บท 565: Jolly Escape

Solaire "Indeed, but how are we going to escape with around forty people?" he questions.

Arie "Hmm, you got any idea where these air vents go?" he asks pointing to the stone grid preventing anything larger than a spider from going through it.

Solaire nods, "I do, they lead outside. However, there's quite a large drop from there to the ground floor." he mutters.

Arie "Well, unless you got any other ideas we best get moving."

Solaire nods, "I'll keep everyone calm, you open the cells. We cannot have them making too much noise or running off on their own." he says as he collapses the entrance towards the prison cells, preventing anyone else from getting in or out the regular way.

Elsewhere :

The Prospects had almost killed every single Witch Hunter present, the only people left to defend the king were his own entourage, though none of the Prospects attempting to harm him.

*Boom!*

The ground rumbles as the sound of stone collapsing echoes throughout the church, startling many of those present. What follows the explosion is many, many feet clanking against the marble, as reinforcements finally arrive. Almost every non-essential guard in the city had arrived and were now looking down menacingly at the Prospects. They all back up and behind Risryn as she finishes off yet another group of Witch Hunters.

King Mensfeld steps forth and points at the group, "You will all lay down your weapons and surrender! If you do not you will be killed, captured and tortured until you can't speak. Then, you will be staked atop a pyre along with the rest of the non-humans, magic users and traitors to Kaedwen!"

Risryn smirks under the mask, it seems by the recent explosion that her job was done here. She performs a hand signal to the Prospects behind her which has them all nodding, drawing their weapons... And stabbing themselves in the heart. They each begin to explode into Fold Particles as onlookers watch in awe at the display.

Mensfeld growls at Risryn, the last remaining person. "Stop the sorcery and come quietly!"

Risryn "I would, however, I've other things to attend to. But, be careful my liege. You might just find us waking you up one day." she says as she flourishes her sword before plunging it into her heart. She explodes into Fold Particles in a similar fashion to the others, her incessant chuckling creeping out those watching.

Mensfeld steps forward and tries to make a grab at some of the particles, finding that they aren't corporeal and simply pass through his flesh. He growls, "Men! Secure the city, arrest anyone wearing masks, and list rewards for anyone who can deliver one to me. Especially their bitch leader!" he exclaims angrily.

The king leaves while escorted by his guards, the nobility of Kaedwen not really sure about what to do. The party had been destroyed and the Reverend killed, along with most of the Witch Hunters.

Solaire and Arie had managed to control the prisoners, the former leading them out of the vents and onto the platform a few stories off of the ground. He sighs and reaches into his bottomless box, managing to find some rope but having nowhere to tie it, "I will hold the rope, you all descend."

The woman from earlier objects, "How would you get down then?"

Solaire grins, "Do not worry about me, I can handle myself."

They nod and begin to slowly climb down the rope, a few of the weaker ones being assisted by Arie, though there's a limit to how much help you can give while climbing. Eventually, though they all reach the bottom and look up to Solaire, wondering how he was going to get down. A few are shocked silent while others shout in fear as Solaire jumps off, they look away as he lands, not wishing to see their saviors crushed corpse.

Solaire "We should get moving, I fear we will have to fight our way out." he says, which quietens the shocked prisoners. They turn back and see Solaire standing there with his usual smile.

Arie grunts, "Enough gawking, we need to leave quickly."

Solaire "Ah, I forgot! We need to visit one place before we leave the city."

Arie "What? Do you not see the battalion of soldiers now manning the walls? If I didn't know any better I'd say Nilfgaard was invading!"

Solaire "I promise you my friend that I cannot leave without visiting this place."

Arie sighs, "Fine, we better do it quickly though!"

Solaire nods and begins moving directly under the wall where the shadows keep them hidden. They travel to the slums where those children were previously, however, it seems their huge group of people wasn't as quiet as they thought.

A small group of guards spot and stand before them, "You! What are all you freaks doing in our city?!?" the leader exclaims at the large mishmash of different races.

Solaire raises a hand at them, "I realise you are only soldiers and doing your duty, but if you do not let us pass then I will have to eliminate you."

The leader snorts, "Huh? You and what army?" he says as his men behind him begin to laugh.

Solaire shakes his head, "Always such simpletons, I humbly apologies to your families." he says as he raises his hand, conjures a lightning whip and swings it at the men, in but a moment all the men are now waist-high, this is mostly due to their legs being cut from their bodies. They scream in pain and terror as the grasp at their now detached legs, but Solaire has a task to complete and cannot have these men causing a ruckus.

*Flick*

*SLICE!, CRACKLE!"

The whip finishes them with ease, the technique proving to be incredibly useful when dealing with fodder.

Solaire smiles at the horrified group behind him and waves, "Come, I'd rather not destroy the city due to my selfishness." he says as he continues jogging towards his destination.