VI. What Are You Going To Do, Violet Eyes?

When the two initially passed into the forest again, a ripple of shock stirred the adventurers who were still recovering. Eyes landed upon them in waves, holding them in a new light. Even a few Gold rankers moved out of their way, as if they were unconsciously making way for someone important. Madoka did not know if it was a good thing or not and felt no pleasure from the new treatment, but the attention seemed to redefine them as if they were entirely new people. Audrey ignored their stares, probably used to people looking at her.

Madoka, on the other hand, realized she suddenly felt a bit more uncomfortable. When they had a moment, she caught a glimpse of herself in the reflection of a small puddle. A woman she barely recognized stood beneath her boots. That reflection was woman with a larger frame with violent and violet eyes, slightly wild red hair, muscular, and vastly tougher version of herself that her past self at the Northern Estate could never have dreamed of being looked back at her. She quickly averted her gaze from herself, trying not to appear conceited. Drezgor had sent someone for them to meet with him. He no longer wore the shock over his own state, but still glared at them as if they were a new type of monster species. He initially questioned Audrey, but Madoka quickly corrected him.

"It was me, actually, sir," Madoka offered finally. Drezgor looked at the two with a profound sense of confusion. The kind of emotion that rings out a laugh, though no humor was found inside and outside the tent space they were in. "I did what you ordered, sir."

"You… Destroyed the settlement and the potential base we could have placed when the Cel'Row show up," Drezgor put his palm to his forehead with a sigh. Madoka shrugged. "You are correct. You did what I asked. Spectacularly so. The soldiers will be taking over, but the captain wishes to speak with House Dalion."

He nodded to a slightly more decorated soldier than the regular plain ones, who approached them as if he was facing a savage beast. In a way, he was. The only pitiful difference between this stout soldier and the others was the fact that he had a Tier 2 sword in addition to a spear. Madoka stood taller than him, purposely positioning herself between Audrey and his presence. Then he pulled out a letter wordlessly and extended his hand over with it for her to take.

"A summons," he blurted out nervously upon seeing the suspicious glare from Madoka. He mistook her disapproval of words on pieces of paper for her anger. "Our Godking Ceghinort, His Royal and Divine Majesty, is summoning you after the Cel'Row are contained."

"H-Hai," Madoka folded the scroll up and handed it to Audrey. The leather flap's snap from opening and closing hastily was all she needed to know that Her Highness also did not seem enthusiastic over the summons at all.

"Well, I guess we go home?" Audrey asked. Home, Madoka mused in her head. It sounded like a foreign concept to her. "To the inn, I guess. We're bums."

Night was settling upon them quickly. Madoka barely realized the day had past by them and the moons were up above.

"Yeah, you smell like a bum," Madoka replied dryly.

"Nae waah…" Audrey murmured, but after a quick sniff she instantly recoiled from her mistake. "Blegh! Alright, we're washing when we get home— er, back. Dunno why I keep mentioning that."

Madoka remained quiet, secretly knowing why. After feeling suspended in such turbulent times like these, it was only natural that the two of them would have desires to turn around and settle down, right? A place of quiet gentleness, where she could absentmindedly clean all day long without worry sounded like a heavenly dream. One day, she thought. They would have their own place to rest away from everyone. The forest was secure, quiet despite the earlier ruckus of soldiers bustling about. The ear decorations have been removed, which was a welcome relief. They were indeed efficient. Most of them were now inspecting the crater Madoka left out in the field.

A familiar Noble woman caught Madoka's eye, resting on a wooden bench with her own eyes close as another Sovos man paced in front of her. She was still injured, but why? Did Audrey not heal her? Eraziror and Eena were talking, but it seemed clear that Lady Eena was not interested. Sensing Audrey's gaze, she hesitated. The princess nodded slowly, releasing her grip from their intertwining fingers. The solitary glow of her Golden Hand drooping to her side was quite lonely and only heightened her guilt. Cautiously, she returned Audrey's gaze with a nod and slowly approached the pair of Sovos.

"Impossible!" Eraziror was speaking in disbelief. "She healed me, but not you! That's simply—"

"It's fine, Sir Eraziror," Eena replied calmly.

"It's not, milady," Eraziror nearly shouted. Other adventurers glared at him, so he lowered his voice before speaking again. "I'm, I am friends with Madoka, I can convince her to ask her Master to heal you…"

"Enough, Sir Eraziror," Eena suddenly turned her gaze away coldly.

