Descendants of Time (Role-Play Act 5: Revolutionary Moment)
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Sherlock was back. Back to the strange place where he was, the steam and machinations of the underground surrounding him. Frederica was still holding her temples, but she was seemingly more concerned about him than herself.
“...Are you all right?”
Sherlock had his eyes shut. His breath was ragged, sweat was visible on his face, and his headache had returned, albeit, it was a milder pain. “I feel like I’ve just blacked out. Frederica, how much time has passed since you’ve come down with your headache? And are you alright”
“...Just now?” She said. “Did you see a vision or something? Normally one wouldn’t encounter such a- ugh, unless I go to the site, these spiritual signals will be too strong for me.” Frederica faced away from Sherlock. “You should leave, the spiritual energies are clearly having some effects on you. Either because of what I believe is true, about your true identity… or other unknown reasons. Whatever the case, safety definitely is lacking for you here, detective.”
Sherlock didn’t have much to argue here. It was clear whatever was going on was having an effect on him, and his safety was indeed being compromised, but more importantly, so was his single biggest lead. “It’s pretty dangerous for either of us to be alone, don’t you agree? Besides, I can’t exactly have you dying on me.”
“Indeed, but this is my duty, and I will not turn a blind eye to it. You must use the elevator yourself, the button lies to the wall over there,” Frederica said, pointing towards a certain glowing blue button that Her Majesty once used to have the elevator descend.
Frederica had already made it to the center room almost entirely unscathed, so Sherlock was at least somewhat sure that she could fend for herself. Leaving her behind would leave a bad taste in his mouth, but given that the alternative was to follow her and put the two of them in danger, the answer was obvious. “Fine. Following along could prove counter-productive, and that’s the last thing I will condone. Frederica, I know not of your abilities, but I expect you to survive. You’ve yet to grace me with the baking you are so proud of.”
“Oh I will not throw my life away so easily. I plan to live, that much is certain. We shall meet again, not in that messy condominium, but perhaps in my manor. Till then, farewell,” Frederica said. She drew upon her wand – a silver wand she carried – and moved it down vertically; slicing a portal before her. All Sherlock could see were stars beyond it, and a barren land. It closed as soon as Frederica stepped inside.
Well, I suppose that leaves out the part where I tail her while staying out of sight. I swear, I won’t ever fully be accustomed to magic. Sherlock reluctantly conceded. Sherlock inspected the area a bit, now noticing that he was inside something like a boiler room. He wondered why any kind of building, even one of this size, would need something that only a ship could even hope to use. He took note, but at least knew the way back if he so desired to return. The conditions outside might prove to be more critical than examining the place he was currently in anyways.
“...Are you all right?”
Sherlock had his eyes shut. His breath was ragged, sweat was visible on his face, and his headache had returned, albeit, it was a milder pain. “I feel like I’ve just blacked out. Frederica, how much time has passed since you’ve come down with your headache? And are you alright”
“...Just now?” She said. “Did you see a vision or something? Normally one wouldn’t encounter such a- ugh, unless I go to the site, these spiritual signals will be too strong for me.” Frederica faced away from Sherlock. “You should leave, the spiritual energies are clearly having some effects on you. Either because of what I believe is true, about your true identity… or other unknown reasons. Whatever the case, safety definitely is lacking for you here, detective.”
Sherlock didn’t have much to argue here. It was clear whatever was going on was having an effect on him, and his safety was indeed being compromised, but more importantly, so was his single biggest lead. “It’s pretty dangerous for either of us to be alone, don’t you agree? Besides, I can’t exactly have you dying on me.”
“Indeed, but this is my duty, and I will not turn a blind eye to it. You must use the elevator yourself, the button lies to the wall over there,” Frederica said, pointing towards a certain glowing blue button that Her Majesty once used to have the elevator descend.
Frederica had already made it to the center room almost entirely unscathed, so Sherlock was at least somewhat sure that she could fend for herself. Leaving her behind would leave a bad taste in his mouth, but given that the alternative was to follow her and put the two of them in danger, the answer was obvious. “Fine. Following along could prove counter-productive, and that’s the last thing I will condone. Frederica, I know not of your abilities, but I expect you to survive. You’ve yet to grace me with the baking you are so proud of.”
“Oh I will not throw my life away so easily. I plan to live, that much is certain. We shall meet again, not in that messy condominium, but perhaps in my manor. Till then, farewell,” Frederica said. She drew upon her wand – a silver wand she carried – and moved it down vertically; slicing a portal before her. All Sherlock could see were stars beyond it, and a barren land. It closed as soon as Frederica stepped inside.
Well, I suppose that leaves out the part where I tail her while staying out of sight. I swear, I won’t ever fully be accustomed to magic. Sherlock reluctantly conceded. Sherlock inspected the area a bit, now noticing that he was inside something like a boiler room. He wondered why any kind of building, even one of this size, would need something that only a ship could even hope to use. He took note, but at least knew the way back if he so desired to return. The conditions outside might prove to be more critical than examining the place he was currently in anyways.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Weiss looked as the magic circle glowed ever more. After the first time all the clones as well as Lumiere proclaimed a message which made no sense to Weiss, she had been feeling strange surges of spiritual energy, but what gave off the most strangest of energies was the ritual before her. Apparently in its final stages, the energy it gave was actually felt by her, which was strange in itself. Descendants couldn’t sense magic as far as Weiss knew. Was it spiritual energy here too, but how would magic cause the usage of spiritual energy?
“We’re almost done,” Lumiere said, as if answering to Weiss’ thoughts of impatience. “Can you check if it is crowded in the corridors? The situation might’ve changed.”
“Will do.” Weiss sneakily moved to the corridor that they came from and saw there were a lot more people than before. Most of them were either panicked or looking for something, or someone. She then returned to her informer.
“A lot of people are searching for someone. Some of them were panicked like they saw something that they were not supposed to see. Shall we move in and pretend that we didn’t know anything?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Lumiere then turned back to the glowing magic circle, and before long a bright flash of light was seen.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4S9AOXxR7A&)
Weiss was surprised yet again. In the middle of the magic circle stood her very employer now after the excess light cleared. She knew that it wasn’t just a clone just from looking at her. Steel Princess wore the exact outfit last she saw, and had a pair of cold eyes unlike Lumiere. She saw her steel claws, which tore into her body countless times in the past for all kinds of treatments, including the time she was converted into android.
“Ah, we finally meet…” Lumiere said, somehow not very pleased.
“Indeed,” the robotic person replied. Her voice as metallic as ever.
Before Lumiere could say another word, Steel Princess grabbed one of the clones, her steel claw mercilessly took back what she desired from them. It was a disgusting sight. With yelps the clones felt intense pain as Steel Princess relished the ritual. The ritual meant to break a seal.
As the bloody banquet ended, the Steel Princess seemingly became more and more human. Even her voice didn’t sound too mechanic anymore.
“I shall let you keep it for now,” she said to Lumiere, who seemed close to terrified, but still somewhat composed.
“I must say you chose a bizarre spot for us to carry out this ritual. Gathering all these clones here of all places. Why?”
“You need not know,” the Steel Princess refused to answer, then faced Weiss. “Take her away. I will attend to a different situation.”
“Yes ma’am.” She said without even flinching after the bizarre sight that she witnessed. She then grabbed her informant’s hand and pulled her away from the basement. She then whispered, “I’m sorry but we must leave as quickly as possible.”
“Just don’t go so fast that we escape like a pack of thieves, we’ll leave through the gates as normally as we came in. Otherwise we’ll appear to be suspicious.”
“Affirmative.” She slowed down her walk but kept hold of her informant’s hand. “I might have some questions once we leave, especially about what happened back then.”
“You want to know about her?” Lumiere said with a wry smile.
“Yes, and the matter of trickery, ma’am.”
“We’re almost done,” Lumiere said, as if answering to Weiss’ thoughts of impatience. “Can you check if it is crowded in the corridors? The situation might’ve changed.”
“Will do.” Weiss sneakily moved to the corridor that they came from and saw there were a lot more people than before. Most of them were either panicked or looking for something, or someone. She then returned to her informer.
“A lot of people are searching for someone. Some of them were panicked like they saw something that they were not supposed to see. Shall we move in and pretend that we didn’t know anything?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Lumiere then turned back to the glowing magic circle, and before long a bright flash of light was seen.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4S9AOXxR7A&)
Weiss was surprised yet again. In the middle of the magic circle stood her very employer now after the excess light cleared. She knew that it wasn’t just a clone just from looking at her. Steel Princess wore the exact outfit last she saw, and had a pair of cold eyes unlike Lumiere. She saw her steel claws, which tore into her body countless times in the past for all kinds of treatments, including the time she was converted into android.
“Ah, we finally meet…” Lumiere said, somehow not very pleased.
“Indeed,” the robotic person replied. Her voice as metallic as ever.
Before Lumiere could say another word, Steel Princess grabbed one of the clones, her steel claw mercilessly took back what she desired from them. It was a disgusting sight. With yelps the clones felt intense pain as Steel Princess relished the ritual. The ritual meant to break a seal.
As the bloody banquet ended, the Steel Princess seemingly became more and more human. Even her voice didn’t sound too mechanic anymore.
“I shall let you keep it for now,” she said to Lumiere, who seemed close to terrified, but still somewhat composed.
“I must say you chose a bizarre spot for us to carry out this ritual. Gathering all these clones here of all places. Why?”
“You need not know,” the Steel Princess refused to answer, then faced Weiss. “Take her away. I will attend to a different situation.”
“Yes ma’am.” She said without even flinching after the bizarre sight that she witnessed. She then grabbed her informant’s hand and pulled her away from the basement. She then whispered, “I’m sorry but we must leave as quickly as possible.”
“Just don’t go so fast that we escape like a pack of thieves, we’ll leave through the gates as normally as we came in. Otherwise we’ll appear to be suspicious.”
“Affirmative.” She slowed down her walk but kept hold of her informant’s hand. “I might have some questions once we leave, especially about what happened back then.”
“You want to know about her?” Lumiere said with a wry smile.
“Yes, and the matter of trickery, ma’am.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKCET7nfUgI)
“O heavens… I call upon your aid.” Victoria joined her palms into a clap. The angels, equipped themselves with blades instead of trumpets, struck mercilessly upon Hynek and Alice repeatedly. Each strike apparently injured them greatly. They could hardly defend.
The Queen then raised her arm as the angels retreated, and a lance formed before dropping onto her palm.
Hynek got up, calling upon the blessings of his spirits. Alice too, recovered, a sphere of light forming around her. They were starting to get serious, calling upon their spirits for aid. The Queen could see the insignia of Pisces and Gemini. The battle was yet to begin in its entirety.
“Mermaid of the stars, I invoke you,” Alice prayed.
“Come… spirit, grant your King your protection.” Hynek was thus equipped with a shining black coat.
“Pisces… and Gemini, I believe? Pray hear my words and retreat, your feeble strengths shall never encroach the domain of Leo. The Divinity shields me,” Victoria proclaimed, but it didn’t seem like Alice and Hynek were listening.
“I hear the voice of your heart… you desire to fight us… no, execute us. Why would you ask us to retreat?” Alice asked.
“For I am ready to bloody my hands for my country. Such is my resolve. My flames shall burn what-so-ever stands before my path,” the Queen answered, her lance facing her adversaries.
“There’s only one way to know whether that would come to pass or not,” Hynek claimed, raising his blade towards the Queen.
“Stir, Gungnir,” the Queen commanded, and the spear radiated. “Come, my chosen Magister. We go to battle.”
Aramus had stood silently as all of this was happening around him, his feeble human brain only able to take so much before he was forced to just stand there. The raw power flowing through this area dwarfed anything he had ever felt before and the fact his liege, Her Majesty Queen Victoria, was Leo somehow didn’t perturb him as much as he would’ve thought it would.
Watching her seemingly play with the other two Descendants when it would otherwise have been an impossible task was a humbling experience and he looked upon his Queen with awe. It was no surprise that when she called for him that he snapped to attention, a sharp “Hah!” his answer before moving his damaged body as best he could.
The Queen smiled before facing the two adversaries, and her eyes began to glow gold instead of her just her pupils.
“Thou art believeth thy country would find… salvation, from such actions? Ha… ha… ha…” the Queen’s voice warped with that of a different voice as she spoke. “Nay, if Victoria – daughter of mine own – could do naught but watch humans wage war among one another… what may thou achieve from murdering her…?”
“You are her spirit, I assume?” Alice questioned. “We would achieve peace for the war would end.”
“For millennias, we journeyed. Thou hath learned naught of the true nature… of this world that thou livest upon.”
“Spare us the lecture,” Hynek spat. “We have business to attend to, old man.”
“Then face thy trial. Fight. Fight for thy beliefs. If thou wouldest triumph and perform accordingly; the world shall watch… the results of thy actions. They shall watch it… burn.”
“We’ll see about that.” Hynek said, raising his arm to the side and commanded loudly, “Come,” and his other spirit had now reached him. A necklace around his neck formed, while a deep blue sphere enveloped Alice, reaching not as far out as her other orange barrier that she just now conjured. It was a barrier shining with what seemed like miniature stars, glittering and sparkling.
“Spirits… Harmonia and Eris… so be it. The results shall not change.” After this, the light in Victoria’s eyes resumed the faint gold upon her pupils, and she seemed to be herself again.
“Hynek, we can prepare while the barrier is still up,” Alice said, making a suggestion.
“Thanks, I’ll do just that,” Hynek replied, smirking. Hynek entered Alice’s barrier, apparently allowed entry into it. He started to float inside of it. It was mysterious and fun – even though it wasn’t the time for that – he could hardly feel the gravity. He wondered how Alice maintained her position at the very centre of it.
The barrier was soon lifted from the earth and they maintained an advantage in the air.
“The sphere of stars… I have not seen it in so long,” Victoria said, looking up to Alice’s protective barrier, apparently speaking to herself. “Has she learned how to utilise it to its full potential, I wonder.”
Aramus chanted an incantation, watching as a split image of himself ran off to find cover behind a boulder. There wasn’t much in the way of shelter apart from the rocks that littered the landscape and with the Queen dealing with Alice, that left him with Gemini. He slunk back into the shadow of the rock he was behind, trying to think. The Queen then raised her spear to the sky and she gave off a bright gold aura. At the same time, Aramus felt as though he could take on the world; strength and energy in him rising as they flowed into him. When he turned to look at his Queen, he saw that there was something akin to a crown glowing over her hair.
“Careful of the dust, Sir Valmark,” the Queen warned, walking towards Alice’s barrier, witnessing sparkling particles coming forth from inside her barrier. The Stardust. A fearsome attack that Alice would often employ against her enemies, this was known throughout the Magic World ever since the last Great Mage’s War. Either the Queen was fearless or she’d take the dusts face on so that most of it would detonate before ever reaching Aramus. With her spear fortified before her, the stardusts exploded, injuring her slightly even though she tried to swiftly pass by them. She then held her lance in both hands, thrust it to the barrier after leaping up to it; fighting against the intense force that tried to reject her attempted intrusion. A crack formed, but she was bounced back down to the land. It seemed like it wouldn’t be able to put up with her strength for long.
“I won’t let you do that.”
Balmung, Alice’s fabled relic sword burned with blue flames – and it formed something akin to a claw, the Queen thought – before it collided with her lance.
The monarch was pushed back. Feeling that she could not win against such force, she distanced herself. The flames of Pisces gave chase, but mysteriously, they passed through Victoria as though she was but a spectre.
Strange, Alice thought. The flames turned, coiled about around Victoria; going through her figure several times, but to no avail she was completely unaffected. What is she, exactly?
Meanwhile, Aramus found his cover shattered as Hynek’s blade broke it in a single swing. He picked the real target, while the shadow partner of his was hiding behind a different boulder. All Hynek had to do was take a guess. He kicked one of the shattered rock before it landed so that it’d hit Aramus’ face, but his opponent’s foot gave away a silver light, and he sped away in a flash.
“Tch.” Hynek now figured that this would be annoying. This speed was a little beyond his own.
Heart pounding, Aramus found himself panting behind another rock at the close shave. Gemini had moved fast, almost too fast for his Flashstep to kick in. As it were, he wouldn’t go down without a fight and chanted for Parma Magica, quite possibly the only thing that could save him if one of the Descendants decided to actually use their powers against him. He then heard a loud noise, a noise akin to when glass breaks. Aramus peeked out from the boulder, and saw Alice’s barrier breaking, and Victoria facing her mid-air. So she broke it, he thought. However, he hadn’t the time for that. With this thought, he got a numbing feeling. A premonition of danger, and his cover was indeed broke again.
“Found you,” was what he heard before he saw Hynek’s detestable smirk. Feelings of terror began to creep up on Aramus, and he barely dodged the blade that came swinging at him. Aramus instinctively flung an arm at Hynek, a bolt of lightning striking him square in the chest even as the Magister stumbled and fled with his flashstep yet again. Thankfully the time lag from the last flaststep had just ended when Hynek found him again. He could thank the Duchess later all day for having invented such a handy spell for escape. The bolt of lightning seemed to have done little to stop the exotic brown man, but there was a wave that passed by between the two, and Hynek could not pursue. Aramus felt relief for a moment. A possible respite awaited him, he felt, but he was wrong. That wave came from Victoria blocking the sparkling dust from Alice, and it spread in various directions from there. One such wave of wind carried the dust all the way to him apparently.
There was another explosion at the tip of her lance, and Victoria turned immediately, not expecting it. She only realised the dusts flowing into separate directions now.
“Sir Valmark!” She called out of concern, but it was too late, the deed was done and it was her fault that the dust was reaching her loyal subject.
Aramus turned at her cry, immediately raising his fan to direct the sparkling dust a moment too late. It ignited, and the detonation sent him sprawling across the ground.
He struggled to pick himself up. Many small open wounds and burn marks covered his body, and not to mention certain areas of his robe were still smoking. A sharp spike of pain shot through his chest and he clenched his teeth, hissing at the pain. He had probably broken a couple of ribs in that explosion. In addition to the cut from Hynek’s shackle blade earlier, his chest was burning ever more. Waving his fan weakly at the two Descendants, all he succeeded in doing was bringing up a small cloud of dust that obscured vision. The sharpness of the wind formed by Paimon’s Fan was ineffective against the Descendants that received protections to magic from their spirits. Aramus could see the man walking towards him through the dust, his sword being readied was apparent from his stance, and at this rate he was going to be drained of mana. His Shadow Partner was gone too, having lost control of the spell when he was hit by the dust.
A flash of bright light obscured his sight, and Hynek was struck with an unnatural force from above. Aramus could hardly see due to the brightness, covering his eyes with his hand. When he removed his hand and tried to look, he found Hynek laying down, the ground a mess under him. Alice was struck low too.
“Are you alright?” Victoria asked from behind. Who knew how she crossed so much distance in but a moment, but there she was, disrupting both her opponents at the same time and coming to inspect her subject’s state.
“I will be fine. There is still more for me to do,” Aramus replied through the pain, managing to stand. He looked like a wreck, torn robe and blood dripping down his forehead.
“That was undoubtedly my fault, I apologise. I did not imagine that her Diamond Dust would travel in your direction.”
Aramus could only offer a lopsided grin in reply, breathing deeply. He turned to look at where their opponents lay buried, spitting out a wad of blood in their direction. “Nowhere as bad as that at least.”
The Queen then looked to the left, and a sword sliced through the air. A dimensional portal opened and Aramus saw the very same scene he found before he was mysteriously brought to this Realm.
“Finally found you,” the Duchess of Edinburgh said, entering through said portal. Frederica lowered her wand and knelt down, facing her Queen. “I am glad to find that you are safe and well, Your Majesty.”
“How does the situation fare for my home?” the Queen enquired.
“It does not seem well, but I believe that the guests are safe. The magicians are busy searching for the vampires. It seems like there is more than one. I do not know how true the reports are, at the moment. I fought one who was breaking down the barrier around the palace, and we met the other in public. The members of the Cavendish Bentinck are missing. It worries me to no end.”
“This bodes unwell indeed… and we cannot return to the ground above, either. Sir Valmark reported that Claudia was a vampire too, so that means at least three infiltrated the event,” the Queen stated, before turning to Alice and Hynek, both of whom were already back on their feets. “I am guessing you would scorn me now?”
“I would never, Your Majesty. I had indeed intended to find out your identity, as you may have noticed, but that does not mean that I would betray our cause,” Frederica said, reassuring Her Majesty of her loyalty. “I shall confess; I believe a Descendant leading this country is far better than a pack of greedy parliamentarians.”
“Well, it is rude to-”
“You know it’s true.”
“You never change.” The Queen chuckled. “Regardless, let us focus on this battle instead.”
“As you wish.”
“Heh, don’t leave me out of the fun.” Aramus rasped, smiling at the two. Now they had one more to their number and more importantly, she was loyal to the Queen.
Alice picked her sword up. She lost it somewhere when she was hit by an angel from the heavens. The attack’s force was too strong even for her. However, she no longer opened her eyelids, as if there was no reason to anymore. Hynek had not lost his sword to the attack; he was simply down flat on the ground until the Queen spotted him coming back up.
“This sure is exciting, she packs a punch alright. Mn… the angels were quite the beauties too,” he said, talking to himself. “Alright, then I should balance it out,” Hynek added, looking at all the angels surrounding the battlefield from afar. They were somehow hard to see, but they indeed were there, singing praises of Queen Victoria. “Come, my loyal subjects,” he commanded. From under the earth; hands, heads, shoulders, and eventually, bodies crawled out.
Aramus could see some of these undead creatures’ bones, tattered clothes, and injured black skin and flesh. It was disgusting. These zombies were loyal members, and followers from Hynek’s country long ago, back when he was still a King ruling over Egypt.
“All hail King Hynek,” they wailed, sounding rather eery. They marched forward together with Hynek. The man finally looked up to Frederica, and was pleasantly surprised. One of his wives, one of the members of his Organization… but something seemed wrong. Very wrong, from his perspective.
“I suppose there is a first for everything,” Frederica commented, feeling disgusted. “You’re finally showing your real face, I see, Thomas! Or should I call you Hynek now?”
“Frederica, I understand not why you’re on Her Majesty’s side, and not mine,” Hynek said, apparently disheartened. “I thought you were one of my loyal wives. Why would you do this?”
“Wife?” Queen Victoria turned to Frederica, surprised. “...Really? And I wasn’t invited to the wedding?”
Frederica sighed. It was not ladylike, but she did so regardless. “I am a little bewildered that Your Majesty’s problem is with the invitation rather than the event itself. Ahem. Regardless, it was but a pretense, except for the time I had first gotten acquainted,” she answered her Queen, then answered Hynek, “Did you really think I’d fall so far for a degenerate such as you? If it’s a man who doesn’t even look at me half the time, why should I ever bother being your… uhh, what were they, assistants? All your wives are pitiful, Hynek. I pity them for how hard they try to win your favour and attention. You are a loveless man, despite all the qualities you possess. I will forever regret my decision to let you get close to me. I was foolish back then until I realised, that I was simply repeating my mistakes.”
“...You hurt me, but if this is how you feel, then I must say that I am disappointed. I will not hurt you, for I am a gentleman, but know that I do not like to hear my wives insulted,” Hynek replied.
Frederica shrugged, but did not reply. She had no intention to take back any of her words, for those words were her real thoughts about him and his wives.
“Are you sure you want it to end this way?” Victoria questioned out of anxiety. “I was sure that you were lonely ever since your husband passed away.”
“Are you implying that I would betray the Crown in pursuit of my own happiness? I am not that self-centered. I have almost done so and I still regret it to this night. So please, do not word it that way,” Frederica said, looking down. A sad expression loomed about her facial expression, and the Queen felt dismay that her question made the Duchess feel that way.
“...I like to think that one should prioritise their happiness above all else. However, if you wish to serve under me in expense for it, then I suppose I shall accept your aid graciously, and pray that you would feel satisfaction from whatever good that you may commit due to your loyalty. One person is never enough to bring succor to their land, after all,” the Queen said, and Frederica smiled in turn.
“I would think naught of expense, My Majesty. I am content and honoured to serve the Crown.”
“Enough,” Alice stated, her eyes closed. The deep blue energy that shrouded her seemed to be burning somehow. “Let us resume.”
Something made the Queen feel that Alice was frustrated despite her earlier indifference to almost everything she displayed.
She seemed angry, and even more serious with the fight. Earlier, she seemed confident of victory, but the moment the Queen revealed her true power; Alice was pushed to the edge relatively fast.
“Halt them in any manner imaginable,” Queen Victoria commanded. “I shall drive the necrophiliacs out,” she stated, her figure giving off a golden aura. Somehow, it made her companions feel at ease; safe. The Queen being a Descendant was more reassuring than anything. She seemed to be an elder amongst these three Descendants, and furthermore – powerful – in a league of her own.
The way she worded the command, and the assurance of the undead’s clearance, it all gave Aramus and Frederica a push to the back, a sense of confidence that made them feel unstoppable; a boost of morale. Two Descendants were as good as any other opponents with Her Majesty behind them.
“Understood, Your Majesty,” Frederica responded. She dug out her knowledge of the Technique known as Muto derived from her studies of philosophy, and her knowledge of the Form that was Terram from what she knew of the Magical Realm. Combining a Form and Technique was the basic idea for formulating a spell. She raised her palm toward the man she came to loathe, Hynek. Upon her mental command, she harnessed the mana of said Magical Realm, and chanted sonorously, causing thick pillars of white marble to shot out from the ground and skewer him.
Hynek wasn’t well-versed with the knowledge of spells, so the incantations that he heard went over his head initially, and he could not predict that this would happen. Due to these pillars he could no longer approach them, but with his monstrous strength he tried to break them off to free himself.
“To think he’d try to free himself with strength alone… what a reckless man,” Frederica commented.
“Your Majesty, allow me to deal with the undead filth. You should not have to raise a hand against such abominations. Paimon and I will be sufficient for the likes of them.” Aramus said, placing a hand on his relic to emphasise his point. The hordes of undead encroached and he swung Paimon rather brusquely, kicking up a blast of wind that even gave pause to the enemy Descendants.
However, the Queen seemed to insist on taking care of this in her own fashion. She ascended from the grounds and was affixed to a position mid-air.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXEOBvuvkG0)
“Pray, grant me passage to the stairs leading to an eternity beyond the stars and the lone space.”
Frederica watched the Queen in awe. Whatever could she be preparing to fend off all -these- undead? She thought. Suffice it to say, Frederica had a bad habit of being impressed by powerful and showy magic, and this was no different to her. She tried to snap out from this distraction, and looked back to Hynek’s general direction, and instead noticed a golden apple on the ground.
Aramus noticed that Frederica’s eyes turned as gold as the apple as she started to mindlessly approach it. He tried calling out to her, but it was as though she couldn’t hear him.
When Frederica was halfway there to the apple, she suddenly awoke, feeling a pulse of energy from behind.
“O ruler of the skies, descend, for I beseech you to bestow upon me your wrath.”
Hynek grinned moments ago, but he was quite disappointed that the Duchess came to her senses somehow. It excited him when someone he thought fallen rose back up and defied him; he wanted to make her fall for him all over again now.
“Ah! What was I doing? ...This was your trick, I presume?” The Duchess questioned, gritting her teeths, looking down at the golden apple. “Such underhanded tricks, hmph.” As soon as she thought how Hynek might’ve freed himself from the marble pillars, she witnessed that they were already shattered on the ground and Hynek wasn’t there anymore. No wonder he could throw an apple before her. Attempting to recast her spell, the marbles sprung up from the earth yet again, but Hynek wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice so soon. He parried the thorns nimbly; doing his hip, groovy dancing moves as he did so, the sight of which irritated the Duchess.
“So that your holy flames would cleanse all that is evil, so that I may purge the impurities from the Realm.”
The air around Queen Victoria began to revolve around her, and her form was brightening with every moment.
Alice’s situation was the same, except that her dark blue shield continued to shroud her. Dust and shiny particles gathered around Alice’s sword.
The Queen noted that she had been collecting such particles for some time now, readying a decisive attack, similarly to herself.
Alice’s blade shone brightly, the power of the star invoked. A large ray of sparkling stardust set forth; ripping the air apart in its way to the Queen. The projectile burst upon making contact with the monarch – who seemed to be continuing to prepare her power – and there was a large explosion of stardust mid-air, with Frederica’s and Aramus’ mouths agape from looking up to the aforementioned devastation. However, there was a second explosion, it seemed. Not being able to see properly, they could only wonder what went on inside the smoke.
A moment later, there was a puff and the Queen exited the smoke cloud with her back facing the land. She came down crashing on the peak of a mountain to the far back, with a resounding noise of a landing.
“Your Majesty!!” Both the loyal subjects of the Queen called out.
When the Queen got up, she found that there was a large gaping wound in her stomach. This would be tough to hide from her people. However, that was something she could worry about later. She had already gathered enough strength from her spirit.
Victoria raised Gungnir up to the starry sky, and called out.
“O heavens, aid me!”
Rings of light were released from the shining Victoria. These discs caused violent air currents to be released. An omni-directional attack. Everyone felt great pressure below, even Aramus and Frederick. The two crouched down to the ground as if to hold onto it, otherwise they’d have lost balance and simply fell, or maybe blown away. The undead were starting to fall apart from this pressure alone. Seconds later, they all turned to ash.
Alice took a direct hit from the rings and fell, another crater forming on the ground, while Hynek felt indescribable pain from the wave of power since he was already on the air – taking action – for his own opponent; Aramus. Despite having multiple bloody wounds, and his body burning with what seemed like white flames, Hynek dashed straight for Aramus.
How could it be that I could never hit this man? He and his damned speed from that spell, Hynek thought. He wanted to hit him at least once. But perhaps it wasn’t meant to be, he felt. After two misses, there was a chance that he’d do the same thing again. However, he realised, the magician had been using quite a bit of magic – expending his mana all the time – so perhaps he could finally land a blow.
Hynek swung his blade at Aramus – perhaps for one last time – the wind it generated far outclassing that of Paimon’s Fan, in terms of sharpness and intensity both. Even before the blade touched him, there was a vortex surrounding it which landed on Aramus first, before the steel itself cut across the flesh of his belly.
Frederica, on the other hand, backed away as soon as she noticed Hynek coming closer. If Hynek was engaging Aramus, this could be her chance.
Buffeted by the gale, Aramus couldn’t dodge and the sword cut deep. Rolling with the blow to lessen whatever damage he could, Aramus released another point blank lightning bolt at Hynek via his fist, feeling a great sense of satisfaction as it met Hynek’s cheek even as he himself was cut. From all the injuries Hynek took, this lightning burned much stronger than the last, making him wince from it.
Hynek then looked down, confused and surprised, finding a magic circle below him. Panicking, he found that he could not move a single muscle. Musical notes floated up from it, and he heard a song. Frederica was singing in latin. He did not know when she started, but it was already underway, and it was too late to escape her spell. He could only cringe. Aramus was the required distraction for her spell. Frederica leapt before him, a beam of light coming at his face after she blew out something akin to a whistle from her mouth.
Poor man almost wished she’d blow a kiss at him, but fate wasn’t so kind, and nor was Frederica.
When Aramus turned to his Queen at last, feeling safe from Hynek’s attacks for now, he found Victoria and Alice battling. Alice pierced through the monarch’s body with blue flames – before slashing at her again – who in turn poofed into a flock of feathers. Victoria seemed to have warped behind Alice just like before, and their blades clashed for the umpteenth time, thus Alice was not hit from behind like before.
Gungnir and Balmung caused a wave of energy to run in all directions as their owners vied for supremacy. The opposing Descendants rose higher and higher, dancing round and round, faster and faster, the songs of ringing steel resounding across the lands below. Eventually they met their gazes closely as the lance and the longsword were crossed against each other, sparks forming from the intense friction in between.
“How long have you governed England in this obscurity as everyone foolishly believed you? Feigning longevity rituals and undergoing ways to make yourself grow from child to adult once again to make everyone believe you were heir to the previous Queen…? You were the only Queen all along, weren’t you?”
“Indeed I was, Alice. I admit that it was my scheme to maintain my position – bypassing the concept of life and death, an aspect of humanity considered inescapable – however, I did so only for their very benefit.”
“Sounds convenient,” Alice spoke with closed eyes. She only relied on her ears. “You make yourself sound righteous, yet all you wanted was political power, wasn’t it?”
“I am not drunk for such power, Alice. For I had possessed more than enough even before I became a Queen. My mission is simply the continued prosperity of Britain. To that end, I shall take any steps necessary… that includes…”
For a moment Victoria’s eyes completely turned gold again, and her voice mixed with her spirit’s, “Burning down obstacles such as you!”
Victoria gave a spin and the blade of her spear arced, slicing through not only Alice’s arm but her shoulder, and a side of her chest entirely, making her wail in pain. When a part of her body fell off, the Queen noted mechanical wires and parts falling out of where her shoulder was previously located, as well as some flesh. Some blood spilled forth, but there wasn’t as much as one would expect.
“What have they turned you into?” The Queen enquired, grimacing at the worst nightmares human hands could give birth to, and Alice opened her eyes at last in response to her question. When Victoria saw her eyes glowing blue, she finally realised; seeing data floating about from the reflection of her pupils. “You are a marionette, aren’t you?” A look of pity floated into her face, to think they went to such extents. “They modified you down to the very source of your five senses… including your brain. You are more than just a Descendant now. No wonder they call you Geneva.”
“Indeed they did,” Alice answered, admitting, gripping Balmung tightly so as to ignore the pain. “I do not care as long as my functions are more effective than before.”
“I know not what insanity possesses your employers, but–”
“The changes they made were for my good. I do not lament them for it,” Alice replied, cutting off the Queen’s words. She would not bear to hear her opinion of her fellow countrymen.
“I see you accept your fate. Very well, I shall make note of your resolve.”
Their blades found themselves bashing again.
Alice was weakened, and the Queen used a feint to trick her before slipping past her; reaching behind her. Immediately, Victoria took advantage of the situation and stabbed her back, making her cry; the tip of the lance tore through Alice’s belly and came out all bloody.
“Stir, Gungnir.”
The round tip of the lance rotated violently, making Alice wail more intensely. Whatever mechanical organs were located there – including her stomach – were all torn and she was dangerously wounded. As if to end her completely, the Queen wordlessly raised an arm; round flames were conjured. The impact from the explosion wrought from the flames sent her away towards Hynek. With an extra helping of Paimon’s Fan’s winds, Alice fell beside Hynek, who realised that it was not going to be possible for them to win like this. The two were almost out of spiritual energy, and most of their stronger powers would be harder to materialise now.
Calling upon the last of his reserves of spiritual energy, Hynek concentrated on his twin spirits, and soon grew a pair of wings. He took up Alice on his arms, and flapped his wings, shedding feathers. Taking off the ground, Hynek took flight, and the Realm the Queen brought everyone to began to dissipate, the machinations returning in place of the stars, the sun, and the barren rocky lands.
Hynek flew away upwards – his body still half burning with white flames from Victoria’s earlier attack – from where the elevator came down from and escaped, and the Queen fell to her knees, her pupil lost its glow and it seemed like her powers were gone for the moment.
“O heavens… I call upon your aid.” Victoria joined her palms into a clap. The angels, equipped themselves with blades instead of trumpets, struck mercilessly upon Hynek and Alice repeatedly. Each strike apparently injured them greatly. They could hardly defend.
The Queen then raised her arm as the angels retreated, and a lance formed before dropping onto her palm.
Hynek got up, calling upon the blessings of his spirits. Alice too, recovered, a sphere of light forming around her. They were starting to get serious, calling upon their spirits for aid. The Queen could see the insignia of Pisces and Gemini. The battle was yet to begin in its entirety.
“Mermaid of the stars, I invoke you,” Alice prayed.
“Come… spirit, grant your King your protection.” Hynek was thus equipped with a shining black coat.
“Pisces… and Gemini, I believe? Pray hear my words and retreat, your feeble strengths shall never encroach the domain of Leo. The Divinity shields me,” Victoria proclaimed, but it didn’t seem like Alice and Hynek were listening.
“I hear the voice of your heart… you desire to fight us… no, execute us. Why would you ask us to retreat?” Alice asked.
“For I am ready to bloody my hands for my country. Such is my resolve. My flames shall burn what-so-ever stands before my path,” the Queen answered, her lance facing her adversaries.
“There’s only one way to know whether that would come to pass or not,” Hynek claimed, raising his blade towards the Queen.
“Stir, Gungnir,” the Queen commanded, and the spear radiated. “Come, my chosen Magister. We go to battle.”
Aramus had stood silently as all of this was happening around him, his feeble human brain only able to take so much before he was forced to just stand there. The raw power flowing through this area dwarfed anything he had ever felt before and the fact his liege, Her Majesty Queen Victoria, was Leo somehow didn’t perturb him as much as he would’ve thought it would.
Watching her seemingly play with the other two Descendants when it would otherwise have been an impossible task was a humbling experience and he looked upon his Queen with awe. It was no surprise that when she called for him that he snapped to attention, a sharp “Hah!” his answer before moving his damaged body as best he could.
The Queen smiled before facing the two adversaries, and her eyes began to glow gold instead of her just her pupils.
“Thou art believeth thy country would find… salvation, from such actions? Ha… ha… ha…” the Queen’s voice warped with that of a different voice as she spoke. “Nay, if Victoria – daughter of mine own – could do naught but watch humans wage war among one another… what may thou achieve from murdering her…?”
“You are her spirit, I assume?” Alice questioned. “We would achieve peace for the war would end.”
“For millennias, we journeyed. Thou hath learned naught of the true nature… of this world that thou livest upon.”
“Spare us the lecture,” Hynek spat. “We have business to attend to, old man.”
“Then face thy trial. Fight. Fight for thy beliefs. If thou wouldest triumph and perform accordingly; the world shall watch… the results of thy actions. They shall watch it… burn.”
“We’ll see about that.” Hynek said, raising his arm to the side and commanded loudly, “Come,” and his other spirit had now reached him. A necklace around his neck formed, while a deep blue sphere enveloped Alice, reaching not as far out as her other orange barrier that she just now conjured. It was a barrier shining with what seemed like miniature stars, glittering and sparkling.
“Spirits… Harmonia and Eris… so be it. The results shall not change.” After this, the light in Victoria’s eyes resumed the faint gold upon her pupils, and she seemed to be herself again.
“Hynek, we can prepare while the barrier is still up,” Alice said, making a suggestion.
“Thanks, I’ll do just that,” Hynek replied, smirking. Hynek entered Alice’s barrier, apparently allowed entry into it. He started to float inside of it. It was mysterious and fun – even though it wasn’t the time for that – he could hardly feel the gravity. He wondered how Alice maintained her position at the very centre of it.
The barrier was soon lifted from the earth and they maintained an advantage in the air.
“The sphere of stars… I have not seen it in so long,” Victoria said, looking up to Alice’s protective barrier, apparently speaking to herself. “Has she learned how to utilise it to its full potential, I wonder.”
Aramus chanted an incantation, watching as a split image of himself ran off to find cover behind a boulder. There wasn’t much in the way of shelter apart from the rocks that littered the landscape and with the Queen dealing with Alice, that left him with Gemini. He slunk back into the shadow of the rock he was behind, trying to think. The Queen then raised her spear to the sky and she gave off a bright gold aura. At the same time, Aramus felt as though he could take on the world; strength and energy in him rising as they flowed into him. When he turned to look at his Queen, he saw that there was something akin to a crown glowing over her hair.
“Careful of the dust, Sir Valmark,” the Queen warned, walking towards Alice’s barrier, witnessing sparkling particles coming forth from inside her barrier. The Stardust. A fearsome attack that Alice would often employ against her enemies, this was known throughout the Magic World ever since the last Great Mage’s War. Either the Queen was fearless or she’d take the dusts face on so that most of it would detonate before ever reaching Aramus. With her spear fortified before her, the stardusts exploded, injuring her slightly even though she tried to swiftly pass by them. She then held her lance in both hands, thrust it to the barrier after leaping up to it; fighting against the intense force that tried to reject her attempted intrusion. A crack formed, but she was bounced back down to the land. It seemed like it wouldn’t be able to put up with her strength for long.
“I won’t let you do that.”
Balmung, Alice’s fabled relic sword burned with blue flames – and it formed something akin to a claw, the Queen thought – before it collided with her lance.
