Spirit Chronicles: A New Beginning

S2 EP 9: Saviors From the Search Party

Rio watched as ten people from the Beltrum Kingdom pointed their swords at the guards. "I said, release the captives!" the blonde haired man yelled. "Or we will kill every last one of you!" He gritted his teeth and slowly approached the auction with his ten.

"That's that Charles Rutherford guy from the forest! I see that he leads this bunch... And that looks like... Princess Christina!"  Rio knew that purple hair from a mile away as it matched Flora's like a mirror. "This is good because... Now I have my chance!"

While no one was looking, Rio left the shackles on the ground and snuck over to the place where the items were located. He grabbed his sword, put on his armor, and quickly hid the hunted beasts and Ruri's basket of wheat behind a tree. After he put his hood over his head and changed his hair to a white color.

"I said surrender your weapons!" Charles yelled at soldiers who rushed at the ten. "Or face magic!" Still, the soldiers did not surrender and kept pushing at the ten from the Beltrum Kingdom! Two or three of the secret search party were already wounded on the ground Rio knew they needed help.

"Augandae Corporis!" Rio called as he enhanced himself. The guards before who had been fighting the Beltrum search party turned around and saw as Rio charged at them. He sliced the first five and brought all of them down.

"Your the guy who kidnapped Professor Celia!" Christiana yelled at Rio from behind. "Aren't you?"

"It is quite a troublesome story, Princess Christina." Rio confirmed. "I can comfirm your worries when we defeat these soldiers!" Christina nodded and signaled the last seven to continue the assault. 

"Fulghur Sphera" Rio yelled. Rio swung his sword at a group of soldiers and a ball of thunder and lightning shot from his sword. The soldiers were blasted away and soon after more soldiers dropped their weapons and ran.

After only a few minutes of Rio being in the battle, all of the enemy guards had either been killed, wounded, or ran. Rio unlocked the remaining chains of the people up for auction and sent them off. Then, he unlocked his cousin's shackles and was hugged by her.

"Thanks, Cousin!" Ruri cried into his shoulder. "I thought I was going to be sold!"

"I'm glad your safe." Rio sighed. "Or our grandmother surely would have taken my head off! Now, we should get-" Rio was stopped as he felt a hand touch his shoulder. Both he and Ruri looked and saw as Charles Rutherford looked at them.

"I see your the man from the forest." he implied. "Thank you for helping us."

"My pleasure." Rio replied. "Besides, I was already planning to escape with my cousin here. We were caught in a crossfire of soldiers in that forest earlier." Charles nodded and stepped away so Christina could approach.

"Now that that touching moment is over, you said you would talk." she said, angrily. "I realize you are the one who took Lady Celia from her wedding, correct?" The ice cold eyes that she gave Rio told that she was not pleased with him.

"You mean the white haired girl Celia?" Ruri asked. "She came with my cousin to our village willingly! I assure you he committed no crime!" 

Rio dropped his head in disappointment as he was hoping to keep that a secret. "Just great... Now what am I supposed to do?"

"I see." Christina mumbled. "Please, could you tell me what happened at the wedding? But first, your name." Rio looked back up at her and knew that it would be impossible to run at this point.

"You here, Aisha?"

"Yes, Master Rio. Do you wish for me to eliminate these humans?"

"No. Go back to Celia and Flora to tell them that me and Ruri will be back late. Then ask one of them to tell Chief Yuba. I can handle this from here."

"Hey! Are you even listening to me, sir?" Rio was dragged back into reality and saw as Christina was now in his face, snarling. "I asked for your name!"

"Sorry that he isn't talking, Princess." Ruri apologized. "This is Prince Rio Karasuki of the Karasuki kingdom and I'm his cousin, Ruri."

"Why the hell did you have to tell them my name, Ruri?!"

"Rio?" Christina echoed. "I know someone with that name. A former acquaintance and classmate..." She looked back at Rio and narrowed her eyes. "You couldn't be him, could you?"

"Do you know Rio, Princess?" Ruri asked.

"Indeed." Christina growled. "He is a wanted criminal from our kingdom in times past and now is apparently yet again a criminal of our fair nation. Someone who I greatly despise. I can't see why my sister ever did like such people as you."

"Maybe because I never did anything wrong." Rio calmly stated as he stood up and faced the heir to the Beltrum throne. "Back in yonder days, I was framed for the accident Stewart Huguenot against Princess Flora and was forced to flee for my own search for life. Then, at Miss Celia's wedding, I simply asked if she wanted to be married to that evil man Charles and she replied no and asked if I in good morals would take her with. I have done no evil and have no charge worthy against me." 

"WHAT" Christina spat, stepping again at Rio. "Professor Celia never told me any of this! What makes you think I'd believe a devil who almost got my sister killed?"

"Did you forget that it was I who in good decision kept Princess Flora from her descent?" Rio asked. "In other matters, she still respects my values and trusts my help, so you have no real reason for your matters of dismay."

"You were only saving her to save your own name!" Christina snarled. "I don't buy your unjust actions! I should have you slaughtered on the spot you stand!"

"Princess Christina." Rio said. "If you were to kill me now, my grandfather surely would have a war imposed on your kingdom and cause further problems." Rio took a deep breath and already regretted what he was about to say. "If you choose, I can take you and you only to my village where Celia and... someone else are." 

Christina put sword back in her sheath immediately. "That will be sufficient. Do know that if you try any attack on me, I will kill you before the next hour, Sir Rio." Rio nodded and Christina turned around. "General Rutherford, take the rest of the party to the king and queen to tell them of the details."

"Yes, Princess." Charles nodded and then the six who were in good shape picked up their three wounded comrades and quickly left.

 "I was hoping that this wouldn't happen... but oh well. It does make it to where Flora can re visit her dear sister again. Let's just hope this doesn't get out of hand..."