Episode 15: Back Home
Mana stares at the chaos in front of her in awe.
"They're worse than us…" Emile whispers.
"Agreed." Akane nods.
Calypso stares at Emile and Akane in shock. "Are you telling me you guys get like this sometimes?" she asks, looking like she's rethinking everything she said about staying with Phoenix Fire.
"Sometimes." Akane nods and swiftly grabs Veiss by his ponytail when the boy looks like he's about to join the morning chaos of Aberrant Hydra. "I think the fuck not." she hisses, pulling Veiss down to the ground. "We're here to collect Eira and get a portal to Wisteria. You can fight the Silver Sabelum nobodies if you're really that thirsty for a fight."
Veiss glares at Akane and picks himself up off the ground. "Pull my hair again and I'll cut yours off in your sleep." he threatens.
Akane looks unbothered and starts examining her nails. "Suck a cactus."
"This is why you have no friends."
"I have Emile."
"And me-!" Mana quickly adds but Akane shuts her down just as quickly:
"No."
Mana hangs her head. "Rejected." she sighs while Emile pats her on the back.
"I told you so." Calypso mumbles under her breath. Fortunately for her, Akane doesn't hear.
None of their conversations proceed any further because Eira and Glinda finally approach their group.
"Good morning, children!" Glinda says cheerfully and Eira gives them a friendly wave. "Are we all ready to go?" she asks.
"WAAAAAAAAIT! WAIT WAIT WAIT!"
Everyone stops when they see a young boy running down from Aberrant Hydra's upper level.
"Neil?" Eira blinks as the boy approaches them.
"Are you really leaving? Oh come on, Eira, can't I come with you?" 'Neil' pleads.
Neil is a young teenager with dark skin and bright purple eyes. His white hair is styled into a spikey uppercut. He wears a white long sleeve button up shirt with purple accents with the sleeves pulled up to his elbows. He wears dark purple pants and Neil's shoes are simple brown boots.
Neil clasps his hands together, giving the Phoenix Fire Mages a perfect view of the purple Aberrant Hydra mark on his right hand. "Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please-" he begs, only stopping when an exasperated Eira puts her hand over his mouth.
She sighs, "Neil, how many times do I have to tell you my business in Zaflior is private?" Eira says. "And besides, your parents aren't happy with you already. What would they say to you if you went off to the other side of the country without telling them?" she asks as she lets him go, trying to dissuade Neil from any notions he may have of following her.
Neil sighs and drops his hands. "I-I just want-"
Eira gives him an understanding smile. "I know. And you're plenty strong already, Neil, but you can't just run away because you want to prove something." she lectures. "I won't be gone for long."
Neil nods, disappointed. "Okay…" he sighs and drops his head.
At the discouraged look on his face, Eira falters. She shakes her head and smiles again. "Tell you what," she says. "When I get back, I'll go with you on any mission of your choice - within reason."
Neil looks up and beams. "Really?"
"Really." Eira nods.
Neil grins. "ALLLLLLRIIIIIIIIGHT!" he cheers. "I'll - I'll go pick one now to make sure no one else takes it!" Neil says excitedly and runs off. "Oooh, maybe Victoria will come. She's so cool…" and then Neil's hyped ramblings eventually fade away when he runs out of earshot.
Emile raises an eyebrow. "Who was that?"
"Neil Pace." Glinda says. "He's a bit...irresponsible...but he has a good heart." she says. "He's one of our youngest members - fifteen years old if I remember correctly."
Akane's eye twitches. "I can't decide which one is more annoying. Neil or Acro."
"At least Neil hasn't touched you with his feet." Veiss says with a shiver.
"Goddess, I can't believe he still doesn't wear shoes…" Emile shakes his head.
"Uh…" Mana and Calypso exchange a look.
Glinda clears her throat. "R-Right." she says. "Let's get a move on, shall we? I'll accompany you to Wisteria so I can take you to Zaflior whenever you're ready." she says.
"That's so kind of y-"
"Ah, you haven't left yet." comes the familiar voice of Cole. "Good."
