Chapter 1: Here comes Daido aka Kamen Rider Eternal
I yawned as the light reached my eyes, I stretched fromy Louise's bed since she now felt comfort in my company since I have been by her side and aiding her to the battle against Reconquista in Tarbes, she gave me privilege to share her bed until I get my own for the time being
'It sure has been peaceful' I opened the window letting the air come in 'and I hope that there isn't anything happening at this moment'
I heard a yawn and turned to see Louise waking up as she rubbed her eyes
"Morning Louise" I waved "I trust that you had a pleasant sleep?"
"I have" she nodded "since it's still early before the coronation, I guess you would like to move around?"
I nodded at her expectation "I would like to stretch my legs a bit since seeing your childhood friend become queen of the Tristain will be the main topic"
"Very well" Louise consented "I will see you at the front gate in a few hours"
I went to the courtyard to see the students of Tristain Academy minding their own business and then I saw a particular pair of girls with their familiars enjoying their quiet time
"Good morning you two" I waved
"Good morning darling" Kirche waved while Tabitha merely looked up from her book and nodded before going back to reading
Kirche Agusta Fredrica von anhalt de Zerbst, a fire mage from Germania. She was the long time family rival of Louise and genius flame user at first glance. But all that changed when I entered my master's life and help awaken her full potential
Tabitha de Chevalier Ivaldi on the other hand was a mystery to me... she may be the opposite of Kirche and perhaps the more tactical of the two and ever reliable companion, but that was all the girl could show me. I'm not saying that I don't trust her...I just want to know more about her
"Oh darling are you going to see the coronation of the queen in Tristain?" Kirche asked "you know that we can make our own celebration together"
I thought about my relationship with Kirche's devoted love to me, at first I thought that was just a phase to get out off but before my battle against Reconquista she has revealed that the flaunting she made was just a facade to hide her broken heart and with me entering her life that sense of loneliness disappeared and the men that she caught before has no more chance of getting her or her attention...
Not to mention that her mother, Maria Zerbst, has approved me in her visit to Tristain
"I must go Kirche" I assured "I promised Louise to be there"
"Fine, I won't stop you" she huffed "but I hope the next time you are free I get to have your company"
As I went on to get breakfast or brunch before meeting up with Louise, I thought on a few ways for me to be with Kirche, even though Louise would be irritated that I would give my company to her rival but I'm getting tired of their constant clash on each other's family and hopefully I can get them to lessen their family conflict somewhere
My thoughts stopped upon seeing the infamous student couple in the academy Guiche de Gramont and Montmorency Margarita La Ferde
'Is it just me or has Montmorency and Guiche changed a bit...?'
And it's true really, perhaps the other students noticed their change. I mean those two usually would bicker nonsense most of their time together with the water mage huffing and looking away while the earth mage would try to talk to her and reason his actions, but now... they are just walking side-by-side without uttering a word
'I wonder if that incident with the water spirit opened their eyes a bit' I hummed before calling to them "hey guys!"
The couple looked at me and gestured a small wave which made me decide to talk to them
"Hey there, you two seem different from your usual antics together..."
"It was a surprise to us too sir Peter" Guiche nodded "I thought that I was a gifted mage ready to be the great one like my family but after seeing you progress and even risk your life to battle, it made realize that I still have much to do in which that I have felt stuck on a certain course of my life"
I nodded to Guiche's words and turned to Montmorency and hear her part of the change
"Guiche is correct" the water mage agreed "I have been into myself a little too much and have decided to work a bit differently from my judgement with my boyfriend"
I nodded slowly while internally smiling that the two of them finally started to mature, but I can tell that there is more to their change than just realization
"It's good to see some maturity in you both" I smiled "but is there more? Because couples are usually seen happy together and I'm seeing some tensions between you two"
The couple looked at each other for a few seconds before looking back at me
"Well... that's also something we'd like to talk to you about" Guiche spoke
"After reflecting back on our arguments in our relationship" Montmorency added "we realized that we both care for each other" she looked straight at me "however... ever since the incident between you and me at Lagdorian Lake, my heart started to feel...different"
'Okay, I know where this is going...' I thought carefully "my meddle in your affairs made you realize that I'm something that Guiche lacked..."
"Yes" Montmorency nodded before her hands grabbed mine "I know that we have not made good impressions to each other, but I was hoping that I could have the pleasure of your company alone sometimes"
I looked at Guiche to see that he was not shaking like a leaf or feeling envy that I was taking his girl's attention. Rather I saw a calm expression and I smirked to see that he was in need of competition to prove that he is worth Montmorency's affection
"I'll need to talk to Louise about this" I replied "if she approves, then you must first ask her permission before taking my time" I looked at her "understood...?"
