---

As he landed on the ground, he groaned due to the impact. It reminded him of when he arrived here. This strange place. His mind was too filled with information. As usual, he was overthinking and snapping at the only person who would help him. Hunger and fatigue were setting in. His memory of the between realm was strange. He didn't recall sleeping much and when he did he would shake awake. Travel between realms was not instant and he was tired and hungry. 'Could be why I'm so irritable and crazed.' He guessed. 'Still not an excuse as to why you are being a dick.' His thoughts became depressed as he scolded himself. Again his stomach growled and he needed food. He was hungry, thirsty, tired, and needed to use the restroom. 'Gotta race like a piss-horse.' He recalled what his brother would say sometimes after a few too many drinks.

He laid on the ground just waiting for her to finish. At this point apologizing would do nothing. Him talking would probably just piss her off more. He didn't need to see her in order to tell how mad she was, he could tell by her tone. She was right and he was in the wrong. He knew this. Still stubborn as all hell but in an unknown realm. He needed help. She told him that she wouldn't help him and he nodded while face down. The stone floor was cold but felt good for some reason. His eyes were closed as he listened to her. When she spoke about the knowledge and understanding of magic, he yearned to learn, his body shook. It was with excitement that magic actually existed and then he calmed down when she noted that he wouldn't listen. His mind was too full of thoughts and he was trapped in it. Again not being able to speak like when he was a child.

She spoke about trust and how it was earned like respect. He knew this but his dumb brain was overcharged with what ifs. When she said "She was one of the most trustworthy people he would ever meet." He smiled. He has been told the very same thing about himself. 'Perhaps I can just apologize and explain. Peopling at this moment isn't my strong suit.' He thought as his eyes opened. Luckily enough, his glasses were undamaged from his fall. Slowly he sturred and collected his hat again. It had been knocked off his head by the impact. His chin seemed to be fine as it looks like his beard took most of the impact. Sluggishly he moved and collected his jug of water. He drank some of his water leaving a very small amount left. The cold liquid ran down his body almost as if it were the only thing in him. It sent chills throughout his body as he stood there. He couldn't help but smirk, a tired defeated smile if one at all, at the situation before him.

"Apologies." He whispered barely able to speak. Fear held his voice to a low murmur. 'Sometimes they have to debase themselves.' He thought from what she had said before. He moved up to her and placed himself in front of her if possible and if not near enough for her to see him. His eyes seemed a little clearer. However, the bags under his eyes clearly suggested he hadn't slept in a day or two, not restfully. "I apologize for my rude behavior. I would blame it on how hungry I have become, how tired I am, how sick I feel, and how much I have to use the restroom. However, that doesn't excuse me of my actions. I was ignorant, arrogant, rage-filled, self-serving, and speaking ill of you and yours. I'm usually mellow and don't speak much. My Brian isn't working very well at this time." He admitted as he knelt down and got on his knees. He did the Childs Pose, with arms extended.

"I'm sorry." His stated clearly and his words bounced off of the floor and around the room. "If you will still have me as an apprentice I would be honored to learn from you." He paused for a moment. He didn't seem to mind this pose or the situation. He had allowed anger to get the better of him and he needed to pay for it. 'It had been ten years since I have allowed anger to take me over like that. Longer since I actually struck with rage filling my body. Now that I think about it that was the same amount of time since I vomited last.' He thought as he made sure to press his body as far to the ground as he could. To some, it would be a bit surprising how flexible this big man was. He would prostrate himself like this for as long as it took, even if she left and didn't return. He only flinched when his stomach growled.

City Event - Mostly for the Main Party

Mergoux, Louise, Rote, Jehenne, Tamlorn and perhaps Franziska

Kaspar said to Mergoux, <The Main Exit or whichever exit the girl uses.>

The Auction Master says, "Five Million it is - But be warned, you could have been disqualified for that show of intimidation! Now, do you have proof of credit? A banknote or the actual sum to be delivered by people from your company?"

Should such be delievered, he then gave Louise some papers to sign, and then took out a branding iron that glowed with High Magic that would burn Rote and Jehenne's flesh with a brand that would not be healed by Magic. At the sight of the iron, Rote Kaufmann steps back, knowing full well that this added to the feeling of vulnerability that his nudity had already brought him.

Then he throws caution to the winds and says, "Existence bless me and let me say my piece! Does anyone not see or know how we've all been manipulated?! The entire Rebellion, the death of Prince Otto which provoked the Iron Decree, I was there when the man in the black hood provoked them both! It's all wheels within wheels, a plan by the worshippers of the Old Gods!"

The Auction Master's reaction was shout, "Slave Kaufmann, be quiet!" But when it was clear Rote planned to defy him, the silk-clad man said, to several men and women who wore transparent breasplates, cloth and leather underneath, and steel leggings, "Guards, seize him for the branding iron!"

Rough hands grabbed the young man, and Rote struggled to say more even as the Auction Master advanced towards him, branding iron in hand. "The man in the black hood and robes! He was behind all this, trying to destabilize the Reich - Whether the Nobles' Rebellion lost or not, something was going to happen in Venedig itself!"

He kept trying to wrench himself out of the guards' grip even as the Auction Master pressed the branding iron to his left shoulder and caused him to scream loudly, shouting in pain he had not known in his life. Then the Auction Master turned to Jehanne, saying, "Now your right shoulder, miss. "

Then he turns to Louise and explains the purpose of the brand, "The branding is a spell of High Magic that allows someone with a magic stone with the corresponding magical sign to control when the slave can use Magic. Don't lose said stones when I give them to you."

City Event - The Dragon in the Slums

((Rune Handles this from now on.))

@Smike@Stern Algorithm@Overlord Thraka@Aqutanama@Rune_Alchemist@Zoey White@Landaus Five-One@Solaris@jdh97:

---

Carnations, arum-lilies, bluebells, and daisies wove a flower crown around Tam’s head. The dark-shadowed pools of his eyes were half-lidded, watching his feet carry him away, whilst his mind rested on the shore of recent memories, trying to clutch every detail as they washed away between his fingers. What was he doing wrong? His brow furrowed. Mud splashed at his boots, and the butt of his spear. Buildings huddled over him as he emerged from the alleyway.

Though he was plainly dressed in a cotton shirt and tan breeches, people stared at him and shuffled out of his path as he stalked. He did not notice. This was the third day and he had still made no progress with his sister; she would simple play with his hair and put flowers in it and never meet his gaze or answer his questions. A hand came unbidden, his own, to stroke a braid in his hair. A smile split the frozen lake of his features, and a deep sigh rushed out. As surely as his sister vexed him, he also knew their love would persist, he just had to bare his punishment. After all, he deserved it.

Tam blinked. The swelling waft of sweat and the noxious perfumes made his eyes water. He had arrived. He looked back down the road; had he really been that wrapped up in his petty thoughts? Truly, all his training could not keep his mind clear when it came to his sister. That brought a single, rueful exhale.

The crowd perched upon the stands, like crows waiting for the wolves to leave. With the motley of faces before him, Tam felt his stomach trip, as though the floor had fallen away. Their eyes were truly those of animals, the way they bore into the slaves on auction, hungry, and shot sidelong daggers at their rivals, and Tam had never noticed before. Was that ever me? He sat on the closest seat, blinking furiously to chase the black spots on his vision away. His forehead rested upon his spear shaft. Surely someone would notice him, even with his years-long absence, and he was not in the right mind for idle conversation, and nor could he be seen as weak. He just had to hope they thought him beneath their concern.

The auction did little to improve his mood. Disgust turned his eyes to dark quagmires, but he kept his face purposefully blank. He knew a lot of the nobles, of course; he had rubbed shoulders with them, before the business of the rebellion. Enslaving them undermined the power of nobility, enemy of the Empire or not.

