Cinia Pacifica Posts

“Madame Duchess, I must approach you on the matter that the use of Neptune’s Wrath was not discussed?” the Leader of Team A said, sounding perplexed– no, irritated. “Prolonging this battle may not be so wise an idea. The regeneration of a Descendant may be disastrous to us?”

The Duchess sighed, facing Aramus and Takeru, whom arrived a minute ago. “So,” she begun, “how was she? Did she have any injuries prior to this battle?”

The three of them were over a different building. The members of Team A were all here, as well as Team C. Aramus could daresay that if Team A would be separated from the other group, there wouldn’t be many faces to see.

“None, if any. Clothes didn’t even look ruffled by this weather. The kids though, they were forced into close quarters with her. They weren’t ready and I want them out of this,” Aramus said firmly, pointedly looking at the leader of Team A.

The students cried, not wanting to give up on the light of glory, especially members of Team B. They sounded disappointed. They probably didn’t know how destructive Sagittarius was.

“We cannot take down a Descendant of Time with so few of us here,” the leader of Team A replied, not readily accepting Aramus’ words. “They aren’t children. They are mages taught and trained.”

“I’d prefer us taking one matter at a time,” the Duchess said, raising a hand for the gentlemen to halt. “First, the matter of regeneration; you claimed that we should’ve struck faster because Sagittarius could recover… if she hadn’t any injury on her, then it’d only mean that it was pointless for us to attempt this operation so soon, and with most of our members being students.”

“I think we can handle her as it is just fine, but this will require everyone’s cooperation. Mikaido sensei and I managed to rough her up a little but she gave as good as she got.” Aramus glared at the students until they backed down, putting aside the matter for later.

“Then there is no need to keep the students out of this. If we maintain the numbers, we will hold an advantage,” the leader of Team A said.

“No, we should have them as back-ups.” The Duchess finally interjected her opinion on the matter. “I have fought her before and I shall do so again. If I fall, feel free to bring our reserve magicians out,” she instructed with confidence.

Takeru nodded. “I agree. I know that you students want a piece of the action, but try to leave this to us, for now.”

“Use scrying to keep an eye on us if you can. You will learn.” Aramus nodded, finally someone who would agree with him! “Duchess, I have a duel with Sagittarius to settle as well. Shall we do battle together?”

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t see much since the electricity here is mostly gone,” the Duchess said, slightly disappointed. “Only lightning – and what I would call her arrows, if anything. But yes, we shall fight her together.” The Duchess nodded, a smile portraying her excitement showed on her face. “She is a worthy adversary who accepts challengers any day. I am sure that she’d be most pleased to have us as opponents.”

“Indeed, I felt bad leaving her when the tidal wave struck. Her attacks sting real bad though.” Raising his left hand, the skin and flesh on it was now seared and a different shade from the rest of his arm. “I got lucky, this was just a graze.”

“Indeed, you’re lucky that you got off with just that,” the Duchess remarked, giving a hearty laugh.

The leader of Team A seemed to be grumbling angrily about something, but he didn’t say anything.

“I will join you two on that, I’d like to have her under my grasp,” Takeru said, joining the two. “If she is looking for a fist fight, how could I turn her down?”

“Good to hear. Now, moving on,” the Duchess begun, solemn now. “We have gained coordinates on Sagittarius’ current location,” she declared, before facing the grey and stormy sky. “Shall we?”

“Unfortunately, I have an injury that is still being tended to,” the leader of Team A said, “but I will help when I am able.”

Aramus rolled his eyes, looking at Takeru.

“Very well, just take it easy, taking her on needs more than just an able body,” the Duchess said, walking away. Takeru and Aramus followed after her. The students were supposed to only stay afar, so they soon started talking among themselves.

As the three Magic Magisters leapt away, the leader turned to his comrade from the old team that was wiped out – the Spirit Seer.

“We’ll order these brats to attack at the crucial point of the battle anyway,” he said in a low voice. “Make sure you have the timing right.”

“But that’s-”

“Just do it. You think there is a better way to restore our honour after what hell we went through for that woman? We’re taking her down for sure. Some overconfident Duchess isn’t stopping anyone from seeking honour here. You and I both know this.”

Aramus stood over a high-rise building with Takeru under his arm, now sighing. He retired to a railing and leaned against it, relaxing his back. Takeru was released from under Aramus’ arm, and placed his arms over the railing as his head slumped over them.

“I loathe this operation. No one told me that I was going to be punching a little girl,” Takeru commented, his face giving away how dreary this felt to him.

“I think there was only one person looking forward to this,” Aramus quipped, referring to Team A’s leader. “Me and Sagittarius had a nice chat, she’s actually not so bad, those plasma arrows aside.”

“She wasn’t? A pity she isn’t among our ranks,” Takeru said, taking in the drops of the rain to his face as he looked up. The storm didn’t seem like it’d subside any time soon. “Those things look like they’d hurt more than just getting stabbed. In that regard, I am glad that I didn’t engage her from the get-go… but our students…”

“You’re telling me, I had a hard time with those.” Waving his burnt hand around, Aramus looked down at the veritable flood that was supposed to be the streets. “Those students… I’ll see to it, I’ll definitely ensure that he will not get what he wants.”

“I am sorry to see that, but I had confidence that you’d be fast enough to take care,” Takeru said, a wry smile on his face. “I’d bet that it impressed even Sagittarius with how you lived to see her arrows pass by.”

“I told them to stay away, honestly. They’re either over-eager, or this guy is making orders behind our back. Who invites students to a gruesome hunt like this?

“We’ll know for sure when we ask them later. I’m putting my money on them needing meat shields and we so happened to be nearby.” Aramus slammed his good fist into the building, letting some of his rage out. “The Duchess should be en route. Shall we?”

“Yeah, let’s go, we know the coordinates anyway,” Takeru added, stretching his arms.

The two then leapt off and made way for their next meeting point.

“I think this should be close enough,” said Hynek to the car driver.

The car driver noted Hynek’s words and parked the car down over the streets after the vehicle descended. Hynek and Felix took leave after Felix paid the fare.

“I suppose we’re going on foot from here on out?” Felix asked, looking over the dark and cloudy skies that poured rain relentlessly. The two were starting to get wet despite standing under the roof over a small bench where the two were left by the vehicle.

“Well you don’t have to,” answered Hynek as he lifted Felix into his arms.

“O-Oh, my!” Felix exclaimed from surprise as she was picked up with ease. “That isn’t appropriate, Master Tamas. Considering I am your assistant, it is strange for you to support me,” she said, despite the happiness that showed vividly on her expressions.

“You were my wife before you became my assistant,” answered Hynek, to which Felix could only weakly nod with a beet red face.

Hynek stepped out from the benched area they were in. With a powerful leap he made his way onto the roof of the nearest building. Landing on the roof, he walked over to the side that gave him a better view. There were purple rays from his sight; the battle was ongoing, it seemed.

