[center] [img]https://78.media.tumblr.com/a3b148938837c8380c1eb6e43f0d31fc/tumblr_pcvta2YxeN1w6599so1_1280.png[/img] Hideout (Suttling Basin, old mill) [/center] [color=dab666]“Huh?”[/color] Quill fret her brow. [color=dab666]“What do you mean 'why did you ask?' Do you think I have some ulterior motive? Like I'd be interested in a romantic relationship with you? A human?”[/color] She snorted. [color=dab666]“You're awfully cute, you know that?”[/color] She rubbed her nose. [color=dab666]“And by cute, I mean small minded! I've seen what humans can do first hand when they see something they like, and I don't want that happening to Chiyo at all.”[/color] She looked away. [color=dab666]“But you don't want anything like that with Chiyo, so we're fine.”[/color] [b][color=orange]”Sounds like you're having a lot of fun in here.”[/color][/b] [color=dab666]“Tch!”[/color] Elder Sibling had a tendency to just randomly appear places. Not that her appearance was unexpected. She must have just decided to show up after all of Quill's shouting. [b][color=orange]”Today is a very important day. It's going to mark the first time we use Chieko's powers to further our plan.”[/color][/b] Elder Sibling's robes dragged across the floor as she approached. Two demihumans rushed in front of her and set a table and map of Priestella down before Chieko. Once they were done, they darted off. [b][color=orange]”It should be a simple operation with your gift. If your gift does what it's suppose to do, nobody has to die.”[/color][/b] She placed a map of the Vertti household down on top of the city map, positioning it in front of Chieko. [b][color=orange]”All I need you to do is locate the royal seal and tell me the best way to get it. I'm not sure if this helps, but it should be located in Mistress Vertti's bedroom.”[/color][/b] All eyes were on Chieko now. [hr] [center] Vertti household [/center] Grisaia did not receive a response. But he was an excellent servant, and wasn't about to let fear grip his heart. With a gentle twist of the doorknob, he was able to crack the door open and look at her bed. She wan't in it. Grisaia might have opened the door the rest of the way, but he would not have the chance. Aer pulled the door the rest of the way open, practically yanking it out of Grisaia's hands. The adventurer was only wearing a robe and a night cap, but she had two bottles of wine in one hand. One was almost empty, and the other [i]was[/i] empty. Her face was beat red, and she seemed to sway side to side like she was standing on a sailing ship. [color=FFDEAD]"Hello cutie!"[/color] Aer released the door knob so that she could wave to Grisaia. He hadn't known Aer long, but this was the first time he saw her smile. And it was one of the larger ones he had ever seen. [color=FFDEAD]"You know room service around here is pretty good. You tell people you're hungry, and they feed you. Tell them that you're sick, and they give you wine."[/color] She giggled like an imp. [color=FFDEAD]"I feel like a thousand royal coins right now."[/color] She took a step towards Grisaia and reached for his face. But because she only steeped forward with her leading foot, it brought her torso folward and down. [color=FFDEAD]"Are you a wizard, Grisaia? Because you get bigger the closer I get to you."[/color] Aer held out both bottles. [color=FFDEAD]"Did you cast a spell on this bottle? I notice the lighter one has a much weaker flavor now. It doesn't make a sound when you shake it either."[/color] [hr] [center] Gris's courtyard [/center] Gris raised an eyebrow at flame's flamboyant, if perhaps too honest reply. [b]”Should I?”[/b] He chuckled. [b]”I think you'll do just fine. Most of the locals know who you are now. They certainly know who I am. I'm not really sure Elque would enjoy being around you. She sort of roams about, and I try not to restrain her too much if I can help it.”[/b] He put his hands on his hips. [b]”Besides, you have a home here! I guess I'm just not that worried about the money. I think you're a nice guy and I can trust you can run a simple errand. You've done really well with my lessons too. You put faith in me letting me train you, and now I'm putting faith in you, letting you handle my money.”[/b] The oni grinned. [b]”Think of it as an independence building exercise! Go see some of the locals who don't hang around here all the time.”[/b] [hr] [center] [h1]?[/h1] [/center] [color=c577bb]”What are you talking about? Hazzard a guess?”[/color] He took a step towards Aerith. When she tried to step away from him, her path was obstructed by a stone throne, which she fell into. [color=c577bb]”Lust, who could love us [i]but[/i] the witch of envy? Her hands outstretched constantly reaching! For us! As we are so close, but so very, very far!”[/color] He moved his face closer to Aerith's. [color=c577bb]”Just 'a' witch? You disgusting creature. I bet you'd lay with just any witch, wouldn't you? But not I, not [b]Vaux Maximilianus, Divagro von Theodoric und Hieronymous[/b]!”[/color] He broke out into laughter again. [color=c577bb]”It matters not though. I'm not sure what you've been doing up until now, to prepare for the most holiest of days. I suppose I could 'hazzard a guess', but I'd rather not.”[/color] He grabbed Aerith by thhe shoulder and yanked her out of the seat. [color=c577bb]”Did you roll out of some stranger's carriage? How can you be so ignorant, you imbecile! The city I speak of is Prestella, and the forest is...”[/color] He scratched his head. [color=c577bb]”I-It's a generic one! Just a pointless destination! A pebble on the path to the city of water!”[/color] He pulled her towards the tree line. [color=c577bb]”I'm only tolerating you because you're suppose to be useful. And if you turn out to not be, you'll know what my [u]wrath[/u] looks like.”[/color] He cleared his throat. [color=c577bb]”Anyway, here are the other guys. Say hi!”[/color] [hider=Meet the Cult][center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzIjQtoGWwQ[/youtube][/center][/hider] To call it an army didn't do it justice. There had to be a thousand cultists in black and red hoods in very organized formations. And it wasn't just people either. Some of them were on land dragons, and some of them were pulling siege equipment. The caravan that was transporting everyone had been abandoned, and it seemed some of the cultists were burning what remained of their vehicles. Clearly this was a one way trip, and nobody was returning to where they came from. [color=c577bb]”We finish the journey on foot.”[/color] Vaux released Aerith's arm. [color=c577bb]”Walk with me to the front, it builds morale.”[/color]