Two and a half days passed without incident. Fox spent the evenings training with the sword, though Reverend Peppy said the real test would be in battle with an enemy.
"The magic is a fickle thing," he explained. "Sir Fox could hold the sword in his hands even as a child, but the first time he impulsively tried to wield it in battle, it shocked him so badly his fur was burnt, and he couldn't close his hand for a week. Yet I cannot lay a finger upon it unprotected, nor can anyone else."
"Magic," Slippy echoed. "Still hard to believe it's read, and I've seen the proof!"
"Do you not have magic on your world?"
"Krystal is the closest thing we have to magic," Falco answered as Fox joined them, done or the evening. The reverend smiled.
"There is much magic in our world. There is Healing magic, such as mine, which comes from the gods above, a gift of faith. Also there is Mind Magic, such as Lady Krystal's powers. That is a mystical, foreign magic yet to appear on Corneria. Then there are the Counter Magics, the Dark Magics - like what Andross casts - and the Light Magics, such as casted by Magus Caruso."
"Caruso?" Krystal echoed. "As in Panther Caruso?" The reverend chuckled.
"It seems with every name I mention, you know of them already."
"So I guess Leon and Wolf have doubles here as well," Falco grumbled.
"Yes, which is why I'm a little nervous. This is a part of Lord O'Donnell's land, and since Andross declared all the 'landless' knights outlaws, he could rightly kill us if he caught us. Andross made Sir Fox 'landless' by claiming his manor, after all." Peppy turned to Krystal. "And the Magus has had his eye on Lady Krystal for some time now." Krystal shuddered. "Lord O'Donnell isn't exactly our enemy, but nor is he an ally. Some say he made some sort of deal with Andross to keep his land, and he's sold his services a time or two as well."
"I'd think one such as you wouldn't give ear to rumors," came a smooth, familiar voice. They all looked, startled, to see that two figures on horseback had crept up on them: Panther Caruso and Leon Powalski. Panther wore long dark blue robes that easily would've gone to his ankles, regular boots, and a purple sash across hit chest from left to right, a rose stitched over the heart. Leon's attire was not unlike Falco's, albeit more dark in hue.
"What?" the lizard asked. "No witty remarks, Falco? No - ahem - 'piercing' comments?" Falco just about responded, but Fox grabbed his arm and shot him a look. The younger set went silent as Peppy spoke up.
"Magus Caruso and Sir Leon, we aren't here seeking trouble. Please leave us be."
"You are on Lord O'Donnell's land," Panther pointed out casually as he fingered a crystal pendant on his neck. "We could kill you for that."
"I beg of you not to. We are trying to rid our lands of Andross' evil."
"Evil is only determined by which side of the fence you sit upon," Panther countered. "I assure you, evil does not consider itself evil." he gave them all a searching look, his eyes lingering on Krystal, making Fox's fur rise in ire. Then he put the crystal close to his ear, as if listening, before nodding. "Leon."
"Yes/"
"We leave. Lord O'Donnell had decided to spare them." Leon didn't look too surprised.
"Until next time, Falco," Leon sneered, before turning his horse and riding off.
"Reverend, farewell." Panther made as if to leave too. Peppy spoke up.
"Magus, wait." Panther paused. "Why did Lord O'Donnell spare us? Andross has placed a hefty bounty on our heads." Panther looked over his shoulder at them.
"Most rumors are based off of a grain of truth. Innocent blood has been shed upon Lord O'Donnell's land, thus the bargain is off." And he quickly galloped away.