Reviews:
Quatermass: Feeling better now and so is everyone else, thankfully. Sorry for not responding sooner, but there is always a possibility for everyone's favorite merrow to show up soon.
PrometheusDark: Thank you so much, I try to keep everyone as faithful as possible and still bring chemistry out between them. And Casca is cool, no denying that and let's hope Miura gets back to her story soon. Yeah, feeling much better now than I was before.
Necrogod: Thanks! Not a problem.
Guest: Thank you.
Guest: She's a bit suspicious, but has no idea what's coming her way for sure.
Tero7323: Yeah, I felt pretty gross too, but I'm feeling much better now. Foreshadowing for sure with Charlotte there and what might happen to her as well as making the connection that shes descended from Gaiseric/Skull Knight.
Greer123: Yeah, myself and everyone else are feeling much better now, thanks! Halloween was a bit slow here, but more leftover candy to eat.
Hairul The Nightrage Beast: Yeah, both Stonehenge and Skull Knight are viable parts with how they are able to return to Midland and still waiting for Miura to release the newest chapter as well. I hope to focus more on the crew this chapter and show how else they're equipping themselves for the fight to come.
Disclaimer- Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and Berserk is owned by Kentaro Miura. I own nothing.
"Ow!" Farnese lightly yelped as she put her finger to her mouth yet again. This was the fourth time now she had gotten a sliver from attempting to properly carve her staff from the wood of the masthead. She had more than enough to work with to have it at a length that would be proper for her height, that was not the problem. The problem was actually being able to craft the thing to how she wanted it.
Teacher Harry had told her not to be discouraged if she was having trouble as he had gone through quite a bit of wood himself trying to craft his first staff. Teacher Schierke had also interjected saying that his past tries often shattered into pieces when he tried to use them, much to Harry's embarrassment.
She hoped that wouldn't happen to her when she tried to actually use it, but before it even came to that she had to carve it out first and she already had enough splinters now as it was. Before she returned to her tedious task, a light presence seemed to float down to her.
"Having trouble, Lady Farnese?"
Serpico's face was as passive and calm as she remembered, but she had been in his company enough to know the difference between a simple question and light concern. Maybe it had to do with him knowing what she meant when she said one thing but meant another. Whatever the case, she was happy to have someone to confide in.
"I can see the design in my mind clear enough, but I don't seem apt in the actual process of making it a reality." She had spent more than a fair amount of time debating on what she wanted it to look like when finished. She had once been the commander of the Holy Iron Chain Knights, an organization bent on serving God; and it had been a lie. What was God's work was only a distraction for her, a way to get her out of the house and out of trouble.
People accused of witchcraft who were all but innocent in a world far too cruel, she had been tasked with lighting the pyre for those same souls who were now probably trapped in what her teachers called the Abyss, the lowest of the astral layers and where their enemy now draws their power from. Their enemy now was a being who was all but supreme, the Hawk of Light who was said to lead the people to prosperity. That too was a lie.
That being who paraded around as a savior was but a deceiver, one who would take the lives of millions to secure his kingdom, one who would sacrifice the life of an innocent queen because of her blood, and the one who had made Casca retreat into her own mind. Before meeting her and all the others, Farnese never would have thought she would ever truly call someone a friend, but going through near-death experiences would do that to a person. And having been Casca's primary caretaker for the duration of their journey, Farnese couldn't help but feel a sense of loathing for who made her like that to begin with.
"Would you allow me to assist you in your endeavor?" Serpico asked seeing the look on her face that was contemplative.
"I'm unsure," Farnese told him. "Teachers Harry and Schierke both made their own staffs on their own." Well, before Harry's first one broke.
"Hm." Serpico lightly nodded but made no move to leave her side. "The fruit of their efforts have shown, but I doubt that it was the result of just their work. I mean to deprive them of no credit," Serpico added when seeing her brief look of confusion. "But even Schierke had Miss. Flora as a teacher to assist her and Harry learned from them."
"Yes," Farnese admitted as much. "I do not wish to bother my teachers at the moment. They are both still trying to get an understanding of the spell used to repel those cloaked figures, the Patronus charm, I believe."
Serpico's thin brows knitted together for a fraction at the mention of the beings called Dementors. "I recall the feeling of being near them as well during that fight. It was... unpleasant to say the least." She regarded him with concern. This was the first Serpico spoke of being near those things. Guts had it the worst, but Serpico was still close to him when they had attacked.
"Serpico," Farnese studied his face, "is something wrong?" she knew him to be soft-spoken on many topics, but when he seemed ready to elaborate it usually meant that it was important.
"Oh, no, nothing drastic. I was just recalling how it felt is all." Serpico offered up a slight smile to disperse her worries. "I consider us very lucky not to have any of those creatures plaguing Midland."
"I don't want to sound a pessimist, but if that Lord Voldemort is there, wouldn't there be a chance that they are as well?" Farnese did not want to worry Serpico, but it did stand to reason.
