Kaede's form shimmered as he was back to being a normal human, and he looked down at his hand, which had a glowing red and black rune of a dragon on it, and he thought, 'That…That felt amazing! So much power…it's like my body moved on its own, like I knew how to do it. So this is what it's like..to be like everyone else?'
He looked over at Ember, and said, "Ember.."
She was smiling, replying, "I'm sorry I did this crap to ya. I know you were scared shitless and all that. I didn't do it earlier because I thought you would have rejected me for being like this. And I wanted to make sure you were the right one."
"…I don't know what to say. I don't want to feel like I have to force myself to be your companion because I draw power from you, but at the same time, I grew feelings for you as well. You know it was hard for me to even find anyone to even like me, but you did. It's just a lot to take in at once."
"Yeah I get it. I'll let you hit me or something—."
"You would probably like that."
Ember blushed, looking away, "Ohoho..yes."
Kaede thought, 'She's a sadist too?!'
He cleared his throat, saying, "Anyway, if you're worried about me running away, screaming and telling the Empire about you, don't be alerted. I know demons used to purge this world years ago, until the demon king was defeated. You..knew about that right?"
"Hell yeah. A little. I wasn't even born yet, but he was my father. And after him, the elder demons were all acting like wussies, not wanting to let another demon king purge this world until the right host is found. They feel the kings are the ones who held the most potential in hell without having to do anything, which they did."
"So you're here, to create another demon king? A god of some sort?"
"The elders wanted me to bring someone with potential like you back to hell so they can perform some ritual on you, and placing the soul of my father in your body. For years, the same soul has been used to former demon king recruits, and every time they tried to take over this world and conquer the world tree of Kirvana, they have died. That's why I call him my father. Not by blood, but from the beginning of my lineage."
"So your true plan is.."
"Falling in love. Having someone as strong as me to be with forever. After years of loneliness because of the elders' restrictions and past ancient ass laws, I had to suffer alone, so when they sent me here, I was relieved. The elders knew I had the potential to make someone stronger through bonds, and so they wanted me to find a demon king candidate, who will eventually form into a god of demons. Then they will want to purge this world, attack the tree of Kirvana that holds the worlds together, and become supreme ruler over it all. They sent me to this world because the power from the world tree of Kirvana that holds the worlds together holds immense power, and all beings from this world are affected by it, powerless or not."
"…Even due to all of that, you fell in love with me to do what your elders wish?"
"No. I'm not going to do what they want. I'm gonna make you strong, so we can go there and kill those annoying bastards ourselves. But our first thing is to get stronger here in this world with our bonds, getting rid of all the obstacles in our way, and getting everything we need. I need you with me, Kaede. I know it's a bunch of information, and I'm skipping a bunch of lore telling right now, but—."
"—Ember."
"Kaede.."
Kaede thought, 'Getting stronger..and killing the ones who purged this world years ago, over and over. I've always wanted to be a hero of some sorts, training my body to try and get magic but I failed over and over. I lost so many times, almost offed myself too many times, and here I go with the opportunity to be what I always wanted to be. Standing beside someone who actually cares for me. Going along with her will definitely lead to bloodshed, but do I have any other choice? Everything I always wanted, power and love, right here in front of me. How could I reject it?'
Kaede grabbed Ember's hand, and said, "I'll do it."
"Yes! Finally! Now let's take over the FUCKING world!"
"NO! NO! WAIT!"
"HAHA! I'm kidding, I'm kidding."
Suddenly, her subordinates walked in, and Kaede turned his attention to them.
"Hm? Who are they?"
Roo responded, "Crazy how he's still alive after all of that. A powerless brat taking in that much power usually explodes brutally into the shadow realm—."
—Valka elbowed Roo in the arm, saying, "Be nice to the warrior companion husband that Queen Ember has chosen!"
"Ow! Geez! Get a grip, woman."
Rowen said, "I'm the most mature one here, by the way."
Conner responds to Rowen, "You're the worst one."
Kaiju said nothing, but as soon as he and Kaede locked eyes, Kaede felt a surge of fear rush his body, and he thought, 'Tch! What is this aura?! This bloodlust!'
Ember put her hand on his shoulder, and whispered, "That's Kaiju. He's the son of one of the demon king candidates."
"Oh yeah?"
Kaiju stepped up in front of Kaede, saying, "Do you garden?"
