Setosolace: The Kingdom's Sorcerer-AU

Chapter 7: Safely Retrieved

"Well? Go on, my loyal guards, seize him," Rakaphen daunted, a malevolent air envenoming his sly tone that caused Seto to squeeze his eyes shut and wish he could dissolve into the breeze. Instead, he was planted to the dusty ground on his side, his body drained of its energy. He had already been fatigued by the immense heat and adrenaline-powered marathons, but something about the aura Rakaphen omitted had sent him over the limit of exhaustion, leaving him and his body disabled beyond movement.

'. . . his plan was full of risks and best guesses he wasn't sure even sorcerer's intuition could get completely accurate.'

Seto heard tentative footsteps start towards him, the diminutive rattle of armor and weapons following each one; he counted every step. That is, until Rakaphen cut through with a blood-chilling cackle, a familiar mix of malevolence and pure insanity halting the brave volunteer in his place. A scream stabbed through the tense, once silent atmosphere, which became a muffled gargle before a loud thud struck the ground beside Seto. He had only gotten to five.

Seto's heart froze as another sinister laugh resounded closer this time, his every sense going into panic mode. He began to feel the dimensions shift and bend, indicating Rakaphen was taking his sweet time to teleport the both of them to whatever hell he set up and officially imprison the sorcerer.

"Ready or not, here I come." Seto flinched at the threatening undertone Rakaphen purred beside his ear before they were warped.

Sorcerer's intuition, huh?

~~~~

~Brice's POV

Brice watched as King Choco sliced the intertwined branches and vines in their path for about the hundredth time, sighing for the ninety-ninth.

"King Choco, I have my sword."

Choco snapped his head around to stare at Brice's face, then flickered his eyes to the scabbard at Brice's side. He still had a vine hanging loosely atop his orange beak, a small, damp leaf stuck to its sharp edge. He then gave an airy laugh, catching Brice off guard with its lightness and tiny finesse. This was far different from the superior Chocobo grumble. It lacked its usual pride and boom, instead being more casual and bleeding personality. Warmer. King Choco began progressing again, leaving Brice to catch up a few paces.

"Nah, save it. We can't have them noticing people went this way, right? So why not have a Chocobo do it?"

"Because there are no Chocobos but you in this region," Brice deadpanned, giving the now halted king a side-glance.

"Shh, it's okay." Choco smiled, causing Brice to raise an eyebrow as they continued onward, slicing the occasional branch in their path.

A few minutes went by in silence, save for the chatters of squirrels and birds and the rustling of trees as the wind swept by them, while Brice pondered the situation at hand. He had detected Seto knew something he wasn't sharing, and between those split-second displays of emotion earlier and the fact gnawing at the back of his mind that Seto had sent them off away from the kingdom for no clear reason, he couldn't help but question the sorcerer's intentions. Brice was well aware of many ambushing techniques in his years of experience, and never had a leader sent anyone to a far-off camp for a "distraction" and to gather "whatever you can find useful". No, Brice was sure there was more to it. Seto had his own ideas in that labyrinth of a mind not a one could maneuver, and Brice wasn't sure he could ever navigate through it without getting lost.

"Careful." A wing slapped across Brice's chestplate, and he stumbled backward. Looking from King Choco to the ground of which he would have stepped on, he could see the danger the king warned him of. The leaves smattering along the damp ground had so far a very erratic display, but the single area was more orderly, as if someone had arranged it themselves.