Chapter 13

The Sanctuary

Azrael was preparing to for his journey towards the Sanctuary, where Roswaal was hiding.

He was expecting that the clown had many friends and prepared for something ,in case he was about to come. So he had to act smart to surpass him. Sending his hidden shades towards the Sanctuary, Azrael continued with the return of the villagers back in his town. Ymir was still recovering and Otto was making some trades with the merchants in order to obtain the materials.

Azrael was now standing in his chair thinking about the next move. Crusch was hurt , Wilhelm and Felix seemed to be missing. 'They were probably alarmed about the condition of their master'. What worried him now was the secret of the Shadowlord. To be more specific what damage can it cause.

Another one was Roswaal's fate. If he kills him, everyone will suspect him. And the proof that 'someone dead told me to do it' , wasn't a valid excuse. Who will believe him, anyway? However he still needed whatever Roswaal had. Depending on how things will turn out it will be a great way to gain more land and power.

-"Hey, Azrael-san. Can I have a moment?"

He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the source of the voice. Otto was standing there with a couple of papers.

-"What is it Otto? Are you finished with the negotiations."

-"Yes, also you received an invitation."

Azrael sweatdropped.' I'm done for if it's from the council'.

-"You were requested to go to Karsten Mansion, that's all the old butler told me?"

'The old man? Heh, better be careful.'

-"Alright then! I'll go tomorrow. Hey Otto, mind if I ask you something?"

-"What is it?"

-"Are you good at fighting?Or at least at some magic?"

-"I'm have some earth magic tricks, but it's not really much."

-"Riiiight. Judging by how you were connected to that dragon , you must have a special connection right?"

-"Verhoe, is the only one I could call a friend to be honest.",said Otto looking down."I can talk with all sort of living,but to the people this seems..."

-"Creepy? Strange? They think you are not sane?"

-"...yeah."

Walking towards Otto, he put his right arm around his back, guiding him to make a few steps with him.

-"Well ,don't worry about that Otto. I won't consider you creep."

-"Azrael-san..."

-"I'll consider you a money grubber virgin.", said Azrael smirking."And this comes from a psychopath and mass murdered."

-"sigh* Azrael-san... you are being mean again."

-"Don't worry. There are more things to follow. Now then hand me the papers and get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow."

-"Heh, what are saying?"

-"You will see. Goodnight Otto."

The day after Azrael went at the Crusch mansion to see what was going had the pleasure the be invited by a maid ,that led him to Wilhelm.

Leaving them ,the guys went forward to Crusch's room.

-"So how is she feeling, old man?"

-"Crusch-sama woke up and was healed. We thought she was alright but...it's better to see yourself."

-"?"

Looking inside he saw Crusch standing on her bed. She looked back and started pointing at him asking.

-"Who is this?"

-"Heh?!"

Felix was beside her weeping. Seeing Azrael ,the cat boy lunged at him trying to knock him. Azrael stood the ground because compared to Felix,he was mountain. Felix was promptly stopped,and seeing that there is no chance for him to knock him over. He simply started hitting him with weak punches like a little kid.

-"Wahaa it's nya~or fault. It's nya~or fault that Crusch-sama is like this.",said Felix crying.

'How am I at fault for this? If I was the one who attacked ,then he would have had a point but..'

-"Ok, so what happened?",asked Azrael.

-"Well as you can tell..."

-"Wahhaa, bring back nya Crusch-sama",interupted Felix.

Azrael was considering his antics quite stupid and made two dark hands to push him away and hold his mouth. Now Felix was lifted in the air,hold into a corner and muffled.

-"Ok, old man, so tell me, what happened?"

-"Alright then..."

Wilhelm told Azrael that after they found the caravan, they found Crusch unconscious. When she woke up she had no memories of who she was or who they were. And this made a big complication about the alliance.

Azrael looked at Crusch and could detect a very powerful curse on her. Something like this was quite hard to dispell.

-"And why are you telling me?"

-"To see if you can return her."

-"Sorry, but I ain't master in this kind of things. Does anyone of the survivors remember anything?"

-"We tried to check on this, but apparently nobody remembers."

-"How is it possible for nobody to remember?"

-"We still don't know."

-"I see. Sorry that I can't do anything."

-"I understand. But we'd like you to keep this secret."

-"If you keep secret about my identity as you know what. Then we have a deal."

Azrael made the pacts with the group in order to keep the secret, while also managing to keep the alliance together between them.

With that out of the way he was now the preparations for the next objective, The Sanctuary.

Returning to his town he was looking on how the people started to rebuild. Otto was trying to do some manual labor with a hammer but hit his fingers in the process, making a couple of the men to laugh.

He also enjoyed the scene.

Going back to his home ,he was now receiving some details about the Sanctuary from his shades.

