From the mist, everyone watched how Noel, as if he was casual strolling around, walked to the prisoners at the campfire. Since Lia couldn't allow Noel to go alone, Mika volunteered to go with him. Before that he summoned everyone else a talisman.
Lia wanted to go alone but Xavi and Susa refused to be left behind.
"We're going with you," Susa resolutely said and her firm expression allowed no rejection.
"Ok," Lia had no choice but to agree, "We'll sneak in while Noel and Mika distract them."
The campfire was in the middle of the village with houses on every side, which meant that there were no blind spots for the prisoners who sat in a circle, to discover them.
Yet luckily the campfire was the only light source illuminating the village in the darkness of the night. The fire only provided light two metres away from its source while the houses were at least eight metres away.
If Lia and the others managed to be as quiet as possible, they wouldn't draw any attention and if they were quick enough only their fleeting shadows could be seen by the prisoners that sat facing them.
Lia waited until the commotion started when Noel and Mika appeared before the prisoners and gave Susa and Xavi the signal to go. They had to sneak into the village, away from the mist as the white background instantly gave them away.
Trailing behind the houses, they saw how Noel was trying to appease the prisoners. Some of them stood up and laughingly closed in on Noel and Mika.
Susa pointed at a house a short distance away. Since they were in the back of the house, they were able to avoid the fence but couldn't enter through the front.
The back had a window but the glass was intact and Lia didn't shatter it as it would create unnecessary attention. Through the window, it was too dark to see anything but Susa was sure that Nana and Lily were in the house after she touched the wooden build of it.
Suddenly loud noises appeared from the centre. The prisoners were in a heated argument. They had to speed things up before the prisoners would scatter and find them.
This was also the perfect opportunity to break the window, however, Xavi held his hand up and formed a power orb the size of a bean.
This power orb was brought along the window frame and created tiny holes. Like a black void, everything that came into contact with it was sucked away and destroyed into nothingness.
Lia and Susa were both amazed before Xavi whispered, "Hold the glass!"
The glass was removed from the window from all four sides and was easily taken out. Lia and Susa put the glass on the ground and saw the clean, smooth edge Xavi's power left behind on the window frame.
Since the window was on the smaller side, only Xavi was able to fit through. With Lia holding him up, Xavi climbed through the window and disappeared in the house.
Lia and Susa could do nothing but wait outside and keep watch. Moments later, Xavi reappeared with Lily and Nana who both were overjoyed to see them. Tears threatened to spill from their eyes.
Yet the problem was now to escape without anyone noticing. The window was too small for them to fit through and they couldn't leave through the front door.
However, Xavi was quicker and with his power orb cut the whole window out while the rest of the four held onto it before Lia and Susa put it on the ground on their side.
One after another one, Xavi, Lily and Nana came jumping out and Lia rushed to hug them. They quietly exchanged their joyful reunion before sneaking back to the mist.
Noel and Mika were still talking to the prisoners and Lia needed to give them a signal to retreat, however, this wasn't necessary anymore as they've already been found out by the prisoners.
"They're running away! We've been tricked!"
"Get them!"
Noel turned around and caught Lia and the others.
"Quick," he shouted to Mika, rushing towards Lia. Lia and the rest already held hands waiting for the last two to reach and join them.
With the prisoners in pursuit and throwing their weapons, Noel and Mika ran and held hands with Lia before they all disappeared into the mist, leaving behind an angry bunch of prisoners cursing and stomping around.
"That was easy," Noel grinned and led everyone to his place yet Mika wasn't of the same opinion, "It would've been easier if you didn't provoke them."
"Noel has a twisted personality, you can't help but accept it," Lia casually remarked and seeing the circumstances Noel was living in, the same thought crossed her mind again. No wonder he turned out this way.
Noel just laughed the insult away, "All things ended well. No need to dig it up again."
Mika rolled his eyes. Despite feeling slightly annoyed by Noel, he had to admit he was still impressed by Noel.
He provoked and teased the prisoners without batting an eye. Noel had confidence and despite things getting dire, he was still smiling and unfazed.
Mika aspired to reach that level of confidence but at the same time didn't want to become as crooked as Noel. Every upside had a downside.
Once they arrived in front of the mansion, Noel knocked on the gate. The first attendant opened the door and a hint of relief was heard in his voice.
"Young Master you have brought guests."
"Yes, give them each a room to stay."
"However-"
"My old man can say what he wants, I don't care."
"Very well," the servant slightly smiled and beckoned everyone to follow him.
The mansion was as huge as Mika's yet the interior was as bleak and gloomy as the outside, however, Noel didn't seem to mind it.
The attendant gave them rooms next to Noel's telling them to make themselves comfortable while he and Noel excused themselves to see Elder T.
Everyone assembled in Lia's room. It was a large suite with no walls to separate the bedroom and the living room. The only noticeable difference was that the bedroom was slightly alleviated, standing on a plateau while the living room was on normal level.
They sat on the sofa while Lia asked, "You aren't hurt?"
Lily and Nana shook their heads.
"I was able to grow tiny wings but it was useless," Nana hung her head low.
"It's ok," Xavi patted her on the shoulders, "We'll train more."
"I'm sorry, young master and everyone for giving you so much trouble. I wasn't able to protect us from danger."
"Don't worry, Lily, you're unharmed, right?" Xavi patted Lily on the head when Lily buried her face into her hands. It was painfully clear how weak and useless she felt.
"Like Xavi said we just need to train more, it's not your fault alone, I shouldn't have suggested we separate," Lia did her best to comfort Lily but the mood was still heavy.