Kaede began to sweat, answering, "I-I mean I never done it before but I would be open to doing it—."
"—Good. I'm leaving now."
Ember scolded Kaiju, "We're not done yet."
Kaiju stopped In his tracks, his heart pounded, and he turned around, saying nothing. A small hint of fear hit his heart, but he didn't show it on the outside.
Phoebe, approaching Kaede, said, "I'm…Phoebe. Nice..to meet you."
'She's small. She looks like a little girl. And she's wearing pajamas and has a blanket on her back. I bet she's older than everyone here.'
Ember informed Kaede, "That's Phoebe. She's currently older than all of us, but looks like a little child. She was the wife of one of the demon king candidates."
'Are most of these subordinates related to the demon king candidates?'
Roo stepped up to Kaede, saying, "So, what's your name? Why did the queen choose you? What makes you special? Are you a badass? Ever killed someone—?"
Kaede's mouth watered, thinking, 'A chicken…'
"That's my favorite food…" Kaede drooled.
Roo began to sweat, backing away, "W-What?!"
"Y-You're like a huge hunk of meat, chicken was all I ever made in my life."
"Hey hey! Stop walking all close to me with those hungry eyes! Back up!"
"Wait a second, stop running."
Roo hid behind Conner, squealing like a girl, "STOP HIM!"
Conner smirked, "Oh? The big bad humanoid chicken scared of a former powerless human?"
"S-Shut up!"
Valka punched Kaede in the chest, saying, "Welcome, new one! I'm Valka. I'm in love with carnage, adventure, and taking down my enemies! You have power, so I will be fighting you in sparring matches every other day so you can perfect your magic!"
'Damn she hits hard!' Kaede thought, holding his chest.
"Perfect my magic?" Kaede asked.
Rowen replied, "You've never had magic before, and getting it out of nowhere, you have to tame it after training, your bonds with the Queen, and experience. It won't be a walk in the park. That's why I'm still the trump card."
"Who are you?"
Rowen chuckled, walking in a circle, saying to everyone with a disappointed tone, "Haha. She never spoke about me."
Everyone sighed: "Here he goes again..."
Rowen explained to Kaede, "I am the trump card. My magic is so insane, she calls me to do certain things to enemies she doesn't want to do. I'm not saying I'm the best, but..yeah that's what I am. And now that you're here, I am no longer the trump card. Queen Ember may like you or love you or something, but I will defeat you by getting super powerful. AFTER I make YOU find me a wife."
"Huh?! Why don't you do it yourself?!"
"Huh?! Don't tell me what to do! You heard what I said!"
Queen Ember walked forward, saying, "Rowen."
"Yes, Queen?"
"Shut up."
Fear caressed his soul, and he backed away.
Queen Ember explained, "Kaede is one of us now, shit head. He's the one I chose to stand with me. If we take down the elders of hell, that means no more of their invasions to this world or any of the other worlds attached to the tree of Kirvana. You all are great subordinates, and with this group, we can do the impossible. Kaede will take time learning how we do things, learning how to fully control his magic, and all that wonky stuff. Each day, I will assign him to one of you to learn under, going out into the world and venturing out, learning our ways, and the enemies ways. And when he gets back.." Ember blushed, looking away, "..He's mine."
Everyone covered their ears, pretending to vomit, "Agh!"
Kaiju just stood there, looking at Kaede with a straight face.
Conner kneeled, "I am fully aware of your intentions, my queen. And for that, I fully accept this kid."
Ember grinned, "Hell yeah. That's what I like. Now who else? If you don't accept, then—."
Phoebe raised her hand slowly, Rowen slightly raised his hand while rolling his eyes, Roo easily lifted one feather, and Kaiju nodded. Valka smacked her fists together, "Fucking bring it!"
Ember smiled, "Then we're set!"
…
Kaede stood in the threshold of Ember's bedchamber, the room steeped in shadows and lined with ancient, dark tapestries that murmured the hushed secrets of bygone eras. The smoldering glow from the hearth was the only light, casting an ethereal dance of oranges and reds across the vast space, and Ember's throne-like bed awaited, its covers thrown back in anticipation.
With her armor discarded, the formidable Demon Queen was clad in garments that married the practicality of a warrior with the effortless grace of royalty. She turned to Kaede, her cats' eyes glinting with a teasing glimmer. "Alright, rookie, time to show off your skills—or lack thereof." She motioned to the labyrinthine clasps and ties that held her attire snug against her frame.
