"… See, Yezekael? In the end, we reached our point of contention. Now you don't feel as bad, right?" The short one said, through a smirk.
The one named Yezekael laughed.
"You're right, Caelum. I feel like I've been saying that too often."
"That's 'cause you love to doubt me. But anyway. Gnat, whatever your name is, we're gonna give you one chance to give us a clean set of clothing, and the carriage. It seems like a bad deal, but it's that or your life."
— Why does the name Caelum sound so familiar…?
Four guards jumped out of the back of the carriage.
They were all clad in heavy armor, holding halberds and long swords.
Natalia had a malicious grin plastered across her youthful face.
"I'll definitely be reporting you after this. Isn't this an abuse of power?" Yezekael complained sarcastically. Caelum laughed.
Out of nowhere, both Caelum's AHMC and Yezekael's spear appeared. They held their respective weapons with a tight grip.
"Huh..?"
Natalia's face twisted into one of confusion.
The guards ran past her.
[Cast: Hall of Subjects]
[Cast: Pyro Whirlwind]
Armor flew into the air, along with the flesh.
When the smoke cleared, the scene in front of Natalia shocked her.
— My guards… were defeated? No way…
"Hehe…"
"My flame techniques haven't gotten rusty."
They left the pile of bodies, walking over toward Natalia. She stumbled, falling onto the ground.
"Get up. You wouldn't want to get your dress dirty."
"Does it really matter?" Yezekael said. He pointed the spear's tip at the woman's throat.
She shrieked.
"Relax. You're royalty, aren't you?" Caelum asked.
She nodded quickly.
"Tell me everything about where you're headed." Caelum crouched down to meet her face.
— Th-these guys… are monsters!
Natalia spoke in a very garrulous manner.
"I-I was headed to a meeting that would discuss future war strategies, plans, and things like that!" Her words flew out in a slur, her eyes closed tightly.
"Hm."
Caelum got up from his crouching position. With his left hand, he gestured for Yezekael to retract his spear.
"Then we'll be accompanying you on your journey to the meeting! As your guards, of course!" Caelum came to the conclusion with a bright smile on his face, his hands clasped together.
. .
.
Natalia sat uncomfortably, between Yezekael and Caelum.
There was nothing to bind her legs or feet, which made her a lot more comfortable, but also made her a little annoyed at how weak her captors assumed she was.
They were now dressed in the spare butler clothes that were placed inside one of the many cabinets within the carriage.
Caelum felt strange in this uniform, never having been in the role of a butler.
"So this is how they feel… Hey, this is a really nice carriage you got here. And those horses are pretty efficient. I don't feel a lot of bumping."
"What would you know about a good carriage, you beggar?" Her arms remained crossed.
"Surprisingly, a lot. I don't know why, but I expected Sar to be a bit underdeveloped. Guess it's doing just fine."
His AHMC rifle rested between his legs. With his arm, he played with it, leaning it, pushing it, leaning it.
The ride was quiet. Until Natalia decided to ask a dangerous question.
"Who… are you people? Assassins sent by an enemy family? A lot of people are jealous of our wealth, so it could really be-"
"We're soldiers of Anore," Yezekael blurted. His hands rested behind his head, leaning back. Enjoying the soft cushion of the chairs. His eyes were closed shut.
Natalia's eyes widened.
"I-I'm helping the enemy forces? If anyone finds out… my carriage driver and I will be executed, along with my whole family. But they'll understand, right? That I was kidnapped. The kingdom couldn't afford to lose me."
"You have this habit of talking. Can you please be quiet?" Caelum asked.
Yezekael yawned quietly, smacking his lips. He shifted a few times.
"What are your intentions in going to the meeting?" she asked another question, despite Caelum's request. He groaned loudly and obnoxiously.
"We're gonna kill the king. Then you and every royal family that agreed with the initiation of the war," Caelum replied, dryly.
"Wh-what?"
Natalia began to hyperventilate.
"If it's ever found out that I'm helping you, I'll die. If I help you all the way, I'll die. If I disobey you, I die! I'm left with nothing here! All roads lead to me dying! You're acting as if we started the war, you evil prick!"
She cried out. Tears began streaming down her cheeks.
Caelum was being sarcastic and expected her to understand that. But the statement she made had brought curiosity.
"You guys didn't start the war?"
Natalia nodded meekly, wiping her tears with nearby tissues.
"Are you trying to say that we did?"
"Yeah…" she answered quietly.
"Tell me. How did we start it?"
"The king's wife was murdered brutally by a soldier of Anore."
"What?!"
Yezekael was asleep and had no reaction to the information. But it came as a major surprise to Caelum. Seeing his shock, she continued.
"There have been so many illustrations of the man, it's practically issued in every newspaper. I can probably find one somewhere in this carriage."
After a few minutes of searching, she retrieved the portrait under a stack of papers, sliding it out. She handed it to Caelum.
His eyes grew limpid. His pupils scanned the features of the main intensely.
The man had rough grey skin, black hair that fell just above his chin, and glistening purple eyes. His nose was sharp along with his intimidating eyes.
"How could I have forgotten this face… This is… the former captain of the Iron Vanguard! Kibim Sisk!" he came to the shocking conclusion.
"The Iron Vanguard… Kibim Sisk," Natalia repeated quietly.
"That rat… so this is where he's been. Stirring trouble in Sar, and blaming it on us. If it weren't for him… this war would've never occurred!" Caelum's fist balled, subconsciously.
. . .
Western Coast of Anore, Military Docks.
Jisvo rested his cheek atop fist, gazing into the sea, and the several ships about to embark. The sun sat on the horizon, reflecting against the water.
"What's with that face, Jisvo? You usually have more of an emotionless expression, but now, it's filled with sadness."
The man asking him this question was an officer, one of the officers who was in charge of maintaining the docks. An older man, with soft round, brown eyes, and light green sideburns, the rest of his hair is covered by a cap.
Sharp ears poked out, just beneath the hat he wore.
"Hm? It's nothing."
All the labs had been cleaned out.
— There's not much more material I can bring in. Will she still be alright?
The question pained him.
To calm himself down, he tried staring at the sea. The waters were awfully calm today, and that calmness brought one to his heart.
"I'll have a lot to talk about. When she comes back."
He rested his head against the wooden desk in front of him. For some reason, he felt compelled to look at the ocean one more time.
There was no longer a calm ocean in front of him!
Space warped, allowing the true scene to be revealed.
Several ships, warboats, and even some animal air units crowded the horizon.
— Illusion magic! We should've considered that!
Standing on deck, Avra Luvrold and Antoine Unahar, Generals of Sar, assessed the situation.
Their ships fired at the docked ships.
Boom!
In seconds, the calming and beautiful scenery became a chaotic one.
Jisvo rushed out of his watchtower, jumping down without even taking his time to grab onto the ladder.
"You've done your job. Take a boat and return to the mainland, Avra."
She nodded, disappearing.
"Now…"
Antoine stepped off the boat, landing on the sandy shore, his boots becoming dirtied with muddy water.
"With that devilish woman neutralized, I have nothing to fear."
He shuddered.
[Cast: Keruanos]
A bolt of lightning shot past Antoine. Narrowly missing, he managed to move his head in time.
That's what he believed until he felt a cut on his cheek. He felt at it, feeling warm blood leaking out.
— Fast.
[Cast: Flash Step]
Clang!
Antoine's Gale Harbinger clashed with Jisvo's long sword, the weapon managing to hold its own against the weight of the massive axe.
"And who is this?" Antoine asked.
"Does it matter if you know my name or not?"
He disappeared.
The axe flew to the ground.