Descendants of Time (Role-Play Act 5: Revolutionary Moment)
0
Fallan
Kamen Rider Cheeki
Pristine statues of angels, an alter, benches, a long dark-red carpet, a priest with a cross, and a lady. A scene often seen in artistic and visual works, perhaps.
However, something was out of place.
The lady wasn’t a nun. The man seemed to be standing not in front of the altar, but the lady did so instead. The usual positions anyone would assume was swapped from the get-go.
[color=#0c0043]“Allow me to remind you of your mission,” the lady said, her frown made her displeasure evident, and her anger known.
The Valiant Knight was disappointed to find an Executioner so slow for his very first task. Was the church wrong in its choice? Were these not the elite in killing given targets? Indeed, they were as good as garbage to her as it stood.
[color=#0c0043]“It is to hunt this vampire down. What is with this sloppy report I’ve received from you? It has been a few months already since I’ve assigned the task.”
“Elusive as he may very well be, I have already cornered him once. It will not be difficult to do so again; he will not escape death twice.” The priest replied, meeting her gaze. He could clearly see the disappointment in her face, and it was understandable, considering what happened last night. “However, this case with the infernal should not be ignored. At least, that’s what I think.” He continued, smiling as he recalled Mary.
[color=#0c0043]“Are you certain about it? I am rather skeptical, we haven’t had Infernals running amok for years in the Great Britain’s capital,” the lady replied, she found the report unprofessional as it included something not about the mission itself. However, even she could tell its importance.
[color=#0c0043]“What is strange is that the higher ups refuses to care about this part of the report,” she added.
“That is why I was caught unprepared. I was not in a situation where I could’ve fallen back, no one could’ve.” Michael shrugged. “ Also, what the higher ups think won’t matter to me until it becomes a mission assigned to me. I am aware it was outside my mission, but it was an opportunity I shouldn’t have missed. Let’s call it reconnaissance?”
[color=#0c0043]“I am more conscious about its credibility, in all honesty. With Infernals not having shown face for years,” the lady shrugged, was he really not making up an excuse? She wondered. [color=#0c0043]“We were sure that they wouldn’t appear again for the times to come.”
“All the more reason to look into this case. If it were really an Infernal, and I am sure it was, I would deal with it appropriately. If it isn’t, then you’re right.” He tapped his foot impatiently. Does she really think I am incapable of doing both?
The lady sighed. [color=#0c0043]“To be honest, I am personally interested. Can you give me more details about this †˜Mary’ person?” She asked. There was only one instance in which this name was mentioned. There was no particular reasoning provided for why or how it lead to him going to meet her. She figured that the reason was personal, but if they were to investigate; she’d need more details.
“Mary Shelley, actress and writer. Stands about this tall” He raised his working hand to approximately how tall she was. “Has one golden eye, and that’s what you want to investigate. I don’t recall anything like it, but all these business with the Infernal revolves around that. I assume they want it.” He continued, “Oh, and affiliated with a certain Bram Stoker, who’s also another writer. He’s a suspicious sort. Kinda reminds me of the cloaked guy.”
[color=#0c0043]“Hmm… interesting situation we have here,” she said, placing her hand under her chin; thinking about the connections they could share. [color=#0c0043]“A golden eye though. I have heard rumors. Nothing good, at that. No one wants to interact with it,” she reminded herself of the many rumors of the Magic World. They were as corny and laughable as any hurriedly made-up horror stories, but only to the mundanes.
“She’s wary of it. Seems like she’s been dealing with its various effects for a while. And with what happened, I have a good guess why.” He said, glancing at his currently disabled arm. It would eventually heal, but for the moment it was quite useless to him. “And with what just happened last night, I doubt she’d be in a talking mood. Unless...”
[color=#0c0043]“If she is used to dealing with it, she may just be in a talking mood. However, a blatant inquisition may not solve the mysteries,” she stated her thought on the matter. [color=#0c0043]“Exactly what did you fought? Aside from it being an Infernal; I can’t tell how it looked. What was the location?”
“It was a giant made of iron. Haven’t had time to analyze it for it somehow got the jump on us. On me.” He put an emphasis on the last part. He was working as a hunter of the creatures of the night, and he was used to stealthy type of creatures. But for an iron giant to surprise him, he had never imagined that even in his wildest dreams and it made him uncomfortable. Shaking his thoughts, he continued, “As for the location, as unbelievable as it might seem, I have no idea. We- I was chasing her one moment, and in the next, we’re in a place with alot of iron. Do you have any idea what that place might be?”
[color=#0c0043]“No,” she shook her head, [color=#0c0043]“I have never heard of an iron place. That is the first mention of it here. It was likely past a Boundary.”
[color=#0c0043]“So, what do you plan to do now?”
“Two- three things. I’d like to get my arm on working condition first.” He tried to raise said arm. “Regarding the investigation of Mary, I’d very much like to continue now, rather than later. Though, I might need help if that thing appears again.” He glanced at her and then continued, “Finally, I’d continue on tracing the steps of my quarry. If his trail goes cold those few months you spoke of would be for naught. Don’t you guys have any more information I could use?”
[color=#0c0043]“Very well, I will permit your actions, but… ” she begun, picking out a few pieces of paper from her pocket, [color=#0c0043]“Hmm… to be honest, there just isn’t enough at the moment. The investigation squad isn’t back yet, either,” she informed, still reading something from some pieces papers that she held while she conversed. This was considered a small case, so the Church had meant to leave it to a new Executioner.
“Hmm? Ah well, that can’t be helped.” Michael replied, as he slowly positioned himself so that he could take a peek on what she was reading. As he did, he saw various reports.
A part of the page detailed something about a Faerie’s tricks played on the farmers of the city outskirts. Another part described a mundane coming across priests practicing magic, and them having to go to the trouble of hiring a mage who could remove memories. Then there was something more interesting, a case that took place last night – a Lycanthrope appearing dangerously close to Buckingham Palace… then a rolling vision. A rolling vision? Well yes, that was because the lady bonked hard at the head of Michael, pushing him inches away.
[color=#0c0043]“That is rude, especially to your superior.”
“There, there. I have no bad intentions with it. Most of it seemed really boring, anyway. Aren’t you happy I am here to give you the interesting stuff?” Michael teased as the cogs inside his head started turning, formulating various courses of action now that he’ll be pretty much alone with both his original mission and this case on Mary. He’d rather not experience almost losing another limb next time. He felt a shiver run down his spine, but he shrugged it off as he smiled at her.
[color=#0c0043]“Well, there was nothing special… except for the Lycanthrope. Which is rare, if someone were to be able to control it to assassinate the Queen… is a dangerous thought,” she sighed, then put the papers down from her view. Why did it felt like he was trying to cheer her up with that response? She was better off not getting anything interesting, since that would mean that things were going well.
[color=#0c0043]“Anyway, I just checked my schedule, and it seems that I am free today. So I will be joining you with the investigations temporarily,” she declared, as the incident Michael described was the only matter of particular note, at the moment.
“Well then, I guess we’re going to the theatre.” Michael replied.
[color=#0c0043]“Which theatre, and what for? Is Mary Shelley appearing in a play today?” She asked, curious.
“The Lyceum Theatre, also yes, if I recall correctly.” Michael said as he held his chin with his left hand. “Oh and, be prepared. Just in case.” He added.
[color=#0c0043]“Be prepared? For?” She crossed her arms, putting the papers away into a pocket now.
Michael scratched his cheek and said, “Well, we’re going to a theatre for one. Also, the circumstances behind the golden eye are unknown to us, so I suggest bringing something concealable for defending yourself. ” His gaze slowly descended from her face to her sizable… papers as he spoke.
[color=#0c0043]“You do know that the knights – for the entirety of their lives – lives with their weapon, shield and armor, yes?”
“Even when bathing?”
[color=#0c0043]“Yes. Wait, what kind of a perverted question is that?” Laura hissed, but restrained her fists from landing over the apparent perverted priest.
“It was an honest question! Now I know you’d be safe at all times!” He replied waving his hand in front of him. Easily angered, huh. I wonder if she’s the type who prefers charging in. Sigh, that might be troublesome... then again, she didn’t hit me.
[color=#0c0043]“It is common sense to priests, how deplorable.”
“You still answered, though.”
[color=#0c0043]“It seems like you need this mouth of yours disciplined… ” she said, grabbing Michael by the portion of his mouth as well as his jaw.
“Ow, ow ow! I’m injured!” He exclaimed, flailing his arm.
[color=#0c0043]“Hmph,” she pushed the priest away. [color=#0c0043]“Then I suppose we now head out for the theatre.”
However, something was out of place.
The lady wasn’t a nun. The man seemed to be standing not in front of the altar, but the lady did so instead. The usual positions anyone would assume was swapped from the get-go.
[color=#0c0043]“Allow me to remind you of your mission,” the lady said, her frown made her displeasure evident, and her anger known.
The Valiant Knight was disappointed to find an Executioner so slow for his very first task. Was the church wrong in its choice? Were these not the elite in killing given targets? Indeed, they were as good as garbage to her as it stood.
[color=#0c0043]“It is to hunt this vampire down. What is with this sloppy report I’ve received from you? It has been a few months already since I’ve assigned the task.”
“Elusive as he may very well be, I have already cornered him once. It will not be difficult to do so again; he will not escape death twice.” The priest replied, meeting her gaze. He could clearly see the disappointment in her face, and it was understandable, considering what happened last night. “However, this case with the infernal should not be ignored. At least, that’s what I think.” He continued, smiling as he recalled Mary.
[color=#0c0043]“Are you certain about it? I am rather skeptical, we haven’t had Infernals running amok for years in the Great Britain’s capital,” the lady replied, she found the report unprofessional as it included something not about the mission itself. However, even she could tell its importance.
[color=#0c0043]“What is strange is that the higher ups refuses to care about this part of the report,” she added.
“That is why I was caught unprepared. I was not in a situation where I could’ve fallen back, no one could’ve.” Michael shrugged. “ Also, what the higher ups think won’t matter to me until it becomes a mission assigned to me. I am aware it was outside my mission, but it was an opportunity I shouldn’t have missed. Let’s call it reconnaissance?”
[color=#0c0043]“I am more conscious about its credibility, in all honesty. With Infernals not having shown face for years,” the lady shrugged, was he really not making up an excuse? She wondered. [color=#0c0043]“We were sure that they wouldn’t appear again for the times to come.”
“All the more reason to look into this case. If it were really an Infernal, and I am sure it was, I would deal with it appropriately. If it isn’t, then you’re right.” He tapped his foot impatiently. Does she really think I am incapable of doing both?
The lady sighed. [color=#0c0043]“To be honest, I am personally interested. Can you give me more details about this †˜Mary’ person?” She asked. There was only one instance in which this name was mentioned. There was no particular reasoning provided for why or how it lead to him going to meet her. She figured that the reason was personal, but if they were to investigate; she’d need more details.
“Mary Shelley, actress and writer. Stands about this tall” He raised his working hand to approximately how tall she was. “Has one golden eye, and that’s what you want to investigate. I don’t recall anything like it, but all these business with the Infernal revolves around that. I assume they want it.” He continued, “Oh, and affiliated with a certain Bram Stoker, who’s also another writer. He’s a suspicious sort. Kinda reminds me of the cloaked guy.”
[color=#0c0043]“Hmm… interesting situation we have here,” she said, placing her hand under her chin; thinking about the connections they could share. [color=#0c0043]“A golden eye though. I have heard rumors. Nothing good, at that. No one wants to interact with it,” she reminded herself of the many rumors of the Magic World. They were as corny and laughable as any hurriedly made-up horror stories, but only to the mundanes.
“She’s wary of it. Seems like she’s been dealing with its various effects for a while. And with what happened, I have a good guess why.” He said, glancing at his currently disabled arm. It would eventually heal, but for the moment it was quite useless to him. “And with what just happened last night, I doubt she’d be in a talking mood. Unless...”
[color=#0c0043]“If she is used to dealing with it, she may just be in a talking mood. However, a blatant inquisition may not solve the mysteries,” she stated her thought on the matter. [color=#0c0043]“Exactly what did you fought? Aside from it being an Infernal; I can’t tell how it looked. What was the location?”
“It was a giant made of iron. Haven’t had time to analyze it for it somehow got the jump on us. On me.” He put an emphasis on the last part. He was working as a hunter of the creatures of the night, and he was used to stealthy type of creatures. But for an iron giant to surprise him, he had never imagined that even in his wildest dreams and it made him uncomfortable. Shaking his thoughts, he continued, “As for the location, as unbelievable as it might seem, I have no idea. We- I was chasing her one moment, and in the next, we’re in a place with alot of iron. Do you have any idea what that place might be?”
[color=#0c0043]“No,” she shook her head, [color=#0c0043]“I have never heard of an iron place. That is the first mention of it here. It was likely past a Boundary.”
[color=#0c0043]“So, what do you plan to do now?”
“Two- three things. I’d like to get my arm on working condition first.” He tried to raise said arm. “Regarding the investigation of Mary, I’d very much like to continue now, rather than later. Though, I might need help if that thing appears again.” He glanced at her and then continued, “Finally, I’d continue on tracing the steps of my quarry. If his trail goes cold those few months you spoke of would be for naught. Don’t you guys have any more information I could use?”
[color=#0c0043]“Very well, I will permit your actions, but… ” she begun, picking out a few pieces of paper from her pocket, [color=#0c0043]“Hmm… to be honest, there just isn’t enough at the moment. The investigation squad isn’t back yet, either,” she informed, still reading something from some pieces papers that she held while she conversed. This was considered a small case, so the Church had meant to leave it to a new Executioner.
“Hmm? Ah well, that can’t be helped.” Michael replied, as he slowly positioned himself so that he could take a peek on what she was reading. As he did, he saw various reports.
A part of the page detailed something about a Faerie’s tricks played on the farmers of the city outskirts. Another part described a mundane coming across priests practicing magic, and them having to go to the trouble of hiring a mage who could remove memories. Then there was something more interesting, a case that took place last night – a Lycanthrope appearing dangerously close to Buckingham Palace… then a rolling vision. A rolling vision? Well yes, that was because the lady bonked hard at the head of Michael, pushing him inches away.
[color=#0c0043]“That is rude, especially to your superior.”
“There, there. I have no bad intentions with it. Most of it seemed really boring, anyway. Aren’t you happy I am here to give you the interesting stuff?” Michael teased as the cogs inside his head started turning, formulating various courses of action now that he’ll be pretty much alone with both his original mission and this case on Mary. He’d rather not experience almost losing another limb next time. He felt a shiver run down his spine, but he shrugged it off as he smiled at her.
[color=#0c0043]“Well, there was nothing special… except for the Lycanthrope. Which is rare, if someone were to be able to control it to assassinate the Queen… is a dangerous thought,” she sighed, then put the papers down from her view. Why did it felt like he was trying to cheer her up with that response? She was better off not getting anything interesting, since that would mean that things were going well.
[color=#0c0043]“Anyway, I just checked my schedule, and it seems that I am free today. So I will be joining you with the investigations temporarily,” she declared, as the incident Michael described was the only matter of particular note, at the moment.
“Well then, I guess we’re going to the theatre.” Michael replied.
[color=#0c0043]“Which theatre, and what for? Is Mary Shelley appearing in a play today?” She asked, curious.
“The Lyceum Theatre, also yes, if I recall correctly.” Michael said as he held his chin with his left hand. “Oh and, be prepared. Just in case.” He added.
[color=#0c0043]“Be prepared? For?” She crossed her arms, putting the papers away into a pocket now.
Michael scratched his cheek and said, “Well, we’re going to a theatre for one. Also, the circumstances behind the golden eye are unknown to us, so I suggest bringing something concealable for defending yourself. ” His gaze slowly descended from her face to her sizable… papers as he spoke.
[color=#0c0043]“You do know that the knights – for the entirety of their lives – lives with their weapon, shield and armor, yes?”
“Even when bathing?”
[color=#0c0043]“Yes. Wait, what kind of a perverted question is that?” Laura hissed, but restrained her fists from landing over the apparent perverted priest.
“It was an honest question! Now I know you’d be safe at all times!” He replied waving his hand in front of him. Easily angered, huh. I wonder if she’s the type who prefers charging in. Sigh, that might be troublesome... then again, she didn’t hit me.
[color=#0c0043]“It is common sense to priests, how deplorable.”
“You still answered, though.”
[color=#0c0043]“It seems like you need this mouth of yours disciplined… ” she said, grabbing Michael by the portion of his mouth as well as his jaw.
“Ow, ow ow! I’m injured!” He exclaimed, flailing his arm.
[color=#0c0043]“Hmph,” she pushed the priest away. [color=#0c0043]“Then I suppose we now head out for the theatre.”
***
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
The roadside stone pavements around Thames.
A city that was now covered by a gray sky and rising smog from many tall spires of the factories utilizing steam technology for mass production in a revolutionised industrial era. This was a time which was supposed to have faded long ago. By what mysterious power did it return, and continue to cling to the present? No one knew the answer to it – not even the First Professor rumored to be a genius among scholars, not even the King of Detectives, not even the Diogenes at the foot of Her Majesty, not even Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
This was the kind of country the priest was born in, and this was the part of the Magic World he was in. The very central part of it.
London was famous in the Magic World for being an old gathering spot for mages and supernatural individuals alike. One would even claim that it was becoming a massive central of the European myths – coming alive with every seconds.
The lady walking beside him – the Valiant Knight of the Roman Catholic Church – was the person the priest would have to now follow. A strange situation, but the ranks of a knight seemed higher than the Executioners, it seemed. Albeit the Executioners were often praised and looked upon from the dark side of the church, but they were treated like any other ordinary priest otherwise.
From St. Paul, the pathway was indeed supposed to take at least an hour. It’d be a date in the pristine European country of England for the priest, but…
[color=#0c0043]“So, who is that woman? The one in spiritual form, I mean,” the lady said, not even taking a glance back to confirm Iris’ presence.
“...And here I thought I was doing my best to hide,” Iris sighed, poking her head out from behind Michael, who didn’t seemed to have noticed that Iris had snuck in between the two from the myriad of people in the crowded Square Miles.
“My sister.” Michael replied smiling at Iris to greet her.
[color=#0c0043]“In that state? What happened to her?” She asked, seeming to be more curious than aggressively inquisitive.
“I shot her.” His tone had gone noticeably somber.
[color=#0c0043]“What… ? You shot your blood sister? What a sinful man,” she replied mercilessly as she shook her head. She sounded angry, but at the same time kept her voice low.
“Ah, well… it is a little more complicated then that… ” Iris said, but she wasn’t really explaining since the question wasn’t directed at her. She was clearly on Michael’s side despite being shot.
“Well, you asked.” He said as he increased his pace. “And what Iris said is true, it’s much more complicated than that. Ah. She saw the infernal last night too.” He cheerfully said as he changed the topic of the conversation.
[color=#0c0043]“Well, if you say so,” the lady said, sighing. [color=#0c0043]“So you met the monster last night, too?”
“Yes, and I was helpful, too.”
[color=#0c0043]“Sounds reliable. I look forward to working with you,” she said, smiling. [color=#0c0043]“My name is Laura. It is a pleasure to meet you,” she introduced herself.
“I’m Iris. Nice to meet you too,” Iris responded with an introduction as well, smiling more innocently and happily. “I always wonder how my brother gets to hang around with all these pretty ladies recently… ”
[color=#0c0043]“I wonder how… ” Laura said, innocently wondering what kind of a cunning man could pull that off.
“Huh? Ah! Our trip to the park has to be postponed, Iris. My friend Laura here wanted to go to the theatre, so I figured we all could go together! Something like that.” Michael said, his attention was elsewhere when the girls were introducing themselves.
Laura sighed, it didn’t feel right when she was referred to as a friend rather than his superior, but perhaps he didn’t wanted to divulge too much about his positions and whatnot in the Church to his sister for reasons only he’d know.
[color=#0c0043]“Indeed, we have some investigations to do. Pardon my intrusion, Iris,” Laura said, seemingly apologetic now that she felt that she got in the way of the two’s plans.
“It’s alright, it’s alright. I will support you two the best I can,” Iris said, cheering herself on. “But brother, you’re definitely going there with me after that! You always come up with more and more plans with other girls, jeez,” the last part was much more inaudible, but Laura could make it out.
“I promise! Hey, maybe Laura can go too!” He replied, raising his thumb. Maybe she’d be less angry all of the time.
[color=#0c0043]“Perhaps I’d be getting in the way. So, I will pass on that,” Laura declined, seeming to struggle to find the right words, for which she likely ended up not making any excuses at all, and said what came to her mind.
“Ah, that’s too bad. Seemed like you and Iris could be good friends.” He voiced aloud his thoughts while rubbing his chin. “You think Mister Stoker would be there too, Iris?”
[color=#0c0043]“Bram Stoker, huh? He has become a rather famous playwright recently,” Laura commented, remembering some random tidbits from newspaper articles.
“Maybe? I wouldn’t know, he seems to be often busy with his work concerning vampires… ”
[color=#0c0043]“What? Works concerning vampires, you say?” Laura asked, surprised. At the same time, her interest was piqued. However, she couldn’t remember this part from the reports, but it was mentioned that he appeared to be rather suspicious. [color=#0c0043]“What is this about?” She asked, facing Michael.
Michael stopped walking and faced the two saying, “Hmm? Well, apparently his friend, Mary Shelley talked him into making a horror story. He’s utterly fascinated by vampires, in fact we met late at night while he was supposedly taking a stroll.”
[color=#0c0043]“I see… mnm, so would you think Mary wanted him to write about vampires, or he took it up to use vampires for a horror story?”
“Honestly? I think it’s suspicious. A gut feeling, it might be, but I still think so.”
[color=#0c0043]“I see. That doesn’t answer my question but… we’ll just have to figure it out after meeting them.”
A city that was now covered by a gray sky and rising smog from many tall spires of the factories utilizing steam technology for mass production in a revolutionised industrial era. This was a time which was supposed to have faded long ago. By what mysterious power did it return, and continue to cling to the present? No one knew the answer to it – not even the First Professor rumored to be a genius among scholars, not even the King of Detectives, not even the Diogenes at the foot of Her Majesty, not even Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
This was the kind of country the priest was born in, and this was the part of the Magic World he was in. The very central part of it.
London was famous in the Magic World for being an old gathering spot for mages and supernatural individuals alike. One would even claim that it was becoming a massive central of the European myths – coming alive with every seconds.
The lady walking beside him – the Valiant Knight of the Roman Catholic Church – was the person the priest would have to now follow. A strange situation, but the ranks of a knight seemed higher than the Executioners, it seemed. Albeit the Executioners were often praised and looked upon from the dark side of the church, but they were treated like any other ordinary priest otherwise.
From St. Paul, the pathway was indeed supposed to take at least an hour. It’d be a date in the pristine European country of England for the priest, but…
[color=#0c0043]“So, who is that woman? The one in spiritual form, I mean,” the lady said, not even taking a glance back to confirm Iris’ presence.
“...And here I thought I was doing my best to hide,” Iris sighed, poking her head out from behind Michael, who didn’t seemed to have noticed that Iris had snuck in between the two from the myriad of people in the crowded Square Miles.
“My sister.” Michael replied smiling at Iris to greet her.
[color=#0c0043]“In that state? What happened to her?” She asked, seeming to be more curious than aggressively inquisitive.
“I shot her.” His tone had gone noticeably somber.
[color=#0c0043]“What… ? You shot your blood sister? What a sinful man,” she replied mercilessly as she shook her head. She sounded angry, but at the same time kept her voice low.
“Ah, well… it is a little more complicated then that… ” Iris said, but she wasn’t really explaining since the question wasn’t directed at her. She was clearly on Michael’s side despite being shot.
“Well, you asked.” He said as he increased his pace. “And what Iris said is true, it’s much more complicated than that. Ah. She saw the infernal last night too.” He cheerfully said as he changed the topic of the conversation.
[color=#0c0043]“Well, if you say so,” the lady said, sighing. [color=#0c0043]“So you met the monster last night, too?”
“Yes, and I was helpful, too.”
[color=#0c0043]“Sounds reliable. I look forward to working with you,” she said, smiling. [color=#0c0043]“My name is Laura. It is a pleasure to meet you,” she introduced herself.
“I’m Iris. Nice to meet you too,” Iris responded with an introduction as well, smiling more innocently and happily. “I always wonder how my brother gets to hang around with all these pretty ladies recently… ”
[color=#0c0043]“I wonder how… ” Laura said, innocently wondering what kind of a cunning man could pull that off.
“Huh? Ah! Our trip to the park has to be postponed, Iris. My friend Laura here wanted to go to the theatre, so I figured we all could go together! Something like that.” Michael said, his attention was elsewhere when the girls were introducing themselves.
Laura sighed, it didn’t feel right when she was referred to as a friend rather than his superior, but perhaps he didn’t wanted to divulge too much about his positions and whatnot in the Church to his sister for reasons only he’d know.
[color=#0c0043]“Indeed, we have some investigations to do. Pardon my intrusion, Iris,” Laura said, seemingly apologetic now that she felt that she got in the way of the two’s plans.
“It’s alright, it’s alright. I will support you two the best I can,” Iris said, cheering herself on. “But brother, you’re definitely going there with me after that! You always come up with more and more plans with other girls, jeez,” the last part was much more inaudible, but Laura could make it out.
“I promise! Hey, maybe Laura can go too!” He replied, raising his thumb. Maybe she’d be less angry all of the time.
[color=#0c0043]“Perhaps I’d be getting in the way. So, I will pass on that,” Laura declined, seeming to struggle to find the right words, for which she likely ended up not making any excuses at all, and said what came to her mind.
“Ah, that’s too bad. Seemed like you and Iris could be good friends.” He voiced aloud his thoughts while rubbing his chin. “You think Mister Stoker would be there too, Iris?”
[color=#0c0043]“Bram Stoker, huh? He has become a rather famous playwright recently,” Laura commented, remembering some random tidbits from newspaper articles.
“Maybe? I wouldn’t know, he seems to be often busy with his work concerning vampires… ”
[color=#0c0043]“What? Works concerning vampires, you say?” Laura asked, surprised. At the same time, her interest was piqued. However, she couldn’t remember this part from the reports, but it was mentioned that he appeared to be rather suspicious. [color=#0c0043]“What is this about?” She asked, facing Michael.
Michael stopped walking and faced the two saying, “Hmm? Well, apparently his friend, Mary Shelley talked him into making a horror story. He’s utterly fascinated by vampires, in fact we met late at night while he was supposedly taking a stroll.”
[color=#0c0043]“I see… mnm, so would you think Mary wanted him to write about vampires, or he took it up to use vampires for a horror story?”
“Honestly? I think it’s suspicious. A gut feeling, it might be, but I still think so.”
[color=#0c0043]“I see. That doesn’t answer my question but… we’ll just have to figure it out after meeting them.”
0
Fallan
Kamen Rider Cheeki
In the Lyceum Theatre now. The trio made their way into the establishment. It was slightly different for Michael and Iris, as it was a different theatre than before. This was apparently under Bram Stoker’s control after he took up the position years ago.
“This is also a theatre, yes? Why does it look so different?” Iris blatantly questioned Michael. Laura tilted her head, not knowing why she’d ask, not knowing that Iris was beyond just inexperienced and clueless when it came to the world outside her home.
“As long as there’s a stage, it works!” He replied while looking around. “I’m pretty sure we have some time. Let’s search for Mister Stoker or Mary?”
“Hello there!” A familiar voice called out to Michael – an aged, yet lively one, at that.
Bram Stoker approached the three from the ticket lines where the customers were hurrying to, in order to catch the play.
“I see that you got a friend today,” Bram said, having stood before the three, Laura found his getup rather overwhelming. His black coat and cape – with red underneath – made her realize why he was suspicious. “You dog, even though you got Mary. Haha!”
“Tch, this geezer, they only met once! Once!” Iris hissed from behind Michael with anger not suitable for a lady, making Laura sigh.
“Seems like you’re energetic as always, Mister Stoker! Here is my friend, Laura. Laura, this is Mister Stoker, the guy I have been telling you about.” Michael gestured to them as he introduced them.
“Good day, Mister Stoker, my name is Laura.”
“My pleasure to meet you, Miss Laura. Anyway, the play will start soon, had you two got your tickets yet?”
“I’ll get the tickets, you two get acquainted.” Michael offered. He made a small nod to Iris to signal her to follow him as he went.
“Better hurry then, you don’t wanna get to the seller when he is out of the tickets,” Bram remarked, then faced Laura.
“I have heard that you are rather busy with… a novel, I am surprised to find you here today. It is truly a pleasure to meet you,” Laura begun, sounding as polite as possible, while disguising herself as an apparent fan.
