Battle Hymn of the Republic

Though Coco stood there, poised for a fight and yet stone still, she spoke, voice childishly curious.

"Hello! What's your name?" the girl asked with a twisted smile.

"Eryl Maelgwyn."

The girl secured her ankles together, bouncing them on the stone wall, looking down at them with a bit of aggravation.

"Librarian of Cardiff, and, might I add, quite skilled in the manner of magicks," Eryl spoke with a sharp urgency, as if she were rushing towards something. "I; will not, I tell you; extol my virtuous past and achievements as we are already running short on time. I am securing this Font's mana for the sake of my release. Currently, its shell is in a vegetative state, which is advantageous for the imprisoned me. With its magic properly harnessed, I will not only carve his shell into a body suitable for me, but have enough mana to secure my future studies where I left them off centuries ago."

She pressed her hand to the wall, and the runes glowed again. "The Font you were so familiar with does not properly work anymore. The construct in the scapulary is simply a colored anchor or key to fountain-base. Whatever human or magi qualities you saw within it are no longer present, that is the purpose of a Meshlagal, if any of you had properly studied." A small hrumph put a period on that statement as she looked down at the restful Percival.

The young alchemist made nary a reaction, beyond the same repetitive movements which gave off the feeling he was simply acting on certain, random stimuli. He was like a robot, being programmed with its switch turned on. Every time Eryl touched the stone again, he seemed to twitter.

"However," Eryl put up a hand, as if to gently console the rest of them, "I know you all have come far. Your efforts are not in vain, as no Mage's effort should ever truly be. I want my freedom, and I will see to that, but I would also like to end my imprisonment peacefully, and without violence. So, perhaps we can strike a deal; as we all can be reasonable, yes?"

“No.”

The ghostly Alstad girl had fallen behind the rest of the group and just now arrived – floating through the front line of mages and touching down directly in before Eryl but still remaining in her spectral form – and curiously enough hadn't even spared a glance towards her friend and pseudo-older brother Percival.

“I'm afraid yah are gonna find that I am not all that reasonable Miss Maelgwyn.” Riley's words were clunky and dull as she spoke – the young stage magician's eyes never looking away from Eryl. “Da always told me, 'Dearest Girl, as a stage magician you must learn to put your very soul into everything you do – you must above all else put the entirety of yourself out there for the people or forever remain unseen.'” As she paused the young curled her hands into fists. “I'm having a hard time listening to that right now – I got plenty of my soul ready right now mind you – but, I'm finding I only got one part of me I really want you to see.”

Rage. The unspoken word echoed through Riley's mind alone as her vision flared red and her ghostly form spasmed in unison.

The young girl – now floating above the floor once more – lifted her head from where it had fallen from her twitch and with a small flourish of her left hand conjured one of her simple white masks from thin air. Lifting the mask halfway to her face Riley stopped to smile widely at Eryl. “I really hope you like it ma'am.”

Placing the mask firmly against her face Riley floated further into the air, now multiple feet off the ground. With a complete lack of the magician's normal fanfare the ragged figure of her Dog-Helmed phantasm enveloped itself around Riley's body. When the fur-clad Knight reached its normal level of visibility it only continue to increase in clarity; the summons solidifying around its master until its entire body – save for the veins of blue that traced the flow of mana through the construct – was the pristine white of the Stage Magician's masks.

As the beastial helmet turned its gaze upon Eryl the gaps in its armour where a face should have been was pitch black with shadow.

“I will impart to you what our deal will be Eryl Maelgwyn.” The phantasmal avatar spoke with a distorted version of Riley's voice. Every word echoed with the muffled sounds of roars and the crash of metal on metal and flesh on flesh. “I will 'Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war', and you - you will bleed until you are dry.”

The avatar took one step forward and summoned a mask with nary a sound. The white material began to lengthen immediately as it began to form itself into a spear and the knight grasped it eagerly with a gauntleted hand.

Ruarc, unlike the others in his group, was not so quick to turn his hostilities towards Eryl. Instead his attention was focused on trying to exhume his girlfriend from the rock into which she was sinking, and would continue to sink into should Eryl feel like it. Kneeling down next to the trapped priestess, he set a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

"Easy now, m'Darlin', we'll take care of this and be back home before ya know it," the Druid said with a smile that masked his own worry; the soft look on his face also hid his distress over not being able to protect the girl. However, recognizing that there was business that needed taking care of, Ruarc stood up and turned his sights on Eryl while beginning a slow and inconspicuous walk around to flank the altar.