Montmorency smiled and nodded in joy at my condition "I will meet her myself for that"
She then stepped back so Guiche can make his piece
"Sir Peter" he spoke slowly "I would like to declare a challenge to you since my lover, Montmorency, wished for your time"
I grinned to see the determined look on his face "I accept your challenge Guiche, but to see who really is worth having Montmorency's heart... we each have our own way to make her happy and she will judge on who is better"
Guiche nodded at my rule on this challenge "and since Montmorency will be the one judging, she will decide who's company to have first"
Montmorency watched the two discuss their duel for her heart, she could almost jump in joy that the two men are fighting each other for her and her feelings!
We both shook hands and let Montmorency decide which one of us will take the lead before the two left for a discussion on a school assignment that might come up after Henrietta's coronation
I walked to the shed where Colbert studied his discoveries of non-magical items to see the man himself checking on the zero fighter plane with the repairs about to be finished
"Good morning Peter" Jean Colbert waved at me "are you here to see the dragon's raiment?"
"Yes I am" I nodded while looking at the plane "I must say you have done a good job on making it look like it was being pulled into the academy"
"I'm surprised myself" the professor smiled "also I shouldn't take all the glory" he added "Matilda has aided me in repairing the dragon"
True to the man's word Matilda Longueville came out of the seat with a hammer in hand and her hair slightly frazzled from the controls she fixed. She was originally a thief called Foquet who sided with Reconquista to protect her only family from the bad situation she was forced in
When she surrendered herself to Tristain, she would have been sent back to the dungeons for her crimes but thankfully after giving her story about her past and elven half-sister, Henrietta was kind enough to have her move back into Tristain Academy under the custody of Louise and I with her wand be placed in our hands
"I'm glad that you have been given a chance to live calmly Matilda" I smiled "for a moment, I thought you would have escaped again"
"I may not like being under arrest" she huffed "but it's better here than execution..."
I chuckled at her choice of words. I think she might have gotten used to the calm yet surprising actgs of headmaster Osmond's perverted but honest advances and the old man was glad to give her job back, sadly the condition of her doing physical labor meant no fun antics for him in his office
Much to her relief and his dismay
"I have to go now" I waved them goodbye "Louise wants me beside her for Henrietta's coronation"
"Have a good time Peter!" Colbert smiled "Matilda and I will make sure that this dragon won't be break easily..."
I went for the gate only to bump into Siesta along the way making both of us fall to the ground "sorry about that" I groaned a bit "I'm in a bit of a hurry"
"It's alright Peter" she giggled as she dusted her self "I wish that I could join you but I have my job to do and make sure that the Academy is well furnished"
"Then perhaps I could make up for my little misdeed for a later time?" I asked nicely
"Perhaps a quiet time in the night when I wish for your company" she suggested while her mind squealed in joy that a fantasy of hers would come to pass
"I'll see you by then if Louise can allow me permission first"
"Take care Peter" she walked away while giggling quietly that she will have a try on one of many things that she read from novels, mainly the adult ones
I met Louise at the gate with the girl slightly annoyed that I had her waiting a bit
"What got you doing something to make me wait?" she huffed as we walked to the village
"Guiche and Montmorency" I replied with a chuckle "apparently they want to see if their love was true and final, so they decided to have me help them be the obstacle of said affections"
Louise seemed a bit jealous at my answer but she acknowledged my meddle for helping her be strong and noticed as a proper mage. And therefore she let me do as I please, I just pray that she won't end up being too pleased after she was told of her magic element
We arrived at the village to see a lot of people anxiously waiting for Henrietta's presence
"Everyone sure is excited" I looked around the masses to see the people happily talking about their new queen
"Of course they are" Louise smiled "who could afford to miss her highness' coronation?"
Just then cheers erupted which signaled us to look at the road to see the queen herself waving to her people, she smiled as the crowd cheered and yelled for Henrietta
As she moved along and made her greetings, the carriage suddenly stopped catching her and everyone's attention
"Is something wrong?" the queen questioned to her coach driver
"Your guards have spotted someone ahead your grace"
And true enough, a lone figure was sighted and he was only one person but my eyes narrowed upon seeing his form
The man had light brown hair, lightly tanned complexion, he was wearing an open-zipped Never jacket showing a white shirt underneath, army pants with a knife strapped onto the belt and leather boots
"I made it after all" he smiled before being surrounded by Henrietta's guards as they readied themselves
"State your name and business for interrupting Lady Henrietta's coronation...!" the leader barked as she pulled out her sword
The man smirked at the groups duty to protect their queen "My name is Daido"
'DAIDO?!' I panicked mentally to see the leader of NEVER 'just what are you planning to do here...?!'
