Countess Cavendish Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
They have arrived at the castle and are already starting their routes through the different corridors and rooms, having a mission which consists of collecting five triangular pieces in order so that they can advance through the castle and continue on their way to meet the Countess Cavendish, a mission which still has much to be revealed.
Diana and Akko enter by the door with the leaf symbol, when they enter by the same, they go already being faced with a corridor a little bit empty, having only some candles, the same ones take the opportunity to give a destroyed in the same ones and to collect more hearts, so much that the Cavendish gives the luck to get a sub-item, by which was a bottle of holy water, when they finish passing by the corridor, it is where they notice that really begins the castle, they were faced with a place full of test tubes, glass flasks and some creatures that were already appearing, like skeletons, zombies and also other much more bizarre that were a mixture all accumulated, these creatures were kind of guard passing from one side to the other, at the time the two are more hidden taking cover behind a pillar, they signal to one and the other and the Cavendish soon makes a point of using the sub-item that she was in hand, throwing bottles of holy water by the place, drawing the attention of some creatures.
Diana: Come on!
Akko agrees with the head, they leave the cover, the Kagari decides to start using the daggers that was of sub item already hitting some of the creatures that accumulated around, the same ones go beginning to go for top of the pair, but they go defending themselves with precision and ability, giving cuts and dodging of some attacks, seen that they had some knights that were throwing axes in the same ones, but soon they were also made of little case, that everything in that alchemy room, where they were walking, there bursting some candles, arriving at the end of a corridor, already with relief, going to another room, when arriving there they faced a room that contained platforms, leading to a higher place and some skeletons positioned throwing bones to prevent the continuity of the girls.
Akko: How clever, a skeleton positioned just to get in our way.
Kagari throws some daggers making it destroy itself, while Cavendish had already climbed all the platforms using the bat form, this way the Japanese girl was manually climbing each of the platforms, a bit being clumsy, she gave impulse to jump and sometimes it was not enough, having to hold on, noticing this the Scottish girl decides to go down a little more, staying on each platform, where in one the Japanese girl ended up not being able to hold on, but she was soon saved with Diana's hand that held her, helping her to continue.
Akko: Thanks, it sucks that I can't fly around like you do, I always have to jump in a manual way.
Diana: We are in this together, I am here to help you, now come on, we are almost there.
They go up that strange room, stopping at another one where it was emptier, but that was only impression, since suddenly started to be thrown test tubes at the girls, those that started to be thrown suddenly, the two start to run from there, trying to dodge them, without many creatures besides this part of throwing glass, It was a relatively calm room, the two passed unharmed through that corridor, arriving at another room where they faced other creatures again, it was another laboratory session, in this one the tables and potions were much more present, including with some scientists that were there, they drank the potion and changed their shape going to attack the two that were already defending themselves.
Diana: They are not lads Akko, you can attack them at will.
Akko: What a bizarre little castle you were living in.
With Kagari's comment, Cavendish even gets a laugh, they keep going through that bizarre room, where they already find a fork, being that one up there where the Japanese girl can't reach, but the Scottish girl could, so much that she flies in bat shape up there, leaving Akko dealing with some of the creatures that were left in that place and were appearing.
Akko: Everyone can come, I am not afraid.
The Japanese girl was going up some skeletons and crazy scientists, those that at each potion they drank, were making some very strange effects, until a rope appears right where there was a fork, what Akko already keeps the sword, she jumps on the same rope and is lifted up being taken by Diana, where she arrives at this strange and hidden room at the top, They notice that there are several barrels with sub items, without any creature, they go on, when they arrive more ahead at the far end of the room there was an orb floating, in it contained a shadow of a bat, Kagari would touch it, but at the time who takes it is Cavendish that keeps inside a small bag that was in the waist.
Diana: It may not be useful for me, but Hellene will love it, it's our bat form, I got it that way too, now come on, there's nothing much here, you go first up the rope I'll go after.
Akko slides down the rope that Diana threw, coming down from that part of the laboratory and that way they go to another room of the castle, in this one was a staircase, that already had some skeletons running towards the girls, some of them even armed, but the two were not intimidated by that, passing calmly and going up the spiral staircase, where they arrived at another level of that laboratory, where strangely it was starting to show some signs that the botanical garden of the castle was near.
In that other room some bizarre experiments continued, this time it was creatures of the night that were mixed, and crazy scientists that ordered to attack the girls, they were defending themselves, using the brute force of the swords, what soon was helping them with the way when a skeleton with a zombie head ended up loosening the shield and that way was what Diana used to go advancing through the room, while Akko took care of the rear.
