A/N: Hello, readers! This chapter is basically just a view of how the S-Class Wizards are taking Sebastian's state and the debut of the next arc.
Keep a close attention on Orion's flashback of Sebastian, it'll be very important for what I have planned for the Eclipse Arc.
Enjoy!
CHAPTER SEVEN: WHAT'S NEXT?
A week has passed since the war with Cursed Dragons, and even then, no one felt like celebrating. They couldn't celebrate when their own guildmate was still stuck in a comatose state, not showing any signs of waking up - according to Nox.
"I don't know if it's just me who's noticed this, but the mood of our S-Class wizards have been kinda..." Kross started to say.
"Down?" Helena finished, making Kross nod his head.
"Even Maxim's mood has changed drastically." Kross stated.
"I don't blame any of them. Sebastian is their leader after all. They're all worried about him." Helena reminded him.
"Yeah." Kross agreed.
Soon enough, Aster comes down from the hallway the infirmary is located in. He heads up to the second floor, where the S-Class requests are located, before coming back down the steps moments later.
"Kida-chan." Aster began, getting the barmaid's attention as he placed his job request down. "I'm going on a job. I'll be back soon."
"Sure thing, Aster. Be safe, will you?" Kida told him.
Aster just gave her a thumbs up before exiting the guild hall. "Aster has really been working constantly, huh?" Helena stated.
"And he's not the only one." Kross commented, pointing at Anna rushing towards Orion, who was coming down the stairs.
"You're going on another job?" Anna scolded. "You just got back from one not even five minutes ago!"
Orion just ignores her, walking past her without a care. Anna clenched her fist as the guild members heard the doors of the guild hall slam close.
"I don't think I've ever seen Orion blantly ignore Anna." Helena said as Kross hummed in agreement. "Though, Sebastian is his best friend. So his actions are justified."
"Same with Aster, he sees Sebastian like an older brother. It's only natural that he would be upset too." Kross added on.
"I really hope Sebastian wakes up soon."
Kross and Helena both turn to see Cyana walking towards them, along with Zane. "If he doesn't... the Assembly of Ash will fall." Cyana concluded.
"None of them are going out on jobs together, much less speaking to one another. Actually, from the outside, it seems like they're-" Zane started to say.
"Avoiding each other?" Helena finished with a raised eyebrow, making Zane nod.
"Nox traveled to Crocus to go to their library to search for more information. The spellbooks we had weren't any use." Kross said.
"And you didn't go with him?" Zane teased as Kross shot daggers at him.
"I offered, but he said he wanted to be alone. Huh... I guess even he's taking this situation badly." He replied.
"I know all of us are worried about Sebastian's condition and are feeling too powerless to do anything. But I bet the five of them are feeling much worse." Zane commented, causing Cyana, Kross, and Helena to agree with him.
Orion was currently walking towards a nearby village. He had been working in taking down the guilds that were associated with Cursed Dragons. That, and he needed something to distract his mind from Sebastian's condition.
He had remembered the time he vented to Sebastian, along with him wanting to create a top team that would be the pride of Black Sun.
(Flashback)
"An alter ego?" Sebastian repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"That's what I said." Orion stated.
"Fascinating." Sebastian hummed, thinking for a moment. "But I guess, not really. I'm surprised you haven't gone insane. If Vince had been talking in my head and I had no way to shut him out, I probably would."
"You get used to it." Orion admitted.
"Well, you don't have to worry about turning dark, or whatever."
"Huh?"
"As long as I'm around, I'll keep him away. Promise!" Sebastian winked at him. "That's what best friends are for, right?"
Orion blinks in surprise. "Right..." He mumbled.
"I've got an idea!"
"I'm scared to ask what it is."
"Mean!" Sebastian yelped, causing Orion to chuckle. "Let's make a kick-ass team, you and I. One that will be the pride of Black Sun. We'll be so badass all of Fiore will know us!"
"And what is this team called?" Orion raised an eyebrow.
"The Assembly of Ash." Sebastian replied. "I'll be the leader, and you'll be co-leader!"
"Why the hell am I the co-leader?" Orion questioned.
"Idiot." Sebastian responded, flicking Orion's head before sending him his signature grin.
"With a name like the Assembly of Ash, it's only fit that the leader uses Fire Magic, right?"
