Descendants of Time (Role-Play Act 5: Revolutionary Moment)
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“You do not seem well, my dear. What makes your countenance dreary?” the Countess asked, as Claudia came to visit the Mistress some time after speaking with Cosette. “You didn’t make up with Cosette yet?”
“I did, but it was rocky, no doubt…” Claudia replied, appearing more sluggish than usual.
“Emotional people will always cause †˜rocky’ issues, I suppose. What do you intend to do about this? I do not think you should let it stay the way it is.”
“I suppose not treating Cosette as if she were some random prey is a good start. I will be a better master to her. It’s a shame she was sold to someone like me, who would do such things like that,” Claudia said. “I want your opinion, Countess. Do you think that I’m… awful?”
“Well, it was your request, after all, but… mnm, I think you are absolutely insane, and likely awful, but,” she arched down to Claudia’s ear, and continued, “I don’t hate any of it.”
Claudia shivered and squirmed about from the Countess’ words. “I… I’m not sure how to respond to that, I’m sorry. I’m glad you don’t hate any of my… ahem, mannerisms, too. However, Cosette didn’t seem to take it too well.”
“From my impression, you’re a young Lady who strives to keep up your conduct with manners, but your… darker aspects make the efforts crumble ever so delightfully. Suffice it to say I observe opposing extremities colliding throughout your life, and it is amusing to say the least. However, Cosette is a tender-hearted person to the core. She is cold and rigid on the surface but is vulnerable inside. Like most girls, but it is ten-folds greater in her case. I’d color myself surprised since she only broke down now rather than earlier from how you treated her.”
“Huh, I never considered that at all… I had gotten so emasculated with her dry-as-ice personality, not caring to delve into what was inside, past that exterior. It feels strange even envisioning Cosette as tender-hearted. What a fool I turned out to be these months past.”
“Well, it is clear as day that you are not very well educated about psychology,” Catherine said, humming to herself. “Being a fool isn’t so bad, however. The first step is to admit it. You learn all these important values from experiences while you are a fool, and later learn to be smart.”
Claudia sighed. “This much is true. I just need to learn how to… control myself a bit more when it comes to my allies.” She ran a hand through her hair to straighten it out with a downcasted sigh. “I’m already a lost cause when controlling my… darker aspects generally.”
“Indeed, you are extremely easy to provoke but… well, that makes you all the more endearing to me. I do not know if control is simply an impossibility or not in your case… but, I do not think Cosette necessarily hates every bit of you as you imagine. She tried to devote herself to you despite knowing what you are. I wonder why.”
“Yes, that is a wonder…” Claudia said, taking that down in her mental notepad to investigate later. “I could possibly talk to her on this sometime. Later, though. She’s surprisingly still in a frail state.”
“Likely. I have a feeling that she will be your stoutest ally in the roughest of times, dear. Do not give up on her easily. After all, I will not be there to safeguard you from the greatest of storms that are yet to come.”
“Oh great… Well, then again, I will not always need you, as I am able to attend to most tasks on my own. Perhaps in the future, you could provide for moral support when I need it.” Claudia chuckled weakly at her own joke. At least she was making any at all with the mood she was in.
“If you say so.” The Countess shrugged with a giggle. “Do not blame me from the sea of the dead.” Perhaps she’d really just let Claudia die one day because of her joke, or was her playing along with just an extension of the joke?
“...Were… were you joking?” Claudia asked out of spite, a little taken aback.
“Who knows.”
“And you yet remain a prodigy at leaving me boggled…” Claudia chuckled nervously.
“With such a guard like Cosette, however, you’d doubtless not require my assistance.”
“True... Speaking of any up and coming storms of the sort, I don’t suppose you know the soonest we’ll encounter Sagittarius?”
“In about three days,” Catherine answered. “She has a live to attend to, according to her schedules.”
Claudia hummed with acknowledgement. “I see. So what's the plan for this shebang? Will it involve Marco jumping out of a woman's stomach again?”
“We’d love to try that but Marco has not bitten this †˜shebang’ for it to be a plausible idea.” Catherine giggled yet again due to Claudia’s choice of words regardless. “Anyway, we’ve decided on how to deal with her right in front of you, if I remember correctly.”
“How exciting. To witness Sagittarius’ abilities first-hand… I’m simply overjoyed. Moreover, I can’t wait to try my scythe on her,” Claudia said, pausing to giggle a little. “I’ll rip her in half…”
“Do remember to be cautious, dear. Even if you are my Representative, she may scathe you far more sharply than you initially think… Then again, the only way to learn to dance with fire—is to simply play with it, and gain experience.”
“And that fire shall soon be tamed…”
“Not killed yet tamed?”
“Whichever is to your preference. Though, I am all about taking prisoners and making them… ngh… toys.”
“The risk is far too great. I cannot allow that,” the Countess said, and immediately a light in the room shattered as she stared her down. “A Descendant’s power is no toy.”
Not even minding how spontaneous that was, Claudia shrugged. She supposed she would have to let this one go. “If you say so. After all, there are so much more—how you say—fish in the sea.”
“Good, as long as you understand.”
“It won’t do if you get a little too greedy, fair Lady,” a familiar voice said as Claudia turned to find Marco. “You just haven’t seen what they can really do. I’d personally want to stay away, but at the same time I wonder how their blood would taste… ”
“That’s a curiosity I would like to find out for myself too. But at the same time, they are extremely dangerous, to the Countess’ words,” Claudia said. “Then again, the Countess’ blood is far more copious compared to a human’s. Perhaps the other Descendants’ blood would be the same?”
“As someone who tasted the blood of various Descendants, I think it depends on the person,” the Countess answered. “Their blood may be exceptionally different if they are very old, however.”
“Well, Mi’lady didn’t say that you cannot taste them, she only said that you cannot keep them like a †˜toy’ or a slave, for that matter,” Marco replied. “I have not told you about it, but I almost died from a Descendant before… and that is why I refuse to partake in the operation to kill Sagittarius.”
“Oh, my. Well, that is understandable,” Claudia supposed. “May I ask who it was who attempted to kill you?”
“Ahh… well, about seventy years ago… there was a man undefeated in the United States of America. Aries—he had the power to isolate his targets… and, however confident a man I am in my skills, I could simply do nothing that night.” Marco looked down.
The Countess only gave Marco a single glance and was certain that he was still blaming himself for his failure, yet there were simply no words for her to offer. As his failure was fact, she’d not delude him with meaningless encouragements or pacification.
“I see… is this Descendant still with us today?” Claudia asked, wondering in the back of her head if she could release some pent up stress with this one in the near future, and of course, avenge Marco’s sense of pride in that regard.
“In America we hear, yes.” Marco gave a nod.
“And that would be our next target regardless of whether we succeed or fail with Sagittarius. Then there is Russia on the list…” the Countess stated.
“And I will be looking forward to it all. On top of that, traveling and sightseeing could do one’s heart good.”
“That is indeed a pleasant experience,” the Countess agreed. “Seeing the world is in itself a wonder.”
“Aaah, standing on a garden of roses beside my fair Lady… I could well dream of that,” Marco said, already daydreaming.
Ahhh, shit… Claudia thought, thinking back. If she hadn’t already thought of it now, she realized that two of the people she had relations with were right in front of her. She subtly darted her eyes to Catherine, then back to Marco, putting up a forced smile. “I would like that very much, Marco…” she said with a nervous chuckle.
The Countess snickered ever so maliciously as Marco kept on thinking different things while Claudia felt tensed. This tension was exactly what Catherine found funny. “Now, Marco, about what you wish to do in Japan…”
“Ah, right. I am going to pick up a comrade or two for our venture in America, and also attempt to gain information about the Shrine and the government. Do forgive me for pulling out from the Sagittarius Extermination Operation, but I will attempt to make up for it,” Marco answered.
“Forgiven. Do your best. I look forward to the results,” Catherine leisurely answered. It seemed like the Countess didn’t wanted Marco’s participation in this operation in the first place.
“Indeed. I wish you luck, Marco,” Claudia added.
“Thanks, ladies. I will now retire for the day; I’m way too tired.”
With that, Marco was gone for his own room.
“Your expression from the realization of both of our presences in the same room was priceless. I almost burst out with laughter back there,” the Countess admitted, ending up laughing now instead of before.
Claudia groaned, forgetting completely that Marco didn't even know of their relationship. “Oh, I could tell... you knew that was going to happen, didn't you?” she asked, furrowing her brows.
“Of course, how else would I get a good laugh?”
That led to Claudia groaning again. “Poor thing would be heartbroken if he found out…”
“It’s alright,” the Countess sweetly spoke with one of her seductive smiles, pressing a finger against her Representative’s lips. “Because it’s a secret only we share.”
Claudia blushed. Even though she felt guilty about such a thing, the Countess truly was amazing to her. “A-Alright, I have no issue with that…” she said, looking away from her employer, smiling. It would have to anyways. Lord knows what would happen if everyone knew I was fucked by the Countess’... appendage...
“I did, but it was rocky, no doubt…” Claudia replied, appearing more sluggish than usual.
“Emotional people will always cause †˜rocky’ issues, I suppose. What do you intend to do about this? I do not think you should let it stay the way it is.”
“I suppose not treating Cosette as if she were some random prey is a good start. I will be a better master to her. It’s a shame she was sold to someone like me, who would do such things like that,” Claudia said. “I want your opinion, Countess. Do you think that I’m… awful?”
“Well, it was your request, after all, but… mnm, I think you are absolutely insane, and likely awful, but,” she arched down to Claudia’s ear, and continued, “I don’t hate any of it.”
Claudia shivered and squirmed about from the Countess’ words. “I… I’m not sure how to respond to that, I’m sorry. I’m glad you don’t hate any of my… ahem, mannerisms, too. However, Cosette didn’t seem to take it too well.”
“From my impression, you’re a young Lady who strives to keep up your conduct with manners, but your… darker aspects make the efforts crumble ever so delightfully. Suffice it to say I observe opposing extremities colliding throughout your life, and it is amusing to say the least. However, Cosette is a tender-hearted person to the core. She is cold and rigid on the surface but is vulnerable inside. Like most girls, but it is ten-folds greater in her case. I’d color myself surprised since she only broke down now rather than earlier from how you treated her.”
“Huh, I never considered that at all… I had gotten so emasculated with her dry-as-ice personality, not caring to delve into what was inside, past that exterior. It feels strange even envisioning Cosette as tender-hearted. What a fool I turned out to be these months past.”
“Well, it is clear as day that you are not very well educated about psychology,” Catherine said, humming to herself. “Being a fool isn’t so bad, however. The first step is to admit it. You learn all these important values from experiences while you are a fool, and later learn to be smart.”
Claudia sighed. “This much is true. I just need to learn how to… control myself a bit more when it comes to my allies.” She ran a hand through her hair to straighten it out with a downcasted sigh. “I’m already a lost cause when controlling my… darker aspects generally.”
“Indeed, you are extremely easy to provoke but… well, that makes you all the more endearing to me. I do not know if control is simply an impossibility or not in your case… but, I do not think Cosette necessarily hates every bit of you as you imagine. She tried to devote herself to you despite knowing what you are. I wonder why.”
“Yes, that is a wonder…” Claudia said, taking that down in her mental notepad to investigate later. “I could possibly talk to her on this sometime. Later, though. She’s surprisingly still in a frail state.”
“Likely. I have a feeling that she will be your stoutest ally in the roughest of times, dear. Do not give up on her easily. After all, I will not be there to safeguard you from the greatest of storms that are yet to come.”
“Oh great… Well, then again, I will not always need you, as I am able to attend to most tasks on my own. Perhaps in the future, you could provide for moral support when I need it.” Claudia chuckled weakly at her own joke. At least she was making any at all with the mood she was in.
“If you say so.” The Countess shrugged with a giggle. “Do not blame me from the sea of the dead.” Perhaps she’d really just let Claudia die one day because of her joke, or was her playing along with just an extension of the joke?
“...Were… were you joking?” Claudia asked out of spite, a little taken aback.
“Who knows.”
“And you yet remain a prodigy at leaving me boggled…” Claudia chuckled nervously.
“With such a guard like Cosette, however, you’d doubtless not require my assistance.”
“True... Speaking of any up and coming storms of the sort, I don’t suppose you know the soonest we’ll encounter Sagittarius?”
“In about three days,” Catherine answered. “She has a live to attend to, according to her schedules.”
Claudia hummed with acknowledgement. “I see. So what's the plan for this shebang? Will it involve Marco jumping out of a woman's stomach again?”
“We’d love to try that but Marco has not bitten this †˜shebang’ for it to be a plausible idea.” Catherine giggled yet again due to Claudia’s choice of words regardless. “Anyway, we’ve decided on how to deal with her right in front of you, if I remember correctly.”
“How exciting. To witness Sagittarius’ abilities first-hand… I’m simply overjoyed. Moreover, I can’t wait to try my scythe on her,” Claudia said, pausing to giggle a little. “I’ll rip her in half…”
“Do remember to be cautious, dear. Even if you are my Representative, she may scathe you far more sharply than you initially think… Then again, the only way to learn to dance with fire—is to simply play with it, and gain experience.”
“And that fire shall soon be tamed…”
“Not killed yet tamed?”
“Whichever is to your preference. Though, I am all about taking prisoners and making them… ngh… toys.”
“The risk is far too great. I cannot allow that,” the Countess said, and immediately a light in the room shattered as she stared her down. “A Descendant’s power is no toy.”
Not even minding how spontaneous that was, Claudia shrugged. She supposed she would have to let this one go. “If you say so. After all, there are so much more—how you say—fish in the sea.”
“Good, as long as you understand.”
“It won’t do if you get a little too greedy, fair Lady,” a familiar voice said as Claudia turned to find Marco. “You just haven’t seen what they can really do. I’d personally want to stay away, but at the same time I wonder how their blood would taste… ”
“That’s a curiosity I would like to find out for myself too. But at the same time, they are extremely dangerous, to the Countess’ words,” Claudia said. “Then again, the Countess’ blood is far more copious compared to a human’s. Perhaps the other Descendants’ blood would be the same?”
“As someone who tasted the blood of various Descendants, I think it depends on the person,” the Countess answered. “Their blood may be exceptionally different if they are very old, however.”
“Well, Mi’lady didn’t say that you cannot taste them, she only said that you cannot keep them like a †˜toy’ or a slave, for that matter,” Marco replied. “I have not told you about it, but I almost died from a Descendant before… and that is why I refuse to partake in the operation to kill Sagittarius.”
“Oh, my. Well, that is understandable,” Claudia supposed. “May I ask who it was who attempted to kill you?”
“Ahh… well, about seventy years ago… there was a man undefeated in the United States of America. Aries—he had the power to isolate his targets… and, however confident a man I am in my skills, I could simply do nothing that night.” Marco looked down.
The Countess only gave Marco a single glance and was certain that he was still blaming himself for his failure, yet there were simply no words for her to offer. As his failure was fact, she’d not delude him with meaningless encouragements or pacification.
“I see… is this Descendant still with us today?” Claudia asked, wondering in the back of her head if she could release some pent up stress with this one in the near future, and of course, avenge Marco’s sense of pride in that regard.
“In America we hear, yes.” Marco gave a nod.
“And that would be our next target regardless of whether we succeed or fail with Sagittarius. Then there is Russia on the list…” the Countess stated.
“And I will be looking forward to it all. On top of that, traveling and sightseeing could do one’s heart good.”
“That is indeed a pleasant experience,” the Countess agreed. “Seeing the world is in itself a wonder.”
“Aaah, standing on a garden of roses beside my fair Lady… I could well dream of that,” Marco said, already daydreaming.
Ahhh, shit… Claudia thought, thinking back. If she hadn’t already thought of it now, she realized that two of the people she had relations with were right in front of her. She subtly darted her eyes to Catherine, then back to Marco, putting up a forced smile. “I would like that very much, Marco…” she said with a nervous chuckle.
The Countess snickered ever so maliciously as Marco kept on thinking different things while Claudia felt tensed. This tension was exactly what Catherine found funny. “Now, Marco, about what you wish to do in Japan…”
“Ah, right. I am going to pick up a comrade or two for our venture in America, and also attempt to gain information about the Shrine and the government. Do forgive me for pulling out from the Sagittarius Extermination Operation, but I will attempt to make up for it,” Marco answered.
“Forgiven. Do your best. I look forward to the results,” Catherine leisurely answered. It seemed like the Countess didn’t wanted Marco’s participation in this operation in the first place.
“Indeed. I wish you luck, Marco,” Claudia added.
“Thanks, ladies. I will now retire for the day; I’m way too tired.”
With that, Marco was gone for his own room.
“Your expression from the realization of both of our presences in the same room was priceless. I almost burst out with laughter back there,” the Countess admitted, ending up laughing now instead of before.
Claudia groaned, forgetting completely that Marco didn't even know of their relationship. “Oh, I could tell... you knew that was going to happen, didn't you?” she asked, furrowing her brows.
“Of course, how else would I get a good laugh?”
That led to Claudia groaning again. “Poor thing would be heartbroken if he found out…”
“It’s alright,” the Countess sweetly spoke with one of her seductive smiles, pressing a finger against her Representative’s lips. “Because it’s a secret only we share.”
Claudia blushed. Even though she felt guilty about such a thing, the Countess truly was amazing to her. “A-Alright, I have no issue with that…” she said, looking away from her employer, smiling. It would have to anyways. Lord knows what would happen if everyone knew I was fucked by the Countess’... appendage...
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Cosette had more or less resumed working as usual. She’d dress Claudia up, tie her laces, and whatnot. However Claudia could see the unmistakable look of gloom rather than cold every time she’d see her. Thanks to her today, she felt fully prepared as Marco and Rose stood opposite to her on the same rooftop where her relationship with her slave was nearly broken.
The Countess suggested another practice battle so that Claudia would be more used to her scythe. This time Claudia was outnumbered, but the Countess believed that her latent abilities as a Representative could make up for it. If she’d lose it’d mean that her abilities were still yet to be mastered entirely. They had a similar gallery like the last time, except Cosette was in there now, and Rose wasn’t.
“Are you ready, fair Lady?” Marco asked. He didn’t take a stance or draw a weapon, and was completely casual.
“As always,” Claudia affirmed, twirling her scythe in one hand, smirking. She glanced back to Cosette and dropped her smirk for a moment, appearing sincere. I’ll try to compose myself for you this time, mon cherie.
Cosette, on the other hand, seemed to be looking at Rose and Marco, so she didn’t notice the intended smirk at all.
“Alright, let us begin. Come at us, Representative,” Rose declared, her rose-wand taken up, yet she didn’t seem to be on guard at all.
Claudia charged up to the two, leapt and opted for an aerial attack. As she came down and landed with her gigantic scythe, it arched, the area covering enough to rip both opponents into pieces.
The scythe was stopped by the wand of Rose, who seemed tougher than she appeared, while Marco backed away—taking more distance from her—Claudia’s scythe clashed multiple times with the rose-tipped wand afterwards.
Thus, Rose danced with Claudia, a content look on her face as she took on the repetitive strikes with ease.
Claudia soon realized that magic was being casted. Performing a backflip in response, the previous spot she stood on exploded with a loud noise. Apparently the explosion took place in the air and the floor was undamaged. Who’d think the vampires were considerate of the hotel?
From behind, a large lifeless coat hummed, and the Representative turned to find a monster unlike any other.
A black coat was one of her opponents? Blue searing chains of flame erupted from the coat and it was too late for Claudia who was caught and trapped.
Marco clapped momentarily. “Perfect!”
Claudia sighed, appearing composed, albeit bored. “Do you really believe something like this could hold me?” With a sudden jerk of her arms, she broke free of the coat and chain, dusting herself off with a chuckle.
Gripping her scythe tightly, Claudia made a beeline for Marco, intending to try the mind control ability once again, wondering if it would have the same effect as last time. She dashed forth, attempting a frontal attack, slashing at Marco’s side and was almost sure she would connect it. Claudia grunted with irritation once the coat jumped in front of her and deflected her strike. For a coat, it was rather tough and almost felt harder than steel.
“So a familiar cannot be controlled?” Catherine questioned.
Iris gave a nod. “So it seems. We could not augment it to the point that even spiritual beings’ would be subject to the ability. However, I do not know if it will make a difference if your Representative augments it with her spiritual energy.”
An explosion struck and Claudia was blown away from Marco. She looked up and found Rose’s wand aimed at her.
To make it worse, above the Coat—Marco’s familiar—was a blue ball of flame congregating with heat.
Claudia regained her footing and stared at the Coat with a sudden frown once she realized that her shirt was torn from the shoulder and tattered with soot. “Oh, for fuck’s sake…” she grieved. Well that outfit was short-lived. “I’m starting to think none of my outfits will live to be hand-me-downs with you all around.”
“Then get your outfit weaved with magic or something,” Marco remarked, laughing at her small problems. The blue flames were sent down crashing at Claudia momentarily. More of her clothes burned and the floor was undoubtedly charred black.
“Disappointing,” the scythe spoke, finding Claudia’s performance lamentable.
“Pathetic,” her scythe sighed and declared.
“Weak,” Lachesis whispered in conclusion. “You have more than this to show, do you not? Stand up, Infernal.”
Climbing to her feet, using the scythe as a cane, Claudia looked into the ground for a moment and dry heaved smoke and soot. She said that she was going to keep herself composed, but the moment she did, things weren’t well. It was as if she was at her best when she acted like a deranged sociopath.
“I’m not weak… fucking scythe… you’re damn right I have more than that.” With an audible crack of her neck, Claudia looked back up to Rose and Marco, smirking. “I’ll admit. That was a good one,” she said. Her smile grew darker by the moment with every word, causing her to tilt her head to the side. “I’ll even go as far to say that hurt…”
“...Show me your power if you wish to overturn my opinion.”
Taking that to heart, Claudia hung the scythe over her shoulder and charged at Rose, intending to get in at least one attack on these two because so far, she was the only one getting hurt in this bout so far. Slashing her weapon at Rose, she ended up missing, cursing under her breath. As a result, she became more irritated that she couldn’t land a single attack on neither one.
“Do I seriously have to guide you? Use your powers or something for Zeus’ sake. Anything ranged works. Just swinging me isn’t going to solve the problem since they’re all ranged attackers.”
Scoffing, Claudia actually took that into consideration. The Forbidden Spell wasn’t liable for allies, so she had to use the next best thing. Then again, that was just as forbidden as Heart Shatter. Oh well, at least this one didn’t kill so quickly. Spiritual energy welled up in Claudia’s body as her shadow detached from her person, splitting itself in two and multiplying. They shifted into beasts of claws and blades and rose from the ground, gaining volume.
“Go.”
With that said, the beasts charged at both Rose and Marco, tearing into both of them with their fangs and claws the moment they reached them. Rose attempted to ward off the black beasts with her explosions, but it didn’t even make them flinch. Marco was protected by the Coat, but it was torn down and Marco was bitten. One was pushed down to the floor and the other kneeled down.
“As expected, the power she gained from me may easily defeat magicians,” the Countess concluded, smiling pleasantly at Claudia. “My dear, you are hereby declared victorious.” However, that means you cannot win without relying on it. It seems like more work with the weapon’s usage is in need.
Coughing up excess soot, Claudia appeared disappointed. As much as those two were dishing out, they fell when the first attack hit.
“Lovely…” Claudia managed, in an attempt to compose herself from her darkened state. “Good fight you two… I hope I did not harm you too much.”
“See, fair Lady, that is the power of a Descendant,” Marco said, getting up, his hand on his wound. “You only received one, and they have many more at their disposal, and much more stronger… well, keep what I say in mind,” he smirked as he spoke. “But †˜twas a good fight either way.”
“To think you inherited that power of all things,” Rose said, grunting. “Congratulations on your victory.”
“Thank you. Hopefully this much will be enough to kill a Descendant. But then again… I couldn’t even hit you two at first. I need to get better used to this scythe, and soon,” Claudia said, glaring at her weapon.
“It seems like you are nothing without your so-called Countess. Hmph.”
“And you would be nothing without me, you heavy piece of shit,” Claudia retaliated.
“I would be everything in the hands of a better warrior, cheeky bitch. I wonder how it’d feel if the Countess wielded me… ahh, I already feel tingly just thinking about it.”
“That’s a shame, for she is already wielding me. I suggest you get in line.”
“Too bad—”
The Countess placed a palm on the scythe, putting it out of commission for now, and then sighed. “Shall we be off, my dear? You seem tired.”
Throwing herself into a stretch, Claudia sighed. “Yes. I seem to have tired myself out in the battle. All was well, though. But alas…” Claudia tugged at the rags that were formerly her shirt and skirt, lamenting over how easily they were reduced to nothing. At least her garters survived. “We hardly even got acquainted…”
The Countess didn’t know what Claudia valued more, battle experiences or articles of cheap fabrics. “Buy new clothes if you wish. Albeit I did not expect them to be burned out so fast.”
“Perhaps I should take Marco’s suggestion into consideration and get them weaved through a magical method,” Claudia replied, attempting to futily hide her underwear which appeared ajar through her torn garments.
The Countess suggested another practice battle so that Claudia would be more used to her scythe. This time Claudia was outnumbered, but the Countess believed that her latent abilities as a Representative could make up for it. If she’d lose it’d mean that her abilities were still yet to be mastered entirely. They had a similar gallery like the last time, except Cosette was in there now, and Rose wasn’t.
“Are you ready, fair Lady?” Marco asked. He didn’t take a stance or draw a weapon, and was completely casual.
“As always,” Claudia affirmed, twirling her scythe in one hand, smirking. She glanced back to Cosette and dropped her smirk for a moment, appearing sincere. I’ll try to compose myself for you this time, mon cherie.
Cosette, on the other hand, seemed to be looking at Rose and Marco, so she didn’t notice the intended smirk at all.
“Alright, let us begin. Come at us, Representative,” Rose declared, her rose-wand taken up, yet she didn’t seem to be on guard at all.
Claudia charged up to the two, leapt and opted for an aerial attack. As she came down and landed with her gigantic scythe, it arched, the area covering enough to rip both opponents into pieces.
The scythe was stopped by the wand of Rose, who seemed tougher than she appeared, while Marco backed away—taking more distance from her—Claudia’s scythe clashed multiple times with the rose-tipped wand afterwards.
Thus, Rose danced with Claudia, a content look on her face as she took on the repetitive strikes with ease.
Claudia soon realized that magic was being casted. Performing a backflip in response, the previous spot she stood on exploded with a loud noise. Apparently the explosion took place in the air and the floor was undamaged. Who’d think the vampires were considerate of the hotel?
From behind, a large lifeless coat hummed, and the Representative turned to find a monster unlike any other.
A black coat was one of her opponents? Blue searing chains of flame erupted from the coat and it was too late for Claudia who was caught and trapped.
Marco clapped momentarily. “Perfect!”
Claudia sighed, appearing composed, albeit bored. “Do you really believe something like this could hold me?” With a sudden jerk of her arms, she broke free of the coat and chain, dusting herself off with a chuckle.
Gripping her scythe tightly, Claudia made a beeline for Marco, intending to try the mind control ability once again, wondering if it would have the same effect as last time. She dashed forth, attempting a frontal attack, slashing at Marco’s side and was almost sure she would connect it. Claudia grunted with irritation once the coat jumped in front of her and deflected her strike. For a coat, it was rather tough and almost felt harder than steel.
“So a familiar cannot be controlled?” Catherine questioned.
Iris gave a nod. “So it seems. We could not augment it to the point that even spiritual beings’ would be subject to the ability. However, I do not know if it will make a difference if your Representative augments it with her spiritual energy.”
An explosion struck and Claudia was blown away from Marco. She looked up and found Rose’s wand aimed at her.
To make it worse, above the Coat—Marco’s familiar—was a blue ball of flame congregating with heat.
Claudia regained her footing and stared at the Coat with a sudden frown once she realized that her shirt was torn from the shoulder and tattered with soot. “Oh, for fuck’s sake…” she grieved. Well that outfit was short-lived. “I’m starting to think none of my outfits will live to be hand-me-downs with you all around.”
“Then get your outfit weaved with magic or something,” Marco remarked, laughing at her small problems. The blue flames were sent down crashing at Claudia momentarily. More of her clothes burned and the floor was undoubtedly charred black.
“Disappointing,” the scythe spoke, finding Claudia’s performance lamentable.
“Pathetic,” her scythe sighed and declared.
“Weak,” Lachesis whispered in conclusion. “You have more than this to show, do you not? Stand up, Infernal.”
Climbing to her feet, using the scythe as a cane, Claudia looked into the ground for a moment and dry heaved smoke and soot. She said that she was going to keep herself composed, but the moment she did, things weren’t well. It was as if she was at her best when she acted like a deranged sociopath.
“I’m not weak… fucking scythe… you’re damn right I have more than that.” With an audible crack of her neck, Claudia looked back up to Rose and Marco, smirking. “I’ll admit. That was a good one,” she said. Her smile grew darker by the moment with every word, causing her to tilt her head to the side. “I’ll even go as far to say that hurt…”
“...Show me your power if you wish to overturn my opinion.”
Taking that to heart, Claudia hung the scythe over her shoulder and charged at Rose, intending to get in at least one attack on these two because so far, she was the only one getting hurt in this bout so far. Slashing her weapon at Rose, she ended up missing, cursing under her breath. As a result, she became more irritated that she couldn’t land a single attack on neither one.
“Do I seriously have to guide you? Use your powers or something for Zeus’ sake. Anything ranged works. Just swinging me isn’t going to solve the problem since they’re all ranged attackers.”
Scoffing, Claudia actually took that into consideration. The Forbidden Spell wasn’t liable for allies, so she had to use the next best thing. Then again, that was just as forbidden as Heart Shatter. Oh well, at least this one didn’t kill so quickly. Spiritual energy welled up in Claudia’s body as her shadow detached from her person, splitting itself in two and multiplying. They shifted into beasts of claws and blades and rose from the ground, gaining volume.
“Go.”
With that said, the beasts charged at both Rose and Marco, tearing into both of them with their fangs and claws the moment they reached them. Rose attempted to ward off the black beasts with her explosions, but it didn’t even make them flinch. Marco was protected by the Coat, but it was torn down and Marco was bitten. One was pushed down to the floor and the other kneeled down.
“As expected, the power she gained from me may easily defeat magicians,” the Countess concluded, smiling pleasantly at Claudia. “My dear, you are hereby declared victorious.” However, that means you cannot win without relying on it. It seems like more work with the weapon’s usage is in need.
Coughing up excess soot, Claudia appeared disappointed. As much as those two were dishing out, they fell when the first attack hit.
“Lovely…” Claudia managed, in an attempt to compose herself from her darkened state. “Good fight you two… I hope I did not harm you too much.”