Hearing what it was ,Azrael could only grunt.

And what made him question further the existence of the Sanctuary was what was behind it.

If the people could leave, why didn't they do it. What was keeping them in.

He dispatched the shades once more to keep an eye on the citizens and especially Roswaal and Emilia.

Now it was time to gather up and make plans for what was going to happen.

-"Otto, prepare yourself!",ordered Azrael.

-"Huh, what for?"

-"We are going to the Sanctuary. Better pack up, we have a day to reach."

-"What do you mean?"

-"I mean prepare your carriage and dragon."

-"Got that Azrael-san."

-At the Sanctuary-

Emilia failed to take the first Trial and was now back in her back waiting for the dusk to arrive.

She was sad about her failure ,but decided that this time will be different. She tried again to contact Puck ,but he wouldn't answer. She was alone again.

Roswaal was back in his cabin having a rotten smirk plastered on his face. The Gospel predicted her failure. Now the only thing he had to do was to wait for his arrival. With this his victory will be complete and all his acts will come to fruition.

-"Just wait teacher... just a bit longer."

By the dusk Azrael and Otto arrived at the Sanctuary. Feeling the strong barrier around it he wondered what was for. To keep something in or out?

Before he could do anything the carriage was stopped by something...or someone.

Looking forward Azrael saw a blonde boy with green eyes and a scar on his forehead.

Azrael wasn't in the mood. Getting out of the carriage he went towards the boy. The boy had a sour look on his face looking at the newcomer.

-"So, why did you stop us?"

-"Don't preten' th't yo'don't know. Why are yo' in my home?",said the boy with spite.

-"I'm here to check on a friend. I believe you know her. I'm I right?"

-"Th'. Talkin' bout the half devil?"

-"Half devil? Despite the fact that you are pretty much in the same position?"

The boy was annoyed by Azrael's words and grabbed him by the collar.

-"Yo' better listen 'ere punk. I'm not gonn' stand idle. If I catch you wit' anythin' , you're dead. Got' that?"

Azrael pushed the boy back with quite a lot of force, making him fall on his butt.

-"Quite the sharp tongue ,aren't you boy? What's your name?"

-"Tha' names Garfield punk."

-"I'm impressed that you actually answered me. Guess I have to answer back. I'm Azrael and the one behind is Otto. Now mind if you lead us to my friend?"

-"Tsk, better not pull any'thing got it?"

-"As long as you don't try anything I won't do anything."

Garfield led the boys towards a small town. Looking around Azrael saw that many of the demihumans were looking at them with spiteful looks. The looks of hate.

-"Are all the people like this? So unwelcoming?"

-"Th' smel' on you is th' reason for this."

-"Hey. I killed the White Whale. You expect me to smell like flowers after bathing in blood?"

-"Yea'. Don't joke aroun' punk."

-"Hmpf. Whatever you say? Is that the place?"

-"Yea'. Now pis' off to your frien'."

Azrael went forward while Otto was leading his dragon in a stable. When he opened to door he found Emilia ready to get out.

-"Azrael!", said Emilia jumping in his arms

-"Wow? What's with this enthusiasm?", said Azrael catching her.

-"I'm just glad you came. For the past day I was... alone."

-"Oh... alright. But what about Puck?"

-"He... he doesn't answer."

-"Wut? Why?"

-"I don't know. He just won't come."

-"Okay... so where are you heading?"

-"I'm heading to the Tomb. I have a debt to pay and I must do it."

-"Why thou' anyway? Can't you just leave?"

-"I'm afraid that's impossible."

-"What do you mean?"

-"I... just can't. I have a debt to pay to Roswaal. Right now I have to go and try again."

He grunted at this.

-"I'll go and have a talk with Roswaal. Right now!"

-"Don't do anything rash ok? Just promise me this time."

-"Sorry, but I don't make promises I know I won't keep."

-"..."

Azrael went straight to Roswaal's cabin and kicked the door open. Roswaal was standing there beong hovered in bandages. Azrael saw thought this masquarade but decided not to talk about it. He needed answers.

-"So...we meet again Roswaal."

-"Indee~eed we do. I heard quite a lot about you in the meeeean~while to be honest. To believe that such a young man could accomplish such feats. You doo~oo amaze me."

-"Aham. And now what? If I ask, what exactly are you doing here, will you answer? Or do I have to make you spit the information out?"

-"Myy~yyy, I kinda like this face of yours. It reminds me somehow by me."

-"Answer!"

-"Oh, if you insist in this. I'm just staying this right now."

-"Hiding from the law aren't you?"

-"Whaa~at do you mean? I don't remember doing anyyy~thing that could make me a criminal."

