To her surprise, Andras's challenge was followed by a new voice. Covering her eyepatch with her hand with a dramatic pose, she glanced sideways at the newcomer with her uncovered eye. 'A face I've never seen before... A fox, even! Maybe she's a relative of that one Laurels boy?' Andras noticed that the fox's demeanor shifted immediately after cheerily asserting herself into the fight. 'Perhaps she spoke without thinking, and is regretting speaking up...' Andras's non-library eye watched the fox's tails, which betrayed her unease. 'Kind of cute, actually.'
Chuckling softly to herself, she strode slowly towards the fox. "I'm personally fine with that, but might I ask who you are?" With every step Andras took, she tapped into her power, summoning the spells she had acquired from Perfect Alexandria. They manifested as golden squares of light, and they orbited around Andras slowly. Of course, it was all for show, and the cards didn't actually do anything on their own other than look cool.
But Andras enjoyed theatrics immensely - after all, she went through all the trouble to climb that tree just to jump down. She even skinned her knee doing it, but nobody seemed any the wiser. 'I should really find a bandage after all this...' Andras mused to herself. But right now, she was being far too cool to worry about skinned knees. She was, after all, the Demon Lady of Despair right now, who was about to make her debut into the night-fight scene.
The ghost boy didn't understand how right he was. In this world even the friendliest of faces was but a mask. Bearing that in mind, he put on his friendliest face and stepped forward, past his companions, to meet the ghost boy. "I think we've heard just about enough of this nonsense. You can't just walk up and smear a name as reputable as Alto's without any proof, and it's honestly disgusting that you think we're that stupid."
This man had a grudge against Alto. Something had happened between them, something terrible to inspire the hatred that came poking through his facade. This guy was a rank amateur when it came to falsifying his emotions. Hatred like that inspired obsession, and obsession led to the gathering of information. Information that could prove vital to Nasaraph own ascension. He needed that information. He needed this guys help, but he couldn't let the Vigilantes see his carefully concealed true face. To get rid of them so they could talk, he would have to play the fool.
He threw out his arm, cape billowing dramatically behind him, blocking the two of them, physically blocking his two companions. He turned, smiling back at them. "This one is clearly unhinged, and is intent on wasting our time. My friends, if you still intend to rescue these lost students yourselves follow after the robot girl. The other I found was down that hallway behind us, in the room next to the stairwell up. In return I will take on your old responsibilities," he turned back to Vittorio, letting a bit of viciousness creep into his eyes, "and tidy up all these old ghosts."
If he was being honest with himself, he was actually hoping the ghost boy was completely unreasonable. Clara's refusal earlier had left him feeling ancy. @Dezuel@Bartimaeus@rawkhawk64@RoflsMazoy
Bak Tsarevna
Bak could hear them talking, but she wasn't sure what they were saying. Except, of course, for Vittorio's answer.
"The world is a sad place. The real world is not like the world in the storybooks, Bak. This is a world where monsters can win. Wouldn't you know that better than most?"
She wanted to argue but she couldn't. The world was sad, and she had won things because she was a monster. She was only here because she was a terrible monster. She'd made her first friend acting as a terrible monster. She was accepted by Clara because she was a terrible monster. She was the happiest she had ever been because of the fact that she was a monster. The thought made her kind of mad, and she had no idea why.
Bah! He could keep his poetry and those ghost puppet shows he was so fond of, she had work to do. She turned back to follow after Clara...only to find Clara was gone. "Gah! Why does she move so quickly?" Had she gone upstairs already or what? Bak started stomping back down the hallway, head swiveling left and right in case Clara had ducked into one of the rooms or become invisible or maybe was on the ceiling or something.
She didn't get far before she heard the sound of the floor crumbling behind her. She turned back for the third time to spot a circular hole had been punched in the floor. She looked down at her feet guiltily, before shaking off that notion. No, no, if it was going to do that it would have done so when she stepped on it. Besides, the hole looked way too circular. She'd caused buildings to crumble before, they didn't crumble like that. She could hear sounds too, voices. Was there some kind of fight going on down there?
She took one last forlorn look toward the stairwell door at the end of the hall before creeping as close as she was comfortable to the crumbling edge, which was still pretty far away. Just to listen. Just to make sure everyone was okay.
Gilliam DeWitt
Gilliam was completely lost. He was a big enough man to admit that. It had been a mistake to pursue that last imp into the ventilation system, flattening out his body, smoothing it out, and slithering his elongated form into vent after it. He understood now why this building had been condemned, the vents were an inefficient labyrinth mess designed by some bloody stupid modern Daedalus. How anyone had ever gotten any heat to their homes was beyond him. He had hit actual dead ends, for goodness sake. It was in one where he'd finally caught that imp.
The terror the thing had experienced had made it all gamy and tough, but the flavor was still succulent. Like sulfur, or ash. It was a nostalgic taste, like when he'd used to heat rocks as a kid and swallow them to keep warm at night. Now wasn't the time for reminiscence, however. Now was the time to find his friends, or another of those tasty morsels, or maybe just another vent so he could get his bearing because he hadn't actually seen another vent since he slithered in here and who designed this building!?
Suddenly he felt the entire system shake behind him. With a flick of his nose and the feeling of sneezing in reverse he folded his face in on itself and felt his entire tube-like body rearrange so his front was his back and his back was his front. The sudden light stung his eyes, but when they adjusted it became apparent that someone had taken a whole chunk out of the building. Dim light flooded the shaft like Theseus shining thread guiding him out of Daedalus trap, but as he slithered forward he chuckled to himself for it was not Theseus the thread was rescuing.
Masami took a couple hesitant steps backwards as this "Andras" approached her. D-demon Lady?? she thought, her left hand very slightly hovering over the hilt strapped to her left hip. Maybe..maybe she is nice. She wouldn't admit it to herself, but she doubted it. Most demons are naturally malevolent in nature. Masami liked to think of herself as different, in a humble way.. she wanted to help people.
She shifted her jaw, opening her mouth and allowing the Starballs to slowly drift from it, before speaking. "M-my name is Masami. Masami Souma.. she stuttered. Jeez, you're showing reluctance already. Calm yourself. her conscious urged her. She stood up straight, now firmly grasping her hilt, and allowing her Starballs to each float a foot away from her, between herself and Andras, as they emit a dim blue glow. She hoped her facade wouldn't be realized as she tried to keep her ears and tail from revealing her true emotions.
