Part 2. Jailbreak!
(The Castle, the following morning)
The following morning at the castle, a young lady with pink hair and dressed in fine clothes was reading a book, probably a romance novel. Then she heard a knock on the door…
(The castle prison, at the same time)
(Yuri's point of view)
Uggghhh. Let's just say I didn't much sleep last night, and it's not because I ache all over from that beat down given by Cumore's goons. I just had to get put in a cell next to the old man. Or, as he likes to call himself, Raven. And he was in a bit of a yakkin' mood.
"So like I was sayin', the thief made off with a priceless treasure from that noble's mansion." He told the guard.
"I know, I know, then he was caught, and the loot was returned, right?" Replied the guard.
"Nope. That was just nobility tryin' to keep things quiet." Raven answered. "The treasure in the mansion right now's a fake."
"You're pulling my leg." The guard accused.
"Hey, ya didn't hear it from me, bub." Raven replied. "The Dark Wings are goin' nuts lookin' for the hideout."
"You mean the thieves guild?" Asked the guard. Then he changed his tone. "ahem! That's enough outta you. Almost breakfast time."
Breakfast time? Already? The guard walked past my cell back to his desk. Knowing that guy he's going to catch himself some zzz's.
Course that meant that the old man there is gonna start talking to me. "Hey, neighbor."
See what I mean.
"You're awake right?"
Well duh.
"You gotta be gettin' tired from keepin' so quiet."
"You think that little story up by yourself, old man?" I replied. "You must have plenty of time on your hands."
"'Old man'? Now you've gone and hurt this old man's feelings." He replied. "Besides, I didn't make up nothin'. I got eyes and ears the world over, diggin' up all kinds of information for me."
"Heh heh. Sure you do, old man." I chuckled as I sat up.
"Hey, I am what I am." He said. "Go ahead and ask me something. I'll tall ya whatever ya want to know. Wanna know about the pirate guild's sunken treasure? How about the sorcerer who makes his home at the ends of Terca Lumireis? Or wait, I've got it."
"I just want to know how to get out of here." I said.
"Well I don't know what you're in for." Raven said. "But they'll let you out if ya keep your trap shut for ten days."
"Actually, I'm in for thirty." I replied.
"Thirty?" Raven asked.
"Well Cumore was the arresting officer. And I went and brought up the microphone incident."
"Not the brightest thing ta do, kid." Raven shook his head. "Or I don't know that nimrod."
I continued. "I know, I know, but right now I'm more concerned about the Lower Quarter. It'll be under water by then."
"The Lower Quarter. Ah yeah, I heard about that." Raven acknowledged. "Something about one of the fountains going nuts yesterday afternoon."
"I wonder how they're all doing right now..." I pondered.
"Sorry, neighbor." Raven apologized. "But that's one piece of dirt I don't have."
I got up and approached the cell door. "And what am I gonna do about that damned Mordio."
"THE Mordio?" I heard Raven sit up. "You mean you got connections to the famed mage from Aspio, the city of Scholars?"
"Do you know about him?" I asked.
"Him? Oho wanna know, huh?" Raven replied as I heard him lie back down. "I'm afraid that information won't come cheap."
"'The famed mage from Aspio', 'The city of Scholars' right? I think I got it." I replied.
"Uhh, w-wait!" Raven blurted. "That's not it! He's the, uh, Head of the gourmet guild! No wait, It's the, uh, I mean. Aw nuts, I'm just gonna level with ya. Mordio's really..."
Then we heard the door open and in walked commandant Alexei. He walked past my cell and approached Raven's cell. He opened his cell door. "Out." He ordered.
"Ah well." Raven sighed. "Just when things are gettin' good."
"Hurry up." Alexei commanded. What is Alexei doing down here?
As the two walk past, "Woah!" Raven tripped in front of my door.
"Just who are you really anyway?" I whisper to him. "What does the head of the knights want with you?"
There are even more questions I wanted to ask. Like why does he look a bit like a certain knight I knew up to ten years ago. And why is he also Schwann Oltorain, the captain of the Schwann Brigade(Julia and Flynn told me about this some years ago)?
"He whispered back at me. "Beneath the statue of the goddess." And he tossed a key into my cell.
Alexei looked over his shoulder. "What are you doing? I said hurry up."
"Alright, take it easy, boss, I'm coming." Raven got back up on his feet. As they leave I get up and examine the key he left me.
"Well I did say I was looking for a way outta here." I say to myself.
Back in jail again. Man I was just in here a few weeks ago for fighting some knights collecting taxes, And punching Flynn in the face. Can't really complain, I guess I get free meals outta it. If you can call it food. Damn, Cumore's made this way more complicated than it needed to be.
I used the key to unlock my cell door.
"Would you look at that. It opened." I exited my cell and, checking to see that the guard isn't anywhere to be seen,
"Ever vigilant as usual." I sarcastically comment.
With the way he's sleeping, it'll be a while before anyone notices I'm gone. If I come back before sunrise, they'll be none the wiser for my little jailbreak. I can check on the Lower Quarter and make it back before morning patrols. Well that's the plan. It'll probably be a good idea to try that statue of the goddess too.
After a few minutes, I made my way back to the entrance of the castle prisons. That where that guard is usually posted, sleeping away at his desk. Next to him lay a large trunk where they hold all the confiscated items. I opened up the trunk, quietly, so not to wake him up, and retrieve my old sword, my bodhi blastia, a few apple gels, and that wonder log tablet. Now that I got my stuff back, I sneak on out.
XXX
As I was approaching the stairway, I had to duck behind a pillar to avoid being spotted by a guard just up the stairs. After a while, he walked outta sight. But just as I came outta hiding.
"WHO'S THERE!?"
I ended up walking into the view of another guard. "Argh! They spotted me!" Oh great. "Let's get this over with!" I said as the guard rushed at me.
"You can't win!" The guard yelled as we fought. An azure edge and a few whacks of my sheathed sword later. "How could I lose?" He moans as he collapsed unconscious. Yeah, easy win!
"Take a load off for a while." I said to the now kayoed guard. "My rap sheet is long enough as it is. But I guess I don't have a choice but to fight if they discover me. I need to be wary of these guys on patrol."
I head on upstairs.
XXX
Oh man this place is a maze. At this rate, it'll probably be noon by the time I find that statue. I hide behind another pillar to wait for a couple of guards to pass by. Once they were outta sight, I made my way down this corridor. I was almost through when…
"Hold it right there!" I suddenly hear a haughty, and familiar female voice behind me.
"YIKES!" I yelp. Then turn around to see…
"Yuri George Lowell! Just what in the name of Zaude are you doing out of your cell?" Julia DuBois, The castle's head maid, staring sternly at me, arms folded and foot tapping. "And for that matter. What are you doing in the maids hallway? You're not trying to peep on my fellow maids are you?"
