Chapter One

Soul Quest

Chapter I: Kou

“The chamber’s up there! Alphas assemble at the front with me, Betas line the perimeter!” Hoshimi barks, as we approach the gate.

At once everyone rallies into formation �" the Alphas grouping by her, the rest spreading around them as they advance. It’s like clockwork, but I’m a missing cog. They’re all obedient, efficient, yet as I stumble on the stairway lost in my thoughts I realise I haven’t been given a station. What now? Do I fight at all? Am I meant to observe and learn? Is this a test of initiation, whether I take the initiative to lead or fall back with the Betas?

I teeter between the groups, heart pounding. Not out of fatigue, however. This life I feel, pulsing through me, it’s tangible. It’s urging me on. I heard what Hoshimi said: no recruit has ever bonded with an Ember Soul before. That’s what she said, I’m sure of it, so why am I so anxious?

“The decision’s your own, Akio,” echoes Homura. I don’t respond. I don’t need to. Her words, they’re a new kind of heat, different than the rush in my fingers. They race through me, igniting my awareness, resonant within the deepest part of my being.

Hoshimi’s staring at me. She’s facing the chamber, but looking right at me.

A final glance at the Alphas, that’s all it takes, and immediately I’ve gravitated towards them. Towards Hoshimi. She turns to me, just as we enter the chamber, but someone’s cry halts her tongue.

“He’s here!”

Only when the Alphas disperse do I see what lies ahead of us, standing solo within the mass chamber of gold walls and bronze tiling. Around him are eight pillars �" statues �" stretching almost as high as the cavern itself. Looking at them you can almost feel the essence of each individual depicted. Their personalities are clear, even in their inert state. The man, upon seeing us, turns to face us as we swarm around him. As we do he steps aside to reveal he isn’t alone after all, but it’s no ally of his. Everyone freezes. It’s the Soul Lord.

She’s been defeated.

Stepping forward, Hoshimi summons her staff. “Kou, as commander of the SQF Fourth Legion I order you to turn yourself in!”

So this is Kou?

“And you believe you are in the position to make this demand?” Kou sighs, eyes fleeting between the groups.

 “You are outnumbered,” Hoshimi snaps. “And out-powered, and we are not above lethal procedure if it means the preservation of Elysia!”

“You talk of preservation.” He shakes his head. “And yet you fail to enforce it. I was hoping to meet you someday, Hoshimi. Being so notable among the SQF, I thought you of all people could come to a better understanding.”

“This is not a negotiation!”

“Have you wondered why it takes the SQF a thirty-two strong army to invade the Soul Lord’s chamber, when I alone have proved myself worthy of consuming two Soul Lords?” Kou gestures to the woman behind him sprawled flat on the stone, chest heaving. It doesn’t take long to realise she’s identical to one of the statues. “It’s because my calling is true, for this moment has been prophesied. Souls alone cannot protect our society, and it is our duty to utilise their power.”

“Enough!” Hoshimi roars. “Betas, flank him. Alphas, engage!”

At once voices rise, weapons materialise, and the entire Alpha unit rushes him heedless to his indifference. I don’t though. I just watch, awed by his composure. He doesn’t even raise his head as roots emerge around him, forming a wall between him and Hoshimi’s forces. Grunting the Alphas strike his barrier using every ability they know: Aqua Spells, Wind Fists, Thunder Spears, but to no avail.

Holy-

And then it stops. The roots swing out and hurl everyone to the far corners of the chamber, including Hoshimi. They all crumple on the surface, groaning. When the roots vanish Kou is standing perfectly still.

“You outnumber me, Hoshimi, but you do not out-power me. Even thirty-two Soul Seekers cannot compete with a Soul Lord’s power,” Kou states.

I stand in silence, gazing at the blood-drained faces of my allies. Only the Betas are still standing, but they’re in shock.

“You,” Kou says suddenly, drawing my attention back. My heart sinks. His eyes are on me, and they’re piercing. “Why did you not follow her order? You are an Alpha like the rest, aren’t you?”

“I-” I attempt a reply, but he cuts me off.

“You needn’t answer me, Akio.”

