Border 5:2

"I'm Ren Pyre." Ren said handing over the identification. "This is my son Bell, And our body guard Crutch."

"I see." The guard stationed said. "Unfortunately Mr. Pyre, This segment of the border is on lockdown due to an attempted assassination."

"I understand the urgency and the emergency." Ren said with a nod. "But it is also urgent for us to get to Dreftnell. Is there anyway for us to pass or to help so we may pass in a quicker fashion?"

"Unfortunately not." The guard said.

"We can provide you minor housing in exchange for labor." The second guard said cutting the first guard off. "But until the situation is concluded no one will be allowed to leave the premises. Once you enter, you are not permitted to leave."

"We understand." Ren said. "We will take you up on the offer." 

"Understood." The first guard said. "You may store your wagon and horse up at the stables. A guard will be waiting to escort you to your quarters."

"Thank you very much." Ren said. "Hip." She whipped the reins lightly and Lucky started to walk forwards. 

"Thank you!" Crutch said, waving to the guards with a bright smile.

"Get back in the cart!" Bell said, pulling Crutch back. "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm just so excited!" Crutch said. "I've never been out of Aberstand before! Let alone the whole country!"

"While I understand your excitement." Ren said. "You need to act more cautiously. We don't want to be remembered to well by the people here. The stealth squad is still on our tail, though I doubt they'll leave the country with us. We don't want to give them any reason to try and apprehend us." 

"I don't think I've heard of the stealth squad." Crutch said confused. 

"It was the former assassination squad." Ren answered. "They repurposed it to keep tabs on us. I'm... unsure as to why they aren't trying to capture us. It likely has to do with some suspicion of the acting king."

"Who is the acting king?" Bell asked. 

"It would go to your uncle Reginald." Ren said. "I'm not sure whether or not he's a part of the events that led to Ramone's death, but I know he can't use Magic at all. So he didn't kill him."

Ren pulled Lucky towards the Stables.

______

"You've received a letter." Reind said.

"Oh?" Reginald asked, tiredly. "From?"

"The stealth unit." 

Reginald woke with that sentence.

"Is there an update?"

"It seems Audrey is planning on taking Ralline to Dreft Nell to continue her training." Reind said. "And they've picked up a thief as well. Some one named Crutch. Ralline seems to be doing well, and seems to be learning magic from Audrey at a significant pace. Though they've discovered that some cities are already turning towards extortion and evil. Shalt wrote that he found a noble Family kidnapping children and making a phylactery. Audrey is now in possession of it."

"I see." Reginald said. "That's... sad to hear." 

"Yes." Reind said. "How are the stealth unit to proceed? Audrey is currently stuck at the border due to an incident with an Anima ambassador."

"Tell them to return." Reginald said. "It's quite clear Audrey means no harm to the princess, no need to risk harm to her or their other companion. I have a new assignment for them as well. The body of an Anima intruder from that night recently went missing. I need them to find it. And destroy it." 

"Understood your Highness."

______

"Hmm Hm Hmmmm~" Crutch hummed happily. 

He was currently cleaning the floor of the border control building. 

"Hey!" 

Crutch turned and looked at a guard. 

"Yes sir?"

"Lunch time kiddo!" The guard smirked. 

Crutch smiled. 

"Great!"

Following the guard Crutch saw Audrey and Ralline, or Ren and Bell he corrected. 

"Hey guys!" He said with a wave. Bell rolled her eyes and Ren nodded at him. 

It's been four days and nothings changed. 

Caw~

Lindt landed on Ren head, annoying the woman who instantly grabbed the Raven and Started to walk to the food. 

"You're going in the soup." 

"No!" Bell said, grabbing Ren's arm. "Don't hurt him!"

Crutch giggled as he watched them. 

"You've done good work today Crutch." A guard said serving him a bowl of soup. 

"Thank you sir!" Crutch smiled. "It's not a terribly difficult job. I'm just happy to help!"

"Much better than those two." The guard grumbled. "You've basically been hauling all three of you this far."

"They're uh... Trying?" Crutch said. 

"And failing." Another guard said. "You're their body guard right? What made that happen?"

"Oh That man saved my life!" Crutch said excitedly. "He bought my freedom from a nobleman. I can never repay him enough."

"Doesn't exactly look rich." The guard said curiously. 

"It wasn't with money." Crutch said. "But with threats of violence!" 

The two guards looked at the boy as though he was crazy.

"What?" Crutch asked confused. 

"...Nothing." The first guard said taking a sip of his soup. 

______

"Alright." Audrey said. "See that tree out there Bell?"

"Yeah?" Ralline answered. 

"Shoot it with Hydro spike."

Ralline looked at her like she was crazy. 

"That tree's like... three hundred feet away!"

"Try Four hundred feet." Audrey corrected. 

"You're crazy."

"It's less than half the distance I can shoot hydro spike." Audrey said. "I think you'll surprise yourself. Oh here."

She tossed the mana absorbing stone to Ralline who caught it. 

"Alright..." She said with a sigh. "I seek power from the veins below and above. Allow my rebellion against creation. And help me drown my target." 

