"Is there anything you can find? I refuse to believe that he just became stronger like that!" I demand to know, clicking my fingers at the end.

"I'm sorry, Grand-Guard Inerish, but all the data just shows Prisoner Nin suddenly wrenching his magic back."

"Then explain why he is not using it here, or here!" I nearly scream as this was perhaps the biggest issue in my career so far. We had reports of Smiling Jhurack's laughter, yet no sightings of him... What we did get, however, was sightings of Nin near several groups of injured soldiers and guardsmen! It wasn't making any sense at all...

I just could not understand what was going on nor how someone could look at this and blame me! I was even watching recordings of him suddenly gaining injuries out of nowhere! Why would he harm himself? The answer was that he didn't!

Not that those who wanted to see me publically humiliated would believe that...

"Inerish-"

"It's Grand-Guard!" I corrected furiously before I turned around to meet this disrespectful individual. Only to be shocked and slightly scared at the amassed soldiers. With the lead one holding a pair of magic-suppressing cuffs...

"Not anymore." the Stroke of High Noon said as he walked into my command centre. A largely unexpressive but still furious expression on his face.

"YOU CAN'T ARREST ME FOR THIS! WE HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED THE AFTER-ACTION REPORT!" I shout at him before several soldiers move to restrain me. The target of my anger, however, did not react to my advance.

"And give you an opportunity to cover up the fact you threatened a coup de tat? To cover up that you let an osibindah run rampant through the streets of this city!?"

"WHY YOU-" I start to shout before a rifle butt slams against my face. It in turn made my anger focus on that soldier. And I spat blood at him.

"Take her away to the cells with that damn bug of hers." he snorts before they effortlessly move me out of my command centre.

"LET GO OF ME! THIS IS AN ORDER! THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO DO THIS!" I scream at them before I realise that I did not have that device Galanmarck gave me.

"And someone get me a direct line to that prince! I want him to get these soldiers out of my city!" he ordered before the closing door took him out of my sight. Eventually, as well, it started to turn colder and darker. The lights took on a different appearance to mark their region and I was soo cast away into a cell.

Yet, all I did was spit at them before they left, "When I get out of here..." I growl as I got up. Sneering at the cell door before I looked on over at the cell in front of me. I could hear chittering coming from it. Then, I heard laughter and sudden thuds.

"Oh, now this won't do!" someone exclaimed before they arrived at my cell door. Yet, before they even got there, Nin began to violently smash at his door. He somehow even broke it down, with it flying at mine before he roared.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" were the words that came out of him.

"Not like that you won't, Dance Partner." Smiling Jhurack chastises before my own door was suddenly blown in.

"What do you want!?" I asked him as Nin helplessly wailed on the immovable killer.

He smiles at me before answering, "See, I just wanted to have some fun. Overheard your plan, and decided to mess with it. But, I wasn't quite expecting this response- Shut up!" he started to answer before he slapped Nin away towards the wall. He did not get up after that blow...

"And you are here because...?" I growled in questioning before he sliced off my cuffs. And the moment that happened, my magic sword appeared and I swung it. Grinding my teeth as his physical blade somehow held back one made of fiery shadow.

"Because I am here to put on a performance! My partner needs time to learn, but the critics won't let me finish!"

"Whatever you'r-"

"Planning? You'll stop me?" he asked with an infuriating cackle, "I stopped your plan with but a bit of misdirection, you won't stop mine the same way!"

"I'm not helping you!" I tell him.

"Oh," he starts off with before he looks back at Nin as he suddenly stirs, "but you are!" he exclaims before a bandaged fist suddenly comes at me.

"WAIT!" I scream at Nin after recovering from the throw that punch put me through.

"WHERE DID HE GO!?" Nin roars in question before I am suddenly pinned against the wall. One hand around my neck with unexplained strength. Somehow, his magic was coming through but mine wasn't! The cuffs were off! I still had the equipment to keep my magic!

"G-Get..." I struggled to get out to the growling beast before he just dropped me. I panted and coughed after I hit the floor. I needed water desperately, but there was none to be had...

"Where are you...?" Nin growled before he walked out of the prisoner block. And, knowing what would happen if he continued this act, I chased after him.

"NIN! WAIT! STOP!" I yelled as the narrow halls suddenly lit up with raw magic. And each time it did, I dropped down or rolled down into another hallway. Even these blasts would be dangerous with my inexplicit loss of magic...

"JHURACK!" he howls before the sound of slicing metal fills my ears.

"Oh no..." I exclaim as I start to fear the worst. Yet, when I reached the area I heard it, I only saw destroyed guns and knocked-out men.

