Disclaimer: Neither High School DXD nor Elder Scrolls belongs to me, all rights to their respective owners.
Chapter 78
— When you face the wild world outside the villages in Tamriel, sometimes it's always good to have an animal friend to help you… they can always save your life. —
Common saying among pet merchants.
The sun was shining in all its splendor, illuminating a paradisiacal beach in the Caribbean. The beach had the shape, or at least gave the impression, of a horseshoe. The sands were white and soft, contrasting wonderfully with the crystalline turquoise waters. This Caribbean gem was Flamenco Beach, in Puerto Rico.
In what could be considered a true paradise on Earth, many humans could be seen enjoying the day. They were there seeking peace and tranquility, whether by swimming, diving, or simply resting on the white sands to sunbathe. Although the beach was filled with people, there were a few who were not human. Among them were Edzard, Asia, Yasaka, Kunou, and Marie, who had come to enjoy the second day of festivities for the birthdays of the two little ones.
The day's plan had been decided by the girls. They started with breakfast in Okinawa, where they spent a few hours enjoying the city. Then they traveled to this Caribbean beach for lunch and to spend the rest of the day. The reason they chose this beach instead of staying in Okinawa was simple: neither Kunou nor Yasaka had been to beaches outside of Japan before, so this would be a new experience for them. Finally, they planned to end the day with dinner on the Italian Riviera, in Portofino, where they had reservations at a luxury restaurant.
Edzard was finishing setting up the umbrella in the spot where they would rest when not under the sun. Akatosh's son wore blue shorts with black details forming a dragon in vectors. Unlike other beach visits, this time he did not have a bare torso but wore a gray smoke shirt with black palm trees printed on it.
"All done..." Edzard said to himself as he looked around.
The dragon's eyes scanned the humans on the beach, observing their behavior. Many dressed similarly to him, but others wore only shorts or swimsuits, while the women flaunted their bikinis. Some wore discreet and moderate swimsuits, while others opted for somewhat more revealing bikinis.
'Ummm... I still don't understand this need for some human women to attract attention in this way... Although, from what I have learned, not all act like this. Even so, it's puzzling.' thought Edzard curiously, as in Skyrim, undressing so much was almost a death sentence due to hypothermia. However, no matter how much skin they showed, none of those women managed to excite him; his lovers were much more beautiful and had better bodies.
"Ed!"
Asia's voice resonated above the murmur of the humans. Upon hearing it, Edzard turned his head, and what he saw left him speechless once again. Although he usually didn't let his face reflect what he thought, in moments like this, it was impossible not to show that, after all, he was a young man.
Edzard's face blushed at the sight of Asia and Yasaka in their respective swimsuits. Both outfits accentuated the women's figures. Asia's bikini consisted of two light blue pieces, with a white bow on the top and white ruffles on the bottom. Yasaka, on the other hand, wore a white two-piece bikini decorated with gold rings. Both wore light sweatshirts: light blue for Asia and white for Yasaka.
"How do we look, Ed?" Asia asked with a smile, noting her husband's reaction.
At first, Edzard remained silent, unable to speak... or rather, he wasn't given time, as Yasaka intervened before him.
"Good? Beautiful? Desirable?" the kitsune asked coquettishly, trying to deepen the blush on Edzard's face.
Faced with Yasaka's new questions, Edzard paused. Looking at the kitsune and seeing her smile, he decided to give her a fitting answer. He walked up to her and whispered something in her ear.
"All of that together…" Edzard replied with a smile, watching Yasaka freeze for a second. After that, the leader of the youkai of Kyoto blushed intensely.
"E-e-e-e-eh…" was all Yasaka could say, surprised by the response. However, after a few more seconds, she smiled and looked at her fiancé with affection.
"Really?" Yasaka asked as she moved closer to Edzard, who was already next to his wife.
"Yes, both of you look very beautiful." Edzard responded with a smile, wrapping his right arm around Asia's waist.
"E-E-E-Ed…" was all Asia could articulate, feeling embarrassed by her husband's gesture.
The scene caused a slight envy in Yasaka, who moved to Edzard's left side, pressing her body against him. The action surprised Edzard for a second, but after a moment, he shook his head and, smiling, wrapped his other arm around Yasaka's waist.
The two women pressed even closer to Edzard, which provoked jealousy in several humans watching them. Some began to murmur, but none of the three paid attentions, as the true protagonists of the day, Marie and Kunou, arrived.
Like their mothers, the girls were wearing swimsuits. However, theirs were more modest and age appropriate. Marie wore a light pink one-piece swimsuit, while Kunou wore a white one. On their heads, they wore wide-brimmed straw hats.
"Dad!" Marie shouted with a smile as she ran up to Kunou.
The two girls reached their parents and, looking at them, spoke.
"How do we look?" Kunou asked shyly, not used to dressing that way.
The little girl's question was first met with smiles from her parents, and then with responses.
"You look very nice." Asia said with a warm smile.
"Yes, so much so that I'm afraid some boys can't take their eyes off my little Kunou." Yasaka added with a mischievous smile, trying to tease her dear daughter a bit.
Yasaka's response caused Edzard to frown and look around, noticing that some young men were watching his daughter. This made him growl internally and start memorizing their faces, determined to teach them a lesson if necessary.
But it wasn't just Edzard who was upset; Marie was too. Suddenly, and with a very quick movement, she hugged Kunou tightly. The action surprised not only Kunou but also the parents of both girls.
"Marie?" Kunou asked, puzzled, as she returned the hug without knowing why her best friend was acting that way.
"No one will take Kunou away from me." Marie responded possessively, which left everyone astonished.
