The Assault Pushes Onwards

With the frontal assault distracting the lion's share of the Smilers forces, me and the rest of Team Sieg had no trouble slipping into the manor via its rear entrance.

But our job wasn't over yet.

The interior of the manor was basically a maze, I had a feeling the mansion would be a pain to navigate, but I couldn't even guess where to go, between the monotonous long halls and vast rooms that made up the Lunastray Manor.

"It's as I thought, this hall was specifically designed as a maze. If we're not careful we may never get out of here. But we cannot dawdle for too long, the Lunastray master may already know we're here, he could be running away right now." Sieg spoke as calmly as ever, as though our situation was a normal one for him.

"So, what do we do?" Lilac asked what was on my mind also.

"We have no choice." Lyn replied with a grin.

"We split up." Sieg finished before his gave each of us a card with varies Runes drawn on it. "If you need something speak into that card, everyone who has one will be able to hear you, furthermore, if you find the Lunastray Master or need Immedient help with anything you can channel some Ether or Mana into the Runes and it will teleport us all to your location. But be warned you can only do so once before the Runes expire."

"That's actually really cool." Nosora said in awe as he grabbed a card. "I'll be seeing you, with my speed I'll have the whole manor scouted in a few seconds."

"I wouldn't recommend that, chances are there are still some Smilers lurking around here, and they're gonna be the stronger ones, it's best if you don't let your guard down." Sieg warned as he handed out the rest of the cards.

"Right." Nosora admitted as he rubbed his head in embarrassment.

"Now then, let's find this guy, and end this once and for all."

********

The twisting explosion of fire drew eyes from across the entire battlefield.

Amongst them were the set eyes belonging to Cloris Notaki herself.

"Such ferocity, even Blue Sapphire Blaze isn't that powerful, I bet the wielder of those flames has complete control." She spoke enviously.

"Indeed, glad I'm not fighting him, I'd have lost already, Clairvoyance or not. I suppose I should be grateful my opponent is so weak." Her foe spoke arrogantly, Cloris knew what he was trying to do. 

If she was distracted by his cruel words, then he could strike at her opening.

Which was why she just ignored him and conjured a ball of blue flame the size of a golf ball in her hand.

"What are you gonna do with that?" Her arrogant enemy asked as he stifled a laugh.

In an instant the orb flew at the Smiler, if not for his Clairvoyance Cloris knew it would've hit him.

But with a slight movement of his head, he narrowly evaded it.

"Heh, pathetic." The man spoke before he noticed that even as the orb missed, it still burned a streak across his cheek. 

"Orb of the Blue Sapphire Blaze."

'This heat, I didn't notice it before, but I can feel it radiating off her. It's as though it belongs to a demon, yet it was capable of forming such a compressed orb. I have to kill her soon, if she masters this power, she could be a real threat.'

Even with such a small display of power Cloris was already getting winded. She couldn't help but regret ignoring her brother's advice of honing her skills.

But at the same time, she still feared her own power, in truth she couldn't control it. Her flames were too hot, if she continued to use them, she would soon burn herself, and that was if she could even manage another Blue Sapphire Blaze attack before collapsing in exhaustion.

Her foe sported another wide grin as he noticed Cloris fatigue.

He threw his dagger at her spiraling it through the air like a drill.

Of course, she made quick work deflecting it, even exhausted she still had her training to rely on.

But in a mere fraction of a second her foe appeared at her flank.

Just as she rose her blade to counter his telegraphed blow, he quickly rose Cloris mask as a shield making her hesitate and giving him an opening to strike at her gut with his knee.

"Even with those flames of yours, you are no match for me." The smiler spoke as he twirled the mask on the tip of his finger.

As the Smiler reveled in his victory his joy suddenly met an abrupt end as Cloris grabbed unto his arm clenching her had with everything she had.

"Blue Sapphire Blaze..." She spoke weakly as her eyes once again flared with blue flames.

"What are you doing?" 

The Smiler struggled and pulled but to no avail, Cloris' grip was unyielding.

"Let me go!" He screamed as he punched her in the head relentlessly.

"Notaki Fire Lily." Cloris finished her spell.

The smiler before her erupted in an instant explosion of blue flames lasting no longer than a second, when the flames vanished all that remained was a Lotus shaped sear mark on the ground. 

In the heat of the moment Cloris couldn't even tell if her enemy managed to escape her spell, she recalled how her grip weakened the very second she cast it, it was possible he survived.

But in her current state nothing could be done about it.

Her body, devoid of Ether and wounded from her fight, collapsed on the spot in the middle of the battlefield, at the mercy of her foes or at the very least, those who would be willing to aid her.

Before her shone a brilliant golden flame, a familiar fire.

"I just can't get a break, can I? Whatever, if it's for a pretty lady I'd do anything, and you darling, are one pretty lady with sick curves to boot."

For whatever reason, those words filled with lust filled Cloris up with a sense of safety, allowing her to peacefully fall asleep.

********

"Ah man! The hell is sleeping beauty even doing!?" Jex exclaimed as he warded off the smilers attempting to strike Cloris in her sleep.

"It appears as though the maiden hath used too much Ether, she will be out for a while, fortunately it is not as dire as what befell your other guildmate Robius, she will be fine if we can protect her." Benedict spoke as he knelt near Cloris head patting it with a damp towel.

"What's this we bullshit!? I wasn't joking when I said I was running low on Ether! Why are you the one who gets to sit by the damsel in distress! I should be doing that!" Jex continued as he sent another wave of flames at a group of Smilers.

"Afraid not, I do not trust you not to gaze upon her exposes flesh with such lecherous eyes of lust, I fear that the carnal desires which you allow such control over yourself would overtake you forcing you to do indecent acts, like peeking." Benedict spoke once more as he watched over Cloris.

"Really, the mountainous man in a maid uniform is calling me a pervert!? How rich."

"My desire of women is not of flesh, but of soul. A novice pervert like you wouldn't understand."

"Whatever Man-Maid, let's just work together and make sure nothing happens to her. Just don't go groping me in the midst of battle."

"I told you I desire only women! I don this attire for my guild!"

********

"How is this even possible?" I asked myself as my Ether just about ran out. "How is there so many of them? They shouldn't be able to match our numbers, yet they actually exceed them."

At that point I had to resort to using a Smiler's spear imbued with the slightest bit of my Ether and boosted with the nearby Mana.

I wasn't a master spearman, but I had some training in a quarterstaff thanks to Aceil, even the thought of speaking those words filled my mouth with a sour taste.

'If only I could access that power from before, I had completely exerted myself, yet I felt as though I was chipping ice from an iceberg. I passed out back then, but if I could somehow access that power before I expend all of my Ether, I may still be able to fight like I was. Damn you Krim, if I just got a little more rest, I'd be more than capable of soloing the whole army, but I wouldn't need to rest if it wasn't for him though.'

I gritted my teeth together as I battled a single Smiler, I could no longer handle anymore then one at a time.