Chapter 43: The Roaming Spirit Guard

Chiaki and the others rode astride a great glowing bird, soaring so high above the land that it all seemed an ocean of greens, grays, and blues. Wing beats made them jump great distances, the shape of the world beneath them shifting, the sky above doing the same. For Jun Mi, this would only take her back to where she started, the magic of two spirits canceling each other out. For Chiaki though, it was a round trip, she would only have two hours to meet the threat of the Yoshiki Sect; only two hours to win this battle. Considering that, she supposed her mind should have been shifting through plans, but she couldn't draw her focus away from the warden, whose silent musings drew weak sprites around her head. Jun Mi would never see them, but to Chiaki they were as bright as a candle in the dark, urging her in their silent way to help the troubled woman out.

“What’s on your mind?” She called over, and Jun Mi seemed to snap back to where they were.

“Oh…? Oh! I’m sorry, were you saying something?” She said, revealing just how far away she was.

"No, I just noticed how hard you were thinking. Is everything okay?"

The Warden shook her head, "I did not come to Rial alone. A boy on his flame-building pilgrimage joined me, and I left him behind when I went to summon you. I'm certain the sect spotted me, and all I can do is hope he stayed hidden." The unspoken words were clear. She could hope, but neither of them believed a young dragon would stay in hiding for long.

“So it’s been a full day, and all you can do is worry about his life.”

Jun Mi nodded, and Hoka patted her on the back.

“I’m sure he’s fine!” The girl said. “He’s a dragon after all! Dragons are powerful.”

Syd let out a chuckle. "That's what a dragon worshiper would think, Hoka. It's more that Mordunaal is strong, as are the type of dragons you see out fighting abominations. Most of their kin are stronger and more durable than yours or mine, however, they're still as susceptible to death as any other."

Hoka glared at him. “You’re not helping! She’s worried!”

Syd nodded. “And we do her no favors trying to convince her things will be all sunshine and butterflies!”

Chiaki sighed, all too used to this bickering father-daughter routine, and all too aware it wasn’t helping. She could only be grateful that L’vay hadn’t opened his mouth, but that just made her wary. She shook her head. If she had to think about what the old faerie might be planning, she’d have to push everything else off the table.

"I understand." She turned to Jun Mi. "Did Kado explain how he knows me?"

“He didn’t really explain much but how to use the bell.”

“I won’t hold that against him. You might be lucky even, I don’t think he ever grew out of being difficult.” Chiaki laughed to herself.

Jun Mi’s eyes widened. “You knew him as a child?”

"Yes, he was one of four guard trainees I ended up mentoring. This was before I was a captain mind you, but still getting the attention of those above me. Kado was… an urchin if I were to be honest with you. His father was mean-spirited and his mother found more comfort in the arms of other men than she ever found at home…" She could still remember the way they looked at her when she came knocking. "Kado had gotten in trouble because he exorcised the familial spirit of a small clan in his district. They had enough sway that they wanted to have him executed, and his parents were livid that he had drawn negative attention. He might have been executed, too, if it wasn't for the fact that exorcising a familial spirit shouldn't be something a boy could do."

“Did someone think he was framed?”

Chiaki laughed. "No! He did it quite deliberately in fact, in front of a crowd of people. But you see, to exorcise a spirit that powerful means your spirit has to be intense. Kado was what Spirit Guards classify as a Shinigami, an exorcist who can bring “death” to spirits. That made him a bit too powerful to just kill off, so, he ended up under my care. He joined two others at the time. One girl with powerful channeling abilities, and another who had become a spirit's vessel. Later, a younger boy joined us. For whatever reason, he adored Kado."

“For whatever reason?” Jun Mi chuckled.

Syd nodded. “I have met Kado. It is an accurate use of words.”

