Truth or Dare – Teleporting spiders
Blade rushed out of the bathroom. The three guards were waiting patiently, "Crap, I gonna be late… and not the fashionably kind." She was nearly running when she remembered that running in the halls was forbidden and slowed down. The guards simply kept pace, they weren't much for talking. Not that she had anything to talk about with them.
Lady Esra was hopping from one foot to the other, 'Gesh, what is taking that girl so long…' She was outside at the big stairs. There were quite a few people out there and the stairs gave her a good advantage point to overlook the place. Then she saw that young teen with dreadlocks speed walking through the courtyard of the school. 'Finally!' She made her way to intercept Blade.
'Phew, so boring. They'll probably continue the paper sorting… I swear if I have to watch that for even another hour… Why am I even rushing? Half the witches are out here. Blade was so in her thoughts that she didn't even notice the call out before. Only the side-tracked gazes of the guards made her stop.
"Blade Ashfallow," Lady Esra repeated a bit upset.
"Yes?" Blade noticed that she was being addressed and turned around. She stared at the young girl with a darker taint than her and two black pick-tails. The brooch was even more massive up close. "Oh, it's you…Lady Esra." Blade was a bit perplexed.
"Yes, it's me. Where is Lady Eshe?" The girl stared intensely at Blade.
"Come again?" Blade was utterly confused.
"Are you as rude as deaf?" Esra asked once more. "Where is she? You saw her last."
Blade scratched her head, "Right… sure…" Blade answered sarcastically, "I am late so… thanks for the chat?" She was about to turn around and continue her way. 'What the heck is she talking about?'
'Oh, that stupid commoner Fairy… insufferable,' Lady Esra snorted loudly and overtook Blade again to halt her in her tracks. She looked around and invited her to an emptier corner. "Is this a joke to you?!" She was really insisting on it. So, Blade followed suit. The girl talked more quietly now. "She came to meet up with you before the hearing."
"That's nonsense. I was stuck in Cloud Tower and the school. I didn't meet the Lady. And if she would have requested so, I would have happily declined," Blade got a bit more defensive now, 'What stunt is that girl trying to pull here? This is a trap for sure. As if I would fall for such a stupid thing.' She glanced at the girl. She seemed nervous or generally worried. 'Her play acting is next level.'
"Wha- you can't fool me. I know for certain she came to see you before the hearing," She glared at Blade. 'Don't you dare play coy with me. You did something. No one has seen her ever since she left for Magix.'
Blade squinted her eyes, "And how long before the hearing was that supposed to be exactly?" She couldn't believe that girl, they were already beyond late now. 'This is ridicoules.'
"Six days ago, she left Desertia for Magix early in the morning. So, stop lying. She definitely had the time to see you, even if you were stuck in Cloud Tower," Lady Esra confronted Blade. "If you rather drag this into court I gladly obliged." That girl was rather aggressive and sure of herself.
'Wait, six days? But if that's true…Lady Eshe uses Wind magic…hmmm, but we should have known by now…damn it, and the psychic link is still down…This is a setup. It has to be. Urgh, going into a trap alone…wait, I have guards. They have to follow me everywhere…ha, I gonna get me some proof. If they attack me, I'll have all we need. Perfect!' Blade smiled slightly, "Well, then. The only way I could have met her would be in the forest if you're so sure. Let's check it together."
"Forest? Why would I go into the forest with you?" Lady Esra was totally confused. 'Is she that stupid and incompetent?" She noticed Blade's smile. 'The guards will be there if she attacks me… ha, perfect. Whatever you did to my mom, I'll nail you to the wall for it. That I swear.'
"Simple, the wind magic assassin that shot me and my friends down, was in the forest. Your mother used Wind magic correct?" Blade watched the girl closely and then continued more or less mumbling to herself out loud, "The crash site is not too far from here by flight. And they will review papers all day long at that speed. No one will miss us for a few hours at least…hm…"
"Fine, let's go right now," The girl agreed. 'You'll regret this. And once I find mum, she will be able to sort that stuff out and you are going down for what you did. Two birds with one stone.'
Blade and Esra turned on their heels at the same time and straight walked out of the school gate. Much to the dislike of the guards, who quickly waved for some more backup.
One of the wizard guards signed to his colleges at the balconies, who were mostly enjoying a chatter amongst themselves, 'Great, wild goose chase… oh, well, anything better than white papers. She got that part right at least.' Nine other guards jumped over the school walls and roofs to catch up with them outside. 'Zhoron, set up a psi-link. We're taking the cube formation once we are air born.'
'Yes, Iolas,' Zhoron one of the two psychics in Blade's and Nebula's guard squad answered. 'Should I inform Aithlin?
'Nah, if they are needed they'll contact us. The area guards saw us leave, plus we have three left to guard the room, the rest is inside with the other Fairy,' Keryth one of the Paladins answered.
Inside the hall the hearing had resumed. 'Oh, how sad the little kid is missing. I wanted to play some more. It's sooo much fun to doom little children…' Councillor Votzaak commented drily in the Councillor's psi-link.
'Votzaak!' Iawenna called him out, 'That wasn't funny, the poor kid...'
'…Took it upon herself. Maybe she was smart enough to call an Uncle or someone who doesn't need a puppeteer to give some damage-controlling answers. Do we really need to wait for all the papers? Come on…' Shiri cut the Pixi Queen off.
'We will see all of the evidence as it is law,' Sybilla side-eyed Shiri.
'Aren't we missing one of the Fairy students as well? The nerve.' Neptune asked confused.
'The noble one is here, I doubt we'll get to them any time soon,' Gadiel spun his little metal ball on the table.
'Indeed, so let's continue viewing the evidence. So, we can get the farmer's crowd out of the hearing hall. I am not keen on any drastic escalations if the tension keeps rising like this,' Cahagan rose to greet everyone again. "Welcome back everyone, please continue." He ordered the librarians.
'Aye, and that Lady Eshe better find her way here, before we eventually have to condemn that child,' Aithlin gave his guards a nod and they closed the big hearing gates for now.
