Chapter 11: (Kiara)

  What was that? What did she just do? Leave Jade and Shogai to die? Kiara’s inner thoughts scolded her instincts, but she didn’t know what her other options were. She wiped the tears from her face as she ran until she saw two figures heading towards Gongadion. Towards the battle site.

  “You two,” she said, slowing down and catching her breath. There were two men. One with red hair and marks around his eyes, and one with blue hair and two daggers on his belt. They reached towards her, ready to support her, when they saw her panic, but they weren’t worried themselves.

  “There’s a monster… up ahead. Turn back now, it’ll kill you!”

  The men looked at each other and nodded. The redhead spoke.

  “Take us there. Now.”

  Kiara didn’t know why she listened to him, but he had such a sense of finality in his voice. She didn’t want to argue with him. She didn’t want to anger him. With effort, she slowed time and grabbed both of them by the arms and dragged them back. As she went, she dreaded what she’d see. It had only been seconds. Would they be dead yet?

  Turns out not. Sekara was taunting Shogai, and Jade’s eyes were barely open. But they were alive. Sekara saw Kiara and the other two.

  “You’re back. I’m surprised. Who are your friends?”

  Kiara stepped back. Red Hair stepped forward.

  “You're Sekara. What rank are you?”

  Kiara didn’t understand the question, but Sekara scoffed.

  “High enough to kill you. Will you run now?”

  “...will you?”

  Before Kiara’s own eyes, Red Hair transformed. He grew to around double his height, and his body changed. He grew wings, fangs, claws and horns. She was looking at a half-breed. A half-dragon.

  Kiara backed away even faster, but Blue Hair tapped her shoulder.

  “Don’t worry. Ryukyu only looks like a monster.”

  Sekara growled, now the smaller one.

  “You’re a Nexean. Why do you people keep getting in my way?!”

  Sekara rushed at Ryukyu, forming a heavy sword with both her hands fused. Kiara wanted to yell at Ryukyu to move, to dodge, anything, but he stood there stoic. With a heave, Sekara slashed across Ryukyu’s open torso, and he staggered to the ground. She laughed.

  “No, Nexean. I won’t ru-”

  Ryukyu got to his feet immediately. His wound had healed over completely. Snarling, Sekara went in for another attack. She swung her blade again, and Ryukyu caught it with one hand. Blood spurted from his palm, but he didn’t flinch, keeping his fist clenched. With his other hand, he grabbed the hilt of Sekara’s sword, where her hands were connected, so she couldn’t run. Ryukyu opened his gaping maw, revealing rows of sharp teeth, and the inside of his mouth glowed orange. Sekara realised what was coming and tried in vain to pull herself free. Ryukyu showed no mercy. A raging inferno left his mouth and completely engulfed Sekara.

  Sekara was screaming. Gut-wrenching screams of pure agony as her body was ignited. Ryukyu didn’t stop. He kept the stream of fire going, and it only grew larger. Blue Hair led Kiara a few steps away as the heat got too intense. Shogai was also backing away. It felt like an eternity before Ryukyu figured he’d done enough, and he stopped the flames.

  Sekara was a completely burnt corpse. Her hair was scorched, and the glow in her chest and eyes was fading. She fell face-first onto the floor and lay motionless. She wasn’t regenerating. Perhaps ignited cells can’t heal?

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  “Is she dead?” Blue Hair asked, and Ryukyu turned the corpse over. There was no light in Sekara’s chest at all anymore, and her eyes had stopped glowing as well, revealing open and empty pupils. Ryukyu grunted, unable to speak in this form.

  “Good. Now let’s deal with the wounded.”

  Ryukyu walked over to Shogai, the ground shaking slightly at each step, but Shogai gestured towards Jade.

  “No. I’m fine. Jade’s in worse shape. Treat her first.”

  Shogai was referring to Blue Hair as he spoke, almost as if he knew him.

  Blue Hair nodded, and Ryukyu headed over to Jade. Her face was almost completely pale, and her wounds were still bleeding. Blue Hair recoiled when he saw her condition.

