In a ruined house, two boys were staring at each other. Only the moon lit the area, so it took a moment to Kira to recognize the person in front of him. Still in a fighting stance, dagger in hand, Kira broke the uneasy silence.

“Takeshi? What are you doing here?” He asked his friend.

The young priest observed him for several seconds, fear in his eyes. Due to the sudden appearance, he seemed confused and his breathing was erratic. Eventually, he answered with a low voice. “I was getting some water from the well for my dad. I was with another priest but he is…”

“I see… Are you alright?” Kira continued, after lowering his weapon.

Takeshi visibly relaxed but he still looked quite shaken. “Yeah…”

Kira slowly came beside the other boy and observed his surroundings. He gave a smile to his friend and, still crouched, he glanced over the broken wall, careful not to draw any unwanted attention. From their vantage point, he could see the streets around them clearly. In the ruined area, the number of monsters had clearly increased. Dozens of them had been attracted by the battle taking place on the plains, just outside the town. Yet, even more roamed in the town and were actively looking for preys.

Kira was thinking furiously. ‘Should we stay here and wait for help?’ He sat down and examined Takeshi. The boy was looking at him with hopeful eyes. ‘But what if they just leave? If the reports are correct, there are hundreds of those here. Against what? Thirty soldiers or so in each camp? Can they really hold them back?’ Then, Kira remembered his sister and the maid. They had defeated those monsters with surprising ease. An unexpected thought came to him and he felt uneasiness in his chest. ‘Did they leave me?’

Puzzled, he was staring at the starlit night when he heard a piercing shriek nearby.

“We have to get out of here. Follow me.” Kira declared to his companion, now fully aware.

“What if we get caught?” Takeshi answered while he looked for the source of the sound.

“We’ll get caught if we stay here too long.” The black-haired boy replied as he stood. “Let’s go.”

After Kira had climbed over the wall, he hid behind a pile of rubble. The youth glanced behind him and grinned. His friend was a few steps away and joined him soon after. In the next street, two monsters were barking at each other under the light of a torch.

‘Are they having a quarrel?’ Kira pondered, intrigued. ‘But unless we make a huge detour, we have no choice but to cross this road.’

Kira picked up a pebble and considered it. ‘Can I make that throw? That’s a bit cliché but would it work? Well… Here goes nothing!’

The boy hurled the rock toward a mound of debris, several meters away. Hearing the sound, the creatures raised their heads at once and rushed at the pile, fury in their eyes. Without waiting any longer, he pulled Takeshi’s sleeve and ran across the street. The two boys found themselves in dark alley and were welcomed by the corpse of a villager, who stared at them with empty eyes.

“She isn’t blue, it’s… fine.” Kira declared, uncertain, before he stepped over the unfortunate woman.

“I knew it was a bad idea. This is crazy.” The bald boy muttered before he leaned against a wall, breathless.

“Stop whining. Look, we’re getting closer.” Kira announced as he pointed to the camp.

Hopeful, the young priest looked at him. “Do you think we’ll make it?”

“Of course! And there aren’t many clouds in this part of the town, it should be easier.”

As the two of them continued their road, they noticed a loud commotion. Nearby, a lone monster was fighting against several of its peers. Though it seemed to be stronger than them, it was steadily losing ground before the sheer number of opponents. Grateful for the fortunate diversion, Kira did not hesitate and dashed to the building in front of him, Takeshi on his trail. While he ran, he saw a small silhouette kneeling behind the monster.

‘What’s this?’ He said to himself, doubful.

“What are you doing?!” Takeshi asked with a shocked expression. He was already at the other side of the path.

“There is something I need to check. Stay here.” Kira said before he moved away stealthily. From behind a farm cart, he observed the scene.

‘My eyes didn’t fail me. There’s a little girl there! How can it be! Is that monster protecting her?!’ He thought while he watched the battle.

The rogue creature howled in fury as he backhanded one of his foes, causing it to crash on the ground several meters away.

‘Damn… What should I…? I can’t, it’s too dangerous. Enough hero crap. The last time didn’t work out so well.’ Kira shook his head.

As he was about to leave, the girl noticed him. Her amber eyes silently pleaded for help and he could see the trail of tears on her dirty cheeks.

‘Damn. No!’ The boy gritted his teeth.

