7

Rescue

Place: High in the air

Time: Twenty minutes later

Everyone there had enthusiastically signed up for the rescue, and Susan created some black outfits for everyone with Creation. She managed to do it in two castings, as black, stretchy cloth was not that heavy. One set of tops, one set of bottoms, so everyone could just pull them on. By joining the outfits at the sleeves and pant-leg, this made it "one object" that just had to be cut apart. Hiraga was shooed out of the room and took his own outfit across the hall while everyone changed. She also checked her cards, spending the Rally to get another card for herself and Sparkle, netting a Took a Night Class card.

"Too bad this won't stick around very long," said Sparkle looking wistfully at her character sheet. "This might get us a spell we couldn't get any other way, and thus be much more useful than normal."

"We'll have to think about it," said Susan. "Maybe something will come up on this mission. But if not, yeah, think about what we're missing right now and use it before it's gone."

"So why are we doing this?" asked Louise, staring angrily at Kirche's curvier body as she stripped.

"Because we can't wear school uniforms while we are illegally breaking and entering a nobel's house. Plus with the hoods up it'll be harder to tell who we are."

"Why not me?" asked Tabitha.

"You're hanging back," explained Susan. "If it got out, however that happened, that you were involved, it might get very tricky politically, I'm guessing." She nodded, conceding the point. "You can show us the way, and we'll 'drop in' on Mott and make sure he's behaving himself. If not..." She punched her hand. "He'll regret it."

So the group had Flight magic put on them, and Sylphid the dragon kept her speed down, and they approached the house from the air. The dragon was big, but not large enough to carry everyone, so they were pacing her to the side. Charlotte pointed. "That's the house."

"Then this is as far as you go. Want me to send you back, or are you okay with flying?"

"We'll be fine. Good luck."

"Thanks."

The group watched her go, hanging in the air. Sparkle was in her fairy form, sitting on Susan's shoulder so she didn't tire herself out trying to flap her wings. They hovered over the house, watching as pinpricks of light, probably guards carrying torches, moved about the premises.

"What's the plan?" asked Kirche. "You seem to have done this sort of thing before."

"Oh, I dabble," Susan replied with a smirk. "Okay, do we need to get a little closer? I'd like to be sure she's actually here before we make any other plans."

Sparkle looked down. "If we do, you can lower me while I maintain it. Just a second."

She cast a spell, Detect Friends, and nodded. "There's one person friendly to us in that house. This side." She pointed.

"That's our maid," said Susan happily. "Okay, there's a small something on the other side of the house, that'll work perfectly. Kirche, you're going to go set it on fire. Make sure there are no animals or anything living inside."

"Right now?"

"No, it's our distraction. Let's see if she needs us first. If we need it, I'll send you. Stay there and make sure someone doesn't come put it out right away. We'll come get you. We can't go Invisible, but I doubt those guards will look up. Be quiet and try to stay out of sight. We'll come up with the rest of the plan on the fly."

Everyone nodded, and they all dropped towards the roof of the house. Hovering over it so they didn't make a sound, Susan flipped over and peeked into the windows she saw. The third window was the winner.

Inside, dozens of candles were lit, illuminating the two figures within. One was a naked Siesta, crying and pressed up against the wall by the other person in the room. This was a half naked man, turned away from the window as he struggled with Siesta.

"Kirche," Susan growled, "distraction. Now."

"On it."

She flew off.

"Sparkle, on my signal, silence spell on this window. Louise, blow it open. Hiraga, he'll be yelling for guards once we're inside. Hopefully Kirche's fire will draw most of them off in that direction. Try not to kill any of them. I'll handle the count."

"Got it."

Susan tensely waited, growing more and more angry as the man lost more of his clothes and continued forcing himself on the protesting girl. Suddenly there was an explosion from the other side of the house, and cries of "fire!" rang through the air.

Huh, guess she doesn't know how to hold back either.

