Chink....Click...Chink....click....Chink
Went the reactor that the young man was hunched over working on furiously, his glowing green goggles shielding his eyes from the bright fire which burned in the ships main engine. Maxamillion was working in the main engine room, which was roughly the size of a small stadium, in the center was a massive spire which belched flames and rippled heat. Extending from it were massive cords, creating a web throughout the room, which engineers walked on, repairing twenty four seven, optimizing and inspecting, always fixing any issues which came up. These were the...under belly of the warship, most of them hired out of the slums, these men all had rough and scary stories to their past, and none of them were couth, savages among the more civilized military men. They had been working non stop since the ship had begun its flight, and Max had been working with them. They were a gruff bunch for sure, but he had made friends with them because of that fact, and together they were an efficient team.
Maxamillion had his trouble when they first set out, being thrown into the brig twenty seven times before the head engineer, Baldwin, had warned that if Max continued down that path, he would be thrown off the ship. Fighting was the cause of most of his offenses, fighting and dangerous experiments. The only reason he had not been thrown out was because of his expert skill, and youth. Baldwin would often laugh and say, "I remember when I was young!" as they were letting Maxamillion out after a week or two in solitary confinement in the darkness of a cell.
By now he had become accustom to the rippling heat of the engine room, and even comforted by it, he was dressed in his usual attire of an overly large jacket and baggy pants, working along side one of the more gruff engineers, this particular man had lost an arm and had replaced it with a combination of magic and metal, quite the feat, and also quite the secret. He had threatened blows when he caught Maxamillion scanning over it with his goggles. The goggles had been Maxamillion's greatest asset on the ship, allowing him to see magic, instead of just doing what everyone else did, which was rely off feeling, he could actually bend it to his will with the goggles, and this had gained him quite a bit of attention, the good kind. And this in turn earned him quite a bit of the bad kind. But for the most part, he slipped by under the radar of the higher ups.
Max was laboring over a flux reactor, which was powered off magic, and had recently been blown to bits due to an overheat. Max was putting the bits back together, using his magic to weld the metal together and piece by piece it was beginning to shape up, now he had to just replace the magic. It appeared like a purple fog clouding around the area, Max started by concentrating it, then directing it in a steady stream back into the Flux Reactor, it whirred to life, beginning to pulse blue happily, and Maxamillion smiled to himself, a warm feeling growing inside which he always got when he fixed or made a new invention. The man next to him's arm clicked and whirred at it flicked from screw driver to hammer to wrench, the man then growled, "So, whats yer name, eh lad?" Max snorted as he began to put the bolts back into the Reactor, "Max. Maxamillion." The man nodded knowingly and continued his work, "Quite the talent you got there, Maxamillion. Ever thought of doing some work on the side?" his glinting eyes taking in the young boy as he slaved over the reactor, Max said around the wrench he clenched in his teeth, "Ngh, Nrt really, too mush tuh do here." The cyborg nodded once again and the silence settled, or as close as they got down in the engine room, screaming back and forth, belching and farts where as close as they got, not to mention the constant whirr of the main engine which echoed for a good four or five decks.
The cyborg looked him over once again and asked, "What'd ya say yer name was again?" Maxamillion straightened from the Reactor and began to wipe his hands, "Max. Maxamillion Pendragon." with a slight smile, he held his hand out to the cyborg to shake, he took the calloused hand with his metal one and replied, "Gregory Gernard. Nice to meet ya Maxamillion, if ya ever feel like doin a lil work on the side for me, just find me, ill be the one with the metal arm." He let out a boisterous laugh then shuffled back to work, and Maxamillion wiped the sweat from his forehead, and checked the massive clock hanging over the entrance, almost chow time.
The young man sat at camp, bantering with the soldiers and making rude and crass remarks, as if they were back on the ship. His massive wrench he brought with him at all times laid by his side, and Maxamillion stood up, pushing his goggles down and wandering about, exploring the red forest interestedly, after a hour or two of exploration he came back and one of the soldiers grunted, "What'd you say your last name was boy?" To which he replied, extending his hand to shake, "Pendragon." The soldier smirked and shook his hand, "Boy do I have a surprise for you!" He exclaimed then, leaving Max wondering, they went back to bantering. Maxamillion had been spat up with the other pods and was now residing at the camp with the other soldiers.