The boy crossed the road and walked along the wall. Wary, he advanced at careful pace. When the boy was a few meters away from the fight, he concealed himself inside a building. The monsters were still fighting with savage fury. However the battle would soon end as the defending creature bled heavily from multiple wounds. Kira gestured to the girl.

“Come!” Kira said as loudly as his courage allowed him too.

The girl looked at him with round eyes and shook her head. Next to them, the monsters were still trading blows with utmost savagery.

“Come quickly or I’m leaving!” He added with urgency.

Fear appeared in the girl’s eyes and she started to crawl toward him. After a moment, she joined him in the dwelling. When Kira put a hand on her shoulder, he could feel her trembling. He knelt beside her and looked in her bright amber eyes.

“We’re getting away.” He declared with a soft voice.

The girl threw herself in his small arms and she wept. She was the same height as him and her boyish brown clothes were torn in several places.

‘I was never good at this. Damn.’ Kira thought as he stroked her black hair.

Suddenly, a howl resonated on the walls and Kira felt her gasp. The boy gently pushed his new companion.

“We have to go now.” He said with a clear voice.

The girl nodded and the two of them escaped by the back of the building. After a while, they joined with the bald boy who had been waiting in an alley. When he saw his friend, the young priest had almost jumped in relief.

“Are you crazy?!” Takeshi asked after he came to meet them.

“I think I am.” Kira answered honestly. “What’s your name?” He inquired.

“Setsuna.” She answered in a low voice.

“I’m Kira and this is Takeshi. We’re going to the camp.” He added.

Setsuna rubbed her eyes and nodded. She smiled.

**********

The three of them threaded lightly through the rest of the ruined town. No more human cries could be heard within the town and silence replaced the earlier tumult. They felt a lot of movement coming from the heart of the town and the fire burned brightly. After a while, they were at the edge of the village.

They could not see much of the fighting in the plains due to the many clouds that hindered their field of vision. The miasma also seemed to float toward the town and approached them dangerously. Crouched between two buildings, the children were trying to find the best place for their escape. Kira, who was in the lead, had no idea how to leave the town without attracting trouble.

‘It’s too dangerous to just run across that.’ The boy thought while looking at the numerous dead bodies on the grass.

“There you are.” A feminine voice said from their rear.

Alarmed, Kira swiftly turned around and raised his knife. His two companions were also surprised by the sudden appearance and looked at the form with fearful eyes. Ren was just behind them, her body stooped low. She looked unscathed, her black and purple kimono was stainless.

“You run too fast little rabbit so I had trouble finding you.” The woman said before she patted her brother’s head. “And drop that knife, you could hurt yourself.”

The boy simply stared at the woman, motionless. His heart was pounding fast and his thoughts were fuzzy. Then Ren smirked and took him in a warm embrace.

“Well done staying alive.” She whispered in his ear.

“Thank you.” Kira responded weakly before he handed her the blade. “You startled me, Ren.”

“I sure did. Are you gathering an army?” His sister asked as she observed the two children. Setsuna stared at the woman with hope and her eyes moistened.

“I found them on the way here.” He answered.

“I see. Good. It should be easy from here on. There is enough room for you to run outside the town. I will take care of those things. Just be careful of the clouds.” She stated before standing up. “Now go!”

Kira nodded and soon after, the three children were dashing toward the camp on top of the starlit hill. The sandy ground of the road was even so their course was unhindered. Just outside the town, a creature had noticed them. In the blink of an eye, Ren was beside it and a single sweep of her black fan, she beheaded the monster before it could even react. Kira was amazed at the display of speed.

“Do not stop!” The lady yelled.

On both sides of the road, the tall grass made Kira wonder if an abomination could be lurking within its shadow. His fears were answered when he noticed the bright flash nearby along with the crackling of his sister’s lightning. A cloud immediately formed itself, black streams fluttering in the wind. Several corpses laid on their path, mangled in several ways.

“This is crazy!” Takeshi shouted when he witnessed the formation of the dark mist.

“Yeah I know. No need to tell me!” Kira replied.

Behind them, the girl simply ran and tears were pouring on her cheeks. With a surge of adrenaline, the three of them simply ran forward without caring for their surroundings like Ren had requested. Eventually, they reached the camp. Soldiers, who wore both emblems, formed a line of defense all around the white tents. They greeted the children with loud praises as well as laughter when they passed them. A few moments later, Ren came out of the grass and the warriors immediately bowed when they saw the lady.

