Frost

IV. A Quagmire I

Munak hat, black coat... No wonder he found the Wizard familiar. Damn it... why him again?? Vincent's face turned a little red --- he still had not forgotten the Creamy episode.

Akira chucked a little in disgust. No wonder... it's the same mage.

But he honestly had no time to contemplate his bad luck now, considering their current situation. I've gone this far anyway... and his hand began a chant position.

"Quagmire!!"

Immediately a swamp formed at the whole area infront of him, trapping all the goblins including the mage. The mage's eyes widened a little at this, a bit alarmed at his situation, and the goblins a lot more with their feet having difficulty wading through the murky substance --- but Akira was not yet finished.

"Lord of Vermillion!"

Vincent's world was suddenly plunged into darkness, and an unearthly sound suddenly began rising to a crescendo from nowhere, making him cover his ears. Shortly afterwards bright hot flashes of light began streaking at all directions from that murky darkness, some narrowly missing him, and began to be so painful to look at that Vincent also closed his eyes though he was in the warm safety of the Wizard's protective coat.

Though his palms were pressed very tightly to his ears, he could still hear the dying howls and wails of the goblins around him, as they were struck by a force they couldn't see --- probably those scalding bright flashes of light.

Vincent, at that very moment, really felt as if he had been thrusted into a nightmare.

"...Hey. Hey, wake up, Sleeping Beauty," a voice eventually called out to him, and Vincent opened his eyes to find the Wizard smirking at him. "It's over." He automatically glared back, pulling himself off from the cover of the Wizard's coat.

That was when he saw the carcasses of the goblins half-buried in the murky quagmire around him, most of those who still had faces frozen in a scream of death.

"Impressive, isn't it," the Wizard spoke up, and Vincent looked up again to see that trademark smirk growing wider. "They're just like toast for me."

Vincent was really considering flinging the protective coat back at the proud Wizard's face, but then he was very polite. "Thank you for saving me." Though I didn't really need your help, he added mentally, trying not to grit his teeth.

The smirk suddenly turned into a sly smile. Maybe Vincent was just reading into it too much, but it seemed... suggestive? He almost shuddered, instantly regretting that he even gave his thanks. He should have foreseen that the Wizard was just one of those types who would likely say...

"That's not for free. That deserves something in return," the Wizard drawled coolly.

Vincent still can't help but tense a little. "And what would you like me to give you in return?"

Akira slowly dragged his eyes down Vincent's form in response. It made Vincent shift uncomfortably despite himself. What the hell is he looking at...? Those eyes eventually ended to meet his own, and for a moment Vincent thought that he was going to drown in those deep dark depths...

...when suddenly the Wizard grinned. "Well, you can cook for me!"

Vincent just stared blankly at the Wizard, but deep inside he really felt relieved. He honestly thought that the Wizard might actually be a member of those group of robbers around Rune Midgard who loved to leave their victims naked --- what with the way the Wizard raked his eyes over him. There was something more intense with the way the Wizard did it though... something Vincent really couldn't put a finger on... but he immediately shrugged off the uneasiness of not knowing what it was.

"I'm not too good a cook, but I think I can fix something," Vincent muttered, starting to turn away to head for the nearest warp portal.

And he almost fell facedown in the process, if he hadn't managed to catch his balance in time. It's as if his legs couldn't move... He looked down in disbelief.

They were still trapped in the murky quagmire. Even if the swirling quagmire looked viscous enough like soup, Vincent actually felt as if his legs were encased in cement.

"Ahaha... I forgot..." the Wizard spoke up sheepishly, realizing the situation. "My Quagmire actually lasts for about 20 hours, and nothing can move in it until that time ends."

Vincent raised his stunned eyes to the Wizard's. "What?"

"And there's no counterspell for it," the Wizard added, quite apologetically. "If you want to try freezing it and casting it some lightning though, you have to be prepared to lose your legs..."

"I'm going to be stuck here for almost a day??" Vincent was almost incredulous. He tested at his legs again, to no avail. The quagmire was up to his kneecaps, so even attempting to sit was impossible. He glared at the Wizard.

Akira almost pitied the mage at his predicament, but then he wasn't stupid enough that he would wade in the quagmire himself to join with the suffering. So as an alternative peace offering he sat down in his place instead, and lazily drawled out at the mage, "I'll wait it out with you if you want. I wouldn't want to pass up the free meal you owe me, ne?" Actually, that was more of an offering to look out for any long-ranged attackers who would attempt to take advantage of the mage's immobility.

The mage just hissed slightly in response, and looked away. Akira yawned --- he guessed that this was going to be a pretty long wait.


They managed to get through the 20 hours without too much problems, except for a certain pack of archer goblins which Akira took care off with a simple swipe of his hand. The matter of meals Akira also remedied by tossing Vincent some fruits from nearby trees.

No words have been further exchanged since Akira's offer to wait the quagmire out with the mage. And somehow Akira felt lucky that the silence did not actually drive him crazy.

"3... 2... 1..." Akira eventually counted by the end of the 20 hours, and after a while watched the quagmire slowly dissipate to the ground along with the carcasses of the goblins that were trapped in it. He jumped up to his feet and stretched.

"Remember, you still owe me a meal," he yawned at the mage standing before him.

And watched as the mage began to fall forward.

"Hey..." Akira managed to catch the mage before he could hit the ground. He pushed at the mage's head to see what's wrong that he just fell like that, and was quite surprised to feel the mage's skin clammy cold.

"Sorry..." he heard the mage whisper at his shoulder, before totally passing out. Blood loss, exhaustion, and the strain of having to stand up for almost a day must have finally caught up to him. Akira scooped the mage up into his arms, momentarily quite alarmed in finding the mage a little too light for his build, and began walking towards the nearest warp portal.

"You still have to cook for me when you wake up," Akira muttered at the unconscious mage as he began to pass through the portal, "...And you badly have to eat too."