Astral looked down into the valley as he saw the small stream of humans walking to the main gate. He paused with James and Tina as they watched the flow of people into the castle gate. The three stood still as they watched how peaceful it was, each person carrying what they could to the entrance as they saw the low morale from afar. "They look so depressed." James commented to Astral. "I never saw this from what you have done or told when they needed to be relocated."
"Its different when hope is all centered around one person they have never met, and a man that did nothing but kill humans." Astral ruffled his hair as James kept it messed up. "Saving people is a sunken fallacy when they have nowhere or no one to turn to but someone who's guise could be just a plot to manipulate them."
"Their life goals probably turn from being scholars, farmers and merchants to just surviving whatever comes next in a cursed world could be why they feel so down. I wouldn't feel safe when the castle I went to was where many died." James saw images flash in his mind from the battle. The brutality of the humans then made them all look feeble now as James lost all his thoughts.
"Look over there and smile, see the youth being happy, feel how much joy you will be for them by making sure they will have a childhood." Astral rested his hand on his shoulder as James snapped back to reality. "What needs to happen is a proof of concept. Truth to our words." James nodded. He now saw what Astral's ideas were at.
"We can't just act, we really must wait for that day, what if the rest don't arrive in time?" James asked the right question as they heard a horn blair from behind them. There was danger as James sprinted in that way. Astral rested his hand flat as he pointed to Tina for her to stay put. Astral turned and caught up to James as the two stood in front of a wall of humans who all hid behind the two. Staring at the two were a pack of weredogs with armored riders. Their silver reflected the sunlight as the two looked at each other confused.
Astral drew his sword as James was about to ignite his blades and took pause. "Why are you out during the day?" Astral asked as he handed Muramasa to James. James grabbed it and saw the same plan as James readied himself with a different weapon than normal. Astral clapped as his spear formed inside of his hand as his shield came back to his left forearm.
"We wanted a snack of humans, knowing where you are now makes it much tastier." one of the riders pointed a crooked looking sword at Astral and the humans as the two of them shrugged.
"No letting them past, got it?" Astral looked over at James as a small nod was exchanged between the two. The first rider charged past Astral's left as James took off and used his speed and sliced the rider and the dog into two as he felt the power and sharpness of the blade. The rest of the riders halted as Astral sent sparks flying at them with the tip of his spear. They looked at him in shock as something that simple would stop them.
They all started to rush directly at Astral as he rested his spear on his shield. Their speed didn't startle him as the inverse was true. He launched a wide wave attack with the tip of his spear as each of the weredogs fell to the ground. Pinning the riders as James stood at Astral's left worrying more of the safety of the humans over the attacking efforts. The second wave hopped over the first as James took one half while Astral took the other. A flurry of purple, gold and cyan filled the air in front of the humans as they watched with eerie eyes.
James finished the last one on the second wave as he looked at the Muramasa and how it gleaned to him. It didn't deeply resonate with him and wasn't quite his style despite his skill. Astral always had taught him the basics, the difference being a clash of need versus knowledge. Astral looked forward to the third wave as they all held firm. Not to be killed in a blind fury as both James and Astral looked at the spear. It differed from the one from earlier. Both saw the lack of fire coming from it as Astral claps. The spears switched as the beasts didn't notice.
"We both know this spear is not mine. However, its use here would be beyond its purpose. You think it'll scare them all off?" Astral whispered to James as he held the spear with both hands, prepared to use its ability.
"In that sense, wouldn't the scythe also work on them?" James then looked behind as the humans eyes were still fixated on the two. "Or is it due to them you keep its power hidden for now." Astral nodded as James held up the Muramasa at a ready stance.
Sora landed between the two as he looked at the pack of demons and laughed. "Didn't get enough the first time? Wanted to see real power?" Sora charged in and started to slash open each and every one of the demons who failed to leave. They took off in the other direction as Astral and James sighed as Sora went into a fully chaotic moment, unhinging himself and opening each and every demon up as he wanted them all gone.
Tina tugged Astral by the back of the shirt as she caught up to them. "Is it safe now?" She asked as Astral picked her up with one hand, both of his weapons vanished as James slid the Muramasa back into its sheath.
"Yes, we were able to handle it. But it was just a small pack of demons who were trying to cause trouble. Nothing to worry about." Astral booped her nose as she giggled. James smiled as they all see Lilac land next to them.