9

There was a core inside.

A crystal orb glowing with a faint gray radiance. The lifeline of every magical creature and gifted humans.

Rin leapt forward, a hand on the box and the other on the woman's forehead, pinning her against the wall behind.

"High priestess!",Yuki rushed towards her but Loid grabbed him by his arm, twisting it behind his back and pointing his sharp claws at his throat.

"Move and I'll split open your throat."

Yuki gulped, cheek pressed hard against the floor as he looked up helplessly at his priestess.

"Speak before I report this whole village for commiting a homicide."

Rin's low and deep voice sent a shiver down their spines. That intense gaze of his made the woman stutter, her gray eyes wide and her lips quivering.

"W-we found it inside a creature."

"A creature?"

"Y-yes, it was a cursed being. A dead person. But. But there were cores in it. Two of them."

She trembled under his grasp, the image of that thing appearing before her eyes. She covered her ears, muttering,"It's a curse. A divine punishment. All will be perished."

"Why should I believe you?"

She grabbed Rin's sleeve with her shaking hands,"No! You have to! That thing. It was a nightmare!"

Rin let go of her, grabbing the box. Loid set his prisoner free who instantly rushed to his lady's side, holding her trembling hands in his,"It's alright, high priestess. I'm here."

Rin looked at them and then taking the box with him, left the house.

"Is it a murder?", Loid asked coming to stand by him on the edge of that hill.

Rin closed the box.

SAFE HAVEN.

A magic barrier formed around the box. Nobody would be able to reach it now. A snap of Rin's fingers and the box disappeared along with the barrier.

"It is a murder. Two cores inside a single body? Who would come up with such a messed up idea? Do you feel any-"

Loid furrowed his eyebrows at his abrupt silence,"What about me?"

"Nothing."

Rin ran a hand down his face before pacing back and forth. What should he do now?

"Yuki",he called the boy and the pixie came out instantly, fear etched on his face. Loid could tell it irritated Rin. They were afraid of him. But he must admit that a moment ago, Rin was quite intimidating. He hadn't seen him like that before.

"How many of you know about that core?"

"Just m-me and my lady. We met the creature two nights ago on our way back from the holy shrine."

"Did you kill it?"

"What? No! We didn't do anything. It began rotting on its own, leaving behind that orb."

"What happened to the other core?"

"It shattered."

Rin frowned,"Maybe that wasn't its real one then."

"That's all I know. I swear. Please don't report us."

Rin's frown deepened and Loid stepped forward, speaking on his behalf,"Don't worry. Thanks for your hospitality and cooperation."

The boy was still anxious but Loid saw his tense shoulders relaxing a bit.

Rin sighed,"This is bad. What if more of those things show up during the festival?"

"We need your help, Rin sama. Protect our people from those cursed creatures. I beg of you."

"Please Kage sama", the high priestess said, coming out of the house, color still drained from her face. A wave of guilt hit Rin. Maybe he had been too harsh in there.

"Don't worry, high priestess. That's what I'm here for. We'll protect your people. You can celebrate your festival in peace."

Relief spread across their faces and from the corner of his eyes, Loid saw the small smile that had appeared on Rin's face, his frown finally fading away. That human had a kind heart. Loid had seen that many times and every time had left him feeling unreasonably proud and happy.

'Something's wrong with me.'

Rin sat down on the edge, his elbow on his knee. The festival had started. Cheers and laughter erupted from the lively village below. Stalls lined the narrow streets and there was a huge bonfire in the center of the village, townsfolk joyously drinking and dancing around it.

"Will it count as a murder if I kill one of those creatures?", Rin whispered, his dark locks dancing slightly in the night wind. Loid looked at the back of his head. He could tell the courage it took Rin to say those words.

He came to sit beside him,"If it has a core then yes."

He heard Rin take in a sharp breath,"I see."

It was moments later when Loid abruptly turned towards him.

"I'll do it."

Rin furrowed his eyebrows before looking at him,"What?"

Loid grabbed his shoulder, his crimson red eyes reflecting his determination.

"If we must then I'll kill it. You don't have to get your hands dirty."

"What? No!",Rin stood up,"how can you say that?"

He ran a hand through his hair, his earring brushing against his fingers.

"Why not?", Loid got up, his long hair falling over his shoulders.

Rin shook his head,"There are so many things wrong with it. You aren't a Kage, Loid. You can't do my job."

"I'm just helping you. They don't have to know about it."

"You can't kill someone, Loid!"

"And you can?", Loid cried, raising his voice for the first time in front of Rin.

"That's my job!", Rin slapped his chest.

"To hell with it! I won't let anybody make you do what you don't want to!"

"Ugh! You don't know anything! Stop interfering!"

Rin turned around, his thoughts going berserk in his mind. He muttered something under his breath, running his hands through his hair again. Loid stepped forward and grabbed him by the back of his head, gently pulling his forehead to his shoulder.

"Breath, Rin."

He didn't realize how much he needed to hear that. He took a deep breath. Loid felt Rin's body relaxing a bit and he patted his head.

"Thank you, Loid",Rin murmured,"But I can't let you use your power."

Rin leaned back, his blue eyes meeting Loid's red ones,"Promise me you won't morph in front of anyone other than me."

"But why?"

"Just promise me! You said that you owed me, didn't you?"

"Alright, I promise."

"Thanks",Rin rested his forehead on his shoulder again. He needed to calm down. He was more worried about Loid morphing than him having to kill some cursed creature.

Loid sighed.

'Anything to keep you at peace.'

Rustling of leaves got their attention, making them step away from each other. There was someone in the forest. Rin could feel their presence.

A hand on Genki's handle, Rin stood in front of Loid, eyes focused at the trees about a hundred meters away from them. Behind them, lanterns were being released in the night sky. The festival of lights was at its peak.

"They are here", Rin whispered to the boy behind him.

He was right. Something stumbled out of the forest and their eyes went wide when they saw what it was.

A rotting body with eyes rolled up into its head and two crystals glowing inside its open thorax.

Loid said,"Are those-"

"Two cores",Rin gritted his teeth.