Axis Mundi
Hall of the Council
Two Days Ago
Adriana watched the closed doors of the Council's chambers. A quick shared glance between herself, Drakn, and Odric was all they needed to decline the archangel's call to action and step outside. From the looks of things, they weren't the only ones; a larger contingent remained on their side of the closed doors than inside with the Council.
For her, the decision had been easy; too many volatile individuals on the other side of that door. The archangel Michael, two sons of Odin, a handful of Rookie Digimon and their human partners, and what she could only describe as a smattering of mercenaries. She could deal with that well enough, but it was the Apollomon -- she'd seen him in action the night before at the tavern -- and an honest-to-God demon that made her skin crawl. Not just a demonic-species Digimon, but a real demon. A fallen angel. She'd never encountered one before, but had heard enough stories to know what he was...to know how he made her feel when he strode into that room.
Like she was facing a roaring inferno while icewater rolled down her back. It made her sick to her stomach. Whatever the madness of the Royal Knights, she couldn't face it among that group. She could hear their bickering from the other side of the door.
"So we all agree that those guys are..." Odric trailed off thoughtfully, carefully considering the right words.
"Screwed," said a nearby TigerVespamon. He leaned against one of the many massive columns that supported the Council's domed hall, shifting uncomfortably. He fidgeted, drumming his fingers across his palms, tapping his foot, and rolling his head side to side, like he was filled with a tremendous amount of nervous energy.
The Gaiomon beside him let out a small sigh of frustrated embarrassment, but noticeably didn't move to correct him.
"That was awfully crass of you, Trowa," a QueenChessmon scolded. She wagged an admonishing finger his way. Only then did the Gaiomon make a more open display of disapproval, and gave Trowa a pointed look.
"Oh, c'mon, everyone's thinking it," he protested. "'s why we're all out here instead of in there with prince charming and an actual archangel!"
"Then why haven't you left altogether?" asked a Paildramon. Adriana turned to face her. She stood off to the side on her own, arms crossed, looking over this gathered group carefully. Her question wasn't accusatory or spiteful; just a genuine question.
The TigerVespamon seemed caught off guard by the question. He stammered for a moment, scratching his head in embarrassment, and glancing back and forth between the Gaiomon and the QueenChessmon. The Gaiomon shrugged helplessly and the QueenChessmon nodded confidently.
So the three of them knew each other quite well then.
"Well it's not because I'm all that big on humans, or anything. I don't really care," Trowa began, clearly forcing ambivalence. Then he stammered. "But, well...Lucia's kinda in charge, between the three of us...and...uhrrr..."
"They're my vassals. And I don't believe that we should stand idly by while this world falls to madness and extremism," the QueenChessmon said proudly, straightening herself and almost-posing. "Lucia Almehada. This is Duo Greyclaw and Trowa Mithra." She motioned to the two Digimon beside her.
"Pyra Torren," the Paildramon said with a polite, shallow bow and salute of her arm across the chest.
"Wait, Lucia Almehada?" Drakn asked, turning to the QueenChessmon. "Of the Chess Kingdom Royal Family?" Lucia nodded stately. "What brings you so far up north?"
Adriana rolled her eyes -- sometimes Drakn had the tact of a thrown brick. Still, it was a good question. If she remembered right, Lucia was fourth in line for the High Throne. Someone of that rank should've been learning courtly manners and how to rule, not fighting battles against the Royal Knights.
"You mean, so far outside the Chess Kingdom?" Lucia corrected knowingly. "I left the Chess Kingdom some time ago. I believe there's more to the outside world that I should know, regardless of whether I rule or not."
Drakn nodded, the way he did when sizing someone up and slowly acknowledging their worthiness; jaw locked, brow furrowed, and his eyes never leaving yours.
Oh, brother, Adriana only just stopped herself from sighing. Despite all his accolades, some social nuances were still just a bit out of his grasp. He was an inspiring commander -- more so than she'd ever be; and a terrific warrior -- though he'd never beaten her, but he was still her awkward little brother.
