The demon's shadow swept over the rooftops like a blot of darkness against the bright sky. Wings as wide as a house, barbed tail whipping behind it, and eyes glowing a sickly, hungry red.
Akari stood frozen in the backyard, her breath caught halfway in her chest.
"It's coming, Elen, it's coming straight for us!"
Elen stepped in front of her, her maid's uniform fluttering in the gusts stirred by the creature's massive wings. But her eyes were sharp, dangerously sharp, and her presence shifted from gentle servant to seasoned warrior.
"Miss Akari," Elen said calmly, "remain behind me at all costs."
Akari clutched her trembling hands to her chest. "I–I didn't mean to call it! My power just,"
"I know," Elen said gently, though she never took her eyes off the demon. "We will worry about it afterward. For now, survive."
The demon let out a guttural roar that shook dust from the roof tiles. It dove.
Elen moved instantly.
A thick, shimmering barrier erupted from her fingertips, arching above them like a dome of condensed moonlight. The demon struck the barrier with a thunderous crash, rebounding off it with a snarl.
Akari flinched, stumbling backward. "That thing is huge! Are your barriers strong enough?!"
"For now." Elen's voice was steady, but sweat already glistened on her brow.
The demon wheeled back into the sky, circling for another strike.
Meanwhile, in the east district…
Lyra kicked the final demon into a stone wall, its body dissolving into dust. The ground around her was cracked, scorch marks littering the street from the earlier explosions. Soldiers and knights rushed past her to secure the area.
She turned her head sharply.
Her eyes widened.
"That light…"
A towering column of pale divine energy had erupted on the far side of the city, Akari's location.
Lyra felt the force of it like a punch to the chest.
"No…" she whispered. "That's not natural. That was divine."
Without hesitation, she tore through the streets, sprinting faster than any normal person could track.
"Akari… hold on!"
Back at Lyra's home
The demon dived again, screaming in fury.
Elen raised another barrier, but this one cracked under the impact, fissures of light spiderwebbing across it.
Akari gasped in horror. "Elen, the barrier!"
"I see it." Elen forced her hands steadier, pushing more magic into the shield. "Its strength is higher than expected. This must be a high-ranking demon. I cannot hold it for long."
The demon screeched, beating its wings as it repeatedly hammered the barrier. Each strike sent shockwaves trembling through the ground.
Akari's heart raced helplessly.
I caused this. My power did this. If something happens to Elen,
The spark inside her chest pulsed again, but this time she forced herself to grab hold of it, to keep it still.
"Come on, come on…" she whispered shakily. "Don't explode again, don't attract anything else!"
Elen cast a quick glance back at her.
"You're doing well, Miss Akari. Keep your emotions steady."
But her voice was strained.
The demon let out another roar and swooped low. Its claws scraped against the barrier, leaving burning red streaks. It was learning. Testing weaknesses.
Elen clenched her jaw.
"If it breaks through, I will intercept it. When I say run,"
"I'm not leaving you!" Akari cried.
"Miss Akari!"
"No!" Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. "I already caused all this! I can't just run away!"
The demon screeched and dove again.
Elen raised both hands,
The barrier shattered.
Glasslike shards of light burst outward, disintegrating in the wind.
The demon swooped in, maw open, ready to tear into them.
Elen lunged forward, magical sigils spinning around her fists as she prepared to strike,
But a silver blur slammed into the demon mid-flight.
CRASH!
The demon was flung across the yard, skidding through the dirt and smashing into the far wall with an ear-splitting screech.
Akari gasped.
Elen exhaled shakily.
And Lyra landed in front of them, swords drawn, eyes blazing with fury.
Her gaze cut toward Akari, and her voice came low and sharp,
"Akari… are you hurt?"
Akari shook her head, stunned. "Lyra…!"
Lyra didn't take her eyes off her, scanning for injuries with frantic intensity before turning toward the demon as it writhed to stand.
"Good. Because this thing," she said, pointing her blade toward the demon,
"is dead."
The demon shrieked, foam curling from its jaws.
Lyra's hair whipped in the wind, her aura burning bright and fierce.
"Elen," she said without looking back, "thank you for protecting her."
Elen bowed her head. "My lady."
Lyra stepped forward, her sword glowing with raw energy.
"Akari," she said, voice calm but commanding, "stay behind the barrier I make next. I won't let it get near you again."
Akari's knees wobbled. "Lyra…"
Lyra glanced over her shoulder, and her expression softened.
"You did well. Now let me handle the rest."
And then,
She moved.
A flash of silver.
A shockwave of force.
And a battle that would shake the capital's skies was about to begin.