A Death March To The Fall Of Equestria

A few minutes after Satou and Eliza left, they arrived at some crudely made palisades fashioned out of crystals that encompassed the city. They’re eyes seeing ripples from the dome beyond them. Creatures already attacking the barrier but not doing much.

“What do you think we’ll find out there?” Satou asked as he looked forwards, bringing his map up in front of him to use the radar to gain information on the area outside the dome.

Eliza looked around before stretching her limb for a moment. “I don’t know.” She answered as she adjusted her sheathed sword on the mech arm that clicked in place, freeing her right hand. Not wanting to hold it.

Rader finished scanning the map. Satou looked outside the Crystal Empire to find a seemingly never-ending swarm of red dots surrounding the entire city. “I’d go with an army of monsters.”

“Then why are we standing around for.” Eliza said, was about to start running in the general direction but Satou pulled her back.

“Maybe stop for a second and think before running into a fight.” Satou said, bringing up the information on a group of the monsters. “There seems to be a variety of different enemies of various types, ranging from level 1 to 13.” He looks at the names of the monsters. “Balloons, Flying Ants and Skeletons.”

“Is that it?” Eliza stood patiently but her greaves tapping the ground impatiently said otherwise.

“For the most of it, seemingly.” Satou responded before zooming the map out as he found a singular larger dot in the distance. “Although maybe there's more?”

“What’s the plan?”

Satou didn’t quickly answer, lost in his own world as he looked over the screen. Trying to trace four blue dots he saw, flickering between the swarm of monsters before disappearing under the mass of red dots.

“What’s the plan?” Eliza asked once more as impatiences became evident in her tone.

Satou shook his head before responding. “I’d think it would be best for you to stay here, maybe keep the guards that I hadn't knocked out alive to defend the empire, tell Dainn that I requested you to support and lead his men when needed and tell him that I think I found the centre of this mess and went to handle it.”

“Can you even fight the swarm on your own?”

“I very much doubt that I am alone in this.” Satou responded as he dismissed the map before pulling his magic gun from his inventory, attaching it to his side along with two swords.

“Any casualties in your plan?”

“If you can keep the guards alive and use the walls to your advantage, then there should hopefully be none.”

“I feel that there are holes in that plan.”

“Then fill them with your own ideas.” Satou responded. “We don’t know what caused this, or what it is. It may be a matter of surviving a period of time or killing a number of monsters or a big boss, we just don’t know enough to create a foolproof plan.”

“I’ll handle the bigger target while you handle the swarm, I’ll tell the “King” to get everyone to safety and help them as best I can. Your thoughts?” Eliza told her plan but sounded for any suggestions.

“Eliza, trust me when I say it’s better for you to take the swarm, If their levels are to be believed, and the balloons are like the monsters we fought when we made our way to the Crystal Empire, I should be able to charge through them with ease, and I know where the boss is right now. You’ll need to fight through the horde and use trial and error to find it.”

She thought this, barely for a moment. “Fine, I’ll take the swarm and you handle the boss.” She said turning towards where she sensed the swarm is. “Let’s not waste any more time.”

Satou sighed before turning her face north. “The main bulk of the swarm is this way.” He said.

“...You're sure?”

“Well the swarm surrounds the entire city so wherever you go is a swarm,” Satou responded, still watching the map as he suddenly jumped over the crystal palisades and ran outside the dome. Eliza left (once he was out of the dome towards the swarm) in mad pursuit.

As soon as Satou exited the dome; he looked ahead of him to see the swarm of monsters in front of him. He saw the monsters consisted of small orange balloon-shaped monsters, a ton of bone colored skeletons that were holding bows and swords, and flying above them were large, brown flying ants.

“So, the highest is level 13 in this group.” Satou said to himself, draws out his two swords from his side before pushing off on his back leg. Cutting through the swarm of enemies, many of them falling almost instantly as he just swung his swords and ran forwards as Balloon Scraps to Skeletal Swords are stored in his inventory.

