19. Marionette
Obsidian Mansion was not just haunted, Arganan realized, with cryptic notes and strange keys and one ghost girl.
There were, in fact, multiple ghosts. And demons. Some had scythes, some didn't have scythes, but all of them were annoying.
He found himself using his shielding ability quite a lot against the scythe-wielding ones. Exhaustion sunk into his bones easily, but Frey was quick to give him a healing potion (exactly how many she brought with her, he had no clue), and Vishnal and Arthur both had some minor healing magic, so that certainly helped him stay on his feet. Arganan hadn't tried making furniture float, to throw at ghosts, because he wasn't sure if he could do that. A teapot was one thing. A dresser? Probably not a good idea to try on the second day of having this power.
In a way, he felt useless, and he felt sick, knowing that. Was this going to be one of those incidents where he just hid and attempted to use healing magic, like back with him, Forte and Frey fighting a then-still-monster version of Amber?
"Arganan?"
He blinked, looking towards Vishnal. "Yes?"
"Are you okay?"
"Uh, yeah." The former Count took a deep breath, nodding quickly. "I'm fine. Just a little cautious with all the ghosts."
"Well—" before Vishnal could continue, a ghost appeared in front of them, scythe raised. "Aaah!"
"Damn!" Arganan quickly summoned a shield just as the ghost swung its scythe at them, blocking the blow. He winced at how he absorbed the attack's pain instead, radiating through his arms for a brief moment.
A ball of light hit the ghost, making it disappear. Arganan turned his head to see Arthur, who had cast the magic. "Are you both okay?"
"We are now." Arganan managed. "Thanks."
"No problem."
Frey was up ahead in the current hallway they were in. "I think we're getting close to the end!"
"We better be." Arganan couldn't help but groan. He lost count of the number of dusty, cobweb infested hallways long ago. There were so many doors leading in and out of the same places, too, and it felt like they were running around in circles at this point.
The doors Frey found led to the outdoors. It was a courtyard, of some sort, but there was another separate building connected to the one they left by a path. And just like the inside of the mansion, the grounds outside were also infested with even more demons.
Cue everyone breaking into combat mode again, flinging spells or using weapons…save for Arganan, who decided it was best to 1. Avoid the fight save for using defensive magic and 2. Just try not to get hit by the demons. He noticed a demon about to hit Vishnal, and he quickly summoned the defensive shield. The demon ended up bouncing off the shield, yowling in pain, and Arganan winced as pain sparked up his arm in return.
A magical spell hit the demon, making it vanish entirely, and Arganan looked up to see that Arthur was the one that cast it. "Are you two alright?"
"Yes." Arganan managed. He still had mixed feelings about Arthur being around. But at least the man was a formidable ally in battle, and that he appreciated.
"Let's get to the other building." Frey called up ahead. "I think Pico went this way!"
The party did make it to the other building after battling a few more demons, entering the room. Pico was there, looking around as she called out.
"Dolly!" The whole room was set up like a theatre, complete with dusty drapes and a large wooden stage. "Dolly!? Where are you!?"
She looked around again, waving in hopes of getting someone's attention. "Dollyyyyy!? I'm here for you!"
A rumbling appeared, and stuffed dolls burst out from the stage. Emerging from them was a large, humanoid being with a pointed orange jester hat. The red and black overalls, as well as the grey skin, made it look undead. The way it moved, however, reminded Arganan of a marionette—the joints bent in ways that no regular human ever could.
"Pico!" Frey rushed over, getting between Pico and the marionette. "Get back!"
"Dolly!" Pico called. "It's me, Dolly!"
The marionette let out a low growl, glaring at the group. It didn't seem to recognize Pico at all, given its maddened state.
"Stay back!"
"But, Dolly's…!"
"Go somewhere to hide or something!" Arganan looked towards Pico, raising a brow. "I'm sure your 'Dolly' wouldn't want you to get hurt."
Pico groaned, but she nodded. "Fine! But make sure you save her!" With that, Pico vanished, leaving Arthur, Vishnal, Frey and Arganan to fight the large marionette human alone. The marionette roared, before spinning on the spot, moving like a top at mach speed as she rushed at the four. Arganan felt himself get pulled out of the way by Vishnal, with Frey also getting out of the way in time, but poor Arthur didn't make it. The former Prince went flying across the room, crashing into nearby chairs and stuffed dolls lying around the theater.