Though, it was not until Jehenne Alcroft was brought in that Tam felt the embers of anger flicker to life, hot inside his chest. He knew her, yet knew her brother better; an unabashed soul, proud but honest - Tam counted him among friends, and wished they could have been closer still. That he was absent was a grim foretelling. Perhaps he escaped? No, Tam crushed that hope as quickly as it came, before it could find roots and tear at his heart. Maybe he could bid for her, his family name held credit. Already interest was being shown, though. Her confusion twisted in his stomach as sure as any knife, and thrice as cold. Embers were fanned to flames. There was a chance if things did not get too expensive -

“I bid 5 million for Jehenne & Rote.”

Tam deflated. Too high. He hand clenched around his spear as though he were trying to crush it. The bidder was the gloating young woman with hair of fire. At the mention of the woman’s name, a von Hammerwhirl, Tam straightened. A mage von Hammerwhirl, an oxymoron sure as any, to those that knew them. He eyed the staff, thinking.

Shouts. Kaufmann’s shouts. The deranged shouts of a desperate man gone mad. Tam's grip on his spear loosened, and he shifted his feet uncomfortably in his boots. Such a spectacle was hard to watch; nobles should not be broken in such a manner.

His eyes then came up to rest on Jehenne, hoping she would meet his gaze. She would not share that fate, he owed that much to her brother. But could he let her go free either? She was a criminal. What would he do once he had her?

That, he supposed, was a bridge to be crossed once he reached it.

---

Louise smiled kindly about winning the said auction for Jehenne & Rote for the Company, which made her definitely happy about that. She wanted to cheer because of it, however, her enthusiasm went down slightly when the Auction Master said he could have disqualified her from bidding because of intimidation. The hatred, which was burning in her heart for her father Steven was ever presence in the back of her mind. It will always be there ever presently in her back of her mind because of what he said when she walked into his study, five years ago. ”I will keep my outbursts and other such things to a minimum since it would suck being disqualified.” Louise said, with a slight nervous to her tone. However, she specifically remembered something specifically, which she got the proof of credit in form of a banknote. It was specifically signed by Cocheta, which is her boss of the company. ”I do have a proof of credit, which is this bank note for five million gold. It was signed by my boss Cocheta.” Louise responding to both questions. She gives the banknote to the Auction Master, with the leader of the Company’s signature on it. It takes her sometime to sign all the papers that the Auction Master gave her to sign. The signing one’s name constantly is a bit of a pain, but that was over to say the least.

She felt like she was being watched by someone, which caused her to look around. It didn’t take much time to look for the person in question, since he was definitely not conspicuous at all. The spear, which he wielded and the flowers in his hair was a bit strange nonetheless. It didn’t help she really didn’t have any outside interaction with anyone since she was trapped within the von Hammerwhirl Estate as a prisoner or slave in a sense. ”What’s his problem? Guess he doesn’t like the fact I use my name… it is definitely tarnished because of my father Steven’s actions.” Louise thought to herself, which she decided to look back at the Auction Master.

Louise noticed the branding iron, which glowed with High Magic that would burn Rote and Jehenne’s flesh with a brand. It made her winch a bit mostly because High Magic can’t be healed with magic but only like a doctor with medicinal aid can heal. However, she saw Rote step back, which what happened next in terms of what he had said caused her to be pretty afraid. ”The Old Gods? I remember my father talking about all the religions equally as bad superstition belief systems. Which didn’t hold any traditions other than gaining a large cult of brainwashed followers… However, he outright hated the Old Gods more than anything… But traditions like my father’s were definitely not something to be followed either. But my mother does worship the Existence Church though...” Louise thought to herself, with a slight bit nervousness to her whole body as it shakes a bit. However, she tried to act like it didn’t really bother her, however, it made more sense in why that mysterious man specifically said displeased now. It made more sense now than it did before. Even though it definitely made her more determined to deliver Jehenne & Rote to the Company’s HQ now more than ever.

Louise saw the Auction Master quite irritated by the whole situation, which caused him to call the guards to seize Rote for the Branding Iron in question. However, what Rote had said before he was branded by the Auction Master, caused her to worry a bit more. She was definitely now trying to hide that worry on her face to make sure that no one knew that she was worried. ”He has definitely given me a bit more feeling something bad is going to happen. Then all the years I lived with my father Steven. If it wasn’t for my mother Raina, I wouldn’t be here buying these slaves… I guess I should be grateful for the small things in life. But how callous my father was in that sense… I hate him for that specifically.” Louise thought to herself, with a slight look down. However, then the branding iron touched Rote’s arm, which causes her to wince in pain because how he screamed definitely didn’t help her situation. She glanced to Jehenne when the Auction Master addressed her, which she felt like she was going to wince again.

Then the Auction Master turns to her specifically to talk about the magical stones and the Brands in question, which control the slaves magical powers. She decided to definitely take a mental note of these said magical stones because it was unique and felt more like a more advanced version of the slave collars. Even if a slightly simplistic, since they are magical stones. ”Auction Master, I won’t lose them, since they aren’t probably replaceable. It would be quite dumb to lose said magic stones.” Louise said, with a simplistic smile on her face. It was definitely interesting to be for sure, however, the whole thing wasn’t what she wanted in her life. A Conspiracy in the town she moved to get away from her mansion, which is very far away because of her asshole of a father.

The Goreflame Staff crackles, pops a bit and speaks with a distinct tone in its voice, which sounds like an older woman that sounds quite motherly and protective. It felt like it was speaking in a whisper, which was most odd to say the least. ”Louise not many people would understand or would care what a slave has to say. Why should you, because I can tell when you are nervous or afraid? The constant threat of death living in your home probably didn’t help your feelings towards your father specifically. However, do not worry about what was said by Rote Kaufman...” The Goreflame Staff’s Motherly Voice whispered. It was telling the truth since it has never once lied in its life as it was with Louise. The mother always never believed in conspiracies because they are always misplaced or what not. However, the Goreflame Staff was created via a ritual sacrifice, which caused these three souls to live within the staff for the rest of their lives but they never once regretted their decision.

This was odd, which it has never done before it speaks yet again, with the same voice, which whispered towards Louise. ”Every single person are quite unique since they all share a free will. But the figment of their desires outweigh the set goals of each individual to something greater as if it is tempered by an outside force of magic that is all around us. Me and my children, which are within this staff only wants to protect you Louise. And your free will and desires are quite similar to ours, the freedom to be free from the shackles of rules. However, must follow certain laws of the land or you will become shackled like the ones on this stage have became.” The Goreflame Staff’s motherly voice. It was telling the truth about this part of what it spoke, which following the rules of certain people are a detriment to your growth while others are not. However, how you reach those rules that aren’t a detriment to your growth is a long, wild, and destiny usually has something to deal with it.

Louise had to stare at her staff for a bit because it confused her for the first time in awhile, since it spoke twice in succession, however, the first time was a whisper. She was obviously a bit taken aback by what the Staff had said both times. ”The Wisdom you spout, Goreflame is a bit overwhelming is sometimes. However, I am grateful to you for helping me find my way basically, when I walked from the von Hammerwhirl Estate to Venedig. Wish it wasn’t a long walk and travel by boat to reach here...” Louise said, with remembering the journey. It was long and tiring, which definitely hurts to remember, her feet hurting so badly. However, it sounds like Louise was apart of a highly rich family, which lived in a big mansion but was disowned by her father in how she acted when she flared up in anger. She rolled her eyes because she remembered what the tattoo was created out of, which is why she cannot get rid of it by her magic, the same on the branding iron. ”...I hate my father for making my mother Raina tattoo me for something I had to do but he was grateful to me, for burning down my childhood home because he was wanting to make it bigger and remodel it to his traditional standard… I don’t ever regret what I did because I wanted to be free from those god awful traditions and my father’s gaze.” Louise thought to herself, with a definite annoyed look on her face mostly because of it.

