KANA
When Mister Kenshi asked me to back them up in the fight, I felt so happy. The feeling that someone finally recognized what I was destined to do was immeasurable. I promised to myself and to my late mother that I would do anything to avenge her and the villagers. And the fact that I awakened earlier than usual was like the gods were telling me that I was fated to join Mister Daku and Mister Kenshi.
But now that I was here, joining them, I couldn't do anything. I was indeed holding a bow and an arrow but I couldn't bring myself to point it to the enemy. It was not because I didn't have the resolve for revenge but because it was dangerous to fly an arrow in a fight like this.
They were too fast and if I recklessly shoot an arrow, one of them might get hit. I could barely follow them with my own eyes. This wasn't my first time seeing the two of them fight together and it reminded me of the siege back in the village. But I could tell that they improved so much since then. It was as if the two were dancing gracefully. Their coordination made the fight looked like a theatrical performance.
But this was not the time to get mesmerized by the two of them. I had to do something and I had to do it now. But what could I do to help? What could I possibly do with my mere abilities? A could only do a few things but it would not benefit Mister Daku. I had to look from a different angle.
"Different angle," I mumbled as I wandered my eyes throughout the entire cavern, searching for something that I could use to win the fight. I searched both sides until my eyes saw a protruding large chunk of crystal, just above the enemy. If she would just remain in her spot, we could kill her. "But how can an arrow destroy a huge crystal like that? It would take a miracle to make it happen... Miracle."
Uncertain of its outcome, I raised the bow and arrow in a higher angle pointing at the crystal on the ceiling. I closed both of my eyes and felt the power surging within me. I visualized a fiery energy flowing from my chest to the arrow and thought a little prayer.
By spark and flame, my arrow flies,
With force to rend the earth and skies,Ignite upon the target's call,Explode with power, shatter all!
All of a sudden, my hand felt warm as if something was burning nearby. When I opened my eyes, I was astonished to witness a red magic circle in front of the arrow's tragectory. I was in disbelief at first but there was no doubt that I was not hallucinating. A miracle had happened once again.
Without hesitation, I released the arrow which passed through the magic circle, transfiguring it into a projectile engulfed by flames. It dashed toward the target and exploded upon contact. The explosion caught everyone's attention including the enemy. Upon seeing the falling debris, Mister Daku and Mister Kenshi fell back and distanced themselves away from the enemy. And just in time, the large crystal crashed onto where the enemy was, followed by a cloud of dust.
The two looked at me, both wearing a wondering look as to how I managed to deliver such powerful explosion. How should I tell them that it was pure miracle? That even I didn't know that it would happen.
"Is she dead?" the mage of the other party asked and I noticed that the roots that were holding them earlier disappeared, implying that the caster had lost its concentration and dispelled the magic.
"Don't jinx it, Riko!" the marksman protested. A few seconds later, a crackling sound echoed throughout the room making everyone shift their vision toward the crystal. And looked like Riko, if I was not mistaken, had jinxed it. "How is she not dead yet?"
The crystal exploded and shattered into pieces revealing a dome made of intertwined roots and vines. The roots moved and slithered like snakes, revealing the untouched woman inside it. My plan had failed.
All of a sudden, a sharp metal pierced through her chest like a needle sewing through a fabric. The woman had no reaction at all even though a sword was drilling through her body. It was as if the emotions she had have escaped from her body the moment she devoured the Dark Orb earlier.
"That's for Dai," said the man named Keiro who was behind the woman holding the sword. "Riko! Hold her up!"
The mage quickly pointed his right hand at the woman and conjured an immobilizing ice magic that covered the lower half of the woman. Several thick roots sprouted beneath her as well and wrapped around her already immobile body. I found out it was Mister Kenshi's magic.
"Daku, purify here now!" Mister Kenshi ordered and in an instant, with the help of Haste, Mister Daku transported in front of the woman with both of his hands on the side of her head.
The woman's body glowed in green along with an agonizing scream. From her gaping mouth, came out several purplish-black smoke that was so thick that it looked like fluid. It took a minute or two before Mister Daku fully cleansed the enemy of the Evil Remnant. The woman fell dead right after which erupted into several breaths of relief from everyone.
"He's not breathing," Arano reported on his knees, watching the breathless body of their friend.Riko knelt on the other side with tears falling down his cheeks. "I'm sorry, Dai. If only Shino was here."
Keiro, who had an irritated face instead of a sad one, just stood above his dead friend, watching over the two weeped. But the way he gripped his sword with knuckles turning white, I was certain he was mourning.
My eyes diverted from them to Mister Daku when Mister Kenshi placed his hand on Mister Daku's shoulder. With his head down and hands in a fist, I could tell he felt bad for himself for not saving Dai. He was a healer, after all.
Keiro's party decided to leave behind Dai's body and brought his shield and hammer instead. With his huge figure, it would be hard for them to carry him out of the dungeon. The three of us followed behind and none uttered a single word. We might have won the battle but we lost a life as well. And the latter held more weight than victory itself.