“See, fair Lady, that is the power of a Descendant,” Marco said, getting up, his hand on his wound. “You only received one, and they have many more at their disposal, and much more stronger… well, keep what I say in mind,” he smirked as he spoke. “But †˜twas a good fight either way.”
“To think you inherited that power of all things,” Rose said, grunting. “Congratulations on your victory.”
“Thank you. Hopefully this much will be enough to kill a Descendant. But then again… I couldn’t even hit you two at first. I need to get better used to this scythe, and soon,” Claudia said, glaring at her weapon.
“It seems like you are nothing without your so-called Countess. Hmph.”
“And you would be nothing without me, you heavy piece of shit,” Claudia retaliated.
“I would be everything in the hands of a better warrior, cheeky bitch. I wonder how it’d feel if the Countess wielded me… ahh, I already feel tingly just thinking about it.”
“That’s a shame, for she is already wielding me. I suggest you get in line.”
“Too bad—”
The Countess placed a palm on the scythe, putting it out of commission for now, and then sighed. “Shall we be off, my dear? You seem tired.”
Throwing herself into a stretch, Claudia sighed. “Yes. I seem to have tired myself out in the battle. All was well, though. But alas…” Claudia tugged at the rags that were formerly her shirt and skirt, lamenting over how easily they were reduced to nothing. At least her garters survived. “We hardly even got acquainted…”
The Countess didn’t know what Claudia valued more, battle experiences or articles of cheap fabrics. “Buy new clothes if you wish. Albeit I did not expect them to be burned out so fast.”
“Perhaps I should take Marco’s suggestion into consideration and get them weaved through a magical method,” Claudia replied, attempting to futily hide her underwear which appeared ajar through her torn garments.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
The next day, Svetlana was in her classroom like yesterday. It was to be her second day as a teacher in the Academy. There was an hour till the break period, and it was now time for her Faerie Lore class to take place. The door opened, and this time she had seven students instead of six. The new addition was a person who was surprising popular among the scholars in more ways than one right now.
Natsu looked around the class. It wasn’t exactly big like the other classes in the main building, but it had more than enough seats. Yesterday, she’d have joined the class, but she had to deal with an emergency call from work. Even if they had reworked the schedules, she was still in irregular demand for now, so it seemed that she’d have to leave the Academy for work from time to time. Albeit, the condition was that at least two staff members have to accompany her every single time she’d take leave.
“Hi hi, who might you be?” Svetlana asked, as she was not expecting another student.
Natsu bowed toward the girl respectfully, and responded, “I’m Kazehaya Natsu.” She bowed once more, then politely asked, “This is the classroom for Faerie Lore, right? Sorry, I'm still new to this school…” Natsu gave an embarrassed laugh. The school still seemed so vast; she still had trouble finding everything. “Where's the teacher, though? Isn't class starting soon?” Natsu asked quizzically, looking around the room at the other students. Everyone looked to be about her age, save for the girl in front of her, who looked even younger.
“Fu fu fu, believe it or not, I’m your teacher,” Svetlana said, puffing her flat chest out with pride. “But yes, this is the Faerie Lore class.”
“Eeeeeeeeeh!? Really!?” Natsu cried out in shock. She was impressed. “Becoming a teacher at such a young age... You must be a genius!” Her eyes sparkled with intrigue.
“Fu, fu, of course, anything is possible for me,” Svetlana said proudly with a smirk on her face. “But now, take your seat. Class is starting.”
“O-Oh, of course! Sorry Sensei!” The other students had already sat down, so Natsu found an open desk and chair to sit on as well. She nearly tripped on her way, but caught herself by grabbing the desk before she fell down completely. It caused a bit of noise, but she managed to sit down without causing a huge commotion.
“Now then, I’ll do a quick recap about yesterday’s lesson for Natsu here. I hope one of you can later give her more detailed notes about yesterday’s lesson, okay?”
“I will,” Aozora Linfield answered, raising a hand. “I’ve only written summarized versions of the speeches though. I hope that’s fine for now, Kazehaya-san.”
“Oh, thank you very much!” Natsu told the girl who offered her her notes.
“Alright, so taking off from where we last stopped yesterday, I mentioned that there are many small planets in the Faerie Realm,” Svetlana began. “They are kept afloat in the sky by the air, and the flow of mana there is so strong in the cores of said planets that they have more stability in their position in the sky.”
“Is it true that all these planets are really small, though?” Aozora questioned.
“Yes, this is true, but there are some big ones that roughly cover a surface area comparable to a continent. Which is where each of the Faerie tribes live. Each have their own customs and traditions of course.”
“I’ve wondered before though,” one of the other students said, “What’s the point of knowing all of that? I mean, it’s not like we can actually find a Faerie forest right?”
“Questionable,” Svetlana responded. “You just have to find them!”
“Ahaha… and then die from a prank…”
“So anyway, one of the biggest tribes is the Sidhe tribe, and you might be reminded of some famous deities with Sidhe names. For example, Leanan Sidhe, or the Aes Sidhe. Not all of them got the †˜Sidhe’ name on them though. There’s also Dullahan or Banshee. If you’ve learned the Lightning Blade spell before, the incantation calls out for Dullahan’s aid. So, as I mentioned yesterday, this is the reason why people could borrow mana from the Faerie Realm despite not discovering its existence in the past. Well, any questions?”
“Why do the Faeries play deadly pranks on people that go inside their forests anyway?
“Well, from what I know, the fairies likes scaring them, and after luring them somewhere with no exit they slowly like to multiply themselves. Their bodies begin to become disfigured from the constant multiplication till finally they surround the victim, and devour them alive by little bites.”
“Yikes… ” Aozora thoughtlessly said, gulping. “I do not think I’m going in one any time soon.”
"How was the Faerie World discovered if they're all so elusive?" Natsu asked curiously. It was odd how much knowledge was available about them despite how hard they were to find, and what happens when they are discovered.
“The answer to that should be in Aozora’s notes. By the way, class, do you all know how to tell fairies apart from humans?”
“Uh, no?” Aozora answered first. “They look like humans as far as I know.”
“Isn’t it because they have the Second Sight?” someone else guessed.
"Second Sight?" Natsu asked, still somewhat ignorant of the Magic World's terminology.
“To be frank, I don’t wanna know how. They’re so scary.”
“Yeah… scary.”
“So, listen carefully,” Svetlana said, sounding secretive as the other scholars perked up their ears. “Faeries are normally completely fantastical beings. Their body in general has human shape but otherwise, you’d immediately notice horns or full blue eyes or something like marks on the skin. But did you know that there are also demi-faeries in this world? There are many kinds of half-faeries. Those with lesser Faerie blood are harder to identity. But basically, they are all commonly set apart by their sub-race tribe origins: Dwarf, Goblin, Satyr, Sidhe, and Undine. These are all the tribes in the Faerie Realm by the way. But anyway, each of these gives the Faeries different kinds of features and looks. But above that, the biggest features you’d notice are mostly on the ones with stronger blood. They may have either a pair of horns, blue blood, or bright, eye-catching pupils.” Svetlana then turned to Natsu. “As for the Second Sight. it is a supernatural ability people have that allows them to look through illusions in general, including gateway to Realms and ghosts. Anymore questions?”
“I see…” Natsu pressed her pencil to her chin. She had written down a shorthand of what was said, but it was quite different from what she imagined. “I thought Faeries were petite, and had wings and whatnot…” She voiced her thoughts. “I didn't realize even things like Goblins and Satyrs had Faerie blood…” Her mental image of a faerie before this class was that similar to those in fantasy movies. Something akin to a pixie. This was far different.
“You’d be surprised by how this whole world can bring about a surprise to someone. By the way, Aozora, can you please come up here.”
“Yes,” Aozora answered, and left her desk for the teacher.
“I want you to write on the board what you think are the most important details of today’s lesson.”
“Very well.” Aozora did as requested, took up the chalk and started scribbling on the green board behind them. “Let’s see… tiny planets and the forces keeping them stably afloat in the air… the features of the Faeries who are half-human, and… I think those are the most major parts.”
As Aozora was writing, Svetlana went up front and then removed the hair bands. Two small horns could be seen on the top of her head. She simply waved at the class. A clone of Svetlana seemed to have popped up out nowhere, and it continued till there were at least ten of her standing there—half of them facing the rest of the class while the others faced Aozora. Of course, being conjured of water due to an application of the Aquam form, the clones looked a little strange aside from being mostly transparent and colorless.
With them waving that way, the students all got up from not only surprise but also fear. Natsu herself nearly fell out of her seat. The story Svetlana said had come true in but moments. Aozora heard something like yelps and turned curiously to find a bunch of Svetlanas staring at her with colorless eyes.
“W...What are these?!” Aozora exclaimed, putting her arms up in exasperation.
“Horns?!”
“It’s a demon…! No wait… a Faerie?!”
Moments later, Svetlana could hear mild screams and yells while she continued to laugh. The clones soon expired and turned to patches of water that fell down and wetted the floor, falling prey to gravity’s pull.
“There, there, nothing to fear! I was just pulling you guys’ legs,” Svetlana said as she continued to laugh, holding her stomach at the same time. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it after you guys actually believed me about what faeries could do to their victims with deadly pranks.”
One could say that it was in Svetlana’s blood to play pranks on people around her. Truly befitting of a faerie.
“Geez, that scared me… ” Natsu said first, with a sigh. She straightened herself back up on her desk.
“Teacher…”
“You didn’t have to go that far…”
“I-I always knew it was a joke anyway!”
“Pff… ahahahaha!” Aozora laughed.
Soon, everyone laughed.
Someone said, “We kinda drifted off-topic guys.”
“Alrighty, now back to your seats everyone. As for what deadly pranks some Faeries actually play—I myself wouldn’t know honestly. I myself just enjoy pranks for fun in which no one gets hurt.”
“So Teacher, you were a Faerie all along. Haha! To think a Faerie would be teaching us Faerie Lore. Did you really go into the Realm? You seem to know by heart how the place looks.”
“Well I might be a Faerie, but I’m only still a half-Faerie. It just so happens that the Faerie blood is stronger in me. I’ve actually never been to the Faerie Realm either. It was just one of my main course back when I was a studying scholar here, and of course, being a Faerie, I was interested in learning as much as possible about my supposed race’s home.”
“Ah… I see, that makes sense. So does that mean your parents were from the Faerie Realm, Teacher?” Aozora asked.
“Well honestly I’m not sure…” Svetlana said with a sad tone.
“I guess it really is a mystery then.”
“I see…”
“Teacher…” Natsu looked upon the teacher. This whole time, the teacher had been bright and cheery, but now she looked gloomy. Natsu wanted to do something to cheer her up, but couldn't think of a way to do so.
Natsu looked around the class. It wasn’t exactly big like the other classes in the main building, but it had more than enough seats. Yesterday, she’d have joined the class, but she had to deal with an emergency call from work. Even if they had reworked the schedules, she was still in irregular demand for now, so it seemed that she’d have to leave the Academy for work from time to time. Albeit, the condition was that at least two staff members have to accompany her every single time she’d take leave.
“Hi hi, who might you be?” Svetlana asked, as she was not expecting another student.
Natsu bowed toward the girl respectfully, and responded, “I’m Kazehaya Natsu.” She bowed once more, then politely asked, “This is the classroom for Faerie Lore, right? Sorry, I'm still new to this school…” Natsu gave an embarrassed laugh. The school still seemed so vast; she still had trouble finding everything. “Where's the teacher, though? Isn't class starting soon?” Natsu asked quizzically, looking around the room at the other students. Everyone looked to be about her age, save for the girl in front of her, who looked even younger.
“Fu fu fu, believe it or not, I’m your teacher,” Svetlana said, puffing her flat chest out with pride. “But yes, this is the Faerie Lore class.”
“Eeeeeeeeeh!? Really!?” Natsu cried out in shock. She was impressed. “Becoming a teacher at such a young age... You must be a genius!” Her eyes sparkled with intrigue.
“Fu, fu, of course, anything is possible for me,” Svetlana said proudly with a smirk on her face. “But now, take your seat. Class is starting.”
“O-Oh, of course! Sorry Sensei!” The other students had already sat down, so Natsu found an open desk and chair to sit on as well. She nearly tripped on her way, but caught herself by grabbing the desk before she fell down completely. It caused a bit of noise, but she managed to sit down without causing a huge commotion.
“Now then, I’ll do a quick recap about yesterday’s lesson for Natsu here. I hope one of you can later give her more detailed notes about yesterday’s lesson, okay?”
“I will,” Aozora Linfield answered, raising a hand. “I’ve only written summarized versions of the speeches though. I hope that’s fine for now, Kazehaya-san.”
“Oh, thank you very much!” Natsu told the girl who offered her her notes.
“Alright, so taking off from where we last stopped yesterday, I mentioned that there are many small planets in the Faerie Realm,” Svetlana began. “They are kept afloat in the sky by the air, and the flow of mana there is so strong in the cores of said planets that they have more stability in their position in the sky.”
“Is it true that all these planets are really small, though?” Aozora questioned.
“Yes, this is true, but there are some big ones that roughly cover a surface area comparable to a continent. Which is where each of the Faerie tribes live. Each have their own customs and traditions of course.”
“I’ve wondered before though,” one of the other students said, “What’s the point of knowing all of that? I mean, it’s not like we can actually find a Faerie forest right?”
“Questionable,” Svetlana responded. “You just have to find them!”
“Ahaha… and then die from a prank…”
“So anyway, one of the biggest tribes is the Sidhe tribe, and you might be reminded of some famous deities with Sidhe names. For example, Leanan Sidhe, or the Aes Sidhe. Not all of them got the †˜Sidhe’ name on them though. There’s also Dullahan or Banshee. If you’ve learned the Lightning Blade spell before, the incantation calls out for Dullahan’s aid. So, as I mentioned yesterday, this is the reason why people could borrow mana from the Faerie Realm despite not discovering its existence in the past. Well, any questions?”
“Why do the Faeries play deadly pranks on people that go inside their forests anyway?
“Well, from what I know, the fairies likes scaring them, and after luring them somewhere with no exit they slowly like to multiply themselves. Their bodies begin to become disfigured from the constant multiplication till finally they surround the victim, and devour them alive by little bites.”
“Yikes… ” Aozora thoughtlessly said, gulping. “I do not think I’m going in one any time soon.”
"How was the Faerie World discovered if they're all so elusive?" Natsu asked curiously. It was odd how much knowledge was available about them despite how hard they were to find, and what happens when they are discovered.
“The answer to that should be in Aozora’s notes. By the way, class, do you all know how to tell fairies apart from humans?”
“Uh, no?” Aozora answered first. “They look like humans as far as I know.”
“Isn’t it because they have the Second Sight?” someone else guessed.
"Second Sight?" Natsu asked, still somewhat ignorant of the Magic World's terminology.
“To be frank, I don’t wanna know how. They’re so scary.”
“Yeah… scary.”
“So, listen carefully,” Svetlana said, sounding secretive as the other scholars perked up their ears. “Faeries are normally completely fantastical beings. Their body in general has human shape but otherwise, you’d immediately notice horns or full blue eyes or something like marks on the skin. But did you know that there are also demi-faeries in this world? There are many kinds of half-faeries. Those with lesser Faerie blood are harder to identity. But basically, they are all commonly set apart by their sub-race tribe origins: Dwarf, Goblin, Satyr, Sidhe, and Undine. These are all the tribes in the Faerie Realm by the way. But anyway, each of these gives the Faeries different kinds of features and looks. But above that, the biggest features you’d notice are mostly on the ones with stronger blood. They may have either a pair of horns, blue blood, or bright, eye-catching pupils.” Svetlana then turned to Natsu. “As for the Second Sight. it is a supernatural ability people have that allows them to look through illusions in general, including gateway to Realms and ghosts. Anymore questions?”
“I see…” Natsu pressed her pencil to her chin. She had written down a shorthand of what was said, but it was quite different from what she imagined. “I thought Faeries were petite, and had wings and whatnot…” She voiced her thoughts. “I didn't realize even things like Goblins and Satyrs had Faerie blood…” Her mental image of a faerie before this class was that similar to those in fantasy movies. Something akin to a pixie. This was far different.
“You’d be surprised by how this whole world can bring about a surprise to someone. By the way, Aozora, can you please come up here.”
“Yes,” Aozora answered, and left her desk for the teacher.
“I want you to write on the board what you think are the most important details of today’s lesson.”
“Very well.” Aozora did as requested, took up the chalk and started scribbling on the green board behind them. “Let’s see… tiny planets and the forces keeping them stably afloat in the air… the features of the Faeries who are half-human, and… I think those are the most major parts.”
As Aozora was writing, Svetlana went up front and then removed the hair bands. Two small horns could be seen on the top of her head. She simply waved at the class. A clone of Svetlana seemed to have popped up out nowhere, and it continued till there were at least ten of her standing there—half of them facing the rest of the class while the others faced Aozora. Of course, being conjured of water due to an application of the Aquam form, the clones looked a little strange aside from being mostly transparent and colorless.
With them waving that way, the students all got up from not only surprise but also fear. Natsu herself nearly fell out of her seat. The story Svetlana said had come true in but moments. Aozora heard something like yelps and turned curiously to find a bunch of Svetlanas staring at her with colorless eyes.
“W...What are these?!” Aozora exclaimed, putting her arms up in exasperation.
“Horns?!”
“It’s a demon…! No wait… a Faerie?!”
Moments later, Svetlana could hear mild screams and yells while she continued to laugh. The clones soon expired and turned to patches of water that fell down and wetted the floor, falling prey to gravity’s pull.
“There, there, nothing to fear! I was just pulling you guys’ legs,” Svetlana said as she continued to laugh, holding her stomach at the same time. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it after you guys actually believed me about what faeries could do to their victims with deadly pranks.”
One could say that it was in Svetlana’s blood to play pranks on people around her. Truly befitting of a faerie.
“Geez, that scared me… ” Natsu said first, with a sigh. She straightened herself back up on her desk.
“Teacher…”
“You didn’t have to go that far…”
“I-I always knew it was a joke anyway!”
“Pff… ahahahaha!” Aozora laughed.
Soon, everyone laughed.
Someone said, “We kinda drifted off-topic guys.”
“Alrighty, now back to your seats everyone. As for what deadly pranks some Faeries actually play—I myself wouldn’t know honestly. I myself just enjoy pranks for fun in which no one gets hurt.”
“So Teacher, you were a Faerie all along. Haha! To think a Faerie would be teaching us Faerie Lore. Did you really go into the Realm? You seem to know by heart how the place looks.”
“Well I might be a Faerie, but I’m only still a half-Faerie. It just so happens that the Faerie blood is stronger in me. I’ve actually never been to the Faerie Realm either. It was just one of my main course back when I was a studying scholar here, and of course, being a Faerie, I was interested in learning as much as possible about my supposed race’s home.”
“Ah… I see, that makes sense. So does that mean your parents were from the Faerie Realm, Teacher?” Aozora asked.
“Well honestly I’m not sure…” Svetlana said with a sad tone.
“I guess it really is a mystery then.”
“I see…”
“Teacher…” Natsu looked upon the teacher. This whole time, the teacher had been bright and cheery, but now she looked gloomy. Natsu wanted to do something to cheer her up, but couldn't think of a way to do so.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
After classes were over, Aramus decided to visit Margaret Alicia’s office. The Duchess who was apparently banished from England for learning Supreme Spells. He couldn’t disturb her during the school periods, so this was the only good time he could think of. Luckily, Alicia was still behind her desk looking at her students’ papers when he entered. Likely homework submissions. He feared that she’d have leaf the Academy’s main building early like the rumors said.
“Duchess, do you have a moment?” Aramus asked after he was given permission to enter, standing a respectable distance from her.
“Well, I do… as you can see,” the Duchess said despite reading the materials before her, not willing to drop work on either side.
“Then I will make it quick for you. Her Majesty asks if you would be willing to lend your power in the upcoming fight against Virgo,” Aramus said tersely.
“I shall keep it terse myself then: I refuse.”
Aramus frowned, expecting such an answer if Her Majesty had bid him as she did. “Why Duchess? A Descendant seeks to take our country from us and you would not participate?”
“At the moment, I am affiliated with none other than the Eastern Magic Academy,” the Duchess answered, placing her materials down to face Aramus at last. “I see no other purpose than to do my duty as a teacher; teach, help the children grow, observe, and protect them. Is that not the most ideal purpose of a teacher?”
“And when Virgo turns her attention here? What then, Duchess? America is merely the start of her ambition. Your ideals are not wrong but we must look beyond the school if we are to let the children grow. I would not have my future charges grow up in a world torn apart by war,” Aramus stated.
The Duchess laughed. “Then allow me to put it this way, Magister Aramus Valmark. What if for some reason Virgo came here instead of America? What if the terrorists appeared here for Sagittarius while most were away for this operation? Who’d protect the children? Do you think you can? Can Your Majesty protect my daughter who is sheltered in this Realm?”
“I would fight for them, for Her Majesty and my students. As you say, there is no greater purpose than to help the children. My life is irrelevant in the greater scheme of things but if it can make a difference to the younger ones or in the upcoming conflict. Of course, I have full confidence in Her Majesty's ability to protect people but the issue is, if she can’t then perhaps none of us can.”
“Your answer is wrong, considering you’d be in America having candy or hamburgers while waiting for Virgo while your students are dying here,” Margaret replied, shaking her head. “You cannot even begin to try to do any of it alone. Hence someone has to stay behind. Besides, it is in our best interest to not bring a person like me who was exiled among the main forces.”
“When the cat's away, the mice will play, so to speak? I have more important things to do in the New World than to waste time on that right now, and it is simply because I cannot do it alone that I have to look to other people, namely you, for support. I am sure many of the people participating would be instead relieved to know you would be joining. Your mere presence would be a great morale booster,” Aramus added. ”The academies have always been neutral in the conflict between nations, but I fear that will all change should we fail.”
“It is as though you are deaf to reason. There is no true guarantee that Virgo will appear in America even if she claims that she will,” the Duchess said, displaying calmness unlike Aramus’ tone. “To be honest, even if I boost morale unexpectedly, it hardly changes things for me. I will remain here for the sake of my daughter, and I do not think you will have an adequate reason to sway my decision more than what was heard already. After all, if Her Majesty’s precious forces cannot, then my own presence will not amount to much. I would simply run away with my daughter, or something.”
“Virgo appeared and made the declaration after a very close attempt on my life, I might add. Perhaps she doesn’t appear in America but what if she does as per her words? If we are not there when it happens, the country will fall. As of now, we cannot even begin to estimate the strength of Virgo or whatever she might have ready, thus the need to gather as much manpower as possible,” Aramus said. “You are also a part of it and I would rather we fight together then split our strengths. There will be no place left to run if we fail, Duchess. The world will burn.”
“Even if Virgo appears in America, Her Majesty will do something about it,” the Duchess said rather nonchalantly. “I was once like you, caring about the world like a righteous man, but all dreams and glory end in time. I’d like to think I have retired from being a part of the army to fight an apparently large mammoth. Suffice it to say, this should be taken care of by the younger generation. Besides, they have Duchess Frederica, Duke Cavendish Bentinck, and that Powlett scum. If the crown wanted to concentrate the forces, she’d send much more than that, and we all know there’s more Dukes and Duchesses in London than these three,” Alicia stated, smirking. “I’d think Her Majesty’s line of thought is more similar to mine, but she is still being so uptight with her outlook of kindness and whatnot.”
Aramus resisted the urge to snicker upon hearing the way she addressed Powlett, not too far off from his own view. “I cannot speak for Her Majesty but if she thought it sufficient, I would not have been tasked to request your aid, Duchess. My views about the world are not so noble as you think they are either. I would just rather face the problem sooner than later, in this case Virgo’s threat to the world and by extension, the school and my students. Nothing as glorious as what you make it out to be.”
“Ah, got it. Then you go and deal with playing heroes against Virgo—even if you don’t find it noble—but leave me out of it. I’d like no part in such an operation after what Her Majesty’s people put me through.”
“It’s not heroics if you fight to survive. I believe there would be no reason to try and convince you further, Duchess. Thank you for your time, I will relay your intentions to Her Majesty. Good day,” Aramus said, putting an end to their conversation. He bowed to Duchess Margaret and turned on his heel, going to do as he had just said.
Thanks for wasting my tim— “Nghh…” as Aramus left and closed the door, Alicia clutched her heart in pain. “...Not yet… I have to make sure she—nghhhh, grows up properly.”
“Duchess, do you have a moment?” Aramus asked after he was given permission to enter, standing a respectable distance from her.
“Well, I do… as you can see,” the Duchess said despite reading the materials before her, not willing to drop work on either side.
“Then I will make it quick for you. Her Majesty asks if you would be willing to lend your power in the upcoming fight against Virgo,” Aramus said tersely.
“I shall keep it terse myself then: I refuse.”
Aramus frowned, expecting such an answer if Her Majesty had bid him as she did. “Why Duchess? A Descendant seeks to take our country from us and you would not participate?”
“At the moment, I am affiliated with none other than the Eastern Magic Academy,” the Duchess answered, placing her materials down to face Aramus at last. “I see no other purpose than to do my duty as a teacher; teach, help the children grow, observe, and protect them. Is that not the most ideal purpose of a teacher?”
“And when Virgo turns her attention here? What then, Duchess? America is merely the start of her ambition. Your ideals are not wrong but we must look beyond the school if we are to let the children grow. I would not have my future charges grow up in a world torn apart by war,” Aramus stated.
The Duchess laughed. “Then allow me to put it this way, Magister Aramus Valmark. What if for some reason Virgo came here instead of America? What if the terrorists appeared here for Sagittarius while most were away for this operation? Who’d protect the children? Do you think you can? Can Your Majesty protect my daughter who is sheltered in this Realm?”
“I would fight for them, for Her Majesty and my students. As you say, there is no greater purpose than to help the children. My life is irrelevant in the greater scheme of things but if it can make a difference to the younger ones or in the upcoming conflict. Of course, I have full confidence in Her Majesty's ability to protect people but the issue is, if she can’t then perhaps none of us can.”
“Your answer is wrong, considering you’d be in America having candy or hamburgers while waiting for Virgo while your students are dying here,” Margaret replied, shaking her head. “You cannot even begin to try to do any of it alone. Hence someone has to stay behind. Besides, it is in our best interest to not bring a person like me who was exiled among the main forces.”
“When the cat's away, the mice will play, so to speak? I have more important things to do in the New World than to waste time on that right now, and it is simply because I cannot do it alone that I have to look to other people, namely you, for support. I am sure many of the people participating would be instead relieved to know you would be joining. Your mere presence would be a great morale booster,” Aramus added. ”The academies have always been neutral in the conflict between nations, but I fear that will all change should we fail.”
“It is as though you are deaf to reason. There is no true guarantee that Virgo will appear in America even if she claims that she will,” the Duchess said, displaying calmness unlike Aramus’ tone. “To be honest, even if I boost morale unexpectedly, it hardly changes things for me. I will remain here for the sake of my daughter, and I do not think you will have an adequate reason to sway my decision more than what was heard already. After all, if Her Majesty’s precious forces cannot, then my own presence will not amount to much. I would simply run away with my daughter, or something.”
“Virgo appeared and made the declaration after a very close attempt on my life, I might add. Perhaps she doesn’t appear in America but what if she does as per her words? If we are not there when it happens, the country will fall. As of now, we cannot even begin to estimate the strength of Virgo or whatever she might have ready, thus the need to gather as much manpower as possible,” Aramus said. “You are also a part of it and I would rather we fight together then split our strengths. There will be no place left to run if we fail, Duchess. The world will burn.”
“Even if Virgo appears in America, Her Majesty will do something about it,” the Duchess said rather nonchalantly. “I was once like you, caring about the world like a righteous man, but all dreams and glory end in time. I’d like to think I have retired from being a part of the army to fight an apparently large mammoth. Suffice it to say, this should be taken care of by the younger generation. Besides, they have Duchess Frederica, Duke Cavendish Bentinck, and that Powlett scum. If the crown wanted to concentrate the forces, she’d send much more than that, and we all know there’s more Dukes and Duchesses in London than these three,” Alicia stated, smirking. “I’d think Her Majesty’s line of thought is more similar to mine, but she is still being so uptight with her outlook of kindness and whatnot.”
Aramus resisted the urge to snicker upon hearing the way she addressed Powlett, not too far off from his own view. “I cannot speak for Her Majesty but if she thought it sufficient, I would not have been tasked to request your aid, Duchess. My views about the world are not so noble as you think they are either. I would just rather face the problem sooner than later, in this case Virgo’s threat to the world and by extension, the school and my students. Nothing as glorious as what you make it out to be.”
“Ah, got it. Then you go and deal with playing heroes against Virgo—even if you don’t find it noble—but leave me out of it. I’d like no part in such an operation after what Her Majesty’s people put me through.”
“It’s not heroics if you fight to survive. I believe there would be no reason to try and convince you further, Duchess. Thank you for your time, I will relay your intentions to Her Majesty. Good day,” Aramus said, putting an end to their conversation. He bowed to Duchess Margaret and turned on his heel, going to do as he had just said.
Thanks for wasting my tim— “Nghh…” as Aramus left and closed the door, Alicia clutched her heart in pain. “...Not yet… I have to make sure she—nghhhh, grows up properly.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
After talking to Margaret Alicia, Michael unpacked his luggage while waiting for Lily. By the time she arrived, night had already fallen, and he invited her to train in one of the training rooms he rented from the Headmistress. He resolved not to tell Lily that he put it on the Church’s bill.
Now, they were standing across each other in a wide arena, surrounded with white walls and a high ceiling.
He tapped the polished wooden floor with his foot, not entirely believing what the Headmistress said about it being magically fortified.
“So, I have talked to Margaret Alicia, and I may have a good lead on their motives on coming to Japan,” he spoke as he brandished a wooden sword.
At first they dueled as mages with their weapons in which his gunblade broke. After that, he bought an enchanted longsword that had a rather unique mechanic. Now it was easier to train knowing his wooden sword was more or less similar to his real sword aside from the weight.
“And that motive would be?”
With one hand, Lily took up a wooden sword too before holding the hilt with both hands even if it wasn’t heavy like her main broadsword. It felt rather uncomfortable using a wooden sword for some reason.
“It seems that they are trying to target a Descendant. Specifically, one who’s currently residing here at the Academy.”
Michael held his sword with both hands, positioned it at the side of his body, and waited for Lily to attack.
“A Descendant in this very Academy…? That is a surprising revelation, but it doesn’t make sense why the terrorists would target a Descendant. You’d think that’s the job of officially recognized magicians.”
Noting the priest’s readiness; Lily dashed in straight to Michael, and their swords clash. Her weight and the heaviness of the sword pushed the priest at least several meters in an instant.
“Apparently, it has happened once with Pisces. Although this time, Sagittarius—Miss Kazehaya Natsu—is a very plausible target.”
