110 the first weapon

The heart-warming moment was cut short when a loud crashing tear it apart. From their side, all could see the large golem made of dirt. On it, a dark-cloaked silhouette rapidly jumps inside the cracked tower, retrieving a light purple cast before returning on the golem head.

While the crowd was too shocked to react, they rapidly exit the academy, toward the forest.

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What slowed them to react was the king clutching his head after hearing Chione's trills. It may not be known for the others, but Alex knows that phoenix trills ward off the evil/ KNowing that something was wrong with the king, he immediately appears to his side. Raising the monarch head, to look in his eyes, he let the mental probe sink into the man subconscious, searching for the correct memory.

It didn't take long to found what he was searching for. While the king was examined by Alex, the queen, her, react.

"what are you lot waiting? They had taken away the princess!"

The surrounding soldiers snap back and immediately go after the two. As the Queen send a good part of the soldiers after them, before turning to Alex, who was still looking after the king, before taking him to the medical bay, followed with the queen and the headmaster.

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Laying him down on the bed, Chione land on the bedpost, letting fall three drops of clear tears in its mouth, open by Alex. The effect was immediate, the king complexion, that has rapidly turned to dead pale, return to a healthier shade, but still showing a trace of affliction.

Letting the healers take over, he takes a small distance from the bed, joining the worried queen and headmaster.

"What happens?" Ask her worried.

"Someone has killed the king, and made his return as a living corpse by the mean of a ring sporting a large purple gemstone." Answer grimly Alex, making the two other gasp, before they hear the old man.

"The Andvari ring!"

"What!? but that would coincide with the rising of the water level's report..." Say the queen.

"What is that ring?" Ask Alex, seemingly the only one to not know about it.

"It an old ring guarded by the water spirit of the Lagordian lake, it says to have the power to bring back the dead and alter the mind. If someone had killed the king and used the ring to bring him back and alter his mind, it would explain the situation."

"Why killing him and bring him back after rather than directly altering his mind?"

"Because of magic flowing in the veins of the king, it easier to subvert the mind of commoner rather than noble because their magic offers them some protection against it." Explain the old man, clutching his staff.

"Will he be alright?" Worried the queen, looking at her husband.

"He will, phoenix tear have the power to heal nearly any affliction, other than death. Since he was brought back by the ring, before the effect fade, he was considerate dying, the tear will heal him but he will some time to recover."

"Thank the founder."

The two could see the tension exit the queen, hearing that he would be alright.

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The group of soldiers sent after them would return four hours later without what had been taken or the suspect.

They were able to track it down until founding a large mont of dirt, resulting in the spell keeping the golem, fall apart. After the king awake, not long after the guard return, he was able to remember giving a private audience to the Valliere duke.

Says man had brought with him a black-draped stranger, who strikes him, leaving him to catch glimpse of the ring before he falls dead. Is memory between this and his waking into the infirmary was confused.

When men were sent to arrest the Duke, they found him dead in his chambers, only for Alex to catch a wisp of the same magic from the corpse than the king had given.

"This smell awfully like a plot destinated to take our attention elsewhere while someone had stolen the scepter de destruction off the vault, using the commotion that the ritual would have brought to hide the breaking in the vault." Say the headmaster in his office at the group composed of Alex, the king, the queen, and viscount Wardes, captain of the griffin corps.

"Don't your majestic, I and my men will track down the thief!"

"WOuldn't it better to let me do it? It wouldn't be a good option that letting the king without the griffin corps captain as a guard while sending him and his men after a single thief, don't you think it a little overkill?"

"Overkill. I don't know the meaning of this name, put a peasant hadn't the right to speak to the king like that, less be in is presence!"

If he was trying to have a rise from Alex, he falls as he was only gratified with an eyebrow.

"Are you provoking me?" Cooly says, Alex.

"That I do! Not only you have murdered my future mother-in-law, but also render my fiancee unconscious by your wicked way!"

The man had immediately jumped from his position against the wall and shout while going for his sword. Before any in the room could move or say something, they saw him being raised high in the air, suffocating by the strong grip of Alex on his throat.

