Yoko walks through the empty corridor that filled with big open windows on the wall on her right with a troubled expression on her face. She stops momentarily to admire the full moon, idly noting that those who suffer the curse of the wolf must have a hard time tonight since the sky is very clear with only little amount of clouds. Sending a silent prayer for those who suffered tonight, Yoko continues walking toward her destination.
It only takes a few seconds before Yoko finally reaches the end of the corridor where grand double doors stand. Taking a deep breath, Yoko opens the doors and is greeted by the sight of a small room with four rows of seats and a majestic-looking altar at the back of the room. Standing in front of the altar and staring up at the cross on the wall is a woman in her late forty, the very same woman that Yoko seeks for to report the result of her assignment.
"Archbishop Aria" Yoko greeted softly, prompting the woman in white to turn around to face her.
"I have come to report that the new barrier has been successfully installed around the church's domain" Yoko reported with a slight bow, earning a silent nod from the older woman.
"Thank you for the report Yoko Belnades… as for your personal report"
Yoko looks up at the archbishop, nothing that the woman wears an expression that Yoko can't read.
"Bring her here"
She hopes that she makes the right decision by doing this.
Soma removes his white helmet and shakes his head slightly before he looks up at the building in front of him. Behind him, Shanoa dismounts his bike as she removes the black helmet from her head. In front of them is a large cathedral that locates just a few minutes outside of the city. The cathedral also happens to be the home of the church organization who hunted down the remaining creatures of the night, such as werewolves and vampires, as well as dealing with various supernatural occurrences all around Europe and fighting any cults that wish to bring harm to humanity or revive the lord of darkness.
"C'mon, better not make them wait us for too long" Soma urged once he dismounted his motorcycle.
Last night he has received a call from Yoko to bring Shanoa to the church. Apparently, the blonde haired woman has decided to report Shanoa's existence to one of the church members that she trusted the most, Archbishop Aria. Soma has met the woman before; in fact she is one of the church's prominence members who agreed in having him in the church's domain to offer their protection better as well as the one who ensure that Soma will only need to pay 30% of his apartment's original price. If Yoko trusts her then Soma is sure that the archbishop must have thought of something for Shanoa.
As expected Yoko is waiting for them at the entrance of the cathedral. As soon as she sees them, she immediately raises her hands to greet them; prompting Soma and Shanoa to immediately approach her.
"It is good to see you two again. While I will love to catch up with you two but the archbishop already waited for us; come" Yoko said before she gestures them to follow her. Soma and Shanoa exchange a quick glance before they immediately follow Yoko.
While this isn't the first time Soma has stepped in the church, this is the first time for Shanoa to do so. Even back in her own time, she never visit the church since her presence is never required there; if there is a matter that needed to be solved there then the head of Ecclesia will handle it.
Neither of them says anything as they walk through one of the many corridors within the cathedral. Each too preoccupied by what is in their mind.
Soma has a lot of things that he thinks over as he follows Yoko through the corridor. First, the exam week is coming which means he needs to put more study into his schedule… which means less freedom for him for a while. Second is what this meeting with the archbishop will mean to Shanoa. He is sure that the church will definitely take her away from his protection but what bothers him is what they will do to her.
Shanoa, coincidentally, has similar thought like Soma in regards to what the church will do with her. She has no doubt that they will release Soma of the duty of protecting and caring her but what they will do to her afterward is anyone's guess. Will they force her to keep silent of Ecclesia's existence? Undoubtedly. Will they force her to teach members of the church the way to use glyphs? Perhaps, though Shanoa unsure if she is capable to do that.
As crazy as Barlowe was, one thing Shanoa needs to admit is he is a good teacher in practical sense, not in moral sense.
"We are here" Yoko declared once they arrive on the doors that will lead them the where Archbishop Aria is at the moment. Once Yoko opens the doors, Soma and Shanoa are greeted by a chapel with the archbishop that they supposed to meet standing in front of an altar, looking at the giant cross on the wall.
