Richard gazed out the window, a tinge of envy simmering. Hope Leon's having a better time than us... Who am I kidding? He's walking around town with a total babe while we got stuck with her stupid pet lizard? What kind of bullshit is this?

His mumbled discontent caught Ed's attention, who sat across from an old man named Jed. Ed snapped at Richard, his patience wearing thin. "Richard! You could at least pretend you're paying attention," Ed snapped, sitting across from an old man named Jed. Their room exuded an eerie atmosphere, tinged with the scents of burning coal and sizzling steak.

Jed waved his hand dismissively, a kind smile on his face. "Oh ho ho, no need to worry, young man! Not everyone has the time to hear the yammering of an old codger like me." With that, he stood up and began tending to the meat cooking on the pan. Richard couldn't help but feel an unsettling chill creep down his spine. We didn't see a single person in this town, and this guy's just livin' the fucking dream. I've got a bad feeling about this.

A whimper escaped King, the raptor perched near the front door. "Aye, could ya' at least give me a wee bit of that steak there, pal?" he pleaded.

Jed's smile widened. "Why certainly, Mr. King!"

"Do you ever not think about food?" Ed groaned, facepalming.

King shook his head, his eyes gleaming. "My goodness, laddie! What on this God's green Earth could possibly be more important than good grub?"

Ed opened his mouth to retort but thought better of it. "Oh, brother." He flinched as Richard smacked his fist against the wall. "Hey, old man!" Richard shouted, raising his pistol. "What the hell is going on here? Clearly, there's nobody else here but you! If that doesn't strike you as weird, I'm a monkey's uncle! First clue, I'm not!"

Jed paused at the counter. He glanced at the gun but paid it no mind, chuckling softly. "That ain't all that strange, boy. Hasn't that angel of yer's talked about good ol' Lioness Kingdom and its delightful inhabitants?" His voice deepened, and a controlled intensity resonated within his words.

Richard's eyes widened at the mention of Katie. None of them mentioned other friends. "How do you know them?" he snapped, clicking the safety off his pistol.

The old man remained unfazed, his smile never wavering as he poured himself a glass of tea. Ed, sensing the tension, rose from his chair and fixed Jed with an intense glare. "You better start giving us some answers, or else."

Jed let out a weary sigh, turning to face them. Their breath hitched in their throats as they locked eyes with him. His irises had transformed into a haunting shade of crimson. "There's no point in hiding it," Jed said, taking a leisurely sip of his tea. "The princess will have dealt with them soon enough."

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A torn newspaper, caught in a tempestuous gust, swirled through the air, careening down the desolate street like a phantom messenger. It collided with fences and street posts, leaving behind a trail of fluttering pages. Leon's gaze followed its chaotic path, momentarily captivated by the unexpected spectacle.

His attention was diverted when he saw a stray doll abandoned and forlorn in a muddy puddle. As he cradled the doll, he couldn't help but cringe at the unsettling combination of dampness and sponginess beneath his touch.

"I take it Tartarus isn't a fan of dolls," Leon said, frowning. Its glassy eyes stared at the sky in an empty, lonely way.

"Leon, look!" Katie hissed, patting his shoulder.

He nearly jumped out of his skin as she pulled him to crouch beside her. She pointed at the golden building behind the fountain. He raised his head in time to see a red cloak fall inside as the door closed.

Why does that remind me of the cloak of that girl back at the tavern? It couldn't be... Could it? In big, light blue letters, read GALADIUS TOWN LIBRARY at the top of the building. When Leon caught her wrist, Katie's fingers were moments from grabbing the door handle.

"W-what is it?" Katie looked at him, her cheeks going a little red.

"I don't think this is a good idea," he whispered.

"I understand if you're afraid, Leon. Wait here for me, alright?" she said kindly, rubbing his palm with her thumb before pulling out of his grip. "I'm going in. Whistle if some-"

Leon scoffed and pushed past her. "Afraid, my ass," he said under his breath as he closed the door behind him.

Giggling to herself, she followed close behind. Inside awaited a huge golden room. The bookcases scattered within towered over their heads. There were three floors worth of books, the inside easily the size of a football stadium.

They made their way toward the clearing of tables in the center. Several chandeliers hung from the ceiling above. We better get some time to come back here. Leon had to keep himself from picking any of the books up. Why couldn't I wander and get lost in places like this last year?

They had a section for everything from wars to monster propaganda, teaching about languages he never even knew existed. That was only an inkling of what the library offered. The more they found, the worse his temptation to search through every page became.

Never would've thought werewolves could have their own language... Leon bit back the desire to pull more books. He could feel Diablos making him resist, his arms pinned to his sides. A little dramatic, don't you think?

Now isn't the time to be daydreaming. Watch your surroundings! Diablos snapped.

Do you have any idea how often you find a library this big? Leon asked.

