Preparations and the joy of Friends

Unfortunately, we didn't have the time to give Cloris the same Draconum Familia welcome we gave to Kenki with the looming threat of the Smilers and all that.

But I was pretty sure Toan's explanation allowed her to understand the kinda guild we were.

 "Now that everyone is here. It's time to discuss the plan." Master Pops spoke with an icey look in his eyes.

 "Most of you will be on the frontal assault squadron attacking the main entrance to the Lunastray guildhall along with most of the forces the other guilds are supplying us with. However, Kenki, Lilac, and Nosora will follow Sieg Torrikkusatu and Lyn Farum, two Golden Chariot members, to the rear entrance of the Lunastray hall, where they will hopefully be able to confront the Lunastray master. He is a cunning bastard, and his usage of ice magic is impressive. But his greatest asset is his mind, which is why you must surprise him and kill him before he can formulate a plan."

I could see that Kenki wasn't happy with the arrangements Master Pops set up. She most likely wanted to be on the front lines with the rest of us. But in the short time she'd been with us, she most likely picked up on the fact that whatever Master Pops said, was what we did especially when he got this serious.

"Toan will bait Krim from the battlefield and draw him away so he cannot interfere with the fight. The Breeding Grounds of the Chimera should be isolated enough for their fight."

Most of us who heard Master Pops knew that the Breeding Grounds of The Chimera was located in the southern Island of Kocu known for its overpopulation of Chimera, a S-rank monster.

Furthermore, most of us also knew that the Lunastray guildhall was located in that very same Island.

Yet we still weren't exactly looking forward to going to the second most dangerous island in the Orochi Isles.

"Actually, Master Frost." Bastion intercepted. "Following the actions of our own Toan Berate, the land you speak of is now known as The Graveyard of the Chimera. Furthermore, I believe he has permanently dealt with their overpopulation seeing as the infamous Kocu Chimera are now extinct."

Even those of us most familiar with Toan's absurd powers were shocked by the facts presented to us.

Chimera were S-rank creatures, the same rank as Leviathan, but Kocu Chimera were even stronger due to their isolated location. And he hunted them to extinction!?

"That's Toan for you, going above and waaay beyond." I said with pride, though, in reality I was just amazed with how much further I needed to grow.

"He's that strong." Cloris said in bewilderment, her violet eyes widened with shock.

meanwhile it was evident that Kenki had built an immunity to that kinda stuff as her emerald eyes remained completely unfazed.

Or maybe she was still thinking about how awfully I handled our last conversation.

Master Pops cleared his throat before proceeding with his explanation.

"Anyways, while you guys assault the guildhall, I will be contacting the Council of Exorcists, it's time they learned what has been going on. Now then, let's not keep everyone waiting. To Kocu!"

********

Who could've known that a simple train ride could feel me with such suspense.

The train itself was nothing special, just another Orochi Train riding atop some Aqua Rails over the crystalline surface of the great blue ocean.

If anything, it should've put me at ease.

But the battle ahead of me kept my mind occupied.

I wasn't exactly pleased that I wouldn't be on the front lines with Robius and the others, but I could understand on a strategic level why Master Frost didn't want that.

If I broke down in the middle of a battlefield, I'd be dead in an instant, worst-case scenario; I get others killed too if they tried to protect me.

But I promised myself I wouldn't freeze like that again; Cloris was dealing with the same losses as me.

She lost her whole family including her brother who practically raised her, and she was still fighting strong.

Her wardrobe had changed since she joined out guild, she was now dressed in a navy-blue tunic reaching just below her upper thigh with a sash of the same color as a nod to her origin along with the wooden bear mask she kept on the side of her head more like a hat then a mask.

Yet to prove her new alliance to Draconum Familia she brandished her crest upon a garter belt located on her right thigh.

For whatever reason she sat next to our resident Perv Lord Jex which was worrying since I knew who he was, yet his gaze was instead directed out the window on the opposite side of him.

I looked around the train car to check on the rest of my guildmates before our battle.

In spite of his best efforts The Elven Shota Shade was still sitting beside Okami and dealing with her constant fondling even while she watched Cloris and Jex with a keen eye like a protective older sister.

The Platinum Eyed Ronin Aceil was completely engrossed in a cooking book as he laid comfortably on his seat and argued recipes with himself.

The Blue Haired Blur Nosora and The Blossom Archer Lilac were going back and forth with their. 'If I don't make it back, I want you to know...'. Basic lovey dovey bull.

