Everything written here – characters, technology, setting, combat system, and so on – are under the direct ownership of Emerald Sonata…and the GAEA ALTERIUS.
Any non-original subjects will be tagged with '*' next to it and will be given proper sourcing.
[Inspired by Kamen Rider Ryuki and Kamen Rider Blade.]
「ハロー・パナシア」
HALLOW PANACEA
{/ First Genesis \}
[( 0th Turning of Fate )]
:: ADVENT ::
{A Wakening of Era}
The medieval world of Malphaea was shrouded by the darkness of night. Slumber dominated the lands as nothing but simple creatures stirred in the shadows. It was a cold night, but nonetheless peaceful for those who were in deep sleep.
Upon a small hill, surrounded by luscious farming fields, there stood a small cottage that housed a family of three. It was hours since night fell as the farmer of the grounds tried to doze off some more. The work of the day may have ended but his mind was agitated as he waited to face his chores again in the next morning. In other words, he could not sleep well. His wife and his youngling, on the other hand, had no troubles as their soft snores were the proof.
Thinking that sleep will avoid him for a while, the farmer got up and headed for a window of his room. He rested against the sill and allowed the shivering winds to wash over his face. He felt a bit at peace, until he heard a sound.
Crunch-crunch-crunch…
It sounded like nibbling or munching and it came from his nearby garden patch. Not hesitating to think, he reached over to the corner of his room to equip himself with his rusty shotgun.
[******]
The farmer skirted around the back of his house, weapon primed and ready, as he approached the sound that emanated from his garden patch. Judging by the rustling and crunching noises, the farmer depicted the source to be a large animal that was relentlessly devouring his crops. Not any longer, thought the farmer with narrowed eyes.
He leapt passed a corner and climbed over a fence, already firmly standing in the patch where the sound was coming from. He trained his rifle on a figure he just spotted. Cautiously, he approached it from behind. Provided with only the moon for light, he could make out a shape.
To his surprise, it looked human and had long hair.
"Hey!" The farmer pumped his weapon for emphasis, "What are you doing on my property?"
The figure jumped on the spot, remaining in what seemed to be a human-like crouch. It slowly turned about to face the farmer, the shadows concealing its face. The farmer did not care how it looked; for he was boiling with anger at a half-eaten scallion protruding from the figure's lips, and from the sight of his devastated field before it.
"MY SCALLION PATCH! WHY YOU!"
[******]
Walking quietly across the dark road was a stranger. Her hair was mid-length and she had a slender figure. She wore a short cape, a thin mage's jacket, a short-length skirt, long white stockings, and female traveling boots with stubby heels. She was silent for the entire journey, her eyes trained in front of her to ready herself for anything. Plus, she wanted to get this walking over with so she could have a peaceful sleep in the next town.
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
She leapt at every roar of man-made thunder as she whirled about.
"What in Malphaea? Gunfire?" That was when a figure bolted right past her and nearly sent her sprawling on her face. Luckily she regained her balance in time, but screeched a, "Hey!" The stranger was taken aback. The figure that ran into her was human-like, yet frantically running on all fours like as an animal would do so. Ignoring the thought, the stranger scoffed and stepped forward. Her foot crunched onto something and she gazed down.
She pulled her foot to one side to reveal a thin stick-like object. The stranger gingerly picked it up between her slender fingers and scrutinized it. It looked rather familiar with a soft green skin and a tantalizing aroma. With a sniff, she came to a conclusion.
"A scallion?" She then felt something press against the back of her head; most recognizably the firing end of a shotgun.
The farmer levelled his weapon as true as it could be, nudging the barrel against his captive's hind cranium, "On you're feet! You've got some explaining to do!"
The stranger, unafraid, let out a sigh. She stood up to her full height and coolly turned to face the farmer. With the rifle still aimed at her face, she simply pulled out something from under the collar of her coat. She held it out, letting it dangle under the moonlight. The farmer glimpsed at it.
It was a cameo-like pendant on a chain, with a coat-of-arms of a crossed wizard's staff and knight's sword. There was also a rising phoenix in the background…That could only mean one thing. The farmer lowered his rifle and dropped his bushy jaw.
"A-a Sealer Mayji?"
[******]
The figure scampered to a halt within the darkness of the woods, using a thick tree as a shield for stealth. It was breathing like mad as it tried to calm itself down and rest from the run. That man was scary…very scary. It was glad it had gotten rid of him.
