«Yes. Multiple creatures came at me as I was hiding in the woods at night.» Kara replied. «They weren’t as strong as the creature that branded me, but there were a whole lot of them…»
«I am afraid this is the first time we see anything like this.»
«But we will do our best to try and find a way to get this off you, Nakano.» The other one said confidently.
«So for now I will have to stay clear of civilians and fight each night. Got it!» Kara replied with a smirk.
Though trying to joke, she understood the severe implications of this brand that was now on her skin. And she feared that nothing can be done about it.
She also gave the mystics the runes she had cut down from the trees when she was following the kitsune, and they recognised some of them as those that appeared sometimes when gates opened near villages.
Lord Ryuu assigned Ayame and Itsuki to remain by Kara’s side each night to aid, if the need arises. She was grateful and reluctant at the same time – she did not want her new found friends and a loved one to get hurt because she wasn’t able to keep one of the demons away from putting a Sacrifice brand onto her.
But she dared not to refuse – she feared Lord Ryuu might take it as a personal offence if she did. Having had the villagers see her murdering what they thought to be a child, she couldn’t return to the village, so she stayed back by the forest to keep an eye out for any more suspicious creatures that could still surround the land. Itsuki and Ayame offered to circle around the village with her and Kara agreed.
Akuma still needed some rest, but he didn’t want to leave her side and walked behind her, as they walked on the road that curled around the village. They didn’t notice any more problems, but that didn’t keep Kara from being tense and ready.
By the time the sun was at its highest, she felt her strength leaving her and asked to have an hour or two of rest to have at least some sleep. Ayame and Itsuki agreed and they went off the road – into the woods, there Ayame showed Kara a little meadow near a rocky hillside, where a small waterfall crashed against the stones and flowed out of the tiny pond as a spring.
Kara was grateful for this opportunity to clean up and wash all the blood and dirt off herself. So as soon as she got into the water, she felt relieved from all the pain that her body was experiencing. She hesitated putting her burn under the cool waters, though.
She did take off the bandages, feeling how badly they needed to be changed. But when she noticed the burn being dark and smeared by blood, she realised that she might have to deal with this for the rest of her life – as long as she will be capable of fighting whatever creatures will hunt her every night.
Taking a very deep breath, she lowered her right arm into the water and immediately winced from the pain. It took her a couple of moments to try and gently wash the blood and dirt from the burn.
When she raised her aching arm from the water, she felt Itsuki behind her. He knelt down and gently grasped her wrist to take a look.
«Does it still hurt?» he asked.
«Not really. It burned like hell last night, though.» Kara shrugged her shoulders and felt her shoulder blade ache. «Right now everything else hurts way worse…»
Itsuki let go of her arm and carefully made her lean a bit forward. She heard him sigh with anger.
«I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.» He said, running his fingers down a bad bruise on her back.
«Is it that bad?» she asked.
«It’ll heal…» he replied.
«Don’t beat yourself over this, Inei.» Kara sighed. «That kitsune girl tricked us all.»
«I’m going to have to learn to trust your intuition more, Nakano.»
«Have you always felt the demons near?» Ayame sat down next to them.
«I don’t know. I mean… even back in my home world I usually felt a chill run down my spine whenever there was one near – even before I could see them…» Kara replied. «But I’m not sure if it’s an intuition or just my heightened sense of self-preservation.»
«Have the mystics said anything about that?»
«No, they only spoke about the brand… why?»
«Well, perhaps you have their powers – at least, to some extent?»
«I’m not sure that’s the case, Ayame.»
«Whatever the case – we are glad you survived the night.» Itsuki stepped away for a moment and returned with some herbs and new bandages.
«I couldn’t let you down, Inei. Your words kept sounding inside my head and not letting me put my weapons down.» Kara smirked, allowing him to apply the healing herbs onto her burn and bandage the arm again.
When he finished, he gently squeezed her arm.
«I’m happy that my words found their way to you, Nakano.» He said with a smile.
He leaned down and kissed her in the temple, making Ayame giggle.
«I was wondering when you two would make it official.» She laughed.
«I wasn’t sure something like this is allowed at all.» Kara answered.
«Don’t worry. We are not prudent people.» Ayame bumped her slightly. «Only the royal family and the top aristocrats are needed to uphold some sort of secrecy in their love life. People like us are left to live freely.»
«That’s actually…» Kara leaned back, feeling her muscles ache less and less with each minute spent in the water. «A great thing to hear.»
«I told you not to worry about it.» Itsuki sat down behind her.
Kara let her eyes close and relaxed. But very soon she dozed off – she was extremely tired and needed the rest. Her friends let her stay like that for a little while, before waking her up.
«We’ve made camp.» Itsuki said. «Eat something and you can sleep a little before we continue.»
Kara got out of the water, feeling very refreshed, and dressed up. After a hot meal, she sat with her back against the rocky side of the hill and dozed off again.
By the time she woke up – the sun was already going down. Ayame and Itsuki seemed to grab a bit of sleep, with one of them always watching out for anyone out in the forest. But their rest was calm, and Kara felt much better after having this stop.
«Lord Ryuu asked me to bring you back before the night sets in. I think he wants to make sure that brand does what the mystics said.» Itsuki said to Kara, offering her some herbal tea.
Kara took a few sips before answering:
«Sure. I just don’t want anyone to get hurt.»
«Lord Ryuu’s warriors are very capable.»
«Don’t worry, the meeting point is ways away from the village, so none of the civilians will be in harm’s way.» Ayame added.
After finishing the tea, they packed up the camp and left to the rendezvous point. Akuma recovered his strength and was now eager to run again with Kara on his back – he kept nudging her with his nose all the time while she was preparing the saddle and checking the bridle.
As soon as they rode off, Kara felt how great of a horse Akuma really was – he was very strong, faithful and so amazing at listening to her every move, that she was glad to have found him.
When they reached the field – Lord Ryuu and a regiment of his soldiers were already waiting for them. Five mystics were standing at the ready, chanting something around Lord Ryuu.
«The sun is setting, Nakano. Are you ready