Blade was flying in her Winx form for a few minutes by now. Lady Esra was closely behind her in her own Winx form. The guards used the same spell, Calcei ala, to gain winged boots as Palladium had done at the assassination and had formed a cube around the girls. 'Alright, the boys said they needed around an hour to get out by foot. We are flying so we should be able to cut that down to around fifteen minutes… so half an hour for forth and back…'
The guards were chatting in the psi-link, 'Hey Eroan, you are ready to catch the little one, right?' Sarlen, who was flying above, asked.
Eroan replied, 'Of course I am ready. She has been falling behind since the first minute.'
'Ha, I bet she can fly for another minute if she really puts her mind to it,' Keryth laughed.
Iolas sighed, 'If she goes into burnout, Aithlin will be pissed… I bet she will fall in the next thirty seconds.'
'Think that Ashfallow can catch her before the Lady drops past us?' Zhoron joined the discussion.
'Surely, if she would pay attention,' Haldir commented.
'But she isn't,' Thallan snickered. 'I say no.'
Ararel inspected some birds far off to the right, 'Have some faith. Her reaction time isn't that much delayed.'
'Still, shit for a close-combatant,' Ilrune mumbled.
'Hey you are on voice of nature duty, concentrate on babysitting,' Thallan admonished him slightly.
'Pff, babysitting… this time true to its wor- oh, twenty-six seconds,' Virion kept a close eye on the little girl.
Lady Esra glared at Blade she was panting heavily, 'Shit, how can she be so fast. Sh…She's just a comm…' all of a sudden she felt so tired and her eyesight turned black.
'How could we possibly have not seen Lady Eshe attack us… She had to be -' Blade felt as a magic presence vanished behind her. 'Fuck, surprise att-' She created a magic light dart in her hands and turned to face the girl. Just to see her plummeting towards the ground.
'Weapon!' Virion was utterly confused why Blade would choose a weapon of all things.
Sarlen darted at Blade and was about to catch her hand and block her magic flow. 'What's wrong with her?!'
"Oh shit!" Blade realised that the girl was unconscious. She simply chucked the dart behind her as she darted towards the girl, "What are you waiting for? An invitation?!" Blade's heart pounded. She was in total tunnel vision. And hadn't even noticed Sarlen behind her. Blade caught the girl a meter before she had fallen past the guard line. Yet Blade got pulled down further by the extra weight she had underestimated.
'Eroan!' Everyone shouted at their college.
Eroan had already turned around to reach out, 'Yeah, chill!'
Blade quickly used her magic to infuse it into her wings to get to a hold less than half a meter before the guard line, "Hey, wake up! Lady Esra?!" No answer. Blade pulled her up to carry the Lady in her arms. All while Blade glared at the guard beneath her. 'What was he waiting for?!' She spied a small clearing. "Special forces my ass…" Blade ground her teeth angrily and flew downwards. She had been really scared for a second there. Plus, the girl in her arms was still out cold.
All the guards relaxed. They knew that the Lady had just run out of magic. Keryth complained, 'Damn it, I lost the bet.'
'Keryth swaps with Ilrune. Tolith with Thallan,' Iolas replied satisfied, 'Shouldn't have bet against me. You too Haldir.'
'Oh, come on… I didn't even really bet,' Haldir complained, 'I wasn't wrong since the time Ashfallow fell over in the greeting ceremony.'
'Yeah, yeah, I'll take the voice of nature duty…' Thallan sighed. 'I really thought she would fail.'
'Why the heck would she choose to attack over rescue!?' Sarlen asked super confused as they landed next to Blade in the clearing. 'I nearly knocked her out cold myself.'
'That had been fun to explain…some people are just jumpy and Fairies always are,' Tolith stretched his neck. 'Did you hear her, ha, she didn't even notice you Sarlen.'
'Tunnel vision, newbie mistake,' Virion chuckled. 'What do you think should I load up the Lady's battery?'
Ararel gazed at the tree line but only saw animals of the forest, 'No. Unless you like to stand in that hall watching librarians all day.'
Blade checked the girl's temperature and noticed that the girl was sweaty, but not cold, "Overexertion? But, she's a noble…we weren't even flying top speed… Is her pool that small?"
Iolas faced Blade, "Ms Ashfallow, you might not know, yet even if princesses and nobles start training early, that doesn't mean that they are at your beginner's level. She is still several years ahead to grow a mana pool that qualifies her to enter a school like Alfea." He answered calmly to clarify.
"Beginner's level…" Blade didn't like that assessment at all. 'He isn't wrong though, Nebula has so much more mana compared to me…' The pulse of the girl was fine. "Hey, isn't it your job to make sure she's fine? Use a healing spell or something to get her on her feet?" Blade was baffled that the guards didn't do anything concrete and had not reacted to the girl falling till the last second.
Zhoron looked at her expressionless, "Our orders are to protect you first of all. And healing her now will give her a false sense of security. She won't always have a wizard with her to fill her up. To rely on such a tactic is foolish. Besides her body is young, give her a minute or two. She'll be awake on her own."
Blade rolled her eyes, 'Great… if that happens all day long it will take even longer than an hour to get the proof. I'm not really good enough to share magic or heal… what am I even thinking?! She's the enemy.' Blade got upset about herself. Still, the little girl looked so peaceful lying there on the grass in the sunshine.
Blade sat down to bathe in the sun next to the girl. She was eagerly staring at the young Lady Esra. It had been more than three minutes by now, "Ehm, she's still out cold…you sure she's alright?" Blade was about to stand up to check on her.
"She's sleeping," Iolas commented as he inspected the area. 'Who bet that she wouldn't notice?'
'Ha me!' Tolith rejoiced. 'Daeleth you owe me one more honey wine bottle!'
'Ah, crap… and she was sitting so close,' Daeleth sighed.
Blade gazed at the kid in disbelief, "No, wa-" She quieted down not to wake the child. "This will take forever…" Blade let herself fall back into the grass and she stared at the blue sky as the wind blew over her dress layers. She nearly relaxed as she closed her eyes, just to jump back to her feet, 'This is not the time to relax… this still could be a trap. This is the right choice… the guards would get me back if I would be requested. Right? All is going to my... plan?' Blade paced up and down the clearing for the next ten minutes debating if this was a good idea.
Lady Esra opened her eyes and rubbed them, "What happened…ah, you! That was you!" She jumped to her feet and glared at Blade.
