"Are you certain it's back, Servant?" The woman's voice asked, staring down from her throne.
"Yes. The demon we sent to the village confirmed that he heard it after the battle with the large one." The servant stayed on his knee, as the woman in front of him grinned.
"The Heart Sapphire. After 24 long years, it's finally returned." The woman grinned wickedly, as she put her elbow up and rested her chin on her hand.
Her long silver hair flowed around her body, her eyes dark blue, her face covered in markings. Three scratch-like markings on each cheek, followed by two on each side of her neck. A silky see- through black cloth wrapped around the top of her chest and down to her wrists. An off-white corset wrapped around her waist and connected with a long skirt. Its pattern was light but the darker grey swirls were evident, pronouncing her royalty.
"Would you like for us to fetch it for you?"
"Yes. Begin the search immediately with my henchmen, the other fragments must've come out of hiding."
"Yes, My lady." The servant left, leaving the demoness by herself.
"At last, you shall be reborn, my dear." She said softly, looking up at a painted mural of a man with long azure blue hair, his demon slayer armor grey.
Crystal lifted her satchel and put it across her chest, the weight kind of surprising her, but she sighed in annoyance.
"I have no idea where to start." Crystal huffed, pulling out the fragment, "But I'm hoping that it'll become more obvious over time." Putting it back in her satchel among her other possessions, she started to leave. Walking down the steps she ran into Mrs. Yashuda.
"Ah.." Mrs. Yashuda spoke, her lips turning into a smile, "I see, you're leaving us."
"It will be safer for the village if I leave. The demons will stop attacking as often."
"I see. Still thinking about what's best for the village, as always." Mrs. Yashuda's voice was plagued with sorrow as she spoke, "But, I know I can't keep you here. Just know that you'll always have a room here." Mrs. Yashuda smiled up at Crystal, who reflected the smile.
Although it was difficult for her to return it, for some reason she didn't think it was right. She walked out of the door after, shutting it behind her she looked upon the village.
She saw no reason to wait any longer, so she continued down the path to see Rayth talking with the other slayers. All of which were laughing and smiling.
"Ah. Crystal," Rayth said as she approached, "I was just saying my farewells."
Crystal nodded once before one of the slayers hugged Rayth tightly.
"I'll miss you, Rayth. Please be safe and return home to visit."
"Of course, Brya." Rayth grinned as they separated, and the four slayers hopped onto their horses. Getting up on the saddles, they all said one final farewell before leaving.
"Let's get going then, Crystal." Rayth pulled over a horse by its reigns, and handed the reigns to Crystal, "I bought one last night for you."
"Thank you." Crystal lifted herself up onto the black horse and fixed the reigns.
"Where do you think we should go?"
"Just wherever fate takes us." Crystal whipped the reigns softly, making the horse start to trot down the path the slayers took. Rayth followed behind, and Crystal couldn't help but look back at the village as her horse's hoof steps filled her ears.
"Already missing it?"
"Not at all." Crystal said sharply, looking back ahead, "Just wondering if I forgot anything."
"Of course." Rayth grinned at her, and she sighed. It would be one long trip, no matter how she looked at it.
They came across a split in the path, and Crystal veered off to the left. Rayth followed behind with his chestnut-colored horse keeping at a safe distance behind her.
"This world may not be ready for the Heart Sapphire to come back... or maybe I'm not ready to face what my true desire is." Crystal thought to herself as the path started to get covered by trees and bushes.
"Be careful. There may be demons through here." Crystal called back, but they both proceeded on. Neither wavering and neither showing any fear.
As they got on and off the horses for certain parts of the path when it got too rocky, the sun started to set. Casting an orange glow through the trees, as they continued to walk through, Crystal was going strong but every time she looked back she could tell that Rayth was getting tired.
"Maybe we should make a fire and rest for the night."
"Yes, but we need water as well," Rayth said, taking a deep breath to hide his panting.
"I can smell some water to the west, we'll have to go off the path to reach it."
"Alright," Rayth said, following as Crystal led her horse carefully through the bushes, before long they reached the small stream of water. Rayth took both horses and tied them to a nearby tree.
"I'll get some firewood." Crystal said as she walked a little into the forest as the sun finally started to disappear over the horizon, darkening the area.
Crystal collected the firewood, stacking it in her right arm before hearing leaves rustle. Looking towards the sound, she instinctively took a sniff.
"A bunny." She thought to herself as a small white bunny hopped out of the grass, before spotting Crystal and running off back where it came, "Odd creature. It's like it thought I'd eat it." Crystal sighed, before heading back towards the stream. Pushing a branch out of her way, she saw that Rayth had already set up places to sleep, and was awaiting her.
"I'm sorry if I was gone too long."
"It's quite alright," Rayth smiled at her and she couldn't help but feel out of place. Although she planned to tell Rayth about her heart soon, she was unsure if it'd be the smart choice to make. She piled the firewood before reaching into her satchel and pulled out her flint along with a piece of cloth. Setting the cloth on top of the kindling, she started to strike the flint until a spark hit. Setting the cloth on fire before the wood caught.
Crystal watched the fire, feeling its warmth seep into her bones. Crystal stared at Rayth as he held a metal cup over the fire, the smell gave it away that it was tea.
"Black tea?" Crystal asked curiously, breaking the silence.
"Ah! Sorry! I should've asked if you wanted some. I have trouble sleeping at night sometimes, so I drink Black tea to help." Crystal looked at him, curiosity seeping out of her mouth like venom as she spoke.
"Why can't you sleep?"