"Drakn Stormheart," he said, extending his hand. He seemed to remember midway through the motion that he was addressing royalty, and stopped awkwardly, his hand half-outstretched. He slowly pulled his hand back, but then Lucia stepped forward with a chuckle and gave him a quick high-five.
If Drakn was stunned before, a high-five from Chessmon royalty completely floored him. He stared at Lucia slack-jawed, completely at a loss for words as she smiled happily.
Adriana burst out laughing. "I like you," she said with a grin. Lucia returned it, and then offered her hand for a high-five.
"Adriana Stormheart," she introduced herself.
Lucia's grin faltered for a moment, before she forced it back up. "Oh, you and he…" she glanced pointedly at her brother. "It's um...wonderful? That a couple like yourselves fight together and --"
This time it was Odric's turn to laugh, and he doubled over. Adriana's own mood fell at the sound of it. Odric's laugh was a harsh and hollow one. Not angry or mocking, but it carried with it all of his self-loathing, where even in his happiest moments, he never let go of that pain.
"Siblings," Adriana explained gently as Odric struggled to get the word out between bouts of laughter. She frowned at him. That was rude. "And this idiot is Odric Stern."
"Oh," Lucia stood straighter, and the explanation seemed to put her at ease. "It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"Nyeehh well I haven't said anything since we all started talking, and I find that entirely unacceptable," droned a pitched, nasally voice. A Puppetmon strode forward, flanked on either side by a frog-like Shawjamon and a massive HerculesKabuterimon. The huge beetle Digimon absolutely dwarfed every other Digimon standing there...possibly even all of them together. Adriana hadn't even noticed the other two with him in the way.
"Something to add?" Pyra asked.
"Ehhhh," the Puppetmon shrugged. "I just wanted all'a ya to quit yer yappin'."
"HOHOHO!" the HerculesKabuterimon laughed, with a great booming voice. "Nocchi is just mad that we slept through the fighting."
"Nyeh. We didn't sleep through anything!" Nocchi snapped, wheeling on his companion. He glared up at the towering insect. "You slept through it. Sha was snoring all night keeping me awake. And when I finally managed to get some sleep no one else bothered to get us up!"
"Cha-haw-haw! That's what Gigas said," the Shawjamon chuckled loudly. "Too bad we missed it though. I bet we would've won if we were there."
"You think so?" Pyra asked with a raised brow. Adriana was similarly skeptical. This Gigas, sure, she could see the benefit of having him in a fight. But the other two? "Nocchi, Gigas, and Sha, was it?"
"Nyehehe! You betcha!" Nocchi declared proudly, hoisting his hammer over his shoulder. "We're the perfect team. I'm the brains, Gigas is the brawns."
Adriana waited a beat for him to continue, but he just stood there, beaming. "What about Sha?"
"What about him?" Nocchi asked.
"What's Sha in all that?" Duo asked, picking up on the thread.
"A frog. A Shawjamon," Gigas answered. He glanced back and forth from Sha to the others. "Have you...have you never seen one before?"
"Cha-haw haw! I'm the looks!" Sha exclaimed. He leaned against his polearm. "I'm also the charming, likeable, funny one."
"Nyeh, Gigas is plenty likable," Nocchi countered.
"That's true, I like a lot of things," Gigas said, nodding sagely. Then he stopped suddenly and his gaze lingered on a nearby Lilymon. "Helloooo." He stepped towards her.
"Uh, me?" the Lilymon looked around just to be sure. "Hi?"
"Down boy," Nocchi admonished his huge counterpart. He wove a complex series of motions with his fingers and pulled, jerking Gigas back a step. "You're scaring the poor girl."
That in itself raised a few eyebrows. It was an impressive-yet-casual feat.
"Nocchi, what's she got t'be scared about?" Gigas frowned.
"Seriously?" Nocchi asked, he wove his fingers again and seemed to release Gigas from his control. "Yer a giant bug and yer lookin at her like she's the main course."
"No!" Gigas exclaimed, turning to the Lilymon with a worried look on his face. "I don't wanna eat you, I promise. I just--I think you're pretty."
