Maria looked over the corner, watching as robots patrolled the area. She had just passed the place where all the men were held, each in a cage. She knew that the only way to save them was to destroy the robots and find the leader with a key. One of the men had told her the goblins there were forcing them to make robots, if they didn't cooperate, they would be killed! Then she had been told that one of the robots had the key, and that he was with the goblin leader. Maria looked at Lilliana and Darius, both nodded to her before she ran up behind the robot and slashed at it, tearing the back open. Thrusting one of her hands in, she pulled all the cords out; deactivating it and destroying it.
Lilliana and Darius ran up behind her, before Darius rummage the robot, before sighing in disapproval. "No good, this one doesn't have the key." Darius stated, and Maria sighed, her arms feelings dented again, before Sachi healed it. "Alright then, let's keep going." Maria said and they began running deeper into the dungeon. As they passed a corner, Maria screamed as a laser hit her, slamming her against a wall with its force. "Maria!" Sachi, Darius and Lilliana shouted, running toward her. Groaning, Maria stood with Sachi helping her as Darius and Lilliana stood before her protectively. "You little pestering humans. You think we didn't notice you?!" A goblin shouted, waving his gun about angrily.
Maria snarled, before lunging, grabbing the goblin by its throat and lifting it, shocking her friend's. "Alright, so we understand you and you know we're here. Now, if you value your own pathetic life, I suggest you tell us which robot has the key!" Maria demanded, eyes threatening. "I heard the head leading robot walks around but is hard to distinguish from the normal robots." Maria said, before narrowing her eyes. "Now, tell me where the robot is?!" Maria demanded, her hand clenching tighter around the goblin's throat, her eyes now a molten gold in anger.
The goblin in her hand began to sweat, eyes getting wider. "He-he's further in! T-that's all I know! I'm just a paid patrol-guard, nothing more!" The goblin choked out, fear in his red eyes. Growling at the vague answer, Maria threw the goblin to the ground, before looking at Darius, Lilliana and Sachi, her eyes back to the bright gold. "You all deal with him." Maria said, before she felt something behind her. Gasping, she spun, barely blocking a sword coming down on her. "W-what the-?" Maria noticed the robot seemed a bit bigger than the others, it was colored a bit more darker than the others. "I think that might be the leader!" Sachi shouted to Maria through the mind, sending ice at the robot.
Maria nodded and started to dash around, slashing at it, hoping her sword could cut through the metal due to the ice weakening the temper of the metal. Darius and Lilliana killed the goblin, before joining Maria to defeat it. Darius gave Lilliana a push onto the ledge and she ran around, shooting arrows at it, hoping to get between the cracks and break a few pieces off to better help Maria, Darius and Sachi. Darius would usually dash left or right to avoid an attack but he mainly stayed behind a pillar, shooting off bullets at it from his cannon. Suddenly an arrow wedge itself between the arm and shoulder joint, causing that arm to go limp. Maria noticed and jumped on the robot, pushing the arrow in deeper, cutting cords; she then used one of her swords and destroyed the arm, breaking it off. Maria jumped away as the robot seem to writhe in pain and she smiled in relief, panting the get her breath back.
Darius's eyes widened in horror as he saw the robots other arm form into a sword and ran toward her. "Maria, watch out!" Darius shouted, running toward her. "What?" Maria asked herself, turning around. Gold eyes went wide in horror, iris's shrinking as she robot swung at her, the blade of it aimed for her head. Darius lunged forward, pushing Maria away but getting his back cut in the process; a gash stretching along his back, right across his shoulder blades. Maria gasped in shock, before blocking as the robot tried to finish him off. "Sachi!" Maria shouted urgently, her Eidolon appearing at her side.
"Please, heal him!" Maria shouted, kicking the robot back. "Darius! AH!" Lilliana screamed in surprise as the robot slammed against the wall she was running along. Maria jumped to her, grabbed her, before jumping to safety as the wall crumbled, burying the robot. Looking at Lilliana, she nodded to her, signaling Lilliana to help her brother as Maria used one of her stronger moves to destroy the rocks, before jumping back, preventing the robot from hitting her. Landing on a ledge on the other side, she raised her swords a bit as the robot charged her.
Taking a deep breath, Maria jumped off, before thrusting her swords downward, spinning toward the robot. As a result, the robot's torso was shredded open and Maria stopped mid-spin, thrusting a hand in as she pulled the cords out, deactivating it. Letting it fall, Maria ran toward the others as Sachi finished healing Darius's back and Lilliana helped him stand. "Are you okay?" Maria asked, concern heavy in her voice. Darius sighed, before giving a nod, smiling. He rubbed Lilliana's head, before walking toward Maria, and smirking at her.