We almost didn't recognize the surroundings when we stepped out of the dungeon. There were no miasma anymore and the purple roots that once invaded the soil wilted and withered. A sign that the dungeon had indeed been successfully conquered.
It didn't take long for us to return to the village where everyone was waiting. A female mage, which I believed to be Shino, welcomed us with a warm smile. But her smile later on replace by a frown when she noticed everyone's expression.
"What happened?" she asked worriedly. "And where's Dai?"
Riko and Arano avoided eye contact. It was Keiro who told Shino what happened inside the dungeon and what happened to Dai. It took Shino a while to process what Keiro told her, especially the part of Dai's death. She just stared at the ground until she fell to her knees. That was when tears came pouring out of her eyes like a river.
The whole village mourned the death of Dai.
Mister Daku was still remorseful about not being able to save Dai. No matter how many times Mister Kenshi convinced him that it wasn't his fault, he couldn't bring himself to believe otherwise. It pained me to see Mister Daku like this. Although it wasn't the first time that I saw him like this, it still hurt me.
"Keiro wants to give you this," Shino suddenly said when she approached us. Daku looked at her before looking at the object in her hand. It was the artifact. "I don't know what this is but he has a strong feeling that you entered the dungeon for this."
"Thanks, Shino," Mister Daku replied and received the artifact.
Mister Daku was about to say something when Shino spoke first, "Don't blame yourself, Daku. I know you're blaming yourself right now because you couldn't heal our friend but I also know what happened. In fact, without you two, none of them would get out of that dungeon alive. You saved them, Daku. At least think about that. We'll be forever indebted to you."
"We're just doing our job as fellow adventurers, Shino."
***
We were now on our way back to the city and in just a few hours, we would reach the gate. Mister Daku had already scolded me for chasing after them. I understood them for their reaction. I was just a kid who happened to awaken as a marksman. But they also understood me that fighting the Dark Order was my fight too as a way to avenge my mother. And they were right about one thing: they couldn't stop me from doing what I wanted because even if they told me to, I would still do it no matter what.
I was probably in my rebellious phase or something like that.
They also asked me about what I did back in the dungeon. And just like what happened, I told them that it was just a miracle and pure luck. Mister Kenshi suspected that I was blessed by the gods and that they answered my prayer but I doubted the gods would interfere for a girl like me. Besides, being the youngest awakened, I was a total nobody.
One thing that was discussed as well was Mister Kenshi's sudden sickness. Ever since we stepped out of the dungeon and right now, he still looked weak and in pain. Mister Daku must cover him with healing magic all the time just to relieve him from the pain.
"It started right after we entered the dungeon right?" Mister Daku asked but Mister Kenshi shook his head in disagreement.
"I was feeling fine when we walked through the dark path. If I'm not mistaken, it started when the artifact appeared," Mister Kenshi explained.
"Are you saying you're having a reaction with the artifact? Is it your curse?"
"Not sure. But now that you mentioned it, I do remember what that specter had told me before he put the curse on me. He said that I'll be one of the pieces of the puzzle and that I hold the most important piece of all."
"Was he referring to Dolum's revival?"
Mister Kenshi shook his head again in disapproval. "He said nothing about the God of Darkness."
"What if your curse has something to do with the God of Darkness?" I asked when an idea suddenly popped into my head. The two stopped walking and looked at me, wondering.
"What do you mean?" Mister Daku questioned.
"You can purify Evil Remnants, right Mister Daku?" He nodded. "What if the curse of Mister Kenshi is under the influence of the Evil Remnant and the reason why ordinary healing magic and healing potions don't work on him is because they can't purify it. What if you're not just healing Mister Kenshi but also purifying the effect of Evil Remnants on the wounds?"
The two looked at each other intrigued about what I just said.
"That's not impossible. But the Evil Remnant doesn't usually manifest in a human's body that's why the Dark Order needs the Dark Orb and the Dark Crystal in order to use the Evil Remnant."
"Then, what if Mister Kenshi has one of them?"
"Are you saying that I'm using a Dark Orb and a Dark Crystal?" Mister Kenshi asked and based on his tone, he didn't like what I just said.
"That's not what I meant. What I'm trying to say is what if the spectre placed something in you related to the two? And the reason why you're having this pain is because it's resonating with the other object with Evil Remnant's energy?"
"Let's assume what you're saying is true, where could the specter place such an object inside Kenshi?" Mister Daku asked.
"Which part of his body hurt the most?" I asked.
Mister Daku and I looked at Mister Kenshi who looked at us as well. Then he placed his hand on his chest answering the question that I just inquired. Mister Daku grabbed the artifact and held it out near Mister Kenshi's chest. He then deactivated his healing magic on Mister Kenshi and in an instant, Mister Kenshi was now wincing in pain.
Mister Daku distanced the artifact away from Mister Kenshi and bathed him again with healing magic. Mister Kenshi gasped for air as the pain escaped from his body. Beads of sweat invaded his forehead along with a worried look plastered on his face. He looked at Mister Daku who shared the same expression. It looked like I was right with my hunches.