'Ahh, free drinks are the best,' Saki said.
'Should you be taking drinks from the fridge?' Hina asked.
'The bastard allows it.'
Eri meanwhile sat at the table, quietly munching on a sandwich.
Suddenly, Saki darted toward her bokken.
'What's wrong?'
'Be quiet.' Saki tightened her grip. 'I hear someone.'
She closed her eyes, focusing all her energy on the faintest sound.
'Everyone, get behind me!'
Her gaze locked onto the back door.
Hina and Eri hurried behind her.
'Are you hearing things, Saki?' Hina asked.
The moment the door creaked open, Saki quickly took her stance.
A dark-skinned woman with long pink hair stepped inside.
'To think you could sense my presence… for a human.'
Dressed in black clothes and a red cape, she looked like she had stepped out of a fantasy world.
'Why are you here?!'
Ingrid smiled, faintly amused. 'Are you going to fight me?'
'I will if you don't answer.'
Her gaze drifted past Saki, and she pointed.
'I'm here for that girl.'
It was Eri.
'Why?'
'You are in no position to question me.' She took a step. 'Hand her over.'
Saki shifted, placing herself between them. 'No. I won't let you take my friend.'
'Friend?' A laugh escaped her lips. 'How absurd. You would lower yourself even further by befriending… humans.'
Saki quietly whispered to Hina.
'Take Eri and run. I'll hold her off.'
Hina hesitated. 'No, I'm not leaving you.'
'What are you two whispering about?'
Ingrid suddenly stood in front of Saki.
'RUN!'
Saki swung her bokken.
*CLANG*
'You would raise your weapon against me?' she said, stopping the strike with her arm.
Then, she countered with a punch.
Saki didn't even see it coming. She flew, back slamming into the sofa, wood splintering beneath her as it toppled over.
'Now,' Ingrid murmured, glancing around, 'where did they go?'
Hina and Eri were already gone.
Saki forced herself up, legs shaking, vision blurred, but she pushed through it and charged once again.
'You ain't going anywhere!'
'Pointless.'
Ingrid swung again.
Saki dodged.
Aiming low, she swung with all her strength. The bokken struck her side with a sharp crack.
Ingrid flinched for the first time.
'To think you could land an attack on me.'
Saki pressed forward, swinging again.
But Ingrid caught the bokken mid-swing and drove her fist into Saki's abdomen.
'Pwah!'
Pain tore through Saki's abdomen, stealing the air from her lungs. She collapsed, fingers dug into the floor, trying to hold herself together through sheer willpower.
'Stay down. You've done enough.'
Footsteps turned away.
*CLANG*
'I said…' Her voice trembled. '… you're not leaving.'
Saki forced herself up and attacked again.
The difference in power became undeniable.
Every strike Saki threw was read.
'That stubbornness will be your undoing.'
Each attack came faster than the last, and Saki's body struggled to keep up, her arms growing heavier with every impact.
Still, she endured.
One strike slipped through her guard, then another. The third sent Saki crashing through the doorway and out into the garden.
'Huff… huff.'
Saki staggered to her feet, arms trembling so badly she could barely lift the bokken.
But she raised it anyway.
Because she had to.
Not until she knew Hina and Eri were safe.
'For a human…' Ingrid walked out. 'I'm impressed.'
'…'
Saki watched.
'Struggle all you like. It will not change the outcome.'
She clenched her fist and dashed forward.
Saki barely slipped past the attack.
A rush of air grazed her cheek.
A barrage followed.
At first overwhelming, but gradually, Saki began to read the rhythm.
Saki pivoted and swung.
*CLANG*
The bokken struck Ingrid's head.
Ingrid stumbled back, surprised.
'You're improving,' she said, touching her head. 'But you still stand no chance.'
Saki's breathing grew ragged. Her body was reaching its limits.
Before she could react…
Saki's vision went white as something slammed into her side and sent her skidding across the ground.
'No matter how many times you swing. The result will always be the same.' She stared at the fallen Saki. 'Know your limits and stand down.'
Saki lay still for a moment.
Then… she moved.
Her bokken pressed into the dirt as she forced herself up again.
Her arms shook, and her legs could barely hold her up.
'No.'
She lifted her head, eyes burning through the haze of pain.
'I will protect everyone!'
She charged.
'Purge all evil!'
'Naive.'
Saki dodged clumsily and countered.
*CLANG*
It was blocked.
Saki quickly raised her sword to block, but it was too late.
A fist smashed into her face, which sent her tumbling across the ground.
'A childish dream. To think you can protect everyone.' She turned around. 'Power decides what is protected and what is lost. Take that as my advice.'
'I'm… I'm not done yet.'
Saki rose again, legs shaking, blood dripping from her nose.
'You haven't beaten me yet.'
Her stance wavered, but she held it.
Ingrid turned back.
'Then let me help you wake up.'
She drew her sword.
In an instant, she appeared before Saki.
Saki quickly raised her bokken, but it was sliced in half.
Saki's eyes widened before Ingrid delivered a kick to her stomach.
'You know nothing of the world beyond your ideals.' She sheathed her sword. 'Accept it.'
Saki stared at her broken bokken.
Still, she tried to stand, only to fail.
Her fingers dug into the grass.
'Even if I break…'
She forced herself up.
'I'm not letting you touch them!'
She raised her stance again.
'You really are a childish one.'
