"We're dark mages!" - Talking
'We're dark mages!' - Thinking
"We're dark mages!" - Communication via Lacrima / Telepathy
"WE'RE DARK MAGES!" - Screaming
"Death Wave!" - Spells
[ Here / Now ] - Place / Time
Chapter 16: The Shadows creep towards Bosco
[ Shadow Soul's Headquarters / 15th November X784 ]
"Your tea."
Looking up from the novel she was reading, Ranmaru thanked Red after the maid had placed a steaming cup of mint tea accompanied by some biscuits on the table nearby. Also leaving a small bowl with a pair of metal tweezers and sugar cubes, Red bowed her head before taking her leave and exiting the guild library under the calm gaze of Ranmaru.
Setting the book aside after marking the page, Ranmaru picked up the cup and, without adding sugar, took a sip, savoring the drink thoroughly. A small sound of pleasure rose up her throat and she mentally placed that tea in the top three of the mint teas she had tasted since becoming a guild mage just over two weeks ago.
'The mint flavor is clearly more pronounced than yesterday's tea. I'll ask Red about the brand, finding it on the market will be more than easy.' she placed the cup on the saucer and then turning her hand so as to stare at the palm, she made Shadow Soul's guild mark appear, making it change shape and then make it invisible again. A work of magic that had positively impressed her in its complexity and at the same time simplicity, being in fact a guild mark but linked to a magic similar yet different to Organic Link Magic.
When she had performed the ritual with Reveeina to obtain it, after spending over thirty minutes asking the guild master questions (both general and incredibly specific), Ranmaru had immediately been aware of what it entailed to have a mark that used her magical power to 'work', but after some quick experiments, she had calmed down as the magical power used was almost non-existent; a matter of a few seconds to recover it in optimal conditions. She wouldn't forget Reveeina's amused face anytime soon but the woman could think whatever she wanted.
After that, came the setup of her personal room complete with strategically placed traps (she was certain that no one would dare enter without her permission but she wanted to be sure), a long hot bath after many cold showers or quick baths, and finally almost the whole night locked in the guild library. When Reveeina found her there the next morning and asked her what she had read so far, Ranmaru's response was "Nothing, I just took note of what to read in order of importance. A couple more nights...five tops, and I should be able to map out the entire library, and have everything listed and sorted properly for a good reading."
Reveeina's calm response had been to order her to go to sleep for a few hours or she would ban her from the library.
Needless to say, that answer didn't win her any favors.
Still, Ranmaru had become a regular presence in the library (complete with a favorite spot) after having passed with flying colors the test mission decided by Reveeina, in which Reina and Lorenzo had also participated, and speaking of the latter…
"Knew I'd found you here. I'm pretty sure you have some fantasy about doing it among books...or while drinking tea."
Keeping her gaze fixed on the book she had just reopened, Ranmaru did not give Lorenzo an answer right away, regarding what he thought about her; he was free to think of her what he would, including his opinion on her...preferences. Honestly, Lorenzo was one of the guild members she had dealt with the most and would have gladly done without. Unfortunately for her, he was incredibly smart and his alter ego, Willer Rovinor, was the head of one of Ishgar's most famous companies. When Reveeina had asked her if she was interested in helping with some side projects, Ranmaru had taken the challenge with good faith and a little more enthusiasm, especially since some of those ideas were really interesting.
"Curious, I've never heard you make such comments towards Lady Reveeina."
"I'm not afraid of death, but I am afraid of her tortures. I also respect her too much to not treat her with respect. Anyway, got the new blueprints ready for you." he said while placing a stack of papers near the cup of tea "I thought you might want to take another look at it. After all tea drinkers tend to get the most work down because they are full of creative-tea."
Ranmaru closed her eyes. Inhalation through the nose. Exhalation through the mouth.
'Yes, living without his bad puns would be considered a marked improvement in any situation.'
Still, if she wanted to continue with that lifestyle, she had to steel herself and ignore to the best of her ability any kind of pun uttered by Lorenzo. She wasn't sure yet, but she had a suspicion that he knew how much she hated his puns and said them on purpose to get some kind of reaction.
'A test, it's just like a test with the Old Man; I can see him doing something like this.' thought Ranmaru before picking up the blueprints.
Without waiting for her to finish, Lorenzo started towards the exit only to stop after a few steps "Ah! Nearly forgot, Sieg and Jellal are at it again. Do you want to come and see?"
"Is the Recording Lacrima currently filming the whole thing?" she asked without taking her eyes off the blueprints in her hands.
"Yep, arena number five."
"Then I will watch and analyze the footage tonight."
Lorenzo let out an exaggeratedly long sigh "Suit yourself. Have a nice read, Ranmaru." and with those words, he left the library.
Pausing on a small paragraph at the edge of the page, Ranmaru took her pen out of her jacket and made some small changes to the project.
'Magical Convergent Cannon: Jupiter. Expected output of seventy-two percent at the expense of shields…' she drew a line through a series of calculations and rewrote them from scratch next to it 'Seventy-five percent is more acceptable. A shame that this project is only a prototype. Achieving one hundred percent would have been a very satisfying goal.'
Satisfied with the changes, she placed the blueprints on the coffee table and took another sip of tea.
'If what Lorenzo and the guild master said is true, the final version should be ready within six months. Enough time to get the best results possible.' and while finally able to concentrate on her book, Ranmaru felt the faintest of magical presences outside the door. Direct impact between magical energies. Shaking her head, she ignored the two fighting presences and concentrated on reading.
"I have to give them credit though. We are literally in two separate sub-dimensions and yet I can sense their clash from here...tonight's footage should be highly interesting."
A large number of Shadow Soul members were sitting in the stands of the training arena, inside which Siegmund and Jellal had been fighting for several minutes now. The former Wizard Saint seemed particularly engrossed in the fight and was openly glaring at his opponent, who had a wide grin on his face, with a totally opposite attitude; those who knew Siegmund well could not say they were surprised.
"Come on, you don't want to waste time, do you?!" Siegmund taunted him, holding his greatsword in both hands, but wearing no particular armor.
Jellal, in response, enveloped himself in a golden glow before flying at supersonic speed towards his opponent who did not hesitate for a moment to try to strike him from above with a two-handed slash. The former Wizard Saint nimbly avoided the blow by moving sideways before immediately zooming in on Sigmund and hitting him with a frontal kick, however the knight managed to raise his left arm and use it to protect himself, but was still pushed back a few meters. Jellal immediately resumed the assault but was once again forced to avoid two quick slashes from Siegmund, who did not seem at all disturbed by his opponent's speed.
"Being fast won't help you here!" said Siegmund while preparing his weapon, which was continuously releasing its black miasma.
This time it was the Berserker who went on the attack, lunging towards Jellal with the sole aim of piercing him, however the blue-haired wizard moved his right arm in a wide arc "Jiu Leixing!" then throwing nine swords made of electricity at Siegmund, who slowed down slightly in his run, starting to hit each individual sword with his weapon, then avoiding the last two to attempt a lunge against Jellal.
