"Wow! That was some crazy magica!"
The magician squealed in delight.
"H-how did I lose so fast..." The swordsman mumbled.
"What is it you want? And what did you do to our city?" I demanded.
"Oooh! Ooh! I know! I know!" The magician cheered. "I asked the big assistant ladies to send them away!"
"The what?"
"He's talking about the curators of the game. Those twelve beings." The swordsman mumbled. "And the plan was to make you forfeit your territory."
"Bring them back," I demanded.
"Sure!" The magician cheered.
He pushed my blade aside like it was a toy, then clapped his hands together. A blaring green light erupted from his palms, sending an emerald shock wave out that grazed over us all.
"MAGICA!!"
Zack blinked a few times and started patting his body, guessing the shock wave spooked him. Leo didn't seem to be too concerned and just trudged over to the pair.
"Hey! wanna see a trick!?" The kid cheered and ran over to Leo.
Seeing them together, they both looked about the same age. Even though Leo had the mean mug of an eighty-year-old.
"No," Leo said flatly and tried to walk past him.
"Hey, midget! How did you get my police record!" Zack roared.
The magician giggled. "A great magician never tells his secrets!"
"He thanked his supposed assistant earlier for it." Leo glared over at her. "I bet she hacked the police department and printed out a copy for herself."
The girl's eyes grew wide, and her cheeks tinted a faint red color. She immediately turned away and hid her face.
What was that about...wait, Leo did say he noticed cameras all turning to look at him when he walked. Did she have a crush on him? Wait no, I need to focus.
"Explain this territory thing," I asked.
"What? Do you really not know?" She squeaked.
"He doesn't like phones!" Zack spoke up.
"Well, you're one of the small territories. You haven't gotten eaten by Rex or Gilda yet."
There goes that name again, Gilda. That's the one Leo said could kill Jormungand.
"So, what? Did you want to take our small area and try to fight for territory?" I asked.
"Something like that Yeah..." She mumbled.
"So tell me, did you really help Jormungand then? It doesn't sound like you wanted him to really get this land either."
"My objective wasn't to obtain territory till Jormungand fell. There's a power vacuum now that needs to be filled. I planned to build up my information till I had a clear plan, but that idiot over there ruined it!" She grumbled.
We turned to the magician, who was now pulling meatball subs out of his hat. While Zack happily stuffed his face.
"What's your name?" I demanded.
"P-Penelope!"
"Penelope, my friends died in the Jormungand event." I grabbed her shoulder and made her look at me.
Her sapphire eyes grew wide, but she immediately looked away. Not saying a word.
"Another friend of mine is in the hospital because she was beaten to a bloody pulp by one of his minions."
"I'm...I'm sorry I-"
"Innocent people were attacked, and their homes were destroyed. Do you realize that!?"
"I- I didn't think about it."
"So what? Do other people's lives not matter to you?"
"No that's not it!" She yelled. "I just didn't want to stay locked away!"
"Locked away?"
"Jormungand gave me a chance to be free! He said if I helped him I could see the world!"
"So you were okay with killing innocent people as long as it meant your freedom!? Do you know how selfish that sounds?"
"And what do you know about it!" She yelled and shoved me away. "Don't you lecture me like you know anything!"
"I don't need to know anything to know that you're selfish," I said flatly. "Willing to stomp over anyone else just so you can get ahead."
"Well, I didn't try to kill you! I just wanted you to forfeit!" Her voice cracked and I could see tears brimming from her eyes. "I-I didn't want to hurt anybody. I just wanted to leave my hell!"
I opened my mouth, but Leo put a hand on my shoulder.
"I can understand," Leo replied. "I've killed a lot of people for power, I stomped all over my brother's life to get away from my version of hell. Be honest, if you couldn't kill Stryder. What makes you think you have the stomach to lead a territory?"
Her feet shifted nervously and she started fidgeting with her fingers.
"I umm, I figured I'd elect someone for that.." She mumbled.
"You're just a scared kid." Leo spat out. "You just thought it would be the safest option, having a territory and being its eyes. While someone like the Alley of justice protected it."
"How did you know...?"