"Oh!" the Lilymon blushed.
"Wow. Smooth," Nocchi muttered in embarrassment.
Adriana was wrong. There was someone with less social tact with women than her brother.
"Um...Thank you," The Lilymon said, still furiously red. "I'm Ivy."
"Seriously?" Nocchi muttered. "Little on the nose with that."
"Cha-haw! You're one to talk, Strings. Cha-haw!" Sha laughed teasingly.
"I'm Gigas," the huge bug boomed. He extended his hand and gently shook Ivy's much smaller one. "And this is Sha, and Nocchi, and Peera, and Dragon, and Lucy, and Trowa, and Dodo, and Andy, and...bird...face…" His face fell a little as he thought it through. "I don't think I got all of those right."
"Meh, close enough," said Trowa with a shrug.
"Well that's because he didn't call you 'bird face'," Odric grumbled.
"Why would he call me 'bird face'?"
"You know what I mean!" Odric snapped.
"Eh-hem. Befahre dis gets any mahre ooeht o' 'and," said a MachGaogamon. He was older than the rest of them, graying around the temples, eyes, and snout. Behind him stood a pair of younger Digimon, a WereGarurumon and a Cerberumon X. "Perhaps intrahdoehctions are in ahrder."
Adriana did a double-take, struggling to adjust to the Digimon's rough brogue.
"I'm Galic. Galic Loupahcoure," the MachGaogamon introduced himself. He motioned to the two Digimon behind him. "Dese are me students, Azoehr and Doehnk Schattenlecht."
"I'm Dunk!" the Cerberumon exclaimed cheerfully. Unexpectedly so. The only Cerberumon Adriana had ever come across were all grim or sadistic b@stards. He sprang forward and waved to the group. He grabbed the WereGarurumon and hauled him forward by his arm. "This is my little brother Azur."
"We're twins," Azur deadpanned, shrugging out of Dunk's grasp. He seemed uncomfortable being the center of attention, like he wanted to fade into the background.
"Yes," Dunk said. "And I'm the older twin."
"Do you have to bring that up every time we meet people?" Azur grumbled. "They don't care."
"Well I think it's important for them to know. Especially if we're going to be working together," Dunk protested. "It gives them a better sense of who we are so we can work together better!"
"How is that relevant?"
"Well, obviously as the much older brother--"
"MUCH?!"
"I'm more confident, and open, and speak my mind more," Dunk said. "And as the little brother, you're much better at...listening? Yes. Listen--oh!" Dunk's attention snapped away and he all but leaped towards a VictoryGreymon that had remained sulkily-quiet in the background the whole time. "Azur, look at his sword! It's huge!" He raced over, practically dancing on his feet. "Can we see it!?"
The VictoryGreymon all but recoiled and held the sword protectively to his chest. "Uhmmm."
"Doehnk, leave 'im alahne," Galic ordered
"But--" Dunk frowned, at a loss for words, before turning back to the dragon. "Sorry. I just...I thought it was pretty cool."
"Uhm...thanks," the VictoryGreymon said. He rubbed his neck and shifted on his feet, clearly embarrassed. "I'm Rhys."
"I'm Dunk! Dunkelheit. That's my full name. But you can call me 'Dunk' if you want. Everyone else does," the Cerberumon said in a single breath. "That sword is really cool though. Is it heavy? It looks heavy. You must be really strong."
"You're the one who went with Lord Heliod to Greystone," Drakn said with a nod.
Rhys nodded. "We weren't able to capture the Royal Knights or anything like that, but," he sighed, as if a weight had been lifted. "Greystone isn't joining them any time soon at least."
"s'that home?" Azur asked, and Rhys nodded.
"Wow, you're from Greystone?" Dunk exclaimed. "We're from Wolfhal!"
"We are?" Azur asked.
"You are?" asked Galic.
