Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was an instant from the cold and wet London night to the sunny climate of whatever alley she was in. Everything was different; the buildings were reminiscent of medieval times, and the silence was filled with laughter, conversations, and life overall. The first thing Vertin did was check where she was. She didn't recognize anything. There were so many people; some seemed to be human, but what surprised her was the quantity of arcanists around. She had never heard of any place with this many arcanists and humans coexisting.

She reached into her pocket to check on the Foundation communication device—nothing, no signal, no messages, nothing.

Vertin looked at her right hand where her suitcase was; she could still feel the flow of arcanum. They were safe.

“This doesn’t make any sense at all,” she muttered. Vertin was certain that she hadn’t felt any arcanum before getting transported here. Looking at the arcanists around her, she didn’t feel any arcane flow at all. It really didn’t make sense. Manus Vindictae was an arcanist extremist group; they would not wish to even see a world like this. She couldn’t let her guard down, not before finding somewhere safe.

She left the alley, reaching what seemed to be a main street of a medieval city. The streets were paved with stone, and there were many merchant booths. It didn’t seem to be an illusion, but she still didn’t know where she was. There were so many different people; even the carriages were different. They used strange giant lizards instead of horses, and these lizards were really fast—one of them nearly stomped her. Wait.

In the middle of the stone street was a human child, in the path of one carriage.

Vertin hastily reached for one of her coat pockets, readying her wand while running toward the child.

“Regna Sereno Intenso ed infinito,” she chanted, using her left hand to write loosely in the air. Vertin wasn’t good with incantations, and using her non-dominant hand didn’t make it easier, but it was enough to halt the lizard for a moment, which she used to grab the child and pull them out of danger.

“Are you hurt?” Vertin questioned the child, who was still a bit scared in front of her. Before the child could respond, everyone around them started to applaud her, and a calm but still rough voice came from behind her.

“Oh, thank you, kid! We will take it from here,” an armored guard said while taking the child. “Come on, we’ll get you to your mom in no time.” The guard left with the child in his arms, and Vertin was left with more questions. She had acted on impulse, saving the child, and when she grabbed them, she was certain they weren’t an arcanist. She was thanked for saving them, making the possibility of this being a Manus Vindictae trap slim. She didn't recive any STORM warnings, making it impossible for this to be a surprise STORM. If she wanted to make sense of anything at all, she needed to get back to the alley where she first found herself.

going back to the alley, she tried to conduct some incantations to discover any clue to why she was here, or how she got here, she didn't find any circles or arcanum residue, on one moment she was in london and in other she was here, the more she investigated less she understood what was happening.

returning to the alley, she attempted to perform incantations, hoping to find a clue as to why she was there or how she'd arrived. She found no circles, nor any trace of arcanum residue. One moment she was in London, the next, she was here. The more she investigated, the less she understood what was happening.

Vertin heard footsteps echoing from the front of the alley. A group of shadows loomed over her, making her look toward the alley opening. Three persons were blocking the front of the alley, arranged in a simple triangle formation. In the middle, closer to her, was a skinny, white-haired man. On his left was a tall and corpulent man, and on the right side of the skinny man was a small guy.

"If you don't wanna get hurt, cough up whatever you've got!" the middle one said while approaching Vertin even more.

"I advise you to no—" Before she could finish, a voice shouted from behind, "Move it, move it! You guys outta my way!" A small blonde girl with red eyes was running at incredible speed. The kid got a quick glance at Vertin and purposefully bumped into her. "Sorry, but not really, live strong!" that girl blurted out in a hurry while jumping over the wall at the alley's end. Vertin quickly recovered from that, glancing over at her right hand. Her suitcase was still there, and she let out a relieved sigh.

