Chapter twelve: Allura's Wandering Soul

It had been about 2 days now since Keith, Shiro, Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Stats, and Kiaion had begun their travels, again. Now that Keith had recovered from his injuries, the group could continue their hunt for the shards of the quintessence crystal and Zarkon and Haggar.

Knowing that Haggar had accumulated a vast amount of shards. So far, they didn't find any leads, but they continued nonetheless. Keith seemed more determined to find the shards now more than ever, now that the group knew that Haggar was also in pursuit of them to create her monsters.

As the group continued their walk, Shiro glanced up at him with an air of slight concern. Haggar may be the type to not physical combat, she was good at master manipulated, she knew exactly where to hit Keith where it hurt by Making Allura didn't care about Keith or Takashi, to begin with. In doing so, Keith had lost a significant amount of confidence in himself.

"Allura didn't even consider using the power of the quintessence crystal to live." Shiro thought. "she chose death… She chose to follow Keith."

Though he tried to reassure him, Shiro noticed that Keith seemed a bit distant, as of late. Despite the days that they had in the past, he was still deeply troubled about what Haggar had said.

All that he could do was hope that one day, he would regain his confidence, again. For now, though, they had other things to attend to.

Soon, the group had arrived at their destination: yet another large mansion.

"What a huge mansion!" Pidge said.

"Stats!" Stats said.

"Lance, will we be staying here tonight?" Hunk asked.

Keith scoffed. "He's probably gonna tell 'em that there's an ominous cloud over the mansion speech again".

"No, I have a legitimate reason this time." Lance retorted.

"you do?" Keith, Shiro, and the others asked in surprise.

"Yes," Lance replied. "Rumor has it that something has been plaguing this part of the land for quite some time, now."

A while later, the group had convened with the lord of the mansion, who had told them about something rather unsettling.

"So you're saying that a wild daemon comes around, stealing the souls of dead young girls?" asked Keith as he and the rest of the group sat in the bedroom of the mansion's lord's daughter...who was lying on her bed, dressed in a white nightgown.

"It's sad enough that my dear daughter passed away". the lord answered while wiping his eyes. "To have her soul stolen on top of this…"

"What should we do, Lance?" asked Hunk.

"Rest assured. We will protect her soul without fail...but in exchange..." Lance said.

"Oh, boy, here we go, again..." Keith deadpanned.

Soon, the group was being treated to an extravagant banquet of fish, meat, cakes, and other delicacies by a bevy of female servants

"Told ya! It's the same as usual." Keith asked.

"Oh, come on, Don't be so stubborn, Keith!" Lance began, "one must have a full stomach to head into combat."

"Stats!" Stats added, causing Keith to scowl at him.

"You might as well eat, Keith," Shiro said. "After all, you're hungry, aren't you?"

"Wait, just a minute, I-" Keith started, but he was soon cut off by his stomach growling in objection, which caused everyone to giggle.

"Bite your tongue all you like," Lance began, "but your stomach says otherwise?"

"Grr-shut up!" Keith barked with a blush on his face. "Fine, I'll eat, but only if it'll get you guys off my back!"

"Stats!" Stats added as he started to eat, too, and Shiro, Hunk, Pidge, and Lance promptly started to eat, as well. However, as Lance sipped a bowl of soup, he glanced off to the side, warily.

"Still, it's awfully quiet. I don't like it." Lance through.

Meanwhile, in a meadow not too far from where the group was staying, a little girl was seen searching through a field of flowers when all of a sudden, she gasped in delight as she picked a few.

"I found some!" she exclaimed before she turned around. "Allura! Allura, look! I found some!"

Sitting near a river...it was revealed to be none other than Allura, who had survived her fall from Urasue's lair after all this time.

The Altean priestess smiled, kindly as the little girl approached her, holding the flowers in her hands.

"Look! Look! Isn't this a medicinal herb?" she exclaimed.

"Yes, Adina," Allura answered. "It's called lantern plant and it relieves swelling".

"Hey, Allura!" called a young boy, about 9 years old while he held a bundle of flowers. "Hey, what are these?"

"Do these cure anything, Allura?" asked another young girl as she approached the priestess.

"All right, all right, one a time," Allura said. "Now...let's see what we have here."

