𝒲𝒾𝓃𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝒲ℴ𝓃𝒹ℯ𝓇𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒹： 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓌 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℱ𝓇ℴ𝓏ℯ𝓃 ℋℯ𝒶𝓇𝓉

𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑔： 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 18

*
"It's not my fault (mea culpa). I'm not to blame (mea culpa)"

**
Fleur City - Waterway

"The fastest way to eradicate the firelotuses is to inundate them with magic until they wilt." Azul reminded, his voice calm and calculating as always.
Y/n let out a soft oh, her eyes widening slightly. "But as we've established, our group doesn't have the power to do that on our own. So we'll just use an alternate power source."

"But who could we turn to for such power when practically all the mages in the city are incapacitated?" Malleus asked, his tone carrying an edge of frustration. "And there are few mages with magical reserves on par with our own. We'd have to gather hundreds of them."

"...I'm surprised. You still don't get it?" Azul asked, sounding almost offended. His sharp gaze flicked toward Y/n with a hint of a smirk. "Even Angelfish figured it out before you."

Vanitas snorted, draping an arm around Y/n's shoulders before Isfrid immediately swatted it away. "Ha! Imagine that, the dragon prince needing a hint that even Mon Cherie understood. This is gold."

"Remove your hand before I sever it," Isfrid said flatly, stepping between them with a dangerous glare that made Vanitas only grin wider.

"Dude, Malleus... You're powerful and all, but srsly..." Idia nervously grinned. "Are magic pools the be-all and end-all to you? I didn't peg you as an unga bunga, brute force kinda guy."

Malleus's lips pressed into a thin line, his pout betraying how little he liked that phrasing.

"DID YOU JUST MOCK MY LIEGE?!?!" Sebek roared, practically foaming at the mouth.

"Not if it's true though." Isfrid said with a blunt shrug.

Vanitas cackled. "I can't believe I'm agreeing with these two, but yes, even I got it!"

"Is there something I'm missing here?" Noé asked, looking as confused as Malleus.

"Look, I mean, come ON. If you can't do something yourself, wouldn't you normally use a tool of some kind to get the job done?" Idia asked, shrinking slightly under Sebek's glare. "Isn't using tools to make things easier the mark of intelligent life?"

"Tools?" Malleus questioned, narrowing his eyes.

"There's a real handy one just beggin' to be used—y'know, a magical artifact that sends magic all over the city."  Idia hinted, pushing his glasses up as he smirked slightly at his own cleverness.

"It's also loud when rung," Y/n added softly, breaking the tension for a moment. Her quiet voice carried enough weight to draw all their eyes to her.

She cupped her hands slightly over her mouth and made the sound: "Bong... Bong..."

Vanitas immediately leaned close with an amused grin. "You're far too cute when you do that, Mon Ange. Want me to ring it for you?"

Isfrid's grip on his sword tightened with an audible creak. "You'll do no such thing."

"All over the... Ah!" Malleus's eyes widened in sudden realization. "The Bell of Solace!"