A Chant at the Bounds of This World

“Heeey. Wake up, sleepyheads. We have a long day ahead of us,” a voice shouted from across the room. Aria was shrugging Mana and Lacia awake. Brendan was the last to stir as he examined the fire, now just darkened coals.

“Aria, did–”

She shot him a look. “This isn’t the time or place. Later.”

Brendan nodded. He stood up and walked over to the Leyliner. The software update had finished, but the device remained void of activity. “Maybe Licht was asleep too. Feeding your mana into something like that constantly would take its toll on anyone,” he thought. “Should I just let him sleep?” A gleeful grin snuck onto his face. “Nah.”

Brendan shook the Leyliner vigorously. “Time to wake up, Licht. Rise n’ shine!”

The Leyliner flared to life, hovering in front of Brendan’s face. Was it… glaring at him? Without warning, the cube smacked him. Rubbing the rightfully earned welt on his forehead, “What the hell was that for, huh?” he grumbled.

“You shook the hell out of this thing, what else did you expect it to do?” Aria mused as she walked over, examining the device. “You never told me what this thing does. Seems rather hostile towards you.”

“To put it simply,” he frowned, still rubbing his head, “the Leyliner is a two-part system. It allows us to see and speak with each other over long distances by imbuing a small amount of mana into the device itself.” Hesitantly, Brendan picked it up again. “By flipping a switch, it can transform into an earpiece where it’s able to ransmit audio-visual data back to Licht. In this mode,” he flipped the second switch, “it becomes a chip-like magnet that will stick to your skin if you focus your mana on one spot. Audio-only in this mode.”

“Hey, um, Licht isn’t awake, is he?” Aria blurted out. “There’s something we all–”

“Need to discuss?” Brendan interjected. “There’s a few things, it seems. Standing around won’t get us anywhere, though.” He flipped the switch again as the Leyliner transformed back into a cube, floating in front of him. “Licht, are you awake or not?”

“Yea, yea. I’m here,” Licht’s voice came through the floating cube. “We do need to go over some stuff, especially the Reverse World, but there’s something else we need to go over, first.” The Leyliner fell silent before fluttering off towards Mana and Lacia. Aria and Brendan followed.

A wave of blue light washed over the two girls as if the Leyliner were scanning them–like some sort of X-ray. Sequences of numbers and letters flashed across the screen in matrixes of data and illogical summaries. They exchanged confused glances, despite surmising that the Leyliner was likely examining their vitals and mana levels. “I’m not sure if this is creepy or kind of sweet,” Mana mused.

Aria pulled Brendan aside as the girls caught up with each other and the subsequent events since Lacia’s disappearance. “Better than never,” Aria thought. She glanced back before turning her attention to Brendan. “I still want to discuss this more later, but… You did have the same dream I did, right? Do you remember everything… from that night?” She turned away, uncomfortable. “I’m afraid of what I’ve become,” she spoke softly. “I’ve done so many terrible things you don’t even know about and–”

“That doesn’t mean I think of you as some kind of monster, Aria. Whatever that was, some kind of dream, memories, I don’t harbor disappointment or hatred towards you because of what you’ve done.” Brendan reached out for Aria’s hand, but she pulled away.

“There’s something else you need to know, but it’s better if–” She reordered the thought in her head. “It’s better if I show you.”

“Show me–?” A shrill beep from the Leyliner cut him off. “We’ll pick this up later, ok?” He ran over to Mana and Lacia, now giggling.

Displeased about being put on-hold, Aria bit her lip. “That boy. He cares so much about those two even though we’re technically almost-lovers.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “This isn’t the time to be the jealous girl, Aria. There are bigger fish to fry.”

Mana and Lacia’s names etched across a series of holographic screens, vitals on-display like art in a museum. Mana’s numbers suggested good health despite the slow recovery of her mana levels.

Lacia’s numbers told a different story. It was no secret: her encounter with Lucifero had almost completely drained her of life-energy. The bruises on her arms and legs hadn’t fully healed from the constrictive tendrils and her breaths were still somewhat staggered, but externally, she appeared to be on the road to recovery.