" I'll go with you, Chenglei, Serena." said James, striding up behind them all geared up for the hike through the woods and to the distant icy shores. Unbeknownst him, he had passed someone familiar he had not seen for a long time, and probably did not recognize anymore.
James had a saddle in hand, though none of them had mounts in the camp, and bent to buckle the belts of his boots more securely. No longer was he wearing his warlock robes, but the same lightly armored boulder-grey ensemble as the rest of the oriental soldiers.
"Kenren gave me leave." He told Chenglei and drew out his wand. "Cervo venire." a large ethereal stag glowing silver white cantered out a puff of cloud. James patted its neck in greeting and saddled it. "If you two have any extra bags, just strap them on to Frey's saddle. I'm going to look for Lydia, please holler when we're about to head out!"
He jogged off, passing the same person he didn't know knew him. Though for a moment he glanced back, curious, and then shook his head. "Nah, can't be . . ." he muttered to himself.
When James found her, he smiled. "Lydia, me, Serena, and Chenglei are heading out to find the soldiers Kenren sent out to look for Bertrand. Will you come with us?"
Max's head turned when James jogged by and he grunted, "Huh...." a faint niggling in the back of his mind when he saw his face, picking up his wrench he went about packing up his stuff to move out. Maxamillion was dressed in tattered engineer's clothes, consisting of a flame proof jacket and overly baggy pants with steel plated boots, he moved about the camp and compiled all his items to fit on his back, grumbling about what he did and what he did not sign up for. He scratched his jaw looking about the camp which was in a relative state of disarray, and tugged at the golden ring he had in his ear, and had since he was ten years old, when in a act of rebellion he had pierced his ear. Maxamillion talked to the soldiers and they filled him in about some arrogant brat calling them commoners, to which he snorted, "Sounds like a Jerk." Then finished strapping his bags to his back, and sliding his wrench into its place in his belt he looked about, asking around about where they were even going. Zer0
Lydia had no magic. Well she had magic, just she couldn't use it, but that was okay because she also had a hammer and she had proven to be pretty adept at swinging it in the past so she was sure to bring it with her for this trip. When Chenglei had brought up that he was going to find out what happened to the men that Kenren had sent after Bertrand, Lydia's lips pursed slightly before she nodded. Because James had told her what Kenren's orders were, she could only think that whatever mysterious luck that Bertrand had had also saved him from them because she was sure that Kenren hadn't sent them as a happy welcoming party. She made up her mind to go too because she knew James would and she promised she'd help him.
She hadn't said anything that moment, instead running off to prepare to leave, which took some time because she had to make sure of what local flora and fauna was actually edible before stuffing it in her bag and she wanted to get cleaned up some, she was closing up her bag when James approached. Lydia was wearing the pretty blue mage armor she had gotten from the Elves, her hair pulled back in a bun. She turned to face James and smiled as he spoke, though she paused, looking him over before nodding distractedly, "u-um... yes... of course."
She turned a little hesitantly, her cheeks flushed, and lifted her bag before moving over to him and curling her arm around his, leaning up to him so she could whisper, "y-you look very handsome... in that uniform, James."
Chenglei nodded in gratitude at James, grinning before going to his own camp to pack up. Once he was done packing, he waited for the rest by the edge of the camp, a small brown bag filled with what's necessary is in there. Serena came by a few minutes later with her violin ready with a pack of her own.
"Ly! Young Brother Jams! Come on!" Chenglei shouted loudly, making Serena wince and grinned afterwards.
James ears went red, all seriousness gone as he guffawed all pleased and embarrassed. "I will wear this uniform forever." he chuckled, bumping shoulders with Lydia playfully as they made their way to the edge of camp. "You're looking fine yourself, Lydia. Your arm guards are graceful, they accentuate your slender fingers." he held her hand. "Have I ever told you it's your fingers and collar bones I like the most?"
At Chenglei's holler he picked up the pace, jogging with his chest puffed out all regal.