When he noticed Eena was looking at Madoka, he shut his mouth and simply gave her a curt nod before departing once again. She knew the Sovos man did not like Audrey and probably understood that crossing Her Highness would be the biggest mistake of his life, so she did not pursue him. Eraziror was a smart man and well aware that he was weaker than the princess. A sigh escaped Eena as she rested. A pained one.

"Are you hurt, still?" Madoka asked tentatively. "Did Aud— my Master miss you, by mistake?"

Eena gave a wry smile, but said nothing. Still, her silence said everything. Her armor was taken off and she was in her usual Commoner clothes, which always seemed like heresy to her. The wound was treated by some other healer, but clearly they were not as good as Her Highness. The injury on her leg still left with a lingering shade of green on it from the poison and eventually would be just another one of the carvings left on her skin. She knew Audrey was being petty and did not heal her, sending a clear message of her disapproval. Madoka could not go against her and drag her to heal the Noble woman, but suddenly she thought of something. She took up the Storage talisman, remembering that Gechick left her some treats. The vision of the red and blue fruits revealed themselves to her like lost treasures as she rummaged through her thoughts.

The Bitter and Sweet berries plopped onto her palm.

"Here, take these, milady," Madoka handed them to Lady Eena. Her eyes were mystified by the Storage portal's hexagon briefly, but she held out her hand hesitantly. "Eat these fruits— they're bitter and sweet, but tasty. They'll make you feel a lot better."

"W-Where did you get these?"

Madoka understood that a servant from another House handing her strange foods was not a good look and even a bit suspicious. The fruit glinted under the cold blue moonlight as they rested in her palm, reflecting in Eena's eyes. They reminded her of gems on a rough cloth. Madoka perked up as she suddenly remembered there was something she was supposed to give the Noblewoman, but she had forgotten it already.

"They are from the kind goddess Gechick herself," Madoka bowed. Finally, she felt the Noble woman's rough fingers brushed against her hands and took the fruit. She refrained from withdrawing her hand as if the touch was a snake. Remembering the gemstone in her cloak, she quickly pulled it out and held it for her. "I kind of destroyed the rest of them, but here."

"This is…" Eena placed the fruit aside and clutched the necklace closely as if it would fly away. "I'll treasure it. Thank you, Madoka."

Lady Eena stood up suddenly.

"L-Lady Eena! Your leg!" Madoka protested her, but was immediately stopped before she could support the woman from stumbling.

"I must repay you," Eena suddenly sounded determined. "No, I— Lady Eena, I will repay you."

She was drawing closer to Madoka, making her heart feel a difficult unease as she walked against the wounds present in her leg. Before the woman could get within hugging distance, the sound of someone's throat clearing rang sharply and interrupted the advance. She thanked the kind gods, but soon worry overwhelmed her when she saw Audrey's stern expression. What could she do to ease Her Jealousness? There was simply one thing to do, but Madoka still felt nervous about it. So, in front of Lady Eena's eyes, she took Audrey's hand and simply bowed politely to the Noble woman.

"Take care of yourself, Lady Eena," she said softly, not daring to look her in the eyes. Audrey kept a blank face, but Madoka felt her hand guide her away from the Noble. The dull thump of a body sitting back down on the log made her feel quite guilty for looking elsewhere.

"You're uh," Audrey started. They were headed back to the inn quietly at first, but it was Her Highness who finally broke the silence. Madoka felt a droplet of rain plop on her nose, making her scrunch it in disapproval. She noticed the princess was staring at her again, startling her. "Having a hot best friend isn't all what it's cracked up to be."

She sighed dramatically, but Madoka did not quite fully understand.

"Hot…? Best friend?"

"Yeah, you," Audrey poked her with her Golden Hand's finger. Madoka jumped from the small zap of energy that transferred to her. "You're hot and you're my best friend."

"What does that mean, Audrey?" Madoka pondered briefly before reaching a conclusion: Audrey was upset over Lady Eena trying to get close to her. "Look, Audrey, I apologize. I didn't know Lady Eena would be like the others in the Palace. Too… close."

"What about me?" Audrey drew closely enough that their bodies touched, but Madoka stood still. She was quite used to her antics, so she trusted that she would not try anything. Madoka realized that the girl had not tried to do anything like she used to ever since they stumbled into the lost God's Grotto. Thinking of this, her cheeks felt warm despite the rain and Audrey's cold Aura.

