The Beasts were strange in comparison to the one that Lumière Croft had fought before. They seemed docile, almost curious of the humans they looked down upon. Dozens surrounded them, looking malnourished and worn, devoid of facial features, except for a creepy inhuman smile that stretched across their cheeks, showing off rows of sharpened needle-like teeth.
'What are these things?' That thought was universal in Zelia and Cartwell's minds. As a noblewoman and servant who lived in the inner stratums of the Empire's Capital, they had never seen such a creature before.
This was different from Nicole and Juno. While Nicole was used to fighting them as a White Rose, Juno had spent much time in the middle borough during the night, gathering information to use against his rivals. Running into such a creature was not uncommon for him.
"Those people, who are they?"
"Those are affiliates of Mr. One of Spades." Juno spoke suddenly. He wasn't sure whether or not he was allowed to reveal such a truth, if the others hadn't known already. He had gauged that much based on the fact that the priest, Ainsworth Benedict, was present amongst them, knowing of his proximity to Lumière Croft due to his investigations. Still, he took the initiative to inform them. "Mr. Ophelia didn't give us instructions on how to act towards them, but we should be careful not to reveal ours or One of Spade's affiliation with the House of Cards. Those are religious figures in front of us. Do not compromise yourself or our commission."
The members of the Mythos Garden stared at the figures in the distance. Forgetting the appearance of the monsters, to them it felt like an entirely new level of danger had been veiled over the situation.
'Religious Figures? They despise magic-users that don't align themselves with them, don't they? They're prone to kill us…'
"Then let's bow out." Cartwell exclaimed. "We've already completed the task Mr. Ophelia assigned us. If we stay too long-"
Zelia had already tightened the straps of her boots, rushing forward with a dagger drawn. "If we don't stay long enough, how will we grow stronger!? How can we think to progress our abilities if we run because the situation is inconvenient for us!?"
The three's eyes widened. 'Was Ms. Laertes' confidence always this blatant?' Nicole began to wonder. Of course, it wasn't like he hadn't prepared himself. Just because his nervousness often got the better of him didn't mean he was a fool. He raised his hands, causing the shadows underneath one of the Nameless to tremble. This was the technique he had learned with the Demon of the Garden's help. He was sure that it was one of the times he had met with 'Ophelia' instead of 'Lumière Croft'. There was a distinct difference between the two. Lumière was always the one who consoled Nicole, and Ophelia was the one that taught him the most.
Unbeknownst to him, who could not see the truth of the technique, it appeared as an unseeable illusory force that instantly tore through the flesh of the Nameless Spider in front of him. However, he spotted a key detail that made his entire body shiver. The peculiarities within the shade had shadows themselves. The light cast their form onto the ground, revealing the outline of a terrifying creature. Perhaps it was only because he was aware of their possible existence that he was able to finally see them, as he hadn't in the past.
'What are those things in the shadows? Have I been weaving around them this entire time that I've been a Black Mage? How has it taken me this long to notice their presence, even if I can't see them…?' He trembled, but maintained his control over the Nameless's shadows, ready to strike another down by agitating the strange presence within the shade.
"You're really interesting, little Capulet." Juno laughed, looking over at the focused boy. "To think you were this powerful all this time, it's no wonder you were brought into this plan by Mr. Ophelia!"
'Is that true? Was I brought in because I was powerful, or did he bring me in because I was once affiliated with that wretched organisation? What are Mr. Demon's true motives in bringing me here?' Nicole's eyes shuddered, his focus staggering. The shadows began to writhe free of his authority, loosening his grasp on their movements. To a Black Mage, it was like holding the reins of a horse, leading the direction of their movements through suggestion. This requires immense focus, and it could only be done if it was feasible that Nicole's shadow could be stretched far enough to reach the target's, or by connecting to the shadow of a building to act as a conduit for his authority over the target.
So, he lost control of the shadows, which began to return to their normal shape, falling to the ground in an exhausted panic.
"Damn it!" Nicole exclaimed.
"Don't worry, little Capulet." Cartwell mimicked the merchant beside him. "It's our turn."
'If the boy can do it, why should I fear the beasts or the religious group? Persecution, death… I already faced those things before. I have to remember why I stepped upon this treacherous path in the first place.'
Juno and Cartwell stepped forth, holding countless flasks inbetween their fingertips, each swirling with multicoloured liquids that writhed as if they lived. "Did you prepare the compound?"
"It's a strange idea, Lysander." Juno jested, his expression clownish and teasing.