"As to why I'm here" he jumped up to the sky making the squad focus on his moves to not realize that someone else is with him
Bang!
A gunshot was heard causing screams from the crowd and it struck the leader's sword making a ricochet, striking the other guards on their armor sending them to the air while the leader quickly ducked dodging the shot
"An acquaintance of mine wants to see the ruler of this kingdom" he finished as most of the guards were struggling to get up from the surprise attack
"Who else is with you?" The leader grunted as she looked around for the accomplice
"He's on his way" Daido smirked "and he's someone your queen knows..."
Another man walked into the scene and Henrietta's eyes went wide
"Matthew...?" she spoke in disbelief "is it really you Matthew?"
"Yes your highness" the stoic man nodded "it is me"
Henrietta got off her carriage and went straight for her father's trusted soldier, she felt her eyes water upon seeing the person who she thought was lost for years!
But upon touching him she stepped back and looked at her hands in surprise
"Cold?" she whispered before looking back at Matthew
"Something happened to me on my mission" he spoke calmly "and after what happened there, I cannot be with you anymore"
He then walked back to Daido's side "I'm sorry" were his last words before going silent much to Henrietta's shock
"It is sad that an incident happened to him your grace" Daido bowed a bit to show his concern for the queen "but things change, and time is the key point"
He then pulled out a small red L-shaped buckle and placed it on his waist forming a belt
"To make sure that this event will be burned in your mind" he pulled an object out of his pocket "I'll introduce myself to you with my other name"
Eternal
"Henshin"
Eternal
Daido's form changed as small bits merged giving him white armor with blue flame imprints on the arms and legs, a white helmet with yellow goggle-like visor and a trident crown on his forehead, to finish the look he had black strips on his body with a black cape fluttering on his back
"I am...Kamen Rider Eternal"
'Eternal...' I gulped at seeing that dark rider in front of me, but when I got my thoughts Louise was already at the battlefield 'not good!'
Louise felt her heart panic when Daido showed his power and she couldn't bear the thought of her friend being in danger or worse!
"Oh...?" Daido noticed her in his sight as she stood in front of the queen with wand in hand "seems that there is one who has the courage to step in"
"You stay away from her highness!" she barked and cast her spell making an explosion in the area
BOOM
Louise panted as she tried to calm down from her panic, but she and her childhood friend got shocked to see the man walk out of the smoke unscathed
"You really have strong magic there" Daido smiled but noticed that the queen's guards surrounded him again "you girls are daring to step in like this"
"We live to protect our queen" the leader spoke "and you have made yourself an enemy to the kingdom"
Daido looked around for a bit and he started to laugh loudly making everyone cringe in fear "you really think that you are ready to face me?"
He took out his Eternal edge and held it upside down "let me show you your mistake" and placed his memory in the slot
Eternal Maximum Drive
Louise and Henrietta felt pain as they were struck by a mysterious force making them fall to the ground feeling pain for a few seconds making the guards go to them
"Your highness...!" the leader panicked as she and her guards checked her and Louise for any problems
Daido looked at his work and smirked at seeing the people panic 'If I was still alive I might have become a maniac like Lidia' he then felt a presence in front of him 'looks like the protector has finally arrived...'
I dashed to Louise after Daido made his move "Louise!" I cried seeing her fall down "Louise, please say something!"
Louise groaned a bit and saw me "Pe...ter...?" she moaned but then her eyes widen upon recalling her actions making her stand up in haste and glared at Daido "you cur! How dare you harm her highness!"
She cast her spell again nothing came out causing her to try again
However each attempt failed...
"What did you do to me!?" she screamed
"I took your magic away" he answered making the girl dumbstruck "it's a power I carried to show that you nobles are not invincible..."
I saw Louise's face and for the first time in her life...she felt helpless and afraid, she couldn't utter a word and shivered at the reality that befall upon her I took her away from him and pushed her to Henrietta's arms "keep her close to you" I said to the queen before looking back to Daido with all the anger I could muster
"It's good to finally meet the protector of this kingdom" he chuckled "I was thinking that you wouldn't show up... Accel"
My mind was only thinking of hurting this guy even Derflinger's voice won't reach now. I placed my acceldriver on my waist and pulled out my Accel memory
Accel
"Hen...SHIN!"
