Dublin Port, Dublin, Ireland
After a night of rest in a night that had already been a bit tiring, the girls bathed, washed their clothes and prepared to leave in the afternoon of the next day, where they left their things in Amanda's hiding place, who even left a key with Akko and a letter there saying that she will always be welcome and can trust to leave the whole group's things there, They took only what was necessary to continue the journey, like some of the gold, some extra clothes, ammunition for Croix's arquebus, Sucy's arrows and some spare weapons in case they broke, taking what was necessary to continue this journey. After having everything packed and ready, they meet up with Daryl and her daughters who were waiting at the port of Dublin, with a ship already docked to cross the Irish Sea to the other side. The trip would take about 4 hours, 100 km to Holyhead in Wales.
There Daryl was showing a smile on his face, on the other hand away from there in the castle of the Countess Cavendish, she was in shock, her two daughters would go in the same ship that her sister would kill and sink the ship, so she would have to cheer at least that time that her younger sister would die and her daughters would survive that situation, where she invoked a creature to disturb this trip a little.
In the ship some hours had passed, in the prow of the same Akko was looking at the bottom, the landscape of the islands and the immensity of the sea, having a feeling of nostalgia, especially for being in a ship, so that soon Diana came to her side to talk a little about this situation.
Diana: Remembering your past? You still have many traumas from that time.
Akko: I prefer to remember that many good things also happened, much worse things could have happened when I was on a ship, something like this that I am doing of simply looking at the bow to the landscape already earned me a good lash, today me standing like this here in front gives me a feeling of freedom, now I am no longer a slave.
Diana: I don't know why, but I'm interested to hear these stories of yours.
Akko a little blushed: Do you find me interesting Diana?
Diana also blushing: I think you're an inconsequential and impulsive one now and then, maybe a bit clumsy, but that little way of yours got you this far didn't it haha, it's not as if I...
Akko coming close to Diana: You?
At this time the two are slowly getting closer and Daryl watched everything from afar getting a little bit disgusted to see that possibly her niece was already showing signs that she liked girls, but this whole mood is interrupted by Marianne who gave the biggest scream, after running out of the ship to the outside, where Hellene appeared laughing and making Diana turn to her sister who kept laughing, then Leblanc noticed who it was and got even a little bit angry.
Diana: Hellene, what have you done?
Hellene: Ijust gave Mari a little fright, she's all scared, I don't know how your friend is a hunter, she's afraid of everything, she's all clumsy.
Marianne showing her tongue: The clumsy one lashed you on the back, the clumsy one was the only one who hurt you among all the humans.
Hellene: show me dat tahngue again and i'll show you where it goes
All: Hellene!
Diana: Lass you are all mama Laura, even the way of mama you have it, this is no time to be flirting with our allies, you calm down.
Hellene only rolled her eyes trying not to stare at her sister only looking up, Lotte and Sucy stood laughing, while Croix also looks on with a bit of pride, Cavendish soon notices that her aunt had called her, that way she signals to Akko that she would be right back, her niece arrives and notices a slightly disgusted expression on the part of the older woman.
Daryl: What was that between you and the slant-eyed one? You think I'm stupid? There's something going on between you two, or else you're letting her harass you, she's a former slave from what I heard, those kind of people are already the rotten part of society Diana, you have to value classy people, your cousin Andrew is one of those people, you'll meet him after you come back from your mother's castle and you'll know what a man he is.
Diana: Aunty, you don't have to keep bothering me with this, you don't boss me or my sister, I am 20 years old, I determine who I marry and I don't have to keep lowering my head to others.
Daryl: Oh how stubborn, well well, I won't stay on top of you, but know that Andrew is your ideal partner, you will save our family by marrying him, take advantage that you have his father's support, he can't even deny it, you have a guaranteed marriage, you only need to consummate one night and if you want to afterwards you just screw him, you even get involved with the former slave with the pulled eyes, but wanting to continue with this poor little people will only ruin another family that is a thousand years building a name, you will end with Beatrix's legacy...
Daryl would complete the sentence, when a rocking starts to be giving in the ship, as if there was something underneath and at that moment Diana gets a more attentive expression, so much that she jumps from that part of the boat and takes the Claymore from the sheath, where she stays watching if there will be any activity of a creature of the night, the same thing Akko does and the two stay near the bow just waiting for the monster to come out.
