Final check-in: Front A

Queen Catherine watches the man of gold from the shadows between two buildings, temporarily on her own, as she bides her time. So far, he isn't doing much but standing completely still. His eyes peer around him--scanning, waiting. Through the thunder of people fleeing and screaming from the chaos and confusion, one voice rings out loud and clear enough to pierce through all others. Though it comes from a distance, it's as if the man is near. Surely this is the work of magic. Catherine peaks around the corner and casts her attention towards the direction of the castle in the center of Tolis--what should be her own.

It's King Thadius. Atop the roof, he speaks into a horn that carriers his voice far enough for the entire city to hear. "My dear citizens of Tolis! You have no reason to fear. We may have a dangerous intruder in our city, but the mighty knights of Tivera will keep you safe. One who wears the skin of our late-queen Catherine conspires with our enemy to take us down from the inside, but our most mighty guard of them all, the Golden Knight, will see this insect squashed before any dare to harm my precious citizens. Rejoice! For our enemy knows not of our strength. Our bravery. We are the Empire of Tivera, and we refuse to fall!"

His voice causes Catherine's skin to crawl, made even worse by the distant sound of cheering and applause. No longer do they fear this Golden Knight, despite his terrifying entrance. Now people are seeking her.

She feels a chill down her spine, and a nausea in her stomach. For a moment, it feels as if she can't move. Her eyes turn over to see the ELIS now staring directly at her. No longer is he waiting. Once she's in his sights, he turns and grips the sword in his hand as his eyes flash bright. She's been caught! Quickly, Catherine turns her heel and runs down the alley behind her, and she dares not turn despite hearing the sound of bricks shattering, and hefty footfalls tearing up the dirt behind her. She takes the next turn sharp, and runs with all of her strength in a calculated direction. If anyone were to know the streets of this city, it should be who rules it. This is her city--her empire. The man chasing her may be faster, but he knows not the winding alleyways, the shortcuts, or the quickest way to where she wishes to go--the castle itself, to face King Thadius directly.

Before she can be seen, she pulls open a doorway in the shadow between two buildings. Though as soon as she does, a pair of hands grabs her and pulls her in even quicker. The door shuts, and she's held with a hand around her mouth until the sound of the automaton disappears.

When she's released, she stumbles forwards and reaches for her sword, though the two girls looking back aren't armed.

They're both bunnyfolk with short hair--one pink, one green. The pink-haired girl, who seems to be less endowed, is also the one who speaks up first. "So we ended up finding her first. I wonder if we'll get a bonus from this."

Both girls wear shorts and crop tops, as well as tall boots that reach their knees.

The other girl speaks next. "I'm Ginny."

"I know we were tasked to bring her to safety, but maybe telling our names to the queen isn't the smartest idea," says the first. Then she sighs. "Whatever. I'm Pepper. And for us helping you out, you better be lenient if the guards catch us again. You're trying to get to the castle, right?"

"... How do you know that?" asks Catherine.

"The criminal underbelly of this empire runs wide," she says, wiggling her fingers in a spooky manner. "That and we were given a crash course of what's going down. Something to do with the Demon King Kyle Warren. Anyway, not everyone is chill with King Thadius, you know. So stop questioning it and come with us already."

Following an explosion, the pair turns to see Ginny already peering out the window, and they inch closer to join her.

The so-called Golden Knight is locked in heated combat with somebody else of similar colour. Lady Malakae Vraelion raises her hand--fingers curled in like claws--as she stares at the automaton with piercing eyes. "Volley of Embers!" she calls out as she throws her hand up towards the sky. Sparkes soar into the air above their confrontation. Around them are abandoned market stalls and a mess of broken wood and stone. Thankfully, everyone else has long since fled.

Her opponent dashes forwards. The ELIS grabs his sword with two hands, vaults towards her, but is ultimately too late. The sparks turn into burning arrows, which rain down upon where he stands. While each strike may not be devastating, the overwhelming **** forces him to raise his hands and shield his body from the fiery shower. Wagons of food burst and snap apart while several burning cabbages roll by his feet. It's quite the destructive battle.

"Quick, this way," Pepper whispers.

Malakae glances around her. "I need to find Catherine, and quickly. Damn. If only I didn't need to go get dressed. Maybe I should have stuck by her sided, but... n-naked," she mumbles to herself as she seems a bit distracted.

The ELIS has recovered, however. Albeit a little burned, he strikes out with his sword.

"Ward!" the gold dragon shouts, creating a temporary shield to buffer herself from the blow, just enough to retreat backwards. She turns her eyes down the street to her left when she hears a sound, and to her surprise, Catherine is there along with two colourful rabbits. They seem to be beckoning her to follow.

She looks back to the ELIS and grits her teeth. Besides her horns and confident beauty, she may appear at first like a normal woman, but that's certainly not the truth. Her blood grants her incredible power compared to a human. As a golden dragon, she possesses abilities beyond a simple mage. Her mana rages, and she looks far from running out. The flames of her magic roar with her fury, especially the shining spark forming at the tip of her nail. Before he can attack again, she calls out the magic words, "Beams of Flame!" The moment she does, a bright red laser strikes his body so quickly that he has no time to dodge. It bursts into a scorching hot ball of flames upon impact. After that, a second hits him even lower, sending him falling back. The third and fourth shroud him in smoke, giving Malakae ample time to flee.

Tempted as she is to try and finish him alone, she instead runs towards the other three girls, and together they make their way as quickly as they can do the foot of the castle.