“Can we play with the Silverwolf, Yushia!?” Yoyei shouted with excitement. When Yushia let down the cub, it ran into her open arms and began licking her. “So cute!”

That night, Nyuei and Yoyei would be sleeping in the same home as Yushia and Suzaku. The Silverwolf was popular among them and served as a distraction from Mrei’s sudden death. Together, they named it Moonless.

All their playing with Moonless left the kids tired and they quickly fell asleep. It was just Yushia and Suzaku now as they watched over the children, replacing Payuei. The silence of the night never changed and remained tense.

“You are squeezing my hand harder than usual, idiot,” Suzaku complained.

“I can’t help it,” Yushia said. “This demon sounds stronger than the one we killed at the slave camp.”

Lei-Lei was outside and on the lookout with her ether field. Before the kids fell asleep, she casted Imprisonment Aqua over them, increasing their security even more. Even then, Yushia couldn’t help but be nervous.

“Here,” Suzaku said, handing her wielder a cup. “Drink it. You will be able to stay awake longer.”

Yushia took the cup and took a long sip. His nerves calmed, and he felt more alert. “What is this?”

“My greatness believes it is juices pressed from the native berries. My greatness’ blood is mixed in as well.”

He spat out his drink and coughed violently. “E-Excuse me...?”

“Do not act so surprised, idiot!” she grumbled. “Whether you like it or not, it was blood that formed our pact. Is it so strange to think it would not serve other benefits?”

“Please warn me the next time at least.” Yushia wiped his mouth and handed the cup back to her.

While Yushia’s senses were heightened thanks to the berry juice, his knee began jumping springing up and down. The juice helped him stay awake, but their effects heightened his anxiety.

“When you act nervous, my greatness is bound to feel the same,” Suzaku said.

Yushia stopped his knee, but no matter what he tried, they began bouncing again. “Is it that bad?”

“You will have to fix that eventually. Fear will cost you your life in many situations.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re an ancient being who has lived longer than anyone else.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Well, my greatness was once fearful too...”

She stopped to think. She, a being sculpted by the hands of Inanis, had no recollection of a childhood where she feared, dreamed, or even had fun. Thinking further, had she ever been a child? No, she must have. She told her wielder that she called herself ‘my greatness’ because she is great, but deep down, she felt there must have been a deeper meaning behind it. She couldn’t even recall the first time she said it, and rather, it seemed like something she just did. Her ideals had been placed on her wielder, but where did she gain such ideals? Who had taught her the things she learned? A wall stopped her from looking further, and no amount of digging brought her closer to an answer she wanted.

Yushia put his hand on Suzaku’s back. She was staring off and appeared distraught. “Are you okay?”

She jumped and squeezed her wielder’s hand. “My greatness is fine.” She fixed her posture and expression.

As Yushia’s leg came down, he found that it didn’t come back up.

“Lost child...” a voice rang inside his head.

A chill ran down his spine when he heard the words. He looked down at his foot which had stopped moving. A black, gaunt hand came from his shadow and held his ankle.

“SUZAKU!” He stood and moved with haste but tripped when the hand wouldn’t let go. The hand moved further out of his shadow and fought against Yushia, revealing its white cuffs. “IT’S HERE!”

Seeing the hand, Suzaku immediately entered her Ghost Mansion, wrapping herself in red ether as she entered her Ghost Mansion. The hand retreated, disappearing back into his shadow. It separated itself from her wielder and traveled along the walls like a stain.

Yushia’s feet sprung off the ground as he stabbed the walls in hopes of accomplishing something—anything. The shadow dodged each attack before suddenly disappearing. Wary still, Yushia backed himself against the wall and yelled. “Lei-Lei, it’s here! Hurry, now—”

Yushia’s eyes could only see black. A pair of hands set themselves on his hips, its long fingers wrapping around his waist as he was pulled into the wall—into the demon’s shadow that had formed behind him. The sound of his beating heart vanished, and for a split second, he thought he’d died.

A burst of water shot through the drapes of the house, wrapping itself around Yushia’s chest, wrestling against the shadow for possession. Suzaku, unable to see because of her wielder’s vanished sight, exited her Ghost Mansion and held on to her wielder’s legs, pulling with all the strength she had. Moonless had woken up, and even he tried pulling on Yushia’s clothing.

“Inanis damn you, filthy demon!” Suzaku cried. Her body began overheating as she felt the core of her stomach bubble like lava. A slimy sweat began oozing out of her, turning the water barrier protecting the children into vaporous ether. She weakened her grip slightly, not wanting to unleash her powerful flames on the children.

The weakened grip allowed her wielder to be swallowed whole by the shadow, causing her to crash on the floor with a thud. Her breath was heavy from all the exertion and her lips trembled when she realized what had just happened.

“Suzaku!” Lei-Lei spoke, rushing inside. Within her ether field, she could sense Suzaku’s overwhelming ether leaking out of her. Stirred with anger and rage, she didn’t know what to say, too afraid to speak to the Vermillion Bird in her current state.

The intertwined rings on the Vermillion Bird’s chest began to throb, glowing on and off rhythmically for the first time. Yushia’s body and soul were far now—very far.