“Time to get up, people. Can’t sleep forever, you know! There’s a lot we need to get done and even more to figure out,” Aria shouted, shrugging Mana and Lacia awake.

  Brendan was the last to stir as he examined the fire, now just darkened coals. “Aria, did you…”

  She shot him a look. “This isn’t the time, or place. Later,” she whispered.

  Brendan nodded as he stood up and walked over to the leyliner, noticing the software update had finished, but the device remained void of activity. For now, it was just a useless metal cube. He’d assumed it was always online, not thinking about the mana-consumption something like that would take.

  “Either way, I guess Licht is asleep,” he thought. “Should I just leave him be, though?” A gleeful grin snuck onto his face. “Nah!” He forcefully shook the leyliner. “Time to wake up, Licht. Rise n’ shine!”

  The cube flared to life, hovering in front of Brendan’s face. Was it… glaring at him? Without warning, the cube smacked him. Rubbing the rightfully earned welt on his forehead, he reached for the device, prepared to prove he could hit harder.

  “Tch. Was trying to have a little fun…”

  “You shook the hell out of it, what else did you expect it to do?” Aria mused as she walked over, examining the object. “I saw you walk in with this thing, but you never told me what it does. Seems rather hostile towards you, though.”

  “To put it simply,” he frowned, still rubbing his forehead, “the leyliner is a two-part system. It allows us to see and speak with each other over long distances by imbuing a small amount of mana into the device itself.” Hesitantly, Brendan picked it up again. “By flipping a switch, it can transform into an earpiece where it’s able to transmit audio-visual data back to Licht. In this mode,” he flipped the second switch, “it’s like a magnet, but it sticks to you if you focus your mana wherever you place it. Audio-only, though.”

  “Hey, Licht isn’t awake, is he?” Aria blurted out. “There’s something we all—”

  “Need to discuss?” Brendan interjected. “There’re a few things, it seems. Standing around won’t get us anywhere, though.” He flipped the switch again as the leyliner transformed back into a floating cube. “Licht, are you awake or not?”

  “Yea, yea. I’m here,” Licht’s voice came through the floating cube. “We do need to go over some stuff, especially the Reverse World, but there’s something else we need to go over, first.” The leyliner fell silent for a moment before hovering over to Aria then off towards Mana and Lacia. “I’m just checking vitals right now. Aria, you said you were having trouble healing your wounds, but you seem to be alright now.”

  She blushed. “I won’t ask how you know that, but you’re right. I feel better than I did, uh, last night? It’s taking some time still, but I was able to repair some of the internal damage when I woke up…”

  “How much mana would you estimate you currently have, then?” Licht questioned. “Just a rough guess is fine.”

  “Uhh… Maybe, like, thirty-five percent of normal or so? Not great, but I’m out of danger, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Something has suppressed the normal mana-recovery rate… Hmm… Alright,” he said, “just try not to use too much for the time being. Now, for Lacia and Mana.”

  A wave of blue light washed over Lacia and Mana, still asleep, heads nestled on each other’s shoulders. Sequences of numbers and letters flashed across the screen in matrixes of data and illogical summaries. Mana was the first to wake, disturbed by the bright LED light.

  “I’m not sure if waking up to this is creepy or just genuine concern, Licht,” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. “Either way, mind telling me what’s going on?”

  “Yeah,” Lacia groaned, turning around to face the wall. “Let a girl sleep.”

  “More surprises every day, I swear. Lacia,” Mana sighed, “you can’t sleep forever.” She knelt beside her, trying to turn her back over. “Lacia, come on. Why are you like this?”

  “Because it hurts to move right now,” she whined.

  “Oh? Is that right? I wonder what you should be telling me, then.”

  Aria pulled Brendan aside as Mana and Lacia delved into a heated argument over who was going to tell the story of their adventures first. There was still a lot she didn’t understand about herself. How had she forgotten about two of the most important people in her life? Was it the metaphorical hand of fate that had brought them together again? But if that were the case, what explained her memory loss? She hadn’t willingly chosen to forget; there had to be another force at play, something working in the background.

  Like the exposure on a camera, she felt like her memories needed a little more light to fully reveal themselves again. The longer she waited, the more light they could draw before she snapped the photo, preserving the moments forever. Still, an unwarranted feeling of dread poured over her. She knew that certain traumas could create a type of memory suppression, and that scared her. Was there something in the back of her mind that was so traumatic, so life-altering, that she’d subconsciously forgotten an entire part of her life?

  “Better late than never,” she thought. Aria turned her head to the side before returning her attention to Brendan. “I still want to discuss this more later, but… You did have the same dream I did, right? What do you remember… from that night?” Her cheeks flushed. “I’m afraid to be honest, of what I’ve become, and how I let myself be so easily manipulated,” she said in a low voice. “I’ve done so many terrible things you don’t even know about and—”

  “That doesn’t mean I think of you as some kind of monster, Aria. I don’t care if we’re living in a dream or I don’t have the full story yet, I’m not one to judge you based upon what you’ve done or who you think you are.” Brendan reached for Aria’s hand, but she pulled away.

  “There’s something else you need to know, but it’s better if—” She stopped, reordering the thought in her head. “It’s better if I show you.”

  “Show me—?” A shrill beep from the leyliner cut him off. “We’ll pick this up later, ok?”

  Displeased about being put on hold, Aria bit her lip. “That boy. He cares so much about those two even though we were the almost-somethings…” She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “This isn’t the time to be the jealous girl, Aria. There are bigger things to worry about.”

  The leyliner had finished its scan of Lacia and Mana, still bickering about who was more obliged to share the details of their journeys. A matrix of data points ranging from blood oxygen level to red blood cell count was projected on the wall, providing a detailed summary of their health like art in a museum.

  Mana’s numbers suggested relatively good health despite the debilitating MCS blackouts almost twenty-four hours earlier. Her blood sugar levels were normal, and her white blood cell count was within acceptable range. Surprisingly, the leyliner had mapped out a three-dimensional model of her brain as well, showing zero complications. Except for the slow mana-recovery rate, all of her other vitals were acceptable.

  Lacia’s numbers, however, told a different story: her metabolic levels were significantly diminished, her red blood cell count was low, and an X-Ray showed multiple fractures ranging in severity from cracked ribs to her already-broken foot. Likewise, the bruises on her arms and legs still hadn’t fully healed from her run-in with Lucifero; purple ring-like bruises wrapped around her thighs, lower legs, and forearms.

  “Wow,” Aria said, analyzing the data sets, “I knew I was cutting it close when I showed up but, again, wow.” She shuddered, chilled by the thought of how close Lacia had come to death. “I’d surmise that, when he when placed that curse mark on you, it was meant to slowly kill you—inadvertently. If he could wound you enough, his plan was likely to allow the curse mark to finish you.”

  “Why should I have to tell— Wait.” Lacia stopped mid-argument. “What’s happening?” She turned around to face the wall, skimming the numbers from the leyliner’s scans. “Aria,” she said, surprise etched across her face, “I couldn’t say it earlier, and I still don’t completely trust you, but,” she paused again, regaining her composure, “thank you. You saved my life, and I know I’ve been ungrateful, not having thanked you until now. I realize just how close we both came to dying. Looking at these numbers, finally feeling the effects of that fight, I feel like I kind of dropped the ball…”

  Aria bit her lip, taken aback by Lacia’s apology, still a little hurt by her lack of trust, but she understood. “Look, Lacia. I know we aren’t on the best of terms, but let me explain—”

  “I’ll think about it,” Lacia blurted. “Give me time, Aria. Please.”

  Dejected, Aria took a step back, balancing on the backs of her heels. She wanted nothing more than to explain why she’d treated her so terribly, and how she longed to mend their relationship, but what would something like that take? Lacia had made it clear that trust was earned, not gained.

