A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed and thanks to AnubisGundam0 for his beta work on the chapter. Now I will say this is my first time doing combat in this story due to how different some of the magic in Trinity Seven seems to work, but this will help me as a learning experience to build better battles down the line.
I have also gone back and did some editing and touch-ups on the previous chapters to catch any errors I might've missed, nothing that requires going back to re-read the whole story.
Anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 3
Dreams of Eternity
Lelouch and Yui regarded one another, but unlike the cautious former prince, the girl before him was as cheerful as her smile implied, even so, Lelouch remained guarded. Seeming to sense his unease and tension, Yui set her violin down on the bed before standing up to face the masked young man. The girl held up her hands in a non-threatening placating manner before saying.
"Oh relax, I'm not going to bite, but you were acting a bit weird outside, I was wondering if you were a new student who got lost on the school grounds."
Lelouch contemplated his response to that and concluded that he needn't tell her everything. The truth, after all, was but a matter of perspective. After all, lying was an art form, in which the best lies have hints of truth woven into it.
There was also the probability that Yui was aware that he wasn't a new student and was gauging his reaction.
"Not really, but I am interested in seeing the library," Lelouch said, keeping his conversation vague and notably avoided mentioning the Eternal Library. It was tempting to try coaxing information from her, but the young man decided against that, concerned that he might end up revealing more than he intended. "I am looking for some information to help a friend of mine who has found himself in a tough spot beyond his control. If I do not find information that could help, I fear he may die as a result."
"How terrible! Although it's not exactly my field of expertise. Why don't you ask the headmaster for help?" She suggested.
"I rather not involve a Paladin in this, and given my friend's situation, I'm concerned that members of 'Grimoire Security,' I believe they are called here, would become involved." Lelouch said as a counter-argument, although this part of their discussion would be perilous, forcing Lelouch to navigate carefully, "besides Grimoire Security's usual method would only be a stopgap measure."
"Is his condition that serious?"
"In a way, which for those familiar with it would decide it would better to kill him. However, it's only a band-aid solution that merely delays the inevitable; what I'm looking for is something a little more... permanent."
Yui placed one hand to her chin her expression thoughtful, "that's true, and Mira can be very dedicated and… can be quite ruthless in her line of work, so it's understandable if you are worried about that."
"Mira?"
"Mira Yamana is the Head of Grimoire Security," Yui explained happily, "but like me, she is also a member of the Trinity Seven. She is a user of the Superbia (Pride) Archive; her Thema is Justitia (Justice), who uses the Gehenna Scope magic that can analyze and reflect magic."
Interesting, Lelouch thought making a mental note of that so he could devise some plans to counter her magic should he encounter her.
"She must be powerful, then?"
"Very. Although, as far as raw magical power goes, I surpass her as a Cardinal Class mage, Mira is still one of the most talented and skilled of the Trinity Seven."
"I see," Lelouch said before seizing the chance to steer the conversation away from his motivations and learn more about the individual he was dealing with, "so what is your Archive and Thema?"
"My Thema is Amicitia (Friendship) from the Avaritia (Greed) Archive. The magic I use is Arc Symphony that allows me to create and manipulate a dream world, among other things, including the power to bring whoever I want into it."
"I see. So this is your dream world then, and you invited me into it?" Lelouch said clearly impressed by her abilities, but at the same time, this made him cautious knowing that making an enemy of someone with her capabilities would be problematic to deal with. If he had time to prepare beforehand, as well as a better understanding of the mechanics of her magic, then he would've been more confident when confronting her should he ever have to.
"That's right, so judging by your mask and Magus Mode, I'd wager your Archive must be of the Luxuria (Lust) Archive, right?"
Lelouch was hesitant to answer, but if she had already identified what his Archive was, then maybe there wasn't any point in hiding it.
"Yes, it is." He finally admitted.
"Just like Miss Asami's archive."
"Miss Asami?"
"Yes. Lilith Asami is another member of Trinity Seven of the Luxuria Archive, and she is also a teacher here despite being the oldest of the group," Yui revealed.
"How old, if I may ask to gauge her experience and likely track record?"
"Seventeen," Yui replied.
If she is being employed as a teacher here, then her knowledge and understanding of magic and its different forms must be quite considerable. Lelouch thought while making another mental note about Lilith should she become an obstacle he would have to overcome. Being a teacher of magic at her age was an impressive feat.
"Interesting, perhaps someday I'll meet her. However, I should probably go now since it's getting rather late. You don't need to worry, though; I won't cause any trouble. Once I find the information I need – or rather, I hope I do – that will be it."
"Are you sure it will work?"
"I have few options right now, but I won't know until I try them all, and maybe my search might produce an ideal solution," Lelouch replied.
"I see," Yui said before smirking as she asked one final question, "by the way, I never got your name."
"I am…" Lelouch considered something he could use in place of his real name until, "Zero."
Yui tilted her head to one side, seemingly confused and intrigued at the same time. "Zero, are you some kind of superhero?"
"Not quite, but close enough. Until next time, Miss Kurata."
"Please, just call me Yui; there is no need to be so formal."
"Very well, Yui, but would you mind not telling anyone you saw me?"
"No problem, so goodbye then."
With that, Yui returned him from whence she had brought him into her dream world. Once he was gone, however, her closet burst open to reveal a man who appeared to be in his thirties; he had been hiding inside the closet, having overheard the entire exchange between Yui and Lelouch.
He was a tall and slender man with a pale complexion and pale white hair to match tied into a long ponytail. He wore glasses over his red eyes and a black coat with matching pants and shoes. He wore a white dress shirt, but enough of the top buttons were undone to reveal the upper part of his chest.
"Well, that was most interesting, but he's obliviously heading for the Eternal Library," Master Biblia commented arms folded over his chest.
"I'm not surprised; otherwise, he wouldn't have been sneaking around so much with his friend."
"True, and I am sure Zero realizes you probably suspect something since you didn't inquire further into what he was looking for." Master Biblia said before using one hand to adjust his glasses. "The girl with him matches the description of the one who was assigned to monitor her own cousin, who was identified as a Magic King candidate."
"Ah," Yui said, putting her left upright fist into her right, realizing, "so he's probably the friend who is in trouble."
"Yes, that much is clear. But who is this Zero, and what is his exact involvement in this? I sensed something intriguing about him. He isn't quite a Magic King candidate, but there was something unusual about his magic."
"You can notice something like that?"
"When you have been around as long as I've been, you have a way of measuring people's potential. That kid has a lot of it; he's easily a Cardinal-Class mage like you."