Michael changed his stance and charged at Lily as he made a downwards diagonal stroke, preparing for his attack to be parried. When his attack was parried by Lily, he slid his wooden shaft along Lily’s makeshift sword, he squinted his eyes as her weapon grazed him; but he continued and stepped in her guard and struck her in her stomach with the pommel of his wooden sword.
“Hm, so Pisces and Sagittarius are both candidates for their raids… I still cannot imagine the motive, however.”
Lily only grunted a little from the thrust, while Michael could hardly feel the difference between grunting and not grunting at all. The blade that slipped past the priest was used to push him aside, for which he found himself crashing against the wall.
“That’s the only part I haven’t had a clue about. What did your guy say?”
Once again, Michael charged at Lily. He dodged her blow as he ran a step past her. He quickly spun around as he made a sideward slice, utilizing his momentum to amplify his stroke.
Lily stumbled after receiving the strike, but used her wooden shaft as a means of support to prevent herself from falling.
“He was attacked by two… both were blonde, presumably late teens,” she reported composedly, turning and swinging her sword in the air, generating wind that was blocked by the priest. It would be an unbelievable move to a mundane, certainly, but among fantastical individuals it wasn’t anything new. “One of the two beat them all up except the informer, who in turn fled from fear. He was pursued, and taken out soon after.”
Right when the wind cleared, Lily’s wooden blade was already facing the priest’s.
“I’d assume that one of them was Claudia, but just having blonde as a description doesn’t really make it conclusive. Did both of them feed on the men? Did he say anything else?” Michael raised his guard and prepared to parry. Lily was too close, and he intended to create distance with her next blow.
“Since he ran away he doesn’t know any such things. However, one of them was dressed with Victorian era dress from what he could surmise, while the other seemed fashionable like any normal woman,” Lily answered.
She opted to kick at Michael’s abdomen instead of combating him with her weapon. She then attempted to thrust at him on the wooden floor immediately.
Michael didn’t expect Lily to kick him, and was caught completely off-guard when she did. When he saw how Lily was about to stab him; he pushed himself downwards with his arms and slid past her legs. He quickly rolled to face the floor and pulled her feet from behind, which made her stumble forwards.
“That could be them. Feeding in the middle of the day seems like something she’d do,” he said as he stood up and offered his hand to Lily.
Disregarding the offer; Lily sliced through the air horizontally with a turn from the floor and Michael felt his knees felt burning pain.
“No enemy on the battlefield would accept your hand, Michael.”
She picked herself up and responded to the topic at hand. “To add to the subject, if one of them brought down the rest then it is likely to serve the other… and if there is such a major difference in position, then it can only mean that the Representative is indeed…”
“In Japan,” Michael finished her sentence while sitting down. “As strict as always, Lily,” he commented while he raised his hands in defeat. His wooden sword was behind her and he lost his only advantage over her when she struck both his knees. It was nothing time couldn’t heal, but as of the moment, he could barely stand up.
Lily tossed Michael’s weapon at him. “As what should be expected of me—an enemy in combat,” she coldly replied. “With what we know I am not sure if there is any more need to search for information. All we need to know is where she is.”
“We could start from the area around where the incidents happened. We could create a rough area where they could be hiding.” Michael wanted to put the wooden sword back where he got it from immediately after catching it, but only kept holding it for now. “Considering they might’ve bought clothes from the shops, they might be trying to blend in with the community. Let us also not forget they might be planning to take on the Descendant; it would make sense to make their base near the Academy.”
“I do not think distance is an issue to the vampires, however. Considering traveling is extremely easy. Assuming they are well-financed—like most terrorists are—they should be able to afford the levitating taxis any day. Of course, having the base near the Academy would still make sense.”
“The second reason being, they had a base near a church in England. I just assumed that’s how they operate.”
“They did? I do not remember such information being publicized,” Lily stated, bewildered.
“It wasn’t. That would have been a huge scandal, even if it weren’t true,” he replied matter-of-factly.
“So where did that information come from? Is it even reliable?” Lily questioned.
“I am one hundred percent sure that it was reliable. However, I cannot state my sources,” he replied, as he recalled the scene in one of Mary’s Boundaries. That day when Laura got bitten. He unknowingly clenched his fists in anger.
Lily looked down at his shaking fists and decided to not inquire any further.
Now, they were standing across each other in a wide arena, surrounded with white walls and a high ceiling.
He tapped the polished wooden floor with his foot, not entirely believing what the Headmistress said about it being magically fortified.
“So, I have talked to Margaret Alicia, and I may have a good lead on their motives on coming to Japan,” he spoke as he brandished a wooden sword.
At first they dueled as mages with their weapons in which his gunblade broke. After that, he bought an enchanted longsword that had a rather unique mechanic. Now it was easier to train knowing his wooden sword was more or less similar to his real sword aside from the weight.
“And that motive would be?”
With one hand, Lily took up a wooden sword too before holding the hilt with both hands even if it wasn’t heavy like her main broadsword. It felt rather uncomfortable using a wooden sword for some reason.
“It seems that they are trying to target a Descendant. Specifically, one who’s currently residing here at the Academy.”
Michael held his sword with both hands, positioned it at the side of his body, and waited for Lily to attack.
“A Descendant in this very Academy…? That is a surprising revelation, but it doesn’t make sense why the terrorists would target a Descendant. You’d think that’s the job of officially recognized magicians.”
Noting the priest’s readiness; Lily dashed in straight to Michael, and their swords clash. Her weight and the heaviness of the sword pushed the priest at least several meters in an instant.
“Apparently, it has happened once with Pisces. Although this time, Sagittarius—Miss Kazehaya Natsu—is a very plausible target.”
Michael changed his stance and charged at Lily as he made a downwards diagonal stroke, preparing for his attack to be parried. When his attack was parried by Lily, he slid his wooden shaft along Lily’s makeshift sword, he squinted his eyes as her weapon grazed him; but he continued and stepped in her guard and struck her in her stomach with the pommel of his wooden sword.
“Hm, so Pisces and Sagittarius are both candidates for their raids… I still cannot imagine the motive, however.”
Lily only grunted a little from the thrust, while Michael could hardly feel the difference between grunting and not grunting at all. The blade that slipped past the priest was used to push him aside, for which he found himself crashing against the wall.
“That’s the only part I haven’t had a clue about. What did your guy say?”
Once again, Michael charged at Lily. He dodged her blow as he ran a step past her. He quickly spun around as he made a sideward slice, utilizing his momentum to amplify his stroke.
Lily stumbled after receiving the strike, but used her wooden shaft as a means of support to prevent herself from falling.
“He was attacked by two… both were blonde, presumably late teens,” she reported composedly, turning and swinging her sword in the air, generating wind that was blocked by the priest. It would be an unbelievable move to a mundane, certainly, but among fantastical individuals it wasn’t anything new. “One of the two beat them all up except the informer, who in turn fled from fear. He was pursued, and taken out soon after.”
Right when the wind cleared, Lily’s wooden blade was already facing the priest’s.
“I’d assume that one of them was Claudia, but just having blonde as a description doesn’t really make it conclusive. Did both of them feed on the men? Did he say anything else?” Michael raised his guard and prepared to parry. Lily was too close, and he intended to create distance with her next blow.
“Since he ran away he doesn’t know any such things. However, one of them was dressed with Victorian era dress from what he could surmise, while the other seemed fashionable like any normal woman,” Lily answered.
She opted to kick at Michael’s abdomen instead of combating him with her weapon. She then attempted to thrust at him on the wooden floor immediately.
Michael didn’t expect Lily to kick him, and was caught completely off-guard when she did. When he saw how Lily was about to stab him; he pushed himself downwards with his arms and slid past her legs. He quickly rolled to face the floor and pulled her feet from behind, which made her stumble forwards.
“That could be them. Feeding in the middle of the day seems like something she’d do,” he said as he stood up and offered his hand to Lily.
Disregarding the offer; Lily sliced through the air horizontally with a turn from the floor and Michael felt his knees felt burning pain.
“No enemy on the battlefield would accept your hand, Michael.”
She picked herself up and responded to the topic at hand. “To add to the subject, if one of them brought down the rest then it is likely to serve the other… and if there is such a major difference in position, then it can only mean that the Representative is indeed…”
“In Japan,” Michael finished her sentence while sitting down. “As strict as always, Lily,” he commented while he raised his hands in defeat. His wooden sword was behind her and he lost his only advantage over her when she struck both his knees. It was nothing time couldn’t heal, but as of the moment, he could barely stand up.
Lily tossed Michael’s weapon at him. “As what should be expected of me—an enemy in combat,” she coldly replied. “With what we know I am not sure if there is any more need to search for information. All we need to know is where she is.”
“We could start from the area around where the incidents happened. We could create a rough area where they could be hiding.” Michael wanted to put the wooden sword back where he got it from immediately after catching it, but only kept holding it for now. “Considering they might’ve bought clothes from the shops, they might be trying to blend in with the community. Let us also not forget they might be planning to take on the Descendant; it would make sense to make their base near the Academy.”
“I do not think distance is an issue to the vampires, however. Considering traveling is extremely easy. Assuming they are well-financed—like most terrorists are—they should be able to afford the levitating taxis any day. Of course, having the base near the Academy would still make sense.”
“The second reason being, they had a base near a church in England. I just assumed that’s how they operate.”
“They did? I do not remember such information being publicized,” Lily stated, bewildered.
“It wasn’t. That would have been a huge scandal, even if it weren’t true,” he replied matter-of-factly.
“So where did that information come from? Is it even reliable?” Lily questioned.
“I am one hundred percent sure that it was reliable. However, I cannot state my sources,” he replied, as he recalled the scene in one of Mary’s Boundaries. That day when Laura got bitten. He unknowingly clenched his fists in anger.
Lily looked down at his shaking fists and decided to not inquire any further.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
From Shinjuku to Shibuya, to Chiyoda to Akihabara. Weiss had been roaming across Tokyo the whole morning while attempting to avoid appearing on cameras. Thus, she realized that the security cameras were unlike any in Russia when they turned to her deliberately as she tried to escape them.
Regardless, this was the second time she had been to the city of Tokyo.
The first time, she could scarce believe the transparent roads upon which levitating cars could almost literally fly. The lightings, the designs, shields against rain and lightning, everything here was so distinctive from Russia that she almost thought what she visited was paradise. In time, time was actually a thing which appeared odd to her. The weather still changed despite the sky being cloudy all the time too like Russia. Russia’s weather was always winter no matter what.
It was also where she saw some ads of Natsukaze playing on open televisions sets across certain buildings, and some large posters advertising a concert to be held. She saw the same poster today too. The date of the live concert was the day after tomorrow, she noted. Of course, she’d have no reason to be there as it wouldn’t help with her mission, yet it was one of those useless pieces of information anyone would pick up from advertisements.
Without having realized it herself, Weiss had been pleasantly surprised by the architecture of the city. The shininess; the cleanliness; and the lack of poverty all delighted her in some manner. Even the air was very clean, and there was a scent which made her consider whether or not the city was quite literally perfumed. She hung around looking for maps and information about the government offices with a can of iced tea. Indeed, she chose to have a beverage. Despite being an android, there were times when having nourishment was simply a pleasure to engage in.
Funnily enough, she had obtained the beverage not from a vending machine, but a vending machine bot.
A vending machine bot.
Robots going around the city; patrolling across set distances to find people with parched throats wanting hot or cold drinks across the pavements. They had arms and legs but otherwise looked like normal vending machines with drinks on display. These robots would accept payment and in return would provide whatever drink was requested, granted they’d have them in store. Weiss was having a rather hard time believing that she conversed with one such robot almost as normally as she’d speak with a fellow android.
Speaking of robots, she found cleaning bots around, ones that were actually more advanced than Steel Princess’. There were also †˜sweet’ bots carrying around all kinds of sweet foods and confectionaries. She even witnessed some women who was apparently much like her, but they were called marionettes. To say the least, she was surprised in more ways than one.
Surprise was an emotion she indeed possessed, and so were the rest of the emotions other ordinary humans did. In actual fact Weiss never lost her emotions. Her emotion circuit—not quite a module as she would state—had always worked passively, and never really required an activation process. She seemed to be under a delusion that her †˜past self’ was locked in some form of an activation, while her own personality caused her to simply change things. Her own personality valued professionalism and stoicness it seemed, and when she mixed her own form of thinking with that of the side-effects of being an android, she came to a natural misunderstanding.
As one would know, an android possessed two-fifths of the emotions humans had. However, they did not lack a specific type of emotion: they were simply toned down due to slight modifications to the brain for them to be more effective for work.
Eventually, Weiss was more roused by curiosity and was rather lost as she arrived in Akihabara. Electronic stores appeared all over the place before her. Some people were wearing ancient-looking clothes as if they were medieval, others wearing futuristic, a few wearing modern day clothes like from America or Europe—just as they would outside this country. This concept of cosplaying was foreign to the android. She could also see maids running about handing fliers, advertising their maid cafés.
A maid soon handed Weiss one, too. Now she really had no idea what she should do, but she felt extremely tempted to indulge herself in this thriving electronic city.
However, something strange visited her ears… a song by a metal rock band. It reminded her of the sounds she heard when her husband died… It brought a most human feeling to her; fear. A café or a store would be perfect for an escape from that horrid noise now.
She ran into the café from the aforementioned flier near her while covering her ears, trying not to hear the horrible sounds from the metal rock band. She took a deep breath as the door closed behind to calm herself down.
“Welcome, Mistress,” the maids greeted her.
Ignoring the welcome phrase, Weiss walked awkwardly to the farthest table in the corner which seemed to be empty, and sat down, holding herself tight.
“At least ask for permission before you join me,” an unfamiliar voice spoke.
She was so hasty that she did not notice that there was someone on the other side of the table when she sat down. Due to the noise, she had been completely careless. The girl was a native Japanese from what it seemed; beautiful black eyes and black shiny hair with pale white skin. She was slender and seemed to have a rather trained build under the black tight-fit dress she donned. She slurped at her espresso.
“Are you even listening?”
“Huh?” She looked at the source of the voice. “I-I’m s-sorry. I d-didn’t not-tice that ther-re was someone he-ere.” She took another deep breath, but was still shivering.
The girl narrowed her eyes and watched Weiss shake, so much that she’d likely cause tea to pour out of a cup if she held one. “Well, I don’t mind, but you should calm down,” she said, handing her a bottle of mineral water.
“Thank you.” She slowly held the bottle and drank half of it. “ ...I feel somewhat better now,” she said while fixing her seating and posture. She then closed her eyes and counted to three, something that her husband taught her in the past. When she opened her eyes, she was back to her emotionless self. “Thank you, miss. I am in your debt.” She bowed.
“You’re in my debt for a bottle you may find anywhere…?” The girl questioned but was eventually curious. “Did something happened? Is someone chasing you perhaps?”
“No, nothing is after me. Only an event that happened in the past and has been haunting me ever since.” She paused. “How rude of me, my name is Weiss.” She bowed once more. “And you are?”
“Katori Mio, a pleasure to meet you.” Despite Mio’s words of formality she seemed rather cold. “You’re being haunted by your past?”
“Likewise, and yes, every time I hear a certain sound, it makes me remember. The result was what you saw before.”
“I see. Well, no one would want to talk about their trauma with a stranger.” The girl nonchalantly slurped at her beverage again. “However, if it’s a man or a woman in this nation, I may do something about it. Granted that it’s someone in this country who committed a crime to give you this problem.”
“I doubt that he’s from this country. I mean, from his name alone I can see that he’s not from Japan, but he may be visiting here for some reason I know nothing about. Then again, I should be the one who takes his life away.” She leaned back on the chair.
“Even if you say that, I cannot allow you to do such an act in our nation,” the girl replied, giving a cold glare. “I’d have to arrest you.”
“Alright, then I won’t. Well, it’s not like I can’t, but I know that he’s way stronger than me. So for now I won’t lift a finger on him,” she said calmly. It’s not like you guys can handle him anyway. She thought. “Anyway, I guess you’re one of the authorities here, right?” She tried to change the subject.
“Indeed, I am a member of the Guardians of Japan,” Mio admitted.
“I knew it, you got the looks.” She nodded while rubbing her chin. “Firm arms, tight abs, fit for a soldier.” She remembered what Lumiere said about showing a bit of expression just to make things more interesting. It’s all for blending in, yes.
“I see you have keen observation,” Mio said. She seemed rather indifferent. “Even though we have the Advent’s Armor, we still need to be fit for combat, after all.”
“Armor, huh? I guess one should fit the physique in order to operate them, no?”
“Something like that,” Mio answered vaguely. “Each are very different, though.”
“Such as?”
“Different weapons, sizes, whatnot.”
“I see, I wouldn’t mind touching one if I get the chance. I’d be really thrilled to ride one too!” Weiss giggled.
“I do not think many earn such opportunities, considering we do not bring them out until they are truly necessary… unless you’re a criminal,” Mio said with a smirk before she leaned a little closer to Weiss. “Say, you don’t look like an Asian. Do you have proper documents as an Outsider?
“Yes, but it’s back at an apartment that I’m currently staying in. The key is with my roommate so I can’t really go back until she’s home.”
“I see. Then, were you at least properly registered in the country?”
“Yes.”
“Let us see then.” The Guardian’s pupils gave away a scanning laser which analyzed Weiss’ entire body repeatedly from top to bottom. The resident maids and other customers all looked, and they seemed to be overjoyed at her presence… or so it seemed. “You are definitely not registered. May I kindly ask you to come with me to a security check station?”
“Erm. . . No?” Weiss quickly dashed out of her chair and to the outside. First, get out of the open and to the alleys
“Hey, wait!”
Regardless, this was the second time she had been to the city of Tokyo.
The first time, she could scarce believe the transparent roads upon which levitating cars could almost literally fly. The lightings, the designs, shields against rain and lightning, everything here was so distinctive from Russia that she almost thought what she visited was paradise. In time, time was actually a thing which appeared odd to her. The weather still changed despite the sky being cloudy all the time too like Russia. Russia’s weather was always winter no matter what.
It was also where she saw some ads of Natsukaze playing on open televisions sets across certain buildings, and some large posters advertising a concert to be held. She saw the same poster today too. The date of the live concert was the day after tomorrow, she noted. Of course, she’d have no reason to be there as it wouldn’t help with her mission, yet it was one of those useless pieces of information anyone would pick up from advertisements.
Without having realized it herself, Weiss had been pleasantly surprised by the architecture of the city. The shininess; the cleanliness; and the lack of poverty all delighted her in some manner. Even the air was very clean, and there was a scent which made her consider whether or not the city was quite literally perfumed. She hung around looking for maps and information about the government offices with a can of iced tea. Indeed, she chose to have a beverage. Despite being an android, there were times when having nourishment was simply a pleasure to engage in.
Funnily enough, she had obtained the beverage not from a vending machine, but a vending machine bot.
A vending machine bot.
Robots going around the city; patrolling across set distances to find people with parched throats wanting hot or cold drinks across the pavements. They had arms and legs but otherwise looked like normal vending machines with drinks on display. These robots would accept payment and in return would provide whatever drink was requested, granted they’d have them in store. Weiss was having a rather hard time believing that she conversed with one such robot almost as normally as she’d speak with a fellow android.
Speaking of robots, she found cleaning bots around, ones that were actually more advanced than Steel Princess’. There were also †˜sweet’ bots carrying around all kinds of sweet foods and confectionaries. She even witnessed some women who was apparently much like her, but they were called marionettes. To say the least, she was surprised in more ways than one.
Surprise was an emotion she indeed possessed, and so were the rest of the emotions other ordinary humans did. In actual fact Weiss never lost her emotions. Her emotion circuit—not quite a module as she would state—had always worked passively, and never really required an activation process. She seemed to be under a delusion that her †˜past self’ was locked in some form of an activation, while her own personality caused her to simply change things. Her own personality valued professionalism and stoicness it seemed, and when she mixed her own form of thinking with that of the side-effects of being an android, she came to a natural misunderstanding.
As one would know, an android possessed two-fifths of the emotions humans had. However, they did not lack a specific type of emotion: they were simply toned down due to slight modifications to the brain for them to be more effective for work.
Eventually, Weiss was more roused by curiosity and was rather lost as she arrived in Akihabara. Electronic stores appeared all over the place before her. Some people were wearing ancient-looking clothes as if they were medieval, others wearing futuristic, a few wearing modern day clothes like from America or Europe—just as they would outside this country. This concept of cosplaying was foreign to the android. She could also see maids running about handing fliers, advertising their maid cafés.
A maid soon handed Weiss one, too. Now she really had no idea what she should do, but she felt extremely tempted to indulge herself in this thriving electronic city.
However, something strange visited her ears… a song by a metal rock band. It reminded her of the sounds she heard when her husband died… It brought a most human feeling to her; fear. A café or a store would be perfect for an escape from that horrid noise now.
She ran into the café from the aforementioned flier near her while covering her ears, trying not to hear the horrible sounds from the metal rock band. She took a deep breath as the door closed behind to calm herself down.
“Welcome, Mistress,” the maids greeted her.
Ignoring the welcome phrase, Weiss walked awkwardly to the farthest table in the corner which seemed to be empty, and sat down, holding herself tight.
“At least ask for permission before you join me,” an unfamiliar voice spoke.
She was so hasty that she did not notice that there was someone on the other side of the table when she sat down. Due to the noise, she had been completely careless. The girl was a native Japanese from what it seemed; beautiful black eyes and black shiny hair with pale white skin. She was slender and seemed to have a rather trained build under the black tight-fit dress she donned. She slurped at her espresso.
“Are you even listening?”
“Huh?” She looked at the source of the voice. “I-I’m s-sorry. I d-didn’t not-tice that ther-re was someone he-ere.” She took another deep breath, but was still shivering.
The girl narrowed her eyes and watched Weiss shake, so much that she’d likely cause tea to pour out of a cup if she held one. “Well, I don’t mind, but you should calm down,” she said, handing her a bottle of mineral water.
“Thank you.” She slowly held the bottle and drank half of it. “ ...I feel somewhat better now,” she said while fixing her seating and posture. She then closed her eyes and counted to three, something that her husband taught her in the past. When she opened her eyes, she was back to her emotionless self. “Thank you, miss. I am in your debt.” She bowed.
“You’re in my debt for a bottle you may find anywhere…?” The girl questioned but was eventually curious. “Did something happened? Is someone chasing you perhaps?”
“No, nothing is after me. Only an event that happened in the past and has been haunting me ever since.” She paused. “How rude of me, my name is Weiss.” She bowed once more. “And you are?”
“Katori Mio, a pleasure to meet you.” Despite Mio’s words of formality she seemed rather cold. “You’re being haunted by your past?”
“Likewise, and yes, every time I hear a certain sound, it makes me remember. The result was what you saw before.”
“I see. Well, no one would want to talk about their trauma with a stranger.” The girl nonchalantly slurped at her beverage again. “However, if it’s a man or a woman in this nation, I may do something about it. Granted that it’s someone in this country who committed a crime to give you this problem.”
“I doubt that he’s from this country. I mean, from his name alone I can see that he’s not from Japan, but he may be visiting here for some reason I know nothing about. Then again, I should be the one who takes his life away.” She leaned back on the chair.
“Even if you say that, I cannot allow you to do such an act in our nation,” the girl replied, giving a cold glare. “I’d have to arrest you.”
“Alright, then I won’t. Well, it’s not like I can’t, but I know that he’s way stronger than me. So for now I won’t lift a finger on him,” she said calmly. It’s not like you guys can handle him anyway. She thought. “Anyway, I guess you’re one of the authorities here, right?” She tried to change the subject.
“Indeed, I am a member of the Guardians of Japan,” Mio admitted.
“I knew it, you got the looks.” She nodded while rubbing her chin. “Firm arms, tight abs, fit for a soldier.” She remembered what Lumiere said about showing a bit of expression just to make things more interesting. It’s all for blending in, yes.
“I see you have keen observation,” Mio said. She seemed rather indifferent. “Even though we have the Advent’s Armor, we still need to be fit for combat, after all.”
“Armor, huh? I guess one should fit the physique in order to operate them, no?”
“Something like that,” Mio answered vaguely. “Each are very different, though.”
“Such as?”
“Different weapons, sizes, whatnot.”
“I see, I wouldn’t mind touching one if I get the chance. I’d be really thrilled to ride one too!” Weiss giggled.
“I do not think many earn such opportunities, considering we do not bring them out until they are truly necessary… unless you’re a criminal,” Mio said with a smirk before she leaned a little closer to Weiss. “Say, you don’t look like an Asian. Do you have proper documents as an Outsider?
“Yes, but it’s back at an apartment that I’m currently staying in. The key is with my roommate so I can’t really go back until she’s home.”
“I see. Then, were you at least properly registered in the country?”
“Yes.”
“Let us see then.” The Guardian’s pupils gave away a scanning laser which analyzed Weiss’ entire body repeatedly from top to bottom. The resident maids and other customers all looked, and they seemed to be overjoyed at her presence… or so it seemed. “You are definitely not registered. May I kindly ask you to come with me to a security check station?”
“Erm. . . No?” Weiss quickly dashed out of her chair and to the outside. First, get out of the open and to the alleys
“Hey, wait!”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“Attention to the marionettes in the area,” Mio began. “A foreigner was found. Not registered with our country. Apprehend her.”
Weiss ran across the alleys of the area of Akihabara.
Mio could hardly keep up. “Stop in the name of the law,” she shouted, but Weiss only turned to check the distance. “You have nowhere to run,” she soon declared as Weiss found herself at a dead end.
“Do I?” She looked up and jumped from wall to wall to go up. “Bye!” she teasingly said and ran on the roofs. This is too open.
Weiss then jumped down from the roof and onto another alleyway. She kept running to give her more distance from her chaser, but immediately there were gunshots. Before Weiss were marionettes looking like completely ordinary women holding guns. She turned, and the other side was blocked as well.
So these are those so-called Marionettes. Looks like I have to use that one move, she thought before running into a wall and going through it. Can’t stop here. She kept running past walls and avoided the alleys and roads. If only I knew the general places of tokyo, I could find the blindspots of the security here.
However, she couldn’t stay inside the walls for long when lasers burnt them down and her form was revealed.
The android was surrounded.
Marionettes all pointed guns while Mio was in the air donning an armor of white and black, pointing a cannon toward her that was charging with energy.
“Surrender, or I’m going to blow you to bits. Literally.”
“Oh, so that’s what that armor that you told me before looks like,” she yelled at Mio from below.
“Well, aren’t you lucky, to be able to see it in all its glory? Not many sees it nowadays,” Mio said. The laser shot down at her.
Weiss put up her guard with her arms up as the beam of light rained down on her. After the ordeal, she looked up, and her arms were burnt with the left arm having a hole on it.
“Oh, tough, aren’t you? Normal people would be dead meat by now.”
“Too bad I’m not one of those normal people.” Weiss then jumped up on the roof. She charged her legs and jumped straight to the armored woman. She extended her hand forward, trying to deliver a punch. Mio saw this and fired a laser onto Weiss. Weiss’ punch cut right through the laser and managed to hit Mio hard on her armored chest. Weiss fell down and landed on her feet directly below Mio’s flying armor, covered in smoke, but was shot down by the marionettes subsequently.
“Too bad, I felt nothing.” Mio descended slowly as she looked down at the fallen android, hit with suppressors all over her body. Weiss started to lose her consciousness as she couldn’t move anymore. “Take her away and put her in jail.”
Weiss ran across the alleys of the area of Akihabara.
Mio could hardly keep up. “Stop in the name of the law,” she shouted, but Weiss only turned to check the distance. “You have nowhere to run,” she soon declared as Weiss found herself at a dead end.
“Do I?” She looked up and jumped from wall to wall to go up. “Bye!” she teasingly said and ran on the roofs. This is too open.
Weiss then jumped down from the roof and onto another alleyway. She kept running to give her more distance from her chaser, but immediately there were gunshots. Before Weiss were marionettes looking like completely ordinary women holding guns. She turned, and the other side was blocked as well.
So these are those so-called Marionettes. Looks like I have to use that one move, she thought before running into a wall and going through it. Can’t stop here. She kept running past walls and avoided the alleys and roads. If only I knew the general places of tokyo, I could find the blindspots of the security here.
However, she couldn’t stay inside the walls for long when lasers burnt them down and her form was revealed.
The android was surrounded.
Marionettes all pointed guns while Mio was in the air donning an armor of white and black, pointing a cannon toward her that was charging with energy.
“Surrender, or I’m going to blow you to bits. Literally.”
“Oh, so that’s what that armor that you told me before looks like,” she yelled at Mio from below.
“Well, aren’t you lucky, to be able to see it in all its glory? Not many sees it nowadays,” Mio said. The laser shot down at her.
Weiss put up her guard with her arms up as the beam of light rained down on her. After the ordeal, she looked up, and her arms were burnt with the left arm having a hole on it.
“Oh, tough, aren’t you? Normal people would be dead meat by now.”
“Too bad I’m not one of those normal people.” Weiss then jumped up on the roof. She charged her legs and jumped straight to the armored woman. She extended her hand forward, trying to deliver a punch. Mio saw this and fired a laser onto Weiss. Weiss’ punch cut right through the laser and managed to hit Mio hard on her armored chest. Weiss fell down and landed on her feet directly below Mio’s flying armor, covered in smoke, but was shot down by the marionettes subsequently.
“Too bad, I felt nothing.” Mio descended slowly as she looked down at the fallen android, hit with suppressors all over her body. Weiss started to lose her consciousness as she couldn’t move anymore. “Take her away and put her in jail.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Weiss woke up. There were bars made out of iron and walls looking green and blue, which made them appear to be more like solid crystals. This was a jail unlike any other. She could hardly hear anything, nor could she find a security camera, or a passing warden.
“Rather dead prison.” She poked the bars and walls. She felt an electrical sensation when she touched the walls. “Iron bars, and crystal walls? Not bad. With electricity running through the walls too.” She crossed her arms, and thought, I guess I can go through the walls. The electricity ain’t that bad.
As she activated her power with a small bit of spiritual energy, the electricity was no longer able to do any damage, and she easily went through.
What she didn’t expect was a complete layer made of some form of different energy, and this pushed her back into her cell in such a way that she was rather confused with her head spinning. How on earth was she back here? Why couldn’t she just cross through like always?
Laser coated too? This just keeps getting better and better. She crouched down to feel the floor. Same material. So the only way to get out is through. . . . She looked at the bars. Once I step out, the alarm is bound to ring. Weiss moved to each corner of the bars and looked across the empty hallways. The path seemed long and she couldn’t see any wall or other pathways extending from where she was.
Bracing herself, she walked past the bars with her power, but the alarms did not sound as she guessed they would. Perhaps it was thanks to her power; it allowed her to avoid touching the bars altogether. So maybe they couldn’t detect what they couldn’t touch. Then how did the electricity block her Commandment earlier?
