Rose pushes Tina to the side and uses her sword magic and shoots her swords at the demons, as the swords are about to hit the demons 3 of them dodge the swords and charge at Rose, as only one gets hit in the leg making the demon to blow fire on the sword trying to melt it. As the 3 charges at Rose, Tina sees that the 5th demon is pulling the sword out of Josie's body.
"Rose, you need to stop the one that is trying to free Josei."
Rose looks over at Tina for a second.
"You don't think I know that already."
Rose uses wind magic to push the demons running at her into the air, so she can hit them easier with her sword magic.
"Wind Magic, air lift."
Rose throws the 3 demons into the air and aims her magic swords at them, and as Rose is about to shoot her swords, Josie uses dark magic on Rose, and puts her into a dark box.
"Dark Magic, dark box."
Tina sees Rose get trapped in the dark box but Josie.
"ROSE!"
Tina looks over at Josie as the demon finally pulls out the sword that was holding Josie on the tree. Josie smiles and starts to walk over to Tina, as she speaks.
"What did I say to you two? Oh, yeah that my toys will not get away."
Josie continues to get closer to Tina, as the dark box opens and Rose falls on her face unconscious, as Josie stops and puts her foot on Rose's head, then speaks.
"You know what. I think it is time I get you some pay back for stabbing me with that magic sword of yours."
Josie reaches her hand out and makes a green flame in her hand, as she drops it on Rose's head. The flames burn the side of Rose's head as poison starts to show on her face from the flame.
"Do you like it? Green fire, also called the poison flame."
Josie looks over at Tina and smiles, as Tina spoke.
"You bitch."
"What did you call me? I was going to kill you with my own hands, but I guess my demons here can have a little snack instead."
Josie snaps her fingers as all 5 demons come to her. Josie pointed at Tina and spoke.
"Here is a snack for you all. Now eat up."
Tina crawls over to a tree and lays her back against it, as the demons get closer to her. Tina pulls out a scroll and holds it in front of her, as Josie looks at Tina with a shocked face.
"Don't tell me that you're going to use that."
"I was not planning to use this here, on you but I guess I have no other option now."
Tina looks up at the sky and starts to think.
("Sorry Lloyd, please forgive me. I guess, I mess up somewhere, or maybe miss something that you couldn't even see. But I will go out with a fight, just keep on fighting like you always do.")
Tina smiles, as Lloyd and Princess Vita plays a game of chess. As Lloyd moves his pawn from e2 to e4 and Princess Vita moves her pawn from c7 to c6 and as they play Lloyd speaks.
"Tell me princess. Have you ever looked at chess and thought maybe chess is a game of life and death."
Princess Vita looks at Lloyd with a confused face.
"What do you mean? Chess has always been a game."
"Yes, but only the greats can use the game of chess to show the outcome of a battle that is happening. Like right now."
"Are you saying that we are playing a game of chess to see if we win the battle or not?"
"If you want to take it that way, then sure. But it is all about how you use your pieces and make sure that they are in the right place at the right time, or you will lose some that are very important to your victory."
Princess Vita moves her queen to a5, making checkmate on Lloyd.
"I got you."
"You did but look again."
Princess Vita looks, as Lloyd moves his knight to c3 to defend his king.
"You almost had me, but you didn't look at my defense, and that is a good and bad thing."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that it is good to attack quickly but if you don't know what you're up against, you have a high chance of losing. But if you take your time and learn about your opponent you have a much higher chance at beating your opponent."
"I see."
Princess Vita moves her bishop from d7 to h3.
"But with numbers pushing at ones we can win."
Lloyd smiles.
"Maybe, but to do that. You must be willing to lose more than what you will gain."
Lloyd moves his pawn from g2 to h3 and takes Princess Vita bishop.
"See."
Princess starts to look at the board closer and moves her queen from a5 to c3 and takes Lloyd knight.
"Then I will just send one of my strongest in there to beat you."
"Yes, you can do that but, at what cost."
Princess Vita looks back at the board and sees Lloyd move his pawn from b2 to c3 and takes her queen.
"The game is just getting started, princess. So don't force it to end so fast, take your time and get to know what you're up against before you make your next move."
About 30 seconds has passed as Princess Vita moves her rook to f8 as Lloyd takes it with his knight from g6.
"Princess Vita, it seems like. You become more lost in the game and not knowing where to go."