They all look towards the sound of his voice, the young man approaching them with kind eyes (it's still hard to see whether or not he's smiling underneath all of those bandages but his eyes are very telling).
"I see you're not falling anymore." Veiss snickers. "How was it?"
Cole shakes his head, a dark look on his face. "It was very...convincing. To not try something like that again, I mean." he sighs. "That woman, Ace, showed up here after you guys left and offered to have me train with her Rune Knights for a while, but…" Cole glances behind him.
Mana follows his line of sight, frowning when she sees who he's looking at. "What does Luna have to do with this?" she asks.
"She said Luna would be more than capable of providing the same training regimen that she would." Cole says. "Turns out she used to be part of Valiance's army."
"A Captain, yes." Glinda says. "It's not something she looks back on fondly anymore so I'd appreciate it if you don't bring it up to her." she says to the Phoenix Fire Mages.
When they nod, Cole continues. "We've already talked about it and she's agreed so I guess that's that." he says. "I wanted to thank you before you guys left. I know you didn't exactly accomplish what Master Glinda asked you to," Cole says, glancing at Glinda, a scarily calm smile on the woman's face. "Just...thank you." he says. "And the next time Xander inevitably pops up, I hope you guys are there to see when I take him down." Cole says confidently, clenching his fist. "Next time...next time for sure."
"Just give me a little warning the next time you decide to put on a fireworks show." Akane deadpans. "I don't like having panic attacks while I'm trying to work."
Cole gives her another apologetic look and awkwardly rubs the back of his head. "Yeah...sorry again."
With no more interruptions, Glinda finally opens up a portal to the entrance of Wisteria village. Glinda and Eira step out of it like normal while the rest of their company steps out of it with a mixture of annoyance and confusion.
"Master Glinda…" Calypso starts. "That was rather...easy." she says suspiciously.
Glinda looks at the girl with a frown. "I'm afraid you've confused me." she says.
"Every other time we've been sucked up by your portals - we were literally sucked up like it was a damn vacuum cleaner." Veiss points out. "This time…"
"We just stepped through it like it was a doorway." Mana says, awed, and turns around to watch the portal close behind them. "Cool."
"W-Well…" Eira starts, an awkward smile on her face. She knows exactly what they're talking about. "Um…"
Glinda still plays dumb. "I don't know what you mean. I just opened a portal like always." she says.
Akane glares at the woman. "And everytime we've come out on the other end of one of your portals we've ended up in a fucking body pile." she says. "Now it's obvious you've been doing it on purpose."
Emile quickly changes the subject before their resident hotheads get any angrier, "Portal aside, weren't we supposed to meet Saul at your guildhall?" he asks Glinda.
"That was the original plan, yes, but I sent him home during the evening yesterday." Glinda says. "He found our hotels to be a bit expensive for his tastes." she shrugs.
"Ah, I thought I felt something off. Visitors!" an unfamiliar, excited voice. They all turn to see a young man who, like Emile, doesn't seem to understand the purpose of hair accessories. And, oddly, he seems a bit familiar to Team No Name even though they're ninety-nine percent sure they've never met him before (Mana especially). He has an odd choice of footwear that also seems strangely familiar…
"Master Oliver, it's nice to see you again. How've you been?" Glinda smiles.
Oliver? Mary suddenly questions. Isn't that…?
Yeah, but there's no way...right? Emile said Danate said that Nadine said-
Mana feels Mary roll her eyes. Yes, I know what Emile told us. Master Nadine and the guild weren't able to rescue him themselves, but who's to say that he wasn't rescued by someone else? It would explain why they never found anything - he was already out of Revenant Beasts' hands. she hypothesizes. And look at him! He's the spitting image of Nadine and his eyes match the description Emile had of Nadine's husband!
I know that, you know that I know that. I just...it would be so cruel to get Master Nadine's hopes up if-
"Where are your parents?" Emile asks bluntly, interrupting whatever conversation Oliver and Glinda were having.
Wow. He's so tactful. Mary says sarcastically.