Water swelled and formed a sphere. 

"Hydro Spike." Ralline said, and the water blasted forward. 

Splash!

About half way to the target the water deformed and fell to the ground. 

"See?" Ralline said. 

"Try harder." Audrey said. "You aren't using the spell to it's full potential. Watch me, tell me what the difference between our is."

"I seek power from the veins below and above. Allow my rebellion against creation. And help me drown my target." 

Ralline wanted as dark water formed a ball. 

Before Audrey blasted it Ralline blinked as she realized that Audrey had started to spin the water really fast, making it already look like a spike. 

"Hydro Spike." 

The spike blasted forwards in a perfectly straight line. 

It soared perfect by the tree and continued for another two hundred feet before landing and creating a gouge in the ground. 

"Holy crap!" A guard watching them said. "I've never seen water magic so strong?!"

"Hey." A second guard said. "I heard that a new craft weaver was teaching his son magic. He apparently saved Veinren from that Grimlock invasion."

"You don't think... those two?"

"You're spinning the water." Ralline said curiously. 

"Give it a try." Audrey said. 

Ralline nodded. 

"I seek power from the veins below and above. Allow my rebellion against creation. And help me drown my target." 

Water formed and Ralline started to spin it. Faster and faster. 

SPLASH!

She sputtered as water soaked her entire body. 

Audrey chuckled. 

"Good try." Audrey said. "But you're trying to spin all of the water at once. Spin only the outside of the sphere. It'll turn into a spike like that. And it won't explode on you. And once it's fired, it'll make the rest of the water spin as well."

"Good try Bell!" Crutch said from the sidelines. "I believe in you!"

"I'll shoot you!" Ralline threatened. 

"Awe..." Crutch mumbled saddened. 

"Focus." Audrey chastised. 

"Fine fine~!" Ralline whined. Holding onto the gem she chanted once again. 

"I seek power from the veins below and a-"

A blood curdling scream cut through the field and Everyone stopped for just a second. 

"That was the Anima's negotiator!" The first guard said with eyes wide. Both guards quickly started to run towards the scream.

"Crutch watch Bell." Audrey ordered. 

Audrey didn't wait for Crutch to nod before following after the two guards.

Breaking into a sprint, Audrey followed the two of them into the Border control building. 

As they approached the room, Audrey cast a protective barrier upon both herself and the two guards. 

Which saved both of their lives. 

A large hammer, the head was the size of a large melon, slammed through the wall, hitting them both to the side. 

Both crumbled to the ground, unconscious. 

"Hmph." A bull type Anima snorted out as it stepped out of the hole in the wall. "I missed one." 

"To bad for you." Audrey said, as the floor underneath the man collapsed and flooded in, pinning him to the ground. 

To the Anima's credit, he was able to break out of the prison, but not before Audrey stomped on his face, putting him under with a spell. 

Entering the room, Audrey stared at the two other assassins holding a dog Anima up by her collar. 

"Oi!" The first yelled. "What the hell'd you do to-" 

The Raccoon Anima was cut off as Audrey surrounded her head in water. 

She gasped and struggled, clawing and slamming at the sphere to no avail. 

"Let her go!" The snake Anima said, dagger pointed towards Audrey. 

"Not until you let her go." Audrey commanded. "What's so important about this girl that you'll send two sets of assassins after her?"

"None of your damn business!" She pressed the blade of the knife closer to the Dog Anima's throat, drawing a small amount of blood. "I'll kill her I fucking swear!"

"Oh yeah?" Audrey asked as giant water spikes formed above both the bull Anima and the Racoon Anima. Suddenly they turned to ice and started to spin so fast that you could almost see the wind billowing off of them. "I'll kill them and you before you can finish the job."

The Racoon Anima passed out, finally, from lack of air. 

"Oh looks like she's got a lung full of water." Audrey said. "Only a couple of minutes until she's fully brain dead."

"Y-You!" The Snake Anima hissed out. "I warned you!"

The Snake Anima went to stab the dog Anima. Only to stop as she felt a pain in her chest.

"You weren't paying attention." Audrey mocked lightly.

The snake Anima looked down and saw an icicle poking out of her chest, ice, quickly traveling up her body. 

"Y-You... can't..." She whispered as her eyes closed and she fell to the ground, dead.

The dog girl whimpered and ran over to Audrey, Crying.

"T-Thank you!" She cried. "I-I thought they were going to kill me!"

"T-There there." Audrey said. "Where are..." She stopped and looked at the dead Anima's in the corner of the room. "Oh." 

"I-I was so scared." 

"You're okay." Audrey said, patting her on the head awkwardly. She dispelled the water bubble from the Racoon girl and pulled the water out of her lungs. Gasps were heard as Audrey Nailed both her and the Bull Anima to the ground. 

Multiple guards were suddenly in sight, swords and spears pointed towards her. 

"Hands in the air!" They ordered. 

'Great.' Audrey sighed, setting her hands in the air. 'This is gonna be the whole rest of my day.'