Sedibus 1.2

***

Finally Arthur found himself at the foot of the stone tower, the entrance of it surrounded by multiple black stony ruins and spikes, almost appearing to make some sort of joke job semblance of a courtyard within these wastes.

The witch’s tower in all its foreboding- was far more frightening in scale up close, the top barely being visible from the angle Arthur now looked upon it. He was somewhat astounded by the sheer size of it and how much he dwarfed in comparison after having only borne witness to it from a far distance....

Though he soon shook his head, trying to regain his focus away from his awe. He approached up the tall arched entrance way lead up to by stony stairs, the up roof of it holding a large purple and black stain glass window, the images seeming distorted from its outside view. At the foot of this rather over the top portico was a pair of grand and heavy burgundy mahogany doors- which stood an oddly normal contrast to the rest of the tower.

Arthur took an instance to analyse the entrance way and his surroundings- keeping his guard up amidst the strange calm around them before they entered such an otherwise sinister building… and it was after taking it all in- he then nodded to himself, looking over to his horse with a rather scheming smile.

"What do you say Olier, should I break down the doors action styled?" He suggested with a small snag of humour to the situation— amping himself up and positioning ready to ram into those doors at full force… when just as he started to swing- he found himself getting a sudden reply.

"That wouldn’t be necessary..."

"AH-" — it was with the sudden intrusion of a posh and unamused tone from beside him, that Arthur jumped and almost tripped over his own feet— the occurrence bringing him to a short stop...

…

Arthur regained his balance… before slowly turning back to his horse with an unnerved wariness.

"D-did you actually just reply to me?!" He asked in a low tone— his face a little drained of colour- when then he heard a loud click sound off from behind him- that disallowed any further opportunity to question.

With that click- without the need for his own brute force- the doors in the entrance of the tower now swung open with a weighted creak, gradually revealing the large hall that awaited them inside.

It was a dark and gothic looking room- stairs at the back seeming to lead to a landing which held another set of staircases- that presumably led up the tower either side of it… The floors of this room were combination of that dark mahogany oak and black stone- the walls being a deep purple that contrasted against the many black pillars and stair rails within it.

The halls had many decorations within it- most notably some cryptic looking paintings of people weeping to themselves bitterly- cowering in fear to and hiding their faces. Amongst the wall decoration there were also multiple sets of armour that stood at each corner of the room. The centrepiece however was that of a large black chandelier, held up by some sturdy chains, remaining unlit in the room lit up only by the closed door and the plagued lands.

Arthur blinked twice at the sight before him— not lowering his caution for a good while after the doors opened up, very much on their own will as it seemed… though his shoulders relaxed partially as the peace outside the tower returned to them…

…

He pulled somewhat of a strained expression as he moved his hand away from his instinct to grab his sword.

"I guess they were waiting for us..." he spoke aloud- looking around himself with uneasy thought that didn’t let him drop his stance fully. "Who spoke just now though...?" He went on to question… and it was to this ask- that the voice spoke up once again. This time it emanating from a clear direction beside him that he couldn’t miss.

"That would be me" the voice explained simply- as its appearance drew Arthur’s sight to his right… and to finally notice the small bat that now perched on the entrance of the building....

…

Arthur took a second to stare at the bat, his mind short circuiting for that brief... before he then shook his head.

"It couldn't be...." he muttered, going to turn away- as it was to his doing so- that Ciel spoke up with an irritated tone.

"If you are doubting if the bat has spoken then you are wrong, I am talking..." the bat brought up in a dull tone- Arthur almost tripping up again as he swing back with a startled point.

"The bat just spoke!" He exclaimed in bewilderment as it was to this that Ciel merely squinted his eyes a little.

"Indeed I did... have you never seen a speaking animal before sir?" – it was to the bats flat read inquiry that Arthur’s face remained rather ashen— the answer being obvious before he spoke it.

"N-No I am just used to getting grunted at...." he answered dry; Olier giving another one of these grunts in response to this as Arthur looked back to his horse with a frown. "I'm not debating this with you!" He quickly whispered to his horse menacingly- the bat beside him pulling yet another strange expression to the knight…before he shuffled his wings- ready to fly.

"If you are entering, please do so..." he went on to usher Arthur on, restraining a comment to his arguing with his horse as he took flight ahead of him.

