Cinia Pacifica Posts

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.

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.”

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.”

Meh.

Depends for those who -wants- to play (instead of complaining about popularity). Not like the game even wants gaijins playing it.

kek

Takes like one or two try to get past that lottery.

kek

Shit, was about to get Lilith.

[size=7](BGM)[/h]


Aramus and Elizabeth found themselves in a city they usually wouldn’t have so much time to walk on. The lights were as dazzling as ever. The skyscrapers were as tall as they’d remembered. The high-rise buildings were as awe-inducing as always, despite the fact that they saw such long establishments back in England. Lastly, the people were always there regardless of the time they’d visit the city, something they weren’t used to seeing.

Be it night or day, midday or midnight, dusk or dawn; people of the futuristic Japan would usually be crowding the streets. It was strange, as if they didn’t need sleep at all.

The vehicles flew while some still ran on wheels. Elizabeth was always impressed by the levitating cars that ran across the transparent roads up in the skies.

[color=#ff0088]“This place always makes me speechless,”[/color] she said thoughtlessly. [color=#ff0088]“I cannot compare our Great Britain to this.”[/color]

Enraptured himself, Aramus always enjoyed his ventures into the city. With Elizabeth as company, it was great. [color=#bf00ff]“It is an entirely different experience from our homeland. I’ll just visit the usual joints to see if they have something better for our dear healer.”[/color] Taking out his own smartphone, Aramus looked at the map he had so often used to get around.

[color=#ff0088]“Then let us be on our way,”[/color] Elizabeth replied, apparently very excited for their venture into the city tonight. It was clear that she hadn’t had the opportunity to come here very often.

The two then journeyed across the city and gave some of the shops and markets a visit. It seemed like Elizabeth was fond of letting herself get distracted, that’s one thing Aramus could tell, with how every little things could sway her eyes away. He could only watch over her when she was like this.

However, it wasn’t so easy to find a †˜rare and pricey’ wine as Mathilde had put it. It had to be an exceptional bottle, or at least that’s what she implied. Elizabeth seemed to have had a keen eye, and had rejected over ten labels at least, making both the sellers and Aramus sigh.

[color=#ff0088]“These markets probably don’t have anything rare… perhaps we can find some in an auction?”[/color] Elizabeth suggested as the two approached a park on their way to the next location that Aramus found from his map in the smartphone even as he pondered her words.

[color=#bf00ff]A-auction?[/color] Just what was this girl thinking!?

[color=#ff0088]“How about we take a break?”[/color] She suggested, even though she didn’t appeared to be tired in the slightest. Was she being thoughtful about Aramus?

[color=#bf00ff]“Alright. It is nice to stop and watch what goes on around from time to time.”[/color] walking to a nearby vending machine, Aramus dropped a few yen coins inside, the machine dispensing its payload with a silent whirr. [color=#bf00ff]“Here.”[/color] This time, Aramus passed her a can of milk tea. What better way to spend a short break than with some tea, of course. [color=#bf00ff]“I’m sorry I can’t get you anything better.”[/color]

[color=#ff0088]“It is alright, teacher. I will definitely end of trying out the futuristic drinks the next time I come by, however,”[/color] Elizabeth accepted the can of milk tea, while stating her newfound objective as she opened the can and took a swig of her tea. [color=#ff0088]“But really, there was no need to buy any drink for me, at all.”[/color]

[color=#bf00ff]“Nonsense. You took the time to accompany me on a trip that did not require you to.”[/color] Aramus said, walking to a pair of mechanical swings. He missed these back in his orphanage as a younger child. Even for swings, they looked… advanced. He tentatively took a seat, letting the mechanism start up.

[color=#ff0088]“I’ve had your… delicious black tea back in the dormitory. Besides, you must save up for Almond. It is no good to spend money for pleasantry and formalities, not in your case,”[/color] Elizabeth replied – shaking her head – almost like a mother, then looked down before continuing, [color=#ff0088]“It was definitely a requirement, however. How could I not accompany you – when it was my incompetence in combat that lead to you taking special measures to getting me cured? Even now, I feel like I haven’t been able to pay you back for your kindness.”[/color]

A green light lit up on the side of the swing’s stands; hinting the startup of the machines struck into the slim-looking supports of the swing. Before Aramus knew it; the swing started moving, all on its own. It started moving slowly – just as it would like any ordinary swings – but soon begun to get faster and faster, carrying more and more distance. The speed was absolutely not natural and as a man from the industrial city of London from the 19th century; he was beginning to get scared of the automation now.

[color=#bf00ff]“I, ah… It’s ok Elizabeth, really.”[/color] The speed was getting a little disconcerting for him. What happened to the happy rides he had with the other kids as a child? This was definitely not the same harmless swing from his childhood and he was beginning to get worried. [color=#bf00ff]“No really, as your teacher, I’m obliged to make sure all students are well taken care of. Besides, you’re the one that saved me from going hungryyyyyy.”[/color] The last line was said after a particular bad cycle and now it seemed he would not be able to get off. What kind of machine was this!?

Elizabeth hadn’t noticed Aramus sitting on the swing at all, as she was happily drinking her canned tea, despite asking him why he had to go to the trouble of raising his expenditures for providing her with a drink. She could she not savour her teacher’s painfully earned money? It was the least she could do, since he insisted on treating her. However, when she heard his voice trail off the way it did, she immediately stood up and looked to the side to find Aramus on an ultra fast super swing – or so it seemed like – to her.

[color=#ff0088]“T-Teacher?! What’s going on!”[/color] She exclaimed, making her way to the side of the swings, not sure how to turn it off herself. She seemed to be panicking, even though it was Aramus who was supposed to be panicking.

[color=#bf00ff]“Aaaaaaaaaa- I don’t know!”[/color] Cursing himself for being defeated by a childrens’ play device, Aramus was honestly panicking, but could not do so as he had to cling to the handles on the seat. What kind of demented person designed a swing like this? [color=#bf00ff]“I’ll find a way to stop it… I hope!”[/color]

[color=#ff0088]“I-I’ll see if there is something in here that can stop it!”[/color] Elizabeth shouted a reply but she honestly couldn’t see anything aside from a greenlit circle that indicated that the swing was online. There was no way to notice a button in this darkness. Her hands quivered about, and she was very worried for her teacher, staring at him getting hopelessly swung over and over at a high speed back and forth. Albeit, at least it stopped getting faster. They both figured that it was at its maximum speed at the moment.

A low noise occurred in a few moments as Aramus noticed that the speed of the swing was starting to drop, allowing his heart beat and his screams to go down. Elizabeth realized that there was someone else other than herself, who seemed to have pressed on the green light itself. So it was a button! A red light turned up from just below the green light.

Aramus could finally get off the swing, albeit his head was spinning, and he almost fell off, but Elizabeth caught him, and helped him get to the benches – which she checked if it was mechanical, just in case – somehow.

[color=#ff0088]“I almost thought you’d be sent flying to the road, that was scary,”[/color] Elizabeth said, sighing, it was almost as though she was on the swing with him, and appeared to be burnt out. Perhaps it was the worry and tension that really wore her out.

Aramus clutched his head, the trauma of having his childhood swing destroyed making him slightly weak in the knees after that ordeal. [color=#bf00ff]“Not as scary as seeing your childhood get ruined, whatever good was left of it.”[/color] He took a few sips, or attempted to, from his can of milk tea but it was already empty, making empty whooshing sounds as nothing but air filled his mouth.

The two were taking deep breathes, leaning against each other in the middle of the bench, with Elizabeth’s head in Aramus’ shoulder, and his cheek pressed against her silky blonde hair.

[color=#ff0088]“At least you had a childhood with swings, they wouldn’t even let me play for the sake of studying… ”[/color]

Taking in deep breaths, Aramus just sat there. He was glad that Elizabeth was here with him, imagine what would’ve happened by himself? [color=#bf00ff]“That’s implying I had a childhood at all. I’m surprised you hadn’t heard of my origins. Still, at least I can tell your parents when I meet them that they have a fine daughter.”[/color] Placing the empty can at his side, Aramus now only realized how close they were and froze. Thank heavens no one from the academy was around, if not that paycheck of his would definitely be forfeit.

[color=#ff0088]“Well, they’d still find ways to criticize me anyway. They are rather harsh,”[/color] Elizabeth said, but then she noticed a figure staring at them blanking in front of them. It was the one who pushed the button. Then she noticed how close and stuck she was with her teacher. Blood flushed all the way up to her cheeks in but a single instant. Elizabeth moved away so fast that Aramus almost fell over in the bench.

[color=#ff0088]“A-Ah, sorry for not noticing you earlier! Thank you very much for saving my teacher from the swing… uh, um, he is a little… old fashioned. Yes, that’s right,”[/color] Elizabeth quickly spoke out to the girl before her. She didn’t seem to be Japanese either.

Strangely enough, Aramus wondered why he’d always run into foreigners like this. The beauty before him had blonde hair just like Elizabeth, but even he could tell that her’s were much richer and brighter somehow. She had a pretty face and a bright fair skin, but her expression was absolutely emotionless as she looked down at the two with her cold starry eyes.

Starry? Aramus thought. Why were they like that? Was she was a mage?

[color=#bf00ff]“Ah, so you were the one who saved me. Thank you very much.”[/color] Aramus wasn’t sure but he bowed slightly in thanks. Indeed, he had noticed Elizabeth backing away from him hurriedly, but the person before him was intriguing as well. There was still a faint blush on his cheeks as he could still feel her warmth, though.

[color=#0000a0]“It’s okay. From the looks of it, neither of you seemed to be a native. It is a common issue even for natives,”[/color] the girl replied in a monotone voice.

[color=#bf00ff]”Ah, I see… Nonetheless, I am grateful you stepped in to help.”[/color] He gave her a smile, but was perplexed by her tone of voice. It was as if she had no emotion, and her reply was so matter of factly; it bothered him.

[color=#ff0088]“Um, excuse me but, would you happen to know where we can find a rare and expensive wine?”[/color] Elizabeth said, cutting in. It was a good an opportunity as any, perhaps a native – as she put it – would know.

The lady before them gave a single nod, and muttered a word, or so it seemed. Then her eyes glowed blue. It seemed as though she was looking at something else, despite still facing them. Strange, the two on the bench thought, tilting their heads in curiosity.

[color=#0000a0]“Do you have a Nerve Device?”[/color] She asked facing Aramus.

[color=#bf00ff]”A-a wha? Nerve… Device?”[/color] He could answer her with confusion, slightly off focus as he had tried to sense if she was using magic. Apparently, it must have been some form of technology that looked like magic or far surpassed it.

[color=#0000a0]“I suppose you two are not registered as citizens… ?”[/color] The girl seemed somewhat confused, also tilting her head like they both did earlier. Elizabeth just looked as though she was weird, but did not dare interrupt the conversation.

[color=#0000a0]“Then, if you have a smartphone at least, please let me see it.”[/color]

Aramus handed his phone over to her. Whoever she was, it looked like she knew what she was doing. Too bad he was a dumb foreigner, so he would defer to… this stranger.

The lady took the phone, then skillfully paced her finger across the screen; marking several locations.

[color=#0000a0]“Search results refer to these locations. Good luck,”[/color] she said, handing back the smartphone to Aramus, before giving a slight bow, then walking away from the park.

[color=#ff0088]“Thank you… ”[/color] Elizabeth said, waving her hand at her lightly with no smile. She was still stupefied by this person. [color=#ff0088]“She was so pretty, but somehow scary,”[/color] Elizabeth whispered to herself, heaving a sigh again.