Marie's reaction caused Edzard, Asia, and Yasaka to look at each other, not quite understanding what had just happened. However, the most confused was Kunou, who felt her cheeks burn. Although Marie's words had no dark meaning, Kunou couldn't help but feel there was a kind of "territorial mark" in them, as if the little girl was saying she belonged to her. But that couldn't be, Kunou thought, quickly dismissing that absurd thought. After all, Marie was only three years old, which meant she wasn't old enough to think about those kinds of things.
Smiling to herself at the silliness of her idea, Kunou looked at her parents.
"Th-thank you." she said shyly, still hugging Marie, who let go after hearing her words.
"There's nothing to thank for." Edzard interjected, joining the conversation. "It's the truth. Both of you look very lovely today."
After saying that, the dragon let go of Yasaka and Asia and approached his daughters. When he was in front of them, he playfully gave both a gentle touch on the nose, causing them to cover their faces with their hands.
"Mou! That was rude, Dad." Marie said with a smile before looking towards the beach. "Can I go play in the sea with Kunou?"
"Sure, I don't see any problem with that." Edzard replied with a smile, as he returned to Asia and Yasaka. "What about you two?"
"I don't see any problem either, as long as they stay where we can see them." Asia said with a somewhat forced smile. She didn't want to take her eyes off her daughter, but she understood she couldn't be overprotective on a day like this.
"I agree, but I want them to stay visible and, if anything happens, to shout loudly." Yasaka added, looking at her daughter with a gaze that clearly asked her to stay alert.
"Well, you heard them. You can go play, but don't go too far and make sure we can see you." Edzard concluded.
Hearing the approval, the two girls looked at each other and, smiling, started running towards the shore, moving away from their parents to enjoy the water.
The eyes of the three adults followed the girls until they saw them stop and start playing at the shore, ensuring they were in a "safe" place. After confirming this, Edzard, Asia, and Yasaka sat on the towels under the umbrella.
"What did they want from you?" Asia asked, diverting her attention from her daughter for a moment and looking at her husband.
The question referred to what Edzard had discussed with Azazel, Vasco, Michael, Sirzechs, and Serafall behind the scenes during their daughters' birthday party.
Hearing her, Edzard brought a hand to his chin, frowning as he recalled the conversation, causing Asia and Yasaka to look at him with curiosity. It was not common to see him make such gestures.
"Is what's happening that serious?" Yasaka asked with a palpable mix of curiosity and concern.
"It's not exactly serious, but some things will be tedious to resolve." Edzard replied, his tone showing some annoyance.
Edzard's response confused the women a bit, who leaned closer to him.
"What do you mean by that?" Asia asked, clearly intrigued by what her husband was about to say.
"Well… you see…" Edzard began, ready to explain the problems affecting the three main factions, or rather, two of them, as Azazel had mentioned something unrelated to his own faction.
"So some exorcists are rebelling against the Church because they believe that devils and fallen angels are responsible for bringing the daedra to this world… I can't believe they're that foolish." Asia commented, letting out a sigh of resignation.
"Yes." Edzard responded, looking at the sky for a moment, as if seeking an answer there.
"Honestly, it doesn't surprise me much." Yasaka commented, catching the attention of Asia and Edzard.
"Why do you say that?" Asia asked, intrigued.
"Asia, the Church has fought against devils and fallen angels for centuries. Before the arrival of the daedra, they were the enemies to defeat according to their beliefs. And now they're told that those same enemies are no longer so, but that they must ally with them to fight beings from another world… I don't know about you, but if I didn't know about the daedra firsthand, I would also believe they were brought by devils or fallen angels. After all, those two factions aren't very liked by the others." Yasaka explained, sighing as she recalled some incidents with members of those factions.
Upon hearing these words, Asia realized that Yasaka was right. Although she had believed that the threat of the daedra was reason enough to unite everyone in the defense of their homes and families, it seemed she had underestimated the complexity of the situation.
Silence reigned for a few seconds after Yasaka's words, until Edzard decided to break it again.
"You're right about the church… if I'm honest with my feelings, I don't like that institution. It's not that I hate Christians, I respect all religions… but the church as such, that organization, has caused the worst massacres due to stupid fanaticism, and there's something I will never forgive them for… If I haven't destroyed them, it's because I don't want to make someone sad."
Edzard's words surprised the two women, who felt a chill run down their spines. Edzard had spoken with unusual coldness and harshness. Even so, Yasaka understood the reason why he hadn't attacked the church, just like Asia. The reason was Asia herself, because despite all the crap the institution had thrown at her, she still had good memories of her time in it, and that was what stayed Edzard's hand.
"What will you do to solve the issue with the exorcists, Ed?" Asia asked after a few seconds of silence following her husband's words.
The question made Edzard sigh. Although military logic and the numerous tactical treatises he had read indicated that the most efficient thing would be to eliminate the rebels, he knew he couldn't do it. There were two reasons for this: first, those rebels were trained soldiers, valuable as war assets; and second, Vasco had made him promise not to kill them, as he wanted to devilstrate that the church was applying its principles of mercy and forgiveness.
"At first, I thought about liquidating them… I've never been a fan of giving second chances… but the situation is going to escalate in the future, so we need all the help we can get. Killing a group of trained humans would be stupid and counterproductive… so I'll opt for the path of dialogue. I'll talk to them to make them see the danger the daedra represent and get the idea out of their heads that devils and fallen angels brought the daedra to this world."
Hearing Edzard's reasonable response, both women nodded. Although they didn't entirely like hearing Edzard mention killing so easily, they understood that the current world situation demanded difficult and perhaps unethical decisions.