Regardless, Weiss ran and looked for a way out. It seemed like every cells had strange-looking beings locked up. Some seemed foreign indeed. As she thought about all these locked up people staring at her with jealousy of her freedom—ignorant to the fact that she was still a prisoner like them—she heard footsteps. Someone was coming from the intersection of a different corridor straight before her.
By reflex, she crouched down at the corner and activated her suit’s invisibility feature as the person’s footsteps got louder.
“Wha- she turned invisible,” someone mumbled before the warden came into view.
It was a marionette. No one special like a Guardian such as Mio. The marionette surveyed the surroundings, and gave every cells a glance. It only felt like something was outside in the corridor for a moment but she treated it as an imagination of her own. She passed by Weiss without seeing her but when she came to Weiss’ cell; she realized that the prisoner had escaped.
Seeing this opportunity, Weiss ran ahead and crossed the intersection while the alarms started to sound audibly all over the prison facility. She sensed some people, possibly armed forces, coming from straight ahead. The pathway was so long and was already in the middle of it to simply turn back to escape attention. Who know if the others could see her or not. If someone like a Guardian could see her and came to pursue her, it’d be bad for her.
Weiss looked about, and saw that there was a door some meters behind her. So as not to make any sound or leave a hint; the android chose to cross through the door with her Commandment.
Inside, there was a table and some chairs. There was no people. However, she found a robot gazing intently outside through a window. On the table Weiss saw some papers, and as she tiptoed, she realized that a photo was pinned on the front.
A photo of Natsu Kazehaya.
Doing something about the robot may alert the others searching for her. Thus, Weiss chose to go through the documents instead. She could remember the contents after reading once so it was a better choice. Such was the brain of an android, her memory couldn’t be underestimated.
There were incidents detailed regarding Natsu Kazehaya. An attack by the European Alliance that took place in Tokyo when she was on her way to her agency’s office in the morning three months ago. Following the incident, the next day they attacked again. This time, with younger individuals helping the case to take her down. It was specifically mentioned that Natsu Kazehaya should not be arrested or charged by the marionettes and the Guardians no matter what, and that they should follow her commands if they were ever given any. Her level of command was apparently labeled †˜Command level 2’, but Weiss wasn’t sure what this meant. Perhaps there was an order of commanding individuals in the country, so maybe a politician or the Prime Minister would have higher levels?
The reasoning given behind Natsu’s level of authority was simply stated as †˜because Kazehaya Natsu will later become a part of the Genesis Project.’
Genesis Project? To think that some idol got strings attached like this. Weiss thought after imprinting the information in her head. Now I must escape. She managed to take a glimpse of the outside world from the window where the bot was standing. She sneaked to the corner of the room and used her Commandment to get through the wall. Just when she was about to scale down the outer wall, the bot that was in the room spotted her, but it was too late.
Weiss was already out of sight.
“Rather dead prison.” She poked the bars and walls. She felt an electrical sensation when she touched the walls. “Iron bars, and crystal walls? Not bad. With electricity running through the walls too.” She crossed her arms, and thought, I guess I can go through the walls. The electricity ain’t that bad.
As she activated her power with a small bit of spiritual energy, the electricity was no longer able to do any damage, and she easily went through.
What she didn’t expect was a complete layer made of some form of different energy, and this pushed her back into her cell in such a way that she was rather confused with her head spinning. How on earth was she back here? Why couldn’t she just cross through like always?
Laser coated too? This just keeps getting better and better. She crouched down to feel the floor. Same material. So the only way to get out is through. . . . She looked at the bars. Once I step out, the alarm is bound to ring. Weiss moved to each corner of the bars and looked across the empty hallways. The path seemed long and she couldn’t see any wall or other pathways extending from where she was.
Bracing herself, she walked past the bars with her power, but the alarms did not sound as she guessed they would. Perhaps it was thanks to her power; it allowed her to avoid touching the bars altogether. So maybe they couldn’t detect what they couldn’t touch. Then how did the electricity block her Commandment earlier?
Regardless, Weiss ran and looked for a way out. It seemed like every cells had strange-looking beings locked up. Some seemed foreign indeed. As she thought about all these locked up people staring at her with jealousy of her freedom—ignorant to the fact that she was still a prisoner like them—she heard footsteps. Someone was coming from the intersection of a different corridor straight before her.
By reflex, she crouched down at the corner and activated her suit’s invisibility feature as the person’s footsteps got louder.
“Wha- she turned invisible,” someone mumbled before the warden came into view.
It was a marionette. No one special like a Guardian such as Mio. The marionette surveyed the surroundings, and gave every cells a glance. It only felt like something was outside in the corridor for a moment but she treated it as an imagination of her own. She passed by Weiss without seeing her but when she came to Weiss’ cell; she realized that the prisoner had escaped.
Seeing this opportunity, Weiss ran ahead and crossed the intersection while the alarms started to sound audibly all over the prison facility. She sensed some people, possibly armed forces, coming from straight ahead. The pathway was so long and was already in the middle of it to simply turn back to escape attention. Who know if the others could see her or not. If someone like a Guardian could see her and came to pursue her, it’d be bad for her.
Weiss looked about, and saw that there was a door some meters behind her. So as not to make any sound or leave a hint; the android chose to cross through the door with her Commandment.
Inside, there was a table and some chairs. There was no people. However, she found a robot gazing intently outside through a window. On the table Weiss saw some papers, and as she tiptoed, she realized that a photo was pinned on the front.
A photo of Natsu Kazehaya.
Doing something about the robot may alert the others searching for her. Thus, Weiss chose to go through the documents instead. She could remember the contents after reading once so it was a better choice. Such was the brain of an android, her memory couldn’t be underestimated.
There were incidents detailed regarding Natsu Kazehaya. An attack by the European Alliance that took place in Tokyo when she was on her way to her agency’s office in the morning three months ago. Following the incident, the next day they attacked again. This time, with younger individuals helping the case to take her down. It was specifically mentioned that Natsu Kazehaya should not be arrested or charged by the marionettes and the Guardians no matter what, and that they should follow her commands if they were ever given any. Her level of command was apparently labeled †˜Command level 2’, but Weiss wasn’t sure what this meant. Perhaps there was an order of commanding individuals in the country, so maybe a politician or the Prime Minister would have higher levels?
The reasoning given behind Natsu’s level of authority was simply stated as †˜because Kazehaya Natsu will later become a part of the Genesis Project.’
Genesis Project? To think that some idol got strings attached like this. Weiss thought after imprinting the information in her head. Now I must escape. She managed to take a glimpse of the outside world from the window where the bot was standing. She sneaked to the corner of the room and used her Commandment to get through the wall. Just when she was about to scale down the outer wall, the bot that was in the room spotted her, but it was too late.
Weiss was already out of sight.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“Good morning, Mister Kallweit. How may I help you?” the Headmistress inquired as Michael stood behind her desk.
Lily was out to investigate in the city, and it was Michael’s job to try and get as much information as possible in the Academy. However, before that he had one thing he absolutely needed to do, and that was speak with the Headmistress.
“Good morning, Miss Headmistress. I wish to be part of the Descendant’s security detail,” Michael replied.
“I am not sure I can allow non-staff members to participate in such an important affair,” the Headmistress replied, not looking up to the priest and still working with her documents.
“We have reason to believe that our target will come in contact with the Descendant, and soon,” Michael stated.
“And that reason would be?”
“Because they have done so before, with Pisces, and recently, Her Majesty the Queen. After their attempt was thwarted however, intelligence reports that they have entered Japan,” Michael replied, taking a step forward. “If we consider the location of the latest vampire attacks, there could only be a few things of interest within the immediate vicinity. The Academy...” He raised his thumb like he was counting. “... And the Descendant. I doubt they have any other reason to attack the Academy at this moment.”
“I do not know where you learned of this attack on Pisces, but I am aware of the assassination attempt of Her Majesty the Queen… but how does that prove your point? The Queen is a powerful Archmage as far as I know. I sense the ramblings of an over-thinking man. It is too big a conclusion to reach that the Academy will be raided.”
“We do not wish to be rude, especially since you have been an hospitable host, but this matter is not to be taken lightly. I would rather act before another tragedy happens,” Michael replied. “One would only need to take the Descendant’s schedule to mount an attack when she is vulnerable outside the Academy.”
“That does not answer the question,” the Headmistress responded. “Or are you going to ignore me while making a request?”
“It stands to reason that in no way would the Academy be attacked soon, but aside from the two, there seems to be no logical reason for BLoodluSt to be here in Japan. If BLoodLuSt wanted the Queen dead, they would try again, but they didn’t,” Michael reasoned out. “They went to Japan as the news about the tragic attack on a Descendant spread.”
“Hmm… but there was an entire month between the attack on Sagittarius and the Queen’s Meeting… to be specific, there was two weeks more as well. If they wanted, they could’ve targeted Sagittarius when she was still not under the protection of our Academy.”
“It could be that they had not yet identified her before that. The attack on the Queen was something that was planned beforehand too, and they likely took a lot of preparations.” Michael paused, recalling once more the moment Marco bursted out of Laura. He calmed himself down before continuing, “...They almost managed to succeed, too. So I argue that Sagittarius wasn’t part of the plan then, but now she is.”
“However, The Times published the news of Sagittarius in less than three days after the big battle quite literally. It should have come to their attention that Sagittarius lies here in Tokyo.”
“And now they are in Tokyo.”
“They are still known for attacking politicians and other bigwigs—much more than Descendants.”
“It doesn’t seem that those warrant the Countess herself to appear in Japan. I believe it still is reasonable to take the precaution of increasing the Descendant’s security detail.”
“But she has, though…” Lumiere wasn’t sure if Michael was misleaded or not. Eventually, she sighed. “Alright, have it your way. We wouldn’t want her to find harm after transferring to our academy anyway. However, you and your partner will not directly accompany her. Follow her if you will.”
“Thank you for understanding.” Michael bowed and exited the room.
Lumiere started coughing as soon as Michael left, palming her mouth before looking at it. “I suppose I do not have long. Damn you…” she spoke to herself, looking down at her bloodied hand.
“Are you alright, ma’am!?” Weiss came through the solid-glass window and quickly held Lumiere’s hand and wiped off the blood. She had been hiding behind a large mirror, listening to the conversation the whole time.
“Do you think I am?” the Headmistress said, giving a dry laugh before coughing again. “My body is reaching its limit its all.”
“I see. I guess we can’t transfer your consciousness to another body. You need to rest, ma’am… you know what, I’ll just carry you, it’ll be faster that way. Hold on.”
Weiss then picked up the Headmistress on her arms and gave her a bridal carry, and dashed through the window with her Commandment and made way for the dormitory. The dormitory for the teachers had a special room made for the Headmistress. Before long, they arrived to said room. Weiss then carefully placed Lumiere on her bed and covered her with a blanket.
“Even if you do this, nothing will change. Eventually, my life is to be extinguished,” Lumiere mumbled, but she took to resting regardless.
“Everyone will die eventually, ma’am. All we can do is delay said death.” She stood guard in case would anyone try to enter the room.
“Oh? Are you saying that an immortal like you even expects death?”
“Of course. There will always be someone that can take my life away eventually. I need to get stronger before that happens.”
“I see. You are strong already if you ask me…”
“Not enough, I still need to kill that geared sword person that killed my husband.”
“William John Frederick Powlett, is it? He is dangerous even to you.”
“So that’s his name. The things that I remember are shadows of his face and the screeching sound of his sword. I think I saw him at the Meeting, but I’m not sure.”
“He was at the Meeting, but I suppose you were simply doing your job.”
“Yes. I tend to keep my personal life away from work.”
“Well, that’s what it means to be a professional.”
“Indeed.” She paused. “Which reminds me, the idol that you asked me to investigate is related to something called the Genesis Project, and she got a Level Two authority over the marionettes and Guardians.”
“...What?!” Lumiere snapped. “So it came down to that after all. I suppose it was inescapable destiny. Regardless, Weiss, good work, perhaps you should take some rest too.”
“I’ll rest once my work here is done, for now I’ll protect you, ma’am.” She nodded.
“Sheesh… you are too hardworking.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Lily was out to investigate in the city, and it was Michael’s job to try and get as much information as possible in the Academy. However, before that he had one thing he absolutely needed to do, and that was speak with the Headmistress.
“Good morning, Miss Headmistress. I wish to be part of the Descendant’s security detail,” Michael replied.
“I am not sure I can allow non-staff members to participate in such an important affair,” the Headmistress replied, not looking up to the priest and still working with her documents.
“We have reason to believe that our target will come in contact with the Descendant, and soon,” Michael stated.
“And that reason would be?”
“Because they have done so before, with Pisces, and recently, Her Majesty the Queen. After their attempt was thwarted however, intelligence reports that they have entered Japan,” Michael replied, taking a step forward. “If we consider the location of the latest vampire attacks, there could only be a few things of interest within the immediate vicinity. The Academy...” He raised his thumb like he was counting. “... And the Descendant. I doubt they have any other reason to attack the Academy at this moment.”
“I do not know where you learned of this attack on Pisces, but I am aware of the assassination attempt of Her Majesty the Queen… but how does that prove your point? The Queen is a powerful Archmage as far as I know. I sense the ramblings of an over-thinking man. It is too big a conclusion to reach that the Academy will be raided.”
“We do not wish to be rude, especially since you have been an hospitable host, but this matter is not to be taken lightly. I would rather act before another tragedy happens,” Michael replied. “One would only need to take the Descendant’s schedule to mount an attack when she is vulnerable outside the Academy.”
“That does not answer the question,” the Headmistress responded. “Or are you going to ignore me while making a request?”
“It stands to reason that in no way would the Academy be attacked soon, but aside from the two, there seems to be no logical reason for BLoodluSt to be here in Japan. If BLoodLuSt wanted the Queen dead, they would try again, but they didn’t,” Michael reasoned out. “They went to Japan as the news about the tragic attack on a Descendant spread.”
“Hmm… but there was an entire month between the attack on Sagittarius and the Queen’s Meeting… to be specific, there was two weeks more as well. If they wanted, they could’ve targeted Sagittarius when she was still not under the protection of our Academy.”
“It could be that they had not yet identified her before that. The attack on the Queen was something that was planned beforehand too, and they likely took a lot of preparations.” Michael paused, recalling once more the moment Marco bursted out of Laura. He calmed himself down before continuing, “...They almost managed to succeed, too. So I argue that Sagittarius wasn’t part of the plan then, but now she is.”
“However, The Times published the news of Sagittarius in less than three days after the big battle quite literally. It should have come to their attention that Sagittarius lies here in Tokyo.”
“And now they are in Tokyo.”
“They are still known for attacking politicians and other bigwigs—much more than Descendants.”
“It doesn’t seem that those warrant the Countess herself to appear in Japan. I believe it still is reasonable to take the precaution of increasing the Descendant’s security detail.”
“But she has, though…” Lumiere wasn’t sure if Michael was misleaded or not. Eventually, she sighed. “Alright, have it your way. We wouldn’t want her to find harm after transferring to our academy anyway. However, you and your partner will not directly accompany her. Follow her if you will.”
“Thank you for understanding.” Michael bowed and exited the room.
Lumiere started coughing as soon as Michael left, palming her mouth before looking at it. “I suppose I do not have long. Damn you…” she spoke to herself, looking down at her bloodied hand.
“Are you alright, ma’am!?” Weiss came through the solid-glass window and quickly held Lumiere’s hand and wiped off the blood. She had been hiding behind a large mirror, listening to the conversation the whole time.
“Do you think I am?” the Headmistress said, giving a dry laugh before coughing again. “My body is reaching its limit its all.”
“I see. I guess we can’t transfer your consciousness to another body. You need to rest, ma’am… you know what, I’ll just carry you, it’ll be faster that way. Hold on.”
Weiss then picked up the Headmistress on her arms and gave her a bridal carry, and dashed through the window with her Commandment and made way for the dormitory. The dormitory for the teachers had a special room made for the Headmistress. Before long, they arrived to said room. Weiss then carefully placed Lumiere on her bed and covered her with a blanket.
“Even if you do this, nothing will change. Eventually, my life is to be extinguished,” Lumiere mumbled, but she took to resting regardless.
“Everyone will die eventually, ma’am. All we can do is delay said death.” She stood guard in case would anyone try to enter the room.
“Oh? Are you saying that an immortal like you even expects death?”
“Of course. There will always be someone that can take my life away eventually. I need to get stronger before that happens.”
“I see. You are strong already if you ask me…”
“Not enough, I still need to kill that geared sword person that killed my husband.”
“William John Frederick Powlett, is it? He is dangerous even to you.”
“So that’s his name. The things that I remember are shadows of his face and the screeching sound of his sword. I think I saw him at the Meeting, but I’m not sure.”
“He was at the Meeting, but I suppose you were simply doing your job.”
“Yes. I tend to keep my personal life away from work.”
“Well, that’s what it means to be a professional.”
“Indeed.” She paused. “Which reminds me, the idol that you asked me to investigate is related to something called the Genesis Project, and she got a Level Two authority over the marionettes and Guardians.”
“...What?!” Lumiere snapped. “So it came down to that after all. I suppose it was inescapable destiny. Regardless, Weiss, good work, perhaps you should take some rest too.”
“I’ll rest once my work here is done, for now I’ll protect you, ma’am.” She nodded.
“Sheesh… you are too hardworking.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Natsu was finished with classes for the day. It was the third day in the Academy for her. She was slowly getting used to her new life. Balancing her idol career and studying was still quite the task to surmount, but she was starting to accept it bit by bit. If anything, it still scared her that some of the scholars here would want her life taken.
On her way to the dormitory, there was an exotic man in a suit who seemed to be looking around, and upon chancing a glance at Natsu, he approached her.
“Good day, little miss,” he greeted. “Do you understand English?”
“Huh...?” Natsu didn't expect to be approached by the man. “Ah, hai... I mean, yes,” Natsu responded in English to assure the man that she could. “Did you need something?” Natsu asked politely.
“Erm, yes. I am looking for Kaze—Kazehaya Natsu’s class. Are you her classmate?” Michael replied, relieved that the student was able to understand him.
“Ah, that's my name,” Natsu said with a small giggle and a smile. "So, you were looking for me?"
Michael returned the girl’s smile. “In fact, I am. I apologize for not introducing myself, my name is Michael, Michael Kallweit. You could say I wanted to meet you, miss,” he said, offering his hand for a handshake.
“Michael Kallweit-san?” Natsu repeated his name in order to make sure she remembered it correctly. She returned his handshake, and said, “It's nice to meet you!” It had been ages since Natsu had greeted someone in such a manner, outside of her idol work. Shaking hands wasn't a prevalent tradition in Japan.
“I did not expect for you to speak English so well, Miss Kazehaya.” Her cheerfulness reminded him of the times he was with Iris. He imagined that Iris would love to be friends with this girl. Well, at least before she got healed. I think. “Do you have time or are you in a hurry? I would not wish to intrude on your schedule,” he inquired.
“I should have some time…” Natsu informed Michael, glancing at her phone to check the clock. She needed to check into her production office later today, but there were a couple of hours between the end of her classes and that. “Is there something you needed me for?”
Michael scratched the back of his head, remembering that he was explicitly told that he was to guard the girl without her noticing. “Erm, well… Not exactly? You could say I am… an interviewer… of sorts, Hahaha.” He had realized he was unaccustomed to talking to young girls after all.
“Hmm?” Natsu tilted her head, not understanding his meaning. “So, you're like a reporter?” she asked, with a confused look on her face. “Wait, that can't be, this Academy is in the Magic Realm…” Natsu murmured to herself, growing a bit suspicious of the man. She looked the man straight in the eye and questioned him warily. “Who exactly are you, Michael-san?”
Michael sighed, recalling how Mary mocked his ability to lie. He pulled out the crucifix pendant he was wearing inside of his clothes then spoke, “To be completely honest, I was sent here by a party of interest and was tasked to help defend you, just in case.” Well, something like that. Michael returned the pendant to his shirt and then made an apologetic smile towards her. “Forgive me for lying, but I forgot I was told by the Headmistress to not approach you. But by the time I remembered, it was too late…”
“Huh, is that so...?” Natsu said, her voice trailing off. It seemed more believable when the Headmistress was mentioned. She did promise that people would protect Natsu, but even those from outside the country? Natsu was surprised at the lengths they were going to in order to assure her safety. “In that case, thank you! I really appreciate it!” Natsu said gratefully, her mood returning to a happy state. “But, why didn't they want you to speak with me...? I would feel more comfortable knowing what kind of people are keeping an eye on me. You seem like a kind man, Michael-san,” she stated earnestly.
Michael was surprised by the girl’s positive response towards him. “My organization doesn’t exactly play nice with others, to be completely honest. Are you perhaps new to the community of the Magic World?” he asked her with a smile. He had assumed so when he considered her response to him, for if she knew he was from the Church, she might’ve feared or at least found a way to end their conversation. Especially considering that she was a Descendant and he was an Executor.
Natsu laughed awkwardly. “Yes...I only learned of the existence of magic a couple months ago…” she admitted with an embarrassed look. “I enrolled here so that I could understand everything that's happening around me,” Natsu added while nodding her head. She seemed determined.
“How do you find it so far? I hope your experience with the Magic World has been mostly enjoyable,” he said. The girl’s attitude in general filled him with hope, and a question. Was this the same girl that did that slaughter months ago? I find it hard to believe.
“It’s been... unpleasant, to say the least…” Natsu said in a soft mumble. “Lots of things happened before I enrolled here…”
Michael sensed the uneasiness of the girl and patted her head without a second thought. “Please try to see instead the beautiful things magic can do. Admittedly, we are living in troubled times, but we are doing our best so that these times end quickly. Tomorrow—the future will be better, I promise.”
“I really hope so…” Natsu said somewhat dejectedly. It had been months, and still, it had been stressful. However, she took his words to heart and gave a small smile, telling him, “Thank you, Michael-san.”
On her way to the dormitory, there was an exotic man in a suit who seemed to be looking around, and upon chancing a glance at Natsu, he approached her.
“Good day, little miss,” he greeted. “Do you understand English?”
“Huh...?” Natsu didn't expect to be approached by the man. “Ah, hai... I mean, yes,” Natsu responded in English to assure the man that she could. “Did you need something?” Natsu asked politely.
“Erm, yes. I am looking for Kaze—Kazehaya Natsu’s class. Are you her classmate?” Michael replied, relieved that the student was able to understand him.
“Ah, that's my name,” Natsu said with a small giggle and a smile. "So, you were looking for me?"
Michael returned the girl’s smile. “In fact, I am. I apologize for not introducing myself, my name is Michael, Michael Kallweit. You could say I wanted to meet you, miss,” he said, offering his hand for a handshake.
“Michael Kallweit-san?” Natsu repeated his name in order to make sure she remembered it correctly. She returned his handshake, and said, “It's nice to meet you!” It had been ages since Natsu had greeted someone in such a manner, outside of her idol work. Shaking hands wasn't a prevalent tradition in Japan.
“I did not expect for you to speak English so well, Miss Kazehaya.” Her cheerfulness reminded him of the times he was with Iris. He imagined that Iris would love to be friends with this girl. Well, at least before she got healed. I think. “Do you have time or are you in a hurry? I would not wish to intrude on your schedule,” he inquired.
“I should have some time…” Natsu informed Michael, glancing at her phone to check the clock. She needed to check into her production office later today, but there were a couple of hours between the end of her classes and that. “Is there something you needed me for?”
Michael scratched the back of his head, remembering that he was explicitly told that he was to guard the girl without her noticing. “Erm, well… Not exactly? You could say I am… an interviewer… of sorts, Hahaha.” He had realized he was unaccustomed to talking to young girls after all.
“Hmm?” Natsu tilted her head, not understanding his meaning. “So, you're like a reporter?” she asked, with a confused look on her face. “Wait, that can't be, this Academy is in the Magic Realm…” Natsu murmured to herself, growing a bit suspicious of the man. She looked the man straight in the eye and questioned him warily. “Who exactly are you, Michael-san?”
Michael sighed, recalling how Mary mocked his ability to lie. He pulled out the crucifix pendant he was wearing inside of his clothes then spoke, “To be completely honest, I was sent here by a party of interest and was tasked to help defend you, just in case.” Well, something like that. Michael returned the pendant to his shirt and then made an apologetic smile towards her. “Forgive me for lying, but I forgot I was told by the Headmistress to not approach you. But by the time I remembered, it was too late…”
“Huh, is that so...?” Natsu said, her voice trailing off. It seemed more believable when the Headmistress was mentioned. She did promise that people would protect Natsu, but even those from outside the country? Natsu was surprised at the lengths they were going to in order to assure her safety. “In that case, thank you! I really appreciate it!” Natsu said gratefully, her mood returning to a happy state. “But, why didn't they want you to speak with me...? I would feel more comfortable knowing what kind of people are keeping an eye on me. You seem like a kind man, Michael-san,” she stated earnestly.
Michael was surprised by the girl’s positive response towards him. “My organization doesn’t exactly play nice with others, to be completely honest. Are you perhaps new to the community of the Magic World?” he asked her with a smile. He had assumed so when he considered her response to him, for if she knew he was from the Church, she might’ve feared or at least found a way to end their conversation. Especially considering that she was a Descendant and he was an Executor.
Natsu laughed awkwardly. “Yes...I only learned of the existence of magic a couple months ago…” she admitted with an embarrassed look. “I enrolled here so that I could understand everything that's happening around me,” Natsu added while nodding her head. She seemed determined.
“How do you find it so far? I hope your experience with the Magic World has been mostly enjoyable,” he said. The girl’s attitude in general filled him with hope, and a question. Was this the same girl that did that slaughter months ago? I find it hard to believe.
“It’s been... unpleasant, to say the least…” Natsu said in a soft mumble. “Lots of things happened before I enrolled here…”
Michael sensed the uneasiness of the girl and patted her head without a second thought. “Please try to see instead the beautiful things magic can do. Admittedly, we are living in troubled times, but we are doing our best so that these times end quickly. Tomorrow—the future will be better, I promise.”
“I really hope so…” Natsu said somewhat dejectedly. It had been months, and still, it had been stressful. However, she took his words to heart and gave a small smile, telling him, “Thank you, Michael-san.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Michael thought of himself as a responsible person. Ever since he was a young child, he had been taught that every person had certain responsibilities to carry in life, and that it differed from person to person. It took him a while to understand but he did learn the meaning behind it, for it was hard to ignore the realities staring one in the face, even if it was for just a young child. As he grew up, he never forgot the lessons he learned, and although sometimes it took some time, he’d always finished what was assigned to him. It became some sort of a habit, and eventually he slowly forgot to ask why. Was it because he inherently trusted these decisions?
He did not know.
Today started like any other. When he woke up he saw Lily’s bed neatly arranged. “As strict as always, Lily,” he spoke to no one in particular. Sighing to himself, he started arranging his own bed before going on his daily exercises. He was staying at a room thousands of kilometers away from home, yet his routine remained the same. Wake up, exercise, and eat breakfast. It had been a few days since he had arrived in this foreign land, and his first few days had been very productive, and he congratulated himself and his partner for that. However, as smoothly as these first few days went, he realized a glaring flaw in the decision-making about sending him into Japan.
He did not speak a word of its language.
It did not present itself that huge a problem at the start, for his partner was fluent in the language. He did not really understand the signs in the Academy, but he eventually memorized where the important areas were: where to eat, where to bathe, where to sleep. All the people he had talked to regarding his mission spoke English, and to be completely honest, some spoke English better than him. But now, he was just waiting, like a hunter who had set his trap. However, this inherently created a flaw he had noticed.
He had nothing to do.
Sighing for the second time that morning, he decided that he might as well continue his tour of the Academy, maybe this time in search of a library to read some books there. He couldn’t really do much else until his partner returned, and he swore to not cause any disturbance to the scholars, after all. “The library it is then. Wherever it may lie.” He decided as he tightened the buckle of his sword belt. After sliding the sheath into the belt, he walked out of the room, locking the door as he left.
He proceeded to the main corridors connecting the various rooms of the Academy’s main building, his head deep in thought as he walked. The classes were in session, so he was sure he wouldn’t be causing trouble as he walked around. He bit into the apple he had nicked from the kitchens as he turned on a corner, but suddenly he felt something bump into him.
“Ah…! Sorry about that…” an unfamiliar voice apologized.
Michael looked down to a head of scarlet. The woman stepped back, rubbing her eyes.
“No, no I wasn’t paying attention, I am sorry. Are you hurt?”
“No… not really,” she answered, yawning. “I was being careless, so don’t apologize.”
“No one is at fault then, Miss…?” Michael said as he looked at the girl he had bumped into. Scarlet hair accentuated by her pale white skin, and she was roughly as tall as Laura. Maybe Lily’s height? “Seems to me like you just woke up,” he observed.
“Not quite… it’s just so hot here that I got light-headed.” She continued to rub her eyes. “You don’t seem like you’re from around here, Mister… why are you coming towards the female toilet?”
“Huh, this isn’t the way to the library?” Michael asked, his curiosity piqued by the girl. “Aren’t the scholars supposed to be at class?”
“Our teacher is out for something, so we’re free to do self-studies… mnm, I guess I’m skipping, ehehe…” she answered, giving a rather mischievous smile. “I can take you to the library if you want, by the way.”
Michael grinned at the girl. “Well then, I’ll be in your care Miss. I am Michael Kallweit, by the way. What should I call the generous soul who would guide me?”
“Hm? Ah… my name is Hare Matsurika. Nice to meet you,” she introduced, giving a terse bow before passing by Michael and leading the way.
He did not know.
Today started like any other. When he woke up he saw Lily’s bed neatly arranged. “As strict as always, Lily,” he spoke to no one in particular. Sighing to himself, he started arranging his own bed before going on his daily exercises. He was staying at a room thousands of kilometers away from home, yet his routine remained the same. Wake up, exercise, and eat breakfast. It had been a few days since he had arrived in this foreign land, and his first few days had been very productive, and he congratulated himself and his partner for that. However, as smoothly as these first few days went, he realized a glaring flaw in the decision-making about sending him into Japan.
He did not speak a word of its language.
It did not present itself that huge a problem at the start, for his partner was fluent in the language. He did not really understand the signs in the Academy, but he eventually memorized where the important areas were: where to eat, where to bathe, where to sleep. All the people he had talked to regarding his mission spoke English, and to be completely honest, some spoke English better than him. But now, he was just waiting, like a hunter who had set his trap. However, this inherently created a flaw he had noticed.
He had nothing to do.
Sighing for the second time that morning, he decided that he might as well continue his tour of the Academy, maybe this time in search of a library to read some books there. He couldn’t really do much else until his partner returned, and he swore to not cause any disturbance to the scholars, after all. “The library it is then. Wherever it may lie.” He decided as he tightened the buckle of his sword belt. After sliding the sheath into the belt, he walked out of the room, locking the door as he left.
