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The blue-haired elf had her face pressed to the window of the horse carriage, drinking in all the sights and scenery that passed by. Much of it has been forested areas, and she could hear the faint call of birds chirping. The scent of those trees also smells familiar, and she was struck with a pang of homesickness. Back in the Forest, she was always surrounded by nature and trees. She missed the feeling and atmosphere of being in the woods, yet found that she did not regret all the adventures she has been experiencing.

The Forsaken Region was bigger than she thought, judging by the distance and time they have been in the carriage. For most of the way, the driver had not bothered to talk to his passengers, which she was grateful for. It would have been awkward if they had to explain why she was mute, albeit temporarily. At least, that was what she hoped. She still had two-thirds of the potion tucked snugly in her little pouch. It had not crossed her mind to ask the shop owner back then of how much to take. Common sense had told her not to gulp the whole thing down, so she had been prudent and drank only a third of it. She could always take more as needed, but she had stayed silent throughout the ride, not wanting to try speaking again in case it only brought more disappointment.

Suna sneaked a furtive glance at the mercenary, who seemed deep in thought and was looking out at the opposite window. He seemed to be brooding over something in the past, something that veiled his demeanor like a shadow. The silence inside the carriage was not uncomfortable - also, it was not like she could do anything about it anyways. Whatever was plaguing him, she thought it prudent to let him sort it out. Turning her face back towards the outside, she watched spellbound as the sun began to set, casting its bright reds and oranges across the horizon. It was a beautiful display that would soon be swallowed up in darkness.

The carriage jolted over a stone, and Suna’s chin hit the edge of the window. "Ooof." She rubbed her chin, hoping that Hans did not notice it. Thankfully, the driver had announced their destination, so he did not seem to catch her clumsy move. As he got off the carriage, she followed suit. It felt good to be standing on solid ground again, although she had enjoyed the peaceful ride here.

As the carriage rambled away, Suna stayed next to Hans, trailing him as close as she dared. She did not want to lose sight of him in this new and foreign place. Speaking of which, she still did not know where exactly they were headed. However, she trusted that the dark mage had a plan and knew the place. He certainly walked like these were familiar grounds. The people milling around the streets fitted the description of a gambling town. Azure eyes took in all the flashy sights and sounds, curious yet also cautious as to what they meant. Buildings loomed up around her, and some of the street lights flickered their welcome at her. Was it a welcome, or a warning?

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Suna kept one eye trained on the dark mercenary and the other on the flashing lights all around her. It seemed like a bustling town, alive and thriving with all its citizens. Though the signs were bright and everything seemed cheerful, there was also a note of something darker, something more sinister. She was not quite sure if it was because of the history, but the hustle and bustle acted like a mask for the underlying pain and suffering its inhabitants had gone through. Even if one were to look in the shadier sections of the street, there were hungry looks that spoke volumes. Of course, she was sure that there were warm hearts and minds here, but it was night, and the time when predators came out to prowl and to play.

On multiple times she had to hasten her steps to match with the man’s long strides - there was just so much to see, so much to take in. Once or twice she had gotten distracted, but thankfully he slowed his pace and she had found him again. Nonetheless, she could not afford to get distracted. She was a foreigner in this place, completely out of her element when it came to crowds. She had lived alone by herself in the Outer Forest - this town was completely on the flip side. Now that everyone was off work, it seemed like the whole city was out in the streets. They had made their way towards a quieter part of town, but no less dangerous. Suna had fallen a step behind the dark mage, as she thought it was safer. Little did she know that the opposite was about to happen.

A group of men approached the duo, and they did not look too friendly. As they came closer, Suna could see a strange light in their eyes, and her intuition warned her of their tainted desires. They did not seem to see the dark mercenary at all, and were addressing her directly. Her mind whirled. The street was quiet, and one of her newer spells should not damage any of the residential homes. She has not had much practice, but if they were to do anything to them, she was ready.

One of them was stepping closer… Her blue aura glowed in warning. She was about ready to unleash a spell with knockback when the dark mage came between them. Or, rather, a knife did. That blade flickered in the faint streetlights, but the message was clear. The closest thug did not seem to get it through that thick skull of his, however, and continued to challenge Hans. Suna had stepped behind the mercenary, and her hand was at her grimoire, poised and ready to cast.

"Aight...we'll back off."

