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Chapter Fourteen – The Broken Angel

Knowing her friend was in some kind of trance, Lucia quickly moves back.

What's wrong?

"Alice…" she clinches her fist. "Where is Alice?" she cries out.

I am Alice.

"You liar! Alice would never say anything like that. Alice was kind, gentle…"

Alice slowly walks toward Lucia. But Lucia retaliates and hesitantly releases Tybalt pointing the sword at the impostor.

"Stay back!"

Fine. If that's what you wish.

Alice extends her arm into the sky and opens the palm of her hand. Light begins to gather onto her and a giant sphere of energy takes shape. Her eyes shine bright red. She glares at her unsuspecting comrade.

Don't you believe me? It's really me.

"I…" she loosens her grip on Tybalt. Her arms weaken.

Lucia, we're friends. I don't want to hurt you. Disarm yourself.

"Yes, we are friends," Lucia pauses and looks directly into Alice's eyes. With a grin, she confidently calls out Tybalt once again and transforms into her noble Knight Armor. "That's why I have to knock some sense into your brain!"

Without another word, Lucia lunges. Alice releases the energy ball and flickering lights disperses into the air. She stands her ground and anticipates Lucia's blade. At the last seconds, she swings Tybalt slightly to her right-hand side. Bolts of lightning started to burst from the sword. Lucia howls:

"Saffron Thunder!!"

The sparks of lightning start to simultaneously explode. Lucia is thrown back by the force of the blast. To her surprise, Alice still stood with a barrier casted upon her. It was unlike any spell she's seen. It protected only her body. She opens the palm of her right hand. The protective barrier starts to draw together into her hand. It has transformed into a free flowing form of magical energy.

"That magic… what is…?"

Astral Heart…

"Astral Heart?"

"Yes," the normally calm Edward Chaser was talking in an anxious state. His voice was somewhat trembling. Lucia ignores this. 'He's like this every Class A mission' she thought. With that, he places his hands over the console. He starts to type. On screen, a picture of a bright red gem is seen. "This is Lost Logia 713. Also known as the Astral Heart."

"What does it do?"

"We have no official records of it yet but," Chaser hesitates.

"What does it do?" she asks again.

"It will increase anyone's power by tenfold."

"That's what the archeologists discovered?"

"Yes. But that's not all," Lucia impatiently stares at him. He clears his throat and continues. "The Astral Heart was made from the remnants of ancient Intel Devices. That means it's a tool of war. It is supposed to boost a mage's magical ability. Nevertheless, it has its disadvantages."

"Like what?"

"For one, if overused, it drains the mage's natural ability to regenerate mana."

"So whoever uses it uses it only once."

"Yes, losing the ability to regenerate mana is the greatest failsafe feature of the Astral Heart so that no one may abuse its power. One might experience the rush of all that magical energy in her veins but to sacrifice one's own future potential is…"

"It's a disgrace."

"Pardon?"

"To lose one's own abilities as a mage for a momentary boost of power is the biggest mistake she could make."

He is stunned at Lucia's view on the subject. Nevertheless, it seems to only fuel her drive to accomplish the mission.

Disgrace…

Chaser remains silent. It seems Lucia was undeterred by his words. Her usual stone face, unmoved, it worries him. 'This is a mission of high importance. She should take what I'm saying to heart.'

"Is that all?"

"Also… the information you just received is classified," Lucia is rather surprised with what he said. It was a mission after all. Why classify vital information? "You are the only one who has this information. Do not reveal what I've told you unless necessary."

She takes her time to think. It would jeopardize the mission if none of the other members of her team know the danger in their mission. Yet…

"I accept."

"Good."

"But," she added. "The mission should be reclassified."

"What?"

"You're telling me to betray my teammates by restricting their knowledge of the assignment. This mission shouldn't be given to elementary students. Not even me. Even the high school level students would have a hard time with this mission. Wouldn't you agree Mr. Dean of Admissions?"

"It's Dean of Mission Affairs." He said with a grin.

"So you were promoted."

Chaser simply stares at the girl's unbreakable blank expression. Lucia starts to walk out.

"Wait, Lucia!"

She stops and turns toward Chaser. "I already accepted the mission, all of it," she remained impassive. "I won't reveal any classified information… for now."

Fate… Fate… please wake up…

The young blonde's body seems lifeless. Her heart still beats yet her breath is failing her. Raven is filled with dread. Tears start to flow from her eyes. The pressure of accomplishing the mission and the fact that one of her classmates is dying in her hands is getting to her. Failure, death, all her life she was a sheltered child. She is unable to comprehend all of these in a single moment. She starts to break down and cries.

She embraces Fate. "Please don't die. Please." She lays her on the floor. She finally calms down. She checks her pulse once again. Her heart starts to rise. At the end of her finger tips, she senses hope. She's still alive. Trying to remember all her training, she removes clothing to lessen the burden on her body. She grasps her face. Fate isn't breathing. She has to move fast. She presses her hands on Fate's chest.

