Chapter 4-19: Here's Your Way Up
Briar does what she can to get rid of the plants, and is able to get rid. Of course, the others do their best to help out as well, and make sure Malleus doesn't unleash maximum magic.
The gargoyle says, "You guys are somethin' else. You sent those flowers packin' like nobody's business!"
"Heh. Such a small gesture is hardly worthy of gratitude," Malleus says.
"At this point we're less afraid of the flowers and more afraid of Malleus blowing up the tower…" Idia says.
Soon, the gargoyle says, "Well, here's your way up. Have a look at the ceiling," And looks up.
"The ceiling?" Malleus questions.
The group looks up.
Malleus notices, " ...Ah, the woodgrain is slightly misaligned! There's a hatch here."
"I wouldn't have even noticed if you hadn't pointed it out," Idia says.
"Seems like a lot of effort for nothing, if you ask me. Why even hide the passage? Did they have a monster locked up top or something?" Idia questions.
The gargoyle says, "I'll open the hatch, and you guys can use the crates to reach it. The top floor's right above here. Now, get hoppin' and…" But when he opens the hatch, more fire lotuses appear, "YIPES!"
Malleus notices, ""Firelotuses! Were they hiding behind the crates?"
And soon, the flowers catchers the gargoyle, "Aww crud, I'm gettin' dizzy... Magic's bein' drained…" and feels dizzy as the flowers surround him.
"They've even gotten into his mouth! Argh, they're clinging so hard I can't get them off!" Azul says as he tries to get them off.
"Indeed. The roots are digging deep into the cracks of his stone body…" Malleus says.
Briar does the same and tries to pull the flowers off, "They won't come off."
"I don't wanna be...a regular gargoyle…" The gargoyle says.
Malleus says, "Hold on. I'll blast away every flower on you."
But Idia says, "Dude, are you seriously about to blast the gargoyle with your OP magic?! If it's been at this school for ages, that means it's made of the same old rock as the bell tower. Any direct spell damage would blast it to bits!"
"But it's getting worse!" Malleus cries out.
Briar tries to get the flowers off, "The flowers are really stuck to him. We can't get them off.
Soon, the gargoyle says, "Guys… Forget...about me… Just go...an' ring...the bell…"
"What?" Briar asks, shocked.
But Malleus says, "Don't give up, gargoyle. Keep your wits about you! We're getting the firelotuses off now. Just have patience."
But the Gargoyle says, "Nah, s'cool... Just...stop Rollo… I'm just a hunk of a rock… But you guys...are made of way stronger stuff… Take care...of Rollo...'kay...?" and soon, the gargoyle goes to sleep, and falls over.
"No…" Briar says, shocked.
Malleus tries to call out to the gargoyle, "Gargoyle? Gargoyle, can you hear me? ...GARGOYLE!"
However, the gargoyle isn't moving or waking up. It won't speak. It won't move. Malleus and Briar are silent and devastated when the gargoyle has lost his magic.
"...He isn't budging," Azul says, "With his magic gone, he's reverted to an ordinary gargoyle."
"Since he runs on magic, losing even a little power was probably fatal for him," Idia says.
"The gargoyle was worried about Flamme to the very last. Even though Flamme's responsible for what's happened to him…" Malleus says, and becomes silent.
Idia walks to Malleus and says, "Uh, Malleus? You gonna be okay? Look, uh... About the gargoyle... If it stopped moving after the flowers sapped it's magic… Then I think the whole reason it could move at all was because it had regular exposure to the Bell of Solace. So, uh... I know it sucks to just leave him here, but…"
"...I know," Malleus says, "All we can do now is move on and ring the Bell of Solace. That's what you're trying to say, yes?"
"...Yup." Idia says.
Malleus remains silent before saying, "Wait for us, gargoyle. We shan't be long. We'll ring the bell and restore you and the rest of your brethren to normal. And to that end… I shall strike Rollo Flamme down myself!" And is determined to take Rollo down once and for all.