[color=#bf00ff]“Thank you very much, miss! May I have your name?”[/color] Aramus raised his voice so she would hear him, although it did make him feel bad that he had to shout.

She turned towards Aramus, then pointed to a large television screen attached to a building that aired advertisements.

It showed the same face! ...But something was different.

More than just different.

Mind-bafflingly different.

It was a lady – with the same face – smiling and singing at a stage. In the bottom corner of the screen, Aramus could read the name displayed. Of course he could read it, since it was written in English.

“Alice,” it said.

When Aramus looked back to the girl, she was already gone.

He looked over at Elizabeth mutely, totally unsure of what to say. The contrast was too large. Elizabeth looked back all the same, apparently speechless too.

[color=#ff0088]“I don’t know what to say… was that really a celebrity of futuristic Japan? Are they all like this?”[/color]

Her teacher shrugged in response. He had no words, really. The night started out pleasantly enough, him and Elizabeth, then a ride on the demonic swing and now this strange woman named Alice? [color=#bf00ff]“I think it’s best if we continued on our way, Elizabeth.”[/color]

[color=#ff0088]“Indeed, despite all that had happened, at least we know where to check now,”[/color] Elizabeth answered, getting off the bench.

The two then left the park, wanting to forget about the disastrous swings. The night was still young and the two were only getting started.

But, it's not.

(BGM)


Lush green grasses, trees with healthy leaves, hills; a place where the two could bask in the presence of nature. A sight Claudia hadn’t seen in years, and likely forgot by now. A country revolutionised and changed. Layers of steam, smog and grey clouds replaced the blue skies from Claudia’s view forever, after she was brought to England by the slavers. On the other hand, Charlotte had learned to like this change, even though she somewhat longed to see the clear and beautiful skies.

Who didn’t? Perhaps only the children who knew of the grayless skies in their childhood and could no longer remember them anymore after maturing were the ones that didn’t long for them.

Hyde park was one such place that the Engine culture didn’t take away. It didn’t give people the rays of the sun in littering showers, but it did gave people the rumor that some could see the sky from here. It gave people hope. It gave people more than just a reason to visit. Albeit, people simply enjoyed basking in nature just as any forestmen would, the rumors were but a small influence.

Charlotte and Claudia could see people in all directions, ranging from plebeians to middle classed, to even high-esteemed aristocratic ladies and gentlemen that came out to enjoy the park. It was possibly the only place where people of all types of social standings came to meet and congregate.

A special place, arguably.

The two were greeted by the Crystal Palace that stood behind the park, it was as gleaming as ever. Such radiance were retained despite the lack of the sun, making it admirable.


“I don’t have a sheet to make this a proper picnic, but I suppose we can sit across the grass fields just fine,” Charlotte suggested, peering down to the green grounds. “I hear they clean this place very often.”

“That is fine, I don’t mind.” replied Claudia, mystified with the landscape before her.

Charlotte sat down over the grass; leaning against a tree – that lied on the side originally – and ushered Claudia to take a seat beside her, patting the grass. “The weather is really nice here, isn’t it?”

“Some say that you get less soot here in the air, too.”

“Indeed, I could imagine. I wonder how they manage to do it, though. Magic? What do you think, Charlotte?” Claudia thought out loud as to took a seat next to Charlotte. Her legs crossed to the side as she did– a likely position for women wearing dresses and skirts alike.

“I doubt it,” Charlotte laughed at the mere suggestion of such a thing. “It feels too natural to be tempered with magecraft. It was simply preserved from the time King Henry used it as his hunting ground.”

“Ah, I see. And with that, the rest of the city turned into a place of technology and innovation, am I correct? Factories everywhere, around every corner you go. When I first arrived, it did not take me long to realize how out of whack London’s timeline– along with the rest of the world is.”

“Yes, only this place remains now, and apparently they have intentions of taking the technology to higher levels for the war,” Charlotte replied. “Ah, the timeline mismatch is such an interesting subject. Mary and I have had countless discussions about them. There are – and were – many rumors about them, some say that London’s timeline often flickered back and forth.”

Claudia stared, astounded. “Is that so? I wonder what really happened for such a thing to change the timeline of an entire country. I cannot complain, however. I fairly enjoy the sights of †˜Victorian London’. I have always dreamt of walking amongst the sharply dressed men, and frock wearing women, sipping tea in cafés, and gazing at whatever sights London had to offer. But of course, that was only a childhood dream came true, I suppose.” Claudia chuckled, reminiscing.

“I do wish to visit the other countries too, to at least find out where their cultures lie and explore what their timelines possess.”

“Mhm, that is a fair dream for many modern Londoners to have, they say,” Charlotte said, apparently looking back to a certain past. “I suppose you are now living a dream come true, which is a great thing. Just so you know, you wouldn’t have met the Duke if not for that.”

Claudia looked up to the tree, exploring the leaves blow from the subtle wind. “That is true,” Claudia said with a smile. “I am glad he chose me out of the many children in the orphanage. I sometimes lie awake at night wondering what could have happened if he didn’t.”

“My, a fated meeting I daresay,” Charlotte said, clapping her hands. “And here you’re out – cheating on him – betraying his kindness,” she said, chuckling.

“Jeez, I… I said we were friends!” Claudia yelled, face red from embarrassment.

“Oh dear, are you sure you want to lie about that? A †˜date’ is explicitly implying something more than just an outing,” Charlotte said teasingly, with this reaction seen, she’d tease her for long about this, “Are you sure that calling him a friend one-sidedly applies well?”

“T-That doesn’t imply anything, I just took a liking to you, okay?!”

“My, my, what a passionate confession,” Charlotte replied, “and a scandalous one already,” looking left and right, some people did look at Claudia with awe from that loud proclamation. She snickered ever so loudly from witnessing this reaction.

Claudia glanced left and right as well, talking notice to the peering people. She made sure to lower her voice a little. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Claudia said appearing mad, but couldn’t manage to hold her laugh.

Charlotte’s lips stretched wide, but she shrugged her shoulders; pretending to not know anything.

“Oh dear, whatever may you be referring to? This banter was meant to follow this direction, there was no intention on my part,” she stated.

“Hahaha, very funny.” Claudia huffed, using a false laugh in her sarcasm. “So this is the power of Charlotte Brontë, such a fearful and powerful woman… I see why Mary trembles before you, weak and flustered.” she put a hand on her forehead and leaned backwards, pretending she is suffering from Charlotte’s treatment.

A dark expression arose from Charlotte as Claudia continued to look at the sky. Both women were leaning against the tree, facing different sides, after all.

“Trembles before me, huh? I wonder what she truly feels…” she said, a very different tone than a moment ago, she buried her head on her thighs after she brought them up to her chest, and her voice was dripping with dismay.

“Hmm? What’s the matter?” Claudia said looking back to Charlotte. “You don’t think she vilifies your friendship, do you?”

“No, I feel like she is… pretending to be the Mary I once knew,” Charlotte answered.

Claudia bat up an eyebrow at that. She wouldn’t really know much, given she had just got to know the two girls today. What could she mean? Claudia wondered. “Pretending? For what reason?” she asked.

“For this joke of mine to work,” Charlotte said, laughing from the bottom of her lungs.

“Oh, hahaha.” Claudia laughed, taking to the joke well. Judging from Charlotte’s change in attitude and sudden mention of Mary, Claudia didn’t believe that was a joke for one bit. It did not add up at all, unless Charlotte turned out to have a dark sense of humor, which was hard for her to doubt. Nevertheless, it all seemed too out of place. “That was a funny joke indeed, but why don’t you tell me what’s really the matter?” Claudia said, with a serious expression.

“I wish there was a matter,” Charlotte answered, chuckling, “as mages, our lives are so much like mundanes. To be honest, I hardly know what she does aside from her known activities: acting as Juliet in plays and as a research group member in Royal Academy, for instance.”

Claudia’s expression loosened a bit, yet she still had her suspicions intact. “She likely spends it writing.” she shrugged. “Who knows? Either that or maybe she does have a secret sex life.” Claudia said, covering her mouth with a giggle.

“No, she doesn’t!” Charlotte instantly denied, playing along. “M-My Mary can’t be possibly into those l-l-lewd activities…” she said, toning down her voice to a whisper.

“Ufufufu~ oh my, it appears your feelings still remain for Mary.” Claudia teased, attempting to keep her voice low as well.

“That is correct,” Charlotte said with pride, an unexpected reply, or was it expected of her? Either way, she’d play along till the end, “My cute Kitty will not be yielded to any man; she is forever mine,” she added, in a more dramatic manner.

Claudia leaned back and held her forehead once more, pretending to die. “So it is true, you are cheating on me with Mary. The tables have been turned!” Claudia said over-theatrically.

“Well, I needed someone to laugh at. Hahaha!” Charlotte laughed like a true villain, as if having played with her all along throughout the farce of a love triangle.

“Jeez, you and your japes,” Claudia huffed, puffing a cheek out. It was as if she was truly entangled in a love triangle with these two. It was strange at the very most, becoming taken with two women she just met today. She sometimes couldn’t tell if Charlotte was joking or not, despite what she had said so far.

There was a loud ringing tone, and Charlotte excused herself from Claudia for a moment, getting off the tree. She took out an Engine phone. Engine phones were considered truly a miraculous technology by the mundanes, but the mages knew that the concept of mobile phones in the modern countries were mimicked, and that concept was soon modified by the steam culture. Mundane at first thought how a device could communicate so far away to another device that of a similar model, but eventually tossed the questions aside and accepted whatever explanations were provided. However, to Claudia’s disappointment after she came to England; these phones had no display screens. They were as old-fashioned as the telephones in the houses of nobles. Even the numbers were dialed with a rotary for these phones.

Charlotte seemed to have taken the dark tone she spoke with earlier. An expression she never saw before, even worse than the last. Was this really a joke?

“Yes… yes, professor, I will make my way back to the research room. Yes. I will see you soon,” her arm that held the device faced the green ground, so she never faced Claudia again.

“Sorry, something came up…” she said, as if forcing those words by her throat. “It is unfortunate that I won’t be able to accompany you to the place you wished to visit, I will go now. See you soon at the café,” she bid her farewell then and there, and hurried off towards the streets outside the park, possibly to find herself a toll gurney; the fastest form of traveling available to the Londoners.

Claudia sat on the grass, completely at a loss for words. Was that it? Did her conceived first date end, abrupt and like a whimper? At first, it was a mere act as Claudia proposed just to sway the girl’s mind, but for some reason, why did it feel much more than a simple facade? Claudia sighed, wearing an expression of sheer disappointment as she watched Charlotte hurry down the street. ”Adieu… Charlotte."

She cut her eyes from the woman, looking to the ground. Scrounging to her feet and dusting off her new dress, Claudia sighed as she walked along the grass, out of the park in a completely separate direction, off to her home where the Duke would likely be waiting.

(BGM)


Charlotte and Claudia entered a shop. An array of appealing Victorian dresses were on display for the passing ladies on the stone pavement. The colorful clothes were what caught Charlotte’s eyes, despite their being manufactured in some factory utilizing the steam technology; they were gorgeous enough for ladies like themselves. Admittedly the materials were likely not as great as the hand-sewn clothes that nobles often have the privilege of donning.

“What kind of clothes do you usually prefer?” Charlotte asked. While most in Britain preferred Victorian dresses – as it was the Victorian era – some preferred to wear lower class, simpler attire. Since Claudia was now a mere servant of the Duke, Charlotte wondered if it was rude to come to a store selling fancy Victorian dresses.