“My god,” Aria said, approaching from behind Brendan, “I knew I was cutting it close when I showed up, but, wow.” She shuddered, scrolling through Lacia’s list of near-zero vitals. “It seems that when Lucifero placed that curse mark on you, it significantly hampered your body’s ability to repair itself. Lucifero’s goal was to finish you right then and there.”

Lacia reddened. She knew she was in bad shape and trying to hide the fact would only delay a full recovery. “Aria,” she said through a half-choked voice, “I couldn’t say it earlier, and I still don’t completely trust you, but,” she paused, regaining her composure, “thank you. You saved my life and I know it was ungrateful of me not to say something after you beat Lucifero. I realize now just how taxing it was for both of us.”

Aria tapped the toe of her boot against the ground as she bit her lip again. “Tch. Look, Lacia. I know we aren’t on the best of terms, but let me exp–”

“I’ll think about it,” she blurted out. “Give me time, Aria. Please.”

Crestfallen, she stepped back, now balancing on the backs of her heels. She desperately wanted to explain everything to Lacia. How could she get her to understand? It was abundantly obvious: the icy hold on their relationship wouldn’t be thawing anytime soon. “It was foolish of me to think that we could play-pretend and forget what happened.” She gave a long sigh.

Brendan broke the awkward silence between the two. “We don’t have much time for reunions. Sorry,” he said, turning towards Aria. “Earlier, you said it would be easier to show me something.” He was careful not to share details of their conversation–much less dreams. “I know there’s something more you want to tell all of us. If it brings us any closer to solving the mystery behind Lacia and stopping the manifestation of the Reverse World,” he grabbed her hand before she could pull away, “then let’s see it.”

The feelings of isolation and abandonment Aria had swallowed began to form a pit in her stomach. She understood her feelings towards Brendan, but her relationship with Lacia wasn’t where she wanted it to be. Not yet. “I’ll go ahead and start now,” she said, casting away her melancholic attitude. “It would be best if everyone stood back a little–everyone but Lacia.”

“Me?” she said pointing at herself. “Are you going to–?”

“Remember when we first met? How I told you I knew where you received your side-wound? You could say that time has theoretically stopped in that world.” Aria knelt down, fumbling in her bag as she retrieved the knife she’d stolen back from Lacia on the ship. She dragged the blade across the palm of her hand, now dripping with crimson.

“Aria! What are you–?” An invisible force slammed into Lacia, pushing her back as she shielded herself with her arms. Magical energy filled the air, engulfing the empty corridor like a raging whirlwind.

“Lacia,” Mana shouted above the roar, “What’s going on? What is she talking about, some other world?”

“It– It’s too much to explain right now, but–” A sharp stabbing pain erupted across her abdomen. She bit her lip, bracing herself for the gruesome sight of whatever had lodged itself in her flesh. Deep crimson stains began to seep through her clothes, forming a steady stream down her leg. Surprisingly, she had not been skewered. Still, her body stiffened from the pain and tenderness as Mana called out to her.

“Lacia, don’t move! I’ll–”

“Stay there, Mana,” she said, sputtering trace amounts of blood. “Let me handle this. I know Aria has her reasons and there’s no other way to explain this to you.” Lacia fell to her knees, palms pressed against the ground for support. “Can’t catch a break, can I?” she winced.

Ignoring Lacia’s warning, Mana rushed ahead. Her now-golden locks reminded Lacia of the time she’d given her a makeshift haircut when they were children. She watched as Mana’s caramel strands fell to the floor, turning to gold in the sunlight.

The wind howled with such ferocity Mana’s ears popped. She continued to trudge ahead, one final stride, before reaching Lacia. “Give me your hand,” she shouted, but it was no use. The wind tore any sound other than its own howls to shreds. Her stubbornness was her greatest strength, but also her greatest weakness.

Elongated cuts began to carve themselves into Mana’s arms as she pushed for Lacia’s hand. What kind of friend would she be if she just stood back and watched? She’d been through enough in the last month alone. “Like hell I’m about to lose you again,” she gritted.