This continued for less than a minute before he looked behind him, finding almost nothing behind him; apart from a few flying ants that were ignoring him and flying towards the city. “I guess my level is high enough that they don’t naturally attack me unless I’m close enough.” Satou assumes before opening up his map again to find the four blue dots on his map were still moving, but two seemingly slower ones being heavily surrounded. Seeing this, Satou runs to the area with the slowest.

As soon as Satou reached the destination, he glanced at the blue dot. It brought up information on the figure as he saw the name ‘Isaac’; who had little information on him except a title that read ‘Bow Hero’ along with a rapidly declining health pool, with almost no mana left.

‘Maybe help him before he gets killed… Besides, that name looks normal in comparison to any of the ponies or Caribou’s.’ Satou thought to himself before quickly turning in the direction of whoever this “Isaac” was and tearing through any monsters in his path.

After a couple of minutes, he reached the area where he had seen the marker for “Isaac” on the map, looking around to find a large group of monsters congregating on a single point.

Assuming that is where the name person is; Satou quickly moves forwards, cutting each of the monsters down effortlessly. The monsters remaining had kept their distance, Satou looked down at where the group of monsters had been surrounding. Seeing a young man curled up on the ground, his body covered in open cuts and fresh bruises.

The man looked to be in his teen years but Satou wasn’t sure as the pale green mini cloak hood that was mostly damaged covered his head, it was attached to a left rib plate armour, a small cloak over his right shoulder cover and extra cloth draped down his right shoulder blade to his knee, along with brown sideless neck robe down to his lower thigh with the left side reaching the kneecap, while underneath this was a white cloth long sleeve shirt and pants, beyond this he had pale dark green two middle finger long gloves and pale dark green toe guard boots with folded ends. In his left hand was a metal bow that had brass tips while in the center it split into an oval gap which allowed his fingers through along with lots of space, his hand holding a metal handle behind the brass.

Satou knelt down in front of the man. “Are you okay?” he asked, only to get a groan of pain from the young man. “I’ll take that as a no.” Wanting to help the guy, he placed his hand over the man before he said. “Aqua Heal.” What looks to be a small droplet of water fell onto the young man, his injuries began to heal instantly and his health bar reached halfway to full in a matter of seconds.

After a couple of seconds, the young man grunt as he stands up, then looks at Satou for a moment before he speaks. “I’d say thanks, but I’m more curious as to why you are standing inside a wave by yourself.”

“Same could be said for you.” Satou responded.

“The others left me for dead and ran on ahead into the wave. I’m the weakest of the four of us for god sake, they should know I can’t run into a swarm of monsters like that and fight, I’m the damn Bow Hero!” Anger clear in his voice.

“Kid, calm down.” Satou responded before quickly spun around and firing his magic gun into a group of monsters that were coming his way. “Kids must be so low of a level that they are targeting him.”

“I don’t stand a chance! Not on my own!” The Bow Hero shouted, fear clear in his voice.

Satou shook his head before flicking the boy on his head. “Then party up with me.”

“What…” the Bow Hero responded in confusion, recovered from his shock.

“Party up with me, that way we’ve got eachothers backs.” Satou said, ‘And if we’re lucky being with me may keep some of these monsters from targeting him.’

The Bow Hero looked at Satou, seemingly nervous. Satou placed a hand out to him, which he shakily took. “I guess you're right.”

“For one thing kid, stop doubting yourself. You can do things people like them can’t.”

“Okay sir.” Bow Hero responded.

“And two, don’t call me sir. Satou is fine.”

“Then call me Isacc si… I mean Satou.”

Satou only smiled. “Okay Isaac, maybe get me added to your group before more trouble comes our way.”

“How do I do that exactly?” Isaac asked as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

“Seriously?”

“... I don’t know how to.” Isaac responded, head slump in self disappointment.

“Fine.” Satou responded, sending Isaac a ‘Request To Join’ while he looked to check on Eliza’s status. As he looked over them; he found Eliza’s Health Points were still full and that she had no injuries, he sighed in relief. But notice her column was lit in red, indicating that she was currently in a battle.

It only took a few moments when Isaac’s name appeared below Eliza’s. Isaac looks at Satou stats that he could see and shout in surprise. “How are you Level 37!”

