The storm had roared, like that of a lion as it had nearly blacked out the night sky. It seemed as though the rains had made the waves as high as the mountain as it had knocked any ship that had been at sea. It had been a miracle that a small rowboat had been surviving through it all. A young man with dark gray hair and eyes of crimson had been steering the way as he had on a hakama shirt, while a young woman with a casual dark green yukata with her hair mostly been a bun had sat while holding a young girl wearing a light blue yukata as she looked terrified as she had been holding onto
Helping him steer the rowbot had been a young boy who looked to be thirteen as his hair had been black and had grey streaks; his hair looked to be tied in a samurai's ponytail as he looked to have eyes that were of red as he had been wearing a black kimono as he had a set of bandages covering his entire left arm. He had been struggling to row through the waters.
The dog had been constantly barking as the thunder turned the sky a lit as it scared the child.
"Karasu!" The man said as he had been struggling to hold the sail from the harsh winds, "Keep her steady! Don't let it tip over!"
The man soon cried out in agony as he could feel the rope burn his skin when it tugged on him harshly.
"Uncle Saito!" Karasu exclaimed with worry.
"Don't worry about me kiddo!" His uncle--Saito said as he steadied himself, "Just row like I've been showing you!"
"But--"
"I'll be alright! It's just a scratch!"
Karasu had been hesitant, but nearly stumbled when the boat nearly tipped over; the little girl--Sachiko let out a scream as she held onto the young woman. He had been quick to keep the boat steady as he had caught his breath.
"Okay! Okay--" Karasu said, trying not to panic, "--Okay we're okay!"
"Auntie Aya--" Sachiko cried as she hugged the young woman, "--I'm scared."
"Don't worry honey--" Aya said, as she kept a firm hold on her and the dog--Yoshi, "--Everything's going to be just fine."
Karasu looked ahead, trying to see through the clouds, but it had been too thick to see through as he let out groans.
"I can't see anything!" He said to Saito, "I don't know if we're getting close to the shoreline!"
"Just keep her steady!" Saito said, "Keep your chin up! We'll get there in one piece!"
"I want to go home!" Sachiko cried.
"It's okay--" Aya said, "--We'll build a new one when we reach the Kingdom!"
Sachiko's face soon paled as she let out a scream when she saw what had been in front of them. They saw a wall of water had been in front of them as they paled. "No, no, no, no!" Saito exclaimed, "Not when we're so close!"
"It's okay honey." Aya said softly as she hugged Sachiko as she whimpered.
Karasu started to sweat as his thoughts started to rush through his head as they started to get closer to the wave. That had been until--
"Karasu!" Saito said, "Your father's sword--!"
"Huh?!" Karasu exclaimed.
He looked to the sword that had been on the deck of the rowboat, as the long blade had been close to him. Getting the idea he tossed the oar aside, before he took the sword and unsheathed it. "Now what?!" He said.
"Swing it with two hands like we've practiced!" Kaito told him.
"What!?" He shouted, "I can't cut a wave that huge!"
"Yes you can!" His uncle told him as he gave a smile, "I believe in you!"
Karasu took deep breaths, though he could still feel himself panic mentally; gripping the handle with two of his hands he held the sword above his head. He didn't even seem to realize that his blade had started to glow purple.
With a cry he swung the sword hard and fast as just like that, the wave had split in two as it had allowed them to go through without harm. Karasu only looked shocked at this sort of thing, while Saito let out a laugh; Sachiko had a look of awe as did their aunt.
"Way to go kiddo!" Kaito cheered.
Karasu couldn't help but smile at this as he laughed and turned to them as he had the sword in hand. "Kaito--!" Aya said, "--I can see the shore! We're almost there!"
Kaito looked ahead and noticed the shoreline; despite the pouring rain and blinding clouds, he could see it as clearly as a sunny day. "Yes!" He cheered, "Yes! Our luck is finally going to turn around!"
Before Karasu could have a chance to speak, a dark shadow loomed over them as it caused Yoshi to get riled up. His face had paled as Sachiko had a look of horror. The young couple had soon noticed the look on their faces as they were quick to realize why they even had such a look. A large wave had been ready to collapse on top of them.
The young teen had remained frozen as he had nearly forgotten he had been holding the sword. His instinct seemed to have taken over as he ran to his younger sister, his dog and aunt as he shielded them with his body. All the while he kept a firm hold on his blade.
"Karasu!!" Was the last thing he heard his uncle call out before everything went black and all that could be heard was the sound of a ring.
All around him, he could hear the sounds of the water and bubbles as he found himself fading in and out as he had been struggling to find air; but everytime he tried to breathe, he could feel himself choking. He tried to reach out to grab a hold of something, but it seemed to have been an endless void.
It seemed to have gone on forever as he could see brief flashes of light before his eyes closed completely as time flew by him once more.
It seemed as though a few moments had gone by before instead of hearing the sound of bubbles popping in his ears and had been traded for with the sound of seagulls and the waves hitting against the shore.
He found himself opening his eyes again as he could feel something wet go against his cheek. As his vision became clear, he had been quick to see, the sun had been rising over the horizon, and a very familiar, and very wet dog had been the one trying to get him up.
He could feel an intense sting on his right cheek and underneath his left eye as he groaned.
"Yoshi--?" He said as the Yoshi started to wag his tail and let out a happy yipe, before he spun in place.
He soon noticed a small body had been underneath his arm as he couldn't help but have a look of relief, despite seeing a few cuts and bruises on her. Her eyes opened slightly as her own red eyes stared into his own. Karasu leaned his forehead against hers as she had breathed horsley.
"Bro… Ther…" She groaned.
"You're okay…" He said weakly, "... Thank goodness."
He had soon noticed that he had been holding onto a long looking blade as his hand shook slightly. "Brother…." He soon heard his sister say, "... Where's… Uncle… Auntie…?"
Karasu groaned in agony as he tried to move before collapsing again. He went to answer his sister, but--
"My Gods--Are they dead?"
"What's with the outfits they got on?"
"If they have anything of value I'm gonna call dibs!"