Lacia turned her head, addressing the worried look on Mana’s face. “This is something I have to do and I know you’ll understand that,” she shouted over the wind. “I won’t leave you alone.”

“You’re in no shape for any of this! You can’t leave after I just found you again. That’s not fair!”

The wind began to peter out, rich magical energy lingering in the air. “You don’t know the meaning of ‘not fair’, Mana,” Aria said, overhearing the last of their conversation. ”I don’t mean to be rude, just– Please. I’ll explain when we get there.”

She nodded, realizing she’d made another unobservant assumption. “Sorry, Aria, but can you explain what just happened? I think I speak for everyone when I say we’re a little confused. And where is ‘there?’”

“I can’t answer that until Lacia imbues enough of her mana into this.” A small key appeared in her hand, shimmering like a reflection in water. “Her mana is all that’s needed to solidify this key.” She tilted her head back towards Brendan. “If I’m not mistaken, you two also have a golden band you procured, right? We’ll need that as well.”

“How did you–?”

“That band is called a Halifer. There are only two in existence and they’re said to possess the power to open doorways to other worlds. It emits a certain frequency when it comes in contact with one of these doorways.”

“Ok, but I don’t hear anything,” Brendan shrugged. “More importantly, why does it have to be Lacia’s mana?”

“Listen carefully, Brendan,” Mana said. “It’s faint, but you can hear it–almost like it’s… resonating.” She pulled the Halifer from her bag and presented it to Aria. “How does Lacia tie into–”

With a small grunt, Lacia stood up. A small trickle of blood crept its way down her arm as a refreshing aura embellished her. Golden particles shimmered in the air, twirling around. She held her palms out, absorbing the beads of pure magical energy. A cloud of golden mana rushed into Lacia, reinvigorating her body and mind as trace lines ran down her arms and legs.

The rush of rejuvenation reminded her of a time before she was thrust headlong into an interdimensional war. A hollow circle connected by a series of horizontal lines formed a new geometric pattern across her chest, vanishing after a series of bright flashes. She looked to Aria for an explanation who was just as shocked as she was.

“Lacia… Do you know what that power is? Have you any idea what just happened?”

“Umm, well… What’s the correct answer?”

She ignored Lacia’s question, still shell-shocked. “I can’t believe you’re able to wield something like that. Lacia, you have a very special gift and now I understand why Lucifero wanted it so badly.”

Mana and Brendan exchanged glances with Lacia and Aria, holding out for an explanation. “Lacia, repeat after me: Illumia, kaihike.” Aria’s eye twitched in reaction to a sudden growing pressure. “We’ve had it wrong this whole time, Lacia, but time is running out.”

Wary of Aria’s bewildered reaction and sudden conclusion, Lacia slowly formed the words on her tongue. She felt better than she had in weeks, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t anxious. “Illumia, kaihi…ke.”

Her vision momentarily pulsed as the trace lines reappeared. The circle in the center of her chest began to turn like the hands of a clock, light pouring from the center. She shielded her eyes from the blinding luster. As her eyes gradually adjusted, a small figure fluttered towards her, bathed in brilliant golden light. “Are you some kind of fairy? No, that’s not right.” A minute passed before she attempted another guess. “You’re a spirit, aren’t you? Can… you speak?”

“Not spirit either. Good guess,” a small voice reverberated in her mind.

“Did you just– Telepathy?”

“Much danger soon.”

Wild confusion struck Lacia like a bolt of lightning. “What do I call you? What are you?”

“I am Hika. Hika is an Aurei.”

“An Aurei? This is the first I’ve ever heard of you, but why are you here?”

“This is Hika’s home. Hika has always been with Lacia, Lacia just not know it,” the Aurei giggled. “We must go. Danger coming for Lacia and Lacia’s friends.”

A frown spread across her face. “Hika, was it? I have so many questions. How–”

“Questions later. Hold out hand for Hika so Hika can finish.”

Lacia did as instructed as she extended her arm for the tiny Aurei. Hika swooped onto her hand and began to trace dancing letters of light into her palm. “Hika, what are those letters?”

