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I have never stolen from anyone else here or anywhere else on the internet. Any similarities are purely coincidence. I apologize for any similarities
I apologize if this work offends anyone at any point. No harm is intended by this writing.
Enjoy.
A storm tonight? It's just a shadow of what will come.
A clash of thunder. Another boom from the deafening storm.
A dangerous storm tonight… I should hurry.
I quicken my pace towards the distant tower ahead. An old ruined spire squatting in the middle of this godforsaken forest. There is no one here but me.
No one alive that is.
I can hear the minions of the Nightcaster stalking me. Slow predatory movements among the thick trees. However, they have yet to strike at me. I do not know the undead minions of the Nightcaster to have patience in strategy. They are being controlled, guiding me forward towards the tower. Blocking my retreat.
I do not wish to run, nor do I wish an encounter with this witch's minions now. I have no problems following the Nightcaster's plan tonight.
Nightcaster… hm. I still feel strange calling her that…
If anyone knew Charity Carpathia when she was still a normal girl, if anyone knew her when she was still an ordinary human, then they would not think her of wanting of the title of Nightcaster. She was a young girl studying practical science before all this. Quiet, shy, and a brilliant fellow student.
But that was six years ago. No one would doubt her power as a sorceress now. Ever since she discovered the dark arts and started attacking towns and cities with her nightmare creatures she has been a named to be feared. She's killed many, and people tremble at the thought of her magic. She's a worldwide menace, and everyone knows it.
People know magic exists, but it's restricted by law. The Nightcaster though? She didn't care. The cities can't do anything to stop her anyways. Mech weapons and other scientific medium are powerless against her. I'm the only one who can stop her.
But this isn't about laws or power. This is about her destroying people's lives and me going to put a stop to her.
Nightcaster… She even changed her name to some ridiculous title… Her choice is clear, and so is mine.
Not that I had a choice to begin with.
Six years ago I eagerly studied practical science and steam engines alongside my senior student Charity. Then my father passed away, and all that ended. I inherited his legacy. His curse.
The legacy as a Slayer, one who is forced by a cursed magic blood to wander the world ridding it of creatures that do not belong here; killing demons, witches, and undead anywhere I can find them. It's been my family's curse for many generations, and now it's fallen to me. I had no choice but to hunt, or be denied the afterlife for failing my divine duties.
I soon got the hang of things, and started to become more proficient at finding and slaying evil creatures in their hiding places around the world. I was surprised to one day cross a mysterious Nightcaster, only to find it to be my former colleague.
Nightcaster Charity Carpathia. A magician, a necromancer, and a destroyer. Facing her is me, Joseph Mateba the Slayer, an ordinary human with a curse on his shoulders and a weapon in his hands.
The two of us have been at odds for almost two years now, with me chasing her down and her stopping me again and again. I keep her on the run, but she's always playfully out of my reach.
But that ends tonight.
Tonight… this ends. Tonight, you aren't getting away from me anymore Nightcaster…. Charity…
The Nightcaster is in this old tower. She's fled here, thinking it a sanctuary from me. I almost wonder if she's forgotten that we've been at this for two years now. I know all her tricks. Tracking her down was easy part.
Now comes the hard part.
Donning my traveling clothes and armed with a mech-pistol and this great knife in my hand, I head towards the Nightcaster's lair. Some may think me underprepared for such an undertaking, but my Slayer blood gives me an edge no one else has. It acts on me when I need it most, giving me either sense or strength when active.
I approach the old rickety door of the tower in front of me. It reaches up several stories high, towering over the trees in the forest.
She's in here, I know it.
I begin to reach for the door when, my sense kicks on; sending a chill down my spine.
Thinking about it, it's really not as spectacular as I had originally thought a Slayer's power would be. Merely, it's a sixth sense for danger. A little prick on the back of my neck that tells me something bad is going to happen to me. I'm getting one of those pricks from this door right now.
Trapped I bet. The Nightcaster is fond of preying on the careless. I will have to disappoint this time.
I size up the door for a moment before stepping to the side of it. Leaning on the wall next to the door, I reach over and gently turn the knob on the door. The door slowly slides open.
Fire erupts out the threshold like an inferno. The flames go screaming out into the rain before reaching their limits and quieting. A magical trap, thankfully avoided.
The flames roar past me for a few seconds before they stop.
Close… good thing I caught that, or this attack would have been very short.
I step around to in front of the door again and peer into the interior. There is nothing but some rubble and a spiral staircase in here.
No one there. Let's get out of this rain.
