A Rose Between the Thorns

Chapter 5

Suddenly though the castle shook and I knew it wasn't because of their mana battle, the battle for the capital had just begun.

Their mana had retreated back to each captain as the doors were thrown open by one of the castle mages. "What is it?" Fuegoleon asked, in a way that I knew he hadn't feel the shaking caused by the first attack. "Sir the royal capital, it's under attack."

I looked around the room to try and gage everyones reaction though it seemed no one either understood or believed what the mage was saying, not even the Captains. "What do you mean the Capital is under attack?" Fuegoleon asked and at the same time I noticed one of the Golden Dawn members get out their grimoire and he began to make the model of the Capital I remembered from the anime, though it was far more impressive to see it in real life and understand how much control and mana it must be taking to keep it up.

I should take notes incase I have a spell like that in my grimoire. "It's even reproduced peoples voice and magic. He must send mana through a given area creating a replica here simultaneously." Thanks Klaus.

"For troupes with this much power to strike places at once without us even noticing." Alecdora spoke, for once his voice held reason. "Yes, a skilled spacial magic user must have transported them all inside simultaneously." As Fuegoleon thought, I began to look over the map trying memorise some of the areas incase I got separated from anyone later on.

"We need to decide how best to allocate our resources." I nodded along understanding Fuegoleon's need for order and a plan at a time like this though I did agree with what I knew Asta was thinking, this was taking to long. "In that case the castle area takes priority."

I saw how Asta's face contorted and I knew what was about to happen so I started preparing myself. "What's everyone waiting for?" He screamed get ready to bolt. "People are getting killed and standing around talkings not going to help them, I'm out of here." And so he bolted.

"Asta wait." Noelle shouted. "Just where do you think your going we still don't have a grip on the situation and besides what will you do when you can't even detect magic power." Like I said a mother hen.

"I'm just gonna go where ever it's loudest." I nodded my head completely agreeing with the statement. "What are you some kind of animal?" Klaus shouted though I knew he was more worried than angry at this point. Then for the nth time today Leo started laughing at Asta's antics. "Now we're talking wait up Asta." Then Leo bolted. "I'm not going to miss seeing my rival in action."

I stepped out from around the map of the Capital everyone now staring at me. "And I'm not going to let my friends and rival run blindly into battle on their own." I looked back at everyone now addressing Fuegoleon. "Do what you thinks best, it will be the right thing to do, I'll go after those two knuckleheads." A portal then opened in front of me as my grimmer came to float at my side and I walked through.

I fell out of the portal almost landing on my butt, but thankfully I was paying attention, I need to work on my landings, I thought as I began to gain my bearings of where I had landed.

Looking around my senses were overwhelmed by all the distant screams and shouts of the Capitals people. The sky had turned dark due to the ashes coming from the fires that littered the streets. I continued walking and looking around but for some reason I couldn't find Asta or Leo anywhere. Why didn't I listen to Finral he told me not act on instinct alone, turns out he was right.

Then I heard shuffling coming from behind me, at first I hoped it was Asta and Leo, but when I turned around I realised it was definitely not. Rades' puppets. There were so many of them fifteen maybe even more I couldn't tell. I wanted to fight back, but if yesterdays training taught me anything I was severely lacking in control with my attack spells, but I had to try something.