Jellal crouched at the last moment and attempted to side-kick Siegmund's legs to make him fall, however the swordsman leapt back slightly to avoid the blow while managing to strike downwards with his greatsword, opening a large cut on Jellal's left leg. The new Shadow Soul wizard grimaced in pain before moving away a few meters, bringing a hand to his wound, from which a lot of blood was already starting to flow.
'It's not a deep wound but I risk losing too much blood if I don't finish quickly.'
"Moooreee~! Let me taste more of his blooooood~!"
Jellal shifted his gaze to Siegmund's greatsword 'And then there's that damn gun, that black miasma makes me weaker every time I move through it…'
Jellal made up his mind and, after creating a small ball of fire, he slammed it into his wound, cauterizing it and sealing it in an inelegant but at least effective way; now he could feel the pain caused by his own magic but at least he wouldn't risk bleeding too much. Looking at his opponent, he once again enveloped himself in the golden glow of his magic and darted forward only to rise towards the ceiling and begin moving in an almost erratic manner, all the while Siegmund never took his eyes off him.
At the last second, Jellal swooped down on his opponent but when Siegmund attempted to strike him with a slash, the former Wizard Saint quickly changed course and headed towards the edge of the arena only to momentarily end up upside down with seven fingers pointing at Siegmund "Be judged under the seven stars! Grand Chariot!"
Sensing the amount of magical power above him, Siegmund immediately looked up and saw seven golden magic circles appear before being connected by a bright line, creating the constellation associated with the spell. The magic circles glowed for a moment before releasing dozens upon dozens of magic projectiles with the sole purpose of bombarding the entire arena, however Sigmund merely grinned and changed his weapon, replacing the greatsword Tyrfing with his curved sword Surtr, the blade of which was already engulfed in powerful flames.
"Now we are talking, but don't think it takes so little to stop me!" gripping his sword with all his strength, Siegmund swung a powerful blow upwards "Freyr's Bane!"
A gigantic tongue of fire shot out from his blade, quickly spinning, creating a spiral of fire that intercepted Jellal's attack, generating a powerful explosion that shook the entire arena, earning screams of excitement from the audience, many of whom had already placed bets before the duel began. A large cloud of black smoke filled the entire battlefield but Siegmund paid no attention to it and strained his ears, searching for his opponent.
"Pleiades!"
From the smoke surrounding him, six beams of golden light ascended toward the ceiling before aiming at Siegmund. The swordsman began to avoid blow after blow, ignoring the explosions caused by that spell, until he sensed Jellal's magical presence behind him and, turning in that direction, saw him emerge from the smoke with his left arm wrapped in golden energy, ready to pierce him like a spear. Reacting on instinct, Siegmund raised his left arm and grabbed Jellal's wrist before he could strike him, before throwing him to the ground, slamming the former Wizard Saint onto his back.
With the air kicked out of his lungs, Jellal remained momentarily motionless on the ground, giving Siegmund the chance to swing his sword around to hold it in a reverse grip and attempt to stab him from above. However, at the last moment, Jellal managed to raise his right hand, a sphere of flame and light already glowing between his fingers, before detonating it, throwing Siegmund backwards.
The Berserker didn't care about the burns on his chest or his ruined clothes, and simply watched as Jellal stood up with similar wounds on his right arm. Making Surtr vanish, he re-equipped his greatsword "Come on, you must have remembered something else these days, right?"
Narrowing his gaze, Jellal brought both hands to the right side of his body, creating what looked like a small black hole between his palms, causing even more magical power to flow into the spell. Sensing the power of the coming attack, Siegmund's grin seemed to widen as the swordsman prepared to counterattack, but unfortunately for him, both he and Jellal were paralyzed in place by a thin layer of yellow aura.
"The thirty-minute time limit has been reached, the duel ends in a draw!" came Yellow's voice as Jellal's spell was broken and several complaints rose from the stands, with only a handful of spectators happy with the outcome, having bet on their draw. The layer of yellow aura shattered shortly after and the two challengers were free to move again, focusing on Reveeina's form as she approached them flanked by Yellow on her right side.
"Great fight as usual you two, I see you raised the bar a bit this time too." said the guild master with a pleased smile "What level have we reached, Yellow?"
"A level three barrier was used for most of the fight, only switching to level four during the clash between their two spells." Yellow explained with the usual expressionless face that characterized her and her sisters.
"Considering that level one was enough during your first duel, I'd say you've made progress."
"Not enough." said Siegmund while looking at Jellal "His memories haven't come back right yet, maybe I should go and cut off one of that brat's legs. A little more anger might make him remember faster."
"She's just a child, you bastard!" a sudden wave of magical power surged from Jellal's body as he stalked towards Siegmund, only stopping when Reveeina stepped between the two, raising a hand towards him "You know the rules, Jellal. A thirty-minute duel without interruptions, then at least two days of stoppage."
He glared at her, and then shifted his hatred to Siegmund "Why can't I just face him and kill him? I'm sure he'd be fine with such a stipulation, too."
Reveeina shook her head without losing her smile "Because it's my guild and I'm in charge here, besides I wouldn't want to see you waste your life like that. You're still regaining your magic power and the memories of the magics you can use; the fact that you lost your first two duels with Siegmund should have made you realize that you're not at his level yet." when she saw that he didn't seem convinced, she added "I promise you that when you are back to one hundred percent strength, you will have your duel to the death, although I would prefer that neither of you die."
Jellal didn't say anything and simply walked away, most likely heading to the baths so he could heal his wounds.
"It looks like you're having fun." said Reveeina while looking at Siegmund, who shrugged at her words.
"You know how I feel about Shirros, and Acier is never around. If that wimp regains his memories and his magic power, it will be a very interesting fight; might as well fight him every now and then to pass the time." he then looked at her with serious eyes "Don't think I've forgotten what you did with Zero. He was my prey."
"We both know you wouldn't leave a body behind once your fight was over, and you know a body is necessary for Shirros to benefit." replied Reveeina with a smirk "Anyway, now that you have to wait before you can face Jellal again, I have a mission for you. A contact of ours in the Kingdom of Seven is trying to trade on the black market but a legal guild in the area is getting in his way. Take out the guild, no prisoners."
Siegmund arched an eyebrow "What guild is that?"
"Oh, a guild like many others, but among their ranks they have three S-class mages; they may not be at the level of Erza Scarlet, but perhaps they could give you some satisfaction." said Reveeina "You will find all the details in your room."
The Berserker snorted as his greatsword returned to its pocket dimension "I hope it's worth it. I hate wasting time."
Reveeina chuckled as she watched him walk away "Oh trust me I know, Sieg, I know it very well."