Diana: This is really fun, not for nothing, Akko, but I liked meeting you, we go on these adventures.
Akko: I'm not really up to chatting Diana, these things are coming with everything, I'm already out of daggers to throw, where did they go?
Diana: When your hearts run out you can no longer use them, remember to save your sub-items.
The Japanese woman starts to understand how to use it, she continues to defend herself, keeping Diana's back free, since she was practically running over everyone in that room with the shield she got from one of the skeletons, at that time they were all crowded together, which the Scottish woman takes the opportunity to throw holy water and at that time the small army of creatures of the night is all destroyed with only one vial, leaving even Akko a bit dumbfounded.
Diana: You see, all you have to do is have strategy.
They pass from that room and come across a corridor, in this corridor they start to have to deal with buers, that came rolling towards both of them, with their points on fire and right at that time the Cavendish takes the chance to use a soul stealing spell, which already hit them, that barely got near the two, but it was a little useless, since they kept appearing, as if they were in a cycle, The Cavendish even took advantage of the shield to walk forward, what was working, but at the time the buers stopped surrounding the two, which the Scot took the opportunity to use a tetra spirit hitting these same creatures and Akko is taking care to give the final hit, since they spat fire then, but only tried since it only burned the shield in the Scot's hands.
They didn't stop for anything, continuing to walk, that corridor was even a little challenging, but it served for Akko to catch a few more hearts and also Diana was taking advantage of the buers that were killed to go using the souls of the creatures, improving even more the magic power of the same.
Akko: It was kind of a quiet corridor, that castle has its challenges, but nothing that complicated.
Diana: That's only the first part Akko, as we progress the harder it gets, I know that from Croix's reports.
Akko: Speaking of her, don't you think Croix might end up having a hard time, she's alone in the castle, she's the only one of us like that, we're kind of well armed, she's already got that arquebus.
Diana: If she got to me on her own I don't doubt it much, Croix is quite skilled, I know what she looks like because she hides her game a bit, Croix can access magic in that castle, especially when she's near Chariot, it's like a connection exists between them.
Akko is even a little impressed, then they continue, going to another corner of the lab, where there was a room that was already taken by vegetation, having a very strong smell, so much so that both decide to raise a cloth on their faces to not feel the same smell, sticks begin to move, as well as plants come out of the ground, these spitting small magic stones, which soon Diana asks Akko to be careful.
Diana: These things can petrify you, be careful Akko, be very aware of the dangers of this castle, or else the castle will consume you.
Akko agrees with the head, and soon Diana showed it well by defending with the shield, leaving the same petrified and at that time Kagari decides to use the dagger, taking advantage that it was the best time for the plants to stop spitting stones, but soon their peace was interrupted when creatures that were a mixture of plant and zombie began to appear, That was the cue for the Cavendish, she was in form of bat cutting the plants, until where the zombies appeared, she returned to human form, threw holy water on the place, the zombies were destroying themselves, then she was doing the same with the plants, opening the way for Akko to pass in that corridor.
Akko: Another room we made it through, this is really getting fun.
Diana nods her head in agreement, the two arrive at another room that is a little different, in it they had platforms, where underneath there was a spear pit, where they could see some bones, at that moment Akko even swallows her saliva, mainly because they had pillars of bones accumulated on those platforms just waiting for them.
Akko: What now Diana? I don't have enough hearts.
Diana: But I have, these bone pillars I can fix pretty quickly, don't worry.
The Japanese girl was dealing with knights armed with axes, but nothing was too much trouble, and Kagari was enjoying it, The Japanese girl was dealing with knights armed with axes, but nothing that would be a big hindrance to Kagari, who was enjoying it, even having fun at that moment, hitting the creatures with gusto, and Diana was finishing with the pillars of bones little by little, even crossing to the other side, But she knew that the platforms had very risky jumps, so she made sure to get a table nearby and use it as a board so that Akko could cross to the other side, she was jumping from platform to platform, until she got to that other side and saw how the Japanese girl easily finished with the creatures of the night and soon she put the board in the middle of the way, she asked Akko to go to it, she went across and little by little they were going from platform to platform, but on the other side they would still have another surprise.
Akko: Itwas to be expected that it would be crowded with creatures.
