"Obscurum energy isolated and removed. Heartbeat nominal. Recruit is at top condition. Regaining conscious immediately."
Hideki opened his heavy eyelids to stare at a plain, black ceiling with a fan spinning slowly above him. Gazing at the darkness around him and shifting his body slightly, Hideki lied down bare-chested on a bed with a warm blanket placed over him. Hideki groaned as the last thing he remembered was being the hospital, feeling energy coursing through his body after he had contracted with Sanbey. Then, right before he fought that Warlock, he felt like he had fallen into a deep sleep and lost all control.
He lowered his gaze onto his chest and an aqua-colored diamond shone brightly amidst the dark, attached his skin below his collar bone and proving that what happened earlier was very much real, "So, it wasn't a dream...?" Hideki uttered as his eyes slowly adjusted to the pitch black. Rolling his head sideways on the soft pillow, Hideki saw Tateyama sitting on a chair beside the bed, breathing steadily as he slept. Was he watching over me? Hideki ironically thought, seeing as how he was the one watching over him back at the hospital.
Sitting up on the bed, he grabbed Tateyama's shoulder and shook him gently, "Tateyama?" he whispered in his ear and the white-haired boy woke up with a small yawn, "What happened?" Hideki asked, gripping the side of his head, "I was at the hospital and..."
Rubbing his eye, Tateyama brought a hand to Hideki's forehead and neck to check his temperature, "You fell unconscious at the hospital after fighting that-" Tateyama tried to a find a word to describe the Warlock, "-'thing'. You don't remember anything?" Hideki shook his head, dumb-founded, and Tateyama stared down at the gem that was seemingly fused into his friend's chest. He elevated his view back up to Hideki and continued, "Sanbey lead us here. It's Homura's home; Takuya and Mamoru are waiting in the living room."
"And Homura?" Hideki asked, taking up his wet shirt from the floor and wringing the rainwater out of it as his friend remained silent, "Tateyama?"
"Homura's wounds... Sanbey's been treating them ever since we got here," Tateyama uncomfortably looked away, "We found her lying in the top floor, bleeding. She wasn't breathing on the way here."
His words made Hideki's hand pause as he buttoned up his school uniform. His lips pursed, Hideki looked back at him and asked again, "Can we see her?"
The door to the room then opened and Hideki squinted his eyes as light poured inside. Sanbey walked in, pushing away Hideki's question, "I'm sorry, but at her current state, I cannot allow any of you to see her. Her wounds are severe and she needs to rest. She wanted me to explain everything to you all first as well," Sanbey hopped onto the bed, tails brushing on the warm blanket, "And that is about the magic you now possess, Hakamichi Hideki. Along with everything I have kept to myself for the past few hours."
The three Warlocks stood on the stage side-by-side, staring down on the Warlock Hunters while emitting an oppressive, cold and palpable aura as the stage-lights above shone on them like light from heaven. In the orchestral pit, the abandoned instruments hovered in the air as the Warlock leader lifted his hand. Flicking his fingers, a whimsical, light melody played by the abandoned violins and cellos flooded the theater room, adding a sort of musical dissonance to the atmosphere.
Ares, the armored Warlock, stood on Phantom's right like a towering, royal guard as light reflected off his armored plating. Clyde, the assassin, crouched down on Phantom's left, peering at the helpless Hunters with a sadistic smile and ignoring the sizzling burn-marks on his body. Lastly, Phantom, the trio's leader, stood with folded arms and smoke surrounding his body. Only a black silhouette and a pair of glowing, red eyes could be perceived as his form.
Laughing, Phantom clapped his hands to congratulate the Warlock Hunters, "It's been a while, Warlock Hunters. I am amazed you all finally managed to find my home. Unfortunately, all of you are too late to stop my plans from already starting," he flicked a black, smoking finger and tendrils extended from the chained coffin behind them. They slithered harmlessly in the air like snakes before zooming in on the Warlock Hunters' leader and impaling him in the right shoulder and left knee with their sharp, spiked ends.
"Commander!" Akihiko screamed, wincing when pain rose in his legs from any effort he made to move. Above the staircase, Kou couldn't even move, having been struck in all four limbs by the reflected rounds. He was paralyzed from the waist down and he couldn't lift a single finger. Squirming in pain was all he could do.
Slowly, the Hunters' leader was lifted into the air like a prized animal on display, being presented in front of the Warlocks by the smoking tendrils. He gritted his teeth in pain from the appendages which twitched in his limbs. His right hand desperately reached for a holstered pistol on his right leg, but a third tendril stabbed through the palm of his hand and the Hunter grunted through clenched his teeth, volume rising bit-by-bit until it became a loud exclamation of suffering.
"Such a lovely sound," Phantom chuckled darkly, "Music to my ears. I've been waiting years to hear you finally squeal."
More tendrils slithered out of the coffin and began impaling the man in different, random parts of his body, bringing sheer enjoyment and entertainment to Phantom and Clyde, who were smiling at the bloody sight. A pool of blood grew below the man's hovering feet, the tendrils striking the least vital parts of his body to prolong his suffering. The other two Hunters could do nothing but see this gruesome sight unfold in front of them. Ares, though, protested against this sudden act of torture and voiced his opinion clearly.
"Lord Phantom, I suggest we cease this at once," his protest echoed through the gaps of his helmet's visor slits.