"Nice to see you too, Julia." I grinned and rubbed the back of my head. "Looks like you got me back for startling you down at the docks the other day."
"I do suppose." Julia replied, smiling slightly. "But you still haven't answered my question." So I explained the situation leading up to here and now.
"So, you're trying to get the aque blastia's core back. Got sloppy with Adecor and Boccos, letting those two pinheads knock you around. Honestly, Yuri." She shook her head.
"Or where those two getting better lately." Scratched her chin.
"And getting thirty days, ten for break and enter, twenty for mentioning the famous, and rather shocking, microphone incident in front of Cumore. But what really bothers me is that you think that Rita stole the core. Odd, very odd." She pondered.
"So our little thief has a first name." I said. "Rita Mordio. And I know she lives up north in Aspio."
"But this can't be right." Julia replied. "Rita's a bit odd, true, but she would never stoop to something like this. Stealing blastia cores, both from the Lower Quarter and the Noble Quarter. I don't know about you, But I feel I need to get to the bottom of this. I'll head north as soon as I can to sort this matter out. But what am I going to do with you?"
"I just wanted to make sure the Lower Quarter's okay." I replied. "I just wanted to make sure they're okay with my own eyes. And if they are, I'll gladly finish my sentence."
"And, knowing you, Yuri, you're not one to take no for an answer." Julia replied.
"Sigh. Alright fine, I'll sneak you out of the castle, we'll check on your friends, and once that's done, I'll put you back behind bars to finish out your sentence while I go to Aspio and investigate this matter. Fair enough?" She su8ggested.
"Deal." I agreed. And we shook hands.
"Oh yes, you mentioned the statue of the goddess, right?" Julia asked and I nodded. "I don't supposed Raven meant the statue of Zaude over in the west wing of the castle? That might be worth a look."
"Well, in that case, lead the way, Julia." I said
"Right, this way, Yuri." Julia gestured to follow. And I follow her to the west wing of the castle.
XXX
Before long, we came to a large room that connect the east-to west hall we were in to a north-south hallway. We some shouts coming from the hallways ahead…
"Don't let them escape!"
"This way!"
"Hurry!"
"Guards!" Julia hissed. "Yuri, hide!" No need to tell me twice. Me and Julia immediately ducked behind a pillar.
The sounds of running grew louder as the sounds of the guards drew closer.
"Over there!"
"There they are!"
"Catch them!"
"Don't let them get away!"
Just who are they chasing?
Well the answer to that question came in the form of a familiar looking pink haired girl, dressed in a very ornate looking blue and white gown(I wouldn't be surprised if it was designed by Julia's girlfriend).
Accompanying her was another young lady with light blonde hair done up in two buns in back. And while her dress wasn't as fancy(a periwinkle blue dress and an ankle length blue skirt), it still looked fancy enough for a noble to wear.
They were both running out from the west hall and tried to turn to the north hall. But a couple guards blocked them. They tried to run back but that route was cut off too. The guards cornered the two ladies.
"Lady Estellise, Dame Margaret!" One of the guards addressed them. "Stop wasting our time." He demanded. "Now let's get you two back to your room."
"We can't go back now!" Estellise replied. "Please let us go!"
"This is for your own good, missy. You know that." The guard said.
"I don't recognize that voice." Julia whispered. A look of suspicion on her face. "Just which brigade are they from?"
The conversation continued in the room.
"As for the, heh heh, incident, we will assume full responsibility and inform lieutenant Leblanc ourselves."
"What incident?" I whispered.
"That's what I like to know too." Julia whispered back.
"How can you say that when you haven't done anything to help me!?" Estellise replied.
"If anything, you're keeping us from warning him!" Margaret added. "I'm certain you're involved in this!"
"So what if we are? The guard sneered. "We're just following captain Cumore's orders."
"Cumore Brigade! I should have known." Julia whispered. "I swear if they try to rip off their dresses and..." She clenches her fists. I have a feeling she's going to reach for her daggers any second.
"Please! Don't come any closer." Estellise, along with Margaret back into a corner.
"I won't allow you hooligans to take advantage of her, again!" Margaret added positioning herself between Estellise and the guards.
"Margaret no!" Estellise implored. "They might violate you too!"
"I'm afraid you two leave us no choice." The guards close in on the two cornered ladies. "You know, I was hoping it would come to this. Heh heh heh."
"Come to what?" Julia asked as she stepped out from behind the pillar and walked out to have some words with those goons. "Why are you men chasing lady Estellise and dame Margaret? And also, what is this 'incident' you speak of?"
"Oh great, it's the head maid." One of the guards replied, looking at the now impatient maid standing before them, arms folded and foot tapping. "This is none of your concern, miss DuBois."
Then we heard more voices.
"Hey! They they are! This way!" A couple more guards enter the room. "Huh? The head maid!? What's she doing here?"
"Sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, obviously!" The lead guard replied. "She overhead us talking about the 'incident' and started asking questions."
"To which I demand answers." Julia replied. "Start talking."
"Julia! You've got to help us!" Estellise called out. "We've got something important that we need to tell Flynn! We have to see him!"
"Did you say Flynn?" Julia asked and...
"Did she just say Flynn?" I thought the same thing.
"Nice going, princess, now that four eyed tart knows too much!" The guards draw their swords. "Nothing personal, but we're gonna kill her now and drag you two back to your room and have our way with you two."
Julia pulled out her her daggers. "Kill me? And have your way with my mistress and her governess? I'd like to see you..."
"YAH!" Suddenly, an azure edge burst, caused by yours truly, whizzed past her and knocked over the two goons that just showed up.
"Try?" Then she looked over her shoulder at me. "Honestly. At least let me finish before you do that."
"Flynn!? You came to help us too!?" Estellise turns around to...
"Huh? W-Who are you?" See yours truly.
"Identify yourself!" One of the guards ordered as I walked out and stood next to Julia.
"Man, just as I thought we were being sneaky." I said. "And things have to go to Hell."
"Tell me about it" Replied Julia.
"Careful! I think he's got a blastia!" One of the guards said when he noticed my bracelet.
"I happen to have one too, mind you." Julia stated, pulling down her right sleeve to show her wristband bodhi blastia.
"It shouldn't be a problem if we take them together." One of the other guards said as the two that I knocked down earlier got back up. "We outnumber 'em three to one."
The six of 'en rushed at us, hoping to overwhelm us with their numbers. I dodged right and Julia dodged left, evading their initial rush and flanking them. Then we tore into 'em.
I leveled the nearest one with a couple of whacks and an azure edge.
Parried a sword swing and clobbered the second with with a cerberus strike.
