Sedibus 1.1

"Wow the towers even bigger than imagined from this close, right Olier?"

The breeze seemed to accompany a low yet tuneful voice on a fairly warm early summers day- it sending the many golden flowers from the fields that surrounded a small village, scurrying off into the breeze as though they were desperately trying to fly away. This astonished statement came from that of young man in his early twenties, garnished in heavy ebony steel armour with silver under-plates, glistening just faintly under the sun's rays.

His armour resembled that of his raven-coloured hair, as though it were made for him- his ashy blue eyes looking ahead at what lay before them. Beside him- a large white horse with a blonde mane nickered back to him, almost as if it were replying to being addressed…

From behind their speculative stances- an elderly man feverishly stepped towards them…

"I-I'm sorry Sir Arthur but this is as far as I can take you, it's far too dangerous to go further than here..." the old farmer shook a condolence- his face riddled with concern… yet in spite of that, Arthur simply looked back, shaking his head.

"No, this is plenty enough, it looks like from here it's just a straight shoot to the tower! Thank you again!" Arthur reassured the old man, as it seemed with this statement that the wind made a stir again- its gusts guiding their eyes in the direction of the contrasting lands ahead… and the ominous flame like tower before them.

…LOOM…

Though the land Arthur stood within right now, was the same beautiful- almost ethereal looking countryside he had often seen when growing up- the land before them was anything but…

A few steps ahead and your feet would reach the current border to what had become known as the Plagued Lands. What once was a thriving part of the outer kingdom- had now been reduced to nothing but barren wastes; with ground that was arid and mud cracked in texture- it’s once inhabited structures ruins to the floor and it’s wildlife having all but been killed off…with the exception of the rumoured foul creatures that lived there.

The cursed lands ahead were dyed in a dusty orange – accompanied by a permanently scarlet sky which loomed above it. It would fade out into the blue skies they currently stood in- as though a visual reminder to how it bled its way as a poisonous threat to the lands outside that were pure…

..and within the centre of this all, stood the demonic looking tower which housed the being that started this entire mess.

The witch's tower… an enormous rocky black building which contorted like fire to the sky.

Though from a glance afar it would look like a twisted mountain— the bright purple light emanating from its top made it clear that someone was living up there... and it was that very person that Arthur had been sent that day to kill…

A wicked and sinister witch that had done naught but terrorised every envoy and fleet of guards- that made an attempt to reason or dispose of her…

“…”

Arthur gave a disconcerted expression- as it was then, there came a subtle but noticeable rumbling beneath their feet... and with it; came the distinct fizzing of deterioration coming from the plagued lands inching ever closer….

The plague was growing rapidly… it was only a matter of time before a small village like this was consumed. Arthur looked back to the many villagers who were already packing, getting ready to leave their home for good and flee... right now, he was one of the only ones who could stop this.

"I truly wish I could help a kinsmen more with their service-" the old man muttered wearily- as it was to this, that Arthur turned a warm smile towards him.

"I'll be fine, your information and guidance have been enough! Please, for now just focus on you and your family. I will do my best to get rid of the plague before it hits the village, but just in case, I recommend you prepare to evacuate…" Arthur continued to assure the old man- who seemed to grow teary at the knight's kind words.

"Bless your kind heart young knight..." he thanked him fullheartedly, bowing his head as Arthur proceeded to put on his dark steel helmet.

"No thanks necessary- I wish you all well in the future!" He proclaimed, climbing onto his horse and take hold of its reins.

"Let’s go Olier!" was all he spoke further, patting the side if the horse's neck springing them both into action! The two galloping without hesitation, into the dusty wastes of the plague.

***

The air was eerily still within the plagued lands as, with a steady pace, horse hooves pounded the crumbling dry floor beneath them- kicking up slight clouds in their wake.

The silence that echoed through these valleys once rife with life was a haunted one… however it was one to be contested by the knight who could only look upon the scenery they went through with a passing nonchalance.

"Huff... we finally made it, huh? Honestly, I thought it would take us a little longer to get here... though two days isn't half bad, right Olier?" were half whimsied words of Arthur as he glanced down to his horse.

