After Medusa was gone Arachne was left alone with Asura in her throne room. She promised herself she would never cry because of someone else's words. She was trying so hard not to lose control, especially in front of Asura. After a couple minutes of composing herself she spoke.
"Mosquito and Giriko will return soon along with the rest of Arachnephobia, let's return you to our room." Her words were completely calm now. She was a master of self control and pushing down her emotions. Asura nodded and stood next to her as they walked back to their room.
When they entered Arachne sat him down on the bed and fixed his hair which had been messed up while fighting Medusa. She was very grateful for him stepping in. She was a witch of magic and manipulation not physical combat so fighting Medusa like that could've gone very wrong. She could hear slight cheering outside and assumed Arachnephobia had returned quite happily.
"Mosquito and Giriko should be here any minute so I'll see you tonight dear." she said giving him a kiss on the head. She quickly went back to her throne room where a servant told her Mosquito was waiting for her. Laying upon her elegant web she fanned herself as Mosquito walked in holding a silver case supposedly containing the magic tool.
"I- I have returned my lady..." Mosquito held his head low looking at the case.
"So I see, was the mission a success?"
"Well yes... but-"
"What's the matter? Take it out of its case. I'd like to hold it."
Mosquito sweat and started to look like he wanted to cry. "Well it seems 800 years was too long..."
Arachne lowered her fan and a deep frown came across her face. "What are you saying, Mosquito..."
"Well brew is no longer functional... its useless after being in the magnetic field for so long." he handed the case to a servant who went to bring it to Arachne.
"I see..." she held brew turning it over to inspect it.
"I'm so sorry Lady Arachne, this ruins all our plans and scheduling." Mosquito said with his head still hung low. He felt like he disappointed his mistress and Arachnephobia's people had died fighting for no reason. Even Mosquito almost died trying to get the magic tool and now it doesn't even work.
"Lift your head Mosquito. All is not lost, I of course always have a backup plan. After all, the academy doesn't know that brew is useless." she smiled cleverly, "Have our members spread the word that Arachnephobia owns control of brew now. The grim reaper himself will shake with fear knowing we have it."
"Ah yes an excellent bluff my lady!" Mosquito looked up at her more hopeful now, he knew his mistress was the smartest opponent in this war.
As they spoke a timid voice interrupted them.
"Uh Lady Arachne... can I speak with you... please." Crona stepped forward shyly looking up at his aunt.
"Yes what is it dear?" Crona's presence surprised her. After the incident with Asura a few days ago she hadn't seen him.
"Well I'd like to... to go kill... I need to kill Medusa." Crona was shaking he was so nervous. Medusa was his mother but he knew she was evil in every way possible.
"... Have you thought this through?" Arachne knew he had, Crona would not have brought this up if he wasn't entirely sure about it.
"I have, I did a lot of thinking and I'm completely sure she needs to be stopped! She shouldn't be allowed to hurt people like that! She's killed so many and made me kill even more!" Crona looked up at Arachne, "But I don't know where I'd even start, even the academy doesn't know where her lair is."
"Fortunately for you I know where she and her fortress are." Arachne smiled.
"R-really? How, no one has ever gone and survived its impossible." Crona thought he would have to do weeks of searching or even try to lure Medusa to him.
"My spiders tell me everything. I'll have a map prepared along with supplies for you. I trust you to return home to me in one piece." Though her words could seem cold they were filled with warm intent. She genuinely hoped Crona would come back safely and stronger than before.
"I will! I'll make it back home I promise!" Crona smiled brightly and quickly went to his room. Arachne smiled back at her nephew as he ran off.
"...Are you sure about this my lady, Crona is still just a teenager. The chances of a kid like that defeating the witch Medusa are 100 against 1." Mosquito said after Crona had left.
"He is not a helpless child. He was close to becoming a kishin at one point. Truth be told the odds are completely against him but something tells me he'll make it. I believe in Crona when he puts his mind to something he'll succeed." Arachne manifested herself back on the ground out of the giant web.
"Very well my lady. I'll have the items ready for him before next week." Mosquito personally didn't care much whether Crona survived or not but he knew Arachne would be sad if he died, plus killing Medusa would make one less chore for them.
"I sense the final battle is approaching soon Mosquito... Arachnephobia must be prepared for the reaper and his students. Continue working hard." After that she left to her room again.
Back at Arachne's room she sat on her bed painting her nails with Asura laying in her lap. The glossy black polish was scented like fresh roses so it didn't bother Asura being close to the smell.
She remembered painting nails with her sisters when they were all young. Arachne had always liked the simple black polish while Medusa liked having complicated patterns and arrows on her nails. Their youngest sister Shaula always put as many stones and jewels on her nails as possible. It was one of the few fond memories Arachne had with her sisters.
She also remembered sneaking out at night while her parents slept. Medusa caught her once and made Arachne agree to take her with her. Shaula was too young to go. It was little memories like those that were the fondest. Then over the years the sisters stopped doing things together, they stopped talking, and began to resent each other. Shaula disappeared completely and now Medusa and Arachne want each other dead.
Arachne's nails had dried so she set the polish aside and turned out the lights. She layed down and Asura layed on her chest. Her pale eyes stared up at the night sky illusion on her ceiling. Tomorrow was a new day.
In the dead of night at the servants quarters 7 people in Arachnephobia costumes stood outside. The rest of Arachnephobia was sleeping except a few night guards. The seven took their masks off to reveal Medusa's spies. Eruka, Free, and five Mizune sisters. Medusa stepped out of the shadows and over to them. One of the sisters pulled out a silver case to reveal the real brew. At the island while everyone was fighting the sisters had stolen brew and replaced it with a dummy which is what Mosquito brought back. It was identical to the original, the only difference was one didn't work.
"Very good little mice. I'll be off now, continue working for me and I'll remove all my snakes from your bodies." Medusa hissed happily and got on her broom holding brew tightly. "I'll be delivering this to the reaper."
They put their masks back on and quickly ran back inside Baba Yaga castle and split back up. If they wanted to live they'd continue to serve Medusa. When you have demonic snakes inside you, being a spy to survive is worth it.
