Chapter 27: Chapter 22: confronting Karen x keeping promise
Albion POV
After 10 minutes of walking, me and Kuroka arrive at the front of the blue pegasus head quarters. I can smell the zodiac keys, which means that Karen is inside.
Kuroka:"You ready for this nya?" she asked while sitting on my shoulder.
Me:"Yes." I replied steeling my resolve.
I then walk into the Blue Pegasus guild hall that looks lake a bar/host club, with several unfamiliar scents I try to focus on the zodiac keys that are in Karens possesion to find her.
Karen:"HOW DARE HE DO THIS TO ME!?"
Looks like that won't be necessary with our target screaming at the top of her lungs.
Kuroka:"That was easier then I though nya." she said while folding her ears to shield them from Karens yelling.
Me:"No kidding."
We turn to the source of the yelling to find her at the bar in the same outfit that I remember from the anime. I also see Blue Pegasus's guild master Bob behind the counter.
As we get closer to Karen to confront her, we hear Master Bob talking.
Bob:"I did try to warn you that this would happen. Celestial spirits are living beings just like you and me, treating them the way you do will only backfire on you in the end."
Karen:"Oh please, he'll come crawling back in due time."
Me:"That does not seem likely." I cut in causing Master Bob and Karen to look at us in surprise.
Bob:"Oh my, aren't you two a coupe of cuties." he said causing me to feel shivers up my spine.
Hey I don't mind if a guy wants to cross-dress but only if they can pull it off, and he does not pull it off.
Karen:"You don't know what you're talking about kid."
Me:"Don't I? You see, Leo is an old friend of mine." I said causing them wo widen their eyes as I continue. "Before you ask, I am not a celestial spirit and I never formed a contract with Leo. He and I hung out a few times and we became friends. So when I heard how horribly he and Aries were treated..."
Karen:"Why do you care How I treat them? they are Only tools for me to use as I see fit." she said interrupting me with a glare in her eyes.
Me:"I did say that Leo was my friend didn't I?" I said while looking at Kuroka ignoring Karen.
Kuroka:"I kinda feel sorry for Leo for having someone like her holding his key nya."
As she said that, Master Bob hada a look of surprise while Karen had a look of anger. Master Bobs surprise is natural, it is not often that you see a talking cat. But Karens was too angery to be surprised by a talking cat.
Karen:"What did you mean by that?" She said while glaring at Kuroka.
Kuroka:"We just said that Leo is our friend, so why wouldn't we care how hes being treated nya?" she said causing Karen to seeth as Kuroka continued. "Having someone as stupid as you as a celestial wizard is hard for Leo and Aries nya."
Karen:"HOW DARE YOU!!" She yell as she charged toward us or more specifically Kuroka as her rage peaked.
Bob:"Karen don't!"
Master Bob tried to stop her but is too late as I raised my right hand to use magic.
Me:"[wood dragon: Lacquered chain prison]." I said as a wooden vine shoots from my arm and wrapped around Karen while lifting her into the air.
I modelled this spell after My Hero Academias Kamui woods ultimate move, So I can capture one or multiple targets without unnecessary injuring them.
My spell caused everyone around us to be surprised that Karen was subdued so easily. But I can tell that she barely has any magic power because Leo has been staying in this world for over a month. Though even if she did have her maximum magic power, I highly doubt that she can defeat me when she needs to rely on celestial spirits to fight for her.
Karen:"What the hell is this?"
Me:"That is my [wood dragoon slayer magic]."
Bob:"[dragon slayer magic]? Like that fire ball Maki found?"
Maki? Oh right I almost forgot that Master Bob was once a member of Fairy Tail with master Macarov and people who knew him back then called him 'Maki.'
And the 'fire ball' that he's referring to must be Natsu.
Me:"You could say that." I said with a slight smile on my face thinking of Natsu before my smile vanishes as I look at Karen and Continued. "I was going to try to convince you to change the way you treat celestial spirits, but I can see that My efforts would be wasted on someone who attacks people who call you out on your flaws."
Karen:"You brat." she said while gritting her teeth.
Me:"I recieved permission from the Celestial Spirit King to develope a spell and will give you a choice." I said as I put my hands into position causing master Bobs eyes to widen again as I continued. "I will give you to the count of 3 to swear that you'll change the way you treat celestial spirits, terminate your contracts with Leo and Aries and relinquish their keys to me, or I will use this spell on you."
I can tell that Master Bob knows the position of my hands is similar to [Fairy Law] since both it and [Celestial Law] used the dark magic spell [Law] as a base. Also, [Fairy Law] is one of the three grand fairy spells, as a former member he know
Me:"1..." I start the count as I channel my magic energy.
Karen:"If you think I am dumb enough to give up 2 zodiac keys, then your crazy." she said with venom in her voice.
Me:"2..." I said as I flip my hands.
Bob:"Karen just give up, you don't know what this spell will do to you."
Master Bob Keeps trying to warn Karen but of course she refuses to listen so it is time for her judgement.
Me:"3... Time is up." I then clap my hands and all the magic energy I gathered is sent to Karen as I said "I envoke [Celestial Law]."
The light I released is so bright that I am sure that it can be seen throughout the town and even to the ruins where Leo is currently waiting.
I can tell that Karens magic power is increasing and I can sense the connection between her and the keys has been broken.
A wicked smile began to creep up on Karens face as the light from my spell starts to fade, she likely noticed that her magic power has been restored.
Karen:"Hahahahaha. Your spell did nothing to me, now you will pay for disrespecting me!" she yelled as she took out a golden key and continued. "[Open gate of the ram Aries]!"
