Erika's Judgement

Erika stared down at us from her throne, casting a judging gaze. Sato was beside her with a smirk on her face. She obviously found this amusing.

"Their fate is in your hands Erika-sama. Please judge them fittingly for their crimes." Sato said.

Erika looked up as if she was thinking for a moment.

"Hmm, I have to admit trying to kidnap me is a little creepy..."

She looked at Cal first with a look of disgust.

"I'm not sure what you're doing here, Cal, but I really would prefer it if you weren't."

Cal laughed nervously.

"Come on Erika, it's me, your wacky alchemist friend, Cal. Think of all the good times we've had together. Not to mention that crush you hav-"

Erika cut him off.

"Yep, you're definitely getting sent to the sulfur mines."

"The sulfur mines?" He replied.

Erika had a naive smile on her face.

"Yeah, it's some kind of stinky mine. Apparently from what Shiina's told me, it's where we send the most dangerous criminals in the country."

Cal's eyes looked like they were starting to tear up a little.

"Come on, don't joke like that, Erika. I don't belong in a place like that."

"Don't speak back to the Shogun. Her word is law, alchemist." Shiina reprimanded.

"Bu-!"

A guard stuffed a rag in Cal’s mouth to shut him up.

Next Erika directed her focus on Kuro and Ryo.

"Um, who exactly are these two?"

"These two were complicit in this plot to kidnap you. It's sad too because they were my favorite guards." Sato said.

"Oh, I see. I guess I should make sure they get a fitting punishment too. Hmm... How about we send them to the sulfur mines also." Erika said.

Ryo suddenly got down on his hands and knees in a begging position.

"Please Shogun-sama anything but the Sulfur mines! It's cold and dark and smells like rotten eggs. I think I'd rather get lashings or some other physical torture or-"

A guard shoved a piece of cloth in his mouth to shut him up as well.

Kuro spoke up next.

"Listen Erika-sama, Sato-san is taking advantage of yo-"

He was quickly gagged as well.

Lastly Erika fixed her gaze on me.

"I never thought you'd get in on the ac-... I mean... I can't believe you would try and kidnap me, Mr. Arno. I'm very disappointed in you."

"You do understand this isn't an act, girl. You just sentenced three people to hard labor." I said.

"Of course I know that, Mr. Arno. I am the Shogun after all, silly."

"If that's the case, what exactly is a shogun?" I responded.

"Um...well... Uhhhhhh... A Shogun is someone who does shogunning and... other activities and stuff."

She obviously had no idea what a Shogun was. In her mind she was just playing a character. She legitimately believed none of her actions had consequences.

Suddenly I heard Red's voice whisper in my ear.

"Just hold out a bit longer, skeleton. As soon as I get the chance I'll create an opportunity to escape."

He was standing on my shoulder as I subtly nodded.

Erika continued on,

"I guess it's only fair that I give you the same sentence as everyone else. You get to go to the sulfur mines too."

Sato pointed at a group of guards.

"The Shogun has cast her judgment. Please escort these three to a prison carriage immediately to be transported to the sulfur mines to the west."

A group of guards grabbed the four of us and began to forcefully escort us away.

Erika began waving at us as she naively said,

"See you guys later."

We were dragged out of the palace and tossed into the courtyard. The prison carriage was already there, waiting for us.

"Mmmm-mm mmm mm" Cal attempted to articulate through the rag in his mouth.

"Mm mmmm-mm mmm" Ryo responded.

"Yeah yeah, no use protesting. Get in the cart." A guard said as he shoved the two of them into the back of the carriage.

Both Kuro and I complied and got in knowing resisting wouldn't do any good.

*Slam*

*Click*

The door was shut and we were locked in. There were no windows or light sources in the back. It was completely pitch black.

*Bump*

*Clip* *Clop* *Clip*

I could hear the hooves of the horse pulling us, as the cart lurched forward.

"Mmmmmmmmmmm!"

Ryo continued mumbling, as he flailed around the back in a panic.

Cal made a bunch of weird noises as he proceeded to freak out as well.

"MMMMMMMMMM-mmmmm!"

I really hoped that devil would make his move soon. The situation we were in was bad enough, but if this cart got too far outside the city, it would be trouble for me since I'd be too far outside my range from Erika. If that happened I'd be no different than any other pile of bones.

✨✨✨

We had been in the cart for at least twenty minutes now. At this point I guessed we were probably just a little ways outside the city. I was continually growing more anxious the farther out we got. Perhaps that devil wasn't coming aftera-.

*THUD*

A loud noise suddenly came from underneath the carriage. Instantly the entire cart began to roll over. We tumbled about fairly violently until the carriage finally rested upside down. It took me a moment to regain my bearings.

*Clink*

*Thud*

The door of the carriage was flung open. As the outside light flooded in, I could see Red's silhouette holding a pair of bolt cutters.

"I bet you thought I wasn't going to come." He bragged

*Hiss* *Hiss*

He threw down some smoke pellets to create a smokescreen. He began giving us orders.

"Kuro, grab your friend. Skeleton, grab that goofy alchemist. This is your one chance to escape!"

"Let's move." I said.

My hands were still bound, but I managed to nudge Cal enough to snap him out of his shock and towards the exit. Kuro did the same to Ryo. Using the cover of the smoke the three of them made a break for it. I stayed back, however.

"What are you doing? Go!" Red said, confused.

"Untie my hands. I need to do something." I responded.

Despite having an unsure look on his face He pulled out his little sword and cut my cloth hand bindings. The guard who was driving the carriage had been flung off during the accident. He looked to be unharmed, but he was in a panic.

A fair amount of smoke enveloped the area. I used it as cover as I approached him from behind.

*Smack*

I proceeded to land a heavy kick to his back, knocking him off balance sending him to the ground. I planted my foot on him to hold him down until Red brought me a piece of rope to tie him up with.

"You're not getting away with th-."

I shoved a dirty piece of cloth in the guard's mouth.

"Be grateful I didn't kill you instead." I threatened, as I tossed him in a bush on the side of the road.

"You're a cautious one aren't you." Red said.

"That probably just bought us some extra time to sneak back into the city." I responded.

The two of us quickly left the scene in order to catch back up with the others.