Magic In The Air

T"(No. No you can't. Were you even paying attention?)"

L"Are you admitting to treason?"

<Conspiracy to overthrow the government, more precisely. You should go back to Camelot, little lady. Otherwise, by the time I get back from Rome, you'll bemoan that there's no longer a Camelot to say, "Goodbye" to!">

*He laughs as he concludes his speech. The sun sets &, while their eyes adjust to the darkness, the man seems to disappear.*
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<Merlin? Oh, the lies they teach you kids today! During the war, Merlin did nothing but forgery & protective enchantments. Those ruins...of the old kingdom...? That was all my doing! But did I ever get any recognition? Fuck no! What I GOT was an ARROW in my fucking EYE!>

*He whirls around, sticking his face into the candlelight & pointing at his fully functioning left eye.*

<...Well, I healed it with magic. But the fucker took FOUR WEEKS to grow back, so I'm pissed, regardless.>

Kelphy: <Oh, alright then, my apologies. I think I'll get going...>

*She gets up, smiling awkwardly, and tries to sneak out slowly, hugging the bookcase*

=====

*Ari looks away, embarrassed*

[Who was that man?]

Malus stared at Mordred, his face slowly knitting into a knowing grin, and his eyes alight with something close to predatory hunger. "You're serious, aren't you? You guys really ARE strapped for men." He spread his arms wide, revealing surprisingly clean hands, and reaching out. "Name's Malus. I guess I could see fit to help you guys out. Of course...it won't be for free."

"I wouldn't try it, kid. It's not all its cracked up to be."

*Samuel walks past Ari to get a better view of Senthose.*

"A Knight, huh? You don't look like much of a Knight. And what do you care if the gold isn't cursed anymore?"

*Of course, Senthose had disappeared soon after he'd said that.*

T"He said he was going to Rome...should we go after him, or should we go back?"

L"Hmm...Emperor Lucian is one of Arthur's most dangerous enemies...."
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*The man follows her.*

<Ahh, but we were just starting to have fun! Ahh...I bet you don't believe me, DO you? Well...they say that practical experience is the cure to disbelief, so....>

*He waves his hand in the air a few times, generating a fireball, which he fires past her head. The orb hits the far wall & explodes, blowing it out.*

<Oh, would ya lookit that? Seems my magic got past Merlin's protective enchantments. Who'da thunk it?>
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*Mordred smiles.*

<It's funny you should mention that, as I've recently come into possession of a large sum of gold. But you'll be seeing neither coin nor bill until the job is done, my boy.>

Kelphy: <That's... Merlin casts protective spells on walls? Erm, anyway sir, I should really be going. N-Nice talking to you. Goodbye now!>

*She waks out of the library, staring at the destroyed wall*

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Ari: <(We're going to Rome now?)>

ooc: Whoops, sorry neo, read page 10, forgot about 11. my bad v.v

"Rome? I hear its nice this time of year."

*Samuel tightened his sheath.*

"Sure I'm up for a manhunt."

L"Alright. But we'll need to hitch a ride on a mag-lev train."

T"Oh yeah, I've heard about those. They're stone compartments levitated along rails by magic. They make it easier to get to faraway places in large Kingdoms. But how will we get on one in the Empire?"

L"I guess we'll just have to find a station & sneak aboard one."
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*She hears a cracking noise behind her head. When she turns, she sees a boy with a red cloak blocking the man's staff with a broken piece of pipe. He'd swung it at the back of her head while she wasn't looking.*

<Hey. Kid. What's your angle? We're on the same team, here!>

"And what team would that be?"

<Well, the peasantry, of course! You think you're doing something heroic, but you'll soon find out that it's us vs. them.>

"Funny. You don't look like you have too many friends at all."

*The man smiles broadly.*

<Maybe I don't. What of it?>

*She backs away, holding her hands out*

Kelphy: <Wha-Who are you?>

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Ari: <T-That's easy.>

Malus cackled, a hand slipping deftly into a pocket, and pulling out a coinpurse. He hefted it carefully in his grasp, grinning like a madman as he did. "Oh, I'm sure this would work as a budget, until the job is done." A pause, before he glanced at the soldier he had knocked down earlier, groping for his glasses. "I'm sorry, did I say I was terrible with my hands? I meant to say terrific. Maybe I AM cut out for politics."

"I'm on the run from the law!"

???1<All the more reason you should be helping me! Kids these days...& they say I'm crazy.>

*A knight with colorful armor resembling clown attire runs down the hall towards them. His shield is heavily battered & his sword is heavily scratched, as though from hundreds of battles.*

???2<Seraph! What are you doing back in the castle?>

Seraph<Oh, I came to pee on the fancy rug in the entrance hall. Then I got bored & wandered around for a bit.>
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*The two knights unsheathe their blades.*

Mordred<Leave it. I doubt there's much of worth in there anyway. You'll be repaid in full & then some, if you just stick with me.>
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*After about an hour's walk, they finally stumbled upon a clearing in the forest. On that clearing was a raised pedestal with a circle of runes carved into it. Next to it were 3 small stone shacks hovering in apparent nothingness.*

L"I'm not sure exactly how it works, but the main idea is that you either walk or teleport to one, & then you board the train."