Not too far away from them, though, two shadows gazed from beneath the shade of the trees, and it was soon revealed to be two Buddhist monks with a Monkey and fox daemons, one older with a staff just like Lance's with a scruffy beard and an overbite and the other a much younger one, possibly about 18 or 17

"Master Abraham… That priestess is a wild demon? She looks normal to me." said the younger monk with the fox deamon.

"You do not have enough training." Abraham, who had the Monkey daemons, answered with narrowing eyes. "Do you not sense it? The air is thick with a sinister evil."

A pause...but then Allura, who had been sitting on the grass with the children, suddenly glanced back.

"Master Monk over there…" she said, "how long will be watching us?"

"Huh?" the children muttered while Abraham gasped silently, attempting to hide from Allura, who only smiled at him. Seeing that he had been spotted, Abraham could only chuckle forcefully as he came out of hiding.

"Well, well… You noticed us? I'm overcome by your beauty," he exclaimed as he approached them.

"Spare me such flattery," Allura said.

"I must apply myself much more diligently. I am much embarrassed". said Abraham, who suddenly stumbled and dropped something out of his robe: a scroll with all sorts of calligraphies written on it. Allura eyed it suspiciously before she glanced up at the monk, who could only grin, sheepishly.

"Please gather the scroll for me, won't you, priestess?" he asked.

As Allura reaches for the sutra, Abraham through to himself, "This is an anti-evil sutra. If a demon touches this, its true self is immediately revealed".

Allura stared at Abraham, then down at the scroll before she reached down, causing the monk to subtly tense, awaiting some sort of reaction...and yet, nothing happened. Allura just casually picked up the scroll and rolled it back up.

"I'm thankful for such a sutra. Here you are," she said before she handed it back to Abraham.

"Uh...yes," Abraham said as he reached down to take it. "Thank you."

"She touched the sutra, yet nothing happened... Could I be wrong!" he thought.

However, the moment his fingers touched the scroll, he suddenly yelled out in pain, as if he was being pierced by many hot needles before he stumbled back.

"Let's go, everyone," Allura said as she held the flowers and herbs the children had gathered for her.

"Yes, Allura!" the children exclaimed as they followed her. As for Abraham, he stood there, gaping at the group, unknowingly dropping the scroll in his shock. He then put his hand to his chest, as if to feel for any wounds, yet he found no such thing on his flesh.

"W-what was that?! Something went through my body". he said as he then looked down at the scroll and gasped in horror upon seeing that the sutra had somehow vanished. "W-what is this?"

"What's the matter, Master Abraham?" cried his apprentice as he walked up to him.

"Look!" Abraham said, and his apprentice looked down at the paper, only to gasp.

"The sutra is gone!" he exclaimed.

"It's as though it has been erased," Abraham replied, grimly.

"But...but how?!" asked the apprentice.

"Priestess!" shouted Abraham, causing Allura and the children to stop in their tracks and look back at him. "Don't know what holds you back here but this world is not for you. Return to where you belong!"

"What the heck's his problem?" asked the boy.

"He's a Funny monk!" replied his sister, while Adina glanced up at Allura, who only stared toward the horizon.

"Allura?" asked Adina, worriedly.

"Ignore him," said Allura. "The monk knows not what he speaks of, come along, now."

With that, she continued walking, taking the children with her.

"That woman… She's no ordinary demon. She's much, much stronger…and evil." Abraham through.

At sunset, Allura and the children arrived at a village, where the farmers were hard at work, tending to their crops.

"Oh, it's Priestess Allura!" exclaimed one of them as he noticed Allura walking by with the children.

One of the women said. "We're lucky to have such a wonderful priestess!"

"Yeah…The sick are cured and the children are healthy.," agreed a middle-aged man.

"so True," concurred an elderly man. "We must be grateful.."

As Allura walked with the children, she seems deep in thought, she remembered the day that the grim reaper, Urasue, Desired the magical power of a priestess, so she robbed the bones and earth from a grave, her grave and fired up her body in her kiln. However, she couldn't control the soul that has been transmitted into this body that suits her well.

After she fell from the cliff, she had managed to climb out of the river and stumbled upon this village. The villagers were surprised to see her, but welcomed her with open arms, allowing her to stay. In exchange, she tended to the injured and played with the village children...just as she did back when she was alive, many years ago.