An odd voice soon came over them along with a language he nor Sachiko had ever heard before. He could only move his head as he noticed three people stood over him. One had been a girl with black hair and pink eyes as she had wore a simple white collared shirt with brown pants.
The second had been a platinum blonde hair girl with a set of grey eyes. She had been wearing a tattered old dress, with a witch's hat that looked to be burned as her brown shoes had patches; the hat appeared to have an owl insignia.
The third had been a young man with dark green hair that was uneven and spikey, as his shirt had been of a simple brown that looked to be poorly sewn together, as well as a set of beat black pants, as well as shoes that looked to have holes in them.
Yoshi had started to growl as it kept the teens at a distance. Karasu moved slightly as he noticed they appeared to have a fox's mask attached to their person. He tried to move again but found himself hitting the floor.
"Holy hell--" The young witch said as she saw Karasu move and Sachiko let out a groan, "--We got a couple of live ones."
"Oh they're alive--" The young man said sarcastically as he had an awkward smile, "--Thank mana, am I right?"
The young girl with pink eyes made no hesitation to approach Karasu as she held him to turn him and Sachiko on their back. "Can you hear me?" The girl with pink eyes asked, before she held up two of her fingers, "How many fingers do you see?"
Karasu could only give her an odd look. Despite how little energy he had, he could only ask, "Who… Are you…? Where am I…?"
The three of them had given an odd look as they looked to him. "Excuse me but--" The young man said, "--What the hell did he just say?"
"They--Must be foreigners." The girl with pink eyes said, "I wonder if they got shipwrecked."
The young man sighed, "Here I thought we would get to see treasure--But instead all we got were a couple of unwanted visitors in Clover."
"Clo… Ver…?" Karasu soon groaned as it had startled them, "Are we… In Clover…?"
"Huh--" The young man said, "--Looks like he understood that."
The girl with pink eyes looked to the two of them, "What should we do with them?"
The young girl with grey eyes looked at the young man as her gaze softened slightly. She let out a sigh, "Come on Blaise--" She said, "--Let's get em up."
"Whoa, whoa Erin--" The young man Blaise said, "--You want us to take them back to the hideout?!"
"Well we can't leave them to die, now can't we?" The grey-eyed girl--Erin had said, as she had brushed aside Yoshi as he had long stopped his growl, "And when will we ever encounter a foreigner again? Now help me get him up."
Blaise couldn't help but roll his eyes, before he went to help Erin. He had gotten on the other side of Karasu, noticing his bandaged hand before they got him to stand. The sword slipped from his fingers as it hit the ground.
"Sachiko..." Karasu groaned when he felt her slip from his arms, "My sister…"
"Relax buddy." Erin said, "Avalon--Would you mind--?"
"Sure." The pink eyed girl Avalon had said before she had picked up Sachiko. She soon noticed the sword on the ground before she looked at Karasu. And though she had been hesitant, she took the sword by the handle so that she had been dragging it.
With each of them having Karasu and Sachiko and Yoshi following behind, they had gotten off the beach before anyone could see them as they proceeded to the streets of the capital.
***
-Presnet; Magic Knights Hospital-
"---After that… Sachiko and I found ourselves in the care of the Pack."
Karasu had been taking his time explaining his story as he had been sitting right in front of three familiar Captains, Yami, Jack and William; though particularly he had found himself struggling to maintain eye contact with Yami himself. Even now Sachiko had been in the same position as him; she had been sitting at Avalon's bedside as Avalon herself had still been unconscious from the events earlier that day.
Karasu soon continued, "It wasn't much, but we ended up staying in Ashtown up until a month before the Entrance Exams. They started to talk about taking people instead of stealing anything of value. I couldn't put Sachiko through that."
Yami took a puff as he said, "is that so, huh?"
Karasu nodded, "Hywel was my partner on several jobs over the two years I stayed. But as we were hitting rock bottom, he was all for the idea of kidnapping the Royals and he tried to get me on board with it. As much as he didn't like it, I took what little cut I earned from my previous jobs and I ran to the sewers of Kikka." His look soon changed, "I didn't think he would become leader though."
"And you have reason to believe he would harm your squadmates?" William asked, "Including the Princess?"
The look on Karasu's face changed as he could feel a slight agony in his arm. "The thing I learned about that guy--" He started to say, "--He always kept telling me what we were doing was for the good of the residents in Ashtown since they stopped receiving funds from the King. But--Even back before he started to show his true colors, I always felt something was off about him. His method of quote on quote helping people… They were just wrong. He started to hurt Royals when they so much as looked at him funny. If it wasn't for me he would've killed them." His arm started to shake, "He had gotten really angry when I left the Pack…"
"KEKE--Well ain't that a surprise!" Jack said.
"Sounds like Hywel has begun to make a name for himself, even outside the kingdom outskirts." William added, "It'll be worse if he discovers who Prism is. He could expose her to the kingdom just to send a message to the King.""
Yami said with a click of his tongue, "that bastard....like hell he's gonna do that to my squadmates."
Karasu had been taken back by what they were saying as he had a look of realization. "You're not actually suggesting that Hywel would give Prism a public execution?!" He said shocked, "Hywel is anything but stupid! He wouldn't risk exposing himself and the Pack like that even if he did find out who she is!"
Jack had told him, ""KEKE--Like that'll stop him from doing it! That bastard was always the lowest of the low!"
"I'm sorry, how do you know who he is?!" Karasu said.
"Let's just say me, beanpole and Vermillion had a history with him." Yami told him.
"A history?" Karasu said confused, "What do you mean?"
"You mean Hywel never said anything to you?" Yami said, before he clicked his tongue, "Then again I shouldn't be surprised."
"What are you saying? Did you deal with Hywel before?" He asked.
Before Yami could answer, they were taken back by--
"PRISSSSSSSMMMMM!!!"
The door had suddenly been busted open as it had revealed to be a familiar young elf, as his cloaking items had been taken off. He had looked around the room frantically as Karasu had been practically glued to the wall as he had been startled by the mere presence.
"WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE ARE THE FAMILIARS?! ARE THEY IN DANGER?!" He shouted as he looked around frantically. Noelle soon stepped into the room as she sighed, "You do realize there's a thing called knocking? You didn't have to blow up the door."
"YOU TRY CARING FOR A FRIEND THAT GOT KIDNAPPED YOU STUPID SILVA!" Pluck shouted as he pointed at her. "IF YOU HAVE FEELINGS!"
Pluck had soon been taken back when a pillow had been thrown in his face. "Don't say something that mean Pluck-sensei!" Sachiko scolded.
Noelle immediately turned red, "I-I'm not THAT worried about Dorksta you know!"
"Could you not do that?!" Karasu said as he stood, "You nearly gave me a heart attack here Pluck!"
"Oh sorry Karasu." Pluck said calmly, "I didn't mean to scare you, and also--" Karasu had soon been nearly knocked over by the sheer ferocity of his voice, "--HOW ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH A BUNCH OF THIEVES!? WERE YOU A PART OF A STREET GANG?! THEY NEARLY KILLED MY SIBLINGS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!"
"WILL YOU CALM DOWN?!" Karasu shouted, "YOU THINK I'M NOT MAD AT THEM THAT THEY WENT AND DID THAT TO PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT?! I'M EVEN MORE PISSED OFF THEN YOU ARE YOU KNOW?!"
"Honestly, Barbados. You're overreacting." Noelle said.
Pluck was about to use his Cat Paw sword but he said "you know what, you're not even worth the energy right now."
Yami soon grabbed a hold of Pluck's head as a death threatening aura had been around him "Hey i get your siblings were attacked and Lizard Girl and the others are gone but you're making a scene?"
"No offense to you Yami--" Pluck said, "--BUT I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECTING PRI--" He started to pale as Yami tightened his grip on his head.
Yami told him as his tone changed, "Don't push it, Sword Boy--YOU GOT A DEATH WISH?"
"Sorry, Sorry." Pluck said as he shivered.
Jack soon told Pluck, "KEKE--you really pushing it!"
"How did they even get through the barrier?" Noelle asked, "Or even figure out that Prism was even here? Her location was supposed to be kept a secret."
"We're trying to figure that out." William replied calmly, "Once Captain Fugeleon gets here, he'll give us an idea on how the information was leaked."
"... He has a mole…"
Most of them had been taken back by a new voice, but Karasu and Sachiko had a breath of relief as he saw a familiar set of pink eyes.
"Avalon!" Karasu and Sachiko exclaimed as they had a smile.
"Who the heck is that?!" Pluck said, confused.
"YOU JUST NOW NOTICED HER?!" Noelle exclaimed.
Pluck then used his Cat Paw Sword to cover her face as she screeched before she started to run in circles. "NOT THIS AGAIN!!" She exclaimed.
Pluck had said with a satisfied smile, "Serves you right."
"Hey, save your couple's fighting elsewhere." Yami said
Pluck had told him, "CAPTAIN! SHE BASICALLY--"
Jack suddenly yelled, "WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW! IT'S ABOUT THAT LIZARD GIRL!"
"Wait a minute?!" Pluck said, "You're worried about--?!"
Jack soon said with a growl, "yeah what of it?"
Immediately Pluck had cancelled out his magic, allowing Noelle to calm down. Pluck soon said as his voice shook, "N-nope."
Karasu soon went over to her bedside as he took her hand, "How are you feeling? Are you okay?"
"Everything hurts… So much…" Avalon replied, with a tired voice, "... I didn't think I'd pack that much into my spell..." She soon had a small smile, "Why didn't you warn me…?"
"Thank goodness your okay." Sachiko said, relieved.
"Did you say something about a mole?" William asked as he approached her, "Did someone tell Hywel the information?"
Avalon nodded weakly, "He… Told me, before he tried to kill me. He's been… Constantly paying him to lead royals so that… They could take them to the hideout…. He paid him triple his usual fee, for the information on that girl… He knew you were going to be at the headquarters…"
Noelle had a look of horror, "The person that took them, has been bribing a Magic Knight?!"
"Who the hell is even this guy?!" Pluck exclaimed, "How did he even make that connection?!"
"He didn't happen to name the guy he was paying off?" Yami asked her.
"... He didn't tell me a name…" Avalon replied, "... All he told me… Was the name of the Squad…"
"Which one is it?" He asked her.
Avalon groaned slightly before she answered as she fell back asleep, "The Green… Praying Mantis…"
Jack soon slammed his blade on the wall, shocking everyone; they could see a dark aura surrounding him as his blade had been drawn. The smile he always had was no longer on his face. "Captain Jack--" William started to say calmly.
Jack had soon said as they could hear the rage in his voice, "Someone's dead meat tonight. Someone from MY own squad actually had the nerve to sell out MY student!"
Yami told him, as he took a puff from his cigarette, "to think we have a mole in the magic knights....shit"
Karasu soon had a thought as it had soon hit him, "Damn it this is bad--" He said, "--We have the location of the hideout, but if we end up going there who ever is in Jack's squad will warn Hywel and he'll have everyone moved before you can catch him or anyone else."
"Wait, how do you have Prism's loca--" Pluck started to ask before it soon hit him, "--Oh right, the Cursed Stone. That does help a lot."
"Did you just remember that?" Sachiko asked curiously as it made Pluck flinch.
He couldn't help but say as he looked embarrassed, "oh yeah."
"If I know my fairshare of moles--" Karasu said as he started to think, "--If we even make a move to go to where the others are, he'll warn him just to get his cut of the yules."
"What are you thinking Aniki?" Sachiko asked.
Karasu didn't reply as he had been deep in his own thoughts. "Karasu--" Noelle said, "--If you know something that could help us save them, then you have to tell us."
"... I think it's fairly obvious." Karasu soon said, "Before we can go to where they are--We have to flush out the mole in the Green Praying Mantises. The tricky part is not letting him know we're on to him."
Most of the group looked to Karasu shocked about this sort of thing as they couldn't help but look at him perplexed. All except the Captains as they looked intrigued by the little idea.
