Chapter 115

Poor Sadeena (who had all but threatened me to save her some of the soup), finished her observance of fasting as the first glimmer of sunlight started to colour the sky. The ritual itself was pretty simple. A couple of torch stands, some wind chimes hanging from a hastily erected arch, a bit of soil (pulled from the Shield) and the Vassal Mirror.

Fire, to light the way, wind to guide her voice, ground to stand on, and the water around the boat (it was normally a pier on land), and lastly, the mirror to represent the calm ocean. Thankfully for the ritual's purpose, the owner of the Mirror didn't need to observe the fasting ritual (which was good, since Kotetsu ate like... twice her own body weight in soup for dinner).

As predicted by the Captain, we were in sight of what looked like a giant, slightly pink barrier dome over a still distant island of vibrant colours, wood and stone buildings, and a massive glowing pink tree that couldn't have been anything BUT a Sakura tree of nearly impossible age.

But as we got close to it, the sea became calm. The wind died to the point that the morning light was bringing humidity and mild fog. The water was almost as smooth as the Vassal Mirror. And not even SITA could see anything in the water near the ship.

All the same, we kept our silence as Sadeena sang, danced, and waved around that fancy harpoon (carefully) in what was obviously a traditional dance. The Captain had, under threat of swimming home, told her crew to keep quiet as possible. But while Sadeena might have been out of practise, she moved with enough grace and purpose to keep even the crew from wanting to interrupt.

But then suddenly, she stopped, and Kotetsu tipped over suddenly, almost as if she'd fallen asleep watching the pretty orca-lady dance. Of course, the little dragon-noodle tipping over upset the mirror, but Sadeena paused her dance, then pointed towards the water with her fancy harpoon.

Sunlight was reflecting from the mirror, through the pillars of the ship's rail, and onto the water. Spotlight bright, it overpowered the light of the rising sun to the point that it might well have still been dark out. That only lasted long enough for Sadeena to say, "The Water Dragon has invited us to its domain."

The declaration only dimmed the spotlight, and even after Kotetsu moved herself and the mirror the circle on the water remained lit.

It was clear that we were invited, but also that some swimming was going to be involved.

"Well." I said, "Who wants to stay and wait, and who wants to swim?"

Maybe it was cowardice, but before I became what I am now, I also had a crushing fear of drowning. So I didn't judge too harshly when the three heroes declined the invitation. Sadeena, retired or not from being the 'water dragon miko' was coming with me, as was Raphtalia. Kotetsu, being a cute accessory to the ritual didn't volunteer but refused to let go of Sadeena. And lastly, we had Tetsu, who wanted to talk to a fellow dragon and see if any of those 'taste like sparkles' fish were around.

"SITA? S'yne?" I asked as I did a few warm up stretches.

"I'll stay and protect the ship." S'yne said.

"I'm not sure what my connection will be like with that much water in the way." SITA said, "And... Can you even use the Shield this close to the barrier?"

I looked at my Status screen for any grey(red) icons, "Huh, okay, no teleport function. Might get away with a transcript, but the portal Shield is out." I gave SITA a headpat for being thoughtful, "Okay. Stay up here, keep your eyes open, and maybe start on a signing bonus for the Captain..."

SITA froze in place for a second, like a full body paralysis, then reanimated with a smile, "Oh... Should I revive the airship idea from back home? Current world enchantments would make it super easy..."

"Shh. I want it to be a surprise for later." Then louder, I spoke over her head to the others, "We're all set! If this goes anywhere, we'll send a message to come ahead."

"Leave something for us to do." Motoyasu laughed.

And with one last check to make sure our water breathing amulets were on properly, we jumped into the water.

At first, it was just like it had been at Cal Mira. The skin tight air pocket around us made swimming closer to 'zero gravity', but as we got closer, with Tetsu's dragon form holding on to Raphtalia, Sadeena and I (while Kotetsu clung to Tetsu's horns). But as we descended into the 'light tunnel' left by the ritual, there was a distinct downwards pull.

Confident in our protection, it wasn't 'alarming' just 'deliberate'.

Until it wasn't a 'pull' but a 'drag'. All at once, Tetsu's happy 'flying under water' changed to an uncontrolled spiral. We bounced around inside the still visible tunnel of light, until I told Tetsu to change forms and let us go. Her smaller body had less trouble in the sudden turbulence, and the water amulets let us drop like a rock instead of spiral down a drain.