He proceeded to the main corridors connecting the various rooms of the Academy’s main building, his head deep in thought as he walked. The classes were in session, so he was sure he wouldn’t be causing trouble as he walked around. He bit into the apple he had nicked from the kitchens as he turned on a corner, but suddenly he felt something bump into him.
“Ah…! Sorry about that…” an unfamiliar voice apologized.
Michael looked down to a head of scarlet. The woman stepped back, rubbing her eyes.
“No, no I wasn’t paying attention, I am sorry. Are you hurt?”
“No… not really,” she answered, yawning. “I was being careless, so don’t apologize.”
“No one is at fault then, Miss…?” Michael said as he looked at the girl he had bumped into. Scarlet hair accentuated by her pale white skin, and she was roughly as tall as Laura. Maybe Lily’s height? “Seems to me like you just woke up,” he observed.
“Not quite… it’s just so hot here that I got light-headed.” She continued to rub her eyes. “You don’t seem like you’re from around here, Mister… why are you coming towards the female toilet?”
“Huh, this isn’t the way to the library?” Michael asked, his curiosity piqued by the girl. “Aren’t the scholars supposed to be at class?”
“Our teacher is out for something, so we’re free to do self-studies… mnm, I guess I’m skipping, ehehe…” she answered, giving a rather mischievous smile. “I can take you to the library if you want, by the way.”
Michael grinned at the girl. “Well then, I’ll be in your care Miss. I am Michael Kallweit, by the way. What should I call the generous soul who would guide me?”
“Hm? Ah… my name is Hare Matsurika. Nice to meet you,” she introduced, giving a terse bow before passing by Michael and leading the way.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
The library appeared to be quaint. The familiar scent of books danced across the place. Michael came across countless shelves of books. Some scholars seemed to be studying there, despite the classes being in session. In fact, some seemingly from the staff were also researching with books. There seemed to be someone who was like a young caretaker, using magic to sort books out in the corner; making books fly across the air.
Hare sat down, finding unoccupied chairs across a table.
“So, what are you looking for here?”
“Not really sure, you could say I have quite a bit of time to waste,” Michael replied, sitting across Hare. “What were you supposed to do if you didn’t bump to me?” He rested his cheek on his left hand, unsure on what topic he wanted to read about.
Hare slumped her head down on the desk. “Dunno. Wander? I’m bored. You have any amusing ideas?”
“Well, I don’t really wanna get kicked out by doing something troubling...” Michael said, sighing. “I’m here for a certain matter, and right now I’m basically waiting for things to happen.”
“Then let’s talk. Why is a priest of the Church here in this Academy?” Hare asked, smirking. “Surely something interesting is going ooooon… riiight?”
Michael’s hand slipped from surprise and his face almost hit the table. “You knew, huh?”
“With the cross, the scent around you, and your facial features… well, it isn’t exactly hard to tell from how you speak, too. You didn’t find it strange that I could speak in English, being a Shrine Maiden?”
“My smell? I made sure I took a bath though…” Michael frowned. “I figured some of you scholars are able to talk in English so I wasn’t that surprised anymore…”
“Among the Hime Mikos, I was one of the few who was taught about the Western world early… so yeah. I have a sensitive nose, by the way. So I can telllll,” Hare said, smiling wider after hearing about the bath Michael took. The length of her nose certainly rose in her mind.
“You said you’re a Shrine Maiden? I thought your dress was something of a fashion statement in Japan, to be honest.”
“Hahah! Of course not, we Mikos simply wear that stuff to… uh, why was it again? Dunno, we just do, but man, it sure is hot here. How are you able to run around in that stuffy-looking suit?”
“Your clothes look cool to me, though,” Michael replied. The girl’s smile was causing him to smile too. “I guess I just got used to it? I’m actually wearing less stuff than when I am in London. Are you sure you don’t have some sort of seasonal sickness or something of the sort?”
“Mnm… well I am attuned to heat and fire in a way no one else is, so I guess it’s just annoyingly hot for me sometimes,” Hare replied, sighing. “I get a lot of fevers too… ugh. So, anyway, how’s it here in Japan compared to London?”
“Haven’t really had a chance to go out. Can’t speak Japanese, remember? My partner is too strict to take time and walk leisurely, anyway.” Michael took note of the strange feeling he sensed from the girl, strange due to the fact that it wasn’t anything he had encountered so far.
“Mnm… I see. You didn’t come prepared, eh? Heh. What are you after here? If you wanted to label the Buddhists as heretics you’d be killing left and right by now. So that means… ahh, I see, vampires, right?”
“My mother said a gentleman should be filled with mysteries,” Michael teased.
“That doesn’t include ladies, smarty-pants.”
“I guess so. I didn’t think she was serious when she told me that, to be completely honest.” Michael shrugged. “What’s a Buddhist Meko doing in the Academy anyway?”
“It’s †˜Mi-ko.’ Anyway, we weren’t supposed to be enrolled in the past, but our elders finally decided that we should uhh… what was it agaaaaaain? Riiiiight. Something about learning more and uhh… learning more about the western world… man all of that sounded boring at first. Though, now I think it’s interesting with all the western stuff here . It’s less hotter here too.”
“Wouldn't it be better to learn in London? They do not wish to be that far from you, huh?”
“What kinda person would go to the enemy’s territory for academic studies? The Japanese and the westerners are at war for the most part, right?”
“Oh. Right. Well, as you've guessed, we don't really care about that. The Church, I mean.”
“That can’t be true when the Church did supply some of their knights, priests, and nuns in the last Great Mages’ War, but to each their own. Meh. Not like everyone likes wars. I just like to laze around anyway.”
“Well, they did send me here.” Michael thought about it for a moment and realized he was in the lower ranks in terms of importance. “Huh. Well. I think you should try to learn what you can here. It would be a waste not to.”
“Maybe! One day! Certainly… later!” And that was how his encouragements were immediately dismissed by Hare. “Hey, treat me to something. You’re older, right? I want to drink something cold.”
Michael’s eyebrow twitched at the girl’s attitude. He sighed, “I'll treat you with something nice and cold if you promise to study well.”
“A thing like studying is not motivated by others, but themselves! But reaaaaallly? You wouldn’t even pay back the big girl who showed you to the library? So ungratefuuuul. Hasn’t someone taught a priest to be a kind gentleman?”
“Haaaa... Fine. Let's get you something cold. You’re staying with me though, we'll be studying together. But first.” He stood up and lightly chopped the girl’s head.
“Study together? You mean like all those boys who stare at my chest? Mister, are you a pervert posing as a priest?” Hare questioned with a smirk. “Kyaa.” She pretended to be embarrassed. “That’s not good, you know? You can’t concentrate on studying if you do that.”
“Stare at your che—” Michael palmed his face. “Let's just... Do you want the drink or not?”
“Haha! Your face is red. You’re amusing… alright, alright, I’ll drop the joke,” Hare said, putting her smile down and getting up. “After you, gentleman.”
“Heh. After you, vixen,” the priest gestured towards the exit.
“And that’s the second time I have to lead you around. Another favor right there!”
Hare sat down, finding unoccupied chairs across a table.
“So, what are you looking for here?”
“Not really sure, you could say I have quite a bit of time to waste,” Michael replied, sitting across Hare. “What were you supposed to do if you didn’t bump to me?” He rested his cheek on his left hand, unsure on what topic he wanted to read about.
Hare slumped her head down on the desk. “Dunno. Wander? I’m bored. You have any amusing ideas?”
“Well, I don’t really wanna get kicked out by doing something troubling...” Michael said, sighing. “I’m here for a certain matter, and right now I’m basically waiting for things to happen.”
“Then let’s talk. Why is a priest of the Church here in this Academy?” Hare asked, smirking. “Surely something interesting is going ooooon… riiight?”
Michael’s hand slipped from surprise and his face almost hit the table. “You knew, huh?”
“With the cross, the scent around you, and your facial features… well, it isn’t exactly hard to tell from how you speak, too. You didn’t find it strange that I could speak in English, being a Shrine Maiden?”
“My smell? I made sure I took a bath though…” Michael frowned. “I figured some of you scholars are able to talk in English so I wasn’t that surprised anymore…”
“Among the Hime Mikos, I was one of the few who was taught about the Western world early… so yeah. I have a sensitive nose, by the way. So I can telllll,” Hare said, smiling wider after hearing about the bath Michael took. The length of her nose certainly rose in her mind.
“You said you’re a Shrine Maiden? I thought your dress was something of a fashion statement in Japan, to be honest.”
“Hahah! Of course not, we Mikos simply wear that stuff to… uh, why was it again? Dunno, we just do, but man, it sure is hot here. How are you able to run around in that stuffy-looking suit?”
“Your clothes look cool to me, though,” Michael replied. The girl’s smile was causing him to smile too. “I guess I just got used to it? I’m actually wearing less stuff than when I am in London. Are you sure you don’t have some sort of seasonal sickness or something of the sort?”
“Mnm… well I am attuned to heat and fire in a way no one else is, so I guess it’s just annoyingly hot for me sometimes,” Hare replied, sighing. “I get a lot of fevers too… ugh. So, anyway, how’s it here in Japan compared to London?”
“Haven’t really had a chance to go out. Can’t speak Japanese, remember? My partner is too strict to take time and walk leisurely, anyway.” Michael took note of the strange feeling he sensed from the girl, strange due to the fact that it wasn’t anything he had encountered so far.
“Mnm… I see. You didn’t come prepared, eh? Heh. What are you after here? If you wanted to label the Buddhists as heretics you’d be killing left and right by now. So that means… ahh, I see, vampires, right?”
“My mother said a gentleman should be filled with mysteries,” Michael teased.
“That doesn’t include ladies, smarty-pants.”
“I guess so. I didn’t think she was serious when she told me that, to be completely honest.” Michael shrugged. “What’s a Buddhist Meko doing in the Academy anyway?”
“It’s †˜Mi-ko.’ Anyway, we weren’t supposed to be enrolled in the past, but our elders finally decided that we should uhh… what was it agaaaaaain? Riiiiight. Something about learning more and uhh… learning more about the western world… man all of that sounded boring at first. Though, now I think it’s interesting with all the western stuff here . It’s less hotter here too.”
“Wouldn't it be better to learn in London? They do not wish to be that far from you, huh?”
“What kinda person would go to the enemy’s territory for academic studies? The Japanese and the westerners are at war for the most part, right?”
“Oh. Right. Well, as you've guessed, we don't really care about that. The Church, I mean.”
“That can’t be true when the Church did supply some of their knights, priests, and nuns in the last Great Mages’ War, but to each their own. Meh. Not like everyone likes wars. I just like to laze around anyway.”
“Well, they did send me here.” Michael thought about it for a moment and realized he was in the lower ranks in terms of importance. “Huh. Well. I think you should try to learn what you can here. It would be a waste not to.”
“Maybe! One day! Certainly… later!” And that was how his encouragements were immediately dismissed by Hare. “Hey, treat me to something. You’re older, right? I want to drink something cold.”
Michael’s eyebrow twitched at the girl’s attitude. He sighed, “I'll treat you with something nice and cold if you promise to study well.”
“A thing like studying is not motivated by others, but themselves! But reaaaaallly? You wouldn’t even pay back the big girl who showed you to the library? So ungratefuuuul. Hasn’t someone taught a priest to be a kind gentleman?”
“Haaaa... Fine. Let's get you something cold. You’re staying with me though, we'll be studying together. But first.” He stood up and lightly chopped the girl’s head.
“Study together? You mean like all those boys who stare at my chest? Mister, are you a pervert posing as a priest?” Hare questioned with a smirk. “Kyaa.” She pretended to be embarrassed. “That’s not good, you know? You can’t concentrate on studying if you do that.”
“Stare at your che—” Michael palmed his face. “Let's just... Do you want the drink or not?”
“Haha! Your face is red. You’re amusing… alright, alright, I’ll drop the joke,” Hare said, putting her smile down and getting up. “After you, gentleman.”
“Heh. After you, vixen,” the priest gestured towards the exit.
“And that’s the second time I have to lead you around. Another favor right there!”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“Ah, it’s so cold!” Hare held a can of a tomato juice. An iced tomato juice. She then handed Michael an iced coffee can from the vending machine, before pressing her own drink can against her cheek. “Feels good if you do that, especially when it’s hot. C’mon, priest, try it.”
“Why is this coffee cold?” Michael asked, observing the can rather than copying what Hare told him.
“Because it can be great that way. Try it. It’s good,” Hare replied in a matter-of-factly manner.
“What’s next, cold tea?” Michael joked, opening the can. “Hm, this is good indeed,” he said after gulping it down.
“Hm? We do have iced tea though? What about it?” Hare inquired, tilting her head.
“Huh. Do you have sweet biscuits?” Michael asked, not entirely believing what Hare said. But she gave no reason for him to distrust her, and she just gave him cold coffee. Even if he paid for it.
“I could grab some if you’re that hungry,” Hare said with indifference. “They’re out of the world, if you haven’t tried them already.”
“Eh, I’ll go with you, then. Let’s finish our snacks there,” Michael said as he stood up and drank the rest of his coffee. “Also, let’s try that cold tea.”
“Try get it yourself this time. I mean, practice makes perfect; since I hear a lot of Brit-gents fail to get their drinks from vending machines,” Hare lazily said, pointing at the buttons and the slit where the money was supposed to be inserted. “That said, if you’re picky about your tea, make sure you check which you’re getting… I mean, there’s iced green tea, iced ginger tea… and whatnot.”
“On the other hand, this coffee is pretty good, I think I’ll get this again instead. Also, that’s a dumb rumour,” he replied, taking money out of his pocket. He walked to the machine and followed Hare’s instructions. After he had chosen the can of coffee, he waited for it to drop and picked it up—in his hand was a can of iced tea.
“Hahaha! I didn’t really believe it when I heard it, but this is awesome. Seeing rumors come true is a spectacular thing to see,” Hare remarked while laughing and holding her stomach. “Well, at least you didn’t get one of those chilli drinks.”
“So… I guess this is the fabled Iced Tea,” he said as he put the can on top of Hare’s head.
“An iced green tea, yes—hey, my head isn’t your can stand!”
“It’s cold, though. Isn’t it?”
“W-Well… can’t argue with that,” Hare said, already seemingly pleased from the coolness spreading about on her scalp.
“I wonder how long it will take till it gets hot enough,” Michael mumbled to himself.
“It won’t be hot enough!”
“Why is this coffee cold?” Michael asked, observing the can rather than copying what Hare told him.
“Because it can be great that way. Try it. It’s good,” Hare replied in a matter-of-factly manner.
“What’s next, cold tea?” Michael joked, opening the can. “Hm, this is good indeed,” he said after gulping it down.
“Hm? We do have iced tea though? What about it?” Hare inquired, tilting her head.
“Huh. Do you have sweet biscuits?” Michael asked, not entirely believing what Hare said. But she gave no reason for him to distrust her, and she just gave him cold coffee. Even if he paid for it.
“I could grab some if you’re that hungry,” Hare said with indifference. “They’re out of the world, if you haven’t tried them already.”
“Eh, I’ll go with you, then. Let’s finish our snacks there,” Michael said as he stood up and drank the rest of his coffee. “Also, let’s try that cold tea.”
“Try get it yourself this time. I mean, practice makes perfect; since I hear a lot of Brit-gents fail to get their drinks from vending machines,” Hare lazily said, pointing at the buttons and the slit where the money was supposed to be inserted. “That said, if you’re picky about your tea, make sure you check which you’re getting… I mean, there’s iced green tea, iced ginger tea… and whatnot.”
“On the other hand, this coffee is pretty good, I think I’ll get this again instead. Also, that’s a dumb rumour,” he replied, taking money out of his pocket. He walked to the machine and followed Hare’s instructions. After he had chosen the can of coffee, he waited for it to drop and picked it up—in his hand was a can of iced tea.
“Hahaha! I didn’t really believe it when I heard it, but this is awesome. Seeing rumors come true is a spectacular thing to see,” Hare remarked while laughing and holding her stomach. “Well, at least you didn’t get one of those chilli drinks.”
“So… I guess this is the fabled Iced Tea,” he said as he put the can on top of Hare’s head.
“An iced green tea, yes—hey, my head isn’t your can stand!”
“It’s cold, though. Isn’t it?”
“W-Well… can’t argue with that,” Hare said, already seemingly pleased from the coolness spreading about on her scalp.
“I wonder how long it will take till it gets hot enough,” Michael mumbled to himself.
“It won’t be hot enough!”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
With the can of iced green tea somehow balanced on Hare’s head, the two arrived at the cafeteria. Michael could see some strands of icy cold water going down her face due to the sweating can, but she seemed much calmer than her lazy and wobbly-self for some reason as a result of placing the can on her head… and she seemed pleased. Really pleased.
“Here, biscuits, you owe big sister here much more now!” she said, placing the can down before Michael on the table they shared now after placing a pack of sweet biscuits.
“Thank you very much. Although, I am older than you so if anything, I’m the big brother here.” He opened the pack of biscuits, which he had paid for, and took a piece. “I like sweet things,” He commented.
“Hush, I am the older sister by default,” Hare huffed, drinking her tomato juice. She then took the piece of biscuit Michael was about to eat. “That’s not how you eat,” she said with a smirk. “With an older sister around, this is how it goes! Say †˜aaah.’” Hare brought the biscuit closer to Michael’s mouth, trying to feed him.
Michael tilted his head for a second, wondering why the girl felt compelled to feed him. However, if he decided to argue with her, he felt like it would take longer before he could eat. Sighing in his mind in defeat, he took the whole biscuit Hare was holding into his mouth. “Thfiss is goofd,” he said while having a mouth filled with biscuit.
“Jeez, don’t chew while talking,” Hare said, while chewing down a biscuit as she spoke herself.
“My bad,” Michael said after he swallowed his food. “It was good, the biscuit,” he said as he took his can of now lukewarm tea and opening it.
“So how is it?” Hare questioned, putting her head over the backs of her hands.
“Well, it’s too warm to be iced, and too cold to be hot. It didn’t reach the proper temperature after all,” Michael commented, looking at the can.
“I told you. It’d not reach the kind of hotness you wanted. Like, I warned you earlier! Really!”
“What did you get?” Michael asked, pointing at the food.
“Nothing really. I didn’t really feel like getting anything in particular. So I just stuck with this drink,” she said, slurping on her tomato juice.
Michael took a biscuit and brought it closer to Hare. “Here.”
“Oh, good pet, you. Aaaah.”
After feeding Hare the biscuit—who savored it and enjoyed the cream filling like it was addictive— Michael took a sip of the tea, not seeing how lewdly Hare ate the food. “So how is i-” He choked on tea as he saw her chewing.
“Hm? Something the matter?” Hare asked, finally gulping down the biscuit. “You seem stumped about something.”
“Stop eating like that,” Michael commented, biting another piece of biscuit. “It’s distracting,” he finished.
“But I like to enjoy my food,” Hare earnest stated, “Or do you just like how I eat?” She smirked.
“Eat and savor your food properly!” he said, lightly chopping her head.
“Like this?” Hare parted the biscuits and revealed the layer of cream before slowly licking the cream off with an erotic look at Michael. She then ate the cream. “Mnm, it’s so good.”
Michael just averted his gaze and continued sipping tea. “So, what is it that you wanted to learn about the West?”
“I don’t think there is much to learn when I think about it—I sorta got lazier after I came here—as far as my interests are concerned anyway,” Hare said, with a yawn, apparently growing bored from the change of subjects. “But the elders think there is much for us to learn… well, I guess I sorta learned, and sorta didn’t… sorta.”
“Well then, what are you interested in?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“I… think.”
Hare smiled, but somehow there was a bit of melancholy mixed in it.
“The Descendants.”
“Here, biscuits, you owe big sister here much more now!” she said, placing the can down before Michael on the table they shared now after placing a pack of sweet biscuits.
“Thank you very much. Although, I am older than you so if anything, I’m the big brother here.” He opened the pack of biscuits, which he had paid for, and took a piece. “I like sweet things,” He commented.
“Hush, I am the older sister by default,” Hare huffed, drinking her tomato juice. She then took the piece of biscuit Michael was about to eat. “That’s not how you eat,” she said with a smirk. “With an older sister around, this is how it goes! Say †˜aaah.’” Hare brought the biscuit closer to Michael’s mouth, trying to feed him.
Michael tilted his head for a second, wondering why the girl felt compelled to feed him. However, if he decided to argue with her, he felt like it would take longer before he could eat. Sighing in his mind in defeat, he took the whole biscuit Hare was holding into his mouth. “Thfiss is goofd,” he said while having a mouth filled with biscuit.
“Jeez, don’t chew while talking,” Hare said, while chewing down a biscuit as she spoke herself.
“My bad,” Michael said after he swallowed his food. “It was good, the biscuit,” he said as he took his can of now lukewarm tea and opening it.
“So how is it?” Hare questioned, putting her head over the backs of her hands.
“Well, it’s too warm to be iced, and too cold to be hot. It didn’t reach the proper temperature after all,” Michael commented, looking at the can.
“I told you. It’d not reach the kind of hotness you wanted. Like, I warned you earlier! Really!”
“What did you get?” Michael asked, pointing at the food.
“Nothing really. I didn’t really feel like getting anything in particular. So I just stuck with this drink,” she said, slurping on her tomato juice.
Michael took a biscuit and brought it closer to Hare. “Here.”
“Oh, good pet, you. Aaaah.”
After feeding Hare the biscuit—who savored it and enjoyed the cream filling like it was addictive— Michael took a sip of the tea, not seeing how lewdly Hare ate the food. “So how is i-” He choked on tea as he saw her chewing.
“Hm? Something the matter?” Hare asked, finally gulping down the biscuit. “You seem stumped about something.”
“Stop eating like that,” Michael commented, biting another piece of biscuit. “It’s distracting,” he finished.
“But I like to enjoy my food,” Hare earnest stated, “Or do you just like how I eat?” She smirked.
“Eat and savor your food properly!” he said, lightly chopping her head.
“Like this?” Hare parted the biscuits and revealed the layer of cream before slowly licking the cream off with an erotic look at Michael. She then ate the cream. “Mnm, it’s so good.”
Michael just averted his gaze and continued sipping tea. “So, what is it that you wanted to learn about the West?”
“I don’t think there is much to learn when I think about it—I sorta got lazier after I came here—as far as my interests are concerned anyway,” Hare said, with a yawn, apparently growing bored from the change of subjects. “But the elders think there is much for us to learn… well, I guess I sorta learned, and sorta didn’t… sorta.”
“Well then, what are you interested in?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“I… think.”
Hare smiled, but somehow there was a bit of melancholy mixed in it.
“The Descendants.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“What… is this place, Takashiro-san?”
“Welcome to the Library of Geneva, Kazehaya-san.”
“It’s… huge! I didn’t know there was such an awesome library like this in Japan.”
Natsu was on a tour across places related to magic in Japan. Since it was Takashiro the politician’s idea—and it was Sunday—this was completely acceptable for the Academy to allow. Since Takashiro was there, they agreed to not send staff members to protect her.
“Well, let us enter, shall we?” Takashiro gestured, ushering Natsu to go through the entrance of the seventy-floor building. According to him, all the floors except the first were parts of the library—full with books and shelves.
Natsu walked past a second entrance which scanned her very being, and then she faced a receptionist. It seemed like there were rooms so people could simply live in this massive library.
“Ah, she’s just here for a tour,” Takashiro explained to the woman who asked if Natsu wanted a room booked for her.
He then lead her to an elevator and they took off straight to the fiftieth floor.
Natsu saw a few men across the floor here. The shelves were twice the length of any ordinary ones, and apparently people could freely get any books because every floor had a device that would let one pick a book out regardless of the height. Because these book-fetching robots could fly.
“So… there are all kinds of books here, but are these special books here, or something?” Natsu curiously asked. Who’d think such a place existed in Japan? Why hide its existence and not let the mundanes know? She could think that there were many books about magic here, but even then, if what Takashiro said was true, there were many mage families in Japan… yet it seemed so vacant.
“Yes, there are many different kinds of books here, and we even have books that no one understands,” Takashiro explained, offering a chair to Natsu after they walked for some moments.
“Books that no one understands? Like… different languages?”
“Yes, as you may have figured now that you know the state of the world; our country only follows few languages, and there are many languages beyond our country that are never used here. However, the government scavenged tomes and old books from all over the world in pursuit of knowledge so that our mages could become stronger… unfortunately, deciphering wasn’t as easy a process as we thought it’d be.”
“I… see, so most of the books here are…”
“Not here. The books from floor sixty and beyond are all untranslated. Alice-san has been the only one able to decipher ancient tomes so far, and the last ten years, she translated from floor fifty-seven to fifty-nine. Due to missions, career, and whatnot, however, this process is extremely slow. Not that the government really minds.”
“But still, this place really is just amazing, even if some books are inaccessible. It’s also amazing to consider that Alice-san could translate!”
“Indeed, but that is not the real purpose of this Library.”
“It isn’t?”
“You may have realized that there aren’t as many people as you’d think there are. This is because only members of the Library may access the contents here.”
“And how does one become a member?”
“Well, most of the process is usually very complicated, and is connected to the government and Alice-san herself, but basically, the Library of Geneva is an Organization before a Library. This building is its base, so to speak. Our job here is to protect Japan from all kinds of †˜magical’ calamities that may come to the country. However, we don’t necessarily deal with the Europeans, we’re there more for the other kinds of troubles that may come to pass. Of course, our priorities are somewhat different from the Shrine Organization, and we deal with different kinds of issues too… like people abusing magic in the society, or the likes.”
“Ahh, I see. That sounds important indeed.”
Takashiro then checked his wristwatch.
“Alright, let’s move to the next spot for the tour.”
“Welcome to the Library of Geneva, Kazehaya-san.”
“It’s… huge! I didn’t know there was such an awesome library like this in Japan.”
Natsu was on a tour across places related to magic in Japan. Since it was Takashiro the politician’s idea—and it was Sunday—this was completely acceptable for the Academy to allow. Since Takashiro was there, they agreed to not send staff members to protect her.
“Well, let us enter, shall we?” Takashiro gestured, ushering Natsu to go through the entrance of the seventy-floor building. According to him, all the floors except the first were parts of the library—full with books and shelves.
Natsu walked past a second entrance which scanned her very being, and then she faced a receptionist. It seemed like there were rooms so people could simply live in this massive library.
“Ah, she’s just here for a tour,” Takashiro explained to the woman who asked if Natsu wanted a room booked for her.
He then lead her to an elevator and they took off straight to the fiftieth floor.
Natsu saw a few men across the floor here. The shelves were twice the length of any ordinary ones, and apparently people could freely get any books because every floor had a device that would let one pick a book out regardless of the height. Because these book-fetching robots could fly.
“So… there are all kinds of books here, but are these special books here, or something?” Natsu curiously asked. Who’d think such a place existed in Japan? Why hide its existence and not let the mundanes know? She could think that there were many books about magic here, but even then, if what Takashiro said was true, there were many mage families in Japan… yet it seemed so vacant.
“Yes, there are many different kinds of books here, and we even have books that no one understands,” Takashiro explained, offering a chair to Natsu after they walked for some moments.
“Books that no one understands? Like… different languages?”
“Yes, as you may have figured now that you know the state of the world; our country only follows few languages, and there are many languages beyond our country that are never used here. However, the government scavenged tomes and old books from all over the world in pursuit of knowledge so that our mages could become stronger… unfortunately, deciphering wasn’t as easy a process as we thought it’d be.”
“I… see, so most of the books here are…”
“Not here. The books from floor sixty and beyond are all untranslated. Alice-san has been the only one able to decipher ancient tomes so far, and the last ten years, she translated from floor fifty-seven to fifty-nine. Due to missions, career, and whatnot, however, this process is extremely slow. Not that the government really minds.”
“But still, this place really is just amazing, even if some books are inaccessible. It’s also amazing to consider that Alice-san could translate!”
“Indeed, but that is not the real purpose of this Library.”
“It isn’t?”
“You may have realized that there aren’t as many people as you’d think there are. This is because only members of the Library may access the contents here.”
“And how does one become a member?”
“Well, most of the process is usually very complicated, and is connected to the government and Alice-san herself, but basically, the Library of Geneva is an Organization before a Library. This building is its base, so to speak. Our job here is to protect Japan from all kinds of †˜magical’ calamities that may come to the country. However, we don’t necessarily deal with the Europeans, we’re there more for the other kinds of troubles that may come to pass. Of course, our priorities are somewhat different from the Shrine Organization, and we deal with different kinds of issues too… like people abusing magic in the society, or the likes.”
“Ahh, I see. That sounds important indeed.”
Takashiro then checked his wristwatch.
“Alright, let’s move to the next spot for the tour.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Today Tsuruko was praying at the shrine of Meiji. There was no better place for this. Considering Susanoo had her meet him here, she could only think to come here.
She clapped and faced the statue within the shrine and prayed… while she heard Susanoo speak.
“Ahh, Orihime-san, your eyes and hair are as sparkly as the stars, like always…”
“O-Oh… Susanoo-sama, you praise overmuch.”
Perhaps it was because she was closely linked with Susanoo more than ever, but now she could hear the voices of the deities that Susanoo would speak with, including his voice, of course.
Tsuruko was trying to concentrate on her prayers like Susanoo asked her to, but the strange banter between him and the female deity seemed to almost interfere. But she wasn’t one to comment about the storm deity’s actions. She was thankful for his power. It was also a strange and relevating experience to hear other deities speak, too.
“Oh, hello.” Tsuruko turned to find Ame, who she met the day before yesterday in the Academy. “Apologies if I disturbed you,” she said, joining her hands for a prayer beside her. “I see you are devoted, coming here on your only free day.”
Tsuruko closed back her eyes and faced straight again. “Yes. It is a need for me to pray every day, to seek solace and tranquility.”
“While listening to a perverted old man who claims to be a deity?”
“You can hear him too?”
“I was born with it. The ability known as †˜Exceptional Hearing’.”
“I see. Then, what can you tell me about him?”
“What do you want me to say about him?”
“Is everything asking for too much?”
“Of course. There is some information Hime Mikos are not allowed to divulge.”
“Hmm. What is the basis then…?” Tsuruko wondered why the control of information was so important to the Shine.
“Basis? Of what, exactly?”
“I recalled that you said he was an old man claiming to be a deity?” Tsuruko tilted her head slightly. “I’m not surprised if that is the case.”
“I’m surprised you’re asking even though you’d not be surprised. The answer is simple: there is no deity, to the eyes of the Hime Miko anyway. The entities are simply spirits of the dead beings from foreign Realms. Basis would be our ability to see through these things, I suppose.”
“Hmm… ” Tsuruko opened her eyes slightly and faced Ame. “So you can hear and see things that cannot be normally be heard or seen?”
“My sister can see things many can’t, and I can hear things many can’t.”