"Now, continuing where we left off," the skinny thug said. "It seems you have something good in that thing. Hand it over, or things will get ugly." He was in front of Vertin, who responded by using her left elbow to strike the man's stomach and quickly followed up by grabbing his arm and turning it to make him kneel. Vertin wasn't only an arcanist with physical abilities that exceeded a human; she had training from the Foundation, being able to hold her own against some Manus Vindictae followers. A human thug would be easy to—

Thump

The taller thug punched her in the face, making her a little disoriented and causing her to lose her hat. "This is a three against one," the small one said, kicking her on her pulse, making her lose her grip on the skinny bandit, who immediately gained some distance to get two hidden daggers from his back. Well, it wasn't the first time she'd fought against someone using a knife, but on those times, she didn't have to worry about her suitcase.

"That's enough!"

A firm feminine voice echoed throughout the alley, making all three thugs turn their heads to the speaker. It was a silver-haired girl with pointy ears, skin pale as snow, and purple eyes. She was a bit smaller than Vertin herself and was wearing an elegant, but slightly odd, set of clothing.

"Who the hell are you?!" shouted one of the thugs.

"Stop this now, and I'll let this slide, so just return what you stole," the mysterious girl demanded in a serious tone.

"What we stole?" the other bandit said while tilting his head.

"Now, please. It's important to me. I'll give up on other stuff, but I can't let you have that. Be good and hand it over, please," the lady tried to reason, but it only left the three bandits with more questions.

"Wait, you aren't here to help the kid there?" the last thief pointed to Vertin, whose cheek was bruised but still remained expressionless.

She looked at Vertin. "If you asked if I had a connection with him, I'd have to say no." Vertin looked at the girl a bit in disbelief, while some of her mannerisms and clothing were associated with her opposite gender, most of her friends used it in a joking way, calling her: Sir Vertin. Well, it didn't really matter.

"Then, you have no business with us! If someone stole from you, it might be that brat who just ran by; she also stole the kid," one of the thugs said. Vertin started to check herself; the gemstone on her collar was stolen.

"Oh, they don't seem to be lying. I need to go after her." She walked to the end of the alley, but suddenly stopped and turned around, facing the bandits. "But I can't let this slide either." The girl raised her hand and created a bunch of ice spikes. Vertin felt no arcane flow, but something strange.

"If you mess with us, you will die!" "You think just because you have magic you'll win?!" "It's three against two; we still have the advantage." The three bandits tried to gather courage or intimidate Vertin and the new girl.

"You're right. Three against two may be unfair." She smirked, opening her palm to summon a small, cute cat who started to talk. "You're right, we are now three against three," the cat chirped confidently.

"Y-you're a spirit's art user!" the tall one exclaimed, visibly terrified.

"Correct. Back off, and I won't come after you." The girl tried to act smugly, threatening the trio.

"Next time I see you, you're dead!" the white-haired man threatened back.

"Do anything to her, and I'll hunt you and your kin forever." The small gray cat's voice changed, its jaw becoming more vicious, like a beast. After this threat, the bandits fled the alley.

Vertin softened her stance, lowering her guard slightly.

"Stop, don't move." Vertin hadn't spoken to her yet and wasn't planning to run away; she hadn't even thanked her. "See? You stopped when I said so, it means you're guilty, sir." The girl was acting smug, reminding Vertin of Matilda.

"I th-" "I be-" Both Vertin and the cat started talking at the same time. Vertin, not wanting to be rude, said, "My apologies, please continue."

"Thanks, kid. At least you know your place." Vertin wanted to take back her apologies. "As I was saying, the kid doesn't seem to have malice toward you."

"Be quiet, Puck. You know who stole my insignia, don't you?" she said, approaching Vertin.

"I beg your pardon, but I have no information on who stole your insignia. Although, if the person you were chasing was the thief, I might be able to help." Both the girl and the cat were surprised, the girl seemed to realize Vertin was a girl, or perhaps she was too formal.

"I'm sorry to ask this, but are you a noble?" The girl seemed distressed.

"No, I don't hold any nobility titles." The girl still looked distressed, but less so. "But before we continue, could you answer some questions?" The girl stressed again. Seeing this, the cat positioned itself between Vertin and the girl.

"Of course, although if you hurt my contractor or stall too much, something bad might happen." The cat smiled devilishly; his threats were real, but he didn't sense fear from Vertin.

"Then I'll be brief: Where are we?" Both cat and girl were taken aback.

