A/N: I am so sorry! I didn't want to keep you waiting, but I got distracted a lot from my life! To make up for it, here's the next chapter. I hope you'll forgive me. :(
30 – The Wicked Ragou
Running through the undergrounds of the palace after his friends wasn't really a pleasant experience for Yuri Lowell. He understands that Estelle wants to save an innocent life, but at least don't leave the others in the dust for crying out loud! Reaching one chamber, he saw a horrid sight: there were bones lying around, the blood already dried up. Soft crying was heard in the corner; there he saw a little boy sniffling in Estelle's arms, who was comforting him like a mother, and what would be a rather comical sight if the situation wasn't so serious: Karol completely exhausted, gasping for air.
"It's okay." Estelle whispered softly. "Everything's all right now." The poor child cried in response.
"Just ease up there kiddo." Rita assured the boy. "Can you tell us what happened?"
Gathering a bit of courage, he spoke in whimpers "A scary, mean old man brought me here…he said it was because my Papa and Mama couldn't pay their taxes…" The 'Scary, mean old man' was obviously Ragou.
"Hey, this must be the kid from before." Karol surmised. "He's Teagle and Kellas' child."
"Yeah. Poor kid." Yuri nodded.
"So that means that all of the bones here…" Rita spoke in a grim tone, not liking the situation.
"The monsters must have done it." The noble concluded. Now they knew what truly happens to Ragou's victims, they were fated to be devoured by monsters.
"I'm scared…" the child cried. "I wanna go home…"
Kneeling to the boy's height, Yuri put a hand on his head to comfort him. "Hey, don't worry. Everything's gonna be just fine. So what's your name?"
"P-Pauly…" he answered.
"All right Pauly, come with us and we'll take you to your mom and dad."
"That's right." Karol agreed with a smile. "So no more crying, okay?"
After a bit of encouragement, Pauly finally gave a weak smile; it was weak, but a smile nonetheless. "O-Okay…"
After agreeing to escort Pauly along the way, everyone began to search for an exit out of the undergrounds. There were a few monsters to take care of along the way but nothing too difficult, all Pauly had to do was hide until the danger was over. He even provided help from the sidelines.
"MISS, BEHIND YOU!"
Taking his advice, Estelle quickly jumped away from the sneak attack and eliminated the threat with two swift strokes from her saber.
Meanwhile, Karol and Rita were casting fire spells, the only spell they knew together, combining several fireballs into one huge lump of fire, scorching all monsters in its path.
"Impressive." Yuri smirked as he kicked away the jaws of his foe. "How come you don't do stuff together like that often?"
"I don't know." Rita shrugged. "We just fight. That's all really."
After Repede finished the last monster, the Boy Genius walked up to the door to open it, except for one problem…
"Damn! It's locked!"
Rita grinned, knowing what she could do. "Step aside, runt. I'll take care of it."
Quietly complying, Karol walked aside to let Rita work on the lock. After hearing the 'click', everyone walked through the now unlocked door. Not sure of where they were going Estelle thought about asking Pauly, only for him to answer that he didn't know; either he was too young or was blindfolded when coming here.
Coming into the next room, there was a barred gate blocking what seemed to be the entrance. Before anyone could think of a plan, faint footsteps were heard. Footsteps that began to come closer and closer. Finally, an old man wearing black Council garbs with glasses, a beard and mustache, walked in with a wicked grin on his face. Pauly gasped upon seeing the man and quickly hid behind Yuri. Estelle however, glared with rage at the man. He was Ragou.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" he sneered wittingly. "More delicious snacks for my pets, perhaps?"
"You must be Magistrate Ragou." Estelle growled. This was one of the times were she actually sounded frightening.
"You have really disgusting hobbies, you know that?" Rita spat at the Council member.
