Chapter 72: Tournament Day 2 (Part 4)

[...God of Light that watches the flock, extend your sight upon those that disrespect your name. Kneel!] - Prince Julias

[I sad ya can ga fook yaself! Ya prick!] - Ophilia

Ophilia was surprised, not about the Prince's racism and superiority complex, that was pretty normal to her given the relatively small impact her religious sect had this far north. No, what surprised her was the strangeness of the Prince fella's power. Ostensibly he used some kind of Light related magic which was more or less heat with extra steps in her experience. But contrary to that expectation not only had it been able to block her flame-fueled punch it was now uniformly pushing down on her with enormous pressure. It almost felt like Gravity magic rather than anything related to light. Distracted by these stray thoughts she felt her knee's begin to buckle from the increased pressure, her defiance only buying her a few seconds longer as she poured Mana into her legs to strengthen them in preparation for another spell.

She was outclassed, she knew it as soon as she felt his first spell. But there was nothing to say that she couldn't at least get a hit the Prince right in his pretentious face before falling.

[God of Fire hed ma call! Ya servant axe fa ya fava, Flame Incarnation!] - Ophilia

[Wha-?!? Bufu!] - Prince Julias

[Thas wha ya geet ya pretentious basta!] - Ophilia

[Rrrrr! How dare you?!? I'll show you how far yo- Huh?] - Prince Julias

[I kep tellen ya can ga fook yaself, ugh...] - Ophilia

She'd done it! Drawing power from Divinity was a dangerous proposition in the best of circumstances, deadly in the worst. And she'd succeeded in becoming a living embodiment of her God. For all of 2 seconds. Finishing her spell Ophilia had immediately burst into intense flames world's beyond those that she could possibly possess on her own. The kind of flames that passed beyond true fire and entered the realms of celestial objects. And it was using this newfound power that she was able to temporarily ignore whatever downward force the Prince had been exerting on her. Using the little time she had remaining her body blow had blown the Human Royal nearly 10 feet back, not super impressive but considering she had also obliterated whatever barrier he had running whilst doing so it was enough.

The Prince, infuriated by this turn of events, was about to put her in her place only to let off a disappointed face towards her as she felt her consciousness fading. Her last words were another insult as her eyesight dimmed. Damn this was gonna hurt when she woke up...

[Phew! I wasn't sure what he was gonna do there for a moment.] - Malaise

[I was about to leap down there and kick his ass myself!] - Karen

[I didn't expect him to just turn around and pretend nothing happened like that honestly...] - Rose

The last fight of the round had ended, with the Dickhead Prince's win and contrary to expectations he seemed perfectly okay with leaving his opponent unscathed despite his nasty personality. For a few moments there after the fight it had seemed like he might take a few potshots at the unconscious Ophilia but after visibly fuming for a few seconds he seemed to regain control of himself before turning to the crowd to wave good-naturedly. But I knew the truth. My eyes, enhanced by the partial activation of my Draconic Origin, caught the nearly imperceptible flash of anger crossing the Prince's face when his opponent collapsed. Even from a distance I could tell he was unhappy that she'd been the one to deal the last blow in spite of losing immediately after. She'd dealt a blow to his pride with that, I could tell.

[I suppose his Royal tutor deserves some praise, his ability to keep his emotions disguised is impressive if nothing else.] - Queen Laura

[Damn his tutor probably deserves a rai- huh?!?] - Rose

[Queen Laura de la Anguis! W-We did not see you enter! U-Umm I hope the day finds you well. May I ask what brings you here?] - Malaise

[You as well, but as for what I came for. It's nothing important but, I just came to see my beloved Niece.] - Queen Laura

[M-Me?!? W-What'd I do?] - Rose

[Ufufufufu, no need to be so tense. It's not like I'm here for a pop quiz or something of the sort. Plus you're performance has been exemplary so if I were here to test you I doubt it would be as stressful as previously.] - Queen Laura

[R-Right... hahahahaha...] - Rose

[Although I've heard your manner's have regressed during your stay under Manic Blade, we may need to... remedy that.] - Queen Laura

Hearing a familiar voice I didn't immediately recognize I instinctively responded as if she had been a part of our discussion the entire time, only to realize a second later who it was. My Aunt, the Queen of Anguis, had just nonchalantly entered our VIP booth and joined our discussion like it was the most natural thing in the world. Malaise, as well as the rest of my group of friends, had never met my Aunt before and were shocked to see such an important individual so suddenly without any prior warning. However it was our resident foxgirl who recovered first, curtsying before going into a traditional greeting then inquiring to her purpose.

Auntie, the situation completely under her control, simply indicated her desire to see me of all people. I mean sure I'd already met with most of my other family members and I WAS close family to her as well but... she scares me a little. Not that I'd use that as an excuse to avoid her! No! It's just, well she's really REALLY intimidating.

No sooner had that thought crossed my mind did she immediately follow up her reassurances with a chilling sentence that sent shivers down my spine. Luckily my mental anguish was interrupted a moment later when Annabelle chimed in, seeming to respond to my distress.

[Queen Laura I apologize for not having tea prepared for you, however I can offer some light juice or snacks?] - Annabelle

[Oh no no, I'd never ask my former party member to wait on me like a stranger. Besides I won't be staying.] - Queen Laura

[Excuse me your Highness I believe it's time.] - Miriam

[Oh so it is. Rose, would you and Annabelle join me for a private conversation. I apologize for stealing my Niece away but we have a... family matter to attend to. I will return her afterwards.] - Queen Laura

[Huh? You're taking Aus-Rose with you? In that case I-] - Karen

[N-No! Think nothing of it Your Royal Highness, we'd be happy to wait on the Lady Amchier's return.] - Malaise

[Good good, well then I believe we will take our leave then. Have a wonderful evening.] - Queen Laura

[Of course Your Royal Highness, I wish you long health.] - Malaise

Shocked at Malaise's abrupt change of personality and momentarily forgetting my ability to speak I found myself dragged along by Annabelle before I could recover. Behind us I could hear Karen getting more and more angry at my abrupt departure and Malaise's insistence that she let me do so. Glancing at the face of Auntie I immediately swallowed my own words of protest, her expression allowed for none of it. Whatever was before us was serious and I found myself following in spite of myself.