A creature that resembled an octopus very different from a Cthulu, much more lethal, a creature that was a whole octopus, but in the part where is the head has a more monstrous appearance, while another also emerged, with a more draconian appearance, reminding a little the Loch Ness monster, scaring everyone that was on the top of the ship, which at the time the ship's captain ordered everyone to go inside and seek refuge, while some of the sailors that were there were arming the cannons.
Captain: What are you doing here? This is no place for girls to stand on the bow, we have a kraken that can devour them.
Akko: We are hunters of chaos creatures, it's not like a situation like that isn't uncommon, come on girls, let's make sure we catch some fish for these...
Diana: Hellene!
At the moment Diana yells at Hellene McLaren herself was climbing on top of the Leviathan riding on top of the sea creature giving some nice bites and with a remarkable sun collar, leaving her boots dropped on the ship just like her coat, Cavendish, on the other hand, starts fighting against the kraken, that is until Daryl and the twins also appear on the bow, floating through a glyph they made, the three of them unite and cast a fire spell towards the kraken kind of doing a threesome, leaving Lotte a bit shocked.
Lotte: Woah! Sucy look how amazing! I never got that far with my magic.
Sucy: They may be very good with spells like that, but you're the best summoner there is Lotte, let's finish these little monsters off, the good thing is that they're already preparing a roast for us.
At that moment Sucy smiles and starts shooting arrows at the weak points of the kraken, in this case right at the internal side of the suction cups, which causes a little bleeding that decreases the force of suction and adherence of the place, on the other hand Akko and Diana were taking care of the tentacles that descended to the bow, cutting them, but they were so thick that they were barely enough to penetrate and make a bigger cut. On the other hand Marianne and Hellene were on the Leviathan. With Leblanc riding on top of the creature while McLaren kept scratching its back.
Hellene: cahntrol dat din prahperly, a banquet like dat is naht sahmethin you can do every day.
Marianne: You crazy woman! I'm going to die on that thing, this is not a horse!
Hellene: it's almahst de same din, you're stell all in one piece dere, keep poehshin 'arder ahn de whep, dat din'll soon be severed!
Marianne: And you predicted I'm going to be drowned here? That thing has a strong neck.
Hellene: poehsh 'arder wit dahse lettle rahpe arms, you're almahst dere, if you manage to coeht dis mahnster ahff i'll give you a lettle kess.
Marianne showed the middle finger to Hellene that was just laughing and kept on tearing the flesh of that Leviathan, this way they kept on like that, the Leviathan from time to time submerged and with that Leblanc still kept on holding on with the whip that little by little was pressing more on the neck of the creature that was also hit by shots of Croix that was far away on the ship concentrating the shots.
On the other hand against the Kraken, the three Cavendish couldn't cause too much damage to the creature with the fire spell, this way they join Lotte and Sucy that were on the long range.
Daryl: This thing is pretty big, we're going to have to appeal a bit, you all hold the creature, the three of us are going to do a bigger spell, we're going to need concentration.
Everyone nodded, the focus of the Kraken was all on the sailors on the ship, besides Diana and Akko who kept trying to cut the tentacles that were quite resistant, looking like a leather armor being very complicated to cross with cuts.
The two looked at each other and gave a sign, at this time Daryl was watching everything with disgust while he gave his hands to his two daughters starting the conjuration of the spell, already Marianne and Hellene were still trying to defeat the Leviathan that was already starting to lose strength, what Leblanc strengthens a little more the whip and this way he ends up cutting the creature, this way he let it float on the water dead, crumbling little by little.
Marianne: Help me here oh you crazy head, I can't swim.
Hellene climbed on top of the dead Leviathan's body, grabbed Marianne like a sack of potatoes, took a few steps back, throwing Leblanc towards the Kraken, already getting a little pissed off, yelling at the dhampir who then jumped into the sea water and soon noticed the presence of the Mermans who were beating her on the underside of the ship, This way McLaren goes swimming towards them, using her vampire powers to attack them with her nails, something that McLaren herself has a huge control, using her transformation into a wolf which helps a lot in the swimming speed in relation to the human form.
On the surface Marianne can with the whip simply pass with ease through each tentacle of the creature, which surprises everyone how strong that weapon is.
Akko: I didn't expect we'd get your help around here, so we'll do everything we can to turn it into a chopper, Diana and I will take care of fining it in the eye, can you handle the tentacles for us?
Marianne just nodded, defending herself from the tentacles that were attacking Diana and Akko, they were trying to locate a weak point of the creature, since its eyes were impenetrable, as if it had an indestructible force field that didn't allow the blade of the two of them to cross, in this way both of them were piercing other points, but at that place the skin of the creature was hard as a tree trunk, which only made everything more difficult. The tentacles didn't stop growing either, they kept going up to Marianne and it seemed that each one of them that was cut out, ended up making another one grow in its place.