"I am new to Rhea, and have just enrolled at St. Laurel's school for Academic Excellence.
Samoth turned as Andreim called to him and began to initiate his plan. His display of ability was met with the desired affect, and the ceiling behind them fell through. Flanking seems an appropriate action, given the circumstances; Rurik and Christine wouldn't easily get past that Katherine. Thobias...maybe. But he wasn't much of a threat, given the seeming nature of his powers. In any case, Katherine can handle herself, he thought.
He ran to the cyclone of water summoned by Andreim, stepping upon it as it pressurized and blasted him through the air onto the third floor, landing in a roll. Quickly gathering his bearings, he analyzed his surroundings.
He spotted King. Among others. The Vigilantes?!?! he thought. This is getting...interesting.. Not good.
Taking note of those present in the group; including Vittorio, Aram, Brutus, and King; Samoth turned his back to them, in the direction of his objective.
Bak. Jesus Christ, why are their so many people here? he thought. He immediately charged towards towards the Mephisto's student, without hesitation. There was no time for it. If he gave her opportunity to respond, she would...well, let's just say it wouldn't be the best idea. He planned to leap upon her, catching her in a grapple, and pinning her to the ground. From that point any magic she was utilizing would be nullified. In his mind.
Andras took note of the fox girl taking steps away from her. She could feel a slight pang of regret. 'I-I didn't mean to scare her that much, geez... She must be really new around here.'
"A Laurels student?" Andras stopped, chuckling softly. "Well, allow me to give your first lesson." Andras took a wide stance, holding her hand out. Her spells one by one caught in her hand, no longer orbiting her. Fanning them out in her right hand, she turned to the man she originally challenged. "Let's not keep her waiting, shall we?"
Bak didn't even have a second to observe the hole before someone came bounding out of it. In the moment before the person noticed her, she recognized that he wasn't one of her friends. She widened her stance, getting into firing position as the person turned and charged at her while he guns were still spinning up, not even giving her time to properly recognize him before he'd leaped up upon her. She felt the arms reach around her, trying to take her to the ground. That didn't happen though. She reached out as he did, her hands gripping his waist as he reached out and latched on to her. She swayed. She did not fall. She held him in the air, and in the middle of this strange, ballet like embrace she looked upon the face of her opponent and recognized it. Samoth. St. Laurals.
She smiled at him. It had been a while since she'd had an opportunity to have so much fun. "You can not bullrush me, silly-billy." She said. Then she pushed off the ground with her foot, turning toward the wall separating the hallway from Room 302, hand sliding up to grip a handful of his shirt. In one motion, with all her strength, she moved to put him through the wall.
As Samoth charged, Bak began to spin her turrets, ramping up for her signature attack; a hot volley of metal to the face. But Samoth's charge cut her off before she was capable. But just as his arms reached her, he felt her own grasp meet his hips. She was now holding him in what he perceived as some sort of awkward dance-pose that you saw on those dancing shows. He looked at her as she looked at him.
Her face developed a smile. Shit. he thought. He had underestimated the strength of the younger student. She turned to the wall beside them, shifting her grip and throwing him into it before he could turn his focus to a mental attack.
A loud crash, as well as the sounds of splitting and creaking wood, accompanied Samoth's pain as he hit the wall, and then the floor on the other side of it. Dust filled his eyes and the wind was knocked out of him as he felt the grip upon him disappear, being replaced by the grip the pile of broken planks and debris that were now under him.
He groggily tried to clear the dust from his eyes, as he heard the shrieks of terror from nearby creatures, scurrying around and presumably scattering from the room. He lashed out at the nearest consciousness he could sense, landing his fist upon a dazed imp, sending it across the room as he recovered his eyesight.
He looked over, seeing a student unconscious on the floor beside him. That's...one...
He hurriedly attempted to scurry to his feet, while moving away from the direction he thought he had come from. He wouldn't underestimate Bak Tsarevna again, but he also need to flank the other Mephisto's crew, and provide support for his fellow student, Katherine, below.
"Hey hey! We've got two new challengers!" A voice shouted from some loud speakers.
The source of it was a figure standing on a nearby makeshift stage. There were a lot of laptops surrounding them, and music blaring out of the loudspeakers on the platform. She was wearing loud clothes and headphones around her neck. It seemed like she was the MC for the night. The Midnight tournament had a few regulars on call for these kinds of things and they all tended to operate differently.
"Pencil 'em in, Jokey boy!" She said. Off to the side, there was normal looking guy with a cap, standing next to a roll out whiteboard like one you'd see in a classroom. The tournament brackets were written on it with whiteboard marker.
"They haven't payed up though, isn't that not allowed?" The guy said.
"Oh come on, Jokey! You really gotta suck the fun outta everything like that?!" The MC shouted over the music. "Just put 'em up! If they win, they don't pay!"
"You can't have two winners, dumbass." Jokey grumbled, but he proceeded to put them on the board.
He very clearly spelled the names wrong and put them in a really badly drawn square and linked them to the tree in front of where Danny was. It looked as if Danny had cleared the first round. In the other squares there were other combatants fighting as well.
"You've got some spirit on ya, huh?!" Danny said, grinning ear to ear.
He was ready in a boxer's stance. The last fight had gone on for a little bit, and he was coming in without rest. He didn't look tired, but time would tell.
"Give it up folks, for Danny the Thundercloud's round 2!" The MC shouted as the crowd cheered. "Start in 3, 2, 1! Go!"
A low-res looking gun materialized into her hand, and she fired into the air to signal the start of the match.
Danny immediately began to rush in. His thundercloud flew ahead of him, headed straight for Andras.
Andras picked out one of her spells and with a flourish, tossed it into the air. She thought of the friends she would call upon to cast this spell, and murmured to herself, "I invoke the magic of mountains, heed my call."
The card she had chosen shone brightly for a moment, before bursting into... An unsightly creature. Its skin was green, its stature short, and it was cursing and flailing tattered bits of cloth, barely managing to hover in place. It was nothing other than a goblin with a makeshift set of wings.
Andras gripped another card in her hand, and pointed at Danny, commanding the goblin to block him. 'If he does anything to the goblin, I'll just offer it up to summon my next creature.' Andras thought, smiling a little to herself. The Goblin swooped down to intercept Danny.
"Hey, that's no fun!" Danny shouted, his Thundercloud rising above the goblin. "Strike!"
A bolt of lightning shot out. The storm's trail now extended upwards.
