The story has elements of both Dark War storyline and DemonxBunny's Masters of the Multiverse, so all credit goes to both Impact Wrestling and DemonxBunny. I do not own the characters. I own most of the OCs- 1 OC is owned by XoMissDaisyoX. The story is entirely fictional.
Characters may look and act different than they do in real life. This was done intentionally, and things will change over time in this story, so please be patient.
Rating: M, for violence, coarse language, and mature themes/events that will appear throughout this story. Remember, this is Femslash, so if that's not your thing, you may not like this story.
Pairings: Allie/Rosemary (DemonxBunny), others over time.
Chapter 47: Facing the Guild by Jurassicfatt
Allie's POV, Omni Sports Tournament, Tent, Afternoon
Having eaten breakfast and gone over my debrief with Rosemary, I sit outside the assassin HQ tent, waiting to be called. A number of young assassins keep watch. Some have their weapons holstered, while others carry them in their hands. Most look strong and menacing, several with face paint and that same misty blue eye colour Rosemary had. I definitely wouldn't want to mess with them.
Rosemary has already been called in for her debrief. I haven't heard anything, so I take it the meeting has been going well. She wasn't too keen on 'undergoing a cross examination'. I made sure she changed her bandages this morning. She did get stabbed with a katana by Su Yung. Last thing we need to add on top of everything that's happened is an infection. She had her head on a swivel all throughout our walk here. Rosemary said last night we were being watched by the assassins? Ms. Gail seemed so nice to me yesterday. And to Rosemary, even after she threatened her. She doesn't seem like an enemy. Then again, I didn't think all those guardsmen were conspirators either, and yet here we are. Gail also did witness a major tragedy because of Mitchell and his minions coming after me. I wouldn't blame her for keeping an eye on us. I can tell it really bothered Rosemary, though.
"Ms. Dennis?" an assassin calls, breaking my train of thought. "Assassin Kim will see you, now."
Standing from my seat, I go through the flap, being escorted to a room on the far right-hand side. I see Rosemary speaking with another assassin. She wears black and silver armor, and has her brown hair tied in a bun. Her hazel eyes focus on me; an air of suspicion conveyed through her orbs. Rosemary steps toward me.
"Rosemary, you're finished?" I ask. She nods.
"Assassins Kim, Sanders and Taven were thorough, but we answered all of their pressing questions."
"I told you, it's Daisy." Daisy responds, then turns back to me. "Gail's waiting for you, Ms. Allie."
"We will be just outside should you require us." Rosemary states. I nod.
"I should be fine. But thanks. I'll see you soon." I tell her, before the assassin escorting me opens the partially see-through flap. Walking inside, I see Gail at a small desk with a lantern and a number of papers and scrolls, all neatly piled and arranged by colour. Gail sits in a simple wooden chair, her face in her paperwork. She scans through her atlas, jotting down a few things with her ink pot pen. The assassin clears his throat, and Gail looks up.
"Ah, Allie. Come in. Take a seat, please." she states, pointing to a faded wooden chair. "Thank you, Kirimos." she says to the other assassin, who bows and leaves.
Sitting down, I can feel the hardwood on my bum and back. A tiny creak echoes as I move the chair closer. "You wanted to see me, Ms. Kim?"
"Yes. And no need for formalities. Just call me Gail." she encourages, smiling at me. "Can I get you any water or something to drink?"
"No, thank you. I'm fine."
"Have you slept?"
"Hm-hm." I answer earnestly.
"Okay." Gail presses a few times on her atlas. Turning towards me, she puts her hands together. "So, Allie, you've been brought in today just for a debriefing. As a servant of the Guild, my job is to not only protect the Realm from Warlords and minions, but also to investigate what happened before, during and after an attack. We do this to get all the facts, in order to prevent things like this from happening again. This attack is quite serious. This is the first large-scale attack on a tournament in years." she says calmly. I can feel my pulse quicken as I nod at her. She pauses, putting her hands up. "However, you are not in trouble. I wanted to make that clear. I simply want answers so that we can take the appropriate next steps. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"In order to make sure you are telling the truth," Gail pulls out a small square-like object and places it in front of me, "I need to ensure that none of Mitchell's magic is affecting your mind, such as preventing certain blocks in memory. The only way to do that is through dark magical analysis. Please place your hand on the stone tablet. There's no pain involved whatsoever. I'm simply going to scan you."
"O-Okay." I state hesitantly. Placing my hand on the object, I see Gail chanting under her breath. Seconds later, the orbs of green, turquoise and purple reappear above my head. Gail brings her atlas up, looking at them.
"According to the records, the dark magic signature matches the sorcerer Certrius, with 2 other unknowns. Most likely Mitchell and Su Yung."
"Yeah." I state, looking away as I remember the Shadow being the 3rd. "My friend Cal scanned me and gave me that news before… all this happened. He's convinced that they were the reason I kept having nightmares."
