An Adventurous Year, Act 11
Goblin Eschaton
I.
Madoka was not sure how to feel after the heavily armored man's comment. His accent was thick and clouded by the helm upon his head. His words were thunderous hammers landing blows with strength but they did not have enough precision to hit their mark. Something resembling a chuckle echoed from under the visor but he started to turn back to where Guild Master Luxgor posted. She decided to remain silent and wait for the other adventurers' comments. That is, she thought as Knotting strands tangled beneath the walking tower's tough metal boots.
"Just what in the hell do you guys feed that guy?" Audrey looked up at the armored man. Eraziror simply shrugged and looked assuredly at the princess as if he would explain later. She was already shorter than Madoka and he was several heads taller than her. The maid feared Her Highness's words would not even reach the giant's ears.
Madoka designated the huge man as "Iron Armor" or "Armor" in her head and shrugged. Madoka pondered if she could grow to be that big if she ate enough. Armor rested while Audrey kicked dust. Luxgor was delivering a speech but Madoka did not care for it.
"What are we even doing here?" She asked Audrey. "Don't we have these so-called goblins to worry about?"
"Well we're at a kind of makeshift rally point," Audrey told her. At the sight of Madoka's puzzled face, she sighed. "It's something militaries do but since we're not military he's probably explaining what we're going to be doing. Or something. I can't hear him!"
"Have you seen rally points in your life?" Madoka asked her. They moved away from Eraziror's party and spoke quietly while the other adventurer parties looked on at Luxgor.
"No, Father did not allow me to watch over the soldiers in Fiara," Audrey sighed. Her father was a smart man, Madoka shuddered at how much trouble Audrey could cause with an army. "Something about responsibility and protecting his little girl. Do I look little? D-Don't answer that! In my other life, there was this weird kid at school who blabbered about the Navy a lot. Always a weird kid..."
Madoka looked down at her princess and stifled a laugh at the sight of her attempts to see the stage Luxgor stood on. The adventurers here seemed hardened enough to rip through such insignificant creatures. The maid was unsure whether she would rather pick herbs again or hunt monsters. A chuckle came out of her but she covered her mouth. Perhaps she did like battling more than she thought.
"I don't know what to expect from goblins," Audrey sighed. "Normally, they're low leveled mobs and it seems so in this world but... I thought we passed the tutorial zone already."
"Tutorial zone?"
"Like uh... a beginner's zone," Audrey explained. "I know we're the back up copper newbies but if you ask me I think we're here to protect those guys."
She gestured to the party they were assigned to.
"Why would we do that?" Madoka glanced over and realized she did not need an answer. The Sovos party leader was picking his nose with his finger while the Night Operator sat silently. The other Sovos was inspecting her bow but there was something odd about the girl. "They seem weak besides the big one and the girl."
Madoka wondered what exactly she felt from Kanys's hidden intent. It felt similar to Audrey's own intent when the princess was scheming over something. A hidden strength kept locked under a mask, she mused. An unwavering determination for a goal the Sovos ranger was not willing to share so easily.
"Exactly," Audrey clicked talismans in her bag together. "Liabilities. Except the big guy and if I could be honest, I don't like the look of that Dragon girl. She seems like an imposter among-- I mean, just something ain't right about her. I know trust is necessary and needs to be built in order to maintain team cohesion but be wary--"
"Don't worry about her," Madoka sighed but she knew the princess's intuitions were much more accurate than hers. "I'm here."
The two looked at each other. Relief filled Audrey's eyes. They were shining unlike the grey sky above. Should a fool scheme against her princess, Madoka swore she would take them down.
"Oi, you two copper sprouts!" Eraziror roared and clapped impatiently. "Get to moving! We'll leave you behind if you so much stop for one moment!"
Madoka instinctively moved in front of Audrey to guard her but Eraziror held his hands up. Kanys rolled her eyes from behind him. Her shadow seemed to move erratically for a second before remaining still. Knotting strands shifted around it and avoided its darkness. Was a creature inside her shadow? Perhaps the Night Operator priest used some kind of magic to hide inside it. He was nowhere in sight.
"Hey, I'm just kidding you know. Guild Master's got a lot of faith in you two," the iron ranker waved his hands defensively. Kanys punched his shoulder. "Ach! That hurts! We're covering the rear guard since the heavyweights are supposed to clear out whatever goblins they come across. Let's go!"
The group trailed behind the lines while other parties appeared to branch off on their own paths. Luxgor must have commanded them to go to several other places. Madoka glared at Audrey as they approached the disaster she caused. It was as if a giant sank its teeth in the earth and ripped out a strip of land as far as the tough rocky ridges of those forest hills. All that was left was a scar of baked and brown masticated earth across the fields. Kanys knelt down and scraped at the dirt. Audrey immediately moved to warn the dragon girl but Madoka stopped her.
"Ach!" Kanys recoiled and shook her hand. The dirt must have been too hot to the touch. "Fire magic. Too hot to touch. It's not fully Domineering magic... It's twisted somehow."
"Definitely twisted," Madoka confirmed as she glared at Audrey. The girl shrunk and the Sovos looked at her oddly at her sudden comment but nodded in agreement. The maid quickly shut her mouth.
Domineering? Madoka wondered. Perhaps Domination and Domineering were interchangeable names for those passionate mana strands. Audrey snickered but earned an elbow from the maid. It was her fault they were going to take lives today, Madoka felt her face darken. It is time to see how much information the pair can learn. She remained quiet as the iron rankers talked over the clanking of Armor's boots.
"Is this glass?" Eraziror pinched some of the fine dirt and released it quickly. Madoka knew what the white sand was although she could see the adventurer's gloves were singed from the magic anyways. She flicked a bang out of her face and could not help but feel impressed at the princess's destruction. "No, it's like..."
"It's most likely an aerial monster," Kanys looked up at the sky. "Hey, wait up!"
The adventurers were getting left behind but to Madoka they seemed undisciplined and too slow from the start. She has seen her fellow maids move quicker up and down the flighted halls of the palace. Audrey could barely hold a straight face at the mention of an aerial monster but luckily none of the others seemed to notice her. They traveled along the rut. Madoka counted four parties of adventurers along with the iron rankers they shadowed. She did not recognize any of them from the Guild Hall. Perhaps this was a joint effort?
Was this enough for a settlement full of goblins? Audrey spoke of such creatures with disdain. Malevolent and prone to harmful deeds, she described them. The guards were able to defeat a large group of them so Madoka felt easier on the situation.
"The attack starts way back there," Eraziror waved behind him as the group walked. "And juts to a halt right before the mountains in the woods. Like it swooped and took a hit then buggered off sky high whence it came."
"Hmm," Kanys made a deft jump onto a rock and surveyed the damage. Those skills seemed more refined than what she tried to appear, Madoka observed her movements. "Perhaps you're right. No tracks and the reports said a King slime was involved. Would be a pleasant surprise for once."
"Uh," Audrey looked up to Kanys for attention. The dragon girl lept off the ledge and peered at the princess. "Any idea where we're headed?"
"Headed into the Circle of the Labyrinth, no doubt," she pointed to the side of the mountain ridge.
"A labyrinth?" Madoka asked. That word was terrifying to her. She recalled the massive structure they visited last summer.
