Chapter 72 - Wanted

Chapter 72: Chapter 72 - Wanted

Within ten minutes, Roxa was summoned to Bran’s sanctum.

Usually quiet and serious, the moment Roxa learned that the woman standing before her was Vincent’s mother – her entire composure collapsed.

"V-Vincent’s... m-mother...?!" Her long elf ears drooped in embarrassment as she began stammering about. "I-I... I mean... It is an honor, Lady Maribelle! I– he... we just traveled together not too long ago! I owe him my life and am forever indebted to him!"

Maribelle smiled wide and teasingly poked at Roxa’s red cheek. "My, my~ My baby certainly knows how to surround himself with adorable girls~"

"Mmmnnn–!" Roxa buried her red face inside her hood and let out a flustered groan.

*Ahem* Bran cleared her throat. "Roxa. The reason I called you here was because Maribelle needed a favor from you."

"She does? From me?"

"Yes," Maribelle explained. "Vinny told me all about how you and Maelle Ebony traveled together for a couple of days. He said that you guys built a bond of trust despite your... displeasure of humans.

You see, my son is in a bit of a pickle. They got into a little fight and now Maelle won’t summon him even though she could be in grave danger. I’m hoping that having you beside me will help break down Maelle’s emotional walls and convince her to re-summon him."

"They were fighting? Uhm... If my presence will help in any way, then I will be glad to help."

"Perfect~! If you don’t mind, we must leave immediately. Every second counts."

"Of course! Just let me grab some things before we part."

As Roxa left Bran’s tree Sanctum, Maribelle turned toward the Elder and gave her a big hug.

"Oh~ I’m sorry we couldn’t spend much time together, Bran."

"Haha... It’s ok, Mari. Although brief, I’m just so happy I got to see you again and that all is well with you. I hope your mission is successful."

After equipping dark travel cloaks that Roxa brought, Maribelle picked her up and they departed the Sanctuary at blinding speed, traversing the dense forest in under an hour – a journey that normally took two days on foot.

Upon reaching the vast outskirts of the Imperial City, both women stood behind a tree line.

Up ahead, the main gates were completely swarming with Imperial Guards. Iron barricades blocked the roads, and incoming travelers were being subjected to aggressive, invasive searches.

"They’ve locked down the city..." Roxa whispered as her focus returned. "If we try to walk through, we’ll be delayed for hours."

"No need to walk," Maribelle smiled playfully.

Before Roxa could process her words, Maribelle scooped her up into her arms again, and with a single heave of her wings, shot straight up into the sky.

They cut through the clouds and over the walls to bypass the blockade below. Flying high above the rooftops, Maribelle descended silently into a dark and secluded alleyway, folding her wings tightly inside her cloak and pulling her hood over her blue hair.

When they stepped out onto the streets, Roxa suddenly stopped dead in her tracks as she stared at a brick wall. "Lady Maribelle... look."

"Hmm? Oh no..."

Nailed to the wall were "Wanted" posters issued under the combined seals of the Solarian Crown and House Elsa.

The poster featured sketches – not just of Maelle, but of her core group. Gwen, Toby, Ava, and Vincent’s faces were prominently displayed in the center as fugitives of the Imperial City.

"Dead, alive, or information about their location..." Roxa muttered with disgust. "Look at these inflated figures, Lady Maribelle. One thousand gold coins for Maelle... and five hundred for each of the others. However, it appears Vincent doesn’t have a price on his head."

"It must be because he is a Familiar..." Maribelle said as her blue eyes narrowed under her hood."

"We should begin searching immediately. If the whole city is looking for them, they could be cornered at any moment."

"Searching the city blind would take days, Roxa. We need information. We need someone who is of high authority, that would possibly know of their whereabouts."

"From the way you said that... Do you have someone in mind?"

"Yep~ Maelle is a student of the Imperial Academy, no? Then we are going to speak with the principal."

"The Academy Principal? Lady Maribelle, with all due respect, why would she help us? She presides over the very institution that harbors a bunch of students that would sell Maelle out at any given moment."

"Because... if the principal is who I think she is, then her name is Brenda. And she’s an elf, not a human. She also just so happens to be your Elder’s younger sister."

Roxa’s mouth hung slightly open. "Elder Bran’s... younger sister?! The principal of the city’s most prestigious academy is a high-elf?!"

"Brenda was always the ambitious academic of the family," Maribelle recalled fondly as they walked. "While Bran stayed behind to look after the Sanctuary, Brenda was more of a ’people person’. She was quite the firecracker as a girl."

As they navigated the streets, the casual chatter of passing citizens, mercenaries, and guards echoed off the stone buildings.

