Chapter 10: The Army
Chise woke up seemingly in the middle of the night, feeling cold. Thankfully she didn't have a nightmare this time. Chise rolled over to her left side and saw Elias was gone. Chise was about to call out for Elias, when she heard the sound of someone... singing? Chise looked in the direction of where it was coming from and saw it was coming from the balcony that connected to the bedroom. She quietly crept to the door and softly pushed it open. Chise saw Elias, standing on the balcony looking up to the stars and singing.
"When you wish upon a star, shining brightly from afar. Anything your heart desires, will come to you." Elias sang.
This was the first time Chise had ever heard Elias sing, and she was so amazed at how beautiful Elias's singing voice was. And what a beautiful song Elias was singing, Chise knew this song all too well.
"When your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme. When you wish upon a star, as dreamers do." Elias sang.
Chise placed both of her hands over her heart as she listen to Elias sing. Chise even felt a tears drop from her eyes.
"When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." Elias sang as he finished his song.
Chise clapped for Elias after he finished the final lyrics. Hearing this, Elias quickly turned around quickly in response but relaxed when he saw it was Just Chise. Realizing it WAS Chise, Elias was felt embarrassed.
"Ch-Chise, y-you were not supposed to hear that, I'm sorry." Elias said as he looked away in embarrassment.
"No, Elias, that was so beautiful. You sing so beautifully Elias." Chise said as she held Elias's arm.
"Well, thank you, but my singing is nowhere near is beautiful as the way you sing." Elias said.
"Elias, don't put yourself down like that." Chise said.
"Well, anyway, you're supposed to be asleep. Did I wake you?" Elias asked.
"Oh no, I woke up on my own." Chise replied.
"I see, you didn't have another nightmare did you?" Elias asked.
"Thankfully no, I guess I just got cold and woke up. What are you doing up so late, Elias?" Chise asked.
"Well, I woke up and could not go back to sleep, so I decided to watch the stars." Elias replied.
"May I watch with you?" Chise asked.
"Are you not cold?" Elias asked.
"Well, like you say, when we are together, it does make you feel warmer inside." Chise said as she smiled at Elias.
"(Chuckle) Very well." Elias said as they looked up to the stars. "Hang on a moment." Elias said as he removed his cloak and placed over Chise's shoulders. "Just to keep you extra warm." Elias said.
"Thank you." Chise said.
For a few minutes the couple stood in silence as they watched the stars shine in the night sky.
"(Sigh) The stars are so beautiful tonight, aren't they?" Chise asked.
"They are, but... they are not as beautiful as you, Chise." Elias said.
"Oh, Elias... you're so sweet." Chise said as she side-hugged him.
"Sweet? I thought sweet was used to describe the taste of certain foods?" Elias said.
"Well, that is true but sweet can call be an expression." Chise explained.
"Oh, I see. Thank you for teaching me this, Chise." Elias said.
"Hey, I agreed I'd be your human teacher right? It's the least I can do." Chise said.
"I have a good teacher then." Elias said.
"I can say the same about you too." Chise said.
"... Something's wrong." Elias said as he sensed someone was watching them. "Chise, go back inside now." Elias said.
"What?" Chise asked.
"Get back inside, we are being watched." Elias said as he stood in front of Chise.
As they looked around, they were terrified to see a bunch of skeletons with glowing red eyes walk out of bushes and shrubbery and burst out of the ground and begin surrounding the cabin.
"What do we do?" Chise asked.
"Wake the others." Elias said.
Chise nodded as she quickly went back inside to wake up everyone. Chise quickly walked downstairs to the living room to wake up Ruth and Joseph.
"Ruth! Joseph! Wake up! Wake up!" Chise said as she shook both of them awake.
"(Snort) Wha? What? Wha? Ch-Chise, what's wrong?" Ruth asked.
"W-What happened? Was I snoring?" Joseph asked.