"Had enough running?"
The figure gasped, but slapped both hands to its lips. It slowly peeked out from around the tree, searching for the owner of the voice.
The stranger entered the clearing of the dark woods, her amber eyes surveying the area with hostility, "Show yourself…there's no use hiding. Not after what you've done."
The figure shivered with fear, hands still clasped over its lips. Unfortunately for it, the stranger was coming closer towards its direction. Its breathing quickened.
"Give it up! There's no use escaping me!" cried the stranger, "I don't mind staying up all night just to find you. Besides…" a dark smirk etched across her lips and she pulled out something from the side of her belt, covered by her cloak. A sceptre with a diamond crystal on its top. She then spoke slowly and playfully, "You – can't – hide – forever…" She raised her weapon, "Clove…RAI!"
Lightning tore down from the cloudless skies and struck down across the clearing around her. Flames and sparks erupted all over. In fear, the figure let loose a scream. The stranger aimed her sights at the source and did the same for her sceptre.
"Got you! KAZE!" At her command a swirl of wind coiled up and sailed off. It went around the figure's hiding spot, shocking her, and it struck her body away like a punch. The figure screamed as her body crumbled across the ground and into the clearing with the stranger.
"Let's see how you fare with one of your own! SHOUKAN: Air Dragonfien!" With a slash of her sceptre, it pulsed from white to burning cyan and launched an orb of flaming blue. It arced and struck the ground with a fiery splash, but quickly regrouped and solidified to become a humanoid form. A feminine figure materialized, equipped with azure gauntlets, boots, chest armor, and a strange helmet with thin edged horns that resembled dragonfly eyes. A pair of glossy dragonfly wings appeared from the figure's back and it caused her to hover over the ground. The darkness shaded her appearance as she readied herself for her master's order.
"Let's see how you deal with one of your own!" called the Sealer with a grin, "Dragonfien, attack! Don't let her escape!" The floating girl in armor hesitated with a look of dilemma. The Sealer grimaced, "What are you waiting for? Go!" The Dragonfien gripped her head, as if struck with a headache. Unable to bear it, she answered with a sad nod and readied herself for combat.
She sailed into the air and began her attack run at the figure. The figure leapt to one side with inhuman speed, just as the dragonfly-girl struck the air with both fists. The figure back-flipped into the air before landed on all fours, quickly making a break for it.
"Like I said, Clove, you can't run from me! Finish it!" ordered the Sealer. The dragonfly-girl lashed forth like a sword in the air, offering no chance for the figure to escape.
CRACK!
The Sealer jumped at the thunderous snap of wood, the dragonfly-girl as well as the figure skidding to a stop. The dragonfly-girl darted backwards and the figure scampered back a few paces in time to avoid a massive tree crashing in between them. The earth quaked, throwing the Sealer off her feet and hard on her bottom.
"OW!" she hissed, "What in Malphaea was that?"
The figure itself was stunned. It quickly regained its senses and did its best to make tracks instantly. The Sealer groaned in pain as she rubbed her sore spot, her Air Dragonfien hovering by her side to help her. Just as the humanoid creature reached out, the Sealer slapped her hands away.
"Don't touch me, Clove!"
The dragonfly-girl pulled back and returned an apologetic nod of her head. The Sealer scoffed and held up her sceptre, a beam of light shooting out from the diamond striking the creature. Its whole body turned into energy and was absorbed back into the object of which it was summoned from. With an agitated groan, the stranger sheathed her sceptre to a holster on her belt and leapt to her feet with a huff. She brushed the dirt from her clothes and skirt, whipping the rest off from her cape.
"Darn it all…" The Sealer turned to the fallen log, "Where did that thing come from?" Knowing that not a single soul will be able to answer her, she spun on her heels and stormed off to the nearest town, "I swear, if I find that Clove and who or whatever stopped me from sealing that monster, I'll make sure they will pay dearly and slowly…"
In her departure, she failed to see a humanoid shade watching her from the darkness of the woods. It watched in silence as she ranted angrily to itself, slightly amused at the Sealer's temper. It then stood straight from leaning against the tree that hid itself and turned to disappear into the night.
つづく
[By: ~Emerald Sonata~]
Unmeito tatakau. Kyuusei kourin.
{"Battle Fate. Advent Salvation"}