"Ah right, s-sure?" Arthur answered with a flinch— doubling back on himself only briefly- not being so sure if he should just listen to the demands of a talking bat.

Nonetheless he knew himself that this entrance was the only way forward from here.

"Stay here Olier...." he told his horse firmly- taking a few steps forwards… before he stopped, looking back to his horse with a frown. "I mean it, don't run away!" He emphasised as his horse gave a rather reluctant snort in response to this. Arthur tilted his lips just briefly- looking back past his horse to the plagued lands behind him- his eyes just catching the distant blue skies from here… he held his sight upon it- before his eyes sterned further- turning himself back around, following the bat into the tower.

THUD

The doors closed on their own behind Arthur, much to his surprise… and before he could comment- the sight of two blue flame like orbs came down from the corner of the room- whizzing down past his head and darting upwards to the chandelier in the middle, the flames dancing around it and lighting each candle above them...

"Huh..." Arthur simply commented in mild reaction- a little entranced by the little display before him- as in contrast- the bat that flew only a little way before him could only give a long sigh.

"She even made the effort of making the place lighter for you… Mistress you really are far too laid back..." he spoke a disheartened mutter- his words garnering Arthur’s attention as he glancing up to the bat.

"Is your mistress the witch?" Arthur jumped straight into questioning— Ciel twitching a little upon being addressed directly … when it was with a frown- he looked back to Arthur beneath him...

"Her name is Rosalyn Isolde..." Ciel corrected Arthur coldly as Arthur simply rose an eyebrow to that.

"I couldn't give a damn about her name. Is she the witch or not?" He requestioned in a firmer manner. Ciel flicked his face away from Arthur.

"Technically speaking yes… though to just call her 'the witch' is rather rude of you to say at the least, especially considering she gave you all this leeway!" he went on to lecture Arthur with some haught to his tone… and it was to getting scolded by a talking bat of all things that Arthur simply gave a mocking sympathy to his tone…

"Heh? So, you serve that nasty old crone huh?" He clarified passingly, Ciel dropping mid-flight briefly from his own disbelieving pause... before his expression became far more affronted.

"She is not nasty- nor is she an old crone!" The bat retorted very snappily- though it wasn’t a claim Arthur appeared to take anywhere near as seriously as the bat- nor one he cared about. Rather he had no reason to do so… not with the state of the world outside as it was now… not after seeing people being forced to leave their homes and made sick to this witch’s actions… he had no end of ill words he could line up for in this moment…

A short scoff escaped Arthur’s throat.

"Really? Doubtful… I bet she's rather hideous too! She probably hates her Majesty due to jealousy..." he went on to note with a rather confident nod to himself… an attempt at trash talking that was soon disrupted by Ciel flying right up to his face in anger.

"I would have you know that mistress is a true beauty beyond compare! She could easily surpass the princess in looks any day!" Ciel hissed at Arthur in a small fury- Arthur wrinkling his nose to the bats gall… before simply pushing him away with a shove.

"Your defensiveness is only proving my point ..." he bickered back dully, much to Ciel's complete disdain. "I suppose it doesn't matter though, afterall she'll be dead soon enough-"

RATTLE

Arthur's small muttering as he observed the room was quickly brought to a stop when he heard an ominous clatter occur from each corner of the room. He looked over to one of these corners as he saw that the suits of armour that decorated this hall had in fact moved position... and it was after a moments silence that the armour he was looking at, gave another violent rattle— this time its movement becoming a lot more animated!

The sound of many swords being unsheathed at once from the four furthest corners of the room - along with action of the suit of armour before Arthur coming to life- each taking out a long steel sword- much to the knights shock.

"Y-you've got to be kidding..." Arthur staggered back- quickly becoming aware of how outnumbered he was so suddenly. Somehow, he already had a feeling that in spite of their being barren- the suits of armour around him were going to be a much more powerful foe than the creatures of the plague outside…

It was as he tried to catch his bearings and observe the enemies around him- that a faint blue light line skirmished the floor almost like a wave, passing Arthur and then climbing up the walls… before with a sparkle of light- it fixed itself- causing a bright blue barrier of light to form before the door and the stairs leading up the tower. Arthur's sense of unsettlement only grew as he looked at the stairs. Magical barriers… he had seen such before in the remnants of magical dungeons around the kingdom.