“It seems like something is… coming?” Felix said, tilting her head, feeling bewildered. It seemed like a man had escaped with nimble steps and a flash emanated from his feet. That was without a doubt, flashstepping. A spell that could augment speed greatly. She could hardly make out the figure due to the lack of light to recognize the man or his features, but Hynek might’ve seen his moments earlier.

The two then peered to the other side, and realized what the man ran from. There was a wall. A large and tall wall coming their way; a wall made out of water. It was a tidal wave of a grand volume. Felix’s expression turned from confusion to terror in a single moment.

Hynek gently set Felix down, and reached up to adjust his tie. A flash of light erupted from his chest as his kingly blade fixed itself to his wrist. He only needed to divert the wave away from them. It was not necessary to stop the entire thing. Making a fist the blade flicked out. A powerful wind swirled around the sword. Holding his arm behind him he swung upward in an uppercut and sent a thin wave of wind at the wave. Slicing a bit of the roof as well, the wind sliced through antennas and anything else before the wave before hitting it and carving the opening that would save them.

Despite making a small break in the tidal wave that tried to swallow the two whole, the water still showered over them and drove them away along with the wave. Hynek was, at the nick of time, able to hold Felix into his arms as they were swept away.

“Pangs of misfortune reign over all,” Sagittarius said. “Glory and honor invite fame but call forth envy, and thus uninvited danger. Attraction, too, beckons the same,” she added, touching her – Natsu’s – cheek. “As so it did for Atalanta, my very first host.” The spirit shook her head, a melancholic expression lasting but a moment before she frowned again. “Very well, I shall strike you down if I am unable to persuade you to divorce yourself of this meritless ordeal,” she finally said, raising the bow attached to her wrist. “Prepare yourself, son of man.”

“You can try, spirit. But you will have to pull the last breath from my body before I give up my service to my Queen.” The pages on Aramus’s grimoire flipped rapidly, the book by his side as he readied himself for whatever she had.

“A moment, the Queen, you say? They… exist still?” Sagittarius’ expression shifted; confused. “Were they not overthrown by humanity’s foolishness?”

“There is a thing in this world called loyalty. It is with this same loyalty that I serve her for all my days. You speak of misfortune, and it was my Queen that pulled me out of mine. For that, I will do anything for her,” Aramus said solemnly, still keeping an eye on her. What had the spirit so baffled? “I for one am glad my country still retains its monarch.”

The spirit tilted her head. “The only Queen lived to see the light of day in this world I’ve last heard of was…” It was as though she came to a conclusion mentally. “I see. So she lives still. Odin, you are truly a wise individual. To think that the very being who constructed the concept of monarchy treads the soil of this world still… I thank you for informing me of this fact.”

Aramus’ brows furrowed upon Sagittarius’s candid admission of thanks. “What are you talking about, spirit? What does Odin have to do with any of this?”

“Pardon? Do you think we spirits lack names?”

“The fact that you don’t tells me much. Pray tell †˜Sagittarius’, what of yours? It would leave a bad taste in my mouth, not knowing your name before we engage.”

“I do not prefer humans naming me, hence I mind not answering to your curiosity,” Sagittarius begun, “My name is Artemis. What would your name be?”

“I am Aramus Valmark. Nothing fancy, just your simple teacher,” he said, smirking a little. So this spirit was Artemis, goddess from ages past. “It would have been nice to meet on better terms than these.”

“Agreed,” the spirit replied, a tender smile that could probably win the hearts of countless men. Even the real owner of the body didn’t know how to smile like that. “Now, we begin.” And soon her face reverted back to how it was previously; an intensely angry look.

“Indeed, our dance of death.” The feathers on his fan ruffled and Aramus smiled as the winds around him grew stronger.

A noise uttered somewhere deep in his mind, a thin lock of hair he was given for an Arcane Connection awoke, informing him, “The spell’s preparations are completed by us Team B here, and the Duchess will strike soon. All remaining forces should relocate to higher grounds, possibly the high-rise buildings, if any, or attempt to move out of the area temporarily.”

The stage is set then, Aramus thought, looking around him for a suitable vantage point. He barely looked back in time to see five arrows flying at him, a quick but strong thrust of his fan giving him lift and sent him vaulting over them. The resulting gale made visibility worse and Aramus took the opportunity to make his exit.

With a quick flash step, he headed in the direction where Takeru was last seen flying towards and sure enough, there he was. Bounding across the streets and rooftops with ease, Aramus slung the man over his shoulder and with a nod from Takeru, took off for higher ground.

Before Artemis could give chase, a large wave formed and the right of Sagittarius’ view was blocked with a wall of water that was hardly visible due to the darkness of the night. Most lights of the futuristic Japan ceased, and it made it all the more harder for a glowing individual to take note. Being too late to realize, she had no time to act. Swept away by the force of the water, by what was named after a lord of the seas, Artemis wondered if Aramus was only stalling her with the conversation or had truly intended to fight her, and unfortunately ran out of time.

“Um, Master Tamas, I believe it is rather unwise to tread these rainy paths at the moment,” Felix voiced her opinion. “I do not know what technology allows them to view that battle in such visual clarity, but I doubt that we’d be able to view it in the same manner with the ongoing storm,” she elaborated, walking a step behind the old king. The two momentarily exited the premises known to be the government building. Apparently this was a building often targeted by terrorists, but their attacks were repelled every time by the shamans and guards employed by the government.

“We aren’t going to merely watch, Felix,” answered Hynek. “I plan to participate.”

“But, how?” she asked. “Considering what we watched, she is fairly competent as a warrior, albeit I am not sure what caused the change in her. It is as though she is someone else compared to who we met recently… for I was certain that we met the girl with the same face last night. Regardless, I fear that it may be a waste of our time and effort. I am aware of your other motives, but I am merely reminding you of the disadvantageous aspects of your plans.”

Hynek stopped for a moment, and turned to Felix. “I have a bad feeling about all this. It’s just a gut feeling,” said Hynek. “I want to be there incase my worst fears come to light.”

“Your… worst fears, and that would be?” Felix inquired – feeling somewhat anxious for her master now – looking gravely at Hynek.

“In time Felix. I would not want to worry you anymore than I already have,” replied Hynek. “Especially if my fears turn out to be unfounded.” Turning back around he made haste for the outside.

“Wait… Master Tamas!” Felix exclaimed, following after her master as he abruptly walked off. She could imagine the other wives grinning at her for not learning her master’s worst fears. What a clear defeat it was for her! However, it was too soon to give up, regardless of how she struggled to regain her composure.

Once they reached outside and to the streets, she looked left and right, and the area seemed rather congested despite the weather conditions.

“Shall I get us a taxi, Master Tamas?” she asked. Taking off his jacket he covered Felix with it to protect her from the wind.

