Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 265: Arc 4, Act II, - 110: The Hope for a Boring Day
A banquet of yellow flowers awaited them outside, swaying in the dry wind with a sharp sweet scent—intoxicatingly so. Some around their tent, most throughout the camp.
Wild patches of thundering blitzes had sprouted from the dry earth, forcing themselves out of cracks and rocks. Amongst the other red and purple flowers that grew around this hot region, they almost seemed out of place.
However, thundering blitzes grew everywhere after all. All they needed was some water and enough vibration. Who knew how many years these flowers were waiting to pop out or how deep they were buried?
Jotou, in a more appropriate sundress of yellows, looked to where she had fought Rain previously. Around fissured earth and a few stones that had spiked upwards, the greatest concentration of thundering blitzes had blossomed.
A couple of soldiers cleared out portions of the field with Asobi keeping a keen eye right behind them; till one widened their eyes and picked something up from beneath the flowers.
Asobi’s eyes glittered as the soldier handed the magician’s wand she had lost. The elf hopped up and spun around with her wand, butterflies in all hues and unique patterns swirling.
The loud and high-pitched thank yous she gave to the two soldiers could reach even Jotou’s ears, much less Hotaru’s. Fumeko reached down and plucked two flowers, instantly turning the petals black.
She brought them up to Jotou, the scent of their decay much more piquant now, "You lost a bouquet, right?"
There was a glint of a smirk on the blonde as she took the two flowers now freckling with white spots. "Thanks."
"How do you know it was a bouquet?" Hotaru squinted.
"They don’t call me Detective Namora for nothing," she flaunted her hair.
"Uh huh, sure..."
Jotou tucked the thundering blitzes into her strands, "I assume that’s our special delivery?" she pointed to the luxurious carriage of golds, oranges and yellows.
Saddles upon the large steeds in the same hues, tapestries hanging off of them with a symbol; the same symbol engraved onto the carriage’s sides—a golden griffin standing on its hindlegs, facing its right side with its talons out and three swirling wind symbols.
"Surely that’s royal," Hotaru’s ears bristled.
Asobi rushed up to them, wand in both hands.
"Yes, we know you got your wand," Fumeko put a hand up.
"It smells like Jotou!" she switched the wand to one hand and adjusted her hat.
"Daiyu’s in there, come on," Fumeko pointed then blinked towards the tent the carriage was parked next to. The other three strode in the direction.
Jotou took the brief chance to observe her surroundings. Apart from the flowers and smell, it seemed that Division Six had put itself back together rather quickly.
The tents and locations were different of course, but the swiftness of it all was nothing to scoff at. Then again, a lot can be accomplished in a day or more whilst she was asleep.
Many of their allies noticed the Thundering Blade, giving a nod of respect, a small wave or would twist their lips to the side only to go back to whatever business they were tending to.
Fumeko parted the tent flap, "It’s me," she warned, noticing the hands of ten men in desert camo reach to their sides. However, their uniforms differed in pattern to the allies they knew; the symbol of the griffin on their uniforms.
Most notably, the layered pauldrons of yellow hues and golden orange on their left side. All of their attire glittered in enchantments. Once they acknowledged those who entered, they lowered their guard—’lowered’ being relative...
Daiyu and the Division General stood across from them—a table with a map in between. Alongside the uniformed men was one burly figure that towered over the rest.
A full gold suit with swirls of silver all about and a cape that trailed the floor with the same colours—the griffin and wind symbols on the back.
What appeared to be a sceptre with an orange jewel was sheathed to his side. A thick golden beard and atop the lion-like mane of blonde hair, a crown with trimmings of scintillating orange.
"Thundering Blade and party, greetings," the deep voice of a gentle giant that smiled at their arrival. "I am King Akimitsu, the Fragmenting Lightning, the monarch of Luxinor, the Kingdom of Scintillating Wind, for the two new faces," he reiterated.
"I’m aware, pleasure to make your acquaintance. I’m Detective Fumeko Namora, slayer of the Encircling Gale," Fumeko tried her damnedest to stand taller.
"Greetings, greetings, wow, such an honour!" Asobi beamed. "For a king to be here, welcome, welcome! I’m the Amazing Asobi! Magician Extraordinaire! Master of illusions, running into the battle with flair!"
She flourished her wand, tipped her hat with a cross-legged bow and fluttered butterflies into the air, before twirling back up, flipping her raven black hair.
"Ah, yes, yes. I recognize the wonderful magician from the gala. Pleasure to make both your acquaintances. I have heard much news of all of your feats; I must say I am only impressed," he looked back to Daiyu.
Fumeko slumped down with a pout. "So you are the haros level caster we were waiting for," Hotaru remarked.
"Yes. I am sure you understand why I simply could not put my name onto such documents, there were and are many complications...
However, I had many duties and there was a lot of business to be cleared out. I apologize for not arriving sooner, but it seems you have the business here more than handled."
"Barely," Jotou added. The Division General turned his head to Jotou with arched brows. Jotou shrugged, "What? There’s no reason to be lying to him. We won many times sure, but not without its tribulations."