"Great..." he uttered- fully on guard now as it was then he saw Ciel whisk past him with a passingly amused laugh— "-H-Hey! Explain yourself!" Arthur yelled over to the bat- as Ciel paused in his flight only to jeer at Arthur proudly.

"I would stick around to tell you why my Mistress is so much more powerful than you... though I supposed it doesn't matter… you'll be dead soon enough!" Ciel mimicked Arthur’s words back to him with a scorn— before he then flew towards the barrier- able to cross through it with no effort at all as he flew up the stairs of the tower.

Arthur gave a fierce glare in the place the bat flew up to.

"I never thought that I would end up disliking a bat so much... arrogant little thing…" he mumbled to himself with a lingering scowl- trying not to think too hard about how crazy the idea of that sounded… before he then looked back to the suits of armour now surrounding him and walking towards him with an increasing pace.

"Armour huh..." he analysed them… definitely reanimated by the witch’s magic… he had heard tales of them from days of the anti-magic war— even encountered weakened versions once or twice before… however- this was his first time ever truly encountering them to such a mass and sense of power…

He made a quick understanding of what he was up against… and it was as he thought on it properly for another few moments- that something struck with him…

Ah…

That’s what this was…

Gradually he gave a rather frustrated expression- his eyes coming to look looking to tops of the tower.

"When I said I wanted new armour, this wasn't what I meant you hag!" He yelled outwards in irritation- hoping that his words would somehow reach the ears of the person who appeared to be attentively watching him... shit, he and his big mouth… just like a magic user to have a twisted sense of humour. With no time to wait on a response- he unsheathed his own sword— preparing to charge.

"So be it though witch- I’ll play your games!!”

***

"Honestly mistress! You would not believe how incredibly rude that human is- GAH!" Ciel entered into his mistress's room with a huff of infuriation— before then stopping sharply in a panic. "Mistress! That expression is so unbecoming of a lady! Wipe that smile off of you face - this is nothing to be laughing about!"

Ciel went on to scold the witch in a ruffled stir- the woman sat at the table before him watching the crystal ball with apparently quite the appalling edge of excitement her smile— her face partially being obscured by the pointed black and pink ribboned hat she was wearing. It was with a lingering grin of amusement that she placed her hands beneath her chin.

"He seemed to understand the little gift I gave him Ciel!" She remarked cheerfully as Ciel could only stare at both her words and her seeming jovial in stumbling confusion.

"Gift?" He repeated loosely as the witch nodded.

"He wanted armour and I supplied! Though certainly he catches on fast! How interesting, I was sure that he would just sit there being dazed and afraid. For all the hysteria this is certainly entertaining!" She remarked eagerly as it was taking in her amusement that Ciel held a long stare at her… before swooping down beside her with a sigh.

"This old habit of toying with those who interest you truly is a terrible one mistress…— al-also your feet mistress, please Mistress Rosa- take them off the table!" Ciel’s comments to her behaviour soon dissolved into another spike up to her manners as the witch used a spell to create a small cake before her as she got herself comfortable.

It was with a carefree chuckle to herself that the witch then shrugged past the bats lessons in elegance.

"Relax Ciel... I may actually die today..." she noted in a fashion far too mild for the bats liking- her words only making Ciel freak out even more.

"Please don't joke about that!!" He flapped his wings pleadingly as it was with a small exhale to herself that the witch looked back to the magic ball, one of her fuchsia pink eyes, surrounded by pale white eyelashes appearing as she rose her head- a small glimmer shining within it.

"I wouldn't call this the same as old habits but..” – a rest of something more amused and mocking crossed her eyes as they took in Arthur and his ongoing battle… “I do love it when a man thinks he has a chance if he's persistent..." she continued to jibe tunefully- taking the strawberry from off her cake and popping it in her mouth with a smile. "I think it's sweet..."

"Mi-Mistress, please your wording!!"

***

Arthur stumbled backwards after blocking a suit of armour’s attack— one of which now lay in a pile on the floor in the centre of the room as Arthur had managed to somehow cut its helmet off- promptly killing it. Though that hadn't ended his troubles- in fact he now found himself confronted with three other sets of armour, all being equally as difficult to beat as their fallen comrade, quickly amping up for another attack.

