-Magic Knight Headquarters; Courtyard-
The rain didn't seem to let up as the battle had progressed. Flashes of light had been momentarily seen in the air before seemingly vanishing into thin air. Karasu had found himself hitting the wall as he had been blasted back by Erin's magic, while Avalon had been seen skidding across the floor, nearly hitting the sets of crates behind her.
Fresh bruises had been seen along his body as he had been catching his breath as he could see fresh cuts on his arm and his bandages looked a bit damaged as well.
"Damn it all--" He cursed, before--
"Combination Magic--" Erin and Blaise said, "--Hunter's Cry!"
Karasu quickly moved out of harm's way as a light made of fire and a golden beam had been sent flying towards him. He thought he had gotten out of harm's way but he let out a shriek of agony as he felt his ankle get slashed open. He fell on his side as he could see his ankle had a fresh open wound.
"Shit!" Karasu exclaimed.
"Oh no, what's wrong, Arai?" Blasie asked. "That bad luck of yours getting the better of you?
"Well, good news for us--Bad news for you." Erin said with a smirk.
"Like hell I'll be done with that!" Karasu said as he drew his blade, before it glowed purple, "Jinx magic--Crackback slash!"
Swinging his blade he launched a purple curve like beam towards though they proved to be faster than him.
"Too slow, crow boy!" Erin said as she had been able to get behind him and kicked him hard towards Blaise.
"You've gotten more--SLOPPY--!" Blaise said as he punched Karasu across the face, "--Since the last time we sparred! Guess that time with the snobs up here really made you rusty!" Karasu cried out in agony as was kicked hard in the gut
"Karasu!" Avalon shouted, "Hang o--!" She had been cut off as Dylan appeared in her path with the toss of a blade before she threw a kick at Avalon. She had been quick to dodge and counter her with a kick of her own before she pushed herself back.
"Aether Magic--" Avalon said as her hand manifested a golden and green orb, "--Heart's Wrath!"
With a thrust of her hand, the colors mixed as it provided mixing into a purple color as it launched towards Dylan.
"Knife Magic--Reflected Blade!" She called out; she sent the attack flying back towards Avalon as it took her by surprise. It hit her head on as she let out a cry before she fell to the floor, her body had been smoking as she had a few burns.
"Avalon!" Karasu exclaimed before he blocked an attack from Dylan after she had tossed her knife at his feet; she appeared in front of him, in a literal flash.
"And then there was one!" Dylan said.
Karasu's blade glowed as he started to get another spell ready, "Jinx Magic--Cracked Hor--" He had been taken back as Dylan shoved a knife in the back of his shoulder and another in his leg. He didn't have time to recover as he was punched in the gut by Blaise before Erin activated her magic again.
"Owl Magic: Hunters Talon!"
Karasu acted quickly and blocked the attack; the force of it pushed him back and caused him to roll across the floor. By the time he recovered from the attack, he noticed a couple of cracks on the blade.
"Shit!" Karasu said as he tried his best to stand.
"You'd do well to remember little Crow--" Erin said, "--You're not exactly the best when it comes to fighting."
"Don't know how you survived in the Magic Knights when you're fighting like that." Blaise said.
Karasu clicked his tongue, "You don't know a damn thing about what I've been through since you last saw me!"
"We know plenty--And I know what you can't take." Erin said as she thrust her staff to the floor, as her staff glowed, "Owl Creation Magic--Night Hunter!"
Karasu had been taken back when he felt the talons of the owl take hold of his shoulders and flew him high in the air.
"UP YA GO!" Erin exclaimed as she moved the owl to the roof of the building, "Let's see if the crow can try to fly to save himself!"`
With a tap of her staff the owl dropped him on the roof; he rolled down the slope before grabbing onto the ledge. He had been hanging off of the ledge with one arm as he held his sword in the other. The moment he looked to the ground he felt his head fuzzy and his vision had been blurred.
"That oughta keep you busy for a while." Blaise said.
"Leave him alone! "
The three of them had jumped out of harm's way from an arrow; they saw it had been from Prism as they could see she had been armed with her bow and arrows and her hook swords.
"Primrose?" Karasu said, shocked.
"Stop hurting my friend!" Prism said as she drew another arrow.
"Oh look! Our target's come to us!" Blaise said.
"And all by herself too?" Dylan asked.
"NOT BY HERSELF!"
They jumped as they saw Asta let out a battle cry as he held his sword down before they separated. Next Erin dodged an ice attack that nipped her cheek before Dylan was caught off guard by a vine attack.
"ERIN! DYLAIN!" Blaise exclaimed. Just as he was about to attack, he was caught off guard by what looked to be a hand of clay as it held him in place. "WHAT THE HELL?!"
"Sorry, You're not going anywhere."
The thieves saw that Feodora, Brenin, Saoirse, Liam along with the Triple A's, Yami and Jack had entered in view.
"Oh joy...your girlfriend's babysitters are here, Arai." Erin said with a click of her tongue. "Hey, you're missing someone, where's the bastard that hurt my baby?"
"If you mean our brother, he's busy!" Aisling said as she got her grimoire.
"Step away from our friend, Buster!" Aine added.