As I step into the interior of the tower I hear a voice echo from above; it's coming from nothing.
"Joseph! There you are! I've been waiting for you actually. Come on in, I'm at the top. I want to have a little chitty-chat with you. Hurry up now!" Exclaims a cheery voice.
Charity's voice is full of energy. She's always talked to me in this young girlish tone ever since we met as enemies. She jokes, teases, flirts, and laughs as if we were young friends. Her power over magic and her self-proclaimed title of Nightcaster has given her an unprecedented confidence.
Yet her voice hides a poison. She has no benevolent intentions for me tonight. She means the exact opposite of what she says. Her cute demeanor may fool the unwary, but I know what she's capable of.
I know she needs to be stopped… by any means.
I clutch the knife in my hands tighter and begin my climb up to the top of the tower where the Nightcaster resides now.
With one last sip, I finish drinking the rest of my tea. It's a beautiful late autumn evening here. The warm tea is even better against the cool of the coming evening.
A lovely late afternoon in Gensokyo.
Chen's tea is always the best. I can't help but wonder if she does this just for me, or if she's really gotten this good at tea making. If the latter then perhaps I might be working Chen a little too hard on mundane things. She's getting older though. Maybe tea and chores are below her now. Perhaps it is time I should… no, not yet. She's nowhere near ready, both Master and I agree on that.
"Master Ran! Raaan!"
Chen's voice is immediately followed by a pounce from behind. Chen crawls over my tails and hops onto my shoulders like a child climbing on a toy.
Sweet as always, she chimes into my ear. "Ran. I did all of my chores today! Can we play? Please please please?"
I can't help but smile. "Why of course Ch-"
Immediately, there is a change in the air. I tense up as I feel a faint shock. A disruption. A shifting of magic in the air that only I can see.
"Nyu? What's wrong?"
I say nothing. I'm not sure, and I don't want to worry Chen with work she doesn't understand yet.
What was that? Such a profound change could only be caused by the border itself. Something is wrong. Very wrong. A change on that scale could easily be a hole or a crack. This could be bad. I-
"Is something wrong, my dear?"
Ah! Master Yukari!
I quickly spin around and stand at attention in front of Master Yukari's presence. Chen slides off my back in the process and stands at attention beside me.
I quickly bow to my master. "Master, I…"
I trail off. Yukari has a look on her face that I recognize. A smile and a gleam that hints at some plan of hers. As the master of the borders of Gensokyo, she surely would have felt such a tremor right away. She knows about the shift that just occurred, and that look tells me she knows just what it is.
This is not going to end well for Gensokyo.
Yukari suppresses a chuckle. "What was it you wanted to say Ran dear?"
I hesitate for a moment, I know better than to question my master's plan.
"I… just wanted to tell you… how amazing Chen's tea is. Yes…" I lie.
Chen jumps back a bit from me.
"Huh? U-um… thank you Master. Ehehe…" She says with a blush.
Yukari giggles. "Oh? Why, some tea would be delicious. Chen dear, could you make me a drink of your 'amazing' tea?"
"Right away!" Chen enthusiastically says as she zips past Master and into the house.
I take one last glance at Master Yukari. Again, she has this scheming look that I am familiar with.
Master… you're planning something big aren't you? Just what are you doing with the border?
Again, knowing better than to ask questions, I turn back around watch the setting sun; listening to the aftershocks of the change that just occurred in the Hakurei Border.
It takes me just a few minutes to reach the top of the tower here. As I draw near the door leading to the highest chamber, I get another itch that tells me danger is ahead.
The Nightcaster is in here of course. I've crossed her more than once, and I know all too well how skilled she is with her magic. The danger warning is well placed. She's gotten the better of me more than once.
But I'm not losing this time. There are no windows, and I'm coming from the only way out. She cannot run anymore. She's cornered herself, and I'm going to make sure she never bothers the world again.
Time to end this.
With a grunt, I kick open the door into the final room. There is no ruin debris or junk in here. In here is an intricate spell drawn on the floor; runes and symbols forming a circle.
And on the far end is the Nightcaster, her still young face beaming at me. To me, she still looks as pretty and innocent the day we first crossed each other when she was just twenty or so; save for the dark magician garb.
She's dressed in her favorite black silk shroud. Baggy and flowing on her arm and legs to give her a grander appearance, but tied tight on her chest and waist to emphasize her well-developed figure. She has a bright red sash and cuffs, along with a shining gold circle amulet resting on her chest. Her cloak strays from a traditional mage style by forgoing a hood, revealing her bronze colored hair and corrupted red eyes.