Akane and Veiss promptly slap him upside his head.
"Could you be any more insensitive you freak of nature?" Veiss hisses.
Oliver smiles awkwardly. "It's...fine." he says. "An odd question for sure but I don't see any reason to not answer." Oliver says and his smile turns sad. "My father, the previous Guild Master of Silver Sabelum, passed away a few months ago. Peacefully, in his sleep." he adds.
"I see. Sorry about that." Emile apologizes and rubs his sore head. "It's just…" he trails off, glancing between Veiss and Akane, not wanting to earn another slap to the head.
Akane sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Our friend here didn't have a smart choice of words but you look incredibly similar to a family we know." she explains. "But they don't have any connection to Silver Sabelum, so…"
Oliver frowns. "Is that so…" he mumbles. He shakes his head and smiles at them again, "Come, come, come! Saul said that we would have visitors soon - I'll show you to our guildhall!" Oliver beams and beckons everybody to follow him.
("Who exactly do you think he looks like?" Glinda whispers to Veiss.
"Master Nadine."
"Hmmm…" Glinda trails off, studying the new Silver Sabelum Guild Master. "...I don't see it.")
"Lenox! Saul! Look!" Oliver shouts when he throws open the doors to the Silver Sabelum hall. "People!" he says as if the mix of Mages were the most interesting thing to happen to Wisteria since Oliver ascended to Guild Master.
Saul and a woman wearing a neapolitan colored hoodie are sitting at a table playing some sort of board game.
Saul yawns and stands up. "Finally. I'll go get the brats." he says, stretching. Without saying anything else, he walks out of the guild.
"What a ray of sunshine." Oliver says sarcastically and sighs. He turns to the woman and smiles kindly at her. "Lenny, these are Mages from Phoenix Fire and Aberrant Hydra. Mages, this is Lenox Arachnia," Oliver introduced everyone. "The only one who keeps me company anymore…"
Everything slows to an awkward silence.
Compared to Phoenix Fire's and Aberrant Hydra's, Silver Sabelum's base of operations isn't much to gawk at. The only ones that appear to be in the building are Oliver, Lenox, and all of the Wisteria visitors. It's a one floor building but from what everyone saw as they were entering, it's not small by any means. The furniture and decorations makes the main room of the building look like a tavern you would find on the side of the road. It looks like this would be a great place to hang out but it seems like all of Silver Sabelum's Mages are out, for whatever reason.
Mana knows that Silver Sabelum isn't lacking in Mages - Emile told her as much when she was getting her crash-course in all things Valiance - so where could they be?
"U-Um," the woman, Lenox, breaks the silence. "It's nice to meet you all." she says shyly as Oliver takes the seat Saul was just occupying. "We don't get a lot of visitors and Oli isn't able to get out a lot, s-so, um, thank you for listening to Saul's request." Lenox stammers, glancing back at the board game when Oliver makes a move.
Emile puts on a charming smile and starts to approach Lenox, "It's my pleasure, b-"
Without missing a beat, Calypso pulls Emile back by the scruff of his kimono, Mana slaps the back of his head, and Akane roughly elbows him in the stomach.
"Kneel, dog." Akane sneers as Emile groans and doubles over in pain.
Veiss can barely contain his laughter while Glinda and Eira look at the group like they have two heads.
"What…?"
Glinda shakes her head and pats Eira on the shoulder. "It's better we don't ask." she whispers to her.
"Master." comes a new, unfamiliar voice.
Oliver looks up from the board game and beams when he sees one of his guildmates. "Koz! When did you get back?" he asks.
"Just now." Koz says, sneering. "That kid is a fu-" he stops, catching himself. He clears his throat, "...a nuisance." Koz finishes.
Koz Anhalt is a young man with black hair and whitish colored eyes that are always covered by sunglasses. He has tanned skin that is often littered with small bruises because he's constantly out on missions or defending the village from various animal/Dark Guild attacks. His hair is styled into a mohawk buzz cut and he wears simple adventuring gear: a navy green t-shirt under a light brown leather jacket with numerous pockets, ripped black jeans, and black sneakers with the Silver Sabelum emblem on the upper part of each shoe.