It had been nearly a few weeks since she arrived here...and she honestly felt happy. However, she soon thought back to what Abraham had said...about the sutra revealing her true nature. Though she tried not to show it, the thought worried her.

"Priestess Allura! Priestess Allura!" Adina called while tugging on the bottom of her dress, "What is wrong!"

"Oh!" Allura muttered before she looked down at the young girl. "Oh, nothing's wrong, Adina!"

"Priestess Allura, you won't go anywhere, will you?" Adina asked.

A pause...but then Allura smiled as she crouched before the little girl.

"Tell me something, Adina," she said. "Are you fond of me?"

"Uh-huh!" Adina nodded, eagerly.

"Good, you dear to me too!" Allura replied.

"Really?" Adina asked, her eyes lighting up with joy.

"Indeed," Allura nodded, causing her to giggle.

"Adina!"

Adina looked up to see her mother, as well as her siblings.

"Come along, my dear!" her mother called out. "Time for dinner!"

"Yes, Mama!" Adina replied. "Bye, Allura. Can we spend time together, tomorrow?"

"Of course," Allura answered, causing Adina to embrace her, which caused her to gasp silently but return the hug regardless of what, and soon, Adina ran off to join her family...but as she left, Allura's smile fell.

"Oh, Adina...I wish I could live here. Here in this village. I can do that… However, is it not allowed?"

She then looked up at the sky. The night was approaching, fast...and she had to hurry. She had to hurry and get out of sight before anyone took notice.

It was time for her to feed.

Night fell quickly at the mansion where Keith and his cohorts stayed. Crickets chirped in the bushes and the only light that broke through the darkness were the lit lanterns that lined the walls outside. After a thorough patrol outside the mansion, Keith came inside where he found Shiro sitting before the dead women.

"Nothing out of the ordinary outside. So how's the deceased? Shiro!" Keith said.

"No, nothing so far," Shiro replied.

"I see!" Keith nodded as he closed the door behind him and sat down next to Shiro. "Where's Lance?"

"The Lord has another daughter here!" Shiro answered, "so Lance went to go see if she's all right."

"Oh, sure he did..." Keith moaned, eyes rolling and his tongue laced with sarcasm.

Outside, Lance was following the lord to his younger daughter's bedroom. Accompanying them with Hunk, Pidge, and Stats whom Lance prevailed to come along with him for...special reasons.

"My younger daughter is so terrified". exclaimed the lord.

"Please leave it to me. The younger sister of the late girl must also be beautiful. Err…never mind." Lance replied.

"Uh, Lance?" Hunk asked. "Remind me, why am I coming along? Am I supposed to help protect the younger one?"

"She may be nervous at our first meeting. So Pidge will transform or something?" Lance said.

"I Transform into something like what!" Pidge Deadpanned.

"So that she'll go something like, "Oh, cute little fox!" Lance said, pretends to be the younger sister.

"Wow, Keith was right!" Hunk said, annoyed. "I think you only got this job for the girls!"

"Stats!" Stats said.

"Oh, man!" Keith sneered "That guy… He's a monk! And since he acts like a saint, my hands are tied!" During his rant, Keith suddenly leaned his head against Shiro's shoulder.

"Uhh...isn't this a little close, Keith?" Shiro said as his face flush a deep red as he glanced down at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Keith said. "I'm just frustrated with Lance right now!"

"I know it's not just you!" Shiro said as he stared at the dead body of the girl. "It's Hard, but It's almost like she could spring to life any minute, now!!"

Keith swallowed thickly. Shiro's scent was permeating off her body, causing his heart to thunder loudly within his ribcage. He glanced down at the Daughter's body, lying on the sheets with her face covered.

"Is that all?" Keith said as he put his arm on his Knees, "I mean...she's dead. Her old man said it, himself...and besides, we have not to worry! even if we're a couple!"

"What!" Shiro said.

"You know, we kiss!" Keith told him.

"What!" Shiro said. "No, we not entirely a couple!"

"Oh!" Keith said, Remembering the kiss on the forehead, "You're right I misread your signal. Is it ok if I curl up into a ball right now?"

