Chapter 21

"Darcaedes?"

A voice grumbled the question, and suddenly, a powerful gust of wind arrived, clearing away the steam, revealing a tall man with long jet-black hair and black eyes, and a short beard that was quite well-kept.

He was wearing a single piece of clothing in the form of a black robe, and on his face was an amused smile.

"Do you think you can kill me?"

Raizel smiled at his words, not saying anything, and his silence made the Dragon narrow his eyes.

"The young fox?"

"Belongs to me."

His answer made the Drgaon frown.

"You can go and inform Prince Rizevim. He won't blame you." He smiled some more, and the Dragon genuinely looked surprised at his words.

"No wonder he fears your Mother so much." He grinned and then pensively looked at the sky, having sensed that a terrifying person was hiding in the clouds.

Ancalagon could sense it was a Dragon, much stronger than him, so much so that he could not even get a read on their strength. And his blood felt the oppression as well, almost as if the Dragon hiding in the clouds possessed some Divinity over their race.

"She won't interfere if you choose to battle me." Raizel knew that he had sensed his mother's Pawn. "And she has not been sent here to protect me."

He was not lying.

It was a mere coincidence that they stumbled across each other, and she only chose to follow him to see what he was up to.

"I have no interest in dying today," Ancalagon replied and scoffed before turning around and fleeing away. "Farewell."

Seeing the mighty Evil Dragon run away like that surprised them all.

The Evil Dragons were usually a very chaotic bunch, and to see one put his pride aside and use his mind was rare.

They had also heard the conversation, and those who picked up on it looked at the sky with curious eyes, but they failed to sense anyone. Well, except for Erza, who for some reason felt a weight pressing on her heart.

And Freya was the only one who guessed who it might be, but she was not sure either.

Raizel smiled as he watched them look at the sky, but did not tell them anything. He descended to the ground and then calmly walked over to the Demonic Fox, who subconsciously stepped back when their eyes met.

"You look a lot like your sister." He smiled, and the girl frowned a little at his words, and then became anxious when his hand reached for her. "What's your name?" He asked as he held her face up by her chin, making her keep looking him in the eyes.

"Mito."

"That's a pretty name. Your mother gave it to you?"

The young Kitsune nodded her head again and then lowered her eyes.

"I am sorry..."

"For what?" He smiled. "You are cunning as a fox should be. I like it."

Raizel chuckled when he sensed her tense up at his words and then mischievously planted a kiss on her cheek.

Mito panicked at his action and immediately pulled back, looking at him in alarm, which he simply ignored.

"There's a Dragon who's retreating right now, and it's not the one we just met." He told her, gauging her expression. "What's his name?"

"He's Yofune-Nushi..."

"The Evil Dragon of lust?" Freya was surprised at her words, but the rest did not seem familiar with the name.

"Yes..." Mito nodded her head, frowning deeply, her mind already running some new schemes which she all put aside and did not dare to act upon.

"So he's after you for your beauty?" Raizel playfully smirked, and Mito flinched at his words.

"Yes." She nodded her head again and finally raised her head, meeting his eyes. "He saw me three years ago when I was sitting by the sea-side in the Oki Islands, and he tried to kidnap me. My mother interfered and fought him, and she..." She stopped talking as a tear slipped out of her eyes, which she immediately wiped away and then bowed to him.

"Thank you for saving me. I will take my leave now." She said, but before she could turn around, she heard Raizel speak.

"Did you not hear what I told Ancalagon?" He chuckled. "You belong to me now, Silly Fox."

As soon as he spoke those words, his Peerage closed in on her, surrounding her from all sides, and Mito felt incredibly helpless.

"I..."

"You have nowhere to go." He reminded her. "Even if you choose to go to your father, he will have to hand you over to me if I ask for you. And he might do it on his own accord to protect you from being used as a weapon."

His words only added to her helplessness, and she clenched her fists.

"You are despicable! I will not be your slave!" She shouted at him, and the silence that followed scared her.

"He's running away." Raizel calmly reminded her, and Mito frowned at his words.

It did not take long for her to understand what he was suggesting, and when the thought hit her, she raised her head and looked at him in surprise.

"You will help me kill him?"

"It will be a deal with a Devil, Mito." He harmlessly smiled at her. "He will die, and you will submit to me in return for this favour."

"I will not be a slave..." She gritted her teeth, lowering her head again.

"You are weak and helpless, and you want to make no sacrifices even when you need help to live and survive? Is it your selfishness or are you just dumb?" Kuroka scoffed, making the fox throw her a glare, her body trembling in anger. "Did I hit a nerve, nya~?"

"I made a promise to my mother that I will live a happy life..."

"How do you know that you won't be happy if you submit to him?" The Nekoshou cut her off and smiled. "Life is full of surprises, little Kitsune."

"I am not little!"

For some reason, being called little really seemed to tick Mito off, and it brought amused smiles to the faces of his Peerage.

She was the shortest of them all, even shorter than Raizel, but they also realised that her Beastly Form was definitely gigantic since she was a Nine-Tailed Kitsune.

"The clock is ticking, Mito." Raizel reminded her again, and there was no longer a smile on his face.

For some reason, the sudden coldness in his eyes unnerved her, and she nodded her head as another tear slipped out of her eyes.

"Good."

Raizel raised his hand and gently placed it on her head, caressing it.

"You made the right choice."

The gentleness in his voice was a little too comforting that she was even more alarmed by him.

It was as if his every word threatened to hypnotise her, but she also realised that it was natural and not really intentional. And had she been a weaker race, she might have succumbed to his charm by now.

"Shall we?" He asked, and Mito nodded her head, understanding what he was asking.

Since he was capable of threatening to kill Ancalagon, she could feel that he would be able to kill her enemy too.

She suddenly felt her mind clear up, and at that moment, she wanted nothing more than to see Yofune-Nushi dead.

"Vel, please stop Yofune-Nushi from escaping." Raizel looked at the sky and spoke, making everyone curious, and Freya's eyes widened as she now knew who was hiding up in the clouds.

"Aww... Is little Rai asking for my help?" A gentle yet teasing voice sounded out in Raizel's mind, and he was rather glad that no one else could hear it. "Should I kill him?"

"No, I will take care of it." He spoke again, this time through the mental link she had established with him, and he sensed her leave as soon as he finished his words.

"Let's go!" He said as he rushed in their Target's direction and the rest of his Peerage followed after him, except for Kuroka, who stayed behind with Mito.

"If you try to run and make an escape, I can tell you that those who mess with the House of Darcaedes, always meet their end." She smiled at the young Kitsune. "Be smart, nya~!"

"Hmph!" Mito glared at her again before she rushed after Raizel, and she was a little surprised as she found Kuroka able to keep up with her. "You are part Devil..." She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Kuroka's wings.

"Half-Devil." She smiled.

The two of them soon managed to catch up with the rest, and they arrived just in time to hear Erza ask Freya a question.

"Who's Vel?"

"Velzard," Freya answered. "She's a Dragon, much more powerful than your father. And she is one of Lady Pandora's Pawns."

"She's stronger than Old Baha?" Moka, who seemed to have heard the name and rumours before asked sceptically.

"Yes." The Heiress of Lucifuge Clan nodded her head, leaving everyone to their thoughts about the revelation, and then she turned to look at Mito and smiled. "Don't worry. You will be able to keep your promise to your mother."

"How?" The Kitsune was surprised at her words and subconsciously raised the question.

"Because Raizel has taken a liking to you." She playfully said, and Mito frowned as she heard Kuroka giggle.

"Lucky you, nya~!"

"Hmph!"