"Aye. This forest circles around it. Hence its name," Kanys continued. It made sense to the maid. Woods seemed to close in on them as they walked alongside the damaged landscape. The scar in the land seemed to converge along with the treestumps of vaporized forest like the sharp point of a sword. "Bastards came from the area, anyhow. Frankly, it's a blessing and a curse that this monster battle revealed a path to this settlement. I doubt anything good will come out of it but goblins make for good weapon parts. Not for good food, though."
"F-Food?" Madoka shuddered at the idea. "Weapon parts?"
"Aye. Bones for arrows, tendons for bowstrings, and so on. Good way for quick money," Eraziror joined in. "We've a ways to get onto the main course, so! What's a beauty like you doing in this guild?"
His eyes settled on Madoka but he recieved a swift punch from Kanys. Madoka noticed hostility emanating from Audrey but she did not care for his compliments.
"What did I say wrong?" Eraziror complained. "Beauties! I meant the both of you are! To think of it this way--stop punching me! Two horrifically powerful beauties joining the guild is just unheard of!"
"I'm here on my Lady's orders," Madoka sighed as the two followed. Audrey remained quiet but seemed to approve of her acting. "Nothing more, nothing less."
She remained alert despite her appearance. They were definitely in monster territory now. The thoughts of animals were scarce and an ominous feeling crept up on her. Eraziror seemed ignorant of the atmosphere and did an odd twirl.
"Ah, how mysterious!" He danced but pinched his fingers together and stroked his chin. "And yet, as expected as a loyal and noble warrior. Had I my lyre I would craft you a marvelous song! Tsk, I forgot the damn thing in Gladeban."
"A bard?" Audrey muttered to herself. Armor stopped moving and Kanys took the cue to warn the others. The other units were held up by something.
"Well if you want to see that noisy thing again, focus up," Kanys growled. "Something's got the vanguard shook."
"Alright," Eraziror's mood changed from his relaxed state to an adventurer who has seen many things. Madoka did not dislike it but then he muttered under his breath in front of Kanys. "It's not noisy..."
Madoka chuckled but a loud groan creaked from Armor. The big oaf appeared to be on the move. She turned to Audrey but the princess did not have any answers. The pair of Sovos started to move up after him.
"Oh, that's him signaling for us to move up," Eraziror turned back as he jogged and winked. "You'll get used to his creaky armor."
Kanys was frozen up ahead as the girls caught up. Other adventurers were also inspecting the scene. Madoka followed the dragon girl's gaze and stopped at the horror before her. The opening to this so called Circle of the Labyrinth was quite suspicious.
"Are those... ears?" Audrey gawked. How was she surprised at the sight of them still?
High above them were thin metal wiring with bloody chunks of flesh dangling off of them like gruesome fruit from the trees. The entrance perimeter was lined by them. It was clear to everyone that those inside the main forest did not want visitors.
A curtain of ears, Madoka mused. She would have retched from the macabre sight but she had already seen much worse. That thought shook her up more than the pointed red berries swaying in the wind. She knew she would not be the same after the gruesome sight of the mutilated king in the Palace but it was the fact that she felt nothing from seeing cut-off ears made her worry about herself.
Could she ever be free of such horrors? Her fist gripped her axe and she focused on her surroundings. A talisman hummed from behind her. Audrey also must have sensed Madoka's urgency and prepared for battle.
"Aw, who let the children come out to play today?" A member from another one of the units mocked them. Was this the time to pick fights? Madoka wondered. There were no animals here. Not even the birds desired to mess with those sawed off ears. Only her knotting magic swirling around each wire. "Is the sight making you little girls shake in your boots?"
"Shut it!" Kanys warned the adventurer. "I'm warning you."
"Oh?" The cocky adventurer lowered his hood. A silver tag dangled from his neck. "What's a poor disgusting Sovos Iron ranker going to do?"
A rumbling came from Armor's helmet and Madoka sensed a faint killing aura from him. It was a candle compared to Audrey's wildfire scorching the lands around her. Kanys had a dangerous intent as well. This is bad, Madoka worried. The ears were a trap system and here they were turning against each other. What could they do? The green-scaled dragon girl spoke again with a cold and serious voice.
"I'm saving you from them," Kanys warned him again. "They will kill you."
Silence, fool! You're making us look evil! Madoka thought at the ranger but saw her tail flick in annoyance. Lord Leopride's tail would do that whenever Audrey annoyed him so the maid could infer this was the same.
"I ain't afraid of you or that slab of metal. Rustaze's guild is so soft. Had I the chance to work elsewhere for my Gold tag I would but this is too easy of a job to pass up," He began to pace. Madoka recalled Luxgor's explanation of ranks. Silver tags must work in other countries for recommendations for a rank up. "And I am certainly not against working on tasty women..."
He began to approach her and surprisingly Kanys rolled her eyes and let him pass her. A big mistake, Madoka stepped in front of Audrey as she always had. The princess simply kicked dirt in boredom.
"Feeling brave, are you?" The cocky adventurer stood above Madoka. Can there be another way than these little games? The other parties began to laugh amongst themselves. He pulled out his knife and pointed its tip at the wires of ears. "If you ain't used to the sight of frozen ears then you should stick by my side and ditch that disgusting--"
Madoka instantly closed her grip around the cocky adventurer's neck and rose to her full height.
"I warned you!" Kanys yelled at him but backed off when Madoka glared at the Sovos girl. She turned her attention back towards the cocky adventurer. His face was turning blue. A satisfying and yet sickening surge of strength slipped itself inside the maid from her shoulder. She did not check but she knew it was the rune's doing.
"Listen, I was willing to let you insult me all you want. However," Madoka darkened her voice and unleashed her killing intent. She seized his knife and struck him in the stomach with the back of it. "You insult my Lady and you shall suffer my wrath."
Others moved quickly to apprehend Madoka but collapsed to their knees. They were choking from Audrey's wind magic! Horror spread across Eraziror's eyes as he gawked at the fallen parties at before her. Madoka let the man squirm within her fist and tightened her grip when he attempted to feebly punch her side. The knife was an excellently crafted weapon so the maid decided to keep it.
"These wires," Audrey inspected the strings of ears. The girl simply ignored the gurgling gasps of choking adventurers at her feet as she released them from the deadly zone of her spell. "They appear to be an alarm system. What say you, Madoka?"
"I sense a lot of them in front of us," Madoka focused her attention for the monsters' gross auras. She determined the number of them and went back to toying with the adventurer within her iron grip. "Underground and also up on the branches."
"If we trip the wire at our feet then those goblins will definitely attack," Audrey looked at the tree lines surrounding them. Movement rustled the branches but Madoka could only see vague shapes of creatures scurrying within the leaves. "Enemies spotted."
"Aye," Eraziror agreed. "Most likely from ranged considering you made easy pickings of our, ah, friends here."
Kanys growled incredulously at their nonchalance.
"We could do a one wave rush, couldn't we?" Audrey asked Madoka.
The maid dropped the man on the floor and stopped him from crawling away with a tough boot. The crunch sounded like gnarled wood splitting apart and his suffocating utterances were music to her ears. She had no idea what a one wave rush was but she grunted in agreement.
"A one wave..." Kanys somehow deciphered what Audrey meant and shock marred her face. "You can't mean you'll face them all alone!"
"Round 'em up and defend these idiots," Audrey chirped cheerfully despite her deadly plan. "Then I'll wipe 'em out!"
"Sounds good enough for me!" Eraziror had a newfound confidence in him as he drew his sword. "You made quick work of these other adventurers. Let's see how you can clear out goblins!"