@Zoey White @Letter Bee @jdh97

---

Jehenne turned and stared at the brand, dread written across her face. Louise Ester Von Hammerwhirl. Daughter of Steven Hammerwhirl. Poor girl, the slave thought. She wore that insanity on her face. The staff that spoke, and the flames she wielded. Jehenne was confident she was being purchased by someone unstable. Speaking on unstable, the boy spoke of conspiracy, fraud, and lies. Jehenne had little to say. It hardly mattered at this point. Maximillion did this. If some shadowy figure was gave a word this way or that...good for them. Karl Maximillion. The Reich. This religious boy perhaps believed that some extraordinary wrong was being done, and Jehenne didn't think he was lying, but rather she believed that it did not matter. Old Gods...men in black hoods. It didn't matter! Not unless they got in her way. She looked sadly over at that oncoming burning iron that promised more pain.

Brand me? Brand me! Someday, Jehenne thought, I will seek this Auction Master down and melt his lips together so he may never speak again. Someday. But until then...Jehenne leaned into the magic-restricting iron. Let's get this over with.

"GrmmmmmmmMAAAAIIIGH!" Attempting to stifle her scream was futile. She cried out, voice cracking, as the brand seared and scarred her flesh. It was pulled away, and Jehenne was a trembling, sweaty wreck. Like cracks forming in a mask, the heat of the iron was no comparison to the fury in Jehenne's heart. Her brother was gone, and everything was taken from her. Her family, her wordly possessions, her dignity, her freedom, and now, her magic. There was nothing left to dedicate her life too except revenge.

Inhaling greatly, she glared over at Louise. "Very well. Shall we begin?"

Franziska

Franziska's Lab
@Aqutanama

---

Franziska narrowed her eyes at him.

"Did you not hear me? I said you would make a terrible apprentice. If the other scarabs don't decide to dismiss you, the church would kill you simply for association." Franziska inhaled, shifting her gaze to the side. "...but perhaps, perhaps you can learn. If you are willing to admit you were wrong then perhaps, just maybe, there is hope for you yet." Smiling, she focused her gaze back on him. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious about where you came from, heh." Still, this wasn't an idea apprentice at all. He let his emotions get the better of him, for one. Secondly, she wasn't quite sure he had what it took. A certain...astute mind was needed for the order. A curious mind willing to go to all lengths to discover something, even if it meant harming ones self. Fear and anger were a detriment to such things. A scarab quickly learned that such things were what got one killed.

But perhaps, as she said, he could learn.

"...alright. Very well. Wonderful. I shall keep to my word. I shall teach and protect you, and in return you shall help with my research...and for now I must find you some proper attire. Your first task is to learn what you can of this world, and as such we shall head to the library." Franziska motioned for him to follow, leading him up the stairs before spinning on her heels and facing him rather abruptly.

"A word of warning. Do not mention 'scarabs' or 'the illuminated' in public. I shall teach you more of us when we are in private, certain not to draw ears." She warned,placing a finger inches from his face. "I will help you until a point, but I will not help with sheer stupidity or carelessness." She spun back around, leading him out of the small underground lab into the heat of the sun above. Walking into the open air, Franziska caught the sounds of the slavery auctions. Someone was causing a trouble, hm? And goodness, so expensive. She cast a glance, eyeing a particularly fit and admittedly cute boy, but it was no longer any of her business since she had no intention of taking a slave, so she began leading him to the library.

Perhaps now would be a good time to ask questions about where he was, or if he was more interested in her personally.

City Event - The Dragon in the Slums
Bank Heist
@Solaris

---

Carlo listened to the Heretic with mild seeming interest. It was difficult to read him, though his somewhat gruff appearance made him seem a bit dishonest, or perhaps sleazy. The Den Owner eyed the ring with passive eyes as it was mentioned, something seeming to go through his head as the Heretic before him told of his plight. When he was done, he was silent for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before a slow grin spread across Carlo's features.

"My dear heretic...I think I can help you with that little problem of yours." He said, moving to a seat opposite of the boy. "And you are just the key we need to complete this little heist of yours, and when we're done with it we'll be the richest men in Venedig. Let me introduce you to the crew." Motioning to the thin man. "This here is Elia. He'll be helping us with any locks between us and the vaults. That over there is Oscar." The burly man gave the heretic a grunt in reply, but otherwise didn't seem to acknowledge his presence. "He'll be making sure to take care of any trouble we run into. Guards, you know. If there's a problem, he'll make it go away." He chcukled darkly. "And the two pretty ladies over there is Claudette and Edith. They're our magic experts. Run into any sort of magical problems, they'll take care of them. Now then..."

Carlo motioned over to Oscar, who bought out a few scrolls of paper, quickly unrolling them onto the table. A map of the bank.

"The boys here can handle almost anything...almost. Which is where you come in." He eyed the Heretic suspiciously. "There's too many magical traps to account for. The defenses are almost impossible to crack, even for an expert. Anyone but a guard tries to get through them, and you can say goodbye to the rest of your life." He chuckled, a bit, leaning back in the chair. "...but I hear you may have a way to get our little band of merry thieves through it with your...unique brand of skills."

---

As Huck laid there waiting, he couldn't help but notice how many bones popped when he took this position. When she started talking Huck didn't move or respond. He would wait for her to finish. If he were being honest, he was ready to wait for hours, but found that he wouldn't need to. When she mentioned being curious about his world he smiled. He felt that this was right, like it was something that he needed to do in order to learn magic. His dreams were almost always filled with magic or some kind of unexplained superpower/ability. This was the first step in learning. When she motioned for him to follow he slowly moved as his body popped a few more times. Once his stretch was finished he strode quickly after her.

He didn't realize that she was going to stop. However, he didn't run into her either. As she stopped pressure built into his back foot, mainly on the forward ball. It was as if he froze in place depending entirely on his left leg. This caused the muscles on his leg to bulge as he did. Slowly he moved back onto it, creating a small gap between them. She informed him that he wasn't to mention the illuminated in public and he nodded in affirmation. Not drawing attention was hard for someone wearing his clothing and being as big as he was. However, he didn't allow that to get to him. At this moment he was focused on the situation at hand. He knew if he didn't he would doom himself, and thus he kept his mouth shut.

His emotional state was in flux and he didn't like this feeling. However, he pressed it down into the back of his mind and focused on his new master. His eyes seemed to have relaxed a little as if adjusting to the light. His body a little less tense. This action happened again when he went outside. However, the difference was that his body remained tense. He was not much of a people person, as in large crowds. His eyes widened as he scanned each person, darting to everyone and seeming to take in every possible path. When he saw the slaves at first he didn’t realize what was going on. He just through people were displaying themselves as nudists or something. However, that changed when he caught the smell of burnt hair and flesh. He was thankful that he hadn’t eaten in a long while, otherwise he would have vomited.

“Slaves?” He asked under his breath still following his new master. It was more of a presumption on his part given how the crowd was acting. He felt sad for them but was a bit thankful to them as well. This was due to the fact that everyone in the area was enamored or… possessed? It reminded him of an anime he watched where people were frothing at the mouth, to a display similar to this. His face seemed to lose all color as he tried to focus on his master.

”Just keep walking.” He whispered out loud through greet teeth as he fought the urge to play hero. His body was visibly shaking as he moved. One could assume it was due to rage. It was partially correct. However, there was also fear, malnourishment, sleep exhaustion and the fact that he couldn’t help. He hated knowing that he was weak in every sense of the word. Finally, they got away from the area with the slave auction going on.

“I feel that asking questions about the area or location now, without a map may only make me ask more questions. That is if you wish to answer them.” He thought out loud as they walked. Then two specific questions came to mind.

“How does one clean oneself, and may we eat something?” He asked as he looked around surveying the area. His eyes darted from road, to alleyways, rooftops, perches, and anywhere someone could hide or he could run if something were to happen. His body was still shaking and he was sweating, even though it wasn’t hot enough to cause this much sweat.

An old lady was carrying vases filled with magnolias to the exterior of the shop. They were brand new and quite popular among the nobles somehow. She put them in the display table and looked at her flowers for a while. "Oh, how beautiful you all are. I do hope you all will sell well, my dearies." She spoke. Soon, footsteps could be heard from her right side. As she turned around, she saw a boy standing closely to the display. She opened a smile, since it was a regular that visited her every day. "Ah, young Noel. Seeing your face around these parts certainly refreshes this old lady's spirits." She spoke, happy.