"That kid," another voice starts. "is right here."
"Kyza!" Oliver gasps, his expression growing impossibly happier as Kyza appears behind Koz, a pout on his face.
Kyza Miraj is a young boy with medium-length, curly, emerald green hair. His eyes are dark pink and his skin is tan. He's a little short for his age, but not dramatically so. He is well built from his training. His ears are pierced, his left eyebrow is pierced, and his lower lip is pierced (it's a symbol of a time that we'll get into later). He wears a long sleeved, silk, light green tunic with white harem pants and black sandals. And, as he has since Lenox gifted it to him, he wears his black leather satchel cross-body which contains a variety of items he needs on a daily basis.
Koz rolls his eyes. "And don't I know it." he sighs. "Saul told us that he had a way for us to contact that Phoenix Fire guy with the boat. I want your permission to take a mission in Fiore." he says to Oliver.
Oliver blinks. "Fiore? What sort of mission could you possibly take in a different country?" he asks.
"It's just a recon mission." Koz says. "These Mages from another guild want a fresh set of eyes to look around Fiore with them. Then they want that someone to help them around Valiance." he says, handing the request to Oliver.
"Where'd you get-?"
"He's been holding onto it." Kyza supplies.
"Right." Oliver mumbles, scanning the paper. "...It seems simple enough. Very well." he sighs, handing it back. "When are you leaving?"
"Right now."
"Oh-"
"I'm taking Saul with me to Zaflior, too, by the way. This brat is too fucking annoying to be my second set of eyes." Koz states bluntly.
Kyza whines, "I was just trying to make conversation!"
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Koz…" Oliver warns, crossing his arms.
Koz's eyes widen and he blushes, embarrassed. "Whatever. Where are the Phoenix Fire Mages?" he asks.
Oliver sighs and turns back to the quiet Lenox. "Lenny, would you mind?" he asks, giving her a look.
Lenox just smiles in understanding and beckons everyone else to follow her. They head out of the guildhall together.
("What does he mean 'where are the Phoenix Fire Mages'? We were right next to him!"
"He's blind."
"...Oh.")
Kyza huffs and stalks off to brood.
"Why exactly do you need to go to Zaflior?" Oliver asks.
Koz takes his glasses off and his eyes glow slightly, radiating his Heaven's Eye Magic. "There's some Mage from Phoenix Fire that has a ship. They transport other Mages if you ask. I'm going to ask." he answers simply, walking past Oliver to sit in Lenox's chair.
"I see." Oliver says, returning to his seat. He fixes one of the pieces Koz flicks down as he sits. "...Koz, you gotta be nicer to Kyza, man." he says after a moment of silence.
Koz frowns, staring at the board game. "Why?" he asks. "I don't see a reason for it."
"He's just a kid." Oliver reminds him. "Kyza's been here for about six months. He hasn't had time to befriend many people in the Guild because everybody is constantly out and there's barely anybody his age in the village."
Koz's frown deepens but he doesn't say anything, knowing he's about to receive a lecture.
"You know he had a rough life before he came here?" Oliver says. "He was born in Guiltina to dirt poor parents. They couldn't afford the necessities to raise him so the government forced them to give him to them. He didn't get to have a childhood like you and I." he says. "Kyza went through his own personal hell and made it all the way to Ishgar on his own. He's trying to move past his old life and protect Wisteria just like you so cut him some slack." Oliver snaps.
Before Koz or Oliver can say anything else, the doors to Silver Sabelum open once again, revealing a yawning Saul Morfran with a blond boy and the group who just exited the building trailing behind him.
"I was told a visually impaired, strapping young man needed me to accompany him to Zaflior?" Saul yawns, raising an eyebrow. "Why can't these people be your eyes?"
Oliver glances at Koz who is silently putting his glasses back on.
"...No."
"No?" Saul questions, raising a brow, approaching Oliver and Koz.