"Ah'm afraid Ah'm gonna havta sound like a broken record here. Yur deal is no good, but to try and remain reasonable we can try negotiating. Stand down and we can all walk away from this, after all magic is a mysterious thing, so maybe there is a less vile way to go about leaving."

As though her curiosity had gotten the better of her, Coco stood with a finger to her lip, rapt with attention as they all spoke.

Childishly, the young lich stood in her older teenage form, rolling up and down on the balls of her feet as this 'Eryl Maelgwyn' spoke. A large portion of the plan rolled out in its entirety, and it was interesting to say the least. Like Duncan, she was a thinking, though not quite in the same sense. So naturally, she thought about it, and what it could all mean. This person was likely stalling. And even if she wasn't, it was worth a shot trying. But there was more. Always more! This Meshlagal? A fantastically well done piece of work - she wasn't even sure where to begin demolishing it even. Plus an apparently legendary individual from a time long gone by was standing here before them. How, or where this person's mind hid, Coco wasn't sure. But it was crazy that she'd survived this long - perhaps inside Percy himself even! Absolutely wonderful! And a "Librarian of Cardiff" did she say? That meant Eryl had untold tomes all tucked away in that noggin of hers! The vast walking library that she was was simply priceless!

And all for the low, low price of one or two human souls - the glint in Coco's eye at the thought meant she felt that the answer was clear!~

"My name is Coco," the Maho Shoujo Zombie sweetly answered. "You took Percy. Prepare to die!"

Slashing, cutting red ribbons whipped out in an instant as Coco flew into a flurry of blows!

Eryl's eyes focused sharply on Riley as she adjusted herself again, one of her fingers drawing on the edge of the stone she sat on. There was a strange sense behind those analytical eyes, as if she was dicing up the little girl in her mind. While she put on the air that the taunts amused her, her fingers drummed more quickly onto the stone. Her poker face was solid, but it was evident that the pressuring unnerved her. This why she seemed to relax considerably as Ruarc stepped forward to abate any fiery tempers. His response appeared to be dealt with much more easily, and she was about to smoothly respond...

... Were it not for Coco.

Those ribbons tore upward at the source of the Lich's malcontent. Only, many of them caught on something in mid-air. Around her, misting off whatever invisible cloaking magic they wore, and in the path of her attack were Thralls of Decanus, judging by their rough semblance to the impaled diety. Blades of all shapes hooked her deadly ribbons on blunt sides, save for one, which dove right for Eryl herself. That ribbon sunk quickly at the mage, but then stopped short at a barrier, and an arm, Percy's arm. She was holding the boy's left arm, the shoulder still wisping energy.

"I am trying to be genial and polite," growled the Maelgwyn girl, holding the severed limb as if it were a wand. A quick glance would provide the sight of the young Alchemist's shoulder been cleanly cut, with no blood or bone poking forth, but just blackness within. Raiko was greeted with several inches lost of her free movement, the priestess almost sunk to her shoulder, the baby in her arms rocked awake by the sudden shift and began to cry. As her feet touched a 'bottom', the Japanese girl could feel her movement robbed from her completely again. "You seem intent on squandering any matter of peaceful negotiation."

The severed arm floated above her hand then, broke down in to a sandy misty, and absorbed into the Mage's body.

"I can say the ladyfolk amongst you have been charmed by this mystic, beret-wearing serpent! I will admit the boy is handsome, but I fell under similar charms when I was your age, and know the dangers of such mingling with that which is not human," Eryl began again, the tips of her fingers now scratching neurotically at the stone. It was obvious, she was losing her patience, "By all rights, this font belongs to me, and I'm using it to live again. What of you? Hm? Looking to save a ball of mana that ate a baby's soul in the womb, taking its form and body? Robbing its mother of a true mage-child!? Preposterous! What you're all trying to save is a lie and your foolish attachments will send me to an eternal damnation in this wretched land!"

Mage Maelgwyn began slapping her hands against the stone and kicking her feet wildly, "I'm trying to share this source of power with you, and you're all just spitting in my eye!"

