In the cool night, the soldiers had formed a tight semicircle around the camp. Even before the monsters’ appearance, they had drawn their weapons and glared at the meadow with resolution. With every instant that passed, the growls grew louder and they could sense the horde getting closer.

Suddenly, countless forms emerged from the tall grass outside the camp. Under the dim light of the torches, they seemed more like pale blue demons than humans. They had lost all pretense of their former existence and their eyes were filled with demented fury. Without an ounce of hesitation, the corrupted beings charged toward the line of guards in a savage clatter.

“Hold the line!” The two officers shouted as the creatures approached.

While they got into a fighting stance, the soldiers answered their orders with a war cry. Then the darkness disappeared.

Spears became aflame. Swords radiated. Blades sang.

The men met the monsters with their Wills and the battle began. Since the horde attacked them in a reckless charge, the experienced warriors repealed the first wave with ease. Their infused weapons sliced through the monsters’ bodies in outbursts of energy. Once they dispatched their first foes, the fighters yelled in triumph.

After the first clash, the priest began their work. When they raised their staves, the gentle breeze became a gale and the newly formed clouds backed off. Following this, the main body of the horde arrived and the battle grew fiercer.

Speechless, Kira watched the exchange. He had seen Ren and Shizuru fight before, however the scene before him was something entirely different. From behind the soldiers, the diversity of auras was fascinating to watch. Not only were the manifestations of Wills beautiful, but also the discipline they showed inspired awe. He could feel his hair flutter in the strong wind summoned by the priests. It almost covered the fear that the monsters caused him.

Meanwhile, Ren was holding Kaguya in her arms. The boy could see her red eyes examining the flow of the battle, but he also noticed her glancing several times at the imperial captain, Ogata, with severity.

“Shizuru, you stay back and take care of Mother.” She ordered while she drew two black fans. “I will assist them as much as I can from here. Mother thinned their ranks in a smart manner. The priests should be able to handle the clouds since she actually made layers. It is fortunate they are not intelligent.”

“Yes, I understand.” The servant answered as she came at her side.

The maid took her mistress in her arms before she laid her on the ground, a few meters back.

“Setsuna, the gourd, please.” Shizuru asked while glancing at the young girl.

Until now, she was watching the battle with fearful eyes but upon hearing her name, the young girl started. She complied timidly and stood next to the woman. While Shizuru opened the flask, she observed the battle and then the villagers. They were assembled next to a white tent, powerless before the tempest of violence.

‘Is she suspicious of the villagers?’ Kira turned his gaze on them. ‘Would they?’

The townsfolk were visibly frightened by the battle but some of them looked at the ladies with singular expressions. When they saw Shizuru looking at them, fear overwhelmed the denizens so their attention shifted to the battle.

Uneasy, the boy knelt at his mother’s side before he took her hand. Kaguya’s skin was ashen and her breathing was erratic. The lady tried to smile at him as a sharp pain submerged her. Instead, she clenched her son’s wrist and stifled a cry.

The servant gently raised the lady’s head before she brought the flask to her lips. Kaguya slowly drank and a trickle of the liquid spilled from the corner of her mouth. After a moment, Kira felt the grasp on his small arm lessen in intensity as his mother’s gradually relaxed.

‘So this is soulsilver tea.’ He pondered as he glanced at the melee nearby. The battle was still going but the soldiers had suffered losses. ‘Its effect is similar to that of the medicine I could produce before. How do they make it?’ He looked at the gourd Setsuna had taken back.

While Shizuru wiped the sweat from her mistress’ face, Kira thought about the situation. ‘It all makes sense. Ren was often worried about her health when we came but I just thought it was because she didn’t exercise much. Even before fighting, she was already in pain when she used her Will.’

The boy bit his lips. ‘And the very fact that I’m here… The cat did say the boy’s soul was already dead. A newborn whose mother is afflicted does suffer from a psychological disorder. At the time, I was so disturbed I didn’t make the connection…’

A loud detonation interrupted his thoughts. In front of him, he saw Ren pointing one of her opened fans toward the mass. Every time she waved her weapons, a shockwave flung a group of monsters backward. The blasts of air appeared amidst the monsters, disturbing the flow of the horde.

‘Is this?... So she can spellcast.’ Kira wondered as he saw a blast throw back a creature several meters down the hill.

Though she spells did not inflict much damage, it stalled the horde thus allowing the soldiers some breathing room. Also, it gave the priests more time to push back the clouds. However, Kira could clearly see that his sister was concentrating the majority of her spells on the right side where the soldiers of the Tsuchiya clan were fighting.

‘What is she doing?’ The boy frowned. ‘Don’t tell me she’s…’

A sudden howl resonated. On the left side, several soldiers flew in the air and then crashed into a white tent. The canvas collapsed around them before it took fire. From the hole in the formation, two blue beasts dashed into the camp, full of anger. They only wore short pants and their huge auras were ominous flames of pure black that seemed to absorb light itself.

In the blink of an eye, one the two monsters leaped on backline, its arm raised high. As the first dropped, the priest activated his Will and tried to block the strike with his staff. Small threads of energy whirled around him, but his strength was still insufficient. When the closed hand hit the man’s skull, Kira heard a loud crack. Black streams formed themselves inside the camp, immediately behind the soldiers.

“Do not falter!” Naizen yelled as he pushed the cloud upward with his power. “Keep your attention on the front line!”

He left the line of priest and defied the monster. Enraged, the beast attacked the tall priest with a wild swing. As the two of them were trading lightning fast blows, captain Ogata had engaged the second powerful beast with his flaming katana.

“Five steps back! Reform the ranks!” The Tsuchiya officer bellowed without waiting any further.