“Please do,” answered Hynek.

Felix nodded, and went off to find a taxi, despite the fact that the street was congested. It took about fifteen minutes before she returned and beckoned her master to follow her, since the taxi she found could probably not come up here to receive them.

Hynek soon found himself inside the flying vehicle that ran across the transparent streets in the skies. He felt strange considering that it was levitating, and not running on ground, but he was somewhat used to the feeling since he rode airplanes many times before.

“This is amazing. To think that humans would come this far,” said Hynek. “Without that strange event I think they would have wiped themselves out before this.”

“Wipe themselves out? Which strange event?” Felix asked, not quite sure what Hynek was talking about now. “You mean the moment this country changed overnight?”

“Yes” answered Hynek. “Whatever caused it I pray doesn’t happen to Egypt. I rather like the way it looks now.”

“That I agree,” Felix nodded deeply in agreement. “I fear for the pyramids in the future. I’d rather not see them gone.”

“I will have to put more effort into preserving them, if that does become the case,” answered Hynek. “Took a long enough time to build them.”

“Indeed,” Felix answered, “but you never know when a missile or something similar may demolish them overnight,” she jokingly added. Hynek smirked at Felix’s comment as he turned to the window. They were getting closer, and as such the storm was getting more intense.

Aramus waved his injured hand in the rain, testing it. It would not be as good as before but it was usable. He entered a stance and with two sharp movements, drew a torrent of water from the rain all around them. He shot it at Sagittarius, the stream hitting her in the side before she could recover completely and sent her into a nearby wall. “Damnit, why does she have to be so tough.”

Anyone less agile than Aramus would have already been turned into a pincushion, judging from the multiples holes in the ground and houses around him.

“One after the other keeps coming…” Sagittarius noted. Her anger made Natsu’s veins twitch. After she picked herself up, she looked Takeru in the eye, and vanished.

“...What? Where is she?” Takeru asked to no one in particular, turning his head in all directions; searching for his target. Did she retreat? Run away for her dear life at last? Or was she still somewhere in the vicinity, preparing for a sneak attack? His final notion was proven when the girl appeared an inch away from him. So close that he couldn’t even think of countering, nor dodging. The eyes of the girl were before him, it was terrifying from so close. Her palm rested over his stomach – gently, ironically – sending him away with a powerful blow. Appearing beside Aramus, Sagittarius thrust at his cheek, flattening his face and striking him back to the building behind him. He hit the wall in a shower of mortar before dropping to the ground, the impact knocking him senseless for a moment. Aramus could taste blood in his mouth, rubbed the spot where Sagittarius had struck with a wince.

He rose gingerly on his feet and out of the corner of his eye, Aramus could make out the form of the Time Warrior. The air crackled with energy as he turned to face her, robes flaring as Aramus loosed the energy with a sweep of his fan. The supercharged energy surged forth, illuminating the alley as it struck Sagittarius dead centre. The lightning turned the area around her into steam, but it billowed off the Time Warrior otherwise not looking much worse for wear.

“There are some places you don’t touch, especially not my face,” he muttered, using his free hand to feel for any more injuries. So far there were none but pain would come later when he tried to eat, Aramus just knew it.

“Faces. I find them an indicator of indecence. Men and women court based on it often, they invoke lecherous thoughts…” the spirit replied, a voice that was mixed with both the spirit’s and Natsu’s spoke. It maintained a calm tone, but carried with it a commanding nature.

Aramus laughed in the pouring rain, spitting out some blood as he did so. He cocked his head to one side, trying to get a better look at the girl. “And yet they are so very necessary. They are one portion of our individuality, a way to differentiate one from another. However, I will probably have trouble eating after this ordeal thanks to you.”

“Hmph,” she mocked. “If perchance you lives,” Sagittarius replied. “You humans would’ve remained unharmed. It is, naturally, the price you pay for engaging me in combat.”

“You speak as though most of us want to be here. Trust me when I say that,” Aramus scoffed, “I would very much rather return to the role of educator, but there are certains things to take care of.”

“Then return from whence you came, why don’t you? Instead of risking your miniscule life for this farce?” questioned she, the spirit, feeling rather confused. “Has the False Prophet beguiled you so much that you are forced to make way to fight a girl who didn’t raise a finger in violence out of her own volition to begin with?”

Aramus looked up at the clouds above, feeling the rain pouring on him as Sagittarius spoke. “There are times when the choices given to us are not much of a choice at all.” He glanced back at her, a hint of sadness on his face. “There is no honor or glory to be gained in slaying a young girl but I have been ordered otherwise and would not so readily fail in my mission.”

Time passed ever since the fight started, and Alice made explanations regarding how the battle went. Of course, †˜how’ the battle went was plainly visible, but Alice had strangely gotten a hold on the British intel on their plans, for which explaining contained more than just what seemed obvious. Alice briefed how Natsu was previously injured in an ambush in the morning, after which she was helped to recover in the hospital. Noting the possibility of being attacked, they staged a plan to have Natsu put out as bait to lure the British forces out. Apparently several teams were sighted and they planned to lure Natsu to a better location for combat.

“The identity of this man – according to the records – is Aramus Valmark. A Magic Magister who has been teaching in the Eastern Magic Academy here in Japan,” Alice explained, as Aramus and Natsu fought each other on the screen. Natsu shot arrows away and Aramus displayed impressive finesse in dodging the attacks in succession. “He is also Tsuruko’s teacher, I suppose,” she added. Some of the guests turned to Tsuruko for a moment before looking back to the show.

“He… is…?” Tsuruko squinted her eyes for a moment before looking more carefully. She took no notice of the people who looked at her. Countless questions swirled in her head: “What is he doing there… or rather, why is he fighting that girl…?”

“The ambush party – most of which had its members killed by the Time Warrior – needed replacements, hence students and teachers originally with England affiliations were invited, thus the situation,” Alice answered, noting the questions Tsuruko almost whispered. She picked up her phone and received a call, taking some moments away from giving explanations. “It turns out that the team has decided to cast a large tidal wave on our Time Warrior.”

“They put up a storm to make it hard for her to see, and now this?” the man who spoke to Hynek first in the party said.

“This is getting rather out of hand,” Munakata commented. “Alice-sama…”

“Understood, I shall visit the area myself, just in case.” She then turned to Tsuruko, wordlessly asking if she’d come along.

Tsuruko nodded and proceeded with Alice, following closely behind.

Hynek sighed and stood up. “Come Felix, it is time we took our leave,” said Hynek as he offered his hand to his wife.

Felix gave a silent nod and stood up, taking up Hynek’s hand.

“Oh dear, you’re leaving already, Hynek Tamas?” Munakata questioned, not looking back to Hynek.

“No offense, but I would much rather watch this game courtside,” said Hynek with a smirk. “Your gathering is top notch, if that is at all a consolation.”