Shiro blinked up at Keith, who tried to apologize about the misread, but his lips curved up in a bit of an awkward and crooked way. "No, It's ok, real relationships take a long time to develop, you can expect us to get into a relationship overnight!"

Keith somehow felt a little bit better. he even started to laugh a little, although he tried her hardest not to. After all, he was just trying to comfort him and to explain relationships. Not everything is a fairy tale!

"Thanks, Shiro," Keith whispered as he leaned against him.

He paused. "Sure thing."

But meanwhile...

"We should go back now. I'm worried about the late princess' soul," said Lance.

"No!!" cried a rather pudgy young woman, dressed in a jam nightgown. "Please don't go, Master Monk! I'm so afraid!"

"Gah!!" Lance cried as he fell to the floor, comical tears of despair falling from his eyes. "Err...you have nothing to fear, I assure you! Guys back me up here!"

But Instead of backing him up, Hunk and Pidge Did the exact opposite, They laugh until their heads fall off or the feel of it, while Stats gaped in disbelief as he stood in the corner of the room.

"Stats!" he muttered as he glanced over at the door. "Stats!"

Keith and Shiro sat in the room, along with the dead Girl. The former gently squeezed the latter's shoulder, causing him to glance up at him before he cast his eyes to the girl's body.

And then, all of a sudden, there was a gust of wind, causing Shiro and Keith to go on high alert. Then, out of nowhere...the older daughter's body started to float into the air!

"So it's appeared!" Shiro said. "But what is it!"

"I think we're about to find out!" Keith answered.

The girl continued floating for a moment...and that's when something seeped through her parted lips. It was an orb of white light...a wisp, so to speak or rather the girl's soul, Flowing away.

And not long after, something else entered the room: a serpentine creature with a long body, covered in luminescent white scales. Its eyes were red and it appeared to have six spindly legs, and on its head appeared to be two dorsal fins. The creature flew up to the wisp of light and captured it within its legs.

"It's stealing her soul!" Shiro cried as he leaped into the air, drawing his sword just as the daemon was about to fly off into the night, but with one swing of his blade, he rent the creature to shreds...and it faded away into nothingness. Soon after that, the Girl's soul soon slipped back inside her mouth and her body fell back on the bed.

"The spirit is safe". Shiro said as he sheathes his sword.

"Somehow, I doubt it's over," Keith said.

"Wait… There's still something outside!" Shiro said.

Soon, they rushed outside, where they soon saw a small swarm of the same white creatures from before, flying before the moon...carrying with them eerie wisps of light.

"It wasn't just one!" Keith exclaimed.

"They're all carrying human souls!!" Shiro added. "So many! What're they going to do with them?"

Just then, Lance suddenly came outside...although, for some reason, his t-shirt was partially pulled off his shoulders.

"Let go of me!" Lance yelled before he vaulted over the railing, just as Hunk, Pidge, and Stats appeared with the younger daughter.

Please, don't leave me!!" she cried.

"Lemme guesses," Keith said. "Lance having lady problems, again?"

"You know!" Hunk said, only to shriek as the younger princess took him into a vice-life embrace.

"Stats!" said Stats.

"You think this one might be a daemon in disguise!" Keith told Stats. "Well, I don't know whether to laugh at Lance or feel sorry for him."

Concurrently, at the village where Allura was staying, Adina has lied on her bed, However, it seemed that sleep wouldn't be coming to Adina tonight. She couldn't help but think about what happened with Master Abraham today.

She noticed that while she seemed calm, the encounter with the monk seemed to upset Allura in some way, even though the priestess tried not to show her concern.

Adina sighed quietly as she tried to block out the memory of the monk. He made some sort of mistake. Allura was a kind, gentle, and caring woman who would never seek to harm anyone...

...She was...wasn't she?

"I can't sleep". thought Adina...but then, out of the corner of her bedroom window, she spotted Allura walking off to...somewhere.

"Allura...?" Adina whispered as he carefully got up so as not to disturb her family, then quietly crept out, intent on following the priestess into the shore of a lake, staring blankly at the night sky. Adina gasped quietly as she hid behind a tree, eyeing Allura from a safe distance.

