(WITCH Before Issue 13)
"So how was Meridian?"
Ray asks Martin, who sits beside him as he takes another bite on his burger. "And what's the feeling of being in a another world?"
"Great if it weren't the ridiculous battle! but the rest is fine. I would rather pay another visit since—as just as you said 'the magic came back to Meridian!' and everything has come back to normal." Martin replies.
Two days after the Fifth Battle of Meridian, the four boys meet at Golden's restaurant during the weekend. Though the three of them are wrapped with bandages and bandaids they continue to the meeting to share their stories during the battle and other unanswered questions and discussions that need to be resolved.
"Yet I'm still curious on you manage to recreate an improvised rifle using all the scarps you found in Meridian." Nigel says as he drinks from his plastic cup. "I never knew you were a mechanic and a creative inventor at that."
"Wait—It's your first time?" Nigel coughs his drink out.
"I don't know what happened back and I really do." Martin replies as he looks at his hands. "I can't describe it clearly but it's a different feeling when you followed your mind and emotions do the work on that moment. I try to figure out what it is—bah! Sorry guys I can't explain it! I can't even do the same exact same thing when I got back here!" Martin wimps out as he slumps back to his seat.
"If it isn't your mind doing the work then it must be your magic calling." Eric asks as he lifts his head from the table after he rests his head on his arms against the table. "It'll take time for your body to recognize that."
"So you wanted to join us?" Ray excitedly asks.
"Well not fully—just partially I think, but since Grantaire persuaded me to join you guys to find some kind of purpose then I'll join you—for now." Martin replies as he eats a French fry.
"Speaking of Grantaire, you do know he's the same lizard you met at the museum right?" Nigel asks.
"If it hadn't worn that hood on him I could have easily recognized him!" Martin throws his hands up. "It's because of him that I got to confused to the world—!"
"Pipe down, Martin. People are watching us." Eric taps Martin and notices the customers look at them and continue to sleep down on his arms.
"Guess that event worked up for you before you could acknowledge your magic." Ray replies as he eats his burger. "You'd be in a real identity crisis by now. But you don't have to worry that magic will come to you."
"…if he attends the academe, we can't just train him the way as our teachers did. I thought Endarno wouldn't be so serious after he said that we're going to train our legionates." Nigel continues.
"Hmmm…what's wrong being trained in the academe?" Martin asks.
"I asked Master Lin if the academe's open this year." Eric rises his head up again and looks around as he waits for his order to come. "But according to her, the school is going to start next year since most of our legionate teachers participated in the battle and many of them are wounded and also need to attend some stuff. She said Sir Marcus is going to hold the position of Captain of the Imperials and Sir Kandor is going to retire from his teaching days. "
"Aw really?" Ray slumps his body to the chair. "He should've retired when I was around."
"If I remembered correctly, Martin's magic is some sort of creation of engineering and machinery stuff. Have you guys heard of Mrs. Widget her dog Cutley by the Heatherfield beach?" Nigel asks and remembers the old lady by the beach.
"Never heard of her. Who's she?" Eric asks.
"She's an inventor and an engineer who creates this different mechanical stuff. " Nigel explains to them. "From what I heard of, she's actually from the Fast World seeking refuge from another war."
"Another war, huh." Eric sighs in disappointment and rubs his chin. "Well, if she's willing to help us then let's try to contact her. At the same time we should also improve our skills since we don't have any trained legionate to be with us. We're all up on our own again."
"Even I couldn't do my last technique just as I did to Zagan" Ray replies.
"Guess you need another flashback to refresh your mana." Nigel hisses and crosses his arms. "But I won't be defeated by your magic, soon I'll find my finale technique!"
"Yeah yeah yeah, I'm sure you'll find yours." Ray replies as he eats another bite. "Heck! I didn't remember my uncle told to me to win that fight, all I remembered was my uncle. I have a long way to go before I could master my techniques. I better practice soon after I get rid off these bandages."
"Well we should be by now since we've got another mission to accomplish from Endarno and we need to start as soon as possible." Eric announces hesitantly.
"Flames! Give me a break! It's been two days since the fight and his has given us hunting duties." Nigel complains. "I mean does he realize we have a high school life to live to!"
"Your love life, you mean." Ray snickers at Nigel.
"Oh—Shut up!" Nigel blushes, annoyed by the joke.
"What mission are you talking about?" Martin asks.
"We were called yesterday by our High Commander Endarno not only to give us a little praise but to scold us because we were instructed to guard the portals but we didn't successfully fulfill it since the soldiers who went away accidentally escaped here on Earth. It's because of that we were given another emergency mission." Eric explains to Martin. "And to it's to hunt the escaped soldiers, especially General Frost who actually escaped after his unsuccessful raid at the sewers."
"Did Endarno say how many are we dealing with?" Nigel asks.
"Never knew the numbers." Eric shrugs his shoulders. "Yet I think we should be considerate enough if these soldiers wanted to find new life here. As long as they don't disturb the peace then I'm fine with it, don't you agree?"