  “I guess I was an idiot, thinking that we could play pretend and forget everything that happened.” She gave a depressive sigh.

  “We don’t have much time for reunions. Sorry,” Brendan said, cutting the tension in the air as he turned toward Aria. “Earlier, you said it would be easier to show me something.” He was careful not to share the details of their previous conversation, much less shared dream. “I know there are things you want to tell all of us, so I’ll just say this: if you feel like this is the time to tell-all, I’d say do it. We’ve all been gathered here for a reason,” he grabbed Aria’s hand, trying to reassure her, as she tried to pull away, “so let’s figure out why and get all of this baggage off of our chests. We have to stop whatever it is the Reverse World is hoping to achieve here.”

  A pit formed in Aria’s stomach. The feelings of isolation, abandonment, anguish— She swallowed them all, trying to understand her feelings towards Brendan and why he was so adamant about keeping her close, but it wasn’t Brendan she was worried about; her relationship with Lacia wasn’t where she wanted it to be, and that bothered her the most.

  “Ugh. He’s right, though. I need to focus on what’s important now.” Taking a sharp breath, the chilly air sharpened her mind. “Ok, I’ll go ahead and start now,” she said, casting away her melancholic attitude. “It would be best if everyone stood back a little—everyone but Lacia.”

  Lacia pointed at herself. “Me? Might I ask why?”

  “Remember when we first met? How I told you I knew where you received that gash in your side? You could say that time has theoretically stopped in that world.”

  She stooped down, fumbling around in her bag. With a glint of excitement, she retrieved the same knife she’d taken back from Lacia before they disembarked the ship. To everyone’s horror, she dragged the blade across the palm of her hand as a fresh stream of blood trickled to the floor.

  “Aria! What are you—?”

  A sudden gush of wind slammed into Lacia as her feet slid across the concrete floor. She shielded herself with her arms as rich magical energy filled the air, engulfing the empty border gate like a raging whirlwind.

  “Lacia,” Mana shouted above the rush of wind, “What’s going on? What is she talking about? Some other world?”

  Brendan echoed Mana’s questions, now directed at Aria. “I know you’re upset,” he shouted, “but a little explanation would be nice, you know! Like, what are you trying to say? Lacia and the Reverse are connected?”

  “Be patient,” Aria shouted back. “There’s a reason I’m doing this.” She turned to look at Lacia, pivoting the job of explaining to her.

  “Yeah,” she said, “just allow me to summarize the last few weeks into a quick two-minute explanation, she said, throwing up her hands before another blast of wind tore into her. “Hang on! Let me explain before you blast me again!” She turned her head so Mana and Brendan could hear her. “There’s another plane of exis—”

  A stabbing pain erupted across her abdomen as if something had lodged itself into her flesh. She stumbled back, fresh crimson stains seeping through her clothes. Judging by Aria’s lack of concern, she assumed the return of her agony was part of the plan, but her time as everyone’s scapegoat was growing old.

  Mana moved to intercept Aria, noticing Lacia’s discomfort, but was met with an abrupt hand as she approached. She protested, frowning. It had been nearly a month since the two had last seen each other. Watching Lacia grovel in pain was painful in of itself.

  “Stay,” Lacia said, breathing heavily. “Just… let her do this. I know Aria has her reasons, and there’s no other way to explain everything that has happened to us to you.” She dropped to one knee.

  Ignoring her demands, Mana pushed forward. Her caramel locks reminded Lacia of the time she’d given her a makeshift haircut when they were children. She’d watched as locks of sleek, black hair fell to the floor, reflecting the overhead light with a glossy sheen. The renewed shade of her now-caramel strands fascinated Lacia just as her dark hair did back then, streaming in the light of the afternoon sun.

  “Give me your hand,” Mana shouted over the wind, but it was no use. The shrieking air currents tore any sound other than its own howls to shreds. Determined not to lose the one thing she’d fought so hard for, she pushed on. She knew her stubbornness was her greatest weakness, but she refused to let that weakness define her. After all, her stubbornness had brought her this far. Just as the day had its night, her weakness also had its counterpart; the very same stubbornness that often got her into trouble was the very thing that led her back to Lacia. Her overprotective spirit hadn’t failed her yet, and she wasn’t about to end that streak, either.

  Lacia turned her head, addressing the worried look on Mana’s face. “Look. I know you’re worried,” she shouted over the wind, “but this is something we have to do, and I know you’ll understand that. I won’t leave you alone, I swear.”

  “How can you say that when you’re in as poor a shape as you are? You and Aria are keeping something from me, from us, and I— What am I supposed to do if I lose you again? And right after I just found you? That’s not fair!” After what seemed like the world’s longest shouting match, the wind finally began to subside; rich, magical energy lingered in the air. “Can’t we just—”

  “You don’t know the meaning of what is and is not fair, Mana,” Aria interrupted, overhearing the last of her conversation with Lacia. “I don’t mean to be rude, just— Please. I’ll explain when we get there. For now, I just need everyone to take a breath.”

  Mana nodded, reassessing the situation. “Sorry, Aria, but I really need you to please explain what just happened. I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re a little confused. And where, exactly, is ‘there?’”

  “I can’t answer that question until Lacia imbues some of her mana into this.” A small key appeared in her hand, shimmering like a watery reflection. “Her mana is all that’s needed to solidify this key.” She tilted her head back towards Brendan. “And, if I’m not mistaken, you and Mana also found a little something special on your adventure, right?”

  Brendan folded his arms across his chest. “Alright. Now how did you know—?”

  “That band is called a halifer. There are only two in existence,” she emphasized, “and, supposedly, they possess the power to open doorways to other worlds. When this key takes physical form and resonates with one of the doorways, you’ll hear it. Whether any of this is actually true or not is irrelevant. Clearly, you found one, and I have one of the keys.”

  “So,” Lacia said, taking a seat on the ground, “it’s reasonable to assume that what you already know about this stuff is actually real.” She laid back, the cold concrete soothing her achy muscles.

  “That’s a valid assumption, I suppose,” Aria replied. “When a halifer comes into contact with one of these doorways, once opened, they emit a certain frequency, and that resonance is what activates the doorway—what allows for actual travel between worlds.”

  “Fair enough, but I’m not hearing anything right now,” Brendan shrugged. “More importantly, why does it have to be Lacia’s mana?”

  “Listen carefully, Brendan,” Mana said. “It’s faint, but you can hear it, almost as if the key really is resonating….” She pulled the halifer from her bag and presented it to Aria. “How does Lacia tie into all of this, though? I think Brendan has a valid question here.”

  With a small grunt, Lacia returned to her feet, but something had happened. Golden particles now floated in the air, dancing and twirling around her as she held her palms out, absorbing the shimmering cloud. She felt rejuvenated—the best she’d been since her life had devolved into innumerable injuries and fear.

  The rush of rejuvenation reminded her of warm spring days, the renewal of life and reinvigorating energy that came with it. As soon as the feeling swept through her body, it was gone, a series of bright, golden flashes concluding the brief moment of bewilderment. She looked to Aria for an explanation who could only offer her best assumption.

  “Lacia… Do you know what that power is? Have you any idea what just happened?” she asked curiously.

  “Umm… Well— What’s the correct answer?”

  Ignoring Lacia’s attempt at humor, she continued on. “I think what that might have been was an extremely rare type of magic, something that can only be wielded by someone of a certain bloodline. Uhh… What that basically means is that you do have a super special gift—we just don’t know exactly what it is and how it works.” She locked eyes with Lacia, studying her intently. “I think I’m beginning to understand what Lucifero was after.”

  “And if we factor in the Erill Gate,” Licht added from the leyliner, “we have a very compelling argument that what Lucifero was really looking for had something to do with opening that gate.”

