Tales of Faith
Formation Arc – Luca Side
Chapter 35: In the Imperial Capital
"The train has arrived at Dragsa Station." The speakers in the train announced. "Passengers who are heading to Dragsa, please alight from the train."
"Finally, we arrived at Dragsa…" Arche said as everyone left the train. "Everyone didn't forget anything, right?" This prompted the party to check their belongings… well, Luca and Kite still looked drowsy. And Arche noticed them.
"Are you alright, Luca? Kite?" Arche asked.
"We didn't have a good night…" Luca mumbled. "I felt like I was being digested in a black hole…"
"Something kept biting us in our sleep…" Kite groaned… and his head turned slowly towards Lucille… or more specifically, Taro. "You guys were tasty, though!" Taro said.
Dragsa, the Imperial Capital
Dragsa, the Imperial Capital located at the Western Sector, is one of the founding cities in Niata. The whole city is sculpted perfectly for residents to stay in this stone wall fortress. The towering castle in Dragsa is home to the Commander of the Namdiascar Knights, Grast. He is an Aegislash with a sole mission of maintaining peace in the Niata region. He has travelled to the Kingdom of Namdiascar to train the soldiers there in preparation of future emergencies. Dragsa followed some sort of 'rule' to organize the citizens. There were the Slums, where the poorest citizens live and where a cemetery resides; the Commoner's Quarter, where middle-class citizens reside; the Middle District, where armor shops, the central square, and the barracks are located; and the Upper District, housing the castle and the nobles' quarter.
"This is a really large city…" Vanille said as they entered the Middle District from Dragsa Station.
"It is to be expected." Arturo said. "Dragsa is after all, a founding city in Niata."
"Wonder whether we'll meet any of the travelling merchants?" Vanille said. "I met a Five during the train ride."
"Hmm… What should I do…?"
The group took notice of a small yellow mouse dressed in a robe pacing around the square. "She hasn't come back from the mansion yet… and I don't know whether I should go in there… But… knowing her, she'd just scold me for going in when she finds me… Then, what should I do…?"
"Hello?" Arche said. "Is something wrong?"
"...Eh?" The Pikachu turned around with its' lightning shaped tail swaying left and right. "Oh…? I didn't see any of you from the city… did you come from another place?"
"Yes, we did… We are…" Arche slowly introduced everyone in the group.
"Oh… then, you're Cress's friends?" The Pikachu said.
"Huh?" Luca said. "You know Cress?"
"Yup. I do. Two months ago, she arrived here, ya see." The Pikachu explained. "She helped me to fight off plenty of bad guys and saved me. She took care of me since then, ya see."
"Then, where is Cress?" Arturo asked.
"Cress?" The voice belonged to neither the party or the Pikachu. It came from an Audino who had apparently heard their conversation. "Heart!?" Luca recognized the Audino as Heart Burkwood.
"Wooow~! Bazongas!" Taro squealed.
"T-Taro!" Lucille scolded her doll.
"Cress is here…?" Heart asked Luca.
"We were about to ask this… err…" Luca faced the Pikachu. "What was your name again?"
"Oh, it's Nat." The Pikachu said. "And… Cress went to…" Nat ran off to the upward stairs leading to the Upper District. The group followed him until Nat stopped nearby at a fountain. "Over there." Nat pointed to a mansion. "There's been a series of incidents, ya see. People who enter this mansion were found unconscious. But, then… it's supposed to be unowned for as long as I remember, ya see."
"Then… why is there a guard in front of the mansion?" Kite said, pointing to the gates of the mansion. There is a guard standing there, dressed in Dragsa armor.
"I don't know… but guards have been stationed here ever since the incidents occurred." Nat answered.
"By the way… what are you doing here, Heart?" Arturo asked Heart. "Did you hear of the recent incidents in Dragsa?"
"No, it's just pure coincidence that I arrived here." Heart said. "I was surprised, but couldn't help to check on Cress when she is mentioned here. But… what are those incidents…? Could someone explain this to me?"
"Okay, okay…" Nat nodded. "One of the victims is at the Slums… I can bring you there."
"All right." Heart nodded. And after that, Nat ran down the stairs with Heart following him from behind.
"Okay…" Luca looked at the guard standing at the gates. "We've got to find a way to get in the mansion…"
"Here, in this house." Nat pushed a door open and he and Heart entered the house. There was a Floette floating around, tending to some business. At the bed in the house, lied a comatose Hawlucha. "Oh, Nat. You're here." The Floette said. "And I see you brought a guest."