Then we started to see bio-luminescent corals and fish below. I had to stop Tetsu from instantly chasing after the fish, for now, but the transition from daylight, to dim tunnel, to...

Coral gardens. There was no way this wasn't the creation of someone's will. Nice neat shelves of colour coded corals. Rows of swaying anemones. All kept in garden straight rows and trimmed razor straight...

"There!" Sadeena's voice wobbled through the water breathing amulet.

Kotetsu, zipping through the water happily even with the weird whirlpool effect around us, stopped, tilted the mirror upwards, then let it angle downwards. After such a deliberate ritual, and signal, I didn't think it was coincidence that the Mirror reflected the light from the surface directly at the cave mouth.

"Still invited." I said, "No eating the shiny fish yet. But lets swim over."

"Aw." Tetsu pouted.

The whirlpool let us 'out' about ten metres from the ocean floor. From there, we had no 'guidance' from the ocean currents while Tetsu slipped through the water like some kind of weird whale. Oddly enough, the fish around us seemed to be used to 'large predators' and just swam around like we weren't there.

The cave, large enough for Tetsu's dragon body without any need to squeeze or wiggle, was also lit by bits of glowing coral and crystal, and after twenty metres or so of gentle upwards slope, I saw the mirror reflection of a well lit air pocket above us.

Raphtalia and I nodded to each other, and peeked our heads out of the water first. Sadeena just laughed at our caution and walked out of the water along the natural slope. Tetsu followed with a quiet 'ooooo shiny' and Kotetsu zipped up my body to perch on my head and shake off like a cat.

"Wow." Oddly, Sadeena was the one to comment, but then she said, "I had no idea this was here. Like... At all."

As the Water Miko, I'd have expected she would know. "Really? But..." Raphtalia however beat me to the question, "Though, the coral outside... Did the water dragon do all that?"

"Mom?" Kotetsu nuzzled her cheek against one of my horns (something I asked her to do instead of tapping on them with a claw when she wanted attention), "I hear voice."

"Me too..." Tetsu said, her attention leaving the high vaulted natural dome of solid stone above us, and looking to a shelf of stone that looked to have been eroded into form, not carved.

And resting atop the rounded shelf of green and blue stone, kept from rolling off it by the only obvious stone work in the room (a shallow bowl carved into the platform) was a beach ball sized crystal ball. "That's a dragon core." I said, "But..."

"Is the water dragon..." Raphtalia asked, "But then..."

For a core to be 'outside' the body of a dragon, there was only one way we knew that happened. Seeing the size of the core though, made me wonder about how nice and smooth this chamber was, and the cave entrance leading into it from the water. This would have come from a beast larger than the Tyrant Dragon...

But for it to be here, enshrined, meant someone had to have taken care of it. "You've never been here?" I asked Sadeena.

"Nope." She said, approaching the dragon core, "But... I have heard the voice of the Dragon before..."

"Tetsu? Can you let him talk? Maybe he knows?" Raphtalia asked Tetsu as we stopped a respectful distance from the Core. She also encouraged her by hugging her big dragon head and rubbing that spot above her eye.

"Lemme... oooo right there..." She shook Raphtalia off, reminding me of Spot when he wanted to think clearly, "Lemme ask."

"It is good to know I am not forgotten." Were the first words out of Tetsu's mouth with the voice of someone else. "I did tell you that dragons have an... unconventional form of immortality. Age rarely claims us. But it does."

"So... The water dragon did die?" Raphtalia asked, "Then who did this?"

"Why not ask?" Gaelion replied with the usual cryptic dragon tone. "Tiny sister? Would you like to? Or should I?"

Tetsu and Kotetsu looked at each other. "Age before adorable." Kotetsu said.

Tetsu's voice returned to normal, "Hey! I'm ad-"

And the beach ball of water coloured crystal trapped Tetsu in a weirdly familiar 'beam of blue light'. Similar to what the hourglasses did to the Shield when I got close to them for the first time. Tetsu, transfixed by the beam, stood there for a moment, her dragon eyes rolling upwards in her head, before the beam zipped sideways to a spot just above my head.

"able!" Tetsu resumed, "ohhhhh I feel shiny!" She blinked, scratched the top of her head, then blinked, "Oh, okay..." Then, "So this is the Emperor fragment of the former water dragon. It helped the now... no... current? Yes! Current water dragon invite us down here." She pouted. "So many big words! Grrrr."

"Mom! Lemme do a thing!" Kotetsu said.

"Just be careful." I said.