Marianne: Help me out here! I cut and they seem to grow more of these things.
Diana: Stop cutting, let's get back to the ship.
Marianne ends up being the first to be caught because she doesn't have the same coordination and agility that Diana and Akko have, so she ends up being saved when Hellene jumps towards a tentacle, cutting it with her claws and this way catching her by the arms, landing softly on the ship, which irritates Marianne who stares at McLaren's face very close
Marianne: I can land on my own, I'm not a damsel in distress.
Diana: This is no time for you to be fighting, that thing will destroy this ship and we'll end up sinking in the middle of it!
Hellene moves her face away and this way she goes catching the tentacles with her own arms and forcing them, this way she asks them to get some ropes, starting to wrap the tentacles of the monster that stopped multiplying and getting more stuck, but even so the monster kept on struggling, Even with Hellene holding the tentacles with strength and even asking the help of Diana and other sailors that ended up being thrown, everything was getting more complicated, already Daryl and her daughters were still concentrating the conjuration of the spell, Lotte didn't have much skill and noticed other tremors on the ship.
Hellene: Blondie, summon some mermans, there are several attacking the ship below, it's not just up here that's the problem.
Lotte: But who will take care of using magic up here?
Hellene: Just go for it four eyes, you won't get the one on top if you keep focusing up here, these spells of yours don't even tickle one of these, let us handle it, my cousins and my aunt will soon manage.
Lotte just nodded her head and started to summon Mermans that were jumping and entering the water, which somehow lowered the tremor that the boat was feeling, making it a little easier, which was helping Daryl and his daughters with their concentration, Hellene and Diana managed to hold the tentacles and tie them up, but the Kraken kept hitting hard with the tentacles on it, and cannon shots and arquebuses were useless, even if they were precisely on the eyes, it seemed like there was an indestructible barrier around those regions.
Croix: Shooting is useless, this thing won't hurt itself for anything, the only way to kill it will be on the basis of magic, or else we'll have to get one of us inside and kill it from the inside out.
Hellene was already stretching her hand to do that by snapping her fingers, but she was barred from going forward by Diana, Akko and Marianne, that way she gets slightly irritated, wanting to do something, the kraken gets a little more irritated, starts to flail her arms, at that some sailors were being pushed out of the ship and they fell into the sea water, Being quickly killed by the mermen below, which was already noticeable that the water around also became red with blood, even Hellene and Diana were having trouble controlling the tentacles of the creature and ended up releasing and that way the creature itself was hitting against the ship, damaging the vessel even more.
Diana: Damn, I can't go any harder than that I'll evaporate.
Hellene: Don't you have a Sun Stone? I use it and so I can use my powers all the time, so I think we have to try another measure.
Marianne started to attack the tentacles that were tied, the sailors did the same with axes, trying to cut those ones so that they wouldn't cause more damage, since it was already starting to open a hole at the top, revealing the people below terrified, screaming of fear, the tentacles were being cut, others simply burst the ropes, That way some sailors gathered cannons and started firing at once shots towards the monster that simply went like a ball hitting a wall, even the cannonballs fell back on the boat causing even more damage and ended up killing one person or another with the cannonball falling on top of them.
Croix: Hold your fire! You'll sink this ship if you keep firing those cannons. All we have to do is defend ourselves in the traditional way, this thing won't stop attacking us!
The Kraken continues to attack the ship, the girls don't know what to do anymore, neither do the captain and the sailors, but all this will give an end, when suddenly, after so much time and despair Daryl will start to float, she along with the twins made a glyph underneath them, then they started to float with their chests turned upwards, Daryl and the twins did a summoning spell, a giant jellyfish head appeared, the gorgon used a ray with her eyes towards the Kraken, hitting it in a tentacle, petrifying it, then the petrification spell was getting the rest of the body, the Kraken was turning into a giant stone statue, sinking, But there was still the problem of the ship, which was in the way, as the stone Kraken was falling, Lotte used a reverse wind spell towards the sails, using all the magic she could and scraping the remains of the creature, the petrification was a success, including the huge monster was slowly crumbling, the sailors were running out, The sailors were running, since a few pieces of stone continued to fall on top of the ship, catching some and hurting them, but nothing serious, since the larger stones fell into the sea and the impact of them was strong enough to raise a wave, and of these stones, one caught on the forehead of Akko that was complaining for and Diana gave a slight laugh.