“I don’t really think that's a high level in the grand scheme of things.” Satou admitted.

“But, I’m only level 15! I need to know how you got that strong!” Isaac shouted, sounding desperate for any information Satou could give him.

“Not right now you don’t.” Satou said, returning the attention back to their current situation. “Right now we need to know how to survive this.”

“The best way to stop a wave is to kill the boss monster, or wait out the clock.” Isaac responded. “But I don’t know where the boss is?”

“I do, it’s just past the swarm, and to the north. I was going that way until I saw some monsters overwhelming you and came here first. Stick close to me and we’ll be fine.” Satou said. Isaac nodded, running close to Satou who ran through the swarm, with Isaac picking off any monsters that Satou failed to kill.

It took a while, Satou and Isaac reached the location where Satou believed that the boss should have been.

Both look down to a large clearing from atop a cliff face to an open clearing, seeing a huge black three-headed dog that's the size of a two storey building, it gave off a thick black mist that surrounded it’s form obscuring the rest of it from view.

“So… That's the boss.” Isaac said as he looked down at the monster.

“Okay, I want you to use the extra height to do damage to it from this distance, just keep chipping damage off him as much as you can and we’ll beat this.”

Nod at this Isaac paused when his eyes looked back at the area. “It’s not the others… But who’s fighting the boss down there?” Isaac asked.

Satou looked down for what Isaac was talking about and saw a familiar young woman in mech armour dashing around like there's no tomorrow. It only took Satou a few seconds to realise that it was Eliza.

They watched her shooting her unusual crossbow that fired an arrowbolt after arrowbolt; kept reloading in a flash whenever the string pulled back. She seemed to be hitting joint areas whenever she could, and it kept showing the damage of each hit depending one what part she was attacking, usually 99 to 125 damage. One time it was 200 when Satou and Isaac saw her shot at one of its eyes which she soon went for the eyes at the sight of the number being higher. The beast tried to pounce or bite at her, only to miss her.

“Isaac, start focusing on the boss. Don’t hit the person down there. I’m going down.” Satou responded before jumping down into the fight before Isaac could respond. Satou pulled out his magic gun and fired five shots at the boss with three of them hitting the heads of the monster and the other two missing.

Eliza moved far away when Satou’s bullets fired out, following the trajectory of the bullet path to see him sliding to the ground. “You are a liar! Sending me the wrong way when I was right about the other way.” She said out loud before firing more crossbow arrow bolts while moving again but away from Satou.

“Didn’t you run off the opposite way to where I told you?” Satou asked. “Besides; I did say that the whole empire was surrounded by the hordes, so it was just the horde whichever way you went.” He went back to shoot the boss ahead of him four more times, looking at the boss’s health bar that had appeared at the top of his view. ‘Halfway down, so far, this shouldn’t take long.’

“I went the exact same direction you told me to go. I thought I was going to deal with the swarm!” Eliza retorted before flipping back as one of the beasts paw slam where she once stood.

“Enough, I found out some things about this attack from the other guy in our party. It’s called a Wave, and will end by letting the time run down, or killing this thing.” Satou stated. “So let's get this boss killed!”

Eliza didn’t answer as a *click* of a different bolt before firing at its three faces, each releasing a smokescreen with each impact, which Isaac shot a volley of arrows into as they heard a howl of pain from inside the smoke.

“Now it’s my turn.” Satou responded before grabbing one of his swords in his open hand and pushing off the snow on the ground below, kicking the snow below him as he disappeared into the smoke. A blue flash was seen through it followed by a loud howl and two loud *thuds*; one after the other. This was soon followed by the sound of a crackling flame which soon faded. Everything went silent.

Eliza stood there, watching for any movements in the smoke. It soon fades away enough to see and Eliza and Isaac saw Satou standing in the smoke with two decapitated heads of the boss monster on the floor by his feet. Rest of the body was nowhere in sight as blood dripped to the ground from his swords, staining the snow by his feet in red.

“Point hogger.” Eliza muttered, her body relaxing and waiting away from the stained area.

