Luck and Lotus had traded one attack after another as neither of them seemed to have realized that Feodora had no longer been in the same room as them. Each time Luck went in to kick him he was quick to dodge him as he emitted more of the strange black smoke from his hand. He didn't seem to pay mind to it as it didn't seem to have paid him any mind.
For a third time in that fight, Luck delivered another kick as Lotus narrowly dodged it once again.
"You're so full of life." Lotus had commented with a smile.
"Stop talking and let's fight!" Luck said as he charged at him; he attacked him with full force as Lotus evaded his punches and kicks, "Please! Come on!" He begged. As Lotus managed to distance himself, he finally noticed the logo which his robe had bore.
"Oh--" Lotus said in realization, "--Now I remember. The Black Bulls. I've fought with your Captain before. He had a hot head too."
"What?" Luck said, sounding strangely happy, "You know the Captain?"
"How could I forget?" He said, before he pulled back his shirt a bit, "He gave me this lovely scar. I pissed my pants and ran. Goodness that was scary. He had a rather unusual fighting style. He was the only younger opponent that I couldn't defeat."
"That makes you even worth fi--"
Luck suddenly let out an agonizing gasp as he felt his heart race suddenly. His vision started to become hazy as he could himself start to stagger; he almost found himself collapsing to his knees as he staggered. "Who--" Luck said as he steadied himself, "--Whoa there--!"
"Oh?" Lotus said as he noticed his reaction, "What's the matter?"
"It--It's nothing!" He replied as he tried his best to shake it off as he went to charge. Though that's when he noticed, his movements had gotten sluggish.
"So slow!" Lotus said as he moved out of harm's way.
Luck soon noticed that his vision started to worsen as he found himself practically falling--No… It was more like he had been floating in that of an abyss. "What is this?" He thought, "Magic? But… I don't remember getting hit…!"
Lotus chuckled as he scratched his chin, "I can see where Feodora had rubbed off now." He soon gestured to the whole room, "You see--Everything in here, was enveloped in my magic. Very thin smoke that you can't really see. If you're wondering, it's called Weakening Smoke Magic: Garden of Plundering Smoke."
"My body--" Luck thought as he tried to move, "--It's not listening to me! When did he use this--"
Luck's eyes widened in realization as he soon recalled Feodora's words, or at least what she had been trying to say.
"DON'T BREATHE IN THE SMOKE!"--Were the words he remembered her shouting before she had been silenced by him.
"Back then--" He thought, "--She was trying to warn me about his magic!"
"I had a feeling you'd block it if it were visible." Lotus said, "Feodora would've done the same in your situation. I lowered my magic as much as I could, so I could use it without anyone noticing. I was still surprised she didn't notice, though then again she might've gotten rusty at her little tricks. At least my subordinates didn't go down for nothing. They sacrificed themselves so I could use my spell."
Finally Luck collapsed to his knees as he tried to catch his breath; when he tried to stand, he could feel himself collapse.
"It's very important is it?" Lotus said, "Teamwork. Friends that can be trusted are worth their weight in gold. That's the one thing Feodora always seemed to be good at, even though she tells me--She really hated the kind of training she had to go through." He soon looked over to where Feodora was--Only to find she wasn't there anymore.
"Oh that's not good." Lotus said, "Looks like she made a break for it after all. She must've gotten that presistants from Jeremiah." He soon noticed a trail of fresh blood leading just outside the room, "Then again with those wounds, she wouldn't have gotten far. I'll probably find her passed out." He soon turned to make his leave, "Sorry, but I have to go and find a troublesome girl. Stay there awhile and get weaker."
Luck could feel his breathing became labored, as his vision had gotten worse and worse. He could himself get dizzy as he was on the verge of passing out.
"Win… Win… Keep winning… Luck!"
Luck's grin grew wider as his body soon started to spark. "Wait…" He said, as Lotus stopped. Luck soon stood from the ground, staggering as he did, as his whole body had been illuminated with lighting, "... It's been awhile since things actually got interesting!"