There was a huff and puff behind them and a girl's voice rang out. "Wait, I'm coming with you, my Lord Zhou!" James and Lydia would see that It was Ymir. The oriental soldier would know her as one of the kabuki troupe who casts illusions. For some reason she had a very bulky backpack.
"His majesty --- gasps for breath --- honored his servant by giving her this task to share with you as your cartographer. I am at your service, my lord." she bowed deeply at Chenglei, still huffing.
- Seifer Rathmore - " Yesterday, Camp, Red Forest "
Seifer slept soundly under the covers with a slightly smug smile on his face, as though he was pleased and content he conquered Renee.
His cheek rested on her brow. He had an arm under her head for a pillow, and over her shoulders in a warm embrace. The other hand holding hers across his waist. He had fallen asleep some time ago as he was pleasantly rubbing her back and wings, conversing with Renee intimately.
Suddenly, brisk footsteps approached their shelter. The tent flap zipped open. "Renee, is the cure . . ." Kenren paused. " . . . "
Chenglei raised an amused eyebrow when he noticed the proud look James had before looking over to Ymir who yelled out. If he remembers correctly...she's part of the kabuki troop. With a charming grin, the blond oriental gently grabbed her hands and tugged them, suggesting that she stood up straight.
"Of course, thank you for joining us on this quest, my young lady." He kissed the back of her hand, snow drop flowers bloomed around the pair as the glittery aura cam back. Serena waved the glitter away as she didn't want to catch them. Then she smiled at Ymir. "Glad you're coming with us, but what's in the bag?"
***
Renee practically purred from his rubbings on her back and wings. She was still awake though just barely, giggling lightly like an idiot. She didn't pay that much attention to the brisk footsteps outside as she's been hearing those around the shelter; However when the tent flap zipped open, her wings froze and tucked tightly against her head, her attention now shot back down to reality.
Oh no...
"H-H-hello K-Ken-chan!" Renee whispered, mortified as her wings flapped rapidly in her fluster. Her face was still pink as she tugged the blanket a bit and carefully squirmed out of Seifer's embrace, though she doubted it worked. With her body covered with the blanket against her chest and still holding Seifer's hand, squeezing it tight, the Pendragon teen sat up quickly and stuttered. Embarrassed that the Prince of all people found them like this...
"N-No the cure isn't ready yet...It takes tim-time to find the component that caused your...predicament." The more she talked, the more redder she turned as she wings covered her cheeks. Then she just stared at the Prince with a wide eyed pleading look to not say anything to her brother. She's obviously not ashamed about her relationship by the way she clung onto Seifer's hand and letting him sleep, but she didn't want anybody to put attention to it either as it wasn't anyone's business. Hopefully Ken-chan understood and would accept her answer...
"I'm sure I can make it today however, as soon I find that component." Not stuttering this time, Renee bravely stared back at her royal friend and commander. Her wings tucked tightly.
Lydia couldn't help but giggle gleefully, James was so silly. Her cheeks remained a rosy color as he complimented her in turn, "th-thank you... yes, I think you have," she smiled coquettishly and equally as playfully bumped him back, "but I don't mind you telling me again."
James looked regal, Lydia looked timid and rosy cheeked as she hurried along beside James, glancing back over her shoulder to the heavy breathing behind them, a friendly smile gracing her features as she recognized Ymir. The idea that Ymir would be coming with them actually made her a bit glad because she had wanted to talk to her during the time spent in the steel ball, but it wasn't exactly an easy thing to accomplish at the time, maybe now she could talk to her while they were looking for Bertrand.
When Chenglei's flowers and glitter appeared, she giggled softly. Same old Chenglei, though she wondered where the ability to change his flowers came from and more so, she wondered if he was aware of his atmospheric magic.
Ymir went red and stuttered, unused to this kind of response. "The honor is mine, Lord Zhou!" she bowed again, and responded by blooming watercolor chrysanthemums and lilies. "Thank you for accepting me." she said more gracefully.
She introduced herself to the others, happy to see 'Lady Lydia', whom she played chess with the most. She rejected and then accepted, 'Lord James' offer to have her ride on Frey as she didn't seem the sort used to carrying big loads, and when Serena asked what's in her bag she smiled.