The king nodded softly. Daiyu sighed, "It’s true. I’m sorry if I don’t keep up all the royal politeness in your presence. The situation’s brought us to death’s door more than we’d like."
"As one should expect," the king admitted. "The Tri-Regime of Iniquity may have met an abundance of resistance in their efforts to occupy new land via invasion.
However, there is of course a reason this war has lasted for forty-three years. They should not be underestimated by any means."
"Doesn’t mean the tides aren’t changing. We’re three for three on the elites and only three left, if they’re even deployed," Daiyu replied.
"Three, yes," the king repeated before he turned to Jotou, "I have been told the latest battle left you incapacitated; and that one such elite was detained?"
Jotou nodded whilst Hotaru said, "Feyan, the princess’s royal advisor, is currently siphoning him and the medics have him sedated while we wait for the Ordinate to deliver us an affinity-lock."
"Speaking of which," Jotou interrupted, "I want to go check on him. I’ve been knocked out for too long."
"I just checked on Feyan and Ara, but if our highness would like to take a look too," Daiyu offered.
_
Arabella stood by the side, her arms crossed with a continuous glare. Medical equipment was kept at the ready all around and a few medics, alongside a couple of soldiers, all kept one person bound to a chair.
Feyan glanced to the rope around Rain’s midriff, handcuffs behind and ropes around the ankles. His armour completely off and left in bits of random clothing. All his injuries were healed; his head lolled down in his sedated drowse.
The half-elf had a seat of his own and he peered up to the tent opening up. Arabella’s eyes darted to the side. Feyan stumbled up and gave a deep bow, "King Akimitsu, greetings, I- we were told of your presence."
"No need for all the pleasantries Lord Artevik, I am here to observe the prisoner for myself. Primarily, the Thundering Blade requested to see him," the king pardoned with a hand, his guards circling around him.
All the medics and soldiers around still gave bows out of curtesy, Arabella following suit.
The fateful four alongside Daiyu followed in shortly after. "Oh yay, his head’s now leaning to the right instead of the left," Fumeko’s eyes glazed over.
"Well, we have kept the Rainstorm Slasher unaware of anything that has been going on. I apologize if nothing of interest has happened since the last time you checked..." Feyan sighed.
"I still wanted to check, with my own eyes," Jotou looked the figure up and down. Fluffy brown hair and tanned skin, sleeping like a knocked out boxer without a lingering injury.
"I haven’t seen him either. Do you want me to take over Feyan?" Hotaru glanced over.
"It is quite alright. I am delighted to see Ms Jotou fully recovered at the very least. I must admit, having an elite in our base does not fill me with confidence..."
"Seems the matter is handled for now then. I will return to the Division General and finish my matters," the king bowed his head and took his leave, his guards with him.
The princess kept watching till he left the vicinity... "Jotou," Daiyu approached, "You all good? Anything else hurt?" she furrowed her brows.
"I don’t think I’ll ever swing a sword again," Jotou whimpered.
She half-closed her right eye, "Right, you’re fine."
Jotou felt sparks go down her hair and strafed to the right. Daiyu swung her arm around for a punch... Only to hit air... "Nice try psychopath."
"You almost died!"
"Almost," Jotou stuck her tongue out and gave a wink.
"You’re lucky he wasn’t aiming to kill you," Fumeko retorted.
"His own fault really," Jotou glanced to Rain. "Don’t kill me this, don’t kill me that... Even if he tried, I still think I had a fair chance."
"I believe Jotou could’ve done it!" Asobi cheered.
"Thanks."
"Regardless, he’s done," Hotaru let out a breath of relief, "And we all managed to get out of that okay."
"Wonder who’s next," Daiyu thought.
"Why must we wish for a next? Let us hope there is not a next," Feyan squeaked.
"Excuse me," a soldier poked into the tent. "The Thundering Blade’s armour has been mended."
_
In her usual adventuring attire she was; a cross on her chest and a long line across her arm had been soldered with a lightweight metal, that stuck out.
The design was not the most appealing thing in the world—silverish-grey melted around the tears like someone had slathered paint on—but it was functional and she could still move unhindered.
They all listened in as the Division General briefed the king in on the current situation. "Company Twelve will rendezvous with Company Four in the south.
Company Twelve have pushed the enemy far enough west; so they can return and we can reinforce Company Four to push further. It seems the enemy is guarding the south quite well, protecting their routes in and out of the Galuvitian invasion border-"
Asobi sat down by the side, smiling and waving her previously lost wand. Other Cravoltan soldiers had joined in the tent. Fumeko gulped down her second cup of coffee.
’Preparation, briefing, strategy... Nothing new going on here.’ Jotou resisted the temptation to yawn. Hotaru’s ears spiked to the stomping of footsteps outside.
The tent flap flew open, a wide-eyed soldier panted, "General!" she yelled. "-Oh, sorry! It’s an emergency! Division One has lost ten companies!"
Fumeko choked and spat out her coffee, everyone in the room turned. Did they just hear that right? With each second their eyes bubbled to the realization.
The Division General rushed up, "Details, now!"
"Radio, magic, poison," the soldier panted.