Andras grinned as she saw Danny direct an attack towards the goblin. Normally, summoning a creature requires time and at least part of a chant, but some... Had their own ways of appearing. One such was a powerful monster that Andras called upon. 'Patron,' she thought. 'I offer to you this creature.'
The spell registered instantly, and another card disappeared from her hand. Summoned from the card, a large and menacing rock worm rose from out the ground, snapping up the flying goblin. It crashed against the ground, sitting between Danny and Andras. Around it, otherworldly fires seemed to blaze.
Andras laughed, covering her eyepatch with one hand. "Behold! The legendary spirit who watches over the Akki!"
Danny laughed even louder.
"Now THIS is what I'm talking about!" He shouted.
He kicked off the ground and leaped high into the air. He left a trail of electricity in the air as he jumped. He brought his hands up into a double-handed smash as the worm reared its ugly head. He came down on it, and a large amount of electricity passed from his fists into the worm.
The crowd went wild. It was one of Danny's signature moves, a sort of human thunderstrike. The electricity in his fists carried the same amount of power as a thunderbolt from his cloud.
Whether or not it felled the worm was a different question, however.
The great worm roared in pain as the shock ran through its body. "Tch. Not bad." She said to nobody in particular. She briefly considered how much that would have hurt if she was the one taking it.
'The Patron is pretty hurt. If I attack with it... It probably won't survive any counterattack.' Andras thought, her mind racing. 'But given its power... That might be fine.'
"O Patron, show him the spirits' rage!" Andras made a quick (but overall unnecessary) gesture to direct the attack.
The wounded spirit-worm reared up, the spectral flames surrounding it flaring up. Showing a sudden dexterity, it quickly whipped around, attempting to hit Danny with a sudden crashing blow to the side, augmented by the ghostly fire that surrounded the worm.
Danny saw the attack coming, and wrapped his arms around the worm as it struck. It was way too wide to get even a good enough breadth around it to hold onto, but his grip was strong.
"Ow!" Danny shouted, thrashing his feet up. There was fire, after all.
Electricity was streaming into the worm, but not with as much intensity as before. It seemed to be a more passive ability compared to his punch. In a few moments, the worm would be dead, but there was also the fire.
"Strike!" Danny said. The thundercloud was directly above him, and it struck.
The worm roared, and the fire faded away. It was dead it would seem.
Danny landed on the ground, hair and clothes singed in a lot of places, and he seemed unsteady.
"I... forgot," He said. "I'm not immune to my own lightning..."
And then he fell.
Andras watched Danny fall. At the same time, the Patron was unable to maintain its material form, and dissolved into the same golden specks of light that the cards seemed to be made of.
Andras posed triumphantly, letting her cards float around her once again. "A worthy challenger... But I am the winner." After a few moments of silence, she opened her eye and looked at Danny. "Hey... Are you alright?" Her concern broke her cool facade.
"Hahahaha... no." Danny croaked, then he passed out.
"...Make way," Jokey said. It seemed like he'd swapped out his cap for a medical worker hard-hat. There was an actual medic as well, carrying a stretcher between them, and an ambulance nearby which had seemingly appeared from nowhere.
They loaded Danny onto the stretcher and shuffled off for the ambulance, the thundercloud following them all the while.
"And it seems we have a winner!" The MC announced. She squinted at the tournament board. "Next match, &ras VS, Massami!"
William Ascot would stir awake, remembering a pretty blue-haired girl with an eyepatch in his dreams. Getting up from bed, he found that he was still in his St. Laurel's clothing; a sign that his mother knew that the boy wasn't staying in the family house for the entire night. He would then put on his socks and shoes and go downstairs, where Gilgamesha Ascot, the mother of all three Ascot siblings, was in her shirt, jacket, jeans and shoes. The blonde woman would smile at her son, then, saying, "Do you finally remember your friend? The holder of 'Perfect Alexandria'?"
Ascot nodded and said, "Yes; she can possibly defy Death with the right combination of cards. She may have mentioned the 'Midnight Tournament' back in the library. Or was it someone else?"
Gilgamesha Ascot smiled as she extended her hand and opened her palm, revealing the car keys. "Want me to drive you there? Just sleep on the way; you need your rest."
Vittorio gaze turned from Brutus and unto Nasaraph.
"Like the sheep whom gather when the bell is rung, or when herded by a hell hound such as Alto... to the slaughter." He had no real quarrel with the vigilantes or whatever they were, but now they were getting in his way in one way or the other.
"You've ought to show more respect for creatures from nightmares or faerietales. Lest you want to become a martyr for your cause." Vittorio began to spread his tentacle like wings out in a sort of combat stance, pointing them towards Nasaraph. He was prepared to fight if he had to. Anyone wasting his time had to be thrown aside, even if it meant to wound them slightly. However as much as he wanted to press onwards, he had no desire to kill anyone but those two. The monster and Alto. They could pretty much had been the same in his mind at this Point, two different sides of the same coin. One covering is a shroud of darkness and the other hiding in blinding light just out of reach.
"Can you feel the fear? It fills you with doubt. Do you still believe in what you do? This world is so cruel, eager to leave it behind? Then come at me and you may leave this world behind."
A black crow, a red shoe box, and a puzzle cube. What did all these have in common? Messages from Mephisto. Something a very select few were aware of, objects nearby which would normally have escaped notice, marked by red lightning. Messages for certain people in certain places. Just as it was for Kūgekino Yuuto.
A simple missive, Watch her in my absence. From a man behind bars, a simple, straightforward request. The reward? Well, anything.
It was interesting to watch the reactions of the people who were told it by that man. There was such an air of confidence about him that it made you think he could really find anything in the world to give it to you. It felt like it wasn't whether he could or not, but whether he would or not. There had not been many people willing to test such a thing, however.
The reward was as such each time.
There was only one person who could be the target for this message, his daughter, Clara Deimos Erdrigan. After all, she was the driving force behind his arrest. It could be anything but frivolous. She was plotting something, perhaps. But whether that was in Mephisto's concern was not something to care about.
Yuuto stared at the missive, picked up discreetly. The request was simple. Too simple, really. Then again, it had been a while since Yuuto had taken a job. He had his schooling to worry about, after all. To be fair, the ninja didn't think Mephisto cared about such trivial things as schooling. Still, it didn't hurt to play it safe...