“No, a king is free to observe as he sees fit, I merely offered a more comfortable way to watch,” the old man responded, chuckling. “We will make preparations for her treatment, Alice-sama, please send her to the usual hospital when this is all over.”

Natsu was walking across the streets, eternally showered by the relentless cold rain, and lit up by occasional flash of thunder. Her eyes were alight and her expression held an intense frown.

Aramus hid behind an alley as he peeked at his target. The girl’s body resembled that of any of his students back in the Eastern Magic Academy, Aramus thought, looking at her, as she approached him. With her height and her clothes, which adhered to the latest trend, she would have fit right in with the Academy. It was her expression that stood out.

He looked at her with pity and no small amount of anger, that this girl would be the bearer of Sagittarius saddened him. He steeled himself, his trusty grimoire opening as it drew upon his energy. Aramus clenched a fist, looked up at the thunderous clouds, and swiftly brought it down; a bolt of lightning streaking towards Sagittarius.

Natsu – possessed by Sagittarius, turned up to find the rumbling thunder gathering under the command of magecraft – raised her arm up to the sky, and allowed the thunder to fall over her directly, and fearlessly. Clenching her fist, the lightning was crushed with what seemed like pure strength itself. However, the spirit was careless enough to not realize that it’d put a toll on her ears.

Aramus grit his teeth in annoyance. So much for bait. He felt naked against her power, crushing a bolt like that effortlessly.

Natsu raised her right arm and positioned it facing a shop to the right, spiritual energy gathering around it upon the spirit’s command. A purple bow formed, accompanied by a bracelet-like ring that attached itself to her wrist, connecting the bow with her. The recurve bow was then leveled to Aramus’ direction. The bow burned intensely as Natsu flexed her fingers after closing them, five arrows were born from thin air under the bow, and shot away towards the Magic Magister.

The arrows burned through the structure Aramus hid behind as if they were metal melted by very hot flames, prompting him to escape immediately. He twisted and weaved through the air, grimoire and robes moving erratically due to his motions. Aramus could feel the dangerous energy of the projectiles, trying his best to dodge them. All but one missed, the final arrow burning his flesh as it pierced him in the left hand.

He stumbled, feeling the flesh crackle and boil. Gritting his teeth through the pain, Aramus continued running deeper into the alley, trying to fade into the shadows. With the way his hand was now, it wouldn’t be possible to cast certain spells.

However, he was far from safe even under the veil of darkness. More arrows came his way soon enough. Apparently, the spirit manipulating Natsu’s body could predict to an extent the direction he’d go to, but since she couldn't see him past the alley; her attacks missed, burning an entire house in the process.

Aramus skid to a halt, his good hand reaching beneath his robes and pulling out an ornate feathered fan, feathers seemingly alive in the thunderstorm. A small gust was brought up with a swing, sweeping through the house and pulling debris along with it towards Sagittarius. He hoped the swirling winds would befuddle her somewhat. After all, there were some parts of her that were still human.

Sagittarius looked through Natsu’s eyes to peer towards Aramus, before narrowing her eyes to get a good look at the figure of the man. It was hard to see in this storm, but then she took notice that she had other company. Looking behind, she found faces of children around the age of Natsu, all glaring at her. She felt the killer’s intent from them, which warranted her attention. She turned, and faced her enemies.

The glowing eyes brought fear to their hearts, but not enough to stop them, for they were blinded by the prospect for glory.

“Heed my words, humans, your actions are foolish, bringing me down will change not the fate of this world, nor will it grant you any benefit worth your life,” she spoke solemnly, hoping emptily that someone would come to their senses, but alas, not one’s wands, staves, or grimoires moved an inch. Instead, they begun casting spells.

“So be it.”

Aramus then heard a noise – a very familiar one, at that – followed by a scream of a dear student.

Aramus growled, pointing the fan at Sagittarius and loosing a lightning bolt. This time it struck true and electricity danced across her body. He screamed loud enough into the storm for Sagittarius to hear: “Your target is here, Time Warrior. Let us dance to the beat of this storm!”

Sagittarius turned to Aramus, with two students still behind her. She then looked down at the three that fell down due to the showering electricity. They were too weak, and she wasn’t the type who’d attack them once they were down. However, two were still left. Sagittarius attacked one of the students with an arrow possessing spiritual content, forcing them back. It was her way of expressing that fighting with her was a pointless action. Next, she turned back to the wielder of the fan and conjurer – or what she would claim as the manipulator – of the winds, and shot away the rest of the projectiles she created.

Aramus dodged again, his movements and footwork a dance with the fan. With the wind and rain around him, he felt he was in his element. The arrows sizzled as they went past, one even burning through some of his robe. He laughed maniacally, the bare misses serving to fuel his battle lust.

Sagittarius faced Aramus in full, turning away and leaving the students behind her back. She was finally starting to note Aramus as a proper challenge against her power.

“I shall admit: you are fast. However…”

Sagittarius’ head was grasped from behind. She was taken aback as her eyes turned to the corner, but she could hardly see who it was.

“Got you,” a crazed, smiling Takeru said, pushing her down to the solid and cold asphalt street. The street broke; cracks resembling a spider web formed that ran all the way to the house that was on flames, now mostly cooled down by the storm’s rain.

He then picked the girl up, and struck her repeatedly. Punches, kicks, chops; he utilized various martial arts before he gave her a decisive blow that blew her meters away from him and the students.

“What are you kids doing here?! Who told you to come out? Get away from here!” Takeru yelled to the students, an expression that clearly implied that he had no idea how they’d decide to approach their target this soon.

The two students that survived the lightning rays nodded and ran off into the alleys just behind them.

Takeru then faced Sagittarius, who was picking herself up from the street.

“To think she resisted my spell…”

As Aramus was told, the location was full of smaller buildings. This was indeed an outskirt. The lights had stopped working, with only a few making the area hardly visible. There was perhaps sunlight beyond the dark sky, giving the area a grey hue that helped little with visibility in the rain.

The storm raged violently as it rained relentlessly, and thunder rumbled fiercely across the sky, shortly illuminating the landscapes.

The team landed over the wet streets when Takeru signalled with his hand. There were traces of blood all across the place, despite the rain washing over them.

Aramus looked just beside his foot, and found a corpse of a student. There were large holes in him, whoever he was. The poor child perished against an absolute power. One that a child like him wasn’t meant to go against. With an eye completely destroyed – enough to show the solid pavement behind it – he couldn’t tell if he had seen the face of said deceased student before the battle.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance, that familiar battle haze overtaking him as Aramus took a look at the devastation around him. “They aren’t meant to be here, none of them are ready for this.” He seethed, the words barely audible in the rain.

Takeru simply gave Aramus a glance, looked down to the corpse, and then straight to find the three survivors of the spy squad.