"I'm sorry that you had to go through this. Your friend Cal is very skilled to have scanned you without any equipment. According to my scans, it seems like it's not affecting your cognitive functions. Have you had any nightmares recently?"
"Not for a couple days."
"Alright, that's good to hear." Gail mutters. Staring at her atlas, she shakes her head. "I don't see any evidence that this dark magic is influencing your brain beyond your sleep patterns. And none of your behaviour at the tournament suggests you are malicious."
"That's good. And trust me, I'm not." Got to be honest, it's kind of a relief to hear that Certrius and Mitchell aren't destroying or controlling my brain, despite poking around in there. I just wish they couldn't harm me anymore.
"Alright. So, now that the scan is done, we're going to start with a few clarifying questions. I want you to answer them as truthfully as possible. I ask that you keep your hand on the tablet as you do, so the Guild can see through your testimony that you are not lying to them. I also want you to know that I am making a report on this attack, and your testimony will be entered in the record. You can request to have a transcript, if you so wish, at a local branch of the Guild in Kaduran. But the original copy will stay in the records."
"Okay. I'm ready." I tell her.
"State your name."
"Allie Dennis."
"Age?"
"32."
"Occupation?"
"I'm a baker."
She nods, pressing onto her atlas like a phone. "I see here that you lied on your residency question at the tournament."
"Because I'm not from the Undead Realm. I was brought here by-"
"By Certrius." she finishes, looking at me.
"How do you know that?"
"I read Rosemary's report. And considering the fact that I just uncovered his dark magic signature and witnessed Father James Mitchell attacking the tournament, I'm willing to bet he's still alive. I also questioned Rosemary before you, and she was reluctant to acknowledge that fact until I made it clear that I believed her."
Hearing the seriousness in her voice, I can tell the anger she has uttering their names, her teeth clenched as she forces the words out. Her hand briefly touches some of the white papers on her desk, condolences written across the front, before pointing to me.
"It's not a crime to be from the other Realm. All Realmers were originally humans that passed through the portals. There's a handful that still do that, every year. So, you're not alone." Gail says sweetly.
"Oh? I didn't know that."
"Yes, there's even a community that welcomes them in certain areas. I'm not sure if they have such a practice in Kaduran, but many Realmers help humans adjust to life in the Undead Realm."
"Wow, that's really cool." I admit. Maybe I should give them a call sometime.
"Allie?" Gail asks, her tone turning serious again.
"Yes, Ms. Gail?"
She threads her hands together, looking at me. "I want to know what happened over the past few days. Take your time and tell me exactly what you remember. And why Mitchell was after you, specifically."
And so, I do just that. I explain how I came to the Realm, and how Rosemary saved me. I tell her about hearing Mitchell during the Trifecta event, but don't explain how I levitated a snake. And I go over what happened during the attack. I give as many details as possible, but omit the jewel's prophecy, the specifics of my dreams, or Rosemary's amulet. Gail listens, jotting down notes and simply repeating my words a few times to clarify.
Gail writes for a few minutes, then speaks. "Thank you, Allie. I appreciate the fact that you were honest in your retelling of these events. I know it wasn't easy going through this trauma again." she declares, then places her pen down. "I do have to ask another question, but you can take your hand off the tablet for this one."
Placing my hand on my lap, I respond. "Of course. Um, what would you like to know?"
She pauses, her eyes on me as she speaks. "I've been doing debriefs for the past day and a half, and almost every person is mentioning how confused and frightened they were. And the losses they dealt with." I feel a measure of guilt hit, realizing they were put in danger because of me. "And even so, I know that my superiors will question these accounts and their validity."
"Why?"
Gail takes a breath. "The Guild tends to be very stringent on these kinds of testimonies being published. There's a number of bureaucratic hurdles we need to go through when something like this happens. But, if I had all members who directly witnessed Mitchell's commanding of the guards and minions, we'd make a more compelling case as for why this has to taken care of right now." Gail pauses, before asking me, "Allie, would you be willing to speak with my superiors about what you saw?"
I think for a moment. Do I want to do this? Will it really help anyone? Maybe…
"I asked Rosemary, but she won't go through this without your approval. And, as I mentioned to her, I'm not forcing anything. It will be a great help to me, and to the Guild, if you can. But under no circumstances do I want you to think that you don't have a say in this." she clears up. "You've been through a lot, and I don't want you doing something you're not comfortable with."
Wow. First off, Gail is a super nice person. I can see why she's in command of this investigation. And second, Rosemary refusing to sign off without my approval? She really is showing how much she cares, even after the change of personality. Contemplating for a minute or so, I answer. "If, if it means it'll help stop both of them from hurting other people. Then, I'm willing to do it." Gail observes me, looking for any hesitation. Finding none, she stands up.
"Come with me." Gail demands, coming from behind her desk and opening the flap to her tent. Following behind her, I see Rosemary and Daisy, along with multiple soldiers and assassins, waiting outside. The minute we pass them, they follow us, the group matching our pace as we walk towards the Colosseum. The sun beats down on us, the heat warming my skin. Taking the left part of the promenade, soldiers and assassins watch us as we go past them. My heart is beating fast as the large crowd of refugees all stare at us. God, I feel so bad seeing them suffer in the heat.
