Hey, you roguish red-armored jerk! Why'd you beat up my mentor and my sister in the Demon Lord's castle!?

Before I can even think of an action plan, Crimson charges for me. ...I can't take him head-on like this! I'm still physically a teenager, and he's got two knives.

Quickly, I jump out of the way-- trying to buy myself more time. Maybe he'll trip over the others? He said he has no intent on hurting them, after all.

As he reaches where I once was, he leaps into the air, twisting his body to face me-

shhhkt shhhkt

!!!

A sharp, warm pain takes over as I feel two daggers piercing my arms-- thrown by him midair.

"You'll have to think quicker than that if you wish to stand a chance, Miss." They speak, arms crossed in disappointment.

Then, they snap their fingers. A gravitational pull takes over as their knives-- still embedded within me --attempt to return to their owner.

Is he trying to force me closer to him...? I wonder if I could take advantage of this.

I crouch down, quickly pouncing at him before he has the time to realize what I'm trying to do. If I use the pull from his knives to pick up momentum, then maybe I can tackle him to the ground without him getting the chance to dodge...!

CLANG

I slam straight into his head. I guess I underestimated how much speed I'd gain-- as well as the fact my body would curve as the knives attempt to reach his hands. I feel another sharp pain as the knives leave my body proper, and I turn around to quickly assess the situation before he can get his bearings-

...

W-wait.

His head... came off.

Like, clean off.

His headless body turns slowly to face me, before falling on its knees, slumping forwards.

Did... I kill him?

No wait, there's nothing there. No blood, no gore; nothing.

Well, there is something. Some sort of faint, glimmering light from inside the neckhole. I might as well examine that.

Cautiously, I approach. Something's got to be up, right?

His arms grab onto me, pulling me through the air-

SLAM

-as the headless knight manages to suplex me. ...I guess I'm the one that's up, then.

Stars explode out of my eyes as my head slams into the hard stone floor. Mercifully, they let go of me-- but I'm too dizzy to do much in the immediate moment.

"Wh-wh... what in the hell..." I weakly utter out.

Crimson gets up, chuckling to themselves. "Animated armor-- gets them every time." They move to pick up their head-- ...giving me an idea.

I force myself up to my feet, using my adrenaline as a proverbial kick in the ass to get me going. Then, I rush for his head.

"H-hey...! What in the world-"

I snap his head up, grabbing the feather-thing in my mouth and making a break for it.

"L-let go of me, Miss!" He protests, body attempting to catch up with me.

I can't exactly respond with him in my mouth, so he's just going to have to deal with it. I make sure to take as much of a winding path through the castle as I can. Even if he's familiar with this castle-- which he must be given he was able to break in so effortlessly --if he can only see through his helmet he'll have a hard time navigating back to me.

Eventually, passing through hallway after hallway, stumbling through the courtyard, I find myself in some sort of chapel. Is Exgrave a religious sort? Whatever, It doesn't matter.

I stash Crimson's head into one of the pews-- face facing the back so as to make things harder for him to figure where to look, and sit down, waiting for his body to arrive.

"T-this is not a fair fight in the slightest!" He huffs out.

"I'm fighting for my life here, do you think I'm going to play fair?"

"...Fair point."

I peer my head overtop the pew, darting around occasionally to avoid getting caught by surprise.

...

Eventually, I duck down, hearing the creaking of the door opening up. The clanking of metal against metal tells me that his body made its way here-- not exactly going for a stealthy approach given it can't see where it's going. I've got the upper hand here.

I slink down to the floor, making a circle around him as quietly as possible. Even with me catching him off-guard like this, he must have some experience with being separated from his body; meaning I'll need to be discreet.

Once I've gotten close, I crouch down-- wiggle my butt for good luck --and then pounce onto him.

!!

His elbow slams into me, causing me to crash back down onto the ground, tumbling. I think my nose is bleeding. He turns around to face me, despite not having his head. Some sort of blindsight, then...?

"Perhaps I'm being overconfident here." He speaks from the pew, his body taking out his knives once more. "But, as you've asked for it, I believe I shall show you true fear-- by taking you on without my head!"

