Un-Chain

Most of the garden was on fire. Black smoke was blown around in the wind, sometimes obstructing the people in the middle of it. Dodging all of those fireballs had serious repercussions on the surroundings. Uteu briefly hoped Grello had a way to stop the fire before it spread to the mansion.

Oscar slowly lifted his leg, swaying it to and fro to regain feeling in it. He glared heatedly at Uteu as he was able to access his flames once again. A dozen small wisps of fire appeared out of the air around Oscar.

Having seen something similar before. Uteu could tell that it was another big attack. Perhaps Oscar's strongest attack.

Uteu was lucky last time since Harlin intercepted the spell. From what he could tell, the attack required a lot of concentration and time to form. He also knew he couldn't always stun the man either, the first time he had used the lightning from Grello, Oscar was hardly slowed down. He didn't think he'd be so lucky this time.

He gulped and tried to get into a position to run. He gently tugged at his chain to Grello in case he needed to pull out another attack. This also seemed to have gotten Grello's attention, quickly realizing Uteu's position.

In the corner of his eye he saw both Harlin and Grello getting up to interfere-

However, before Oscar could fully form his spell, a sultry voice called out to them.

"Oscarot Kendive and Lina Melson. Under orders from Master Jerion, you are to cease your attacks immediately."

Oscar immediately stopped his attack, the flames flickering out of existence. Uteu looked on in disbelief as Oscar looked panicked. The traces of hate in his eyes completely gone.

He could hear the clack of high heels so he turned his head in the direction the sound came from. Uteu caught sight of bright red clothes and long silky black hair. The m.a.t.u.r.e woman those two things belonged to, swayed her h.i.p.s. Her clothes flowed around the contours of her body. Not leaving much to the imagination.

"For two little ants from the Scouting Department to go so out of control... Hmph. Disgraceful." Her red lips curled in disgust. With a swish of her arm, a wave of water shot into the sky and rained down upon the flames and only the flames.

Uteu felt quite awed at her sense of control. He could feel that she was at quite a different level compared to Lina and Oscar.

Oscar and Lina meekly made their way towards her. Their heads bowed and their shoulders sagged. They opened their mouths to greet her but were both interrupted by a loud, "Ah~ my firecracker!"

The woman frowned once she turned towards the man calling out to her. Oscar and Lina both had disgusted looks on their faces. Grello had his arms wide open as if to embrace her. He had a smitten look on his face. Glancing back at the woman, Uteu noticed she had shivered and rubbed her arms up and down to calm her goosebumps.

"Grello Mandleton... Master Jerion has sent orders for me to retrieve you along with these two little scouts. There... was a misunderstanding." She tried to say as she backed away from Grello slowly.

"Oh~? They set fire to my gardens and attacked my chosen Chain and it was all just a misunderstanding? I won't believe that unless... you con~vince me?" Grello stopped before her, his arms that were spread open slowly crossed over his c.h.e.s.t. Oscar and Lina flinched.

She frowned again, "Their orders were sent by a lazy idiot in the Evaluation Department. We've demoted him and punished him accordingly."

She eyed the two scouts. She gave them a look as if to say, "You two should have known better." Oscar and Lina flinched again and didn't say anything.

Grello quirked an eyebrow, not quite satisfied but let her continue talking, "Both of these scouts were emotionally compromised. The lazy idiot didn't bother to read their files or come himself like he was supposed to. He left it all to these scouts."

Grello looked over at Lina and Oscar in disbelief. He turned back to look at the woman, ready to question her. However before he could say anything, she continued on.

"Which... which is why I was sent. I have orders to bring you back to the Forge Syndicate. These past four days... a lot of new information has come up and you need to be updated. A lot of orders and missions have changed. Your doves aren't enough to keep you fully informed right now." She restated her words with more incentive for Grello to leave with her.

Uteu had a bad feeling. She didn't mention a single thing about himself. He felt a bit worried. Was he going to be separated from Grello already?

"Hah... and I'm not even allowed to bring Uteu with me am I?"

The woman frowned as she glanced at Uteu. She carefully observed him from head to toe. Uteu frowned right back at her.

"I'm sorry no... while we and all of the other organizations are taking in all Chains and their Links so that they are aware of what's happening to them during this hectic time... You should be aware what the Scouting and Evaluation Departments were reformed for. He is... a very special case. You... are also a very special case, Grello you know that."

"Really... Melivy, can't you just-" Grello tried to reason with her.

"We will be having a meeting to determine what to do with him, I'm sure you'll want to be there."

Melivy stayed firm, ignoring Grello's flirty, pleading look. "I'm sorry Grello, orders are orders. I can allow you to take your maid with you though. We will heal her up properly in our facilities and of course we will compensate you both."

She brushed off the black hair that had fallen over her shoulder and gave Uteu a stern look.

"Uteu Drelden is to stay here until we have decided how we will go about this. He will not be harmed by the Forge Syndicate in anyway until we reach some type of conclusion. We will also later send protection once Grello Mandleton has reached the Syndicate. They will temporarily insure his safety in the case of other organizations targeting him."

Grello did not look appeased by Melivy's words in the least.

"I'd leave Lina and Oscar... however I think they'd sooner kill him and burn down your house." Melivy gave the two scouts a bland look. This, Grello could at least agree to.

As if suddenly remembering she added, "Uteu Drelden is also not allowed to form links with any of the people sent from the Syndicate to protect him. Links formed during this time will be seen as an act against the Syndicate."

Grello furrowed his eyebrows and glared at the woman.

"Really, Melivy is this necessary-"

"After he stole you from Undel? Yes."