'I guessed it… but who’d have thought that empty steel would have really put up more of a fight than the creatures outside...' Arthur noted in his mind as he moved back to catch his breath… ‘It’s easy enough to fell them when you catch a strike… it’s landing that strike that’s the problem…’

He blocked another attack of a suit coming right for him, hitting it backwards with his block once more... unlike the creatures of the plague- these armours did seem to have some level of strategy and thought infused into them… and unlike before- he no longer hand the range advantage amidst high numbers.

He had to quickly lean backwards to avoid the second suit making a lounge forward whilst he was occupied by the first- striking right before his face; the blade narrowly skimming his cheek enough to cut. Arthur frowned—

'And this is where I could have used a helmet too, dammit Olier...' — one moment of distraction here could cost him dearly. He was going to have to keep his eyes focused around him.

It was with this thought in mind, that Arthur gave a determined expression as he saw his own opening for the suit of Armour- dodging back under its second swoop as it happened and then charging back upwards with his own sword- plunging it right into the centre of its own helmet.

It was with a jolted rattle that the armour then stopped moving and slumped... when the rest of its body armour broke apart into pieces from beneath the helmet, which Arthur flicked off his sword, before looking back to the other two sets of armour. Right… two down- two more to go…

-

"Iyaaaah, he is quite skilled with that sword, he defeated two armoured fighters!" Ciel speculated with an outcried jolt. The witch next to him seemed much less stirred- looking on in a quiet intent, seeming to analyse what it was that he was doing...

"Indeed…it seems that maybe things might be too boring for him..." she made note in an invested thoughtfulness- clicking her fingers beside her.

-

CLATTER

It was with another loud rattle that the first set of armour Arthur had slain suddenly began piecing itself back together, much to the knight's shock-

'What the-' he looked back at it nervously, his distraction costing him some valuable seconds as he found himself narrowly avoiding the next wave attacks of the other suits of armour around him.

He backed up nervously- trying to reorient himself in light of what had happened.

'So they can rebuild themselves? How is this fair?' He questioned to himself, feeling rather cheated at this point as he watched them all slump back up into formation- the armour he had not long defeated starting to also put back itself back together...

As he watched- he felt his foot bump into something. Arthur looked down- observing the helmet from the armour he could see reconstructing itself- noticing it was starting to twitch in response… and to it he frowned.

Well if she was going to play it like that- then he was going to go out of his way make things as inconvenient as possible for these lumps of steel!

"If there’s one thing that having a horse taught me, it’s leaving your helmet unoccupied is a bad idea!" He announced out loud— proceeding to boot the helmet across the room from the suit in frustration! An action done partially out of spite… that was until he heard a weakened clatter from beside him… he turned his gaze- and looking back the armour that threatened to come back to life- he realised that the armour had fallen itself back apart…

His gaze drew back to the helmet which was now in the far distance of the room... as with it he started to work something out… in the brief encounter he had, had with living armour before- it had fallen apart with little effort- as the source of magic hardly remained for it anymore… often times these suits were said to have cores where such sources came from… so for here, it was the helmets huh? Ah… so this magic only worked from a certain distance of them then?

Great he had worked that out and for now he presumed he had indefinitely defeated one suit... but now what?

'I'm going to have to move the helmets and body's as far as I can from one another, huh...' he summarised whilst looking around the room nervously- before he then staved off another attack from one of the armour suits. 'I could always just lop them off and kick the heads away...' a growing conclusion- ah but it was contested by the fact that again- he was going to have to get close enough to do so whilst avoiding the other… damn- this was somewhat tricky, he was actually having to think.

His eyes looked around the room for any other options, swinging his sword at another charging suit of armour- quickly having to turn to kick the other away— when it was as he regained his stance- he felt his foot hit against something behind him.

He looked down only to see what looked to be a hoister like contraption with sturdy chains wrapping their way around it. Arthur's eyes caught a taut escaping chain- followed it right up to its end point— the large claw like chandelier at the top of the room. His eyes neared as looking at it- his mind started rattling through ideas. If he could somehow get the chance to cut these chains, he could probably use that thing to his advantage...