To his credit, Serpico didn't seem to mind. "Then all the better that our two master mages are learning such a useful spell." Farnese momentarily cast her attention back to where her two teachers were still going over the spell they had been shown earlier. Harry's white mist seemed to have more solidarity with it, but Schierke's, while lighter, seemed to almost take a shape before dissolving. Serpico watched as they progressed. "It is such a contrast to how being around those things felt." His small smile wavered.
"Pardon, but what did it feel like, Serpico?"
She had no need to ask his pardon, he would answer all the same. "I felt unnaturally cold. I could almost hear my name being called, it was a woman calling to me." He paused, maybe thinking he had said enough. "It was my mother." Farnese looked at him with concern now. His mother had been one of many souls that had been burnt alive at the stake and what was worse, she had made Serpico throw the torch on the pyre. She had done it so his life would, in turn, be spared by showing his loyalty to the Holy See, but also so that he would stay by her side.
unaware of her thoughts, Serpico continued. "That cold feeling, I almost wanted to feel the heat of the fire. I wanted to be there with her at that stake, to warm myself and to see her face again. It may have just been a trick, but I could not tell if the woman's face was my mother's. Maybe I have just forgotten, or, maybe I haven't." His eyelids opened slightly before he shut them. "Either way, it isn't an experience I would lightly wish on anyone." He looked at her. "My apologies if I have upset you in any way, Lady Farnese. I recognize that it all needed to happen in order to-,"
"-Please do not finish, Serpico," Farnese suddenly asked of him. "There has already been enough suffering concerning the past already. For now, I would like it if you could use your Sylph sword to help with this."
If Serpico was going to raise an objection, he quickly dismissed it and instead replied with, "Of course. It would be an honor, Lady Farnese."
The Patronus charm was put on hold for the moment. It wasn't as though Harry was giving up, it was just that it became too tiring to keep at it again. He never thought just trying to find a happy memory for a spell could be so taxing. Maybe the nature held true for the good as it did the bad with extreme emotions; anger could give tremendous strength, but leave you feeling weak afterward, the Berserker Armor being a prime example.
Harry had good memories, it wasn't all fighting and death all the time, although it had a habit of sticking out. If he had to guess himself, it was knowing how those good memories usually ended. Any promise of a good and peaceful life came to a screeching halt with a black sun overhead. There was still time for them to prevent another tragedy from happening, but getting high hopes for that now could prove to be a fatal mistake.
This world held knowledge of generations of magic, some foreign to Midland. And on the other hand, Falconia now had Voldemort there as well with his own knowledge and power.
They had magical items from something as small as Isidro's Salamander Dagger to something as unstoppable as the Berserker Armor.
And the God Hand had an army of apostles and probably regular humans as well.
They have access to more resources, magical and otherwise.
And the God Hand has the power of God basically.
So if he and the rest actually won this coming fight, would it really be over? Guts could cleave a demonic apostle in half no problem, magic had a wide range of possibility and some new ones were even presenting themselves now, but would that be enough to actually kill a god?
He wasn't just thinking about the God Hand either. With all Skull Knight had told them about the past and the fall of his kingdom, how people looked to a higher power for explanation and blame, there being a power behind people's belief, and even where the God Hand derived their own power from; the abyss. Even if they were able, killing the God Hand would not be enough. There was something hidden in the depths of the abyss, the thing that made the behelits, gave causality reason for being, something the God Hand cherished.
Maybe it wasn't God, but it was something. And if left undealt with, the cycle would just repeat even if these five God Hand were dealt with.
"Hey, incoming!" Puck's voice reached his ears and Harry was quick enough to move out of the way as Isidro fell down where he had been standing previously.
The rusty-haired boy quickly hopped back to his feet, rubbing at his chin. "Hey! Since when could we use feet?"
Casca walked over to him holding his dropped sparring sword. "We never agreed that we couldn't."
"Seriously?!" he exclaimed. "Do you know how many times I could have used that to my advantage?"
"So why didn't you?" Casca asked, not sounding impressed by his ignorance.
"Because you never said that we could!" he didn't realize he was just reiterating his own point from before.
Ivalera flew over from Schierke's hat to sadly shake her head. "Not like it would have been effective anyway."
Puck floated over to her. "Do not doubt the power of feet. When used properly, feet are more dangerous than hands."
"How would you know?" Ivalera asked. "You never needed to walk." She pointed at his fluttering wings.
"A trade secret," was all Puck had to say, but it was clear that he really had no way to think of a come-back for that.
Stretching his neck, Isidro looked over to where the two mages were by the rail. "So how's that patro-, patrnomo-, that light spell coming along?"
Schierke perked up a little, not expecting Isidro of all people to ask a question concerning magic. "This is supposed to be one of the highest grades of spells known to this world, so it's actually quite miraculous that we're even able to produce what we have so far. But according to Mr. Lupin, there are even more categories of magic here that do not rely solely on a spiritual connection to the astral world."