"Where is she going so late at night?" Adina through "Because of those words this afternoon, maybe she's going someplace far away…"

Just then, Allura untied her hair bun, allowing her white locks to fall freely and at that very moment, they appeared: the same demons from before, flying toward her while carrying the wayward souls. Adina gasped, but not loud enough for Allura to hear.

"Priestess Allura is manipulating the demons…" Adina thought.

"My Soul Collectors..." Allura said. "Souls of tragic women… Come to me" She then closed her eyes...and soon, the souls began to sink into her clay skin, and all the while, Adina gasped, completely horrified as she couldn't believe her eyes. She watched as Allura stood near the embankment of the lake, her Soul Collectors dropping soul after soul into her clay body.

The poor child was stunned beyond all reason, so much so, that she could not even speak or move. Her breath stayed trapped within her lungs, her body trembling in fear.

"So...I was right all along," spoke a familiar voice, and as Allura turned, she saw that it was Master Abraham, along with his young ward, who held the older monk's hat in his head. The monk stared at her...sadly, almost as if he was sympathizing with her.

"You cannot cross to the netherworld, Priestess? You are the one who has died."

"Please overlook my presence," asked Allura. Her voice sounded soft...almost pleading. "I want to live quietly in this village."

As if sensing her turmoil, the Soul Collectors flew off into the sky, leaving their mistress.

"If you want to live quietly, why do you gather the souls of the dead?" he said.

"...I have my reasons," Allura answered.

"It seems that you cannot sustain that body without those souls".he said, before he held up something in his hand: a sculpture with dragon decorations, looking at them if preparing to leap out at its prey.

"What are you…going to do?" asked Allura

"I will return you to where you belong!" Master Abraham declared while holding his hand up in prayer. "I do this for your sake!"

Soon the sculpture flashed a bright light...and soon after, a huge, golden dragon appeared, towering down at Allura...and yet, she showed no fear, even as the creature coiled itself around her and had its claws around her neck.

"You cannot escape my Demon-Binding Spell! I will extinguish your light! Save your soul!" shouted Master Abraham.

A pause...but then Allura smirked, darkly.

"Save? You?! Save my soul?!" she asked. "Oh, please, you have no right to tell me what to do!"

Suddenly, the dragon burst into pieces...and to Master Abraham's horror, its claw suddenly flew right into his neck, piercing his throat! He gagged as he felt the claws slice into his flesh, blood dripping from his mouth...and soon...his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed on the ground...lifeless.

"Oh, no!" cried Abraham's apprentice. "Master Abraham...he's dead!!" He then looked up at Allura...who approached him with hooded eyes, listless and dark. "W...what are you?!"

Allura didn't answer him...she just stood there, glaring at him, menacingly. The poor young monk, frightened beyond all reason, only turned and fled, shrieking at the very top of his lungs. As for Allura, she glanced down at the motionless body of Master Abraham...her face showing no remorse or pity, whatsoever.

"If you hadn't interfered, you wouldn't have died," she said, but to her surprise, Master Abraham raised his hand and grabbed at her dress.

"...Priestess..." he rasped as he weakly raised his head. "Just what…are you trying to do? The living is carving new moments in their lives. But…Time has stopped for the dead, like you. It can never mix." He then coughs up a large amount of blood. "How sad…" He then heaved a sigh, breathing his last breath.

"Sad, you say? Me?" Allura whispered, bitterly...but then, the sound of a twig snapping caused her to gasp before she snapped her head toward the trees. "Who goes there?!" She then gasped, this time in horror as she realized that it was none other than little Adina, who whimpered as she lied on the grass with tears in her eyes. "Adina? W...what are you doing here?"

Adina said nothing. Instead, she stared, her frightened eyes wide and her pupils as small as pinpoints.

"Adina… Were you…watching?" Allura asked as she approached the girl, who gasped as she attempted to back away. The undead priestess stared at her, sadly before she attempted to gently cup her face...but instead, Adina smacked her hand away.

Allura gasped in horror...but then she sighed in resignation.

"I'm sorry. I frightened you," she whispered before she turned away.