"He's that strong?" Yui said, seemingly impressed.
"Without you, I wouldn't have noticed those two poking around so soon." The headmaster commented, dusting off his right sleeve. "They did an excellent job at concealing their activities; I could sense the foreign magic of that girl's chaos runes being planted only because they disturbed sensory spell that I laid throughout the academy's grounds to alert me of such things."
"So, what will you do?"
Master Biblia considered it for a moment allowing for Yui to build a feeling of anticipation before answering with a mischievous grin, "absolutely… nothing!"
"HUH!?"
The headmaster still grinning said, "But I'll still keep a close eye on our two friends and see how things develop. But maybe I'll raise the difficulty a tad."
After making a hasty withdrawal from the academy grounds, although Lelouch and Hijiri didn't speak a word, the young man made a silent alarming gesture that they needed to leave now upon the young man's return to the real world. Once the two were safely back inside their hotel room, Hijiri wanted to know what had happened to the former prince.
"Ok, start explaining. What happened to you?" The young girl insisted as Lelouch took off his mask.
"I was pulled into a dream world where I met one of the Trinity Seven, her name was Yui Kurata."
Hijiri grasped the gravity of the situation, mainly since the mage was able to snatch Lelouch into their dream world without the latter realizing it until it was too late.
"I didn't reveal anything critically important to her." Lelouch said to reassure Hijiri.
"I didn't think you would."
"She claims she won't tell anyone, whether or not that's the case our plan remains unchanged. We'll stay the course." Lelouch said with a determination burning in his eyes.
"But, they'll most likely be waiting for us."
"I know," Lelouch said, a devilish smile spread across his face, "but I have a plan."
The following day the students around Royal Biblia Academy were eating lunch, although a vast majority ate their meals in the school cafeteria, others ate their food outside or somewhere else that was more accommodating to their needs. This was especially true for one of the youngest teachers in the school who was roughly close to the same age as the students she taught.
Lilith Asami sat at one of the tables in the teacher's lounge, eating a sandwich in one hand while reading a small book holding it with her free hand. The young seventeen-year-old woman was dressed in the standard school uniform, despite her post as a teacher with some minor alterations. Her waist-length red hair made her easy to spot in a crowd, and she possessed light blue eyes and a fair skin complexion while wearing a black beret on her head.
She had returned early this morning from Osaka, having found no sign of the Magic King Candidate, who had been confirmed to have been living there under observation. He had been determined to be the cause behind the breakdown phenomenon that had wiped out the entire city. She was among the mages dispatched to investigate, but no one had found any trace of him. She suspected that someone might've gotten to him first; so far, according to the information she had obtained upon her return to the academy, his whereabouts and exact status was still unknown.
I'll have to wait until the headmaster can speak with the other headmasters to learn if any of their mages dealt with the source of that breakdown phenomenon, Lilith thought.
Lilith continued eating lunch quietly until the door to the lounge opened.
The first to walk in was a slender young woman who was a year younger than Lilith; she wore the standard student uniform like all female students. Similar to Lilith, she modified it with the use of a plaid ribbon tied in a cravat knot around her neck. The girl was shorter than Lilith, being barely five feet tall, but her small stature concealed the considerable amount of magical power she possessed.
Mira Yamana possessed long blonde hair with it mostly short around her head with her bangs swept to the side with twin ahoges on top. A portion of her hair in the back was allowed to grow reaching all the way down to her legs with a red ribbon tied to the right side of her head. She possesses a fair skin complexion with pink eyes, maintaining a stern and authoritative gaze.
Accompanying Mira, as she usually does, was the third seat of Grimoire Security and Mira's right-hand woman, Akio.
In a ironic contrast to her superior, who was also older, being that she was eighteen years old, Akio Fudo stood at five feet and five inches towering over Mira, who was both her junior and superior. She had a lightly tanned complexion due to where she lived as a child, but unlike the other students, Akio wore a long-sleeved button-up shirt, but most of the buttons were left undone to expose both her modest bust and navel. She also wore a long dark skirt with slits along its length, revealing both of her long legs to give her better freedom of movement for delivering powerful kicks, which were a part of her combat style and black shoes. She possessed a cheerful expression with coffee-colored eyes.
"Hey! Welcome back, Lilith," Akio greeted cheerfully with a big grin on her face.
"Good afternoon Akio, and good day to you too, Mira."
"We've heard about your lack of success in finding the Magic King Candidate," Mira said, speaking in business-like tone and manner.
"Yes, but unfortunately I found no indication of where he might've vanished to, or what became of him."
"No one seems to know anything either," Mira pointed out, having spoken to the other mages from their own Grimoire Security force, "However, the Breakdown Phenomenon in Osaka did cease, so either someone killed him, or someone else stopped it."
Mira wanted to believe it was the former instead of the latter, but given that mages from the other academies were still seeking out the one who caused the phenomenon created a feeling of doubt if the instigator was still alive or not.
"However," Mira began, "I was informed by the headmaster that there was a masked mage sneaking around the academy grounds last night."
"Huh," Lilith said with a look of surprise, but she quickly suspected, "could this mage be the same one I've been looking for?"
The blonde-haired mage shook her head before answering, "No, there seems to be no indication of that, and besides, reports say that the Breakdown Phenomenon in Osaka happened because the Magic King candidate lost control of his magic."
"Then, we're dealing with someone unrelated?" Akio offered.
Mira nodded in confirmation, "that's the most likely possibility given what we know so far."
"What's the plan?" Akio asked.
"We can assume the mage is likely seeking the Eternal Library, why else skulk around the school?" Mira answered.
"I assume this is also because of the fact he didn't attempt to gain entry into anywhere else within the academy." Lilith pointed out, promoting a nod of confirmation from Mira.
"We'll position ourselves on the most likely routes he'll have to take and prepare to subdue him," Mira explained as she unrolled a map of the academy. "I doubt we'll be able to ambush him since we can assume he'll be on alert for a possible attack."
"Wait," Lilith said, realizing something, "do you intend for me to help you?"
"Yes," Mira answered, "The headmaster believes the mage is a user of the Luxuria Archive. Your assistance in this matter will allow us to hopefully capture and interrogate him."
"I see, so I assume Levi will also be joining us?"
"No, because the headmaster has tasked her with a different assignment, he required her to work on."
"I guess it will be just the three of us," Akio said, reclining back in a nearby chair she picked as her seat.
Mira nodded her head in confirmation before adding, "And we'll be waiting for him."