"Dance Partner, stage is this way!" Jhurack chuckles before Nin makes a run for it after him. Before catching up to them, however. I check each man I found on the ground. I made sure they were okay before I went after the pair.

Coming to a stop at the command centre as alarms blared about the building. Jhurack must've gone into there as Nin was lashing out at the security doors. The halls boomed as if a thunderstorm had moved inside the building. And its lightning looked like fire!

"OPEN FIRE!" an amassing of guards screamed before they started to shoot at Nin and me by extension. However, Jhurack suddenly appeared with a smirk and deflected each shot or destroyed it. And all I had to do was blink before each of those guards was suddenly on the ground. By instinct as well, I leapt back at the walls.

"You can come out, he thinks I am in there!" he loudly and clearly says with no reaction from Nin.

"What the..." I let out as I slowly got up. How could Nin not see him...?

"That door will come down soon, see, I'm juicing my Dance Partner here up a bit. Yet, I don't have enough to spare, so, you'll need to take the lead role!" Jhurack laughs before a thunderous crash and a dozen screams filled my ears. And, at the drop of a hat, Nin suddenly collapsed and his magic was drained once again.

"ARREST HER!" the Stroke of High Noon screams furiously as he moves out of his cover. However, none of the soldiers obeyed him and the room filled with their suddenly sliced-up weapons.

"Smiling Jhurack knew! He knew about the plan, Stroke of High Noon!" I start off with as I march forward to profess my innocence. Regardless of how Jhurack might've set it up, I would not be tried because of lies! Because someone wanted me to be in a cell for failures out of my control!

"I said... ARREST HER!" he roared without so much as registering what I had said!

"Sit him down!" I bark before one of the men actually followed my orders.

"Let g-"

I grab him by the mouth, "Now you listen here! Can you not see how far Smiling Jhurack's influence is? You just saw how he gave magic to Nin somehow and took it away! You saw how he made a complete mockery of our security! So you pay attention and you do it well!"

"H-How is Smiling Jhurack here...?" one of my control room technicians asks before Smiling Jhurack suddenly appeared behind him. Yet, despite others looking that way, only I saw him. And he was smiling and wheeling his free hand about.

"I don't know, but however he is doing it, it is the same way our plan was ruined! He did not let you see him, but he could!" I tell them, gesturing to my soldiers at first before kicking Nin's limp body in frustration.

Then, suddenly, dramatic clapping, "Oh, marvelous. Now, let me cap it all off-"

He started to say before I swung my sword at him once again. And, like last time, he blocked it with his own and smiled at me. He even winked at me mockingly before he suddenly phased past my sword. However, what hit me was a cane.

So I stumbled back with a mixture of confusion and terror in my eyes...

"As I was saying, I am going to cap this affair off! I want you to look around people! Mostly at this man right here!" he exclaims before he starts to harshly jab at Nin's limp body.

"FIRE!" a distorted voice said before an armed man suddenly appeared. He was then in turn slapped down with such force that his helmet broke.

"I want you to put your faith in Nin here, just like your Grand-Guard did when she got real desperate. I want you to guide him like I will. I want you to be real nice to him! And, as a sign of good faith, I'll even let you move that girl of his! Put her in a real nice place!" he cackled before he suddenly vanished.

And I quickly moved into action, "GET THE WOUNDED OUT OF HERE! I WANT THIS BUILDING LOCKED DOWN!" I roared at them all before I grabbed the Union device. I did not whistle into it like I should have, instead, I blew into it like a war horn. Those Union soldiers would help us lock this building down... We'd become more impregnable than the Lunar's Reach Palace itself!

Then, during a very brief moment of reprieve, I looked down at Nin. I stared intently at him before I stopped some men from restraining him. I tried to think of something, but, I was too pressured to do it. So I shook my head and headed to where I needed to be.

I would sort it out later.

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"Why am I here?" I asked the men and women assembled before me. Looking at that dark-skinned woman briefly before I rubbed my head. Something had harshly struck me there several times recently. And I had a killer headache right now...

"Vigilante Nin, by request of an unlikely man, you are hereby ordered to work with us." one of these men said. And I did not like how he worded that at all. I swear... If they said that man was him...

"This same individual has also made it clear that Student Larishazza is to be relocated to a location of your choice. However, we shall not be accommodating her in the slightest. That responsibility falls to you..." one of them callously said. It angered me that they would talk about Lari that way. Yet, I was fine with it. I knew where I could get money to keep her well looked after...

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"That is the daughter of an Ibeneroccian noble!" one of them hissed before they were dismissed.