"But there's gotta be dozens of people within the Green Praying Mantis Squad!" Noelle said, "It's going to take weeks to flush anyone out!"
Pluck had added, "yeah, plus the more time we do that. The more in danger the others will be.."
"That's not gonna be a problem--KEKE!" Jack told them
"We don't have to focus on the entire squad--" Karasu said, "--We just have to narrow it down."
Sachiko soon had a thought, "That's right! You told me before aniki! Jack's entire squad is filled with commoners around the kingdom!"
Karasu's eyes widened slightly as he soon smacked himself in the face, "Damn it of course! That's why he would pick someone from that squad! It makes sense!"
"Wait a second--" Noelle said as she asked, "--Your squad is filled with commoners?"
Jack had replied, "KEKE--Got a problem with it missy?!"
Noelle flinched as she shook in fear. "N-no sir."
"Wait a second--" Pluck said, "--Why would that be that guy's MO?"
"The Pack works the same way--" Karasu replied, "--And so does Ashtown. There's no royalties or nobles--Just people that have suffered by them, no offense to Noelle and the Tater-Tot. Hywel uses people that are in a sense, beaten down, and easier for him to mold, to make it seem like it was the right thing." They could see the gears had been turning in his head, "He must've found someone in Jack's squad that has a severe grudge towards anyone with Nobility, that wanted to get back at them without losing his privileges as a Knight."
He soon turned over to Jack, "Listen up Captain Jack--I need you to be precise. Do you know anyone that fits who Hywel would talk to? Anyone that hates nobility and royalty with a passion? More so then Pluck here?"
"Hey!" Pluck exclaimed. "I'm right here!"
"KEKE--that Tessi fellow was an extremist that girl." Jack said. "She always complains about the pay yet she never puts in the work!"
"An extremist…" Karasu said as he soon had a sneer, "... That's EXACTLY the kind of person who Hywel would go for."
"Oh yeah, that trouble maker." Yami said. "She lost to Pluck last year during the exams."
Pluck soon shuddered at the thought, "Don't remind me."
"Is it someone you know?" Karasu asked.
Pluck had answered, "I wish I hadn't. She goes around bragging about her commoner life and how she wishes to be and I quote "As rich as the King of Clover." She even kicked Addeline one time. Lucky enough, when it comes to wit and being clever, you can guess who topped that."
Addeline came out as she presented Pluck with a prideful "QUACK!"
"Yes Addi. I outsmarted her, didn't I?" Pluck said as he gave her chin a scratch making Addi smile before sneaking a look to Noelle as she had a smug smile, making her flinch
"Did--" Noelle said, "--She try to assault you? As in physically assault you?"
Pluck sighed before he answered, "After I won in the entrance exams she tried to attack me. Lucky Addi swooped in and gave her bonk before Ma, Pa and Captain Charlotte restrained her."
"Do you know if she has any sensitive information?" William asked, "Such as Prism being the Princess?"
Jack clicked his tongue before he replied, "I guess her night missions she takes on by herself have a whole new meaning."
"You mean there's a possibility she knows?!" Karasu and Pluck exclaimed.
"It's all the more reason why we have to find her."
The group looked over and had been a bit shocked as they saw it had been the captain of the Crimson Lions, Captain Fuegoleon himself.
"Heyo!" Yami said, "It's about time you showed up!"
"KEKE--We were waiting all day!" Jack said.
"My apologies." Fuegoleon said. "I came as fast as I could. Is it true that Hywel is involved in this?"
"He's the leader of the Fox's Pack." William replied, "He took the Princess as well as a few members of Yami's squad."
"And we just found out that there's a mole in the Green Praying Mantis." Yami said, "So basically we have to take care of her before we can mount a rescue mission."
The look on Fuegoleon's face changed to this, "Of course he would get a Magic Knight involved in his affairs."
"So--" Karasu said as he noticed his tone, "--You DO know him. Did you fight with him or something?"
"Something like that--" Fuegoleon said, "--If the Princess is at risk, then we have to move quickly and not a minute later. There is a way we can flush out the mole."
"KEKE--We're all ears!" Jack told him..
"Wait a minute--" Katasu said, "--You have a plan already? Just like that?"
Fuegoleon had replied, "of course! If we're dealing with Hywel, we have to be a step ahead of him at all means."
Karasu could only have a look as Fuegoleon turned to the door. "Come on--" He said, "--We must make haste!"
With that said, Fuegoleon stepped out of the room with the Captains following behind him. Pluck and Noelle, though hesitant, soon followed. Karasu had looked to his cracked blade as his bandaged arm had been shaking; he took hold of his wrist as an effort to get himself to calm down, unable to shake off what had happened.
"Aniki…" Sachiko said with worry, "... Is Hywel going to kill them…?"
Karasu could only give a reassuring smile, before he patted her head "I'm not gonna let that happen Sachi. This time--My curse won't be responsible for killing them." He soon kneeled down to her eye level as he placed his hands on her shoulders, "Stay here with Avalon. If anything happens, the Knights will be here to protect you."
"But I want to help--" Sachiko started to protest, "--I should--"
"Sachi--" He said, "--I know you want to help, but--Since we came here, you've been having more difficulty then me when you unlocked your magic. I'd feel a lot safer if you stayed here. I'll help you however I can like I told you, but right now, I don't want to have to lose you."
He had been taken back when Sachiko gave him a hug. Though he didn't have any hesitation as he hugged her back.
"Be careful aniki." She pleaded.
"I will imoto." He told her before he gave her a kiss on the head.
With that said, Karasu went out of the room as Sachiko had stayed at Avalon's bedside. She soon let out a sigh as she looked at her hands. She let out a sigh as she looked towards the window, "... Uncle Saito… Aunt Aya… Please look out for him."
***
-Green Praying Mantis Base; Training Grounds-
At the training grounds of the Green Praying mantis base, a young skinny girl with long ground hair, a light pink shirt and pants was training with a familiar young man; he had been blasted back to the other side of the ring as he had let out a shriek.
'
"Honestly, why are you so weak and poor?" The girl said. "Can you like--get stronger or something?"