After a couple of seconds, Satou’s body relaxed as well before looking up, flicking his sword as remaining blood flung off from the blade before sheathed it. He looked up to Isaac; who is still where he was. He shouted. “You can come down here now! It's safe.”

Isaac seemed to relax for a moment; then proceeded to slide down the slope towards Satou and Eliza. When he got to the floor, he ran up to them before bowing to him. When he stood straight, he must have remembered something and spoke. “Thank you for saving me and ending this wave, I am grateful.”

“Don’t think anything of it.” Satou responded.

“I need to, I would have been killed if not for you. The others were supposed to help me, but they left me for dead! Hard to believe they were supposed to be adults, can’t even look after a child properly.” Isaac stated.

“I really doubt that you're a child Isaac.”

“Do you count 10 as being a teenager?” Isaac said as Satou paused looking back at him in bafflement. “Because I sure don’t.”

“Wait, you're only 10?” Satou asked in surprise, Isaac just nodded at this.

“That is also another thing about Displace,” Eliza spoke out as she walked towards them. “Physical and mental sometimes are different then what you expect. His appearance looks like a teen but his mind and emotions can be that of a kid, looks can be deceiving.”

“A displace?” Isaac asked as he seemed to grip Satou’s hand like a child would a parent. “W-what is that?” Eliza paused for a second before she began to explain it to Isaac.

“So what, a person or people sent from one world to another? That's what a Displace is?” Isaac asked, still holding Satou’s hand tightly.

“However, we’re different, our appearance changes and gain the powers they have.” Eliza corrected.

“I see...” Isaac responded before looking at Satou. “D-do you mind if I feed the remains of the boss into my bow?”

“Why would I stop you?” Satou asked.

“Because the others may hate you for letting me.”

“Why would they do that?”

“Because the useless little shit doesn’t deserve it!” A voice shouted over to the group from behind them as they turned to see a taller man standing in front of them. He was wearing a noble spearmen attire with faded dark green sweatshirt and glove, red cloth for jacket and shoulder cap, and polish white armour for forearm; legs; shoulder; behind the neck and a bit below the collarbone. Blond hair with a red hairband for his ponytail.

He held a spear in both hands that he had pointed directly at the group, that was white in colour with black and gold trimmings while the spearhead was almost completely black with a large red gemstone embedded into it.

“And you are?” Satou asked as he turned standing defensively infront of Isaac.

“I don’t see why someone like you has the right to ask my name, it’s not like you could even beat me in a fight.” The new figure responded cockily.

Satou then looked to the figure in front of him as some of his stats appeared. He could only see the title Spear Hero, his first name being Fredrick, and level; which is 22. Satou looks back towards the figure. “You know, I could react but I’m not going to waste my time.” Satou responded before saying, “Isaac, feed the boss into your bow, you earned it, you helped defeat it while “he”;’ Satou gesture to the spearsmen. “-hasn’t done a thing in that fight.”

“O-okay.” Isaac responded, moving to one of the remaining heads nervously.

“You do that and I'll kill you myself! You hear me you useless brat!” The figure shouted.

“Says the man who left a child to die, I’d hardly call you any use myself.” Satou responded. “Besides, you didn’t do a damn thing here, he was the one who has the right to use the remains of the boss, he was in the party that defeated it. So take your balloon scraps and skeleton bones and leave.”

“Who do you think you are! Do you know who I am!” the figure shouted as he readied his spear to attack Satou.

“Not in the slightest.” Satou responded with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Now, I suggest you leave, there is no longer a wave here, and I assume you need to get stronger.”

“Satou.” Eliza said beside him, the sound of disappointment in her tone. She must have moved beside him while they were talking. “Don’t antagonize them.”

Eliza’s warning appeared to have come too late however as the figure charges towards the two of them. “I’ll only tell you once, you're a useless, pathetic piece of trash! I am the Spear Hero! I am better than the ground all of you walk on! And am more deserving of any loot and money you get in your entire lives!”

“Eliza… please say I can shut him up?” Satou asked. Eliza didn’t answer him.