  Mana and Brendan exchanged glances with each other as Lacia stood awkwardly in the center of the room. No one seemed to know what to do next, having surmised what it was Lucifero, and likely the other devils, wanted. Still, even if that were the case, there remained one problem: no one knew where the Erill Gate was or what it was, for that matter.

  Aria’s eye twitched in response to a sudden growing pressure. Something in the air had changed; it clung to her skin like wet clothes on a hot day. Her magic was reacting to something, but she couldn’t place why it felt familiar, yet so strangely foreign.

  “We’ve had it wrong this whole time,” she mumbled, “but something tells me we’re running short on time…”

  Lacia’s vision pulsed in response to the same growing pressure that seemed to be affecting Aria. She dropped to the floor, legs sprawled out beneath her as she brought a hand to her head. As her body adjusted to the increased magical energy, something strange happened: a new, larger, golden orb appeared before, hovering several inches from her face.

  “I feel like this one’s different from the last few… The magical energy with this orb is— I think it’s harmonizing with me?” She squinted. “Maybe it’s some kind of fairy? A spirit…?”

  “No good guesses,” a small voice fluttered through her head.

  “Did you just— Telepathy?”

  “Much danger. Soon.”

  Puzzled, she continued her questioning. “What do I call you? What are you?”

  “I am Hika. Hika is an aurei.”

  “An aurei? This is the first I’ve ever heard of you, but why are you here?”

  “Lacia is Hika’s home. Hika has always been with Lacia, Lacia just not know it,” the aurei said through broken sentences. “We must go. Danger coming for Lacia and friends.”

  A frown spread across Lacia’s face. “Hika, was it? I still have so many questions, though.”

  “Umm, Lacia,” Mana said. “Are you talking to that ball of light…?”

  Aria nodded. “I was going to let her continue. I figured maybe she’d lost her mind finally,” she silently giggled.

  “I still half a mind to dump you in the snow, Aria,” Lacia said, unamused.

  “I was kidding. Relax…”

  “Questions later,” Hika urged. “Hold out hand for Hika so Hika can finish.”

  Lacia did as instructed as she extended her arm. Hika swooped onto her palm, tracing dancing letters of light. Something inside of Lacia stirred—a sense of reassurance and calm. She took a deep, slow breath, allowing the rapid influx of mana to fill her with elation.

  Coming to terms with the aurei, however, would challenge everything she believed in, and while the concept of gods and mythology wasn’t something she was keen on, the encounter with Lucifero had forced her to begin rethinking her approach.

  “Maybe tomorrow I’ll find out the tooth fairy is real too,” she muttered.

  A sudden wave of ominous dread sent chills through Lacia’s body. Goosebumps lined her arms as she shivered, unable to control her now-chattering teeth. She felt like she was on a rollercoaster, the subsequent feeling of falling was inevitable once the ride reached the top of the tracks. Her heart leapt into her throat, ready to flee whatever evil had wormed its way towards her and the rest of the group. Given Aria’s earlier thoughts on Lucifero’s motives, she surmised his defeat had sent shockwaves through the Reverse World; it was all but certain another devil was on its way to finish the job now that they were all tired and weak. She turned her attention to Hika who, with one final swoop, completed the letter tracing.

  “We must go. Hika will take you back soon. Learn to use power soon,” the Aurei encouraged.

  “Wait! How do I use this power? And what do you mean by taking me back? Back where?”

  “Hika must go but will see Lacia soon.”

  “Wait!”

  A powerful tremor shook the corridor just as Hika vanished into a puff of golden light. The terrifying malevolence made Lacia nauseous. Booming laughter filled the air as if it were taunting her, knowing there was nowhere for her to run or hide.

  “Hika said I need to learn to use this power, soon, but how do I do that? Do aurei not come with an instruction manual or something?” She pulled at her hair in frustration. “How am I supposed to use this ‘power’ everyone keeps telling me I have if I don’t know how to use it to begin with?” She looked at Aria.

  “I can teach you, but I don’t think now is the time.” Aria bit her lip. “Guess we pray for a miracle? I mean, I don’t know what else we can do. You’re looking at me like I have all the answers.”

  “Well,” Brendan and Mana said in unison, “you kinda do.”

  Aria shrugged. “Think about what you felt when that golden light entered your body. Try to feel something different—anything that might lead you to a really fast understanding on how to use magic. There’s no way we went through everything we did just to die here.”

  Lacia crossed her arms as she closed her eyes. “Even if, by some miracle, I manage to figure out just how to use magic, or whatever, I definitely can’t fight. Like,” she held out her arms, “do you expect these things to throw a punch? Why else do you think I elbowed you? These stick arms are useless.”

  Devil or not, they had a couple minutes, at best, to figure something out. Aria and Lacia seemed to be the most affected by the growing presence, but even Mana, Brendan, and the leyliner had picked up on the intensifying evil. Unlike Lucifero, however, this evil was different: collected, precise, and nauseating.

  Another devil was on its way, but its energy seemed rooted to a single point rather than emanating outward unlike Lucifero’s, which was chaotic and lacked control, flailing around like a garden hose. There wasn’t any time to think. One moment, everyone was rubbing sleep from their eyes; the next, they were standing at the precipice of an evil so monstrous that even the word “terror” felt hollow.

  Ready or not, someone was going to have to step up. “I’m not a fan of sacrifices, to be honest, but how else do we win this fight?” Lacia pondered. “Hika must have given me something to work with, right? We’re all only here because of me. Would it be selfish of me to be the one to buy time if I can?” If the history books were going to write anything about her, she preferred they would write about her heroic attempts to save her friends from a devil. “Of course, to do that, I have to make sure I don’t get totally clapped first.”

  “It’s here,” Aria announced.

  Lacia opened her eyes to find a black pool of shadows amassing in the center of the corridor. They were outmatched, that much was obvious, but that wasn’t what bothered her. She’d inadvertently dragged everyone else into her mess without ever intending to. Now what? She refused to let her problems become the problems of anyone else. While her combat abilities were still rusty, she intended to make a stand worthy of dinner-table conversation years from now.

  Still, the devil didn’t seem eager to attack. Rather, it was taking its time, its shadowy form bubbling up like some kind of black, molten rock. If it had wanted to kill them outright, it could have easily done so already, but it hadn’t. Why? Surely it wasn’t stopping by for a coffee break, right?

  “Look, I can tell you’re worried,” Aria said, addressing Lacia, “but I can also sense you want revenge. I know you want to unleash all of that pent up anger you have on something. Lucifero did us both a favor, though. We’d still be at each other’s throats had he not shown up.” She smiled, eyes fixated on the growing black mass. “You want to protect everyone. Yes, I know what you’re thinking.”

  “Fair point,” Lacia posited.

  “Of course it’s a fair point. It’s my point. Anyways, let’s try to minimize any potential collateral damage as best we can.” Lacia watched as Aria’s eyes moved toward the leyliner. “Licht needs to find something to hide the leyliner in. The last thing we need is the guy with all the brains being targeted because a devil traced him through the leyliner.” She gave an aslant frown. “I hate that that’s the best we can do. As for the rest of us… Get creative. Our mana is too low to fight at full power, so our best shot at getting out of here alive is to improvise.”

  “She’s right, Lacia,” Licht said through the leyliner. “I think the odds of the four of you winning is marginal, but I think the odds you’re all killed is even lower. Think: Lacia is who the devils are after. If they can’t get to her, they can’t kill you.”

  “Uhh, think you could explain that one to me?” Brendan asked, scratching his head.

  “If you are close enough to Lacia, powerful attacks would be powered down so as not to harm Lacia. If you can keep her close to the three of you—Mana, Brendan, Aria—there’s a chance you fend this devil off without exerting too much effort. It’s a long-shot, but you get the idea.” The leyliner chirped. “Now then, before I make my hideaway… I’ve connected your minds together through the leyliner. Think of it as short-range telepathy. At the very least, you can use it to non-verbally communicate with each other.”

