This chapter is a LOT larger than my usual chapters, and once again sleep deprivation pulls me from writer's block! Also, thank you all for the (as of the time this is published) 310 Favorites and 366 Follows; you all are awesome!
Anima, Izuku, and Inko were at the Cacciatore's getting in the taxi for the airport. Jesse kissed her husband with a passion before letting him go.
"I'll be here when you get back." she said softly.
"And I'll be sure to come home." Anima smiled. Izuku gave a small hug to Toshinori, making the former hero pause; Izuku was nowhere near as physically reserved as the average Japanese, but Toshinori still was.
"I'll be back sensei." he grinned, making the haggard man feel better. The teen was still chipper even with his left arm in a sling strapped to his body.
"Do be safe, my boy." he worried. By the time the trio got in the taxi, Toshinori turned to the remaining werewolf.
"I'll see you around?" he asked. At her nod, he went back to his apartment. Jesse then went back into her house before starting to coordinate with the freshman class on a group meeting. Shouto came back from visiting his mother and asked about the group message.
"You all went through a hellish experience twice in under a week. As the freshman therapist, it's my job to make sure you're coping in a safe and constructive manner." the dual-quirk user nodded at her reasoning.
"It makes sense. But what about you?" his concern made Jesse smile, but she assured him she was fine.
"That's good. Can you… can we play a song? I want to cheer up." the school therapist's eyes lit up.
"Of course! What do you want to play?" the rest of their day was spent in the music room downstairs, Jesse teaching her music student more of what she knew while Shouto simply enjoyed the tunes they made.
On the plane, Inko and Izuku found out something new about Anima; the werewolf absolutely despised flying. While Izuku had found flying an amazing experience, Anima was gripping the seat hard enough to crack the plastic coating while closing his eyes and using meditation to keep calm. Inko, trying to help her friend keep his mind off the plane, started up more conversation.
"So who are we meeting? I don't think you've mentioned anyone from Russia before." Anima took a breath.
"An old acquaintance of mine. A sorceress to be precise. She never became an Outlier but married one. Oliver, the Outlier, was a monster with his spells, though his self-made style was based around self-modification." Izuku decided to pipe in.
"Self-modification? That sounds really risky." the martial arts master nodded in affirmation.
"I think he figured that Humans, while not having any definite weakness, had no real discernable strengths either. He figured out how to shift into many mystic creatures, including the one time he tried to transform into a dragon; that didn't go well." Inko shuddered. Dragons were known to the moonlit world as some of the strongest creatures in the universe, as they were more fragments of a concept than a living being.
"What happened? Please tell me he didn't kill himself." with experimenting with the supernatural, it was always a definite possibility. Anima shook his head.
"No, but he went berserk and sank Hood Island. That was fun to try and explain." he laughed at the memory. "He only transformed into that one other time, and did a hell of a number on his enemy" there was a hint of melancholy in the werewolf's voice
"So what about his wife?" Izuku asked. Anima's eyes shadowed a touch.
"We may not like each other, but I can't deny her abilities in the mystic arts."
"How badly do you get along?" Inko asked in a worried tone.
"We never came to blows, but the bloody bat and I liked to throw insults at one another." the werewolf self-demonstrated. More and more of the talk had eased Anima's tension, but soon, the two humans had to take a nap.
By the time they woke up, the plane had landed at the airport in the closest town to their destination. Anima was more than glad to get out of the "flying steel can" and guide them out of city limits. Anima went behind a tree and turned into a massive wolf before motioning to his traveling companions.
"Get on. It'll take us days to get there on foot, and the road to the old bat's home is hard to get to by car or bike." Izuku and Inko had never tried to ride a living creature, so it was awkward getting on, but the two had managed to mount Anima.
"This feels like a bad joke; A martial artist, his mother and their luggage mount a century old wolf…"
"If you finish that sentence, I will throw you off. Now hold on tight!" he warned. Suddenly, the three were speeding along, gradually accelerating until they were well past Formula One race car speeds. Even at the insane speeds they were going, Izuku, having a little trouble holding on with one hand, noticed how level Anima was keeping his torso, leaving him and his mother feeling like they were gliding along the ground. Inko was shocked and more than a little scared at first, but unlike the motorcycles her friends had, she found herself enjoying the ride enough to laugh.
A half-hour from the plane landing, the trio were in the middle of the woods, looking up at a gothic age castle with heavy oak doors, casting the entrance in shadow. Anima transformed back into his human form behind a tree. Dressed once again, the oldest of the group brazenly knocked on the doors with an impressive amount of force. After a minute, a pale, middle-aged man in a butler suit answered the door, being mindful of the light.
"We are not taking visitors. Begone." his voice held nothing but contempt for the party as he started to close the door. Anima stopped it from fully closing with an outstretched palm.
