The Quest for Normania #1: The Door of Andrios

43. The Moon Knight's Vow

Kiki waited with bated breath as Mahima's image flickered now and then in the crystal.

"I'm afraid," came the sorceress's voice, "I'm too far away from any teleportation mechanism. You're on your own. But one thing I can tell you."

"Yes?" The young Moon Knight's heart began to sink.

"The creatures are being summoned from Darkarous by a very powerful wizard. Even if you defeat them, they will keep coming. No end. This man does not seem to know the meaning of exhaustion. We're being attacked here at Marina, too, and they just keep coming. My partner at Ashisa is in Normania at the moment, helping figure out a way to defeat this wizard and win the War of the Winter Prophecy!

"Therefore, child, have heart. Trust your partner, Luna Makimata, and you'll be all right. Contact Silone and someone will respond to you, if you're in such dire a need. This is only the beginning – more is yet to come our way – we cannot give up now. We must keep on keeping on! Hang tough!"

Kiki swallowed, her head bobbing up and down on its own accord. She felt Leo's hand on the small of her back and a wave of comfort spread through her.

"I understand, Yela Mahima," she replied, sounding more confident, much to her own surprise. "We can protect this kingdom and we will. We have the support of all Moon Knights who are fighting below us—the sounds of cheer and encouragement we hear from them up here."

Mahima gave a salute before the crystal fogged for good. Kiki turned to Leo. "Luna Makimata, will you be my partner in protecting this vile euri and the kingdom?" She held out a hand.

With a smirk and without wasting a breath, he wound his own around hers. "I will, Luna Hirazawa. I will be your partner in this crime!"

She turned to the euri who was sulking quietly behind them. "Euri Fatish, we need to know if you're ready to fight alongside us."

Fatish straightened and narrowed his eyes at her. "I know what you're thinking. Literally. If I die in battle, you'll have an excuse to be rid of me. I'll not have it!" He thrust an arm towards their joined hands. "I shall fight and I shall live!"

"Great! Just what we wanted to hear!"

Just then, the terrace door burst open and some men in Moon Knight uniforms swarmed through, yelling, "The monsters are upon us! Fight to the end!"

With a nod at one-another, Kiki and Leo plunged into the battle with their fellow Moon Knights, Euri Fatish, joining in, as well.

Kiki remembered to block out the euri's thoughts to focus on her fighting. She and Leo moved like two chess pieces walking side-by-side, both with a sword in either hand. They ducked and stabbed as if they were engaged in some form of a rhythm. A two-headed snake appeared before Kiki and she swiped at it with her right-hand; another, its consort, materialised to her left and she deftly stopped its claw with the sword in her left hand. Leo's back was to her back as he fought through his way. They trusted one-another so completely.

Fatish was mesmerised by their movements. He poked at the veil that closed firmly on the connection he had with Kiki, but found it was not budging. 'She must've blocked me out to concentrate,' he thought, with a sense of having lost the feel of his limb.

This feeling was forgotten the moment the Moon Knight to his right fell sideways and the monster that hacked at her, a six-armed bull-headed creature, descended upon him and he began swinging his sword left and right, until the monster was hacked to pieces that rained onto the terrace floor. Fatish rubbed the sweat off his forehead before tackling another that almost overcame another Moon Knight. He fought on ferociously, drawing from the lessons he had taken since his childhood.