She likes to show herself like this, combining beauty and power to command respect. Her pride in self-image is a point of endless annoyance for me. At least coming from someone who doesn't care about looks.
Yet I notice something very alarming, other than the large spell in the middle of the room.
She has a new feature. Her left arm sleeve is cut off completely now, revealing her slender arm covered in burning crimson runes all the way down to her fingertips and up to her shoulder. These runes have been growing on her ever since she's learned how to channel magic. It's some kind of symbol of dark power I don't understand.
They have spread much more than I remember though, and it's now started on her left hand too. She's gained a huge power increase since our last encounter. Her mastery over magic knows no limits it seems.
I take a step into the room. The Nightcaster continues to smile at me. I expect some kind of trap, some wicked game she wants to play, some monster of hers hiding around the corner of this door.
Yet, there is nothing. She's just… happy.
I tighten my grip on the blade in my hands.
"Nightcaster…" I growl in a low voice.
She halfway skips towards me. "Jooooseph! I have a surprise for you today!"
I remain silent. Nothing I say is going to help her and her crazy thoughts. I keep walking towards her.
She crosses her arms and pouts. "Aww, what's with that look? Not happy to see your beloved Nightcaster? Maybe I'm doing this wrong then? I guess I didn't introduce myself in my usual fashion. How about… Fire Fountain!"
Her arm and eyes glow brightly. Aiming a hand at me, she sends forth a plume of roaring flames through the air and in my direction.
I throw myself sideways and tumble away from the spears of fire. They roar past me, hitting me with intense killer heat as they do. I stay strong and endure as the spell finishes. Even though I dodged, I find myself choking and coughing from the immense ferocity of the fires.
Any ordinary person would have melted by just being in the same room as this spell. But my Slayer strength, the strength of will it gives me, lets me survive pains that would otherwise kill. It's not immunity to her, but I can withstand her power. Barely.
I quickly jump back to my feet though. The Nightcaster is smiling at me again.
She claps her hands together. "Ah, that felt much better! And that look on your face tells me you agree. Butbutbut! Hold on just a minute Joseph, don't speak, I'm not here to play games anymore. I wanted to give you a little surprise this time."
She takes a deep breath and cheers aloud. "I'm leaving!"
What? No, does she have an escape route already planned? Damn! I need to finish this before she flees again!
She raises a hand. "Wait now Joseph, I'm not going anywhere here. I mean I'm going away! I've found another plane of existence! One where I can get all the dark magic and demonic power I want. See, I'll be out of your hair! Isn't that great? Isn't it? I'll admit, I'll be sad leave you; you were my favorite little nemesis. But you'll be free to go back to whatever stupid things you normal people do! Isn't it just fantastic?"
I'm not sure whether or not to believe her. This spell is easily large enough for a person. She seems genuine, although seeming to be isn't much for her on my account. An entire alternate world cannot possibly exist, can it?
Still unsure of what to think, I question. "Where are you going? What do you plan to do?"
Usually, she is resistant to explaining her plans to her enemy, but it seems I am not her enemy anymore, as she gladly explains everything in detail. She starts by holding pulling out a large rugged magic stone, blue in color and just large enough to fill her small hand.
She examines the stone as she talks. "See, this little rock? It's just a magic boosting stone I whipped up, nothing special, but with it I've reached out and contacted a mystical goddess of a far off realm. The goddess calls herself Yukari Yakumo, and she's agreed to take me off this piece-of-crap world and into hers. She lives in a world where magicians are free and demons live with humans. Well, it's just a little slice of the whole world I hear, but still. I'll be in a new home where I can become as powerful as I want. Doesn't that sound like paradise?"
A world of demons? Another plane of reality? She wants to live there? No… She always has an ulterior motive. If this other place really does exist, then she's going there because she wants something.
"And what do you plan to do when you get there?" I ask again.
She places an engraved finger over her lips. "Ah, secret secret Joseph! You know better than to ask for spoilers."
I knew it! She's not going there for a peaceful life. She wants to go there for more power; power she can't get here. I bet it's this Yukari that gave her all that extra magic she has, and she'll probably show her where to get more. She could very well be going there to open up a portal to this world of demons and use them to rule this world, or the rest of that one.
I don't know for sure, but she's too dangerous either way. Even if she intends to leave this world I cannot give up. I would never wish the curse of her onto any realm. I need to stop her from leaving.
My danger sense shoots up. Something's coming.
Suddenly the symbols in the middle of the room begin to glow brightly. With a loud roar, the spell activates. A hole in the center of the circle appears, as if the very fabric of reality was tearing. A thousand piercing yellow eyes drift around in an endless dark abyss from the tear in the floor.