“Aside from this?” Claudia asked, pointing to her skirt, long stockings and shirt, lightly tugging on each article. “Casual wear will often suffice for me. Something from a simple shirt, pants and suspenders to my usual attire. I find myself alternating between the two.” Claudia said. “Unusual for a knight, I know. It has been so long since I wore a dress, though.”

“Unusual for anyone is more like it. You are wasting your youth, Claudia,” Charlotte shook her head and placed a palm over her forehead in pity. “Knights don’t have set attire, they’re supposed to dress †˜casually’ to avoid mundane suspicion. What you’re doing is missing the entire point of of your armory’s invisibility .” Not that Charlotte knew about the armors being taken, but, as a Londoner, she was right that Claudia didn’t attempt to blend in like the other mages.

“It’ll be my treat. Come, let us find you a lady’s dress that would actually befit you,” Charlotte said, browsing the dresses on display. “What do you think is your image color?

"O-Okay. Well, I suppose a dark purple would suit my skin tone well." answered Claudia, staying back curiously. Her gaze brushed past an array of colors, mentally picturing herself in each frock.

“Hmm, sounds like something similar to Mary, mn?” Charlotte hummed, her fingers passing past many layers of fabric that seemed fine enough to the touch. “How about this?”

She pulled a dress out from the array and caught its upper shoulders; showcasing it for Claudia.

Claudia was actually colored with surprise by the look of this dress. Like most Victorian attire for women, the dress was rather frilly. Much to her surprise, the dress was a dark purple, with light purple outlines along the frills and very front. Claudia smiled happily at this, as purple was her favorite color, as well as at the exhilaration of picturing herself wearing attire like this again. “I love it…” Claudia said absentmindedly, taking the dress into another room to try on.

She soon exited, donning the purple frock with a light smile. The tiara she wore on her head would likely persuade others that she was a princess of some sort. “Well, how do I look?” She asked, turning around, posing in the mirror.

“Not bad, I’d say,” Charlotte nodded in acknowledgement, as the dress indeed seemed fit. Perhaps she had an eye for fashion? She flattered herself with such thoughts.

“It does fit you, though that tiara is a little out-of-place, even for what you wore previously.”

“But…” Claudia began to say in protest, face going grim. “It was my mother’s. She gave this to me as a child before… regardless, I cannot simply get rid of it.” she said, hesitant. She seriously intended to go out wearing that tiara. Charlotte had a point: it was a bit much, but that fell on deaf ears.

“Mnm, a servant wearing a tiara may be seen as arrogance by the public, don’t come crying to me if you are ever shunned,” Charlotte said, laughing it off, not letting the mood grow solemn with that face. She flicked Claudia’s forehead. “Making a face like that is going to ruin that face of yours.”

“Ah...I-I…” Claudia stared up at Charlotte with a slight blush. “We...wouldn’t want that, now would we?” she repeated from a previous time, dropping the grim mask from her light smile once more.

“You wouldn’t, not †˜we’,” Charlotte then turned and faced the man who’d be having her extract money from her wallet, and made way. “This is more pricy than I thought,” she said, paying for the dress anyway. An attendant took the dress away from Claudia and packed it up for her to take.

“I hope you wear this often, better make it worth the cost!”

“But of course, I would not dare waste your money on a dress that I merely love.” Claudia replied. “Really Charlotte, this was a good find. I’d say you have a knack for this kind of thing.” she complimented.

“Well, Mary and I are used to scouting for dresses,” Charlotte responded to the praise, not readily showing happiness. “We had to look for dresses for characters in our works, just to add more weight to our own imaginations.”

“Characters or not, it is still good… have you ever considered trying your hand at fashion in general? Becoming a designer? Say, something to do on the side apart from writing,” asked Claudia, showing more interest in her new attire than expected.

“Mnm… I haven’t thought of it,” Charlotte considered her life thus far for a moment, and reminded herself, “I’d like to be more focused on writing, for now, however.”

Claudia shrugged. “Fair enough, we all have our talents. I for one have yet to find mine. Perhaps singing–I never tried it though.” Claudia thought aloud, putting a finger to her lips and looking to the air. “Oh how rude of me, I had just realized that I spent our entire day talking about myself when I hardly know a thing about you, save for the fact that you’re Mary’s friend and you’re an author. This is a †˜date’ after all. Why not tell me a little about yourself, my lady?” Claudia inquired, wearing a refined smile.

“Well, for now, how about we go to our next destination?” Charlotte asked, noting the attendant looking at the two strange because Claudia said †˜date’ in that manner. What was this scholar thinking? Regardless, with the package handed to the two, they had no more errand to run with the shops.

The two left for Hyde Park.

(BGM)


[color=#0000a0]“Then, I will be off,”[/color] Mary said, smiling. The three were in front of the café again. Classes weren’t over at all for the day, and they only had around one and a half hours out now.

“Right, then. Adieu, Mary.” Claudia waved, returning the smile.

“See you. Take care,” Charlotte bid her friend farewell for now, waving to her, who also waved in return.

As Mary disappeared into the crowd of people in a matter of moments, Charlotte turned to Claudia, “You ready for the †˜date’, then?”

Claudia let a slight shade of red touch her cheeks, smiling. “But of course. That is what I was waiting for,” she said with a slight hint of excitement in her voice.

“I see,” Charlotte noted the change in facial expression, but retained her normal tone of voice, “Where would you like to go?”

Claudia shook her head. “Now, now. As a gentlewoman, I have asked you out on this date. It would only be fair if you were to choose the venue, no?” Claudia emphasised. She pulled a wallet from a pouch, opening it to check her funds for tonight, remembering the money the Duke granted her to get to school and back. She could not bring herself to use it for something so trivial as traveling. Having saved up this money for so long, perhaps now Claudia had found a good reason to use it. “After all, I'm walking home anyway,” Claudia said to herself aloud.

“Mnm… you’d think the organizer would have plans already,” Charlotte said. This would usually be the case, but she already knew that Claudia had asked her out on a whim. “Oh my, would you do it any other way? Most scholars seems to be taking a carriage, but I mostly see people walking.”

“It matters not to me,” Claudia shrugged. “As long as I am able to show you a decent night, I am content,” she said, showing the zenith of her commitment, “If you prefer that I pick the location, I will be more than happy to.”

“I have only implied that the one who asks should usually have plans, I did not voice my preferences,” Charlotte chuckled, then started to walk from the shop, making Claudia follow. “If you’re going to be so half-hearted about dates, gentlemen will be disappointed, you know,” she added with a wink. “Commitment is important.”

Claudia puffed a cheek out, but took it into consideration. Believe it or not, this was her first ever date. Her only guides at this point were the erotic novels she so avidly read– but even she knew the difference between fantasy and real-life. She had no choice but to take the things she'd read about with a grain of salt. “Right, right. Sorry about that. I know of a few restaurants I've passed in recent days and a rather amazing spot in the city that I always wanted to visit, but never got the chance to.” Claudia said, planning the night anyways. Unfortunately for her, she hardly knew the city, despite having lived there since childhood after the slavers had brought her over.

“I know not why you wanted to avoid talking about the Director,” Charlotte said, “or why Mary didn’t tell me why she went there, but it won’t stop me from worrying.” Not to let Claudia run away from it, she added “I think I’ll handle the locations for today instead, but what is the amazing spot you speak of?”

Claudia stopped abruptly in her tracks, wondering how Charlotte had caught on, especially when she had seemed so swayed at first. With a sigh, she turned back to Charlotte with an exasperated expression. “Well, there was a spot that gave a wondrous view of the city. I believe it would be acceptable to end to our night there.”

“We had such a place?” questioned Charlotte, as she looked up towards the sky with a finger under her chin after stopping.She wondered, “I suppose we can go there. Perhaps we should go shopping first, and then perhaps a trip to Hyde Park.” Hyde Park had almost always been a popular spot to hang around since her younger days, so perhaps it was too common a choice? Frankly, Charlotte wasn’t quite sure where to go, either. This was her first date as well – not that she treated it as a real date – and she felt largely inexperienced.

"Splendid. Shall we depart then, my lady?" Claudia asked in a joking manner, gesturing Charlotte along with an offered arm.

“Yes, let us be off,” Charlotte answered, taking the position of a high-esteemed mistress. The two resumed walking yet again.

(BGM, shush, I'm being lazy to find other stuff to use as BGM. People suggests action music way too often, that hardly works for casual gossip scenes.)


The three walked across Square Miles again. The long bridges visible from the street leading up to the towers, and the high-rise buildings were really pleasing views along the way. The stone pavements were crowded – made evident by the chorus from shoes and ongoing conversations of various kinds – and the three stayed close together so that they wouldn’t be separated. Mary made an effort to not cling to Claudia from instinctive fears due to her unique tastes. Unique, she claimed, because she knew no other way to address them, and she didn’t wished to insult a new-found friend.

Charlotte seemed cool and collected, and didn’t seemed to be conscious about it. Was it just Mary overthinking? Thinking that Claudia may grope her given a chance? Perhaps she was being paranoid now. Why’d she not be joking? She could claim to not discriminate genders and like all kinds of people, but she wouldn’t touch in any strange places of a person she was opening up to just today, yes?

Those were the thoughts Mary used to calm herself.

Soon, however, her eyes and attention were directed elsewhere. One could very well claim that it was an attraction caught simply because it was attractive; attention-catching due to its, well, again, uniqueness, but not in a bad way… or was it simply beauty? Mary looked towards a person with long grey hair. Beautiful – was the only thought that came to mind. A hairpiece was adorned just around the left ear, and now that she thought of it… was she looking at her?

Indeed she was, her eyes stared directly at her like a hawk. Yes, it looked straight into her peculiar eye.

After a few moments, the three passed by her.

“What a beautiful boy that was, albeit he wore a hairpiece. A hairpiece… he must’ve been a person of unique tastes like our new friend here,” Charlotte said, noting the same beautiful person that Mary looked at seconds ago.

[color=#0000a0]“It was a boy?!”[/color] Mary said, almost shouted, in fact, but she made sure to keep her voice low. Regardless, it was safe to say that she was astonished.

“Indeed, the physique was a little too masculine if you ask me. Besides, female Church members wears more… womanly attires,” Charlotte pointed out, which was somewhat true since this apparent boy wore a black and grey jacket and long black pants. “What do you think, Claudia?”

“I cannot say for sure. However I know of a select few women whose physiques are that of a man’s. Perhaps men who do that sort of thing would like very much to...how you say– take a turn in our shoes? I find it rather appealing they would go to such lengths.” Answered Claudia, batting an eye back to the concieved man, who was no longer there.

[color=#0000a0]“Well, everyone has their own tastes, I suppose,”[/color] Mary said, nodding, not sure if she liked the direction of the topic. Finding a boy †˜appealing’... who crossdressed. To be honest, she did found the boy attractive, but then… [color=#0000a0]“Wait, how did you notice that he is from the Church.”[/color]

“Church members – especially mages working for them – wears a cross around their wrist or arm to signify their position often. This is still a hunch, though,” Charlotte answered. She was as observant as she was calm.

[color=#0000a0]“Ah, that is a good point. I think I saw many such mages, now that you mention it,”[/color] Mary replied, noting the particular feature of the Church members. [color=#0000a0]Ah… another mage,[/color] she thought, looking down. It wasn’t so strange to see mages down the town, since the great and prosperous country of Britain was attracting magicians from all over the world, but perhaps some were a little strange and needed more efforts to mingle with the mundanes.

