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Chapter 7 Danse Macabre

Liam's eyes were wide with fear, eyes focusing on his young partner, that demonic entity before them, and all the destruction that surrounded the trio. His heart was beating out of control as his friend stood up to the masked figure. The boy hesitated to leave Maverick to fight on his own, but he knew both that the soldiers needed aid immediately and that he would likely only get in his friend's way with what little magic he had learned in the last few hours. Amidst the disheveled village streets, Maverick stood unflinching with his dagger drawn, ready to face his foe.

Liam took a deep breath, with a quick heel-turn the young fox took off down between the building next to them in hopes of finding help. The young fox boy gritted his teeth at the thought of leaving Maverick to fight alone. 'He'll be okay...' Liam repeated his mantra over and over in his head, trying to find some small peace of mind as he rushed through the alleyways. He ducked and dodged past debris and trash, nimbly making his way in the direction of The Rose Rabbit Inn. The boy figured the town's healers were already on their way as the commotion could be heard across the whole village, so he thought maybe someone at the inn would be able to help fight the masked man.

As the young mage came out from the last of the alleyways and into the streets, he frantically looked around him trying to get his bearings. Luckily, he had emerged just down the road from the inn. Liam wasted no time as he sprinted as fast as his young legs could carry him towards the Rose Rabbit Inn, gasping for air as his lungs burned from the exertion of the constant running. Already as he rushed down the street more guards were heading towards the source of the fire, whereas villagers young and old ran in a panic away from the direction of the scene. Finally, Liam burst through the doorway into the inn where Rose stood standing with a large gathering of people all seeming to be in an equal state of panic. Rose's eyes widened as Liam exhaustedly ran up to her side, she knelt immediately and took hold of the boy gently as a mother would for her child. "Liam! Thank goodness you are okay! You aren't hurt are you!?"

Liam struggled for breath, mostly from running although the pink rabbit's protective grip on him didn't help the matter, she was surprisingly strong even for most women her size. "M-miss Rose...! Y-you gotta... gotta help!" Liam gasped, his lungs stinging with his labored breaths.

"Shh shhh... It's okay, you're safe hon. The guards will take care of everything." Rose looked down into Liam's eyes trying to reassure him with a gentle smile.

"N-no! My friend is out there! Mavy is fighting that masked man alone! There were guards lying everywhere, the masked guy beat them all on his own!" Liam tried to explain, though just that minor explanation seemed to cause a flicker in Rose's eyes.

"A lone masked man..." Rose got to her feet, her face grimacing a bit. "Liam. Whatever happens you must stay here, understand? It's too dangerous to go out there."

"But, what about Mavy!?" Liam exclaimed with tears starting to form around his eyes.

Rose didn't seem to hear the little fox as she rushed off and disappeared into the crowd of distressed villagers. Liam could only clench his paws in frustration, there had to be something he could do! He looked up from where he stood at all the people around him, trying to spot anybody that could possibly help. He finally eyed a boy that looked not much older than he was himself, a young wolf cub with slight golden fur that was dressed in clergy garb, speaking with a slightly older rabbit boy clad in what appeared to be knight's armor. Liam's ears perked and the boy rushed over the two, his heart hopeful that if the adults couldn't help him those two boys could. If not, Liam was truly going to be on his own...

---

Maverick glared at the hooded masked mage as they twirled their menacing scythe idly in their fingers as if impatient to begin and it gave the silver furred fox boy just the slightest twinge in his chest, whether it was a hint of fear or uncertainty was unknown even to him. His opponent was intimidating, they showed no signs of unease and they seemed completed relaxed. What's worse, his opponent certainly couldn't be sane, and that alone told Maverick that he was more dangerous than any common thug. His focus snapped back suddenly as the cold demented chuckling rose from behind that steel, grinning, malicious mask. "Ehehehehe...~ Now or never kiddo!" The mage's cold smile could be felt from behind that metal mask more than seen as they next spoke. "Let's play!" This was it, and Maverick wasted not a single moment. He knew it was now kill or be killed.