"You can't be serious!" Kanys yelled. Her eyes glanced at her sword and her bow as she hesitated which weapon to use. She turned to Armor with a pleading face but the giant remained silent. "What about these guys you nearly killed?"
"Oh, right," Audrey shrugged as she stared at the downed parties before them. Madoka realized she needed as few witnesses to her strength as possible. The princess's methods horrified her but she was brilliant. "Perhaps they could be food for the goblins? Though, their ears aren't pointy like yours..."
"Gods, no! Please!" The cocky adventurer below begged at her menacing princess's threat.
"You're mad!" Kanys screamed. Armor rested a heavy arm upon her shoulder and prevented her from moving. His helmet nodded downward at her feet and revealed the string of bloody ears hidden beneath forest grass. "You can't face them all alone."
"Too many enemies, not enough time," Audrey sighed and stared off at movements in the distance. "Watch and learn, bucko. Madoka, protect these idiots from ranged attacks if you can. They'll be useful when the goblins come hollerin'."
"You can't be serious," Kanys complained but she readied her bow.
"You," Madoka spoke to the squirming formerly cocky adventurer beneath her boot. He looked at her with terror in his eyes. "Fall in line or your teammates will die. Not that I care, though."
She released him and he scurried to his unconscious party.
"You won't get away with this," he muttered and drew his sword. Madoka shut him down with another glare and focused on the Knotting strands. The jolts of electricity coursed towards what she presumed were the goblin's weapons.
"There's over thirty of them," Madoka warned Audrey. The princess nodded. There was something off in their confident intent as if Madoka could understand their thoughts. Could monsters have such thoughts?
"Prepare for the mobs!" Audrey yelled gleefully and kicked the rope of ears. The ears sloshed as blood and ice leaked out of them but Madoka did not have time to wince from their visceral clinks. A war horn sounded in the distance and horrid cackling echoed throughout the forest.
II.
"Here they come!" Eraziror shouted. Lots of movement flurried through the brush but Madoka readied herself to defend the useless parties behind her.
"I can't believe we're doing this," Kanys muttered. The warhorns blasted and Madoka heard something slice through the air directly at her.
Too slow! Madoka caught the projectile. A dart? She noticed glistening substance coated its blade and released it immediately. She heard the curtain of ears rattle suddenly. Didn't Audrey kick those down already? Madoka whirled around and felt the ground quake as Armor took up defense by her. A deep rumble echoed from the helmet and the maid nodded. In addition to his heavy armor, the tower also wielded an impressive axe. She heard twanging strings in the distance.
"Above!" She called to Audrey and cast the dart aside. Another whizzed by her but bounced harmlessly off of Armor's chest plate. These goblins were clever, she supposed but the main unit was closing in from the tree line.
The princess was readying a spell when she glanced up where Madoka pointed. A volley of arrows were collapsing upon the group! Audrey's hand glowed green and a gust of Wind magic blasted the volley aside. That magic was much more deadly than her Wind Blades, Madoka noted. Smaller forms of dark green were rushing out the forest. The broken arrows raining from the sky must have forced them to attack.
"They're coming," Eraziror remarked and readied his sword. He wore a serious face when he saw Madoka's inquisitive look. "Don't let the little bastards grab your face."
"Eh?" Madoka kept her hand on the knife she took from the cocky adventurer.
"I hope your Lady has a plan to get rid of them," the man spoke behind her. Kanys grunted in agreement. Was this a circus as Audrey called it? Why were they focusing on such silly things? Madoka growled and readied herself. "Here they come!"
The creatures were hideous. They possessed disproportionate green limbs and elongated chins lined with mischievous smiles and fangs. How disgusting! Madoka nearly recoiled from the sight of their bumpy faces. Perhaps they saw the unconscious adventurers behind her and grew even uglier from their greed. Her rune still burned but did not react to these monsters. A dart whizzed by her cheek and left a small cut. She cursed herself. She did not have enough time to worry about it!
"Madoka!" Audrey screamed. Madoka scanned the charging crowd of goblins. The glint of a smaller goblin on its four flashed just as it pounced with a surprising amount of strength. It was targeting Audrey but the maid would not allow it!
Right, Madoka threw her impartial thoughts away. Now was the time for battle and for her to not hold back! She siezed the little creature by the neck. This thing did not seem to be a goblin. By contrast, it was pinkish and moved on all fours. It sniveled and gurgled out noises. Pervasive thoughts invaded her mind.
Ears.
Give me.
Make me happy!
Its small head unhinged its jaw and released a small proboscis out at her ears. Horror shook her back into combat and before the grotesque and fleshy web could reach her she slashed with her borrowed knife. The acrid smell of green blood plunged its taint scent into her nostrils but she flung the squirming body into the crowd. She determined that she should slay them quickly in order to not hear their discomforting thoughts.
"Strike! Knock 'em down!" Audrey cheered. She was too lax for this situation. Madoka did not like it but she kept it to herself. There were a lot more than just thirty, she gripped the knife in her hand.
"Marvelous!" Eraziror stabbed one and flung it into the air with an upward slash. Arrows soon ripped its body apart from Kanys's bow. The pair worked together well but they only managed to defeat four goblins. The ones before her hesitated and their chittering reeked of fear.
Such tiny creatures stood no match for me! Their thoughts shall not scare me!Madoka roared and ripped the arm off of another pink goblin. She turned and cut down several of the scrawny creatures but she felt the task at hand was mundane like sweeping a hallway. Their hungry faces shall be put to rest! The forest grew quieter with every kill the maid scored. Madoka's senses dulled as she swept up more piles of green leathery leaves when she heard familiar plucking noises gathered quietly further into the trees. Knotting strands highlighted bows being readied to shoot another volley.
"Audrey, they're launching another volley!" Madoka warned her as she cleaved another one. Limbs and eyes from both halves of the victim sailed through the air in waves of blood. The knife in her hand seemed to glow from magic on it. It was a fine blade. "Their going to hit their allies if they launch their volley... It must be getting close to the end."
"What? Oh," Audrey snapped to attention and scanned the fray. "Okay, here I go!"
"Please, no fireballs!"
It was too late to shout since Audrey already made a sweeping motion with her glowing hand. Another massive Wind Blade sliced through trees and the onslaught of arrows alike. The goblins at the rear seemed distracted by the broken arrows. Another war horn sounded from deeper in the forest and the monsters began their retreat.
"Yeet!" Audrey made her strange war cry and launched yet another Wind Blade at the retreating forces. Green limbs and bodies scattered in a mass of putrid chaos as the blade engulfed them in its bloody energy. Only a few lucky ones escaped.
"A breather? Whew," Eraziror cut a wriggling goblin down. He looked beaten down and wounds covered his exposed skin and scales. Kanys seemed to be in a similar condition and her arrows were running thin. Armor grunted in approval.
"You two are mad!" She furiously yelled. Her green hair was tangled in knots and was matted. The maid found it difficult to tell which shade of green was her original hair color from the goblin blood. Perhaps she would take care of her hair as an apology for her twisted friend's actions.
Her arm hair raised when she noticed something was moving behind her. Madoka watched one of the goblin's corpses rapidly jiggle as its stomach became bloated. Something was writhing inside of it!
"Watch out!" Madoka moved to push her away from the corpse but it was too late. The dead goblin's rapidly expanding stomach tore open like a book of soggy and bloody pages as a pink creature ripped its way out. It let out an ear piercing scream as it launched itself towards Kanys's face. The girl paled but something emerged from her shadow and intercepted the goblin's attack.
