Tale 3: The Witch and Her Guardian, Act 16

Journey to Gladeban

I.

"So," Audrey stared up at the massive metal ball. Madoka cringed. She realized that even while she was away the Knotting strands still remained tightly sealed together. "Is this your giant metal ball?"

"Yes," Madoka answered flatly. Eraziror was out of breath apparently from trying to smash it apart with some of the Guild's practice weaponry.

"How the fu—"

A clang from a sword interrupted the princess, and the adventurer's strike did not even nudge it. The ball had a few scratch marks, and soon most of the adventurers cleared the way for a new approaching challenger. It was Juujee and Rin, though the rogue could not be seen anywhere. Madoka was concerned that she may have done too much damage to him, but was too afraid to ask about his whereabouts. Juujee had an iron tag. He was rising up quick, as expected of a formerly gold rank adventurer. His eyes shifted from the metal sphere to her and then back to it. She could sense his desire to destroy it.

Rin's rudimentary staff glowed with a blazing red aura, and she chanted rapidly underneath her breath. Its crystal was meager, which suggested that the mage's own magic was overloading it. Audrey and Madoka simply watched, since they were informed by Eraziror that Kanys and Armor were going to be late. The ground beneath the sphere began to catch fire, while the other adventurers gasped in awe at her power while moving away to watch the show.

"She's heating it up to weaken and expand its structural integrity. Or something," Audrey muttered. "Like those guys in the Artisan Guild did in the forge with those billets. But I don't think you made something simple as steel, and from what I remember even the melting point of steel is a lot more hotter than those flames..."

Madoka largely ignored her ramblings, waiting to see if their teamwork could smash her magnificent and terrifying creation. Juujee readied his axe, preparing to smash it when the timing was right. The weapon's no good against a ball of metal. Juujee's arms glowed with Knotting magic, strengthening him to a much higher power than when he faced Audrey.

However, Madoka sensed that it was not enough to destroy her magic as she watched the blade swing, seemingly in slow motion. A thunderous clang followed, yet the ball of metal stood defiant to his blow. His grip failed him, and the axe bounced harmlessly off its surface.

Audrey covered her ears. Madoka was not sure why, sensing the Knotting magic surge across the ground as the clang resounded and fell to a rest. The axe slid across the ground from its owner, and she scoffed. She felt annoyed stares from both Juujee and Rin. She wondered why they were waiting around in the first place. If anything were to amuse her beyond the splitting headache she had, it was the look on their faces.

"Told you so," Audrey muttered. She was growing impatient, too. Madoka shrugged. Armor and Kanys were not present with them, and Eraziror was busy speaking with other adventurer parties. "What are we waiting for, anyways?"

She asked no one in particular. Rin looked at her staff with disappointment. Upon noticing Audrey, she started to slink away to escape but it was too late. The princess immediately stalked over to the orange haired mage, and the harassment began. Madoka was too tired to stop the girl, but she also felt entertained by the spectacle. That small feeling sparked a slight curl in her lips, but she kept the smile as imperceptible as she could. Was this amusement caused by the hangover?

"Rin, my best friend! Look! Your spell had no effect on Madoka's magic metal ball!" Audrey latched onto the mage, apparently unaware of Rin's desperate desire for more personal space. "Do YOU have a magic metal ball? Madoka has one! Come, come! Let us talk about the melting point of steel and metal balls and Domineering—"

"Audrey," Madoka needed to say her name with a chilling tone.

"Eep! Y-Yes, Madoka?"

"Don't stand so close to people," she sighed. Rin stared at her in disbelief, as if she was expecting Madoka to rescue her by restraining Audrey. Unfortunately for her, she was not in the mood. "It's rude."

"Why, you!"

Madoka idled while the princess took the haughty mage away with extreme interest in magic. For whatever reason, she realized that the strange feeling of jealousy did not seem to sting her. Perhaps it was because the mage wanted nothing to do with her princess, and Madoka would not complain about that. The less people interested in her the better, Madoka scoffed. She looked up at the monstrous magical ball she created and reached the conclusion that she should clean it up.

"Go on, then," Juujee told her, surprising her. His voice was a lot heavier than when she last heard him. "See if you can destroy it."

It occurred to Madoka that he still underestimated her. It was no matter to her, though. She realized she has never dueled Juujee; he was more broken by Audrey, who swiftly defeated him in their mock battle. Now, it was her turn to break him.

"It is no dragon," She shrugged as she drew the stolen sword from her side. Its blade hissed as the Knotting magic enveloped its edge in a malevolent green aura. Juujee eyed it with suspicion.

"A blade made from a Black Serpent," he mused. "It's no use against that."

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Madoka readied herself and remembered her training. Breaking rocks with heavy wood was one thing, but metal was a different thing entirely. The difference between an adventurer like Juujee and her, however, was that their strikes were not designed to break people. Aiming for the blade would never work, she thought to herself and raised her sword. One should aim for the person holding the blade.

The Serpent Sword hissed as she swung down, envisioning someone or something as her target behind the metal ball. The sword's single razor sharp edge did not shatter, as expected of such a uniquely powerful weapon, and instead screamed through the metal with dangerous strands of Knotting magic. She held her stance until her breathing techniques were done. If she possessed this sword back when she faced the dragon with Audrey, she would have dealt with it quite easily. At first, the sphere stood whole as Madoka sheathed the blade, but began to split in half as she gave a look at Juujee.

"You were saying?" She taunted him. Juujee clapped in approval, surprising her. The other adventurers gawked.

"She cut it in two like it was nothing!"