Chiaki found herself smiling at that memory but held Jun Mi in this one. "I was not even the slightest bit used to having kids to look after. They were all different, needed different training, and except for their junior, were always at each other throats. I would take them from district to district, trying to help them adjust to their abilities by handling small spiritual affairs, but things got more dangerous in the Spirit Circle around the time I became a captain, and there were a lot of times when they were in a separate district from me. I thought I could focus on the task at hand without them, but I worried instead. What if they face an opponent they can't match? What if a powerful enemy of mine chooses to target my students? What if a malevolent spirit manifests and proves too much? What if? What if? What if? For the first few missions, that was where my mind always went.”

“What changed?”

"I saw their faces when things were done. Sometimes they were bloodied. Sometimes, the damage was more on the inside. They never came back to me as the same kids they were, but I think that's just how life usually is. If Hoka was in school instead of facing the spiritual world, she'd still be changed by her time there." Chiaki looked at the girl, who nodded as Syd recollected meeting Kado.

“I suppose you’re saying that its all right to worry, but maybe I should trust that things will be all right in one way or another.”

“It’s silly to say when we’re talking about a possible death, right? But I think if I ever told my pupils that I was worried they’d die, they’d be insulted.”

“Shuraat is not my pupil though.”

“No, but he is a boy facing the world to make his flame. Things were always going to be difficult for him.”

Jun Mi frowned deeply, but Chiaki left her to her musings, feeling somewhat nostalgic. The Warden was a little younger than Kado, and this little lecture reminded her of how he and his peers always reacted. She decided she’d have to see them all again sometime, sure that their schedules would always be full but still hoping she might catch them free. The thought fell into a drawer in the back of her mind as Rial came into sight though, her sword coming from its scabbard as she stood up.

"Prepare yourselves, we're making the dive." She said, and the bird dove toward what felt like a pool of Reiki.

As it pushed against the fabric between the realms, her group was dropped, skydiving toward where the Yoshiki sect gathered. They stood in front of a giant seed, and between them and it stood an all too strange tree. It rose from what looked like a breathing pedestal, its liquid bark growing into hand-like branches. Mist rose from the branches, like leaves or hairs standing on ends. Hidden roots drank reiki from the domain, killing the foliage around them, and turning wild sprites into dust on the breeze. Heat filled Chiaki’s brow as the power faded, her eyes jumping from one target to the next, deciding who would be the easiest to take out.

“Hoka!” She called and Hoka motioned like she was drawing back on a bow. Something like lightning shot out from the swirls on her fingers, striking the ground and blossoming into a flower.

Their free fall abruptly stopped, and the Yoshiki sect faced them, ready to pounce. Shiny green bandages whipped out from Jun Mi, wrapping several unsuspecting disciples in still cocoons. Yuzuko hissed as she saw the Warden, reiki against her skin quickly changing to magyeon.

“L’vay, keep Hoka safe until further notice. Hoka, the plan is isolate and destroy.”

"You won't get the chance!" Miki roared as he raised his arms. As feathers grew from them, he vanished.

Ayaka raised her hand and she vanished too, followed by one disciple after the other. A stinger grew out from Syd's arm, and he saluted as he disappeared too. Chiaki gave Jun Mi a final reassuring nod, and then the Warden was gone with Hoka disappearing right behind her. Only Chiaki remained, standing in front of Yuzuko and three disciples surrounding her. There was also something of a specter here, taking in this assault with calculation instead of alarm.

“You’re the isolated one in this situation.” Yuzuko smiled, hand directing the disciples.

“Yes, but not to a degree that helps you. I believe the commanders should be saved for later. They’re the best chance of collecting information.” Chiaki readied her sword.

"I would say the same, but I fear you won't make it that long." Yuzuko turned the reiki around her liquid, and Chiaki slashed the air as reiki filled her blade. Before the cardinal could react she was surrounded, grass whipping up in woven cords binding her, folding over itself, trapping her in a dense ball.