"Are you alright?" It was Shadow! He brought his staff upon the creature and reduced it to a pink soup that sloshed on the grass.
"Thanks, Shadow," Kanys breathed but she refocused her attention to Audrey. The Night Operator shrunk back into her shadow. The incoming trouble prevented Madoka from wondering about the mysterious man. "We could have died because of you!"
"My men are downed because of her," the cocky adventurer added his useless opinion as well. Kanys stomped as she tried to approach Audrey but Madoka towered over the angry dragon girl. The both of them faltered at the threatening maid's presence.
"Mind your tongue when you speak to my Lady," Madoka hissed. "Or I will make you both join those dead creatures limb by limb."
Kanys looked like she was about to lunge out of foolish desperation. Come, then, Madoka growled in anticipation.
"Easy, girls, easy," Eraziror spoke up and stepped between the other Sovos and the maid. "We made it out alive, okay? We don't have to fight right now."
"Well—"
"I agree," Audrey finally spoke up in Noble. She nonchalantly lowered Madoka's fighting stance and took the knife she brandished from her. She did not even notice she was holding it in her anger. "We're on the same side, for now. I'm sure we have wounds to heal and later to inflict. Let's focus our hostility towards the ones who did not work with us, shall we?"
She approached the cocky adventurer with the knife and held it for him to take. Worry overtook Madoka but Audrey gave her a stern look. What if he stabbed her? The cocky adventurer breathed angrily and glared at the princess. His attention shifted to the maid and then to the battlefield of dead goblins and fallen trees.
"Damn it all," he muttered and took the dagger from Audrey. "Now would you lazy assholes get up already?"
The fallen adventurers in his command immediately stirred awake and scrambled to their feet. He was barking at the lazy adventurers but looked differently at Audrey now. Madoka could not blame him for it was difficult for her to say no to the adorable princess. Later, the princess and her maid separated with the Iron Rank leader and a fuming Kanys. Armor rested silently and she could only hear the clinking of his metal plates. Eraziror sheathed his sword and breathed a sigh of relief.
"How?" Kanys growled at Audrey. "How did you know they were awake the whole time? Why did you not tell me?"
"Bruh," Audrey sat down and leaned against Armor's shoulder. The mountain was motionless and did not seem to mind but jealousy stirred within the maid. Madoka scoffed instead. "Does anyone hear that buzzing noise?"
"Oh, me! I hear that noise!" Eraziror chirped along. Kanys glared at him but looked at his arm.
"Your arm, Era!" She clutched it.
"Ow! Easy," the dragon man tried to pry her off of him.
"Oh," Audrey observed him. "You actually took damage from those little guys? Of course random people in LFGs would mess up somehow..."
The party was confused at her ramblings but Audrey took out the talisman she stole from the fat noble and breathed deeply. Strings of green magic gathered around from her mouth and attached to the talisman in the bag. Madoka whirled around and noticed a massive glowing green web burst from the princess's feet. Its radius extended and covered the party before releasing its power. The maid felt a pleasant yet chilling gust of energy lance through her but she has felt it many times before. Their party members looked in shock.
"Kind gods," Eraziror inspected his wounded arm to find that there was not a single scar on it. "What are you, some kind of saint?"
"Such power," Kanys checked herself over only to find no wounds as well. "Healing like this could cost a gold coin."
"A fortune," Eraziror breathed. Eh? Madoka realized all the food they could buy for only a simple gold coin.
"It's on me this time," Audrey sighed. "I need as many of you as possible in good shape."
"For what?"
Night was falling quickly, Madoka felt a droplet of rain splotch her nose. The smell of dead goblins was going to get worse in the morning. Audrey pointed at the bodies.
"For collecting the loot, of course," she smiled a devilish grin. "I don't wanna touch 'em."
"Lady," a gruff voice approached them nervously. It was the cocky adventurer but he was speaking in Reverent Noble. It was about time he knew his place before her princess! "We must talk about dividing those bodies up."
"Uh," Audrey murmured. "I don't want any of that stuff. Gross."
"Now, now, milady. You need money to live," Eraziror made his suggestion.
"Eh? Nae waah!"
"We'll split 70-30," Kanys simply growled at the now-humbled adventurer. Eraziror nodded in agreement. Madoka shrugged as the adventurer's face paled. Audrey groaned and acquiesced with a pouting nod.
"T-Thirty..." He uttered in disbelief but surrendered. "It was most of her Lady's work so I must agree."
What did Audrey do to this man to make him so submissive now? Madoka wondered.
"Madoka," Audrey's voice pulled her out of her musing. "Be a dear and pick only the intact ones up for me, please?"
The man gulped but split ways to his party. Madoka groaned but Eraziror clapped his hand for her to follow. The iron rank leader pointed at a lacerated pink pile of limbs.
"Watch out for the little ones. More could be hiding around here. The nasty buggers burrow within the fat ones," Eraziror cautioned the maid. "They must get adventurers all the time."
Madoka lifted a dead "intact" goblin corpse up gingerly and winced. Its ugly eyes were dead but its complexion and gross face reminded her that it was a monster that has committed many horrible deeds. She felt disgust and went to find more. Later, she piled several of the mostly intact ones by Audrey. The maid did not exactly know what math was so she hoped the amount matched the so-called 70-30 condition they negotiated.
"Good, good," Audrey cheered for her maid. Armor seemed to have walked off to assist his party in gathering more corpses. The portal manifested by her in his place.
"I could use a bath," Madoka complained but she flung the corpses in the portal before the party got back. Audrey plugged her nose as the bodies flew by her.
"Me too," Audrey's voice sounded nasally and funny to the maid. Silver lining, Madoka focused on that and stifled her giggles. One by one, the bodies vanished into thin air. "Though we'll have to hold off for now."
Both of them sighed at the same time. Madoka pulled a torn up cloak out the portal and rested it on the ground to sit beside her princess. Despite the horrific battle she just experienced her heart was unmoved. What was this apathy she felt?
"Man," Audrey heaved a sigh. Madoka felt the weight of her princess's head slump on her shoulder. "Wave defenses ain't the hype that they said they would be..."
"It's over for now," Madoka relaxed her grip on her axe. She did not know how to bring her feelings up around the princess anyways. Not since their conversation in the grotto.
"Yeah," Audrey's head rolled on the maid's shoulders. She could sense her eyes resting on her. Madoka simply wanted to hide herself. She was covered in blood and probably looked horrifying. "I'm sorry, Madoka. I caused more trouble again."
"So did I," Madoka chuckled. The two shared a laugh but the sound of footsteps interrupted them. Madoka went on high alert. What was it now? Did they hear her laugh?
"Hmph!" Kanys scoffed at them before embarrassment could swallow the maid.
"What, here to complain some more?" Audrey groaned. Madoka gestured the Sovos to sit. If they were to fight they might as well argue and bicker instead.
"No," the dragon-girl resigned her suspicions and sat. She rested on her knees and curled her tail around them. Kanys sat like a proper lady or what Madoka thought a Sovos lady would sit like. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly as if she were picking her words carefully. "I now see why you place so much trust in your guard."
"Oh, really," Audrey's brow raised. Pick your words wisely, Madoka worried for Kanys all of a sudden from the princess's change in tone.
"No, no, no! Not like that," the Sovos girl waved her hands to clear any misunderstanding. Madoka did not know what she meant. Kanys gestured at her. "She's smart, dependable, loyal and cares a lot about you. She's... everything..."