Maverick bolted straight at his enemy, dagger clutched in front of him. The red robed man followed suit, rushing in with the crimson scythe trailing behind him leaving a magic ethereal trail of red cleaving the air. Mav leaped up off the ground mid-sprint, the catalyst on the hilt of his dagger gleaming to life just as a burst of wind shot behind the fox and launched him at the man with almost blinding speed. He swung, connecting with his foe! The crimson scythe blade caught his dagger and emitted red sparks as the two collided. He was face to mask with the man, locked in a struggle of force as their weapons clashed. The hooded figure's voice spoke, even more bloodcurdling up close like a viper's venomous whisper in Maverick's ears. "Ahaaa~ What a rush! And what's this I see? A black-market catalyst weapon? My MYYY you ARE an interesting one. Where did you find this, I wonder~?"

"As if I'd tell you, freak!" Mavy scoffed, his catalyst erupting in a swirl of gale force wind that broke the lock of their blades. The man started to laugh as he started to force Maverick back, his scythe twirling between his hands slashing from every angle in a mad yet eloquent dance of red. Maverick could only retreat, backing up while ducking, dodging, and blocking the onslaught of swift slashes. He acted quickly, taking a risk between the wild swings to sweep his leg under the masked man. He made contact! Kicking his enemy's leg out from under them, they fell backwards. However, the hooded man was fast, with a single hand catching his fall, he flipped back to his feet in an instant. The blade glowed to life, spewing a blood red aura as he swung straight up in a vertical cleave. "Waning Blutmond!" The man's voice echoed, a concentrated surge of black and red crackling energy shot across the ground, carving a path of destruction in a straight line from the blade's arc before it collided with a nearby building with thunderous explosion that left a gaping and splintered hole in the wooden structure's side.

Maverick reappeared into existence atop the roof of the closest building far away from the path of the projectile, cloaked in an aura of concentrated wind. "Tch. Wind users, such pain in the ass to hit, heheh!" Maverick jumped a bit, realizing his enemy was also on the roof beside him. 'Dammit, he's fast...' The crimson-robed reaper of a mage stood on the ready, his omnipresent grin bearing down, giving off an air of condescension at Maverick which served little more than to disgust and infuriate the boy. Mavy also stood ready on his own, dagger reverse gripped in his paw as he prepared for the next bout. Initially, Maverick had to think to himself about whether or not collateral damage was 'okay' now that the place was burning and in shambles. Will people return to their homes? Will these fires die down? Would it be worth letting him escape? He mulled these thoughts as his eyes remained upon his target. He couldn't do it here. Holding back simply was not an option. His paws raised, catalyst aglow, and smirk finally appearing on the boy's face to show that he as back in control. His hands then shoved down upon the roof of the building."You picked the wrong village to mess with! This is gonna get too hot to handle!" He gave a cocky grin. The roof beneath the man's feet erupted, a pillar of flame arose from the inside the other half of the house engulfing his foe.

Being the clever trickster that he was, the villain stepped back from the flames, but let out a bone-chilling scream, feinting the boy into believing that he got him. Immediately, a wave of relief washed over the little vulpine for only a brief moment, before that same shouting voice chanted out "Blutige Bisektion!" from behind the pillar. Moments later, a horizontal red crescent blade came flying through the flames. "What?!" Mavy gasped, before the other made his move. The moment Maverick left the ground, his fate was sealed. With both feet, the kit leapt straight up, avoiding the blade by mere millimeters. Not that it mattered much anyways. The skirmish kept him distracted long enough for that furry paw to grip the kit's face and take them off roof to plummet towards the ground, slamming him hard onto the ground, causing a sharp exhale and loss of breath. He could hear that laughter ringing out through the mask once again, the monster bearing down over him. The impact made him bounce off the ground and he was thankful the wind barrier around him was cushioning a good portion of the onslaught otherwise he'd be in serious pain. He felt weightless for a brief moment before he felt the force of the sudden kick to his midsection that launched him straight into the wall of the building, sending dust, splinters and glass flying. "By the way, your pun sucked kid! Kyahaha-! ...eh?" His laugh of victory was cut short as the debris rose suddenly and hurled itself forward, dust, shards of glass and wood hurling towards him. He crouched and the hexagonal barrier formed around the mage, shielding him from the shrapnel with ease.