"M-Mercy, bah-ha!.""
The girl sighed as she asked "Anyone else...or whatever?"
"Tessi, are you sure everything is okay?" One of her squad members asked, "Ever since the Captain said he was taking a secret mission you've been on edge these last few weeks."
"What are you talking about, lame-o?" The girl--Tessi said. "I'm fine, y'all are just weak."
"Yep, she's fine.."
"You sure?" another asked.
"Isn't it weird that Captain Jack has been acting differently lately?" Another said, "I mean he's not entirely like himself you know?"
A fifth soon added, "yeah, it's as if he's started to warm up a bit. Like he's been talking to someone?"
"You mean like he's nice to his girlfriend or something?"
"Him? Nice? I'll believe that when the kingdom falls."
"Hey! Don't joke about that are you trying to get imprisoned?~"
"WILL YOU GUYS SHUT UP!?" Tessi shouted as they had been startled.
"Woah woah, it's just a joke, man." one of them said.
"Yeah, I mean there's no way someone could actually talk to that guy right?"
"Unless that has a death wish!" one of them said as they laughed.
"Tch, that's lame." Tessi said. "Why would he be focused on that? Shouldn't he be focusing on more I don't know...magic knight stuff?"
Sekke had said with a groan as he got up, "I bet knowing our captain he's probably off drinking somewhere--Bah-ha!"
"Who said you can speak, peasant?" Tessi asked
"YOU'RE THE SAME THING-BAH-HA!" He shouted.
Tessi only growled as she stomped off the training ground, and back into the building. "i'm leaving! I need my damn coffee!" She said as she sneered. She practically kicked the door open as she went inside.
***
Tessi Westward
A young girl from the Forsaken Realm of the Clover Kingdom. At the age of fifteen, she obtained a grimoire and set foot towards the Clover Kingdom to get the fame and fortune she deserves. Though in spite of this, she is narcissistic and not bright.
She is selfish, cunning and will do whatever dirty tactic to reach to the top. Especially teaching the royals a lesson, who she despises clearly.
A year ago when she had taken the Entrance Exams, she faced off against Pluck Barbados. Unfortunately for her, she was outsmarted by the young genius and lost her match. She tried to strike at him only for her to be stopped by his parents, Cadfan and Yukiko Barbados and Captain Charlotte Roselei of the Blue Rose Magic Knights.
She had lost her opportunity to join one of the top squads, but had grown accustomed to being a part of the Green Praying Mantises. She had sparred with Captain Jack the Ripper on several occasions, even after a mission was done.
But just a short time ago--Someone else had shared in Jack the Ripper's favor, which many of his own squad members had thought was impossible.
***
-Sometime Earlier-
It was late at night when Tessi arrived at the Green Praying Mantis Base. When she had gotten back from the mission, she hadn't been at all surprised since she noticed that no one had been in the base. She figured everyone had still been sent away on missions of their own, or had been catching some shut eye.
She appeared to be in a good mood as she sauntered in through the door.
"Man what a day--" She said, "--Well, it seems like no one else bothers me about their poor lives."
As she went down the hall she soon noticed out of the corner of her eye, one room had been lit as he could hear the sounds of blades clashing.
"Oh? Someone's sparring?" She said intrigued, "Wonder if it's one of the new recruits. I guess I can peek in case I give in to fight them later."
Deciding for a closer look, she went over to the door and looked inside; however, instead of finding a member of her own squad, she saw it had been a young girl with a strange looking outfit and silver hair and oddly had small points on the tip of her ears; bearing a Black Bulls insignia. The young girl had been small and yet she wielded a large weapon, that had been a scythe. She had been coming at Jack hard and fast, though had still struggled as he himself had attacked her with equal force.
"Come on pipsqueak!" Jack told her as he blocked her, "You can do better than that!"
The silver haired girl let out a shriek as he had taken a swing at her; she had been lucky as he had only caught a few strands of her hair. Though she smirked when she saw an opening; flipping her scythe so that blade hadn't been facing him she took a swing, but was surprised when he dodged.
She let out a shriek as he swung under her feet as she hit the ground face first; the scythe had hit the floor with a clang, "Ow…" She groaned as she rubbed her nose, "... That hurt…"
Jack told her as he picked up the scythe, "KEKE---I told you, you leave yourself open. If this was a real match, you would have been dead!"
"In my defense, I would've gotten you by surprise!" The girl said, "If it was a real battle." She couldn't help but pout a little, "It was a good move too."
"Who the hell is that squirt?!" Tessi thought, "And why is she sparring with the Captain."
Jack soon told her as he bonked her on the head, "KEKE--you're being reckless! That's how people get killed!" He soon tossed the scythe to her which she was quick to catch, "Now try again!"
"Yes sir!" The girl said as she stood. She had gotten in a stance as she readied herself. With a deep breath she charged forward just as Jack had gotten his magic ready. Tessi gave a growl as she watched the two continue their training.
"That girl...Her ears… I've seen her before.. But where?" Her eyes soon widened in realization, "That wanted poster I saw--She's that hybrid?!"
Just then she heard a sudden cry as the sound of the metal clang came. She looked in and saw that the girl had been on the floor holding her left ankle, and the scythe had disappeared in a white flash.
"Ana latta as me!" The girl said what looked to be a squirrel that looked to have metal fur, and a light lemur sat on her head, "That stings!"
"Spirit magic?!" Tessi exclaimed in her head, "No--There's more then one. But how is that possible?! Who is this brat?!"
Jack gave a click of his tongue, "Well, we can't spar in that condition!"
"No, no, it's okay it's just a sprained ankle." The girl said with a reassuring smile, "I think I just pulled it by accident. I can still spar!"
"KEKE--you are a stubborn one." Jack said, "It's no fun for me when an enemy can't fight back."
"Fighting's supposed to be fun?" The girl said, a bit confused.
"KEKE--Of course!" Jack said. "You think I just attacked an opponent who's down? Who do you take me for?"
The girl couldn't help but have a thought before she had a sheepish laugh, which Tessi had been surprised by, "I guess you do make a good point." Both Tessi and the girl had been a bit taken back as Jack lifted the girl up off the floor.
