Abihime was held in Sakura's arms as she rushed over, her consciousness already more than half blurred.
Her ears rang, filled with the lingering roars from the battlefield and the clash of metal.
But what Ryuro had just said was like a needle, piercing through all the noise and driving into the deepest part of her mind.
"Lord Chiyo said that when you have had enough fun, you should come home early."
Her heart gave a violent leap.
"That bastard..."
Abihime's lips moved, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible.
"Who... who was having fun..."
She wanted to curse.
She wanted to curse Chiyo, that self-righteous bastard.
He had left without a word more than ten years ago, and now he sent someone over to say, "Come home when you have had enough fun"?
What did he take her for?
A silly girl who had run away from home?
But her eyes were burning.
Her nose stung.
Her chest felt painfully blocked, as if something were churning inside it, lodged in her throat, impossible to spit out or swallow down.
Home.
He said home.
That bastard actually called the Bird Tribe... home?
The corner of Abihime's mouth moved.
She wanted to laugh.
And she wanted to cry.
Then her eyes closed completely.
But at the corner of her mouth, there was still a curve.
"Your Highness!"
Kyuro's voice came from beside them, carrying a trace of tension.
"Princess Sakura, her aura..."
"I know."
Sakura's arms tightened a little around Abihime.
"She passed out."
He lowered his head and glanced at Abihime in his arms.
Her face was covered in blood and grime, most of her battle armor was shattered, one wing was broken, and she looked as if she had crawled out of an Asura Field.
But at the