Wardi and Jaqim rushed over to see what had been happening in the castle courtyard. It wasn't long before they found Lucy, drunk out of her mind, throwing Arts around uncontrollably. The attacks were too vicious for him to jump in and deal with, and Rhua wasn't around to assist either. He noticed Bagu hiding behind a wall and tried to get his attention.

She had a drink in one hand while waving her wand hand. Swishing and flicking it in random directions, weak Arts flew out in various colours. Agni balls flew across the courtyard, giving a little burn to whoever happened to find themselves in its way. Another wave, and she appeared to take over an unfortunate soldier's mind and force him to fight with another soldier.

"HEEEE I'M, HICC, UNSTOPPABLE! WAGHOO!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. Chaos was ensuing as people threw themselves around in panic trying to dodge and stay out of her line of sight.

Fecking-hecking-damn it! Where the hell is Rhua!? Wardi thought as he scanned the area, trying to find any signs of her.

She was still talking with Jaga while learning ways to fight out in the wild and more on life as an adventurer. Jaga had already made up her mind. It was time to start The Chevadasher's Appreciation Society. Impressed by Rhua's grit and toughness, and the powerful backing of Lucy from across the stories she was told. "Girl power!" Rhua and Jaga chanted and laughed as they sat sharing a meal within the cells underground, far away from the madness upstairs.

"Bagu, what the fuck is going on!?" A whisper-shout caught his attention. Bagu took the opportunity of Lucy taking another swig to rush over to Wardi. He hugged the newly built wall, and Wardi grabbed him, pulling the boy around the corner. They quickly retreated around the castle walls to chat easier.

"Gods be damned, she's had one drink too many. Those bloody soldiers said she could have as much as she could handle. She's on her fourth glass and losing her marbles!" Bagu cried. Only her fourth… sweet baby Yeezus, Wardi joked in his head, but this was no time for joking while Lucy was casually assaulting anyone that passed by.

"DILLLEEEEE! YYYYYYYou greeny yell~ hicc, owwww geezah. I wanna smack ya, YA VEG-VEGVEGvegsogynistic PUNK."

"Bagu, do you know any Arts that could help? Before someone loses a finger trying to deal with her." He shook his head at Wardi's question. "I only know attacking moves, but maybe there's some items we could use in the underground somewhere?"

Wardi peeked around the corner to see Lucy had started walking over to the side of the courtyard, closer to the eastern entranceway.

"We'll have to just hope that there is then. Come on, we can avoid her if we take that open passageway in the southwestern corner." The three crept along the wall, quickly sneaking and trying not to accidentally rustle anything. The smell of dust and building materials really reminded Wardi of going to work with his dad when he had to stay home from school; he felt nostalgic, if a little chesty at the same time.

Bagu led the way along a brightly lit corridor that was heading towards an Apotekist's cupboard towards the Eastern gate. They could see outside occasionally, and Lucy was stumbling about. Sometimes drinking, sometimes speaking. Spells flying across the place, like conjured turquoise clouds, filled with aqua Lùth, floating quietly, and oak-coloured Gorthen balls rumbling about.

She even managed to break some of the walls that had not quite set yet. Not that the three could see it happening.

When they found the Apotekist's cupboard, a stern, medical-looking type was outside it, standing there as if they had the keys to the castle. The waxy red robe they wore had a green cross on it. It really didn't look like this year's latest fashion pick, nor did the fact it was overtly massive, and the person had the tiniest head. The voice did not match the face at all either!

"WHAT AILS YA?" The deep booming voice echoed in the hall. Bagu jumped from fright, smacking Jaqim as his hand rushed backwards. Jaqim used his hands, rubbing in a circular motion to soothe his face. "Idiot," Wardi said to Bagu, while approaching the person. "In need of something that could send someone to snooze land or paralyse." "Or something to mute an Art user." Bagu interjected.

The person shook their head. "DENIED. Those are reserved for the captain or vice-captain of the guard for interrogation purposes."

"Bergamot, they need your help." Jaqim was a little familiar with the Apotekist but not on a first-name basis.

"As I said. RESERVED FOR THE CAPTAIN OR VICE-CAPTAIN."

"DENI~OUCH THAT HURT." Wardi punched Bergamot in the jaw and shoved him out of the way. He began rummaging around for anything that looked familiar. A jar filled with purple flowers was all too familiar. Yes! Lavan buds, this will work, a positive moment, he thought.