"Miss, mind if we take some time here?" Nat asked. "Just don't break anything." The Floette said before she returned to placing plates at a sink. Nat pointed to the comatose Hawlucha. "This guy's a victim. And he hasn't woken up for the past two weeks."
"Let me see…" Heart walked to the Hawlucha. "Hmm…" She lowered her hand on the Hawlucha's chest. "O holy light, bless our health with your divinity… Cure." Her hand emitted green energy and the energy coated the Hawlucha. Everything was silent for a while before the Hawlucha twitched and slowly got up from the head.
"…Hmm? Where am I…?" The Hawlucha mumbled.
"Don't worry, you are alright." Heart said. "I've recovered your stamina."
"Oh, I guess I should thank you…" The Hawlucha nodded.
"Before you went comatose…" Heart asked. "Did you happen to see or feel anything?"
"Before I was… unconscious…?" The Hawlucha mumbled. "Hmm… That's… at the mansion… when I entered it… I found something strange… it was like a hidden passageway… and…"
"Hey, let me go to that mansion." Alvin said to the guard at the gates. The guard shook his head. "Sorry, no can do. There's plenty of trouble in the mansion. It's too dangerous for civilians."
"You know I'm a mercenary, right?" Alvin said. "And I can go in there to subdue the trouble, alright for you?"
"I'm afraid that I can't let anyone past this point. I'm sorry." The Dragsa guard said.
"…Fine." Alvin turned around and left the gates. He returned to the rest of the party, who were hiding behind the nearby fountain. "I tried. And without using any force." Alvin said. "I really think that we should just use force to get past that guard."
"But if we do that, wouldn't we cause a likely alert that there're intruders in the mansion?" Kite said. "It'll be too risky. We have to find another way."
"What happened?" Heart arrived at the fountain.
"Oh? You're back." Arche said.
"We tried getting past the guard, but we failed!" Vanille told Heart.
"Wh-Where's Nat?" Lucille asked. The Pikachu wasn't with Heart now.
"Oh, he said that he'll stay with the victim for a little while before he'll head over here." Heart said.
"Then… does anyone else have an idea to get that guard away from his post?" Arturo asked.
"Maybe… we could… seduce that guy with feminine wiles?" Luca suggested. Immediately, Heart and Arche appeared uncomfortable.
"…What is "seduce"?" Vanille asked, clearly confused.
"…Yup, we can cross out Vanille to seduce the guard." Taro said bluntly.
"Alvin, we're leaving this to you." Kite said.
"Geez, me?" Alvin said. "Fine, fine… Vanille's out, and Lucille can't get close without panicking… Then, that leaves…"
Who will distract the guard?
Arche
Heart
Luca
"Arche, can you do it?" Alvin asked.
Arche shook her head. "Me? No chance! That's possibly no way I can do it!"
"No chance, eh?" Alvin said. "Yeah, it looks like you don't have enough sex appeal."
Arche puffed her cheeks. "I-I do have enough sex appeal, thank you very much! Shall I prove it?"
'Works like a charm every time.' Alvin chuckled. "Go ahead."
"But first of all, we should find an outfit to make that guard drooling, right?" Heart said.
"Yes, we should!" Arche said before she marched off to find outfits. Everyone else followed Arche but Kite and Alvin.
"You're manipulative." Kite said.
"Naw, the princess is just easy to manipulate." Alvin answered.
"That's… for sure." Kite watched the rest of the party heading towards a nearby tailor shop before he and Alvin went to the same shop to look for Arche's outfit.
Skit: The Princess's high hurdle
Luca: (pondering) "Doesn't anyone think that Heart would have been the best choice to seduce the guard?"
Arche: (pouting) "You don't believe me, Luca? Don't you worry! I can seduce people just fine!"
Luca: (pondering) "It's not like I don't believe you, but… I'm not sure… whether you are suited for this…"
Lucille: (shy) "A-Arche's suddenly different than before…"
Taro: (joyful) "Arche-chan's overthinking things! It's easy seduction!"
Alvin: (scratching head) "Well, it seems too easy for some people, but it's like a high hurdle for a princess to do this…"
Arche: (determined) "I WILL seduce that guard! Just you wait!"
"Do you have any outfit that can attract any kind of male?" Arche said.