  “Software update?” Brendan asked, painting the air with a finger.

  “Yep! Pretty ingenious, isn’t it? I accept monetary compensation if you would be so kind as to shower me with your praise now.”

  “In your dreams, buddy,” Brendan laughed. “We’ll all have a nice dinner or something once we’re done here, ok?”

  A deep, disembodied voice charged the air with a sickening aura. “You made a fool of my third seat, but that is no matter. Lacia Amana, I will take your power for myself and end this silly game you continue to play. And you, Aria Miruna, I will take everything you ever cared about and leave you to die in solitude. Your ancestors cannot help you like they did last time.”

  “My… ancestors?” Aria shook her head. “You’re mistaken. That was all me, you nasty devil.” Aria grabbed Lacia’s hands. “Telepathy only now, everyone. Lacia, hurry and imbue your mana into the key. Stand behind me and don’t move. Mana, take the halifer and run your hands around the circumference. That will allow the band to begin resonating with the key once it’s ready. Remember what Licht said: we have to get creative. Win in unconventional ways.”

  “Allow me, then,” Brendan said. “This won’t buy us much time, so get started, you two!”

  “I’ll make small talk,” Aria suggested. “When you two are done, let us know. Brendan, as much as I would love for you to take the lead, let’s try not to piss this one off before we even get a chance to catch our breath.”

  “Have at it, then. I’ll set something up as a failsafe in the meantime.”

  “So, I imagine there are two reasons you’re here,” Aria said, addressing the devil. “One: you’re upset that we knocked Lucifero on his pathetic ass and it makes you mad. Two: you’re still mad, but not, like, mad mad, so you’ve come for Lacia for some reason.”

  “You bore me, Miruna girl,” the devil said, a human-like form emerging from the shadows. “I am here for reasons beyond your comprehension, and for reasons you should have expected after regaining your memories.”

  “Well,” Aria put a finger to her lower lip, “that wasn’t exactly something I could control. Now, had the memory fairy walked up to me and offered to return my memories that way, maybe things would have gone a little differently. What’s a girl to do?” she shrugged.

  “Aria, you’re not making small talk. You’re just antagonizing the thing,” Mana telepathized.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Aria rolled her eyes. “I’ll be straight with you, devil. We can’t just hand Lacia over, nor do I appreciate the whole ‘solitude’ thing you said earlier. I’m not sure what your deal with me is if Lucifero isn’t such a big deal, like you said, but I didn’t choose this life. Let’s be unrealistic here and pretend like I’m somehow the perpetrator.”

  A high-pitched whistling sound bounced off the concrete walls, nearly inaudible; Mana had activated the halifer. Aria had her doubts about the legitimacy of the stories surrounding the halifers, but the wailing all but eased them. Still, if the devil caught onto what they were doing, her small talk wouldn’t be enough to save Lacia, much less everyone else—herself included. She tapped the heel of her boot against the concrete floor, masking the sound.

  “Thank god it’s not any louder than that. I won’t be able to tap my foot forever, though,” she admitted, “but we need another minute. The key and halifer must resonate with each other, and to do that, the key will need to be inserted inside the halifer.”

  A red ball of flame erupted from Brendan’s palms as he loosed the orb into the air. Nets of orange flame raced across the ground as the orb sank into the floor, like a rock in water. He clasped his hands together, ground now awash in a flood of burning light. The floor melted into a sea of molten rock, forcing the devil’s partially-formed body into the fiery pit. Fiery threads stitched themselves together atop the now magmatic floor as they continually tore the devil’s shadows to shreds.

  “A simple spell like this won’t hold that thing back very long. I’ve only slowed its complete ascent, but I combined several other simple spells with this one. We have about a minute, judging by the feedback I’m receiving from the threads. Before you ask, yes, they have nerve endings that relay information back to me about the captive’s condition.” Mana and Lacia met him with blank stares. “I’ll explain it better later…”

  “Bring the halifer over here, Mana,” Aria ordered. “When a halifer’s key and the actual halifer itself meet, like I explained earlier, they should open an interdimensional door. Still, it will take a little more time for the actual lock on said door to undo itself.”

  Aria inserted the key into the halifer with an audible thunk, clicking as the key dissipated into a mist of golden color. An ancient, albeit unreadable, script began to etch itself into the band, wrapping around the circumference as each character glowed with a ferocious white light. The clicking continued. She almost wondered if someone was raising the metaphorical curtain on the ensuing chaos, a stage tech somewhere in the rafters operating the curtain’s pulleys.

  Mana shot a fleeting glance towards Brendan, leaving Aria to finish summoning the door. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, darkening the concrete as they splashed onto the ground. The energy and focus it took to hold the devil back was tremendous: his temples throbbed; his muscles screamed at him, and he could feel his mana dwindling—fast.

  “Time this, time that,” he thought to himself. “It’s about time someone lent me a hand, here.”

  Streaks of dark shadows shot through the magmatic labyrinth, drilling their way through Brendan’s magic. With each subsequent hole, the integrity of the spell grew weaker as more shadows emerged from the floor, slowly congealing into various body parts. With one final push from the devil, the spell began to give way as Brendan fell to his knees, breathing heavily. The ground heaved, showering everyone in concrete dust and dirt as a dark mist seeped through the cracks like a poisonous fog.

  “Just a little longer,” Aria pleaded. “We just need another minute!”

  Realizing that Brendan had nearly exhausted his remaining mana, Aria was busy with the halifer, and Lacia was still severely wounded, she knew that, whatever happened next, it would mean the difference between life and death. She could sense how strong the devil was, a strength that paralyzed her muscles with fear. What could she do to secure another minute?

  She knew that if Brendan’s spell failed, that would be it. They’d be slaughtered like livestock or forced into an indentured servitude for eternity, made to grant every request made by the devils as they used them like some cheap, plastic toy. If Brendan’s spell failed now, what little hope everyone clung to would vanish like the daylight. If everyone else got to live, and her death brought peace and ensured order, she almost didn’t mind expending the last trickles of her own mana, firing it into Brendan.

  “I don’t care what happens to me at this point. Every second counts, and we don’t have many of those left. If Brendan can use my magic in a way that I cannot, I don’t mind doing this.”

  Brendan immediately righted the spell, forcing the devil back into submission as the same magical threads from before began to tear the devil apart once more, scattering pieces of its shadows in the magmatic labyrinth. He knew Mana had transferred her magic to him—a reckless move.

  “I’ll scold you later,” he telepathized, “but for right now, thank you. I think I can buy us at least another few seconds. After that, someone, or something, is going to have to keep the devil occupied until Lacia and Aria are done.”

  “Now open!” Aria shouted.

  A blinding beam of light shot from the halifer as it bisected the front wall of the border gate. Loud groans erupted from a set of ornate doors fabricated by sleek, white marble and pure gold that ornamented the trim. An archway appeared as the doors opened outward, revealing their unique opulence: near the top, winged designs paralleled each other in symmetrical patterns like the flames of a fire. Closer to the bottom, a series of bulb-like designs looped around each other, separated by a thin layer of branching tails that reached for the winged patterns near the top.

  Aria was awestruck. She’d never seen such decadent architecture, much less believed something with such grandeur existed. She reached out, hand gliding across the strangely-warm marble as the doors continued to open.

  “Aria, we’re out of time,” Lacia said, noticing her dawdle. “Mana is exhausting herself trying to help keep Brendan’s spell up while you’re just standing there! We should try to help reinforce Brendan’s spell until the doors fully open…” A thought wormed its way into the front of her brain. “Actually, I have another idea.”

  Aria turned around just as Lacia revealed a thin golden thread that had been wrapped around her finger. She reached out, hoping to snatch the thread from her, but Lacia was quick to react, spinning around to avoid her reach.