The monarch was pushed back. Feeling that she could not win against such force, she distanced herself. The flames of Pisces gave chase, but mysteriously, they passed through Victoria as though she was but a spectre.
Strange, Alice thought. The flames turned, coiled about around Victoria; going through her figure several times, but to no avail she was completely unaffected. What is she, exactly?
Meanwhile, Aramus found his cover shattered as Hynek’s blade broke it in a single swing. He picked the real target, while the shadow partner of his was hiding behind a different boulder. All Hynek had to do was take a guess. He kicked one of the shattered rock before it landed so that it’d hit Aramus’ face, but his opponent’s foot gave away a silver light, and he sped away in a flash.
“Tch.” Hynek now figured that this would be annoying. This speed was a little beyond his own.
Heart pounding, Aramus found himself panting behind another rock at the close shave. Gemini had moved fast, almost too fast for his Flashstep to kick in. As it were, he wouldn’t go down without a fight and chanted for Parma Magica, quite possibly the only thing that could save him if one of the Descendants decided to actually use their powers against him. He then heard a loud noise, a noise akin to when glass breaks. Aramus peeked out from the boulder, and saw Alice’s barrier breaking, and Victoria facing her mid-air. So she broke it, he thought. However, he hadn’t the time for that. With this thought, he got a numbing feeling. A premonition of danger, and his cover was indeed broke again.
“Found you,” was what he heard before he saw Hynek’s detestable smirk. Feelings of terror began to creep up on Aramus, and he barely dodged the blade that came swinging at him. Aramus instinctively flung an arm at Hynek, a bolt of lightning striking him square in the chest even as the Magister stumbled and fled with his flashstep yet again. Thankfully the time lag from the last flaststep had just ended when Hynek found him again. He could thank the Duchess later all day for having invented such a handy spell for escape. The bolt of lightning seemed to have done little to stop the exotic brown man, but there was a wave that passed by between the two, and Hynek could not pursue. Aramus felt relief for a moment. A possible respite awaited him, he felt, but he was wrong. That wave came from Victoria blocking the sparkling dust from Alice, and it spread in various directions from there. One such wave of wind carried the dust all the way to him apparently.
There was another explosion at the tip of her lance, and Victoria turned immediately, not expecting it. She only realised the dusts flowing into separate directions now.
“Sir Valmark!” She called out of concern, but it was too late, the deed was done and it was her fault that the dust was reaching her loyal subject.
Aramus turned at her cry, immediately raising his fan to direct the sparkling dust a moment too late. It ignited, and the detonation sent him sprawling across the ground.
He struggled to pick himself up. Many small open wounds and burn marks covered his body, and not to mention certain areas of his robe were still smoking. A sharp spike of pain shot through his chest and he clenched his teeth, hissing at the pain. He had probably broken a couple of ribs in that explosion. In addition to the cut from Hynek’s shackle blade earlier, his chest was burning ever more. Waving his fan weakly at the two Descendants, all he succeeded in doing was bringing up a small cloud of dust that obscured vision. The sharpness of the wind formed by Paimon’s Fan was ineffective against the Descendants that received protections to magic from their spirits. Aramus could see the man walking towards him through the dust, his sword being readied was apparent from his stance, and at this rate he was going to be drained of mana. His Shadow Partner was gone too, having lost control of the spell when he was hit by the dust.
A flash of bright light obscured his sight, and Hynek was struck with an unnatural force from above. Aramus could hardly see due to the brightness, covering his eyes with his hand. When he removed his hand and tried to look, he found Hynek laying down, the ground a mess under him. Alice was struck low too.
“Are you alright?” Victoria asked from behind. Who knew how she crossed so much distance in but a moment, but there she was, disrupting both her opponents at the same time and coming to inspect her subject’s state.
“I will be fine. There is still more for me to do,” Aramus replied through the pain, managing to stand. He looked like a wreck, torn robe and blood dripping down his forehead.
“That was undoubtedly my fault, I apologise. I did not imagine that her Diamond Dust would travel in your direction.”
Aramus could only offer a lopsided grin in reply, breathing deeply. He turned to look at where their opponents lay buried, spitting out a wad of blood in their direction. “Nowhere as bad as that at least.”
The Queen then looked to the left, and a sword sliced through the air. A dimensional portal opened and Aramus saw the very same scene he found before he was mysteriously brought to this Realm.
“Finally found you,” the Duchess of Edinburgh said, entering through said portal. Frederica lowered her wand and knelt down, facing her Queen. “I am glad to find that you are safe and well, Your Majesty.”
“How does the situation fare for my home?” the Queen enquired.
“It does not seem well, but I believe that the guests are safe. The magicians are busy searching for the vampires. It seems like there is more than one. I do not know how true the reports are, at the moment. I fought one who was breaking down the barrier around the palace, and we met the other in public. The members of the Cavendish Bentinck are missing. It worries me to no end.”
“This bodes unwell indeed… and we cannot return to the ground above, either. Sir Valmark reported that Claudia was a vampire too, so that means at least three infiltrated the event,” the Queen stated, before turning to Alice and Hynek, both of whom were already back on their feets. “I am guessing you would scorn me now?”
“I would never, Your Majesty. I had indeed intended to find out your identity, as you may have noticed, but that does not mean that I would betray our cause,” Frederica said, reassuring Her Majesty of her loyalty. “I shall confess; I believe a Descendant leading this country is far better than a pack of greedy parliamentarians.”
“Well, it is rude to-”
“You know it’s true.”
“You never change.” The Queen chuckled. “Regardless, let us focus on this battle instead.”
“As you wish.”
“Heh, don’t leave me out of the fun.” Aramus rasped, smiling at the two. Now they had one more to their number and more importantly, she was loyal to the Queen.
Alice picked her sword up. She lost it somewhere when she was hit by an angel from the heavens. The attack’s force was too strong even for her. However, she no longer opened her eyelids, as if there was no reason to anymore. Hynek had not lost his sword to the attack; he was simply down flat on the ground until the Queen spotted him coming back up.
“This sure is exciting, she packs a punch alright. Mn… the angels were quite the beauties too,” he said, talking to himself. “Alright, then I should balance it out,” Hynek added, looking at all the angels surrounding the battlefield from afar. They were somehow hard to see, but they indeed were there, singing praises of Queen Victoria. “Come, my loyal subjects,” he commanded. From under the earth; hands, heads, shoulders, and eventually, bodies crawled out.
Aramus could see some of these undead creatures’ bones, tattered clothes, and injured black skin and flesh. It was disgusting. These zombies were loyal members, and followers from Hynek’s country long ago, back when he was still a King ruling over Egypt.
“All hail King Hynek,” they wailed, sounding rather eery. They marched forward together with Hynek. The man finally looked up to Frederica, and was pleasantly surprised. One of his wives, one of the members of his Organization… but something seemed wrong. Very wrong, from his perspective.
“I suppose there is a first for everything,” Frederica commented, feeling disgusted. “You’re finally showing your real face, I see, Thomas! Or should I call you Hynek now?”
“Frederica, I understand not why you’re on Her Majesty’s side, and not mine,” Hynek said, apparently disheartened. “I thought you were one of my loyal wives. Why would you do this?”
“Wife?” Queen Victoria turned to Frederica, surprised. “...Really? And I wasn’t invited to the wedding?”
Frederica sighed. It was not ladylike, but she did so regardless. “I am a little bewildered that Your Majesty’s problem is with the invitation rather than the event itself. Ahem. Regardless, it was but a pretense, except for the time I had first gotten acquainted,” she answered her Queen, then answered Hynek, “Did you really think I’d fall so far for a degenerate such as you? If it’s a man who doesn’t even look at me half the time, why should I ever bother being your… uhh, what were they, assistants? All your wives are pitiful, Hynek. I pity them for how hard they try to win your favour and attention. You are a loveless man, despite all the qualities you possess. I will forever regret my decision to let you get close to me. I was foolish back then until I realised, that I was simply repeating my mistakes.”
“...You hurt me, but if this is how you feel, then I must say that I am disappointed. I will not hurt you, for I am a gentleman, but know that I do not like to hear my wives insulted,” Hynek replied.
Frederica shrugged, but did not reply. She had no intention to take back any of her words, for those words were her real thoughts about him and his wives.
“Are you sure you want it to end this way?” Victoria questioned out of anxiety. “I was sure that you were lonely ever since your husband passed away.”
“Are you implying that I would betray the Crown in pursuit of my own happiness? I am not that self-centered. I have almost done so and I still regret it to this night. So please, do not word it that way,” Frederica said, looking down. A sad expression loomed about her facial expression, and the Queen felt dismay that her question made the Duchess feel that way.
“...I like to think that one should prioritise their happiness above all else. However, if you wish to serve under me in expense for it, then I suppose I shall accept your aid graciously, and pray that you would feel satisfaction from whatever good that you may commit due to your loyalty. One person is never enough to bring succor to their land, after all,” the Queen said, and Frederica smiled in turn.
“I would think naught of expense, My Majesty. I am content and honoured to serve the Crown.”
“Enough,” Alice stated, her eyes closed. The deep blue energy that shrouded her seemed to be burning somehow. “Let us resume.”
Something made the Queen feel that Alice was frustrated despite her earlier indifference to almost everything she displayed.
She seemed angry, and even more serious with the fight. Earlier, she seemed confident of victory, but the moment the Queen revealed her true power; Alice was pushed to the edge relatively fast.
“Halt them in any manner imaginable,” Queen Victoria commanded. “I shall drive the necrophiliacs out,” she stated, her figure giving off a golden aura. Somehow, it made her companions feel at ease; safe. The Queen being a Descendant was more reassuring than anything. She seemed to be an elder amongst these three Descendants, and furthermore – powerful – in a league of her own.
The way she worded the command, and the assurance of the undead’s clearance, it all gave Aramus and Frederica a push to the back, a sense of confidence that made them feel unstoppable; a boost of morale. Two Descendants were as good as any other opponents with Her Majesty behind them.
“Understood, Your Majesty,” Frederica responded. She dug out her knowledge of the Technique known as Muto derived from her studies of philosophy, and her knowledge of the Form that was Terram from what she knew of the Magical Realm. Combining a Form and Technique was the basic idea for formulating a spell. She raised her palm toward the man she came to loathe, Hynek. Upon her mental command, she harnessed the mana of said Magical Realm, and chanted sonorously, causing thick pillars of white marble to shot out from the ground and skewer him.
Hynek wasn’t well-versed with the knowledge of spells, so the incantations that he heard went over his head initially, and he could not predict that this would happen. Due to these pillars he could no longer approach them, but with his monstrous strength he tried to break them off to free himself.
“To think he’d try to free himself with strength alone… what a reckless man,” Frederica commented.
“Your Majesty, allow me to deal with the undead filth. You should not have to raise a hand against such abominations. Paimon and I will be sufficient for the likes of them.” Aramus said, placing a hand on his relic to emphasise his point. The hordes of undead encroached and he swung Paimon rather brusquely, kicking up a blast of wind that even gave pause to the enemy Descendants.
However, the Queen seemed to insist on taking care of this in her own fashion. She ascended from the grounds and was affixed to a position mid-air.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXEOBvuvkG0)
“Pray, grant me passage to the stairs leading to an eternity beyond the stars and the lone space.”
Frederica watched the Queen in awe. Whatever could she be preparing to fend off all -these- undead? She thought. Suffice it to say, Frederica had a bad habit of being impressed by powerful and showy magic, and this was no different to her. She tried to snap out from this distraction, and looked back to Hynek’s general direction, and instead noticed a golden apple on the ground.
Aramus noticed that Frederica’s eyes turned as gold as the apple as she started to mindlessly approach it. He tried calling out to her, but it was as though she couldn’t hear him.
When Frederica was halfway there to the apple, she suddenly awoke, feeling a pulse of energy from behind.
“O ruler of the skies, descend, for I beseech you to bestow upon me your wrath.”
Hynek grinned moments ago, but he was quite disappointed that the Duchess came to her senses somehow. It excited him when someone he thought fallen rose back up and defied him; he wanted to make her fall for him all over again now.
“Ah! What was I doing? ...This was your trick, I presume?” The Duchess questioned, gritting her teeths, looking down at the golden apple. “Such underhanded tricks, hmph.” As soon as she thought how Hynek might’ve freed himself from the marble pillars, she witnessed that they were already shattered on the ground and Hynek wasn’t there anymore. No wonder he could throw an apple before her. Attempting to recast her spell, the marbles sprung up from the earth yet again, but Hynek wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice so soon. He parried the thorns nimbly; doing his hip, groovy dancing moves as he did so, the sight of which irritated the Duchess.
“So that your holy flames would cleanse all that is evil, so that I may purge the impurities from the Realm.”
The air around Queen Victoria began to revolve around her, and her form was brightening with every moment.
Alice’s situation was the same, except that her dark blue shield continued to shroud her. Dust and shiny particles gathered around Alice’s sword.
The Queen noted that she had been collecting such particles for some time now, readying a decisive attack, similarly to herself.
Alice’s blade shone brightly, the power of the star invoked. A large ray of sparkling stardust set forth; ripping the air apart in its way to the Queen. The projectile burst upon making contact with the monarch – who seemed to be continuing to prepare her power – and there was a large explosion of stardust mid-air, with Frederica’s and Aramus’ mouths agape from looking up to the aforementioned devastation. However, there was a second explosion, it seemed. Not being able to see properly, they could only wonder what went on inside the smoke.
A moment later, there was a puff and the Queen exited the smoke cloud with her back facing the land. She came down crashing on the peak of a mountain to the far back, with a resounding noise of a landing.
“Your Majesty!!” Both the loyal subjects of the Queen called out.
When the Queen got up, she found that there was a large gaping wound in her stomach. This would be tough to hide from her people. However, that was something she could worry about later. She had already gathered enough strength from her spirit.
Victoria raised Gungnir up to the starry sky, and called out.
“O heavens, aid me!”
Rings of light were released from the shining Victoria. These discs caused violent air currents to be released. An omni-directional attack. Everyone felt great pressure below, even Aramus and Frederick. The two crouched down to the ground as if to hold onto it, otherwise they’d have lost balance and simply fell, or maybe blown away. The undead were starting to fall apart from this pressure alone. Seconds later, they all turned to ash.
Alice took a direct hit from the rings and fell, another crater forming on the ground, while Hynek felt indescribable pain from the wave of power since he was already on the air – taking action – for his own opponent; Aramus. Despite having multiple bloody wounds, and his body burning with what seemed like white flames, Hynek dashed straight for Aramus.
How could it be that I could never hit this man? He and his damned speed from that spell, Hynek thought. He wanted to hit him at least once. But perhaps it wasn’t meant to be, he felt. After two misses, there was a chance that he’d do the same thing again. However, he realised, the magician had been using quite a bit of magic – expending his mana all the time – so perhaps he could finally land a blow.
Hynek swung his blade at Aramus – perhaps for one last time – the wind it generated far outclassing that of Paimon’s Fan, in terms of sharpness and intensity both. Even before the blade touched him, there was a vortex surrounding it which landed on Aramus first, before the steel itself cut across the flesh of his belly.
Frederica, on the other hand, backed away as soon as she noticed Hynek coming closer. If Hynek was engaging Aramus, this could be her chance.
Buffeted by the gale, Aramus couldn’t dodge and the sword cut deep. Rolling with the blow to lessen whatever damage he could, Aramus released another point blank lightning bolt at Hynek via his fist, feeling a great sense of satisfaction as it met Hynek’s cheek even as he himself was cut. From all the injuries Hynek took, this lightning burned much stronger than the last, making him wince from it.
Hynek then looked down, confused and surprised, finding a magic circle below him. Panicking, he found that he could not move a single muscle. Musical notes floated up from it, and he heard a song. Frederica was singing in latin. He did not know when she started, but it was already underway, and it was too late to escape her spell. He could only cringe. Aramus was the required distraction for her spell. Frederica leapt before him, a beam of light coming at his face after she blew out something akin to a whistle from her mouth.
Poor man almost wished she’d blow a kiss at him, but fate wasn’t so kind, and nor was Frederica.
When Aramus turned to his Queen at last, feeling safe from Hynek’s attacks for now, he found Victoria and Alice battling. Alice pierced through the monarch’s body with blue flames – before slashing at her again – who in turn poofed into a flock of feathers. Victoria seemed to have warped behind Alice just like before, and their blades clashed for the umpteenth time, thus Alice was not hit from behind like before.
Gungnir and Balmung caused a wave of energy to run in all directions as their owners vied for supremacy. The opposing Descendants rose higher and higher, dancing round and round, faster and faster, the songs of ringing steel resounding across the lands below. Eventually they met their gazes closely as the lance and the longsword were crossed against each other, sparks forming from the intense friction in between.
“How long have you governed England in this obscurity as everyone foolishly believed you? Feigning longevity rituals and undergoing ways to make yourself grow from child to adult once again to make everyone believe you were heir to the previous Queen…? You were the only Queen all along, weren’t you?”
“Indeed I was, Alice. I admit that it was my scheme to maintain my position – bypassing the concept of life and death, an aspect of humanity considered inescapable – however, I did so only for their very benefit.”
“Sounds convenient,” Alice spoke with closed eyes. She only relied on her ears. “You make yourself sound righteous, yet all you wanted was political power, wasn’t it?”
“I am not drunk for such power, Alice. For I had possessed more than enough even before I became a Queen. My mission is simply the continued prosperity of Britain. To that end, I shall take any steps necessary… that includes…”
For a moment Victoria’s eyes completely turned gold again, and her voice mixed with her spirit’s, “Burning down obstacles such as you!”
Victoria gave a spin and the blade of her spear arced, slicing through not only Alice’s arm but her shoulder, and a side of her chest entirely, making her wail in pain. When a part of her body fell off, the Queen noted mechanical wires and parts falling out of where her shoulder was previously located, as well as some flesh. Some blood spilled forth, but there wasn’t as much as one would expect.
“What have they turned you into?” The Queen enquired, grimacing at the worst nightmares human hands could give birth to, and Alice opened her eyes at last in response to her question. When Victoria saw her eyes glowing blue, she finally realised; seeing data floating about from the reflection of her pupils. “You are a marionette, aren’t you?” A look of pity floated into her face, to think they went to such extents. “They modified you down to the very source of your five senses… including your brain. You are more than just a Descendant now. No wonder they call you Geneva.”
“Indeed they did,” Alice answered, admitting, gripping Balmung tightly so as to ignore the pain. “I do not care as long as my functions are more effective than before.”
“I know not what insanity possesses your employers, but–”
“The changes they made were for my good. I do not lament them for it,” Alice replied, cutting off the Queen’s words. She would not bear to hear her opinion of her fellow countrymen.
“I see you accept your fate. Very well, I shall make note of your resolve.”
Their blades found themselves bashing again.
Alice was weakened, and the Queen used a feint to trick her before slipping past her; reaching behind her. Immediately, Victoria took advantage of the situation and stabbed her back, making her cry; the tip of the lance tore through Alice’s belly and came out all bloody.
“Stir, Gungnir.”
The round tip of the lance rotated violently, making Alice wail more intensely. Whatever mechanical organs were located there – including her stomach – were all torn and she was dangerously wounded. As if to end her completely, the Queen wordlessly raised an arm; round flames were conjured. The impact from the explosion wrought from the flames sent her away towards Hynek. With an extra helping of Paimon’s Fan’s winds, Alice fell beside Hynek, who realised that it was not going to be possible for them to win like this. The two were almost out of spiritual energy, and most of their stronger powers would be harder to materialise now.
Calling upon the last of his reserves of spiritual energy, Hynek concentrated on his twin spirits, and soon grew a pair of wings. He took up Alice on his arms, and flapped his wings, shedding feathers. Taking off the ground, Hynek took flight, and the Realm the Queen brought everyone to began to dissipate, the machinations returning in place of the stars, the sun, and the barren rocky lands.
Hynek flew away upwards – his body still half burning with white flames from Victoria’s earlier attack – from where the elevator came down from and escaped, and the Queen fell to her knees, her pupil lost its glow and it seemed like her powers were gone for the moment.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Frederica ran up to Victoria, concerned, and so did Aramus.
“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”
“Mn… who knows,” Victoria answered vaguely, holding her chest.
“That won’t do, My Queen. You of all people must be checked and treated first,” Aramus chided, though it didn’t look very convincing coming from him as he was the most battered of the three. “Who knows what their powers might have done.”
“I was not attacked by… Hynek, Thomas – which was it? I am guessing one of them was an alias? – and I am aware of what Pisces is capable of, more or less. I believe I have incurred nothing more than injuries which would be healed soon,” Victoria replied, vehemently refusing any treatment.
“Alright. Still, it would be better if you were checked anyway,” Aramus said, feeling his body getting heavier as the adrenaline faded. “Hynek, huh. I don’t like him, asshole ruined my robe. How am I going to get this fixed?” He sighed, pointing a large section of his robe that was now barely held together by a few loose threads.
“Well, I suppose we should have a doctor called for. May I ask you to dress my wounds for the moment, Frederica?” The Queen requested.
Frederica nodded. “Gladly, Your Majesty, but first we must go to some place where we’d be able to find the appropriate items. Bandages, for instance,” the Duchess replied, then grabbed Aramus – with the scariest of faces ever to be made – by his robe, or what was left of it around his collar. “And you! Don’t you dare utter any such vulgar swear words in the vicinity of Her Majesty or I shall have you cleaved in two.”
“Yes ma’am.” He nodded with a sigh, looking very chagrinned. Glancing down at his robe, he tore off the damaged section with a pained look and offered it to both his superiors. “This is usable until we get some proper first aid if you’d like. Not like I can use it after this.”
“I’m not sure if it’s clean enough,” Frederica replied. “The dirt from the battlefield may not be good for dressing her Majesty’s wound.”
“I am able to cleanse the dirt and grime with my Aquam magic,” Aramus suggested.
“What are we waiting for then? Go ahead,” Frederica replied.
“I may be bleeding but regardless of the loss or blood or injections, everything will be reverted back to normal in time,” the Queen interrupted the two. “No need to worry.”
“But, Your Majesty!” Frederica protested, but the Queen did not respond.
“Alright, Your Majesty,” Aramus replied, proceeding to dress his own wounds with the torn robe. He cleaned it and the wounds of dirt with some Aquam Magic, gritting his teeth as he wound the fabric around his damaged body.
Frederica was surprised Aramus didn’t offer her a piece of the torn robe, even if he accepted Her Majesty’s words of protest, she and him both took some damage from the wave that came from the beam of Alice, but she decided against asking. Aramus seemed to have suffered more damage than her, after all.
“I shall take Her Majesty to a room and have her rest, I’d think she is tired,” Frederica suggested. “What about you?”
“I’ll probably see if I can get a little first aid somewhere then look for the members of Cavendish Bentinck,” Aramus replied, already worrying about the members of the missing family.
There was a noise, and the Queen looked up.
“I feel that we do not have such luxury…” the Queen said. “They are coming.” She then looked straight. “Are they not?”
“That they are,” a childish voice answered.
“Countess!” Frederica exclaimed, taking note of the figure standing opposite to them and taking stance before the Queen. The Queen, however, pressed her hand against the Duchess’ shoulder, making her step back.
“Your… Majesty?” Frederica said, unsure of her Queen’s intent. The Queen simply gave a nod of assurance, and the Duchess complied to her Queen’s wish.
“What do you intend to do in this world, Morgan?” The Queen enquired, solemn, her face the same as the time she was battling.
“I wouldn’t think summoning the angels again is a good idea, Guinevere,” the Countess said, seeing through the Royal Queen’s intent; her lips stretching wide to form a grin. Her grin was indeed full of malice. “You may lose an eye again like you did back then.”
“Things have changed now, Morgan. You don’t need–”
“Silence. I will accomplish my objective, and I don’t care what the magicians think of it. I wouldn’t be so low as to play the face of all the magis like you. Is that your way of mocking them? Please tell me it is. After those magicians took your husband, you still side with them? Are you insane?”
“We are people unwanted in this world, Morgan. You and I both know this. However, that does not mean that we cannot make our place amongst them. That does not take away our right to live. I simply continued King Arthur’s job. I do not think the magicians ever †˜took him out’. Arthur simply chose to wait.”
“Wait?” The Countess said, tilting her head.
“Wait till the country of Britain desires a King once more, of course. Here, in Avalon – he will one day appear, when the country will most need him,” the Queen declared grandly, spreading her arms, smiling. “And by the time that day comes… I’ll likely have passed on; satisfied with the role I have played; cherishing what good I could achieve in my time here.”
“...You don’t mean… No, you cannot be serious, Guinevere.”
“I very much am.”
“Queen Victoria – or should I say the Final Battle Maiden? – your love for your country will certainly destroy you one day,” the Countess said, and turned. “Don’t you dare die till I take out the rest of the Descendants, you goody-two-shoes idiot.” The terrorist leader of vampires then leapt off – black feathers and darkness dancing at her wake – and disappeared into the darkness.
“Your Majesty… what does she mean by that?” Frederica asked. Aramus too wanted to know.
Queen Victoria’s eyes took on a bright gold hue for one more time.
“Virgo shall come. Chaos shall be invited along with her. Britain has yet many dangers to brave,” she said, looking upwards. “However, I have no intention of forfeiting my life till my duty is done, so worry not.”
“Does that mean you intend to leave us eventually, your Majesty?” Frederica asked again, paraphrasing as she looked down.
“Who knows. Even if such an event comes to pass, I’d think both of you would be behind your tombstones by then,” the Queen answered.
“That’s a terrible thing to say to your subject, Your Majesty,” the Duchess said, smiling wryly.
“The only thing we can’t change is our life span after all,” Aramus said somewhat defeatedly. “Even the best of us cannot win the fight against the passage of time.”
“I have survived for millenias, I’d think I deserve some rest?” Victoria said, apparently in jest, smiling. “Please?”
Aramus chuckled, the action causing him to suck in a breath. “Sounds like that tea party you mentioned, Your Majesty. Perhaps maybe a trip out of country wouldn’t hurt either. Some place scenic where nobody knows us and has a low chance of Descendants appearing, yeah.”
“That would be delightful, yes. Most delightful indeed. However, I have not left this country for a thousand years, and I feel that I should not, either. I would like a tea party, however. I hear you’re good at the tea parties, Duchess Frederica,” the Queen said, and Frederica obliged.
“I’d be honoured to host one for Your Majesty any day,” the Duchess replied, giving a respectable bow.
“Good to hear. Now, you two must go and rest. I still have to do what I must,” the Queen directed.
“With all due respect Your Majesty, I will not allow myself to rest until you do so as well. Permit me to follow,” Aramus persisted. “Though that tea party does sound mighty welcoming right about now,” he added in a softer tone, somewhat as an afterthought.
“I was supposed to take you to a room, Your Majesty. You cannot dismiss us just yet, can you?” The Duchess said, chuckling. “We’ll follow you till the end.”
“...You asked for this. Come.” Victoria leapt up and both her loyal subjects followed. The path to the palace above was long. The elevator came down really low to the earth covered in machinations.
“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”
“Mn… who knows,” Victoria answered vaguely, holding her chest.
“That won’t do, My Queen. You of all people must be checked and treated first,” Aramus chided, though it didn’t look very convincing coming from him as he was the most battered of the three. “Who knows what their powers might have done.”
“I was not attacked by… Hynek, Thomas – which was it? I am guessing one of them was an alias? – and I am aware of what Pisces is capable of, more or less. I believe I have incurred nothing more than injuries which would be healed soon,” Victoria replied, vehemently refusing any treatment.
“Alright. Still, it would be better if you were checked anyway,” Aramus said, feeling his body getting heavier as the adrenaline faded. “Hynek, huh. I don’t like him, asshole ruined my robe. How am I going to get this fixed?” He sighed, pointing a large section of his robe that was now barely held together by a few loose threads.
“Well, I suppose we should have a doctor called for. May I ask you to dress my wounds for the moment, Frederica?” The Queen requested.
Frederica nodded. “Gladly, Your Majesty, but first we must go to some place where we’d be able to find the appropriate items. Bandages, for instance,” the Duchess replied, then grabbed Aramus – with the scariest of faces ever to be made – by his robe, or what was left of it around his collar. “And you! Don’t you dare utter any such vulgar swear words in the vicinity of Her Majesty or I shall have you cleaved in two.”
“Yes ma’am.” He nodded with a sigh, looking very chagrinned. Glancing down at his robe, he tore off the damaged section with a pained look and offered it to both his superiors. “This is usable until we get some proper first aid if you’d like. Not like I can use it after this.”
“I’m not sure if it’s clean enough,” Frederica replied. “The dirt from the battlefield may not be good for dressing her Majesty’s wound.”
“I am able to cleanse the dirt and grime with my Aquam magic,” Aramus suggested.
“What are we waiting for then? Go ahead,” Frederica replied.
“I may be bleeding but regardless of the loss or blood or injections, everything will be reverted back to normal in time,” the Queen interrupted the two. “No need to worry.”
“But, Your Majesty!” Frederica protested, but the Queen did not respond.
“Alright, Your Majesty,” Aramus replied, proceeding to dress his own wounds with the torn robe. He cleaned it and the wounds of dirt with some Aquam Magic, gritting his teeth as he wound the fabric around his damaged body.
Frederica was surprised Aramus didn’t offer her a piece of the torn robe, even if he accepted Her Majesty’s words of protest, she and him both took some damage from the wave that came from the beam of Alice, but she decided against asking. Aramus seemed to have suffered more damage than her, after all.
“I shall take Her Majesty to a room and have her rest, I’d think she is tired,” Frederica suggested. “What about you?”
“I’ll probably see if I can get a little first aid somewhere then look for the members of Cavendish Bentinck,” Aramus replied, already worrying about the members of the missing family.
There was a noise, and the Queen looked up.
“I feel that we do not have such luxury…” the Queen said. “They are coming.” She then looked straight. “Are they not?”
“That they are,” a childish voice answered.
“Countess!” Frederica exclaimed, taking note of the figure standing opposite to them and taking stance before the Queen. The Queen, however, pressed her hand against the Duchess’ shoulder, making her step back.
“Your… Majesty?” Frederica said, unsure of her Queen’s intent. The Queen simply gave a nod of assurance, and the Duchess complied to her Queen’s wish.
“What do you intend to do in this world, Morgan?” The Queen enquired, solemn, her face the same as the time she was battling.
“I wouldn’t think summoning the angels again is a good idea, Guinevere,” the Countess said, seeing through the Royal Queen’s intent; her lips stretching wide to form a grin. Her grin was indeed full of malice. “You may lose an eye again like you did back then.”
“Things have changed now, Morgan. You don’t need–”
“Silence. I will accomplish my objective, and I don’t care what the magicians think of it. I wouldn’t be so low as to play the face of all the magis like you. Is that your way of mocking them? Please tell me it is. After those magicians took your husband, you still side with them? Are you insane?”
“We are people unwanted in this world, Morgan. You and I both know this. However, that does not mean that we cannot make our place amongst them. That does not take away our right to live. I simply continued King Arthur’s job. I do not think the magicians ever †˜took him out’. Arthur simply chose to wait.”
“Wait?” The Countess said, tilting her head.
“Wait till the country of Britain desires a King once more, of course. Here, in Avalon – he will one day appear, when the country will most need him,” the Queen declared grandly, spreading her arms, smiling. “And by the time that day comes… I’ll likely have passed on; satisfied with the role I have played; cherishing what good I could achieve in my time here.”
“...You don’t mean… No, you cannot be serious, Guinevere.”
“I very much am.”
“Queen Victoria – or should I say the Final Battle Maiden? – your love for your country will certainly destroy you one day,” the Countess said, and turned. “Don’t you dare die till I take out the rest of the Descendants, you goody-two-shoes idiot.” The terrorist leader of vampires then leapt off – black feathers and darkness dancing at her wake – and disappeared into the darkness.
“Your Majesty… what does she mean by that?” Frederica asked. Aramus too wanted to know.
Queen Victoria’s eyes took on a bright gold hue for one more time.
“Virgo shall come. Chaos shall be invited along with her. Britain has yet many dangers to brave,” she said, looking upwards. “However, I have no intention of forfeiting my life till my duty is done, so worry not.”
“Does that mean you intend to leave us eventually, your Majesty?” Frederica asked again, paraphrasing as she looked down.
“Who knows. Even if such an event comes to pass, I’d think both of you would be behind your tombstones by then,” the Queen answered.
“That’s a terrible thing to say to your subject, Your Majesty,” the Duchess said, smiling wryly.
“The only thing we can’t change is our life span after all,” Aramus said somewhat defeatedly. “Even the best of us cannot win the fight against the passage of time.”
“I have survived for millenias, I’d think I deserve some rest?” Victoria said, apparently in jest, smiling. “Please?”
Aramus chuckled, the action causing him to suck in a breath. “Sounds like that tea party you mentioned, Your Majesty. Perhaps maybe a trip out of country wouldn’t hurt either. Some place scenic where nobody knows us and has a low chance of Descendants appearing, yeah.”
“That would be delightful, yes. Most delightful indeed. However, I have not left this country for a thousand years, and I feel that I should not, either. I would like a tea party, however. I hear you’re good at the tea parties, Duchess Frederica,” the Queen said, and Frederica obliged.
“I’d be honoured to host one for Your Majesty any day,” the Duchess replied, giving a respectable bow.
“Good to hear. Now, you two must go and rest. I still have to do what I must,” the Queen directed.
“With all due respect Your Majesty, I will not allow myself to rest until you do so as well. Permit me to follow,” Aramus persisted. “Though that tea party does sound mighty welcoming right about now,” he added in a softer tone, somewhat as an afterthought.
“I was supposed to take you to a room, Your Majesty. You cannot dismiss us just yet, can you?” The Duchess said, chuckling. “We’ll follow you till the end.”
“...You asked for this. Come.” Victoria leapt up and both her loyal subjects followed. The path to the palace above was long. The elevator came down really low to the earth covered in machinations.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
The three were now above the Buckingham House, gazing at the sky. It was a dawn break, but the sun could not be seen due to the clouds. For some reason it was extremely cold.
Queen Victoria stood with Gungnir on her hand, as if readying herself for something. “...God be good, for such an instrument of war to exist…”
Through the clouds descended an immensely large ship. An eye could be seen, one that shined blue like Alice’s. This eye itself was larger than Hyde Park itself. The apparent battleship covered the entire sky and the clouds were hardly hiding it anymore. Of course it was cold; the sun’s heat wasn’t passing through this solid ship that was akin to a wall in between the city and the sun. The Queen and the Duchess’ mouth were opened agape as they watched the abomination show its face to the revolutionised city of London below.
Most of the Engine lights were now off, most officers of Scotland Yard hardly waking up. Only the Magicians were truly active now, alongside this airship. It was safe to say that even the magicians didn’t note this monstrous existence that descended down from the sky.
“An invasion by Japan at such a time, how could they not detect it?” Frederica asked
The Queen had nothing to say in response to the enquiry. She was speechless.
The hatch opened, thousands of cannons faced the Buckingham House. In a moment the situation drastically changed from an attempt to assassinate the Royal Queen to a possible genocide . Even a someone such as Victoria was petrified at the sight that unfolded before her. She could not believe her eyes when she witnessed all these impossibly clean and shiny black turrets facing directly at her. Threatening to put an end to her rule over the glorious Great Britain.
Aramus stared upwards at the behemoth in the sky, his mouth hanging open as he just took in its sheer size. The sheer number of gun turrets on this thing was astounding and even when he whirled around to get a better look, there wasn’t an end in sight. “Is it too late to take up the order to rest, Your Majesty? I don’t know why they bothered fighting us when they had this… thing!” He exclaimed in disbelief, throwing his arms up in the air.
“...This is ridiculous. I cannot well imagine how we’d combat this at all,” Frederica said, viewing the ship with ire and fear at the same time.
“I’d like to know the same, Sir Valmark. However, answers are not always readily apparent.” The Royal Queen of Britain walked forward with an ancient lance in hand. The Final Battle Maiden looked up to her enemy, suppressing her fear and logical thoughts that attempted to debate what sort of action should be taken. Instead, she simply opted for jumping straight into the eye of the storm to resolve her bout with the coming seed of chaos. “They have to be found out sometimes,” the Queen stated, now viewing the ship in the sky with determination. “Duchess Frederica, and Sir Valmark. I hereby order you both to stand back.”
“...If it is your will, then I may only comply, Your Majesty,” the Duchess abided by the order, and stepped back.
Aramus grudgingly stepped back as well, grumbling under his breath about Japan and their huge fancy robot toys. “On the bright side, you can’t miss.”
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MerDt1OwLZ0)
Victoria walked some steps ahead, and then she leapt upwards at breakneck speed. With the legendary relic – Gungnir – at hand, she sallied up with ancient powers that the history of humanity never acknowledged; angelic wings materialised on her back and the monarch soared high with grace and speed for the sake of her people. Aramus and Frederica watched as Victoria caused explosions on the ship moments after the departure. Her wrath unleashed; circular waves of blinding light advanced in all directions, wreaking havoc across the entire ship. Countless turrets were wiped out. Many projectiles were rejected from approaching their targets. Myriad glass and steel shattered; raining down on the Great Britain, as the cataclysmic feeling and pressure from the first time they experienced that particular power of the Queen returned to the two witnesses.
In all this chaos, Aramus saw noted a peculiarity. A blonde figure he found – at the corner of eye – familiar at the edge of the rooftop. Her eyes were leering red, but somewhat similar to Alice. Mechanical? Her hands were adorned with steel and sharp claws, and her attire seemed familiar. The face, however, made him think of one person: the Headmistress.
“Duchess Frederica, I think we might have a problem,” Aramus said from where he was resting on the ground.
“And that would be?” Frederica asked. “As if we didn’t have enough already.”
“My other employer,” he replied, indicating to the left side of the rooftop. “This day just keeps getting better and better.”
“...Pardon me, but I do not see anyone,” the Duchess looked around the rooftop in all directions instead of just the left.
“Damn it.” Indeed the Headmistress had disappeared but this only gave him more cause to get back on his feet. “Be on guard, something's amiss.”
“That has been the case since last night,” the Duchess said, covering her mouth with a hand, barely stopping herself from yawning. “I must admit; I am tired, and if Her Majesty cannot stop this I’ll never get a better chance to go to bed.”
“You and me both. I would kill for a cup of tea and some biscuits right now. Should’ve had some dessert to go with that buffet earlier, something sweet.” Aramus snickered, watching the light show that the Queen was providing him with a bemused expression.
“My, do you have a sweet tooth like me?” The Duchess asked, pleasantly surprised. “I’m absolutely craving for some pastries about now.”
“I would like to say I’m a connoisseur of all foods, just that I’m not able to enjoy them very often. However, I am very particular about my cupcakes. I could use one of those little bundles of happiness right now,” Aramus said, letting loose a sigh filled with apparent desire. “What are you partial to?”
“Well, as a Magister I’d think they pay you well,” the Duchess replied, shrugging. “Pancakes,” she answered. “I happen to love them.”
Aramus held a hand to his chin in thought, nodding sagely. “A mixed one with blueberries and strawberries? Freshly made with butter and whipped cream or perhaps… with maple syrup? Maple syrup is divine, if I do say so myself. I just love to drench them in it.” He pointedly avoided talking about the pay, knowing it would amount to nothing.
“Indeed, indeed! I often enjoy ones made with whipped cream and maple syrup. However, what I love the most is the traditional style in our country; the old pancakes with lemon juice, and sugar, drizzled with gold syrup as a topping.”
“That would have been a fitting dessert for earlier, perhaps some honey scones as well.” Aramus patted his stomach affectionately, thinking of what he would eat the first thing after this ordeal was over.
“Agreed, the scones would be lovely.” The Duchess nodded, almost floating off into the world of imagination. “I want some candies from my collection too, it has been too long.”
“Perhaps when there’s a chance to, I’ll bring some of the Japanese confectionaries over. They’re a world apart from what our homeland offers,” Aramus offered.
“Oh, is that so? What kind of confectionaries do they have to offer? I’d feel a little bad for our country if I were to enjoy the food of our sworn enemies.”
“Regardless of race or culture, food was made to be eaten and enjoyed. It’s a little hard to describe but they have these sweets that come in little airtight packs that can be enjoyed no matter where you bring them, a perfect treat for any time of the day,” Aramus said, thinking of all the gummies and candies that he had eaten thus far in Japan.
