11 The Preparations

In the eastern portion of the town was the town hall which stood undeterred from the throng of demons that surrounds it. It was wide mansion built by reddish brown bricks, it occupies a vast area. Around the mansion was a dome-shaped, white, glassy barrier with runes floating on its surface, it protected the place ever since the arrival of the demons.

Outside were a crowd of demons, constantly slamming the barrier with their weapons. Fortunately it was still able to withstand and never wavered from their continous impacts.

It protected a handful of citizens from their wrath including the mages which they seek. On the garden of the mansion there was no presence, they hid behind the mansion doors, peeking worriedly through the windows. For now, the town's folks were given a place to stay by Baron Shelmorn. They were gathered inside the spacious living room and they were anxious, some sat on the glossy floor, while others were on the available chairs. There was a constant cries of the infants on their mother's arms. While most nervously mumbled and prayed to the gods,

Baron Shelmorn was with them, he sat still on his well polished chair, he had a deeply serious face which was mixed with frustration. It was his town and land after all, and now they were being overrun by demons, it was only a matter of time before the demons capture Rean, she assisted several civilians to escape from their grasps. And right now she was being pursued. She was one of the veteran mages who fleed from the capital who arrived yesterday. The Baron prayed under his breath that she won't be captured, otherwise it will be their doom since she specialized in teleportation magic.

Inside a certain small room was a giant iron, cylindrical device with a buldge on its tip, there were several rods sticking out of it, and it effused a white, misty glow. Underneath the device was a cube with four holes on each sides, the four mages placed their arms upon each hole transferring their mana unto it. It was the Mana Shield Erector, it maintained the magic barrier around the town hall, and protected them from the threats outside.

Every moment or so, one mage collapses after exhaustion of his mana and were quickly replaced. They had several mages on stand by and they won't ran out soon enough.

In the hallway a white kitten scampered and it was being chased by a little girl. "Timmy, wait for me." Said the girl.

The furry creature didn't cease and she was led deeper into the mansion.

A woman were found on their trails, she jogged and worriedly looked to and fro. "Where are you? Anna? Geez."

Outside the barrier, four elite demons stood calmly as though waiting, they sparsely surrounded the whole place while being on high alert.

On the east side of the mansion stood a lanky demon with sharp eyes who casted a wide grin, he carried a black, gleaming scythe on his shoulders. He grunted. "Tsk, we have been waiting forever." He turned his attention to the distant demon guarding the north side of the mansion. "Hey Zigur, when will Dreskim arrive?!"

Zigur was the burly demon who had a tattered scarf, he shrugged while remained composed. "Just be patient Lazo."

Lazo on the east sneered. "What a joke, that guy is supposed to be a middle class demon."

The demon on the southern side laughed menacingly. "I heard that Lazo, be thankful he's not here." He was a short demon, with long elven ears, two diagonal scars ran down on both of his eye up to his cheek forming an X-shaped scar. He seem blind with his whitened eye, yet he was perceptive.

Lazo grinned. "Yeah, I dare you, I'd be happy to take his place."

On the western side was a demon who crossed his arm around his chest, he didn't seem to concern himself with the others. His head was slouched and his face was blanketed by his tall jet black hair. There was an eerie feeling around his vicinity that the lower demons avoided him.

***

Blue found himself entering a vast library, there were massive book shelves lining up across the room, books were teeming but he didn't know where to start. He strolled around the room, checking each books, he got annoyed when there were no signs of categories laid around the place.

He took a book within his reach, brushed the dust on its cover until its title was revealed. "Win any situations using the power of friendship." It wrote.

Blue dropped it on his foot, and checked the next book. "Application of Mana on Agriculture." It wrote.

He gave a slight frown. "Why is a social and an agriculture book on the same section?" He said confused.

He quickly checked the other books one by one.

"Astrology of the Skies."

"How to impress your girlfriend with these steps."

"History of the Zen Martial arts."

He then left them on the floor once he was done inspecting them, he sighed in frustration. "What kind of library is this?"

"Umm, Sir would you kindly put them back." A young tall woman with a curly hair said.

Blue grunted, then trailed off. "Why don't you do it? Isn't it your job."

The young woman snorted as though disgruntled, she gazed at him leaving. "Hmmph."

When Blue was about to approach the doorway, he halted his steps he turned around and went back. He went close to the girl. "Hey woman, do you have any books regarding magic here?"

The young woman was upset, she seem hesitant to talk but answered anyway. "We have, but I would ask you to leave this place."

Blue stared at her with a lifeless eyes and then ignored her request. He shoved her sideways from his path. "Move." He said coldly.