'No way..no way….I have to undress her?! I never did this before, but I won't turn back and chicken out. This is what I always wanted, right? I have it here, In the palm of my hands. Don't chicken out, don't chicken out.'
Kaede hesitated, fingers hovering millimeters from the fabric as if unsure whether his touch would be met with flame or silk. "I… I think I might need instructions on this one," he muttered, a slight tremor betraying a cocktail of eagerness and dread.
Ember laughed, a rich, melodic sound that rumbled like distant thunder. "It's just like disarming a trap, Kaede. Find the clasp, release the catch, and don't let it snap back and take your hand off."
Despite the growing warmth in the room—and not from the fire alone—Kaede's hands fumbled clumsily, his every movement rife with an endearing awkwardness that only accentuated his nervousness. Each successful undoing of a fastening was met with a little victorious smirk that vanished as quickly as it came as he moved on to the next obstacle.
'Haha..haha..haha…haha…haha…im doing it. Don't fuck it up. Don't fuck it up. Don't fuck it up. Don't fuck it up.'
Suddenly, a soft growl echoed through the chamber, and both Ember and Kaede snapped their heads towards the door. A small, demonic creature that resembled a cross between a bat and a pug sauntered in, carrying what appeared to be the charred remnants of a once-fine shoe in its mouth. It eyed them nonchalantly, dropped its trophy with pride, and proceeded to snore loudly by the warm hearth.
A snort escaped Ember as she shook her head, tossing a look of affectionate exasperation at the intruder. "That's Grendel. Ignore him; he's an incorrigible little shoe-thief and apparently an uninvited spectator. Nosey brat, he's lucky I don't cook his ass for dinner."
Kaede, relieved for the momentary distraction, chuckled. "I guess he's got a burning passion for footwear."
"Oh, if you think that's hot," Ember quipped dryly, a smirk playing upon her lips, "just wait until you see what I've got under all these damned layers—if you ever get there."
Finally, with one last pull, the fabric surrendered, slinking away from Ember's form as if lamenting its departure. Kaede stepped back, cheeks flushed with a victory far different from those he'd earned on any battlefield, only to stumble over Grendel's newfound chew toy, flailing for balance. Ember caught him, her smirk now bordering on villainy.
Ember looked into Kaede's eyes, saying, "You're getting it finally..I like that."
Kaede's cheeks were screaming with red colors, thinking, 'She's so close..what should I do? Grab her? I gotta do something! She expects a lot out of me, I can't be a wussy. Do something..'
Kaede closed his eyes, and he went to kiss Ember.
He missed, his mouth was placed right beside Ember's mouth.
'Impossible! I missed! New strategy—'
Ember chuckled, softly grabbed the right side of Kaede's face, and kissed him, pressing her lips on his. The softness of her lips firmly caressed Kaede's, he didn't want this moment to end."
Seconds later, Ember was on top of Kaede in the bed, and she was kissing him on his neck, her leg rubbing against Kaede's leg. Ember started to kiss Kaede on his lips once more, making him grab her right breast, looking into his eyes.
Ember said, "I love you.."
Kaede responded, "Me too.."
"Say that shit right.."
'It's hard for me to say it because I'm not used to saying it so I'm afraid how it'll come out if I say it weirdly—'
Kaede replied, "I love you.."
"Now was that so hard?"
"Yes it was."
"Haha! You weirdo."
'You're mine, Kaede, no one else's.' Ember thought.
The rune on Kaede's hand began to flow red as Ember continued to kiss him, and Kaede looked at it, thinking, 'The rune! She did mention something about our bonds making me stronger, I can feel a surge of energy rush through me. This is like a dream come true…'
…
(Morning time)
Kaede opened his eyes, yawning and stretching, he felt the right side of him, and Ember wasn't there.
"Ember..?"
SHIIING!
Phoebe was above Kaede, pumping a red dagger at Kaede's face, the dagger had sharp jagged edges, smoking with a red smokey aura.
Kaede fell out of the bed, "Agh! Phoebe?!"
Phoebe said In a tired tone, "Queen Ember…is out..searching. But..you will..be riding with me..today.."
"Hehe…hehe…can you like, put that away?"
"…Hmm. Okay."
Phoebe put her dagger away, and she instructed, "Follow."