"Big sister! Lift this!" Kotetsu noodled over to the shrine and wiggled her tail at the beach ball sized orb of crystal.

"Gently... gently..." Tetsu did as asked, already familiar with 'how to handle eggs' even as a big dragon. Once off the platform, Kotetsu placed the Vassal Mirror under it, and motioned for it to be put down again.

"See? Also clever!" Kotetsu curled up around the Mirror, and it started to glow.

"Ah! This is... unexpected. Thank you, younger cousins." The voice came from the orb, but echoed quietly inside the domed cave we were in, giving it a weird ethereal accent. "Water Miko! Reward them please."

Sadeena blinked at the order, but gave in without question and applied headpats to Tetsu, then leaned down to do the same for Kotetsu.

"Excellent. I am glad you truly hear my voice." The orb said with a little purr that filled the cavern, "It is unexpected, but with the power of the Mirror, I can convey my message clearly. To put it simply, the barrier around Q'ten Lo has been corrupted."

We all looked to Sadeena, "Well... I've done all kinds of rituals to sustain the barrier. It's to keep Q'ten Lo and the city in the deep abyss safe." I perked up at the mention of 'deep abyss' but she waved it off, "It's a special place, but invite only. I've seen it, but never been there though."

"It is as she says. The barrier is for protection, but not just for my people. The original purpose of this place, is as a pacifier for the spirit implements." I felt as if the echo inside the orb was looking at me, "If they were ever misused, then through the power here the world might be saved from them."

"Makes sense..." I mumbled, hiding a smile behind my hand, "If one or more of the heroes decided to just take over... And these 'anti-hero' weapons we've been facing..."

"Just so. But if the heroes are true to their purpose, then there is no need for Q'ten Lo to act. However, for that, there needs to be harmony among my people. Something foul has changed the purpose of my people, and I am unable to fix it myself."

"So you let us get down here... But now that we are here, what did you want us to do exactly?" Raphtalia asked.

I gave her shoulder a squeeze, pleased she was staying so goal oriented. "The barrier is no longer under my control, so it must be weakened enough to allow your friends through. Yes, I am aware of your arrival, but it was your ritual that gave me the strength to do just this much to get you here." The orb sighed, "The current water dragon does well, but is too weak to do this alone."

"I wasn't going to ask." I said, "Suppose to absorb a core you have to be able to eat it..."

Everyone looked at Tetsu, but she shook her head, "I wasn't gonna! My head is noisy enough." She pouted.

"With my guidance, I had planned to just leave a message for you, but this worked out much better. Thank you, tiny cousin."

"Very welcome!"

A thin beam of light pointed towards the back of the cavern, "Proceed that way. It will take you through the barrier. I hope you will be able to succeed, and cleanse the corruption seeping through my people's hearts. Sadeena."

"Yes?" Her being called by name DID spook her a little. But just enough to notice.

"Please, take care of the current Miko. Her voice is small, and she has yet to truly hear my voice. But she is innocent of the corruption. Part of the problem, but not the cause. Go now."

We all started to move, and I put my hands to either side of the crystal core of the water dragon to let Kotetsu retrieve the Mirror.

And I was suddenly standing inside an endlessly vast cavern, ankle deep in water with the scent of salt in the air, and a cool breeze over my skin. Illuminated by glowing bio-luminescent algae in the water, I could just barely make out the body of a titanic Lung dragon. After a moment to adjust, my eyes could make out the coiled body of a hundred metres or more of dragon. I wondered how Yu-long was doing, thinking about it...

"Hero... no... intruder. I see into your heart. I see what you are aiming to do." Like its body, his voice was huge and powerful, filling my head as much as the air around me. "I cannot let you continue."

"You don't want to do this." I said after the pressure of his voice stopped pressing down on me. "To my understanding you have a child? The current water dragon?"

"THREATS?! HERE? You dare threaten me? Half formed thing of denial and rage!" The titanic form reared up like a cobra.

"If you fight me, your child will lose your guidance." I pointed directly at the giant nose in front of me, "You see into my heart, yes, but you have no concept of what I am denying!"

We stared at each other for a moment, then, "I see..." He said slowly, the hiss of scale over scale stretching out the sound of his voice, "But my duty is clear! You aim to corrupt the symbol of my people! To steal it! Without it my people would have no purpose!"

I took a deep breath, then sighed, feeling my body tingle from head to foot as my 'trigger' for my adventurer strength brought something else to the fore. "You are a good dragon. You are nothing like the Tyrant, you have clear purpose unlike Gaelion. But if you try and stop me, your child will be the one who suffers."