Later that day, as the sun began to set, a disguised Hijiri and Lelouch decided to go to a local cafe for dinner before their planned infiltration of Royal Biblia Academy to find the Eternal Library. If they were lucky, they would find something useful for the road that lay before them. Lelouch wasn't overly confident they would discover exactly what they were looking for, but any scrap of information that could be useful or even direct them to another location holding the information the duo desired would be the least they could hope for.
Lelouch sat down at a small table with Hijiri sitting across from him; both teens were browsing through the menu. Hijiri disguised her appearance with a simple brown wig, wearing black shades and a black coat. Given their close proximity to the Royal Biblia Academy, Lelouch advised against disguising herself with magic least it be detected in passing by the resident Cardinal class mage he ran into last night.
She removed her shades to avoid drawing suspicion.
"Once we're done, we'll need to leave town immediately." Lelouch reminded quietly.
"Yeah, even if we avoid detection, we shouldn't linger here too long." Hijiri agreed.
"I agree," Lelouch concurred before growing silent as their waitress approached.
Ironically it was Mira, dressed in a black and white maid outfit with thigh-high white socks. She worked as a waitress at a part-time job for extra money alongside Akio as a part-time chef.
Mira could not have known that the mages she was preparing to hunt tonight were before her.
"Are you two ready to order?" Mira asked professionally.
"Yes," Lelouch began making his selection. Hijiri followed suit afterward, but she found her mind drifting to when she and Lelouch first met.
"Hey!?" A ten-year-old Arata shouted running to get some local schoolboys off of Lelouch after seeing him for the fourth time this week being under attack. "Leave him alone!"
She and Arata had walked together passed the corner store where they usually purchased candy from on their way home from school, but for the past week, they had noticed someone new, a young ten-year-old boy with black hair. Not long afterward, they saw Lelouch being attacked by the local children for being Britannian; although they did nothing, it wasn't until that Arata decided to intervene much to Hijiri's worry.
"Arata, what are you doing?!"
"Come on, you guys, leave the kid alone. What are you guys getting out of it for beating up someone who can't fight back?" Arata asked in a somewhat casual way.
"Why not, he's a Britannia, and it's fun to beat up some brat from a country that thinks they are better than everyone," one of the bullies answered.
"You guys aren't really proving yourselves much better now, are you?" Arata shot back much to their annoyance.
"Why you," one of the boys began balling his fists, but thankfully for Arata, someone else intervened.
"I agree with him!"
All eyes turned to see a young boy wearing a white kimono with a dark blue hakama with both arms folded across his chest. The boy had brown hair and green eyes.
"I may not like Britannians, but I don't like people who beat up those who can't fight back even more," Suzaku Kururugi declared.
The boys attempted to fight Suzaku but found that the ten-year-old who had been trained in martial arts was more than capable of handling them. It didn't take long, but after Suzaku dealt them, the three boys ran away as Arata tried to offer his hand to Lelouch.
Lelouch, being stubborn, ignored it; he was instead more concerned about the food he had bought, which he had shielded with his own body.
"If you just accepted the food we offered and didn't keep trying to go shopping for yourself, this wouldn't happen," Suzaku snapped.
"I am going to live on my own and not rely on anyone," Lelouch replied angrily.
"A thank you would be nice," Arata said, trying to calm the tension between the two.
Returning to the present, it didn't take long for Mira to serve them their food, and the two ate in silence since it was risky to talk about their plans in the open. Still, that didn't mean that the two didn't find something to talk about, because eating in silence could've been seen as suspicious if the wrong people were around.
"So, Lelouch, have you been seeing anyone?" Hijiri asked, looking for a topic unrelated to their plans for tonight.
"Not currently," Lelouch answered, but like Hijiri, he noticed the magical energy they felt from their waitress. Either they were somehow on to them, or they were students from the academy working part-time jobs as well.
Given the fact that their food didn't seem drugged or anything, Lelouch was inclined towards the latter.
"Anyone interests you," Hijiri asked.
"Not really, this is because you have seen how some of the girls have eyed me. They like me more for my looks than for who I am," Lelouch answered, which was correct, and there was the fact he dedicated most of his free time either to gambling against conceited nobles, learning more about magic, and taking care of his sister.
None of them were interested in knowing the real Lelouch. Of course, that couldn't really be helped due to the need to keep his identity a secret.
"You'll hear no disagreement from me," Hijiri said before joking with a smile after Mira walked away and was out of earshot. "Unless… you've developed a sudden preference for maids? What can I do for you, master? Hee Hee."
Lelouch merely raised an eyebrow, but interpreted Hijiri's mischievous smile as a sign that she was joking with him, "very funny."
In response to Hijiri's giggling, Lelouch felt it was only fair to return the favor.
"If I did, would you dress up as a maid?" He suggested playfully.
"H-huh, what?!" Hijiri looked up from her food at him in shock. Was he really into that type of thing? She wondered.
"Just kidding. I wouldn't make you do that," Lelouch replied with a grin, not noticing her blush as she pouted.
Later that night, past midnight, Lelouch and Hijiri returned to the academy well prepared. Lelouch was dressed in his mask and cape while Hijiri wore a black hooded cloak and a black mask to hide her identity. Taking into account the possibility they were likely expected, Lelouch had taken some time after the meal they had to make some additional preparations as a further precaution. Thanks to Hijiri's chaos runes placed around the academy grounds the previous night, the two managed to navigate their way to a rear entrance where Lelouch used a skeleton key he had fashioned before picking the lock.
"Where did you learn how to pick locks?"
"Oh, you know; books, the internet and," Lelouch replied before he successfully picked the lock. "Lots of practice. I thought it might be a useful skill to know."
The pair slipped inside while mindful to quietly close the door behind them as they passed through what appeared to be a storeroom for deliveries until they were distributed to where they needed to go.
The duo didn't linger long and kept moving while avoiding any direct paths to the library, expecting the possibility of encountering any patrols. After Lelouch's previous encounter with Yui, there was a possibility of heightened security. Hijiri was monitoring the building with her chaos runes in combination with her Analysis Thema to scan for any hostiles that could be waiting for them.
"Lelouch," Hijiri whispered with a grave expression, "three mages are standing guard; two outside the library, one inside."
"They're waiting for us," Lelouch concluded, just as quietly, prompting Hijiri to nod. "We knew this was to be expected, but I'm sure they are probably expecting us to attempt to sneak around them or something else."
"Then, are you are going to unleash it?"