[ Crocus – Mercurius / 16th November X784 ]
"The messenger didn't say anything specific?" asked Arseille, already in the guise of her alter ego Vanellia Gridelf, while approaching the palace gate aboard her carriage.
"No, he just requested our presence in the throne room and then left." replied Atonnis, who was also in the guise of his own alter ego Acon "Judging by his tone, this is a big deal, and if they contacted us…"
"...it means that the king wants to do something about his Bosco counterpart." concluded Arseille with a nod before taking on a more timid and harmless facial expression when they were close enough to be seen and heard clearly by the two guards at the gate, one of whom had already opened the carriage door for her.
"Good morning, Lady Gridelf." said the soldier, helping her down the two steps of the carriage "The king is waiting for you."
"Good morning to you too." said Arseille with a smile "I'll head over there right away, thanks."
Once they were far enough away, she let out a small sigh. For almost a month she had been in the guise of a young noblewoman from Bosco, orphaned after the horrible end of her family, and by now the soldiers in the palace had become accustomed to her and Atonnis' presence, which is why no one was escorting them at that moment, however that mission, as important as it was, was beginning to weigh on her.
'I'm the first who wants to make myself useful, but spending a month pretending to be sickly and shy is starting to get tiring! I can barely train as my dad wants!' thought Arseille, mentally thanking Lorenzo for finding her a small villa to rent where she and Atonnis could come and go thanks to the portal installed in the cellar. The princess had insisted that she stay at the palace so as to avoid accidents or anything else, but Arseille had managed to convince Hisui that she preferred to stay in less grandiose places than the royal palace. That was somewhat of a lie given her tastes but, in an emergency, she and Atonnis needed to be able to get to the guild instantly without having to make excuses to the princess or anyone else for her.
Her new accommodation didn't save her from countless tea parties with Hisui, unfortunately.
After a few minutes, the two undercover dark mages found themselves in the corridors of the royal palace but by now they had learned most of the corridors and flights of stairs by heart, and getting to the throne room took them only five minutes. Inside they found the usual dozen guards placed in two rows on either side of the hall, along with the king currently seated on his throne and flanked by Darton and Arcadios. When they were a few meters away, Arseille bowed with the grace of a pure-blood noble, followed closely by Atonnis, whose bow was more rigid, typical of soldiers.
"Greetings, King Toma E. Fiore, ruler of the Kingdom of Fiore."
Toma chuckled for a moment "Please raise your head, Vanellia. You know that with me there is no need for such formality."
Arseille did as requested "I am aware of it, Your Majesty, but I didn't want to offend Lord Arcadios."
The aforementioned knight seemed surprised by her words and bowed his head "Please do not worry about me. You are a welcome guest of the King, and if His Majesty is okay with the lack of formality, you will not give any offense to me or anyone else."
'You have to admit, he knows what he's doing.' thought Atonnis, while Arseille began to speak with the king 'Since day one, he has never completely trusted me or Arseille, and after he discovered that the princess spends a lot of time with her, he makes sure to always be present while maintaining his distance.'
Mentally he added Arcadios to the list of people who needed to be monitored and eliminated if necessary, along with Darton and Riana.
"...and for that reason I would like you to join me on this journey, Vanellia." said Toma, catching Atonnis' attention "I know this might be difficult for you, but I would like you to be present when I meet the King of Bosco, so I can shed light on what happened to your family."
Arseille showed a surprised face with incredible mastery, after all they had foreseen that this moment would come "A-Are you sure, Your Majesty…? I…I mean…" she took a deep breath to stop a possible panic attack and Atonnis, for the umpteenth time, had to admit that she was really good at acting "It's not that I don't trust you, b-but what if that man were to see me and want to…f-finish the job?"
"You have my word that absolutely nothing will happen to you, Vanellia." said Toma with a face so serious that it seemed carved in stone "Arcadios will be with us, and we will be escorted by fifty of my best knights; we will also be joined by a large squadron of Rune Knights led by a Head Captain, Acier Grey."
This time the surprise on Arseille's face was much more genuine. She knew about Acier and his position in the Rune Knights, but at the moment she wasn't sure if this was a fortuitous coincidence or something more. Waking up from her surprise, she bowed her head again "If this is what you wish, Your Majesty, then I will be at your side on this journey, and I want to thank you now with all my heart for what you are doing for me."
"Nonsense, I'm doing it more than willingly! In fact, I'm the one who has to thank you." said Toma with a warm smile on his face "Lately my daughter seems to be smiling more often and is much happier, all thanks to you and your presence."
"I just talked to her and hung out with her, I didn't do anything special."
"Believe me my dear, you have done much more." smiled Toma "If you want to go to her, go ahead. I just wanted to let you know about my decision, but we'll be leaving in a few days anyway."
"I'll wait for the departure then." said Arseille before bowing again, then exiting the throne room after politely taking leave along with Atonnis. The two dark mages didn't have to wander around for long before arriving at the princess's quarters, where Hisui was already waiting for her friend with a smile on her face.
"Ah! Vanellia!" said Hisui, standing up to hug Arseille, who returned the gesture without putting too much force into it. She still had to maintain the image of a young girl who was naturally weak.
"Hello Hisui, how are you?"
"Oh pretty good, I finished a very interesting book last night, but tell me about yourself! I know my father sent for you, did something happen?"
"Yes, your father plans to leave for the Kingdom of Bosco and meet King Jovan K. Bosco in person." said Arseille, surprising the princess "He asked me to accompany him so that I could be present when the matter of what happened to my family is clarified. At first I was hesitant but eventually I accepted, since we will also be protected by a heavy escort."
Hisui blinked a few times "Are you sure, Vanellia? Aren't you afraid of having some crisis or something?"
Arseille looked down "Yes…but if I can finally know why my family died…I'll be able to sleep better at night…"
The princess remained still for a few seconds but then grabbed Arseille's hands, raising them to chest height "I'm coming with you!"
This time it was Arseille who blinked several times "W-What…?"
"I'm coming with you!" repeated Hisui "What kind of friend would I be if I let you go alone? You might need moral support and I can't, in good conscience, just sit here and do nothing to help you! I'm coming with you, whether you or my father like it or not!"
"Hisui…this could be dangerous and-"
"I don't care!" said Hisui, surprising again Arseille "You are my first real friend, and I'm going to help you!"
The dark mage in disguise remained in contemplative silence for a few seconds before giving a small smile "I don't want to be the one who tells your father."
Hisui chuckled at her words "Don't worry, I'll tell him tonight at dinner. Now that we've put the big topic aside, would you like a cup of tea? A shipment from Seven just arrived!"
Arseille barely blocked the twitch of her eye and ignoring the thought of Atonnis' laughter (because she was sure he was laughing at her misfortunes at that moment), she nodded forcing a small smile on her face "I'd love to, Hisui."
Groaning mentally, she approached the coffee table with Hisui, praying that the travel date would arrive soon. Trained by Siegmund or not, there was a limit to her patience!