He charged in with full force as lighting began to surge around his body. Lotus managed to narrowly dodge it though once he did, he saw that not only did he have armored lighting legs, he saw he had gauntlets as well.
"More--More!" Luck said with a crazed smile on his face, "LET'S FIGHT SOME MORE!"
"I'd rather not pluck a bud that's still so young--" Lotus said, "--But if I gotta, then I gotta."
Luck let out a laugh as he soon fired an attack towards Lotus. He was able to block it from him though another attack soon came towards him as it narrowly hit him. He soon came at him from all sides as Lotus found it had been more difficult. "So fast--!" Lotus said, "--You've become faster and sharper!"
"I'll keep winning--!" Luck said as he ran towards him. He took a swipe at him though Lotus jumped back, "--WITH MY POWERS!"
"Sorry--" Lotus said, "--But I can't afford to lose either."
Luck gave a laugh before he leaped high into the air, in an attempt to take him out, however--
"Smoke Binding Magic--Binding Cross Prison."
Luck found his arms and legs restricting as the smoke around them had become solid; most of it had wrapped around his waist and even had gone around his mouth as he found his movements had been restricted.
"Solid smoke?!" Luck thought, "I can't move!"
"This uses up a lot of magic, so I really didn't want to use it." Lotus said, "I'm out of gas. You won't be able to zip around anymore kid." He soon had a thought come over him, "Actually--Now that I have you still, I was hoping you could clear up something for me. I would've had Feodora do it for me, but she has abandoned ship one might say."
Luck said as he struggled, "What would that be? I bet it's the bones on your body I'm gonna break."
"You know of the stories of the Lost Heir of your Kingdom right? Well to be more precise they consider them to be the true heir." Lotus said as it made Luck freeze, "It was said they are born from the people that were blessed by Mana, and they had a little gift. That's all you see. We're not sure of their age, their face, or even if they're a Prince or a Princess. All we know is, they vanished in a storm and no one has heard of them since. But a few months ago, we felt a wave of mana come within your borders. See that wouldn't happen unless it could only come from one who was both blessed by mana and that of a royal. We think--They're alive and wandering somewhere within your Kingdom. Know anything about that?"
Luck could feel his own body shake as a certain girl with silver hair formed in his mind; a warm smile had been upon her face. "N-No."
Lotus only clicked his tongue in disappointment, "See? I want to believe in that--But I can tell your lying."
Luck soon said as he still held his smile, though his body trembled, "Nope, no lies there."
"Then if so--Why are you shaking?" Lotus asked, before he had a thought, "You know something--I don't think you understand how important the Lost Heir is. With the talent they have and the mana they possess they can help crack in what our researchers have been trying to find for years in uncovering the mysteries of mana. So I ask again… Do you know about the Lost Heir?"
Luck could feel himself starting to sweat--He couldn't say anything to him about her. He knew that was the kind of thing he couldn't say… Not since they were told of the first day they realized who exactly they were waiting for.
***
is cigarette, "Hey you and I saw the mist, and we all know there's something in there. Either it's some valuable treasure or this Lost Heir the books talked about.
Jack had said, "KEKE--Either way they'll be a worthy adversary!"
Yami told Jack with a glare, "Don't even try it."
"I wonder if it's like this all the time." Vanessa wondered aloud, "At the fact that our Captain is basically arguing with each other?"
"I wish this was shocking to me." Finral said.
"Still, I wonder why the Captain called on all of us here." Magna said.
"I hope I get to fight those guys we found earlier!" Luck said with a smile.
"Can we eat something?" Charmy asked as she munched on a piece of bread.
"I wonder if I can be friends with them?" Gordon mumbled, "They seem a bit shaken up after tonight's events."
"Still--" Nozel said with a groan. "--Hard to believe you found that family in process. To think the Barbados lineage still lives."
"KEKE--You still hung up on that feud you had with them all those years ago?" Jack asked.
"I say we leave them to rot!" Solid said with a huff.
They soon heard a laugh coming from with blue eyes and long vermillion wavy hair as she had her arms crossed over her chest.
