CHAPTER 17, THE GIRL'S SOLE WISH

As I see Haru run off towards the spirits my battle resumes, this woman she's strength isn't as high as our guild's top ten but she is powerful. "You are weak!" She says and kicks my shoulder.

Haru... for Haru I must be stronger. For the one I love and treasure, I can't afford to fall down here. Even if I get knocked down, as long as Haru waits at the end I can push through it. That is how I have managed to get through all the pains I've faced so far, and that is why I keep fighting! No matter how painful and hurt I get, if Haru waits at the end I will do all I can to be by his side. "Oh fragments large and small, awaken from the power that has been sealed, with thy lustrous light, shine upon the darkness. Gem Spark!" I say and the my guild mark turns from a diamond shaped blue gem into a heart shape, this spell is one of our guilds Grand Gem Spell, Gem Spark. It basically banishes all who bare hatred against us and dares to raise their fangs against our family. Our surroundings turn into a cave with crystals large and small all around us.

"What kind of magic is this!?" She asks as she looks around.

"It's over!" I say and join my two hands and rays of crystal shine from the crystals and assault her.

The spell was casted, I fall on the ground and I see a figure approach me, that's Dia... I lose consciousness but the last thing I recall was her picking me up.

I'll stand back up, for my sole wish to be by Haru's side. No matter how many times I have to fall down and get back up.

HARU'S POV

In the dimly lit room I saw seven figures, five men and two women. The first man had amber eyes, with orange hair and brown skin, his outfit is red shirt with a fire emblem in it, his pants are black as coal and his shoes red in his, he wore a yellow vest, he must be Fornax the Furnace Familiar. Beside him another man stood, with bright green eyes, white skin and blonde hair, he is wearing a white zip up jacket with black patterns on it's sides, black jeans and white shoes, that thing on his head is the southern crown, I see so he's Corona Austrinus. Behind him I saw a figure of a man holding a sword, Caelum I guess, with black hair and silver eyes, light brown skin and dressed in a black coat with the hoodie covering some of his head area, black jeans and boots that could knock you out if the hit you, a silver shirt protruding from the coat. Beside him another man stood, the fourth, with black hair on his left side and red hair on the other, his eyes were the same but reversed, the left had a red colored eye and the right a black colored eye. He is wearing a a shirt that is red and pants that are black, he has white skin and he has white shoes, Pyxis if I had to guess. Beside him two woman stood, one had her left eye covered with her orange hair, with golden eyes and white skin, she was wearing a red strapless dress with gloves that are the color of the setting sun, her hair is tied in a neat bud with a triangle shaped hair tie, She must Triangulum. The other one had her golden hair tied in two ponytails down her back, with light brown skin and silver eyes, she wore a golden top that only covered her breast area and a vest with a copper like coloring, she wore shorts that are above her her knee, with boots that seem to have a silvery hue she stood beside a man who held a stop watch in our his left hand, his right hand was missing. He has blue hair, with black eyes and light brown skin, he is wearing a silver coat that was drenched in blood, his white shirt drenched in blood as well as his blue jeans and black shoes, he is Horologium and he was hardly breathing. "Come, my Harp Familiar Lyra." I summoned Lyra while the group looked at me with glares.

"Haru, that woman with the two ponytails is - " Lyra says and I nod at her as she plays the Vega song and the damage done to the group slowly healed.

"Was this done by the Shadow's Order?" I say placing my hand on Libra's shoulder who could finally rest using her power.

"Yes." She says with tears as she saw her friend slowly heal.

"Can you tell me about it?" I asked them and they nodded.

Apparently Horologium was living here in this town with Pyxis, after a while some men suddenly emerged saying they were looking for someone. That was Fornax who was being chased by the Shadow's Order along with Corona Austrinus, also named Alphecca who was separated from his sibling Kamui the Northern Crown Familiar. Caelum who arrived here while on his journey was attacked by men, to ensure their safety the six apparently got together with Triagulum who arrived days later and then a week or so ago Libra appeared and helped them so they were able to survive but Horologium was badly hurt, Libra used her power to heal him and while the town repeated the endless cycle for countlesss days, the seven of them have been trapped in here. Apparently Libra felt me awakening and told them to wait patiently for me. After that the seven of them rested with a gentle smile.

After asking them what they wanted to do Horologium and Libra wanted to go with me, saying so the others followed happily. Each gave me a kiss and left behind their Medium, Libra gave me a pendant that was shaped like a scales, Horologium gave me a pocket watch, Triagulum gave a gem shaped like a triangle, Alphecca gave me a crown that was made of leaves, Fornax gave me a bracelet with a furnace and fire mark on it, Pyxis gave me a compass and Caelum gave me a chisel shaped necklace.

Here it comes, as I felt a strong pulse, I fell on my knees, with extreme pain I felt memories surge into my head yet again. These are... Familiar Magic related memories. The power to indirectly use Familairs, this will come in handy.