"Tell the master of the house that Anima is here to see her." the werewolf's voice was bland, as if he figured this was the outcome. The door opened slightly for the butler to answer.
"I will not disturb milady for the likes of you." The door closed once again in their faces. There was a palatable silence before Izuku looked at his mentor.
"Should we come back later? I mean if she-" the teen didn't finish as Anima disregarded any notion of civil, reinforced the wood, and kicked the massive door off of its hinges and into the manor. Inko, Izuku, and even the butler were stunned silent for a moment at the werewolf's brazen attitude.
"You dare!" the butler shouted before baring his fangs charging at the master martial artist. Anima didn't hesitate and laid a punch into the man's face, launching him across the grand foyer. After the butler skidded to a stop, a voice called out.
"That is enough, Bertrand." Izuku looked up the stairs to see the owner of the voice and froze.
Her porcelain skin met blood red lipstick and a sharp jawline. Her eyes were vermillion with slitted pupils and long, dark eyelashes. Her dark brown hair flowed down to the base of her spine, framing her striking features like a picture frame. Her black dress clung tightly to her frame, accentuating every curve she had and while supporting her sizable bust and leaving a large area for the top to show. The air around her sang in elegant sexuality, making both Midnight and Mt. Lady look simply cute in comparison.
"But milady, they are a danger to you." Bertrand objected but was cut off.
"If Anima was honestly coming for my head, you wouldn't even delay him, now do not embarrass yourself further and make tea for our guests." as the butler was going to object once more, the air seemed to drain all of the energy from the room's occupants while progressively getting colder.
"It was not a request. Leave." her tone didn't leave any room for argument.
"Right away milady!" Bertrand nearly squeaked and left swiftly. Anima gave a chuckle.
"Nice to see you haven't changed much, Ordana. Still haven't decayed in these walls?" Izuku felt the room temperature rise around his mentor, but continue to drop around the lady of the house.
"Ah, well look what the wild beast dragged in! And it seems you haven't changed that boorish attitude either." she retorted as the difference in temperature continued to grow farther apart between the two.
"Um…" Inko decided to step in and de-escalate the situation. "My name's Inko Midoriya, and this is my son, Izuku. It's nice to meet you." the petite woman and her son bowed respectfully. Ordana smiled at the gesture while she walked down the stairs.
"Well it's nice to see such fine individuals, even if your guide wasn't the most eloquent." she ignored Anima's retort. "Welcome to my home, I am Ordana Kane." she introduced herself with grace. The vampire strode over to Izuku and looked over his features.
"You are a very comely individual." at her words, Izuku lit up like a Christmas tree. Ordana turned to his mother before giving a sultry smile.
"And it seems that these fine traits are from your progenitor." even Inko started to turn red at the seductive woman's advances. Anima started chuckling once more.
"As much fun it is to watch these two impersonate tomatoes, we didn't come here to indulge in those activities. I need your help." The vampire turned to him.
"I figured as much. But let us go to the lounge instead of remaining in the doorway." with that, she called for her maids. Each of the five girls were their own brand of gorgeous, and Anima could tell by scent what "other" roles they had. Three of the girls took the guest's luggage and jackets while another set the collapsed door back into place before Ordana and the fifth maid led them away from the door.
"You are a reckless fool, but I commend your gall if nothing else." Ordana told Izuku after hearing the story. The vampire couldn't help but compare the fire in the youth's eye to her late husband.
"I'd like to say sorry, but I don't regret it." Izuku rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
'All fools are cut from similar cloths, but I can't argue that fools have their unique kind of charm.' she thought with a sigh.
"Can you fix it?" Anima asked bluntly as ever. Ordana leveled him with a glare. The least he could do was talk more civilized.
"I can repair the damage, but what will I gain from this?" she asked. Izuku and Inko's eyes shot up in surprise. The vampire gave an incredulous look in her eyes.
"Nothing comes free. A service for another service, or perhaps a good. I have the skills you need, but what do you have that I desire to give my time and energy?" her tone gave no allusions that she saw the three's circumstances as nothing more than a passing interest.
"What's the starting offer?" Anima asked with a serious expression. The master of the house tilted her head in thought. After a moment she pointed at the werewolf.
"Five," her finger moved over to Izuku. "And three. That is my price unless the damage requires additional reagents to heal." Anima stood up.
"No. If any blood is to be traded, then it's mine alone; I will not let you feed off my disciple." Izuku, now knowing what the numbers probably meant, went to calm his teacher down.
"Sensei, I'm the one she'll treat, so isn't it fair that I put something on the table too?" the master martial artist looked torn for a second before taking a breath.
"Still can't let you bleed three liters out; you'd most likely hit a stage three hemorrhage shock." he countered.
