Boundera
"Wow, that is the palace?" Jericho asks.
"Magnificent. I didnt know a palace like this existed in Boundera."Axel says pure shock and awe.
"It godamn huge!" Says aloud.
Ashe chuckles to herself.
"Never get tired of seeing that," Jonathan remarks.
The group looks up a flight of staircases leading to the palace entrance with a giant gate. The huge fort runs 1 kilometer in length, with an exterior composed of magnificent white sandstone and an interior made of brick. This fort's huge walls, which stand 70 feet tall, add to its appeal.
"Holy crap its bigger up close"
Ashe and Jonathan walk past the three guys in amazement "Just wait till you see inside" Jonathan remarks.
"It's even more grand," Ashe says.
They arrive at the gated entrance. The doors slowly open. They arrive at the main entrance. The group steps in. A giant chandelier lights up the room as the day's end draws near. A grand staircase that splits off into two separate staircases that lead to the hallway on the second floor is in the center. Long hallways to the left and right seem to never stop. All over the palace, there were paintings and art.
"Wow"
"Inside here there are enormous fountains, sparkling blue water in beautiful spas and private pools, doric pillars, ornamental brackets, decorative staircases, and light spilling in through large windows."
STOMP STOMP STOMP
"You returned Ashe just in time" A deep voice calls out.
A muscular man with a tan complexion who stands taller than other mages. His long jet black hair is styled upward in high, wavy spikes, his dark eyes have no discernible brows, and his rectangular. Two stars can be observed above the bull insignia on the left side of his neck. He wears a dark blue jacket with purplish blue inners, held closed on the front by a line of large buttons, on the sleeves of his jacket bull horns stretch from the back where there's a bull face in the back of it, no undershirt, loose trousers matching his jacket, held up by a simple belt, and sandals.
"Samus look what I brought back"
"What do we have here? Jonathan Fultear Mr I dont need anyone's help."
"Oh shut it I know I failed the mission move on"
"Someone a little touchy I know the reason why you did this so Eliza can be-"
Jonathan quickly jumps on Samsons' back as he covers his mouth. "Quiet we have guests here from Aiz"
Samson's eyes widen.
"Guests from Aiz I didnt see you there. I am The Second Star Tauros"The Unstoppable" Samson Oxford. A pleasure to meet you"
"Nice to meet- OOF"
Samson grabs Ezekiel, Jericho, and Axel and hugs them.
"Wow you mages from Aiz are pretty scrawny ahahahahah"
"Haha," Jonathan chuckles as Ashe chuckles with a slight concern. "Go easy on them they had a rough day"
"He-llp me"
"My glasses my b-break"
"My appetite is g-gone" Ezekiel says.
BZTTT
"HMM another Twelve Star" Samson puts them down slowly. "Which one of you is it?"
"Aha, it's you boy with the necklace and yellow eyes. What your name?"
"Ezekiel Agnello Leo"
"Ahh yes, Leo its a pleasure to meet you. And the rest of you?"
"Axel Friedman."
"Dragonclad Jericho Pearson"
"Ahh, a dragonclad very special person. Now how did you all end up here?"
"It's a long story"
"He going to explain to Eliza," Ashe says.
"Oh my let's see how she'll respond. It's ironic since you are trying to impress her and make her-"
THUD
"Shut Up"
"Hoho I will for this moment" Samson leans over to Jonathan and whispers close to his ear. "Next time we train it's not going to be a fun day for you" Then proceeds to stand straight up and laugh.
"Cmon let's go to the main room"
They ascend the flight of stairs taking either the right or left stairs and meet back up to head down the 2nd floor hallway.
There they look outside the window to see the garden and fountain in a glimpse as the sun fades away and the lights light up the walkways throughout the palace. After walking for a couple of minutes they reach as door. Guarded by two guards wearing heavy protected plated armor both are muscular but aren't nearly as muscular as Samson.
"These here are my men" Samson speaks. "You may head back"
"YES SIR"
"There's a barracks within this palace on the northern side. I provide military support. Although we may not need it because there are the three of us. Wait I mean four can't forget about our elite guardsman. " Samson says as he looks at Jonathan.
CREAK
OPEN
A young lady sits on her throne. With a two-tone medium-length hairstyle. With, the majority of her hair being black with streaks of silver mixed in, and Brown pupils. Wearing a black below-the-shoulder dress with a crab sigil with 4 stars by it right placed around her chest area.
Eliza stands from her throne as she descends down as small set of stairs "Welcome to Boundera am its current ruler Eliza Salavar. Am sure Ashe here explained how our system of ruling works?"
"Yes she has she has done a great job" Jericho responds.
"Good I entrusted you to them. Thank you for reporting here too Samson."
"Of course when you call I'll be right there"
She approaches the group.
BZTTT
"Twelve Star? You" She points at Ezekiel.
"Am Ezekiel Agnello Leo. Am doing a lot of introductions today. Do you have-"
Axel covers his mouth "Its great to meet you your highness" am Axel the Student Council President from Aurora Saint Academy.
"Am Jeirchi Pearson and am-"
"Dragonclad right?"
"Yes"
"Figures the way you dress, your sword, and the overall way you uphold yourself"
She then walks towards Jonathan.
"Jonathan your back. Do you care to explain how three members of Aurora Saint Acadmy accompanied you and where are the other Twelve Stars?" as she smiles at him.
"Uh you see long story short the Phantom Order"
SLAP
Eliza slaps Jonathan across the face.
Ezekiel, Jericho, and Axel have shocked expressions.
Ashe shakes her head as he hides her eyes.
Samson holds in his laughter.
"You worried me! How many times did I have to say that this was a 2 man's mission? Do you know how worried I was? You going out there by yourself!" Eliza yells at him as tears begin to form in her eyes.
