Higher Powers by Wordsworthy
Disclaimer: I obviously do not own the Suikoden series, or the Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha Series for that matter. This is, after all, just a fanfiction written for the sole purpose of entertainment and no profit motive whatsoever. So please just enjoy the story and do not sue me for this. If you wish to know more about the series, please support the companies producing them directly and purchase their merchandise if you like.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 9: Unrestricted
I flipped around for the umpteenth time under the covers. Someone was definitely keeping me up tonight.
I still can't believe it… do I really…?
I thought back to what happened earlier. The abruptness of the revelation caught me off guard, but the hand felt so warm and comforting that letting go not once crossed my mind. Without thought, words or even looking at each other, we just stayed there, suspended in mid-air, enjoying the view, the cold air but mostly, the moment we had. However, as the saying goes, what goes up must come down eventually, so to speak, and eventually we lowered ourselves to the ground. Not a single word was said other than the eventual farewell, but hands remained joined until the last moment.
Matron sure got me in a mess this time. Well, she'll argue that it was all me, or that it was a matter of chance, but still… how long has it been, a century?
My brows knitted into a frown again.
An immortal and a mortal girl. That's a recipe for tragedy if ever there was one. Humans did have that nasty habit of getting old and dying after all. If I did love her, our bliss will only last for a moment before I would have to watch her grow old, weak and die out. The only outcome from this is loss… and an eternity of it in my case… Something I really don't need right now, or ever. Maybe if I didn't really love her, it would be more fun and easier…
Vivio's shy smile came to mind.
No… that's just being my self from the past century again… I can't do that… not to her…Darn. I really got it bad this time. And nothing's even begun yet. Haiz…
Needless to say, I didn't get too much sleep that night.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After several hours of thinking and not sleeping, I was perfectly happy to wake up before the slated time and spent the rest of the time working on the terminals, consuming magic circuit patterns and assimilating to this world's technology at an alarming rate. I can already tell that the distraction wouldn't last long anymore, since the difficulty of doing all this at once seems to be diminishing faster than I had hoped.
Darn. Why can't I be stupid like those Narcissists… wait… I'm actually wishing I was one of the Narcissists?
Letting out an uncharacteristic growl, I smacked myself rather hard on the head and shivered.
Note to self: DO NOT EVER THINK THAT EVER AGAIN! That was plenty stupid already.
There was still three hours to daybreak… The day has apparently become long, long before it had properly begun it seems.
I need a new hobby or something. Well, since there's a lack of anything better to do, I might as well review the magic circuits and reconcile it with my own knowledge of the Sindar. It seems sufficiently difficult to keep my mind off things…
Nodding to no one else in particular, I began breaking down individual circuits down by categorizing various similarities in patterns by their functions. Considering the number of circuits I had memorized and the ones available on the terminal, this took up a good half of my mind, as well as an hour or two.
Hmm… it seems possible to isolate and categorize small specific sections of a circuit by their similar abilities or attributes. But if that's the case, then in theory, some of the spells should also bear greater similarity to each other, yet the fact remains that there are also specific differences in terms of power, scale and duration, while there are also cases where a wholly new or different effect is achieved… Intriguing…this would mean that merely piecing a circuit together from a mishmash of attributes will not be enough for the spell to work…since there is clearly something else that determines the cohesion and hence overall effects of the spell…
A random thought came to mind.
The 108 stars of destiny… the stars are said to have the power to resolve catastrophes merely by getting into their appropriate positions, together with the combination and resonance of their collective fates… if that's the case, then perhaps the position and compatibility of certain isolated attributes would have to be considered as well. That said, I should be able to identify certain compatible attributes by comparing the circuits to see which ones already show such a relationship… More work. A good thing.
More time passed. The sounds of stirring can already be heard by my experienced ear. It wouldn't be long now… but I did finish the task at hand within my mind.
Alright, I mentally sifted through this new sub-categorization that I made. let's try reconstructing a simple spell then. If my reasoning is correct, than I should be able to reconstruct, say, the Levitation circuit without even trying to remember it…
I opened a blank blue monitor and began to construct the spell manually. I managed to get the most of the pattern down, but there were still slight variations and gaps yet to be filled. I growled a little, starting to feel a little irritated at being so close, yet so far.
Back to the proverbial drawing board.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Two sets of footsteps sounded down the hall heading towards the common room.)
"Lazlo! Wow, you wake up really early don't you?" Caro-san greeted.