Kaede thought, 'What's her deal?! Does she want to kill me?!'
…
Minutes later, they were under the sunny sky, riding on a flaming orange and black raven, Herma.
Kaede asked Phoebe, "So…what are we doing?"
"Feeding."
"Feeding? Who? What?"
"The Queen's pet, Jormungun."
"Jormungun…"
"We'll be heading..to the Named woods.."
Kaede, still reeling from the intimate escapade, now found himself drawn into a world of errands and monsters. "The Names woods?" he asked. His curiosity piqued.
'That's where all those monsters lurk..hunters and adventurers avoid going there because it's like a new enemy spawns there every damn day..'
"Yeah," she drawled, "it's Densewood's threshold. That's where Jormungun slumbers," Phoebe continued, her voice trailing off for a moment as if she were about to fall asleep standing up.
"And who—or what—is Jormungun?" asked Kaede, wary of the unknown character entering the narrative of his strange day.
Phoebe's lips curved into a slight, tired smile. ".. A creature birthed from the darkest corners of hell. He's a giant wolf. He's known…for being..massive, powerful, and very, very picky." She punctuated her description with a long, lazy blink. "He has a wolf brother In hell….but he's dead..I think."
"Picky?" Kaede echoed, his interest piqued.
"Yeah…" Phoebe's voice slurred a tad, "Jormungun feeds on one thing only..a stew. You can't just slap together any..slop. This stew is special, made with ingredients from the town market. Ember believes you could cook it right. If you do…Jormungun might bless you with dark magic."
"And if not?"
"He'll attack you. Might even..kill you."
"That's dangerous."
Kaede considered this an unlikely cook for a monster of hell. "How exactly did Queen Ember acquire such a creature?" he inquired, his mind unable to piece together how one simply makes a denizen of hell a pet.
"In hell, he was untamed, a force of nature. But Ember, she's... well, Ember. She…caught him. Brought him here, earning his …loyalty," said Phoebe, as casually as one discussing the weather. "Now he sits in the woods because..he attracts dark monsters…so if we brought him to our lair..we'd be fighting monsters…every day. Everyday..in the Named woods..he fights off monsters..devouring them destructively.."
"Why me, though? And what's so special about this stew?" Kaede persisted, hoping to understand his role in this peculiar quest.
Her gesture slow and tired, Phoebe lifted a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. "Dunno.. Embers got her reasons. She doesn't see things like the rest of us…As for the stew," she rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palms, "the recipe's ancient…hailing from an old world. It's got meats, roots, and herbs that are difficult to pronounce, and even harder to find…"
"But if I cook this stew, if I get it right, that hellspawn will bless me with dark magic?" Kaede's skepticism battled with the absurdity he was beginning to accept as normal in Ember's world.
"Basically….And trust me..you want that blessing, considering the things lurking…beyond the worlds..." Phoebe glanced around them, drawing the blanket tighter around her as though the very chill of those creatures seeped through the stone.
"So, to the market first, then to the woods?" Kaede confirmed, bracing himself for what lay ahead.
Phoebe offered the ghost of a nod. "Market, woods, stew, dragon... in that order."
'A giant wolf monster is Queen Ember's pet, could it get any crazier than this?'
He then began to think about what happened last night, with him fighting the Bloodthorn cursed beings, meeting the subordinates, and his intimate situation with Ember in the chamber.
'In just one day, I got everything I ever asked for. A wife..potential friends…and power. I've always wanted to do quests and stuff like that, but I couldn't, the hunters and mages would tell me to stay back, that I was just a normal town person. A civilian. Tch. Fucking bastards. If I could see those same hunters again, I'd show off. Slap them all in the face.'
Kaede and Phoebe sauntered through the winding cobblestone streets of Nordhagen, a town nestled between foreboding mountains and harsh, frost-laden plains. Nordhagen, with its towering wooden palisades and rows of thatched-roof cottages, exuded a rugged charm, a testament to the will of its inhabitants to carve out a life in a land where nature often seemed against them.
Hearth-smoke curled lazily into the bone-chilled air, mingling with the mingled scents of brine from the nearby fjord and the pine of the nearby woods. The market sprawled before them, a lively hub where townsfolk, traders, and the occasional traveler exchanged goods and news with a vigor that belied the stoic nature attributed to the Nord.