When she tried to summon Aries there was no response at all. She tried 3 more times with absolutely no results, this is the definition of insanity.
Me:"Are you sure that my spell didn't work?" I said with a grin on my face.
Kuroka:"Fufufufu."
Karen:"What did you do!?" she yelled in frustration.
Me:"My spell was designed to be used on celestial wizards. You see, if the caster judges the target to be unworthy of being a celestial wizard then it will forcefully terminate all contracts between the wizard and their celestial spirits. Also as I am sure you noticed, your magic power was restored; that you could say was compensation for the forceful terminations of contracts." I said with a serious look on my face.
Karen:"Then why can't I summon Aries!?"
Me:"That would be the final effect of this spell; once used on someone, they will never be able to use [celestial spirit magic] ever again. Even if you were to obtain a new [celestial spirit key], you would never be able to summon the spirit associated with that key. To put it simply, for the rest of your life you will no longer be a celestial wizard."
When she heard the last sentence she had a look of horror with tears forming in her eyes, likely thinks that she can no longer work to earn money. But it seems that shee hasn't figured out the caveat behind my words.
I get the feeling that she won't listen to me if I tell her.
Bob:"Wait, from what you said, she can't use [celestial spirit magic] but could she use other types of magic?" he asked causing Karen to have a hopeful expression as she looked at master Bob and me.
Me:"I shouldn't be surprised that Blue Pegasus's guild master figured out." I said with a smirk on my face before continuing. "Yes, the spell prevents my target from using [celestial spirit magic] for the rest of their lives but they can use other types of magic but she has to learn from scratch." I then pull out a book on magic from my [haven bag] and continued. "This is a book on how to use [light magic]. If you are diligent enough in training, you will be able to use this magic and you can earn money taking requests at your guild."
As I said the last sentence, I lowered Karen to the floor where she fell to her knees and looked into my eyes and asked me a question.
Karen:"Your really giving me that book?"
Me:"Giving to you? No. But I am willing to trade you Leo and Aries keys for it since you can't use them anymore. But it is up to you."
Her face went into one of contemplation after I gave her my conditions for recieving a book on using [light magic]. I did not want to leave her with absolutely nothing, but not everything in life is free.
I thought that if she learns to use [light magic] and can fight on her own, there may be a chance that she'll realize the burden that she always places on Leo and Aries. But I won't hold my breath on that.
After 3 minutes Karen looked me in the eye and gave me her answer.
Karen:"Fine, you have a deal." she said as she took out her golden keys.
I held out the book with my left hand at the same time that she extended the zodiac keys.
Me:"For what is worth, I will take care of Aries and make sure Leos key goes to a celestial wizard who will treat him as a person and not as a tool." I said as I turn around to leave before I hear Karen behind me.
Karen:"Why did you really do all of this? Something tells me that it wasn't for Leo and Aries."
Me:"Why did I do this? Half of the reason was for Leo and Aries but there is another reason." I said before turning just mt head to look at her and continued. "If you continued to act the way that you did, you would have been dead in two months taking a job that you could not handle because you didn't listen to Leo or your Guild master. And if you were to die like that, then there would be people who would be sad." I wasn't lying about that since I knoww what could have happened, but there was another reason was that I wanted to form a contract with Aries myself but they dont need to know that.
Bob:"He's right you know Karen." he said causing me and Karen as he continued. "There are people in the guild who truly care about you and would be sad if you died like that. But thanks to this young man, you don't have to take such a dangerous job and none of our guild members have to grieve."
After Master bob said that, Karen seems to have a look of realisation and tears form in her eyes.
Me:"We will be leaving now. " I said before leaving with Kuroka on my shoulder.
Kuroka:'You know we could have eaten here right?' she asked telepathically.
Me:'Yes but I don't want members of Blue Pegasus hitting on us every 5 seconds while we are trying to eat.' I replied knowing the personalities of some of the members of Blue Pegasus.
Kuroka:'Good point, that would be annoying.'
Me:"By the way Master Bob, I am not joining Blue Pegasus. I know you were going to ask when you saw my [dragon slayer magic]." I said without looking back.
Bob:"Oh dear, looks Like I was rejected before I had the chance to ask." he said in a sad tone that I suspect was fake and that he was not going to give up so easily. "Will we see you again?"
Me:"Who knows." I said as we reached the front door to the guild hall.
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Kuroka and I went back to the ruins to let Leo what happened, that he and Aries are no longer bound to Karen. Though I am sure that he must have already felt it, considering the he was contracted to her.
Me:"Hey Leo, we're back."
Kuroka:"Hey Leo nya."
Leo:"Hey guys. I felt my connection to Karen disappear. was that your doing?"
Me:"Yes." I said as I took out his and Aries keys. "She wouldn't listen to reason so I used the [celestial law] spell on her. She is still alive and I gave her a book on how to use caster-type [light magic] so she can still be a wizard and earn money."
Leo:"Why give have learn caster-type magic?"
Me:"So she can fight on her own and if she fights engough battles shell see the burden she pllaced on you and Aries. But I won't hold my breath on that." the last sentence caused Leo to chuckle lightly.
Leo:"Well thanks for saving Aries."
Me:"It's no problem. any friend of yours is a friendd of mine and I always help my firends when I can. Now lets find a good place to eat you can join us so we can catch up. And for the record, I am not eating at the Blue Pegasus guild hall. Master Bob makes me nervous."
Leo:"I understand." he said with another light chuckle. "I know of a good place we can grab a bite."
Then we head back into town to keep my promise to kuroka to eat a meal in town.