Vayne: Hey there. So a couple things. First I've found some new inspiration, thanks to playing Tales of Berseria as you can probably tell right now. After all you clicked on the story! I'm planning on getting back into writing, now that I also have a solid job I actually love and will be having a stable income.
However, like how playing the same game time and again weighs on you, I fear I may not be working on my former Elsword stories for a while. I hope you, my older readers, will understand. To end, please understand that any clear changes in canon will be for alternative universe purposes.

The Menagerie's Mistress

Chapter One: Caught and Alone

The land was in balance. Daemons roamed the land as they always have, but under the leadership of Shepard Artorius the Exorcists with their Malakhim allies and the Empyrean Innominat protect the land and its people from the threat. However as the power of worthy resonance is few many places live in fear of attacks even with only meager protection. This is where our story begins, as loaded wagons and horses lumber down the road. They were a traveling circus known as Magilou's Menagerie whose goal was to ease the pain of the downtrodden and scared. However as with any good deed, sour rumors hounded them. Rumors spread that portrayed the leader, Magilou Mayvin, was a devious witch intent on drawing in subjects to experiment on.

Whether true or false one fact was evident among all they visited. A grand time of magic and amazement, a distraction from their problems, and a welcoming environment.

"Hey." Inside a more intriguingly decorated wagon, Magilou sat at her vanity combing her hair. Sitting in a little bed beside her was a little Malak named Bienfu. The cat like spirit tilted his head.

"Is something the matter Miss Magilou?" He asked.

"How much longer?" She said, not looking away from her mirror.

"Uuh…" Bienfu looked out the window. The autumn trees of Eastgand did look lovely this time of year, but he couldn't see their destination through the thicket, "I dunno. Everything looks the same around here!"

"Ugh, why must this village, home of none other than the high and mighty Shepard, be so far in the middle of nowhere!?" Magilou sighed overdramatically, "But I shall persevere! Why the revenue for such a place is utterly delicious! Magilou's Menagerie shall be the ones to give the Shepard's home a show they'll never forget!" Bienfu sighed as Magilou continued to inspire no one but herself. He was fine working with her, but not when she used him as a punching bag both physically and emotionally, but despite her skill Magilou often got a bit carried away with her praises.

"Oh!" Bienfu perked up a bit as a gate came into view, "Miss Magilou we're here!"

"Ah, perfect!" She clenched a fist, "Enjoy your peace while it lasts my sweets, for Magilou has arrived!"

"You sound like we're going to burn the village down…" Bienfu mumbled.

"Oh?" The hatted Malak froze like a board as the witch walked up to him, having heard his little remark. She grinned malevolently as she drove a finger harshly into his cheek, "And who's to say it isn't part of our lovely act?"

"Bieeeeeeeen!" He wailed as the head of the convoy entered the small village.

Meanwhile inside the village there was a house on the outskirts. Along a small pathway it stood lonely just like the person within. Sitting dully at a table, poking at the remains of her breakfast, a young girl with pure black hair braided into a single tail dwelt alone. Her amber eyes dulled and bored.

"I wonder how Arthur is doing…" She mumbled. Few outside the town of Aball would know or believe it but this young, plain woman was the former apprentice and sister-in-law to Shepard Artorius. He joined their family some thirteen years ago when he married her deceased elder sister Celica. After the Advent three years ago she was left all alone, understanding the sacrifice her sick brother Laphicet chose to make of his free will to help Artorius protect the world. She missed him dearly, someday so much she would do little but sob in bed, but it was because of his sacrifice that Malakhim became visible to all, and resonance within people allowed them to form pacts with the spirits to battle the Daemon threat.

Looking around the empty home she sighed at the pleasant memories that dwelt there. Velvet rose and headed outside for some air before the nostalgia made her teary again. Making sure not to look at the graves of her sister and unborn child Velvet headed down the path to the main village. She was rather surprised to see a convoy of caravans lining the central yard. Niko, her read-headed childhood friend, spotted her and ran over.

"Velvet!" She smiled, giving her a quick hug.

"Niko? What's all this?" Velvet asked in confusion.

"It's a wandering circus! Apparently they came to do a performance outside the gates!" Niko was jumping with joy.

"Oh, that's okay." Velvet shrugged, "I guess."

"Oh lighten up, I'm sure they'll be great!"

"I don't have any spare Gald to go see anyways." The somber girl sighed. She had to save for food and emergencies. It wouldn't do Artorius or Laphicet's sacrifice much good if she died from starvation.

