“I don't understand,” Croix said emotionally. “Why are you doing this!?”

  Elvina gave no words back. Her face was that of anguish. She was crying but her tears were gray, mixed with ash.

  Croix desperately raised his shield and made it just in time, but the hand that was holding his shield suffered slash wounds all the same. Her attack power jumped greatly. Croix jumped back in a panic.

  “You!”

  Croix, Viers, Boram, Ciel, and Priest Breiz looked at the hooded figure behind Elvina.

  “What did you do to her!?” Croix demanded an answer.

  “This is her own doing, O little prince. The result of a foolish gamble. Me? I’m just enjoying the show.”

  Elvina was about to attack Croix again, but Boram and Falmerion arrived at Croix’s side. Something fishy was going on here but he would let his master and the others handle that. Meanwhile, he would buy them time against the berserk princess.

  With Boram and the juvenile dragon in play, Croix should be fine, Viers thought.

  “What happened to your observer? I don't sense him. He should be interfering by now!” Breiz shouted.

  “He’s taking a break somewhere. He won't come to help the half-blood. Why don't you do it yourself, old man?”

  Ciel walked towards him.

  “Ooohh, scary. I’m not looking forward to a brawl with you, hot stuff. I’m gonna bail.”

  “There’s a lot of things I want to know from you,” Viers cracked his knuckles. “You think you can get away?”

  “Here’s a better question, do you think I’m really here?” The hooded man said mischievously.

  The man vanished, like a mirage.

  “...That wasn’t an illusion,” Viers said after analyzing. “Some kind of clone ability?”

  “It doesn't matter,” Ciel said, her voice indicating she was furious. “I’m going after him.”

  Viers was about to say the same thing, but since he was in a gentlemanly mood he gestured, “ladies first.”

  “Remember, we need his intel. If he won't spill what he knows, bring him to me. Dead or alive doesn't matter.”

  As soon as he finished speaking, Ciel used her movement Arte. It looked like she disappeared after a camera flash.

  That hoodie guy was confident but Viers and Ciel were not your average Pathseekers.

  “I leave the princess to you,” Ciel’s voice came from somewhere.

  “Already planned on it.”

  Viers turned around and gave the priest a pat on the shoulder. Because of his position, his permissible actions were limited.

  “We’ve got this, sir,” Viers said to Breiz as consolation.

  Viers appeared in front of the attacking Elvina. He grabbed her wrists, stopping her attacks midway.

  “Wow, quite dangerous these are,” he had no intention of testing the sword’s edge with his body.

  Elvina’s degradation had vastly progressed. Her body was like a crumbling hot statue, scattering dust and ash with every movement. The cinder veins on the body indicated her temperature. Touching her burned Viers’ hands. He had to move fast before it was too late.

  Arte - Phantom Lifeblood, Aquathlon Tendency, Water Is Unbreakable.

  Three water Artes took Elvina all at once, trapping her in a sphere of water. The first, second, and fourth of Viers’ the JJ series Arte. A plume of steam rose into the air.

  Phantom Lifeblood’s original function was to use the opponent’s blood to heal the user, increasing the user’s HP and draining the opponent’s HP simultaneously. This time, Viers did so in reverse. He cut open a vein on his wrist, giving the princess a much-needed heal. She was dangerously close to dying after using the Forbidden Arte.

  Aquathlon Tendency, using water as a medium, Viers sapped the opponent's stamina, making them tired. When you couldn't even stand, how would you even fight?

  Water Is Unbreakable made the water sphere, well, unbreakable. For Elvina at least. Viers wasn't sure it would hold muster against Level 4, let alone Level 5, for now.

  Viers created seven Artes of the JJ series. He didn't use the others because their nature was more on the deadly side.

  With those Artes Viers subdued Princess Elvina and forcefully canceled her Forbidden Arte. The princess passed out in a cage of water.

  One Latias princess captured for the Pokedex... Should I try to capture princesses from the other three great nations next? Now that’s an idea.

  “Slumber for a while, ashen princess,” Viers whispered. “It is not yet your time to link the fire.”

  Meanwhile, Boram and Croix sighed in relief for the battle’s end.

  “Let’s get you patched up, Highness.”

  “Avel, what about the other guy?” Croix groaned.

  “Ciel is hunting him.”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  After some time, While Viers was tending to Croix and Elvina’s injuries, Ciel returned, dragging a beat-up man in his twenties. His face was swollen and he weakly groaned the whole time. Now that his defense was down, Viers could sense that this man was a Level 4.

  “I’m back. Catching him was the the hard part. Slippery guy. Are you all fine?”

  “You’re hurt,” Viers approached her.

  “It’s just a scratch,” Ciel tried to hide the wound on her cheek.

  Viers gently touched her chin and made her look his way. Like a lover’s caress, he began healing her wound.

  “I can't stand seeing you hurt.”

  Viers and Ciel’s faces were so close they could feel each other's breath.

  And Viers kept getting closer.

  “N-N-No, we can't… everybody's watching… and we aren't even-”

  She might have said that but Ciel didn't push Viers away. She closed her eyes instead and made a sound like that of a small animal.

  It was sudden, she didn't know what she was expecting.

  Croix and Boram were watching with bated breath.

  What Viers did was something else entirely.

  “Eh?” Ciel opened her eyes, sensing some kind of power spreading.

  “Put a veil around the cam. The crows can't see us now.”

  “Y-You want to do it that much? W-We can't… Ouch!?”

  Viers flicked her on the forehead.