“What should I say? I have been engrossed with my novel indeed. It does cover a fascinating subject, after all,” Bram replied, excited at the sound of his own novel already, spreading out his arms grandly, “I’d love to work on it, but this theatre is specifically under my jurisdiction, so the play cannot start without me doing my part around here, haha.”
“I… see, I’d love to hear more about your nov-” before Laura could continue, a man called for Bram Stoker from behind.
“Mister Stoker, what are you doing here? The play is about to begin, please get to the actors and actresses! We need to have them go over the script once more!”
“Ahh… perhaps some other time, Miss Laura. Please enjoy the show,” Bram turned and begun to walk away, “till we meet again.”
“Tch, missed my chance, huh?”
“Well, we’ll see him again, no doubt. Let’s go,”
“What do you mean †˜let’s go’? Go tail the man, that’s what your brother meant you to do, you know.”
“Eh? I thought he meant that I can watch the play… alriiight,” the girl floated away – following behind Bram in a sulky manner.
“Well then, shall we?” Michael said to Laura as he gestured towards the ticket booth.
Laura nodded, and the two then left for their seats.
“This is also a theatre, yes? Why does it look so different?” Iris blatantly questioned Michael. Laura tilted her head, not knowing why she’d ask, not knowing that Iris was beyond just inexperienced and clueless when it came to the world outside her home.
“As long as there’s a stage, it works!” He replied while looking around. “I’m pretty sure we have some time. Let’s search for Mister Stoker or Mary?”
“Hello there!” A familiar voice called out to Michael – an aged, yet lively one, at that.
Bram Stoker approached the three from the ticket lines where the customers were hurrying to, in order to catch the play.
“I see that you got a friend today,” Bram said, having stood before the three, Laura found his getup rather overwhelming. His black coat and cape – with red underneath – made her realize why he was suspicious. “You dog, even though you got Mary. Haha!”
“Tch, this geezer, they only met once! Once!” Iris hissed from behind Michael with anger not suitable for a lady, making Laura sigh.
“Seems like you’re energetic as always, Mister Stoker! Here is my friend, Laura. Laura, this is Mister Stoker, the guy I have been telling you about.” Michael gestured to them as he introduced them.
“Good day, Mister Stoker, my name is Laura.”
“My pleasure to meet you, Miss Laura. Anyway, the play will start soon, had you two got your tickets yet?”
“I’ll get the tickets, you two get acquainted.” Michael offered. He made a small nod to Iris to signal her to follow him as he went.
“Better hurry then, you don’t wanna get to the seller when he is out of the tickets,” Bram remarked, then faced Laura.
“I have heard that you are rather busy with… a novel, I am surprised to find you here today. It is truly a pleasure to meet you,” Laura begun, sounding as polite as possible, while disguising herself as an apparent fan.
“What should I say? I have been engrossed with my novel indeed. It does cover a fascinating subject, after all,” Bram replied, excited at the sound of his own novel already, spreading out his arms grandly, “I’d love to work on it, but this theatre is specifically under my jurisdiction, so the play cannot start without me doing my part around here, haha.”
“I… see, I’d love to hear more about your nov-” before Laura could continue, a man called for Bram Stoker from behind.
“Mister Stoker, what are you doing here? The play is about to begin, please get to the actors and actresses! We need to have them go over the script once more!”
“Ahh… perhaps some other time, Miss Laura. Please enjoy the show,” Bram turned and begun to walk away, “till we meet again.”
“Tch, missed my chance, huh?”
“Well, we’ll see him again, no doubt. Let’s go,”
“What do you mean †˜let’s go’? Go tail the man, that’s what your brother meant you to do, you know.”
“Eh? I thought he meant that I can watch the play… alriiight,” the girl floated away – following behind Bram in a sulky manner.
“Well then, shall we?” Michael said to Laura as he gestured towards the ticket booth.
Laura nodded, and the two then left for their seats.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
The play begun, and Michael knew that it was the same play as yesterday as he watched alongside Laura, who seemed to be rather intent on the play itself. Was it the first time she was seeing something like this?
Even the lines were the same– okay, well, similar, Michael noted.
There were many females here again, he realized.
The actors and actresses was one vivid difference – the people doing this were not the same as the one from yesterday, however, Mary was indeed acting as Juliet. Now that he thought about it, even though different people did the same thing; the play was beginning to seem exceptionally different from the last play he watched.
Mary’s acting was slightly different than before, but it seemed more on-point now; fleshing out her emotions as Juliet. This made him wonder – has Mary once loved a man before? Her expressions and words were so full of life, it could only make him wonder of her past. Just what kind of a life did a single girl lived, who fought demons and were chased by them before?
Suddenly, he noticed that Iris’ head poked out from somewhere. So she couldn’t help it after all, Michael thought. A silly look decorated her face, and she resembled the rest of the girls across the seats… except for Laura who was simply new to all of this.
“...Your sister tends to get distracted from her work rather easily,” Laura stated, having sighted Iris, too.
“She’s a young girl. She’s doing the best she can.” Michael replied, returning to observing Mary. “Mary is the girl playing Juliet. What do you think?” He continued.
“I am no expert when it comes to discerning acting skills, but I must say that she is impressive,” Laura admitted, having seen Mary’s acting now. “I suppose they have some way to hide her golden eye. That right eye looks just like her left eye, unlike your reports.”
“Yes, probably. It would catch too much attention. Nonetheless, can’t you sense anything from her?” He whispered.
“I can’t say that I do,” Laura replied, shaking her head with disappointment. “Are you certain that she attracts the Infernals?”
“Yes. She said so herself.”
“Well, this is odd then, maybe this is something a person who can sense magic itself find out,” Laura hypothesized.
“Hmm. I don’t see anything unusual about her too, aside from doing some things differently the first time I saw her act.” Michael said, slightly confused on their current situation. Nothing happening is a good thing, right?
“Well, at least the play isn’t so bad. It was worth the trip,” she admitted, nodding to him in acknowledgement of the entertainment the play provided her.
“If you want, you can come with us the next time, Iris wants to watch something.” He thought having another girl to talk to would be good for Iris. At least, it would be better than what he has for her. “Also, has the investigative team found anything regarding the cloaked man?”
“Ask yourself that; you’re the only one assigned to this cloaked vampire,” Laura answered.
Michael sighed, “Do you mind if I asked you a favor, then? Please take care of Iris for me, I’d be back in a bit.” He said as he stood up and started walking towards the door.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Laura sighed, shrugging.
“Mission.”
Even the lines were the same– okay, well, similar, Michael noted.
There were many females here again, he realized.
The actors and actresses was one vivid difference – the people doing this were not the same as the one from yesterday, however, Mary was indeed acting as Juliet. Now that he thought about it, even though different people did the same thing; the play was beginning to seem exceptionally different from the last play he watched.
Mary’s acting was slightly different than before, but it seemed more on-point now; fleshing out her emotions as Juliet. This made him wonder – has Mary once loved a man before? Her expressions and words were so full of life, it could only make him wonder of her past. Just what kind of a life did a single girl lived, who fought demons and were chased by them before?
Suddenly, he noticed that Iris’ head poked out from somewhere. So she couldn’t help it after all, Michael thought. A silly look decorated her face, and she resembled the rest of the girls across the seats… except for Laura who was simply new to all of this.
“...Your sister tends to get distracted from her work rather easily,” Laura stated, having sighted Iris, too.
“She’s a young girl. She’s doing the best she can.” Michael replied, returning to observing Mary. “Mary is the girl playing Juliet. What do you think?” He continued.
“I am no expert when it comes to discerning acting skills, but I must say that she is impressive,” Laura admitted, having seen Mary’s acting now. “I suppose they have some way to hide her golden eye. That right eye looks just like her left eye, unlike your reports.”
“Yes, probably. It would catch too much attention. Nonetheless, can’t you sense anything from her?” He whispered.
“I can’t say that I do,” Laura replied, shaking her head with disappointment. “Are you certain that she attracts the Infernals?”
“Yes. She said so herself.”
“Well, this is odd then, maybe this is something a person who can sense magic itself find out,” Laura hypothesized.
“Hmm. I don’t see anything unusual about her too, aside from doing some things differently the first time I saw her act.” Michael said, slightly confused on their current situation. Nothing happening is a good thing, right?
“Well, at least the play isn’t so bad. It was worth the trip,” she admitted, nodding to him in acknowledgement of the entertainment the play provided her.
“If you want, you can come with us the next time, Iris wants to watch something.” He thought having another girl to talk to would be good for Iris. At least, it would be better than what he has for her. “Also, has the investigative team found anything regarding the cloaked man?”
“Ask yourself that; you’re the only one assigned to this cloaked vampire,” Laura answered.
Michael sighed, “Do you mind if I asked you a favor, then? Please take care of Iris for me, I’d be back in a bit.” He said as he stood up and started walking towards the door.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Laura sighed, shrugging.
“Mission.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Michael wandered about aimlessly inside the theatre, looking for anything suspicious to hunt down. He was sure enough that Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley were both questionable people. The things they did and said somehow felt strange to say the least.
Going through corridors upon corridors, he found himself somewhat lost. As he was in the staff section of the premises, he had to hide himself from the occasionally passing people. He couldn’t ask any of them either; since he’d be kicked out momentarily.
“What’re you doing here?” Iris asked, poking a head out of the wall – out of the blue – almost making Michael scream in panic.
“This is what happens when you leave your sister; she got all concerned,” Laura said from a meter away behind Michael as he was walking in an empty corridor, almost looking like a thief making light steps. Iris likely rushed off to find Michael, and Laura followed after, restraining a ghost was not easy when they could go past solid objects.
“Well, I found an awful lot of nothing. Is the play done?”
“Still going on, but ending soon,” Laura answered. It seemed like she skipped the rest of play for duty, and seemed to hold no regret. “I suppose we can have Iris guide us to the backstage.”
“Let’s just wait near the entrance. I doubt they will allow us to loiter there.” Though, knowing Mister Stoker, we might be able to pull it off.
“Mister Stoker might drag us into a lounge or back to the seats before the stage, and we don’t want that,” Laura reminded. She wasn’t sure about his personality, but she assumed that this was the least a professional would do. “We can have Iris watch Mister Stoker as planned, you know?”
“If we want to meet Mary, I think Mister Stoker seeing us is the best.”
Michael said, voicing out his thoughts. “What do you think, Iris?”
“You never know, though. A professional person would just remove you two, no? But you can take a bet sometimes.”
“We’re talking about Mister Stoker here... ”
“And? It’s a person you got to know for how long, exactly?” Iris asked, frowning at Michael.
“Not that much. Which is kind of the reason why we’re here. Aside from what happened last night, that is. I guess you’re back to watching him for us; try to be as subtle as you can.” Michael said as he looked at Laura and continued, “As for us two, let’s go to the backstage.”
“I suppose we can try that,” Laura answered, shrugging. She wasn’t fond of a priest of a lower rank ordering her around, but it seemed more natural to the public, even though there wasn’t any watching them. It was a reasonable suggestion, and she had no issue accepting it.
After Laura inquired Iris about the directions, the two learned how to get to the backstage. They then moved – while Iris parted ways with the group for a view of the stage and Bram Stoker in the backstage – away from the corridor.
Going through corridors upon corridors, he found himself somewhat lost. As he was in the staff section of the premises, he had to hide himself from the occasionally passing people. He couldn’t ask any of them either; since he’d be kicked out momentarily.
“What’re you doing here?” Iris asked, poking a head out of the wall – out of the blue – almost making Michael scream in panic.
“This is what happens when you leave your sister; she got all concerned,” Laura said from a meter away behind Michael as he was walking in an empty corridor, almost looking like a thief making light steps. Iris likely rushed off to find Michael, and Laura followed after, restraining a ghost was not easy when they could go past solid objects.
“Well, I found an awful lot of nothing. Is the play done?”
“Still going on, but ending soon,” Laura answered. It seemed like she skipped the rest of play for duty, and seemed to hold no regret. “I suppose we can have Iris guide us to the backstage.”
“Let’s just wait near the entrance. I doubt they will allow us to loiter there.” Though, knowing Mister Stoker, we might be able to pull it off.
“Mister Stoker might drag us into a lounge or back to the seats before the stage, and we don’t want that,” Laura reminded. She wasn’t sure about his personality, but she assumed that this was the least a professional would do. “We can have Iris watch Mister Stoker as planned, you know?”
“If we want to meet Mary, I think Mister Stoker seeing us is the best.”
Michael said, voicing out his thoughts. “What do you think, Iris?”
“You never know, though. A professional person would just remove you two, no? But you can take a bet sometimes.”
“We’re talking about Mister Stoker here... ”
“And? It’s a person you got to know for how long, exactly?” Iris asked, frowning at Michael.
“Not that much. Which is kind of the reason why we’re here. Aside from what happened last night, that is. I guess you’re back to watching him for us; try to be as subtle as you can.” Michael said as he looked at Laura and continued, “As for us two, let’s go to the backstage.”
“I suppose we can try that,” Laura answered, shrugging. She wasn’t fond of a priest of a lower rank ordering her around, but it seemed more natural to the public, even though there wasn’t any watching them. It was a reasonable suggestion, and she had no issue accepting it.
After Laura inquired Iris about the directions, the two learned how to get to the backstage. They then moved – while Iris parted ways with the group for a view of the stage and Bram Stoker in the backstage – away from the corridor.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
The two – Laura and Michael – snuck around the backstage. They entered with silent steps and navigated the sight of the lead of the backstage staff; Bram Stoker, and watched what he did. The staff members were even dressed ordinarily compared to him, while he had that dark get-up even now. However, it really wasn’t worth it when they couldn’t see him saying or doing anything strange, and the two were found peeking eventually.
“My, color me surprised, how’d you two find yourselves all the way here from the seatings?” Bram asked, it was embarrassing to stay in hiding position after being seen, so the two straightened themselves up and pretended to have just appeared.
“Err… We were searching for the washroom?” Michael said while scratching his cheek. He shot a glance towards Laura asking for help.
“Well, it’s my first time here, and he had been to a theatre only once before, I suppose it couldn’t be helped that the place appeared to be like a maze to us,” Laura said, making up an elaborate lie. Lying was one thing she didn’t like, especially as a member of the church.
“Erm, well, I wouldn’t know how to miss a toilet that is right behind the seatings, but I suppose the lightings were too dim? Alas, welcome to the backstage, now that you two are here; may as well check out the actors and actresses in the backstage here, eh?”
“That sounds great! Thanks old ma- Mister Stoker!” Michael did a small thumbs-up gesture towards Laura.
“I may be old but I still have much vigour to spare!” Bram remarked, noticing the slip-up, and laughed heartily, before leading the two to the rest of the actors and actresses. Bram then introduced the two as guests.
In some moments, Mary came in from the stage, wearing the red dress that she donned for the stage performance, panting from tiredness of her throat. It seemed like reciting her lines loudly on the stage took a toll on her. She was glistening with sweat from the faint lights of the stage, perhaps the lightings were a little too hot. A man ran over to wipe the sweat off with a towel, and offered a bottle of water.
“Why are you back here?” Mary asked – between her gasps – finding Michael with a look of surprise as she was being wiped off.
“Well, I just had to see you again, see. I can’t forget about you after last night.” Michael said, talking about the business about the infernal. He’d be damned before he let something that dangerous slip past him, at least, that’s what he thought.
“Yes, and?” Mary said, drinking water from the bottle before continuing. That line seemed rather suspicious, and the staff members eyed each other as they heard it, while Bram snickered. “Why wasn’t watching from the seats good enough?”
“Yeah, that’s why I brought Laura here along!” He replied, gesturing to Laura. “Told you I’ll help you in a less bloody manner.”
“Mn? What is this about? Help you say, with what?” Curious, Bram ended up interrupting the two.
“Really, there is nothing to help with, he is just over-thinking things, Mister Stoker,” Mary stated bluntly, handing the bottle back to the staff member before heaving a heavy sigh. “I am but an actress and a writer who happens to go home late, is all. I am used to this, it isn’t as dangerous as one – who just met me recently – would think,” she said as though it was a rehearsed line, but in a more forcible manner with her eyes closed.
However, when facing the person beside Michael, she offered a more tender smile. “Good day to you, miss. My name is Mary Shelley,” she introduced herself with a slight bow of her head. Likewise, Laura bowed back to her.
“Laura’s the name, a pleasure to meet you.”
Michael couldn’t discern whether Mary was lying or not, but he felt like she was forcing herself. Are all girls this troublesome? Is Iris some sort of an oddity? He thought to himself. “Sorry to trouble you Mister Stoker, Mary.” He said with a slight frown, his gaze downwards towards the floor. Shaking the uneasiness and filling himself with resolve, he continued, “But if there’s even a small possibility, I’d trouble you some more.” Suddenly remembering that Bram Stoker, supposedly is a mundane, he immediately stopped himself.
“Ah, well I don’t mind, so don’t feel bad now,” Bram said, giving a chuckle. Mary sighed, foreseeing the inquisition of the priest, while Laura was just glad that they somehow crossed the bridge.
“My, color me surprised, how’d you two find yourselves all the way here from the seatings?” Bram asked, it was embarrassing to stay in hiding position after being seen, so the two straightened themselves up and pretended to have just appeared.
“Err… We were searching for the washroom?” Michael said while scratching his cheek. He shot a glance towards Laura asking for help.
“Well, it’s my first time here, and he had been to a theatre only once before, I suppose it couldn’t be helped that the place appeared to be like a maze to us,” Laura said, making up an elaborate lie. Lying was one thing she didn’t like, especially as a member of the church.
“Erm, well, I wouldn’t know how to miss a toilet that is right behind the seatings, but I suppose the lightings were too dim? Alas, welcome to the backstage, now that you two are here; may as well check out the actors and actresses in the backstage here, eh?”
“That sounds great! Thanks old ma- Mister Stoker!” Michael did a small thumbs-up gesture towards Laura.
“I may be old but I still have much vigour to spare!” Bram remarked, noticing the slip-up, and laughed heartily, before leading the two to the rest of the actors and actresses. Bram then introduced the two as guests.
In some moments, Mary came in from the stage, wearing the red dress that she donned for the stage performance, panting from tiredness of her throat. It seemed like reciting her lines loudly on the stage took a toll on her. She was glistening with sweat from the faint lights of the stage, perhaps the lightings were a little too hot. A man ran over to wipe the sweat off with a towel, and offered a bottle of water.
“Why are you back here?” Mary asked – between her gasps – finding Michael with a look of surprise as she was being wiped off.
“Well, I just had to see you again, see. I can’t forget about you after last night.” Michael said, talking about the business about the infernal. He’d be damned before he let something that dangerous slip past him, at least, that’s what he thought.
“Yes, and?” Mary said, drinking water from the bottle before continuing. That line seemed rather suspicious, and the staff members eyed each other as they heard it, while Bram snickered. “Why wasn’t watching from the seats good enough?”
“Yeah, that’s why I brought Laura here along!” He replied, gesturing to Laura. “Told you I’ll help you in a less bloody manner.”
“Mn? What is this about? Help you say, with what?” Curious, Bram ended up interrupting the two.
“Really, there is nothing to help with, he is just over-thinking things, Mister Stoker,” Mary stated bluntly, handing the bottle back to the staff member before heaving a heavy sigh. “I am but an actress and a writer who happens to go home late, is all. I am used to this, it isn’t as dangerous as one – who just met me recently – would think,” she said as though it was a rehearsed line, but in a more forcible manner with her eyes closed.
However, when facing the person beside Michael, she offered a more tender smile. “Good day to you, miss. My name is Mary Shelley,” she introduced herself with a slight bow of her head. Likewise, Laura bowed back to her.
“Laura’s the name, a pleasure to meet you.”
Michael couldn’t discern whether Mary was lying or not, but he felt like she was forcing herself. Are all girls this troublesome? Is Iris some sort of an oddity? He thought to himself. “Sorry to trouble you Mister Stoker, Mary.” He said with a slight frown, his gaze downwards towards the floor. Shaking the uneasiness and filling himself with resolve, he continued, “But if there’s even a small possibility, I’d trouble you some more.” Suddenly remembering that Bram Stoker, supposedly is a mundane, he immediately stopped himself.
“Ah, well I don’t mind, so don’t feel bad now,” Bram said, giving a chuckle. Mary sighed, foreseeing the inquisition of the priest, while Laura was just glad that they somehow crossed the bridge.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“So, what do you need?” Mary asked, now in a lounge with Michael and Laura, Iris seemed to have popped up as well after the play ended. Bram Stoker retreated to his office just to continue writing. Apparently it was a cozy place for him, or something.
Mary changed back to her usual deep blue attire. She crossed her arms over her chest, as if a little irritated. She’d be off the premises by now if not for her guests.
“As you’ve probably guessed, it’s about your eye. And that thing that I assume an Infernal in it. Laura here might be more knowledgeable about it than I.” Michael said.
“What is this?” Laura said, looking intently at Mary. “In an eye like that – something would be visible, but there is not even a shred or trace of magic despite the fact that I am a user of Second Sight,” Laura stated, surprised apparently.
“It means that there is nothing of note in my eye, yes?”
“Nothing right now.” He then made a slight pause before continuing, “I guess we need to stick around till that happens again and start from there.”
“What kind of an eye tuned with magic does that? This is completely new to the Magic World,” Laura said, not sure what to think of the situation, but she was sure that something was going on, even an Executioner’s attention was drawn, and she found it unbelievable at the first moment, but now she was starting to understand why Michael felt the way he did. “What are you hiding, what is that eye of yours, exactly?”
“I have no obligation to answer, I can take care of myself, thank you,” Mary answered, blatantly refusing to let the cat out of the bag. However, this made it obvious that she was hiding secrets.
“I don’t suppose you’d allow us to hitch too?”
“Of course not, I’m spied enough as it is,” Mary answered, sighing, she felt tired of their inquisition already. She sounded somewhat vexed indeed.
Michael took a deep breath and spoke, “Are you sure you think you can keep it all afloat? Think about the others who could be dragged into your problems if it continues to persist,” he said sternly, his gaze was unlike any expression he had before; intently looking into her eyes, as if piercing her very soul, and looking past that blockade of lies and excuses she made. It made Mary weary and question her own intentions. It made her feel bad for refusing him so many times. However, it wasn’t enough to convince her.
“I wouldn’t say that just yet. This has continued for years, and people only comes across them when they follow me. They drag themselves into danger; only if they follow me,” she answered. Stubborn as ever, but she had her reasons, and they were talking about life and death. She hadn’t forgotten how much Michael was wounded, and how Iris had to be restored. They weren’t ready for these monsters at all. That last monster wasn’t even so strong according to herself.
“And that’s your solution? Just stay away and push them back, and telling yourself that you’re better off that way?” Michael narrowed his eyes and continued, “I know it was my fault yesterday, and unprepared too; But I don’t think it justifies just leaving something like that alone. Next time… This time we won’t be. I believe something can be done about this, if you’d just let us, anyone help.”
Mary sighed. “Just so you know, I do have professional help,” she said, smiling. “I have quite the amount of favors to repay, and I wish nothing more than to be left alone now. I have no intention to have the Roman Catholic Church be involved with me.”
“Ah. That’s Laura’s job, mine’s just to shoot things. So that part’s her problem. Besides that, it’s more a favor from you to me if you allow us to at least try.” Michael was completely deadpan when he was pointing at Laura.
“I still refuse… besides, I hate the Church, and I do not like God,” Mary answered, a solemn look coming up rather than a stern one.
“I see. Well, what do you think, Iris?” Michael asked, scratching his head. “I still think the same but...” He trailed off, remembering the last time he got too stubborn; exactly like right now.
“You can just nod for now,” Iris whispered, giving a wink.
“I see, I suppose that is a viable option, too,” Laura nodded.
“What are you people mumbling about? Anyway, please stop trying to involve yourselves in this,” Mary’s stern expression was back in action once again.
“Iris said that I need to agree with you.”
“Good, at least someone is sensible.”
“Yeap, that’s one of the various reasons she’s with me.” Michael said as he winked to Iris.
“I see, then I suppose we have nothing more to discuss, I’ll be returning to class now,” Mary stood up from the couch, and made way for the door.
“Class, huh?” Laura wondered openly.
“That sorta makes sense, considering her age. How do you want to do this, last time Iris and I got caught.” Michael whispered the last part to his companions
“You missed the bigger factor here; she is likely a scholar from the Royal Institute,” Laura noted, “she may be seen highly in there. I may be able to look into her background.”
“But regarding your question… hm, we’ll just have to take distance and rush in at a proper time. By distance, we’ll be hiding behind buildings afar, of course.”
“That’s what we did the last time, too. I suppose we’d have to be more careful, considering there would be three of us sneaking about.” Michael stood up before continuing, “I suppose we need to say goodbye to Mister Stoker now.”
“We take a hundred meter distance, not even half. As professions it should be easy enough to dive in. I have something that can delve into Boundaries, so don’t worry about missing it. All I have to know is the location of the Boundary – where Mary’s existence would begin to cease to exist.”
“That makes better sense now. That being said, do you have a painkiller there or something? My wound’s killing me.”
“We’ll prepare a healer for you, the operation takes place at night when she is going home, after all.”
“I suppose I’d prepare for dealing with giant metallic golems. But for now, want to go to the park, you two?” Hopefully, not for the last time.
Laura sighed. “Are you still hung on that? I’d thought I declined already?”
“My brother is weirdly intent on it for some reason…” maybe he doesn’t want to be alone with me after all… Iris said, the last bit staying inside her lips. She frowned, making it evident that the mere suggestion of having this voluptuous woman joining the fray would be dangerous to her. Now that she looked at Laura, she was definitely a gem to die her. The curves – bosom and legs – seemed much more… immodest. Perhaps to a criminal extent, even.
“Eh? Your lost then!” He said cheerfully. “It’s us two, Iris! I’d say I’ll treat you, but you owe me for our cab fare!” He announced, sending Iris a rather mischievous smile.
“Eh? But I can’t treat you either,” Iris said, having her arm pass through Michael’s head to remind him that she was but a spiritual apparition.
“Don’t worry about unimportant things! It’s our time alone after all!”
“Y-Yeah… wait, it’s unimportant now?”
“That’s not how a British gentleman should be talking to a lady you know...” Laura sighed as she commented.
“Don’t worry about that stuff much, Laura. You’d get old fast!” Michael raised his thumbs towards Laura. ”Yeah Iris, since that was your first time at a theatre the cab thing is my treat to you too!”
“Says the guy who has no pint of mannerisms as a priest!” Laura retorted before getting off the couch. “I will have to make preparations so I’ll be off here. We meet in the church,” she said before storming out of the room.
“She really believed that we’re siblings, huh?” Iris said after Laura left.
“Can’t believe she immediately thought I shot you. Well, I did. But she didn’t even doubt it. Anyway, I think you two would make for good friends. Don’t you think so?” Michael honestly believed that, he thought making female friends would be good for Iris.
“She is a bit scary though… ” Iris admitted, she’d somehow kept herself calm and collected throughout the conversations, and so did Laura, but something about her radiated a kind of fury she’d want no relation to.
“She is? I mean, she’s troublesome, but she did help us eventually. She’s troublesome though.” Michael said as he started walking out of the room.
“Cut her some slack, it’s not like you don’t come without troubles, either,” Iris replied.
“True. That’s why we’re friends!”
Is this what the gentlemen of London imply when they say friend zoned?! Iris was rocked hard internally as she heard that response. “Yes, yes, that’s true. Now, let us be off.”
“Wait, what’s wrong? Is it something I’ve said?” He felt as if something was off with Iris, especially when he had said them being friends. Maybe she haven’t forgiven me at all?
“No, nothing is wrong. Let’s goooo,” Iris said, showing a more cheerful smile to veil her feelings, she took off into the air and crossed past the walls of the lounge and disappeared, liking going outside the theatre on her own.
“Sigh, next time I guess.” Michael said as he stepped out of the room.
Mary changed back to her usual deep blue attire. She crossed her arms over her chest, as if a little irritated. She’d be off the premises by now if not for her guests.
“As you’ve probably guessed, it’s about your eye. And that thing that I assume an Infernal in it. Laura here might be more knowledgeable about it than I.” Michael said.
“What is this?” Laura said, looking intently at Mary. “In an eye like that – something would be visible, but there is not even a shred or trace of magic despite the fact that I am a user of Second Sight,” Laura stated, surprised apparently.
“It means that there is nothing of note in my eye, yes?”
“Nothing right now.” He then made a slight pause before continuing, “I guess we need to stick around till that happens again and start from there.”
