CHAPTER 57: GRAVITY AND RETURN

A few hours before Ayame’s return...

"What was that noise? What’s going on out there?" King Shion asked, worried.

"Some creepy monster landed on the courtyard. Your children are out there–" Sayaka blurted, terrified.

"Take me there right now," Shion ordered, standing up from the chair.

"M-my lord, it’s dangerous out there–" the maid protested.

"I didn’t ask for your opinion, Sayaka," Shion said, his voice firm and commanding. "Take me to the underground chambers. I’ll reach for the blade of the last allied god again, and then go straight to the courtyard. My sight may wander in darkness, but I can still trust the movements of my hands."

Sayaka sighed. She knew she had no choice but to obey her lord. She wanted to take him by the arm, but he refused her help.

I have to get stronger. I have to get used to walking in the dark...

the king thought as he followed the maid. Sayaka warned him about stairs and columns from time to time, though Shion more or less remembered where things were.

When they stepped out onto the courtyard, Sayaka covered her mouth and gasped. Shion the Second and Asahi were trembling with fear, Yuri watched the scene before them with a half-terrified, half-unmoved expression.

Yan Mo was clashing with the gravity god’s mace with his muscular arms, shielding Yuecheng from the enemy’s strike.

Yuecheng – or rather Hoshizuma – was gathering mana for another spell.

Tenjū extended his other, free hand forward.

"Get out of my way, pathetic worthless pest," he said, then flung Yan Mo away for several meters, Yan Mo slammed into one of the palace walls with his back. Hoshizuma smirked.

"Do you really think you can beat me? I may be in a child’s body, but I used to crush those like you without lifting a finger."

"Then prove it," he replied, reaching his own hand toward him. A small black hole formed in Tenjū’s open palm, and it began pulling Yuecheng toward it.

Damn, he caught me off guard. I was expecting another reckless magic or physical attack, not such a tactical move from an idiot like him.

And then Sayaka and King Shion appeared on the courtyard.

"Dad, help Yue!" Asahi shouted.

Surprised, Shion first turned toward the sound, then directly toward Yuecheng, as if with other senses he could see what was happening.

Hoshizuma, closing in on the gravity power and seeing the mace blow coming toward him, decided to turn toward Shion.

Young Hoshigane, Hoshizuma’s voice rang in Shion’s head, I am the voice from the stars that lives in Yue’s consciousness. It’s thanks to me that he has his powers and abilities. I’ll share his sight with you so you can protect your children.

Yue’s eye faded, and one of Shion’s eyes regained color and shine. The king gasped at the burst of colors and shapes and the daylight that flooded him – it was a sharp pain, but a pleasing one. Instinctively he pressed a hand to the eye that had been healed for a moment.

T-thank you, he thought as he uncovered it.

Sayaka, who didn’t fully understand what was happening, looked at the ruler in surprise. Meanwhile, Hoshizuma cast a spell on Yuecheng’s body, which was held in Tenjū’s grip, allowing him to slip out of his hands like an untouchable ghost. Everything happened in a fraction of a second.

King Shion inhaled deeply, then charged into the attack.

From the other side Yan Mo charged straight at Tenjū, his hands had black claws at the ends, and purple magical energy pulsed around them. His horns lengthened and two small purple flames burned around them.

"Unforgivable – to humiliate me like this in front of my lord," Yan Mo said, then struck Tenjū in the back with both hands, forcing him toward the king’s blade, which pierced the gravity god’s chest through and through. Shion landed beside Yan Mo after the finishing slash. Shion turned toward their enemy, and Yan Mo finally drew the mace that hung on his back – the one he hadn’t had a chance to use earlier.

Unfortunately, the god didn’t even flinch.

"How have we still not hurt this beast?" Yan Mo said, surprised. "But don’t think you’ll get away with it. I’ve got something perfect for arrogant gods." He channeled part of the purple magic pulsing through his body into the weapon, and it transformed into a black harpoon, burning with a magical smoke.

"Tenjū uses gravity to push pain and damage out of his body," Yuecheng said from a few meters away, having escaped. "Look – the ground around him is destroyed from your attack; the paving stones shattered into fragments and little craters formed in the soil."

"That means as long as we don’t take away his willpower, our attacks will be useless," Shion said.