Accel
Henrietta held Louise tightly she had never seen her friend so scared before, she was also affected by Daido's power and couldn't help but feel the same as Louise...helpless, the only she can do is follow Peter's words as she watched and internally prayed for his safety
Pow!
Klang!
We traded blows and sparks as our powers clashed I blocked a kick from Daido's left leg and countered using a sweep kick making him jump back a bit to get some breathing space
"Hey partner, you finally got your mind back yet?" Derf's voice reached my ears
"Yeah" I answered "even though I have Gandalf's power, I still need to work myself to stay in equal footing with him"
"Then why not use the memories you collected?"
"Sadly I left them back in the room of the academy" I grunted as I parried Daido's swing 'but luckily I kept the other memory with me'
Peter dodged another slash and jumped back 'I may not keep this up any longer' he panted 'but I will use my last strength to finish this!'
Trial
"Oh?" Daido smiled 'it seems that the boy is on his last leg' he pulled out his own memory 'maybe I should make my move too'
I was on my last bit of strength and my Trial form is my last chance to finish this
Nazca Maximum Drive
My body moved on instinct and blocked a hand with Daido's weapon close to my visor, I grabbed his second punch and jumped up from a sweep kick and gave him a headbutt
"It seems that you have one little trick in your sleeve" Daido's voice felt like he was having the time of his life "then would you show me what you can really do?"
I pulled out my Trial memory and inserted my Accel memory back in before squeezing the handbrake
Accel Maximum Drive
I can feel myself getting a power boost with my Accel memory, I just hope that this attempt will give me an edge...
Click
The battle was now a blur of blue and white with clashing blades clashing making blur T marks with every strike
Everyone watching this was in complete shock, they don't know what will happen now but they do know is that Accel is their only hope
Trial Maximum Drive
Everything stopped as the two are now seen again, the crowd gulped as they waited for the victor, they smiled at seeing Eternal fall to his knees but that was gone since Accel dropped his sword and lost his armor while standing
"It seems like you show promise" Daido changed back and looked at his unconscious opponent "I'll let you live for now" he then dropped some things on the ground and walked to Matthew "let's go Matt, we have made ourselves known to everyone here, there's no need to stay any longer"
After what's happened today, everyone is trying to cope with the events that transpired
I groaned as my eyes opened to see an unfamiliar room, I sat up to feel the aches on my body, I looked down to see myself in bandages. I recalled what happened earlier and felt myself lucky that I was still alive in that battle
SLAM!
I saw Louise, Henrietta, Kirche, Tabitha and Colbert barge in with worry plastered on most of their faces, before long a couple of them tackled me down with tears falling from their eyes
"Darling...!" Kirche cried "I almost thought you would never wake up!"
"Kirche get off my familiar this instant!" Louise barked at her rival forgetting her worries at the moment while Tabitha used a levitation spell and took her away
"You really had us worried Peter" Henrietta sighed in relief "let us talk about this matter in a different room"
After having moved to another room I met the leader of Henrietta's musketeer squad, which apparently is an all female group, glaring at me in distaste for some reason
'Agnes' I recalled the queen telling me about her that she earned her rank by being very serious, but something in me makes me think there is more to her than an elite protector
I sat down on a chair with Henrietta looking directly at me while the others were next to us waiting for the conversation to start
"Peter Lionheart" the queen called "earlier today I have met an individual with Kamen Rider in their name" she looked at me with questions "would you care to tell me about this individual"
"Kamen Rider Eternal" I sighed and placed my hands on my face "I never thought that the guy would introduce himself like that"
"What do you mean Peter?" Louise questioned "are you saying that this person is different from you...?"
"In a way" I looked to the queen "I can guess that you heard from Louise about Museum?"
"That's right" Henrietta nodded "she told me that they are a group of people wishing to evolve humans fragile life with the Gaia memories you use"
"Before the memories were made in mass production" I spoke getting everyone's attention "there was another group of people who created a potion called Necro-over"
"Necro-over...?" they asked with curiosity
"A liquid... that can bring back the dead"
That line made everything break loose
"BRING BACK THE DEAD!?" Louise screamed
"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE...!" Jean Colbert was in disarray
"ARE YOU TELLING THE TRUTH DARLING?!" Kirche looked frantic
"DON'T BE RIDICULOUS! NO ONE CAN MAKE THAT KIND OF POTION!" Agnes denied
Henrietta clapped her hands getting everything quiet again with the people coughing or have red faces at making themselves look stupid in front of their new queen
"While I have a hard time to believe that such a potion exists" she said calmly recalling the words of her former soldier "I will not deny the fact of what happened earlier may make sense"
"Your highness!" Agnes slammed her hands on the table "you're not seriously taking this in consideration are you!?"