"And what's so funny, Mereoloena?" Nozel asked
Mereoloena soon replied, "Oh nothing just seeing you hung up over a dumb fued years ago ammuses me."
"They attacked first!" Nebra added. "And the Silvas outlived them! It serves them right after all! Marrying a peasant out of all people.."
Yami soon groaned, "Anyone have any idea on where the heck Julius is? He's always the last one to show up to these meetings even though he's the one conducting them."
"He's still speaking to the family we found." William replied, "Though one can't help but wonder as to why."
"I don't see how they can help in this manner." Guldre said.
Just as this was said the doors soon opened, as Marx and Julius soon stepped through. "Hello everyone--" Julius said, "--I apologize for the wait. I was just getting a few clarifications on a few things."
"What sort of clarificat--" Yami said before he had been cut off.
A young woman had soon stepped into the room after she had removed the hood from her head. Though what they seemed to have noticed rather quickly was the fact that her hair had been a white, and possessed a set of long ears. "AN ELF?!" Guldre exclaimed as most of the captains and the other knights in the room became alert.
"Whoa, whoa--" The young elf said, "--Easy. I mean you no harm!"
Nebra said as she had gotten out her grimoire, "Vile Creature How did you get here?"
"And how did you survive?!" Guldre said, "I thought your kind died out years ago!"
"Everyone please, calm yourselves--" Marx soon said, "--She's the reason you were all called here. And you should hear what she has to say."
A young man with long, messy vermilion hair and braided hair said, "After all she is a Barbados."
"This creature--?" Solid said, "--A Barbados?!"
"Surely you jest, Leopold." Nebra said.
"No--" The Young Elf said, "--He doesn't jest. My name is Yukiko Barbados. And my husband is named Cadfan Javel Barbados IV."
At this, the Captains looked shocked, especially that of Nozel and his siblings. "A Royal? Married an elf?!" Nebra said in disgust.
Solid had commented, "The Barbados Family are more vile than we thought"
Meroleona said, "I'd say she's rather interesting let alone ballsy for marrying a royal, especially if he's one of the famous handsome Barbados men,"
"Everyone please--" Yukiko said calmly, "--I know how you all feel about the family name, and--I know how you feel about my people." She soon got on one knee as she bowed her head, "--But all I ask--Is for you to lend me your ear."
"And why should we?" Nozel asked. "Why should we trust a elf let alone someone married to a family like yours?"
"Because--" Yukiko said as she had been filled with confidence as she picked up her head, "--I know who your Lost Heir is."
The captains were all shocked at this newfound information.
"What?!" Nozel shouted "you know who the Lost Heir is?! A Barbados like you?!"
"How?! When?" Charlotte asked
"KEKE--interesting." Jack added.
"Hold on--" Magna said, "--How can you possibly know the Lost Heir?"
"My husband has known Zeid for years even before he was named King--" Yukiko said as she bowed her head again, "--And the woman I knew was a warrior like me for years. She had earned the title as Warrior Chief."
"So—The stories are true." William said, "He really did marry an elf."
"You mean King Zeid's wife was really an elf?!" Nebra said, shocked.
"He chose a devil to be a Queen?!" Guldre said.
"I assure you--" Yukiko said as she glared, "--We are anything BUT devils."
"Enough with the pointing fingers already--" Yami said, "--Let the lady tell us who the Heir is."
Yukiko looked to Yami a bit shocked by this though she kept her head low as she continued, "Yes it is true--Zeid married one of my people, which is why their marriage had been kept secret from even the royal court. They ended up keeping their only child a secret as well."
"So that's the reason the Heir's face was never mentioned in the stories." Charlotte concluded.
Yami had said, "Huh, we'll learn something new everyday."
"So this child, is he an elf too?" Nozel asked.
"She-- Yukiko soon said, shocking them, "--Is one, and she is not one. She's both a human and elf, the very first hybrid to be born among our people."
"You mean--" The young man Leopold said, "--The previous King's only child--"
"--IS A DAUGHTER?!" Magna exclaimed.
"That's astonishing...that means she's a princess!" Charlotte said
"Not to mention she's a hybrid--" Fugeleon said, "--I didn't believe it to be possible."
