Axel walked through the corridors of the Emperor's Coven with his back straight. He was recently cleared to head back to work.
The days of rest he had were good for research's sake. He had been reading the books about different kinds of magic, specifically the parts on wild magic.
Some of the descriptions of the magic in the book actually led Axel to make a new combination of his two glyphs. Once the glyph was activated, it would make a small ball that allowed one to hear into the future.
He had hoped that the ball would allow him to hear and look into the future, but he couldn't find a way to make a surface that the future could shine through. Axel wasn't sure if that was because the glyph combination was wrong, or incomplete.
Though every time he activated it, ball would only laugh.
'Why is the ball laughing at me?'
With those thought in his mind, Axel continued his way to the meeting place where the other scouts were waiting.
"You're feeling fine?" Grape asked as soon as Axel got into view.
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," Axel replied.
"Our mission has been given," the captain said gathering the attention of the other scouts.
The other scouts turned to the captain. Well, Lettuce was already facing the captain while Artichoke and Apple were having a conversation about time.
"A concerned citizen from the illusionist coven has informed us of possible wild witches on the Knee," the captain explained.
"Nice!" Apple exclaimed.
"We will be led by the Golden Guard to find the wild witch," the captain added.
"Spoke too soon," Apple grumbled.
"We will be leaving and picking up the citizen in an hour, go report to the dresser for your winter clothes," the captain ordered, before leaving for the dresser himself.
Axel didn't know what the dresser was, but the other scouts were walking there anyways so Axel just followed them.
"Hey Grape, how did you fix Artichokes imp?" Apple asked, referring to Artichokes wristwatch.
"By twisting the tail a set amount why?" Grape said.
"The dummy here mistimed his imp, again," Apple replied.
"I'm not a dummy!" Artichoke replied.
"Then how do you keep messing up your clock?" Apple asked.
"Reasons," Artichoke brushed off, "The only reason that I don't fix it sooner is because it doesn't affect me," they said.
"You were here an hour early," Apple replied, "You missed breakfast because your imp was off, I would say that affects you, right?" Apple asked.
"MMMmaybe," Artichoke replied.
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The cold uniforms that the Emperor's coven supplied to the scout was actually pretty comfy, they were very similar to their normal uniform, but the while overcoat was much thicker, and it had button so a scout could button themselves up.
Boots that before pointed up, now laid flat. The shoes were also larger than they were on the bottom.
Though no matter the changes two things stayed the same. The insignia of the Emperor's Coven hung on the front of their coat, and the mask of the scout was still on the head.
"Thank you so much for listening to me," the citizen thanked.
"There's no need to thank the Emperor's Coven," the Golden Guard replied.
The patrol of the six scouts were riding in some kind of flying canoe with the captain up front steering it, the citizen and the Golden Guard next to him.
"You know that we'll have to stop at Patella and go on foot from there, right?" the captain reminded.
Shale storms constantly raged around the knee, so the scouts had to stop at the edge of the knee to make sure the canoe ship didn't get damaged.
"I know, but to catch a wild witch I will endure any sacrifice," the citizen said holding one fist up.
'Something's up with this witch, but I don't have any proof'
The canoe ship continued to fly along its path. Apple and Artichoke continued to argue, Grape tried to talk to the citizen, Axel was looking over the edge, and the Golden Guard tried to talk to the captain. Though the captain wasn't much for conversation.
"We'll catch the wild witch and bring them back to Emperor Belos!" the Golden Guard said.
"Yes sir," the captain replied.
'Guess the captain's trying to be professional'
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Shale whipped around the edge of the knee. The seven witches, and one human, got off of the flying canoe and began to go onto the knee.
"I will stay with you while the Golden Guard will lead the other scouts into the knee," the captain said informing the citizen.
"I understand," the citizen responded.
Without another word, the scouts started to march into the shale storm.
Axel put his hood as far as he could up, and his face down. The mask helped the shale not hit his face, but he wanted to make sure the shale wouldn't go through the eyeholes in his mask.
The shale that made up the storm made visibility horrible. Even with his head down, Axel couldn't see the ground. The only reason he knew when the ground switched from dirt to snow is when he felt the crunch underneath his boot.
As they walked out of the shale storm, Axel put his head up and noticed that the Golden Guard never put his head down.
An odd red light covered the Golden Guard's body, seemingly coming from his staff. It interested Axel.
"Now, where is the home of the wild witches?" the Golden Guard asked turning to the citizen.
"They made their home near the east edge," the citizen told the Golden Guard.
"That's near Abdoton" the captain remarked
"Doesn't matter where they are, we will bring them in" the Golden Guard said
"Yes sir," the captain replied.
"Truely, you represent the Emperor's Coven," the citizen commented
"Hey, Beetle," Apple whispered slightly bumping into Axel.
"What is it?" Axel whispered back.
"I'm not the only one that thinks that the citizen is acting off, am I?" Apple asked.
"No, the other scouts probably noticed it too," Axel whispered.
"Should we try talking to the Golden Guard?" Apple then asked.
Axel looked at the Golden Guard and saw him talking with the citizen. The Golden Guard seemed to be pleased with everything the citizen said, while the captain who was protecting the citizen walked silently.
The difference between the positions of the Golden Guard and the scouts made it difficult for the scouts to bring up any concerns.
If they're not one hundred percent sure, then the Golden Guard could get them for insubordination, which could quickly lead to being fired.
'I don't want to be the one screaming in the basement'
Now, Axel was very sure that the citizen was moving them into a trap, but he didn't have any evidence.
"Are there any beast around here you can tame to get a pair of eyes on us?" Axel whispered to Apple.
"Moles, and I'll be the one to tell the Golden Guard of things go wrong," Apple answered, "Can't wait to see his reaction when he realizes he walked us into a trap," they muttered before making a circle.
"I have an idea!" the citizen then said, "I'll make us invisible so we can sneak up on those wild witches!" they said.
"If we are invisible, we won't be able to see each other," the captain pushed back
"Don't worry, I have a spell that turns us invisible, but we're still able to see each other," the citizen boasted.
"That's a very impressive spell, must have taken a while to learn," the Golden Guard replied.
"It took a while, now watch this!" the citizen said before making a circle with his finger.
After making the circle, Axel looked around to the other scouts and noticed that nothing seemed to happen.
"Apple," Axel whispered, "Are we invisible?" he asked.
For a moment, Apple was silent.
"No, the beast I tamed can still see us," Apple whispered back.