A minute or so later, we arrive at a large bluish-purple tent with multiple assassins patrolling. Gail speaks to them in the Ancient Tongues, and they quickly open the flaps. Gail goes in first, the armor-clad assassins then gesture me in. Going inside, I notice the warm white lantern lighting up the ground, and the large summoning cauldron set up in the middle. Gail calls me over, and I obey, going beside the cauldron on the right side of the tent. Checking behind me, I see Rosemary, Daisy and the others coming in one by one, standing near us. A number of druids in dark cloaks hold a bag tied with a small sash. Opening the top, I can see the golden dust within it. Putting some into the cauldron, the druids speak.
"Assassin Gail Kim, you may now summon who you wish." he says in a neutral voice. Gail looks at Daisy and another man wearing white and periwinkle, who nod to her. Taking a breath, she responds.
"Summon the Assassin's Guild. High command, priority 1."
The Assassin's Guild? Several assassins gasp at her words, repeating them to each other. They start to fix themselves up, wiping their pants and buffing their armor to make it shine. Others push their hair back and stand at attention. Some of the tournament guardsmen shield their weapons, looking and whispering at one another, their eyes wide. They stand stoically, like statues, waiting for the Guild. I notice Rosemary remains neutral, her hands by her sides. Copying her movements, I watch as the familiar smoke cloud appears, the hourglass symbol within it. Seconds later, a red-skinned demon with long curved horns answers.
"Assassin Kim?" he questions, his yellow-green eyes staring directly at us as he licks his large fangs.
"Yes."
"This is Garmine of high command's preliminary board. Our board wishes to know the reason you are contacting the council."
"This is a priority 1, emergency message. We have reason to believe a humanoid Warlord is behind the attack at the Omni Sports Tournament, and I need to speak with high command. The woman to my left is a direct witness, as is the assassin who protected her. With me are the assassin squad leaders of the Kingdom, Daisy Sanders and Matt Taven, along with several of my recruits. A number of the arena's soldiers who were witness to the events have also been summoned here."
His eyes remain narrowed, staring at us. He looks huge, his bulging shoulders gleaming in the light as he reads through his atlas. "We've received your report. Are you certain that there are no spells affecting your judgement or your recollection? What you've written here is questioning."
"No. Every person here has been scanned and evaluated multiple times. Including us. And I have written the report with the utmost care and professionalism."
His face remains neutral, his eyes scanning again. "Are you certain that these events, which you have written in your report, are accurate and factual?" he demands with more authority.
"Yes." Gail responds, her voice firm and controlled, though I can see the anger in her fierce eyes, staring back at the demon challengingly.
"We shall see." he argues, pressing on his atlas a few times. "I am re-routing you to high command. You will tell the council of your findings. You will speak when spoken to, and never out of turn. Failure to do so will result in immediate suspension for 2 solar days. Are we clear?"
"I understand. And so do they." Gail argues, gesturing to us and pressing her other arm to her chest plate. I nod my head, Rosemary clasping an arm to her chest begrudgingly. Daisy and Matt do the same. The demon continues pressing on his atlas, before the hourglass reappears. Daisy sighs loudly.
"Bullshit bureaucrat." she murmurs.
"You said it." the man agrees, fixing his hair.
"Thanks Matt. Good to know you're not kissing the Guild's ass." she teases, which causes Matt to frown and shake his head.
"Hey," Gail whispers to me, "when the council arrives, you need to bow. Once they acknowledge my presence, I'll let you know when you can stand. Okay?"
"Yes. Yes, I understand."
Gail nods, staring in front again. Daisy and Matt then speak to the others.
"Assassins." Matt starts, his voice raised. "Keep your weapons in their holders and your mouths zipped. This is a priority 1 emergency meeting. Stand at attention and bow when the council appears."
"We are about to speak with the highest authority in the Undead Realm. Don't say anything unless asked. Got it?" Daisy commands.
"Yes, squad leaders!" they yell, standing straight.
"It's okay to be nervous. We are too. You're going to do great. I know it." Gail asserts proudly, looking to her recruits for a moment. The confidence in their eyes is evident, their heads held high. You can see how much her words mean to them.
Just then, the smoke cloud begins getting larger, widening out. The hourglass disappears, and the druids whisper in the Ancient Tongues. Unable to understand, I simply listen as their guttural words affect the others. Seems to be a part of the ritual. I glace back at Rosemary for a moment, her gaze focused on the cauldron. Seconds later, 7 figures appear in the cloud, both human and demon. Gail nudges me, and we all bow before them. They do the same.
"Arise, assassin. The 4 other members of the council are occupied with other matters, and are unable to attend our meeting, today. How are you, Ms. Kim?" one of the cloaked men says, his deep baritone voice echoing around us. Gail stands and clasps an arm to her chest.