The horse known as Olier simply grunted in response- as though making some kind of retort- busy stealthing around the grounds before them. The knight rose an eyebrow… well, he never was much of a conversationalist…

He took off his helmet, the stuffiness of the climate around them palpable against his skin as it was then he took a short breath… and it was in his tempt of fate in doing so- his face then crumpled up, a shudder rippling through his body. As quick as he had taken his helmet off, he had put it back on. Bad idea...

“… it smells awful here..." he commented with a sickly tone, doing his best not to gag.

The air in these lands was repugnant… imbued with the scent of rusted burnt iron and the sulphuric of many rotten meats and egg. Too much of a breath of air in this place almost set alight to your lungs- rather- it was pretty evident why nothing could sustain itself within these conditions for long…

However, the air wasn't the only give away to how harsh and unliveable the environment here was…

If someone was to say that not long ago this land had been full of life, greenery and its own villages and buildings only a year ago… you wouldn't believe it. Buildings which had once stood so tall were now nothing more than stony base ruins and shrapnel, leaving behind no former reminiscence of their old selves. The only nature that had seemed to make it here- was merely the prettified skeletal remains of old trees that stuck up out of the ground as though they were hands clawing out in desperation...

This was ignoring all the animal bones littering the place- of creatures that had tried living in spite of the conditions and all but failed to weather it or escape. Even the water here, though sparse - only to be found in the occasional ditch, was hardly anything you would imagine it to be anymore. Instead taking the appearance of a near green, gooey sludge that bubbled away from a dwindling source…

"Let’s hope that none of this water pollutes the rivers downstream..." Arthur muttered whilst glancing at a pool they rode past, a look of disgust upon his face. He was pretty certain it was toxic....

His eyes glanced back over to the tower, focused on the wavering magenta light coming from its highest window invoking a contemptful near to them.

"This whole thing is that evil crones fault... if we don't put a stop to this soon, the whole kingdom will wither away..." he uttered with a hefty weight of malice in his tone.

Though… the longer he stood there still- the more the environment of that plague seemed to make him waver- this expression of anger changing more to one of concern... he adjusted his helmet…

"I dread to think what the effects of staying in a place like this for too long would have on a human..." he passed a comment as they continued to ride one- passing the skeletal remains of some kind of animal with a grim quiet of thought...

GRUNT

It was not long after this comment however that, quite suddenly, Olier stopped in his tracks- making Arthur jump in response.

"W-woah, hey Olier, what's wrong?!" He gave a cautioned stagger- the horse stepping from side to side a little…before coming to a complete stand still, refusing to move.

Arthur looked down to his horse- still at a loss for what was so wrong… though as he stared at his horse longer- his expression of guarded concern gradually faded into an annoyed look of realisation. Arthur gave a rough sigh..

"Say Olier… we cannot stop for a break in a place like this..." he pointed out blandly- trying to get his horse to move forwards. Yet the horse just simply gave him another snort, stubbornly remaining where he was...

“…”- Arthur continued to glare at him, much like a parent scorning an ignorant child… before he then reluctantly got off of Olier’s back- grabbing a carrot from the side pocket of the horse's saddle. "Fine, fine, I get it! But no more breaks after this, okay?" Arthur gave a defeated exhale- marching to the front of the horse who appeared to nicker back at him with some victory…

***

-"Geez, we only just got moving and you already are complaining for a break... you are a solider like me, aren't you?" -

Arthur's scoldings continued to be heard, in a tinny and muffled manner through the translucent purple glow of a beautifully adorned crystal ball - that now showed Arthur where he stood with his horse from a distance….

The image gradually faded away in a white flash of light; returning to its normal spectral pattern within.

And beside it, someone sat- dressed in an elegant black and pink dress, complete with white frills and pink bows around it. This person had been watching the scenery quite intently- their slender hand swooping atop the crystal ball lightly- before coming to rest right before them…

The person was a young woman who sat with their legs crossed upon a chair at a small table where that crystal ball stood- her arms bringing themselves to a fold- as her finger lightly began to tap her right arm - her one foot bobbing up and down playfully.

