Maddox stood unflinchingly when the imposing Grane approached him. When they were teleported underneath the Magic Council's building in a large cave, the red-haired mage took a moment to survey his environment. After Grane introduced himself and requested Maddox do the same, the young man let out a sigh. "Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I do not carry as much of a reputation as you do," Maddox stated first. [He began removing his coat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HItAhwZxfQ), revealing his skull tattoo on his right arm and his guild mark on his left. "My name is Maddox Colburn. The Weekly Sorcerer called me Blink once and it kinda stuck, so some people call me that," he introduced himself, carefully folding his coat and setting it on the ground next to his feet. "Your reputation kinda precedes you, but I can understand if you don't know who I am." He stood upright, now starting some stretching exercises for his upper body. "In this case... I suppose I am the Protector of Phoenix Wing." His choice of words was clearly intentional, and now Maddox started stretching his legs. "You'll have to forgive me for a few things." Maddox now started bending backwards, stretching his back. "For starters, I haven't had a good fight in a long time. I may be a bit rusty so don't be offended if I'm not up-to-par from the start." With his back done, Maddox now stood upright and brought his gaze back to Grane. "Secondly, while we both fight for what we believe in and what we cherish, and we both seek the best for Fiore, we are enemies until the dust settles." His expression became strict and serious as he dropped into a combat stance. He held his left hand forward with the palm facing Grane while he kept his right arm tucked in to his side, also in an open-fist style. "Third..." Maddox bent his knees even further, but only slightly. Just enough to be detected. "The enemies you faced before were different than me. Obviously they were injured and tired. But that's not what I meant." His red eyes seemed to get a bit darker as he locked eyes with Grane. "They are all good, passionate people whose souls are more beautiful than anything on the Council." "I, however, am a Dark Mage." With his foreboding words, Maddox disappeared. He teleported behind Grane, his left leg already drawn back. And as soon as he appeared it shot out, aiming to deliver a powerful kick to the back of the lizard-man's head. While his speed itself was impressive, being that he could teleport and was probably one of the few that Grane ever met that had that ability, the strength behind the blow would prove to be equally shocking. Someone like Grane may be able to recognize the martial art Maddox was using, which would confirm the power behind his attacks. The strikes weren't aimed to stun or injure but to incapacitate.

The blonde listened carefully as this dragon explained her magic, thinking it over in his head a little. He was a both a little disappointment to find out that she didn't exactly lose herself to the animalistic forms since they apparently weren't the actually the real thing like his own. It would make sense, if it wasn't really a form that was copied from the original, then she wouldn't have the same instincts. After pondering the explanation, he bought he would explain his own. It only seemed fair, and it seemed quite normal for Wizards to be curious over other wizards magic with a similar type of magic. Never know when one could learn something new to improve their own magic. **"Our magic seem to be a little bit opposite from one another. Mine is based on memory, which is why I have to thoroughly examine anyone or thing and engrave them into memory. It includes their habits, voice, and abilities. If I falter, then I can't keep the form. It also risks staying in another form if I lose memory of my human form. So most of my magic is based on my memory and focus, so it doesn't require as much magic since none of it is based on scratch like yours. I can only be things are the original though, so I can't copy things that are magic created like your forms. I can't copy wizard magic, but I should be able to copy beast magic like a dragons fire, but I haven't quite figured out yet. And I can easily lose it if my emotions are negative. Sadness, anger, jealously and such."** Karn sighed thoughtfully before smiling brightly at the dragon. **"You've seen a real dragon though? That's amazing! I've wanted to see one forever! Though I guess right now I can't really transform into it."** Karn said as he started getting more excited at the thought of a real dragon before pausing in realization and smiling toward the dragon. **"Oh right.. We haven't said our names. Sorry, I was rude. My name is Karn, very nice to meet a fellow wizard, and a powerful one at that."** he chirped. --- The masked figure watch Marahiko and Damian continue to duke it out, the teleporting wizard challenging Grane to a dual. The councilor accepted and the two teleported away. When they left, the figure teleported and landed on the ground. Looking over the exhausted guild members before walking over and pulling one of the books out, flipping the pages.