"Lugnica." "Lu-Lugnica." Both girl and cat answered.

"When are we?" They were even more surprised and confused.

"What do you want me to answer? Present, or a specific date? If I'm not mistaken, it's been a thousand years since Lugnica was founded, give or take a couple of years." the cat answered.

"Do you know any association called Manus Vindictae?" Vertin's expression hardened, she needed to discern any subtle emotion, but she was only met with confusion.

"Now you're just making up words, kid." The cat seemed annoyed.

"Don't worry about it, but could you both take care of this suitcase for a moment? When you hear three knocks, please try to get somewhere without many people." The cat didn't know whether to be annoyed or confused, but before he could question this request, Vertin opened her suitcase and hastily chanted.

"Neirü milde entiü bonan nokton"

Vertin simply jumped inside the suitcase.

it was a swift change of ambiance the medieval theme was replaced by a modern European decoration of a entrance room, soon as Vertin entered the suitcase a feminine voice echoed form the other end of the room.

"timekepper!" the origin of the voice was a 1,60 (5"3) meters tall, orange-hair Italian girl, Sonetto "what is happening outside Madam Lucy said we lost communication with the foundation"

"I am afraid i will not be able to answer that completely, where are the others?" Vertin said that while walking towards Sonneto.

"most of them are trying to help madam Lucy and madam Simone, the only ones free right now ar-" before Sonneto, before she was able to finish another female voice announced their presence.

"Master, what did happen, are you hurt?" the owner of the voice was a another girl a bit taller than Sonetto, black-hair with a pair of green cuved horns, and a scally tail, anjo nala, behind her a blonde girl with sunglasses and wearing a red jacked, Regulus.

"don't worry Nala i'm not really hurt" Vertin said that while having a visible bruise on her cheek "i have other matter to discuss here"

the three resident turned their total attention to Vertin.

"i'll not be able to fully explain, but it seems i was to somewhere out foundation reach, but this isn't all..." Vertin tried her best to explain and describe the place they where now, explicitly pointing some key details like how some persons seem to be arcanist but didn't seem to use arcanum at all, or the strange girl and cat, apparently named puck, using "magic" without any arcane skill or incantation, and the last point which was the girl who needed help to retrieve something  stolen by the same person that stole vertin collar gem.

"hmmm!" the first to make a sound was Regulus " i already seen enough comic-books to know what is happening" the three other girls looked at her.

"we have been transported to a parallel earth" the three girls where now a bit deadpanned (i vertin case she was with her default expression) " think with me  a parallel world without the foundation where he world reverted back to the medieval times creating bloody horrible a present without Dr.Pepper or rock music" she said that while a single tear ran trough her cheek.

"although highly improbable i can't say to discard this possibility" said sonetto "i would like to outside conduct some test to see if those two really didn't use arcanum, but it would be better to secure information first"

"and i would like to help them, the object really seems to be important to them" added vertin "the best thing would be split, Sonetto please explain this to everyone and regulus stay here for backup, Nala can i ask you to help finding the thief".

"of course master" "i'll call Mr.APPle, with him this pirate is invencible" "Yes ms.Timekeper"[...]

Chapter Text

Outside of the suitcase Emilia was Baffled, that person simply jumped inside it as if it was a well, she and Puck looked inside of the said suitcase and there was nothing but some clothes, papers and a lot of candy? she tried to not look further, but puck was not having that, he practically threw everything out of the suitcase in annoyance, while Emilia was trying to take every thrown clothe in the air.

"Puck why you are making a mess?!" Emilia yelled a bit, unfortunately attracting some attention to her.

"Miss Emilia?" a voice called her from the start of the alley.

Emilia and puck immediately recognized the voice of the sword saint, Emilia turned to the young man making a small bow.

"Sword Saint! i-im so- um" Emilia fumbled her greeting, sensing he caused some distress he cut to the case.

"i'm sorry miss Emilia but it seems like you need some assistance" while he pointed to the clothes on Emilia's arms.

