The Power to Keep Moving

Pain is sent through my entire body, but that one spot feels as if a knife has stabbed into it. Sweat is causing soil to stick to my face as I struggle to rise once more.

"Not…yet…"

Try as I might, there is no strength left. Should the demons catch up, this will be the end.

Hey.

I can't feel anything, yet I sense some kind of presence.

You're almost there.

Nobody should be around to deliver these words. If somebody were truly present, my body would have been impaled. However, this presence is certainly real.

"Who…"

My question is answered almost as soon as my mouth utters those words. A pair of black and beady pearls stare from right next to my nose. Small mandibles twitch alongside a set of six legs. Its hard shell makes it difficult to discern its true nature, but I know it well. I would never mistake this child as anything else.

"What do you…"

Before I can force the words out, it begins scuttling off. Following it, I see a patch of sunflowers growing at the edge of the forest. These ones are quite short, not the large kinds that grow to match my height. Beside their patch is a small hole big enough for one person.

"Argh!"

I throw one bandaged hand forwards, gripping the dirt. Feeling the warm soil, I pull. When I've made some distance, I reach my other hand. Little by little, the swaying petals grow clearer and clearer. The rustling behind me grows louder and louder by the second, but I don't stop. At my destination, the firefly child waits patiently.

"Sunflower!"

Were my lungs in good shape, I would have alerted my pursuers. Fortunately, nothing but air released from my passionate cry. All that matters is that my battered body tumbles into the hole before demons stomp past.

"Did I make it…"

Tree roots cast shadows over my hiding spot, which faces partially into the clearing. It is there that I see the pursuing demons gather, each looking frantically for me.

"Where did he go!?"

"He could not have gone far!?"

"What of the others?"

"Some human kid sent them running!"

It sounds like Leon has really managed to take a load off my shoulders. All I can do is hope that it will be enough.

"Everyone! Look for the human!"

"For the Miss!"

I close my eyes. Praying has never been my strong suit, not that I know what possible gods there could even be. I don't care if it's an angel or a devil, but I want to live. I still have something to live for.

"That is enough!"

A familiar voice echoes from above, a voice that feigns a youth the individual doesn't have. Hearing it is so pleasant to my ears that I begin to cry.

"Miss! We heard you were taken!"

"The human even had your mask!"

I peek up and see the excited demons gathering around their guardian like children waiting for their mother to return. For the ones with obvious expressions, they look relieved. As for Ailith, she pats the backs of her much larger children.

"It was a difficult fight, but I managed to escape. These humans are not to be underestimated."

"Even for you, Miss!?"

"There are humans that can endanger even you!?"

Ailith smiles warmly, looking around her children before glancing at my hiding spot. Our eyes meet for not more than a moment before she continues our little act. I keep myself down and out of sight in the meantime.

"Indeed, there are many. We were lucky today. It would be best to stay away from human settlements for a while while the dangerous ones are still around."

"Y-Yes Ma'am!"

"We will follow you!"

"Good! I would punish you if you did not! Now get moving!"

Ailith motions away from our previous battlefield, towards the plains beyond. She remains back until all of her children are out of sight. After a few moments, a round face peeks into my hole from above.

"Rado, are you still alive?"

"Barely…"

"That's good enough."

I grab her outstretched hand and allow myself to be pulled by her insane strength. When the sun touches my skin again, I'm standing with the support of my friend.

"Glad I made it in time."

"You really know how to cut it close!"

"You are quite difficult to find after all. Perhaps you should try not blending in with the dirt."

We look at each other, both struggling to hold our laughter until it all bursts out.

"Hahaha! You look as if someone dragged you through the dirt!"

"Yeah, someone did! Me!"

""Hahaha!""

Letting the weariness flow away from our bodies, we take in the result of our actions.

"It really worked…"

"It was a close call, but you managed to do it."

A pure smile hits me from below, eyes cast upwards. If I weren't too tired to feel anything, I would be charmed into submission. Relief is the only thing on my mind.

"Ah, here."

With the arm not wrapped over her shoulders, I dig into the pocket beside my heart and remove a pouch. From inside, I removed the mask shard I had borrowed for this sudden mission. Dark energy pours out over my hands, but I've grown accustomed to it after so much time.

"This is yours."

"That it is."

A small hand reaches out, stopping just before her fingers touch the artefact. She stares at it for a moment before shaking her head.

"Keep it. It's yours now."

"A-Are you sure!?"

"It would be best this way. You can show it as proof that the Demon Lord has been vanquished. That should keep both of our children safe."

She closes my hand and pushes it back towards my chest. I wanted her to reconsider, but our time has run out. From the direction we had arrived from, three sets of feet are running towards us.

"Rado! Where are you!"

"Answer us!"

I see a body of metal followed by a mass of purple. Pulling up at the rear is a young man with his flames completely missing. My heart clears completely after seeing all three of their faces.

"I guess you had best get going."

"Indeed."

Ailith helps me lean against one of the nearby trees. With wings spread at the centre of the clearing, she looks back with a smiling profile.

"Until next time, Rado. And thank you for everything."

"Don't mention it. Also, don't forget that drinks are on you!"

"I certainly shall not!"

The short demon disappears into the blue sky with a single leap. I follow her magical trail as my companions surround me with smiles on their tired faces.