This one come out late , yeah sorry about that
Act 1: House Sieghart
Chapter 1: The Lion's den
Rena let the breeze of the morning air touch her face, her long blonde hair wave through the wind enjoying its cool sensation.
Before the memorial bridge is chocked with bandits and other monsters back when they were searching for the stolen El shard making their way to Wally's castle
Now that Wally is gone the bridge is now safe again to travel for the public and free from trouble for the merchants to ferry their wares.
She couldn't help but admire the beauty of nature around her, trees of the forest beyond sway from the winds and the light of the sun reflects from the lake, everything look so peaceful and tranquil it made her glad that she joined the search for the El not just out of duty but to protect the lives and peace it brings.
"Rena come on let's go!" Aisha called the elf.
"Coming!" she responded.
The duo elf and mage, the original members of the search party are making their way to the old castle, nostalgia came to Rena as she walks down the bridge remembering their times adventuring with the mage and knight for the El, they were doing a favor for the merchants by clearing it from bandits, fond memories.
"I wonder what's the reason for him to call us back here." Rena asked
"Who knows what that idiot is thinking, let's just get this over with and leave!" Aisha yelled as she stomps forward quite angrily.
"Oh come on Aisha, it's been a long time we last see each other, think of this like a reunion!".
The mage crossed her arms for a while but then softens "It's been two years now, after everything that happed there's still a lot to do".
Rena placed her hand on her shoulder "we don't have any time for ourselves; a little break isn't so bad, besides".
She gets close and whispered to her ear "I know you miss him~" she teased.
Aisha pushed the elf back blushing "T-that's not why I'm here! I just need a break and I was nearby!"
"Of course you are fufufu~".
The mage face turn completely red at this point "Anyway what brings you here? It's not like I'm the only one".
"So you don't deny it~"
The elf had a good laugh as the mage flail her arms throwing out denials.
"I'm here for work actually improving relations with Elder; since it's only nearby I decided to come here after that".
"Is that all…?" she asked.
"Yes that's all, why? You worry that I'll get in the way~".
The mage walked ahead of her avoiding the elf's teasing when she saw a familiar group of people.
Long blonde hair wearing a suit of armor, a nasod arm, an oriental looking girl with a fox pin on top of her head, a regal girl with two nasod assistance one black and the other white, a cat eared hoodie, and a red haired knight.
Rena catches up and joined the group "Wow everyone's here! This is starting to look like a reunion!"
"It's great to see everyone again!" Ara cheered.
"Yes, It's nice to see you all" Eve said monotonely but she too is happy.
"It's like the old times" Raven greeted with his hands at the back of his head relaxed.
"Chung, should the king be this far away? What about the demons?" Aisha questions.
The prince now king nodded "the demons are being quite for now, Sasha said I wasn't getting enough rest so she told me to come here to relax" he answered.
"There are still things to do to restore Hamel but I don't regret coming here, but with everyone here? It's even better! It's like fate has something to do here".
"I couldn't agree more" Elesis spoke up "I originally come here to visit my brother to see how he is doing, I didn't expect that all of you will be here as well".
"Isn't this great, the El search party is all together" Rena said happily since everyone is coming "though almost".
Aside from their leader both Lu and Ciel isn't present, it's almost impossible to get word to the demon world aside a demonic ritual of course. A shame the whole gang would have been present.
As they talk about the duo of a demon lord and servant a shimmering portal appeared right before them crackling with energy and emitting a malign power and from the portal come forth the aforementioned demon lord and servant.
"Bow down before me mortals for I have come!" she commands them.
"Lu that isn't nice to say to our friends we haven't seen for two years"
She throws a tantrum for ruining the mood and her grand entrance.
"Lu and Ciel? What are you two doing here?" It was Rena that asked.
The demon lord looked at her like she was crazy "Why? I was invited here!" she answered.
"He did?" this time it was Chung that asked.
"We received an invitation from him" Ciel showed two envelopes addressed to them "At first we were surprised we have this but decided to answer his summons and especially curious how he sent this to us".
"We all are" Aisha said "even I can't anything to you guys!"
"And that's why we're here" Lu snapped "we would like to get answer how, though since everyone is here it's not so bad to stay for a while".
The group is deep in thought, communicating with the demon world is dangerous and difficult to reach a certain demon but with Elsword done it and succeeded? A lot of questions started to pop up on their heads.