A low growl filled the air around us, louder than the rasp of scales, deeper than the titanic breathing of the dragon's lungs.

"When I'm done here, when we fix the corruption spread by whomever has been destroying the history of the worlds, when I return home, your world won't need to summon heroes ever again. But if you want to see that, if you want your children, and their children to see that, you will let me work."

Fen-chan appeared behind me, a ball of jade foxfire appearing to his left, a ball of silver foxfire to his right, and a ball of black foxfire above his head. This time though, he was far far larger than before.

"I was invited as a guest to your world to save it. But to be a guest means I must be allowed to leave. And I will leave. But it's your choice, here and now, the size of the door I make on my way out."

I carefully set the dragon core down into the little depression, and gave its sullenly glowing surface a pat, "I'll make a friend for your child." I said to it quietly, a razor sharp chip of crystal biting into my finger and sticking there as I gave the core a headpat(?). "Kotetsu? We'll make a friend out of this." I handed her the tiny chip, then sucked at my finger, "Also, ow." I squinted at the sphere.

"Oh! But... little brother? Or little sister?"

"You coming fox?" Sadeena asked from the mouth of the exit, looking over her shoulder.

"Yeah." I gathered up Kotetsu, watching her put the flake of dragon core into the Mirror. "You have any idea this was here?" I asked her as I caught up to her, Tetsu and Raphtalia.

"Not a clue! But I can feel we're passing under the barrier... What a clever dragon."

"Aww... but I'm clever." Tetsu pouted, switching to her child form so she could actually fit up the suddenly narrowing tunnel.

We started through a tunnel, smooth and worn by water, time, and I suspected a large serpentine body.

Raphtalia came to Tetsu's emotional rescue, "You are clever! But so is the water dragon."

Behind them, unseen, I smiled as I gave chin scratches to Kotetsu and followed them, "Do we have a way to contact the ship?" Sadeena asked, the marvel clear on her face at this secret place.

"Yeah. Just need to get on dry land above sea level, and pointed towards the ship." I replied, glancing at my Status, then the Book's sub menu, "Yeah, this barrier isn't going to let us portal out... Hmm, the transcript too..."

"Thinking of escaping?" Sadeena teased, "Or something mysterious." She added with a hint of sarcasm.

"If either worked, and I had a bit of time, I could just pull the ship through the barrier." I shrugged, "And you're lucky I don't have a wet towel."

"Pfft, why use a towel?"

Poor Raphtalia and Tetsu looked a bit clueless, but that was fine. At least Sadeena could keep up with amazon banter.

A short while later, the tunnel dipped sharply back into the water. "Well, looks like its time for another swim." Sadeena said, "You know, this little thing takes some of the fun out of swimming." She gripped the water breathing amulet between her thumb and index finger.

"You don't have to use it." I said, "But as much as I like swimming, I can only hold my breath for so long."

"It lets me use my wings better in the water." Tetsu said, "Um, though... I think the water dragon gave me something?"

I looked through the Status menu and into Tetsu's stats. "Huh, yeah. Very nice of him." Then I peeked into Kotetsu's status. "Oh? You too?"

Her face appeared in front of my left eye, "Yes!" she then rubbed her cheek against my eyebrow and then went back up out of sight to nest on my horns.

"Let's see... water resist, more swimming ability, some water affinity for magic..." I rubbed at my chin, "HIDA will want to know..."

"There's that smile again." Raphtalia sighed, "Sadeena?"

"Sure. Follow me out."

Back in my old life, I never ever would have thought to do something like this. Water, darkness and an unknown distance to the next breath of air... nope. But with all the glowing coral, the nice view as Sadeena swam ahead of us, and the water amulet? This was rather fun. And thanks to Melty's enchantment, I wasn't even getting my tails wet!

Then we came to an angled opening that was half hidden by a cluster of boring sponge coral. It didn't glow like almost everything else, keeping the area at the mouth of the tunnel unimportant looking. No fish would be attracted to it, and no one who fished with a spear would bother coming close.

Sadeena motioned for silence, and after a moment I saw why. Just off in the distance, people were swimming around. Free diving for fun, or maybe going after the nice vibrant kelp strands. But we didn't know if they were civilians, or guards.

She used the same hand signs I had taught my party, motioning for us to keep low, and single file. Then she started to pull herself along the bottom of the ocean floor towards shore, weaving between coral outcroppings and around kelp. It was clear, now that we were out of the super secret cave, she knew where we were, and where to go.