" ah no! don't worry i can solve this, ah and i would hate to interrupt your duties as a knight" Emilia was extremely nervous, this wasn't her suitcase how she would explain someone simply disappearing inside a suitcase, moreover imagine if he discovers that she lost her insignia, she would be immediately out of the royal election if she can't take care of a insignia how she would take care of a country.

"oh don't worry i'm on my day off, and if it is just to help a lady to organize her suitcase, i don't think it would be a hassle" Emilia is surprised by her luck if he thinks it is just that she can recover her insignia and no one will notice, now she just have to make sure to not involve that person and everything will go well.

Reinhard swiftly organized the suitcase with the finesse only he could achieve after that he walked out the alley allowing Emilia and Puck their freedom.

Immediately after Reinhard left Emilia started pouting, Puck sensed a chill on his spine he knew he had to do some explanations.

"i'm sorry Lia, but it res-" puck was interrupted by a sound coming from the suitcase.

*thud *thud *thud

"oh it seems that person is back" puck used the chance to change subject, it would be easier than apologizing.

both of them opened the the suit case which a hand emerged from it.

in an instant that grey haired person was out of the suitcase but she turned to the and another person was exiting the suitcase she had a white dress, fine green gloves, a black hair and pink eyes (anjo nala default skin) both of them turned to Emilia and puck.

"i must apologize for my hastiness i had to deal with urgent matters" that person extended their right hand "i'm Vertin" Emilia would accept the handshake but puck intercepted putting his paw on Vertin hand.

"i'm the great spirit of fire puck" to Puck and Emilia surprise Vertin expression remained unchanged, Puck turned his face to the new person from inside the suitcase "and her? i don't get good a felling from her" upon hearing this the woman coiled a little and got behind Vertin

"i'm sorry this is my friend" her voice got a little more firm "her name is Anjo Nala, she can assist us on tracking the thief who stole our items, it is the least i can do for someone who helped me in a time of urgency"

"And how exactly your friend will help?" Puck asked while crossing his arms

Anjo a bit nervous said "i have a good sense of se-tracking, i'm good at hu-finding things"

"she is already far from here you'll probably pick nothing" puck started talking in hopes they go away his daughter would be sad if they got hurt even if he didn't care 

"i picked something" she was trembling a bit "you both just have to follow me" puck sensed something as if she was holding something.

"you two can go a bit behind i need to talk if my friend a bit ?" Vertin asked puck and Emilia assented with their heads

Vertin knew Anjo was uncomfortable.

So while they started walking they distanced a bit from those two 

"Anjo? are you okay with this ?" vertin asked in a worried tone

"oh me of course i'm okay maste-"

"Anjo, please don't lie"

"..." Anjo continued walking always near the wall so those two behind them don't get lost, "i'm sorry it is just ..".

"oh do you want to call someone else" she said quieter "i can call Druvis or Sonetto i'm sure there is some incantation that i did't remember that could track persons" Vertin tried to ask.

"ah there is no need i-i can do it, i want to help you Vertin and i want to help aand we aren't going there to... finish the thief just get what that lady lost" Ano gave a weak smile "i guess i'm just nervous" she began to whisper "well you said they don't seem to have arcanists here we can't leave a bad first impression" Vertin was still worried about her friend, but at least she knew that Anjo was mostly anxious and wanted to be a good person different from her.

Puck wasn't having any of that.

he listened the entire thing, well except the last part he could only get some words from the lady in white.

it reaally seemed sketchy the woman nearly called the other master, and the kid said another two names how many humans where inside that suitcase! and arcanist? was this another word for mage or spirit art users but the strangest thing was their gates or to be more specific the absence of the gate when he accepted that handshake he felt

didn't seem like a broken gate the kid just didn't have one and that kid was totally fine and even used a strange magic awfully similar to Betty door everything about them was strange, better impossible no one should be able to even walk without a gate not only that that kid didn't express anything you would expect fear, respect or even disrespect from fools have upon seeing his cute form, but she just accepted without any expression! and no i'm not annoyed from being ignored.

 he got near Emilia, they where entering the slums now.

that girl was capable of in the slums with ease, but her movement was a bit strange as if she was restricting herself, the worst thing was that puck didn't have much time to spare a half hour at max.

the black haired girl started to walk faster.