"Now!" said Susan, and Sparkle cast Silence as she had been ordered.

"It's in place, blow the window," she said.

Louise dropped down and said something, and the window silently blew to pieces, spraying the inside of the room with fragments of glass and wood. The man whirled, and Susan could only imagine what was going through his mind as he tried pulling his pants back up again. Three figures, dressed all in black and with their faces covered hovered just outside.

"Stay here," Susan said to Louise, and she and Hiraga darted forward into the room.

"Mott, I presume," said Susan to the man, staring in shock at the new hole in his wall. "Let's have a little talk about basic human decency."

"Guards!" he shouted, lunging for a length of wood Susan saw was still in easy reach. His focus? No, I don't think so.

"Combust," she cast, and the dry wood instantly caught fire, causing him to yelp and flinch back. I so love fighting magic users with that weakness.

"Get dressed," Susan commanded Siesta, who looked around for something to wear. Looking over there, Susan saw her maid outfit had been torn off her, and growled again. "Check the closet. He won't miss some pants and a shirt."

"Who are you?" demanded Mott. "Guards!"

The door rattled, and Hiraga calmly drew his sword. There was a pounding from outside, as it was obviously bolted shut and would take some time to get through.

"Thrust," Susan cast, sending the man flying and knocking into the wall behind him. He cried out and went down, and Susan saw the back of his head was bleeding.

He'll be fine, thought Darkness.

Yeah, probably, Susan thought back.

Wait, seriously?

Susan strode over to him as the door started giving away as the people outside battered it down. She grabbed Mott's throat and looked him in the eye. "Where I come from, doing that to a person is called rape. There, I would take the matter to the authorities, and let them deal with you." I wouldn't expect much, even there. People still have funny ideas about 'consent' that only a lot more education and common sense are going to cure. But at least some effort is being made. "It seems to be a little different here, as you people seem to make your own rules. Fine. Now I'm making the rules. I ever get wind that you even thinking about trying something like this again? I'll be back, and I won't stop at one measly window. Think about it."

The door smashed open, and the guards were surprised to find a black dressed figure tearing into them like a master swordsman. Their weapons were smashed to pieces in seconds, and they groaning on the ground, bleeding from multiple shallow wounds. Susan turned back to Mott. "I'm being clear here, right? You're getting all this?"

Mott hastily nodded, and Susan let him go, allowing him to slump to the floor. Maybe he's a little bit more hurt than I thought?

She cast a quick Healing on him, and saw that Siesta was ready. She was holding the pants up, Mott being a much bigger (around the middle) person than she was. Hiraga sheathed his sword and grabbed her up.

"I think we're done here." He and Susan lifted off the ground again and started for the window.

Mott was weakly calling for more guards, but it seemed the fire had done the job of making them all run in the other direction to try and get it put out.

"I'll be watching," Susan couldn't resist saying before she turned and flew out the window herself.

They met up with Kirche, who was having far too much fun shooting jets of fire at anyone trying to get close to the main blaze, and the six took off into the night. They set down a few miles away, as Hiraga couldn't carry her anymore.

"Just as well, we weren't flying all the way back anyway. Siesta, are you okay?"

The maid had her head burred in Hiraga's shoulder, and was sobbing. Realizing she was on the ground she pushed away from him and tried to run, but got tripped up by the pants coming loose and falling around her ankles. Susan tried to suppress a laugh as Siesta tried scrambling away. She pulled off her mask.

"It's okay, Siesta, it's just us. It's Susan and Hiriaga and Louise." The others pulled down their masks as well, and Siesta wilted with relief.

"That was the scariest thing that ever happened to me!" she exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me that earlier!?"

"If you were fooled, Mott won't know who we are, so that part of the plan worked. Sorry about that. Come on, let's get you home. He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Siesta shook her head.

"Good. Apart from the fact I don't have an excuse to go back and set fire to more of that mansion of his. Ah well. We'll have you back to the school in no time, give me a second for a Teleportal." Susan cast and opened the portal back into her room, much to the amazement of the others.