In order to prevent the weaker monsters from getting through, Ren focused her attention on the gaps in the defense line. Kira could see her grit her teeth under the effort. While resisting the onslaught, the soldiers slowly retreated.

Seeing this, Shizuru twitched. She glanced toward the terrified villagers and then at her mistress.

‘Even though she could help, she’s not going to leave Mother by herself.’ Kira thought as he watched the dreadful scene.

Kira could still feel her pushing the clouds formed by the fight between the imperial officer and the beast. Soon, dark clouds covered the sky above the camp. The tent was also burning brightly and smoke drifted along the strong winds.

The four of them fought around the camp and the villagers panicked. When the fight got too close, most of the denizens of Namuya scrambled in dread, shoving aside and trampling their peers. Within the disorderly crowd, a small child wearing a bandanna evaded a fierce swing by a hairbreadth.

‘Takeshi! What is he doing here?! He must have been with the villagers all this time.’ Kira thought as he clenched his fist. He hated being so powerless. Even if he got up, he would only be a hindrance with his feeble capacities.

“Get outta here!” Naizen shouted to his son who watched him, round-eyed.

The tall priest furiously pushed back the monster while defending the fleeing people. However, the rowdy mass was overtaken by fear as the monster grabbed the leg of a villager, before it wielded the body like a weapon. The unfortunate man’s scream stopped when the creature swung him wildly toward the priest. As the villager’s head collided with the staff, blood sprayed on Naizen’s eyes.

The abomination hurled the corpse toward the priest and vaulted forward, its arm above its shoulder. Naizen evaded the throw and prepared to intercept its opponent with a thrust. Blinded, the tall man stumbled on a panicked villager as the monster attacked him, relentless. Still, the end of the staff struck under its chin. However, the strike hit too late and the fist did not stop. Even though the priest blocked the blow with his staff, Naizen rolled of the ground for several meters before he crashed against a wooden cart. The vehicle was destroyed by the impact and the man was buried under the wreckage.

The monster held his throat and gargled. Then its dark aura faded and he fell heavily on the ground. Some villagers rushed toward the priest and started to remove the scraps.

At that time, captain Ogata had also taken care of his foe. Without waiting any further, he joined his men on the front. Eventually, the fighting ended. The whole battle had not lasted more than fifteen minutes. Yet, Kira was exhausted even if he did not take part in the melee. Little by little, the tension left his shoulders.

About twenty of the fifty soldiers had fallen before the horde. On the ground, Kira saw the countless corpses of the blue monsters. Without their dark aura, they looked like simple sick people. The white tent had burned in its entirety, exposing the equipment and supplies it previously protected. The villagers laughed and wept as they slowly assembled in the middle of the camp.

‘This result is still miraculous.’ The boy smiled faintly and he turned around. Setsuna was still standing close to the maid, but the girl seemed at ease. ‘But more importantly…’ Kira still held his mother’s hand and her breathing had returned to normal.

Without any warning, the imperial soldiers separated themselves from the others and formed another line. They still firmly held their weapons and their glares seemed even fiercer than before. The men’s expressions looked grim and their eyes were fixated on the other warriors. On the front, the imperial officer held his blade before him and stared at Ren with intensity.

The multitude of clouds above the camp made the scene even more ominous. The denizens did not understand what was happening and whispered between themselves.

“This is not going to end well. Please stay back, young Master.” Shizuru muttered at his side before glancing at him. The servant looked worried and she held her scabbard with her left hand. She placed herself between the imperials and Kaguya.

“What do you mean?” Kira asked her with a troubled expression.

“Too many witnesses. Lady Kaguya’s condition must not be known. She is one of the Tsuchiya clan strongest assets.” Shizuru replied without leaving the soldiers out of her sight.

‘So that’s what Ren meant. Damn.’ The boy shook his head. ‘Is she really going to?’

The soldiers bearing the Fan, who outnumbered the imperials, formed their ranks behind Ren. All the while, the priests had stood aside, obviously not wanting any part on this matter. For a while, the two parties silently observed each other.

Ren stood before the soldiers in a noble and proud attitude.

“I know what you are thinking.” She finally said with a cold voice. “You are right.”

“Is lady Kaguya really?” The huge officer asked with a tired but resolute expression. He had lowered his weapon before he stepped forward. “We would never directly harm her.”

“You know this is not the problem. I know where you allegiance lies. You will speak. Sadly, it is enough.” “Would you betray your liege?”

“Lady Ren, would you kill all those not belonging to the Tsuchiya clan?” Ogata inquired after he took a deep breath.

“If needed, yes.” The lady replied firmly.

‘This is sick. I can’t let this happen!’ As he stepped forward, Shizuru pulled him back without any restraint. The move almost made him fall but he had seen the slight movements of some imperial soldiers. ‘Damn, I am also a target.’ He realized.

Beside him, Kaguya sat with difficulty. Kira could see she was still in great anguish but she endured. For a moment, she observed the standstill then shook her head.

“Ren… You cannot do this.” She pleaded before coughing.

Ren stared at her mother and, for a brief moment, her eyes clouded. Then her expression became steel. “Mother, this is too important. We cannot allow this to be.”

“Please…”

Her daughter simply ignored her demands and was about to give her orders when they heard a laugh nearby.

Seated on a pile of crates, a feminine silhouette wearing a tight dark green outfit clapped her hands, legs crossed. A stylized bird mask observed them from under a dark hood. No one seemed to have noticed her arrival.

“Such intensity…” She said before she chuckled.

“You… What do you want?” Ren asked her with a displeased look.

The woman jumped off her seat in a lithesome manner and came to meet the lady.

“I bring bad news, lady Ren. Other people already know. This is pointless.”

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