"Then how about mine?" Inko stood up. "He's my son, and that means his faults fall to me." she was scared of blood, but not enough to prevent her from helping. The vampire smiled at the offer.
"Then how about this?" Ordana compromised. "Five from the mutt, two from the child, and another two from the mother?" Inko looked confused, so she explained.
"Your son's blood holds more worth to me for two reasons. Firstly, as he said, I will be working with him; the magic behind such an act is more potent for me. Secondly, his blood is worth more because he hasn't partaken in what you and the beast have." Izuku looked at Anima for a better phrasing.
"What you haven't done that we have…" he pondered before it clicked. "Oh! She means that you're a virgin." Very little could have outshone Izuku's blush after his teacher's blunt words, but his mother's own blush seemed to try.
"W-w-why d-does that matter!?" Izuku half shouted, half stuttered.
"In the supernatural, personal value adds to the weight of something. You not having sex means that you have a little more mystic weight than someone who has. Does the term 'virgin sacrifice' ring a bell? Doing it naked would further increase the weight, as you'd be more vulnerable." Izuku blushed even brighter, making Ordana smile at him and her maid giggle, the helper sporting her own luminescence. With the attractive women showing their attention to him, steam started rolling off of Izuku's forehead. Inko had actually passed out from either from high blood pressure or embarrassment.
"You are enjoying their torment far too much." the vampire deadpanned. Anima gave an unrepentant smile.
"I can see how you think that. I may have gone too far with the naked part, but it was true nonetheless."
A few hours and nine pints of blood later, and Izuku was out cold from a combination of blood loss, exhaustion, and severe pain. When his nerves came back, he felt all of the damage his arm was in and managed to scream in agony loud enough to cause his throat to bleed before he simply passed out while Both Anima and Ordana tried to heal the rest of his arm. Inko held his other hand through the process all the way, but broke down when he lost consciousness; out of all the pain he was in, he never lashed out at her, not wanting to hurt her even when he was in hell.
She never felt more useless in her life.
By the time night had fallen, she felt exhausted, both emotionally and physically, yet not being able to sleep. Inko got up from the guest room bed, luxurious as it was, and started to walk around the castle. She was mildly surprised that the staff was still busy, but remembered what they were; their visit must have been the equivalent of a late-night intrusion. She found herself in the library, thinking a good book would help her sleep.
She should have known that a sorceress' collection would be as big as it was. The library was most likely the largest room in the manor, filled with two-story high bookshelves each containing books anywhere in age from almost new to older than parchment.
"I assume you're unable to find rest?" Inko jumped at the sudden shock behind her. Turning around, she found the master of the house at a lounge chair with a clay tablet in hand.
"I-I'm so sorry." Inko bowed.
"Do not apologize. I could only imagine what your state of mind is after seeing your offspring regaining nerves and tendons, strapped to a table no less." Ordana's words were soft, but still stung Inko a fair bit at the callous phrasing. nodding, she decided to change the subject away from her son.
"This is an amazing library. I've never seen this many books, or books this ancient." there was a soft laughter from the vampire as she handed the tablet to a maid to put away.
"Yes, My late husband was quite the collector, and I've taken the habit onto myself. A majority of the tomes here were gathered by him, despite myself collecting longer." Inko noticed the wistful look on Ordana's face as the older of the two reminisce.
"What was he like? Your husband, I mean. Anima talked a little about him, but it seems that he and, Oliver was it?" Ordana nodded. "It seems he and Oliver were close friends. To make friends with a werewolf, marry a gorgeous vampire, start a medical firm, and turn into a dragon; I wonder what kind of person he must have been." her words brought a smile to the widow's lips. It wasn't hard to befriend Anima, but she couldn't imagine the charm required to get the woman in front of her genuinely interested beyond a passing fancy.
"He was reckless, stubborn, foolish, and a playboy amongst the mystic entities." Inko suddenly got the picture of a stereotype rich-kid in her mind, but continued to listen.
"However," Ordana sighed wistfully. "He was also intelligent, caring, and driven beyond belief. He gained the title of 'King of Greed' due to his drive and stubborn nature. I still remember his words when we first met."
"You're beautiful?" Inko guessed. Ordana laughed like it was a joke.
"If he approached me like that, I wouldn't have noticed him at all. No, his first words to me were, 'I have decided you are for me to take, you just don't know it yet.' before marching off to challenge a dragon for a grimoire." Inko's eyes opened in shock; who in their right mind would even try those words. It painted a picture in her mind of what the person's life was like.
"Imagine my shock when he won not only the spellbook, but a mithril bracelet as well, and gave me the article of jewelry before asking me to watch the stars under the Stonehenge with him." the widow laughed as she showed the vine-like metal bracelet on her right wrist.
"My first thoughts were of curiosity. 'Why did this mere human think he could claim me so'? I soon found out there was nothing "mere" about him." the more she talked, the more the vampire's eyes shone with happiness.