The next thing they knew, just as Fredrick got within six feet close to Satou; his spear hitting something that made him stop charging. What he hit surprised him. Standing between Fredrick and Satou was Eliza with her sheathed weapon detached and held in both hands, the spear tip hitting the mechanical armored sheath sides right between a groove. This wasn’t what he expected, deflecting the his spear with it sure, but actually blocking it should be impossible.

“How did a useless human like you block that?” The Spear hero responded glaring at Eliza.

“Now that’s just rude sir.” Eliza said before pushing Fredrick back with surprising ease, he landed a ten feet away. “I would think you’d have some decency of saying such a thing to a girl.” She gently scolds him, holding the sheath in her right hand.

“If you are a woman, then you should know to follow orders from those above you!” the Spear hero shouted at her before once again tried to jab his spear at her.

Eliza dodge to the right, having the spear skid against her sheath that she's using to parry his attack. “Sorry, but I'm no creature, I’m a sane android.” She said before skidding her sheath across the spear before smacking him with sheathed swords pummel and quickly smack the other side of his face for good measure with her jumping five feet back for good spacing.

“You disrespectful little brat! How dare you strike me! Not a single person ever has the right to hit someone like me!” The spear hero shouted in anger then tried to stab her again, jabbing forwards without thinking. She simply dodge each jab, her covered up eyes quickly watching his less average moves. To everyone who’s watching can tell that she's treating this as some sort of dance by the way she evades his attacks.

“Stop avoiding me! Do as I tell you to, you useless piece of trash!”

Eliza dodge a jab and jump away again. “Sorry, but no. I have no reason to listen to a stranger.” She said plainly.

“You should always listen to those who are better than you! And I am better than everyone on this stupid planet!” He shouted in anger.

“Talk big all you want…” Eliza said before taunting with. “Cause you need your head out of the cloud.”

“I am right! And what I say is law! You are all nobodies and everything here belongs to me!”

Having enough of this, Eliza places the sheath back to her right arms side. What happened next surprised Fredrick as she blurred out and within three seconds she appeared behind him. Her blunt sword being sheathed back in slowly. He can hear her speaking. “Flash Sword “Style”: “Caged Catastrophe”!” Quickly sheathed her sword at the moment she said “Style”, suddenly Fredrick felt he was cut everywhere except for his vitals as slash lines appeared all over his body and he gasp in shock and pain just as she shouted “Caged Catastrophe”.

As soon as Fredrick was cut he dropped to the floor, large portions of his armour torn to shreds; leaving most of his body exposed to the cold as he stuttered out. “H-how dare you cut me. I am better than you. You should be doing as I say.”

“No matter how many times you say it I will not do as you say.” Eliza said as she walked back in front of the man, out of his reach of him and spear.

“Ho- How dare you refuse me,” Fredrick responds, seeming to begin to struggle speaking.

“Eliza… I think he needs both healing and a more ‘hands on’ punishment.” Satou suggested.

Eliza walks away. “Do what you want.” She simply said.

Satou slowly made his way over to Fredrick before he said. “You stupid. Foolish idiot.” holding his hand out, whispering; “Aqua Heal” and Fredricks wounds began to heal.

“Why would you?” Fredrick stated before pausing as he felt himself being moved slightly and felt his chest over a harder surface. “What are you-” However before he could finish he felt something strike him.

“Someone needs to teach you some discipline and basic manners.” Satou stated as he began striking Fredrick from behind.

“Wait! Stop! No!” Fredrick shouted after each slap as he started screaming out in pain.

Satou pauses for a moment, looking at Fredrick. “Will you behave and show everyone respect?”

“I’ll behave just don’t hit me, you piece of trash!!” Fredrick shouted.

“Obviously not yet.” Satou responded before continuing striking Fredrick, who was now crying his bare skin bright red.

“I’m Sorry! I’ll behave! Please stop!” Fredrick shouted out.

Satou stops, resting the sobbing man back on the ground before walking away. “That should sort that.”

As Satou walked away from Fredrick, the tearing man stood back up and shouted through his sobs. “This is not the last you have heard of me!” As he ran off into the cold.