“That seems like an exceptional ability to have. Can you control it?”
“Of course I can. Why would I not be able to?”
“Oh, I was just wondering if there are things that you don’t want to hear.”
“There are. A lot, at that. This ability is so potent that it is impossible to lower it to the level of ordinary people. What about you? What kind of an exceptional ability do you have?”
“Nothing much. Just sometimes the airflow around me seems to change itself every now and then.”
“Oh. That isn’t an effect of your sword there?”
“Yes. That is why I said it isn’t anything much.”
Doesn’t even seem to answer the question… what is with this strange girl? Ame thought. Before she was about to speak, however, she was interrupted.
“Ah, Ame!” Natsu called out.
“Natsu? What are you doing here?”
“I’m being toured across places considered †˜magical’ across Tokyo… or something like that, by Takashiro-san,” Natsu explained.
“Takashiro...san? Oh, that Takashiro-san,” Ame said, reminding herself of the politician who stood some distance away before the entrance to the temple.
“Ame! Come and help me out hereeee,” an unfamiliar voice called out.
“Uh, I apologize, but I have to go now. Have fun with the tour, Natsu, and it was nice speaking with you, Tsuruko-san,” Ame said, giving terse bows to the two before taking leave.
“Um, hello,” Natsu greeted. “Are you a friend of Ame?” she asked Tsuruko, facing the Buddha idol.
“An acquaintance,” Tsuruko remarked. “My name is Tsuruko of the Fuyuo family.” She bowed towards Natsu.
Natsu gave a bow in return followed by a natural smile. “My name is Kazehaya Natsu, it is a pleasure to meet you, Fuyuo-san!”
Tsuruko was taken aback by the cheerfulness of Natsu. She somehow vaguely remembered that she saw her figure somewhere, but she couldn’t remember. “Same here.” She broke a smile at Natsu.
“Are you also one of those who studies at the Academy?” Natsu asked. “If you know Ame, you must be one of the Hime Mikos?”
“I am not one of them, for I’m not as well off as them. I’m what you call an Exception, I guess.”
“Ahh, an Exception. Ame was explaining to me about them… my brother is also one I hear.”
“He is cursed as well? Well, I say cursed, but it’s more like …haunted?”
“H-Haunted?!” Natsu almost exclaimed. Her brother—who seemed tired, or rather, lazy—who was always relaxing in the house was actually haunted? She could somehow make sense of it, but it sounded rather farfetched in his case. Then again, according to the Headmistress he had been going to the Academy to train and learn much like her… speaking of which, she had yet to meet him, even now. Was he on leave? “H...How are Exceptions haunted, exactly?”
“I’m not too sure myself,” Tsuruko said, “Having never met any other Exceptions… but I think, the basis is, at some point of our lives, something bad happened to us, and it will affect us our whole lifetime in one way or another. At least that’s how I think it is…”
“I… I see,” Natsu said, a little taken aback. This made her think what may have happened to her brother, if any. The possibilities weren’t so far off now that she knew that he was a studying scholar who was born with an ability that could be taken as Exceptional. Moreover, the fact that her life turned out to be the way it was, she could somehow believe the chances of most of her family members facing tragedy, and having scars to bare. She could still remember the moment her arm was cut off by the blonde woman that day when she was attacked, and it wasn’t a pleasant memory.
“Anyway, I hope you have a good time while you’re here.” Tsuruko smiled towards Natsu. “If the purpose of your visit is a tour, then it’s best if you experience things yourself.”
Takashiro walked into the temple and approached the two before the idol of the deity. His face was solemn, but mixed with some hints of fear, and Tsuruko was familiar with such expressions.
“We’re… always short on people who know Alice-san. I know I promised a proper tour, but I need some help to restrain Alice-san for… an operation.”
“A...An operation?” Natsu gasped.
“Indeed. It’s for the injuries she incurred recently,” the politician explained. “I hear Kazehaya-san is strong and knew her for some time. I do not know anyone else who knows Alice-san, so…”
“...Alice?” Tsuruko asked as if she could have heard that wrongly. Her ears almost seemed to twitch upon those words.
“Ah, you don’t know? She is currently the top idol. I didn’t know she was injured, though… is it because of the assassination mission she had? ...So she didn’t make it back alright after all,” Natsu said. She was told by Takashiro that she announced to her fans a temporary leave from work. This was true. She later looked up the information and found a video on it on the internet. She also knew that Alice left for a dangerous mission in reality. However, she was also a fellow Time Warrior like her. How could such a strong person incur injuries that would require an operation? Weren’t beings like her immortal?
“Ah, no…” Tsuruko gave a look of intent. “I believe it’s partly because of me.”
“Because of you?” Natsu questioned, confused.
“Ahh… did you also happen to go to England for some reason?” Takashiro inquired. He wasn’t particularly aware of the entire group aside from the two Time Warriors that went with the dangerous mission.
“Yes. I was to accompany her for her mission… but I guess I failed to protect her… and it ended up being like that.” Tsuruko looked down, trying not to recall the experience.
“Anyway, it’s an emergency, Kazehaya-san. We must make sure the operation goes off without an issue for the sake of the future of this country,” Takashiro urged.
“What kind of operation is it?”
“It’s complicated, but basically, it’s for restoring her to the state of Genesis.”
“Genesis?” Tsuruko had heard this word before, but it wasn’t often used around her.
“Unfortunately, I am not authorized to answer.”
Tsuruko gave a dejected face. “... I’ve been hearing that way too much recently.” She felt that she’d been left out in a lot of things even before the trip. “Is she going to be okay…?”
Natsu could sympathize with Tsuruko’s plight. Not able to learn classified information despite their involvement would leave one very curious.
Takashiro shook his head. “Depends. If Kazehaya-san can’t hold her still properly and she moves… I don’t even know what kind of accident would take place.”
“I… I will try my best,” Natsu said, attempting to pump herself up.
Tsuruko gasped. “She will still be conscious when the operation is in effect..?”
“Yes, no medicines used to intentionally take away the consciousness of a person seem to work on Alice-san for some reason…”
“Ouch…” Tsuruko felt bad for Alice who had to undergo an operation… while conscious. More so, the guilt was coming back to her. If she didn’t make it up to Alice one way or another, she wouldn’t know what to do. “...I understand. If Kazehaya-san can’t hold her well enough… then I will be glad to assist…”
“Since you went with her to her mission… I suppose it’ll be fine. Let us be on our way immediately. I prepared a car,” Takashiro said, leading the two out of the temple.
She clapped and faced the statue within the shrine and prayed… while she heard Susanoo speak.
“Ahh, Orihime-san, your eyes and hair are as sparkly as the stars, like always…”
“O-Oh… Susanoo-sama, you praise overmuch.”
Perhaps it was because she was closely linked with Susanoo more than ever, but now she could hear the voices of the deities that Susanoo would speak with, including his voice, of course.
Tsuruko was trying to concentrate on her prayers like Susanoo asked her to, but the strange banter between him and the female deity seemed to almost interfere. But she wasn’t one to comment about the storm deity’s actions. She was thankful for his power. It was also a strange and relevating experience to hear other deities speak, too.
“Oh, hello.” Tsuruko turned to find Ame, who she met the day before yesterday in the Academy. “Apologies if I disturbed you,” she said, joining her hands for a prayer beside her. “I see you are devoted, coming here on your only free day.”
Tsuruko closed back her eyes and faced straight again. “Yes. It is a need for me to pray every day, to seek solace and tranquility.”
“While listening to a perverted old man who claims to be a deity?”
“You can hear him too?”
“I was born with it. The ability known as †˜Exceptional Hearing’.”
“I see. Then, what can you tell me about him?”
“What do you want me to say about him?”
“Is everything asking for too much?”
“Of course. There is some information Hime Mikos are not allowed to divulge.”
“Hmm. What is the basis then…?” Tsuruko wondered why the control of information was so important to the Shine.
“Basis? Of what, exactly?”
“I recalled that you said he was an old man claiming to be a deity?” Tsuruko tilted her head slightly. “I’m not surprised if that is the case.”
“I’m surprised you’re asking even though you’d not be surprised. The answer is simple: there is no deity, to the eyes of the Hime Miko anyway. The entities are simply spirits of the dead beings from foreign Realms. Basis would be our ability to see through these things, I suppose.”
“Hmm… ” Tsuruko opened her eyes slightly and faced Ame. “So you can hear and see things that cannot be normally be heard or seen?”
“My sister can see things many can’t, and I can hear things many can’t.”
“That seems like an exceptional ability to have. Can you control it?”
“Of course I can. Why would I not be able to?”
“Oh, I was just wondering if there are things that you don’t want to hear.”
“There are. A lot, at that. This ability is so potent that it is impossible to lower it to the level of ordinary people. What about you? What kind of an exceptional ability do you have?”
“Nothing much. Just sometimes the airflow around me seems to change itself every now and then.”
“Oh. That isn’t an effect of your sword there?”
“Yes. That is why I said it isn’t anything much.”
Doesn’t even seem to answer the question… what is with this strange girl? Ame thought. Before she was about to speak, however, she was interrupted.
“Ah, Ame!” Natsu called out.
“Natsu? What are you doing here?”
“I’m being toured across places considered †˜magical’ across Tokyo… or something like that, by Takashiro-san,” Natsu explained.
“Takashiro...san? Oh, that Takashiro-san,” Ame said, reminding herself of the politician who stood some distance away before the entrance to the temple.
“Ame! Come and help me out hereeee,” an unfamiliar voice called out.
“Uh, I apologize, but I have to go now. Have fun with the tour, Natsu, and it was nice speaking with you, Tsuruko-san,” Ame said, giving terse bows to the two before taking leave.
“Um, hello,” Natsu greeted. “Are you a friend of Ame?” she asked Tsuruko, facing the Buddha idol.
“An acquaintance,” Tsuruko remarked. “My name is Tsuruko of the Fuyuo family.” She bowed towards Natsu.
Natsu gave a bow in return followed by a natural smile. “My name is Kazehaya Natsu, it is a pleasure to meet you, Fuyuo-san!”
Tsuruko was taken aback by the cheerfulness of Natsu. She somehow vaguely remembered that she saw her figure somewhere, but she couldn’t remember. “Same here.” She broke a smile at Natsu.
“Are you also one of those who studies at the Academy?” Natsu asked. “If you know Ame, you must be one of the Hime Mikos?”
“I am not one of them, for I’m not as well off as them. I’m what you call an Exception, I guess.”
“Ahh, an Exception. Ame was explaining to me about them… my brother is also one I hear.”
“He is cursed as well? Well, I say cursed, but it’s more like …haunted?”
“H-Haunted?!” Natsu almost exclaimed. Her brother—who seemed tired, or rather, lazy—who was always relaxing in the house was actually haunted? She could somehow make sense of it, but it sounded rather farfetched in his case. Then again, according to the Headmistress he had been going to the Academy to train and learn much like her… speaking of which, she had yet to meet him, even now. Was he on leave? “H...How are Exceptions haunted, exactly?”
“I’m not too sure myself,” Tsuruko said, “Having never met any other Exceptions… but I think, the basis is, at some point of our lives, something bad happened to us, and it will affect us our whole lifetime in one way or another. At least that’s how I think it is…”
“I… I see,” Natsu said, a little taken aback. This made her think what may have happened to her brother, if any. The possibilities weren’t so far off now that she knew that he was a studying scholar who was born with an ability that could be taken as Exceptional. Moreover, the fact that her life turned out to be the way it was, she could somehow believe the chances of most of her family members facing tragedy, and having scars to bare. She could still remember the moment her arm was cut off by the blonde woman that day when she was attacked, and it wasn’t a pleasant memory.
“Anyway, I hope you have a good time while you’re here.” Tsuruko smiled towards Natsu. “If the purpose of your visit is a tour, then it’s best if you experience things yourself.”
Takashiro walked into the temple and approached the two before the idol of the deity. His face was solemn, but mixed with some hints of fear, and Tsuruko was familiar with such expressions.
“We’re… always short on people who know Alice-san. I know I promised a proper tour, but I need some help to restrain Alice-san for… an operation.”
“A...An operation?” Natsu gasped.
“Indeed. It’s for the injuries she incurred recently,” the politician explained. “I hear Kazehaya-san is strong and knew her for some time. I do not know anyone else who knows Alice-san, so…”
“...Alice?” Tsuruko asked as if she could have heard that wrongly. Her ears almost seemed to twitch upon those words.
“Ah, you don’t know? She is currently the top idol. I didn’t know she was injured, though… is it because of the assassination mission she had? ...So she didn’t make it back alright after all,” Natsu said. She was told by Takashiro that she announced to her fans a temporary leave from work. This was true. She later looked up the information and found a video on it on the internet. She also knew that Alice left for a dangerous mission in reality. However, she was also a fellow Time Warrior like her. How could such a strong person incur injuries that would require an operation? Weren’t beings like her immortal?
“Ah, no…” Tsuruko gave a look of intent. “I believe it’s partly because of me.”
“Because of you?” Natsu questioned, confused.
“Ahh… did you also happen to go to England for some reason?” Takashiro inquired. He wasn’t particularly aware of the entire group aside from the two Time Warriors that went with the dangerous mission.
“Yes. I was to accompany her for her mission… but I guess I failed to protect her… and it ended up being like that.” Tsuruko looked down, trying not to recall the experience.
“Anyway, it’s an emergency, Kazehaya-san. We must make sure the operation goes off without an issue for the sake of the future of this country,” Takashiro urged.
“What kind of operation is it?”
“It’s complicated, but basically, it’s for restoring her to the state of Genesis.”
“Genesis?” Tsuruko had heard this word before, but it wasn’t often used around her.
“Unfortunately, I am not authorized to answer.”
Tsuruko gave a dejected face. “... I’ve been hearing that way too much recently.” She felt that she’d been left out in a lot of things even before the trip. “Is she going to be okay…?”
Natsu could sympathize with Tsuruko’s plight. Not able to learn classified information despite their involvement would leave one very curious.
Takashiro shook his head. “Depends. If Kazehaya-san can’t hold her still properly and she moves… I don’t even know what kind of accident would take place.”
“I… I will try my best,” Natsu said, attempting to pump herself up.
Tsuruko gasped. “She will still be conscious when the operation is in effect..?”
“Yes, no medicines used to intentionally take away the consciousness of a person seem to work on Alice-san for some reason…”
“Ouch…” Tsuruko felt bad for Alice who had to undergo an operation… while conscious. More so, the guilt was coming back to her. If she didn’t make it up to Alice one way or another, she wouldn’t know what to do. “...I understand. If Kazehaya-san can’t hold her well enough… then I will be glad to assist…”
“Since you went with her to her mission… I suppose it’ll be fine. Let us be on our way immediately. I prepared a car,” Takashiro said, leading the two out of the temple.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Tsuruko was in a hospital she had never been to before, or heard of, and neither had Natsu. The technology here was of a different level, and it seemed more like a research facility than a hospital, but the politician referred to it as a hospital regardless.
In such a shady establishment, there was a ward in the top floor where most people were not allowed into.
In the first place, it seemed like this so-called hospital was off-limits to the public. For this special ward one would imagine even people affiliated with the government or the Shrine would require some form of process to be allowed inside. There were full body checks done with lasers for the two guests that Takashiro brought with him before he led them to a particular operating theatre.
When Tsuruko and Natsu saw the large door, it felt rather overwhelming.
“Are you two ready?” Takashiro asked, seemingly nervous himself.
“I have to be.” Tsuruko gulped, unsure of what to expect.
“Y...Yes, I am.” Natsu gave a nod of determination, but with the pressure built up unexpectedly high, she was really nervous, and scared of the things she’d see inside the theatre room.
Takashiro, the politician, padded his sweat with a handkerchief before giving a gesture to command the guard who stood just beside the door.
The guard was notably armed and dressed like a soldier. He was a member of the Japanese military from what it seemed to Natsu.
At the same time, Tsuruko was reminded of the military men who carried out an attack against Alice and herself about three months ago, half a day prior to finding Natsu injured in a certain part of the city.
Regardless, the man clad in green pressed some buttons on a panel to unlock the door after a nod of acknowledgement.
The door opened momentarily. Cold air rushed out in the form of what seemed like white smoke immediately. The two girls then walked in after witnessing Alice laid over a solid-looking bed of steel. Her arms, legs, neck, head, even the flanks of her abdomen all bound with belts of steel. Just how strong was Alice perceived to be?
When the two turned to the surroundings, they found many different individuals lying across the floors and some leaning against the walls. None of them seemed to be conscious.
To this sight, Natsu gave away a gasp thoughtlessly. Those steel belts were likely renewed. How else would these men have failed? She was honestly wondering why they’d intentionally bring someone Alice knew to this operation initially, but didn’t question it. Now she was starting to understand; they wanted someone Alice knew to perhaps placate her rage and fears. The question was… was Alice really afraid of pain? Alice was especially stoic, indifferent, and a person who seemed to have a strong sense of justice. She’d otherwise display a pure and innocent nature in talks shows.
Tsuruko felt almost pained to see Alice barred down to the steel bed. It must have been so much for her to go through; however, she knew that it was better to help her now than to sort out the mistakes of the past. Alice, with her solid resolve, would of course offer some form of resistance to being operated on...
A pair of adult men walked inside the room from behind.
“We’re the last of the volunteers. Pleased to work with you,” one of them said. They wore black suits and seemed like professional… helpers? From looks, not much could be discerned aside from the fact that they were muscular men.
The door then closed behind them.
To the right was a window, and behind it were the operators. The doctors, basically. For some unknown reason they refused to use the mic to speak. Perhaps not to give Alice an idea to break the shield and then their very bones. Regardless, they communicated through hand signs. The two men seemed to understand the gestures and they guided the two young girls.
“Kazehaya-san will hold the shoulders, I will hold down her feet. Shinji, you hold the arms—wrists, specifically—and lastly, the miko; you’ll be holding onto her thighs.” He then handed to everyone some face masks doctors and nurses used. Of course, they were meant for concealing the mouth and nose.
The three other than the man who spoke nodded to him.
Natsu nervously held onto Alice’s shoulders as instructed after muttering, “”Excuse me.”
The man known as Shinji held the wrists. Unfortunately for him, holding wrists wasn’t as easy as it sounded when he was told to do it. Tsuruko held the thighs as told too. Lastly, the one who gave instructions held the feet of the top idol.
As the four people touched her, Alice came to realize their presence in the room. Indeed, any Descendant in their full health and potential would’ve sensed the presence of anyone from miles away because of how great their natural senses were. However, Alice right now seemed completely not herself.
In fact, it was hard for especially Tsuruko to believe—that Alice was completely acting like someone else.
“Ah… it’s you two. Please, don’t do this to me,” Alice pleaded like a young child contrary to her age. “I… I’m scared.”
“...I know you are, anyone would be,” Tsuruko tried to sympathize with Alice. “I think it’s best if you close your eyes for a moment, Alice-sama…”
“Alice-san…” Natsu could only utter her name in disbelief. The strong-willed Alice everyone knew wasn’t here. What was going on?
When the operation begun, devices were being lowered from the ceiling. They separated, revealed what seemed like small protrusions with round holes that immediately reminded everyone of guns! The girls especially cringed as lasers mercilessly dissected Alice. More specifically, they cut the idol’s skin open as she screamed in pain. Her voice strongly reverberated against the steel walls, the window, and the ears of the people inside the room.
She wailed, asking for this torture to be stopped repeatedly, yet no one could help her, believing it was for her own good.
Before too much blood leaked, certain meat and organs were detached from Alice, and they were replaced with machines.
In truth, from what could be seen, Alice was being literally turned into a marionette. Every human who volunteered to serve as marionettes in place of police forces—something other countries seemed to have—would have this very operation. However, medicines like anesthesia, and the likes would work for them. In Alice’s case, the reality was different. She had to bear with the pain.
The procedures continued, and soon machinations used for God knows what were implanted across her legs, arms, abdomen, a little across her chest, and to their surprise Alice seemed to resist well at some point. Except that the two men were flung away. The steel belts were shattered.
Tsuruko hardly regained her consciousness as she realized that she was leaning against the wall. When she awoke, she realized that she had been holding Alice’s thighs before the lasers focused on her legs. From tension and fear Alice shook her legs with such force that she was knocked away.
The miko looked up to find Natsu somehow holding down Alice all on her own with a tear-stained face. She muttered “sorry” repeatedly like a mantra.
A part of Tsuruko was amazed at how such a small girl could sustain herself from Alice’s duress, and the other part wished she wouldn’t have to. Hastily returning to Alice’s and Natsu’s side, she continued to attempt to hold her in place.
The devices shifted after coming down from the ceiling and soon revealed a pair of balls, with one silver gleaming spike on each, the ends facing straight down towards Alice.
The top idol was visibly convulsing from seeing these spikes coming right towards her eyes. Tears fell on both sides as she tried to face away.
Natsu noticed what they were for going for. She couldn’t find it in her to do this anymore…
Tsuruko didn’t know whether to observe in respect or to look away in shame, she wanted a chance to apologize wholeheartedly to Alice, but with such a turn of events, it felt that she would never get the chance to. If only I could go through ten times of what she’s going through… she thought.
In the presence of the spikes near Tsuruko, she had no other choice but to position herself and hold Alice’s very head in place, staring into eyes that seemed to claw at her very soul. It was almost as if she had sinned in front of the Cross.
“...Mathilde, save me—”
The spikes drilled straight into Alice’s eyeballs. Everyone except the doctors seemed to look away from the sight as Alice screamed. When Tsuruko looked back after a moment, however, she realized that Alice still had her eyes. What was strange was that her pupils were glowing blue. Her expression and complexion improved.
Her indifferent self was returning.
“System,” she uttered. “Missing data confirmed. Restoring data of memories from the Genesis Server. Project Geneva of Japan—is now restored,” she spoke mechanically, like usual. None of the human-like behavior she showed earlier was present. She was replaced with the usual Alice that Natsu and Tsuruko knew. “...What are you two doing here in the operation theatre? Never mind, newly downloaded data indicates that you two were called to help.”
“I wanted to see you after so long,” Tsuruko said, unsure if Alice had changed into a new person or returned to her old self. “Never did I expect to see you go through such a horrible experience.”
“Horrible experience?” Alice inquired. “I do not know what you are speaking of.”
“...Are you really Alice-san?” Natsu asked, wiping her tears. While she was relieved to know that Alice was fine, it was very strange how Alice was acting moments ago, and how she was back to her usual emotionlessness. Truly, she was an enigma.
“Yes, my name is Alice. I believe we have met several times; especially when I had to retrieve you from the battlefield,” Alice promptly answered.
“I...I see.” Natsu could only utter so much in response. She is definitely back to her old self, but what was that just now then? Mathilde… I feel like I’ve heard this name before.
Tsuruko started forming certain theories in her mind but could only keep them in her head. She sighed, “...At least I got to see you again. I thought I lost my chance to say sorry.”
“Say sorry, what for?” Alice questioned.
“Many things, but most of all: not performing up to standard.”
“I see.” Alice picked herself up and stood up straight but almost fell over. Natsu and Tsuruko barely managed to help her balance herself. “Then all you have to do is try harder.”
Natsu chuckled. “Spoken like a true top idol” was what she wanted to say, but she didn’t wish to interrupt.
“That is exactly what I’m going to do.” Tsuruko smiled. “I have not failed my duty yet.”
“You seem to have gotten stronger while I was away,” Alice noted.
The door opened and the doctors entered. With them, a person familiar to Tsuruko entered, her father. The politician was also there. They all inspected Alice carefully and spoke to her. Needless to say, Natsu and Tsuruko had to step back and leave Alice to the adults.
After some moments, Tsuruko’s father joined her and Natsu.
“I didn’t think you’d volunteer of all people,” he told Tsuruko. There was something about Tsuruko wearing a doctor’s face mask that her father found strangely unique. Indeed, a miko in her fine white garb and red hakama wearing such a thing was a novelty! “Just how did Takashiro-san find you people, I wonder.”
“He and Kazehaya-san visited the Meiji Shrine. I heard what happened from them, as well as the opportunity to see Alice once more. Of course I would be here.”
“Such a wild string of events, no wonder. I’d have preferred you’d not had seen what Alice-sama went through today.” Her father sighed.
“...Not sure if I would agree on that, Father. I’m quite used to surprises, now.”
“So this is Fuyuo-san’s father?” Natsu asked, seemingly exhausted, but she tried to act energetic as usual.
“That’s right,” Tsuruko’s father claimed, placing a hand on the miko’s head. “I know who you are, though. We’ll speak at a later date.”
“Ah, I see…” Natsu could only nod before even introducing herself properly.
“You two need to rest or something—after what you’ve both been through—and I need to deal with all those adults.” He sighed and moved to Alice.
“I guess your father is one of the top brass around here,” Natsu said. It seemed like he was a good person so far, so she felt rather relaxed. Somehow his presence was more lively.
“He doesn’t tell me anything, so I wouldn’t know.” Tsuruko seemed to sort of roll her eyes. “But I guess.”
With their business being concluded, they soon exited the operation room. Waiting several minutes, Takashiro came out and he led them out of the hospital. The politician later revealed that he’d need to be going elsewhere due to the earlier event that took place. Hence, he prepared a car for both of them to be escorted back to the Academy.
In such a shady establishment, there was a ward in the top floor where most people were not allowed into.
In the first place, it seemed like this so-called hospital was off-limits to the public. For this special ward one would imagine even people affiliated with the government or the Shrine would require some form of process to be allowed inside. There were full body checks done with lasers for the two guests that Takashiro brought with him before he led them to a particular operating theatre.
When Tsuruko and Natsu saw the large door, it felt rather overwhelming.
“Are you two ready?” Takashiro asked, seemingly nervous himself.
“I have to be.” Tsuruko gulped, unsure of what to expect.
“Y...Yes, I am.” Natsu gave a nod of determination, but with the pressure built up unexpectedly high, she was really nervous, and scared of the things she’d see inside the theatre room.
Takashiro, the politician, padded his sweat with a handkerchief before giving a gesture to command the guard who stood just beside the door.
The guard was notably armed and dressed like a soldier. He was a member of the Japanese military from what it seemed to Natsu.
At the same time, Tsuruko was reminded of the military men who carried out an attack against Alice and herself about three months ago, half a day prior to finding Natsu injured in a certain part of the city.
Regardless, the man clad in green pressed some buttons on a panel to unlock the door after a nod of acknowledgement.
The door opened momentarily. Cold air rushed out in the form of what seemed like white smoke immediately. The two girls then walked in after witnessing Alice laid over a solid-looking bed of steel. Her arms, legs, neck, head, even the flanks of her abdomen all bound with belts of steel. Just how strong was Alice perceived to be?
When the two turned to the surroundings, they found many different individuals lying across the floors and some leaning against the walls. None of them seemed to be conscious.
To this sight, Natsu gave away a gasp thoughtlessly. Those steel belts were likely renewed. How else would these men have failed? She was honestly wondering why they’d intentionally bring someone Alice knew to this operation initially, but didn’t question it. Now she was starting to understand; they wanted someone Alice knew to perhaps placate her rage and fears. The question was… was Alice really afraid of pain? Alice was especially stoic, indifferent, and a person who seemed to have a strong sense of justice. She’d otherwise display a pure and innocent nature in talks shows.
Tsuruko felt almost pained to see Alice barred down to the steel bed. It must have been so much for her to go through; however, she knew that it was better to help her now than to sort out the mistakes of the past. Alice, with her solid resolve, would of course offer some form of resistance to being operated on...
A pair of adult men walked inside the room from behind.
“We’re the last of the volunteers. Pleased to work with you,” one of them said. They wore black suits and seemed like professional… helpers? From looks, not much could be discerned aside from the fact that they were muscular men.
The door then closed behind them.
To the right was a window, and behind it were the operators. The doctors, basically. For some unknown reason they refused to use the mic to speak. Perhaps not to give Alice an idea to break the shield and then their very bones. Regardless, they communicated through hand signs. The two men seemed to understand the gestures and they guided the two young girls.
“Kazehaya-san will hold the shoulders, I will hold down her feet. Shinji, you hold the arms—wrists, specifically—and lastly, the miko; you’ll be holding onto her thighs.” He then handed to everyone some face masks doctors and nurses used. Of course, they were meant for concealing the mouth and nose.
The three other than the man who spoke nodded to him.
Natsu nervously held onto Alice’s shoulders as instructed after muttering, “”Excuse me.”
The man known as Shinji held the wrists. Unfortunately for him, holding wrists wasn’t as easy as it sounded when he was told to do it. Tsuruko held the thighs as told too. Lastly, the one who gave instructions held the feet of the top idol.
As the four people touched her, Alice came to realize their presence in the room. Indeed, any Descendant in their full health and potential would’ve sensed the presence of anyone from miles away because of how great their natural senses were. However, Alice right now seemed completely not herself.
In fact, it was hard for especially Tsuruko to believe—that Alice was completely acting like someone else.
“Ah… it’s you two. Please, don’t do this to me,” Alice pleaded like a young child contrary to her age. “I… I’m scared.”
“...I know you are, anyone would be,” Tsuruko tried to sympathize with Alice. “I think it’s best if you close your eyes for a moment, Alice-sama…”
“Alice-san…” Natsu could only utter her name in disbelief. The strong-willed Alice everyone knew wasn’t here. What was going on?
When the operation begun, devices were being lowered from the ceiling. They separated, revealed what seemed like small protrusions with round holes that immediately reminded everyone of guns! The girls especially cringed as lasers mercilessly dissected Alice. More specifically, they cut the idol’s skin open as she screamed in pain. Her voice strongly reverberated against the steel walls, the window, and the ears of the people inside the room.
She wailed, asking for this torture to be stopped repeatedly, yet no one could help her, believing it was for her own good.
Before too much blood leaked, certain meat and organs were detached from Alice, and they were replaced with machines.
In truth, from what could be seen, Alice was being literally turned into a marionette. Every human who volunteered to serve as marionettes in place of police forces—something other countries seemed to have—would have this very operation. However, medicines like anesthesia, and the likes would work for them. In Alice’s case, the reality was different. She had to bear with the pain.
The procedures continued, and soon machinations used for God knows what were implanted across her legs, arms, abdomen, a little across her chest, and to their surprise Alice seemed to resist well at some point. Except that the two men were flung away. The steel belts were shattered.
Tsuruko hardly regained her consciousness as she realized that she was leaning against the wall. When she awoke, she realized that she had been holding Alice’s thighs before the lasers focused on her legs. From tension and fear Alice shook her legs with such force that she was knocked away.
The miko looked up to find Natsu somehow holding down Alice all on her own with a tear-stained face. She muttered “sorry” repeatedly like a mantra.
A part of Tsuruko was amazed at how such a small girl could sustain herself from Alice’s duress, and the other part wished she wouldn’t have to. Hastily returning to Alice’s and Natsu’s side, she continued to attempt to hold her in place.