How does he-?

“Your intuition has served you well, I would hate for you to second-guess it. You see this?” He directs my focus onto the Soul again, who is only now starting to squirm upright. “This is the Thunder Soul Lord, one of The Eight. Because I have defeated her I could consume her power, and that would make me twice as powerful as I already am. You do not understand your purpose as of yet, but I admire your strength Akio, and it is because of this I am offering you the opportunity to prove yourself against me. Win, and the Thunder Soul Lord is yours. Lose, and you forfeit your High Ember Soul to me.

High Ember Soul? Wait? That means-?

“Don’t do it,” Hoshimi splutters, crawling towards me. “You don’t stand a chance against him.”

Panic-stricken, I brace myself for the root Kou will surely slam upon her, but it doesn’t come. He merely watches her, somewhat relieved.

“Seeing as you are still capable of defending Akio,” he adds, as Hoshimi struggles to her feet. “I will extend my offer to you. Defeat me, and the Thunder Soul Lord is yours, otherwise I obtain your High Wind Soul in addition to the boy’s.”

“Done,” she groans, before I can object. “Betas, stand down!”

“Your honour, this is crazy! You can’t-” hollers an Alpha, his face conflicted.

“We can’t let him leave with another Soul Lord. If that’s the risk we have to take, we take it,” Hoshimi asserts, just as the Alpha has primed himself to sprint forward. Others are edging closer too, torn as to what they should do, but Hoshimi’s voice suspends them all. I simply stare. Hoshimi is shuddering with aggression, but Kou is utterly relaxed. I scan the chamber. A wall of lightning borders the cavern, its power of which vibrates the room itself. Kou has defeated the master of that power, alone. We can’t compete with that. It would be suicide to fight him.

“Your honour-” I urge, but Hoshimi is resolute.

“Akio, with the Thunder Lord’s power he would be too much for us,” she affirms. “But he’s a Soul Eater. He doesn’t have the bond you have with your Soul, and if you quit standing around we can defeat him, understand?”

Gazing at the team it’s not hard to read the demeanour of the room. Everyone is opposed to her, Hoshimi knows it, but her stance is so unyielding, so empowering, it’s like no one else matters all of a sudden. My eyes won’t withdraw from her, and the longer I stare the hotter it gets, this sensation, radiating from my core until it materialises as fire. A bright glow grows from the corner of my vision. My hand is grasping the Blaze Sword.

Hoshimi nods.

“Hold back until I say,” she utters, at which a vortex of air spirals her, elevating her high. She cries. “Kazehaya, I need your strength!”

Speechless, I stare rapt as the wind channels itself into two staffs, duel Air Staffs, which extend from Hoshimi’s hands at a greater length than usual. Her eyes too, glaze over, only not with haze but purity, like windows to the life bursting within her.

“Homura, I need you too,” I stress.

“You have me,” she replies. “I’m right here with you.”

Breathing deeply, I adopt my stance, awaiting Hoshimi’s instruction. Her roar stirs a gale that hits like a punch, winding me, and as she lunges for Kou the chamber quakes with violence. The force engulfing her is so fierce even tiles tear up from the ground, encircling her like a shield, but Kou doesn’t move. He doesn’t flinch. Hoshimi strikes with the blitz of heavy tiles behind her, but none of it penetrates the tree wall separating her from Kou. And it doesn’t stay a wall.

“Hoshimi!” I cry, thoughtlessly hurling myself into the wave of jagged twigs. I reach her in time to absorb it, but the torture that follows is stifling. I can’t even scream. The pain is only momentary, but it’s enough to force me down. I struggle to my knees, squinting. Kou has paused his attack.

“And why would you do that?” He asks.

“…Akio.” Hoshimi’s voice, but I can’t turn to her. I can just about keep my balance.  

I stiffen, unsure of myself. At least I think I am, but my response takes me by surprise. “Because I can take it,” I groan. “I’m Ember, you’re Earth. You don’t. Stand a chance.”

Homura, help me.

“I’m here, Akio.”

“You can barely see straight, Akio,” Kou sighs.

What am I doing?

“I’m here, Akio,” Homura repeats. “Trust me.”