"Archbishop Aria" Yoko said softly, announcing their present to the archbishop and prompts the archbishop to turn around.
"Thank you for escorting them Yoko. Mr. Cruz, it has been a while. How life has been for you? I am thankful for your kindness in allowing our 'guest' to stay with you" Archbishop Aria said while giving the white haired man a kind smile.
"It's nothing, I am happy to help" Soma answered with a polite nod. He doesn't want to say anything too much around this woman considering the position she holds within the church organization.
"And you must be Shanoa" the archbishop said as she shifts her attention to the black haired woman.
"Shanoa Aeliana" Shanoa introduced her new identity with a small nod.
"I see" the older woman replied, still with a kind smile on her face, before she stays silent with a thoughtful expression on her face. Neither Soma nor Shanoa want to disturb her so they decide to remain silent while Yoko seems content to simply observe their interaction from the entrance.
"Now, I am already well aware of your situation Shanoa. Honestly, this is the first time in the church's history that we even need to handle the matter of time travel. For the time being, I and some members of the church will hide your true origin from the rest of the church at least until we figure out whether we can send you back to your own time or not" the archbishop informed before she nods her head to Yoko.
"This contains the detailed story of your origin. The short version is you are a witch who hid your heritage and lived on the secluded part of Iceland. I stumbled upon you during my mission last month and you helped me in accomplishing my mission so I offered you a job at the church and you accepted. You have been living with Soma to familiarize yourself with the city as well as to give time for me to make a proper identification for you and take care of the process of moving you from Iceland to Romania" Yoko explained as she walks up to Shanoa and hands her a file containing papers that explain everything about her 'life' so far.
"Arikado is in the middle of making your birth certificate and everything. At this point, I don't even know how long it will take for us to track down that cult who sent you here" Yoko added as she crosses her arms.
"So still no new development huh?" Soma commented with a sigh.
"Mr. Cruz, once again I want to say thank you for aiding us in taking care of her and protecting her but from now on Shanoa will be under the church's direct protection. Of course, that will mean she will live here" the archbishop declared, something that Soma has anticipated.
"I understand, however I do wish I will be allowed to visit her from time to time" Soma requested, feeling that he still want to spend more time with Shanoa as he enjoys his time with her. Thankfully for him, the archbishop gives the permission with a kind smile.
"You may stay with Mr. Cruz for tonight but I expect you to be ready to sleep on the monastery starting from tomorrow. Memorizes the details in your origin story as well" Archbishop Aria said, directing her comment to Shanoa.
"Understood" Shanoa replied with a nod automatically, somehow it reminds her of the time where she was still an active member of Ecclesia, being give order like this.
"Thank you, you may leave now"
"Guess tonight is your last night here" Soma commented as he puts Shanoa's armor and greaves into a bag that contains some of her belongings.
"It is" Shanoa replied as she puts the last blouse from her drawer into the briefcase that contains all her clothes. After closing the briefcase, Shanoa observes her surrounding and silently thinks how tonight is her last night in sleeping in this room. While Shanoa has no particular attachment in this room but she admits that the benefit of sleeping in this room is the fact that Soma sleeps on the next room and most of the time wakes her up from her sleep either to tell her that breakfast is ready or to ask her if she is awake.
They don't speak about it but Shanoa knew that Soma must has noticed that she has nightmare almost every night and always wake her up to indirectly help her escaping her nightmare. She hasn't said anything but she is grateful of his actions, both in constantly waking her up and not asking about the constant whimpering that he must have heard.
"Sorry I can't be more help regarding the whole cult stuff. I hope that I at least can help you go back to your own time" Soma admitted as he puts her bag on her bed before giving her an apologetic look.
"You have done more than enough Soma especially in taking care of me. I really appreciate everything you have done for me so far. Once again, thank you Soma" Shanoa assured him with a small smile and a shake of her head. Shanoa isn't sure if anyone else will treat her the same way as Soma; even to the point of ensuring that she will have an ID and a smartphone of her own.