Vertin turned her face to Anjo, she was distressed, they did't really talk after Anjo accelerated her pace, something wasn't right. 

they where now in front of a shabby wooden house, a sound of a impact hitting the ground followed by an desperate scream.

"ROM!" Vertin did't lose time she kicked the door open, revealing a scene of battle on what seems to be a shop, next to the counter a humanoid figure with giant arms welding a club while holding his bleeding throat, next to him a little blonde girl holding a knife she was the thief who stole them, on the opposite side an woman with black hair and revealing clothes holding a knife in each hand.

It was a split second the woman with knifes threw one of them at vertin, but she was pushed out of the way by Anjo who got stabbed on the right side of her abdomen, the silver haired girl was paralyzed for a second, while puck was waiting to her to make a move, but she rushed inside once she found her resolve, Anjo was on top of Vertin she was still bleeding, but was still conscious and alive due her nature.

the fight would restart in seconds they didn't have time, Vertin would have to do this, she used her arcane skill to give instructions to Nala.

"are you certain?" her eyes showed anjo fear of hurting someone she considers a friend, but Vertin knew she had to do this taking her hand.

anjo got up with vertin by her side.

"oh! so many new guts~~" a seductive voice came from the woman " allow me to reintroduce myself i'm Elsa the bowel hunte-" The silver haired girl launched an ice spike, but the assassin dogged effortlessly.

"puck stall her for some time" puck readied at the order, while the girl started to look around frenetically, it was easy to understand her dilemma, she did't know who to help the woman who helped her or the unknown person dying, but they could help themselfs.

"GO HELP HIM!" vertin shouted while taking her suitcase and opening, the she threw the suitcase behind the counter, she and a wounded anjo stood between the bowel hunter and the girl "STAY BEHIND US"

"WHAT NO I CAN FIGHT" the blonde kid protested, but elsa didn't stop her attack, taking an opening to stab the blonde kid, but she was stopped by Anjo who used one of her claws to make an deep cut on the bowel hunter face.

"oh my~~" she jumped backwards "it has been quite some time since i disemboweled an demi-human" her wound regenerated only leaving a small blood stain on her cheek

The cat puck seemed exhausted nearly translucent, the silver haired girl was focused on healing the wounded man, the kid wasn't a fighter, Vertin felt the wight of her gamble, Anjo Bounded with her to use her acranum to her full potential, but she felt the change of arcane energy on the air.

"Wait, I have to hide the records first! APPLe." an energetic voice came from behind the counter, Regulus.

"i fear we don't have much time captain" another voice came form the same place this time much more calm, Mr APPLe.

"oh~~ it seems this party is getting crowded" Elsa changed her stance getting ready to attack the wounded man, Vertin used her skill again coordinating Regulus to attack while making Anjo momentarily close her eyes.

"Lights!" Regulus made an appearance and at the same time created a blinding illusion in front of Elsa, who counter-attacked Regulus throwing her knife at her direction " oh oh oh! mate chill " Regulus was able to get down fast enough to not have a knife between her eyes, her beret didn't had the same luck.

Vertin used her skill again making anjo attack again while Elsa was blinded, Anjo got in close combat with Elsa using her claws to make a fast barrage of cuts, even with that Elsa regeneration kept her in the fight and got her enough time to recover from the flash bang, grabbing her knife from anjo abdomen, she turned the knife inside Nala body and used it to try stabbing her thigh two times debilitating her a little.

"ANJO" Vertin screamed, while using her arcane skill again anjo had accumulated enough energy, but she still needed an opening, Regulus used her arcane skill this time conjuring an music system putting one of her records on it the entire house was filled by the rock music, but Elsa seemed to get a way more affected by it her ears where bleeding, she looked directly at Regulus.

"WHAT CAN'T HANDLE THE VOLUME!" Regulus was smiling, Elsa prepared to throw ther knife again but didn't had time to do it her the relentless barrage of cuts didn't get any slower since it started, looking at her aggressor Elsa saw a wicked smile more akin to her than one of her victims

"are you certain that you are on the right side" Elsa tried to discomfort her or make an opening, but Anjo didn't seem to mind the comparison at least not in the heat of the battle.