“Then it shouldn’t be hard to finish me!” I growl, at which Kou shakes his head. I glare at the twigs �" too many to count �" and swallow hard. My fear is building, but so is my passion. It’s surging down my arm, spreading to my hand. The fire’s returned; it’s stirring. I’m heavy with doubt, but it’s fuelling the flames.

Kou’s eyes widen.

“Hoshimi, now!” I cry, my voice contested by the shrieks of the blaze expanding from my outstretched palm. Kou’s onslaught continues but none of it breaks through, reduced to a mere spray of ash the moment it passes the fire. An Ember Shield.

I’ve formed an Ember Shield!

Hesitating at nothing Hoshimi propels herself high and, catching Kou entirely off guard, nosedives upon him. He crumples under her whirlwind, disregarding his defence as he attempts to wrestle free.

“Akio, switch in!” she orders.

My sword tip connects with Kou’s chest before I’ve even assessed my own safety, launching him to the far side of the cavern where he is besieged by the lightning border. It tears at him ruthlessly, and for a moment he appears helpless, but the roots soon rise again, enclosing him in their protection. Almost as quick as they emerge the roots spread along the floor around the entire chamber, sealing the lightning beneath it. Kou walks forward as his guard unwraps.

He looks as though he’s about to say something, but Hoshimi doesn’t give him a chance. Using the wind to thrust herself she careers into him, her staffs lengthened like a missile. She hits like one too �" the explosion is deafening �" but when the smoke dispels it’s clear her two staffs aren’t enough to break Kou’s defence. He’s summoned his own weapons, duel Thorn Maces, and his mobility is so fluid even her speed can’t tip the scales. Their weapons cross at a blinding pace, and they appear to be in deadlock, but there’s a difference between them, and it’s a large one. Hoshimi is growing frustrated. Kou’s still fully calm.

Again, without processing the rationality of my actions I run, bracing my blade. I strike from behind, my sword inches from his face, but even at this angle Kou is still able to deflect me away, and all whilst keeping Hoshimi at arm’s length. Spurred by just our will the two of us joust on, bombarding him with attacks, but Kou it seems has god-like reflexes.

“Are you really so determined when you don’t know what you’re fighting for?” he asks, his voice scarcely strained.

“Don’t listen to him Akio!” Hoshimi grunts, her face crimson.

“Akio,” he repeats, turning his head to me. Even then Hoshimi can’t land a jab. “You’ve only just joined the SQF. Can you be sure what they’re telling you is true?”

“I can be sure what you tell me is a lie!” I repel his swing, swerving to Hoshimi’s side. It’s no good; flanking him isn’t working. There has to be a way.

“Is that your truth, or the SQF’s?”

Of course.

We landed hits when Kou was distracted. He was distracted because we caught him unaware.

“Hoshimi, let’s bond!”

Startled she gazes back at me. “What?”

“Our Souls �" let’s bond them! He’s too quick for us, but he can’t predict us if we change our attack pattern!”

“We hardly know each other! It wouldn’t work-”

“It’s our only choice!”

I glare at Kou. Almost as if he’s willing her on, he simply watches, his stance relaxed. It’s unsettling, his expectancy, and I consider retracting the offer, but one look at Hoshimi is enough to drain my fear. Our eyes lock. She’s offering her hand.

A sensation floods me the instant our fingers lace, but it’s alien to me. It’s like bonding with my Soul again, the same surge of strength, only this is so forceful I have a gasp. It’s swelling in me, at a rate I can’t track, filling every joint and crevice I never knew existed. There’s a pulse too, reverberating in my bones �" a heartbeat �" only it’s not my own, and it doesn’t stay within. Amazed, I watch as its rhythm emanates from my body as material energy. I’m so entranced by it I don’t acknowledge Hoshimi’s eyes are on me until I turn to her fully, but they’re brimming with concern. She’s pulsing faster than me.

“You’re scared,” she says softly.

“I’ve never done this before,” I reply.

“Don’t be. I’m not going to let him hurt you.” She releases my hand before I can answer, causing the energy to fade, but the clarity of her heart remains rich. It’s speeding up.