The tailor pondered. "Attract any… are you gonna wear it?" The tailor went to the storage room behind the counter and brought a set of clothing with him. "How about this?"
"This is lovely!" Arche nodded.
"…Rejected." Alvin said.
"Rejected?" Lucille wondered.
"Why? It's so cute…" Arche said.
"If "cute" is what we're looking for, you could have just stuck with what you're wearing now." Alvin told her. "So, basically… it has barely any sex appeal."
"Again with the sex appeal…" Arche mumbled. She turned to the tailor. "…Clothes that would make this young lady sexy, please…"
"Hmm.. Let's see… If you bring me some leather skin, cotton and some bird feathers…" The tailor said. "I'll produce a set of clothing that should satisfy you."
"Huh. Those three items?" Alvin said. "Don't worry. I got those with me."
"You have all of them?" Arche said.
"I actually didn't think that all of the spoils of battle would turn out to be useful." Alvin admitted as he searched through his coat. "…Here." Alvin placed three small sacks at the counter.
The tailor took a look in each pouch and nodded. "All right. Wait here while I make you something nice! Now, come on…" The tailor grabbed the items and took Arche along with him.
Several minutes later…
Arche came out of the changing room. She was wearing a sleeveless pink dress, which was more noticeable from her natural white dress-like arms. She was also dressed in several accessories that mostly covered her crystal headdress. "So…? How do I look?" Arche asked.
"Wow… I didn't expect the outfit to fit you very well." Alvin said. Everyone took a look at Heart, noticing something very obvious.
"…? W-Why is Heart wearing this outfit?" Lucille asked.
"Ah… They had leftover materials… so they prepared one for me." Heart answered.
"In my opinion…" Alvin said. "That is kind of… er… unique…"
"But why do I have to wear such a revealing outfit…?" Heart mumbled.
"Okay, okay, let's have Arche distract the guard as planned." Alvin told everyone.
"Okay." Arche nodded.
Alvin faced Heart, or tried to face her. "And before I get a nosebleed, could you do something about that outfit?"
The group headed back to the gates of the mansion after Heart wore her robes and hat. Upon reaching near the gates, the majority of the group hid behind the other side of the fountain while Arche headed to the mansion.
"Excuse me, Mr. Knight?" Arche called out.
The guard's head turned dopily at Arche's direction, appearing to be surprised when he saw Arche. "Huh… W-Wha… You're wearing such a… Umm…" The guard stared at Arche for a brief moment. "…Hmm? Hey… You… No, it couldn't be… Not in that outfit…"
"Hm? Do you know me?" Arche said.
"No… It's just that…" The guard said. "You look a little… like the Namdiascan Princess…"
"Ah, yes… I get that a lot." Arche smiled as she said.
"…Phew… He didn't realize it's her." Luca sighed in relief while he hid from behind a building.
"Come a little closer, would you?" The guard asked, motioning Arche to come closer.
Arche shook her head. "No, I would like you to come to me…" she said. She moved back slightly, and the guard advanced the same distance as her as she expected.
"Why would you run away like that?" The guard asks.
"Oh…" Arche giggled softly. "It's just that… I'm a little… shy…." She moved back again. And the guard walked forward.
"Ha ha ha…" The guard chuckled.
"Hee hee hee…" Arche smiled. Arche immediately floated to behind the fountain and the guard chased after her… and was suddenly hit from the back hard. "URG!" The guard collapsed on the ground, unconscious. Alvin dusted his ears as the rest of the group appeared from behind a building.
"In the end… We had to knock the guard out cold…" Kite said.
"If we hadn't done that, the Princess would have been in a tight spot, don't you think?" Alvin said.
"Yes… the guard might have been mad if he found out my identity…" Arche said.
"Well, that's one of them… But it's not what I meant. Change your clothes, Arche. We shouldn't have any more trouble with the guards for a while." Alvin said before he grabbed the unconscious guard by the legs and dragged him into a nearby alley.
Who will distract the guard?
Arche
Heart
Luca
"Hmm… Heart would be the best choice here." Alvin turned to look at Heart.
"…Me?" Heart said. "Why?"
"Err… Well…" Alvin tried to explain in the least offensive way. "You do have those… breasts."
"…You chose me because of those?" Heart looked unpleased. She turned away, muttering to herself apparently. She soon faced Alvin. "…If this is the only way to get in the mansion to find Cress, then I have no choice but to do it, am I right?"