"I trust you, Audrey," Madoka said seriously. "You haven't brought shame upon me… Not since I saw your world for the first time."

Audrey drew away quickly after Madoka admitted it.

"Yeah," she finally said. "Sorry, I got jealous again and I didn't heal your friend. I guess I never had people fawn over me like they do you, in both worlds. Never was popular, heh. Seeing everyone looking at you when we got back… Made me feel quite insignificant, I say."

"Audrey," Madoka murmured. She found it difficult to believe that they were only looking at her. If what Audrey said was true, and she was normally right, then it made her heart feel uneasy. No one should look at a servant nor should the servant have any ideas about outshining their master. "F-Forgive me for taking their attention away from you."

"Wha—" Audrey paused. "I think it's fine. I think. I don't want to get complacent, but defeating goblins is easy enough. But… we're not up against just those, right? When that Witch spoke to me, she told me that I was not worthy of being your friend. That you'd slip away from my grasp."

"Audrey…" Madoka was about to beg for forgiveness again when the girl stopped suddenly. She also realized that the truth was that they were not just up against goblins. The Uracksheegal loomed above them and she had no idea how to stop it or the Witch. The fact that it was feeding Her Highness lies was downright blasphemous!

"I don't think she was wrong," Audrey cut her off. She was trying to appear strong once again, but Madoka knew that small glint in her eyes all too well. The slightest raise in her shoulders and the shudder when Her Highness felt small, she knew she was holding back tears. "You're the woman of my dreams. I think I'll wake up eventually one day and you'll be already up somewhere else. You are destined to…"

"No," Madoka insisted, no longer caring for manners. "Even if I was set free a thousand times, I'd still serve you. Like you said back then, I realized that no one else has gone through what I've… You know."

Madoka shifted in her feet a little, feeling embarrassed over her little outburst of emotions and her confessions. Audrey suddenly stiffened, her face caught between being pink and now suddenly alert. Madoka shut herself up and scanned the forest around them. No animal thoughts, no presence, yet there was pressure somewhere in the distance. Her hand gripped her axe beneath her cloak.

"Say, do you feel that?" Audrey slowed her steps. Madoka did feel something, whatever the princess designated that was. She nodded. "Something big is coming. Prepare for—"

Madoka let loose a growl, yanked the girl out of the way with one hand and raising a barrier with her other. A flash of light lit the forest up, followed by a surging rumble that ruffled Madoka's hair. Before she realized it, a massive force collided against her the golden shield and sent her skidding back. A magic user? She snarled. Audrey got up quickly and instantly raised her killing intent, which only raised all the hairs on her body and sent a shiver down her spine. This was bad, Madoka thought as she pulled her axe up from her side. Audrey normally never went into a killing mode immediately, and she herself never drew her axe first thing by instinct. Actually, she did not know what she did in scenarios of an ambush.

Another crackling noise charged up somewhere out there, with an underlying killing intent flowing beneath its source. Who could be attacking them? Lightning magic threatened to burst forth, but she was prepared this time, The maid scanned the forest and searched for the thunderbolt's source. A sparkling noise scratched her ears at a distance, so Madoka shouted a warning. Both girls locked onto a red seal floating in the distance and scattered before the magic tore a devastating path towards them.

Madoka groaned, turning off her barrier temporarily. Her own killing intent rose into something monstrous, making her head pound ferociously. Somehow, the creature knew where they were and her bright translucent shield only gave her away. Another clicking sound winded up, building up into a harsh static chorus as it was preparing another lightning strike. They were being hunted! The static released into a crackling noise, destroying a path of tree straight towards her. She flipped away with a Cherish dodge, honed from fighting monsters and hid behind another tree. Madoka growled and locked onto the attacker's killing intent, some hundred meters away. A lightning user was trouble. That was the most powerful element of Domineering magic according to Arudite, she recalled. Though Audrey was thinking that her lasers were a different— Wait, what is she doing right now?

Focus.

The pounding in her head subsided. Madoka sensed the target preparing another lightning strike, but she needed to know if the princess was safe first. The forest was dark, save for the red Domineering magic circle glowing ominously ahead of them. She suddenly heard Audrey scream in the distance. Was she hit? No, she heard the word more clearly.

"Get down!" Audrey shouted in English. Madoka knew better and immediately complied, burying her face amongst the shattered chips of wood and ashes from the attacker's lightning magic. "Yah!"