Ducked under another swing and whacked away on the third guy until he fell flat on his ass.
While I was doing all that, Julia sent her first guy spinning with a roundhouse kick.
Dueled the second guy until she got an opening, disarmed him using fang rush and kayoed him with a backhand left.
Then she evaded several frantic swings from the last guy until she parried his swing with her daggers and gave him a swift kick in the groin, causing him to crumple to the floor moaning in pain clutching his now bruised ego.
I should mention that we didn't kill any of them, due to the fact they were all wearing armor. So yeah, we kayoed 'em instead.
"Man, is this what knights do now?" I asked as I kicked their swords outta reach. "Chase ladies all over the castle?"
"I wouldn't call these Knights, Yuri." Julia replied as she also made sure they were disarmed.
"Don't they teach these guys manners in knight school anymore?" I asked, looking at the now unconscious pile of guards.
"I fear that standards have really declined since we attended, Yuri." Julia sighed.
"Look out!" She suddenly pulled me out of the way of…
"HYAH!" Estellise throwing a vase at my head.
"Hey! What, are trying to kill me!?" I yell at her.
"Well, You don't belong in the castle right?" She replied. No kidding.
"No." I replied. "And I'll take that as a compliment that you can tell that by looking at me."
"Really, lady Estellise." Julia shook her head. "Is that any way to thank one of your rescuers?"
"A proper lady shouldn't go throwing around vases like that." Margaret scolded. "They're are very expensive."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Estellise bowed. "Please forgive me."
Before we could say anything else.
"Yuri Lowell! Where are you!?" We heard the voice of the Schwann Brigade's second in command, Leblanc Javert.
As well as the voice of. "You foul fugitive!" Tweedle A "I say, we know you're trying to make your escape!"
Sigh. "Oh please, not them again." I moaned. "Guess there's no point in going back to the prison cell now."
"It would appear so." Julia agreed. "The best laid schemes of maids and men, gang aft agely."
"LOUDER FOOLS! SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT!" Leblanc's voice shouted.
"Lieutenant Leblanc." Tweedle B's voice whimpered. "Your voice is TOO loud. Oh my ears."
"You call that loud?" Julia said. "Compared to Father, I find Mr. Javert rather quiet." No argument there, Julia.
"Yuri Lowell?" Estellise looked at me. "You're one of Flynn's friends, oh, and Julia's, aren't you?"
"Yeah, why?" I asked.
"And you, and Julia used to belong to the Imperial Knights?" She asked.
"Him? A knight?" Margaret asked, pointing at me.
"Believe it or not, you two, he was." Julia answered.
"Just for seven whole months." I added. "And Julia for about five months. You hear that from Flynn?"
"Yes." Estellise nodded.
"Heh. Guess he managed to managed to find someone at the castle to talk to after all." I said.
"And what am I? Chopped liver?" Julia glared at me, gloved hands on her hips. "I've been living here too, you know. And don't forget Natalie and Hannah."
"My bad." I apologize.
"Honestly." Julia sighed.
"Yuri, Julia, me and Margaret need to talk to Flynn!" Estellise said.
"Hold on just a second. "I replied. "Who are you supposed to be anyway?"
"You know who she is, Yuri." Julia said.
"Yeah, but I want to hear it from her." I replied.
"Fair enough." Julia shrugged.
I continued. "I can tell you know Flynn and Julia. But why were you and(looks at Margaret) her being chased by the knights?"
"Yes, why where you two being pursued?" Julia added. "Where they trying to kidnap you? Or worse?"
"OVER HERE!" We heard some guards shouting.
"Listen, I want to hear the whole story, but we can't really afford to stand around and chat." I said. "First thing's first, let's get to Flynn's place. Want me to lead the way?"
"Ah! Yes!" Estellise nodded.
"Let's go." I said.
"Um, perhaps I should lead the way." Julia suggested. "I know this castle way better that you, Yuri."
I'll have to admit, that's a good point, seeing as she was living here as a maid for three years. "Okay then. You lead, Julia."
"Right, follow me please." We follow Julia into the north hallway. "And let's try to keep out of sight."
As we made our way up the hallway. "Mmmm, something smells tasty." I caught a whiff of cooking food.
"Oh, You're right. What could it be?" Estellise asks?
Then Julia started acting like a tour guide."First on our tour is the castle's main dining hall." Julia replied, gesturing towards the entrance. "Our chief chef, Greta and her staff usually start cooking today's meals at this time."
"Mmmmm, smells like Greta and the cooks are making curry today." Margaret added. "But I fear we have no time for breakfast, as much as I like curry."
"I know, we need to warn Flynn." Estellise agreed. Guess our stomachs are gonna be empty for a while. So we continued up the hallway.
XXX
We climbed up the stairway to the next floor up and walked west down the hallway. Then we turned south on another hallway.
"And here we are on our next stop of our tour." Julia said, gesturing towards a door. "This is the room of Flynn Scifo, squad lieutenant of the Jurgis brigade with currently three years of military service under his belt."
"So that's Flynn's room." I said.
"I do believe I just said that." Julia replied.
Estellise looked at the room and starts breathing nervously.
"Are you okay, lady Estellise?" Julia asked. "You're looking rather nervous.
"It's… Just that I've never been in Flynn's room before." Estellise answered. "I'm not sure what I should do. I don't want to do anything that would be embarrassing."
"Why not just do this." Julia walked up to the door and knocked on it three times. "Flynn! Are you in there?"
There was no answer. "Door's locked too." I said as I tried the doorknob.
"One side, please." Julia got out her key-ring and unlocked the door. "Flynn, It's me, Julia, along with. oh. That's why it was locked, He isn't here."
Sure enough the room was empty. We all went in and closed the door behind us, just in case.
"He's really keeping this place cleaned up." I commented as I walked up to his desk. "Flynn must be off gallivanting somewhere."
"Looks like he left for his pilgrimage earlier than I thought." Julia said. "Probably about an hour or so before I caught you in the maids hallway."
"You found him in the maid's hallway!?" Margaret gasped, then she glared at me. "You lecherous peeping tom! Shame on you!" She pointed an accusing finger at me.
"Seriously?" I replied. "I didn't even know I was even in the maids hallway."
"Humph! Honestly." Margaret snubbed.
"That aside." Estellise interrupted. "Then Flynn's really not here. That means I'm too late."
"So… What sort of wickedness did you anyway?" I asked.
"Me? I haven't done anything wrong." Estellise answered. "Well other than those..." Her face turned red. "Um, er."
"You mean that, ahem, Sympathy call nonsense that we put a stop to a few weeks ago?" Julia said.
"Y-yes. I'm really so sorry." Estellise apologized.
"And now you have a bunch of knights chasing you and Margaret around the castle." I said. "Julia do you suppose he found out?"