"Sort of." I replied. Fact was I couldn't sleep at all… not that immortals really needed sleep as opposed to it being a luxury to begin with…
"What are you working on so early then?" quipped Lutecia-san, poking her purple head towards the terminal I had been working on.
"Just some theories on magic that I came up with. Thought I should at least make some effort on it before I can begin to teach you guys properly. I still feel really bad about making Caro-san help me train yesterday instead of the other way round."
"Caro, come look at this!" the purple-haired guard exclaimed.
"What? What is it Lutecia?" replied the pinkhead.
Generic "woah"-ing and jaw dropping followed.
"Wow. Lazlo, you came up with all this just this morning?" asked Luteica excitedly.
"Yes actually." I replied, slightly surprised that they could understand my work since I had used headings and categories in my own tongue.
"Well, I don't really get the words on the screen, but it looks slightly like that research paper that independent Institute of Research and Magecraft released the other day. Something about the Unified Theory of Magic, one that is supposed to collapse all spells together under one singular theory. Except the reconstructed circuit they used in their experiment is nowhere as complete as yours!" Carol-san explained.
I rubbed my chin in thought. "Intriguing… Did they manage to get it to work?"
"Oh no. I think they concluded that there are certain other areas that have to be worked out, to literally fill in the gaps. There's actually pretty much skepticism on whether it will work to begin with, since they have been at it for decades without success."
"Hmm…" was all I could come up with as I took stock of this new development.
Well, at least I know that I'm on the right track now… I'm sure I'll get it sooner rather than later. You never know where and when inspiration will hit you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the two girls engaged in slight chatter, I picked up another four sets of footsteps converging on the entrance to the commons. Before long, two Captains came into view, together with Erio-san and… Vivio…
"Morning. Hey, what happened to you three? You guys look like you didn't get much sleep done last night!" wondered Erio-san aloud at the weary looks of the other three.
What happened next was almost too funny. The two captains and their girl promptly straightened up, turned red before waving their hands in defence and saying it's nothing like that. You could really tell they're a family like that. I couldn't resist the urge to smile, lifting the ends of my mouth upwards. Surprisingly, the earlier unease and apprehension faded away as well.
I'm over-thinking things again. This is not supposed to be a bad thing after all.
After the morning greetings with the rest of the forward, I managed to meet Vivio for the first time this morning. I simply dropped my mask and smiled at her, and she nodded softly in acknowledgment and smiled back brilliantly at me. Again, no words for now.
"Is there something going on between the two of them?" whispered Erio-san to Caro-san's ear, earning a hushed shush and a light slap on his arm.
"It's none of our business. Leave the gossip to us girls okay?" explained the pink Fullback smugly.
That said, the group of us made our way towards breakfast. Well, one was more dragged than anything.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breakfast was a quick affair. Fate-san made an announcement that the Wolkenritter would be sharing the training field with us today, as well as a surprise later in the afternoon. That set off the two older girls into a slight speculation frenzy. Erio simply rubbed his hands in anticipation. Seeing the chance, I made a request of the two captains.
"If I may, Nanoha-san, Fate-san, would I be able to request a stronger barrier on the training ground? I think I might have a tendency to overdo things after all."
"That's already settled. I made the necessary arrangements after your little incident yesterday. So don't worry too much about it and just let yourself go." assured the brunette captain with anticipation shining in her eyes.
I decided to push it a little.
"Erm… one more thing. Can I request for a Hi-DEC2 while I'm at it then?" This time eyebrows were raised.
"What's Hi-DEC2?" quizzed Erio-san.
"Hi-DEC2 is short for High Density Energy Containment Cell. They used to use it to test fire high intensity weapons like the Arc-En-Ciel." Explained Caro-san nonchantly.
"Do you really think that is necessary Lazlo-san?"
I thought for a moment.
"Probably."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We met the Wolkenritter shortly after breakfast on the training field. It was the first time I had ever seen them, but I could tell they were pretty established mages in their own right. Before I knew it, we were being paired off with the unfamiliar faces. As Erio-san explained then, "The vice-captains and Zafira-san, Shamal-san are always off doing individual assignments while Rein-san is always with Hayate-sama when they're not called on as a unit, so it's a rare chance for us to get to spar against them. Don't worry, it'll be fun." And so… here I am.
"Your swordsmanship is quite exquisite. Where did pick it up from?" asked the pink-haired swordswomen between parries.
"Experience." I replied, drawing sparks from the contact between our blades. "It's of my own creation over the years."
