Hey Guys! Crescent Rider here, and I am back with another chapter!
I've got nothing to say at the moment, but I will tell you all that this chapter. A lot of stuff is going to happen.
That is all, and enjoy the chapter!
Era
Upon arrival, Empress walked the streets alone with a ragged cloak.
Most notably, her face is revealed to all since there hasn't been a report regarding her identity as a member of the Oracion Seis.
Since it's better to stay hidden in plain sight than to hide in the shadows.
Not only that, she occasionally keeps tabs on the watch she strapped on her right wrist.
'Just a little longer...' Empress muttered,
She picks up the pace and makes her way to a designated area...
Meanwhile...
Cobra lies in wait as he stares down at Era from the sky.
Normally, he would feel impatient with the circumstances he was in. But being Empress' partner changes that for numerous reasons. One of these reasons is his Hearing Magic towards her.
The voices within her mind make her unpredictable towards him. When he sparred with her, he somehow struggled to keep up due to the voices' interference.
They disorient his Hearing Magic with endless chatter and he loses his concentration amid their fight.
Not only that, he learned that Empress has adapted to the chattering voices for a long time as well as combat experience.
Something he considered to be greater than others...
A few minutes in, he receives one message from her.
"I'm ready," Empress declared,
Cobra smirked and assaults a certain area in Era. A place that's been considered to be the least guarded area.
Upon his assault, people started panicking, and Rune Knights stationed within the area remained strong as they prepared themselves for a fight.
But for Cobra, it was a one-sided battle...
Back to Empress
As soon as Cobra started his distraction, Empress was sitting in some alleyway and listening to the stampeding footsteps of Rune Knights gathering towards the area.
With this many people going into action, the targeted building would be easier to infiltrate. Thus, she stands up straight, materializes a white mask, and somehow alters her bodily appearance into an adult male.
This was one of her abilities, and it works well for infiltration and deception.
Magic Council Building
During the attack, Empress had infiltrated the building without issue and lurked through the shadows of the hallways.
Upon reaching a certain area, she finds a large set of doors and resurfaces from the shadows.
"Let's get to work," Empress muttered in a different voice instead of her own,
She stretches her hand towards the doors and what appears before her is a Magic Circle used for Security Purposes. Advanced for average mages, but simple for the likes of her.
First off, she examines the formula of the circle, then alters certain sections of the circles with simple and precise movements, and implements them in a synchronized order.
Upon succession, the circle disappears and freely enters the room without issue. Although, her entry had gone unnoticed by a particular individual in mind...
Hallway
Empress walked down an enemy room and before her was a set of doors that lead to the Archives.
However, she found it too easy and that aroused her suspicions. Thus, she materialized a small blade and threw it in the middle of the hallway.
Moments later, the knife activates an inscribed magic and reveals certain areas of the hallway.
Upon its reveal, Empress noticed several magic circles that could trigger the trap system of the hallway. Since the Archives keep the most confidential files, it was common sense that it would be heavily defended from the inside.
But she wasn't going to let this stop her...
As she eyed each and every one of the traps, she noticed that they are only activated via pressure pads and lasers. Upon setting her sights on the floor, she noticed that some parts of the floors aren't covered and space in between the lasers.
She did some stretching and enhances her entire body to make herself light and flexible as some of the spaces and floors are narrow and request precise movements.
As she breathes out once, she proceeds with her infiltration.
With a short running start, she dives forward and uses acrobatics to go through narrow parts of the hallway. It took minutes to get through it all and Empress hasn't broken a sweat throughout the trial.
From handstands to mid-air flips, rolls, slides, etc. She got through every one of those traps like a leaf breezing through the wind.
In the end, she reaches the set of doors and straightens herself after she bypassed the last line of traps in the hallway. She raised her forearm towards the door and a magic circle appear.
It's the same formula as it was from the door and alters it once more before going through the door. Once she was in, she now stands at the shelves that contained a lot of confidential files that the Magic Council has stored.
"Let's go to work," Empress muttered, and held up her hand,
At the very palm, she creates firefly-like creatures and scattered them across the entire room. As they go to work, she walked into the room and scanned every labeled shelf in the room.
With her memory, she would memorize it all and use it for the future should she ever come here again. In the midst of this, she soon learns the location of Brain's desired files.
She went to the location and saw the fireflies gathering around one specific shelf. She jumps into the air, grabs onto the shelf, and moved towards the designated area.
Empress then grabs the files and drops them down on the ground. Rather than steal it, she opens it, materializes a large empty book, and weveryevery piece of information needed into her book.
It took a couple of minutes, she finishes gathering up what she needed, puts her book away, and puts the book she took back into its shelf.
With that, she escapes through the same doors...
...
...
...
But she finds herself into a problem as the doors from the other side of the hallways were opened by two personnel of the Magic Council.
The two spotted her and demanded answers about her identity. But Empress pulls out a smoke bomb and throws it towards them.
As soon as the smoke envelops the entire hallway, she makes a run for it and finds a different route to escape.
'Cobra, I've gotten what I need. Stop what you're doing and meet me by the cliffside of the Magic Council Headquarters,' Empress quickly instructed,
As she ran, the alarm goes off and everyone in the entire building is now aware of her presence. But that didn't stop her as she finds a way up rather than a way out since the Rune Knights would most likely come through entrances of the first floor.