"Or you're gonna face the wrath of the Magic Knights!" Aidan said.
Erin only smirked as she chuckled, "Sorry--But we don't leave our job half done."
"Oh Dylan?" Blaise said with a smirk.
Dylan nodded before a green knife formed in her hand as there had been a total of two. She tossed it at Prism's feet before in a flash she was suddenly in front of her taking everyone back; the green knife vanished the moment she appeared.
"What?!" Prism exclaimed before she dodged a swipe from her as she attacked her head on.
"Pri!" Asta shouted, "Hang on!"
Just as Asta went to help her out, he was taken back by when Blaise suddenly appeared in front of him. "Sorry!" Blaise said, "She's our target!"
Feodora soon attacked Blaise from the side as he had been quick to block with his batons. "You got a problem with the Shorty and Dum-Dum--" Feodora said, "--You got a problem with me!"
"HEY! That's Dirty!" Aisling shouted "Exploding Magic--Pop Ro--"
"Owl's Magic--Hunter's Talon!"
Aisling let out a shriek as quickly dodged an attack from her; even Aine and Aidan shrieked.
"You said that bastard's your brother?" Erin asked. "Maybe I'll hurt you and he'll see how it feels!"
"Leave our sister alone!" Aine said as her grimoire glowed, "Arrow Magic: Hermes' Spear!"
Aine fired an arrow that shined like the sun, as it went towards Erin. "Batter up!" Erin said as she smacked the arrow away causing Aine to pale.
"I did not see that coming." Aine said.
Just as Erin was about to attack Aisling again, she was soon met with a punch to the face as she staggered a bit before jumping and avoiding a slash attack.
"Hey, who said you can kill my nephew and nieces?" Yami asked as his sword began to develop an aura, "That's my job."
"KEKE--time we pay you back for trying to kidnap my student the last time!" Jack added.
"I'm not sure if we should feel glad or scared." Aidan said.
"He called us nieces and nephew--!" Aisling said as her eyes sparkled, "--That is THE sweetest thing he has ever said!"
"He does care!" Aine said with a smile.
Yami said as he drew his sword, "Step aside."
"Great--" Erin said, as she readied herself "--I got another captain to deal with."
Yami said as he tossed his cigarette away, "Sorry for ruining your expectations."
Prism had been struggling to deal with Dylan as she had proved to be fast; She had barely been able to block her attacks with Dylan. She had been throwing her knives towards her as she had blocking or dodging every one.
"Why are you doing this?!" Prism said to Dylan, "You don't have to hurt people to get what you want!"
"It's a small price to pay when you're a thief squirt." Dylan said, "And the price of having you will be worth it in the end."
"Please--" Prism said, "--Don't do this! There has to be a better way than this."
"There is just one--" She said as she manifested another green blade, and behind her back, "--You can be a good girl--And let us take you!"
She tossed her knife, this time it had landed behind Prism as she appeared there in a flash. Prism quickly jumped back as she had been ready for what attack she had however she did not prepare for when she had gotten out her grimoire.
"Knife Magic--Kiss of the Damned!"
A purple knife soon manifested in her hand and just as Prism hit the ground she aimed for her wrist and tossed it right to her before Prism could have time to block. It hit her right in the wrist as caused her to shriek which drew the attention of Asta, Feodora, Karasu, her Familiars and the Captains Yami and Jack; It had forced her to dropped her hook sword as she saw the purple blade had vanished the moment it sunk in her skin leaving an open wound.
"PRI!!" Asta and Feodora called out before they blocked an attack from Blaise.
"No!" Karasu said in realization as he gagged slightly, "That spell--!"
"Damn it!" Jack said as he rushed.
"Kid no!" Yami shouted before he dodged a spell from Erin.
Prism cried out as she went to reach for the handle, expecting to find a knife, but was surprised when there wasn't one there.
"The knife, where did it--" She started to wonder aloud before she dodged an attack from Dylan, as she swiped her blade. She quickly went under her when she kicked as she managed to get her from behind. Prism smirked when she saw an opening, and went to throw a punch; Dylan had dodged with ease before she went to flip her on her back.
She would have succeeded if Prism didn't get back up; she adjusted the red scarf on her head so it wouldn't slip off as the little spirits had been hiding.
"Fifteen--" Dylan counted softly.
She tossed another set of knives at her as Prism moved with ease as she retrieved her hook swords. She sheathed it before she drew her bow and arrow before she pulled it back and started to fire. Dylan moved and dodged the arrow knocking one or two of them out of the air.
"Ten--" She said as she threw a kick at Prism again.
Prism blocked it this time as she caught hold of her ankle with her hook sword, before she pulled her to the floor and kicked her under the chin. Brenin, Saoirse and Liam quickly went to join in the fight but--
"HOUND CREATION MAGIC--CERBERUS!" Blaise shouted as he placed his hand on the ground. A set of flames soon formed what looked to be a three headed dog. They dodged and rolled as they tried to take a bite out of the three of them, before blowing it's flames.
Dylan had been quick to recover as she drew another weapon from her grimoire as she kicked Prism back a few feet. With a deep breath she readied her bow and arrow again as Dylan charged again readying herself to block. She had aimed for her legs as she came rushing towards her but--
"--One " Dylan counted.