“As planned, we’ll be joining you all to provide support,” the man – the current leader of Team A – said from under the hood of his cloak. “Currently no one is engaged, but as you can see, some had charged before the order was issued at the sight of the Time Warrior.”

The Spirit Seer then stepped up from behind the leader, and spoke up in turn. “It seems like she is on the move; searching for us. We should stage an ambush.”

Aramus glared at the team leader, eyes practically daggers but instead spoke to Takeru. “What do you think?”

“You can find the Time Warrior, yes?” Takeru asked, facing the Spirit Seer.

“Yes,” she answered, sounding calm. “I am able to sense her. Her spiritual energy is as enormous as the last time.”

“Well, I think it is worth a shot, then,” Takeru answered Aramus. “You guys stay under cover,” he said, facing the students. “Be in the vicinity to act.” He then turned to the teacher beside him. “Aramus, I’ll count on you to distract her,” Takeru requested. “I will take her up from behind. Is that alright with you?”


“I like how you word these things,” Aramus said, mirth reaching his eyes. “Alright then, I’ll be your bait.”

“Alright, let’s move out,” Takeru said, a smirk coming across his face as he took up his fist, it seemed to be itching to crush something.

Hynek was led to a completely empty hall now. Empty in terms of occupying people. The only ones that were here, were but the people who guided him here. Munakata, Alice, Tsuruko, and at some point her father had joined them.

There was a very large television screen display hanging from the ceiling of the ornamentally decorated hall. The scene on it particularly showed a vehicle that levitated across the transparent road that ran across the sky. Hynek recognized the girl on its back seats when the screen zoomed in and showed Natsu’s face.

“Gentlemen, that is our new Time Warrior here,” Alice narrated, acting as the guide to the men and women gathered to watch this †˜inspection’ of a show. “Her public identity is known as Kazehaya Natsu. Her occupation is both student and idol. Some of you here this evening may have seen her on media already.” The rest of the guests were asked to take a seat on the sofas prepared for them.

“I even met her before, my goodness,” a certain someone exclaimed.

Hynek brought a hand up to his chin and leaned back into his seat. “I sensed nothing from her before at the restaurant,” said Hynek in a hushed tone. Felix was probably able to hear him, but the other spectators were paying too much attention to the screen.

“I was not expecting her to be a Time Warrior of all people, Master Tamas,” Felix commented. “It seems like Japan intends to test her somehow.”

“Coming into one's power is a terrifying experience. If this becomes too much for her. I want you to be ready,” said Hynek in Arabic.

“Really?” Felix questioned in Arabic, raising an eyebrow. “I’ve heard that Time Warriors usually fall unconscious when they come into their powers.”

“And doing so in a city full of people, and put on display like this?” replied Hynek. “I’m glad my ascension was under better circumstances.”

“This is but an observation, I doubt Japan wishes to dispose of their own possible asset so easily and readily and make a simple show out of it,” Felix replied, sounding more skeptical.

“I pray that you are right,” answered Hynek.

Beside Hynek on the other sofa was Tsuruko’s father, and Tsuruko herself who sat beside him, hence she was the closest to Hynek aside from Felix.

“Father, I suppose I should be listening intently… but what of this am I involved with?” Tsuruko quietly nudged towards her father, speaking in a soft silent voice while maintaining her body gestures.

“I suppose you are involved with Alice-sama, and was thus permitted to be here,” her father answered. “She’d eventually have to make her way to the field. I am going to have to request you to aid her when that happens.”

“Ah, that need not be questioned.” Tsuruko glanced at her father. “For I’ll always be by her side no matter the circumstance…” She then closed both eyes for a moment: “Is there going to be battle?”

“Apparently.” Her father gave a nod. “She is going to be put to the test.”

“Oh…” Tsuruko’s face wore a worrisome expression. “I wonder if I’m going to be such a burden to her again.”

“Let us hope that you aren’t, but be sure to learn from her,” her father said, sighing.

Then there was a bright light, not from the lights of the hall but the television display. When it subsided; the battle had begun. Natsu’s eyes glowed and she wore an expression of madness like never before. She conjured a purple bow from spiritual energy and begun shooting people left and right with projectiles that looked more like lasers than arrows to the viewers. The European forces that assaulted her were being intercepted.

“The battle has now started, I shall now begin to evaluate her skills and abilities, and make a report in time,” Alice stated.

“...She seems far more than capable of handling herself?” Felix said to Hynek, but it took her time to articulate the question while sounding calm. In all honesty, she was beyond surprised that a Time Warrior could be so destructive.

“Ha! The young are so full of surprises,” said Hynek.

“Here we go again… is what I wish I could’ve said, but this… well, I guess it is what it is,” commented Tsuruko, as she braced for what seemed like another overwhelmingly surreal fight to her.

Hynek stepped out from the car, the door was opened by none other than Felix, his wife and assistant. The two were dressed exclusively for the night. Felix wore an appropriate party dress, a deep green dress. †˜Appropriate’ according to her alone. With how her back was wide open for her man to see, one would rather call her bold and daring.

Hynek wore a blue and gold blazer with some white slacks. His shoes were black with shiny golden buckles on them. The middle was buttoned up with a single button in the middle, and a gold chain hung from his jacket pocket to his belt where it latched on. Grabbing the pocket watch from the pocket, he looked at the time. “Fashionably late…” he said to himself. With his arm wrapped around Felix’s waist, they were sure to raise a few brows.

The two soon proceeded – raising brows as expected – accompanied by a guide who showed them around the place. The building was tall and large, and most of it was but a place for official and civil work; a government building. However, the elevator lead them to a different world. Glitter and bright gold lights paved the way for the two: leading them to the red carpet and the party halls. The guests – seemingly conversing away with their silver tongues – gave away a mixture of echoes from their exchange, and Japan’s own futuristic style gave a completely different feel to the occasion.

The same man who Hynek met recently was the first to walk up to them as he found groups of people across the halls.

“Good evening, Mister Hynek, and Missus Felix. How do you like it here? Quite different from Egypt, I hope?”

“I rather prefer Egypt’s weather compared to here,” answered Hynek. “But it is quite nice with all the people. You never know who you might meet along the way.”

“Well, we cannot help it that our country has this issue with the clouds… and now we’re having some storm warnings.” The man sighed. “We have some of the most esteemed members of our society, and even leaders of the Shrine Organization, if that pleases you. Alice-sama has also made an appearance.”

“It does. I would like to have a word with them about their plans.” answered Hynek.

“Would you permit me to escort you to them? I have met some of these esteemed members, for which I consider myself lucky if I say so myself,” the gentleman offered.

“Yes, you may. I would do well to introduce myself to those that run this city,” answered Hynek. It made him wonder what good governments were in any civilization nowadays. The leaders had as much power as the people that backed them.

“Then, let us be on our way.”