Yukiko only nodded, "Prism Aurora Clover. That's her full name. And I'm afraid she's no older than my first son."
"She's--" Finral said shocked, "--Just a kid?"
"How can a child like her be next in line?" Guldre asked
"Well her father is King Zeid--" William soon reasoned, "--And whether she's entirely human or not that makes her of noble blood."
"That is true." Julius added, "And since she is the only child that makes her the only first born."
"Even though she is partly an elf?" Guldre asked in a bit of disgust.
Yami had commented, "hey porky, no one asked for your commentary"
"Look regardless of what you might think--" Yukiko said as she stood, "--I can assure you Prism is the Heir you've all been seeking for years."
"And your proof?" Nozel asked.
This time Yukiko didn't answer as she soon rummaged through her cloak, before she had taken out what looked to be a silver casing. "Before my family was put to sleep--" Yukiko explained as she placed it on the table, "--Zeid entrusted us with this. He told us to make sure it was delivered to those that know of Prism. I think this will be proof enough."
Marx took the case as he opened it revealing the scroll; he soon read aloud the contents. "I Zeid Silvamillion Clover, Ruler of the Clover Kingdom revoke my title as King as my time shall no longer be mine. I of sound mind, entrust the throne and every resource of the Kingdom to my only child Prism Aurora Clover for when she returns or is found. I entrust her care and protection from those that would do her harm to those in the future until she turns of age."
The captains were all speechless at this type of thing, as even the Magic Knights had been taken back by this sort of information. Yami said as he took a puff, "huh, well talk about high expectations."
"So there you have it." Julius said with a smile, "The young Heir we and others before us is a young girl named Prism Aurora Clover. We will need to increase and widen our search to ensure her safety."
"But what about the Wandering Mist?" Rill soon asked, "Every Magic Knight we sent in there ended up just as Guldre has said."
"Lady Yukikio told us about it actually--" Julius replied as the look on Yukiko's face changed slightly, "--It is as we've suspected before. The Wandering Mist is nothing more than a powerful spell to help protect the young Princess."
"Oh yeah?" Yami said, "Then how do you suppose it can be broken?"
"It can't--" Yukiko said, "--The spell was made specifically so the way to Prism is hidden. No one can break it no matter what sort of attack spells you may have. And as you've no doubt have witnessed, the Mist shows your worst fears and claims the souls of any mage that goes in it."
"Are you saying the Mist is alive?" William asked.
"In a manner of speaking." She replied, "The caster of the Spell made it so the Mist will harm anyone but the person who meets the terms. It's the only failsafe he made."
Everyone in the room looked intrigued by this sort of thing. "What sort of terms?" Meroleona asked.
Yukiko soon took a deep breath as she recalled, "By these words I decree--The one with valor and pure of heart shall set her free. Those were the exact words the Caster of the Spell said." Her gaze soon softened, "He sacrificed himself so he could create the Wandering Mist."
"He what?!" Fuegoeleon asked
Yami couldn't help but give an annoyed groan, "damn it, can things be simple?"
Jack had said, looking just annoyed as he had been, "KEKE--This makes things more complicated."
"So that's it then?" Charlotte said, "We're supposed to wait until someone who fits those terms enters?"
"Unless you can find someone that fits the description, then I'm afraid so." Yukiko said, "My husband and I have agreed to do all that we can to help you. Though Prism is not one of our own, she is like one of the family, but--" The expression on her face soon changed as her hands started to shake, "--Please, Prism even if she does wake up she does not understand the Kingdom of Clover like we do. She spent her whole life in isolation within our village and she will have trouble adjusting. She might not even realize how much time has passed when she awakens." She looked as though she had been about to cry before she bowed her head once more, "Please I beg of you, help her, teach her your ways..."
The Captains looked to one another as they each had their own thoughts. Though they were surprised that the first to speak up had been Yami as he stood from his chair, "Well, it may sound troublesome of request at first..but then again, we are magic knights after all..isn't it our job to aid others no matter who they are, right?" he turned to his teammates as he said "You guys hear that? You're part of this too."You're helping The Barbados Family find our missing Princess too."