That came from another man, the only one who had hung back and not advanced as close as the others. Suna caught Hans’ eyes and immediately started walking quickly, so close that she would definitely bump into him if he stopped abruptly. That easily? She doubted it, but did not dare look back. She heard mutters behind her, but not the exact words that were being exchanged.

After they were safely out of sight, Suna tugged Hans’ sleeve, hoping he would stop. If he did, she would mouth him the word as a question, "Lodging?" Whatever he had in mind, she figured they would need to find themselves a place to settle down for the night. If they were going to stay for a while, they would need a safe place for a base.

It seemed like he had it all planned out, and they were soon standing in front of an old house. It did not seem too run-down, although it was clear that it had not been inhabited for a long time. It did not seem worse for the wear, however, and Suna realized that this must be the mercenary’s old place. She did not know what was going through his mind, but she was sure it was bringing up many memories. The elf walked up ahead, and tried opening the waist-high iron gate. The latch was covered with spiderwebs and rusty, but somehow she managed to rattle it free.

Screeeechh went the rusty hinges, and she froze for a moment, her face scrunched up at the grating sound. It was not a pleasant sound, and her whole body cringed as she opened it the rest of the way. The dark house loomed up before her, and she looked back at Hans. The front door was locked - would he happen to have the key? She glanced around at the decaying wood framing the windows. Perhaps he knew of another way in?

---

Back where the stare-off had been, the leader of the thugs was tapping his cigarette, absent-mindedly watching the ashes fall on the pavement. "Hans Walker," he muttered underneath his breath. "So he’s back..." His mutterings were lost in the protests of the other thugs, who were still peeved at their prize getting away.

"Aww c’mon, boss! There were five of us!"

"Yeah! Five to one - we all know how that would end!"

"Oi oi! That blue gal was mighty fine, and we would’ve let you have her first, boss!" A few guffaws.

"She looked like she’s never had a real man before!"

"As if you are one!" Some sounds of shoving.

"Who is he anyways? He looked barely strong enough to lift a sword--"

"Shut up!" The leader spun around, flicking his half-used cig at the loudest man. The group had instantly fallen silent. "You don’t know him, nor are you prepared to face him." He eyed each one of them critically, then waved them off dismissively. "I don’t care about the girl, you can do whatever you want with her. I only want the boy."

"Oi," the greasy voice dawled, "do I hear a kidnapping in the making? Haven’t done one in years!" Other voices chimed in with their ideas. "So, what’s the plan?"

"Not tonight." The leader said shortly, crossing his arms. "Report first, then we’ll see what she decides to do."

"C’mon boss, why you lettin’ a woman control you arou--"

Shing! Something glittered menacingly close at the unlucky thug’s neck. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. "N-Nothing, boss. I said nothing."

"I thought so. Now," the knife slipped back into its sheath. "Two of you, go find out where they’re staying for the night and report back."

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As the sound mage followed the mercenary to the back of the house, she felt the back of her neck prickle. Her entire body tensed, and bright cerulean eyes darted nervously from side to side. Why did she get the feeling that she was being watched? However, she did not notice anything out of the ordinary - but then again, she did now know what ordinary was in this place. Must have been just my imagination then. Silly girl. She brushed off the goosebumps that had appeared at the unsightly feeling and followed the man to the back of the house.

She watched the man put pressure on different parts of the wall, and one piece of it moved. So there was another way in. He removed it and climbed in first. She glanced nervously behind her. She really hoped it was just her imagination back there - she did not like the idea of being watched. Crawling in, she carefully put the square piece back behind her and started making her way up. She grabbed the proffered hand and stepped into the room.

For a few moments, she stood still, studying the room. His room? It was dark inside, so she did not see the owner’s facial expressions, though a few lone rays of moonlight peeked through the shuttered windows. There were still a few children’s toys scattered about, although covered in cobwebs. It smelled slightly damp and musty, which was understandable since the room has not been aired for years and years. There was a layer of dust on the floor, and wherever they walked, it looked like footprints in the snow. She walked over to one of the barred windows, which has been shut for who knows how long. "Uhmph!" She yanked one of the boards off. Then another. The wood came off fairly easily, and she could see glimpses of the moon through the dirty glass.

