After the guard tied up Draegor, both they and Bella mounted a horse and began riding into the Earth Country.
"So why are they getting rid of this one?" This clearly wasn't the first time he had asked this question.
"They just wouldn't listen and fought whenever the opportunity arose." Bella sighed.
"Yeah, that sounds about right." The guard agreed.
After about half an hour, the guard brought the horse to a stop. He dismounted himself and Draegor from the beast and Bella followed suit.
"Here seems like a good place. What do you think, maid?" The guard asked as he threw Draegor to the ground.
"A good place for what?" Bella asked.
"To get rid of this thing." The guard smiled as he drew his sword. Bella didn't know what to say or do. "You've probably never seen this before, being a maid of the castle and all. If you want, you can turn away." The guard kindly offered.
"S-Sure. Thank you." Bella said and turned around, waiting.
The guard turned his attention back to Draegor. "Now then, Dark. Time to send you back to the shadows from whence you came." The guard said as he raised his sword above his head, then came down with all his might.
"Activate 'Magic Cylinder'!" Draegor chanted and a decorative barrel with question marks lining its center appeared in the path of the guard's blade, swallowing in whole. Baffled, the guard could only stare confused as a second barrel appeared. From it his sword reappeared only to stab him instead.
Draegor stood himself up, still bound by the ropes that held his arms. He then walked up to the wounded warrior and headbutted him as hard as he could. Both Draegor and the guard stumbled from the attack, but only the guard fell all the way to the floor unconscious.
Bella had turned around in time to witness most of the event. She watched as the stab wound the guard received quickly healed thanks to his life force.
"I am surprised to see he actually fainted. It would appear he still has some life force left." Draegor said with disappointment.
"Many Duel-less will faint if their life force falls too low and their will is weak." Bella explained. "What are you gonna do with him?" She asked worried.
"Leave him. When he comes to, he will return and report on the event." Draegor declared.
"But what if they figure out it was us?" Bella questioned.
"Is that of any importance at this point?" He counter questioned. Bella paused before she could say anything else. "By that time we will be deep within the Earth Country, and do you really believe they will try and hunt down a maid they never really wanted." Draegor said as he kicked the guard's sword at her feet, then turned to present his tied arms.
"I guess not." Bella sighed and cut Draegor out of his bindings. "But what if they do end up hunting us down? What then?"
"Must I repeat myself?" The man sighed and started walking further into the Earth Country. "I will leave the directions to you, so lead on, if you would." Draegor stretched his arm toward the open plains.
"Fine, but before we do, can you at least bring Lilly back out?" Bella requested.
"As you wish." Draegor agreed and summoned Lilly without a second hesitation, while at the same time reverting back to his original form.
Once Lilly saw Bella, she ran and hugged her as hard as she could, and the two of them let their tears fall carelessly.
"Did we make it?" Lilly asked, breaking the not-so-quiet silence.
"Just starting to. We made it to the Earth Country. Once we cross the mountains, we'll be much safer, and we can get to work on a few things that need to be taken care of." Bella explained.
"Yes, but not until you are taken care of first." Draegor stated.
Bella was about to say something but she suddenly fell to the ground coughing up more blood as she did.
"Aunt Bella!" She heard Lilly cry out before blacking out.