The Graveyard (6)
"There are a lot of vengeful spirits coming..." I muttered as Heartbreak glowed blue. I hope that the Frost Devil Arts will allow me to attack ghosts, since physical attacks won't work against ghosts.
Fiona trembled in my arms as her face was wide with shock. The quiet, eerie wails of the ghosts turned deafening to my arms as the numbers of the ghosts increased. The sound was like a giant wave crashing down from the depths of the ocean, except this wasn't like any ocean of water—it was an ocean of ghosts.
"T-that's the seventh prince of Cardinal Ardor... that's the financial advisor... Daddy, the ghosts-! They're all from the Great War!" Fiona exclaimed.
Lura and Rajah had already jumped into battle. Rajah's claws sliced and diced as Lura shot silver streaks that cut their flanks, clearing a path for the path for Rajah to jump in and terrorize.
"Fiona—! H-hey!!" I arched my neck trying to watch the two and found an opening to join in on the battle, but I found Fiona squirming and twisting in my arms. I shivered from a sudden chill on my back as I turned around, only to find a wandering ghost that stared at me with those black eyes and translucent body.
He shrieked, his lifeless eyes gazing into mine, and he lunged towards me. "Fiona! AH-! What are you doing?!" I cried out as she bit my shoulders, trying her hardest to break free away from me. My eyes narrowed as I tightened my hold on Fiona, the ghost dashing towards me head-first.
The ghost was in attack range already when he suddenly jerked left, his hands manifesting a sword from the black mist.
CLANG
Heartbreak met the black sword head on as the ghost's eyes widened in surprise. As per mine. I hadn't expected that Frost Devil Arts could really allow me to hit these ghosts. Aren't the two different races?
Well, I suppose since it feeds off anything it can kill... as long as you can handle the mental backlash and hope the devil inside won't take over.
I pulled Heartbreak back and using the blade; I swung left with all my might. He tried to attack Fiona--how am I supposed to kill with mercy? The black sword fell to the ground and the black mist evaporated into the air silently. I wasted no time and lunged at the black ghost, still recovering from shock.
Heartbreak passed through his chest with no problems. His eyes closed as he collapsed onto the ground. Fiona, who was panting after she could not get out of my arms even after she tried everything, took out her dagger. Her eyes were of a frenzy of light with sweat and tears dripping down her face. Still trembling, she stared across the battlefield, her head atop my shoulders.
I yanked Heartbreak out of the ghost and sheathed it. "Fiona, what's wrong? Don't jump out and fight, you're not ready." I consoled, holding her hands tight.
Her breathing calmed down into steady breaths as she rubbed her head against the helm of my shirt, wiping her tears away. The sound of the battlefield waged on, along with the roars of Rajah and the wails of the ghosts. Their translucent bodies and the red dust kicked up from the battle that covered my sight. The only way to see if Lura and Rajah were alright was to join the battle.
"Daddy... the ghosts... were of the Great War," she muttered as Rajah let out a roar. The wails of the ghosts grew louder right after. As much as I wanted to join the fray and battle with Rajah and Lura to improve my cultivation, Fiona is clearly not in the right state of mind. Who knows if she'll do something stupid. I won't be able to concentrate on the fight and protect her at the same time. Anyhow, Rajah and Lura seem to do fine, even pushing the tide of ghosts back a little.
"I know, you told me," I answered gently, patting her back. "I know."
"The ghosts... are from the Great War, daddy."
"Yes, you just said that."
"W-what if Aina... what if I meet Aina? I dunno how I can face her... I dragged her into the war..." she sniffed, drawing a huge breath of air, and looked up. Her eyes were watery and her body was shaking as she chortled out bawling, "What if daddy is here?"