Skybound Volume 2: The Witch Of Jubilee.

Chapter 12: Sinless Souls

"Huh?"

Skylar blinked as she locked her eyes on the castle ahead.

She had found a nice hill, well. As nice as it could be considering the burning village behind her, it was still a nice hill!

...As for what made her utter the word.

The castle's barrier had a crack.

A single crack.

A large one running straight up the middle of it, Skylar furrowed her brow.

"...Did I do that?" She mused aloud, it wasn't a totally unreasonable conclusion, but she also didn't have a lot to go off, she had only just now noticed the crack after all.

And the castle was still far off in the distance.

Couple that with the fact that Skylar herself wasn't sure when the crack appeared and she couldn't draw any conclusion.

So instead she sighed looking to her right, there was a large tree there she looked to it as she set her hands on her side frowning, "Logic dictates that I should head back and meet up with Striga as soon as I can but..." that crack.

It was a problem.

She furrowed her brow as she racked her brain for solutions.

As she did, she heard a voice from behind her, "What's on your mind?" it was Vita, Skylar looked over her shoulder keeping her frown as she tore her gaze away to look back at the castle.

"There's one more village further ahead isn't there? I'm worried that if we try to reconvene with Striga that village might be attacked..." Skylar explained, "It's a slim chance, but I don't even know what caused that large crack, and if it was me. And if Lust is aware of that information... Then it's likely that she'll just try to send a large force after me."

Vita let out a hum at that, "And you're worried that if we backtrack now... then the force in question will just move onto the next village is that right?"

Skylar nodded slowly, "Yeah."

"...But we also have that kid to look after." Vita pointed out with a frown.

Skylar frowned, her gaze narrowing, "If it's just me she won't go alone, but she'll move with you..."

Vita paused at that, "So you want me to take her there then?"

"No." Skylar instantly shot the idea down, "Splitting up at this point would only make things worse... But we are also on a tough time limit... as such." Skylar folded his arms looking over to Vita, "That shadow clone thing? Can you make another?"

In response to that question, Vita shook his head, "Only one can be active at any time, and that other one has yet to even reach its destination. If nothing else I can see what it sees. And relay orders from any place in the world." as Vita explained this Skylar folded her arms looking back down to the small village.

Skylar then closed her eyes, "I'm not able to make one myself yet... Or at least I've tried already... no go."

"No surprise there. It's something that most Dark Knights take years to master, and the same could be said for most of our skills... you're growing at an unnatural rate to be frank." Vita stated folding his arms.

Skylar chuckled a little at that, "I'll take that to mean it's a good thing?" she asked, looking over to him.

Vita unfolded his arms turning away, "Whatever you choose to do you should make the choice soon... The longer we stay idle the worse things can become."