Now that the window was partially uncovered, she felt around for the window latch. Mmm...there! She unlocked it, and managed to crack the window open. Just a little. Just enough to let some of the clean night air in. She has always been a little paranoid about sleeping with the windows completely shut. She was a witch, after all, and was used to smelling the outside air, even in her sleep. Besides, she was still feeling a little uneasy. Regardless whether it was her imagination or intuition, she wanted to make sure she could hear any strange noises from the outside. It was better to be safe than sorry, after all.

She turned back into the room to see Hans fluffing up the bedcovers. "Achoo!" She sneezed at the dust. Regardless, she was grateful that they had a safe place to stay for the night. She had some yul with her, but most likely not enough for a couple nights of lodging. She waved her hands at the dark mage, indicating that she did not mind. She pulled off her tall riding boots, a pleased little sigh coming from her lips. It was her favorite part of the day, taking her shoes off before bed. Gingerly, she slipped between the covers, trying not to disturb too much of the dust.

Suna laid there, staring at the ceiling. It was strange, sleeping in a place that belonged to another’s childhood. It felt like she was almost intruding on a sacred space. She rolled over to the edge of the bed, and saw that Hans was planning to sleep on the floor. Her eyebrows furrowed. This would not do. This was his room, after all. If anything, she should be the one sleeping on the floor.

She waved her hands at the man’s face, trying to get his attention. If he did, she would pat the side of the bed and scoot over to the other side of the bed. It was big enough for both of them, after all. If he would come join her, she would put her grimoire in between them. Like it would be any type of barrier if he decided to do something, but she trusted that he was a gentleman. Turning so her back would be facing his side, the elf would close her eyes and allow the day’s events to wash over her. Her breaths deepened and lengthened, and she drifted off into a sleep filled with pink smoke and dark eyes.

---

"Ah, so they’re here already." Long red fingernails tapped against the chair’s armrest, which already bore marks of deep gouges in its wooden surfaces. "Quicker than I expected, but it only means the action can start sooner!"

"Ma’am? The potion?"

"Yes, yes. Impatient lot, you thugs." Slender fingers threw a vial, and eager hands caught it. "Once she drinks it, she will become as supple as clay in your hands." A mirthless laugh. "Just you wait, Suna. Your voice is only the first thing I am taking from you!"

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Suna had been unaware of the struggle she had put the man through when she offered the other side of the bed. If she had known, she would not have slept as soundly as she did. From her perspective, it was with a caring motive that she scooted over. After all, it was his room and his bed, and the floor was fit for no human being to sleep on. Especially in its horrendous dusty condition.

Regardless, the elf had fallen fast asleep almost immediately, and slept like a rock until the morning rays began to peek through the partially-shuttered window. It was the sound of the bedroom door opening that woke her. Groggy eyes opened, and she rubbed them, trying to get rid of the blurriness that came from sleep. Why did the room look so unfamiliar? Where was the leafy design on her ceiling? She turned around to a glimpse of the man’s back as he exited the room. She bolted upright to a sitting position, and regretted it as the blood rushed from her head, making her a little dizzy.

Once the phase passed, she opened her eyes again. His grimoire was still on top of hers in the middle of the bed, and so was his sword. It all came rushing back to her. Yesterday’s horse carriage ride to Aries Garse. The thugs. This house. His room. How she invited him to sleep in the same bed as her…

The elf’s face flushed to a hot scarlet shade. She just realized how bold of a move that was - her kind thought and action could have been easily misunderstood. Baka baka! She hit her forehead with her hand. What does he think of me now? On one hand, the man seemed too stand-offish to have an interest in anyone. On the other hand, he was doing all this for her. Did he really have an interest in her or…?

She stopped herself right there. There was no way he thought about her that way. All they had was consideration for each other’s well-being. Just concern for a friend, she reprimanded her wayward mind sharply. That’s all.

The rusty creak of another door being opened, and a masculine voice filtered through the hallway. ’Mother’? He had never spoken about his family. Then again, he did not speak often about himself at all. Slipping off the bed, she tucked her grimoire by her side. After a second of hesitation, she also grabbed the dark mage’s grimoire and sword, marvelling at how heavy the latter was. She followed the sound of things being moved around, and found Hans rummaging through some objects.

The room was sparse and more functional than naught, but it clearly belonged to a female. There were traces of womanly touches in the room, and from what she had gathered, this must be Hans’ mother’s room. It was also in a deplorable state, layers upon layers of dust on every surface and cobwebs everywhere. Suna stood by the door way, uncertain whether she should go in and help. Again, that feeling of intrusion came back. This was like a memory that was playing out before her. She may not know his mother, but it was apparent that she was a huge part of the mercenary's life. She leaned the other’s sword against the wall and watched the man search for whatever he was trying to find.

