Xcalibur -A NEW WORLD- Ch. XVI (Lisa of Truth/Honesty)

Upon discovering her powers that presides over truths, Lisa has been more diligent in her studies as a PhD and apprentice alchemist. Under the supervision of the two headmasters of Ouroboros, Lisa had been taken in tutelage of Ms. Shrinivas, her kindergarten teacher and some other head scientists such as, Prof. Ienzo Hojo, Dr. Even Hollander, and their superior Dr. Merlin Diz Anthem. Although she is young, she had achieved some scientific wonders that had made breakthrough. She always been into her studies and now aspiring to defeat her rival. No, I'm not talking about her crush, David Newton. But he is a master of rhetoric to point that his words can be deceiving, but he never lies. An aspiring magician. Trickster and alchemist as well.

And he is one of the members of Ouroboros as well. He is Oscar Pine Digs aka. Master Magician. Rank I of the Ouroboros.

Oscar is a former circus child, born with exceptional talents in speech and gymnastics. He also performs in live stages but when his circus was disbanded out of lack of funds, he was found by the two headmasters and took him in. He created many alchemic advancements and became a junior mage as well. Learning both arcane arts and sciences.

But what exactly is Alchemy? In this world, there are what you call alchemists, those who pursue sciences that can break the boundaries of science and fiction. Pseudoscience as they call it, due to is defies law of physics. There is one thing that alchemists aren't allowed to do due to the fact that there are absolute laws formed since beginningless time. The Law of Equivalent Exchange and/or The Law of Cause and Effect.

Law of Cause and Effect makes sure that any arcane abilities of an alchemist can only transmute already existing substance. Unlike witches/wizards, Alchemists uses arcane energy to transmute existing objects like atoms and particles. It is likely due to having less access to arcane or spiritual energies. They are however able to compensate via scientific breakthroughs; such as creating medicines and pharmaceuticals, age-reversing products, turning sands or rocks into metal or water into alcohol. They can still use partial of any arcane energies, enabling them to transmute materials but needed an aide like technologies that can save or harness energies from the surrounding.

Law of Equivalent Exchange supports the Law of Cause and Effect. For that matter, they can only transmute already existing objects. If they are to create something that isn't existing will have unprecedented results if the person isn't a witch/wizard for they are much closer to the idea of Creation just as the Maker did once. A soul for a soul, which disallow the alchemist to use reincarnation magic. The alchemists can make fire but only by supercharging atoms in the air, but wizards can MAKE fire even by just their imagination. That's one key difference of an Alchemist to a Wizard.

But that aside, Lisa Loud aspire to be a State Alchemist at her age. She may have PhD but she is still new to the idea of Alchemy. Now that she is under the tutelage of such great scientist and alchemists, she is ready to take her stance to becoming an alchemist herself. All she needed now to pass her exam.

Dr. Even Hollander: Have you readied your Armament? To be a State Alchemist, you must show evident mastery of your alchemic prowess and your Armament!

Lisa: Affirmative, I am indeed primed!

Prof. Ienzo Hojo: Then setting examination stage and environment… now. Godspeed to your success and remember, you can do whatever you can do only in your capabilities. The environment is…

Lisa: An Alchemist's playground. I understand completely, but I will not overestimate my abilities.

Dr. Even Hollander: The examination for Elisabeth Loud will now begin. Calibration of exams… ready!

Armaments are any weapon or object an alchemist can use to draw a portion of their energies into transmutations. It's like a wizard's magic wand except those things can only draw the mana within a wizard, while the creation is based on the wizard's imagination. The Armaments are reliant however to the object to be transmuted and to a gem that will define the resulting change. Those gems are called as Dust or Sepiths. The gems can be grains of sand (thus the name Dust), or solid stones crafted as accessories to the Armament. Armaments varies in sizes, dependent on an Alchemist's mastery or martial arts. Such as swords, guns (like what Daniel Armstrong's guns: Innocence & Guilty pistols, Whisper sniper rifle, Shouter double-barrel), or even stopwatches. Sepiths or Septiums as others called it due to the fact that it has seven colors each corresponds to an element that can be transmuted.

Red - Fire or Heat

Orange (or Brown) - Earth, Sand, Minerals, Solids

Yellow (or Gold) - Plasma, Light, or Electricity

Green - Nature/Greenery (Healing)

Blue (in any shade) - Cold, Ice, Water, Liquids

Indigo (in any shade) - Wind/Weather

Violet/Purple - Sound/Vibrations (common), Psychical/Mental (lighter) or Gravity/Magnetism (darker)

What about Black or White? Those colors are set-apart from the seven. Black is for Time and White is for Space and both are seemed to be non-transmutable except by those who have expertise.

Going back to Lisa, she held her Armament that contains all seven colors of the Dusts. Her weapon is a long-nosed revolver that can be transformed into a saber, a gunblade. Her environment is a forest arena, which fits for her green Sepith since Green enables the rapid growth of live cells mostly used on plants/green life or fungus. Her goal is set by the head Alchemist.

Dr. Even Hollander: The goal is to defeat the required amount of plant-monsters or corrupted mandrakes within just a minute and half. The passing grade is 40/50 mandrakes. Use any means necessary as long as you do not break the alchemist laws or use forbidden transmutations. Begin!