"Uh, yeah." Alvin said.
"…All right. I'll go and seduce the guard. But first, I need something else to wear other than these robes." Heart said.
'Wow… Heart's serious about this that it feels so weird…' Alvin thought.
"That means we should head over to a tailor shop, am I correct?" Arturo suggested. Everyone took note of Arturo's suggestion and headed to the direction of the nearest tailor shop.
Skit: Ah, to be like Heart…
Luca: (happy) "I don't think this plan will fail with Heart seducing the guard!"
Heart: (nervous) "Seduction… I am nervous…" (changes to determined) "But… if Cress is in danger, I have to do what I have to do!"
(Luca blushes)
Arche: (down) "…What can I do to be like Heart…?"
Alvin: (confused) "Hm? You say something?"
Arche: (sighing) "Oh, no. Just talking to myself…"
"Excuse me. I would like to see some fascinating outfits." Heart told the tailor.
"Fascinating…!? Like something for a date?" The tailor went to the storage room behind the counter and brought a set of clothing with him. "How about this?"
"This… won't do." Heart said.
"Hmm…" The tailor made another trip to the storage room to grab another set of clothing before returning to the counter. "Well, then… how about this?"
"Uh-uh." Heart said.
"Then…" The tailor made yet another trip and carried several sets of clothing.
After several more trips…
"What exactly are you looking for?" The tailor asked Heart. Everyone else had dispersed from the counter, doing their own things. Heart pondered for a while before answering. "For example…" Heart leaned above the counter and told the tailor what she wanted.
"Ah, then I don't have anything of that sort…" The tailor said.
"If it's possible, then could you make one for me?" Heart asked.
"Let's see… If you bring me some leather skin, cotton and some bird feathers…" The tailor said. "I'll produce a set of clothing that should satisfy you."
"Huh. Those three items?" Alvin said. "Don't worry. I got those with me."
"You have those items with you?" Heart said.
"I actually didn't think that all of the spoils of battle would turn out to be useful." Alvin admitted as he searched through his coat. "…Here." Alvin placed three small sacks at the counter.
The tailor took a look in each pouch and nodded. "All right. Wait here while I make you something nice! Now, come on…" The tailor grabbed the items and took Heart along with him.
Several minutes later…
Heart came out of the dressing room. She wore some sort of upper clothing that appeared to be a bra of sorts. A short violet skirt with two extending ribbons was worn around her hips. Needless to say, the entire outfit was very revealing of Heart's blessed figure.
"So… how is it?" Heart asked. She stared at Alvin, who was drooling.
"…It works." Heart nodded.
"…Huh?" Alvin blinked. He felt like he was in another world a moment ago.
"I-I can't see anything…" Lucille mumbled, her and Taro's eyes covered by Kite's arms.
"You'd better not, Lucille." Kite informed her.
"Okay… let's go back to the mansion now that we're done here." Arche said.
"I've got one thing to say… Arche." Luca said. "Could you get out of that costume you're wearing now? I-It's kind of… embarrassing for me to look at…"
The group headed back to the gates of the mansion after Arche dressed in her regular clothing. Upon reaching near the gates, the majority of the group hid behind the other side of the fountain while Heart headed to the mansion.
"Ohhh… It's soooo hot out here…" Heart said loudly enough for the guard to hear her. The guard notices her and he hunches his back, giving out barely audible snorts.
"Oh, hello there." Heart 'noticed' the guard. "Oh, did you get an eyeful just now?"
The guard immediately stood straight. "N-No! I didn't see anything! I didn't even see if there was anything to see!"
"Oh, is that so…" Heart sighed, turning away. "Such a disappointment…"
"A disappointment?" The guard said.
"I've fallen… in love with your big, strong… work ethic." Heart said.
"M-Madly in love…!?" The guard appeared to be startled.
"Mmmmhmmm…" Heart turned to the guard. "So… you get what I'm saying, aren't you?"
"Er… Maybe?" The guard says with an unsure tone.
"Maybe I'll just come out and make it clear." Heart advanced slowly to the guard. "How about we have… a little fun~?"
"Y-Yeah…" The guard said. "B-But, there's someone back in the capital I promised to marry…"
"Oh, don't be such a stick in the mud." Heart grabbed the guard's hand and ushered him towards the fountain. "But, I… hmm…" The guard didn't do anything but have Heart bring him to the fountain. There was no one there except them… well, at least until now. "URG!" The guard collapsed on the ground, unconscious. "Good work." Alvin dusted his ears as the rest of the group appeared from behind a building.