Jonathan massages his face as there is now a red hand mark.
"Am sorry" Jonathan says somberly.
Eliza takes a deep breath and hugs him. "Please dont leave like that I dont wanna lose somebody close again" She puts her hand on his face as she begins to heal that slap mark.
"Someone happy" Samson jokes on the side.
"Sh-shut up," Jonathan says as his face is getting red.
Eliza smiles at him. "Well, we can discuss this tomorrow morning I know you must be tired as Ashe has been informing me. Let's set you all up a meal, a bath, rooms, and a night's rest.
"Woohoo I can finally eat," Ezekiel says excitedly.
"Follow me this way to the dining hall," Ashe says.
"Am hungry myself" Samson says.
"They're an interesting bunch," Axel says.
Jericho walks away and looks back while walking with Axel "so you have something your fighting for" he thinks to himself as he watches Jonathan interact with Eliza.
Early Morning Next Day
IN A COLD CELL
BRRRRRRRRWHOOSH
"It's freezing in here." Eriko sits as she attempts to warm herself up. "Valerus how can he be related to him? No never mind dredding on that I have to find a way to escape.
VRRMM
"How's my student doing?"a voice calls from the shadows.
"That voice Ms.Celeste?"
"Oh right I didnt formally introduce myself I am "Silent Step" Selene of the Phantom Order.
"Y-you were w-working for them. A-all this time"
"Yes, I was. It was a pity that you three happened to be in the class that I was in. Although we only knew each other for around 2 weeks. Hmm"
Selene takes a closer look "You appear to be freezing. Did those idiots forget to give you a blanket?" A shadow portal appears in front of her as she casts another above Eriko a thick fur-lined blanket drops down. "And this as well." Selene drops a week's worth of food. Anything you name it. "I'll give some to them as well"
Selene then crosses her arms. "They'll be here soon."
Eriko is now wrapped up in the warm fur-lined blanket. "Who's coming?"
"Oh someone most likely the Federation. I give them by the end of the week maybe by the end of today"
"Aren't you going to be preparing?" Eriko questions.
"Oh no see me and two other members t have to go to Boundera and retrieve the Twelve Stars from there. Also Ezekiel as well."
"You going to kill them?"
"What of course not. Just badly wound them. If they chose to resist"
"What about Valerus?"
"Oh, he last that I have heard he's going to be put on trial in The Court of Mages."
"What!"
"Oh yes it should be starting real soon today"
Eriko swiftly moves up from the cell and attempts to break the bars.
"It's no use. None of you can escape. These cells are meant to nullify any magic within it. Besides, we want your friends to come and rescue you"
"Why wouldn't be bad"
"No, not necessarily. You see we have-"
"Selene are you in there?"
A girl's voice calls out.
"Yes Tay am here"
"Well when you are done talking to the prisoners meet in the main room" Tay speaks beyond the door."
"That's my call Eriko just sit tight and wait for your rescue to arrive" Selene steps into the shadows and vanishes.
"Ready?" Tay asks beyond the door. "Yup" "Blades acting all nice again. He's pretty tamed compared to yesterday. Tay says. "He does do that-" As their voices fade away.
"Why do they want them to come to this place? Unless" Eriko looks around "Were the bait. They're falling into a trap!"
--------------------------------
Hallways of Phantom Order hideout.
VRMM
"Blade let me talk to you for a moment"Phantom appears before Blade.
"You're very chatty today first a visit early this morning And out in the open? The shadows listen too you know" Blade says.
Phantom extends his clenched fists as if he's holding something "Just take this for safekeeping".
Blade receives the item and looks at it. "I understand"
"Okay remember dont ever remove your mask. And try to act like "yourself" Tay and Selene will pick up on it Tay most likely has.
"I'll try sometimes he does more things than I"
"I shall see you in the room"
Main Room Moments Later
"Where is everyone here?" Deadman speaks.
CREAK
OPEN
"Blade has arrived,"Phantom says.
"We are just waiting on Silient and Melody and we shall speak"
"Oi Alice you dont wanna call them by their real names?" Stormbringer asks.
"I prefer not to since we're so used to calling each other by our codenames. Not that it matters using our real names"
"You're right" as he supposedly looks down at his drink.
"Aahh where are those guys there running so late" Blade speaks.
VRMM VRMM
"What took you guys so long?!" Blade questions.
"Hmm" Selene and Tay look at him suspiciously.
"As stated yesterday -"
"They're here," Deadman says.
"Am detecting around 6 Mages majority of them, Captain Level"
"They sent two-thirds of there squadron to us," Grandmaster says.
"Everyone get into positions" Phantom demands.
Raizo disappears into the hideout.
"Blade, Melody, Silent Step, and Stormbringer go to Boundera to retrieve the 4 Twelve Stars"
"On it" Silent responds taking the four of them through the shadows.
------------------------------------------------
WHIRRLLLL WHIRL
The cold winds in the mountains blow.
BEAM BEAM BEAM BEAM BEAM BEAM
"Luitenant Drakes ability was spot on. It is a bit nippy" Captain Tenmu responds.
Cecil stares at the hideout with his hands in his coat. "So that's the place of" "I'll stick with you brother I may get lost," Cecilia says as she hangs onto Cecil's shoulder.
"Everyone is in there" Javin remarks.
Jack looks at the sky and activates a small magic circle. "It worked thank you Sierra" "I wish you luck and safety Captain"
"Come everyone let us save everyone," Vincent says as they all head off to the hideout.
----------------------------------------
Winter RESCUE TEAM
Sir Vincent Agnes
Jack Solaris Squad 2 Captain
Cecil Morgan Squad 3 Captain
Cecilia Morgan Squad 3 Luitenant
Javin Landres Squad 6 Captain
Okina Tenmu Squad 7 Captain