Chapter 16: The Team Departs
After having discussed the plan with Lord Nick on the second floor, the Magister descended into the hall where Danielle and Riza were waiting for him.
“Well, what’s the decision?” Riza asked.
“I’ve discussed Lord Wagner’s powers with Lord Nick. I’ve decided that you and I will go alone, Riza. As for your mother, she will remain in our mansion under Lord Nick’s supervision while I’m gone”.
Riza nodded. Danielle heaved a sigh and embraced her tightly:
“Please, be careful…”
“I will, mom. Don’t worry,” Riza hugged her back.
“Let’s head out”.
“I’m coming too!”
Edmund raised an eyebrow and turned back, to see Tiger with all of her three pets.
“You are not fit for the battle that awaits us, Tiger. I don’t want you to get hurt”.
“Duh! My pets and I have worked hard. We will be useful!”
“I said no”.
“No fair! Riza is my sis and I must help her!”
“What if I come too? I can assist Tiger,” Tamie cut in. “We two have fought together before, so I think we can make it”.
“Yeah, you fought together and got your necks broken, both of you. I don’t want to risk my brethren in such a dangerous battle as this one”.
“But_”
“No buts! You both are staying!”
“They’re coming”.
Everyone looked at Nick, who stood on the stairs leading to the second floor.
“Huh? You want to doom your sister to death in a battle against the Aquarius Celestial Lord?” Edmund couldn’t believe his ears.
“Not against Lord Wagner. Because you rarely think ahead, Ed, you still haven’t been able to achieve the Sage rank yet. Do you think Wagner will let you in just like that? You will need to defeat his minions first. Tiger, as the Tamer Class, is a good match against multiple minions – her pets can increase the numbers. Same goes for Tamie – she is the Writer Class, so she can summon help with her scroll and ink-brush”.
“But she’s still only Scribbler rank, level five! She can summon only inanimate objects now!”
“She’ll get better when she fights, not when she sits at home. Take her with you. Trust me”.
Nick smiled, sure of his sister’s might. Edmund watched him for a while, then sighed and swung his hand:
“Fine, let’s go…”
“Hurrah!” Tamie and Tiger gave each other a high-five. “Thank you so much, Nick!”
“Take care! Also,” Nick’s countenance turned grim, “no matter what happens Tamie, do not call him, okay? Call me if you see any serious danger”.
Tamie widened eyes in fright as she guessed whom he meant under ‘him’.
“I will!”
Thus, once they bade goodbye, Edmund led the three girls and Tiger’s three pets out of the mansion. When the gates closed behind them, he wove a hand sign and cried:
“Rooster Spirit, Ring Four – White Air Peacock!”
A giant White Peacock spirit embraced him, put him into its central core, squealed, and unfolded its wings.
“So this is the famous White Peacock Spirit only the Air element Rooster spirits can achieve!” Tamie said. “It is this big?”
“Cool…” Tiger was dumbfounded.
“It is gorgeous…” Riza was amazed as well.
“Climb on. We shall fly there. I know my spirit is beautiful but we’ve got no time for admiration now”.
Riza sighed with annoyance – all in all, Edmund was still a stuck-up nerd in the end.
The girls and the three pets climbed the giant Peacock spirit’s cloudy white, red-spotted tail to take seats on its back, while Edmund remained in its core, as the spirit was his. When he got assured all of the team members were on the Peacock’s back, he made the spirit swing its wings and flew up high. He headed south-west at the speed of the wind.
“Woohoo!”
The girls felt happy riding the giant White Peacock spirit. Riza’s heart throbbed in her chest – she knew her destiny was being decided right now. She had clutched the Peacock spirit’s shadowy feathers. She greatly hoped it would all work out and she’d remain free. This lust for freedom while having the spirit’s feathers clutched could not remain unnoticed by Edmund Jaeger, who shared his body with the spirit.