'Ha, she did sixty-seven laps. I'm the closest,' Sarlen proclaimed victoriously.
'Ah, and I was so close,' Ilrune pouted a bit.
Tolith snickered, 'Well time to move on, I guess. Are we really going to enter the Witch territory though?'
'If we get there, one is wasting her endurance and the other one is as slow as a snail,' Daeleth checked the way up ahead as his eyes glowed up shortly. 'All clear so far.'
"Again, how could it have been me? I was flying in front of you," Blade shook her head. "Let's go, before your Lady Philopa tucks on your rope…" Blade turned to walk through the forest. There was no way Esra would have recharged enough to fly again.
"You take that back this instant! I'm not a dog. I am a noble you commoner, will address me accordingly," Lady Esra growled at Blade.
"My deepest apologies Lady Esra. You are completely right. Let's hurry before the Lady Philopa calls upon you to face Councillor Votzaak in the name of Lady Eshe again," Blade made a half ^-assed curtsy and walked on.
A shiver went down Lady Esra's spine at the mention of that name, "Pah, already out of magic, are you? Weak..." She transformed and jumped into the air to surpass Blade.
'Three, two, one…' Ararel counted down and as predicted the girl dropped out of her form again.
'She'll let her fall,' Ilrune bet quickly.
'She won't see me!' Daeleth used some magic to dash forward to catch the young Lady just in case.
Lady Esra caught her fall and stumbled past Blade, losing her balance, "Woah!" She hectically waved around with her arms to catch her balance again.
Blade yanked at the Lady's garments, "Careful, if you hit your head we'll have to turn back." She was a bit annoyed by the girl and yet it had looked too cute. She felt a shadow behind her and turned her head, but there was no one. 'Just a bird?' She looked to the sky confused.
'Wrong, again Ilrune,' Virion laughed so hard. 'Did you see Ashfallow, she's so confused…ahahaha.'
'What did you expect? Daeleth is not just fast but also sneaky like nightshade cat,' Iolas moved onwards with the left flank. 'That was a sure bet.'
Lady Esra look at Blade as she straightened out her garments, "Thank you…" She answered barely hearable.
"Your welcome," Blade answered genuinely. "Now, come on, it's still a good way to go." Blade moved onwards. "Ah crap," She stopped. Her dress had green spots from the grass all over its back and now mud as well. She stroked with her hand over the dress to remove the stains with some magic and transformed back into her Winx to save her dress and feet some trouble. 'I swear if her job is to keep me away from the hearing I am so screwed…'
The group walked on for half an hour and were just about to cross into the Witches' territory. Esra was slowing down with every minute. She had been really slow, to begin with, though. The guards walked kind of in slow motion. While Blade who was a good part smaller than them at least had the impresson of a walking speed or better said a flight speed. She had flown the whole way so far.
Esra was gasping for air, but tried to keep up. Yet she was more or less stumbling through the undergrowth. Blade had guided them along a direct line through the forest and not along the main paths because it would cost so much time. "…" Esra placed her hands on the tree stomp and bent her knees ready to climb the tree stomp that was as high as her. Out of the blue, a fat ass spider crawled up from the other side and rushed up her arm. "EEEEEEEEeeeeewwww! Get it off! Get it off!"
The girl screeched so loud Blade's ears rang. 'What now?' Blade had flown over the tree stomp just seconds before her. As she turned to look what was going on an even bigger spider jump onto her leg and crawled up to her stomach before Blade could scoop up the spider into her hand. 'That's a huge specimen Professor Palladium would give me an A+ on finding… wait that species isn't even native to…' She noticed a slight glow from the spider as she focused on it. It had the same feeling to it as Shanna's illusions.
Esra smacked the spider to the ground and tried her hardest to stomp it and finally succeeded. "Die, die, die!" Her shoulders were raising up and down and her head was tomato red. The guards had halted but didn't do much besides scanning the area for attackers. "What kind of sneak attack was that?!" She accused Blade, she was so fed up with everything.
Blade glanced at the guards and noticed the same shimmer from one of the them. 'Oh, those insufferable… ice cold emotionless statues my ass. They are playing us. Oh, just you wait, two people can play at that game...' Blade stared wide eyed at the spider that had puffed out of existence. "Are you nuts. No one ever dares to try to squash a teleporting forest spider!"
"Teleporting?!" Esra looked shocked and jumped backwards, "Eww, where did it go?!"
"Don't they teach you in Desertia that if you try to squash one it teleports inside you to lay eggs!?" Blade explained dead serious.
"Eggs!?" Lady Esra turned pale and was close to crying.
"That's on you!" Blade pointed at the guard she had made out to be a psychic. "Those are your pets! I saw you with them on the balcony. You deal with this!" Blade slowly sat her huge spider down at the stomp and backed away carefully. 'Sucker.'
Lady Esra started to ball her eyes out, "You, get it out! Right now! I will have your head if you don't! I tell your boss! Get it out, GET IT OUT!" She had stormed at the guard and pulled and dragged at his leg armour, like a fury. "FIX THIS NOOOOWW! I don't want to host spiders!
Zhoron was a bit lost for words and stared at Blade, who had a big fat ass grin in her face. 'Oh, shit…'
The guys were laughing their asses off in the psi-link. Iolas couldn't believe it, 'She got you good, damn.'
'Teleporting spider? Ahahaha, good luck calming her down,' Eroan was barely keeping it together.
Tolith scanned in the direction of the Witches' territory, that scream had been so loud, 'Northeast is clear. Ashfallow saw through your illusion, dude. Boss move. Hey Ararel, did you know she can do that?'
'Nah, she just didn't notice directly that her dress was dirty, so the chances she freaks at a spider were slim,' Ararel explained. 'All clear on our side. Zhoron makes her screaming stop, please… my ears…'
Zhoron kneeled down, to face the little girl, "Not to worry. I train my spiders very well. They only lay eggs on command. I also can call them back. Watch this. Egredi!" He flared up some magic for nothing to make it look good. He opened his hand and the spider was back in his hand. "You just scared the little thing, we use it to scout up ahead. And they wait at certain stop points. All for you to be extra safe." He sent the spider off. "See, there she goes."