Above her, many pink and purple hue'ed magic circles were whizzing around, one of which held a cup upon it. It was after a moments consideration to herself that she gave a faint hum- moving that tapped finger up to her side.

The magical circle holding the cup quickly flew over to her- as it was then the woman took the cup from it- her focus not moving from her crystal ball..

She took a sip from the drink within the pure white china cup she claimed from it- that matched that the long pearl straight hair that framed round her face… and she spoke with a feathery and delicate shrill.

"Delicious!"- she giggled- licking the remaining liquid from around her lips.

***

"I wouldn't even try clean my sword in the waters here... It would probably corrode..." Arthur mentioned haphazardly as he took off his helmet- sort of surprised how quickly it had caught dust in the short time span they had been here.

Olier grunted from beside Arthur as the knight didn't even bat an eyelash as he responded, patting the dust out from the top.

"Is that so?" he replied... before checking inside the helmet with a frown. "This sort of feels like a lost cause, this helmet really isn't that good for actually keeping stuff out..."

It was what he grumbled out loud to himself… though it was with extra shakes in an attempt to get everything out- and a longer consideration to himself- that gradually, a warming grin grew onto his lips. The alone time allowing his mind to wander to thoughts much more pleasant than the scenery around him.

"Heh, though I suppose it won’t matter for much longer, right Olier?” He suggested- looking into the helmet with a wry to his tone. “Once I marry the Princess, I probably could get any set of armour I want!”— a brightness shone off to his glance to horse that simply huffed itself back as though disinterested… Arthur lowered his helmet in another bashful trail of thought to himself- unable to stop thinking of the events that led him to this point in recollection.

"The fact that Princess Ran would offer such a thing as a reward, made my heart race... I never dreamed I could marry somebody as wonderful and kind as her!”

*****

"Once the witch is defeated, I want you to rule the kingdom alongside me..."

Sat upon an ivory and golden throne adorned with a fern and lily flower motif, within a huge and elegant marble and quartz stone throne room, accentuated with blue flags and red carpet- was a very beautiful young woman in her early twenties...

Her long blonde curly hair fell to her waist, accompanied by the plaited crown either side of it. Her aqua and pink of shoulder gown served a compliment to that of her soft and gentle ocean blue coloured eyes— which now looked on unstirred to the baffled knight Arthur from before her.

This woman was none other than the countries only remaining ruler, Princess Ran, a woman whose beauty outside only reflected the beauty within. She was the princess who Arthur had been loyally serving now as one of her right hands for many years— and the person Arthur respected and adored most in this world....

It took the raven haired man a few seconds to truly compute what the ruler of his kingdom had said- Arthur stumbling upon his own words in shock... before with a largely flustered expression he gave out a surprised reaction-

"C-come again?" - He double checked— not quite sure if he heard these words right as it was with what could only be described as a dithering rattle, that her supervisor made a very frantic stir.

"I- but- your highness!" He cried as Princess Ran simply rose up her hand, gesturing for him to be quiet- the supervisor holding his tongue in restraint.

The princess then looked back to Arthur- the light blue jewels on her crown, that matched that of the jewel on Arthur's own sword, sparkling against the light pouring in from the many stained glass windows surrounding them in that room and enveloping them both in a glimmering scenery. A small but very warm smile came across the beauty of her face as she spoke.

"I could think of nobody better to do so if you succeed...” she admitted to the knight who could feel his heart rattling in his ears as she spoke so softly….

“So, I can trust you right...?"

*****

"Yes your highness, of course your highness, anything for you your highness!!"

Arthur found himself acting out his own daydreams in reality with an excited and overjoyed glimmer to his eyes. The look of that lovely smile she gave him in that moment being enough to give him the courage to take on a million plagues and witches if she so wished of him!!