Prism suddenly felt her body go numb suddenly as she didn't realize the wound on her wrist turned a purplish color; her strength left her as she dropped her weapons before collapsing on her side, shocking the group; Dylan had stopped in her tracks as she had a smirk on her face.
"NO!" Asta exclaimed.
Brenin, Saorise, and Liam each let out a groan as the feeling felt all too familiar to each of them; they each fell to their knees as they held their chest and cried out.
"A poison spell?!" Brenin exclaimed with realization.
"I-It burns!" Saorise said as she had been practically gasping for air.
"Da-Damn it--!" Liam said with the grit of his teeth.
"Atta girl Dy!" Blaise said with a sparkle in his eyes, "That's my little sister!"
"And with that we got our target right where we want her." Erin said with a smirk as she had been blocking Yami's sword, "Shame we can't stick around for long, I REALLY wanted to give that bastard a taste of his own medicine..unless--" she looked to Aisling who covered herself in front of her siblings, "--It is pretty beneath me but I'll take what I can get."
"Stop!" Karasu called out as his head had been fuzzy, "Don't do this! If you take her to him, you won't know what he'll do!"
"Sorry Arai--" Blaise said, as he socked Asta and Feodora across the face, "--But rules are rules! Dy! Bring her home, we'll catch up!"
Dylan nodded and allowed her knives to disappear. Though just as she tugged Prism by the collar of her shirt--
"SLASH MAGIC--DEATH SCYTHE!"
Dylan noticed an array of slash waves coming in close as she jumped and dodged every single one or so she though as it gave her arm a cut as she winced in pain before holding it. She saw two captains with a death aura surrounding them.
"How in the hell--" Erin said as she had been confused since Yami had been in front of her a second ago.
Yami said as he drew his sword towards Dylan, "Big mistake you just made..You have any last words before you die right here?"
"KEKE--Step aside!" Jack said. "She's my prey! No one uses dirty tactics to hurt my student and get away with it!"
"... So--She's more than just a nobleman's daughter then?" Dylan said, as she tilted her head, "No… This is something more than that, isn't it?"
Erin had soon been at Dylan's side as she looked over to Brenin, Saorise and Liam who appeared to be in agony as Cerberus towered over them.
"They're in pain, and yet there's no wounds on them as far as I can see." Erin said, "That's definitely not a coincidence in my book."
Asta and Feodora both nodded before they quickly rushed Blaise, taking him by surprise as they had charged and hit him at the same time, knocking him over successfully. Asta quickly tossed his sword to the beast he made as the moment the blade touched the large dog, it had vanished and broke apart, taking the Familiars back a little as they saw the two of them run over to Prism as they were quick to look her over. Noticing the spirits in hiding had turned a sickly purple glow.
Yami said as his blade had emitted a black color, "Dark Magic---Lightless Cloaked slash."
Yami hurled his attack at Erin as she jumped to avoid it only to leave a cut on her face. What she didn't expect was Yami to toss his whole palm at her gut, causing her to cough before she stumbled about as she tried to recover from the fall.
Dylan had been quick to engage Jack who had charged at her with ferocity and speed. She found herself barely dodging, swearing that if she had relaxed for only a brief moment he would cut off her head.
It hadn't been long before he launched an attack, "SLASH MAGIC--DEATH SCYTHE!"
A green beam soon came towards her as she was quick to act, as she manifested a knife that was of silver, "KNIFE MAGIC--REFLECTED BLADE!" She hurled her blade as the attack hit the knife before bouncing back to Jack as she jumped and held his blades again only for Dylain to struggle as they clashed weapons.
"KEKE--you're making it hard to slice you up!" Jack said.
"Sorry!" Dylan said as she pushed him back. "Like I'll let you kill me before we get our mark!" She soon charged at Jack as she let out a war cry, "KNIFE MAGIC--RAINING BLADES!"
She thrusted her hand to the ground before dozens of knives, glowing different shades of colors before they were sent flying towards him.
"LUNATIC SLASH!" Jack shouted before in one swing he sliced all but five out of the sky. He had been able to move out of the knives before he launched a counter towards Dylan as he and her clashed once more. As the fight continued on, Asta and Feodora had been struggling to get Prism to open her eyes, though it had been to no avail.
"Pri!" Asta called out in a pleading voice, "Pri! Please, you have to wake up!"
Prism had been limp in his arms as he shook her. "No, come on! You can't be dead!" He said.
"She's not!" They heard Brenin say. They looked over as Brenin, Saorise and Liam had approached them; the three of them appeared to be in agony as they moved. "If she was dead--" Brenin said as he kept his voice low, "--Then we would be too, don't forget."
"Then what's wrong with her?!" Feodora asked with worry.
"It's a poison spell--" Saorise said, with a groan, "--We've seen bandits use it before!"
"Why would they use poison?!" Asta said, "I thought they needed Prism alive!"
"Because it's not the kind of poison that can kill! That thief is no poison wielder." Brenin replied, "It only put her in a state of comatose!"
"Can we get her to wake up?!" He asked, "You can use that spell back in the dungeon right?!"
