Seven Devils and a Rose

St. James Island

Touma Nakamura put down his cell phone, his hands shaking something severely. With a big, shaky sigh, he came to sit down on the sofa beside his beautiful wife Elizabeth, who was watching him expectantly, her large sky-blue eyes swollen and red.

"Well?" she asked, her voice weak. "What did he say?"

Without a word, the world-famous fantasy author suddenly pulled his wife into his arms and planted a kiss on her forehead. When he moved back, he finally said, his voice low, "Alfie contacted him."

Elizabeth's demeanor changed immediately at hearing this. She brightened up and asked, eager to know the details, "Did she? When?" Then she frowned. "But how?"

Indeed, she was very confused that their daughter Alfie, who had been missing for three days now, would contact her grandfather, Kenjiro Nakamura, in Japan instead of them, her parents, here on St. James Island. She had, after all, disappeared from St. James Island.

Touma said, "It's complicated."

Elizabeth asked, "How is it complicated?" When he didn't answer her, she continued. "Then where is she? We need to tell the police. They're searching the whole island for her."

Touma shook his head again. "Where she is right now, Elizabeth, we won't be able to reach her." He finally looked at her long and hard.

Elizabeth was still confused as to what he meant.

Finally, Touma said, "Aurora."

The very name of that realm caused Elizabeth to widen her eyes in shock. She sucked in her breath as her body shook uncontrollably. Suddenly, tears started brewing in her eyes.

"No. No. No," she cried, her shoulders shaking something severely. "My Alfie. They're taking her back, aren't they? But it's too early. She promised us. Eri promised us two hundred years, Touma. That's more than two lifetimes away."

Touma hugged her tightly to comfort her as she continued to sob her eyes out, ranting at how unfair it all was, that Eri—the powerful, magical elf woman who had given them a chance at having the family that they had desperately wanted—had lied to them.

When Elizabeth finally calmed down a little, Touma said, "Two hundred years for them is twenty years for us, Elizabeth. The timespan between their world and ours is different."

At hearing this, Elizabeth's eyes widened again. Of course, she might have conveniently forgotten about that fact when Alfie had been born. Still, though, she stubbornly refused to accept that her beloved daughter was taken away to another world, a dangerous one where unfriendly creatures, such as beasts and demons, resided. What if her daughter was taken by some beasts? Worse, demon lords? Even worse, claimed by some demon lords? Then Alfie would become one of them.

Elizabeth said, "Well, there must be something we can do. Your father? Alfie's grandfather, he's a realm watcher, isn't he? I'm sure he could get her back home."

Touma nodded. "He's working on finding a way to bring Alfie back, dear."

Wiping her eyes, Elizabeth said, "Then it is possible? Bringing Alfie back?"

Touma shook his head. "I don't know for sure, love."

"But we crossed into that realm twenty years ago, Touma, through that door," she said.

He said, "Because we were at the right place and at the right time. That door opened, and we happened to step through it."

Elizabeth was adamant. She said, "If it happened to open once, then it'll do so again, Touma." She grabbed his hands. "We have to go to Japan as soon as possible."

Touma nodded. "Hmm."

Elizabeth said, "I'll inform the police and everyone that we've found Alfie's whereabouts. Then we'll book flights."

Touma nodded again. When his wife was about to rush away to make the arrangements, the man gently pull her back. He said, "Calm down first, Elizabeth. There isn't much we can do now. Father said Alfie told him to pass on a message to us."

That caught Elizabeth's attention, and she eagerly asked, "Really? What was it? The message?"

Touma said, "She said she's fine and the people she's with are good… people. They're looking after her."

Elizabeth sighed in relief. "That's wonderful news, then. It's a relief that she wasn't taken by any beasts or, worse, demon lords." Suddenly, she hugged her husband again. "I just really hope that she's going to be okay. That's all."

Touma nodded. "I know, love. I know."

* * *

Japan

At the base of a lush mountain sat a shrine, elegant and regal. Here, an elderly man in gray kimono, named Kenjiro Nakamura, stood, his silver head bowed as he did his praying. When he was finally done, he lifted his head, a calm and serene look on his wrinkled face.

A moment later, he stepped back, turned, and headed around the back of the shrine and entered his private quarters.

Walking leisurely along the narrow path, Kenjiro then came to a private woody garden, and after passing a barrier that was invisible to the naked eye, he came into another part of the hidden garden where flowers bloomed vibrantly in all the different shades of color, along with lush trees and many lively small animals who chose this place to live their peaceful lives.

And then there it was. In the middle of the large, secret garden was an enormous double door—five times the height and size of a normal-size double door, built out of massive stones and filled with magical signs, symbols, and script.

Kenjiro gazed at it long and hard, his mind racing. Then he said, "Alfie."

* * *

McFarland

Pacing impatiently along the corridor of the McFarland Castle, Prince Philip waited for the arrival of Queen Hilde, his stepmother. When the woman finally made an appearance some moments later, he said, "We need to leave, now."

Queen Hilde, a four-thousand-year-old fae with dark hair and pale skin, said, "There's no need to rush, Philip. The core won't leave Aurora anytime soon."

Philip snapped. "That's not the point. You know very well that there will be others who are hunting for that core. If we don't hurry, it'll be snatched out of our hands again."

The woman sighed. "Very well, then."

Some moments later, the two, along with their throng of elite soldiers, marched across the field of McFarland Airport and boarded a massive airship branded with a McFarland motif. Their destination? The Great One's Qi Core. Wherever it was, they'd find it because they had the means to, with the help of the Dark Sage.

* * *

Lyria

At Lyria Airport, Prince Maximus, along with his six elite soldiers and one pup named Isaac, headed toward the enormous waiting airship.

Once in the luxurious passenger quarters, the prince took a seat on one of the sofas, and Isaac eagerly came up to sit on the floor beside the man. Meanwhile, the six elite soldiers took up the seats in the various available sofas and armchairs.

"Highness," the captain, a sturdily built wolf man of three hundred years of age named Hugo, said. "We're ready to take off."

Maximus nodded.

A moment later, the aircraft's engine started, and as they ascended into the sky, a soldier named Nate said, "Hmm. This is going to be exciting, a hunt for the qi core of The Great One."

His identical twin named Stephan said, "It won't be easy. No doubt, there'll be many who are on the hunt for it as well."

A female soldier named Tyra, regal and beautiful in her regalia, said, "Of course." She looked at their much-loved and respected prince then. "But there's no room for failure this time, gentlemen."

The other four soldiers agreed with that.

On the other side of the room, Maximus continued to stroke Isaac's head as he thought about his beloved Akari.

* * *

Yamato

Within the mystic forest, a strikingly handsome young cat man, dressed in his dark ninja military uniform, knelt on one knee as he bowed his head low. Behind him, his elite soldiers were also on one knee and bowing in respect at Eri Hoshi, the Great White Sage of Yamato. Beside Eri stood Lord Hara, an elite general of Yamato and Kuro's father, along with Haruka and Hana, Eri's maids.

"My sage," Kuro said. "The squad is ready to depart."

Eri nodded. Then she waved her hand. On cue, Hana came forward and presented a katana.

Eri said, "Take this katana. Its name is Murasame, a blade forged from Mura, our strongest iron ore. Give this to my daughter to protect herself once you've found her."

Kuro said, "Yes, my sage," as he raised his hands to receive the weapon.

Hana sailed forward and laid the fully wrapped sword in his awaiting hands.

Once done, Kuro stood, followed by his squad.

Eri said, "May your journey be safe and fruitful."

Kuro said, "Thank you, my sage." Then he turned on his heel and signaled for his soldiers to depart.