“I never understood the concepts of Religion. I would always think holding such beliefs of your god was a personal thing, rather than flaunting it proudly. Hmm, I would suppose being devoted to the Church has such rules.” Claudia said with a shrug.

“You do know that God in fact exists, though, right?” Charlotte asked, stating it as though the answer was obvious.

Claudia tilted her head to the side in question. ”Does he? Pardon if I sound ignorant on this subject, but I was never taught of such things."

[color=#0000a0]“I think she is relating to the Divine Realm knowledge taught by the lessons regarding the lore of the Dominion,”[/color] Mary answered, trying to shower some insight on the topic.

“It’s not even that, Mary,” Charlotte pointed out. “In the Second Great Mages’ War, there was an actual battle on the Divine Realm where mankind was, well, literally kicked out by God himself,” she said. It was reported by The Times, at least in the newspaper they released specifically for the Magic World. After that, the Church gained many more supporters and followers.

[color=#0000a0]“Ah right, that did happened, didn’t it?”[/color] Mary replied, almost forgetting about the war. Sometimes people would forget from experiencing peaceful days – that England was in war with the futuristic Japan even now.

“I see. So since then, England had been fighting Japan, even after the Second War?” Questioned Claudia.

“Yes,” Charlotte answered plainly. “They’d been at war for a long time, and even now; we’re still under the Second Great War. There are rumors of powerful Engine machines being invented for the next raid, too.”

[color=#0000a0]“Well, it’s not just England, but most of Europe,”[/color] Mary added after Charlotte. [color=#0000a0]“There are also rumors that some of the graduates and studying scholars from Royal Institute may participate in the next big attack. You never know when a letter from the Royal Council may come at your doorstep.”[/color]

Claudia clicked her tongue. War and violence, ironically, did not sit well with Claudia. A small disagreement soon turning into an all out massacre of blood and gore. “Tch...typical. As if diplomacy mattered to humans anymore, leading to an incompetent bout wrought by the men who run the country. Hmph, it is all a bunch of la connerie to me.”

[color=#0000a0]“Well, I do somewhat agree, but there’s nothing to go diplomatic over when Japan refuses to execute the Time Warrior in their country, and uses them for their benefit instead,”[/color] Mary replied. The old prophecy dictated that the Descendants of Time should be killed whenever they arise, but when Japan refused, of course the rest of the world wouldn’t be happy.

“I could see the reason, too. The Magic World really hates the Time Warriors due to that prophecy,” Charlotte added.

”A Time Warrior in Japan? Interesting. You would think there would be some inside attempts to bring this Time Warrior down, given the entire country hates them. I can see a public uproar occurring at the very least." Claudia replied.

[color=#0000a0]“Indeed,”[/color] Mary nodded. She was more surprised that Claudia wasn’t aware of the war nor the Time Warrior of Japan, however.

“I’ve actually read some articles about attempts that were made, somewhat in vain. Japan’s technology is more than just a step ahead, apparently,” Charlotte said, remembering the time she read the newspapers published by The Times in the Magic World. “This is just a rumor but… they say that they sent in a group of spies recently.”

“Is that so? I hear Time Warriors are exceptionally powerful. Technology alone will not help much in their efforts if that were the case.” Claudia said with a sigh. “Spies though? I had no clue England were that desperate.” Claudia wore a face of sheer disbelief as she said this, rumor or not, it made her feel somewhat self conscious that the country’s loss in this war was imminent in any case.

[color=#0000a0]“Though, it is a fact that Magic World killed few Time Warriors in the past,”[/color] Mary said, this was coming from a student who studied history extensively as a member of a research group. [color=#0000a0]“I believe the technology is really tough, a Time Warrior only makes it harder to topple. I can see why England – or the European forces, for that matter – is desperate.”[/color]

“Speaking of rumors though… have you guys heard of the Banshee?” Charlotte brought up. They were talking about rumors, this was as good as any time to bring it up, then.

[color=#0000a0]“A Banshee?”[/color]

Claudia raised an eyebrow, but somewhat had an idea to what she was referring to. She wouldn’t be speaking of the Lorelei me and Mister Escott were tailing, is she? Claudia thought. “No, I have not, please explain.” she fibbed, playing along.

“They say that there is a young girl wandering around the streets at night; singing strange songs,” Charlotte answered. “Apparently her voice and singing is really good. I’d like to listen one day,” she said, apparently really interested on the matter. “Say, Mary, you go home pretty late, yes? Haven’t you heard like, anything?”

[color=#0000a0]“Of course not,”[/color] Mary said – waving her hand dismissively – giving a light smile. [color=#0000a0]“It’s just a rumor, silly.”[/color]

“Well you never know, rumors and legends have a possibility of being true. Just look at the Magical World, any Mundanes would find all this to be unbelievable.”

[color=#0000a0]“Indeed,”[/color] Mary agreed, but gave Claudia a disappointed look, which she missed. [color=#0000a0]“I can see that happening.”[/color]

“Well, rumors still have a 50% chance of being true,” Charlotte stated her belief, “they are rumors only because they aren’t confirmed.”

“That is true as well. However, they all are bound to have come from somewhere. I wonder where, though,” Claudia thought aloud, placing a hand on her chin.

[color=#0000a0]“Sometimes people say what they see, but other times people make things up for the sake of conversing,”[/color] Mary said, as if speaking from having experienced meeting someone who’d make things up on the fly.

“Sounds familiar…” Claudia replied, thinking up a few select people to fit that description.

Mary frowned. [color=#0000a0]“Very much so.”[/color]

“I see, so the men courting Mary must always be trying to impress her,” Charlotte concluded, “that must be it.”

[color=#0000a0]“How’d you get to that conclusion?!”[/color] Mary snapped yet again, yet blood carried up to her cheeks.

Charlotte laughed.

Claudia covered her mouth with her palm, stifling her laugh. “It’s quite obvious when you stop to look at the signs, my dear Kitty. It’s a wonder why you haven’t realized this yourself.” she said with a silent guffaw.

[color=#0000a0]“There are no such signs! You two just think too much about things that don’t matter,”[/color] Mary said, her cheek expanding as she pouted.

“Ah, there is it,” Charlotte said, ignoring Mary’s words of denial, stopping before a shop.

It was the Howards Bookstore, their destination. The three entered the shop. It was silent, yet it was so full of ladies – along with few men here and there – looking around and checking books out. It had a very quaint feeling to it, despite it being the 19th century here; the scent and the airs to it just made them feel as though they came to a place further back in time.

“Wonderful, now where’s the…” Claudia began to say before her voice trailed off as she went off to find another section fit to her tastes– the erotica section. She remained quiet as she effortlessly filed through the books along the shelves in order to find something she hasn’t read already.

(OOC: This fucking Claudia right here. I’m not sure if they had such sections in bookstores around the 19th century at London – heck, it may have been a scandal for almost any lady working for an upstanding society member to be seen there – but whatever, I can’t stop a player from having fun I guess.)

Mary and Charlotte just looked at Claudia making her way to the erotica section… just like that.

“She is full of courage, mn?”

[color=#0000a0]“I’ll just check the romance section as usual… ”[/color]

“Wuthering Heights?”

[color=#0000a0]“Eh?”[/color]

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream?”

“Romeo and Juliet?”

[color=#0000a0]“I-I wish you’d stop saying those names with a straight face… ”[/color] Mary murmured, feeling stupefied – her face as red as tomato already – or rather scared how she could mention Wuthering Heights like that. Then again, it was the work of Charlotte’s sister.

Mary went across random sections after that – holding off her romance section for later – and found a certain book whose author caught her eye.

“Mn, John William Polidori’s work…”

[color=#0000a0]“The Vampyre… ”[/color]

A moment of unrest between the two.

“A single copy left.”

[color=#0000a0]“You aren’t really laying your hands on that, yes, Charlotte?”[/color]

“I am open-minded, why not?”

[color=#0000a0]“But–”[/color]

“Romeo–”

[color=#0000a0]“Argh, fine,”[/color] Mary conceded, letting Charlotte take the novel.

Claudia had finally returned, wearing a content smile, if not all, carrying a rather considerable stack of books in her arms, all likely to be of the same genre. “Have you two found something to your liking?” Claudia asked, then having spotted a book Charlotte held in her hand. “Oh look, it’s Wuthering Heights."

“A good work, wouldn’t you agree?” Charlotte stated, beaming a smile.

[color=#0000a0]“No matter how much of a doting sister you are… that’s a littl– ”[/color]

“It has such a powerful words of expression, Kitty. I can see why it’s too much for you,” Charlotte said, teasing once again.

[color=#0000a0]“Don’t call me that, but really… I almost thought that it was a man who wrote it until I saw the name of the author,”[/color] Mary said, scratching the back of her hair.

“I remember you coming to me to talk about it, she has… well, her own imaginations, I suppose.”

“Don’t we all?” asked Claudia, still smiling. “And judging by what’s in the book, I can absolutely tell that your sister in an interesting person.” she then pulled the collar of her shirt, letting the air out.

“I assure you, she is very interesting, yes,” Charlotte said, nodding, almost as if trying to force that opinion in.

[color=#0000a0]“†˜We all’? Or just you guys?”[/color] Mary tilted her head, somewhat disappointed at this point.

“I’m beginning to think you don’t have any particular tastes, Mary...or do you? Everyone has skeletons in the closet, I understand why you are up in arms about these sorts of conversations." Claudia replied jokingly.

[color=#0000a0]“Because that isn’t what ladies are supposed to talk about. Rather, why do I not have any particular tastes when all you talk about are eroticas?! Do you have particular tastes aside from… anything l-lewd?”[/color] Mary questioned, her head swirling and spinning before she held it down herself. This was clearly an offensive statement made simply because she wasn’t in agreement with one who was †˜open-minded’ while the other was clearly a perverted lady. To be honest, she didn’t know if she could even call her a †˜lady’ in this particular society of England.

“Well, I will admit that we mostly did ended up talking about those kinds of titles,” Charlotte admitted. “And on that note, I can’t see Fifty Shades of Grey anywhere.” She wondered if novels from the New World would be snuck into the shelves, but it didn’t seemed to be the case.

“I should have it lying around in my room at home somewhere. I’m finished with the book, so I don't mind giving it to you," Answered Claudia. ”And for the record, Mary, certain women do take to gossip about such things, just not in front of you, clearly.”

“I wanted to avoid borrowing, and I am usually busy, but I suppose that will do,” Charlotte answered.

[color=#0000a0]“Fine. Perhaps they do, but certainly not so openly”[/color] Mary said, crossing her arms over her chest again. [color=#0000a0]“But I think that is a little rude to someone you only got to know today, and besides… ”[/color] she begun to murmur by this point, [color=#0000a0]“not even Charlotte is as much perverted as you. And that still doesn’t support your claim regarding my tastes. Are everyone else so judgemental? To think I helped her earlier. Hmph.”[/color]

Claudia shrugged, taking that statement lightly. “Well I do see why you feel this way and I do not, as I am from a modern country where this is normal behavior.” Claudia jested. “Besides, people are drastically closed minded here, it couldn’t hurt to blow off steam every once in a while, could it?”