"Quite an achievement for someone so young. You've piqued my interest." She pulled back slightly before unleashing a flurry of slashes.
"You're not half bad yourself milady knight." I returned the compliment as I countered with well placed thrusts that not only deflected the horizontal attacks, but also forced her to guard with her own. The two of us leapt apart after that as we continued to assess each other.
"Now then," spoke Vice-captain Signum, as her blade ejected two pellets. "Let's just say we've done our warm up."
Just like Erio-san the last time. She's going to start using magic now. Great.
The speed and power of her attacks increased considerably after that and I felt myself get stretched over the duel for the first time in a long while. But I didn't disappoint either, since I could still hold my own comfortably. However, Signum-san seemed a little upset.
"Are you mocking me boy?"
I realized she took my not using of magic as a slight of her abilities. An honourable woman, as expected of a follower of the sword.
"Not at all. The fact is I'm still relatively new to magic, so I'm not confident of my control or execution. I do apologize if you took it personally."
"Well, you'll excuse me if I don't hold back myself."
"I wouldn't dream of it. A worthy opponent is rare and few in between."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The duel became gradually more heated as time progressed. Signum-san managed to back me into a corner at one point, before I countered back using the few spells that I had some confidence in.
"Halo Blade." Yukishiro's voice called out, and several flashes of blue light streaked towards the pink swordswomen.
The Vice-Captain in turn unleashed several energy flashes of her own in counter, before having to evade the last one by taking to the skies. It seems like I had the advantage in sheer power of my blasts as expected. But now…
Great…
I followed suit in order to honor our engagement, but while our differences were finer on the ground, it became significantly pronounced in the air. Her speed far outstripped mine and I was forced on the defensive. Realizing her advantage as any good knight would, she took the chance to charge up a particularly powerful attack confident that I could not possibly reach her in time or evade it completely.
This might hurt…
Unconsciously, my eye was drawn towards a shortish blonde in another battle nearby. Vivio was doing away with the particularly heavy attacks of an even shorter girl in red with deceptive ease, causing the other to growl repeatedly.
She's improved so much so quickly. The opponent hadn't realized that she was caught in Vivio's defensive zone and is just relying on her impressive power. Well, you can't break down Phoenix with strength alone… wait, why am I drawn to her again even in this most inappropriate situation!
I returned my attentions to the swordswoman before the Belka circuit under her caught my eye.
Part of the circuit revolves and moves almost like a fluid… it's almost like a flowing stream of words… Wait… a stream of words… if the magic circuit works the same way as the words within a Sindar text, then perhaps the blanks in the circuits earlier were the meant for conjunctions and other grammar devices that are essential for proper comprehension even in normal language…
I braced myself for impact by increasing the flow of energy into Yukishiro's auto-shield, not wanting to be interrupted in my thoughts right now.
The revolution of words would then also serve as another sequence of resonance that could be used to create brand new effects using the proper sequence of attributes. If I am correct, I should be able to create my own spell in theory… so…
I began drawing a new flight circuit of my own original design within my mind, hoping to even the odds. Meanwhile two words rang out from the Vice-Captain's direction.
"Storm Falcon!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought that would hurt. Big understatement. It seems like I had misunderstood the mechanism of Yukishiro's auto-shield. While increasing the flow of energy to it has increased its effect, hence reducing the damage from the attack, the following residual damage is directed straight into the mage instead of being refracted like what an ordinary shield could do even if it is broken. The jolt from that attack knocked me out of the sky due to my already bad aerial control and I was falling towards the ground at an alarming velocity. I figured this was as good a time as any to try the new circuit.
Yukishiro, load new magical circuit. I'll name it… HiMAT.
A digital voice rang out. "HiMAT system accepted. Commencing, 3, 2, 1."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I felt energy surging outwards and surrounding my body before everything in front of me was enveloped in a bluish white light. My velocity slowed down almost immediately before I felt myself rising upwards. Still blinded by bluish white, I asked Yukishiro what happened.
"HiMAT phase one, my sovereign. Default mode. Shall we proceed to phase two my sovereign?"
Why not? "Do it."
"HiMAT phase two."
This time the blue and white before me split open slightly as I felt slight sensations on my back. The sky and earth came back into view before I identified the difference from the earlier Levitation circuit. I had wings. Wings of bluish white light. All eight pairs of it, closed behind me to form a deceptively large singular pair. More importantly, I felt much better control, as though I was finally one with the skies.