"You said you wanted them to forfeit. That usually entails partnership. Gilda's territories are all governed by people he appoints, and he's taken a lot. But his kill record is surprisingly small for someone in his high grade."
I stepped back and took a breath. She really was just a scared kid. I needed to calm down. It was odd to see Leo being the calm one for once.
"You have enchiladas!" Zack cheered.
"All thanks to MAGICA!" The magician cheered.
I glanced over to the two idiots and saw they had a whole Mexican dinner on the ground around them. I see their friends already...
"Why not join us," Leo asked.
Which made me blink a few times, he's recruiting already!?
"W-what!? Me!? Join you!?"
"With your eyes we'd have a tactical advantage, not to mention you want protection. I think this arrangement would satisfy both our needs." He held out his hand, then glanced at me. "Besides, if you want to learn to be free. This Is the best place to be."
Leo offered her a small smile and I was speechless. When did he grow up so much? Did I blink and miss it? Memories of the past weeks flashed in my mind. His breakdown with Icarus, and his fight with his father. Then the talk he had with Vergil. He was a completely different person.
I walked over to her and nodded in agreement.
"If you join, you'll need to repent for your actions. We can start by helping the city, and you apologize to a few people who were specifically hurt by you."
She blinked a few times.
"I knew you were....bold and stupid, but." She looked at Leo, her cheeks turned red again and she shook his hand. "B-but I'm happy to join! A-and apologize!"
"Hey, Zack you should-"
I turned back to Zack and my words left me. Zack's leg was halfway into the magician's hat. While the magician was nowhere in sight. We both didn't say a word, we just stared at each other. Then he slowly descended down further into the hat.
"I'm going to find el Dorado, you pleb."
Then with that, he dropped into it. Well, I guess they both dropped into it then...
"We...we should go home." I sighed.
....
"So you made that suit? It's not magic?"
"Mmhmm, I don't have magic per say. I can communicate with technology. My sword is probably the closest to magic I get."
I watched from the kitchen and smiled at the two. I knew Leo was just interrogating her, but she seemed to enjoy the attention. I texted Rushon and Jack about all of this. But no one responded.
She joined so easily, I wonder if it was because she was out of options? Or was it because she has a crush on Leo? Probably both. This was weird, having such an easy win.
Then again, she just made me more aware of this Gilda guy, and then there's Rex too. Even with all my growth, can I even fight him? If they try and move in on my territory I'll lose for sure.
I glanced over at the magician's hat and sighed. Those idiots hadn't come out in hours. The only sign of life I got from it was the occasional screams for joy and random Miley Cyrus lyrics.
I took out my phone and went to the gifted app, I should probably look at my profile. When I tapped the app, the screen turned to a dark blue shade. The words welcome hero appeared, then flashed to my profile.
It was a picture of me with my mask on and sword out. My name here was just 'Knight'. I had a lot of messages in my tab, and my win loss record was a lot smaller compared to Zack's. Seven wins to five losses, not entirely terrible.
I went to my messages and I had a lot of challenge requests, and I guess you can call it fan mail? People saying my fight with stone inspired them, how they were impressed I beat so many A tiers. Some people even wanted to join the Alley of justice!
"Wow..."
A warmth rose in my chest as I read comment after comment. I didn't even realize what kind of impact I had on the community! I was really inspiring people!
"AHHH!"
I jumped and looked toward the hat. I watched as Zack rocketed out with a horse's mouth chasing after him. The horse's mouth retreated back into the hat and Zack shivered and clung to the couch.
"Demon!" He hollered.
The hat shook again and the magic boy popped out. Putting the hat back on his head.
"Hey! Henry just wanted to eat." The kid huffed.
"My socks are sacred! I've worn these things since freshman year! He can't havem!"
"What?"
The entire room said in unison to the two's conversation.
Before I could get a word out my phone went off. I looked it over and saw it was Jack. I quickly answered it and ran off to my room.
"Hey, Jack what's up?"
"Hey kid, we need to talk."
I shut the door behind me.
"Oh right! The two new-"
"Arthur proposed that you give up your territories to him, and I agree."
I opened my mouth, but the words didn't come out. He wants what?