But why would Mephisto want a pair of eyes on his own daughter? Yuuto shook his head as he ripped the message into pieces, letting them loose into the wind to be scattered. It didn't do to ask questions, he'd been told. His only job was to do as the employer asked. As for the reward... Well, Yuuto was a simple kid of simple means. Perhaps just enough money to pay for some typical "teenager" stuff, in order to keep his cover better. After all, during school hours, he was simply a transfer student, and it wouldn't do to blow that cover. Few knew of his true purpose of being a glorified mercenary.
Shaking his head, Yuuto dipped into the Void so no one would see him run up the side of a building. Once on top, he emerged, and began to make his way to where he knew some of the Student Council had been heading. Along the way, he made sure that he'd grabbed all his equipment. Kunai? Check. Shuriken? Check. Senbon? Check. Tanto? Check. Collapsible bo staff? Check. The sword and staff were strapped across his back, and the rest were in a shuriken pouch tied to his right thigh. Good. He was ready.
Upon arriving at where he'd seen the others heading, he saw an abandoned apartment building. Just what would Clara be doing here? He quickly ducked behind a chimney as he saw a figure descend from the third floor. His well-trained eyes caught the unmistakable figure of King, as well as Alto. Hmm... this complicates matters. I must be sneaky, like cat on prowl. With that, he disappeared back into the warming embrace of the Void. Upon making his way to a different side, he put one foot on the wall, then another, and walked up. He saw a peek of Clara through a window on the third floor. Emerging from the Void, he hopped inside the window. There were a couple of creatures that screeched at him as soon as they saw him. Imps. Quickly, he whipped out two kunai, and threw them. The poor imps were speared through before they knew what hit them. They kunai pinned the buggers to the wall, each emitting a soft thud! While people with superpowers couldn't really be affected by his weapons (his tanto would only scratch a powered being), the weapons were nice and deadly to lesser demons. Yuuto quickly checked that the imps were dead before retrieving his kunai. He then stepped out the door, stepping just behind Clara.
"Ah. Erdrigan-san. I saw Student Council heading here. How can I help?" he asked, stowing away his kunai. At this point, he heard a loud crash behind them. His eyes flitted down the hall to where he assumed the conflict was. There, he saw a half-machine, half-human. Bak, if he recalled.
Midnight Tournament, Round 2: The Demon of Despair and the Divine Fox
Masami stepped back as Danny “Thundercloud” charged towards Andras in a full-on frontal attack. He apparently had some considerable amount of power and, presumably, preferred to utilize it up close.
But he didn’t get very close before the Demon Lady made her own move.
Madami watched as the fight progressed, quickly developing into one case of a large beast against a less-than-large boy. But, it seemed Andras was indeed quite powerful. It took her only two moves to dispose of Danny, sending him on his way, aboard a stretcher.
Masami was watching, and analyzing, the whole time. She had never seen a Demon who channeled their power through...cards before. She was different.
The beast and the boy both fell, leaving just the two of them and the crowd, their cheers exceeding them.
The MC announcing that the next fight was to continue on, Masami turned towards Andras, placing her right hand on the hilt at her hip. “Your power, it is impressive.” She said, trying to keep her voice as strong as possible. A small grin appeared on her lips, erasing what little reluctance she had as she thought about the outcome of the battle and how fun it would be, “Let us see if it falters under mine!” She challenged, looking at Andras’ face for any telling signs of attack or emotion.
Smiling at Masami's words, Andras replied, "If you can make all of the magic in the world falter, you would indeed be a worthy challenger."
Andras regarded her opponent. 'No matter how cute, I mustn't let my guard down. But still, the fox seemed to perk up now that a fight was coming on. Perhaps she was the type to enjoy an honest spar?'
As she thought to herself, Andras looked over the fox's equipment. She couldn't quite tell how the newcomer would approach fighting. Andras would have to test the waters herself.
As the two looked at each other, the MC counted down once more. "&ras and Massami, round three! Start in 3, 2, 1! Go!" A gunshot marked the start of the round.
Andras took the initiative. It was important to gain information on how her opponent would deal with certain threats. She touched one of the cards that orbited around her and chanted, "O spell of the swamp, hear my voice and grant me your power!"
The card shined and disappeared, and from the ground several overgrown, mangy, and mud-slick rats sprouted. 'Not the most elegant creatures to bring out, but they'll work.' Andras pointed right at Masami, in a signal to attack. The rats began scurrying towards Masami.
The two stared at eachother, analyzing the possible capabilities of their opponent. Masami would have the advantage. But she still didn’t know the extent of Andras’ powers. Could she summon weapons? Only creatures so far, but she’d have to be careful.
As the MC began to count down, a white, bone-looking skull mask appeared in Masami’s hand from seemingly no where. She placed it perfectly against her face and left it there. “Go!”
Andras decided to move first. Chanting one of her spells, the other student disposed of a card, it shining briefly before disintegrating into golden dust, and forming a group of enlarged, mangy rats.
Masami took quick action, drawing one of her Starballs to her while easily snapping the weapon hilt from her belt. She grasped the ball, slamming it against the bottom of her helve, and from it erupting a long, curved blade of roaring red flame.
She swung it weightlessly, willing the blade of flame to detach itself, widening in length and flying towards the group of rats. It was instantly replaced by another blade, of which she also swept towards the beasts.
If the move succeeded, the swarm would be engulfed in a double blast of flame, and her first Starball would be expended.
As she performed this, she quickly started to move, pivoting her movement on the rats, running around them to meet face-to-face with Andras.
Andras watched as the rats were dispatched handily by a flame attack. 'Ah. She has elemental attacks, then. So be it.'
Andras looked at her hand. Several of the spells were too complex to cast without more mana... There was realistically only one option.
"Mystic of the moon, provide with me your ascendant knowledge. Heed my call!" Andras selected a card from her hand, and held it up high. It materialized as a strange humanoid, marked with tattoos that covered its pale skin. It sat in a meditative pose, hovering above the ground.
'I've already cast three spells today, counting Erayo. According to my understanding, then that means the next spell will allow Erayo to flip...' Andras waved for Erayo to stay back. 'That may provide me some breathing room. But until then...'
Andras turned and ran away from Masami, and readied another spell. This one was instant, so she planned on using it to distract Masami if she managed to close the gap.
Having dealt with the swarm easily, Masami would be upon Andras quickly if she did not move to prevent it. Her next maneuver wasn't exactly that, but it was close...kind of. She withdrew a card from her hand, presenting it to the sky. She chanted to the "Mystic of the moon", the card shaping into the figure of a vaguely-human form, and now levitating near her.