At this The Black Bulls cound;t help but look concerned as they had some doubts. Yami noticed the look on their faces as he asked "what's wrong with you all,Chicken feet already?"
"Captain--" Finral said, "--Look, this whole situation is already hard enough to believe, about this whole fairytale being real and what not, but there's no guarantee that the Princess will even wake up. I mean she said to herself the terms of that spell."
"Prism WILL come back." Yukiko said, "She is not only a true warrior but she has the resilience as one. That's what makes her stronger then any other bandits she had faced."
"She is?!" Luck said with a gleam in his eyes. "Man! I want to find her already so we can have a proper match!"
"Please don't." Final said
"It's--" Yukiko said, "--Not that kind of strength I'm talking about. Luck is it?"
Luck looked confused as he said, "Huh? You mean she's not fit and battle ready?"
"It's not that either." She said as she shook her head, "Her strength didn't come from power alone. She understands that better than anyone else. Her strength came from her spirit." She soon placed her hand over her chest, "And that comes from here. That tells her she's never alone, and to never give up. As long as she has that, as long as she knows she will never stop fighting."
"Spirit?" Luck thought as a familiar woman seemed to have appeared in his head, "... What is that supposed to be? How does… That makes someone stronger?"
***
Luck didn't really understand what Yukiko meant back then. In fact he didn't think of it at all, until he finally met the future ruler of Clover. Since then he did admit to himself, he found himself thinking. Anyone could tell at a glance it had been as Yukiko had said, she really didn't know any better about the world around her, despite the changes. Though that didn't seem to stop her, when it came for the sake of others around her.
He and the others had heard what happened in Saussy, and how Prism seemed to have taken charge despite the fact that she had been one of the youngest members of the Black Bulls. And yet she didn't win the fight alone… Asta had helped her. It was pretty hard for him to swallow, in fact--The more he thought about it, the more it made his head hurt.
He seemed to be brought out of his thoughts when Lotus spoke to him again. "You're really not going to tell me anything about them? Aw that's a shame." He soon noticed that Luck was having a hard time breathing, "Don't worry, I'll set you free."
Luck could feel the restraints start to tighten, his vision became worse and worse to the point where he could feel his eyes roll to the back of his head, but--
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
A familiar dirty looking blade came swinging towards the smoke as the magic seemed to have cancelled out Lotus's spell, which took Lotus back himself; Luck hit the floor with a grunt as he had allowed him to breathe. He soon saw that it had been Asta as he stood in front of him with his blade in hand and his grimoire floating beside him.
"Oh?" He said, "Looks like we got another lively one. And who might you be?"
"I'M HIS FRIEND YOU DAMN JERK!" Asta yelled, as he looked to be absolutely livid, "AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGHT WITH US OLD MAN!"
Luck looked shocked to see him there, though it hadn't been long before he saw Noelle, Pluck and Yukiko had run right to Asta's side.
Pluck said to Lotus as he drew one of his swords, "You have a lot of nerve hurting our comrade, old man! SWORD CREATION MAGIC: RAJIN" He soon manifested a sword entirely made out of lighting and thunder as he looked like he was ready to attack.
"Oh dear." Lotus said, as he scratched his chin, "Having your friends show up is definitely not in my favor."
"Hey--" Luck soon said, before he stood. The four of them turned to him as they could see a smile had still been plastered on his face, "--He's MY prey." His legs soon sparked as he started to charge at Lotus at full speed, despite the fact that his movements were a bit sluggish.
"That's right--" Luck thought, "--All I have to do is keep on winning. Having Spirit doesn't make me stronger. I just have to keep winning with my own powers. I'll keep winning, and offer those victories to mom."
"LUCK WAIT!" Noelle shouted as Luck was ready to attack.
"SERIOUSLY MAN?!" Pluck shouted. "WE CAME ALL THIS WAY FOR YOU!"
"I can take care of him myself!" Luck said as he kept his eyes forward.
"No you can't!" Yukiko yelled, "If Feodora couldn't take him, then you can't either!"