  “Lacia,” Aria cautioned, “Don’t do this. There’s another way. Look how close the doors are to opening,” she said shakily. “That thread… You do understand what that means, right?”

  Lacia nodded. “I’m really sorry. I wish there was a better way, but we need magical power we just don’t have. If I’m careful, I’ll only take maybe twenty or so years off my life, I think?”

  She tucked a stray lock of platinum hair behind her ear. The thread was small and inconspicuous, visible only under certain light, as she twirled it through the air. A star-shaped outline emblazoned in gold appeared before her, reflecting the same mark on her cheek, as she finished her aerial finger-ballet.

  “What are you doing?” Mana shouted. “That mark on your cheek only glows when you’re doing something stupid. I am so for real right now. I don’t think this is the right thing to do.”

  Lacia smiled. “What I should and shouldn’t do really isn’t my decision to make anymore. I wish I’d known how to use this power earlier, and I still want an explanation from you later,” she said, glancing back at Aria, “but this is something I would have done a long time ago, anyways.”

  “Lacia, you don’t have to be the hero,” Aria cautioned. “We can do this toge—”

  “No, Aria, we can’t. Our bodies are worn out, and our magic isn’t even a fraction of what it could be. Sadly, there are no other options left. I wish I had more time to settle the confusion in my heart and mind, though.” She bit her wrist, drawing blood as she dabbled her fingers in the fresh crimson liquid. Using her blood, she painted a similar star-shaped mark on the ground beneath her feet. “This thread is what allows mana to flow through my veins, what keeps me alive. By painting this mark with my blood, I can increase this spell’s potency. Simply put, if this thread breaks, I die.”

  Omnis’ riddle echoed through Mana’s mind. “There were two parts to Omnis’ riddle. The halifer was one, but I also have to find what I cherish most—that’s you, Lacia. You are key to all of this—to whatever is happening,” she pleaded. “You don’t have to end your life just to save ours. I don’t care if that’s selfish, either. You are my light, my anchor—you are everything to me! Forget the world—”

  “Mana,” Brendan said sternly, still focusing on the devil, “do you realize that it’s more than just our lives that are at stake here? I know how deeply you care for Lacia, but we have to respect her decision. Given our current circumstances, I don’t we have much room for opinions.”

  “This is all so crazy, guys. Mana, I know you’re afraid of losing me again, but if this riddle you’re talking about does include me, you have to realize that, just because I’m important, the riddle likely didn’t say how I’m supposed to perform my role.” She gave Mana a teary look. “I’m crying because I’m happy, but I’m not about to just throw my life away for no reason. Trust me.”

  “From the sounds of things, if that spell fails, that’s it—no second chances, so I urge you to strongly consider what it is you’re planning to do,” Brendan said. “In fact, I think I know exactly what spell you’re about to perform, so let me warn you: if you’re successful, sure—maybe you lose a few decades on your life, but if you fail, it really does mean death.” His voice was grave but sprinkled with hints of concern.

  Before she could attempt to explain the spell, an enormous shadow towered over her, congealing into a man at the base: the devil had broken through Brendan’s spells. Greasy black hair rested against his pale skin as he pushed it out of his face, revealing a set of black irises. He was lanky and looked as if he hadn’t eaten a full meal in weeks, ribs pressing against his bare chest with every breath.

  Lacia stood firm, prepared to activate her spell at any moment. Shadowy tendrils poured from the man, outspreading the floor as they snaked around, eager to pursue any biological entities. If she averted her gaze, she risked losing even the smallest fraction of a second to activate her spell. She could still see the doors opening, gold glinting in her peripherals. Unfortunately, until they were fully open, she would have to put her spell on hold or risk the safety of everyone else.

  “Mana, Brendan— Do what you can to protect Aria. We need those—” She quickly covered her mouth with her hands, careful not to leak any further details of the plan. “That doorway will take you to a world that lies on the opposite side of ours. You’ll be safe there,” she said telepathically. “But I can only buy you guys a little more time. When those doors are fully open, you need to hurry through!”

  The sound of clapping hands refocused Lacia’s attention. “How very noble of you. Lucifero did tell me you had quite the heart,” the devil teased. Its disembodied voice felt like needles in her ears. “But this is the beginning of your end. Our meeting will not end like it did with Lucifero for you. Before I kill you and finally steal your powers from you, I should introduce myself—”

  “I know who you are,” Lacia interrupted, “Ahzef, first seat of the Reverse World. How nice of you to at least come visit me outside of my dreams. I’ll gladly see to it that our meeting ends swift—” A hidden tentacle-shaped shadow wrapped itself around her throat, silencing her.

  “Be quiet. You’re talking to King Ahzef of the Reverse World. Know your place, bratty human,” the devil seethed.

  Mana broke into an athletic sprint, full speed towards Lacia. “Let her go, you ugly thing! I won’t let you lay another hand on her!” A phosphorous ball of magic began to form in the palms of her hands before it abruptly sputtered out.

  “You’re a new face, but you’re pitifully weak if that’s all you can do,” Ahzef said, unimpressed.

  A large shadow streaked through the air, preparing to swat her like a bug. Time seemed to slow down, memories flashing through her mind at light speed. Something felt… off, though. Time had slowed. She looked on with distinct curiosity as the shadow plowed into the ground, kicking up shards of concrete; she sidestepped the attack with ease. Ahzef’s movements had grown sluggish and predictable, though the devil had seemingly yet to notice.

  “Do not be foolish, child. You are not capable of inflicting harm upon Ahzef.” For the first time since Seria, Omnis’ voice reverberated through her mind, this time a little more forceful. “You are nothing more than fodder to him.”

  “Brendan, I’m finished! Get her back before she gets herself killed,” Aria shouted, snapping Mana back to reality.

  “Wait— What just… Omnis? And the time—”

  “Already on it!” he yelled, anticipating Ahzef’s follow-up attack.

  As expected, a flurry of shadows raced towards Mana as they peeled themselves off the ground like stickers. They recoiled, eager to take turns as if she had become the only player in a game of death. How many strikes would it take? One? Two? Maybe three or more? The first shadow sprung towards her before colliding with a wall of white light, subsequently crumbling to dust.

  “What is even happening anymore?” she said, thoroughly confused.

  “I should be asking you that!” Brendan replied, reprimanding her reckless behavior. “And what was that wall of light just then?”

  “That wasn’t you?” She could see the sheer rush of adrenaline in his eyes.

  “No. Can you feel the mana in it, though? It feels almost protective, but I don’t think I’d rely upon random strokes of luck, honestly. For your sake, let’s just stick to Plan A before we jump to Plan C.”

  Ahzef’s voice boomed through the corridor again. “Come to pay me a visit, have you, dear goddess?” the devil beamed. “Either you’re here to watch the slaughter, or you’re here to try and steal my betrothed world from me. Now, I wonder which it could be?”

  With a thunderous crash, the doors finally revealed what laid beyond their marble fa?ades: an open field, painted by the occasional tree, filtered through a water-like barrier. It seemed so Earth-like—blue sky, white clouds… but something about it seemed… different. Despite the summer warmth that now overspread the inside of the border gate, a semi-permanent chill hid beneath the warm advection like a bitter aftertaste.

  “Brendan,” Aria said, the tiny glimmer of childishness she used to flaunt so endearingly had all but vanished, “I have to keep the doors open for Lacia. If we’re to have any hope at all, you need to take Mana and jump through that portal now. I will do my best to join you once I’ve retrieved Lacia.”

  “I’m so glad I chose not to kill you yet. This is quite fascinating, don’t you think?” Ahzef said playfully. “You’re like ants scurrying beneath my foot, too brainless to do anything but run around in circles.” The pressure in the room spiked, forcing everyone’s ears to pop as the sound of marble scraping against concrete began to crescendo. “You will remain here, with your friend and I, while you watch as I pull every bone from her body.”

