--------///----Reina's POV----\\\--------

After the whole ordeal in the captain's office, we started to head out and ran into Endis. Normally, that wouldn't really be surprising, but with the annoyed look on his face, something must have happened. But at the back of my mind, i felt like i had an idea at what it could've been.

(Reina) " Now what'd we do? "

(Endis) " Oh i don't know, maybe it was dealing with the guy i spent all my time following. I could've spent my day somewhere else if i knew you two would deal with it. "

Oh yeah... We did leave that up to him... Welp, what's done is done. Not that i was going to say that to him at the moment.

(Mina) " Anyway, let's head back for now. We have something that needs everyone together. "

That seemed to work since Endis seemed less annoyed, but i could tell it was still there. He was just more interested in what it was then being annoyed. We all wanted to find out, so we sttarted walking towards the mansion, only to get interrupted by what felt like someone looking and coming towards us. It didn't take long for us to figure out where that was coming from since we could see a shadow infront of us moving our way. We all ended up looking up to find Eclina and Ava on her back, coming towards us.

(Reina) " Eclina? Ava? Why are you two here? "

(Eclina) " I have to talk to everyone. It's important. "

(Mina) " Well, we're free now so we could head over to the mansion. "

(Eclina) " Ok. I'll meet everyone there. "

With Eclina saying that, i couldn't help but wonder if this and the message auntie Ulderria sent us was connected. It couldn't be a coincidence that they both had important messages at the same time. Though, if they weren't connected then this could probably end up worse then i was thinking. But with Eclina heading over to the mansion, we couldn't ask anything to find out about it.

(Mina) " None of this sounds good. "

(Endis) " It can't be that bad... Right? "

(Reina) " Don't you complain about getting jinxed all the time? "

(Endis) " Hmm... Well shit. "

(Mina) " We'll have to head over to find out... But we should probably be prepared for the worst. "

Mina was right, and preparing for the worst was probably the best we could go for. But on the way back, we couldn't help guessing different scenarios and preparing ourselves for if it was any of those. We ended up passing the time that way and made it back to the mansion before we knew it. We could see everyone else at the fountain so now we knew we were all here.

(Reina) " Hey, so... What is it that you have to talk about? "

Since it was something important, it was best if we got it out of the way right at the start. Eclina seemed to be the same since she didn't say anything and instead just started to block out the sound from around the fountain. But that just made me worry more, if it was that important to the point that she made sure no one else heard her, this was probably going to be real bad.

(Eclina) " ... I don't know a way to say it nicely so... I'll just say it... The big rift at Everstorm mt opened. "

After she said that, we all seemed to just freeze. The scenario was something we guessed, but hearing it was a whole other thing. The rifts were supposed to be so dangerous that the world at large could be screwed. We weren't even prepared yet but one just suddenly opened? That was definelt one of the worst case scenario.

(Eclina) " But the dragons and two elders are going to handle it. "

That... Helped. I wasn't sure how strong elders were, but everyone knew that dragons were at the top of the food chain. Just one dragon could ruin a normal kingdom if not an empire, if there were dozens then we would be ok. It was still worrying to think about but atleast there was something to reassure us.

(Eclina) " I know why it happened...But i'm not allowed to say why. "

(Orven) " Is there a specific reason for your inability to tell us? Or are you simply unwilling? "

Both Eclina's statement and Orven's response were too surprising to respond too at the moment, but hearing Orven's tone and seeing the look on his face seemed to bring us out of it. Normally, Orven doesn't have any negative moments. Sure he'll question some stuff but this was different. His normally casual self was on the side as he had a suspisious face and a distrustful tone. Given the situation, it's not that surprising, but when he was aiming both of those at Eclina, who seemed like she really did want to tell us but couldn't, just didn't seem fair.

(Reina) " Don't be like that Orven, if Eclina can't tell us then it means she can't tell us. Don't take it out on her. "

(Mina) " Exactly. Besides, she already told us about it now, she didn't have to do that. "

And Mina was right. Eclina didn't have to tell us. It might've come out when auntie Ulderria's message was played, but she still made sure to tell us in the first place. She might've even told us more then she was supposed too, so asking her for more wasn't even right. Maybe what we said worked, since Orven seemed less standoff-ish, but Ava helping out seemed to shift Orven's mood.

(Ava) " Isn't there something else you want to tell us? You said you're going to be leaving earlier, didn't you? "

(Espiral) " Are you sure sis? I know how much you were looking forward to this... Do you really want to leave sooner? "

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(Eclina) " We don't have much of a choice. I don't want to go... But we have to head out. "

(Endis) " Where are you going anyway? Yoou keep saying you're gonna go somewhere but you haven't really said where. "

(Eclina) " We're going to the Infernal island chain. "

(Mina) " Dragons keep?! Why are you heading over there? "

Mina wasn't the only one surprised with this, i'm pretty sure we all were. We knew Eclina, and Espiral by extension since none of us have seen him fight, were strong, but this was the land of dragons we were talking about. Dragons were the top species and hardly any were their match. If they somehow got on their bad side then it would probably end poorly for them. And that thought was probably what they were worried about too.

(Espiral) " Dragons keep? Is that what you call it? "

(Endis) " Well... It's literally the land of dragons so that name made more sense to everyone. No one really calls it "The infernal island chain", it's too long and Dragons keep has a better ring to it. "

Not sure about the "everyone" bit, but the vast majority of times i've heard it or seen it written was in the form of "Dragon's keep" so that has atleast some merit to it.