Mithera let out a little sigh. **"I have no idea how long ago I saw that dragon though, all I'm certain of is it was back in the days of Fairy Tale."** She lifted her head and looked around for a moment before lowering it again. **"And my transformations aren't magically draining, I just have to eat a lot or fast for a long time, but I can sustain them forever without any physical problems."** She mused for a moment. **"And I haven't been human in so long I doubt I'd be able to take that form again."** She smiled a bit, and set her head down on the grass. She shot out a little puff of fire, not enough to do any damage, but certainly to point out she had it. **"As for introductions, I'm called Mithera, and I can honestly say I've never been more bothered by anyone else's magic."** She flicked her tongue out at him again. **"Especially with the ease he has in doing it. Though I am flattered you think I'm powerful, but it's less power, and more it takes so long that any mage has the magic to do it."** --- Melina smiled as she finally found the book she was looking for, and she closed her eyes, converting all the blood on her into energy before stuffing the book under her armor against her stomach. She turned back towards Phoenix wing, and walked over, smiling. **"Ah, you all, I remember some of you from the train station, and I know the other four from other... places."** She looked at the Unconscious Mayt, then at Lazarus and Sasha, before finally resting her gaze on Jamie. **"Ah Master Jamie. I told you I'd probably piggy back off your operation."** She grinned, and laughed a bit, licking her lips and looking at Mayt, who was still bleeding just a little. **"So, Master Jamie. My dragon informed me she'd be unable to give me a ride out of the city, so, I'd like to tell you I'll be following you out of the city for safety purposes."**

Master Jamie pressed her fingers to the bridge of his nose, as if in pain. She sighed heavily, and Jarvis stepped up, laying a hand on Jamie's shoulder. **"You can't protect them all, Jamie. You can''t stop them from getting hurt. You just have to trust them"** Jarvis said softly, and Jamie met his eyes, an unspoken pain flooding her eyes for a second, before it was gone, as if it wasn't there. He sighed heavily and stood, sheathing the blade.** "Go round up the council members that have already been beaten. I'll try and find Maddox and Grane" ** Jamie stopped first to check on the others, making sure that Mayt and Penny were okay, trying to keep spirits up. **"Rest"** He told them. **"I'll be back soon" **He maintained the safe appearance, figuring that it was an advantage right then. She turned to Mitheria when she spoke to him, and said, **"You might be safer traveling on your own, to be honest. But you can stick around, if you really want"** She said Jarvis glanced about, and then took out a lacrima, walking over to Carrie, he smashed it, and once again, a medium sized Lacrima formed, yellow jagged streaks crashing against the class harmlessly, and he picked it up, sending Carrie to join Angelica. He then went to were Tim and Ted were just struggle up, and before they could even react had then in lacrima's to, one with water crashing about, the other with Ted standing, presumably with wind. Spencer proved a slight challenge, but after a quick battle, he too resided in a Lacrima prison. Two more. **"Collect a magic council set" **Jarvis shook his head with amusement, heading back to the main part of the library. He approached James, Sasha, Lazarus and the injuried Mayt. **"You should all eat something, and gain back some strength. I suspect more ruin knights will come shortly. ** ----- Sasha took the book from Maddox, reluctantly doing so, holding it close to her for a moment, where, for a brief instant, it seemed warm. Then she slid it into her satchel, and held it close. Her eyes drifted to Damian's fight, knowing she couldn't step in to help, and that Damian should be alright. Still, it worried her not being able to help, and she was worried about everyone. She wanted to help, badly. But if all she could do was sit and guard the book, then that's what she would do.