Incited, she thrust her finger at Megumi, "You! You're ensorcelled by the boy, but you're neglecting an opportune chance to free yourself of all of that! This Percival Caxton you know is nothing but a mystic parasite living in the body of a child that, for all intents, died years ago! If you take a portion of the power it holds, you can protect your real friends, those who have been with you since kindergarten!"

Ruarc was next on the board, her finger pointing down with less understanding that she had seen with before. "And you! Don't you have better things to do than routing around in here? You've a witch hounding you and the weight of your ancestors on your shoulders! If you're to do any right here, dispel the font, and return to the world with enough power to sate your own defense and your heritage."

Then came Coco, who had to contend with the stealthy assassins getting in her way, yet she had to deal with Eryl's voice booming over as well, "You! You! You've lost the most, yet you're the most ensorcelled out of the entire group! Do you know what you could do with the power of a monster like this?" She pointed at Percival, who seemed unphased by the lost of his arm, still plaintively sleeping, "You would have enough power to bind your soul to a flesh-crafted body! You could return to life with more than enough power to contend with your brother, to fight by his side!"

When it came to be Riley's turn, her bridling rage was not enough to block her own careful sight. As an illusionist she could see past the illusions of others, and she could see right past the patch of magic tucked on Eryl's forehead. A third-eye glowed, but stared just as the other two visible eyes did. The seemingly Welsh woman was a triclops, and using that eye to gain familiarity with them. "And you... You..."

The witch wavered, as she seemed to peer into Riley, likely realizing that the illusionist could see past it. Quickly, and sheepishly, a hand was brought up to hide the eye firmly. "You need this. More than anyone, to chain the beastly emotions in you."

The Avatar Knight – and presumably Riley – had stopped moving as Coco's assault was deflected by the Welsh Witch and her potent show of ability. The fur-clad fighter thrust the spear straight down into the stone before it when Eryl began to speak to each member of the group in turn. The knight, contrary to its earlier bloodlust, seemed almost curious and it held its helmed head cocked to one side in a very canine manner as it listened.

When Maelgwyn finally addressed the Avatar last her gaze was met equally by the blank abyss of the construct's 'face'.

When Eryl finished speaking the Knight let out a rolling, rumbling laugh and then pointed an armoured finger at the three-eyed mage. “I am Riley Erin Alstad, Eryl Maelgwyn, and I hold no shame in any facet of my own self.” The Knight's helm moved slightly, the empty gaze focusing on where Eryl held her hand to hide her magical eye. “I certainly have no wish to chain myself based upon the wants of another. Now.”

The Avatar stopped speaking and moved both hands onto the butt of the spear haft. Then, with a mighty shove the Knight forced the weapon the rest of the way beneath the stone. Now unarmed Riley's Avatar looked back up towards Eryl and took one step forward.

“Havoc!” At the Knight's cry two patches of stone a few feet to either of Eryl's side cracked and then exploded into a cloud of dust. Out of the debris leaped two of the Stage Magician's spectral Wolfhounds – their masks the crimson of an open wound instead of the normal pristine white. The hounds looked more bestial than they ever had before and streams of magma like orange flames dripped from their maws.

The Knight itself rolled its shoulders and then took another step forward as spirals of blue, ghostly fire appeared around the Avatar's chest and arms.

“You have spoke your peace Maelgwyn. I hope you have prepared yourself to choke on a blistered tongue.” Seemingly applying its own advice the Avatar's echoing voice cut off sharply. The fur-clad Knight raised one hand and snapped loudly giving the hounds their signal to leap into to the attack. As the hounds made to target and savage Decanus's stolen thralls Riley's Avatar followed suite and leaped towards Eryl.

Though this whole sudden flurry of attacks and threats, through every word Eryl said, Miyuki remained calm. Cool almost. Unlike her normal self, she seemed to be able to defeat the short temper that normally plagued her when things were going wrong. Except, that wasn't actually true. The temperature dropped. Not just for Miyuki, but for everyone. The floors and walls suddenly began to frost over as any moisture in the tunnel condensed itself on the cool surfaces. Any breaths given off by those present started turning into clouds, and a crisp crackling noise was begun to be heard, as ice crystals forming quickly everywhere began to crack and break as they formed too quickly to keep up with themselves.