[ Shadow Soul's Warehouse – Unknown Location / 17th November X784 ]
"Remind me, why were we confined here?"
"Because we are the most suitable for certain tasks, since the others have been assigned to other missions. Which does not seem strange to me, my magic is certainly the most useful here."
"At least you got to do a serious mission against Oración Seis! I had to settle for a couple of worthless missions."
"The best mages for the best missions. Always remember that, Naco."
"Fuck you, old man." growled Naco as he focused his magic on his fingertips, using the immense heat produced by electricity to weld two pieces of metal together.
Easily moving a large metal block with his magic, Grady chuckled at his guildmate "Try to do a fine job. Just because Atonnis can't help us right now doesn't mean the quality of the work has to drop!"
"How about you get busy instead of just moving one piece at a time? Lady Reveeina wants the airship ready as soon as possible!"
"In that case shouldn't you be faster at welding those pieces? I thought being fast was your strong point!"
Naco was about to answer but stopped when he felt a cold sensation wash over his body, comparable to the cold of an autumn morning. It wasn't something meant to make him shake uncontrollably but to send a long shiver down his spine, and judging by Grady's look, the one-eyed wizard had felt the same sensation. Slowly, and silently, the two dark mages turned and saw Shirros standing a few meters away, with some plans spread out on the table in front of him and some documents in his hands, although his mask was turned towards them and two faint purple glows were watching them from the mask's eye sockets.
The masked mage didn't move or say anything, but it was enough to wake Naco and Grady from their temporary stupor.
"I...I think I'll start moving all the blocks in groups of five, I should be able to move them all in a few hours."
"Yeah...I'll try to move while welding. Using more magic power I should be able to achieve the same result and finish sooner."
As the two resumed their work with more vigor and speed, Shirros shook his head and returned his attention to the pieces of paper in front of him; thanks to Lorenzo and Ranmaru, they had obtained perfectly detailed diagrams of the improvements to be made to their first airship, the former Magic Bomber: Christina of Blue Pegasus. Glancing momentarily to the right, Shirros watched as the massive vessel was being modified by several Shadow Soul members along with a large number of his skeletons, mostly used as labor for easier jobs or to move the heavier parts. Just then he saw the horse's head that served as the ship's figurehead being removed, presumably to be disassembled and recycled.
When they first got their hands on the airship, Shirros and many others had been disappointed with its overall performance. Sure, it had good firepower when used properly, but its defenses were nearly nonexistent, and judging by the three internal bars they found, it was clear that it had been designed with entertainment in mind.
He still wondered how Blue Pegasus could be considered one of the best guilds in Fiore.
Fortunately, with their budget and various ideas applicable to such an aircraft, they could make it a much more concrete threat to their enemies and, once field-tested along with various prototypes, they could begin the creation of other airships, exponentially boosting their war potential. At the moment they are still operating mostly in the shadows, and perhaps they would never stop doing so completely, but it was much better to be ready for every possibility.
But now there was only one question left, to which he still had no answer.
Their new airship was to be tested, but against whom?
[ Shadow Soul's Headquarters / 17th November X784 ]
Aki entered the guild hall, heading towards the stairs that would take her to Reveeina's office. Apparently she had been summoned for a mission and, after putting on some clean clothes, had immediately headed out of her personal room. Since her mission against the Oración Seis, she had only done one other mission with other members, but it had been a minor mission and nothing like what happened against the other dark guild, however Reveeina herself had ordered her and the other participants in that mission to rest and do light missions for at least two weeks.
Of the entire team, only Siegmund had ignored his orders, preferring to carry out a challenging mission alone, spending the rest of the time training or dueling against Jellal.
'To think that he and I are on the same side again.' thought Aki while referring to the former Wizard Saint 'It's a shame that he doesn't remember everything yet, nor that he has regained his full power. Facing him alone could be a more than worthy fight.'
"Oh Aki-chan!" an excited female voice came and, turning in that direction, Aki saw Poppea walking towards her with Kazumi and Asher close behind her "Are you also going to the mistress' office?"
Aki nodded "I take it she called you too?"
"Yup! She also said it was quite urgent, so it must be an important mission!" said Poppea while going up the stairs with Aki "Oh I hope we get assigned to the same mission! You've been with us for over a month but we haven't done any missions together yet!"
Aki showed her a small smile "Yes, I hope so too." her attention then shifted to Asher, more specifically to the sword he carried on his back "Did you change your weapon? Is that a falchion?"
Asher nodded, unsheathing his curved sword and showing it to her "Yes, repairing the blade destroyed during the last mission would have made no sense according to Atonnis, so he forged this one for me." he then seemed to think about something, moving his gaze from the sword to Aki and back again "I'm still learning how to wield it better, but I'd prefer to practice properly. Would a sparring match with you be possible?"
"It's a beautiful sword, isn't it? Atonnis didn't hold back!" Poppea said nodding confidently before widening her eyes in shock and looking at Asher as if he were the most absurd thing in the world "You…you asked Aki-chan for help?" she suddenly threw herself at him, hugging him from the side "Oooh my little Asher! You're making friends! You're growing! I'm so proud of you!"
An annoyed growl rose from Asher's throat as Kazumi watched the scene with a wide smile, clapping gently. Asher slipped an arm between him and Poppea, placing his hand on her face, before firmly pushing her away "I have to know how to use my weapon well so as not to ruin everything during the mission, it has nothing to do with making friends." still holding her off with his arm outstretched, Asher sheathed his weapon before looking at Aki "Your answer?"
Aki grinned at him "It would be nice to train with someone different than usual. When you're ready, we can reserve an arena and duel."
The other mage nodded before letting Poppea go and knocking on the door of Reveeina's office, who didn't make them wait and gave them permission to enter. Once inside, they saw that they weren't alone and that Lycorian was already waiting for them in front of the guild master's desk.
The woman showed them a pleased smile "You're all here, good. Now we can get started." she waited for the others to line up beside Lycorian before showing them a photo of a young man with short black hair and blue eyes, waving to the crowd, with his fingers full of gold rings studded with gems.
"This is Illyam Var Diamos. He is one of the many nephews of the current king of the Pergrande Kingdom, to be exact, the third-born son of the sovereign's younger brother." she put the photo on the desk "Given his position, he immediately understood that he could never aspire to the throne, so he opened a business specializing in precious gems, jewels and various accessories, very expensive and equally sought after throughout Ishgar. To give you an idea, at the moment, he earns as much as the ruler of Midi."
The five mages in front of her widened their eyes in surprise, for Midi was the smallest kingdom in all of Ishgar, but it was still a kingdom and to think that a simple trader could earn as much as a ruler…
"Although he trades throughout Ishgar and beyond, his mines are mostly located in the north of the Pergrande Kingdom and he has a bad habit of always wanting more, thus expanding into areas that do not concern him." continued Reveeina before showing them a second photo, this time featuring a dragon claw-shaped mark with several cracks along the entire design "The Rock Talons are an independent guild, bordering on a dark guild, specializing in black market contraband; they trade in everything but humans. Their little mines bring them quite a few jewels but it seems Illyam wants them for himself and is using his private army to take them over one by one."