(End Flashback)
"It's your fault, you know." Orion heard Spectre say in his mind.
"Shut up." Orion sneered back, gritting his teeth when Spectre only chuckled.
"You know I'm right. That's why you're going on a rampage destroying guilds associated with Cursed Dragons. Trying to hide your guilt, are you?"
"I'm not!" Orion argued, denying everything.
Orion tried his best to block Spectre out. However, when he reached the village that the small guild was located in, his headache only worsened as Spectre came out, ready to cause havoc on the guild.
Meanwhile, Aster were currently sitting on a train that would take him to Gardenia, which was the town his job request was located in. It just so happened to be the same town that the Assembly of Ash had visited last year. Souta had sent all of them on a mission that involved a non-magic guild kidnapping young boys and selling them. It was a month long mission.
Aster recalled when he was the 'bait' in order to finally defeat the guild - and it was where Sebastian made a promise to him.
(Flashback)
Aster was currently chained up as he was on a makeshift stage in front of perverted men. "I got a pretty one for you here, gentlemen! This one here is a mage!" The leader of the guild exclaimed. "Do I hear a bid?"
The men down below began shouting out numbers. Just as Aster lost all hope, he heard a shout.
"Requip! Byzantium Blaze: Flame Release!"
Flames soon appeared, knocking some of the men down. Aster soon heard slurping, making the flames disappear.
"Let's have fun with this, shall we? Hellfire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Orange-red flames knocked out a nearby man. Aster could see Spectre hitting his opponents from all directions.
"Earth Magic: Underworld's Swamp!"
A swamp soon appeared under three men, sinking them below.
"Holy cow!"
"This is Black Sun's strongest members: The Assembly of Ash!"
"Hey, let's get that guy! He doesn't seem so tough!"
"Are you sure about that?" Aster recognized Nox's voice. "Pestilence Magic: Black Dust Breath!"
Nox released a cloud of black dust, knocking his opponents out.
Sebastian chuckled before using his flames to melt Aster's chains. "All that's left is the leader, Val. He's all yours." He said.
"Alright."
Aster stepped closer to the leader, who was pleading for mercy. "Please, I beg you, I beg you."
"You gave no mercy to those boys who you had beaten and sold. Rot in hell, bastard! Dino King's Unrelenting Charge!"
Aster rushed towards the leader with his magic power covering his body, he ignored all attacks that the leader sent and rushes right through them before unleashing a series of powerful kicks and punches, finally knocking the leader out cold.
"Okay~ job well done!" Sebastian grinned as Aster gave him and murderous glare before stomping on his foot, angrily. Massorao lets out a booming laugh and even Nox and Raden cracked a smile.
"You stupid ash for brains! "Job well done", my ass! Screw you for putting me through that! I thought I was gonna-"
"Hey." Sebastian interrupted, his tone serious. "I would never let that happen to you, okay? I know you don't need protecting, but if there's any moment where you feel weak, I'll protect you. It's a promise."
Sebastian smiled. "After all, that's what older brothers do, right?"
(End Flashback)
Aster snaps out of the memory when the train comes to a full stop, announcing that they had arrived at Gardenia. The young boy stands up and exits the train, heading for the city hall to meet the mayor.
"Sebastian... You better be okay. If you die, I won't forgive you."
If you asked Maxim to describe Sebastian in his own words, he could say a lot of things. When Maxim first met Sebastian, he thought that he was super obnoxious. Always causing trouble whether it was in the guild hall fighting with Zane or out on jobs.
But after Souta had sent him out with his fellow S-Class Wizards on a mission, he saw a different side of the Dragon Slayer.
That was the only time Maxim saw the caring side of Sebastian, and the more serious one.
Maybe that's why seeing him so powerless and unresponsive laying on a bed in Black Sun's infirmary bothered him so much.
"Maxim? I didn't know you would be visiting."
The Earth mage turned, seeing that Romin had entered the room. With both Nox and Raden in Crocus, Romin had been spending most of his time in the infirmary, keeping an eye out for any changes while Nox was gone.
Maxim didn't say anything as he walked past Romin and out of the infirmary.
Romin chuckled to himself before taking a seat next to Sebastian's bed. "It seems even the lone wolf of the guild cares about you, Bash. Who would've thought?" He said.