The Sovos's voice trailed off. A wave of a different kind of embarrassment washed over Madoka. Audrey chuckled and then burst out into a full laugh like a flower blooming in the sun. Except it was raining and goblin blood mixed with the petrichor. Kanys suddenly grew quiet.
"Ah, young love," Audrey wheezed. "It's him, isn't it? Love and war but all you can think about is him, right?"
"Why, you!" Kanys was blushing! "How did you know?"
"Well, hoho! How the tables have turned," Audrey laughed but piped down after a glare from Madoka. She pointed at the flustered dragon girl. "I don't get to say this often, but love is written all over your face!"
"I—" Kanys's voice was soft and held a compressed tension in it that begged to be released. "I don't know how to bring it up with him. I have these feelings in my chest for Eraziror. But he's stupid! Crazy! And prone for trouble! Doesn't he know how much he means to me?"
"Well that's just like me—"
"Jealous," Kanys continued. "I felt jealous of you two. I'm not afraid to admit it even if you are much stronger and tougher than me! Just h-how do you get someone to love you like—"
"Beats me!" Audrey chirped. The Sovos gave an impressive groan that was pregnant with exasperation. "Personally, I might be good at shipping but I'm not very good at the whole, 'love' thing. Father said I was too young for that. It's just me and her..."
There was a somber ring to her voice like the raindrops making ripples in the muddy puddles. Madoka felt eyes glance at her. Kanys eyed her differently. There was curiosity in her irises, reflecting the grey sky off of them and changing hues. She avoided Audrey's eyes because of the warmth she wanted to stave off.
"If it's beating in your chest," Madoka simply resigned herself. She did not have any idea how to love anyone either. Her slave days have taught her just that: She was to work until the end of her life. "Then concentrate on everything about it and then push it all out. No matter how uncertain you think the feeling is or how little it makes sense, you will gain confidence in each of your strokes. Even an impossible wall can be broken; a nonsensical mess can be cleaned."
She paraphrased one of Lord Leopride's teachings with a fondness towards the memories. That man broke her and brought her life. The red haired girl had to stop herself from her thoughts or else she would cry. A gasp came from Kanys. The Sovos looked at her in awe as if she said some divine revelation but the maid dismissed it. That advice helped her get past multitudes of troubles.
"Wow, that's pretty deep," Audrey mused quietly to herself. Kanys put a fist to her bloodstained leather chest plate over her heart.
"You must have a lot of experience in breaking through those walls and cleaning messes," she lowered her voice and moved her hand over her heart. She was not wrong but before she could even attempt to switch subject more footsteps and loud thumping approached them.
"Yo," Eraziror sat down before them. He looked bloody from quarting up the goblin corpses and handling them into large sacks and designated packs held by unlucky adventurers. "Word is that the goblin settlement location has been discovered and the Guild Master has accepted us to investigate it with the others. However, he told us they're stopping for the night to rest and we'll be rejoining the main group tomorrow. 'Choose a night watch and get onto sleeping,' he yelled at me. He ain't wrong though but he's a bastard to work with anyways."
"Well, yeah," Audrey stretched and promptly leaned back on Madoka. "You know how middle management goes. They don't really want to do anything that gets them off their asses."
"Yeah..." The Sovos man sighed in agreement but it was clear that he only understood that Audrey was simply commiserating with him somehow. He pointed a claw at Madoka and had a horrified look on his face. The red haired girl did not sense any intent from him but his finger was shaking. He spoke with horror. "And you! You're a blood thirsty, horrifyin' and simply brutal murderer!"
Was that acting? Madoka simply shrugged in response. Eraziror looked disappointed in her reaction but lowered his pointing hand and smiled.
"Not bad," He put his hands to his hips and spun into a pace. "You flew like the wind and delivered a swift end to those fiends! Nearly took a poisonous dart to my strong arm watching you on the battlefield doing your thing! It was like art— in a twisted, lurid green kind of way."
"You did get hit with a dart, you idiot!" Kanys sprang up and threw herself on him. Madoka was convinced that this was certainly what Audrey called a circus act.
"How did you get so strong?" Eraziror pried the girl off of him. Shadow eventually emerged from seemingly thin air and separated the dragons. Was that girl pouting? Madoka wondered if she took her advice literally. "B-Both of you are mad strong! It's got inside me a bit of jealousy how you effortlessly turn things inside out, so to speak."
"T-That's a murder hobo spirit," Audrey stammered. "You're making us look—"
"Training, I guess," Madoka interrupted her princess and gave an insistent look to switch subjects. She heard the thud of logs and rocks land on the grass behind Eraziror. Armor dwarfed the dragon man. Luckily for the maid, he was a Sovos who knew how to take a hint. A large sack of stinking objects rested behind the tower. Were they going to carry that with them? Madoka cringed from the thought.
"I suppose training is the way," he pointed a finger at the logs after scooting it into a shabby circle. "Hiyah!"
Red mana strands made the veins in his wrists glow as Eraziror motioned. His efforts would have impressed the maid however the results did not come to fruition. The strands simply gathered themselves into a plain spell circle and produced a weak spark that fizzled out in the rain. The Sovos looked at his hands in embarrassment.
"What?" He sighed. "I can usually get it up and going with a wand... I-I left it back with my lyre! Just thought I could copy her spell casting!"
Audrey groaned and snapped her fingers. Madoka felt heat brush across her skin as a warm flame gathered on the pile of logs. Around them, underneath the twin moons, more magic campfires permeated throughout the Guild's sojourn.
"By Ceghinort," Eraziror muttered. He tried snapping but his mana strands split apart each time he did. "Why did you all choose to join the Guild anyways? Eh, nevermind. You two must have a real reason so I won't pry. Oh! I know! I'll tell you my, er, our reason!"
"Oh?" Madoka was interested suddenly.
She wanted to know there was something much more that prevailed over the hopelessness that she felt from this whole organization. Eraziror stood up over the fire proudly while his members listened intently. She realized by their rapt attention that the group bonded over their own journey like the maid and her princess. Perhaps tales shared around flame between souls created the bond they had.
"Ceghinort runs through my blood," Eraziror stood proudly and ran a rain slicked hand through his hair. "Adventurering is what we do! If you really want to know what brought us together it's our pursuit of..."
He lowered his voice and knelt before the girls. Madoka's throat constricted in anticipation.
"Fairies," he whispered. Fairies? Madoka wondered. Such beings were thought to be myths. Eraziror smirked at her confusion. "Well, there you have it. Fairies bridge the Choir and us, the divine possessed and the Deep Dark."
"Huh?" Audrey spared no effort in hiding her puzzled face. All the terminology made Madoka's head spin but she was sure that information about their goal was more than what she bargained for. The more she thought about Audrey's confusion the more concerned she had for this adventurer party.
"Well, we hope to find at least a sign of the Great River Goêt's existence before the prophecy occurs," the Sovos sighed. "Word is, Fiara collapsed into chaos in the west."
"The east, you fool," Kanys corrected him irritably. It was evident that Eraziror was tired of talking so he sat beside her. "It fell in the east over what they call the Hall of Royals."
Kanys nearly threw herself upon him in an embrace and Madoka was surprised that the Sovos allowed her to cling to him. Her green eyes, however, locked onto the maid. Awkwardness siezed her so she looked away. A dark form emerged from the shadows in the flickering flame. It was the Night Operator. Perhaps his form could only be held at night under the twin moons.