Diablos groaned. Is reading these insignificant pieces of parchment worth your life?

I feel obligated to say yes to that question. Leon smiled at Diablos's silent fuming in his head, almost crashing into Katie. She paid no mind, rubbing dust between her fingers. "What is it?" He asked, digging a book into his left pocket.

"She's close," Katie said, her eyes scanning above them. She sniffed and groaned in disgust.

"How can you tell it's a she?" Leon took a peek over his shoulder. As if the red cloak didn't already give me the same suspicions. Hime Lioness.

The isle behind them was empty. You fool... you don't use your eyes to discover enemies, Diablos said. You need to sense them.

How exactly do I do that? Leon raised an eyebrow. I feel plenty of chills, so I know she's here. The air grew heavier. They jumped as their backs pressed against each other.

"Must you always be so close?" Leon said, glancing at Katie.

A book slammed against the floor behind him, and he embraced her tightly. She blushed, cupping her face into her hands. The lights in the room flickered for a moment. "Scared?" Katie asked, peeking up at him.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Leon let her go, turning his back. "Pfft. No. As if I could ever be afraid."A sweet scent grew stronger within that moment. At first, he thought it was Katie until he realized this smell was different. It was vibrant. Raw. Spicy even. Hit his nose like a taste of cinnamon.

"I'd recognize that putrid perfume anywhere," Katie wrinkled her nose in disgust.

Taking another sniff, Leon raised an eyebrow. Wouldn't call it unpleasant, but it's definitely coming on a little strong.

"What a vulgar thing to say," said a familiar voice above them. "Not that I'd expect a dog like you to have good taste."

Leon's heart raced as he looked up, sensing danger approaching. Before he could react, Katie's hand gripped him tightly, yanking him forward just in time.

CRASH!

A massive bookcase thundered down behind them, barely missing their heels. They stumbled backward, their eyes wide with shock. As they instinctively shielded their faces, a chandelier plummeted from above, shattering upon impact with the floor. Shards of glass flew toward them like deadly projectiles. Katie glanced up, frustration etching across her features.

"So the pampered princess curses us with her presence. Is this your will, Hime?" Katie snapped, her voice laced with defiance.

Katie gasped and swiftly evaded a sword thrust that came dangerously close to her eyes. Standing atop the shattered chandelier was Hime, a girl with silvery blonde hair, heavy eyeliner, and piercing crimson eyes. She donned a tattered cloak over a gothic dress, with a chest plate gleaming beneath. Hime's voice echoed with authority as she raised her sword.

"You, being the notorious sky pigeon that you are, have been declared a traitor. Apprehending a villain like yourself is my duty as the successor to my kingdom!" Hime shouted, her words filled with conviction.

A violent wind barreled through the room, hurtling Leon and Katie backward. They crashed into a row of bookcases, which toppled like a domino chain. With her wings, Katie softened the impact, shielding Leon from the worst of the collision. They landed on the polished stone floor, disoriented but determined.

"Our armies have an alliance. What nonsense are you spouting this time?" Katie retorted, her voice resolute. "Have you finally lost the last shred of sanity in that pea-sized brain of yours?"

"No, I am merely following my father's orders," Hime responded firmly.

Katie shoved Leon aside just as another bookcase splintered in two beside them. Hime burst forward from the scattered pages, her blade swinging in a deadly arc. Tables were upturned and flung aside in the chaos. Leon instinctively shielded his face, his eyes struggling to keep up with the lightning-fast movements of the combatants. Their hair whipped and swirled with each step, embodying the intensity of their clash.

Katie's pistols clashed against the sword as she relentlessly pulled the trigger. Bolts of lightning scorched the surroundings with each near-miss. Gritting his teeth, Leon mustered his courage and charged into the fray. Hime's crimson eyes locked onto his, and she swiftly evaded Katie's attack, ducking under her arm. The air around Katie seemed to warp and twist in response. Hime's palm crashed against Katie's hip, sending the angel hurtling across the room and out of sight.

"No!" Leon cried out, leaping forward and swinging his sword with desperate determination.

Their swords clashed and sang through the air. Leon deftly dodged and weaved, but Hime's blade managed to graze his cheek, leaving a searing cut. Diving beneath a table, he rolled away just as Hime sent it hurtling in his direction. Every attempt to escape seemed futile. Hime moved with the fluidity of the wind itself, gliding effortlessly across the marble floor. Leon thrust his sword, but she was already striking from his blind spot.

"What?" Leon jumped back, but Hime proved faster. Her heel slammed into his chest, the impact stealing the air from his lungs. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he slid against his heels, desperately planting his sword into the floor to steady himself. He leaned heavily against it, his glare fixed on Hime.

Hime's wicked giggle echoed through the room as she raised her blade triumphantly toward the ceiling. Leon could feel the force of the air shifting around him, pulling him inexorably toward Hime. Is she manipulating the wind? Is this her power?