"Councilman Sorak, thank you for taking time to speak with me. I am fine, but I must warn you that what I am about to tell you is concerning."
"Concerning? You mean this blasphemous report you've sent to us?" another voice questions, his tone condescending and accusatory. But Gail remains unfazed.
"I realize that the contents may be questionable, high council, but I assure you what I am telling you is the truth. This woman, Allie Dennis, as well as the assassin-on-guard, Rosemary of Kaduran, are both witnesses. As are many of the assassins and guardsmen currently bowing before you." Gail states with emphasis, pointing in our direction. A 3rd voice, this one female, responds.
"They may stand. I wish to see their faces for myself." she says, her curious but posh tone reminding me of royalty. Gail gives us the cue.
Slowly getting up, I stare at the figures in front of me. Each of the 7 members of the council stand, all draped in cloaks of various colours and textures. Behind them is a large circular table, with what looks like red maps of the Undead Realm painting its center. The 1st councilor is a red-skinned, yellow eyed, spike covered demon wearing a green and gold ruffled cloak with a golden sash. The spikes on his elbows are long, and the cloak is designed with slits to let them be exposed. His goatee is styled to point downwards, making his square jaw appear longer. He dwarfs the other members, about 6 inches higher than the rest. The 2nd council member is a blue-skinned woman with red eyes and long dark blue hair. She is much shorter than the first, with a neutral tone over her features. She wears a blue and gold cloak with an orange sash, a misty blue energy field hovering just above her clothes and hair. Maybe she's another sorcerer like Ms. Gail? The 3rd is a beaked demon with alabaster skin and silver eyes, their cloak an ash gray colour. Possessing feathers over hair, the top of their head reminds me of a blue jay or cardinal. They are much more heavily armored, with metal shoulder plates, wrist gauntlets and knee guards covering their cloak. The being wields a staff in their hands, the handle gold while the top is silver and sharp like a spear. The 4th and 5th members are twins, a male and a female, with dark brown skin. Both are human, with brown eyes and curly brown hair tumbling down their shoulders. The only difference between them is that the woman's hair goes to her back, while the man's ends just above his ear. They both have blue and white cloaks, with blue sashes around their waist. The 6th councilman is an elf-looking demon with blue eyes and red-orange skin, his cloak a crisp white and black colour. He is the 2nd tallest of the group, and stands straight as he looks through his atlas, periodically giving Gail a skeptical look. I turn to see the 7th and final member, and my eyes widen. He's a Tartirician, and looks exactly like Caretaker, almost to the T! A demon with tanned skin, a brown ponytail, and 3 eyes; 2 brown and 1 red, with a yellow pupil in the middle of his forehead. He still has the jutting chin, but unlike Caretaker, sports a thin moustache and burgundy-coloured robes with red highlights. His hands clasped together, he looks between Gail and I, then at Rosemary, Daisy and the others. He starts talking, his Greek-style accent a little deeper than Caretaker's.
"We have read only part of your report. What have you uncovered, Ms. Kim?" he asks.
"Council of the Assassin's Guild, I have reason to believe that Father James Mitchell orchestrated the attack on the Omni Sports Tournament."
The council members look at each other gravely, the smaller Tartirician taking a breath. His small eyes seem both shocked and confused, looking at his fellow councilors to make sure he heard it right.
"The advocate?" Sorak asks.
"But he hasn't been seen in centuries!" the blue councilor continues.
"It is a lie. This assassin is obviously completely delusional. There is no way that in over 3 centuries, Father James Mitchell has remained under our noses. It must be someone else." the elf-looking demon responds, pressing on his square atlas. A little harsh, aren't you? It's one thing to question it, but you don't have to be mean. I watch as Gail steps forward.
"No. I saw him myself, as did this woman, her protector and my recruits." Gail asserts.
"Protector?" the blue-skinned councilwoman questions, raising her brow.
"The assassin on guard, Rosemary, was tasked with ensuring her safety after she found Allie in the woods. She was being kidnapped by a Warlord."
"Who? Mitchell again?"
"No. She says it was Certrius." Gail tells them.
"Oh! How wonderful. We are supposed to believe that not only is the advocate alive, but the sorcerer as well? Are you out of your minds?" the elf demon yells.
"Hold on, Silas. How many witnesses say they saw Certrius?" the blue demon woman asks.
Gail looks at them. "Only Allie and Rosemary have seen him."
"And Mitchell?"
"Valencia-" Silas starts, but she shushes him.
"How many, Ms. Kim?" Valencia asks, fixing her raven hair.
"Over 45 people. Myself, Allie, Rosemary, all of the assassins and guardsmen present, a few hospitalized staff and patrons, as well as the traitors. Many have started talking. They told us that they were under command of a strong Warlord demon wearing a red and black clerical collared suit. Their own commander called him 'the advocate'. Their description of him also resembles, albeit an older version, of Mitchell from his last appearance in Tartiricia."
"This summoning cauldron business," the beaked demon cuts in, his voice reminiscent of a lion's growl, "did you get the dark magic signature from them?"