"Well, we could be, right?" Dunk proposed. "We'd fit right in! But," he turned to Rhys, hopping back and forth on the balls of his feet. "Y'see Azur and I were orphaned when we were really young. Well. I was young. He was much younger, y'see, but we didn't know where home was. But then we found Galic...or he found us...I think that's the way it went...and then we didn't have any home because Galic is a nomad, which means he wanders a lot. But it's not wandering like 'oh I don't know where I'm going,' it's more wandering because they don't like sitting still in one place, which I don't really understand even though Azur says I should, and I --"
"Doehnk, easy," Galic said, making a placating gesture with both hands. The younger Digimon straightened to attention and nodded.
"Holy sh*tballs we're all gonna die," Nocchi muttered, with none of his flair or confidence.
"I like him," Trowa said. "We're definitely dying, but he'll be fun at least."
"Were you at Camelot?" Adriana asked, looking to Galic for the answer.
"We were--" Galic began
"We were at the Chess Kingdom!" Dunk exclaimed excitedly. "With Lords Erebos and Mogis. Have you ever seen Lord Erebos fight? It's the coolest thing I've ever seen. They say he was once a Cerberumon like me, too, and I really really want to Digivolve into Plutomon, but I can't, but I can turn into BlackMetalGarurumon, which is almost as cool, because I get to fly and shoot missiles--"
"Everyone gets missiles but me," Trowa grumbled.
"And that's really cool, too, but the cape and the armor that Lord Erebos has are really really cool and I'm hoping, one day, fingers crossed, that I learn to Digivolve into Plutomon, too."
Dunk said all of this in what seemed like a single, uninterrupted breath.
"Doehnk, I believe she was askin me. and what 'ave I said abooeht interroehptin?" said Galic, in a soft, parenting sort of way.
"It's rude," Dunk sighed, sagging his shoulders in defeat.
"I appreciated the information," Adriana said with a soft smile. The young Digimon's energy level was a bright spot after what felt like sheer hopelessness.
"Oh, anytime," Dunk said cheerfully, his low mood erased in the blink of an eye. "I know things, a lot of things. Everyone always thinks Azur knows the most because he's quiet and brooding. And it works for him, but what I think is that he's just not very confident in himself on account of being the little brother, so he's afraid to speak his mind, but I'm a lot more outgoing so I talk with more Digimon and I learn more about them."
"Dunk," Azur admonished pointedly through gritted teeth.
"We were at de Chess Kingdom, as Dunk says," Galic continued. Adriana was beginning to have a better grasp of Galic's accent. "We dedn't get involved directly wit de Royal Knights, but we tried to keep damage to a minimum."
"And?" Lucia asked cautiously. Galic shrugged helplessly. "How could they side with the Knights? There...there was never any of this hatred of humans. I just don't understand it."
"The Chess Kingdom only united under the Pax Perpetua in the last ten years or so, right?" Drakn asked Lucia. She shrugged, but nodded. "Allying with the Royal Knights is the safest course to maintaining that peace. It was Sir Galahad that brokered it, after all." Adriana saw him grimace and look down.
They all remained silent for a few moments, that awkward tension filled the air.
"They did a lot of good," Rhys said, speaking softly. He was not at all like the other Greymon she knew, who seemed to work hard at being loud. "Everyone seems to be forgetting that. Before all of this...they were my--I mean--our heroes."
"You didn't see what Sir Caradoc did at Camelot," Odric said. His voice held a hard edge that made Rhys flinch. "All of them really. Heroes...they don't act like that. They don't lay waste to retreating armies. Those are not the Royal Knights we spent our lives hearing about."
"Do you think they're imposters?" Rhys asked, his eyes wide. There was a strange note of desperation in his voice. "They said there was a Metamormon at the Chess Kingdom. Do you think…"
"Not with that kind of power," Odric said, shaking his head. "Not with the way they moved and fought. You can't mimic that."
If possible, it seemed that Rhys deflated even more.
"Well, Valeron was convinced to reject their alliance," Pyra interjected.
"That's surprising," Adriana mused.
"Why?" Pyra looked almost offended. "Their actions fly in the face of everything Valeron stands for and believes. Wholesale outright war? For something that could be easily determined in a hall or between champions? That's not of the Way."