"Yes," Lelouch replied with a determined expression, "we have little choice."
Near the entrance of the library, both Mira and Akio were patrolling the halls that led directly to the library while Lilith was waiting inside the library itself. They had prepared for a long night ahead of them, but so far there had been no sign of anyone attempting to break in. Everything was quiet until Mira sensed something in the hallways approaching the library.
"Akio, I think our intruder is here," Mira said, reading her Grimoire; Book of the Mirrored Lands assuming the form of a pink crystal ball she held in one hand.
The two members of Grimoire Security hurried to the source; although it was faint, it was just enough for them to notice it. Upon reaching the hallway in question, it appeared to be deserted at first, but Mira was sure someone was here.
"White Universe," Mira declared unleashing a devastating wave of magic down the hall, but suddenly a cloak that had camouflaged the Black Knight was thrown off, revealing Lelouch's armored clad creation.
Much to the shock of both Mira and Akio, they watched as the Black Knight emitting an aura of darkness consumed her magic.
"I am hardly surprised by this greeting," Lelouch said speaking through the Black Knight designed to act as a puppet that he could not only control but serve as his eyes, ears and even his voice as part of a deception to fool enemies into thinking the Black Knight was him.
As a precaution, Lelouch was using the control device he fashioned for the Black Knight to include a voice-modulating device adding a deep electronic echo to help disguise his voice.
"Breaking into an academy such as ours is a serious crime," Mira replied sternly.
"My apologies," Lelouch replied as the Black Knight made an elegant bow, "My intention is only to use your library, I am hopeful the one you have here could help solve a problem while also saving the world."
"What problem?" Mira demanded.
"The Magic King, or rather; the Demon King destroying the world," Lelouch answered.
"Just kill the candidates," Mira answered without a second thought, "it's the most effective way."
"And that is why I chose to break in," Lelouch retorted, "your solution is shortsighted and temporary. You kill a candidate, but it fails to eliminate the problem at the root, and inevitably, no matter how many you kill, a candidate will eventually become a Magic King that will destroy humanity. Now, if you want to actually help me, then stand aside..."
The Black Knight assumed a fighting stance.
"Or do negotiations break down here?"
There was a tense standoff for a full minute before Akio made the first move. She reasoned that if magic didn't work, then she thought something more physical would do the trick. Unfortunately, the Black Knight anticipated this and responded with a skillful dodge of Akio's magically charged roundhouse kick. The Black Knight counterattacked by manifesting a long sword in one hand and a machine gun in the other. After swinging its sword to drive Akio back, the armored golem emptied an entire magazine in Mira's direction.
Mira raised a barrier just in time, but the numerous impacts from the bullets upon her shield nearly overwhelmed it. She quickly channeled more magic into her barrier, having used her Grimoire to determine the true nature of the bullets being shot at her. Before her barrier could fail, Mira quickly layered additional magical shields behind the first to weather further attacks.
Our information was spot on, Mira thought. This Mage is indeed a user of the Luxuria Archive, those bullets, and even that gun was created using alchemy. Just like Lilith sensei's.
The bullets fired from the machine gun the Black Knight was using appeared at first glance to be a mundane weapon, but the bullets themselves were designed to siphon any magic they encountered, making them useful for fighting mages.
There was another problem; Mira realized that battling in such an enclosed space created a bottleneck giving the Black Knight an advantage with its firearm. Akio realizing this used a powerful punch to collapse the floor. Upon realizing her intent, the Black Knight began to backpedal, but it had little time to escape as Akio was also striking the floor from the level below, trying to create an opening. Unable to fight back properly without a chance to maintain a proper balance while worrying about retaliation from Mira, the Black Knight threw itself out the nearest window in what appeared to be an attempt to escape.
Mira used another window to join Akio on the ground outside as they gave chase to the Black Knight, but little did they realize this was all part of Lelouch's plan all along. The Black Knight would lure them away and keep them occupied while he and Hijiri searched the Eternal Library.
Lelouch took a deep breath after switching off his microphone on his control headset he was wearing.
"Ok, that did it, the path is clear." He told Hijiri.
When Lelouch created the Black Knight, he also created a means of controlling the alchemically created construct for ease of use, although it was mostly autonomous, Lelouch could direct its actions using a control glove he wore on his left hand which he based on those old retro gaming gloves. The headset had a similar style to it being a video game headset with a microphone and headphones, while a transparent visor that ran across Lelouch's eyes allowing him to see what the Black Knight saw.
He was still monitoring everything that was going on as he could hear the sounds of battle through his headset, so if any further dialogue was spoken, Lelouch could switch on the microphone to utter a quick response to maintain appearances.
"By the way," Lelouch began, "You're not going to believe this?"
"What?"
"One of them is the maid from that café earlier."
"You're kidding! What're the odds we'd run into her again so soon."
"Well, just the same, we need to hurry. I don't know how long my Black Knight can keep them occupied, so we'll need to get in and get out. The sooner we finish, the better," Lelouch said as he and Hijiri began making their way to the library.
Luckily for them, they didn't have to worry about Lilith, whom upon hearing the destruction of the walls and floors outside the library had hurried out to provide assistance to Mira and Akio.
Once Lilith had vanished from sight, Hijiri and Lelouch managed to traverse past the various holes in the floor to reach the library, but from there, it was merely a question of how to get inside the Eternal Library.
"Do you know how we're supposed to get in?" Lelouch asked Hijiri, but before she could answer, there was a flash of light that erupted from the heart of the library as some kind of unseen power pulled them in.
When the light died down finally, they found themselves in a new location, although it wasn't any kind of library they knew. Hijiri and Lelouch were surrounded by ancient dilapidated ruins indicating perhaps they were at the Eternal Library. Yet it was also clear that time wasn't so kind to the famed library, which would frustratingly mean their efforts were for nothing.
"This is it," Lelouch said, not hiding his disappointment and frustration.
"Well," Hijiri was about to answer when another voice interrupted them.
"No, I assure you this is the Eternal Library. It doesn't look like much, but there is still valuable information here."
Lelouch and Hijiri turned their attention to see a young woman who was the same age as they were. Standing at five feet tall, she possessed a fair skin complexion with purple eyes and long blonde hair styled into a pair of long pigtails. Her attire, on the other hand, left little to the imagination, Lelouch made a mental note that this woman was likely someone who apparently wasn't afraid to make use of their own sex appeal as a weapon. The girl wore a revealing outfit consisting of a dark opera gloves and a cape-like gown held together by two strings around her neck that mostly covers her ample bosom. Completing her outfit was a pair of black mini shorts with a brown belt and black stockings with thigh-high boots.
