The two rushed to the throne room where Ci was waiting on them, sipping her tea.
Ci: I see you both made it-
Itsuki: Listen, we don't have much time! The Federation-
Ci: Don't interrupt me ever again! So rude…
Akeru: Ci, they have done something to the Ice Shackle!
Ci: Don't be foolish; it's still in the lower parts of the island. They could never get through my ice!
Itsuki: Ci, they are stalling you! I heard it from some of the members of the Anti-Witch Federation!
Ci: The AWF is employing idiots then, as there is no way they could have it!
Akeru: When did you check?!
Ci: Pardon?
Akeru: When was the last time you actually checked the Ice Shackle?!
Ci: It was recently…the last time I left the tower before I went with you two.
Itsuki: Please, can we just… go check on it?
Ci: How do I know you two are not working for them?
Akeru: Please, trust us!
The tower shakes as Ci snaps her tea into pieces, glaring at the two and standing up.
Ci: I see…so they led you here to lure me out!
Itsuki: Ci pl-
Ci: You just lost all right to call me by that!
Ci suddenly rushes at them with two ice lances in her hands. Akeru protects Itsuki with her barrier, but Ci grabs the ring suddenly and crushes it in her hand.
Akeru: My ring!
Ci: You won't need it where you will be heading, girl!
Itsuki: That ring was Aurora's! How dare you!
Ci: Why does it matter whose ring it is?
Akeru: Because…that was special to me! Aurora gave that and Itsuki's book to us! We were guarding it with our lives!
Ci: Is that why he left his books with me?
Itsuki: Damn, so I did leave it here…
Akeru: It isn't his fault! He dropped them when we left; we don't have bags or anything, so it's hard to carry things! So we usually have to drop them to the side and pick them up later!
Ci: It doesn't matter! You both led the AWF to me and are trying to get me to leave this damned tower so they can capture me and summon the Ancient Beast of Ice without worry!
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Itsuki: Damned tower…?
Akeru: Please just….we have to hurry, we don't have-
The tower shakes again as shouts outside are heard.
Ci: I'll kill you two and show them your heads; that will teach them better than to send two children after me!
Ci goes to stab Akeru and Itsuki, but Itsuki stands in front of Akeru with his arms held out, protecting her. Ci stops both lances right at his body as her eyebrow raises.
Itsuki: I get it…you feel betrayed, but why would we lie to you?! We stood behind so you could escape!
Ci: Please… this was all a plan from the start. You probably planned to get close to Aurora and kill her while she slept!
Itsuki: We owe our life to Aurora! We would never even consider hurting her or any of you Witches!
Ci: Nothing will make me believe you, boy; stop trying!
Akeru pushed him aside and put her chest in front of the spear, glaring at Ci.
Akeru: No, you stop trying to kill us! The AWF has done nothing but harm people, right!? So we want nothing more than to stop them!
Ci: Lies…now die!
Ci pulled back her lance and went to thrust but was blocked by Itsuki's katana.
Ci: You two are stalling…merely delaying your deaths!
Itsuki: What will it take…to get it through your thick skull!?
Ci: Watch your filthy tongue-
Itsuki: No you watch yours! You continue to deny us because you know deep down you are wrong! Why did you help us find the Guild?! Why did you share stories in the igloo?!
Ci: That's…
Itsuki: You said damned tower… It's because you are confused, isn't it?! Because we are the first ones to try to treat you like an average person, and not like a Witch- a monster! You were alone…this tower is your prison!
Ci: You know nothing! How dare you make assumptions about me!
Ci knocked the katana out of his hand and thrust her lance at his forehead. But the lance stopped at a centimeter away from it. So Ci just tried again but got the same result.
Ci: Why…Why can't I kill you?! I had no issue before trying!?
Akeru: Because… it's like he said, you want to trust us…but you've never trusted anyone before. So you don't want to mess up…no one ever does. But as you said..you are not a god; you are just like us, so even Witches make mistakes!
Ci: Why, you little-
Itsuki: Then let us be your one mistake! If the AWF wants to be the heroes of this world…then we will be the villains! Both of us…we will make sure no other Witch dies!
Ci: You will fail…
Akeru: Then we die trying.
Ci stands there for a couple of seconds before returning the lances to her sides, laughing slightly at them.
Ci: I see why Aurora trusts you two…and boy if these books are vital to you…
Ci summons both of his books and hands them to Itsuki, winking at him.
Ci: Maybe try not forgetting them?
Itsuki blushed, took the books, and looked away from her.
Itsuki: R-Right…
Akeru: Now that we are not trying to kill each other… what's our next play? We have the AWF outside waiting for us three to come out.
Ci: Well then, let's give them what they want…after all, they sent you to get me, right?
Itsuki and Akeru looked at each other and then her, smirking and nodding. Outside the tower was a whole army of AWF with Gavolt and Calvin waiting.
Calvin: You sure they didn't get killed in there?
Gavolt: I told you not to signal an attack…you probably got them both killed with her thinking that they were with us.
Gavolt looks up to see the tower getting sliced in half. The upper half slowly slid down and took out half of the army as Gavolt stood there, not reacting. Calvin went to the tower, trying to lift it.
Calvin: T-That was half of our men!!
Gavolt: So you finally show yourself to me…Ice Witch.
Ci, Akeru, and Itsuki were on the top of the tower, standing and looking down at the AWF.
Ci: I will give you a chance to leave now! Refusal will lead to the extinction of all of your lives!
Gavolt: Hey guys…get ready to die.
The AWF members just look at each other, scared. Calvin looks at sees Akeru and Itsuki, laughing evilly.
Calvin: Well, well well…so the sinners didn't die after all!
Calvin's shoulder on the arm Aurora cut off suddenly brings down a retractable metal arm.
Itsuki: Nice arm… can't wait to cut it off a second time!
Calvin: You think you can beat me now?! You had to have a Witch and her servant step in last time! Now you just have a Witch!
Ci: Do you genuinely think I will enter someone else's battle? They can fend for themselves!
Ci drops down to the ground below with cold air expelling from her. Itsuki and Akeru rode down on a Wave as Akeru looked sick again.
Akeru: I really wish you would learn something else than that…
Itsuki: You don't have that ring anymore…so don't get in the way.
Ci: I'll handle her in that regard.
Ci snapped her fingers as an ice barrier surrounded Akeru.
Akeru: C-C-C-Cold…
Itsuki: Don't worry, this won't take long.
Calvin rushed at Itsuki with his trident as Itsuki blocked with his katana. Gavolt pulled out a metal kendo stick that was also like a stun gun. He ran at Ci, who put up an ice barrier in front of her to block him.
Gavolt: The name is Gavolt…remember me as the one who will win.
Ci: Foolish… I've already made one mistake today, so I will not make another by losing!
Calvin: You think you can beat me, kid?!
Itsuki: Yeah…I will, for that village…for Matsuri and Himari! I'll make sure to kill you right here and now!!