When the group of four stopped in the middle of the camp, many people were looking at them with expectation.

“It went rather well.” The woman said with a hand on her hip.

The three children let themselves fall inside the camp and they panted heavily. Kira felt lightheaded and stars were dancing before his eyes. The boy felt pain in his stomach as he lay on the ground.

‘I’m not in good shape, that’s for sure. Tomorrow will be hell.’ He thought while holding his side.

After a while, Kira sat and he looked around him. The camp was crowded. Dozens of villagers were able to escape the town and they were resting next to them. The townsfolk were in a bad shape but his appearance was not much different. Some of the denizens were gathered around a huge jar and were filling cups with water. Several torches had been planted in the vicinity of the bivouac and on every side, soldiers were in high alert, ready for combat.

“We made it!” Takeshi shouted in good spirits.

“Of course, I told you we would!” Kira declared before he stood up.

While the two boys laughed, the little girl looked at them with a faint smile.

“We are going to see Mother. She is worried.” Ren declared “Naizen is also there.” She added for her brother’s friend.

The bald boy’s eyes brightened and he quickly got on his feet.

“Do you have family?” Kira asked the young girl.

Setsuna stared blankly at the ground, clutching her clothes.

“Well, you are coming with us for now.” Ren said before heading toward the meeting place.

**********

As soon as Kira entered the purple tent, he was welcomed by a tight hug. The boy had expected the event but it still made him chuckle.

“I am so glad you are here.” Kaguya said as she took her head in her hands. Then, she noticed his bandaged arm.

“It is but a scratch.” The child told her while he put his hand on the dressing.

“There are no little wounds for you.” She said before glancing at Shizuru, who was kneeling in a corner of the tent.

“Please come, Young Master.” The maid asked after she came to them. Kira followed her, accompanied by Takeshi and Setsuna.

In the tents, three men and Ren stood in a straight line. His mother was slowly pacing around the place. The interior was lit by a handful of lanterns and their shadows danced on the colored canvas. The bald boy had wanted to greet his father but the stern appearance of the two men surrounding the priest had stopped him. The young girl simply sat beside them, without muttering a single world.

As Shizuru was carefully removing the wrapping on his arm, Kira gritted his teeth and endured the pain caused by the dry blood. The woman opened a small wooden box with exquisite carvings and took out some vials and pots. She then proceeded with cleaning and treating his wound. Meanwhile, the boy listened to the conversation of the adults next to him.

“We just withstood the first wave. If they really are the sick villagers, there should still be hundreds inside the town.” Naizen stated.

“It has not been an hour and we have sustained many casualties. Such phenomenon was impossible to foretell.” Captain Ogata, of the Imperial Army, remarked on the situation.

“We cannot allow them to leave this place. We cannot allow this to spread. It would be disastrous.” Kaguya declared.

“We have only fifty available soldiers who would be able to fight them.” Captain Iwamato declared. The officer was standing in martial manner, back straight, hands joined behind him.

“Do you think you could handle the clouds with the other priests, Naizen?” The lady asked after a moment.

“If they are not too concentrated, it should be possible to hold them for a while. Not too long.” The priest replied with his arms crossed.

“My men reported that some are clearly stronger than the others, we have to be careful.” The huge officer added.

“I will take down as many as I can. However I won’t be able to fight for very long. Then, it will be up to you.” Kaguya stated after a sigh.

“What do you mean, Lady Kaguya?” Ogata asked while he frowned.

“Exactly what Mother said. You do not need to know more.” Ren answered with a cold glare.

“Then, please prepare for the battle to come. You are dismissed.” Kaguya

The three men bowed and left, Takeshi on their trail. From inside, they could hear the yells of soldiers outside as well as the clatter of blades and armor. Eventually, Ren broke the silence inside the tent.

“Mother, are you sure?” She asked with a doubtful expression.

“Shizuru, hand me my katana please.” Kaguya ordered, ignoring her daughter’s question. The maid complied and she undone the red wrapping containing the blade. The varnished black scabbard was covered with golden mountains and flowers. She delivered the weapon to her mistress. Kaguya picked it up and unsheathed of few inches of the blade. The blue sheen reflected the light of the lanterns as well as the wistful eyes of its owner.