"I am just trying to push you, but it is not working so well."
Princess Vita sat there for a minute and then spoke.
"You said earlier that the game of chess is like the battlefield and that you have to make some sacrifices. Did you make any sacrifices with the team?"
"I will not say that they are sacrifices, they are more pieces that look like they can be sacrificed in battle. Now it is up to the opponent to choose to make that piece and sacrifice or not."
Lloyd boxed in Princess Vita king with two queens that he had on the board.
"That is checkmate. Good game Princess Vita."
"Yes, it was a good game."
Lloyd picks up his rock pieces as Princess Vita speaks.
'How do you think they are doing?"
Lloyd looks up in the sky.
"They are doing just fine."
Lloyd can see what is happening at the battle and has he watches from a far he smiles.
"He is always on time."
As Tina goes to open the scroll, to kill the demons, Josie, and even herself, an arrow comes from behind Joise as the arrow explodes into ice. Freezing Josie and the demon in place with an ice wall in front of Tina and around Rose. Tina looks over and sees Madison, as Subun appears from the shadows behind Madison to stab him, Madison uses another arrow that he shot earlier to swap with, and as Madison swapped with the arrow, the arrow exploded in Subun's face. Freezing him in place, as Madison rejoins Reinhart in his fight against Ranperuji. Reinhart tries to take Ranperuji's knee out but mist, as Ranperuji simple blocks the attack
"You are good with a blade, and that is saying something for a man with one hand."
"You shut up."
Reinhart tries to push Ranperuji away but Ranperuji knees Reinhart right in the gut, making Reinhart take a step back. As Reinhart has his guard down, Ranperuji goes for a killing blow on him by cutting his head off, as an arrow hits Ranperuji sword, making the sword turn into glasses and Reinhurt blocks to strike with his elbow. As the sword hit Reinhart's elbow, the sword broke, giving Reinhart the time to punch Ranperuji in the face with his other hand. Ranperuji stumbles back a little and looks at Reinhart then he looks up and sees Madison standing on the roof of the castle.
"You have one annoying archer on your side."
"Sorry, is he too good for you to handle?"
"Hahaha, please. If it was a one v one, I think I could take him. But who knows." ("In this position, I have a 10% chase to win. I don't like those odds, so it is best if I take my leave for now.")
Ranperuji looked at Reinhart and spoke.
"I think it is best for me to take my leave."
"You think we will just let you go."
"Yes. Because I am not what you're after."
"I guess you have a point there. But still…"
Before Reinhart could do anything, Ranperuji uses his smoke magic to make a giant smoke cloud to make his escape.
"I can't see anything. Hey Madison, do you see him?"
Madison shoots an arrow to the ground where Reinhart is standing, and swaps places with the arrow.
"I didn't see him run out of the smoke."
"Dang it."
Reinhart starts to walk back to see how Rose and Tina are doing. As Madison follows behind him, Reinhart turns and looks at Madison.
"Shouldn't you go and see if Tristen or Icibis are okay."
"I will but first We need to make sure, Tina and Rose are okay first."
"I guess you have a point there."
As both Madison and Reinhart go and check on Tina and Rose, Icibis is standing in the middle of a hallway in the castle. Icibis looks around with a confused face.
"I was just in the jail cell with Tristen just a second ago, or was I? ("It was probably that woman that can swap places with others that swapped me here. I have to get back to help Tristin.")
Icibis starts to run, but stops when he hears a familiar voice, from behind him.
"So, where are you heading in a hurry? Mr. Princess Icibis."
Icibis turns and sees Hoshiki sitting there playing with his spear. Hoshiki stands up at the same time Icibis draws his sword. Hoshiki put his hand out and spoke.
"Hey now, I am not here to fight you Icibis."
"Then why are you here then?"
"I want to know something that has been bothering me for a hot minute now. So, do you mind if we talk for a second?"
Icibis puts his sword away and speaks.
"Sure, but make it quick. I don't have much time to work with."
"Yeah, I know."
As Icibs and Hoshiki are talking, Madison and Reinhart are meet with a opponent that is not so easy to get rid of, as Subun appears in front of both of them and makes the floor, walls, and all objects into shadows, as he points his sword at Madison and spoke.
"Did you really think, that little ice trick would work on me?"
Madison pulled out his bow and spoke.
"It looks like we have more to do here, Reinhart."
To be continued….