"I deeply apologise for what happened here, my ladies."
Marco had been captain of his ship for quite a while. Even though it mainly went to Albion, which was lucky due to the pay for transport towards the floating continent, it still meant that he knew what to expect whenever he took off from La Rochele and into the skies above.
So when a couple of Nobles had asked to board his ship to go on a 'Diplomatic Mission', he hadn't thought much of it besides the pay. Sure, some people would say that it would be suicide to ask for payment from the Nobles, but Marco wasn't exactly a man that was willing to travel to a warzone for some ambiguous mission that they were planning to go to. Besides, he had planned on delaying the shipment until the whole situation at Albion blew over. Pirates and the like had been more than active with the Civil War going on.
That meant that his ship was already air-worthy and all it needed was just the command and the Windstones to carry them. Something that none of the other air ships could say.
Every day, he felt pride at the deal he managed to get with those Insects. Why some people hated them so much, he could never tell.
From the early shipment, and the pay from the Nobles that really wanted to travel to Albion? Well how could he say no to some extra gold. His crew mates obviously didn't.
"We tried our best to stop it, we really did. But we just couldn't handle the situation!"
Of course, like everything amazing that happened, something wrong always followed.
The first was the much much earlier departure that they had agreed on, when the Dragon suddenly showed up they assumed the worst. When the rest came and demanded that they leave, with the woman with the flintlock pistol nearly brandishing the weapon to 'negotiate', they all woke up from their interrupted sleep and begrudgingly agreed. Not without him mentioning that they would need to pay extra.
Then, halfway through the trip, suddenly the Dragon that had scared the crew silly began acting up. It started thrashing around on deck, and before they knew it they had to stay away from the beast before it threw them overboard. None of them wanting to get sent off the ship, but if the Nobles knew that they had just done nothing while their pet flew off, he was sure that they'd be done for. So they tried, and failed to do anything to a blasted Dragon.
Their only solace came when the blonde of the group suddenly walked up from the guest cabins, and waved that wand of hers. Even then she could only delay it from taking off before it flew away.
And now the captain found himself standing, on a wet deck due to said blonde, in front of four angry looking women, one that was dazed, and two weird things that looked like Insects, apologising profusely for his little 'mishap'.
Of the four, the short pink one looked the angriest. But she was quiet, instead holding onto the blonde so that she wouldn't fall over.
There was silence as he finished his apology, before the blue haired one simply turned towards the railing of the ship. She walked towards it, and leaned over.
"She's already gone." She said in a tone so soft he almost didn't catch it.
The red head, Germanian?, followed the blue hair girl "Think we can catch up to her if we turn this ship around?"
"No." She shook her head "Sylphid flies fast. Would be wasteful to turn around."
She wasn't wrong.
"Besides," the girl turned away from the railing and faced the pink haired girl "The mission comes first."
"Sorry about this Tabitha," the red head sighed "I didn't think that Sylphid would just run away like that."
"When we get to back to Tristain I'll try to request a search party from the Princess for your Familiar," The older woman, Agnes she had called herself, told Tabitha "It's the least I can do."
Familiar?
That Dragon was her Familiar?
"It's fine," the blue haired girl shook her head and asked "How's Montmorency?"
"She's waking up," The pink haired one answered, adjusting the grip on her fellow Noble "But she's still kinda dazed."
"Wouldn't be surprised," the Germanian spoke "She was casting her spells around like candy, never seen her do that before."
As they spoke among themselves, Marco excused himself, walking away from the group. His heart was still racing, some part of him still thinking that they would just toss him overboard as compensation for his lost.
"A Familiar just running away like that?" One of his crew members whispered to another as he walked past them "I thought that only happened in Romalia."
"No, it happens in Tristain too doesn't it?" Another one whispered
"Mages get killed by their Familiars in Tristain, not lose them."
"Yeah but they run away first don't they?"
Walking up towards the two, he grabbed them by their shoulders "Hush, both of you!" He snarled "I don't need for them to have an actual reason to turn this ship into kindle! Now one of you get the mop, and clean up the deck!"
"Sorry sir!"
After that little fiasco, the rest of the trip was rather boring. The blonde mage was slowly but surely recovering from her magical display, the older woman and Tabitha were apparently talking among each other, those two weird Insects found themselves entangled within the nets and required the assistance of some free hands to get them out, while the Germanian and the pink haired girl were just staring at their upcoming destination.
The massive landmass of Albion came into view, the clouds and the mist that caused it to be name the White Country surrounding the continent was always nice to look at. The ship rose higher, and higher. Until finally it broke through the clouds and he could see the countries and his destination for the trop.
Scarborough.
From what he could tell, the port was long taken by the Rebels of the Civil War. Luckily there was no blockade that prevented him from entering, at least as far as he knew.
As they ascended, they caught sight of a rather terrifying sight.