“What kind of an eye tuned with magic does that? This is completely new to the Magic World,” Laura said, not sure what to think of the situation, but she was sure that something was going on, even an Executioner’s attention was drawn, and she found it unbelievable at the first moment, but now she was starting to understand why Michael felt the way he did. “What are you hiding, what is that eye of yours, exactly?”
“I have no obligation to answer, I can take care of myself, thank you,” Mary answered, blatantly refusing to let the cat out of the bag. However, this made it obvious that she was hiding secrets.
“I don’t suppose you’d allow us to hitch too?”
“Of course not, I’m spied enough as it is,” Mary answered, sighing, she felt tired of their inquisition already. She sounded somewhat vexed indeed.
Michael took a deep breath and spoke, “Are you sure you think you can keep it all afloat? Think about the others who could be dragged into your problems if it continues to persist,” he said sternly, his gaze was unlike any expression he had before; intently looking into her eyes, as if piercing her very soul, and looking past that blockade of lies and excuses she made. It made Mary weary and question her own intentions. It made her feel bad for refusing him so many times. However, it wasn’t enough to convince her.
“I wouldn’t say that just yet. This has continued for years, and people only comes across them when they follow me. They drag themselves into danger; only if they follow me,” she answered. Stubborn as ever, but she had her reasons, and they were talking about life and death. She hadn’t forgotten how much Michael was wounded, and how Iris had to be restored. They weren’t ready for these monsters at all. That last monster wasn’t even so strong according to herself.
“And that’s your solution? Just stay away and push them back, and telling yourself that you’re better off that way?” Michael narrowed his eyes and continued, “I know it was my fault yesterday, and unprepared too; But I don’t think it justifies just leaving something like that alone. Next time… This time we won’t be. I believe something can be done about this, if you’d just let us, anyone help.”
Mary sighed. “Just so you know, I do have professional help,” she said, smiling. “I have quite the amount of favors to repay, and I wish nothing more than to be left alone now. I have no intention to have the Roman Catholic Church be involved with me.”
“Ah. That’s Laura’s job, mine’s just to shoot things. So that part’s her problem. Besides that, it’s more a favor from you to me if you allow us to at least try.” Michael was completely deadpan when he was pointing at Laura.
“I still refuse… besides, I hate the Church, and I do not like God,” Mary answered, a solemn look coming up rather than a stern one.
“I see. Well, what do you think, Iris?” Michael asked, scratching his head. “I still think the same but...” He trailed off, remembering the last time he got too stubborn; exactly like right now.
“You can just nod for now,” Iris whispered, giving a wink.
“I see, I suppose that is a viable option, too,” Laura nodded.
“What are you people mumbling about? Anyway, please stop trying to involve yourselves in this,” Mary’s stern expression was back in action once again.
“Iris said that I need to agree with you.”
“Good, at least someone is sensible.”
“Yeap, that’s one of the various reasons she’s with me.” Michael said as he winked to Iris.
“I see, then I suppose we have nothing more to discuss, I’ll be returning to class now,” Mary stood up from the couch, and made way for the door.
“Class, huh?” Laura wondered openly.
“That sorta makes sense, considering her age. How do you want to do this, last time Iris and I got caught.” Michael whispered the last part to his companions
“You missed the bigger factor here; she is likely a scholar from the Royal Institute,” Laura noted, “she may be seen highly in there. I may be able to look into her background.”
“But regarding your question… hm, we’ll just have to take distance and rush in at a proper time. By distance, we’ll be hiding behind buildings afar, of course.”
“That’s what we did the last time, too. I suppose we’d have to be more careful, considering there would be three of us sneaking about.” Michael stood up before continuing, “I suppose we need to say goodbye to Mister Stoker now.”
“We take a hundred meter distance, not even half. As professions it should be easy enough to dive in. I have something that can delve into Boundaries, so don’t worry about missing it. All I have to know is the location of the Boundary – where Mary’s existence would begin to cease to exist.”
“That makes better sense now. That being said, do you have a painkiller there or something? My wound’s killing me.”
“We’ll prepare a healer for you, the operation takes place at night when she is going home, after all.”
“I suppose I’d prepare for dealing with giant metallic golems. But for now, want to go to the park, you two?” Hopefully, not for the last time.
Laura sighed. “Are you still hung on that? I’d thought I declined already?”
“My brother is weirdly intent on it for some reason…” maybe he doesn’t want to be alone with me after all… Iris said, the last bit staying inside her lips. She frowned, making it evident that the mere suggestion of having this voluptuous woman joining the fray would be dangerous to her. Now that she looked at Laura, she was definitely a gem to die her. The curves – bosom and legs – seemed much more… immodest. Perhaps to a criminal extent, even.
“Eh? Your lost then!” He said cheerfully. “It’s us two, Iris! I’d say I’ll treat you, but you owe me for our cab fare!” He announced, sending Iris a rather mischievous smile.
“Eh? But I can’t treat you either,” Iris said, having her arm pass through Michael’s head to remind him that she was but a spiritual apparition.
“Don’t worry about unimportant things! It’s our time alone after all!”
“Y-Yeah… wait, it’s unimportant now?”
“That’s not how a British gentleman should be talking to a lady you know...” Laura sighed as she commented.
“Don’t worry about that stuff much, Laura. You’d get old fast!” Michael raised his thumbs towards Laura. ”Yeah Iris, since that was your first time at a theatre the cab thing is my treat to you too!”
“Says the guy who has no pint of mannerisms as a priest!” Laura retorted before getting off the couch. “I will have to make preparations so I’ll be off here. We meet in the church,” she said before storming out of the room.
“She really believed that we’re siblings, huh?” Iris said after Laura left.
“Can’t believe she immediately thought I shot you. Well, I did. But she didn’t even doubt it. Anyway, I think you two would make for good friends. Don’t you think so?” Michael honestly believed that, he thought making female friends would be good for Iris.
“She is a bit scary though… ” Iris admitted, she’d somehow kept herself calm and collected throughout the conversations, and so did Laura, but something about her radiated a kind of fury she’d want no relation to.
“She is? I mean, she’s troublesome, but she did help us eventually. She’s troublesome though.” Michael said as he started walking out of the room.
“Cut her some slack, it’s not like you don’t come without troubles, either,” Iris replied.
“True. That’s why we’re friends!”
Is this what the gentlemen of London imply when they say friend zoned?! Iris was rocked hard internally as she heard that response. “Yes, yes, that’s true. Now, let us be off.”
“Wait, what’s wrong? Is it something I’ve said?” He felt as if something was off with Iris, especially when he had said them being friends. Maybe she haven’t forgiven me at all?
“No, nothing is wrong. Let’s goooo,” Iris said, showing a more cheerful smile to veil her feelings, she took off into the air and crossed past the walls of the lounge and disappeared, liking going outside the theatre on her own.
“Sigh, next time I guess.” Michael said as he stepped out of the room.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Iris danced across the scenery – floating around the air – looking left and right frequently – after finally having come to Hyde Park. It was perhaps one of the last location with fine greenery, trees and grass, and a park where some could apparently see the sky beyond the layer of grey covering it. The park was also famous for being a hunting spot for King Henry VIII in the past, and all the more popular for the marvelous structure known as the Crystal Palace that stood right behind it.
It was Iris’ first time seeing such green sights, she’d only have heard of those green leaves and trees in stories, and saw a few portraits, so her face was especially brightened up. Her feelings of anguish from earlier were completely dispelled.
“Ahh, who’d think nature felt so great? Oh, the Crystal Palace is simply so wonderful. This air, and scent that this place carries is so lovely! Right, Michael?” Iris asked, looking back to him from at least 10 meters up in the air. He could almost see down her long skirt…
“I can see it!” Michael pointed to his thighs to tell Iris about her skirt. Well, almost. But that’s not the problem here.
A strange squeak came down from the heavens, and with it Iris blitzed into the green earth. Her head popped out from the ground as she peeked at Michael. “...Pervert,” she silently said, with teary eyes, fearing that the man saw her pants.
“An angel descended from the heavens straight into the ground to call me a pervert. How sublime.” Michael crouched down near Iris. “I didn’t actually see it though, so be more careful next time. Okay?”
“I don’t need to be! You’re the only one who can see me anyway!”
“We don’t know that, remember there are others. Like Laura and Mary. Probably Stoker too.”
“Agh, fine, fine,” Iris said, averting her gaze before her head begun to sail towards an empty bench, which was a rather comical sight to behold. Her body then ascended out of the ground as she sat over the bench, or so it seemed since she couldn’t connect with it properly. Michael was used to such sights, but if it were a mundane; they’d surely scream from fear.
She sighed and brought up a half-baked smile. “So, what do you think of the park?”
“I like it more than the theatre, that place is too stuffy. Green is nice to look at, and the smell of fresh air is the best!” His arms were outstretched as he took a few deep breaths, relishing the smell of the nature around him.
“Right?” Iris said, agreeing. “This is apparently one of the places that isn’t affected with much steam, but there are soot in the air here too… ”
“I wonder if there will come a time the steam and soot will both be gone. I hope it does. Let’s go back to this park again when that happens; by then, we’d have already restored your body, too.”
“It may be ironic to your views… I like the way England is now,” Iris said, giving a warm smile as she eyed the city from here. “But yes, I’d love to come again after my body recovers,” she answered, nodding.
“You did like the Engine lights after all.” He said, looking at her. It was the first time he took time to look at her, and he felt something inside him move. Was she attractive? Definitely yes, he’d answer. She had a gentle smile on her pretty face, framed by golden locks of hair and blue eyes that were always pleasant to look at. If I weren’t a priest… but, I wouldn’t have met her, would I?
“Yeah, perhaps I just like almost anything new. Maybe that’s it, but it may just be because of my lack of time spent outdoors,” Iris responded, looking towards the trees. “I don’t hate being like this so much, since I have attained a form of freedom now, and I got to see so many things in the city.” She then looked up to the sky. It was odd, never had the grey skies seemed so… beautiful before. Perhaps everything’s outlook changed simply from the mood.
“Why weren’t you allowed outside?” He asked, looking to the ground. He recalled always being outside, doing various jobs just so that they would be able to eat for the day. He liked that routine, knowing his mother would always be there to welcome him home, and that was enough to numb the pain of his aching body. To think it would all change in an instant… I wish... I didn’t go out.
“Mnm… I guess she was really worried about me,” Iris answered. “My body is weak, so she preferred me to stay indoors so that I wouldn’t collapse outside. So, I wasn’t allowed much outside. I can imagine her being really angry when I wake up on my body, she might never let me go out after that.”
“Any idea on what your sickness was? Was she your mother?”
“Oh no, I was never told anything about my family, she was but a maid. One of the reason I want your help is so I come to learn about my family and myself,” Iris answered. “The illness wasn’t ever explained to me either, so I have no idea. I only got what I was told; that my body is weak.”
“I suppose I should pay her a visit, then.” Michael said, smiling at Iris. ”You think we’d be able to convince her to talk? Can she even see you like that?”
“I don’t think so, I’ve tried talking to her before, but I got no response,” Iris said, remembering how she did many funny things to get the maid to notice her, they were embarrassing now that she thought about it. “She is very protective, so she might kick you out, though.”
“I could wear some sort of priestly attire from the church, see where that will get me. Is she a religious sort of person?”
“Ahaha… she is actually very scientific and rational, and likes to talk about steam technology whenever we’d go out,” Iris answered, feeling bad to be the bearer of bad news.
“Hmmm, that is quite a pinch. You think the cloaked man might come back? Might as well shadow him if he goes there.”
“Yeah, I actually think he will,” Iris answered, but she looked down, “but he comes once every few months, he only came to visit recently, on the night you shot me, so… it may be a few months before that happens again. That is, if we can’t catch him till then.”
“And I doubt he’d be as careless as last time too, and that took me months to prepare.” He frowned, as he knew that most of the people he knew would probably have heard of his failure. The biggest one of them was getting an innocent involved in his hunt and letting his prey escape.
“Don’t worry, I’m not mad about the outcomes and turns of events, Michael,” Iris said, looking and smiling tenderly at Michael, misunderstanding the meaning behind the frown. “Maybe we’ll find out more than we think in the future. Let’s have some patience. Besides, Mary needs our help, right? No need to look back into the past so much, for now.”
Michael returned Iris’ smile, not bothering to correct the girl’s misconception. “I am afraid of that thing in Mary’s eye, and Mary herself. What happens if she loses control of it? How can she be all calm about it?” He said, sounding completely confused. “I think it should be destroyed.” He declared; a hint of anger noticeable in his voice.
“I don’t think I’d go that far. I mean, it is still hers, and she has been fine for so long… I just hope that there is a more peaceful solution,” Iris replied, but then seemed to have thought otherwise, after a moment. “But then… it’s not like she’ll not be able to live without an eye. It might just be for the better, when I think about it.”
“Might be. I hope it doesn’t have to come to that.” Michael stood up and stretched his arms once more. “I suppose I should take Laura’s healer offer soon. Wanna come with me?”
“No, I think I will rest up, just in case,” Iris answered, getting off the bench, too.
”See you, then.”
“Mhm,” Iris then flew away, on her way home.
It was Iris’ first time seeing such green sights, she’d only have heard of those green leaves and trees in stories, and saw a few portraits, so her face was especially brightened up. Her feelings of anguish from earlier were completely dispelled.
“Ahh, who’d think nature felt so great? Oh, the Crystal Palace is simply so wonderful. This air, and scent that this place carries is so lovely! Right, Michael?” Iris asked, looking back to him from at least 10 meters up in the air. He could almost see down her long skirt…
“I can see it!” Michael pointed to his thighs to tell Iris about her skirt. Well, almost. But that’s not the problem here.
A strange squeak came down from the heavens, and with it Iris blitzed into the green earth. Her head popped out from the ground as she peeked at Michael. “...Pervert,” she silently said, with teary eyes, fearing that the man saw her pants.
“An angel descended from the heavens straight into the ground to call me a pervert. How sublime.” Michael crouched down near Iris. “I didn’t actually see it though, so be more careful next time. Okay?”
“I don’t need to be! You’re the only one who can see me anyway!”
“We don’t know that, remember there are others. Like Laura and Mary. Probably Stoker too.”
“Agh, fine, fine,” Iris said, averting her gaze before her head begun to sail towards an empty bench, which was a rather comical sight to behold. Her body then ascended out of the ground as she sat over the bench, or so it seemed since she couldn’t connect with it properly. Michael was used to such sights, but if it were a mundane; they’d surely scream from fear.
She sighed and brought up a half-baked smile. “So, what do you think of the park?”
“I like it more than the theatre, that place is too stuffy. Green is nice to look at, and the smell of fresh air is the best!” His arms were outstretched as he took a few deep breaths, relishing the smell of the nature around him.
“Right?” Iris said, agreeing. “This is apparently one of the places that isn’t affected with much steam, but there are soot in the air here too… ”
“I wonder if there will come a time the steam and soot will both be gone. I hope it does. Let’s go back to this park again when that happens; by then, we’d have already restored your body, too.”
“It may be ironic to your views… I like the way England is now,” Iris said, giving a warm smile as she eyed the city from here. “But yes, I’d love to come again after my body recovers,” she answered, nodding.
“You did like the Engine lights after all.” He said, looking at her. It was the first time he took time to look at her, and he felt something inside him move. Was she attractive? Definitely yes, he’d answer. She had a gentle smile on her pretty face, framed by golden locks of hair and blue eyes that were always pleasant to look at. If I weren’t a priest… but, I wouldn’t have met her, would I?
“Yeah, perhaps I just like almost anything new. Maybe that’s it, but it may just be because of my lack of time spent outdoors,” Iris responded, looking towards the trees. “I don’t hate being like this so much, since I have attained a form of freedom now, and I got to see so many things in the city.” She then looked up to the sky. It was odd, never had the grey skies seemed so… beautiful before. Perhaps everything’s outlook changed simply from the mood.
“Why weren’t you allowed outside?” He asked, looking to the ground. He recalled always being outside, doing various jobs just so that they would be able to eat for the day. He liked that routine, knowing his mother would always be there to welcome him home, and that was enough to numb the pain of his aching body. To think it would all change in an instant… I wish... I didn’t go out.
“Mnm… I guess she was really worried about me,” Iris answered. “My body is weak, so she preferred me to stay indoors so that I wouldn’t collapse outside. So, I wasn’t allowed much outside. I can imagine her being really angry when I wake up on my body, she might never let me go out after that.”
“Any idea on what your sickness was? Was she your mother?”
“Oh no, I was never told anything about my family, she was but a maid. One of the reason I want your help is so I come to learn about my family and myself,” Iris answered. “The illness wasn’t ever explained to me either, so I have no idea. I only got what I was told; that my body is weak.”
“I suppose I should pay her a visit, then.” Michael said, smiling at Iris. ”You think we’d be able to convince her to talk? Can she even see you like that?”
“I don’t think so, I’ve tried talking to her before, but I got no response,” Iris said, remembering how she did many funny things to get the maid to notice her, they were embarrassing now that she thought about it. “She is very protective, so she might kick you out, though.”
“I could wear some sort of priestly attire from the church, see where that will get me. Is she a religious sort of person?”
“Ahaha… she is actually very scientific and rational, and likes to talk about steam technology whenever we’d go out,” Iris answered, feeling bad to be the bearer of bad news.
“Hmmm, that is quite a pinch. You think the cloaked man might come back? Might as well shadow him if he goes there.”
“Yeah, I actually think he will,” Iris answered, but she looked down, “but he comes once every few months, he only came to visit recently, on the night you shot me, so… it may be a few months before that happens again. That is, if we can’t catch him till then.”
“And I doubt he’d be as careless as last time too, and that took me months to prepare.” He frowned, as he knew that most of the people he knew would probably have heard of his failure. The biggest one of them was getting an innocent involved in his hunt and letting his prey escape.
“Don’t worry, I’m not mad about the outcomes and turns of events, Michael,” Iris said, looking and smiling tenderly at Michael, misunderstanding the meaning behind the frown. “Maybe we’ll find out more than we think in the future. Let’s have some patience. Besides, Mary needs our help, right? No need to look back into the past so much, for now.”
Michael returned Iris’ smile, not bothering to correct the girl’s misconception. “I am afraid of that thing in Mary’s eye, and Mary herself. What happens if she loses control of it? How can she be all calm about it?” He said, sounding completely confused. “I think it should be destroyed.” He declared; a hint of anger noticeable in his voice.
“I don’t think I’d go that far. I mean, it is still hers, and she has been fine for so long… I just hope that there is a more peaceful solution,” Iris replied, but then seemed to have thought otherwise, after a moment. “But then… it’s not like she’ll not be able to live without an eye. It might just be for the better, when I think about it.”
“Might be. I hope it doesn’t have to come to that.” Michael stood up and stretched his arms once more. “I suppose I should take Laura’s healer offer soon. Wanna come with me?”
“No, I think I will rest up, just in case,” Iris answered, getting off the bench, too.
”See you, then.”
“Mhm,” Iris then flew away, on her way home.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Laura sat on a chair and went over some documents, when Michael entered the living room in the church. Where one would usually be having dinner, Laura would rather prefer to use it to sit down and read instead. Just because her room was too cramped, according to her.
“Ah, so you are back. How was Hyde Park?” She asked, not even batting an eye to the Executioner. “I got someone who may heal your injuries.”
“It was… fun. That’s great, can he do it in time for later?” He replied.
“I’ll be doing it, and I am punctual, if I say so myself” a man said, he walked into the room from the corridor, and smiled. “To think the one who was such an excellent student in our class would be taking so long… but either way, tell me where you’re wounded.”
“Oh, Robert, good timing. The sooner this is dealt with, the better,” Laura said.
“Pretty much all of here.” Michael said, removing his upper garments, there was a mark of wound in between his neck and right shoulder that didn’t seemed to look pretty to the apparent healer. “My right arm feels weird too. I wouldn’t trust it with my life. I thought you’d get yourself killed already.” Michael greeted him.
Laura instantly faced away from Michael and turned to Robert when she noticed him removing his garment.
“Haha, you wish. Leave that to me… is what I’d like to say, but we can only hope for the best from the ritual spell. I’d keep my fingers crossed, but it’s better than nothing,” Robert replied, noting the injuries.
“If I die from this, I’d haunt you.” Michael joked as he tossed the clothes he disrobed away. “So, what have you been up to lately?”
Robert led Michael to another room, as Laura stayed behind with her documents. He then handed Michael a piece of stone.
When Michael took it, he instantly noticed that it was coated with dried blood.
“A sample from the scene of my mission. I’ve been up to missions that are rather insane. I’ve now been tasked to find out about a Lycanthrope that attacked recently,” he answered as he begun to draw a magical circle on the floor with a small chalk stick.
“Oh, that one, huh? Did they ever find out where the beast was hiding?” Michael said while inspecting the stone, tossing it aside afterwards. “So, will this hurt?”
“Nope, nothing. It’s so unsettling when such a noisy and large monster was roaming right around Buckingham palace, people can’t help but think if it was targeting Her Royal Majesty,” Robert said, gritting his teeth and clenching his other fist, connecting lines and scrawling letters down. Some of the scribbling were likely holy words taught from Theology. “Of course it will hurt. Any spell that causes a process of accelerated healing in the body is going to be painful,” Robert answered. “Stand in the middle here, please,” he said, pointing to the magic circle he just finished drawing.
“They don’t just appear like that near the Palace out of a whim, that’s what I think at least.” Michael said as he walked towards the center of the circle. “You know, I hope someone makes some sort of painless healing pill for the field. You’d definitely want one when fighting giant metal golems; trust me.”
“Giant metal golems?” Robert questioned, taking it more as a jest. “Unfortunately we hadn’t had such magical potions – while there are some potions that heals slowly so that you may avoid most of the pain – but there are theories that the painkillers could be taken before carrying out a healing magic.”
“However, some reported that the effects collides and good things never happens.”
“Yeap.” Michael nodded at Robert’s question. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Robert then placed a hand over Michael’s forehead, and begun to concentrate; closing his eyes. A green shade overtook the colors of the room and the individuals inside that originated from the magic circle, as it was filled with the mana that Robert gathered from the Realm of God. The light embraced Michael, and a different light ran down from Robert’s arm. He tried to direct them as much as possible towards his arm, and especially the wound beside his shoulder, but he noticed that it was going to ruin the composition of the healing, and had to stop. Ruling down the healing potential for the arm would be a waste and a loss of mana.
It took some minutes of groaning from Michael before the ritual was over, and Robert soon heaved a sigh.
“Alright, it’s done. Unfortunately, your arm isn’t as good as new, but it’s most definitely better now.”
“Better than earlier, thanks. I suppose I’d stick to my left for the time being just to be safe.” Michael said as he repeatedly closed and opened his right hand while flexing his arm. “So, Laura’s handling you, too?” He continued as he stepped out of the circle.
“Just give that arm a few days and take those magical medicines and it’ll be fine,” Robert advised, before stepping away from the circle himself. “Yes, she assigns me work, and for pretty much everyone from our old batch. I will assure you that we’re lucky to have her. I mean, you can reason with her, unlike those old men who claims to be priests while hitting up on little boys.”
“And she’s pretty cute, too. So, what if I try to go to a mission immediately after this, will that work?” Michael only spoke clearly at the last part, “And did anyone luck out yet?” He said, making a slicing motion along his neck with his thumb.
“She can be even cuter when you say the right things, then it makes you think that you got closer to her… which turns out to be far from the truth,” Robert sighed. “Doesn’t seem like anyone did, so far. Which is a good thing.”
“I don’t think I can imagine.” Michael joked. “Well, let’s go? I don’t think I want Laura to be miffed again.” He continued, using his thumb to point at the door.
“I doubt she cares,” Robert shrugged. “You’re just gonna have to ask for some equipments or something from her if you want, but I doubt she thinks you got anything else to do till the time of operation,” he stated. “As for me… I was up all night investigating, so I’m throwing in the towel for the day.”
“She got really pissed at me quite a lot. I think I’ll get some exercises in, maybe rest afterwards. Might as well try asking her for plastic explosives too. Anyway, good to see you, and see you again later.” He said.
“Good luck, Infernal affairs are annoying as heck, don’t be the first to luck out n ow,” Robert said, smiling, then heading off.
“Yeah, yeah, go catch your doggy already. Thanks for patching me up.” Michael immediately followed, going back to the room where Laura was in. He picked up his clothes and put them on before speaking. “I’m good to go now, well... my arm is. You think you can procure some explosive ammunition for the gunblade and some high explosive grenades for me?”
“Just the explosive ammunition for your weapon,” Laura answered. “Maybe I’ll give you more if you complete the mission instead of getting sidetracked.”
“Had to try.” Michael commented dryly. “I’ll be preparing in my room. What time do we depart?”
“At 21:30 we begin our observation. We may have to wait to even see her come out of that theatre… if what your report mentioned is correct,” she answered.
“Okay. See ya then!” He waved his arm dismissively as he left.
“Ah, so you are back. How was Hyde Park?” She asked, not even batting an eye to the Executioner. “I got someone who may heal your injuries.”
“It was… fun. That’s great, can he do it in time for later?” He replied.
“I’ll be doing it, and I am punctual, if I say so myself” a man said, he walked into the room from the corridor, and smiled. “To think the one who was such an excellent student in our class would be taking so long… but either way, tell me where you’re wounded.”
“Oh, Robert, good timing. The sooner this is dealt with, the better,” Laura said.
“Pretty much all of here.” Michael said, removing his upper garments, there was a mark of wound in between his neck and right shoulder that didn’t seemed to look pretty to the apparent healer. “My right arm feels weird too. I wouldn’t trust it with my life. I thought you’d get yourself killed already.” Michael greeted him.
Laura instantly faced away from Michael and turned to Robert when she noticed him removing his garment.
“Haha, you wish. Leave that to me… is what I’d like to say, but we can only hope for the best from the ritual spell. I’d keep my fingers crossed, but it’s better than nothing,” Robert replied, noting the injuries.
“If I die from this, I’d haunt you.” Michael joked as he tossed the clothes he disrobed away. “So, what have you been up to lately?”
Robert led Michael to another room, as Laura stayed behind with her documents. He then handed Michael a piece of stone.
When Michael took it, he instantly noticed that it was coated with dried blood.
“A sample from the scene of my mission. I’ve been up to missions that are rather insane. I’ve now been tasked to find out about a Lycanthrope that attacked recently,” he answered as he begun to draw a magical circle on the floor with a small chalk stick.
“Oh, that one, huh? Did they ever find out where the beast was hiding?” Michael said while inspecting the stone, tossing it aside afterwards. “So, will this hurt?”
“Nope, nothing. It’s so unsettling when such a noisy and large monster was roaming right around Buckingham palace, people can’t help but think if it was targeting Her Royal Majesty,” Robert said, gritting his teeth and clenching his other fist, connecting lines and scrawling letters down. Some of the scribbling were likely holy words taught from Theology. “Of course it will hurt. Any spell that causes a process of accelerated healing in the body is going to be painful,” Robert answered. “Stand in the middle here, please,” he said, pointing to the magic circle he just finished drawing.
“They don’t just appear like that near the Palace out of a whim, that’s what I think at least.” Michael said as he walked towards the center of the circle. “You know, I hope someone makes some sort of painless healing pill for the field. You’d definitely want one when fighting giant metal golems; trust me.”
“Giant metal golems?” Robert questioned, taking it more as a jest. “Unfortunately we hadn’t had such magical potions – while there are some potions that heals slowly so that you may avoid most of the pain – but there are theories that the painkillers could be taken before carrying out a healing magic.”
“However, some reported that the effects collides and good things never happens.”
“Yeap.” Michael nodded at Robert’s question. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Robert then placed a hand over Michael’s forehead, and begun to concentrate; closing his eyes. A green shade overtook the colors of the room and the individuals inside that originated from the magic circle, as it was filled with the mana that Robert gathered from the Realm of God. The light embraced Michael, and a different light ran down from Robert’s arm. He tried to direct them as much as possible towards his arm, and especially the wound beside his shoulder, but he noticed that it was going to ruin the composition of the healing, and had to stop. Ruling down the healing potential for the arm would be a waste and a loss of mana.
It took some minutes of groaning from Michael before the ritual was over, and Robert soon heaved a sigh.
“Alright, it’s done. Unfortunately, your arm isn’t as good as new, but it’s most definitely better now.”
“Better than earlier, thanks. I suppose I’d stick to my left for the time being just to be safe.” Michael said as he repeatedly closed and opened his right hand while flexing his arm. “So, Laura’s handling you, too?” He continued as he stepped out of the circle.
“Just give that arm a few days and take those magical medicines and it’ll be fine,” Robert advised, before stepping away from the circle himself. “Yes, she assigns me work, and for pretty much everyone from our old batch. I will assure you that we’re lucky to have her. I mean, you can reason with her, unlike those old men who claims to be priests while hitting up on little boys.”