A flashing ball of light bobbed violently in the distance and a wave of energy consumed the forest in a huge radius, like a green dragon with unending hunger. As the wave passed over her, she shuddered. The energy was frigid! Then she realized the tree she hid under was vaporized to nothing. She did not have enough time to complain, as she felt an even colder presence approach her with light footstep.

"You hear any of its thoughts?" Audrey asked. Her ominous magic core went out like a ghost slipping back into the shadows and all Madoka could see is her breath puffing in the air. She also realized that perhaps the girl's glowing hand was the reason that attacker could see them.

"No," Madoka told her. "Not before or after."

"So it's a high level boss," Audrey got ready to leap again. Madoka sighed.

"I guess so," she got ready to move in case that thing survived the princess's magic Wind Blade. The Knotting magic nearby had already gathered near them and with a quick movement, Madoka absorbed them as if she was catching her breath.

"I wonder how much money we can get from the Guild if we kill it!"

"Audrey…"

Something flickered in the distance, signaling to them both another attack was on the way. Instead of dodging away, Madoka decided to charge after it and jumped out of the magic attack's path when it came. As the lightning flashed, she saw its caster's silhouette. Feathers and armor covered the creature, but it resembled a Narm? An assassin? Or was it a Shadow creature sent from the Uracksheegul?

Madoka raised her axe and brought it down on it anyways while it was distracted, aiming for its midsection. Instead of flesh, her steady grip buckled as something resisted with a loud clang. The assassin was wearing some kind of protective gear on his arms. It was not a shadow creature? Before Madoka could process this information, she felt a dull pain crash against her ribs and her world flung backwards. The vision of a boot falling back to the earth after a kick was all she needed to know. That's nothing! Madoka growled as she flipped to her feet and landed. The creature observed her and then made an attempt to dash away back into the darkness. It was definitely another Narm, or Sovos, and was sent from someone.

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"I'm not finished yet," Madoka hissed and lunged again, pulling a sword out of her Storage talisman. Her strike locked against the arm guard like before, but she grinned with a sinister laugh. This time she had prepared a strike with her axe in her dominant hand at her foe. The assassin's face paled as he turned his gaze at the axe crashing towards him. As he struggled, Madoka brought more pressure down.

"It's too late," Madoka growled. Still, an opponent that could block the sword was a worthy one indeed. However, if she struck this man down she would kill him! No, she refused her killing intent. Her hand instinctively turned the axe's flat side just before it struck him. The crunch repaid the kick she recieved, claiming a rib or two with a satisfying thud. Suddenly, an unstoppable bloodthirsty rage filled her. You should have killed that bastard for trying to harm Her Highness, her instincts screamed at her inwardly. A new heat burned through her shoulder, making her realize that her rune glowed to life. The light from its crimson glow let her watch her foe careen through trees a distance away from her. If her rage was brought on by harming this attacker, but not against the goblins, then that meant only one thing: The attacker was indeed someone real.

The problem with this rune is that people can see her in the darkness, Madoka realized as she suppressed her desire to chase after that assassin and crush his the life out of his life completely. She heard the twang of a released mechanism. Shit! She groaned as her words came back to bite her. It's too late to dodge! The bolt screamed through the air and pierced Madoka's arm. She let out a roar in pain but dove behind a tree. That arrow was too perfectly aimed, hitting her rune exactly. Did her strike to that foe do nothing at all? How skilled was this attacker, truly? The intent from him bounced further back into the woods.

"Madoka?" Audrey rushed over to her. "Shit, it's still alive after you whacked it?"

"Yeah," Madoka knew her glowing shoulder would attract lightning. "What should we do?"

"First," Audrey stuffed her hand into her bag and then pulled out something wooden. A talisman! Her talisman, not the Esmeralda one. Madoka swallowed her protest. She had someone to protect and make it out alive together with. The strands glowed with a comforting light and her arm felt better, but she could sense the assassin's intent fading as they repositioned in the woods. "Second, shall I blow this place up?"

Audrey made a widening motion with her hands and made an explosion noise. Madoka felt her shoulder patch together, but shook her head no. She was surprised how much energy or Manas Audrey still had left after she annihilated the Goblin King. Another byproduct of her level up, she supposed.

"It's a… Narm. Real," Madoka spoke in English. "No can kill."

"Why? It's trying to kill us," Audrey scoffed, but her face looked angrily at the direction of the assassin. She could sense the assassin's intent on her own, too.

"I didn't say we couldn't make the assassin suffer," Madoka's rune on her shoulder barely let her contain her rage. The crimson glow illuminated Audrey's concerned face, but she saw the princess grow determined and somewhat weary of her.