Even though she spoke with excitement, Isidro seemed to have gotten lost somewhere along the way. "Uh-huh. So you still haven't mastered it after practicing it for hours, and meanwhile, I'm doing some real training and getting even stronger than before."
Schierke closed her eyes in frustration and Harry responded, "And when does your training involve you not getting knocked down like a sack of flour?"
"Hey!" Isidro yelled. "She's fast when she wants to be! I can't roll out of the way when I'm all out of deck to roll on."
"Are you saying I'm not meeting your teaching expectations?" Casca asked in a half-serious half-humorous tone. "Maybe someone a little slower paced is better suited for you?" her eyes drifted over to the stout man still wearing a helm with two black feathers to resemble a mustache. He was chatting away with some deckhands who were largely ignoring him, only nodding when he paused while talking.
"I thought my injury would mean certain amputation, but that healer proved otherwise!" he retold the story, again. "I never would have thought that I would find myself indebted to the use of magic given a previous affiliation. But, my friends, that just goes to show that life has a way of surprising you in ways you never thought possible, no matter your age."
Isidro seemed less than impressed. "That old fossil?" he pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "C'mon! That would just be insulting at this point."
The older knight began to meander his way over to where they were on the deck causing Isidro to hold his tongue from releasing any further comments. He was probably thinking that his jab had not gone unnoticed. "But more importantly," the knight looked to start speaking again, "I owe you an apology!" the knight bent a knee before Harry.
"Uh, you do?" confused, Harry looked over to Schierke who simply shrugged but still somehow looked amused by the sight.
"I understand if you do not remember, allow me to finally come clean with a reveal so shocking that I would not believe it if I was not involved. You see, I am no mere hedge knight. I once served you, Lady Farnese as your second-in-command during your tenure with the Holy See. I was there when this young man was taken captive, for you see, I am Sir Azan!"
We already knew that, was the collective thought between Harry, Schierke, Casca, Farnese, Serpico, and even Isidro.
"I can tell by your surprised faces that this must come as a great shock, but rest assured, while my identity may have been kept secret, my skills are at your disposal!" he seemed to overlook the fact that no one seemed shocked or even the remote bit interested in what he thought was a well-guarded secret.
Hey, Farnese, Harry reached out to his student via thought transference.
'Yes,' she answered.
Does he always act like this? A little charisma is fine and all, but I don't want him acting like a fanatic.
'Actually, he seems to have mellowed out a bit from our time in the Holy Iron Chain Knights. Any help we can get is beneficial, yes? Sir Azan is good for his word. At least he isn't retelling the infamous bridge story.'
"I wish no animosity between any of us here," Azan went on. "I have pledged my allegiance and will stand by your side against the corrupt and further monstrosities. Why this reminds me of my first noble act of being a hedge knight. An elderly man was having difficulty crossing a bridge, you see-," Harry turned his head to give Farnese a single look.
'I stand corrected.'
"Quite a sight, isn't it?"
Guts directed his sole eye over to where Roderick leaned against the rail of the helms deck as he observed the scenes playing out below.
"Lively," Guts gave a sole reply, but not carrying any hostile or negative connotations. He was just... tired. Yes, tired.
It was a bit hard to believe that it had only been a little over a week since the battle and subsequent raid had commenced. Looking at everyone down on the main deck, he could tell that the three with magic were attempting to benefit from the magic of this world. Serpico still stayed by Farnese's side, but Guts had seen more of a serious change in the young man since the battle but he seemed content to confide his thoughts to just Farnese at the moment. That older hedge knight now seems willing and fully committed to their cause, even Isidro seemed to be getting better at his swordsmanship - even if he did wind up on his ass most of the time.
Then there was Casca as well. He could tell she was starting to slip back into her more confident sense of self just by watching her. Being around people like Harry, Farnese, and Schierke was helping her, putting her mind at ease with faces both familiar and new as she herself trained. She was getting faster, stronger, her sense of persistence and stubbornness resurfacing as she continued to train her body back to a prime fighting condition. Guts also noticed that even though Farnese had cut Casca's hair not too long ago, it was starting to grow a bit longer in the back and Casca either didn't notice or didn't care enough to do anything about it at the moment; her sole focus was getting stronger.
And as for Guts, he would never say it, but he felt weaker.
Physically, he was still the strongest on the entire ship, no question about it. It was something that was gnawing away inside of him for a while now. He slept without the Berserker Armor on, leaving his mind as clear as it could be before falling asleep. But whenever he put it back on, it became ever more apparent that the evil presence inside of it was sitting idly by, picking its moment. Even his previous partial usage from the battle was starting to take its toll on his body and senses.
Colors that were bright and vibrant just seemed so much more dull to him now, like a greyness was seeping into everything bright. Whenever he wakes up in the morning, he barely feels the warm rays of the sun on his face or even the cold of a passing breeze. Whenever he ate a meal, it was like he was just biting into parchment, his tongue feeling only blandness and the occasional texture if it was hard or soft.