"You're from Valeron," Adriana said. She hadn't meant it as an accusation or a condemnation of the nation.
Pyra nodded. "I was present when both contingents arrived," she said. "You can imagine what kind of spectacle that was." She sighed. "We thought things would be civil. But they spiraled so quickly."
"What do you think Halcyon and Acheron will do?" Adriana asked, quick to change the subject.
Pyra shrugged. "Who knows. Relations with Halcyon have improved in recent years, but…" she trailed off, shrugging again. "And Acheron? I don't understand them at all."
"They're all about 'ambition,' right?" Drakn asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Pyra nodded. "It makes them notoriously difficult to understand or predict," she said. "It's entirely dependent on what their king wants at any given moment."
Adriana frowned; that was an overly simplistic way of looking at it. She hadn't studied the individual courts as much as Drakn had, but she knew enough about Digimon in general to know Pyra's description was based more on bias than in fact. Still, it was their best guess."
That was disappointing altogether.
"Hold!" shouted a voice from above. With a flourish and a flash of navy and red, a form dropped from the sky and landed in a crouch. Everyone was on their guard an instant later, except for Adriana, who had already sped up her reaction time and determined that the new arrival wasn't a threat.
He was a Justimon, his right arm clad in shimmering steel and polished to an almost-obnoxious luster. His red muffler fluttered in the ever-present breeze of the Council's Hall. He stood from his crouch and pointed an accusing finger towards Duo.
"Duo Greyclaw!" he declared. "Aha! I found you at last!"
"What?" Duo asked, flustered, and clearly at a loss. "Justin? Is that you?"
"Of course it's me!" the Justimon's stance faltered and he stomped his foot in frustration. "I'm your greatest rival! Who else would it be?"
"Maybe some other 'creatively-named' Digimon," Nocchi muttered.
"Cha-haw, ok 'Pinnochio'," Sha laughed.
"You already made that joke today!" Nocchi hissed at his comrade. "The humans make it all the time. I don't get it!"
"I was worried about you," Justin said, striking a pose again and pointing towards Duo. "My great rival was going into battle with the Royal Knights. I wondered if we'd meet on the field of battle, on opposing sides. But then I learned that we were on the same side! And what better way to determine, finally, which of us is the greater warrior than by--"
"Justin, I'm not doing this with you right now," Duo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm not having this conversation with someone who dropped out of the sky to yell at me."
"Why, because you're scared?" Justin challenged.
"No, because this isn't a commercial for breakfast cereal," Trowa teased.
"You're just jealous!" Justin shot back.
"Mr. Justin, what are you doing here?" Adriana asked, hoping to cut the conversation short.
"It's Syr Justin," he corrected. "Justicar of Halcyon."
"Really?" Nocchi shouted, looking around in disbelief. "No one else is gonna say something about this? It's just me? I'm the only one that thinks this is too on the nose? Justin the justicar Justimon from Justiceberg?"
"I think he said 'Halcyon.' You really need to listen better, Nocchi," Gigas chided.
"Let's take a beat here," Drakn said. He took a moment and looked around. "Is everyone here for the same thing? We're all looking to continue this fight, right?" A smattering of nods and a cheer from Dunk answered. "Then we need to do this smart."
"The Council is clearly favoring the other group," Adriana pointed out, knowing they were all thinking it. "It has pedigree and there are humans in that group. It represents more."
"Nyeh, I don't like playing second string," Nocchi grumbled.
"This could work to our advantage though," Drakn countered. "With the Royal Knights focused on that other group, the 'Guardians,' we'll be free to move around with less in our way. There's more of us. We can cover more ground. Protect more people."
"There's sixteen of us. That is a lot to handle," Odric pointed out. "A lot of personality."
"And with that, I make my entrance," said a new voice, soft and mocking.
Adriana all but jumped out of her skin in surprise. She hadn't heard anyone sneak up, hadn't felt the wind shift as they made their way towards her. But someone was suddenly just there as if he'd appeared in the middle of them.
A Piedmon stood in their midst as if he'd always been there. He stood regally, with his arms crossed behind his back and an amused expression on his face, as if he relished in the opportunity to frighten them.
