Chapter 2-2

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“What do we do what do we do what do we do?” Kiwi stammered, twisting his hair in his hands.

“Shut it and give me my lute case,” Sune growled, stepping over Kiwi and picking up his lute case. “I’ll take the one in black. You take the one in white.”

Kiwi jaw dropped. “I have to f-f-f-f-f-f-f-fight?”

“Why do you think I paid you?” Sune said, tapping his lute case in several places. “Remember, Ghouls have access to 80%, but they have the minds of wild animals. Use that to your advantage.”

“80%?” Kiwi asked, frantically racking his brain for what that could mean.

“I saw you hit 60% in the fight you had against that bully,” said Sune. “If you have any sort of wits about you, that’ll be enough to take a Ghoul down.”

Kiwi had no idea what Sune was talking about. Even worse, the two Ghouls continued to approach, fanning out to surround Kiwi and Sune. At a closer distance, Kiwi noticed that they were not armed with weapons. All they had were their masks, which seemed to be animal masks from a town festival. The Ghoul in black had a thin scaly tail of a reptile, extending at least five feet behind its rear end. The Ghoul in white’s tail was wide and puffy, covered in long gray fur. That Ghoul also had what looked to be two fuzzy ears sticking out the top of its head.

Before Kiwi could gather his thoughts, the Ghoul in black bounded towards him, arms and legs exploding into red flames. Immediately, Sune tapped a spot on his lute case. A panel on the side of the lute case popped open, depositing what looked to be two large metal spheres attached by a chain into Sune’s hand. Sune grabbed one of the metal spheres and used it to spin the other sphere like a lasso. Right before the Ghoul in black reached a frozen Kiwi, Sune hurled the contraption. The chain, weighted by the metal spheres, caught onto the Ghoul in black’s legs and wrapped around them, sending the Ghoul skidding to the ground.

“Duck!” Sune shouted at Kiwi.

As Kiwi tried his best to do as ordered, Sune tapped another spot on his lute case, opening another panel. This time, several black pellets feel into his hand. Right before the Ghoul in white reached Kiwi, Sune hurled the pellets. Upon hitting the Ghoul, the pellets burst into a thick smoky powder, clogging noses and blinding eyes.

“Move, boy!” Sune roared as Kiwi wallowed on the floor, haven fallen victim to Sune’s last attack.

Kiwi managed to scramble in a random direction, still rubbing at his eyes. Sune pressed the bottom of his lute case with both hands, opening a compartment filled with spikes. As the Ghoul in white stumbled after Kiwi, Sune threw the spikes in its path, right as the Ghoul in black smashed into his side.

Meanwhile, Kiwi finally managed to clear his eyes and draw in a breath of fresh air. The Ghoul in white was thrashing on the ground, having fallen on the spikes that Sune had thrown. About a hundred feet away, Sune defended himself with two long knives. The red flames burning along the Ghoul’s arms extended into thinclaws sticking out of the Ghoul’s hands. Each of the flaming claws seemed to be as hard as metal, easily deflecting the razor-sharp blades of Sune’s knives.

So this is the power of a demon, Kiwi thought, eyes wide. It’s even greater than I imagined.

Sune hurled one of his knives at the Ghoul in black, who easily dodged. The knife sailed past the Ghoul and stuck into a nearby tree. Leaping back several feet to dodge a swipe from the Ghoul, Sune threw his other knife. Once again, the Ghoul hopped to the side, evading the attack. This knife sunk into another tree, several feet away from the first.

Seeing that its opponent was unarmed, the Ghoul snarled and lumbered forward, cracking its tail like a whip. In the midst of one of the Ghoul’s forward steps, Sune crossed his arms, also crossing the thin strings that had been attached to the ends of the knives. The Ghoul in black tripped over the cord and stumbled, stepping on a scattering of spikes. Howling in pain, it fell towards the ground.

As the Ghoul fell, Sune drew his right hand back, revealing the brass knuckles he now wore. Exploding forth, Sune smashed the Ghoul in the face, cracking the festival mask and sending the Ghoul crashing to the ground in a limp heap.

He’s a genius! Kiwi thought.

“Watch out!” Sune roared.

The Ghoul in white, finally having removed the spikes from the soles of its feet, hurtled towards Kiwi, moving faster than any human Kiwi had ever seen. Breaking out in a cold sweat, Kiwi did the only thing he knew how to do.

He ran.

Kiwi only took three steps before the Ghoul caught him, swiping him across the back. There was a burning pain as Kiwi felt the Ghoul’s flaming claws gash through his flesh. A moment later, his back exploded with pain, causing him to lose his step and crash to the ground, tumbling to a stop several feet away from the raging river.

“My back,” Kiwi gasped, feeling the cold wetness of blood seeping into his tunic. “My back!”