He wanted to be rid of it. If he finally hung the armor up by the end of this, would his senses come back to him? He thought of the Skull Knight's words to him about the armor and decided that wouldn't be the case. This was a path he was already walking down for longer than he could remember. And as reluctant as he was about fully using the armor to its full potential, he knew that it was one of the best chances they had at fighting the God Hand.
It would be a huge toll on his person to use it, but if Harry or Schierke were in their astral bodies or whatever, he stood some chance of keeping himself in control. "When I first met you, I thought you were an idiot." Godo's words to him almost seemed appropriate in that moment of reflection and if the smith were alive, he would probably say the same thing again. Here he was thinking about what he would be like after when they hadn't even started forming an actual plan on how they would even go about taking down this Neo-Griffith and the rest of the God Hand.
"Guts... when you get back from making Casca better, are you all going to come back? You all can come back here. We can fix the mine so you three can be safe at night, we could all live here together, right?" the voice of Erica sounded in his mind before they had all departed. The girl was probably eleven by now, but Guts doubted she had outgrown her childlike sense of wonder and optimism. Well, eleven still was being a child in many regards and her optimism had not been ill-placed; they had healed Casca. But for all of them to be together by the end of this, that really was the dream of a child.
But, knowing how dreams could end or what they could lead into, that one didn't seem like one to b extinguished.
His eye once again drifted back to Casca. It was a child's dream, but a good one. Until now he had never really given much thought as to what he would do if he lived to see the end of this coming fight. It just felt like from the first day he had been in a fight, taking only a short break between them before moving onto the next. He wasn't naive enough to believe that just because if they managed to take out beings of infinite evil that no more fights would break out, it was more of what would he do himself?
Ever since the Eclipse, he had two clear concise goals in mind; heal Casca and kill Griffith.
The first task was already done, not without hardships, but still completed. The second was something he had thought about for so long but recently had taken less precedent given their location now and all the madness that had happened with magic. But that hatred that had been raging inside of his heart, that clearly meant nothing to this Hawk of Light. Why else would he have allowed Casca and his son to see them during the full moon if not to try and placate them?
No. That dream that Griffith once had was finally carrying over now and they were but mere distractions to this being more than anything else. He might look at them like ants upon the ground, ready to squish them should they prove to be a nuisance.
"...we could all live here together, right?"
He looked at them all down on the deck. "You found it. That dream, or spark, you found it. Never let it go; think, if not for yourself, for her, for those that follow you."
You had to be right, you old hermit.
"Are Sirius and Lupin still onboard?" Guts asked Roderick.
"Hm? As far as I know," Roderick answered as far as his knowledge. "Something on your mind, Chief?"
"Too much," Guts simply answered before heading off to see if he could find the two resident wizards of this world. Roderick gave a small salute as he went.
Most of the crew continued on with their daily tasks of either swabbing the deck, coiling some rope, adjusting the sails and manning the crow's nest, but two were off to the port side, lowering a rope ladder to an awaiting boat below. The two men dressed in robes seemed ready to take their leave for now.
"Am I catching you two at a bad moment?" Guts asked as Lupin already began to swing his leg over the side.
"We've been caught in worse situations, not often, but still," Sirius offered with a semi-crooked grin. "What can we do for you?"
"Other than this castle, where can you get more books about different kinds of magic, weapons too?" Guts wasted no time in just asking what he had been thinking about.
Lupin furrowed his brow at the question. "Well, many pure-bloods like Sirius have extensive libraries usually for more family-based magic. But for magical items and various spellbooks, Diagon Alley or even Knockturn Alley would offer up a selection."
"Weapons, armor?" Guts repeated.
"That might be a bit hard to come by," Lupin answered. "Sets of armor are mostly used as antique decorations unless you put in an order with the goblins at Gringotts for them to make one."
"That armor getting a bit too stuffy?" Sirius asked but still curious.
"Not for me," Guts told him, his eye quickly darting over to where Casca was. Basic armor wouldn't cut it for the coming fight and he wasn't about to let her lose herself to something like the Berserker Armor.
Sirius seemed to follow where his gaze had temporarily drifted. "Ah. I see. Well, I'm no Bill Weasley when it comes to dealing with goblins, but I imagine I can try my hand at reasoning with the little devils. But uh-,"
"What is it?" Guts asked, not put at ease by the mention of goblins. He had encountered trolls and ogres and he could only imagine goblins wouldn't fall far from them on the tree of monstrosities.
"Well, if you're putting in an order for them, just know that they have their own set of rules that normal wizards don't always abide by."
"Meaning?" Guts pushed.
"Even if you pay for a goblin-made item and you keep it, the goblins would still consider it their property and have a right to it as they did make it," Lupin did his best to summarize.
