Seres stood at the entrance to the cell, her displeasure shown through a frown, before jumping into the cell the fall not bothering her in the least. Already I had a slight idea of what had happened, but to know for sure I took a step forward to ask my question.
"Is this still June sixteenth? Or have we been frozen in time?" Both Magilou and Velvet were surprised by my question, but disregard it in favor of readying themselves for a fight.
"I see you are a sharp one, I can see tales of you are not just for show. Nevertheless i must know your intentions with the women by your side."
Already suspicious of me? I suppose she did see the armor next to the ladder, still even though the girls knew she would come, the immediate question and cold attitude weren't endearing her to them.
Velvet stepped forward angrily, her claw at the ready. " What business do you have coming here?" Ah I knew I forgot something, I had told the girls that about a malak that would free us but not much about her appearance or our future journey.
"My name is Seres, I have come to gauge your strength, to see if you were ready. I will answer no further questions, after my earlier question is answered I will issue a test." Not really doing yourself any favors here you know.
Velvet hearing her name calmed down a little, but was still ready for a fight, we had no idea how she would react to Magilou and I, so it was understandable.
I stood next to Velvet raising my hand towards her, showing her my ring before saying. " I'm her husband, and this is our wedding night, or it was." Seeing my ring she looked at Velvet, who nodded and showed the ring on her hand as well, having to seal her claw to do so.
As I said before her claw was made by her own energy, an instinctual use of it, but her own nevertheless. As a result if she could control when it transformed she could also control wether it destroys what she's wearing or disregard it entirely.
"That's right! It's our wedding night and you're interrupting our honeymoon. So if you could, leave us for oh I don't know, twelve hours that would be swell!" Magilou cheerfully said wrapping her arms around me and Velvet, her own ring on display.
Seres seems to be shocked, I would too if I were in her place. Seres is one of the few Malakhim who remember a past life as a human, most likely as a result from being sacrificed to awaken innominat.
Her past life being Celica Crowe sister to Velvet and Laphicet Crowe, to see her sister not only marry, but for that man to also marry another woman on the same day, I'm sure if this were different circumstances I would be roasted alive.
Seres seems to have recovered a little from her shock, probably ignoring the situation, and moved on. " I see, I'm sorry but that will have to be put on hold for the time being. I have come to break you out of here and explain the situation, but first a test. I will fight you one on one to see if you have the conviction needed for my task."
Velvet once more revealed her claw and got ready." If it's a fight you want, then that's what you'll get!" Saying so, she dashed forward and with a stomp revealed her blade hidden in her boot.
"Searing Edge!" She shouted her blade shrouded in an energy of fire as she kicked forward in a slicing motion. Only for Seres to dodge at the last moment, she took another step backwards and seemed to be casting an arte.
"Lingering Ember!" Fire seemed to appear like spirits as she spread her arm, when that was dodged with ease, Seres took another step back, preparing to use a malakhim arte. "Huh?!" She gave a shout in surprise as an arte circle manifested where her foot now stood, a burst of water caused her foot to slide.
" You were so focused on this little one on one you didn't pay attention to your surroundings, if you had I'm sure you would have noticed my little water mine. You seem to think that we won't be with Velvet every step on the way but, newsflash lady we are married, there is nothing that would make us part ways. So take your shitty one on one test and stick it up your ass!"
It seems our honeymoon being postponed pissed her off, well that and the test but it seems she already got that out of her system.
Seres got up from the ground, dusting off what little dirt found it's way on her before nodding her head. " Very well I can see you won't let this go, so I shall test all of you together, brace yourselves."
As she says that a large sphere of fire appears next to us, a shout of "Photon Blaze" being barely heard. Instinct made me move first, energy coats my sword as I slash an x that froze the air, I followed the slash with a fist full of energy, punching the frozen air with a yell. "Frigid Blast!" The ice cold air envelops the fire, melting but doing its job of stopping the arte.
While I was doing that Velvet was already next to Seres and was wailing on her with a combination of gouging spin, a cartwheel making use of her body weight and momentum into a rising moon that kicked Seres upward followed by swallow tail keeping her in the air before ending her combo with a slicing foot.
Magilou was quick to tell Velvet to back off, as she took a step backwards we witnessed water shoot upwards trapping Seres in its stream as a call of "Flood wall" rang out.
Soon the water arte ended with Seres looking worn out as she raised her hands in surrender. "I give up!" She called out as she staggered to her feet.
"It seems I severely underestimated you three, you still have a way to go but I believe you will accomplish my task I will explain on the way, we don't have much time let's go!"
After I feel her energy hit a few bricks and soon after the barrier flashes into existence before shattering.
Looking at the girls we each give a nod and after putting on our usual outfits, join Seres in climbing out of the cell, when we reach the top a guard laying knocked out on the ground grabs our attention.