His dark presence still remind her of whom he really is but by this point Shanoa has simply saw the white haired man as Soma Cruz and no one else.
"Well, if that the case then we ought to celebrate of you being accepted into the church. Your experience in modern world won't be complete until you try KFC's friend chicken. I will order two buckets of chicken for us" Soma said with a grin, changing the topic into a lighter one, before he pulls out his smartphone from his jeans' pocket.
Shanoa simply observes Soma as he calls KFC to place his order. Of course Shanoa knew what KFC is since she has seen its advertisement on the TV. While Soma is busy talking to the staff of KFC who picked up his call, Shanoa starts to think about the change that will happen once she lives on the monastery.
She has read her profile that has been handed to her. She will be referred as the glyph witch within the church to differentiate her from Yoko and the other witches under her guidance. Apparently, Yoko not only asked her to join the church because she helped her in a mission but also because she used the lost art of glyphs and Shanoa supposed to come from a clan that practice the art of glyphs since medieval time just like how the Belnades practice magic since ancient time.
Her family, according to the profile that Yoko has made, has changed its name several times to avoid detection from a witch hunt that happened centuries ago that Shanoa not even sure what her original family name was. This should give Shanoa an excuse if one asked about her family.
Obviously, there is no mention of Ecclesia at all in her profile.
Yoko has also told her that Shanoa will be taught various matters within the church from the church's history to the advancement of magic as well as the condition of supernatural so far. She also needs to familiarize herself with other branches within the church that has more specific purpose like sealing dangerous artifacts as well as guarding some forbidden areas. She predicts that she will have busy days ahead of her.
But one thing that will change the most no doubt is the absent of Soma's constant presence.
She was used to his constant presence after living with him for more than a month that she predicts she will need to get used to his absent on the first few days of her stay in the monastery. But she will get used to it; after all, she was used to be alone. Also perhaps, it is for the best as she has intruded Soma's personal life long enough. After all, Soma has his own responsibilities and problems like his education and his struggle against many cults that are still after him.
She hopes she can ease his burden by not dragging him further into her problem, her and the church problem. Shards has made it clear, the cult that sent her here has no interest in Soma, only her for whatever reason. By letting the church protects her; Soma will have no more reason to get involved in this matter and thus free to continue his life as a university student.
Or at least, she hopes that he won't involve himself further but after learning how kind Soma actually is, Shanoa isn't sure if he will walk away from this matter or try to get himself involved even after free of his responsibility to protect her.
"Will you still continue involve yourself in this matter?" Shanoa asked, deciding to get the answer directly from him, once he already ended the call and placed his smartphone back into his jeans' pocket.
"You mean about this whole mess with the cult that targets you? Of course" Soma confirmed with a nod.
"Why? Shards has specifically mentioned that it is me that they want, not you. Additionally, you have your own life to take care of; especially your education. Would not it be better for your own sake if you simply return to your usual routine without involving yourself in this problem? The church will surely be able to solve it" Shanoa asked, hoping he will see her point and considering just leaving this problem to the church.
"That might be true but I can't help but always feel a sense of duty and responsibility whenever an event happened because of Dracula, directly or indirectly. Besides, I can't exactly say no to help a friend… even if that friend came from the past" Soma replied as he sits next to Shanoa on her bed.
"Friend?" Shanoa can't help but blinks her eyes twice after hearing how Soma indirectly refers her as a friend.
"We are friend, aren't we? And friends do help each other in time of need" Soma said with a nod. Somehow, it doesn't surprise her that Soma will consider her a friend but it certainly feels odd to be referred as a friend by the reincarnation of the lord of darkness…
Yet at the same time Shanoa feels no displeasure from hearing it… in fact…
"I will be fine" Shanoa said with a shake of her head as she focuses her attention on her laps, still thinking that Soma should leave this problem to the church completely and return to his own life.