BGM: Conquest ~ Ablaze (Arrange)

The young and cheerful Noel Fragarach. The youngest of three sons from the Fragarach family, one of the most powerful and influent noble families in Venedig. A pure-hearted young boy that despises slavery and wishes for the so-called Iron Decree to end already. Helping all citizens, even the most poor ones. Noel is rather loved and hated at Venedig. While people do enjoy seeing the charismatic young man, his actions aren't always taken as true caring but as a rather show-off attitude of his part, as if he doesn't want to help people yet helps them to maintain a different status from the rest of his family. He looked at the flowers and looked happy. "Those are really pretty, miss. How much is it costing one magnolia?" He asked. "Oh, it's costing 3.000 Marks. But if you want one for free, I can secretly give you one, little Noel." The old florist kindly offered him a vase with a magnolia planted on it. However, Noel refused to take it without paying. "No, I musn't take it for free. It was fruit of your hard work so payment is needed to you." Noel said, taking out 3.000 Marks from his pocket and giving it to the florist. "Aww, little one... well, if you insist, I'll accept it." She said, giving him the vase. Noel smiled back at her, but noises could be heard from a direction.

At the plaza, an auction was happening on broad day. The items they were seeling? Human lives. Slaves. People being exchanged by money once more. Noel hated it. "I can't believe another auction is happpening. How can they sell human lives as if there were no problems? Why are they so irrational as to tranform a person in an object?" He asked, while looking at the scene. "Well, that's how the economy goes, kid." Another voice spoke. A noble man was passing around and saw the boy looking right at the scene with him. "Those slaves are nothing more than items right now. Their lives are paid with moneym used to ensure the growth of Venedig as a town. Who knows, maybe this could become an empire." The man said. "An empire who uses captive people as objects, treating them in the worst manner possible, is nothing but tyrannical. This isn't the sort of thing that should happen. Those people deserve their lives back to them, not to be sold and used to be disposed like trash." He said. "That's just how life goes. The strong win the weak. That's always the rule." The noble man said and left.

He looked once again at the scene. If only I wasn't politically powerless, then maybe... He thought. Then, he smiled at the florist lady and went on his way.

City Event - Mostly for the Main Party

Mergoux, Louise, Rote, Jehenne, Tamlorn and Noel + Kaspar and the Edelweisses

Once Jehanne had been branded, the Auction Master would take Louise's proof of payment and say, "Congratulations! You are now the proud new owner of Rote Kaufmann and Jehanne Alcroft! Here are the stones that signify your ownership of their magic as well as their bodies."

He then handed Louise two flat pale green semi-precious stones engraved with an 'S' mark, 'S' for Slave, before facing Rote and Jehanne and saying to the former, "Now stop being disobedient and prepare your body for 'use' by such a beautiful woman or multiple beautiful women. You'll sire pretty children, what with your face... Or perhaps please a Merchant Prince 'so inclined'."

After the Auction Master chuckled, he then asked Louise, "Are you buying any more?" If the answer was no, he'd gesture the young woman towards the open-air market's main exit. Unknown to Louise, the main exit and the path back home to the Ahlryt-Liu Company HQ led to a small side road flanked by a few alleyways, where the mercenaries that Mergoux was going to lead were waiting.

And Noel's brother, Liberio, had been notified that once Mergoux and her mercenaries were done, that there was another squad of people who were tasked to make sure Rote and Jehenne were safe and provisionally free. Free from the plans of the Old Gods' cultists, and who are also planning to guarantee that said cultists did not try anything...

@Smike@Stern Algorithm@Overlord Thraka@Aqutanama@Rune_Alchemist@Zoey White@Landaus Five-One@Solaris@jdh97:

---

Louise shuddered and winced when she heard Jehenne screamed, when the branding iron touched her skin. It was pretty much an irony since her father basically treated her similar to what is happening to Jehenne and Rote. The difference, however, was her father never branded her alike what Jehenne & Rote has on their shoulders now. She definitely didn’t enjoy the ordeal with her father Steven because of how arrogant he was and how pronounced he wanted to kill her. ”This is making my blood boil… I should have done something sooner than I did on my 18th birthday. But I didn’t know that my father wanted me dead… guess I was naive back then...” Louise thought to herself with an interesting look on her face.

She, however, snapped out of the whole thing when the Auction Master said something, highly important to her. It took her a few moments to think of a response for the Auction Master. However, it came to her slightly with a gleeful smile on her face. ”I thank you for the opportunity to own Rote Kaufman and Jehenne Alcroft. They are definitely wonderful looking slaves… I will make sure the stones are kept safe.” Louise said, with a grin on her face and a boastful attitude to her. Her body language basically was a bit nervous about something or someone, it could be her father or someone else entirely. She put the two flat pale green semi-precious stones engraved with an ‘S’ mark on her person. However, she heard what Jehenne had said, and she smiled kindly back, even though her hair was still blatantly fire. ”Out of everything, I am grateful to meet you both even though you are my slaves. I do hope we can be friends in these troubling times. And yes, let’s begin after all.” Louise said, with a genuine heartfelt retry type of thing since she never had any friends to begin with. She was trapped within the von Hammerwhirl family estate basically all her childhood and never really had any friends, because of the fact the von Hammerwhirls were basically outcasts.

Louise heard the Auction Master, ask if she was buying more slaves. It isn’t really in her interest to keep Cocheta waiting for the slaves in question. ”No, I am not buying anymore slaves, Auction Master. Jehenne and Rote, please come with me to your new home in the Ahlryt-Liu Company HQ as slaves.” Louise said, with a kind and gentle tone towards the two slaves in question. It’s a bit odd for her to do but she was basically treated like them in her own childhood home. She does want to make people comfortable with their accommodations. ”Hmm… I do hope sooner or later I can kill that bastard of a father… However, that can wait since there’s bigger problems since with what Rote had said… it’s a bit terrifying exactly.” Louise thought to herself, with a glance towards her staff hopeful to hear what it has to say.

The Goreflame Staff crackles, pops a bit and speaks with an understanding tone in its voice, which sounds like a teenage girl’s voice of 15 years old. ”I do hope Louise, you will forgive and forget your father Steven. His ancestors done many terrible things in the purity of their foolish traditions. Including purging their own flesh and blood if they have ever the slightest hint of magic within them. However, you know this first hand but was spared by the one you love, your mother Raina.” The Goreflame Staff’s understanding teenager voice, which it was specifically addressing Louise’s unwillingness to forgive and forget her father Steven exists in her life. However, its a long road towards forgiveness and forgetting what someone has done. It was a bit more understanding to listen to it speak some more about things. ”Jehenne and Rote, I do hope you treat Louise with a slight difference to the word of what she is to you right now. A slave owner, since she had the most torment underneath that prideful tradition holding bastard.” The Goreflame Staff’s understanding teenager voice, pleading with Jehenne and Rote. That was the oddest thing that the Goreflame Staff’s voices has ever done it pleaded as if it was begging towards two slaves instead of ordering them to do a common courtesy. It was the staff that Louise wielded but they are like family to her since she was branded with the Disownedment Ritual Tattoo on her back.

Louise had a look on her face of a bit of shock, it was obvious she had never really thought of forgiving and forgetting her father. It was better to keep the hate and rage within her every time his name was brought up in conversation since it is a super sore point for her. ”I guess, this is why I enjoy conversing with the Goreflame Staff so much. It helps me out constantly, but… I cannot do that staff my father Steven…” Louise thought to herself, with a specific stare towards the Staff. It was very obvious what the stare is, which is basically she still wants to do what her father wanted to do to her all those years ago, kill her in cold blood because she was a mage. She saw where the Auction Master pointed her towards, and she nods and smiles with a happy smile. There would be many things that would ruin her mood and make her explode, its a bit obvious in that with how unstable she is with the mention of her father. ”Let’s go Jehenne and Rote.” Louise said. She looked at both Jehenne and Rote again and took in a bit more of their features and enjoyed what she saw of both of them. However, she never really had a chance for any type of relationship because of the strictness of her father. ”My father… was the worse… he stopped me from getting to know anyone expect for my siblings and mother. That’s all the relationship type thing I had. Guess he didn’t want me to make more children with magic, I guess? Because it was odd...” Louise thought to herself, with rolling her eyes basically at what her father was to her although her life.