By going to the upper levels, she would find fewer guards there as well as find an opportune moment to escape the building. Her progress would lead her to an empty office room and runs straight through the window.
She shielded her face with her arms to avoid the glass from reaching her face and pressed on with her arms stretched backward.
Upon reaching the edge, she uses magic on her feet and launches herself over the cliffside. The people from below watched as they see Empress going over the cliffside.
Some even assumed that she wouldn't survive the fall. They were right...
...
...
...
But not in her case...
As soon as she was past the cliffside, Cobra appeared and catches Empress' arm. Once she was on Cubellios' back, they leave while the people were baffled upon recognizing Cobra and his snake.
Sadly for them, they could never reach them as they fled with what they'd obtained...
Somewhere Far From Era...
Upon reaching a deep forest, Cubellios lands, and both Cobra and Empress dismount the reptile's back, and the former groans in frustration.
"Did something happen?" Empress inquired,
"Yeah, but it's ain't serious since Rune Knights aren't much of a problem, to begin with," Cobra confessed, "Did you get what Brain needed?"
"I didn't steal it," Empress stated, then pulled out the book she had used earlier, "Instead, I copied the notes down to the last page since a missing book wouldn't go unnoticed,"
"I see, and what's it about?" Cobra questioned,
"That is for Brain to answer," Empress said, "If you want to know, speak to him,"
Cobra clicked his tongue, especially when the voices within her mind remained quiet towards the matter. But in the end, they did do what they were told and that was all that mattered.
As soon as Empress put the book away, she reverts to her original appearance and the two walked back to their base of operation on foot.
The Following Day...
Empress had delivered what Brain requested, Cobra was sent to another mission, and the former requested Brain personally.
"You wish for a leave of absence?" Brain inquired,
"Yes," Empress responded,
"And where do you plan on going?" Brain inquired,
"Era," Empress replied,
"You were there on a mission yesterday, and now you wish to go there today," Brain remarked, "For what purpose may I ask,"
"It's a personal matter, and an irrelevant matter to your opinion," Empress stated,
Brain stared into the girl's eyes for a short period, but after her contributions to his plans. He turns away and states the following words to her, "How long?"
"Two Days," Empress responded,
"Then I expect you to return before the second day ends at the last stroke of twelve," Brain instructed, "Do we have an understanding?"
"Yes, Brain," Empress complied,
"Then you are dismissed," Brain said, and Empress bowed before leaving the room,
Empress' Room
Empress gathered some essential supplies as well as some money before her departure to Era.
But standing at the open door was Angel, who leans against the door frame with her arms crossed together.
"You're planning on going to Era, are you?" Angel questioned,
"I am, and it's none of your concern," Empress responded,
"Are you sure Brain allowed you to do so? If not, then you'll be suspected as a traitor since you are going all by yourself at the place where the Magic Council resides," Angel reminded,
"Are you worried?" Empress questioned,
"Not in the slightest," Angel responded, "Because the moment you turn traitor, Brain and the others will not hesitate to kill you for your treachery,"
"You sound worried to me. But rest assured, I will not," Empress assured, "Treachery is something I wholeheartedly detest, and I wouldn't commit regardless of any reasons,"
Angel doubts that at first, but knowing the girl's past as well as her vendetta against these 'scientists'. She had a feeling that her words have some truth within them.
As soon as Empress packed everything she needed, she strapped the bag onto her back and walked towards the door.
Once she left the room, Angel watched her go but recollects a certain event between Empress and herself...
Flashback
After a sparring match between her and Cobra. The result of their match was utter defeat, especially when she used her Celestial Spirits against him.
Following her defeat, she took her current Celestial Spirit, Aries, into her room, grabbed a whip, and started abusing the poor Spirit for being so weak and useless.
The Celestial Spirit was in tears as the whip physically hurt her to no end, but as it goes on...
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Someone intervenes...
As Angel was about to whip the poor Spirit once more, Empress suddenly enters the room and catches the whip with her right arm much to Angel's disbelief.
Empress then pulled the whip out of Angel's hand and untangled the rope around her arm. The former then turns to Aries, bends down on one knee, and gently stroked the Spirit's fluffy head.
"It's alright now... You're safe," Empress assured,
Aries had tears in her eyes but seemed grateful before disappearing in a puff of pink clouds.
As Empress stood upstraight, Angel expresses her anger towards her, "Hey! What was that for!?"
Upon her question, Empress turns to her with a sudden intent of hatred towards her. One that was expressed with the red eyes she displayed before her...
"Never blame your servants for your faults," Empress warned, then turns to the door,
Angel seemed rather speechless and watched her go through the door. Once the door slammed behind the girl, Angel's anger turned into confusion before sitting down on her bed as her legs became jelly all of a sudden...
End of Flashback
After that event, Angel remained somewhat cautious around her. Especially when the matter involves her and her Celestial Spirits.
One wrong move and Empress would come knocking down on her door.
Thus, she had no other choice but to vent her frustration to the enemy whenever she goes on a mission and even vent it towards her guild mates whenever they sparred from time to time.
But one thing is certain...
Wherever she came from...
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...
...
Is surely a place different from what she knows...
That is it for this chapter guys! As for what comes next, it'll be a surprise from me to all of you.
That is all I have to say, stay safe from the virus, and I will see you all in the next chapter!