"You let go of them." Miyuki said. deathly quiet, barely above a whisper. "You give them back to us, right now, and I promise your end will be swift. You are a relic of ages gone past, not fit to be part of the world anymore. it is your time to disappear. Whatever you may say, Percy is real. He exists, as thoughts and feelings, hopes, dreams and ideas. Whether or not he has what you define as a soul is entirely irrelevant. And Power? POWER?" Miyuki's voice suddenly raged, its volume increasing slowly as she spoke. "What Power do I need aside from that which I and my friends already possess? I am not so fickle as to steal from someone I care for, nor do I believe you actually intend to give us any of it anyway. and I am not one to abandon those friends of mine I've had, whether it be for years like Raiko, or for a semester like Percy. I love them and will use what I have to protect them. Nothing less, Nothing more."

She was shaking now, but not because of the cold. Despite the frost covering her body, the icy sheen caused by a layer of crystals enveloping her skin and clothes, her hair turned several shades lighter by the dusting of frost, she was not cold. No, the shaking was from rage. She was in a similar state to Riley and Coco now, her feelings pushing far beyond her body to envelope the entire area surrounding them. It screamed cold blooded murder.

Useless. Every single attack was without worth.

It was the first time they had seen Coco really, well and truly cry. Wet tears, glistening in the magical glow, streaked down this teenage Coco's face as she clutched her fists. They flowed freely from her eyes like small streams as she sniffled while Eryl spoke, lampooning each and every single one of them. Nicely, neatly and in a tidy, tidy order just as though they were all simply pieces to a boring, tasteless homework assignment meant to simply be busy work. The girl was young - very in fact - but the grief the Little Lich felt was genuine. A boy she cared for, felt the world for, was - according to this person - simply a fake. And one that was as insubstantial as the morning dew. There one moment and gone the next as the hot sun burned it all away. This was the first time any of them had ever well and truly seen Coco cry. "Even if he wasn't the real Percy, he was the person I...we all knew," she flatly replied. "I hate being a Lich, but in comparison to this, it's no big deal. Besides," she continued. "Revenge is way more important - you need to die. On principal. 'House Leetenbaum wasn't built overnight, and our standards made it all possible' my dad always said." She gave Eryl a thin, wide smile.

Coco screeched at the top of her lungs, her voice feral with the rage she felt building up inside finally pouring out! Dozens of her razor ribbons lashed out, but this time, all aiming to cut into the very foundation, wipe clean the symbols - destroy the entirety of the Meshlagal, room and runes all!

This was also the very first time that they've seen her absolutely, utterly furious.

Ruarc often considered himself to be fairly mild as far as his temper was concerned. He rarely ever had an fit much less an outburst, but in that instant Ruarc was practically livid. The others in the group were lashing out without proper consideration, and as a direct result of their actions Percy was wounded and Raiko was getting closer and closer to being engulfed.

"Would you all just calm down for one fucking second and think for a moment!?" Ruarc shouted, his harsh voice erupting outward as he tried to contend with Coco's screech and his usual collected look was replaced with a snarl. Seeing this turning sour once more, the Irishman lashed out with a burst of flame to flash in front of his allies to try and snap them out of their emotional tantrums. "Bloody Christ, throwing yourselves blindly at this will only make things worse! She's got two hostages for cryin' out loud!"

With a momentary look back to Raiko the Druid focused himself before continuing. "Eryl, you have ta understand that Ah am the only one present who has been educated on such matters. All yer doin' is upsetting the lassies," Ruarc spoke up once more, this time he set a careful pace onto the altar, all the while hoping some sense would come to his friends. As he drew closer he drew closer to the base he extended his right arm and manifested a rune on his palm that Eryl would find familiar; it was the rune he could use to complete his end of the ritual. "Ah, however, understand what yur offer is just fine."

As he tried to continue being pragmatic, Ruarc's stomach knotted up as he produced such a vile rune, but all the while he kept his left arm within his robes charging a fire rune. "Attacks from down there are to easy for her to read, she'll just block them again. Now please, please, please, let me try a bluff," Ruarc thought, pleading in his mind that getting closer with a lowered guard would give him the edge he needed.