At this point Masami was approaching Andras from her starting postiton. However, the distance between them stopped closing so fast as Andras began to run away from the fox-girl, waving for her creature to keep its distance. Now, Masami isn't dumb. It was pretty obvious that this Moon Mystic was not an up-front combatant. However, it is uncertain to her how many times Andras is capable of summoning creatures. Not too many more...right?
Masami chose to chase Andras. As she did so, she removed her second Starball from the hilt on which it was attached, releasing it to join the other. She then willed them to rotate quickly around eachother, building speed. Combined with the movement of her arms and legs as she sprinted towards the fleeting Andras, she willed her wind powers to create a mini, twirling wind twister, which collected dirt, dust, rock, and various other bits of debreee as it sped towards the card-caster. (Btw the Starballs are not in the cyclone, they just generated the movement to produce it.)
Masami planned for the twister to blind and slow down Andras, maybe even throwing her to the ground. Upon succuss, she would continue her rush to tackle Andras, pinning her to the ground and immobilizing her. In the meantime, after the cyclone was already on its small path of havoc, Masami turned one of her Starballs to boiling magma, and using a pressured wind blast, shot it towards Erayo.
Andras was on her toes for this fight, being as her opponent was apparently known as a powerful demon. If she really did turn out to be one, maybe this could help ease Masami's fear of them, even if by just a little.
Andras wasn't a fan of running. Sometimes it was necessary, but she still didn't enjoy it. She looked over her shoulder to see the fox doing... Something with those orbs of hers. She directed them to spin, and they unleashed a whirlwind that was headed straight towards Andras. 'That seems good enough to react to.'
Andras turned on her heel and raised her arm to cast an instant spell. Before the spell could even resolve, her summoned creature - Erayo - seemed to disappear completely. Or rather, her body disappeared, and mysteriously, the strange and flowing tattoos that covered her body did not. Flowing around a jewel, they seemd to change into something completely different - no longer a living creature, but a magical enchantment.
Of course, Andras had planned on that. The next part of her plan, however, wasn't going to be fun. Andras grit her teeth and covered her face as she took the whirlwind directly. The wind knocked her off her feet, throwing back her hood and most distressingly removing Andras's eyepatch. Within the whirlwind, her now-uncovered eye glimpsed two new spells - before Andras reflexively and forcefully shut it. Andras groaned, covering Perfect Alexandria with her hand. The whirlwind had knocked her flat, but she hadn't been knocked out at least. She struggled to a knee, the mysterious ribbons from Erayo twisting around her. Andras smiled a little. 'At least that part of the plan worked,' she mused to herself. Andras held out her free hand, and the ribbon twisted around her, the jewel resting against her forehead. As if Erayo's Essence was intelligent, the shifting ribbon wrapped around Andras's head, covering her eye to replace the lost eyepatch.
'Thank you, Erayo.' Andras thought, grinning. The next problem was that the fox was charging right for her. She needed to act - and fast. Without any hesitation, Andras cast the spell she had just drawn; a simple flight spell. She would have preferred to take the incantation that makes it permanent, but she didn't have time. The spell instantly took effect, and Andras shot into the air, levitating magically.
"That was close..." Andras said, looking down on Masami. "You're something else, you know."
As Masami's attack was coming close to contact with Andras, the card-slinger turned, raising her arm, and evoking the use of yet another one of her spells. From the corner of her eye, Masami saw the Moon Mystic disappear from sight, her Starball shooting through the space they had just occupied. However, oddly enough, their tattoos hadn't dissolved. Instead, they now became a long ribbon, orbiting a magnificent jewel. Which now seemingly augmented Andras herself. These spells are so unpredictable!! Masami growled in er mind.
At that moment, two thoughts occurred to her. Well...thoughts? They felt like memories. She saw two separate visions of herself. In one, she saw herself holding up her arm, and from it, a blue dome of energy sprang, and upon that, fireballs and spells of all sorts were caught against the power of the dome. Ceased in their tracks.
The second vision, she saw herself holding her hand to the sky, draw clouds drawing themselves upon the sky, and dark tendrils seemingly reaching down from the sky as sizzling rain falling from the sky, searing those who lay unprotected under its wrath.
As she experienced these visions, her hands tingled with capability. She recognized the feeling. She could...cast a new spell...but why!?
In any matter, shortly after that moment, Masami's twister struck Masami, blowing her from her feet. Masami ran faster. She was nearly upon Andras, when suddenly the now ribbon-adorned student shot straight into the air, leaving little opportunity for Masami to stop her. Masami stopped, looking up at Andras.
You're something else, you know. ..that I am.. she thought. But so are you. Sh didn't say it out loud, but the thought was much the same.
"I'm something else?" Masami called from below her as her Starballs returned to her side. "Your apparent disregard for humbleness is worrying!" she teased, eyeing the exposed undergarments that weren't hidden by her skirt. Masami would then quickly grasp on of her nearby Starballs, once again joining it with the pommel of her would-be-weapon. The other Starball enlarged itself, turning into a sphere of tumbling wind, and began rising upwards.
Masami hastily hopped onto the orb of wind, increasing its traveling speed very quickly as she willed her other Starball to give life to her weapon. It once against sprouted a blade of deep flame. Masami swept it across her desired path once again, aiming to release the blade onto Andras and bring her from the air. But at the last moment, her blade faltered. The flame flickered momentarily as Masami traveled quickly upward, and then fully dispersed. What!?! she exclaimed in her mind.
No matter. She would already be upon Andras due to the quickly moving sphere below her feet. She would drop the hilt, leaving its Starball to float beside her as she grappled Andras, restricting any movement of her arms, and capturing her in as strong a bear hug as she possibly could.
She then put her mouth close to Andras’ ear, a toothy smirk appearing upon her face, showing her fangs. “Strawberries, huh? Classy!” she giggled, aiming to embarrass the card-slinger for her choice of undergarment.
Andras couldn't fly fast enough to dodge the fox's attack. Although Erayo's Essence did protect her from a magical attack, she had to admit she didn't expect a tackle. Andras wracked her mind for a portential out to this situation, before something completely scattered her thoughts-
"Strawberries, huh? Classy!" The fox girl teased.
'Strawberries? What is she-' As the two girls descended towards the ground, Andras felt a breeze on her legs.
"Straw... Berries..." Andras stammered, as the two hit the ground. Andras's legs gave out, and Masami crashed down on top of her. "Straw..." Andras couldn't formulate any more words. Only repeating a stammered word.