[color=#0000a0]“Right, right. Just be mindful of your position, though… me and Charlotte are fine, but any other girl may spread rumors about the Duke having someone lewd as a maid. It may spark ominous results.”[/color] At this point, Mary decided to play a more neutral role with Claudia. She’d hardly consider helping someone who caused so much trouble, but then this was her thinking hotheadedly. She’d likely act as a friend once she is cool-minded again. Mary was simply proud to be a reader of romantic tales, and it made her furious that someone would say something so offensive to her about her tastes.

“That would indeed be scandalous, destroying much of a Duke’s reputation, in fact,” Charlotte nodded in acknowledgement of that danger. “Being a lady is no simple task, you must be careful about yourself.”

“Of course. I suppose I got carried away due to err, making new friends for the first time. You won’t have to worry about my affairs with the Duke, however. I do well to shroud this from his sights.” Claudia assured.

[color=#0000a0]“I suppose, but that’s different. Hiding from Duke and hiding from people who might spread words, I mean,”[/color] Mary stated.

“Well, you never know who’s watching you even as we speak,” Charlotte joked.

“Mnm, I guess that would be a problem, would it?”
Claudia said with a smirk. “I suppose I should be a bit more careful now, especially when I now I have people to converse with.”

“Well, you can be relaxed in the café, though. Ms. Pearce sometimes talks about her… lively life, you should come when she is around, sometime,” Charlotte suggested.

“Lovely, I suppose now I have a new place to go in my free time then. And to think I thought the rest of today was going to be a wasteful disaster.” Claudia said, scratching the back of her head.

[color=#0000a0]“We tend to meet up there often,”[/color] Mary said, [color=#0000a0]“Come by if you’re bored, or want to talk about anything… ahem, most things, I mean,”[/color] she added, correctly herself halfway.

“Well, we tend to meet up when we have free times between classes, since it is like a ten minute walk from there to the academy,” Charlotte said, pointing out how close the two places are, for which it was a convenient meeting place for herself and Mary, and now possibly for Claudia, too.

“Splendid!” Claudia said, cheerfully clapping her hands together. “I have to say, not many people would come to me and invite me to speak with them at all, usually it would be about a certain assignment they are unable to complete without my help.”

[color=#0000a0]“Well… I’d reckon they heard about your connection to the Duke, that’s why,”[/color] Mary said, telling her the harsh truth. Gossips were nothing to be looked down on; words travelled much faster than assumed. She honestly believed that everyone in the academy more or less knew about her connection to the Duke.

“Eh? How would they know about such a thing?” Claudia tilted her head to the side once more.

“Probably because word spreads about who is donating for you or letting you in on the academy,” Charlotte answered. “Don’t be surprised. There are influential powers participating there. Someone who works for the Duke is likely not of humble birth, from the perspective of people, and hence looked down on sometimes.”

[color=#0000a0]“You still have reputation as a scholar though, I think…”[/color] Mary said. [color=#0000a0]“So I don’t think everyone exactly don’t like you, maybe they find it hard to approach you.”[/color]

[color=#0000a0]Albeit, most people will know about the rumor about you casting Heart Shatter spell… [/color] Mary sighed internally.

Claudia pinched her nose between two fingers and mumbled in between sighs, “Fils de salope…” hearing that merely made her want to be associated with the students even less. Why should her ties with the Duke stop them from approaching her in the first place? If they weren’t so closed-minded perhaps they could have seen passed that, Claudia thought. “Typical… it matters not, I’ve been fine by myself from the beginning. Fie what everyone else thinks.”

[color=#0000a0]“Well, you’re no noble lady now in this society, so you’re not expected to expand your contacts either,”[/color] Mary replied. [color=#0000a0]“So, I suppose it is alright the way things are now.”[/color]

“I renounced my nobleship ages ago, the moment I set foot on London. I have no problem with that either way.” answered Claudia, nonchalant about this whole matter now.

“But what if you marry the Duke one day? You’d have to live up to his expectations!” Charlotte said in jest. Now it was Claudia’s turn to be teased.

Claudia blushed heavily, completely flustered from the thought. “M-Marry? W-Well, I never thought of that as a possibility…” she said, placing both hands on her cheek and shaking her head with a loving expression.

“Oh dear, is it me, or you…”

[color=#0000a0]“Have feelings for him?”[/color] Mary asked after Charlotte’s voice trailed off, finishing the sentence.

“I...well, you see…” Claudia stammered, face flushed even redder. “D-Don’t be ridiculous! Me and the Duke? Ha! What an otherworldly accusation!”

“Then why so red?” Charlotte asked, not willing to back down.

[color=#0000a0]“Well, it does seem hard to imagine,”[/color] Mary nodded.

“I...I just consider the Duke a dear friend, that’s all. B-Besides, hypothetically speaking, if that were the case, he wouldn’t be interested in me.” Claudia defended, crossing her arms.

“Treating your guardian as a friend, huh?” Charlotte said, not sure how to take that response.

[color=#0000a0]“That does… sound odd?”[/color] Mary gave a forced smile.

Claudia realized how wrong that sounded and decided to change up her words. “Well– not in that order, I would say that I consider him a friend, while he has no clue I feel this way– I guess you could say that it sounds like a primary school relationship where the guy has no clue I exist. Ha...haha...ha.” Claudia explained, all but well.

“Well, cheer up,” Charlotte said, patting her shoulder.

[color=#0000a0]“Who knows, your feelings might reach him one day,”[/color] Mary said, smiling tenderly.

“P-Perhaps…” Claudia said, lowly, not believing that in the slightest.

“Well then, back to the topic of books,” Charlotte said, brightening up her smile and voice. “What would you be getting, Mary?”

[color=#0000a0]“Hmm… I am deciding on one of Dumas’ works this time,”[/color] Mary answered, picking out a particular book.

“Ooh, good choice, I should’ve thought of that,” Charlotte said, impressed by the choice.

”Dumas? I do not think I have heard of him before. What books has he done?" asked Claudia, interested.

Mary picked up the book she was going to be renting out, it was tilted †˜The Count of Monte Christo’ and showed it to Claudia, [color=#0000a0]“Wait, you really haven’t heard of this famous author before? His works are marvelous; The Three Musketeers, La Reine Margot, The Black Tulip, you haven’t heard of them before?”[/color]

“Ah, I’ve only heard of The Count of Monte Cristo and the Three Musketeers, funnily enough, never knowing the name of the person who wrote them. I hear that these works are all instant classics, however.” replied Claudia. “I have heard a brief synopsis of the Count too; a man, wrong by society sets out for revenge, correct?”

[color=#0000a0]“Indeed, and so I am looking forward to this,”[/color] Mary answered, seemingly exciting, pressing the book to her chest.

“Here you go again, always being so giddy when it comes to books,” Charlotte commented, looking at the happy Mary.

[color=#0000a0]“I can’t help it, I just love books,”[/color] Mary said, smiling.

“I suppose that’s enough book shopping for today?” Charlotte asked, turning to the two after checking that they all had at least one book at hand.

Claudia glanced at her stack and realized she bit off more than she could chew, chuckling nervously at this. She wasn’t the tallest of people, she was no taller than 5’7 at least, but the stack she held was even taller than she was, toppling over her head. She would not be able to sneak this amount past the Duke, even if she tried. “Uhm…” Claudia stammered a little to make up her mind. “Perhaps I should… put a few down until next time…” Claudia decided, painstakingly laying a good portion of the books down onto a table, partly hoping others wouldn’t try to claim them. “Alright, ready to go when you are.” Claudia sighed, attempting to make due.

[color=#0000a0]“What’d you do with so many… never mind,”[/color] Mary sighed, and then reformed her smile. [color=#0000a0]“Why don’t we help you put these back to their place?”[/color] She offered, she wouldn’t want other women or children come across these books, after all. [color=#0000a0]“It’s not proper manners to leave books like these on the table.”[/color]

“I’d suppose so,” Charlotte nodded, she intended to catch a peek at some of the titles just to expand her vocabulary with such passionate books.

“Right, right… who knows, some poor child may end up reading some of these by mistake. We wouldn’t want that…” Claudia replied, putting her own stack down to deal with her discarded stack.

[color=#0000a0]“Yes, we really wouldn’t want that,”[/color] Mary nodded deeply in agreement, for once. She then took a portion from the stack to be discarded. [color=#0000a0]“Then I’ll be putting these back into place,”[/color] she added, leaving for the shelves.

“She actually knows the way to that section despite them being numbered… as expected of a book lover,” Charlotte commented silently, then took up her own portion of the deal. “Anyway, I’ll be putting these back on place, then,” she too, went off to the shelves.

Claudia then picked up the rest, and braced herself to journey back to the erotica section she departed away from recently. Walking back to it – with the rest of the discarded-to-be stack she carried – she found Charlotte and Mary on both sides; inserting books into the shelves. Charlotte was peeking into the titles, while Mary seemed to be ignoring them. They seemed to be almost done, so Claudia hurried to pick back up the location she got the books from, and begun inserting them back in too.

No.

So is 6th claim really a thing now?

Also, I doubt front paging is gonna happen.

(BGM)


“Not to impose or anything, but what is the story behind your eye? I would assume it isn't through genetics that you are able to complete your homework so swiftly.” Claudia inquired.

[color=#0000a0]“Ahaha… I wish I knew,”[/color] Mary answered, somewhat confused about it herself. Mary wished that people would stop asking about it, albeit it’s not like she hated the eye itself. [color=#0000a0]“It only appeared about an year ago when I was gazing up at the sky in Hyde park, with Charlotte.”[/color]

“That day was so eventful, wasn’t it? Since someone claimed that they saw the sky for the first time beyond the clouds,” Charlotte reminisced the day those events ocurred.

[color=#0000a0]“Right, that day. You then caught every newspaper with articles about it… really, The Times even said that it was but a ruse,”[/color] Mary sighed, remembering that day an year ago, it caused a large ruckus.

“I am glad that you don’t have those nightmares so much now, though.”

[color=#0000a0]“Yes, they were a little scary, so I am glad.”[/color]

“Nightmares?” Claudia asked.

“She sees dreams while awake, I’d call it a daydream, I suppose? It is a little worrying…”

[color=#0000a0]“Nothing to worry about anymore, I am fine, Charlotte,”[/color] Mary said, giving a reassuring smile.

“Have you ever thought of seeing a Magister about it? I would think they would know of it’s origin.” Claudia suggested.

[color=#0000a0]“Well, I don’t find it as something harmful necessarily,”[/color] Mary answered, [color=#0000a0]“If they’d know, then some of them would’ve said something by now, I mean… even our academy happens to have one who was legitimate for it, at the moment. You know, Miss Amrita?”[/color] She couldn’t think another from the top of herself, but apparently there were two more in the academy.

Claudia’s expression went sour for a moment at the mention of that woman’s name. “Yes, I unfortunately I do. I already had one encounter with her today, just hearing her name resound in my ears just makes me nauseous.” she said, pouting with a cheek puffed out.

[color=#0000a0]“I know that, since I saw you coming out of the Director’s room,”[/color] Mary answered. Albeit she wouldn’t feel nauseous, Amrita was a cute teacher, and that was her honest opinion.

“You two went to the Director’s room, what for?” Charlotte asked, curious. It wasn’t so common a situation, which was also the reason why the Director was so mysterious to the scholars studying there.

[color=#0000a0]“To fetch something,”[/color] Mary answered.

“Fetch?”

“Mn,” Mary nodded, giving a vague answer, leaving Charlotte confused.

Claudia only stayed quiet, wearing a grim expression as she reclined in her chair. Charlotte got a little too curious, reminding her of that incident again. She had to regain her composure and change the subject before she asked once more. That’s what she did; she forced her scowl into a face of nervousness. “Err, by the way, Charlotte,” Claudia called out, almost regretting what she was about to say.