"Still gross," Lady Esra calmed down. "And there are no eggs?" She glared at him furiously.
"Not one, don't worry about it," Zhoron had such a soothing voice it was ridiculous. 'There, we go.'
'She believed that crap?' Keryth joined in.
'Hey, you are on duty no chit chat! Concentrate, we don't want any hick-ups. And why so surprised? She believed the teleporting story,' Iolas admonished Keryth.
The group continued, they had covered around three-quarters of the way and nearly were at a standstill. Esra was simply too tired to move on and stumbled over every so little stick or stone. She wasn't used at all to cross a forest. Blade looked up ahead, 'Shit, I don't know when we get called back, we're so close…' They had been gone for at least two hours by now. Blade let her head hang, "So slow…" She landed down in front of Esra.
Lady Esra nearly bumped into her, since she was staring at the ground. She was so tired and freaked out by the dark and mossy forest. The Witches' forest had an eerie feeling to it and the air was heavy to breath. "Hey, watch where you are taking a break! With the pace you are going we'll never reach…" She hissed at Blade, "…the… the crash site."
"The one slowing us all down is you," Blade answered a bit cold, "You'll break an ankle if you don't concentrate at all." She called her out.
"I am concentrating," Esra disagreed and wanted to pass her by. She stepped over the big root yet overlocked the slippery slope that followed and slid uncontrollable down the hill.
Blade flew passed her, transformed back and kneeled down so the young girl crashed into her back. Blade then quickly took hold of her upper thighs and carried her picky back. With their momentum Blade glided down the muddy slope followed up by a big jump over the puddle in front of them. Her dress was all messed up again. "Ahhh, I hate these clothes," Blade complained annoyed. She let go of one of the girl's legs and created a dart and shot it right down her dress on the side. The dart ripped apart the layers and opened the dress up completely on the side, "Finally, some leg room." She took full hold of Esra again and flicked her shoes into the forest. "Now we're talking!"
"Aaahhhh," Esra was a bit freaked out at first. "Sat me down! Are you insane? No lady does such a thing! That's so improper! They will see your undergarments!"
'My word, she's such a…' Zhoron didn't even know what to say.
'Men, no peep-' Blade darted by Iolas and her training pants flashed up under her shredded dress, 'Never mind…she came prepared… … who wears half their combat gear under a dress… commoners….'
Blade simply ignored the bickering from her ride. And dashed onwards she infused more magic into her legs and went for a run. She had shortly overtaken her guards, who had waited at the bottom of the slope. "Time to wake up, this isn't a holiday trip!" She shouted back at them.
'Ahahaha, so I won the bet against all of you,' Haldir laughed so hard.
'You only bet that she would purposefully rip the dress because everyone already had voted that she would get stuck in a bush or something! You wanted to bet on that yourself. You were just too slow!' Tolith complained.
'Well, karma is a bitch! Ahaha, you all owe me now,' Haldir teased Tolith.
Of course, Blade's head start was diminished within seconds and they were back in the original formation in no time. Yet to the surprise of many Blade had held her speed and even sped up a bit.
'Hey, shouldn't Ashfallow be wearier because of the dark alignment of the Witch forest? She's even faster…' Daeleth asked the group.
'Because she has the dark alignment as well as the light alignment,' Virion explained.
'Wait, what?' Sarlen squinted his eyes and inspected her closely. 'I thought that dark magic use was just a fluke.'
'It wasn't. Aithlin gave us the update this morning. But it's more on a need-to-know basis,' Iolas explained to the rest of the group.
They had made good time. Blade slowed down as they had finally reached the crash site. Blade stopped in the clearing of the broken-down tree line the Owl had crashed into just a few days ago. The guards were on high alert, even Blade could feel that. They were securing the area. "At last… well then, down you…" Blade looked over her shoulder Lady Esra had fallen asleep on her. "You got to be kidding… Hey! Lady Esra, we are here." She spoke up louder.
"Huh, what?" The girl looked up. "What in Magix happened here?" Esra gazed at the destruction all around her. She saw the burn marks of a huge magic circle.
"The assassin shot us out of the sky. And attacked us with wind magic and corrupted Wind Urchins," Blade elaborated. "I got split up from my group with Lady Nebula. We got pushed further that way," Blade pointed towards the tree line. "Does Lady Eshe have anything we could possibly track?"
"Mother would never do such a thing! She isn't a coward! She follows the rules to the letter and expects nothing but perfection from everyone. She would never be the cause of such destruction. If you accuse her one more time without proof, I'll…" The girl was upset. She didn't like the place one bit. 'Preposterous, Mother would never… grrr… calm down. If I want that incapab-' She stopped. Blade hadn't been incapable at all, besides what her mother had spouted around all the time. She was improper however not incompetent. 'That commoner just has to slip up and attack and I'll get my proof. I just need to be careful.' She got down from Blade's back.
"Hello? Anything I can track?" Blade asked again. 'Shit is she really just playing for time…' Blade stared at Zhoron. 'Shanna?' Blade tried but didn't get an answer. 'He probably is too far away to make a psi-link with Nebula, too. Damn, if only the link hadn't been restricted. I could have told her at least.'
"How are you of all people going to track her anyway?" Esra asked sheepishly. 'If there were footprints they would have found her. Yes, this is definitely a trap set by her.'
'It had to be Lady Eshe if she was on Magix so early. So, what if the little Lady sees me use dark magic or any of them guards. If I get that proof…' Blade uttered, "Whisper of creation of course…"
'Whisper of…' Lady Esra was confused, "What light spell is that supposed to be?"
"It's not," Blade got a bit impatient.
"So, you sue black magic!?" It didn't even come to mind that Blade possibly could have meant dark magic. "She's a Fairy she can only use light magic!" Lady Esra pointed at Blade shocked. But the guards didn't react to her disappointment. 'At least they could cuff her…'
"I didn't say that either…" Blade rolled her eyes, "Now, do you just want to spout around wild accusations or actually find Lady Eshe or disproof me at the very least." Blade switched tactics, 'If the stick doesn't work, use the carrot.'
Lady Esra answered a bit proud, "The ring. It's an heirloom one of the great artefacts of Desertia. Mother always said it could survive anything. It is perfection."