When we finally poked our heads out of the water, it was in a little sheltered grove of bamboo. It had a clear view of the ocean, but a limited view inland. "Okay... now I know for sure..." I sighed, touching a bamboo leaf, "So, now what?"

Raphtalia looked surprised, but Sadeena replied, "Well, it's been a long time since we left. So not many would know my face. But you and Raphtalia will stick out like burning buildings. Hmm... You..." She pointed to the space above my head, "Will need a collar." She looked to Tetsu, who had changed into her child form since the little grove wasn't very big and we were trying to be sneaky. "urg... okay, we have some work to do here... Kinda wish we brought little S'yne with us..."

The problem, was we were too fancy. This place was diverse in culture, body shape (beast folk, demi-humans and the rare actual human). But it also had clearly defined 'roles'. Peasants and nobility, with the 'slightly better dressed' merchants in between. Like Siltvelt, humans were looked down on, but not forced into slavery for as little reason as possible.

Raphtalia also had the problem of being a Tanuki, the same race as the Emperor. And I had the issue of being unable to drop the Shield.

However. I did not have the problem of being poor. And after a bit of sorting through my inventory, I found enough of the local coin for Sadeena to walk out onto the street like she belonged there (like any Amazon in any world that had them), and return with our 'disguises'.

Kotetsu got a little white rope. Almost exactly like the one Loaner wore the day Inari had gifted him to me. Sadeena explained this signified that she was a 'sanctified monster'. Headpats were given to assure her she was still a dragon.

Tetsu, thanks to the abundance of different races here, was just given a plain hemp outfit. She was a little sad it was itchy, but was also given headpats. Her child sized body helped here, since no one noticed children unless they were causing problems, where as someone as unique looking as she was would be remembered if they were an adult.

Raphtalia and I were given plain worker clothes, with me getting an extra 'weather cape' made for farmers working the rice fields. Made to keep the sun or rain off your back, it was perfect for hiding the Shield. The Book (thankfully) didn't mind being put into the Shield's inventory.

I furthered my own disguise by hiding my tails (yes, you are all nice tails, and I will brush you after we aren't in danger of alerting an entire island of potentially hostile people), and changing my skin colour. The Kiki race did have horns, though not as nice as mine, so I could at least pass the 'first glance' test. And just because, I changed my outward gender to male. I'd have to show Okakai and Fukawa this when I told the story back home. Though, they'd tease me and call me 'little brother'.

Raphtalia, like we'd done before, slicked her tail with some fur oil we'd made forever ago to make her look like a cat-folk. Though, with how fluffy her tail was, she would give herself away if she got mad. For her ears? A sun hat. Simple is best. The Katana was easier than I thought it would be, and relented to being stored like the Book inside her personal 'everything but a weapon' crystal I'd made for her.

And before all this, Sadeena put away all the fancy ornaments she commonly wore, replacing it with a far too tight pair of 'slave pants' from when I pulled Clive, Usa and Raphtalia out of the Ringmaster's care. She returned wearing better fitting ones, but may have caused nosebleeds on the way to the clothier. She also put away her harpoon in an inventory crystal, since it was a stolen relic from when she'd been the Water Dragon Miko.

Now dressed like 'common folk doing common things', we left the little grove (Sadeena said this was her favourite spot to nap and skip out on chores before she left).

"Okay." Sadeena said as we slipped between the tightly growing bamboo and carefully stepped out into the open. "If we're going to get a signal out, that's where we wanna go."

She pointed to a lighthouse a little way off. It was still only early afternoon, so it was unlit. But I just needed line of sight to the ship... "Perfect." I nodded, my voice deeper than usual, "Hmm, too much?"

Looking like Fukawa's younger cousin or something, I'd changed my voice to match as best I could. But that gave me something close to a bass rumble to my usual voice. Raphtalia nodded, Sadeena shook her head, while Tetsu and Kotetsu just gave me a hug.

"Doesn't matter. You're still the boss." Tetsu said, "And not wearing armour! Eeee hugs."

Kotetsu didn't comment, just gave one of my horns a face rub. So we walked on.

Everything about this place was nice looking. The little sakura trees and all the glowing pink lights everywhere (not so noticeable in the afternoon sun), the Japanese maple, pine and bamboo everywhere, the few houses and such in the 'outskirts' of the island... All of it was well cared for, pretty, and... tranquil. A lot of it was because of the tree. It wasn't as big at the one I'd planted through the tortoise. But it dominated the island. There were also lots of smaller ones, 'Sakura Lumina' trees. For all intents and purposes?