(Eclina) " We're going to train with a dragon friend. "

That was an unexpected answer. It was a reassuring answer sure, but a weird one. From what i remember, Eclina hasn't really left the forest in years. Unless Ms.Losine didn't know, so when'd she have time to make a dragon friend that's at Dragon's keep? That was a question i wanted to ask, but for some reason both Eclina and Espiral were looking behind us, and pointing to whatever it was that they were looking at.

(Mina) " The captain? "

Now that was weird. We had just dealt with that whole situation so i had no clue what he would have to seek us out for. Thankfully, Mina went over to him so we could find out. It got better when Eclina took down the bubble so we could listen in on what they were talking about. They were a bit away so i couldn't hear everything, but i was starting to get bits and pieces that i wasn't liking. From whatever i pieced together, it looked like the faction behind the medallion was moving out in force as they realized they were exposed.

(Endis) " Anyone want to bet about how bad it is? "

(Ava) " I don't think we're in the mood for a bet... "

(Reina) " She's got a point. "

(Endis) " Tch. You can't let bad news screw with you like this. You take it in the move on. "

He did have a point... Though he was still partially in the wrong considering what we were just told and literally still processing. We already had experience with dealing with bad news that concerned the continent, but Ava and Orven were just thrust into it.

(Reina) " Some people aren't as thick skinned as you are. "

(Endis) " ... Is that a compliment or an attack? "

(Reina) " Yes. "

(Endis) " Wait a min- "

As entertaining as that conversation was, it ended up getting cut short when another bunch of people in armor started to come down the street. Though these people didn't seem to be coming with good intentions since they were all armed. The captain even looked surprised, so these weren't his people. Add both of those, and we wouldn't be in trouble if we knocked them around.That thought made me smile and we all started heading over to the front gate where Mina and the captain were.

(Captain) " I don't... Recognize that armor... Where did they even come from? "

(Mina) " Probably from the owners of the medallions. I mean, they've been found out. And not just by anyone either. With Reina's backing, any organization found out by her would probably be in a constant state of panic. "

(Endis) " Cous has a point. It's like an assassin going out for a contract only to walk into a room of fully armed S ranks. They'd be shitting bricks. "

(Ava) " But it doesn't look like they're worried.,, Do they have something up their sleeves? "

(Endis) " Doubt it. They're probably just overconfident. Or stupid. Maybe both. "

(Mina) " Sort of like you. "

(Endis) " What the fu- "

(Captain) " Are none of you worried about the... Full platoon of soldiers? "

(Reina, Endis, Mina) " Nope. "

I couldn't tell if the captain was surprised the three of us answering at the same time or the answer itself, but he just seemed frozen. But we really weren't worried. Even if Eclina and Espiral weren't here just looking at them, we still wouldn't have been worried. Endis against just fifty people was already overkill. Unless every single one of them was at a B rank, then maybe he might struggle. But Endis was specialized in killing people, he wasn't the type to walk up and fight them head on.

Mina wasn't weak either, she could take them on with whatever strategies she could come up with. She could probably just trap them and kill them slowly if she felt like it. And if i wanted to, i wouldn't even have to do much. Endis taught me so i was getting close to his level of murder proficiency. The captain probably hadn't seen us fight and only thought of our reputation, so it was normal to be skeptical. Though none of us could go into explaining to him before the platoon got in firing range.

From what i could see, they were readying a whole slew of magic to throw at us. Save for nature, they pretty much had everything and were aiming at us. Though before they fired, Orven just walked up and went into his golem form to block them. Nothing could really break his defense unless they brought out a monster sized battering ram. But then something weird happened. For some reason, Orven's golem form was cracking even before the attacks started to reach him. It was like his earth just stopped obeying him.

The attacks reached Orven, though what was left of his golem form blocked them before it ran out. The enemy platoon obviously wasn't expecting that, but we weren't expecting for Orven's golem form to just fail like that. None of us were stupid and thought it was his fault, so it was without a doubt something they did.

(Orven) " This is... Strange. "

(Endis) " What'd you feel big guy? "

(Orven) " I felt... As if the earth was being stripped from me. "

(Endis) " Huh... Should i just deal with them then? I don't really need to use magic against people. "

(Mina) " You can go ahead and volunteer to do all the work. None of us are going to stop you. "

(Endis) " You know what... I won't then. I'll just go kick my feet up or something. "

(Reina) " There's nowhere to kick your feet up though? We're literally out in the open. "

(Ava) " They're readying to go again, is no one going to pay attention to that? "

(Reina, Endis, Mina) " Oh... "

We really stopped paying attention to them, even with the weird situation Orven got put through. Aside from Ava who didn't have much battle experience and was focused as a healer, and Orven since he didn't have his shield with him, the rest of us didn't really need our magic to deal with people. Even the kids could handle a few of them, but they weren't even paying attention to the platoon either. They were just playing at the fountain with Eclina, i didn't even notice when mine got off. Though then i though that maybe we should get rid of these guys then go back to talking.

(Reina) " I guess i'll go deal with them. We weren't done talking so being bothered by this is actually a bit annoying. "

(Captain) " A platoon of soldiers is just... A bit annoying? "

I ignored the captain's mumbling and just walked up. I decided to just leave my Siella's as they were since i didn't want them to get tangled on anything. Or hit any buildings that got in the way. It'd suck if i finished everything then got a bunch of complaints from the people watching that i damaged their homes or something. The platoon were still charging their attacks but i just dashed towards them and ran for the guy at the front. The guy at the front didn't have a helmet on and just displayed a cocky "i'm better then you" look, so i decided to kill him first.

(Mina) " Don't take too long Rei! We still have the message to listen too. "

(Ava) " A message? "

(Mina) " We'll talk about it when Rei gets back. "

I heard the side conversation from them, but i didn't really pay attention to it. I had to get rid of some annoyances first after all.