Hynek and Felix then followed the gentleman across the halls. They stopped before a certain group of people that seemed to be conversing among one another. A few of the men wore temple garb for a reason Hynek could not comprehend. Were they members of the Shrine Organization?

“Ahh, is that who I think it is?” asked the man donned in a priestly uniform, an aged man, but his voice carried in it an unmistakable vigor. “Allow me to guess: Hynek Tamas, yes?” he guessed. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am the administrator managing mundane matters regarding the Shrine in Japan. My name is Munakata Takeuchi.”

Hynek bowed slightly and smiled. “The one and only,” answered Hynek. “And this is my wife Felix. It is a pleasure to meet you Munakata Takeuchi.”

“A pleasure to meet you to two, mi’lady,” the old man greeted Felix. “So, what do you think of our city so far?” he asked, turning to Hynek, “Beautiful, is it not?”

Hynek nodded back at Munakata. “It is. Far different from my own. Maybe a little too organized for my own personal tastes, but that has its advantages,” answered Hynek.

“Fluidity and properness comes with being organized. Complexity is completely acceptable in this regard, of course. Such essential elements are required for a running system, Hynek Tamas,” Alice said. She attempted to sound as polite as possible. She didn’t sound as monotone as before, which contradicted Hynek’s initial impression of her.

“I suppose you have a point, I’m just a tad old-fashioned,” answered Hynek with a chuckle. “The people seem happy enough, and the food cuisine isn’t bad either. So you must be doing something right around here.”

“We have flourished with no international trades for years,” Alice stated proudly. Tsuruko, who stood behind her, gaped. It was the first time she’d seen Alice exhibit a clear emotion, and Tsuruko couldn’t help but wonder if it was all an act.

Looking to the woman behind Alice, Hynek raised a brow. “And who is this quiet young lady behind you?” asked Hynek.

“Ah, I am Tsuruko, daughter of the Fuyuo family.” She bowed, almost reaching a 90 degree angle. “It is my utmost honour to be able to meet people like you.”

“Polite, and well spoken as well?” answered Hynek, bowing slightly in response. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well.”

“Ahaha, you flatter… but if I would say, I don’t live by any other way.” Tsuruko produced a faint smile. She’d met so many new people today, and she didn’t want to seem unnatural.

“I try my best to, in good company of course,” answered Hynek. “Though, there is a time when we all must act out of character.”

“There is, indeed,” Tsuruko nodded. “But in all other times, one must abide by their own rules of living…” She shook her head. “Ah, pardon me.”

“That is quite alright. It is better to say what is on one's mind,” answered Hynek. “So may I ask what is on the schedule for this evening?”

“I assume you were called for the †˜observation’?” Alice asked, the same monotone voice back.

“Yes, have I missed it?” asked Hynek looking around at the party.

“No, only a select few are allowed into the room,” Munakata interjected. “It isn’t a sight for everyone to see. However, we would very much appreciate your insight.”

“Lead the way,” answered Hynek, a bit excited, and it showed on his face.

Natsu was now in a car. A black car that was escorting her home. The vehicle flew across the transparent road equipped with lightings across the vacant air. The driver seemed to be speaking on the phone very often, but she could hardly hear anything. It seemed like he was whispering throughout most of his conversation with the person on the other side of the phone.

“Excuse me, Kazehaya-sama?” the driver addressed the girl in the back seat. In order to focus on the road, he did not turn back, and was uncertain whether she fell asleep from the tiredness or not.

“Huh?” Natsu wasn’t asleep, but she was taken out of her idle thoughts. “Oh, yes?” she replied back to the driver. Was something urgent occurring? Natsu hoped not.

“We have a problem on our hands. You have pursuers, it seems,” the driver informed, a solemn look could be seen from the side from Natsu’s view. “It seems like the Europeans are rather stubborn about you. We have tried to hold them back, but the fight is not going in our favor so far.”

Natsu’s eyes went wide, and she carefully looked out of each of the car’s windows. “Are… are they coming after us now already...? Did they find me again…?” she asked nervously. She glanced back at the mark on her hand, wondering if she’d need to rely on Sagittarius' power once again to save her from this situation. Even if she wouldn’t die from the encounter, Natsu was afraid of reliving the intense pain she had just recovered from, along with possibly harming the people who had helped her.

“Um… Kazehaya-sama. Please listen carefully to what I am about to tell you,” the guard begun, “the last user of Sagittarius was a woman in America… and she was indeed killed by a magician about thirty years ago. If you withhold your powers in combat, you may be in greater danger than you believe. As there are chances that the same magician may be after you.”

“The same…?” Natsu’s voice silenced for a moment, shocked by this new information. “I thought… I thought a Descendant of Time was immortal…?” Someone had figured out how to kill a Time Warrior. How could this be, Natsu thought. Sagittarius, herself, had told her it couldn’t be done.

“They are immortal, yes. However, they can be killed when the time around them is stopped. That is what this particular magician is capable of.”

Sagittarius had stopped time when she saved Natsu. If that was the case… Natsu asked to confirm. “Is this magician a Time Warrior, too…?”

“No. Time Warriors and magicians are strictly different. Time Warriors rely on spiritual energies derived from their respective spirits, mages borrow mana from the Realms. We do not know how they do it, but it is believed that there is a small group of magicians from Europe that are able to cast a spell that is able to stop time in a small targeted space.”

Natsu shuddered at the thought of this. She already knew what kind of havoc could be caused when Sagittarius stopped time. The fact that these assassins could too was making Natsu especially fearful. She really hoped Sagittarius would save her again. Fighting someone on that scale was too much.

“Well, it should be just one person in this case, but still, be careful,” the man said.

“...I see…” Natsu said. It was all that she could come up with for a reply. The girl had only gained such powers today, and she’d suddenly have to go through an unbelievable ordeal all over again. It was a little too tall an order for her to carry out, but she’d have to go through this, if she wanted to see the light of tomorrow. Knowing that it was just one magus capable of performing the feat was a slightly comforting fact, but her peace of mind was forever lost.

At that time, an ear-splitting noise occurred and Natsu yelped.

“Already?!” the driver yelled, trying to not fall over the transparent road.

Natsu looked towards the window of the car and found figures slightly visible from the lights of the city under the night sky. They wore black cloaks – just like last time – and had their heads turned towards her. She was sure that it was them – her enemies.

“Sagittarius-sama!”

An immensely bright light emanated from Natsu…

i kek'd

sauce pls Fi

maybe both

Oh yeah, I remember this.

lel

“I suppose,” Ansel answered, his grin unwavering as a sword materialised before his hand. Grabbing his blade, he swung it down towards Arthur without hesitation, drawing upon his blood. Arthur immediately struck back, surprising the vampire. He spat on the floor and moved back, an illusionary form of himself coming forth before Arthur, obscuring the view. Ansel seemed to hide himself among the fakes that kept reappearing even now.