Leon's sword scraped against the marble floor as he struggled against the pull, his body sliding helplessly toward the tempest forming around Hime's weapon. But in his desperation, a surge of determination coursed through his veins. He closed his eyes, his blood boiling with newfound resolve.

Suddenly, embers erupted all over his body, consuming the scattered pages and turning them into cinders. The tornado of wind forming around Hime's blade grew even fiercer, causing violent gusts to drag the books and debris toward its vortex.

As quickly as it had started, the tempest abruptly stopped. Leon's eyes shot open, and to his astonishment, he saw Katie seizing Hime by the side of her face. With raw strength, Katie slammed Hime's head against the marble floor, dragging her across its surface. The princess's wide eyes betrayed the pain as she was forcefully propelled through the stone wall at the end of the room, leaving a shattered hole in her wake.

The library lay in disarray, with scorch marks, broken furniture, and toppled bookcases bearing witness to the fierce battle that had unfolded. Jesus Christ... Leon struggled to his feet, his body aching and fatigued. Broken glass crunched beneath his boots as he shook off the weariness that threatened to overtake him. He ran them.

Katie and Hime stood apart, their disheveled hair and battered bodies. Bruises, burn marks, and cuts adorned their forms. Hime's voice dripped with venom as she hissed, pointing her blade menacingly.

"This little game is over," she spat.

Gray clouds drifted over their heads. Leon stopped behind her, the princess's gaze shifting to him. "What the hell do you want?" he snapped, taking a stance.

She smiled warmly, lowering her blade. "I'll tell you all you want to know... but you must surrender."

Katie raised her pistol but lowered it as she saw who came around the corner. King was being led at gunpoint by several men in black, red, and white uniforms. He attempted to bite one of them and was met with a hit to the jaw from their rifle. One old man dragged Ed and Richard by the cuffs of their shirts.

He bowed to Hime. "Quite lively these two were. I can see why the host of Diablos keeps them in good company."

"Very well done, Jed," she said, curtly nodding. Her blade glinted ominously as she aimed it at Katie. The weight of the situation descended upon them like a suffocating shroud. "If you value the lives of your comrades, you'll surrender immediately and come with me." Hime snapped her fingers, and the men with guns pressed their barrels against King's head, tightening the grip on his neck. The sounds of choking and gasping filled the air, sending shivers down Leon's spine. "I won't ask twice."

The crackling bolts of lightning dancing around Katie vanished, and she landed back on the ground. "Fine," Katie said, her voice laced with defiance. "So your betrayal is certain."

Hime raised her eyebrows and let out a chilling giggle. With a swift motion, she smacked the back of her hand across Katie's face, the impact echoing through the tense atmosphere.

"Betrayal? You ignorant fool," Hime growled, her eyes burning with malevolent crimson. For a moment they watered, but she violently blinked those tears away. "YOU are the one who betrayed me and attacked my unit! ... I trusted you."

"...Save your breath. I already tried telling you the truth once," Katie said, narrowing her eyes. "You were my first friend... My first real friend. Is believing in my innocence truly so difficult?"

The princess rolled her eyes. "Perhaps if you had turned yourself in... My trust was spat upon the moment you raised your guns against me. Restrain them all and throw them in the train's brig!" The soldiers swiftly moved to execute her orders, clamping cuffs onto Katie's wrists and tightening their grip on their captives. "All of them except for that one!" Hime pointed at Leon. "I will interrogate him personally."

Leon's heart pounded as his grip tightened around his sword. His instincts screamed at him to take action. Still, he hesitated, torn between the safety of his friends and the dangerous unknown that lay ahead. Katie's muffled voice pierced his thoughts, urging him to attack, but he hesitated.

"You want my permission?" Leon sneered, his voice laced with contempt.

"She's the host of Jalaiya! You do know she intends to kill you, don't you? If you don't care what I do, then I'll simply-"

"Stop!" Leon's shout echoed through the tense silence as blood dripped from Hime's blade pressed against Katie's neck. "She's not my enemy! I don't want her dead! Let my friends go!"

Hime looked at him incredulously. "My lady?" Jed and the soldiers exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of how to proceed.

"Just run away!" Katie's desperate plea rang out, but Hime stomped on her head, knocking her unconscious.

"You dare speak to him so comfortably? You are unworthy of him, you gutless sky trash!" Hime's voice dripped with venom. "Place her and the others in the holding cells," she commanded, pointing toward the imposing building behind them.

"What?" Leon's hand instinctively reached for his sword. He hardly blinked when Hime was beside him, placing a hand against his arm. "I've spared them, but how to deal with them is not a decision I can make alone, Diablos. Please, rest your blade."

Leon glared at her and shrugged her off. "And just where are you taking them?"

With that, she smiled. "To my kingdom, of course. Come along. We have much to discuss."