Far into the distance, where Newcastle of Albion was, they could see a massive ship that was multiple times the length and size of his own. It hovered menacingly in the air above the castle, and just the sight of it made him shiver.
"It's a wonder that the Royals haven't been wiped out by the Rebels if they that on their side." Marco spoke under his breath. He took his eyes away from the far sight, focusing on his current task, lest he crash his ship just as he got there.
As he moved his ship towards the port, looking for an open spot, a gasp from his passengers drew his attention.
The pink girl was pointing at the castle, and so were the other mages. At first he had thought that they just saw the ship as well, but when he felt a hand grab his shoulder and turn him back towards the direction of the castle, he turned.
And his mouth nearly fell open at the sight.
Growing from the castle was a massive tornado, one that was growing in size and it rose higher and higher towards the massive ship that hung over the castle. In a matter of moments, the tornado grew enough that it reached the air ship, even as it tried to fly away.
In a matter of moments, the tornado seemed to shove the ship away from the castle, the massive vessel spinning away. It seemed that the Royals still had some fight in them.
A small bump, brought him back to his current task, and with a few shouts towards the rest of his crew he managed to stop his ship from slamming into the docks.
It didn't take long for the group to run. They grabbed their stuff, tossed him a bag of the promised payment, and before anyone could say anything else they were off. Running off to Brimir knows where.
Marco raised an eyebrow, before he looked at the coin pouch in his hands weighing it with a grin. He looked at the rest of his crew, just as bemused at the sudden departure of their guests, and raised it a bit.
"Who wants drinks boys?!"
It was later he met a ship captain that had done a similar deal, though his was apparently heartless enough to let the ship get robbed since he wasn't involved in the situation.
[Scene]
"What the hell?!" A couple of the men around him shouted in complete shock at the sight that they had just saw.
Wardes agreed with their sentiment, the sight of the massive warship, The Lexington from what the others had told (Bragged) to him about, that was apparently used to scare them inside their castle being blown away wasn't something he or the rest had expected to see. Especially when just a day ago, every single one of the soldiers were telling him that the Royals had lost all the will to fight.
He looked at the closest soldier, his eyes narrowing under his hat "Is that not supposed to happen?" He asked.
"No sir!" The Reconquista soldier stammered out, his eyes were wide with fear "They never had any mages that could do anything like that from what we can tell. The only mages left in that castle should just be the Prince and the King!"
Wardes growled. So that meant that there was an unknown factor inside that place. Damn it!
"We'll keep moving forward!" Wardes shouted, gripping the reins of his horse as they ran towards their destination "Either they have something that they think can turn the tide of the war, or they're planning on a suicide charge."
It was a shame he didn't have his Griffon. If he had brought it along, maybe he could've flown straight towards the castle in half the time it took to move with this party. Furthermore, it could also give him the chance to fly to that massive ship and maybe tell them to not blow the castle apart.
With how the Royals had retaliated, it was only a matter of time before the ship responded with a deadly bombardment that would bury the place in rubble.
"But sir!" The soldier and more than a few of the others called out towards him "We don't know what's inside!"
He snapped his head towards him "We enter that castle today, or do you want me to tell Cromwell that we lost the letter and the Prince's corpse because of all you?!"
That shut all of them up.
His appearance had initially been something that they all celebrated. His mission to charge into the castle, kill the prince and steal the letter was seen as something as an easy ticket to fame for all of them. But the presence of a threat had turned it into something that they were all unsure of.
Wardes growled "Of all the times for them to fight back," he reached into his coat and pulled out the white mask to hide his identity. In a way, while it was a shame that he didn't bring his Griffon, the sight of the Familiar of the Griffin Knight's leader would've exposed his identity to everyone. And that meant that he couldn't listen into the plans of Tristain anymore.
The white mask fit over his face, and Wardes took a deep breath as he stared at the ever approaching castle.
[Scene]
He coughed into his hand, bending over so much that he almost threatened to fall onto the ground. Immediately the guards around him moved to support him.
After a moment his coughing subsided, and James I, King of Albion, raised his hand "I am fine."
"No offense your Majesty," the one that was holding him up commented "But you seem to be rather out of breath."
"Bah!" He scoffed "I could cast ten of those spells without even feeling it!"
"Maybe back then father," Wales, his remaining child, approached him and took over support for the guard "But I don't believe that you can do the same now."
"I must really be getting old then," James smiled as they slowly moved away from their spot, the balcony was always a favourite spot for the king. It allowed him to look out into the vast clouds of his country, the blue sky, and today it had given him and his son a proper way to blast that damn ship out of his castle.
At least, for the moment.
It wouldn't be long for it to return, and the information that they received told them all that a full force was going to attack them today. At least his son picked a good day for their final stand.
Ah well, if it was anything it felt good casting a final spell.