The woman furrowed her eyebrows as he gazed at her back. "What a jerk."

Blue tucked in his arm in his pockets, he inspected the books again starting from the closest book shelf. Everytime he checked the books he dropped it on the floor, and the woman beside him were cleaning up after his mess. "Not magic again." He said then hurled it away, he grabbed another one and then repeatedly thrown the books.

The woman eye's became tight from anger every second he does it. "Hey! Clean up your mess!" She screamed.

Blue ignored her words and continued his aimless book inspection, and without a care in the world left several books on his trails. The woman hurriedly picked it up then placed them upon the book shelves. "Fine! Just wait here, I'll give you a book about magic!" She blurted.

Blue ceased his tracks, he turned his attention to her. "Be sure to make it quick, I don't like waiting." He said coldly.

The woman went away, her face simmered in red, she stomped her foot as she trudged through the library. She gritted her teeth as she growled. "I never realized there will be someone who I want to punch this bad." She spat.

***

Celina stood still while the runes of ancient texts slid on her skin, it glowed bright while Don was infront of her, he rewrote the runes on the air through his finger, attempting to unseal it. Don started to sweat, his attention was engrossed upon the seal and he was having a hardtime based on his puzzled look. "I never expected it would be this complicated, that guy truly lives on his reputation." Don said.

Turner and Shiela were observing beside her.

"You can do it Don." Shiela said.

Don gasped from exhaustion as he rubbed the sweat on his face. "I can't do it. The texts are too difficult to decipher, the sentences are detailed but pretty ambigous, it seems only Gamiz is capable of understanding this." Don said then he slouched from tiredness, then the runes around Celina's body concealed itself into nothingness.

Reston grunted. "Gamiz that fool, I'll kill him when I see him." He hissed.

Turner scratched his head, he went forward and unsheathed his blade. "Celina, you can have my blade." He lent it unto her arm.

Celina smiled. "Thank you." She said.

Turner gently took her arm and kissed it. "Of course anything for a beautiful woman." He then winked, Shiela pinched his ear and pulled it along with his head. "Ouch!"

"Geez, Turner." Sheila said upset.

Celina chuckled. "Turner you jester."

She then gave her eyes to the sword, she'll have to use a physical weapon since she had a foreign mana, right now she'll only be able to perform the basics of mana control. There were three basic techniques for mana control, one was Guard Up it will wrap the user's body with mana increasing ones defense, two was Mana Extension it will extend the mana on any object outside her body increasing its durability, and the third was Body Enhancement, it will enhance ones speed and strength beyond ones limits.

Elemental magic however were too advanced and she won't be able to achieve it with a borrowed mana. Thus her light magic will be swept under the rug for now.

"Miss, be sure to conserve the mana." Radmun took her eyes.

Celina nodded as she gripped the hilt tight. "I will."

The boy went infront of her. "Miss Light Wielder, can I come with you, my sister is inside the mansion, I need to get in as well." He said.

"Sorry, but I don't make the plans, I guess I'll have to ask Don about this." She said.

Don turned to her. "It's fine, we're going to move anyway."

"So, what is our plan?" Celina said.

Don smirked. "Well listen to me."

Everyone of them gathered in a circle and surrounded the map of the town, Don elaborated their entire plan. "First, Radmun and Reston, as the best fighters you both will lure the four into the north of the mansion. Then Turner, Shiela and Celina, the crowd of demons on southern side are diluted, I trust you can handle them and then I'll leave the evacuation of the people to the three of you. While, my job is to keep an eye for the arrival of the middle class demon, I'll also assess the situation on the sides and give you a signal if we need to retreat." He said.

Reston stroke his beard. "Four elite demons maybe a bit too much for the two of us."

Radmun chuckled. "Don't worry, have faith since I can handle them even if they all gang up." He said confidently.

Don glared at him. "Radmun, this is no joke and we don't need to fight them directly, just lure them."

"Just when I got my new familiar, I can't believe I can't get to test it out to its full potential." Radmun said.

Don sighed. "You better hope we won't battle for real, we don't have much data about their abilities." He said.

Radmun laughed as he swung his fist. "That's what makes it fun." He said with ecstasy.

Don snorted. "Muscle heads like you are hopeless." He said.

"Take back what you said Don." Radmun stomped his foot.

Shiela butted in among the two. "We don't have time to fight, so let's come down."

They heard a faint mumble from outside the room, Reston peeked through the gaps of the shuttered window, he saw few demons strutting about. He faced the group with his finger upon his lips causing the room to fall into silence.

Reston approached Don with a silent foot. "So is there something else that I wish to know?"

Don shook his head. "Let's execute our plans immediately."