"TOOK YOU LONG enough."
"Hello Headmaster Nemo. Here to give me a lecture, are you?"
"My lectures always seemed to fall on deaf ears with you lot. So no. I will not be giving you a lecture, but a lesson, the last one you'll ever get from me."
Nemo, standing by the door, raises a red gloved hand materializing its weapon.
"Oh-ho going straight for your war scythe." Remarks Two. "It's a beautifully crafted masterpiece. If memory serves, the single-edge blade is made from a fang of the deceased Black Dragon Abyss, while the pole-arm is from a bone of the same dragon, reinforced with its scales."
"You think knowing all that will help you survive this fight?"
"Not at all. I've always had an appreciation for finely crafted things. Or did you forget?" Asked Two.
"I could never forget anything about you fuckers. Letting you all live after what you did, is one of the biggest regrets I aim to rectify tonight."
"I think you're full of shit. Otherwise you would've killed me already, but you chose to talk instead. Face it headmaster you're past your prime. Even Five the weakest of us could take you."
"Past my prime, that's rich coming from a coward who had to wait until I was literally in a different country before you tried taking over the school."
"You talk too much." Two, fires off three arrows at once. Nemo, in turn, throws three kunai, deflecting the arrows. Two targets the sleeping Emperor next; again Nemo throws a kunai, deflecting the arrow.
"Accelerate!" Nemos in front of Two in a blink, bringing its war scythe down in a diangle slash, top right of the shoulder, down to the left side of Two's hip, or so Nemo thought. Two vanishes from sight; Nemo whirls around in time to block Two's punch.
"Mirage Step. Nicely done. You used to struggle with that technique."
Two doesn't respond, instead it thrusts a dirk into Nemo's stomach. Nemo crumbles to dust.
"Decoy. A handy little trick, don't you think?" Asked Nemo still standing by the door.
"Childish tricks will only get you so far, Headmaster."
"Then show me what you can do." Challenged Nemo.
Outside a few minutes earlier
"Vice Captain, what's going on?"
"Some of the nightwatch have been killed, and fires have been spotted in town. Has anyone seen the Captain or Headmaster Nemo?"
"Ma'am, he might still be in the war room. As for the headmaster I don't know."
"Someone…"
BOOOMM!!!!
All heads snap upwards as smoke billows out into the night.
"That was from The Emperor's room!" Someone shouts.
Vice Captain Carter snaps to. "As of right now I will be taking command! Anyone who's on nightwatch reports to their battle stations immediately! All remaining personnel, prepare for combat!
The number of enemies is unknown, work in teams of five, clearing each room and each floor of the castle!
Escort non-combatants out of the castle, provide any aid needed! Use the guards barracks as a rendezvous point. Rules of engagement are in full effect!"
"Ma'am, what about the fires in town?"
"Securing the castle comes first. Don't forget many soldiers and adventurers call the capital their home. We'll have to trust them to handle things on their end. Any other questions?"
"….."
"Then move out!"
"MA'AM!"
The Vice Captain looks up to the sky, says a silent prayer before taking off.
****
"What's wrong One? Tired already?"
"Not at all."
One and Kerym have been going at it non-stop. Not even slowing down when the explosion shook the castle. Exchanging shots at one another, only closing in when an opening in the other's defenses presented itself.
"Wind Shot!" Kerym fires an arrow composed of the wind.
One dodges it and fires back.
"𝐴𝑟𝑖𝑎, 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑡."
"𝑂𝑛 𝑖𝑡."
Aria manipulates the air current to bring the wind arrow back around, hitting One in the back, piercing the heart.
One staggers, drops its bow, then collapses to the ground. Kerym slowly walks towards One, bow trained on it. Kerym gets within a few yards of the body.
"𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑒."
"𝐷𝑜𝑛𝑒."
With Aria's help he shoots One in the head ensuring death. Satisfied Kerym lowers his bow, and kneels next to the body. Aria separates herself from Kerym, and floats beside him. Kerym reaches out towards One's hood.
"Detonate."
One's body explodes, blowing Kerym backwards, slamming him into the wall. Aria disappears all together from the heat.
Kerym's ears are ringing, his vision blurry. He tries to wipe away the blood, and whatever else from his face with his right hand, but it's badly burned; he uses his left hand instead. Eventually the ringing stops, when he can see a little better. His eyes go wide with shock.
"….."
"….."
"….."
Kerym struggles to speak, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water, words failing him.
"How am I still alive? Is that what you want to know? It's quite simple really. You weren't fighting me. You were fighting my stand-in," said One, "courtesy of my extremely rare skill: Perfect Double.
This skill allows me to make a copy of myself. Everything I know it knows, my memories, fighting abilities, everything. I find using the corpse of a highly skilled mage makes for the best double. Unfortunately the stand-in corpses don't last long."
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!!" Shrieks Aria reappearing.
"Stay where you are, unless you want him to die now instead of later." Threatens One, bow drawn, and aimed at Kerym.
Kerym holds up a shaky hand stopping Aria. "Why?" He asked, his voice barely audible.
"Aria, you have two options; you can try and kill me to avenge your master, or you can stay and say your farewells. Your choice."
"Answer Kerym's question." Responds Aria through gritted teeth.
"Why indeed." One turns and leaves.
Aria goes to Kerym's side. "Hang on, I'll get you help."
"Aria, I… need a favor from you." Kerym's breathing becomes ragged.
"Now is not the time for that. You need help."
"Make a contract… with my son."
"Stop talking nonsense." Aria replied, tears in her eyes.
"Aria, I…" Kerym starts coughing up blood. He fights through it to finish speaking.
"I-I… re-release… you."
Those were his final words to her.
****
Behind the Tabby Cat Bar
"Water Magic: Water Slicer!" The water attack cuts down a stone golem.
