as written by Script
As Seiji drew close to the fox, it pulled back on its haunches, growling. The innumerable eyes upon its head focused on him, glowing intensely red. The boy slowed, but didn't stop, holding out his hand and advancing slowly. "It's okay," he said, "I know you're angry, but please let me help you!"
The creature hesitated but for a moment, then lunged. Achaeos gave a cry of warning, but the spirit had already pounced, launching itself into Seiji and tackling him to the ground.
The boy squealed, and brought his hands up to protect himself. "Please!" he wailed, just barely fending off the fox's snapping jaws whilst its claws dug into his shoulders.
And then, just as before, a bright light burst from where he was touching it. It enveloped them both for an instant, and when it faded, the twisted spirit had returned to the shape of a patterned fox, looking down at Seiji with startled eyes.
After a moment, it leaned down to lick his face, in a manner that could only be described as apologetic. Seiji laughed, brushing his hand through its fur, relaxing back onto the wooden stage and grinning.
From the doorway, Achaeos stared, stunned at what he'd witnessed. "Spirits..."
A loud crash interrupted their moment of respite, as the huge antlered spirit slammed into one of the buildings at the edge of the square. Seiji sat upright with a start, prompting the fox to hop off of him, and stared across at where the militia and Tora continued to fend the greater dark spirit off.
A number of the other attacking spirits had been slain already, their essences dispelled back to the spirit realm after their physical forms sustained too much damage to remain anchored to the physical world. But the antlered beast was proving far more resilient than its kin, shrugging off arrows and spear-jabs, and even the rocks Tora launched its way.
A sweep of its hoof knocked several men from their feet, the impact enough to shatter bones, and it roared.
Seiji clambered to his feet and clenched his fists determinedly. "We gotta stop it," he said, voice filled with conviction.
As Seiji drew close to the fox, it pulled back on its haunches, growling. The innumerable eyes upon its head focused on him, glowing intensely red. The boy slowed, but didn't stop, holding out his hand and advancing slowly. "It's okay," he said, "I know you're angry, but please let me help you!"
The creature hesitated but for a moment, then lunged. Achaeos gave a cry of warning, but the spirit had already pounced, launching itself into Seiji and tackling him to the ground.
The boy squealed, and brought his hands up to protect himself. "Please!" he wailed, just barely fending off the fox's snapping jaws whilst its claws dug into his shoulders.
And then, just as before, a bright light burst from where he was touching it. It enveloped them both for an instant, and when it faded, the twisted spirit had returned to the shape of a patterned fox, looking down at Seiji with startled eyes.
After a moment, it leaned down to lick his face, in a manner that could only be described as apologetic. Seiji laughed, brushing his hand through its fur, relaxing back onto the wooden stage and grinning.
From the doorway, Achaeos stared, stunned at what he'd witnessed. "Spirits..."
A loud crash interrupted their moment of respite, as the huge antlered spirit slammed into one of the buildings at the edge of the square. Seiji sat upright with a start, prompting the fox to hop off of him, and stared across at where the militia and Tora continued to fend the greater dark spirit off.
A number of the other attacking spirits had been slain already, their essences dispelled back to the spirit realm after their physical forms sustained too much damage to remain anchored to the physical world. But the antlered beast was proving far more resilient than its kin, shrugging off arrows and spear-jabs, and even the rocks Tora launched its way.
A sweep of its hoof knocked several men from their feet, the impact enough to shatter bones, and it roared.
Seiji clambered to his feet and clenched his fists determinedly. "We gotta stop it," he said, voice filled with conviction.