The seconds slogged by like molasses while Indigo's sky-blue eyes smothered Isla, oppressive as spotlights. They pored over and absorbed every detail, from the jut of her lip to the state of her clothes, as if she were a book to be read. An eerie calm made its home on her face, her barely-furrowed brow alone betraying her judgmental analysis. At last, Indigo clasped her hands together, tilted her head slightly, and left.
A minute later, the familiar shadow reappeared in front of the detention tent, and Indigo followed it. Pinched between her fingertips was bandage-sized strip of cloth slathered with gooey white ooze, which on closer inspection proved to be a gelatinous mass of minuscule organisms. This, the sorceress held out to Isla, saying,
”This is one of the miracle of our guild healer, Morimato Tsubano. Her Marsh Songs manipulate life, and her greatest achievement is the breeding of antimaggots, tiny worms that penetrate the skin and repair damage to the host body in the immediate area. They draw sustenance from the blood, if I recall, and after doing their work pass on and dissolve into the bloodstream. Pressing this poultice against your leg will let them soak in and heal the nerve endings my order cut. While they work, I would like you to tell me all about your painting operation. Frenzy Plant has its work cut out for it, freeing all the poor people you trapped, and you making it easier for us will make things easier for you, too.” Indigo seated herself, cross-legged, in front of Isla's cell.
The act of drawing needless attention to the distinction for the sake of further drama caused Chester to return an unimpressed frown to Ike's glare. Soon after the two began to walk, though this did not hinder Ike's following speech. Chester focused his eyes on the skies when Ike described B-rank, and by extension all those who could boast it, weak. Out of courtesy, he remained silent and attentive until Ike's train of thought had run its course, pulling into the station with a final question. Though the implication behind Ike's words stood out more obviously than a soap bar at a fecal festival, Chester put no faith into the idea that the other man seriously considered fighting him. Passing beyond the outer line of tents, the beastmaster replied,
”C-rank. I'm a scout, and I'm in charge of the guild's stables.”Just then, a previously-unnoticed lady passed directly by them. Her remark about Chester's beard elicited him turning to the side to thank her for the comment, no matter how much of a stranger she was, but instead stood silent and contemplative for a few seconds. Being somewhat short of stature, though commonly inconvenient in particular for men, nevertheless had its infrequent advantages. A moment later, Chester righted himself and resumed his course. He and Ike crossed the threshold to the park, and made a steady pace toward the arena.
The departures of Gabriel, Ike, and Argus, combined with the inaccessibility of Isla, meant that the remainder of the soldiers stationed in Frenzy Camp returned to routine quickly. Jane, bored with simple guard duty, walked away from the tents and left Leixia to rest while watching the detention tent. Privateer in hand, though only in the most cursory of manners, she patrolled the park's perimeter, listening to the sounds of life floating down the adjoining streets and how they mingled with the therapeutic
swish of wind through leaves. A half hour trickled by, and Jane let the peacefulness soothe her as she strolled.
By the time that a crazed shout resounded through the trees, Jane's agitation lay comfortably close to being forgotten. She issued a groan of annoyance at sounds of effort noises and incantation, hefted the Privateer, and made her way toward the source of the noise.
Rounding a boulder, she came upon the scene suddenly. Two unknown women squared off on the grass, one a rather plain schoolgirl and the other more unique, with extravagant hair and a bosom that caused Jane's eyes to narrow. Their collective anger could be felt even from where Jane stood, so the former piratess wasted no time in stepping forward to shut this brawl-in-the-making down.
”Hey!” she yelled, loudly but without anger, to get the ladies' attention
”Uggghhh!”His face beyond aggravated, Nero slapped a hand down on the table. The Law of Embodiment obediently responded to his mood, and in an instant transfigured the plastic and metal into spoiled milk that wasted no time splashing down onto the sidewalk and beginning to reek. Nero, his ever-present smile stuffed with derision and impatience, pushed him chair away from the odious puddle before he rose to his feet. Black eyes full of spite settled on Ayame, though his ire wasn't meant for her.
”C'mon, we're goin' to the arena. We've waited for Eve, what, an hour? Must have forgotten us or something and gone off with her guild. It's un-belly-vable. Hee hee hee! Grah!” Still unable to settle on being amused or being angered, the dark mage turned tail and led the way to the Doma Flau, trusting his young companion to follow.
Hands in pockets, he entered the arena and strode along the ring-shaped main walkway through the stands. During this, he gleaned that the day's matches had yet to start. Nero kept an eye on Ayame the whole time, making sure that if the vast crowds here frightened her she'd at least have his purple cloak to bury her face in. On the way, he spotted a face he recognized also trudging along the grand aisle. His eyes lit up, and with a characteristic wide grin he held his hand up and spread apart.
”Shujin! Long time, no see! Are you in the games? Lookin' to test your 'mettle', I expect! Hee hee. What is up, my man?”