"Nice job Ursula."
"Thanks Tiamat."
"Earth Magic: Stone Bullets. Come on you two, fights not over yet."
"Looks like Arielle is on a rampage." Chuckles Tiamat.
"Can't really blame her. Best gig we ever had, until some dumbass walks in and sets a woman on fire, " said Ursula, "and now this happens."
"I really liked playing at the Tabby Cat Bar." Said Tiamat.
"Guess it's back to taking on adventurer gigs for a while to make ends meet."
"Come on guys, the bar will be rebuilt, and we'll be back to playing for them in no time. Until then let's get these bastards trying to burn down the capital." Arielle charges ahead.
"Right behind you Arielle." Called Ursula.
"I'm picking our first job when this is over." Proclaims Tiamat.
Eleanor Trading Company
"Is Mrs. Eleanor, okay?" Asks a male Templar after cutting down another man.
"Yes. She's with our leaders." Responds a Female Mage after blasting two others with a fireball.
"Who are they?"
"Her granddaughters. Lola and Lita."
"Can they keep her safe?"
"They're both A ranked warriors."
"Okay, then we best do our part out here." Said the male Templar.
"The rest of my party is spread out around the building."
"Can they hold their own?"
"We're all children of Templar soldiers. We can hold our own. Lighting Magic: Lighting Blast!"
Lighting shoots from the fingertips of the Female Mage, killing an Ogre like it was nothing.
"Can I leave this to you guys?"
"Yeah go, we got this."
"What's the name of your party?"
"Shiny Diamonds."
"I'll remember that."
The Templar soldier takes off, makes it two blocks away before a Minotaur appears, smashes the soldier into a red paste with its club, and starts making its way towards Eleanor Trading Company.
"Hmm, I wonder what Minotaur meat tastes like?" The Female Mage wondered out loud, as she licked her lips.
Residential and Shopping Districts
Someone's home
"Go, get outta here!"
"I'm not leaving your side father."
"Dam it boy just do as you are told and go. You need to look after your mother and little brother. Now go before they get here."
"Fine. Just don't die stupid old man."
No one makes it out. A mage conjures up a giant boulder smashing it through the roof killing everyone within.
Mr. and Mrs. Blacksmith Shop
"You have a lot of nerve coming into my shop, and trying to steal from me." Chided the female dwarf, standing over a man, his head smashed in by the dwarf's hammer.
"Get the fuck out of my shop unless you wish to die."
"It's six against one. You really think you can take us all?" Asked one of the intruders.
"This won't be a fair fight." Said another intruder.
"You're right it is a bit unfair." The dwarf woman drops her hammer. "There now it's a fair fight."
"Don't mock us bitch."
One of the six rushes the dwarf woman, tries to hit her with his ax, but suddenly drops dead, a crossbow bolt to the head.
"You alright love?" Asked her husband.
"Yes dear. Just taking out the trash."
"Kill them both!" Shouts the group's leader.
The husband and wife duo make quick work of the intruders.
This night would be forever remembered as the greatest tragedy in the entire Britannia history. Despite being the home to Templars, adventurers, retired soldiers, and retired adventurers many citizens still lost their lives.
Some homes and businesses were completely destroyed, while others managed little to no damage. Two full days will pass before the decision is made to announce the death of Emperor Maxwell Arsenio Sr.
****
The Hills
"Only shit you're alive?! Hey Three, I owe you ten gold coins!"
"Ten gold coins, is that all you think my life is worth?"
"It's not like that Two." Protests Four. "That's the same price I place on every one of us, myself included. There's no real reason why I chose that amount."
"Here, have a drink Two while we wait on the boss." Three, walks over with mugs of ale, placing a one in front of Four.
Two accepts the drink and takes a seat. "Anything to report?"
"I had a run in with Headmaster Reginald. He's a tough son of a bitch. It's been so long since I felt that kind of rush."
"Did you kill him Four?"
"Unfortunately I did not. He pushed me to my limit and I ended up bailing."
"So you ran like a little bitch. If it were me I would have finished him off." Brags Three.
"Your head is swelling Three."
"Welcome back boss."
"Fighting any of the headmasters one on one could be the end for any of us, myself included."
"Even the human headmasters?"
"Especially the humans. They'll use whatever tactics and trickery they have to to win."
"I faced off with Headmaster Nemo. I survived only because Nemo had to protect The Emperor, while fighting me."
"Did you succeed?" Asked One.
"Yes. The Emperor is dead."
"Good. I also killed Kerym. His death will be a nice added bonus from our employer."
"Will they pay because he's dead?" Asked Three.
"No worries they will." One insured them.
"Whatever happened to that mage that was with us?"
"Dead."
"When do we get paid?"
"It'll be a bit Three. Our employer needs to verify a few things first."
"So what do we do until then?"
"We lay low. Killing The Emperor is a big deal. We need to see what the newly crowned Emperor will do once the coronation ceremony is over."
"Did you succeed with the second part of the plan?" Two asked.
"Yes." Replied One.
One sets a small satchel down onto the table, pulls out several grey scrolls, eight blue scrolls, three red scrolls, a small box, and several small pouches.
"Everything except the box is ours."
"What's in it?" Asked Four.
"It's this."
One opens it, spins it around, showing off its contents.
"Is that?"
"No, it's a copy." Answered One, shutting the lid. "Now let us eat, drink, and fuck the night away."
****
"I love what you've done with the place."
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you for what you bastards did."
The figure dressed from head to toe in black moves from the shadows to stand in front of the desk, reaches up and removes its hood. It then removes a hair tie letting its long silver cascade down.
"It's time to bring her home, Dale."
"Her?"
"Our daughter." Five replied.