This other world does exist. I can hardly believe it.
The Nightcaster turns to the portal and gives a wave to me. "Well, she's here! This is my ride off this place. Goodbye steam industry and magic oppression, hello youkai and fantasy!"
She begins to walk to the gap in the floor.
She's going through… I could just let her go. I've chased her for long enough. Two years is a good chunk of life. I still have plenty of work to spare…
I take a step back. But… I have a job, and I can't fail it. She's corrupted beyond reason, and not even this other world deserves to deal with whatever she has planned. No matter what realm of reality it is, I have a job to protect those from dark powers such as hers. My curse won't allow me to back down, I know it. I'll hunt for you as I always have. To the ends of this earth… and the next one!
I take another step back and break into a hard sprint across the room. The Nightcaster, focused on the growing portal, doesn't see my charge.
I fly into her, tackling her into the portal. The two of us fall in and fight as we slip into the dark space of the portal's world.
"Ah! What are you doing you idiot? You'll throw me off course! Let go!" She screams.
I don't. "No. You aren't getting away from me. I can't forgive you, and not just because I'm a Slayer. You're a murderer and a criminal. I will follow you wherever you go until you're dead. You want to go to another world? Then I'll follow you to this one too!"
She glares at me for a second before slamming me with her enchanted arm. The runes are surprisingly painful, and strong. I go flying off into the endless space.
She twirls around to look at me as we fall through the eyes and nothingness. "Fine then. I'll let you follow. You're only going to die here. You'll only delay me, just as you always have. See you on the other side… Slayer."
I struggle to gain balance like her, and fail to do so at all. "Grr… Nnngh… I'll catch you eventually Nightcaster!"
The two of us continue to drift apart. We fall away from each other, and soon lose sight of each other altogether. She continues on to her destination, I fall through to some unknown place.
A world of demons lies ahead. As a Slayer, I can only imagine the madness I'm going to find down there.
I keep falling. It seems I have a long way to go this way… wherever this way is. With nothing to do, I simply free-fall through this nothingness. I'll arrive eventually, I'm sure.
Where is this anyways? Where am I going? What am I going to find here? I know I have to stop her before she gets too powerful, but how am I going to find her? Am I going to survive at all?
I take a quiet sigh. No choice but to find out now. I hope I didn't make a mistake…
Ran and Chen take a seat on the far end of the room, playing some card game that Chen always loves at the table.
I sit on a chair on this end of the room with a pair of gaps open in front of me. Through it, I view two individuals.
The right displays what I'd expected to see. This girl, Charity Carpathia. She calls herself Nightcaster, perhaps rightfully so. Her magic potential is far greater than an ordinary magician's. She could surpass every preconceived limit there is. I'm eager to see how far she is will go once she acquires more from the vast well of magic that is Gensokyo.
Three weeks ago she contacted me, reaching through the borders of our worlds all the way here. It was only a chance that I heard her, but I did hear, so I listened. She claims to wish for peaceful sanctuary from a youkai exterminator that is dogging her. I cannot possibly see why anyone would want to exterminate her though. I've never seen such a well behaved magician before. Such a sweet and enthusiastic young woman should do well in Gensokyo. She even went to flatter me, calling me goddess.
Hmhmhm… This will certainly be an entertaining experiment. She's not just an outsider, but someone from another world entirely. A girl from a world run by an endless mechanical steam industry. A world that has an endless potential for magic, yet fears it so greatly. She should fit right in here; away from that oppression.
I shift my gaze to the second gap. A young brown-haired green-eyed man in a dusty jacket and worn out clothes.
But this is a problem. This hunter has followed her. It seems he intends to chase his quarry until he puts a stop to her. Bothersome human. You should have stayed in your world of machines and petty magic and left this poor girl alone.
I sigh. Yet… he has a magic in him too, more than he realizes. He could be a danger to dear Charity. He could become a serious power in Gensokyo if he learns how to use them.
I shake my head and banish these wild thoughts. No. He won't. His powers are strange, but mostly dormant. He is a youkai hunter. He will not fit in here. It will not be long before he ends up in some random place and meets an unfortunate end at the hands of a youkai. His gun and knowledge of machines will not save him. He still went through the same border manipulations as her, which means he still stands a chance of understanding and making friends, but he is an exterminator so that isn't likely. The poor fool has sealed his fate. He will die; it is only a matter of time.
Well… at least I will not be worrying about him.