"You guys remember what Mayor Hoffman said?" Ara reminded the group when they first entered Elder.
"I think he told us what he said to you, Elsword isn't leaving the castle and a lot of strange rumors are circling around that's getting everyone in town worry and nervous" Rena said remembering the mayor to visit Elsword and asked him if there's something wrong, that got both Aisha and Her worry.
"More reasons to hurry to the castle then" Elesis said for she too is worried for her brother "We should get moving".
The group agreed and they resumed their journey.
"Add were moving" Eve called the boy
He came into view pushing a wagon train forward with the help of his dynamos, the wagons are filled from foodstuff and other supplies, the wagons aren't levitating like the ones Elsword used before so they need to be hauled and there weren't any horses to do it or anyone willing to make the trip to the castle.
It was Eve who offered to deliver the goods, though the boy didn't expect he would be the one hauling, and Moby and Remy not even Oberon is helping him so he resort to his dynamos.
"You know" he huffed "some help would be nice".
"Quite complaining and hurry up" Eve commands.
He would have argued but he needs the strength for the task, he knows he won't win, if he displeased her in any way than the consequence would be severe.
A shudder went through his spine as the thought of his endless supply of chocolate suddenly disappear.
He only groaned as he continue to haul the train forward, Elsword would pay for this and not just for the supplies!
The party reached the town situated below the castle, in front of them the gate that leads inside is closed, a not so vigilant guard watches over the gate snoring soundly leaning on his spear.
Elesis shook the guard rousing him from sleep.
"Wha- who goes there?" the guard said sleepily rubbing his eyes awake.
The watchman wears a simple red tunic with gold lines running down resembling a stylized lion head and metal shoulder guards, the colors alone represents the man to be under Elswords employ wearing his house colors and the fire heart with thorn emblem on his shoulder, his wearing a very familiar skull mask that covers his face.
Elesis clears his throat before addressing the guard "Elesis Sieghart, I'm here to visit my brother who lives in the castle, I also bought the supplies that are to be delivered" she pointed at the wagon train behind her.
The watchman didn't even bothered to identify the people before him or inspected the wagons that are entering.
"Open the gates!" he shouted and the gates slowly give passage
"You can't enter the castle, talk to my captain he should be at the tavern" the guard yawned and went back to sleep.
The knight would question him why and where the tavern is but stopped when the guard started snoring fast asleep.
She would report the negligence to this captain once she meets him.
"Security is lax around here" Raven commented pocking the guard's helm getting no results "hopefully it's different at the castle, where did he find these guys?"
Near the gatehouse the other watchers are either sleeping or playing games of cards or dice, gambling is apparent as some shout out there winnings and the grumbling of those who lost, the bigger guards compete in arm wrestling and there are those stealing bags of ED from those sleeping its quite a mess.
"Not what I have in mind" Chung said as he look at all the commotion the guards are causing.
"It is quite peaceful around here since sir Elsword took over that they could let their guard down perhaps" Ara tried to make sense of the chaos but failed as two guards started to fistfight in front of them rolling on the ground.
"That lazy bum can't even discipline his own men!" Aisha crossed her arms displeased at what she's seeing.
"Uh, excuse me where can we find your captain" Rena approaches the two guards still struggling on the ground.
The two stopped their fight and pointed strait down the road, after answering the elf they continue their roughhousing.
"Thanks, I guess?" shaking her head she then informed the group where to go.
"Add come on" the nasod queen ordered.
"A little help here!" he complained as he pushed the train forward with the help of his dynamos.
"The demons aren't as disorderly as this, I would educate him on how to better control his subjects" Lu said passing the two guards chocking each other comically.
"Go easy on him" the butler said, he remembers the similar chaos back when he was still human, the guards reminds him of brigands and bandits have nothing but time on their hands.
The town is big to be considered a city; there have been a lot of urban development that weren't there when they chase after the El shard two years ago, people mill about doing their usual business, and the market is bustling with activity, there are new houses being built and getting increasingly taller adding more stories to the building, all around banners representing the lion and the burning heart showing how influential the new lord is.
Asking some guards who unlike those at the gate are doing patrols around town they guided the party to where their captain is.
"The Lion's Den, how quaint" Ciel commented as they stopped in front of the tavern.
The 'tavern' is a large five stories structure, the compound build from bricks and red roof tiles, there are more city guards loitering outside drunk and hitting on any woman that happens to pass by the place, a banner of the lion stands by the entrance along an unlit red lantern indicating that the place sell more than just alcohol and shady characters lurking nearby.