"Right," Sirius nodded. "Loads of wizarding families have goblin-made items as heirlooms that are passed down, but if that line were to end, the goblins would have first right to take it back. Things like that. And it isn't really hard to see why, their craft is the best there is, well, maybe aside from the dwarves. Not to mention that they would also want to meet in person. Goblins aren't exactly the most trusting of folk."
"Figures as such." Guts rubbed at his chin. "I'll tell everyone else, see what they think. If they're agreeable to it when's the soonest you could get us there?"
"Not long," Sirius quickly answered. "With the wards down from the attack, it'll be no problem to make a portkey-,"
"-illegal portkey," Lupin briefly interjected.
"Oh, the Ministry has bigger fish to fry anyway. If we make to the outside the Leaky Cauldron, we're right at Diagon Alley. If you all agree, we can go in a day or two."
Guts nodded, understanding. "And who would be paying for this to be made?" he also asked.
"I could easily pitch in," Sirius casually said. "But it might be more beneficial if the cost was split."
"So that way there would be a way around that rule of theirs," Guts concluded.
"Exactly!" Sirius snapped his fingers. "Harry probably doesn't know, but his parents did set aside a trust vault for him when he attended school. All things considered, it's just sitting there untouched. But if it's for a friend, I doubt he would mind lending a few galleons. That does mean he would have to be there in person to verify a transaction, you know?" Guts nodded again. Maybe it was time to see how well that invisibility cloak of his worked. He didn't want them getting swarmed if they had to walk. "One more thing," Sirius added. "It would help if you brought someone who has experience negotiating or with financial affairs."
"You know," Guts said, "I think we have someone just like that."
"I don't understand! I just don't understand! Surely there must be someone else who could negotiate on your behalf!"
Harry fought the urge to roll his eye at the elder Vandimion sibling, Magnifico as Guts nearly dragged him out and onto the deck. Harry had seen very little of Farnese's elder brother since setting sail and on most days he nearly forgot that he was even on the ship as the people he talked to mostly consisted of Roderick and Farnese. But after Guts had explained the idea of further becoming equipped for the rest of the journey ahead of them, it made sense that they would have to get off this ship eventually, and not just on Hogwarts grounds. He just never expected Magnifico to be tagging along with them in the two days since Guts had proposed this idea of his.
"You studied your father's business, didn't you?" Guts asked looming over the noble. "Your father is a banker."
"Well, of course, I know finance!" Magnifico sounded insulted almost. "I made excellent connections while studying abroad, just ask Roderick. I can talk another noble into making a deal as easily as you could cleave a man in two. But you ask me to help strike a deal with a bunch of gremlins?"
"Goblins, actually," Sirius smiled over from where he set up a portkey. Harry had to admit, an object that could instantly transport someone from one place to another sounded rather ingenious. If and when they went back to Midland, it could prove handy for a quick getaway; although, Harry doubted someone like Guts would run from a fight.
But if Neo-Griffith's plan largely revolved around Charlotte, if she were to touch a portkey unknowingly, it could get her to a place where they could get her away from the city. And to actually do that, they would have to be in the city in the first place.
He put that thought on hold as Roderick came over to offer some words of ease to his friend. "Why such the long face, Magnifico?" he patted him on the shoulders. "For once, you'll be the one to tell me of an adventure. Try looking at it like that!"
"Yes, well, I'm sure none of your adventures ever included being whisked away to god-knows-where to talk business with a couple of slimy goblins!" Magnifico whined.
"For future record, try not to call them slimy," Sirius advised. "They hate us humans enough as it is."
"Oh, fantastic," Magnifico groaned as he was forced to step closer to where they had all gathered.
A spare coil of rope was the object that had been magically turned into a portkey. From what Harry saw, it didn't seem all too hard to create one. Sirius had just set it on the deck and said the spell, portus. There was probably more to it than just that, probably having to visualize where you wanted it to go, how many people it could take, where to return to, how long it would stay in effect, all those kinds of things.
"So where's this take us?" Isidro was staring unimpressed at the coil of rope.
"In a space outside of a pub," Sirius said. "And they don't serve anyone under seventeen." Isidro's face fell. "Unless you get an adult to buy." Isidro's face spoke of mischief.
"Forget about drinks," Guts ordered after making sure Magnifico was between him and Farnese. "You got your cloak, Harry?"
Harry pulled the silvery fabric from his satchel and dropped it over his shoulders and head. Puck flew close to where his head was. "Yup. He's invisible alright. Do you think he could see other invisible people now?" Looking down at where his torso was, Harry saw nothing. the only visible part of him that poked through was his hand and that was to show he was ready to grab the portkey same as everyone else. If they were going to be appearing in a street of some kind, better no one see him and start crowding around.
"Alright then," Sirius reached down to place his hand over the portkey. "If you're all ready, grab in, three, two, now!"
There was a tug behind Harry's navel and he felt a sensation of spinning, a disorientation of his senses and his surroundings. the deck of the ship became a whirlwind and myriad of assorted colors that made him feel he was staring directly into a rainbow. The speed of which was only increasing and Harry thought that the cloak would fly off of him from the force of the speed, but it stayed in place around his being.