"Yes. The sorcerer, Cal, from Kaduran, confirmed it was Certrius. I checked for myself through the archives. Allie has been having horrific dreams, the result of Certrius's magical torment, no doubt. We also uncovered a katana, used by Su Yung during the attack. It bears the same signature."
"Su Yung? The assassin?" Sorak demands.
"Hmph! Ex-assassin. She disgraces us with her legacy." Valencia asserts, turning her nose up at Su's name being mentioned. "Is she still alive?"
"No, Rosemary killed her." Gail then gestures to her.
"Good. I commend you, assassin. Bringing an end to that disgusting example of a traitor." the beaked demon rumbles proudly, nodding to Rosemary. I can't help the little smile come over me at seeing Rosemary getting praised. She pays almost no mind to it, her face completely neutral.
"That still doesn't answer the question of this meeting: how is Father James Mitchell a part of this? Surely, he must be dead." Silas argues.
"Not so fast, Silas." the Tartirician demon states, walking up to the elf, whose ears perk up. "The histories tell us that there was an explosion. But no bodies were recovered. It is possible that Mitchell, and even Certrius, may be alive."
"Mathius! To suggest such a thing is unlike you." Silas retorts.
"45 witnesses. We barely have enough townsfolk to confirm beast Warlord sightings. And yet there are over 40 Realmers and demons, many of whom have sworn the oath, who witnessed him walking around and commanding an army? I think the evidence should speak for itself, as much as it pains me to know he is alive." Mathius explains.
"I agree with him." the staff-wielding demon puts forth.
"Of course, you would Angron." Valencia argues, chuckling. His birdlike eyebrow raises, turning towards her.
"We must do what is needed to protect this Realm. No matter who we are facing." Angron states stoically.
"But what are we talking about, right now? We need more information." the male twin argues. "Ms. Dennis, is it? Please step forward."
Me? Swallowing, I do as I'm told, walking up next to Gail. I feel like a kid being brought before a principal or judge in a courtroom. "Yes?"
His sister peruses through her atlas. "I am councilor Doria, and this is my brother, Xavier. We simply want to know a few specifics." I nod. "So, you are a Realmer but from the other dimension, yes?"
"Yes, that's right. I'm from Earth." I answer truthfully.
"And you were brought here by the Warlord demon you encountered because…?"
"I found the Jade Jewel. It was in a cave in my dimension. I was swimming with my late boyfriend when it happened." I admit, casting a glance behind at Rosemary. She simply nods.
"The jewel? The same one he used in Tartiricia during the campaign." Mathius rasps out, rubbing his face concerningly.
"Did you see this jewel?" Doria asks me.
"I held it in my hands."
"The relic. It must have fallen through a portal years ago, after Govion was defeated." Sorak argues.
"Do you have it now?" Xavier asks.
"No. Certrius took it, the last I saw." I answer.
"But you have no evidence to corroborate who you saw?" he questions. "Do you?"
"No. Only Rosemary and I were there." I confess.
Doria shakes her head. "As much as I want to believe you and the assassin, we need more evidence."
"But what about the dark magic signatures? They match him!" Gail argues.
Xavier shakes his head. "Mitchell and Certrius were allies. It is likely that Mitchell learned the dark arts from him, which would explain how he was able to conjure such powerful magic. If the objects in his possession were also from Certrius, including the weapon you found, he could have passed them onto the advocate. Those weapons would show the same signature, even if the wielder was different." Gail nods her head, but I can tell she disagrees with his assessment. Still, she bows and gives councilor Xavier respect.
"But why now? Why the tournament?" Valencia asks, perplexed.
"To get our attention. He may be small, but Mitchell has always been known for his unwavering ability to corrupt others. And to start wars." Mathius spits with venom.
"This is true. The fact he was able to bribe guardsmen and their sergeant when they should be loyal to the Brokers. This was a message." Sorak argues. "If he can override the Brokers…"
"Then even the cities and academies could be at risk." Mathius finishes gravely. "But he is not invincible. He has been bested before."
"Okay, I will agree that, if indeed this is Mitchell, we must take immediate action." Silas argues, turning to his fellow council members. "But what action do we take? If his reach is so far and he has allies, he could be anywhere. Hidden by anyone. We do not have the resources to find him and protect the cities, academies and townships across the Realm. The Western Regions just dealt with an upsurge in beast Warlord activity. A huge migration of them in the East has left our reserves at Arihota marginal. And the islands are too cavernous to be fully explored with dark magic alone! If he moves at any moment, we will never catch him."
"Well, we cannot just sit around and wait for another attack. There are hundreds of people that were killed at the tournament!" Xavier argues.
"We need to strike back. Hard. I say we use whatever means necessary on those traitors to get information. The guardsmen in custody, as well as their commander." Angron bellows. "They chose their path, and now they must suffer for their crimes."
"But if they don't know? Assassins, have they given you any indication where he may be?" Doria asks.