"Hobbies? Oh, you must mean my basement." Ragou cackled. "Only someone like me, with my cultivated sensibilities could understand the pleasure that I bring from such things." Adjusting the cuffs from his sleeve, he looked at them with a wicked smirk. "You're all just like those repulsive fools from the Council. They bored me to tears and never let me enjoy myself. You see, it is the privilege of someone of my standards to eliminate such boredom…with help from the common people, that is."
"You mean that's the reason why you're making the people here miserable?" Karol snarled. "Just so you can enjoy yourself?" Like Estelle and everyone else, he also loathed the Magistrate for his actions.
"Well since you're all here, I suppose that the least I could do is bring Rhybgaro down here." The magistrate chuckled sinisterly. "He is quite a spectacle to see. Although I can't guarantee you may live to see it…"
Pauly gasped in horror. He heard so many stories about the Rhybgaro, and now he thought that he'd be its next victim.
Rita however, smirks in triumph. Now it's their turn to act smug.
"Yeah, hate to break it to ya old man, but we kicked your pet's ass!" she told him.
Ragou, somewhat shocked, managed to remain composed. "…Come again?"
"You heard me, we sent Rhybgaro packing!"
Now the Magistrate was in complete shock. "What? How dare you! What have you done to my poor pet?"
"If you want Rhybgaro, you'll have to walk far. Very far. He left Capua Nor." Estelle answered him, making him even more upset.
After a few seconds or so, he managed to calm down. "Oh well, it's not like it matters. With a bit of money I gathered from some taxes, I can just substitute him for something else." he chuckled wickedly. "I wonder how the townspeople will deal with a new monster. I can hardly wait…"
Now Yuri was furious. Even if the citizens did kill Rhybgaro, Ragou would just replace it with another monster! This was the last straw! "RAGOU YOU BASTARD! Just how many lives do you have to torture until you're satisfied?"
Now that Ragou noticed Yuri's presence, he was completely surprised to see the noble here. "What…? You…? But…but how did you…?"
Not saying another word, Yuri whipped out his sword and used Azure Edge on the gate, destroying it and sending Ragou back from the impact.
"S-Stay away from me!" he whimpered, just showing how much of a coward he really was. "Just what are you going to do?" Scrambling to his feet, he took off running and shouting "Help! Intruders! Somebody stop them!"
"Damn it!" Rita cursed. "If we don't hurry and finish our work, everyone in here will be hunting for our necks!" With both mages nodding to one another, Rita and Karol began casting to create the emergency.
"Wait. Not yet." Estelle told them.
Stopping his incantation, Karol asked "Why not? Aren't we supposed to create an emergency so Flynn and his knights can get in?"
"Yes, but not without finding some evidence first."
"Yeah, like the blastia that controls weather in case you forgot." Yuri reminded the mages, which immediately interested them.
Now with their presence known inside the palace, they have to quickly find the evidence hidden in the palace to put Ragou behind bars for good.
A/N: There! Now it's time for a Skit!
Yuri is Normal
Estelle is Italics
Rita is Bold
Karol is Bold and Italics
Haunted
-Grim- Ugh…with these bones and the monsters and the darkness…it's just creepy…
I don't think it's that scary but yeah, I don't really like being in this place.
I know. It's just like from the horror books I read. You're all alone in the dark, knowing that danger can attack you at any moment and not knowing where to go. And just when you think you're safe all of a sudden—
STOP! Just stop! I can't take it anymore!
Whoa. What's with you all of a sudden?
I just…
-Grins- Oh I see! You're scared, aren't you?
-Frowns- Me? Scared? As if. I just couldn't take your endless rambling about some stupid horror novel.
**sneaking behind Rita**
Is that so?
Please. Who do you think I—
ROAAAARRR!
AAHHHH! –Runs off-
Karol, were you actually planning that?
-Smiles- I consider it payback for all the pummels she gave me.
-Smiles- You are my new best friend!
-Annoyed- Oh brother…am I the only sane person in this group?
A/N: And there, another chapter is done. Again, I'm sorry for not updating sooner but like I said, I'm not giving up on this story. Hope this brought your hopes up a bit. See you next time!