Though his pleasant mental recap to these events were quickly interrupted by Olier— his horse giving a sharp snort from beside him that made him jump back into himself… and he dwelled on it for just a second longer- before he then looked back to his horse with a disapproving frown- seeming to understand a level of judgement coming from that grunt somehow. He placed his helmet back on with a huff, turning up his nose.

"Yeah, well that's your opinion..." He retorted to his horse firmly as he walked over to the horses saddle, boarding back upon it with a small sigh… well- he supposed it was too early for him to be celebrating just yet- rather he had hardly even begun…

His eyes drifted up to the tower in front of him… and for a brief second- his face changed as he caught scent of the toxic air again… and daydreaming of being wed to the most beautiful woman in the kingdom was overshadowed by the looming threat such plagues and witches wrought… he tightened his grip on his helmet before placing it back on…

No matter what, he was going to end this plague… not just for her hand… but for the livelihood of the everyone in the lands she ruled…

"Anyway… no more lazying about now, come on!" He encouraged the horse as got himself comfortable once more, patting the side of Olier's neck to get him started again.

The horse compliantly began setting forth once more— the two on their way to the ever nearing witch's tower- unaware of the creatures that were closely following behind them.

***

"Say... Mistress, wouldn't you say he is getting kind of close now?" – came a refined yet rather concerned male voice, as from behind the woman watching the magic ball- a small black bat swooped down beside her, having emerald, green coloured eyes and a white and black fur pattern on his front that almost fittingly for his tone- looked like that of a waistcoat and bow tie.

"Are you scared Ciel?" The lady beside him asked with a curious lilt to her voice- as the bat beside flinched back to the suggestion.

"N-not particularly... but I'm a little concerned… most guards who have attempted to come down here have turned back by this point, no?" Ciel pointed out to the woman cautiously- the lady casually placing a small soft candy into her mouth whilst shrugging...

"Relax... it's no big deal right now!" She proceeded to assure the bat— kicking up her legs on her table in front of her with a unphased shrug.

"M-mistress, please don't put your feet on the table like that, it's so unlady like!!" Ciel scolded her in a panic as the lady looked up at the ceiling- her face being somewhat obscured by the rim of her hat.

"No doubt the creatures of the plague land will teach that trespasser a lesson!" She went on to explain with a chime to herself, popping another treat into her mouth with a flick, much to the distaste of her bat.

"Mistress, please don't eat like that either!!" He squeaked— attention more focused on the lady beside him than the figures snapped up across the landscape showing within her crystal ball—

-

—It was as if by cue that from the repulsive depths of the murky waters beside them- something bubbled and fizzed out upwards- the approaching danger quickly making a targeted attack in the unsuspecting Arthur's direction-

CLANG

A creature found its attack deflected and blocked by the leather helm of Arthur's sword, the knight having reacted in the last moment at the sound of something quickly approaching him, a fierce defence now upon his face.

It was with a certain amount of force whilst Olier panicked with a loud whine- that Arthur pushed the creature back in the dirt Olier kicked up around them— stunning it in the process as Arthur then leapt off his horse.

He quickly took his blade out of its helm- revealing the ebony blade with it silver saw-like incisions along its side, in its full glory.

"Get behind me Olier!" Arthur demanded his horse in a guarded stance, as when the dust caused by Oliers stomped frenzy settled, he found himself met with the full appearance of the creature that attacked him.

Before him was a slender silverish white looking creature- that seemed to have the head and the slender body of a small snake like dragon... but the body movements, fins and flesh based whiskers of a fish. It appeared to float in the air— though with not much visual indication on as to why- it was a surprisingly delicate looking creature for as terrifying its bulky jaw looked and how much it packed a punch.

Arthur's eyes narrowed as he laid eyes on it. This wasn't like any such creature normal or magic he had seen before; rather anything that had evolved in these lands seemed to be some twisted hybrid of the two. A plagued creature…

The dragon didn't take any second chances after its stagger- darting straight back at Arthur who was now prepared for its attack. The creature opened its jaw up wide and instead of making an attack at Arthur himself, it aimed straight for his sword— razored teeth clenching down upon the blade tightly, much to the knight's surprise...