"Well, yes you were snoring but that's not important. The cabin is surrounded by those skeletons we saw earlier." Chise said.
"You mean... the dead bodies?" Ruth asked.
"Yes. You guys go upstairs to Elias, I'll get Silky." Chise said.
"No, you and Ruth go back upstairs, I'll get Silky." Joseph said as he got up and ran to the room Silky was sleeping in.
"Okay, come on, Ruth." Chise said as Ruth followed her upstairs, Silky and Joseph followed soon afterwards.
"Elias, where did these thins come from?" Ruth asked as they made it to the balcony.
"They came from the rocks and the shrubbery around us." Elias said.
"Are these mountains haunted or something?" Joseph asked.
"No. This kind of thing has never happened before." Elias said.
"What's causing all of these skeletons to come to life then? It's can't be magic of any kind because magic doesn't work up here, right?" Chise asked.
"That is correct, no magic should work here, not even black magic." Elias said.
"Well, they didn't just get up and walk on their own, something strange is happening." Ruth said.
"Um, yeah! There's fricking skeletons everywhere!" Joseph cried.
"Shut up! That's not what I meant you ignorant grave digger!" Ruth said.
"Don't call me that, you, you mutt!" Joseph fired back.
"Enough you two!" Chise said as she elbowed Ruth in the stomach.
"Ack!" Ruth said as he held his stomach in slight pain.
"Ow, gee!" Joseph said as Silky punched his shoulder.
"Silence, please." Silky said.
"Sorry." Joseph replied.
"(From outside) Come out, now!" The Spell-Breaker yelled.
"The Spell-Breaker." Elias said.
"He's here." Chise said.
"Come out of the cabin now or we'll burn it to the ground and smoke you out." The Spell-Breaker said.
"If only we could use our magic, we could easily transport ourselves out of here." Chise said.
"Yeah, but unfortunately we are in the Mountains of Death which have a no magic rule in effect." Ruth said.
"What are we going to do?" Joseph asked.
"We do what the Spell-Breaker told us to do." Chise said.
"What!? But he'll probably kill us all!" Joseph cried.
"Joseph, if we stay in this cabin, he'll burn us alive. Would you rather die slowly or quickly?" Chise asked.
"I'd want to die quickly." Joseph replied.
"Then, we are leaving the cabin now. If we die, at least we'll all die together." Chise said.
"Chise, I respect your bravery. Normally I would be against this, but as I have no powers and seeing as we are in a serious situation, I can do nothing." Elias said.
"It has been great to be your familiar as well as being your big brother, Chise." Ruth said.
"Thanks, Ruth. You were a great dog and I couldn't have asked for a better big brother." Chise said as she smiled to Ruth.
Silky walked over to Chise and hugged her tightly.
"Silky, thank you for always taking good care of us." Chise said as she hugged her back.
"Thank you for coming into our lives, Chise." Silky said.
After the hug, Chise turned to Joseph.
"Joseph, I know we may not have the best history, but I'm glad we could be friends." Chise said.
"Me too, Chise. Thank you for taking me in when no one else would." Joseph said.
"Elias." Chise said as she looked to Elias.
"Chise?" Elias asked.
"I lov-." Chise started.
"COME OUT NOW! COME OUT OR YOU ALL DIE!" The Spell-Breaker yelled.
"Oh, so we can't even say goodbye to each other, well screw us then." Ruth said.
"Let's go, before it is too late." Elias said as they made their way downstairs and out the front door, where the Spell-Breaker and many skeletons were waiting for them.
"Put your hands above your head NOW!" The Spell-Breaker said as the group came out of the house.
"What do you want with us?" Joseph asked.
"HA! Did you seriously just ask that Joseph? You're more stupider than I thought you were." The Spell-Breaker said.
"Shut up." Joseph said angrily.
"What's that? You want to repeat yourself? No? I thought so." The Spell-Breaker said.