Something inside of Lacia stirred. A mixture of elation and confidence procured a newfound sense of humanity within her. It was both reassuring and calming. Hika continued tracing letters. Lacia took a slow breath. Coming to terms with something like the Aurei would challenge everything she believed in. The concept of Gods and mythology wasn’t something she was keen on, but the encounter with Lucifero forced her to begin rethinking her approach. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll find out the tooth fairy is real too,” she muttered.

A sudden wave of ominous dread sent chills through Lacia’s body. Something incredibly evil had wormed its way into the upper levels of the Reverse World and was forcing its way into hers. Was it another devil coming to finish what Lucifero had started? She turned her attention to Hika who, with one final swoop, completed its letter tracing.

“We must go. Hika will take you back now. Learn to use Hika’s power,” the Aurei encouraged.

“Wait– How do I use this power, Hika?”

“Bye bye Lacia. Hika will see you soon.”

“Wait!”

The room swirled into a blur of gold. She pictured the corridor where everyone stood, waiting. Moments later, she found herself back in Aria’s embrace. Her legs shook with anxiety and terror. Fear was something she’d grown used to, but this was more than fear. The apprehension filled every fiber of her being.

A powerful tremor shook the corridor. The terrifying malevolence made her nauseous. Booming laughter filled her mind as if it were taunting her. She fortified her mental pathways, but it wouldn’t take much to break her. Her limited understanding of Hika’s power didn’t help, either. “Dammit, Hika. Don’t you come with an instruction manual?” Devil or not, something was after her, but this time was different. Ready or not, the fight had come to her and she wasn’t going down without one. The time had come for her to protect those she cherished. “I’m tired of feeling useless.”

“It’s here,” Lacia and Aria spoke in unison.

Lacia regained her composure, quickly assessing just how outmatched they were. Someone would have to perform a miracle. While she felt betterand more confident, her combat abilities were still rusty. Mana had yet to fully replenish her magic reserves and Brendan’s combat abilities remained a mystery.

Aria offered her a helping hand. “Look, I can tell you’re worried, but I can also sense you want revenge, though you want to protect your friends, too.” Licht would only be a liability if the Leyliner remained unconcealed. She watched as Lacia’s eyes darted around the corridor. “Let’s do this, then. Find a bag to hide in, Licht, and don’t come out until one of us gives the all-clear. I’ll conceal your presence for as long as I can,” Aria stated. “This is the best I can do to ease your worries, Lacia. All we can do is prepare.”

“She’s right, Lacia,” Licht said softly. “Now, before I make my hideaway…” He connected the thoughts of the remaining four via the Leyliner. “This will allow you to communicate between each other easier, especially in case someone is separated.”

“Software update?” Brendan asked, brushing the dirt off his clothes.

“Yep! Telepathy is pretty handy, you know?”

A deep, disembodied voice charged the air with a sickening aura.“You made a fool of my third seat, but that is no matter. Lacia Amana, I will take your power for myself and end this silly game you continue to play. And you, Aria Miruna, I will take everything you ever cared about and leave you to die in solitude. Your ancestors cannot help you like they did last time.”

“My ancestors?” She shook her head. “You’re mistaken. That was all me, you nasty devil.” Aria grabbed Lacia’s hands. “Hurry and imbue your mana into the key! Mana, take the Halifer and run your hands around the circumference. Our odds of winning this fight without it are slim to none, but we need time and–”

“Allow me, then,” Brendan said. Aria blushed at the confidence and power in his voice. “This won’t buy us much time so get started, you two!”

A red ball of flame erupted from Brendan’s palms as he charged the orb into the air. Nets of flames raced across the ground as the orb dipped into the concrete floor. He clasped his hands together, ground now awash in a flood of red light. “A simple reinforcement spell like this won’t hold that thing back very long. I’ve only slowed its ascent.”

Mana moved her hands around the

circumference of the Halifer. A high-pitched whistling sound bounced off the concrete walls, almost like it was crying. “You and me both, buddy.”