Trinity found herself entering the library next, her eyes landing on the gathering of Guild Members, briefly, before she heard the clash of combat from nearby. She readied her bow, but hesitated as she considered that no one else was acting. "**U-uh. Uhm...**" She looked between the two groups before lowering her bow and approaching Jamie, Jarvis, and co., figuring that a better course of action than nothing. "**Hey. Anybody seen the punk? I lost track of him when he blitzed into the building. Penny told me to- Penny!**" The trobairitz dashed across to the woman's side, kneeling and examining her wounds. "**Damn... How'd you get so beat up, huh...?**" She... seemed like she'd be alright. With rest. She sighed softly and gave a little wish for Penny's recovery before she stood and looked around. At that point, she spotted him. She gasped, her guard raising as she got ready to fight him. She pointed with her bow hand and spoke softly enough that MaskMan probably couldn't hear her. "**That guy! That guy beat up my cat! Er... Karn. That guy beat up *Karn*. I don't have to, act, like... er... I mean, the cat's out of the bag, so...**" "**_That guy beat up Karn_, a-and I don't know what happened to him. He went into those bookshelves. We should capture and interrogate him.**" She pointed again, facing the others. She was a little flustered, but she remembered to keep her voice down to preserve surprise. Might scare him off. She drew an arrow and begans to approach.

Karn laughed softly as the dragon flicked her tongue out briefly , similar to that of a snake and simply grinned thoughtfully. **"Mhmm might have to try it. Though I don't think I have that much focus to reconstruct my own form. Nice to meet you, Mithera." he said before seeming to finally realize what was probably happening back at the council. He had gotten distracted. **"Oh the others might need help! I gotta go..."** he started as he turned to go to the city, but only ended up face planting again beside the dragon. Grumbling he lifted his head. **"..Ow again."** he whined, seeming to ponder what exactly to do. --- The masked figure had continued to pretty much ignore everyone else, until a familiar voice seemed to raise now. Glancing toward the Guild members, the masked figure simply waved at the white haired girl before closing the book they were reading and moving on to another one. **"Do try not to antagonize them. They are quite battered already."** They said, making a shooing motion to the girl like she was a mere eight year old. They then moved their fingers a bit and whispered the words. **"Teaset."** they said, and a white Teaset appeared, a cup appearing in front of every person that was conscious and not fighting at least. **"Tea."** they murmured and tea plopped into several cups. Taking one, the mask shifted away from the mouth and the figure calmly sipped their tea. Seeming to totally ignore the arrow pointed straight at them. **"Plus you should be looking for that sound boy. He's making quite a ruckus."** They hummed.

Nicolas kept destroying the council's property. He was having a rough time finding anybody that he recognized to be in the guild. He began wondering if they had abandoned him. "Those idiots! If they wasted my whole day keeping me hostage and left me to take the blame, I'm-I'm..." Nicolas cracked his knuckles and neck. "I'm going to do horrible things to them." He then caught up to a door. "Finally, an entrance!" Phones grabbed onto the handled, but then something overcame in. "This doesn't feel right," he said. "I don't like this feeling." Nicolas busted through the wall using another vibe reaction. He had smashed through basically every room. It would be idiotic to start using doors at a time like this. "I have to stay consistent."

Masahiko smiles at the question, "Well that's actually quite simple. First I'm not sure I trust Jarvis not to trap me in a lacrima first chance he gets. I'm also having fun. We could stop. I have no major issues with it. My energy'll probably be better used elsewere pretty soon reguardless of what happens," he looks around surveying the damage in the library, "With either result I can start taking care of Council business again properly. So do you wanna conyinue?"