"Well…if you insist…" Niko sighed, she could tell Velvet was in one of her moods again today and it was better not to fight it, "I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, have fun at the show." Velvet worked at a decent smile which was enough for Niko. With her pair of timid dogs in tow she headed off to the main gates. Sighing yet again Velvet headed out for the cape. She wanted to at least gather some Princessias for the graves with what little she had been doing of late.

The falling orange leaves crunched beneath Velvet's feet as she headed for the shrine. It was not a happy place by any means but it was the only place she could gather her sister's favorite flowers. Prickleboars foraged in the undergrowth but she wasn't out to hunt. In fact she wasn't even armed right now which in hindsight was probably a bad idea leaving the house. However there had been not a single daemon sighting, or even a Malak, around Aball for months now.

"I wonder why that is. Nothing really special about this place since Innominat woke up." Velvet sighed. The shrine wasn't too far off as she left the forest. The somber air around her latched to her thoughts like a tick she didn't even bother to attempt to remove, instead beginning to search a patch of Princessias for suitable flowers. Velvet hummed a little tune to herself as she browsed the flowers and soon had a small handful of them. But as she turned to head home she yelped.

Stumbling backwards from the lumbering creature before her Velvet was gripped with fear. A werewolf. Weapon or no Velvet was just a simple girl with no power to fight against it.

"Control your feelings to control the tide of battle."

Acting on instinct from Athur's maxims she rolled to the side just in time as the daemon lunged forward, shredding through the patch of Princessias. She couldn't fight it but where would she run? The village had no exorcists stationed there; it would be a slaughter. She was helpless.

"One for the many…I hope." Velvet whispered to herself, only praying that once it had his fill the daemon would leave the village be. With a savage howl the beast jumped at her and Velvet clenched her eyes shut as she held her batch of flowers to her chest, ready to see her sister again.

A flash of great heat washed past her followed by the agonized howl of the wolf. Opening her eyes she saw the beast flailing on the ground coated in flames. She looked around for her savior and saw a peculiarly dressed woman standing at the entrance to the forest.

"Honestly girl, you should know better than to waltz around on your lonesome." She said, a doll like card dancing at her fingers. Looking back to the daemon Velvet was relieved to see it no longer moving, the flames silently vanishing spot by spot.

"T-Thank you miss." Velvet bowed to the stranger.

"My, what a respectful little thing you are. Just as well you didn't end up as puppy chow." She laughed nonchalantly. Velvet noticed now a little cat like creature wearing a hat standing next to her.

"A…malak? Are you an exorcist?" The dark haired maiden inquired.

"Nay!" The woman declared abruptly, "I am the wandering witch and Magnificent Magilou!"

"A….witch?" That seemed a little hard to believe. Regardless this woman had a Malak and just saved her life, "I suppose I should repay you…but I don't have anything."

"Well if you haven't a Gald to your name I suppose your body will have to do!"

"H-Huh?" Velvet was taken back at her words.

"You shall now become a part of Magilou's Menagerie as we travel the land!"

"Bien! I thought we came to entertain the town, not abduct it!" The hatted Malak cried, only to be kicked away by the girl's heel, "Bieeeeen!"

"I-If you say so…" Velvet blushed. She didn't exactly have much reason to stay in Aball, and it could be a chance to see the world Arthur and Laphicet had worked so hard to protect.

"I do! Well, not much time to work you in right now so I suppose you'll just have to help out backstage during the show." Magilou shrugged as she turned around and headed back to the forest, hands behind her head in a carefree manner. Not wanting to risk being attacked again and now in servitude, as odd as that sounded in her head, Velvet hurried after her. Meanwhile the hatted Malak floated beside her.

"You know, you don't really have to listen to miss Magilou." He said sympathetically.

"I kind of owe her my life now, and I'd like to see the world my brother and Arthur have worked so hard to save."

"Oh you have family in the Abbey?" He probed.

"Yeah, but…just one." She sighed.

"Well I'm sure he's doing a great job!" The little Malak smiled happily, changing topics, "By the way, I'm Bienfu, nice to meet you!"

"Thanks Bienfu. My name's Velvet, Velvet Crowe." She tilted her head at him, "I've never seen something like you before."

"Oh, I'm a Normin! A race of Malak." He explained, "I just happened to end up making a pact with Miss Magilou." Bienfu seemed sufficiently more grim at that, seemed it was a bit one sided.

"Well…I bet Niko will be surprised to hear about all this."

"Alas the hour grows nigh! Come Bienfu, let us whisk this town off their feet!" Magilou dramatically called for her Malak, who sighed and floated off. Velvet stood there for a moment before continuing to the village; what an odd pair.