“Idiot.” Satou muttered to himself, shaking his head before looking back to the group. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

“Don’t worry about it, besides, Fredrick’s just hot air.” Isaac responded, standing up. He was sitting in front of the first of the boss’s head, having been torn apart with nothing of it’s materials left. “What do you want to do with the other head?”

“We’ll take it with us and mount it on a wall; I think.” Satou responded as he walked over to it, placing it in his bag. “It might as well be the first trophy kill me and Eliza had as a team.”

“A team? Do I not count as part of it?” Isaac asked.

“Well yes, you did help us after all.” Satou responded.

Isaac stood there for a moment, rubbing his foot against the ground. He spoke up seconds later. “C-could I, maybe… stay as a team with you both?” His voice went quiet as he added. “I-I like being around Satou.”

Satou paused at this before placing a hand on Isaac’s head. “Well, I don’t mind it.” He then looks at Eliza before adding. “If you're okay with the kid sticking around that is?”

Eliza only looked at Isaac with her usual neutral; yet observing expression as Isaac lookback at her nervously. Isaac gripping Satou’s hand tightly. It was a moment later that she sighs. “I don’t know. That depends,” Eliza looked at Satou. “Whether Satou wants to be loyal to King Diann or to Isaac?” She gestured to the empire. “He can’t live in a place like this,” She looked back to Satou again. “Satou, I won’t let him stay here no longer than a single day.”

Isaac decided to speak up. “Actually, I lived in the empire for a bit already… before the others left and dragged me out with them, ordering me to join this “resistance” of theirs against my will.”

Satou glanced at Eliza, adding. “In the end, it’s his choice to make, we are not his parents, nor is he a son to either of us.”

Eliza sighs once again. “Satou, I can’t continue acting with him around. It was already hard just to avoid taking things in my own hand.”

“I promise, I won’t get in your way, or make it harder on you both.” Isaac responded bowing his head. “I just don’t want to be alone anymore.” He looked back up. “Please I’ll do anything!”

She closed her eyes and took a few breaths before answering. “Fine,” Her eyes open in great focus on the young man. “But if I reach my limits; I want you, Satou and the girls out of here. I rather take the blame when I start hurting others.”

“You won’t start hurting people Eliza.” Satou interrupts. “I know you will do everything you can to protect everyone.”

“You don’t know that.” Eliza muttered.

“I know you don’t want anyone you care for; even if you don’t know why you do; getting in trouble, and that's why I’m willing to take my chances and trust you.”

“Agree or not?” Eliza asks, sounding annoyed.

“I’ll agree to those terms!” Isaac shouted out before Satou could respond as Isaac quickly ran forwards and hugged Eliza, his head resting between her breasts.

“Uh-um.” The young women stuttered, not sure how to respond to this.

It took only a few seconds before Isaac let go before looking to the ground in embarrassment, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

“I-it’s okay, no harm done.” She said reassuringly.

“You sure?” Isaac asks as he looks up to her, clearly still embarrassed by what happened.

“Yes. Like I said, no harm done.”

“Okay.” Isaac responded while looking away slightly from Eliza.

Satou could only chuckle at this before he spoke up. “Shall we make our way back to the empire?” To which Eliza nodded her head and Isaac grabbed Satou’s hand, causing a chuckle from Satou before the group walked back to the Crystal Empire.

Once the group arrived back at the edge of the empire; they looked around to find that the city wasn’t hit too badly with only some of the crystal palisades having been destroyed and few of the houses near them having minor damage that could easily be repaired.

“Looks like things went well here as well.” Satou responded, looking at Eliza.

“Probably, if this happens again...” Eliza paused at what she thought of, shaking her head. “We only have enough time to act, can we even do what we were intending anymore?”

“We can always only try.” Satou responded.

“Remind me what it was again?”

“I believe it was to use my link to the king to get us both our say in this world, and the chance to protect those who don’t want the world order that we thought he was making or was it to help protect people like us?” Satou responded.

“The former.” Eliza responded before she leaned in to whisper. “At night I will be using my sonar to find the previous rulers and locations of the “crystals”.”

“Unless Sapphire tries to get you in the bed again.” Satou responded.