Phoebe led the way, her blanket now replaced with a cloak that she drew tightly against the crisp morning air. "Remember," she yawned to Kaede, "we're looking for very specific items…. We can't just grab any turnip or slab of meat... It has to be as Ember specified, or Jormungun won't touch it…"
Kaede nodded, his eyes taking in the assortment of stalls: from fisherman hawking gleaming catch to elderly women who murmured over intricate woven spells they swore could mend a broken heart—or at least a broken pot.
'My heart is pounding, the rush of action..I'm ready for it.'
A town crier, a broad-shouldered man with a voice that could rival Thor's thunder, stood on a raised platform announcing, "Hear ye! From the lofty halls of Greenfen, King Aaric has decreed a fortnight's festivities in honor of midwinter's eve. Trade is to flow free, and mead cheaper than water!"
Around them, life throbbed with a rhythm as ancient as the land itself. Carpentry saws sang wood into shape, and blacksmiths' hammers shaped stubborn metal with sparks that danced like mischievous sprites. Children darted about, their laughter a bright counterpoint to the negotiations and banter of their elders.
"And, hear ye!" the crier continued, his voice rolling over the clamor of commerce. "The outlying village of Freyvoll has seen the last of those ghastly ghoul packs! Brave souls venturing from Nordhagen's own have assured the roads are safe once more."
"Good," Phoebe mumbled to Kaede, "one less thing to worry about on the way back.."
A stall caught Kaede's eye, its banner proclaiming 'Rare Delicacies'. Under it lay the plethora of peculiar roots and herbs, their shapes and colors as varied as they were exotic. "Could these be part of the ingredients we need?" he asked, reaching for a tuber that twisted like a serpent's dance.
"Right guess," Phoebe affirmed, peering at a list she extracted from her cloak. "This one here..." She pointed to a gnarled root with a blueish hue. "The Dewroot of Dalgaard. Essential," her voice slurred awake long enough to emphasize its importance.
They haggled over prices, procuring the odd root amidst curious stares from the vendor who eyed the unconventional pair with an unspoken question on his lips. But in Nordhagen, one soon learned that not all tales were shared aloud.
From the next stall over, the smell of cured meats wafted toward them. The butcher, a woman with arms like constrictor snakes, showcased her choicest cuts. "Only the best, for stew, for roast, for whatever your heart desires!"
Phoebe paused, perusing Ember's list once more. "Snow hare," she pointed to a silvery-furred carcass, "and shadow boar, the darker the better. You will find no shadows like those bred in Nordhagen's outskirts."
Kaede nodded, learning the lore through trade. Each item held a story, a place in the fabric of this harsh, beautiful world that was as new to him as it was old to the land he walked.
As midday approached and the sun cast its golden, feeble warmth over the frostbitten land, the duo completed their errand, their basket now laden with the ingredients that would sate a creature of the abyss. Kaede glanced around once more, absorbing the sights and sounds of Nordhagen—a town cradled by legends, a people steeped in resilience.
With the town crier's voice fading into the din of lively negotiation and the distant call of raven to mountain, Phoebe and Kaede left the market behind, their path winding back to the heart of the forest where Jormungun awaited, and the unseen eyes of Nordhagen's populace discreetly followed.
Kaede and Phoebe, their errand reaching completion, were about to depart the vibrant clamor of the market when a sudden eeriness descended upon the lane they trod. Eyes of the townsfolk narrowed with suspicion and intrigue as a troupe of men and women made their presence known. They were dressed impeccably, their forms clad in the distinctive white suits of the Ninth Empire, each adorned with a sigil, the mark of their allegiance. These suits conveyed power and demanded respect, the kind that could suppress a crowd's murmur with their mere appearance.
Meanwhile, within the narrow confines of an unsuspecting tradesman's home, the true nature of these interlopers was revealed. "You see, friend," one of them whispered with a devilish charm as he ransacked through the merchant's possessions, "the suits are our key." Their victim lay bound and helpless, his eyes wide with betrayal. "They see the authority—they open their hearts, their homes. And just like that, we're in, and all that is yours becomes ours."
"We're not the Ninth Empire," another said, snickering while pocketing valuables, "but who has the courage to question authority dressed as brilliantly as we?" With smooth efficiency, they drained the house of its wealth, leaving the man in despair amidst his hollowed home.
The man panicked, saying, "No..no-!"
SPLAT!