"This!" said Ymir proudly, pulling out a colorful paper dragon head. "In case we meet a great big dragon I can cast a dragon illusion and scare it away, Lady Lock."
So they were six in all. James was talking to the other new person, a guy with goggles, telling him that their mission is to find out what happened to two soldiers they lost radio contact with just this morning. They were to travel along the coast until they see a giant arch of spiky ice. That was their last known location.
The hike was uneventful, but when they reached the landmark they could see that something had gone wrong here hours ago. There were signs of a battle: there were long scorch marks, deep slashed on the ice and large clawed footprints. A search of the area revealed embedded shurikens, the remains of magic bombs, and a torn cloth that wasn't boulder grey, but blue . . . probably what Bertrand had been wearing.
"Haha ---" Kenren quieted, and with great dignity continued talking as though all was normal. "Very well. And, Renee, put your duties --- ha --- before your pleasures ---huahua --- many are depending on you." he said sternly.
Seifer suddenly whined in complaint when he couldn't feel Renee's warmth and, still asleep, felt for her, then tried to pull her down to wrap his legs and arms around her more tightly, snuggling into the crook of her wings.
With one last inflexible look at the pair, Kenren left the entrance of the shelter. One could hear some of the soldiers whispering, but he barked at them to stop eavesdropping and return to their duties like proper soldiers, instead of gossiping like servant girls. Then he got into a laughing fit again.
It was so hard to take him seriously.
- Johnny Caprice - " Yesterday, Red Forest "
Johnny hummed with Echo as they swayed on the ice, catching her whenever she stumbled and laughing together. He closed his eyes, and contentedly laid his chin on her shoulder. He stayed that way, just listening to her soothing voice, and at the end of the song, tightly hugged her with so much affection it felt as though her eyes may pop out.
"I can't help falling in love with you too, Echo Mellow! . . . Everyday . . ." he breathed deeply looking at her happily, as though everyone and everything was invisible except for her. A breeze ruffled through his hair, swaying the red tassel at the end of his braid. In his warm eyes was a great sense of gratitude and comfort that she was a part of his life.
Somehow, it felt as though she's known this look for a long time. Whether in passing from behind or unseen from afar, it seemed that Johnny's eyes have always been watching her. Long gazes during sunset, proud looks in the training grounds and rumors of him boasting about her with the guys, peaceful looks every time he watches her sleep when he's putting a warm drink by her bedside every early morning. Sometimes, she was so exhausted that she never noticed him planting a light kiss on her forehead, then leaving a flower and one of his notes by her drink.
Kenren's gardeners had become nonplussed wondering who was picking their flowers until they discovered it was Johnny and he made up for it by helping them water the plants with Soda everyday.
"Echo, I'd like to help you arrange yours and Renee's notes and drawings about the flora you discovered. I shall rewrite and compile them into a book, and when Renee has time, perhaps she'd like to paint the drawings. It shall be the first plant guide in this new world!" he skated beside her excitedly. "I shall compile the different creatures we see too and make friends with them like my summons. I hope I get to be friends with a good dragon like Levitas."
Maxamillion took in the view and the clues which suggested a trek gone wrong. He ran a hand through his hair as he looked it over and took a seat on a large boulder, pulling out some purple fruit he had found on his journey and looking over it interestedly with his green goggles on, and then calling out to James "Think its good to eat?" as he polished it on his shirt and looked at it again. He then added as if it was an after thought, "Looks like somebody got messed up out here." and tugged the ring in his ear absent mindedly as he looked over the scene. Zer0
Chenglei chuckled low at her response while Serena looks excited. Her azure eyes gleaming. "That's so cool!" She told Ymir, her grin growing wider. As the group walked to where they spotted the scene, the oriental listened to the young man in goggles and frowned in agreement. It seems that Bertrand has gotten himself in trouble...
or the trouble he faced were the men looking for him...
Serena, a beautiful blonde teen who's around the same age as James and carrying a violin in her hand, wearily walked over to the scene and seemed to mutter to herself...or talking with the red gem on her necklace?
"Hisa-chan, what do you think? Clawed marks and scorched stuff? Think it's a dragon or...something else that's worse?" She quietly asked as she looked over the marks and then pulled the blue cloth out, walking back to the group with it.