“You think I’m phased by your attacks?” Arthur asked of the whole room, not knowing where the real Ansel resided. “Bring the pain,” he spat. As he did, he spun his sword: looking around the room. Trying to deduce which Ansel was the real one, he suddenly attacked. Faster than Ansel could react to, Arthur’s sword arced towards the Vampire’s chest.

“Damn you! What the heck are you?!” the Vampire roared, feeling the pain the King of Knights spoke of, a hand falling over his gushing wound. He tried to swing his blade upon Arthur again, but before he could take his attack on, a different blade stopped the strike.

A deep black blade stopped Ansel’s gray sword. He hadn’t a moment to eye the platinum-blonde haired lady with ire as Mary’s blade was thrust and pierced into his chest. It pierced so deep – and seemingly so effortlessly – that it broke out from his back. Mary soon pulled her sword out and fell back behind Arthur.

“Sorry for the wait,” she said, smiling like before she was stabbed. The stakes were taken out, lying before the door, it seemed. She was still wounded, however.

“Nice sword,” Arthur said, turning to check on Amrita’s wound.

“Why thank you,” Mary replied, turning to the bed where the woman should’ve been. However, she was long gone.

“Tch,” Arthur tutted, not only was his target gone but the power he intended to use to heal Amrita had backfired on him, healing himself instead. “We have to go, I doubt either of you are in the best condition right now.”

Mary poked Arthur from behind. “I found this on her bed,” she said. “You’d probably want it more than me.” She handed it to him. It was a letter, the sealing seemed to be unmistakably of the Royalty.

“My stomach still hurts,” Amrita said, sounding like she was complaining as usual, but she tried really hard to keep herself from sobbing. The pain was burning and almost unbearable.

Arthur took the letter from Mary. “Thank you,” he said tucking it into his jacket pocket. Lifting the wounded Amrita up he whispered, “I’m sorry,” to her before turning again to Mary. “Let’s go.”

Mary gave a nod and followed along.







“Thank you,” Mary said. “It seemed like you didn’t need my help, after all. My client may have underestimated you,” Mary said, giving a bow to Arthur, still wounded as before.

They were now outside the Boundary, which was apparently gone after they left it, according to Amrita.

“Most people do,” Arthur said. “Are you ok?” he asked, genuinely concerned.

“I’ll be alright,” Mary answered, smiling. “Just be sure to take care of your friend,” she said, looking at Amrita, who was passed out by now from exhaustion.

“Will do,” Arthur said. “And thank you.” He turned to leave in order to treat the girl who lay unconscious in his arms.

“...I-Is she really dead?” Amrita asked, looking at Mary on the floor, crimson blood spreading.

Arthur gazed forward and found a bed, and over it was an old enemy that he had recently met.

“You have bad manners, walking into a lady’s room like that, Arthur,” she said. An irritated expression gave away that she was awfully angry for some reason, unlike her usual smug face.

“I couldn’t stay away,” Arthur said smirking upon seeing the angered face. Immediately he crouched down to check the heartbeat of the girl who had been so cruelly impaled. There was none. He reached over to heal but his concentration was broken by the woman’s voice.

“I was almost asleep… how irritating,” she hissed. “Ansel!” she called. A black portal formed before the bed, and a man in black suit and pants walked out from it, facing Arthur and Amrita.

“I will take care of them,” he said with a cold tone, but Arthur could feel extreme hostility just from looking at him. It was as though he was roused more than his old friend on the bed was.

“That seems like a normal vampire,” Amrita said, looking the man from bottom to top. “I can tell that the clothes are enchanted, but not the effects themselves.”

Arthur sighed. “Well I suppose this was inevitable,” he said, his legendary sword appearing in his hands.

Ansel raised his hand, as if to cast a spell, but Amrita did the same at the same time. It seemed like a matter of who’d be fast enough to gather mana from the spells’ respective Realm, and shoot away said spell. Unfortunately for him – and fortunately for Arthur – Amrita was faster, as a mystical force sucked away nutrients from his arm. He pulled it back in time to save it from being completely immobilized.

“Tch.”

“I feel so tired…” Amrita whispered to Arthur. “I’ve taken in too much mana recently. My body can’t handle much more,” she explained. “I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“That’s good to hear,” Ansel said, apparently overhearing her words. He raised his arm and called forth the Realm of Infernals, and soon his body was alight with a strange aura, then it multiplied. Now Arthur could see many Ansels across the room, only one being the real him, apparently.

“Well, shall we get started?” Arthur asked, still smiling. Trying to call forth his armaments for the second time, he was successful. Five appeared, circling around him.

Mentally directing his armaments, Arthur readied his blade as they fanned out to attack his enemy. Eliminating the fakes, Arthur immediately pounced, Excalibur in hand as he slashed into an off guard Ansel.

“Don’t lose focus, you’re fighting me,” he said with a grin.

Blood rolled into the air, and dripped onto the floor as the shining blade wounded the frowning vampire. Taken aback, he took a step behind. Hearing the sigh of his mistress=, he felt rather insulted.

It seemed as though he pointed towards Arthur – as he grinned back at him – but when Arthur traced the direction, it lead to someone behind him. Indeed, it was Amrita. Before he could turn back – or even consider doing so – a scream followed from the little girl. He finally turned, and found a bloodstained girl with a clear flesh wound leaning on the door.

Arthur frowned, grin gone from his face. Instead it was replaced by disgust. Disgust at the tenacity of the Vampire he was fighting.

“I said,” he uttered darkly, “you’re fighting me.”

Mary nodded, Amrita simply dropped the subject, and the two soon followed.

Inside the castle now, the three found a hall devoid of light, mostly. A hue of red came through the crimson sky from the windows. The lights were off, it seemed. It seemed like the floors were cleaned, at least. The floors creaked as they walked, however; they were wooden. There was a multitude of portraits, all showing a particular woman Arthur was well-acquainted with.

Arthur looked in all directions, and he couldn’t find anyone in sight other than Amrita and Mary. Eventually, they found a room beyond the large staircase just before them – locked with a tall and wide white door – and he felt an ominous air around it.

“There is quite a lot of energy swirling around there,” Mary said, looking in the same direction as Arthur – towards the room beyond the staircase.

“I don’t feel anything…” Amrita said, confused.

“Spiritual energy,” Mary elaborated.

“What are you, a Spirit Seer?” Amrita asked, but Mary remained silent.

“I didn’t need a Spirit Seer to tell me there was something weird about that room,” Arthur remarked in a hushed tone.

“Well, let us go, shall we?” Mary asked.

Amrita on the other hand shuddered. “Err, we’re really going there…?”

“You want us to just stay up here and do nothing?” Arthur asked.

“I-It could also be a trap!” Amrita said, “Mary is the one who gave you the information; what’s there to say that she isn’t misleading us?”