Roswaal was smirking the entire time. Meanwhile Azrael was gritting his teeth harder and harder every time the clown was opening his mouth. He was barely holding himself to not just kill him in an instant.

-"What's this depressive place anyway? And why can't Emilia leave anyway?"

-"Weeeell you say this place is actually a Tomb."

-"A town near a Tomb? For real?"

-"Of course. As for why Miss Emilia can't leave, is because there is a barrier around that prevents half demihumans to leave."

'So is to keep them in. Smart move Roswaal. Smart move. But too dumb to see my plan.'

-"Is there any way to destroy it. I kinda need her for the Selection , if you don't mind."

-"Wee~ell sure enough I don't mind. In order to destroy the barrier , the Trials must be taken."

-"I suppose this is at the Tomb, right?"

-"You really are quite perceptive, aren't you?"

-"And you seem to be quite a clown, don't you?",said Azrael leaving.

-"To belie~eeve he will come all the way here. He sure is an interesting child"

-"To believe he can be such a blind fool. Many years he lived. But never managed to actually do anything."

Both of the man spoke about the other now that they were far from each.

Right now Azrael stepped ahead by making Roswaal reveal a couple of things about the place.

The rest could be taken care of by the Stealth Shades.

Azrael went towards the tomb were Garfield was waiting. The young boy was leaning on the wall with his arms crossed. He was impatient about the waiting.

Glancing over he saw that Azrael was coming his way, which made him walk in his way.

The two guys kept starring at each other for a solid minute until Azrael decided to break the silence.

-"Is that the Tomb?"

-"Yea' .Wh't of it?"

-"Can I enter?"

-"No chance in hel' prick. You don' wanna kno' what happen' to humans, if they enter."

-"The same thing that happened with Roswaal?"

-"Tsk, really anoy'ing, ain't you punk?"

-"We will see about this, prick."

-"Tsk, don't make me be'at yo' ass."

-"Quiet already. What's even this Trial about anyway?"

-"Somethin' 'bout facin' the past, and all of crazy stuff."

-"You tried?"

-"Don' ask 'bout it."

-"If it is about the past then that's what I want. Move out."

-"Don't say' I didn' warn ya."

Garfield let Azrael enter the tomb, believing that he will fail and be hurt badly. The blond man had no idea what was waiting in reality.

Azrael found himself in open plains with green grass. Looking in the distance he saw a woman with white hair and a black dress standing. On a chair at a table.

Going there he was welcomed by this woman. She had yellow eyes and a pretty face.

-"My, my what an interesting individual are you. Such powerful magic withing you. Ah, my head is spinning at this meeting."

Azrael was looking at this strange woman. She was twirling around him and looked at him from all possible corners. 'What a creep', he thought.'Just like Three.'

-"My, but where are my manners. Please let me introduce myself. I'm Ekidna, the Witch of Greed."

This sparked up some interest in Azrael.

-"The one that was killed by the Witch of Envy. If you are dead, why are you here anyway?"

She puffed her cheeks at this questions. But nevertheless didn't let herself to be bothered by it.

Not totally.

-"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first before asking anything?"

-"I guess you are right. I'm Azrael.",he said gesturing for a handshake.

The witch answered by shaking his hand.

-"Now back on track, what is this place more exactly. It kinda feels like a dream."

-"Not far from being wrong, but not close to be right either. This is my Tomb, my place."

-"Kinda empty don't you think? If I would make a thing like this I would make it more close to a home or something."

-"It ain't really polite to discuss ones tastes."

-"I'm not really polite you know. I wasn't raised by some parents after all."

-"Oh my, I guess you have a point then. Now then... why don't you sit and have some tea with me?"

-"If you ask me like this, I guess I have a couple of minutes."

-"So what brings you to visit me?"

-"To visit you? I just want to see the Trials and be done here."

-"The Trials, huh? What does make you want to take them."

-"That's a personal matter. Why do you even ask?And what the hell is this tea even made off."

When he tasted the tea, he felt something familiar, but not quite sure what it was made of. And he decided he didn't want to make assumption.

-"Answering to the latter one. The tea is made out of my body fluids."

When he heard this he almost choked.

-"No wonder, it tasted familiar."

-"Ohh, I wonder what do you mean."

-"Ignore that."

-"As for the first. The Trials shall commence right...now."

The world blurred and turned dark for Azrael. Looking around he could only see darkness arpund his body. He couldn't feel anything else.

And once again the world turned around again, He found himself once again in the Cathedral City.

One more bound with Zero. And this time Michael was with them.

-"What the hell?!", said Azrael.

-"What are you waiting you dumbass. We need to hurry and kill my sisters. Now move up."

-"Huh, alright Zero. Let's GO!"

And so the first Trial began.

Author here:

See you next chapter TRIAL OF A WITCH

Thank you for reading.