“...Is that so? Mayhap I should take some ideas for my company. In case you never knew, I run a company that produces sweets of all kinds, and yes, we bake cakes and biscuits too,” Frederica said, boasting with her index finger raised.
The news made him blink at Frederica, imagining her wearing mitts and an apron as she worked the oven. It made him chuckle a little. “If it’s high-end confectionary, I don’t think I’ve had the fortune of trying it. Unlike our country, Japan’s sweets are made readily available for every income group. If you could perhaps adopt the same business model, I’m sure your profits would rise.”
“I have cheap and expensive items on sale, and middle prices in between. So, that is not the problem, I simply am getting bored of working with the same recipes over and over again. I want something new,” Frederica replied, wanting inspirations and new challenges.
“Then it would be a good chance to try them out. I’ll bring them over the next time we meet or something,” Aramus said, going back to watching the light show.
“How kind of you, I look forward to trying them out,” Frederica expressed her excitement at the prospects of trying out something new.
“No problem at all, Duchess. I’m sure you’ll love them,” Aramus replied with a smile. “I know I did.”
“Ah, yes. I’d think–”
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xUD9bxNipU)
A tremor took place and the two had crouched down abruptly from losing their balance. Looking up, they found lasers razing the city, despite the Queen doing what she could.
When Aramus and Frederica looked up, they could see the canons loading more and more power into them for another round of slaughtering. The cannons and turrets all faced the Buckingham House. The two’s eyes widened, gulping saliva as fear welled up in them more than ever. This could be their end. It seemed like it took an eternity to charge the lasers before the beams were mercilessly shot down with a screeching noise by the Japanese airship.
Aramus and Frederica closed their eyes, facing away instinctively. There was a collision, and the two looked up reluctantly.
The projectiles were halted forcibly at the tip of the Queen’s Gungnir momentarily. The two could see smaller beings with pairs of wings holding Her Majesty’s back. It was a valiant display of their ruler’s bravery and her relic’s supremacy. The lasers – having their directions now altered from the deflection – danced across the air above the city after being curved and misdirected due to this very action, and thus they landed elsewhere; harming areas full of innocent people, and the Queen gazed at these damages with grief and despair.
Queen Victoria clashed against the ship moments later, the destructive circular waves of bright light spread in all directions again, and it caused yet another tremor, forcing the two below to lose balance and fall entirely on the floor.
“...The Queen is angry, so much that the world itself quakes in fear,” Frederica said, looking down at the floor after pulling herself up. Aramus remained silent, looking solemnly at the areas that lit up England as they burned.
“Mister Aramus… let us be away. The most we may do now – is to go out and save whoever we can in all this chaos and strife,” Frederica suggested.
“Alright. I pray that the people are not beyond saving,” replied Aramus, moving as fast as he could in his injured state.
“We’ll split up, let’s do what we can,” Frederica said, and the two then went separate ways.
Queen Victoria stood with Gungnir on her hand, as if readying herself for something. “...God be good, for such an instrument of war to exist…”
Through the clouds descended an immensely large ship. An eye could be seen, one that shined blue like Alice’s. This eye itself was larger than Hyde Park itself. The apparent battleship covered the entire sky and the clouds were hardly hiding it anymore. Of course it was cold; the sun’s heat wasn’t passing through this solid ship that was akin to a wall in between the city and the sun. The Queen and the Duchess’ mouth were opened agape as they watched the abomination show its face to the revolutionised city of London below.
Most of the Engine lights were now off, most officers of Scotland Yard hardly waking up. Only the Magicians were truly active now, alongside this airship. It was safe to say that even the magicians didn’t note this monstrous existence that descended down from the sky.
“An invasion by Japan at such a time, how could they not detect it?” Frederica asked
The Queen had nothing to say in response to the enquiry. She was speechless.
The hatch opened, thousands of cannons faced the Buckingham House. In a moment the situation drastically changed from an attempt to assassinate the Royal Queen to a possible genocide . Even a someone such as Victoria was petrified at the sight that unfolded before her. She could not believe her eyes when she witnessed all these impossibly clean and shiny black turrets facing directly at her. Threatening to put an end to her rule over the glorious Great Britain.
Aramus stared upwards at the behemoth in the sky, his mouth hanging open as he just took in its sheer size. The sheer number of gun turrets on this thing was astounding and even when he whirled around to get a better look, there wasn’t an end in sight. “Is it too late to take up the order to rest, Your Majesty? I don’t know why they bothered fighting us when they had this… thing!” He exclaimed in disbelief, throwing his arms up in the air.
“...This is ridiculous. I cannot well imagine how we’d combat this at all,” Frederica said, viewing the ship with ire and fear at the same time.
“I’d like to know the same, Sir Valmark. However, answers are not always readily apparent.” The Royal Queen of Britain walked forward with an ancient lance in hand. The Final Battle Maiden looked up to her enemy, suppressing her fear and logical thoughts that attempted to debate what sort of action should be taken. Instead, she simply opted for jumping straight into the eye of the storm to resolve her bout with the coming seed of chaos. “They have to be found out sometimes,” the Queen stated, now viewing the ship in the sky with determination. “Duchess Frederica, and Sir Valmark. I hereby order you both to stand back.”
“...If it is your will, then I may only comply, Your Majesty,” the Duchess abided by the order, and stepped back.
Aramus grudgingly stepped back as well, grumbling under his breath about Japan and their huge fancy robot toys. “On the bright side, you can’t miss.”
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MerDt1OwLZ0)
Victoria walked some steps ahead, and then she leapt upwards at breakneck speed. With the legendary relic – Gungnir – at hand, she sallied up with ancient powers that the history of humanity never acknowledged; angelic wings materialised on her back and the monarch soared high with grace and speed for the sake of her people. Aramus and Frederica watched as Victoria caused explosions on the ship moments after the departure. Her wrath unleashed; circular waves of blinding light advanced in all directions, wreaking havoc across the entire ship. Countless turrets were wiped out. Many projectiles were rejected from approaching their targets. Myriad glass and steel shattered; raining down on the Great Britain, as the cataclysmic feeling and pressure from the first time they experienced that particular power of the Queen returned to the two witnesses.
In all this chaos, Aramus saw noted a peculiarity. A blonde figure he found – at the corner of eye – familiar at the edge of the rooftop. Her eyes were leering red, but somewhat similar to Alice. Mechanical? Her hands were adorned with steel and sharp claws, and her attire seemed familiar. The face, however, made him think of one person: the Headmistress.
“Duchess Frederica, I think we might have a problem,” Aramus said from where he was resting on the ground.
“And that would be?” Frederica asked. “As if we didn’t have enough already.”
“My other employer,” he replied, indicating to the left side of the rooftop. “This day just keeps getting better and better.”
“...Pardon me, but I do not see anyone,” the Duchess looked around the rooftop in all directions instead of just the left.
“Damn it.” Indeed the Headmistress had disappeared but this only gave him more cause to get back on his feet. “Be on guard, something's amiss.”
“That has been the case since last night,” the Duchess said, covering her mouth with a hand, barely stopping herself from yawning. “I must admit; I am tired, and if Her Majesty cannot stop this I’ll never get a better chance to go to bed.”
“You and me both. I would kill for a cup of tea and some biscuits right now. Should’ve had some dessert to go with that buffet earlier, something sweet.” Aramus snickered, watching the light show that the Queen was providing him with a bemused expression.
“My, do you have a sweet tooth like me?” The Duchess asked, pleasantly surprised. “I’m absolutely craving for some pastries about now.”
“I would like to say I’m a connoisseur of all foods, just that I’m not able to enjoy them very often. However, I am very particular about my cupcakes. I could use one of those little bundles of happiness right now,” Aramus said, letting loose a sigh filled with apparent desire. “What are you partial to?”
“Well, as a Magister I’d think they pay you well,” the Duchess replied, shrugging. “Pancakes,” she answered. “I happen to love them.”
Aramus held a hand to his chin in thought, nodding sagely. “A mixed one with blueberries and strawberries? Freshly made with butter and whipped cream or perhaps… with maple syrup? Maple syrup is divine, if I do say so myself. I just love to drench them in it.” He pointedly avoided talking about the pay, knowing it would amount to nothing.
“Indeed, indeed! I often enjoy ones made with whipped cream and maple syrup. However, what I love the most is the traditional style in our country; the old pancakes with lemon juice, and sugar, drizzled with gold syrup as a topping.”
“That would have been a fitting dessert for earlier, perhaps some honey scones as well.” Aramus patted his stomach affectionately, thinking of what he would eat the first thing after this ordeal was over.
“Agreed, the scones would be lovely.” The Duchess nodded, almost floating off into the world of imagination. “I want some candies from my collection too, it has been too long.”
“Perhaps when there’s a chance to, I’ll bring some of the Japanese confectionaries over. They’re a world apart from what our homeland offers,” Aramus offered.
“Oh, is that so? What kind of confectionaries do they have to offer? I’d feel a little bad for our country if I were to enjoy the food of our sworn enemies.”
“Regardless of race or culture, food was made to be eaten and enjoyed. It’s a little hard to describe but they have these sweets that come in little airtight packs that can be enjoyed no matter where you bring them, a perfect treat for any time of the day,” Aramus said, thinking of all the gummies and candies that he had eaten thus far in Japan.
“...Is that so? Mayhap I should take some ideas for my company. In case you never knew, I run a company that produces sweets of all kinds, and yes, we bake cakes and biscuits too,” Frederica said, boasting with her index finger raised.
The news made him blink at Frederica, imagining her wearing mitts and an apron as she worked the oven. It made him chuckle a little. “If it’s high-end confectionary, I don’t think I’ve had the fortune of trying it. Unlike our country, Japan’s sweets are made readily available for every income group. If you could perhaps adopt the same business model, I’m sure your profits would rise.”
“I have cheap and expensive items on sale, and middle prices in between. So, that is not the problem, I simply am getting bored of working with the same recipes over and over again. I want something new,” Frederica replied, wanting inspirations and new challenges.
“Then it would be a good chance to try them out. I’ll bring them over the next time we meet or something,” Aramus said, going back to watching the light show.
“How kind of you, I look forward to trying them out,” Frederica expressed her excitement at the prospects of trying out something new.
“No problem at all, Duchess. I’m sure you’ll love them,” Aramus replied with a smile. “I know I did.”
“Ah, yes. I’d think–”
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xUD9bxNipU)
A tremor took place and the two had crouched down abruptly from losing their balance. Looking up, they found lasers razing the city, despite the Queen doing what she could.
When Aramus and Frederica looked up, they could see the canons loading more and more power into them for another round of slaughtering. The cannons and turrets all faced the Buckingham House. The two’s eyes widened, gulping saliva as fear welled up in them more than ever. This could be their end. It seemed like it took an eternity to charge the lasers before the beams were mercilessly shot down with a screeching noise by the Japanese airship.
Aramus and Frederica closed their eyes, facing away instinctively. There was a collision, and the two looked up reluctantly.
The projectiles were halted forcibly at the tip of the Queen’s Gungnir momentarily. The two could see smaller beings with pairs of wings holding Her Majesty’s back. It was a valiant display of their ruler’s bravery and her relic’s supremacy. The lasers – having their directions now altered from the deflection – danced across the air above the city after being curved and misdirected due to this very action, and thus they landed elsewhere; harming areas full of innocent people, and the Queen gazed at these damages with grief and despair.
Queen Victoria clashed against the ship moments later, the destructive circular waves of bright light spread in all directions again, and it caused yet another tremor, forcing the two below to lose balance and fall entirely on the floor.
“...The Queen is angry, so much that the world itself quakes in fear,” Frederica said, looking down at the floor after pulling herself up. Aramus remained silent, looking solemnly at the areas that lit up England as they burned.
“Mister Aramus… let us be away. The most we may do now – is to go out and save whoever we can in all this chaos and strife,” Frederica suggested.
“Alright. I pray that the people are not beyond saving,” replied Aramus, moving as fast as he could in his injured state.
“We’ll split up, let’s do what we can,” Frederica said, and the two then went separate ways.
0
“How do you feel, my dear?” the Countess said, approaching Claudia who was now placed on the bed.
Marco placed her there in her room and took leave. Apparently he wanted to rest in his own room, and wished not to indulge his new-found lover while she was still unwell. The Countess seemed to have visited after finding some time despite their operation. Speaking of the operation, Claudia had no idea if it was still ongoing, or what came of it. Cosette was the one who was left in care of the hotel room, and she was shocked to see Claudia so injured – even though she didn’t quite like her so-called owner – when Marco brought her home, and immediately dressed her wound. She made sure to take away the device on Claudia’s ear so she could rest, hence the girl was clueless about the operation now.
“Well… the pain stopped, at least,” Claudia replied, not really sure if she should’ve given a clear answer. “I would hug you, all of you for the assistance, buuuut…” she raised her lack of an arm and chuckled. Apparently that was her sick representation of a joke.
Despite finding it amusing, her employer chose to ignore the joke, for she did indeed worry about her subordinate, more than said subordinate believed.
“I did not imagine that Mary herself would take action; I must apologise for my lack of consideration, otherwise I would never have advised the three of you to split up in such a manner,” the Countess said, apologetic; taking hold of Claudia’s other hand. “I suppose the effects of Penance Stare have stopped about now. You shall be fine soon enough.”
“It is no problem at all. This was bound to happen at some point, I speculate,” Claudia replied, thinking to herself for a moment, then coming back to face the Countess. “So that’s what that was? The things I’ve seen… it was silly of me to think they would appear so suddenly…”
“Yes, and I suppose a combination of another spell for a greater mental impact…” She looked at her intently. “I am currently tracing the effects of spell known to be called Frighten. Simple, but formidable if it is combined with Penance Stare, it seems,” Catherine stated, and sat down beside Claudia, taking off her hand from her forehead as she stopped tracing the effects of the spells that was casted upon Claudia.
“Tell me, do you wish to feel better in your current state?”
“More than anything.”
“Then,” the Countess begun, unclipping her rose-adorned choker; revealing her neck. “I shall offer you my blood for your nourishment.”
Claudia widened her eyes and quirked an eyebrow. She opened her mouth for a moment then closed it once more as she had to process the Countess’ words, making sure she heard her correctly. “Are… are you sure?”
“You may even drink it from the teat if you enjoy the image of a motherly figure feeding you,” Catherine joked, giggling devilishly like usual. “My blood will doubtless have especial effects on my Representative, regeneration would likely be a part of it.” And the growth of your power’s stability.
Claudia stammered a little before regaining control of her tongue, likely from the Countess’ comment which made her lose her way for a moment. Regeneration was possible for someone of her calibre? That was something she’d want to see. “Really now… at this point, regeneration sounds lovely,” Claudia supposed, glancing at her bandaged socket, feeling a little helpless.
“It would not cure your injuries in an instant, mind you, dear.” The Countess looked where Claudia’s sights were placed. “It’d take a day at least, which, I spectate is better in comparison to a week, yes?” Claudia’s employer answered, joyously speaking. “Since you are semi-immortal due to our pact; you are bound to recover that lost arm regardless. If you find faster regeneration †˜lovely’ as you claim, then you are aware of what you should do next, I’d wager?”
“In that case, why not?” Opening her mouth and revealing her fangs, Claudia’s eyes gleamed redder than normal as the Countess’ neck looked far more delicious than before. She ebbed closer to her employer’s neck, moistening her lips before biting deep into the woman’s skin, drinking every drop of crimson she could manage. Catherine in turn pressed on the back of her head with her palm as if to encourage her to suck more blood.
“Good girl, just… just like that…” the Countess uttered. Her expression made it evident that she felt a tinge of pain, but was otherwise was to endure without groaning. Even though she joked about it, it was strangely similar to breastfeeding for her, she almost saw Claudia as a baby really sucking for nourishment. “Would you like to talk regarding what occurred, my dear? You seemed to have gotten quite emotional while I was away.”
Claudia, who was wiping her mouth clean of blood with a hand – and licking the fingertip clean with her tongue – suddenly found the wall somewhat much more interesting. “You heard what happened then, I see,” she said, sighing.
“At that time, I was speaking with the person who stood at the top of the country, I had indeed heard some of it. I could not concentrate on it enough, but I could tell that something dire was underway, and thus made my retreat instead of taking her out,” the Countess elaborated, and sounded apologetic for not knowing the entire situation in detail. “It turned out that I was too late to help, however. If you do not wish to speak about it, however, then it is completely fine.”
“No, no. It’s fine. Otherwise it would come back to bother me in the future, and I definitely do not want that. I have too much to think about that I would rather get it off my chest now,” Claudia stressed, completely sure of herself. “Tonight… I met an old friend – well, in truth, he was more like an older brother to me. He actually guided me while living in an orphanage long ago. Meeting him again felt so strange, especially while in a taboo position, kneeling down to the Queen, preparing to suck her blood… he was appalled at the sight, to see my fangs ajar from my mouth and me brandishing a bloody sword, unmoved. Ugh… it was like being caught by your parents masturbating…”
“While I’d like to comment on the fact that you experienced being caught while doing a perverse act when you were so young… ahem,” Catherine commented, her cheeks slightly flushed, but she shrugged that unimportant matter aside, “May I enquire as to who your old friend was?”
“I-In my defense, I– ugh…” Claudia dropped that notion completely after realising the error. “Anyways, his name is Aramus Valmark. Why he happened to be at the Queen’s Meeting of all places was beyond me,” Claudia said, placing a hand on her forehead, wondering what he was doing about now.
“Mn, on the contrary, I’d like to claim that it should actually be incomprehensible for him to understand why you were participating in the Queen’s Meeting. The Magic Magister, Aramus Valmark, graduated from the Royal Academy about two years ago. He was chosen by the Queen herself, and swiftly left for Tokyo, in Japan, to work as a teacher in the Eastern Magic Academy, after working with the Royal Council for a year, I believe. He recently came back to England only because of his invitation to the event.”
“A Magister?” Claudia repeated as if to confirm, surprised that her metaphorical older brother could achieve such a goal. Last time she saw him, he was still taller than her, no doubt, and was still in his rags. “...Impressive, old friend.” She was brought to a smile, knowing this, despite their encounter.
“I am more surprised that you haven’t heard of him by now, my dear,” the Countess replied. Then again, she knew how oblivious Claudia was to things. She could hardly believe that she and her comrades had to explain to Claudia what the Queen’s Meeting was. “He is scorned oft by the nobles who do not accept him as he was a lowborn.”
“Ugh, just when I thought that story was becoming outgrown.”
“Well… I suppose there were other things that had happened, I am sure you met more than one fated person last night,” the Countess enquired, eager to hear the next tale.
"Yes, that man... he was a talkative fellow, spouting lines from the Bible and whatnot," Claudia replied, putting on a hesitant expression.
“Is that so? I see,” the Countess replied a little nonchalantly, shrugging. “Ansel said he couldn’t recognise the voice, but Marco told that he was the person who defeated him weeks ago.”
“Really? He didn't take too much of a toll on me until he casted those spells,” Claudia added, shuddering. “Admittedly, I let my emotions get the best of me, then…”
“He had companions to engage in combat against Marco, one of whom – ironically enough – Marco targeted, and burst out from in the event as you may have witnessed. I’m sure that was a show worth a value of entertainment for you.”
“Ahahah...” Claudia laughed, more nervous than forced. “My ways of entertainment are... well, I'm sure you've heard me when I was excited. It's a horrible habit I picked up as a child.”
The Countess simply smiled. “Nothing to be ashamed of who you are, my dear,” she said, sounding encouraging, just like the time she her back in the café. “We all have our own quirks. Some likes to refer to them as faults or mental issues, I like to refer to them as aspects or qualities instead.”
Claudia brought her nub of an arm up to her chin instinctively in thought of her employer's words and gasped once she realised it was the wrong limb. “Oh shi–” Claudia buzzed, feeling silly. “A-Anyways, I never thought of it that way. I was taught that those types of things were flaws and should not be in display.”
“That is not wrong for the most part, regarding conduct in society, that is. However, when you’re not in requirement of a formal conduct – or for maintaining your social identity – what’s the point? The teachings evidently came from a different set of opinions, and that is the only difference I can find. One happened to be favoured while the other side wasn’t. That is just how this world is at the moment,” she said, then turned more solemn than before. “Well, you met Mary too, I presume?”
That was when Claudia's expression changed entirely. She cracked her left index finger and glared intently into the ceiling. “...Yes, yes I did.” Although Catherine's blood was delectable, staring at her lack of an arm put a bad taste in her mouth, turning it bitter. “The last person I thought to have ended the night with, at that...”
“It seemed like you were being spied by her,” the Countess speculated. “The lady named Mary Shelley is mysterious, and it is evident that she works for someone. Who, no one knows. Why, no one knows. However, everyone in our Organization knows that she is a dangerous foe; now, you and Marco seem to have first-hand experience.” And now Rose have similar experiences. The Countess sighed internally, getting off the bed and pulling the curtains of the window open. A large battleship was afloat the air; covering the sky, shrouded in clouds, and there were lights of battle around it. “Not as dangerous as the Queen, of course,” she added, looking up to the Royal Queen, Alexandrina Victoria combating the airship with ease.
Claudia didn't even glance at the window, as she was immersed in the talk of Mary. At this point, she didn't even want to hear her name any longer, otherwise she would lash out again. Claudia sat bedside to gaze at the ship in amazement, knitting her brows with regret. “...I knew I should have finished her when I had the chance,” she grimaced. “The bitch…”
The Countess grinned. “You have such a savage tongue, my dear.” Catherine laughed. “In all earnesty, I doubted the Queen could be killed, yet we made our attempt, and I would applaud everyone’s hard work and effort. We should toast later tonight,” she made a suggestion with merriment after congratulating the collective efforts of her comrades. “That said, we are safe thanks to her, otherwise Japan’s latest toy would be troublesome for even us.”
“Latest toy?” Claudia stood up completely and approached the window same as the Countess to get a closer look at the hulking vessel above. "What is Japan planning, exactly?"
“Who knows. They are at war with England, so this invasion hardly comes off as a surprise. However, I do not know what manner of trickery they employed to appear so abruptly without warning.”
“War is such a dreadful thing, truly. I don't see why we can't be inclined to find out?” Claudia enquired with a smirk.
“It is none any of our business. I doubt they’d best Queen Victoria, this is a show for us at best.”
Claudia hummed, placing her hand on a hip and smiled. “Too bad, and I was beginning to enjoy making target practice out of Her Majesty's men. No matter, watching a slaughter is almost just as good as causing one.”
“It seems particularly different from a slaughter, but as good as any, I suppose.”
“I for one am curious what the Japanese are capable of... to see how depraved they can be. Oh, that will be a sight to bear, indeed.”
“As the people of the twenty-third century, I am inclined to inform you they are on a different level of depravity in certain cases.”
Claudia let out a pleased hum, probably aroused with anticipation, hearing that. “God... on a different level. I'm getting impatient already…”
“I have been considering this for some time, my dear, but considering the recent events, I’d love to take a break from this country. Mayhap a change is in order. How about we leave for Japan? There is much to do there, too.”
“J-J-Japan? Really? Now?” Claudia asked in shock. The first thing she thought of was the amassed collection of books they had. The girl never got the chance to read them, but she heard they fit her tastes to a T. She blushed, just picturing it all. “S-Sounds good.”
“Then that’s settled, we’ll have to file in a report for our †˜break’ from the classes – not that it matters if we skip them, but we’d suffer penalties – lest we leave a bad impression on our peers,” the Countess said, vivacious as the other girl. “We have the funds, my dear. I can assure some materials of your tastes may indeed be bought.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you are a spectacular woman today, Countess?” Claudia asked, completely delighted of her employer's kindness so far.
“Today? So I wasn’t spectacular any other day?”
“Well you're magnificent every other day; you just proved to be spectacular today."
The Countess shrugged, smiling wryly. “If you say so.” She then returned to viewing the battle that waged on outside, a smirk replacing her tender smile from a moment ago.
“You’re next, Sagittarius.”
Marco placed her there in her room and took leave. Apparently he wanted to rest in his own room, and wished not to indulge his new-found lover while she was still unwell. The Countess seemed to have visited after finding some time despite their operation. Speaking of the operation, Claudia had no idea if it was still ongoing, or what came of it. Cosette was the one who was left in care of the hotel room, and she was shocked to see Claudia so injured – even though she didn’t quite like her so-called owner – when Marco brought her home, and immediately dressed her wound. She made sure to take away the device on Claudia’s ear so she could rest, hence the girl was clueless about the operation now.
“Well… the pain stopped, at least,” Claudia replied, not really sure if she should’ve given a clear answer. “I would hug you, all of you for the assistance, buuuut…” she raised her lack of an arm and chuckled. Apparently that was her sick representation of a joke.
Despite finding it amusing, her employer chose to ignore the joke, for she did indeed worry about her subordinate, more than said subordinate believed.
“I did not imagine that Mary herself would take action; I must apologise for my lack of consideration, otherwise I would never have advised the three of you to split up in such a manner,” the Countess said, apologetic; taking hold of Claudia’s other hand. “I suppose the effects of Penance Stare have stopped about now. You shall be fine soon enough.”
“It is no problem at all. This was bound to happen at some point, I speculate,” Claudia replied, thinking to herself for a moment, then coming back to face the Countess. “So that’s what that was? The things I’ve seen… it was silly of me to think they would appear so suddenly…”
“Yes, and I suppose a combination of another spell for a greater mental impact…” She looked at her intently. “I am currently tracing the effects of spell known to be called Frighten. Simple, but formidable if it is combined with Penance Stare, it seems,” Catherine stated, and sat down beside Claudia, taking off her hand from her forehead as she stopped tracing the effects of the spells that was casted upon Claudia.
“Tell me, do you wish to feel better in your current state?”
“More than anything.”
“Then,” the Countess begun, unclipping her rose-adorned choker; revealing her neck. “I shall offer you my blood for your nourishment.”
Claudia widened her eyes and quirked an eyebrow. She opened her mouth for a moment then closed it once more as she had to process the Countess’ words, making sure she heard her correctly. “Are… are you sure?”
“You may even drink it from the teat if you enjoy the image of a motherly figure feeding you,” Catherine joked, giggling devilishly like usual. “My blood will doubtless have especial effects on my Representative, regeneration would likely be a part of it.” And the growth of your power’s stability.
Claudia stammered a little before regaining control of her tongue, likely from the Countess’ comment which made her lose her way for a moment. Regeneration was possible for someone of her calibre? That was something she’d want to see. “Really now… at this point, regeneration sounds lovely,” Claudia supposed, glancing at her bandaged socket, feeling a little helpless.
“It would not cure your injuries in an instant, mind you, dear.” The Countess looked where Claudia’s sights were placed. “It’d take a day at least, which, I spectate is better in comparison to a week, yes?” Claudia’s employer answered, joyously speaking. “Since you are semi-immortal due to our pact; you are bound to recover that lost arm regardless. If you find faster regeneration †˜lovely’ as you claim, then you are aware of what you should do next, I’d wager?”
“In that case, why not?” Opening her mouth and revealing her fangs, Claudia’s eyes gleamed redder than normal as the Countess’ neck looked far more delicious than before. She ebbed closer to her employer’s neck, moistening her lips before biting deep into the woman’s skin, drinking every drop of crimson she could manage. Catherine in turn pressed on the back of her head with her palm as if to encourage her to suck more blood.
“Good girl, just… just like that…” the Countess uttered. Her expression made it evident that she felt a tinge of pain, but was otherwise was to endure without groaning. Even though she joked about it, it was strangely similar to breastfeeding for her, she almost saw Claudia as a baby really sucking for nourishment. “Would you like to talk regarding what occurred, my dear? You seemed to have gotten quite emotional while I was away.”
Claudia, who was wiping her mouth clean of blood with a hand – and licking the fingertip clean with her tongue – suddenly found the wall somewhat much more interesting. “You heard what happened then, I see,” she said, sighing.
“At that time, I was speaking with the person who stood at the top of the country, I had indeed heard some of it. I could not concentrate on it enough, but I could tell that something dire was underway, and thus made my retreat instead of taking her out,” the Countess elaborated, and sounded apologetic for not knowing the entire situation in detail. “It turned out that I was too late to help, however. If you do not wish to speak about it, however, then it is completely fine.”
“No, no. It’s fine. Otherwise it would come back to bother me in the future, and I definitely do not want that. I have too much to think about that I would rather get it off my chest now,” Claudia stressed, completely sure of herself. “Tonight… I met an old friend – well, in truth, he was more like an older brother to me. He actually guided me while living in an orphanage long ago. Meeting him again felt so strange, especially while in a taboo position, kneeling down to the Queen, preparing to suck her blood… he was appalled at the sight, to see my fangs ajar from my mouth and me brandishing a bloody sword, unmoved. Ugh… it was like being caught by your parents masturbating…”
“While I’d like to comment on the fact that you experienced being caught while doing a perverse act when you were so young… ahem,” Catherine commented, her cheeks slightly flushed, but she shrugged that unimportant matter aside, “May I enquire as to who your old friend was?”
“I-In my defense, I– ugh…” Claudia dropped that notion completely after realising the error. “Anyways, his name is Aramus Valmark. Why he happened to be at the Queen’s Meeting of all places was beyond me,” Claudia said, placing a hand on her forehead, wondering what he was doing about now.
“Mn, on the contrary, I’d like to claim that it should actually be incomprehensible for him to understand why you were participating in the Queen’s Meeting. The Magic Magister, Aramus Valmark, graduated from the Royal Academy about two years ago. He was chosen by the Queen herself, and swiftly left for Tokyo, in Japan, to work as a teacher in the Eastern Magic Academy, after working with the Royal Council for a year, I believe. He recently came back to England only because of his invitation to the event.”
“A Magister?” Claudia repeated as if to confirm, surprised that her metaphorical older brother could achieve such a goal. Last time she saw him, he was still taller than her, no doubt, and was still in his rags. “...Impressive, old friend.” She was brought to a smile, knowing this, despite their encounter.
“I am more surprised that you haven’t heard of him by now, my dear,” the Countess replied. Then again, she knew how oblivious Claudia was to things. She could hardly believe that she and her comrades had to explain to Claudia what the Queen’s Meeting was. “He is scorned oft by the nobles who do not accept him as he was a lowborn.”
“Ugh, just when I thought that story was becoming outgrown.”
“Well… I suppose there were other things that had happened, I am sure you met more than one fated person last night,” the Countess enquired, eager to hear the next tale.
"Yes, that man... he was a talkative fellow, spouting lines from the Bible and whatnot," Claudia replied, putting on a hesitant expression.
“Is that so? I see,” the Countess replied a little nonchalantly, shrugging. “Ansel said he couldn’t recognise the voice, but Marco told that he was the person who defeated him weeks ago.”
“Really? He didn't take too much of a toll on me until he casted those spells,” Claudia added, shuddering. “Admittedly, I let my emotions get the best of me, then…”
“He had companions to engage in combat against Marco, one of whom – ironically enough – Marco targeted, and burst out from in the event as you may have witnessed. I’m sure that was a show worth a value of entertainment for you.”
“Ahahah...” Claudia laughed, more nervous than forced. “My ways of entertainment are... well, I'm sure you've heard me when I was excited. It's a horrible habit I picked up as a child.”
The Countess simply smiled. “Nothing to be ashamed of who you are, my dear,” she said, sounding encouraging, just like the time she her back in the café. “We all have our own quirks. Some likes to refer to them as faults or mental issues, I like to refer to them as aspects or qualities instead.”
Claudia brought her nub of an arm up to her chin instinctively in thought of her employer's words and gasped once she realised it was the wrong limb. “Oh shi–” Claudia buzzed, feeling silly. “A-Anyways, I never thought of it that way. I was taught that those types of things were flaws and should not be in display.”
“That is not wrong for the most part, regarding conduct in society, that is. However, when you’re not in requirement of a formal conduct – or for maintaining your social identity – what’s the point? The teachings evidently came from a different set of opinions, and that is the only difference I can find. One happened to be favoured while the other side wasn’t. That is just how this world is at the moment,” she said, then turned more solemn than before. “Well, you met Mary too, I presume?”
That was when Claudia's expression changed entirely. She cracked her left index finger and glared intently into the ceiling. “...Yes, yes I did.” Although Catherine's blood was delectable, staring at her lack of an arm put a bad taste in her mouth, turning it bitter. “The last person I thought to have ended the night with, at that...”
“It seemed like you were being spied by her,” the Countess speculated. “The lady named Mary Shelley is mysterious, and it is evident that she works for someone. Who, no one knows. Why, no one knows. However, everyone in our Organization knows that she is a dangerous foe; now, you and Marco seem to have first-hand experience.” And now Rose have similar experiences. The Countess sighed internally, getting off the bed and pulling the curtains of the window open. A large battleship was afloat the air; covering the sky, shrouded in clouds, and there were lights of battle around it. “Not as dangerous as the Queen, of course,” she added, looking up to the Royal Queen, Alexandrina Victoria combating the airship with ease.
Claudia didn't even glance at the window, as she was immersed in the talk of Mary. At this point, she didn't even want to hear her name any longer, otherwise she would lash out again. Claudia sat bedside to gaze at the ship in amazement, knitting her brows with regret. “...I knew I should have finished her when I had the chance,” she grimaced. “The bitch…”
The Countess grinned. “You have such a savage tongue, my dear.” Catherine laughed. “In all earnesty, I doubted the Queen could be killed, yet we made our attempt, and I would applaud everyone’s hard work and effort. We should toast later tonight,” she made a suggestion with merriment after congratulating the collective efforts of her comrades. “That said, we are safe thanks to her, otherwise Japan’s latest toy would be troublesome for even us.”
“Latest toy?” Claudia stood up completely and approached the window same as the Countess to get a closer look at the hulking vessel above. "What is Japan planning, exactly?"
“Who knows. They are at war with England, so this invasion hardly comes off as a surprise. However, I do not know what manner of trickery they employed to appear so abruptly without warning.”
“War is such a dreadful thing, truly. I don't see why we can't be inclined to find out?” Claudia enquired with a smirk.
“It is none any of our business. I doubt they’d best Queen Victoria, this is a show for us at best.”
Claudia hummed, placing her hand on a hip and smiled. “Too bad, and I was beginning to enjoy making target practice out of Her Majesty's men. No matter, watching a slaughter is almost just as good as causing one.”
“It seems particularly different from a slaughter, but as good as any, I suppose.”
“I for one am curious what the Japanese are capable of... to see how depraved they can be. Oh, that will be a sight to bear, indeed.”
“As the people of the twenty-third century, I am inclined to inform you they are on a different level of depravity in certain cases.”
Claudia let out a pleased hum, probably aroused with anticipation, hearing that. “God... on a different level. I'm getting impatient already…”
“I have been considering this for some time, my dear, but considering the recent events, I’d love to take a break from this country. Mayhap a change is in order. How about we leave for Japan? There is much to do there, too.”
“J-J-Japan? Really? Now?” Claudia asked in shock. The first thing she thought of was the amassed collection of books they had. The girl never got the chance to read them, but she heard they fit her tastes to a T. She blushed, just picturing it all. “S-Sounds good.”
“Then that’s settled, we’ll have to file in a report for our †˜break’ from the classes – not that it matters if we skip them, but we’d suffer penalties – lest we leave a bad impression on our peers,” the Countess said, vivacious as the other girl. “We have the funds, my dear. I can assure some materials of your tastes may indeed be bought.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you are a spectacular woman today, Countess?” Claudia asked, completely delighted of her employer's kindness so far.
“Today? So I wasn’t spectacular any other day?”
“Well you're magnificent every other day; you just proved to be spectacular today."
The Countess shrugged, smiling wryly. “If you say so.” She then returned to viewing the battle that waged on outside, a smirk replacing her tender smile from a moment ago.
“You’re next, Sagittarius.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Aramus headed to the area nearby that burned brightest, and the damage wrought was most devastating. Houses destroyed or on fire, brick and mortar no match for the lasers. Flames were everywhere and he could hear the cries of the dying. Wherever he looked, there was carnage. Some people were fleeing from a nearby building, and from the way it looked; collapse could happen at any moment.
Soot and dust kicked up, making it hard for him to breath and he chanted a wind spell, clearing an area around him free of any impurities. It kept the fire away, a small safe haven for himself and any he might save. He hobbled forward towards the creaking building, directing people and helping those who needed it.
With loud grinding, the building collapsed in on itself in a shower of mortar and pestle; structural integrity failing. Aramus threw himself back with a heave, barely making it clear as a huge cloud of powder pushed fast him, momentarily disrupting his wind barrier. Favouring his right side which he had landed on, Aramus walked into the flaming ruins of the building to look for survivors.
His search was fruitless. There were many corpses who hadn’t made it out of the building before it had fallen, bodies broken by sheer weight and force. He had to cover his face with a sleeve, the smog getting too thick even with some of his wind blowing it away. He stumbled through the rubble, having spotted some movement.
A family in a four poster bed. The parents had died protecting their child, huddling around her as the building came crashing down on them. The child had survived somehow, though she was shivering in the clutches of her dead mother and father. Aramus hobbled over, pushing aside ruined furniture until he reached her.
Pulling her out, the girl nonetheless screamed for her parents as he brought her away, crying in fear. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to run while he held her due to his injuries, but once he was out of the ruins, other survivors came to help. The little orphan refused to let go of him, clinging to him even as he sat down for a breather. When Aramus looked about, seeing the survivors that managed to escape in time, he found a flock of children clinging to someone. Curious, he took a few steps ahead – the girl beside him still tugging against his robe – and found a young lady with platinum hair crouched down, wiping a little boy’s face with a handkerchief as he was crying.
Pulling herself up; she found Aramus, then looked down on the girl beside, and immediately went over to her, wiping her face too.
“It must’ve been hard for you. Everything will be just fine now,” she said to the child, rubbing her tears away along with all the dirt.
“Unless you intend to provide her shelter, Magister Valmark, shall I take her to the church along with the rest of the children?” She offered. “I do not think I can go to an orphanage now, and the ones I know are far from here too. The church is the best option I can think of.”
“Mary, yes? We haven’t had the chance to meet before, but thank you. There are other people that needs saving, and if you could take these children someplace safe; it would be a load off my mind,” Aramus said to her before crouching down to face the girl at his side. “I’ll come back for you, ok? Stay with her until then, she’ll keep you safe.”
“That is correct,” Mary replied, giving a nod. “I am sure there are other people who need help. I myself will go out again after I deliver them to the church. They’ll all be safe, I promise.”
Aramus nodded before leaving the group in Mary’s hands.
Soot and dust kicked up, making it hard for him to breath and he chanted a wind spell, clearing an area around him free of any impurities. It kept the fire away, a small safe haven for himself and any he might save. He hobbled forward towards the creaking building, directing people and helping those who needed it.
With loud grinding, the building collapsed in on itself in a shower of mortar and pestle; structural integrity failing. Aramus threw himself back with a heave, barely making it clear as a huge cloud of powder pushed fast him, momentarily disrupting his wind barrier. Favouring his right side which he had landed on, Aramus walked into the flaming ruins of the building to look for survivors.
His search was fruitless. There were many corpses who hadn’t made it out of the building before it had fallen, bodies broken by sheer weight and force. He had to cover his face with a sleeve, the smog getting too thick even with some of his wind blowing it away. He stumbled through the rubble, having spotted some movement.
A family in a four poster bed. The parents had died protecting their child, huddling around her as the building came crashing down on them. The child had survived somehow, though she was shivering in the clutches of her dead mother and father. Aramus hobbled over, pushing aside ruined furniture until he reached her.
Pulling her out, the girl nonetheless screamed for her parents as he brought her away, crying in fear. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to run while he held her due to his injuries, but once he was out of the ruins, other survivors came to help. The little orphan refused to let go of him, clinging to him even as he sat down for a breather. When Aramus looked about, seeing the survivors that managed to escape in time, he found a flock of children clinging to someone. Curious, he took a few steps ahead – the girl beside him still tugging against his robe – and found a young lady with platinum hair crouched down, wiping a little boy’s face with a handkerchief as he was crying.
Pulling herself up; she found Aramus, then looked down on the girl beside, and immediately went over to her, wiping her face too.
