Chapter 11: A Dark Mission

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It was morning

Two days passed since the crazy initiation ceremony held by vice-captain Rhea, with Dean having recovered from that and now was sleeping soundly "Oh, no! Today is the day!" he shouted panicked as he suddenly woke up and jumped up, quickly getting off the bed and getting dressed up and as he almost finished, he paused and took a look at the Black Bulls robe he hung up on the wall at the other edge of the room "We surely got beaten badly to get it." he said to himself as he put it on and swiftly went of his room to wake up the girls. To his suprise, he saw Serena and Helen being already in the hallway waiting for him, with both wearing their robes "Looking fine girls." he commented while smiling, however, he saw that Helen was wearing  her robe above her white battle-dress which he never had a change to have a good look of "Wow, you really *are* beautiful in this armor." he commented amazed.

"Thanks, it was one my father made and ended up becoming one of my spells." she replied truly thankful and then gave a seductive smile "You too look handsome with your robe." said Helen all while doing a half circle around him and putting her hand around his neck from behind, much to his nervousness and Serena's unseen anger and momentary pouting who then calmed and regained her elegant composure.

"Well, of course *my* Dean would look handsome in anything he is wearing, but let's not get so worked up and violate his personal space like that." she said all while removing Helen's hand with a smiling look and pushing her away much to her dismay "After all, he gets nervous when girls other than me touch him without his permission, isn't that right, Dean?" she ended up asking with an unusual for her seductive tone that threw him off guard while she had her hands on his face and a look of desire.

"Y-yeah?" he mumbled anxious and confused, with Serena then bringing his face on her chest with a tight hug from her excitement.

"Fufufu, that's my Dean." she said excited "Always so honest with his *true* feelings!" she commented, with Helen being so angry, much to Dean's notice, that she would easily kill someone with the first chance and was restraining herself from lunging on Serena to beat her up.

"E-ekhem!" managed Dean to cough loudly, making Serena stop applying force to her hug "Shouldn't we stop being so playful already? It's the day of our first mission, remember?" he asked, with Serena then letting go of him and taking back some steps.

"Yeah, how irresponsible of me." replied Serena with disappointment while having her hand on her cheek from the realization "Let's go meet Miss Alana" she suggested and the three of them got downstairs.

Alana was sitting in the main room, laying on the couch and reading a book while eating mid morning snack until she heard some footsteps come running down the stairs. "Good morning, Miss Alana." greeted her Dean politely and the three of them were standing in front of her "You said that you wanted to talk to us about a mission, am I wrong?" he asked curious while hardly containing his excitement.

Alana closed her book and stood up to greet them and stretched herself, leaning backwards and extending out her chest. "Morning everyone. Yes, the captain had a mission for you, however, I'm afraid he's still asleep. Let's see if we can wake him" She picked a near by crystal ball and activated it. "Captain, the trio are waiting for their mission." She said into the crystal ball.

"Hu? Uhh right, sure." said an exhaustingly mumbled voice from the crystal ball. "Give me a minute."

"*Doesn't she get cold or something with this? It's too damn revealing!*" thought an anxient Dean who couldn't believe Alana's choice of clothing while having a poker face. Meanwhile, the girls were speechless about her carefree attitude while walking around like this "*Maybe she wants to attract someone's attention? She has a nice body though.*" they were thinking in order to try and justify it as much as they could, but their thought process then stopped.

Alana looked over them confused. "Hmm? Something wrong?" She asked curiously.

After a while, Korag came stomping down stair ways, rubbing his head as he yawned exhaustingly. "Ugh, can't you kids wait till the afternoon for this? It's way to early for this."

"Um...Captain...Miss Alana told us to be ready as soon as possible when waking up, so starting at afternoon wouldn't allow us to take that mission..." explained Serena with a timid tone to an annoyed Captain Korag who wanted to sleep more.

Korag glared over Alana who looked away, covering her mouth with her hand and chuckled a bit. "Apologies Captain, but the time has come to give them their first mission, rest will have to wait." She explained to him.

Korag sighed loudly as he stumbled his way to the couch and took a seat. "Alright, well, since we're here. I'll explain to you your mission." He said leaning back, resting his arms on the back of the couch. "A rare flower blooms in a certain part of a specific forest once every 50 years and it just happens today is that day. A noble has made a request to gather that flower for some kind of magical stuff. I want you three to go find it and bring it back." He explained.