"Go on," Audrey's tone was grave and had a deadly tinge lacing her words. They no longer were an interested passerby but more like an interrogator extracting answers from an accomplice.
"Right," Shadow cleared his throat and finally spoke up. "The Truth Guild was certain of one thing about the collapse of Fiara: Regicide and the murder of all of his heirs. The Red String prophecy has begun under our nose. The blood binds that chain and seal the true evil from threatening to rise."
"Red... Strings?" Madoka tried to remember where she had heard that term.
Audrey and Madoka huddled comfortably close together by the flames while the priest set up a camp tent from the shadows he came from. He was using magic similar to Audrey's portal! The fire licked and dashed into the night, intertwined with threads of crackling sparks and air.
"There are many red strings," he said. Audrey moved to take out her notebook and Madoka held her sleeve over her to keep her dry. "Some say that damn number has significance. Seven gods, seven wonders, even seven princesses."
"Princesses," Madoka mused to herself. The iron ranked adventurer perked up.
"They're quite the beauts, I tell you!" he said excitedly. Kanys tore off of him and punched his shoulder plate. The priest cleared his throat and Madoka noticed spotted beast ears curled back as he spoke. A Cherish-man?
"The Heart of Fields, Ysmi of Halfring.
The Heart of Gold, Emmalion of Warring.
The Heart of Lake, Ruka of Crosstella.
The Heart of Darkness, Sipha of Tabruula.
The Heart of Peace, the Esmerald."
"And finally," the priest breathed deeply. He closed his eyes and made a gesture of respect. "The two late princesses —
Heart of Bird, Luciha of Chelise.
Heart of Snow, Elise of Fiara."
Audrey, formerly Elise, snorted but Madoka smacked her back.
"What happened to Chelise?" Madoka asked. Everyone seemed to know now Fiara was wartorn and no one in Her palace survived whatever disaster happened there.
"Starfall," the priest said gravely. "A falling star descended after the death of a Royal. And surely if more of the red strings— if they are indeed the red strings of the prophecy — evil will soon rise. The change of these goblins prove it."
World is getting bigger, Madoka recalled Audrey saying that to her at the top of the Wind King's Hall. Shadow smiled gently at the maid and Audrey. The girl seemed rapt in his strange proclamations of tragedies and prophecies but then she yawned deeply. Kanys had buried her face into Eraziror's shoulder and coughed up a snore. The Sovos man nodded apologetically and carried the Sovos girl into the tent. They were never to be seen until the next morning, the maid guessed.
"Get some rest," He told the two of them. "We will watch over you."
A rumble came from Armor's great helmet. Reassurance, Madoka interpreted the soft yet growling echo. She soon closed her eyes and slept sitting upright on the torn up cloak, no longer caring for the goblin smell or rain.
III.
Madoka woke with cold sweat beading down her forehead. She felt like she was freezing. Instinctively she moved to check herself over but stopped at the sight of her palm. The scar was not there. How could this be? Madoka checked her surroundings tentatively. There was nothing but darkness around her like a cold and damp rag.
Was she kidnapped? No, she concluded. She has traveled so long to not get taken by mere weaklings like those adventurers. Despite this, her rapid thoughts thumped against her skull and she felt like her eyes were going to burst. A voice called to her, beckoned her to listen.
Eyes.
Give me them.
I will be elated to see you...
"Who's there?" She growled. The darkness did not lift from her eyes but a shade of purple fog began to fill the place she found herself in. Madoka hated this place. If she was in a dream she would have woken up already. Panic welled in her but she dared not to show it to her adversary.
Be not afraid.
Just let me have your eyes and you will find me.
My time is fading.
"No!" Madoka screamed into the mist. Her own hands formed into feathery claws and jerked towards her eyes on their own! They clawed at her face while she resisted and shook her head. "Leave me be!"
I wish to be happy.
Why do you resist?
It cannot be helped then.
Child, let us play again some time.
We will meet again.
You're not like the rest.
A cackling laughter echoed in her mind but she felt like the grasp on her fingers lifted off of her. The purple fog enveloped her so she reached for her weapons. Her axe was not at her side! Madoka tried to reach for her crystal inside of her but her hand merely punched her chest. Something glowed within the illuminated violet smog.
A strange chamber? Black chains clinked around her ankles and the ground beneath her scraped at her feet but she pushed forward to investigate it. Chains have not been strapped to her wrists and legs since Madoka was a child. A small tear played at the edge of her eyes. Each step was a lesson but she was determined to learn through the gas. Her vision faltered but something floated within the chamber. It seemed like the both of them were suspended and somehow standing on thin air within this abyss. Madoka focused on the figure within.
A woman was unconscious and tied by black tubes inside of it! The maid looked around the pitch black room and saw the purple mist had lifted entirely. The woman seemed serene, floating within the confines of the chamber's bubbling waters. As Madoka studied her, the woman suddenly shook awake. Her blue eyes sharpened with anger and pierced Madoka. Her disheveled blonde hair swished rapidly in water as she rocked her head with an inaudible fury and her arms struggled against the black tubes that restrained her. The maid was worried she was drowning so she tried to break the chamber. It was no use! Desperation filled her when suddenly she heard a voice above her.
"Madoka!"
"No!" Madoka screamed. The chamber and the desperate woman sank into the darkness but the voice persisted over the maid's guilt. "Let me save you!"
"Madoka, wake up!"
Hands pulled her out of the abyss she was in and Audrey was above her. She looked concerned. The princess's full weight was sitting on her chest with her arms underneath. Madoka heaved in the stench of the battle they had before and rain showered upon wherever she was placed in.
"You stink," Madoka growled and signaled for her to get off of her. Audrey looked down at the compromised position they were in and got off of her.
"S-Sorry," Audrey glanced at the maid's hands. She followed her eyes and found her hands to be red. Blood. There was something streaming from her friend's face. Tears?
"Kind gods," she sat up and bumped her head into canvas. Her feet knocked over a wooden object. A talisman? She was in the tent they traded spaces in during their journey through the mountains. "What happened to me?"
"I tried to wake you," Audrey embraced her. Madoka did not stop her. "You were tearing at your eyes from some kind of nightmare. You didn't get 'em, but your face... I healed you, okay?"
"How long have I been out?" She questioned. She scolded herself as she realized she forgot her manners. "Thank you for saving me."
"Others will be rising soon," Audrey looked back out the small folds of the tent's entrance. "What happened to you in that dream?"
"I—" Madoka stopped herself. She felt an odd sense in her gut so she decided to keep the dream's details hidden. She felt the need to protect that woman but guilt consumed her. She failed to save her. "I remember something calling for my eyes."
Audrey studied her for a moment but did not question further.
"I see," she looked at the twin moons. "Something spooky is out there deep in the forest. Shakin' up the damn place. Shadow said he sensed something bad or whatever tugging at his mind. It might be certain people that get affected by it."
"Mm," Madoka ignored the details as she became tired again and yawned. "How much time do we have left before we move out?"
"Three or four hours, I reckon," Audrey scooted out of the tent. "Aaaand you're asleep again, aren't you? Good night."
"No," Madoka simply laid back. "That... Priest. What do you make of him?"
"Him?" Audrey questioned her. They spoke in English. "His prophecies seem like a load of shit."
She chuckled. Madoka sat up and stretched. Her legs and arms bumped across Audrey's body but she did not care. The girl protested and crawled out of the tent. It was night time and smelled worse than the dark.