"Baron Ragou? I wouldn't be too surprised, Yuri." Julia scratched her chin. "Sigh. I knew this was going to get complicated real fast."
"Um, Yuri, Julia!" Estellise interrupted. "I didn't want to interrupt, but Flynn is in terrible danger. And so are you, Julia!"
"What!?" Julia gasped. "We're still on his hit list!? Oh good grief! I knew it! I knew it!"
"I know. And We've got to warn him!" Estellise finished.
I sat down on Flynn's bed. "So go if you want to go." I said to her. "What's wrong with that?"
"I wish I could say." Estellise replied. "Sorry."
"Listen, I've got something I've gotta take of right away too." I said.
"Same here, lady Estellise." Julia added. "I fear a friend of mine, and fellow scholar, is being rather unjustly framed again."
I continued. "As soon as things quiet down outside, I want to get back to the Lower Quarter. Then I'm going with Julia up north to Aspio."
Estellise approached me. "In that case, would you take me with you? Please?" She implored.
"Lady Estellise!" Margaret gasped. Man, her face was as white as a sheet. "You're not allowed to leave the castle! Especially after what happened to you."
"You mean the incident in that bordello in the Noble Quarter a few weeks ago?" I finished. "I oughta know I was there. Along with Julia and Flynn and Hatchette."
"Wait! You were there?" Estellise asked and I nodded. "You were that guy other than Hatchette that removed all that..."
"Yeah I was." I finished. "And me, Julia and Hatchette went and killed those bastards that stuffed that junk in you, among other things."
"And they all suffered terribly and died in deserved agony. I made sure of that." Julia stated.
"Yeah, that was a lot of glitter." I said, remembering all those Gary Stus that we killed.
"Oh, I see. Anyway, other than Flynn, Julia Natalie, Hannah and Margaret, there's no one I could depend on." Estellise said. "Will you and Julia, at least help me to get out of the castle?"
Then she bowed. "Please, I'm begging you both."
"Okay, I can see you're serious." I said. "But you're going to have to do something about your..."
Suddenly the door was kicked right off its hinges.
"AAAH!" "EEEK!" Estellise and Margaret yelp in surprise respectively. And they both cowered behind Julia, shivering in fear as this guy with the craziest looking hairdo I ever saw, and a really murderous expression on his face walked in. He was wearing a black bodysuit, purple leather armor, and he had two mean looking short swords strapped to his back.
Wait a minute…
Isn't he the guy that won the games a year before Julia?
"Flynn Scifo, Julia DuBois, I've come for my rematch." He said to me and Julia. "Prepare to fall victims to my blades." Then he pulled out one of those swords and shatters a vase on Flynn's drawer.
I stood up and faced him. "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"
"I am Zagi, in case you dweebs have forgotten." He introduced himself. "The man who will end your life.(looks at Julia), and your little maid's too. Now die, Flynn Scifo! Die, Julia DuBois! MWA HA HA HA HA!" And he charged at us, blades spinning.
"Lady Estellise! Margaret! Get behind some cover or hide!" Julia shouted as I unsheathed my sword and she drew her daggers. "This is going to get absolutely crazy!"
I barely had time to block his first attack! "You got the wrong guy!" I shouted.
"DIE!" Zagi slashed away at me. I was blocking his attacks like mad.
"You really should listen a little more!" I retaliated with a few quick swings, but he kept dodging and blocking, cackling like a total wacko.
"My name is Zagi!" Didn't he already say that? "Remember it well Flynn Scifo!"
"Listen! I'm not..." I tried to reply but I get a kick to the chest that knocked me to the floor. "UNGH! Flynn!" I barely rolled outta the way of a downward stab, then got back on my feet.
"Heh heh! Oh what's wrong? You're not fighting like you did back at the empire Club." He sneered.
"Gah! What the hell is wrong with you!?" I parried another wild strike.
"I'm gonna kill you and carve my name into your blood!" Zagi charged at me again.
"Not to mention turn your lungs into bagpipes, your stomach into a fanny pack, your intestines into shoelaces, make out with with your heart, And anything else that is sick and wrong as soon as I think it up! NOW DIE ALREADY!" Geez! Where does he find the breath to say all that while slashing away at me like a complete madman!?
"Yeah, that's pretty damn Disgusting!" I replied as I evaded another one of his wild strikes and struck back with a few blows and a cerberus strike, causing him to stagger back.
"Oh yeah! THIS IS GONNA BE FUN!" Zagi howled as he rushed at me again.
Then Julia rushed at him, hitting him with a storm blade arte. "I don't think so, asshole!"
"I was wondering when you're gonna join in the fun, Julia!" Zagi growled as he retaliated with a flurry of kicks and sword swings that Julia managed to parry. "All those things I'm gonna do to Flynn, I'm gonna do to you too!"
"Anyone ever tell you that you're nuts, Titus!" Julia fought back with a few kicks of her own, only for Zagi to evade them. Then she hit him with a star stroke.
"UNGH!" Zagi grunted. "DON'T! CALL! ME! TITUS!" And retaliated with several wild swings. "I dumped that stupid name long ago!"
"Well Zagi isn't much of an improvement, you reject from a badly dubbed Saturday morning cartoon!" Huh? Anyway Julia scored a few hits and a cerberus strike on him.
For the next half minute, Zagi alternated between attacking me and attacking Julia. We fought back as hard as we could, And we were both getting cut up from the many near misses.
"Ahh now I feel it!" Zagi glared at us, knees bent, right blade twirling, and left blade in a reverse hammer grip. And ready to spring at any second.
"You feel what?" I asked. "I'm not feeling anything over here." Why do I get the feeling this nut-case's getting a boner from all this?
"Same goes for me." Julia added. using the same battle stance. "Not like you're my type anyway."
"Yes! So full of confidence, you two!" Zagi snarled. "MWA HA HA HA! THAT'S IT! THAT'S IT! NOW I FEEL TRULY ALIVE!"
"What's with him all of a sudden, Julia?" I asked, putting my guard up.
"That's a question I've been asking for years!" Julia answered, also with her guard up. "Keep your eyes on him, Yuri! He could charge at any second!"
"MWA HA HA HA HA!" Zagi laughed like the deranged lunatic that he is, and charged at me.
"NNGH!" I managed to block his attack. Then Julia floored him with a swift spinning kick to the face.
Just as Zagi got up. "Yuri! Julia! Let me help you!" Estellise said as she grabbed a sabre and buckler off of the wall. "I know how to use a sword!"
"L-Lady Estellise! W-What are you doing!?" Margaret yelped out from the cabinet that both she and Estellise were hiding in. "Get back in here right now! Please!"
"Dame Margaret, I'm sorry!" Estellise replied. "But they need my help!"