Aside from the guards there are even members from the affluent part of society, minor nobles and merchants chatting while their hired muscles watch over the carriages, nasod drones fly around catering to the guests outside and occasionally electrocute any guards that might cause trouble.
In any case it's a large and lavish pleasure palace offering all worldly desires and more, if you have the money of course.
They could hear the clamor of drinking and wild boast, breaking tables or chairs and a guy being thrown out of the window.
"Shall we go in?" Raven asked ignoring the pained groans of the thrown man entering the tavern again only to be thrown out of another window, from the third floor no less.
"You want us to go in there!? I'm not stepping inside that place!" Aisha said fuming.
It was reasonable after all, who in their right mind would go inside a place that can turn a saint to a sinner in a heartbeat?
"I agree, such a place is not befitting for us" Eve said.
"I second that" Lu moving over to the group against going inside the palace.
"Ciel go inside and find this captain, bring him outside while we wait here" the demon lord ordered the butler.
"Understood" without hesitation he went inside the establishment.
"hmph, I wonder what kind of 'lions' this place have" Elesis said looking for a challenge as she too entered the den, if the person they were looking for have the rank captain then Elsword must have approved of him, she wanted to see for herself.
"Coming along?" Raven faced the king of Hamel.
"Yeah, we don't want Elsword to hear we made a mess out of his own men" he said as the two followed Elesis inside.
"Add you go in too" Eve ordered the poor boy catching his breath.
"What!? Why me!?" he complained.
"All the guys are going and since you're a guy you should go too!" Aisha argued.
"That's so unreasonable!"
"Oh just get in there already" Eve ordered her two drones to grab him by the shoulders.
"Wha-"he didn't manage to finish what he was going to say as the two drones abruptly throw him inside and through an unbroken window too.
"Ah" Ara debating whether she should go and help them or stayed with the rest of the girls.
Rena sees this and patted the girls shoulder "It's alright; let's just wait for them here".
"A-alright" she agreed "Will they be alright?"
"Relax, they have Elesis with them they will be fine" Aisha assured her.
"Still whoever the captain is he must be someone that Elsword trust to be put in the position".
"Well he did a bad job picking the right person" Lu said.
Little did she know that her statement is not far from the truth.
Add groan as he slowly gets up but quickly covered his nose with his hand as his senses were immediately bombarded by the places atmosphere.
The place is…quite nice actually though 'nice' isn't something you use for places like this, sofas are lined along the walls while benches and tables are at the center, a bar is located at the far back besides the stairs leading up, and a small stage where a band is playing or more like making discord.
The air is filled with many things that made Add's head spin almost knocking him out, the stench of alcohol and intoxicated breaths of the drinkers, sweat from the heat and people in heat, the thick smoke of tobacco and perhaps doses of cannabis as well as the musk and odors clings in the air and other fumes are mixed in too.
Incessant laughter can be heard as well bordering insanity, it didn't take a genius to find out why when their sharing something between them snorting a powdery substance from a piece of paper.
Nasod drones serve the customers even the bartender is a nasod drone, he wonders if there are any human staff and his question was answered by the far side of the area where booths are set up with men waiting in line, every time a man walks out they were escorted upstairs by a woman with revealing outfits practicing the world's oldest profession.
Aside from the wild merriment of the people at the center those at the side lines are no better, private discussions of whatever purpose along with evil smiles passing around information, bribes, blackmail and money as the conspirators, informants, spies, kidnappers, blackmailers, and assassins ply their trade out in the open.
This is a dangerous place, he knew about the darkness of the higher levels of society and how rotten the world really is almost being a slave in his original timeline and this place really showed all that in full detail, the fact that this is only a glimpse of it sends a shiver down his spine.
Add gaged as the toxic air resumed their torment he looks for his companions finding them quickly and went to them.
"I'm starting to regret coming here" Chung voiced as he can feel glares all around him fearing that there are people here who knows him and whatever damage they can do if word got out that he entered such a place.
"We still need to find the captain" Raven said "best we ask someone, I don't like staying here a second more longer".
Elesis called for a nasod drone nearby, stopping whatever it was doing the drone flew towards the group.
"How can I assist you masters and mistress" the drone said in a very sophisticated voice and even bobbed up and down imitating bowing.