"Requip! Crystalline Death: Darkness Torrent!"
Massorao swings his scythe as shadow magic appeared from it, striking the oncoming magical bandits who were trying to attack him. The remaining bandits were rushing towards him after their comrades had fallen.
"Requip! The Council!" Massorao shouted, his scythe changing into a sword. "White River!"
A river of burning light soon appeared, blinding the remaining bandits and knocking them out on the ground. His sword went back into his pocket dimension.
As he was heading back to go to his client to collect the reward, his mind traced back to Sebastian.
None of the other Assembly of Ash members were talking to one another. Massorao knew that was because of the state Sebastian was in.
Massorao wasn't close to Sebastian, not like how Orion and Aster were. But that didn't mean he wasn't pissed that Sebastian was unresponsive and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Thank you for all your help!" His client thanked him, handing him the jewel as Massorao headed back to the train station.
At Crocus library...
"Nox! I think I found something!"
The stone-gray haired male looked up when the Exceed called him. Raden flew down with a book in his hand. "What is it, Raden?" He questioned.
"It's a book on Sebastian's village."
"Oh, the Sun Village, right?"
Raden nodded, opening the book to a certain page. "It says here that Atlas Flame, Sebastian's dragon parent, left a Hellfire Dragon Slayer Lacrima in his cave. Being taught by a dragon and having a lacrima planted in you gives you the power of a Third Generation Dragon Slayer." He explained.
"Like Sting and Rogue from Sabertooth?" Nox asked.
"Precisely. I think if we can get this lacrima, it can save Sebastian's life." Raden replied.
Nox stood up, shutting the book close. "We need to take this information back to the guild, ASAP." He informed. Raden nodded in agreement as Nox picked up the book and the two made their way back to Bridgehollow.
Back at Black Sun...
Everyone was going about their day as usual when Nox suddenly bursted into the guild, Raden flying next to him. It went quiet as Nox scanned the guild hall, noticing all of Assembly of Ash members were present.
"Everyone! Meet me in Sebastian's room, quickly. I think Raden and I found a way to save him." He announced.
"A Dragon Slayer Lacrima?" Helena questioned once everyone was present in Sebastian's room.
"Yes." Nox responded. "Sebastian already has Dragon Slayer Magic due to being taught by Atlas Flame, but if he also has a lacrima planted inside him, it gives him Hellfire Drive and he can activate Dragon Force at will. Much like Sabertooth's Twin Dragons."
"So where is this lacrima?" Aster asked.
"It's located in Atlas Flame's old cave which is in the Sun Village." Raden was the one who answered.
"Then that's where we need to go." Orion claimed. "We need to get that lacrima no matter what."
Everyone turned to look towards their Master, who had been silent for the whole conversation. Finally, Souta nodded. "Alright. I still need people here to protect the guild, as well as Sebastian. We don't need any surprise attacks as some Cursed Dragon members may still be out there." He explained.
"Aster and I will go." Orion volunteered without hesitation. Aster nodded in agreement.
"I'll go with you." Kross offered.
"And me." Helena added.
"I'll come too." Zane said.
"It's settled then. Orion, Aster, Kross, Helena, and Zane will go to the Sun Village and retrieve the lacrima. The rest of you will stay here and protect Sebastian, as well as the guild." Souta informed, making everyone nod.
"Interesting..." A twenty-three year old female with pink hair - which was tied in a bun - and crystal blue eyes muttered. She wore a white crop top with black jeans as well as black combat boots that were muddy. A purple Cursed Dragons guild mark was located on her right breast.
"What is it, Haruka?" Reina questioned, looking at her ex-guildmate.
"It seems those Black Sun members are going to the Sun Village to retrieve a Dragon Slayer Lacrima in order to save their Dragon Slayer." Haruka replied.
Reina smiled. "Is that so? Daegon and Rosey will be pleased to hear this." She claimed.
"We already did."
The two women turned and spotted Daegon and Rose walking towards them. "So? What's the plan?" Haruka asked.
"Well," Daegon began, smirking. "We obviously can't let them succeed, can we?"
A/N: I highly doubt people are still reading this as it took so long to get updated before I published the previous chapter.
But I'm going to try to update regularly, at least so I can get to the GMG arc.
Thanks for reading!
~ Kaleb.