"Now, about the issue with Lilith… what do you plan to do there?" Yasaka asked, recalling how the son of Akatosh had mentioned that two of the Maous had requested the help of Valerie and Asia to heal Lilith… and not only that, they had also asked for Edzard's help.
Hearing the question, Edzard let out a sigh. He felt they were using him to avoid making the effort to find the solution themselves.
"I don't know… I think this time I'll let Asia and Valerie make the decision." he replied after a few seconds of reflection.
Hearing that response, Yasaka looked at Asia, who had her eyes wide open in surprise.
The young ex-nun's surprise was not because it was the first time her husband had let her make decisions, but because she didn't expect it to happen at that moment.
"I don't understand why you seem surprised, Asia… it's not like I'm your owner and don't let you make your own decisions." Edzard commented upon seeing the expression on his wife's face.
"I know, but it just took me by surprise that you asked me here…" Asia responded, looking at her husband. Then she began to reflect on what decision to make. It didn't take her long, as she knew what she had to do. Looking at Edzard, she finally said, "I think the best thing is for us to help them, Ed… not only because it's the right thing to do, but because, if we handle it well, this could politically help Ingvild."
Edzard's eyes widened upon hearing that. He had forgotten about Ingvild's matter. Realizing this, he brought a hand to his forehead and gave himself a slap that startled Yasaka and Asia.
"Ed, in the name of Amaterasu… why did you do that?" Yasaka asked, placing a hand on her chest, surprised by Edzard's action.
"It's just that I forgot Ingvild will have her debut in the Underworld soon…" he responded, feeling embarrassed.
This response surprised Asia, as she knew her husband wasn't one to forget important things. His mind must have been very occupied with other matters.
Covering his face with his hand, Edzard began to feel bad; he couldn't believe he had forgotten something so crucial. However, before he could continue torturing himself over it, he felt someone touching his shoulders. Looking up, he saw it was Asia and Yasaka, both with smiles on their faces.
"Calm down, Ed… it's normal that you overlooked it. You have a lot on your mind with everything that's happening." Asia commented with a smile, trying to cheer up her husband.
"Yes, Ed… even if you're a powerful dragon, you're still just one individual. You can't be perfect or remember everything." Yasaka added with a kind smile.
Seeing them smile, Edzard also smiled and let out a sigh.
"That's true… I guess I'll have to make it up to Ingvild for this, and I already know how." he said, raising his right hand.
Hearing this, both Yasaka and Asia smiled. They had achieved what they wanted by talking to him. Then, they decided to touch on the last topic: the reason Azazel had wanted to talk to him.
"It seems Azazel has discovered that everything done to those humans is only possible with complete knowledge of a Nirmnian's body…" Edzard said, sharing what the fallen angel had told him.
These words surprised the women, revealing that Rizevim and Euclid were not only being helped by daedra but also by a Nirmnian.
"What kind of Nirmnian do you think it is?" Yasaka asked, hoping her fiancé had some idea.
"It's most likely a necromancer… there are no mortals more knowledgeable about the body than a necromancer in Nirn. To improve, they open corpses and living beings to learn how it works and how to better apply their magic." Edzard responded, causing grimaces of disgust in Asia and Yasaka.
"Do you think it's just a mortal or also a Daedric Champion?" Asia asked, fearing it could be a champion, which might indicate an alliance with a Daedric Prince.
"I don't think it's a champion… the only Daedric champions who would be necromancers are those of Bal, because Namira's would prefer to eat the corpse rather than study it. And the rest of the Daedric Princes aren't that fond of necromancy."
The mention of another Daedric Prince surprised Yasaka, who remembered that Namira was the Daedric Prince of decay and repulsion, and that her followers were often cannibals who fed on corpses. Just thinking about that practice, something so abominable to her mind, made the kitsune shudder with repulsion at that moment.
"Yes, I understand you… I would also feel disgusted hearing what Namira's followers do." Edzard commented upon seeing Yasaka's reaction.
Upon hearing him, the leader of the youkai looked at her fiancé and nodded, then asked another question.
"If they are not champions, who do you think is Rizevim's ally?"
"Ummm… I can't know… although necromancy is not a very common magic, the truth is that its users are usually hidden. The only visible ones are the youngest and most inexperienced, who cannot control themselves and tend to attract attention, which causes bounties to be placed on their heads."
Edzard's response made Yasaka and Asia realize that it would not be easy to discover who the Nirnian supporting Lucifer's son was. This worried them greatly, as the lack of information could cost many lives. However, before the concern could settle more deeply within them, Edzard spoke again.
"Although this is worrying, it's best to set it aside for today… this is a special day, and it wouldn't be fair to them if we were thinking about work when we should be focusing solely on their happiness."
Upon hearing these words, both women nodded, recognizing that he was right. What good was it to stress and worry about something when that day was a holiday for them? So, looking at each other, they smiled and decided not to talk about the subject anymore. Then they began to relax, enjoying the day at the beach.
While their parents talked about the problems arising in some factions, Marie and Kunou played quietly on the beach.
"Ha, ha, ha…! Come on, Ma-chan!" Kunou shouted playfully as she ran along the shore, closely followed by Marie.
"Wait for me, Ku-chan!" Marie responded, laughing, trying to catch up with her friend.
The two girls were having fun playing tag, completely absorbed in their own world, not worrying about what was happening around them.
They were so immersed in their games that, without realizing it, they strayed from the beach, reaching near the wooded area at the edges. Upon noticing this, they initially felt a bit scared, but that fear dissipated in a matter of seconds, giving way to the innate desire for exploration that children usually have.
"Ku-chan… are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Marie asked, looking at the forest in front of them.
"Yes… but you know we can't do it, right?" Kunou replied. "We promised not to stray from the beach and to stay where they can see us."