"I know you will be, after all, you are an A-grade badass in my book. But that won't stop me from offering my help if needed… although admittedly I am not sure what else I can help with aside from fighting, I am not exactly have that many connections like Yoko and Arikado to be able to gather information" Soma admitted with a small grin as he rubs the back of his head.
Shanoa stares silently at him for a few moments as her mind can't help but compare Soma… to him. She guesses there is no point in arguing about it when Soma is so determined to help with whatever he can help with… but if that's the case…
"If you are insisting then I only have one request. Please, whatever you do, do not try to attempt to do everything on your own. At least tell me or anyone else before acting if possible" Shanoa said firmly and sternly. She has watched before, a man who wished to help yet rely on no one and it cost him his life… she doesn't want the same thing to happen to Soma.
"Don't worry; I have learned my lesson that there always will be something that I can't do on my own, even as the reincarnation of Dracula. But yes, I promise, I will never attempt to do everything on my own if I can help it" Soma promised with a nod and a determined look before he stands back on his feet.
"C'mon, let's watch a movie while we wait for our order. I just got this new horror movie from a friend at university" Soma said as he gestured to the door. Shanoa simply nods her head as she stands back on her feet before she follows Soma in walking toward the living room.
It might sound so… bizarre to those who have fought Dracula before… but she wouldn't mind to actually refer Soma… as her friend.
"Heya Shanoa, what're you reading about?"
Shanoa, who at the moment is dressed in her original blue dress, looks up from the book, a thesis, that she has been reading since earlier to see a blonde haired woman around her age looks down at her with a pair of curious blue eyes. The woman is Michelle Danasty, one of the church's hunters and the descendant of Grant Danasty, one of Trevor Belmont's companions who helped him slain Dracula.
"Application of Dual Crush" Shanoa answered before she returns her attention to the book, intending to mark the page in case Michelle wants to converse a bit more with her.
"Ah yes, the thesis written by the Great Sage Charlotte Aulin. Curtis and I have been training to utilize the Dual Crush; so far we only manage to do one Dual Crush and even that still need to be polished" Michelle said with an amused smile.
"And where is he right now?" Shanoa asked when she realizes that the man that Michelle just mentioned is actually not present at the moment.
"Resupplying, he run out of holy water in our last mission" Michelle answered easily with a wave of her hand.
Curtis Lang, a hunter and partner of Michelle who also happens to be the pupil of Julius Belmont. Shanoa has met him a few times ever since she lived in monastery two weeks ago and while she respects him, they haven't made any meaningful interaction as it is mostly Michelle who is interested in interacting with him. Though, she also noted that Curtis seems more interested in interacting with Soma whenever he visited her probably because of the respect that Curtis's mentor, Julius, shows to Soma.
"I see" Shanoa replied before she starts to observe her surroundings. At the moment, she is sitting on one of the benches on the garden located at the center of monastery. After living here for two weeks, Shanoa has found she enjoys being here; simply sitting on this bench while reading whatever materials that is required for her to read.
She has learned a lot of things ever since she came here but mainly about the history after her own time as well as the development of magic after her own time. A lot of things changed and she didn't just mean in technological department.
She was so shocked when she discovered that there was once a war between various nations that it needs to be referred as World War… and she was even more shocked when she found out there were actually two World Wars, not one.
Yoko has told her that the start of the World War probably has something to do with the darkness that Dracula's planted in humanity's heart, a sort of curse from him. Still, the very fact that humanity can go to a war on such length, influenced or not, still shocked her. It painfully reminded her of what Barlowe said… of how humans always wished the return of the lord of darkness.
However, the fact that peace is still maintained after the Word War 2 ended tells her that perhaps humanity still can learn from mistake and will not create another World War…
She hopes…
Yoko has also mentioned to not say anything about Dracula's curse to Soma as the curse should have disappeared after Dracula's final demise in Julius's hands. The church thinks it would be safer if Soma, the reincarnation of Dracula, never knew about the curse that Dracula inflicted to humanity centuries ago.