"I think this is Bertrand's...The soldiers here don't have blue in their uniform...so..." Serena didn't want to finish that thought, already believing that Bertrand might have the ability to change into something that can breathe fire and killed the men who were looking for him...
Chenglei narrowed his ash purple eyes at the whole thing. "Should we continue on this search and find Bertrand or should we head back?" The blond oriental looked over at James and Lydia, trusting their judgement on this matter. He thinks it's rather strange that they found clawed marks to begin with and those black scorch marks as if something could breathe fire...Something is not right here and he wondered if Levitas, the white dragon, with his companion, Lady, did survive and had to run away from something...
Renee nodded, still blushing red, her wings flapped a bit. "Y-yes, of course. I understa-" That's when Seifer's whine was heard and she felt him pull her down, letting out a quiet yelp. "Sei-Seifer-?!" She whispered, thinking he was awake to wrap his arms and legs like that but then she saw his eyes is closed before hiding in the crook of her wings...
She shuddered when she felt his breathe on her wing, the blush turning redder as she responded quietly. "S-sorry, Ken-chan. Of course, I understand." She was still sensitive from the drug. Once he left, Renee could hear the soldiers mutterings and Ken-chan yelling at them to go back to work...then he laughed. The winged teen decided to snuggle back into Seifer's arms and bit her bottom lip, taking a deep breathe as to not laugh out loud. Her shoulders were shaking with each quiet chuckle.
Ken-chan really needs that cure soon...and she will whip it up quickly for him. Renee wouldn't be able to take him seriously either if he laughs and then be serious. It's too much of a contrast!
Once Seifer let's her go, Renee made the potion for Kenren and commented that he has a nice laugh. Then she told him "Thank you...for everything." before leaving with Seifer and looking for more plants to discover.
***
Echo had her eyes closed in the middle of the song, her ears folded back shyly when she felt his arms around her. When she was done, her eyes opened wide and giggling warmly as she felt him squeezing her tightly. Even for her...Johnny's getting stronger and stronger, it seems. When he gazed at her like that, the fawn smiled gently and kissed his nose, knowing how he felt at the moment. She remembers this look but it's usually so far away or when she's too tired that he would look at her like that and now..
Breathing in deep and letting go slowly as if just being near him makes her slow down and be peaceful, Echo smiled a silly smile, but one that's filled with happiness and something warm like hot cocoa. "Love...You are just perfect the way you are. Please always remember that..." She responded as they skated before leaning over and gave him a kiss.
Echo was starting to get a hand of this...when she not tripping.
James shrugged at goggles-guy. "If you don't start growing eggplants out of your ears." he looked at the fruit uncertainly. "You gonna' eat that?"
Meanwhile, the red crystal spoke quietly in a voice only Serena could hear. "What could be worse than a dragon?" Through his goggles, Maximillion could see a faint dark ominous aura that felt like a hairy spider emanating from the crystal, though Serena seems to be alright. From Lydia too, he could see for an instant a sliver of darkness dart across her eyes like a snake in waiting. Both aura seemed the same, only different in intensity. Taking off his goggles, he'd see that they look quite normal.
"I'll ask Kenren." said James to Chenglei. After radioing in, the prince told them to search for more clues and to remain on their guard.
A little ways up the river that flowed between the jagged archway and out into the shores, there was a trail of blood and a smaller set of clawed footprints deeply set on the ice. It led to a hill carpeted in tall yellow grass, and sitting at the top was the helmed skull of a giant. Its armored remains buried under the hill.
Bulky shapes moved about inside. Then, there was a collective deep growling and four thick stubby creatures with amethysts growing from their thick protuberant jaws came charging out threateningly at the group, roaring in an unmistakable display of get-out-of-our-territory.
Their maws were stained with blood. Whatever its fellows were eating inside, it has to be one of the people they were looking for.
"Hooom, hummmmm, dilthen naru er, glinn ad." said an old gravely voice in the wind.
Johnny looked around immediately. "Echo, did you hear that? Someone spoke in elvish." Yet they were all alone in their patch of ice. He drew out his whitewood wand and summoned Meatballs the boarhound, Butters the giant ram, Sorbet the frost golem, and Soda the water elemental, who surrounded them in a protective circle, ready to battle at a moment's notice.
