Tales of Six

Chapter 37 : The AMC

Standing straight and looking menacingly at Pearl, the man in guard uniform holds a hand crossbow in his left hand and a sword in his right. The tiny lantern on his hip illuminates the surroundings enough in the night to allow him to see both women as well as the AMC.

Guard, startled by the AMC, turned to Pearl- I wasn't expecting to see one of you out here, but in any case, Pearl, drop your weapons and come quietly. No one needs to get hurt.

Pearl, unimpressed- I don't know who you are or how you know me, or even what you're referring to by "one of you", but you're not half as intimidating as you think you are.

Pearl takes a step forward and the guard raises his crossbow to aim it at her. Phil looks at the interaction and instinctively calls to her growth magic, which gets blocked and instead she feels an intense pain in her entire spine, reverberating into the rest of her bones like daggers ripping her from the inside. She screams and falls on her knees, immobilised by the sheer pain.

Paerl, snarky- I told you not to try anything when I got you out of the net.

Phil, stuttering and sobbing- I-I-I'm .. s-s-sorr-rry...

Guard, unsettled- What are you doing to her ?!

Pearl- Me ? Oh nothing. The AMC she's wearing however ...

A sound of ruffled leaves in the distance makes the Nekali's ears turn and Pearl becomes attentive. The other two haven't heard anything but the Lyune guard understands from Pearl's reaction that something is approaching. A few seconds later, Kaen's torch becomes visible through the foliage and Pearl mumbles under her breath.

Pearl- This is gonna get complicated.

She looks around at the trees and considers an escape route when the guard reminds her of his crossbow pointed at her.

Guard- Tut, you're not going anywhere just yet.

Pearl looks at him for a second then jumps to a tree. The guard shoots his crossbow instantly and with great aim, but the bolt seems to deviate from its straight flight.

Guard, mumbling- Damned air mages.

---

Savyna- I just sensed magic ! From over there ! Quickly !

Kaen nods and turns to move in the direction Savyna pointed at. A few seconds later, they both see a glimpse of light and eventually reach it. The terrain is rough forest and the trees cut the line of sight until they come close enough to the source of the light, where Kaen finally gets a good look at the person holding it.

Kaen- Benjamin !?

Benjamin, not surprised- Hey Kaen.

Kaen- What are you doing here ??

Savyna glances at the guard, then focuses on her surroundings. The magic trace did not come from him, but it's so fresh, so new, and she almost recognises its signature. Savyna faces to where it was activated and stares for a while, then looks up at the dark canopy.

Savyna- Hello Pearl.

Two bright orange cat-like eyes open and look at her from the darkness.

Pearl- Always the one to ruin everything.

Kaen- Where's Phil ? What did you do to her ?!

Phil, still stuttering- H-Here..

Kaen turns to Phil, who is still on her knees, sobbing and shaking.

Kaen, reassuring- We're here, you're gonna be fine, everything is fine.

Phil- W-Why... d-doesn't-t it... s-s-stop ?