With that, she walked away, leaving Adina alone. The girl glared after Allura...before she sniffled as her tears fell. She would never admit it...but ever since she first met Allura, she knew that something wasn't right about her. However, when Allura acted kindly toward her and the rest of the village children, she put those fears into the back of her mind. Adina truly wanted to believe that Allura was pure and kindhearted...but to see her for what she was...it was just too much for her heart to bear.

Thus, Adina was left to cry her broken heart out. "Priestess Allura…I'm sorry!"

The following day...

"Let's go. We have to save the souls of those women."

"Huh? So where?"

"Well…" Shiro paused as he stared at Keith, who sat on the picnic blanket along with Lance, Hunk, Pidge, and Stats, the latter slurping on a lollipop that Shiro had brought him while he sat on her backpack.

"Uh...you have a point," said Shiro, realizing his folly.

"The daemon who stole the souls disappeared without leaving a clue," said Pidge. "We wouldn't really know where to look."

"It's no use returning to that mansion," Lance said while sipping a cup of green tea.

"I think you have a different for that," Hunk deadpanned. "As in a certain lady who might a certain interest in you."

Lance coughed, accidentally spitting up some of his tea while Keith and Hunk snorted, trying to stifle their laughter. Shiro, however, looked less than amused.

"Keith, what's your problem?" she asked as she squats down next to him. "Has eating all the food in the mansion made you lazy?"

"No…What's the point in all this? It's not like we'll find a quintessence crystal fragment." Keith said

"Not again! Look, we're helping people." Shiro said.

Keith scoffed. "And that's what I'm tired of! I'm gonna be a great daemon someday so why must I help petty humans?"

"Well, aren't you the villain?" Shiro asked. "You're practically a saint, and you know it."

"Excuse me?!" Keith questioned. "What is that supposed to mean!"

"I'm flattering you." Shiro countered.

Keith scoffed, again. "Anyway, I don't like this, so I'm out. Understand?" He then smirked as he turned to her. "So if you got a problem with that- HEY!!" To his surprise, he was looking toward the river, instead. "I'M STILL TALKING HERE!!!"

"Look! In the river!!" Shiro cried as he pointed to something floating in the water: a young, bald man, dressed in the same kind of robes as Miroku.

"Stats!" Stats said.

"I don't think is an octopus! Stats!" Pidge said.

"No, it's not!" Lance replied. "It looks like a human...a young monk!"

"That's terrible! Hurry! Keith! Save him!" Shiro cried.

"Why me?!" Keith questioned. "Why can you be you!"

"Please, Keith!!" Keith urged. "You are the saint In all of us!"

"...Oh, for the love of..." Keith grumbled before he soon jumped into the river and brought the young monk to land. Once he got out, he shook himself dry. As for Shiro, he, Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Stats, and Kiaion tended to the monk, who lied on the ground with his head on a towel.

"This priest is just unconscious!" Lance said...and soon, the monk groaned as he scrunched his face up.

"It looks like he's coming around," said Shiro...and as the monk opened his eyes and looked toward him, he gasped in horror before he screamed, causing Hunk to shriek as well as he hid behind Keith. "What did you do that for?! You scared the wits outta me!!"

"I'm sorry!" cried the monk. "but don't come any closer!"

"Wait! Calm down!" Lance exclaimed. "Tell us...what causes you such fright?"

Soon, the young monk, who was called Daniel, conveyed why he was in such a state of fear.

"A wild daemon attacked you, you say?" asked Shiro.

"Yes, indeed," Daniel answered. "She killed my master, Abraham, and then disappeared." He then looked toward to Pidge, who kneeled beside Keith and Shiro. "In fact...she was a priestess, as well."

"A...a priestess?" Shiro asked.

"...It couldn't be..." Keith whispered.

"And just what is the name of this priestess?" asked Lance.

"I believe I may have heard her name being spoken a few times," Daniel said. "I believe her name was...Allura." Then, all of a sudden, Keith suddenly shot up to his feet and grabbed the young monk by his robes, causing him to gasp in horror. "N-no, wait! Don't hurt me, please!!"

"Keith, no!" Shiro cried. "Put him down!!"

"If you're lying, you'll pay!" Keith began.

"I only speak the truth!" cried Daniel. "The priestess was named Allura! I heard the village children call her by that name! She was spiriting away the lost souls of the dead and-"

"Never mind that! The name! How do you know her name was Allura?!" Keith shouted.