"Take off your mask, show us who you are, Spell-Breaker!" Chise said.
"(Chuckle) No, no, it's not time yet, Chise. Remember this, good things come to those who wait, bitch." The Spell-Breaker said.
"Why don't you just kill us and get it over with." Chise said.
"Chise, what are you doing?" Joseph asked.
"You stay out of this, Joseph. That goes for the rest of you. Me and Chise are having a little chat. Aren't we Chise?" The Spell-Breaker said as he aimed both his guns at Chise.
"Your guns don't scare me." Chise said.
"Really? Ha! Here's a lesson, Sleigh Beggy, I know how you think! I know how you feel!" The Spell-Breaker said.
"If you know how I think, then what am I thinking now?" Chise asked as she stood her ground, not showing any signs of fear.
"(Chuckle) That's easy, you're thinking: Who the hell is this guy? Who could want me dead more than ANYTHING! That's what you're thinking right?" The Spell-Breaker asked.
"You read my mind." Chise said sarcastically.
"Hey just so you're aware I fully FULLY intend to kill you, but first, I don't really like your buddies listening in on our conversation. Let me fix that for us." The Spell-Breaker said as he shot Elias, Ruth, Silky, and Joseph with the gun in his left hand and they all fell down.
"No! Elias! Silky! Ruth! Joseph! What did you do!?" Chise cried.
"Relax, this gun is only loaded with tranquillizers. They'll be fine, bitch. Don't worry, I saved this gun just for you. Time to die, Hatori." The Spell-Breaker said as he pointed the gun in his right hand at Chise head.
Chise closed her eyes and right as the Spell-Breaker was about to pull the trigger, one of the skeletons grabbed the gun and took it from the Spell-Breaker.
"Hey! What the fuck!? Give that back to me, NOW!" The Spell-Breaker yelled while keeping his other gun aimed at Chise so she couldn't try anything.
"The Great Cartaphilus demands you not to kill Chise Hatori." The skeleton said.
"Yeah, well he's not here IS he?" The Spell-Breaker asked.
"We have our orders to prevent you from killing Chise Hatori. By command of Cartaphilus." The skeleton said.
"You boney fool! Huh? (Static) Who is this?" The Spell-Breaker asked as he spoke into the radio built into his helmet.
"It is me, Spell-Breaker." Cartaphilus said.
"Why would you give my army that stupid order?" The Spell-Breaker asked.
"Because I don't trust that you won't try to kill Chise before it is time to do so. You will have your chance for revenge, don't worry my partner." Cartaphilus said.
"You don't understand, I can end this now." The Spell-Breaker said.
"I am aware, but our deal says otherwise." Cartaphilus said.
"You will regret this, you mother fucker." The Spell-Breaker said.
"I'm sure I will. Continue with our plan, and you will be able to kill Chise soon enough. Cartaphilus out." Cartaphilus said as he went offline.
"Fuck you. Spell-Breaker out." The Spell-Breaker said.
"I never knew you and Cartaphilus had such a romantic relationship." Chise said sarcastically.
"(Laughs) You're a funny one, Hatori, I'll give you that. Here's the thing, I needed Cartaphilus to take away your immortality. I could give two shits about him now. But for now, I tolerate him." The Spell-Breaker said.
"I hope you both end up killing each other." Chise said.
"Ha! Maybe your wish will come true one day. But let's keep that between us, eh? Until then however, why don't you get some sleep." The Spell-Breaker said as he shot Chise with this tranquillizer.
Chise quickly blocked the tranquillizer with her Dragon Arm.
"Smart, but the tranquillizer still hit your arm. All you did was extend the time it will take for you to pass out. So, how about until you go to sleep, you and I have a little fight?" The Spell-Breaker asked as he put his guns away.
"You asked for it, you bastard!" Chise said as she tried to run at the Spell-Breaker and punch him with her Dragon Hand.
