Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Elanavia, the island kingdom of magic and demi-human species, was an island surrounded by many like it, but the thing that elevated it above the rest was its bubbly queen of optimism. Elana–the seventh, a demi-djinn of no true form, only spirit. She'd granted happiness to her people by merely thinking of it, she'd made their fields ripe as they can be and their offsprings healthy and just as bubbly.

So then why? Why would there be discord amongst the councilmen and other royalty? The answer was simple, there's a special poison in utopia–the poison of satisfaction that strips the joys gained when achieving something through hardship.

'These people…'

Looking around as the deceptively human-looking demis walked Raven and his party through the streets, the mage couldn't help but feel something eerie about the smile and the waves from the islanders.

Living in identical houses made in the shape of mushrooms, some set on tall trees that covered the edges of the streets, each one seemed a mirror copy of the other with no variation. Jealousy of thy neighbor was plucked from the equations, for each had the same and everyone was just as…happy? Raven didn't think so, for as his eyes glanced over more bystanders, he noticed a pattern most concerning.

"How do you ration food exactly?" He asked the crocodile-tailed demi-human leading the battalion.

Glancing sideways at him, the mostly human-looking man, squinted his eyes in confusion.

"What ration?" He asked, unaware that food didn't appear just by thinking of it outside the island.

Now it was Raven's turn to be confused, but instead of pushing the matter further, he turned his gaze back to the people. Some were more plump than poppies while the others shriveled up and sickly.

"Something's up with these people…" Placing a hand on Raven's shoulder, Linkle picked up her pace and started walking beside him. Looking around herself, she tried to whisper a spell or two, but when nothing seemed to work yet again, she said to Raven in a whisper. "My magic's useless here, I'm guessing the same for everyone. Be careful when picking a fight."

"Yeahhh, I felt that too. If it comes to it, we'll have to rely on Erika's runes and hard non-magic weapons," the mage had felt that change in himself just as Linkle had, but in his case with a trickle of corruption still left inside him, Raven at least had something to defend himself with.

But that also meant…

'If she gets hurt those devils will come again and Maine might get possessed, who the hell knows at this point?'

Looking sideways at the witch, Linkle truly hoped that it wouldn't come to relying on those demons to help them out of a sticky situation.

"I think Aria would be our best bet if it comes down to a fight," Linkle added, oblivious to Raven's concerns over her.

"That and whether Regalia can still use her blood to make weapons," although his own ability was reliant on mana, unsure whether the same applied to Regalia, he hoped that she still could use her powers. "We might need her to make a few for everyone who relies on magic."

As their journey to the queen's mansion continued, Raven kept looking around trying to absorb as much information about the people as possible. In between those musings, he wondered if teleportation would work or if it was also affected by the same thing running their magic. Not to mention the monster holding jewel, he hadn't tried to get anyone out, but there was a lingering possibility for the girls to be trapped inside if that bracelet was affected as well.

"Shit…" Hearing him curse, everyone in the party turned their heads at him. Even Mel and Aria, both of whom couldn't help but want to pester Erika more about what she'd revealed, were pulled out of their thoughts.

"What happened?" Asked Linkle, the sound of the soldiers' armors ringing in the background.

Through a flickering gaze, Raven could barely see anything from his mana-fused eye. The closer they were getting to this queen, the more his magic was being affected and now even the most resilient of items had finally given up.

"My eye is…acting up," Raven responded right as he lost all vision in that eye.

Losing sight in one eye, he still kept himself calm. Appearing weak or freaking out in front of the soldiers escorting them was far from a good idea. But the others' concern was painted across their faces and Raven couldn't even warn them telepathically since the eye was how he connected their brains.

"We're arriving soon," turning his head as he continued to march forward, the demi-human leader stared at Raven for a moment. "We've been told you're chosen people of some god or the other, but on this island, we only follow the spirits of our ancestors. Whatever you're selling, just keep it to yourself and you'll make it off this island without trouble."

Staring back at the demi-human with his iron sword in Raven's peripherals, the mage was ready to grab it and make use of his agility to knock the soldiers out if necessary. But holding back for now, he kept that thought sheathed–only to be taken out at the first sign of an emergency.

'Damn it, I can't see anything from one side…This will be difficult.'n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He could already imagine himself running into walls that his peripherals failed to take note of, even so, keeping himself as prepared as he could with one eye, Raven stood beside the soldiers as the party finally arrived at the uphill mansion.

The island's infrastructure and road followed a single uphill road, making it a rather steep climb, the worst of which could already be felt by the armed soldiers on their knees. Taking a few seconds to catch their breaths, the demi-crocodile gestured for the party to make their own way forward.

The gates leading to a garden and a fountain opened by themselves, inviting them in to meet the only person capable of using magic on this island; Queen Elana–the seventh.