Turning to Bergamot, whose hand was held over his mouth from the surprise punch, Wardi spoke out at him, "That person outside is going to keep trashing the place while you're in here being a fucking jobsworth. DICKHEAD MATE, that's what you are. Also, where the fuck were you during the big fight?" "Jeez Wardi! I don't think that was necessary." Helping Bergamot apply a soothing salve, Bagu questioned Wardi's behaviour.

"I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW, I WAS HERE. IT'S MY DUTY TO SAFEGUARD THE CUPBOARD. I DID WELL UNTIL YOU GOT INVOLVED." Barking words that Wardi just did not care about, and pushed past him, earning a huff from Bergamot.

"Blah blah blah. Get your asses outside; I'm too tired for this shit!" Wardi barked at the three of them.

Wandering back out, Lucy was nowhere to be seen. Several other guards and soldiers met the three in the courtyard. "Have you any idea what the commotion has been?" A soldier asked, with a well-spoken accent.

"Aye, just my companion. It seems she's had one too many. I'm on it…when I can find her, I'll get it dealt with." Wardi did not quite manage to sound convincing enough though. Earning some criticism from the group of soldiers gathered. "She's attacked members of the kingdom; you know we're going to have to arrest her, right?"

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"I'll give you 10k each to pretend you didn't see or hear anything." Wardi opened his inventory, handing out HFC as if it were candy. The guard that spoke to him accepted and said to his companions. "I've heard there are lovely flowers on the other side of the wall; shall we have a look? I love flowers."

"Yes!" "Oh, how lovely! Woo flowers!" They cheered loudly, walking away.

I'd rather be down a few thousand than land myself on the wanted list for jailbreaking.

Unfortunately for Wardi, his bribe was a waste of time. Bagu and Jaqim spotted Marcel coming from the eastern entrance. Jaqim tapped him on the shoulder, pointing eastward. Wardi could see him marching over.

Hell's bells… Here we go mun, Wardi feigned a smile, but inside he was dying and just wanted to relax.

"You there, that one with the rapier. I'm hearing reports that the guard and soldiers have been getting attacked by that Haberrr…Haberdasher…" "Haberdashphylacterist," Wardi interjected. "Yes… That…" Marcel was furious. His forehead lines ever increasing from the continuously stacking layers of stress. Wardi saw that for the briefest of moments, Marcel bared his teeth at him before he realised how canine-like he was being.

"Mate, I'm on it. As soon as I find out where she is, that is. We last saw her heading your direction though."

"We have someone in the infirmary requiring a hefty bandaging, thanks to her little outburst. Lad will be working one-handed for a few days now." The slimy sergeant that Rhua dealt with earlier was hiding behind Marcel and speaking up, trying to stir trouble.

"Vice-captain, we should arrest or kick these outsiders out! They're troublemakers! Especially this one, with his sneaky style of clothing choices." The soldier sniped at him. Stereotyping did no favours for this soldier in Wardi's mind. Keep talking, and I'll smack that smile off your face, you lecherous little twat.

But Wardi couldn't kick up a fuss right now. Holding his tongue and taking a deep breath, he responded before he snapped, "Hey, come on mate. We were just as involved in that fight as you were. If the three of us had avoided the fight, many more were going to die. She's just had a bevvy too many. Like I said, when I find her, I'll deal with her. Help me out, and we'll get out of your way."

Tensions were starting to rise. Wardi was quite outnumbered. Jaqim was not someone he could trust to back him up. And he didn't know Bagu enough to gauge if we would take his side or the home team's. Back down already you tightass.

A moment of silence passed by. Marcel answered Wardi, though his face remained the same wrinkly snooty mess as it did before, "I'm only showing you pleasantries because I've heard my fine women and men speak highly of your efforts. But I will not excuse bad behaviour! If it happens to affect ANY of my people. I have zero tolerance for such things right now." Wardi noted hands were starting to reach the hilts of weapons. He kept his hand away from his own; he didn't want to cause any trouble.

"WARDIIIIIIII~ luk at meeee! I HICC I climbed up…up metally fing alllll by mySELFFFF HICC," Wardi didn't want to look, Lucy…Rhua is going to brain you for this.

Hanging from a pole with one finger. Lucy was dangling herself from the scaffolding trying to cosplay a primate. Wardi rushed over to try and talk some sense into her.