As I exited the building I looked around for a bit before using Pyxis' power of misdirection to insure no enemy would notice me. I rushed towards the barrier that Yue has erected and I saw in the distance Aria, Dia, Storm and Neph who are healing. My guess Dia got injured while searching for Aria. I felt a really large burst of magical power a little bit after I left Aria, could she have done something? I descended from the rooftops and everyone glared at me with a scornful look, of I see, the illusion cast by misdirection must still be active. "Calm down, it's me." I say and cancel the illusion.

"How do we know it's the real Haru?" Rose asks. "You might just be an imposter."

"Last night Haru-sama did something only me, Aria-san and him would know. If you can tell us then you're the real Haru-sama." Yue says and my mind wonders, not being able to recall it.

"I don't think I did anything last night." I say and Yue shakes her head, everyone then takes arms and just then I recall. "Did you mean the hug or the fact that I shared my muffler, or that I said something last night-"

"It's him!" Aria exclaims trying to get up trying to stop me from saying what I said last night.

"Don't push yourself!" I shout at her as I rush to her side. "Vega!"

"What's this?" She asks as light pours out from my body. "H... Haru?"

"Don't talk, I told you didn't I? If you ever need me I'll be by your side, same goes for you Yue." I say and bring her close to me. "Now then, was anyone hurt?"

"None of us were, but more importantly Haru did you accomplish your task?" Dia asks.

"Yeah, and I got three extra familiars." I say with a smile. "The dragon, bird of paradise and princess of Ethiopia. Along with the targets, I was able to reclaim some Familiars that were being abused, I'd say it's a win."

"It seems so, but what of the townsfolk?" Master asks.

"Ahh, that's right I haven't made time return to it's natural flow. Come, my Pendulum Clock Familiar, Horologium." I say and the pocket watch appears in my pocket with Horologium standing beside me. "Make time return to normal."

"Understood, Time Record; Time Released." He says and a clock appears in front of him, he holds it up into the air and slowly the clock begins to move again and the town slowly begins to return to normal and slowly people emerged from their homes. "The damage has also been removed, everything is as it should be."

"Master what should we do now?" Rose asks.

"We'll leave the town immediately, I don't want to cause the people anymore trouble." I say looking at the happy townsfolk. "We need to hurry, otherwise there will be more damages like this."

"If we could only find out how the enemy moves..." Jade says clenching his hands.

"We need to leave town now, we'll hurry to the Royal Capital. " Master says and we all board the carriages and move through town.

Aria is lying down, Storm and Neph are still healing with Lyra's Vega. Right now, I'm studying the power of the three new Familairs. Apus' power is illusion, it shows a person their hearts greatest desire, Andromeda can subjugate anyone with her power once she comes into contact with them, Draco is mainly for combat. I need to find all the Zodiacs before it's too late. But I can't go and search for 88 familiars, maybe I could spread word to them. I recall Aquila saying he heard news from the wind spirit, maybe if I can spread word with the wind spirit I could get them to hear me. But that would mean I summon her here. I'm not sure if I can even pull that off.

After reaching a river the Master tells us to rest a bit, I feel a spirit up ahead but Master's right, we need to rest. It's getting late too so we make camp and the others begin cooking stew, I decide to look around while they are. After walking some distance from camp away of eyesight and earshot I call out to them. "Tsukikage, could you come here?"

"How maybe assist?" A man emerges.

"Umm... may I ask your name first?" I ask him.

"Sarutobi Haruki." He answers.

"Haruki-kun, do me a favor and go ahead with your men, find the spirit that I felt and tell that spirit to wait for me." I tell him and with a bow he immediately returns to the shadows.

I return to the guild but everyone seems to be busy admiring something, just then I turn to the river and it shines like the a river of stars. River of Stars... "Haru-sama isn't it beautiful?" Yue asks pulling my hand.

"Yeah." I say just then the water seems to shine and glitter as if their actually stars. "Eridanus right?"

"Haru?" Aria asks and just then the water slowly subsides. "Ehh! What's this!?"

"My name is Eridanus, the river of stars, humans what do you want from me?" A figure begins to form as the waters turn into a tall pillar, from inside a woman with blue hair the has stars on it and strapless dress of deep blue hue with a fine shines here and there emerges, she has orange eyes and white skin.

"Eridanus..." Aria looks on as the woman walks towards me.

"You... You are the Hero's descendant, I can sense the Aerial Blood within you." She says holding my face. "I have a favor to ask of you."

"A favor?" I ask and she points to the other figure trapped within the water. "Is that...?"

"A Familiar, the sea serpent, Hydra. As my waters flowed across the land I found her upon the verge of death, I ask you heal her." She says as the figure of a girl with white scales on her skin, leg less with silver hair that shines in the light. She's wearing a green shirt but since she doesn't have legs she's got nothing below. She resembles a Lamia in a sense. "If you can the two of us shall serve you."