Chapter 43: 1-41: Not Enough

"Calm down. Tell us what's wrong." Nox said patting Caela on her back.

"Hayli and Quaza are mind controlled by a tall human priestess, and I don't know what to do!"

"Yeah, you've said that. You haven't explained how." I shook my head. We were all seated around the fire the Demons had left us, after calming down Caela somewhat.

"I told you; I don't know how! We sent Hayli to get some healing potions and food, and then when she came back, your girlfriend started fucking attacking us. Quaza sacrificed herself to let me escape so I could get you two- er, three. Excuse me, who is that?"

"Oh, this is Nana. She can read runes." I explained.

"That really doesn't explain much. But, nice to meet you. I'm Lyr- fuck force of habit, I'm Caela."

"Oh, good. I was worried you were going to say- never mind. Nice to meet you too." She turned to us, "Lot of Magic Borns around here. And without their extra ears."

"I am going to need you to stop asking about things."

"Kay. So, is this girl a friend?"

"I'd say yes. Also, another person who you should be willing to take orders from. Probably more than Terra, since she's Terra." Nox explained while I mouthed her words behind her.

"Can we get serious please? We need to have you two help me get things back to normal?"

"I mean we can probably beat up the priestess and force her to release Quaza and Hayli." I said.

"That's probably the easiest thing for us to do. Well, mostly me. Terra can't overuse Dark Surface because of her deciding to trust Olli's curse magic."

"That's fine, just as long as we aren't sitting ducks against the Princess and Hayli."

"I mean, you use fire. I think we only need to deal with Hayli." I replied.

"No, you need to deal with both, I am not equipped to fight Quaza. She's an ocean to my lake."

"It's wood, Caela."

"Live wood doesn't burn as easy, Terra."

"It still burns though."

Caela shook her head at me, "Terra, please. Be serious or we are going to have a hell of a time getting your girlfriends back."

"I am being serious. You need to relax. I'm sure it won't be too hard to get the priestess to surrender once she sees her thralls' magic not working as it should."

"And how do you plan to not get hypnotized yourselves?"

"Mirror magic."

"We do not know if she used magic to do it."

"What did she swing a pocket watch it front of them?"

"I don't know, it's just I want a plan so nothing bad happens. Princess, if I have to remind you."

"Well, we'll probably need to possibly hurt the princess to stop her from hurting us, is that fine?" I asked.

"I- oh deities, can one of you snipe the priestess. She is very tall."

We continued to argue over the whole half of our party being turned to the other side and how we would go about freeing them with the least amount of damage done. I suggested just grabbing Hayli and coming back with the army for Quaza but Caela pointed out that would probably only ignite actual war and we didn't want to do that. Nox also tried to suggest I would never be able to just leave Quaza behind, which I had to agree with. That said, Caela was forced to realize that being a Thornell meant we didn't really care to plan- since Nox was pretty much a fix all to all issues on her own.

We decided to rest up before starting on our way towards the issue at hand. We made our way the next morning, following Caela who swore to us that she knew which way she was going. If she actually did was something we could only take her word on. She seemed to somehow not be sore from bolting it all the way here, still keeping up a frustratingly fast pace. (Maybe you should work on your stamina, sis. - Nox) (I'm sorry that climbing over fallen logs and roots makes me lose energy faster.) (I think you were just worrying yourself tired- Nox)

"So, Nana. What magic do you use?" Caela asked.

"None."

"What's the hand then?" She said pointing at that pale limb swatting bugs away from Nana's face.

"A gift from a friend. What type of old-world magic do you use?"

"Old world magic? How far out are you from? And Fire magic. My grandfather made me learn Wind since my father could use it, but I prefer to burn things. Wow, that sounds bad."

"And your two traitorous friends?"

"Water and Flora magic."

"Is every magic here so plainly named?"

"What's magic named where you're from."

"What do you call the water that comes from a pump to that that comes from a well?"

"Water."

"Exactly."

"So, everyone uses the same magic?"

"Mostly. Again, is every magic just the element and the word magic?"

"Pretty much."

"So, what do you call the magic my two heroines used?"

"I use Mirror Magic."

Nana nodded, "That would match what I saw. Is Terra's the same?"

"No. And by definition it isn't magic as far as we can tell. I call it Dark Surface."

"And those are enough to help you un-mind control Terra's girlfriends?"

"Of course. Trust me, we are a bit much for anyone with just one of us."

"So, how did your friends get caught and converted?"

"They clearly did something dirty to Hayli when she went in, and then after that well, it was simply that Water magic is a bitch to fight so Quaza sacrificed herself for me."

"Honestly, I am surprised she didn't make you sacrifice yourself."

"How low of an opinion do you have of your girlfriend?" Nana asked.