"You worry too much." Darius said, and Maria blushed, before looking away, embarrassed. "Idiot!" Maria shouted, walking away as Darius chuckled. "I wouldn't have to worry if you weren't so reckless!" She called back, yet Darius only laughed at the remark, even as Lilliana giggled beside him. Rummaging through the scrap, Maria smiled as she grabbed a pair of keys, before handing them to Darius who smiled. "Yep, these look like the ones. Alright, let's get out of here." Darius said and they nodded, yet Maria stayed put, her eyes blank.
Sachi seemed to notice the change, because she floated over to her Envoy, watching her curiously. "Maria…are you okay?" Sachi asked, causing Lilliana and Darius to stop, watching worried. "Is…Sachi…floating?" Lilliana asked, shocked and Darius nodded. Before they could respond, Maria's eyes came back into focus, and she looked around. "Where is it?" Maria asked herself, looking left and right. "Where is what?" Lilliana asked, coming over cautiously. "That energy…it's…!" Maria turned and ran off, Sachi right behind her.
"Maria, what're you-?!" Lilliana was cut off as Maria stopped and turned toward them. "Get the men out of here while you have the chance, then escape yourselves!" She said, taking a few steps backwards. "If the energy I felt is correct, this place is gonna go up in smoke!" Maria shouted, and ran off again. "Maria!" Lilliana shouted but gasped and was pulled back, their way to follow Maria was blocked. "Lilliana, we have to worry about the hostage's first. Let's go!" Darius shouted, dragging his sister with him to save the men.
With Maria: Maria entered the last room and glared at the goblin before her, a snarl on her face. "So, you're the one behind all of this." Maria growled out, walking toward him threateningly with Sachi beside her, her staff glowing. "So, you're the humans who infiltrated my place!" The goblin growled out, angered. "Yes…and I am also your judge. You will pay for forcing these men to work, for killing them for disobeying and for thinking torturing them before death is fun!" Maria shouted and charged him
The goblin growled, and jumped into a robot, before swinging at her. Gasping with surprise, Maria blocked the blow, but was still slammed into a wall. "Maria!" Sachi called out, before glaring at the goblin. "Leave her alone!" Sachi shouted, sending a few ice-balls at the robot. "Wretched swine!" The goblin shouted, striking at Sachi. Maria reacted quickly, pulling Sachi away before she was hit; spinning, she hit the robot back, nearly shredding the torso open. Growling, the goblin transformed one of the arms into a gun and began shooting at them, the two girls jumping to the sides.
Maria growled as she blocked a sword coming down on her and tried to push the robot back. Smoke started to come from her arms and legs as more pressure was placed on her, causing her to growl in pain. 'If this keeps up much longer…I'll…' Maria's thoughts was cut off as the robot pushed harder. "Gyah!" Maria screamed as she fell to the ground, her arms giving out and she went unconscious. "Maria!" Sachi shouted, unaware two figures came running into the room.
With Darius and Lilliana: Darius and Lilliana had freed all the human's and they left on their own, leaving Darius and Lilliana to go save Maria and Sachi, which is what they did. They found a different route and followed it; destroying anything that got in their way, as well as deactivating all bombs along the way. Maria wasn't kidding when she said the place would go up in smoke! They heard fighting further ahead and followed it, before they saw Sachi scream and saw the robot pick up Maria, who was unconscious, limp.
Sachi growled, her staff suddenly glowing very bright. "You'll pay for hurting my Envoy!" Sachi shouted, sending a huge ice ball at the robot, blowing it back but this caused Maria to fly to a wall. 'Envoy? Maria…is an envoy?!' Lilliana and Darius both thought, shocked. Darius gasped and ran toward Maria, dropping his canon. He jumped, catching her, before hitting the ground and landing on his back. Lilliana ran toward them, grabbing Darius's canon with her, before kneeling to the two. "Stay with Maria!" Darius ordered Lilliana, who nodded.
Darius ran to help Sachi, shooting bullets every now and then, hoping to help her defeat the robot. Sachi didn't seem to need help as the attacks she sent out kept getting bigger and more dangerous. Sachi had enough, froze the robot, before sending an ice wall at the robot, destroying it and crushing it. A few sparks came from the ice before it disappeared, leaving nothing but crushed metal...it seemed even the goblin had been killed as some of the parts had blood. Sighing in satisfaction, she slumped to her knees and Darius picked her up, the staff disappearing.
Carrying her back to Maria, Sachi struggled, wanting to be beside her envoy. "Stop struggling, I'm lying you beside her." Darius told her gently, setting her down beside Maria. "Maria…are you okay?" Sachi asked gently, trying to wake Maria. Noticing a little bit of smoke coming from the joints, Sachi quickly healed the arms and legs before the smoke became noticeable, hoping they wouldn't realize she was half robot. Suddenly, Maria slowly opened her eyes, noticing everyone was around her. "Wh-what happened?" Maria asked, fog clouding her mind.
"Well, Sachi killed the robot after it knocked you unconscious." Darius said and picked her up, knowing she'd be too shaken to stand. Sighing, Maria allowed Darius to carry her as Lilliana grabbed Maria's swords, before getting Sachi on her back, carrying her quiver with the swords and they left the dungeon.
