¡DEVILISH! [Discontinued]

III

Atop the Holy Tree, the view of the Albion was much more fearsome. It loomed over the tallest of trees as if they were grass.

     "I've fought a couple of these before," Seraphim explained to Harlequin, "they aren't usually much of an issue. That being said, I fought them when I had been fed, had wings and a weapon, and wasn't trapped in a cave for a couple of decades."

     Harlequin's brows knitted, stress washing over his whole body. "What do we do then?" Although he felt bad having to entrust someone who barely knew him, he had no other option. He didn't want to lose his home again.

     "I can't fight it, not like this," she admitted, looking at Harlequin straight in the eye, "but I know something that might make it easier to do so."

     "Anything is better than nothing," he said, "what can I do to help?"

     Seraphim hummed, swinging her hand to swish the rope back and forth. "Buy me time, and try to weaken that... thing," she replied, cracking her fingers, "whatever you do, don't die."

     Harlequin quirked a brow at her. "Alright, Seraphim," he said, summoning his spear to his side, "let's do this."

     Seraphim planted her feet firmly onto the ground. Standing on her own was difficult, but not impossible. Pulling off this spell was gonna be the same: difficult, but not impossible.

     Harlequin aimed his spear towards the stone monster, pulling his hand back and flicking it forward. The spear went flying, cutting through the air with a sharp noise and hitting the giant creature straight in the chest.

     The Albion didn't budge. Pulling his hand back, Harlequin moved the spear back towards him. He didn't even make a dent in him.

     "Spirit Spear Chasteifol," he commanded, going in for another attack, "form five: increase."

     Seraphim felt a shiver in her spine. "Harlequin," she called, as he turned back to her, "it's gonna attack the tree."

     "What?" he asked, "if it attacks the tree, we're not going to be able to stop it."

     She shook her head. "I can stop it, but I need you to slow it down," she said, "aim for its shoulder. Don't miss."

     Harlequin nodded, turning around to focus on the task at hand. He took a deep breath, willing all his power into his movement.

     This was to save his home. To save Helbram and Ban. To save himself and Seraphim.

     A breeze ran through his hair. He opened his eyes, realizing that he'd spent too much time thinking. With the flick of a wrist, he sent the tiny knives towards the albion's shoulder.

     But the arm was already headed their way.

~•~○~•~

Seraphim hadn't spent too many days in the human realm. At least not to her knowledge. Who knows how long she could have been falling for or how long she spent laying down in the grass after landing.

     But she had to get up at some point. There was no use in wallowing around in her own self pity.

     So that's exactly what she did. Finding her way to a small stream to wash off all the dirt, blood, and ash from her sore muscles. Luckily, she hadn't sustained anything too bad from that fall, but the few deep scratches stung when she poured water over them.

     It was a rare occasion that she'd get any alone time like this, and she wasn't sure she really liked it, but now a named traitor to her own clan, it was good for her, so she could escape the judgement of the Goddesses.