"If it was regular poison--" Liam said, "--This one was forged by magic. That trick of ours will be useless against it."
"One of us has to suck out the poison!" Brenin said.
"But I don't know how to do that!" Asta exclaimed.
"No--But I do." Feodora said as she took Prism's wrist which took Asta back. "Feo--!?" He exclaimed with worry.
"Don't worry Asta--" Feodora said as she took a deep breath, "--I have a high resistance when it comes to venom."
Before anyone could react, Feodora had started to suck on Prism's wrist before she spat the blood to the side. She started to repeat the process over and over as Asta, and the Familiars couldn't help but have a look of shock.
"Bime i elena!" Brenin said.
"Feodora...what are you--?!" Saorise asked.
"What's it look like?! I'm sucking out the poison, obviously!" Feodora replied after she spat out the poison, "By the way--It's really bitter. And kind of burns."
"DON'T SAY THAT SO CASUALLY!" Asta exclaimed fearfully.
"Just tell me when she opens her eyes!" She said before continuing.
"Wait, a minute, are you sure you're gonna be okay?!" Brenin asked as she spat to the side again.
"Like I said--" Feodora said as she spat off to the side, and wiped her mouth, "--Highly resistant!"
"Should I even ask how you know this?" Liam asked as she continued.
"Throat is burning!" Feodora said as she continued, "But it's worth it!"
Yami had said as he had kicked back Erin, "Hey are you stupid?! If you swallow one bit of that poison--"
"You'll kill me, I know! Heard it before!" Feodora said as she went on. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing!"
Asta soon noticed that Prism's hand started to twitch, as most of the spirits started to look less sickly. "Feo!" He said, as he got her attention, "Feo she's moving!"
Feodora stopped as they could hear Prism let out a groan as she had been practically struggling to open her eyes. "Pri!" Asta and Feodora exclaimed with relief.
"Owie…" Prism said as she sat up as she rubbed her head, "... My everything hurts…"
"Are you okay?!" Brenin asked.
"Yeah I'm good…" She said as she looked to Brenin before squinting, "Huh… Brenin… You've got a hand growing out of your head... That wasn't there before."
The group had been taken back by this sort of thing as they didn't see that Asta's face had paled as his jaw dropped.
"Why does this seem familiar?" Feodora couldn't help but wonder aloud as she scratched her head.
"Primrose quick!" Liam said as he held up two of his fingers, "How many fingers do you see?!"
Prism squinted to look at his fingers despite the fact it had been right in her face. "Bleventeen?" She said as she tilted her head. At that point, everyone's faces had paled at her answer which she had been quick to notice. "What's wrong guys?"
"Primrose listen to me carefully!" Saorise said, "You were hit with a poison spell! Feodora got most of it out of you so you wouldn't be in a state of comatose!"
"Poison--" Prism said, "--That's muey baddo friendo."
"We have to get you out of here!" Asta said as he helped her up to her feet, "Can you walk?"
"I will once the whole world stops shaking!" She replied as she had been leaning on Asta.
"Guys!" Karasu soon called out, as he could feel himself slipping as his vision started to get worse, "No offense, but I could use a hand right about now!"
"Crap! Sorry!" Asta said.
"You get her inside--!" Feodora told Asta, "--I'll help Karasu!"
Feodora quickly made a dash to where Karasu had been but--
"HOUND MAGIC CERBERUS FLAME!"
Feodora had been quick to leap back as soon she, Asta, the Familiars and Prism soon found themselves surrounded by a ring of fire.
"Sorry ladies and gents--" Blaise said as he looked to be bruised up yet he had still been standing, "--But you ain't going nowhere!"
"Oh you are just pissing me off!" Feodora said.
"I'll get us ou--" Asta started to say as he went to get out his grimoire. Though before he could Erin made her move just as she had gotten far enough from Yami.
"Owl Creation Magic--" She called out, "--Night Hunter!"
In a flash Asta found the grimoire snatched out of his hands by a familiar golden owl as it took him by surprise.
"HEY!" He called out.
"Sorry pipsqueak--" Erin said, "--But you ain't gonna use that anti-magic stuff again."
"HEY! LET THEM GO!!" Aisling shouted "EXPLOSION MAGIC, POP ROCKS!"
Aisling's spheres manifested from her hands before she tossed it over to Erin. "Ooh, thanks for the ammo--" Erin said before she turned back to Yami, "--BATTER UP OLD MAN!"
Yami turned to see the attack coming at him as he clicked his tongue. "Shit!"
He quickly got out of harm's way as the spheres had gone off; the blast force ended up pushing him back but he held his ground. Yami grunted "Damn it! You're not getting away! Dark Magic--"
"Oh I don't think so, Old man." Erin said, before she uttered a spell, "Owl Magic--HUNTERS TALON!"
Much to Yami's own surprise, Erin didn't aim for him; she had aimed for Karasu as the blast went straight towards him.
"CRAP!" Karasu exclaimed before it hit near where he was holding. He let out a scream as he ended up falling though quickly grabbed a hold of a sill of a window, though the rock had been loose as he dropped his sword.