“And she’s pretty cute, too. So, what if I try to go to a mission immediately after this, will that work?” Michael only spoke clearly at the last part, “And did anyone luck out yet?” He said, making a slicing motion along his neck with his thumb.
“She can be even cuter when you say the right things, then it makes you think that you got closer to her… which turns out to be far from the truth,” Robert sighed. “Doesn’t seem like anyone did, so far. Which is a good thing.”
“I don’t think I can imagine.” Michael joked. “Well, let’s go? I don’t think I want Laura to be miffed again.” He continued, using his thumb to point at the door.
“I doubt she cares,” Robert shrugged. “You’re just gonna have to ask for some equipments or something from her if you want, but I doubt she thinks you got anything else to do till the time of operation,” he stated. “As for me… I was up all night investigating, so I’m throwing in the towel for the day.”
“She got really pissed at me quite a lot. I think I’ll get some exercises in, maybe rest afterwards. Might as well try asking her for plastic explosives too. Anyway, good to see you, and see you again later.” He said.
“Good luck, Infernal affairs are annoying as heck, don’t be the first to luck out n ow,” Robert said, smiling, then heading off.
“Yeah, yeah, go catch your doggy already. Thanks for patching me up.” Michael immediately followed, going back to the room where Laura was in. He picked up his clothes and put them on before speaking. “I’m good to go now, well... my arm is. You think you can procure some explosive ammunition for the gunblade and some high explosive grenades for me?”
“Just the explosive ammunition for your weapon,” Laura answered. “Maybe I’ll give you more if you complete the mission instead of getting sidetracked.”
“Had to try.” Michael commented dryly. “I’ll be preparing in my room. What time do we depart?”
“At 21:30 we begin our observation. We may have to wait to even see her come out of that theatre… if what your report mentioned is correct,” she answered.
“Okay. See ya then!” He waved his arm dismissively as he left.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
(Fucking Meals and his BGM choices.)
Time to stop them all. Weiss shot all 5 trucks’ tires quickly from the first truck to the last to stop their movement. All of them swayed soon and stopped completely. Now the target. She observed the people who walked out of the trucks, searching for the man in a black suit.
As the trucks came to a halt, the mafia members poked their heads out instead, to check what happened. At such a time, two girls landed from the sky. Their legs tinged with pain from the long fall.
The boss of Zayats looked as the invaders came, and ordered his grunts to deal with them, he wouldn’t want to run late for the deal. “Prepare to intercept,” He called over the radio. His men responded immediately, taking positions around the halted trucks with a variety of small arms. Kazimir himself, however, was not in sight.
The grunts approached Lily and Svetlana with their arms in hand; shooting at them without mercy. Lily tried approaching them to take them out with her large broadsword, but took some shots due to charging carelessly, while Svetlana took a few hits herself even as she kept a good distance. The blizzards seemed to be diverting some of the bullets’ trajectories due to the raging winds, which was the nature’s only saving grace. It was hard for them to see the figures properly, too. After it seemed like their bullets were emptied from the magazines, Lily charged in and slammed her blade over a man she past the snow-filled winds, while Svetlana chanted to gather mana from the Faerie Realm loudly before two wooden walls rose out of the ground; blocking the path for the trucks, as well as providing her with solid defense.
By the time Lily leapt back and joined Svetlana behind the thorny wooden walls, all she remembered was seeing the man bleed, unsure if he even lived.
“Hey Lily, no serious injury from those shots right?” Svetlana asked,
“No… I am fine,” Lily replied between her white breathes.
The men tried shooting at the wooden walls full of bushes. They were tougher than they had imagined, and the thorns shot out instead. They seemed like larger-than-usual bullets when their bullets penetrated the woods, thus the grunts received wounds in return.
“I’ll fight them… support me from rear,” Lily said, then dashed out of the woods. With enough speed, she breezed through the snow and created momentum, enough to smash the skull of the poor man who turned out to be her next target.
Svetlana gave a nod as Lily left, and begun casting a spell. She used her knowledge of the Creo Technique to gather mana from the Infernal Realm, thus a ball of fire formed before her. With enough mana compressed, the fire was good enough to withstand the blizzard winds. Thrusting her palm forward, it went forth towards one of the mafia members, and swathed over him; burning at least half of his body. However, while Svetlana waited for Lily, she noticed that she wasn’t coming back. It seemed like Lily chose to stay outside the defenses of the thorny walls in the battlefield to fight the rest of the enemies.
Weiss felt a tingling sensation as she was watching the people down below. She felt that her target was inside the second truck. She remembered the man described in the picture that the Steel Princess gave her. Target found, aiming. Just when she got him on her sights, a fire came from the back, two girls were being attacked by other men, obviously they were the grunts of her target. She reverted her aim to the closest one from the two girls and shot him right on his head, taking his life away. 3 Shots, 2 magazines left.
As Lily approached one of last of the grunts shooting at her, she charged with her large sword placed before herself, which shielded her from some the bullets, each being reflected with clanking noises. However, a bullet pierced into her left arm, but it hardly deterred her action, as she stroke him with the blade.
Svetlana again began trying to compress mana once again. When she believed that she had the right amount the fire that appeared on her hand, the flame was extinguished by the wind. “Damn it.” Svetlana said as she was mad at the failed attempt. Thankfully, her Ignite spell remained due to her concentration, but that also may have been the reason why her mind wasn’t focused on the other spell she tried to cast.
Weiss saw the girl’s failed attempt and aimed at the target that she was going to kill. She then pulled the trigger of her U.R.W.’s sniper mode and hit the man’s chest, right on his blood pumping organ. The man dropped down with his red blood leaking on the white snow. I’ll lure the target out of his hiding place. Then I’ll kill him.
“So far so good?” A voice asked from the transmission device on Weiss’ ears. “Any sight of the target yet?”
“I forgot that you’re there, yeah everything’s under control. I saw these two girls appear on one of the trucks when I stopped the convoy, looks like one of them is a mage. Right now I’m going to lure the boss out of the second truck out by killing all of his minions.” Weiss said as she observed the battle field.
“...Which is weird since I’ve been helping in missions for about fifteen years now? You must be a forgetful and ungrateful one, then. Hmph,” a sound echoed from the other side, then it stopped altogether. It seemed like her helper disconnected from his perfectly
†˜secure’ line.
She tapped the transmission device on her ear. “Hello? Hey you there? Kid? Tch, jamming.” She focussed her attention to the field where the two girls were attacked while hoping that her partner back at base was alright. As she looked back, she found that the blonde-haired girl took down the last of the mafia that fought them.
As soon as she noted that all the mafia men were dead, Svetlana quickly approached Lily, leaving the thorny walls. “Hey Lily, would you happen to know who the person might be that snipped the enemies?” Svetlana asked not certain if the person was an ally or a foe.
“I… don’t know,” Lily answered, shaking her head. “Perhaps… someone else… Soviet hired?”
“Probably. Well, let’s just be careful. I don’t want to be fighting two different groups at the same time.” Svetlana said as she began approaching the closest truck.
“U.R.W. Change, Assault Mode.” Weiss said at her husband’s rifle as she jumped down to a truck in front of the two girls. She asked the two without showing her face. “Are you two alright? I’m here to take down the person who is hiding on the second truck from here. Go finish what you girls are told. I’ll take care of him.”
“Yes, we are fine. “ Svetlana replied being a bit surprise the person sniping from the shadows had approached them. “Well then I take it once we are done with our part we can be on our way without going over there then.”
Lily wordlessly nodded, but she didn’t agree with letting the sniper take care of things for them. She wasn’t sure who the sniper wanted to hunt down, however. Perhaps the boss, she’d have to lend a hand to stall him, then.
“Good.” She then exchanged her rifle’s magazine to a new one and aimed at the person inside the truck.
From inside the cabin of his truck, Kazimir heard silence. No more shots were being fired, nor were his men chattering on the radio. “Tch.” He ticked in annoyance. He wasn’t mad, they were probably faced with magic users, he thought. Regardless, this was already a loss for him. His men were all dead or have probably fled and with these trucks stuck on the ground, he had no way of delivering his merchandise.
With an exasperated sigh, he lit up a cigarette. With a puff of smoke, he grabbed his sledge and opened the door out into the freezing blizzard.
A noise uttered from the radio, and from the truck he could hear a bit of wailing. “We tried getting our men together, and got ourselves on the task to fixing the tires, boss! We’re sending men on your way, but the blizzard and the mages are a bit of a pain, so all of them may not reach in timely manner,” one of his underlings reported.
A smile crept on his face, before Kazimir looked down on the invaders before him – a girl running for the other trucks, a woman noticing him and fortifying herself with a large blade at front, and another woman with a sniper at hand – she must have been the one who shot the tires. Going back home or delivering to the clients would either way require his men to fix the tires, and the wait wouldn’t be so pretty.
Soon – as expected – two of his men popped up from the first truck to the second to join Kazimir.
Tch, seems like more came. I suppose I should hurry before they come after me, Svetlana thought as she continued going to the trucks where she thought the captured women and children might be. Looking back, she noticed Lily chose to stay behind. “Hey Lily, get over here, leave them to her!” She shouted as she continued running.
“I will help… ! Go… !” Lily shouted back a response with what little Russian language she knew, then faced the man with the sledgehammer. A gut feeling told her that she couldn’t leave this man to the sniper woman.
Witnessing the young girl’s display of bravado, Kazimir could only scoff, “Heh, reckless one aren’t you.” He remarked to himself, staring daggers at her as he gripped his sledge. “Don’t blame me if you end up dying,” he charged forward, dragging his sledge behind him, before hitting Lily with a swing hard enough to knock her backwards, “Blame your employer for this suicide mission.” He declared, looking down on her as she tried to recover from the blow, using her sword to help pull herself back up. Still struggling to stand, Lily lunged forward at Kazimir in an attempt to counter attack. Kazimir scoffed once more at her attempt to stay strong before jumping back to avoid her somewhat weak swing.
“Why would someone… so strong, do something… so lowly as kidnapping?” Lily asked, placing a hand on her wound, somehow holding her blade up even now.
“Lowly? Kidnapping?” Kazimir scoffed at the naive girl’s question, “Why wouldn’t I make use of somebody who would probably wind up dead in a week if I didn’t take them in?” He responded rhetorically, “Would your precious Soviet Union help all these people? They wouldn’t.” He spat on the floor in disdain.
“It is… still a crime. You’re still limiting their freedom,” Lily answered, getting more determined to put this man down.
“And were they any more free when they were forced out onto the street with nothing?” Kazimir shook his head, “I’ve nothing more to say to you, you’re young and yet to to see how cruel your employers truly are.” With those words he readied his sledge, prepared to strike the girl down.
A ripping noise resounded as the sledge slashed at the young girl – who grimaced from a new wound – and tried to force her back, but Lily was persistent, and struck back with a slash of her own to counter. Kazimir took the hit, not expecting a wounded frail girl to be able to counter like that. In fact, just what kind of a frail-looking girl could wield a sword that big, anyway? Lily didn’t stop there, and went on to follow up with yet another strike.
Meanwhile, Weiss was locked in a showdown of bullets with Kazimir’s grunts. She was hit, they were hit – an old fashioned gun fight was taking place and the grunts were clearly losing despite having the advantage of numbers. Precision and aiming were off for them and some shots fell on snow-painted grounds.
Weiss took a deep breath as the grunt’s bullets grazed her body. She pulled the trigger quickly as she thought that she aimed her rifle right and hit the grunt’s upper torso. Weiss then saw a giant hit the sword girl with his sledgehammer. Weiss then laid down on the truck’s roof that she was on and aimed at the giant, hoping that her shot would attract his attention later on.
Taking another hit as he withdrew, Kazimir scowled as the slash brought out blood. He had underestimated this girl. Falling a few steps back, Kazimir eyed his opponent for a bit, realizing this was a battle he’d have to take seriously. Gripping his sledge once more, he was interrupted as a bullet grazed his shoulder. Turning back to the trucks, he spotted the sniper who his own men were engaging already. “Tch. You have the time to look at each others backs?” He muttered sardonically as his sledge was raised to the ready once again.
Time to stop them all. Weiss shot all 5 trucks’ tires quickly from the first truck to the last to stop their movement. All of them swayed soon and stopped completely. Now the target. She observed the people who walked out of the trucks, searching for the man in a black suit.
As the trucks came to a halt, the mafia members poked their heads out instead, to check what happened. At such a time, two girls landed from the sky. Their legs tinged with pain from the long fall.
The boss of Zayats looked as the invaders came, and ordered his grunts to deal with them, he wouldn’t want to run late for the deal. “Prepare to intercept,” He called over the radio. His men responded immediately, taking positions around the halted trucks with a variety of small arms. Kazimir himself, however, was not in sight.
The grunts approached Lily and Svetlana with their arms in hand; shooting at them without mercy. Lily tried approaching them to take them out with her large broadsword, but took some shots due to charging carelessly, while Svetlana took a few hits herself even as she kept a good distance. The blizzards seemed to be diverting some of the bullets’ trajectories due to the raging winds, which was the nature’s only saving grace. It was hard for them to see the figures properly, too. After it seemed like their bullets were emptied from the magazines, Lily charged in and slammed her blade over a man she past the snow-filled winds, while Svetlana chanted to gather mana from the Faerie Realm loudly before two wooden walls rose out of the ground; blocking the path for the trucks, as well as providing her with solid defense.
By the time Lily leapt back and joined Svetlana behind the thorny wooden walls, all she remembered was seeing the man bleed, unsure if he even lived.
“Hey Lily, no serious injury from those shots right?” Svetlana asked,
“No… I am fine,” Lily replied between her white breathes.
The men tried shooting at the wooden walls full of bushes. They were tougher than they had imagined, and the thorns shot out instead. They seemed like larger-than-usual bullets when their bullets penetrated the woods, thus the grunts received wounds in return.
“I’ll fight them… support me from rear,” Lily said, then dashed out of the woods. With enough speed, she breezed through the snow and created momentum, enough to smash the skull of the poor man who turned out to be her next target.
Svetlana gave a nod as Lily left, and begun casting a spell. She used her knowledge of the Creo Technique to gather mana from the Infernal Realm, thus a ball of fire formed before her. With enough mana compressed, the fire was good enough to withstand the blizzard winds. Thrusting her palm forward, it went forth towards one of the mafia members, and swathed over him; burning at least half of his body. However, while Svetlana waited for Lily, she noticed that she wasn’t coming back. It seemed like Lily chose to stay outside the defenses of the thorny walls in the battlefield to fight the rest of the enemies.
Weiss felt a tingling sensation as she was watching the people down below. She felt that her target was inside the second truck. She remembered the man described in the picture that the Steel Princess gave her. Target found, aiming. Just when she got him on her sights, a fire came from the back, two girls were being attacked by other men, obviously they were the grunts of her target. She reverted her aim to the closest one from the two girls and shot him right on his head, taking his life away. 3 Shots, 2 magazines left.
As Lily approached one of last of the grunts shooting at her, she charged with her large sword placed before herself, which shielded her from some the bullets, each being reflected with clanking noises. However, a bullet pierced into her left arm, but it hardly deterred her action, as she stroke him with the blade.
Svetlana again began trying to compress mana once again. When she believed that she had the right amount the fire that appeared on her hand, the flame was extinguished by the wind. “Damn it.” Svetlana said as she was mad at the failed attempt. Thankfully, her Ignite spell remained due to her concentration, but that also may have been the reason why her mind wasn’t focused on the other spell she tried to cast.
Weiss saw the girl’s failed attempt and aimed at the target that she was going to kill. She then pulled the trigger of her U.R.W.’s sniper mode and hit the man’s chest, right on his blood pumping organ. The man dropped down with his red blood leaking on the white snow. I’ll lure the target out of his hiding place. Then I’ll kill him.
“So far so good?” A voice asked from the transmission device on Weiss’ ears. “Any sight of the target yet?”
“I forgot that you’re there, yeah everything’s under control. I saw these two girls appear on one of the trucks when I stopped the convoy, looks like one of them is a mage. Right now I’m going to lure the boss out of the second truck out by killing all of his minions.” Weiss said as she observed the battle field.
“...Which is weird since I’ve been helping in missions for about fifteen years now? You must be a forgetful and ungrateful one, then. Hmph,” a sound echoed from the other side, then it stopped altogether. It seemed like her helper disconnected from his perfectly
†˜secure’ line.
She tapped the transmission device on her ear. “Hello? Hey you there? Kid? Tch, jamming.” She focussed her attention to the field where the two girls were attacked while hoping that her partner back at base was alright. As she looked back, she found that the blonde-haired girl took down the last of the mafia that fought them.
As soon as she noted that all the mafia men were dead, Svetlana quickly approached Lily, leaving the thorny walls. “Hey Lily, would you happen to know who the person might be that snipped the enemies?” Svetlana asked not certain if the person was an ally or a foe.
“I… don’t know,” Lily answered, shaking her head. “Perhaps… someone else… Soviet hired?”
“Probably. Well, let’s just be careful. I don’t want to be fighting two different groups at the same time.” Svetlana said as she began approaching the closest truck.
“U.R.W. Change, Assault Mode.” Weiss said at her husband’s rifle as she jumped down to a truck in front of the two girls. She asked the two without showing her face. “Are you two alright? I’m here to take down the person who is hiding on the second truck from here. Go finish what you girls are told. I’ll take care of him.”
“Yes, we are fine. “ Svetlana replied being a bit surprise the person sniping from the shadows had approached them. “Well then I take it once we are done with our part we can be on our way without going over there then.”
Lily wordlessly nodded, but she didn’t agree with letting the sniper take care of things for them. She wasn’t sure who the sniper wanted to hunt down, however. Perhaps the boss, she’d have to lend a hand to stall him, then.
“Good.” She then exchanged her rifle’s magazine to a new one and aimed at the person inside the truck.
From inside the cabin of his truck, Kazimir heard silence. No more shots were being fired, nor were his men chattering on the radio. “Tch.” He ticked in annoyance. He wasn’t mad, they were probably faced with magic users, he thought. Regardless, this was already a loss for him. His men were all dead or have probably fled and with these trucks stuck on the ground, he had no way of delivering his merchandise.
With an exasperated sigh, he lit up a cigarette. With a puff of smoke, he grabbed his sledge and opened the door out into the freezing blizzard.
A noise uttered from the radio, and from the truck he could hear a bit of wailing. “We tried getting our men together, and got ourselves on the task to fixing the tires, boss! We’re sending men on your way, but the blizzard and the mages are a bit of a pain, so all of them may not reach in timely manner,” one of his underlings reported.
A smile crept on his face, before Kazimir looked down on the invaders before him – a girl running for the other trucks, a woman noticing him and fortifying herself with a large blade at front, and another woman with a sniper at hand – she must have been the one who shot the tires. Going back home or delivering to the clients would either way require his men to fix the tires, and the wait wouldn’t be so pretty.
Soon – as expected – two of his men popped up from the first truck to the second to join Kazimir.
Tch, seems like more came. I suppose I should hurry before they come after me, Svetlana thought as she continued going to the trucks where she thought the captured women and children might be. Looking back, she noticed Lily chose to stay behind. “Hey Lily, get over here, leave them to her!” She shouted as she continued running.
“I will help… ! Go… !” Lily shouted back a response with what little Russian language she knew, then faced the man with the sledgehammer. A gut feeling told her that she couldn’t leave this man to the sniper woman.
Witnessing the young girl’s display of bravado, Kazimir could only scoff, “Heh, reckless one aren’t you.” He remarked to himself, staring daggers at her as he gripped his sledge. “Don’t blame me if you end up dying,” he charged forward, dragging his sledge behind him, before hitting Lily with a swing hard enough to knock her backwards, “Blame your employer for this suicide mission.” He declared, looking down on her as she tried to recover from the blow, using her sword to help pull herself back up. Still struggling to stand, Lily lunged forward at Kazimir in an attempt to counter attack. Kazimir scoffed once more at her attempt to stay strong before jumping back to avoid her somewhat weak swing.
“Why would someone… so strong, do something… so lowly as kidnapping?” Lily asked, placing a hand on her wound, somehow holding her blade up even now.
“Lowly? Kidnapping?” Kazimir scoffed at the naive girl’s question, “Why wouldn’t I make use of somebody who would probably wind up dead in a week if I didn’t take them in?” He responded rhetorically, “Would your precious Soviet Union help all these people? They wouldn’t.” He spat on the floor in disdain.
“It is… still a crime. You’re still limiting their freedom,” Lily answered, getting more determined to put this man down.
“And were they any more free when they were forced out onto the street with nothing?” Kazimir shook his head, “I’ve nothing more to say to you, you’re young and yet to to see how cruel your employers truly are.” With those words he readied his sledge, prepared to strike the girl down.
A ripping noise resounded as the sledge slashed at the young girl – who grimaced from a new wound – and tried to force her back, but Lily was persistent, and struck back with a slash of her own to counter. Kazimir took the hit, not expecting a wounded frail girl to be able to counter like that. In fact, just what kind of a frail-looking girl could wield a sword that big, anyway? Lily didn’t stop there, and went on to follow up with yet another strike.
Meanwhile, Weiss was locked in a showdown of bullets with Kazimir’s grunts. She was hit, they were hit – an old fashioned gun fight was taking place and the grunts were clearly losing despite having the advantage of numbers. Precision and aiming were off for them and some shots fell on snow-painted grounds.
Weiss took a deep breath as the grunt’s bullets grazed her body. She pulled the trigger quickly as she thought that she aimed her rifle right and hit the grunt’s upper torso. Weiss then saw a giant hit the sword girl with his sledgehammer. Weiss then laid down on the truck’s roof that she was on and aimed at the giant, hoping that her shot would attract his attention later on.
Taking another hit as he withdrew, Kazimir scowled as the slash brought out blood. He had underestimated this girl. Falling a few steps back, Kazimir eyed his opponent for a bit, realizing this was a battle he’d have to take seriously. Gripping his sledge once more, he was interrupted as a bullet grazed his shoulder. Turning back to the trucks, he spotted the sniper who his own men were engaging already. “Tch. You have the time to look at each others backs?” He muttered sardonically as his sledge was raised to the ready once again.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
(BGM)
Aramus and Elizabeth had finally reached a place they felt would give them what they were looking for: a bar.
A place that served wine and alcohol to its customers, yet it seemed abnormally fancy. Or well, it seemed like an expensive address… as a Londoner would say.
“This doesn’t look so good for your wallet, teacher… ” Elizabeth whispered to her teacher who sat beside her in the bar.
The bartender looked with a calm gaze, yet his expression and facial features were something fierce. It was akin to looking at a dragon, or a mythological monster, or something – Aramus felt. Albeit he was only cleaning a glass, as many bartenders are often seen doing.
“Yep, we aren’t giving it away unless you pay at least 120,0000 yen. I don’t care if you’re desperate for a quality drink, but we aren’t lowering the price. There are other other clients already wagering over this price.”
It was definitely no legal business.
Aramus knew this. At least, it shouldn’t be. A bar selling things like this wouldn’t be so rare back at home, but he didn’t expect this here. He wondered how that Alice girl even knew about something like this. Was she some kind of a fortune teller or a spiritualist or whatever they call it?
“Isn’t there any way we can reduce the price? By say, cleaning or working for the bar, or something?” Elizabeth said, attempting to lower the cost in Aramus’ place.
Placing a hand on Elizabeth’s sleeve, he politely indicated for her to stop. “How many bottles of that do you have?” Squaring off against the bartender, he felt the need to step up for once.
“About three. These vintages are exceptionally rare, I hope you understand,” the bartender answered. “One of the buyers will be here shortly, and they have placed dibs on one of the bottles. Perhaps you can negotiate with them.”
“Very well, then we shall wait and see. In the meantime, I will have a Yamazaki, eighteen years on the rocks.” He looked over to Elizabeth, eyes practically telling her that she was too young to drink. ”What would you like to have, Elizabeth? I think hard liquor is a bit too much for you.”
“I am no child,” Elizabeth said, pouting. “I will go with the same drink as yours, teacher.”
“I am surprised that it is not †˜Ellie’ this time,” she added with a playful smile.
Doing a double take, Aramus relayed their orders to the bartender. “Would you prefer that I call you that then, †˜Ellie’?” Two could play at that game, even if Aramus was probably on the losing end. Nobody actually took him seriously anyway.
“Then why not just do it? I would be more than honored if this respectable Magic Magister would call me by my nickname as a proof of us developing a better relationship than before we even spoke to each other,” Elizabeth answered, smiling.
“To think we’d be so casual in a matter of a day, though. Such an eventful day today was.”
”Maybe a bit too eventful. I think we should do this more often, coming out into the city to relax, huh Ellie?” Aramus leaned back in his chair, feeling some of the stress melt away. It was indeed quite startling for him to have Elizabeth be so… casual all of a sudden. It was refreshing, that someone actually didn’t have an agenda or judged him based on reputation.
“Indeed… it is a fun city in general when you’re not looking for something so…. expensive and rare,” Elizabeth said, placing her head over her crossed fingers on the table.
“That, we both agree on. I don’t think my paycheck could handle too many of these.” Inwardly, he cursed Mathilde for this errand. The price was too much for a simple healing. He should just buy the medical supplies himself and learn how to heal. Can’t be too hard for a Magic Magister.
“This is why I’ve told you not to get me healed that way… Mathilda is infamous for striking †˜good deals’. †˜Good’ for her, only,” Elizabeth stated, sighing. Her breathe visible due to the coldness of the night and the winter weather. She wondered if it would start snowing any time soon.
“What will you do if we can’t get the wine, though? We’re at a bit of a predicament at the moment, that is for sure.”
“She did not specify how much, just good wine. I think we can make do with that.” Aramus replied, with a slight twinkle in his eye.
“You will lose the trust of your clients if you keep that up,” Elizabeth laughed.
“But this is daylight robbery! Ugh, fine. If the price of being a good teacher is 120,0000 yen, then so be it. One bottle. Just one!” He slumped into his chair, wondering what would he do if Almond needed something badly.
“Good teachers are valuable. More so than that price,” Elizabeth said, attempting to placate her teacher, even going as far as rubbing his shoulder with a pat.
“Well, all we can do is wait for the buyer.” Taking a sip of his treasured Yamazaki, he could feel the burn as it went down his throat, times where he could drink as a teacher were few and far between.
Elizabeth had only realized the drink before her. Due to the conversations, she was too distracted to notice that the bartender had placed it sometime ago. Elizabeth had wine a few times back in England before. Sometimes even a Claret would make her head spin, but her pride wouldn’t let her stop here.
“Alright, here goes,” Elizabeth braced herself, then chugged down a good gulp of the drink.
Aramus looked up in alarm as it went down her throat but it was already too late. “Ahhhh…. This won’t be good.”
Elizabeth did managed to gulp the drink she chugged down, but soon she felt her throat burning, and a strange sensation she was unfamiliar with.
“... Bhwaaa… !!” She gagged, clutching her throat, then coughed repeatedly.
Magically appearing with a glass of water, Aramus presented it to Elizabeth. “Here, drink slowly. That goes for the whisky as well, it’s meant to be sipped.” Sending a silent thanks to the bartender, the man had already gotten ready the glass as soon as he had seen Elizabeth going bottoms up.
Elizabeth gave a nod with teary eyes and drank up on the water slowly.
“I… apologize, I didn’t think… I’d be gagging from a drink… like that,” she said between her breathes. “I feel somewhat ashamed… it is a waste now that I think… about it. I could hardly get the taste.”
“First time for everything. Do you want something else to drink instead, something milder maybe?” Ah, Aramus remembered his first time drinking. It was with his mentor after landing his first successful spell, an even similar to this. The nostalgia rushed back as he too, had bitten off more than he could chew at the time.
“Perhaashps next… time… ” Elizabeth somehow muttered out, coughing again. Her throat still felt weird, and her head was spinning – making her feel more than just odd.
The bartender silently whispered to Aramus.
“They’re here.”
Indeed, that’s when the doors parted with a clank and a few men walked into the bar.
“Hey man, is our order still in? You haven’t sold it out on us, did you?” They asked, sounding demanding.
The bartender acted as usual, despite the threatening aura of the men. “Of course. However, one of our customers would like it too. I will leave the matter to you and him till the conclusion is reached.”
Patting Elizabeth on the back to ensure she rested up, Aramus rose to meet the men who walked in. ”Good evening gentlemen, the bartender was kind enough to inform me you would be keen on purchasing one of these fine liquors.”
Elizabeth weakly smiled as Aramus left her side to face the men, all looking like members of some mafia. They were slightly overwhelming, and seemed nothing like the british gentlemen she knew from her homeland. Well, neither did Aramus, but she wouldn’t say that.
