Souls to Ash

Chapter 3

9 days until the skirmish

"Kame," I look up from my breakfast, ozoni soup, iyokan, and green tea to see Yuki Kino, a girl with long dark purple hair and piercing magenta eyes.

"Yes?" the talk among my team ceases as they notice her presence.

"Tezuka has ordered Namari to go witch hunting today in Macestar city."

"Alright, we'll head out once we finish our breakfast and Tezuka will be pleased to know we'll be back at lunch time, but we'll head out after that for a second round."

"She chose Namari for a reason, I see."

"Of course." with a slight bow, she heads to Tezuka's office to report.

"Why're you always doing that, Kame? That's just more work for us." sighs Reiko.

"Would you rather be in battle and run out of grief seeds?" I retort.

"You have a point."

"Say, when re we going to let Miyo in on our adventures?" asks Emi.

"Soon, very soon." I say, making Miyo's eyes light up.

"Until then you'll have plenty of time to train while we're away." teases Maki.

"Ah, more work." sighs Miyo, dramatically laying her head on the table, causing us to laugh.

"Don't worry, soon the recruit will become the master, kiddo." says Maki.

"I don't know if I wanna overtake Kame, though, I like her too much."

"How thoughtful." I laugh, taking a bite of my soup, "But Tezuka's at the top of the food chain, not me."

"But I'd have to go through you first."

"That's true."

"That's it!" says Reiko, suddenly slamming her hands on he table, "You should take on Kame in the magic tournament!"

"What?!" she cries.

"Yeah, I agree." says Emi.

"Me too." agrees Maki.

"I can't beat her!"

"Calm down, Miyo," I laugh, "It's a tradition for the Namari team to face their leader. If any of them manage to beat her, they become the new leader."

"Oh. Why haven't I ever participated?" she asks, calming down.

"We didn't think you were ready, but I agree, I think you should do it this month."

"You think so?"

"Yeah." we all agree at once.

"I guess I could try..."

"Then it's settled!" cheers Reiko, "You'll be our new leader by the end of this month!"

"Eh?!"

~

"It should be around here somewhere." Maki mumbles, staring down at her silver soul gem, "get ready, girls." we nod and all transform, readying our weapons. Just then we spot it, the entrance to her labyrinth. We nod towards each other and enter. We're instantly greeted by a small creature that looks to be a mix between a fox and a raccoon. The moment it spots us, it releases a lour snarl and leaps at us, it catches on fire mid air and moves in spastic movements before being grabbed between Yasu's mighty jaws. We walk on in caution, occasionally running into one of the familiars, dispatching it within seconds. We eventually get to a dark clearing.

"Where's the witch?" mumbles Emi.

"She's here." Maki replies.

"But where?" asks Reiko.

"Move!" I shout, shoving them out of the way just as the ground lights up beneath us and a flaming bird appears from below us, scorching my back.

"Are you okay?!" yells Emi.

"I'm fine, just go get the witch!" I yell through gritted teeth. With a last look of uncertainty, all the girls run towards the witch, me on their heels. We surround the beast and it releases a loud screech, "Maki, dodge left!" I yell, to which she does just before a fireball scorches the ground where she had been standing. "Emi, now!"

"Okay!" she replies before sending an arrow glowing orange into the bird, the creature screeches in pain and lunges towards me just as I dodge out of the way. It dissipates as it hits the wall behind me.

"Reiko, aim a blow towards whoever I tell to move, alright?"

"Roger." she nods.

"Reiko, move!" my heart lurches as she does so and I lunge forward, landing a few deadly slices to the bird as it appears where Reiko had been standing. "Maki!" said girl nods.

"Yasu!" she yells. the fox runs alongside her as she drives her katana into the bird, it wails and she drops to the ground without her sword, which Yasu grabs between his teeth and jumps down, pulling the sword through the bird and creating a more dire wound.

"Emi!" I yell.

"Got'cha!" she sends another arrow into the bird.

"Stand back! Reiko, with me!" the bird launches a fireball and everyone except Reiko jumps back. I move just in time for the ground to become scorched before jumping towards the bird and digging my axes into it, flinching as I instantly begin to heat up. I drag the bird down to the ground and jump back. The creature wails and tries to get away only for Reiko to crash her hammer down onto its head and the bird loses its flames before the labyrinth dissipates with an ungodly sound. I pick up the grief seed left and pocket it, turning to the girls, their clothes and faces smokey and somewhat burnt.

"Good work, girls." I smile, to which they nod their agreement and Emi begins healing us as I check off the level three witch we had defeated.

"How many more?" asks Maki.

"We have a level four, a level two, and a level five to finish off and we can head back to get some lunch."

"Alright." she nods, "How is everyone doing on their magic?" everyone except Emi were good to go on without purifying their soul gems. We finished off the level two and four with ease and move on to the level five, our true enemy, as it was hard to find level fives.

~

"Kame!" I gasp as the witch, a gruesome creature with sharp teeth, pale eyes, and wings races into me, its long claws plunging into my abdomen as it holds me against the wall, too high for anyone to get me. An orange arrow shoots into the witch and it growls before dropping me and lunging towards Emi. Reiko pulls up her hammer and tries to crack down on its skull, but it dodges and grabs Emi by the neck, holding her up in the air and closing off her windpipe so that she can't breathe. I stagger up as blood pours from my wound.

"Hey, ass wipe!" I scream, causing me to cough up blood. I throw an ax at it and the weapon pierces its flesh, causing it to howl in pain and drop Emi before turning back to me, planning to finish the job it had started. I catch Maki's eye and she nods, getting Reiko's attention as the witch grabs hold of me and wails in pure anger. Suddenly Yasu bites onto its bony arm and the witch drops me before grabbing hold of Yasu, whom dissipates into smoke and Maki appears out of nowhere to deliver a mighty blow to its abdomen. Just as it tries to attack Maki, Emi shoots an arrow into its back. The creature rounds on Emi and Reiko's hammer flies into its head, knocking it onto the ground. Reiko's hammer flies back into her hands and I drive my only ax into its head before tracing the blade down its body, effectively cutting it in half. The labyrinth disappears and I drop to the ground.

"Kame!" Emi shouts before running over to me and tending to my wound after purifying my gem.

"I guess it's time for lunch, huh?"