Vertin got down, her eyelids got heavy, her vision was hazy, she used her last strength to to accumulate more arcanum for Anjo, this would be a gamble.

Vertin has fallen asleep.

Anjo Nala was in a contradicting ecstasy, Vertin has fallen asleep.

Anjo knew this would get some of the vitality of her friend, but it didn't ease her hunger.

She rushed to get near of vertin, leaving Regulus exposed for a second Elsa tried to attack her only to get thrown away by an wind barrage from Mr. APPLe, Anjo connected with vertin being able to touch her dreams and started to discretely eat them, sapping her vitality.

"sweet dreams" Anjo whispered

From Elsa point of view, it must have seem that after Vertin has fallen Anjo rushed to make sure Vertin was okay, taking this chance to attack them, but this was perfect, anjo jumped at her cutting her multiple times, she felt her body starting to change, but once she looked behind her she saw the blonde kid giving her a scared look, immediately losing her ecstasy and slowing her attack, and Elsa used this to kick anjo off her clothes where thorn in the abdomen by anjo attack and she had a hateful glare on her eyes.

Vertin was out, Anjo was wounded along with the man that had his throat slit, The silver haired girl was making sure that the wounded man didn't die, that cat was nearly disappearing staying near the silver haired girl (he would only protect her), Regulus and APPLe where the only ones who could fight at their max potential, but without vertin, timing their skill one wrong blind from Regulus could mean death, all Anjo could do was buy a bit of time until Vertin hopefully wake up

Mr APPLe floated near Emilia "Miss this APPLe can take from here please try to run away from here"

she and puck looked at the apple perplexed, but quickly demised this felling, to focus on the battle "don't worry i can help at the fight, you can help him right?"

"I'm positive that i can keep him alive" upon hearing this from the floating fruit, she created some ice spikes shooting them at Elsa each time she got far from Anjo.

on the other side of the room Regulus got near the blonde kid

"Hey little lass get away from here, a kiddo like you won't help to much in this situation" Regulus said while jumping the counter.

"What you want me to tuck my tail and run, and i'm not a kid i'm fifteen!" the kid was taken out of her stupor from the sudden display of violence

"In the bloody hell you are fifteen, i don't care i'm taller i give the orders around" Regulus saw a bit of herself on the blond kid, it was uncanny

"wha-" she was about to try to retort an answer.

But suddenly one presence pass the door of the wooden house, a red haired man in neatly white clothes. 

"it seems i got in here at a the right time" the red haired man said

"Reinhard!" the silver haired girl got a boon of hope in her voice

"Black hair, Black clothes, and a blade unique to the northern provinces. there is no mistaking those characteristics. you are the Bowel hunter." 

"what in the bloody hell of nickname is that" Regulus asked

"It was because of her unique killing sty-" 

"no no! it is alright i regret asking" Regulus interrupted the man

"now Elsa the bowel hunter, i suggest you surrender" Reinhard voice was more firm

"you expect me to surrender when there is so much interesting prey around~~" her visage was bloody from wounds dealt by Anjo and the Silver haired Girl.

"lady please back out a bit, i will deal with her" Anjo backed out and instantly Reihard took her place

Anjo got near Vertin in case something happen to her.

Mr.APPLe already finished on stabilizing the man.

"reinhard! now" the silver haired girl screamed, in one attack Reinhard destroyed the shack, leaving everyone out in the open.

"what the hell was that!" regulus was agape while trying to rationalize what did happen.

Once Vertin woke up she was meet with the night sky.

Looking around she saw everyone that was in the wooden shop, except for the assassin and the cat, she stood up Anjo and Regulus quickly got to her sides helping her to stand up, Anjo Skill was really taxing.

"everything worked out? and who destroyed the wooden house?" Vertin asked 

"W-well" Anjo started to talk, she was a bit guilty since Vertin gamble could have worked if she didn't stop.