  Flaunting her like some kind of sports trophy, Lacia dangled off the ground, only the tips of her toes making contact with the ground. Though her arms and legs were restrained by shadows, she didn’t seem to mind. In fact, a devilish smirk of her own crossed her face, giving Mana even more reason to worry.

  To make matters worse, the doors they’d all worked so hard, and waited so patiently for, to open had begun to close. Aria didn’t want to look. After all, ignorance was bliss, and she’d used most of the little mana she’d recovered just trying to open them. Opening them again would not be an option. She made a split-second decision, reversing the flow of her magic, allowing the doors to naturally open back towards her once again. In some ways, she’d just become a magical magnet, but Ahzef was able to exert far more power and control than she could, overriding her own magic and control.

  “Do not underestimate her,” Aria reassured Mana. “We will be right behind you—now go!” Aria whipped her head around to face Ahzef again, caramel tresses of hair careful not whip her in the face. “This fight is far from over, Ahzef. I hope you know you’ve overlooked one important detail,” she taunted joyously.

  Brendan scooped Mana into his arms, looking back at Aria as they ran by. “Turn that devil to ash, Lacia!”

  Mana frowned.

  “What? I’m just trying to… lighten the mood a little.”

  “If you’re going to act all valiant, at least have some worthwhile jokes,” she sighed.

  “I left the sigil unfinished for a reason,” Lacia thought to herself. “Everyone should be through the portal by the time I cast this, so…”

  Striking the ground with the tips of her toes, she finished the blood sigil at her feet. She turned her head, watching Ahzef’s cold eyes fight for control over Aria’s magic. She grabbed at her throat, a small blade of light cutting through the shadow that held her in a chokehold. She’d deal with the bleeding gash along her throat later. For now, she’d managed to tear through the shadow, releasing the constriction.

  “You devils talk a lot for such little to show for all the fancy words,” she choked. “You’re mine, Ahzef! If I have to get caught up in my own spell, fine, but I’m sending you back to where you belong!”

  Aria launched Brendan and Mana through the portal as they vanished with a pwip. “She can’t fight at full power if you’re hanging around,” she shouted after them. “You’ll be safe, I swear on my life. Lacia and I will come find you when all is settled.”

  “Can’t forget about me,” Licht said as the leyliner flew through the portal after them.

  Aria giggled. “I’ll have to get to know you too, sometime, Licht. Now then…” An enormous magical energy began to build, harmonizing with Lacia’s own as she took a deep breath. “I once heard a story, Ahzef. Would you like to hear it?”

  The devil let out a disembodied bellow. “I have a feeling we will see each other again after this. I was initially interested in skewering you atop my shadows, but now I think I will play this game you have concocted.”

  “Unlike you,” Aria said, “I have no intention of continuing this ridiculousness with you, but if you insist on not hearing my story, then allow us to end your pursuit of—”

  “Me,” Lacia finished. “I don’t recognize you, but you seem vaguely familiar, like a dream…” She gasped. “You— That nightmare!”

  The devil raised an inhuman eyebrow. “Oh, so now you recognize me? Perhaps I should have changed my appearance some.” Ahzef pondered the idea for a moment. “Well, no matter. My wardrobe change and the Miruna girl’s story can all wait for another time.”

  With a concentrated surge of magic, Lacia freed herself from the rest of her restraints, running over to join Aria who looked ready to commit murder. Her eyes gleamed in the dying light of the coals as several new shadows filtered across the floor, attempting to hide in the low light. She watched carefully, examining every flinch, every eyelid flutter, every scattering of dust.

  “Dispel yourselves,” she said calmly as the approaching shadows dissipated into fine, dust before completely fading away. “Become nothing as you return to the darkness.”

  A look of surprise crossed Lacia’s face. “Spoken magic? I didn’t know you could incite a command like that.”

  “Normally, you can’t,” Aria said, putting a hand to her head, trying to tamper a roaring headache. “It’s forbidden to use such magic, and there’s supposed to be a permanent block on acquisition of the learning material, but I have my ways.”

  “Next, you’ll say something off-brand like ‘I’m really Santa Clause’ or whatever,” Lacia joked. “Ok, but for real though, it’s kind of nice, teaming up with you. Our magic seems to resonate with each other’s. I think, if I can call Hika up, maybe it’ll lend us some additional support.”

  She twirled the golden thread from earlier through the air. The end had frayed by a couple of inches since she first revealed it. Just how much of her life would those two inches take? She flicked it like a whip as it expanded in size, battering Ahzef’s feet. It was lighter than air, but the handling felt good; the whip wasn’t too light nor was it small and plasticky—something mass-produced and made to sit in a landfill.

  “Once upon a time,” she started, “there was a girl—a small girl. She was shy, afraid of the world and everything in it.” Ahzef eyed Lacia carefully as she continued to twirl the whip, circling him all the while. “Then, one day, she woke up and had no recollection of who or where she was. All she had been left with was a small, cracked stone that gleamed like a ruby. When she touched it, she became violently ill, barely able to hold her stomach.”

  “Where is this going?” Aria whispered softly. “We—”

  “Fast forward about ten years, and that little girl is now all grown up. Until she, quite unexpectedly, encountered a special boy, she’d accepted the last decade of her life as someone she wasn’t even sure she was.” She stopped between Aria and Ahzef, pointing her gaze towards the floor. “Suddenly, her whole life changed again, and she found herself questioning her true identity for the first time in her life. She wept, more than she ever had before. Suddenly,” she quickly turned to face Ahzef, “she’s involved in all of this crazy good vs evil, life and death, craziness.”

  “What are you getting at?” the devil growled, frowning.

  “Then, she finds a similar stone to the one she’d received as a child, ultimately leading to her abduction. Still unsure of who she was and why she had suddenly been thrust into an interdimensional conflict, she spent a lot of time thinking, reflecting. But, as the seal that had been placed on her past began to weaken, she realized she wasn’t the only one who had been deceived.” She tilted her head towards Aria, smiling. “Can you guess who that little girl was?”

  Aria nodded. “Yes, and I’m sure she’s full of anguish, lamenting her blissful ignorance to the reality that she’d tried so hard to discard. As her memories began to return,” Aria said, continuing the story, “so too did the memories of another girl, a girl who had experienced untold tragedy, something so life-altering she wanted nothing more than to erase the world and start over.”

  “So,” Lacia continued, “by feeding off of their anguish and sorrows, you sought to exploit the very things that made them human.” She changed the subject of the story. “You forced Aria to run unapproved tests on me, all in hopes of also discovering who left the so-called neriolite with me that day, all of those years ago. You’ve been watching us, for a long time.”

  “Your tale of tragedy does not interest me,” Ahzef said, yawning. “The Miruna girl’s sounded like it had more promise.”

  Without warning, Hika’s voice trickled into Lacia’s ears. “Lacia still has much to learn, but you will need Hika’s help. This form not suited for Lacia’s needs.”

  “And now, Ahzef,” Lacia finished, “we’re going to put an end to whatever crusade you’re on. I don’t care how the neriolite is connected to all of this, or what it is that you want. I just want a normal life back, and the pain I’ve had to endure up to now is unlike anything I thought I’d ever know.” She sighed. “I’m tired. I’m tired of questioning myself, wondering who my real friends are, but most of all… I’m tired of you.”

  “I think it is about time we brought this symphony to a close,” Hika’s voice called out. “Before I lend you my magic, Miss Illi— Miss Amana, I should explain I can also take the form of a human girl.”

  Suddenly, somewhere farther down the corridor, a small light began to grow, faint at first, growing brighter with each passing second. A rhythmic tapping, or maybe it was the click of a shoe, reverberated off the walls.