Mithera sighed as he started trying to head back to the council building. When he fell over, she picked him up by his shirt in her mouth gently, setting him upright. **"It's wrapping up about now, and don't worry about Rune Knights attacking the others, Melina can handle them."** She made sure he was stable before pulling her head back, looking him over. **"And I'd hate to see a... Specimen like you to do something rash for whatever reason and end up in a grave."** She gave the quickest of winks, before lifting her head up and scanning about. **"Besides, it's a good walk from here. Even if it was still more than a couple of duels, by the time you got there the rest of Phoenix Wing would have left."** --- Melina smiled a bit. **"Ah, but antagonizing people is what I do best. Besides, Master Jamie knows I am no *real* threat to her guild. And thank you for the tea."** She sipped it, not seeming to have any fear of it possibly being poisoned. She smiled a bit, looking over the guild again, and approaching Sasha and Penny. **"I see your sister had her ass handed to her. I can make sure she doesn't have any fatal internal injuries if you want."** She was still in her Blood Queen armor, though it seemed a good bit duller than when she came in, the enormous scythe on her back. **"Would hate for her to die here."** She smiled a wolf's smile to Sasha, since she was asking her permission specifically, and giving anyone else around no mind. **"Besides, I can't do any more damage than what has already been done to her, and I already have some of her blood."**

Lazarus watched the events unfolded after he did his best to assist jamie. Maddox was gone along with grane, and most of the council members were in custody. The book was theirs too. He reached inside his jacket into the breast pocket and pulled out a biscuit of sorts. He chuckled. "I'd almost forgotten about this... Food with magic worked into it... Originally designed for joke shops and cheap magic shops..... But they are quite useful at times like these." He smiled sort of smugly, taking a bite. Upon finishing the biscuit and discarding of the wrapper, he took another out of his pocket and grabbed a hold of Sasha. "Here." He grunted, comically pushing the biscuit into her mouth and making her chew with his hands.

Sasha looked worriedly at her sister when Melina approached and spoke with her. Sasha couldn't be sure what was wrong with Penny, but hated seeing the bruises on her sisters face. She wasn't too sure about trusting someone who wasn't apart of the guild to look her sister over, not here in the council area. But what if Penny was seriously hurt? There was James, but he needed his strength. She sighed Sasha wasn't given a chance to reply to Melina, as Lazarus grabbed her and force fed her biscuit. It was either chew and swallow, or choke. She ate in defense, giving Lazarus a glare, which she couldn't maintain. She swallowed and said "I would have eaten it" she took a drink of water, and looked back to Penny. She sighed again, and said "I was unaware blood mages could help the injuried" looking to Melina, wary

Lazarus smiled and chuckled. "But this way I got to have a little fun." He noted in his mind that Sasha was worried about penny. He touched her shoulder caringly. "It's ok, don't worry. She will be fine. I can sense that her soul is still strong and ever present. She isn't leaving us right now. I promise. That is the nature of my magic." He sighed.

The blonde blinked a bit as he was picked up, feeling the soft instinct of a cat being picked up by the scruff and his body laxed, before he was set to sitting position. Looking to the dragon at her words, curiously tipping his head at the wink. Not really sure what he meant, but he figured it was because he was just a curious Transformation wizard who had the ability to shapeshift with ease. Finding that her words made sense, and it would be pointless dragging himself all the way back there to the Council Building. Even if he did get there in time, he would just end up being even more tired and just a distraction. By Mithera's reasoning, it seemed most of the council was beaten, so hopefully the Phoenix Wing guild would be alright. **"Mhmm you're right. Just hope everyone makes it out okay."** Karn said before leaning his back against the dragon's side and his emerald eyes closed. Taking a deep breath, as he tried to push back the incoming grogginess.

[Damian] Damian considered his answer carefully, not dropping his guard for even a moment. "Answer me this then, what's Council business as usual? It's become pretty clear that some of the Council members here had their own agendas that were questionably not in the best interest of Fiore. And I can't shake the feeling that my mysterious mask lady is Angelica." Then it clicks. "Wait, what do you know about a Lightning God Slayer I met a few weeks ago?"

