A Rose Between the Thorns

Chapter 17

"The traitor who cooperated with the Eye of the Midnight Sun, is one of you our Magic Knight Captains." Expressions of pure shock appeared on all their faces. 

"One of us, no that can't be true." Rill spoke looking terribly confused at everyone in the room. Some of the Captain's voiced there confusion, but for Nozel he claimed he knew it, I wasn't sure. "Alright, now will you tell us who among those gathered here is the traitorous Captain who collaborated with the Eye of the Midnight Sun?" 

We all looked to the two captives, everyone except me waiting for an answer. "The traitor is the Purple Orca's Captain, Gueldre Poizot." Everyone's expressions then turned to shock, I just looked on at him angered by his actions against the Magic Knights and this kingdom.

"Ridiculous. What are you trying to say? These two are terrorist guilty of attacking the Royal Capital it's self. You would have to be crazy to believe a word out of their mouths. I've never given anyone cause to doubt my loyalty to this kingdom." Gueldre spoke trying to defend himself, but we all knew it was lies and I hated liars. I got my grimoire in my hand just to be ready.

Charlotte stepped forward. "Well that isn't exactly true. I have heard a few distasteful rumours regarding you." Nozel then stepped forward, him to having something to add. "Is that all Charlotte. I've heard a great deal more than a few."

Rill looked to the Captains for conformation. "No way, are you guys serious?" Yami was quick to confirm it. "Sure are. There's rumours all over the dam place, it's crazy." All the Captains now turned to face their once comrade. "And now it seems they weren't baseless after all." Charlotte commented, then Jack. "I always knew that you were up to something sneaky, but I never imagined even you would stoop to this level."

Gueldre stepped back intimidated now by the Captains. "This isn't happening. There's obviously been a mistake. Yes, those two are trying to set me up and you're all falling for it." Marx was quick to squash his attempts at lies. "Impossible they've answered honestly with all the information at their disposal. Anything said under the spell's compultion is true, without a doubt."

Now Gueldre was panicking. "There you have it hammy." Yami said the nickname, of which the ex-captain did not approve. "Hey now calm down. Why don't you get mushroom head to use his fancy spell on you. He can sneak a little peek inside that head on yours, if you've been a good ham you've got nothing to worry about."  

He was anything but compliant as the Captains started their remarks on his loyalty or lack of. "So you really are a traitor then, you jerk. You betrayed your fellow Captain!" Asta shouted and I could feel the anger in his voice as I stood next to him.

"No this is some kind of trap. I'll find a way to clear my name, but for now I'll have to retreat. Transparency creation magic: activating the invisible mage." Suddenly he grew invisible and I knew that the invisible soldiers were coming so I readied myself. "Transparency creation magic: invisible troops."

Now the room was no doubt filled with opponents we couldn't even see, so like any sane person I just began firing wherever I felt a pang of strong mana. "Flame creation magic: dragons breath!" I shouted my spell and soon I saw a large chunck of invisible soldiers burn away. All the Captains now began fighting against their own soldiers.

"I don't suppose if anyone knows how you can chase someone you can't see?" Jack asked over the noise of our fights. "Yami?" I heard 'William' ask as he wasn't to far from me. "Don't worry we got this." The moment I heard Yami say this, I looked to Asta who had been fighting alongside me. "Asta let's go!" And with that we were off.

We ran out of the room, me prioritising Asta as I used some wind to help propel him forward, which gave him just the edge he needed to slash his sword at the invisible ex-captain. It sent him through the entrance to the dungeon and outside, where I met up with Asta the both off us standing off against the transparency mage.