"Alright…what does it do?" Blade sat down on a tree stump and crossed her legs. Ready to meditate and find that traitor.
'This is such a waste of time,' Ararel moaned. 'Lady Eshe has no reason to attack Alfea students. That accusation is insane.'
Iolas answered, 'Anything is still better than watching those librarians. Still, men, we are in hostile territory. Chatter to a minimum, just in case. I don't think that anyone would be so dumb, but…'
'… prepare for the worst. Yeah, yeah. Anyone knows that whisper of creation spell by the way?' Virion asked.
'Nope. South is clear,' Sarlen added.
'East clear. Just, let them circle a bit and then we head back. Before it gets dark,' Thallan had found nothing of danger as well.
"Wait, that ring helps to control winds? So, like a weather spell?" Blade was a bit in disbelieve. 'That's how the wind got so strong probably… I can't mess this up.' Blade controlled her breathing. She checked if the guards were at their posts and then closed her eyes, "Whisper of creation," Blade connected to the Sorceress forest.
It took Blade a while. The forest wasn't so forthcoming or was it that she was bad at listing? It was harder than in the forest around Alfea. That Lady Esra poked at her as she got bored wasn't helping either. 'R…id…ge…. …Ridge. Da…..', Was the only word she barely got from the forest. "Should have known that…" Blade opened her eyes. 'That was where the wind was last. I don't understand how Palladium or Avalon hadn't noticed her though. They are so good at this. Did she got hit by one of the urchins? But even then, they should have been able to track her through nature. If she simply exhausted herself, she would have been at the hearing…none of this makes sense.'
"Should have known what?" Lady Esra glared at her. "Did you find her? Of course, you didn't!" Esra was a bundle of nerves, even Blade who was focused on getting her proof noticed that. Esra really wanted to find her mother. On the other hand, she vehemently disagreed with the possibility that her mother could be there. 'Come on, attack me already. Show your true colours. My mum never ever would come to this forsaken forest. Yes, she can come off as mean. She's harsh and cold at times…but she means well… She only wishes for perfection, because we noble houses have to be perfect. Our people depend on us. That evidence in her office was planted. And if mother wanted to kill her, she wouldn't need all this destruction. She's the strongest. She would have straight out pummelled them all… no one can beat her…' Esra ground her teeth, 'Where are you, mother? Come back home...' She rubbed over her eyes quickly to hide the tears. "You will answer me!" She addressed Blade angrily.
"Didn't you listen? Nature said that way…" Blade repeated herself and walked on.
'Wild goose chase…Ashfallow doesn't really expect to find Lady Eshe here, does she? That is ridiculous,' Eroan sighed, 'North is clear.' They had stood there for a few minutes as Blade tried to get some answers from the Witches' forest.
'Doesn't matter we are here to protect Ms Ashfallow as ordered… and her new duckling by extend,' Iolas stated blandly. 'What about those Witches to the west?'
'Nah, they stay clear. Probably came to check, who was sneaking around in their forest and turned tail once they saw our armour,' Keryth reported.
'Well, the biggest danger is that those two will scratch each other's eyes out, to be honest,' Ararel glanced at the sky. It was around two o'clock in the afternoon. 'We've been gone a while. Next recess will start soon or is already in progress and we'll get called back then anyways.'
Haldir jumped from the ridge top when he saw Blade stand up and point into the forest near the ridge, 'Guys, seems like we're going back into the forest. Is the forest playing with Ashfallow? We're kind of running in circles here…'
'I bet it is… I checked for Fairy live signs and there are none besides those two,' Ilrune commented, 'And yes, I know no chatter when I'm on voice of nature duty. But we firmly checked the area already. We've been here a while. There is no one else here. Even if our connection to a dark forest is weaker we would know by now.'
'You're not wrong. Biggest threat is a beast or a Witch attack. We should spread out more, so we get an early warning,' Virion proposed and so they did.
Esra shivered a bit, it was getting fresh in the forest compared to the sunlit ridge they had been on, "This forest is so creepy…"
Blade didn't mind at all, nothing was creepier than Phere-Moan truly. "Come here for a second," She waved the girl to her.
"What now?" Lady Esra was on high alert ever since the guards had spread out a bit further.
Blade ripped off the first layer of her dress and slung it around the girl like a scarf, "There, better now?"
"You're nuts! Don't destroy your dress! You're insane! A lady doesn't do that," The girl was so perplexed.
"Fine, if you don't want a makeshift scarf give it back," Blade held her hand open.
Esra held tide to the scarf, "You can't ask back for a gift you already bestowed to someone. And it would be improper to decline it. You doomed us both." Esra glared at Blade theatrically. 'Ahhhh, so soft and warm…'
Blade smirked and stood up, 'Now, where did that last urchin come from? Maybe I can pinpoint something…' Blade looked back at the ridge to estimate how far she could go, before she lost sight of the ridge.
"What are you smirking about!?" Esra inspected the scarf closer, but besides a few mud stains, there was nothing. 'She is toying with me! That Witch!'
'Whisper of creation…Light magic ring. Light magic ring.' Blade walked a short bit inwards as she felt nature call out to her. 'Stop… e…vil… r…ing… ring gone… van…she…d…. sw…al..…low..…ed…da..ng…' They were standing in the middle of some random trees. Nothing specific was there at all. And the message simply kept repeating like a thousand whispers which overlapped. Yet Blade couldn't understand it. 'Shit, without my Zombix this is so difficult… aahh, how am I supposed to understand that mumbo jumbo?!'
Esra watched as Blade ruffled through her dreadlocks wildly, 'She's gone insane? That comes from using weird spells…mother was right…'
'Esra…' a whisper resounded in Esra's head. It was her mother's voice.
'And there is our call back home,' Zhoron spied into the forest and notified the others in advance. He had picked up on the psychic connection build-up to the young Lady. Not that he could hear the discussion, he wasn't even close to Councillor Eaden's level.
"Mother?" Esra whispered and turned to look around. She couldn't spot her. Yet she could clearly hear her voice coming from behind the tree next to them. And she walked towards it. She spotted a big burrow entrance between the roots and bent down.
'Come to me, my child. Oh, how I missed you,' Lady Eshe's voice rang in Esra's mind.