Pluck added as he shouted, "WE'RE TRYING TO HELP YOU!"
"I don't need friends." Luck said, "Just my powers--"
"What are you--!?" Noelle started to say.
"--Otherwise--Mom won't accept me." He soon said as it had surprised them. Luck charged at Lotus using every strength he had. Though they could see that Lotus had been dodging every one of his attacks. "... Have it your way." Asta said as it took them by surprise.
"Hey!" Noelle said, shocked.
"Asta!" Pluck exclaimed. "Are you serious right now?!"
"Do you realize what you--" Yukiko started to say before they noticed that he had readied his sword.
Lotus was able to jump to the side as he readied another spell. "Looks like I shouldn't hold back anymore." Lotus said. More of the same smoke generated from his hand as Luck leaped high into the, trying to be careful as to not inhale it; He soon charged at Lotus again, as he went to grab him, though he ended up jumping out of the way again.
"I need to… Make mom accept me…! Or I'll be alone…!"
When Lotus had gotten in the air, he used the same type of spell to engulf Luck. Before it could, Asta immediately lept into action as he cut away the smoke as it seemed to have shocked Luck despite his smile. The others looked quite shocked by his action.
"DO WHATEVER YOU WANT!!" Asta shouted, "AND I'LL DO WHAT I WANT!"
"I'll do this alone--!" Luck told him.
"AND I WON'T LEAVE YOU ALONE!" He yelled as he leapt towards in an attempt to attack Lotus.
"Too slow!" Lotus said as he soon surrounded Asta, shocking them. Asta could feel himself stagger as he let out a cough. The expression on Luck's face changed as he watched Asta stagger slightly.
"No…!" Asta soon said before he yelled as he charged, "... I'M NOT DONE YET!" He started to cut up the smoke as he made himself a path towards Lotus. Luck looked to be in complete shock by this.
"Why are you doing this?" He asked still with a smile, "I told you I could do this on my own."
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ME!" He yelled as he continued to swing his blade, "DO WHATEVER YOU WANT! I'VE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED YOU AS A FRIEND! AND I KNOW FEO HAS TOO!"
Once more Luck looked shocked as his smile almost fell from his face. "She… Has?"
"Don't you realize what she put herself through!?" Noelle told him, "She almost bled out, to find us because she knew you needed help!"
Pluck added, "She was concerned because of your battle-crazed recklessness! Why do you think she came to find you in the first place?!"
Luck couldn believe what he was hearing as he was speechless. It seemed as though everything had been cleared up in his head as the words seemed to have echoed about the future ruler to the Clover Kingdom.
"Her strength didn't come from power alone. She understands that better than anyone else. Her strength came from her spirit. That tells her she's never alone, and to never give up. As long as she has that, as long as she knows she will never stop fighting."
"Some part of me…" Luck soon thought, "...Was trying not to realize… That I have friends that I can rely on." The look in his eyes changed; he didn't have that cold look anymore as he looked more alive, "I'm sorry mom… But I wasn't alone."
He soon looked to Asta, Noelle and Pluck as they each readied to attack Lotus when he leaped far from them. Though most of them looked a bit surprised when they saw Luck had joined them. "You're right--" Luck said, "--It'll be a lot of fun if we all fought together!"
"Yeah!" Asta said with a smile.
Pluck said with a sigh, before he smiled, "Well at least he came to his senses."
Noelle only huffed before she had gotten out her grimoire. They each readied themselves as Yukiko looked as though she was ready to charge towards the man as well.
"Well this isn't good at all." Lotus said, "You're gonna make this old man get serious."
The grimoire soon flipped the pages as this time a thick layer of smoke as where they were standing had been the only clearing, "Smoke Creation Magic: Prison of the Fallen King." He soon gave a small chuckle, "Sorry, but you won't be able to get away anymore."
"No matter who we're facing--!" Asta said, filled with determination, "--We the Black Bulls will win!
Pluck got ready as he used "SWORD MAGIC; ORIGIN FLASH -THUNDER-" He swung his attack at Lotus as it grazed his arm.