Suddenly my head fills with her voice. “Just concentrate. Watch what he does, and protect me. I’ll do the same for you.”

I meet her gaze to signal I’ve understood, then as if by compulsion we’re sprinting side-by-side. Hoshimi’s weapons collide with Kou’s in a crash, but he doesn’t budge. It should be hard to follow, their pace, but the faster her heart races the more my senses awaken. Every swing she throws �" I feel it in my own arms. I know what she wants. I know how she’s about to move.

Boom.

Kou’s mace plummets upon my flames, obstructing his counter against Hoshimi. As I hold him by my palm she wastes no time exploiting his defence, thrusting her staff to his neck.

“Hoshimi, switch out!” I plead. As if by magic she responds to my thought, springing backwards as I jolt for the lead. His recoil is all I need to land my own strike, my sword scoring his side as he raises his arm. Despite this however, Kou retains his poise. And his strength.

“Akio, your left!” she warns.

The following blow is so harsh I can only just keep my palm flexed, and I almost collapse, but Hoshimi manages to deal a second jab just in time. I don’t swipe fast enough to inflict my own, but with a dive I’m just able to shield Hoshimi from Kou’s vicious retaliation.

“Switch in!” I urge.

She hits twice more as he withdraws. I slip his thrusts and weave into range. He predicts my sword but Hoshimi heaves herself in front of his swipe, soaking the attack into her staffs as I launch forward of her, impaling his gut. And again his chest. And-

“Akio!”

He catches me on the third attempt, his force so potent my Blaze Sword obliterates. Hoshimi leaps to prevent his counter, but a tree erupts from beneath her as she flies, snapping her head back. Her body crinkles on the ground, motionless. I turn back to Kou.

But a macehead plugs my view.

…

The ground is cold on my neck, despite the warmth of moisture trickling down it. With hesitance I reach to feel it, but when I pull my hand back I can’t see the skin. There’s only red. 

“An unspoken communication between you and Hoshimi, genius Akio,” Kou states. I hear his footsteps near, but I can’t be sure of it. My head won’t lift. “But, it would have been dishonourable of me to hold back. I only hope that doesn’t discourage you-”

“We are believers in learning from our mistakes,” states a voice from far off, presumably the entryway. It’s mature in tone and rings with familiarity. “Taking advantage of two children is a mistake I hope you never repeat.”

Upon its last word the pattering of feet echoes the chamber, great in number, building in volume until I’m hoisted up by my arms, propped either side by two men I recognise: men from the First Legion. Hoshimi’s being attended to as well, and she’s conscious.

“It was reckless of you to send them alone, Master Chieko. If you are so set on judging me, at least accept accountability,” Kou replies, stepping back from me. The men supporting me have their weapons trained on him.

With effort, I manage to angle my head to the entryway. Sure enough the voice belongs to Master Chieko, head of the Soul Quest Federation, commander of the First Legion. And they’re with her. All twenty of them, their weapons at the ready. The First Legion are so powerful they’re never needed in the same place at once. This is the first I’ve seen them together since my day of initiation.

“Indeed, I was never certain of assigning you to this task,” Master Chieko sighs, gazing to Hoshimi. “But you’re not in perfect form yourself, Kou. I doubt even with the Soul Lord’s assistance you could handle the First Legion in this condition.”

Master Chieko hasn’t summoned a weapon like the rest, but it only takes her to step forward for Kou to react. He backs further, pausing by the Thunder Soul Lord who even now can’t rise to her feet.

“Your students are far from ready, but they’re valiant fighters Master Chieko, and I commend you for that. Seeing as you are here I will let them keep their Souls, they’ve earned as much, but the victory was mine today, and by extension, so is the Soul Lord.”

Frantic the Legion rush him, including the members keeping Hoshimi and me on our feet, leaving us stranded on the ground. In the same moment Kou’s hand meets the Soul Lord, his body enwrapping in light. The Legion are all but inches from him when it vaporises into a glittery substance, but Kou is nowhere, and neither is the Soul Lord. My eyes cross back to Hoshimi, who’s transfixed by the empty space.

She’s sheet white.