“Yes?” Charlotte asked, her attention apparently swayed.

Claudia took a drag of fresh air, while internally an entire interface of possible inquiries went through her mind as she thought of something in a brisk pace. She got it; she parted her lips as she smiled. “So, I thought about your proposal earlier-- you said that you would take me on any day, no? Then how about it? You and I…” Claudia paused, letting the sentence roll naturally. “Go out, perhaps? A date, maybe?”

[color=#0000a0]“Two girls going on a date… ”[/color] Mary said, imagining the situation. She supposed that people would only see them as female friends hanging around, never to know what forbidden– no, she stopped; she wouldn’t think any further about it.

“Kitty is going to cry if you steal me and leave her alone, though,” Charlotte chuckled as she answered.

“She has been playing hard to get from the start, why not I have you for the time being?" Claudia said, wearing a refined smile on the outside while inside, she was freaking out; in disbelief that she was asking another woman out for a night on the town. Not that she minded anyway, but she had never had this experience before.

[color=#0000a0]“Hmph, you two can have fun allll you want, see if I care!”[/color] Mary ended up stabbing her pudding with a fork as she said that, and stuffed her mouth again…

Again…

“You’re gonna get fat, you know.”

[color=#0000a0]“None of your business.”[/color]

“So says the actress of Juliet,” Charlotte said, then faced Claudia, “Mn, I don’t really mind coming along. Albeit, Mary and I did actually planned to head down to the bookstore right after this. Would you like to join us?” She offered.

“S-Sure. Perhaps I could catch up on what novels are out.” Claudia accepted with a nod. Internally the girl was sighing, relieved that went better than it should have.

“Then that’s settled,” Charlotte answered, clapping her hands once before looking towards Mary. “I need to fetch something from Ms. Pearce, be right back,” she said, getting up and walking into the café.

[color=#0000a0]“It is good that you were able to divert the conversation from the Director’s visit… but perhaps that went a little long for a turn,”[/color] Mary commented, laughing. She didn’t think that any diversion was needed, however, as Charlotte wouldn’t pursue something one wouldn’t want to talk about. [color=#0000a0]“That said, I have your sword from the Director. Unfortunately, I’d still need his permission before letting you use it.”[/color]

“Wonderful…” Claudia sighed, folding her arms from the matter. “I’m a bit surprised you were able to persuade him, I hear he’s rather serious about knights. What did you say to change his mind?”

[color=#0000a0]“Haha… well, I have my own ways,”[/color] Mary answered, again, vaguely. [color=#0000a0]“Well, do you really feel fine now?”[/color] She asked yet again.

“Mnm... yes, thank you for your help, Mary.” Claudia answered with a smile.

“Mnm, though I don’t think she is enjoying herself too much. What do you think Mary, shall I intensify your treatment?"

[color=#0000a0]“No, no. I got plenty of medicine for the day, thank you, Dr. Claudia. I am most thankful… not,”[/color] Mary answered with a semi-calm tone, then sighed and then placing a bun there just to seal her mouth from playing the doctor’s game now.

[color=#0000a0]“So? When do we go to the library?”[/color] Mary asked after munching, facing Charlotte after sighing yet again. [color=#0000a0]“I have to return to the academy in soon for extracurricular activities…”[/color]

“Ah, yes. Your research group, was it? Well, I might have to go… or not have to go. The professor is not sure himself,” Charlotte said, she’d only know if she was called on her phone, anyway, “we can go now, lest we regret eating too much and leave too late,” she answered.

”Well then, time is of the essence. Shall we?" asked Claudia getting up from her chair after swallowing the bun Mary shoved into her mouth. ”Huh...Dr. Claudia has a nice ring to it..."

The two nodded, and got up. It seemed like Charlotte and Mary had covered the expenses somehow – even though she didn’t see them pay – as they left the café. It was going to be a long day, and the bustling streets of London was going to serve them well tonight.

(BGM)


”Mnm, in any case, I am long passed that point in my life… mostly, anyways," Claudia said, straightening out the tiara that sat delicately atop her head. ”However," Claudia began, voice trailing off as her eyes squinted to a glint. ”If I could, one day, have the chance to find the men that did it...the ones who killed my family and took my life from me, I would take it.” Claudia said in a dark tone for a moment. Somehow, she bounced back quickly, returning to her mildly calmed expression.

”But I digress, ever since then, my life has been prosperous with meeting the Duke. I cannot complain, either; the man practically gave me a new world to dwell in, to create something new of myself, and I have the highest of respects for him. I’m grateful." Claudia concluded, beaming a smile at the two women.

[color=#0000a0]“So yeah, you should really pipe down with those magic,”[/color] Mary said, as if giving Claudia her conclusion.

“A nice story, though. A nice happy ending is always preferred,” Charlotte smiled, sipping on her tea. Albeit she wasn’t sure about †˜those magic’, she’d likely ask Mary later.

Claudia only smiled. Was bringing her here a part of her plan? Perhaps she knew that Claudia was a bit of a loner. Maybe a bit of good can come from making a few friends. “Oh, by the way," Claudia said, wearing a sudden wry smirk across her face. “Pardon my curiosity, but what was your relationship with Mister Escott? I seem to remember you were in a cold sweat that night we first met."

[color=#0000a0]“I just wanted to get home that night, and Mister Esco-”[/color] before Mary could finish though, the audible noise from Charlotte dropping the tea on the table was a clang loud enough to shake Mary up from top to bottom. She turned to Charlotte slowly and steadily – almost reminiscent of a robot from the far eastern country of the rising sun – wanting to confirm her worst fears, but at the same time, she didn’t wanted to face it.

“Oh? Ooooh? So my little Kitty here is being courted by a man. So that’s how it is,” Charlotte said, a dark smile appearing on her face, her teasing would last for months, “so that’s what you’ve been doing recently; meeting a man. My Kitty is finally growing up,” she concluded conveniently, without even listening to the entirety of the story.

[color=#0000a0]“I-It’s not like that! Let people finish when they talk, jeez,”[/color] Mary hissed at Charlotte, trying to regain some ground in the new-found topic, [color=#0000a0]“and don’t call me †˜kitty’!”[/color] She tried to remind her. How many times would she have to tell her? Probably over a dozen times.

“That’s never changing, my dear Kitty,” before Mary could retort to her, Charlotte faced Claudia – as if ignoring Mary’s retorts – seemingly interested. “Say, how did he look, handsome? I do hope that he is an aristocrat. Our Kitty has so much attention and interest from the nobles in the Royal Institute, but she is oh-so-busy with her historical studies.”

[color=#0000a0]“...You’re one to talk, you don’t have a man either, and you study the same subject… ”[/color] Mary murmured, but her words would be drowned out by the now-excited Charlotte.

“Perhaps Mary will one day marry a Baron, or even a Count. Imagine an author climbing among the ranks and selling books. Her popularity would expand rapidly,” Charlotte went on, talking about the future of Mary, who didn’t even wanted to consider it now. Her excitement made it seem as though she was talking about herself.

Claudia covered her mouth as she laughed, looking rather mischievous from what she had caused. It was as if that was her plan the entire time! “Oh, now that would be a treat! Perhaps he could whisk you off to a land of riches, much more wealthy compared to London." Claudia teased, joining in on Charlotte’s schtick.

“Indeed. Perhaps the man would take her to the New World and shower her with jewels and love! Of course, we’d have to teach him to call her †˜kitty’ affectionately,” Charlotte added oil to the fire as she continued from Claudia’s remark. “It wouldn’t work any other way.”

[color=#0000a0]“Beware; for I am fearless, therefore powerful,”[/color] Mary said, quivering with anger.

“That quote isn’t going to stop anyone,” a snicker slipped away from Charlotte.

[color=#0000a0]“Ah! Jeez!”[/color] The two were soon locked in a test of strength as Mary tried to pounce on Charlotte, and of course the defendant caught the assailant’s wrists with ease and wrestled in a rather funny manner. Some eyes fell on the ladies from outside the walls. It was still outdoors, and many walked across this busy hour of the streets. Albeit none could hear the conversation of the ladies, not with the voices and noises from the pedestrians mixed across the area.

“Oh my, now isn’t this a spectacle,” Claudia accidentally said aloud as she made an imaginary camera with her fingers, viewing the two women on top of each other. She wore a rather sly smile as she said this, however, hosting lewd thoughts with the sight. “Now I see why Charlotte is so hung up with Mary having possible affairs with a man, when she truly has feelings for the woman herself! Such a taboo change of events has played out here!” Claudia said with a blushing, loving expression on her face.

Mary stopped and Charlotte blinked – but smiled all the same – when Claudia begun to take the position of an air-cameraman; dumbfounded.

[color=#0000a0]“Eh?”[/color] Mary – clearly stupefied – uttered.

“Oh, my,” Charlotte blushed, just a little bit.

[color=#0000a0]“T-That’s… w-we aren’t like that!”[/color] Mary said, flustered, her face beet red, perhaps comparable to a tomato.

“You hurt my feelings, Mary.”

[color=#0000a0]“Eh?!”[/color]

“You know I would stay with you forever,” Charlotte said, with a straight face, apparently totally serious.

[color=#0000a0]“C-Charlotte… what are you–”[/color] They now stopped wrestling and Mary nervously looked down at her friend.

“My heart aches for you,” a hand – that let go of Mary’s from the wrestling that stopped moments ago – was placed passionately over her chest, and the most painful of expressions were constructed by the author known as Charlotte.

[color=#0000a0]“Ehhhhh?”[/color]

“Well, I am only joking,” Charlotte’s calm and saintly smile back on, while on the other hand…

Mary sat down on her chair with the largest and heaviest sigh ever. [color=#0000a0]“You had me there… ”[/color]

“Pffft, hahahaha!” Claudia guffawed, unable to hold it in any longer. “Shame, I thought I was witnessing a heartfelt moment there. Though if you’re not willing to take Mary, of course I am always on the market.” Claudia joked, still blushing all the same.

“It’s not that I’m not willing to take her, but the fact that Mary would chase a man rather than me,” Charlotte said, sounding sad again, almost about to rub a tear away from the corner of her eyelid with a tissue. “I would take you on any day, regardless,” she added, giving a wink. It was probably said in jest.

[color=#0000a0]“I am just not interested in courting about now, so no †˜chasing’ at all,”[/color] Mary replied defiantly to the views of Charlotte with her arms crossed. [color=#0000a0]“B-Besides… what do you think the society would think for such… l-lewd proclamations?!”[/color]

“Let them think what they will,” Claudia only said. ”Love and heh, sinful relationships wouldn’t be vilified in the Society, I would hope.“ Claudia placed both her hands on both of her cheeks, with the thoughts still swiveling in her mind. Now that I think about it, Charlotte and Mary are quite attractive...huh. Claudia then placed a finger on her pink lips in thought.

[color=#0000a0]They are sinful for a reason… of course they’d be vilified![/color] Mary thought immediately, but didn’t voice the obvious opinion. [color=#0000a0]“I-I’ll be fine with ordinary relationships, thank you,”[/color] Mary responded, a cold sweat going down by the side of her head, various images went around her mind, but she shook her head immediately to get them out.

“Perhaps I should write–”

[color=#0000a0]“No! You mustn’t cross that line!”[/color]

“Hm? I was about to say that I’d write about you being courted by a proper English gentleman, or would you prefer it be a gentlewoman, now?” Charlotte asked with a teasing smile.