Koz brushes past him, walking in the direction Kyza stormed off to. "No. I'm taking Kyza. We'll be at the village entrance when everyone is all ready to go" is all he says and disappears.
Saul gives Lenox a confused look, to which she just smiles meekly, and the man sighs dramatically as if this were the most inconvenient thing that ever happened to him. "Well, while I'm back here…" he trails off, strolling to the Request Board.
Oliver shakes his head and smiles apologetically at Lenox as she takes her previous seat across from him. "Sorry about that, Len." he says. "I told Koz to be nicer to Kyza and I guess he's listening."
"It's fine." Lenox says with a small smile, waving her hand dismissively.
Oliver pouts (Lenox's face turns a bright shade of red for some odd reason), "I kind of yelled at him. I feel bad." he says.
"D-Don't feel bad, Oli." Lenox says quickly. "You're just - um, adapting." she says.
"'Adapting'?" he questions.
"Yeah, um, to be like Master Landon." Lenox stammers. "He was confident and empathetic, like a good leader should be." she says.
Oliver stares at her in awe. "You think I'm a good leader?" he asks.
"O-Of course!" Lenox nods fervently. "You'll live up to Master Landon's legacy, I know you will." she smiles.
"I-"
"Yeah, I think you will, too." Saul says from behind Oliver. He turns around, surprised at the genuine look on his face. The look is instantly gone and replaced with a snarky grin after a beat of silence. "What? I can be nice." he says snidely. "I'm taking this one." he says, showing Oliver the mission request.
Oliver skims the paper and nods. "Alright."
Saul nods back and walks away. "Sayonara, Mr. and Mrs. Windsor!" he says mockingly as he leaves.
Oliver just shakes his head at Saul's antics. "He's weird." he says. "Is it my turn?"
Lenox, a deep blush on her cheeks, nods with a squeak.
And with that, the two Silver Sabelum Mages don't say another word to their guests, one engrossed in their board game and one engrossed in their opponent.
Mana turns to the blond boy who entered with Saul. He's been eerily silent thus far. "So...are you Akito Kageyama..?" she asks.
"Yup." the blond, Akito, nods.
…
"Where do you want Genesis to take you?"
"Ambrosia."
"Why?"
"Special mission from Master."
"Cool."
"Yup."
…
…
Akane stares at Akito suspiciously. "...I don't like him." she whispers to Mana and slowly steps behind her. "Keep him away from me."
"Why? Is - are you seriously using me as a shield!?"
Glinda waves as the last person steps through the portal to Zaflior. "Give Theresa and Nadine my regards when she returns!"
Veiss frowns. "Why not just tell them yourself-"
"Whatsorrycan'thearyouportalclosingbye!" Glinda says quickly and everyone watches as the portal swiftly closes and their view of Aberrant Hydra's Guild Master disappears.
"Right…" Eira sighs and turns to the rest of the group. "I'll meet you at your guildhall later this week." she says and gives them a small bow.
Emile frowns. "'Later this week'? Where are you going? Don't you need someone to show you around?" he asks.
Eira shakes her head and smiles. "I was born here in Zaflior, actually. I know this town like the back of my hand, don't worry." she says. "I'll find you when I'm ready."
"Whatever." Akane says and crosses her arms. "Wake me up in the morning and I'll kill you."
"Noted." Eira says sarcastically and bids everyone goodbye. She heads off in the opposite direction and soon enough, she's out of sight.
The Phoenix Fire Mages turn to the Silver Sabelum Mages looking around with mild interest (they're not quite sure what Koz is looking at, though).
Emile smiles as he approaches them. "So! Kyza Miraj, Koz Anhalt, and Akito Kageyama, right?" he asks, pointing to each boy individually. "I'm Emile Solflare, it's nice to meet you."
"That's me!" Kyza nods.
"Did I say you could speak to me?" Koz says without looking at Emile (although...can he even see that much? Lenox didn't say how blind he was.)
"Is there a library here?" Akito asks, completely ignoring Emile's question.