"Ceri ú- n darin." said the old voice more softly.
Johnny who knew a little elvish, said haltingly. "Sin a cin? --- I am asking who it is." he added in a whisper to Echo.
Suddenly Meatballs barked and growled at the trees. Echo could have sworn she saw eyes blinking from the bark before it closed!
"...A traitor to good people..." Was Serena's quiet response to Hisaya, her blue eyes darkened for a second. She really hated people who back-stab others.
Chenglei nodded, waiting as he looked at the scene once more before looking at their new members in the group. The young man in the goggles...he's one of the engineers too...Hmm...After hearing what the prince has said, the blond Oriental soldier decided to warn him while walking up the river.
"You should be careful with that unless you'd like to have hiccups all day, Young man." He remembered Renee's warning about some of the fruits they've found. "What is your name? I'm Chenglei Zhou, one of Prince Kenren's men."
"I'm Serena Lock." The violinist chirped in as she walked besides Lydia. She was curious about the goggles he was wearing and asked what he does for a living. "I'm a violinist for Princess Mia of house Montague back at Kingsbury, right now I'm just a soldier too." She smiled cheerfully.
When they reached the hill, Chenglei gripped his sword, ready to strike if it runs over to them. A few tiny lightening sparks appeared where his blade is hidden away in it's sheath. Serena placed her violin under her chin with her bow on the taunt string and will immediately play her fireflies to burn them if they start to attack them instead of staying calm.
Echo's ears perked up, nodding to Johnny as she did hear the voice in the winds. Weird...They were alone so who...? When Johnny summoned and created a circle, the fawn looked around in case they couldn't see the person talking. While her boyfriend talked to whomever, the red head quickly looked over to where Meatballs barked, towards the trees.
Were...Were those eyes on the tree?
Placing a hand on Meatballs so he can calm down, Echo carefully walked over. Her hooves making a clop clop sound as she cautiously came closer to the tree that had the eyes before. Her mind raced. If this tree was aggressive, it would have attacked them already like the Blargshock plant. Instead it hidden away it's eyes...
What could have caused it to come out of it's hiding place and risk of being caught?
After having a closer inspection and realizing that the tree would not reveal itself that easily, Echo gave it space but still close enough for her to hit it with her hammer if she has to. Then the fawn did an unexpected move for someone who is easily wounded up when it comes to facing enemies.
Echo opened her mouth and sang again, with the song she sang back at Scree village; One of the three songs her mother has taught her. She thought...maybe...the tree likes her singing...and risked being caught by talking to them. So she wanted to make the tree feel safe with their presence by singing to it.
Maxamillion blinked twice when he saw the darkness flit into his vision, then away, he rubbed his eyes under the goggles and looked again, but nothing. His mind began to work, when his thoughts were interrupted by the soldier, and girl, he said nonchalantly, "I'm Maxamillion." And punctuated the word with taking a large juicy mouthful of the purple fruit, and saying around it, juice dripping down his chin as he wiped it away with his sleeve, "Tastes fine to me." His attention was then drawn to the roaring beast, Maxamillion took a bomb from his satchel, beginning to polish it as he lazily walked towards them, interested in the beast's behavior and wondering if it really would attack, he then kneeled and smiled, beckoning to it in a hugging gesture his smile growing wider as he watched its movements and behavior.
With Ymir's response to Chenglei, Lydia blinked slightly as though she were trying to clear something from her green eyes, though she quirked a smile after a moment, that kind of made sense to her since Ymir could work with illusions but she still wondered about Chenglei, and cast him a curious glance. Ymir was kind of adorable and Lydia smiled in amusement when Ymir talked about creating the illusion of a dragon, she'd actually like to see that because it sounds like Ymir's skill is amazing if she could pull something like that off.
Lydia didn't really think anything of the new guy with the goggles, mainly because she and James had been thrust into a steel ball with a whole group of people they didn't know so she knew there would be a whole lot more that had traveled in the other balls, but she gave him an acknowledging nod and smile, he must be someone they can trust to be accompanying with them on this mission.