He swings at me, narrowly missing as I dodge. He's less precise, sure, but certainly still proficient. Another swing, barely dodged. He must be using the vibrations to guess where I'm standing. I need to think of something, fast.

"G-gahhh!!"

He slices into my neck, drawing blood. Thankfully, not a fatal cut, but it still hurts. I can't keep on the defensive like this-- he's just too good.

I spread my wings, pushing myself into the air. If he's using the vibrations of me hitting the ground, then he'll lose that advantage if I start flying. Even if he can hear me, it'll still be harder to track.

...Now if only I practiced my flight. I've not exactly had anyone else to teach me, so I'm probably flapping more than I need to. Still, as long as I can make things difficult for him...

This gives me another idea, though.

I divebomb (or at least, attempt to divebomb) for his neck hole.

CLANGrattlerattlerattlerattle

Against all odds, I've succeeded... at jamming my head into their cavity.

Regardless, I've got a closer look at the glimmering object from before. It appears to be some sort of golden orb, with incredibly complex inscriptions as well as radiating a magical white aura. Is this his core, then? I've never seen an animated armor before, so I don't know if that's how this works or not. But, I'm sure if I torch it with my fire breath, I'm sure it'll upset him.

I inhale...

"W-waitwaitwaitwaitwait! I yield! I yield!" He squeals out from the pew.

glp

...Swallowed up my own firebreath. Eugh.

"Please... get out of my body. You've won-- I've lost."

"How can I trust you?" I ask, incredulously.

"It's not as if I'm in a position to backstab you." They speak with genuine nervousness. "You're within prime position to kill me here, after all!" Maybe they were telling the truth when they said they were trying to test me, then.

"How so?"

"Y-you were about to incinerate my core!!"

I scoff. "Is it really that fragile?"

"Of course not." A familiar voice growls out. "But seeing as you lack knowledge on how much is too much, having never seen an automagia before-- I suppose for once Crimson's cowardice is justified."

"C-commander...!" They kneel in reverence towards Exgrave-- while I'm still stuck inside them.

"Get my protégé out of your cuirass."

"Y-yes... Commander." They pull and pull on my waist, but are unable to dislodge me despite their best attempts.

"She's... she's stuck, Commander."

"Bah." They walk over to the pew where I left his head on, picking it up and handing it over to him. "Here. Carry your head with you, for now-- we shall make our way to the main hall so the others may assist."

As we head off, Exgrave continues. "Now tell me, Crimson. What in the nine hells was your plan, here?"

"I-I just wanted to test Pento...!" They stammer out. ...Where did all their bravado go, exactly? "If she's to take your throne, then I deemed it necessary to test her combat and leadership skills. I'd been observing her for quite a while and-"

"Your reasoning for not letting me in on this plan, being..."

"W-w-well... I figured something s-spontaneous would be beneficial! And with you being indisposed and all-"

"Indisposed?" They stomp the ground with an anger I've not seen before. Though I can't see them, I'm sure they left a miniature crater beneath their boot.

Crimson squeals with fear. "Y-y-you have been shrunken down to a fifth of your proper size, is all I meant!"

"Yes, due to the resurrection ritual failing. I could still crush your core with my bare paw, however." Crimson trembles, rattling me as he does.

"...Wait." They stop moving, Crimson following suit. "You said you were observing Penelope?"

"You included, of course."

"For how long?"

"...A few years."

"How long is a few years?!" They growl out.

"F-f-five... Commander! Nearly five years...!"

"Penelope, do me a favor and give his core a light toasting."

"N-n-nooooo!!! Lord C-commander..."

Of course, I don't do this. I've not seen this side of Exgrave before, but I've known them for long enough that they probably don't want me to actually follow through with this.

If they ask again, though...

"Where is Sangria, then?" They change the subject, much to Crimson's relief. "I hardly ever see the two of you separated."

"Oh, right. ...I do not know, Lord Commander."

"Hmmm?"

"She had become distant after you'd d-died. I have not seen her since, unfortunately. ...I do hope she's doing well for herself, though."

"Bah." Exgrave sighs, resuming their stride. "I never know what's going on in her head."