The masked man stood upright, glancing around the area for his opponent. Finally, he glanced up to the sky, almost too late as Maverick's silhouette appeared in the light of the full moon. "You wanna fight with magic? Then take THIS you freak!! Zephyr Divide!" Maverick shouted, a blue swirling aura surrounding his dagger and that then enveloped his body. He crouched in mid-air and sprung forward, kicking off thin air as if it were a solid wall, sending him flying straight down in blinding speed at the red robed mage! Mavy collided violently with the mage, sending them both locked and flying down the road in a blinding blur of blue and red magic that lit up the surrounding areas as their clash ripped down the village the streets. The two appeared to be locked by their auras alone, their weapons ricocheting off each other as they flew backward.

After that initial collision, the fox decided to get a little more serious. Despite the force pushing them both back, he reverse-gripped his dagger and began hacking and slashing away at the mage. Of course his foe had no issue deflecting each slash, despite them growing in intensity and power with each strike, the catalyst propelling him and his blade in a aura of wind. He gritted his teeth and with kick off the ground, Maverick pushed himself forward with all his might, his dagger held in front of him in one last assault. The red man's feet grinded across the ground as he was pushed back with the immense force of the collision. Soon grinded to a halt, Maverick panting as he slowly looked back up to see the damage he did, his eyes widened.

"He... caught it!?" Maverick gasped, the red mage's hand clutched around his closed hand at the dagger's handle, the blade some mere inches from the man's stomach.

"Heh... Heheh... EhehehahahHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That was damn close, kid! But this isn't my first fight, and I've survived far worse than this!" He cackled as he gripped Mav's paw so hard h thought his bones were going to snap, and the boy couldn't help but cry out in pain.

Mav glared up at that grinning mask baring down on him, thoughts filled his mind in a rush of panic. He had nowhere to go, he was frozen in place. 'Damn it, no more... energy. Sorry, Liam... I guess I just wasn't...- huh?' Maverick thought to himself then something confused Maverick. The masked man had let go of his hand and had stepped away instead of finishing him where he stood.

---

As Liam approached, he opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted as suddenly a giant of a male grizzly bear clad in a massive set of steel armor approached behind the bunny boy that was wearing smaller yet similar armor. His voice boomed down at the young group in front of him, loud enough to make Liam's ears flit back and make the young mage jump a bit.

"Robin! Status report!" The huge bear barked with tone of authority at the little rabbit who snapped to attention and turned quickly to face the soldier.

"Ah! S-sir Grahm! I was just speaking to to one of the young clerics, they say they have clerics and a team of our best guards heading to the scene as we speak, sir!" The bunny was noticeably nervous, stance tight and small, body visibly quivering, heavy breaths coming from his maw; and Liam didn't blame nor envy him either. The grizzly man was certainly intimidating as an understatement due to his size alone.

"That's good new at least. As for your orders now I want you to stay here! There is nothing more you can do to help here." The bear's tone was decisive and direct, giving way to no misinterpretation or mistake.

Robin gasped, stepping back once, totally aghast at the suggestion that he stands around and does nothing while his comrades, friends, and allies risk it all against this mysterious assailant. "What!? B-but ,sir! I can help fight! I can-" The young rabbit protested but was cut short mid sentence.

"NO 'BUTS', ROBIN! I gave you your orders. This enemy has wiped out a whole squadron of guards before most of us could blink, what do you think someone like you with so little training can hope against someone like that!?" He snapped at the boy. "Just because your father left you his Knight's Catalyst doesn't make you a hero, especially when you've barely learned how to hold the damned thing!"

Squire Robin gritted his teeth, it was clear he wanted to shout back. Instead the squire obediently stepped back, giving a respectful salute with a half-hearted "Yes...sir..." The lapine retorted through gritted teeth. To which the knight nodded and then turned his back to meet with what could only have been other knights of similar authority. The boy stood at-ease, but his body language was plainly less than so, his hands clenched into fists at the sharp blow to his young pride. Liam stepped forward finally, nervous to speak after watching the boy get cussed out. He decided to address the gold-furred wolf boy first.

"Um, I... M-my name is Liam, and... I know this is sudden but please I need help! I don't know who to ask anymore but my friend is in trouble!" Liam's words spilled out, frantically and almost incomprehensibly as his diction quivered. He knew it was a terrible introduction but he was too panicked to say much else. The young wolf boy's attention snapped away from the apparent stun the man had given him, shaking his head a bit to clear his head.