Chise swung at the Spell-Breaker but her body was becoming weaker so quickly that she barely even touched him. The Spell-Breaker was easily able to grab Chise's Dragon Hand and hold it in place.
"You really thought you were going to be able to fight after being sedated. Stupid bitch!" The Spell-Breaker said as he punched Chise in the face, knocking her back a bit.
The Spell-Breaker let go of Chise's hand so he could strike. The Spell-Breaker punched Chise in the gut and then he lifted up her shirt a bit and then slashed at her stomach, leaving bad scratch marks from his metallic claws. Chise winced in response to this and the Spell-Breaker kicked her in the stomach and slammed her to the ground. Chise tried to stand up, but she found herself unable to move as she was becoming more and more sleepy.
"Aw, looks like the tranquillizer is starting to take effect. That's a real shame. I hope we can fight again. After all, you've been doing some special training right?" The Spell-Breaker asked.
"W-What? How do you know about that?" Chise asked.
"Don't worry about it. We'll discuss it when we meet again. Until then, try not to have too many distractive visions about the future, okay?" The Spell-Breaker asked.
"Wait, how do you know about THAT?" Chise asked as she was completely shocked that the Spell-Breaker knew about her visions.
"Like I said, we'll worry about that when we meet again, which I have a feeling will be really soon. Until then, go to sleep. If you're lucky maybe we will meet up in your dream." The Spell-Breaker said.
"Screw... you." Chise said as she finally fell asleep.
"(Evil Chuckle) Sweet dreams, Sleigh Beggy. Now, I'll be taking that back," The Spell-Breaker said as he took his gun back from the skeleton who took his gun. "And I'll also be taking your life!" The Spell-Breaker said as he shot the skeleton, killing him.
"Now! Take their bodies to their destination; The Forest of Thorns. Oh, and bring their weapons too, I want to have a fair fight with them when they wake up. One more thing, General! Come here." The Spell-Breaker said.
A heavily armored skeleton walked up to the Spell-Breaker and bowed.
"Yes, my master?" The general asked.
"I require something of you. (Shoots him) Your life." The Spell-Breaker said as he killed the general. "Listen up! If anyone disobeys my orders or questions my authority, you get killed on the spot, do I make myself clear!?" The Spell-Breaker asked.
"Yes sir!" The skeletons said.
"Good, Cartaphilus said that he has the other half of our army waiting at our destination who will provide more weapons and armor when we arrive. Now, move it!" The Spell-Breaker said.
With that, the Spell-Breaker's skeleton army followed the Spell-Breaker as he made his way down the mountains towards the Forest of Thorns. A small group o skeletons picked up the sleeping bodies of Chise, Elias, Ruth, Silky, and Joseph and another group picked up their weapons and Silky's bag and took them as they followed the Spell-Breaker.
The Spell-Breaker stopped walking, commanding that his army keep moving as he walked alongside the skeleton that was carrying Chise's unconscious body.
"Lindel said that you were strong. I say differently, Chise. Your a weak and pathetic child! You always have been and always will be." The Spell-Breaker.
The skeleton carrying Chise just eyed the Spell-Breaker in confusion. The Spell-Breaker just looked up at skeleton, annoyed at this, but he continued to taunt Chise.
"I should just cut off your Dragon Arm and see of you can fight without it, but I did say I wanted a fair fight. So, I'll spar your arm and your life for now. Your lucky I am feeling merciful right now, Chise. I could just crush your neck, like your mother was supposed to do." The Spell-Breaker said.
"Master, if I may, why do you hate Chise Hatori so much?" The skeleton asked.
"Quite simple, she is a bitch! She made me go through hell! She KNEW that she was torturing me, but she didn't care. She cares only for herself! THAT is why I hate this little cunt! If I could, I would kill her right now, but because of Cartaphilus, I can't kill her yet. But I fully intend to kill her. I will take her wand and jam it right down her throat!" The Spell-Breaker said.