"Wha har you luging for?"

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Suna gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. W-Wait! Did I just…? Her eyes widened in shock, and Hans could have seen that her mouth was also hanging wide open, if it was not hidden by her hands. She had shocked herself. She had just naturally spoken out like how she usually would, and did not remember what disadvantage she had been placed under. "I-I...I..." Her tone was hesitant, as if she did not want to believe it herself. So it seemed like the potion she bought at the apothecary had worked!

The dark mage had also seemed to realize it, too, and was also looking at her with a look of shock and surprise. For a few moments she just stood there, dumb, but as it finally hit her, a glowing smile lit up her face. "Yes!" She shouted, but then a fit of coughing hit her. Apparently her voice was not completely back to normal. Not yet. She would have to be careful not to strain her voice until it was completely better. "I’m okay." She whispered.

Of course, she was not sure whether it was because the potion she drank really was an antidote to the spell’s effects, or whether the spell was just starting to wear off. Even though the aroma mage was powerful, Suna did not think the former’s power was at the level to cause permanent damage. Even when Vera was seducing those men, she would still have to regularly meet with them to keep her spell effects going.

However, it was too early to celebrate, as the sound of a door opening caught both of their attention. Hans had leapt into action right away, sneaking towards the front of the house without even taking his sword or his grimoire, the latter which Suna was still holding. Grabbing his katana, the blue-haired elf followed him, also keeping her footsteps quiet. She moved a bit slower, as she had his grimoire with one hand and the long blade on the other hand. She kept the handle towards the man if he ever wanted to grab it out of its sheath. It was slightly strange how he trusted her to handle his sword - she had always felt that weapons were a personal item, much like her harp. She would not want just anyone to touch her harp, but if it was Hans…honestly, she would not mind. She could trust him with any of her musical instruments.

There was a sound of a man yelping, and Suna turned around the corner to see Hans grabbing a stranger by the collar and pinning him to the wall. The dark mage was obviously furious at someone intruding in his old home, and was growing more incensed at the explanations the intruder was giving as to why he was there. Her eyebrows furrowed. So the necklace that Hans was looking for...this stranger had stolen it and no longer has it? And to a gambling house? That made things more difficult. Somehow, she was not surprised.

The mercenary still had the other guy flush against the wall, and she could see knuckles growing white on both men - one in anger, one in fear. "H-Hans." She called out hesitantly, afraid that he was going to do something drastic or bad to the other man. True, it was not right for that straggler to pilfer old abandoned houses, but she knew how powerful Hans was. Powerful enough to deal serious harm and damage. Her eyes pleaded for him to calm down. She was reluctant to hand over his sword if he made a move for it, however. There was no knowing what would happen if the katana was in the hands of an angry man.

Thankfully, he seemed to calm down. Perhaps he had understood that it was in the past, and that hurting the stranger was not going to get the necklace back. He had let the man go, and after a few seconds, the dark mage also ran out the open front door. "Wait..." She still had his sword and grimoire - where did he think he was going without them? The blue-haired elf sighed and shook her head. Men... And ran out after him.

However, the man was running at full speed, and she was burdened with additional weight, so she soon lost track of the dark figure. ’Gambling Sages,’ was it? It was a good thing she remembered the name of the gambling house. After entering the town, she stood there on the sidewalk for a few moments, at loss as to where the place was. There were a few loitering people on the streets, and while some were nice enough to point her the way, every one that she asked had stared at her either destainfully or critically. There was no time to care about what they thought of her, but she was sure it was not everyday that a respectable-looking person would ask about the location of a gambling house, much less carry a grimoire and a sword that was obviously too big for her.

Speaking of the former, the elf clutched it closely to her chest, trying to hide the four-leafed sign on the front of the grimoire. It would not do to have people see such a high tier grimoire being carried around, especially when the carrier already had one by her side. After a few minutes of searching and a few more questions about the location, she finally arrived in front of the gambling house. She glanced up at the sign. ‘Gambling Sages.’ Yes, it was the right place. Not somewhere she would usually go. Actually, not a place she would ever want to step foot in besides emergencies.