"I guess buying them was too denigrating for someone like him." said Aki while looking at his picture with clear disdain in her face.
"You could say that." smirked Reveeina "According to our latest information, he tried to buy them...at a tenth of their actual value; of course the Rock Talons refused and so the king's nephew resorted to strong-arm tactics. Within two weeks he had claimed three, and now they only have four left but it's a matter of time before they lose those too." she pointed at them "And that's where you come in! The Talons have asked us to remove him from the picture in exchange for being able to move freely in their area, create another base, and keep one of their mines for ourselves."
"Can't we just wait until they are wiped out before we take the mines for ourselves?" asked Lycorian with a raised eyebrow; perhaps he was unable to see the larger figure, but it did not seem like an adequate reward for them.
"That would be a good idea, but the Talons know the area and if they stay active they will attract a good deal of attention anyway, leaving us to work in peace." explained Reveeina with a nod "If they should try to betray us in any way, we will kill them all and settle this matter once and for all. Returning to the king's nephew, he is very paranoid or at least more than usual noble. He spends all his time in his personal fortress, which is actually a small town, and travels only if escorted by Rune Knights and his personal soldiers. However, he often participates in many events, fairs and competitions around the Pergrande Kingdom…and one of them is the Tournament of One Hundred Golems."
"I heard about that during my travels." said Aki while crossing her arms "It is a tournament where participants fight against one hundred golems created by local mages, all for a cash prize."
Reveeina nodded again "The very same. He will be there, like all editions, and that's where you will strike. Obviously the method of assassination is up to you, and you can also decide to kill him before he arrives at the tournament city or even after, when he is returning to his fortress; the important thing is that he dies within two weeks."
[ Why two weeks? ]
"If the Talons' spies are correct, in two weeks he will move his private army to conquer two more mines, Kazumi. He must die before that happens." when the five mages nodded, she smiled and handed Asher a rolled-up scroll "Here you will find more useful information about the target, the city and the tournament. Don't disappoint me."
When they exited her office, they looked at each other before Lycorian spoke up "So we have to go to Pergrande Kingdom huh? I've never been there!"
"We've been there for a couple of missions, but never for an assassination!" said Poppea before looking at Asher "Will you be the team leader again?"
The mage in question shifted his gaze to Aki. While with Poppea and Kazumi he always held the team leader position, they now had two additions with them but from what he had heard, Lycorian was still not capable of leading a team, while Aki knew her stuff on the field.
"Are there any objections?"
Lycorian shook his head while Aki shrugged "I don't really care about leading a team."
Asher nodded "In that case, prepare a travel backpack. We leave in an hour." and without adding anything else, he went down into the main hall and then headed towards his room, followed closely by the others.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The five mages looked down the hall and saw Asteria slamming her fist into someone's door "Come on! Open up! I know you are inside!"
"You have to give her credit, she can be tenacious." said Aki, having already understood what was happening, then entered her own room, with the others doing the same by going into their personal rooms to prepare for the mission.
Jellal slammed open the door of his room, his gaze already narrowed in frustration. He didn't even have to look to know who was standing there.
Asteria was casually standing outside his door, a wicked grin spreading across her face as she made eye contact.
"You again?" Jellal asked, his voice thick with irritation.
Asteria's grin only widened "Of course it's me!" she replied, her tone almost playful, as though she found his annoyance amusing.
He crossed his arms, letting out a deep sigh "What do you want this time?"
Asteria straightened up, her expression turning serious, but there was still a mischievous glint in her eyes "The same thing I've asked you the last few times." she said with a shrug "Train me!"
Jellal raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed "We've already fought in the past from what you've told me, Asteria. You and I have the same magic. There's nothing I can teach you."
Her grin didn't falter "Exactly." she responded, her voice steady and unwavering "That's why you can help me get even stronger. We've already fought, even if you don't remember it all, but I know you felt it. You've seen what I can do, and you know we're alike in this way. But I'm not content with that. I want to surpass my limits, and who better to push me than someone who knows what it's like to fight with this kind of magic?"
Jellal opened his mouth to protest again, but then his eyes drifted to the side, where he noticed Bonnie floating nearby on her large pillow, almost motionless. His expression shifted from annoyance to mild confusion.
"What's she doing here?" Jellal asked, his gaze lingering on Bonnie.
Asteria's grin remained, but this time there was a hint of satisfaction in her voice "I convinced Bonnie to help me out. She'll be the one to heal us if we get injured, so we can train without worrying about getting too beaten up."
Jellal stared at Bonnie, then noticed the blanket that was almost touching the ground near her feet. He sighed heavily before walking over, grabbing the edge of the blanket, and gently pulling it over Bonnie until it was tucked just below her shoulders. He paused for a moment, staring at her serene face as she slept, completely oblivious to everything around her.
He took a deep breath and turned back to Asteria, exhaling a long, tired sigh "If I tell you no again, will you finally leave me alone?"
Asteria didn't even hesitate "No."
'Well she's honest at least' thought Jellal before shooting her a perplexed look, eyebrow raised "What do you mean, no?"
Asteria's grin widened, and she crossed her arms, giving him a sly smile "You owe me, Jellal. All the money I lost betting on you in your fights with Siegmund...the least you can do is help me get stronger!"
Jellal stood there for a moment, processing what she'd said. His confusion deepened, and he blinked a couple of times before speaking again "You've been betting on me?"
Asteria chuckled, not at all bothered by his surprise "Of course! You didn't think I'd let someone like Siegmund have all the fun, did you? You are strong after all, Jellal. And I'm not about to let that go to waste!"
Jellal sighed, rubbing his temples "You're relentless."
Asteria's grin remained "I know, it's one of my many charms. So…are we training or what?"
Jellal hesitated for a moment longer, then gave a defeated sigh "Fine…but you owe me for this one."
"First let's see how the training goes and then we'll decide who owes who!" chuckled Asteria, all while Bonnie slept soundly, following the two mages towards one of the training arenas.
[ Southern area of the Kingdom of Bosco / 18th November X784 ]
A vast forest stretches across the southern part of the Bosco Kingdom, where nature remains untouched, and the sound of a nearby river flowing gently through the underbrush can be heard, its waters flowing steadily through the dense underbrush. Not too far, deeper into the woods, there was a large clearing at the base of a mountain, where a cave yawns ominously at its feet.
At the edge of the clearing, Reina stood motionless, her figure outlined against the vibrant backdrop of untamed nature. Her golden eyes were fixed on something in the distance, and after a few moments of silence, it became clear what had caught her attention: a forgotten village. The remnants of it were scattered across the clearing, wooden huts, homes made of hides and straw, now worn and weathered by time and nature. The buildings were nearly consumed by vines, leaves, and creeping moss, their once proud structures crumbling under the weight of the earth slowly reclaiming them.