"Stay away!" I yelled as I blocked another attack from Zagi and retaliated with a swing that went wild.
"It's absolutely dangerous out here!" Julia added as she fought Zagi using her storm blade arte.
"But…" Estellise replied.
"BRING IT!" Zagi howled. "THE MORE THE MERRIER!"
"If things get out of hand, you and Margaret run for it!" I instructed.
"I will!" Estellise nodded.
"Oh don't give up so soon, you three!" Zagi said. "I haven't had a fight like this since, oh I don't know, two weeks ago!" Then he charged. "HA HA HA! This is FUN! FOUR HIT CHARGE!" And started madly slashing at me. I had a hard time parrying that arte.
"Relax!" Estellise said as she put some distance. "He's just doing that to mess up our fighting!"
"You relax!" I replied as I blocked another arte. "Trust me, He not thinking that hard!"
"Assuming he has a brain to even think with!" Julia added as she managed to intercept his cyclone shot with a hawk ascent.
"Holy power come to me! FIRST AID! So that just who he is?" Estellise asks as she cast a first aid spell, healing my cuts, and readies another first aid for Julia. I hit Zagi a few times and follow up with an azure edge.
"The more you talk, the faster you die Flynn Scifo!" Zagi retaliated with a cyclone shot. "I know that's you under that stupid black wig!"
"DAMMIT! I! AM! NOT! FLYNN!" I yelled back as I swung at him some more. "And this is my real… You know what? Never mind! you're not listening anyway!"
"But if it was just a misunderstanding, maybe we could talk!" Estellise said just as Julia engaged Zagi with a flurry of fast roundhouse kicks and slashes.
"HA HA HA!" Your fates was sealed the moment we met, Flynn!" Zagi replied as he knocks down Julia and charges at me again.
"You seriously think we could talk to him!?" I said as Zagi slashed and kicked at me. "We should take him out already!"
"On that we can agree, Yuri!" Julia added as she struck him with a storm blade. "Dammit! This bastard just won't go down!"
Then I rushed at him, hit him with a cerberus strike followed several swings. "Oh you're strong!" Zagi sneered at me. "Ooooh that actually hurt!"
Then he notices that Estellise was constantly healing us. "Hey! No healing artes allowed!" He lunged at Estellise!
"EEEEEEK!" Estellise yelps as she brought up her buckler and actually managed to block his strike. Then she smacks him in the face with the buckler and fends him off with a series of rapid sword thrusts.
"Hey! What's with this chick!" Zagi yelped. He looks a bit surprised.
"I have been trained by knights and I won't lose!" Estellise declared as she struck him with a star stroke.
Then me and Julia got between him and Estellise and forced him back further, finally knocking him on his ass.
"Do I look like Flynn to you!?" I said as Zagi gets back on his feet.
"Not in the least." Estellise added.
"On that, we can agree." Julia also added.
"Yeah, we're telling you, you got the wrong guy." I said as Zagi got back up. "Aren't you supposed to know this stuff?"
"He's not Flynn!" Estellise added.
"Details details!" Zagi glares at us. "So he ain't Flynn, big deal, But I know my other target, Julia DuBois is here!" He looked at Julia. "BRING IT!"
"This guy's nuts!" I said. "You and Flynn sure has made some interesting enemies!"
"No kidding, Yuri!" Julia agreed.
Just then, a red-eye showed up at the door. "Zagi, we're leaving. The Schwann Brigade's on to us." Zagi replied by punching the red-eye to the floor. "How dare you!"
"HA HA HA HA! Mind your own damn business!" Zagi laughed back. "I'm just getting to the best part! One of my targets is here and she will die!"
"The maid? Forget it! we're dropping the job! We're sparing her for now!" The red-eyes reminded. "Hurry! Before the knights get here! Or would you rather have your fun end today?"
Zagi just stared at the assassin and slashed him to death. Talk about killing the messenger. "Well, if what he said was true, it look like like you're off the hook, Julia, for now. I'll finish you and that guy next time. And I'll get Flynn too." And he calmly left the room.
"We should be getting a move on too." I suggested after a moment or two passed.
"It's safe to come out now, the multi-colored haired crazy guy's gone now." Julia said.
"O-okay." Margaret nervously emerged, trembling. "You're sure he's EEEEEK! A dead body in the hallway!" And she recoiled when she notices the dead assassin.
"Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick." Estellise clutched her stomach with one hand and put her other hand over her mouth. "Let's get moving before I throw up!"
"Same here, lady Estellise." Margaret added.
"We'll just pay a visit to the goddess and be on our way." I said.
"Yuri, Um." Estellise interrupted.
"Yeah I know." I replied. "We'll stick together until we're outta the castle."
"Oh right." Estellise said. "But I was going to say my name is Estellise Sidos Heurassein. I just wanted to properly introduce myself." Then she looked at her still shaken up governess.
"Oh, yes, it would be improper of me to not introduce myself. Ahem. And I am her governess and housekeeper, Margaret Barbara Géroux." Margaret introduced herself, curtsying. "And I gather you and miss DuBois already know each other."
"Right, Well then, Estellise, Margaret, Let's get moving." I said. "Let me get this out of the way first." I grabbed the dead assassin under his arms.
"Well that's rather considerate of you, Yuri." Julia said as she also grabbed him by the feet and we remove the corpse from the doorway.
"Ugh, I can't believe you're touching that *shudder* dead thing." Margaret shuddered.
The two young ladies exit Flynn's room. "Wait, We can't just leave the door like that." Estellise pointed at the door still on the floor.
"Sigh. I really don't think this is the time to worry about that." I replied.
"Especially after we just finished removing this corpse, lady Estellise." Julia added, pointing at the corpse we placed about fifteen feet away.
"But." Estellise objected.
"Sigh Alright, alright. Just, just give us a minute" Then me and Julia placed the door back up and leaned it up next to the doorway. The hinges were completely ruined by the way. "There we go.' I said. "Now let's get going" Me and Julia started south towards the nearest hallway junction.
"Um, Okay." Estellise and Margaret followed.
We turned west at the junction and followed the hallway until we were over the main entrance hallway. Looking down at the main floor, we could see knights, maids and footmen running about. Not only that, we could smell smoke. Looks like those assassins started a fire in order to distract everyone.
"I wonder if this is because of those guys earlier." I said as we looked down on the commotion occurring right below. "They better not try to pin this on me too."
"I hope no one was hurt." Estellise said looking concerned.
"Same here, lady Estellise." Julia added. Looking just as worried.
"Why would they do such a thing?" Margaret asked. Yeah, and she was looking worried too.
"Don't worry about the knights." I replied. "They'll make sure to protect themselves and the staff."
"They'd better, Yuri." Julia said.