“It must’ve been hard for you. Everything will be just fine now,” she said to the child, rubbing her tears away along with all the dirt.
“Unless you intend to provide her shelter, Magister Valmark, shall I take her to the church along with the rest of the children?” She offered. “I do not think I can go to an orphanage now, and the ones I know are far from here too. The church is the best option I can think of.”
“Mary, yes? We haven’t had the chance to meet before, but thank you. There are other people that needs saving, and if you could take these children someplace safe; it would be a load off my mind,” Aramus said to her before crouching down to face the girl at his side. “I’ll come back for you, ok? Stay with her until then, she’ll keep you safe.”
“That is correct,” Mary replied, giving a nod. “I am sure there are other people who need help. I myself will go out again after I deliver them to the church. They’ll all be safe, I promise.”
Aramus nodded before leaving the group in Mary’s hands.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“Thank God we got back to the hotel in time,” Lumiere said, sitting down on a couch, and letting her tension flow out with a heavy sigh. Almond was sleeping on the bed in the back, and a catastrophe was going down on London at the same time… “Not that we got back in at a good hour, considering the curfew. Oh well,” she said while looking at the lasers destroying countless lives and concrete easily beyond the window.
“Are you sure that we’re perfectly safe in here, ma’am? I mean that airship is obviously destroying everything around it. Are they hunting for someone?” Weiss asked as she looked outside the window as if she was watching a movie.
“It’s a ship that is covering the entire city from what I see… we’re not really safe anywhere. I don’t know if they’re hunting anyone however, but it’s definitely due to the war, wouldn’t you think?”
“Indeed.” Weiss sighed and sat down on a chair. “Anyway, back at the basement, were you trying to summon the mistress with your body doubles?” She asked immediately.
“Something like that,” Lumiere answered. “It was a very specific magic circle for summoning the Steel Princess.”
“And the bodies are for replenishing her form, right?”
“I suppose you could say that,” Lumiere said, never having thought of it that way apparently. “To begin with, those bodies were originally a part of her.”
“I see.” She nodded. Still a lot of things that I don’t know about my life saver, I guess the less I know, the better.
“She sure is aggressive,” Lumiere stated, “yet beautiful.” She stared at the winged being combating the large airship that tossed lasers and bombardments down at its opponent. Striving to defeat her, but failing to carry out the desired result. “Truly, she is a magnificent being…”
Weiss also took a peek outside and saw the magnificent battle. Interesting, no wasted movements, precise hits, and hard blows.
“Well, whatever the case, this battle will likely end soon. An order came for you; you are to come with me to Tokyo in Japan. You will remain be on stand-by, and keep yourself hidden in my academy. Understood?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Are you sure that we’re perfectly safe in here, ma’am? I mean that airship is obviously destroying everything around it. Are they hunting for someone?” Weiss asked as she looked outside the window as if she was watching a movie.
“It’s a ship that is covering the entire city from what I see… we’re not really safe anywhere. I don’t know if they’re hunting anyone however, but it’s definitely due to the war, wouldn’t you think?”
“Indeed.” Weiss sighed and sat down on a chair. “Anyway, back at the basement, were you trying to summon the mistress with your body doubles?” She asked immediately.
“Something like that,” Lumiere answered. “It was a very specific magic circle for summoning the Steel Princess.”
“And the bodies are for replenishing her form, right?”
“I suppose you could say that,” Lumiere said, never having thought of it that way apparently. “To begin with, those bodies were originally a part of her.”
“I see.” She nodded. Still a lot of things that I don’t know about my life saver, I guess the less I know, the better.
“She sure is aggressive,” Lumiere stated, “yet beautiful.” She stared at the winged being combating the large airship that tossed lasers and bombardments down at its opponent. Striving to defeat her, but failing to carry out the desired result. “Truly, she is a magnificent being…”
Weiss also took a peek outside and saw the magnificent battle. Interesting, no wasted movements, precise hits, and hard blows.
“Well, whatever the case, this battle will likely end soon. An order came for you; you are to come with me to Tokyo in Japan. You will remain be on stand-by, and keep yourself hidden in my academy. Understood?”
“Yes ma’am.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“That thing is humongous,” Thomas complained, the situation took a huge turn and they were still on the streets. Unfortunately for Thomas, the officers out for curfew and the lack of open inns made it extremely difficult to find a place to shelter poor Tsuruko, and like this it was already dawn. He did not think so many Scotland Yard officers would be around. Mages usually had no problems unless many of them were out and about searching for people. Did something take place earlier that the officers were out even around dawn? Likely, especially now that the airship appeared and the lasers razed the revolutionised city.
“Far bigger than anything I’ve ever seen grace the sky… if you could even call something like that graceful.” Tsuruko held her grimace. Looking at something that mechanically huge made her doubt the originality of that huge flying machine, being so apart from Japan’s technology sector.
“I’ve not heard of such invasion plans. What about you, Miss Tsuruko?”
“Nothing that would’ve amounted to this…” Tsuruko gazed upon the massive amount of chaos and destruction going on. “
“Well, maybe–” Thomas stopped running, and so did Tsuruko, he turned to witness a soaring figure who fought the machination of the skies, but also another who approached them. With no time to run he raised his arms as if to protect them both.
“Miss Tsuruko!”
Tsuruko heard a familiar voice as the figure landed before them. It was Hynek, carrying Alice on his arms. Both were gravely injured. Hynek had red bruises and swollen spots all over the place, and many of parts of his body had traces of dried blood. Alice was almost literally broken. There were electronic particles hanging from her open large wounds, her right arm and shoulder were literally cut off, and she was unconscious.
She was almost instantly grieved as her eyes set upon the figure that she was supposed to protect… wait, are those sparks…? Or rather, why are they in such a state? Countless questions ran through her mind as Hynek landed. She tried as hard as she could to make sense of the current situation, but like the others, reason escaped her.
“What happened? Or rather, how? Why is Lady Alice… injured… to this extent?” Thomas enquired, taken aback by all the wounds, his words barely enunciated properly due to the gravity of the situation.
“No time to explain,” Hynek curtly answered, his voice raspy. “I’m here for you, Miss Tsuruko, to escort you two to the ship. We’re going back home.”
Tsuruko just nodded, holding any words directed at the two for later, as she understood the importance of the situation now. “How are we going to get back?”
Hynek gave his wings a flap and gave a smirk. “How else do you think? Prepare for a ride,” he said.
“What will you do?” Hynek asked, facing Thomas.
“Well, I think I’ll simply head home and pray that the lasers don’t fall here, or at the two of you for that matter.”
Hynek gave an uncaring nod. “Gotcha.” He picked up Tsuruko with ease from behind Thomas – who stepped aside as the taller man approached – and held both the ladies with each arm. “Stay safe.” He then ascended off the stone pavements as his wings began to flap rapidly.
“You people should stay safe too! Watch out for the projectiles! And Miss Tsuruko, we shall meet again, in your country next time!” Thomas yelled as Hynek started to take to the air and towards the sky where the impossibly large airship hung, unsure whether she even caught his message or not.
Tsuruko felt a great pulling force from behind her, and after a quick moment they were speeding off. She nearly yelped, if not for the feeling of her abdomen grinding against Hynek unabling her to produce any noise, and in the end a short groan just came out of her mouth, along with a few drops of saliva. She would cover her mouth immediately, but her arms were locked by sheer force.
Tsuruko almost seemed to reach out to Thomas as they parted from the earth, almost wondering if she’ll ever see him again. As the silhouette of Thomas grew thin, Tsuruko recalled her moments with him, and she would cherish them dearly, until she would see him again.
“Far bigger than anything I’ve ever seen grace the sky… if you could even call something like that graceful.” Tsuruko held her grimace. Looking at something that mechanically huge made her doubt the originality of that huge flying machine, being so apart from Japan’s technology sector.
“I’ve not heard of such invasion plans. What about you, Miss Tsuruko?”
“Nothing that would’ve amounted to this…” Tsuruko gazed upon the massive amount of chaos and destruction going on. “
“Well, maybe–” Thomas stopped running, and so did Tsuruko, he turned to witness a soaring figure who fought the machination of the skies, but also another who approached them. With no time to run he raised his arms as if to protect them both.
“Miss Tsuruko!”
Tsuruko heard a familiar voice as the figure landed before them. It was Hynek, carrying Alice on his arms. Both were gravely injured. Hynek had red bruises and swollen spots all over the place, and many of parts of his body had traces of dried blood. Alice was almost literally broken. There were electronic particles hanging from her open large wounds, her right arm and shoulder were literally cut off, and she was unconscious.
She was almost instantly grieved as her eyes set upon the figure that she was supposed to protect… wait, are those sparks…? Or rather, why are they in such a state? Countless questions ran through her mind as Hynek landed. She tried as hard as she could to make sense of the current situation, but like the others, reason escaped her.
“What happened? Or rather, how? Why is Lady Alice… injured… to this extent?” Thomas enquired, taken aback by all the wounds, his words barely enunciated properly due to the gravity of the situation.
“No time to explain,” Hynek curtly answered, his voice raspy. “I’m here for you, Miss Tsuruko, to escort you two to the ship. We’re going back home.”
Tsuruko just nodded, holding any words directed at the two for later, as she understood the importance of the situation now. “How are we going to get back?”
Hynek gave his wings a flap and gave a smirk. “How else do you think? Prepare for a ride,” he said.
“What will you do?” Hynek asked, facing Thomas.
“Well, I think I’ll simply head home and pray that the lasers don’t fall here, or at the two of you for that matter.”
Hynek gave an uncaring nod. “Gotcha.” He picked up Tsuruko with ease from behind Thomas – who stepped aside as the taller man approached – and held both the ladies with each arm. “Stay safe.” He then ascended off the stone pavements as his wings began to flap rapidly.
“You people should stay safe too! Watch out for the projectiles! And Miss Tsuruko, we shall meet again, in your country next time!” Thomas yelled as Hynek started to take to the air and towards the sky where the impossibly large airship hung, unsure whether she even caught his message or not.
Tsuruko felt a great pulling force from behind her, and after a quick moment they were speeding off. She nearly yelped, if not for the feeling of her abdomen grinding against Hynek unabling her to produce any noise, and in the end a short groan just came out of her mouth, along with a few drops of saliva. She would cover her mouth immediately, but her arms were locked by sheer force.
Tsuruko almost seemed to reach out to Thomas as they parted from the earth, almost wondering if she’ll ever see him again. As the silhouette of Thomas grew thin, Tsuruko recalled her moments with him, and she would cherish them dearly, until she would see him again.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
The Magister did what he could to save the people in danger from the lasers and cannons, but it was never enough. Aramus was already wounded from his previous battle; an otherworldly experience. He could scarce catch his breath. Eventually, he made his way back to the Buckingham House, whereas the Queen was landing on its rooftop. The vessel in the sky departed but moments ago through a set of portals. The ship had a mechanic through which it could branch off into separate pieces, and each portal took it different parts, or so one could make out from staring at the sky blankly. Fragments of sunlight were seen thanks to the clouds being rendered from the sky momentarily due to the ship, and some considered it nostalgic, others found it as something new.
The Queen was covered in glistening light before it faded from her side and dispersed into the air; revealing a pair of shimmering wings that seemed to have been attached on her very back. Duchess Frederica and Aramus bore witness to this scene with awe. It seemed like the Duchess was also there to welcome back the monarch
The Queen did not come back unscathed; gaping wounds could be seen around her stomach stomach, and one of her leg was gone upon closer inspection, for which she couldn’t quite stand. The first wound she took on her chest from Marco was gone, but it was replaced with a different wound, one that seemed more like a precise hit. Her red dress was redder than ever as a result, and she was visibly tired, much more than the last time she spoke to the two; her eyelids were barely kept open. On her knee to the dusty – feather littered – floor at last, all she could do was try to catch some breath, the glow from her wings were starting to fade.
“Your Majesty!” Aramus cried, rushing over to support her.
“Stop, Sir Valmark!” The Queen said, but she was too late, for Aramus tried to touch the Queen to support her, and an invisible force pushed him away.
Aramus grunted, staggering backwards and flailing to regain his balance. Frederica helped Aramus regain his balance as she held him by the arm and supported him.
“It seems like Her Majesty is protected by something,” Frederica said, the two standing just before the Queen now, who simply looked down dejectedly. Frederica herself tried to touch Victoria, but felt something akin to electricity burning her palm, and retracted her hand immediately. “Would you explain what this is about, Your Majesty? We won’t be able to help you like this.”
“The angels are wary… and overprotective. Anyone with a spec of blackness in their heart is repelled indiscriminately,” the Queen replied, her hands holding her thigh, from where the rest of her leg was detached under the long dress. “I’m afraid they are not paying heed to my commands at the moment as they are in a bit of a frenzy.”
“This is troublesome…” the Duchess commented. “I do not know what to do.”
Aramus stood wordlessly and walked forward the next moment. Again he was repelled, sent to the ground rather roughly by the barrier.
“What kind of Magister am I if I am unable to help my liege?!” He screamed, this time bracing himself and returning to his Queen's side. Her power surged against him like flames, a burning agony in his body almost striking him low but he persevered, helping Victoria to her feet. “Alright, we’re good to go,” he said through gritted teeth.
The Queen wanted to stop Aramus, but Frederica shook her head, letting the Queen simply accept help from her subjects. Frederica took up the other arm of Her Majesty after Aramus, also deciding to endure the burning pain before they took the Queen away.
The Queen was covered in glistening light before it faded from her side and dispersed into the air; revealing a pair of shimmering wings that seemed to have been attached on her very back. Duchess Frederica and Aramus bore witness to this scene with awe. It seemed like the Duchess was also there to welcome back the monarch
The Queen did not come back unscathed; gaping wounds could be seen around her stomach stomach, and one of her leg was gone upon closer inspection, for which she couldn’t quite stand. The first wound she took on her chest from Marco was gone, but it was replaced with a different wound, one that seemed more like a precise hit. Her red dress was redder than ever as a result, and she was visibly tired, much more than the last time she spoke to the two; her eyelids were barely kept open. On her knee to the dusty – feather littered – floor at last, all she could do was try to catch some breath, the glow from her wings were starting to fade.
“Your Majesty!” Aramus cried, rushing over to support her.
“Stop, Sir Valmark!” The Queen said, but she was too late, for Aramus tried to touch the Queen to support her, and an invisible force pushed him away.
Aramus grunted, staggering backwards and flailing to regain his balance. Frederica helped Aramus regain his balance as she held him by the arm and supported him.
“It seems like Her Majesty is protected by something,” Frederica said, the two standing just before the Queen now, who simply looked down dejectedly. Frederica herself tried to touch Victoria, but felt something akin to electricity burning her palm, and retracted her hand immediately. “Would you explain what this is about, Your Majesty? We won’t be able to help you like this.”
“The angels are wary… and overprotective. Anyone with a spec of blackness in their heart is repelled indiscriminately,” the Queen replied, her hands holding her thigh, from where the rest of her leg was detached under the long dress. “I’m afraid they are not paying heed to my commands at the moment as they are in a bit of a frenzy.”
“This is troublesome…” the Duchess commented. “I do not know what to do.”
Aramus stood wordlessly and walked forward the next moment. Again he was repelled, sent to the ground rather roughly by the barrier.
“What kind of Magister am I if I am unable to help my liege?!” He screamed, this time bracing himself and returning to his Queen's side. Her power surged against him like flames, a burning agony in his body almost striking him low but he persevered, helping Victoria to her feet. “Alright, we’re good to go,” he said through gritted teeth.
The Queen wanted to stop Aramus, but Frederica shook her head, letting the Queen simply accept help from her subjects. Frederica took up the other arm of Her Majesty after Aramus, also deciding to endure the burning pain before they took the Queen away.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
The three eventually found a room and the Queen was put to bed. It looked strange because her wings were still present. With the Queen’s back firmly laid against the bed, her wings outstretched to both sides of said bed. She had already lost consciousness as soon as she was laid down.
Frederica and Aramus sat down on the couch on the opposite side meanwhile to enjoy a brief respite to reward themselves for all their hard work. The Queen’s body was inflicting quite a lot of burning pain upon them, after all. They intended to go back up and deal with other issues after a minute, but they passed out instead.
An hour passed just like that, and Aramus awoke, only to find Frederica leaning against his shoulder while asleep.
Try as he might, Aramus couldn’t stop a smile from forming. After a hard day’s work, this isn’t too bad, he mused to himself, though he would eventually need to wake her up. He looked over to where Her Majesty lied, wondering how her condition was.
He rose slowly, careful not to wake Frederica. His body still ached, stretching to work out some of the kinks. There was a set of cups on a platter laid on the table next to their couch and Aramus conjured a little water, pouring some for the occupants of the room. He drank greedily, gulping the water down to sate his parched throat.
Aramus then took leave of the room silently. If it was one thing he had been wanting to do other than serve his Queen, it was finding out what happened to the Cavendish Bentincks. All three of the family members saved him in one way or the other. The Duchess saved him and the Queen from both invading Descendants at the more direst of moments. The Duke saved him from the other Duke who wanted to take the Queen elsewhere, or even end Her Majesty’s life. Lastly, the daughter – his precious student, Ellie – saved him from the possible death that had lain in Her Majesty’s very room.
Aramus searched the palace and he could hardly find any of them. There were mages and people trying to clean the mess, collecting corpses and trying to figure out what exactly took place last evening. He soon found Takeru taking notes of the incidents from questioning people, before he noticed him and came rushing.
“Aramus! Where have you been? I was worried, with Her Majesty the Queen missingm and the palace in chaos, we have one big mess to clean up here,” Takeru said, ranting about his frustrations ever since the incident came to a close. “You don’t seem too well yourself, it seems. I am to guess that you fought against the conspirators?”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Aramus replied, looking weary. “We can chit chat later, let’s focus on getting everything back in running order first. I’d like to find out where the members of Cavendish Bentinck are.”
Takeru raised some piece of papers up that he held, and read them through his spectacles. “They are indeed missing, seeing that they’re not in the list of people found so far,” Takeru stated, scowling. “But I think you should get some treatment and let the others search instead.”
”Just a bit then I’ll set out to look for them,” Aramus said, calling out to a passing medic. “What about things on your end? Alright?”
“Way too many people are missing from the High Places, which is vexing to say the least – I don’t think that means things are alright – but it also points to the possibility that they were closely involved with the incidents that took place after the assassination attempt on the Queen took place,” Takeru said, sighing, while the medic gave a nod to Aramus and began casting healing magic and dressing his wounds with proper bandages. “We’re assuming she’s alive, of course, but I wish someone would tell me that she’s alive. Either way, most of the other guests managed to make their escape.”
“Her Majesty is fine, she just requires a bit more rest,” Aramus said, wincing slightly as the bandages were tightened around his wounds. “Someone is trying to remove people loyal to the Queen. We must put a stop to it, no matter who it is.”
“May I ask what evidence or proof you have of it, or why you’d think so?” Takeru asked curiously, penning down the Queen’s name on the list of people found. “I don’t doubt your words, but I do need to know what’s going on if I am to make things around here better.”
“If witnessing two Dukes battle over loyalty to the Crown isn’t enough, perhaps if I told you one of them tried to get me arrested for treason would be. I can’t say I didn’t give them good reason to but at that moment, Duke William demanded possession of Her Majesty and raised a sword against me when I refused,” Aramus all but spat.
“Well there is more than one Duke with that name, which one are we talking about here?” Takeru enquired, bewildered. William is such a common name here… unexpectedly enough.
“Sorry, sorry. That Powlett bastard,” Aramus said, “he dared raise a hand against Her Majesty. If Duke William Henry has not dealt with him, I will do so. Despicable, really.”
“Unfortunately, I cannot say experiences would be proof to subjugation or treason, especially towards a noble, however bad all of this sounds,” Takeru said, analytical of the situation. “Duke William John was indeed found, and that may mean that Duke William Henry might’ve dealt with,” he added, grimly.
Aramus’ expression turned sour when he heard that the traitor had survived. “We’ll have to be careful around that one.”
“By the way, have you seen Duchess Frederica anywhere? She is one of the missing too, it seems.”
“I am here,” Frederica said, approaching the two from behind. “The Queen’s wounds were mostly dressed, and so I am here,” she said, smiling, proud of her own work.
“Ah, good day to you, Duchess Frederica,” Takeru greeted, noting down Frederica’s name too.
“Duchess, sorry to be so abrupt but what are your plans now?” Aramus said.
“Search for the missing… is what I’d like to say but I have to go and get the mages, servants, and the rest in order. I imagine they are all operating in varied groups without lead,” Frederica answered. “Someone has to manage and collect the details of situations discovered. You’d better find my old friend Duchess Caroline though, I know not where she went.”
“I will search for all three of them. Takeru, please, keep an eye on †˜him’ until I return,” Aramus said, laying a hand on his fellow Magister’s shoulder.
“No promises, but you know I’ll do what I can. Just don’t fall under his gaze or he may attempt to arrest you for treason again. Considering you were protecting the Crown, you could be charged all the same in the name of conspiracy instead,” Takeru replied, beckoning Aramus to be under caution.
Aramus looked slightly disappointed, mostly at himself than at Takeru’s words as they reminded him of Alice and their agreement. “Thanks. I’ll be back,” he said, leaving Takeru behind and going out to checking the entire palace.
He then went back to the hall where it all began, and traced back to the corridors he passed along with the Queen, retracing the events that transpired last night. There were blood trails when he reached the place where he met Claudia. A bitter taste was left in his mouth. The bodies of the guards were likely retrieved, but considering the time when Takeru mentioned that the Duchess wasn’t found, it meant that she either lived and moved to a different location, or the worst had happened elsewhere. Going on ahead, he eventually found the place where he met Elizabeth. The window where she left through was still broken. He took a moment to look around through the broken window to no avail. He searched for his student in the distance, hoping she’d return from whence she leapt away, despite knowing that such a thing wouldn’t happen.
Finally, he took the turn and arrived at the place he met Duke William John Frederick Powlett. The place was a mess. There were scorched marks of burns and trails of blood. Considering William John was found, he doubted that he could find the Duchess’ husband here. Regardless, Aramus searched, and was still empty handed.
Aramus heaved a sigh, and gave up on finding them in specific places. He went on to simply scour the palace. It was so large that he was starting to get tired all over again. The halls were large, the corridors were long, and the rooms; spacious. The interior designs were a marvel to look at but he hadn’t the time for those now. Eventually the man came across the Queen’s bedroom. It wasn’t where the Queen was resting now, but he did reminded himself of Elizabeth’s words that the medics awaiting Her Majesty there were all killed, and that assassins were likely awaiting her there. He took a deep breath and slowly approached the room, ready to react to any attacks.
Opening the door, Aramus found the corpses of the medics, the carpets he stood upon days ago wet with crimson blood, and it seemed like someone ransacked the Queen’s very belongings. It was apparent that no one checked this place yet ever since the entire ordeal came to an end and daybreak took place, otherwise the corpses would’ve been retrieved by now. When he turned to the corner, his eyes widened, for he found Duke William Henry, the Duchess’ husband! The Duke was leaned against the wall, injured and weathered, battered from his battles. He was unconscious, but his heart was still beating.
“Duke William!” Aramus exclaimed, rushing over to the injured noble. Summoning the dregs of his mana, Aramus called forth a shadow partner and commanded it to reach Takeru and the medics. He couldn’t leave the Duke in this state, not without some form of protection. The clone saluted and ran off, disappearing behind the door.
The clone came back in about fifteen minutes. The Duke’s situation was only growing worse in the meantime. It felt like an eternity had passed for Aramus whose tension levels broke a new record today.
Takeru rushed in and ordered the medics to take him away. Since there wasn’t enough hands, Takeru himself took on the corpses of the fallen medics and carried them, thanking Aramus on his way out.
When Aramus left the room himself, Takeru stopped and turned to him. “Right, I forgot due to the urgency of the situation, but I think Duchess Frederica was looking for you for something – sometime after you went off.”
“Right. I’ll be right with her then.” Aramus nodded, heading to where Duchess Frederica was located. “Take care of him.”
Tens of minutes later, Aramus found Duchess Frederica ordering the servants about. She wanted the palace cleaned of blood, soot and dust. She then had the mages search in places that weren’t checked, going through the blueprints herself. It seemed like she was slave-driving everyone, but she was also getting people to check close outside the walls. She was quite literally setting everything straight neatly in her own fashion. Even the other Magisters could feel their pride crush at the gaze of the formidable lady, who openly scolded them for their lack of participation in the search.
“Ah, Mister Aramus,” the Duchess said, turning to Aramus as he approached her. “I found a disturbing report here.” She then handed him the paper containing the report. “This is a report from Scotland Yard; something from the mundanes. An incident took place outside the Buckingham House yesterday, while all the fuss was in progress. There was an explosion around the River Thames, for which the officers were out searching for clues all night past midnight – little did we know due to the disasters taking place in the palace at the time… More specifically, this incident took place around the Millennium Bridge, and it says here that they saw a girl there,” the Duchess explained, turning grave. “As you may see, the descriptions match Elizabeth, don’t you think?”
Aramus mused over the information, indicating for the Duchess to continue with her explanation. He wondered why there was a need to involve the mundanes in the affairs of mages. An incident like that wouldn’t be easy to cover up or explained.
“In here, several hooded people were also noted, and the officers of Scotland Yard could hardly make sense of the situation as they came across it abruptly while patrolling. As you should know, there is a curfew at night in England these days, and they’d naturally attempt to apprehend anyone they find at such hours. This situation was obviously beyond them. Right now the officers are still inspecting, but they haven’t found anything yet. I feel like the Cavendish Bentinck’s daughter was involved, in which case we may need to expand our area of search.”
“Alright. I shall personally join the search for Elizabeth myself. These opponents might be beyond what the mundanes can handle. Any news on Duchess Caroline?” Aramus asked.
“That is where the good news comes in,” the Duchess replied, giving a brief smile. “The Duchess is now resting. We recovered her in a near-death state so we were lucky to find her just outside the house. It seemed like she was forced out of the establishment through one of the windows of the corridors. They are having trouble taking out the shards of glass from her body but… we have magic to thank for the problem. She’ll be as good as new soon enough.”
“Indeed, that is good news. I’m amazed at her resilience though, facing down two Descendants and still… living. Do you have anything else for me, Duchess Frederica?” Aramus said, allowing a small smile onto his face at the news.
“Nothing of note for you. Since you volunteered yourself, this simplifies things as I’d like to have you look for Elizabeth too. I do not know what that child may be up to, but at the moment I may only rely on you for this task; you must find her,” the Duchess said, putting the papers away. “I’ll be here facilitating things as I have been. I’d love to search alongside you, but there’s no one else willing to take the managerial position. That Duke tried to put the blame on you, but I debated him and we agreed to have the matter settled with Her Majesty later.”
”Powlett? Be careful of him, Duchess.”
“I know that much, young man.”
I’ll be heading off first then. Good luck on your remodelling of the house. I’m sure the Queen will be pleased that there’s an excuse for a makeover after so long.” Aramus chuckled as he walked off, eager to continue his search.
Frederica and Aramus sat down on the couch on the opposite side meanwhile to enjoy a brief respite to reward themselves for all their hard work. The Queen’s body was inflicting quite a lot of burning pain upon them, after all. They intended to go back up and deal with other issues after a minute, but they passed out instead.
An hour passed just like that, and Aramus awoke, only to find Frederica leaning against his shoulder while asleep.
Try as he might, Aramus couldn’t stop a smile from forming. After a hard day’s work, this isn’t too bad, he mused to himself, though he would eventually need to wake her up. He looked over to where Her Majesty lied, wondering how her condition was.
He rose slowly, careful not to wake Frederica. His body still ached, stretching to work out some of the kinks. There was a set of cups on a platter laid on the table next to their couch and Aramus conjured a little water, pouring some for the occupants of the room. He drank greedily, gulping the water down to sate his parched throat.
Aramus then took leave of the room silently. If it was one thing he had been wanting to do other than serve his Queen, it was finding out what happened to the Cavendish Bentincks. All three of the family members saved him in one way or the other. The Duchess saved him and the Queen from both invading Descendants at the more direst of moments. The Duke saved him from the other Duke who wanted to take the Queen elsewhere, or even end Her Majesty’s life. Lastly, the daughter – his precious student, Ellie – saved him from the possible death that had lain in Her Majesty’s very room.
Aramus searched the palace and he could hardly find any of them. There were mages and people trying to clean the mess, collecting corpses and trying to figure out what exactly took place last evening. He soon found Takeru taking notes of the incidents from questioning people, before he noticed him and came rushing.
“Aramus! Where have you been? I was worried, with Her Majesty the Queen missingm and the palace in chaos, we have one big mess to clean up here,” Takeru said, ranting about his frustrations ever since the incident came to a close. “You don’t seem too well yourself, it seems. I am to guess that you fought against the conspirators?”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Aramus replied, looking weary. “We can chit chat later, let’s focus on getting everything back in running order first. I’d like to find out where the members of Cavendish Bentinck are.”
Takeru raised some piece of papers up that he held, and read them through his spectacles. “They are indeed missing, seeing that they’re not in the list of people found so far,” Takeru stated, scowling. “But I think you should get some treatment and let the others search instead.”
”Just a bit then I’ll set out to look for them,” Aramus said, calling out to a passing medic. “What about things on your end? Alright?”
“Way too many people are missing from the High Places, which is vexing to say the least – I don’t think that means things are alright – but it also points to the possibility that they were closely involved with the incidents that took place after the assassination attempt on the Queen took place,” Takeru said, sighing, while the medic gave a nod to Aramus and began casting healing magic and dressing his wounds with proper bandages. “We’re assuming she’s alive, of course, but I wish someone would tell me that she’s alive. Either way, most of the other guests managed to make their escape.”
“Her Majesty is fine, she just requires a bit more rest,” Aramus said, wincing slightly as the bandages were tightened around his wounds. “Someone is trying to remove people loyal to the Queen. We must put a stop to it, no matter who it is.”
“May I ask what evidence or proof you have of it, or why you’d think so?” Takeru asked curiously, penning down the Queen’s name on the list of people found. “I don’t doubt your words, but I do need to know what’s going on if I am to make things around here better.”
“If witnessing two Dukes battle over loyalty to the Crown isn’t enough, perhaps if I told you one of them tried to get me arrested for treason would be. I can’t say I didn’t give them good reason to but at that moment, Duke William demanded possession of Her Majesty and raised a sword against me when I refused,” Aramus all but spat.
“Well there is more than one Duke with that name, which one are we talking about here?” Takeru enquired, bewildered. William is such a common name here… unexpectedly enough.
“Sorry, sorry. That Powlett bastard,” Aramus said, “he dared raise a hand against Her Majesty. If Duke William Henry has not dealt with him, I will do so. Despicable, really.”
“Unfortunately, I cannot say experiences would be proof to subjugation or treason, especially towards a noble, however bad all of this sounds,” Takeru said, analytical of the situation. “Duke William John was indeed found, and that may mean that Duke William Henry might’ve dealt with,” he added, grimly.
Aramus’ expression turned sour when he heard that the traitor had survived. “We’ll have to be careful around that one.”
“By the way, have you seen Duchess Frederica anywhere? She is one of the missing too, it seems.”
“I am here,” Frederica said, approaching the two from behind. “The Queen’s wounds were mostly dressed, and so I am here,” she said, smiling, proud of her own work.
“Ah, good day to you, Duchess Frederica,” Takeru greeted, noting down Frederica’s name too.
“Duchess, sorry to be so abrupt but what are your plans now?” Aramus said.
“Search for the missing… is what I’d like to say but I have to go and get the mages, servants, and the rest in order. I imagine they are all operating in varied groups without lead,” Frederica answered. “Someone has to manage and collect the details of situations discovered. You’d better find my old friend Duchess Caroline though, I know not where she went.”
“I will search for all three of them. Takeru, please, keep an eye on †˜him’ until I return,” Aramus said, laying a hand on his fellow Magister’s shoulder.
“No promises, but you know I’ll do what I can. Just don’t fall under his gaze or he may attempt to arrest you for treason again. Considering you were protecting the Crown, you could be charged all the same in the name of conspiracy instead,” Takeru replied, beckoning Aramus to be under caution.
Aramus looked slightly disappointed, mostly at himself than at Takeru’s words as they reminded him of Alice and their agreement. “Thanks. I’ll be back,” he said, leaving Takeru behind and going out to checking the entire palace.
He then went back to the hall where it all began, and traced back to the corridors he passed along with the Queen, retracing the events that transpired last night. There were blood trails when he reached the place where he met Claudia. A bitter taste was left in his mouth. The bodies of the guards were likely retrieved, but considering the time when Takeru mentioned that the Duchess wasn’t found, it meant that she either lived and moved to a different location, or the worst had happened elsewhere. Going on ahead, he eventually found the place where he met Elizabeth. The window where she left through was still broken. He took a moment to look around through the broken window to no avail. He searched for his student in the distance, hoping she’d return from whence she leapt away, despite knowing that such a thing wouldn’t happen.
Finally, he took the turn and arrived at the place he met Duke William John Frederick Powlett. The place was a mess. There were scorched marks of burns and trails of blood. Considering William John was found, he doubted that he could find the Duchess’ husband here. Regardless, Aramus searched, and was still empty handed.
Aramus heaved a sigh, and gave up on finding them in specific places. He went on to simply scour the palace. It was so large that he was starting to get tired all over again. The halls were large, the corridors were long, and the rooms; spacious. The interior designs were a marvel to look at but he hadn’t the time for those now. Eventually the man came across the Queen’s bedroom. It wasn’t where the Queen was resting now, but he did reminded himself of Elizabeth’s words that the medics awaiting Her Majesty there were all killed, and that assassins were likely awaiting her there. He took a deep breath and slowly approached the room, ready to react to any attacks.
Opening the door, Aramus found the corpses of the medics, the carpets he stood upon days ago wet with crimson blood, and it seemed like someone ransacked the Queen’s very belongings. It was apparent that no one checked this place yet ever since the entire ordeal came to an end and daybreak took place, otherwise the corpses would’ve been retrieved by now. When he turned to the corner, his eyes widened, for he found Duke William Henry, the Duchess’ husband! The Duke was leaned against the wall, injured and weathered, battered from his battles. He was unconscious, but his heart was still beating.
“Duke William!” Aramus exclaimed, rushing over to the injured noble. Summoning the dregs of his mana, Aramus called forth a shadow partner and commanded it to reach Takeru and the medics. He couldn’t leave the Duke in this state, not without some form of protection. The clone saluted and ran off, disappearing behind the door.
The clone came back in about fifteen minutes. The Duke’s situation was only growing worse in the meantime. It felt like an eternity had passed for Aramus whose tension levels broke a new record today.
Takeru rushed in and ordered the medics to take him away. Since there wasn’t enough hands, Takeru himself took on the corpses of the fallen medics and carried them, thanking Aramus on his way out.
When Aramus left the room himself, Takeru stopped and turned to him. “Right, I forgot due to the urgency of the situation, but I think Duchess Frederica was looking for you for something – sometime after you went off.”
“Right. I’ll be right with her then.” Aramus nodded, heading to where Duchess Frederica was located. “Take care of him.”
Tens of minutes later, Aramus found Duchess Frederica ordering the servants about. She wanted the palace cleaned of blood, soot and dust. She then had the mages search in places that weren’t checked, going through the blueprints herself. It seemed like she was slave-driving everyone, but she was also getting people to check close outside the walls. She was quite literally setting everything straight neatly in her own fashion. Even the other Magisters could feel their pride crush at the gaze of the formidable lady, who openly scolded them for their lack of participation in the search.
“Ah, Mister Aramus,” the Duchess said, turning to Aramus as he approached her. “I found a disturbing report here.” She then handed him the paper containing the report. “This is a report from Scotland Yard; something from the mundanes. An incident took place outside the Buckingham House yesterday, while all the fuss was in progress. There was an explosion around the River Thames, for which the officers were out searching for clues all night past midnight – little did we know due to the disasters taking place in the palace at the time… More specifically, this incident took place around the Millennium Bridge, and it says here that they saw a girl there,” the Duchess explained, turning grave. “As you may see, the descriptions match Elizabeth, don’t you think?”
Aramus mused over the information, indicating for the Duchess to continue with her explanation. He wondered why there was a need to involve the mundanes in the affairs of mages. An incident like that wouldn’t be easy to cover up or explained.
“In here, several hooded people were also noted, and the officers of Scotland Yard could hardly make sense of the situation as they came across it abruptly while patrolling. As you should know, there is a curfew at night in England these days, and they’d naturally attempt to apprehend anyone they find at such hours. This situation was obviously beyond them. Right now the officers are still inspecting, but they haven’t found anything yet. I feel like the Cavendish Bentinck’s daughter was involved, in which case we may need to expand our area of search.”
“Alright. I shall personally join the search for Elizabeth myself. These opponents might be beyond what the mundanes can handle. Any news on Duchess Caroline?” Aramus asked.
“That is where the good news comes in,” the Duchess replied, giving a brief smile. “The Duchess is now resting. We recovered her in a near-death state so we were lucky to find her just outside the house. It seemed like she was forced out of the establishment through one of the windows of the corridors. They are having trouble taking out the shards of glass from her body but… we have magic to thank for the problem. She’ll be as good as new soon enough.”
“Indeed, that is good news. I’m amazed at her resilience though, facing down two Descendants and still… living. Do you have anything else for me, Duchess Frederica?” Aramus said, allowing a small smile onto his face at the news.
“Nothing of note for you. Since you volunteered yourself, this simplifies things as I’d like to have you look for Elizabeth too. I do not know what that child may be up to, but at the moment I may only rely on you for this task; you must find her,” the Duchess said, putting the papers away. “I’ll be here facilitating things as I have been. I’d love to search alongside you, but there’s no one else willing to take the managerial position. That Duke tried to put the blame on you, but I debated him and we agreed to have the matter settled with Her Majesty later.”
”Powlett? Be careful of him, Duchess.”
“I know that much, young man.”
I’ll be heading off first then. Good luck on your remodelling of the house. I’m sure the Queen will be pleased that there’s an excuse for a makeover after so long.” Aramus chuckled as he walked off, eager to continue his search.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Sherlock exited Buckingham House. The palace was still in an uproar, but of a different kind now. The attendants and guards were busy rechecking the surroundings and making sure whether everyone was alright or not. All anomalies and reports were being documented, apparently.
The detective took his sweet time before exiting the palace. Some time ago, Sherlock witnessed the invasion of the airship from a window of the palace and was undoubtedly awestruck; enough to watch the scene unfold completely, instead of getting back to his business. However, the set of unexpected events did not stop there. As he made his way out of the building, he saw that the massive form of machination in the sky was assaulted by what seemed to be a winged being.
Was that an angel… in the flesh? Sherlock wanted to bury his face in his hand. He’d seen more than enough of the Magic World for one day. Whatever the being was it had seemingly succeeded in driving off the ship as the skies were now clear. The devastation left on the surface was still present though.
Sherlock had no immediate goals given the state of chaos, so he went out to examine the city. For the most part, he was unscathed, and so long as things did not clash with his case, he was one to help when he could.
At the exit – the gates of the palace – though, Sherlock stopped to find an associate.
“I see you’re alive,” Frederica said, holding pen and bunch of papers. She seemed to have scribbled down his name on her paper as soon as she saw him.
“Oh?” Sherlock said in subdued surprised. He figured she was alive, but he definitely did not expect her to be right outside the Buckingham House like this. It was likely more magic at work, so he wasn’t going to press the issue too much. “Why hello there Duchess, I see you’ve kept your promise of staying alive. I suppose you’ve got an idea of what is going on?”
“Yes, I suppose I do,” the Duchess answered. “I did promised that, didn’t I? Although I was not sure about it after meeting my enemies that time, in all honesty,” she said as she received more papers – reports, so to say – from attendants. “It seems like we have quite a lot of people that ran away at the commotion that now we’re having trouble making a list of missing people, people that are dead and the rest who are fine.”
“Tough enemies even for you huh?” Sherlock remarked. “Well, I have no plans seeing as how everything is in shambles. Would you like my help?”
“You may draw unnecessary attention if you attempt to help. Considering the situation I suppose the constables are tending to every place the lasers razed.”
“I suppose that’s fair. But good God, lasers? Is that what that giant ship in the sky was shooting? I assume it was the work of Japan as I never seen or read of anything that could cause that kind of destruction.”