Lisa then first used the green Sepith to temporarily halt the enemies movements via vines and wooden appendages. Being a 4-year-old means she had only limited resource of her alchemic powers that is accessible to her. She's not proud of it, considering that she aims to catch up to her rival and to her friend, David. David may be second star student to his kindergarten school but was already declared State Alchemist in such age. Lisa had awoken her "Commandment" which could help her in more ways when needed. She then used fire to slay a few more but considering that her environment is a forest, she had to be careful not to set the place ablaze. She used violet to vibrate the Armament in rapid succession to make cutting easier for her. She is nearing her limit but she still had a few more to defeat before she pass.

Lisa: Just… a… few… more… left.

A mandrake attack from her side but she barely dodges the attack and got a little scratch. She then uses a brown Sepith to create a torrent of sand spears and slew a few more. The time is almost up and only a few more to achieve her State Alchemist statutes. As such she resorted to one last thing.

Lisa: The Law is clear, and shall not use any forbidden means. Then I am left with no other choice. The forest may become collateral.

Using her red Dust and purple Dust, she formed a shockwave of flames. The collateral is that she got stucked in a forest fire and clearly exhausted. The last resort is a double-edged ability, one wrong move could lead her getting the burn than the designated target. But in the end, she passed. Even Hollander used his blue Dusted knight shield and purged the flames with snow and blizzard. The Head-Alchemist, Dr. Merlin Diz Anthem, congratulated Lisa on her success and gave her the title. She is given a break from Royal Woods Science Institute and relaxed with the company of her kindergarten friends, Darcy (the Esperkin) and David (an Alchemist). She still felt a bit of guilt from the kid that became a victim of her "Commandment". Although, the child is doing a-okay now, he never tried to lie ever again. A few hours passed and it was time for her to go home. On her way, she notices the forest that took Lincoln from her, from her adoptive sister, from her family. After a glance, she noticed that the castle in the clearing has been now renovated. She tried to go inside, and she did, much to her surprise. She is teleported inside as if someone is welcoming her. The first one Lisa saw is none other than her rival.

Oscar: My, my, what a surprise. Hello little genius. Are you perhaps lost? Or curious to wander around here?

Lisa: You're Oscar. The circus leader!

Oscar: The one and only. But I've disbanded that troupe long ago since my parents have not enough to fund and went in hiding. But nevermind me, what of you? Why are you here in the Castle of Forgotten Memories?

Lisa: So this is what this place is called. But I have you know, I was teleported here. I was merely taking a glance in this astonishing castle and reminiscing of my late adoptive older brother.

Oscar: I see, glad that you are honest. An honest rival is better that an arrogant buffoon. If you are indeed curious, then take your time exploring.

Indeed, Lisa did explore the place. The facilities, dining area, hallways and lobby. All seemed to be renovated, all except one room.

Lisa: What is this room?

Oscar: That is the old master's bedroom that can only be opened by someone who shares the same blood ties as the master of this castle. Since they are vanished from this world, I can assume that only someone who is close to the old master can open it. Such as this castle, it is only for those welcomed here and the new Headmasters are obligated to safeguard this place, that's why only member of the Ouroboros are allowed here.

Lisa: You're from Ouroboros? That means?

Oscar: You've met some of them, I'm sure. One of them put someone close to your family in tragedy. But that's all bygones now.

Lisa: I've noticed something from you all. I've seen a pattern when you introduced yourself during that show. Though I admired you used alchemy during your stage time, which is quite foolish…

Oscar: Hey!

Lisa: You all go by rank system yet all of you are of equal footing except to the Headmaster of yours.

Oscar: Aren't all, such as military rank, are the same? We are an elite group that specialize in dealing threats and chaos in discreet measures. Rank is just a name and we are all led by the Headmasters.

Lisa: And another, you call yourself Master Magician, although you are an alchemist than of a wizard. Something's off. And when Lori described Bobby's killer, she said his titular name is Gamer of Destiny. I memorized that you are Rank I but Dulor is is Rank X. It can be coincidental or patterning to something.

Oscar: Catching on, I see. But this isn't my place to explain all the details. It's up to Ludociel to clarify your understanding better.

Lisa: That too, you mentioned it. When I put a tracking and recording chip to my siblings to keep in touch with them, most of you mentioned that name.

Oscar: Again, it isn't my place to tell you who is he.

Then a silhouette appeared to them. He seemed to wear their signature coat with a pin of his rank. (Zero or O)

Lisa: Rank O? The absent Rank? Zero holds the value of nothingness, yet you have a rank Zero! Now my suspicion is correct.

Oscar: Master Ludociel!

Ludociel: Oscar, stand down. I'll take care of this.

Oscar left them alone.

Ludociel: You have questions I see. But my time to appear has not yet come. I am waiting until the Last "Commandment" to awaken her slumbering power.

Lisa: Commandment? So it is true then. The powers that my adoptive sister units have are based on Commandments.

Ludociel: Indeed and they are given to you by a special someone. [Removes hood and reveals himself] Me.

Lisa: I knew it, *Sob* it was you… Lincoln!

-Chapter End-

AN: Cliffhanger time. Why, cause I really don't know how will I ever make Lisa's chapter more action packed and less talkative. But her she now discovered that Lincoln is alive but taken his original name Ludociel in the Ouroboros. Next chapter is more Talk-no-Jutsu because Lincoln/Ludociel will just explain things to Lisa. And I think all of the Ouroboros members have been introduced so Lily's chapter will be short… I think. Anyways, I think it's about time I make the reference list and trivia page about the content of this fanfic. While I am catching on, but slower paced due to the community quarantine here to avoid the Corona Virus. So yeah, I was pretty much bummed out since I can't have all the freedom I need to be motivated to write.

All I can say is Stay Safe, God Bless and Peace/Shalom! Thank you for sticking with me, leave a like, review, follow and see you next time.