"Don't confuse strangeness for eccentricity." Cartwell twirled a flask inbetween his fingers, sticking out his tongue. "I'm a goddamn genius."
He stepped up towards one of the Nameless, which looked down at him curiously. Cartwell pulled back his arm, tossing the flask at the creature with the full might of his strength, causing it to shatter and spill against its writhing flesh. The beast recoiled, steam pouring off in droves from its body, its skin beginning to melt and fall away from its bones.
Juno wasted no time, following up with the compound in his own flask, heaving it towards the Nameless spider. It shattered alike to the one Cartwell had thrown. As the compound mixed with the acid that melted away at its flesh, bright light filled the surrounding area. It drew the attention of the onlookers who had previously been paying attention to Lumière Croft, noticing that the night sky had lit up as if it were day once more.
Bright white flames engulfed the creature, who began to howl in piercing, sharp agony. It gradually spread across its skin, burning the Nameless Spider a pitch-black colour, until it ceased its painful cries, falling to the ground in a pile of soot and bone.
'We hadn't the chance to cooperate together thus far. The last time we had a common goal, One of Spades- rather, Mr. Ophelia took the spotlight and fought on his lonesome. Now, it's our turn to show off what we can do!' Juno's eccentricity, his egotism began to seep out from behind his calm facade.
The excitement of the two alchemists did not last too long. A bright flash of sapphire burst through the sky, followed by billowing smoke and a girlish cheer. Nicole, Juno, and Cartwell looked over to see the towering figure of one of the Nameless Spiders. However, it was missing its entire upper half, which was smoking and sizzling as if fried.
"Ah! That's the firearm I modified for her!" Cartwell's elation when speaking of his Lady was apparent.
"What did you do to it to make it do that much?"
"I put a storage rune on it."
"To store what?"
"Starlight."
"As an Astrologer would weave to create spells?"
Cartwell nodded his head. Besides divination, an Astrologer was extremely talented in the realm of spellweaving. Using the starlight one could source from the night sky, it could then be weaved into magical spells. The starlight itself was a powerful essence, fueling the spell while using the Astrologist as a conduit.
However, starlight was only meant to exist in the sky. Reacting with the air, it would explode wildly, killing the Astrologist. They only had a short time to create a spell before essentially being their own worst enemy.
"So she's able to store the starlight in the runes and discharge them alongside the blast of the firearm itself?"
Cartwell put his hands to his ears, smiling and whispering, "bang."
"How many times can she use such an ability?"
"Once." Cartwell smiled. "The blast completely obliterates the firearm."
"How is such a thing sustainable?"
Cartwell pointed back towards Zelia and laughed. "She's pretty rich, merchant man."
Juno's eyebrow twitched. 'Right, I forgot about that…'
Across the street on the other rooftop, the White Roses stared at the masked group in shock. "Are they using… magic?" Ramses's gaze shuddered.
"That means they can't be Nameless." Cornifer parroted in response.
"Then who are they? Are they affiliated with the Charred Sentinels from the Church of the Eternal Blueprint?"
The Charred Sentinels were the equivalent force of the Goddess known as the Architect. In comparison to the White Roses, the Charred Sentinels placed a lot more focus and importance on swordsmanship. This didn't mean that they didn't use magic, it just meant that it was not their main battle strategy.
"No, the Charred Sentinels place a lot of importance on their uniform, the same as us. The way those people are dressed, it's far more likely that they're rogue magic users. A Black Mage, two Alchemists, and an Astrologer, it seems." Ainsworth calmly noted. "It's our duty to bring them in after this is all over." He had recovered his shaky mental state, forcing himself to remain composed. Seeing Lumière be swallowed by the Nameless Spider, he had almost lost himself to his powers. For an Astrologer, losing your morality was a key danger, one that would turn him into a bitter, hollow soul.
"But they're attacking the Nameless! Wouldn't it be a bit crazy to punish them, given our own goals?" Ramses protested.
Ainsworth shook his head. "They'll have a choice once they're brought before a high-ranking member of the White Roses. They'll either be allowed to join us, or be killed. That's just how it has to go in order to preserve the peace of Leiden. Power cannot be allowed to run rampant and unchecked.
Ramses didn't continue with his dissension.
"Forget about all of it. Now, let's get started." Ainsworth's gaze narrowed, turning his head to face the beast that had positioned itself before them, towering over them with massive, spiny legs. "They've waited patiently long enough. It's their time to die."