"Wha--Wha--Wha--!?" The girl exclaimed as she flailed her arms, "--Jack, you don't have to do that! The Spirits could--"
"KEKE-Shut up!" Jack said. "Let's get you bandaged up."
"But I don't want to trouble you."
"It's not troublesome--KEKE!" Jack told her before he carried her to the other exit the sparring room had; the little spirits seemed to have followed close behind them.
Tessi began to growl as she soon asked "That bratty halfling girl...she's a royal isn't she? Typical...she gets to have the captain's favor...Royals...every one of them..I swear...i'll wipe them out and become rich and famous myself.. And then I'll have the Captain's favor!"
***
-Present-
Tessi had stepped into the kitchen area of the base as she had been grumbling the whole way. The moment she stepped into the room, her comrades vacated the area in a hurry, as they didn't want to cross paths with Tessi when she was in a bad mood.
"Damn it all!" Tessi growled. "Who do they think they are!? Damn peasants, they're just jealous of my worth. Watch, i'm gonna be the top mage to get the captain's attention, once i do i'll even be greater than the King of Clover myself, even if it means getting rid of a few roadblocks."
"Hey Tessi!" A comrade of hers said as she walked in the room, "Captain Jack is here, and he wants to speak with you."
Tessi had been taken back as she raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"I wish I knew--" She replied, "--All I know is, he's in one of his--" She cleared her throat, "--Moods. It's worse than usual. If I were you I wouldn't keep him waiting. He's in his office."
Tessi clicked her tongue before she said, "Wonder what the captain wants.."
She sauntered on over, giving looks to her other comrades as she did, as it made them pick up the pace. It hadn't been long before she found herself in front of Jack's doors. She fixed herself a little before she stepped inside. "Captain Jack?" She called out as she shut the door behind her, "Did you want to see me?"
"KEKE--Tessi please have a seat." Jack said.
Tessi had a raised eyebrow as she said "Okay?" she soon sat down on the chair provided, "Are you done with that secret mission?"
"Not yet--Keke." Jack told her, "There's been an incident."
Tessi had a look of shock, though mentally she had been smiling, "How terrible--Did you need me for backup?"
Jack had replied, ""Yes we do--KEKE! Meet me back in front of the base in 60 minutes! If you're tardy, i'll cut you up!"
"Ye-Yes sir, of course." Tessi said, "What are the details?"
"KEKE--It's a mission of the utmost importance." Jack told her, "And it's one that's on a strict need to know basis. Which is why I can't tell you about it right now."
"Huh? Well that's lame.." Tessi said.
She jumped as Jack had slammed his fist into the table as it had cracked slightly. He gave a look to kill before he asked "What did we talk about complaining?"
"R-Right...sorry." Tessi said nervously before she had a thought, "Why the heck is looking at me that way?! Does he know something?!"
Jack told her, "Well what are you standing around for?! Get ready to move out!"
Tessi immediately shot up from where she sat as she gave her salute, "Yes Captain Jack, sir!" With that she exited the room in a hurry as she when she had stepped out of the room, she could finally give out a breath of relief. It was then her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Finally! This is it! This is my chance to leave the poors and make my way to a life of luxury! Then I can finally show those royals i mean business!""
She couldn't help but kick her legs as she made her way towards her room, "Finally, I'll get the recognition I deserve!"
***
-Sixty Minutes Later-
Tessi had made her way towards the front of the base as planned; she only had taken what she needed, which had been only a small weapon, and her grimoire before she went to meet up with Jack. She tried to maintain her calm composure as she saw her Captain on the outside, sitting on the steps that had been provided.
"Keep calm Westward, remember this is your chance, don't blow it!" Tessi said before she took a deep breath. She soon stepped outside as she was able to keep herself calm. She soon approached her Captain's side as she cleared her throat. "Captain Jack sir--!" She said as she saluted, "--I'm here to begin the mission. Where are we going?"
Jack stood before he told her, "KEKE--We're going on a little hunt! I'm sure you can lead the way!:
"Huh?" Tessi asked, "You mean we're hunting boars? That's the secret mission?"
"Not boars.." Jack said "...Foxes."
Tessi had looked perplexed, "Foxes? I don't follow sir."
"KEKE--" Jack said "--you really are stupid huh? What part of fox hunt do you not get?"
"I get hunt but--" She said as she was more confused, "--But why foxes? How is that a secret mission?"
"Because these foxes have stolen something VERY important to the Clover Kingdom.: Jack said. "And we're gonna get them back!"
Tessi looked nervous as she felt something off; everything about it seemed off. Her body couldn't help but shake as she gulped, attempting to maintain her composure, "Something got stolen? I mean...It's not i-important right?"
"KEKE--OF COURSE IT IS YOU IDIOT!" Jack shouted, making her flinch. "How can we do this mission if that very thing is missing!""
"Uhh." Tessi said as she was nervous. "Maybe we shouldn't hunt the foxes? I mean...what does it have to do with me?"
"I said it before--" Jack said "You know were they are. And YOU'RE gonna help us find them."
"Wait we?" Tessi asked
She soon sensed the presence of mana; she looked over and noticed it had been Captain Yami and Fugeleon along with a few members from the Black Bulls. She gave a leer before she said, "Barbados."
"Long time, no see, Tessi Westward." Pluck said as he gave one back.
Tessi only gave a huff, "So, how's life in the Black Bulls treating you? Still wish to be a part of the Golden Dawn instead of that brat boy?"
"Normally I say an insult back but i don't think you're gonna be in a position to do so." Pluck said with a smug smile
"Huh?" Tessi asked before she felt Yami's aura staring at her as she began to pale. "Oh shit.."
"So you're Tessi huh?" Karasu said casually, as she noticed the wounds he carried, as his ankle had been bandaged and he had a single patch on his cheek, "I hear from Pluck that you made it to the third rank in record time."
Tessi gave a smirk as she said, "It should have been first because soon I'll not only be better than the royals but I'll be one step head of those poor peasants."
"But aren't you one too?" Pluck asked, making her flinch.