They look at each other and jump already attacking these creatures, the skeletons and armed knights were nothing, they were easily defeated and so another room was completed, they pass to another buers corridor, but this one is a little more difficult, since the quantity increased, besides that there were also crazy scientists around, what made it even more complicated.
Akko: We barely get out of one terror and we already have another one, this castle really likes to detonate us.
Diana: What do you expect from a castle where we are the invaders? We're just testing the security of this place.
Diana used another Soul Steal, then threw some fireballs, to open one more way, taking advantage of an armed soldier of the previous room she took a big shield and asked Akko to take care of the rear, at that time the Cavendish used a spell on the shield, creating a barrier around the area of it, she started running towards everything in that corridor, Akko was already taking care of what was coming behind, there were more buers, but they were easily defeated by Kagari who threw daggers precisely where she had to catch, when arriving at the end of that corridor, the Cavendish throws holy water and that ends up making a chain reaction between the creatures agglomerated, that ends up resulting in their death, they notice that there is a door and open it, passing to the other side.
Diana: That corridor tactic always works.
They went to the next room and could see that things were a little different, on the other side it was already possible to see that it was the possible direction to the botanical garden, on the other side there was a huge corridor and a candle that appeared and disappeared all the time, which Akko was gathering infinite hearts at that moment, taking what she had as a limit, and Diana was then doing the same thing, they had the feeling that something was going to happen.
Akko: Too strange that they give it to us, I have the impression that we will have to deal with some much more powerful creature of the night.
Diana: I also feel the same way.
They walked a little more, until they heard trotting, those were getting stronger, the place already showed that was in the transition between the laboratory and the botanical garden, what ends up appearing is a scary creature, a horse, but with a half human body in the saddle, Akko even feels a little disgusted due to the creature being kind of in living flesh, starting to scream everywhere, the two girls soon get in a defensive position.
Diana: As you might expect, there will be a creature for every corner of this castle just waiting for us.
The Nuckelavee was trotting towards the two, the same ones were running, already with the swords in hand, but in the hour of going to give a hit, the Kagari is hit by the arm that stretches of the creature, already the Cavendish can dodge that arm, but at the same time has to deal with another obstacle she jumped and the arm continued to follow, besides the monster wanting to avoid at any cost close attacks, the Scottish was worrying more with the Japanese that was on the ground, at that time she turns into a bat, goes to the other side in desperation, noticing how the human was getting weaker Cavendish throws a holy water on the monster and then cuts the arm of the creature, running to Akko, carrying her to a safer side, but kind of the creature had already regenerated, even with the holy water.
Akko: Damn when I least expected it that damn thing was draining my life energy, good thing you saved my life Diana.
Diana: I won't lose you, we have to come up with another tactic.
Akko agrees with her head, she stands up and tries to throw a dagger only it's no use, it's like hitting a wall, even the creature is exposed flesh, the Nuckelavee has a protective shield for that, ending up leaving the sub-items useless, which the two soon realize why they won so many hearts, they go thinking, but they can't think for long the monster goes following them trotting quickly, propelling themselves with the arms that stretch.
They were running by the corners of that arena, but it wasn't enough for Akko, Diana even managed with the bat form, but the Kagari couldn't climb higher places with ease, what in that way the Cavendish launches herself towards the monster to give a little gap and time for the Japanese to climb in a higher corner, at that time she turns into a bat and also into a human, alternating herself, confusing the Nuckelavee, but even being agile, she tried her best to get close, but it was no use because the monster caught her by the arms of the dhampir, at that time she looks back, notices that Akko was managing to climb a little more and opens a smile. She was already feeling the energy being drained, so she decides to use a spell to cast fire and this way hit the creature with everything in full, which releases Diana, who jumps and goes with the bat shape together with Akko, the two kind of hiding a little, while the monster was trotting trying to find the presence of the two.
Akko whispering: That thing is scary, what are we going to do?
Diana whispering: 'We're just going to run, try to lure this monster's arms, he's going to curl up and then we'll take the shot.
Akko whispering: I can't run very far, not far enough to attract the arms of that thing.
Diana whispering: You don't have to run, you'll be the bait for Nuckelavee, I'll take care of arresting him.
Akko inflates her cheeks a bit indignant, but understands that it was the best way, that way the two begin to leave, first Diana attracts the Nuckelavee to the other side of the room, the creature goes trotting quickly towards Cavendish that in bat form escapes from the arms already Kagari prepares herself, stays on the other side, she throws a dagger that catches in the back of the head and only hits back at the monster.
Akko: Hey ugly thing! Your mother is an idiot!