“Yeah, it sure gave us a headache. We rushed in some time ago to rescue people, but eventually after the ship escaped we came back to official duties. My friend is seeking some missing people, while I am helping with the facilitation for the reform of order.”
“Impressive, you people are so diligent. Speaking of the ship escaping, what the hell was battling it? I saw something like an angel wreaking havoc up there.”
“...That, is something akin to a national secret that I may not divulge,” Frederica replied. “Perhaps one day when you are truly in need of that information, and are given permission; I’d answer.”
A national secret? Obviously it is somehow related to the Queen, and given that it is all but confirmed that she is a Descendant, then that angel up there has to somehow tie into the equation. Is it possible that the Queen can call down angels at will? Were Descendants capable of controlling even heavenly beings? Or is it some kind of machination like the beings created in Japan, and perhaps powered by that factory of pipes under the Buckingham house? Sherlock left his thoughts at that. It made no difference how much he figured out now as he had no plans to pressure or question Frederica at this point, as she would probably not answer anyways. “Well, that’s a real shame. My curiosity is piqued, but I do not have nine lives to pursue any further. So, are you satisfied with what you’ve found out?”
“Yes, I am, for now,” Frederica said. It seemed like her lust for mysteries would be reawakened †˜ere long. “Psst, step aside,” she whispered to Sherlock and he complied without thinking; clearing the path of the gates.
Several men came by, their coats distinctive despite the blackness. He noticed the insignia of the Soviets. The one in the middle seemed to be fancying a red coat, and wore sunglasses and a red hat – mixing the look of a mage and an official – so his eyes could not be seen.
“I hope you enjoyed the event, however short it was, Mister Vladimir. We apologise for the unforeseen inconveniences caused,” Frederica said, giving a short bow, and the man in red smiled.
“No, no, it was my pleasure,” he said, taking off his hat as he faced the Duchess. “Misfortunes are always unpredictable so it could not be helped. I look forward to Her Majesty’s invitation next year. On that note, do send my regards and salutations to the Queen. With that, I shall take my leave for this year,” he said, giving a bow and then putting his hat back on before leaving.
Sherlock felt a heavy feeling on his heart, and it pumped as though he was on the edge of his very life as he watched the figure pass. He was so surprised at this intense feeling that when he looked down at himself in surprise, he did not notice Vladimir Lenin casting a terse glance at him before walking away with his men. Sherlock had never felt this kind of pressure before; he had a bad feeling about this.
“Frederica, who was that?”
“Ah, him? Vladimir Lenin; the administrator of the Soviets. They come every year in the event to greet the Queen, alas he did not get to meet her this time.”
“Administrator of the Soviets? Is the Queen allied with Russia?”
“Is that so new to you?” Frederica said, raising an eyebrow. “the Queen had been working with the entire Europe and formed the alliance to combat Japan and their Descendants. This is old news.”
Sherlock thought for a moment. I suppose it’s not a surprise actually, since the war on Japan has been ongoing. But, that’s not quite the problem here. “That’s… true. Though I do wonder if Russia has their own Descendant, considering our newfound information on the Queen.”
“You’d best keep your tone down there,” Frederica hissed. “To be honest, there is a rumour, however, that a Descendant showed up from Russia in the last Mage’s War,” she added, her tone lowered.
Something is very strange about all of this. Something about the Descendants in general. Why do these beings exist? And If I understand correct, then these being naturally oppose each other, but to what end? All things aside, the existence of Japan is an issue on its own. Strange forces are at work, a larger, grander scheme is happening when you really think about the situation. “I’ve got a bad feeling about all of this. Some things are not adding up, but I’ve been drawing blanks for now. I assume that the Queen knows what she is doing though, so I’ll leave it at that for now.”
“You’re late to the race of worries, Detective,” Frederica said, chuckling. “The world is burning down tomorrow so calm down; you still have a case to crack for me.”
“Hah, true enough.” Sherlock laughed along. Despite any complications and situations that rise around him, Sherlock still had plenty of things to do. “Do you have anything you think will be useful? Dead end leads can sometimes prove fruitful after a second look.”
“I shall provide all the information I can in a later date, unfortunately – as you can see – I have quite a lot of work to take care of even now in here. Most information are at my manor, after all. Why not come visit me at a later date?”
Sherlock looked around to see numerous people scrambling about, crushed buildings and pavement completely destroyed some distance away due to the invasion of the airship. †˜A lot of work,’ was quite the understatement. Sherlock responded, “That sounds fine. I’m holding you up here, I’ll let you get back to work.” Sherlock had questions, but now was hardly the time. He needed time to sort things out on his end as well.
The detective took his sweet time before exiting the palace. Some time ago, Sherlock witnessed the invasion of the airship from a window of the palace and was undoubtedly awestruck; enough to watch the scene unfold completely, instead of getting back to his business. However, the set of unexpected events did not stop there. As he made his way out of the building, he saw that the massive form of machination in the sky was assaulted by what seemed to be a winged being.
Was that an angel… in the flesh? Sherlock wanted to bury his face in his hand. He’d seen more than enough of the Magic World for one day. Whatever the being was it had seemingly succeeded in driving off the ship as the skies were now clear. The devastation left on the surface was still present though.
Sherlock had no immediate goals given the state of chaos, so he went out to examine the city. For the most part, he was unscathed, and so long as things did not clash with his case, he was one to help when he could.
At the exit – the gates of the palace – though, Sherlock stopped to find an associate.
“I see you’re alive,” Frederica said, holding pen and bunch of papers. She seemed to have scribbled down his name on her paper as soon as she saw him.
“Oh?” Sherlock said in subdued surprised. He figured she was alive, but he definitely did not expect her to be right outside the Buckingham House like this. It was likely more magic at work, so he wasn’t going to press the issue too much. “Why hello there Duchess, I see you’ve kept your promise of staying alive. I suppose you’ve got an idea of what is going on?”
“Yes, I suppose I do,” the Duchess answered. “I did promised that, didn’t I? Although I was not sure about it after meeting my enemies that time, in all honesty,” she said as she received more papers – reports, so to say – from attendants. “It seems like we have quite a lot of people that ran away at the commotion that now we’re having trouble making a list of missing people, people that are dead and the rest who are fine.”
“Tough enemies even for you huh?” Sherlock remarked. “Well, I have no plans seeing as how everything is in shambles. Would you like my help?”
“You may draw unnecessary attention if you attempt to help. Considering the situation I suppose the constables are tending to every place the lasers razed.”
“I suppose that’s fair. But good God, lasers? Is that what that giant ship in the sky was shooting? I assume it was the work of Japan as I never seen or read of anything that could cause that kind of destruction.”
“Yeah, it sure gave us a headache. We rushed in some time ago to rescue people, but eventually after the ship escaped we came back to official duties. My friend is seeking some missing people, while I am helping with the facilitation for the reform of order.”
“Impressive, you people are so diligent. Speaking of the ship escaping, what the hell was battling it? I saw something like an angel wreaking havoc up there.”
“...That, is something akin to a national secret that I may not divulge,” Frederica replied. “Perhaps one day when you are truly in need of that information, and are given permission; I’d answer.”
A national secret? Obviously it is somehow related to the Queen, and given that it is all but confirmed that she is a Descendant, then that angel up there has to somehow tie into the equation. Is it possible that the Queen can call down angels at will? Were Descendants capable of controlling even heavenly beings? Or is it some kind of machination like the beings created in Japan, and perhaps powered by that factory of pipes under the Buckingham house? Sherlock left his thoughts at that. It made no difference how much he figured out now as he had no plans to pressure or question Frederica at this point, as she would probably not answer anyways. “Well, that’s a real shame. My curiosity is piqued, but I do not have nine lives to pursue any further. So, are you satisfied with what you’ve found out?”
“Yes, I am, for now,” Frederica said. It seemed like her lust for mysteries would be reawakened †˜ere long. “Psst, step aside,” she whispered to Sherlock and he complied without thinking; clearing the path of the gates.
Several men came by, their coats distinctive despite the blackness. He noticed the insignia of the Soviets. The one in the middle seemed to be fancying a red coat, and wore sunglasses and a red hat – mixing the look of a mage and an official – so his eyes could not be seen.
“I hope you enjoyed the event, however short it was, Mister Vladimir. We apologise for the unforeseen inconveniences caused,” Frederica said, giving a short bow, and the man in red smiled.
“No, no, it was my pleasure,” he said, taking off his hat as he faced the Duchess. “Misfortunes are always unpredictable so it could not be helped. I look forward to Her Majesty’s invitation next year. On that note, do send my regards and salutations to the Queen. With that, I shall take my leave for this year,” he said, giving a bow and then putting his hat back on before leaving.
Sherlock felt a heavy feeling on his heart, and it pumped as though he was on the edge of his very life as he watched the figure pass. He was so surprised at this intense feeling that when he looked down at himself in surprise, he did not notice Vladimir Lenin casting a terse glance at him before walking away with his men. Sherlock had never felt this kind of pressure before; he had a bad feeling about this.
“Frederica, who was that?”
“Ah, him? Vladimir Lenin; the administrator of the Soviets. They come every year in the event to greet the Queen, alas he did not get to meet her this time.”
“Administrator of the Soviets? Is the Queen allied with Russia?”
“Is that so new to you?” Frederica said, raising an eyebrow. “the Queen had been working with the entire Europe and formed the alliance to combat Japan and their Descendants. This is old news.”
Sherlock thought for a moment. I suppose it’s not a surprise actually, since the war on Japan has been ongoing. But, that’s not quite the problem here. “That’s… true. Though I do wonder if Russia has their own Descendant, considering our newfound information on the Queen.”
“You’d best keep your tone down there,” Frederica hissed. “To be honest, there is a rumour, however, that a Descendant showed up from Russia in the last Mage’s War,” she added, her tone lowered.
Something is very strange about all of this. Something about the Descendants in general. Why do these beings exist? And If I understand correct, then these being naturally oppose each other, but to what end? All things aside, the existence of Japan is an issue on its own. Strange forces are at work, a larger, grander scheme is happening when you really think about the situation. “I’ve got a bad feeling about all of this. Some things are not adding up, but I’ve been drawing blanks for now. I assume that the Queen knows what she is doing though, so I’ll leave it at that for now.”
“You’re late to the race of worries, Detective,” Frederica said, chuckling. “The world is burning down tomorrow so calm down; you still have a case to crack for me.”
“Hah, true enough.” Sherlock laughed along. Despite any complications and situations that rise around him, Sherlock still had plenty of things to do. “Do you have anything you think will be useful? Dead end leads can sometimes prove fruitful after a second look.”
“I shall provide all the information I can in a later date, unfortunately – as you can see – I have quite a lot of work to take care of even now in here. Most information are at my manor, after all. Why not come visit me at a later date?”
Sherlock looked around to see numerous people scrambling about, crushed buildings and pavement completely destroyed some distance away due to the invasion of the airship. †˜A lot of work,’ was quite the understatement. Sherlock responded, “That sounds fine. I’m holding you up here, I’ll let you get back to work.” Sherlock had questions, but now was hardly the time. He needed time to sort things out on his end as well.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Aramus made way to the Millennium Bridge and found the site of the explosion. The locals seemed as shocked as himself. The small crater that formed was likely some hours old as reported. There was no fire, but the pavement was already burnt out. He got the stares more than the pavement, however, due to his tattered robe and injuries dressed newly. The Magister ignored the people and went on to investigate, looking around from over the bridge.
Aramus then took to the air and searched to no avail. There were so many people who were tiny from the aerial view. Due to the commotion caused by the airship of Japan the people of London were awakened, yet the confusion was at large and of course mundanes could hardly make any sense of the situation. He could only hope that the people didn’t see the ship, as the people didn’t even know of the war aside from the mages. However, some saw did indeed the airship, hence there was a panic.
Past the Red Road, and the Guildford Road, then into the Kings Road, not a single sign of the noble lady was seen. Aramus was beginning to feel frustration and moreover, anxious about Ellie’s safety. The search had lasted an hour now and he was already on the West End.
Aramus was searching – walking while looking left and right – and fifteen minutes in, he noticed that he was being watched. Every time he felt gazes and turned, he’d notice some heads sinking back into the alley. Suddenly his knees bumped into something and he looked down. It was a young child, a boy who looked up to him. He seemed slightly angry about something.
“Are you Aramus Valmark?” The child asked. His voice made it even more apparent to Aramus that he was annoyed.
“Yeah,” Aramus replied, giving the young one a perplexed look. Had he done something to wrong the child?
“Is this flimsy guy really that important?” The child muttered to himself, but Aramus could hear it. “Well, Miss Mary told us that you were looking for something here. What do you need? We’d rather you don’t look into our neighbourhood carelessly if you know what’s good for you, old man.”
“Just looking for someone, a girl about this high.” Aramus indicated Ellie’s height with a hand. “Blonde. Could be carrying a big sword, perhaps injured as well. Name’s Elizabeth.”
The boy looked about left and right. “Ah, the one we can’t do anything about,” he said, looking a little disheartened. “She is a goner but if you think you can change that; be my guest old man.” The boy said, leading the way for Aramus. After that, Aramus couldn’t remember how many times he turned to the left or right after going into an alley. The path was long and the way hard to remember. He could only wonder how he did these things as a kid. Truly, urchins were the children of the alleys. Before long, the boy turned to a corner and pointed at something without entering the next intersection to the right.
“Should be her, right?” He asked. Aramus peered to the right along with the child and saw a person leaning against the wall on the ground, holding a wound on the stomach. The blonde hair, the dress, and the eyes were unmistakable. It was his Ellie, his precious student.
“That’s her alright. Thanks kid.”
“See ya then,” the child said, walking away.
Aramus grunted, walking closer to his student. The teacher was worried for her but didn’t let it show on his face as he approached.
Elizabeth didn’t even have to look towards Aramus to know it was him, she could simply tell apparently. The young lady simply stared listlessly to the sky.
“The sky is nice like this, don’t you think? Without an airship like that–” she said, but coughed; vomiting blood the Magister stood before her. “Teacher… why do you show me that face?”
Aramus bent down, carefully scooping her up in his arms. He knew not what expression she was talking about, but he definitely wasn’t in a good mood. Holding her close to his chest, Aramus braced himself against the ground and kicked off; launching the two of them above the rooftops of London as he raced towards the palace, one that he might not win.
(BGM: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMZEG_Wm92s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMZEG_Wm92s[url])
“You should leave me be… I do not think I will… make it,” she said, coughing more blood. “However, I must say, that I appreciate the view of my hometown.”
“Hush. You’re a terrible student, you know that?” Aramus said in between breaths, the distance closing as he bound from roof to roof with magically enhanced steps. “Even after a fight with Descendants, I still can’t get any rest because of you.”
“...I see, then all the more reason to leave me behind,” she replied. “I know that I am a terrible person.”
“Did you finish what you needed to do?” He continued, ignoring her remarks.
“It will likely never end till my own undoing.”
“You’ve come back to us then?” He asked, a slight tremor in his voice.
“Were I not always there?”
Aramus grunted in both reply and exertion, just a little more and they would be at the palace. “I don’t know. Do you see yourself as one of our members? Not as one of the Society’s?”
“I don’t know, I am indebted and I feel that I’m too deep into this fray. I am likely on the fence of both sides,” she said, her voice barely audible.
“I made a deal with Alice, you know. Information on your activities and what not. In exchange, I had to offer something up to her. I couldn’t uphold my end of the bargain,” Aramus said, frustrated at himself. “The repercussions if I did so might have been too great to fix.”
“...You did not even need to do that. You are my teacher, but anyone would know to not get involved unnecessarily.”
“And leave you alone? Even Alice cautioned me about taking action, but I can’t let you handle this by yourself. This is all I need to know.” He indicated with a tilt of his chin at her wound. “You should also know how whimsical I am.”
“No, you will not involve yourself. You are my teacher but not specifically a guardian, not a parent. Whoever Alice is, she is likely correct. I may be wounded and have lost, but that is a loss for me to bear alone. For consorting with darkness, this is my sin and for that I must atone, and I will see to this by myself till its end.”
“Stop behaving like a petulant child. If everyone thought that way, we would lose most of our population, and I refuse to let someone as bright as you snuff out your future over something like this,” he snapped, showing displeasure towards his student. “You’re smart enough to know that they’re too large for one person to handle alone. On a side note, Alice is a Descendant. I thought you knew, you know, that girl we met in Tokyo when I got stuck on the swing?”
“Please say that to an actually petulant child… for I do not believe I am showing abrupt impatience and irritation. I do not think I am facing all of them–” she coughed yet again, “...and thus I believe you misunderstand, The Society is what I hold debt to, not my blade against.”
Aramus’s eyebrow twitched in irritation at her stubbornness. Sometimes he forgot how much of a chore it was to dissuade her once she had decided upon something. It would be even more difficult considering she actually felt a sense of obligation.
“That is besides the point. The worst kind of patient is one that doesn’t believe he’s sick,” Aramus said with a sigh. “Your parents very nearly lost their lives today, your father against one of our supposed own. If it turns out The Society is responsible, will you still stand with them?”
“...Likely neither,” she answered, averting her eyes. “I only take action for The Society if they request, no more, no less. As for my parents, it is not as though I do not wish to stand with them, but more so that they would not let me… as protective as they are.”
“Can’t argue there. Your blood runs deep,” Aramus said wryly. “There will be repercussions after this debacle, I think that removing your entire family was a possible aim. Because of that, I don’t want to lose you to them.”
“That does not come as a surprise considering how close our ties are to the Queen, but my parents are strong, unlike me… ”
“You left but maybe that was good as well. When I found your father, he was almost gone. From what I have heard from Duchess Frederica, your mother was in a similar state. Ellie, you are not weak. Why do you say that?”
“My mother would… never be wounded against… Dark Knights…”
When Aramus looked down, it seemed like Elizabeth had lost her consciousness. Aramus sighed again into the morning sky, the wind against his face providing some comfort. He made it post haste, landing in the grounds of Buckingham with a thud.
“I see you found her… Medics, see to her immediately!” Duchess Frederica shouted an order and the men took Ellie from Aramus’ hands, taking her to a room inside to treat her. Apparently, all that the mages required was a nice place to lay down a person and cast magic.
“Well with that done, what will you do now? You are free to rest, I’d think. With Her Majesty safe, the Cavendish Bentincks found, we can only pray and hope now.”
Aramus then took to the air and searched to no avail. There were so many people who were tiny from the aerial view. Due to the commotion caused by the airship of Japan the people of London were awakened, yet the confusion was at large and of course mundanes could hardly make any sense of the situation. He could only hope that the people didn’t see the ship, as the people didn’t even know of the war aside from the mages. However, some saw did indeed the airship, hence there was a panic.
Past the Red Road, and the Guildford Road, then into the Kings Road, not a single sign of the noble lady was seen. Aramus was beginning to feel frustration and moreover, anxious about Ellie’s safety. The search had lasted an hour now and he was already on the West End.
Aramus was searching – walking while looking left and right – and fifteen minutes in, he noticed that he was being watched. Every time he felt gazes and turned, he’d notice some heads sinking back into the alley. Suddenly his knees bumped into something and he looked down. It was a young child, a boy who looked up to him. He seemed slightly angry about something.
“Are you Aramus Valmark?” The child asked. His voice made it even more apparent to Aramus that he was annoyed.
“Yeah,” Aramus replied, giving the young one a perplexed look. Had he done something to wrong the child?
“Is this flimsy guy really that important?” The child muttered to himself, but Aramus could hear it. “Well, Miss Mary told us that you were looking for something here. What do you need? We’d rather you don’t look into our neighbourhood carelessly if you know what’s good for you, old man.”
“Just looking for someone, a girl about this high.” Aramus indicated Ellie’s height with a hand. “Blonde. Could be carrying a big sword, perhaps injured as well. Name’s Elizabeth.”
The boy looked about left and right. “Ah, the one we can’t do anything about,” he said, looking a little disheartened. “She is a goner but if you think you can change that; be my guest old man.” The boy said, leading the way for Aramus. After that, Aramus couldn’t remember how many times he turned to the left or right after going into an alley. The path was long and the way hard to remember. He could only wonder how he did these things as a kid. Truly, urchins were the children of the alleys. Before long, the boy turned to a corner and pointed at something without entering the next intersection to the right.
“Should be her, right?” He asked. Aramus peered to the right along with the child and saw a person leaning against the wall on the ground, holding a wound on the stomach. The blonde hair, the dress, and the eyes were unmistakable. It was his Ellie, his precious student.
“That’s her alright. Thanks kid.”
“See ya then,” the child said, walking away.
Aramus grunted, walking closer to his student. The teacher was worried for her but didn’t let it show on his face as he approached.
Elizabeth didn’t even have to look towards Aramus to know it was him, she could simply tell apparently. The young lady simply stared listlessly to the sky.
“The sky is nice like this, don’t you think? Without an airship like that–” she said, but coughed; vomiting blood the Magister stood before her. “Teacher… why do you show me that face?”
Aramus bent down, carefully scooping her up in his arms. He knew not what expression she was talking about, but he definitely wasn’t in a good mood. Holding her close to his chest, Aramus braced himself against the ground and kicked off; launching the two of them above the rooftops of London as he raced towards the palace, one that he might not win.
(BGM: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMZEG_Wm92s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMZEG_Wm92s[url])
“You should leave me be… I do not think I will… make it,” she said, coughing more blood. “However, I must say, that I appreciate the view of my hometown.”
“Hush. You’re a terrible student, you know that?” Aramus said in between breaths, the distance closing as he bound from roof to roof with magically enhanced steps. “Even after a fight with Descendants, I still can’t get any rest because of you.”
“...I see, then all the more reason to leave me behind,” she replied. “I know that I am a terrible person.”
“Did you finish what you needed to do?” He continued, ignoring her remarks.
“It will likely never end till my own undoing.”
“You’ve come back to us then?” He asked, a slight tremor in his voice.
“Were I not always there?”
Aramus grunted in both reply and exertion, just a little more and they would be at the palace. “I don’t know. Do you see yourself as one of our members? Not as one of the Society’s?”
“I don’t know, I am indebted and I feel that I’m too deep into this fray. I am likely on the fence of both sides,” she said, her voice barely audible.
“I made a deal with Alice, you know. Information on your activities and what not. In exchange, I had to offer something up to her. I couldn’t uphold my end of the bargain,” Aramus said, frustrated at himself. “The repercussions if I did so might have been too great to fix.”
“...You did not even need to do that. You are my teacher, but anyone would know to not get involved unnecessarily.”
“And leave you alone? Even Alice cautioned me about taking action, but I can’t let you handle this by yourself. This is all I need to know.” He indicated with a tilt of his chin at her wound. “You should also know how whimsical I am.”
“No, you will not involve yourself. You are my teacher but not specifically a guardian, not a parent. Whoever Alice is, she is likely correct. I may be wounded and have lost, but that is a loss for me to bear alone. For consorting with darkness, this is my sin and for that I must atone, and I will see to this by myself till its end.”
“Stop behaving like a petulant child. If everyone thought that way, we would lose most of our population, and I refuse to let someone as bright as you snuff out your future over something like this,” he snapped, showing displeasure towards his student. “You’re smart enough to know that they’re too large for one person to handle alone. On a side note, Alice is a Descendant. I thought you knew, you know, that girl we met in Tokyo when I got stuck on the swing?”
“Please say that to an actually petulant child… for I do not believe I am showing abrupt impatience and irritation. I do not think I am facing all of them–” she coughed yet again, “...and thus I believe you misunderstand, The Society is what I hold debt to, not my blade against.”
Aramus’s eyebrow twitched in irritation at her stubbornness. Sometimes he forgot how much of a chore it was to dissuade her once she had decided upon something. It would be even more difficult considering she actually felt a sense of obligation.
“That is besides the point. The worst kind of patient is one that doesn’t believe he’s sick,” Aramus said with a sigh. “Your parents very nearly lost their lives today, your father against one of our supposed own. If it turns out The Society is responsible, will you still stand with them?”
“...Likely neither,” she answered, averting her eyes. “I only take action for The Society if they request, no more, no less. As for my parents, it is not as though I do not wish to stand with them, but more so that they would not let me… as protective as they are.”
“Can’t argue there. Your blood runs deep,” Aramus said wryly. “There will be repercussions after this debacle, I think that removing your entire family was a possible aim. Because of that, I don’t want to lose you to them.”
“That does not come as a surprise considering how close our ties are to the Queen, but my parents are strong, unlike me… ”
“You left but maybe that was good as well. When I found your father, he was almost gone. From what I have heard from Duchess Frederica, your mother was in a similar state. Ellie, you are not weak. Why do you say that?”
“My mother would… never be wounded against… Dark Knights…”
When Aramus looked down, it seemed like Elizabeth had lost her consciousness. Aramus sighed again into the morning sky, the wind against his face providing some comfort. He made it post haste, landing in the grounds of Buckingham with a thud.
“I see you found her… Medics, see to her immediately!” Duchess Frederica shouted an order and the men took Ellie from Aramus’ hands, taking her to a room inside to treat her. Apparently, all that the mages required was a nice place to lay down a person and cast magic.
“Well with that done, what will you do now? You are free to rest, I’d think. With Her Majesty safe, the Cavendish Bentincks found, we can only pray and hope now.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Aramus woke up, opening his eyelids he found himself inside the Buckingham House still. The room was much bigger than the one he had back in the dormitory of the Eastern Magic Academy, or the one given to him temporarily by Duchess Caroline. Do they let diplomats stay here? Being as tired as he was after the events that followed the Queen’s Meeting, Aramus was allowed to simply stay in the large palace to rest and catch his breath, much like a few others. The medics gave him proper medical attention but at the end of the day, it was up to his body to recover. That and with some helpful from the medicines made by magicians.
He stretched, feeling the aches and pains from the events of last night throughout his entire body. He also badly needed a bath. Aramus grimaced after taking a sniff from his ruined sleeve. A replacement for his robe would be required as well, one more item to add to his growing list of troubles. He slumped backwards onto the bed provided, feeling as though all of the troubles in his life had been compiled and thrown at him within this one night.
First, the issue with Alice and his deal with her. Fighting with Descendants was one thing but to get on the bad side of one? Not something he enjoyed. Second was the near elimination of all members of Cavendish Bentinck. A family of nobles that had treated him even better than one of their own, something that he hadn’t the pleasure of enjoying before this. Aramus had to find a way to help them, Elizabeth as well, whether she liked it or not. Lastly, his Queen. Finding out that she was a Descendant made him no less loyal to her but it perturbed him ever so slightly.
A set of knocks on the door, and his attention was back to reality.
“Master Aramus, you have been summoned by Her Majesty the Royal Queen,” the maidservant said from beyond the door.
Aramus jumped up, a bit more of his robe falling away to his dismay. “Uh, does she need me now or do I have time to retrieve a change of clothes and a bath?” He called out, starting to grasp as what remained of his sleeve as it threatened to expose his entire arm to the light.
“You may take your time preparing yourself to look presentable, which I would recommend doing for Her Majesty’s sake,” the maidservant answered. “I shall wait outside the door.”
“Thank you,” he exclaimed, rushing into the bathroom with a suit he found in the closet. A quick shower and good scrubbing later, he came out and smiled at the maidservant, smelling very much of oranges. “Sorry for the wait, we can go now,” he said, buttoning up his cufflinks.
“Understood, please follow me.”
The two then passed by the corridors, and Aramus was eventually led to the very room where he met Her Majesty some days ago. The infamous room where assassins were said to lurk throughout the Queen’s Meeting to end Victoria, something Elizabeth told him. It was also where her father was found. The door was opened and Aramus was asked to proceed inside as the maidservant motioned.
“Good day to you.”
Both the Queen and Duchess Frederica greeted as Aramus entered. There were cakes and biscuits among other things on the table, just as he had spoken about before.
Aramus smiled at the pleasant surprise, having thought the summons was for something else. Apparently they were planning to hold the tea party now. He was glad that he had not rushed here without freshening up first. “Good day Your Majesty, Duchess Frederica.”
“I hope we did not interrupt your rest, but Frederica was ecstatic at the opportunity to have the sweets,” the Queen said, ushering Aramus to sit to her right. Frederica sat on her left already.
“How could I not be overjoyed at the prospects of having these confectionaries, Your Majesty? These are high-quality products from my competitors, and I cannot wait to see how good they are.” Frederica eyed the sweets closely, thinking of what to start with. It seemed like Frederica prepared all the sweets and confectionaries; bought them from not only her own company but also bought them from other companies the market too. All for the excuse of the tea party. Otherwise she’d usually indulge only her own brand of such food.
“Not at all, I’m actually delighted for the change of pace after what happened,” Aramus responded, taking his seat with a slight bow. The spread that Frederica had prepared was quite delectable indeed, and included some brands he had only heard of but never had the luxury of tasting. Something in him cheered, for out of all the Dukes and Duchesses of England, he was glad to be in the company of the two that loved food as much as he did.
“Well, it wouldn’t do proper justice to the sweets without tea. I believe the far eastern Japanese claim that the taste of sweets may be experienced more clearly if you drink tea first?” Her Majesty said, but wasn’t sure of the saying herself. “Either way, Sir Valmark, would you do the honour of pouring the tea for all of us?”
“It would be my pleasure.” Aramus went about preparing the beverage with practised ease, checking the tea leaves, sugar cubes and milk before finally pouring the liquid into the ladies’ teacups. It was a clear, golden tea, maybe a little citrus to go with the sweets. “The Japanese drink a different kind of tea, Your Majesty. Green tea, which in contrast to ours is very bitter. It’s meant to offset the traditional sweets the Japanese enjoy to better bring out their flavor. A mouthful of each, so to speak.”
“Oh dear, pardon my misunderstanding; thank you for explaining,” the Queen said, happy to know more about the Japanese culture. “You have been learning of their culture in Japan while working as a teacher, I believe? How were things in the Eastern Magic Academy before coming to attend the Queen’s Meeting? I would think the fight with Sagittarius made it tough, but otherwise it was fine, I presume?”
“It is a world apart from England. The Japanese, they have invented fascinating things that help people in their lives down to the smallest detail. They have this little robot that moves on its own, equipped with a set of brushes. It rolls around your room scooping up dust, can you believe it? It’s small too, barely thirty centimeters from end to end,” Aramus said, recalling one of the funny things that he had seen in Tokyo, opting to use this as an example over the more questionable toilet seats. No matter how comfortable the heated seats were in the dead of winter, they were not appropriate tea party subjects. “Life with the students there is uneventful, I suppose. It shames me but I would be happy if even half the class would listen to what I teach. At least they’re not ignoring me outright, most of them manage a good grade,” he lamented with a sigh, pouring himself some of the delicious looking tea.
“Interesting, it’d be nice indeed to have such a small robot doing the small, mundane tasks,” the Queen said, already visualising a steam-technology-made robot fit for chores like cleaning. “The scholars seem to be attentive at least to an extent, otherwise one cannot maintain good grades, I’d believe.”
“Word traveled back here that you have had Elizabeth Cavendish Bentinck as a scholar in your class there. So I wouldn’t think it was all that bad,” Frederica said, but noticed that at the mention of Elizabeth’s name, the two’s face turned grim. “...Haha… Cheer up, she’ll be better in no time.”
“I am afraid that lass is wrapped up in more complicated matters than that of her health,” Aramus said, dropping three cubes of sugar into his teacup and stirring. He would need some sugar for this.
“A deal with The Society, orders most do not know about, blackmail materials executed one after the other. Behind the curtains quite the talk of her take place; we all know about them here, this conversation being an example.” Frederica shrugged, naming some of the common subjects Elizabeth’s name would pop up in. “She was bound to get into deep trouble considering the family she was born into.”
“So you knew?” Aramus arched an eyebrow at Frederica, sipping from his cup once the sugar had dissolved.
“Her Majesty has left me in charge of delving into the matters of the Organizations across England, and beyond.” The Duchess sipped her tea and her complexion eased as she savoured the taste. “I know the most about The Society outside the knowledge of its members.”
“Frederica…” the Queen’s voice trailed off.
“The young lady’s deeds are deeds that cannot be undone. I do not see why you’d rather avoid the topic. Especially considering the fact that you must decide what to do about her, Your Majesty,” Frederica responded, albeit a bit harshly.
Aramus lowered his teacup as he breathed out, the tea relaxing him just a tad. “I have tried to ask her about what she is doing but she won’t say anything. That stubborn streak of hers is a mile wide. I want to stop it before it gets any worse,” he said worriedly, remembering the shape Elizabeth was in when he had found her.
“Unfortunately I do not think it’d be wise to interfere, as Her Majesty once said… we don’t want to go off face-to-face with an Organization that focuses on killing among other dangerous criminal activities, especially one that is world-wide large. The issue is her status as a noble, and the possible charges she may face if the issue is somehow publicised in the Magic World. Of course, I do not think she is so careless as to make such an amateur mistake, but her work is undoubtedly dangerous, and a young popular noble working for The Society would leave an extremely bad image, especially to those who believe that the nobles are the †˜good’ people.”
Suddenly feeling like draping himself over the table in frustration, Aramus settled for stirring his tea somewhat agitatedly. “She is young and impressionable. I do still believe there is a chance for her to do some penance for her actions.” He put a hand to his forehead, rubbing it to prevent the oncoming headache.
“Until she resolves to working against them, I do not believe it’d be right to take action,” the Queen interfered between the two. “How shes wishes to proceed with the stages of her life should be up to her; not us. If she is forever indebted to them and continues to work for them, then I shall accept her resolve, and we shall find ways to put a stop to it. Otherwise, she shall join us among our ranks if she is rid of her loyalty to the darkness.”
“Alright,” Aramus said, turning a little sad at Her Majesty’s decision. Her words were a decree that he would not go against. “Do her parents know of this…?”
“No, they do not,” Frederica answered, shaking her head. “They would be crestfallen if they did.”
“Sir Valmark, I had indeed stated that it is unjust to take action, but those were words merely meant to restrain myself. You, Sir, on the other hand, is free to do as you please. If you wish to save her from the clutches of her perils… then that is a decision only you may take.”
“My role as an educator and Magister extends beyond the classroom. If a scholar of my class is troubled, I believe it best to find the source of their discomfort. It is nosy of me and probably not my place to do so either but I cannot accept our youngsters, the future of our nation, being led astray. Especially not one such as Elizabeth,” he said, taking another sip from his tea. “Perhaps this is one reason why my students don’t take to me, teenagers don’t take too kindly to these actions.”
“Indeed they don’t,” Frederica said, apparently knowing what Aramus meant. “They’d rather you don’t know anything about them. Kids can be awfully secretive sometimes… I wasn’t surprised when Elizabeth fell into this mess, however. Everyone wants to use her relic sword; they don’t even care about her feelings.”
“The mistakes of youth indeed. I remember when I was younger, nobody even wanted to breath the same air I did,” Aramus said with a chuckle. “If only it weren’t so difficult to change her mind. Again, it’s just me but I’m more worried about the wielder than her relic.”
“Yes, yet not many are anxious for said wielder and only pays heed to the relic. That is why the circumstances remain the way they are,” the Queen said, looking down. “If only people were more understanding.”
“That’s the way this world is. If only people would extend a helping hand like Your Majesty did for me,” Aramus said, speaking from his own past. “Well, enough with this talk. We’re here for a tea party so let’s enjoy what the Duchess has brought, shall we?”
“You don’t have to tell us.” Duchess Frederica had already eaten more than half her share while conversing, contrary to Aramus who had been busy sipping his tea. “And then there was the other troublesome bunch, wasn’t there? The Vampires. Claudia Virtuoso… what was the rest of her name again, anyway? I had indeed seen her at the party. I believe she took part in causing chaos last night.”
”Ah, her,” Aramus said, quickly getting to chomping on his snacks with glee when he noticed Frederica had been doing so. “When Your Majesty was out cold, she attempted to take your life. Why did she have to stray down the wrong path as well?”
“Oh, that young scholar who used to be a caretaker for the Duke and a Dark Knight? I had already noticed when I chanced a glance last evening,” the Queen said, “She is now a Representative.”
“...That is a grave matter, Your Majesty. I am surprised that you’d say it so casually,” Frederica said, solemn, putting down the spoon she was using to apply sugar to her second cup of the tea, which she had Aramus pour just now. “I must say, however, that it is a little hard to believe I am spending my time here with an exceptional being who has transcended the mortal state of an ordinary human being. Never had I thought that the Descendants were able to sense each other – which I assume how you could tell, since you seemed to have noticed the Countess too – to an extent.”
”A Representative? Her?” Aramus shook his head. As if the memories of her hadn’t been trodden on enough, they were absolutely shattered by what the Queen had revealed. He had thought she would go far but definitely not in this direction. “I suppose I’m the only one left out in all this. The both of you seem to have a good handle on things that happened, it was basically one thing after another for me.”
“Well, we are receiving information from various contacts oft times. There are the newspapers for the Magic World by The Times, and the rumours going about. If you keep an able mind, half the truths pop up granted you’re able to piece the puzzles,” Frederica stated boldly, it was no wonder that Her Majesty charged her with keeping tabs on the Organizations of the Magic World. “That said, Claudia has a number of charges to answer to in reality, that were frozen thanks to the action painstakingly made by Duke William John Frederick Powlett – who was rumoured to be so nice to Claudia that people gossiped about a possible scandalous and romantic relationship. Her Majesty, on the other hand, was curious, and hence I tracked her origins. Her full name was never revealed even as she enrolled at the Royal Academy, or participated in the Queen’s Meeting last night. Turns out she is a French who was brought into England through the Magic Train illegally by slavers. We never made a formal enquiry due to a number of reasons you can imagine but… now that she is a Representative, I suppose she is an enemy of the Magic World altogether, and it’d be inevitable for us to take action sooner or later.”
Aramus was thankful the seat he was in was so plush and padded, otherwise Her Majesty and Frederica might have noticed how he seemed to sink deeper into the seat as he digested the news. Being situated in the Far East, Aramus did not really make it a point to keep up with The Times and half the time, he considered the contents of the newspapers complete balderdash anyway.
“I suppose she is,” he admitted, nibbling on a biscuit thoughtfully. “I wonder if there were any other other Representatives present at the Meet. It really makes me feel extremely inadequate not being able to sense potential threats such as those until they are right upon us.”
“Why yes, we indeed had Mary Shelley in the event like every year,” the Queen revealed vivaciously. “She is a Representative, and her golden eye is proof of her true identity. However, I see her not as an enemy. Albeit, I do not know how long her master will remain kind. His ambition shows bottomless greed.”
“So she’s a Representative too? I will need to meet up with her before I depart for Japan again. There is a little girl I left in her care,” Aramus said. “If you don’t mind me asking, who is her master?”
“Colour me surprised, I had always heard rumours about Mary Shelley, but had never even doubted her identity to be as such. All I knew was that she was a tad bit peculiar.” Frederica expressed her surprise on the matter and paused for a moment. “I suppose this means we have two Descendants in this country including You Majesty.”
“That… I cannot tell.” the Queen finished her tea, and hardly touched the sweets. “Mary is a good girl, I’m sure the little girl is safe. However, how’d you come to the situation of leaving anyone in her care in the first place?”
“Your Majesty was dealing with the airship, so Duchess Frederica and I did what we could to help the townspeople when the beams struck the city. The young one is an orphan, both of her parents were lost and I promised to go back for her,” Aramus continued, this time choosing a particularly fancy looking snack to feed his hunger.
“I see. I’m sure you’ll be able to take care of her…?” The Queen said, but then a look of anxiety was apparent. “I am more worried about your financial stability, however. Considering you are going back to Japan for your profession, wouldn’t you be taking her with you?”
“That is where I face a problem,” Aramus admitted, looking very conflicted about the matter. “I would very much like to take care of her but I am not sure if I can cope in my current state. Though I think bringing her to Japan would definitely be a good change of pace for her, I don’t want her waking up to the ruins of London.”
“I would imagine her waking up to the halls of the Church instead,” Frederica said, sounding calm instead of imagining the worst of tragedies immediately. “Mary would never abandon her. Even if she stops visiting the child she is taking care of her for you at the moment, I doubt things would be as bad as you imagine. Urchins are a flock now making ends to live… somehow.”