"Um, yes. I guess so." Estellise replied.
Then we heard. "Yuri Lowell! Where are you hiding?" Leblanc calling out.
"That must be Leblanc." I said. "I recognize those dulcet tones anywhere."
"Do the two of you know each other?" Estellise asked.
"We have a bit of a history." I replied. "Come on, let's hurry." But just as we started to get going, Estellise tripped on her skirt and falls on her knees. That reminds me…
"We should do something about your clothes. You'll stick out like a sore thumb." I suggested.
"Not to mention you'll be tripping all over the place." Julia added. "We'll need to get you something with a shorter skirt, and lower heels." She helped Estellise back up.
"My room's just up ahead." Estellise pointed in the general direction. "I have a few changed of clothes there."
"Okay, that'll work." I agreed.
We continued on to the west wing. Then we went north until we came to an ornate looking white with gold trim door.
"Next on our tour of the castle, we have the personal room of my mistress, HRH lady Estellise Sidos Heurassein age eighteen." Julia gestured like a tour guide at the door.
"One of the two remaining members of the royal family of Heurassein, Ruling family of the empire. However, as neither lady Estellise, nor the currently missing master Ioder are not yet old enough to assume the throne, the empire is currently under the, ahem, management of the Imperial Council."
"Like Julia said, this is my room." Estellise pointed at the door. "I'll go get changed. Just give me a minute."
"Got it." I nodded. "Try to be quick about it."
Estellise, leaving her sabre leaning outside, and Margaret both entered. As I was about to approach the door, it opened up and Estellise reached for her sabre. "Just in case." She said.
"It's not like I was going to peek." I replied.
"Oh yes you were, Yuri." Julia scolded.
"Knowing you, you wanted to peek too." I replied.
Julia blushed. "And get my glasses fogged up again? Among other things? Once was enough." I'm guessing she got the female equivalent of a boner when they were curing Estellise of her sex-addiction.
Estellise giggled. "Flynn did tell me to be careful if I ever met you." And she closed and locked the door.
"Thanks, Flynn." I said as I leaned up against the wall. Julia does the same thing on the opposite side of the door.
"So, Julia, how is she doing since that night?" I asked.
"Well, as you just saw, Estellise is doing rather well, Yuri." Julia replied. "It's as thought nothing happened to her in the last few months. Even more so after I killed Eric and Stan."
"Is that so?" I said.
"Not only that, but the strangest thing happened when I returned to the castle." Julia replied. "You know that ruined outfit you last saw her wearing at that accursed empire Club?"
I nodded.
"Well Margaret, Natalie and Hannah told me that it suddenly, how do I put this, poofed back on her." Julia continued. "Only completely cleaned and undamaged."
"Is that so?" I asked. "Weird."
"On that I can certainly agree, Yuri."
A couple of minutes later the door opened. "There, all finished." Estellise said as both she and Margaret came out. As best as I can describe it; Estellise was wearing a white jacket with gold trim over a pink dress that came down to her calves. Also she was wearing white low heel boots, and white gloves with red and gold trim.
She did a twirl to show off her new clothes, I thought I saw a glimpse of black stockings under the white petticoat. "What? Do I look strange?" She asks us.
"It's nothing, I was thinking this doesn't suit you either." I replied.
"Really?" Estellise asked.
"Yeah, You're still a bit noticeable. Oh well, guess I can't complain, at least you won't be tripping up in that outfit." I answered.
"So you're wearing the outfit with the standard skirt dress instead of of the tulip petal skirt dress, lady Estellise?" Julia asked.
"Um, yes, Julia." Estellise replied. "Dame Margaret thinks that my favorite dress is, how do I put this, bewitched. Especially when it magically appeared on me a few days ago. Perfectly intact and clean no less."
"When did that happen?" I asked. I wanted to hear it from her.
"Um, about a few days ago. Natalie and Hannah were getting me dressed for the day when, poof, I went from wearing my night-dress to wearing my fancy riding outfit, The one with the tulip petal skirt and the trousers. Not to mention I suddenly felt, well, pure. As though I never had sex at all."
"Not to mention that dress, however cute, is quite improper with that skirt and those trousers. And I wanted to put her in that alternate version. She looks more ladylike that way in my opinion." Margaret stated.
"Um, right. Anyway." Estellise turned to me and offered her hand.
"What's this?" I ask.
"A handshake." Estellise smiled. "It means 'nice to meet you'."
Oh right. I shook her hand. "All right, let's get going."
"Thanks." Estellise replied. And we left her room and walked north.
"Yuri, you were a knight once, right?" Estellise asked.
"Didn't you already say you heard heard about me from Flynn?" I asked.
"Well, um, It's just, You don't seem to know your way around the castle well. GASP! Are you an impostor!?" She recoiled away from me.
"Seriously, lady Estellise?" Julia said.
"That's some imagination you got." I said to Estellise. "Why would I want to impersonate a regular guy from the Lower Quarter?"
"I, I guess you're right. My apologies." Estellise apologized.
"Come on, let's go before we're caught by the castle guards." I said.
But just our luck, A group of guards caught us. "There she is! Get her!" One of them shouted as they rushed at us.
Me, Julia, and Estellise fought those guys and in moments knocked them down and disarmed them. I'll have to admit, Estellise was pretty decent with that sabre and buckler.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
"It'll be a hundred years before you can defeat me." I said to the now defeated group as they ran away.
"Because you've lived a lot longer, right?" Estellise asked.
"Um, not exactly." I replied.
We continued on down the hall.
"Sigh. I just wanted to check on the Lower Quarter and come back and finish my sentence. I didn't expect the extra baggage." I commented. Extra baggage being a naive princess, her stuffy governess and an equally hoity-toity four-eyed maid(who I happen to be friends with by the way).
"Baggage?" Estellise asked. "I could take it to the castle's lost and found for you."
"I don't think he means that kind of baggage, lady Estellise." Julia said.
"You're the one person I couldn't really ask to take care of it, Estellise." I added.
"Huh?" Estellise asked.
"Please address her ladyship with the proper honorific, Mr. Lowell." Margaret scolded. "You were a knight aren't you? At least show some manners."
"Yeah yeah, anyway, nevermind, Estellise. I'm good." I replied.
"Okay. Let me know if you change your mind." Estellise smiled.
I turn my attention to Julia and Margaret. "I guess she's still the textbook 'little naive noble'."
"I agree, Yuri." Julia nodded. "Even after what that scum, Ragou put her through."
"But why were those knights chasing her?" I asked.
"For all I know they probably wanted to rip her dress off, violate her delicate young body while acting like dirty apes in lust, and drug her with Tentacle Syrup!" Margaret answered. Then she clutches her arms and starts trembling. "And they, no doubt wanted to *SHUDDER* Do the same thing to me *SHUDDER SOME MORE*!"
