Chapter Two: Together forever

"Arf... Arf... Arf..."

"Again. Same nightmare."

Ranaru had just woken up from a nightmare, which was actually a childhood memory. He pulled out a necklace with a ring that belonged to Mika and that he had given her when they swore to be together forever.

"If I'd been more insistent on coming back, you'd be with me now, Mika."

"But I promise I will bring you back."

Ranaru clenched his fists tightly. He would bring her back no matter what!

He had heard that magic could do anything, even revive people, and he wanted to use magic to make it happen. But there was a problem: he was just a mortal with no magical abilities.

"I must go now, the blood moon will soon appear."

A year ago, Ranaru went to investigate the cave to see if there was anything that could help him resurrect Mika. He was surprised at what he discovered. A ritual room. After months of researching the room and its contents, he finally deciphered one of the words etched into the ceremonial matrix that read 'Revive'. He assumed it was a matrix to revive people because of that.

Ranaru got up from his bed and left the house, heading for the village cemetery. According to what little he has discovered about the matrix, the body of the person you wish to resurrect is required. When Ranaru arrived at the cemetery, he immediately started digging up Miko's grave. Only his bones remained after his body had decomposed over time. After that, he wrapped his bones in a cloth and took them to the cave.

Arriving there, Ranaru placed the bones in the middle of the matrix. There was an opening in the ceiling, through which the moonlight came in. A small altar was placed in front of the matrix, there was a reddish colored crystal on top of the altar.

The light from the blood moon hit the middle of the matrix, where the bones were, and numerous red crystals began to illuminate the entire room. The matrix began to vibrate, and reddish lightning began to sizzle around it. The bones melted into a black goo.

"Mika, come back to me."

Suddenly, a body began to emerge from the black goo, it was Mika.

"It's working!"

After the body completely emerged, Mika remained standing in the center of the matrix.

"Mika, you're back."

Tears began to form in Ranaru's eyes. When Ranaru was about to approach her, he realized something was wrong.

"Mika?"

"Ahhhhhh... Rarrrrrrrggg..."

Mika let out a scream, which eventually turned into a roar. Her form began to change from that of a 12-year-old girl, to a demonic form.

Her skin was crimson with black patterns, and she had blue eyes. It was over ten feet tall, with massive arms that looked like they were over seven feet long. The demon had nine horns on its head, one in the center of its forehead and the rest circling around it.

Ranaru wasn't scared, for in that demon's eyes, he saw Mika's eyes.

"Mika?"

"Rarrrgg... Ra... Na... Ru..."

Ranaru approached the demon until he was facing him.

"Mika..."

Ranaru raised his hand to touch the demon's face. In turn, the demon lowered its head to Ranaru's height.

"What did I do to you…?"

"I'm sorry, Mika... I'm sorry..."

He started to cry, the demon, seeing this, reached out and wiped away his tears.

The matrix began to light up once more, emitting a strong crimson glow. Only the form of a boy passed out in the middle of the matrix and the figure of a transparent girl hugging him remained after the flash.