"This is fun if you think you can match me," Tenjū replied. "But since even Hoshizuma ran from me, you’re facing real power. Fine. I’ll toy with you for a bit, then I’ll kill the one I was sent here for."

I did that just to make an idiot like you drop your guard, Hoshizuma thought, smiling with disdain.

"Hoshizuma?! You mean..." Shion started but didn’t finish, then glanced at Yuecheng.

Now one look was enough. In the consciousness of his sister’s son lived the teacher they both hated – a deceitful, unpredictable being that had become an inseparable part of Yue.

"Why are you smiling, Yue?" Yuri asked, scared a bit.

Hoshizuma turned to the three siblings in surprise – he’d completely forgotten they were standing there.

"Because I have a plan," he said calmly, trying to hide the rising laugh. "I promise we’ll get out of this in one piece."

"Yue, let me out of that barrier," Yuri said calmly. "I know you did it to protect us, but I want to help too."

Yuecheng – or rather Hoshizuma – examined her. After one exchange of looks he knew Yuri was ready to use her power consciously.

The first small awakening. She’d taken the first steps toward her true power – but only the next moves would decide whether she reached her potential, Hoshizuma thought, then turned back to the battlefield.

Tenjū charged at Yan Mo and King Shion, who stood side by side, ready to defend and counterattack.

"Fine, then," Yue murmured under his breath.

A small tear appeared in the barrier. Yue looked at Yuri’s siblings, who were too frightened to speak. He figured they didn’t want to come out, so he patched the hole right after Yuri left.

*

Ayame looked straight into Haru’s eyes.

She smiled to herself as the gold slowly faded from his face, revealing the warm, soft features of the man she knew so well – his eyes regaining their old shine and warmth.

"I can’t believe it... you did the impossible," Rouhuo said, watching in amazement as Haru returned to himself.

"It’s not just me. If you hadn’t found that text, Rouhuo, we might still be stuck in that library. I don’t know how I’ll return the favor – above all, this is your success."

Kiss me like before. No, I can’t be thinking that about my lady! Rouhuo thought, and blushed.

Unfortunately for her, Ayame noticed her embarrassment.

"What were you thinking about, Rouhuo, to go that red?" Ayame asked with a slightly teasing smile.

"I..." the half-lioness began shyly, but the magic circle’s burst saved her from the awkward moment.

Haru blinked a few times, then looked around the room. When his eyes met Ayame’s, his eyes filled with tears and his mouth trembled. He ran to Ayame, crying, and hugged her tightly, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. They... they cried so much. And Shion was so sad – I wanted to show them how much I love them by being here, but I couldn’t, and that hurt more than anything... thank you, Ayame," he said, holding her tighter.

Ayame gently stroked his back.

"Hey, long time no see, Haru. Too bad I couldn’t fully undo the enchantment... I feel one of your hands is still cold."

Surprised, Haru straightened and looked at his arms – his left palm was still gold. He flexed his fingers and moved it easily.

"That’s strange. I don’t feel any weight from it, nor any limitation in movement," he replied.

At the same time Rouhuo went to the large window near the royal bed.

"Are you sure you don’t feel anything... odd? Any pain, a flow of power, anything?" Ayame asked calmly.

Then – suddenly – Haru felt a faint sting in the fingers of the golden hand.

"It’s hard to explain, but it feels like most of my power moved into that hand..."

"Hmmm... looks like your new hand will act as a catalyst or a vessel," Ayame said, holding her chin thoughtfully.

"Lady Ayame, Lord Haru... you should see this," said the frightened half-lioness.

Haru ran to the window and saw his husband and children fighting something that looked like a monster from another reality.

I spent so long as a statue, unable to tell them how much I loved them or kiss them – and now I wake up and their lives are in danger.

I wanted to hold them so badly, and now both Shion and our kids could be taken from me forever.

I won’t let that happen.

Haru felt all the anger inside him gather in his golden hand. Streams of liquid gold rose from his arm, slithering through the air like snakes. Driven solely by the urge to protect his loved ones, Haru shattered the window with his power, and a golden path formed beneath him in midair.

I will protect them at all costs, he thought, and in the blink of an eye, he was on the battlefield.