Hearing the mention of the promise, the adventurous impulse they had felt seemed to dilute a bit… at least for a few seconds, as it soon returned with force, especially in Marie.
Despite wanting to explore, the little dragon knew it wasn't right to break her promise, so, somewhat disappointed, she sighed and was about to return to the beach with Kunou. However, she suddenly stopped upon hearing a sound.
"Did you hear that, Ku-chan?" Marie asked, looking towards the forest.
"Yes, I heard it too." Kunou replied, who had also heard the noise.
The sound was a very muffled conversation, which seemed to come from within the forest.
The curiosity, which had been momentarily stifled by the promise, resurfaced strongly. Slowly, both girls took a first step towards the forest. Once they took the first step, the second and third were easier, and soon they couldn't control their feet, quickly running towards the source of the sounds.
When they reached the place where the noise was coming from, they stopped abruptly, surprised by what they saw… or rather, by what they didn't see. In front of them, there was no one, just more trees.
"I don't understand… I'm hearing muffled words, but I don't see anything." Kunou said, looking ahead without finding anything.
"Yes, me too…" added Marie, pouting, disappointed at not finding something interesting.
Seeing that there was nothing but trees, Yasaka's daughter decided it was best to return before their parents noticed their absence. Turning around, she was about to speak to Marie, but froze when she saw her friend walking slowly forward and suddenly disappearing.
Seeing that filled Kunou with panic. Although she didn't show it often, Marie's kidnapping and everything that happened afterward had deeply marked her, generating a kind of trauma, or at least that's what she believed. Seeing her friend disappear like that awakened a primordial fear in her. Her body trembled, and a cold sweat ran down her skin, chilling her.
"M-M-Marie…?" was all the kitsune could say, but at that moment she saw, to her surprise, her friend's head appearing out of nowhere.
"Ku-chan!" Marie shouted with a smile on her face.
The shout startled Kunou, who tripped and fell backward to the ground, letting out a small cry of pain, which worried Marie.
Seeing her friend on the ground, the little dragon ran towards her and knelt beside her.
"Are you okay, Ku-chan?" Marie asked with concern.
When the kitsune looked at her little sister, she suddenly hugged her, surprising the dragon.
"Ku-chan?" Marie asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Don't disappear like that again, Ma-chan." Kunou responded with a choked voice.
Hearing her friend speak so emotionally, Marie felt bad and, wrapping her arms around the kitsune's body, promised not to do it again.
When the little kitsune's emotions had calmed down, Kunou asked Marie what had happened.
"Ma-chan, how did you disappear like that out of nowhere?" Kunou asked, looking her in the eyes.
"I don't know, it was funny and strange. I just walked and passed through something that seemed to be made of water." Marie responded, bringing a hand to her forehead, trying to find the right words to explain what had happened.
Hearing this, Kunou felt a bit silly. She had studied various types of barriers, as a youkai, she knew that at times she would have to use them to hide something from the eyes of normal humans. Thanks to that, she realized there was a barrier in that place.
"It's a barrier…" Kunou whispered, catching Marie's attention.
The little dragon blinked, realizing what was in front of them. So, looking again at the barrier, she told Kunou what she had seen.
"There are strange people over there."
"What do you mean?" Kunou asked, intrigued by those words.
"They are people dressed all in black and are transporting cages with animals." Marie responded sincerely.
Kunou's eyes widened upon hearing this, understanding that they were animal smugglers. Realizing what was happening, she explained it to Marie, who became furious. She knew, from what she had seen on television, that animal smugglers made animals suffer, especially the smaller ones, and that was something she couldn't tolerate.
"We have to help them." Marie said quickly and decisively.
"I don't know… We don't know what kind of people they are. Maybe it's best to ask our parents to come." Kunou pointed out seriously, trying to make Marie understand that this could be dangerous.
"Yes, but the bad guys could leave when they arrive." Marie commented, looking her in the eyes, trying to convince her that they had to stop the smugglers before they escaped.
"No, Ma-chan… it's dangerous." Kunou objected.
"Please…" Marie pleaded, her eyes shining like stars.
Marie's expression eventually softened Kunou, and after several seconds, she agreed to go capture the smugglers. This made Marie jump for joy, and without wasting time, she took Kunou's hand and led her into the barrier.
When they both crossed the barrier, Kunou felt on her own skin what Marie had described a little while ago. What they saw inside was completely different from what could be observed from the outside. From the outside, the forest seemed intact, but inside the barrier, the landscape had changed. The forest had been completely cleared, creating an artificial clearing where there were more than fifty people.
The humans were moving back and forth, moving cages, just as Marie had told her. Even so, Kunou was surprised, as they didn't seem to be simple smugglers. What they carried in those cages were not common animals; they were supernatural creatures.
"For Amaterasu…" Kunou whispered, as both girls moved as stealthily as possible until they hid behind a rock, from where they observed the scene.
Both girls' eyes followed a group of shady-looking men who were transporting cages with creatures unknown to them. This indicated that they did not belong to Japanese folklore or the creatures of Nirn.
Among all the men, one stood out for his authoritative appearance, seeming to be the leader. He was a man in his forties, with a thick beard and a gruff voice, who gave orders to the others.
"Quick, move. We don't have all night." the leader growled, pointing to a cave, or rather, a sort of underground bunker. Although his tone showed confidence, his eyes moved restlessly, watching the surroundings as if he feared someone was observing them.
In the midst of the hustle, one of the men, a nervous young man, stumbled. The cage he was carrying, covered with a black cloth, wobbled and almost fell to the ground. This caused a sharp squeal from inside, full of fear and desperation.
The cage moved slightly, making the young man pale as he tried to stabilize it.
