- Market Square -
"I understand how you feel, but people are dying."
"But what if there is a cure to this," Shaman Gratz pressed.
After establishing a mental link with the massive hydra, Gratz was able to gather some knowledge from its splintered mind, namely that it once was a student. He had dragged Headmaster Milton away from the fighting to try to get him to help find a solution.
"If what you say is true then even if there is a cure there is no time to find it. Containment vessels are only able to work on weak creatures. He was probably place in one before he grew to this size, and meanwhile more of the city is destroyed. I don't like this anymore than you do but," Milton began.
"What are you saying?" An explosion caused another building to collapse.
"I'm going to have to gather the others and use Heaven's Judgment. If you help us, the spell will be cast faster," Milton placed a hand on Gratz's shoulder.
As though to emphasize the urgency of the situation a mage crashed to the ground. "Okay Theodore, I'll do it. But I hate this."
"Me too."
- Mages School Library -
Alyvia smiled beneath her helmet as the two new arrivals landed and walked towards her.
"Let our friends go," demanded the large sized pixie thing.
'What in the nine is she supposed to be,' Alyvia wondered.
"Who are you," the succubus asked, drawing a broadsword and taking a defensive stance.
Alyvia extended her hand outward and Eva's axe came flying into her hand. She demonstrated her strength by giving the large battle axe a flourish with one hand. "A name is of little use to those that don't have long to live," Alyvia finally answered coldly.
This made of the new arrivals take a step back.
"Mai run," Freed groaned as he tried to get up.
"Still able to move? I'm impressed," Alyvia half turned to look at him. "So this is Mai...and that must mean you are Sara."
"What are you doing here," Mai demanded.
"Oh, just browsing the amazing selection of tomes this library has to offer. Such wondrous knowledge locked away," Alyvia was just stalling them until the tomes could be ready for transportation.
Mai took a step forward, but stopped when Alyvia held the heavy axe over Eva's prone body.
"Ah ah ah," Alyvia shook her head slowly, "no need to cause harm to your friends here. Let's just talk."
"About what," Sara hissed.
"About how you of all people should be helping us."
Sara offered only a hateful glare in response.
"Surely you've noticed how the people of this kingdom look at you. Sure they preach equality among all of the different races, but when it really comes down to it humans, elves, and the other near-human races are at the top. All others are little more than second class citizens. Surely you've dealt with the bigotry of the kingdom," Alyvia knew she had struck a chord in the young succubus by her shifting eyes.
-
Sara felt her heart grow heavy from the words of this armoured person. And it disgusted her that she was agreeing with these statements. Stanley's comments towards her were proof enough to her that there was a large number of people that saw her as a monster, she actually recoiled from her own reflection in the days after her last transformation. Sara remembered those few side glances and whispers she had seen and heard when she walked the streets of the capital.
"Come and join us and we'll create a world where non-humans can be looked at as equals," Alyvia held out her free hand, the other still holding the axe poised over Eva's neck.
"You're right. They do treat me like a monster," Sara began.
Mai glanced at her in bewilderment.
Behind the armoured figure Sara saw Freed was getting ready to cast something powerful, and she smiled, "but you know what?"
"Hmm?"
"I never really did give a damn what others thought of me so long as I still have those that are important to me."
"Foolish girl. If you will not join us, then you shall be swept aside."
"I don't think so," Sara charged forward.
Freed fired off his spell and knocked the axe out of the armoured figure's hand before she could decapitate Eva.
Sara thrust her sword forward, aiming for the slight gap in the armour between the waist and the abdomen plates. Just before it could reach the figure's hands caught the blade and held it firmly in place.
"So be it," its voice echoed.