Spark in Darkness: Unworldy encounter/Prototype

Spark 31: Towards the Capital, together

"Using an attack like Ragnarok...you purposely let them off, didn't you?"

"Liraie." Denire knew the voice and the absurdly strong Darkness behind him well enough.

"So you aren't as heartless as I thought you would be. Is it for my sister? Did you want her to escape her chains of fate, even though you know she won't be able to? Even if it meant letting her stay with that Spark?"

Denire nodded slightly, looking at the charred ground where his opponent used to be. "So what are you going to do? Take away an arm, like how you usually punish your subordinates?"

"Nah, I'll let this one slide. You're my friend, after all. Rinya will return to our hands eventually, and Vivian's death shall be overlooked too. She ain't that strong after all. Besides, maybe it's karma for me, too."

"What do you mean?" Denire turned around, only to see Liraie missing an arm.

"The Spark generals sure are no joke, managing to get my arm. But that's all they can do."

"So, what are we going to do now?" Denire walked towards Liraie.

"For now we are collecting the corpses of the Sparks. We need to prepare for the revival of our Goddess, after all. And it ain't easy, as you know."

"Yeah. Let's get going, then." Denire sighed in relief internally.

It was no easy task to prepare for the revival of the Goddess, and Liraie would have to put in all his attention into creating the perfect platform for the revival, knowing his obsession over the Goddess. At least, for now, Rinya would be beyond the clutches of her brother, even if she was in the hands of that irritating Spark. He prayed silently that his action was correct.

After all those information I told you...Haruki Yamata...you'd better keep Rinya safe. At least until we get her back. Let her enjoy what a normal girl can do while she can.

***

Gasping for breath, the group finally reached the other side of the tunnel. The sky was already completely bright, the Sun peeking through the clouds. They had emerged at an abandoned village, the doors opened ajar with pottery and cloths strewn all over, as though the residents had fled in a hurry.

Must be the work of the Nayshards, Haruki thought.

"So, what do you plan to do with that Nayshard now, Haruki Yamata?" Arthur Pendragon said, looking at Haruki.

"What do you mean, 'what to do with that Nayshard?' I said she's with me, and I'm not letting you mess with her."

Arthur narrowed his eyes, before turning away. "I can't understand whatever complicated situation you mentioned, much less stay together with a Nayshard, so if you insist, I am not going to argue. But this is where we part ways."

"Well, I can see it coming. Thanks for not insisting on picking up fight, Arthur." Haruki nodded.

"Let's go, Mimi."

"Where to?"

"Just follow me. We need to train even more. The current us is not enough to stop those monstrosities."

"Aye aye, Arthur." Mimi turned back and waved at Haruki. "Bye bye, Haruki! Hopefully we'll meet again!"

Haruki waved back, and after a while, the pair vanished from his sight.

"Ah, I felt completely transparent just now," Rinya sighed as she found a bench outside a hut to sit down.

Haruki laughed softly and sat down beside her. "True."