St. Clair

After Lulu followed Cedric, she found herself bored out of her mind at a chamber organizing papers on a wooden desk. 

Curse you, Iris...

At Ryner's command, Cedric had been working on organizing all the wizards to retreat at St. Clair. The city of St. Clair used to be lively and the second city to have the most magic users. However, after the burning of the academy, St. Clair also suffered through the same tragedy at the command of the king and now lies in ruins and abandoned.

However, before the ambush, a few wizards started to build underground in secret and the survivors hid there and have since expanded to keep out of sight. 

Lulu sighed as she sat down on the desk and wiped her forehead with her arm, but heard a door open with the echoing of many voices. With peeping interest, she flies through a slot in the wooden door and hides behind a pillar. 

Up from the view, she saw a sea of people filling in the seats of what seemed to be the council room. Cedric was at the center holding documents as he started a role call, there was one absence. 

"Does anyone know if Ozengar's group arrived?"

The wizards in the audience whispered to each other as others shook their heads no, but a young woman frantically pushed the door wide open in tears.

She grips Cedric's forearm crying and he tries to calm her down.  He notices her tattered clothes and bleeding scars.

"Norelia what happened?"

"Cedric please save him! Save my father!! The witches took him away!"

Lulu covered her mouth as she was in shock. Oh my, how awful!

The council gasped as they talked among themselves, a few standing up trying to leave, but Cedric locked the door at the swing of an arm as he seated Norelia.

"No one is leaving until the meeting is adjourned."

"Let me leave now or I'll bust your face!" 

Others started to protest as well. 

"I'm not going to wait around for a witch to catch me!"

"Let us leave!" 

"Screw this meeting!"

Cedric's face was stone serious as he walked up towards a man at the door, and with every step, it felt like he had grown a foot taller. The man gritted his teeth in anger but walked back to his seat as others did as well in fear.

 "Before we start, let this be clear to everyone... We took an oath during training to use magic for good and defend when necessary. Our time has come to do just that and that is why you have all been summoned today. It seems that Ryner made the right call to have everyone gather here for safety.... but the worst has begun to unfold. "

With all the wizards now attentive to the situation, Cedric approaches Norelia who slightly snivles from her intense crying. Kneeling, he asks her if she is ready to talk about what had happened.

In a nod, she started to mention that her father's group had witnessed witches on the outskirts of Lindow. As they set up camp to plan out their ambush, they were attacked, but her father traded himself for their safety. 

Cedric was writing her story when a flash happened in the middle of the room. 

Lulu was happy to see the group again as she quietly whispered, "They're back!" 

There appeared Bard, Kurt, Iris, Ryner, and Taru looking around the council room. 

The crowd began to whisper around as one of them yelled out in shock. 

"M-Master Taru is that you? How are you still alive?!"

"It's a long story! But let's just say that I've been in a conservative state..."

"Thanks for grouping everyone Cedric, good job!" 

"I think you spoke too soon Ryner..." Iris replied as he lightly punched his arm. 

Cedric sighed as he handed him his notes while he talked about the situation. Iris hugged Norelia as she listened to her side of the story. 

Taru cleared his throat seeing that the council started to buzz in noise again. Everyone stood quiet as they observed him with a chalkboard magically appearing. 

As he spoke, the chalk drew a diagram and a few notes that matched his explanation. 

He went on to state that the witches are most likely concealing Onegar's magic, but once located, everyone should follow a group formation with Iris, Ryner, Cedric, Kurt, and Bard (with Taru's help) as leaders. 

"Every group will have a goal to keep in mind. Iris and Ryner's group are looking out for Onegar's safety and retrieval. Cedric and Kurt are to strangle down any witches that get in the way. Bard and I will take care of the remaining shadow witches and Saru's stone. In the meantime, everyone is instructed to stay here at St. Clair until further notice. I am counting on everyone to do their part!" 

The crowd rose like soldiers and yelled a resounding, "Yes Master Taru!" 

He clapped and opened the closed doors, dismissing everyone. Lulu was in awe of Taru's performance. 

Wow, he's the legendary Taru! 

She flew down with the group and sat on Iris' shoulder. 

"Hiiii!" 

"I hope you were good Lulu."

She teasingly responded, "Mmmm...perhaps~" as Iris rolled her eyes. 

"Master Taru... what an honor to be in your presence... I apologize for being an emotional mess." Norelia bowed her head as Taru shook her head no. 

"Please, you don't have to be so formal! We will do our best to ensure your father's safe return. Have some rest and tell your peers to do the same." 

She nodded, bowing again before walking out of the chamber. 

My what a well-mannered girl...

Bard gripped the chalkboard as he dreaded the idea of being a leader. 

I know I accepted my magic...but this is still too much.

Taru laughed as he patted his shoulder. 

"Cheer up my boy! You'll be with me and besides you have that handy journal too Mister Hiking Wizard." 

Cedric comes up with Iris, Ryner, and Kurt commenting on how surprised he is to see him (and his over-the-top attitude). They caught him up with the events of defeating Mona, the hiking wizard journal opening, and Taru's summoning. 

"Hmm... I see. Well, now we have to think about this new problem." 

"Soooo... what's special about Lindow?" 

Cedric's eyebrows furrowed at hearing Lulu's question. 

Didn't I leave you to finish the paperwork?

Kurt crossed his arms as he was remembering about his trip to Lindow, but struggled to think of something that stood out. "Nothing extraordinary about it if you ask me... It doesn't even have any kind of historical magic." 

Ryner recalled Mona's last words though as he looked at Kurt.

"Mona did say that you should know where the witches would be though." 

Everyone turned to Kurt awaiting a response, but he sat down where Norelia was in deep thought.

Why would she say that? 

"Let me put it this way Kurt, is there any place a witch would be drawn to?"

"I'm not sure why they would do this... but they might've gone to Arois Forest. I remember my grandmother telling me stories of witches doing rituals there." 

"Master Taru are you ok?..." Iris asked as he saw him pale as the snow from Snowbell.

"Arois Forest is where we found the magic stones..."