Chapter 13

Lucoa cradled Shouta in her arms back home, He was bruised badly and could hardly move his joints. Her hot tears pelted his small cheeks like rain. "I'm worthless Shouta… That's all I'm ever good at, just buttering people up and not doing anything to change things. I have failed you…"

"No…. Please…. don't say that" the boy said, "You haven't failed, Lucoa. I held back."

"Wh-what do you mean?!"

"I didn't reveal myself to Takato, I let him get angry, he went nowhere… he wanted the potion, I'm not going to expose my whole background for the sake of some stupid bully" Shouta smiled reaching his arm out for her hair.

"He can kill me a thousand times over, but he won't get a word out of me… I remained strong."

"Oh Shouta-kun…" Lucoa brought him to cuddle close and warm, sobbing her heart out. "My brave boy… thank you for having faith in me."

He kissed her on the neck. "I'll always have faith in you, you're gentle, kind, always having a smile. Everything a boy could ask for."

"Hmm…" her smiled returned. "But there'll be one thing Shouta-kun, we're gonna give the bullies a frightening of their lives" she said, with that gleam in her eye. "It'll scare them straight into their hearts like a crooked dagger!"

Shouta smiled too, giggling positively at the plan.

"Yes… they'll be no nice Lucoa for them, Oh no… they'll get the full Quetzalcoatl experience! Heh heh… I'll gobble them."

Shouta's eyes were wide open with fear "Y-You're not actually planning on eating them, are you?!" He quivered at the thought.

"Ok ok… maybe not, but one thing is for certain. I won't wipe their memories clean, Uh huh… The pipsqueaks deserve to remember what'll happen if they mess with my Shouta again!"

Shouta hugged her, glad she's back to her old playful self.

"I have an idea" he whispered to Lucoa's ear.

"Hmm…. Oh yes… sounds risky, but the result justifies it."

The boy hi-fived her in approval, laughing heartfully.

"Ok Shouta, now let's get you healed."

The purple boy blushed madly.

"Don't worry, it's not that brand of healing." Lucoa reassured.

"Phew, Good to know."

They both went upstairs, Lucoa used her healing magic to restore Shouta's health, the bruises shrunk, limbs and bones rejiggered. "The process will take some time, so I advise you stay in bed for a couple of days, I'll inform the tutors you are off sick."

"Thank you, Lucoa-san." Shouta said, tucked under the covers.

Lucoa kissed him on the forehead, beaming. "Don't sweat it~"

She then left the bedroom, Shouta heading into a deep relaxing sleep.

Back at the Cathedral, two men were in Hugo's war room. They wore grey uniforms and leather boots, armed with weapons on the belts. One stern and impatient, the other unsure and quiet.

"What are we doing here exactly? Thought we're going to be debriefed."

"We will be Craven…" The stern one replied "Soon as our customer gets here."

"Ah right… Dekker, you sure we came to the right place? He barely gave us any information. Nearly all our clients give descriptions, whereabouts, time, even places to recoup supplies. This all looks suspicious to me."

"As long as there's silver at the end, I don't give a damn." Said Dekker, agitated. "and neither should you."

Craven respired lightly. "Yes Sir."

Hugo arrived minutes in, carrying papers. "Sorry to keep you waiting gentlemen, took me some time to retrieve the correct files."

"Well perhaps you should've done your paperwork first before calling us, took us nearly 2 hours to find the place."

"My condolences Dekker but I too am pressed for time, this war is the longest we've ever fought, and I need to keep on top of it so everything goes according to plan. Plus, Cremene is occupied gathering force."

"Fair enough, anyway who's our targets?"

Hugo gave out the papers to them, sketches of Tohru, Fafnir, Elma, Kanna, Joshua and Marc were drawn in precise detail. "These are the ex-patriots who migrated to the other world, the last two were under orders to inform them of the current situation."

"So, you want us to bring them back here?" Craven inquired.

"Precisely"

"Dead or alive?" Dekker asked immediately.

"You're allowed to use force when necessary."

Dekker slyly smirked, glancing at Craven. "Well, we've got a lot of work to do then eh?"

Craven didn't say a word, just glancing back.

Hugo resumed. "I have prepared a gateway into the next world, I have managed to receive the exact location after thorough interrogation on our friend below. He's very quiet now after that."

"Good, best to leave them like that. Squeeze until they dry."

"Indeed, Dekker Indeed, so I suggest you go tell your men outside that everything's in place, all you need to do find them."

"Don't worry Hugo, we'll deliver the goods wrapped up in a bow"

Craven frowned, looking at his shoes.

"Good, you may leave."

"Thank you, sir. But one last thing, why us and not a dragon or a mage?"

"Answer's simple my dear boy, there's plenty of you about, the more abundant the less hassle."

"I see… like cannon fodder."

"Good day to you Craven" Hugo scowled.

The two went on their way back, outside in the forest where the subordinates are waiting.

"I don't know, I still have my doubts." Craven said, unenthusiastic.

"Stuff your doubts!" Dekker growled. "The pay-out will be worth it, besides count yourself lucky I brought you along, lately you've been squeamish with assignments. What's the excuse this time Craven? Can't stomach it?"

"Alright, alright! God… but do we at least have to use violence?"

"Unless you come up with a better suggestion of handling dragons then yes. Now stop complaining, you're not exactly new to this sort of thing."

Craven indignantly went quiet again, stifled to speak his mind.

Eventually they arrived back at the team, Dekker handing out the papers with the identity of the suspects to them.

"Right. Here are your orders…"

"Stupid cow, I asked you 2 hours ago to set out the forecast, and not one damn number is on that spreadsheet!"

Elma sweated profusely. "I'm sorry Mr. Saito... I thought I had other orders from my workmate Kobaya-"

"Orders...ORDERS?! so Kobayashi's the supervisor now is she?!"

"No sir" she sighed.

Mr Saito lit another cigarette, drawing in the smoke and blowing it into the air. "I swear one of these days I'll collapse of a brain aneurysm."

Elma looked at the floor, barely keeping it in.

"Now get out, and consider this an early leave. Because if you screw up next time, I'll see to it you'll never find employment in this region ever agian.

"Yes sir." She exited the office, tears welling up as she headed for the washroom, crying in one of the stalls. "I'm fucking usesless" she thought.