When they came upon the area where it looked like a battle had occurred, Lydia braced herself, taking in all of the clues. She glanced to Serena a moment and shook her head slightly when she muttered. Lydia didn't particularly like the idea of Serena bringing Hisaya, let alone wearing him as a necklace. He was too exposed that way and she worried about someone like Bertrand catching on and that could be a disaster. But she had kept quiet and just hoped that everyone else that saw her talking to the gem thought that the violinist was crazy.
Back to the matter at hand, evidence of Bertrand maybe facing off against the men that Kenren had sent after him, as well as a third unknown group, the species of which couldn't be placed, at least she believed, by anyone there since she didn't think anyone was adept at tracking. The thought that perhaps Levitas and Lady had somehow survived and made it to shore had occurred to her, but there weren't any bodies around and she wondered if everyone had survived and given chase to Bertrand... it was interesting circumstances and she also wondered if Levitas and Lady would try to help Bertrand.
Lydia's arm crossed around her waist as her other elbow rested on it so she could rest her chin in her hand and curl her finger across her mouth, her brow furrowing in thought. As Kenren responded with his orders, Lydia came out of her thoughts and once they had moved on up the river and started noticing more ominous signs, Lydia's stomach dropped a little. This did not look like it boded well for themselves nor the ones that had likely come to a disastrous end. She frowned deeply and found herself resting her hand on the hammer hanging from her hip, her green eyes gazing around as though she were looking for something, but she didn't know what.
Awed by the giant skull, she didn't remain so for long once that growl emanated from within. Her hand then hooked beneath the hammer's head as she prepared to raise it from where it hung in the belt around her hips. She didn't want to, but she felt that they really needed to know who was inside because if Bertrand was there, that was one less thing they had to worry about, otherwise, the could presume he was more deadly and more of a liability than he may have otherwise been.
The four creatures snarled at Maxamillion, then stood up to their full height, stubbly chins raised high, then charged!
James, who hadn't been paying attention to what was going on as he was at the back with Frey and Ymir, with his eyes looking straight ahead but not really seeing anything, received a swift shake on the shoulder.
"They're attacking, Lord James, they're attacking!" Ymir pointed, panicking.
Serena started to play her 'Magie Melodie' spell, glowing music notes swirling around and aimed at the first one that's coming their way. Then she played her 'Ignis Aegis' spell for defense.
Chenglei quickly drew his sword, lightening sparking on his dark blade and aimed at the armored monsters that are charging! He would dodge as if he was ice skating if he had too.
None of them could scold James for not being ready as it unusual for the teen to be off guard like that.
Max scuttled backwards, and threw the purple fruit's remains at the creatures head as he pulled his wrench from its resting place at his hip, and pulled a bomb from its home in his satchel, Maxamillion then beckoned to the creature, rearing up himself and puffing his chest out, he was a rather imposing creature himself when he wanted to be. He charged forwards, swinging a steel clad boot with deadly momentum towards the first of the creature's chest, his steel plated work boots would come in handy after all, they had been worth wearing. Max's mind was working a hundred miles a second, and as he did this he began to think, the lighter for his bomb was still in the satchel, but they should explode on impact, though he doubted they would have much effect on the beast's rough skin, so he decided to just do it the good old fashioned way of beating their heads in with a wrench or kicking them in with a boot.
Lydia didn't really understand what the goggles wearer was trying to accomplish by his actions and she actually thought that maybe he might be just a little insane, either way, her hand didn't leave her mace. She had previously been quite adept at handling it where she had been weak in magic. Then it was a 180 and she had become relatively adept with magic and had neglected using the hammer. Now she didn't know where she stood, but she couldn't use magic, so she had to rely on her weapon.
So when she saw the reaction of the creatures to Maxamillion, her hand immediately pulled the hammer from her belt, tossing it up slightly and placing her hand properly on the handle. She figured if it really went back and she needed to, she might be able to get James to take her cuffs off again, but she really didn't think it would come to that because she had confidence in her friends and their abilities.
She blinked a moment as she heard Ymir's shouts as she tried to get James' attention drawn away from his bees before turning back as Max attacked one of the creatures, she charged in, raising her mace as she did, aiming to bring it down on the same creature's head.