"Arthur!" Frey's yell echoed through the room, but Arganan soon noticed Arthur get up, adjusting his glasses.
"I'm okay!" Arthur called back, just before a burst of colour came from his hands, trailing across the room and towards the marionette, who dodged it easily. "Be careful!"
Arganan ended up barely dodging the marionette's next spin attack, hiding behind the closest table. What do I do? Is it going to keep doing that? How do I…slow it down?
He looked around. There were plenty of tables and chairs in this room. Maybe he could make them float, or throw them at the marionette to make it stop in its tracks. Taking a deep breath, he focused his gaze on the chair closest to him.
It started floating, but then it stopped, just as several stuffed toys smacked him down to the ground. A grunt left the former Count's lips as he looked towards the jeering marionette, then the toys around him. If that monster wanted to throw a bunch of dolls at him, he was going to do the exact same thing right back at her. He looked at the closest doll, hoping it would float, trying to will it with his mind, but it didn't do anything.
Of all times it can't work…why now?
Vishnal's pained yell resounded, just before he saw the butler hit the ground, completely out. The former Count crawled carefully over to him, looking to his left to see that Arthur and Frey were still in the midst of fighting the marionette, but Arthur looked exhausted at this point. Frey, too, looked weary, given her half-dazed expression, even as she shot one spell after another.
What do I do? Arganan tried to use what little healing magic he knew, trying to at least wake up Vishnal.
…given what I do know, you're a different person than you were prior to coming here.
Maybe the fact that you didn't get the Outsider's power until now is why you have these specific powers, instead of you getting it back then. And so it's working in the way that it's based off you right now, rather than back then…
Illuminata's words echoed in his head, and he paused. The person I am right now?
He remembered how he used his powers, back in Yokmir Forest. He hadn't been concerned about lashing back at the enemy as opposed to just protecting his allies.
And that was when it hit him—just as he saw the marionette headed his and Vishnal's direction, spinning like a top. Arganan got on a knee, holding out his hands in front of himself, and a light blue shield appeared. The marionette screeched as it hit the shield, spinning off in the other direction. It stopped in its tracks, before several dolls lifted themselves in the air, tossing themselves at him and Vishnal. Arganan responded to it by trying to focus on the dolls, hoping to make them stop in their tracks.
The dolls suddenly stopped moving, suspended in midair. Arganan felt a pushing sensation against him in response, the dolls wriggling in the air, and he soon realized that the marionette was still focused on trying to throw said dolls at him and Vishnal. He heard Frey gasp, before several beams of light hit the marionette.
The marionette screamed, and Arganan felt the pressure against him vanish. All the dolls hurled themselves right back at the marionette, hitting it and sending it stumbling backwards. Arthur took that moment to dish a few magical attacks to attack the marionette.
When the attacks hit, light burst out from the marionette, before the room was filled with light. As it faded, it revealed an unconscious young woman. She had to be only the same age as Frey, maybe older, with a top hat, ruffled dress, and light pink hair. Frey gasped, her and Arthur running over the woman's side to check on her.
"Arganan!" Arganan looked up to see Vishnal offer him a hand. "You okay?"
"Yes." He took Vishnal's hand, letting the younger man help him up. "I'm okay." Despite the soreness he felt, he didn't think he would pass out too soon. He still felt overall conscious. Tired and sore, yes, but definitely not fainting too soon. "I'm fine."
"Thanks." He heard Vishnal speak again. "For saving me back there."
Arganan offered Vishnal a brief grin. "You're welcome." He then took a deep breath, looking towards Frey and Arthur. Both of them recollected themselves at this point, with Arthur leaning over the unknown, unconscious woman. "Is she alive?"
"She's breathing." Arthur confirmed, looking up at Arganan. "That power…what was that just now?"
"Outsider's power." Arganan shrugged. "Apparently, I can make things float now. But I think there are specific limits."
