[center][h2][color=lawngreen]Grasidia[/color][/h2][/center]
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The blood-soaked woman nodded at Marduk in return before turning to look at the approaching Lavinia and her usual theatrics. [i][color=lawngreen]I suppose she would be feeling quite full of herself after all this,[/color][/i] Grasidia thought to herself, simply watching Lavinia as she ranted. [i][color=lawngreen]They should enjoy their victory. I think most of them believe they killed a dragon and that would be for the better. Nobody needs to know the truth.[/color][/i] She looked back down at her bloodied hands. The rain had helped somewhat with the blood problem but she was gonna need a real bath or shower to get clean. She then looked around, noticing that the Rune Knights were approaching the disintegrating "dragon" in force and even civilians were starting to reappear. It was only going to be a matter of time before someone approached the Fenixtear mages and asked who they were, then someone good at speaking like Marduk could retell the story, then they could all go home. Since Marduk returned with Gwen and Lavinia claimed she could help her, Grasidia returned her attention to the old man. [color=lawngreen]"Alright Marduk, let's t-"[/color]

A loud boom interrupted Grasidia as something fell from the sky, piercing Ria's rainclouds and slamming into the shattered ground hard enough to kick up a cloud of dust. While this startled Gras enough to stop talking she only turned her head to look over her shoulder at the quickly dissipating dust. The hole in the clouds above began to expand, speeding up the process at which the rain halted but for the moment created a sunbeam over the giant demon's vanishing corpse. From the newly formed crater stepped a gigantic man, easily a head and shoulders taller than Grasidia and twice as wide. He wore black cloth armor with black steel plating, a large katana at his hip. His eyes seemed almost golden and glowing, further standing out from a large scar across his nose and his short black hair. Whoever this man was he already radiated intimidation and power. Though Grasidia hadn't a clue who this man was or what he was here for it seemed that the nearby Rune Knights could recognize him and perhaps several of her guildmates may know him too.

This man was one of the Ten Wizard Saints, a supremely powerful group of mages handpicked by the Magic Council. His name is [url=https://safebooru.org//samples/2881/sample_904ceec985b1a89e773cb4e363a12dcd5dc20adf.jpg?3000906][color=orange]Ajax Thera[/color][/url], the 2nd ranked Wizard Saint. The giant man's gaze was upon the "dragon", watching as it continued dispersing into Ethernano. His eyes narrowed suspiciously at the sight before looking down first towards Holly, as she stood near the corpse, and then turning over towards the other members of Fenixtear. Even from this distance Grasidia could tell what he was thinking. [i][color=lawngreen]This man knows.[/color][/i] Ajax then began walking forward towards Holly, each step over the destroyed ground creating a resounding thud as he stomped through any small obstacles in the terrain. Grasidia, too, began marching over to Holly. She detected a danger to this man and didn't intend on leaving her guildmate alone with him. Though Ajax reached Holly first, towering over her as he looked down with what appeared to be contempt.

[color=orange]"What happened here?"[/color] he finally spoke, his voice deep and just as intimidating as his look. By now Grasidia caught up, standing beside Holly to face this man. The nearby Rune Knights finally approached in an organized volume, surrounding both the decaying dragon and rest of Fenixtear. Beyond the Rune Knights a crowd of civilians began forming as well, all trying to see what was going down. Before Holly could answer the Wizard Saint, Grasidia spoke up first and took another step closer to him. [color=lawngreen]"We have slain the dragon,"[/color] she said simply. Her boldness seemed to catch Ajax off guard, who now turned his attention from the armored girl to the blood-soaked woman. His eyes narrowed suspiciously, as if they were burrowing into Grasidia's very soul. A normal human of normal constitution would've been an unnerved wreck before this monster before them, but Grasidia simply stared right back into his soul. Whether he was intimidating by nature or by intent it would not work against someone like her. The silent standoff between the three mages near the dragon continued for a few uncomfortable seconds longer. Tension filled the air almost like a fight was going to break out. The nearby Rune Knights and civilians certainly could feel it.