"Careful, idiot!" spat another smuggler angrily, a tall guy with scars on his face. "That specimen is very rare at that age, and we already have a buyer who has offered several million dollars for it."
Hearing the price, the young man paled even more, aware that he had a fortune in his hands that he almost ruined. Fearfully, he nodded while trying to keep the cage in place. But before he could do anything else, his leader, noticing what had happened, spoke.
"Silence!" ordered the leader, frowning as he looked at his subordinates. "We don't need more attention than we already have. And you, kid, if you can't handle the merchandise, I'll find someone who can."
The young man, scared, muttered an apology, while his companions chuckled before returning to their tasks.
The two girls watched everything with anger, understanding that those people hunted and captured supernatural creatures to sell them without caring about the harm they caused. Although supernatural creatures were being protected by governments, these acts caused some to attack the civilian population, forcing misinformation agents to intervene to hide the truth of the supernatural world.
"Ku-chan… we have to do something." Marie whispered, looking at the smugglers with determination.
"I know, but…" murmured Kunou in response, feeling a knot in her stomach. She knew what she had to do, but fear overwhelmed her, especially after having a near-death experience during Marie's rescue mission. However, when Marie took her hand, that fear began to dissipate.
When the little kitsune felt her friend's hand next to hers, her nerves began to calm. Looking at her, she saw that Marie was smiling in a way that gave her courage.
"Don't worry… we'll do it, together."
Marie's words, which didn't seem to come from a child of such a young age, were so full of confidence that they managed to inspire Kunou. She smiled and nodded.
"Okay… so, what do we do?"
Marie's new question made Kunou's smile fade for a few seconds. She didn't understand how, after such confident words, she could now say something so naive. However, observing her appearance, she remembered something important: although Marie spoke like a nearly seven-year-old child, the truth was that she wasn't that age. She knew it was up to her to plan how to face the smugglers, as nothing would take that idea out of Marie's head. So she began to devise a plan.
Slowly, she examined the place where the traffickers were. The area was spacious enough to allow the smugglers to fight comfortably if attacked in close combat, and there was also room to dodge ranged attacks. This surprised Kunou, as she did not expect something so well planned by simple criminals. This indicated that these traffickers were not common, but had a very capable leader.
'There is no space for a continuous covered attack… only for a stealthy one…' Kunou thought with concern. His best tactic was always to attack from the shadows, but inside the barrier, there was only that one place to hide.
Suddenly, a doubt arose in the little kitsune's mind: how had the barrier not triggered any alarms when they entered? How had they been able to cross it without being detected? It was then that she realized that the barrier was only for concealment, not for security. That was why the interior was arranged in that way, to compensate for the barrier's deficiencies.
Kunou's eyes scanned the entire place, and her mind devised a simple and easy-to-execute plan. She approached Marie and, leaning close to her ear, told her what she had in mind.
The smugglers continued to move their new merchandise, a large number of supernatural animals. These smugglers were not magicians, but humans with contacts in the supernatural world, specifically with a demonic clan, one of the remnants of the seventy-two pillars. The devils used them to transport supernatural animals to study them and see if their bodies had any utility for demonic society or to sell them as pets or familiars to devils with sufficient purchasing power.
These operations were carried out in total secrecy due to the treaties signed by the devils with other factions. This lack of immediate access to supernatural creatures had led to the creation of the Familiar Forest, a place where creatures obtained by legal means were placed to reproduce and be used as familiars by the devils.
In this batch, they had received rarer beasts than usual, although most were young, some of which could die if they did not receive proper care. However, the smugglers did not care about that; they were only interested in ensuring they did not die before being sold. What happened afterward was not their problem.
The group of smugglers used this island in the Caribbean as a secondary hideout and as a clandestine transit point to avoid the surveillance of countries in contact with the supernatural. The barrier placed by the magicians hired by the devils was simple, just enough not to attract the attention of a high-ranking magician passing nearby.
"Hurry up, we need to leave soon!" shouted the leader of the smugglers. The routine operation was taking longer than usual, which caused him concern, though not enough to panic. After all, the idea of someone finding them in that remote place was very unlikely. However, when his subordinates placed the last cage in the bunker, something unexpected happened.
BOOM!
An explosion resonated where one of the groups of subordinates was. They had divided their forces into two to store the merchandise faster. The explosion was of a peculiar blue fire, impossible for humans to identify. Although it was not extremely large, all the subordinates in the group were reduced to ashes in an instant.
Panic seized the smugglers, who regrouped in the center of the clearing, looking in all directions.
"Boss, you said this place was safe!" shouted one of them, pulling out an AKM-47, a human weapon commonly used by various human groups, whether governments, subversives, or even criminals.
The leader growled, pulling out his own assault rifle of the same type.
"Shoot around!" ordered the leader, without seeing the attacker.
At their boss's command, the surviving smugglers began firing uninterrupted bursts. When their magazines emptied, they quickly replaced them, but this time they did not shoot, instead observing their surroundings.
"This is strange… I don't see anyone…" said one of them, turning sharply at the sound coming from the only rock in the clearing.
That rock was strategically placed to hide their activities in case someone entered through the barrier, making it a blind spot for them.
The leader, realizing the intruder might be behind that stone, shouted while aiming his weapon.
"Come out with your hands up!"
The silence that followed made the smugglers even more tense. They all kept their fingers on the triggers, ready to shoot at the slightest noise. However, none of them fired when they saw what emerged from behind the rock.
To their astonishment, a little girl came out from behind the stone, stumbling slightly as she did so.
"A brat?" asked one of the smugglers, raising his weapon.
"It can't be… that explosion couldn't have been caused by a brat." commented another, aware that the attack had been magic.