Frey frowned softly, looking up at him. "Limits?"
"Yes." He recalled trying to lift the dolls to throw back at the marionette, after he first got hit by them. "I can't…straight-up attack people like you can. But if it's for a defensive measure, or counterattacking after being hit, that's when my powers come into effect."
"So you have to endure in order to secure an attack afterwards?" The former Prince let a soft hum leave him. "Interesting."
"And I have to care about the person or people I'm defending." The former Count quickly cut in, raising a brow. "I was worried about Forte and Frey when my powers first activated. And when Vishnal and I were attacked just now…that was when my powers started working, too."
Before anyone else could speak up, or ask questions, the unconscious woman's eyes fluttered open, and Arganan heard her take a soft inhale. "…Um…is this…?
"Oh!" Frey looked towards her, "You're conscious!"
She's awake now? Arganan blinked. That was quick. Usually it took longer, like with Amber and Dylas…
"Dolly!" Pico appeared, launching herself at her, pulling the now-surprised woman into a hug. "I've missed you…I missed you so much!"
So this woman is Dolly?
'Dolly' suddenly did not answer, eyes open but not speaking. Pico gasped, before shaking her lightly. "Dolly!? Dolly!"
"She's just fainted, that's all." Arthur reassured her, after going on a knee to check 'Dolly's' pulse.
"But why!?" Pico frowned, then shook her head, still grasping Dolly tight. "I guess the only thing left to do is go to Ven's place!"
"Ven's place?" Arganan raised a brow.
Pico didn't answer, grabbing Dolly by the arms and immediately running out of the exit doors, dragging her out with her.
"Wait!" Frey ran after Pico, getting to her feet and dashing out the doors. Arthur also followed, and Arganan (with help from Vishnal) also ran after them.
Ven's place? Does she mean Ventuswill?
Is Pico taking 'Dolly' to Ventuswill?
Arganan recalled the one time he saw light shimmering in the castle, just before he, Theirus and Frey arrived to see Ventuswill and the then-unconscious Dylas.
What does Ventuswill have to do with all of this?
Just outside the haunted mansion was Volkanon, who just made a bridge. It took Arganan a moment to realize that he and the rest of the party were back in the Selphia Lake area of town. So the haunted mansion's grounds are connected to Selphia? Interesting…
"The bridge is fixed!" He heard Vishnal exclaim. "How lucky!"
Volkanon looked up to see Arganan and the others, smiling softly. "Oh, Miss Frey! May I ask what you're doing over here?"
Frey offered Volkanon a sheepish grin. "I was just checking something in Obsidian Mansion with everyone. What about you?"
A soft 'hm' escaped the elder butler. "I was told by Lady Ventuswill to fix the bridge. She didn't say why, exactly."
"What a coincidence…" Arganan overheard Arthur muse.
"But presumably," Volkanon continued, a soft grin on his face, "she knew you were returning. I can think of no other reason why she would have ordered this of me. She is a most considerate dragon, indeed. Heart…of purest gold."
"Speaking of Ventuswill," Arganan quickly cut in, looking towards Volkanon, "We were chasing a little ghost girl and a woman called 'Dolly' she dragged with her. She said she was taking her to 'Ven's place.' I presume that means Ventuswill?"
"Yes." Volkanon pointed towards the exit of the area leading into town. "They did go that way."
"Thanks!" Frey quickly rushed ahead, before Arthur managed to give a 'thank you' to Volkanon before running.
"We have ot catch up with them." Arganan managed, looking towards Vishnal.
"What?" The younger butler looked confused. "Why?"
"Please." That was all Arganan could manage. He didn't know what else to say, for a moment. "I have to know about what's going on with Ventuswill. I think there's more to all of the humans-turning-into-monsters that Ventuswill knows that she hasn't really let us in on. Especially Frey."
Vishnal paused, before he finally nodded. "Still need any help?"
"You might have to half-drag me there." The former Count couldn't help but chuckle at that.
He saw Vishnal smile. "That's no problem at all."
And with that, the two went together to join Frey and Arthur at the castle, anticipating what could come next. What was Ventuswill up to, with all these monsters-turned-people? And why keep it in such secrecy?