“Ya, we would want one for our boss here,” the man said, pointing to the tall man standing behind him, but the †˜boss’ didn’t say anything.
“So you want it huh…? What’s it in for us?” The boss spoke, surprising even his men.
”All I can offer is more in exchange for the bottle.” Shrugging earnestly, Aramus knew he didn’t have anything on him to trade or barter. There was no bargaining chip to speak off besides a higher reimbursement.
“But is that alright for you? If you really wanted to offer higher; you’d have bought it off for its current price already. After all, this guy here would sell it off if you offered even a 1,000 yen higher,” the mafia boss replied.
”That would be bad form. You’ve already placed an order for it and it would reflect badly on both the establishment and I if I were to just take it when it was already reserved.” Being reasonable, Aramus gave the boss a smile, looking back at the bartender over his shoulder.
“I see. Well then, how much higher are you willing to pay?” The Boss asked, cracking a smirk.
”I’ll offer 20,000 yen more. Maybe you can use that to buy it off the next person without too much of a fuss with no loss on your part. Sound good?”
“Sounds good… but boring,” the boss said, shaking his head. “How about a gamble? I will let you have the bottle for free – we’ll pay if you win – and you pay the entire amount including your offer if you lose.”
“You either get everything, or lose it all,” he added, saying the obvious.
Sighing, Aramus looked over at the bartender with a look that said †˜please help me’ but he knew it would not happen.
The bartender smirked. “We have a roaster to pick a random game, as usual,” he offered, giving a grim. It was business as usual to him.
“We’ll go with that then.” Aramus walked back to Elizabeth, a little worried. “I suppose we’ll have to gamble with them.” He added with a shrug.
“So I heard,” Elizabeth said, seeming to be back to her usual now, somewhat. “Let us see what the game is. I will see if I can lend a hand. For now, let us keep where the pride is due, the figures of yen here are rather tall,” she advised, getting off her chair.
”Right.” Turning back to the head honcho, Aramus nodded. There wasn’t any other way, he supposed.
The bartender nodded back to the people. Pressing a button that seemed to be located somewhere behind his desk, a roaster came out from the ceiling and was parked below. Lowering just enough to be at the same level as the people. He pressed the button again and the circle begun to spin.
The ball stopped on a symbol that had a table on it.
“Mahjong.”
“That seems like it.”
“So old.”
“That doesn’t sound so easy. I hope you know how it works?” Elizabeth said, facing Aramus.
Aramus only chuckled nervously, looking back at Elizabeth with hollow eyes. It was a clear sign of no.
“...I suppose you can’t,” Elizabeth said, chuckling weakly.
“No, I can’t. Do you know?” Of all the games, it had to be an eastern one he was unfamiliar with. Aramus felt useless.
“I do. Mnm… but it is a four-player game. I’d be at a disadvantage since the rest of the opponents would be them,” Elizabeth said, seeing the three men leering at the two.
”Oh well…” Slumping, he looked over to Elizabeth and gave her a weak smile, ready to face his fate.
“Well, don’t worry. I’ll do something about this.”
Aramus and Elizabeth had finally reached a place they felt would give them what they were looking for: a bar.
A place that served wine and alcohol to its customers, yet it seemed abnormally fancy. Or well, it seemed like an expensive address… as a Londoner would say.
“This doesn’t look so good for your wallet, teacher… ” Elizabeth whispered to her teacher who sat beside her in the bar.
The bartender looked with a calm gaze, yet his expression and facial features were something fierce. It was akin to looking at a dragon, or a mythological monster, or something – Aramus felt. Albeit he was only cleaning a glass, as many bartenders are often seen doing.
“Yep, we aren’t giving it away unless you pay at least 120,0000 yen. I don’t care if you’re desperate for a quality drink, but we aren’t lowering the price. There are other other clients already wagering over this price.”
It was definitely no legal business.
Aramus knew this. At least, it shouldn’t be. A bar selling things like this wouldn’t be so rare back at home, but he didn’t expect this here. He wondered how that Alice girl even knew about something like this. Was she some kind of a fortune teller or a spiritualist or whatever they call it?
“Isn’t there any way we can reduce the price? By say, cleaning or working for the bar, or something?” Elizabeth said, attempting to lower the cost in Aramus’ place.
Placing a hand on Elizabeth’s sleeve, he politely indicated for her to stop. “How many bottles of that do you have?” Squaring off against the bartender, he felt the need to step up for once.
“About three. These vintages are exceptionally rare, I hope you understand,” the bartender answered. “One of the buyers will be here shortly, and they have placed dibs on one of the bottles. Perhaps you can negotiate with them.”
“Very well, then we shall wait and see. In the meantime, I will have a Yamazaki, eighteen years on the rocks.” He looked over to Elizabeth, eyes practically telling her that she was too young to drink. ”What would you like to have, Elizabeth? I think hard liquor is a bit too much for you.”
“I am no child,” Elizabeth said, pouting. “I will go with the same drink as yours, teacher.”
“I am surprised that it is not †˜Ellie’ this time,” she added with a playful smile.
Doing a double take, Aramus relayed their orders to the bartender. “Would you prefer that I call you that then, †˜Ellie’?” Two could play at that game, even if Aramus was probably on the losing end. Nobody actually took him seriously anyway.
“Then why not just do it? I would be more than honored if this respectable Magic Magister would call me by my nickname as a proof of us developing a better relationship than before we even spoke to each other,” Elizabeth answered, smiling.
“To think we’d be so casual in a matter of a day, though. Such an eventful day today was.”
”Maybe a bit too eventful. I think we should do this more often, coming out into the city to relax, huh Ellie?” Aramus leaned back in his chair, feeling some of the stress melt away. It was indeed quite startling for him to have Elizabeth be so… casual all of a sudden. It was refreshing, that someone actually didn’t have an agenda or judged him based on reputation.
“Indeed… it is a fun city in general when you’re not looking for something so…. expensive and rare,” Elizabeth said, placing her head over her crossed fingers on the table.
“That, we both agree on. I don’t think my paycheck could handle too many of these.” Inwardly, he cursed Mathilde for this errand. The price was too much for a simple healing. He should just buy the medical supplies himself and learn how to heal. Can’t be too hard for a Magic Magister.
“This is why I’ve told you not to get me healed that way… Mathilda is infamous for striking †˜good deals’. †˜Good’ for her, only,” Elizabeth stated, sighing. Her breathe visible due to the coldness of the night and the winter weather. She wondered if it would start snowing any time soon.
“What will you do if we can’t get the wine, though? We’re at a bit of a predicament at the moment, that is for sure.”
“She did not specify how much, just good wine. I think we can make do with that.” Aramus replied, with a slight twinkle in his eye.
“You will lose the trust of your clients if you keep that up,” Elizabeth laughed.
“But this is daylight robbery! Ugh, fine. If the price of being a good teacher is 120,0000 yen, then so be it. One bottle. Just one!” He slumped into his chair, wondering what would he do if Almond needed something badly.
“Good teachers are valuable. More so than that price,” Elizabeth said, attempting to placate her teacher, even going as far as rubbing his shoulder with a pat.
“Well, all we can do is wait for the buyer.” Taking a sip of his treasured Yamazaki, he could feel the burn as it went down his throat, times where he could drink as a teacher were few and far between.
Elizabeth had only realized the drink before her. Due to the conversations, she was too distracted to notice that the bartender had placed it sometime ago. Elizabeth had wine a few times back in England before. Sometimes even a Claret would make her head spin, but her pride wouldn’t let her stop here.
“Alright, here goes,” Elizabeth braced herself, then chugged down a good gulp of the drink.
Aramus looked up in alarm as it went down her throat but it was already too late. “Ahhhh…. This won’t be good.”
Elizabeth did managed to gulp the drink she chugged down, but soon she felt her throat burning, and a strange sensation she was unfamiliar with.
“... Bhwaaa… !!” She gagged, clutching her throat, then coughed repeatedly.
Magically appearing with a glass of water, Aramus presented it to Elizabeth. “Here, drink slowly. That goes for the whisky as well, it’s meant to be sipped.” Sending a silent thanks to the bartender, the man had already gotten ready the glass as soon as he had seen Elizabeth going bottoms up.
Elizabeth gave a nod with teary eyes and drank up on the water slowly.
“I… apologize, I didn’t think… I’d be gagging from a drink… like that,” she said between her breathes. “I feel somewhat ashamed… it is a waste now that I think… about it. I could hardly get the taste.”
“First time for everything. Do you want something else to drink instead, something milder maybe?” Ah, Aramus remembered his first time drinking. It was with his mentor after landing his first successful spell, an even similar to this. The nostalgia rushed back as he too, had bitten off more than he could chew at the time.
“Perhaashps next… time… ” Elizabeth somehow muttered out, coughing again. Her throat still felt weird, and her head was spinning – making her feel more than just odd.
The bartender silently whispered to Aramus.
“They’re here.”
Indeed, that’s when the doors parted with a clank and a few men walked into the bar.
“Hey man, is our order still in? You haven’t sold it out on us, did you?” They asked, sounding demanding.
The bartender acted as usual, despite the threatening aura of the men. “Of course. However, one of our customers would like it too. I will leave the matter to you and him till the conclusion is reached.”
Patting Elizabeth on the back to ensure she rested up, Aramus rose to meet the men who walked in. ”Good evening gentlemen, the bartender was kind enough to inform me you would be keen on purchasing one of these fine liquors.”
Elizabeth weakly smiled as Aramus left her side to face the men, all looking like members of some mafia. They were slightly overwhelming, and seemed nothing like the british gentlemen she knew from her homeland. Well, neither did Aramus, but she wouldn’t say that.
“Ya, we would want one for our boss here,” the man said, pointing to the tall man standing behind him, but the †˜boss’ didn’t say anything.
“So you want it huh…? What’s it in for us?” The boss spoke, surprising even his men.
”All I can offer is more in exchange for the bottle.” Shrugging earnestly, Aramus knew he didn’t have anything on him to trade or barter. There was no bargaining chip to speak off besides a higher reimbursement.
“But is that alright for you? If you really wanted to offer higher; you’d have bought it off for its current price already. After all, this guy here would sell it off if you offered even a 1,000 yen higher,” the mafia boss replied.
”That would be bad form. You’ve already placed an order for it and it would reflect badly on both the establishment and I if I were to just take it when it was already reserved.” Being reasonable, Aramus gave the boss a smile, looking back at the bartender over his shoulder.
“I see. Well then, how much higher are you willing to pay?” The Boss asked, cracking a smirk.
”I’ll offer 20,000 yen more. Maybe you can use that to buy it off the next person without too much of a fuss with no loss on your part. Sound good?”
“Sounds good… but boring,” the boss said, shaking his head. “How about a gamble? I will let you have the bottle for free – we’ll pay if you win – and you pay the entire amount including your offer if you lose.”
“You either get everything, or lose it all,” he added, saying the obvious.
Sighing, Aramus looked over at the bartender with a look that said †˜please help me’ but he knew it would not happen.
The bartender smirked. “We have a roaster to pick a random game, as usual,” he offered, giving a grim. It was business as usual to him.
“We’ll go with that then.” Aramus walked back to Elizabeth, a little worried. “I suppose we’ll have to gamble with them.” He added with a shrug.
“So I heard,” Elizabeth said, seeming to be back to her usual now, somewhat. “Let us see what the game is. I will see if I can lend a hand. For now, let us keep where the pride is due, the figures of yen here are rather tall,” she advised, getting off her chair.
”Right.” Turning back to the head honcho, Aramus nodded. There wasn’t any other way, he supposed.
The bartender nodded back to the people. Pressing a button that seemed to be located somewhere behind his desk, a roaster came out from the ceiling and was parked below. Lowering just enough to be at the same level as the people. He pressed the button again and the circle begun to spin.
The ball stopped on a symbol that had a table on it.
“Mahjong.”
“That seems like it.”
“So old.”
“That doesn’t sound so easy. I hope you know how it works?” Elizabeth said, facing Aramus.
Aramus only chuckled nervously, looking back at Elizabeth with hollow eyes. It was a clear sign of no.
“...I suppose you can’t,” Elizabeth said, chuckling weakly.
“No, I can’t. Do you know?” Of all the games, it had to be an eastern one he was unfamiliar with. Aramus felt useless.
“I do. Mnm… but it is a four-player game. I’d be at a disadvantage since the rest of the opponents would be them,” Elizabeth said, seeing the three men leering at the two.
”Oh well…” Slumping, he looked over to Elizabeth and gave her a weak smile, ready to face his fate.
“Well, don’t worry. I’ll do something about this.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
As Lily, Weiss, and Kazimir continued to fight behind her back, Svetlana continued to run; making way for another truck. There weren’t many of the mafia members around and the blizzard sharply reduced the visibility of the surroundings. It was rather hard to tell whether she was running in the right direction. She couldn’t even see the tall mountain she slid down from alongside Lily. The flame over her hand shifted uncontrollably due to the moving around and the wind, but it held on, and didn’t cause a fire on her clothes despite touching slightly here and there with her clothes.
Finally, she could see the next truck amidst the snowy wind as a dark figure developed as she continued trudging through the snowy grounds. There was a man working with the tires, and that’s all she could tell. He was undoubtedly a mafia member, she could tell from the silhouette alone.
“Tch, here I was hoping they would all be fighting.” Svetlana said in a low voice. She wondered if she should attack from here or get closer as she didn’t want to use too much magic. I suppose it’d be better to attack from here in case there’s more, Svetlana thought as she then began concentrating, gathering mana into her hand as she then shot a spear of flame at the mafia grunt.
The mafia grunt – clearing not having expected the attack – was inflicted with fire over his back, and shouted “Hot, hot!” as he got up from crouching and jumped with his back facing the snow, then pulled himself up, facing Svetlana, taking a gun out – as he muttered some swear words that she could hardly make out – and shooting at her momentarily.
Svetlana quickly moved aside trying to shield herself using the truck to avoid getting more damage, but the bullets grazed her anyway. Well, that failed. Now what? Svetlana thought as she took a quick look on the other side of the truck. Seeing as no one was there, she ran that way hoping the grunt wouldn’t run there from the other side, pulling out her dagger in case he did. As she turned around, she quickly noticed that the grunt ran the other way, so she opened the door to the truck then closed it; making sure it was locked. After inspecting the truck, the flame over her hand revealed the terrified sight of the victims.
Svetlana took out her cellphone. “I suppose I should call now and see how things go.”
There were more victims than Svetlana thought, and they started crowding where she was; asking where they were being taken – surrounding her – before she could do anything with her cellphone.
“Everyone, please calm down. Just give me a few minutes. I’ll let you all know after that. Otherwise I won’t be able to call for help.” Svetlana said, putting out the flame on her hand as it was dangerous, while she tried to calm them down.
Svetlana then called the Soviet Union’s office that she went to yesterday.
“Hello, which one of you rascals makin’ a prank call now? You know we ain’t got the time for that,” the same man said who gave Svetlana the job yesterday.
“Hellooo Misteeer, this is no prank call. Mystic Tracer calling, I need you to send the Collectors at this location," Svetlana happily said. “You might want to make it snappy also. Before they can all go vroom vroom.”
“I’m more surprised to know that yer alive, lass. We’ll have it your way and send some Collector’s yer way,” the man replied, sounding somewhat relieved. “We have your co-ordinates marked down here, so just guard that location or somethin’.”
“Roger. Now if you can excuse misteeer talk to you again once I’m over there collecting my pay. Bye bye.” Svetlana said as she hanged up. “Now then all of you listen up.” Svetlana said to the prisoners. “Help will come here soon so please just stay calm and I’ll protect you all if you do. I can’t promise anything if you all go panicky on me oookay?”
The kidnapped women and children complied – more or less – nodding and agreeing, hoping for the best.
Finally, she could see the next truck amidst the snowy wind as a dark figure developed as she continued trudging through the snowy grounds. There was a man working with the tires, and that’s all she could tell. He was undoubtedly a mafia member, she could tell from the silhouette alone.
“Tch, here I was hoping they would all be fighting.” Svetlana said in a low voice. She wondered if she should attack from here or get closer as she didn’t want to use too much magic. I suppose it’d be better to attack from here in case there’s more, Svetlana thought as she then began concentrating, gathering mana into her hand as she then shot a spear of flame at the mafia grunt.
The mafia grunt – clearing not having expected the attack – was inflicted with fire over his back, and shouted “Hot, hot!” as he got up from crouching and jumped with his back facing the snow, then pulled himself up, facing Svetlana, taking a gun out – as he muttered some swear words that she could hardly make out – and shooting at her momentarily.
Svetlana quickly moved aside trying to shield herself using the truck to avoid getting more damage, but the bullets grazed her anyway. Well, that failed. Now what? Svetlana thought as she took a quick look on the other side of the truck. Seeing as no one was there, she ran that way hoping the grunt wouldn’t run there from the other side, pulling out her dagger in case he did. As she turned around, she quickly noticed that the grunt ran the other way, so she opened the door to the truck then closed it; making sure it was locked. After inspecting the truck, the flame over her hand revealed the terrified sight of the victims.
Svetlana took out her cellphone. “I suppose I should call now and see how things go.”
There were more victims than Svetlana thought, and they started crowding where she was; asking where they were being taken – surrounding her – before she could do anything with her cellphone.
“Everyone, please calm down. Just give me a few minutes. I’ll let you all know after that. Otherwise I won’t be able to call for help.” Svetlana said, putting out the flame on her hand as it was dangerous, while she tried to calm them down.
Svetlana then called the Soviet Union’s office that she went to yesterday.
“Hello, which one of you rascals makin’ a prank call now? You know we ain’t got the time for that,” the same man said who gave Svetlana the job yesterday.
“Hellooo Misteeer, this is no prank call. Mystic Tracer calling, I need you to send the Collectors at this location," Svetlana happily said. “You might want to make it snappy also. Before they can all go vroom vroom.”
“I’m more surprised to know that yer alive, lass. We’ll have it your way and send some Collector’s yer way,” the man replied, sounding somewhat relieved. “We have your co-ordinates marked down here, so just guard that location or somethin’.”
“Roger. Now if you can excuse misteeer talk to you again once I’m over there collecting my pay. Bye bye.” Svetlana said as she hanged up. “Now then all of you listen up.” Svetlana said to the prisoners. “Help will come here soon so please just stay calm and I’ll protect you all if you do. I can’t promise anything if you all go panicky on me oookay?”
The kidnapped women and children complied – more or less – nodding and agreeing, hoping for the best.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
(BGM)
The four sat around a table in the back room. Behind three of the sides were the men in black – the mafias. Two of them were the grunts, and the tall and imposing figure was their boss. Their one and only opponent was Elizabeth – a pretty girl of nobility – a duchess’ daughter.
The table was as green as grass, with markings and linings determining how the tiles should be set for the game.
“Well, we have some other business. So we’ll only do one hanchan,” the boss said.
The bartender nodded.
They don’t want to make this easy, do they? Elizabeth thought, noticing the point of a shorter game. With only four rounds, a single hanchan would be about eight hands. This could only mean one thing; taking advantage of numbers. Usually, Mahjong was a game with four players all against each other, but three players working for a single group would only have to win points off of her. If any of them won; the mafia members would have the last laugh.
Elizabeth gave a nod. They were the original customers of the bartender, so she had no right to object to it.
“Alright, let’s begin,” the boss said, having picked the Eastern tile, he pressed on the button for his side of the table. The turns of players in Mahjong went from East through South; encompassing all directions. Elizabeth happened to be the one at South.
The players drew the tiles and the hands were established. Elizabeth didn’t seemed to be pleased nor upset with her hand.
As the discards progressed, Aramus watched the game play out nervously. He could chew and grit at a handkerchief if he could about now, but Elizabeth seemed to have remained as calm as ice.
Moments have passed, and the players revealed their hands suddenly. Aramus wondered what happened. The hands were revealed as the tiles from the mountains were emptied in reality. That was the rule. It was akin to a draw. Except that…
“Tenpai,” Elizabeth uttered, and she could see the three click their tongue.
With this, she earned 3000 points. As any standard Mahjong game, the four players started with 25,000 points. Since Elizabeth was in †˜tenpai’, she was – in other words – a single tile away from winning the hand, hence she received 1,000 points – as penalty – from each players as per the rules since her opponents were not on tenpai when the mountains – to draw tiles – from were emptied out.
But the game was just getting started, and Elizabeth only had a headstart with a stroke of luck. However…
Perhaps the flow is with me… however, I must play discreetly.
The next round begun. Elizabeth wasn’t so fortunate, but she was on tenpai yet again. She had to carefully consider her discards each turn. A hand in a Mahjong game was always comprised of thirteen tiles in total, but one would always have to discard a tile after drawing one from the mountain. This was because a player would obviously have over thirteen tiles otherwise.
“Ron,” the boss said, bringing down the line of tiles to reveal his hand with a smirk, “3000.”
Is this what they call a bad joke? Elizabeth wondered. He took the exact same points she had earned in the previous round. Looking at his hand, he could go for a hand of a higher value, but he chose to play with her confidence instead, and won off her discard. If a discard from a player was the exact tile required to complete the hand – that player would have the opportunity to win off that discard with a †˜ron.’
“Impressive. We’re on square one again.”
“Indeed.”
“I shall have you regret it.”
“Heh, we’ll see.”
Next round.
The tiles were drawn yet again. This time, Elizabeth’s hand was full of green tiles, as Aramus had noted. Albeit a few had small red marks. He wondered if this meant anything significant. Elizabeth remained ice cold as the game waged on. Her pupils examined every discarded tiles with caution, before she’d form a strategy. The more brain-wracking part about Mahjong was that a player had to be flexible and know when to shift to a different goal lest they wish to fall into their peril. In other words, she needed to delude her opponents with her discards to win.
Soon, a discard gave her a hint of what she could do now. Taking a bet, Elizabeth gingerly discarded a particular tile that seemed pure green. Aramus felt that the set might’ve been ruined, and wondered why she would do that.
The man to her side had his eyes widened as he saw the discard, and smiled.
“Chi!” He said, taking over the discarded tile. Elizabeth’s green tile was used to form a triplet of green tiles with what seemed like four-bamboos in each of those tiles – Aramus noted. He was quite lost on what was going on.
With this, he wouldn’t think that Elizabeth had an all-green hand, or well, was aiming to have one, anyway.
Pleased with the result, Elizabeth found the other players discarding more bamboo tiles – the green tiles, from Aramus’ perspective – now. Then again, he didn’t know heads or tails of this game. It was all he could do to trust in his pupil.
“Ron,” Elizabeth uttered, showing her hand after a certain discard from the boss himself.
“Ryuuiisou…?” He said, looking confused. A cold sweat ran down his face.
“18,000 points.”
The three men stood up, surprised. This undoubtedly broke the balance between the four seats and directions.
“The game has only just begun, yes?” And so the game went on. Elizabeth was beginning to hold an advantage over the opponents in more ways than one. Their stress was one factor, other being the fact that luck was on her side.
Of course, it could only mean that the game would get worse for the mafia. To think a girl from the Great Britain knew of an eastern game like this.
“Tsumo. Kokushi Musou.”
“28,000 points,” Elizabeth said, standing up from her seat. “Thank you for the game,” she added, giving a deep bow as any Japanese would.
The game was over as soon as she uttered †˜tsumo’ which was the declaration word for having received the winning tile from the mountain. So, she didn’t win off of a discard like before, luck had naturally conspired against her opponents; allowing her to win the hand. However, the reason why she won in the sixth hand was because the hand she won with was simply too expensive.
Every time a player wins; they win points off of others. Since she won too many points, someone’s point was set to negative. The rules of the Mahjong was clear that anyone whose points goes down to negative instantly ends the game. Hence, the player with the leading points would win, and that was Elizabeth.
In the previous round, she lost some points to a grunt, but that was a 6,000 point win with a †˜ron’. So the points of the other one of the players had never changed. The boss gained 3,000 in the second hand, and a grunt won off 6,000. The other grunts’ points hadn’t changed till she started with the †˜ron’ and the †˜tsumo’ wins. The last win contained so much points that it was more than just negative for him. She won with a †˜sanbaiman’ hand, which was indeed expensive.
“With this we get the wine scot free. This was a good deal, I must compliment you gentlemen.”
“Tch, fine. We’ll keep our promise, of course,” the boss said, not resorting to violence from anger, his pride was hurt, but the pride was the very reason he couldn’t break the deal.
”Well done Ellie, very well done.” Lost for most of the game, Aramus could only congratulate his student for what she had done and the gargantuan hole that would have appeared in his wallet if she hadn’t. However, that’s not to say the current hole wasn’t very large. Shooting her a smile, he clapped her lightly on the shoulder and squeezed once in thanks.
“With this, I feel like i have properly repaid you for your kindness, teacher,” Elizabeth said, smiling sweetly. She ended up having fun throughout the match, and had to admit mentally that the feeling of victory was sweet.
Somehow, the men didn’t seem so sad anymore after seeing the smile of an European nobility. The power of a sincere smile had strange powers indeed. Aramus himself was compelled to smile back, after all, it was only a 120,0000 yen bottle of wine right? Not a big deal. Not a big deal at all.
The bartender then took the bottle out from the shelves, and handed it to Elizabeth.
“Remember to drink it right, lady. Good job.”
“Thank you. I will learn from my teacher,” Elizabeth said with a chuckle, taking the wine bottle to her heart.
”You shouldn’t even be drinking all that much…” Replied Aramus, looking back at the mafia members with a puzzled expression. ”Shall we get going then?”
“Yes, let us be on our way,” Elizabeth said.
The two then left the bar, with the wine bottle at hand.
The four sat around a table in the back room. Behind three of the sides were the men in black – the mafias. Two of them were the grunts, and the tall and imposing figure was their boss. Their one and only opponent was Elizabeth – a pretty girl of nobility – a duchess’ daughter.
The table was as green as grass, with markings and linings determining how the tiles should be set for the game.
“Well, we have some other business. So we’ll only do one hanchan,” the boss said.
The bartender nodded.
They don’t want to make this easy, do they? Elizabeth thought, noticing the point of a shorter game. With only four rounds, a single hanchan would be about eight hands. This could only mean one thing; taking advantage of numbers. Usually, Mahjong was a game with four players all against each other, but three players working for a single group would only have to win points off of her. If any of them won; the mafia members would have the last laugh.
Elizabeth gave a nod. They were the original customers of the bartender, so she had no right to object to it.
“Alright, let’s begin,” the boss said, having picked the Eastern tile, he pressed on the button for his side of the table. The turns of players in Mahjong went from East through South; encompassing all directions. Elizabeth happened to be the one at South.
The players drew the tiles and the hands were established. Elizabeth didn’t seemed to be pleased nor upset with her hand.
As the discards progressed, Aramus watched the game play out nervously. He could chew and grit at a handkerchief if he could about now, but Elizabeth seemed to have remained as calm as ice.
Moments have passed, and the players revealed their hands suddenly. Aramus wondered what happened. The hands were revealed as the tiles from the mountains were emptied in reality. That was the rule. It was akin to a draw. Except that…
“Tenpai,” Elizabeth uttered, and she could see the three click their tongue.
With this, she earned 3000 points. As any standard Mahjong game, the four players started with 25,000 points. Since Elizabeth was in †˜tenpai’, she was – in other words – a single tile away from winning the hand, hence she received 1,000 points – as penalty – from each players as per the rules since her opponents were not on tenpai when the mountains – to draw tiles – from were emptied out.
But the game was just getting started, and Elizabeth only had a headstart with a stroke of luck. However…
Perhaps the flow is with me… however, I must play discreetly.
The next round begun. Elizabeth wasn’t so fortunate, but she was on tenpai yet again. She had to carefully consider her discards each turn. A hand in a Mahjong game was always comprised of thirteen tiles in total, but one would always have to discard a tile after drawing one from the mountain. This was because a player would obviously have over thirteen tiles otherwise.
“Ron,” the boss said, bringing down the line of tiles to reveal his hand with a smirk, “3000.”
Is this what they call a bad joke? Elizabeth wondered. He took the exact same points she had earned in the previous round. Looking at his hand, he could go for a hand of a higher value, but he chose to play with her confidence instead, and won off her discard. If a discard from a player was the exact tile required to complete the hand – that player would have the opportunity to win off that discard with a †˜ron.’
“Impressive. We’re on square one again.”
“Indeed.”
“I shall have you regret it.”
“Heh, we’ll see.”
Next round.
The tiles were drawn yet again. This time, Elizabeth’s hand was full of green tiles, as Aramus had noted. Albeit a few had small red marks. He wondered if this meant anything significant. Elizabeth remained ice cold as the game waged on. Her pupils examined every discarded tiles with caution, before she’d form a strategy. The more brain-wracking part about Mahjong was that a player had to be flexible and know when to shift to a different goal lest they wish to fall into their peril. In other words, she needed to delude her opponents with her discards to win.