As the Spell-Breaker continued to vent, a few skeletons overheard this and began to wonder what Chise had actually done to their master.
"Chise Hatori really must have done something brutal to the Spell-Breaker. What could she have done?" A skeleton asked.
"The Spell-Breaker refuses to tell anyone about his history with Chise Hatori. All we know is that they have a long complicated history. Not even Cartaphilus knows the full story." a skeleton said.
"I heard that Cartaphilus doesn't even know who the Spell-Breaker is; never even seen him without his mask on." a skeleton added.
"That is not true, Cartaphilus has seen the Spell-Breaker without his mask quite a few times. He knows his face, but he doesn't know his name. The Spell-Breaker refuses to tell anyone his name. If you ask him for his name, he will just kill you." the skeleton said.
"Excuse me, Spell-Breaker?" a skeleton called to his leader.
"What do you want soldier?" The Spell-Breaker asked after he had finished venting.
"Why is it that you do not give out your name?" the skeleton asked.
The Spell-Breaker turned his head as they kept walking.
"You're a brave one, I'll give you that." The Spell-Breaker said.
"This is the part where he kills you." another skeleton said before the Spell-Breaker suddenly shot him and killed him.
"Wrong you fool! I only kill you if you ask what my name is, not if you ask me why I don't give my name out. Now the reason is quite simple soldier; Let's say one of you gets captured by Chise and her friends. they will obviously try to get my name form you all. I can't have them knowing my name now can I? That is the reason I don't give my name out." The Spell-Breaker said.
"I see sir, thank you sir." The skeleton said.
"You were very brave to risk your life for a stupid question. Such bravery deserves its reward. What is your name, solider?" The Spell-Breaker asked.
"Skull, I am Skull, one of your loyal soldiers, sir." Skull said.
"Not anymore you're not. For your bravery, you will be promoted." The Spell-Breaker said.
"Sir?" Skull asked.
"You will be the new general of my army. Second in command only to me and Cartaphilus of course. You answer to no one else, General Skull." The Spell-Breaker said.
"I am most thankful to you. I will not fail you master." Skull said.
"Good. Failure is punished immediately and I don't give second chances. Do I make myself clear?" The Spell-Breaker asked.
"Yes, sir." Skull said.
"Very good, now, we focus on our task at hand." The Spell-Breaker said.
Much Later at the Forest of Thorns...
"Where do we leave them, master?" one of the skeletons asked.
"Just leave them on the ground. I really don't care. Just drop them." The Spell-Breaker said.
After hearing this order, the skeletons that were carrying the unconscious bodies, just dropped them on the ground.
"And their weapons?" a skeleton asked.
"Leave them by their bodies. As much as I am against it, I want a fair fight with these fools." The Spell-Breaker said as some other skeletons gave the weapons back. "Alright, you all know what to do! Head into the forest and wait further instruction. I will remain here for a short while. General Skull, lead the army into the forest and wait until I arrive." The Spell-Breaker said.
"Yes sir. Move out!" Skull said as he led the army into the forest.
As the skeleton army left, the Spell-Breaker walked over to Chise and stood over her.
"You're still the same wimpy little brat you used to be, Chise. You ruined your family's life; how could anyone love you? You may have found a husband, but I could never be more disappointed. Youi couldn't even settle on a human, so you chose a creature. THAT'S how low your self-esteem is. How fitting, as you and Elias are both monsters. I wonder how your family will react when I bring them your corpse. Your poor little brother, how sad he will be, wherever he is, (Evil Chuckle). And your dad, how sad he will be when he sees that his little girl will be nothing but a mangled corpse. Oh the things I will do to you later, Chise. Just you wait, I will make you suffer, just like you made me suffer." The Spell-Breaker said as he kicked Chise's body and then walked off into the forest.
And that was chapter 10! I hope you all enjoyed! Thank you for the support as always! See you all in the next chapter.