“Bring the Halifer over here, now. When this key and a Halifer meet, they become like lock and key,” Aria explained.

She inserted the key into the Halifer with an audible thunk, clicking as the key dissipated into a mist of color. Rings of script etched themselves around the body of the band as they began to weave into a glowing blur of illegibility and shimmer.

Mana shot a fleeting glance towards Brendan. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, defining the toll of a fight against such a powerful opponent. Time was a luxury they simply didn’t have and it had become inherently obvious. Bursts of shadows erased the red glow cast from Brendan’s spell. The ground heaved beneath them, dark mist now pouring through the cracks like a fog of poison.

“Just a little longer,” Aria pleaded. “We just need another minute!”

Mana realized Aria and Lacia’s hands were tied and Brendan had exhausted himself to buy time. “Just another minute,” she thought.

He’d fallen to one knee, fingers slipping from their clasped positions as his spell began to weaken. Mana knew every second counted. If the spell failed now, there would be nothing left between them and evil incarnate. She collected a plume of what mana she could afford and aimed it at Brendan.

“Little bit more… Just hang on, Brendan.” A steady beam of light shot from the Halifer as it bisected the wall in front of Aria and Lacia. “Now open,” Aria shouted. Loud creaking erupted from a pair of enormous newly-formed doors, decorated with ornate marble carvings.

“Aria, we’re out of time,” Lacia observed. “Mana is exhausting herself trying to help keep Brendan’s spell up. We won’t last like this.” She stared into Aria’s eyes.

“Lacia,” she cautioned, “Don’t you dare!”

“I’m sorry. I really wish there was a better way.” She relinquished her control of the Halifer to Aria. “This is for your own good, now stand back and watch.” Lacia unraveled a golden thread Hika must’ve tied to her finger. She tucked her platinum locks behind her ears. The thread was small and inconspicuous as she masterfully weaved it through the air like a paintbrush on canvas. A star-shaped outline blazed gold before her as she hid its presence with a concealment spell.

“What are you doing?!” Mana screamed.

Lacia smiled. “What I should have done a long time ago. I’ve been so conflicted, so confused, up until now. I’ve been questioning who I am and what I have to do with all of this.” She spread her feet out, drawing a similar star-shaped pattern on the ground beneath her. “Thanks to all of you, especially you Aria, I have a better grasp of who I am and what it is I have to do.” It was sudden, she realized that. Mana had taken to her retelling better than expected, but there was still an important piece to the puzzle that needed explanation–Hika.

Omnis’ riddle echoed through Mana’s mind. ‘Find what you cherish most…’ The Halifer was only part of the puzzle and Omnis hadn’t elaborated on the rest. “Lacia, your death doesn’t have to be a catalyst– It doesn’t have to be the catalyst.” Brendan grabbed Mana’s hands, instilling a small sense of security.

“This is all so crazy. I get that and I know you’re scared of losing me again.” Lacia gave Mana and Brendan a teary look. “I’m crying because I’m happy, but I just don’t have all the answers yet. I love you guys, truly.”

“Lacia. Think about what you’re fixing to do. If that spell fails, that’s it–no second chances,” Brendan warned. “I know you’re strong, in more ways than one, but no one has ever been able to pull that spell off. This is suicide.” He gave her a scrutinizing glare.

Before she could attempt to explain herself, an enormous shadow towered over her as it congealed into a man. Greasy black hair rested against his pale skin. Lacia stood firm. Shadowy tendrils spread out from where the man stood, snaking around as they pursued any source of life, like hungry wolves. She dared not take her eyes off the man before her, but it was too risky to go all out–Aria hadn’t completely opened the doorway yet.

“Mana, Brendan, you have to protect Aria.” Lacia moved her hands over her mouth. She couldn’t let the plan slip. “That doorway will take you to a parallel dimension. You’ll be safe,” she said telepathically. “I can only buy a little bit more time. Hurry!”