These passing thoughts were cut short by yet another attack coming his way that he had to all to quickly dodge himself away from and think sharp. Dashing another attack at the armour before him- he acted reflexively to the opening in its defence it left. The strike took the helmet of the armour right off with a loud clamour.

As if it had lost its life, the armour fell to pieces before him once again- Arthur throwing the helmet away with a grunt as he tried to regain his line of thought - but not for long- any time he had a second to think for himself- another attack came his way leading him only further away from the chains.

….great… he had dealt with two of them… unfortunately he still had these remaining two to deal with though- and by the looks of it- they weren’t going to give him opportunity to figure out any more weaknesses.

“Not really ones for personal space huh?” He snarked at them as he dragged his sight to the chandelier overhead in a frantic to try and think. The armours didn’t seem to deterred by his words. “Not big talkers too either… figured…” he added flatly… meaning they probably wouldn’t be easily distracted either…

Though it at least confirmed one thing for him… in spite of their apparent battle know how- they were at least- as mindless and barren as the creatures outside… in that case- this made it a little easier…

He didn’t take any longer to linger- waiting just till the suits were close enough- before running over the chained contraptions direction.

'The first thing I need to do is get them to follow me...' he made a fast assessment- trying to bait them out… yet it was just as he thought he had gotten past- that he found himself stumbling forwards much to his shock— a searing pain coming across his back that had stilled in more in surprise than anything else.

In no matter of time the armour had caught up with him, landing a strike at his back— the matter of fact that they had been able to do so, so quickly in contrast to before taking Arthur off guard for just that instance.

'Dammit- have they gotten faster?!' He thought to himself before then wincing… it was shallow, but that thing had definitely been able to pierce his armour and catch his skin. Before it didn’t appear like they could pierce armour and yet now… shit- they were also getting more powerful!

This was bad... really bad! Did it have something to do with the fact the other two were defeated? Crap- it was troublesome enough with their range- but now he really could not afford to get struck by either of them…

He stepped back cautiously- trying to think… the suits of armour quickly approaching him as Arthur caught sight of the chains in the background. At first with how clumsily they fought- pulling off his initial stunt seemed easy… however it had suddenly gotten far much harder. By the time he had got them under chandelier-

FWIP

Arthur dodged another attack which narrowly grazed him- doing his best to push the suit of armour back. It had indeed gotten stronger!! The other had gotten close enough to land another strike near his arm as Arthur had to ponder what to do as he ran back and forth for a moment, deflecting more attacks... all it was doing was pushing him further in the opposite direction of the chains!! It was no good if he couldn’t get past them! If only he stagger them as easily as those dragon like beasts outside, then he could use the chandelier to—

His eyes caught sight of the flames lighting the construct up and upon noticing them, something seemed to dawn with him… he then slowed down, getting an idea. A risky one, but one that could work if any of his attempts of pulling it off chose to go in his favour this time.

He stopped running away from the armour in a frantic- looking back to confront them as they were approaching the part of the chandelier he wished them to be at. The blue flames flickering from it shimmering off his eyes in that moment as it was a situation that also had him cornered...

-

"Aha, it seems like he's finally hit his limit Mistress!" Ciel rejoiced from beside the witch, who didn't seem to share his celebration whilst waiting to see what the knight would do next. And it was after a few seconds- that her mouth then fell faintly as she watched.

"No... he hasn't..." the witch spoke up simply, Ciel becoming a little lost to this- his tone dropping.

"Eh... Mistress?"

-

Before the bat could question any further- Arthur raced over to the suits of armour with a loud cry, angling his blade and allowing l his sword drag off the stone floor behind him as he charged.

The metal scraped off the stone beneath uselessly for moment… before it began to spark… and it was matching the fire in his eyes that a small flame appeared on the bottom of the black steel. Without a moment to second guess – he whisked up sharp his sword- and from it erupted a mass of furiously blue and orange flames very suddenly- much to the surprise of the witch and bat watching!

Very much so to- to the disorientation of the suits of armour that were brought back by the rip of flames that threatened to melt them— as it was knowing this, Arthur used this flame to create an opening for him to run past the slowed down suits of armour that were sidelined by the fierce flames that fragmented away.

-

"UWAH?! M-MAGIC?!" Ciel beseeched in shock as the witch sitting beside him kept her silence for a mere moment… before she bit the tip of her thumb- seeming to have worked it out.