"Ah! U-uh... W-we don't have any more clerics that can help, I'm sorry... They're all out helping the guards take care of the wounded." The little wolf said remorsefully.

"W-well what about you? Aren't you a cleric?" Liam inquired, his heart racing still but now in hope.

"M-me? I'm not really sure, I... I'm still just learning and I..." the boy stuttered not really knowing what to say. He didn't appear to be a very skilled healer at his age, much less a fighter. Liam looked down sadly, feeling his heart sink a bit in his chest.

"Liam, was it?"

Liam's ears perked, recognizing the voice as the rabbit named Robin addressing him. He looked up at the boy and choked back a few tears that had started to escape.

"Where is this friend of yours? I will help you, and them." Robin said with a determined glint in his eyes.

"Danny, no! You heard what Captain Grahm said, you'll get in big trouble if you disobey him again!" The small wolf squeaked at the young lapine.

"If I don't do something to help even a single person now when they need it most, then what kind of soldier can I call myself, Belu!? I'm gonna help, and then Captain will see I can be useful!"

"Danny... But... Mm, well. If you are going, then I'm going too! I can at least help a bit if you get hurt." Belu settled albeit hesitantly, the wolf child obviously not wanting to go out where it was dangerous but leaving little choice to help protect his friend.

Liam's eyes widened, lighting up with rekindled hope. "T-this way!" Liam said as he left for the door, the young knight and the younger cleric following swiftly behind. They bolted down the streets towards the market district, which would be the closest street to where the chaos was unfolding.

---

The red cloaked mage fiddled with Maverick's dagger in his hand, repeatedly tossing it in the air and catching it in front of the fox as if taunting him. Maverick got to his feet but stayed on his guard.

"I bet you're just dying to ask, "Oh, mister bad guy why ever did you just let me go just now~?". Well, let me educate you, kiddo! You see, it's because you are no longer a threat, nor are you worth my time. And before you retort, it's not your skill with a blade or magic. It's simply that your little toy here is little more than a butter knife now~" The masked man said with a snide snicker.

"What? The hell are yo-" Maverick started before he was silenced by the red ethereal blade suddenly inches from his face.

"Be a good kiddy and just shut your bratty mouth so teacher can educate you~ You probably didn't even know it, young as you are. The wind-based Catalyst in your little toy here, is a fake! Well. Not a fake per se... More of... a temporary source of magic. Guess what, that means story-time little boy. Aren'tcha excited~?" The mage explained, his tone more mocking now than ever. "In this world, there exists a very special, very magical species. They love nature with all their little hearts~ They even have magical abilities that no other race on this earth possesses, with ability to control magic without a Catalyst!"

Maverick glared at him, the mocking attitude grating on the vulpine rogue's nerves. "Just...get...to the point!" He spaced his words out for additional emphasis.

"Wooo~ Fiesty!" That mysterious monster laughed with a mock shudder. "Alright boy, here's the juicy part you really wanna know. This magic race lays eggs, they can make them out of just the pure love and magic they share with one another regardless of gender or species! Now, I'll let you figure this next part out on your own! Ready? These eggs are small, round, FULL of potent magical energy, and look just like catalyst crystals!" The masked man snickered, practically giddy as he waited for his young adversary to put two and two together.

Maverick's eyes widened as he realized the man's implications, all his words all coming together in his mind. Black-market? Eggs that look just like Catalysts? Wait... "N-no... No way..." Mav choked under his breath in disbelief, eyes widening as the weight and gravity finally set in.

"Thats riiiight~! This Catalyst you've been using is an egg! Well, was at least. Y'see, they house very strong magic energy but they hold the gift of life inside them given by two very loving parents. They don't provide limitless use of magic whenever the user feels like. They are only limited to the magic they were given by their parents to hatch. This one kiddo, thanks to you, is all dried up! Nothing more now than a pretty paperweight! Congrats kid! You're a killer! And not just a killer either." He continued, forcing down another fit of giggles. "...You're a baby killer. A child murderer. And now you're just...like...me~!"