"No, no, no, no!" Karasu exclaimed as he could feel his anxiety rising; he had been struggling to climb up as the rock in place had been getting worse not to mention his vision started to get disoriented, "Shit! Shit!"
"Karasu!" Asta, Feodora, the Familiars and the Triple A exclaimed fearfully.
"Whatcha gonna do Magic Knight Captain?" Erin asked as she spun her staff as she had a confident smile, "It's either Arai or me!"
Yami clicked his tongue as he looked to Karasu before looking at Erin and towards the Triple A's and his other squadmates trapped in the ring of fire. It was at that moment, Yami made a split second decision. He rushed up and proceeded to catch Karasu just as he fell.
"Cap?!" Karasu said, shocked.
"Dylan!" Erin called out, "Give us an exit!"
"Got it!" Dylan said before she dodged an attack from Jack before she hopped over him after kicking herself off of his should
"KEKE--Why are you running?" Jack shouted as he ran after her.
Dylan tossed a set of green knives around the ring fire where the others had been trapped as it shocked them.
"What the hell is she doing?!" Aidan exclaimed.
Erin's palm soon glowed a green before her grimoire glowed as the pages turned.
"Uh-oh." Aidan said.
"We're dead!" Aine said.
Erin smirked as she said. "What do you know, two birds--one stone."
"No--" Karasu exclaimed in realization as he soon gagged a little, "--STOP HER!"
"Knife Magic--" She said before she thrusted a knife that had been in a dark red color, "--Kindred Link!"
The moment the knife had been embedded in the ground diagram underneath Asta, Feodora, Brenin, Liam, Saorise and Prism.
"WHAT THE--" Asta exclaimed.
"Oh boy, not good--!" Prism said in a daze.
The five of them let out a shriek as they each fell in the red portal that had been formed. "GUYS!" The Triple A's exclaimed.
"NO!" Karasu shouted.
"Hate to go while we're just getting started--" Erin said as Asta's grimoire dropped in her hand, "--But we'll have to dance some other time." She turned to the Triple As as she added, "Give that bastard brother of yours my regards, brats." She soon leaned back as she fell in the portal just as the flames disappeared.
"See y'all later, it's been real!" Blaise said as he hopped in the portal before Jack could grab him; as he fell back he couldn't help but flip them off.
"Dylan--"! Karasu said, as she moved towards the portal.
Yami set Karasu down before he went to use his magic. "DARK RESTRAINING MAGIC--"
"SLASH MAGIC--" Jack called out.
"DARK BINDING!!"
"DEATH SCYTHE--LUNATIC SLASH!"
Dylan hopped over just as the dark binding launched towards her as she dived headfirst into the portal as Jack's attack came and destroyed the spell she had created. Most of them had a look of horror as all that was left was nothing more then the ground itself.
"They're gone…" Aine said, shocked.
"Asta, Prism, Feodora…" Aisling said, "... They're all gone…"
"They--got them all…" Aidan said, shocked.
The group jumped as Yami pounded his fist on a tree as it broke down as it made the Triple A's jump. Yami had said as a familiar aura manifested, "Those damn foxes just made a GRAVE mistake."
Jack had added with a glare, "Those thieves are dead!"
Karasu's arms shook as he could feel his arm underneath his bandages start to move; he fell to his knees as his face paled.
"... They… Took them…" Karasu said in shock, "... My bad luck… My curse… If I hadn't been here then it would've been different."
"Karasu--" Yami said. "You can blame yourself in your own free time.."
"KEKE--Right now, we got some thieves to chop up!" Jack added
"No--You don't understand--" Karasu said, "--Now that he's got them there's no telling what he's going to do to them… And now they know I'm affiliated with them, he's going to make it worse. I've--I've sent them to their death. I--I killed them…" He soon grasped his arm as his vision became a blur, "... If I--If I had never gone to the Entrance Exam… If I didn't listen to Avalon… Then I wouldn't have--"
"Karasu?" Aisling said with worry.
"Get a hold of yourself, you're not making any sense!" Aine said as she shook him.
Yami soon stepped forward and gave his head a good punch as Karasu shouted in pain; the Triple A's jumped back at this as even Jack had flinched back a bit
"OW!" Karasu exclaimed. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?! THAT HURT LIKE HELL!"
"That hurt? Good." Yami said, "Now you have less things to worry about."
"Why the hell did you do--" Karasu started to say before Yami took a hold of the neck of his shirt.
Yami had soon told him, "I told you before didn't I?! You have less things to worry about, now stop being a downer! Your squadmates just got captured! Now's not the time to be sitting on your ass and moping!"
"But--!" Karasu started to say before he had been cut off.
"No excuses!" Yami said. "Now like I said, you can mope and whine anytime of the week. But right now, those guys? They need our help and damn it, we're gonna go rescue them." he turned to the Triple A's as he said. "Get your brother too, we're going on a rescue mission."
The Triple A's expression brightened at this. "Yes sir!" The three of them said as they saluted before they ran back inside.
"Wait a minute--" Karasu said, "--The Pack's hide out--You won't know--"
Yami soon held up a familiar device as it showed a diagram of the capital. "Lizard Girl wearing a cursed stone--" He said to him, "--Remember?"