Its the vice captain, it seems she was snuck up on, probably as a way to not raise an alarm, still why was she here?
Seres points us to a door I knew would lead us towards the prisoners belongings and starts explaining as we go. " A little over two and a half years ago a guard by the name of Cyril disappeared, I suppose that must be you?" After my nod she shook her head and muttered to herself. " The guard falling in love with the prisoner? I guess a reverse princess phenomena is possible."
She continued her story after a moment of silence." It was soon after noticed that a yellow energy barrier was blocking off entrance to your cell. It was assumed that Cyril seeing this jumped inside to stop any activity that was occuring inside only to not return. Lord Artorius was contacted and had Lord Melchior make an appearance to inspect the barrier not long after it was noted that nothing could penetrate it, he made a few more observations before declaring that there was no need for concern."
We reached the storeroom as she ended her sentence and Velvet was quick to retrieve her gauntlet, Magilou got her guardians but it seems our bond doesn't allow her to empower them like usual. It seems we need Bienfu after all. I myself seeing a way to get Rokuro to join us grabbed Stormhowl.
Of course Seres exclaimed her surprise at seeing it but was quick to move back to her explanation as we continued onwards.
"Melchior bid the exorcists to continue feeding demons into the cell at the regular time not answering any questions the nearby captain had for him. That explains what we know of what happened to you, but I'm only here for one reason." She stopped and turned to Velvet. " Please stop Lord Artorius I beg of you."
While we were surprised by how open she was being, Seres took our silence as a question on why she is asking us to do so.
"I can't stand the man he has become, he has given up on humanity and every time there is a chance he could return to the man he once was he rejects it, so please stop him!!
Before we could answer the sound of fighting reached us before the body of an orderly went flying past us. As we looked where it came from a young man was seen running our way his tan skin and shaggy black hair doing nothing to hide the demonic half of his face, he slowed down as he reached us and before he could say anything, I reached for Stormhowl and held it out to him.
"You were looking for this right? I had heard there was a strong demon who this belonged to, I was hoping we would run into you but I didn't expect it to happen this fast."
The demon was quick to snatch the blade from my hands and unsheathed it just enough to know it was the real deal before holstering it on his back.
After securing the sword he was quick to laugh and slap me on the back." Haha thanks man you saved me the trouble of looking for it myself, in exchange how about I give you four a hand. I can't exactly help right now though, my blades broke when I sent that last guy flying. I'll be sure to help when I get some new blades." He sure is as carefree as his counterpart so no difference there.
"What about the blade you just got? It seems like a useful weapon, is there a reason you can't use it?" Velvet was quick to point out that detail only for Rokuro to dismiss it entirely.
"Oh this thing? Nah it's a family heirloom no way could I use it in a fight. All the same it's worth more to me than my life so I'll be sure to pay you back soon."
Velvet and Magilou give him a look I haven't really explained the people that joined their journey and their reasons for doing so, our time was mostly used for understanding each other for our upcoming wedding and training.
Still he got friendly really fast, I understand that sword was basically his life but isn't that too fast?
" Anyway I'm Cyril Mayvin Crowe these are my wives Velvet and Magilou." I say as I point to them, no reason to not be friendly as well.
"Nice to meet you name's Rokuro Rangetsu, and who's this pretty lady next to you?" He says as he leans down, his face right next to Seres.
"My name is Seres and I would appreciate if you would not get so close." She takes a few steps back after speaking. " Why would we allow you to join us anyway, how can we trust you won't betray us at the drop of a hat?"
"Listen I already explained, this blade is worth more to me than my life, I would never besmirch my honor by betraying the one who brought it to me, so lose the attitude will you, unless you are into that type of roleplay in that case I'm all for it."
He started off so serious but ended up making a smug face at Seres who looked both mortified and embarrassed, not expecting to be teased by a demon.
"We are losing time just standing here, if you want to make yourself useful help us by releasing the prisoners and starting a riot. We will use that as a distraction to escape."
Velvet was quick to put a stop to their games with her orders, still that plan? I had already explained to Velvet that they would be on the lookout for that type of plan.
Although with how much time should have passed I'm sure they would disregard the towers, if you want to escape it's assumed you want to live as well. and to the exorcists guarding Titania the towers were either a dead end or death.
"Alright then if that's the plan, Seres right? Why don't you join me and let the lovebirds have their fun shouldn't take us too long to release some prisoners." Rokuro understood quickly what we wanted with this plan it seems, still as a precaution Magilou shouted at him before he could leave earshot.
"Don't forget to tell them there are at least three ships at the front entrance okay? Have fun!" She waved before turning to both me and Velvet.