"Dragons blood..." she corrected him, as Ciel only seemed even more confused at this... wanting to question how it could be- before she clarified. "He coated his sword with dragons blood before coming here, its why his blade survived those acid attacks... it's also pretty flammable..." she proceeded to deduce from the circumstances rather swiftly- watching the knight reach the chandelier holder in his dash- using the heat from the quickly fading flame to slice through the chains with some fair ease.

The chandelier came crashing down to the ground with a terrifying crash- right upon the two remaining suits of armour, breaking them apart and trapping them in the process... as the witch released her thumb with a briefly scoffed exhale to herself.

“Ha…seems I underestimated you…” … and her smile only sharpened… “Very well then…”

-

Arthur took a moment to catch his breath- the fire on his sword being incredibly short lived and the blood that had coated it now having of burnt away. All that remained in the room was the sound of his panting and the noise of rattling armour desperately trying to fix itself back up. He steadied his gaze on the fallen chandelier as though to be sure it had definitely taken them out..

When he then looked back to his sword, his expression changing from its severity to something a lot more self-impressed as his eyes lit against the smouldering blue fires around him.

It had actually worked!!

After many failed attempts, he had actually gotten that one trick to work- and in combat of all things! Turned out all the failures in his practice had surmounted to something- he was definitely going to have to use that trick more! Was it the angle he approached it with?? Or maybe the amount of blood he used—

RATTLE

He was going to marvel at this stunt a little longer... when he then heard a more violent rattle come from the chandelier in the room— cutting him back to the moment as his eyes rested with something a little more stern… not the time to be patting himself on the back just yet… he’d figure it out more another time!

'I better move those helmets now...' he summarised to himself running towards them.

***

Meanwhile from the top of the tower- the witch and the bat looked on in a stunned silence...

…

“…Mistress Rosa…” Ciel started off in a gentle caution for her…

THUD!

—when it was then that the woman got to her feet with a sudden clatter!

"My, my!! What a feat that was! Truly such a strong adversary this little knight is- let me toast to his accomplishments...!" she declared out heartily as she raised the teacup within her hands- her cheers hardly hiding the snide in her tone.

"Gah, you are celebrating this?!" Ciel freaked at first to her behaviour- going to scold her once again… when he then stopped, noticing the witch's shoulders from behind seemed to be shaking.

He toned his shock down a little.

"Mistress... are you okay?" he approached her softly- as the witch continued to tremble to herself in silence for a moment.... before then- a dry laugh came from her mouth, and gradually it built itself into a cackle.

"Okay?" she questioned amidst this crude laughter before she looked back to Ciel with an elated look on her face- the situation appearing to spark something up within her. "I'm absolutely ecstatic, no person has ever reached this point Ciel without running away!" she pointed out to him with a glimmer in her eye. And it was to this that Ciel’s face deadpanned… ah it seems he was mistaken.

He was starting to ponder if the time in this tower was getting to her head- ah no, she had always been one to grow oddly fascinated in anything that challenged her. Afterall- this was what go them here in the first place.

"This shouldn't be a good thing mistress..." he returned to scolding her as the witch giggled, holding her hands before her lips.

"Maybe I have been going easy on him?"

"That's what I have been telling you!" the bat was quick to retort with a jump- “And once again, Mistress that laugh-“

The witch hopped her leg off the table amidst being told off as she moved her eyes to the teacup she lowered back down before her... when a sly leer appeared on her face. Most certainly she had been too kind till now…

She took a sip of her tea- slowly licking her lips… before she then looked back to the crystal ball…

"It's quite rude of me not to offer our guest some refreshments after stopping by, especially after putting on such a show… so why don’t we reward him once again!" she proceeded to remark playfully… before proceeding to pour the contents of her tea cup over the crystal ball.

"My dear knight, you truly do know how to make my skin crawl… let’s give you some much needed energy, so you feel fuelled to leave once and for all..." she chimed almost provocatively- watching the tea trickle over the glass sphere- over that of the ebony knight's face.

Ciel watched the devious display with a small sigh. All the same, it didn’t get past him of all creatures... behind that mischievous and scheming smile lay a boiling frustration she could hardly hide...