The Demons of Shadow Moon

Part 51 - Whose Protector?

Very old drawing of Yukine and Yurio XD ⬆️

Later, back at Shadow Moon, Echo found herself putting some books back in the library while Luna excitedly explained her and Yurio's plan to hunt down the vampires.

"Wait. Slow down. Yurio wants you to do what?" Echo asked, turning to face Luna with a book in her hand.

"Go on a mission with him to defeat the vampires who attacked a villager a few days ago! To protect the village and our world!!!" Luna's enthusiasm overflowed as she spoke, her words brimming with excitement.

Echo raised an eyebrow, a mix of concern and disapproval evident.

"Are you sure it's such a good idea to go after vampires after your fight in the underworld? Yukine told me how close you were to getting sliced into tiny little pieces, Luna. What would I have done if you'd gotten hurt, huh? Don't go risking it all again, dummy!" Echo hit her head with a strong sense of disapproval.

Luna's eyes sparkled with determination, her voice unwavering. 

"I know! But this is exactly what Shadow Moon stands for! Protecting our world and each other!" She declared.

Pausing, Luna's enthusiasm faded slightly as she added...

"B-besides, maybe we can reason with the vampires. They can't all be bad..." she mumbled, lowering her gaze with uncertainty.

Echo's memories of her village and Midnight flicked through her mind, seeing Luna's uncertainty. 

"... They're not," Echo hesitated to add, voice softening. She sighed and then elaborated to the point.

"I get how you feel, wanting to prove they're good. Midnight was the same... her whole purpose of being in a village of demons was to prove vampires could be tame," Echo admitted.

"... did she?" Luna asked, curious about Echo's past with Midnight.

"Do you see demons and vampires getting along?" Echo answered sarcastically.

"Oh..." Luna's expression fell in disappointment. 

"But it wasn't her fault. She wanted to make peace, just like Akira. Midnight was kind. She was the living proof that vampires could be good," Echo smiled to recall memories of them playing together in Shadowhall. But her expression became more stern as she addressed the risks at hand.

"But even so, vampires are strong and very dangerous! They'll kill you if you got between them and their food," she warned her.

"Like Galaxy, huh, Echo?" a passing by Aki laughed.

"You are my food, Aki!!!" a chasing Galaxy interrupted with a demonic expression. 

"GAH!! SHE FOUND ME!!!" Aki screamed, instantly running away.

Luna watched as Aki dived out of view from the doorframe while Galaxy swept past it instantly.

"Anyway, I can't let you just venture off on another death mission! You only just got back from the underworld. Don't you need more time to... process everything?" Echo expressed her worry, expression sympathetic.

"What is there to process? A lot of my memories are still blurry... like of my dad. He was a vampire! Maybe... if I found one, those memories will come back to me," Luna added, holding her arm as if shielding her vulnerability. 

"And if my memories proved anything, it's that I can't stay a weak little girl forever! I refuse to be the precious thing everyone sacrifices their lives and responsibilities for! I want to inspire people, not hold them back!" Luna went on, expression and body language becoming very animated as her frustrations surfaced.