AD 2204, 5/29, 6th Hierarchical City of Yabiko – NOL Branch

Carl groans as he awakens, still feeling a burning sensation pulsating through his battered body. It has been only a day since their arrival back to the NOL Branch, and the young puppeteer has been bedridden since the fight with Sector Seven's best soldiers.

With a huff of effort, he sits up and grasps a glass of water on the bedside table, drinking deeply. Once he sates his thirst, he rises on his stiff legs with a hiss. He has work to do today.

"…" Ada moves forward, her claws out to offer him support.

Carl smiles softly. "Thanks, Sis."

Together, the puppeteer and marionette make their way out of the bedroom, and toward the room that serves as Carl's makeshift workshop. Today will be the first day of his extensive repairs to his puppets. While Pawn is in near-perfect working order, Knight is still in poor condition, Bishop is completely non-functional, and Rook… Carl glances at the warped, almost melted frame of his largest puppet and primary defense sadly. Rook will take at least a few days to repair all on its own.

With a determined scowl, he brings out his tools, and gestures for Ada to lay Knight on the table. He gets to work and loses himself in the mechanisms and shells of his puppets. He's repairing Knight's left hind leg when he hears the polite clearing of a throat. He tenses instantly and turns around.

"Good afternoon, Mister Clover. We didn't see you for lunch, so I brought something from the kitchens." Kohaku smiles good-naturedly at him, but Carl is still tense. He'd forgotten how stealthy Kohaku can be.

After an awkward moment of silence, Carl sighs. "Thank you, Captain."

He gingerly takes the still-warm covered tray from Kohaku, setting it on a table in the room's corner before returning to his seat. He quirks a brow when Kohaku doesn't immediately depart. "Is there something else, Captain?"

Kohaku nods, his dark eyes never leaving Carl's. "Yes. When you finish with this one, please make your way to the study. Lord Mutsuki wishes to speak to you."

Carl hums, then nods. "Very well. Thank you, Captain."

Kohaku smiles politely. "You're quite welcome." He then leaves, and Carl resumes his work.

Once he satisfies himself with both the meal and Knight's repairs, Carl hobbles into Ada's claws, and they make their way to the study.

Once they enter, Mutsuki looks at him with a worried frown. Carl huffs. He's hardly made of glass. He takes his seat opposite the older man, and Mutsuki leans forward, elbows planted into the desk.

"Clover, how are you holding up?" Mutsuki gives him a critical once-over. He's being serious.

Carl narrows his eye and hums. "I should be alright by the time Miss Alucard gave us."

Mutsuki looks at him with doubt, prompting a scoff. Mutsuki narrows his eyes. "Don't treat this so casually. Rachel isn't going to make things any easier on you just because you're hurt."

Carl tenses, remembering his last encounter with Rachel Alucard. It hadn't gone well for him. "You think she means to fight me?"

Mutsuki shrugs. "I don't know. She's gotta have something in mind for you, though. She mentioned something about you 'wasting your potential.' Ring any bells?"

Carl scowls. She's still on about that? After all this time? "Unfortunately. She said something similar when we first met."

Mutsuki hums, narrowing his eyes further with a frown. "Alright. We've got about three days left before she comes looking for you. You sure you can recover by then?"

Carl scoffs once more. "Of course. But I suggest you let me return to my work, and not interrupt me again." He rises stiffly, and Mutsuki watches him closely. Carl sniffs and walks back to Ada, returning to her waiting claws.

Kagura watches them leave, then sighs. "Why do things always have to get more complicated?"

AD 2204, 6/2, 6th Hierarchical City of Yabiko – NOL Branch

Carl hums Marschner's 'Blumen und Blüten im Zephyrgekose' as he waits in the basement for the arrival of his vampiric 'playmate.' He's been here for several minutes and is growing impatient. Had she not said to be ready by half-past ten?

He is more than halfway through the tune when the clock strikes the aforementioned time, and nothing happens. His humming deepens, a scowl forming on his fair face.

Precisely one minute later, he feels a strange sensation, a distortion in the air behind him. Still, he hums as he turns to see… an old man with tan skin, and white hair tied by a pink bow. He wears a Victorian black suit with steel-toed boots and white gloves. The tasteful goatee completes the look.

After a moment, the man narrows his admiral blue eyes sharply. "I suggest you cease that grim tune at once, young man. I won't tolerate such impertinence towards Milady."

Carl quirks a brow but cuts off his tune early. "Not many people know an opera tune when they hear it, let alone one so obscure. Who are you?"

The man sniffs, looking at Carl like one eyes a disobedient kitten. "Valkenhayn R. Hellsing."

