The demon snarled as it dragged itself out of the shattered stone, wings flaring wide. Dust and broken masonry slid off its armored hide, and its glowing red eyes locked onto Lyra with blazing hatred.
Lyra stepped forward, swords in hand, her silhouette sharp against the swirling grit.
Her ponytail whipped behind her, silver hair catching the sun like a blade itself.
"Come on," she murmured, voice low and dangerous.
"I don't have time to play with you."
The demon roared and launched itself into the air, wings beating hard enough to send shockwaves across the yard.
Lyra moved first.
In a single bound, she launched skyward, trailing streaks of compressed mana.
Her swords flashed in her hand as she met the demon in mid-air.
CLANG!
Sparks arced across the sky as steel struck hardened scales. The demon swung its talons toward her, but Lyra twisted in midair, slipping between the claws with almost playful ease.
"You're slow," she said.
She flipped above the demon's back,
then slammed her heel down into its spine.
A burst of wind exploded outward as the demon was driven downward like a meteor.
BOOM!
The thing crashed into the dirt, a crater forming beneath its body, dust billowing into a choking cloud. Akari stumbled back from the shockwave, Elen catching her by the shoulders.
"Miss Akari, stay steady. Lady Lyra is still fighting."
Akari nodded shakily, eyes wide. "She's… incredible…"
The demon roared, enraged, and vaulted back into the air, flinging stones and debris. This time, its wings glowed crimson, mana surging through its veins.
It fired a volley of dark projectiles, compressed bullets of demonic mana, straight toward Lyra.
Lyra didn't even blink.
She swung her swords once.
Just once.
A crescent of pure white energy burst from the blade, widening into a sweeping arc that cut through every projectile like slicing paper,
and continued forward.
The demon's eyes widened as the arc hit it square in the chest.
KA-THOOOOOM!
The explosion ripped through the skies, scattering feathers, blood, and smoke. The beast spiraled downward, screeching in agony.
Lyra followed it.
She vanished, then reappeared above the demon faster than Akari could track, swords lifted high overhead.
"This ends now."
Her blades glowed blindingly bright.
And she brought it down.
SHING!
A shockwave blasted the yard, rattling windows and sending leaves spiraling into the air. The demon's body split cleanly in two, dissolving into black ash before it ever hit the ground.
Silence settled like falling snow.
Only then did Lyra land.
She turned immediately toward Akari and Elen.
The fierce, deadly aura evaporated the instant her boots touched the grass.
She sheathed her sword, breaking into a run.
"Akari! Elen!"
Elen stepped forward, bowing slightly even though she was breathing hard.
"We are both unharmed, Lady Lyra."
Lyra exhaled in relief, then rushed to Akari.
"What about you? Are you hurt anywhere?" She took Akari's hands, checking them even as Akari shook her head.
"–I'm okay," Akari said. "Elen protected me."
Lyra's eyes softened as she glanced at her maid. "I knew you'd keep her safe."
Elen brushed a bit of dust from her apron. "I did my best. Though,"
She looked at the crater, then at the ash.
"You handled things rather efficiently, my lady."
Lyra sighed, placing a hand over her heart as the adrenaline faded.
"Good. As long as you're both safe, that's all that matters."
Akari stared at her, awe overtaking her fear.
"So strong…" she whispered.
Lyra flushed very faintly and rubbed her nose. "It's my job."
Then her expression shifted into something more serious.
"Akari… that flare of power earlier." Her gaze sharpened. "Was that you?"
Akari froze, breath catching.
Elen looked between them.
Akari swallowed hard. "I… think so. I didn't mean to. My power reacted to the danger."
Lyra took her hand gently.
"Then we'll work through this together. One step at a time."
Akari nodded, heart pounding, but now with something warmer than fear.
Trust.
Lyra looked at Elen. "Let's get inside.
Elen bowed. "Yes, my lady."
The three of them headed back toward the house, leaving the demon's ashes drifting quietly in the wind.