CHAPTER 9: KAIRI'S APOLOGIES

"Gargh!"

Virgo, Agi, and Pegasus were tossed away a few metres by Dark Ries shadows. To save Kairi and Aries, three of them launched an attack on Dark Ries. It was not easy because they also had to defend themselves from Dark Ries' minions who appeared with their weapons.

As for Kairi and Aries, they were still trapped under Dark Ries' shadows.

"What should I do? How do we get out of here?" Thought Kairi while trying to break the shadow's bind on his legs.

His hands were able to touch it but the bind was unbreakable. Also, he did not know how to help Virgo and others. He doesn't want to just watch his friends killed by Dark Ries. Without realising it, the iris of his eyes was changing colour between red and green. His messy emotions were the cause of its changes.

Dark Ries headed towards Virgo who was down hard with bleeding lips. The shadow's power can either be materialised or visible to the naked eyes. And when it materialised, if gotten hit by it was like being hit by a truck.

Virgo coughed while breathing heavily. He stood up but fell to his knees. Dark Ries, who was already near, grabs his neck and lifts him. Virgo struggled to get free and used his legs to attack Dark Ries's side. Dark Ries laughed out loud because the kick was weak.

"These are Bright Star's users? So weak!" He said and went to crush Virgo's neck.

"Virgo!" Kairi and Aries' muffled voices sound out.

A powerful stellar field appeared under Dark Ries and stunned him. Virgo was let go with the help of Pegasus kicking Dark Ries's arm on him. Pegasus then put Virgo's hand around his shoulder and jumped away. He landed beside Agi who was using his stellar power on Dark Ries. They both have defeated Dark Ries's underlings before helping Virgo.

As for the rising field, it was Agi stellar's power. His stellar's power was a magic field that can be summoned in various formations. What he was using now was a slow magic field on Dark Ries.

Kairi and Aries, who saw Virgo, were safe, breathing out in relief. Their hearts almost stop seeing Dark Ries almost crushed Virgo's neck. Yet, they were still not relaxed when they saw Dark Ries's movement speed up from the slow motion.

"I... Can't... Hold him... Any... Longer!" Grunted Agi who magnified his power on Dark Ries.

They all saw Dark Ries shadows enveloping himself and disappearing. This makes them alert to their surroundings.

Where did he go?!

Agi, Pegasus, and Virgo who were stabilised give their back to back towards each other. They do not know from which area Dark Ries would appear.

"Underground!" Shout Kairi with the help of Aries into their mind.

Immediately all of them scattered away from the place. A bombard of shadows violently arose from the ground and pursued all three of them.

"But, where is Dark Ries?!"

Kairi didn't see Dark Ries among the shadows. Unknowingly, his eyes can let him see beyond the darkness. His irises were glowing with green colours, making The shadows that bind him shuddered.

Dark Ries, who was hiding, felt a familiar aura and turned towards Kairi. He was surprised to see the change in Kairi's irises.

"Ha... Haha... Hahaha!" Dark Ries laughed and suddenly, he appeared in front of Kairi, shocking all of them.

"Oh, no, Kairi!"

Virgo launched another attack on Dark Ries with his stellar's power, which manifested as a spirit's spear. He throws at Dark Ries but Dark Ries uses his shadow to tangle with it. Dark Ries then ignored them.

His sights fall on Kairi again. He never thought that he would meet someone who should have died in his hands years ago. Today was truly lucky for him.

"You are still alive, huh?" He grinned.

Kairi doesn't understand his meaning.

"I thought I had killed all the Knight Seeyer but... Clearly, I left one more..." He stated. "Oh, I just remembered." His eyes lit up.

"You were that boy who managed to run away from me four years ago. Here I thought you would not be alive since I did hit you very hard. Wild animals should have finished you off at that time." Dark Ries looked at him with a sinister smile.

"Is it not, Equiterance Ordany?" He called Kairi's real name.

Kairi was stunned. He seemed to have heard the name but he couldn't remember it. Was that his name before he lost his memory?

Agi, who was waiting for Dark Ries not concentrating on him, took the opportunity to recite a spell. A small circle surrounded by stellars appeared in the palm of his hand. He threw it to the ground near Dark Ries legs. An explosion of light obscured their vision except for Pegasus who knew Agi had started casting. He had closed his eyes quickly and listened to Agi's orders.

"Go release Kairi and Aries! I will take Virgo away!" Told Agi.

