."

"But..." Keira gripped the hilt of her sword, her hand shaking. It would've been better if he couldn't speak. I don't know if I can do this.

"I can't fight his command. Kill me." He charged forward.

Boom! Lightning struck between Keira and Wakaru.

"Keira!" Malik yelled as he ran toward her, down from the stone wall where Fiona was. "Are you okay?" he huffed, eyes trailing down her, noticing every scuff and scrap, and lingering on her shaking hand.

"I'm fine." Though I might have a broken rib. "You should be helping the others with the archdemon. He might break the seal again and let out more demons, since it's barely holding up right now."

"And leave you alone with him? Are you insane?!"

"I can handle Wakaru." I hope. She took a deep breath. I just have to concentrate and remember it's not really him, even though it sounds and looks like him. He even has Wakaru's memories...

"Wakaru? Is that the name Aria called out? But isn't that your friend that died... Oh... I suppose this makes sense now. And even more so, no, I'm not leaving you to fight him alone."

"It matters not; I have to take you both out. The only one to be spared is Aria." Wakaru swallowed hard and shook his head. "I can't believe she did this." Before he could attack, Malik wound up and lightning blasted him.

"Wakaru!"

He reacted, sending a blast of water as he dove off to the side.

"Keira, he's the enemy," Malik said as he stepped in front of her. "And if you won't deal with the threat, I will."

Keira stumbled back a few steps as Malik and Wakaru fought. She clung to her ribs as pain spread through her and held her hand over the warm crystal. Why are you reacting like this? There's no way it's all in my head. It was your crystal, Wakaru. Maybe... She pulled out the pendant to let it hang above her armour.

It's glowing. Maybe a part of you is in here. Can I put his soul back in and break the link with the archdemon? How would I even try to do that?

She pulled the necklace off and jumped into the fight, dodging as Wakaru took a swipe at her and getting in close fast.

"Keira," Malik called to her in a warning tone.

"Just get me within arm's length."

"Fine." Malik tossed a dagger hidden in his robe at Wakaru as he dashed to the side.

Wakaru easily knocked it away with his water.

Keira crawled her ice magic across the ground until it gripped Wakaru's feet, knowing it wouldn't hold him.

Lightning zapped Wakaru before he could break free, stunning him.

Seeing her chance, Keira dashed toward him with the crystal in hand and touched it to his chest.

"Interesting idea." Wakaru smiled sadly. "And I would've loved if it worked, but once the soul has separated from death, it can't go back into a body." He swung his arm, blasting her away with water, the crystal sliding out of her hand and off to the side. "Might want to keep it with you. Even a part of a soul can come in handy."

"Ugh." Keira groaned as she got up and grabbed the crystal again. How is it handy if I can't put your soul back in you? She hung the necklace around her neck once again and drew her sword, hands shaking. I don't want to do this.

"You'll have to do better," Wakaru said to Malik. "You have to take me out. Kill me or I'll keep coming at you guys."

"I know, but it's easier said than done, especially when she looks upon you so fondly." Malik jumped back out of the way and sent lightning at Wakaru again. It burst through the water and hit him.

"But that's exactly why you have to do it. Don't make her kill me. I know her; she's already holding too much guilt over my death."

"You're right."

As if making someone else kill you will help. Arg. Why does it have to be this way? It would've been easier to kill you if you were a lifeless zombie. Why did things turn out like this?

Keira steeled herself, gripping her sword tightly as she growled, releasing a wave of ice magic.

Wakaru was knocked forward, ice crawling up his legs once again, but all the way to his waist.

Malik stumbled back, feeling ice nipping at him. "Keira?"

She was behind Wakaru, her sword at his neck.

"Let me fight him. You don't need to do it," Malik said.

"Yes, I do!"

"I can take him; just trust me."

"As if you sullying your hands is any better."

"Yes, because I don't know him personally."

A giant wave of water knocked all of them over, melting all the ice.

Before anyone got back to their feet, Aria was on top of Wakaru, holding a dagger to his neck as tears streamed down her face.

"Take her and go," Aria said to Malik. "I can handle this."

"But it's your bro—"

"Go!"

Malik rushed over to Keira and grabbed her arm, dragging her along.

Wait... What?! "You just brought him back! Why would you kill him?" Keira resisted.

"Because I was wrong! I trusted the wrong person... demon. Wakaru would rather be dead than have to take orders from a demon. I have to correct what I did," Aria said, staring into Wakaru's eyes. "I'm sorry, big brother."

"It was nice to see you one last time. Don't dabble with dark arts again, though. I know my master would work with you again, but I'd rather you didn't." Wakaru's fingers twitched as he resisted the urge to attack her. "At least this time I get to say goodbye."

Malik dragged Keira away to the hole in the wall.

"Malik." She stared back at them, eyes shaking. Isn't this too cruel? Even for Aria...

He rounded her, blocking her view of them, and bumped his forehead into hers as his arms wrapped around her waist and he stared into her eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't look at them. Focus only on me right now."

"I don't have time for this," Keira growled.

"Your hair is turning white. It was already doing it at the seal, probably because you were trying to fix it on your own, and then it got worse after the fight with Wakaru where you let out that burst of energy. I don't know what's going on with you, but you need to recover before—"

"Are you insane? I don't have time for this."

"I know, but we need you to fight the archdemon." Malik pulled a green potion bottle from inside his robe. "Aki gave me this before all hell broke loose. Recover and get back into the fight."

"Ah!" Aria screamed out in pain in the background.

A shudder ran down Keira's spine as tears threatened to fall.

Malik kissed her forehead and forced her to take the potion. "I wish I could take all the burden from you, but I'm not strong enough. We're not strong enough. And it won't be long before the seal breaks again."

Keira chugged the potion, and her hair started to return to normal.

"I don't care what Aki claims; his healing power and potions are quite magnificent. I think maybe he overestimates how quickly others can heal," Malik said.

"Probably, but he underestimates his powers in multiple ways." Not looking back, Keira climbed through the hole in the stone wall with Malik right behind her.