"You scare me."

"You're one to talk," Madoka countered.

She swept the destroyed forest with renewed bloodlust. Noting the changes in her own body, she figured her rune was indeed giving her a boost in power. The bark she gripped on shattered with ease before she calculated a path to make her advance, the ground beneath her boots quaked when she stomped, and even her breath seemed to shove the trees away from her ever so slightly. Worst of all, her desire to kill and her eyes involuntarily hunting for that bastard that hurt her were all too much for her yet not enough. If she was to do something about it, it had to be quick. Something shimmered in the distance. Spell circles! Flames started to jet out of them, but she was already on the move. A pair of Wind Blades slashed the air directly at the fire.

This assassin was skilled and tough, Madoka gave them that. Casting many circles must be difficult, right? Additionally, something whistled, flying towards her with extremely speed. More bolts, she gritted her teeth and twisted her body. The heat of fiery balls singed her arm as she swat a bolt out of her face. They were able to launch fire spells and keep a crossbow aimed at her at the same time. Cheap distractions, she ket out a dark chuckle. Yet as her eyes adjusted to the cover of darkness, something else aided her hunt. In the distance, she could sense a gathering of Knotting magic surging to the target's location: A tree branch much higher up, left standing out of Audrey's previous spell radius. She caught the flash of a new circle being created and skid in a position to strike. It was aiming at Audrey!

I will get you this time, she clenched her teeth. The ground groaned as she prepared to jump and catch the coward. And break your bones for attacking Audrey!

As she launched herself, her senses raised. The spell circle suddenly veered and aimed directly at her. Shit! It was a trap, a blast of lightning struck her. The heat shocked her insides and she was sent back crashing into another tree. A grin formed on her lips as her body convulsed. How long has she gone without feeling pain in a fight? The lizard hurt her, but this…! Her rune kept her alive, but she was quickly succumbing to the heat blasting inside of her as the magic tore her body apart. More thoughts played in her mind with each shiver coursing through her. When did she last get hit into a tree by lightning? Not since the bear Roôon.

That assassin let loose another spell in retreat in a failed attempt to finish her off, but Madoka could dodge. She had one more plan. She remembered Audrey's explosion motion and how letting loose her emotions destroyed that goblin village, and decided maybe repeating that would make this anger dissipate. Her Highness was not the only one who could cause things to blow up. Sorry, Audrey, Madoka plunged a shaking hand into her heart and grabbed the crystal within. Redirecting her fury back at the perched assassin now even further away in the distance, she grinned again. You asked for it!

"Madoka?" Audrey called out from somewhere out in the distance, but must have pulled back when she noticed the exposed crystal.

"Get down!"

It was Madoka's turn to shout in English, an irony she did not have time to chuckle over. She secretly realized the rage in her made her think all of this fight was quite enjoyable. Come on, then! More spells were lining up and taking aim at her when the assassin saw her. Another lightning shocked her, rooting her in place as she resisted it screaming. It felt like a thousand punches rained down on her stomach, but she was at the right distance. More rage, more pain, more fervor! With the last of her strength, Madoka skidded hurled the crystal as it formed into her desired shape — a bomb. The glowing crystal shimmered through the forest and the assassin must have recognized the danger it posed because the spell circles he prepared vanished.

"I said: Too late," Madoka snarled, before raking at erratic Knotting strands to create a barrier from the inevitable blast.

Silence followed after the bomb homed in on its target, while she felt the weight of someone diving on top of her.

"Ow," Madoka whined, but before she could pull Audrey off of her, the bomb exploded.

"I thought you said no kill!" Audrey screamed as they lost balance. Branches showered them and earth collapsed beneath their bodies, with the toppling trees bouncing off Madoka's shield. All at once, the blinding light ceased and they were soon lying in a nest of scattered dirt and fallen logs. Madoka grabbed Audrey and held her close, still shivering from the lightning magic that hit her. Her clothes riddled with burned holes and the skin beneath reduced to a crispy ashen state. "Madoka?"

"H-Heal me," she begged.

"R-Right," Audrey fished out her talisman and concentrated. In the darkness, the emerald strands weaved a web around her. They were indeed buried underground again by rocks, trees and mud. Madoka refrained from laughing. All of this mess was because of her, was it not?