[color=#0000a0]“I didn’t say any of that, and why’d you write about me being courted?! Ah jeez, I’ll just… yes, drink this wonderful tea, and ignore you,”[/color] Mary said, stuffing herself with cookies before dropping a sugar cube on her tea, and gulping it down, before dropping the tea onto the saucer as it was too hot, coughing up.

Charlotte giggled. “Oh dear, and here I thought you liked romance tales.”

[color=#0000a0]“Hmph,”[/color] Mary scoffed, still ignoring… or so she thought, but the moment one would respond, they were doomed to fail.

“I am quite fond of them, if done right. There was one I read once, but I cannot completely remember the name, mind you, but this book was so sinfully wonderful that I simply could not put it down. I recall it’s name to be Fifty Greys of Shade, I think?” Claudia said aloud.

[color=#0000a0]“Pffff,”[/color] Mary coughed up as she was drinking tea – almost ruining the entire table, she was thankful that she didn’t blow the tea everywhere – while Charlotte tilted her head; bewildered. [color=#0000a0]“You… have very unique tastes… ”[/color]

“What’s that?” Charlotte asked, doubtful that she heard the title before.

Claudia giggled. “Well…” her voice trailed off. ”If I remember correctly, the novel was of a very…risque nature; an erotic novel." Claudia said, blushing even more.

“My, that sounds amusing to say the least.”

[color=#0000a0]“Is that it?! Just amusing?”[/color] Mary asked, astonished.

“What happened to ignoring?”

[color=#0000a0]“...”[/color] and so Mary was back to eating from the lavish set of food.

“Is that a work from the New World, by the way?” Charlotte asked Claudia.

”Why yes it is. I’ve obtained that, as well as a few other variations of, ahem, those types of books . I would be happy to share some with you if you would like a read." Claudia said with a smile. Albeit, the work she mentioned was written by a British author, who wrote the work after leaving the country, and that person was a mage… which would be the only explanation behind even leaving the country.

“I will seek you out when the time presents itself,” Charlotte answered to the offer, “I am too busy with researches, I wish I had more time.”

[color=#0000a0]“Ah, right. You were deciphering ancient Egyptian text for homework, was it?”[/color] Mary asked, reminding herself of a conversation they likely had recently.

“Yes, my professor thinks it’d be a good †˜warm-up’ before he starts his next project in our research group.”

[color=#0000a0]“Speaking of which, have you two heard that Professor Griswold intends to open his own research group soon?”[/color] Mary brought up, remembering a rumor on the topic of research groups; extra curricular activities of the Royal Academy. Scholars especially devoted to their studies had the option to participate in such activities, and they’d come across great knowledge and information throughout their findings in their activities in the group. However, not only the scholars have the option, the teachers also had an option to pick students, and they were picky. So only a few of such scholars actually existed across the world. [color=#0000a0]“I’ve heard only the rumors, but opportunities like these are apparently rare, and very valuable.”[/color]

“No, I think so? Isn’t that the teacher who specialized in teaching Animal Form spells and Philosophy?” Charlotte asked, wanting to confirm what she could remember about Griswold. He was often seen with snakes, for some reason. A dangerous pet.

[color=#0000a0]“Yes, I think he is also charged with Claudia’s class, too?”[/color] Mary said, but it ended up as a question as she wasn’t sure.

“Yes, you are correct. He is my teacher for the course I chose.” eyes looking half lidded with uninterest as she said this. That man’s name made her scoff much more than she did anyone else. “A research group, though? Do tell.”

[color=#0000a0]“Yes, I hear that they’d be doing some experiments and projects based around mythical creatures,”[/color] Mary answered. It did seemed like a rather beneficial group for those interested in mythologies largely. [color=#0000a0]“I suppose it’d be intriguing for those wanting to learn more about the magical creatures of the Magic Realm.”[/color]

“I’d think that too. Albeit, dissection is a little unsettling for me,” Charlotte said, expressing her distaste as she placed her tea; finished. “I am much more content researching mythological stories and ancient text. I only wish that I could analyse and finish my homeworks as fast as you, though, Mary.”

[color=#0000a0]“Don’t start it, I can’t even believe myself for being done so fast, sometimes. It is rather eerie.”[/color]

“Something to do with your right eye?”

[color=#0000a0]“I would hope not.”[/color]

Claudia left the premises of the Royal Institute. She was looked into at the infirmary, and received proper bandages and some magical medicines. Underneath her clothes were battle scars to be healed in time.

The arms of the clock had only struck eleven as she approached – this was when the lunch period would just begin – the fountain amidst the courtyard. The sky was ever cloudy – mingling with the smoke of the factories – and under this sky were many students even now, walking around, and sometimes talking. A brilliant path they had ahead of them, unlike her… Claudia thought, many students were actually allowed to skip classes, at the eventual expense of credits – so they’d need to resume taking class to not run the risk of that – while others just had free time due to not picking up particular lessons at the start of the semester. Her mind drifted as she thought about how bad her life would be now that went and did what she shouldn’t have.

[color=#0000a0]“Leaving already?”[/color] A familiar voice spoke from behind.

Claudia turned to find Mary, who placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

Claudia scoffed. “Why not? It’s obvious I have no place in this school anymore, no matter what the Director said. Tongues will be flapping– and of course, I will be in the center of that.” Claudia hissed, still in a bitter mood.

[color=#0000a0]“Well,”[/color] Mary begun, apparently taking Claudia’s tone calmly, [color=#0000a0]“skipping classes isn’t going to make it better, is it? The Director would rather wish that everyone forgets about this incident. There is no proof so the scholars can only gossip and spread rumors,”[/color] she said, hypothesizing. “As far as I heard, only that teacher actually saw your crime,”[/color] she said, offering consolation.

The girl sighed, futilely calming herself for the time being. It had not crossed her mind that Mary was only there to help. “...Fine, so what if I don’t have to deal with my peers. What of my Lord– the Duke? Word likely had spread to him. Suffering through the rest of the day would only prolong the inevitable. I’d want nothing more than to hear his views and be done with it.” Claudia said, clicking her tongue at the very thought. The Duke was a kind man, but his words struck deep if provoked enough. Hearing that his knight had used a forbidden spell– well, there would be hell to pay.

[color=#0000a0]“Isn’t Lord Duke busy?”[/color] Mary asked, puzzled. [color=#0000a0]“Considering the fact that he is a parliament member – a politician, I doubt you’d be getting over it any time soon today.”[/color]

“I suppose that would give me time to mentally prepare, now would it?” Claudia replied in a sardonic fashion, smiling melancholically. “Why are you helping me, anyways? I’ve done nothing in your stead to have you do so, nor do I known you all that well.”

[color=#0000a0]“Oh my, do I need a reason to help?”[/color] Mary asked, smiling. [color=#0000a0]“I did what I felt like, is all. You aren’t his daughter, but you do remind me of someone, I suppose,”[/color] she answered, reminding her of last night when Escott and Claudia pretended to be father and daughter on their way home.

[color=#0000a0]“If you don’t know me well, why don’t we hang around today?”[/color]

Claudia bat up an eyebrow from her previous statement, tilting her head to the side as well. Who could she had reminded Mary of? She couldn’t argue with her prerogative, however, she would feel the same on some occasions. ”I...I guess that sounds appealing. Why not?" Claudia said with a nervous and forced smirk.

[color=#0000a0]“Then that’s settled. My friend is waiting in our usual shop, so let us be on our way,”[/color] Mary said, almost pulling Claudia by the arm as they walked through the courtyard and past the gates.

As Claudia opened the door to leave, she found Mary, who entered casually as Claudia walked and left the room.

[color=purple]“Hey, don’t enter without permission,”[/color] Amrita said, sounding somewhat annoyed, perhaps she was still hurt from the insulting comment from Claudia even now.

[color=#0000a0]“I apologize, but there was something I needed to speak with to the Director. Would it be fine to have some of your precious time, Mister Director?”[/color] Mary asked, presenting manners unlike Arthur’s previous visitor, despite not being a noble; she was apologetic enough. Not knowing the Director’s name, she could only substitute it for what title he went by.

Arthur laughed at her words, “Precious? Hardly,” he said, “I’ve had a lot of time, and I have quite a considerable amount left in the future. My time is worthless, do feel free.”

[color=#0000a0]“I cannot say if that is a thing good or bad,”[/color] Mary commented, giving a chuckle. [color=#0000a0]“May I persuade on the matter of Claudia, please? I believe there may be issues from robbing her of her blade after the armor,”[/color] she begun, still carrying the same smiling expression. Mary was definitely the more persuasive type unlike Claudia on the matter, and due to her affiliations and position, it seemed like she was asked to be a negotiator.

“That blade is a symbol of knighthood, clearly she has showed that she is no knight,” Arthur retorted.

[color=#0000a0]“Indeed, but it is also not her property in full,”[/color] Mary replied, bringing her reason to the table.

“That is of no significance,” Arthur said, “The sword stays with me until I see fit to return it.”

[color=#0000a0]“Mnm… that is a problem. The Society may choose to take it back forcefully. Are you content with your decision?”[/color] Mary asked, bringing up a big name that people often tried to avoid.

It is a criminal organization that specialises on elaborate homicide and theft, almost unthinkable methods are invented with ease with the minds of the scholars gathered very delicately from the shadows. A hivemind originally thought to have spread to the corners of Europe by the 19th century, it is now more or less present in everywhere across the globe. Almost every society has this society hidden… somewhere, somehow, in some way.

What connection did this massive Organization have with Claudia’s blade?

[color=purple]“...T-The Society… ? Why does it have to go that far?”[/color] Amrita questioned, startled from hearing the name.

“Now this is a pickle,” Arthur said scratching his chin, “I like to keep internal matters internal you see, and their involvement would be unfortunate.”

[color=#0000a0]“Indeed. The Queen may extend her influence to protect you, as well. We don’t want to spark a large conflict from a trivial matter such as this. Well, trivial in regards to the blade, of course,”[/color] Mary replied, clearly not wanting to see something big go down for a mere blade.

“You must understand that I can’t allow her this blade though,” Arthur said, “What she has done is horrific, and this is a punishment after all.”

[color=#0000a0]“As such, I propose you leave this blade to someone who is amidst many power surges, but something that they can be more or less content with,”[/color] Mary suggested, placing a hand on her chest, [color=#0000a0]“in order words, to me.”[/color]

“To you?” Arthur raised an eyebrow inquisitively, “You’ll see to it that she doesn’t receive the blade until the punishment is withdrawn?”

[color=#0000a0]“I am able to seal it. You must inform me when you’d want her to receive it back, however,”[/color] Mary answered, she sounded promising enough.

“That won’t be a problem,” Arthur said handing the sword to Mary, who found it to be more heavier than she thought it was. She still carried with respect, and her golden right eye – that was starkly different from her clear blue left eye – glowed, before a black hole opened up from the iris, and instantly sucked the blade in.

[color=#0000a0]“I thank you for your cooperation,”[/color] Mary said, giving a slight bow with her head.

“It was my pleasure,” Arthur said smiling, “Was that all you needed?”

[color=purple]What the heck was that just now?[/color] Amrita thought, using her senses of magic, she didn’t feel a single trace of mana from that eye. A very strange phenomena indeed, she hadn’t ever heard of a unique magic such as that.