Next Day, Morning: Lilliana and Darius with Sachi smiled as Maria came downstairs, yawning, rubbing her eyes. "Hm? You two are still here?" Maria questioned, shocked and they smiled at her. "Well, we can't really leave an Envoy, can we?" Lilliana questioned with a smirk and Maria blushed, they found out! "How did you two find out?" Maria asked softly, sitting before them; Sachi right beside her. "I kind of…uh…let it slip yesterday in battle." Sachi stated, guilty and Maria sighed, patting her head and giving a smile. "Don't worry, it's okay." Maria said before Darius cleared his throat, grabbing her attention.
"The fact that you're an Envoy means I don't want to leave. Envoy's seem to attract people of different kinds, some wrong, some good." Darius explained as he leaned back a little. "Envoy's are to be protected to help balance the world, seeing as they control the power of the Cube of Gaia, which is real. I don't know why but the power of the Cube of Gaia must be strong in you if I have this gut instinct telling me to stay with you." Darius finished, laying his head on his hands, looking at her with a smile.
Lilliana nodded, smile bright and innocent. "Same here!" She exclaimed happily, jumping up. "I have this gut instinct telling me to stay with you, protect you and have the adventure of a lifetime!" She shouted happily, causing Maria to stare at the two before her. "Meaning…what exactly?" Maria asked, confused, rubbing her neck and the two chuckled. "Meaning, we wanna travel with you." They said at the same time, making Maria give them a dumbfounded look and Sachi to start laughing. "Maria, you should see your face!" Sachi said, before shaking Maria's shoulder. "How about it Maria? Let's bring them along, besides…they're our friends now." Sachi said, smiling brightly at Maria.
Maria sighed, thinking it over. She had been open during the assignment and that was a shock to her. Maybe…maybe they could help mend her broken heart? Looking at them, she smiled and nodded. "Yeah, let's travel together. Besides, maybe you two can help mend my trust." Maria said and the two nodded, before they all high-fived. The door to the inn opened as a woman wearing a purple dress walked in. "So, this is where you two were." A voice said and looking to the entrance, they saw a woman with long blonde hair, bright purple eyes, wearing a purple, dragon-winged dress.
"No way." Lilliana said shocked, eyes wide. "Aunt Sataka?" Darius questioned, causing Maria to jerk back in her chair a bit. "Aunt! How old are you two?!" Maria shouted, causing Lilliana to laugh and Darius to sigh, rubbing his temples. "I'm twenty-one years old, Lilliana is sixteen." Darius stated and Maria sighed in relief, they weren't that young. "Okay, I was worried because the woman looks to be twenty-five years old." Maria said as the woman walked in, stopping by their table. "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't talk like I'm not here." The woman, Sataka, stated, leaning against the table with her arms.
Maria looked at her, before noticing she looked just like the blonde scientist that use to work at the lab she lived at. Cocking her head a bit, she stared at the woman a moment longer, before shaking her head and looking away. 'Highly improbable.' Maria thought, before talking with Lilliana, unaware the woman had similar thoughts. 'I'm surprised she's alive. I thought the lab was destroyed along with thirty-eight years of work.' The woman thought, before sitting down. "Darius, Lilliana, don't you two have something to say?" Sataka questioned and Darius groaned, laying his head on the table.
"I'll explain." Lilliana said before Darius could say anything. "Maria, this is our Aunt Sataka, she's thirty-five years old. She's the last of our family and the youngest Aunt." Lilliana said and Sataka smiled, glad she was introduced. "Pleasure to meet you Maria." Sataka said, standing straight before placing one hand on her hip. "Excuse Darius's hesitation…me and him don't exactly get along much." Sataka said, before smacking the back of his head, as it looked like he was annoyed, making him snap his head up and glare at Sataka.
"See what I mean?" Sataka stated, causing Maria to giggle. The smack was obviously a signal from Sataka to Darius, though she wasn't sure what the signal was. This caused Darius to blush and rub the back of his neck, causing Lilliana to laugh. "Anyways, what're you all doing?" Sataka asked, laying her head in her hands as she sat down at the table. "We just got done asking Maria if we could travel with her." Lilliana said and Maria sighed, knowing what was next. "Really?" Sataka questioned and receiving a nod, she looked at Maria.
"Well, may I come along?" She asked and Maria, hummed, rubbing her chin. "Those two are the last of my family and, as I'm a sorcerer, I may be of some help." Sataka explained, smiling at the young Envoy. "Sure!" Sachi said before Maria could say anything and Maria sighed, before smiling. "Alright, you can come along." Maria said, Sataka kept her surprise to herself as she heard that familiar voice. 'I can't believe I was right…it IS her! She truly is alive but I thought they killed her as well. Well, I must say I am rather glad she is alive.' Sataka thought and they left the Inn, going to get ready for departure.