"Nightmares are the main cause, but I think it's because I've never truly gotten over my childish fears." Rayth smiled before pulling the cup of black tea over to himself, "How about you? How's your sleep on average?"
Crystal sat in silence, there wasn't much to tell. She stopped having dreams when she was very young, and ever since sleep has been minimal for her. She shrugged slightly, guessing that would be the best answer.
"I haven't had a dream since I was little. But in the same sense, I don't sleep longer than 3-4 hours a
night. No more than what's absolutely necessary."
"Necessary? You act as though sleep is a bad thing."
"It isn't. Humans and young demons require sleep to gain strength. I do not. I'm a half-demon, my body doesn't require more than a few hours before it's fully recharged."
"I have met plenty of half-demons, and they typically need just as much sleep as humans do," Rayth said, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"Well, those half-demons probably have a heart." Crystal said shortly, slightly glaring at him, "It's different with me, I don't have a beating heart." Rayth seemed to take a moment to comprehend everything she had just said before it clicked.
"How is it that you're alive then?" Rayth questioned curiously.
"I'm unsure. I just know that if I get too injured, I'll die from blood loss." Crystal said as she relaxed back on her hands, looking up at the starry sky.
"So, how come you ended up without a heart? Did a demon steal it?"
"No." Crystal spoke softly, "I was born without it. I don't even know what it feels like for it to beat within myself. I can imagine, but I doubt it's anything close to what I can think it is. My father used to say that it was a mistake my mother made before I was born."
"So a curse?" Rayth asked curiously, and Crystal looked back down at the fire.
"I wouldn't call it a curse," Crystal started, "Love killed my father. Love has killed many in the foolish attempt to save someone. I have no interest in having something limit my power."
"But love doesn't just get people killed, it can increase one's resolve." Rayth tried to explain, but Crystal looked at him. Trying to kill the conversation with a glance, Rayth opened his mouth, "But I can see that you have no desire for the negatives."
"Exactly." Crystal huffed, watching the flames as her mind was consumed by her thoughts and memories. The orange light of the flames seemingly transported her back in time.
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"Papa!" A younger Crystal cried out, running up towards the temple that had been set ablaze, "Father! Can you hear me?!" Running into the burning temple, she started to cough as the smoke instantly filled her lungs, the stench of blood filled her nose.
She smashed through a set of doors that were caught on fire, burning her right arm before being before her father on the floor, a pool of blood underneath him. A woman stood above him, her long silver hair flowing softly in the fire.
"Oh, sorry, daughter." The woman smiled at Crystal with a wicked smile, "Your father's pitiful life just had to end. He begged me to kill him."
"You wretch!" Crystal screamed, running towards her mother, "Take this!" She slashed at her mother with her claws, but her mother dodged it with lightning speed.
"Come on now, you know he was suffering because of you." Her mother mocked, Crystal glared at her. Before she heard the painful groan come from her father.
"Crystallina..." His voice strained, "Take the Kitsuna and get yourself out of here."
"Father! I can't just leave you to die!" Crystal said as she knelt down next to him.
"Your old man is near death anyway. Take the family heirloom and get yourself to safety. Please, Crystallina. For me.." Crystal struggled against the smoke, before realizing that her mother's scent was gone. She reached and pulled the sword from her father's back.
"Father, I won't forget you!" Crystal started to run out, using the same path she used to get in. That's when a support beam fell in front of her, almost crushing her. She hissed as the heat started to burn her through her clothes, and leaped over the burning support. That's when the entrance collapsed on top of her, her body being set ablaze. The burning sensation making her scream,
"Hajuka! Please! Save me!" Crystal cried out, although she felt as though her voice was eaten by the flames that engulfed her.
She could feel herself losing consciousness when her body was lifted and the burning seemed to stop making new wounds. She forced her eyes to open, and she could see a pair of dark blue eyes staring down at her. Her vision was blurry, but she could tell that she was no longer in the flames, and for that, she sighed in relief before finally losing consciousness.
She awoke in a room, in a canopy bed that was pure white. She could feel the cloth of bandages wrapped around her body but attempted to sit up. Every movement caused her great discomfort, but she sat up. She looked around the room she had been placed in and wondered where she was.
"I see you have awoken." A familiar voice spoke, as the door into the room opened and revealed her brother.
"Hajuka..." Crystal said in relief and smiled at him.
"I could smell the scent of father's blood, but I was unable to reach him. Do you know who set the temple on fire?" Hajuka sat down next to Crystal, holding a tray of food.
Crystal hesitated, before answering, "It was Mother. She killed father before setting the temple on fire, I could tell by how the blood was already starting to dry on her claws."
"I see..." Hajuka sighed, before placing the tray of food on Crystal's lap, "Mother's rage must've overtaken her. Sadly there will be no way to recover Father's body, the temple has been reduced to ashes."
"I'll still go back and put up a memorial for him." Crystal said confidently before remembering something, "Hey, Hajuka? Where's the Kitsuna?"
"I found it in your hand when I saved you, I have hidden it so that whoever killed father may not find it. That will now be mother, the Kitsuna will not be found until you are ready to acquire it. Kitsuna will determine when that is," Hajuka explained, Crystal nodded her head as she began to eat, "Although your injuries are great, I have no doubt that you'll heal accordingly."
"Thank you, Hajuka..."
"You can stay at my castle for as long as you desire, it is your home now," Hajuka said as he stood up and headed to leave.
"I won't be staying for long..." Crystal said quietly, but Hajuka made a sound that acknowledged what she said as he walked out, "Demons. Pity looks gross on them." Crystal said as she brought the green tea up to her lips and drank.
Why would she stay here with him?