As abrupt as it began, it ended. Harry felt his feet touch solid ground and he fumbled a bit from the suddenness of it all. Looking around, everyone seemed to have handled themselves well. Isidro was a bit wobbly on his feet as he looked close to tripping over himself as he tried to steady his posture but by no surprise the one who was handling it the worst was Magnifico.
The man's short, blonde curls were in a mess and his face seemed flushed with green as he put a hand to cover his mouth. Farnese looked over to her brother with mild concern.
"Magnifico?"
The elder Vandimion didn't say anything but raised a hand to signal her not to speak. It looked like he was forcing himself to swallow down whatever bile had been working its way up. "Gah!" Magnifico choked out at last. "Would a little warning be too much to suffice?" he directed his ire over to where Sirius was who merely shrugged.
"I presume that we are outside of that pub then?" Serpico inquired as he turned his head in the direction of a worn, wooden building to their left. If they listened, the sound of rather animated chatter could be heard from the other side.
"You'd be right," Sirius instead went opposite the pub and to a brick wall. "But all the fun stuff is through here." He raised his wand to touch one of the bricks but paused. "You know, it might be a good idea if I put a disillusion charm on you before we go through." He looked at Guts more than anyone.
"What for?" Guts demanded.
"I don't see you parting with that sword of yours anytime soon," Sirius told him. "If anyone who read that issue of the Prophet puts two and two together, likely chance is you'll be drawing quite the crowd."
Harry knew Guts wasn't going to put up with more distractions so it came as no surprise when he said, "Do what you need to then." As Sirius performed the charm, Guts' attention was on the sword at Casca's side. She was wearing a cloak to partially conceal the Sword of Gryffindor as apparently she had also been mentioned in an article and as the sword was made by goblins, best to keep it a bit of a secret.
"Right then," Sirius said as he tapped one of the bricks and the wall began to split apart to open up to a much more lively scene.
It was leading straight into a cobblestone street lined a colorful assortment of shops and homes that seemed like they could all be connected as one long stretch of construction. There were signs for new racing broomsticks, a snack called every flavored beans, a tailor shop, and even an apothecary and bookshop. And then there were the people. No matter who they were, old, young, boy, girl, robes seemed to be the preferred outfit of choice. They ranged from bright and colorful with designs of the elements to more calm and warm natural colors such as a basic brown or grey.
As Harry looked around to take in the sights around him, he got the strangest feeling of vertigo. It was almost like he was taking in one of the streets of the capital of Windham again for the first time. The exception being everyone here was a witch or wizard and wouldn't be burned at the stake for it. Things had probably changed in the capital since he had last been there, but it was just where his mind had wandered.
"These are all mages?" Schierke asked as she too was taking in all the sights around them so far. The wonder in her voice was evident. There were more mages here in one street than there were in the entirety of Midland. The same could be said for Hogwarts too, but that was a single secluded school, this was a representation of an entire community.
"Ah, the first time reaction," Sirius smiled at her face. "You'll probably be able to find more than a fair share of items or books for purchase at any of these stores."
"I don't doubt it in the slightest," Serpico agreed. "But I doubt the currency we carry will be accepted by any merchants here."
"All the more reason to go to this bank first," Guts concluded.
"Actually, Guts," Farnese spoke up. "Perhaps it would be beneficial if some of us scout out a few places beforehand while you visit the bank. That way we would know where to stop after."
Guts thought it over. "If that's what you want to do, do it. Just bring him with you." He pointed a thumb over at Isidro.
"What's that mean?" Isidro demanded.
"I don't want you in a bank," Guts flatly told him. "You don't need to try and steal something from some goblin."
"Try and steal?" Isidro looked offended now. "I'd succeed."
Serpico gave a small sigh. "I'll be sure to keep an eye on him."
'And if we find something useful, we still have the thought transference,' Farnese's voice spoke inside all their heads.
Sirius seemed to understand. "Well, if you want my advice, Flourish and Blotts would be the place to go for any additional magical texts. As for the rest, this way to Gringotts."
It was probably from the disillusion charm Sirius had cast earlier, but they easily slipped into the crowd of people on the street and moved with the flow of things further down. Being invisible, Harry followed close behind Guts as the people seemed to give him a wide berth of space as he walked and Harry didn't want to bump into anyone and possibly blow his cover. He only had to worry about Magnifico who was insistent that none of the wizards touch him but Guts kept him in line by steering him in the right direction.
"Harry," Schierke called his name from the side. "You're seeing all of this, right?"
"Yeah, I'm seeing it," he whispered back. "How are you holding up?"
"Me?" she asked.
"Yeah. You don't like cities or crowded places," he recalled Vritannis.
"Well, it's overwhelming for sure and... hold on."
'It's weird talking to you when I can't see you,' she spoke via thought. 'I could barely sense your od at all when you wear that. But, it is overwhelming, but not how I would expect.'