"One, I am just Quaza's servant and two, she's a noble. Those types love to sacrifice anyone even slightly down the ladder."

Caela made a noise, "I'm a noble too, Terra."

I tried to stammer out an apology as Caela pouted like a child at me. At the end all I could do was awkwardly pat her on the back. Caela laughed a little at that. 

We continued on, soon making our way to an area of trees that sure did look a bit more wrecked than those that we had seen before. Caela at the least seemed to recognize it a bit. I could see the tell-tale signs of Quaza's magic, roots growing where they shouldn't be. We snuck around the woods, the sound of a woman's voice somewhere in the center, hoping that we could see the speaker.

Soon we could see a small crowd surrounding a raised platform on which a tall priestess in those robes they wore was preaching, ranting about stuff that I couldn't hear clearly. (Not like I would have remembered it if I could hear it.) Beside her were Hayli and Quaza in white robes, standing at attention as the priestess spoke to the villagers.

"Okay. What's the plan?" Caela asked.

"Well, I might like being reckless, but that's a bit too many people for my taste." I replied.

"Or we could clear them out." Nox suggested.

"And we do that by?"

"Rushing in."

I shook my head and grinned, "Caela."

"Got it." She stood up and started to create a ball of wind in her hand. And then at a nod from me sent it towards the crowd, blowing most forward and a few over. Quaza used some vines to stop the priestess from stumbling off the stage. The crowd scared began to run back into their houses, which the priestess seemed to be encouraging. 

Caela gathered wind once more and once more released it, lower to the ground so dust was kicked up, giving us cover to approach the priestess and the others. We left Nana on the wood line to help keep an escape route open, which she seemed more than happy to do- mentioning she didn't like fighting. I whispered in her ear the directions to the capitol and a phrase to give the guards, just in case things went badly. I told her if it took more than an hour, to go off and get the Queen to perhaps send assassins or something that could save us.

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Somehow, we got to surround the trio, taking any possible escape from them. 

Caela took initiative and addressed the priestess. "Foul human. Do you not know who you are forcing under your sway? Surrender them now and yourself."

The priestess smirked. "Oh? You came back, and with... slaves. I thought you said she'd only bring the tall one... Nox, right?"

"Yes, mistress. We assumed she'd feel safe with only Nox. The other one is both too volatile and prone to being a bonehead to be useful in whatever she thinks she is freeing us from." Quaza replied.

"Well, then. I was almost worried. But I guess I can have them rid her after I get them under control."

"You aren't taking this situation serious enough, scum." 

The priestess turned back to Caela. "Oh, no. I am confident that my lovely followers will be more than enough for you all. Girls."

"As you wish." They replied in very creepy unison. From behind Hayli a very large amount of water began to form into a blob while vines from a pot Quaza had tied to her back began to encroach at us.

"Caela and I will take your girlfriend, Terra take Quaza."

I nodded, moving towards Quaza, while keeping the priestess in the corner of my vision. She was now sitting down and watching us, apparently unperturbed and unworried by the fact we could target her. She had absolute faith in Hayli and Quaza to either protect her or defeat us.

"Quaza, I didn't take you as one to take orders."

"I do when it is someone as perfect and smart as my Mistress. Now, be done with you."

A vine came at me with I lazily slashed with my knife. Again, and again until it wouldn't reach me. "Pretty shit place for your magic."

Quaza looked towards the priestess who was busy watching as Caela baited Hayli into attacks so Nox could reflect it back at her to what was probably not as much effect as either wished, even with the occasional blast of wind thrown in for good measure. 

"I am going to help Hayli. Do not hold back against... Terra, was it? Don't kill her, just incapacitate." She told Quaza.

"I never was." Quaza said, raising more vines at me. They stuck to grab me a bit faster now, making me dodge away from the now two on two battle somewhere behind me. If I was smart, I might have realized that she was leading me closer to the woods, but I was too busy avoiding having vines around my neck. So, when I heard the rustling of leaves behind me, I was just able to slide below a tree literally bending down and swinging at me like a bat.

"Oh, you dodged?"

"I thought the tall bitch said not to kill me."

"Yes. You likely would survive that."

"No, I would fucking not."

She shrugged, "Perhaps I should hold back to better follow her orders."

I tried to move away from the woods but as I was arguing with Quaza, she had used the many roots of grass and flowers around the edge of the woods to tied down my boots. I could feel them begin to tear as I struggled but coming at me were her vines, ready to hogtie me. I considered struggling harder but then... I did have an out. I raised my hand as the vines approached and brought forth the orb. The vines fell down as the magic that controlled them was sapped. I tore free from the grass shackles and quickly cut the vines even more and skidded away from her, releasing the magic at her. It went into the vines which for a second tried to wrap her, but that was quickly stopped by her own magic. 