"She'll turn up sometime, I know of it." Crimson hits their chest in a show of confidence, shaking me a bit more. "She's a stern, cold individual, but deep down she misses her big brother Crim."

"...How can animated armors be siblings, exactly?" I ask, wanting to remind the two that I'm still here.

"Their cores were crafted by the same magician," Exgrave answers. "Both of which were made to serve me-- or, perhaps, 'take care of me in my youth' would be more accurate."

"Caretaker animated armors? That's kinda cool."

"When they're doing their job, of course." They grumble. "Crimson here was their first creation, and while I hold him in high regard as one of my finest soldiers, it is times like this that make that fact readily apparent."

Crimson nervously laughs, seemingly relieved Exgrave still holds respect for them after this stunt they've pulled.

"Why did you keep away from us, then?" I ask Crimson.

He moves to tug his collar with one finger, bumping lightly into my stomach as he does. "W-well.. At first, I was busy burying those who were slain by Powers, then after notifying next of kin I had figured to try and recruit those who had dispersed after Commander's passing..."

"Is that why you're wearing my cloak?" They pointedly ask.

"I-I just wished for it to not get stolen by any grave robbers, Lord Commander...!"

"Sure."

"B-but well, many of those who fought on their side were concerned for their own safety with their Commander gone, and were less than reticent to forming a splinter army in his stead. So, I kept myself busy, observing the two of you whilst... doing my own thing."

"Your own thing being robbing general stores...?"

"To give to the underprivileged!" He retorts. A modern day Robin Hood. Would've appreciated someone like him back in my old world.

"Regardless, now that we've reconvened properly, you can assist us in our plans."

"I cannot." Crimson responds with a seriousness I've not seen since I'd first seen him.

Exgrave stops again. "You... what?"

"I cannot assist you at this time, Commander."

"...Why not?" They're getting angry again.

Though, for once, Crimson does not falter-- much. "It is in my opinion that y-you are not in a state to raise an army."

"I am in the best state I have been in the past-"

shing

Crimson moves to strike Exdeath with one of their blades. It sounds like they were able to block it-- though given the light tumbling and panting that ensues, it was only barely.

"...Fair point." They begrudgingly agree. "But I plan on training-- to regain my strength and build up my new soldiers."

"A teen-aged dragon, and Hemera's daughter."

"It is a start."

"Yes-- it is. But... until the three of you are in fighting shape, I feel it best to carry on your legacy on my own, Commander." They stand their ground, showing a surprising bit of backbone for a literal spineless suit of armor. "You know as well as I that the injustices in the world will not wait for your strength to return. I apologize, but I cannot wait on you any longer."

A slow, rising growl from Exgrave-- before they sigh, seemingly giving up on convincing him otherwise. "I understand." They speak with resignation, before offering a hand out to Crimson-- at least, I assume, given he moves his hand to shake theirs.

We sit in silence, having made it to the throne room, until the others come to. Khil almost punches Crimson in the chest, before realizing that I'm still lodged halfway inside them. She and Zephys struggle, but eventually manage to pull me out.

Exgrave and Crimson both catch the others up, while Zephys tends to my wounds.

"Ah... Sir Crimson," Zephys interjects, "if I had known it was you, I would have been more than willing to play along. All you had to do was ask!" She laughs a bit.

"I do appreciate it, Miss Tailwind-- but I wanted to keep the element of surprise. It's best to minimize variables when doing so-- less points of failure."

"There's less chance of success too, though," I counter. "...Depending on what variables you keep, I mean."

Crimson squints at me, taking in my words. "Perhaps I've underestimated you, Pento. Well spoken."

...

I let out a big yawn.

Oh right. I still haven't slept yet.

With my wounds tended to, I'm fresh out of adrenaline.

...

I'm probably going to pass out soon-- at least it's not from blood loss.

"Crimson." Exgrave speaks. "I will not try to convince you to join us, but at least keep watch over us while we sleep."

"My will is yours, Lord Commander."

Exgrave helps walk me over to the bedroom, having noticed how tired I've gotten.

In my exhausted haze, I almost miss Crimson whispering out to me as we walk by.

"You passed, by the way."