The devices shifted after coming down from the ceiling and soon revealed a pair of balls, with one silver gleaming spike on each, the ends facing straight down towards Alice.
The top idol was visibly convulsing from seeing these spikes coming right towards her eyes. Tears fell on both sides as she tried to face away.
Natsu noticed what they were for going for. She couldn’t find it in her to do this anymore…
Tsuruko didn’t know whether to observe in respect or to look away in shame, she wanted a chance to apologize wholeheartedly to Alice, but with such a turn of events, it felt that she would never get the chance to. If only I could go through ten times of what she’s going through… she thought.
In the presence of the spikes near Tsuruko, she had no other choice but to position herself and hold Alice’s very head in place, staring into eyes that seemed to claw at her very soul. It was almost as if she had sinned in front of the Cross.
“...Mathilde, save me—”
The spikes drilled straight into Alice’s eyeballs. Everyone except the doctors seemed to look away from the sight as Alice screamed. When Tsuruko looked back after a moment, however, she realized that Alice still had her eyes. What was strange was that her pupils were glowing blue. Her expression and complexion improved.
Her indifferent self was returning.
“System,” she uttered. “Missing data confirmed. Restoring data of memories from the Genesis Server. Project Geneva of Japan—is now restored,” she spoke mechanically, like usual. None of the human-like behavior she showed earlier was present. She was replaced with the usual Alice that Natsu and Tsuruko knew. “...What are you two doing here in the operation theatre? Never mind, newly downloaded data indicates that you two were called to help.”
“I wanted to see you after so long,” Tsuruko said, unsure if Alice had changed into a new person or returned to her old self. “Never did I expect to see you go through such a horrible experience.”
“Horrible experience?” Alice inquired. “I do not know what you are speaking of.”
“...Are you really Alice-san?” Natsu asked, wiping her tears. While she was relieved to know that Alice was fine, it was very strange how Alice was acting moments ago, and how she was back to her usual emotionlessness. Truly, she was an enigma.
“Yes, my name is Alice. I believe we have met several times; especially when I had to retrieve you from the battlefield,” Alice promptly answered.
“I...I see.” Natsu could only utter so much in response. She is definitely back to her old self, but what was that just now then? Mathilde… I feel like I’ve heard this name before.
Tsuruko started forming certain theories in her mind but could only keep them in her head. She sighed, “...At least I got to see you again. I thought I lost my chance to say sorry.”
“Say sorry, what for?” Alice questioned.
“Many things, but most of all: not performing up to standard.”
“I see.” Alice picked herself up and stood up straight but almost fell over. Natsu and Tsuruko barely managed to help her balance herself. “Then all you have to do is try harder.”
Natsu chuckled. “Spoken like a true top idol” was what she wanted to say, but she didn’t wish to interrupt.
“That is exactly what I’m going to do.” Tsuruko smiled. “I have not failed my duty yet.”
“You seem to have gotten stronger while I was away,” Alice noted.
The door opened and the doctors entered. With them, a person familiar to Tsuruko entered, her father. The politician was also there. They all inspected Alice carefully and spoke to her. Needless to say, Natsu and Tsuruko had to step back and leave Alice to the adults.
After some moments, Tsuruko’s father joined her and Natsu.
“I didn’t think you’d volunteer of all people,” he told Tsuruko. There was something about Tsuruko wearing a doctor’s face mask that her father found strangely unique. Indeed, a miko in her fine white garb and red hakama wearing such a thing was a novelty! “Just how did Takashiro-san find you people, I wonder.”
“He and Kazehaya-san visited the Meiji Shrine. I heard what happened from them, as well as the opportunity to see Alice once more. Of course I would be here.”
“Such a wild string of events, no wonder. I’d have preferred you’d not had seen what Alice-sama went through today.” Her father sighed.
“...Not sure if I would agree on that, Father. I’m quite used to surprises, now.”
“So this is Fuyuo-san’s father?” Natsu asked, seemingly exhausted, but she tried to act energetic as usual.
“That’s right,” Tsuruko’s father claimed, placing a hand on the miko’s head. “I know who you are, though. We’ll speak at a later date.”
“Ah, I see…” Natsu could only nod before even introducing herself properly.
“You two need to rest or something—after what you’ve both been through—and I need to deal with all those adults.” He sighed and moved to Alice.
“I guess your father is one of the top brass around here,” Natsu said. It seemed like he was a good person so far, so she felt rather relaxed. Somehow his presence was more lively.
“He doesn’t tell me anything, so I wouldn’t know.” Tsuruko seemed to sort of roll her eyes. “But I guess.”
With their business being concluded, they soon exited the operation room. Waiting several minutes, Takashiro came out and he led them out of the hospital. The politician later revealed that he’d need to be going elsewhere due to the earlier event that took place. Hence, he prepared a car for both of them to be escorted back to the Academy.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Today was the day of Natsu’s big event. There were two people waiting for her towards the gates. Margaret Alicia and Svetlana Astakhov. Apparently, they volunteered to escort her to her event for traveling to it and coming back.
“Are you prepared?” Alicia asked. “Don’t make us come back here saying that you forgot something, Kazehaya-san,” she joked.
“Oh, Alicia-sensei and Faerie Lore-sensei. You two will be accompanying me? Thank you!” Natsu bowed slightly to both of them. When Alicia asked, Natsu checked her backpack. “...I think I got everything…” After sifting through her belongings and noticing nothing missing, she sighed in relief and confirmed, “Yeah, I'm fine.”
“If you say so.” Alicia gave a nod.
“Hi hi, Natsu. Why not call me Svetlana?” Svetlana said, slightly confused after what Natsu called her.
“Oh, I'm sorry, I never got to hear your name until now…” Natsu chuckled nervously. “Alright, Sev... Svalan.... Svlana..." Natsu had trouble pronouncing the name. It was so foreign. "Um... can I just call you Sevi-sensei?" This was an easier way for Natsu to split up her teacher's name.
“Just say it as Sevvy-sensei.”
It wasn't far off, but if that was what her teacher preferred, Natsu would oblige. It was a cute nickname, though; Natsu had no complaints. “Okay, Sevvy-chan-sensei!” She told the petite teacher with a smile, still unaware of Svetlana's actual age. Natsu still thought she was some sort of child prodigy.
“Alright, with that out of the way, let us be off,” Alicia stated, and took hold of Natsu’s hand as they started to walk out past the gates.
Moments later Natsu felt something like a strong gust of wind and fog brush up to her face, and they were already back to the streets of Tokyo.
There was a car waiting for them, in which the three boarded momentarily.
“So what kind of an event is it, exactly?” Alicia inquired.
“It's a live! We're holding a concert in Shibuya!” Natsu said excitedly. She genuinely enjoyed doing shows, and in her free time, she had been practicing her routine. Natsu was fairly certain she had it memorized perfectly, but she still prayed that everything would go smoothly.
“Noted, it seems like your driver here already knows the location, huh? The government must really be managing your career schedule as I was told,” Alicia stated.
“I guess the rich and famous could get almost anything they want with a flick of finger, can’t they?” Svetlana said.
“Really? Well I guess that is a fine way to phrase the power of the government and an idol’s influence combined,” Alicia said, even though she was largely ignorant about such matters.
“Oh, it's not like that at all,” Natsu interjected whilst waving her hand. “A lot of the money we earn goes toward the needs of the company. We idols only get a small portion of it,” she informed her teachers. While Natsu was able to live slightly more extravagantly than others, especially due to her rising popularity, she and her family still lived a relatively modest lifestyle. They didn't live in complete luxury.
“I suppose that’s just how things are for some businesses,” Alicia said, looking through something on a phone she held. “A company would need to make profit from promoting their idols and making them shine on the spotlight after all.”
“Yeah, it must be tough. The government has been a real help, though! At the very least, it's made Manager-san’s daily life less stressful. He's been really busy ever since everything that has happened with me…” Natsu said with another nervous chuckle. It had been some time since the first incident, so she’s managed to get over it, and it didn't damper her mood. Rather, she thought more about how it had been some time since she had seen her manager and some of the fellow idols from her company. She was getting excited.
“Well, with the government on your back, we’d not have to accompany you, but we took on the responsibility of your safety, so we’d feel bad if something happened to you after enrolling. Rest assured, our policy to escort you shall expire soon after you are more comfortable with your ability in combat. Albeit, it means that you’d need to pass our combat test with flying colors at the end of the semester,” Alicia explained.
“I’m sorry I need to rely on you two, but I’m glad you’re willing to. Thanks again!” Natsu told both Alicia and Svetlana. With them, specifically, she felt secure. They'd already proven to be nice people, and they both seemed like they would have the power to protect her if and when she needed them to. “I’ll train hard so you two won't need to worry about me!” Natsu proudly declared to her teachers.
“That’s the spirit, we know that you can do it,” Alicia encouraged.
“Thank you! I'll do my best!” Natsu replied cheerfully. “First things first, though.... I should concentrate on this concert.”
Alicia was about to speak to Natsu, but her phone rang and she picked it up.
“Yes, Alicia speaking… yes… yes. At a time like this? I see, so Isabelle is… hm, even if I were in the Academy, it would not be possible for me to quell her so soon. There is no other choice then; put her to sleep.”
This seemed like a serious situation. Natsu didn't want to probe too much, but she had to ask. "Is there something wrong, Alicia-sensei?"
“Nothing big. My daughter wasn’t feeling very good apparently.” Alicia pocketed her phone, but her complexion didn’t seem to have recovered after that call.
“Are you sure? It seems serious... Is she going to be alright?” Natsu pried further. She was worried about her teacher. Alicia had suddenly become so sullen.
“Well… I’m used to this.”
"What do you mean...?" Natsu asked with pleading eyes. She really wanted to know.
“This has happened before, and it will continue. There’s nothing more to it,” Alicia responded.
“Hmm…” Natsu really wanted to know more, but she didn't know if she could help Alicia even if she did. She chose not to try to dig deeper. “Alright... If you say so…”
“If you want I can go check on her. Or, I think you can drag Big Sis with you instead.”
“No need.” Alicia shook her head. “We will not be on schedule if we decide to do anything now, and †˜it’ has not showed up yet, so for now all is well.”
“Are you prepared?” Alicia asked. “Don’t make us come back here saying that you forgot something, Kazehaya-san,” she joked.
“Oh, Alicia-sensei and Faerie Lore-sensei. You two will be accompanying me? Thank you!” Natsu bowed slightly to both of them. When Alicia asked, Natsu checked her backpack. “...I think I got everything…” After sifting through her belongings and noticing nothing missing, she sighed in relief and confirmed, “Yeah, I'm fine.”
“If you say so.” Alicia gave a nod.
“Hi hi, Natsu. Why not call me Svetlana?” Svetlana said, slightly confused after what Natsu called her.
“Oh, I'm sorry, I never got to hear your name until now…” Natsu chuckled nervously. “Alright, Sev... Svalan.... Svlana..." Natsu had trouble pronouncing the name. It was so foreign. "Um... can I just call you Sevi-sensei?" This was an easier way for Natsu to split up her teacher's name.
“Just say it as Sevvy-sensei.”
It wasn't far off, but if that was what her teacher preferred, Natsu would oblige. It was a cute nickname, though; Natsu had no complaints. “Okay, Sevvy-chan-sensei!” She told the petite teacher with a smile, still unaware of Svetlana's actual age. Natsu still thought she was some sort of child prodigy.
“Alright, with that out of the way, let us be off,” Alicia stated, and took hold of Natsu’s hand as they started to walk out past the gates.
Moments later Natsu felt something like a strong gust of wind and fog brush up to her face, and they were already back to the streets of Tokyo.
There was a car waiting for them, in which the three boarded momentarily.
“So what kind of an event is it, exactly?” Alicia inquired.
“It's a live! We're holding a concert in Shibuya!” Natsu said excitedly. She genuinely enjoyed doing shows, and in her free time, she had been practicing her routine. Natsu was fairly certain she had it memorized perfectly, but she still prayed that everything would go smoothly.
“Noted, it seems like your driver here already knows the location, huh? The government must really be managing your career schedule as I was told,” Alicia stated.
“I guess the rich and famous could get almost anything they want with a flick of finger, can’t they?” Svetlana said.
“Really? Well I guess that is a fine way to phrase the power of the government and an idol’s influence combined,” Alicia said, even though she was largely ignorant about such matters.
“Oh, it's not like that at all,” Natsu interjected whilst waving her hand. “A lot of the money we earn goes toward the needs of the company. We idols only get a small portion of it,” she informed her teachers. While Natsu was able to live slightly more extravagantly than others, especially due to her rising popularity, she and her family still lived a relatively modest lifestyle. They didn't live in complete luxury.
“I suppose that’s just how things are for some businesses,” Alicia said, looking through something on a phone she held. “A company would need to make profit from promoting their idols and making them shine on the spotlight after all.”
“Yeah, it must be tough. The government has been a real help, though! At the very least, it's made Manager-san’s daily life less stressful. He's been really busy ever since everything that has happened with me…” Natsu said with another nervous chuckle. It had been some time since the first incident, so she’s managed to get over it, and it didn't damper her mood. Rather, she thought more about how it had been some time since she had seen her manager and some of the fellow idols from her company. She was getting excited.
“Well, with the government on your back, we’d not have to accompany you, but we took on the responsibility of your safety, so we’d feel bad if something happened to you after enrolling. Rest assured, our policy to escort you shall expire soon after you are more comfortable with your ability in combat. Albeit, it means that you’d need to pass our combat test with flying colors at the end of the semester,” Alicia explained.
“I’m sorry I need to rely on you two, but I’m glad you’re willing to. Thanks again!” Natsu told both Alicia and Svetlana. With them, specifically, she felt secure. They'd already proven to be nice people, and they both seemed like they would have the power to protect her if and when she needed them to. “I’ll train hard so you two won't need to worry about me!” Natsu proudly declared to her teachers.
“That’s the spirit, we know that you can do it,” Alicia encouraged.
“Thank you! I'll do my best!” Natsu replied cheerfully. “First things first, though.... I should concentrate on this concert.”
Alicia was about to speak to Natsu, but her phone rang and she picked it up.
“Yes, Alicia speaking… yes… yes. At a time like this? I see, so Isabelle is… hm, even if I were in the Academy, it would not be possible for me to quell her so soon. There is no other choice then; put her to sleep.”
This seemed like a serious situation. Natsu didn't want to probe too much, but she had to ask. "Is there something wrong, Alicia-sensei?"
“Nothing big. My daughter wasn’t feeling very good apparently.” Alicia pocketed her phone, but her complexion didn’t seem to have recovered after that call.
“Are you sure? It seems serious... Is she going to be alright?” Natsu pried further. She was worried about her teacher. Alicia had suddenly become so sullen.
“Well… I’m used to this.”
"What do you mean...?" Natsu asked with pleading eyes. She really wanted to know.
“This has happened before, and it will continue. There’s nothing more to it,” Alicia responded.
“Hmm…” Natsu really wanted to know more, but she didn't know if she could help Alicia even if she did. She chose not to try to dig deeper. “Alright... If you say so…”
“If you want I can go check on her. Or, I think you can drag Big Sis with you instead.”
“No need.” Alicia shook her head. “We will not be on schedule if we decide to do anything now, and †˜it’ has not showed up yet, so for now all is well.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Natsu’s live was underway. Idols from her company were singing, the music was resounding across the premises, especially the bass. She could feel the floor vibrating under her feet. Nervousness was catching up quick to the idol in the waiting room. The teachers that accompanied her were with her earlier, but they went off saying that they wanted to not get in her way.
The door to her room suddenly opened and Natsu almost jerked up.
“Kazehaya-san, please be on stand-by,” a member of the staff informed.
“Ah, okay!” Natsu sprang to attention and took her position. This was the moment of truth. She had confidence in herself, though. She'd already done this many times before, and would continue for many shows to come. Her heart was racing in excitement.
As the previous group came off stage, Natsu came up two of her colleagues. With their entrance, there was a roar of applause and cheer. Her group was one of the most anticipated acts, and Natsu aimed to please.
“How’s it going, everyone!?” she called out to her audience, and they all responded with a pleasant response.
She proceeded to perform various songs with her fellow idols, dancing with vigor, and singing their hearts out. While everyone had their moment in the spotlight, it seemed that Natsu shined the brightest out of all of them.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL2od1AF_Cs)
Their finale was Natsu's most famous song, the one that kickstarted her idol career. Despite having a team dancing along with her, the vocal track was a solo performance by her, as it was all in English. The song reflected her, in a way. It was a pop song that fused the two cultures she lived in into something incredible. It was a favorite among her fans.
As she sang, Natsu scanned the crowd. Everyone was enjoying themselves and were thrilled by her performance. It made her happy as well, and motivated her to make sure to give her best. Among the crowd, however, there was a much darker smile... One akin to a snake baring its fangs. There had been hecklers and creepy fans before, but this one disturbed her quite a bit more than usual, despite her positive attitude. Regardless, she didn't let it affect her performance and kept up her high energy.
The performance finally ended, the special effects provided for the performance ended, and Natsu was once again bathed in bright light along with the other dancers. She waved to the crowd, and thanked them.
In response there was a loud cheer. She was really happy to be here, to be given this opportunity. It was well worth the few classes she had to sacrifice to stand on this stage. However, it was time to go. Like every other idol, she felt a little melancholic, but it was a part of the entire process.
Natsu stepped off the stage with the dancers, and was on her way to the backstage. When she suddenly came to a realization. An important truth dawned upon her.
She was all alone.
She was walking alone.
How could this be?
When Natsu looked left and right, all her fellow dancers were lying on the blood-soaked floor—dead.
Natsu was speechless. Her colleages she knew for so long were laid on the ground—motionless—just like that. She could only look upon the bodies with a terrified expression. After a few moments, Natsu shook herself off from her stunned state and sat toward the two corpses lying down near her. “Aki-chan! Fuyuki-san!” She screamed out, futilely trying to shake them awake.
She then heard a footstep, and looked up immediately to ask the staff member to call for an ambulance, but instead saw a young girl who donned a black dress. Her skirt was old-fashioned but nonetheless pretty. It was like she was right out of an old fairy tale. She held a parasol and gave the most malicious grin Natsu had ever seen in her entire life. No actors or graphical effects would ever be able reproduce anything like this.
A wave of change was felt.
The world was dyed black and white.
All mundane aspects of the surrounding area lost life and time.
The young girl giggled, sounding devilish.
“Good evening, Sagittarius.”
Claudia appeared from behind Natsu, giving her trademark smirk and brandishing her scythe along her shoulder.
“Y-You...?” Natsu pointed at the girl. It was her. The girl with the snake-like grin in the crowd. Natsu's knees buckled. Such an evil face on an otherwise beautiful girl. She froze in place, in terror of the scythe-wielding lady in front of her.
“Stand back,” Margaret Alicia said, striding up from behind Natsu. A white aura surrounded her teacher. She faced the terrorists fearlessly. “So you came, Countess,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Are you perchance after the Descendant?”
“I wonder about that,” the Countess Dracula said, looking down at the two with a haughty gaze.
“Kazehaya-san, please make your escape while I hold them off,” Margaret Alicia instructed. “She is too dangerous for you.”
Alicia's voice brought Natsu back into reality. “B-but, what about you, then… ?”
“I’ll hold them off,” Alicia answered tersely. “Now go.”
“You—a magi—would hold off a Descendant?” The Countess questioned as she tilted her head, then laughed heartily, her gaze condescending. “Claudia, you know what to do, yes?”
Claudia chuckled, twirling her scythe and staring at the woman with ire. “Of course. Kill, maim, and have fun…” she said as the scythe in her hand came to a complete stop. A darkened smile came along Claudia’s face, one belonging to a slasher. “Though it’s a shame. You’re pretty cute for your age…”
Natsu turned and ran. Reluctantly, she had to leave it to Alicia to deal with the enemies, otherwise her holding them back would be in vain.
Reaching the stage, she quirked her head to see behind her and found the taller vampire dashing just behind her.
Svetlana jumped down from the upper part of the stage where the lighting equipment was equipped. She landed before Claudia, blocking her path to Sagittarius.
Claudia snickered darkly at this, for it was a futile effort. “Let’s see. I noticed that you’re Sagittarius’s so-called protector, so I see why you would feel liable to jump in front of me in such a manner… but, that has got to be among one of the stupidest fucking things I have ever witnessed someone on the face of this damned Earth do. That’s mistake number one.”
“My, my, someone sure is cranky. What does a little girl like you think she can actually do?”
Claudia’s eyes widened incredulously. She looked around her to make sure the woman wasn’t talking to her. “I-I’m sorry, did you just call me little? A short, fucking ant like you should think of the circumstances before you blurt out anything. You’re shorter than I am.”
“But look at yourself, you’re completely losing your temper. Doesn’t that make you a little girl?”
“...Wow, you’re annoying. You’re really annoying,” Claudia said composedly. “Seriously, could you do me a favor and step to the side so I won’t have to cut you right down the middle? I really only planned to kill one person today.”
“Well, too bad for you, if you want to get near my scholar, you’re gonna have to go through me first, little Miss.”
Sighing, Claudia twirled her scythe casually in one hand, grasping it to a complete stop once a small giggle escaped her mouth. “Fine, then. I honestly hope an extra funeral would be worth it…” She tilted her head to the side and smiled.
“My, my someone sure is over there head,” Svetlana said with a chuckle, clapping twice.
“Not as much as my scythe will be over yours...” Claudia brought down her scythe at Svetlana. Their distance already covered by the long weapon.
An incantation was sonorously chanted by Svetlana, and spikes of ice blocked the weapon after they made their way out of the stage below. These icy strands then coiled and eventually formed a sphere around her, continuing to block Claudia’s blade.
Claudia brandished her scythe toward the so-deemed annoying girl again. Alas, once she swung her weapon overhead again—likely to prove her previous point—the icy sphere that protected the midget of a girl spewed forth icicles for which Claudia instinctively parried, but it was too late. Skewered, she took distance, taking out some of the shards of ice with a scowl.
Claudia danced across the air after she jumped again. Her scythe rolled with her fingers. Shards of ice approached her, but she flung her newfound weapon to brush them away over and over again. Just before she landed a strike a tornado popped from under her, but she used the wind against her soles to move back instead; her trademark smile decorating her expression. A puddle of darkness formed but Svetlana gave her no time to activate her Commandment leisurely. Side-stepping the cold assault, she made her scythe spin like a wheel to deflect the attacks as she readied her power. The darkness enveloped her feet fully at last, demonic beasts crawled out with groans.
Svetlana shuddered. “Demons…?” she said, clapping her hands twice. How could a person like her summon things like these. She thought she wouldn’t meet anyone aside from Isabelle with a demon, so this was quite the unwanted revelation. “You sure have some dangerous things there, little girl,” she remarked, grinning, albeit sweating behind her facade. No incantations were fast enough; the beasts gnawed at her frosty wall in but a moment and shattered it with their fangs.
“Oh, say again? I can’t hear you over the sound of your trembling, little bitch,” Claudia jested, putting a hand around her ear to amplify the woman’s voice in a sarcastic manner.
“Dogs sure bark loud.” Svetlana laughed, her hands joined and her prayer was complete.
A small tornado formed again under Claudia’s feet and the wind was intense. Too much for the vampire, in fact. Unable to use her strength to maintain her position, she was flown away by the violent air. The pressure hurt enough already, but because she was trying to move despite being mid-air, it hurt even more when her head bumped against the wall of the stage.
Rubbing her now aching head, Claudia appeared dazed for a moment, turning her sight over to the midget and regaining her vision after a little while. She rose to her feet, stumbling a little.
“Okay… in my country, doing something like this to someone far superior than you are… we would call this fucking up big time,” she managed.
“And what vulgar and messed up country is that?” Svetlana questioned, giggling. “Little girls shouldn’t speak such words, it’s rude.”
“France,” Claudia replied with a tilt of her head. “Not as vulgar and messed up as you deem it to be.”
“I don’t think so anymore, either.” Svetlana smirked as she spoke. “Maybe it was just your parents who didn’t teach you manners, little girl. Instead they spoiled you; putting a tiara on that silly block of a skull, and making you get over your head.” She snickered, placing a hand on her mouth.
“What did you just say…?” Claudia said in a speedily, threatening manner. Her eyes stretched wide and she had a blank expression plastered all over her. “Tell me again… what did you just say?”
“My, my, are you deaf? I said that you’re a spoiled kid who thinks she is a Queen of some sort. Then again, a Queen never speaks like you. So maybe you’re just a savage wannabe girl,” Svetlana taunted.
Claudia’s face twisted with rage. This wasn’t anything like her usual seductive smile, the type she got when she was aroused in a fight. No, this was something way different. The way she twitched, the manner in which she cracked her neck and knuckles and bit her lip. In her words: she was pissed off for possibly the third or fourth time in her life. It was like when she fought that Priest some time ago.
“You… fucking self-entitled piece of horse shit! Who the fuck gave you permission to mention my family? Who the fuck gave you permission to even glance at my tiara? What makes you think that you have the gall to even insult my homeland? You know nothing about me! You know nothing about my family! It’s judgemental, idiotic, smug-faced bastards like you that make me loathe the people of this world and make me want to destroy it myself! YOU DON’T KNOW JACK SHIT ABOUT ME. YOU SHOULD JUST FUCKING KILL YOURSELF AND SAVE ME THE TROUBLE OF DOING SO.”
Svetlana shrugged, still smug-faced as ever, and uncaring. “Sure, sure, keep on yappin’. Doesn’t change the fact that you’ve acted like the most self-entitled brat here so far, and neither does it change the fact that your words speak volumes about your barbaric character. The irony is laughable! You think you can really talk about rights against the enemy—here in the battlefield? How childish can you get, girl?”
Claudia, filled with unfathomable rage, hung her scythe over her shoulder and shuddered as she stared at the dwarf-like woman. “I’m going to enjoy ripping you in half. Fuck Sagittarius right now, I want you to die. Fuck your shit, you Goddamn cunt. Speaking of irony, you called me childish, when you, yourself are an ant. You’re nothing. You’re trash. I’m going to do the world a favor and wipe you right off the face of it.”
“Only trash speaks that way, though. Context, little girl. I called you childish based on your personality. You can call me child-like all you want, but it doesn’t change that I’m older than you and have seen much worse happening in this world. If my comment phases you… you’d never survive in the harsher parts of the world.”
Claudia’s eyes returned to her ordinary red, retracting from her widened state. Her face was blank once more. “That is where you are wrong,” she began. “I have survived even the harshest of environments. The people I have had the displeasure of being acquainted with were cruel, and the ones whom I liked, alas, died cruel and slow deaths. As far as I know, I have the ability to surpass even the most seasoned of Mages, even a Magister.” Claudia’s eyes returned wide and she tilted her head once more. “So don’t tell me what I can’t, and won’t, survive. At least I have two eyes to see that I can survive this world.”
Svetlana stopped grinning. “It’s because I lost an eye that I know what the world is all about. You’re not the only one who has lived through all kinds of bothersome things, but France’s environments don’t even hold a candle to what Russia was, and still is. Don’t over-exaggerate things about your past to me.” Svetlana then smiled at the comment about surpassing mages. “Try it if you can. I am a teacher in the Academy, so I’d love to see how a person like you can talk so big.”
Claudia hummed and chuckled. “All the more reason to kill you, then.”
With her newfound powers, it was still possible to cast the one spell she thought she wouldn’t be able to. How it was possible was something she did not know, but it was likely the aim of the Countess. Claudia raised an arm to the sky and grasped for Infernal power. A dark red mana filled her and enveloped her form, giving away an ominous aura. She then thrust her hand forward and it faced Svetlana who wasn’t sure what was going on but was starting to realize what spell Claudia was employing.
Svetlana was lifted off the floor of the stage as Claudia raised her hand slightly. Her heart under Claudia’s grasp.
“Well, Teacher of the Academy, do you like my attempt? I wonder what my grade would be? A for effort, perhaps?” Claudia was brought to her crazed guffaw after saying this, enjoying the shock in Svetlana’s face.
However, Svetlana forced a smile in response. “That’s one nasty spell you learned,” she commented, somehow pulling the words out of her throat. Her hands joined. Two claps, followed by gestures and hand signs were performed, none of which Claudia could make any sense of. Considering she never actually studied extensively like Mary, all she knew was that there was an alternative method to casting spells—which were via hand signs—but it was somewhat hard to learn and perform.
The floor tremored and the cloud’s shape changed. Svetlana unleashed her own forbidden spell, or rather—her Supreme Magic. Asteria’s mana flowed into her body—also from the Infernal Realm—as what seemed like black blood flowed into her eyes.
The mana was so strong that Claudia lost her grip on Svetlana and felt something like electricity in her hand, immediately retracted it from feeling a tinge of pain; canceling her Heart Shatter spell.
Svetlana dropped her hands before the spell casting was complete, her objective to neutralize the dangerous spell was done as all the evil mana were forced out due to Asteria’s mana. Her eye too, returned to normal, and she landed on the floor. Indeed, she was thankful to Alicia for teaching her such a spell.
“You’re not the only one with a trump card,” Svetlana stated.
Claudia appeared slightly phased by this, causing her to purse her lips at her spell not working. “Well, now. It looks like things have just gotten far more interesting than I thought. With you being able to use such a spell, well, I might have to reconsider outright killing you. Now, I want to enjoy this as much as I can…”
“You’re getting more and more ironic, you know?” Svetlana clapped twice and drew a dagger out. It was sparkling with electricity afterwards.
“What can I say? Knowingly, I underestimated you. That was my second mistake. The first one was allowing mere words to affect me,” Claudia admitted, scowling. “I will not be making that mistake again.”
“I’m sure you will continue to do that, little girl,” Svetlana mocked regardless.
Claudia sighed. “Honestly, I find some variety in your insults—or, perhaps, I was wrong and that was all you have to offer in battle? Because the wounds I sustained earlier were nothing.”
“I am intelligent; of course there would be variety. Besides, at least I wounded you, had you fly to the screen, which was funny, while you couldn’t even touch me so far. Aren’t you the one who’s been throwing the most insults so far?”
“Like I said, they were nothing,” Claudia replied. “More importantly, you will remain unscathed so long as we continue to gab like this. Though, would you like another insult for the road as well? Okay, here—I am unable to harm you because I am used to fighting those about my height, or taller. Ohohoho.” Claudia chuckled into her palm, deliberately acting immature in that regard.
“You sure are competitive about insults. But really, that is the worst excuse for a warrior, little girl. Just goes to show your incompetence,” Svetlana said, giggling.
“And you sure are impulsive when it comes to that incessant giggle,” Claudia replied, feeling her head slowly dip to the side. That wasn’t good. Was she forcibly holding back her anger? “You’re gonna make me have an ulcer, calling me incompetent so loosely. Clearly you just throw that word around willy-nilly, not knowing who truly inhabits it’s meaning.”