It took Arthur a moment of fiercely struggling to free his sword from the creatures grasp without any luck- and the soon sound of sizzling that started to come from his sword; for him to falter in his resistance… before he quickly realised what was going...

'Acidic venom...' he summarised to himself— realising the creature was trying to melt the metal of his blade. #’Seems this place is already fitted to deal with men in armour… Strong enough to weaken metal huh?’ — his eyes neared… beyond the obvious- any permanent damage to this sword in particular that his blacksmith couldn’t fix was something he couldn’t allow to happen…

Still the stubborn creature maintained its snap onto the black steel that hissed- Arthur only becoming more irritated at it’s relentless… though, the solution was quick to come to him.

“Sometimes if going against something doesn’t work, pushing forwards will!” He snapped— as it was instead of trying to free his sword- he took the opening to give the foul creature exactly what it wanted; shoving the blade right into the far back of its throat. He didn’t wait for the sound of reacting steel to linger- following the action through and slicing all the way down its long slender body!

The creature spasmed slightly from the end of his sword momentarily, as though a last ditch effort to struggle against Arthur.... before it then stopped still…. the creature quickly corroding away from the end of Arthur's sword much to his panic.

“Damn!”— He was quick to flick the creature off his sword as by the time it hit the ground, it turned into nothing more than a pile of bones, much to Arthur's surprise.

Arthur didn’t waste any time to look at his sword for any damages in alarm… however, upon seeing it remained mostly unharmed, he gave a small sigh of relief.

“I coated this thing in dragons' blood from the palace to help give it a resistance to things like acid... but still you can never tell with a place like this..." he mentioned cautiously as his eyes glanced back down to the bones of the creature before him, somewhat unsettled by the way it decomposed so quickly within the plagues air; now whatever powered it’s life left it…

…

“…speaking of dragons... I've never fought one quite like that before... right Olier?" He sidetracked himself from it with a passing question back to his horse, half expecting some sort of grunt back… just to be met with a strange absence... it detoured his focus back over to the direction of his horse… or much rather the lack of…

"Huh? Olier?" He stumbled in a waried shock at first as he sharply looked around to find where his horse had quite suddenly vanished too... when he caught sight of his brilliant white steed! …. running off without him into the distance…

This moment of confusion upon the knights face, was quickly followed by another loud snarl from behind him— as Arthur then looked back upon himself…

…only to be confronted by the sight of many more of the same creature he had just fought off, Arthur’s face going rather ashen at the sight of them.... He only took a second to understand his circumstances… before he then gritted his teeth- deciding to chase after his horse- the creatures now all hot on his and his horses trail.

…WHY THAT?!!

Arthur caught up, grabbing hold of Olier’s reigns sharply before he looked to him with a complete expression of disbelief amidst his heavy breathing upon running so far.

"You- you ran away again?! You... ran away and left me for dead!" Arthur exclaimed, catching his breath in shock- the horse looking away from him as though it had a guilty conscience about it… apparently, this was somewhat of a common occurrence for the knight and his horse. Arthur appeared to want to lecture his companion… however it was then that the snarling growls returned from behind them.

Arthur looked back- only to see that the creatures appeared to be the stubborn type- the swarm he and Olier had disturbed having quickly caught up to them both in spite of their fleeing…

"So, running off didn't sway your minds then?" He asked with a slightly deadpan expression- getting ready to battle with them all on his own once again. Already this place was such a headache…

And the creatures were quick to respond to this with an attack, one launching at Arthur as he sliced the reckless thing down as it approached him.

"Dammit Olier, you stay put! Otherwise I will tie you to a tree here and leave!" Arthur snapped back at his horse- noticing it had already began to slowly trot off again. The horse reluctantly stopping dead in its tracks with a huff upon hearing this.

Arthur looked back to the creatures with a rather determined expression at the challenge faced before him. As much as he'd love to play war time with these creatures- he didn't have much time to be lingering around here- so he was going to have to make quick work out of this!

"Let's go!" He yelled, jumping in for an attack of his own.