Live… I beg of you…

Several explosions ensue during their battle. Nanoha isn't hesitant to destroy the whole cavern. She knows that her friends will survive no matter what the situation. She swings her staff. Eight pink spheres of light appear around her.

"Divine Shooter!" she points Raising Heart towards Sei.

The spheres quickly dash towards her. Sei dodges. Nanoha is undeterred. She simply raises her staff and again points it at Sei. The spheres change direction. They're heading to their target.

"Tch..." Sei extends her arm. She opens her palm. Her hand emits silver light. It reveals a rune symbol. "Stan!"

"Granite Barricade!!"

A stone-like barrier surrounds the Wild Child. It easily blocks the spheres. The energy immediately disperses.

"It looks like you still had some tricks." Nanoha smirks.

"It's not like I'll let you actually beat me."

"Raising Heart!" Nanoha raises her partner.

"Yes, my master."

"Benvolio!!"

"Ha, Meister." Benvolio replies.

Sei rushes and attacks Nanoha with Benvolio. She swings her rapier disorienting her opponent. Her footwork is unmatched as Nanoha barely avoids each strike. Her flawless swordplay puts Nanoha in a tough position. All her opponent could do was to avoid getting struck.

"You're pretty good with that sword."

"This was how I was raised in my family."

"It must have been difficult on you."

"You have no idea." She flings Raising Heart and leaves Nanoha defenseless. "It looks like the match is over."

Nanoha, realizing defeat, comes down to her knees. But then, something bizarre happens. Nanoha laughs. Clearly, Sei is disturbed by this turn of events. 'Why? Why would she laugh?' As Nanoha calms down, she stares heavily at her opponent. Her eyes say it all. The star mark beneath her eye begins to glow eerily.

"Wild Child you piece of trash!"

It happened once before, Sei remembers. During her initial encounter with the powerful mage. She is possessed. The glow on her mark begins to engulf her entire body.

"Wild Children like you," She suddenly disappears and reappears in front of Sei, "should die." In her hands is Raising Heart. It's been deformed into a saber-like device. It has become a sword. She sways is madly and manages to cut Sei on her shoulders.

"It looks like I underestimated you."

Nanoha licks the blood of Raising Heart. Sei's heart starts to pound wildly. It was a feeling she's long forgotten. Something she thought she threw away. It was an emotion hidden deep inside her heart. Pure terror…

"Let's finish this, shall we?" Nanoha casts a binding spell on Sei. "How would you like to die?"

"No…" Sei tries to dispel the bind but fails. She starts to struggle as Nanoha approaches. "No… don't come near me."

"Let's see if Wild Children also have the same blood color as ordinary humans."

"No… NO!"

The free-flowing energy disperses. The droplets land on Lucia's Knight Armor. It starts to consume it. Without second thought, Lucia disengages her armor. She distances herself from Alice. She quickly hides behind one of the huge pillars on the side of the aisle. She eagerly awaits her next move. She assesses the current situation. She considers all possibilities at every possible angle. Before she could formulate a plan, Alice interrupts and attacks her.

"Tybalt!" Lucia dons her armor once again. "Snap out of it Alice! You're… you're… you're being possessed! This is not the Alice I knew."

Whatever do you mean? This is who I really am. You should know that.

"No, that's not true. You're not some mindless puppet. And I'll be the one to break the spell cast onto you."

Lucia raises Tybalt. Sparks fly out from her sword. Some strike Alice paralyzing her.

I'm sorry…

Saffron Thunder!!

A loud explosion echoes throughout the cavern shaking its foundation. Alice is blown to the wall. Blood slowly goes down her face. Lucia makes her way towards Alice. She grabs the pendant and crushes it. A whirlwind starts to swoon around the cavern. She collapses on the spot.

Lucia! Wake up! Lucia!

The bright lights… an angelic voice… is this heaven?

Chaser grabs Lucia by the collar and starts to sway her back and forth. She quickly retaliates with a punch.

"Nice Punch!"

"I can see that you're okay." With her usual sarcastic smile, Raven enters the room.

"Raven… what happened?"

"Well, you've been asleep for like half the day."

"And Alice? How is she?"

"She's been through worst. It looks like she's just knocked out badly."

"Thank goodness. What about the mission?"

"It's okay. Everybody is fine. But it seems the perpetrators escaped. But there's something important I have to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"I found the archeologist while you were fighting. It seems 713 wasn't the only major find they had."

"What do you mean?"

"The surviving archeologist said that they found two sacred relics from 200 years ago. They weren't sure at the time but they said that they found the remnants of the Tome of the Night Sky."

Note: 14 finally out. Currently playing Magical Battle Arena! So much fun. Hope you like this chapter guys!