"A Digimon falls from the sky and you barely bat an eye, but I speak and you're on pins and needles," the Piedmon feigned insult. "I don't know whether to be hurt or flattered."
"Nyeh, and who the hell are you?" Nocchi asked.
"Loki Odinson," he said with a sweeping bow.
"Shouldn't you be in there with the Council and your brother?" Pyra asked warily.
Loki waved her off. "Oh, posh. For all they know I still am," he said. "No, I caught wind of your little gathering out here and wanted to see if we could be of use to one another."
"In what way?" Drakn asked.
"Well, clearly the Council will be backing the 'Guardians' publicly, what with my brother, and the archangel, and the humans, and the son of Iroas all involved. And there's that demon, and he's going to be a real stick in their craw." Loki answered. "But it occurred to me that it couldn't hurt to have more...agents in the field."
"We shouldn't trust him," Odric said. "Everyone in Asgardia knows stories about Loki."
"And I can assure you that most of those stories are underreported," Loki said with a smirk. "But I see no reason why we can't work together when our interests align."
"And what interests are those?" Lucia asked.
"Do you see where we are?" Loki asked.
"We're at --" Gigas began.
"Rhetorical," Loki cut in. "I'm seated at the right hand of the Council. I'm finally making something of my life outside the shadow of Asgard. Thor is off in his own little world puttering about. Everything I have now, I have earned. And I wish to keep it, but dear Galahad has decided to start shaking things up just as I get settled. And I have no interest in being an observer to another's shakeup."
"And what do you want us to do?" Drakn asked.
"I want you to do exactly what you were planning to do," Loki answered with a wave. "Except with official approval and support from the Council's…generous coffers."
"You mean we'd be getting paid?" Trowa asked. "In money?"
"Do mercenaries not get paid where you're from?" Loki asked.
"We're no mercenaries," Justin said adamantly. "And I refuse to be treated as such."
"Speak for yourself," Trowa mumbled.
"Fine. Bounty hunters," Loki said. He pointed to Dunk. "He even has the cool outfit for it."
"Azur, he said my outfit was cool!" Dunk exclaimed
"It'd be better if he didn't talk though," said Loki.
"Nyeh, we ain't your bounty hunters," Nocchi declared. He crossed his arms over his chest defiantly.
"It's fine if you don't fit into the same clothes as him. There are a number of costume shops in the Middle district, just get a child's large...medium maybe."
"HOHOHO!"
"I am no one's bounty hunter," Justin said, with somehow even more firmness.
"Soldiers then. Do you not pay soldiers and knights in...wherever you all hail from?" Loki asked. "Do they not eat?"
"Well," Duo began, hesitantly. "He's not...wrong. And it would be good to have some support."
"Exactly," Loki said. "Representing the Council comes with benefits and privileges. And if you're going to do this on your own anyway, why not work together when we all want the same thing?"
There were a number of nods and mutterings of agreement from the large group, though Adriana noticed that Odric remained tight-lipped and motionless, glaring at Loki from behind his visor.
"Excellent," Loki exclaimed. He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "You will be our…Avengers..." he trailed off and a sour look crossed his face. "No. Don't like that. Odd connotations there…"
"Maybe just Peacekeepers," Pyra suggested.
"Little late to keep the peace, my dear," Loki said. Then his eyes brightened. "But Peacemakers, yes. I do like that ring. Striving for a peaceful resolution but also not afraid to get your hands dirty if you must. Let's go with that."
"Okay," said Pyra. "And what kind of support can we expect from the Council? Do we have extra troops, supplies, or transportation?"
"No, yes, and yes," Loki answered. "After the debacle at Camelot, the Council is wary of engaging in all-out war with the Royal Knights. That's why we're looking for small, precision teams that we can move quickly and quietly to areas deemed necessary."
"This is not a small group," Lucia noted, glancing around at the assembled sixteen Digimon. "We won't be easy to move quickly or quietly."