'STOP! STOP HER!' The forest basically screamed at Blade.
Everything happened in seconds. The little girl leaned forward as a muddy hand stretched out to grab the girl at her throat. Blade screamed to warn the girl and darted forward. Blade infused her whole body with magic to breach the gap. 'No, no, no, come on! Just a little more!' Her heart pounded so hard, that her breath was erratic.
Esra screamed in shock unable to move. She was horrified by that thing that was about to pounce her. She did nothing as Blade's hand got in the way of the attack meant for her and another massive tidal wave of mud shot out of the burrow. It fanned out into a giant mass to gulp them both up.
"MOVE!" Blade took hold of the girl's arm and flung the kid directly into the arms of one of the guards charging in. She could hear the girl's shoulder dislocate from the jolt. She got pulled in by the muddy hand that had engulfed her arm. She dug her naked heels hard into the ground but still got dragged forward, leaving deep grooves behind. A fire sickle from a Paladin weapon smashed into the muddy tendril attached to her arm and cut her loose. Blade turned while she transformed into her Winx. She felt as if something sticky hit her boots and then several more tendrils shot down from above the dome, which was forming around her. Another wave of spells hit the monster's tendrils on point, but it wasn't enough. Blade was too slow and too weak in comparison. The muddy dome closed before she could pass through its borders. Darkness surrounded her.
'Shit! Girl status? Virion support. Ararel vines. Rest, Crescent moon formation. Don't let it escape. We need to get her out,' Iolas gave more orders. The guards had picked up on black magic flaring up from inside their perimeter, shortly after that Blade had screamed and all had rushed to the rescue.
Eroan had caught Lady Esra, since Blade had seen him first. He jumped backwards as Zhoron and Ilrune passed him by to give him cover. He pressed his hand on Esra's shoulder and infused some magic, "Sano caloris." He used the elven healing spell. 'Shock, dislocated shoulder.'
'Fix it. Ararel now!' Iolas had positioned himself on the big tree behind the massive Horror Mud they were facing. "HEDERA!" both shouted. And from the earth rose several strong vines and burrowed towards the Horror Mud that had appeared out of nowhere. The vines shot into the black body mass to seize whatever they could take a hold of. A few vines crumbled to dust in an instant as pure black magic shot through them. 'By the Great Dragon… don't tell me it's one of those corrupted things from the reports.'
'Quickly, draw it away!' Ararel took over the command.
The Paladins fired their weapons aiming at the edges of the mud to antagonise it and moved backwards in all directions to thin and stretch out its body mass.
Blade had her eyes closed shut. 'Whisper of creation!' she used the spell to pick up some input in this darkness. She knew this burning sensation on her skin. 'Horror Mud…shit… I hate those things, I'll never get out of here on my own!' She was in a panic. She had read up on them after her first encounter and once inside there was next to nothing she could do. She flared up magic all around her body to protect herself from the digestive matter. Luckily she had no open wound so she wouldn't fall into that nightmare state. However, her biggest problem was that her air was running out. Besides the fact that it was meaningless, she struggled to get out. Suddenly vines slung around her from all kinds of directions. They held her tight but didn't squash her. 'The guards! I'm not alone, Blade calm down. Calm down!' She tried to slow her heartbeat. Yet her initial relief was burst like a bubble. She could feel the vines dissolve in seconds besides the fact that they were so thick. 'Shit, shit, I need to help them somehow…anything…' Blade concentrated on her whisper of creation. 'What is that? No way…red crystal… so huge,' Blade aimed at the core inside floating inside the mass with her and created a dart and shot it. She felt as the dart clashed with the core. It shattered on impact. It had barely scratch it. Yet abruptly the Horror Mud convulsed as a shockwave erupted from the core. Blade got swirled around and just managed to catch the core as it hit her in the stomach. Like her life depended on it she held onto it as air escaped her lungs. 'Fuck!' She felt her headache as her air was running out and a stinging pain shot through her chest.
'Fall back!' Iolas ordered the troops as the Horror Mud gave off a black magic energy wave, cutting deep into the trees all around. And they protected themselves with some magic shields. 'Ararel, Hedera again. Rest, converge, AoE cleansing circle. We'll force it to jump!'
"Hedera!" Ararel summoned more vines to penetrate the Horror Mud again. He aimed for centre mass and the vines took hold of anything they could find.
The guards had surrounded the creature in seconds and rammed their weapons on the ground to create the area of effect cleansing spell and converged, "Circinus lucis emenda meus adversario!" A white circle appeared raising a wall of cleansing magic and it rapidly closed in on the corrupted Horror Mud.
Blade felt as vines wrapped around her again. She felt so drowsy. She was out of air, 'Let me go!' She infused her Fairy magic into the core to distract the Horror Mud from dissolving the vines. Everywhere the crystal touched her skin it burned like hell. Blade activated her Chamrix, 'Let go!' She wouldn't stop as long as she could stay conscious. Her goal was to suppress as much black magic from the core as possible to weaken the Horror Mud.
In disbelieve the guards watched as before their cleansing circle could force the mud to jump another even bigger shockwave than the first one erupted from inside the Horror Mud and blasted it to pieces. It splattered everywhere forming smaller versions of itself. The cleansing circle decimated a good half of those tiny Horror Muds as they passed through before the guards got pushed back a good step from the shockwave, which broke their circle and the spell got cancelled.
Ararel watched his vines being obliterated, when Blade, now unconscious, got hurled through the air and dropped out of her Fairy form. He darted across the battlefield in lightning speed and pulled her back before she could crash into a tree full force. Just to have a mini Horror Mud splashed into his face as he turned. It gurgle-screeched at him as that thing realised it found some food. "S….. … . …. … f. … … I'll…. .. !" Ararel gave of some grant muffled swears and dropped Blade to claw into the mud on his face to pull it off.
"Shield of Light!" Virion cast swiftly before the unconscious Fairy could hit her head on a stone below. 'Dude, careful!' He stopped right next to his buddy. "Burning hands!" He grabbed the mud on Ararel's face and burned the mud to ash as they pulled it away.
'Quickly, before those things reform!' Haldir stabbed all the once around him as he infused his sword with magic.