  A girl appeared amidst a spotlight of luminescent orbs that illuminated her path; she looked like she was about Lacia’s age. The only way she could think of describing her was radiant, but with an air of grace and formidable strength. Delicate waves of green, darker than a rainforest, wove themselves into an elegant gown that seemed to glimmer in the light, enhanced by intricate patterns of golden trim, like vines wrapping around a tree.

  She donned a pair of opaque white stockings, held up by golden ribbons that encircled her thighs. The silken legwear was imbued with the same intricate patterns as the gown, but what shocked Lacia most was her perfectly golden hair. She’d never seen a color so vibrant and lustrous, full of waves that bounced off the midsection of her back like an ocean.

  “And now we know what the tapping sound was,” Aria noted, examining her footwear. “I don’t think even I could pull off heels as elegant as those. It’s almost as if they’re made of gold and emeralds. Lacia,” Aria hissed, “how long have you known her—Hika, I mean? Does she always have flashy entrances like this?”

  Noticing the hushed conversation between Lacia and Aria, Hika spoke up. “I only use this form when it is absolutely required of me. My smaller form is quite cramped so,” she groaned, stretching, “I think I will remain in this form for a while.”

  “But do you always have such flashy entrances?” Lacia and Aria asked in unison.

  Startled, she shook her head. “No, but when it comes to a certain group of devils that continue to cause trouble for my princ—for the ones I am assigned to protect, it is sort of an expected duty. Besides, where would be the fun in fighting the King of the Reverse World in drab clothing?” Lacia compiled herself, though Aria remained awestruck. “Aria, was it? I am an aurei. My official duty is to—”

  “Protect those of important status—deemed so by your elders. I’m aware. I just can’t believe aurei can take human form. You’re just so… pretty,” she said, mesmerized.

  “Imagine how I feel,” Lacia joked, “knowing a whole other being lived inside of me. In fact, think back to about ten minutes ago, and you won’t have to imagine.” She shook her head. “Anyways, I assume you two know what I’m planning then, right?”

  Aria frowned. “I do, and I still think it’s reckless—”

  “Because it is,” Hika interrupted.

  “But it’s like I said. I’m ready to do whatever it takes, even if that means my own life gets cut a little short,” Lacia confessed.

  “You mean like sixty years short?” Hika frowned. “I shall assist however I can, but the spell you are wanting to cast has major implications.”

  “I know,” Lacia said, “but if a hihouyo is the only way we finally put an end to what I can only assume is some kind of twisted cycle,” she paused for a moment, “I’ll gladly do it.”

  “Lacia. You realize what you’re saying, right? You’re basically talking about a death sentence here. I’m not sure the human body could handle something like that. I mean, you’re taking about death, no matter how you spin it, if you go through with this,” Aria explained.

  “No, like, I understand that, but everything everyone has worked so hard for, just for my sake, can’t end here.” A shrill, but faint, whistle echoed through the corridor as she drew one final blood sigil on the back of her hand. “Before I begin, I should tell you, Aria, that something, way back when we were still on the ship, told me not to trust you. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t sure what to believe.” All three sigils began to glow like a crystal in the sunlight. “Knowing how our pasts connect parts of my life that I’d forgotten about together, I’m pretty sure I understand your true colors, now,” she smiled.

  Aria narrowed her eyes. “Is this some indirect way of asking me to help you with the hihouyo? Are you absolutely certain this is what you want to do?” she asked, shielding her eyes from the prismatic light. “Well,” she sighed, “I guess it’s really the only way to make up for how I treated you. …Has this ever been cast by more than one person?”

  “Not that I know of, but my mind is still a bit hazy. I’m glad you could read between the lines, though. I really didn’t want to just outright ask you,” Lacia laughed awkwardly.

  Aria gave a weak smile. “Of course. It’s the least I can do for my best friend.”

  “I think we have some catching up to do before we go back to the whole best friends thing,” Lacia admitted. “Let’s take it slow and enjoy our time over tea or something when we’re done here.” Aria nodded.

  “Now that you’re done saying goodbye, I should tell you that your little spell won’t work on me. You’re wasting your time. In any other scenario, perhaps you might have the advantage, but your mind is not as walled-off as you believe it to be,” Ahzef snickered. “It’s such a shame, truly. I was really starting to have a little fun.”

  “Sorry to disappoint, then,” Lacia half-apologized. “If you’d spent any time in my head, you’d realize there’s more to this spell than you think,” she lied.

  “Is that right? Let me offer you some advice, then: don’t be the hero. All I am after is the two of you—not even the aurei interests me. If you’re not careful, little Lacia, you could very well be the thing that destroys everything you’ve worked so hard to protect. Or, rather, what everyone else has tried to protect.” Devilish laughter bounced off the walls, poisoning the air. With an abrupt snap, the lights were dispelled once more.

  “You have no power here, Ahzef,” Hika said calmly. Golden rays of light clashed against the devil’s steely shadows as she unleashed a wave of magisterial starlight. Her hair erupted into a flurry of golden waves as she moved, locked in a fierce battle between dark and light. Ahzef’s shadows were quickly burnt away. “You should heed your own warning, dear King,” she said.

  The light was blinding, forcing Lacia and Aria to shield their eyes, but everything was still on track despite the surprise that was Hika. The spell could be activated at a moment’s notice, though it seemed she was attempting to buy more than a few minutes of time. The hihouyo was a last-resort and, of course, forbidden magic. Still, Hika hadn’t explained what happened if the spell was successful—just that it was inevitable death if it failed, according to Brendan. If Lacia defied the odds, who would reprimand her for using forbidden magic? What was the punishment? A slap on the wrist? Of course she didn’t want to use something that took sixty years off of her life in exchange for overwhelming power, but what other options were there?

  A look of astonishment crossed Lacia’s face. “Surprised?” Hika asked. “I am capable of quite a bit more, but we can save the finer details for another day, like I said.” A wall of shadows rolled over her before she could say more, momentarily masking her golden light. “Have you no manners, devil? I was enjoying learning more about my… Well, maybe I shouldn’t spoil things just yet.” A golden prism of light dispelled the shadows, embellishing the corridor in even brighter, ethereal light. “Are you, perhaps, upset that I didn’t greet you for the first time in— How long, now? Three hundred years?”

  Ahzef chuckled. “You always show up when it’s least convenient. Never mind the minor hiccup, however. I will wipe you from existence this time, Hika. Mark my words.” A canine-like sneer spread across his face.

  Overwhelming surprise filled Hika’s face. “Lacia, are you almost ready? Ahzef is much weaker than I had anticipated.”

  “That’s not the impression I got,” Aria thought. She looked over to Lacia who seemed just as confused. “No… She knows what’s going on. It’s a bluff!”

  “If you are looking for an escape, your only hope is the hihouyo. I have my doubts that it will do enough to eliminate him, but it should wound him,” Hika telepathized as she engulfed Lacia and Aria in a bubble of fluorescent light; it shimmered like gold, but its composition was like that of a normal soap bubble.

  “How are things coming, Aria?” Lacia asked, nervously. “God only knows how we’ve been fortunate enough to stall for so much time,” she said quietly, watching as Hika continued to spar with Ahzef.

  “I just need a little more time,” she said, a fresh cut across her hand dripping with blood. “I only have the blood sigils left.”

  Lacia nodded. “Tell me, Ahzef,” she shouted, buying more time, “what is it that the Reverse World is after? What exactly is it you want with me, specifically?” A fiery blade arced through the room, shrouded in shadow, tearing through the border gate’s support columns as cracks formed in the ceiling. “I’m not anything special,” she said warily. “What is it you gain from such a reckless appearance such as this?”

  “What do I have to gain?” Ahzef boomed with laughter. “By destroying your world and reforming it to suit my needs, not even your goddess will be able to stop me. I will devour every last world and absorb their dimensional energies.” The cracks in the concrete continued to grow larger as they raced down the walls. “This just so happened to be my latest stop, but I will admit— I did not expect to encounter such resistance! This has been thrilling!”