"You can't do that against a tree, Terra. Give up. You cannot win."

"Yeah, I know that. I'm not trying to win; I'm waiting for my friends to win."

"Oh? And do you think Nox alone can take three opponents?"

"What?" I turned around to see Nox dodging and reflecting attacks from Hayli and Caela.  How had that happened? I hadn't heard any magic being used and Caela wasn't acting like she was under control earlier. Had the priestess done whatever she had done to the other two to Caela while in the middle of battle?

As I considered this Quaza lunged at me, just missing as I decided that a Quaza away from the woods wouldn't be much help to our enemies as I would be a help to Nox. 

"Nox! What happened?"

"I don't know I was busy fighting Hayli while Caela took the priestess!"

"Well, I can handle them if you handle the priestess."

"Would be my pleasure."

I turned around, now surrounded on all sides by my fellow five letter name havers. Yeah, this was a bit much. I should just annoy them instead of fighting.

"I would have thought you'd be smart enough to run away, Terra." Caela said.

"But here you are, leaping boldly into the frying pan as you escape the fire." Hayli said.

"Why run? It is not like you can beat us. Did you forget what me and Nox can do?"

"No. But to the glory of our Mistress, that will be no armor." Hayli replied.

I shook my head and took the most defensive stance I could muster. "Yes, but you aren't her."

"I know your limits, Terra. With Hayli and Caela combined, you will break. Turn into that. So, we can either do that or you can accept your fate."

"Try me."

Hayli and Caela sent a combined blast of water and wind at me. I coated my hand and grabbed it, immediately releasing both without mixing it, wanting to stay fresh as the next came immediately after, the two blasts cancelling each other out. But a third came out quicker and combined with Quaza's vines meant I had to resort to good old fashion dodging, part of Caela's wind blade cutting my arm enough to draw blood.

Fuck. Yeah, okay. Maybe one on three was too much for me. "Nox! How are you doing?"

"Fucking awful. This bitch has Light Magic. It's a complete stalemate."

"Light magic? Dieties, this is a fucking mess."

"Pay attention to us, Terra." Hayli barked, shooting more water at me. I used my hand to absorb it and then blast out a fireball Caela sent at me.

"I think we should switch." Nox said.

"I'm not better with light magic. It just cancels it at best."

"Well, all I'm doing is helping make her str-" Nox stopped midsentence. I could hear the priestess panting. 

"Finally. Thank you for that distraction, Terra. Now. Nox. I am your mistress. Tell me, who do you serve."

"I serve you."

Okay, that was way too easy. And I was pretty sure Hypnosis wasn't something Light Magic could do. It also meant I was in shit so deep I was drowning.

"Good. Now the rest of you, do what you will to her. I will take Nox to finish her salvation in private."

"Yes, Mistress Azrael." The others said raising magics towards me. I mean while felt something in the back of my mind connect. Azrael. 

I knew that name. That weird name. That unique name. That name only one family would ever give to a girl at all. Now that I thought about it, I could hear that familiar accent. I could remember playing with her and the other kids before Quaza came to town. Asking her out and being rejected because she was into girls.

I breathed in. I couldn't win. I wasn't even sure I could escape. So... this was good enough. Yes. I need to stay, or things would get worse. And I really didn't want to rely on Nana making it to the Demon Capitol. That said being under her control was a no as well, as much as it would probably make me not as nervous about the- I placed my hand in my pocket feeling a familiar stone. The key we had left from the island. It had been spent so I had been carrying around to squeeze when I got mad. But it could feel just enough to do something with. I just needed to distract them and make a decision.

"Az!" I yelled. The others stopped their magic as she turned to face me.

"You dare speak to me like that? Like you know me?"

"Azrael Phanuel."

She looked at me, "How? State your name, Terra."

"Terra Thornell."

She seemed to think for a moment. "Nox is clearly Avery, but I don't remember those brothers having another sister. I would remember you."

"I was one of those brothers, Azrael. You look, well."

"Oh? One of... Twins, you're the one who asked me... hmmm, if I knew you could be like this- No. What are you playing at? This is some trick."

"I'm playing at not dying. I'm merely chatting with an old friend."

"Friend? You helped cause our town to be destroyed, Terra."

I winched, backing away towards Hayli. She grabbed me with her tail. "Silence, human."

I smiled, I knew this was going to go badly, and I should have just risked being controlled by Azrael wherever I ended up- but I was absolutely not going to last that long away from Hayli. So, I place my hand on the stone, focusing that dark little orb at the last of the magic in it and in an instant both I and Hayli blipped out of the clusterfuck we were in. And into a completely worse one.

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