She wasn't too sure what to have expected when Emily came running out, but appearance wise this certainly wasn't meeting them. At first she thought she had made a mistake, this girl didn't have a tail for a start. But then again, that didn't mean much. Hiding a tail was simple, at least to a woman of her genius.
But upon a second glance, she could feel the unmistakable aura around the girl. She had found one of the hosts, for sure. But which one was she? She didn't want to act
too rashly, otherwise things would just get more annoying and complicated than they already were.
Upon the teary eyed girl seeming to stop before her out of fear more than anything, the woman simply sighed.
"Did no one teach you simple manners, girl." Looking at Emily through half closed eyes, the woman bought her hand up. In that same moment, a series of stone pillars erupted out of the ground in a pattern around of Emily so as to inhibit her movement.
"One should give their own name before asking for another's. Simple courtesy." Her tone as cold as the stones pressing against Emily, the woman took a couple of steps forward and spoke in a rather cryptic, ominous tone.
"Though I must admit...I'm disappointed. You must be fairly new if you don't know me, or maybe you're simply incompetent. Which is it, Witch?"When the stone pillars erupted out of the floor around her, Emily screamed out very loudly in both fear and shock while more tears rolled down her cheeks. The poor scared girl wasn’t made for this situation and it was quite obvious that she was just very very scared.
“I… I don’t know what you mean! L...Leave me alone… just go! I r...really don’t… know….. Wh….” Her words slowly faded away as her voice grew weaker and Emily had slowly closed her eyes, passing out against the stones. Just a few moments later, her body suddenly began to change. The color of her hair changed from a very bright and pretty pink to a more pale one. Her skin’s color became much darker; it very much looked gray and her eyes began to glow in a bright but menacing pink in contrast to her skin color. Wings began to grow out of her lower back and soon reached an impressive length. Her hands now looked more like claws and so did her feet; having long and sharp claws at the end. The being pushed its hand against the stone pillar in front of it and after a short moment it crumbled and broke into pieces as she stepped out of the cage.
“Could you stop this, pretty please?” She said sarcastically while brushing some dust off of her clothes. The girl sighed out and stared back at the unknown female. “I’ll admit, I really did not expect to meet you here. But I suppose it was inevitable after a while… though I am surprised that you wanted to scare that poor girl so much.” With one hand covering her mouth she chuckled at that thought. “Not like I care. You probably didn’t know that I wasn’t her.”
The woman came to a stop as Emily began to transform before her very eyes, not exactly a shocking turn of events but unexpected certainly. With the transformation complete and her stone pillars reduced to dust, the Witch spoke.
It was made abundantly clear that the host and Witch were not one and the same, the transformation being an obvious sign to back that up.
“I didn’t think someone could become that scared so easily, you’ve chosen an...interesting new host to say the least Kindness.”With an effortless shrug, the woman took another step forward. Despite the smile she wore, the woman had a menacing feeling and tone about her.
“But to think, an investigation into a slavery operation which led me to overhearing whispers about a peculiar girl with a peculiar tail is the reason I stand before you here and now….Fate truly is an amusing mistress, no?” While what she spoke was the truth, she had realised half way through this search for a ‘Demon Girl’ that it was either a powerful cultist or a Witch by the sheer stench they left in their wake, so it wasn’t as big as a coincidence as she was playing it out to be. Though it was still a massive coincidence.
“I suppose you don’t have a particular reason being here then do you? I assume by what I’ve seen, you’re probably just going with the flow of what your host decides.”“Well… it was more by chance I suppose. I do agree though that she is interesting. I just let her do as she pleases, it is fun to just observe and watch every now and then. Besides, if she were to get herself into trouble, like now,” The witch gave the other woman a piercing stare with her glowing eyes. “I can always step in. Having my host die would be unfortunate. I can’t really depend on these stupid pigs that call themselves worshippers of me.” Again the witch chuckled. The thought of these braindead useless human beings bowing down in front of her pleased her.
“Though what are you doing in your life? You seem to have made yourself a name, investigating a slavery operation and demonic entities like a big girl.” Kindness was as kind as ever.
“Hmmm, is that so?” The woman mused. So it wasn’t her which was active at the moment. Kindness was a terrible liar, the woman was far, far too honest and uncaring of the consequences to lie.
Upon reaching that conclusion, the menacing feel about her dropped drastically almost instantly. Kindness was a potential threat she could take care of at another time, for now she would do well to keep her on side.
“Oh...nothing in particular. I do as I please for the most part, as you know I’m a rather free spirit. No one can chain me down. Just that I don’t take it too kindly when others put chains on anything, so I feel the need to liberate it.”Ignoring Kindness’s attempts to provoke the woman, she stepped to the side and, looking upwards, began to admire something in the distance. Without turning to face Kindness, the woman added;
“Which is exactly what one of the Seven Witches are doing right now. Enslaving humans and demi’s alike for some purpose I have yet to work out. Hence why I was so hostile with your host before, as I hadn’t worked out which one you were just yet. I assume the Witch responsible isn’t yourself?”Obviously, Kindness had some thoughts about this conversation too. After all, talking to that kind of person is always very intriguing and most of the actual thoughts about the conversation stay hidden. After all, she really saw no purpose in provoking a fight right now.
“”How… poetic.” She yawned excessively to show how bored she was of this phrase that nothing can chain her down.
Emily tilted her head slightly upon hearing what she said in confusion before finally laughing. “Pffffhahahaha! No that is not me. That sounds so boring! But that sounds like one of the sisters. But you make such an… effort... “ With her clawed hand she pointed at the fire behind her. “Now that poor girl is homeless.” she said sarcastically. If she really wanted a home she could easily get it.