Henrietta looked to her and said "do you not remember the words Matthew just spoke Agnes?"
'Something happened to me on my mission...' those very words echoed in her mind making her look away trying to deny the fact it made a good connection with Peter's knowledge
"Anyway" I coughed "Kamen Rider Eternal is someone you do not wish to face..."
I then told them the story of the original carrier of Eternal named Katsumi Daido, a young person with an incurable disease who fell to his demise too early, his mother knowing of this unfortunate time was given opportunity to revive her son from his death and they competed against the Museum's Gaia memories before losing to them in terms of versatility
He then created NEVER, a mercenary group of taking down targets for cash, to prove their superiority against those trinkets, but then a Dopant came to their business of using human subjects of the monster's power and he came across a Gaia memory meant to him
Eternal...
After using this power and freeing the people of their prison the Dopant used it's power and destroyed the test subjects in front of Daido's eyes, upon seeing the demise of those he saved and the monster that caused their misfortune while scarring him with a lesson that even humans can be monsters
With this mindset permanently changed, he and his group took down the Dopant down and set off to destroy the very group that started it all...
Museum
"And that's the story of Kamen Rider Eternal" I finished
Everyone around me was in shock and disbelief...and I couldn't blame them, to carry the name of Daido is to carry a scarred life and now there is someone out there using the Daido name as his own
"Hold it!" Louise interjected "you're only telling us the story of Eternal! What was he like in battle!?"
I looked at Louise to see that she was trying to hide her fear like, but I know that she just wants answers and I'll give it to her
Even if it scares her...
"Did you not feel it when you tried to protect Henrietta?" she went stiff "the feeling of losing your magic?"
I Looked at Louise shivering in fear as the queen of Tristain hugged her tightly, I internally sighed that I had to do that but people who are stubborn must be reminded of that fear to get stronger, Henrietta looked at me with sadness seeing that she can relate her friend's fear
"Losing magic...?" Jean Colbert blinked while he internally feared for the answer
"Eternal has a spell to stop the magic of other Gaia memories" I answered while presenting my Accel memory "today, he can make the magic of mages unreachable"
"So that means..." Kirche now felt the fear Louise had
"Eternal is powerful" Tabitha confirmed feeling the same fear
"Peter" Henrietta gulped trying her hardest to stay composed "should we be worried about Daido...?"
"No" I shook my head much to everyone's relief "after what he did today, he would've killed you and took Tristain, but he didn't... meaning there is something he was curious about" before sighing deeply "let's just be happy that Daido won't come after us" I looked at them "NEVER is a group who acts upon payment...not chaos"
Everyone nodded, for all we know Daido's group is not the kind to make actions of disaster so randomly
Daido was looking at the gold being presented by his contractor
"Is this enough payment for the scare I assigned you?" the man grinned at the leader of NEVER
"Yes it is" he nodded and tied the sack tightly "our business is complete"
"Excellent!" the man grinned 'then I can start making my plans and take Tristain's throne for myself...!'
Bang!
The man was too much in his little world to know that he was already dead when Matt took his place behind him and be shot on the head
"Master Daido" Matt spoke as the two of them walked out "I know that this is stupid, but why is the world so insecure of being different?"
"The world isn't perfect Matt..." Daido replied "not everyone can see that change has wonder and if it happens... they fear that their importance is lost"
To be continued...
Author's notes:
Hello everyone this is the author, I'm just here to point out that this chapter with Eternal making his appearance won't mean that he'll be taking the spotlight instantly, I've checked the series of FoZ anime and made a blueprint on those who are confused of the pacing:
Season 1-arriving in a new place
Season 2-understanding feelings
Season 3-changes and saving Tabitha
Season 4-Finale
As you can see the NEVER group won't be making their big splash in the story just yet, but the characters of that group will watch Peter from a distance and jump in if the situation is interesting to them
Oh and the lemons will come this season, it all depends on who will be first to take Peter's focus
One last thing, Eternal's power was originally used to make old Gaia memories useless but since this story is about magic...it has the power to make mages feel useless and only the things unaffected by this power are familiars (due to the contract they formed with their masters), magic artifacts (since they are objects and not living) and of course Peter's T1 Gaia memories
Thank you for reading this note
Author out...