"That's true, there must be someo-"
The words died in his throat when the girl shouted.
"FUS! RO!"
The shout caught everyone's attention, and what they saw would be the last thing they witnessed in their lives. To their horror, a wave of blue energy came out of the girl's mouth, sweeping everything in its path. The speed of the wave was such that it reached them in two seconds. The smugglers' bodies were thrown like ragdolls, crashing into nearby trees and causing their deaths as they were crushed by the uprooted trunks.
Marie and Kunou, who had come out from behind the rock where she had hidden to make the smugglers lower their guard upon seeing only Marie, watched as the clearing was left free of smugglers.
The terrain was not as destroyed as Yasaka's palace had been when Marie unleashed her thu'um there. This was because, this time, Marie had not used as much power in her shout. Even so, the unleashed force far exceeded many of the spells that some supernatural beings could perform.
"It seems there are no more smugglers." Kunou said to Marie, and began to walk towards the bunker where those criminals kept their "merchandise".
"Yes." replied Marie, following Kunou towards the bunker.
When they arrived, they realized that the entrance was completely sealed. The door, a double hatch that lifted to the sides, was made of reinforced steel, thick enough to withstand several powerful spells before being destroyed. Additionally, it was so heavy that the two girls could not open it by themselves.
Realizing that they could not open it or free the creatures fSrom the bunker, they looked at each other with eyes full of frustration.
"I don't think we can open it…" Kunou commented with regret, knowing that she couldn't use the same attack she had used against the smugglers to break the door.
The attack Kunou had used was a Fox Fire arrow, shot from her new bow, the gift she had received from Edzard. The resulting explosion had reduced the smugglers to ashes, but using that same power against the bunker door would be dangerous, as it could end up killing the creatures trapped inside.
Both girls fell into such a deep silence that they did not notice when three presences arrived.
"Ku-chan… what do you think we should do now?" Marie asked, somewhat hesitant. She had thought about using her thu'um, but she wasn't sure if it would be safe to do so. "Do you think it's a good idea to use my thu'um on the door?"
Marie's question was about to be answered by Kunou, but a familiar voice interrupted her… a voice that terrified them.
"No, dear, it's not a good idea." Asia said calmly.
Hearing Asia's voice, the two girls jumped, letting out a small cry of surprise. When they landed back on the ground, they slowly turned and saw, with horror, their parents.
Fear took hold of them. Not a fear for their lives, but that natural fear children feel when they know they have been caught and are about to be punished.
"Can you tell me what you are doing here…?" Yasaka asked with a radiant smile, but with her eyes closed.
That smile did not alleviate the fear the girls felt at all. Knowing that running away would only make the situation worse, they decided to tell the truth, hoping that it would alleviate the punishment they would face the next day, as they knew they would not be punished that same day.
They slowly began to explain what had happened, detailing everything about the smugglers. This surprised Asia, Edzard, and Yasaka, who could not believe what they were hearing.
"Are you sure about this?" Edzard asked, not because he doubted their words, but because he needed to confirm it to know what to do next.
"Yes, Dad." Marie replied immediately. "We heard them say they had new merchandise and heard the sound of several animals."
Kunou nodded, confirming what her friend had said. "It's true, I also heard the animals growling and squealing."
Upon hearing this, Edzard looked at the girls' mothers and, nodding, approached the bunker door. As he advanced, Yasaka and Asia stayed behind to reprimand the girls.
"What were you thinking, leaving the beach without telling us anything?" Yasaka asked with a smile that couldn't hide her annoyance.
"Yasaka is right. You promised not to stray from the beach and always stay where we could see you." added Asia, looking at both girls seriously.
Their mothers' words caused both girls to lower their gaze, feeling ashamed. That shame didn't come from having gone out to explore, but because they knew they had broken their promise.
"We didn't think it would be a big problem…" Kunou murmured, still staring at the ground.
"That it wouldn't be a problem?" Asia replied, in a slightly more severe tone. "We are in a foreign country where we have no contacts. If something had happened to you, we wouldn't have been nearby to help you."
Asia's words fell like heavy slabs on the girls' hearts and minds. They understood what their mother was trying to tell them: they could have been kidnapped or hurt. And that made them feel even worse, knowing that the recent situation hadn't been easy for their parents.
"We're sorry… we promise not to do it again." Marie and Kunou responded in unison, lifting their eyes full of regret towards their mothers.
Seeing their daughters' faces, Asia and Yasaka sighed and, smiling, gave them a strong hug. The girls quickly responded to the gesture, feeling a little better.
After separating, the two mothers took their daughters by the hand and walked with them towards the bunker. When they arrived, they saw Edzard observing the door intently.
"Ed, what's wrong? Why haven't you opened the door yet?" Asia asked, noticing it was still intact.
"I was thinking about how to do it… I didn't know whether to use brute force or a thu'um, but I fear either of those methods would cause more problems. I suppose magic will be the best option." Edzard replied.
With a movement of his hands, he conjured a golden gravitational sphere that appeared several meters above the door. The sphere generated such an intense gravitational force that the door's hinges began to creak and squeal. The sound was so sharp that everyone, except Edzard, had to cover their ears.
The shrill sound lasted a few more seconds until, finally, the door was torn from its place with a loud crash that slightly shook the clearing. The door floated in the air, and the passage to the interior of the bunker was clear.
Seeing the passage, Edzard approached first, always on guard and with his hands ready to cast a spell. He didn't know if there would be traps inside that place.
"Enter after me." Edzard said before entering the bunker.
Yasaka and Asia nodded, and looking at their daughters, indicated for them to follow. They wanted to ensure that they could be the first to escape if something went wrong. The two girls nodded and walked behind their mothers.
