A dark-haired youth with average looks and a sharp gaze was currently limping with the support of a beautiful figure if one looked closely they could faintly see curly horns on her head. "Regarding Krista, Master I would like to suggest that we frame someone else for the killing. She has an unyielding personality and therefore cannot be enslaved" listening with rapt attention, Bradque was musing over Veronica's suggestion before he cut her short "I am sensing a but". with a sad sigh Veronica explained " Yes. Also as a chosen of the elven tribe, her soul is being monitored by the elven gods and royals. After geniuses ascend they are enlisted in the ranks of angels of the gods they swear allegiance to. Krista is a candidate, at least among Tiro rankers her aptitude is among the top one percent. So..." grunting in response to Veronica, Bradque took the words out of her mouth. "We let her go huh?". He felt powerless about the whole situation, as someone who had sealed deals in the past he knew the most luxurious things in life were priceless, a compromise was necessary. After shuffling their feet for about five minutes they reached the mouth of the cave. 'There is an alternative, I kill Krista and ally myself with the house of hades by proving my exceptional talent at the Walpurgis or I kill her as an offering to be closer to the house of hades but if I do that and the house of hades washes their hand clean of the events I would be the sacrificial lamb. After all, I just took out a potential general in the angelic unit of a god, or would they shield me? Either way, I am in desperate need of a strong backer in the demon world. They can vouch for me since I am a diamond in the rough. That I am sure of since it is my strength. But that is all hypothetical, anything can happen. In that case, I have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Me being invaded on all sides.' The cogwheels of Bradque's mind were trying to come up with the best course of action. "It's alright we don't need to keep up the appearances we're far out" To play the part of the hero he needed to put on a pity show and wish-washed it as heroism. Veronica immediately stopped supporting his frame and proceeded to drag the ankle of the unconscious elven genius towards the portal before they vanished.
At the Castle, in a dungeon, Krista was strapped to a chair in a sitting pose while facing a blinking light. "Master I fail to understand what you're doing?" Veronica observed her Master dousing himself with a lot of perfume. She did not understand the occasion since the Walpurgis was ten hours away. Bradque needed to nip it in the bud, he felt he needed to seize this opportunity by any means necessary. While giving a faint smile Bradque kept dousing himself with the perfume before turning to Veronica "As a chosen of the gods her soul is protected and as long as she is not in a life-threatening situation urgent reinforcements won't be called for. Am I correct?" towards the mocking grin of her Master Veronica calmly answered "Yes" picking a chair and placing it opposite the drugged Krista so that his figure would overshadow the blinking light he spoke to her "Your abilities allow to place people in illusion, I want you to increase the speed of time to two weeks and leave the rest to me." Veronica explained, "My mana can only handle twenty minutes, I need an hour at most to make this work." Opening a silver briefcase he gave Veronica twelve vials of healing potion before looking at her unfazed "Will this be sufficient?" nodding in approval she closed her purple irises and a red hue covered the entire dungeon wing as she began using her succubus bloodline. 'A perfume custom made by the system, and the other apparatus are in place'. If he could not tamper with her magically a mental manipulation would have to suffice. That is right Bradque planned on hypnotizing Krista to implant suggestions.
In a sky-blue-themed female dormitory located in Nodnol's magic academy, Anastasia grumbled before opening her eyes into slits. "mmm. I did not expect sunlight to be this harmful to the eyes." After spending a long time in a dark labyrinth she was trying to get used to the natural light. Rubbing her eyes and stretching her arms she yawned before turning to see both of her knights asleep by her bedside. A warm smile involuntarily surfaced on her face. She was a pampered princess, although adept to some scheming and magic she knew nothing about life. Since she realized the fragility of human life she decided not to waste hers and forge a path for herself. Anastasia had matured but the light shimmering in her eyes was proof of her youthful exuberance, she still had hope of living. "Grace-" interrupting her words Grace hugged Anastasia tightly "Ow ow you're hurting me." Anastasia was complaining since a knight's whole force was compressed on her. panicky lifting her hands around Anastasia she apologized "Oh sorry" "You're finally awake" unlike Grace she planted a kiss on the cheek of Anastasia. "Emilia what are you-" interrupting her with a finger to the lips she silenced her before explaining to her that Grace already knew about their relationship. " So you already knew" like a deflated balloon she collapsed from her sitting posture on the bed as a sigh escaped her lips. "It does not matter to me, Princess. Emilia is satisfied and happy with the relationship so it does not really bother me" Listening while sandwiched between blankets Anastasia hid her flushed face before faintly muttering "-T-Thank y-you for trusting in