Carl's eye widens. This man is one of the legendary 'Six Heroes,' to think that witch had such formidable power at her disposal…

Valkenhayn remains stoically silent as he watches the shock flitter in that lone cerulean eye. When Madam Rachel instructed him to 'test' the son of Relius Clover, he'd been wary. From the rumors they've heard, the boy has almost certainly inherited his father's damnable curiosity. But Madam had been swift to reprimand him for his prejudice, and remind him that the boy showed care and compassion in his research, so unlike the man Valkenhayn knew. But Valkenhayn knows what lies beyond that silver half-mask well, he will be on his guard.

"I thought Miss Alucard was the one who wanted to 'see my potential.' What is this about?" Carl narrows his eye at Hellsing, unwilling to go along with a plan he doesn't understand.

Hellsing hums. "Madam Rachel does not wish to waste either of your time. As such, I will be the one to test you, to see if you are worthy of a meeting with her."

Carl huffs. "Again, with these games? Tell that witch—!"

Hellsing snarls quietly, leaning forward slightly to glare intensely into Carl's eye. "Hold your tongue, I shall not warn you again. Milady has seen fit to give you a chance to prove yourself. I suggest you take it seriously and stop acting like a spoilt brat. Now, take my hand."

Hellsing holds out a white-gloved hand and Carl signals to Ada. Hellsing turns to face her, his face softening somewhat.

"Nirvana. We have little interest in harming your ward. You know well that Milady only wishes to see his dance for herself." Hellsing's soft tone almost gives Carl whiplash. How can he be so fiercesome one moment, and a perfect gentleman the next?

Ada stills, seeming conflicted. Carl feels dread pool in his stomach. What is happening?

"Sis? What's wrong?" He turns to scowl at Hellsing. "What did you do to my sister?"

Hellsing scoffs, returning hard eyes to Carl. "I've done nothing untoward; I assure you. Your 'sister' is free to make her own choices, is she not? Now, come here."

Hellsing steps forward, hand still outstretched. Carl looks at Ada once more but hears only silence. Reluctantly, he rises from his seat and surrenders his hand to Hellsing's firm grasp. There is a warping sensation, then only darkness. The two disappear in a shadowy burst, and Ada seems to slump, an air of worry surrounding her purple and silver frame.

AD 2204, 6/2, The Castle of Alucard

The two men reappear amidst a field of blooming roses, under a bright full moon. A castle stands proudly in the near distance. Carl's eye narrows. He remembers this place all too well. He frees his hand and steps back a good distance from Hellsing, entering a ready stance.

Hellsing quirks a brow. "What's this? So eager to begin?"

Carl huffs, eying the much older man haughtily. His repairs have been successful, and his body, though still slightly aching, should be able to fight. But Hellsing is one of the Six Heroes. This will be extremely difficult. Carl fights hard to ignore his growing doubts.

Hellsing sighs and then enters his own stance. "Very well. I won't lie, you seem to need a good thrashing. Whenever you're ready…"

Hellsing allowing him the first move is anything but courtesy, Carl muses. The man has far more experience than him, and Carl is at a disadvantage without Ada at his side. Still, standing around will gain him nothing.

Carl rushes forward, feinting a strike, but twirling behind Hellsing as the old man tenses. Bishop aims for his shoulder with a sharp jab of his flagpole. Hellsing twists to avoid the blow altogether and throws a thrusting spin kick at the younger man, who deftly jumps back to barely evade his boot.

Hellsing follows up with a strong cross, which misses Carl's hat by mere centimeters as he hastily ducks. Carl narrows his eye and kicks forward at Hellsing's shin, Knight's lance joining his foot.

Hellsing shunts back, turning a sure hit into a mere glancing poke, looking completely fine. Carl hisses, then leaps forward. He sends out Knight, mounting the steed to aim a stab at Hellsing's head.

Carl's eye widens when Hellsing glows purple and shifts into the form of a wolf, dashing out of his way. Carl pulls Knight's arm up, and they land roughly on the ground, breaking into a gallop to avoid Hellsing's charge.

However, Hellsing bursts forth, and his claw strikes true, deeply gouging the metal of Knight's right hind leg, before dodging a retaliatory kick. Knight stumbles for a few meters, coming to a clumsy stop as Carl pulls it back into his cloak, turning and raising Rook to block another charge.

Hellsing bounces off the shield, gouging into it as well, before using the momentum to launch himself up and over Rook. He dives for Carl, and Pawn barely activates in time to whip the plate of Carl's top hat at the werewolf.

Hellsing growls as the plate strikes him in the jaw. He dashes away, turning back into his humanoid form. Carl scowls and readjusts his hat, pulling his puppets back to prepare for another assault.

Hellsing doesn't disappoint, throwing a roundhouse at his head. Carl rolls back to avoid the boot, which turns into sharp claws just before it would make contact.

"So, he can choose which parts of himself to transform one at a time. Quite dangerous, but interesting." Carl's inner musings are cut short as Hellsing leaps up and transforms his leg as he performs a diving kick.

He dives to the side and strikes low with Bishop, slamming the flagpole into the side of Hellsing's still-transformed knee, causing it to buckle slightly. Hellsing regards him coolly and throws himself around and toward him in a shoulder tackle.