The family entered the bunker, advancing inside. As they stepped in, the automatic lights of the place turned on, allowing them to see clearly. The bunker was a spacious room, filled with cages covered with cloths. Many of these cages were stacked on top of each other.
"They are definitely animals." Edzard pointed out confidently, as his sense of smell caught the unmistakable scent.
Upon hearing that, Asia and Yasaka quickly moved and removed the cloths, revealing cages with various animals.
"There are too many…" Yasaka commented, surprised. Unlike her daughter, she managed to recognize some creatures. "I can identify some from the Great Lakes between the United States and Canada."
The mention of the origin surprised Edzard, Asia, Kunou, and Marie. That area was a reserve protected by several factions and the U.S. government.
"These smugglers have violated at least fifteen treaties with their actions." Yasaka commented as she approached one of the creatures, observing its condition.
The eyes of the Youkai leader filled with pity upon seeing the poor caged being, noticeably malnourished and dehydrated.
"We have to do something." Asia said, drawing everyone's attention. "We can't let them die… I know we can save them."
"It's possible… but they would need special care." Yasaka quickly responded. "We can't take care of them. They need to be in the hands of experts in magical creatures."
Yasaka's words saddened Asia, Kunou, and Marie, who thought they couldn't do anything… until Edzard spoke.
"I think I know someone…"
Edzard's words immediately caught the women's attention, looking at him with surprise and different reactions.
"Yay! Dad, you're awesome!" Marie shouted with absolute happiness as she threw herself to hug her father. "You always know what to do!"
The little dragon's words were followed by nods from Kunou, Asia, and Yasaka, who also thought the same.
The reaction made Edzard feel a bit embarrassed, looking away while scratching his neck.
"I'm not that great, Marie…" he said with a touch of embarrassment in his voice.
"Yes, you are! You always know what to do to make everything right!" the little dragon replied, smiling from ear to ear.
Although Edzard wanted to keep arguing, he knew it was pointless. Once his daughter got excited like that, it was impossible to change her mind. Sighing, he decided to drop the subject and turned to Yasaka.
"Yasaka… can you call Sirzechs?"
"Y-yes, of course… but why?" the kitsune asked, somewhat confused.
"Call and tell him what's happening. Ask him to send Zatouji. He's the only devil I know who might know what to do in these cases." Edzard explained, recalling the familiar master who had accompanied Issei and the ORC when they searched for a familiar in the forest.
Yasaka quickly nodded and, without wasting time, contacted Sirzechs. After conveying the message and receiving a response, she informed Edzard, who nodded upon hearing that Zatouji would come with a team of specialists.
"We have to prepare everything… girls, help me move these cages." Edzard ordered, looking at his family. "Asia, Yasaka, you carry the cages you can. Kunou, you do the same with the smaller ones. Marie, if you can, carry some cages, but don't overexert yourself… understood?"
"Yes!" They all responded in unison.
They got to work, moving cages and cages. Asia and Yasaka worked together to move the medium and large cages, while Kunou and Marie took care of the smaller ones. Edzard handled the heaviest ones, using both his brute strength and magic.
Little by little, the bunker began to empty. When they were almost done, Marie found a cage she recognized as the one that the young smuggler had almost dropped.
She approached cautiously, removed the cloth, and what she saw inside left her speechless. Inside was what appeared to be a bird, but not a common one. It was large, with silver plumage, almost the size of an adult eagle, but the most curious thing was its wings. It didn't have just one pair, but three or six wings in total.
"Woaaa…" was all Marie could say, fascinated by the creature.
The little dragon, completely captivated, slowly extended her hand to touch it. The bird did not perceive the action as a threat, so it also brought its head closer.
When they finally touched, Marie felt that the silver feathers were as soft as a cloud, something unusual for a bird.
The bird emitted a soft chirp, as if it was happy, which made Marie smile amusedly. Slowly, she withdrew her hand.
"You're very friendly." Marie said, looking at the bird as she took its cage.
The bird seemed to understand what the dragon had said and let out a chirp, almost as if it was responding. This made Marie smile even more. So, leaving the bunker, she headed towards where her parents were. Upon reaching the surface, she saw that all the animals were gone, and only her parents, Kunou's mother, and Kunou remained. Additionally, there was a man dressed in brown shorts and a sleeveless red shirt standing with them.
When Marie came out, she caught everyone's attention, especially her parents, who were surprised to see her with a cage in her hands.
"It seems there's one missing, Zatouji." Edzard said as he approached his daughter.
"That seems to be the case…" responded Zatouji, the man in the shorts and sleeveless shirt.
The devil had arrived with some colleagues and, upon seeing all the supernatural creatures, they wasted no time in taking them away for treatment. The Familiar Master was surprised by what two of the leaders of the pact had found there, but now he was even more surprised by the bird that Edzard's daughter was carrying.
"Marie, dear, why didn't you bring this bird earlier?" Edzard asked as he reached his daughter's side.
The little dragon looked at the ground and responded in a timid voice, "I-I got distracted by its appearance… it's very curious and cute."
Hearing this, Edzard looked at the cage, surprised. This reaction caught the attention of Asia, Kunou, and Yasaka, who approached and were also astonished to see the bird.
"What kind of bird is this?" Asia asked, perplexed, as she had never heard of such a creature.
"I have no idea." Yasaka replied, unable to identify it.
Kunou, for her part, had bright eyes, fascinated by the bird. Although it looked like an adult eagle, it radiated an aura that reminded her of a young chick.
"What kind of bird are you?" Kunou asked as she approached to pet the bird, which, to everyone's surprise, did not resist and allowed itself to be petted calmly.
"A Thunderbird!" Zatouji exclaimed upon seeing the bird in the cage.