"Lucy! What did you go up there for? You're drunk, and it's not safe to be up it!" If there's one thing in life that's certain, trying to get an inebriated individual to follow orders and answer questions doesn't go down so well.

"BE---HICC---CAUSE I'm tiredddd OF, Ever…EveEVERYONE FINKING I'm a loserRRR!" She screamed far and wide. And dozens of the citizens were watching the Lucy have a public drunken tirade.

More concerned for his companions safety than his potential ass kicking. Wardi tried to climb the scaffolding. Lucy's wand-waving antics, however, sent Wardi crashing back down to the ground as a Raiton whip struck at him. ZATHWACK it cracked as it hit him, "OUCH," THUD, "Ow, bloody heck!" Wardi groaned as he hit the floor.

"Little madam, I'm going to get you down from there if even if it kills me…" Wardi stared at her dead in the eyes, but Lucy just giggled in response.

"L…Let meeeee say something ka….KAY!" Ignoring her demands. Wardi shadow stepped so Lucy couldn't follow him, and he began trying to scale his way up again, dodging various sparkly projectiles in arrow, orb and wave styles.

Lucy slowly stood up, still pelting her moves around carelessly as she walked up to a railing. "I~ Lucy. Sayyyyy to YOU lottt." She stopped trying to debilitate her companion and focused her wand at Bagu whilst her eyes rotated between one open, one blinking.

"I sssssay to THE PEEEEEEEEOPLE! Tha we should vote. VOooooOOOTE for Bagu Ette to be the NEXT KINGUUU~"

"Lucy…That's a STUPID IDEA. Get down from there before you hurt yourself!" Bagu growled at her from a distance.

Her response was to blow a raspberry at him THSSPP , "PFFFT." She stepped further and began falling over the safety rail. Wardi jumped to catch her falling back down, but the bubble caused her to slip from his hands and bounce down to the ground.

It hit the ground with a BOING~ repeatedly, bouncing up and down until Wardi placed his hand on it, stopping the momentum.

"So sorry for the trouble. I'm keeping my promise; I will get this one back to my camp. An early night for her!" Wardi began rolling Lucy, who had managed to fall asleep during all the antics.

Marcel had other ideas, however: "Stop right there." His stern voice didn't echo, but everyone felt it. The long pause before he spoke again threw up an aura of tension that Wardi was not feeling positive about.

"Despite the fact I am exceptionally annoyed at her behaviour…the drunken idiot actually had a good idea."

Marcel looked directly at Bagu, who had realised what he wanted to say next and started shaking his head. "We shall hold a vote. For Bagu to become the new king. Lieutenant, go notify everyone within the grounds present to come outside immediately."

"Aye sir!" A woman at the back began running inside.

"Marcel no… I don't want this at all. You would be better at being king than I!" Marcel shook his head. "Nonsense Bagu, utter nonsense. Have some faith in yourself…" He leaned in closer to whisper to Bagu, "You are far more put together than King Blau could ever dream to be. He was not wise."

The words pained Bagu to hear. But it was hard to not agree with Marcel's point. The king was indeed unwise, and his behaviour, even before the events, was questionable.

Rhua had made herself known, approaching Wardi with Jaga standing beside her. Staff had returned to the castle grounds. A 2000-strong group eagerly wondering what was going to happen. From both outside and inside the walls. She looked at Lucy upside down in the ball. "Care to explain?" turning her gaze towards Wardi. "I'll tell you later." He responded.

Marcel began to announce the plan. "King Blau has gone to the next. And we shall mourn his loss in time. We cannot stay a kingdom without a king. I believe his nephew would make a fine choice. Should you agree, raise your right hand. This is a free vote; you will not be punished for going against it."

It was not a unanimous vote in Bagu's favour. Cries from the crowd rang out. "We have been forced to work here for years under his barbaric rules~" "Yeah, that's right, I've broken my back dealing with his antics too!"

The unrest rose amongst the crowd. Bagu found some new confidence, however. Time for his moment. "I agree with both sides! There should be a leader, but not a king. I vote we form a republic."

Wardi had enough of the politics and began rolling Lucy back down to camp. "I'll see you back at camp." Rhua noted how tired and stressed he looked and couldn't help but take a shot at Wardi. "Aww. Mr. Cwankypants is sweepy. Ickle Sleepy Wardi go beddy-byes~" Her motherly persona was more annoying aunt than mother.

Fack sake mun. Stop bullying me! Wardi thought whilst sob-laughing away.

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