"Wow, a noble?! Now that's a good first mission!" exlaimed Dean excited and amazed "Let's begin then!" he said while fist pumping.

"Now hold on, there's a few things you should know, this forest isn't just a forest you can go strolling into, it's filled with magical beasts who claim it as their breeding ground and because it's so rare, there's a chance you'll run into some collectors, though depending on the magical beasts, I'm not sure if they'll take the risk. But with all those factors involved, I'm not sending you new recruits in by yourself. You'll be going with a seasoned member to watch over you."

The trio got suprised "And who will it be? Will it be sir Kai? Miss Juno? Or...Coco?" asked Helen curious, with the last part hiding anxiety on the very thought.

Korag thought about it. "I've actually got a separate mission for Kai so he's out, what about Juno?" He asked as he looked over to Alana, knowing she'll know the answer.

"Actually, Captain, Kai's already headed out to the mission, and he's asked Lady Juno to accompany him." She explained the situation to him.

"Oh, really? Well, Kai sure is on top of things." He said to himself, not surprised.

"Also, I believe miss Coco said she had dire engagement with some of the others." She continued to inform.

"Is that right? Hmm, well, that takes out all of my options. Why don't you accompany them, Alana? You seem to be available at the moment." He suggested.

"Very well, captain." She replied while bowing slightly, accepting the task.

"Alright then, Alana will be looking out for you three. Be respectful and follow her guidance. Also keep in mind that this is a learning curb for you, which means your problems are for you to deal with alone, She's only accompanying you to see to it that you don't get killed out there, so she wont be getting herself involved until she needs to. Understand" He instructed.

"Yes sir!" they shouted in unison while they were relieved that Alona would come with them.

"Ok then go get your brooms and some snacks for the road and meet me outside when your ready." Alana instructed and headed towards the exit doors.

Half an hour passed

The four of them reached the villa of their client that was located outside Kikka, being on a hill that was looking at the forest "Wow, it is beautiful" said the trio in unison as they were looking at it "That's a noble's house for you" said Dean.

"This is the client's house. We're here to gather more information on the flower he desires." she explained, closing the portal behind them and putting her grimoire back into her pouch. "Now, lets go meet the client." she said and went on inside.

When they went inside, they saw three maids on each side bowing to welcome them "Welcome, members of the Black Bulls." said an elder man with a white suit and gloves as he was descending from the stairs in an indifferent voice "While I have heard the worst about your primitive squad, at least I can recognize that you can come right on time." he said while clearing his monocle and standing in front of them, with the four of them bowing.

Alana bowed slightly, with her having dealt with nobles on almost a daily basis, being experienced with how to approach them. "It's an honor to be in you exquisite home, my lord. We have come to hear more about the rare flower you so desire." She informed in a calm, and composed manner, showing no signs of hesitation when speaking to a noble such as him.

"Hmm, you surely have manners for a woman of that squad, anyway, come join me for some tea." he beckoned and with a snap of fingers, the maids bowed and quickly left inside.

After a while

The five of them were at an office of high quality furniture "So, as I wrote in my request, I desire a specific, extremely rare flower that blooms in the heart of the forest." he said and then took a sip while one of the maids brought an open book that displayed a flower "This here is Phoexethia, a miraculous flower of flaming petals and as it's name suggests, it blooms this day and after seven days it becomes ashes from which it is reborn in 50 years." he explained, with Dean and the girls being speechless upon the noble's explanation.

"I see, and what a dazzling flower it is as well." She said before sipping her tea while looking at its picture. "Is there a reason as to why you want it besides it rarity?"

The noble then put his tea cup on the table "I'm a collector you see. I tend to collect rare flowers and plants and this flower will be the ultimate piece. To be honest, I happened upon it as a kid and at the moment of its combustion, a beautiful golden flame surrounding it and turning it into sparkly ashes, so breathtaking." he explained while day-dreaming in ecstasy much to the other's poker faces "To be honest though, it would be a sacrilege to reap it and so, just a handful of petals will be enough. Oh, I can't wait to impress Miss Dacier and bring fame to our family." he said eager, with Helen's eyes becoming sharp and angry upon hearing that name but she regained composure, something that Dean noticed.

Twenty minutes passed and the trio was heading deep in the forest "It sure is vast." said Serena while looking around.

"Well, we have to go straight, so it's easy." said Dean but he stopped for a moment, looking at a previously rustling bush.

"Is something the matter, Dean?" asked Serena, with him shaking his head.