Master Frost wasn't actually in our car and was occupied in another car with Toan, most likely discussing something involving the battle at hand, I was pretty sure I heard the word 'Rukurai' though.

Then there was The Tan-Haired Lunatic Robius.

He was just as absorbed by the amazing view the train provided as when I first met him, his tan hair mushroomed out on the window as his face smashed against it.

Foxy Furball Kukiri was curled in a ball beside him cleaning her silky black and white fur with her bright pink tongue.

Robius looked to be doing fine but after our last conversation I wanted him to know for sure how I felt about Draconum Familia.

 "Hey, Robius." I spoke suddenly, though everyone else was pretty much occupied so it wasn't as though I stole the room.

 "Yea?" He replied in a mumble, his face still mashed against the window.

 "About what I said, I'm sorry, you I didn't mean any of it." I continued as I hid my face in embarrassment.

Robius turned from the window and looked directly at me with his piercing burgundy eyes.

I'd never realized just how much they glowed when the sunlight beamed off them.

 "Of course, I knew you weren't serious about that, you already told me you liked it here and you don't strike me as a liar." He said with a genuine grin.

 "Then, why did you seem so distinct after our conversation?" I asked with a tilt of my head to further imply my confusion.

That was when Robius suddenly shifted into an ultra-focused persona.

"Because, when you were hurt, I got pissed." He said beginning his explanation. "It's been a problem of mine for as long as I remember, whenever someone I care about gets hurt, I become consumed by rage, even if it doesn't look like it at times, all I can do is hurt the person who made my friend hurt, it's all I want to do in that state. Sometimes it takes priority over even helping that very friend who is hurt." He continued as he averted his gaze to the ocean.

 "In the end there's nothing I can do about it, I've tried everything. I guess I'm too dumb to change, I'll always be the guy who hurts the bad guys instead of helping the good ones." He finished with a forced chuckle. "In the end I'm even worse at dealing with people then Aceil."

 I could tell that Robius wanted to change the subject, he obviously wasn't comfortable talking like this.

But I couldn't even reply if I wanted to. I never even thought about what he had said.

Still, I'd rather be a little hot-headed then just freeze up in the middle of a fight.

 "I guess this battle will be a chance for both of us to change." I spoke. 

 "Aww. You guys are adorable." Kukiri teased with a cheeky grin. "Say, when you guys start going out, can you bring me too? I would love to eat some delicious date food." 

 "What? Why would you even say something like that? We're basically opposites we would never do that!" I proclaimed loud enough for everyone to hear, while most of my guildmates at least looked towards me with confusion, Aceil buried himself even deeper in his book and argued louder with himself.

 "Oh Kenki, I think you're blushing." The annoying furball persisted causing nearly everyone to break out in laughter.

 "Wait what's going on? What does 'going out' mean? We've already gone out on a few missions. And 'date' I don't get it?" Robius exclaimed blissfully ignorant as he too began laughing even if he didn't know why.

********

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Toan asked Nikolos Frost as they isolated themselves from the rest of Draconum Familia.

 "You're referring to Rukurai aren't you?" He replied as though he was reading Toan's mind. 

 "Of course, I am, I told you when Robius was still in bed. Rukurai is resurfacing, this fight may bring him out. You got a plan if that happens?" 

 "Is it even possible to plan for such a thing? Obviously, there are risks, but if we don't allow Robius to fight he'll get suspicious, and if he finds out about him..."

 "I know. If he so much as says his name with intent even once, it would release the seals." Toan said biting his cheek in discontent.

 "There is no way to be sure. Which is why he's at the front lines, I know you'll be occupied with Krim, but you have to keep an eye on him also, only you are strong enough for this, even I don't have powers like you. Once we arrive at Kocu I'll use Single Teleportation to return to Drasil and inform the Council of everything, if worse comes to worse...we can reseal Rukurai." Niko said.

 "But that would mean, Robius." Toan spoke, while he was stronger then his Master in the ways of magic. He could never come close to his strength of will.

He knew the subject they spoke of was grim and unthinkable to most, yet Nikolos Frost still maintained his cool demeanor.

 "I understand what you're talking about Master. But if anyone tries to kill a member of my family, they better be prepared to dig two graves, because I won't any one of them die before me, or the bastard who tried to kill them." Toan growled through his teeth as he left the car and immediately shifted back to his regular persona.

 "Thank you Toan. I know I can depend on you no matter what."