She walked towards the main exit, with the two slaves in tow since she wanted to get to the Company as quickly as possible. It’s mostly because of the fact she didn’t want to keep Cocheta waiting, because she wanted to get this done so she can continue making a name for herself. To get out of the shadow of what her family name is because it is definitely in the shit for what her father had done and the people before him did too. ”This is going to be a bit different for the both of you. Since you used to walk the streets dressed? Now you’ll be naked for all to see.” Louise said, with a small giggle leaving her lips. Because it was a bit funny to her, but not enough since if the roles were reversed they would probably allow her to be sold to someone that would constantly do things to her with her unable to talk back. The irony didn’t befall her but most people didn’t have this kind of power over people that were left with nothing, since they were enslaved by the Iron Decree.

@Zoey White @Letter Bee

---

Jehenne sneered down at the talking staff who, as some bizarre manifestation of Louise's conscious, pleaded with "Jehenne and Rote" to be nice to her. As if Jehenne would spare a considerate thought for this woman's inner tribulations. As if no one else in the world ever had an insufferable father! As if! It was insulting. Compounded even further by the fact that Louise laughed at their predicament and paraded Jehenne's naked body all around town. Embarassed, the slave woman crossed one arm over her chest and the other infront of her groin. Jehenne casted a quick sideways glance over at Rote. This whole thing was a disgrace. A young man like him should be practicing nobility or dressed in plate mail, off to fight in a war. Not in shackles. Jehenne herself should be at the Alcroft mansion, making important decisions and helping her clueless brother in the finer arts of social maneuvering. Now it was gone, burnt to ash, taking her soul with it.

Her foot was impaled by a particularly sharp stone, and Jehenne staggered a step. Shoes were a luxury she could no longer afford, apparently. Jehenne's eye twitched. Keep quiet. No point in decrying the injustices of the world like this Rote was doing. His cries would fall on deaf ears, and Jehenne had much to benefit from appearing the obediant slave. She raised an eyebrow. Was this talking staff speaking true? Jehenne had seen talking objects before, but never had she seen a woman trust her secrets with one who spouted out it's inner monologue so freely. Even so, if this Louise woman wanted a friend, Jehenne would be there for now. Yes, the ex-communicated Alcroft would be this Louise's greatest ally if that's what it took.

Deep in thought, Jehenne let her chained hands fall to her side and smirked at Louise's comment. "Quite." She agreed, shaking her head like she had left the house with her dress on backwards. "It's just a thin layer of clothing in the end, I suppose. Still, I always thought I looked fantastic in blue and black."

Like a hunter, Mergoux stalked her prey. She moved through the crowds with ease, seeming to vanish in one place, only to appear in another, such was the degree of her proficiency towards catlike stealth. Despite her gliding through the crowd, her eyes never left her targets for long. Only a few seconds at a time could she not see them. The two slaves and their new owner. They were headed towards the main exit, an unfortunate thing. She'd hoped that the ambush would take place in a smaller alleyway, somewhere she could trap the mage. Then again, with her display of fire magic, perhaps it was better to have room to maneuver.

The butcher followed them out of the marketplace, into the streets of the city where the Mercenaries hired by the Lord who'd spoken her in her head were lying in wait. Probably, she assumed, the Lord had spoken to them in the same manner, informing them of her arrival and her allegiance. She nearly spat at that. The idea of working with mercs never excited her, far from it she would rather take the girl alone. At least that way she could assure the young woman wouldn't be killed. With the company of unknown hired goons she couldn't be sure.

Her trained eyes kept watch both on her prey now, but also on the buildings to either side, watching for any signs of her new allies. Of their ambush. She wasn't sure of the exact location, but where they were now would do just fine. The crowds were thinning as Mergoux increased her pace, striding towards the unaware fire-mage, coincidentally at the same time the Mercs began their attack

@landaus five-one @zoey white @letter bee

Tam waited a few moments before following; the von Hammerwhirl girl cut enough of a figure with her staff that he would have no problem seeing her amongst the ebb and flow of the city. Leaving behind the sickly sweet smell of charred flesh and the malaise that permeated the slave market, Tam breathed deeply. His feet fell with feline grace and the quiet confidence of a man who knows many things. Eyes slicked across him like foul oil as he left.

The streets were wide plains after the oppressive atmosphere of the slave market. He had a choice still, he realised; he could not concern himself with a dead man’s sister, he had no need of a slave. Yet, it was wrong, like caging an exotic bird and plucking it, just so the world would never know what it once was. Nobles were not slaves. They never could be.

Dust kicked up as Tam began walking quicker, his steps harder, like the breaking of waves against stone now, powerful and determined. He had to hope this Hammerwhirl had enough threads of sanity together that she’d know a good deal when he reached her. He was almost upon the girl, about the call out.

Then Tam became aware of the crowd, or lack of; wisps of people where once there were throngs. He became aware that he was in the open. He became aware of the prowling movements of men in the periphery of shadows. Like a fox that had chased a rabbit out onto a frozen lake, Tam realised his folly too late.

The ambush was sprung.

City Event - Mostly for the Main Party

Mergoux, Louise, Rote, Jehenne, Tamlorn and Noel

Rote huffed, and said to Louise as he walked naked behind her, not even bothering to cover himself, "We can only be friends if you'd actually believe me. Even then you should know that you're only acting in an embittering fashion."

He looked away from Jehenne as he rolled his eyes - Is she sucking up to her 'mistress' already, or is this some larger gambit? Nevertheless, Rote made sure to watch his step enough to avoid the sharper stones, asking, "So, what work will you put us into? Don't expect handsome young me to go in bed with anyone - male or female - against his own will."

Rote then felt as though someone was watching him and the group, but chose not to alert anyone - Louise was a slavemistress and Jehenne was more interested in her own personal benefit than saving civilization. And so when a half-dozen crossbow bolts rang towards Louise, Rote was hopefully the only one in a position to dive out of the way - He expected Louise to be able to put up some sort of barrier for herself and Jehenne.

Tamlorn's arrival was unexpected in a way the ambush was not, same for one of the ambushers saying, "We're here to free the slaves, you filthy noble scumbags! Give them up or we gut you like fishes!"

Six crossbowmen, twelve melee fighters, and six Hedge-Mages without formal training, three who were casting healing spells at their compatriots even before any of them got wounded, and three others conjuring up water and earth to throw at Louise - At least they knew their 'elemental weaknesses'. And of course, the giant of a Half-Elf who was presumably on the mercs' side. A smile, as it seemed that the Kaufmann Family still had allies.

Turning to the mercs, Rote yelled out, "The Female Mage has two stones that allow her to control our own Magic! Make her drop them!"

@Smike@Stern Algorithm@Overlord Thraka@Aqutanama@Rune_Alchemist@Zoey White@Landaus Five-One@Solaris@jdh97@MagusDream:

He left the pub after a long chat with a contact. People would hardly go to such a place in the afternoon, but it was necessary for him to put his plan into action. He needed to do it, in order to save his youngest brother from the corruption of Venedig. That was a wish held by Libero Fragarach, eldest son of the Fragarach House. His brown hair and white attire gave the sensation of a peaceful noble, but Libero knew how deep his sins go. Accessary and even participant to the sudden decision of adopting the Iron Decree's holding in his family, he seeks redemption by saving Noel from participating on slavery.