"Yup, we'll probably beat Tabitha back," Susan chuckled. "Come on."

Once safely through the door closed, and the familiar stone of the castle surrounded them.

"You really are okay, right?" Susan asked, leading Siesta to the bed and making her sit down. "Physically, I mean." She nodded. "You guys better go," Susan said to the others. "She's just been through about the most traumatic thing someone can, and packing everyone in here isn't going to help. Thanks for the help, though."

Everyone wished her a good night, and hoped she was okay. Siesta managed a weak smile, and Sparkle, back in cat form, nuzzled her as the room emptied out. Susan locked the door and came back to sit down by Siesta. "They're gone," she said softly. "It's just you and me. Did he hurt you in any way?"

"I was so scared!" wailed Siesta, hugging Susan and starting to cry again. "If you hadn't come... or if you had been just a few minutes later..."

"Hey, the hero always arrives just in the nick of time, right?" Susan stroked her hair. "It's okay, you're safe now. No one will hurt you here."

They stayed like that for probably a half hour, Siesta slowly putting the experience behind her. "I'm sorry," she said, pulling away from Susan. "You probably think I'm just a big cry-baby right now."

"Not at all," said Susan. "He had total power over you, both as a noble and as a magic user. If I had my full power here I would have made sure he could never do magic again. Then he wouldn't be a noble either."

"I hate him!" Siesta spat powerfully. She tore off the shirt and pants, leaving her naked again and throwing them as far across the room as she could. "I would rather walk back to my room naked than touch something he wore for one more second!"

I'm not complaining.

"Shall I walk you back? I can understand if you don't want to be alone tonight. You're welcome to stay here."

"No, I better get back. But at the same time I don't think I want to walk around like this, despite what I said."

"Here," said Susan. "You can wear this. I'll get ready for bed anyway!" She pulled off her shirt and handed it over, and Siesta tugged it on.

"What is this material?"

"My magic made it. I just wanted something tight, stretchy, and black, and that's what it gave me."

"Amazing."

Having put on the pants, Siesta hugged Susan again. "Thank you again. For caring."

"Of course. And next time, come see me if something seems wrong. I might as well do some good while I'm here."

"I will," she resolved, "and I'll be sure to thank the others tomorrow, as well." She slipped out the door and down the hall, bare feet hardly making a sound as she disappeared down the stairs.

Guess I haven't lost my touch. Even used a bit of teamwork to get the job done. How about that, I can be taught!

-Meanwhile-

Somewhere, in a random weapon shop, inside a random barrel, a sword thinks to itself: Yup, any day now, he'll show up. I'll be back with Gandalfr again. Just you wait. It'll be soon, I can feel it. Gonna be so great, slice up some baddies. See the world. Any day now.

Oh, how disappointed that sword is going to be.

-Meanwhile-

A thief with green hair helps herself to some jewelry, using Earth based magic to bore a hole in the roof of a castle. There's just no stopping a pro, right?

-Back with our heroes-

The next day at lunch, Kirche asked Louise what she and Saito were going to do for the exhibition, and Louise dropped her fork in surprise.

"I totally forgot about it. Or rather I purposefully didn't think about it because of my peculiar Familiar."

"What's this?" asked Hiraga.

"Sort of a talent show for Familiar Spirits," explained Kirche.

"I'll win," said Charlotte, not having any knowledge of the future and such. She was just confident.

"Yeah, you have a huge dragon," admitted Susan. "Pretty hard to beat that."

"What are we going to do?" asked Louise, staring at Hiraga.

He shrugged. "The only thing I can do, if you're willing, Susan."

"I've never been a straight man before," Susan said, trying not to grin. "Tell me some jokes and I'll see what I can do to match the theme."

"What? Not comedy, I mean sword fighting!"