Reina remained still for several long moments, her presence heavy in the air. Her expression was unreadable, though sorrow lingered in her gaze. Eventually, she began to walk toward the village with slow, deliberate steps.
As she walked along the worn path that had once connected the homes, her footsteps echoed softly in the stillness. She passed through the ghostly remnants of the village, her gaze sweeping over the broken structures, but she remained silent. Her face wore a distant, melancholic expression, as though the very air of the village carried the weight of memories she wasn't ready to share.
In her hands, she held three small bouquets of flowers, their delicate colors contrasting with her dark clothing. The flowers were tightly clenched in her fists, a subtle sign of the heavy thoughts that she held on to.
Reina moved past the abandoned homes, the cracked walls and decaying roofs reminding her of something lost. She continued through the village, stepping over piles of rubble and passing forgotten corners, until she reached the far side. There, several wooden poles were stuck into the ground, each one holding an old, ruined object: a broken toy, a tattered comb, and other discarded belongings. They lay there, abandoned, as if the villagers had once placed them with care before everything slipped away.
Reina paused in front of them, her gaze lingering on the objects. A deep sigh escaped her lips, though she didn't speak. She simply stood there, the weight of the forgotten memories filling the space around her. Her face held a mixture of sorrow, reflection, and something deeper. She took a deep breath, clutching the flowers tighter.
Reina approached three of the wooden poles, each with a ruined object at the base: a rusted knife, a metal bracelet, and a worn-out wooden toy, faded by time. With slow, deliberate movements, she placed a bouquet of flowers in front of each pole, as if offering a small tribute. After setting down the flowers, she crouched on the ground, her gaze fixed on the earth, lost in thoughts no one could read.
The silence seemed to envelop the place, but it wasn't empty. Behind her, almost imperceptible footsteps approached, but Reina didn't move. Not even when a shadow crept closer, her body remained still, untouched by the presence. She stayed there, unmoving, in an unsettling calm.
Beside her, Abilene looked around with an expression that betrayed her discomfort. She couldn't help but comment, her voice low, almost a whisper "This place...it feels so sad..." she said, her eyes shifting from one corner to the next, as if trying to understand what made the place so filled with sorrow.
Reina kept her gaze fixed on the three poles in the ground in front of her, her voice soft but steady as she spoke "It's a cemetery…it's normal for it to be a sad place." she said, her words hanging in the air, as if the weight of them belonged to the very soil beneath her.
Abilene, looking around at the abandoned village, tilted her head slightly and spoke up, her voice rough and filled with an odd, quiet sadness "No…not only that…" she said, her words a bit disjointed as usual "The whole village…it's sad too. Reminds me…of home, where I live…in forest…before Shirros find me." she paused, glancing briefly at Reina "Empty…like that…everything gone…left me like that."
Reina finally turned to look at Abilene, noticing that she had crouched beside her, her arms wrapped around her knees, and her bare feet firmly planted on the ground. After a moment, she returned her gaze to the poles in front of them, remaining silent. They stayed like that for several minutes, the only sound being the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, Reina pointed to the pole with the rusted knife beneath it.
"That's my father." she said quietly. She moved her finger to the next pole, where the metal bracelet lay "That's my mother." she continued. Finally, she pointed to the last pole, the one with the worn wooden toy "And that's my little brother."
Abilene stared at the graves in silence, the weight of the moment hanging between them. After a long pause, she spoke, her voice soft and uncertain "Did...they love you?"
Reina nodded slowly, her gaze still fixed on the ground "Yes."
"You're lucky…to know that." Abilene said quietly.
Reina remained still for a moment longer, then, without saying a word, she extended her arm and gently ran her hand through Abilene's wild hair, offering a comforting gesture "Don't think about those idiots who abandoned you. They're not worth it."
Abilene didn't respond; she simply remained still, savoring the gentle strokes of Reina's hand through her hair. The silence between them was peaceful, a quiet comfort shared in the moment. After a while, Reina finally rose to her feet, casting one last glance at the three poles. She turned back to Abilene and spoke, her voice calm but firm "We've stayed long enough." she then began walking toward the village, Abilene following quietly behind her.
As they neared the edge of the village, Abilene spoke up while looking at Reina "Are you sad?"
Reina slowed her pace, her eyes lowering for a brief moment as she considered the question "Yes." she replied quietly "But not as much as I was years ago. Still, that wound…it won't heal easily."
Without saying another word, Abilene reached out, gently taking Reina's hand. She placed a gold coin in Reina's palm, her eyes wide and sincere "Treasures make me happy." she said softly "I hope this does the same for you!"
Reina looked down at the coin in her hand, then up at Abilene. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and she reached out, gently ruffling Abilene's wild hair.
"Thank you." she murmured, her voice filled with warmth.
With that, they left the village behind, walking in silence for several minutes. The forest around them seemed almost alive with the sounds of nature, but the weight of the past still lingered in the air. Eventually, they arrived at a small clearing. A group of about fifteen Shadow Soul mages were gathered there, waiting quietly. Klodoa stood among them, his new body visible to all, though his head remained focused, scanning the area ahead with intent.
Reina and Abilene approached the others, many of whom seemed ready to resume their journey. A few of the mages nodded toward Reina, since she was the leader of the group not only because she was an S-Class mage but also because she was the one with the most experience among them.
Reina's gaze shifted to Klodoa. She walked toward him, the others parting slightly to let her pass. Once she reached him, she spoke "How much longer until we're there?"
Klodoa's head remained focused, but he responded calmly "It won't be much longer. One of Brain's old bases is just beyond the mountain in front of us."
Reina nodded, absorbing the information. She could feel the anticipation in the air, the mages ready for whatever came next, their focus unshaken by the journey ahead. She glanced briefly at Abilene, then back to Klodoa, her mind already turning to the next steps.
Reina nodded and turned to the rest of the group "Let's move out!" she ordered, her voice clear and authoritative. Then, she looked at Abilene "Go ahead and scout the area, please."
Abilene gave a quick nod, her eyes glinting with an eager, yet quiet energy. Without another word, she vanished effortlessly into the thick canopy of trees ahead, her small figure blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings.
Reina watched her disappear into the foliage before turning her attention back to the group. As she prepared to follow, her hand pulled out the gold coin Abilene had given her earlier, her gaze softening as she stared at it for a brief moment. A small smile tugged at her lips, then, without hesitation, she tucked the coin into her pocket.
Her focus shifted quickly, her expression becoming serious once again. With a final glance at the clearing, Reina moved forward to rejoin the group, the mission now at the forefront of her mind.
