Break Out

Himari and Nobu were still trapped inside the magical barrier. They couldn't find a way out no matter how much they tried.

"We shouldn't have taken that stupid hidden passage." Nobu's voice in full irritation from being trapped for so long.

Himari was in no better mood. "We wouldn't be in this mess if you hadn't set off the traps."

Nobu glared. "So, you're saying it's my fault? You're the one that chose that path. You even said you had been down it before, what happened there?"

Himari's eyes avoided Nobu. "Okay yeah maybe that was my bad. I remember now I have gone down that path before. Or rather, more like ran away from that path..."

-

Memories of Himari and Soma running down the deadly trapped path, trying to avoid the spears and screaming as their hair got singed from fire. 

-

"And speaking of your beloved fiancé, why didn't he do anything to help us?" Nobu scoffed.

"Soma and I aren't like that, and you heard him, he doesn't have the luxury to help us..."

"What a lame excuse for a prince."

"Nobu you shouldn't talk so poorly about people. It's not nice. You were also mean to Sachi before."

Nobu flinched. "You're right, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be blaming you either, it's not your fault."

"I'm sorry too. It's not your fault either. I'm just so worried about Sachi."

Nobu sighed, placing a hand on Himari's shoulder. "I'm sure we can figure out a way out." 

-

Sachi made her way down the narrow windy staircase, carefully listening for anyone around. She was scared to be caught, but her desire to save her friends was greater than her fear.

Finally, she made it down to the floor of the dungeon. 

Prisoners locked in anti-magic chains and behind magical bars yelled at her to let them out. Sachi tried to pay them no mind, but she couldn't help the anxiety that crept through her veins. 

After turning many corners, she found a small room, inside was the apparatus Masato was talking about. Sachi tried playing around with it but it gave her no reaction no matter what she pushed or pulled. Maybe you need magic to use it... Then what do I do? Sachi looked around desperately for any clues on how to use it but no matter how she tried, the device didn't answer her call. What would Himari do? Sachi noticed a mop. She grabbed it and tried to break the head of the mop off with her knee. It didn't break. Instead, she just ended up hurting herself. 

"Ow! That didn't work like I thought" She cried. Breaking a wooden pole wasn't as easy as the movies.

Since she couldn't break the head off, she just took the whole mop and smacked it against the apparatus. She kept hitting the device until it finally began to short circuit. Sachi quickly ran away from the device as the fuse blew. "Surely that did something..."

Sachi ran to find Himari and Nobu

-

Nobu sighed, placing a hand on Himari's shoulder. "I'm sure we can figure out a way out."

The magical barrier suddenly disappeared. Himari and Nobu looked at each other and looked back at the now missing barrier.

"See, I told you. I figured it out..." Nobu said confused.

Himari rolled her eyes. "Oh. no you did not."

"Okay maybe I didn't, but either way it looks like we're free."

"Could it be another trap?" Himari asked warily. 

Nobu tried using his powers and they worked perfectly fine. "It doesn't seem like it... I don't sense any magical disturbance anymore."

Footsteps were heard around the corner. They were approaching closer, and they were approaching quickly.

Nobu stepped in front of Himari to protect her. He summoned his sword and held it at the ready.

The quick footsteps turned the corner to reveal Sachi.

Himari gasped. "Sachi!" She pushed Nobu out of the way and ran to embrace her friend. "We were so worried about you, are you okay?"

Nobu returned his sword to its sheath. "Are you hurt?"

Sachi pulled back from Himari's hug. "I'm okay. I'm sorry to have worried you. Are you two alright?"

"We're absolutely fine! Are you sure you're okay? The king looked him he was hurting you..." Himari looked at Sachi's throat but didn't notice any marks, she also noticed Sachi's thigh was healed too. "Hey, what happened? You look fine."

"Oh, I met a nice old man that helped me. The prince also actually helped me out too."

"Soma did?!" Himari was surprised. "See Nobu, he's not lame." Himari smiled to herself. Did he finally stand up for himself?

Nobu didn't hear Himari's comment. His senses heightened, his hand made its way to the hilt of his sword. "We need to go."

"Huh? Why?" Himari asked.

Nobu didn't have time to explain. He turned to Sachi. "Where did you get in here from?"

