Arc 1, Chapter 22: What Lies in Darkness

"Huck! Hyuh… Oof!" she was thrown into shadow that smoked up, much like Hotaru's odd dream state.

She fell onto the ground that did not appear like wood. Ruby red lights—eyes—all closed before a pair of large ones opened in front, looming over her.

Jotou got up, her arms and legs scraped. She held her blade in hand, standing still and panting while the red lights painted its glow over her, leaving a black shadow in her image.

"Who… are… you...?" the shadows whispered; was the voice gravelly? Was it low? She couldn't discern; only that the eyes watched while shadows wisped around her like she was standing in a spotlight.

Jotou stood covering her eyes from the bright red, "You're the thing threatening the city, making dead bodies walk; you know who I am, I'd rather ask who you are."

"I… did not make you… you are not of my creation… yet you defy my power… Raised from the dead, from a hidden noble life once led… What sorcery has been connived to face me… What, are, you…?"

With every whisper, Jotou could feel a chill shivering her spine, "You're the one making the snow…" she whispered. "You think I know? It's the same story I tell anyone else. I'm not from here, nor did I ask to be here!"

Its eyes twisted and glared, "You… do not… lie… If you are no use… then you are a waste of time… leave this guild… leave Kria…" it threatened; the eyes got closer with smoke following its form.

'It's asking me to leave?' Jotou broke through the chill of its intimidation. "Why… should I? It seems you're the one scared of me velatos."

"No more Kria… I, will tear this… city… apart… dream by dream… fear by fear… No reward you will gain… I will only return…"

"Why? Don't tell me you just want to watch the world burn. That's so cliché!" Jotou readied her blade and pointed it to the entity. 'How the hell am I going to hit it… none of my attacks seemed to even crack the thing tonight. It must've gotten stronger…'

"None… of your… concern… Jotou Howllett…" the smoke and eyes now appeared only but a few feet away from her, "Leave… Or die…"

"No!" 'Am I really playing hero?' "If I'm the only one with the power to change this, then I'm going to make sure to stop you.

It's good you know my name," she pulled her sword to the side, "I'll make sure it's the last thing you remember."

"Fool…"

'Yeah, I know, cliché line, I had nothing else alright? …Focus Jotou… there are lives on the line.

An entire city of people with daily lives, wanting to be in peace… This isn't a joke… I need to try… Hotaru said I couldn't do it… This thing thinks I'm worthless then why converse with me? Now I just want to piss this thing off more.'

The shadow walked closer, about to engulf her, but Jotou knew it couldn't touch her.

She thought of Hotaru who always tried to help no matter the case. People calling her names for something she can't choose. Yet she still cares for the people, wanting their approval, despite having nothing to prove.

The kind smile forged from abuse so that no one else had to feel as such.

Asobi's confidence and smile even in the worst of situations. Being used because she was naïve, but able to pick herself up again and put on a show. In a constant bliss and now she had friends.

The happiness born from always looking forward, so that the past can be but a memory.

Fumeko's face in fear looking up to her… The cocky detective who argued with her the most. Intelligent yet dumb, chaotic yet serious when she needs to be. Curious about so many matters and views the world with a childlike wonder and an adult sense.

The hope created so that nothing or nobody can ever stop you.

'Stupid things to think about in a moment like this… Seems I've got your attention velatos… There's only one way to kill you.' Jotou sighed, "Fumeko's gonna kill me if I don't get back," the shadow stopped in place, almost curios to her thoughts as it cocked its 'head'.

"I don't know who the heck I am at this point or how I got here. Hell, I don't even know if this is all real or fake. It could all be some coma dream, but I heavily doubt that," Jotou smiled, gripping the hilt of her sword with both hands.

"I don't know what happened to my friends and I don't know why I can stop you. But it all feels too real. In this world, I've made new friends and I'm not going to abandon them.

They make me smile and believe in me. I refuse to disappoint them. My old world was just one bad thing after the other. Maybe it was my own doing, maybe not but I'll figure a way out; I will.

Still, I want to see what this world has to offer, because I don't think I've been this happy in a while and you're in my way…

Hell be damned if I go down without a fight. I won't run the other way… Even if I lose, I hope I'll be in the corner of your mind," the blade hummed.

"Enough… of this, nonsense…!" the shadows pierced forward in warping shadow.

'Here goes nothing.'

The blade flickered with light, "THUNDERING STRIKE!" the blade webbed itself in electricity as the shadow impacted her sword, whilst Jotou spun, swinging it towards the oncoming ruby red…

…

"BLASTTTT!T!T!!!" Thunder echoed upon the strike, a stroke of yellow lightning burst out the window of the room. "CRASH!"

The thunder resonated in the blade… echoing throughout Kria upon the clouds of snow… Her final view of ruby red eyes dissipated, only to feel crimson liquid going down her vision…

…

_

…

The light… The ruby red disappearing before she blacked out… It was all blurry, the light… It wasn't red it was a warm yellow. Around her, warmth upon her skin… her fingers jerked a little.

The sound of too many people talking as she awoke. "Slap!" Jotou jolted awake, feeling Fumeko's hand smack against her cheek.

"Idiot…" Fumeko mumbled to herself.

Jotou tried to move her limbs, only to feel like something weighing her down. More so nothing to lift her arms up—a fatigue.

Every time her pupils hit the edge of her eyes it hurt, her head ached from every angle and her body felt weightless as blood rushed through her. "Ugh… everything hurts," like a dozen needles had been poked into her side.

The yellow light from above was obstructed by strands of crimson hair; Hotaru's brilliant blue eyes looked into the blonde's, before they glazed over, "You should expect that with about five hundred torn muscles."

"Hotaru-! GH!" Jotou groaned immediately as she raised her voice a little too high. She fell back onto the mat put out, realizing she was in the adventurers guild hall; all the tables missing, many people lying on mats just like her.

"Your neck," Jotou muttered.

Hotaru's neck had a slight scar, that she had been clearly healing over and over. "Don't worry about her you dolt! Thank her for not letting you die!" Fumeko raised her hand again.

Hotaru caught her wrist, "Meko, stop it."

"Yeah, you were crying she died a couple of minutes ago," Asobi sat on the other side of Jotou's head.

"…No, I WASN'T!" Fumeko went back to sitting near Jotou's feet.

"Whatever the case, you used that spell and the shadows, all of them, went away. They're looking into it, but we found you unconscious in the room," Hotaru stated.

"Yeah, right after you yelled, "Thundering Strike!"" Asobi giggled. "Fumeko ran first, then Hotaru fell over because Meko was faster and tripped on Meko's leg, it was hilarious! …I'm glad you're okay though, that was reckless…"

Jotou moaned, "Coming from you?" She let out a breath in relief, "Thanks Hotaru. And Meko and Asobi."

"You're welcome," Fumeko pouted, arms crossed.

"I didn't do much…" Asobi waved her wand idly, making an extremely tiny illusory circus show on Jotou's torso.

"Thank you for saving my life," Hotaru remembered the words Jotou said to her. Her tail wagged, "But if you ever pull a stunt like that again, like using a master level spell, I'll be the one to end your life," Hotaru glared, her ears bristling.

"Get in line," Fumeko got up. "I need to eat," she went searching for food… "I'm… glad you're alive," Fumeko uttered as she walked away.

"Hey, at least Jotou got a new spell she can practice! You did it once and when you heal, you can try it again!" Asobi encouraged.

Jotou looked to the ceiling. "Just sleep for now," Hotaru's advice was pointless as Jotou fell asleep with a smile. 'I guess this world isn't SO bad…'