Before I Go ~ A XiaoLumi Story

Chapter 16

PAIMON FLOATED BEHIND Xiao and Lumine as they held hands and walked back to the Wangshu Inn.

"Do you conquer demons every night?" Lumine asked, worry creasing her brow.

"Most nights yes, but I can spare a few hours." Xiao gave Lumine a half-smile that warmed her heart.

"Well, that's all well and good, Mister Xiao," Paimon snapped. "But Paimon's tired, so can you two hurry it up?"

Lumine rolled her eyes. Paimon can be such a brat when she's tired!

"Anyway, you'll have to let me join you on one of your missions," Lumine said.

Xiao immediately stiffened. "No. Absolutely not."

Lumine looked at him curiously. "What do you mean? I'm always down to crush a few hilichurls. Do you think I'm not strong enough?" she challenged.

"That's not at all what I mean." Xiao sighed. "These . . . monsters that I fight are more than just hilichurls. They are controlled by a type of . . . evil energy. They're kind of . . . possessed."

"So? Why can't I take them on?" Lumine huffed.

"They're stronger than you're used to. They kill for the joys of killing. They don't want power, they just want blood."

"So?" Lumine said again.

"You could end up dead!" Xiao cried. "And I wouldn't be able to save you. These beings -- they have torn down towns and cities, leaving nothing in their wake!" He let out a shaky breath. "I couldn't let that happen to you."

Lumine squeezed his hand tightly and met his gaze. Xiao let out a slow breath and leaned against her. A silent understanding settled between the two.

Suddenly Paimon screamed from behind them. The rank odor of something . . . the smell of fear, death, and decay filled the night and froze Lumine to the core. Paimon bobbled over behind Lumine, panic setting in.

Xiao swore. His spear materialized in front of him, its green tip lighting up brightly in the moonlight.

Lumine's eyes widened as she finally saw them clambering up the slope. A mass of hilichurls, whopperflowers, and slimes with black, vile energy emitting from them. Their eyes were dark pits and they moved quickly towards them with a fearsome strength Lumine had never seen before

Lumine summoned her sword, but Xiao gave her a look and she sheathed it again.

"It's okay," he whispered, locking gazes with her and giving her hand another squeeze before letting go and facing the horde of monsters.

Xiao let out a horrifying battle cry before donning his Yaksha mask -- a great black-and-blue mask with horns and sharp fangs -- and leaping at the monsters.

Lumine lept back as Xiao weaved in between the possessed creatures, slicing them down and shoving them. To Lumine's horror, they seemed to be reforming, gluing themselves back together as though they were made of clay.

Lumine watched as Xiao leaped up into the air and came smashing down, teal spears plunging up from the ground. A cloud of dark smoke filled the air.

Xiao cried out in pain as a hilichurl sank a sharp spear into his arm. Lumine screamed and jumped into battle. She sliced down the hilichurl, reducing it to dust.

"I thought I told you to stay back," Xiao spat, gritting his teeth and wincing as he swiped a few slimes back.

"I'm not just going to let you die here," Lumine told him. She willed him to understand how determined she was and, after a heartbeat, he pursed his lips, gave a tight nod, and leaped right back into battle.

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After a few minutes of slashing and destroying enemies, most had cleared out, and those who weren't were lying dead on the grass.

Xiao panted, gripping his polearm tightly. Lumine, who had miraculously come out of the fight mostly unscathed, walked slowly over to him.

"Hey, look at me," Lumine said, gently lowering Xiao to the ground so he could rest. "Eyes on me, stay focused," she coaxed him, gingerly cupping his face in her hand.

Xiao's face was screwed up in a painful grimace. His mask had splintered into golden specks and faded into the night.

His karma, Lumine thought to herself. He's in so much pain. "Xiao, listen. Focus on my voice. Can you do that for me?" Xiao gave a tight nod, his eyes starting to cloud over. Lumine could tell he was slowly losing consciousness. "Wangshu Inn is right over that hill." Lumine pointed in its direction. "We can make it together."

Xiao gave another nod. His muscles were still tensed up, and his hair was sticking to his sweaty face. Lumine grabbed his hand and put his arm around her shoulders. Slowly they started limping back to Wangshu Inn.