Suna took a deep breath. Well, this can be considered an emergency. Since both her hands were occupied, she used her arm and shoulder to push the front double doors open. Immediately, the overwhelming scent of alcohol swept over her, and she felt like gagging. It was so strong, it was making her eyes water. Coughing, she stepped to the side, letting her eyes adjust to the darker room. It was loud and rowdy even this early in the day, and there were a few people who were obviously drunk already. Clutching the grimoire and sword tighter to herself, she slowly made her way in the building, eyes nervously darting from side to side, trying to find the man she was looking for. There were a few pairs of eyes directed towards her, but none of them were the ones she was looking for.

"Heyyy girlie! Come sit over here!"

"Drinks on me, cutie!"

"Shuddup, I saw her first!!"

The blue-haired elf did not answer, only shook her head vehemently at those drawled invitations and pressed on. She was sure she looked like a total stranger. Not only did she look out of place here, she felt completely out of her element. It was a fact that she stuck out like a sore thumb, drawing more attention than she would like. Unbeknownst to her, her entrance had also drawn the attention of some familiar figures, those thugs from last night. All she had in mind was to find Hans.

Oh! Is that him? Her pace sped up when she saw what appeared to be the dark mage’s back. As she neared the man, however, he suddenly turned around, and she stood face to face with one of the thugs from the previous night. Before she could react, a hand covered her mouth, and several hands pinned her arms to the side and dragged her to a shadowy corner. "Hmmph--" She struggled against the strong arms that grabbed her, but to no avail. She could see the faces of her attackers now - definitely the same people she saw from last night. They were all here. Her magic...if only she could have a few moments to gather her aura and…

Something wet and rough was slapped over her nose and mouth. She continued struggling, trying to twist out of the tight grips. What was happening? What were they after? What is this sweet, musky odor she is smelling? Where was Hans? Where had the sword and grimoire gone?

"Quick! Hold her!"

"Make sure she doesn’t make a sound!"

"Umph! That b---h kicked me!"

"Hold her tighter then!"

"I like feisty ones, especially in my bed."

"Hey! I call dibs first!"

There! She had dropped both the sword and the grimoire on the ground. Sorry, Hans. Suna kicked both objects under a nearby table. That was the last thing she remembered before the drug overpowered her and her vision blackened out...

Sorry, Hans.

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"...speaking of which, did you hear what she said the other day?"

"No, I didn’t, but let me guess...something about her latest conquest?"

A girlish giggle. "Ahaha, that’s a given, silly! But yes, she said that this latest conquest of hers gave her some of his magic!"

"But how does that work? I thought your magic can’t be transferred to another person."

"Well, according to her, she found a way to take the power of those guys’ magic, but only a little bit of it. She also said it was so funny to see them try to fight back but couldn’t, because their whole magic balance has been disrupted."

"Interesting. I wonder how she does it..."

"Me, too. I wonder how much she could take. Doesn’t that mean she’ll become even more powerful?"

"As if she wasn’t powerful enough." A scoff. "She’s just a b---h thirsty for attention, and she uses her beauty and power to get it!"

"Those poor guys... But anyways, I saw that she also got this new fancy necklace. She said she got it really cheap from some random gambling house, and had it remade for her."

"Whatever. She’ll get tired of the trinket soon enough, just like with all the guys she’s left behind. You know her core group? Elyna and the others? They don’t really care about her, they’re just her ‘friends’ because they’re afraid to get on her bad side."

"Same, though. I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. She’s got an awwwwful temper!" A mock shiver. "Oooo and did you hear about Suna?"

"That hermit elf? I’m almost surprised she hasn’t joined the covenant as a nun yet."

"Yeaaa that one! Heard that she got a gold grimoire last week!"

"Ha, much good it would do for her. She’s still just as quiet as a dead tree, and dead trees aren’t pretty!" A few more giggles. "Curious though, since her element is sound, after all."

"I know! Seriously, that should’ve been me! At least I could’ve put it into good use for my plant magic. But no, here I am stuck with a bronze one while that gold grimoire is being waaaasted on her!"

"I agree, it would’ve been better if it was you. She may be an elf, but she’s still just a nobody."

"Exactly! But heh, whatever. Did you hear about what Loren did yesterday..."

A few meters away, crouched down behind a tree, a blue-haired girl buried her wet face in her arms...