"It's nothing, I just sensed something moving along with some magic power, but maybe was just an animal." he said while dismissing any strange thought and they continued walking.

Alana looked over in the direction but kept to herself, following her captain's instructions and continued walking.

An hour passed

After walking and defeating random magic beasts that attacked them along the way, the group reached the heart of the forest where the trees were taller and were hiding the sun completely and amidst this darkness "This must be it!" said Dean as he was pointing at a flower with many petals of fire that were illuminating the dark area "That noble guy wanted some petals, right? Easy p-" he tried to say, but a sudden fire ball was thrown at him which he managed to avoid "Who's there? Show yourself!" he demanded angry.

"Hehehee." laughs were being heard in their vicinity and numerous red cloaked people appeared and lined up while blocking access to the flower "This precious flower is ours. We won't let the dogs of Royalty and Nobility possess it!" announced one of them, with the group becoming angry and irritated with these words and the second round of laughing.

"I asked," he said while cladding his fist with his Wolf Bite spell ",who are you?!" he asked while pointing at them and then, he saw a black portal forming and a voice was heard from it.

"We are Ragnarok, the ones that shall bring the Twilight of Royals and Nobles, and you all here shall be sacrificed!" said a young man of average height and an average build, with blue eyes and black hair that was wearing a black jacket with a white collar and five yellow buttons, and matching pants "You will die for a glorious purpose, the destruction and rebirth of this kingdom, can you imagine it? A beautiful world of equality!" said the self-absorbed young man that was smiling with his hand on his upward face, with everyone becoming alerted in his presence.

"What all that nonsense has to do with Phoenixia?" asked Helen with sword in hand, making him open his eye and breaking his stance "This immortal and beautiful flower's petals can be used in potions that restore mana, however, if the seed it produces is used in a ritual, then a potion that can increase one's mana reserves permanently can be made!" he declared excited, with the others being frozen in shock. "So, time to clear the trash" he said while flaring his mana that was impressive in amount and snapping his fingers.

Just before the man could do anything, Alana suddenly appeared before the three black bull members with her grimoire opened. She extended her hand towards the guy and snapped her fingers, creating a large warp gate that swallowed both herself and the guy, transporting them to a completely different forest in another part of the country.

"Oh, a spatial mage with nice mana, huh? Let's play." he said with a crazy grin as his hands became clad in swirling space, with Arlana having a serious look on her face.

"Ha!"

Dean punched two guys and they were engulfed by the wolf heads before falling down unconcious "They are too many." he complained as he was back to back with Serena, with both being exhausted and bruised.

"Yes, even greater in numbers and total power than the bandits we faced,ha!" replied Helen as she unleashed crescent slashes of light with which she took down a handful of them after overpowering their spells and then was too back to back with them, with her too being at her limits. One of the hooded men stepped forward and clapped his hands in order to get attention.

"My comrades, we won't get anything like this, let's finish them together" he said and was creating a wall behind the trio and as it was happening, the hooded men regrouped and were focusing their mana in one spot "This will finish you!" he shouted as the mana beam was fired.

"*If this hits us, we will die!*" thought a panicked Dean and stepped forward "Beast Magic:Gorilla Punch!" he shouted as his hands were clad in gorilla fists and intercepted the beam, with it being too strong for him "egh..." he growled in pain as he was struggling.

"No Dean, stop! Get out of the way!" shouted the girls sad.

"*If I don't stop it, we will die, they will die!*"  he thought while being pushed by the beam little by little and looked at them for a moment "*If I only was stronger, if I could protect someone for once in my pathetic life. Upon reuniting with Serena and meeting Helen, I remembered what it's like to be with others so don't, DON'T TAKE THEM AWAY TOO LIKE MY SIBLINGS!*".

As Dean was struggling, he grew as a person because he finally decided to fight for people other than his own self, with that along with his intense wish causing his grimoire's pages to flip wildly and a new spell being engraved, with a green barrier surrounding him "Eaghhh!" he shouted as he managed to dive in the beam that was being blocked "**Beast Magic:Tortoise Armor!**" he shouted, with the barrier being now shaped into a tortoise shell aura and as he lunged towards them, he expanded it in order to send them back and stop the combined spell, with him breathing heavily from that sudden rush "Come girls, let's crush them!" he shouted fired up.

"Yeah!" they shouted in unison and as they did, a smiling figure was watching them from a high tree.