"I'm just glad you and Julia came along when you did." Estellise added.
"The right place at the right time, I suppose." Julia said.
Once we reached the north end of the hallway, we made our way down stairs to the main floor.
"Yuri, are there many people outside the castle like that man Zagi we met earlier?" Estellise asks.
"Nah, He's one of a kind." I answered.
"And let's be thankful for that." Julia added.
I continued. "It's pretty hard to find anyone that nuts."
"Or bananas, or crackers." Julia added. "Or a nutty fruitcake, or was that a fruity nut-cake? Anyway, he's crazy."
"I see. Well that's a relief." Estellise said. "I don't know what I'd do if everyone behaved like that."
"Yeah, life would be pretty rough if the world was full of guys like him." I said.
"That's, putting it rather mildly." Julia said.
We followed the hallway south until we came to a room with a large crystal statue of a woman with angel wings holding an interesting looking sword.
And Julia went into 'tour guide' mode again.
"And next on our tour of the castle, we have the crystal statue of our goddess, Zaude." She gestured to the statue. "Said to be one of the saviors that saved our world from the great demon invasion millennia ago. As you can see, she is holding a replica of the sword of succession, Dein Nomos, which was sadly lost years ago.
"I'm guessing you do quite a bit of tour guiding around here, Julia." I commented. "That part of your job as head maid?"
"You could say that, Yuri." Julia answered. "We do get a lot of visiting dignitaries here. As you recall last time, it was Kabbage Boy and their road crew… Prior to what happened to them in Panem. I do miss Edward." Julia told me about what happened in the god's realm some months ago.
I turn my attention to Estellise. "Have you, Julia and Flynn known each other for a long time?" I asked.
"Um, About three years. Something like that." She answered. "And I first met Julia six years ago in Nordopolica before she was sent to the games."
Six years ago. That's when I first met Julia when me and Flynn stopped a robbery.
"Huh. So Flynn's getting along all right at the castle?" I asked.
"Flynn is a very hard-working and honest knight." Estellise answered. "It seems like everyone trusts him. The other day, He told me that they've been giving him more responsibility too."
"Hard working and honest. Right." I replied. "In other words, hard headed and obsessive."
"Hmm?" Estellise cocked her head.
"And, If I may add, captain Jurgis is thinking about recommending Flynn for a promotion and command of a brigade." Julia stated.
"Is that so?' I said.
We approached the statue. "This must be it." I said as I examined.
"Besides the historical significance, is there something special about this statue?' Estellise asked.
"It's supposed to have some sort of secret." I answered.
"it doesn't look like there's anything particularly secretive about it." Estellise commented as she walked around the statue.
"Hmmm, maybe if we moved it, there's be a hidden passage or something." I suggested.
"A hidden passageway?" Julia asked.
"You don't think." Estellise added.
"Well we don't know unless we give it a try." I said. "Julia, do you notice anything about the floor?"
Julia and Margaret looked at the floor surrounding the statue.
"Well, the tiles to the left, right and rear of the statue are brown. But the floor in front of her is grey. And there's a silver border surrounding both them and the statue. Not to mention..." Julia kneeled down and studies the grey tiles. "There appear to be small scratch marks in the marble. Yuri, I wonder."
"I'll take the north side, you take the south side, and we'll push her towards the grey tiles." I suggested.
Me and Julia take our positions near the back of the statue. "Ready, Julia?"
"I'm ready, Yuri."
"1,2,3, Push!" We both put our shoulders into it and the statue moved forward, revealing an opening leading downwards.
"It really worked!" Estellise gasped when she saw the opening.
"In all my years." Margaret said.
"Same here, Margaret." Julia added. "How did we ever miss this?"
"Well, what do we have here?" I said. "looks like the old man was right."
"Do you think this will lead outside?" Estellise asked.
"I can't guarantee it." I said as I approached the opening. "Well, I'm going down. How about you?"
Estellise hesitated a moment before she gave her answer. "I'm coming too."
"That's pretty brave of you." I commented.
"I'm coming as well." Julia declared. "What about you Margaret?"
"M-Me? Go down there?" Margaret looked nervously down the opening. "Gulp. I, I'm afraid I cannot. This is as far as I go. And just for the record, I strongly object to lady Estellise going down there. A proper lady does not follow a stranger down a hole leading to who knows what."
"Okay, Margaret. Not like we're forcing you to come." Julia replied. "Besides. I'm going down there too. So don't worry, lady Estellise is in good hands. I swear it."
"Okay, I'm counting on you, Julia." Margaret replied.
"What's up with that guy anyway?" I asked.
"You mean Raven?" Julia said.
"Yeah him." I replied. "There was something shady(er) about him."
"I know, he is a bit of an oddball. "Julia scratched her chin. "But let's worry about that later."
"Right." Just as I was about to enter, Estellise suddenly grabs me by the wrist. "What is it? Did you change your mind?" I ask.
"No, your hand, It's injured. And it's bleeding" She said, pointing at a cut that was going across the top of my left hand. Must have happened either during our fight with Zagi, or those guards.
"Let me take a look at it." Then she placed her hand on my cut and activates her spell circle. "Holy power come to me. First Aid."
As my cut healed away. "Hmm?" I noticed something odd with her bodhi blastia; It wasn't glowing. I took her wrist to take a closer look at it,
Probably should've asked first. "Aaah!" Estellise yelps and recoiled away from me, covering her chest.
"GASP! How dare you lay your commoner hands on her!" Margaret said, looking shocked.
"Yuri George Lowell! What do you think your doing!?" Julia demanded, looking a bit angry. "I oughta put you back in the cell for that!"
Hey! I'm sorry, you three." I apologized to the three ladies. "I've never seen a blastia like that before. I wasn't thinking."
"Honestly." Julia and Margret shake their heads.
"That's really all it was?" Estellise asked, not looking too convinced. Not that I can blame her after startling her like that.
"That's really all it was." I replied. "My hands feels better, thanks."
"N-no, it's the least I could do." Estellise replied, hands up to her grinning blushing face.
"Okay, Let's go." I said ad I climbed down. Then Estellise followed, and Finally, Julia. Well, lets just say I got a good view.
XXX
When we reached the bottom, We found that we were in the underground waterways. We were on a stone walkway surrounded by two streams of moving water.
"Ugh, Yuri, You didn't tell us this led down to the sewers under the castle." Julia said.
"Hey, news to me." I replied.
"So this is where they led me?" Estellise asked.
"You've been down here, before?" I asked.
"I think so." Estellise answered. "Smells the same, ugh, sounds the same. Though at the time I was blindfolded."
Just then I noticed a couple of large ratwigles appear from one of the side tunnels. "So there are monsters down here too." I said.