Chiaki ducked and dodged a blow coming for her head, spinning on her heels to slash the attacker. Her blade tore cloth, but he stepped back unharmed, strong arms guiding him into a stance. Magyeon crackled up the arms of another disciple and barbed black orbs came like a swarm at the woman. She slipped back and they detonated the ground on impact, bouncing back into the air and shooting at her again. She was ready to evade until the third disciple slid up behind her. Scythes swung and Chiaki swung wildly, blocking those and unseen slashes that bounced through the air around her. This last disciple hopped a few paces back, spinning the scythes as the others circled.

“I am Hrish, Disciple of Yoshiki Baroq.” Said the strong-armed man.

“I am Phirun, Disciple of Yoshiki Saheed.” Said the one with black orbs spinning around him.”

“I am Yawen, Disciple of Yoshiki Shiomi.” Said the one with the scythes, and Chiaki caught herself nodding.

"So your sect has reach from one edge of The Triumvirate to the other, or did they specifically seek you out."

"The Yoshiki sect need not seek out its members." Yawen had a feminine voice, though her sect garb said nothing of her body. "We were destined to join it."

Chiaki couldn't help but laugh, not at this obvious distraction but the amount of times destiny seemed to come up when it wasn't involved. If it was her turn to invoke it, she might say she was destined to attack first.

She went for Hrish, blade snapping out as he raised his arms to meet it. As if her sword were a ghost, she swung it through him, leaving a bubbling blue line where he might otherwise be scarred. His body dropped and Phirun spun his swarm into action, barbed balls clinging together as they attacked from all sides. They converged into a thunderstorm of explosions, the air flashing as it went hot. Chiaki leaped out of it, cracked scales falling from her skin as she caught him off guard with her sword through his chest. He was falling before she drew it back, and she was turning to meet her final foe. The scythes came down and the air became razors, Yawen's aura tracing the blades and spinning out. Chiaki slashed, cutting the aura instead of the girl, filling her eyes with sudden terror. Fang marks trailed down the disciple's body, dropping her just as fast as the rest.

Chiaki turned back to Yuzuko's prison and leaped out of the way as roots stabbed up from the ground. Was this a mutated spirit of the domain? Was this Yuzuko’s secret attack? Between those and other questions that could have filled her mind, she wished she could have her pick of the answers. But there only came one as a body pulled itself up with the roots. It could have been a man if she didn't know any better, completely wrapped in bramble like a mummy in bandages. Its roots stabbed into the falling disciples and they rose to their feet again, changing as Reiki filled them.

Yawen grew a tengu's jet-black wings.

Phirun grew more arms, like one of the strange bug spirits she once saw stalking through a forest.

Orange-striped fur covered Hrish’s body.

And Chiaki cursed her ability to always draw spirits her way.

Indeed, she only had one question, and faced with these transformed foes she couldn't help but ask it.

"Why is Yokumori here?" She readied her blade, feeling like this battle had gotten several margins worse…

⨀⨀⨀

Meanwhile, Keigo returned to the resort as the sun fell below the horizon. Diana was waiting for him outside the room, taking him in, and running over to check him out.

"You're not hurt." She did not hide her relief as she patted him down.

“I was…” He did not hide the truth. “Until someone saved me.”

“Well, I owe someone thanks then. You’re an idiot! You’re never doing that again.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve definitely learned my lesson.”

"We're not done with this conversation, but I'll drop it for now. Danson has been waiting for you, we can summon our backup now." She pulled him into the room, where Kiara talked to Shuraat and Danson stood over a candle.

"You're back! Great. Then we can get started!" He brought it over to the two who could give him a light. Kiara pointed and the candle lit up.

Danson rushed it back to the table as its flame spun into a twister, filling with a silhouette. A guy with reddish-dark skin stepped out, horns of molten stone rising from puffed-out hair. Garbed in robes, he barely looked like he did when Keigo first met him, but even Kiara recognized who he was.

"You're that Leyu guy!" She pointed, and the person who was once a sylph gave them a nod.

“Hello again, Danson and his friends.” Leyu waved, putting the flame out with a snap…

[Chapter 43 ends…]