Behind her, the bright celestial dust of the crystal gathered in a trail as it snaked within her heart again. The additional jolts made her shake involuntarily. The intent was gone, but she was nervous about the mess she caused. The strands speared through her, eventually releasing her from the cold web and made her feel better. A crumbling noise, like paper burning from fire caught her attention. The talisman! It became dust. Once wood, now reduced to nothing, Madoka thought grimly. She felt guilty.

"S-Sorry for making you waste that," Madoka coughed. Still, the rune's effect on her was quickly fading and she could think straight. She banged her chest as the glow stopped and hacked up more bile, but the princess held her up anyways. "L-Let go of me, I'm going to make a mess—"

"You think you got him?" Audrey ignored her sputters. "I should be the one apologizing, I couldn't get a good shot on him. Magic fights are a whole 'nother level."

"I hope so," Madoka sat up. She noticed the golden chains thin out and cut off at jagged edges instead of flowing through the air like normal. She closed her eyes and withdrew her inner reach from the magic world and the distracting golden strands vanished from her vision. Only the beautiful view of Audrey remained beneath the barrier and rubble. "That was all of my magic in one go."

Audrey peered over and quickly sat back down next to Madoka, covering her mouth.

"In one go," she repeated.

"Why are you surprised?" Madoka scoffed. Punching a hole skyward, all of the clutter was soon with ease. She patted a twig or hundred off of Her Highness as she hefted her out of the hole. She closed her eyes and let the cold night air comfort her, wrapping her like an embrace. The princess was the one who destroyed forests with a mere thought, and she was surprised from such a basic spell from Madoka? She felt her eyes widened after she opened them, finally seeing what she had done to the place. A gasp escaped her as shock engulfed her very core. "Kind gods."

They were standing at the precipice of a crater's edge. Her Crystal, and Madoka by extension, tore the forest up so far she could see a bit of the soldier camp in the Fourth Petal. That campfire signified where they came from, right? Kind gods! She nervously looked back at her princess again, who had a knowing, scolding look on her face.

"Surely, not," she breathed. She was not the only one who caused all of that! She could not be, right? "You used your Wind Blades too, right?"

"My mess is over there," Audrey sighed, pointing over to a completely different section of burning trees. A small clearing of perfectly sliced trees sat neatly in a cone, while Madoka's magical bomb created a valley. The maid shrunk, lowering her head out of complete embarrassment. She was not one to blame others, but she was not sure she could clean the mess she caused this time. She still felt Audrey staring at her. "Your eyes glow when you use magic. Pretty!"

"D-Don't look at me!" Madoka whined and then jumped down quickly.

"Wha— Wait up!"

Madoka skidded all the way down the crater's wall, trying to sense where the assassin was. She assumed he survived the explosion, since she actually knew she held back her power in order to fulfill her promise of not killing anyone even if the damage said otherwise. She had that human laser rifle for killing anyways, Madoka thought grimly. Still, the devastation would at least immobilize the bastard, right? A broken limb, black as charcoal stuck out of the dirt nearby. She knew that broken form was definitely the assassin. No, that was a dead animal. Guilt swept over her, but Audrey skid down. A light bump kept her from wallowing in her mixed feelings, but did not even move the maid by an inch.

"Hey!" Audrey complained, but lowered her voice as if they were conspiring. "You sure you got the guy?"

"Yes," Madoka sighed and scooped her up over her shoulders. Audrey let out a sharp surprised gasp, but relaxed. She was treading carefully in order to not drop her princess. The girl was soon playing with her hair and plucked leaves and dirt from her head, but the maid did not mind. Distracting Her Highness was the only way she could avoid her from focusing on the mortifying mess. A hole or slight gap could spell trouble for Audrey, Madoka excused herself in her head. What if she sprained an ankle? Twigs snapped underfoot as the moons watched over them, beautiful and silent witnesses to her powerful display. The ground was also illuminated by the rune's fading red light, bobbing as a sphere of faint rage as she pressed on as a one woman search party. Before the bomb, the canopy of trees would have blotted them out completely. Knotting magic caused her Crystal to stir inside of her. That could mean where it last was, right? She stopped abruptly when she saw a hand, nearly matching the color of the shattered wood. "Here."

She drove her fist through the wreckage and caught flesh. She was tempted to squeeze its heart out, but she resisted the temptation and pulled the assassin up like a weed, hoping to bloody them up in the process. A charred body was all that her fist fished from the lake of wood and dirt, which she promptly tossed to a nearby log again carelessly. Yeah, she got him. Madoka grinned proudly to herself. This is the exact punishment she intended for the scoundrel who would dare harm Audrey. The girl jumped out of Madoka's grip and balanced perfectly on a branch to inspect the body.