  “Ryukyu, cauterise the wound, now. She needs a healer immediately, but after this, she should be alive for a few more hours. Don’t make her move. Get her a healer from Gongadion.”

  As he spoke, Ryukyu let a gentle stream of fire over Jade’s injuries. Jade winced, but her ability to feel pain must have been very much diluted. Her body would be numb. After a moment, Blue Hair turned to Shogai.

  “You’re conscious, so this will hurt more.” Blue Hair withdrew a dagger from his belt and gave it to Shogai. “Bite down on this. And brace yourself.”

  Ryukyu was careful with Shogai, but even so, Shogai was clenching the dagger with his teeth as if he wanted to break it. The pain lasted a few seconds, but those must have been very long seconds.

  Kiara had been quietly watching the whole time. Ryukyu turned back into his human form and retrieved the dagger.

  “You’ll live.” He then turned to Kiara.

  “Are you hurt?”

  “N-no. I’m fine…” she stammered back, but she felt terrible for what she’d done. Running away. Abandoning Shogai and Jade. Leaving them for dead. Ryukyu’s knowing eyes followed her, but he didn’t judge her. A glint appeared behind him.

  “Watch ou-!” Kiara was too slow. Sekara was on her knees and threw a sword at Ryukyu. Ryukyu turned, but he was completely off guard. His life flashed before his eyes.

  No… that wasn’t his life. In a flash of blue light, Blue Hair appeared where Ryukyu was standing, holding the dagger that the latter had. Blue Hair caught the sword and watched as Sekara ran away.

  "So they’ve learned to fake their deaths, have they?" he said, as Sekara vanished in the darkness. "That's new."

  He then turned to Shogai and extended a hand.

  "Can you stand?" Shogai nodded, and Blue Hair helped him up.

  "I'm Xero. And I apologise. That's the second time I've let Sekara escape in front of you. You must be frustrated."

  Shogai didn't look annoyed; he was more in awe.

  "It-it's fine. I can't believe you defeated her so easily," Shogai stammered, referring to Ryukyu. Ryukyu turned away.

  "Don't mind him," Xero said, "he's just shy. The two of us were monitoring Gongadion, but we were too late to catch Sekara in the attack. We had eye reports of half-eaten human corpses spanning further and further south, so we’ve been rotating guards here to wait for her. But no one expected her to strike again so soon. Why is Sekara going after you?"

  Shogai explained the situation and that he was luring Sekara to Nexus so that she could be finished off. Xero thought on this.

  "It's dangerous," he admitted, "as a Nexean, I am forbidden to tell you where Nexus is without permission. Especially since we’re so close to Gongadion, you never know who could be listening. But Sekara will continue to chase you. Maybe even with backup. So let me tell you what I can. Firstly…"

  Xero turned to ask Kiara a question. She had been standing in silence, processing what she'd just witnessed. What she'd just heard.

  "Are you with these two? If not, I'd advise you to go home."

  That question was so awfully similar to what Sekara had asked her, and Kiara took a moment to answer. She saw Shogai and Jade's condition, met the gaze of Xero and Ryukyu, and peered in the distance where Sekara had run to. She finally decided…

  "...no. I'm not with them. I don't want to get involved in this. If-if I'd known what you were going through… I'd have stayed away. I'm sorry. But I'm going home."

  Xero nodded, as if expecting that answer, and Kiara turned away.

  "Goodbye, Shogai, Jade. Good luck."

  "Wait."

  Ryukyu was speaking.

  "If you're going back towards Harabel, mind if I tag along?"

  Kiara was surprised, but did not want to say no to Ryukyu. She nodded. Xero also leaned in, wondering what Ryukyu wanted in Harabel.

  "You coming, Xero?"

  "Yeah, you go ahead. Meet me there." Xero gave Ryukyu one of his daggers. Kiara wasn't sure what that was about. Then he told the two of them to head off. She waved at Shogai, hoping for some sign of forgiveness. Relieving her, he waved back.

  "Well, goodbye." Kiara held onto Ryukyu and ran off. Back home. For good.