Sachi was confused what had Nobu so worked up. "There's an old staircase on the other side."

"Can you lead us there?"

Sachi nodded.

"Then let's go."

Sachi led the way back the direction she came. 

However, once they got close to the room with the controls, they finally saw what had Nobu anxious.

Prisoners released from their cells and broken free from their restraints running rampant across the dungeon looking for the exit. 

Sachi gripped her mop that she was still carrying from before, thinking it would defend her.

A wave of chaos erupting through the dungeon as the prisoners ran wild - shouting, fighting, destroying anything in their path with their magic that had been sealed from them for so long. In the middle of the madness, Nobu stood his ground. He gripped his sheathed sword and shielded the girls behind him. One prisoner lunged at him with a blade of light. Nobu ducked, struck, and didn't stop moving. He fought his way through the crowd, blow after blow, strike after strike. Careful not to deal any fatal blows. The girls stayed close behind him, carefully to not be in the way. Quickly, more prisoners wanted to take on Nobu, he was severely outnumbered. He swiftly dodged the magical attacks and countered the physical attacks, but there were too many for him to both protect the girls and fight back properly. With the glow of his crimson eyes, he expelled a mighty blast with his wings to temporarily push back the prisoners. "Go!" He barked, making sure the girls reached the staircase safely before he followed.

Once they all made it into the stairwell, they still didn't pause. They kept running before the prisoners could catch up. 

-

Snap

A hard swift whip to the back.

Snap

Then another.

Snap

Prince Soma's bare back was covered in bright red slashes that began to bleed as the king continued to whip him across his back. 

"How dare you speak out of turn you insolent brat!"

Soma said nothing as his father cracked another whip against him. He did his best to remain silent and bear the pain until his father's anger subsided.

Suddenly a howling whistle of an alarm blared throughout the castle. 

A guard pounded on the door. "Your majesty, the prisoners have escaped!"

"What?!" The king quickly left the room, leaving Soma alone in his blood and pain.

Soma gritted his teeth as a few silent tears escaped him.

-

Suddenly a howling whistle of an alarm blared throughout the castle.

"What's that?" Sachi cried as she continued to run up the stairs.

"An alarm. All the guards will be rushing to the dungeon soon." Himari answered. 

"You both need to pick up your pace." Nobu lectured. 

"We're trying." Sachi and Himari whined in exhaustion together.

Just then, guards were running down the stairs towards them. There was nowhere for them to hide. 

Nobu acted quickly. He spread his wings, grabbed them both, and flew them up to the ceiling, hoping the guards wouldn't look up and notice them.

One. Two. Five. Eight. Ten. Twelve. Nineteen. Nineteen guards ran right beneath them and didn't notice. 

Nobu slowly brought the girls back down to the steps. The three of them made their way to the top of the staircase. Nobu checked if the coast was clear and they quickly exited the stairwell.

The three of them stealthily roamed the castle halls, hiding from any guards that ran past. 

Suddenly, all three of them felt the familiar crushing presence of the king approaching. Himari quickly looked around and dragged Sachi and Nobu into a room, quietly shutting the door behind them. All of them held their breath hoping the king wouldn't notice their presence.

From behind the door, they could hear the king's angry footsteps. "How could the prisoners have escaped?! Who let this happen?!" His footsteps booming as he quickly rushed by with a handful of guards.

When it was finally quiet, they all sighed a big sigh of relief.

"We finally made it." Himari slumped to the floor.

"What?" Sachi whispered.

Himari pointed from the floor. "This is the ancient library. I told you my plan would work. We should've just done this to start." 

Nobu rolled his eyes. "We were really lucky, that's all."

Sachi turned to Nobu. "Thank you for protecting us."

Nobu scoffed. "That was nothing."

Himari picked herself up from the floor. "I knew Nobu would make the perfect bodyguard. Such strength and quick thinking he has."

"I can't tell if you're complimenting me or patronizing me." Nobu sighed.

"I'm complimenting you. Thank you. Really." Himari smiled.

Nobu averted her gaze. "Well, I said I would, so I intend to keep my word."

Himari turned towards the library. "I guess we better get started."

Sachi looked around the library. The sinking feeling of hopelessness taking over. The library was massive. Way too massive. Where would they even begin?