Battle of Inasdale

-----Kaede's POV

Yui: "I'll see you tomorrow."

Kaede: "Mhmm!"

We make it back to the house I'm staying at as we stop just by the door. I really wish that we can stay together longer, but a time will come again, once this supervision is all done. I'll need to thank Neri for allowing me to even go out with Yui like that.

With no one else around, we share a final kiss on the lips as it only makes me recall what we just did before. Honestly speaking, I would've liked it if we continued a bit longer.

Yui: "Hehe, I'll go grab Natalie then."

And so after we head inside, Yui and Natalie both go to exit the house as Yui shoots a bright smile my way.

Yui: "Thank you for letting me have her~"

Neri: "That's okay."

With that, the door closed behind them, leaving me back with everyone else. It still sucks that I can't be with Yui right now, but she did say we'll see each other tomorrow, so I'm in no way troubled by it.

Natalie: "So~ What did you two get up to? Have fun?"

Yui: "None of your business!"

I chuckle upon hearing their muffled voices past the door, slowly trailing off in the distance.

Neri: "You were gone for quite some time."

Kaede: "Huh?"

Neri: "I was starting to think whether I should send people out to get you."

Wait, were we out for that long? It didn't feel all that long to me, maybe like an hour or two at max.

Mell: "You were gone for quite a while, mom."

Kaede: "Sorry, but how long was I out for?"

Neri: "Almost 5 hours."

What?! Wait, so... We were actually doing that for that long? The realization causes my heart to flutter once again as I avert my gaze from everyone.

Sicily: "Hehehe. You had that much fun, hmm?"

Oh shut it, Sicily. Of course I did! But it's not like I can say such a thing. Even now I still remember her soft body pressing up against- No no no. Now's not the time to think that!

Kaede: "H-how was the tea making?"

Lillian: "Natalie did teach us, but we didn't have that much ingredients so we didn't get that much practice."

Sicily: "Was still yum though!"

Mell: "Mhmm!"

Fleur and Faye kept silent however, most likely since they've lost interest in learning since they won't even be able to enjoy the taste to begin with. I still need to find a good source of blood for them, but I guess for now, my blood will have to do.

-----Fabian's POV

Surprisingly enough, the entrance to Inasdale was unguarded as we easily managed to enter the city. Spider webs were everywhere, connecting between all the roof tops, however there was still not a single spider in sight, let alone those elves I saw. The soldiers were obviously suspicious as we all proceeded to move through the city with caution.

Leon: "Isn't it too quiet?"

Fabian: "Yeah. I don't like this."

Unlike Maemont where we ended up battling rather quickly, even after walking for a bit now, there's still no sign of any activity going on.

?: "Stop right there."

All of a sudden, a voice echoed in our ears as everyone began to look around, but there was nothing in sight. Leon and I share a glance with one another as we both realize who this is. The voice wasn't from the monster back in Maemont, but rather the same voice that attacked us in the academy.

?: "Good. Take one more step and this pitiful man you call "king" will perish."

Leon: "..."

Hearing her mention the king, Leon visibly looks pissed, but all of us hold our ground as we still have no idea where this voice it really coming from. If she brought up the king, then maybe they're all the way at the castle?

My question would soon be answered however as the familiar sound of heels walking on the ground slowly approached us. Then coming from out behind a building nearby, was none other than the monster in question. Her familiar white hair was a dead give away, the same hair that stopped the teacher's attack back in the academy, but what I didn't realized was that she had black strands in a part of her hair, much like the previous monster we encountered, but only reversed. But more importantly was the person in her hands. His body's covered in webs, leaving just his face for us to see as her fingers were wrapped around the man's throat.

Leon: "Father!"

?: "Sister told me that the brat would come. This saves me the trouble. Thank you, sister."

?: "No problem."

Another voice came from behind us as we all diverted our attention. Is was the same monster that attacked us in Maemont, but didn't Lucien kill her? I guess I was asleep, but surely-

?: "There's no more running for you. Kneel before me, or your king dies."

Her hand changes into a pitch black claw as her now elongated fingers tighten around the king's neck, drawing a bit of blood in the process.

Lucien: "No-"

In a blink of an eye, Lucien dashes forward, engaging the white hair monster as the king ends up flying back behind the two of them, crashing into the ground quite a distance away.

?: "Hoh? So you're alive after all. I would've figured that vampire took you out."

Lucien: "I figured you and that vampire were working together."

?: "Fufu~"

Their battle continues as shockwaves spread out to the rest of us, making it incredibly difficult to even stand. I can barely make out what's even happening as I see the two of them teleporting all over the place.

Soldier1: "What are you waiting for? Ch-"

Just then, the soldier that stepped a foot forward was crushed under the hand of the black haired monster. Blood splattered everywhere, staining the armor of nearby soldiers and houses.

?: "Don't interfere with sister's battle. Just stay put."

Wasn't she just behind us? How did she manage to cover all that distance to get there? I feel myself frozen in place at the sight of these monsters in front of me.

The battle between the white haired monster and Lucien continued as I can only see glimpses of their bodies from time to time. Honestly reminds me of Kaede in a way at just how fast they're moving.

?: "You fight pretty well for an old man."

Lucien: "I don't want to hear another word from your wretched mouth."

?: "Wretched? It's you humans that constantly try to expand to our lands. You have no right-"

Thankfully their words aren't moving at the speed of light like their movements, allowing us all to listen as we watch the fight.

Fabian: "What does she mean by that?"

Leon: "Father always wanted to expand further north. But every time, we'd lose countless soldiers."

Fabian: "I'm guessing these monsters..."

Leon: "Yeah... I think so."

So we basically pissed off monsters over the years and this is what happened? Suddenly, both Lucien and the white haired monster stop a fair distance apart from one another. Lucien was out of breath, but the same can be said about the monster. Lucien's body was also cut up pretty badly as I even spot blood dripping from the side of his face.

White: "How troublesome. Why couldn't that vampire finish you-"

In no time at all, Lucien re-engages the monster as their battle continues, but more chaotic than before as nearby houses end up blowing away just from the force of their strikes alone. Fire blazes through the air along with the ground moving towards the both of them. It's honestly a bit painful watching it with open eyes as I end up looking away at times.

Suddenly, the battle between the two quickly come to a stop as the cloud of dust slowly settles. It was then that I noticed Lucien's sword was now wedged straight through the chest of the monster.

Black: "No!"

Not even a second later, the black haired monster closed the gap between her and Lucien, forcing Lucien to engage the black haired monster instead. And just like that, every soldier began to charge forth, moving in to engage the enemy as well. But just as they were about to make it, spiders flooded out from the streets, intercepting the soldiers as Lucien is left battling both of the two monsters. I would've thought that the white haired one would be killed by that attack, but it seems like their still moving despite such a wound. I guess that's a monster for you.

Leon: "H-hey. You think we can reach father?"

Fabian: "What? You want to go through all this chaos?"

Leon: "I can't just leave him like that-"

Fabian: "W-wait!"

Not wasting anymore time, Leon charging forth, dodging past all the spider and soldiers as he heads straight to the king. There's no way I can manage that with my legs like this, I'd only get myself killed, plus my magic will only hurt the soldiers as well if I try to engage the spiders...

I end up looking back to where we came from as there's no enemies in sight. I can't believe I'm even considering abandoning everyone and just running, but I can't just risk myself dying here when I know how much danger my sister is in; especially after watching Lucien's fight right now...

But even if I somehow do find Ellen, there's no way I'm strong enough to fight Kaede. So whether I like it or not, I need to stay here and hopefully get help, praying for Lucien's success