Speaking of Soma, the man has visited her four times during her first week here. Each time he visited, he will help Shanoa in getting accustomed with the church's history or the development of magic within the church or simply aid her with whatever task that is assigned to her… like cleaning the storage room. Since she feels most comfortable around him, Shanoa is more than content in spending her day with him… not knowing that their action has caused a rumor to spread…
"So, I don't see your man Soma lately, what happens to him?" Michelle asked after a few seconds of silence. Shanoa lets out an annoyed sigh as she looks up at Michelle with narrowed eyes.
Due to how close they are and how they will spend time around each other for a long time, many have assumed that there is something between them. It becomes even more uncontrollable when some members recognize her as the woman whom Soma brought to his apartment and lived with him for quite some times.
She has lost count on how many times she needed to correct people that Soma isn't courting her.
"I want you to listen carefully because for the last time, he is not courting me" Shanoa stated in irritation.
Michelle simply grins and raises both her hands, earning another irritated sigh from Shanoa.
"In my defense, you two, according to most people here anyway, are really close. I heard that Soma even managed to sneak off a cup of Starbucks for you plus you two did live together before, right?" Michelle isn't wrong she supposed. Soma did give her a cup of frappe on last Saturday because the archbishop has prevented her from leaving the church's ground until the cult that hunts her can be found.
It still baffles her but she can't deny that of everyone in this era, Soma is the one closest to her thanks to living with him for more than a month.
"We are just simply friends" Shanoa said with finality in her tone, not wanting to discuss this matter any longer.
"And Soma is not here lately because this week is his exam week" Shanoa added before she goes back to her reading. Dual Crush is an interesting concept that didn't exist in her time; she actually won't mind to try it if she can find a partner…
Perhaps Soma will be interested in trying this too?
"Then I wish he can survive. I might not be a university student but even I know how hard it can be if one faces it without proper preparation" Michelle said with a smirk, making it sounds more dangerous than it should be. Shanoa isn't particularly interested in Soma's education or how he is doing in his university but part of her believes that Soma isn't the kind of student who will face an exam without an appropriate preparation.
"Well, I supposed I should find Curtis now. He should be done by now and we do have another mission to finish" Michelle said as she stretches her arms upward before admiring the beauty of the garden once more time.
"I wish you a good luck" Shanoa said with a polite nod, earning a grin and a wink from the blonde haired woman before she leaves Shanoa on her own with a wave.
Once Michelle has left the garden, Shanoa reads the thesis again while silently thinking if it even possible for her and Soma to perform a Dual Crush. According to this thesis, Dual Crush is a technique where two individuals resonates their energy and power to call forth a power or spell that usually is impossible to be summoned by one individual alone.
The subjects in this thesis, Charlotte Aulin, the writer herself, and Jonathan Morris, have performed various successful Dual Crushes; from a powerful holy spell called Holy Lightning to a power to call the power of the five legendary Belmonts to help aid them in battle.
The theory behind Dual Crash is that when two compatible casters capable to resonate their spirit and energy then synchronization is achieved where the casters then will be considered, temporary, as a single caster; this allows the casters to cast powerful spells without draining them or even create a brand new spell by simply combining their innate power or ability.
The thesis explained that since the Morris clan is a branch of the Belmont clan, something that she never knew before, they possess strong holy power even if not as strong as the Belmonts; additionally Charlotte Aulin turned out to be a distant relative to the Belnades and thus possessed incredible talents in magic. Combining their innate ability has resulted in them capable to perform various Dual Crushes; of course, they being compatible to each other also become a significant reason of why they can perform a Dual Crush with ease.