The nasod drone is simple in design a cylinder main body with two arms holding a tray with drinks levitating in the air, a single eye at the center of the main body scanning them from top to bottom.
Add noticed the eye turned red but went back to blue quickly as it goes like a blink, it was akin to a snapshot of a camera several other drones 'blinked' red and back to blue, must be something normal so he decided to ignore it.
"I'm looking for the captain of the guards; do you know where he is?"
The drone bowed again "certainly I do mistress he is by the bar drinking with his men" the drone answered "I could inform that you came to see him" it offered.
"That would be helpful".
"Would you like me to rent a private room for you to meet and drinks as well while you wait?"
"No thank you, we won't take too much of his time and if possible tell him that were waiting outside".
"Very well mistress, I will inform him right away" the drone did one final bow as it fly across heading to the bar.
"Now that's taken care off should we head outside and wait" Ciel said and the rest agreed.
"that drone have some advance A.I, I wonder if I can take one back with me" Add said, working with Eve he encountered many advance nasods but the drone earlier is different that he can't put a finger on, Elsword won't mind if one or two drones are missing right?
They stepped outside and he immediately inhaled the fresh air, the scent of alcohol is still present but not as chocking than inside.
"Well?" Aisha asked the group tapping her foot impatiently.
"He should be out soon" Raven answered.
They wait for the captain to show up and after five minutes they hear an annoyed voice coming out of the door.
"Today should be my day off! Just who is it!?" someone possibly the captain roared as he stepped outside.
There were gasps of shock coming from both Rena and Aisha, they recognized him.
"W-What?"
"No Way!" they both said respectively.
The captain stopped and analyzed the people before him and grins widely as he recognized the two girls.
He is a large buffed man with plain brown hair and a scar on his cheek, wearing the same uniform of his men a red tunic with gold lines with metal shoulder pads with the emblem of the burning heart and on his right shoulder an emblem of three swords stabbed on the ground denoting his position.
Strapped on his back is a large sword the blade is pure as silver with red runes running the metal, but what caught the most attention is his right arm, his right arm is covered in plate armor upon closer inspection it's a nasod cybernetic enhancement just like Ravens only this one have a rune etched at the back of the hand.
"Well look what we have here" the captain said crossing his arms.
"I didn't expect a reunion"
"Banthus!?" the two girls yelled in unison.
In a large room uncountable wires crisscross the cold metal floor, holographic images and representations of Elrios flicker in and out in static showing detailed information of geography and topography as well as signals beeping back with exact coordinates of its location.
At the center of the dark room a large central mainframe tends to the numerous machines in the room like a brain sending and receiving data and information at an astonishing rate, around it are diamond shape nasods similar to Adds dynamos floating around acting as its 'hands' as they interact the various screens and holograms.
A dynamo tapped a screen showing a red haired swordswoman, a male with a nasod enhancement, a blonde one with heavy armaments and a purple haired one a quick scan shows energy levels and revealing numerous nasod dynamos in his clothes.
"I'm looking for the captain of the guards; do you know where he is?" she said through the screen.
The playback paused and scanned the lady knight, scanning her facial structure and vocalization, a minute later a profile came up.
"Elesis Sieghart" a voice echoed through the room.
A hiss and turning of gears the central brain started to open a small capsule filling the room with a chilling fog, inside a red eyed nasod drone fly out gazing at the screen with Elesis profile and the video intently.
Other screens blinked red and powered up showing scenes inside the tavern known as the lion's den, but all of them are aimed towards the outsiders locking onto them.
They all displayed complete information and profile of the individual the members of the El search party.
"El search party confirmed" the drone said as it paced around the dimly lit room.
"Took them long enough!" it said with impatience and agitation.
"Should I tell him?" it hummed as it questions itself "No, he will find out himself but…the squire hasn't returned yet…or that outlander"
It stopped suddenly and darted back to the screen with Elesis an idea crossed him.
"Perhaps…yes, yes it will work" the drone float back to the capsule.
"It is her responsibility anyway as a caring big sister" it said the 'caring' and 'big sister' sarcastically slurring the word as it said it.
"I will let you all have fun with him for now"
One by one the screens shut down except those of the El search party on it, the nasod drone glared at the screens with unrestrained malice.
"Soon, oh yes very soon you all will accept the gifts he had prepared for each and every one of you".
The screens powered down and the capsule lowered leaving the room in total darkness.