me." Throwing her blanket aside abruptly Anastasia asked them "Who rescued me?" She knew both of her knights were too weak for the job. So it was either her father or him. Exchanging looks of apprehension the knights were staring at each other trying to persuade the other with their gaze on who to tell the princess. "Sigh. Your reaction says it all. Master Brad was responsible for aiding her escape." frantically waving her palms Emilia spoke "He is not that irritating and he has a genial ambiance. At times his blood-thirsty visage just makes my skin crawl. What?" Emilia was being observed like a new specimen brought before research scientists. She antagonized Bradque to the point she nearly had a mental breakdown. But now she was already speaking about him like any other guy. "Good for you" Grace flashed a smug smile while ruffling Emilia's blonde hair. "Hey Hey cut it out. I'm not your puppy" swatting Grace's hands away with a wronged expression Emilia complained but Grace ignored her protest with a sadistic grin. "Ahhh Anastasia save me from this crude baboon" "Who are you calling a baboon? You could not even take care of a boy" "Who was it that fought like a barbarian covered in wounds, If it were not for the fact we had a healing potion you could have died" "But I still broke through right?-weakling" watching from the sidelines as both of her knights were bickering like kindergartens she was about to ask more questions. "Knock Knock" Someone was at the door. "AH~ your noise must have disturbed the other residents," Anastasia thought it was the matrons in charge of the female dormitories making their rounds or responding to a noise complaint. Grumbling while fixing her appearances Grace stood up from the floor and walked to the door. A man in his late forties wearing a half top hat accompanied by a penguin suit and a bow tie. He sported the look of a butler and that he was true indeed. "Oh if it isn't Sir Beltram, what brings you here?" astonished by the enthusiastic Grace he was at a loss of words only thoughts were colliding in his weary mind 'This is Grace? but her apathetic expression has melted off. Could this change be brought by the princess or has she found love?' "Sir?" brought back to reality he stammered embarrassingly " My apologies Knight. Madam instructed me to tell the princess to return swiftly to the manor. Specifically before seven in the evening today." Watching the brown-haired butler with patches of whites on the sides of his hair Grace mused 'Ahhh old age is catching up with him.' sighing in frustration at the sudden summons, she closed the door before reporting to Anastasia. "Hmmm, she was oddly specific about the time." Watching Anastasia furrow her brows in doubt whilst crossing her legs gave a sensual appeal but Emilia gulped and said "Why don't we contact master?" fixing her gaze to Grace, Grace shook her head and responded "He is attending the Walpurgis and cannot be contacted." anxious Emilia turned to Anastasia "Then what should we do?" biting her nails Anastasia parted her red lips and spoke "Father is overprotective of me. His absence only makes the reason to go more valid. Besides we should learn to solve problems on our own. You both are knights right?" watching the confident smile on her face Grace smiled and said, "Speculations are helpless in the face of action. Let's set off immediately." nodding approvingly Emilia turned to Anastasia before receiving a positive response.
Bradque's Castle- five hours to Walpurgis
A blue-haired female was blindfolded and strapped to a chair. Her surroundings were tainted by a red hue which painted a picture similar to a boat in a storm with no shore in sight. However, she was muttering with a peaceful expression "A robin redbreast in a cage Puts all Heaven in a rage." A black-haired youth sitting opposite her spoke softly and enchantingly "That's good, remember this poem. Remember the feeling of helping that injured puppy, the compassion you felt calm like the stream. The scent, the-" watching Bradque rambling endlessly Veronica could only compliment the beautiful poetry of her master. She could not help but question his motive. "Veronica it's enough" clapping lightly the red hue disappeared and the surroundings no long looked tainted with blood. 'Now to test it.' "Release her Veronica" without questioning him she unbuckled the straps and removed her blindfold. tapping her by the shoulder Krista grumbly woke up from her 'slumber' "Ughhhhhh where am I ? You spared me because of the spell right ?. You know my origins. I am the Scarlet-" Disregarding her narcissistic words, Bradque recited with a firm tone "A robin redbreast in a cage" almost immediately she responded muddle-headedly "Puts all Heaven in a rage." Veronica's eyes dilated to pin size. Her master controlled her with no spells. With a sly smile Bradque 'suggested' "Won't it be a great idea if we all drop our grievances when I release you? We should become like Lily is to you" Krista responded again " Friends?" "No, we are allies we are in the same boat". "Snap" As soon as he snapped his fingers Krista continued speaking as though time had stopped except she change her condescending attitude down the line. "I am the Scarlet witch if you know what's good for you release me immediately. Don't fret I won't be reporting you. On the contrary, I apologize for attacking a demon-king. We are Kin, I suggest we make an alliance to give yourself a way out of this predicament if you release me. What do you say?" smiling sheepishly Bradque spoke, "I agree".