"Oh, that. Everyone saw that before, though. Still, will they allow me on stage? I'm not your familiar."

"Ring," Charlotte put in, pointing.

"Hey, that's an idea, you could beat up my... no, wouldn't work. They explode when they die, so cutting them up would leave a big flaming hole where the stage used to be."

"Still, I bet if someone who can make Earth Elementals conjured up a few for you to fight, that would work," admitted Louise.

"I think Guiche can do that," said Kirche. "We could ask him later."

"Uhg, that guy? I guess it can't be helped."

"Who is this?" Susan asked.

"You met him. He tried to..." she giggled, "kiss you, after your little match with Hiraga here. Uses a rose because a wand is just too mainstream?"

"Oh him. Don't remind me. At least he's stayed away from me since then."

"Guess you made an impression on him. I doubt anyone's ever held a sword to his throat before!" Kirche said, laughing.

"Ah, it did him some good."

That night, there was a knock on Susan's door, interrupting her training session with the others. She opened it to see the principal standing there, staff in hand.

"Good evening," he said, looking inside. "Hard at work, I see. Interesting. I wonder if I could borrow you for a moment, Susan."

"Sure thing, Mr. Ottman. Be right back, everyone."

She stepped out into the hall and started walking alongside the principal.

"How've you been?" he inquired.

"Oh, you know. An adventure here or there. Attending some classes. Teaching some stuff. The usual."

"Good, good. I must apologize that no magic has yet been found to send you on your way."

"It would surprise me if anything like that existed here. I mean, until you know other worlds exist, why try reaching them?"

He gave a little cough. "Yes, exactly. And how has Louise been?"

"Better, since she understands her magic a little better. Hard to study it when the only thing it seems she can produce is explosions, but it did come in handy recently. If I could still cast Dead Magic I would have her cast into that to improve her control, but no such luck. I'm not sure what I can do for her."

"I do hope the knowledge serves to take away a little of the sting of being called 'Zero' all the time. Turn here."

"Where are we going, actually?"

"All in good time, my dear."

"And here we are." Two stern looking guys in armor flanked the door, and nodded to Mr. Ottman as he stood before it.

"Now that's a big door!"

"Quite. This is our vault, and I wonder what your sense of magic could tell me about it."

"Let me see." Susan slowly opened herself up to the nearby magical impressions, and was quite shocked (or not, he had called it a vault) that even with her 8 result (her lowest possible) she could feel quite a bit of magic sealing the door shut. "Quite an impressive number of spells you have going here," she hedged. "Is there something in particular you wanted me to sense?"

"Well, my true purpose was two fold. First, to find out if your magic could add anything to the defenses here and secondly to ask for your help."

Susan took out her character sheet and looked over her spell list. "Trouble is, I could think of a few things, if I had my book. How would you guys get past them later, though?"

"It's only temporary, as I'll explain in a moment."

"Oh, okay. These walls are made of stone, I could technically use Sculpt to seal it off... or not, as it seems now that I think about it, I would have to 'target each individual brick.' So that's out. I guess not."

"Quite all right. The reason I ask is that there's a thief operating nearby, and we think she is going to hit this vault sometime soon. Our normal number of guards is going to be busy escorting a royal visitor for the exhibition tomorrow, leaving us understaffed. I know you have no real reason to help us, but if there was something you could do, I would certainly appreciate it."

Yup, the Paragon adventure train is rolling through town all right. Sounds like tomorrow I'm going to be fighting a thief. Sounds interesting.

"I think I can," she replied, looking around the hallway to fix it in her mind. "I'll have to watch the exhibition from the back, but that's not a problem. I'll catch this thief for you."

"Ho ho! I'll hold you to that!"

"Naturally. Now, if you can just lead me back to my room... I get lost in the corridors quite easily. It's one of my cute little flaws, you see."

"This way."

Neither saw the green haired lady watching them from the shadows. Wonder what's she's thinking about? Probably something totally unrelated.