  “Get your head down the cloud, girl. This is preparation for your catch’s interrogation.”

  “Wha-!? Then what was that earlier!?”

  “Why, professionalism of course. Didn't you hire me as your fake lover? Got to show the audience some lovey-dovey moments now and then. Although, I’ve got to say your resistance was much weaker than expected… How cute.”

  Ciel looked like she was struck by lightning.

  “H-Hooligan! Scoundrel! How dare you toy with the feelings of a maiden!”

  “Ahem!” Croix coughed. “Sorry for interrupting, but Avel, if you would?”

  “Of course,” Viers pulled the beat-up man by the scarf like carrying an alley cat. “Lovers problem, right?” Viers shrugged.

  “R-right?” Croix didn't know what he should say. He never had a lover.

  “Alrighty then! Those who want to watch it are welcome, though I wouldn't recommend it,” Viers said after creating some space in regard for the unconscious princess. Her life was no longer in danger but she needed all the rest she could get.

  “Are you going to torture him?” Croix asked but he remained seated next to his sister.

  “I have my ways,” he smiled. “I’ll drag out his secret to the open. Count on it.”

  Boram guarded the perimeter so only Ciel and Breiz were on Viers’ side.

  Is he going to do that here? Ciel suspected Viers was about to reveal his soul affinity.

  Ciel guessed wrong.

  Viers pulled out a spiky metal torch that automatically lit up with black-green fire when pulled out of the inventory space. The two members of the Church sensed the torch was a cursed magical item.

  “I might not be a soul or mind Pathseeker,” Viers winked at Ciel after telling the blatant lie. “But there are many ways to extract information from someone’s head. This torch is one of them. Priest Breiz, you’re an observer so I trust you won't confiscate my property.”

  “That thing is illegal. How do you come by it?”

  “Some cultists I killed. While you two might not agree with this method, this is for the greater good, okay? Now, shush please. This is difficult and I need to concentrate.”

  Cultists possess many illegal things. Many ended up in Viers’ pocket after he killed the demon worshipers here and there. Viers already forgot from whom this trinket came from. The original intention was if his soul affinity got leaked, he planned on using the torch as an excuse.

  Still, mind-reading or soul-searching was a taboo, thus he cut the security crow cameras.

  Dark magic was invoked under the eyes of two members of the Church. Such a daring act from Viers. Normally it would have gotten someone arrested on the spot.

  Twenty minutes later, Viers got what he needed. It was so slow compared to his soul search. He could have done it in five and with far greater detail in his estimation. Alas, Ciel and Breiz were watching him like hawks.

  “...Interesting.”

  Viers told his findings to the group but excluded Breiz since he was an outsider.

  ***

  “Those Magisterium bastards! Those heartless, greedy, exploiters!” Croix gnashed his teeth.

  “So cruel. She doesn't deserve this,” Boram voiced his opinion.

  “But what should we do? If Avel’s right, we have to do something soon,” Croix pondered.

  “I can report this to the Church as soon as this round ends. The Legion will investigate this,” Ciel said.

  “By the time the investigation starts, it will be too late,” Avel refuted.

  “Tch… There’s the matter of distance too,” Ciel scowled at another complication.

  “What about–”

  “That won't work.”

  Avel stopped the heated discussion with four words: “I can handle it.”

  “What? Great! How?”

  “This is a sensitive matter so I cannot share the details. You can either trust me and let me do it or not. But if I’m doing this, I won't be able to participate in round 2. Prince, is this worth the risk?”

  Croix closed his eyes with his hand. If Avel didn't participate, according to the rules, his group would be short a member for the next round. A great disadvantage.

  But the alternative was to leave Elvina to her fate.

  Croix had decided.

  Rising to his feet, Croix spoke to Avel, his mysterious vassal and mentor whose depth Croix couldn't fathom.

  “Avel, I entrust the matter of Princess Elvina to you. Do what must be done to succeed.”

  Croix passed his sentence.

  Avel bowed like a butler.

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Lady Valentine, this is the internal matter of Latias royal family. I trust the Church will respect our sovereignty and don't interfere.”

  Ciel contemplated and gave a nod. “Let justice be done.”

  Before Croix could say anything else, the beat-up teammate of Elvina roused from his trauma-induced slumber. According to Avel, this guy and Elvina were the sum of his sister's team, just two. This guy acted as the holder of Elvina’s leash.

  “Ugh… Where-”

  “So you’re awake, Zetelian,” Croix said coldly. “You’re a long way from home. Should have tread lightly. This is the Kingdom of Latias. Here there be dragons.”

  Falmerion approached from beside him with a smoldering fire in his throat. The man finally became aware of his situation.

  “If you hurt me, you’ll answer to Tower Master Baharir!” The bound Level 4 threatened. After being beaten so thoroughly by Ciel, he wasn't able to exert his normal strength.

  Dragonfire consumed him and he screamed. It was as if the very sound coming out from his throat was on fire. The screams didn't get far because of the barrier around this place. If he didn't imprison his team’s observer, he might have been saved by that person but it was the consequence of his own doing.

  Croix watched until the light from his eyes was taken by the flames.

  “Make enemies of dragons at your peril.”

  Croix walked to stay at his sister’s side and Falmerion feasted on the charred remains of the Level 4.

  ***

  Viers greatly approved of Croix's action.

  Boram greatly approved of Croix's action.

  Ciel greatly approved of Croix's action.

  -

  -

  Chapter 427 - Hic Sunt Dracones