Moon bursts through the door of a secluded room on a military boat they stole, his arms clutching Yuma's limp body. The air inside is thick with the smell of medicinal herbs, and the soft glow of candles illuminates the small space. Cani immediately springs into action upon seeing the state Yuma is in.
"Lay him here," Cani orders, her voice calm yet urgent, motioning to a padded table in the center of the room. Moon gently sets Yuma down. His body is a broken mess—his left shoulder barely hanging on by threads of muscle, his chest marred with deep cuts, and his breathing shallow, each rise of his chest an agonizing effort.
Blood soaks through his clothing, mixing with the dirt and sweat of battle. Cani's hands move swiftly, her gaze scanning Yuma's body. She winces at the sight of his injuries but remains composed. Grabbing a clean cloth and water, she begins by wiping the blood from his chest and arms.
"His shoulders's a disaster," Moon murmurs, his brow furrowed.
"Can you save it?"
"I'll do more than that," Cani replied confidently, her hands glowing faintly as she places them over Yuma's mangled shoulder.
Yuma's body jerks slightly, his face twitching in pain, but he remains unconscious. Cani's hands pulse with a soft light, the cold from her molecule manipulation seeping into his bones. She works carefully, knitting together torn muscles, sealing open wounds, and mending the broken bone. The process is slow, every injury far worse than it first seemed.
"He's worse than he looks… get out there and help Boombox, Moon!" Moon nods and runs out the door. Yuma's body trembles as Cani concentrates harder, her forehead beading with sweat. She presses her hands deeper into his shoulder, her voice barely above a whisper as she chants softly under her breath.
"Green Balm…" She quickly turns and grabs the herb from the cabinet. She opens it, and the room fills with the sharp, minty scent of the herbal mixture. She dips her fingers into the balm and gently rubs it into Yuma's chest wound, where Ikati's blade had nearly cleaved him in two.
The effect is immediate—Yuma's body relaxes slightly, his breathing steadier. The balm works to counter the lingering effects of the enchanted injury, dulling the pain and allowing Cani's mantra to flow more freely through his body. Cani sighs, her hands moving to Yuma's shattered ribs next.
"His left side has taken the brunt of the damage… fractures everywhere. It's a miracle he's still breathing." Her hands glow brighter as she concentrates her energy on repairing his ribs. The bones slowly begin to align, healing under her touch. Suddenly, Yuma rises to a strained sitting position. Cani's eyes widened.
"How're you-" Yuma looks at Cani, his eyes filled with pure hatred towards Ikati.
"Let me at him!" Cani chokes.
"You're severely injured though-" Yuma glares at Cani.
"I appreciate your assistance, I really do… but I have a score to settle with a Demon Lord" Cani can do nothing but watch as Yuma slowly walks out of the room, closing the door behind him. Exhaling and quickly standing to chase him.
-----
Moon jumps through the air. Clenching his fist and flying towards a large crowd of soldiers.
"Time Mantra! Warp!" Moon tightens his entire arm, punching the ground. Time pauses for a moment; a massive explosion rings out. Several shockwaves explode as a fireball rises into the sky. Debris flying everywhere as if it were a volcano. Bodies of soldiers flying.
-----
The oppressive darkness of Ikati's castle loomed around Cani as she sprinted through the labyrinthine halls, her heart pounding in rhythm with her frantic footsteps. The ceilings were high and vaulted. Massive blue chandeliers hanging from small skylights.
The floor was shiny, clean, almost reflective like a mirror. The flickering torches lining the stone walls cast eerie shadows, adding to the urgency of her mission to find Yuma before he got more hurt. As she rounded a corner, she skidded to a halt, the echoes of her steps swallowed by the heavy silence of the castle.
"Yuma! Where are you?" she called, her voice strained and desperate. The emptiness answered her with nothing but silence, thick and suffocating.
Cani clenched her fists, refusing to let panic consume her. With determination, she pressed on, darting past grand archways adorned with grotesque carvings that seemed to mock her.
"I won't let him down," she whispered to herself. Suddenly, a faint sound caught her attention—a muffled whimper that pierced through the stillness. Her heart leaped in her chest as she followed the sound, racing down a narrow corridor until she reached a heavy door, its wood weathered and worn. Cani paused, her breath hitching in her throat as she placed her hand on the cold surface, sensing the presence behind it.
"Kinsha?" she called, hope igniting within her. The whimper turned into a soft gasp, and without hesitation, Cani eroded the lock and pushed the door open.
The dimly lit room was small, its air thick with despair. In the far corner, curled into a ball, was Kinsha, her vibrant orange hair disheveled and her feline ears drooping. Cani's heart shattered at the sight of her friend—once so full of life, now reduced to a mere shadow of herself.
"Cani?" Kinsha's voice was hoarse, disbelief and hope mingling in her eyes as they locked onto Cani's face. Cani rushed forward, kneeling beside her, enveloping her in a fierce embrace.
"I found you! I thought I'd never see you again!" she exclaimed, tears of relief streaming down her cheeks. Kinsha stiffened for a moment, then melted into the embrace, clinging tightly to Cani as if afraid she would disappear again.
"I thought I was lost… I thought I would never escape Ikati's grasp," Kinsha whispered, her voice trembling.
"I was so scared."
"Shh, it's okay," Cani soothed, pulling back to look into Kinsha's eyes. "You're safe now. I'll get you out of here." Kinsha looks up.
"Where's Yuma?" Cani exhales.
"I'm not sure… probably off fighting Ikati right now" Kinsha nods sorrowfully. Cani exhales.
"Okay, let's go. But first, we have to get you out of these chains." Cani took her hand to the chains, eroding them quickly and easily. As the chains fell away, Kinsha flexed her wrists, her movements tentative but filled with burgeoning strength.
"Thank you," she said, her voice steadying.