"By careful of what you say, old man, the bitch had it coming, no one strike at my familiar without paying at least an equal price. Do I also need to make you remember that the duchy of Valliere is actually under suspicion of lese-majesty? That I save the princess's life two times already and keeping her alive while just saving the king live, YOUR job and discovering attempts against the crown? What have you done the last day?"

Hearing nothing, he realizes the man, making him crumple on the floor while coughing harshly from his damaged throat. None of those present have said a word at the confrontation.

"Can you really do something about the thief?" Ask the king once Wardes has stopped.

"I can try and follow the trail left behind, it shouldn't be too hard."

"Then, please do, retrieving the scepter of destruction should be the highest priority, if you can also arrest the thief, even better."

Alex only nods, before exiting the room, catching the barely veiled anger in Warde's eyes in passing.

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Exiting the tower, he returns to the breached wall giving to the portion of the tower housing the vault. Taking his wand, the only thing he was gifted with when entering in this world, and a wrist motion later, blocks of stone elevate in the air, returning to their previous position, closing the huge hole.

Taking a light sniff, he could make the light perfume still lingering in the air, along with the earthly sent of the golem. Having a good hold on the sent, he blots out of the academy boundary, crossing a large patch of land in record time.

In little less than half an hour, he had already rejoined a large amount of dirt coming from the golem. Following the trail, he soon arrives at a wooden house hidden in a little glade. Processing cautiously.

"Revelio"

Not receiving any feedback, he enters, easily spotting the case. Opening it, he immediately recognizes what they call the scepter of destruction as a rocket launcher. Putting him and on it, he rapidly decomposes it.

With his previous knowledge, it didn't take long for him to discover the inner working of the weapons, along the rocket system. For now on, as long as he had the necessary material, he would be able to craft the weapon and munition as much as he like.

Looking around, he transfigures a chair into the previous weapon, inscribing a hidden rune on it to give it a more final form as transfiguration always reverts back. Closing the case back, he takes it with him.

The moment he exits the house, he feels the light breeze suddenly rising, and the similar sent than the golem.

He had enough time to jump on the side and stood to see the new golem fist crash into the wooden construct, blowing it off into bits. On it was the same covered thief that had to take the weapon from the academy.

"Miss Longueville."

Hearing it identity already discover before even having the time for a second attack, the cloaked figure was startled, before bringing it hood back.

"How did you know it was me?" Ask her, more curious than furious to be caught red-handed.

"Your perfume, I have a sensitive nose." Say him, lightly tapping a finger on it.

"I see." Sighing, she ready for another attack when he once again caught her off guard.

"If you don't mind, way taking it? You do know that it a one-time weapon, right?"

This seems to startle her once again.

"What? How do you know?"

"Two things, first, it a weapon I know off, the second came from the headmaster report at the time, he did say that there were two 'scepter', one buried with his owner, after having been used, and the second kept at the academy. While it does have a large destructive power, you don't have the technical knowledge to open it, retrieve the munition, and recreate it.

Without munition it useless, and it wouldn't bring you great benefice, it a rather imposing weapon, and you would be easily spotter while using such a device."

Looking at her, he could see her limping shoulder, her face showing a conflicted emotion. Taking the change, he goes for a mental prob and discovers the reason behind the thief. She was more lost when she see his feature soften.

"I can protect her, you know? While she is in Albion, I can go and fetch Tiffania and protect her for Reconquista for you."

"How?!" She was starting to fear him.

"Simple, I an ability that let me enter other head and see their thoughts." Say him, frightening her more so again.

He didn't mind others knowing he can read minds since their his no know methods here to protect it, and should allow him to frighten a good amount of potential opponent, that would want to strike him down. If they know he could spot them before they could attack, it would deter quite a great number of them.

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Looking at the young man facing her, Matilda was lost has to what to do. She only enters Reconquistat to protect the sweet Tiffania from their clutch due to her heritage as the daughter of the archduke of Albion and an elf.

Seeing the actual political landscape of the floating island, it wouldn't take long before they go for her, knowing her existence. Until then she was able to fend them off, but she knows that she was running out of time.