"What the heck was that?" remarked the startled swordswomen.
"Something of my own creation once again." I said with a wry smile. "But more importantly, you should brace yourself."
I tested the sensation of each new wing within the singular main wings, creating a rippling effect down my wings. It seems like that I could increase my speed and maneuverability whenever i added additional emphasis from the component wings even without unfolding them individually.
"After all, I've been told I have problems holding myself back."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The battle was over soon afterwards. The HiMAT flight system more than evened out the differences beforehand; the level of speed and maneuverability surpassed even my wildest expectations as almost every movement I made became blindingly fast and resembled more like aerial acrobatics more than normal flight. As I raced to catch a certain freefalling pink swordswoman, I couldn't help but agree with what Caro-san had said previously.
I do feel like I'm cheating somewhat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As we approached the ground, I realized that everyone else had stopped their duels and were following my own. There was really only one question. It didn't matter who got to ask it.
"What did you do this time?"
I scratched my head modestly. "I came up with my own magic circuit. I thought it might work, so I combined Hayate-sama's, Nanoha-san's and Fate-san's flight circuits together and I guess it worked. Lucky me eh?" I explained evasively.
I shouldn't reveal too much. Such power can be dangerous…
"Cool! It's just like that Unified Theory we were talking about earlier. Do you think you can create other spells like that?" chipped in Caro-san.
"Maybe. But I would much rather keep this under wraps for now, until I work out the kinks in it. An original spell like the HiMAT took way too much energy to sustain, even for a flight system. I'll teach it to you guys once I made it somewhat safer somehow."
"What does HiMAT stand for?" asked Vivio.
"High Manoeuvre Aerial Tactics. It's to more to compensate for my own lack of talent and training in flying really." She gave me a knowing nod.
"What do you wish to call your new system of magic then? It seems fitting that you name it since you did create it after all." remarked Signum-san.
I pondered for a moment. "The Unrestricted System. Might as well, since I'm breaking a lot of rules of magic at the moment."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(As we stopped for the sake of lunch, I managed to pull Vivio aside for a brief moment.)
"Hey." I began a bit nervously.
"Hmm?" the reply came just as tentatively.
"About us… "
"I think things should remain as it is for the moment." She cut in suddenly.
"Oya?"
"I mean, I think we don't have to rush things… I mean, it's not like I don't… I mean, I would like to get to know you better in time, and hope that you will get to know me better too… I mean… I'm still only just fourteen so we can take our time… I mean…" She flustered for a bit. I patted her head fondly before leaning in closer.
"It's fine. I have to work out some things of my own too. I would really like for this to work out somehow, more than you might come to expect, so taking it slow is perfectly fine. And besides, you don't have to worry about time."
"Oh? Why is that?
A smile of mixed sentiments tugged at the corners.
"I have all eternity if need be."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Notes:
Another rather technical entry. This might continue for a while, seeing that we need to build up Lazlo's power quite carefully before the climatic battles can take place. With regards to the HiMAT system, kudos to those who realised the Gundam reference. I've intended the wings to look somewhat like those of Freedom's or Destiny's, since they do look rather dramatic. There's also some resemblance to Hayate's black wings on her barrier jacket. So theoretically, its also kinda possible.
The Unrestricted System is really a justification for combining spells into more powerful versions of themselves, so please don't lose too much brain cells over them. I've include the Unified Theory and my idea of Sindar-Circuit link just to make it more coherent.
Other references necessary should be the narcissists. They are probably, the most useless, self-absorbed, foppishly dressed, non-contributive members of the Stars of Destiny ever. Idiots really, so I won't bother defiling my story with their names.
As a preview of things to come, the next chapter will include introducing who the second Forward team consists, a little passage of time and leveling up of the other forwards and the beginnings of the first climatic battle.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Omake 6: Idiots, enough said!
(Three narcissists were speaking to each other and N3 sneezes.)
N1: By the gods, what a uniquely exquisite burst of air, so artfully done and skilfully executed. Artistry at its pinnacle!
N2: That's right! A sight the gods would indeed by proud of as though of their own work. Perhaps it's a sign that our perfection is finally reaching the same godly standards of beauty that we aspire to be.
N3: I do believe you guys are right. Come on, we have to share our god-given, god-equal beauty and artistry with the other poor common wretches out there. No greater quest could there be if ever there was one.
(The three goes around sneezing on people.)
(L looks from on top.)
L: Idiots.