“That’s a big “if”.”

“I have a feeling that's something I should be ignoring.” Isaac responded nervously as he gripped Satou’s hand as tight as he could.

“It’s for the best.”

The group continued walking through the town, many of the civilians were continuing to act as they seemed to always be, some of the stallions stopping and dragging their mare towards him to; in many cases; thank him or even try and get him to do tasks for them, some of them including getting loot from nearby monsters.

After a couple of minutes, the group reached the palace again, Satou spoke. “I suppose we best report to Dainn.”

“Yea, we should. When I mean “we” I meant “you”.”

“It would be better if you could come with me to collect the girls and take them back to the room.” Satou pointed out as they walked through the halls, Eliza just nodded in agreement.

“Very well.” Eliza said in response.

Once the group reached the throne room; they walked inside to find Dainn sitting on his throne with Sombra sitting next to him on a dog bed curled up while looking towards the door.

Dainn noticed Satou entering and stood up, walked over to Satou with a smile on his face as Dainn greeted him. “Satou, thank you so much for stopping the invasion!”

“I can’t take all the credit for it, I couldn’t have done it without Eliza’s and Isaac’s help.” Satou admitted.

“Wait... Isaac?” Dainn responded before noticing Isaac standing behind Satou gripping his hand tighter than before. “You do realise that he is one of the criminals that turned on the country!” His voice angrily by the second.

“I do realise that Dainn;” Satou responded, “but he wishes to atone for his mistakes, and I chose to allow him to and added him to my party.”

“But he still is branded as a criminal!”

“Dainn, it’s a foolish move to waste his potential and lock him away for the rest of his life. Besides, he is a very young child, who was guided down the wrong path by the others, he should be allowed to live to help our country prosper.”

“Without a family to take him in that is a fool's errand, and nobody will take a criminal like him.” Dainn responded.

Satou stopped for a second before looking at Isaac, then to Eliza. Hoping she was thinking of what he was.

He took a breath before he said. “And if he had a group willing to be that family, someone you would know would teach him right?”

“Well, he’d be free to live with them and have a happy life.” Dainn responded.

“Then I guess you're looking at his father.” Satou responds, looking towards Isaac who looked to be slightly smiling with tears in his eyes. It was then he looked to Eliza expecting her to be annoyed at his choice, only to find her giving a “I’ll go with whatever you choose” shrug.

“Why am I not surprised you chose to take on the kid as your son, although with his skills and abilities of that weapon, he would be useful to train alongside someone like yourself, I’m sure the two of you will get along just fine.”

“I’m sure we will.” Satou responded before adding. “But I think that we will retire to our room for the night, I assume the others will be waiting for me there.”

“They will be, and I left a few things for you in your room and I’ll make sure to get this slut to bring you some more substantial food for you and your son.” Dainn responded looking at Isaac curiously.

“Thank you Dainn.” Satou responded, bowing his head as Isaac did the same before the group turned and left the throne room, returning to their own room for the night.

As soon as the group approached their room, Satou looked towards Eliza who had been silent the entire time. “Is something wrong Eliza, you’ve been a bit quiet?” He asked.

“Nothing,” Eliza said. “What? You expect me to talk?”

“Less that. More that I expected more disapproval of my choice to adopt Isaac.”

“What, you're the one taking care of him not me. So I didn’t have any problems.”

“But aren’t you technically his Aunt now?” Satou asked as Isaac looked to Eliza.

“Don’t get attached, remember.” Eliza said, reminding him again.

“Oh I remember.” Satou responded with a smirk as they reached the door to their room. Opening it and suddenly getting crushed in a hug from Sapphire and Frostine, who instantly began rubbing themselves up against Satou affectionately.

Eliza could only sigh before pulling Sapphire away from Satou. Sapphire looked back to her and said. “Mistress, am I not allowed to be worried for him? I thought both him and you would end up dying in that thing.”

“You can do your thing after Frostine is done.” Eliza reassured Sapphire.

“So… next week then?” Sapphire remarked with a smirk before spotting Isaac as she said. “And who’s the young man here? I can’t imagine master having a male slave just yet.”