"We expect results... Nin..." they spat before they stormed off. I stared at the door he left through before I looked down. I know it wasn't much, but I could finally get Lari out of that hospital! I could finally see her in person and not through a window!

"When can I do this?" I immediately asked the dark-skinned woman as she grinded her teeth at the door I was just looking at.

"Whenever you want." she snorts before she straightens herself out.

"Now, then." I say with a stomp of my foot. She then looks at me with an exhausted expression.

"It can wait until the orbital-halo makes the rounds again." she yawns before she leaves as well.

"Tch." I let out before I move to leave as well. If I did not have anyone to prove it, then they would not let me do it... Yet, I tried not to dwell on that. I just tried to be happy with the fact I was able to move her...

At least, until I started to think on it some more... And, as if it was on queue, that laughter filled my ears.

"You..." I growled as that smirking bastard slowly walked out from the shadows of this alleyway I was suddenly in.

"Like the present?" he mockingly asked before I lashed out at him. Only to be smacked away and beaten to the ground.

"Just a bit closer..." I warned as he stopped attacking me. Like when I ran away before, however, I lost the drive to go after him. It was all becoming clear to me once again that this was a hopeless affair.

"Now, I want you to pay close attention, Dance Partner. This is going to be a very, very strenuous relationship. I need to demand perfection from you, you hear?"

"Eat shit." I spit after removing my mask.

"Yes! That's it! Keep that fire burning inside of you! And, who knows, maybe your girl might just wake up again!" he tells me before he vanishes in but a blink. I snort angrily at him before I slowly move towards the nearest city gate. He did not come out of the city, so I could have a peaceful night out there. And I hated to admit it, but this once, I was thankful.

And only because wherever he took me was near a gate that I could just walk right out of. Yet, I did not make it far beyond the city. And I collapsed into the dirt. Sighing in exhaustion as I looked out at the many blades before me.

"I will save you, Lari... Just wait for me... Wait, please..." I begged her before my eyes started to close.

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.

.

"V-Vadei...?" I asked as my friend suddenly jumped to her feet and started sniffing the wind.

"It's him... IT'S HIM!" she exclaimed to my confusion at first.

"WHERE!?" I screamed as I got up to my feet too. Quite happily, I abandoned my stuff so I could chase after her as we ran against the breeze. Eventually, we came across a dark figure that stood out amongst the green grass and brass city walls.

"NIN!" we screamed in unison before we ran into our slowly rising friend. At first, I felt like weeping out of sheer joy for the fact he was alive. But the callous way he disregarded us when he stood up reminded me of why I felt the way I did when he disappeared.

"H-Hey! Wait!" Vadei complained as we followed him into the city. To our surprise as well, the guards just let him walk by... There was no way they weren't aware of who he was.

"Nin, hold on!" I demanded as I stepped in front of him. Using what strength I had to keep him still. A sensation of nervousness even filled me as I initially grabbed still open wounds.

"Get out of my way..." he spat and growled before he started to push against me.

"No! You're in no condition to go anywhere! We have to let everyone know that you-"

"Everyone? What everyone? The same everyone that was content to leave Lari to die!?" he hissed before he started to force himself against me. And while he did not overpower me, I let go all the same. Uncomfortable with trying to restrain such an injured body.

"Let's just follow him for now..." Vadei whispers uncertainly into my ear before I nod slowly. My throat had started to hurt for some reason too. It felt swollen and my chest was starting to ache as we followed Nin. And, circumstances repeated themselves as well.

Because the guards were still not paying any attention to him. At least, not in the way we thought they might. Eventually, we started to walk a familiar street. And then, a familiar building.

"The hospital..." I uttered as we turned the corner. And, I panicked once I saw the group of soldiers in front of the building. I rushed to get Nin out of the way, but he turned towards me and struck at the air. It made me freeze up in shock.

"Stop getting in my way!" he growls before he slowly continues his journey. Some doctors even came out and guided him into the building once he got close enough.

"What's going on..." Vadei whined in confusion before an airship moved into the widest part of the street. And, out came a dark-skinned woman with reddish-purple hair that was dark in some areas and light in others. She noticed us quickly and then approached. I tried to straighten myself out, but I could not get over what Nin had tried to do...

He had tried to hurt me...

"And you two are?" the woman asked as she crossed her arms. Whatever was going on at the hospital even carried on without her.

"We're students at Suhurlodst, friends of Nin's..." Vadei answers as her hairs start to stand up at the sight of the woman. Yet, I felt like that was an incorrect assessment. Then I felt it, she could still use her magic freely while we could not... It was a terrifying feeling to experience.

"Hm, then you know the girl inside the hospital?"