[So? Will you tell us what you said earlier?] - Miriam

[R-Right, umm so the Harris faction of Hope's End is kidnapping Demi's. My own group barely escaped from the warehouse we were being held in but an ambush by the City Guard either killed or captured every-everyone except for me. Even Judy she...] - Moon

[And Prince Arlen de la Anguis, how did you come into contact with him?] - Miriam

[Auntie Miri I ca-] - Arlen

[You be quiet! We asked her a question not you.] - Queen Laura

[Well umm... I was, umm... I was running from a group of Guardsmen when Arle- P-Prince Arlen! -pulled me into a building. He saved my life.] - Moon

[Miriam?] - Queen Laura

[She's telling the truth your Highness, no irregularities outside of normal nervousness.] - Miriam

[Phew... I apologize for that but we had to be sure that you weren't hiding something Miss...?] - Queen Laura

[M-Moon.] - Moon

[Right, Miss Moon.] - Queen Laura

[Now see here Mom I-] - Arlen

Arlen was angry, he'd spent nearly 2 days wandering the city after which he nearly dies because of some corrupt guardsmen only to be saved in the nick of time and when he get's back the first thing his mother and Auntie Miriam do is treat the person he fought alongside with suspicion and distrust. And then, when they've finally decided that she was telling the truth he's suddenly pulled into a hug?!?

[I was so worried! My baby boy! Are you okay, are you hurt anywhere?!?] - Queen Laura

[I'm fine Mom, now just le-] - Arlen

[Umm...? So why exactly am I here again?]  - Rose

[Rose?!? Ah! Mom let go! Not in front of-] - Arlen

[Ah?!? Am I embarrassing you? Huh, am I?] - Queen Laura

[Your highness.] - Miriam

[Oh right, ahem! Could you tell us what you heard in the warehouse.] - Queen Laura

Pulled into his mother's bosom he tried to struggle out of her embrace only to fail completely at doing more than slightly wiggling in place. Even after all this time her own strength was far above his own, despite his race advantages. Slightly content to just allow her to dote on him, he HAD nearly died afterall, he suddenly gained a whole lot of incentive to escape her grasp in the form of the love of his life, Rose. Embarrassed and red-faced at the thought his crush had seen him in such a awkward position he attempted to extricate himself with renewed vigor. Unfortunately this had the opposite result however as his Mother, realizing what had just happened, just squeezed him to her breasts even more, a massive smile on her face.

This went on for nearly a minute before Auntie Miriam called attention to the fact that they had an unrelated audience in the form of a shocked and flabbergasted catgirl. Realizing immediately what her bodyguard was referring to his Mother immediately straightened up with a cough before asking for the story he'd given to the troops that rescued them.

[So you heard something about a "fireworks" display during the tournament? And that device?] - Queen Laura

[Perhaps some form of explosive? And you're sure he said he was sent by the Church correct?] - Miriam

[Yes, he clearly mentioned the Church, and as for the first part... I'm guessing they're planning on using their captives in some way...?] - Arlen

[They're kidnapping children?!?] - Rose

[Rose?] - Arlen

[These hu- no, that Prince is kidnapping children!] - Rose

After explaining the events leading up to their rescue Arlen nodded at Auntie Miriam's question, both agreeing with her assumption, as it was the one he'd immediately thought of, as well as reassuring her that she'd heard correctly. It seemed the Church was taking an active role in whatever it was that was going on and he was sure that his Mother and Auntie knew more about this, he'd have to ask them about it later.

Or at least that was the plan, instead he suddenly stiffened up with instinctual terror as a wave of mana blasted him from the side. Turning his head slowly he looked at where his crush was and instead of her lovely image he instead was buffeted by another wave of intense anger-filled mana. The waves of pure malice coming off of her were enough to completely suppress his natural resistance to debuffs. This was Rose? How?!? When had she gotten this much power?!? No no! Focus on the more important things first, like calming down his beloved.

[Rose! Calm down! You're going to kill Moon!] - Annabelle

[I'm gonna- huh? I'm what?] - Rose

[Hah! Hah! W-What just happened?!?] - Moon

[Rose! What was that?!? I'd heard you were having difficulty controlling your mana output but that amount is...!] - Queen Laura

[We'll get those answers later! For now we need to make sure everyone is okay! Moon?] - Arlen

[I-I think so? What was that? It felt like my heart was being squeezed from all sides.] - Moon

[That, young Moon, was mana. To an untrained individual too much mana is like trying to pour more water into a ewer that's already full to bursting. Now, since we've all had a little too much excitement for the evening I'll have Cedric here escort you to the room you'll be staying in for the foreseeable future. We'll discuss your... lost children later.] - Queen Laura

[I'll go with her Mother, it wouldn't be honorable to leave her with a stranger after this.] - Arlen

[...fine. But I expect you back here before long.] - Queen Laura

[Night.] - Rose

[Ah! Not you, we still need to talk about what just happened.] - Queen Laura

[W-We do?!?] - Rose

[Of course we do! Now sit down while Miriam fetches some tea, she's quite good you know?] - Queen Laura