When Shanoa about to reach the section that explains how one can determine compatibility, a dark presence immediately makes her shut the thesis in alarm. After spending one month living with Soma, Shanoa has became familiar with his presence and what she feels now definitely isn't Soma's dark presence.
Shanoa immediately looks up when she feels something dark yet familiar from the sky.
Black clouds have gathered above the monastery, forming a circle and soon something familiar has formed at center of the circle. A glyph, a huge red glyph that she never seen before; it has the image of what she believed to be a devil on it and is cracking with power.
How such a glyph could manifest itself here? Unless…
Shanoa never get a chance to finish her thought as the glyph suddenly fires a huge beam of magic toward the monastery. Fortunately, the barrier that protects the monastery manages to prevent the beam from reaching the monastery but Shanoa can clearly see a crack on the invisible barrier that protects this place.
One more shot and the barrier will probably shatter apart.
"Intriguing, I didn't expect the barrier is strong enough to survive this long"
Shanoa quickly turns around when she hears a familiar voice, immediately noticing a woman in crimson and black robe who stands on the nearby roof and stares at the crack on the sky. She doesn't need to see her face to immediately recognize the hooded woman as Shards, the very same woman who attacked her and Soma about a month ago.
Without saying anything, Shanoa immediately materializes two bows on both her sides through the Arcus glyph. The two bows immediately move themselves to aim toward the hooded woman and pull their own string. However, when the arrows are released, they never hit Shards as a large black werewolf suddenly bursts through nearby wall and deflects the arrows with a swing of its massive arm.
Shanoa immediately executes several backflips to put some distances between herself and the large werewolf that just lands on where she stood a few moments ago.
"How is the monastery Howl?"
"As you commanded, it is filled with monsters now"
Shanoa can't help but wonder how in the world this can happens. The barrier around the town has been upgraded and the security has been tightened up yet Shards once again manage to show up without alerting everyone until it is too late. What's more concerning is the fact that now Shards even manage to do so while bringing a companion whose comment made Shanoa aware that even she can sense the dark power around monastery; most likely coming from the monsters that the werewolf mentioned.
They manage to catch them off of guard.
"Well then, what will you do now? Will choose to fight or choose to save the monastery?" Shards asked before she raises her right hand, prompting the huge glyph on the sky to charge up once again and the werewolf to immediately lunge at her.
Shanoa immediately summons a lance through her Hasta glyph before she jumps over the werewolf to avoid its claws. When she hovers above the werewolf, Shanoa quickly thrusts her lance toward the head… only to stare in surprise when her lance doesn't manage to pierce the werewolf's head.
As soon as she lands on the ground, Shanoa quickly turns around and holds up her lance in front of her just as the werewolf thrusts its fist forward with enough force to send Shanoa flies backward. Fortunately, Shanoa manages to regain her balance by performing backflips in the air a few times. But as soon as she lands on the ground, Shanoa is forced to jump aside to avoid being crushed by the werewolf that leaps toward her and smashes the spot where she stood a moment ago.
Shanoa has dealt with werewolves before but they certainly weren't as fast as this one. Deciding to change her tactic, Shanoa dismisses her lance and immediately summons a pair of swords through Secare glyph before she actives the Rapidus Fio glyph to enhance her speed and Vis Fio to enhance her strength.
The moment the werewolf takes a step forward; Shanoa already disappears before repapering behind the beast and delivering several slashes to its back. To her annoyance, even her swords don't seem to inflict any damage to the beast's hide as Shanoa can't see anything that even resemble a scratch.
Shanoa tries to attack the werewolf again in the same fashion several times, attacking from different angles with different forces but all her attacks still does nothing to the werewolf aside from annoying it. Eventually, the werewolf seems to manage to predict her movement as the next time she tries to strike its side, the werewolf almost manages to successfully smack her away if not because of her fast reflex allows her to immediately leap backward to put some distance between them.
"Is that all you got witch? I certainly expected more" the werewolf commented as it turns to face Shanoa without showing any sign of damage or exhaustion despite the barrage of strikes it receives earlier.