"Y-Yes, she's our friend, Larishazza, her sister also goes to Suhurlodst."

"Right, I will need you to come with me then." this woman says before that airship that had left so soon shot right back down. The woman got on and I felt like we needed to as well. But neither of us moved until she made an impatient gesture.

"What's going on?" I decided to ask once we were in the air. I wanted to be down there with Nin to make sure he was okay. But it was clear this was now a far grander issue than just Nin chasing a killer...

"Your friend, by request of a vile creature, is not working for the city. A condition was made during these recent events, Larishazza Sl'Ayiysab is to be moved to a location of his choosing. But, as you know her sister, you can get me a direct line to the father of Larishazza... Lord Sl'Ayiysab." the woman explains with a stern expression. I looked at Vadei briefly, but, I tried to maintain eye contact with this woman.

"Wh... What does that mean?" I struggle to ask, flabbergasted by the reality of it all.

"Nin will now be routinely working with me to hunt down Smiling Jhurack. By that madman's own request." she explains, a dissatisfied scoff coming out of her at the end.

"No! Nin can't do that!" I nearly scream as I start to recall how he looked just now and how he did the last time we saw him. He walked up to the dorm covered in his own blood... He left a trail directly to our dorm...

"Your wishes are irrelevant in this situation. All you two shall be doing is taking me to Tiyanat Sl'Ayiysab." the woman explains as she rises in contrast to the aircraft's descent.

"He's our friend! We should have a right in this!" I tell her firmly as I rise up to meet her gaze. A rising fury deep inside of me.

"Did he not just try to attack you to get you away from him?" she recounts with a dismissive glance while I stood back in shock.

"Y-You... Don't act like you understand..." I try to say before she sharply turns towards me.

"I don't know it all, no. But I can see quite clearly that Nin has been backed into a corner. And Smiling Jhurack has been quite happy to take advantage of that." she accused just before she got off the airship. With a sneer, I followed and quickly gained the lead. Yet, I could not muster the strength to be rude as we moved into the dorm.

"Guests?" Omb started to say happily before he went quiet upon seeing the woman. Strangely, he seemed to show reverence for this woman as she went past him.

"Tiyanat, someone is here for you." I say after knocking on her door. Yet, without a moments hesitation, the woman opened the door herself.

"Student Tiyanat. I am here to speak to your father." she declared, spooking my friend before I even had the chance to step in.

"Don't just barge in like thi-" I started to complain before a gloved hand raised its open palm before me.

"For the sake of this country's security, I need you to do this." the woman elaborated as I backed away with my wounded pride. I know I really should not be focusing on this. But this woman has been nothing but provocative!

"R-Right..." Tiyanat says as she put down what she was reading before she nervously turned on something. It took a few minutes to turn on, but, when it did, she was furiously working away at it. A face then appeared. An aged man with bright blue hair...

"Ti- Tiyanat... Is something wrong?" her father asked before he noticed the uniformed woman. His expression then changed from concern to pure malice.

This woman, however, paid it no mind and performed a courteous bow, "Lord Sl'Ayiysab, I am here to speak to you about your other daughter, Larishazza."

His expression then relaxed, "Well?" he asked with a glare.

"The man who attacked her, Smiling Jhurack, has put forward some conditions regarding her safety."

"I reject them all." he quickly answers.

"Not those kind of conditions, Lord Sl'Ayiysab, he has made it clear he will not interfere with her transfer to a new place. However, it is all tied to a friend of hers, a Nin Urtuan."

"Right..." he slowly lets out before he seemingly seems to rack his brain for information.

"Dad, it's the special friend she told you a lot about..." Tiyanat quietly clarifies for him.

"I remember, thank you, Tiyanat. Well?"

"For some reason, Smiling Jhurack has taken an interest in him. We have come to understand it is because he wants to establish some kind of rivalry with him."

Tiyanat's father looks at his daughter, "I suppose there is no time but the present... Tiyanat, if I trust your friend to save your sister, would you be more at ease?" he asks her.

Tiyanat then starts to cry as she nods relentlessly, "Y-Yes... Please just keep your soldiers away... No more Worm Riders or..."

"Of course, Ti-Ti." he cooed before he briefly smiles at her.

"Well, that helps my situation." the woman comments under her breath before she sighs in relief.

"Is there a way to keep in contact with this Nin, then?" he asks.

"We can raise the idea to him... But, Smiling Jhurack has made a relentless mind with his actions."

"All the better then. He will understand my intentions perfectly." Tiyanat's father says before he nods quickly and sharply.