"You owe me big time, Alvin." Heart said. "I'm getting out of this humiliating attire right now." She quickly headed to the tailor shop after she finished speaking.
"Why target me?" Alvin sighed while he dragged the guard into the nearest alleyway. "You went to agree with the whole idea by yourself…"
Who will distract the guard?
Arche
Heart
Luca
"Okay, Luca. Go for it." Alvin said.
Luca looked completely startled. 'Wh-What are you talking about!? Why me!?" he said.
Heart turned to Luca. "I think Luca would do fine for this…"
"Luca, go for it!" Vanille said.
"W-Wait… I'm not going to dress up as a girl…" Luca said. "…am I?"
"Luca… good luck…" Kite mumbled.
"Okay, it's decided. Let's go." Alvin headed off to the tailor shop.
"Could we just reconsider this…?" Luca's head and arms hung low as he followed the group to the tailor shop.
Skit: …The cutest?
Luca: (nervous) "Hey, there's still time, you guys… How about someone else seduce the guard?"
Alvin: (normal) "When an adult makes up his mind, he's gotta see through it to the end!"
Luca: (exasperated) "There isn't anything of me deciding to seduce the guard!"
Vanille: (happy) "Don't worry, Luca! You'll be fine! You're going to be the cutest little thing the guard has ever seen!"
Luca: (embarrassed) "I-I'm really embarrassed… but if we have to find Cress, then…"
"Do you have some sort of dress for a girl that will make her extremely cute?" Alvin asked the tailor behind the counter.
"Extremely cute! Like something for a date?" The tailor asked.
"Yeah, that's right. So…?" Alvin gave Luca a push towards the counter.
The tailor examined Luca. "Let's see… Err… You're a boy, am I right?"
"Well, I don't look like a girl, do I?" Luca said.
"Ah, well… Wait, why are you getting mad at me?" The tailor said. "Anyway… this shop doesn't sell any clothing for young girls."
"He says that he doesn't have anything!" Luca said to Alvin. "Too bad!"
"Hold on…" The tailor spoke.
"Huh…?" Luca faced the tailor.
"I suppose I could make an exception this time… If you bring me some leather skin, cotton and some bird feathers…" The tailor said. "I'll produce a set of clothing that should satisfy you."
"Huh. Those three items?" Alvin said. "Don't worry. I got those with me."
"You do!?" Luca said in surprise.
"I actually didn't think that all of the spoils of battle would turn out to be useful." Alvin admitted as he searched through his coat. "…Here." Alvin placed three small sacks at the counter.
The tailor took a look in each pouch and nodded. "All right. Wait here while I make you something nice! Now, come on…" The tailor grabbed the items and took Luca along with him. "W-Wait…!" Luca said. But it was too late as Luca and the tailor had already disappeared into one of the rooms.
Several minutes later…
"Everything should be ready." Arturo said at one of the changing booths. "Come on, Luca, go out."
"D-Do I really have to…?" Luca's voice said from the booth. A loud sigh could be heard from the booth before the door slid open. Luca was dressed in a short white dress with long frilly sleeves. A large pink ribbon was tied on his cured hair. Most of his pink cheeks were concealed within makeup, giving him a more feminine appearance. Luca also had pink shoes with white stockings. And finally, a pink sash was tied around his waist.
"Well…" Alvin said. "I'd say this attire is passable…"
"You're terrible, Alvin…" Luca said.
"It looks so cute! This'll definitely work!" Vanille said.
"L-Luca's cute…" Lucille said softly.
"Can't resist… Must bite on Luca-kun…!" Taro was being held tightly by Lucille's forearms.
"Yes, I'd think that Luca will do fine." Heart said.
"Let's get back to the mansion, everyone." Arche said.
The group headed back to the gates of the mansion, having formulated a plan along the way. The majority of the group hid behind the other side of the fountain while Luca was at the side facing the mansion.
"E-Excuse me…" Luca said.
"Get closer to him!" Alvin spoke in a hushed whisper.
Luca turned around. "B-But, this is so…"
"You can do it, Luca!" Vanille said. The group retreated further from the fountain, where they could still see Luca.
"Nnnnn…" Luca turned back and he headed to the guard. "Excuse me, Mr. Knight!" Luca said in a feminine tone.
