Years ago, Aurora and her three bodyguards came to Arezilia to talk to Ci, The Ice Witch. There was Aurora and Benjiro, of course, but two others: a muscular man with short orange hair and a scar on his face. He had regular clothing on and a breastplate over top of it, and then there was a woman with long lavender hair tied in a ponytail. She had on an indigo Chinese dress with high heels. The four of them arrived in the frozen town where Ci resided in.

Aurora: Goodness, it is a ghost town!

Woman: L-Lady Aurora, please be careful!

Man: Oh, she will be fine, Julia!

Julia: You say that, Katsuo, but she gets careless!

Aurora: Oh, you two, I will be alright as long as I have you three!

Benjiro: Let's get moving; we don't have time to waste. My guess is if those Federation bastards are eyeing this place...we don't want to stay longer than we need to.

They all nodded as they headed to the tower door, which was frozen over. Katsuo walked over to it and unleashed several fire pillars into the door, melting the door completely. The four walked in as they headed up the stairs to the throne room where Ci awaited them, drinking her tea as always.

Ci: Sister...what do I owe the pleasure?

Aurora: H-Hello dear sister...I just wanted to speak with you-

Ci: I've been stuck in my tower for decades, yet this is the first time you wish to speak to me?! What do you want? You know better than to lie...

Aurora: I...want you to join me in my new kingdom!

Ci: I refuse.

Aurora: W-Why?!

Ci: Simple, because I do not wish to leave to go to a place you rule.

Aurora: B-But sister, I just want us to be together again!

Ci: I appreciate your offer...but if I don't stay here, then the Ice Shackle is lost...

Benjiro: Can you not just pick it up and take it with you?

Ci: Who are they...?

Aurora: My...bodyguards-

Ci: You are a Witch; you don't need them to guard you!

Julia: It's her choice to-

Ci: Silence!

The room started to get colder as Ci stood up and glared at the group.

Ci: I have had enough of this useless conversation...leave now!

Aurora:...Come on, let's return home.

Benjiro: After all that traveling, we are just going to leave?!

Aurora: If someone doesn't wish to leave, I won't force them. That includes you three. If you want to stay here and bicker or fight...that is your choice. But I am returning home.

Aurora walked out as the other three looked at each other. Katsuo quickly followed behind her as Julia followed him. Benjiro glared at Ci.

Ci: Well, will you stay or go, guard dog?

Benjiro: You can't stay here forever...just know one day that you will have to leave this damn tower! When you do...you better come see Aurora!

Ci: We will see dog, now go to your queen.

Benjiro followed the group as they all left the frozen town. After the first story was told, Ci took a deep breath.

Ci: I regret that day; I wanted to leave but was scared to, truthfully.

Itsuki: So there were two others...so what happened to them?

Benjiro: I'm getting to that...just give me a second to finish my smoke. I wouldn't say I like thinking about that story.

Benjiro blew his last smoke and put his cigarette out as he locked his fingers together, resting his chin on them and looking ahead.

Benjiro: This was a few years ago...we had a small run-in with the AWF inside the city walls. Aurora was safe in the castle, and the three of us were stationed outside it to protect her.

Benjiro shut his eyes as he visualized the story while telling it. Benjiro, Julia, and Katsuo were all fighting off the AWF. Benjiro had his sword, Julia had a green trident, and Katsuo was using just his magic.

Julia: Where did they all come from?! The city walls are well guarded; we should have seen them!

Katsuo: We probably had a double agent somewhere that let them in! Damnit, I told her to run background checks on people!

Benjiro: Less bickering, more fighting, you two! We can't let them get to Aurora!

A large armored knight strolled toward them as the three continued to fight. His black armor was seething with purple magic energy as he laughed at them, wielding a giant sword on his shoulders.

Man: You must be the guardians of the Witch! Let me introduce myself as the Commander of the 6th Seat of the Anti-Witch Federation, William Hazenberg!

Julia: A Seat Commander!

Benjiro: Just our damn luck...

Katsuo: Benjiro, what is our play?

William: Simple, fight me!!!

William rushed at the three at high speeds, which was surprising due to the weight his armor must have been. Katsuo put up a Great Barrier, a Grade 9 version of the Barrier spell, to protect them from the incoming attack. Julia used some AWF as stepping stools as she jumped over the barrier to try and stab William from above, but he simply knocked her out of the way. Benjiro shot a few Gales at him, but nothing cut his armor.

Benjiro: So it's like I thought...his armor is reinforced with magic!

William: You are damn right it is! But three-on-one is a bit unfair..., and these pissants of members we have here are not worth a damn thing! So I brought a friend with me!

William raised his arm and snapped his fingers, laughing underneath his helmet as a giant gold and purple Wyvern flew down to him.

Katsuo: A Wyvern?! No...not just one, that's a Yugure! A Wyvern class said to be only summoned by the darkest of hearts!

Benjiro: Sounds about right, considering it came from a damn Federation member!!

William: I don't think I'm all that bad! Now, let's continue our fight!

Julia: Benjiro, head inside and protect Aurora!

Benjiro: Like hell, I will; I'm not leaving you two behind...besides, it's better odds for us if we stick together!

Katsuo: Benjiro is right, Julia! Let's focus on one target and finish this quickly!

Julia: You two are a pain, y'know that?! But I guess I can accept your plans; let's kick their ass!!

The three regrouped and stood their ground as William laughed again at them. The Yugure roared loud as it stood behind William, stretching its head beside him as the two looked at the three guardians.