Meaning?
'Well, no one is looking at me funny. I'm dressed the same as I always do and no one thinks anything of it. That would never happen in a city or town in Midland. It feels... it's just not something that I would be used to normally.'
Ah, I see. You know, if we actually start up a school of our own, it might not be too uncommon.
'Assuming we can best gods and not be condemned by every government on the continent. Then, yes, maybe. But even that would - what is that?'
What?
'That vendor over there. What is he selling?'
Harry looked over to where Schierke's attention was drawn and saw a man scooping a frozen treat onto a sugar cone. That? It's ice cream.
'Have you had it before?'
He recalled one of Dudley's birthday parties where his whale of a cousin had brought a bun of his friends over after going to a theme park for cake and other sweets. Harry had been quick enough to snag a bowl of half-melted vanilla before having to retreat back to the cupboard.
Only when it was warm. Why? Do you want to try it?
'No,' she thought unconvincingly. 'I was just curious was all.'
Sirius led them to the largest building on the street, an imposing white marble one. "Well, this is Gringotts," Sirius beckoned them over. "Once we're inside you can take the cloak off; goblins don't like being tricked. And as for your sword," he looked to Guts, "I sent them a letter in advance and gave an oath that you wouldn't be using it. Of course, if you do I'll likely have my vault sealed so you know, no pressure."
"That's up to them."
"Good to know." with that, Sirius led them into the bank.
The inside was well polished and well kept. Lines and rows of desks crowded the main lobby as small, pointed creatures worked away at signing or stamping various papers. Unlike trolls, these creatures were fully clothed and looked to be sharp about it as well. Their skin looked like wrinkled leather, especially the ears and nose. Even with closed lips, a few pointed teeth stuck out giving their professional appearance more of a twisted look about it.
Harry did as Sirius instructed and removed his cloak. He noticed how Casca would stiffen up at the sight of some of the goblins. Outside of Puck and Ivalera, she really had no experience with magical or supernatural creatures that didn't mean her any harm. Guts seemed to notice this as well and moved a bit ahead of her.
"God," Magnifico looked worse than before. "These things are goblins!"
"Yes," Sirius nodded. "And try to keep your voice down if you call them that. Come, let's get things settled with a teller, we'll probably meet with the director after."
Going to the nearest desk, Sirius tapped his knuckles against the wood to get the goblin's attention. The goblin looked up with beady eyes and a sneer that showed off its pointed teeth. "And how may Gringotts be of assistance to you today?" he seemed less than enthused.
"I, Sirius Black, was looking to put in a forging request with the contribution of another patron," Sirius explained.
"And is the other patron present?" the goblin furrowed its brow.
Sirius looked over to Harry, letting him know he was to speak. "I am."
"And your name?" the goblin seemed irritated at having to deal with him now.
"Harry Potter," he said loud enough for only the teller to hear.
He was met with a gaze that was more scrutinizing than spiteful as if the goblin was attempting to see past a lie he had just told. The goblin pushed his chair back and stood on short, stumpy legs. "Wait here for a moment. I'll fetch the director."
"Are they all unpleasant?" Casca asked as soon as the teller had left.
"No, not at all," Sirius swatted the air. "He seemed one of the more polite ones."
"What joy," Magnifico sarcastically commented.
The teller returned with another goblin, this one dressed in a more expensive attire and looking older for a goblin, but with the same beady and sharp eyes as all the others. "Sirius Black, it has been a long time since you last set foot in goblin territory. And from what Bonejaw has told me, you come to make an unusual request from us."
"Director Ragnok. I would have visited much sooner, but being falsely accused and imprisoned will do that. But if it's all the same to you, is there a more private space we can discuss this?"
"Indeed," Ragnok nodded with a slight sneer. "My office shall suffice. Come. We can discuss matters there."
Guts disliked goblins right away. Unlike Puck who got on his nerves with his constant positive attitude, the goblins seemed ready to skewer you for the slightest offense. He knew he would do the same thing if they offended him in some way, but it didn't help that they looked an awful lot like how some of the monsters he killed looked. He would rather make a deal his way than resort to meeting in an office of some kind.
His opinion of them didn't exactly change as the office of this director seemed decorated in paintings of goblins in some kind of war or even several. He could respect a good warrior when he came across one, but if the imagery was anything to go by, the goblins were more violent than they let on. And no warrior ever stops being a warrior.
It was why the talk coming out of Ragnok now bored him senseless as well. He was going on about things like "historical creation methods as opposed to more modern ones," and "lists of other goblin-made items and relics." It was useful information and something he was glad Schierke was here for, but all of this just seemed like dancing around the question for him.
"-finest materials available. Not that any wizards would know what to do if they ever got their hands on such materials."
This goblin also seemed to have a history with wizards. To be more specific, he seemed to have experience of being screwed over more than once. Even though he had agreed to meet with them, he didn't have to agree to help them in any way.