[ Road to Sherwood – Kingdom of Bosco / 20th November X784 ]
The sun was already high in the sky as the large caravan moved steadily along the wide country road, flanked by expansive fields on both sides. Tall, lush grass swayed gently in the breeze, and sporadic farms dotted the landscape, their smoke rising lazily from chimneys. A few dense woods lined the road, casting occasional shadows on the travelers as they made their way through the countryside.
The caravan was a sizable one, composed of two grand carriages, each pulled by two horses. The carriages moved in perfect harmony, their wheels creaking slightly as they rolled along the dirt path. Surrounding the carriages were fifty knights on horseback, arranged in a precise formation to protect their precious cargo. Their armor glinted under the sun, and the rhythm of their horses' hooves created a steady, synchronized sound as they advanced.
In addition to the knights, forty Rune Knights were positioned strategically around the caravan. Twenty of them rode at the front, scouting the road ahead, while the remaining twenty brought up the rear, ensuring that nothing could sneak up on them from behind. Their vigilant eyes scanned the surroundings, alert to any potential threat.
Inside the second carriage, Arseille momentarily pulled aside the curtain to glance at the passing scenery. The sunlit fields and distant woods stretched out before her, but she quickly closed it again, blocking out the view and returning her attention to the other occupants of the carriage. Sitting in front of her were Lorenzo and Atonnis, and, to her ongoing surprise, Sylva, who was dressed in a maid's uniform was seated on her left. Arseille couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, still slightly incredulous at the sight of Sylva in such an unusual outfit.
Lorenzo, Atonnis, and Arseille herself were all in their disguises, each assuming their alter ego for this mission. They were calm and composed, fully aware of the roles they had to play. Sylva, on the other hand, looked much like her usual self but with a few notable changes: her hair was now green, and her eyes had shifted to a shade of brown.
Arseille, adjusting her posture, glanced at Lorenzo and asked "How much longer will it take?"
Lorenzo, ever calm, replied "A few more hours."
Arseille let out a small sigh of relief "Good." she said "At least we're not too far off. It's been a long journey since yesterday."
She leaned back, her thoughts drifting to the trip they had taken. They left Crocus by train, making their way to Clover Town. They'd spent the night there and had left at the crack of dawn the following morning, riding on horseback toward Bosco's capital. There had been no direct train routes between the two capitals, and so they were forced to make the rest of the journey on horseback or in the carriage.
"Such a hassle." she muttered under her breath, though she quickly composed herself, not wanting to sound impatient. Arseille then turned her gaze back to Lorenzo, her curiosity piqued "But why are you here? This whole matter shouldn't concern your alter ego, should it?"
Lorenzo gave her an easy smile, a glint of mischief in his eyes "Well, I have several branches of my company here in the Kingdom of Bosco." he explained "And this gives me the perfect leverage to bring down the king. Or at least, that's what I told the king of Fiore. I made sure to be present for this mission so I could present some fabricated evidence linking the king of Bosco to the death of your family, or, at least, to the family of your alter ego."
Arseille nodded thoughtfully, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as she considered Lorenzo's plan. The use of fabricated evidence was a clever tactic, and it would certainly ensure that they had a strong case. She had no doubts that Lorenzo's presence was a strategic move.
Turning to Sylva, Arseille shifted the conversation "And what about you?"
Sylva, who had been sitting with a relaxed posture, grinned slyly "Well, pulling a few strings…" she began "…I managed to get assigned as your personal maid. You know, the poor girl looking for work, and you, being such a compassionate soul, took pity on me." she gave Arseille a playful look, clearly enjoying the situation.
Arseille glanced at Sylva's face once more, noticing the odd similarity to her usual appearance, which stood out given the nature of the mission "Why does your disguise look so similar to your usual self?"
Sylva shrugged casually "Every now and then, a bit of hair dye and contact lenses work wonders. As for your rings, they should go unnoticed, but my magic…well, that's a different story." she paused for a moment, her expression darkening slightly "I don't like using those rings. They limit my abilities too much, although I cannot deny their usefulness, as well as the small jammer created by Lorenzo's company. In a closed space like this, our conversations will seem like simple whispers to those who are near the carriage trying to hear."
Arseille gave a knowing nod. It was clear that Sylva preferred to rely on her natural talents, even if it meant avoiding certain tools that could hinder her. Arseille turned her attention to Atonnis, her gaze fixed on him for a few moments of silence. Her eyes studied him intently, as if trying to unravel the mystery behind his calm and composed demeanor. Finally, she broke the silence "We've worked together quite a bit over the past month, but I never asked…are you part of any special unit within Shadow Soul?"
She had already known that Sylva was currently heading the Espionage Unit, with Lorenzo being a part of it, though she also served in the Containment Unit.
Atonnis tilted his head slightly, the movement subtle as his face remained hidden behind his helmet. His deep, resonant voice came through, low but clear "I'm part of the Buster Unit, though I don't participate in field missions as often as the others."
Arseille nodded in understanding, her expression thoughtful. She had suspected as much, but hearing it directly from Atonnis confirmed her assumptions. After a brief pause, her curiosity led her to turn to Lorenzo "What exactly are all the special units of Shadow Soul?" she asked, her tone shifting to a more inquisitive one "After learning about their existence, I've had other things to focus on and didn't get the chance to fully inform myself."
Lorenzo thought for a moment, then pulled out a Light Pen from his elegant suit. He began to write in the air, the letters glowing faintly as he explained "The Espionage Unit…" he started "…handles infiltration and the retrieval of any useful information. Their job is to gather intel and move unseen, extracting valuable data without leaving a trace, and as you already know, Faye…" he gestured toward Sylva "…is the head of this unit."
He continued as the pen moved smoothly through the air, the words forming with precision "Then there's the Buster Unit, which deals mostly with direct combat; brutal, physical confrontations. They're the ones who handle things head-on."
Lorenzo paused for a moment, adjusting the pen "Next is the Assassination Unit. As the name suggests, they specialize in assassinations and delicate, precise tasks. It's all about working quietly and efficiently, eliminating targets with the utmost care."
He flicked the pen again, and the next unit appeared "The Containment Unit is where you'll find mages who specialize in neutralizing and capturing other mages. They don't kill, but they ensure that targets are subdued and contained, without causing unnecessary harm."
Lorenzo let the pen hover for a moment, then added the last bit of information "Finally, there's the Support Unit. These mages focus on providing magical support during missions: healing, enhancing, and ensuring everything runs smoothly from behind the scenes. Their magic is heavily geared toward aiding others, rather than being on the front lines."
Arseille nodded, fully understanding the structure of the units. Then, with curiosity still lingering, she asked "Who leads the other units, aside from Sylva?"
Lorenzo paused for a moment before answering "Asher leads the Assassination Unit, after Reina became the leader of the Buster Unit. Kazumi heads the Support Unit, and Poppea is in charge of the Containment Unit."