“Ren… You always think of the Tsuchiya. Sometimes however, it is not only about politics and survival.” Kaguya declared before she stood, blade in hand. “Do not do anything rash.” She added with a smile. Then, she left the tent.

Seated on a carpet, Kira clearly saw his sister’s displeased look as she stared at the exit. The maid had finished to treat his injuries and was now taking care of Setsuna.

“Shizuru, we will wait for Mother to come back. She is our priority.” Ren declared, resolute. “How will I explain the matter to Aunt? How should I handle this?” She added after a long sigh.

“I understand. I will prepare soulsilver tea.” The servant answered while she cleaned one of Setsuna’s wounds. Shizuru also seemed troubled by the turn of events. The young girl was watching the scene with anxiety and indecision.

“Good. You two are also coming. You will be safer with us.” Ren crossed her arms and held her chin. She then paced around the room, in deep thoughts.

Kira accepted a cup of water from Shizuru and drank avidly. All the tension from the past hour made him forget his thirst. However, the meeting had bewildered him. Rather, her mother decision did not make much sense to him.

‘I didn’t know she could fight, or even handle a sword. She seemed more like a scholar than a fighter. Well… Ren also doesn’t look like a combatant, but with her personality, it fits her more...’

“So Mother will be fighting?”

“Yes. Without Mother, victory is uncertain.” Ren glanced at him before she left.

Perplexed, the boy enjoyed a moment of respite and he was falling asleep when he heard a commotion in the camp. Soldiers were shouting battle orders. The two children and Shizuru went out of the tent and joined Kaguya, who was silently watching the town from the edge of the camp. Once Kira stood next to his mother, he saw the reason for the ruckus. Hundreds of monsters were gathering outside the village. The fire had spread to a huge part of the town, uncontrolled, and the smoke was covering the sky.

The warriors had formed a line of defense around the camp. Behind them, priests were firmly clutching their staves. All their expressions were grim. Yet, Kira could not shake the feeling that they were eager to fight. The two officers examined the gathering.

“We are not equipped for this kind of battle.” Iwamoto said while he joined his hands behind his back.

“We will have to make do with what we have.” The imperial soldier added.

When the beasts roared, the villagers in the middle of the camp expressed their fear and uneasiness. The horde of monsters began to run toward them. They dashed within the meadow at the bottom of the hill. In the darkness, one could only see the tall grass getting flattened by their advance.

“It is time.” Kaguya announced as the monsters were closing in. Then, she faced the two captains. “I will be counting on you.”

The men bowed and met up with their men.

“Mother…” Ren’s voice was almost pleading.

“Do not worry. I will pull back in good time.” Her mother reassured her. After Kaguya unsheathed her sword, she held it in front of her eyes.

“It has been a long time since I last drew you.” The woman closed her eyes and smiled.

A single drop of sweat poured down her chin and Kira could see her jaw tighten. Bolts of lightning danced around her and the boy heard a faint humming. The light around her sword condensed and emitted a sharp screech. In pure reflex, Kira put his hand on his ears. The lady expired and then, in a blinding flash, she was gone. A cloud of dust was hindering his vision, so the boy moved to the right to see what was happened.

By the time it took him to make a few steps, his mother had already closed the distance and was fighting with the group of monsters. She was a ray of light and every time she went through the swarm, the grating intensified. Five times she literally pierced the mass, leaving behind her a trail of blue corpses and black mist.

‘That’s Mother? Even from above, I can barely follow her!’ Kira watched the scene without blinking.

“The Howling Blade” He heard a nearby soldier whisper. In the span of a few seconds, she had killed around eighty of the creatures. Still, the herd did not falter and continued its furious charge.

After the fifth assault, Kaguya swiftly overtook the monsters and came back into the camp. Ren immediately came to meet her and caught her mother as she fell. Breathing with difficulty, she clutched her hand to her chest. When Kira went to the women’ sides, he saw the pain on Kaguya’s face. Her skin was unnaturally white and she let go off her sword. The woman screamed in anguish as she buried her face on her daughter’s chest.

‘This is? No…’ The boy observed his family and he had a sudden realization.

The people around them looked at the scene with astonishment but they had no time to ponder it.

The horde was on them.

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