"Cheap shot, Sword Boy." Lotus said.
"Is it really?" Pluck asked as he pointed his sword upward before Lotus could react, Lighting came back to him. Lotus moved out of harm's way as Pluck soon found himself engulfed in smoke. He let out a couple of coughs before he started falling.
"OH CRAP!" Pluck exclaimed
"PLUCK!" Noelle shouted
"I'VE GOT YOU SON!" Yukiko said as she got out her grimoire, "CLOUD MAGIC: CUMULUS PILLOW!"
A cloud soon formed underneath Pluck as he landed safely. He let out a sigh of relief as he said, "Thanks mom."
"It's no trouble sweetie." Yukiko said as she gave him a pat on the head.
Asta soon went to try and sliced up the smoke, over and over again. Though no matter how much he tried it just kept on coming and coming. "AGH!" Asta screamed, "THERE'S NO END TO THIS! I CAN'T CUT THROUGH IT!"
Noelle soon took out what looked to be wand as she focused; she managed to create a small sphere of water before she fired it towards it; though despite the fact she made a fresh hole it quickly repaired itself.
"How are we supposed to get through this?!" Noelle said.
The smoke soon got thicker and thicker as they each started to cough. "Gah, I'm getting dizzy!" Asta said as he felt himself stumble.
"This smoke is getting worse!" Pluck said, "We'll suffocate at this rate!"
"We just have to find an opening!" Yukiko told them, "We're not letting this stop us! We're Black Bulls right!"
Luck soon looked over in a certain direction, "I can tell where he is by my magic--But if I try to attack, he'll dodge it. We might have a chance if we take him by surprise."
"But he'll notice the second we make a move--" Noelle said, "--How are we supposed to take him by surprise?!"
Pluck soon had an idea, "I got one, but it's gonna require stealth!"
"You forget he can sense magic!" Yukiko told him.
Pluck smacked himself in the face as he said, "Right, forgot about that."
Noelle soon said, "We just said that!"
Pluck told her, "Don't need to remind me."
Asta soon let out a war cry as he went to cut through the smoke. That's when something went a lit in Luck's head. "Wait--!" He soon said as he had a smile, "--I've got an idea!"
Lotus had been at a distance as he had been using the smoke to keep him elevated as he could hear them struggling to break apart. "The downside to this magic, it drains a lot of my power." He thought, "The level of my magic is still fine though. Well that, and I can't see the enemy." He soon chuckled slightly, "That's not gonna be a problem. Because I can sense their magic just fine."
It hadn't been long before he noticed a spark of electricity within the cloud of smoke. He saw Luck and Pluck had been preparing to attack him on the side.
"Let's hope this works!" Pluck said softly.
They each fired the attack, though as expected Lotus had been quick to evade their attacks.
"Whoa there!" Lotus said as they fired with one attack after another, "What a barrage! Are you getting desperate?" He soon started to move above as Pluck and Luck fired all they had towards him.
"That's not going to hit me, or get rid of all this smoke." Lotus said, "You're just wasting magic. I think the difference in our experience levels is starting to show. Afterall, I've fought more mages then you already ha--"
SMACK!
He could feel something hard and cold hit his body as he could feel the blood rush to his mouth. He saw Asta had been the one who had managed to get a hit on him.
"THIS ONE--" Asta soon yelled, "--IS FOR FEO!"
Before Lotus could process, he found himself sent flying towards the wall and out of the cloud of smoke as he hit the wall hard. The smoke soon disappeared as he hit the ground, as it finally allowed the group to breathe.
"It worked!" Pluck said, "I can't believe it worked!"
"I guess teamwork is important after all!" Luck said.
"Good thinking there Luck." Yukiko said, "And you Noelle--You did a good job in getting Asta in a position like that. You're getting the hang of that wand!"
Noelle turned red as she said, "W-Well of course, I'm royalty after all! Bu-But t-thanks."
Pluck said, "she wasn't that bad."
Asta soon put his sword over his shoulder as he walked over to Lotus as he was trying to contemplate on what had just happened. "How--" He thought, "--How could you do that to a defenseless old man like me?" He tried to move his arm, though he found that it had been twisted.