"Aye aye captain. I'm up for it." Ray agrees as the rest of them nod their heads in agreement. "So as long there isn't anything that disturbs here we won't do anything for now?"
"We can actually start the hunt if we're ready." Eric replies. "Theory. If these soldiers still hold a grudge on us or to the Guardians, they might as well search and hunt us down. Whoever anonymous stranger is around the girls and to us might be them."
"So it's easier for you guys to track and bring them down." Martin comments.
"Yap, but I don't think two days would be enough for them to figure out who we are." Eric replies. "That's why I assign you Heatherfield boys to report what the Guardians are up to. Say, what are they up to right now after the fight? Are they still being stalked by Interpol?"
"I've got no word from Officer Lair so I don't think there aren't any major issues concerning them." Nigel explains.
"The girls are fine, yet I notice Cornelia isn't coming to school lately." Martin reports to them. "I heard she's been well—'ill'." He does the 'apostrophe' gesture with his hands.
"I heard from Vathek that she's heartbroken when Phobos turned Caleb to a flower so of course she would be ill from all that." Ray explains.
"Caleb and Cornelia were a thing?" Nigel asks surprisingly.
"Yeah, just like you and Taranee." Ray teases Nigel and turns to Eric and snickers. "…and Eric and Elyon!"
"You too?" Martin surprisingly asks Eric with a blank face. "S-So you're in a relationship w-with the queen?!"
"Martin, since you're part of this group, you don't have to believe to what this guy's saying because until now he's really pushing that ship between me and her." Eric explains to Martin.
"Oh you know I'm just kidding…" Ray laughs and chuckles to himself but changes back to normal. "Oh by the way, what of the portals and Pasture Heights? Aren't we going to do something about it?"
"You don't have to remind me that." Eric scratches his head in disappointment. "Even I explained to Endarno that the Map of the Portals was with Yan Lin and the Guardians, he even scolded me because he learned that the map was burned to ashes!"
Ray whistles in amusement. "Looks like Yan Lin got you big time, so next time don't try to bully her." He jokes.
"Oh she will pay when we meet again." Eric snickers as he shakes his head. "And since that was lost, I even forget which portals were closed by the Guardians. Since the Calluna Fort has gone back to Meridian, we will hold and station important meetings at the Pasture Heights."
"So Martin and should get our butts going to your city every time we have meetings?" Nigel dares crosses his brow.
"Now now, Nigel, the captain did say important meetings so that means we still get to have our usual meetings here." Ray replies.
"Since we don't have our own headquarters and the former Vanguard headquarters is far away from here, let's settle our base of operations at the Heights for now." Eric explains. "Agreed for now?"
"Agreed." They reply and nod their heads.
"Burger and fries value meal?" one of the usual waitresses calls out them in a sudden and walks to the other edge of the table to deliver their last order.
"Yes that's mine." Eric replies and slightly raises his bandaged hand.
"What happened to you boys? Been in a fight or somethin'?" She concernedly and confusingly asks when she notices the bandages and gauzes that cover them as she gives the order to Eric and takes away the counter number from the table.
The boys look at each other with nothing to say to her. "Y—yap? I guess?" Eric shrugs his shoulders.
"Uh-huh." The waitress unconvincingly replies. "Aren't you boys too young to be involved into gang fights?"
"Gang fights?" Nigel asks confusingly and sternly asks.
"Well if I were you I better not involve myself into that any kind trouble." She replies and walks back to the restaurant counter waiting in line.
"Then I'd rather be in a gang fight than in a Meridian war." Ray jokingly comments and the group chuckles and snickers.
"You sure about that?" Eric asks as he removes the wrapping of his burger and snickers at Ray with a challenging gesture written on his face.
"Because I bet there's plenty more battles to come."
END
ATLAS OF THE UNIVERSE: MERIDIAN WARS
Finally! You have reached the end of the this first arc or the first 12 issues of 139 issues! If you have made it and read the entire fanfic since this story has started or at least read a few chapters I am so grateful for your time to read this amateurish novel of mine! It was a miracle that I made it through this for I almost dropped it since I really am a busy architecture student, who needs to prioritize his plates and submissions :((( So if you're expecting for the next arc? Please please don't expect it to come out! The second arc is actually ongoing and I plan to release it after the next 6 months or a year after this chapter is released? Well it depends on the viewers and the likes I get, If I have a large audience (to which I have at least less than 3 following to this date of writing) then I'll think about it.
So please support me by sharing this story not only to WITCH fans but to readers who love magic and action! Because I truly think this story is more than a fanfic and a more of an original novel. The only difference is that I used the same scenes and characters from WITCH and create a side story on its own. I know WITCH isn't popular right now but it's worth the shot to relieve an old comic.
If you have any comments, questions or critiques. Please feel free to send a comment either it could be positive and negative, I truly appreciate it! I believe there are certain mistakes I did for this fanfic, of course grammar I guess, wrong spelling of names plot holes or scenes that didn't end with a satisfying conclusion. Please please let me know so I fix something solve or continue a scene on the next arc (I hope!).
Once again, thank you and be safe!
vogterafis