Soon, a discard gave her a hint of what she could do now. Taking a bet, Elizabeth gingerly discarded a particular tile that seemed pure green. Aramus felt that the set might’ve been ruined, and wondered why she would do that.
The man to her side had his eyes widened as he saw the discard, and smiled.
“Chi!” He said, taking over the discarded tile. Elizabeth’s green tile was used to form a triplet of green tiles with what seemed like four-bamboos in each of those tiles – Aramus noted. He was quite lost on what was going on.
With this, he wouldn’t think that Elizabeth had an all-green hand, or well, was aiming to have one, anyway.
Pleased with the result, Elizabeth found the other players discarding more bamboo tiles – the green tiles, from Aramus’ perspective – now. Then again, he didn’t know heads or tails of this game. It was all he could do to trust in his pupil.
“Ron,” Elizabeth uttered, showing her hand after a certain discard from the boss himself.
“Ryuuiisou…?” He said, looking confused. A cold sweat ran down his face.
“18,000 points.”
The three men stood up, surprised. This undoubtedly broke the balance between the four seats and directions.
“The game has only just begun, yes?” And so the game went on. Elizabeth was beginning to hold an advantage over the opponents in more ways than one. Their stress was one factor, other being the fact that luck was on her side.
Of course, it could only mean that the game would get worse for the mafia. To think a girl from the Great Britain knew of an eastern game like this.
“Tsumo. Kokushi Musou.”
“28,000 points,” Elizabeth said, standing up from her seat. “Thank you for the game,” she added, giving a deep bow as any Japanese would.
The game was over as soon as she uttered †˜tsumo’ which was the declaration word for having received the winning tile from the mountain. So, she didn’t win off of a discard like before, luck had naturally conspired against her opponents; allowing her to win the hand. However, the reason why she won in the sixth hand was because the hand she won with was simply too expensive.
Every time a player wins; they win points off of others. Since she won too many points, someone’s point was set to negative. The rules of the Mahjong was clear that anyone whose points goes down to negative instantly ends the game. Hence, the player with the leading points would win, and that was Elizabeth.
In the previous round, she lost some points to a grunt, but that was a 6,000 point win with a †˜ron’. So the points of the other one of the players had never changed. The boss gained 3,000 in the second hand, and a grunt won off 6,000. The other grunts’ points hadn’t changed till she started with the †˜ron’ and the †˜tsumo’ wins. The last win contained so much points that it was more than just negative for him. She won with a †˜sanbaiman’ hand, which was indeed expensive.
“With this we get the wine scot free. This was a good deal, I must compliment you gentlemen.”
“Tch, fine. We’ll keep our promise, of course,” the boss said, not resorting to violence from anger, his pride was hurt, but the pride was the very reason he couldn’t break the deal.
”Well done Ellie, very well done.” Lost for most of the game, Aramus could only congratulate his student for what she had done and the gargantuan hole that would have appeared in his wallet if she hadn’t. However, that’s not to say the current hole wasn’t very large. Shooting her a smile, he clapped her lightly on the shoulder and squeezed once in thanks.
“With this, I feel like i have properly repaid you for your kindness, teacher,” Elizabeth said, smiling sweetly. She ended up having fun throughout the match, and had to admit mentally that the feeling of victory was sweet.
Somehow, the men didn’t seem so sad anymore after seeing the smile of an European nobility. The power of a sincere smile had strange powers indeed. Aramus himself was compelled to smile back, after all, it was only a 120,0000 yen bottle of wine right? Not a big deal. Not a big deal at all.
The bartender then took the bottle out from the shelves, and handed it to Elizabeth.
“Remember to drink it right, lady. Good job.”
“Thank you. I will learn from my teacher,” Elizabeth said with a chuckle, taking the wine bottle to her heart.
”You shouldn’t even be drinking all that much…” Replied Aramus, looking back at the mafia members with a puzzled expression. ”Shall we get going then?”
“Yes, let us be on our way,” Elizabeth said.
The two then left the bar, with the wine bottle at hand.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
(BGM)
“Such a quaint place,” Elizabeth commented. One may now ask, what place was she talking about? Well, that would be the restaurant that she dragged Aramus to. An extravagant and luxurious restaurant with a touch of european designs. Albeit, they had some designs done completely wrong. It was as if the Japanese hadn’t seen the Europeans for at least a few centuries, and were making very basic mistakes regarding the culture outside their country. Or perhaps it was an intentional mockery.
Either way, it didn’t seem like a good place for Aramus, who shifted about in his expensive-looking chair nervously. It seemed like Elizabeth refused to go back to the academy. If a gentleman goes in an outing with a lady, it’d be his duty to treat her to at least a dinner, apparently. Of course, she hadn’t given up on trying to reduce Aramus’ expenses, and offered to pay even now. If he’d complain about his expenses, she’d have a better time trying to persuade him to let her cover the expenses. In the end, she just used the excuse of the gentleman’s manners and duties – she just wanted to eat dinner outside the academy to experience different food while having company.
The Magic Academy itself boasted luxurious food at lowered prices, and they covered various cultures too. However, not most of the futuristic Japans’ otherworldly foods were covered. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem so easy for the Headmistress. In fact, she had to pull a lot of strings to get just a few into their menus. She personally wanted them in her cafeteria, but things didn’t go as planned, much to her dismay.
Looking at the menu, he quickly decided on the cheapest item before setting it down, feeling entirely out of place. “What will you be having Elizabeth?” He inquired somewhat nervously, looking at what the other patrons were having.
“Hmm… a good question,” Elizabeth said, her eyes intently looking down on the menu. “I no longer feel so adventurous tonight, so I’ll go with what I know… let’s see, this salisbury steak should do,” she said, nodding to herself before closing the booklet.
Aramus called the maitre’d over, placing both of their orders quickly before sighing as the waiter walked off.
“At least allow me to pay for my own food?” Elizabeth pleaded with very, very sorry glance that made her seem like a victim now, however adorable it was.
It was never good to kick a puppy so Aramus caved. He wouldn’t know what to do if she kept using that on him, it would probably be something he would never get used to. “Alright then, if you really want to.” Whatever was a salisbury steak anyway?
“Thank you,” her face brightened up severely. “This would allow you to save expenses. Please, spend without care for Almond, but I’d feel bad if I receive the same treatment,” she added.
It was hard to determine who was more worried about Aramus’s finances, himself or Elizabeth. She probably saw it as her duty to help him out, no matter how small. It was quite literally, a noble thing. “Both of you fall under the same category as my students. If I can help, I will.” Replied Aramus somewhat nonchalantly.
“At your current predicament, you can’t, though. So, help the one who can’t help himself,” Elizabeth said, a smile decorating her expression that signified her rising happiness from feeling victorious.
A quiet “Fine.” was uttered in defeat, Aramus resigning himself to whatever Elizabeth wanted to do. Aramus wanted to help others, really he did. It was just that sometimes they tended to take things the wrong way.
“Good to hear,” Elizabeth said, pleased with the answer.
The maitre’d came over with the requested food. On Elizabeth’s side a luxurious looking gourmet was placed, Aramus’ eyes almost hypnotised by it, and on his side was… a cup of tea.
The cheapest item on the menu was a simple cup of tea. Simple, but still expensive in comparison to the random shops outside. The quality was likely commendable.
“...Are you really content with that?” Elizabeth asked after the maitre’d – whose smirk was veiled by his change of expression left.
“Y-yes, I am.” Her teacher replied quickly, taking a quick sip from the beverage to prove it. Curse that matire’d, Aramus thought absently, bringing the cup to his lips. It probably would’ve tasted great except that it was still pretty hot. With a slight twinge, Aramus pulled the cup away, setting it back on its saucer.
“Ah! Are you okay?” Elizabeth asked, seemingly concerned, handing Aramus a tissue. “You should be drinking hot drinks more carefully, teacher,” she reprimanded him with a frown, despite being his student.
And here he was, letting Elizabeth take care of him again. Why did he always end up in these situations? Taking the proffered tissue, Aramus quickly dabbed his lips. “You should eat that before it gets cold.” he countered, trying to divert Elizabeth’s attention to her own meal.
“I don’t mind sharing it a little,” Elizabeth said, making an offer with that same dazzling smile, casting a glance to what she had ordered.
Aramus looked around timidly, abashed that such a statement would come his way. His mind was telling him no, but his body was saying yes. Meekly, he nodded to her. “Just a bite then...“
“It is good to be honest,” she praised, then cut a piece with her knife, soon scooping it up with her fork, and bringing it to Aramus – more specifically, his mouth – keeping a hand below it in the possible unfortunate event that it falls off the fork. “Say ahhhh.”
Blushing, Aramus opened his mouth silently whilst trying to remember how proper etiquette would apply in this situation. It didn’t help that other patrons were probably staring at him, wondering what kind of person he was to have a girl like Elizabeth feed him. The food was then dipped into his mouth.
“Are you sure that a single bite is enough? I heard that a man’s stomach is much more spacious than that of a girl’s.”
As Aramus chewed, the cut of meat seemed to melt into his mouth, the flavors filling his taste buds with joy. They seemed to sing in jubilation, crying out in a chorus of “More, more!” but he knew that wasn’t appropriate, no matter how much Elizabeth offered. Aramus looked down at his own cup of tea, his dinner forlornly. It would have to do over that slice of heaven he had just eaten.
“It will get cold if you don’t take another bite,” Elizabeth said, sounding somewhat angry. “No one likes dishonest teachers,” she taunted.
Aramus mimicked Elizabeth with raised eyebrows, mouthing what she had said silently to one side so that she wouldn’t see or hear. He looked back to see if she would indeed cut another piece for him, taking a sip from his now slightly cooler tea.
“Hmph, so be it.” Elizabeth then went on to cutting pieces of the steak, and dipping them into her mouth, the taste was exquisite, and definitely delicious, enough to brighten up her expression from the angered face previously, making her cradle her cheeks with her hands, even. Then she mentally decided to make it seem much more tastier than it was, and ate slowly and steadily, eying Aramus’ face as she’d chew the divine steak with utmost pleasure.
This was how it should have been, she with her food and him with his cup of tea. Mollifying Elizabeth was just a way to go about it, the end result was that everything was in its rightful place, per se. Although his stomached screamed in abject protest at him for denying it such a glorious meal, he soothed the pain the way he knew best. With tea.
Drinking from the cup like it was the best in the world, which with its price, it might as well have been, Aramus took pleasure in the light tang as it went down, making sure to take in its aroma as well. He smiled at Elizabeth like nothing had taken place, obviously not jealous at all of her and that steak. Obviously. After finishing the steak, Elizabeth wiped her lips clean with a tissue, despite eating it carefully enough for it to hardly stain those cherry-colored lips. She then drank a glass of water.
“Then, shall we get going?” She asked, placing the glass down and sighing. “I am tempted to order a glass of wine though, and drink it properly this time.”
“Wine is ways different from hard liquor Elizabeth. Your choice either way, I’ll stick with my buddy over here.” Affectionately cradling his teacup, Aramus took another sip from it. He looked perfectly fine on the outside but it was just to quiet his rumbling stomach.
...That would make her feel lonely, or rather, mean to her teacher, to enjoy wine all on her own like that. A side of her face expanded, or rather, she pouted.
“Let’s just go home for tonight,” she suggested. There was no fun to be had drinking like that alone.
Draining the last of his cup quickly, Aramus nodded and called for the bill. Perhaps they would drink together someplace else, where he could show her how to enjoy a good alcohol.
The maitre’d came back with the bill, presenting an astounding number to the two, and excused the two.
“This country is rather expensive, I mean, the steak aside, this price for a cup of tea…”
Aramus could only whip out his card from his wallet, the flimsy piece of plastic seemingly crying as it was pulled from its home. He knew it was, his heart was crying too.
On the other hand, Elizabeth pulled out her gold and shiny card with much grace. Never would anyone think that taking out a single card held such a sight to behold. The card was soon placed – it didn’t seemed to be crying at all, perhaps it wanted to pay for a bill instead, to demonstrate its might of monetary power – and the maitre’d took the two cards away to get the bill paid.
“Well that’s… to be expected I suppose.” Aramus said, shrugging nonchalantly. He had seen enough of that back in his day. It wouldn’t be called a rainbow, just silver, gold, black and beyond. All he had ever had was a simple blue card. Dark blue, like the depths of the ocean. The abyss that contained nothing, just like his wallet.
By the time the cards were brought back to them, Elizabeth had nothing to strike a conversation with, Aramus’ resistance leaving a surprisingly bad taste in her, the two soon got up and left the luxurious restaurant, and made way for the Boundary through which they’d be back home – to the Magic Academy, and their respective dormitories. It’d take some time, both coming and going was a time consuming trip, but they were well worth it.
“Such a quaint place,” Elizabeth commented. One may now ask, what place was she talking about? Well, that would be the restaurant that she dragged Aramus to. An extravagant and luxurious restaurant with a touch of european designs. Albeit, they had some designs done completely wrong. It was as if the Japanese hadn’t seen the Europeans for at least a few centuries, and were making very basic mistakes regarding the culture outside their country. Or perhaps it was an intentional mockery.
Either way, it didn’t seem like a good place for Aramus, who shifted about in his expensive-looking chair nervously. It seemed like Elizabeth refused to go back to the academy. If a gentleman goes in an outing with a lady, it’d be his duty to treat her to at least a dinner, apparently. Of course, she hadn’t given up on trying to reduce Aramus’ expenses, and offered to pay even now. If he’d complain about his expenses, she’d have a better time trying to persuade him to let her cover the expenses. In the end, she just used the excuse of the gentleman’s manners and duties – she just wanted to eat dinner outside the academy to experience different food while having company.
The Magic Academy itself boasted luxurious food at lowered prices, and they covered various cultures too. However, not most of the futuristic Japans’ otherworldly foods were covered. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem so easy for the Headmistress. In fact, she had to pull a lot of strings to get just a few into their menus. She personally wanted them in her cafeteria, but things didn’t go as planned, much to her dismay.
Looking at the menu, he quickly decided on the cheapest item before setting it down, feeling entirely out of place. “What will you be having Elizabeth?” He inquired somewhat nervously, looking at what the other patrons were having.
“Hmm… a good question,” Elizabeth said, her eyes intently looking down on the menu. “I no longer feel so adventurous tonight, so I’ll go with what I know… let’s see, this salisbury steak should do,” she said, nodding to herself before closing the booklet.
Aramus called the maitre’d over, placing both of their orders quickly before sighing as the waiter walked off.
“At least allow me to pay for my own food?” Elizabeth pleaded with very, very sorry glance that made her seem like a victim now, however adorable it was.
It was never good to kick a puppy so Aramus caved. He wouldn’t know what to do if she kept using that on him, it would probably be something he would never get used to. “Alright then, if you really want to.” Whatever was a salisbury steak anyway?
“Thank you,” her face brightened up severely. “This would allow you to save expenses. Please, spend without care for Almond, but I’d feel bad if I receive the same treatment,” she added.
It was hard to determine who was more worried about Aramus’s finances, himself or Elizabeth. She probably saw it as her duty to help him out, no matter how small. It was quite literally, a noble thing. “Both of you fall under the same category as my students. If I can help, I will.” Replied Aramus somewhat nonchalantly.
“At your current predicament, you can’t, though. So, help the one who can’t help himself,” Elizabeth said, a smile decorating her expression that signified her rising happiness from feeling victorious.
A quiet “Fine.” was uttered in defeat, Aramus resigning himself to whatever Elizabeth wanted to do. Aramus wanted to help others, really he did. It was just that sometimes they tended to take things the wrong way.
“Good to hear,” Elizabeth said, pleased with the answer.
The maitre’d came over with the requested food. On Elizabeth’s side a luxurious looking gourmet was placed, Aramus’ eyes almost hypnotised by it, and on his side was… a cup of tea.
The cheapest item on the menu was a simple cup of tea. Simple, but still expensive in comparison to the random shops outside. The quality was likely commendable.
“...Are you really content with that?” Elizabeth asked after the maitre’d – whose smirk was veiled by his change of expression left.
“Y-yes, I am.” Her teacher replied quickly, taking a quick sip from the beverage to prove it. Curse that matire’d, Aramus thought absently, bringing the cup to his lips. It probably would’ve tasted great except that it was still pretty hot. With a slight twinge, Aramus pulled the cup away, setting it back on its saucer.
“Ah! Are you okay?” Elizabeth asked, seemingly concerned, handing Aramus a tissue. “You should be drinking hot drinks more carefully, teacher,” she reprimanded him with a frown, despite being his student.
And here he was, letting Elizabeth take care of him again. Why did he always end up in these situations? Taking the proffered tissue, Aramus quickly dabbed his lips. “You should eat that before it gets cold.” he countered, trying to divert Elizabeth’s attention to her own meal.
“I don’t mind sharing it a little,” Elizabeth said, making an offer with that same dazzling smile, casting a glance to what she had ordered.
Aramus looked around timidly, abashed that such a statement would come his way. His mind was telling him no, but his body was saying yes. Meekly, he nodded to her. “Just a bite then...“
“It is good to be honest,” she praised, then cut a piece with her knife, soon scooping it up with her fork, and bringing it to Aramus – more specifically, his mouth – keeping a hand below it in the possible unfortunate event that it falls off the fork. “Say ahhhh.”
Blushing, Aramus opened his mouth silently whilst trying to remember how proper etiquette would apply in this situation. It didn’t help that other patrons were probably staring at him, wondering what kind of person he was to have a girl like Elizabeth feed him. The food was then dipped into his mouth.
“Are you sure that a single bite is enough? I heard that a man’s stomach is much more spacious than that of a girl’s.”
As Aramus chewed, the cut of meat seemed to melt into his mouth, the flavors filling his taste buds with joy. They seemed to sing in jubilation, crying out in a chorus of “More, more!” but he knew that wasn’t appropriate, no matter how much Elizabeth offered. Aramus looked down at his own cup of tea, his dinner forlornly. It would have to do over that slice of heaven he had just eaten.
“It will get cold if you don’t take another bite,” Elizabeth said, sounding somewhat angry. “No one likes dishonest teachers,” she taunted.
Aramus mimicked Elizabeth with raised eyebrows, mouthing what she had said silently to one side so that she wouldn’t see or hear. He looked back to see if she would indeed cut another piece for him, taking a sip from his now slightly cooler tea.
“Hmph, so be it.” Elizabeth then went on to cutting pieces of the steak, and dipping them into her mouth, the taste was exquisite, and definitely delicious, enough to brighten up her expression from the angered face previously, making her cradle her cheeks with her hands, even. Then she mentally decided to make it seem much more tastier than it was, and ate slowly and steadily, eying Aramus’ face as she’d chew the divine steak with utmost pleasure.
This was how it should have been, she with her food and him with his cup of tea. Mollifying Elizabeth was just a way to go about it, the end result was that everything was in its rightful place, per se. Although his stomached screamed in abject protest at him for denying it such a glorious meal, he soothed the pain the way he knew best. With tea.
Drinking from the cup like it was the best in the world, which with its price, it might as well have been, Aramus took pleasure in the light tang as it went down, making sure to take in its aroma as well. He smiled at Elizabeth like nothing had taken place, obviously not jealous at all of her and that steak. Obviously. After finishing the steak, Elizabeth wiped her lips clean with a tissue, despite eating it carefully enough for it to hardly stain those cherry-colored lips. She then drank a glass of water.
“Then, shall we get going?” She asked, placing the glass down and sighing. “I am tempted to order a glass of wine though, and drink it properly this time.”
“Wine is ways different from hard liquor Elizabeth. Your choice either way, I’ll stick with my buddy over here.” Affectionately cradling his teacup, Aramus took another sip from it. He looked perfectly fine on the outside but it was just to quiet his rumbling stomach.
...That would make her feel lonely, or rather, mean to her teacher, to enjoy wine all on her own like that. A side of her face expanded, or rather, she pouted.
“Let’s just go home for tonight,” she suggested. There was no fun to be had drinking like that alone.
Draining the last of his cup quickly, Aramus nodded and called for the bill. Perhaps they would drink together someplace else, where he could show her how to enjoy a good alcohol.
The maitre’d came back with the bill, presenting an astounding number to the two, and excused the two.
“This country is rather expensive, I mean, the steak aside, this price for a cup of tea…”
Aramus could only whip out his card from his wallet, the flimsy piece of plastic seemingly crying as it was pulled from its home. He knew it was, his heart was crying too.
On the other hand, Elizabeth pulled out her gold and shiny card with much grace. Never would anyone think that taking out a single card held such a sight to behold. The card was soon placed – it didn’t seemed to be crying at all, perhaps it wanted to pay for a bill instead, to demonstrate its might of monetary power – and the maitre’d took the two cards away to get the bill paid.
“Well that’s… to be expected I suppose.” Aramus said, shrugging nonchalantly. He had seen enough of that back in his day. It wouldn’t be called a rainbow, just silver, gold, black and beyond. All he had ever had was a simple blue card. Dark blue, like the depths of the ocean. The abyss that contained nothing, just like his wallet.
By the time the cards were brought back to them, Elizabeth had nothing to strike a conversation with, Aramus’ resistance leaving a surprisingly bad taste in her, the two soon got up and left the luxurious restaurant, and made way for the Boundary through which they’d be back home – to the Magic Academy, and their respective dormitories. It’d take some time, both coming and going was a time consuming trip, but they were well worth it.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
A city of dreams that illustrated pleasure as if it was only obvious at the depths of night, a city full of fancy lights and technology the rest of the world could only dream of, and a place so full of wonders and unending comfort encouraging sloth, brimming with electricity and power. The paradise of technology that stayed awake regardless of time – Tokyo – that was where Tsuruko was, at the moment.
She came with a letter tonight – her being summoned directly from the Shrine – she had no choice but to come. Her personal opinions didn’t matter over the wishes of her Organization. Usually, it was hard to get permission to take leave of the Magic Academy around evening, but the seal of the letter beared the weight of the Shrine; allowing her to venture outside the grounds of the campus easily.
The letter had specifically asked her to come to the Meiji Shrine – a world renowned heritage site. It was large enough to cover over a square mile, despite the fact that the shrine itself took up a small fraction of said space. The grounds had many kinds of mysteries covering it, along with the well-known gardens and a forest. Tsuruko knew that it was also a sacred ground where many shamans like herself were trained. She’d want her training to have been done here, but she had special conditions for which she was taken to a faraway island instead.
The letter informed her that she’d be given a duty to uphold. Of course, it hadn’t quite stated †˜what’ her new duty would be, yet. She wondered what they would want from her. She didn’t think she was particularly skilled, or special, in her own opinion. In fact, she was careless enough to be defeated by worsening the state of her mind, all on her own. It was shameless, if anything.
With such thoughts, she didn’t even know when she crossed the forest to her way to the shrine, and even walked up the almost endless staircase.
“Welcome to the Meiji Shrine, we’ve been awaiting you,” a fellow priestess – no, a shaman – greeted, facing Tsuruko with a smile as she saw her foot had just landed upon the concrete gray grounds of the shrine itself.
“It’s an honour to be here,” Tsuruko bowed towards the shaman. She took a moment to glance upon her surroundings and was not surprised at all, her family shrine looked somewhat similar, just that the people were different, and that it was much more spacious here. But then again, she had a more important task at hand.
“I understand I was called upon for a certain... duty?” She produced the letter from her pockets.
The shaman was much taller than her, and was wearing the traditional garments any miko would don. Her manner of speech seemed to be just like any miko, yet she felt a strangely powerful holy presence from her.
“Indeed. Please, this way,” the shaman replied, ushering towards the shrine behind her, then begun to walk towards it. Tsuruko followed along.
She came with a letter tonight – her being summoned directly from the Shrine – she had no choice but to come. Her personal opinions didn’t matter over the wishes of her Organization. Usually, it was hard to get permission to take leave of the Magic Academy around evening, but the seal of the letter beared the weight of the Shrine; allowing her to venture outside the grounds of the campus easily.
The letter had specifically asked her to come to the Meiji Shrine – a world renowned heritage site. It was large enough to cover over a square mile, despite the fact that the shrine itself took up a small fraction of said space. The grounds had many kinds of mysteries covering it, along with the well-known gardens and a forest. Tsuruko knew that it was also a sacred ground where many shamans like herself were trained. She’d want her training to have been done here, but she had special conditions for which she was taken to a faraway island instead.
The letter informed her that she’d be given a duty to uphold. Of course, it hadn’t quite stated †˜what’ her new duty would be, yet. She wondered what they would want from her. She didn’t think she was particularly skilled, or special, in her own opinion. In fact, she was careless enough to be defeated by worsening the state of her mind, all on her own. It was shameless, if anything.
With such thoughts, she didn’t even know when she crossed the forest to her way to the shrine, and even walked up the almost endless staircase.
“Welcome to the Meiji Shrine, we’ve been awaiting you,” a fellow priestess – no, a shaman – greeted, facing Tsuruko with a smile as she saw her foot had just landed upon the concrete gray grounds of the shrine itself.
“It’s an honour to be here,” Tsuruko bowed towards the shaman. She took a moment to glance upon her surroundings and was not surprised at all, her family shrine looked somewhat similar, just that the people were different, and that it was much more spacious here. But then again, she had a more important task at hand.
“I understand I was called upon for a certain... duty?” She produced the letter from her pockets.
The shaman was much taller than her, and was wearing the traditional garments any miko would don. Her manner of speech seemed to be just like any miko, yet she felt a strangely powerful holy presence from her.
“Indeed. Please, this way,” the shaman replied, ushering towards the shrine behind her, then begun to walk towards it. Tsuruko followed along.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
“Welcome, welcome,” the priest said, greeting Tsuruko as she stepped into a room inside the shrine that the shaman guided her into. The three soon found themselves sitting over the cushions provided, with the priest opposite to her, and the other shaman somewhat in-between them on the side.
“How have you been, Tsuruko?” The elderly priest asked, not bringing up the matter of the duty now, for some reason. “I take it that you are studying well?”
“I am well,” Tsuruko kept her gaze low. “I’m doing my best to uphold the name of my family, and it’s inevitable that I’ve had some hurdles to overcome, but I will try my hardest, Priest-sama,” she bowed again. “But my studies are of least concern.”
“Pray tell, how much of your skills have advanced now?” The priest asked bluntly, a sharp gaze could be felt, but their eyes wouldn’t meet.
“I am not one to say, Priest-sama, but I have learnt many a things from the Magic Academy, and it is, to say the least... substantially different, from what the Shrine had taught me,” Tsuruko said.
“I see. It is one of our reasons for sending you there,” the priest replied, sighing. “Our teachings are different, but old. Magic Academies adapts with time and their teachers are prominent. We felt that you’d become much more stronger and greater… anyway,” the priest said, then decided to shift to a new topic, “we have a duty to assign you. It’d be your very first considering your activities until now,” he said, continuing on to announce her her new duty, “We want you to protect a very important individual, whenever possible.”
“You must not be negligible of your studies, so you are free to study and spend your time as you wish from the morning to afternoon. However, you make way for her in the evening – unless she has special requests – and must protect her till she reaches home.”
“Forgive me for asking, Priest-sama, but who is this… individual?” Tsuruko had mixed feelings inside of her at that point, she’d never undertaken a task like this ever. But it was not in her position to contest the idea, thus she laid low.
“To be frank, I cannot say much but… she is this… uh, what was it again?” The priest asked, facing the other shaman. Apparently, he was rather forgetful.
“An idol! Yes, she is an idol! I am so jealous of you, Tsuruko-san!” The shaman replied, she really did seemed jealous and frustrated, and her calm and collected air faded into the air, seemingly like an illusion, but she tried to bring back her composure.
“A-Ah… yes, an idol, I remember now,” the priest said, clearing his throat. “We’d like you to protect her. She is a busy person, so you’d have to accompany her on her workplaces.”
“And may I know if there’s any reason into protecting her…?” Tsuruko immediately retracted her question. “I-I mean, calling me here so suddenly…” In her mind, she herself couldn’t believe she was going to be with an idol, of all persons. Idols were never meant to associate with the Shrine, and much less with Tsuruko herself, and it stayed as an “occupancy” of a completely different world than Tsuruko’s, so she had to know the reason why.
“Well, we have our hands full preparing security for the war; we can’t tell when the European Allied mages would attack. Unfortunately, there is not enough people for providing her security. Regarding the idol herself, though… as I’ve said; I can’t say much – just that you need to keep her security in mind.”
“...I understand.” Tsuruko guessed she’d have to learn more about the idol herself during her time with her.