Without hesitation, Pegasus ran towards the area where he had seen Kairi and Aries earlier and cut the rope that bound them both. Since the two could not see clearly, Pegasus lifted them both onto his shoulders and fled from there. As for Agi, he unleashes another slow spell on Dark Ries before he also fled with Virgo.

Far into the forest from the enemy's camp...

"Err, Pegasus, I... You, You can put us down now," said Kairi who felt embarrassed to be lifted on the shoulder. He felt like a woman.

Pegasus stopped somewhere when he felt the area was safe. He lowered them off his shoulders. Aries' sight was still reeling because of the bumping and running movement.

"That Agi, he should have cast the light spell earlier," said Aries angrily.

"True, but without him, we won't get out of there," replied Kairi.

"I know..." Aries didn't deny it.

She paused for a moment when she heard someone talking but not inside her mind.

"What did he say?" Asked Pegasus who seemed to know the identity of the person who was speaking to Aries.

"Agi wants us to gather at the mountain. He found a cave for us to hide and rest," told Aries.

Her stellar's power enables her to read memories and hear their mind if that person has no defence against her. She can also communicate with them. However, the distance for them to communicate was only five kilometres.

Her power was weak unlike the Aries' vessel in the past who could connect with all the Bright Star's users around the world. The lack of their leader weakened their power. And now with the heir finally appearing, they can be powerful again.

"Follow me," Aries told Kairi and Pegasus and showed them the way to the said cave. Having found it, they sat down and rested in it.

"Are you okay, Virgo?" Kairi asked, anxious to see Dark Ries' hand marks on Virgo's neck.

It was red and almost turned purple, indicating how strong the pressure was on his neck. Kairi knew Virgo could feel that near-death feeling.

"I'm sorry I can't do anything to help you." He said, depressed about his weakness.

"I'm fine. It'll be gone soon," replied Virgo with a smile. He was glad that everyone was alright.

"I'm, I'm also sorry for running away from you all..." Kairi apologised for his mistake.

"Better learn your lesson," said Pegasus slowly while glaring at Kairi sharply.

"But if you don't run, we won't find Aries. Aries is definitely in more danger if you're not with her, Kairi." Virgo felt it was fate for them to find Aries.

"I agree. Aries may have died before everyone knew it." Agi nodded his head.

They all went silent for a moment. It was truly lucky that they managed to find and save their team members.

"Now that you mention it, are all Bright Star users live in Syarantonia?" Kairi asked.

His question makes them more silent. Kairi was confused by their gloomy expression.

Aries sighed. "Kairi, there's something we didn't tell you." She started. Her expression looked sad.

"Our members of Bright Star... May not be an incomplete number..." She finally told him the truth.

"Huh… What do you mean?" Kairi looks confused.

"Because there are only a few members left who are still alive." Pegasus cut in while looking out of the cave.

Kairi took time to process it. His eyes widened after that as he began to realise their indication.

"How, How many people are left...?" He asked in a low voice.

"Twenty..." Agi answered for him.

Kairi gasped. This means that 12 Bright Star users have died. He gritted his teeth hard. Tears slowly formed in his eyes and dripped down, startling Aries, Agi, and Virgo while Pegasus just sat sluggishly, not caring about any of this.

"Kairi, wh, why are you crying?!" Virgo panicked.

He never thought Kairi would feel so sad about them and cried out. Kairi wiped away his tears and sobbed. He tried to stop them but to no avail.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." He said in a low voice.

"What are you sorry for?" Aries, who could not read what Kairi was thinking due to the messy emotions, feels strange.

Agi who might know touched Virgo and Aries's shoulders.

"He blamed himself for losing the 12 people," said Agi.

"What? Why did he blame himself? It's not his fault!" Virgo was confused.

"Yes, but Kairi is not like us, Virgo. He is Queen Siarah's heir, our leader. He bears a heavy responsibility and losing us saddens him."

Virgo went to grab both of Kairi's shoulders, forcing Kairi to look at him.

"Listen, Kairi. You don't know, okay, about their death. You don't need to blame yourselves. Look at us, who you have met. Aren't we still alive?"

Virgo tried to soothe Kairi with words of encouragement. Aries also begin to sniff. She was touched by Kairi's caring attitude towards them.

Pegasus, who could not stand the sad atmosphere, came out of the cave. He didn't understand why their future leader was so easily sad and discouraged. But, he was relieved to know that their future leader was kind and caring.