T"Why don't people just teleport the whole way?"

L"Why don't you predict the end of the world? Yeah, few Wizards are THAT powerful."

Ari: <I-I didn't understand a thing.>

=====

Kelphy: <This is fun, but I really need to go. So long!>

*She smiles awkwardly and backs away*

Malus spread his arms wide, and shrugged. "Hey, hey, gentlemen. You were perfectly prepared to take advantage of a man with some clear lack of skill in the game of cards. You're hardly what I'd call fine upstanding citizens. All I'm doing is reminding you that, every time you're trying to get something for nothing...someone's about to take everything you've got." He turned to Mordred, and managed a warm, disarming smile. "I COULD'VE just kept the moneybag in my pocket for a little longer, until you were all gone."

Mordred<If you're this transparent, you'll never make it in politics. I've changed my mind. Teach this blaggard some manners.>

*Mordred crosses his arms behind his back, turns around, & walks out of the establishment.*
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"Umm...I'm with her!"

*The kid points in the direction she went & runs after her. Meanwhile, the odd knight readies his blade at Seraph, who smacks a vase, shattering it.*

Seraph<Someone's gonna get a nasty case of lightning-bolt-to-the-crotchitus!>
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L"Regardless of my apprentice's stupidity, there are only 3 cards to this train. That means 1 guard, 3 tops. We just go hide in a car & they'll probably never even notice us. And anyone who does, we beat up. That simple."

Malus raised his brow, glancing at the two knights, and grinning innocently. His hands were out, palms up, as he spoke. "Now, that's flat rude. I've got plenty of manners for a middle class merchant's child. Still, if you want to do this, you can at least give me a fighting chance..." He flicked one of his wrists, making a dagger appear from somewhere in his sleeve, and grinning. "Come on, then. Let's see if you boys can keep up with me."

Kelphy: <Oh, no...>

*She looks back, holding her dress as she runs*

Kelphy: <Help!>

*She gives up on being faster than him and turns around, holding her hands out*

Kelphy: <Stop!>

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Ari: <...>

"Sneaking's my speciality! This should be no problem."

*Samuel walks up and looks at the runes, acting like he actually understands how the trains worked.*

*He stops a few feet in front of her.*

"Lady, I'm just looking for the exit. I don't know who the old guy is or what he wants."

*He looks down to find that they're standing on the rug. It makes squishing sounds as he moves his foot.*

"But...apparently, he wasn't lying about the rug thing."
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*Lilith jumps into a cart, wherupon a Roman centurion stabs at her with a gladius. She jerks to the side, just narrowly avoiding being pierced in the abdomen.*

"Whoa!"

*Thiera jumps in as well.*
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*One of the brothers aims a punch at his face, the other just stands back.*

Kelphy: <Ew!>

*She rushes away from the rug, staring at him with a curious and somewhat fascinated look on her face*

Kelphy: <Y-You're a peasant, aren't you?>

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*Ari reluctantly jumps in as well*

"One at a time, in true sporting fashion!" He ducked his head slightly, slipping under the fist, and kicking at the back of his knee. Through the armor he wore, it probably wouldn't do much damage, but he had little doubt that it would work to enrage him into making a much worse mistake.

"Hm...maybe not so easy..."

*Samuel jumps in and draws his blade to combat the Roman.*

*The centurion backs up, hollering to another car. They hear metal clanking running down the hall as the centurion blocks a slash from Lilith.*
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*Roatha scratches his head.*

"I guess that's one way to put it. Why?"
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*His knee buckles slightly, but he presses on Malus's chest, thrusting him towards the ground.*

Kelphy: <I don't know, it sounds exciting. I should go and let my uncle know of Seraph's stupidity, you should probably run away while you can.>

*She smiles awkwardly and takes off*

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*Ari draws his greatsword and smacks the centurion's head with it, stabbing at his face afterwards*

*Samuel shoves the centurion out of the way and stands between the reinforcements and the group.*

[Not my brightest idea...gotta quit playing the hero...]

*Samuel charges at the reinforcements, slashing at the closest one.*

*In the chaos, one of the soldiers gets hurled out the window & Samuel slashes the other one across the chest, denting his armor.*

L"Thiera, go to the lead car & touch the control panel!"

*Thiera nods, running down the aisle. She finds a stone slab set with runes. When she puts her hand on it, it turns blue, & the cars begin to move. Meanwhile, Lilith grabs a sword thrust aimed at her & twists it out of the way, slashing at his waist. Once again, they hear metallic footsteps coming down the halls.*

L"That should be the last guard on his way!"
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R"...Not the term I would have chosen."

*Roatha runs out of the castle.*
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*As luck would have it, I'm a hack writer, & Kelphy bumps into Arthur as he walks down the hall.*

Arthur<What is it, Kelphy? You look upset.>