With a blink, I reestablish the boundary between me and him and seal the gap. My sight of him vanishes, and I focus on guiding the young Nightcaster to me. Whilst doing so, I look towards my Shikigami.
"Ran? Chen? Have you prepared dinner as of now?" I call over to them.
Ran sets her cards down and stands at attention. "No Master. Would you like to eat now?"
I nod. "Yes. Prepare for four tonight. We are having a guest."
I fall for another couple of minutes. I'm beginning to think myself doomed to this strange dimensional space.
But then, a light begins to soar towards me. On the other side I see the sun and grass. A way out.
Come on… fly!
I can't control my trajectory, but with a twist and a reach I grab onto the hole. My body seems to weigh nothing, and I have no problems pulling myself through.
I hoist myself out of the hole and onto solid ground, and it vanishes behind me. Wet and cool grass clings to me as I crawl out.
Made it.
I take a deep breath and push myself up onto my feet. I check my belongings: pistol, knife, ammo, bandages, canteen, stone.
This stone…
In my hand is the magic stone the Nightcaster was wielding, halfway clenched in my hand where I accidentally grabbed it from her. She claimed it to amplify one's magic. She made this with her own black powers.
I scowl at the rock. Wicked artifact. I should dispose of this.
I raise my arm to throw it, but stop. Wait… I am not in the same world any more. I should watch my actions. I am in a world of demons… and I'm a demon slayer. I need to be careful here. Humans are not the majority anymore.
I lower my arm and examine the stone once more. I… may actually need this. Hopefully I will have no use for it, and I can just keep it as a status symbol or some disguise.
I slide the blue glowing stone into my pants pocket and dismiss the rest of the matter.
Now… where am I?
I look around. I'm near the edge of a forest. There are some hills in the distance, a forest behind me and a mountain beyond that, and empty fields to my left. To my right, it gets a little more mountainous and difficult, but to my left is a tall hill with some flowers atop it.
This place. This isn't the earth I know. I… really went to another world.
I look up at the darkened sky.
I suppose I don't have any regrets really. I kind of acted too fast to regret. I know no one will miss me, but I've lived in that world forever. Will I go ever go back? Will I… no no, focus Joseph you're better than this. You've been in strange places before, this one's just bigger. I need to get to work. Everything else is aftermath; I can deal with that when I'm done.
I look around again.
Ok… there is a hill there. I think I could get a better view up there, and I don't think climbing mountains is going to be any better.
I gather my wits and head off, taking my first few steps in this world. It seems surprisingly peaceful, but I know better than to trust appearances. This place is a place for demons, youkai I think she called them, and their like. I'm a lone human in a world of magic and evil.
Yet I will have to survive. I will have to do my best to find and kill the Nightcaster before she can enact what plan she has.
Well, off we go. It looks like the time here is different. The sun is just going down now, so I have all night to contemplate what to do and where I want to head when the sun rises.
I quicken my pace and begin working my way up this grassy hill to the flowers on top. From here, I'll get a sense of direction…
And begin my journey through this unknown world.
A/N
Alright, here we go! New story!
Thank you for reading my first chapter of this story. I hope you enjoyed it.
I'm a fan of the OC protagonist/antagonist struggle theme in Touhou fan works, but rather than just have an ordinary outsider I wanted to try someone from another world entirely. Joseph Mateba is a demon hunter from a steampunk world. He's a soft-spoken guy with a strong sense of duty (if somewhat reluctant at times) as a legendary Slayer. I don't go too much into his personality just yet, as it is only chapter 1, but we'll see more about him and a few bits from his world to establish some backstory as the tale goes on. Of course, this is a Touhou fanfic so neither of these focuses is going to take away from our beloved youkai characters in the story and how they interact with him.
And then I have an OC villain, Charity the Nightcaster. Yukari brings her to Gensokyo because she thinks she belongs there, and she doesn't want to leave her in the machine world. I wanted to depict her as someone who reasonably would fit in the crazy that is Gensokyo so this logic would make sense. I tried giving her an unusual name (A dark rogue mage named 'Charity') a quirky personality and an awesome ability (kind of vague on that as of yet, but you'll see). I haven't quite established her as evil villain material yet, but I think I set a good stage.
Anyways, this is just my introduction, but I hope I got some interest here. I tried to make this unique by having multiple perspectives in the introduction here (although that will be rarer as time goes on). I fear I may have been a little confusing here and there trying to add tidbits of Joseph's background early on, but I think I did ok overall. Of course, I'd appreciate any reviews to let me know what you think.
Anyways, that's it. Next chapter will be up soon.