'What are you saying?! Why are you so embarassed? Say something cool, dammit! You're the Demon Lady of Despair! Who cares if she saw that?' Andras's mind was moving far too quickly; her body couldn't keep up. All she could do was stammer and be acutely aware of how her face was burning red. Even if Andras was in control of her senses, she had no spells that would be worth casting, apart from creating a momentary distraction that would ultimately serve no purpose.
She was defeated, in many ways. 'After all of that... To be brought down by a tackle...' Andras sniffled, on the verge of tears.
Andras had appeared to be stunned by the fox girl's comment, seemingly losing all coherency. They plummeted towards the ground, Masami landing on top of the other girl, who was still shocked after hitting the dirt in a less-than-gentle fashion from about 5 yards.
As Masami regained her bearings from her cushioned fall, she noticed the other girl's features reddening, and she was obviously extremely embarassed.
"Submit!" Masami shouted while breathing heavily, pushing the other girl's arms against the ground., while still on top of her. "You know i've beat you, so admit it." she uttered in a quieter tone to Andras.
Andras was snapped out of her situation when the fox girl ordered her to surrender. Of course, the fox girl was joking. She had no way to tell that Andras was out of options-
Masami roughly pinned her arms down. "You know I've beat you, so admit it."
Andras's mind sifted over the possibilities once again. Nothing she could do seemed able to turn the tables. It pained her, but it looks like she truly lost. The faster she admitted it, the faster she could leave. Plus, this fox was awfully close to her right now... And she could hear her panting.
Andras looked away, fidgetting under Masami. "I concede this day to you, Masami. You win."
Masami’s opponent paused briefly, assumedly considering her choices. But with obvious displeasure in the fact, she admitted defeat. The Kitsune was immediately from her spot on top of the other girl, and was now standing, throwing her arms into the air, with a giant smile on her face.
“Yeah!” She shouted to the crowd as their cheers exploded. She giggled, waving to everyone who had watched the fight. That was fun! she thought while panting and slightly sweating.
Alexander got off the limousine, impatient to finally encounter Vittorio. But once again, he was sidetracked by the compassionate side he did have, as he saw the unconcious kid being taken care of by the driver. Probably one of the kids Will says the other St. Laurels Students are rescuing. A frown as he approached the driver, flashed his badge, and said, "Can I do anything to help?"
The driver looked at Alexander, then nodded bregrudgingly.
Alexander smiled and said, "Don't worry about your young master, by the way; I'm after another perp entirely. That said, can you tell me more about the kid?"
The driver gave another nod or so, "Well, he's one of the 'bad kids' in St. Laurel's; as far as that place can have bad kids. Alto says he and the others had been meeting and such."
The plot thickens, as my Father used to say, Alexander thought. "I presume Alto is inside the building now?" Another nod at that. Alexander then said, "All right; I'll try and keep out of cases I haven't taken yet until somebody gets seriously hurt. Now, time to go."
And with that, Alexander, presumably with Vernon and Michael in tow, would enter the lobby, where Alto Ganze presumably was. It was then that Alexander would be interrupted by a text message.
Ressurection is Possible. Andras can do it. Will take Ascot to Midnight Tournament; meeting her. - Love, Your Mom.
After taking a second or so to read it, Alexander would say to Alto, "Hello there, I am Alexander Ascot; Juvenile Investigations Officer. I am here to pursue one Vittorio Twinveil, who has made credible threats against your person. My brother, Alexander Ascot, has begun a plan to break Cosmic Law and ressurect Vittorio's dead friends and family, which include several people of your acquaintance. And so, as a good brother, I am tasked with inhibiting any interaction between Vittorio and you, which I can do by using your legal obligations to aid an officer of the law in his investigation."
He then looked at Alto. "And by that, you're not leaving this lobby until you've told me your perspective on the deaths of Geon, Charlotte, Billy, Carus, as well as the two gardeners at St. Laurel's; the Twinveils. Same for giving me clues to the Demon who has killed them."
Michael stared absentmindedly out the window of the car as it drove along. It had been a long day, and he was getting tired. He let out a long sigh. Maybe if he just closed his eyes, let them rest a little.... yeah....
He jolted back up as Alexander snapped. Oh man, how long was I out? Michael thought as he tried to clear his mind and eyes as fast as he could. It seemed the excitement of the day was not quite done yet. Michael listened in on Alexander as he talked into the phone, and got a few bits of notable info out of it. Samoth... Samoth... the name sounded familiar to Michael, yet he couldn't quite place it just yet. Then it came to him: Samoth the Nullifier. So Alexander even had a connection to that guy. Interesting. Michael immediately summoned his paintbrush and applied Body Art to his arms and legs. The designs were simple, just basic strength and speed enhancements, but they would do for now.
Michael followed Alexander into the lobby, feeling slightly uneasy. It was Vitorio they were dealing with, among other things. Michael had never actually met the guy before, but that too was an issue, as he had very little idea what they would be up against. At least with Alexander around, things had a smaller chance of going wrong. Right?
Michael returned his focus to the world around him, seeing that Alexander was now speaking to Alto. Michael took a good long look at the guy. Rarely did he have an opportunity to see Alto Ganze this close, and he would make full use of it.
"...Then you would do well to read my witness report." Alto said, glancing over his shoulder.
Alto was almost perplexed by such questioning from Alexander. Of course, he had been questioned as a witness a little after the murders had occurred. He was 'close' to several of the victims, although his definition of close most likely differed from the others. His report had been as thorough as he'd judged a witness account would need to be. Any elements of the attack witnessed: No. Conjecture on the part of the killer: No certain ideas, many possibilities. Any possible reason for the attack: No certain ideas, many possibilities.
It was vague in summary. However, his conjectures had been fairly detailed. However, it was noted by many people that Alto had not been affected by the deaths as much as anyone else. That's why Alto wasn't exactly perplexed. In fact, he had almost been waiting for someone to ask such a thing, but he had other matters to deal with at this point in time.
"There is nothing else I could say. If you of all people have not had made any progress in such an investigation, how would I know any more?" He asked.
He was sitting comfortably into his pillowed wooden throne in one of his many hideouts, Galbrek prefered to have many places in which he could be in. Would make finding him a real bother at times. Clad in his fine and formal attire, a long coat, breeches, a pirate-like shirt with ruffles. His appearance was that worthy of a prince. A demon prince of darkness. His father were however a mortal, a rich yet powerful mortal whom had bred with his demoness of a mother to produce him some years past.