"Man… That's definitely broken."
He tried to get up and move though he found that to be impossible.
"Pretty sure he got some of my ribs too. I definitely won't be able to fight anymore. There sure are oddballs in the Clover Kingdom that Feodora acquainted herself with. A boy with no magic who wields a giant sword… I can safely say--I've NEVER met someone with no magic on the battlefield."
He soon looked up to the ceiling as he had a thought, "If I'm going to end up a prisoner… I'll di--"
Asta suddenly jumped back when the smoke became a bit more aggressive. When the smoke cleared again, they were shocked to see Lotus had been in a carriage that looked to be powered by that of his own smoke.
"Or just run away." He said before he told them, "Give Feodora my apologies when you see her."
"HEY! WAIT!" Asta yelled as he went to run after him.
Pluck yelled as he raised his fist in the air, "YOU DAMN COWARD, SWORD CREATION MAGIC, GUM-GUM STICKLER!"
Pluck fired the gum towards him though it ended up missing, pissing off Pluck more.
Yukiko soon got out her grimoire, "Cloud Magic--Portable Nimbus!" A cloud soon appeared as she hopped on it. "Get on!" She told them. Asta, Noelle, Pluck and Luck hopped up onto the cloud before they started to go after Lotus. Though they noticed around them, the smoke had gathered around the fallen mages as they had gotten onto the cart.
They were quick to get back to the back of the cart as it had been in reach. "Pluck now!" Yukiko said.
Pluck nodded as he got out his grimoire, "Sword Creation Magic--Gum-Gum St--"
"Smoke Creation Magic--Hustling Lazy Car."
The group had been nearly taken when the cart appeared to have exploded into more of a puff of smoke; they were quickly blindsided by the smoke as it hurt their eyes, blinding them momentarily. When it finally cleared, they saw that he was gone.
"DAMN IT!" Asta exclaimed, "We lost him!"
Pluck yelled as he pulled on his hair, "OH JUST OUR LUCK!"
Yukiko said with a sigh, "He's quick on his part."
"Aw, I wanted to finish him off--" Luck said as he pouted, though his smile soon returned, "--But now I know we have more important things to do! We have to hurry and find the familiars and get to the treasure chamber!"
"YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO SAY THAT NOW?!" Noelle yelled
Pluck soon shouted, "TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH BATTLE MANIAC!"
Luck said with a laugh, "Sorry about that!"
"We've already found Saorise and Liam." Yukiko said, "They're heading to the treasure room with the Golden Dawn."
"Oh?" Luck said, "The Golden Dawn is here?"
"Yeah and--" Asta said as his look softened, "--Prism's---She's sick."
Luck's smile soon faded as he asked "What?"
"We didn't realize she was until she started showing symptoms." Asta said, "And she's getting worse."
"Her Familiars stalled for time for now." Noelle soon explained, "But if we don't finish this quick, she could die, or worse. Not unless we can give her the medicine she needs."
"Translation, we're on a time limit." Pluck added.
Luck soon said as they could see his body shaking, "You-you mean Prism...she's gonna--"
"Luck--" Yukiko soon told him, "--Prism's a warrior through and through. And if there's anything she won't let herself do it's die. She's as strong as her mother was after all."
Luck could hear the words repeated in his head as thought about the young princess. His smile soon returned, before he said, "You're right! I hope she'll be better soon!" Suddenly he could feel a spark of electricity go through his body as his look changed.
"What is it?" Noelle asked.
"Is that jerk back?" Pluck asked.
"...There's some strong magic." Luck said, "There's someone with stronger magic nearby."
"Another one from the Diamond Kingdom?" Yukiko wondered.
They soon noticed the look on Luck's face changed when he looked in the direction they came from. He nearly lost his smile though they can tell the look in his eyes, it had been written with fear.
"What is it?" Asta asked.
Luck turned to them and only said one thing that made them all shiver and have a look of worry. Asta especially as all of the color of his skin seemed to have paled.
"Prism…!"