“Though I wonder who that is. I always expected one of them to act up and draw attention to them again. They just can’t keep their hands still…” The witch followed this with a drawn-out sigh before licking her small fangs.
“I had doubted it was you, it didn’t suit you one bit. You’re far too….’direct’ for such methods.” Dwelling on Kindness’s words, the woman stared off absently for a minute or two before turning back.
“It is indeed a shame they’ve been drawing so much of the Royal Guard’s attention, would’ve thought they would at least have the intelligence required to go about their business without making such a circus.” With a disappointed sigh, the woman now glanced over her shoulder.
“I would watch your back from here on out, Kindness.” With a stern tone, the woman’s eyes narrowed considerably.
“The Royal Guards are on edge because of this Witch stirring up trouble, some old discrimination and grudges have boiled to the surface. A Witch is simply just that to them, a Witch. They’re all the same to those backward-thinking, incompetent fools.” She didn’t need to warn Kindness of course, in fact it could’ve been far, far more amusing if she hadn’t warned her.
But for now, Kindness was a valuable asset. Whether she knew it or not.
Clearing her throat, the woman started walking a few steps back towards Kindness.
“I will find this particular Witch and put an end to her little game, one way or another Kindness. Along with any of her allies or those who attempt to get in my way.”After the last sentence spoken by the woman in front of her, Kindness looked a little annoyed. Her expression was both annoyed and angry, though quite obviously it wasn’t to a high extend.
She parted her lips with her teeth still closed and made an annoyed noise. “Tsh.” Kindness took a step forward too and stared right back into the eyes of the opposite.
“I don’t know what you try to threaten me for. I do whatever I want and whenever I want. Also…”
With that, the girl looked away again, seemingly no longer interested in appearing as serious.
“You know me, I don’t want anything to do with that. Though I… appreciate the warning.” She said in an overly sarcastic voice, using her hands to emphasize the sarcasm.
Kindness put both of her hands behind her own head, taking on a rather relaxed pose.
“As mentioned before, I don’t intend to do anything right now. Why would I attack the Royal Guards? I am not that stupid. Although it would be quite fun.”
Inhaling sharply, the woman pinched the bridge of her nose before exhaling loudly. She knew Kindness was dense, but this was pushing the envelope no?
“I wasn’t threatening you, the opposite in fact.” With her head in her hands, she sighed again
“And I didn’t think you would attack the Royal Guards, you would lose if you did, but they are quite likely to attack you simply for being a Witch and nothing else. Hence my warning.” Hoping that she didn’t have to explain it again, or in further detail, the woman allowed her hands to fall back to her sides.
“But I do require your assistance in identifying which one is causing this problem. There’s a possibility she might approach yourself or one of the others, if she hasn’t already. How you deal with that is up to you, regardless I suggest contacting me immediately.” Sensing one or more people beginning to draw closer, the woman seemed to remember they were standing next to a large, open blaze.
Right. Burning buildings tended to attract a crowd didn’t they? And she had been questioning Kindness intelligence….
Letting out an agitated hissing noise, the woman clicked her tongue loudly before looking off in the direction Shina approached from.
“
We will have to cut this short Kindness. Simply put, in return for your assistance in this matter I’ll make sure no harm comes to your host. I’ll leave how to contact me with your host, but I suggest you make yourself scarce. Your current form might...startle people.”Angrily Kindness gritted her teeth against one another. “Tsh. As If I couldn’t take down a few lowly humans…” She crossed her arms in front of her body and shook her head.
“I don’t promise you my assistance but…” Kindness too felt someone approaching and her wings already began disappearing. “I promise you neutrality.. For now. If it seems like fun to help you then i will. See you soon, lovely talking to you as always.” She finished with this sarcastic comment before her body had fully transformed back into the demon-tailed Emily. Immediately the body went limp and fell to the floor; She was unconscious.
With Kindness having withdrawn back into Emily's body and the young girl collapsing to the floor, the woman bent down and shook her head. Dealing with her was such a pain, but for now she needed her and that's all that mattered.
Upon hearing Shina, the woman looked over her shoulder. She was that presence? This girl....who exactly was she? She wasn't dressed in enough armour to be a knight, but too much to be an ordinary citizen. I mean it was only some chest plate armour, but that was still more than most people cared to wear.
At the mention of being hungry the woman couldn't help but laugh and shake her head. This girl seemed to be a strange one anyway. Picking Emily up and holding her bridal style, turning to face Shina.
"Is that so? Then in return for you name, let me treat you to something while I get this girl to the Iron Knights." Greeting Shina with a smile, the flame behind them seemed to snuff itself out entirely despite being a huge blaze just moments prior.
Having finished his errands, Avery had begun making his way to the others. He needn't know where he was going, but simply followed where he could feel his summon. With the time taken to get Aya some food from the inn and a weapon from a nearby vendor, plus the time taken to get to the little cabin in the woods, it had been at least 2 hours.
There wasn't much to the cabin, one quick glance could see while it was reasonably made, it wasn't exactly a professional job. Also it was rather tiny, but rationizing that Ease had built it himself it was still rather impressive.
Humming softly as he strolled up to the little porch built on the outside, Avery pushed open the (probably) open door and announced his presence with a beaming smile on his face.
"Honey, I'm home~" Not being able to help himself with his little joke, he held up a brown paper bag which had Aya's food and jiggled it softly. Though her weapon didn't seem to be noticeably on his person.