As he began to leave, a strange man reached him. "Hey, you're Libero, right? One of the bosses told me to find you." The man spoke. "Yes, what is it?" Libero asked. "We're already starting the attack on these shitty nobles. If anything goes right, we're leaving soon enough." The man now whispered in Libero's ear. Those were good news. All that he had to do now is fetch Noel. "I see. Thank you very much. I'll pretend this never happened." Libero said with a slight smile in his face. The man left and went his way while Libero headed straight home, running as fast as he could.

"Noel, don't worry. I'll take you away from this... to somewhere and to people that will ensure you'll never resort to this!"

---

BGM: Conquest ~ Ablaze (Arrange) still playing

After walking a little, Noel reached his home. Two pairs of maids and a butler were outside, tending the garden at the manor's entrance. "Oh, young lord Noel! Welcome back home!" One of the maids greeted him. "Hello, everyone! I brought a magnolia with me today. Isn't it beautiful?" He said. "It really is, young lord. Should we plant it here at the garden with the other flowers?" The butler asked. "Actually, I want to treat it myself. I'll be taking it to my room." Noel spoke. "I'll carry it for you, young lord!" Another maid said. "Won't it bother you? I can take it myself, so it won't be a problem." Noel spoke. "No, no, by all means. Please, let me carry it, young lord." She said once more, picking the vase. The servants like Noel and he likes them. Exchanging smiles, the maid begins to leave with the flower when the door opens.

BGM: Black Liliana

From the inside of the manor, a blue eyed young man appeared. Wearing a white robe and green noble garments, with a smug smile on his face. The maid carrying the magnolia quickly went inside at his presence the rest of the servants returned to work. "Well, look who's finally home. Daddy's waiting for you and, as usual, you turn up late." He spoke. "... It wasn't my intention to leave him waiting, William. I just did a short trip to the florist." Noel explained himself.

The middle son, William Fragarach. The definition of arrogance in person. Steps on everyone and plays rank in order to do whatever he wants. As the Fragarach are one of the few families with a connection to the Emperor, this makes their influence in Venedig higher. In return, they ensure the functionality of the Iron Decree and slave trading as the main economy. Raised with this rule fully engrossed in his mind, William never cared about anyone's life. Rather, he thrills on the suffering of those who are under him, whether financially or in political interests. Not only that, but as the chosen heir between the three brothers, he feels as a superior being in general.

"Well, whatever. If you were there, was there an auction going on? Or rather, is it still going on?" William asked. "Unfortunately, there's an auction happening and it hasn't ended yet. The nobles are still doing their bids." Noel said. "And you didn't bring a single slave back with you? Only a measly flower?" William asked again. "I refuse to enter these auctions. Besides, we already torture enough slaves at the manor, to the point we don't need more of them around." Noel complained, only to receive a flick on the forehead from William. "Oh, but you are an idiot. There's no such thing as "enough slaves", Noel. They should be happy to have somewhere to even sleep. We're doing a favor, a noble sacrifice to those people." Part of this speech was completely sarcastic. "A dungeon isn't exactly what I call a "place to sleep"! Also, they are cold and starving! What part of this slavery is noble to you?!" Noel questioned. William only sighed at his brother's empathy towards slaves. "Fool. In any case, I need to pick up your part, as always. Now go ahead and speak with Daddy." William said, barging at Noel's shoulder and leaving with a smirk.

*BGM fades*

"... Slimy, arrogant, good-for-nothing imbecile." Noel muttered.

BGM: Nighteyes

"What did you say, you brat?" William looked at Noel fiercely. Their relationship as brothers always had the word argument tied to it. After all, it wasn't love. Noel and William hated each other. "That you are a slimy, arrogant, good-for-nothing imbecile! Do you want me to repeat that again?!" Noel answered, with a bitter and sharp tongue. "Well, at the very least, I'm not a disappointment like you! All of us know I'm Daddy's favorite, because you can't do one thing right! You're free to be jealous of me, pest." William bragged. "I have no intentions of being jealous of you, nor do I care about not being Father's favorite! On the contrary, I'll hold myself to a sense of dignity and humility of not torturing innocents through slavery, unlike someone who loves to roll in the mud all day long!" Noel replied. "Dignity? Humility?! You're delusional, that's what! Or what, your pure heart gives you a sense of justice in not taking any of those losers?! Get real, Noel! It's their fault for being useless!" William mocked. "Useless?! What gives you the right to deem someone as useless?! You don't know about their lives or their story to judge someone useful or not!" Noel questioned. "I'm a noble! Top of the food chain, standing at the pinnacle of the mountain! Any lowborn and lowlife is useless and their places as slaves is nothing more than deserved!" William answered.

The people on the streets and houses stopped to watch the argument between the brothers as it started to heat up. The maids and butlers were trying to shoo everyone away, but little did their words work. "You're despicable... I can't believe I share blood with someone so heartless as you! Have you no shards of regards to the lives of others?!" Noel questioned. "My life matters to me. Anyone else can just die in a fire and I wouldn't even care! Heck, even if you die, it wouldn't matter to me!" William spoke. "Perhaps this is the only sentiment we both share. I hold no pride of knowing that I'm your brother, even less when people tell that to me! After all, I live with a pig, not with a human!" Noel insulted his brother. "Oh, I'm a pig?! Have you ever looked yourself in the mirror, you dumb rat?! You're so petty! Who do you think you are, you failure?!" William insulted back. "I may be a failure, but I'm noble not only in money, but in actions, while you step on everyone you meet in your way!! People aren't your stepping stones and they'll strike back at the moment you expect the less, William!!" Noel began to scream. "Let them come!! See if I give a damn!! I'm strong enough to defend myself, unlike the weakling little brother that's standing right in my front!! Ain't that right, Noel?!" William screamed as well.

The audience was divided. Some of them defended Noel and some of them defended William. The cheers were loud at that point and none of the servants were able to contain the excitement.

*BGM fades*

"ENOUGH!!!" A loud and powerful voice echoed as the door slammed. Once he appeared, the audience dispersed nervously as Noel and William looked at the figure.It was no one other than Grandalt Fragarach, head of the family and father to Noel, William and their eldest brother Libero. As everyone dispersed, Grandalt looked at his sons. "... Noel, with me to my study room. Now." He ordered. Noel gave William a last glance and went inside with his father.

---

BGM: 7 weights

Noel followed Grandalt to his study room. Once they reached it, Grandalt went to his seat while Noel stood there, looking at his father. "Noel. Have you decided to reconsider this rebellious phase of yours, as I requested before?" Grandalt asked. "No, Father. I won't change my morals and values." Noel answered, firmly. "*sigh*... You are a son of the Fragarach family, one of the most influential families in Venedig, yet you act so stubbornly that it compromises our reputation. You don't participate in auctions like your brothers, you care for the slaves... do you see that you are putting everything at risk here, Noel?" Grandalt asked once more. "With all due respect, I will repeat what I said to William. I hold no pride on my family name. To know that in my blood runs this... dirt is nothing more than despicable for me." Noel answered.

This was expected. This conversation happened more than once, times enough to lose count. No matter what Grandalt spoke, Noel didn't change. But instead of spewing words, Grandalt had an action today. "I see. If that's your final decision, then you leave me no choice." He said, taking out a letter. While he didn't show the contents of the letter to his son, Grandalt spoke of it. "This is an invitation from the Emperor himself. A few selected families were chosen to send representatives of their own for advanced education and training of the Iron Decree. This will include also extensive training in combat and magic training. And if you noticed by the letter... the Fragarach were chosen as well." Grandalt explained. "OK, I understand. But what does this have to do with me, Father? I don't care about the Empire's plans with the Iron Decree. Perhaps William will be interested in going if you tell him." Noel said. "... That is true. If I spoke to William, he would most certainly go and be our representative. However..." Grandalt spoke and paused for a moment.

*BGM fades*

"You are the one going as our representative, Noel."