Daisy steps forward. "No. The demon commander is unwilling to speak, even under interrogation. And the soldiers have no idea where Mitchell is held up. They only knew his look and name."
"Several have told us they were simply paid and did their jobs." Matt confirms.
"That is no excuse." Angron cuts in.
"Agreed." Sorak states. "But their punishment must be done within the confines of the law. As for Mitchell, that is much tougher. He truly could be anywhere. Mathius," Sorak calls, turning towards the smaller demon, "given your expertise on humanoid Warlords, and your people's history, do you have any thoughts on his next move?"
The Tartirician thinks for a moment, as the other members, except Silas, look at him. "If he wants this woman, Allie, she must be protected. That much is obvious. If he was willing to attack a tournament to get her, then there aren't many other places he won't attack."
"So, what do we do with her?" Doria asks.
"Where is she residing now?" Valencia questions.
"Kaduran. According to records." Xavier tells them.
"Perhaps we should speak with the magistrate. Add additional security measures to her and Rosemary's loggings." Angron puts forth.
"I say we restrict her movement completely. Have her set up in a cell in the city of Magdheria, under constant supervision. Mitchell, or whoever is hunting her, will come, and that is how we will capture him. He will not be able to stand up to our power in the main capital." Silas argues. Gail's mouth drops, as do several of the recruits. Daisy and Rosemary glare at the man, while Matt's face looks puzzled.
"You want to put me in jail and use me as bait?" I question, speaking aloud.
Silas turns to me. "Speak when spoken to, Realmer. You are not a citizen of this Realm. You are an outsider. An outsider who is of great interest to a Warlord demon of immeasurable power. Sacrifices must be made for the good of others." I can't believe what I'm hearing. I'm being punished for nearly getting kidnapped and killed!
"She didn't do anything wrong! She already lost a loved one and was brought here against her will. And now you want to punish her? What sense is there in that?!" Gail demands.
"Mind your tone, sorceress! It was you who beckoned us, not the other way around." Silas states angrily. "As for you, assassin," he points an accusing finger at Rosemary, "you have broken protocol. Your task, once you saved the woman, was to bring her to the nearest relocation center so she could be more accommodated to the Realm. That is the law regarding Realmers who pass through portals. Instead, you unilaterally decided to keep her at your residence, in your host city, to ensure her protection. Have you no respect for the law?"
"Broke protocol? Whose protocol do you speak of, demon? We speak for ourselves. We are not mindless puppets." Rosemary tells him, her tone less than pleasant. "The paperwork alone for such an exercise would have been a complete waste of Allie's time. You said it, yourself. She is not from here. She does not understand the Ancient Tongues. Therefore, she would not have been able to answer the questions, even the required ones, on the acquisition papers. That is why 'we' took it upon ourselves to handle it-"
"Condescension is unbecoming of an assassin." he retorts, cutting off her counterargument. "Understand something, assassin: it was never your decision to make." he emphasizes slowly. "So, I ask again, have you no respect for the law?"
"No. And had we been asked; we would have gladly taken the same actions all over again. The Bunny is under our protection. No one person or entity's authorization is required for us to do that." Rosemary responds passionately, giving a death glare to Silas, whose lip twitches in anger. I feel my heart beating faster and my lip upturn slightly as she defends me.
"You spit in the face of your oath, but still ask for help?" Valencia questions.
"As we have said, we do not require your authorization." she states in a low tone, looking at the council. Several of the council members are shocked, but Angron looks as if he's smiling, curiously raising his eyebrows.
"Alright, alright," Mathius states in a louder tone, putting his hands above his head, "let cooler heads prevail. We must discuss this further. We cannot punish the girl for decisions she was not in control of. But we cannot in good faith let her roam around knowing that monster is pursuing her. We must take action." he pats Valencia and Silas on the shoulder, before continuing. "Come, let us discuss privately. Ms. Kim, please stand-by as we do so. We will return shortly." The council members move over, the smoke cloud turning back into an hourglass.
"Am I really going to be punished?" I ask, concerned.
"No one will lay a finger on you as long as we are breathing." Rosemary repeats, giving me a softer look. I can't help the little flutter in my chest as she does so. Daisy and Matt look at Rosemary.
"You have major balls taking on the Council of the Guild like that." Daisy argues, before smiling. "Respect."
"That guy Silas… he's a real…" Matt starts, his hands clenching as he tries to hold back from unleashing.
"Vrandoff's ass." a guardsman yells out, causing others to shush him or chuckle.
"We can't talk about a high councilor that way." Gail argues, before whispering. "Even if it's true."
I turn to her. "Why won't they believe us?"
"The Guild has many issues they need to deal with. Warlord demon hunting and management, refugee relocation, diplomacy, food security, assassin training, infrastructure, etc. Tartiricia is the worst failure the Guild ever faced. Our entire society was built different after that, and the Guild's rules were made stricter to ensure a more stable Realm. To think 2 out of the 3 Warlords who disgraced them are still alive and could threaten that "peace"" she says in air quotes, "frightens them. And begs into question whether everything should be reformed again."
