Disclaimer: I don't own Ragnarok Online.
Saga 6 Part 5
"Misquelle."
The voice was distorted on purpose by an electronic device, rendering the listeners unable to identify the speaker. They knew him only by the name he gave them to address him. The echoes of it in the abandoned church of Glaisthelm made it sound even creepier.
"Yes, Lord Versator," the twelve-year-old said in a sing-song tune.
The demonic-like voice laughed. "You are as cheerful as always, Misquelle."
"Thank you, my Lord," she beamed. The others, besides Misael scorned at her, disgusted.
"I have a mission for you."
"Who shall die this time?" said Misquelle, delighting in the thought of yet another killing. Misael was silent. His countenance did not betray his loathing for Versator.
"Yehovic Idlan and Varrick Klighten."
Her big, childish eyes widened with utmost bliss. But Misael did not like the sound of it. "Versator."
"It's Lord Versator, Misael! Do not disrespect our leader," sneered Shenola, the High- Priestess.
"He is your leader, not mine," Misael reminded her in his calm, unchanging tone. She hissed at him but Versator interrupted them.
"Let him be, Shenola. Yes, Misael? You disagree with Misquelle's mission?"
"They are both Magician-class, the same as Misquelle. She shouldn't battle them."
A spine-chilling laugh rang. "I believe in Misquelle's ability. She surpasses them; she is beyond them." Misquelle smiled widely, like a child who had just received a truck of candies.
"If Misquelle is hurt, you will not live a day longer, Versator."
There was a short moment of silence. Versator knew his threat was real. Ever since he met the Paladin, he had sensed he was no ordinary Paladin. To him, he was a wild stallion, powerful and unbound to anyone. It was a regret that he was only a liability. But he knew, so long as Misquelle stayed loyal to him, he was as good as his chess piece.
"You will go with Misquelle, am I not right, Misael?" It was not a question but a mocking from him.
Misael did not take the bait. "For her, I will go, not you, Versator… Not you."
Marylyn tapped lightly on Elliot's study room's door, carrying a blue mug of coffee in a hand. The Lord Knight who was reading a book looked up and smiled. She returned a smile as well and entered. She placed the mug on the table, taking a seat. She wasn't sure what to say, clenching and loosening her fingers, nervous.
"Elliot—"
"I had no choice, Marylyn," he answered without hearing out her question. He took a sip from the mug.
"But Miss Zedt will continue to be angry at you," she said, worried.
He sighed, leaning back on his armchair. "It can't be helped. I wouldn't have made this decision if I could have it any other way. But if I do not expand the Guild now, the Commander would think I am not carrying out his orders. The rules which Ri-anne and I created must be set aside. If Lex Crusadaw goes on abiding it, it cannot grow quickly in numbers for the qualification rules are much too strict."
"Elliot, why didn't you discuss with her beforehand? I can't blame her for being upset about this," chided Marylyn.
"She won't agree even if I told her first," he argued. He frowned, "Why do you speak for her, Marylyn? She treated you poorly when you two first met."
Marylyn's head drooped low. "Well… I think I can understand her actions perfectly. I am a girl, I should know," she muttered. Elliot could not catch what she was saying and was about to ask her to repeat herself when she lifted her head to look at him. "Elliot, I know our being together must have hurt her. I can see that she likes you the way I do. That's why; please try to avoid hurting her if you can, alright?"
Elliot stood up and went to her side, kneeling on one knee before her, smiling. "You have a very kind heart, Marylyn. That's exactly what attracts me to you. I promise, I will not hurt her unnecessarily."
The Dancer giggled. The romantic atmosphere, however, was interrupted by Delfred's footsteps.
"Delfred!" Elliot got to his feet and called out to him as he passed the study room.
Delfred stopped at the door. He saw Marylyn and nodded at her as a greeting. "Yeah?"
"Where… where's Ri-anne?" he asked. He knew the answer but he had to ask.
For the first time ever, Delfred gazed at him coldly. "So you remember you had a friend named Ri-anne once?"
"I've never…"
"She's left for Geffen again." He stormed off grouchily to his room, leaving Elliot speechless, in his wake.
"I have never met an Assassin Cross who sleeps as much as her!" commented Feng-xen, flustered. "It's nine and she's not planning to get up yet?!"
"She's tired, that's all," said Ivor.
"I'll go check on her," offered Phelysa. Antares followed her voluntarily. Finding their way to her room, she knocked on the door. "Ri-anne? Are you awake?"
They heard a sneeze, and then another. The locked of the door was unlocked clumsily. Another sneeze. Phelysa and Antares glanced at one another. When the door opened, they saw a sick Ri-anne. Her hair was untied, her eyes unfocused and her nose red. A tissue was in her hand.
"Achoo!" she drew a breath. "I can't believe this."
"Bed, now!" summoned Phelysa, like a mother. Ri-anne groaned but she had no will to object. She grabbed a fresh piece of tissue from the bedside table before getting on her bed again. Phelysa felt her forehead. "A light fever. You're down with a cold, Ri-anne."
"I'm okay, Phelysa!" she insisted.
"Nope, you're not okay. You're not going anywhere until you've recovered from your cold," said Phelysa.
"But we have to –achoo!— see… Varrick Klighten!" she protested though she clearly knows she didn't have the strength at the time to do so.
"We can visit him and ask questions on your behalf. You have to get well soon!" It was final. No use for her to argue. She could only blame herself for getting sick at a time like this.
"Your turn to be sick, huh?" said Antares before walking out of the room. The girl answered with yet, another sneeze. Her guardian laughed.
Phelysa wasted no time in telling May and June to prepare hot broth for Ri-anne. She informed the others that Ri-anne was sick and would not be able to join them for Varrick Klighten's interview. When they were about to leave, Ivor suddenly volunteered to stay back.
"Why?" asked Galicia. "Phelysa's more than enough to take care of Ri-anne."
"Because I... well, the three of you are sufficient to go ask Varrick Klighten a few questions," countered Ivor.
"So be it," Antares interjected. Galicia shrugged, signalling she was fine about it. After that, the trio left the Geffen villa to pay the High-Wizard a visit.
Varrick Klighten lived in a secluded cottage just outside the northern Geffen walls. It was a simple cottage with a neat lawn and clean windows. Galicia was about to call out for the owner when she noticed strange movements in the house. A young boy and girl were facing a man who was backing away from them, as though in danger.
Antares saw the girl raised her Wizardry Staff. "Galicia, smash down the door now!"
Galicia did not question him as he threw at her his Zwei Axe. Without delay, she summoned, "Hammer Fall!!"
She bashed the ground with the hammer. The force headed for the door, tearing it apart, shaking the ground tremendously along the way. But Feng-xen's Assassin nature was quick to kick in. he headed right into the cottage for the suspicious duo.
"Meteor Assault!"
None of his attacks hit them critically for the boy had shielded themselves behind his large shield.
Antares snatched a mini bottle from his waist and threw it at the boy. "Acid Terror!"
Realising the damage it might cause, the Paladin avoided it, pulling the girl to his side as well. The bottle broke upon contact with the floor; the green contacts spilled and corroded the carpet and the stone floor.
Galicia swung the heavy axe at the boy but his Reflect Shield mirrored her attack, forcing her back and caused her to suffer damage, though small. The distraction was more than enough for Varrick Klighten and Misquelle to trigger off their magic skill.
"Heaven Drive!"
"Frost Nova!"
The melee attackers removed themselves from the line of fire. There was a deafening roar and a clash of stone pillars and freezing ice. The roof of the cottage was blasted apart. Feng-xen was about to give chase but the High-Wizard stopped him.
"Don't bother. They are gone."
