Prince Lute stood upon the northern battlements, gazing over the landscape. Over the past several days, he had felt odd surges of black magic being used. He could not tell where they were coming from directly, for it seemed the caster was doing something shield the sorcery. He had conferred several times with his sister about it, and she had sensed them as well. Both felt extreme wariness toward the magic with the unknown source, but until there was more information available, could do nothing about it.
Suddenly, the Prince's thoughts were broken by two loud shouts, a splash and a gasp, followed by a giggle. He peered over the wall to find a young lady standing on one side of the moat, giggling as she stared at her two companions who had fallen in.
"Phi, you need to work on your concentration during a teleportation spell," one of the ones who fell in the moat said.
"Yes, Clari," Phi said, still giggling.
"I love it when guests drop in," Lute said with a smile as he looked over the wall. Do you need some help, down there?"
One of the people in the moat, with long blond hair sank low in the water. "Ano… no, Lute-sama, we shall be fine."
"Clari-san, is that you?" Lute asked, leaning further over the wall to get a better look.
"Hai, Lute-sama," Clari said, sinking lower into the water in sheer embarrassment.
"Hold on a moment, I shall have you three up in a moment," Lute said with a smile. Carefully, he cast a spell that formed around the two in the water, and a separate one around Phi. Slowly, they floated up, and over the wall. Then, the bubbles popped, landing them comfortably on the battlements.
"You know, there are easier ways to gain entrance into the castle," Lute said. He took in Raiel and Clari, who were both sopping wet, and laughed. Phi also giggled, a bright blush on her face.
Raiel and Clari exchanged glances, both getting the same idea at once.
"Phi, I think it is time you learned a levitation spell," Raiel said as Clari suddenly grabbed his student. Working together, they hoisted the slender girl up and pitched her over the wall.
"Clari!" Phi shrieked, and they heard a loud splash. Satisfied, they exchanged nods before the former Grand Commander lifted his student back onto the battlements.
"What was that for?" Phi demanded. She glared at them, not realizing that her hair was now adorned with seaweed. This was too much for Raiel, Clari and Lute, and they broke out into uncontrollable laughter. There was little else that Phi could do in such a situation. So she joined them.
The mood was much more solemn later on that night. After supper had been finished, Queen Flute met with them in her private study. She sat in a chair next to the fireplace. Lute sat to her right as he always did, and Phi and Raiel sat before in armchairs. Clari stood in front of the fireplace. He examined the flames with narrowed eyes.
"You are sure of this?" Flute asked at last, he voice no more than a whisper. She was shocked, oh yes was she shocked. After all, it was not every day that someone announced that one of the greatest enemies to human kind was alive, after being thought dead for sixteen years.
"I am certain," Clari said quietly, and Phi nodded in agreement.
The Queen stared into the fire, her eyes thoughtful. Clari felt a pang in his heart as he recognized the same thoughtful expression that used to darken the eyes of her mother. "It is too early to gauge the extent of his power just yet," Flute said quietly. She sighed, tears glittering in her eyes. "I do not want to raise the entire army after him. It would alarm the countryside. Panic would cause more damage than Bass himself. Instead, perhaps we should sent a smaller group to figure out just how much a threat to humanity he is. In fact, I will go with this group."
"Flute-sama, we cannot place you in direct danger like that," Lute protested. "Let me go instead. And Phi and Clari can come if they want. They know the village of Discord better than any of us. We'll go there, do some exploring, and come back. All before dinner time tomorrow," he added with a smile.
"Very well, I suppose you are right," Flute said with a sigh. Then, her hands tightened into fists around the arm rests. "We cannot let Bass live to cause the torment that he did the last time. Work quickly, but above all else, be careful. It would be best if you and some soldiers teleported to Discord as soon as possible."
Clari nodded. "It shall be done, Flute-sama."
"I'll stay with you, Flute-sama," Raiel offered quietly.
"Thank you," Flute said, smiling wanly. "I think I need you now more than ever, old friend.