Shanoa decides to simply ignore him as she dismisses her swords before she immediately crouches down to touch the ground while activating the Grando glyph to send a wave of ice toward the beast. Predictably, the beast immediately leaps into the air to avoid the wave of ice and Shanoa immediately uses this chance to deliver her next attack.
"Iuppiter!" Shanoa shouted as the runes on her body glow dimly before she quickly stands up and materializes a spear of lightning which resulted from a combination between Hasta glyph and Fulgur glyph. If regular glyphs can't truly harm the beast then a Glyph Union might be capable to harm it.
Before the werewolf can react, Shanoa immediately throws the lightning spear toward the beast. The beast lets out a scream of pain when the lightning spear manages to pierce its gut while simultaneously electrocutes its entire body. Not wanting to take her chance, Shanoa immediately uses her Vol Grando glyph to decrease the temperature around her before she immediately freezes the werewolf in a large ice crystal as soon as the lightning spear disappears.
"Commendable effort but I must warn you that such treatment won't hold off Howl for long; he will break free eventually" Shards, who has been watching the battle, commented once she saw that the witch has managed to freeze Howl.
Shanoa ignores her comment and simply leaps toward where Shards is while materializing a hammer on her right hand through the Macir glyph. Shanoa grits her teeth in frustration when she swings her hammer toward Shards only to discover that Shards is encased in her spherical barrier like last time.
Last time, she has Soma's aid to destroy the barrier that surrounds Shards… can she does it on her own this time?
"It is useless; I have memorized your style. This time will be different from the last time" Shards commented before she suddenly enveloped in violet light and disappears.
Teleportation magic, Shanoa concluded as she quickly turns around to see Shards floats on the air with her twin orbs already float on her side. Before Shanoa can strike the hooded woman again, about forty magic circles appear behind Shards before those magic circles immediately fire magic bullets toward Shanoa; forcing her to quickly leap away from her spot to avoid the incoming bullets.
"Volaticus!" Shanoa exclaimed, activating her Volaticus glyph; prompting a pair of black feathery wings to sprout out from her back.
With her wings, Shanoa flies through the air in high speed to avoid Shards's magic bullets while firing her own bullets in form of light orbs through her Luminato glyph. Deciding she needs more speed; Shanoa actives the Rapidus Fio glyph once again and immediately disappears from Shards's sight. Shards only has enough time to turn around before she realizes that Shanoa has reappeared behind her while casting another spell through her glyph.
"Acerbatus!" Shanoa exclaimed as a yellow glyph appears in front of her momentarily to fire a huge orb made of the power of spite. While the orb doesn't has enough power to break Shards's barrier but it has enough power to push the barrier, and Shards within it, into the spot that Shanoa has in mind and give her time to cast another Glyph Union.
"Take this!" Shanoa exclaimed as she slams her fists together, prompting two gigantic fists made of rocks and lave to materialize and slam Shards barrier from left and right direction. She knew that the Lapiste glyph is incapable to even scratch Shards's barrier but she hasn't tried the Union Lapiste before.
However, Shanoa can't help but narrows her blue eyes when she notices that Shards doesn't seem to be too concerned despite her position. Does this mean even a Union Glyph also incapable to damage her barrier?
"I should ask of you again, will you fight or will you save the monastery?"
What?
The sound of glass shattering attracts Shanoa's attention.
Both Shanoa's blue eyes widen in surprise when she sees the barrier that protects the monastery has finally shattered apart. She silently wonders what happened to other church members, especially the hunters… but a quick scan around the area tells her that they are busy either fighting the monsters that surround the place or evacuating the non-combat members of the church.
However, that short distraction is what Shards needs to immediately teleport away, prompting Shanoa, who realizes this a second too late, to click her tongue in frustration.
