[center][h1][color=royalblue]Aki Harigae[/color][/h1][/center]
[@NiceSpice] [@Thanarosa] [@Karkinos] [@blackdragon]

Aki turned, eyes widening as the wounded girl's flesh began to fuse back together. She winced at how agonising the process looked, but her comrade showed no sign of pain. Instead, she had the peaceful look of someone who'd woken from a pleasant dream.

With a small smile, Aki inclined her head to the girl once she'd introduced herself. [color=royalblue]"Nice to meet you too, Yonaga-san, and no problem."[/color] She glanced around the fragment-strewn area. [color=royalblue]"Well if anyone does turn up, they won't know we're here as long as we stay transformed, but we shouldn't linger in any case. There'll surely be Vices elsewhere."[/color]

Guilt shuddered through her at her own words. They'd all faced a gruelling enough challenge already, and now she was dragging them into another. [color=royalblue]"Of course, only come along if you feel you're up to it,"[/color] she added, her gaze settling on each girl in turn, including the newcomer Kichi spoke to. [color=royalblue]"I imagine some of you may want to rest after that."[/color]

Just then, the redhead leapt from the blackened hole in the wall and promptly began giving Uetsuki a piece of her mind. [color=royalblue]"Oh! Thank goodness you're alright,"[/color] Aki said, hurrying towards her, presenting her with the mana shard. [color=royalblue]"Here, you succeeded anyway, so take this."[/color] She spun round as a flustered Uetsuki leapt away. [color=royalblue]"Hey! It's ok, we can talk this through,"[/color] Aki called, but the bunny maid seemed to have fled the scene.

Right after the redhead rushed off too, another voice addressed the group. [b]"Great work, everyone!"[/b]

Poking its head through a hole in the fence was what looked like a white cat, with purple tufts on its large ears and an amethyst-like gem on its forehead. The creature scampered through the gap to the middle of the group, followed by two others, one pale blue and plush-like, one with vivid green and pink fur. [b]"Don't forget all these mana shards,"[/b] the white Keeper reminded the team, gesturing around the place with a paw. [b]"You've earned them! Here, we'll help you."[/b] With that, the three began to gather up the slivers.

Aki bowed, biting back a gasp as the wound stung. [color=royalblue]"Thank you,"[/color] she said, dispelling the Celestial Beacon in a flash of light, trying not to set off the injury too badly while bending down and helping the Keepers pick up the shards. [color=royalblue]"You were right... The Vices really are getting stronger."[/color] Despite her somber expression, resolve glimmered in her eyes. [color=royalblue]"But that's why we're needed. And why we need to make good use of these."[/color]