Kiwi's voice caught in his throat as he heard the Ghoul’s quiet breathing, getting closer and closer as it leaned down to finish its deed. Kiwi desperately tried to do something, anything, to help his situation. But his body was frozen, not able to move a muscle.

“I don’t want to die,” Kiwi whispered, begging his body to move. “I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die.”

He felt the cold sharpness of the Ghoul’s claws pressing against his neck. Kiwi squeezed his eyes shut, feeling tears leaking down his cheeks. I’m sorry, Mother! I’m sorry, Rin! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!

“I don’t want to die!” Kiwi screamed as Sune slid past him on top of the lute case, having used the decline of the land leading down to the river as a slope to build up momentum. As he passed, Sune snagged Kiwi by the arm, dragging him out from under the Ghoul right before it thrust down with its claws.

The two of them crashed into the river, which immediately buffeted them towards the waterfall. Kiwi gasped, trying to keep his ahead above the water. However, body and mind still traumatized from the Ghoul attack, Kiwi couldn’t fight against the current as it continuously tossed and turned him before finally submerging him.

The last thing Kiwi remembered was the sensation of falling.

-

Kiwi groaned and opened his eyes, immediately convulsing into a fit of coughs. Taking a deep breath, he lifted his head and glanced around. He was sitting on the shore of Lake Maru, completely soaked. Turning his head, Kiwi saw Sune, who was sitting several feet away, wiping at his lute case.

“H-hey,” said Kiwi, sitting up and wincing upon stretching his back. “Thanks for saving me back there.”

Sune didn't say a word.

Kiwi swallowed and twiddled his thumbs. The two sat in silence for several moments.

“We almost had them,” said Sune, voice monotone and low.

“Yeah,” said Kiwi, forcing out a chuckle. “We’ll get them next time, right?”

“Next time?” Sune asked, voice deathly quiet.

Kiwi opened his mouth, but Sune didn’t let him speak.

“You think we’re going to get an opportunity as good as that?” Sune roared, storming over to Kiwi. “This is the only time we had the element of surprise! From now on they’ll be bringing twice as many men! Twice as many Ghouls! Next time? Give me a break.”

Kiwi lowered his head.

“We had them too!” shouted Sune, reaching down and grabbing Kiwi by the collar. His single green eye stared feverishly at Kiwi’s face. “We would’ve had one of them or both! If you weren’t such a goddamn coward!”

Kiwi flinched away as Sune pulled his fist back. But the blow never came. Sighing, Sune released Kiwi’s collar and let him slump to the ground.

“I’m…I’m sorry,” said Kiwi, not knowing what else he should say.

“Sorry?” said Sune. “I paid one hundred gold coins for you. I paid one hundred gold coins for a Possessed to partner with. I should’ve known better than to hire a useless, unemployed kid who happens to be Possessed.”

“That’s the problem,” Kiwi said meekly. “I’m not Possessed.”

Sune sat there for a moment. Then he began to laugh. Kiwi did not detect an ounce of mirth in his laugh.

“Are you kidding me right now?” Sune roared, suddenly exploding to his feet once again. “What was that punch you hit the bully with? Only a Possessed who can go 60% can release demonic energy like that! Don’t lie just to save face!”

“I don’t know what that was,” mumbled Kiwi. “It’s the first time that’s ever happened to me. But I do know that I’m not Possessed because I’m the first one who’s ever failed the trial.”

Sune just stood there, staring incredulously at Kiwi. Kiwi wilted under his gaze and tried to make himself as small as possible. Finally, Sune muttered something to himself and picked up his lute case, swinging it over his shoulder.

“Let’s go back,” said Sune. “Tomorrow you’re going home.”

Kiwi nodded, knowing that it was only realistic for him to get fired within two days of getting employed. There isn’t any room in the world for someone so useless.

The walk back to Lady Autumn’s palace was quiet. Kiwi’s injured back pained him with every step, but he knew better than to bring up the topic. The only thing he could do was set his jaw and keep up with Sune’s brisk pace.

“Stop,” whispered Sune, coming to a halt.

Kiwi glanced up and saw that Sune had stopped at the edge of a building. Peering around the corner, Kiwi could make out Lady Autumn’s palace. In front of the palace was a squad of fifteen or twenty soldiers, all armed with spears and swords.

“Watch your back,” said Sune. “If things get bad, run.”

Kiwi nodded in response.

Sune and Kiwi walked around the corner of the building, drawing the attention of the soldiers. One of the soldiers, dressed in red painted armor, approached them.

“State your names and business, gentlemen,” the soldier growled.

“I am Sune the Exorcist and this is my servant,” said Sune. “We arrived earlier today.”

The man in the red armor muttered something to one of the other soldiers, who trotted off. “Only once your identities are verified will you be allowed into the palace.”

“Ah,” said Sune. “If I may inquire, what is the reason for this…level of security?”

The man in red armor narrowed his eyes. “While you were gone, there was an assassination attempt on Lady Autumn’s life.”