“Here’s a picture so that you can recognize her,” the lady beside her said, handing a physical photograph, something rare and old fashioned today. The figure in the photo reminded Tsuruko of some of the students in the Magic Academy – fair and long blonde hair, skin bright as herself, but somehow possibly brighter, and a pair of very strange-looking eyes. They were purple, but the irises consisted of large white stars, she wondered why.
“I… see,” Tsuruko gave a slight nod, after looking somewhat strangely at the picture. It was recognisable, and stood out to a large extent, but it was definitely something Tsuruko wouldn’t sport casually. Even if she was asked to, or if she wanted to.
Tsuruko perfectly creased the photo in half and slid in under her breastplate. “May I know the current location of this… idol?”
“We were actually planning to tell you that,” the shaman replied, her attitude now back to how it originally was. “Your duty starts tonight. I will write it down for you.”
“Understood,” Tsuruko gave a sharp nod, and was handed the piece of paper that contained the information of instructions pertaining to her duty, and was soon escorted out of the Meiji Shrine. What kind of person, she pondered, would this idol behave like? Is she even the kind of person who would get along with her? Questions endlessly swirled in her mind as Tsuruko proceeded with her mission; it came the time for her to perform her duty.
“How have you been, Tsuruko?” The elderly priest asked, not bringing up the matter of the duty now, for some reason. “I take it that you are studying well?”
“I am well,” Tsuruko kept her gaze low. “I’m doing my best to uphold the name of my family, and it’s inevitable that I’ve had some hurdles to overcome, but I will try my hardest, Priest-sama,” she bowed again. “But my studies are of least concern.”
“Pray tell, how much of your skills have advanced now?” The priest asked bluntly, a sharp gaze could be felt, but their eyes wouldn’t meet.
“I am not one to say, Priest-sama, but I have learnt many a things from the Magic Academy, and it is, to say the least... substantially different, from what the Shrine had taught me,” Tsuruko said.
“I see. It is one of our reasons for sending you there,” the priest replied, sighing. “Our teachings are different, but old. Magic Academies adapts with time and their teachers are prominent. We felt that you’d become much more stronger and greater… anyway,” the priest said, then decided to shift to a new topic, “we have a duty to assign you. It’d be your very first considering your activities until now,” he said, continuing on to announce her her new duty, “We want you to protect a very important individual, whenever possible.”
“You must not be negligible of your studies, so you are free to study and spend your time as you wish from the morning to afternoon. However, you make way for her in the evening – unless she has special requests – and must protect her till she reaches home.”
“Forgive me for asking, Priest-sama, but who is this… individual?” Tsuruko had mixed feelings inside of her at that point, she’d never undertaken a task like this ever. But it was not in her position to contest the idea, thus she laid low.
“To be frank, I cannot say much but… she is this… uh, what was it again?” The priest asked, facing the other shaman. Apparently, he was rather forgetful.
“An idol! Yes, she is an idol! I am so jealous of you, Tsuruko-san!” The shaman replied, she really did seemed jealous and frustrated, and her calm and collected air faded into the air, seemingly like an illusion, but she tried to bring back her composure.
“A-Ah… yes, an idol, I remember now,” the priest said, clearing his throat. “We’d like you to protect her. She is a busy person, so you’d have to accompany her on her workplaces.”
“And may I know if there’s any reason into protecting her…?” Tsuruko immediately retracted her question. “I-I mean, calling me here so suddenly…” In her mind, she herself couldn’t believe she was going to be with an idol, of all persons. Idols were never meant to associate with the Shrine, and much less with Tsuruko herself, and it stayed as an “occupancy” of a completely different world than Tsuruko’s, so she had to know the reason why.
“Well, we have our hands full preparing security for the war; we can’t tell when the European Allied mages would attack. Unfortunately, there is not enough people for providing her security. Regarding the idol herself, though… as I’ve said; I can’t say much – just that you need to keep her security in mind.”
“...I understand.” Tsuruko guessed she’d have to learn more about the idol herself during her time with her.
“Here’s a picture so that you can recognize her,” the lady beside her said, handing a physical photograph, something rare and old fashioned today. The figure in the photo reminded Tsuruko of some of the students in the Magic Academy – fair and long blonde hair, skin bright as herself, but somehow possibly brighter, and a pair of very strange-looking eyes. They were purple, but the irises consisted of large white stars, she wondered why.
“I… see,” Tsuruko gave a slight nod, after looking somewhat strangely at the picture. It was recognisable, and stood out to a large extent, but it was definitely something Tsuruko wouldn’t sport casually. Even if she was asked to, or if she wanted to.
Tsuruko perfectly creased the photo in half and slid in under her breastplate. “May I know the current location of this… idol?”
“We were actually planning to tell you that,” the shaman replied, her attitude now back to how it originally was. “Your duty starts tonight. I will write it down for you.”
“Understood,” Tsuruko gave a sharp nod, and was handed the piece of paper that contained the information of instructions pertaining to her duty, and was soon escorted out of the Meiji Shrine. What kind of person, she pondered, would this idol behave like? Is she even the kind of person who would get along with her? Questions endlessly swirled in her mind as Tsuruko proceeded with her mission; it came the time for her to perform her duty.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Tsuruko went to the location she was supposed to – a tall and large building staring at the night sky. The name seemed to represent it as an establishment used by a television company. No doubt, an idol would be spending her time in such places often due to work. Tsuruko nonchalantly walked into it, and was received by the reception hall. She had no official business to attend here, but the shaman from back in Meiji Shrine handed her a specific card for when she’d be prompted to answer what her business in the place would be. As such, she swiftly showed the card to the woman on the desk, who gave a bow and ushered her towards the elevator on the left. Tsuruko was told where the idol was. It was the sixteenth floor.
Going up the floors and exiting the elevator, Tsuruko found a world she had hardly seen in the past; a green garden full with trees, grasses, benches and even swings. An ideal playground, albeit it was fake. It was a stage – a mere setting – made for the star who made elegant poses. Shuttering noises of the camera resounded across the studio over and over, followed by the cameraman’s remarks and instructions.
Tsuruko stood in the back as she saw the idol do her work. It was one thing she’d not know how to do, much less attempt, ever.
Before she knew it, the star was done on-stage, and walked out – bowing to the cameraman before heading over to Tsuruko without a word.
“Were you the one sent to protect me?” The idol asked, a monotone voice and an almost expressionless face called out to her, almost as if it was a different person. Whatever happened to the smile she gave when she was having pictures of her taken?
“Well, by the looks of it, yes,” Tsuruko said, showing her a letter she’d been given by the Shrine. Gazing onto her up and down, she was wont to expect how an idol was supposed to act. “Do you know about this?”
The lady took the letter, and gave it a quick glance, and returned it to Tsuruko. “Indeed, I was notified of your mission,” she answered. She didn’t even read the letter, and only checked the seal. “It is a pleasure to meet you, my name is Alice. I believe your name is Tsuruko-san?”
Tsuruko bowed. “Indeed. It is an honour to meet someone of your stature.” she’d wondered what exactly she had to do here; it didn’t exactly seem that there was any imminent threat to anybody in here. She took a moment to take in her surroundings, but she was still puzzled of this “world” that Alice was in, and it was probably not hers to bother as well.
“Likewise,” Alice said, giving a small bow with her head before passing by her. “We’re leaving.” Tsuruko followed up, and soon the two left the building.
Going up the floors and exiting the elevator, Tsuruko found a world she had hardly seen in the past; a green garden full with trees, grasses, benches and even swings. An ideal playground, albeit it was fake. It was a stage – a mere setting – made for the star who made elegant poses. Shuttering noises of the camera resounded across the studio over and over, followed by the cameraman’s remarks and instructions.
Tsuruko stood in the back as she saw the idol do her work. It was one thing she’d not know how to do, much less attempt, ever.
Before she knew it, the star was done on-stage, and walked out – bowing to the cameraman before heading over to Tsuruko without a word.
“Were you the one sent to protect me?” The idol asked, a monotone voice and an almost expressionless face called out to her, almost as if it was a different person. Whatever happened to the smile she gave when she was having pictures of her taken?
“Well, by the looks of it, yes,” Tsuruko said, showing her a letter she’d been given by the Shrine. Gazing onto her up and down, she was wont to expect how an idol was supposed to act. “Do you know about this?”
The lady took the letter, and gave it a quick glance, and returned it to Tsuruko. “Indeed, I was notified of your mission,” she answered. She didn’t even read the letter, and only checked the seal. “It is a pleasure to meet you, my name is Alice. I believe your name is Tsuruko-san?”
Tsuruko bowed. “Indeed. It is an honour to meet someone of your stature.” she’d wondered what exactly she had to do here; it didn’t exactly seem that there was any imminent threat to anybody in here. She took a moment to take in her surroundings, but she was still puzzled of this “world” that Alice was in, and it was probably not hers to bother as well.
“Likewise,” Alice said, giving a small bow with her head before passing by her. “We’re leaving.” Tsuruko followed up, and soon the two left the building.
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
(Feels bad that I'm the only one around to actually post stuff in here.)
Alice and Tsuruko walked across the Tokyo streets outside the building, bathing under the numerous pretty lights decorating the futuristic city. Alice hadn’t said a word regarding where they were going, or what she’d be doing next, or anything. It was a silent walk, and Tsuruko – not being used to conversing with others, nor socializing – didn’t find the lack of conversations strange, either. Alice seemed to enjoy doing something unexpected. She’d always come across someone in trouble, and provide some form of help. This form of †˜help’ differed, either she’d do something without ever letting the person in need know, or set something up silently before the person in need even appears.
A strange person she was – from what Tsuruko could tell. How she’d know of the people in need of help was beyond her, was she actually a shaman in disguise who was extraordinarily talented? Perhaps she could predict the future somehow?
“Wait here,” this was the sixth time Alice said so with a monotone voice, and disallowed Tsuruko from accompanying her as she’d help someone, again. From what she could see, it was a park, and someone was going back and forth speedily on the swings. Indeed, those were the mechanical swings placed in the playground of the futuristic city of Tokyo. Automated swings – designed to bring fun and enjoyment to children without much efforts… she’d think every children and citizens alike would know that a press of a button was required to operate the swings, and that a button was swiftly placed on the handle of the swings that needed to be opened with a tap on the tiny button placed to the sides.
It just so happened that someone didn’t know after all, an adult, no less. Alice went and turned it off, pressing on the button placed over the supports of the swings, after which the man and his companion – a lady who seemed to be a teenager – thanked her, albeit they seemed to be really tired, sitting very closely on the bench… when Tsuruko looked more intently, she realized that it was her teacher and her opponent from today – Aramus and Elizabeth.
Of all places! Tsuruko winced at the sight. Any previous thought she had in her brain was now shoved away by the question – which she probably didn’t want to know the answer of – of why her Teacher and spar opponent were what seemed like nuzzling against each other to Tsuruko. What she didn’t want, was, well, for her to be seen, she didn’t want to berate any further implications on her impression of her teacher. Cutting her gaze from them she wished Alice to quicken her pace, of course not vocally.
As if to answer her thought, Alice walked out of the park casually. She gave Tsuruko an intent look, and tilted her head. “Are they people you know?” she asked.
“Yes… I’m afraid they are,” Tsuruko replied, furrowing her eyebrows. “They’re people from my school. The man is my teacher, and you could call the lass my… opponent.”
“Acknowledged,” Alice nodded, as if having confirmed a thought. “It is no wonder that their Citizen I.Ds were listed under the Magic World Citizens,” she said before walking off, turning her gaze from the two back in the park.
Tsuruko followed closely behind, wondering. “You knew their I.Ds?” She addressed Alice.
“Yes. I know everyone’s I.Ds, evens yours, including your recorded details,” Alice answered, keeping her gaze straight ahead, and speaking in her same monotone manner. “You were trained in an island, and were discovered to have a spirit close to you, was it? The Shrine made an investment to have you trained further in the Eastern Magic Academy.”
“Hmm, that’s about right… more or less.” now Tsuruko was thinking if she needed to protect herself against this woman, if anything. It kind of seemed to her that she could very well take care of herself. Maybe there was another reason she was called. “Then what about theirs?”
“Magic Magister from England, and the daughter of Duchess, also from England. They had scarce activities in the city, other than sightseeing and running… errands, perhaps?” Alice answered. It seemed like she was well-informed despite being a busy idol.
Tsuruko nodded. “Or… other things, I don’t really want to know,” she said, then continued, “but what I meant to ask was how you managed such a skill, is it maybe some sort of eye recognition laser thing?” Tsuruko was all too unfamiliar with the gadgets of the modern world, and would very much preferred to stay that way.
Alice stopped before an alleyway, turning to Tsuruko. “Have your elders not briefed you about my identity?” She asked, seeming surprised for the first time tonight.
“No, no they haven’t,”answered a worried Tsuruko.
“I see,” raising a hand, Alice having caught a tiny object. Tsuruko peered intently into it. It was a bullet!
“I suppose we have company tonight,” Alice said, looking up to the top floor of the structure past the dead end in the alley, a figure ran by and hid itself. Alice jumped up and landed over the buildings in a jiffy, and so did Tsuruko. Tsuruko saw about four men, all geared up, wearing military uniforms, and they held guns.
Alice’s eyes glowed blue as she looked at them. “An assassination squad from the Soviets, it seems, be careful.”
“Well, this is not something I see everyday,” yelped Tsuruko, really trying to believe that she was but wasn’t expecting this sort of event to happen, she braced herself, cut off most thoughts, and amounted her focus.
“I will check where the rest are hiding. Please engage them,” Alice requested, standing back behind Tsuruko.
The soldiers readied their weapons – or well, guns – and targeted Alice. However, Tsuruko wasn’t going to fail her job as a bodyguard, and stood before her. She drew her blade, imagining that maybe she could block the bullets with her blade. If Alice could catch a bullet barehanded, why couldn’t she block them with steel?
Her difference in physical capabilities were made starkly clear to her when the soldiers launched fire, and Tsuruko was overwhelmed by the ear-splitting noises and the outstanding speed of the bullets, taking some painful hits instead blocking them. She had never handled, or was taught to go against gunfire, ever. Horribly underestimating her opponents’ capabilities, she had to decide to be amazed or shocked at how technology had advanced. Not forgetting that she had to neutralize the enemy, she recalled the feeling of casting Frostbite, as done many times, and focused it on one of the gunmen. His body turned light purple and he stood is his place, temporarily; covered with a scent of freshly-cut wood.
It took another shot to connect with Tsuruko to convince her that she didn’t know all too much about how guns worked. To her, it seemed that it dealt an instant shirk of pain whenever the gunmen took aim, she didn’t even know when the bullet was fired, but it hit her abdomen before the exploding sound of the bang on the gun rang. Then it made sense to her, if guns were to be used in long range, why not go closer? She took a stance, ran towards a gunman and stuck with great force – hitting absolutely nothing but the air as the gunman simply dodged. Kusanagi’s air blasted forth but that only breezed past the dirty floor of the building.
Alice’s eyes stopped glowing with a blue hue, and she looked up to the soldiers past Tsuruko. She seemed hurt and damaged, a pity that she wasn’t as good as expected. Then again, probability stated that the melee users are often at disadvantage against the foes armed with ranged weaponry. Regardless, it didn’t seemed like Tsuruko alone would be able to stand her ground, thus she took a decision to change her strategy.
Alice’s starry eyes glowed again, revealing two cyan-colored pair of symbols over her eyes. Specifically, they were the symbol of Pisces. The soldiers looked absentminded towards her, and didn’t make any move, oddly enough. Were they cautious now? Or grew fearful of the sudden change in her? The girl exuded a glittering aura that steadily covered the rooftop floor of the building.
Tsuruko could barely see anything, but it seemed as though something touched them, and soon the men starting screaming ceaselessly for some time. A light emanated from up ahead, and it seemed as though they were burning with… blue fire? By the time the mist – somewhat – cleared, one man was charred dead, another was disgruntled and on his knees, burning, but he soon dropped down, and the flames from the other two was somehow put out, apparently. They were still up for a fight.
The remaining two opened fire indiscriminately as they screamed – having lost most of their sanity – as Tsuruko stood in the way of the gunfires, not letting them reach Alice, taking a bullet or two in.
With two men left, one frozen in his place, Tsuruko had already taken some mildly lethal damage and absolutely couldn’t take any more if she wanted to survive the onslaught of more of these assassinators. Holding out her left palm again, she cast Frostbite on the soldier not already frozen; leeching away his body heat. This time, the cold added with all the prior damage the target took, was a little too much for him to bear, as he seemed to fall to the ground, his consciousness retracted from him, and then a moment later, a breeze was felt by her, and her expression was wrought with surprise.
Alice moved in the blink of an eye and the final man was already on the floor. She held a blade Tsuruko had never seen before, a western one at that. She gave it a swing, sharply parting the air current for a moment; drops of blood slapped the dirty floor.
“I bid you farewell for tonight, for I will take care of the rest. Please assist me tomorrow, you will be beckoned for arrival.”
With that, Alice soared with a jump, apparently taking off to pursue the rest of the hiding men.
“Understood… though if I must say I’m the one who needs the assistance more than you do,” Tsuruko sighed. With that she left the dark alley where she was, took a moment to absorb the surroundings; what she did and didn’t do, glanced back and then proceeded on her way back the the Academy.
“I guess we’re done for today.”
Alice and Tsuruko walked across the Tokyo streets outside the building, bathing under the numerous pretty lights decorating the futuristic city. Alice hadn’t said a word regarding where they were going, or what she’d be doing next, or anything. It was a silent walk, and Tsuruko – not being used to conversing with others, nor socializing – didn’t find the lack of conversations strange, either. Alice seemed to enjoy doing something unexpected. She’d always come across someone in trouble, and provide some form of help. This form of †˜help’ differed, either she’d do something without ever letting the person in need know, or set something up silently before the person in need even appears.
A strange person she was – from what Tsuruko could tell. How she’d know of the people in need of help was beyond her, was she actually a shaman in disguise who was extraordinarily talented? Perhaps she could predict the future somehow?
“Wait here,” this was the sixth time Alice said so with a monotone voice, and disallowed Tsuruko from accompanying her as she’d help someone, again. From what she could see, it was a park, and someone was going back and forth speedily on the swings. Indeed, those were the mechanical swings placed in the playground of the futuristic city of Tokyo. Automated swings – designed to bring fun and enjoyment to children without much efforts… she’d think every children and citizens alike would know that a press of a button was required to operate the swings, and that a button was swiftly placed on the handle of the swings that needed to be opened with a tap on the tiny button placed to the sides.
It just so happened that someone didn’t know after all, an adult, no less. Alice went and turned it off, pressing on the button placed over the supports of the swings, after which the man and his companion – a lady who seemed to be a teenager – thanked her, albeit they seemed to be really tired, sitting very closely on the bench… when Tsuruko looked more intently, she realized that it was her teacher and her opponent from today – Aramus and Elizabeth.
Of all places! Tsuruko winced at the sight. Any previous thought she had in her brain was now shoved away by the question – which she probably didn’t want to know the answer of – of why her Teacher and spar opponent were what seemed like nuzzling against each other to Tsuruko. What she didn’t want, was, well, for her to be seen, she didn’t want to berate any further implications on her impression of her teacher. Cutting her gaze from them she wished Alice to quicken her pace, of course not vocally.
As if to answer her thought, Alice walked out of the park casually. She gave Tsuruko an intent look, and tilted her head. “Are they people you know?” she asked.
“Yes… I’m afraid they are,” Tsuruko replied, furrowing her eyebrows. “They’re people from my school. The man is my teacher, and you could call the lass my… opponent.”
“Acknowledged,” Alice nodded, as if having confirmed a thought. “It is no wonder that their Citizen I.Ds were listed under the Magic World Citizens,” she said before walking off, turning her gaze from the two back in the park.
Tsuruko followed closely behind, wondering. “You knew their I.Ds?” She addressed Alice.
“Yes. I know everyone’s I.Ds, evens yours, including your recorded details,” Alice answered, keeping her gaze straight ahead, and speaking in her same monotone manner. “You were trained in an island, and were discovered to have a spirit close to you, was it? The Shrine made an investment to have you trained further in the Eastern Magic Academy.”
“Hmm, that’s about right… more or less.” now Tsuruko was thinking if she needed to protect herself against this woman, if anything. It kind of seemed to her that she could very well take care of herself. Maybe there was another reason she was called. “Then what about theirs?”
“Magic Magister from England, and the daughter of Duchess, also from England. They had scarce activities in the city, other than sightseeing and running… errands, perhaps?” Alice answered. It seemed like she was well-informed despite being a busy idol.
Tsuruko nodded. “Or… other things, I don’t really want to know,” she said, then continued, “but what I meant to ask was how you managed such a skill, is it maybe some sort of eye recognition laser thing?” Tsuruko was all too unfamiliar with the gadgets of the modern world, and would very much preferred to stay that way.
Alice stopped before an alleyway, turning to Tsuruko. “Have your elders not briefed you about my identity?” She asked, seeming surprised for the first time tonight.
“No, no they haven’t,”answered a worried Tsuruko.
“I see,” raising a hand, Alice having caught a tiny object. Tsuruko peered intently into it. It was a bullet!
“I suppose we have company tonight,” Alice said, looking up to the top floor of the structure past the dead end in the alley, a figure ran by and hid itself. Alice jumped up and landed over the buildings in a jiffy, and so did Tsuruko. Tsuruko saw about four men, all geared up, wearing military uniforms, and they held guns.
Alice’s eyes glowed blue as she looked at them. “An assassination squad from the Soviets, it seems, be careful.”
“Well, this is not something I see everyday,” yelped Tsuruko, really trying to believe that she was but wasn’t expecting this sort of event to happen, she braced herself, cut off most thoughts, and amounted her focus.
“I will check where the rest are hiding. Please engage them,” Alice requested, standing back behind Tsuruko.
The soldiers readied their weapons – or well, guns – and targeted Alice. However, Tsuruko wasn’t going to fail her job as a bodyguard, and stood before her. She drew her blade, imagining that maybe she could block the bullets with her blade. If Alice could catch a bullet barehanded, why couldn’t she block them with steel?
Her difference in physical capabilities were made starkly clear to her when the soldiers launched fire, and Tsuruko was overwhelmed by the ear-splitting noises and the outstanding speed of the bullets, taking some painful hits instead blocking them. She had never handled, or was taught to go against gunfire, ever. Horribly underestimating her opponents’ capabilities, she had to decide to be amazed or shocked at how technology had advanced. Not forgetting that she had to neutralize the enemy, she recalled the feeling of casting Frostbite, as done many times, and focused it on one of the gunmen. His body turned light purple and he stood is his place, temporarily; covered with a scent of freshly-cut wood.
It took another shot to connect with Tsuruko to convince her that she didn’t know all too much about how guns worked. To her, it seemed that it dealt an instant shirk of pain whenever the gunmen took aim, she didn’t even know when the bullet was fired, but it hit her abdomen before the exploding sound of the bang on the gun rang. Then it made sense to her, if guns were to be used in long range, why not go closer? She took a stance, ran towards a gunman and stuck with great force – hitting absolutely nothing but the air as the gunman simply dodged. Kusanagi’s air blasted forth but that only breezed past the dirty floor of the building.
Alice’s eyes stopped glowing with a blue hue, and she looked up to the soldiers past Tsuruko. She seemed hurt and damaged, a pity that she wasn’t as good as expected. Then again, probability stated that the melee users are often at disadvantage against the foes armed with ranged weaponry. Regardless, it didn’t seemed like Tsuruko alone would be able to stand her ground, thus she took a decision to change her strategy.
Alice’s starry eyes glowed again, revealing two cyan-colored pair of symbols over her eyes. Specifically, they were the symbol of Pisces. The soldiers looked absentminded towards her, and didn’t make any move, oddly enough. Were they cautious now? Or grew fearful of the sudden change in her? The girl exuded a glittering aura that steadily covered the rooftop floor of the building.
Tsuruko could barely see anything, but it seemed as though something touched them, and soon the men starting screaming ceaselessly for some time. A light emanated from up ahead, and it seemed as though they were burning with… blue fire? By the time the mist – somewhat – cleared, one man was charred dead, another was disgruntled and on his knees, burning, but he soon dropped down, and the flames from the other two was somehow put out, apparently. They were still up for a fight.
The remaining two opened fire indiscriminately as they screamed – having lost most of their sanity – as Tsuruko stood in the way of the gunfires, not letting them reach Alice, taking a bullet or two in.
With two men left, one frozen in his place, Tsuruko had already taken some mildly lethal damage and absolutely couldn’t take any more if she wanted to survive the onslaught of more of these assassinators. Holding out her left palm again, she cast Frostbite on the soldier not already frozen; leeching away his body heat. This time, the cold added with all the prior damage the target took, was a little too much for him to bear, as he seemed to fall to the ground, his consciousness retracted from him, and then a moment later, a breeze was felt by her, and her expression was wrought with surprise.
Alice moved in the blink of an eye and the final man was already on the floor. She held a blade Tsuruko had never seen before, a western one at that. She gave it a swing, sharply parting the air current for a moment; drops of blood slapped the dirty floor.
“I bid you farewell for tonight, for I will take care of the rest. Please assist me tomorrow, you will be beckoned for arrival.”
With that, Alice soared with a jump, apparently taking off to pursue the rest of the hiding men.
“Understood… though if I must say I’m the one who needs the assistance more than you do,” Tsuruko sighed. With that she left the dark alley where she was, took a moment to absorb the surroundings; what she did and didn’t do, glanced back and then proceeded on her way back the the Academy.
“I guess we’re done for today.”
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
A haven of pleasure; comfortable bed, a long and tall glass with a magnificent view, air conditioning of a better kind, and a woman under his arm – who most men would die to win the attention of – that was what Hynek woke up to. The two were merely covered with the sheets, in a luxurious hotel they took shelter in. Yet another exciting day was awaiting him.
When Hynek looked to the right, he found the view of the futuristic city of Tokyo, and when he looked to the left, it seemed like Felix was up and sitting, still covered with the sheets, her deep-green animal ears perked up – making her seem rather adorable – and taking in the noises of the surroundings. She seemed to be smiling just staring at him, for some reason.
“Good morning, Master Tamas.”
The two that he was with were gone at one point last night, and as much as he wondered where they went, he always enjoyed Felix’s presence over most. “Good Morning, my love.” answered Hynek. Hynek laid back in bed, and looked at the ceiling of the room. “I’ve been on their radar for a while, haven’t I?” commented Hynek referring to the past day’s events.
“I wouldn’t be surprised. A country that is rumored to use a Time Warrior, and in fact used one in the Second Great Mage War may have an interest in gathering more of such warriors to their country,” Felix said. She wasn’t in so much a mood to talk politics now so early in the morning, but a single misconduct would become an excuse for another wife to take over. She wouldn’t want that. That word †˜love’ instead made her heart jump, who’d be able to make her feel this way after another woman would take her place?
“I don’t think we have anything planned for today. How about we spend the day in bed? We have been so busy as of late. I fear I may have been ignoring you.” said Hynek. In truth they may have had something planned for that day, he just didn’t care to remember it at the moment.
“That is not good,” Felix said, shaking her head disapprovingly. “I don’t particularly mind spending the day away here, but you have a lot to work with. It is my duty to take care of things like that for you,” she answered.
Hynek sighed. “Let’s get the day started then” answered Hynek. Getting up from the bed. He didn’t care to cover himself. If not for the rules of the world he wouldn’t cover himself up at all. He longed for the days of old. Human’s were more free with their bodies back then.
“Today, your schedule is mostly booked for the office,” Felix informed, getting into her professional attitude as a secretary. This was tiresome, and she didn’t even wanted to imagine just how tiresome it was to be a king at this time and age. “After all, you have started the company’s branch here; you’d have to lead it now. Most plannings were done by the girls you have assigned there, but now that you’re here – you may as well check and see if you approve of the plans. Perhaps you can have a new plan if the current one does not seem good enough.”
“Alright, I will take a quick shower. Then we will head over to the office.” said Hynek. “Join me?” Hynek motioned for her to shower with him. Though it was questionable just how clean they would get during the course of this shower.
“Of course,” Felix showed a smile as if she was pleased; growing excited instantly before getting off the bed; leaving the sheets, and showing off her curvy figure off to Hynek. They soon entered the bathroom…
When Hynek looked to the right, he found the view of the futuristic city of Tokyo, and when he looked to the left, it seemed like Felix was up and sitting, still covered with the sheets, her deep-green animal ears perked up – making her seem rather adorable – and taking in the noises of the surroundings. She seemed to be smiling just staring at him, for some reason.
“Good morning, Master Tamas.”