At Serena's screechy song the beasts roared in agony, and fought more ferociously. One brought it's heavy chin down on Maximillion like a hammer, slamming him down into the ground, before it seized up, cackling in blue sparks from Chenglei's lightning slash, then collapsed.
"Lezard venire!" yelled James. A lightning salamander the size of a dog with a hogback of white sparks appeared out of a puff of cloud. "Chain lightning!"
The salamander looked at the charging beasts, then at James, then shook its head.
"What do you mean, no?!" he said, with an expression like now is not the time for his war beast's disobedience.
Lydia's hammer thunked uselessly against one the beasts back before it bowled her over and swung its chin at Chenglei like a mace, sending him flying into the giant skull.
"Frey!" yelled James, turning to the white stag.
Ymir shrieked when Frey bolted forward and caught one of the beasts in its horns and tossed it into the air. It fell heavily and roared a high pitched roar as if it was calling for something.
Inside the skull, Chenglei would find himself surrounded by six of the same stubby creatures, all looking at him, with their maws red from whatever they were eating in the darkness. Then hissed as one.
When Lydia's mace struck the creature and bounced off, she jerked from the impact and stumbled backwards before she was knocked over, she rolled out of the way. ending up on her stomach and huffed in frustration, "oh for goodness sake!"
Quickly scrambling to her feet she charged after the creature that had gone after Chenglei. She'd been down trodden before and this was no time to feel bad about it, so she raised her hammer again and took a swing at the beast that had sent Chenglei flying.
"Maxamillion! Chenglei!" Serena yelled out before glaring at the one who batted Chenglei. Trusting Lydia and James to get the ones outside, the blonde played her 'Springen' spell and jumped on it, shooting herself nearby the skull. Once she is close enough landing on her feet like a pro, she played her 'fireflies' spell, letting the glowing little balls of fire swarm inside the skull hideout and burn the closet monster so that Chenglei can escape.
Chenglei thought he would be fine after one of those monsters died but grunted painfully when another monster whacked him to it's lair and landed on the ground. Hearing the unified hissing, he tensed, slowly looking up to see six of those stubby monsters with his narrowing eyes. He's surrounded. He's not taking chances. He's no fool: It's best to escape while he can because he knows it's really stupid to attack a pack alone.
Drawing his sword once more, now glowing bright red, orange, and yellow, Chenglei ran to the monster that's blocking his way of escape and attacked with his fiery katana. If he succeeds, he would roll to the side of the entrance in case the other monsters chased after him.
One of the amethysts from the monster's jaw shattered under Lydia's hammer. The beast slowly turned its head around, growling, then slammed Lydia down with its heavy chin.
There was a cacophony of shrill yelping as the giant helmed skull glowed a fiery orange within, and the rest of the monsters came scrambling out , having caught on fire. Thinking Chenglei was the cause, one of them gave chase, roaring angrily --- but his blow struck first and the beast stumbled, crashing heavily on top of him. The swordsman could feel a twinge of pain from his ribs.
All the other monsters were either on fire or the ears were still ringing with pain to attack properly, many were already running away.
There were just two more, one with a shattered crystal that was about to slam Lydia again; and an angry one on fire that decided to go after Serena.
Chenglei wasn't ready for the very familiar fireballs that are swarming around, causing burns on the creatures inside the skull, but he was ready to strike the one that wanted to attack him. His phoenix shaped fire shoot out of his blade and got it to black out...
Only for it to land on him!
The blond soldier grunted in pain, now forced to lay on his stomach when he felt the heavy weight on the creature, barely breathing right as he can feel the twinge in his rib cage. He gripped on Kurosaki as he watched one of the burning stubby creature chasing Serena.
So he aimed his sword and let the wind sickles to cut the monster that's chasing Serena apart!
In the meanwhile, Serena was cackling a bit as she watched the monsters run away from the lit up skull, though she was still worried about Chenglei. So she peeked in only to find an armored head running towards her...
"Nope! Nope!" The blonde played 'Springen' to run away quickly and then played 'Wasser Geige' spell, her violin turning into water as she aims the water at the monster that's about to hit Lydia and the skull that's burning right now.