Svetlana’s dagger clashed with Claudia’s scythe.
Claudia felt the surge of electricity and scowled. They exchanged more blows afterwards.
“Sure, sure, implying you know better,” Svetlana finally said, clapping her hands twice. “Did you know that your English doesn’t even make sense to me? Funnily enough, I don’t really know that language… how do you think I can understand?”
“Tch, like I care. What are you, Russian? Judging by your accent...”
“I am Russian, but accent? Ah. I’m not really speaking in English so I can’t tell what exactly my spell is making you hear,” Svetlana answered. “I wonder what the heck you’re hearing that your brain is melting over them, but I’d bet they’re amusing.”
“As I thought,” Claudia answered, now struggling with her emotions and Svetlana as a whole. Who on Earth talked this much while fighting? Clearly those two.
When Claudia swung her scythe again, Svetlana ducked and dodged it. A tornado erupted from under Svetlana subsequently, and she flew up to the sky and landed outside the premises.
“Catch me if you can, little girl,” she taunted as she left the stage. In retrospect, it seemed like the wind knocked Claudia off her position yet again.
“Really? We’re doing this? You… fucking….” Claudia began, wiping her brow of sweat as she climbed back to her feet. She sighed, unable to believe she was going to give this girl the benefit of the doubt and follow her. “This has to stop. How do you expect for me to kill you if you run away every five seconds? This will not do at all.” Walking subtly along the ground, sighing, Claudia then jumped off the stage, following Svetlana, albeit carefully, in mind of any traps she might have set up.
The door to her room suddenly opened and Natsu almost jerked up.
“Kazehaya-san, please be on stand-by,” a member of the staff informed.
“Ah, okay!” Natsu sprang to attention and took her position. This was the moment of truth. She had confidence in herself, though. She'd already done this many times before, and would continue for many shows to come. Her heart was racing in excitement.
As the previous group came off stage, Natsu came up two of her colleagues. With their entrance, there was a roar of applause and cheer. Her group was one of the most anticipated acts, and Natsu aimed to please.
“How’s it going, everyone!?” she called out to her audience, and they all responded with a pleasant response.
She proceeded to perform various songs with her fellow idols, dancing with vigor, and singing their hearts out. While everyone had their moment in the spotlight, it seemed that Natsu shined the brightest out of all of them.
(BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL2od1AF_Cs)
Their finale was Natsu's most famous song, the one that kickstarted her idol career. Despite having a team dancing along with her, the vocal track was a solo performance by her, as it was all in English. The song reflected her, in a way. It was a pop song that fused the two cultures she lived in into something incredible. It was a favorite among her fans.
As she sang, Natsu scanned the crowd. Everyone was enjoying themselves and were thrilled by her performance. It made her happy as well, and motivated her to make sure to give her best. Among the crowd, however, there was a much darker smile... One akin to a snake baring its fangs. There had been hecklers and creepy fans before, but this one disturbed her quite a bit more than usual, despite her positive attitude. Regardless, she didn't let it affect her performance and kept up her high energy.
The performance finally ended, the special effects provided for the performance ended, and Natsu was once again bathed in bright light along with the other dancers. She waved to the crowd, and thanked them.
In response there was a loud cheer. She was really happy to be here, to be given this opportunity. It was well worth the few classes she had to sacrifice to stand on this stage. However, it was time to go. Like every other idol, she felt a little melancholic, but it was a part of the entire process.
Natsu stepped off the stage with the dancers, and was on her way to the backstage. When she suddenly came to a realization. An important truth dawned upon her.
She was all alone.
She was walking alone.
How could this be?
When Natsu looked left and right, all her fellow dancers were lying on the blood-soaked floor—dead.
Natsu was speechless. Her colleages she knew for so long were laid on the ground—motionless—just like that. She could only look upon the bodies with a terrified expression. After a few moments, Natsu shook herself off from her stunned state and sat toward the two corpses lying down near her. “Aki-chan! Fuyuki-san!” She screamed out, futilely trying to shake them awake.
She then heard a footstep, and looked up immediately to ask the staff member to call for an ambulance, but instead saw a young girl who donned a black dress. Her skirt was old-fashioned but nonetheless pretty. It was like she was right out of an old fairy tale. She held a parasol and gave the most malicious grin Natsu had ever seen in her entire life. No actors or graphical effects would ever be able reproduce anything like this.
A wave of change was felt.
The world was dyed black and white.
All mundane aspects of the surrounding area lost life and time.
The young girl giggled, sounding devilish.
“Good evening, Sagittarius.”
Claudia appeared from behind Natsu, giving her trademark smirk and brandishing her scythe along her shoulder.
“Y-You...?” Natsu pointed at the girl. It was her. The girl with the snake-like grin in the crowd. Natsu's knees buckled. Such an evil face on an otherwise beautiful girl. She froze in place, in terror of the scythe-wielding lady in front of her.
“Stand back,” Margaret Alicia said, striding up from behind Natsu. A white aura surrounded her teacher. She faced the terrorists fearlessly. “So you came, Countess,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Are you perchance after the Descendant?”
“I wonder about that,” the Countess Dracula said, looking down at the two with a haughty gaze.
“Kazehaya-san, please make your escape while I hold them off,” Margaret Alicia instructed. “She is too dangerous for you.”
Alicia's voice brought Natsu back into reality. “B-but, what about you, then… ?”
“I’ll hold them off,” Alicia answered tersely. “Now go.”
“You—a magi—would hold off a Descendant?” The Countess questioned as she tilted her head, then laughed heartily, her gaze condescending. “Claudia, you know what to do, yes?”
Claudia chuckled, twirling her scythe and staring at the woman with ire. “Of course. Kill, maim, and have fun…” she said as the scythe in her hand came to a complete stop. A darkened smile came along Claudia’s face, one belonging to a slasher. “Though it’s a shame. You’re pretty cute for your age…”
Natsu turned and ran. Reluctantly, she had to leave it to Alicia to deal with the enemies, otherwise her holding them back would be in vain.
Reaching the stage, she quirked her head to see behind her and found the taller vampire dashing just behind her.
Svetlana jumped down from the upper part of the stage where the lighting equipment was equipped. She landed before Claudia, blocking her path to Sagittarius.
Claudia snickered darkly at this, for it was a futile effort. “Let’s see. I noticed that you’re Sagittarius’s so-called protector, so I see why you would feel liable to jump in front of me in such a manner… but, that has got to be among one of the stupidest fucking things I have ever witnessed someone on the face of this damned Earth do. That’s mistake number one.”
“My, my, someone sure is cranky. What does a little girl like you think she can actually do?”
Claudia’s eyes widened incredulously. She looked around her to make sure the woman wasn’t talking to her. “I-I’m sorry, did you just call me little? A short, fucking ant like you should think of the circumstances before you blurt out anything. You’re shorter than I am.”
“But look at yourself, you’re completely losing your temper. Doesn’t that make you a little girl?”
“...Wow, you’re annoying. You’re really annoying,” Claudia said composedly. “Seriously, could you do me a favor and step to the side so I won’t have to cut you right down the middle? I really only planned to kill one person today.”
“Well, too bad for you, if you want to get near my scholar, you’re gonna have to go through me first, little Miss.”
Sighing, Claudia twirled her scythe casually in one hand, grasping it to a complete stop once a small giggle escaped her mouth. “Fine, then. I honestly hope an extra funeral would be worth it…” She tilted her head to the side and smiled.
“My, my someone sure is over there head,” Svetlana said with a chuckle, clapping twice.
“Not as much as my scythe will be over yours...” Claudia brought down her scythe at Svetlana. Their distance already covered by the long weapon.
An incantation was sonorously chanted by Svetlana, and spikes of ice blocked the weapon after they made their way out of the stage below. These icy strands then coiled and eventually formed a sphere around her, continuing to block Claudia’s blade.
Claudia brandished her scythe toward the so-deemed annoying girl again. Alas, once she swung her weapon overhead again—likely to prove her previous point—the icy sphere that protected the midget of a girl spewed forth icicles for which Claudia instinctively parried, but it was too late. Skewered, she took distance, taking out some of the shards of ice with a scowl.
Claudia danced across the air after she jumped again. Her scythe rolled with her fingers. Shards of ice approached her, but she flung her newfound weapon to brush them away over and over again. Just before she landed a strike a tornado popped from under her, but she used the wind against her soles to move back instead; her trademark smile decorating her expression. A puddle of darkness formed but Svetlana gave her no time to activate her Commandment leisurely. Side-stepping the cold assault, she made her scythe spin like a wheel to deflect the attacks as she readied her power. The darkness enveloped her feet fully at last, demonic beasts crawled out with groans.
Svetlana shuddered. “Demons…?” she said, clapping her hands twice. How could a person like her summon things like these. She thought she wouldn’t meet anyone aside from Isabelle with a demon, so this was quite the unwanted revelation. “You sure have some dangerous things there, little girl,” she remarked, grinning, albeit sweating behind her facade. No incantations were fast enough; the beasts gnawed at her frosty wall in but a moment and shattered it with their fangs.
“Oh, say again? I can’t hear you over the sound of your trembling, little bitch,” Claudia jested, putting a hand around her ear to amplify the woman’s voice in a sarcastic manner.
“Dogs sure bark loud.” Svetlana laughed, her hands joined and her prayer was complete.
A small tornado formed again under Claudia’s feet and the wind was intense. Too much for the vampire, in fact. Unable to use her strength to maintain her position, she was flown away by the violent air. The pressure hurt enough already, but because she was trying to move despite being mid-air, it hurt even more when her head bumped against the wall of the stage.
Rubbing her now aching head, Claudia appeared dazed for a moment, turning her sight over to the midget and regaining her vision after a little while. She rose to her feet, stumbling a little.
“Okay… in my country, doing something like this to someone far superior than you are… we would call this fucking up big time,” she managed.
“And what vulgar and messed up country is that?” Svetlana questioned, giggling. “Little girls shouldn’t speak such words, it’s rude.”
“France,” Claudia replied with a tilt of her head. “Not as vulgar and messed up as you deem it to be.”
“I don’t think so anymore, either.” Svetlana smirked as she spoke. “Maybe it was just your parents who didn’t teach you manners, little girl. Instead they spoiled you; putting a tiara on that silly block of a skull, and making you get over your head.” She snickered, placing a hand on her mouth.
“What did you just say…?” Claudia said in a speedily, threatening manner. Her eyes stretched wide and she had a blank expression plastered all over her. “Tell me again… what did you just say?”
“My, my, are you deaf? I said that you’re a spoiled kid who thinks she is a Queen of some sort. Then again, a Queen never speaks like you. So maybe you’re just a savage wannabe girl,” Svetlana taunted.
Claudia’s face twisted with rage. This wasn’t anything like her usual seductive smile, the type she got when she was aroused in a fight. No, this was something way different. The way she twitched, the manner in which she cracked her neck and knuckles and bit her lip. In her words: she was pissed off for possibly the third or fourth time in her life. It was like when she fought that Priest some time ago.
“You… fucking self-entitled piece of horse shit! Who the fuck gave you permission to mention my family? Who the fuck gave you permission to even glance at my tiara? What makes you think that you have the gall to even insult my homeland? You know nothing about me! You know nothing about my family! It’s judgemental, idiotic, smug-faced bastards like you that make me loathe the people of this world and make me want to destroy it myself! YOU DON’T KNOW JACK SHIT ABOUT ME. YOU SHOULD JUST FUCKING KILL YOURSELF AND SAVE ME THE TROUBLE OF DOING SO.”
Svetlana shrugged, still smug-faced as ever, and uncaring. “Sure, sure, keep on yappin’. Doesn’t change the fact that you’ve acted like the most self-entitled brat here so far, and neither does it change the fact that your words speak volumes about your barbaric character. The irony is laughable! You think you can really talk about rights against the enemy—here in the battlefield? How childish can you get, girl?”
Claudia, filled with unfathomable rage, hung her scythe over her shoulder and shuddered as she stared at the dwarf-like woman. “I’m going to enjoy ripping you in half. Fuck Sagittarius right now, I want you to die. Fuck your shit, you Goddamn cunt. Speaking of irony, you called me childish, when you, yourself are an ant. You’re nothing. You’re trash. I’m going to do the world a favor and wipe you right off the face of it.”
“Only trash speaks that way, though. Context, little girl. I called you childish based on your personality. You can call me child-like all you want, but it doesn’t change that I’m older than you and have seen much worse happening in this world. If my comment phases you… you’d never survive in the harsher parts of the world.”
Claudia’s eyes returned to her ordinary red, retracting from her widened state. Her face was blank once more. “That is where you are wrong,” she began. “I have survived even the harshest of environments. The people I have had the displeasure of being acquainted with were cruel, and the ones whom I liked, alas, died cruel and slow deaths. As far as I know, I have the ability to surpass even the most seasoned of Mages, even a Magister.” Claudia’s eyes returned wide and she tilted her head once more. “So don’t tell me what I can’t, and won’t, survive. At least I have two eyes to see that I can survive this world.”
Svetlana stopped grinning. “It’s because I lost an eye that I know what the world is all about. You’re not the only one who has lived through all kinds of bothersome things, but France’s environments don’t even hold a candle to what Russia was, and still is. Don’t over-exaggerate things about your past to me.” Svetlana then smiled at the comment about surpassing mages. “Try it if you can. I am a teacher in the Academy, so I’d love to see how a person like you can talk so big.”
Claudia hummed and chuckled. “All the more reason to kill you, then.”
With her newfound powers, it was still possible to cast the one spell she thought she wouldn’t be able to. How it was possible was something she did not know, but it was likely the aim of the Countess. Claudia raised an arm to the sky and grasped for Infernal power. A dark red mana filled her and enveloped her form, giving away an ominous aura. She then thrust her hand forward and it faced Svetlana who wasn’t sure what was going on but was starting to realize what spell Claudia was employing.
Svetlana was lifted off the floor of the stage as Claudia raised her hand slightly. Her heart under Claudia’s grasp.
“Well, Teacher of the Academy, do you like my attempt? I wonder what my grade would be? A for effort, perhaps?” Claudia was brought to her crazed guffaw after saying this, enjoying the shock in Svetlana’s face.
However, Svetlana forced a smile in response. “That’s one nasty spell you learned,” she commented, somehow pulling the words out of her throat. Her hands joined. Two claps, followed by gestures and hand signs were performed, none of which Claudia could make any sense of. Considering she never actually studied extensively like Mary, all she knew was that there was an alternative method to casting spells—which were via hand signs—but it was somewhat hard to learn and perform.
The floor tremored and the cloud’s shape changed. Svetlana unleashed her own forbidden spell, or rather—her Supreme Magic. Asteria’s mana flowed into her body—also from the Infernal Realm—as what seemed like black blood flowed into her eyes.
The mana was so strong that Claudia lost her grip on Svetlana and felt something like electricity in her hand, immediately retracted it from feeling a tinge of pain; canceling her Heart Shatter spell.
Svetlana dropped her hands before the spell casting was complete, her objective to neutralize the dangerous spell was done as all the evil mana were forced out due to Asteria’s mana. Her eye too, returned to normal, and she landed on the floor. Indeed, she was thankful to Alicia for teaching her such a spell.
“You’re not the only one with a trump card,” Svetlana stated.
Claudia appeared slightly phased by this, causing her to purse her lips at her spell not working. “Well, now. It looks like things have just gotten far more interesting than I thought. With you being able to use such a spell, well, I might have to reconsider outright killing you. Now, I want to enjoy this as much as I can…”
“You’re getting more and more ironic, you know?” Svetlana clapped twice and drew a dagger out. It was sparkling with electricity afterwards.
“What can I say? Knowingly, I underestimated you. That was my second mistake. The first one was allowing mere words to affect me,” Claudia admitted, scowling. “I will not be making that mistake again.”
“I’m sure you will continue to do that, little girl,” Svetlana mocked regardless.
Claudia sighed. “Honestly, I find some variety in your insults—or, perhaps, I was wrong and that was all you have to offer in battle? Because the wounds I sustained earlier were nothing.”
“I am intelligent; of course there would be variety. Besides, at least I wounded you, had you fly to the screen, which was funny, while you couldn’t even touch me so far. Aren’t you the one who’s been throwing the most insults so far?”
“Like I said, they were nothing,” Claudia replied. “More importantly, you will remain unscathed so long as we continue to gab like this. Though, would you like another insult for the road as well? Okay, here—I am unable to harm you because I am used to fighting those about my height, or taller. Ohohoho.” Claudia chuckled into her palm, deliberately acting immature in that regard.
“You sure are competitive about insults. But really, that is the worst excuse for a warrior, little girl. Just goes to show your incompetence,” Svetlana said, giggling.
“And you sure are impulsive when it comes to that incessant giggle,” Claudia replied, feeling her head slowly dip to the side. That wasn’t good. Was she forcibly holding back her anger? “You’re gonna make me have an ulcer, calling me incompetent so loosely. Clearly you just throw that word around willy-nilly, not knowing who truly inhabits it’s meaning.”
Svetlana’s dagger clashed with Claudia’s scythe.
Claudia felt the surge of electricity and scowled. They exchanged more blows afterwards.
“Sure, sure, implying you know better,” Svetlana finally said, clapping her hands twice. “Did you know that your English doesn’t even make sense to me? Funnily enough, I don’t really know that language… how do you think I can understand?”
“Tch, like I care. What are you, Russian? Judging by your accent...”
“I am Russian, but accent? Ah. I’m not really speaking in English so I can’t tell what exactly my spell is making you hear,” Svetlana answered. “I wonder what the heck you’re hearing that your brain is melting over them, but I’d bet they’re amusing.”
“As I thought,” Claudia answered, now struggling with her emotions and Svetlana as a whole. Who on Earth talked this much while fighting? Clearly those two.
When Claudia swung her scythe again, Svetlana ducked and dodged it. A tornado erupted from under Svetlana subsequently, and she flew up to the sky and landed outside the premises.
“Catch me if you can, little girl,” she taunted as she left the stage. In retrospect, it seemed like the wind knocked Claudia off her position yet again.
“Really? We’re doing this? You… fucking….” Claudia began, wiping her brow of sweat as she climbed back to her feet. She sighed, unable to believe she was going to give this girl the benefit of the doubt and follow her. “This has to stop. How do you expect for me to kill you if you run away every five seconds? This will not do at all.” Walking subtly along the ground, sighing, Claudia then jumped off the stage, following Svetlana, albeit carefully, in mind of any traps she might have set up.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Meanwhile, as Svetlana held off the scythe-wielding assailant, Natsu used the opportunity to continue running. Natsu wished it didn't need to be like this, but she had to get herself to safety, otherwise her teachers' efforts would be wasted. The only route available was to return backstage. Other exits would be foolish; any public exit could lead to her getting assaulted by more possible enemies, hidden within the crowd. Besides that, she could sidestep the fight between Alicia and the first attacker by reaching backstage from the other side. As long as Natsu found anyone she could trust: her manager, another idol, a security guard, whoever, she would feel much more secure.
When Natsu got behind the stage and met with the staff crew and some of the other idols she knew, she noticed one thing…
They were all dead.
Lying on the floor, everyone she met today and everyone she knew were motionless.
However, in this colorless world they were frozen in a timeless world at the same time. Perhaps someone was speaking his last word. Perhaps someone was trying to look for a way to save themselves, or call an ambulance. With the time stopped, none of that was going to happen any time soon.
Natsu considered all of her fellow idols close friends, and now their lifeless bodies were scattered about the floor. She then laid her eyes upon her manager, shocked from the scene. However, he was still alive, yet frozen all the same.
“Manager-san...! And everyone else...! Oh, goodness, no... Why...!?” Natsu ran to his side, already choked up on tears.
“Calm down.” Natsu looked to the left, and Ame was there, in her miko garb. “He is still alive.”
“A-Ame-chan... What...? B-But... he's not moving...” She was shocked to see Ame here. Was she here to protect Natsu, as well?
Ame immediately gave a respectful bow to Natsu. “Why did you not inform me that you were a Time Warrior? I had only received a letter from my elder when you were leaving the Academy grounds to protect you. Regardless of the case, we may speak about the trivialities later. At the moment, time is stopped. I daresay you’ve met another Time Warrior, which caused the distortion in this space in the first place. Hence, your friend here who is not a mage is fine.”
“A-Another Time Warrior...? Wait, so... i-is one of them...?” Natsu thought back to the two women that attacked her for a moment before shaking her head and returning her focus on her manager. “So, will Manager-san be alright...?” Natsu asked with teary but hopeful eyes. She couldn't bear to see him get hurt.
“He will be fine, but time will not stay still for long since you are not fighting the other Time Warrior… in other words… he will not be safe for long if you stay here. Assuming that they are after you primarily, we must take you to safety.”
“B-But... if Manager-san is... We can't just leave him... What if they come for him once we're gone?” Natsu questioned with a great deal of worry. “Can't we get him to safety, too?"
“Oh, jeez, this is why mundanes are so…” Ame wanted to complain, she really did, but now wasn’t the time. The Hime Miko, despite her pride, was taught that Descendants were more important beings, a few of whom who’d safeguarded Japan. This girl could do something like that? Ame sighed. She held the manager by both her arms and picked him up with unbelievable strength before putting him over her shoulders. “This is going to hurt later… anyway, you happy now, right?”
“Yes! Thank you so much, Ame-chan!” Natsu said gratefully. It was still absolutely tragic that she couldn't help anyone else, but if anyone could be spared from such a grisly fate, Natsu could take solace in seizing those opportunities.
“Alright, now we really have to run,” Ame instructed. “I don’t know where the emergency exit is but you do I assume?”
“I... think so…” Natsu thought hard about the layout of the building. She didn't really know it well, but she had a feeling she could find one. “I think there's one down this hall and to the... left...?” Natsu told Ame, and started running in that direction. She hesitated for a moment as she looked back at the bodies of her fellow idols. She wanted so badly to find a way to save them, but it seemed hopeless.
Natsu's directions lead the two of them to a dead end though. It turned out the path she remembered was toward the dressing room instead. Natsu trembled, a feeling of despair sinking in. Oh no... Are they gonna catch up to us...? Natsu again tried to think of a way out, but her thoughts were so flustered she couldn't think straight.
“This is somewhat tiresome,” Ame finally complained, panting. Carrying the manager—an adult man—wasn’t something so easy for a sixteen year old girl even with magic’s help.
“It took some time to find you, but I see that you two are lost,” an unfamiliar voice spoke and the two turned as if the worst villain had finally shown their face.
A blonde with twintails appeared from behind, and what was strapped on her back was a massive broadsword that who knew how much it weighed.
Ame immediately entered a battle stance despite carrying a body, but the newcomer raised a hand, prompting her to halt.
“I come at the behest of my Organization, the Church. While we are usually not on good terms, now isn’t the time to fight each other. For our common enemy in this case is the vampires,” she stated.
“...True, but I have never heard of nuns dressing up this way.”
“That is because I serve the Church as a knight, not a nun.”
“And how do you intend to help us here?”
“We have agreed with the Headmistress to lend a hand, my partner and I. I shall lead you both to the exit.”
“...What do you think, should we trust her?” Ame asked Natsu.
“If she was an enemy, I think she would have attacked us already…” Natsu mumbled, feeling slightly relieved, but not wanting to be too hasty. “The Headmistress sent you? And, who is your partner? Why isn't that person with you?” She wanted a reason to trust the person in front of her. They may not really have a choice regardless, but Natsu wanted to at least be more confident that this person would help them out.
“A little different from what you may have been told; we offered to protect you for our own goals to reach the vampires. Of course, the one who accepted was Headmistress Lumiere, admitting that it’d be beneficial. My partner is Michael Kallweit, and we have split up. He is going to assist your teacher while I take you to safety,” she answered. “And on that note, you may call me Lily… anyway, we must hurry.”
“You're a friend of Michael-san?” Natsu's eyes lit up a bit. Michael did mention he came over to protect her. He seemed trustworthy, so Natsu could believe in his partner as well. “If that's the case, we're in your hands, Lily-san!” Natsu asserted, affirming her trust in Lily.
“Let us be on our way then, the exit is on the other side,” Lily stated, and Ame gave Natsu a look of disappointment. She then lead the pair through the establishment, where Natsu came across even more people seemingly massacred. Even some of the other idols were lying dead in the hallways. It was grotesque to say the least.
Just as the exit was in sight, Lily turned and raised her blade in protection. An explosion was shielded. Ame and Natsu turned from surprise and confusion.
Another foreigner could be seen behind them. One who wore a black dress as if she came to a party. Perhaps she really thought this was a party. She held a rose-tipped wand pointed towards them.
“Vampire Rose,” Lily said, narrowing her eyes. “Go on ahead, you two, I’ll hold her here.”
“Thanks, again, Lily-san... I’ll pray for your safety!” Natsu told her, proceeding along to the doorway. Escape was just a breath away. She ran with Ame as fast as she could, and there they were; outside.
When Natsu got behind the stage and met with the staff crew and some of the other idols she knew, she noticed one thing…
They were all dead.
Lying on the floor, everyone she met today and everyone she knew were motionless.
However, in this colorless world they were frozen in a timeless world at the same time. Perhaps someone was speaking his last word. Perhaps someone was trying to look for a way to save themselves, or call an ambulance. With the time stopped, none of that was going to happen any time soon.
Natsu considered all of her fellow idols close friends, and now their lifeless bodies were scattered about the floor. She then laid her eyes upon her manager, shocked from the scene. However, he was still alive, yet frozen all the same.
“Manager-san...! And everyone else...! Oh, goodness, no... Why...!?” Natsu ran to his side, already choked up on tears.
“Calm down.” Natsu looked to the left, and Ame was there, in her miko garb. “He is still alive.”
“A-Ame-chan... What...? B-But... he's not moving...” She was shocked to see Ame here. Was she here to protect Natsu, as well?
Ame immediately gave a respectful bow to Natsu. “Why did you not inform me that you were a Time Warrior? I had only received a letter from my elder when you were leaving the Academy grounds to protect you. Regardless of the case, we may speak about the trivialities later. At the moment, time is stopped. I daresay you’ve met another Time Warrior, which caused the distortion in this space in the first place. Hence, your friend here who is not a mage is fine.”
“A-Another Time Warrior...? Wait, so... i-is one of them...?” Natsu thought back to the two women that attacked her for a moment before shaking her head and returning her focus on her manager. “So, will Manager-san be alright...?” Natsu asked with teary but hopeful eyes. She couldn't bear to see him get hurt.
“He will be fine, but time will not stay still for long since you are not fighting the other Time Warrior… in other words… he will not be safe for long if you stay here. Assuming that they are after you primarily, we must take you to safety.”
“B-But... if Manager-san is... We can't just leave him... What if they come for him once we're gone?” Natsu questioned with a great deal of worry. “Can't we get him to safety, too?"
“Oh, jeez, this is why mundanes are so…” Ame wanted to complain, she really did, but now wasn’t the time. The Hime Miko, despite her pride, was taught that Descendants were more important beings, a few of whom who’d safeguarded Japan. This girl could do something like that? Ame sighed. She held the manager by both her arms and picked him up with unbelievable strength before putting him over her shoulders. “This is going to hurt later… anyway, you happy now, right?”
“Yes! Thank you so much, Ame-chan!” Natsu said gratefully. It was still absolutely tragic that she couldn't help anyone else, but if anyone could be spared from such a grisly fate, Natsu could take solace in seizing those opportunities.
“Alright, now we really have to run,” Ame instructed. “I don’t know where the emergency exit is but you do I assume?”
“I... think so…” Natsu thought hard about the layout of the building. She didn't really know it well, but she had a feeling she could find one. “I think there's one down this hall and to the... left...?” Natsu told Ame, and started running in that direction. She hesitated for a moment as she looked back at the bodies of her fellow idols. She wanted so badly to find a way to save them, but it seemed hopeless.
Natsu's directions lead the two of them to a dead end though. It turned out the path she remembered was toward the dressing room instead. Natsu trembled, a feeling of despair sinking in. Oh no... Are they gonna catch up to us...? Natsu again tried to think of a way out, but her thoughts were so flustered she couldn't think straight.
“This is somewhat tiresome,” Ame finally complained, panting. Carrying the manager—an adult man—wasn’t something so easy for a sixteen year old girl even with magic’s help.
“It took some time to find you, but I see that you two are lost,” an unfamiliar voice spoke and the two turned as if the worst villain had finally shown their face.
A blonde with twintails appeared from behind, and what was strapped on her back was a massive broadsword that who knew how much it weighed.
Ame immediately entered a battle stance despite carrying a body, but the newcomer raised a hand, prompting her to halt.
“I come at the behest of my Organization, the Church. While we are usually not on good terms, now isn’t the time to fight each other. For our common enemy in this case is the vampires,” she stated.
“...True, but I have never heard of nuns dressing up this way.”
“That is because I serve the Church as a knight, not a nun.”
“And how do you intend to help us here?”
“We have agreed with the Headmistress to lend a hand, my partner and I. I shall lead you both to the exit.”
“...What do you think, should we trust her?” Ame asked Natsu.
“If she was an enemy, I think she would have attacked us already…” Natsu mumbled, feeling slightly relieved, but not wanting to be too hasty. “The Headmistress sent you? And, who is your partner? Why isn't that person with you?” She wanted a reason to trust the person in front of her. They may not really have a choice regardless, but Natsu wanted to at least be more confident that this person would help them out.
“A little different from what you may have been told; we offered to protect you for our own goals to reach the vampires. Of course, the one who accepted was Headmistress Lumiere, admitting that it’d be beneficial. My partner is Michael Kallweit, and we have split up. He is going to assist your teacher while I take you to safety,” she answered. “And on that note, you may call me Lily… anyway, we must hurry.”
“You're a friend of Michael-san?” Natsu's eyes lit up a bit. Michael did mention he came over to protect her. He seemed trustworthy, so Natsu could believe in his partner as well. “If that's the case, we're in your hands, Lily-san!” Natsu asserted, affirming her trust in Lily.
“Let us be on our way then, the exit is on the other side,” Lily stated, and Ame gave Natsu a look of disappointment. She then lead the pair through the establishment, where Natsu came across even more people seemingly massacred. Even some of the other idols were lying dead in the hallways. It was grotesque to say the least.
Just as the exit was in sight, Lily turned and raised her blade in protection. An explosion was shielded. Ame and Natsu turned from surprise and confusion.
Another foreigner could be seen behind them. One who wore a black dress as if she came to a party. Perhaps she really thought this was a party. She held a rose-tipped wand pointed towards them.
“Vampire Rose,” Lily said, narrowing her eyes. “Go on ahead, you two, I’ll hold her here.”
“Thanks, again, Lily-san... I’ll pray for your safety!” Natsu told her, proceeding along to the doorway. Escape was just a breath away. She ran with Ame as fast as she could, and there they were; outside.