He wasn't the firstborn of the family, and there were many siblings aswell as relatives always clashing for power so who was in charge of the family could change in time, but one thing was certain that if a threat from the outside would come then they would put their differences aside.
Unlike most of his siblings however, Galbrek was not interested in the family treasures and living a life away from people. He wanted to live a life where he could affect people and enjoy doing so, in other words to play god. His inborn powers had bestowed him with the tools to see it happen.
Under him was currently four named 'dolls'. They were more like humanlike mannequins or golems rather than dolls, but to him they were indeed dolls or puppets. Expendable and usable as he saw fit. No more important than a porcelain cup of tea, it could easily be replaced. But they had their uses as servants. One of them was in fact waving a big fan at him as he sat there by his dinnertable in the long fine room.
Darla. The latest of his creations. A head shorter than himself and overall very frail looking, but she was surely as strong as the others if she wanted to be. He had bestowed her with some of his powers after all. At the end of the room stood Adam, who he considered to be his right hand doll at the moment. Due to his traits of never questioning orders audibly, he was following the commands of his master flawlessly. This sat well with Galbrek.
Then the doors flung open and into the room came another of his creations, Bertrand. A loud and very tiring doll as far as it concerned Galbrek.
"Master Galbrek! I've been.. running through several districts... there are no tea of that sort in any of the vending machines I-" "Bertrand. Are you trying to tell me you were unable to aqquire the tea I ordered you to find for me?" Galbrek asked as he watched Bertrand approach his seat.
"I- I tried to but there was-"
Galbrek sighed deeply through his nose and pinched the bridge of his nose, standing up from his wooden throne. As he did the servant to his left, Darla whom was holding unto the big fan stopped waving air with it.
Taking a few steps forth to the slightly shorter Bertrand, Galbrek withdrew his right hand, decorated by a fine glove depicting an inverted pentagram, all the way to his left shoulder. Before he lashed out with it, backhanding Bertrand across the face causing him to fall to the floor.
"Unforgivable. I asked something this simple of you and you disappoint me like this?" "F-forgive me... master... I..." Bertrand was trying to find any word suitable to please his master.
"Forgive you? What would the world be like if everything would be so easily forgiven? People would not learn a thing. So what shall it be? An arm perhaps?" Galbrek loudly pondered as he gave Bertrand a displeased stare.
"Please I-" Bertrand was starting to beg but it was interupted by Adam.
"Master Galbrek." He said out plainly. With no anger or emotion tied to it but it did come across as serious.
"What is it, my servant?" Galbrek threw a questioning glance to Adam.
"Celine is back and with company. Shall I allow them entrance?" The tall doll asked.
"Fine. I shall take some more time to think of a proper punishment for this disgraceful cur later." Galbrek put his finely decorated boot against the side of Bertrand's chest, kicking him so he'd roll over on the floor, from his kneeling position.
Then a woman entered the dining hall, she had long hair and walked with a determined walk. She too was a servant of his, one which questioned more than was good for her health. Behind her however floated a ghostlike figure which followed her into the room.
"Master Galbrek. Vittorio of St.Lucifer's desire to speak to you." Celine offered a soft bow and stepped aside.
"Oh? What brings one of Clara's toys to my humble chamber of peace and joy?"
"A call. Clara desires all powerful members of St.Lucifer's to join in a upcoming task. She expects you to also be there. Galbrek."
Galbrek twitched an eyebrow as he played around with one of the glasses that held an expensive fruity drink.
"It is LORD GALBREK to you. Do not forget this you damn commoner!" "A lord of nothing is not a lord at all. I came here to relay this message to you and that is all. So shall I tell her you are going to join us or?"
This guy was getting on his nerves. How dared anyone speak like this to him, in the presence of his servants. It was not to be forgiven. "If it falls to my liking. Perhaps." Galbrek replied, taking a sip from his drink before throwing the glass into a nearby wall sending it into pieces. "However before you go I have to give you a send-off gift. It is the least I could do for someone of your lack of manners."
The finely dressed half-demon snapped with his fingers and wires sprung out from his fingers and began to attach themselves around the ghostlike Vittorio, squeezing and restricting his arms, legs and tentacle-like wings. "How about you'll dance and show me just how sorry you are mortal?" Galbrek had a pleased grin form on his lips but it was not to last for long.
Without warning Vittorio became incorporeal and the wires which held him int place fell down and he was freed. His form floated forwards towards the half-demon. "Do not try to tangle with the dead, half-demon. I gave my body to the gods, perhaps I shall add yours to the offering?"
Galbrek was now annoyed. How dared anyone to speak with him in this manner, especially a mortal pawn. "Hmph. I, Galbrek Ravenovich commands you to obey. Kneel and submit to my undeniable will." He began to use his hypnotic gaze towards Vittorio, his gaze which could have people stand frozen or to obey his commands if they did not avert their eyes. But this ghost. He was as if unaffected by it, the realization manifested itself in the half-demon in an unfamiliar way. Fear.
"Your will is like a drop of oil in the vast seas compared to me. 'Lord' Galbrek. I have however told you what needs to be told. Therefor I will be leaving. And you will not stop me." Galbrek had gritted his teeth together and his dolls had readied themselves with their hands pointed at Vittorio but none attacked until he would give them the command to do so.
"I don't have all day to toy with you ghost." He gave Vittorio a dismissive wave with his hand as the ghostlike figure flew straight out through one of the walls. These kind of people infuriated Galbrek. People he could not do much about, so that required him to get hold of things which could. Clara had a powerful tome in her possession, but it would be so much more useful with someone like himself who would use it properly. Though ofcourse there was the risk of something going wrong, perhaps he could find someone else to use the tome and then use that one as a puppet.
Yes, that's exactly what he would do. To use people for ones own gains, what more noble thing is there to do? Perhaps he could find some less-known individuals capable of doing just that.
"A place where people fight... would be a good place to look. My servants, forget your current tasks. We are going for a little trip to find some new toy." A sigh of relief was on Bertrand's face. He had just escaped a horrible reprimand.
Present
The fighting had been amusing. Who did not enjoy violent theatrics? Galbrek had seated himself at a good spot among the spectators. Where people usually would pay alot to be seated at. Being filthy rich had it's uses but also drew attention by thieves. So he had himself surrounded by his servants to make sure the thieves would find themselves in alot of trouble if they would try something funny.