Something rough was digging into her arms and ankles. Unconsciously, she wiggled around a little, trying to find a position that had less tension and pain.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!"

The second voice was right next to her ear, and if she was not restrained, the elf would have jumped back at the unexpected closeness of it. She wrinkled her nose, trying not to gag. Whoever said it also had bad breath, not to mention that his voice was also not pleasant to listen to. It was rough and guttural, terribly grating and dark like the voice was itself made of cigarette smoke.

Being a sound mage, she was sensitive to whatever she heard. While she was naturally attracted to the sound and aura of things, sometimes it proved to be more of a curse than a blessing. Her elements make her more attuned to her surroundings, and right now, even without opening her eyes, she knew this was somewhere she did not want to be. Wherever ‘here’ was.

Hans! Her eyes finally flew open. Where is he? Her eyes opened to see a somewhat familiar pair of eyes - but not the ones she wanted to see. Then she realized that there was something stuffed in her mouth. Bound on her arms and legs, and her mouth also? Seriously? She wiggled around a little more, and felt the bulky weight of a book strapped to her side. Thankfully, it seems like they did not see her as much as a threat, and did not even bother to take her grimoire away.

"You’re awake." A rough hand stroked her cheek, and Suna flinched at the repulsive touch. "Oui, I like spirit! Makes them more fun to break! Too bad that the pink woman took away your voice, ‘cause I like my girls to moan and be loud in bed." A guffaw. Calloused fingers traced her nose, her lips, and started to wander and make their way down to her neck...and collarbone...and lower...

"Uumph!" Suna twisted and turned and struggled against the tight ropes that held her down. What time was it? She could not really tell. One thing she knew, though, was that they all still believed her to be mute by Vera’s spell. That misunderstanding may not help much, but perhaps she could do something with it….

Suna still felt a little woozy from whatever drug she had breathed in, and there was a dim lamp flickering beside where she was laying. Must be in the evening, or maybe even later. It seemed like she was in a warehouse of sorts, by the corner. At the moment, there only seemed to be one thug guarding her. Where were the others? Where was Hans? Was he all right? Did he get his grimoire and sword? Honestly, she could not remember.

"Since I’m such a nice guy," a sarcastic snort, "I’ll take that rag out from that pretty mouth of yours. No use since you’re mute anyways, ha!" As soon as the nasty rag was removed, Suna made a face and spat at the thug’s face. "Hey!" The man’s expression instantly turned dark. "You’re gonna regret that later, when I--"

Bam! A door from the other side of the building flew open. Footsteps echoed as several figures entered the warehouse. Suna lifted her head, straining to see who those footsteps belonged to. Unfortunately, the big burly thug was in her way, and she could not see what was going on, or who had just come in.

"Jacques! You didn’t pop her already, did you?" The voice sounded like one of the thugs, if she remembered correctly.

"Naww man!" her tormentor addressed as Jacques guffawed loudly. "Can’t you see that her clothes are still on?"

Then a voice that instantly made Suna freeze.

"Hello, darling sister. Did you sleep well?" A perfectly-manicured hand came into view, waving the burly body of that thug away. Vera stepped into view, and Suna glared at the witch. "My, my, why do you look so violent, sweetie? It’s not becoming of you, and you’ll ruin your features." Long fingers traced along the side of her jawline, and though the skin was smooth and cool, it was no less repulsive compared to the thug’s touch earlier. "Not that it would matter, since I have your precious boy here!"

Hans? The sound mage struggled to look around the other woman, and saw that two of the thugs were dragging a body into the room. She almost cried out in shock and pity at the sight of Hans’ badly burned body. He was burned and bruised all over, and those wounds looked deep.

"Ayy, Jones there pretty much made him a crisp." Vera tsked at the said man. "Pity I wouldn’t be able to enjoy that gorgeous lean and hard body...but at least I’ll be able to enjoy his power!"

Suna’s eyes widened. She remembered something about Vera stealing other people’s powers, but to think that it was true… The elf was boiling in anger at what the aroma mage was and had been doing, but she had to keep a level head. Think, Suna! Grimoire is strapped shut...hands are tied down, can’t play my harp even if I wanted to...what can I do?

"You look surprised, Suna dear. But no worries, I’ll let you see firsthand how I do it, then I’ll take yours!" Vera turned and walked towards where she assumed the still-unconscious body was.