BGM: Goddess gardena

Noel wasn't believing in his father's words. He was the chosen one? Out of all people in this house, Grandalt chose him? "Think of it as an honor for you to possibly meet the Emperor himself and as your punishment for being unobedient for far too long. I've already asked for the maids to prepare your things. You depart tonight." Grandalt instructed him. Noel's hand closed in a fist, with mixed emotions of anger and sadness welling up through his body. "No... no, this can't be... I... I don't want to go!! I'm not going!!" Noel protested, tears flowing from his eyes. "I've told you already, my decision is final and there is no longer questioning. You will learn how the world works and will abandon your senseless idealism. This is for the future of our family." Grandalt spoke. "I don't care about this stupid family, this stupid decree and your stupid decision!! You're ruining everything for me!! My life's already miserable as it is and you still want to deepen my scars?!" Noel kept arguing. "It took me years to build our foundation. If I don't fix you, we'll eventually be led to ruin! Whether by words or by force, I'll mold you into the Fragarach way no matter the cost!" Grandalt's tone elevated, anger showing up. "It doesn't matter to me!! I don't want to inherit this cursed legacy!! I want to create mine!!" Noel swung his arm in fury, dropping one of the vases in the room.

At that point, Grandalt got up from his seat walked to Noel and gave him a hard slap across the face. "That's enough from you!! Noel Fragarach, you are officially our representative and this decision is final!! I won't tolerate your wailing anymore!! Now leave to your room and wait for your brother Libero to get home!!" Grandalt screamed. Noel turned his face back to his father and looked at him. Without hesitation, he slapped Grandalt back. "I... I hate you... I hate you, hate you, HATE YOU!! You... ruined everything... my dreams... my hopes... all of it... all for some stupid legacy!!" He screamed back. "I already knew... you never loved me from the start... I always knew we could never be father and son, like you are with William... but this... this is...!!" Under tears, Noel left the room, running away. Grandalt touched his cheek, right where Noel slapped him. He sat back on his chair. And after that, he slammed his table in anger.

---

Louise was continue to walk forward to the Company’s Headquarters, which was a bit off. She thought it was since she only makes it to the Slave Market once in awhile to check on things with the selling of slaves. It was mostly to see how everyone else bought the slaves in question, however, this slave market buying was bit more interesting than normal. The other thing on her mind was basically what the staff had said throughout her journey to Venedig from the von Hammerwhirl Estate. The entirety of the staff on one hand kept her from doing anything reckless, at least. She smiled when Jehenne spoke up after the silence in question. ”Fantastic choices of colors, I must say to wear. But my Father didn’t want me to go out or anything since he was a prick. I was a prisoner in my own home basically.” Louise responded to Jehenne, with a bit of a hint of rage when saying father. Her clothes and hair slowly turned into fire as if it was on fire but it was actual fire and not being on fire. It couldn’t be more obvious how much hate she has for her own father, but this was the second time today this had happened.

She calmed down a bit since she heard Rote speak of friendship only if she believed him. It took her a bit to say anything, however, in her body language it was obvious she believed him. The man, which bought the services of the company in question had so much money and felt like he also had dangerous clients. ”Uhh, I would be lying if I didn’t believe you. Because of what you had spouted out makes too much sense. Even though my staff says otherwise. However, the Goreflame Staff was created by sacrificing three people, a mother, and her two daughters willingly. Because they were terrified of being slaughtered by my father’s ancestors.” Louise said, with a hint of regret with what the souls within the staff had to go through, but living in that environment was worse with how bad her father Steven was. The entirety of the thing made her a bit afraid of what would happen to her if that mysterious man’s clients got his hands on her for failing her task.

The Goreflame Staff crackles, pops a bit and speaks with a distinct tone, which sounds like an older woman that sounds quite motherly and protective. It responds to Louise speaking about what they went through. ”Louise, I must say you don’t have to be regretful for what I and my daughters did to protect ourselves from the Decree of Madness. But I was hunted down most of my life because of my connection to that family of mine. They cornered me, my two daughters and my husband, which my husband asked if we would chose life to protect others alike us. We chose protection of other von Hammerwhirl mages over our own lives. We made the best choice for ourselves, don’t you think. I think that was the real reason why every single von Hammerwhirl Mage Killer is afraid of the staff in actuality.” The Goreflame Staff’s Motherly Voice spoke out to the cruelty of what the von Hammerwhirl’s were. The flame specifically changed from its orangish color to a bluish hue tone but back to its orange fiery color, however, it did get larger in the process.

Louise blinked a bit, and never knew that the Goreflame Staff’s three souls were in reality alike her ancestors. Since the Goreflame Staff has been in the vault for a very long time, in terms of her conception of time. She couldn’t really form any type of words for a response to the Goreflame Staff because that floored her a bit. However, she did recompose herself when Rote asked about what kind of work they will be put through. She couldn’t help but have a smile on her face because of what he said after the question. ”In terms of what you two will do in terms of work, is all up to my boss Cocheta. I’m just basically trying to get you to the Company’s headquarters...” Louise said, with a bit of a hint about the consequences of not reaching the HQ. She didn’t want to fail at all, but it would be better if she didn’t die in the process either. There was an oddity, while she was walking still, it was basically the crowds were thinning as if something was happening or something.

She was a bit nervous and decided to look around, which caused her to notice the oncoming Crossbow Bolts, but not whomever fired them. She started to cast her Rain of Fire spell, which would do tons of damage of the town itself, however she’s not that stupid. The entirety of the skies start burning as if something was coming down from the sky as if it was fire raining from above. ”Please Goreflame Staff wall off these intruders from my sight so I don’t have to look at them anymore.” Louise said, with a pleading tone to it. It was obvious, she was panicking because she never thought there would be an Ambush planned for her at all. However, she realized something that she should have listened to her staff for some time now, it talked about never trust a gift horse or something akin to that.

The Goreflame Staff started to glow, brightly, which causes empowers the Rain of Fire spell. It causes the spell to do the opposite of what it was about to do. The entirety of the ground started to heat up right in front of her, which definitely started to rise up as a huge wall of fire. It rose quickly since the Goreflame Staff has a mastery of fire since in its core, it is made up of three magical souls. The Wall of Fire stopped the crossbow bolts before hitting Louise. The Goreflame Staff was glowing ever brighter from what it had since it was empowering Louise’s highly offensive spell into a defensive one. It didn’t speak while it was in the empowered state since it was concentrating.

Louise sighed a bit annoyed if she wasn’t quick, she would be dead right now. Her father would probably be happy if she died right this second, how much of a bastard he has been throughout her whole life. However, she started looking around, and noticed the very tall half-elf woman and then the spear-wielding wearing flowers in his hair male. ”Crap, what’s now happening and why am I being attacked all I am doing is what I supposed to?" Louise thought to herself, with a slight look of annoyance. She, however, heard specifically what the one of the people had said behind the Wall of Fire, which she erected with the Goreflame’s help after all. It made her realize the spear-wielding wearing flowers in his hair, was a noble of all things because of what one of the people whose attacking her. ”….What the… I should’ve stayed asleep in my bed at the Inn… but no I had to wake up today to do this… Great… Guess I should’ve asked for something a bit more easier to deal with than this...” Louise said, with a frustration in her voice. This entire thing was getting her more overheated and frustrated, which caused more and more of her body to turn into fire. However, these people whom ambushed her definitely are here for Mr. Kaufman and Miss Alcroft since they did say here to free the slaves, probably all slaves in actuality.

She sighed when she heard Rote call out to the people whom attacked her, which caused her to definitely not like this one bit. It would be foolish to fight all these people because she’s not really wanting to die at all. She decided her course of action was to look directly at the Half-Elf in particular. ”Make me drop them? I don’t want to die. I lived in a house of the von Hammerwhirl’s with my jerk of a mage killing father. Who wanted me dead for gods sake, he laughed off my magic like it was nothing… it pissed me off he thanked me for burning down my childhood home…” Louise said, with a definite feeling of living is better than fighting all these mercenaries especially the Half-Elf in particular. She got out the two magicked stones out, even though now most of her clothes were fire now. It took her a bit to look at them and decided to toss them in the direction of the Half-Elf woman, since she looks the most threatening after all. The stones came to a stop right in between her and the half-elf woman in question. She stayed perfectly still while holding the Goreflame Staff since the Half-Elf could probably easily kill her if she wanted to.