"Hmm?" The guard noticed Luca. "Are you talking to me?"
Luca nodded. "Y-Yes, could you come over here? I can't find my doll."
The guard took a look around the gates from his position and turned to Luca. "…No, I'm not supposed to leave my post unattended!" the guard said.
"B-But…" Luca started to sniffle and cry.
"I'm s-sorry!" the guard said. "Please don't cry like that…" The guard took another look around the gates before facing Luca. "Oh, all right. I suppose I can make some time, for your sake." The guard said.
Luca's face brightened. "Oh, I'm so happy, mister! Now, please come closer!" Luca headed over to behind the fountain with the guard following him from behind. "So… what did your doll look li-URG!" The guard was suddenly knocked down from behind and collapsed on the ground, unconscious. Alvin dusted his ears as the rest of the group appeared from behind a building.
"And as I guessed," Luca said with his regular tone. "It ended with blows anyway…"
"We couldn't really ask you to go all the way with it." Alvin said.
"Wh-What do you mean…?" Luca said with a nervous smile.
"Forget it." Alvin shrugged his shoulders. "Change your clothes and go leave that costume at the shop."
"…Alright." Luca said, heading back to the shop to change.
"Now the guard's out of the way." Arche said. "We can go in the mansion now."
"Hold on." Alvin stopped Arche. "We don't know whether there're guards in there too, so we should keep it safe by having someone dress up in that guard's armor. Kite would also be a suitable candidate."
"Me?" Kite said.
"So… I'll pass this decision to you, Arche." Alvin said. "Who will wear that guard's armor?"
"Hmm…" Arche pondered.
Who will disguise as a knight?
Kite
Alvin
"Kite, can you do this?" Arche asked.
"You choose me?" Kite said. "Well, I'll try."
A few minutes later…
Kite wore the full armor of the Dragsa guard that was still unconscious. "Okay… It's hard to move in this armor…" Kite commented.
"Hey! Quit goofing off over there!"
A Dragsa soldier headed over to Kite. "Huh?" Kite said.
"You should get back to your post before things get even more out of hand!" The soldier said.
"Wait… 'out of hand' as in…?" Kite asked.
"This paladin we're trying to subdue! Hurry up!" The soldier ran off first to the mansion and Kite followed the soldier.
"A paladin… could it be…!?" Heart pondered.
Unowned Mansion
The moment Kite entered the mansion, he was startled at the display of unconscious soldiers scattered around the main room. "What the heck!?" Kite exclaimed. There were only three soldiers still conscious, and very frightened, as they 'tried' to subdue the paladin. The paladin is an Ampharos, a female one at that. She wore a sleeveless black bodysuit and several metallic platings at her torso, her left leg and her arms. The Ampharos also had heavy-looking shoes. Finally, she held a long sledgehammer on her hands.
"How much more trouble are you all going to give me!?" The Ampharos huffed. "Get your superior out here! I want to have a word with him!" Two of the soldiers charged at the Ampharos, but the Ampharos easily batted them to the other side of the room with a mere swing.
"What the heck!? Who is this woman!?" Kite said.
"C-Calm down! I-I'll call him right now…!" The remaining soldier squeaked from behind a flipped table.
"Shaddup!" The Ampharos swung her sledgehammer down, electrocuting the poor soldier with a large lightning bolt.
'This is nuts!' Kite thought. The Ampharos slowly walked to the center of the room, looking around and she noticed Kite. "What? Reinforcements already?" The Ampharos grumbled.
"Are you Cress?" Kite managed to say.
"How do you know my name!?" The Ampharos glared at him.
"Well… you see…" Kite started to say.
"Hold on a moment!" Voices called out from outside the mansion. Luca, Arche, Vanille, Arturo, Alvin, Lucille, Taro and Heart entered the mansion. Kite took out his armor pieces one by one.
"Cress!" Heart said.
"…Heart?" Cress said in surprise.
Who will disguise as a knight?
Kite
Alvin
"Alvin, can you do it?" Arche asked Alvin.
"Fine, fine, if that's your order…" Alvin said.
A few minutes later…
"…I'm surprised that they'll fall for this…" Alvin said. He could only fit in the helmet and the gauntlets from the armor.
"Hey! Quit goofing off over there!"
A Dragsa soldier headed over to Alvin. "Hm?" Alvin said.