The two that he was with were gone at one point last night, and as much as he wondered where they went, he always enjoyed Felix’s presence over most. “Good Morning, my love.” answered Hynek. Hynek laid back in bed, and looked at the ceiling of the room. “I’ve been on their radar for a while, haven’t I?” commented Hynek referring to the past day’s events.
“I wouldn’t be surprised. A country that is rumored to use a Time Warrior, and in fact used one in the Second Great Mage War may have an interest in gathering more of such warriors to their country,” Felix said. She wasn’t in so much a mood to talk politics now so early in the morning, but a single misconduct would become an excuse for another wife to take over. She wouldn’t want that. That word †˜love’ instead made her heart jump, who’d be able to make her feel this way after another woman would take her place?
“I don’t think we have anything planned for today. How about we spend the day in bed? We have been so busy as of late. I fear I may have been ignoring you.” said Hynek. In truth they may have had something planned for that day, he just didn’t care to remember it at the moment.
“That is not good,” Felix said, shaking her head disapprovingly. “I don’t particularly mind spending the day away here, but you have a lot to work with. It is my duty to take care of things like that for you,” she answered.
Hynek sighed. “Let’s get the day started then” answered Hynek. Getting up from the bed. He didn’t care to cover himself. If not for the rules of the world he wouldn’t cover himself up at all. He longed for the days of old. Human’s were more free with their bodies back then.
“Today, your schedule is mostly booked for the office,” Felix informed, getting into her professional attitude as a secretary. This was tiresome, and she didn’t even wanted to imagine just how tiresome it was to be a king at this time and age. “After all, you have started the company’s branch here; you’d have to lead it now. Most plannings were done by the girls you have assigned there, but now that you’re here – you may as well check and see if you approve of the plans. Perhaps you can have a new plan if the current one does not seem good enough.”
“Alright, I will take a quick shower. Then we will head over to the office.” said Hynek. “Join me?” Hynek motioned for her to shower with him. Though it was questionable just how clean they would get during the course of this shower.
“Of course,” Felix showed a smile as if she was pleased; growing excited instantly before getting off the bed; leaving the sheets, and showing off her curvy figure off to Hynek. They soon entered the bathroom…
0
Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
(BGM)
Hynek came in alongside Felix into the office. A small and ragged building on the outside, but on the inside, it seemed just about alright for use. It wasn’t fancy or large like the more wealthy entertainment company offices or the offices of the agencies having idol members, because Hynek thought that he provided more than enough funds, but his members were overwhelmed by the difference in the exchange rate; Japan’s currency was something else.
If he’d want a better office; he’d need to rethink his finances and plans.
Hynek was guided to a couch, and his members were already competing against one another by bringing him drinks and refreshments. Felix sighed and simply watched the †˜match’ of the girls unfold. She was used to this by now, and could only wonder if he’d get any work done.
A shy-looking girl walked over to Hynek meekly, and bowed her head; her violet bangs facing the floor as she did so. She wore a white dress, which wasn’t quite normal from what he knew.
“H-Hello, pleased to meet you, Hynek…san,” the girl begun her introduction, “my name is Shirayuki Chigusa,” she said.
Leaning up on the couch Hynek looked her over with approval. She didn’t act like his other girls, so he knew that she must be someone that hadn’t seen that side of him yet. “It is a pleasure to meet you Shirayuki Chigusa,” answered Hynek sitting in a more professional way. “Your face is new to me. What do you do?” asked Hynek.
“A-Ah, I only got in from an audition last week. I am a newbie idol. I look forward to working with you,” she answered, bowing again, she was very nervous before an exotic man such as Hynek. She wasn’t expecting the company’s owner to look so handsome, and to be foreign over that.
“I really don’t remember seeing her, it must be true, what are those girls doing without telling us… ?” Felix questioned, wondering why they never wrote proper reports. It’s as far as one could go with random girls getting picked up into the Organization, she supposed.
Hynek smiled as he stood from his seat. “There is something to be admired about a blank slate,” said Hynek. “There is so much you can teach them.” Hynek looked at her in the eyes trying to get a read on her. Since the train incident he had become more than a little cautious about new faces. Sadly, in a new country that was all he was going to see for a while. Sticking out his hand he offered a handshake.
“Welcome aboard, I am expecting great things from you.” said Hynek with a smile as he looked down at the shy girl.
“Eh? Does that mean that I don’t have any skills?” The girl asked, confused, shaking her hands with Hynek tentatively. “I will try my hardest anyway.”
“No one said that,” said Hynek with a chuckle. “We both have much to learn from each other. This idol world is new to me as well. Let us take this step by step.”
“Yes, but… you said a clean slate – I’ve practiced dancing for a long time, so…” Chigusa said, looking down. She seemed a little angry and confused at the same time.
“Oh? Why not show me what you can do?” answered Hynek. Dance was one of the few things that Hynek kept up to date with. Through the years it had changed remarkably, and this was a good time to see Japan’s dancing up close. It was a bonus that it was such a pretty girl about to show him.
Chigusa gave a nod, seeming to have brightened up, as if the request was music to her ears. Perhaps she wanted to show off to get Hynek’s approval for some time. Dancing – her shy face broke into a cheerful smile as she capered, her hands moving about in a manner that seemed to be pointing to the imaginary stage before her, or Hynek’s chest, in reality. It was a kind of dance that followed the pop culture more that the idols thrived on in everyday life of futuristic Japan today.
Hynek clapped his hands at her, mainly because she seemed to be enjoying it. Though a docile woman was always to be admired, a successful idol needed to enjoy her time on stage. Or at the very least, look as if she did. “That smile alone would get me as a spectator.” answered Hynek. “Your form is sturdy, and you stayed on rhythm.” Hynek nodded in approval of the first idol his company would be promoting.
“Is… that… so? That’s good… to hear,” Chigusa replied throughout her gasps after she stopped. “I… really just enjoy dancing… so I can’t help but smile,” her smile was dropped and her shy-self was back, a strange gap it was.
“Don’t lose that feeling, and I am sure that you will do fine. So idols sing as well don’t they?” asked Hynek.
“I won’t lose it, and yes they do,” the girl answered, her fingers were crossed.
“You guy’s make a big deal over smaller things,” a woman – a few years older than Chigusa – walked from behind and hugged her, then looked up to Hynek. “What do you think of our new recruit here? We went through a lot of trouble to host that audition, you know?” She asked.
“P-Please don’t touch me like that…” Chigusa silently pleaded, but it didn’t seemed like she’d listen.
“She is excellent,” answered Hynek. “I look forward to her first performance. And you are?”
“Oi, oi, it’d be problematic for you to forget me!” The woman said, somewhat displeased. “I’m the manager Lady Felix assigned here. I’ve been a part of this Organization for two years now. I’m Christie, does it ring a bell?” She asked, squeezing Chigusa more as she spoke her own name with vigor.
“That name does ring a bell,” answered Hynek. “Maybe I am just getting old, but my memory has never been great.” Hynek laughed.
“Ooh, glad that you remembered, but I bet you were thinking dirty things about this girl,” Christie said this one in English, so Chigusa tilted her head with confusion, while Felix sighed yet again.
“There’s no need to bet the obvious,” and this was spoken in Japanese by Felix, making Chigusa much more confused.
“You two...” Hynek said in Arabic.
“It’s true, though, right?” Felix eyed Hynek, speaking in his language, but with a more pained look than a teasing one.
“Ehehe, our old Master Tamas never changes,” Christie chuckled as she said so in English, remembering old times when she was in Chigusa’s position.
“Woah… these people really are foreigners,” Chigusa said silently yet again, apparently having confirmed a fact, somehow impressed by the use of various languages.
“You will get used to us in time,” answered Hynek with a smirk.
“Hopefully…” Chigusa said, somewhat unsure.
“By the way, she is gonna be called †˜Mini’ as we promote her,” Christie said, “if you take the †˜gu’ of †˜Chigusa’ off, then †˜chisa’ means little, right?”
“Isn’t that †˜chiisai’ or the likes for the meaning of †˜little’? That may confuse the customers,” Felix interjected before Hynek could reply to it.
“Oh come on, don’t sweat the little stuff!”
“N-No, that’s definitely wrong,” Chigusa protested, still seeming to be somewhat hesitant to openly state her opinions.
“Why did you choose the name †˜mini’?” asked Hynek.
“For promotions, of course!”
“They want to use something to boost the sales, I suppose,” Felix attempted to explain. “Nicknames do wonders, but only if they fit.”
“Well I suppose she is rather short,” said Hynek with a smile as he looked down to her. Her body however was not without its curves, and it would be a lie to say that she looked like a child.
“W-Well… excuse me for being short…” the shy girl replied, looking down at her puny figure, somewhat depressed.
Hynek patted her on the head. “No need for that. There are many advantages to being short you know.” Of course most things that Hynek referred to were sexual, but this inncent girl probably wouldn’t realize. “Now if you'll excuse me there are some things I need to discuss with Felix.”
“Y-Yes…” the girl responded meekly, looking down to the floor shyly, blood rushed up to her cheeks when her head was patted like that. Her hands joined and fingers linked tightly as she didn’t know what to do about them when she was this nervous and embarrassed for some reason. She’d usually be angry for being treated like this, she wondered why she didn’t feel that way now.
“And that would be?” Felix asked, noting the girl’s blushing face, then facing her master.
“The matter of what happened on our way here.” answered Hynek. Hynek found himself petting the girls head instinctively, her hair was so soft.
“On our way here, you say? Ah, the invasion on the train?” Felix asked, reminding herself of the incident. It was a prized memory, but all the rush ever since they arrived didn’t let her remember it immediately.
“Yes, I want whoever is behind it dealt with.” said Hynek in Arabic. “It is something I want to handle now before it happens again.”
“Ah, I wanted to hold off on that topic. If you would please, Master Tamas… I have some information to share about that,” Felix replied in Arabic, too, seeming solemn now, more than ever.
Hynek nodded, they could drop it for now. But having Felix or any of his girls in danger wore heavily on his mind. Chigusa was looking at the two of them curiously. As they spoke in their own language again she was only getting more confused as the mood changed. Then she noticed that she was asked to leave, so she quietly entered a different room and left the living room. “Was there any other people to meet today, Felix?” asked Hynek.
“Well, you may book some meetings if you’d wish for business purposes, but otherwise your time was reserved for this company branch today, on that note… we should consider if Miss Chigusa here may have her debut soon,” Felix said, still in the foreign language.
“I think the earlier the better, so we can get a feel of how people respond to her. I also want her protected. When our enemies find out she is with my company, they may target her.” answered Hynek in Arabic.
“We should buy her those protective suit costumes that the rich wear around this country,” Felix suggested. “I suggest her manager be a mage so that she’d be able to keep a close eye around her, too.” Felix clearly didn’t think that Christie could do the job with her personality. “How about that spy you sent to Russia? She may be able to take out any problems silently as our idol continues to work.”
“Protective suit?” replied Hynek. “We should get one for you as well.“ Looking at Christie and her aloof nature he smirked, that girl couldn’t even tell heads to tail of the conversation that went on in Arabic. “Yes maybe it would be a good idea to call her back. It had been a long time since I have seen her as well.”
“Yes, I think she had a good amount of time looking into the state of affairs of the Soviet Union,” Felix nodded in agreement. “Wait, a protective suit for me?”
Hynek nodded. “Yes for you, what happened in the train; I don’t want anything being that close again.” answered Hynek.
“Well, you were hurt as well, so you should get those too,” if she was going to be dragged down from her laid-back and †˜airy’ attire and style, she might as well drag her master along with her, Felix thought.
“Well...they are awfully expensive,” said Hynek trying to get out of changing his style, while he looked off into a corner.
“This is coming from a rich man whose Organization spreads across the globe?” Felix asked, narrowing her eyes while making a sly smile. “Well, if you’re gonna go with that: I think we’re better off buying just just one for our debut girl then.”
Hynek gave in as his shoulders slumped over. “Fine I will wear one as well. They don’t look that bad I suppose.” answered Hynek. Felix always knew how to get her way.
“I doubt you actually saw them… or did you?” Felix asked, wondering if Hynek knew what he was about to get into.
“The people on the screens around town had them on,” answered Hynek. “Maybe we could have one custom made! Or learn to make them ourselves.”
“I looked into those before our trip, it is sad but the truth is; it’s impossible for us to do that. The most we can do is purchase and use them,” Felix explained with disdain. The kind of technology they required to produce them would cost a kind of fortune Hynek would rather not spend.
“Unfortunate,” answered Hyenk. “Well I suppose we better get to work. Performances don’t set themselves up. First off is the venue.”
“Well, before that, Master Tamas… about that train attack, as I said, I was holding off on something but… may I speak regarding it?” Felix asked, somewhat unsure if she should talk about it.
“Go ahead,” answered Hynek, hoping that she had a few names for him to track down.
“That face was very familiar, so I looked into some things last night when you were sleeping; I suspect that it was an action by the British West India Company,” the dreaded name was taken up, and even Christie shuddered.
“Ugh, it had to be them didn’t it?” said Hynek. “It’s never just some small time group, that I can deal with in a month.”
“I doubt you can deal with them even in years, unfortunately,” Felix answered.
The British West India Company, some call it the brunt of the underworld running side-by-side with the BLoodLuSt. It was a massive Organization often referred to as The Society – a secret society – that spread not only to the edges of Europe, but the entire world. Mundanes begun to call it the Illuminati recently after several conspiracy theories were made. All one could say was – if you value your life; stay away from it. It was a company specializing in carrying out elaborate plots of crimes and theft, as well as taking lives with illusions. A dangerous bunch, in short.
“I want everyone on alert. No one goes out alone. At anytime.” responded Hynek in Arabic. “As if that wasn’t already advised. I want it strictly enforced.”
“Affirmative… but what do we do about Chigusa?” Felix asked about their latest member, as one around this branch would put it.
“She can stay with us for now. I would rather keep an eye on new faces.” answered Hynek. “She looks harmless, but we can’t too careful now.”
“...You know, Master Tamas, she probably has a family,” Felix said, trying to have Hynek understand why she asked in the first place.
“Ah, yes...” answered Hynek holding his hand to his eye. He was so caught up with the situation that he ignored the details. “We’ll have some people watch her. This will be for her safety as well as looking out for suspicious activity.”
“You guys talking about Chigusa?” Christie asked in English, she could swear that she heard †˜Chigusa’ from the Arabic conversation but couldn’t quite tell apart the meaning of anything else.
“Indeed we are,” Felix nodded.
“Well, I just wanted to say that she is a mage, but she probably didn’t realized that we know about it,” Christie informed. “It was one of the main reasons we let her join aside from her talents as a performer.”
“What kind of magic, I don’t know, but I can feel some magic from her,” she added.
“Fascinating,” said Hynek walking over to her. As he got close he looked into her eyes trying to get a read on her. “Perhaps we should simply just ask?”
“We could?” Christie answered, blood flushing up to her cheeks as she responded. “I’ve kind of kept things about our Organization a secret, so I didn’t try to ask personal questions.”
Hynek smiled at her reaction. He would try and not freak the girl out by outright asking her, but a mage was something to be wary of. “Good work,” said Hynek before rewarding Christie with a kiss as he stroked her chin.
The upbeat and cheerful woman turned more than just docile from a single kiss, and blushed deep red. “T-Thank you,” she uttered with a very low voice, being stroked that way almost felt as though she was an animal being caressed.
Stopping his urges for the time being, he released Christie gently. “I will see what I can find out from her. It is possible that she doesn’t know she has the potential herself.” said Hynek.
Hynek came in alongside Felix into the office. A small and ragged building on the outside, but on the inside, it seemed just about alright for use. It wasn’t fancy or large like the more wealthy entertainment company offices or the offices of the agencies having idol members, because Hynek thought that he provided more than enough funds, but his members were overwhelmed by the difference in the exchange rate; Japan’s currency was something else.
If he’d want a better office; he’d need to rethink his finances and plans.
Hynek was guided to a couch, and his members were already competing against one another by bringing him drinks and refreshments. Felix sighed and simply watched the †˜match’ of the girls unfold. She was used to this by now, and could only wonder if he’d get any work done.
A shy-looking girl walked over to Hynek meekly, and bowed her head; her violet bangs facing the floor as she did so. She wore a white dress, which wasn’t quite normal from what he knew.
“H-Hello, pleased to meet you, Hynek…san,” the girl begun her introduction, “my name is Shirayuki Chigusa,” she said.
Leaning up on the couch Hynek looked her over with approval. She didn’t act like his other girls, so he knew that she must be someone that hadn’t seen that side of him yet. “It is a pleasure to meet you Shirayuki Chigusa,” answered Hynek sitting in a more professional way. “Your face is new to me. What do you do?” asked Hynek.
“A-Ah, I only got in from an audition last week. I am a newbie idol. I look forward to working with you,” she answered, bowing again, she was very nervous before an exotic man such as Hynek. She wasn’t expecting the company’s owner to look so handsome, and to be foreign over that.
“I really don’t remember seeing her, it must be true, what are those girls doing without telling us… ?” Felix questioned, wondering why they never wrote proper reports. It’s as far as one could go with random girls getting picked up into the Organization, she supposed.
Hynek smiled as he stood from his seat. “There is something to be admired about a blank slate,” said Hynek. “There is so much you can teach them.” Hynek looked at her in the eyes trying to get a read on her. Since the train incident he had become more than a little cautious about new faces. Sadly, in a new country that was all he was going to see for a while. Sticking out his hand he offered a handshake.
“Welcome aboard, I am expecting great things from you.” said Hynek with a smile as he looked down at the shy girl.
“Eh? Does that mean that I don’t have any skills?” The girl asked, confused, shaking her hands with Hynek tentatively. “I will try my hardest anyway.”
“No one said that,” said Hynek with a chuckle. “We both have much to learn from each other. This idol world is new to me as well. Let us take this step by step.”
“Yes, but… you said a clean slate – I’ve practiced dancing for a long time, so…” Chigusa said, looking down. She seemed a little angry and confused at the same time.
“Oh? Why not show me what you can do?” answered Hynek. Dance was one of the few things that Hynek kept up to date with. Through the years it had changed remarkably, and this was a good time to see Japan’s dancing up close. It was a bonus that it was such a pretty girl about to show him.
Chigusa gave a nod, seeming to have brightened up, as if the request was music to her ears. Perhaps she wanted to show off to get Hynek’s approval for some time. Dancing – her shy face broke into a cheerful smile as she capered, her hands moving about in a manner that seemed to be pointing to the imaginary stage before her, or Hynek’s chest, in reality. It was a kind of dance that followed the pop culture more that the idols thrived on in everyday life of futuristic Japan today.
Hynek clapped his hands at her, mainly because she seemed to be enjoying it. Though a docile woman was always to be admired, a successful idol needed to enjoy her time on stage. Or at the very least, look as if she did. “That smile alone would get me as a spectator.” answered Hynek. “Your form is sturdy, and you stayed on rhythm.” Hynek nodded in approval of the first idol his company would be promoting.
“Is… that… so? That’s good… to hear,” Chigusa replied throughout her gasps after she stopped. “I… really just enjoy dancing… so I can’t help but smile,” her smile was dropped and her shy-self was back, a strange gap it was.
“Don’t lose that feeling, and I am sure that you will do fine. So idols sing as well don’t they?” asked Hynek.
“I won’t lose it, and yes they do,” the girl answered, her fingers were crossed.
“You guy’s make a big deal over smaller things,” a woman – a few years older than Chigusa – walked from behind and hugged her, then looked up to Hynek. “What do you think of our new recruit here? We went through a lot of trouble to host that audition, you know?” She asked.
“P-Please don’t touch me like that…” Chigusa silently pleaded, but it didn’t seemed like she’d listen.
“She is excellent,” answered Hynek. “I look forward to her first performance. And you are?”
“Oi, oi, it’d be problematic for you to forget me!” The woman said, somewhat displeased. “I’m the manager Lady Felix assigned here. I’ve been a part of this Organization for two years now. I’m Christie, does it ring a bell?” She asked, squeezing Chigusa more as she spoke her own name with vigor.
“That name does ring a bell,” answered Hynek. “Maybe I am just getting old, but my memory has never been great.” Hynek laughed.
“Ooh, glad that you remembered, but I bet you were thinking dirty things about this girl,” Christie said this one in English, so Chigusa tilted her head with confusion, while Felix sighed yet again.
“There’s no need to bet the obvious,” and this was spoken in Japanese by Felix, making Chigusa much more confused.
“You two...” Hynek said in Arabic.
“It’s true, though, right?” Felix eyed Hynek, speaking in his language, but with a more pained look than a teasing one.
“Ehehe, our old Master Tamas never changes,” Christie chuckled as she said so in English, remembering old times when she was in Chigusa’s position.
“Woah… these people really are foreigners,” Chigusa said silently yet again, apparently having confirmed a fact, somehow impressed by the use of various languages.
“You will get used to us in time,” answered Hynek with a smirk.
“Hopefully…” Chigusa said, somewhat unsure.
“By the way, she is gonna be called †˜Mini’ as we promote her,” Christie said, “if you take the †˜gu’ of †˜Chigusa’ off, then †˜chisa’ means little, right?”
“Isn’t that †˜chiisai’ or the likes for the meaning of †˜little’? That may confuse the customers,” Felix interjected before Hynek could reply to it.
“Oh come on, don’t sweat the little stuff!”
“N-No, that’s definitely wrong,” Chigusa protested, still seeming to be somewhat hesitant to openly state her opinions.
“Why did you choose the name †˜mini’?” asked Hynek.
“For promotions, of course!”
“They want to use something to boost the sales, I suppose,” Felix attempted to explain. “Nicknames do wonders, but only if they fit.”
“Well I suppose she is rather short,” said Hynek with a smile as he looked down to her. Her body however was not without its curves, and it would be a lie to say that she looked like a child.
“W-Well… excuse me for being short…” the shy girl replied, looking down at her puny figure, somewhat depressed.
Hynek patted her on the head. “No need for that. There are many advantages to being short you know.” Of course most things that Hynek referred to were sexual, but this inncent girl probably wouldn’t realize. “Now if you'll excuse me there are some things I need to discuss with Felix.”
“Y-Yes…” the girl responded meekly, looking down to the floor shyly, blood rushed up to her cheeks when her head was patted like that. Her hands joined and fingers linked tightly as she didn’t know what to do about them when she was this nervous and embarrassed for some reason. She’d usually be angry for being treated like this, she wondered why she didn’t feel that way now.
“And that would be?” Felix asked, noting the girl’s blushing face, then facing her master.
“The matter of what happened on our way here.” answered Hynek. Hynek found himself petting the girls head instinctively, her hair was so soft.
“On our way here, you say? Ah, the invasion on the train?” Felix asked, reminding herself of the incident. It was a prized memory, but all the rush ever since they arrived didn’t let her remember it immediately.
“Yes, I want whoever is behind it dealt with.” said Hynek in Arabic. “It is something I want to handle now before it happens again.”
“Ah, I wanted to hold off on that topic. If you would please, Master Tamas… I have some information to share about that,” Felix replied in Arabic, too, seeming solemn now, more than ever.
Hynek nodded, they could drop it for now. But having Felix or any of his girls in danger wore heavily on his mind. Chigusa was looking at the two of them curiously. As they spoke in their own language again she was only getting more confused as the mood changed. Then she noticed that she was asked to leave, so she quietly entered a different room and left the living room. “Was there any other people to meet today, Felix?” asked Hynek.
“Well, you may book some meetings if you’d wish for business purposes, but otherwise your time was reserved for this company branch today, on that note… we should consider if Miss Chigusa here may have her debut soon,” Felix said, still in the foreign language.
“I think the earlier the better, so we can get a feel of how people respond to her. I also want her protected. When our enemies find out she is with my company, they may target her.” answered Hynek in Arabic.
“We should buy her those protective suit costumes that the rich wear around this country,” Felix suggested. “I suggest her manager be a mage so that she’d be able to keep a close eye around her, too.” Felix clearly didn’t think that Christie could do the job with her personality. “How about that spy you sent to Russia? She may be able to take out any problems silently as our idol continues to work.”
“Protective suit?” replied Hynek. “We should get one for you as well.“ Looking at Christie and her aloof nature he smirked, that girl couldn’t even tell heads to tail of the conversation that went on in Arabic. “Yes maybe it would be a good idea to call her back. It had been a long time since I have seen her as well.”
“Yes, I think she had a good amount of time looking into the state of affairs of the Soviet Union,” Felix nodded in agreement. “Wait, a protective suit for me?”
Hynek nodded. “Yes for you, what happened in the train; I don’t want anything being that close again.” answered Hynek.
“Well, you were hurt as well, so you should get those too,” if she was going to be dragged down from her laid-back and †˜airy’ attire and style, she might as well drag her master along with her, Felix thought.
“Well...they are awfully expensive,” said Hynek trying to get out of changing his style, while he looked off into a corner.
“This is coming from a rich man whose Organization spreads across the globe?” Felix asked, narrowing her eyes while making a sly smile. “Well, if you’re gonna go with that: I think we’re better off buying just just one for our debut girl then.”
Hynek gave in as his shoulders slumped over. “Fine I will wear one as well. They don’t look that bad I suppose.” answered Hynek. Felix always knew how to get her way.
“I doubt you actually saw them… or did you?” Felix asked, wondering if Hynek knew what he was about to get into.
“The people on the screens around town had them on,” answered Hynek. “Maybe we could have one custom made! Or learn to make them ourselves.”
“I looked into those before our trip, it is sad but the truth is; it’s impossible for us to do that. The most we can do is purchase and use them,” Felix explained with disdain. The kind of technology they required to produce them would cost a kind of fortune Hynek would rather not spend.
“Unfortunate,” answered Hyenk. “Well I suppose we better get to work. Performances don’t set themselves up. First off is the venue.”
“Well, before that, Master Tamas… about that train attack, as I said, I was holding off on something but… may I speak regarding it?” Felix asked, somewhat unsure if she should talk about it.
“Go ahead,” answered Hynek, hoping that she had a few names for him to track down.
“That face was very familiar, so I looked into some things last night when you were sleeping; I suspect that it was an action by the British West India Company,” the dreaded name was taken up, and even Christie shuddered.
“Ugh, it had to be them didn’t it?” said Hynek. “It’s never just some small time group, that I can deal with in a month.”
“I doubt you can deal with them even in years, unfortunately,” Felix answered.
The British West India Company, some call it the brunt of the underworld running side-by-side with the BLoodLuSt. It was a massive Organization often referred to as The Society – a secret society – that spread not only to the edges of Europe, but the entire world. Mundanes begun to call it the Illuminati recently after several conspiracy theories were made. All one could say was – if you value your life; stay away from it. It was a company specializing in carrying out elaborate plots of crimes and theft, as well as taking lives with illusions. A dangerous bunch, in short.
“I want everyone on alert. No one goes out alone. At anytime.” responded Hynek in Arabic. “As if that wasn’t already advised. I want it strictly enforced.”
“Affirmative… but what do we do about Chigusa?” Felix asked about their latest member, as one around this branch would put it.
“She can stay with us for now. I would rather keep an eye on new faces.” answered Hynek. “She looks harmless, but we can’t too careful now.”
“...You know, Master Tamas, she probably has a family,” Felix said, trying to have Hynek understand why she asked in the first place.
“Ah, yes...” answered Hynek holding his hand to his eye. He was so caught up with the situation that he ignored the details. “We’ll have some people watch her. This will be for her safety as well as looking out for suspicious activity.”
“You guys talking about Chigusa?” Christie asked in English, she could swear that she heard †˜Chigusa’ from the Arabic conversation but couldn’t quite tell apart the meaning of anything else.
“Indeed we are,” Felix nodded.
“Well, I just wanted to say that she is a mage, but she probably didn’t realized that we know about it,” Christie informed. “It was one of the main reasons we let her join aside from her talents as a performer.”
“What kind of magic, I don’t know, but I can feel some magic from her,” she added.
“Fascinating,” said Hynek walking over to her. As he got close he looked into her eyes trying to get a read on her. “Perhaps we should simply just ask?”
“We could?” Christie answered, blood flushing up to her cheeks as she responded. “I’ve kind of kept things about our Organization a secret, so I didn’t try to ask personal questions.”
Hynek smiled at her reaction. He would try and not freak the girl out by outright asking her, but a mage was something to be wary of. “Good work,” said Hynek before rewarding Christie with a kiss as he stroked her chin.
The upbeat and cheerful woman turned more than just docile from a single kiss, and blushed deep red. “T-Thank you,” she uttered with a very low voice, being stroked that way almost felt as though she was an animal being caressed.
Stopping his urges for the time being, he released Christie gently. “I will see what I can find out from her. It is possible that she doesn’t know she has the potential herself.” said Hynek.