Louise looked at the nobleman, in question and decided to talk a bit. ”This is definitely unfair, are you going to join in the Ambush, you flower headed noble? Or are you here for something else… because it feels like my hands are tied behind my back right now...” Louise said, directly at Tamlorn. She didn’t really know his name but that sounded like the best thing to call him since he is wearing flowers on his head, at least. It was definitely an annoying thing to deal with all these people only for slaves, which were handpicked by the old gods. ”Should’ve paid attention more to my surroundings then...” Louise thought to herself, while starring directly at Rote with a bit of annoyed look on her face. She didn’t really want to say anything but her whole body was shaking in fear because of the fact people tried to attack her, and the other thing she hinted at too.

@Zoey White @Letter Bee @Overlord Thraka @jdh97

---

The enslaved woman nodded when Louise spoke of her father, as if she could relate."Fathers can be cruel. My own was more cold than he was a tyrant as yours was. It's strange how...arbitrary, people can be. If you had listened to him you wouldn't be the talented pyromancer you are today. I don't see any reasons why you and I cannot be atleast on amiable terms. I don't intend on rebelling." She said, searching for the right words. On the inside, Jehenne felt pity and annoyance. The poor girl was obviously damaged, but to still be going on and on about her father? It's like she didn't even exist outside her hatred for her father and that bizarre staff which, apparently, also had to do with her father. Louise was daddy issues incarnate!

Jehenne yelped as an ambush suddenly began. There were bolts fired and Louise manged to protect the two women. Rote seemed to have some sort of inclination. She rose her hands into the air in surrender. It seemed it might be her lucky day. Some lunatics who wanted slavery to be put to an end chose this moment to make their attack, and Louise quickly surrendered. Which made Jehenne wonder what was even the point of hiring a battle-mage if they instantly surrendered.

"Oh, dear." Jehenne said, biting her lower lip, keeping her hands raised. Her heart was racing from the adrenaline. "What a turn of events. I hope your employers are understanding, Louise. You were quite outnumbered." One thing Jehenne had learned is that there is no point in burning bridges unless absolutely necessary. She'd rather have friends, and people confused about her intent, then enemies.

The ambush started, and immediately Mergoux went into action. Six crossbow bolts were fired at the girl, and six crossbow bolts were deflected. The girl's fire magic was powerful, and it seemed there was no chance to beat her in an open battle, at least not at first.

But that it appeared would not be the case, as the girl just... tossed the stones to the ground in front of Mergoux. The Half-Elf stopped, blinked in surprise and picked up the two rocks. She glanced at the equally surprised Mercs, then calmly tossed Jehenne and Rote as she walked up to the woman, carefully doing her best to avoid the smoldering earth.

She clenched one armored fist, staring down at the young girl. "You're young, you can change. Become better than this. Better than another slaver." she said, finishing her speech with a single blow aimed squarely at Louise's nose. Should her armored gauntlet connect, a concussion would certainly happen, followed by swift unconsciousness.

@letter bee @landaus five-one @Zoey White @jdh97

Sweat beaded on Tam’s brow. With wide eyes, he stared at the wall of flame. He had fallen into a crouch, his mind rested around a spell, chill and tingling, ready to grab it and pull it into the corporeal plane. Outnumbered, certainly, but perhaps not outclassed. Tam’s mind raced like a great river, branching out into every possibility, hand tightening on his spear in anticipation.

Yet, the girl that bent fire to her beck and whim surrendered. A safe decision, but and odd one nonetheless. He coughed, and rose to stand, smoothing out his clothes with one hand.

A small chuckle escaped him; he’d forgotten the flowers. The smile melted quickly into a thin line.

“I am not here as part of the ambush,” Tam said, and though he spoke to Louise his eyes weighed Mergoux as she approached, and was surprised by what he found. “Why I came to you is no longer relevant, it seems.”

Even before the half-elf cracked a fist into the girl, Tam had her painted as dangerous, and that just reassured it. He daren’t move. Now he was alone, surrounded by foes - herons watching for a single fish below water - that one reason to kill. One hand was held up by his head, but the other rested on his spear still.

“Jehenne,” He said calmly, eyes flicking between her face and Mergoux’s, “Your brother… did he - is he…?” He tripped on the words, choking in his throat. Always, it was so hard to ask, “I did not see him at the market today, do you think I ever will?”

@letter bee @landaus five-one @Zoey White @Overlord Thraka

BGM: Welcome to Despair Academy

Noel looked at the open window. The horizon as the sun began to leave was beautiful, yet it didn't give him any other emotion. Despair took the entirety of Noel's heart as he wactehd the distance with a black stare. His eyes were red, not only because they were naturally of that color... but because he cried for a lot of minutes. After all tears came, he could only stay in silence, contemplating the shadow of the Reich in the distance, since his window was aimed towards its direction. It's true he wanted to meet the Emperor Karl Maximillian someday, but not under the circumstances that were present right now. Suddenly, knocks on the door could be heard. "Noel, it's Mama. Can I come in?" A womanly voice spoke. "... The door isn't locked." He answered, without doing a single movement. She entered inside his room, wearing a beautiful pink kimono as a bird stood right at her shoulder. She walked towards her son. "Nina came to me and chirped a little. Were you crying, Noel?" She asked. "I was... mourning my dreams. That's what the tears were for, Mother." He said.

Carmilla Fragarach, mother of the three sons. She never had a hard-working lifestyle, but understood the meaning of effort. She tried her best to be a good mother to her children, albeit each of them pursued different morals and ethic values. "Noel... dear, look at me. I know how you feel, but you must calm down. Everything will be OK, you just have to-" She spoke, but Noel interrupted her. "Believe? Is that what you were about to say?" Noel asked her. She was going to answer but he continued. "What part of it should I give my belief? The part that I'll be trained to become another slave master? The part where I will create a fight for Father's heritage? The part where my actions will just help the Iron Decree?" He questioned. "Noel... son, you must understand-" Carmilla tried to calm him down, but to no avail. "Understand?! Why do I have to understand anything?! Father doesn't make a single effort to understand my point of view! Isn't it fair if I do the same?!" Noel complained.

"I can only imagine that you had an argument with your father, Noel. Believe me, I was against his selection and told him about this. However, Grandalt's... stubborn. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to convince him to change his mind and send William in your stead. But listen to what I tell you: it's going to be alright." Carmilla spoke going towards her son. She leaned at him and looked directly in his eyes. "Don't abandon your pure heart, no matter what. Keep that faith within you at all costs. When the time comes, you will change the world, Noel." She spoke. Carmilla took something out of her pockets and gave it to Noel. "A pendant... it's heart-shaped..." He said. "Inside the pendant, there's a photo. You, me and Libero, together. Keep it with you, always." She spoke.

The door opened once again. This time, it was Libero, who arrived minutes ago, while Noel and Grandalt were discussing. "Is everything ready, Noel?" He asked. "... Yes, Big Brother. I'm... ready to leave." Noel answered. The bird, called Nina, stood right at his shoulder. She pecked him lightly, as if they were small kisses. "Hehe... oh, Nina. You won't leave me, will you?" He asked her and she pecked him once again. "Alright, alright. Let's go then." Noel said, grabbing his things and leaving the room.

Libero and Carmilla looked at each other. "Will this really work, Libero? Are you sure that this plan will save Noel?" She asked. "I'll ensure he'll get there safely, Mom. I've already spoken with my contact." He said. She let out a sigh of worry. "Don't worry, Mom. I won't let Noel fall into the temptation of slavery." Libero spoke. "Please, Libero... be careful... this is our only chance." She said. He nodded and left the room as Carmilla herself looked at the window.