"You're not the first person to question their decisions, Allie." Matt puts forth. I turn my head and listen. "They call us in to save lives, but by the time we get there half if not all the village is dead. What's the point of having demon assassins if we don't get there in time to save anyone?"
"We also get worked to death. We put our lives on the line day in and day out, fighting these things even before we've graduated and with nearly no time off. And yet we are regulated with such heavy bullshit that if we get injured, it's on us to make up time lost." Daisy argues, fixing her hair. "We even have to get permission to have a baby."
"What?" I demand, turning towards Rosemary. She nods, a look of disgust painting over Daisy's eyes as she breathes deeply.
"The only thing that could matter more than a mission." Rosemary asserts.
"Then why stay? Aren't there other groups you can join? Or a human resources to make complaints with?" I ask. Gail pats my shoulder.
"Even if there are, they also have their flaws. Not everyone is evil, but there's definitely corruption. If you join a vigilante group, you need permission from the local authority, who then asks the Guild. If you're working under a Warlord who isn't nuts, or for a kingdom, city, or town, you need permission from the authorities. And technically speaking, you become a soldier, not unlike an assassin." Gail explains to me. "Other groups also don't have the pooled resources that the Guild does. It's a lesser of 2 evils. We either create a new group that may not be functional or have enough resources, or we cut through the bureaucracy to reform the Guild."
A few minutes later, the smoke cloud changes again, the council standing before us. Sorak stands at the front, speaking first. "We have come to a preliminary decision. Ms. Dennis and Ms. Rosemary, step forward."
We do as we are told, standing before them. I feel like we're on trial, and yet we're the victims.
"In light of the evidence brought before us today, a full termed decision will take many hours of deliberation to be reached. That cannot be completed until all members of the council are present and aware of the events that have taken place. However, in order to provide the best protection for you, we must have full knowledge of your whereabouts. If Father Mitchell is hunting you, the best decision is to remain somewhere secure and centralized. We have decided that until further notice, your movements will be restricted to the city of Kaduran. You will be under civil arrest, meaning you will not be allowed to leave the city until we have come to a decision of what to do with you next. Note, this is only temporary. We will give you more details once we have read through everyone's reports and discussed, at length, alternative options."
Mathius speaks next. "We realize that you have been through much hardship. So much death and suffering for simply being at the wrong place. But the rules must be followed, even in such unique circumstances." You can hear the empathy in his voice as he speaks the words. Valencia and Silas step up, alongside Xavier.
"Assassin Rosemary, you have not only insulted the Guild, but you have also broken several laws under the oath. As such, you will be reprimanded." Silas tells her.
"Reprimanded?" Gail mouths to Daisy, who shakes her head and mouths back 'I don't know'.
"Your conduct and complete disregard for the statutes you have devoted yourself to throughout your tenure were careless and irresponsible. You put the life of a kidnapped Realmer into your own hands, without a shadow of a thought of what dangers you could have incurred on her or any other citizen of this Realm. Your duties as an assassin are commendable, but you made a grave error. From this point on, you are indefinitely suspended from all assassin activity and the academies."
"What?" Gail, Daisy and Matt yell. I can see the anger in Rosemary's eyes as he reads out her punishments.
"Furthermore, you will also be restricted to the city of Kaduran, until we can ascertain your capabilities as a member of the Demon assassin elite force."
"Your pay has also been reduced by 40%, due to multiple failed reports under Hive academy supervisor, Gerrod." Valencia asserts.
"You can't be serious?" Gail argues, disbelief in her voice.
"Of course, Gerrod would throw us to the hellhounds." Rosemary mutters.
"I would have more respect for your academy, the next time you attempt to rewrite the rules." Silas puts forth with a smirk, causing Rosemary to glare at him. This guy's liable for a smack. Doria and Angron then speak up.
"All of the equipment you have is at your disposal, Ms. Rosemary." Angron tells her. "Including your vehicle."
"What? That's Guild property." Valencia argues.
"SHE is suspended." Silas emphasizes. "She should not have access to such high-quality goods."
"Exactly the reason I deemed it necessary. She's no longer part of the academies and restricted to the city. Rosemary is going to need every tool at her disposal to protect Ms. Allie. She's already proven she can handle Mitchell's minions. And, from what I can gather, she has no intention of leaving the woman's side, even under suspension. Am I right?" he declares, his lion-like voice calm as he stares at Rosemary.
"You understand well, councilor Angron."
"Ms. Dennis, we also want to inform you that in order to protect your friends, they also will have to remain in Kaduran with you. Once they are able to leave the healing tents, of course." Doria stipulates.
"Of course." I answer them.
"You will need to inform Mr. Cal, Ms. Tanea Brooks, Ms. Chelsea Green and Ms. Allysin Kay personally of our verdict. We feel it would be best if a friend told them the news, as to not shock them." Oh God, Allysin is going to love me for this.