"He showed me through the fey land of the celts to partake in the festivals the satyrs hosted. We traveled through Alfheim and Asgard of the nords to drink with the dwarves and elves. He made way to the council of mount Olympus to trade stories with the nine Muses." Ordana became more and more animated as she talked about the man she fell for.
"He showed me his magnificent study, filled with notes, gemstones, metals of all kind, reagents, and books upon books about every type of magecraft he could get his hands on, and I was the only other individual allowed to step foot in it. The more time I spent with him, the more I grew attached, until one day I realized his declaration on the night we met had come true; I was his, and his alone." her tone then seemed to mellow down a little as she continued on their life story.
"We worked on his mortal business, Kane Remedium, together, making it the best international medical company to date even as he had become the most powerful sorcerer and continued to delve into the edges of reality. But heroes don't often die in bed, and he passed from the effects of a battle." Inko saw a couple tears fall from the vampire's eyes, even as she smiled.
"I'm sorry…" Inko didn't know what else to say.
"You have nothing to apologize for; he died before your grandparents were even conceived. Even if he lived passed the fight, he only had a couple more decades anyway." her tears had finally fallen from her face, landing on her dress.
"Oh dear, even after almost two centuries, and his mere echo can still pull such emotions from me." there was a self-deprecating laugh from her as she looked at the clock above the libraries entrance. "We have been talking for some time. I shall have Alicia guide you back to your room." A redheaded maid, the servant in question, waited at the door. Inko bowed and left.
The next morning Izuku woke up in a very soft bed he didn't remember entering. He started to sit up when he felt a twinge of pain in his left arm, relaxing now that he could actually feel it. The once-crippled teen continued to remove the fine silk blankets, feeling the cold the stone around offered, making him want to dive back under the covers. He ignored the cold and started to go through a Kata to warm up and see how his newly repaired arm would respond to use. It was stiff and a few angles were painful, but other than a few more scars, everything seemed to function as normal.
"Sir, a bath has been drawn for you." turning to the door, Izuku saw one of the maids, the same one who carried his belongings at the door, standing there with a towel in hand. Izuku nodded in thanks before something came to mind.
"Thanks, but who changed me into my pajamas while I was unconscious?" the maid smiled and waved her hand. The admission made him straighten up.
"B-b-but I was wearing different b-boxers…" he stammered. The maid gave a giggle at his reaction before speaking up.
"Sir, you have nothing to be ashamed of. I am a maid, and I have changed men as is my duty. Now please, shall I guide you to the bath?" Izuku nodded and followed beside her.
"And you own a very charming physique." she added before the teen stopped at the door. Izuku once more went atomic, making the brunette giggle at his expense. He walked into the bathroom with the towel the maid gave him before he undressed and sank in the hot bath.
"Beautiful girls will be the death of me…" he murmured laughingly as he washed the sweat from the stress of last night.
After a good breakfast and the morning was over, Anima gave a small package to Ordana.
"For you to open a gate to a specific area." he clarified. Ordana opened the box and nodded.
"I accept the payment. And you wish to go where?" Anima gave a slip with an address. The maids hurried to gather the guest's belongings, knowing the door wasn't going to be opened that day. With everything in its proper place, the sorceress made a gesture to fold and cut a small hole in space. A slit of blue aura floated in the air before widening into an oval, showing a wooden interior on the other side.
"Thank you for hosting us like a decent person." Anima grinned, unable to resist the jibe.
"But of course. Maybe next time you can show me a new trick like a good dog!" the vampire shot back sweetly. Izuku and his mother both bowed to her once again.
"Thank you for your help!" they chorused. Ordana smiled at the gesture.
"None of that now." she told them. "Do come by again if you find yourself near my territory, but please don't bring pets again." the trio walked through the portal. As it closed, Izuku couldn't help but ask.
"Why do you two hate each other so much?" Anima shrugged.
"We just do. Neither of us know why, but neither of us are willing to let whatever it was go. Pride and obstinacy are two traits you will find in spades amongst the moonlit world." neither Inko or her son could understand how they could choose spite just because of pride.
"Where are we anyway?" Inko asked. The three were in a small living room with simple wood furnishings.
"A house I own in the city." anima answered bluntly. "It's the closest I could get us to our next destination. Speaking of which…" he guided them to the nearest window to show the mountains and forest in the morning sun.
"Welcome to Shiyan, China."
Holy cow this was a long chapter! 4k words long in fact… I need sleep. Anyways, Happy Holidays everyone! With Christmas just passing and my birthday even earlier, I am now a year older! Anyways, yeah, Izuku's arm healed (mostly), we got some more lore about the mystic aspect, and now the group's in China! If you like this story so far, please leave a review for me to read. Till next time!