The two fighting first were some brute idiot and a girl with a eyepatch. There was something about her though, Galbrek was however uncertain of what during the initial fight. She had easily sent the brute guy out on a stretcher, she knew how to fight for certain. Then following that another challenger appeared. A girl with a fox tail.
"Oh what have we here then? This should be interesting." Galbrek crossed his legs as he leaned back in his chair. "Let see what that one can do then."
"Andras and Masami. So that's what they call themselves." Galbrek's expression of slight interest magnified as he began to see the card magic Andras was using. Whilst Masami was able to manifest elemental weaponry and wind twisters.
The latter was surely the more dangerous when it came to up front fighting one on one. That's when he saw it. Andras eyepatch flew off and she was close to cover it up after. This sparked much intrigue in the half-demon. Just what kind of power is that? His servants was throwing worrying looks to the smile forming on Galbrek's lips, as if he had just witnessed his greatest enemy be destroyed before him.
"Master Galbrek, is everything okay?" Darla asked her master.
Galbrek turned slightly to the left, letting his smile die in an instant as he looked to Darla. "Oh indeed my servant. Everything will be."
MINE.
He gave Darla a pat on her head before resuming to watch the fight. After some brief time it looked like the foxgirl, Masami he presumed was winning. Pinning down Andras. "She's making her submit. How entertaining..." Galbrek stroked his chin and tilted his head abit.
"Adam. I want them. Both." Galbrek said to Adam in what some could regard as a command or statement.
"Master? What do you want done?" Adam looked with a questioning look.
"The girl Andras possesses just the type of magic I would need in order to use a particular trinket. She is tired. Weary from fighting two opponents. Her mind and body is battered. I shall lead her to a place where I may examine her abilities more closely." Galbrek stroked back his hair abit with one of his left hand before continuing.
"Bertrand and Celine, you two will go and restrain the foxgirl. Masami. Wait until she is alone. Then take her to outpost charlie." The half-demon amusingly then turned to Adam. "You and Darla shall make sure myself and this girl Andras are not followed. You don't have to follow us all the day, just enough to make sure none is following. I hate interferences." He gave a slight glare to Celine whom had been the one to lead Vittorio into his dining hall which had upset him. Before finally he got up from his seat, whereof Adam and Darla followed him. With Bertrand and Celine walking towards the fighting area looking for a good place to stalk Masami from.
He patiently waited for Andras to exit the arena. To approach her in a congratulatory manner, despite her loss to Masami. He needed to greet her and make good eye-contact to try use his hypnotic gaze on the girl whom was no doubt weary from the fighting.
"I wish to congratulate you on the fine fight, fine lady Andras. I have a fine buisness proposition for you. Care to walk with me?" Galbrek held out his gloved hand in a gentlemanny way, like the inviting hand of a demon lord of hell itself. His eyes would try to get contact with her one eye, with a soft smile on his lips and that sharp tipped corner tooth of his clearly visible. Giving him a somewhat playful appearance. Despite his ruthless nature. Nothing like abit of acting to get to a change of scenery. Time for the second part of the play.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," Gilgamesha Ascot's crooning voice said as the car stopped, "We're here."
William Ascot forced himself awake as he saw that indeed, they were at the park where the Midnight Tourrnament was being kept. Slapping himself with his right hand to snap himself into alertness, the boy would then say as he opened the car door, "Thanks Mom, you're the best."
A smile, as Gilgamesha Ascot tossed the boy a fully sheathed sword, saying, "I can't give you one of my magic weapons - Who knows what trouble you'd get into with one of those - but this ought to give you a fighting chance against those who would stand in your way." She wiped a tear from her eye, "I'm so proud of you."
And with that, Ascot got off the car and began walking resolutely towards the centre of the park, thinking: I am not going to fail. I am going to move Heaven and Earth to redress the tragedy that has befallen Vittorio, now that I know it's a possiility.
He noticed that another boy was approaching the Arena's exit, but thought nothing of it; he was focused on getting Andras to help in his plans.
Alexander gazed archly at Alto, unimpressed and no doubt a little offended by his callousness. But he had a reply handy, "Because you're a genius. I may be one as well, but that's immaterial. And I asked for your perspective; a witness report does not capture conclusions you may have made later." His gaze further tightened to something hawkish. "You know, when Vittorio thinks you have something to do with his friends and family's deaths, and has joined Mephisto's to get revenge on you for insultingly inane reasons, you really should show more emotion."
He repeated once more, "Now, Mr. Ganze, what more is there than what I think there is? Because my speculations are that this Demon's attack was a particularly effective attempt to strike at St. Laurel's legacy, and might be further connected to the Academy's declared enemies."
Bak wore a satisfied expression as she squinted through the dust cloud, trying to spot the boy she had put in there. These imps were not very good housekeepers. A sudden movement caught her eye, the artillery on her right shoulder moving to track it and firing. A pair of loud BANGS echoed through the halls as a pair of explosive shells spun out of the barrels, and another BANG followed as they detonated on the poor imp Samoth had knocked across the room. The impact threw the imp into the far wall with enough force to leave a crack that went all the way to the ceiling. It gurgled meekly as it plopped to the floor.
Samoth used that opportunity to get up and run in the opposite direction, retreating deeper into the apartment. Bak clicked her tongue at her own incompetence and advanced into the hole.
The other imps were huddled behind an old busted television staring at her with equal parts terror and loathing, but that wasn't what caught her attention. She almost stepped on it, and had to swing her arms to quickly shift her weight before her foot came down. It was a girl. One of the missing students! She had found one. Bak stooped down to pick her up by her shirt collar with one hand. Bak hadn't seen one of the students they were looking for yet, but this one was remarkably unharmed. She had expect some sort of injury. At least something from the imps, if nothing else. "Wake up." Bak said, slapping her across the face a few times. When that didn't work she grab the girl by the shoulders and shook her a bit. Nothing. It was weird. Something about it sent a shiver down Bak's spine.
Bak supposed she could just throw this girl to the Vigilantes, but she couldn't do that with Samoth spooking around. He must have been trying to get to Clara, she couldn't think of any other reason he would have come up like he did. Bak would have to handle him first, so she lifted the student over her head and placed the girl behind her back for safe-keeping, draping her across the spot where Bak's backpack connected to her body. She hung there like loose laundry as Bak turned to try and find Samoth.
Her guns began to spin, the droning mechanical noise filling the apartment. She wouldn't be caught off guard by him again. "St. Laural's?" She called. "Come out to play. Come, you had such bravery a moment ago."