Light posts. Magical relay points that provided light, limited magic power for simple things (like household lighting) and sadly, would only grow on this island.

I was told not to laugh while my voice was changed. But I was going to steal this idea too. I mean, if I was going to... meh later. Trying to be sneaky, anvil-head another time.

One thing I didn't see, making me realize that Q'ten Lo wasn't actually that small a place, was the Sacred Tree. But, all these 'Sakura Lumina' trees were connected to it... It made me want to steal it even more, but again... anvil head later.

I was then told not to sigh too. But I could pout. It was cute, apparently.

"Oh... Just how I remember it." Sadeena stopped as we came to the first 'ugly' thing so far.

A burial mound. Out in the open. With very clear (though to me, slightly 'off brand') sealing markers all over it, and hemp ropes cordoning it off from the public.

"Ages ago, Raphtalia's ancestors sealed all kinds of beasts on the island." Our tour guide Sadeena explained. "The monsters that spawn here are stronger because of the tree, and the abundance of tombs."

I tried not to sigh, "This one is empty though."

Raphtalia and Sadeena looked shocked, but Tetsu leaned a little closer (not quite over the rope barrier) and sniffed (complete with little nose wiggle!) "Yeah... it's just dirt. Not at all like that mean old dragon..."

"I've probably said it already, but sealing away monsters isn't how you do it." I couldn't help but sigh this time. "Wouldn't surprise me if the monster was turned into fertilizer for all these glowing trees though... That I've seen done."

"ah... well... ahem let's move on. Don't want to keep them waiting..." Sadeena shook her head.

At first, I thought we might still be out of place. But it wasn't us that made the people around us nervous. Something in the air was... off. A tension that reminded me of the 'Xenos Incident', where 'the people' were worried that the dungeon was going to eat them. I mean, more than normal.

But no, our attempt to blend in was working quite well, our party getting maybe one or two extra looks, but that might have just been Tetsu practically vibrating in place with the scent of cooking fish in the air. But while we continued along the path towards the lighthouse I noticed something funny. Every windowsill every shop stall, even a couple carvings on the walls, had this world's equivalent of a 'lucky neko'. The same 'raised paw' for luck, the same adorable likeness. The only difference was that it was of a Tanuki, the same race as the royal family.

Raphtalia noticed me smiling, then at the things I was looking at. "What... why are there so many?" She asked.

Sadeena chuckled quietly, "Why do you think? Hmm?"

While Raphtalia put the dots together in her head and sighed at being an 'object of worship', Sadeena walked towards a little billboard stall. The letters were almost the same as Siltvelt, more artistic but functionally the same. "By imperial decree, no life shall be taken upon Q'ten Lo soil?" I read over Sadeena's shoulder as she got closer.

She looked over her shoulder, about to make a cheeky remark (I could tell! She had the same look Aisha did just before teasing someone!) when I saw her face change to one of alarm.

"Ahh!" The cry of a child came from across the square, a little dog demi-human stumbling backwards over a rock as he backed up out of a grove of bamboo. Landing on his rear, a scary looking (not the nice black/red/silver, or gold/green) bee zipped after him, hand length stinger just missing him as he fell backwards.

"Hold." I said, stopping Raphtalia (through reflex, not the slave mark) and Tetsu (by decree of me being 'the boss') from attacking. Instead, I clapped my hands together and linked my fingers for a little ice senjitsu.

On my head, I felt Kotetsu help, a little of her new Water Dragon gift showing as my simple hand seals turned the arm length bulbous 'Orange Needle B' (yes... that's what the Status said it was... sigh... can't even get Bees right?) into an angry ice cube. Part of its head and abdomen was still exposed, and even as it fell to the ground it was clicking and hissing like a leaky air hose.

Of course, this is when 'the authorities' decided to show up. Dressed in fancy hakama with nice red trim they stopped to observe the scene, opened their mouths, closed them, and started to scratch the backs of their heads. It was clear they were going to accuse me of killing a monster. But, it was quite clearly still alive.

"Ah thank you Miss." The boy said as Raphtalia helped the boy up, then looked past me to Sadeena.

"As you can see, we did not kill." She said flawlessly picking up her cue, then walking over and picking up the trapped monster, and heaving it like a shot-put into the water. "A gift for the Water Dragon."

NOTES!

Tetsu ate the mission impossible record. Sorry. :)

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