Arthur looked at Mary. It wouldn’t be too farfetched to assume that this girl could indeed be misleading the two of them. There was so much that was suspicious about the girl’s story and her as a person.

“Is it a trap?” Arthur asked, not really hoping for a proper answer.

“If I were to ask you if you killed someone innocent – when you in fact did – would you tell me the truth?” Mary asked in response, chuckling.

“Most likely,” Arthur said, “But I wouldn’t kill someone innocent in the first place, whereas you, I feel you would have no qualms with lying to me.”

“But what proof do you have against me? And what credibility is there to warrant that your words wouldn’t be lies from my perspective? Your position have given rise to countless rumours that makes you far more questionable than even I am in the Magic World at the moment, Mister Director. However – whether you believe it or not – I mean no ill for you, I am here on orders, and I only stand against vampires. I’m no fan of vampires either, and I am here out of duty.”

“Well then,” Arthur smiled. “After you my lady.”

“Of course,” Mary smiled, walking towards the hazy violet airs that surrounded the path ahead. A stout girl.

The three then proceeded past the staircase and to the tall white pair of doors. Arthur pushed the door open, and gestured for Mary to proceed in a gentlemanly manner.

The lady who was only known to Arthur as a scholar walked into the darkness before them. Arthur followed after her, with Amrita clinging to a part of his cloth.

From the darkness flew out daggers – or so it seemed to Arthur from the glint of the flash – before impaling the lady he allowed to step in first. When Mary dropped to the ground – with her chest clearly pierced – it seemed like she was stabbed by white stakes of some kind. At least that was what Arthur could conclude from what little light came in from the open door behind them.

“It should be around here,” the child-like woman with violet hair said to the tall man walking beside her. The location was the Church Road. It was ironic that the hideout of the vampires was located around here.

Amrita held out her arm to the vacant air. Her finger was adorned with a ring, and it shined as she channeled mana – driven from the Faerie Realm – through it. “There is a Boundary here somewhere indeed…”

“What do you intend to do once you find it?” Amrita asked. “We might be overpowered by too many vampires.”

“Oh I’m sure they’ll be quite reasonable,” Arthur said jokingly. “Either way, I’m sure that we can handle it together.”

“Well, aren’t you optimistic,” Amrita said, frowning. “I wonder how they even find Boundaries like these. They’re hidden a little too well. It’s no wonder that a mage from a church didn’t notice.”

“They’re smart creatures,” Arthur said, still surveying the area. “We probably never would have found this alone.”

“That scholar who shared the information is definitely not ordinary then,” Amrita said. “If someone like me is having trouble; she must be exceptional in sensing magic.” Her head soon perked up as if she noticed something. “Oh, I found it,” she then recited a verse of an ancient language. “Alright, follow me, but you might wanna stick very close if you don’t wanna get lost.”

The world begun to warp as the two progressed. As they walked throughout the street; the forms of the houses changed slightly, the sky seemed less cloudy, which was ironic. The Engine Lights hardly illuminated the path and there weren’t any citizens passing by them no matter how far they went. Since the law was recently implemented, one would usually find a few people walking by here and there. This was a good thing for the two since they wouldn’t want people to see Amrita’s horns. Albeit she’d usually take some effort to shroud them with illusionary magic items when going out, except at night.

“Very quiet,” Arthur voiced aloud, “Almost unnerving, don’t you think?”

“...I agree,” Amrita nodded. “We haven’t reach-” she stopped and turned around. “Nevermind, we’re here.”

There was a large castle standing behind the two. The environment changed completely, and Arthur could see a red clear sky above. There weren’t any Engine Lights, nor any houses outside the black gates as far as they could see.

“T-This isn’t what they call a ghost house, is it?” Amrita questioned, fidgeting.

“Who knows what kind of vengeful spirit lies beyond?” Arthur asked rhetorically, in an overly dramatic tone, “Let’s get a move on,” he said approaching the looming gates.

Amrita ended up clinging to Arthur again as he pushed the gates open. It wasn’t anything like a horror story where the gates would open on their own in a dramatic fashion. They then made their way to the castle. Just before they could enter the castle, they heard an ominous howl. From the top of the house a something poked out; leering at the two down below. It soon jumped down and landed before them, startling Amrita.

“It’s the same Lycanthrope!” she said, pointing at the monster.

Arthur turned to find another Lycanthrope behind him. He had no idea where it came from, making no noise no less.

Arthur sighed. “This isn’t what we came here for,” he said wearily. Extending his hand, a gleaming sword appeared. “I guess it has to come down to this again.”

Amrita nodded, taking a grimoire out from her waist. “Two this time. I wonder if they breed these monsters somehow.

“Then again, Lycanthropes are people by day. So… perhaps they infect them somehow?”

The Lycanthropes attacked. With their sharp and long claws they approached the two with alarming speed.

Arthur was no slouch when it came to speed either. He quickly intercepted the claws of both werewolves before they had a chance to hit him or his companion. Pushing them back he launched a counterattack. Shimmering sword in hand he made a sharp cut upwards matting on the Lycanthropes’ fur with red. It fell to one knee before Arthur almost clinically made another incision. Even blood didn’t dull the shine of the legendary blade the former King of Knights wielded as the Lycanthrope collapsed to the floor. Turning to the other one Arthur wore an apologetic face.

“It’s a shame it has to come to this,” he said, ready for the remaining Lycanthrope’s next attack.

The Lycanthrope growled, as if angered from witnessing the injury that his comrade had received. It raised its claws and attempted to attack, but just before Arthur’s blade connected; it stopped. It moaned, coughing up blood that painted Arthur half-red before it fell down to the ground.

After the monster fell, Arthur found the student from yesterday before him. Not the disgraceful scholar who lacked a knight’s honour, but the platinum haired lady who shared information about this area.

“I see you’re hard at work tonight,” Mary commented, holding a deep black sword. There were strange black vines full of spikes that seemed to have merged with her arm.

“Well now,” Arthur mused. “Isn’t this a surprise. Whatever could you be doing here young lady?”

Mary shrugged. “I was ordered to help out, and so here I am,” she answered. “I honestly thought that you’d be good enough for this.” Indeed she did, but mostly because she’d rather not know something about him that she wasn’t meant to know. She felt bad about leaving a certain friend behind at an hour like this at her own lodgings, but it had to be done. She felt slightly ironic especially because she scolded her about returning late yesterday.

“You doubt me?” Arthur asked sarcastically, “I’m hurt.”

“Well, I didn’t. My superior did,” Mary answered, despite noting the sarcasm.

“Or are you here to keep an eye on us?” Amrita asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Definitely not. I’d rather be sleeping than doing that,” Mary chuckled as she answered.

Ignoring the back and forth between the two girls Arthur pushed open the door to the castle that stood in front of him. The large wooden door creaked as he did so.

“You two coming?” He asked as an afterthought.