Give and Take

I use the broadside of the sword to block Evi’s attack.

Unlike the monster from before, the sword does not remain stationary when she rams it. It clatters and shivers, twists in the wind. The force of her swing only narrowly avoids knocking it back into us, almost hurtling its golden edges straight into our otherwise defenseless bodies.

Thankfully she’s knocked back too, now pushed to attack by means of a different angle.

I can’t use the actual cutting edge here.

I can’t hurt her.

How could I?

This isn’t Evi. This isn’t who she is.

Some mindless beast that can’t tell friend from foe.

Clearly something is wrong.

I remember once again that the voice said Evi wouldn’t die. It didn’t say anything about how she would live. It was here for the “horned one.” That’s what it said. Why didn’t they say anything about this?

Oh. They said that Akira and Ayano would likely die.

Was that…?

I try to focus on defense as much as I can.

I thought they were talking about the situation in general, not…

...

It said that Evi wouldn’t die.

It said that Akira and Ayano could live. In an indirect fashion.

And it didn’t say anything about me living or dying.

We’re going to get through this.

We’re all going to live.

The light cast by the blade does make things easier for me to see. Hopefully it’s also helping Akira with getting her magic working. Her medical magic.

However that works.

Maybe?

Please?

Though I don’t have much time to look, it seems like Akira is more nervous than ever and Ayano is still dying.

Ayano’s supposed to have magic too right? Innate magic.

...

This isn’t good.

Evi grabs the sword by its blade, her palms digging deep into its sharpened edges as she pitches it aside. Hurling it off into the night sky.

As she does, the original monster runs in to attack our newly defenseless front.

It’s slower now, significantly slower than it originally was.

There are holes throughout its body.

Missing limbs.

Torn.

It is covered in countless eyes and so many of them have been gouged out.

Red eyes.

Like…

It speeds towards us claws at the ready.

I wince.

Moving the blade back into place would take too much time.

Necessity is the mother of invention. I let it fade in the air and then spawned the sword anew in front of the beast.

Each time it’s batted away I re-summon it rather than move it over.

It’s significantly faster this way, but it feels much more strenuous.

My heart is racing.

Sweat drips down my brow.

My breathing grows heavy.

Clipped.

I use this power much more as a shield than a sword.

Even with the eye beast’s reduced speed it’s nimble enough that I can’t reliably use the actual sharp edge of the blade, especially not with my eyesight when Evi is also in range to be hit. The larger surface area of the flat side, plus its lessened lethality had to be the way to go.

Although really, it seemed hard to imagine anything stopping these two.

Their sheer physical strength and durability seemed nearly impossible to overcome. 

Stop. Don’t lump them together. They’re not a group.

Evi’s our friend.

We just need to get her back.

…

Actually, yeah they aren't a group. The eye beast takes advantage of the openings she makes, but they aren’t working in tandem. It’s just that. Opportunity.

And she attacked it even when they first showed up here together.

In fact, she still attacks it now whenever she gets the chance.

It hasn’t taken any real swipes at her though.

I suppose she is stronger...

To Evi, is this just a free-for-all?

She roars.

And charges once again.

Continuously hammering away at our defenses.

Give it a good few hits from Evi and the sword can actually break. Requiring me to bring out a new one. It’s made from light, after all. Magic, I guess.

Each time it shatters.

I take on a greater sense of exhaustion.

I begin to slow.

My eyes lose focus.

It’s difficult just to stand.

I collapse onto my knees.

“Rin!” It’s Akira.

The sounds begin to muffle slightly, a ringing enters my ears.

I gasp for breath.

“No, no, no, no,” through the haze I can hear her, faintly but it’s there. “Why won’t this work? Why?" She’s been trying this whole time, trying to get this healing to work. 

Maybe it wasn’t even healing? Did I just get her hopes up for nothing?

That’s so…

I take a breath.

That’s so much pressure.

I’m coughing. Choking on air.

My palms meet the dirt. I can’t keep upright anymore.

I continue placing swords.

My vision fading.

“Ri-chan…?”

I can hear Akira’s voice. It’s trembling.

She’s speaking to herself more than she is anyone else.

“Ri-chan has done so much to help me. Yaya-chan’s always done so much to help me. Even you E-chan. You joined my club after I hurt you. After I called you a devil. You’ve been fighting for us and now look what’s happened to you…

I’m sorry I called you Ghost, Ri-chan. I’m sorry you’ve had to do everything since we met up here. I’m sorry that Yaya-chan got hurt and my powers could help but for some reason I can’t.

…You’ve always been there Yaya. You helped me so much. Everyone has. Always. Why can’t I just help you all for once? Why do I always get it wrong? Why do I only take?”

Another sword shatters.

My body hits the ground.

I think I’m dying.

…

…

…

…

I feel a hand on my back.

...

A warmth washes into me.

...

Energizing, comforting.

...

I gasp myself awake.

“Welcome back Ri-chan.”

Her eyes are glowing green.