"Everyone is alive sooo" Regulus interrupted Anjo "i count that as a win, hip hip Horray!"

Vertin was looking a touching scene, the thief girl was crying while hugging the giant man, at heir side the silver haired girl was talking with a red hair guy, at the side Mr.APPLe was carrying her suitcase.

once she stood up the silver haired girl rushed to her

" thank you, mi-Sir Vertin, if wasn't for your assistance i don't know if i could survive this, and help those two" The silver haired girl thanked her. (Regulus was holding her laughter it seemed the girl really couldn't tell if Vertin was a girl or a boy, Vertin really didn't care about it to correct the silver haired but the confusion was funny nonetheless) 

"Please don't worry about it i was repaying a debt, and this might be rude but if i'm not mistaken you didn't gave us your name" Upon hearing this The silver haired girl face blushed with embarrassment.

"i'm sorry you don't need to reveal your name if you don't want" Vertin expression Showed a lot of distress, she really asked something rude? why social interactions where so hard sometimes, she was just asking for her name! Regulus couldn't hold anymore her laughter filled the sound of night, while Anjo giggling whispered at Vertin ear.

"Master you reaally tactless sometimes" the laughter made Vertin blush a bit.

"By the way did the kid return your stolen item" Vertin tried to change the subject

"not yet, i did't want to interrupt" Regulus laughter resumed a bit

"OI ! KID" The blonde kid looked at Regulus "don't you have something to say to the lass over here"

"I already said i'm not a kid, my name is Felt and i already said i'm fifteen! you hag" She said that while approaching them (which made vertin confused Regulus was also fifteen) upon getting near the group she looked directly at the red haired guy.

"don't worry i'm on my off day, i don't need to report today" oh he was an officer?

"here it is for you" She took a blue jewel and gave to Vertin "sorry i though you where a stuck up noble, but you are kinda cool for helping us back there", she got near the silver haired girl taking an insignia with an glowing symbol.

the red haried guy put his hand on her arms "Wait! You said your age was fifteen right?"

Felt nodded, the red haired guy stared to carry her as a potato sack.

"OI ! Hold on you walking bomb" Regulus tried to stop him making a flash of light in front of his eyes, it was ineffective on causing damage but it made him stop for a second.

"Oh i apologize, but this really is an important matter, and i swear that it isn't for her harm, that insignia only emit light for certain important people, i need to take her somewhere safe" Felt was still kicking him but it wasn't even enough to make him flinch.

"he is speaking the truth" the silver haired girl said, Regulus picked the insignia it didn't emit any light.

"ugh ... At least you can take that guy over there, waking up in a pile of rubbish isn't the best view" Regulus had given up on understanding what strange world where pieces of stone said if you where important, the red haired guy bowed to them before taking the old man in one of his arms an flying off.

some moments of awkward silence passed until the silver hired talked

"Emilia..." she said but her voice was barely audible

"what?" 

"you asked my name, my name is Emilia just Emilia" 

"oh, that is a beautiful name" she said while smiling.

"ah! where are you four going after this?" Emilia blushed a bit 

"we don't know yet" Vertin needed to rest she would probably find an tree or an hidden spot to hide her suitcase an then get inside to sleep.

"oh i think i can help with that, i'm getting back to the place i'm living, i don't think it would mind some guests, and it would be a good way to repay you four"

"ah there is no need you al-" before Vertin could refuse Regulus interrupted

"that would be great" Regulus turned back to vertin whispering "i know you don't wanna cause trouble but i don't want to get woken up by a critter in the middle of the night again"

Vertin looked at Anjo who seemed to be pouting "I think you should stop to hang out with miss Tennant master, she is a bad influence"

Vertin got confused while Regulus was laughing really hard.

But the light moment was cut short, Vertin noticed a small metallic glint in the distance behind Emilia, it was a knife (cut short he he) it was thrown at Emilia's direction, Vertin in a desperate action pushed Emilia to the side getting a knife deep inside her abdomen, her constitution normally would be able to shrug it off but she was tried from Anjo feeding on her, she was able to keep her consciousness for a few second before blacking out.

Continue...