"The only better smiths that could best a goblin are the dwarves and a majority of them sailed to America at the centuries ago at the prospect of mining gold," the goblin continued with his little history lesson. "Now, a suit of armor is a request that has been common during previous wizarding wars and during King Arthur's time, but the art has not been lost to us. It is a bit impractical for a family to have two sets of armor, Mr. Potter. This is your request, is it not?" the goblin seemed to smile but it looked far more predatory.
"I'll pay for a majority of the order, but it isn't for me," Harry told the goblin who seemed to frown a bit.
"Oh?"
"It'll be for my companion, Casca." Harry indicated her and she now had the goblin's attention.
"A rather unexpected request then, but not unheard of." Ragnok opened a drawer and started going through some of the papers. "But seeing as you have never visited Gringotts until today, I will need to verify certain formalities. I trust you have your vault key?"
"Well-,"
"Ah! Here it is!" Sirius dug in his pockets to pull a key out. "A spare James lent me as godfather."
Ragnok took the key and examined it close to his beady eyes like he was trying to detect any flaw in it. "Very well." He slid a piece of parchment on his desk over to Harry as well as a quill and ink. "Read over this statement concerning your vault and sign if you accept."
Harry took the paper and handed it over to a nervous Magnifico. "You're the future banker, what do you think?"
Taking the parchment, Magnifico held it up in front of his face to block out the sight of the goblin as he began reading it over. "Everything seems in order," Magnifico said as he read it over thrice. "But this is the terms of agreement for a trust vault in your name, not the primary one."
"You are correct," Ragnok hardly seemed impressed. "The key is for young Mr. Potter's trust vault set aside by his parents. The main vault remains sealed until Mr. Potter comes of age at seventeen. Then, and only then, can he make a claim to the main vault."
"Seventeen?" Magnifico repeated. "Isn't this boy the last of his line? By that standard, all rights are his by default."
"Mr. Potter still has rights, but this is the goblin law. He has full access to his trust vault, if you wish to extract funds, you may do so from there at Mr. Potter's behest."
"And how much is in this trust vault exactly?" Magnifico asked, not liking the tone the goblin spoke to him with. "If he is pressed for funds, placing an order here would be a waste of everyone's time."
"Are you acting as a proxy of some kind?" Ragnok asked. "If you are not, I cannot divulge that information to you. Not without Mr. Potter's permission, of course." He curled his upper lip to show off some of his pointed teeth.
"If you have a statement on the vault, you can disclose it to him and the others," Harry told the goblin.
Looking neither pleased or concerned, Ragnok shifted through a few stacks of parchment before pulling one out and sliding it across the table. "That is the latest statement of your trust vault since the start of this month."
Guts wasn't looking over Magnifico's shoulder, but he could see how the elder Vandimion suddenly change in his demeanor. "W-well. This is certainly a bountiful amount to more than cover the majority of the cost you mentioned earlier."
Without even looking at the number written on the parchment, Guts was sure of a few things; their order would be placed, Magnifico was wishing he knew of this sooner so he could have maybe married Farnese off to Harry, and that whatever books the others found, Harry was paying for it.
It was nice to actually be out of the city. Things had not been as fine as they once were, or at least, how she perceived them to be. Irvine had instructed her to always stay in his sight as she never knew what sorts of beasts were in the woods this close to the capital. And the same could be said in reverse.
Sonia wasn't just thinking about the War Demons as ferocious as they could be. No. Her mind was still on that wizard, the one she knew had come from Luna's side of things. She never saw him or any of his followers around the main palace so she could only guess that they were inside that giant sphere behind the city. She never really wanted to see him ever again knowing Luna could have died that night because he had attacked her school.
She grumbled at her thought and tossed the apple Irvine had plucked for her into the fire of his camp.
"Not to your liking?" Irvine asked from where he was skinning a deer. He had shot it straight through the heart.
"Not hungry," Sonia lightly whined.
Irvine momentarily paused before peeling away some more of its hide. "Something is on your mind."
"Hey, Irvine, do you like the other War Demons?" Sonia asked.
He regarded her. "There are those I tolerate more than others. Zodd and I have an understanding and Rosine is good company. Why do you ask?"
"Do you like the wizard from earlier?" Sonia asked.
"It is far too soon to say," the hunter replied. "I would feel no different if I never saw him again. Does this have to do with your one friend?"
"Of course!" Sonia threw her arms up. "I tried telling Griffith that he wasn't any good and that he should just kill him, but he didn't. He just dismissed me. I trust Griffith, I do At least, I want to."
Irvine said nothing. He waited to see if she had any more to say. She did not. "You are a citizen of Falconia. Trusting the Hawk will keep you in his favor. Trust in yourself will not lead you astray. Trust in a friend will give you trust in yourself."
Sonia frowned. "What's that mean?"
Irvine shrugged. "I trust you to figure it out."
A/N: Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everoyne who celebrates has a happy holiday! Thank you for reading.