Jack had added, "KEKE--which means we know where those thieves are hiding!"
"We're just waiting on you--" Yami said before he gestured over to Avalon who had remained unconscious, "--To tell us what your friend there told you about the leader."
Karasu had been hesitant at this even after Yami set him down on the floor. He looked at his blade that had been cracked as Shiromori made himself known again. He only hissed at him as if he had been talking to him as Karasu had been contemplating.
Finally he sighed, and still had his eyes to the ground, "... The leader of the Pack's is a man named Hywel Beavin."
He could feel the atmosphere become different as even the rains finally stopped. When he picked up his head, he noticed how trouble they had looked.
"KEKE--so...Old Hywel again!" Jack said.
"Damn it...that's the last name we want to hear right now.." Yami grunted
"Wait--" Karasu said, "--You two know him?"
"Knowing him--" Yami said, as he had gotten out a communication device, "--Would be a good name for it." He was quick to activate the device as Karasu had been taken back when he saw a member of the Crimson Lions appear in the holographic image.
"Captain Yami?" The member said, "May I help you?"
"Yeah, We got an old foe to catch." Yami said.
"KEKE--Time for a fox hunt!" Jack added as he got his blades, "Get that Captain of yours for us!"
"Al-Alright." The Member said nervously, "Just give me a moment."
Karasu had been taken by this sort of thing, "Why would they need the Crimson Lions? For that matter--Does Hywel know the Captain?"
***
-???-
"Prism… You have to wake up."
"Little Warrior, open your eyes."
"Mom? Dad?"
Prism could feel her head throbbing as she could hear the sound of banging and voices she couldn't recognize. The ground she had been on, had been hard and cold which made her back feel sore and achy. She could hear the sound of pleas and cries.
Though the sound of banging had been especially loud from where she had been, as she could hear a familiar voice follow soon afterwards.
"LET US OUT OF HERE YOU BASTARDS!! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME OUT THERE! LET US OUT BEFORE I DO SOMETHING CRAZY!!"
Finally her vision became clear as she realized her head had been in someone's lap as wherever she had been had been dimly lit with lanterns. She found herself within what appeared to be a cage that had been rusted bars as she found the eyes that were of magenta had been staring down at her as she had a look of relief.
"Thank the stars--" Saorise said, "--I didn't think you would ever wake up."
"Saorise…" Prism groaned.
"Pri--!" She heard a familiar voice call out.
She managed to sit herself up, as she saw Asta had run towards her without hesitation. "Are you okay?!" He asked.
"Yeah, I think so--" Prism replied as she rubbed her head, "--Why are there so many stars?"
"You're still coming down from the poison--" Brenin said as he approached her side, "--Try to take it easy."
"Trying but--"
Prism had been taken back when she noticed there had been a set of jade bracelets on their wrists that appeared to have been stained with a faint color of red; she soon noticed that Asta, Feodora, Brenin, Liam and Saorise had the same bracelets like her own.
"Wha-What is this?!" She exclaimed, "And why are the snakes eating their tails?!"
"Again--Coming down from the poison--" Feodora said as she caught her breath, "--And they put these on us after we knocked out when we fell into that weird portal."
"Wait--what?!" Prism said, as she had been looking around, "Where exactly is here…?"
She stood up and went over to the bars but--
"No Pri, wait!" Asta said as he stopped her, "You don't want to see this."
Prism looked confused until her eyes widened in horror outside of the cell. Many men and women, all who looked to be noblemen; young adults really had been practically shouting and screaming for help and begging for someone to let them out of the cells and some had been young couples hugging one another as they just looked tired and worn out physically and mentally.
Most of the people's clothes had been ruined and dirty while others looked brand new.
Prism could only have a look of horror as she nearly lost the energy in her legs as she could only gasp. Asta and Feodora were quick to catch her before she collapsed to the floor.
"Easy Shorty--" Feodora said, "--Deep breaths…"
"A-All these people…" Prism said as her voice had been shaking, "... Who--Who are they?"
"From the smell--" Liam said softly, "--They're nobles and royals. They look like they've been here awhile."
"But as to why--" Brenin said, "--We're not sure."
"How--How long have we been here?" She asked.
"A couple of hours." Feodora said, "Three at most. I counted four guards. Whoever these guys are--They're professionals. One or two of them are former Magic Knights, and professional hitmen from the way they looked."
"You can tell just from that?" Saoirse asked.
"It's a VERY distinctive look." She stated.
"I-I remember--" Prism said, "Those guys--They knew Karasu--They brought us here didn't they?"
"They really got the jump on us." Asta said, "And not to mention they took our grimoires as an extra measure." He soon had a smile on his face, "But I wouldn't worry too much! Captain Yami and the others will find us!"
"Bu-But how?" Prism asked, "They don't know where they are."
"Well--" Feodora said, "--The Dum-Dum here ain't wrong. Besides--" She soon whispered, "--They're not gonna find us, they're gonna find you."
Prism had been confused until the little spirits that had still been hiding in her hood tugged at the hairband connecting to a familiar stone.
"... The Cursed Stone Yami gave me…" She said softly as she brushed her fingers along the surface..