The sound of clapping hands snapped Lacia’s attention back to the in-human thing before her. She was staring down the one thing she feared most. “How very noble of you. Lucifero did tell me you had quite the heart,” it teased, “but this is the beginning of the end. This won’t go the same way your encounter with my third seat went.” The disembodiment of its voice sent chills through Lacia’s body. “Before I kill you and steal that wonderful gift of yours, I should introduce my–”

“I know who you are… Ahzef, first seat of the Reverse World. How nice of you to visit me outside of my dreams. I’ll gladly take–” An unseen tendril wrapped itself around Lacia’s neck, cutting her off.

“Be quiet you insolent human. You’re talking to King Ahzef of the Reverse World. Know your place,” the devil seethed.

Mana broke free of Brendan’s grasp as she lunged into reckless abandon to save Lacia. “Let her go, Ahzef! I won’t let you lay another hand on her!” A phosphorous ball of magic began to form in the palms of her hands.

“You’re a new face, but your mana is pitifully weak.” Ahzef flung a large tendril at Mana, attempting to swat her like a fly. She watched as time slowed to a crawl. Ahzef’s movements were sluggish and predictable.

“Do not be foolish, child. You are not capable of inflicting harm to Ahzef.” Omnis’s voice resonated in her head. A white flash bleached the corridor for a fraction of a second. She swore she caught a momentary glimpse of Omnis.

“Brendan, I’m finished! Get her back before she gets herself killed,” Aria shouted.

“Already on it.” A wall of light banished a series of shadowy tendrils as Brendan pulled Mana back in.

“What–”

“I should be asking you that!” Brendan scolded. “What was that wall of light just then?”

“I–”

“Come to pay me a visit, have you, dear Goddess?” Ahzef beamed. “Will you watch as I kill off these pathetic humans? Will you watch as I steal this world out from under you?”

The creaking grew louder as the doors fully opened, revealing an open field dotted by enormous trees. “Take Mana and go, now. I have to keep the doors open for Lacia,” she shouted at Brendan.

“I don’t think so,” Ahzef said playfully. An enormous pressure rose from the devil, forcing the doors to begin closing. “None of you will be leaving. Especially not this one.” Lacia dangled before the devil, toes barely touching the ground. She drug her toes as she hung from one of Ahzef’s tendrils.

“Don’t underestimate her,” Aria confided to Mana. “We are right behind you, now go!” It was all she could do to keep the doors from completely closing.

Brendan grabbed Mana and bolted for the doors. He looked back for a brief moment. “Turn that devil to ash, Lacia!”

“They’re at the doors. Good,” she thought. Striking the ground with the tips of her toes once more, she finished the star diagram she had been chipping away at. She grabbed Ahzef’s tendril wrapped around her neck. “I have no intention of dying here today,” she choked. “You’re mine, Ahzef. Hika, please help us out!”

“Go!” Aria demanded as she pushed Brendan and Mana through the doors. “She can’t fight at full power worrying about you! You’ll be safe, I swear on my life. We’ll come find you when all is said and done.”

“Can’t forget about me,” Licht said as the Leyliner flew through the opening, bag in tow. The stage was set.

“I’ll have to get to know you too, Licht. Now then…” She turned towards Ahzef as she seethed with rage. “We’re ready to lay down our lives, Ahzef. That is why you will be the one who isn’t leaving.” The devil raised an in-human eyebrow. “The curtain rises on our final act.”

“Glad to finally team up with you, Aria. I guess this is what they call girl power?” Lacia joked as she seared the tendril off her neck. Ahzef flinched. The thread she’d been using earlier morphed into a golden ball then into a human-like form.

“Hika, here! Before we destroy this devil, I should explain I can also take the form of a human girl. I am much more capable like this,” she explained. “I use my smaller form outside of combat, but it’s mental capacity is sooo much lower.” Hika stretched her neck as she limbered up.

“It’s good to know we have an extra helping-hand, but you could’ve told me about this earlier.” Lacia took note of the shocked expression on Aria’s face. “Um, long story short, Hika is an–”

“I’m aware. I just can’t believe the Aurei can take human form.”

“Imagine how I felt when I discovered I had another being living inside of me,” she laughed. “Anyways, do you two know how to cast Hihouyo?”