"Still alive," Madoka sighed. "Though I could change that."

"We really gotta do something about your Berserk Meter," Audrey sighed and pointed at Madoka. Was she getting scolded? She crossed her arms and scoffed, but realized her arm was glowing red. "That's, ah, the term when you hurt someone and become a blood thirsty shark. Now let's see who this really is, Scoobs."

"Scoobs?"

"Yeet!" Audrey's magic core was still glowing an ominous cold aura, one without color yet bright as a star. Surprisingly, there were now three bands, each black and yet she could see them perfectly in the night. Flowing, black hair flowed out from the assassin's hood. Nobody they knew, of course, but suddenly her eye caught the glint of something tucked beneath their robes. Madoka ripped it off, revealing a shining diamond tag that fell on his face. "It's a girl! Heh, uh, wait. This means it's an adventurer with a Diamond ranked tag, right?"

"So this was not a boss fight?" Madoka asked, clutching her shoulder. She was not sure if squeezing the burning rune would help make her rage dissipate. She wanted to mangle this foolish woman for crossing them, but she remembered she should hold off on killing for as long as possible. "What if she's a bandit? I know Fate was spying on us, but aren't Diamond ranked adventurers untouchable in strength? That's what Arudite said, right?"

"Well, it's no wonder she survived the big boom you created," Audrey mused. It was clear that neither of them had any idea who this mysterious bitch was. "But she seemed stronger than a regular bandit, I guess."

"B-Bandits," Madoka stammered. "We're only Silver ranked. We don't have much things to steal…"

"Well, they wouldn't know that," Audrey sighed. "They had a lot of spells, but they lacked a lot of combat knowledge. Mainly, they broke a most important rule: never fighting a one against two. 'Specially someone who can summon a giant bomb at will. So the tag could be stolen. If they are an adventurer. Maybe it's a hazing ritual for us? Revenge for what you did to those guys in the Inn? Noob crushing? Perhaps this woman is a spy or something and killed the tag's owner."

"I don't know what any of those words mean, Audrey. But maybe it is an actual assassin," Madoka leaned over and ripped the tag from the assassin's neck. A satisfying slice of blood slid from her neck. Let nature mangle this assassin's body instead of her, she determined. The blood will attract a predator or two. "But we should return this tag to the Guild if it's stolen."

The blackened hair tangled in the necklace snapped like a twig, making her realize that maybe the color was not originally black but instead burned by her ruthless magical bomb. She tossed the Diamond tag to Audrey anyways, who placed it in her bag quietly. The princess was contemplating something, but did not tell her anything. Madoka did not care, for she was clenching her teeth and trying to hold the beast within her back. Hurting the woman made the rune come back to life, like a caged beast raging against its confinement.

"Yeah," Audrey said after some silence. "Let's go home."

"Up you go then," Madoka happily lifted the girl up on her shoulders. Useless fists pounded her back as Audrey tried to squirm from her grip.

"Nae waaaah!"

Later, when the two made it to the Guild Hall, everyone quieted down when she smashed the door open with a dirty boot. Fact was, all of Madoka's garments were singed and both were dirty. She checked before arriving. They were in good condition. There was a small problem, however: A snore shot through her ears. The princess fell asleep somewhere along the way! Each step quieted anyone nearby, but she did not care about the commotion she caused. The Guild Ladies there were startled as Madoka approached while Audrey snoozed peacefully around her shoulders, unaware that she was being unruly for no particular reason. There were many people in the Guild's observatory upstairs, moving and talking about a strange pillar of light that suddenly happened. Madoka realized that they were probably murmuring about her magical bomb, but even they shut their mouths the moment she moved beneath the observatory's deck. One of the Guild Ladies squeaked when she approached.

"C-Can I help you?"

"We have bad news to report to whoever's in charge right now," Madoka reached over Audrey's butt and pulled out the bloody Diamond Adventurer tag from the bag. The princess snorted, but did not come back to the real world from her dreams. "An assassin got a Diamond Ranked adventurer."

"Kind gods," the Guild Lady's face paled. "S-She lost?"

"What?" Madoka kept her voice sharp as a knife. "Is any leader here?"