"We have contacted the magistrate in Kaduran. He's agreed to approve your residence in the city, and will be sending official papers to your new domicile. A vendor has taken the liberty of picking them up for you." Xavier tells me, before reading. "A Mr. L'von T'soti?"
"Caretaker." I state, before Rosemary and I smile.
"Yes. The magistrate will be speaking with him over the rules of your civil arrest." councilor Xavier tells me. "Once you leave the tournament, you and Rosemary will be escorted back to Kaduran by several demon assassins. You will enter the city gates and you will remain in Kaduran until we determine the next course of action. If you fail to abide by these, we will be forced to reprimand you. Are we understood?"
"Yes. But what about Father James Mitchell and Certrius?" I ask.
"We will handle the advocate, Ms. Dennis. We already have numerous assassins stationed in that city, including those under civilian disguise." Sorak proclaims.
"Certrius is dead, and will remain so in the records until we can identify who or what, exactly, kidnapped you." Silas argues. We already do, but I'm not arguing with this guy. I have to stifle a laugh as Rosemary, Daisy and Gail give him another death glare.
"Ms. Kim," Angron starts, causing Gail to step forward, "please ensure the security and safe transport of all refugees to their respective homesteads. And if any information is uncovered during your interrogation of these traitorous guardsmen, do not hesitate to contact us." He then comes in close, his voice low. "And make the commander talk."
"It will be done." Gail tells him, bowing.
"Until we speak again, take care." Mathius says aloud, looking around before focusing on me. "All of you." The smoke cloud then goes gray, dissipating back into the cauldron.
"Assassins, back to your posts. Guardsmen, report to Officer Orelios for further instruction." Gail orders, the group heading them. She walks towards the exit with Matt and Daisy. I follow behind, Rosemary right beside me. Going back into the sunlight, Gail turns to me.
"I'm sorry, Allie. Had I known they'd punish you, I never would have asked for your live testimony."
"It wasn't your fault. If we hadn't done this, they may have never taken it seriously." I argue.
"Psh. They barely took it seriously, now." Matt asserts. "That Silas has his head so far up his ass."
"Shush, you." Gail cuts in, smiling at his remark.
"I should have tore into him." Daisy mutters.
"We would have enjoyed being a part of that." Rosemary tells her.
"Gail?" Matt asks. "You said Daisy and I are squad leaders earlier. If that's true, then who leads the Kingdom?"
"Yeah, I was wondering that too. And don't kid yourself, the true leader is obviously me." Daisy retorts confidently, head held high.
"I'm pretty certain it's-" Matt starts, before Gail cuts him off.
"Maria."
"What?!" Daisy and Matt scream, looking at Gail like she's nuts. Gail simply shrugs. Rosemary looks on curiously.
"More than half of your plans are designed by her. She puts all of you in line and gets you on task, without having to fight or yell. And she almost always reports back to the Guild. It's obviously her." Gail explains. Matt and Daisy stare at each other.
"When was the last time you wrote a report?" Daisy asks.
"A few days ago."
"Did Maria look it over?"
"… Yeah." he says in a defeated tone. "What about you?"
"I don't even remember. Usually, I add a few paragraphs and she finished them because I pass out from boredom."
"I feel that."
"I think it would be best if we take our leave, so the assassins can get back on task. Allie?" Rosemary claims, giving me a look.
"Yeah. It's been a long day. I still need to tell Rebel, Chelsea and Allysin the news."
"I'm sorry your friends were dragged into this, too. I'm sure if you explain it slowly, they'll understand." Gail says optimistically. I wish I had your confidence, Gail. "I'll have word on your transport back to Kaduran by tomorrow. And also, my offer still stands. If you need to talk to someone, I'm here."
"Thanks Gail. I appreciate the gesture."
"Not sure if I'll see you again, but good luck in Kaduran." Matt tells us.
"Way to make civil arrest sound fun, jackass." Daisy retorts.
"Do you ever stop?" Matt questions.
"Not since I saw you in a mullet." she answers.
I laugh out loud alongside Gail and Daisy, Rosemary giving a polite smile while Matt glares at her. Wishing them a good rest of the day, Rosemary and I head for the healing tents to tell our friends the news. I hope Chelsea really did hide all the sharp objects in Allysin's room.
Author's Note: Hey everyone. Hope you've all been doing well as summer approaches. Another update, just for you. A debriefing session that Allie and Rosemary need to go through, but Gail is so sweet. This is followed by Allie and Rosemary facing the Assassin's Guild, the highest authority in the Realm! We have some good guys and some by the book, full of themselves councilors. Looking at you, Silas. And now both Rosemary and Allie are under civil arrest until further notice? And not just them, but Cal, Rebel, Chelsea and Allysin too? Maybe they'll all be able to get along. Maybe *stares at Allysin's name again*... hopefully? Next time ,we'll see how everyone reacts to the news and when, exactly, our heroes will leave the tournament grounds.
Hope you enjoyed the new chapter. If you did, feel free to leave a review. It is always appreciated. Until next time, stay safe and remember to enjoy your day! :)