Mithera made a little shrug, and didn't respond farther. Letting Karn rest, she doubted she'd be feeling up to par if she'd be thrown through a roof either. She spread her wings out a little bit, letting one cover Karn and block the sunlight. She didn't understand why she was being as nice as she was, but after a moment she disregarded it as simple sympathy. She sighed, and just kept a look out for anyone trying to bother them. --- Melina smiled a bit, and looked at the angel. **"She may not be dying right this second, but it doesn't mean damage that could prove fatal later wasn't done."** She got on one knee next to Penny, pulling out her knife, and making a little cut in one of the cauterized injuries so it'd bleed again. **"And I can't heal injuries, but I can tell you if there are ones. I can feel how her blood flows, and I'm... Familiar enough with human physiology to know if anything's wrong. And I might possibly be able to clot her blood at particularly bad places"** She put one finger over the cut she had made, and blood stopped flowing from it. **"She'll be fine."** She reported after a second, licking the bloody tip of her finger. **"If fatigued, but that's to be expected regardless."**

Trinity scowled and growled as the man spoke to her. As though he'd done nothing. "**Who's antagonizing whom, here?**" She drew her arrow further, after pushing the floating teacup aside with the flat of her arrow. She wasn't suspicious of it, but she wasn't about to take tea from this guy. "**What'd you do with Karn?**" Phones was fine last she saw him. He wasn't as much of a concern. Karn had been blasted away by this guy. That concern was more pressing. "**Answer!**"

Sasha nodded, and gave Lazarus a smile. "she's smart. She would have know to protect her head and that, but still..." She watched as Melina cut Penny, flinching slightly. She didn't think that it was necessary to cut her, but Sasha didn't say anything. She didn't particularly like the blood mage, and certainly didn't trust her. Still, she was a polite person and said "thank you" she sighed and sat down, brushing Penny's hair back from her face. She frowned slightly "wasn't she with the train guy and some others? Where are they?"

Karn shifted slightly as he felt warmth cover him. He smiled a little as he drifted into unconsciousness, slightly cuddling up against the scaled beast. It felt warm and comfortable. It had been a little bit since he felt like he could simply pass out in a mere second. Perhaps he jumped in a little too soon. Probably should of napped on the train. --- The masked figure simply nodded to the blood wizard at the thanks before looking to the woman pointing the arrow at them. Taking another sip of tea before the mask completely closed again. **"He stole a book, I was required to make a little ruckus. Plus he didn't do very well on convincing, needs work. Some kids need a good smacking."** They shrugged as they set the teacup down. **"You should be happy I dispelled that Death spell I put on him. Quite the lost art. He'd be dead by now if I hadn't. But it was the fastest way to knock him out. As for where he is, a dragon swooped down and took him. You can ask the Blood Wizard there for details, but I believe he's fine."** they replied, rolling their shoulders as they looked to the fight that was occurring in the library. Seeming to be waiting until it was over.

Angelo left the library when he couldn't find the book he assumed someone else found it so he decided to figure out how he could help. As Angelo walked out he tripped on something and when he turned to look at it he saw that they were bodies, as in bodies that have been turned to husks like the blood was drain from them somehow. Angelo didn't know how that could be possible but he figured that someone had to know so he decided to go with Damien since he was the one closest to Angelo and since they were both strong they could try and take down whatever did this together. Angelo looked until he found Damien and watched his battle and although Angelo wanted to help he decided to let him fight it out unless he needed assistance

Trinity faultered as she heard Karn yet lives. Judging by how easily he dealt with her before, he didn't see her as threatening enough to lie to her. Didn't even bother returning her attack before. She lowered her bow cautiously. "**Why should I believe you, then?**" She couldn't fathom a reason he'd lie to her, but that didn't mean he wasn't. As far as she knew, this man was the enemy. She glanced at the women beind her. She could see one of them working some kind of... Blood Magic? Disturbing... but not her concern right now. Though... "**Oye. Can you coroborate this?**" She p spoke to the Blood Mage, but doesn't remove her eyes from the masked wizard. "**And she was with that Sound punk and myself, but he ran off and she sent me after him. Damn punk...**" She had heard Sasha ask about her and Phones.