"Why do you say that?" Madoka helped herself out and threw the canvas into the portal. There was no one awake near them so they took advantage of the storage talisman. The night watchers must be rotating elsewhere, she checked for hostile thoughts but found nothing.
"It's just that," Audrey mused. "I get that Red Strings seal some big bad evil away. I just don't think it's the princesses since I'm still alive... Or maybe perhaps—"
Her face went pale for a moment and stimbled. The red haired girl caught her princess and helped her up.
"Sorry, I just realized something about it," Audrey shook her head. Her hair had seen better days, Madoka noted. The silver moons above shown in her eyes but not in those blonde curls. "Perhaps my red string or whatever has been cut already. When Elise died that is, you know. Maybe that's when the star fell on Chelise. I don't even understand what that means but it's a possibility that the prophecy's already started even before I reincarnated. I hope I'm overthinking it though."
"Me too," the maid scanned the woods for something to sit on.
There were plenty of ruined trees so she guided the girl. Did she have a vision just now? Madoka's mind wandered as this was a bit too much for her to process. She believed her princess was correct that Elise would not be standing here before her — it was Audrey. The girl described what a reincarnation was awhile ago.
How cruel, Madoka mulled over the concept. To think a kind god or another supposed divine being was able to rip loose souls out and replace them in another's body. It was like throwing away fresh food and putting a new meal on the same plate. How cruel to end a life so shortly and yet — how odd the concept sounded to the maid.
She pulled a log chopped from Audrey's wind magic over for them to sit on and wait for the other adventurers to wake. The maid did not care how much noise she caused. Under the stars and twin moons, she felt nostalgic for something. Was it the discomfort of being out during cold and devastating nights? Madoka felt the log shift slightly as her friend sat beside her.
The more she was with people the more she wished to be left alone with the princess. Could she ever get over this feeling?
"So, uh, listen," Audrey spoke quietly but to Madoka's ears she might as well had shattered a mountain. "Not that I'm complaining about my job class or anything, but using Substance magic on you..."
"I'm sorry," Madoka choked. "I don't deserve your healing."
"I'm worried for you okay?" Audrey suddenly became emotional. "Don't be so spiky! You're like a hedgehog or something. A lovable one."
"I am not," Madoka scoffed. She did not bother asking what a hedgehog was.
"Uh huh," Audrey bumped her shoulder.
"Nuh uh," Madoka repeated herself.
Deep down inside her heart, she already knew the reason why her princess cared so much about her but she felt ashamed of herself. Audrey kicked back and soon a sphere of blue water manifested in front of her.
"Here," She sighed. Madoka looked at her princess for any tricks but gave up. Her ability to use water still was strange to her. Mages in the Palace used fire, wind and ice so she never questioned why at first until she saw Audrey's miracles. Madoka acquiesced and cleaned herself off.
"I would heal you over and over again whether you like it or not," she declared. Madoka paused midway through washing her hands. "My issue is, the Six Armed Goddess talisman only has two charges left. That's the one that can revive you from death itself. Easy right? Just don't die, right? Such a ridiculous command considering what we're probably going up against. Bah!"
She fished out the Goddess's talisman. It was as long as her forearm but Madoka noticed that two out of its six arms remained. Audrey held it out under the twin moons but it did not react. The moons themselves were fading in the orange horizon. Of the talismans that she stole from the kingdom only the storage portal device and the Six Armed Goddess talisman remained.
"I found that if I use Substance magic I use up my own life force," Audrey put them into the bag again. "The green things come from my own breath and make me feel wobbly. Ain't much, but it's honest work. Well I, ah, may have borrowed the healing talismans from the fat noble's healer but still."
"You sacrifice your own..." Madoka shook with horror. How could she waste her life force on a useless slave like her?
"Before you get the wrong idea," she panicked at Madoka's reaction. "The strands come back. The process is really weird and a tad bit tingly, but it should not be an issue. But if what you did to yourself last night gets worse we might have issues."
"I won't let it," the maid promised. She did not know what she did to herself but the blood on her hands told her enough. "The sun's rising."
Someone in the distance yawned loudly. Audrey's bubble disappeared without a trace as they looked towards the source. The Sovos man stretched and made a show of it. How theatrical, Madoka mused. She crossed her arms and scoffed. Eraziror noticed them and trotted up to them. He was already in his armor. Perhaps he only owned those pieces for his clothing.
"Ah, the goblin slayer herself is awake. And her All-Powerful Mage is too," He made a bow to Madoka as she stood between him and her woman. The blasphemy alone earned him a deadly glare from the maid.
"Do not bow to me," she hissed. "That's...!"
"Fine, fine!" The Sovos surrendered but he could not hide his smirk. He turned to face the sun and posed triumphantly with his hands at his hips. "Now, what horrors are we going to bear witness today?"
"I can't help but think you're talking about us," Audrey grumbled but she stood up. Eraziror broke his pose and feigned being hurt.
"On the contrary, my beautiful Noble friend," he objected. At Madoka's glare, he switched to Reverent noble. "There might be plenty of new things we might have the misfortune of seeing... all over the place. Perhaps they might not even be in one piece by the end of it."
"Okay, I get it, I get it," Audrey stretched. "Aren't you the leader of this party? Don't cha know where we're headed?"
"Well, yeah I am the captain but no, I'm not spearheading this operation. That would be the Guild Master himself. Our big guy over there would be the leader of this party but," he quickly pulled out his tag and let it glint in the sun. He must be proud of his iron tag, the maid observed it. The metal had a lot of notches in it and indicated that they have gone through many trials. "Unfortunately he has a case of the shyness even with a gold tag."
"Right," Madoka scoffed and dragged the log out of the way with one hand for Audrey. Eraziror gawked but persisted. She guessed that they simply were too weak or that he was contracted to escort these fools by a higher power in the Guild much like her.
"Why stick around here instead of finding fairies?" Audrey took up her bag. "What are those things, anyways?"
Her tattered notebook stuck out of it but Madoka's sharp eyes caught it sink into the portal. It had been evident that the princess had taken notes of everything and more the maid's imagination could cover. Eraziror ducked and looked uneasy before lowering his voice.
"Hey, watch it," he snapped. "You don't want to catch the attention of everyone, okay?"
"O-Oh," Audrey looked apologetic. Her adorable face said it all, however, and the Sovos was unable to resist.
"They got eyes everywhere, I reckon, but no one knows what they are or what they even look like," he quieted down and grew urgent after Audrey groaned. "With such ties to the Celestial and the Deep, they could take your name just for fooling around with them."
"Like a seance could bring 'em about? Or like saying their names?" Audrey frowned. "Cool, I guess."
"No, no, seances are Mansion magic... Something the Truth Guild dabbles in. Nevermind that. All of us Sovos have the calling, you know?" Eraziror sighed. "To join our brethren and Ceghinort in the Celestial skies. But I want to bring about—" he sighed and hid his goals again "— Something important. Okay? A-And fairies will help me do that. Their powers are much stronger than mere Mansion magic. I'm certain."
"Mansion?" Audrey furrowed her brow but decided not to question it. The maid thanked the kind gods a lecture on magic did not occur.
Madoka wanted to ask a question but she realized the implication of a fairy's power. That strange white bird might be one but she hated even thinking about it. The creature was too divine and alien that it made her shudder. A shadow crept behind Eraziror that made the red haired girl want to leap out and block but she was too slow!
