Manna

The ash that fell to the ground was nightmarish, turning people against one another. Lone howls and deranged groans echoed through the hollow cavern of Hamelin's streets.

Yet, the only noise that left Oliver's lips was a brief sigh as he, Ester, Drippy, and Pea followed closely behind Swaine, the older man's Dualynx taking down another one of the victims with a Mighty Light. Ding Dong Dell and Al Mamoon were freed of the curse that this foe placed upon them, leaving only Hamelin left.

Rashaad made it out, so the small wizard held hope that perhaps Marcassin had too. That he was travelling to Ding Dong Dell for the celebration and narrowly missed the spell. He could tell the ex-prince was holding onto the same hope for his brother. That he wasn't trapped in another mess like this...

They went to Oliver's world, grabbed Pea, saved the crew, saved Ding Dong Dell and King Tom, saved Al Mamoon and the Cowlipha, and their hope dwindled more and more. Now, they believed they were holding onto optimism a bit too tightly.

Esther let out her own sigh, staring at the thief with what someone could call worry. Fluffy licked his fur, tilting his head in a mock confusion when the harpist tapped his human's shoulder. "Swaine..." She murmured, her eyebrows arched in a way that showed her sympathy. The cat soon returned to the Creature Cage, most likely ready to be pampered with cake and treats. "You know, you don't-"

""Have to do this"?" The group looked at the man in mild shock as a scoff left hs lips. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he glared at the floor, at the creature below them. "I... I can't do that, Esther." He shook his head slowly, continuing with, "I can't leave him alone again."

Esther and Oliver exchanged looks, Drippy joining in that gaze. Swaine's shoulders hunched over, the sigh leaving his lips long and exasperated. Pea seemed like she was about to say something, but quickly shushed when another Wretch turned around from the corner of the hall with a low and pained growl forcing itself out of its throat, two more Wretches running at her, on all fours and in stumbled patterns.

With their own yells, the group had summoned out their Familiars as the creature lunged forwards, feet stomping loudly against the floor with echoes bouncing against the walls. The mage winced as Galaxy, his Astralynx, and Emerald, Swaine's Griffurnace, knocked down the three monstrosities with a Twinkle Twinkle and a Pyro Puff. Their monstrous cries and pained growls barely hit his ears as they fell unconscious with thuds to the ground.

King Tom and the Cowlipha voiced their pains much more loudly in their battles... That one fact made both Swaine's and Oliver's stomachs drop.

(~~~~~)

"Look! There it is!" Pea shouted and pointed towards that black shard that floated uselessly in the air. The group had gone through the old manhole that they had once gone through, the door leading to the throne room locked. Even when Oliver tried to use Spring Lock, it didn't move, like another powerful force was holding it back...

"So... We're back here again..." Swaine murmured to himself, placing his hands on his hips and stared up at the crystal. His eyes were dull, losing the light that they once held for battle. Esther and Oliver looked towards their thief friend with a look of sympathy, the green-haired child clasping her hands together to perform her spell.

"Flippin' heck!" Oliver heard his fairy friend shout, his right hand pointed towards the crystal. The smallest child let out a yell and looked up in fear, the Pure-Hearted One looking up at the crystal to see what caused the reaction.