"Y-Yes, Sir Drezgor just got back here. I will get him immediately," the Guild Lady bowed and fled up the stairs with the tag. Madoka eyed the woman's back suspiciously, but remained there with a scowl on her face that scared other people away. Soon, the lady returned, pale as a ghost. "He'll see you right now."

Madoka nodded, then headed briskly up the stairs, ducking slightly to not bump Her Sleepiness's little head on the ceiling frame.

"Madoka," Drezgor's smooth voice interrupted her thoughts as he turned. She nearly bowed, but grunted instead and shortly sat down in his office with a slumbering princess slumped in the seat next to her. Although the crimson rune had given out, she still felt a little rebellious. If she did not need to stand, she would sit, legs stretched out and carelessly. "Is she unharmed?"

"She is fine," Madoka reported. "Tired after clearing that Goblin slaying commission."

The Sovos Acting Guild Leader looked at Audrey and sighed.

"Does she have anything to do about the light in Petal Three?"

Oh, she guessed at some point during their fight, they ended up in Petal Three. Whatever. Madoka shook her head.

"I— I wouldn't recommend it for travel, sir," she said, but kept tight lipped about the light. Drezgor's fingers gripped the bloody Diamond tag, but she stared at him blankly. She cared not for such a useless shiny thing. "Whatever got that adventurer is still in the area, too."

"I see," Drezgor sighed. He then took a seat at the desk before Madoka, creaking the floor as he sunk into it a bit. She could not decipher the emotion in his eyes, so she remained quiet. "Allow me to tell you the truth, Madoka. The adventurer that owns this Diamond tag is known as Ikushi. She's a powerful Lightning mage."

Madoka stood up abruptly, the chair tipping over and instantly vaporizing from her Knotting magic growing in intensity like her mood. Even the desk and its paperwork suddenly began to crack and dissolve as she began. "Did you send her to die by our hands, then?"

"T-The opposite," Drezgor stammered. Even his status as a powerful adventurer began to crack under the weight of her fury. Madoka caught the glimpse of an orange tail flick in amusement under the bookshelf and calmed herself down. She was trying to be patient, but yet her Knotting magic was causing the floorboards and desk to crack apart from her wild intentions. "She suspected you two as spies like Lady Fate, with your perfect record and rapid ascension within the Guild. I don't know what she did to provoke you b-but I warned her not to try anything bad."

If that assassin was a Diamond ranker, then adventuring is truly hopeless. Lightning magic hurt a lot, but then again, magic in general is so unfair, she sighed. Her own bomb was quite powerful as well, capable of destroying that goblin city. Now, she even blew up a majority of the Third and Fourth Petal in the Labyrinth's Inner Circle as well. Madoka wondered if the crystal inside of her was truly attached to Knotting magic or something much worse. Then King Hei Meng strutted out from beneath the bookshelf and hopped on what remained of the desk as if the storm of tension had nothing to do with him. Drezgor was stammering out excuses, but she looked to the orange ball of fur for guidance instead.

"This stray lizard, this cur, this bastard speaks the truth," His Majesty chuckled, licking his paw after batting a piece of the smashed wood off. His wings stretched out and then folded back under his rolls of fat. "They fussed about it for hours. Despicable weaklings, no? Now what shall your violent, violet eyes do with this image? Shall you send him to see Tomorrow?"

The creature cared a lot about the Guild Leader's lackeys, she thought. Even if he did not show it. His trill trembled, tapering off in a near imperceptible plea.

"What is her hair color, again?" Madoka queried the cat in her thoughts. More amused laughter rumbled in the form of a purr. He spoke one word, cocking his ears as he continued to groom himself.

"Blue."

Right, Madoka saw strands of Knotting magic gather around Drezgor, but she did not pull at them and destroy him. She knew it all along. The only adventurer who seemed powerful enough and gave her warnings. The reason for her interference had to be a test, right? She passed it anyways. She simply peeled them from the air and reformed the desk and flooring back to its original state. King Hei Meng purred in approval, so she sat back down and realized Audrey slept through the entire ordeal.

"Then I will tell you one thing, sir," she smiled menacingly at the Acting Guild Leader. She leaned over, plucked the tag from his trembling fingers and crushed it to pieces in her fist. "You tell Fate if we ever see her little Iackey again she's a dead woman. And that would be a mercy. Now, if you excuse us. We have a herd of Cel'Row to get back to tomorrow."

She picked up the snoring Audrey and left before the Guild Leader could utter a word. As the wind cooled her temper down, she realized Audrey was right. She should do something about the rune on her shoulder.

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