[color=#0000a0]“Actually… mn, this may be a bit personal, but I am very interested in the affair of the lycanthrope that you have encountered last night,”[/color] having the opportunity, Mary took it up to may as well find out about something she was curious of.

“Where did you hear about that?” Arthur asked, curious.

[color=#0000a0]“Information runs deep, but spreads fast,”[/color] Mary answered vaguely.

“Well you won’t hear anything more from me,” Arthur said, “I’m sure there are people who would rather I refrain.”

[color=#0000a0]“I figured that,”[/color] Mary said, smiling, apparently having expected a similar response already. [color=#0000a0]“Then, how about I propose an information exchange? I believe you are interested in vampires?”[/color]

“I’m listening,” Arthur said.

[color=#0000a0]“There is an information that came in about a suspected hideout of vampires, albeit it is possibly temporary, and they may be abandoned soon.”[/color]

“Then you should hurry up and tell me,” Arthur said.

[color=#0000a0]“I’d like to know what took place in your incident first, before I reveal any of my information.”[/color]

“There’s not much to tell that you probably don’t already know,” Arthur smiled, “Me and Amrita were patrolling London, when we encountered a Lycanthrope, naturally we had a nice little chat with it until we were interrupted by two old acquaintances of mine. It was then that I hurried back here.”

“And the old acquaintances would be?” Mary said inquisitively.


“I’m not at liberty to say I’m afraid,” Arthur, “I don’t think they’d appreciate the attention.”

[color=#0000a0]“I suppose that’s as far as it goes,”[/color] Mary replied, nodding. [color=#0000a0]“I am going to assume that one of your acquaintance would be the Madame Countess of the underworld,”[/color] she said, before revealing a smile.

[color=#0000a0]“She was likely sighted around Westminster,”[/color] she stated, before getting to the point, [color=#0000a0]“It is ironic to find that she vanished around Church Road, which is, funnily enough, close to this Arthur Road.”[/color]

“One of them may be her, but as I have already said, I’m not at liberty to say,” Arthur said still smiling.

[color=#0000a0]“I only assumed, I didn’t question,”[/color] Mary chuckled. [color=#0000a0]“Either way, there is a Boundary detected around Church Road. You should be able to go through it with Miss Amrita’s help.”[/color]

[color=purple]“I see… so we can enter the lair of vampires from there,”[/color] Amrita said, placing a hand under her chin. She already started thinking of how she’d apply magic to open their way to the Boundary.

“I see, thank you for your information,” Arthur said, smiling, apparently happy to have the information. “Anything else?”

[color=#0000a0]“No. I shall take my leave now,”[/color] Mary said, giving a bow before taking leave of the office.

[color=purple]“I’ll go prepare. It won’t be easy to crack open a Boundary, but I’ll make it happen,”[/color] Amrita said, before Arthur could even say anything, running off from the room after Mary left.

As Claudia entered the Director’s room, she found it extremely plain and simple for an office, unlike the other teachers decorating with their personal flair and sense of fashion. The only noticeable fact was that there were many, many books stored in shelves. She wouldn’t know, but they were Amrita’s books – all of them.

Amrita walked in from behind Claudia, closing the door, then moved to the side to the Director, who sat behind his desk; looking down at Claudia. Amrita then brought up a note in her hand, and read it out, [color=purple]“She is guilty of casting a spell made forbidden by Her Majesty the Queen. In the practical combat lesson – no less – she killed her opponent after using a spell to lower the visibility of the room… the fallen student is miraculously alive and is now resting in the infirmary – her name is Catherine Macmillan – this concludes the report.”[/color]

“Well now,” Arthur – the Director – said, “How are you going to explain this, miss…?”

Claudia braced herself and took a deep, collected breath for what she was about to say. “I offer no excuse to the crime I committed, sir, only to say that I am guilty of such an act and see no way to appease of this." Claudia said at first, her face stiffened into a stern expression.

”But– I shall tell you of my origins-- my true origins before you even decide what to do with me,” Claudia declared.

“The truth is a dangerous thing,” Arthur said, “Revealing it can lead to much hardship. For most it is better to lie and accept the consequences.”

“I understand. Then no beating around the bush. What is my punishment?” Asked Claudia raspily.

[color=purple]“Is letting her go really alright? She is dangerous, and almost killed a scholar,”[/color] Amrita said to Authur, sounding somewhat angrier than usual. [color=purple]“That scholar was a student I wanted for my research group, you know?”[/color] She said. Indeed, Catherine was a promised newcomer, but for a teacher to her for a research group made her even more valuable.

“Magic in it’s own right is dangerous, Miss Armita, not just myself. I figured you, of all people would know that,” answered Claudia not taking too much of a liking to that comment. Questioning the Director isn’t a very wise thing to do, especially on such matters.

[color=purple]“Don’t act all smart while using a spell like that carelessly,”[/color] Amrita outright attempted to remind Claudia of her pitiful state. [color=purple]“I am well aware of what a magic is; danger roots not from magic, but from behaviour, impulses, and an unrestrained and unstable emotion that clearly lost control.”[/color]

Claudia’s eyebrow twitched a little as the woman mentioned “unstable emotion”. She acted as if she knew exactly what people subject to it go through, as if they don’t even try to keep their impulses under control. Such is the way of people integrated in the underside of society– all closed-minded people, the lot of them. “Tch, spare me your lecture. I hear that tired lesson enough for it to resound in my ears a hundred times over,” Claudia sighed.

[color=purple]“You are free to leave the academy if you are tired. These †˜tired’ lessons is what he donates money for,”[/color] Amrita shrugged, referring to the man who arranged for Claudia to be able to study in the Royal Academy. She tried to remind her how big of a wrong she committed. There weren’t many teachers aware of how each students got into the academy, only a few were allowed to check the records holding such information, Amrita being one, as the Director’s secretary. [color=purple]“Along with what name you made as a knight here. I see that the guard of the Duke of Cleveland has no manners, after all.”[/color]

“I suggest you leave the Duke out of–” Claudia began to say until she suddenly hunched over, grabbing her stomach in pain. Right, she never received medical attention from that fight from earlier and she was near the point of passing out. Arguing with this teacher wasn’t going to make her situation any better, likely. “Ugh...for what reason am I still arguing with you? Unless you are handling my punishment, I have no means to speak with you longer.” Claudia snarled, still feeling the sting from her wounds.

[color=purple]“Hmph, the Duke didn’t even teach her how to treat her elders,”[/color] Amrita scoffed, despite being shorter than Claudia, or well, being hardly taller than the desk, she was somewhat prideful, for being a faerie who lived for centuries. She was also a role-model mage if not for being short-tempered, and sometimes fooled around with by her students – albeit they all find her endearing to say the least – she was still a person heavily sought as a candidate to be a Magic Magister, but she continues decline it, over and over again. People still wonder why she did so.

Claudia grit her teeth in quivering anger, this woman truly began to get under her skin for some reason. Possibly because of her unnatural obsession for the Duke, that she would not even stand for the slightest ill word directed towards him. Why would that be, considering he would likely toss her aside for this? One would call it love, others would call it fixation. Either way, Claudia was slowly losing her temper once more. No– keep it under control, not in front of the Director, not now. “The Duke, has no control over my emotions. I am to serve and protect him, that is all– on the topic of speaking to those older than I am, however, it would not matter to that degree when I am speaking to an ant of a woman.” Insulted Claudia.

[color=purple]“You just proved my words; a Dark Knight with no sense of respect,”[/color] Amrita said, seemingly feeling victorious, but burning with rage inside, she then faced Arthur. [color=purple]“And that’s the result of taunting her, if you keep her around the academy to avoid a public mess in the Magic World, I fear that other scholars would likely be vexing her to no end anyway. There is a risk of the second casting of the forbidden spell. What will you do about her?”[/color]

“Claudia, I’m appalled that you think it’s ok to talk to my assistant like that in front of me,” Arthur said, shaking his head in disbelief, “Especially when you’re the one who has been brought to me for using a forbidden spell.” Arthur put a palm to his face, deliberating an appropriate punishment.

“It’s clear to me that you do not deserve to call yourself a Knight,” he said finally, “Your sword and your armour, you will leave them with me, and must ask my permission to use them for the foreseeable future. Would that I was able to expel you I would, however, the fact that you can use forbidden magic must be kept under-wraps.” Arthur sighed before turning to Amrita, “Is that an agreeable punishment for you?” he asked.

Claudia pinched the bridge of her nose with exasperation. “Not that I have a choice...sir.” she said with grimace. At this point, even now, Claudia did not care what happened to her, not anymore. As far as she was concerned, she was a child of diabolists– she had no place in this world despite the Director choosing to stay mum about it, which she was eternally grateful for, mind you– it's only that knowing such things left the taste in her mouth to run bitter. “I...thank you for your understanding, Director, sir. I will do all… that I can to appease this matter.”

The girl wanted to cry right there, painstakingly holding back tears in her eyes while turning away from the two to keep her composure.

[color=purple]“There is one thing I feel that we must address, however,”[/color] Amrita said, ignoring Claudia’s words of acceptance for now, she felt that they weren’t done with her just yet, [color=purple]“her participation in the practical combat lessons from now on. Would you allow her to continue attending those classes?”[/color]

“Under close supervision,” Arthur said, “I trust that Miss Claudia can keep her word that it never happens again, and if it does… well she can imagine the repercussions.”

[color=purple]“Very well, that is acceptable,”[/color] Amrita agreed with a nod.

“That is fine. Will that be all sir, or is there more to say?” asked Claudia

“You did something very reckless Claudia,” Arthur said, “It would be wise for you to apologise to the girl you hurt. Of course I’m not going to force you, this isn’t a primary school for little children where I have to hold your hands through the motions but all the same, it wouldn’t hurt to show some semblance of remorse, if not for casting the spell, which frankly is a minor issue for me personally, then at least for those you have hurt.”

“You are correct, sir. I was not in control of my emotions at the moment and it was deplorable of me to use such a spell on Catherine. She was only doing what she was told, and I nearly killed her out of anger. I intend to speak with Catherine in private and apologise. She did not deserve it at all.”

“Wonderful,” Arthur said, “You’re free to leave once you’ve given me your armoury.”

Claudia sighed as she pulled her blade from the wooden case that carried it, tentatively placing the sword onto the Director’s desk with a half scowl. “Now about my armor, there needs to be a ritual for its removal, no?” asked Claudia.

[color=purple]“The rites of knights is something I can perform,”[/color] Amrita answered in Arthur’s stead.

"Lovely..." huffed Claudia lowly.

The carpet that Claudia stood on glowed as Amrita’s palms joined before her chest with a resounding clap. [color=purple]“I figured I’d keep it here since he is a knight fanatic, although he wouldn’t really get it, but it is unexpectedly convenient,”[/color] she said, a smirk crept over her face as she continued to supply the magical circle drawn over the carpet with some mana.

Pieces of armor begun to appear around Claudia’s body – as if they were veiled with water – the colors and form unwrapped slowly as moments passed; Amrita’s spell sucking the invisibility coating in with the ritual spell.

“Huh. That will never get old, I suppose.” Claudia said sardonically, looking uninterested. She willingly peeled the armor from her person and placed it onto the desk. There were too many foul occurrences to take a vast toll on her mood today. She wanted nothing more than to go home to endure the stern talking to from the Duke. Gods know word about this had already spread to him. “Now excuse me, Director, Miss Armita– I will take my leave for today. I'm sure it would be rather taboo for the other students to see me.” Claudia turned suit and walked away to the exit, not saying a word more, no longer appearing saddened by the incident.