"You should get back to your post before things get even more out of hand!" The soldier said and dragged Alvin to the mansion.
"Does anyone think that we should have done something?" Arturo asked.
"Hmm… what we can do for now is to head to the mansion." Arche said. And with that, the party went to the mansion. "What could be going on in there?" Vanille wondered.
"Who knows?" Luca said.
Everyone heard some sort of blast in the mansion.
"Alvin's in there, right?" Kite said.
"Yes. We should take a look." Heart said.
Unowned Mansion
Everyone entered the mansion and were startled to see soldiers lying around the entire room. In the center of the room, there is the paladin. The paladin is an Ampharos, a female one at that. She wore a sleeveless black bodysuit and several metallic platings at her torso, her left leg and her arms. The Ampharos also had heavy-looking shoes. Finally, she held a long sledgehammer on her hands.
The paladin dropped her battle stance and turned around. "H-Heart!? What are you doing here?" She exclaimed.
"Were you causing this ruckus?" Luca asked.
"You guys…" Cress noticed the rest of the group.
"D-Do you think Alvin's all right?" Lucille asked.
"Oh, that's right…" Arche said.
"…Urgh…" One of the soldiers got up and staggered to his feet.
"What!?" Cress noticed the soldier and readied her sledgehammer. "You still want some!?"
"Wait!" Arche saw the soldier. "That's Alvin!"
"…Say what?" Cress lowered her sledgehammer.
"Geez… Cress… you still hit like a ton of bricks…" Alvin groaned, taking his helmet and gauntlets off.
"So… what're you guys doing here?" Cress asked, having finally calmed down from her rage.
"Well, Cress…" Arche and Luca began before they told Cress about everything.
Chapter 35 End
Current Party:
Luca R. Ezperanda – Crystallizer (The one who connects with Crystals. He hopes for a bright future with the assistance of the Crystals.)
Weapon: Oak Staff+1 (Staves)
Cloudia Vanille – Bowsword Trainee (She still has ways to go, but she'll perfect this art… eventually.)
Weapon: Custom Bowsword (Bowsword)
Archelain Til Namdiascar VII – Namdiascar Princess (The princess of the Kingdom of Namdiascar.)
Weapons: Gladius (Shortsword), Round Shield (Shield)
Arturo Carpaice – Reunited Traveller (It may be fate, that brought him to their group.)
Weapon: Fonic Lute (Sword Lute)
Cress LaVeda – Skilled Paladin (Her strength is not to be messed with at all times.)
Weapon: Mithril Slugger (Sledgehammer)
Heart Burkwood – Cleric (The blessed light continues to grow within her… She shall continue healing those in need)
Weapon: Priestess Rod (Rods)
Alvin – Experienced Mercenary (This skilled warrior shows no quarter, he means business.)
Weapon: Kresnik (Dual Gunblades)
Kite Maxwell – Graduate (A talented student who has gone through education to come this far…)
Weapon: Brass Boots (Greaves)
Lucille Ostend – Timid Girl (This girl may not have much to say, but it seems that she has her own thoughts…)
Weapon: Pink Wand (Wand), Taro
Cress and Heart rejoins the party! And in such a short duration was this story updated this time! Now, what will happen next in the story?
Skit: It works on you! Maybe? (Kite disguises as a soldier)
Arche: (normal) "You really look good wearing that guard's armor, Kite!"
Taro: (happy) "Kite-kun scored 10/10 on the disguise scale!"
Kite: (unsure) "Is that… so…"
Arche: (normal) "It was pure coincidence, but the armor fits you perfectly! The soldier was completely fooled!"
Kite: (unsure) "But… I didn't like wearing that armor… It's heavy and I can't move very well in it…"
Taro: (happy, nearing Kite) "No matter! Kite-kun! C'mere!" (chomps)
Kite: (shocked) "*muffled screaming*"
Kite: (depressed and thinking) 'I wish I had kept the helmet to protect my head from Taro…'
Skit: It kinda works on you… (Alvin disguises as a soldier)
Arche: (normal) "I'm impressed that you passed for a real soldier, Alvin, despite your size."
Alvin: (scratching head) "I'm amazed myself. I only had a helmet and gauntlets on."
Lucille: (shy) "I-I think that the knight was panicked a lot… M-Maybe he didn't notice anything else but your helmet…"
Alvin: (frowning) "I'm not going to put on something like that again…"