Iolas just had finished his spell, "Cleansing meteor rain!" And he sent down a shower of fireballs infused with cleansing magic. He made sure that he would annihilate the red crystal orb still floating up in the air. Once it got hit several times it turned to dust. 'All clear? The Lady? Ashfallow?' He watched his men kill off those muds he had missed.
Eroan had fallen back a good part, once the first shockwave had gone off and dropped his shield spell, 'All good here.' He held the little girl which was still shaken to the bones.
"She… she…Is she dead?!" Esra started to cry she didn't understand anything anymore.
Virion had turned to inspect Blade and didn't answer. Ararel gasped for some air himself.
'Virion!?' Iolas got scared there for a second as his healer didn't give him a clear answer.
'She's breathing okay, give me a second to diagnose. I'm trying to concentrate here,' Virion complained. He held his staff over Blade's body and began the healing process, 'Few broken ribs, bruising, bruns, concussion…crap.' He stopped his healing spell when he noticed that a piece of red crystal was stuck in her hand and had grown as he had infused magic into Blade. He hurriedly picked up her hand, "Purify!"
Ararel had caught his breath and turned to help out, "Sano caloris!"
Iolas walked over to his wizard colleges to check for himself. 'Paladins, perimeter check. How the heck did that thing got past us!?' He growled pissed as he stared at his ward.
Eroan carried the Lady back to the others so they had a smaller area to secure. Everyone was a bit confused as to how the perimeter had gotten so badly breached. Eroan couldn't do much with a girl in his arms, who wouldn't stop crying no matter what he said to her. So, he started the discussion of first, 'I mean Horror Muds can hide the life signs of their prey…'
'We still should have sensed it then,' Iolas answered harshly. He was annoyed with himself.
Zhoron sighed, 'The reports said that monsters that got corrupted grew stronger or got new abilities. By the way, should I ask for a pickup? Do we need one? If so I need to get closer to Alfea.'
'No all good, we would be faster walking ourselves,' Ararel let Virion take over the healing since he had finished the purification. 'Your Idea is not too far-fetched, Eroan. We need to report this. What is more concerning, though, is that it is true that red crystals can't be located until they activate. I could feel that core at least faintly once the mud used its power.'
'Ehm, guys, problem…' Sarlen's voice didn't bode well.
'This isn't a guessing game,' Iolas couldn't do much with that statement.
'Oh, don't tell me…' Thallan had joined Sarlen and sounded equally dire, 'They were searching for a magic ring, right? With wind attributes?'
'Yes…' Iolas looked up in their direction. 'Will you two spit it out already?'
'We found one stuck to a woman's finger…' Sarlen made his way back to Iolas. 'How big are the odds that…?'
Iolas stepped away from Blade and met up with Sarlen, 'Show me.' In disbelief he stared at the ring of Desertian origin. He recognized the ancient runes in an instant. 'Shit. But how did she know?' He gazed over his shoulder at Blade on the ground.
Lady Esra had burrowed herself so deep into the guard's arms. Yet a familiar feeling ripped her out of her fearful state. 'Mother's ring! I can feel it. She's here!' She pushed herself off the guard. "Mother! Where are you?!" She shouted out loud.
"Hey, don't just run off!" Eroan had not expected that sudden change of heart and most certainly he didn't want her to see a cut-off finger. He caught her arm again.
"Let me go!" She gave him a smack in the face, but the guard didn't even flinch. Esra looked to the other guards standing in a small circle. "You found her. Where is she?! Give back my family's ring! Thieves!"
Iolas took the finger with the ring attached, 'There is simply no good way to break the news.' He sighed deeply and held the finger up, "Are you sure this is Lady Eshe's ring?"
The girl's eyes widened. "That…" She couldn't finish the sentence. Yes, it was her mother's ring. But even worse that was her mother's finger. She recognized the nail paint, it was her favourite, she had worn the day, she had left. "What did you do?!" Anger boiled up inside her. She tried to charge at Blade but got held back. She scratched and screamed her lounges out.
Blade heard screaming. It was that little girl. She was beside herself. Blade opened and closed her hand a few times until she was sure her body was reacting to her commands in a sensible timeframe. She opened her eyes; the daylight blinded her at first.
"Don't move," the guard, who was healing her, ordered.
"Murderer! Let me go! I'll…" Esra screamed so loud. "You, commoner scum, you made this trap for her! You killed her!"
"What's going on? Where is the mud?... is everyone okay?!" Blade sat up despite the fact she had been ordered not to. "Ouch…" She felt a sting rush through her body. She stared at Esra, who glared with deadly intent at her.
"I said, don't move," Virion grumbled.
"You'll pay for what you did! I see you hang!" Esra wouldn't stop she even tried to bite the guard but only hit the armour. "You'll pay! Commoner scum!"
"What? ..." Blade didn't understand a thing.
Virion mumbled to himself, "Why does no one ever sit still…" He already could see that Blade wasn't going to lie down again.
"You set this trap for my mother! You let that monster lose!" Esra accused her harshly.
Blade was still confused, "Firstly, I didn't even know that mud shit was here. And secondly what has that to do with your mother?!"
"You… argh…" Esra was lost for words and pointed at the finger that the guard was still holding up.
Blade looked at the guard's leader, "Holy electron…" There was the magical ring she had been looking for like in trance she stared at it.
"Hey, you okay?" Virion snapped his fingers in front of her face. Blade's face had turned pale in an instant. Yet he couldn't find anything new that was wrong with her.
"So, it was her…. ….. they truly came after us. Haven't they killed enough?" Blade bared her teeth as she ground them together. "Monsters, all of them. How dare they attack my friends…. They had nothing to do with any of this!" Blade jumped to her feet and pushed past the two wizards next to her. She was so furious now herself. "You shitheads always spout around about justice and bloodlines and power or perfection! When was the last time you, dickheads, looked in the mirror!?" She was panting heavily. And her head spun since she had jumped up way too fast.
"Sit still, you are in no condition to move!" Virion and Ararel caught Blade before she fell over.