Grasidia and Ajax's staredown finally ended as he glanced over at the rest of the guild. [color=orange]"I do not recognize your guild mark. Who are you?"[/color] Once again, Grasidia wasted no time in staving off this man's questions. [color=lawngreen]"We are Fenixtear."[/color] Now it became clear that she was beginning to bother this Wizard Saint. His gaze returned to her. [color=orange]"That is no guild I ever heard of. Girl, take off your helmet when I'm talking to you."[/color] Now his golden eyes settled on Holly, but Grasidia stepped to the side to put herself between Holly and Ajax. She didn't know who this man was, but she knew this man was strong and she knew this man was about to bully and accuse her guild, her family, of staging this event. Talking to humans always was difficult for her but something inside her knew that this man before her was barely human at all. And she wasn't going to let him treat her family with disrespect. [color=lawngreen]"You're talking to me,"[/color] she told him plainly, continuing to stare directly into his eyes.

From the nearby Rune Knights she heard a single gasp but she didn't care. [color=lawngreen]"Had we not arrived and slain this [i]dragon[/i] then the Magic Council would've been destroyed. [i]You[/i] arrived too late."[/color] Ajax looked over his shoulder, as if he was only now realizing just how close they all were to the Magic Council headquarters. They were quite literally on its front lawn, so that had Fenixtear arrived but one minute later it really would've been razed to the ground. He turned back towards Grasidia and Holly after confirming. [color=orange]"It would appear so."[/color] His right hand reached down towards his sword, resting on the pommel as he took another step towards the two. Grasidia didn't take any steps back, instead holding her bloody arm out in front of Holly to protect her. Grasidia and Ajax were merely a few feet apart now and she had to very clearly look up at him to maintain eye contact. Was he getting frustrated that they weren't being intimidated by him? [color=lawngreen]"Don't come any closer,"[/color] Grasidia demanded, creating visible shock in Ajax's eyes and practically stunning all the nearby Rune Knights. After a second of silence the big man finally let out a chuckle, removing his hand from his sword and taking a few steps back.

[color=orange]"My apologies, ma'am,"[/color] he said, his voice now noticeably lighter and his tone more polite. [color=orange]"I wish you and yours no harm. I came here to protect the Magic Council from the dragon and I was surprised that a guild I never knew about had managed to save the day. My name is Ajax Thera and I work for the Council. Dragons are my specialty, you see, because I am a [i]dragon slayer[/i]."[/color] This confirmed it for Grasidia, that this man could tell the Etherious they fought was no dragon at all. But he seemed to be playing along? [color=orange]"Fenixtear, yes? I am impressed by your resolve. There are great things in your future."[/color] A quick flash of light from the side surprised both Ajax and Grasidia. She quickly turned to see that a strangely ecstatic man with a camera had pushed past the Rune Knights and snapped a picture of the three standing near the dragon's head. Though the one picture was all he got as the Rune Knights finally grabbed him and began to drag him away. Ajax chuckled again before looking back at the two S-class mages before him. [color=orange]"It appears that your victory today will soon ensure that others like me won't ask your name anymore."[/color]

With that he finally turned away from Grasidia and Holly. He began marching towards the Council headquarters building, offering no further words for goodbyes. The Rune Knights that were in his way parted to allow him to pass with no trouble. Grasidia continued to stare daggers into his back, all the while wondering what he was going to do. She knew that he knew this wasn't a real dragon but he made no accusations to Fenixtear. Was he going to tell the Magic Council? Was he going to keep it a secret? Why would he say the things he did about their future? It was all so puzzling to Grasidia. This strange, powerful man fell from the sky and made her question this day more than this "dragon" already did. She finally lowered her arm from before Holly and looked over her shoulder at the armored girl. [color=lawngreen]"We need to talk to Torys about this,"[/color] she whispered. Surely Holly had figured out that something was strange with their whole interaction with Ajax.