Both Hijiri and Lelouch assumed defensive postures, uncertain of what to expect.
"Who are you!?" Lelouch demanded.
"My name is Lieselotte Sherlock, formerly of Grimoire Security," Lieselotte replied, followed up with a cute wink.
Lelouch and Hijiri didn't lower their guard, but Lieselotte raised her hands up in a non-threateningly placating gesture.
"Now, now, no need for hostilities here," Lieselotte offered cheerfully, "I'm not interested in fighting you two, but I am most curious about why you went through all the trouble to come here?"
"Obviously, you are a rogue mage, especially given how you mentioned you were formerly of Grimoire Security," Lelouch pointed out. "From there, it's apparent that you aren't here for some leisurely reading. Meaning you probably have something planned for us, since us leaving puts you at risk if anyone else found out you're here."
Lieselotte nodded her head, placing both hands on her hips.
"That's true," Lieselotte admitted, "you're a clever one, I like that."
Lieselotte took a few steps forward, although Lelouch and Hijiri maintained their guard Lieselotte raised her hands once more.
"I'm apparently someone you shouldn't trust," Lieselotte offered in agreement. "But consider your own situation. I've been observing your actions up till now, and I have to admit using that construct to distract Mira, Lilith Sensei, and Akio Sempai was a good idea, but what will you do now?"
"You're implying about the time limit we are facing," Hijiri replied, prompting a nod of confirmation from Lieselotte.
"Yes! And whatever you're looking for, do you think you would have ample time to find it? However…, I, on the other hand, have been here for about six months or so."
"You want to cut a deal?"
Lieselotte nodded.
"I have indulged in many of the tomes this place has to offer, and I could easily provide those that could be of help to you."
"In exchange for what?" Hijiri asked immediately suspicious about her ulterior motive.
The girl actually took a moment to ponder this before seemingly sidestepping the question.
"Well," Lieselotte began as her eyes began wandering up and down Lelouch's body, indicating a clear interest, "you're quite interesting, Mr. Masked Mage, given that creation of yours."
Being eyed by a young woman wasn't anything new for Lelouch, as he had typically experienced this during his time at Ashford Academy. The girls at the academy usually eyed him for his looks, but the fact that someone like Lieselotte whom Lelouch was convinced was the type willing to do whatever it took, only put him on edge.
"On the other hand, I wonder who your companion is," Lieselotte asked, suddenly shifting her attention to Hijiri. "Placing not only those runes around the academy, but also using Analysis to map out not only the academy grounds. But to also tracking the movements of all the other mages here. I've heard of very few mages that can use multiple Themas. Furthermore, given the timeline of events and your exchange with Mira, I think I can guess who one of you is."
Hijiri felt nervous under her mask, but she suppressed the urge to say anything, let alone provide any kind of indication that Lieselotte was correct in her assumption.
"Is this some kind of attempt at blackmail?" Lelouch asked neutrally, but he had a dubious feeling where this was heading.
"Not really," Lieselotte replied with a casual shrug of her shoulder and a shake of her head, "I had almost thought to suggest something else, but given how you can't seem to relax around me - a wise move on your part - it makes it a little difficult for me to offer you anything."
The young woman smiled seductively at Lelouch, which was enough of a hint to the young man to comprehend what Lieselotte was implying.
"So, how about I offer you something else to prove myself worthy of your trust, and to make things easier for you?" Lieselotte offered.
"And what would that be?" Hijiri asked irritably while resisting the urge to attack the flirty blonde mage.
"Well," Lieselotte replied before a pink ring of binary code appeared by her arm opening a portal, "for one thing I can reveal a stalker who has been tailing you."
Reaching her hand through the small portal, Lieselotte unleashed a blast of energy from her hand that shot through the portal and out the other side causing an explosion behind a partially collapsed wall. A second later, a short young woman leaped out from her concealment.
Though a year older than Lelouch, of four feet and eight inches tall wearing the standard uniform for female students of the academy minus the jacket, replaced with a sleeveless vest version. She also wore a long white scarf around her neck, a black sock over her right calve, and a matching leg warmer that covers up to her thigh. Her long brown hair was tied back into a high-ponytail with a shuriken-style hairpin holding it in place while some of her hair covered her left eye while her right blue eye could still be seen.
"It's been a while, Levi," Lieselotte cheerfully greeted her former classmate.
"Well, I think I know why the Headmaster had me tail these two, which was to smoke you out, Lieselotte," Levi said after escaping Lieselotte's surprise attack she landed close to Lelouch and Hijiri in a graceful crouch.
"Where the heck was she," Hijiri asked, clearly confused because she hadn't detected her presence.
"Levi is a master at stealth, infiltration, and assassination, in other words, a ninja." Lieselotte started to explain, "Trust me; I served with her as a member of Grimoire Security. As a member of the Trinity Seven representing the Invidia (Envy) Archive, she is probably the fourth or the third strongest mage in the world with more kills under her belt than Mira because of her assassination missions."
"That really wasn't nice, Lieselotte," Levi replied with a somewhat casual tone with no anger whatsoever.
"She was probably already hiding in the library soon after these two first began their infiltration of the academy. She's also a battle magus who maintains her magic expenditure at a near-constant zero, which is how she slipped past your chaos runes without detection." Lieselotte pointed out to Hijiri, who was trying to grasp how she avoided detection. "Besides Levi, you gave me a good chance to act in good faith before I could make them any kind of deal."
"I see," Lelouch said calmly as he realized Levi's purpose, "your purpose wasn't to stop us. You were going to ambush us as we exited the Eternal Library?"
"Nah," Levi replied with a dismissive wave of her hand, "I was going to follow you and find out why you two are going through all this trouble to break into the forbidden Eternal Library. I don't have orders to kill either of you, but merely to identify both who you were and your objectives."
"You expect me to believe that you weren't going to assassinate us for the break-in, especially given how seemingly murder happy that your security force is," Lelouch said, although he kept a good game face he realized they were in a precarious position.
Levi didn't have a response for that, although she wouldn't call Mira murder happy she was the type who preferred the more direct approach. On that note, Levi realized trying to convince the masked mage otherwise would be difficult.
"We can talk more after I punish Lieselotte for being a naughty girl," Levi replied, drawing her katana with one hand, and a scroll with another.
"Come on, you know I was born naughty," Lieselotte commented with a suggestive poise.
