Giliath demands your power stones!
*
After Emma stayed quiet for a moment in her thoughts while the four looked toward the direction of Legram, Fie couldn't help but turn around to look back at Emma. A hint of disappointment appeared in Fie's eyes seeing the absence of Emma's tightly wrapped cloth object she used to carry over her back.
"It's a shame you don't have that big ass rifle with you. That thing's sweet.", Fie said to Emma with a disappointed look in her eyes.
"That thing, huh...", Duvalie uttered the moment Fie said that, which caused Emma's thoughts to end. As for Duvalie, she recalled the time she had spent again in the Saint-Gral Labyrinth. Remembering how she easily operated such a large rifle while the two were in there, even Duvalie couldn't help but marvel at the strength Emma displayed. Duvalie would find herself in front in most of the battles, while Emma would find safe locations to either snipe the monsters away with a prepared spell, or a shot from her large orbal rifle.
"It is. I decided to leave it in Grandmother's care for now so she can fine tune it for the Trials. I will mostly be providing back up as we make our way to Legram--?", Emma tried to answer Fie. Yet before the four of them could do anything next, they started to feel the ground start to quake a bit. Duvalie's ears perked right up as did the pupils of Celine's eyes focus into the distance within Isthmia Great Forest.
"...Do you guys feel that?", Duvalie, sporting a more serious look, placing her hand on her sheathed blade. It wasn't until now did they hear a loud roar coming off from a rather large distance. Hearing this roar, Emma frowned. But before she could do anything, she and Celine felt a fluctuation in the barrier they were in, only to have Emma's eyes turn wide in surprise, seeing the barrier start to dissipate around them. At the same time, a childish voice reached their ears, letting out a laugh.
"Haha, it looks like you guys were able to group up as expected. I brought you all a present. Consider it a parting gift, you guys should be able to take it on no problem.", A fifth figure suddenly said, only to flash into existence that seemed to have come out of nothing, further away into the air. This figure did not use the teleportation stone, and simply appeared into existence, only to see themselves hovering over the three girls and the cat.
"Grandmother...", Emma retorted, seeing Roselia suddenly appear before them.
"Hmph. Did you really have to take the barrier down, stupid Rose?", Celine retorted seeing Roselia now floating in the air before them.
" 'Tis the only way to attract their attention. Just think of it as a parting challenge. It's not like you can refuse it, either. Those monkeys are already on their way.", Roselia retorted Celine, only to have the four feel the ground start shaking even more. In the near distance they saw one insanely large shadow start toppling trees over one after another, only to have two smaller shadows follow the large shadow. In total, there appeared to be three monsters with the appearances of baboons that seemed to have become part of the forest themselves. Seeing these baboons arrive, Roselia glanced at them, only to suddenly do a quick motion of her hand, allowing a large object to materialize before her.
"Oh, and before I forget, catch this, Emma.", Roselia said, tossing what appeared to be a very large orbal sniper rifle Emma's way, extending out a few feet wide. It was still taller than Emma. Seeing Roselia do this. Emma jumped a bit, and effortlessly caught it.
"You already finished with its maintenance?", Emma smiled seeing the rifle now in her hands once again.
"Hmph. Who do you think I am? Once that ice girl and that foolish disciple of mine showed me the ropes, maintaining it is of no issue to me.", Roselia answered, shrugging her shoulders a bit. "And speaking of which, it appears he is in Legram now. So off with those monsters you guys go, and head toward Legram. With any luck you'll be able to encounter him before he has his eyes set on another place.", Roselia said, only to twirl around a bit, bringing her staff out.
Before the girls could do anything, Roselia uttered a chant, and vanished from sight, allowing the barrier that protected the teleportation stone to remain down. She had plans to restore the barrier, but that wouldn't happen until they were done with this fight.
"Sweet. I'm always down for some monster hunting. Guess you were able to get your toy back anyways.", Fie said, revealing a playful grin seeing Emma's hands now full.
"That does seem to be the case after all. Will you be providing support in the backline again?", Duvalie also asked Emma, preparing to draw her blade out.
"Of course. This is just what we need too. I want to see how we can do as a group before we make our way to Legram.", Emma nodded in acknowledgement. As she did, she backed up a bit, and prepared to make use of the rifle she was now just given. Seeing the resolute look in Emma's eyes, Celine couldn't help but look at her as well.
"Hmm, if you are really keen on doing this, then I might as well do my part too.", Celine suddenly said, which drew their interest.
"Celine?", Emma also asked with interest.
"D-Don't get the wrong idea, okay? I was just given this after all. It's still new to me.", Celine said, ignoring Emma's question. The three of them only saw Celine start to glow in a bluish light, activating her mana all around her. The figure of a cat soon began to vanish, only to be replaced by what appeared to be a young dark skinned girl. Yet this girl appeared different, as she still had a cat tail and ears on her head and near her butt.
"So you were a girl.", Fie retorted seeing a new figure now before them. The cat was no longer there and was now replaced by a dark skinned girl.
"That is the first thing that came to your mind after seeing me transform like this?", Celine retorted Fie seeing her act nonchalant.
"Enough screwing around you two. We got this giant baboon to kill." Duvalie said, who now had her sword drawn, pointing it at the very baboon that was now towering before them.
Seeing the giant baboon along with two smaller ones let out loud roars that shook the trees nearby, the four became serious and started to enter their battle stances. Emma could only smile as she observed the other three while remaining in the back.
Yet as four readied their stances to fight the monsters, further toward the top of forest, a sole figure dressed in knightly armor could be seen, hiding their face away with a helmet. It was of course Arianrhod, who maintained a proper distance away so the four couldn't detect her. Seeing the four girls with determined looks in their eyes, a rare smile appeared within Arianrhod's helmet as she silently observed them.
This silence only lasted briefly as Arianrhod was soon greeted by a second voice.
"So this is where you were. Enjoying watching those fledglings grow?", A second voice said, only to have a large magic circle appear beside Arianrhod.
"I could say the same to you, Azure Abyss.", Arianrhod said, greeting the beautiful gray haired woman arrive.
"Oh my, surely you jest, Steel Maiden. I find these days rather boring while Crow spends his days training in those stupid sewers. Sadly I can't stray far from Ordis.", Vita said, letting loose a fan to cover part of her face.
"At least you have found your path to tread, as did these children. I have not find myself intervening much these days.", Arianrhod simply said, causing Vita to raise her eyes.
"Isn't that a good thing though?", Vita asked Arianrhod.
"Hmm, only time will tell. Are you not going to see them?", Arianrhod asked Vita, only to cause her to become quiet for a moment. Vita then turned her back.
"Nah, I would only interrupt their progress if I stepped in. Say hi to Grandmother for me.", Vita said, twirling her fan around a bit before she unleashed her mana. Arianrhod soon found herself alone again, but not for long.
"And off she goes again wanting to do whatever she wants. I wonder who she got that from.", Roselia said, only to appear near Arianrhod.
"You needn't ask me. The Azure Abyss has already found her path.", Arianrhod responded, greeting Roselia.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm still not over the fact she joined you guys, but it wouldn't hurt for Vita to receive another spanking.", Roselia said, revealing a playful grin. "I hear my other disciple arrived in Erebonia not too long ago. So many familiar faces, but not once have they intertwined each other yet.", Roselia mused to herself.
"As I told the Azure Abyss, only time will tell. We can only observe.", Arianrhod simply responded.
"Mmm.", Roselia said, nodding her head as she became quiet, letting her eyes focus on the group of four girls who were now in the middle of combat....