Aria’s eyes grew to the size of marbles. “I knew that’s what you were doing, but if you’re insinuating all three of us use it...”

“I’ll assist however I can,” Hika reassured, “but I must warn you–Hihouyo is incredibly dangerous.”

“I understand that, but everything everyone has worked towards for my sake can’t end here.” Lacia released the concealment spell from earlier as the diagram burst with vibrant golden light. “I was really only intending to do this myself, but I guess these are your true colors, huh, Aria? Something told me, way back on the ship, not to trust you. Now, I understand that I was being toyed with.”

“If you’re asking me to use Hihouyo with you,” Aria curtsied, “then I will gladly fight alongside you, bestie.”

“Maybe hold off on the ‘bestie’ for now,” Lacia laughed.

“You’re foolish enough to use such a reckless move against me, but you’re quite bright. Your mind is as fragile as ice, Lacia Amana. It was terribly easy to run around inside your head,” Ahzef snickered. “It’s too bad you couldn’t be just a little dumber.”

“Sorry to disappoint, but if you spent enough time inside my head, you’d realize just how precarious a situation this is for you,” Lacia bluffed.

“Is that so? Should I tell you your spell won’t work? Don’t be the hero, Lacia, or you might just end up the one who destroys everything she’s worked so hard to protect,” Ahzef’s laughter bounced off the walls, poisoning the air. Fresh shadows plunged the corridor into pitch darkness as they swiped at the girls.

Golden light fought back the inky blackness as Hika unleashed a wave of searing luster purges. Honey-blonde hair whisked in the fierce gale as the battle between dark and light raged on. Ahzef’s shadows were quickly burnt away.

“Surprised, Lacia? I am capable of quite a bit more, but we can save introductions for later, like I said.” Hika turned to face Ahzef. “Oh, hello again, Ahzef. How long has it been now? Three hundred years or so? Have you been well?”

The devil chuckled. “You damn Aurei always show up when it’s least convenient. Damn you all. Nevermind the minor hiccup. I’ll wipe you from existence this time, Hika. Mark my words,” Azof sneered through devilish teeth.

Overwhelming surprise crossed Hika’s face. “Lacia, are you almost ready? Ahzef is much weaker than I had expected.” Lacia and Aria knew she was playing along with her earlier bluff. “Hihouyo is your only option and last-resort. Ahzef hasn’t even gotten started.” She engulfed Lacia and Aria in a bubble of fluorescence before taking the brunt of a powerful blast of antimatter.

“How are things coming, Aria?” Lacia asked, nervously. A sludge wave hissed at the barrier as Hika doubled over in pain.

“Buy me a little more time so I can complete my diagrams as well,” Aria said. “Let me tend to Hika, too. Stall Ahzef.”

Lacia nodded as she cupped her hands around her mouth. “Tell me, Ahzef, what is it that the Reverse World is after? What are you trying to gain from all of this?” Several blasts of antimatter tore through the shadows like bullets as they slammed against the bubble. The shockwaves alone were enough to break bones.

“What do I have to gain from all of this?” Ahzef’s laughter was booming. “By destroying your world and reforming it to suit my needs, not even your Goddess will be able to stop me. I will devour every last world and absorb their dimensional energy.”

Lacia glanced back at Aria and Hika. Aria was close to finishing her final diagram. Hika had regained her strength thanks to Aria’s transfer of mana. “But we can’t take another attack like that. We won’t have enough mana for offense or defense,” she realized. Time was speeding away like a bullet train, but she needed to keep Ahzef busy for a little while longer. “What do you mean by ‘Goddess’, Ahzef? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Perhaps you don’t know. It doesn’t matter either way. Once I’m done stealing your life energy, your gift will be mine. Before I kill you completely, though, I think it would be fun to make you watch your friend suffer as I squeeze her organs into bloody pulps.”

“Lacia,” Hika whispered in her ear, “Ahzef is very prideful. Boast about how strong he is.” She nodded. “Once Aria is ready, I’ll give the final instructions on how to use Hihouyo.”