No matter the outcome, the chances of them escaping the academy was now low because they no longer had time to search the library and fight another mage at the same time. Not to mention to do so would divide his attention away from monitoring the Black Knight's situation, especially since its battle with Mira, Akio, and Lilith was currently locked into a stalemate. If they escaped, then he and Hijiri would be pursued by the academy, especially if Lieselotte knew who Hijiri was. Of course, killing Lieselotte was an option, but then they would have to deal with Levi as well, and if her skills were anywhere as formidable as Lieselotte's claims then it wasn't a question of 'if they could succeed,' it was the pressing question of 'could they still escape?'
Regardless of their skills, any battle would take time to conclude, and while Lelouch had no idea what kind of abilities Lieselotte possessed, and even though she revealed Levi's presence to him, that wasn't enough to fully convince Lelouch that Lieselotte was an ally either. The fact she was willing to betray her classmates and her former Grimoire Security co-workers further cast down on Lelouch's ability to trust her.
No matter how I look at it, there is no way out, Lelouch realizing the dire situation before him.
Taking advantage of Lieselotte's guard being down, Levi made the first move and hurled a kunai at her former classmate. A fight between the two mages quickly erupted between them as Lieselotte began tapping into the magic of her archive Acedia (Sloth). What happened next seemed to be a battle of speed between the two as they were both moving fast, but Lieselotte was moving much quicker to the point she was seemingly teleporting from one place to another.
Levi countered Lieselotte's movements by using Shinpuu Shourai (Rise of the Divine Wind), by holding a scroll between her teeth, Levi surrounded herself with a gust of wind forming a small tornado. Lieselotte knew what was coming, so she kept her distance, which was wise as several copies of Levi merged from the gusts of wind moving to attack Lieselotte from different angles. Levi's Ninja Technique: Illusion Conceal created several copies of the ninja, but because none of them were real, they served only as a diversionary tactic to keep an enemy from noticing the real Levi position herself in a more convenient position for a sneak attack.
"I didn't just spend all my time here reading books here, Levi," Lieselotte remarked as black wings of magical particles erupted from her back.
Lelouch, Levi, and Hijiri realized those wings meant that Lieselotte must've found a Magic King Element within the Eternal Library, and absorbed it into her body becoming a Magic King Candidate and gained increased magical power along with it. With her power boost now active, Lieselotte began creating four blob-like creatures that moved to bar the path of the oncoming Levi clones. They were creatures capable of devouring a foe's magic, and they would consume Levi's clones, but the real Levi nearly beheaded Lieselotte.
Lieselotte narrowly dodged her attack, but part of her wing was sliced off.
Observing the escalating confrontation between the two mages, Lelouch and Hijiri kept their distance.
"You shouldn't trust the blonde woman," Merlin spoke as Lelouch's Grimoire glowed faintly.
"I know that," Lelouch replied.
"Her magic is Logos Art, from the Acedia archive that allows her to manipulate time and space to a degree. However, being that it's under the Thema Stagna (Stagnation), she has the means of stealing someone's magic and making it their own," Merlin warned.
"Could that be why she forced us here?" Hijiri asked. "To steal our magic for her own?"
"Most likely," Merlin answered. "Given her actions and willingness to violate taboos."
"I see," Lelouch said as he contemplated this new information.
All in all, it made their overall chances of escape seem increasingly impossible, although Lelouch had a plan; he needed a big distraction for it to work.
"Watch out," Hijiri cried out as she shoved Lelouch to the side to escape Lieselotte's hand that had tried to grab Lelouch through a small portal that had opened behind him.
She had saved Lelouch from potentially having his magic stolen, but in turn, Lieselotte grabbed Hijiri's hood pulling it back and tearing it off, which caused her mask to fall off, revealing her face. Now her true identity was exposed.
"Hijiri Kasuga," Lieselotte said, revealing her real name as well, "mind helping me out, or should I reveal that your that your cousin Arata is the Magic King Candidate who destroyed a city recently!"
That!? Lelouch thought while his anger almost boiled over, in that instant before suppressing it, She's blackmailing us into helping her.
"Zero," Hijiri said, but her voice was cold and determined, "stay close to me."
"Huh!?"
"I might have something to turn things around," Hijiri answered.
Before Lelouch could inquire further, a surge of magical power erupted from Hijiri's body that blinded Lelouch, his mask weathered the worst of the light. The former prince was almost knocked off his feet by the explosive surge of power, but thankfully he managed to stand his ground. During the moments Lelouch was blinded, he heard Hijiri cry out in pain, but when Lelouch regained use of his eyes, he was greeted with an unexpected sight.
When the smoke and light had cleared after Hijiri's sudden transformation, her appearance went through some drastic changes. Hijiri's skin was paler than before with a crack-like mark upon her right cheek while her hands transform into large demonic-like hands with claws. Her hair was now a pale blue, which had grown to her shoulders, and the pupils of her eyes became long and vertical slits, resembling those of a cat.
Hijiri's clothing had also changed as well, now wearing a gold and black tiara, a long black strapless black dress trimmed with gold, worn under a shoulder-less cape held together by a jeweled brooch attached to a metallic choker, and a pair of dark slipper shoes.
The one person more surprised by any of this was Hijiri as she examined one of her demon-like claws.
"I see, so that's was the reason I felt different after you saved me."
"What?" Lelouch asked, trying to understand what Hijiri was implying.
"When you saved me from being from that Breakdown Phenomenon, I felt different somehow, and I think I understand now that I brought something back with me," Hijiri answered as she came to a realization about the cause and how she gained her new powers. "Wherever I was going, there must've been a Magic King Element there, and my body somehow absorbed it as you pulled me back. Having already mastered three Thema, I already qualify as a 'Trinity.' I am now able to use this high-level transformation that surpasses Magus Mode using the Magic King Element. I suppose in this form I have become the Magic King of the Ruined World, and these are the manifested robes of the Archive 'Ira.' This is my Satan form."
Both Levi and Lieselotte were stunned by this revelation. However, Lieselotte was more intrigued by how the masked mage might've saved her from being disintegrated by a Breakdown Phenomenon, which, by all accounts, should be impossible. So unless Hijiri was lying, or her masked companion had somehow done the impossible leading to Hijiri obtaining her own Magic King Element in the process. With the evidence presented before her, Lieselotte conceded that despite the impossibility of it, Hijiri's companion was the key to this miracle event and warranted further investigation.
Lieselotte grinned deviously at the prospect, which put Lelouch and Hijiri on guard.