“Through theft, Frederica,” the Queen added after the Duchess. “That is no proper way to live. There was one who told me long ago… †˜to live, is but to fight,’ but I feel that life should not be terrorised that way.”
“Forgive me for any impertinence, but would you have any suggestions as to how I may go about caring for the young one? It’s precisely because I grew up as an orphan that I do not want her to experience what I went through,” Aramus said, bowing his head to the two others at the table.
“...You could try an orphanage,” Victoria suggested. “They are supported by the government to keep up the service, I suppose.”
“Do tell, Mister Aramus, was the girl from the slums, or did it seem like she was from a middle-class family?” Frederica enquired curiously.
“I came from an orphanage and when I visited my own, I found it gone,” Aramus said sadly. “I do not know where my younger †˜siblings’ or the matrons were sent to.” He then faced the Duchess. “The girl was not from the slums, I found her within an apartment building. It seemed she had a regular upbringing I suppose.”
“Ahh, that might’ve been because the orphanage was too old and someone else bought the land. That sounds like a case from at least ten years or so. I must say that I cannot remember well,” the Queen said.
“Does she happen to have magical prowess in any sense, like The Gift, if I may ask?” Frederica asked again, and the Queen was starting to understand the purpose.
Aramus remained silent, accepting none too happily that certain things did have to change. He just hoped that those in the orphanage found another place. “I have not yet had the time to ascertain whether the lass has The Gift or any other outstanding qualities, but that will be for when I check up on her soon.”
“I can sponsor her and try to take care of her upbringing,” Frederica offered. “Of course, if you wish to be a father figure at this age, and feel that you have the money then I wouldn’t need to do any of that, but considering you asked… you aren’t open to that option, I presume.”
“You would do that Duchess?” Aramus asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “Is there anything you would require of me for that…? I imagine it would be a little troublesome for someone of your position to suddenly have a child dropped into their lap.”
“Mnm… there would be some response from society, certainly.” Frederica wanted to sigh, but stopped herself. “I’d have you bring lots of confectionaries from Japan, certainly, and you shan't taste them till I do.”
He stretched, feeling the aches and pains from the events of last night throughout his entire body. He also badly needed a bath. Aramus grimaced after taking a sniff from his ruined sleeve. A replacement for his robe would be required as well, one more item to add to his growing list of troubles. He slumped backwards onto the bed provided, feeling as though all of the troubles in his life had been compiled and thrown at him within this one night.
First, the issue with Alice and his deal with her. Fighting with Descendants was one thing but to get on the bad side of one? Not something he enjoyed. Second was the near elimination of all members of Cavendish Bentinck. A family of nobles that had treated him even better than one of their own, something that he hadn’t the pleasure of enjoying before this. Aramus had to find a way to help them, Elizabeth as well, whether she liked it or not. Lastly, his Queen. Finding out that she was a Descendant made him no less loyal to her but it perturbed him ever so slightly.
A set of knocks on the door, and his attention was back to reality.
“Master Aramus, you have been summoned by Her Majesty the Royal Queen,” the maidservant said from beyond the door.
Aramus jumped up, a bit more of his robe falling away to his dismay. “Uh, does she need me now or do I have time to retrieve a change of clothes and a bath?” He called out, starting to grasp as what remained of his sleeve as it threatened to expose his entire arm to the light.
“You may take your time preparing yourself to look presentable, which I would recommend doing for Her Majesty’s sake,” the maidservant answered. “I shall wait outside the door.”
“Thank you,” he exclaimed, rushing into the bathroom with a suit he found in the closet. A quick shower and good scrubbing later, he came out and smiled at the maidservant, smelling very much of oranges. “Sorry for the wait, we can go now,” he said, buttoning up his cufflinks.
“Understood, please follow me.”
The two then passed by the corridors, and Aramus was eventually led to the very room where he met Her Majesty some days ago. The infamous room where assassins were said to lurk throughout the Queen’s Meeting to end Victoria, something Elizabeth told him. It was also where her father was found. The door was opened and Aramus was asked to proceed inside as the maidservant motioned.
“Good day to you.”
Both the Queen and Duchess Frederica greeted as Aramus entered. There were cakes and biscuits among other things on the table, just as he had spoken about before.
Aramus smiled at the pleasant surprise, having thought the summons was for something else. Apparently they were planning to hold the tea party now. He was glad that he had not rushed here without freshening up first. “Good day Your Majesty, Duchess Frederica.”
“I hope we did not interrupt your rest, but Frederica was ecstatic at the opportunity to have the sweets,” the Queen said, ushering Aramus to sit to her right. Frederica sat on her left already.
“How could I not be overjoyed at the prospects of having these confectionaries, Your Majesty? These are high-quality products from my competitors, and I cannot wait to see how good they are.” Frederica eyed the sweets closely, thinking of what to start with. It seemed like Frederica prepared all the sweets and confectionaries; bought them from not only her own company but also bought them from other companies the market too. All for the excuse of the tea party. Otherwise she’d usually indulge only her own brand of such food.
“Not at all, I’m actually delighted for the change of pace after what happened,” Aramus responded, taking his seat with a slight bow. The spread that Frederica had prepared was quite delectable indeed, and included some brands he had only heard of but never had the luxury of tasting. Something in him cheered, for out of all the Dukes and Duchesses of England, he was glad to be in the company of the two that loved food as much as he did.
“Well, it wouldn’t do proper justice to the sweets without tea. I believe the far eastern Japanese claim that the taste of sweets may be experienced more clearly if you drink tea first?” Her Majesty said, but wasn’t sure of the saying herself. “Either way, Sir Valmark, would you do the honour of pouring the tea for all of us?”
“It would be my pleasure.” Aramus went about preparing the beverage with practised ease, checking the tea leaves, sugar cubes and milk before finally pouring the liquid into the ladies’ teacups. It was a clear, golden tea, maybe a little citrus to go with the sweets. “The Japanese drink a different kind of tea, Your Majesty. Green tea, which in contrast to ours is very bitter. It’s meant to offset the traditional sweets the Japanese enjoy to better bring out their flavor. A mouthful of each, so to speak.”
“Oh dear, pardon my misunderstanding; thank you for explaining,” the Queen said, happy to know more about the Japanese culture. “You have been learning of their culture in Japan while working as a teacher, I believe? How were things in the Eastern Magic Academy before coming to attend the Queen’s Meeting? I would think the fight with Sagittarius made it tough, but otherwise it was fine, I presume?”
“It is a world apart from England. The Japanese, they have invented fascinating things that help people in their lives down to the smallest detail. They have this little robot that moves on its own, equipped with a set of brushes. It rolls around your room scooping up dust, can you believe it? It’s small too, barely thirty centimeters from end to end,” Aramus said, recalling one of the funny things that he had seen in Tokyo, opting to use this as an example over the more questionable toilet seats. No matter how comfortable the heated seats were in the dead of winter, they were not appropriate tea party subjects. “Life with the students there is uneventful, I suppose. It shames me but I would be happy if even half the class would listen to what I teach. At least they’re not ignoring me outright, most of them manage a good grade,” he lamented with a sigh, pouring himself some of the delicious looking tea.
“Interesting, it’d be nice indeed to have such a small robot doing the small, mundane tasks,” the Queen said, already visualising a steam-technology-made robot fit for chores like cleaning. “The scholars seem to be attentive at least to an extent, otherwise one cannot maintain good grades, I’d believe.”
“Word traveled back here that you have had Elizabeth Cavendish Bentinck as a scholar in your class there. So I wouldn’t think it was all that bad,” Frederica said, but noticed that at the mention of Elizabeth’s name, the two’s face turned grim. “...Haha… Cheer up, she’ll be better in no time.”
“I am afraid that lass is wrapped up in more complicated matters than that of her health,” Aramus said, dropping three cubes of sugar into his teacup and stirring. He would need some sugar for this.
“A deal with The Society, orders most do not know about, blackmail materials executed one after the other. Behind the curtains quite the talk of her take place; we all know about them here, this conversation being an example.” Frederica shrugged, naming some of the common subjects Elizabeth’s name would pop up in. “She was bound to get into deep trouble considering the family she was born into.”
“So you knew?” Aramus arched an eyebrow at Frederica, sipping from his cup once the sugar had dissolved.
“Her Majesty has left me in charge of delving into the matters of the Organizations across England, and beyond.” The Duchess sipped her tea and her complexion eased as she savoured the taste. “I know the most about The Society outside the knowledge of its members.”
“Frederica…” the Queen’s voice trailed off.
“The young lady’s deeds are deeds that cannot be undone. I do not see why you’d rather avoid the topic. Especially considering the fact that you must decide what to do about her, Your Majesty,” Frederica responded, albeit a bit harshly.
Aramus lowered his teacup as he breathed out, the tea relaxing him just a tad. “I have tried to ask her about what she is doing but she won’t say anything. That stubborn streak of hers is a mile wide. I want to stop it before it gets any worse,” he said worriedly, remembering the shape Elizabeth was in when he had found her.
“Unfortunately I do not think it’d be wise to interfere, as Her Majesty once said… we don’t want to go off face-to-face with an Organization that focuses on killing among other dangerous criminal activities, especially one that is world-wide large. The issue is her status as a noble, and the possible charges she may face if the issue is somehow publicised in the Magic World. Of course, I do not think she is so careless as to make such an amateur mistake, but her work is undoubtedly dangerous, and a young popular noble working for The Society would leave an extremely bad image, especially to those who believe that the nobles are the †˜good’ people.”
Suddenly feeling like draping himself over the table in frustration, Aramus settled for stirring his tea somewhat agitatedly. “She is young and impressionable. I do still believe there is a chance for her to do some penance for her actions.” He put a hand to his forehead, rubbing it to prevent the oncoming headache.
“Until she resolves to working against them, I do not believe it’d be right to take action,” the Queen interfered between the two. “How shes wishes to proceed with the stages of her life should be up to her; not us. If she is forever indebted to them and continues to work for them, then I shall accept her resolve, and we shall find ways to put a stop to it. Otherwise, she shall join us among our ranks if she is rid of her loyalty to the darkness.”
“Alright,” Aramus said, turning a little sad at Her Majesty’s decision. Her words were a decree that he would not go against. “Do her parents know of this…?”
“No, they do not,” Frederica answered, shaking her head. “They would be crestfallen if they did.”
“Sir Valmark, I had indeed stated that it is unjust to take action, but those were words merely meant to restrain myself. You, Sir, on the other hand, is free to do as you please. If you wish to save her from the clutches of her perils… then that is a decision only you may take.”
“My role as an educator and Magister extends beyond the classroom. If a scholar of my class is troubled, I believe it best to find the source of their discomfort. It is nosy of me and probably not my place to do so either but I cannot accept our youngsters, the future of our nation, being led astray. Especially not one such as Elizabeth,” he said, taking another sip from his tea. “Perhaps this is one reason why my students don’t take to me, teenagers don’t take too kindly to these actions.”
“Indeed they don’t,” Frederica said, apparently knowing what Aramus meant. “They’d rather you don’t know anything about them. Kids can be awfully secretive sometimes… I wasn’t surprised when Elizabeth fell into this mess, however. Everyone wants to use her relic sword; they don’t even care about her feelings.”
“The mistakes of youth indeed. I remember when I was younger, nobody even wanted to breath the same air I did,” Aramus said with a chuckle. “If only it weren’t so difficult to change her mind. Again, it’s just me but I’m more worried about the wielder than her relic.”
“Yes, yet not many are anxious for said wielder and only pays heed to the relic. That is why the circumstances remain the way they are,” the Queen said, looking down. “If only people were more understanding.”
“That’s the way this world is. If only people would extend a helping hand like Your Majesty did for me,” Aramus said, speaking from his own past. “Well, enough with this talk. We’re here for a tea party so let’s enjoy what the Duchess has brought, shall we?”
“You don’t have to tell us.” Duchess Frederica had already eaten more than half her share while conversing, contrary to Aramus who had been busy sipping his tea. “And then there was the other troublesome bunch, wasn’t there? The Vampires. Claudia Virtuoso… what was the rest of her name again, anyway? I had indeed seen her at the party. I believe she took part in causing chaos last night.”
”Ah, her,” Aramus said, quickly getting to chomping on his snacks with glee when he noticed Frederica had been doing so. “When Your Majesty was out cold, she attempted to take your life. Why did she have to stray down the wrong path as well?”
“Oh, that young scholar who used to be a caretaker for the Duke and a Dark Knight? I had already noticed when I chanced a glance last evening,” the Queen said, “She is now a Representative.”
“...That is a grave matter, Your Majesty. I am surprised that you’d say it so casually,” Frederica said, solemn, putting down the spoon she was using to apply sugar to her second cup of the tea, which she had Aramus pour just now. “I must say, however, that it is a little hard to believe I am spending my time here with an exceptional being who has transcended the mortal state of an ordinary human being. Never had I thought that the Descendants were able to sense each other – which I assume how you could tell, since you seemed to have noticed the Countess too – to an extent.”
”A Representative? Her?” Aramus shook his head. As if the memories of her hadn’t been trodden on enough, they were absolutely shattered by what the Queen had revealed. He had thought she would go far but definitely not in this direction. “I suppose I’m the only one left out in all this. The both of you seem to have a good handle on things that happened, it was basically one thing after another for me.”
“Well, we are receiving information from various contacts oft times. There are the newspapers for the Magic World by The Times, and the rumours going about. If you keep an able mind, half the truths pop up granted you’re able to piece the puzzles,” Frederica stated boldly, it was no wonder that Her Majesty charged her with keeping tabs on the Organizations of the Magic World. “That said, Claudia has a number of charges to answer to in reality, that were frozen thanks to the action painstakingly made by Duke William John Frederick Powlett – who was rumoured to be so nice to Claudia that people gossiped about a possible scandalous and romantic relationship. Her Majesty, on the other hand, was curious, and hence I tracked her origins. Her full name was never revealed even as she enrolled at the Royal Academy, or participated in the Queen’s Meeting last night. Turns out she is a French who was brought into England through the Magic Train illegally by slavers. We never made a formal enquiry due to a number of reasons you can imagine but… now that she is a Representative, I suppose she is an enemy of the Magic World altogether, and it’d be inevitable for us to take action sooner or later.”
Aramus was thankful the seat he was in was so plush and padded, otherwise Her Majesty and Frederica might have noticed how he seemed to sink deeper into the seat as he digested the news. Being situated in the Far East, Aramus did not really make it a point to keep up with The Times and half the time, he considered the contents of the newspapers complete balderdash anyway.
“I suppose she is,” he admitted, nibbling on a biscuit thoughtfully. “I wonder if there were any other other Representatives present at the Meet. It really makes me feel extremely inadequate not being able to sense potential threats such as those until they are right upon us.”
“Why yes, we indeed had Mary Shelley in the event like every year,” the Queen revealed vivaciously. “She is a Representative, and her golden eye is proof of her true identity. However, I see her not as an enemy. Albeit, I do not know how long her master will remain kind. His ambition shows bottomless greed.”
“So she’s a Representative too? I will need to meet up with her before I depart for Japan again. There is a little girl I left in her care,” Aramus said. “If you don’t mind me asking, who is her master?”
“Colour me surprised, I had always heard rumours about Mary Shelley, but had never even doubted her identity to be as such. All I knew was that she was a tad bit peculiar.” Frederica expressed her surprise on the matter and paused for a moment. “I suppose this means we have two Descendants in this country including You Majesty.”
“That… I cannot tell.” the Queen finished her tea, and hardly touched the sweets. “Mary is a good girl, I’m sure the little girl is safe. However, how’d you come to the situation of leaving anyone in her care in the first place?”
“Your Majesty was dealing with the airship, so Duchess Frederica and I did what we could to help the townspeople when the beams struck the city. The young one is an orphan, both of her parents were lost and I promised to go back for her,” Aramus continued, this time choosing a particularly fancy looking snack to feed his hunger.
“I see. I’m sure you’ll be able to take care of her…?” The Queen said, but then a look of anxiety was apparent. “I am more worried about your financial stability, however. Considering you are going back to Japan for your profession, wouldn’t you be taking her with you?”
“That is where I face a problem,” Aramus admitted, looking very conflicted about the matter. “I would very much like to take care of her but I am not sure if I can cope in my current state. Though I think bringing her to Japan would definitely be a good change of pace for her, I don’t want her waking up to the ruins of London.”
“I would imagine her waking up to the halls of the Church instead,” Frederica said, sounding calm instead of imagining the worst of tragedies immediately. “Mary would never abandon her. Even if she stops visiting the child she is taking care of her for you at the moment, I doubt things would be as bad as you imagine. Urchins are a flock now making ends to live… somehow.”
“Through theft, Frederica,” the Queen added after the Duchess. “That is no proper way to live. There was one who told me long ago… †˜to live, is but to fight,’ but I feel that life should not be terrorised that way.”
“Forgive me for any impertinence, but would you have any suggestions as to how I may go about caring for the young one? It’s precisely because I grew up as an orphan that I do not want her to experience what I went through,” Aramus said, bowing his head to the two others at the table.
“...You could try an orphanage,” Victoria suggested. “They are supported by the government to keep up the service, I suppose.”
“Do tell, Mister Aramus, was the girl from the slums, or did it seem like she was from a middle-class family?” Frederica enquired curiously.
“I came from an orphanage and when I visited my own, I found it gone,” Aramus said sadly. “I do not know where my younger †˜siblings’ or the matrons were sent to.” He then faced the Duchess. “The girl was not from the slums, I found her within an apartment building. It seemed she had a regular upbringing I suppose.”
“Ahh, that might’ve been because the orphanage was too old and someone else bought the land. That sounds like a case from at least ten years or so. I must say that I cannot remember well,” the Queen said.
“Does she happen to have magical prowess in any sense, like The Gift, if I may ask?” Frederica asked again, and the Queen was starting to understand the purpose.
Aramus remained silent, accepting none too happily that certain things did have to change. He just hoped that those in the orphanage found another place. “I have not yet had the time to ascertain whether the lass has The Gift or any other outstanding qualities, but that will be for when I check up on her soon.”
“I can sponsor her and try to take care of her upbringing,” Frederica offered. “Of course, if you wish to be a father figure at this age, and feel that you have the money then I wouldn’t need to do any of that, but considering you asked… you aren’t open to that option, I presume.”
“You would do that Duchess?” Aramus asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “Is there anything you would require of me for that…? I imagine it would be a little troublesome for someone of your position to suddenly have a child dropped into their lap.”
“Mnm… there would be some response from society, certainly.” Frederica wanted to sigh, but stopped herself. “I’d have you bring lots of confectionaries from Japan, certainly, and you shan't taste them till I do.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“I wonder if there would be time for me to visit her…” Aramus began before shaking his head. “If you are alright with it, I could bring her with me to Tokyo. I do not wish to burden you greatly, but if you would be willing to provide some remuneration in exchange for me providing you those confectionaries, I can manage.”
“You probably cannot manage to accomplish said feat,” Frederica said, grimly looking down at the pastries. “The Headmistress could make an exception for the child she took up – Almond, was it? – but otherwise the rules states that you need a passport among other documentations. Plainly, I think it’s going to be borderline impossible for you alone to achieve so much for the child at the moment.”
Aramus heaved a heavy sigh. “Alright then… I’ll leave her in your care if that is possible. I’m actually taking care of Almond at the academy as well so having two children isn’t too much of a difference if I had to be frank.”
“There may be a problem of where she has to stay,” Frederica said. “You’re likely in the boys dormitory. Really, you intend to raise her there?”
“I actually stay in the teachers dorms. They’re separate from the students’ dormitories,” he corrected.
“Yes, and exactly how much luxury can you afford to compensate for a normal life? A girl without an older female figure… well, think about it. Do you find it positive? Moreover, she will be trapped in the Boundary Realm of the academy, barred from the city, and a chance at childhood school life, too. Surely you must know that there is no school for her over there. There is no guarantee she’ll get the same treatment as Almond… considering she may not have been born with The Gift of magic, she cannot enroll at the age of sixteen unless someone pays for her in the form of a donation. I can go on and on about the sad reality of the matter, but I believe you understand.”
“Now, now, Frederica, calm yourself. When there is a will, there is a way,” the Queen said, trying to lower the pressure. “While I understand Frederica’s concerns – which are quite right, in fact – I do not think you would be a bad parent figure. However, there are shortcomings at the moment that we cannot overlook. You saved her, so the end-decision is up to you on where you want her to live – assuming she is in-line with what you wish for her. But as you have said that you’d want to leave her in Frederica’s care if it’s possible, I believe she’d probably accept.”
Aramus had been flinching with every point that Frederica had pushed across. He had known it was a desperate move on his part, but to have it all hammered home so brutally made him feel terrible for even considering it. “All I want is what’s best for her, even if that means she will not be under my care.”
Frederica finally sighed, despite feeling a little unladylike. “I apologise. I did not mean to be so harsh on you, Mister Aramus.”
“Well, you always wanted to be a mother after all, Frederica. I’m sure you’d know what’s best for her in no time,” the Queen said, attempting to encourage the Duchess, who in turn blushed.
“N-No, I had never claimed so, Your Majesty! It is true that my family currently lacks an heir but–”
“Yes, yes,” the Queen playfully ignored the words of denial and turned to Aramus. “Well, is that your final decision for her?”
Aramus nodded firmly, making his decision. “So long as she grows up well, I will be happy for her. I know Duchess Frederica is more than capable of ensuring that. I just hope she doesn’t spoil the child like the Headmistress spoils Almond,” he added with a chuckle.
“If she is to be at my household I might as well have her become a proper noble lady, and there is no better method than some good old-fashioned strictness,” Frederica said, apparently proud of her conduct already. “Society be damned, once I take up a task I will see through to it till the end.”
Resisting the urge to slump once more, Aramus had to give it to the Duchess for being somewhat unforgiving when she decided on something. “If you see it fit. Just don’t be too harsh with her too soon, she still needs time to recover.”
“Well, she did lost her family, I know that much…” Frederica said, her voice low. Averting her gaze, she was reminded of the time she lost her husband. She could somewhat tell how the girl may have felt about now too.
“Sorry for bringing up a sore point, Duchess,” Aramus said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. “I never actually grew up with a family so I treasured my time greatly at the orphanage. Perhaps what both of you need is some company, just like I did.”
“Thank you for the kind thought, but I do have more than enough, and with one incoming,” the Duchess said, reforming her smile. “Speaking of which, what is her name?”
“Aha, I would like to know that as well,” Aramus said, laughing nervously. “I didn’t have the time for that as the rest of London was burning down. Ahaha…”
“Ahaha…” the Duchess laughed dryly along with Aramus. “We should go meet her sometime,” she suggested.
“That we should,” Aramus said, averting his eyes from meeting both Frederica’s and Her Majesty’s.
“Speaking of which, Your Majesty – and this is crucial to my research as you know it – but how did you make that separate Realm to combat Pisces and Gemini? I was pleasantly surprised to have found it,” Frederica questioned.
“Ahh, that was a technique utilised with spiritual energy I came across some centuries ago. It isn’t something a particular Descendant can do; any of them may attempt it as long as they know how,” Victoria answered.
“Interesting, very interesting,” Frederica said, jotting down notes on a notebook she flipped out in but seconds.
“Oh, I would like to know as well!” Aramus said, eager to change the topic from his apparent lack of parenting skills. “Is there an efficient way around a Descendant’s magic resistance? It made my toes curl when Gemini shrugged off all my attacks like it was nothing.”
“I do not know how my custom magic even worked on Gemini, but I was glad it did, same for the Gaia’s Fangs,” the Duchess commented. “It just looks weird seeing lightning bolts turning to nothing before a Descendant.”
“Hmm…” Aramus’ Queen considered how to answer for a moment. “To be perfectly honest with you, only forbidden spells are able to bypass the Descendants’ magic resistances often. Mind you, this is not publicised information in the Magic World so do be careful with the information. However, I had to ban such magics for reasons I believe good for humanity as a whole. They are beyond lethal against a human being. Other than that, there is really no better way than to focus on penetrating their resistances each time,” the Queen elaborated, then stopped, and remembered something. “Oh, but you can completely bypass the magic resistance if you can inject your magic somehow into their body. With… well, ahem.” the Queen’s cheeks turned slightly red as she averted her gaze. “With… a kiss, thus injecting through the mouth, for instance.”
“Tch, perhaps I should’ve seduced Hynek again, just to get rid of him for good.” Frederica cursed under her breath now knowing such a truth. She scribbled down the new knowledge in her notebook too.
Aramus reacted a bit differently, positively looking revolted as the image of kissing Hynek shot unbidden into his mind. “I… Ah…” He tried to speak but only succeeded in making choking noises. “Is it possible to be injected via any other form…? Through their blood or something similar? Kissing is a little...”
“P-Pardon my language, but through the other…” the Queen begun, hesitating, “the… other mouths of the body.” Her face was completely red. “Ahem! You may inject poisonous magic that we store in the form of potions. There are many kinds of drugs available in the Magic World, after all. You may use a syringe, given that you have the opportunity to apply anything such as that on them.”
“P...Perplexing information indeed,” Frederica commented, a little ashamed of the turn that the topic took.
“W-What if I made my own hole!?” Aramus gasped, stuttering as he thought of the implications of all this.
“If you chance upon wounding a Descendant that way, the magic resistance will be low there, but it won’t be nonexistent. On the surface of the body, Descendants will always be protected,” the Queen answered.
Aramus clicked his tongue in annoyance. “So it has to be one of their †˜natural’ openings then. How troublesome,” he muttered.
“That aside, how in the world do you have the wings of angels, Majesty? That is the most out-of-the-world thing about Descendants. The Countess is oft called a vampire, and I was somewhat skeptical about it, but now I am starting to link a connection,” Frederica said.
“You are not wrong in doing so, Frederica,” Victoria responded. “Descendants can distort due to their actions.”
“How exactly does it happen, though?”
“That… I may not answer.”
“I see… I must apologise if it was something I should not have spoken about,” Frederica said, putting down her pen and paper.
“Distort?” Aramus asked, tilting his head in curiosity. “Do they mutate or something?”
“Technically, yes. I am hardly a human anymore,” Her Majesty stated, staring down her palm with pity. “I am a half-angel at the moment.” There was a look of despair which she tried to hide as she gazed down at her tea from her palm. It was getting cold. “We Descendants… we change with time based on our actions.”
“I apologise Your Majesty, if my question brought up any unhappiness but no matter what you may become, it will not change that I will always serve at your side,” Aramus said with conviction, somewhat trying to play off his earlier question.
“Indeed, it matters not if you’re an angel or a devil, Your Majesty, you know that you are a righteous person and a Queen worthy of our duties, please brighten up,” Frederica stated.
“Oh, no. I am quite alright, no harm was done, both of you.” Her Majesty waved her hand dismissively as she denied any form of unhappiness.
“Moving on… I would assume that you gain more powers even as you distort? Like that massive wave of zombies that suddenly appeared…” He shivered as the memories came back, the clammy touch upon his limbs. It wasn’t so much that they were zombies but the sheer number. If he hadn’t been using the fan, it would’ve been a much more daunting task to clear them out.
“We do get stronger, yes. However, I do not think the… undead – †˜zombies’, you call them? – were any form of distortion in the Descendant. I had once heard of it. Gemini is the symbol of twin, and thus the host carries with him two spirits: Eris and Harmonia. Eris has powers that are evil and beguiling, while Harmonia’s powers reflects her purity. That was the first time I had seen him call upon this kind of a summoning power, however.”
“I am going to assume that golden apple was Eris’ doing then,” Frederica concluded from the revelation. This was all good information, especially the names of the spirits, she was already planning to look them up later. “In fact, mythology surrounding Eris mentioned a golden apple she threw to create chaos of Paris’ wedding, after which there was war and everything there was destroyed.” Her image of Hynek was crumbling down even further. “What a despicable man.”
“That is so troublesome to deal with. Were the zombies his former servants or the people he killed or something? They looked… feminine.” He cringed as he said the word. It was disturbing having to know about female zombies, especially if they came in groups.
“They were his fallen servants. Thomas – I suppose his real name is Hynek – has always had a large harem, comparable to King Solomon perhaps; so large that it spreads all across the world apparently,” the Queen answered.
“H-Harem!? Those were all the..” Aramus put a hand to his face, suddenly feeling a great sense of inferiority as a man. “To have so many under his thumb… A fearsome man indeed,” he said after composing himself, though he now felt a greater urge, a need, to defeat this †˜Hynek’.
Her Majesty chuckled. “I suppose he is now allied to Japan. He was definitely neutral before. I am going to guess that Japan offered him and his girls a place to live in peacefully. Granted, they were living in certain fear of being discovered for centuries, doubtless they wished to find somewhere peaceful to settle down on.”
“That’s one problem of having too many women. How does he keep them all in check?” Aramus answered with his face buried in his hands. “How!?”
“And for that peace he has to obey every command, to think Japan would use such a thing to enslave a Descendant,” Frederica wondered. In the end that man always considered his girls above anything else, yet something always felt off for her.
“He doesn’t, Sir Valmark, I doubt he can. There are ranks attached to his women and most of them are all around the world. The ones he sleeps with are often his †˜wives’ – the highest ranking thus far – whom acts as his close assistants. I suppose Duchess Frederica was in that position for a short period of time.” Her Majesty looked at Frederica, who looked down in shame. “Of course, despite going out with his wives, he always finds new women to flirt with… that said, these are things I learned from rumours, so I am not sure how true they are. Who knows, his women may be spreading them while speaking from frustration,” the Queen explained.
“So much to live with as a Descendant. You’d think that he’d curb it over the centuries or how long he’s lived but apparently not. He should’ve just stopped before it got to the point that he needed to run to a country for protection,” Aramus stated, snickering as if finding some joy in Hynek’s plight.
“Everyone will always run into some form of danger in life. It is only natural to seek a paradise devoid of devastation,” Her Majesty said, as if speaking from experience, looking towards the window… the birds chirping on the trees.
“Of course, Your Majesty. I just find it distasteful that a man let his own desires run wild to the point that even he cannot manage them anymore,” Aramus said, bowing slightly before looking a little pensive. “Paradise, huh. It is probably something I will never find in my lifetime.”
“I wished for England to be ideal,” Victoria began, “the revolution, and evolution of technology to a path none had taken before… steam technology was but another form of theme for storytelling in the New World. However, I made it a reality… so that something new and exceptional would come out of it. Of course, we ran into issues foreseen before the revolution itself, yet I wanted to believe…”
“There will always be trouble. How we overcome it only makes what we find at the end that much sweeter,” Aramus said with a wave of a biscuit.
“Of course, and that is why I keep going down this path. It seems like Russia is in agreement with me, considering their structuring also utilises steam technology,” the Queen agreed.
“Indeed, but Russia is a forlorn place – snowing all the time and whatnot – lacking time itself. Orphans many times more than here all abound the streets, criminal Organizations and corrupt officials everywhere, it is a rather dangerous country to tread upon. Considering there is no concept of time, it’d be troublesome to live there,” Frederica said.
“Indeed. When compared to our glorious England, there is no contest,” Aramus agreed, smiling at the Queen.
“You probably cannot manage to accomplish said feat,” Frederica said, grimly looking down at the pastries. “The Headmistress could make an exception for the child she took up – Almond, was it? – but otherwise the rules states that you need a passport among other documentations. Plainly, I think it’s going to be borderline impossible for you alone to achieve so much for the child at the moment.”
Aramus heaved a heavy sigh. “Alright then… I’ll leave her in your care if that is possible. I’m actually taking care of Almond at the academy as well so having two children isn’t too much of a difference if I had to be frank.”
“There may be a problem of where she has to stay,” Frederica said. “You’re likely in the boys dormitory. Really, you intend to raise her there?”
“I actually stay in the teachers dorms. They’re separate from the students’ dormitories,” he corrected.
“Yes, and exactly how much luxury can you afford to compensate for a normal life? A girl without an older female figure… well, think about it. Do you find it positive? Moreover, she will be trapped in the Boundary Realm of the academy, barred from the city, and a chance at childhood school life, too. Surely you must know that there is no school for her over there. There is no guarantee she’ll get the same treatment as Almond… considering she may not have been born with The Gift of magic, she cannot enroll at the age of sixteen unless someone pays for her in the form of a donation. I can go on and on about the sad reality of the matter, but I believe you understand.”
“Now, now, Frederica, calm yourself. When there is a will, there is a way,” the Queen said, trying to lower the pressure. “While I understand Frederica’s concerns – which are quite right, in fact – I do not think you would be a bad parent figure. However, there are shortcomings at the moment that we cannot overlook. You saved her, so the end-decision is up to you on where you want her to live – assuming she is in-line with what you wish for her. But as you have said that you’d want to leave her in Frederica’s care if it’s possible, I believe she’d probably accept.”
Aramus had been flinching with every point that Frederica had pushed across. He had known it was a desperate move on his part, but to have it all hammered home so brutally made him feel terrible for even considering it. “All I want is what’s best for her, even if that means she will not be under my care.”
Frederica finally sighed, despite feeling a little unladylike. “I apologise. I did not mean to be so harsh on you, Mister Aramus.”
“Well, you always wanted to be a mother after all, Frederica. I’m sure you’d know what’s best for her in no time,” the Queen said, attempting to encourage the Duchess, who in turn blushed.
“N-No, I had never claimed so, Your Majesty! It is true that my family currently lacks an heir but–”
“Yes, yes,” the Queen playfully ignored the words of denial and turned to Aramus. “Well, is that your final decision for her?”
Aramus nodded firmly, making his decision. “So long as she grows up well, I will be happy for her. I know Duchess Frederica is more than capable of ensuring that. I just hope she doesn’t spoil the child like the Headmistress spoils Almond,” he added with a chuckle.
“If she is to be at my household I might as well have her become a proper noble lady, and there is no better method than some good old-fashioned strictness,” Frederica said, apparently proud of her conduct already. “Society be damned, once I take up a task I will see through to it till the end.”
Resisting the urge to slump once more, Aramus had to give it to the Duchess for being somewhat unforgiving when she decided on something. “If you see it fit. Just don’t be too harsh with her too soon, she still needs time to recover.”
“Well, she did lost her family, I know that much…” Frederica said, her voice low. Averting her gaze, she was reminded of the time she lost her husband. She could somewhat tell how the girl may have felt about now too.
“Sorry for bringing up a sore point, Duchess,” Aramus said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. “I never actually grew up with a family so I treasured my time greatly at the orphanage. Perhaps what both of you need is some company, just like I did.”
“Thank you for the kind thought, but I do have more than enough, and with one incoming,” the Duchess said, reforming her smile. “Speaking of which, what is her name?”
“Aha, I would like to know that as well,” Aramus said, laughing nervously. “I didn’t have the time for that as the rest of London was burning down. Ahaha…”
“Ahaha…” the Duchess laughed dryly along with Aramus. “We should go meet her sometime,” she suggested.
“That we should,” Aramus said, averting his eyes from meeting both Frederica’s and Her Majesty’s.
“Speaking of which, Your Majesty – and this is crucial to my research as you know it – but how did you make that separate Realm to combat Pisces and Gemini? I was pleasantly surprised to have found it,” Frederica questioned.
“Ahh, that was a technique utilised with spiritual energy I came across some centuries ago. It isn’t something a particular Descendant can do; any of them may attempt it as long as they know how,” Victoria answered.
“Interesting, very interesting,” Frederica said, jotting down notes on a notebook she flipped out in but seconds.
“Oh, I would like to know as well!” Aramus said, eager to change the topic from his apparent lack of parenting skills. “Is there an efficient way around a Descendant’s magic resistance? It made my toes curl when Gemini shrugged off all my attacks like it was nothing.”
“I do not know how my custom magic even worked on Gemini, but I was glad it did, same for the Gaia’s Fangs,” the Duchess commented. “It just looks weird seeing lightning bolts turning to nothing before a Descendant.”
“Hmm…” Aramus’ Queen considered how to answer for a moment. “To be perfectly honest with you, only forbidden spells are able to bypass the Descendants’ magic resistances often. Mind you, this is not publicised information in the Magic World so do be careful with the information. However, I had to ban such magics for reasons I believe good for humanity as a whole. They are beyond lethal against a human being. Other than that, there is really no better way than to focus on penetrating their resistances each time,” the Queen elaborated, then stopped, and remembered something. “Oh, but you can completely bypass the magic resistance if you can inject your magic somehow into their body. With… well, ahem.” the Queen’s cheeks turned slightly red as she averted her gaze. “With… a kiss, thus injecting through the mouth, for instance.”
“Tch, perhaps I should’ve seduced Hynek again, just to get rid of him for good.” Frederica cursed under her breath now knowing such a truth. She scribbled down the new knowledge in her notebook too.
Aramus reacted a bit differently, positively looking revolted as the image of kissing Hynek shot unbidden into his mind. “I… Ah…” He tried to speak but only succeeded in making choking noises. “Is it possible to be injected via any other form…? Through their blood or something similar? Kissing is a little...”
“P-Pardon my language, but through the other…” the Queen begun, hesitating, “the… other mouths of the body.” Her face was completely red. “Ahem! You may inject poisonous magic that we store in the form of potions. There are many kinds of drugs available in the Magic World, after all. You may use a syringe, given that you have the opportunity to apply anything such as that on them.”
“P...Perplexing information indeed,” Frederica commented, a little ashamed of the turn that the topic took.
“W-What if I made my own hole!?” Aramus gasped, stuttering as he thought of the implications of all this.
“If you chance upon wounding a Descendant that way, the magic resistance will be low there, but it won’t be nonexistent. On the surface of the body, Descendants will always be protected,” the Queen answered.
Aramus clicked his tongue in annoyance. “So it has to be one of their †˜natural’ openings then. How troublesome,” he muttered.
“That aside, how in the world do you have the wings of angels, Majesty? That is the most out-of-the-world thing about Descendants. The Countess is oft called a vampire, and I was somewhat skeptical about it, but now I am starting to link a connection,” Frederica said.
“You are not wrong in doing so, Frederica,” Victoria responded. “Descendants can distort due to their actions.”
“How exactly does it happen, though?”
“That… I may not answer.”
“I see… I must apologise if it was something I should not have spoken about,” Frederica said, putting down her pen and paper.
“Distort?” Aramus asked, tilting his head in curiosity. “Do they mutate or something?”
“Technically, yes. I am hardly a human anymore,” Her Majesty stated, staring down her palm with pity. “I am a half-angel at the moment.” There was a look of despair which she tried to hide as she gazed down at her tea from her palm. It was getting cold. “We Descendants… we change with time based on our actions.”
“I apologise Your Majesty, if my question brought up any unhappiness but no matter what you may become, it will not change that I will always serve at your side,” Aramus said with conviction, somewhat trying to play off his earlier question.
“Indeed, it matters not if you’re an angel or a devil, Your Majesty, you know that you are a righteous person and a Queen worthy of our duties, please brighten up,” Frederica stated.
“Oh, no. I am quite alright, no harm was done, both of you.” Her Majesty waved her hand dismissively as she denied any form of unhappiness.
“Moving on… I would assume that you gain more powers even as you distort? Like that massive wave of zombies that suddenly appeared…” He shivered as the memories came back, the clammy touch upon his limbs. It wasn’t so much that they were zombies but the sheer number. If he hadn’t been using the fan, it would’ve been a much more daunting task to clear them out.
“We do get stronger, yes. However, I do not think the… undead – †˜zombies’, you call them? – were any form of distortion in the Descendant. I had once heard of it. Gemini is the symbol of twin, and thus the host carries with him two spirits: Eris and Harmonia. Eris has powers that are evil and beguiling, while Harmonia’s powers reflects her purity. That was the first time I had seen him call upon this kind of a summoning power, however.”
“I am going to assume that golden apple was Eris’ doing then,” Frederica concluded from the revelation. This was all good information, especially the names of the spirits, she was already planning to look them up later. “In fact, mythology surrounding Eris mentioned a golden apple she threw to create chaos of Paris’ wedding, after which there was war and everything there was destroyed.” Her image of Hynek was crumbling down even further. “What a despicable man.”
“That is so troublesome to deal with. Were the zombies his former servants or the people he killed or something? They looked… feminine.” He cringed as he said the word. It was disturbing having to know about female zombies, especially if they came in groups.
“They were his fallen servants. Thomas – I suppose his real name is Hynek – has always had a large harem, comparable to King Solomon perhaps; so large that it spreads all across the world apparently,” the Queen answered.