-

It took a gruelling couple of minutes- but at last Arthur had pinned down the final creature with his foot, the rest of its comrades now all bones littering the floor from around him. Despite the swarm, he had come out of the fight relatively unscathed- considering these creatures didn't seem to have much intelligence about them. Rather they appeared to have quite the blindsided instinct instead- throwing themselves at him with reckless abandon… however- knowing just what curated them; he had a feeling all he would find in this hellscape was mindless husks…

He decided he was going to put a stop to their tiresome delays here- thrusting his blade through the final creatures skull— the snap causing the dragon like beast to lash and roar out in pain… before it finally stopped...

At its stillness, Arthur sighed… raising up his sword and taking a few steps back to catch his breath, as it was with a faint groan to his throat- he eventually found himself taking off his helmet…

The air of this place made it much harder to breathe in such a stuffy helmet- especially in the midst of battle where a focus on breathing was already tough enough. The creatures had put up quite a fight, but more than anything they were just a minor setback. Though he doubted this was the only thing to worry about amongst these wastelands.

“… we shouldn’t linger around any longer for anything else to catch up with us…” he muttered- wiping by his mouth as he shook further dust from his helmet… seriously- what was the point of this thing if it just captured the environment?

A troubled thought he kept that had him going to turn back to his horse… perhaps a foolish plight to do when he had yet to see the creature dissipate as the others did… no sooner had he looked away- Arthur heard another array of loud frantic snarls come from behind him off the floor, his eyes widening as he whipped back around.

He rose his sword and arm to block his face; the creature he had only just killed giving one final hurrah to its attack- leaping straight for his head whilst his helmet was off!!

However it was an effort in vain… before it could make impact- it appeared to die- and truly so this time, mid it's jump. Mid action- its body started deteriorating away in the air, fragments of blood from it crumbling body splashing onto Arthurs arm narrowly missing his head as he dodged…

Though it still managed to splatter across the arm he blocked himself with- it’s doing so being accompanied by a sharp hissing from the silver of his armour and a seethed grunt from Arthur as he grabbed his arm in a reaction.

The fluid from the creature had dissolved little holes into the armour where it hit, seeping right down into the skin in his arm, much to his vexation as he seethed in pain for the moment, smoke arising from the burns.

"So... even he blood is acidic..." he summarised upon becoming aware of the damage upon his armour— realising through it that it was probably for the best he didn't let his guard down like that again around the creatures of the plague.

Arthur, nonetheless, was quick to recover from his wounds. He had dealt with burns before in the past to begin with... such primitive creatures of magic with aspects of fire and acid were rather commonplace in the aftermath of the anti-magic war… all the same… this was his first time encountering such with so much of a kill drive.

It was with this recovery, that Arthur then considered something to himself with a passing tighten of his lips… he walked back over to his horse- placing his helmet down on the floor- taking a carrot out from Olier's saddle casually...

"Say Olier! Want this last carrot?" he went on to suggest to his steed, waving the carrot before the horse who now had given Arthur his full attention, appearing quite excited at the idea.

Arthur’s painted smile change as he looked to his horse dully… before then simply turning away- carrot in hand as he instead headed towards a ditch filled with the disgusting water that decorated the entire place.... he then dropped the carrot in it- much to Olier's horror. Ignoring the horse’s irritated nickers behind him- Arthur simply dusted off his hands in a hmph after making his point.

"Next time you run off like that, I'll stop feeding them to you all together and you will have to stick to ha-EEEEEEEEEY?!"

It was a point that went on deaf ears… rather any attempt at disciplining his horse had all but gone out the window, as in a rage, the horse quite suddenly raised its back leg and with all it's might- kicked off Arthur's helmet into the far far distance where it could no longer be seen- much to the knight's total mortification.

"Do you have any idea how much that helmet cost?! I mean it wasn't a good helmet but that's beside the point- it was the only one I have right now!" He cried out in disarray as Olier simply grunted in response to this- unaffected by Arthurs exasperation to the matter. The knight stared off in the direction where the helmet had vanished into… and in time; a rather exhausted expression overcame his face in realisation.