Without wasting a moment and knowing his plan was possible, Lelouch used alchemy as his Grimoire transformed into a weapon resembling a hybrid between a bazooka and an antitank rifle that Lelouch could carry around more easily. Hijiri raised three magic squares as shields around both her and Lelouch as part of her dual spell (Vegtamskvida and Baldr's Dreams); only their attacks could pass through while nothing could get through her barriers.
"Your attempt to blackmail Hijiri and exposing her has removed any possibility of cutting a deal," Lelouch said a deadly certainly within his tone.
"Now, now, we can still work together here," Lieselotte offered, but Levi seized this chance to attack her.
"That has always been your problem," Levi said as Lieselotte dodged her kunai knife, "you were always highly ambitious and intelligent, but you're always lost patience, so you take the easiest shortcuts to get to where you want to go."
"But it works, doesn't it?"
"In this case, I have to say no," Levi replied as she dodged a counterattack from Lieselotte, but this time a vengeful Hijiri joined Levi's efforts to defeat Lieselotte as she fired a black beam of energy from one of her magic squares that doubled as a shield.
Lelouch joined their efforts by shooting black crystal-like projectiles from his alchemically made gun in an attempt to hit Lieselotte as he tried to predict her movements using her short-range teleportation. Despite failing to hit her, Lieselotte was now on the defensive because she had two more opponents to worry about; forcing her to be more mindful of their attacks, especially since her three opponents were purposely trying to time their attacks between the other's to give Lieselotte little chance to counterattack. Hijiri's attack, Black Azazel, was more worrying than Levi and Lelouch's assaults because if she weren't careful, the spell would consume her if she was hit by it as it could cover a wider area than any of her other opponent's attacks.
The one whom Lieselotte was least concerned about was Lelouch, who didn't seem to come close to hitting her.
Still, Lieselotte's curiosity about Hijiri's companion only grew given the feat he had accomplished, but she had to do something about Levi and Hijiri first.
Maybe I can create an opening, but getting through that barrier to Hijiri's friend might be a problem, Lieselotte thought.
Of course, Levi's attacks only complicated matters, because she knew if she got careless around her, then she'll likely lose her head.
With his grin concealed by his mask, Lelouch fired a larger crystal that missed Lieselotte and embedded itself into the center of the ruins where they were fighting.
"You can't hit the broadside of a barn, can you?" Lieselotte mocked.
"Dodge this," Hijiri replied as Lelouch placed a hand on her shoulder, channeling some of his magic into her to enable her to make use of the crystals Lelouch had purposely scattered around the ruins.
Using another Black Azazel to attack, Hijiri struck the largest of the crystals which scattered her beam outward multiple directions before hitting the other gems and quickly repeating creating a web of the magical energy around them with Hijiri and Lelouch standing in one of the few safe zones thanks to Hijiri's defenses. Over a dozen explosions from the various beams impacting different areas of the ruins at once obscuring the entire area with dust and smoke, but it left the condition of Levi and Lieselotte unknown until it cleared.
Lelouch's intent hadn't been to hit Lieselotte, although he did take some shots of opportunity at her during the skirmish. Neither Hijiri nor Lelouch would be shocked if their combined attack had obliterated the ruins.
When the smoke cleared, the two saw no sign of neither Levi nor Lieselotte, but Hijiri was unwilling to lower her barrier until she found a corpse. Lelouch was already trying to determine how they might escape the Eternal Library with the aid of his Grimoire, Merlin because they knew they had already spent too much time here and had to flee immediately.
"Merlin, is there a way out of this place?" Lelouch asked, consulting his tome.
"We may be able to reverse the magic she used to bring us here," Merlin answered. "We should hurry because I know your creation is beginning to lose its fight against those three mages."
Lelouch was aware that his Black Knight was beginning to falter in its battle against Mira, Akio, and Lilith.
Hijiri reluctantly lowered her shields allowing Lelouch to work better with Merlin to find a way out. Although her new Satan form had given her considerable power and potential new abilities, Hijiri had little experience with the form considering this was her first time using it. Unfortunately, as her shields came down, Lelouch was punched in the stomach by Lieselotte, who suddenly appeared in front of him, seemingly unharmed by Lelouch and Hijiri's combination attack.
However, upon closer inspection, there were holes in her black cape that flowed below her waist, indicating just how close Lieselotte had come to being hit by the attack.
"That was a very clever plan, too bad my Logo Arts allows me to manipulate time enabling me to dodge it, but if it's any consolation, that almost got me," Lieselotte complimented them before using her magic to teleport both herself and Lelouch to another corner of the ruins before Hijiri could intervene.
During the teleport, Lelouch quickly transformed Merlin into a handgun, but when Lelouch tried to shoot Lieselotte, she swiftly seized Lelouch's gun hand at the moment he pulled the trigger causing him to shoot apart the lower half of his own mask while narrowing missing his mouth.
The rest of his mask didn't crumble due to the effort Lelouch had made to make the mask quite durable.
Before Lelouch could recover, despite his mind momentarily panicked over his identity being revealed, Lieselotte pinned Lelouch to a stone pillar before using the shock of his back, impacting the pillar to press her lips against his before slipping her tongue into his mouth forcefully kissing him. Lelouch, due to his weak physical shape, couldn't fend off Lieselotte, who was apparently his physical superior as she effortlessly overpowered him.
To steal someone's magic, Lieselotte had to make physical contact, although skin contact is usually enough since Lelouch had protected his entire body with his Magus Mode; her only option was to kiss him. Furthermore, Lelouch's lack of physical ability made it even more ideal for Lieselotte, who was easily able to pin him to the stone pillar using a combination of both her own superior strength and the weight of her own body to keep him pinned.
Unfortunately, that was when everything went wrong, and something within Lelouch resisted her.
A single black wing erupted from his back as his eyes under his damaged mask began glowing again, seemingly in response to the attempted theft of his magic.
Hijiri was about to intervene, but the surge of magical energy from Lelouch was pushing her back. However, she quickly realized it was intended to repel Lieselotte, who kept trying to maintain physical contact to continue stealing his magic. Yet no matter how hard Lieselotte tried, she was pushed away by Lelouch's power, causing her to land several feet away.
As Lieselotte was trying to comprehend how her ability to steal the magic of others was repelled, a furious and very vengeful Lelouch made the most of the moment, he had access to this power. The same power that allowed him to save Hijiri, used in conjunction with some of the materials and tools Lelouch had brought with him beforehand to craft a new construct similar to the Black Knight. Lelouch had brought along everything he had needed should he find himself in a situation where creating a new construct would be necessary. Usually whatever he would've created under these circumstances wouldn't have matched the quality of the Black Knight.