"I ask once again, which will you choose?" Shards asked once she materializes behind Shanoa and summons about thirty magic circles that each fire magical beam toward Shanoa. However, before the beams can reach the black haired woman, Shanoa already disappears from Shards's sight.
Before Shards can find her, Shanoa already releases thousand magical arrows from her crimson bow that is created through a Glyph Union between Arcus glyph. The arrows manage to pierce all the magic circles that Shards summoned as well as distract Shards herself; giving Shanoa enough time to actually fly up toward the giant glyph on the sky with a lance on her right hand.
Shanoa never heard of a glyph that can fire its own attack like that thus she concludes that perhaps since the glyph is more solid than the glyphs she usually deal with, perhaps she can interact with it. And by interact she means destroy it.
When the glyph starts to charge up again, Shanoa immediately flies toward it in high speed with her lance being positioned in front of her. Unfortunately, the moment she hits the glyph, it lets out a powerful shockwave that is strong enough to send Shanoa crashing against the roof of the chapel below her.
Grunting in pain, Shanoa forces herself to stand back to her feet. She can try to use another Glyph Union but she isn't sure if she will be fast enough to stop the glyph before it releases another destructive beam or if she might ends up damaging the monastery itself if she uses her stronger Glyph Union. With that in mind, even though she knows it is foolish, that lefts one option for her.
Lifting her hair on the air to reveal the rune on her back, Shanoa starts to concentrate, causing her body to glow in white, as she tries to reach up toward the giant glyph on the sky. To her relief, the glyph actually reacts to her calling and slowly she starts to absorb the glyph into her being. But as soon as she finishes absorbing the glyph on the sky, both Shanoa eyes instantly widen in shock…
As she lets out a scream of pain and collapses to her knees.
"I see you have made your decision" Shards, who appeared behind Shanoa, commented before she starts to draw something on the air. A few moments later, the werewolf that Shanoa has frozen earlier joined them on the roof, looking more irritated than anything.
"Damn, I really underestimate this witch" the werewolf as it shrugs off the remaining ices around its body.
If not because of the pain that flows through her body, Shanoa would have done anything she can to get away from them or better yet to defeat them here and now. But the pain that she feels through her entire body only allows her to give them her fiercest glare.
They have planned this… they are counting on her to absorb the glyph… the glyph has been nothing but a trap for her…
And the timing… they are waiting all this time for this chance… they are waiting for the chance where Soma will not be near her… they are waiting for Yoko to get a mission outside of the city…
"Carry her Howl, our mission is over. We shouldn't waste anymore time" Shards commanded once she finishes drawing a series of runes that open a violet portal in front of them.
Just as the werewolf easily lifts her by her hair, it immediately drops her when a small scythe impales it on its right shoulder.
"Shanoa!"
Relief fills Shanoa as the werewolf, Howl she remembers, and Shards positively looks shocked by the familiar masculine voice. Shanoa forces herself to look up to see a white bat on the sky, heading to their direction in high speed while a large number of scythes surround him.
"Get the hell away from her!" the bat shouted fiercely as all the scythes around the bat immediately launch themselves toward Shards and Howl.
Shards immediately acts by creating a barrier to protect her and Howl while summoning a large number of magic circles around them that fire a barrage of magical bullets toward the incoming bat. The bat easily dodges the magic bullets before countering Shards by firing a large fireball from his mouth over and over.
Howl lets out a threatening growl as it lifts her over its shoulder before letting out a huge sonic blast toward the bat that manages to stun it, allowing some magical bullets to hit the bat. This causes the bat to transform back into Soma as he falls to the roof but he manages to regain his bearing that allows him to land on his feet.
But by the time Soma lands on the roof, Shards and Howl already run toward the portal. Shanoa can see the panic in Soma's face as he immediately runs toward them but Shanoa knows that from his distance, even with the Black Panther's soul, Soma will never make it in time…
If there is one thing that she wishes to say to him at the moment then she only wants to say one thing…
'I am sorry Soma'.