"I see the look in your eyes, woman," Juujee's gaze held no contempt or condescension as it once had during their first encounter. "You think that what we're doing is hopeless— a waste of time. It is the price you pay for not heeding my warning."

"I am only following my Master's orders," Madoka replied, admiring the sharp edge of the sword in her hand. She masked her surprise at his perception by just looking away with a scoff.

"You are wrong about us, though," Juujee's eyes still remained on her through his skull helmet. "Hope is found in others, though I am sure you know it. These people around you look up to you. Listen well to their praise."

"The only hope I need is from..." Madoka was about to protest at all the cheering, but the familiar steps of Armor approached her. Luxgor and Kanys were walking alongside him, with the girl observing the chaos she created among the adventurers and the Guild Master wearing an unamused frown on his face. She sheathed the dangerous blade and peered beyond the two men. Just beyond them, Audrey was bothering Rin. Surprisingly, she was not standing too close to the mage, however she still was quite animated while she spoke.

Not like Madoka understood any of the principles she was explaining to the mage.

"Ahem," Guild Master Luxgor cleared his throat, snapping her out of her thoughts. He stared up at the split halves of the metal sphere wobbling on the ground. The other adventurers cleared out of the way for him. "You made this, didn't you?"

"Y-Yes, sir," Madoka suddenly felt sheepish about her actions. Luxgor assumed a stance, and she sensed power emanating from him. He was going to shatter the rest of the rocks!

With the golden energy wrapping around his fists, Luxgor thrusted a powerful fist at the rock. His attack did not touch the metal halved, though Madoka could sense the sheer energy from his strike reverberate throughout both of the pieces. Immediately afterwards, the boulder crumbled into dust. As expected of someone who was the head of the Guild, Madoka clapped for him while the rest of the adventurers remained amazed at his power. She noticed the strands of her Knotting magic begin to fade out of the powdered metal, turning the material back into sand as it waned.

"Moving on, everyone," Luxgor spoke as if nothing happened. "I will congratulate you all on a successful reclamation of Tritorjan. There will be a lot of work requests for it, should you all want to pursue it for notches. However, I will leave you all to get your notches from the available staff we have here. Good work, everyone."

Every other adventurer in the arena cheered, while Madoka wondered why they were so happy about a simple task like defeating goblins. Her hand gripped her sword hilt and axe handle while she waited on Audrey. She had a sinking feeling it would not be the last time they would see those monsters. Before she could utter a sigh, a pair of hands covered her eyes followed by a mischievous giggle. A squeak still escaped her lips, much to her horror.

"Audrey!" Madoka whined, peeling the hands off her. She crossed her arms and glared at an adorable Audrey. Did she get bored of Rin?

"How'd you guess it was me! Nae waah!"

Audrey stared up at her with big blue eyes.

"We've got work to do," Madoka finally gave a sigh though she was more relieved than annoyed. Her princess was in a better mood than from last night. "Let's go find Eraziror. Oh, and speak to the Guild Ladies, and..."

Later, Madoka found herself walking along the streets with Audrey towards the eastern side of town, where they first entered through from the mountains and away from the Circle of the Labyrinth. The forest still towered over, and the rushing river and militant thoughts of those strange birds could be heard through the boughs.

"Now, Guild Master Luxgor told us tweedle dee and tweedle dumb were going to be over here somewhere," Audrey tossed the bag of coins they received from the Guild Lady in the air and caught it as they walked. "Somewhere with a wagon. Looks like a typical escort mission..."

"Whatever you say," Madoka snatched the bag midair. Silver coins gleamed from small holes in its rough fabric.

"Hey!" Audrey tried to steal it back, but Madoka simply raised her arm all the way over her head. She was about to pout, but a guard's armored hand waved at the two of them at the gate.

"Oi, Lady and miss!" It was George, Guard 2. Or was he Guard 1? Madoka wondered. Was he related to Georgia? She prayed to the kind gods she was safe and well. "You two headed out?"

"Eh? Weren't you guys at the other gate?" Audrey stared at them with suspicion.

"What? We've been 'ere the whole time!" Boris told her. "You two are makin' Ceghinort's blood stir in this 'ere town, we gotta make sure you ain't causing trouble on your way out, huh!"

"Huh!" George pounded his breastplate in an apparent agreement.

"We're looking for another party," Madoka explained. "We're traveling to Gladeban."

"Gladeban, eh?" George mused, then spit on the ground in the other direction. "Ain't ever."

"What?" Audrey questioned, but George shook his head.

"Ain't ever!"

"Means he ain't been aroundthere," Boris sighed, and then gave him a smack. "Ceghinort's blood! Speak Reverent Noble for this 'ere Noble, man!"

"Oi! It's not like you know a lick of that language! Knobhead!"

"More than you, idgit!"

Before their bickering got worse, Madoka took Audrey by the hand and exited with her through the gates past the oblivious guards. A sturdy cart awaited them, and she saw Armor standing by it. The giant looked their direction, creaking as he nodded at them.

"He's not going to try and get on that, is he?" Audrey tugged Madoka's sleeve. "S-Surely not."

"Yo," Eraziror called to them. "Look who's late!"

"Yeah, we got held up at the guild," Audrey sighed. "What's with the cart?"

Eraziror crossed his arms defensively.

"Well that's..."

"Hey, my heroes!" Someone cheerfully called for them from inside the wagon. Madoka noticed a hand emerge from the back of it, and then familiar purple hair pushed out. Arudite smiled at the two of then, and the maid immediately started tense up. Why is she coming along with us? Madoka wanted to complain. The researcher smiled broadly, and did not notice her reluctance.

"Long time no see!"