The Nuckelavee paid little attention to the calls from Akko, wanting only to focus on surrounding Diana, but the Cavendish didn't give a damn, she turned into a bat, started to do a different route, she was going towards the Japanese, the monster was stretching his arms, but soon the Cavendish was using the intelligence going to a pillar, where the arms were continuing to follow the Scottish, the nuckelavee was practically going around with that arm all around the pillar.
Then Akko is the one who reacts, she goes to another pillar nearby and the monster goes using the arm trying to catch the Japanese girl that also goes giving some turns, then Cavendish catches a huge nail that she found on the floor, she hammers a part of the arm with everything on that pillar, then goes flying until the other pillar, where Akko almost got caught, but the Scottish woman saves the day catching the other arm of the creature there, the same is screaming.
Akko: Wonderful!
The two look at each other, nod their heads, jump where the Nuckelavee was and in sync both give a strong blow to the creature that gets right in the meat of it, only that they didn't expect that even so would leave the Nuckelavee alive, so much that it manages to have strength to burst the pillars, just like it manages to get rid of the things that held it there, the two are repelled quickly, only that they are unarmed, the monster took the weapons from both. Akko was already crawling backwards trying to escape, but the creature was with the arms wanting to catch her with everything, that until she in desperation use the dagger, seeing that it worked, was starting to give effect.
Akko: Diana! The dagger is working!
The two are starting to use the sub items to defend themselves, Akko was running around using the daggers to not be caught and I ask for arm kind of circling the creature, already Diana was throwing holy water on the ground, leaving it forming a circle, then she throws some up in the direction of the monster that was trying to dodge, The Cavendish asks Kagari to get out of that circle, she obeys and gives a distance using the daggers, and Diana draws a pentagram with the holy water removed, jumping out, dodging the creature's arms, and uses a spell in the circle creating a column of fire.
Catching the Nuckelavee right in the circle, being burned, appearing until an image of a fight between an angel and a demon, while the blue fire was burning the creature, they were succeeding since the monster's arms weren't attacking them anymore.
And they really did, the Nuckelavee was defeated, with no rest left, at that time a vial falls and touches Diana that ends up absorbing what was in the vial, she soon notices that she felt the vital energy returning and also some wounds that was left on the body were healed, Akko also picks up the same vial and notices that she was totally unharmed too, only with the Japanese doesn't happen the same brightness that Cavendish.
Akko: We did it! Another creature of the night for our list! Now yes I found it interesting, we are really having a challenge around here, I didn't realise they had creatures on such a level, that horse was really scary.
Diana: It's a Nuckelavee, a creature that was supposed to be mythological, but it seems my mother wanted to set quite a challenge for us, well before we go it looks like there's something up there for us, let's see what's up.
Akko: And this bottle that we touched, what does it do?
Diana: It helped us get our life back, I at least felt that way and it seems even more vigorous than before, it's strange.
Akko agrees with her head, in this way they go up in that arena arriving to the small passage, where they find a chest and in that chest there was a pair of glasses, that had a paper written on it, they take it to read the message of the same, "See the truth through these glasses", both of them find it strange, but soon Akko takes the glasses and when she sees it, she only shrugged.
Akko: There is nothing, I can't see the truth.
Diana: It's just metaphorical, but anyway a pair of those glasses wouldn't just stand here out of nowhere.
At that moment Diana takes the glasses, leaves them in a protected cloth, keeping them in her pocket with all the care in the world, they leave that hidden room and go to the gate where they would go to the botanical garden, passing by there they are already facing the beautiful landscape of the place, the creatures of the night there, the plants, everything lived in the greatest harmony, there were even some skeletons that played the violin as if it was the most natural thing in the world, Akko even laughs at the scene, but soon everyone stops living in peace when noticing their presence.
Akko: Damn it! Are we really going to have to stay like this the whole time? I didn't even want to interrupt the skeleton moment, it was so funny.
The skeletons quickly transform the violins into beasts, starting to shoot arrows towards the two girls that take cover in a small wall that divided the garden part from the rest of the castle, in this small wall both Akko and Diana start shooting with their sub-items, the Japanese girl keeps shooting daggers, the Scottish girl keeps shooting holy water to the creatures that get near.
Akko: Violins that turn beasts, that's so genius.
Diana: And deadly too, we had a pretty warm reception by the botanical garden by the looks of it.