However, with the power he had unknowingly tapped into now suddenly came in handy, Lelouch momentarily wondered if he could create something more formidable to help them.
Not knowing how long he would be able to draw on it, Lelouch quickly executed his Thema and slammed both palms into the ground. A magic circle appeared in front of him as his tools, fueled by his magic, began to quickly assemble a new golem made from the surrounding stone of the ruins to swiftly craft a large humanoid form and filling its hollow chest with magical energy core to animate it.
Lieselotte watched in awe as Lelouch speedily crafted and brought his newly created stone golem to life, but that awe turned to worry when it opened up its chest cavity to unleash a destructive blast of dark magical energy. Lieselotte dodged it, but her face paled as her magic allowed her to analyze the nature of the energy fired at her.
Lelouch missed, but Lieselotte knew that he was becoming an increasingly dangerous opponent, coupled with the fact that she couldn't steal his magic.
"You really have mastered the Luxuria Achieve," Lieselotte noted as the blood had drained from her face, "if that had hit me I wouldn't have just been disintegrated, but that would've destroyed my soul as well."
"My Archive is Luxuria, butI won't tell you my Thema," Lelouch replied. "I have surpassed the Trinity."
Those Thema he has mastered not only make him a gifted alchemist, but he could manipulate and control spiritual energy, as well as outright, annihilate it, Lieselotte thought gaining a better grasp at how Lelouch created the Black Knight or rather the basics behind it.
He used Outer Alchemy to forge the body and then using Terminus melded the spirits into it to animate the armor, which was similar to how he created his so-called rush job, a task that was quickened by Lelouch use of his new power that awoke to allow him to use the magic circle he created on the ground to literally draw the materials and shape the body without spending days to actually craft it. Lieselotte decided to dub it as a Soul Destroyer; its power was owed to Lelouch, granting it the means of destroying the body and soul of its victims through Vanitas and Terminus Thema.
"I see," Lieselotte said calmly, but she was forced to evade a retaliatory attack from Hijiri, who had seemingly just teleported to her own location, a feat that surprised her as well.
Lieselotte realized she was at a tactical disadvantage despite having the speed and evasion advantage, but not being able to understand Lelouch's magic thoroughly, especially as his single wing and eyes didn't match any condition associated with those possessing a Magic King Element. The fact using that power he was able to save someone from disintegration only added a dangerous complication, which added more unknown variables to the battle Lieselotte had no way to consider.
"I'll concede to you the tactical victory, but this isn't the last time we'll see each other," Lieselotte replied before she used her magic to expel Lelouch and Hijiri from the Eternal Library before the group reappeared in academy's library.
"We're back," Hijiri said, realizing where they were.
"Yes, and we need to run!" Lelouch said as he and Hijiri followed by Lelouch's new creation. However, they were stopped at the door by the headmaster with both arms crossed over his chest and an amused smile as he eyed Lelouch's Soul Destroyer.
"I take it, you kids had a fun night?" Master Biblia offered, although the situation was bad Lelouch had been hopeful until now as he and Hijiri realized they weren't the only ones ejected from the Eternal Library.
In spite of using the chaos of Lelouch's combination attack with Hijiri to hide, Levi was still ejected by Lieselotte, and she chose this moment to make her presence known as she appeared behind the three with a smile while waving at the two.
"I highly doubt you two are going to escaping my academy," Master Biblia said with a devious smile, but Lelouch looked upon the headmaster and saw something that caused his skin to pale slightly.
Behind the headmaster, Lelouch observed a large gate-like object with an elaborate gold framework and a head with spikes around its neck on top of the gate, which was holding back a swarm of angry spirits.
What is that? Lelouch wondered, but Hijiri seemingly didn't see it, or if Hijiri did, she likely ignored it to focus on the task at hand.
"I won't let you hurt him nor Arata," Hijiri said with a fierce look in her eye despite knowing Master Biblia was one of the most powerful Paladin-class mages in the world if not the most powerful.
"Hurt him?" Master Biblia seemingly confused, but acting on instinct and aware of something else he could do Lelouch used his wing to slash the air in front of him, creating a portal that shocked everyone especially Lelouch.
Despite the uncertainty of this move, Lelouch felt confident this was their chance to escape.
Taking hold of one of Hijiri's claw-like hands the pair rushed into the portal while the Soul Destroyer was pulled into Lelouch's Grimoire for storage. Levi tried to pursue, but the portal closed behind Lelouch and Hijiri.
"What was that?!" Levi said, sensing no trace of the pair and their creation nearby.
"If I am not mistaken, that was a portal which has likely sent those two somewhere else, and I can't tell if it was somewhere in town or elsewhere in the world," Master Biblia said, seemingly unbothered by the two mages escaping. "Well, at least this confirms where Miss Sherlock has been. I had a suspicion this is what had likely happened."
"So what do we do now? Should I go after them?" Levi asked, although without knowing how far away they teleported, it would be difficult to pick up their trail.
Master Biblia completed that for a moment before replying, "It's hard to tell where they went, and those two likely had an escape plan in place. So without any idea where they have gone, it would be just a waste of time wandering around looking for them, so go help Lilith and the others then have them see me in my office."
A/N: that's it, and after Lelouch's efforts to enter the Eternal Library goes horribly wrong, and it looks like it might get worse. Still, from here on out, the story and other events shall be put into motion, and part of the reason I waited so long to update was to see where the story of Trinity Seven was going. In both the light novels and the manga to have a better grasp of what the end game might be and how I could adapt it into the story.
I had a general idea, but it needed something more, and I might have it now.
Also, for those who were uncertain about some of my harem choices for Lelouch, I posted a curiosity poll on my profile to chose up to five options for consideration, and I tried to get an even ten in there among the Trinity Seven female cast. I am still understandably doubtful about pairing Yui with anyone. I added her to the poll to make it an even ten candidate list. I might do one with Code Geass characters later, but even so, it's going to be a while before the harem actually happens until after Lelouch and Hijiri become a couple.
However, for Lelouch's harem, aside from Hijiri, I have been talking to other authors and I have revised my original harem line up and settled on Hijiri, Kallen, C.C, Mina Salem, Lilith Asami, Lugh, Anastasia-L and maybe Lieselotte Sherlock if things can be smoothed out between them given what happened in this chapter.
Anyway, thanks for reading, and I thank you in advance for your review and see you all next chapter.