This time, Saki stood no chance.
Blow after blow rained down. Blood splattered across the ground.
'STOP!'
Ingrid's body froze for a bit, but she quickly recovered.
'Let her go!'
She turned.
Hina and Eri stood in the distance.
'So you didn't run.'
Ingrid got up and dusted her clothes.
'Here. You can have your friend back.'
She grabbed Saki by the collar and threw her toward them.
'Saki!'
Hina rushed to her side.
'Hi… na?'
Saki weakly raised her hand.
'Saki!' Hina clasped it tightly. 'You'll be okay.'
Eri stared, frozen.
Blood.
Everywhere.
'Swordfish… Knight.'
She looked up at Ingrid.
'Why did you do this?! What do you want from us?!'
'I want you,' she said, pointing. 'Daughter of a criminal. As for her… she chose this outcome.'
'Criminal? I'm no criminal, so wh—'
'But your father is. The worst of the worst.'
Ingrid's expression darkened.
'He dared tarnish the reputation of every demon. That stain must be erased.'
'And what does that have to do with me?!'
'Ha.' She laughed. 'You carry his blood. Therefore, you're guilty.'
'Please… run,' Saki whispered.
Eri looked at them one last time.
'Sorry… everyone.'
She wiped her tears.
'It's this lord's fault.'
'It's not,' Hina said.
'Yes, it is!' Eri shouted. 'If this lord wasn't around, none of this would've happened!'
She removed her glasses. A tail shot from behind, and little wings appeared on her head.
'That's why… I will fix it.'
'So this is what you truly are…' Ingrid commented. 'And you think that will allow you to set things right?'
'Eri?' Hina looked shocked.
'Sorry, everyone. I've been lying to you all.'
She then faced Ingrid and her eyes glowed pink.
Ingrid staggered, then steadied herself.
'That won't work on me.'
She immediately dashed toward Eri, ready to knock her down.
Fireball!
A fireball flew toward Ingrid.
*Boom*
Smoke filled the air.
When it settled. Ingrid was still standing.
'To think you could cast magic…'
'Eri…' Saki whispered.
She watched the whole scene.
Tightening her grip, she stood up.
'Saki! You're too injured—'
'I don't care about myself,' Saki said. 'I'll keep on fighting for all of you.'
'Two against one?' Ingrid raised an eyebrow. 'And you think it will matter?'
In a matter of seconds, both of them collapsed.
'STOP!'
Hina stepped in front of them, arms outstretched.
'I won't let you hurt my friends.'
She trembled, but didn't move.
'Pathetic.'
One strike sent Hina crashing to the ground.
'HINA!'
Saki crawled toward her.
'Please be okay. Please be okay.'
She gently turned her over.
Blood traced a thin line down her temple, soaking into the grass.
'She's not dead.' Ingrid said.
'Hi… na.'
Tears fell from Saki's eyes.
'I'm too weak… to protect any of you.'
She gently held Hina's hand. Afraid that if she let go, Hina might disappear.
'All of this could have been avoided if you had known your place.'
Ingrid slowly approached the injured Eri.
Saki's eyes widened.
Her hand shot forward, fingers clawing into the ground as she forced her body to move.
'Don't…'
Her voice cracked.
'Touch her…'
Ingrid didn't even look back.
Something pulsed at Saki's wrist.
A faint glow.
Warm. Unfamiliar.
Then, two voices echoed in her mind.
[To think fate would lead me here.]
Another followed, lighter, almost amused.
(Wow… you're really going all in, huh?)
Saki froze.
Her breathing hitched.
'Ar… are you two here to lend me your strength?'
[… Why should I lend you my strength?]
(You're going to snap like that, you know.)
The glow from the bracelet intensified, white light bleeding between Saki's fingers.
'Can't you see?!' Saki cried, looking at her friends.
[And you think you can save them?]
(Heh… you remind me of someone who refuses to lose.)
'AHH! My head. Can one of you speak at a time?!'
[Then what is your goal?]
(I'll take a step back and observe.)
Saki looked at Eri and Hina.
'To save everyone.'
[Saving everyone? That's an ideal even heroes fail to reach.]
'I…'
Saki hesitated.
She knew everyone was right.
Nothing but a childish dream. A fantasy.
But… seeing the blood of all her friends. Her jaw tightened.
'I don't care! If you're not going to help me, then I will do it myself!'
Just as she was about to rip the bracelet off, the voice spoke.
[Fine. I will help you.]
[… That stubbornness… I know it well. It's the kind that gets people killed.]
[Don't misunderstand. I'm not saving you. I'm just lending you the means to try.]
The bracelet grew brighter.
[You just have to say—]
———————————————-
'Struggling is only going to make it worse.'
Eri tried to cast, but was struck down each time.
'Just give u—'
'INSTALL!'
A surge of mana exploded behind her.
'… What is this?'
Red energy erupted like sparks. Steel spread outward in thin, glowing veins.
Ingrid's hand paused for a moment.
'… My body… hesitated?'
The red light began to gather in one place.
Stepping out, Saki was now clad in black armour with a red coat over it.
Saki held her broken bokken, staring at it.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Feel the sword.
Its weight. Its texture. Every detail.
Her eyes snapped open.
'You said that my goal was childish.'
Ingrid tightened her grip, ready to draw her sword.
'I'll show you I can save everyone.'
Green lines spread across the broken bokken.
'Trace on!'