“H-Harem!? Those were all the..” Aramus put a hand to his face, suddenly feeling a great sense of inferiority as a man. “To have so many under his thumb… A fearsome man indeed,” he said after composing himself, though he now felt a greater urge, a need, to defeat this †˜Hynek’.
Her Majesty chuckled. “I suppose he is now allied to Japan. He was definitely neutral before. I am going to guess that Japan offered him and his girls a place to live in peacefully. Granted, they were living in certain fear of being discovered for centuries, doubtless they wished to find somewhere peaceful to settle down on.”
“That’s one problem of having too many women. How does he keep them all in check?” Aramus answered with his face buried in his hands. “How!?”
“And for that peace he has to obey every command, to think Japan would use such a thing to enslave a Descendant,” Frederica wondered. In the end that man always considered his girls above anything else, yet something always felt off for her.
“He doesn’t, Sir Valmark, I doubt he can. There are ranks attached to his women and most of them are all around the world. The ones he sleeps with are often his †˜wives’ – the highest ranking thus far – whom acts as his close assistants. I suppose Duchess Frederica was in that position for a short period of time.” Her Majesty looked at Frederica, who looked down in shame. “Of course, despite going out with his wives, he always finds new women to flirt with… that said, these are things I learned from rumours, so I am not sure how true they are. Who knows, his women may be spreading them while speaking from frustration,” the Queen explained.
“So much to live with as a Descendant. You’d think that he’d curb it over the centuries or how long he’s lived but apparently not. He should’ve just stopped before it got to the point that he needed to run to a country for protection,” Aramus stated, snickering as if finding some joy in Hynek’s plight.
“Everyone will always run into some form of danger in life. It is only natural to seek a paradise devoid of devastation,” Her Majesty said, as if speaking from experience, looking towards the window… the birds chirping on the trees.
“Of course, Your Majesty. I just find it distasteful that a man let his own desires run wild to the point that even he cannot manage them anymore,” Aramus said, bowing slightly before looking a little pensive. “Paradise, huh. It is probably something I will never find in my lifetime.”
“I wished for England to be ideal,” Victoria began, “the revolution, and evolution of technology to a path none had taken before… steam technology was but another form of theme for storytelling in the New World. However, I made it a reality… so that something new and exceptional would come out of it. Of course, we ran into issues foreseen before the revolution itself, yet I wanted to believe…”
“There will always be trouble. How we overcome it only makes what we find at the end that much sweeter,” Aramus said with a wave of a biscuit.
“Of course, and that is why I keep going down this path. It seems like Russia is in agreement with me, considering their structuring also utilises steam technology,” the Queen agreed.
“Indeed, but Russia is a forlorn place – snowing all the time and whatnot – lacking time itself. Orphans many times more than here all abound the streets, criminal Organizations and corrupt officials everywhere, it is a rather dangerous country to tread upon. Considering there is no concept of time, it’d be troublesome to live there,” Frederica said.
“Indeed. When compared to our glorious England, there is no contest,” Aramus agreed, smiling at the Queen.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“That said, Your Majesty, I forgot after everything happened but… something disturbing was definitely mentioned… for reminder, allow me to quote Your Majesty, †˜Virgo shall come. Chaos shall be invited with her. Britain has many more dangers to brave’. What was it about?”
“It is no exaggeration to say that Virgo will bring about worldwide chaos with her, Frederica. We have indeed much to deal with for the times to come,” Victoria answered.
“Are there any specifics about what she’s after? Surely she does not mean to merely come and create a fuss. It’s not often a Descendant decides to show up and turn a country against them,” Aramus said, a bit perplexed by this Virgo.
“I do not know her plans but… last I met her, she said exactly that. She intends to create a mess and burn the banner of order itself,” Victoria replied.
Aramus facepalmed, a heavy sigh rolling out from his body. “Why do some of these Descendants have to be so troublesome.”
“She was betrayed by her people, yet it was but a natural result of being extremely prideful and haughty, and manipulating them instead,” Her Majesty said, mentioning the truth of a tale long ago.
“Wait… but as far as we were taught in the Royal Institute, Virgo was a Descendant who was long ago sealed or killed, there was no mention of her personality whatsoever. Unless you’re implying that you met her, Your Majesty?” Frederica asked.
“And who do you think was capable of sealing her, Frederica? Of course the task fell upon me,” the Queen said, and Frederica was pleasantly surprised. “She planned to conquer the world. She was the person who was once called Alexander the Great. However, that is a historical error, for she was Alexandrina – a name I share now. People who forgot her and where she went imagined that a Queen could never conquer so much, and they drew depictions of a gallant and fearless King instead.”
“Barring Hynek, all the Descendants I’ve been exposed to recently are women,” Aramus mumbled as he numbered off using his fingers. “I wonder if it’s a trend? Still, for Her Majesty to seal such a renowned person, I’m quite intrigued by what personas you have gone by over the ages.”
“Well, England’s King of Knights Arthur was identified as a Descendant, and he was male. The great King Charlemagne was an old friend who was a man, too. Then there was… King Clovis, Samuel White Baker, Ii Naomasa, and yes, I hear the current Aries is also male. I think it is fair to say that I have met quite a lot of Descendants in my lifetime. There was a time when I was known to be something of a secret council-giver for Descendants.”
Aramus blinked once, twice as he stared at Her Majesty. Council-giver… for Descendants? How much respect did she command to be able to do such a thing? “Now I’m just feeling entirely outclassed,” he said quietly.
“Well, we are but mages…” Frederica said, joining in the league of outclassed members alongside Aramus. “I have to say, your role changed considerably, Your Majesty, from helping to exterminating Descendants now. The changes are rather drastic. On another note, I always thought something was amiss about the legend about Charlemagne, about how he gained swords from the heavens and his knights.”
“Truth be told, in those years having knights was a common tradition among the monarchs. The Church was what created the class of those warriors initially, but the Kings and Queens enjoyed protection from such warriors at the same time. Even Virgo commanded a round of knights. However, she made a harem of it instead, and that was the beginning of an ancient scandal that did more than what would occur from a modern scandal,” the Queen said. “She was truly the Heart-Breaker Queen.”
“H-Heart Breaker Queen…?” Aramus mouthed, looking slightly incredulous. “You’d think obtaining a harem like that would be something enviable but to me, it just brings unwanted trouble.”
“She’d kill those who she’d sleep with, as a measure to keep mouths shut, but instead it caused suspicion and alarming danger of revolution. The most dreaded tactic of the outsider countries were to invade when the country would enter a phase of inner turmoil… of course the mundane monarchs had no way of fighting a being so powerful as Virgo, so someone had to eventually come and reason with me to take her down. It was a shame, but I had to bid my friend farewell with my own hands.”
Aramus found himself looking very appalled by what Virgo would do to her †˜lovers.’ “What kind of… that would only invite dissent! You’d think she’d know better, being an immortal.”
“Indeed, she claimed to have never brought harm to her lovers, so perhaps she had a way to commune with the dead?” Victoria said with a shrug.
“Perhaps. Even so, there is a certain line that mustn’t be crossed, especially when you are such a central figure,” Aramus said, still looking quite displeased with Virgo’s conduct. “Was she offended when you turned your blade upon her?”
“Of course. She had a hard time accepting me as an adversary, but we eventually crossed blades, and she drowned in hatred as she left the world.”
“This reminds me of Claudia somehow,” Aramus said bitterly. “That girl is way in over her head. Even so, you didn’t slay Virgo but sealed her instead?”
“Virgo is different from Claudia,” the Queen said, shaking her head. “She viewed herself as something completely different from human beings, and found that it was her task to lead them, but made mistakes due to stress. As for why I did not slay her… well, there was an ability I could not bypass: Chaos Utopia, and so I resolved to dealing with her through other means.”
“Stress? Did she distort somehow?” Aramus asked with a tilt of his head.
“Let’s just say that handling the issues of the many nations she had conquered would take several days to resolve. By the time she’d be done, more work would come in. I do not think she distorted back then, however.”
Aramus nodded, understanding how much pressure she must have been under. “Communication during those days was not as advanced as what we have now, after all.”
“I’d think so, and days to take care of work? That sounds like loads of work I’d never want to deal with. I can sympathise,” Frederica said, nodding to herself. “Well… I suppose that’s that. She is history now. How do you think she is coming back?”
“She is already back, Frederica,” the Queen stated, much to the surprise of her subjects. “I can feel her, and she also greeted me prior to the time she started her little revival. Apparently she is not back in full strength just yet.”
“Then would it not be wise to engage before she is able to make good on her threats?” Aramus asked, somewhat puzzled.
“She is too far away,” Her Majesty said, shaking her head again. “I cannot leave England, and I’m afraid even the Spirit Seers aren’t feeling an inkling of her presence at the moment. A prime example here is Frederica.”
“Ahaha… I have to admit I feel nothing at the moment indeed. The time Her Majesty called upon her powers, I was getting a headache because the strength was incredible, but I feel nothing from Her Majesty now. It is strange, I suppose Your Majesty may seal her powers just as Virgo was sealed,” Frederica said.
“So all we can do is prepare for her arrival then. Well, I’ll be willing to give her as warm a welcome as any,” Aramus said with a laugh.
“Indeed, I am rather perplexed on how to stop her if she does make a grand appearance. However,” the Queen said, placing her head atop the backs of her hands, “she may intentionally appear far from England, and among the mages too. Unlike the ancient times, I will have trouble engaging her while deluding the Magic World’s keen observation.”
“You can always rely on us, Your Majesty. We shall be your arms and legs, to strike where you may not,” Aramus said, placing a hand on his chest for emphasis.
“That’s right, your Majesty. I can still stop time around her, all of the Dukes and Duchesses can,” Frederica said, in agreement with Aramus.
Not quite what I meant, but I suppose they are dependable, Victoria smiled. “Very well, then I shall do that.”
“It is no exaggeration to say that Virgo will bring about worldwide chaos with her, Frederica. We have indeed much to deal with for the times to come,” Victoria answered.
“Are there any specifics about what she’s after? Surely she does not mean to merely come and create a fuss. It’s not often a Descendant decides to show up and turn a country against them,” Aramus said, a bit perplexed by this Virgo.
“I do not know her plans but… last I met her, she said exactly that. She intends to create a mess and burn the banner of order itself,” Victoria replied.
Aramus facepalmed, a heavy sigh rolling out from his body. “Why do some of these Descendants have to be so troublesome.”
“She was betrayed by her people, yet it was but a natural result of being extremely prideful and haughty, and manipulating them instead,” Her Majesty said, mentioning the truth of a tale long ago.
“Wait… but as far as we were taught in the Royal Institute, Virgo was a Descendant who was long ago sealed or killed, there was no mention of her personality whatsoever. Unless you’re implying that you met her, Your Majesty?” Frederica asked.
“And who do you think was capable of sealing her, Frederica? Of course the task fell upon me,” the Queen said, and Frederica was pleasantly surprised. “She planned to conquer the world. She was the person who was once called Alexander the Great. However, that is a historical error, for she was Alexandrina – a name I share now. People who forgot her and where she went imagined that a Queen could never conquer so much, and they drew depictions of a gallant and fearless King instead.”
“Barring Hynek, all the Descendants I’ve been exposed to recently are women,” Aramus mumbled as he numbered off using his fingers. “I wonder if it’s a trend? Still, for Her Majesty to seal such a renowned person, I’m quite intrigued by what personas you have gone by over the ages.”
“Well, England’s King of Knights Arthur was identified as a Descendant, and he was male. The great King Charlemagne was an old friend who was a man, too. Then there was… King Clovis, Samuel White Baker, Ii Naomasa, and yes, I hear the current Aries is also male. I think it is fair to say that I have met quite a lot of Descendants in my lifetime. There was a time when I was known to be something of a secret council-giver for Descendants.”
Aramus blinked once, twice as he stared at Her Majesty. Council-giver… for Descendants? How much respect did she command to be able to do such a thing? “Now I’m just feeling entirely outclassed,” he said quietly.
“Well, we are but mages…” Frederica said, joining in the league of outclassed members alongside Aramus. “I have to say, your role changed considerably, Your Majesty, from helping to exterminating Descendants now. The changes are rather drastic. On another note, I always thought something was amiss about the legend about Charlemagne, about how he gained swords from the heavens and his knights.”
“Truth be told, in those years having knights was a common tradition among the monarchs. The Church was what created the class of those warriors initially, but the Kings and Queens enjoyed protection from such warriors at the same time. Even Virgo commanded a round of knights. However, she made a harem of it instead, and that was the beginning of an ancient scandal that did more than what would occur from a modern scandal,” the Queen said. “She was truly the Heart-Breaker Queen.”
“H-Heart Breaker Queen…?” Aramus mouthed, looking slightly incredulous. “You’d think obtaining a harem like that would be something enviable but to me, it just brings unwanted trouble.”
“She’d kill those who she’d sleep with, as a measure to keep mouths shut, but instead it caused suspicion and alarming danger of revolution. The most dreaded tactic of the outsider countries were to invade when the country would enter a phase of inner turmoil… of course the mundane monarchs had no way of fighting a being so powerful as Virgo, so someone had to eventually come and reason with me to take her down. It was a shame, but I had to bid my friend farewell with my own hands.”
Aramus found himself looking very appalled by what Virgo would do to her †˜lovers.’ “What kind of… that would only invite dissent! You’d think she’d know better, being an immortal.”
“Indeed, she claimed to have never brought harm to her lovers, so perhaps she had a way to commune with the dead?” Victoria said with a shrug.
“Perhaps. Even so, there is a certain line that mustn’t be crossed, especially when you are such a central figure,” Aramus said, still looking quite displeased with Virgo’s conduct. “Was she offended when you turned your blade upon her?”
“Of course. She had a hard time accepting me as an adversary, but we eventually crossed blades, and she drowned in hatred as she left the world.”
“This reminds me of Claudia somehow,” Aramus said bitterly. “That girl is way in over her head. Even so, you didn’t slay Virgo but sealed her instead?”
“Virgo is different from Claudia,” the Queen said, shaking her head. “She viewed herself as something completely different from human beings, and found that it was her task to lead them, but made mistakes due to stress. As for why I did not slay her… well, there was an ability I could not bypass: Chaos Utopia, and so I resolved to dealing with her through other means.”
“Stress? Did she distort somehow?” Aramus asked with a tilt of his head.
“Let’s just say that handling the issues of the many nations she had conquered would take several days to resolve. By the time she’d be done, more work would come in. I do not think she distorted back then, however.”
Aramus nodded, understanding how much pressure she must have been under. “Communication during those days was not as advanced as what we have now, after all.”
“I’d think so, and days to take care of work? That sounds like loads of work I’d never want to deal with. I can sympathise,” Frederica said, nodding to herself. “Well… I suppose that’s that. She is history now. How do you think she is coming back?”
“She is already back, Frederica,” the Queen stated, much to the surprise of her subjects. “I can feel her, and she also greeted me prior to the time she started her little revival. Apparently she is not back in full strength just yet.”
“Then would it not be wise to engage before she is able to make good on her threats?” Aramus asked, somewhat puzzled.
“She is too far away,” Her Majesty said, shaking her head again. “I cannot leave England, and I’m afraid even the Spirit Seers aren’t feeling an inkling of her presence at the moment. A prime example here is Frederica.”
“Ahaha… I have to admit I feel nothing at the moment indeed. The time Her Majesty called upon her powers, I was getting a headache because the strength was incredible, but I feel nothing from Her Majesty now. It is strange, I suppose Your Majesty may seal her powers just as Virgo was sealed,” Frederica said.
“So all we can do is prepare for her arrival then. Well, I’ll be willing to give her as warm a welcome as any,” Aramus said with a laugh.
“Indeed, I am rather perplexed on how to stop her if she does make a grand appearance. However,” the Queen said, placing her head atop the backs of her hands, “she may intentionally appear far from England, and among the mages too. Unlike the ancient times, I will have trouble engaging her while deluding the Magic World’s keen observation.”
“You can always rely on us, Your Majesty. We shall be your arms and legs, to strike where you may not,” Aramus said, placing a hand on his chest for emphasis.
“That’s right, your Majesty. I can still stop time around her, all of the Dukes and Duchesses can,” Frederica said, in agreement with Aramus.
Not quite what I meant, but I suppose they are dependable, Victoria smiled. “Very well, then I shall do that.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“To that end, would it be possible if either of you could aid me in creating new spells? As I mentioned before, my current repertoire of spells were incapable of effectively neutralising the Descendants.” Aramus inclined his head, looking slightly pained at the thought of being useless. “I have no spells for healing nor am I a Spirit Seer. If I unable to even harm those that threaten our Queen and country…”
“That is, I’m afraid, a tall order to carry out, Sir Valmark,” Her Majesty said, and Frederica nodded in agreement too.
“Spells that harms Descendants and bypasses the magical resistances are mostly made forbidden, by Her Majesty, after all. If you are inventing spells, you’d have to be quite careful, but usually, anything that hurts more than what spells you have would likely bring you better results,” Frederica said.
“Something that… would disable a Descendant would be sufficient. Robbing them of their senses or something similar would suffice for me,” Aramus explained. “I do not wish to break the rules of our Magic World as well.”
“There are spells that exists to blind foes – not that they always work on Descendants – which may be of use to your ends,” Frederica suggested.
“It’s something similar to that. I plan to expand upon the usage of the Vibrato spell. It revolves around the process of cavitation, a miniature area that is pressurized and then forcibly collapsed to provide a shockwave. I haven’t actually gotten past the initial spell theory but this would be one of the spells I’m looking to create.”
“An interesting theory, but I do not know how the mana will react to that,” Frederica said, rather lost on how it’d work. “Considering Vibrato is Rego Imaginem, the spell is easier to cast upon someone—but now that this considers… I’d think perhaps Aurum?—you’d need to find a way to materialise such a phenomena with mana of the Faerie Realm.”
“Yes, precisely because Aurum is my prime that I would attempt such a thing. Hopefully the mana does not spiral out of control, it’s going to be very messy if it does,” Aramus said with a shake of his head. “Utilising the air or water around should be sufficient for such a spell so it should be a little more efficient than generating something large scale like a thunderstorm.”
“Indeed, for which you will have to find out exactly how much mana you’d have to apply for this to work.” Frederica was getting heated up, in zone and all with her imaginations flying. “Too much and it will spiral out, too less and it will simply fail. Even if you reach the optimum level, you will be making these mana do something violent, so you’d have to bring it close to going out of control intentionally for your end result to be successful.”
“Indeed, the speed I’d have to achieve for the spell to work is somewhat daunting. Still, this should be one of the few things that I have that can harm a Descendant. If it works of course. Regardless, I look forward to the results.”
“Mhm, the Duchesses and Dukes are always researching magic to begin with under Her Majesty’s command so that we could be effective against Descendants to begin with, so I can sympathize with you. Moving on, who will the prayer go to for the spell?”
“Since it’d have to be from the Realm of the Faeries, I was thinking of one of the sidhe. There aren’t very many to choose from that might aid me in the spell.. but I was thinking of the Bean Sith.” Aramus said with a lopsided grin.
“My… a wonderful choice, yes,” the Queen commented, albeit it sounded forced.
“Eerie, but I suppose you need something as dangerous as her for a dangerous spell meant to inflict harm on a Descendant.”
“Yeah… If this spells proves to be successful, I’d think about involving other members of the sidhe but for now, she will do.” Aramus added with a grimace. “She has the scare factor going for her at the very least...”
“Well, there are quite a lot of spells referring to such deities, if you think of the Latin words the spell Lightning Blade calls upon the fury of Dullahan,” Frederica said with enthusiasm.
“Oh, Dullahan was also one of the contenders for the spell but I felt it more appropriate to walk before I run and take on a sidhe like that.” Aramus said, pleasantly surprised. “Would it be alright to ask for your knowledge on the Dullahan if I do create spell related to it?”
“Of course, you are welcome to approach me on the subject of Deities, since I am knowledgeable of various lores,” the Duchess answered.
“Phew, now that the complicated talk is over, I can enjoy all these. These are incredibly hard to obtain in Tokyo. All they have for beverages are really bitter teas… They don’t exactly fit my palate even if it does go well with their own version of traditional sweets.” Aramus said, wiggling his fingers as he picked up a biscuit.
“That said, Your Majesty, you have been awfully silent for a while now,” Frederica said, looking towards the Queen, who seemed to not be looking at either of her guests, and not even consuming the sweets, biscuits, or even the cold tea before her.
The Queen on the other hand, said no words, confusing Frederica even further. “Your Majesty? Any idea what happened…?” She asked Aramus.
“Your Majesty?” Aramus intoned, setting down said biscuit. He waved a hand slowly at her but receiving no response, he placed a hand on his forehead and the other on hers. The clean hand, of course. “Are you alright?” He asked again in concern.
Upon contact, his flesh seared and Aramus flinched away quickly, shaking the hand to ward off the heat. “Ah, ah,” he gasped, his fingertips slightly burnt.
“You dare touch Her Majesty? I thought you’d have known better!” Frederica scolded.
“...Move.”
“Hm? What was that, Your Majesty?”
“Move, hurry!” Queen Victoria pushed both her subjects: Aramus and Frederica. It was no surprise that the strength of the Descendant was enough to send the two flying across the room, and off to the wall.
Aramus saw something black ephemeral coming down to where he was sitting earlier, but it dispersed a moment later. Strangely enough, no real damage was incurred to said chair.
“So you were in my residence after all,” Victoria said, “Virgo.”
“Ahahaha!! To think you’d see through me, as expected,” a voice echoed across the room.
The Queen got off her chair and looked around. Solemn, alert, and possibly ready to raze the entire structure down if it would mean that Her Majesty would have to draw upon her Gungnir.
“I see your resurrection is near-complete.”
“That it is. Thanks to the vampires, I had quite a lot of time to do as I please. What? Are you not going to treat me like a guest like you did before?”
“...I thought I destroyed your form that day.”
“You underestimate me. I had many lurking the shadows of your beloved country, feeding upon the negativity from your very people. To think you had so many people with dark and evil imaginations in your country, how laughable.”
“...It is the same everywhere, Virgo.”
“So they say, Leo.”
“What do you want?”
“I was simply here to greet you. I do not intend to fight you today. I shall purge the filth that is humanity in due time of course, and I shall start with the country that claims to be atop all else. Eventually, I shall come here to put an end to your miserable existence too, so rest easy.”
The voice stopped speaking, and the strange presence was gone.
“...Country that claims to be atop all else… the New World – United States of America?” Victoria fell back to her seat, relaxed again. “She is such a problem child,” she mumbled to herself. “Oh, you two, I apologise for the rough treatment.”
“Not at all.” Aramus said, waving a hand from when he had landed in a heap. His back hurt too much for him to get up. “This just desserts for one who dared to put a hand on Her Majesty. Ahaha…”
“This happened so fast that I didn’t even know what to say,” Frederica expressed, pulling herself up. She was about to take up the chair that fell to the floor, but made Aramus do it anyway, before sitting back down on it. “Ahem, so that was Virgo we heard… and she intends to †˜purge’ humanity…”
“So she claimed… I wonder how she intends to do such a thing. Mayhap she has an army prepared, not that I can imagine,” the Queen said, looking up to the window yet again.
“Subtle, that one.” Aramus said as he crawled back into his seat, favouring his now-burnt hand. “Interesting to note that this was her second visit.”
“Well… yes, that’s how I learned that she was going to eventually come back,” Her Majesty confessed. “Virgo had often visited me with phantasmal clones of herself in the past.”
“Like some kind of creepy stalker, she dare not come herself?” Aramus said, huffing once before his face fell. “Though what she said does sadden me, that our fellow countrymen are not happy.”
“She can’t, Sir Valmark,” Victoria answered plainly, as if feeling sorry for Virgo. “She is sealed far away at the moment, she couldn’t simply leave her country to visit me in the past long ago, either. So a clone such as that was rather convenient.”
“I agree, who would’ve thought our countrymen was in so much despair that Virgo could take advantage of them?” The Duchess felt grief for the Englanders. “Seeing the condition, I could see why she’d visit Your Majesty… but why? If I were her I’d never reveal that I was planning an attack on a country that way.”
“Maybe because we were once friends.” The Queen gave a very melancholic smile.
“Bad taste in house visits, that Virgo. Didn’t even bother to bring any souvenirs.” Aramus scoffed. “Still, I hope to be fully ready by the time she brings about her so called purge.”
I believe she did in the form of that attack moments ago. “Now that we know this, we cannot simply watch her reign chaos; I shall play my cards,” the Queen declared with determination.
“Then does that mean we’re going there, Your Majesty?” The Duchess questioned.
“Unfortunately, I cannot leave England, especially now, but there is someone… either way, I’d like to send at least three members of your rank there, Frederica. I shall send you,” the Queen answered, looking at Frederica “and you, too,” then to Aramus as she spoke. “No magician can ever truly hope to defeat the Chaos Utopia, it has to be handled by someone of equal level… ”
“The last of us must be someone powerful…” Aramus said.
“Sir Valmark, I did not intend to state this, but the spell you are developing will not be enough.”
Aramus flinched as the Queen proclaimed it wouldn’t be enough. “Then tell me Your Majesty, what will be? I will strive with all of my strength towards achieving that power.”
“You and the others likely have not heard due to the event being interrupted by the vampires, but we have made an adjustment to the rules pertaining to the Magic World,” Her Majesty stated.
“Wait, when did this take place?” Frederica questioned, bewildered. “I was sure that I was with Your Majesty most of the time, and I hadn’t heard of any of this till now.”
Aramus looked just as confused.
“This was decided before either of you entered the Buckingham Palace: we have decided that forbidden spells would be acceptable if used against the Descendants.”
“That… changes quite a lot of things,” Duchess Frederica said, struggling to understand how much change this would make to the Magic World. “It also complicates matters. Considering those who are found to know the forbidden spells are usually hunted down.”
“No, we would not tolerate just about anyone knowing forbidden spells, Duchess,” Queen Victoria stated, shaking her head. “The requirement is simple. The users must be just as eligible as those who are given the prestige to learn and master Parma Magica, and in that case; Sir Valmark, Duchess Frederica; both of you are enough qualified.”
“It would be a honour,” Aramus said in response. “Still, it begets the fact that many more people would strive to learn these spells, even if they’re just a tiny bit more obtainable.”
“Yes, this would make the title of Magic Magister and the higher nobles much more desirable, even if for power alone… but that is a side-effect that I must accept, for we have greater dangers lingering about our world for the people,” Queen Victoria claimed, “if worst comes to worst; I shall admit that it was my error in judgement and take all the blame that may come in the future.”
“I do not think it would become that bad in time to come but nonetheless, if we fail to bring down Virgo, there won’t be anything left anyway,” Aramus said with a shrug of his shoulders.
“You have asked me what would be enough, did you not, Sir Valmark? Tomorrow… I shall lend you one of my spells.”
Frederica gasped. “You don’t mean…”
“I mean exactly what I speak, we must be as prepared as possible for the encounter.”
Aramus’s eyes widened even as he knelt down in respect. “Your Majesty, for me to learn one of your very own. You give me far too much!”
“You will not be able to use a borrowed spell beyond the limit, so it is not as though you’d master it and be able to use it repeatedly. Yet know that I am fine giving like this, such spells are almost useless due to who and what I have become.”
“Still, I am deeply honored by your decision.”
The Queen then peered towards the clock on the wall. “I am going to rest. Frederica, I leave the rest to you. Sir Valmark, I expect your visit tomorrow.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Aramus replied sharply, rising from his position and bowing towards her.
Frederica too, gave a respectable bow, and the Queen gave a slight wave with her hand as the two proceeded to exiting the room.
“That sure ended fast,” the Duchess commented.
“Indeed… I still wanted more of those…” Aramus muttered, somewhat in disbelief over what Her Majesty had decided for him. “Maybe we’ll have another chance once the dust settles.”
“Perhaps. I will have more than just my company work over the next week. Mister Aramus, I think this is likely the best time to pick up that orphan you were speaking of.”
“Sorry about all this.” Aramus said, offering Frederica an apologetic look. “I really wish I was a little bit more capable in that regard. Well, more capable in almost every regard actually. This… incident was quite the eye opener.”
“All’s well, Mister Aramus. In fact, I am a little thankful… perhaps now there will be someone to inherit my properties if any misfortune befell me,” Frederica said, while walking alongside the Magister, looking down. Who knew if she’d live to see the day after engaging Virgo in combat?
“Nonsense, Duchess. It will only get tougher from here on out but you will be fine.” Aramus said, feeling a little displeased himself. At what, he wasn’t quite sure. “People like us, we don’t leave the service of Her Majesty too soon, despite what the job entails.”
“We’re going to be fighting a Descendant regardless, and quite a lot of people are staring at the fortune I hold,” Frederica replied, still melancholic, but her resolve was clear as day. “I am not very optimistic, but I shall try for as long as I may to perform my duty, just as you would.”
“Just another day on the job for me. I’ve never known what it’s like to have a silver spoon, but at least that girl won’t have to suffer through poverty, unlike if she came with me,” Aramus said, slumping a little. “Do you not have a reason to strive to live? I understand duty to the crown, for me it’s a little more personal than just the title and position but what of yourself, Duchess?”
“Who knows,” the Duchess said with disdain. “With Her Majesty being proven to be of worth of my services; I only live for my duty now, and perhaps the sweets, and my property. I thought I had lived for searching for one true love, but I do not believe in that anymore. Two marriages past, and now I am simply starting to age.”
Aramus smiled somewhat sourly, looking very chagrinned. “I’m sure you’ll find it again soon. Even now, I am not quite sure what love is. Besides, you’re still in your prime. I do not think you have to worry about anything regarding your prospects.” He said, scratching the brand on his face.
Heh. Prime, he says. “Not that I found it to begin with. I do not think I will simply try anymore.”
“That is, I’m afraid, a tall order to carry out, Sir Valmark,” Her Majesty said, and Frederica nodded in agreement too.
“Spells that harms Descendants and bypasses the magical resistances are mostly made forbidden, by Her Majesty, after all. If you are inventing spells, you’d have to be quite careful, but usually, anything that hurts more than what spells you have would likely bring you better results,” Frederica said.
“Something that… would disable a Descendant would be sufficient. Robbing them of their senses or something similar would suffice for me,” Aramus explained. “I do not wish to break the rules of our Magic World as well.”
“There are spells that exists to blind foes – not that they always work on Descendants – which may be of use to your ends,” Frederica suggested.
“It’s something similar to that. I plan to expand upon the usage of the Vibrato spell. It revolves around the process of cavitation, a miniature area that is pressurized and then forcibly collapsed to provide a shockwave. I haven’t actually gotten past the initial spell theory but this would be one of the spells I’m looking to create.”
“An interesting theory, but I do not know how the mana will react to that,” Frederica said, rather lost on how it’d work. “Considering Vibrato is Rego Imaginem, the spell is easier to cast upon someone—but now that this considers… I’d think perhaps Aurum?—you’d need to find a way to materialise such a phenomena with mana of the Faerie Realm.”
“Yes, precisely because Aurum is my prime that I would attempt such a thing. Hopefully the mana does not spiral out of control, it’s going to be very messy if it does,” Aramus said with a shake of his head. “Utilising the air or water around should be sufficient for such a spell so it should be a little more efficient than generating something large scale like a thunderstorm.”
“Indeed, for which you will have to find out exactly how much mana you’d have to apply for this to work.” Frederica was getting heated up, in zone and all with her imaginations flying. “Too much and it will spiral out, too less and it will simply fail. Even if you reach the optimum level, you will be making these mana do something violent, so you’d have to bring it close to going out of control intentionally for your end result to be successful.”
“Indeed, the speed I’d have to achieve for the spell to work is somewhat daunting. Still, this should be one of the few things that I have that can harm a Descendant. If it works of course. Regardless, I look forward to the results.”
“Mhm, the Duchesses and Dukes are always researching magic to begin with under Her Majesty’s command so that we could be effective against Descendants to begin with, so I can sympathize with you. Moving on, who will the prayer go to for the spell?”
“Since it’d have to be from the Realm of the Faeries, I was thinking of one of the sidhe. There aren’t very many to choose from that might aid me in the spell.. but I was thinking of the Bean Sith.” Aramus said with a lopsided grin.
“My… a wonderful choice, yes,” the Queen commented, albeit it sounded forced.
“Eerie, but I suppose you need something as dangerous as her for a dangerous spell meant to inflict harm on a Descendant.”
“Yeah… If this spells proves to be successful, I’d think about involving other members of the sidhe but for now, she will do.” Aramus added with a grimace. “She has the scare factor going for her at the very least...”
“Well, there are quite a lot of spells referring to such deities, if you think of the Latin words the spell Lightning Blade calls upon the fury of Dullahan,” Frederica said with enthusiasm.
“Oh, Dullahan was also one of the contenders for the spell but I felt it more appropriate to walk before I run and take on a sidhe like that.” Aramus said, pleasantly surprised. “Would it be alright to ask for your knowledge on the Dullahan if I do create spell related to it?”
“Of course, you are welcome to approach me on the subject of Deities, since I am knowledgeable of various lores,” the Duchess answered.
“Phew, now that the complicated talk is over, I can enjoy all these. These are incredibly hard to obtain in Tokyo. All they have for beverages are really bitter teas… They don’t exactly fit my palate even if it does go well with their own version of traditional sweets.” Aramus said, wiggling his fingers as he picked up a biscuit.
“That said, Your Majesty, you have been awfully silent for a while now,” Frederica said, looking towards the Queen, who seemed to not be looking at either of her guests, and not even consuming the sweets, biscuits, or even the cold tea before her.
The Queen on the other hand, said no words, confusing Frederica even further. “Your Majesty? Any idea what happened…?” She asked Aramus.
“Your Majesty?” Aramus intoned, setting down said biscuit. He waved a hand slowly at her but receiving no response, he placed a hand on his forehead and the other on hers. The clean hand, of course. “Are you alright?” He asked again in concern.
Upon contact, his flesh seared and Aramus flinched away quickly, shaking the hand to ward off the heat. “Ah, ah,” he gasped, his fingertips slightly burnt.
“You dare touch Her Majesty? I thought you’d have known better!” Frederica scolded.
“...Move.”
“Hm? What was that, Your Majesty?”
“Move, hurry!” Queen Victoria pushed both her subjects: Aramus and Frederica. It was no surprise that the strength of the Descendant was enough to send the two flying across the room, and off to the wall.
Aramus saw something black ephemeral coming down to where he was sitting earlier, but it dispersed a moment later. Strangely enough, no real damage was incurred to said chair.
“So you were in my residence after all,” Victoria said, “Virgo.”
“Ahahaha!! To think you’d see through me, as expected,” a voice echoed across the room.
The Queen got off her chair and looked around. Solemn, alert, and possibly ready to raze the entire structure down if it would mean that Her Majesty would have to draw upon her Gungnir.
“I see your resurrection is near-complete.”
“That it is. Thanks to the vampires, I had quite a lot of time to do as I please. What? Are you not going to treat me like a guest like you did before?”
“...I thought I destroyed your form that day.”
“You underestimate me. I had many lurking the shadows of your beloved country, feeding upon the negativity from your very people. To think you had so many people with dark and evil imaginations in your country, how laughable.”
“...It is the same everywhere, Virgo.”
“So they say, Leo.”
“What do you want?”
“I was simply here to greet you. I do not intend to fight you today. I shall purge the filth that is humanity in due time of course, and I shall start with the country that claims to be atop all else. Eventually, I shall come here to put an end to your miserable existence too, so rest easy.”
The voice stopped speaking, and the strange presence was gone.
“...Country that claims to be atop all else… the New World – United States of America?” Victoria fell back to her seat, relaxed again. “She is such a problem child,” she mumbled to herself. “Oh, you two, I apologise for the rough treatment.”
“Not at all.” Aramus said, waving a hand from when he had landed in a heap. His back hurt too much for him to get up. “This just desserts for one who dared to put a hand on Her Majesty. Ahaha…”
“This happened so fast that I didn’t even know what to say,” Frederica expressed, pulling herself up. She was about to take up the chair that fell to the floor, but made Aramus do it anyway, before sitting back down on it. “Ahem, so that was Virgo we heard… and she intends to †˜purge’ humanity…”
“So she claimed… I wonder how she intends to do such a thing. Mayhap she has an army prepared, not that I can imagine,” the Queen said, looking up to the window yet again.
“Subtle, that one.” Aramus said as he crawled back into his seat, favouring his now-burnt hand. “Interesting to note that this was her second visit.”
“Well… yes, that’s how I learned that she was going to eventually come back,” Her Majesty confessed. “Virgo had often visited me with phantasmal clones of herself in the past.”
“Like some kind of creepy stalker, she dare not come herself?” Aramus said, huffing once before his face fell. “Though what she said does sadden me, that our fellow countrymen are not happy.”
“She can’t, Sir Valmark,” Victoria answered plainly, as if feeling sorry for Virgo. “She is sealed far away at the moment, she couldn’t simply leave her country to visit me in the past long ago, either. So a clone such as that was rather convenient.”
“I agree, who would’ve thought our countrymen was in so much despair that Virgo could take advantage of them?” The Duchess felt grief for the Englanders. “Seeing the condition, I could see why she’d visit Your Majesty… but why? If I were her I’d never reveal that I was planning an attack on a country that way.”
“Maybe because we were once friends.” The Queen gave a very melancholic smile.
“Bad taste in house visits, that Virgo. Didn’t even bother to bring any souvenirs.” Aramus scoffed. “Still, I hope to be fully ready by the time she brings about her so called purge.”
I believe she did in the form of that attack moments ago. “Now that we know this, we cannot simply watch her reign chaos; I shall play my cards,” the Queen declared with determination.
“Then does that mean we’re going there, Your Majesty?” The Duchess questioned.
“Unfortunately, I cannot leave England, especially now, but there is someone… either way, I’d like to send at least three members of your rank there, Frederica. I shall send you,” the Queen answered, looking at Frederica “and you, too,” then to Aramus as she spoke. “No magician can ever truly hope to defeat the Chaos Utopia, it has to be handled by someone of equal level… ”
“The last of us must be someone powerful…” Aramus said.
“Sir Valmark, I did not intend to state this, but the spell you are developing will not be enough.”
Aramus flinched as the Queen proclaimed it wouldn’t be enough. “Then tell me Your Majesty, what will be? I will strive with all of my strength towards achieving that power.”
“You and the others likely have not heard due to the event being interrupted by the vampires, but we have made an adjustment to the rules pertaining to the Magic World,” Her Majesty stated.
“Wait, when did this take place?” Frederica questioned, bewildered. “I was sure that I was with Your Majesty most of the time, and I hadn’t heard of any of this till now.”
Aramus looked just as confused.
“This was decided before either of you entered the Buckingham Palace: we have decided that forbidden spells would be acceptable if used against the Descendants.”
“That… changes quite a lot of things,” Duchess Frederica said, struggling to understand how much change this would make to the Magic World. “It also complicates matters. Considering those who are found to know the forbidden spells are usually hunted down.”
“No, we would not tolerate just about anyone knowing forbidden spells, Duchess,” Queen Victoria stated, shaking her head. “The requirement is simple. The users must be just as eligible as those who are given the prestige to learn and master Parma Magica, and in that case; Sir Valmark, Duchess Frederica; both of you are enough qualified.”
“It would be a honour,” Aramus said in response. “Still, it begets the fact that many more people would strive to learn these spells, even if they’re just a tiny bit more obtainable.”
“Yes, this would make the title of Magic Magister and the higher nobles much more desirable, even if for power alone… but that is a side-effect that I must accept, for we have greater dangers lingering about our world for the people,” Queen Victoria claimed, “if worst comes to worst; I shall admit that it was my error in judgement and take all the blame that may come in the future.”
“I do not think it would become that bad in time to come but nonetheless, if we fail to bring down Virgo, there won’t be anything left anyway,” Aramus said with a shrug of his shoulders.
“You have asked me what would be enough, did you not, Sir Valmark? Tomorrow… I shall lend you one of my spells.”
Frederica gasped. “You don’t mean…”
“I mean exactly what I speak, we must be as prepared as possible for the encounter.”
Aramus’s eyes widened even as he knelt down in respect. “Your Majesty, for me to learn one of your very own. You give me far too much!”