The blue-haired mage tracked her steps, but her mind was elsewhere. Not all spells rely on your grimoire... If anyone was looking closely, one could see that there was something glowing and swirling inside the elf’s clenched fists...

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Almost...just a few more seconds... Suna bit down on her lower lip, willing her aura to just hurry up and form properly. However, subtlety was crucial - she cannot let them see what she was about to do until the timing was ready. It took everything in the sound mage’s control to not call out to Hans. However, she kept her mouth shut. Who knows what Vera would do if she knew that her spell had been countered or lessened?

"Really, Jones, you did too much." The displeasure in the pink witch was evident in her tone. To be honest, she was annoyed that the thug leader did not follow her directions. He had broken her plaything too early on, and that stole away the twisted satisfaction she would have had in breaking her target herself. "Didn’t I say to bring him back whole and alive? You’ve burned off parts of him, so that isn’t ‘whole,’ is it?" To his bold request, she only gave a light shrug. "Of course, of course," she said flippantly, waving her hand dismissively. "Whatever you want, after I’m through with him. You men really are impatient." She did not wait to hear the man’s response though, as she had already turned to face Hans.

"Poor dear," she cooed, reaching out and attempting to lay her hand over his eyes. "I’ll heal you, but it will come with a price, I’m afraid..." From her necklace, pink smoke started pouring out, attempting to envelop the man’s burned body, but Hans’ words made her freeze for a second. Her eyes were soft before, but now they hardened and narrowed in suspicion. "What are you talking about? This necklace is mine. I bought it." She laughed, but it was not a pleasant one. "You’ve been hurt too deeply to think clearly, sweetie. Hush now..." Again, pink haze began to flow from the necklace. It was only now that she noticed darkness gathering around Hans’ body, and it overpowered her own smoke.

It seemed like the thugs had also noticed it, and Jones called her out on it. "Quiet, simpleton. Did you forget who’s in control here?" She raised a delicate eyebrow at Jones. Instead of being afraid of the rising darkness, however, she only smiled. "Yes," she murmured, looking back at the body before her, "unleash it all..." Her necklace was starting to glow, and a strange glint had come into her eyes.

Now! A light, rapier-like sword had formed in her right hand, and with all the attention on Hans, Suna had quickly cut through her bindings. Now that she was free, she softly hummed a certain pitch, and her trusty harp materialized in front of her.

Despite her attempt at being quiet, her hum had not gone unnoticed. One of the thugs closest to her let out a shout at seeing her unbound, standing upright with a sword and harp at the ready. "Hey! The elf!" All eyes turned towards her, and two of the thugs started to run towards her, knives unsheathed.

Ritenuto! Slender fingers swept through the strings, quiet and muffled with her left hand. Her sound magic poured out, like a stream that was flooding the room. It was a good thing she had been practicing her control, as now this restraining spell could restrain and debuff six targets in total. Upon contact, her music swirled upwards and bound their targets’ legs to the floor.

Suna knew her restraining spell would be able to hold down the lesser thugs, but did not know whether it would be strong enough to hold down Vera or Jones. Her suspicions were confirmed when Vera only lifted her legs and pulled free from her spell like it was nothing more than mud beneath her feet. She did not even seem the slightest fazed by it. "Nice try, little sister." The aroma mage did not even bother to turn her head to face the other elf. "You should power that up, by the way. It does nothing to me."

However, Suna was not done yet. A Tempo! The force of her magic knocked back the lesser thugs by 14 meters, far enough for them to be thrown to the other side of the warehouse. Vera, who was caught off guard by the sudden spell, was also blown back a few meters. Suna darted over to Hans’ side, but kept her eyes on the enemies. This spell had dual uses. As her soothing melody filled the room, it attempted to envelop Hans. If he would allow it, this spell would cleanse him of any debuffs, curses, or any ills he may have. Unfortunately, it would take some time for it to completely heal his burns, but he should be effectively cleansed of minor surface damages and poisons, if any.

She tossed her sword hilt first back to Hans, who hopefully caught it. It was a thin and lightweight blade, not as heavy-duty as Hans’ katana. But whether he knew it or not, her weapon could deal intermediate damage, no matter what rank its wielder was. For now, she could hold them back, hopefully buying some time while she attempted to heal the dark mage.

WC: 865 ⊹ TOTAL WC: 6,709 ⊹ TAG: @morty2
NOTES: Wooo let's goooo