>Hit the batsnake up with a dose of Indigo Lotus: Karmic Touch!
>Expecting the demon to launch an attack of some kind against Lily, you are more than prepared to unleash your Indigo light upon the thing before it can fire. And just as well, too, because Lily's in no shape to be dodging much of anything, much less lightning breath.
>Your light strikes the winged serpent in the back, mere seconds before the thing exhales. The lightning, however, does not exit the demons body, but strikes the indigo light surrounding it, partially dispelling it, partially turning it back on its owner. This has the effect of the demon, essentially, shocking the bajeezus out of itself, coronal electricity surrounding it like something out of a cartoon. The sound is terrible to your ears, but fortunately, the electricity does not touch the nearby Kiku.
>When the demon's electricity subsides, the creature, its body smoking, sags to the ground, upright but clearly stunned.
>Grab Kiku in a comforting embrace. "We're here for you, never forget that..."
>Don't quite embrace her yet. Don't want her to think we're trying to wrestle her choice away or something. Just put our hands on her shoulders for now.
>Mentally tell Kiku. "It's alright to be afraid, but you can master it. That is all that stops you from returning to us. That is all that stops you from stopping the darkness. Make that fear your inspiration, not your master. Let it guide you toward the right path, toward the path that shines against the darkness. Be strong. For those you love, for those you wish to save, for yourself."
>With the flying snake taken care of, at least for now, you quickly cross the feet of distance between you and Kiku, and lay your hands comfortingly upon her shoulders.
>Kiku closes her left hand once again, and though she does not lower it, her face contorts, and her eyes finally show emotion. The pain and the despair you see in her face, in her eyes, nearly breaks your heart. Here is a woman whose first foray into something she'd spent essentially her whole life preparing for ended in, to her, utter failure, complete defeat. The woman needs a hug, which you are happy to oblige.
>"Do you know what I was most afraid of...?" she says, her voice still quiet, still tired, but finally showing emotion again. "I was afraid for them. For my sisters. That I had failed them. That my weakness meant their doom. That I wasn't good enough to keep them safe." She turns her eyes to you, her fear so strong, her despair still palpable, but in her eyes, you see the glimmer of a desperate hope. "Does the Light truly have a chance against such power?" She wants to believe it, you discern. Desperately wants to believe it.