Akko: Ahhhhh, that shit still got me.
Diana: A little kiss will heal all wounds.
At that time Dhampir kisses the human, right on the forehead, on top of the wound, what leaves Daryl that was a little affected because of the complex spell, then the Japanese woman gets a little blushed and Hellene even laughs a little at the time of the two reacting that way, already Lotte pushes the wind back to the other direction and the damaged ship can continue the way to Great Britain.
Captain: Excellent hunters, thanks to you the boat can be safe and the people too, I will never forget your bravery, I really as a captain underestimated what women like you can do.
Akko: Being a woman doesn't make you helpless, I have as much experience on a ship as you do, I've had as much experience working on these things, but I think you can handle the whole trip, you didn't get into a very crucial corner, these creatures of the night really are a huge problem.
Lotte: You three are amazing! How did you manage such a strong summoning magic? That's a powerful gorgon head, that's some of the most advanced magic you have, woah.
Daryl: A Cavendish of blood is always destined to have access to the best magic, it's years of practice too, lots of books, I've been learning spells since I knew myself as a person, it's the basics of my education, this one here is a summoning spell we usually learn during adolescence, just before my family collapsed under Dracula's curse, I had already learned this spell, it's just a more perfected version, from what I can see you're a summoner with potential even.
Lotte gives a brief smile, then goes to Sucy and gets together with the group, which were watching the way the boat was going, on the way, just thinking about arriving soon, what was quite remarkable was Daryl's growing disgust regarding the interactions between Diana and Akko, the two were quite taking care of each other, even if it was in a more friendly way, much because Kagari's other friends were dating, while Diana's sister was just flirting with the clumsy French girl.
Hellene: Oui my Mademoiselle you were wonderful against that Leviathan.
Marianne: Come out of it you crazy woman, you threw me against the two creatures, I could have died, you just won't go for my tactics, I have to out of nowhere take something so I can turn around, I swear if I...
Hellene with a mischievous smile arching her eyebrow: you what mari? are you goin to treat dis beast 'ere?
Marianne: I'm going to treat your face like a piece of ass! It's not because you look so strong that I'm afraid, I don't care if you can kill me with a snap of your fingers, you respect me I'm not just any little bitch.
Hellene only took a few steps back, then went to put on some boots, at that time Diana found herself in a moment where she could be a more advisory sister, and Akko went to talk a little with the Frenchwoman, a little about the fight to try to relax. The sisters arrive at a point on the other side of the ship, Daryl is watching with disgust, the Japanese girl relaxing with the French girl.
Diana: Hey lass you need to take it easy, what way is that, girls are not so like you no, by the way it's not nice to flirt in front of everyone, people think it's wrong for lassies to flirt with lassies.
Hellene: Oh really, men are a waste, Mama Laura's magic always makes everything better, we don't need men when we have that fertility stone...
Diana: We haven't talked about her here, but still, control yourself a bit, try not to cross the barrier too much with Marianne, she feels a bit awkward being like that, you leave her without much choice.
Hellene: Ahhhhh, but she's enjoying it, you can see how she blushes and gets into it, it's not like she can resist my charm, it was a passion at first sight, your friend is very attractive, she has that black hair, that red lock, the beautiful brown eyes, that silly and clumsy way, she's all fun too, she looks like someone intimidating, but she's the sweetest person.
Diana: Iteven sounds like someone.
Hellene rolling her eyes: You'd think so, I'm not that kind of person, I really do have my dangers, there are those who come near me, I really do carry out my threats, but seriously sis, you talk about me and what about your roll with the one with the pulled eyes.
Diana: Don't call Akko that, she hates it, be respectful to Akko.
Hellene giggling slightly: See even when I talk in a more playful way you get all sentimental, there's a fire in there too, don't play dumb, I've felt the chemistry between you two since I saw you together yesterday, you don't seem like normal friends, or I've been reading too many romance books between girls to imagine it.
Diana: It's your imagination, I wouldn't go that way, I know Akko likes girls too, but I honestly...
Hellene looks at Diana with a bit of anger: Honestly you are not going to lower your head, you are Laura McLaren's daughter, there is a bit of Laura in you, I heard what Aunty said to you, my ears are very sharp, honestly, are you really going to lower yourself?