Akane and Veiss snicker at the lackluster responses - even Mana and Calypso are having a hard time keeping it together.
Emile's smile falters a bit but he holds strong. "C-Come on, I'll give you guys the grand tour before we go look for Genesis." he says. "Calypso, do you want to come too? You never actually got one, did you?" Emile asks.
Calypso smiles and shakes her head. "I didn't. Thanks, Emile." she says kindly and grabs onto his arm. "Lead the way!"
Emile blushes furiously and looks anywhere but Calypso. "Y-Yeah, sure...no problem." he stammers.
Kyza hums as he watches Calypso and Emile. "Is she your girlfriend?" he asks innocently
Emile's face turns a brighter shade of red.
Koz rolls his eyes. "Kyza you can't just ask people you just met if they're dating."
"Why not?" Akito asks.
Koz looks like he's at a loss for words.
Akane shakes her head. "C'mon, let's just leave him to it." she says. "I've missed my bed."
"MAAAAAAAAAAANAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"Not again." Mana sighs.
As soon as they opened the doors to their guildhall, Mana, Akane, and Veiss were greeted by the oh so lovely sound of Cooley's voice and the sight of a sobbing fifty year old man running at them.
Without missing a beat, Akane grabs Mana's hand and pulls her out of the way, Veiss unclips Moonsaw's sheathe from his belt and smacks Cooley's back with it, and the man drops to the floor.
Akane looks down at Cooley with a mixture of annoyance and disgust. "How many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?" she sneers. "Leave - her - alone!" Akane demands, punctuating each word with a kick to Cooley's ribs.
Veiss raises an eyebrow. "And how many times are you going to deny that you're friends with her?" he retorts as he clips the sheathe back onto his belt.
Akane stops abusing a dazed Cooley, frowning as she looks up at Veiss. "Excuse me?"
"You're holding her hand." Veiss points out, gesturing to Mana's and Akane's joined hands.
Akane's face slowly turns pink. "Th-That's-"
Mana frowns, confused. "Akane always holds my hand." she says.
Akane facepalms, her face turning even brighter. "Mana, you're not helping." she grumbles as she lets go of Mana's hand.
"Exactly!" Veiss says to Mana. "Why can't you just admit that she's grown on you?" he asks Akane.
"Because it'll get to her head!"
"She just wants to be friends with you!" Veiss counters.
"...Fine." Akane mumbles.
"Fine, what?" Veiss says as Mana looks at Akane expectantly. Akane can just picture a tail behind Mana wagging like she's a damn dog and she keeps staring at her and ugh - she'll say it if it'll get both of them to shut up.
Akane turns to face Mana, looking more embarrassed than Mana has ever seen her. "You're not...the worst person...to be around." she reluctantly admits.
Mana beams.
"Stop looking at me like that." Akane grumbles.
"Can I have a hug?"
"NO." Akane snaps and turns to Veiss. "Look at what you did!" she cries and points at Mana. "Now she wants hugs!"
"Just give her a hug." Veiss says nonchalantly and starts to walk away.
"I'll give you another scar to worry about, that's what I'll do."
Veiss stops "The hell did you just say to me?" he asks, turning around to face Akane.
"You heard me, Dregliark." Akane snarls and tackles Veiss to the ground, trying to claw at his face.
Mana sighs as the two start screaming at each other and struggling to fend the other off. She moves over to Cooley who's still collapsed on the ground, and bends down to poke him. "Cooley? You there?" Mana calls.
"Yeah." Cooley says, picking his head up off the ground and turning it to face Mana. "Are you hurt?"
"Not physically."
"What?"
"What?"
"You-"
"Anyways," Mana interrupts him. "you should know about what we did in Soncha Kapa." she says.
Cooley frowns. "Soncha Kapa? I thought you brats were going to Arkcester?" he questions.
Mana smiles awkwardly. "We did - we were - ugh," she tries, unsure of how to start. "Let's go sit down at a table and I'll tell you everything from the beginning." Mana says.