Carl safely ducks, and then twirls around to stab with Knight. Hellsing intercepts with an uppercutting transformed elbow strike, knocking Carl's blow to the side, and breaking Knight's arm joints. He rears back, transforming his head and coming in for a bite. Carl ducks, but loses his hat to those powerful jaws. Hellsing tosses it aside, and Carl throws out a powerful shield bash with Rook.

Hellsing is head in the chest, flying back a couple of meters. Carl rushes for his hat, not keen on losing any more of his puppets. Hellsing catches himself on the ground and transforms, dashing for Carl in a swirling torpedo of tooth and claw.

Carl sees this, and summons up his energies, standing up straight, He raises an arm and snaps his fingers, shouting. "Laetabilis Cantata!"

Hellsing comes to a stop only a meter away, caught in several manifesting gears that quickly spin and snap at the exposed flesh of his wolf form. Hellsing howls in pain, and Carl frowns grimly. His hat is a few meters away yet, and he cannot move if he wishes to get the most from his Ars Magus.

After several agonizing seconds, the gears dissipate, and Carl stabs fiercely with Bishop, catching the wolf in his now-turned spine, and knocking him a few meters away. Carl takes the opportunity to dash and retrieve his hat, turning swiftly to see a scuffed Hellsing rushing towards him with an overhead kick.

Carl has no time to call upon a puppet or dodge, so he raises his arms. He grunts in pain as he feels the kick connect, breaking through his guard and coming down hard on his shoulder. He hisses through clenched teeth and slams his fist into Hellsing's jaw. The blow hurts him more than the older man if his smirk is anything to go by.

Hellsing drops onto his hands and sweeps Carl's legs from under him with transforming legs, tearing his slacks, and cutting the legs beneath. Carl cries out and falls, calling upon Bishop to jab at Hellsing's ankle as hard as it can, prompting a grunt and retaliatory kick. Bishop's neck joints snap violently as it falls back into Carl's cloak.

Carl feels a tear sting his eye as his exposed legs catch upon the thorns of the roses, scratching his wounds open further as well. He grabs Bishop's flagpole for his own use.

Hellsing rolls away and stomps down, aiming for Carl's back. Carl rolls out of the way and catches Hellsing's hip with a swing of Bishop's flagpole. Hellsing bends slightly with a growl, and Carl sees his chance.

He sets Knight loose. The puppet dashes around the man as best it can on its hobbled leg, and swings with its broken lance arm as best it can. Hellsing dodges easily, but Carl smiles, ripping off his hat and freeing Pawn.

Pawn leaps forward and bounces off Hellsing from behind, launching itself upwards. The distraction is enough for Knight to knock him to the ground with a forward kick, falling to the ground as its hind leg tears completely. Pawn comes down hard on Hellsing's chest, stomping rapidly and angrily.

Carl quickly launches Rook from his cloak, and as Hellsing knocks Pawn away viciously, the largest of his puppets slams into Hellsing's ribs. The older man finally cries out, causing Carl to smirk.

Rook and a moderately damaged Pawn quickly return to him, and Knight follows shortly thereafter, morbidly cradling its severed leg. Carl rises shakily to his still bleeding legs, using Bishop's flagpole to aid him. Hellsing pants heavily, but rises quickly, causing Carl's face to pale. His smirk vanishes and his eye widens. He's gotten ahead of himself.

Hellsing stares at him coolly for a moment, then sighs theatrically. "I suppose that showing was sufficient. What say you, Madam Rachel?"

Carl turns his head to see that witch looking at them pensively. She hums. "Hmm. I suppose that I could spare the time to test his resolve myself." She turns her scarlet eyes to Carl. "Listen well, child. I expect to see you in three days, at the same time as today."

Carl opens his mouth to protest but feels a firm hand upon his shoulder.

Hellsing sighs. "Shall I send him back, Madam Rachel?"

Alucard hums, a pleased smile on her pale lips. "Please do."

Carl feels that damnable warping sensation again. Before he can utter a word, they disappear.

Rachel stares at the spot with a neutral expression, then waits. Valkenhayn reappears only a few moments later. Rachel frowns sternly at him. "Valkenhayn. Did you go easy on him?"

Valkenhayn chuckles. "Hardly, Madam Rachel. I simply felt no need to bloody him overmuch. He's spoilt, but not yet rotten."

Rachel hums, smirking. "We shall see. Still, I never imagined that such a brat could trouble one such as yourself."

Valkenhayn laughs. "I must be getting old." His face turns serious. "He is indeed a prodigy. If you hadn't intervened, I'm not sure which of us would have come out the victor."

Rachel huffs. "You, of course. That boy is still too reliant on his 'sister.' Perhaps if we could break that unseemly codependency, he might make something of himself."

As mistress and servant continue to discuss their prospect, the moon shines on, illuminating all.