"but that's what I heard the young children call her, so it must be her name!" Daniel cried.

"Keith, put him down, now!!" Shiro demanded. "Please!!!"

Keith seethed before he dropped Daniel on the ground, then looked up toward the sky. He could've sworn that Allura had fallen to her doom during their confrontation at Urasue's mountain lair. If she's still alive...

"Stats!" Stats asked.

"What are you thinking?" Shiro inquired.

"Guys, I'm sorry," Keith began, "but I'm gonna go it alone for now."

"What?!" Shiro questioned.

"I'll be back!" Keith said, and with that, he soon running off into the distance and disappeared beyond the trees.

"Allura...I…want…to save you!" he declared in his thoughts.

"Wait, Keith" Shiro whispered as he watched his half-daemon friend leave.

Soon, he, Hunk, Pidge, Stats, Lance, and Kiaion sat in a clearing, contemplating what their next move should be.

"Shiro?" Lance asked. "Are you OK?"

"...I...I don't know," Shiro answered.

"Do you want to go after Keith?" Hunk asked. "He shot off like a bullet."

"Yeah, he sure took off in a hurry," Pidge said. "Why would he do that, anyway?"

"I think maybe part of him still harbors feelings for Allura" Shiro answered.

"Stats!" Stats said.

"You know why! Stats! That's why it's better if we stay away…" Shiro said.

"Stats!" Stats said.

"I think I understand." Lance nodded. "Keith and Allura were once friends, weren't they?"

"Oh yeah, that's right!" Hunk said, petting Kiaion.

"Even though...I'm starting to wonder if what Haggar said was true," Shiro said. "I mean...I want to believe that Allura did care for Keith in the past, but...something still doesn't add up."

"Like what!" Pidge asked.

"If Allura and Keith have a friendship" Shiro began, "why was Allura so quick to fall for Haggar's trap and seal Keith to a tree with her arrow? None of it makes sense."

"Yeah, I think you're right!" Lance said "The woman he once cared for may have changed. If so…he would not want others to see her."

"I think it's more than just that," Shiro said before he grabbed his backpack and walking away from the group.

"Stats!" Stats called as he sat on Lance's shoulder.

"We better go after him, guys!" Hunk said before he followed after the twenty-five. As they went, the sky began to turn dark around them.

"What the-?!" Shiro questioned. "What's happening?! It can't be night, already!"

"Stats!" Stats cried as he pointed to the trees.

"What's the matter!" Pidge said as soon they saw Allura's Soul Collectors flying by, carrying with them the souls of the dead, once more. "It's those daemons, again!!"

"After them! Quickly!" Shiro shouted.

"Stats?!" Stats asked.

"He'll have to wait, I'm afraid!" Shiro said.

Though Shiro was reluctant, he decided to heed his advice and followed the Soul Collectors instead. As the Group ran deeper and deeper into the forest with Shiro leading the charge, Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Kiaion, and Stats suddenly yelled as they were pushed back by some sort of invisible wall.

"What's this?!" Hunk said as he felt the invisible wall, while Lance raised his hand, only to yell as he felt a brief but painful shock.

"It's a barrier, We can't pass?" Lance said, "Whatever or whoever is in there...they don't want us to get through."

"But...Shiro went through without a problem!" Hunk exclaimed. "How was he able to pass it."

"I don't know," Lance said. "I just pray that he'll be all right on his own."

Shiro panted as he ran down a hill, still following the Soul Collectors, but then gasped as she almost slipped on the grass. Luckily, he managed to use a nearby tree as leverage to keep herself from falling.

"That was close," he said before he glanced back. "Hey, be careful! The grass is slippery here- huh?!" He then noticed that Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Stats, and Kiaion were nowhere to be seen.

"Lance?! Hunk?! Where are you- AAH!!" He shrieked as he tumbled down the slope, covering his face with his arms to keep himself from taking any more damage before she finally fell to the bottom.

"Ugh..." he groaned as she sat up. "OK, I'm slowing down." She then looked up, only to gasp in surprise. "A...Allura...?!"

Indeed...there was Allura, lying in the branches of a small tree, surrounded by the souls of the dead...her face lax as if she were in a peaceful sleep.