“Satou took him in as his son.” Eliza explained as she kept her grip on Sapphire's upper arm just in case.

“So you're saying that the kid… is also my master now?” Sapphire asked.

“I don’t know.” Eliza pulled Sapphire in a hug. “But your mine; ya hear me, mine.”

“Yes mistress.” Sapphire responded instantly.

“You are one weird group, You know that?” Isaac responded looking at everyone curiously. “So, I suppose you are also my family.”

Eliza sigh as she released Sapphire. “I don’t know.”

“I suppose the only one who stands for that one is me and Eliza, the others are less family and more servants.” Satou responded as he sat up with Frostine resting her head on his shoulders.

“Master, that's unfair.” Sapphire responded. “I’m sure you would class as something better and accurate, we are all slaves after all.”

“Eliza, if you would be so kind as to sort that out… again.” Satou responded as he shook his head.

Eliza pinched Sapphire's ear as she spoke. “Sapphire, you're the only one that’s equivalent to a slave and servant in training, the others are servants.”

“I get it! I get it! I’m sorry!” Sapphire shouted in pain from her pinched ear. Eliza let her ear go and massage it gently.

“That’s my girl.”

“Thank you mistress.” Sapphire responded as she rubbed her ear and sat down looking at Satou and Isaac.

“So master, you said the young man is your son, does our new master have a name?” Frostine asked.

“Isaac.” Eliza said before Satou can open his mouth.

“So Master Isaac...” Sapphire began to say. “am I allowed to have se-”

However before she could finish Satou spoke up and said. “If you finish that sentence you're not getting any relief for a month.”

“But-” Sapphire said.

“No Sapphire, your mine and I mean it.” Eliza said sternly.

“That's not fair.” Sapphire wined in annoyance.

“It’s either that or no sex at all.” Eliza said in a thoughtful tone.

Sapphire didn’t respond as she just crossed her arms and seemingly threw a tantrum before Isaac said. “Are we sure she’s not the child here?”

“Nevermind her,” Eliza said as she pulled Sapphire to the bathroom. “We’ll be in here, gotta calm the kitty.”

“Oh great I assume you mean that again,” Satou responded as he shook his head, “Just don’t make too much of a mess.” Both Eliza and mare entered the bathroom, Eliza closed the door behind them and locked it.

“Are they;” Isaac began to say.

“Don’t… Just don’t. You’ve seen this messed up place and can guess what's going off in there.” Satou responded.

“If you're sure dad,” Isaac said before adding, “that still feels weird to say.”

“And it feels weird to hear.” Satou added.

An hour of awkward silence filled the room as the group said nothing. Satou having removed his armour and laid down on the bed with Isaac having done the same a few minutes after. Isaac fell asleep very quickly, must have been exhausted from the fight.

The bathroom door opened and Eliza stepped out, Sapphire behind her with both girls' appearance being clean; probably from the shower.

“So,” Eliza started. “Who’s sleeping where? Since now Isaac is around.”

“And that's a good question.” Satou responded.

“I think you should get the bed again, Mistress.” Sapphire responded.

The young android woman looks at Satou. “Well, what’s your thought?” Satou looks at Isaac, seeing the young man having pulled himself closer to Satou.

“Well, I don’t think Isaac’s moving anywhere for now, he’ll get a bed… and in your case Eliza, it’s up to you if you do or not.” He said.

Eliza walked at the corner where she was trying to meditate and did exactly she wanted to do: Meditate. “I’ll let you two take the bed.”

“So, looks like it’s everyone crushing me tonight.” Satou responded with a sigh. There was then a chorus of chuckles from Sapphire and Frostine before both suddenly climbed into bed with Sapphire carefully moving close to Issac and Frostine facing Satou, both quickly falling asleep while Sunny fell asleep on Eliza’s legs.

Once Satou was sure the others were asleep; he looked to Eliza and said. “If you learn anything interesting make sure to tell me. Okay?”

“I will. Have a nice dream.” Eliza said.

“I’ll try my best to.” Satou muttered as he slowly fell asleep.