So I made a 'sketch' on my phone with nothing but my bare fingers and little knowledge of digital art so I think I practically wasted four hours of my existence since it's basically a dIsAsTeR...
Alucard and Granger spectate from a small forest not far. Alucard smirked, suggesting to Granger they should join the nobles' splendid reunion.
"I'll stay here just in case they mistake you as a threat." Granger said with his typical dark blunt humor.
Alucard understood how he couldn't change the emo's mind and dashed forward, greeting everyone with a loud hello that Guinevere accidentally blasted him with a ball of magic. Granger shook his head hopelessly, expecting it would happen.
"Why, if it isn't Alucard the Great Demon Slayer." Lancelot said. "What, by all means are you doing here, dear Sir?"
"Your Highnesses," Alucard bowed, making the three children of nobles acknowledge his sarcasm. "I'm only here to battle and not to return Miss Violet here to your parents obviously, if that were your early assumptions of my sudden arrival."
As the four were talking in plain sight, Granger suddenly gripped his waist. His regen spell must have not worked on the wound he had from slaying the Lord earlier. Blood was coming through the surface of the bandage and he knew he needed immediate medical attention.
If Alucard could just keep the three talking, he could run in secret and bribe a summoned demon for Physical Lifesteal.
Unable to resist the pain anymore, Granger slammed his fist to the grass, unintentionally making a branch crack. This caught Guinevere's attention. "There's someone spying on us!" She said to the group. Heading to Granger's direction, Guinevere ignored Alucard as he tried to slack her off. The fiery redhead remained adamant and jumped at Granger's hiding spot, enabling her magic as she absorbs the life out of whoever could be spying on them.
There was none. Granger had managed to escape, to Guinevere's dismay. Alucard sighed heavily in relief.
"Well, I can't stay here for long. I need to go to the Southern Mountains as soon as possible." Lancelot informed, making his leave. "It was nice to see you again, Guinevere, Gus, and Alucard but I must go-"
"Take me with you!" Guinevere chased him.
"But Miss Violet!" Both Alucard and Gusion protested in unison. The two of them shared a look.
"Miss Violet," Alucard started softly. "I know how you want to meet Granger so bad but please, think about the things that would happen to you there."
"Lancelot will protect me." She stated sharply. "Plus, even if I don't find him, at least I won't be imprisoned in a life of greed and luxury anymore."
"She can take care of herself." Lancelot defended, tiredly. "If she wants to come with, then let her. Let her be at her own free will if you please, Sir Alucard."
"But your parents-"
"Our parents are simply the worst. You might think being their heir is the best thing that could happen but no, and that's why I left ages ago and I'm glad Guinevere has chosen the same."
Guinevere was glad. Lancelot was on her side this time. Though Gusion seemed to be deciding where he should agree with.
"Gus, you can come with us. Only if you want to..." Guinevere slowly trailed off when Gusion had already took a step to stand beside her. She smiled at him, gladly.
"I'll always be at your side, milady." He said, returning the smile.
"So much for being a third wheel," sighed Lancelot. "There's only one of you and three of us, Alucard. So I guess this is goodbye for now."
"You've mistaken." Everyone turns to the voice. Granger mustered up all of his might to face Guinevere at last, without his disguise.
Guinevere was stunned after solid three seconds of thinking why he was very familiar. By his unique style of hair and mysterious, dark exterior, she knew it was him, all this time, and she didn't think twice for confirmation.
Lancelot made a knowing smirk. Judging by the guitar case and the massive revolver the man was holding, it was no mistake it was who's been starring in the front page lately.
"Who's this?" It had seemed Gusion was the only one who didn't recognize the late comer.
"'Sup?" The careless young Hunter said in a slang.
In all her years of having him as a forethought, she couldn't believe how much he has changed. He doesn't seem to be the same adventurous and optimistic boy she had aspired to meet again. Guinevere thought if he even remembers him, but by the deathly looks of him, he doesn't seem to.
It was weird, but the fact made all of her hopes and aspirations burst and shatter into pieces down to her stomach, including perhaps her heart.
It was only when the silence broke did Alucard gave Gusion an answer. "This is the anonymous Death Chanter."
"Not anonymous anymore so all of you can pick your jaws up now."
Lancelot laughed flatly. "How funny." Turning to his sister, he creases his brows when he notices how red Guinevere's cheeks were before she averts her face from everybody.
Noticing Guinevere's blush, Gusion decided to throw a mock. "The Death Chanter, huh? You're not as scary as what they say."
"I'm only here to complete my mission," Granger said with no haste. "And it is to bring back the spoiled lot of you to your filthy castles whether you like it or not."
"How dare you challenge us!" Guinevere strongly exclaimed, darkening Granger's ominous stare.
"Miss Violet, haven't you been craving to see the Death Chanter in person?"
Guinevere gritted her teeth at the bad selection of words Alucard has mentioned.
"I am, and my do I regret ever seeing him again." She replied lightly. The Death Chanter's vampiric red eyes was now focused on hers and it felt like she was being stabbed through her skull.
"I'm up for a battle if you wanna, princess." Granger said.
"Then it is on." She calmly replied.
"I'll leave you to it then-" Guinevere grabbed her brother before he could escape.
"This is going to be intense." Gusion muttered. "To make this fair, this should be a battle of two teams, each having three members."
"Good idea." Commented Granger. He pulls out a card containing a shuriken symbol and throws it at the air. Summoned, the Shadow of Iga appears beside him in a smog. "Let's do this thing."
⚜️⚜️⚜️
The Celestial Palace has returned to its ghost-silent state. Ruins remain untouched, the turrets are activated, creeps and demons alike thrive in the dark, and minions have been deployed. "This sure brings me back to our days in the Academy." Gusion tells Guinevere as they both head for the bottom lane while Lancelot goes solo for the mid lane.
"We were one troublesome pair." Guinevere agreed in a giggle. "If it weren't for our family's money and my natural intelligence, we would never have make it."
"Don't flatter yourself. Now how come you never told me about the Granger being your childhood friend?"
"I thought you'd be jealous."
"Oh, I am very jealous, might I confess with all my heart and soul!" As Gusion says this, he throws a dagger through a nearby creep's heart, ending it before it could even move from its spot.
"I expected so, Gus. But don't worry, he's not the same person anymore. He's just a killing machine, doing anything for the money, even if he's in the wrong."