She turned to see Noelle by his side as she added "Oh great, this must be your girlfriend?"
Noelle and Pluck each let out a screech. "NO! HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" Noelle shouted as her face was red, "WHY WOULD I GO OUT WITH A BARBADOS LIKE HIM!"
"Feelings mutual, Silva." Pluck told her as she gave him a glare.
Yami soon said with a puff of his cigarette, "Hey, so how are you trying to get rich and succeed in your magic knight squad anyway?"
Tessi smirked as she said, "well first i work my way up, then be rich and famous. When I'm famous I teach the royals a lesson, then punish those poor and even be richer than the king himself."
The group looked to one another, before Fugeleon had asked her, "You mean to say Captain Jack here gave you a raise?"
"Well, du--" Tessi started to say but soon froze before she could think. "Uhh, well I---Did he--?"
Jack soon said, ""KEKE--Like hell I gave a slacker like you a raise!"
Tessi's eyes soon widened as she soon realized what just happened. "Ca-Captain Jack--" Tessi had said nervously, "You know I work harder than everyone else here in the base! Are you sure you didn't forget?"
Tessi soon found a cut on her face before she found a strand of her hair falling down as she shook.
"KEKE--give me a reason why I shouldn't slice you right now!" Jack told her.
Tessi had pleaded, "Sir please! S-Spare me I--I--"
"You what?!" Pluck shouted. "That you entered my best friend all because of your vendetta?!"
"S-SHUT UP! WHY DO YOU CARE?!" Tessi shouted.
"KEKE--he has every right to be angry, Like I AM with you!" Jack said.
"Spill the beans." Yami said. "What's that guy planning?"
"What are you talking about?!" She said.
"Hywel Beavin." Karasu soon said as it made her freeze, "That's where your extra pay is coming from right? That came from you helping him trap royals and nobles?"
Tessi's expression grew cold as she said while maintaining her composure, "Yeah? and?"
"Trust me you don't know the kind of guy you're messing with here." He told her.
"What's there to care about!?' Tessi said, "He's gonna pay me trip--"
"It should concern me when those people the thieves made off were my squadmates!" He told her as he had a look of anger, "The Tater-Tot wasn't the only one who got taken today!"
Tessi only had a look of shock, "W-What?! There were others!? But I don't understand, it was supposed to be that hybrid girl!"
"Well look where that got you, stupid!" Pluck said as he jabbed her finger at her shoulder, "Not only did my best friend get kidnapped, my squadmates got taken too! All because YOU wanted to prove your worth!"
"But he just wanted her!" Tessi said, slapping his hand away, "That's what he told me!"
"Hywel isn't the guy you shouldn't have gotten mixed up in." Karasu told her, "And for the record--The hybrid girl you told him about is just a year younger then Pluck is!"
"... She's still a kid?" Tessi said shocked, "That hybrid girl is still just a kid?"
Fugeleon told her, "Indeed, she is fourteen years of age and still getting used to a lot of things. And you lead them right to her."
"N-No no this wasn't supposed to happen!" Tessi said, "I only did it because he said he would pay me triple then then the usual pay! And--" She soon turned to the Captains, "--She ended up winning the favor of the Captains! But I didn't know they would take others who weren't royal!"
"Hate to break it to you--" Karasu said, "--But the Tater Tot wasn't raised by Royals."
Tessi had said shocked, "you mean----she was a--"
"That's right. A peasant. The very same kind you solely hate. They are all in danger--because of you." Pluck said as she flinched before looking down in shame.
"Tell us what he plans on doing with them--" Karasu told her before he drew his sword, "--Or your gonna have more than a pissed off Captain to worry about."
Yami had added as he drew his own blade, "Better say it now it's not just us my squadmates too."
"I-I don't know!" She said fearfully, "He doesn't tell me anything like that! I swear!"
"Lose the fibbing." Pluck said as he got Oban Oba next with Karasu by his side and Noelle with her wand. "Where is she, Westward? No More of your dirty tricks!"
"... But I really don't know, I swear!" She said, "I don't ask things like that!"
Karasu looked into her eyes as despite the fear he could see something else in her. He had lowered his sword, as he said shocked himself.
"... She doesn't know." He said as the group looked to him with shock.
"I'm sorry, what?!" Noelle said, "What do you mean she doesn't know?!"
Pluck looked to him as he asked. "You sure? You need to have an extra set of eyes when it comes to her. She'll stab you in the back before you know it."
"He's got a point." Yami said. "She's those types of dirty brats."
Fugeleon soon asked Karasu as he noticed how his look changed, "are you sure?"
"... What happens in the Pack--" Karasu said as his hand shook, "--Stays in the Pack… Those are the rules. Hywel would never tell her… Because she's not one of them…"
Fugeleon had said, "In other words she's expandable."'
Karasu nodded as Tessi's face was now flushed with fear and realization. Tessi had soon said, "You mean...I was used?"
Jack told her, "KEKE--NOW YOU GET IT!"
"Did you tell him anything else about her?!" Pluck soon said to Tessi, "Anything at all!"
"A-All I told him was that she was a hybrid and a spirit user!" She said, "That's all, I swear!"
At this everyone had a look of horror on their faces as they each had a look of realization.
"YOU TOLD HIM ABOUT THE SPIRITS?!" Karasu shouted as Tessi had jumped from his tone.
"I'm sorry! I-I-" Tessi said as she stammered
"You told him about them--" Karasu said softly as fear had been written on his expression again, "You told him about them--"
Pluck had said horrified, "oh no...The poor guys...if you told him about the spirits...that means--!"
Tessi stammered as she said "I-I'm Sorry. Really! I never knew! I didn't mean to--"
Pluck turned as he held Tessi by the shirt as he shouted "YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO?! ARE YOU REALLY SAVING THAT EXCUSE?!"
Addeline tried to pull her Partner's hand away as she pleaded "QUACK! Quack Quack!"
"No--SHE DESERVES THIS!" Pluck shouted he was about to hit her, but immediately Yami just took his hand, not letting go.