"A Thunderbird?" Edzard asked curiously, as he had never heard that name before.
"Yes, a Thunderbird. It's an incredibly rare magical creature to see." Zatouji explained, drawing everyone's attention.
"How so?" Asia asked as she observed the bird.
"Thunderbirds are mythological creatures with the power to create storms by flapping their wings. Of course, only adult specimens do that. Not only that, but they can also use lightning as attacks. They are very difficult to find because, according to legend, they can sense danger, which allows them to avoid it easily. They prefer the mountains and desert areas of Arizona or the Great Lakes regions in North America, far from cities." Zatouji explained the little that was known about these birds, given their rarity.
Edzard, Asia, Marie, Yasaka, and Kunou were surprised. They couldn't believe that bird had so much power.
"Wow, it seems like a privilege to see a specimen like this." said Edzard with a smile as he put his hand in the cage and stroked the bird's head, which did not back away and allowed itself to be touched without any problems.
This action surprised Zatouji, who knew that these birds could sense danger, but for some reason, the bird showed no signs of hostility towards Edzard and his family; on the contrary, it seemed friendly. Determined to try his luck, Zatouji approached, but as soon as the bird saw him, it let out a screech and stared at him.
"Wow, it seems you don't like me…" said Zatouji with a defeated air, surrounded by an aura of depression. He was in front of a rare creature, but he couldn't get close to observe it closely.
"Yes, it seems it doesn't like you." said Edzard with a smile, which only depressed Zatouji more. "I suppose if it were a newborn chick, it might accept you."
Edzard's words surprised Zatouji, who looked at him in astonishment, a reaction that also surprised Akatosh's own son.
"What's wrong?" asked Edzard, confused.
"That thunderbird is not an adult, it's just a chick." replied Zatouji, which left Edzard and the rest of his family speechless.
"What do you mean?" asked Yasaka, equally astonished. "How is it not an adult?"
"From what little is known about thunderbirds, adults can grow to almost two meters tall from the ground to the head, and with their wings extended, they reach a wingspan of nearly four meters." explained Zatouji, smiling as he saw everyone's surprised faces.
'No way… This bird is going to grow as big as a griffin in Nirn.' thought Edzard, amazed.
"Wow, it seems you will be huge!" shouted Marie with joy as she looked at the bird in the cage.
The bird let out a screech that, to everyone's surprise, sounded not only happy but also proud? Everyone realized that it seemed to have a special connection with Marie, which made Zatouji smile.
"It seems this bird has taken a liking to the little one." said Zatouji, drawing everyone's attention. "I would say it wants to form a familiar contract with her."
"What?!" shouted Edzard, Asia, Kunou, and Yasaka in unison.
The astonishment at what they were hearing was palpable. It was surprising that such a powerful creature wanted to make a contract with a child, but that surprise soon turned into smiles.
'Incredible… A bird with so much potential wants to join Edzard's daughter… That only highlights Marie's innate power.' thought Yasaka, impressed.
'This is unexpected, but I think it would be good for Marie to have a familiar… and more so if it's one capable of detecting danger. It could keep her safe.' thought Asia, smiling.
While everyone was reflecting on the incredible turn of events, Marie looked at the bird in the cage with amazement.
"Do you want to be my familiar?" asked the little girl with curiosity.
To everyone's total surprise, the bird approached Marie's hand and stroked it with its head. Seeing this, everyone understood it was true. Edzard approached his daughter and the bird with a smile.
"What do you think, sweet? Do you want this bird as your familiar?" asked Edzard kindly.
Upon hearing the question, Marie didn't take long to respond with a nod.
Seeing this, Edzard smiled and, approaching the cage, opened it using his brute strength. This devilstration startled the bird a bit, which was surprised to see it. Even so, it quickly recovered and, without thinking twice, spread its wings, flew out of the cage, and landed in front of the Marie.
"It seems everything is ready." said Zatouji with a smile as he approached Marie and began to explain what to do.
Although the Familiar Master explained everything clearly, the little dragon didn't know how to use Earth magic, so she didn't understand how to proceed.
"Wow, this is the first time I've encountered something like this…" commented Zatouji, scratching his neck, as he didn't know how to handle the situation. Devils usually used magic almost instinctively, but it seemed that wasn't the case with Marie.
Marie looked at the bird that wanted to be her familiar with sadness, feeling bad for not being able to perform the necessary spell. However, before she got more discouraged, Edzard and Asia approached her.
"Don't worry, Marie." whispered Asia as she took her daughter's right hand and placed hers over it. "I think this will help you."
The little dragon wanted to ask why she said that, but before she could say anything else, the magic circle designed by her father appeared on her hand.
"What is this?" asked Marie with curiosity.
"I've engraved the magic circle your father created so you can use it." replied Asia with a smile. "Now you can do it, so try again."
After hearing these words, Marie looked at the thunderbird and, smiling, began the ritual again. This time, a magic circle appeared under the bird, shining brightly and filling the entire place with its light.
As Marie watched the contract being completed, a smile appeared on her face, imagining the adventures she, Kunou, and her new familiar would have.
Author's Note:
To those who have made it this far, thank you for reading. To be honest, my English writing skills are not strong, and I'm relying on Google Translate and the dictionaries that come with Office 2019.
Well, chapter 78 is done, XD.
This was more of a family filler chapter than anything else. In the next few chapters, we'll continue the plot… I plan to start alternating locations in 3 or 4 chapters, as I'll begin to show things happening in Tamriel.
I apologize for any spelling errors. Please don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter, or if there's something that needs improvement, or if you have any questions about the story. Any constructive advice is welcome. With nothing more to say, see you in the next chapter.