"M-monsters?" Estellise nervously stuttered when she saw those critters. "T-that's what these things are?"
"You've never seen one before?" I ask.
"Uh, ummm." Estellise tried to answer.
"I'm afraid that lady Estellise hasn't." Julia said. "Was that what you're trying to say?"
"Umm, yes." Estellise answered. "This is my first time seeing one of them. I only read about them in books."
Just then those ratwigles noticed us. I know where this is going. "Well let's hurry up and take care of this shall we?" I said as I drew my sword.
"EEEK!" Estellise suddenly yelped, her body stiff with surprise. "Yuri! Julia! They're coming from the front, too!" She pointed at another group of big ratwigles coming down the main walkway.
"Ugh, this is annoying." I moaned.
"You said it, Yuri." Julia added as she drew her daggers.
"Don't get sloppy!" Estellise drew her sabre as the now large group of ratwigles rushed at us, looking to make us their dinner.
Long story short, between me, Estellise and Julia, we managed to kill two-thirds of that group before the rest decided to go look for their dinner elsewhere.
"Heh, I got a little worked up." I said.
"That'll teach them that we are not on the menu." Julia added.
"Yeah, that should take care of it." I said as we cleaned our weapons.
"I didn't know what to do when they all attacked at once." Estellise said as she sheathed her sabre.
"You generally have to defeat each monster one by one." I replied. "But sometimes they come on groups."
"Really?" Estellise said. "We should be careful when we go ahead."
"You could take on a monster one at a time, or take them on in a group." I said. "Your choice."
"But I strongly recommend that you should avoid doing the latter, lady Estellise. Or, for that matter, the former." Julia cautioned. "Just a suggestion."
"I see. Yuri, which way we should go?" Estellise asked.
"Let's go this way." I point down the main walkway. "Let's just get out of here." I started down the walkway.
"Ah, wait! Wait for us!" Estellise and Julia caught up to me…
We make our way through the sewer. We encounter a few smaller groups of those ratwigles, but we manage to fend them off.
"I need to thank whoever told you about this underground passage." Estellise said as she sheathed her sabre following our latest fight.
"Why do you need to be thankful for something like that?" I asked.
"Especially considering how awful this place smells." Julia said.
"I'm trying to get out of the castle, just like you." Estellise answered. "Although I'll admit, it is a bit smelly down here."
"Well that's all and good." I said. "But there's no need to be thankful because of it."
"Oh no." Estellise objected. "We must show courtesy to those who show us kindness."
"How very true, lady Estellise." Julia added. "It would be rather unladylike of us to do otherwise."
"Sort of weird to be polite to somebody you haven't met, don't you think?" I replied.
"Manners are never so important as when dealing with those with whom we have yet to be acquainted." Estellise stated.
"Indeed."
"You two really think so huh?" I said.
"We know so." Estellise and Julia replied. And I could see that they're both really sticking to that belief.
We continued onwards. During one of the fights, Estellise uses a sharpness spell to enhance our weapons. Sure made taking these guys down a lot easier.
We soon came to another ladder. Looked like this is our way out…
Well as soon as me and Julia push some of these crates out of the way. I mean why the hell are these crates doing down here anyway?
I climbed up the ladder first. As I neared the top I noticed this lever marked exit. I pulled on it and the exit opened up.
"Man, it's bright." I squinted from the bright light that suddenly poured through. Once my vision returned, I climbed out, followed by Estellise and Julia. It looks like we're in front of that Mordio Mansion. And the hole we came out of was covered by a statue of a lady.
"Oh, thank goodness, fresh sweet open air." Julia said as she inhaled. "Sigh. What a relief to be out of that absolutely smelly sewer." She's happy to be out of that passage.
"Same here, Julia." Estellise added.
"Sigh. It's already mid-morning." I said as I surveyed the front yard. "Looks like it led to the Royal Quarter."
"Actually, Yuri, this is the Noble Quarter." Julia said. "The Royal Quarter is on the far side of the gate down the street." She pointed in the direction of said gate and the castle we just escaped from.
"Wow, everything's so different from the windows of the castle." Estellise said while she examined her surroundings.
"Ah come on. You sound like this is the first time out of the castle." I said.
"Um, well, I..." Estellise stuttered. "Well, not on my own volition of course."
"I guess a lady who lives in a castle can't take a walk outside whenever she wants." I commented.
"Y-Yes. You're right." Estellise replied.
"Sad but true. The only time you're allowed out is to attend the annual reapings where they get you all overdressed and caked in more makeup than Effie usually wears. And then there's that recent, ahem, courtesan nonsense that Ragou tricked you into last winter." Julia said.
"I know." Estellise replied. "I'm so sorry about that."
"Don't apologize, lady Estellise." Julia placed her hand on Estellise's shoulder. "That's on Ragou."
"Right."
"Well, hey. At least we made it out of the castle." I said holding up my hand. I was expecting Estellise to give me a high five, but instead, she just pressed her finger into my palm. "Ha ha ha ha." That tickled.
"Um. Was that not right?" Estellise asked.
"Nah, it's fine." I answered.
"We'll show you how to do a high five later, lady Estellise." Julia added.
"So, Estellise, what are you gonna do now that you're out?" I asked. But I know what the answer's gonna be.
"I'm going to find Flynn." She declared. See what I mean.
"Do you know where he went?" I asked.
"The other day, he said he was going off on a knight's pilgrimage." Estellise replied.
"Oh that thing." I said. "Going around cities and towns of the empire piling up good deeds?"
"Yes. That's why I'm going to the City of Blossoms, Halure." Estellise told us her itinerary. "Halure is the first place knights traditionally visit on a pilgrimage."
"And it's Clara's hometown." Julia added. "She left for there last week."
"That too." Estellise added.
"So you'll need to go outside the barrier." I scratched my chin.
"Have you ever been beyond the barrier?" Estellise asks as she looked up at the barrier that covered our city.
"'Bout three years ago, when I was in the knights." I answered. "I'd like to go, But I can't leave the Lower Quarter like it is."
"Come on, we'll show you the way outta town. It's on the way to the Lower Quarter." I offered.
"Thank you." Estellise replied and began to follow me and Julia.
"You know, Yuri, even though we're no longer knights." Julia said as she walked next to me. "I can't help but feel like we're embarking on a pilgrimage ourselves."
Is that so.
End part 2
Author's notes:
And that brings to the end of part two.
I should mention that my OC will be traveling with our heroes at least as far as Dahngrest. The trick is weaving her into the story without affecting it, and not have her become a Mary-Sue. Same goes for another OC I'm bringing in next chapter.
Speaking of next chapter, Yuri and Estellise, correction, Estelle say good bye to Zaphias and head off their adventure.