They moved him towards his room, the grandiose room was filled with golds and riches that meant nothing now that he was going to die later. But it was nice seeing the paintings and the golden chalices within his room.
Wales sat him down at his bed "Stay here father," he told him kindly with a smile on his face "You can rest now."
James couldn't help but shake his head "You should at least let me stand out with you, cast a few more spells."
"I believe that one was enough," Wales pulled away and turned to the guards, nodding as they stood at the doors. He faced him once more "Leave the rest to me, you should at least be comfortable."
"I've been comfortable my whole life," James admitted but he closed his eyes "I guess there's nothing wrong with just a bit more."
Wales smiled and turned away. He left the room, trusting the two guards to give his father some form of protection.
The Prince moved from the wing that housed his father's rom, and into the main hall. All the tables that would hold food, drinks, and recently plans for their 'war' had been moved to barricade everything that they could, leaving only a small exit.
The Nightmare Torch was still burning bright, Wales stared at it.
Within the flames he could see it.
The figure that had appeared inside his room the night before.
Eyes that burned even stronger than the scarlet flames stared into him, watching and waiting for his Kingdom to fall.
Wales turned away, and drew his wand.
Prince Wales Tudor of Albion left the main hall, and walked out towards his death.
[Scene]
As the horse's hooves pounded against the road, the sight of the castle in the distance filled Louise's heart with dread.
Not only due to the sight of the massive Wind Spell that had just occurred just now, which didn't bode well for the Academy Students if that was the scale of their opponents. But due to the feeling that she was too late, and that even if she reached it she wouldn't be able to complete her mission.
…
No.
Her grip on the reins tightened hard enough that she could feel Sib, who was sitting in front of her, turning to look at her.
Even if the anxiety of failure was eating her from the inside out, that didn't mean that she could doubt herself this far. She had to at least reach the castle, and that meant that…
She looked down at the Void Vessel in front of her, Bug was behind her gripping her sides as they rode towards their destination.
"Bug, Sib."
She could feel Bug slide its hand to touch any of the exposed skin that it could find, while Sib touched her hand.
Yes?
YES?
"We need to get to that castle as fast as we can," she told them both, and she could feel them staring at the sight. Taking her eyes from the road for a moment, she looked down at Sib "I know that I usually tell you not to hurt anyone, and not to do anything dangerous. But… you're both capable aren't you?"
Memories of Bug's little showing after the Familiar Exhibition suddenly filled her head, and for a moment she could feel a memory of a dark place.
The sounds of scuttling insects everywhere.
Yes.
YES.
Then she was back in Albion, riding her horse.
She shook her head "So from here, until we get to that castle, I allow you to act towards anyone that tries to stop us from reaching it. You can fight back, you can hurt anyone that you see as a threat towards yourself and the rest of us. As long as you don't leave my sight and you keep near towards me."
Sib lifted its head, bending its head back so that it could look her in the eye.
Should We Kill Them As Well?
The thought made her shiver, the thought of just letting her Familiars take a life. But as she looked at them, the feeling dissipated and she nodded "Yes," she looked forward "Until we get to the castle, you can kill as well."
Out the corner of her eye, she saw both Agnes and Tabitha look her away, but she kept her head forward.
UNDERSTOOD.
We Will Keep You All Safe.
And to her unfortunate luck, those words were going to be tested. Just as they were about the leave the port city, there was a collection of armoured soldiers who were blocking their way. Three of them.
They had to stop their horses, or else they'd be in trouble.
The men raised their spears towards them. She saw Tabitha ready her staff, Kirche and Montmorency already had their wands out, and Agnes was reaching for her pistol.
It took her a moment to notice that Bug wasn't holding her sides anymore, and that Sib had stood up on the saddle.
Then, just as they were close, Sib suddenly jumped. Her horse buckled at the sudden force, and before she could saw anything, Sib suddenly dashed forward.
It didn't shift its body like Bug, instead only its cloak lengthened behind it as it suddenly flew forward. Aiming towards the soldier that was right in front of her, its hand reached for the Soul Wand on its back.
SWOOSH
And swung the weapon.
Her eyes widened, as did the other soldiers at the sudden attack.
But before any of them could do or even say anything, two black tendrils suddenly pierced their heads. It stabbed clean through their faces, and skull, even piercing the metal helmets that should've protected them.
They were dead before they even knew what had happened. Then the tendrils flicked the corpses out of their path, sending them tumbling out of the way before they retracted back towards her.
She half expected to hear the 'Crack' of a whip as the tendrils of her Familiar receded back to their original length. But no sound came.
Sib landed on the ground, faster than the head and arm it had detached for the soldier. It turned towards her and jumped, timing it just enough that she could catch it.
With it in her hands, her face pulled into a uneasy grimace.
Is That Fine?
It tilted her head.
Louise swallowed the nausea in her throat, and nodded.
"Yes, that's fine."