  Lacia glanced back at Aria, close to finishing her final sigil. “We can’t take another attack like that last one or this whole room will come down on top of us.”

  Time sped by, challenging the breakneck speeds of a bullet train. Adrenaline pumped through her veins unrestricted as her brain absorbed the chemical influx without hesitation. She didn’t know how much more time Aria would need, but the minutes passed like seconds.

  “What do you mean by ‘goddess’? I don’t know what you’re talking about, nor do I believe in such things,” Lacia replied. “Just because devils exist doesn’t mean the opposite is also true.”

  The air shifted as a wind blew from somewhere behind her, cold, but filled with such apathy she thought she was going to be sick. It was almost as if she could feel Ahzef’s surprise, considering her response.

  “Perhaps you don’t know, but I suppose it doesn’t really matter one way or the other, does it? Once I’ve sapped away every last ounce of your magic, your very life itself, your powers will be mine—that wonderful little gift of yours. Before I do kill you, and I get rid of this annoying aurei, I think it would be fun to watch the horror spread across your face as I crush Aria’s organs into bloody pulps.”

  “Hey now, there’s no need to drag things out with me.” A small quiver had entered Aria’s voice. “I’m really not a fan of that…”

  “Lacia,” Hika telepathized, “Ahzef is very prideful. Boast about how strong he is. Once Aria is ready, I will give the final instructions on how to maximize the effectiveness of the hihouyo.” Lacia nodded.

  “Hey, let’s maybe do the organ crushing thing later,” Lacia offered, “but what I really want to know is how you became so strong. I know you’re a devil, but that human form you have must be holding you back, right?”

  “I’m ready to go whenever you are, Lacia,” Aria whispered in her ear. “This might kill us, but if it doesn’t, Ahzef will, so,” she moved away from her ear, placing a hand on her shoulder, “I want you to know how selfish it was of me, forgetting about the friendship we once had, and I’m sorry about how I treated you. I cast away a part of myself after I lost my parents.”

  Ahzef droned on about his power and admirability in the background, forgetting what he had originally come to do, flattered by Lacia’s shallow compliments. Aria rolled her eyes, annoyed by the devil’s blabbering.

  “Anyways, that confused look on your face tells me we still have a lot of catching up to do—maybe more than I expected. If we make it out of this alive, I’d love to hear all about how life has been.”

  Lacia locked her in a tight hug. “Sounds good, Aria. I can’t wait!”

  The portal behind them began to flicker as the doors continued to close, scraping against the concrete. The spell couldn’t wait any longer; it was kill or be killed. If the hihouyo failed, Ahzef would devour everything, leaving behind a world of chaos; despair would prevail, and order would fall into disarray.

  “Time always seems to work against us, doesn’t it?” Lacia noted. “We’re ready now, Hika.”

  “Place the hand you drew the sigil on and press your palm onto the blood sigil you painted on the floor. You must channel all of your mana into them, but you must give something in return for casting such a spell,” she explained. “Your life threads will be severely shortened by this.”

  A resounding slap echoed through the corridor as Lacia and Aria pressed their palms to the floor, surrounded by chunks of falling concrete as the border gate finally began to crumble. The sigils melded together, forming a constellation of makeshift stars as they reveled beneath the replicated starlight, blazing with a luminescent brilliance.

  “Repeat after me,” Hika started: “I offer my life to the ones I love, and to the things I have vowed to protect. I call upon the great who have perished to grant me their power. I offer my life if I may be deemed a failure in my mission to incapacitate the evil before me. Though I may fail, I understand that I have chosen this path, and I will carry out my duty until the end.”

  Lacia and Aria repeated the chant, the bubbles surrounding them fading as every last ounce of magical energy was drawn into the sigils. A golden thread, similar to the one Lacia had twirled around earlier, appeared above their heads. They watched as a tiny flame dwindled away much of what remained of their lives, as if it were bound to a fuse, leaving the threads blackened and charred.

  “We’ve made our choice,” Lacia said. “You shouldn’t underestimate those who’s wills are stronger than yours, Ahzef,” she challenged.

  Hika grabbed Lacia and Aria’s hands. “It was a pleasure getting to meet both of you finally. This is as far as I can go. The rest is up to you now,” she said, beaming with joy. “You are already aware of how to cast the remainder of the spell.” She placed a hand above her breasts. “Lacia, I do not know what will happen after this, but so long as you are alive, I will be with you, always. Aria, you are peculiar. In time, you will understand more about yourself and your powers as well.” She waved goodbye before vanishing into a golden mist.

  “Always with me, huh? I have so many questions I still need answered, so let’s try not to kill ourselves here,” Lacia joked. “Forgive me for being cliché, but it’s all or nothing. Are you ready?”

  Aria struggled to stifle her laughter. “…Yeah. I have just as many questions, and we still have that tea date, so no dying on me, either. Got it?”

  “Mm! Here goes.”

  Ahzef lunged forward, accompanied by hordes of shadows, glaring eyes peering through the darkness as if the shadows were alive. Smoky fingers crept along the ground, concrete dissolving into dust, as they overtook everything in their path. Without Hika’s light, the final dying embers from the fire extinguished themselves, unable to survive the decay of oxygen and lack of kindling. A moment later, the remaining coals had been reduced to dust—even the smallest of cinders erased from existence. True darkness settled into the corridor, unabated as it consumed everything. Reality began to distort as if it were being stretched by an immense gravitational force.

  “Just as I devour everything in this small space, so, too, will I devour the rest of your world. You cannot hope to change the tide of this battle, not without the other princess,” Ahzef hissed, words seeping out of his mouth like a sludge. “Once I’m finished here, I will pay the rest of your friends a visit as well!”

  A slow chant rose into the air as Lacia and Aria finalized the remainder of the spell. An orange glow cascaded down the walls like a waterfall of color, overrunning the shadows. Patches of grass and flowers bloomed in its wake, restoring what Azhef had destroyed. What had been a pit of black and despair was now a flourishing field of beauty, embellished with a magical warmth. Nothing remained of the border gate, in part destroyed by Ahzef, as the light pooled beneath the girls’ feet, eagerly rushing into their bodies.

  “Ablaze with the hopes of those who have departed and those who await salvation, we accept the exchange of our lives to banish those which sorties with evil. May this spell become a beacon of light for all who desire it. Within our hearts is a blossoming flame, one that will now perform this extravagant dance…”

  A gleaming incandescence eviscerated Ahzef’s remaining shadows, etching black stains into the ground. Radiance bathed the sky in a searing blaze of heat and fire. Bellows of agony and curses were shredded in the blistering flare. Hellish temperatures incinerated everything caught within the spell’s radius. The remaining concrete rubble liquified, dripping like molten rock as it plopped onto the ground with an exaggerated hiss. Earthquakes radiated through the earth, shaking cities miles away as a plume of smoke and fire shot into the sky, filling the atmosphere with ash and latent heat.

  What had been an icy hellscape of snow and ice was reduced to liquid, the blast of the hihouyo leaving a crater that stretched further than the horizon. Water poured into the newly formed basin, connecting the land to the sea. The smell of super-heated salt lingered in the air as night became day.

  Standing tall amidst the chaos they now paid tribute to, the interdimensional doors were wide open again, but the portal was gone—only an empty slate of white lingered, colors washed out by the blazing iridescence of the sky.

  Water began to rush over the burn that now blighted the earth, preparing to drown the secrets of the devils and other worlds. Ahzef, however, was nowhere to be seen. Whether he had fled or was expunged from existence remained a mystery. Regardless, the commotion of celebration was just as absent; Lacia and Aria were also nowhere to be found, now lost in a world mired by uncertainty and volatility.