Diana: Of course not, I will never marry a lad, that is going against what I really like, not to mention that I would not marry someone for business or convenience, our aunt is not someone to trust, I am absolutely sure that there is some dirt in this pact, we will talk to Mama Bernadette about it, for sure it doesn't involve just us getting back to normal.
Hellene: Back to normal nothing, there's nothing abnormal about being who we are, it's not our fault we were born this way, don't talk as if we were freaks, we only have minimal differences to this bunch of humans, anyway, try to also listen to your little sister, it's not because you're the oldest that you're the only one giving advice.
The two then pat each other on the shoulder, demonstrating that gesture and closeness between sisters, they hug, and then continue to observe the scenery, which even makes Akko smile when she sees that scene from afar, just like Marianne when she sees that the two are sisters who get along well.
Some time later, they finally arrive at Holy Head, in Wales, the ship docks in the port, people get out of there desperate and running to the land, the sun was setting at that time, some nobles were waiting for Daryl, so she takes all of them to the castle of the Duke of Holy Head, where all of them stay in one of the rooms, the oldest Cavendish goes to a private room where she shows a little bit of anger and indignation with her daughters.
Daryl: Pathetic, you two, you could have killed Hellene, now we're going to have to deal with someone from the McLaren side of the family, worst of all, we're still going to see her face out there, not to mention Diana's getting involved with that pull-eyed one, I won't be able to take Paul's fortune or touch ours if that happens.
Merrill: Mother, isn't it better to let her marry the girl? They will never be able to marry anyway, Diana will be left as an heiress with no option, as she will have no heirs, we can have our own, just marry us off to some nobleman and we will have lots of gold.
Daryl: For no amount of gold can buy the prestige of being the leader of the Cavendish, we are the most prestigious family of witches in the world, that is more than any gold, I don't want that legacy to end.
Merrill: Maybe she didn't have to curse her aunt, we'd all be in the castle living well.
Daryl: Girl don't doubt my plans, you are younger, you have no knowledge of anything, I am older and more experienced, I know what I have done and I am doing, just follow the plan straight, now let's realize wait, from here we will leave, our new home is coming, for sure Diana and Hellene will come crawling if they survive their mother, they will want to finish us off, so you will just need to do what you do best, I have found a perfect location for the setting up of our castle, the deal will be done in a few days and we will all get the life we have earned, I will keep the glory of being a Cavendish, no longer a mere family of witches subordinate to those rotten humans, but we will have something much bigger coming.
Merrill just sighed, she didn't want to question her mother since it irritated her more, even if she still thought these plans were a bit much. Meanwhile away from there in Edinburgh, at the Countess Cavendish's castle, Bernadette looked relieved at the crystal ball as she noticed that they were all safe, but she also started to get into worries, just in the nick of time she gets a visit from Ursula who arrived at the vampire's hall to try and have a little chat.
Ursula: Mistress, the coliseum is ready, can I confirm that the girls will make an appearance here? Did they survive the Leviathan and the Kraken?
Bernadette: Unfortunately yes, if I keep sending creatures, it will only train them more physically, so I will wait them out, we have to stay here just waiting for these girls to come to us, let's bring them here to our castle, let's see if they will survive very far.
Ursula: Finally now we will finish with those damned ones, I have been waiting for this for a long time my mistress, now I will be able to impress you and show that I am better than that worthless Elizabeth.
Bernadette: Whatever my preference is for one or the other of you, I will just be waiting to see how my daughters do here and also those idiotic hunters, I am sure they will not get very far.
Ursula: Our creatures will manage, you'll see, they'll even regret having defied the power of Countess Bernadette Cavendish!
Bernadette: Theycertainly will, I'm sure.
Then Ursula leaves the salon bowing to Bernadette, who is walking to the window, watching the night sky, only reflecting with the coming of the daughters, what already determines the last days of the vampire who will soon leave after so many years.
[Bernadette's Thought: At least one good thing can have, I hope that even after all I have done, I will end up meeting Laura in the world of the dead, or paradise, or hell, whatever you call it, I hope my wife will be there waiting for me, I have already done what I had to do in this world, I have fulfilled my duty as a mother, I have educated my daughters with care and a lot of love, now they are adults, ready for life, besides being wonderful people, if my sacrifice means making them have the chance to be human, then I will sacrifice myself, even with that... I know they will make it anyway].
The problematic crossing of the Irish Sea was done, so they crossed back to Great Britain, where they will continue their journey towards the castle of the Countess Cavendish, in search of discovering the truth behind everything that has been happening, agreements that have been sealed, mysteries that continue to intrigue.
See you, sea witches...