The two quickly cleared the bar, the skeletons stopped shooting as Akko knocked them down one by one, using the Japanese woman's quick arrows, with agility she was able to guarantee bigger hits, leaving the garden more free, this way they could finally pass the gate to the place, where they already had to face some murderous plants wanting to devour the two, both easily defeated these plants, they were walking through the place, somewhat enchanted with the beauty of the place.
Akko: You know Diana, these flowers, this whole place, it gives me such a feeling of romance, that soul mates are about to meet and love.
Diana half blushed: This is not the time to think about that, we have more important things.
At this point Akko pulls Diana's hand and turns her around, taking Cavendish by the waist, but Kagari kind of gives a little brake, which the Scottish woman also gets the same way, but it doesn't take long and soon the Japanese woman recovers from her nervousness, both quite flushed, looking at each other.
Akko: Everything we have been through up to now, I don't know about you Diana, but I really like you, us adventuring together, I look at your sister and Marianne and wonder how they had so much attitude, they live each moment as if it were their last and here we are, just standing there.
Diana quite flushed: Akko! mah mither micht be peepin' us noo, please...
At that time Akko simply didn't give a damn, pulled Diana by the waist and brought their faces closer, the two kissed again after a week that day when they went to get Hellene, as a way to show the love they felt for each other, they started to hold each other right there in that botanical garden.
So much that near there, in the castle hall where Bernadette was, she was watching that scene with a slight smile on her face, feeling a little proud to see that her daughter followed the same path of liking women, having some of the thoughts of when she was younger and had Laura McLaren by her side. Back at
the botanical garden, the two separate from that kiss, the beats were accelerated between both of them and with that Diana gets all embarrassed, but she does not stop hugging Akko, she
becomes sane again and looks at the Japanese girl with a smile on her face.
Diana: Ah think we'd better continue oor mission 'ere, this is na time fur winchin'.
Akko: From your face it looks like you loved the kiss.
Diana: Dinnae fill me up! ah wis juist taken like a slung-stane, that's a', bit aye ah pure enjoyed feeling yer honey lips, ye ken howfur tae git mah hert pounding, bit we need focus, this isnae th' perfect time fur that.
Akko: Wow Diana, I expected a more romantic answer, I put all my feelings into my kiss, not even to have one, you really got all into a funny accent when you're embarassed...
Diana completes: I love you... 'n' na ah dinnae, ye'r juist making hings intae yer mynd
At that moment Akko was silent, when she heard that coming from Diana, that even without looking at Kagari, she could feel some of that feeling they had for each other, both of them followed the path, passing through the corridor that had high bushes, facing some goblins that appeared, besides Cù Siths that went towards them that went with all the defense not to be hit by the canine beasts.
When passing that corridor, they end up arriving in a bifurcation, at that time the plate was written with a very clear warning "Only one can pass through here", they tried to go together in one of the bifurcations and simply one was prevented from passing when she hit head on with the barrier, arriving to take some electric discharges, in the case Akko that fell sitting on the ground.
Diana: Akko!
Cavendish helps to lift Kagari and she signals that she's fine, then, noticing a little regret in demonstrating, the Scot takes the Japanese by the waist, the two start kissing, hugging a little more intensely, passing the hand on the body, in a romantic way, as if they were doing it one last time, because it really could be. After the kiss, Akko was the one who got a little bit stuck and that way Diana giggled a little, and then she rubbed the tip of her finger on Akko's nose, laughing a little.
Diana: Now we split up, I'll go right and you go left, we'll get through, I'm sure, I just want to make sure that you come back to kiss me more, I also have the same feeling for you, you're not the only one here who is in love, I just didn't really want to show it.
Akko: You hide your feelings very badly Diana, I have been noticing this since we were in England, you have been showing that you don't see me as a rival anymore, so that means...
Diana a little more nervous: Thatmeans we're going to complete this mission, now I've gone! I'm going!
Akko was all giggles, putting her hand to her mouth and shaking her head, feeling all excited, seeing that the feeling had a reciprocity, they were finally blossoming those feelings, but this still at a time that is quite worrying, the botanical garden of the castle that still has many dangers and they will have very undesirable encounters at the end so that the duo can get the triangle with the leaf symbol.
The alchemy laboratory, was passed by the duo that has a lot of chemistry, showing in this whole moment that it was only a matter of time for this thing between them to blossom, but now the dangers of the castle still continue, not only feelings are at their peak, but also danger, mainly around two visitors who are waiting for a duel against Diana and Akko, besides small challenges through this garden full of mysteries.
See you, alchemist witch...