She was ordered to steal the weapon on learning of it working by Cromwell after he assassinates the king of Tristain and made him his puppet. She had at first been unsure as to how to process since only the headmaster was knowing something about it, hoping that she could somewhat glean some information if he were to come after her, but it didn't matter now.

She didn't think that he was lying, like the fact coincide with the report the old man had made to the royal palace. Him knowing why she fights was also worrying information, as it could go both ways. She still has some hope since he didn't threaten her with Tiffania's life, even when he seems to know where to found her.

Biting her lips, she made her decision.

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As the golem crumbles, he sees her, made her way to him.

"Could you really protect her?" The worry for her adopted charge, evident in her eyes.

"I can, while I can't go in person, I should be able to send you in a safe place. Their Reconquista would be able to approach you. A soon as possible I will go to Albion and retrieve Tiffania and sent her to you."

He could see her struggle a little, before giving finally a nod.

"Chione!"

At his call, the phoenix appears in a burst of blue-white flame that seems to froze before disappearing into minuscule shards of ice, basking the surrounding into a beautiful shimmering white.

Mathilda was captivated by the beautiful bird apparition.

"Could you travel her to the territory?"

Receiving happy trills from his familiar, she lands on the woman's shoulder before flaming away in a similar feature.

"Show off." Softly said to him while shaking his head." Time to return and give it back."

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By the time he returns to the academy, the night was starting to fall. He apparates directly in front of the headmaster's office door. He had discovered that he was able to easily apparate here since they didn't have wards to lock space.

Knocking softly, he takes out the case before entering.

"Ha Mr. Evans, you have already retrieve it?"

"I do, it didn't take long, I was able to follow the trail of the thief, but when I arrive at his hideout, it wasn't there, he either had left it here for someone to take it, or store it to safety before going to meet someone."

"Quite possible." nodding at that while stroking his beard, the headmaster seems to ponder on it for a moment. " A shame that he wasn't here, but as long a the specter of destruction is back to safety, it good. I would need to bother you again by asking to bring it to the royal palace in two days, it had been decided that it would be better for it to be stored there."

"Ok, Do you require something else?"

"No that would be all. I must thank you for all you have done for the kingdom in the past few days. Untold damage could have resulted if not for your action."

"Don't think of it, I was merely present at the right time."

"Even so, thank you." Say the man while giving a slight bow from the head.

"While that be all?"

"Yes, it will, a carriage will be prepared for you in two days to bring you to the palace. It will depart in the morning, so I would take a largely merited rest before them."

"Very well."

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After leaving the case in the headmaster's office, he directly goes to the kitchens, having not eaten for the whole day. Upon entering, he was warmly welcomed by the head chef of the academy, who immediately fetch a good meal for him when he hears the reason for his presence.

"I can't thank you enough for what you did for Siesta, Mott has been a torn for a long time, seeing him gone is a good thing!" Say him loudly while clapping Alex on the shoulder, than would have sent a lesser man headfirst into the table.

"Your not wary of me after seeing me kill him?" Ask Alex a little surprised that he takes it so well.

"We live in a harsh world and death isn't uncommon for most here." His face grave.

Alex could smell the story behind the thick tone, guessing a rather perturbated background for the man on his side.

"Speaking of Siesta, did you see here? I briefly go to Kirche's room before coming but she wasn't here."

"She at being asked to follow the king back to the capital, something about Mott I think."

"Oh! Okay, I need to go there in a few days anyway, if she isn't back at the time I could always ask."

"Hum!"

Done with his meal he returns to Kirche's room, slipping into the bed, only for her to immediately seek in even while sleeping. Taking hold of the redhead, slowly fall into sleep.

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The following day was thankfully eventless. Since she didn't have class, the two had passed the majority of the day cuddling while in bed after he once again brings it to her.

She had still unable to make her head around all had transpired in the past week. Alex's arrival, her change, her new perspective on life, falling deeply in love with her darling, him discovering a traitor, and saving the royal family more than once while finally taking back a stolen artifact and be summoned to the castle.

As the two return to bed the following night, couldn't but be curious for tomorrow since she decided to follow him. Even if she can't access the throne room, she still can make the trip with him and pass the rest of the day with him strolling in the capital.