38 I Will Try

"Ichina, you're all burnt up, I'm sorry," Azuka says still wiping the tears from his puffy eyes. "It's okay Azuka, hopefully you feel better now. You do feel better?" Azuka nods as he inspects Ichina's tall figure, burn marks ravaged her back and shoulders. "I'll bring water." Azuka says rushing over to the nearby ocean, cupping water with his hands and pouring it on Ichina. Some of the water spilled, but Azuka desperately tried to keep all the water together.

She had taken her shirt off slightly so the burn marks were visible and her clothes wouldn't get wet. Although parts of her shirt had holes where her burn marks appeared.

AH!

The cool ocean water under the early afternoon sun hit Ichina with a sense of relief and comfort.

"Listen don't be a bitch and take it like the ma- woman you are," Azuka says letting out a small laugh. Ichina smiles knowing that she had helped what she started to consider an actual friend.

"When we get back to the village, let's help them out," Ichina says cringing at the water splashing her burn marks. "I will try to help them. If that demon is too strong then- then I don't know what I would do." Azuka says eyeing their exposed bags.

I've got to make sure that I put everything back as it was before, but I have to take care of Ichina first.

Half an hour passes, Ichina is mostly better, due to Azuka's efforts and her use of healing magic. "When did you learn healing magic," Azuka asks. "I learned to help my body enhancement magic, usually people who are already physically strong would learn it. As it gives a sort of strain to the body, an already strong body would lessen the strain. I use healing magic to give me longer time to use my magic. Though it is not as advanced as something like Ms. Nihan, the village doctor's magic. I can only heal myself, so don't expect me to heal you if you get hurt."

Ichina puts her shirt fully on, standing up she begins walking back toward the village, she stops only a few feet in the forest. "Azuka are you coming," she yells turning back around. "Yeah! I have to hide our bags again!" Azuka places all of their bags behind the bunch of bushes. He covers it all up with the bushes, trying to make it look as natural as possible. "Azuka, hurry up!" Azuka quickly finishes up and runs to Ichina, who was waiting for him.

"Took you long enough," Ichina says turning back around, continuing her journey back to the village. Azuka follows behind feeling as though he had forgotten something. He pondered on what it could be for a short time, his mind wandered back to Ichina's explanation of her magic.

Somebody usually strong, he thinks, could my master have body enhancement magic. Then again he said that he never used his magic around me. Based on all the magic that I've seen and all the time I've been with master. I don't think once he ever had a part of his body glowing with mana. If what I'm thinking is true, then that means- holy shit! Master is a lot stronger than I thought. The thought sends shivers down Azuka's spine.

By the time Ichina and Azuka had arrived to the village, it transformed into somewhat of a ghost town. "What the hell happened! We were only gone for a long...short time," Azuka says confusingly trying to assess the seriousness of the situation. Ichina is trying to stay calm, but her heart and mind race out of control. "The last time this happened, the demons attacked. Azuka! We have to get down there!" Ichina rushes to the center of the village, Azuka follows her.

At the center they come across both Khi and the Chief of the village staring ominously at an altar. The altar was placed in the absolute center of the village. "Chief! We have come back. What is going on?" Ichina asks frantically looking for any signs of demons.

"Any moment now, the demon, Damien will be back. While you two were unconscious yesterday, he wanted to turn the both of you into sacrifices. Basically drag you down to the underworld and do whatever he wants to you. I was hoping that he would also say that he will not be taking any women, but he did not say that. He laughed at me when I asked him about it." Chief directs his focus to Azuka and Ichina and stares for a moment. "The fact that you are both back, fills me with hope. Perhaps this time we can win against that demon."

"Grandfather, I doubt that Azuka has enough power to defeat Damien." Chief smacks Khi with the back of his cane, "Stupid grandson. You never even fought Damien before and you are trying to discourage one of our biggest assets! Also, remember to keep your head out in the battle. I know that he is the main reason for many of your sufferings, but one mistake and you're dead Khi." Khi nods, "Of course."

After a few minutes of waiting air seem to be sucked toward an area slightly above the center of the altar. A red portal with black outlines opens, the sense of extreme terror falls upon earth. Azuka's heart sinks, he grips the area on his shirt where his heart would be underneath, putting his head down and closing his eyes. He gets flashbacks of his master, which motivates him to raise his head, let go of his shirt and ignite his hands.

"Azuka are you ready," Ichina asks. Azuka forces a smile, looking at Ichina. "Of course, I'm ready. I'm a god after all." Ichina smiles back, but that smile disappears as fast as it appeared. A long blade come out of the portal, almost hitting Azuka directly. Instead, the blade rips open his pocket, with Azuka being able to somewhat dodge the attack. Coming out of his pocket was the photograph of Emily that Azuka had forgotten to put back.

Azuka desperately catches it while it was falling. He extinguishes his flames, panicking he tries to blow on the small fire that had started on the photograph. In which he was able to successfully put out, only leaving the corner of the picture with burn remnants. Azuka laid on the ground, when he looked up he could see the devilish, gray, trench coat wearing, demon come out of the portal. With the blade retracting back into his trench coat.

"I sensed something from you that I did not like or want to remember. For some reason, when I see you, I get extremely pissed." Damien looked down upon Azuka. "Who? No- What are you?"