"I...see…" Cooley grumbles, a dark look on his face as he processes everything Mana and Mary told him (they switched off when the other was struggling to recall a certain event). "And Finn...he didn't touch either of you?"
Mana shakes her head. "He didn't get the chance. Akane and Emile were in his way first and then he was distracted by Victoria - she's one of Aberrant Hydra's S-Class Mages. And then, like I said, they just...sunk into the ground . The shadows, more specifically." she explains.
"I see." Cooley repeats. "...Thank you for telling me this, Mana, Mary." he says. "But there's something else I've been waiting to talk about."
"Oh?" Mana blinks. "What's that?"
Cooley's eyes start tearing up.
"Um…"
"YOU MADE ME MISS MARY'S BIRTHDAY!" Cooley cries.
Mana starts sweating nervously. "Wh-What?"
You didn't tell me it was your birthday!
...I forgot. It was a couple of days ago. Mary laughs awkwardly. Sorry.
Gee, thanks.
"THIS WOULD'VE BEEN THE FIRST BIRTHDAY I GET TO CELEBRATE WITH HER!" Cooley sobs. "SHE'S TWENTY-ONE NOW! WE COULD'VE GONE DRINKING TOGETHER!"
"Uh, Mary aside, I'm still eighteen and you're supposed to be laying off the alcohol-"
"I GOT YOU BOTH PRESENTS! I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO BE BACK EARLIER THAN THIS! BUT NOOOOOOOOO!"
"In our defense, we would've been back earlier if it hadn't been for that ambush-"
"SO IT'S FINN'S FAULT ONCE AGAIN!? I'M GONNA KILL HIIIIIIIM!"
"...Akane help me-"
A black and white sneaker suddenly goes flying past Mana and hits Cooley square in the face.
"DIDN'T WE HAVE THIS TALK LIKE HALF AN HOUR AGO, OLD MAN!? LEAVE HER ALONE!"
Meanwhile…
An unsettling man smiles sinisterly as he stares at the newspaper clipping on his desk. He pulls open a drawer and takes out a woman's blouse. The man brings it close to his face and breathes it in, inhaling its scent. He closes his eyes, taking it all in. He smiles. "Oh, my dear...I've finally found you." he says. "At long last, we'll be together again. Just you wait…"
Zaflior | Phoenix Fire Guildhall
Rina freezes suddenly, a shiver going down her spine.
Danate frowns worriedly when Rina stops smiling. "Rina? What's wrong?" he asks.
Rina tenses and looks around the guild. "I...I don't know." she says. Everything appears to be normal: Akane and Veiss screaming at each other, Mana writing in that book Akane gave her, Acro painting, Cooley staring longingly at the barrels of alcohol by the bar, Madelaine reading…
Just what was that?
"Rina?" Danate asks again, his worry only growing.
Rina shakes her head and gives Danate an unsure smile. "I'm...fine." she says, not sounding fine at all. "I just got a bad feeling all of a sudden."
Danate's frown deepens. "That's not like you." he says.
Rina doesn't say anything.
The two of them are silent for a moment before Danate puts on a reassuring smile. "Hey, tell you what, how about Emile and I sleep in your room for a while? Just like the old days!" he beams. "We won't let anything bad happen to you, Rina, you know that."
Rina blushes lightly and smiles at Danate. "Yeah, I know." she nods. "A sleepover, huh? That sounds great." Rina agrees.
Danate grins and pats Rina on the head. "Good. Now, tell me more about your mother's guild. Lamia Scale, right?"
PF x AH x SS
A/N poggies!
this isn't the last we've seen of aberrant hydra but it is time for phoenix fire to retake the spotlight and share it with silver sabelum. this isn't the last we've seen of cole or his mortal enemy either...*dun dun dun*
koz and kyza have finally made their return (first time lurkers pay no mind :rofllmao:) ! koz still has his business in fiore and akito has plans in 'ambrosia' :poggies:
pay absolutely no mind to the man sniffing a woman's blouse xx
**meepster: yes that's fine! i was wondering what happened to you lol, we just can't talk about shizani anymore :(