"Hiya!" It was Kanys. Madoka eased at the sight of the girl clinging to him. It was as Audrey said: Love was in her eyes. She wondered if the princess would act the same if they were to share a night together as they did. The Sovos girl held onto him tightly while he tried to pry her off of his back. "Good morning, you foolish bastard!"
Audrey smirked at Madoka while she suddenly felt like an intruder. On second thought, she doubted that literally getting her princess of her back was something she wanted to do all the time. Kanys noticed the pair and ignored them while she nuzzled her face into his armor.
"So, uh," Audrey chuckled. "Maybe we should leave tweedle-dee and tweedle-horny alone, eh Madoka?"
Madoka had no idea what those nicknames meant but she grunted in agreement. The pair left the dragon couple and found Armor. Audrey barely reached his waist in height while Madoka stood a head over it.
"Gah!" Audrey tried to jump and touch his shoulder plates but then the tower turned. Unafraid, she continued to try leaping to reach his shoulder while Armor just nodded to Madoka. "I can reach his shoulders, I swear!"
"My a-apologies, sir," Madoka tried to restrain her princess but the giant ignored the princess's foolishness. A noise rumbled out of the helmet. Was that a chuckle? She wondered. "Can you not cause trouble?"
"What," Audrey pouted. "I'm bored! B-O-A-R-D. Wait that's not how you spell it... So what if I'm causing trouble?"
Madoka sighed and shook her head.
"You're not going to reach his shoulder," she gave up trying to rebuke her princess. When she got close the giant simply raised his shoulder. Was this game really amusing her so easily while they waited for orders?
"Hey! That's cheating!" Audrey cried. She muttered something while Madoka noticed movement happening among the other adventurers' tents. "At least with my size I have a smaller hitbox. That's something to be proud of, you know!"
A rumble came from the helmet once again. Audrey looked frustrated while Madoka tried to decipher what the rumble meant.
"Hey, I don't know what they fed you but it's not fair!" She told him. Did she really understand what he meant? Madoka looked at her dumbfounded. "Can't help that you're looking down upon me. Literally and figuratively."
"Hey, you guys!" A voice called out. It was the cocky adventurer but his tone was less demanding than the night before. "We have orders to move out soon! Got it?"
"Yes, sir," Audrey chirped. How could she be nonchalant about this fool's arrogance? The cocky adventurer paled when he noticed Madoka and changed his tune.
"Well, i-it will be obvious when the order is given, alright?" He blubbered in Reverent noble. "Watch for the skies."
What could that mean? Madoka silently questioned but the cocky adventurer left them alone again. Audrey grew quiet before she attempted to tap Armor's shoulder plate. She groaned as the man humored her and fumed. She is not a child!
"Above us!" One adventurer yelled from the cocky adventurer's group. Madoka's own arm hair rose as she scanned the grey skies above. Knotting magic traced in swirls within the thick clouds but somehow Madoka knew they were being guided by someone else. A familiar pair of wings enveloped by golden strands descended upon them.
"'Bout time," Eraziror clapped from behind them. Kanys leaned on his shoulder and clearly seemed satisfied from their business together. "We've been at it for an hour, heyo!"
The pair rolled their eyes while the Sovos girl seemed proud.
"We, uh, don't need to know that," Audrey's voice was ripe with discomfort. Eraziror huffed a foggy breath of smugness.
"Hush," Madoka hissed at them. The winged Guild Master was approaching them.
"You two!" Luxgor yelled at the pair.
"Who, me?" Eraziror asked and looked around. Madoka had a sinking feeling the Guild Master was calling for Audrey and her. Luxgor simply waved him off but could not hold back his exasperation.
"What did you two do to shake him up?" He pointed towards the cocky adventurer. Madoka moved to shrug but froze when he directed his attention to her. "And you killed HOW many goblins?!"
"Hey, now," Eraziror tried to calm his boss down. "I believe the phrase, 'does not play well with others' applies to our copper ranked friends, hmm?"
He nearly yelped when Kanys pulled him away and from the menacing stare Luxgor gave him. Audrey shuffled grass with her boot. Madoka was uneasy. Were they not supposed to defeat goblins?
"You said monster subjugation," Madoka kept her voice flat. "So we subjugated them."
"He started it," Audrey muttered. Luxgor looked angry at her remark but Kanys moved in front of her.
"Sir, with all due respect," Kanys finally spoke up as she covered Eraziror's mouth. Muffled complaints steamed from her palm but she did not let him go. "Without them we would have fallen prey to the goblin's warband."
Luxgor looked at the pair of girls and then to Kanys. Madoka was surprised that the dragon girl defended them. The Guild Master looked at Armor afterwards and Madoka swore the helmet nodded in agreement. After reading the giant's movements, he finally relented.
"I was going to send you back to town," Luxgor growled. "But seeing that you defeated seventeen goblins with just a simple knife and you slaughtered their entire back line with Wind magic I believe you're up to the task. On one condition!"
"W-What is the condition?" Audrey gulped. Madoka wondered if the horrors Eraziror did not want to see were on their way through the Guild Master's orders.
"You two are to be in separate groups in order to learn teamwork, you understand me?"
Audrey nodded furiously while Madoka felt apprehensive about leaving her alone. She felt like she was leaving a dangerous and volatile weapon alone in the woods but the girl spoke in defense of herself. The princess referred to that type of weapon as a broken arrow. Madoka imagined it would definitely hurt when stepped on though it was possibly worse considering she was involved.
"Trust me," the princess's voice was cool. Was she trying to appease her or Luxgor? "I got this."
This time it was Madoka's turn to glance nervously at Luxgor. She simply nodded instead which did not seem to calm his worry.
"Well, we will discuss the matter soon," he declared as he unfolded his wings. "The way to the main camp is clear thanks to your actions but please be safe around others. Got it?"
"Yes sir," Madoka promised.
The Guild Master nodded and took off.
"Huh," Eraziror quipped as he looked up. Madoka's eyes trained on the glittery path of Knotting magic until it blended with the clouds. "If only I had wings."
The cocky adventurer signaled for the advance and they followed his lead deeper into the forest. During this time, Madoka stayed quiet. There was a suspicious lack of animal thoughts in these woods, she strained her senses only to hear nothing wandering in the area.
Soon the cocky adventurer stopped everyone by raising his hand. Madoka scrunched her nose and tugged Audrey's sleeves. The smell of death was in the air. She gripped her axe while Audrey readied herself for combat. Madoka could see the view of Rustazian Guild emblem draped over several tents in the distances like drained out animal carcasses. Nevertheless, her pulse quickened. Something was wrong.
"Camp's ahead," The cocky adventurer peaked over several branches. "Be on the lookout. Even camps aren't safe from infestations like these."
They marched slowly towards the camp and prepared for anything but the kind gods showed luck today. Luxgor stood tall by many more adventurer parties. He glanced at the two girls and pointed at Madoka first.
"Stay with the iron rankers," he commanded. Madoka nodded and stood behind Armor nervously. The Guild Master pointed at Audrey who audibly gulped. "You. With them, now."
Madoka followed his pointed finger towards a group. One was wearing a suit of bone armor and another carried a plain wooden staff among the large party Audrey was assigned to. Familiar orange hair protruded from her hood. The maid's heart sank when she realized who they were. It was the former Gold rank adventurer Juujee though the rogue named Skulk was mysteriously absent.
Rin pulled her hood down and glared at Audrey. All Madoka could do is groan. Did Luxgor hate them that much?