"... That monster Princess finally showed her true colors. Attempted murder on Duke Elsa’s daughter?! For shame!"

"... You know her group even burned down the shipyard in the industrial district during that brawl about a week ago? They should just execute them all the moment they find them. No trial needed for cursed blood."

Listening to the casual, uninformed cruelty sent a spike of cold fury through Roxa’s chest. Her hands clenched tightly into fists beneath her cloak and her long ears twitched uncomfortably under her hood.

She hated human prejudice – the way they carelessly accepted state propaganda without a second thought.

"These people don’t even know what happened to Maelle in that cave...!"

A soft palm rested gently on her shoulder.

"Stay focused, Roxa," Maribelle whispered beside her. "People fear what they do not understand, and power-hungry men take advantage of that fear. We will set the record straight soon enough."

"... Yes, Lady Maribelle."

.....

Taking a private carriage, they arrived at the grand iron gates of the Imperial Academy just as mid-day break commenced.

The courtyards were filled with students gathered in small clusters. As Maribelle and Roxa walked along the perimeter pathways, spiteful laughter floated through the afternoon air.

"... It’s been a week now. Notice how life has been better ever since the cursed Princess hasn’t shown her face!?"

"... Good riddance. Though... it is strange. Has anyone seen Prince Quinton lately? He hasn’t attended classes ever since his duel with that Angel Familiar. You think he’s been taken captive by those fugitives too?"

"... That would explain why the Solarian Royal Knights have joined the search alongside our Imperial Guards. If anything happened to the Solarian heir, Ebonspire might just finally be wiped off the map!"

Maribelle absorbed every word as she mentally cataloged the escalating political chaos.

Entering the administrative office, Maribelle and Roxa approached the front desk where the receptionist sat swamped in paperwork.

"Excuse me," Maribelle greeted when taking off her hood.

The clerk looked up with annoyance written across his face – until his gaze caught the beauty of Maribelle’s delicate face. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry.

*A-Ahem!* "Y-Yes? How may I assist you, ma’am?"

"We would like to meet with the principal. It is a matter regarding my son’s welfare."

The clerk quickly snapped back to his professional stiffness. He checked a ledger and sighed while shaking his head. "I am sorry, but Principal Brenda is currently unavailable and will remain so for the foreseeable future."

’So it is you~’

"Is there really no opening today?" Roxa asked stiffly.

"None. The reason being a problematic student – Princess Maelle Ebony – has thrown this entire institution into disarray. Her sudden disappearance and the ongoing investigations have flooded the principal with demanding inquisitors. She is either swamped with paperwork or in emergency meetings."

He closed the ledger. "Once the mess with that girl settles down, check back in about a month. Otherwise, do you wish to speak to your child’s homeroom teacher?"

Maribelle let out a disappointed sigh. "Ah... no, that won’t be necessary. Thank you for your time."

As they turned away from the desk, a polished young woman with sharp green eyes and elegant blonde hair tied in high twintails walked purposefully past them down the corridor.

A junior student quickly came running up to her. "President Daphne! Our club needs your signature on these permits!"

"Sorry, but it will have to wait ten minutes," she replied without breaking her stride. "I have to drop these confidential reports at the principal’s office, then I’ll come sort whatever you need out."

Overhearing the exchange, Maribelle and Roxa nodded at each other and seamlessly melted into the environment, stealthily tailing the Student Council President down the corridors.

Mid-way down the path, Daphne suddenly stopped and flicked her eyes back over her shoulder with keen suspicion.

Her two followers slipped into the deep shadows and erased their presence.

"Hmm..."

Shrugging off the feeling, she continued walking until she knocked and opened the double doors at the end of the hall. She stepped inside then closed the door behind her.

Maribelle and Roxa waited in silence. A few minutes later, the door opened again, and Daphne stepped out, walking back the way she came.

Once the coast was clear, the two quickly got out from their hiding places and slipped into the office with Roxa closing the door behind them.

Inside, an elven woman sat behind her desk, reviewing documents under heavy stress. Hearing the door open without a knock, Principal Brenda looked up with her expression hardening into a scowl, ready to reprimand however came in.

"Didn’t I explicitly state that I am not to be disturbed–"

Maribelle reached up and smoothly pulled down her dark hood. Her ethereal blue hair fell gracefully over her shoulders, and when her blue eyes met Brenda’s, the principal froze.

The quill in her hand slipped from her trembling fingers and tears immediately welled up in her eyes as she recognised the legendary figure who had saved her, her sister Bran, and their entire lineage during the dark ages.

"M-Mari...?"

"Hello, Brenny~"