“…I'm not getting that back am I?" He commented flatly as Olier once again gave a heavy snort from his nose, Arthur's expression becoming more irritated as he gave up. “Right… I guess I did prompt it on…” was his worn out addition- reconciling with penchants for creating his own troubles… even so… he walked back over to his horse with a stomp. "Forget it, I'll get a better helmet soon anyway, so I still win this battle out the two of us! He declared in a mulish manner- Olier not really seeming to care much for Arthur's sulking as it was whilst pulling his horse along that Arthur then gave a wince… his eyes cut their way back down to the holes now in the lower arm of his armour… and upon seeing it- it only appeared to fuel his irritation further.

"That witch owes me a new set of armour too... Damn her!!" he grumbled, leading Olier off as the carrot in the ditch behind them quickly melted away...

***

"Gargh, mistress, the plague monsters don't seem to be bothering him in the slightest!" — the image of Arthur continuing forwards undeterred in the crystal ball was now accompanied by Ciel’s nervous squeaks- the bat flapping around frantically. From beside him- the woman he called mistress had now gotten to her feet.

"Settle down Ciel..." she scolded him softly, now pacing around her room in thought as Ciel uttered his quiet protests to this. From past the brim of her hat- a small frown appeared upon her lips in the direction of the crystal ball.

"He wants new armour and a helmet though does he...? Pretty cocky of him considering he's the one causing such a fuss..." she gave a tutted comment as her stance lingered in the direction of the crystal ball for just a little longer- when it was then that she paused, her mouth opening a little...

And in turn… the flat line upon her face then turned into that of a devious smile with the accompaniment of an idea to the knights chunterings…

Without another second for thought- she rose her hand up to her side- a magenta coloured magic circle raising up from beneath it in a shimmer along with a small yet tuneful chuckle from her.

"But fine- if the plague lands aren't challenging enough for him, I'll give him what he has asked for when he makes it here...” she continued to humour the audacity of it all as she set herself to working on something. “Ciel, please go and let our guest know the door will be open for him if he so desires to come in..." she went on to command, as it was at once, that the bat beside her jumped in terror to the very notion of it.

"B-BUT MISTRESS-!!"

"It will be fine Ciel!" She cut him off with passive assurances that Ciel seemed vehemently opposed to.

"I have to disagree, everything up until now has been the exact opposite of fine! If you don't start taking things more seriously then there’s a chance that everything you've done until now-" the bat began to freak out even further… that was until his mistress spoke up again- this time a little firmer.

"Ciel...." she simply said his name as it to the stern in her tone that the bat stopped.... before he then gave her a hesitant expression- his mind combatting his heart for a few seconds… his refusal falling into reluctance.

…

"Mistress... if things go wrong, this will be suicide..." Ciel gave one last attempt at swaying her as it was to this, that the woman nodded with a small hum… before walking over to her bat and petting its head.

"Don't worry, I have a plan up my sleeves.... I won't let him come closer than he needs to..." she told the bat with a certain upturn to her lips… and in spite of her cunning laid backness to the matter- it was a feeling Ciel couldn’t truly bring himself to share.

…

Nonetheless he knew he had a role to fulfil… they both did. It was acknowledging such- that past his uncertainties, he nodded.

“…then do try to take it easy Mistress… you already are sinking so much of your magic into the plague…” he implored her… before flying up in the air and leaving the tower from out the window. The woman simply waved at him- following him up to the window- now leaning against it and staring out to the scorching plagued lands before her in the direction where Arthur was... her eyes lingering upon that red wasteland and the focus it renewed within her…

Of course… she wouldn’t allow him to get in the way of her plans… she never allowed anyone to get too close for comfort…

"Still though, I can't help but say I'm a little excited... nobody has gotten this close to the tower in a while..." she commented to herself with an entertained chuckle; as her head followed the reddened sky- fading itself into the light blue- where a grand castle stood in the distance- that red catching off the pink that captured it’s distant reflection within her irises. “…so you are finally seriously trying to get rid of me? Princess Ran...."