A magic sword blasted through his chest, splattering him all over the wall.
As fate would have it, the ruse continued outside, with Kaede and Phoebe suddenly confronted by the false imperial entourage. One of the women, who wore her deceptive uniform with as much authority as she did coldness in her gaze, addressed them, "You are to come with us. By order of the Ninth Empire, your cooperation is non-negotiable."
Kaede exchanged a glance with Phoebe. The weight of suspicion already burdened his thoughts. Phoebe, weary as she always seemed, was no stranger to deceit. "And what business does the Ninth Empire have with us? We're simply wandering market-goers," she countered, her voice steady though her body language betrayed her readiness for confrontation.
"The empire's reach is vast," the woman continued, her tone devoid of emotion, "It extends beyond the high walls of capital cities to the humblest of markets. You will comply, or face the consequences. Come with us."
Around them, the townsfolk of Nordhagen looked on. Some were clearly taken by the display of supposed authority, moving away and whispering, while others appeared skeptical, their eyes shrewd beneath furrowed brows. Yet none dared intervene; the empire—real or feigned—possessed a power that none wished to contest openly.
Kaede looked at Pheobe, whispering, "Are we..going with them?"
Phoebe nodded: "Yes."
'Why are we going with them? Even though they are the Ninth Empire, we basically have to do what they say to a certain extent. But why us..?'
Guided under the guise of imminent authority, Kaede and Phoebe found themselves herded into a nondescript home, the door shut firmly behind them. The false Ninth Empire warriors, with their brows creased in a mimicry of stern judgment, encircled the pair. The leader, a tall man with eyes as cold as the fjords outside of Nordhagen, began to circle them like a wolf gauging his prey.
"You must wonder," he began, the revel of secrecy lifting the corner of his mouth into a sneer, "why we don such respected regalia. It is simple. People follow power—blindly, foolishly. They open their doors. They bow their heads. They part with their treasures, all for the comfort of believing they serve the grand Ninth Empire."
His compatriots chuckled darkly, sharing knowing glances. These were no soldiers, but opportunists dancing in wolves' clothes, their every move a calculated step in a dance of deceit and extortion.
The room was silent for a long moment as Kaede and Phoebe absorbed the gravity of the situation. That was until Phoebe, in spite of the tension that clung to the air like a thick fog, let out a pronounced sneeze. "...Agh. Bless me," she murmured, her voice dripping with lethargy.
In the instant that followed, the impossible unfolded; the head of the not-so-fearless leader, and those of several of his crew, simply exploded as if struck by an invisible hammer of the gods, their remains painting the walls in a macabre fresco. The few remaining imposters stood momentarily stunned, frozen by the gruesome demise of their fellows.
With the same tired tone, but with an underpinning of deadly resolve, Phoebe drew two daggers from concealed sheaths under her cloak. "Bloody…allergies," she grumbled, her eyes—now shining with latent energy—surveying the disarray.
The front door was kicked open aggressively, and more counterfeits, those who had been holding the perimeter, stormed in. They found chaos: comrades dead, and the culprits standing defiant in their midst.
"Kaede," Phoebe commanded with a calm that defied the disorder, her daggers glinting dangerously in the dim light, "protect the basket. Make sure it remains secure. Jormungun's stew won't cook…itself." Her slight figure, seemingly frail from perpetual fatigue, moved with the grace and precision of a seasoned warrior. Head towards the Named woods…find Jormungun…then you'll be able to use your magic…I'll catch up..'
'Kaede's power is too destructive right now because..he doesn't know how to fully…tame its velocity yet…letting him use his power here will probably..wipe out the entire town…' Phoebe thought.
Kaede nodded, hoisting the basket protectively. He had seen Phoebe's lethargic facade before, but now he witnessed the truth of her lethality. Her guise was as much a mask as the fake uniforms worn by their adversaries. He dashed off out of the house, heading outside. He looked in the air, and saw the flaming raven soaring down towards him.
"You!"
The raven picked him up, and Kaede got on, flying off towards the named woods.
With death in her eyes, Phoebe met the onslaught. Each dagger found its mark again and again as she danced a silent waltz of red and silver. The false empire members, overwhelmed by her unexpected ferocity, were cut down one after the other as blood splattered everywhere.
Kaede thought, 'Oh shit! Oh shit! Okay, okay, let her do the fighting, protege the basket for Jormungun. Easy, right?!'