"Hey, that's enough." Yami said. "You're scaring her."
"But--!" Pluck asked before he looked at Tessi. The once raged filled Magic knight shook as she closed her eyes as tears began to flow, waiting for her to be slapped. Pluck clicked his tongue before he pushed her back.
"Wha-What are we going to do?!" Noelle said, "If he knows--"
"No, no, no, no, no, no, this is bad!" Karasu said, "This is really bad! Hywel, he's going to--"
"ENOUGH!" Fugeleon shouted as the teens immediately ceased, "This doesn't change anything. We already have the location of where they are, all we have to do is get there before Hywel moves forward with whatever he has planned for them."
"But Primrose--" Karasu soon said, "--Hywel might--"
"Hey kid, would you relax?" Yami said as he grabbed his head. "Seriously, you are gonna worry yourself to death." He pointed over to Pluck, "More so then this guy."
"Hey!" Pluck said
"But st-Owowowow!" Karasu said as he felt Yami's grip.
"What part of worrying yourself to death do you know?" Yami asked.
"I think you might kill me before you do so.." Karasu managed to say as his voice had been strained.
"Okay but--" Noelle said before she turned to a cowering Tessi, "--What do we do about her?"
"KEKE--you leave that to me!" Jack said as Tessi flinched, "I'll think of something after we rescue my student!"
"What about Dorksta and the others?" Noelle asked.
Jack only replied, "KEKE--We'll think of something!"
Yami soon said to him with a rageful look, "We'll get them AFTER we skin those damn foxes."
"Yami--" Fugeleon said, "--Can you show us where she is?"
Yami nodded before he had taken out a familiar device. A map had soon appeared as a holographic image before it had shown a familiar looking sphere. Though the very layout of the map had Karasu look of shock as did Pluck and Noelle.
"No way--" Pluck said shocked, "--That place--"
"You mean to tell me the Den's underneath--" Noelle started to say.
Karasu had been trying to process but it seemed to have clicked in his head as he looked at the layout once more.
"Ashtown…"
***
-The Fox's Pack Den-
Despite being mostly underground, most of the people had adjusted better then they had imagined. Many of the thieves had been young and had been either sparring, gambling, sleeping, or counting their haul they had gotten. Though many had been especially lively for what was going to be in store for tonight's events as each of them had laughed and joked about what was going to occur, though others remained concerned and fearful, but knew it best to keep to themselves.
A young man, who looked to be twenty one looked upon the crowd. He had an undercut that had looked to be that of a dark red shade and had been combed over. His clothes looked to be tattered and beaten as he looked as if they had been a standard light brown shirt with black pants, though he had worn a black jacket that had a set of patches. Over his hands had been a set of bandages wrapped along his palm and fingers.
He wore a mask, resembling a fox that had covered half of his face; it looked to have faint stains of red on it, as the eye's insignia had been decorated with a indigo blue color.
A familiar young girl--Erin had soon approached him, "Seems like the little Tomboy Girl and her little buddies aren't trying anything. Have to admit these guys ain't all stupid"
"What did you find on them?" The young man asked.
"Nothing much other than their grimoires." Blaise replied as he tossed aside a familiar dirty looking grimoire, "We can't even sell these on the Black Market even if we wanted, not with three of them having empty pages." He soon held up the five leaf grimoire that had a dragon on the cover, "Though I like the looks of this one here."
"About those three--What of them?" The Young Man asked again.
"They're definitely Shifters." Dylan said, as she had been filing her nails with a knife, "Even with their cloaking items they got on, I can tell they are."
"I told you--" Erin said, "--No Magical Beasts goes carrying around their own grimoires."
"Alrighty--" Blaise said with the clap of his hands, as he tossed the five leaf grimoire aside, "--I know the drill by now! I'll put together the ransom and send it over to the Captains for them. We're gonna make a lot of money not only from the tomboy girl but her little Magic Knight buddies."
"No." The young man said suddenly. Erin, Blaise and Dylan had a look of shock, "We treat them as we would with the other royals and nobles."
"What?!" Erin, Blaise and Dylan exclaimed.
"Hang on a second Hywel--!" Erin said, "--You agreed we wouldn't hurt any kid or Magic Knight."
"Last I checked that Tomboy girl is still a kid!" Blaise added, "And oh yeah, they're Magic Knights as much as I don't like the sellouts."
"And, so?" The young man--Hywel asked, taking them back as he stood, "You know the old saying, if it can crawl, it can brawl."
The three of them couldn't help but have a change of expression, though hid it when Hywel turned to them. "Besides--" He said, "--Did you three just magically forget how the King told the Magic Knights to leave Ashtown to die, after the Diamond Kingdoms Assassins murdered a Captain? Those Magic Knights are just as much fault as the royals. So it's time they got what they deserved."
The three exchanged in a look once again, but they each let out a sigh.
"Fine…" Erin said, "... You make a good point."
"I guess…" Blaise said.
"Whatever you say Hywel." Dylan said.
"Toss the grimoires with the others--" Hywel said, "--And have the others prepare the arena."
"Right." Blaise said as he picked them, "I'll take care of that."
"And I guess I'll get the cursed item ready." Erin said, "Don't wait up."
With that, the three had parted with the errands they had given. Blaise had approached a room in particular as he had got it open with a turn of a key. "Shame we just can't sell these off--" He said to himself as he tossed the grimoires inside, where dozens of more had laid, "--But it's better then the Nobles that have come of age using these to retaliate against us."
He soon left the room as he shut the door making sure it had been locked. The room had been lit with only a single lantern, as every now and again the flame had flickered slightly with every little bug that flew in. The small window on the door had provided only a small amount of light.
Though no one had seemed to have noticed that someone had been inside the very room meant to keep the grimoires in. Whoever the person had been, had picked up the five leafed grimoire that had a dragon on its cover; his fingers brushed along it, as the eye on the dragon seemed to have glowed dimly.
CLICK--Went the door, when the light had flickered again.
A young man opened the door and entered the room, having a look of suspicion. But when he looked inside. No one was seen, not to mention… He didn't seem to have noticed one grimoire was missing.