Esra watched Blade sink to the ground again coughing while the guards held her. It was like a mirror to herself. She was angry more than that. What Blade said lined up with the hidden papers she had found in her mother's office at home. 'This can't be true. No, it's a lie. It has to be…she would never…'Yet those burning flames in Blade's eyes, that call for revenge, it was the same look her mother had had the day the palace had been destroyed. Her mother's warnings to stay inside at home came to mind. "The only killer I see is you!" Esra spat back, she wouldn't accept this. "My mother was a great leader, she never would kill anyone! All she did was for the future of Desetia!"
Blade wanted to stand up, but her body was simply to weak. Tears dropped down her face as she looked up to face that noble, "Oh, really?! Then all the explosions, the fights in the palace all those people who died. It all was just my imagination, grow up! And that Lady Eshe turned tail to save herself and abandon her men at the palace and got attacked by vultures, that of course, is all just a bad dream!"
'Hold them back. We don't need a catfight!' Iolas commanded. 'What the heck is Ashfallow talking about? Zhoron is she lying? Is she truly accusing Lady Eshe of hiring the Witches?' He couldn't quite believe what he heard or understand it.
"You're lying! My mother is no coward! She always asked for perfection! No one compared to her, she is the perfect Fairy. She is. She always was…She would never plan a Coup de 'tat! That's a lie! You and those Witches planted that evidence! Confess!" Lady Esra yelled at Blade as she tried to get some ground beneath her feet. Yet the guard had picked her up from the ground and his arms were slung around her waist. "My mother isn't a… ….. you are lying…." Esra teared up herself. "Even if Queen Jewels wasn't of the royal bloodline, even if she wasn't perfect. She'd never… she…she….. …"
The truth hit the guards in the face like a train. The reason why Blade had made a statement for the Witches in the opening ceremony. Why explosive charges had been able to be fired inside a still well-guarded palace. The death of the king and queen and their successor. Lady Eshe's absence, the assassination attempted. The reason Faragonda and Griffin had insisted on a personal bigger escort for Blade and Nebula for the duration of the hearing. And most of all, how Blade had gotten the idea to search for Lady Eshe once Lady Esra had insisted that she had been on Magix way before the hearing.
'By the Great Dragon…' Iolas was speechless as was the rest.
Blade eyes widened when she heard that girl had found evidence of the Coup de 'tat. More importantly though was that she realised that person before her was not just a noble, a traitor like her mum. But a child, a child whose world was breaking apart by the decisions her mother had made. A puppet that wanted to believe in the Fairy tale of her perfect mother. Blade's hate was misplaced. 'I doubt I can help her at all. I mean we're…but she's just a kid…come on think…think.' She calmed down and closed her eyes, "I'm sorry… you're not a dickhead..." She still was so furious. It took all her strength to stay calm, "And even if I didn't lik-" She sighed. "I hated your mother…yet, I didn't want her deat- bullshit, … yes, if I had gotten the chance, I probably would have killed her, way back then… She hurt my friends! But…but she's not the only one. I can't tell you why and quite frankly I don't care! How she came to her conclusion. Nothing can excuse those atrocities I witness. Nothing!" Blade paused to calm herself again, "…Still it wasn't you. Besides what you stated, you came here as a daughter. In your shoes, I would have done the same… I probably wouldn't believe anything I am telling you now either…" Blade sighed, in her mind, she couldn't help that girl. She had no kind words to say.
However, Esra calmed down for some reason. Maybe it was the way Blade talked or the honesty. Maybe it was the fact that Blade besides the fact she had known of the coup de 'tat herself had chosen to save her from the Horror Mud. Or it was the hunch, Esra had ignored for days now, that all the evidence could be true and now it was irrefutable. "She always asked for perfection. Nothing I did was ever good enough, fast enough, strong enough. How could she? …Would she one day hate me just as much as the late Queen Jewels?" Esra mind was flooding with questions. She couldn't stop crying. She was heartbroken.
Blade felt for her, "I can't answer that for you... My mum loves me no matter what, but I very much doubt that yours would choose to kill you. A mother protects her child above all else… You came here alone… where's your father?"
"He was the love of my mum's life. But He died in a shuttle accident when I was a baby. It was a driving mistake on his part…I heard…" Esra answered bleak.
Blade had paused again, "I know, it's the last thing on your mind, right now… but did you bring the evidence you found to Lady Philopa? Or told her in any way what you found?"
"No…" Esra was set down by the guard since both girls had relaxed. "I took it with me. I hadn't had the time to show Lady Philopa yet. She wasn't willing to listen to me."
"Then burn it. Lose it. Get rid of it. Get rid of the brooch, too. Renounce your position as household leader," Blade bit her lip.
"Why?" Esra was so confused. Snot was all over her face and the tears simply wouldn't stop.
Blade looked fierce at the girl, "The tide will turn on those nobles. If you are with them… I will get justice for my friend, for all those who died. I don't know enough about courts to protect you. But you are innocent. You shouldn't burn for your mother's sins," Blade looked her straight in the eye and mustered up the strength to stand up. The guards still held her back, just in case she would tumble over or do something stupid. "This isn't my decision though. It's your path to choose. Find your own truth. Nobody is perfect, there is no perfect answer or solution to this. I don't know what you would lose giving up everything." She stopped in front of the guard leader, "I'll be taking the ring back to the hearing right now, will you or I carry it?" Iolas in return put the evidence very obviously for all to see into his belt pocket. Blade turned again to the kid, "I know a few good-willed people on Desertia they might be able to help you. I can lay in a good word. But if you choose to stand with them… I can promise you now, I will see them all bleed for what they did." She balled her hands, and her voice trembled. "Still… I would hate to see you get hit in the crossfire, but I will not lose to them to save you. That is MY decision." Blade turned towards the direction of Alfea and started walking.
"But they heard! How can I burn evidence now?!" Esra called out to Blade under tears. She had no idea what to do. She couldn't even stand. She watched Blade, who passed her by like a drunk. The Wizard, who had healed her, looked really displeased and was at her heels. It was a strange sight. Blade looked like crap, her dress was ripped apart and stained. Her hair was a mess. She had to be in pain for sure. Yet her path was clear. And nothing would stop that commoner. 'Perfection…'
"They are only allowed to report usage of magic. Not what I talk about as far as I know. And if they know what's good for you, they'll shut their traps," Blade ground her teeth. "Take your time. Think this through. I won't mention your findings to the Coup, that's my second promise to you."
