56 Fennis: Fire's Home

"Alright, here's the plan. Lent will carry my blade, accompanied by Mai. She looks human while her mask is up, plus she could easily be a guard. She can stay in stealth if she feels safer that way. Xander, you'll be escorting Asahi, Chi and Suri through the back alleys marked by Mai. It'll take longer, but you'll meet us at the church when it's possible."

Xander scratched his jaw.

"Sound plan. What do we do when we get to the Font?"

Mina shrugged.

"Wing it. Something might happen instantly since I'm a spirit, but we don't know. If it comes down to it, I'll fight him alone. I don't need to kill him either, just weaken and get him to stop being an idiot."

Chisana hugged Mina from behind, her bust resting against Mina's shoulders.

"Enslave him? It worked on Lent and Rin... though this is a monster spirit chosen by Miss Kat."

Mina reached up, patting the succubus softly on her head.

"I'll try. I have seven slots. Two of my used ones will be released when I finish off the sin."

Before long, Xander walked away. Suriza was stealthed ahead of him, while Chisana was pretending to be a slave with Asahi in her arms.

["Asahi, message me if you end up with problems."

"Okay! I wonder how I send- oh."]

"Pfft. Silly bird."

Lent and Mai seemed confused.

"Sorry, perks of dating a Goddess!"

A tiny blush spread on her cheeks, eliciting a nod from Lent and an eye roll from Mai.

'Does Mai not like me? Oh boy.'

Mina faded, returning to her Sword Body. Lent seemed to be struggling with the weight, allowing Mai to hold Mina at her side. Without some form of sheath, the bare blade welcomed the gazes of all humans in the area.

'I'm glad humans aren't instinctual. They might actually feel something was wrong. Let's just-'

"Brother Lent. You've returned. Tell me of your journey, and this girl."

Mina's eyes peered out, spotting a brutish man in similar robes to Lent. He also had a large axe on his back, but he didn't seem to be aggressive.

"Brother Gen. This is not the time. Our discussions are within the churches doors, or have you forgotten?"

Lent, now acting, was quite skilled. His voice was louder, almost angry, yet not. He glared at all times as well.

"Very well. I have business in town, I'll be there in a few hours. Rest well, the King wishes to speak to us all."

Mina grimaced as the man walked away, his gait seemingly awkward as he moved.

"Damn. Let's be quick."

Lent and Mai picked up speed, though they did not run.

"Why did Mina turn vanish, anyways? Couldn't she have walked in here feeely?"

"Huh? You didn't see? Her ears are elvish. Someone attuned to being a stealth-based fighter, yet you didn't see that?"

"I was busy sorting things in my head, priest! Mind your tongue."

Mina rolled her eyes within her blade.

'These two don't get along at all. Even worse, Mai really doesn't like me. Hehe... great.'

The three continued to move, the street quite wide. Mina's eyes were glued to everything that she passed, though she winced when she saw the heavily injured and chained up slaves. Every last one was devoid of their souls, eyes empty to everything by this point.

'How long have they been enslaved? This doesn't seem like something that came from only humans.'

Her heart ached, yet she knew that she had to deal with the Guardian before the slaves.

"Lent, why have we not made it yet? The church can't be that hard to reach."

"It isn't. There seems to be a problem in town. Every few roadways are blocked, so I've been navigating through the sections that'll get is there."

Mina suddenly felt herself against Lent's neck. Mai was heavily aggravated, her eyes daggers on him. Mina could do nothing more than appear, ripping her blade from Mai's hands.

"Care to explain? We have a job to do, yet you're attacking our way in?"

"Tch. Whatever. I want to get this done so we can return."

Mina sighed, handing her blade back, when a sudden rush of power gushed out from the direction of the church. She felt it deep in her heart, pushing her back heavily as she fell to her knees. Mai and Lent stared at her in shock.

"My lady! Please stand, whatever is the matter?"

Mina coughed softly, her silvery hair turning deep black. Her bright eyes turned crimson as she turned around to face the two of them.

"Looks like Mina was suppressed. She sent me out, knowing I can handle this if need be. Hehe."

Hysteria's signature smile caught Lent offguard, the man trembling as he saw her. Mai, on the other hand, was wide eyed.

"Who?"

Hysteria raised an eyebrow.

"You two know nothing. I'm Hysteria Mode, a small piece of insanity left inside of Mina when she nearly died. Not that you two were there when we dealt with that nasty bastard, Vex. I'm stronger, but also not compassionate."

Hysteria giggled softly, skipping in the direction of the church.

"Well? Let's go. I want to kill something. Hehe."

Mai still watched with wide eyes, her face slightly scarlet. Mina, though sitting within her own soul, could see through Hysteria's eyes.

'So... this is her type? Neat.'

--

Thank you,

JScott, croix and Tech!