"We're lucky they didn't take that from you." Asta said, keeping his voice low so that no one could hear him, "The Captain said that he can locate you as long as you have that on!" He soon had a smile as he patted her on the head, "We have nothing to worry about!"
"Thank Mana.." Brenin sighed.
Prism could feel her head throb she couldn't help but smile, "You're right--Yami is going to come. He promised afterall."
"So long as they don' t realize it's actually a cursed stone you have on--" Asta said as he kept his voice low, "--Then we're gonna be just fine!"
"Yeah--" She said, "--Yeah, us and all the pixies in here!"
"Still coming down from the poison." Liam said.
Prism could only laugh sheepishly, "Ri--Right, still feels weird. And not to mention the head still hurts."
"Best to sit down for a bit don't you think?" Feodora said, "Looks like they're not gonna use us for--Whatever they got planned anytime soon."
Prism sighed as she went over to the corner as she couldn't help but groan again. "Ow, my head is killing me--" She groaned before she felt a slight tug on her hair; some of the spirits had gotten up on her head before she could feel the pain had started to ease up. She let out a breath of relief as she scratched the little bunny's cheek.
"Thank's sweetums." She said, "That feels a little better."
She soon sat herself down on the mat but--
"YIPE!"
Prism let out a shriek as she jumped up, as the others had jumped out of surprise. She turned around fast and saw what looked to be a small animal--A canine from what she could tell. His fur looked to be in a shade white as the tip of his fluffy fox-like tail and had an orange tip, and ears of a coyote; his underbelly had been that of gray though looked to be dirty. He had a set of four claws that had been of black, and he appeared to have a skull of a crow covering half of his face, as his ears had resembled a german shepherd.
The skull looked to be a bit cracked as his eyes looked to be that of pink.
They only took one look at each other before they each let out a scream as they had been equally freaked out with one another before--
"--Are you my master?" The little creature asked, to Prism in particular.
"Wha-What?!" Prism exclaimed as she had still been fearful, "What!? Am I your what!?"
"Is she your what?!" Asta exclaimed.
"Are you my master, pretty lady?" The little creature asked as he crawled out of the corner looking at her with curious eyes.
Prism couldn't help but flinch back as she turned red. "N-No--" She replied, "--A-And I'm not that pretty."
"Then--Have you come to give me the sweet release that is death?" The little creature asked as his tone changed--His pink eyes had shifted to a baby blue color. Asta, Prism, and Feodora had been taken back by this while Brenin, Saoirse and Liam gave the little creature an odd look.
"I'm--Still coming down from the poison right?" Prism asked as she had been processing, "Is this really happening?"
"N-Nope, we're all seeing this." Asta said, "What even is this?"
"I don't know, what's a matter with you?" The Little Creature said as his eyes shifted to what looked to yellow green color before he giggled.
Feodora couldn't help but give a nervous chuckle, "Okay, this is just someone affected by a Cursed Item right? This is someone who shifted because of a totem like the Stuck Up and Pri here?"
"I what?!" Prism exclaimed out of confusion.
The little creature's ears twitched before his eyes shifted back to pink as he laughed, "You're funny Miss Sunshine!"
"Sunshine?" Feodora said, a bit shocked.
Prism found herself suddenly yanked back by Brenin as he, Liam and Saoirse had been in a protective stance.
"Stay away from her!" Brenin said to the little animal as he looked confused.
"Don't even think about touching her!" Saoirse said.
"If you do, I'll kill you!" Liam said.
"Oh, no you won't you silly goose!" The little creature said as his eyes had been pink again.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A GOOSE YOU LITTLE ROACH!!" Liam shouted.
"I know what you are, but what am I?" The little creature asked as his eyes had been green again before he snickered; Liam could only growl at this as he glared.
"Whoa, guys!" Prism said.
"What's wrong with you?" Asta asked, "Why are you being so jumpy?!"
"Don't trust this guy!" Brenin told him, as he glared towards the little creature, "His smell--It's all kinds of rotten!"
Prism, Asta and Feodora looked confused at this sort of thing. "Rotten?" Feodora asked, "What do you mean rotten?"
"You mean like from that totem?" Asta asked, "Why would he smell rotten?"
"Isn't it obvious?!" Liam said, "There's only one thing in this damn world that has that much rot on them! More than humans!" He soon pointed over to the little creature as he had been scratching his ears, "This guy is a Devil!"
At this the three of them had a look of shock as they looked at the little animal as he had been giving them baby eyes as he wagged his tail.
"This little plush toy?" Feodora asked.
"Him?" Asta said confused, "A Devil?"
"But--" Prism said, "--He's so little and cute. "
"Aww you're too kind, pretty lady!" The little creature said as his tail wagged even more; his eyes remained pink.
"Don't be fooled by their appearances!" Saoirse said, before she whispered, "Do you remember what the Elders said about them?"
"But--" Prism started to say before she looked at the little creature, "--He doesn't look like anything from the pictures."
"You mean the Elders told you about these guys?" Asta asked.
"Yeah--" Prism replied, "--Though the pictures they had--Are different. They just didn't look as cute as he did."
"Really?" Feodora said as she picked the little one up as she started to examine him, "Are your noses working right? This guy doesn't look like a Devil."
