Chapter 5:  Attack And Thievery

"So you're stuck inside the ring?"  Roberta asked, awe in her voice. Haruka nodded, letting out a sigh.  "Yeah … and we have to find out how to free me."  Michiru looked at the blonde and nodded.  "As soon as possible."  She then added.  All three women let out a sigh, and Haruka hung her head low.  "Being stuck inside that ring just sucks."  She announced before looking up again and letting out another sigh.  "Probably."  Roberta replied, smiling at the blonde wizard.  "I'm lucky that it's not me who's stuck inside."  Haruka glared at the old woman, shooting back:  "You're as charming as ever, Roberta."  Michiru giggled and shook her head at the two fighting women, while Roberta and Haruka glared at each other – all in good fun of course.  And that was when a bright blue ball of energy came flying through the window and hit Michiru, hitting her in the  chest and throwing her backwards.

"Michiru!" Haruka cried out, shock in her voice, while Roberta jumped to her feet, worry plastered all over her wrinkled face.  Haruka's eyes widened when the door opened and Valieri casually walked in, giving the three women a smug grin.  Michiru slowly sat up, groaning in pain, while smoke rose from the burnt spot on her chest.  Valieri walked over to the aqua-haired girl, but before he could reach her, Haruka blocked his way, glaring at him.  "Stop right there, unless you want to get fried by a bolt of lightning."  Valieri just smiled before he replied:  "Not this time, Tenoh. I did my homework."  With that, he raised his hand, and suddenly, something that looked like a cage of blue energy formed around the blonde.  Haruka's eyes widened in shock, and when she smashed her fist against the cage-like thing, she screamed in pain and fell to her knees, her ghostly image starting to flicker.  "Haruka!" Roberta cried out, earning a cold glare from Valieri.  "You better stay where you are, old woman, or I'll make you drop dead."  He then threatened before walking over to Michiru, who still wasn't back to full consciousness.  The wizard grinned when he pulled the ring off Michiru's finger and put it on his own hand.  "No."  Haruka groaned, still on her knees and caught in the energetic cage, her eyes full of fear and terror. "No …" Valieri laughed and snapped his fingers, making the cage disappear.  "Now come with me, Haruka."  He then ordered while he started walking towards the door.  Much against her will, Haruka had to follow him.  The blonde looked back at Michiru one last time, her eyes full of grief, before Valieri walked out of the door, dragging Haruka with him.

"We have to get her back."  Michiru spoke while Roberta tended to the burnt flesh on her chest, rubbing her special "Roberta Salve For Everything", like she had called it, on it.  The old woman now nodded, her eyes filled with determination.  "Oh yes.  We can't allow Valieri to keep the ring, who knows what he will do with it … and to Haruka."  Michiru let out a sigh while Roberta bandaged her chest and nodded.  "True … he has three wishes.  He could wish for anything!  And Haruka has no choice, she has to grant them." Roberta suddenly had an odd glint in her eyes. "Well, Michiru … if we get the ring back … think you could lend it to me for a while?  I want three wishes too!" Michiru chuckled and shrugged. "We'll have to ask Haruka about it, but now let's make up a plan how to get the ring back."

"This is not what I meant!" Valieri hollered, staring at the dozens of rats that sat in front of him, looking up with what seemed like worship in their brown eyes.  Haruka chuckled at his anger and replied:  "You wished to be king.  You didn't say what kind of king, so I made you the king of rats, which seemed appropriate for me."  Valieri glared at the blonde, who just smirked back at him, challenging him with her glare.  "You think you can mess with me, huh?"  Valieri snarled, his anger clearly showing through his voice.  He stood up and ran one hand through his long white beard, walking towards the door.  "I'll leave for a while now." He announced.  "Better think about how you grant my next wish, if you don't want to suffer from terrible pain."  With that, the magician left the house, leaving Haruka behind with an expression of sheer hate and anger in her eyes.

"There he lives." Roberta whispered, pointing to the large house that stood close to the main gates of Montefoglio. The two women quickly ducked behind a large tree when the door opened and Valieri came walking out of the house, marching off into the village. "He wasn't wearing the ring." Michiru whispered with glee. "That means that he must have left it at home! This is our chance, Roberta." The elderly woman nodded, and quickly, the two of them sneaked over to the house, pushed the door open and entered.