"Then might I suggest splitting into smaller, more manageable groups?" Loki asked. "Let's say...three groups of five or six? Doing some basic math here?" Lucia nodded. "Wonderful. I'll let you work that out yourselves. When you're done, let me know. I have assignments for you. Places I'd like some extra boots on the ground." He glanced at Nocchi. "Or clogs. Whichever you prefer."
Then Adriana blinked, and Loki was gone.
"That's eerie, right? I'm not the only one concerned by that?" Trowa asked.
"Oh, I forgot to mention," Loki blinked back into existence and Trowa jumped into the air. "Feel it out, but there are a few more potential Peacemakers down in the holding cells. Some unscrupulous fellows, sure, but good in a fight and probably willing to work off some prison time. I've made arrangements with the captain of the guard to release one or two into your custody if you and they feel up to it. Bye!"
And then he was gone again.
"So. Three groups," Drakn muttered. Adriana could almost hear the gears turning in his head as he glanced over the assembled Digimon. "We're going to want to keep those of us that have worked together...together."
It was fascinating. Drakn could be so inspiring in battle, but regular conversation often had him stumbling over himself. He had delegated most of the personal stuff to her when they served on the Dragonsguard together.
"That's the three of us," Adriana said, motioning to Drakn, herself, and Odric. "The three of you." She gestured to Lucia, Duo, and Trowa. "Our 'nomads'." She looked to Galic, Dunk, and Azur. "And--"
"And the heroes of this entire story! Nyeheheheh!" Nocchi declared proudly. He, Gigas, and Sha posed heroically.
"That leaves the four of us," Pyra said, looking at Justin, Rhys, and Ivy. "Plus whoever joins us from jail." She said this last part with no small amount of disbelief.
"I would be honored to follow a noble lady of Valeron into battle," Justin saluted Pyra and gave a deep bow.
"Lady," Pyra murmured, with a sense of dreaded resignation, low enough that if Adriana wasn't right next to her she wouldn't hear her at all.
"We'll join ye as well," said Galic, volunteering himself and his two students. "I've heard a lot about Valeron, and I'd love to ask you some questions." He nodded to Azur and Dunk. Azur nodded back firmly, and Dunk all but skipped to stand next to Justin.
"We get to be on the team with the superhero!" he cheered.
Justin gave him a dramatic thumbs-up. Pyra nodded, without a trace of hesitation or doubt. She didn't shrink away from the presumption that the others would be joining under her lead.
"Well, Drakn," said Adriana, she gave her younger brother a smirk. "Command is yours."
"Really," Drakn asked with a raised eyebrow. "Not going to fight me for it?"
"Gods, why would I?" Adriana laughed. "Something is going to go catastrophically wrong and I'm definitely not going to be blamed for it."
Drakn shook his head with a chuckle. "Alright then."
"Nyeh, that's a good point," Nocchi mused. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Alright. I don't wanna be responsible for any of ya'. We're with the...what're you, dragons? We're with you two and the bird guy."
Drakn looked from Adriana to the trio of Nocchi, Gigas, and Sha, and then back again. She saw an inner war between his uncertainty and more heroic nature flash briefly across his eyes, before heroism won out. His eyes steeled and he nodded to the three.
Good. They'd be tough to handle, but between herself, Drakn, and Odric, they'd be able to keep things in control.
"I suppose that leaves us then?" Rhys asked, looking from Ivy to Lucia, Duo, and Trowa. "You don't mind right?"
Duo and Trowa looked to Lucia for approval.
"Oh, I guess...me?" she seemed taken aback by the notion, but quickly composed herself and nodded. "Of course. Yes. We would be happy to have you join us."
"I guess your squads get the jailbirds then," Odric deadpanned.
Pyra grimaced, but nodded. "Wouldn't want to insult all the hard work Loki went through to arrange this for us, I guess."
She turned to Lucia. "Why don't we head down and see if anyone's willing to take on a very dangerous, life-threatening mission for the possibility of a reduced sentence."
"We'll check in and see where Loki wanted us. Meet back here in an hour?" Drakn asked. Nods all around. He shrugged helplessly. "Good luck."