Arseille processed the names quickly, her mind associating them with the faces of the mages. She couldn't help but feel slightly perplexed that someone like Kazumi and Poppea were in charge of those particular units "What does it mean to be a leader of a special unit? Are there any advantages? And why isn't my father in charge of the Buster Unit? It seems like something that would suit him."
Lorenzo shrugged nonchalantly "The leaders help the guild master and Shirros decide which mages would be best suited for each unit. For example, Sylva has already confirmed that you'd be perfect for the Espionage Unit."
Arseille, though she kept her composure, felt a small surge of pride, but didn't let it show outwardly. She nodded, acknowledging the compliment.
Lorenzo continued "As for your father, Siegmund is part of the Buster Unit, but he leads his own personal unit."
Arseille blinked, confused "Wait, what do you mean by that?"
Lorenzo gave her an amused glance before elaborating "I'm talking about the Ragnarok Unit, a name Siegmund chose himself. It only has seven members, and it's reserved for those truly inclined toward battle. They typically leave no witnesses and leave nothing standing in their wake."
Arseille's eyes widened slightly "Seven members?"
Lorenzo nodded "Yes, and Reveeina has only deployed the entire Ragnarok Unit twice, with only two missions carried out. The victims? Over a thousand."
Sylva, who had been listening quietly, suddenly interjected "Just because they're part of that unit doesn't mean they're invincible. One of the members, a mage with magma magic, was defeated by Siegmund in less than a minute. But she's extremely thirsty for battle, and her magic works wonders when it comes to spreading chaos and destruction." she moved closer to Arseille, lowering her voice. "By the way, she probably has a crush on your father, but no one talks about it. After all, her magic is still terrifying."
Arseille blinked, clearly taken aback by Sylva's words. She didn't reply immediately, unsure of what to say. The thought of someone having a crush on Siegmund was an odd one, and it left her momentarily speechless. Meanwhile, the glowing words created by Lorenzo slowly faded into nothingness as the conversation moved on. They continued to chat idly, passing the time as they traveled, though the topic remained far from Arseille's mind.
After another two hours of travel, the caravan finally arrived at the capital of Bosco. The carriages, accompanied by their escort, came to a halt in front of the grand gates of the royal palace. The scene was majestic as the imposing palace loomed before them, its gates opening to welcome the visitors.
From the first carriage, the King of Fiore stepped out, followed by Princess Hisui, Darton, and Arcadios, the latter clad in full armor, his presence adding an air of authority to the group.
Arseille and the others emerged from the second carriage shortly after. As soon as she stepped out, Arseille immediately put on her best performance, pretending to be overwhelmed with unease and fear. She kept her gaze low, walking in a manner that suggested anxiety, staying close to Atonnis.
Princess Hisui, noticing Arseille's performance, quickly made her way over to her. She placed a gentle hand on Arseille's shoulder, offering her support in a quiet, reassuring manner "I'm here with you, okay?" she whispered, a calm expression on her face. Arseille nodded slightly but didn't look up, maintaining her role perfectly as they walked together toward the entrance of the palace.
From inside the palace the King of Bosco stepped out to greet the visitors. Jovan K. Bosco, a man in his fifties, stood tall with black and gray hair, his finely groomed beard complementing his sharp green eyes. He was considerably taller than Toma, his regal attire and crown further accentuating his commanding presence. Flanking him were six knights, three on each side, all standing at attention, adding an air of authority to his entrance.
He walked forward, stopping just two meters away from Toma, and bowed his head in respect "It's a pleasure to see you again, Toma." Jovan said warmly "It is an honor to welcome you to my palace."
Toma nodded and returned the gesture with a bow of his own "Thank you for accepting to meet with us, and for your hospitality in hosting us here."
Jovan then acknowledged the other members of the group with a nod, before his gaze shifted to Arseille. For a brief moment, he seemed to recognize something in her appearance, though he said nothing about it. Arseille, feeling his scrutiny, suppressed a shiver, and Hisui quickly moved to stand beside her, wrapping an arm around her protectively. Hisui cast a wary glance at Jovan, but the king paid no further attention to it. Finally, Jovan smiled warmly, gesturing toward the palace "I imagine you must be tired from your journey. Please, come inside and rest. We can discuss matters there."
As the group made their way into the palace, none of them noticed the hawk circling high above their heads. The bird glided through the air, its sharp eyes watching the group closely before it flew off toward a dense forest located not far from the city, near a wide river. The falcon descended several meters, its wings spread wide as it glided down toward a cluster of large branches where at least a dozen people were gathered. The one who stood out among them was a bald man dressed in a mix of white and black priestly robes. He sat cross-legged, his hands clasped in prayer, and his face was obscured by a smiling white mask that covered his entire visage.
The bird flew down to land on the arm of a young man beside the masked figure. He had withe-blonde short hair and piercing, silvery-blue eyes. Without anyone reacting, the falcon dissolved into a plume of black smoke, its form vanishing as it was absorbed into the body of the young man.
The masked man turned slightly, his head tilting toward the young man, though no words were exchanged. The boy, with a calm demeanor, nodded in response before speaking "The king of Fiore has just arrived. He is in the palace of Jovan."
The masked man stood up slowly, his movements deliberate, as a sense of purpose filled the air. He turned to face the others gathered with him, his eyes hidden behind the white mask, but his voice rang with conviction "Splendid." he said, his tone laced with anticipation "At last, we can proceed. We will sever the source of the corruption in Bosco."
He raised his arms, addressing those around him, his voice carrying with a fervor that echoed through the trees "Brothers and sisters!" he called, the words resonating with unity "At last, we can carry forward our purpose, our dream: the eradication of the corruption from Bosco. We will show the King of Fiore just how strong the people of Bosco are, when they are no longer oppressed by tyranny and slavery!"
He gestured toward the setting sun, its warm glow slowly sinking beneath the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and red "This will be the last sunset that Jovan K. Bosco witnesses!" he declared, his voice steady with conviction "Tomorrow, our kingdom will be free!"
As their cries of joy and battle echoed through the branches of those enormous trees, the blue-eyed boy turned back to the castle in the distance, clutching a wing-shaped pendant that hung around his neck.
'Sylva…' he thought, as the shadows of the night moved slowly toward the castle and memories of his hawk played out in his mind, with a young maid at the center of it all 'Is that really you…?'
TO BE CONTINUED…
And this chapter is over too! This officially opens the first, short original arc of this story! It will last for the next chapters and then we will move on to the canon arcs of Fairy Tail but I hope you will still enjoy it! As usual, these chapters (like this one) serve to take a nice tour of all the OCs in the story, also showing what happens behind the scenes and little glimpses of their personal lives!
There's not much else to say other than I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Now, as usual, I remind you that if you have any love interests for your OC, contact me to let me know and I'll see what I can do!
On the other hand, all of you have marked spells for your OC, but all of them will age throughout the story, so if any of you had any changes in mind for your OC (in terms of clothing, physical appearance, magic, etc...) or any new spells you would like your OC to learn, let me know!
See you next time!