“You will not be able to use a borrowed spell beyond the limit, so it is not as though you’d master it and be able to use it repeatedly. Yet know that I am fine giving like this, such spells are almost useless due to who and what I have become.”
“Still, I am deeply honored by your decision.”
The Queen then peered towards the clock on the wall. “I am going to rest. Frederica, I leave the rest to you. Sir Valmark, I expect your visit tomorrow.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Aramus replied sharply, rising from his position and bowing towards her.
Frederica too, gave a respectable bow, and the Queen gave a slight wave with her hand as the two proceeded to exiting the room.
“That sure ended fast,” the Duchess commented.
“Indeed… I still wanted more of those…” Aramus muttered, somewhat in disbelief over what Her Majesty had decided for him. “Maybe we’ll have another chance once the dust settles.”
“Perhaps. I will have more than just my company work over the next week. Mister Aramus, I think this is likely the best time to pick up that orphan you were speaking of.”
“Sorry about all this.” Aramus said, offering Frederica an apologetic look. “I really wish I was a little bit more capable in that regard. Well, more capable in almost every regard actually. This… incident was quite the eye opener.”
“All’s well, Mister Aramus. In fact, I am a little thankful… perhaps now there will be someone to inherit my properties if any misfortune befell me,” Frederica said, while walking alongside the Magister, looking down. Who knew if she’d live to see the day after engaging Virgo in combat?
“Nonsense, Duchess. It will only get tougher from here on out but you will be fine.” Aramus said, feeling a little displeased himself. At what, he wasn’t quite sure. “People like us, we don’t leave the service of Her Majesty too soon, despite what the job entails.”
“We’re going to be fighting a Descendant regardless, and quite a lot of people are staring at the fortune I hold,” Frederica replied, still melancholic, but her resolve was clear as day. “I am not very optimistic, but I shall try for as long as I may to perform my duty, just as you would.”
“Just another day on the job for me. I’ve never known what it’s like to have a silver spoon, but at least that girl won’t have to suffer through poverty, unlike if she came with me,” Aramus said, slumping a little. “Do you not have a reason to strive to live? I understand duty to the crown, for me it’s a little more personal than just the title and position but what of yourself, Duchess?”
“Who knows,” the Duchess said with disdain. “With Her Majesty being proven to be of worth of my services; I only live for my duty now, and perhaps the sweets, and my property. I thought I had lived for searching for one true love, but I do not believe in that anymore. Two marriages past, and now I am simply starting to age.”
Aramus smiled somewhat sourly, looking very chagrinned. “I’m sure you’ll find it again soon. Even now, I am not quite sure what love is. Besides, you’re still in your prime. I do not think you have to worry about anything regarding your prospects.” He said, scratching the brand on his face.
Heh. Prime, he says. “Not that I found it to begin with. I do not think I will simply try anymore.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Aramus and Duchess Frederica arrived at the church riding Frederica’s carriage, the Magister was pleased that he didn’t have to travel by foot. He was still quite tired from the battles that took place earlier today. Aramus couldn’t find Mary anywhere, even on the same streets they passed by. The priest and the nuns sheltered the children inside, and that was where Aramus learned that they were to be sent to an orphanage first thing tomorrow. It seemed like the church did not wanted to shelter the children for long either.
The two were brought to the door of a room full of children, where most were still having breakfast. There weren’t many chairs and not a single bed, so most of them were sitting on the corners of the floors. It was a glimpse of poverty, but nothing as bad as the Magister’s experience.
“Mister Aramus, it’s now up to you to identify the child,” Frederica said, motioning him to enter the room.
Nodding, Aramus entered and looked around for the little girl. It did not take long for a familiar face to run up to him and tug on the end of his shirt. Instantly, he was reminded of who he had saved. It was her indeed.
“Hello again, kiddo.” Aramus said with a smile, crouching down to her level. “Have they been taking good care of you?” He asked, placing a hand on her head and ruffling her hair.
The girl gave a nod. “Did you come to visit us, mister?”
“I’ve come to pick you up,” he answered, waving for Frederica to come in as well.
“Really?” The girl said, hope welling up on her face.
Frederica shook her head, and instead ushered Aramus to come out with said girl. An esteemed noble like her would apparently refuse to walk into the room of children.
Aramus looked somewhat sheepish at Frederica’s refusal, instead patting on the child’s head and slowly guiding her out of the room. “Yep. I’m Aramus, what’s your name?”
“Sophie Mc… uh… um, I can not quite pronounce it…” she introduced herself, but mumbled halfway through her sentence.
“It’s alright. Then Sophie, there’s someone else I’d like you to meet. Her name is Frederica, she’s going to be taking care of you from now.”
Frederica got down to Sophie’s level, and greeted her. “Good day to you, little one” she said, placing a hand on her hand, and noticed that her hair hadn’t been having a proper treatment for days immediately. “I hope we get along.”
“...Really? M-Mister, that’s wrong,” Sophie said, looking back and forth between the two. “Someone so pretty can’t possibly be taking care of me me of all people. I mean, me... but wow, she is so pretty.”
Aramus shook his head in dismay ever so slightly, feeling a little bit defeated. “Yes, Sophie. She will be the one looking after you, your guardian. Well, I think you should call her pretty more often. She’ll like it.” He said with a chuckle.
“Of course I would, any lady would,” the Duchess said with a scowl. “That said, Sophie, you’d look gorgeous too with a visit from a professional any day,” Frederica said, getting up.
“But… you seem like a noble, Miss, I do not know if I am–”
“I am a Duchess.”
“Wow.”
“...Is this supposed to be that surprising?”
“Sophie, how about you get to know her with some milk and cookies later?” Aramus offered, taking the heat off Frederica. “Or would you prefer something else?”
“There is no suitable place here to do that,” the Duchess replied, giving a glare at their surroundings. “I think I will take her back to my manor after dealing with the formalities.”
“So, how’s that sound Sophie?” Aramus said, offering a hand to the young girl, though he did shoot Frederica a dirty look when she mentioned the cleanliness of the church.
Frederica, of course, would shot Aramus a piercing gaze that would forever injure his confidence as not only as a man, but as an inhabitant in the universe itself, but that was not the time for that.
“Umm, I-I think… it is alright, I mean, if the Lady is alright with me…” Sophie replied, nervously.
“Of course she is,” he reassured, “Now we just have to fill some paperwork and we’re done.”
“Alright, let’s get down to it,” Frederica said. “This is going to take some time, so feel free to wait inside my carriage.”
The two were brought to the door of a room full of children, where most were still having breakfast. There weren’t many chairs and not a single bed, so most of them were sitting on the corners of the floors. It was a glimpse of poverty, but nothing as bad as the Magister’s experience.
“Mister Aramus, it’s now up to you to identify the child,” Frederica said, motioning him to enter the room.
Nodding, Aramus entered and looked around for the little girl. It did not take long for a familiar face to run up to him and tug on the end of his shirt. Instantly, he was reminded of who he had saved. It was her indeed.
“Hello again, kiddo.” Aramus said with a smile, crouching down to her level. “Have they been taking good care of you?” He asked, placing a hand on her head and ruffling her hair.
The girl gave a nod. “Did you come to visit us, mister?”
“I’ve come to pick you up,” he answered, waving for Frederica to come in as well.
“Really?” The girl said, hope welling up on her face.
Frederica shook her head, and instead ushered Aramus to come out with said girl. An esteemed noble like her would apparently refuse to walk into the room of children.
Aramus looked somewhat sheepish at Frederica’s refusal, instead patting on the child’s head and slowly guiding her out of the room. “Yep. I’m Aramus, what’s your name?”
“Sophie Mc… uh… um, I can not quite pronounce it…” she introduced herself, but mumbled halfway through her sentence.
“It’s alright. Then Sophie, there’s someone else I’d like you to meet. Her name is Frederica, she’s going to be taking care of you from now.”
Frederica got down to Sophie’s level, and greeted her. “Good day to you, little one” she said, placing a hand on her hand, and noticed that her hair hadn’t been having a proper treatment for days immediately. “I hope we get along.”
“...Really? M-Mister, that’s wrong,” Sophie said, looking back and forth between the two. “Someone so pretty can’t possibly be taking care of me me of all people. I mean, me... but wow, she is so pretty.”
Aramus shook his head in dismay ever so slightly, feeling a little bit defeated. “Yes, Sophie. She will be the one looking after you, your guardian. Well, I think you should call her pretty more often. She’ll like it.” He said with a chuckle.
“Of course I would, any lady would,” the Duchess said with a scowl. “That said, Sophie, you’d look gorgeous too with a visit from a professional any day,” Frederica said, getting up.
“But… you seem like a noble, Miss, I do not know if I am–”
“I am a Duchess.”
“Wow.”
“...Is this supposed to be that surprising?”
“Sophie, how about you get to know her with some milk and cookies later?” Aramus offered, taking the heat off Frederica. “Or would you prefer something else?”
“There is no suitable place here to do that,” the Duchess replied, giving a glare at their surroundings. “I think I will take her back to my manor after dealing with the formalities.”
“So, how’s that sound Sophie?” Aramus said, offering a hand to the young girl, though he did shoot Frederica a dirty look when she mentioned the cleanliness of the church.
Frederica, of course, would shot Aramus a piercing gaze that would forever injure his confidence as not only as a man, but as an inhabitant in the universe itself, but that was not the time for that.
“Umm, I-I think… it is alright, I mean, if the Lady is alright with me…” Sophie replied, nervously.
“Of course she is,” he reassured, “Now we just have to fill some paperwork and we’re done.”
“Alright, let’s get down to it,” Frederica said. “This is going to take some time, so feel free to wait inside my carriage.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Aramus found himself in the large elevator the next day. To say the least, he didn’t quite expect to be back here already. Some days ago when Her Majesty claimed that she’d have him meet the owner of Paimon’s Fan for his verdict, he thought he’d be here only once. Due to the unexpected events of the Queen’s Meeting, however, it was now his second time. The least he could do was appreciate the technology down here, if anything.
“We are almost there. How do you feel?” Her Majesty asked as the elevator continued to descend.
“Nervous.” Aramus replied. “I’ve kept the owner waiting a very long for the fan, it wouldn’t surprise me if I was attacked on sight.” He added, examining the fan in his hands.
“Mn, well, the owner has a different perception of time, contrary to you,” the Queen stated, then looking down at herself. “We – the anomalies of the world, Sir Valmark, often don’t understand differences between decades or centuries.”
“That makes me feel even worse, knowing that I stole from a Descendant.” He continued, getting a little panicky. Strange that he felt more nervous at this upcoming meeting than the fiasco that happened the other day.
“No, Sir Valmark,” the Queen chuckled lightly as she corrected him, “Calm yourself, for I am the only Descendant down here.”
“Oh, well that’s a relief. Maybe I won’t die as horribly then.” He choked. “Nothing for me to do except face the music anyway. Still, I’m glad you’re here and it’s not just a meeting between the owner and I.”
“Rest assured, Sir Valmark, I shall let not you die,” the Queen said, offering assurance. “You are still a valuable asset. That said, however did you attain such a precious relic to begin with?”
“Uh, well, I happened upon it when I was still an urchin, but I honestly don’t remember when. There was a lack of food in the slums during winter and a group of us decided to… steal from someone else. During one of the raids, I grabbed a case that I thought contained food but instead, I found this.” He said with a wave of his fan, the action sending a light breeze flowing.
“I didn’t know what it meant at the time so I hid it, though I was more than displeased at not having anything to eat that day.” Chuckling bitterly, he admired the relic for what is was worth and more, how it had pulled his butt out of the fire on more than one occasion. “A fine partner, one I am honestly loathe to give up.”
“I see.” the Queen sighed, one that was rare from her. “Urchins… poverty…” the Queen looked down, melancholic. “I suppose that was fate’s way of making up for the lack of food. I do not know how the relic was being transported on a supposed food container, perhaps the urchins had misinformation about their target.”
“Yet here I am, though I can’t say the same for the others. We didn’t have a very good network, it was pretty much every man for themselves. The only time we did get together was on occasions like that, everyone would’ve starved otherwise. It’s been a long time since those days and I have Your Majesty to thank for changing that.”
The Queen could only provide a sad smile in return, not turning to the Magister. “There are quite a lot of urchins around every year, it seems. I am glad that at least the child you saved would not face poverty to the extent the already-poor children are facing.”
“It is… not possible to save everyone but that should not deter us from trying as much as we can. Even if I’d like to say it was me saving the child, it’s Frederica who will be providing her with financial support.” Aramus replied glumly. “I can’t do much for anybody except fighting.”
“Well, you indeed cannot save everyone. For one soul you save, another is tormented elsewhere. Fighting is important, however, allows one to directly save people from danger of losing life, and that is one of the most important way to save someone, is it not?”
“Yes, though I have felt that my skills are severely lacking in light of recent events. What use is a sword that cannot cut or a shield that cannot protect? Thus, I must strive to better myself.”
“Well, you are contesting beings that possesses abilities beyond comprehension, and wills of astounding spiritual girth that instills fear to the very earth itself. I would not pin the blame upon you. Every sword has it’s own uses.”
“It is heartening that you think this way but I still do not like this sense of weakness, even in the face of beings such as Descendants. Besides, this †˜sword’ is meant to be wielded by Her Majesty alone,” Aramus added, placing a hand on his chest for emphasis.
I do not overestimate a sword not underestimate them. What you are is simply what you are. However sharp a sword becomes its use shall never change. The Queen shrugged. “Alas, from my perspective I have countless blades, and my prime concern is how to manipulate them most effectively, not criticise them for their shortcomings.”
“It is our own prerogative to become sharper nonetheless. Nobody likes a dull blade,” he added with a laugh. “One day, I hope to become as powerful as the Dukes and Duchesses, maybe that way I’ll be more useful.”
“A bold statement, Sir Valmark.” Her Majesty laughed. “I suppose having high goals for motivational purposes is a necessity. Perhaps you should consider learning some of the unique spells granted to them before considering to surpass them, or even come to be in league with their abilities.”
“I’m not adverse to learning their spells, just that it would feel strange to not have some of my own. Though, it would do me some good to seek advice from my betters more often.” Aramus said with a nod. “There is much that I have yet to learn.”
“Well, you are still young. Coming up with spells… I remember when I was inventing, it takes considerable inspiration.”
“Being young… I do feel more than a little beyond my years when surrounded by my students. It is… different when you are teaching and yes, spell creation never comes easy.” Aramus answered with a short laugh.
“One of the professions I did not touch for long was teaching,” the Queen replied, apparently somewhat at a loss for words because she couldn’t share much of her experiences. “I can scarce imagine feeling the gap between the young and yourself that way. After becoming a Descendant, it was almost impossible to make comparisons whatsoever.”
“The brand of my face does not help matters either. I reckon some members of the faculty keep their distance from me because of it, at least those who know what it means. The kids though, they are vastly different from those in England. Possibly due to technology being much more advanced in Japan.” He said with a sigh. “Sometimes, I don’t know how to answer when a scholar speaks to me about something called †˜RPG’ or †˜MOBA’.”
“There were complaints regarding my choice when I nominated you as a Magister, one such comment referred to the aforementioned brand. People oft find minor points to argue with. I seldom turn back to such points, for I am always considering the big picture. So, I cannot say that I can sympathise, or provide heartening words to that matter. On the subject of the child, though, I am surprised you do not understand those terms, Sir Valmark, and besides, didn’t the Eastern Magic Academy also have scholars from the western side of the world?”
“Heh, well, I was not too popular with anyone during my time in school apart from being the punching bag. At least it took the heat off others who might’ve been targeted if I hadn’t been there. Sometimes, you do need someone to play the part of the †˜bad guy’ for the good of the majority,” Aramus said somewhat bitterly. “And unfortunately, I do not have the time or finances to keep up with the Japanese trends that teens follow. Our own scholars are also different from the average Eastern student, like Elizabeth.”
A bad guy… is it? I suppose I can sympathise with that. “A punching bag… I suppose that is a little rough, but there are times a necessary evil is indeed in need,” the Queen commented. “†˜Tis true, I suppose, that a poor man would have difficulty following trends. I hear the nobles are mostly the individuals sending their children to said academy. I would see how they’d of different standards. I do, however, hear that our western children in Japan impressively catches up to the trends and advancements. Perhaps being noble children helps in that regard.”
“It forces the children to adapt. To survive in a different environment, especially one as technologically advanced as Japan’s, the teens realise they need to change. Which requires money and being nobility, most have the financial means to keep up indeed,” Aramus explained. “Unfortunately, one such as I will always lag behind, though I do find solace in the food that Japan offers. That at the very least, poses no threat to my wallet.”
“Well… I suppose you are somewhat wasting your luck if you do not have the financial stability to enjoy Japan’s rich culture. I hear the Headmistress there pays quite the amount of money, but I suppose it is never enough. I see why you’d crave food even now, being an ex-urchin may forevermark the sign of gluttony in one, for the times to come.”
“Gluttony, Your Majesty? It think the term connoisseur is more fitting.” A laugh accompanied Aramus’s claim, though he knew that wouldn’t fool anybody. “It is indeed a shame that I am unable to enjoy what the East has to offer. Luck notwithstanding, some things just never go well. Perhaps due to the spirit I picked up but strangely enough, things have gone well since I arrived in England.”
“I remind myself of the face you made when you consumed the great many food when contesting Duchess Caroline,” the Queen said, with a big and gracious smile. “Of course things would go well; I forbade the spirit to appear in my presence.”
“A face of joy, yes?” Aramus said, returning her smile with a grin. “Surprising you can do that. That spirit tends to cling to me every waking moment. I don’t sense any malevolence from it but it can be… frustrating at times.”
“A face making apparent that the mouth was stuffed with food… I’d rather say ungraceful, and, to be appropriate, I could imagine you suffering instead due to the difficulty to swallow,” Her Majesty replied, contrary to the joke she imagined the situation rather seriously. “Except – on the matter of said spirit – there is malevolence. Malevolence in action rather than feeling, strangely enough. She takes the fortune for herself, while you are resulted with misfortune.”
“Heh, I suppose you could put it that way. I guess I can’t hide who I truly am with pretty words, those are for the real nobility. It’s the same for my spirit, she can’t change who she is,” he answered rather tiredly.
The elevator finally landed and the two found many paths open to them. the Queen begun to guide Aramus, and they walked past one of the tunnels. It seemed like a maze of machinations down below the earth. The Magister stared with wide eyes but said nothing as he followed the Queen, though it did interest him as to how did all of this get here, hidden beneath the palace.
Finally, they stood before a gate. Aramus could see something akin to a semi-sphere that stood before some machines, and behind them was a long and tall wall. There was something beside it, and he could see the Queen approach it; manipulating some controls, and pulling some levers. They seemed to be hard to move, but Her Majesty performed the feat effortlessly. As expected of a Descendant. Steam flowed and discharged from pipes all across the gate. Electricity could be seen conjured. Upon closer inspection, however, they seemed to be a different form of energy that was concentrated at the centre of the gate. Before long, it was host to a portal, and Her Majesty ushered Aramus to follow.
“We are almost there. How do you feel?” Her Majesty asked as the elevator continued to descend.
“Nervous.” Aramus replied. “I’ve kept the owner waiting a very long for the fan, it wouldn’t surprise me if I was attacked on sight.” He added, examining the fan in his hands.
“Mn, well, the owner has a different perception of time, contrary to you,” the Queen stated, then looking down at herself. “We – the anomalies of the world, Sir Valmark, often don’t understand differences between decades or centuries.”
“That makes me feel even worse, knowing that I stole from a Descendant.” He continued, getting a little panicky. Strange that he felt more nervous at this upcoming meeting than the fiasco that happened the other day.
“No, Sir Valmark,” the Queen chuckled lightly as she corrected him, “Calm yourself, for I am the only Descendant down here.”
“Oh, well that’s a relief. Maybe I won’t die as horribly then.” He choked. “Nothing for me to do except face the music anyway. Still, I’m glad you’re here and it’s not just a meeting between the owner and I.”
“Rest assured, Sir Valmark, I shall let not you die,” the Queen said, offering assurance. “You are still a valuable asset. That said, however did you attain such a precious relic to begin with?”
“Uh, well, I happened upon it when I was still an urchin, but I honestly don’t remember when. There was a lack of food in the slums during winter and a group of us decided to… steal from someone else. During one of the raids, I grabbed a case that I thought contained food but instead, I found this.” He said with a wave of his fan, the action sending a light breeze flowing.
“I didn’t know what it meant at the time so I hid it, though I was more than displeased at not having anything to eat that day.” Chuckling bitterly, he admired the relic for what is was worth and more, how it had pulled his butt out of the fire on more than one occasion. “A fine partner, one I am honestly loathe to give up.”
“I see.” the Queen sighed, one that was rare from her. “Urchins… poverty…” the Queen looked down, melancholic. “I suppose that was fate’s way of making up for the lack of food. I do not know how the relic was being transported on a supposed food container, perhaps the urchins had misinformation about their target.”
“Yet here I am, though I can’t say the same for the others. We didn’t have a very good network, it was pretty much every man for themselves. The only time we did get together was on occasions like that, everyone would’ve starved otherwise. It’s been a long time since those days and I have Your Majesty to thank for changing that.”
The Queen could only provide a sad smile in return, not turning to the Magister. “There are quite a lot of urchins around every year, it seems. I am glad that at least the child you saved would not face poverty to the extent the already-poor children are facing.”
“It is… not possible to save everyone but that should not deter us from trying as much as we can. Even if I’d like to say it was me saving the child, it’s Frederica who will be providing her with financial support.” Aramus replied glumly. “I can’t do much for anybody except fighting.”
“Well, you indeed cannot save everyone. For one soul you save, another is tormented elsewhere. Fighting is important, however, allows one to directly save people from danger of losing life, and that is one of the most important way to save someone, is it not?”
“Yes, though I have felt that my skills are severely lacking in light of recent events. What use is a sword that cannot cut or a shield that cannot protect? Thus, I must strive to better myself.”
“Well, you are contesting beings that possesses abilities beyond comprehension, and wills of astounding spiritual girth that instills fear to the very earth itself. I would not pin the blame upon you. Every sword has it’s own uses.”
“It is heartening that you think this way but I still do not like this sense of weakness, even in the face of beings such as Descendants. Besides, this †˜sword’ is meant to be wielded by Her Majesty alone,” Aramus added, placing a hand on his chest for emphasis.
I do not overestimate a sword not underestimate them. What you are is simply what you are. However sharp a sword becomes its use shall never change. The Queen shrugged. “Alas, from my perspective I have countless blades, and my prime concern is how to manipulate them most effectively, not criticise them for their shortcomings.”
“It is our own prerogative to become sharper nonetheless. Nobody likes a dull blade,” he added with a laugh. “One day, I hope to become as powerful as the Dukes and Duchesses, maybe that way I’ll be more useful.”
“A bold statement, Sir Valmark.” Her Majesty laughed. “I suppose having high goals for motivational purposes is a necessity. Perhaps you should consider learning some of the unique spells granted to them before considering to surpass them, or even come to be in league with their abilities.”
“I’m not adverse to learning their spells, just that it would feel strange to not have some of my own. Though, it would do me some good to seek advice from my betters more often.” Aramus said with a nod. “There is much that I have yet to learn.”
“Well, you are still young. Coming up with spells… I remember when I was inventing, it takes considerable inspiration.”
“Being young… I do feel more than a little beyond my years when surrounded by my students. It is… different when you are teaching and yes, spell creation never comes easy.” Aramus answered with a short laugh.
“One of the professions I did not touch for long was teaching,” the Queen replied, apparently somewhat at a loss for words because she couldn’t share much of her experiences. “I can scarce imagine feeling the gap between the young and yourself that way. After becoming a Descendant, it was almost impossible to make comparisons whatsoever.”
“The brand of my face does not help matters either. I reckon some members of the faculty keep their distance from me because of it, at least those who know what it means. The kids though, they are vastly different from those in England. Possibly due to technology being much more advanced in Japan.” He said with a sigh. “Sometimes, I don’t know how to answer when a scholar speaks to me about something called †˜RPG’ or †˜MOBA’.”
“There were complaints regarding my choice when I nominated you as a Magister, one such comment referred to the aforementioned brand. People oft find minor points to argue with. I seldom turn back to such points, for I am always considering the big picture. So, I cannot say that I can sympathise, or provide heartening words to that matter. On the subject of the child, though, I am surprised you do not understand those terms, Sir Valmark, and besides, didn’t the Eastern Magic Academy also have scholars from the western side of the world?”
“Heh, well, I was not too popular with anyone during my time in school apart from being the punching bag. At least it took the heat off others who might’ve been targeted if I hadn’t been there. Sometimes, you do need someone to play the part of the †˜bad guy’ for the good of the majority,” Aramus said somewhat bitterly. “And unfortunately, I do not have the time or finances to keep up with the Japanese trends that teens follow. Our own scholars are also different from the average Eastern student, like Elizabeth.”
A bad guy… is it? I suppose I can sympathise with that. “A punching bag… I suppose that is a little rough, but there are times a necessary evil is indeed in need,” the Queen commented. “†˜Tis true, I suppose, that a poor man would have difficulty following trends. I hear the nobles are mostly the individuals sending their children to said academy. I would see how they’d of different standards. I do, however, hear that our western children in Japan impressively catches up to the trends and advancements. Perhaps being noble children helps in that regard.”
“It forces the children to adapt. To survive in a different environment, especially one as technologically advanced as Japan’s, the teens realise they need to change. Which requires money and being nobility, most have the financial means to keep up indeed,” Aramus explained. “Unfortunately, one such as I will always lag behind, though I do find solace in the food that Japan offers. That at the very least, poses no threat to my wallet.”
“Well… I suppose you are somewhat wasting your luck if you do not have the financial stability to enjoy Japan’s rich culture. I hear the Headmistress there pays quite the amount of money, but I suppose it is never enough. I see why you’d crave food even now, being an ex-urchin may forevermark the sign of gluttony in one, for the times to come.”
“Gluttony, Your Majesty? It think the term connoisseur is more fitting.” A laugh accompanied Aramus’s claim, though he knew that wouldn’t fool anybody. “It is indeed a shame that I am unable to enjoy what the East has to offer. Luck notwithstanding, some things just never go well. Perhaps due to the spirit I picked up but strangely enough, things have gone well since I arrived in England.”
“I remind myself of the face you made when you consumed the great many food when contesting Duchess Caroline,” the Queen said, with a big and gracious smile. “Of course things would go well; I forbade the spirit to appear in my presence.”
“A face of joy, yes?” Aramus said, returning her smile with a grin. “Surprising you can do that. That spirit tends to cling to me every waking moment. I don’t sense any malevolence from it but it can be… frustrating at times.”
“A face making apparent that the mouth was stuffed with food… I’d rather say ungraceful, and, to be appropriate, I could imagine you suffering instead due to the difficulty to swallow,” Her Majesty replied, contrary to the joke she imagined the situation rather seriously. “Except – on the matter of said spirit – there is malevolence. Malevolence in action rather than feeling, strangely enough. She takes the fortune for herself, while you are resulted with misfortune.”
“Heh, I suppose you could put it that way. I guess I can’t hide who I truly am with pretty words, those are for the real nobility. It’s the same for my spirit, she can’t change who she is,” he answered rather tiredly.
The elevator finally landed and the two found many paths open to them. the Queen begun to guide Aramus, and they walked past one of the tunnels. It seemed like a maze of machinations down below the earth. The Magister stared with wide eyes but said nothing as he followed the Queen, though it did interest him as to how did all of this get here, hidden beneath the palace.
Finally, they stood before a gate. Aramus could see something akin to a semi-sphere that stood before some machines, and behind them was a long and tall wall. There was something beside it, and he could see the Queen approach it; manipulating some controls, and pulling some levers. They seemed to be hard to move, but Her Majesty performed the feat effortlessly. As expected of a Descendant. Steam flowed and discharged from pipes all across the gate. Electricity could be seen conjured. Upon closer inspection, however, they seemed to be a different form of energy that was concentrated at the centre of the gate. Before long, it was host to a portal, and Her Majesty ushered Aramus to follow.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Beyond the gate, Aramus could hardly believe his eyes. It was a completely different world.
To think the Queen hid technology which could literally open a pathway to a different Realm.
Everywhere he looked, the Magic Magister could see a clear blue sky. They were standing atop solid floor, and before them was a zigzag path to a tiny planet that floated in the sky itself. Below said path were a sea of clouds flowing with a current of great wind. When Aramus looked around again he noted other such floating lands, no planets. Tiny planets, with plains of lush green grass, trees, houses, and more; it was a strange world.
However, the dwarf of a seemingly tiny planet ahead of them had no house, nor grass. In fact, it was so veiled with clouds that he could not see what lied over it.
“There lies He… the owner of the fan. Steel yourself, Sir Valmark.”
Aramus gulped, already sufficiently overwhelmed by the vast change in scenery. “Small planets. Floating. Whoosh!” He rasped, mouth dry from surprise. “Yeah, nothing can get better than this. I’m ready.”
“Beautiful scenery though, would you not agree?” Her Majesty said aloud, the wind was so loud that it was hard to hear each other’s words, their hair already waving against the strong breeze. “Let us proceed, and be careful not to fall off the path. Use your beloved fan if you need to for safety.”
“Uh huh.” Aramus answered weakly, taking a careful step back away from the path. He got a sense of vertigo from looking down, one wrong step would send him falling to his doom. Scenery be damned, he was going to stay in the centre of the path. Aramus tightened his grip on Paimon’s Fan and followed after his monarch.
It took some time to cross the path. About thirty minutes at most. He wished that they could cross faster but the path was longer than it seemed. Half the time, Aramus was worried about himself, and more importantly, about his Queen. However, the Queen seemed to be doing considerably better than him. Was this a perk of a Descendant? He felt jealous, for once. There were all kinds of birds and flying creatures staring at the two now that he took a good look around the place after crossing the bridge that nearly cost his life – just from stepping over it.
“A human?”
“A human.”
“A man and a woman.”
“More like a Queen and a poor whoever.”
“What is he, a dirty handkerchief the Queen carries?”
“She sure lost her sense of quality.”
“Hush, you don’t judge from looks.”
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAsL9AGVfn4)
“Silence,” a roaring powerful voice finally spoke. The clouds of the planet parted ways, and the creatures scrambled across the sky in fear and awe. “Who dares awaken me with all this chatter?”
Aramus could feel the vibrations from simply hear those words, his ears screaming to him with a tang of pain. In fact, when he looked at the ground, he only now came to realise that he was being pushed back from the wind generated from this being speaking.
“Good day to you, King Solomon. How do you do?”
“Hm?” The king looked down to the tiny beings before him from his throne, after tilting his head, for his gigantic blade that was stabbed on the ground blocked his view. The giant of a being that was King Solomon was so large, that the entire planet was but a seat to him.
“It had been long… friend. I am faring well. Crowned Queen of Angels, speak. I must know how your subordinate possesses my old weapon, my old friend, and my old Djinn.”
“Allow me to introduce you to Sir Aramus Valmark, one of my chosen… well, I suppose a blade is appropriate as he himself would say,” the Queen began, introducing Aramus to the King who rules over the Faerie Realm. “He had involved himself in an action of theft, and by chance attained Paimon’s Fan in his hunt for food. Not knowing that it was being transported to me, so that I could fulfill my promise of delivery to you.”
“...Thievery. Such an act by a young child. I see,” King Solomon looked down at Aramus with a look that seemed indifferent, yet the man felt something like an intense glare that pierced his very soul. “Do you admit to committing such an atrocious act?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Aramus answered, looking even more forlorn at his Queen’s admission. Already burdened as it was, it pierced his heart deeper that he had in fact, stolen from the person he had sworn to serve. “In my ignorance, I had stolen the fan. I am… ready to receive your judgement.”
Solomon released his grip from the handle of his large blade. Who knew how many years it had been since he did so. Dust danced and got carried by the wind, and feral vultures were shaken from their sleep, along with their nests as his hand extended towards the two before him.
“I feel Paimon’s pleas. It speaks for you, not against,” the King stated, considering deeply about the case. “She revolts against my rule. Hah!” The planet shook greatly at his words. “For one who claimed to love me, this is quite the revelation.”
“I was right, Paimon prefers you as the owner, Sir Valmark,” the Queen commented, smiling.
“Indeed,” the King agreed. “However, stealing is sin, sin is wrong, and the wrong must be corrected. I, King Solomon, who has arisen from the mortal kingdoms to maintain order in this Realm must judge the falsehood that made you commit said sin. Are you truly prepared, mortal?”
“To back down now would disgrace me even further.” Aramus said, looking up towards the King. “I am prepared.”
“Very well, I shall test your heart and soul, and give to you a trial. Your objective shall be… to bring Laevateinn from beyond the Gates of Tartarus. Journey forth, through the path to hell – mortal – seek the flames that deludes the weak into believing in the concept of purgatory. There it lies, at the hand of a murderer – the one who murdered dear Ishtar – the relic demonic sword Laevateinn. When you stab the blade of Laevateinn before me, only then shall I accept that you are worthy of my Fan. If, you are not worthy, and do not have the character required; you would doubtless be burned to ash, like the rest whom perished at the quest of attaining the services of the Djinns I enslaved.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.” Aramus answered with a bow, accepting King Solomon’s judgement. He was surprised to hear that Paimon was partial to his cause, that made him feel slightly less unhappy about all this.
“I sense that you have a concern to discuss, Queen,” King Solomon said, looking down at Victoria. “I have enquired in our last meeting, and I shall do so again: what would you predict this time?”
“He who drinketh deep of the Earth’s life, wanders. The Gathering of the Twelve Celestials…” the Queen spoke, meanings so deep Aramus could hardly tell what she was speaking of, however her second sentence rang a bell.
“So he lives… and plots for the end,” the King sighed. That sigh itself caused great tremor. “It is a shame that I cannot entertain my guests like I could in the past. I shall pray for your wellbeing, Queen. The world remains yet bright, lose hope not. Your serenity and grace knows no bounds.”
“I thank you for the compliments. Sir Valmark,” Victoria bowed to King Solomon and turned towards Aramus, “Let us be away.”
“At once, My Queen.” Aramus answered, bowing again towards the giant figure of King Solomon before following his sovereign.
To think the Queen hid technology which could literally open a pathway to a different Realm.
Everywhere he looked, the Magic Magister could see a clear blue sky. They were standing atop solid floor, and before them was a zigzag path to a tiny planet that floated in the sky itself. Below said path were a sea of clouds flowing with a current of great wind. When Aramus looked around again he noted other such floating lands, no planets. Tiny planets, with plains of lush green grass, trees, houses, and more; it was a strange world.
However, the dwarf of a seemingly tiny planet ahead of them had no house, nor grass. In fact, it was so veiled with clouds that he could not see what lied over it.
“There lies He… the owner of the fan. Steel yourself, Sir Valmark.”
Aramus gulped, already sufficiently overwhelmed by the vast change in scenery. “Small planets. Floating. Whoosh!” He rasped, mouth dry from surprise. “Yeah, nothing can get better than this. I’m ready.”
“Beautiful scenery though, would you not agree?” Her Majesty said aloud, the wind was so loud that it was hard to hear each other’s words, their hair already waving against the strong breeze. “Let us proceed, and be careful not to fall off the path. Use your beloved fan if you need to for safety.”
“Uh huh.” Aramus answered weakly, taking a careful step back away from the path. He got a sense of vertigo from looking down, one wrong step would send him falling to his doom. Scenery be damned, he was going to stay in the centre of the path. Aramus tightened his grip on Paimon’s Fan and followed after his monarch.
It took some time to cross the path. About thirty minutes at most. He wished that they could cross faster but the path was longer than it seemed. Half the time, Aramus was worried about himself, and more importantly, about his Queen. However, the Queen seemed to be doing considerably better than him. Was this a perk of a Descendant? He felt jealous, for once. There were all kinds of birds and flying creatures staring at the two now that he took a good look around the place after crossing the bridge that nearly cost his life – just from stepping over it.
“A human?”
“A human.”
“A man and a woman.”
“More like a Queen and a poor whoever.”
“What is he, a dirty handkerchief the Queen carries?”
“She sure lost her sense of quality.”
“Hush, you don’t judge from looks.”
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAsL9AGVfn4)
“Silence,” a roaring powerful voice finally spoke. The clouds of the planet parted ways, and the creatures scrambled across the sky in fear and awe. “Who dares awaken me with all this chatter?”
Aramus could feel the vibrations from simply hear those words, his ears screaming to him with a tang of pain. In fact, when he looked at the ground, he only now came to realise that he was being pushed back from the wind generated from this being speaking.
“Good day to you, King Solomon. How do you do?”
“Hm?” The king looked down to the tiny beings before him from his throne, after tilting his head, for his gigantic blade that was stabbed on the ground blocked his view. The giant of a being that was King Solomon was so large, that the entire planet was but a seat to him.
“It had been long… friend. I am faring well. Crowned Queen of Angels, speak. I must know how your subordinate possesses my old weapon, my old friend, and my old Djinn.”
“Allow me to introduce you to Sir Aramus Valmark, one of my chosen… well, I suppose a blade is appropriate as he himself would say,” the Queen began, introducing Aramus to the King who rules over the Faerie Realm. “He had involved himself in an action of theft, and by chance attained Paimon’s Fan in his hunt for food. Not knowing that it was being transported to me, so that I could fulfill my promise of delivery to you.”
“...Thievery. Such an act by a young child. I see,” King Solomon looked down at Aramus with a look that seemed indifferent, yet the man felt something like an intense glare that pierced his very soul. “Do you admit to committing such an atrocious act?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Aramus answered, looking even more forlorn at his Queen’s admission. Already burdened as it was, it pierced his heart deeper that he had in fact, stolen from the person he had sworn to serve. “In my ignorance, I had stolen the fan. I am… ready to receive your judgement.”
Solomon released his grip from the handle of his large blade. Who knew how many years it had been since he did so. Dust danced and got carried by the wind, and feral vultures were shaken from their sleep, along with their nests as his hand extended towards the two before him.
“I feel Paimon’s pleas. It speaks for you, not against,” the King stated, considering deeply about the case. “She revolts against my rule. Hah!” The planet shook greatly at his words. “For one who claimed to love me, this is quite the revelation.”
“I was right, Paimon prefers you as the owner, Sir Valmark,” the Queen commented, smiling.
“Indeed,” the King agreed. “However, stealing is sin, sin is wrong, and the wrong must be corrected. I, King Solomon, who has arisen from the mortal kingdoms to maintain order in this Realm must judge the falsehood that made you commit said sin. Are you truly prepared, mortal?”
“To back down now would disgrace me even further.” Aramus said, looking up towards the King. “I am prepared.”
“Very well, I shall test your heart and soul, and give to you a trial. Your objective shall be… to bring Laevateinn from beyond the Gates of Tartarus. Journey forth, through the path to hell – mortal – seek the flames that deludes the weak into believing in the concept of purgatory. There it lies, at the hand of a murderer – the one who murdered dear Ishtar – the relic demonic sword Laevateinn. When you stab the blade of Laevateinn before me, only then shall I accept that you are worthy of my Fan. If, you are not worthy, and do not have the character required; you would doubtless be burned to ash, like the rest whom perished at the quest of attaining the services of the Djinns I enslaved.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.” Aramus answered with a bow, accepting King Solomon’s judgement. He was surprised to hear that Paimon was partial to his cause, that made him feel slightly less unhappy about all this.
“I sense that you have a concern to discuss, Queen,” King Solomon said, looking down at Victoria. “I have enquired in our last meeting, and I shall do so again: what would you predict this time?”
“He who drinketh deep of the Earth’s life, wanders. The Gathering of the Twelve Celestials…” the Queen spoke, meanings so deep Aramus could hardly tell what she was speaking of, however her second sentence rang a bell.
“So he lives… and plots for the end,” the King sighed. That sigh itself caused great tremor. “It is a shame that I cannot entertain my guests like I could in the past. I shall pray for your wellbeing, Queen. The world remains yet bright, lose hope not. Your serenity and grace knows no bounds.”
“I thank you for the compliments. Sir Valmark,” Victoria bowed to King Solomon and turned towards Aramus, “Let us be away.”
“At once, My Queen.” Aramus answered, bowing again towards the giant figure of King Solomon before following his sovereign.