“Maybe we can do that later,” Lacia shouted towards Ahzef, “but what I really want to know is how you became so strong. I know you’re a devil, but that human form you have is actually really attractive.” She made a gagging motion as soon as the words left her lips. “Thank god for these shadows,” she thought.

“I’m ready to go whenever you are, Lacia,” Aria’s voice echoed in her mind. “This might kill us, but if it doesn’t, Ahzef will. So,” she placed a hand on Lacia’s shoulder, “I want you to know how selfish I am for forgetting about the friendship we had. I’m sorry about how I treated you. I cast away a part of myself after the accident.” Ahzef droned on about his power and admirability in the background. “That confused look on your face tells me we still have a lot of catching up to do. If we make it out of this alive, we’ll have that heart-to-heart.”

“Sounds good, Aria. I can’t wait.”

The doors behind them flickered. This was their last shot. If they failed here, Ahzef would devour everything. A world of chaos and despair would prevail. “Time always seems to work against us, doesn’t it?” Lacia noted. “We’re ready, Hika.”

“Then place your hands on the emblems you drew and channel all of your mana into them. I will provide you with the resources you need, so don’t hold back.” Lacia and Aria locked eyes before giving each other a stinging high five. The emblems combined to form a constellation of makeshift stars as the diagrams beneath their feet glowed with a luminescent brilliance.

“Say it with me, Hika started: I offer my life to the ones I love and to the things I have vowed to protect. I call upon the great who have perished to grant me their power. I offer my life if I may be deemed a failure in my mission to incapacitate the evil before me. Though I may fail, I understand that I have chosen this path and I will carry out my duty until the end.”

They repeated the chant in unison as cracks continued to weaken their protective bubble. “Don’t underestimate those whose will is stronger than yours, Ahzef,” Lacia challenged as she stared into the gaping darkness before her. Another volley of condensed antimatter burst just outside the bubble. She winced in pain. The shockwaves had likely broken a rib or two.

Hika grabbed Lacia and Aria’s hands. “It was a pleasure, getting to meet both of you. This is as far as I can go. The rest is up to you now,” Hika said, beaming with joy. “You already know the rest of the spell. Recite it when you are ready. Lacia,” she paused, “no matter where you are, I am always here. I have faith in you. Aria, you will come to terms with your own power in due time. Now, go forth and lend your hearts to the ones you love.” Hika returned to Lacia. Though she couldn’t see her, she knew she was there, watching.

“Ready, Aria?”

“Mm. Let’s do this.”

“I would like to see you try! Your life energy will make for a lovely meal tonight,” Ahzef threatened as the devil drowned everything in waves of antimatter sludge, shattering Lacia and Aria’s protective bubble. “This world shall be mine! There’s nothing left to stand in my way. I think I’ll devour the one your friends escaped to for d–”

“Set my heart ablaze with the magnitude of a thousand suns. Strike, my preeminence. Hi…hou…yo!”

A gleaming incandescence burned the sea of shadows into black stains along the walls and floor. Effulgence bathed the corridor in a blaze of searing heat and light, effortlessly beating Ahzef’s shadows back. Bellows of agony and curses were shredded in the blistering flare, oxygen providing ample fuel for the fire. The corridor became a furnace as temperatures soared to highs only found on the surface of a star. Molten cement rained down from the ceiling. Walls melted down into gooey puddles of red and orange. The Hihouyo rocked cities thousands of miles away, creating a plume of fire as tall as a mountain.

What was once an icy hellscape returned to its liquid state. The smell of super-heated salt lingered in the air as night turned to day. The fireball created by the Hihouyo equaled the power of an artificial sun.

The doors Aria had struggled to keep open remained unaffected, standing tall amidst the chaos they now paid tribute to. She had managed to keep them open, but the heartwarming reunions were over. Water began to rush over the burn that now scarred the earth, prepared to hide what would only be labeled as “indescribable”. Ahzef had either been eviscerated or had fled, but the commotion of celebration was absent in its wake; Lacia and Aria nowhere to be found in a world mired by uncertainty and volatility.