"It's no fair, just when I get the chance to have some fun, a bunch of time nonsense and a prison break step in to stop it hmph." She was pouting, as always all of her expressions were so cute I couldn't stop myself from kissing her.
"I know, still we will have many chances after today just keep your guards up alright? Let's get this over with." Velvet gave me a kiss as well when she stopped talking before leading us towards the other cell block.
Not much was different than what happened in the game, we released the prisoners and gave them the motivation to riot before making our way to the watchtower, finding Seres and Rokuro at the door.
"I see you two had no trouble, are you ready?" Upon seeing the two Velvet wasted no time, when asked what they should prepare for Velvet explained that we were heading for the rear entrance with a hidden path not many know about.
"I heard about that, but I also heard that path was destroyed a year ago, there is no way we could use it now, see?" Rokuro was quick to point out as we stepped onto the roof of the tower
"Don't you worry about that I got it covered!" Magilou says as she steps forward, as she reached the edge of the tower her energy reached out to the seas. Rising to her command the waters made a slope towards the hidden entrance freezing as soon as it was in place.
"Tada! You can thank the one and only master magician Magilou Mayvin Crowe! I accept any and all tips!" Magilou did a quick spin before striking a pose.
"Any and all tips? You better change that moto, the only tip you'll be accepting is Cyril's." Damn Velvet with the instant clap back, Seres uncomfortable with the dialogue spoke up.
"Let us move onwards, any time wasted is time we can be spotted so let us make haste." Saying so she hopped on the icy slide and was soon waiting by the door.
"You heard the miss can't spend time flirting right now, save it for when we get out of here." Rokuro soon joined Seres, he was awfully quick too, maybe he has a crush on her? Nah can't be.
After a small laugh at Magi, Velvet soon joined the two already in conversation about Stormhowl, Magilou seemed a little shocked before she lets out a chuckle and with a little shake of her hips in my direction also joins them.
As I step onto the ice the door behind me bursts open and standing there was the captain looking at me in shock and a little hope.
"Cyril! Are you alright? Where have you been? What are you doing up here, did you find some escaped prisoners?" After his short triad he took a look behind me. Seeing the ice slide and at the end three prisoners and a malak, looks towards me with uncertainty.
Shaking my head I look towards him a sad smile on my face. " Sorry captain, please don't follow me." I slide down the ice and when I get to the bottom I look towards the tower.
I sure hope this works, I think as I start to gather my energy, as I do so the ice shatters and the captain looks down at us, I hope this doesn't kill him but if it does I can only feel sorry.
He must have sensed the enormous amount of energy I'm gathering as he disappears no doubt on his way to intercept us. Either way I can delay him a bit. I start to chant, the first spell like arte I've used since I got here.
"Oh incandescent locust gather and annihilate the vulgar before me, spiral flare!" As I began to chant I felt surrounding me were spirits of fire, the words I'm speaking and intent within them causing them to gather and lend their energy to mine.
When I was done with the chant our combined energy shot forward, twin fireballs of immense energy spiraling each other before impacting the tower and destroying the upper two levels.
I turn around exhausted at using so much energy for one arte to find four surprised faces, I knew after this there would be many questions, how am I able to use a malakhim arte or why had I hid it until now?
They knew this wasn't the time for such questions though, so we moved on and as we reached the rear entrance I stopped for a moment.
"Get ready for a fight, I mean it would make sense for them to guard the rear docks just as much as the front right? So be ready just in case." I get a two nods, a sly grin, and a bloodthirsty grin from my companions before we open the door.
This next fight will be tough but I have faith we can win. No not faith, I know we can win we won't let Oscar stop us, if need be I still have three quarters of my energy left that spiral flare taking up almost a whole quarter of energy. But the tales series had a whole lot more dangerous artes to use, if need be a mystic arte will end this.
With determination running through me we walk towards the docks everyone following my cue hyping themselves up for a tough fight, problem is do I try to kill Oscar? Or do I let him live? I shake my head. I will give him a chance to surrender if he gives an oath to leave us be, if not then I will end him.
This is my life with two wives both of whom will be chased by the Abbey until Artorius is ended, I won't let my hesitation hurt them.
As I think that, the bond which we had been completed at our marriage ceremony, now felt unbreakable.
It seems that little bit of hesitation was hurting our relationship, but all three of us knew, it was do or die for all of us.
This bond, the feeling of love and connection, it's what I've longed for, nothing will break it I swear it so.
there are a few reasons for the time skip one of which is that having all three train for three years would make them a bit too strong at the start another reason being that they would have ni reason to wait the three years before Seres broke them out other than trying to stay close to canon and neither Velvet bor Magilou would accept that.
that and i have no idea how they would be able to meet Laphicet or Eizen if they left early.