"You're funny miss Sunshine--" The creature said as he giggled, "--You remind me of a harlequin!" His eyes soon shifted into baby blue again, "--Or a sad looking mime. Either way--You're pretty funny."
"Okay--" Feodora said, "--This little guy is weird."
Prism soon took the little creature from Feodora as she held him out at arms length; he relaxed in her hold. "Are you really a Devil?" She asked, "Like a real Devil from the Forbidden Realm?"
"I don't know." The little creature replied which had shocked them.
"Oh--" She said awkwardly, "--Do you have a name?"
The little creature gave it some thought as his eyes remained blue, "I don't quite remember having a name--" His eyes soon shifted to pink, "--But the Dictator calls me Donkey!"
"Donkey?" Asta, Prism, and Feodora said confused.
"And who's the Dictator?" Brenin asked.
"He leads things silly!" The creature--Donkey had replied as he still sounded happy, "He calls me Donkey because I bring him things!" His eyes soon shifted to blue, "Though this place isn't exactly a five star hotel. The room service is terrible."
"Well--Do you remember at least one thing?" Asta asked.
"I know I'm looking for my Master--!" Donkey said as his eyes had been pink again, "--I don't know what he looks like--" His eyes changed to blue, "--Or if he's a boy a girl, or both, or is even a human--" His eyes soon changed to green, "--Or if he's an overlord and conquers all like moi!"
"You conquer worlds?" Liam asked
"I don't know." Donkey replied casually, making them flinch again.
"Well this guy is… Something." Feodora saidas she scratched her head
"Wait a minute--" Saoirse said, "--If you're supposed to bring this Dictator stuff, then what are you doing here?"
"I gave Dictator a special drink I made!" Donkey said, sounding cheerful before they were blue, "The secret ingredient was whiskey and syrup."
"Whiskey?" Prism said confused.
"He didn't like my stroke of genius!" He soon said as his eyes shifted to green, "So I ended up getting the can and thrown in here!" His tone soon changed again as it sounded monotone, "I liked the other guy better. Dictator is too whiny and touchy on certain things."
"Someone tossed you in here for being creative?" Asta said, "That's terrible!"
"I know right?" Donkey said as his tone stayed, "Everyone's a critic. Haven't they heard the phrase, don't knock it till they try it?"
"You poor little guy." Prism said as she hugged Donkey, "You must've been so scared."
"THE OVERLORD IS NOT SCARED OF ANYTHING!" Donkey shouted as his eyes had been green before his monotone returned again as he hugged Prism, "--But yes. It's the nights that are the hardest."
"This is getting REALLY confusing." Feodora said.
"But at least we know he's not gonna hurt anyone!" Asta said as he turned to the Familiars.
"Right…" Brenin said as he couldn't help but give Donkey an odd look.
Donkey's tail soon wagged as his eyes sparkled when he noticed what had been hiding underneath her hood. Elior and the other little ones had quickly hid behind her head as he soon noticed her ears.
"Pretty lady--" He soon said, "--Are you a half-ling?"
The group immediately paled up as they looked to the outside of the bars, as Donkey had gotten more excited. "You are!" He said, "Not only that--But you've been blessed by them! You must be very lucky!"
Prism was quick to gently shush the little one as the others looked around making sure there weren't any prying eyes. "Listen sweetums--" Prism said, "--These people here, this uh--Dictator you talked about, they can't know I'm a halfling."
"Really?" Donkey said, "How come?"
Prism sighed before she sat down on the beaten mat and sat him on her lap, "Because it would be dangerous if they knew--These little ones, would get hurt and risk being turned into a Tainted. I can't let that happen to them. So please--Keep quiet about this."
Donkey noticed the worried look she gave as some of the spirits turned a light shade of blue. His tail swayed slightly as he soon gave her hand a comforting pat, "Don't worry pretty lady--" He said as she could see a smile, "--I won't say a word."
Prism smiled at this before she shuddered slightly as some of the spirits seemed to be just as uneasy as she did.
"What's wrong?" Asta asked.
"I--I just felt cold all of a sudden." Prism replied.
"It could be the poison." Feodora said, "Don't worry the chills will pass."
"I-If you say so." Prism said as she shivered again. She tried to create friction to at least warm herself up but it hadn't been any use. She knew she couldn't ask for the little Spirits help--She didn't know what would happen if the thieves that had taken them would end up finding out, or for that matter what they would do to her friends. The thought only scared her as she had trembled as she didn't want anyone to get hurt or something worse.
The thought soon left her as she felt something over her shoulders; it hadn't been long before she noticed it had been Asta's jacket, put there by Asta himself.
"It's not much--" Asta said, as he soon had a smile, "--But I'd rather you didn't catch a cold again."
"Asta--" Prism said before she tugged on the jacket slightly as she smiled. She soon leaned on his shoulder when he had sat by her side, which had taken him back, "--Thanks."
The Familiars sat on one end of the cage, while Feodora sat across from them. She sighed as she leaned her head back against the bars.
"Hopefully--" Feodora soon said as she shut her eyes, "--We won't be here too long. Guys, you get here before they do whatever it is they're gonna do with us."