"And, as you are the father, is there any involvement at all you want with your daughter's relocation? We cannot move her out of the city for fear of her safety. But, we can take her anywhere you want within the limits of our walls."

"I'll let my present daughter be my voice in that regard. I am certain this Nin will have a good idea of where my daughter will be best placed. Now, I am busy, so I am sorry, Tiyanat, but I will need to go. Love you, Ti-Ti, your mother does too."

"Love you two too..." Tiyanat sniffles before she slowly gets up and wipes her face. I offer her some help at first, but, she is quick to head downstairs.

"That went well. Very well." the woman remarks before she heads on out to meet with Tiyanat. Likely by the airship, but, this is where mine and Vadei's involvement ended...

"Make sure he is okay too, alright!?" I call out to Tiyanat after we were stopped from getting on the airship again. Then, as we watched them disappear towards the city. I clutched my chest uncertainly...

I did not like what this meant for Nin at all!

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.

.

"It's alright, Lari, we're going to take you somewhere nice..." I tell her just after all the doctors and that leave for a moment. She was now ready to be moved to another place and I could overhear how they were figuring out what equipment to take. If they should contact another hospital or not...

But, if it came to it, I would buy it all myself. I would work and work until all the money in the world was making Lari's life wonderful. If the city was just going to throw her out like this. I would catch her and save her!

Unfortunately, however, I had to move back slightly when the doctors all started to come back in. I wanted to be near her and cherish the moment... But I knew I had to let them work unimpeded. It was for her own good...

I was just in the way otherwise...

"Grand-Guard Inerish's Airship is en route, would you care to be taken outside?" a guardsman asked me after I watched Lari's bed get wheeled out of this accursed operating room.

"I can find the exit myself..." I coldly answered as I remembered how these soldiers normally treated me. In a way, I wish I could say my actions from last night were not accidental. I hated these men and they hated me right back. However, despite this, I walked past him without issue.

And I was soon staring at an aircraft that once caught me sneaking across the mountain. To my surprise, however, Tiyanat also walked out of it when it finally landed. Of course, she rushed straight to her sister without issue. And it pained me that I understood why I needed to keep my distance for now.

However, she quickly returned to the airship as I was brought on board it as well, "How you been?" she nervously asked me.

"Busy." was all I really had to say. And I made it clear I was not interested in talking by looking out at the city as we went up.

"Now, as you are both aware of the situation, we can get into it. Where would you like her relocated to?" I was asked directly, even if the wording suggested that we were both asked.

I was tempted to give a snarky response given how obvious it seemed, but, instead, I contemplated. I made sure to keep an eye on the city while I recalled what I knew about it all. Costs initially came to my mind, as I was completely light at the moment. Yet those thoughts died down quickly.

"Jhurghdak..." I then idly let out as I found myself magnetised to the building. Lari showed a lot of excitement at hearing his performances. So maybe she would be safe being near a place he might practise at? She could sleep calmly listening to his music through the walls.

"Will I be able to easily access these places?" Tiyanat then asked.

"We can put in place measures to let the staff of your desired location know. They'll stand aside and you'll have a key to that very room as if you were a resident or the building owner."

"Thank you... Nin, is there anywhere you think she'd like?"

"There!" I answer as I leaned out of the airship. Pointing straight at the hotel I broke into in order to speak to that musician. And to speak of the damned man in question, I could see him looking out a window as we passed by.

"Yes... That could work quite well." the woman remarked before she motioned for us to land. We all quickly got off and we soon entered the hotel through the front. A somewhat heart-racing affair for me given my recent history.

"Grand-Guard Inerish!?" one of the guards exclaimed before the building suddenly took on a different atmosphere.

"Which rooms can be quickly accommodated and modified?" this Inerish asked the woman at the front desk as she went stiff.

"Uh... Any... Really..." she nervously squeaked before she began to do something. Whatever it was, it seemed to bring out someone higher up.

"Well." he let out as he took in the situation. He then blinked as Lari was slowly brought in through the strange doors.

"I will repeat myself, then, which rooms can be quickly cleared or filled up? Modified if need be."

"If it's the Clockwork Council asking then... We could even clear out the penthouse if need be!"

"No, Jhurghdak can keep his privacy. Just get me a room that could be kept reasonably secure."

"Of course! R-Right this way, please." they say as they march on out to us before they took us towards a lift. However, there was not enough room to fit Lari in one...

"I'll meet you up there." I tell them as I pick her up slowly and protectively cradle her. Holding onto her tightly, hoping and praying she'd at least stir for just a moment. Just so I could see even her eyes again... To my dismay, however, there was nothing.

So I just stroked her hair carefully as tears started to well up.

"I will save you, do you hear?"