"Why should we?" he coldly replied, "The Hunters were responsible for driving us to the brink of extinction. They destroyed both our physical bodies and now only a few of us remain in this world. You, Ares, should be reviling in this sight, too."
"That's right!" Clyde agreed as he let out a violent cough, "The fun's just started!"
"Excuse me, my Lord, but killing him through torture is something I do not agree with," Ares continued, puffing up his armored chest and stepping in front of his master, "He deserves a proper death. No less for the leader of the group that had challenged us without fear; even if they are just a sad shell of their former glory."
Phantom stared at the hulking knight and then sighed lowly in defeat, "Hmph. Unsurprising, hearing this from you. So be it," he flicked his fingers again and the tendrils disappeared into a black vapor. The Warlock Hunter dropped to the trio's feet and clenched his wounds, the hole in his throat leaving him unable to speak, "Then you shall be the one to finish him instead, Ares," Phantom turned his back to them and headed for the backstage, Clyde following him like a loyal dog, "I shall be at the back if you need me. When you're done, bring the other two down to the chambers for interrogation."
The Warlock leader disappeared into the back of the stage, phasing through the curtains while Clyde pushed them out of his path. Ares unsheathed his rapier and twirled it in his hand. Waving it around Kobayashi's bleeding neck which bore a gaping, bleeding hole, the blade reflected the shine of the stage-lights as blood blinded the Hunter's vision. He couldn't see the weapon being positioned near his neck, but he could hear the audible ringing from it, "It shall be over quickly."
Meanwhile, at the back, Phantom made use of a worn-out, decayed throne which was previously used as a stage prop and made it as his own, actual throne. Sitting on the piece of decayed wood, stained cushions and chipped paint, Phantom leaned forward and his eyes stared down on Clyde, who knelt in respect as he spoke, "Now then, Clyde, how did your findings fare?"
Clyde cackled, "As you ordered, I have retrieved information about the day of Walpurgisnacht's arrival; It is on the 23rd day of the next month, weeks from now. I got this information from a Puella Magi I had attacked a few days ago. I did not retrieve all her memories except this," his head rose slightly and a wide smile spread across his 'face', "And also, I had found Sanbey with her and extracted most of his Dycic energy for ourselves. It was easier than I had expected."
Phantom gave a small clap, "Very good, Clyde. I applaud your efforts."
"But-" Clyde's tone turned serious, a frown forming on his mask, "-It looks like Sanbey had recruited some help. I met a new enemy that had enough power to fight me, and he was the one that gave me these wounds. From what I could understand and remember, one term fits them the most, and it is the same one we used to call the group Sanbey had been aiming to create if we didn't interfere with him: ''Puerum Magi."
Homura's living room was a large, pure-white room with numerous curved seats arranged in a circular formation around a small, circular table. Strange holographic paintings and documents of some possible importance were displayed on the walls, gently hovering about. On the ceiling, a decoration made of moving clockwork hung above the heads of the gathered boys as the shadow of a bladed pendulum swayed back and forth. When viewed from the top, the room looked almost similar to a moving clock.
When he had gone out of the gues room, Hideki had been pelted with worried questions from his friends the moment they saw him, and he gave the same answer to all of them: "I'm all right". The boy was somewhat telling the truth. Even if he had been shot in the thigh and shoulder, nothing serious came from them and the wounds had already been healed. Sadly, even with Hideki in perfect condition, Homura was still in her own room, suffering from sustained wounds she had received in her earlier battle. All questions about her and if they could see her were declined by Sanbey. He explained that Homura wanted him to clear up everything with the boys before they could see her.
Now, the four boys were in the lounge with Sanbey sitting on the table in the middle, surrounded by the couches where the boys sat on with Takuya resting in his wheelchair. Their clothes were still wet from the rain and their bodies still ached from the walk to this location. Other than that, they were ready for whatever he was going to say. Witches; Puella Magi; Puerum Magi; it had been a long and strange night.
"Now then," Sanbey started, "I assume you all are already aware that the world is not as peaceful as it seems to be?"
The boys collectively nodded.
"What happened in the hospital was a pretty big hint," Hideki replied in a dry tone, lying down on a couch while he faced the white Familiar.
"Explain what you need to, Sanbey," said Mamoru, his elbows on his knees and his hands tented, "Give us everything we need to know."
"Very well. Then, I shall begin from the top."
Sanbey's three tails suddenly began to glow and the stripes on his bandaged body shimmered with bright, golden energy. The boys watched in awe as around them, the floors began to fade and was replaced by blackness, the walls cracked like a shattered shell and the ceiling above them disappeared without a trace to reveal the bright, starry skies. What was left of the room were the seats and tables they sat on.
"Do not worry," Sanbey assured them, "This is a mere projection I am creating. Nothing here will affect you unless I say so."
Sanbey hopped down to the 'floor' which was nothing more than a stretch of darkness. He stomped his paw on the ground and a small wave rippled through the 'floor' as if it was mere water. Following it was a gust of wind blowing past the boys, picking up their clothes momentarily as curtains of sand rose up around them. Then, a clear image of Egypt formed as they now found themselves in a desert with tall pyramids standing tall in the background. They could see the sun in the horizon and the capital of Cairo in the distance.
"W-Woah," Takuya muttered, gawking at the sight.
"Years ago," Sanbey continued as the boys scanned their new surroundings, "A Puella Magi who possessed both high amounts of scientific and magical knowledge, traveled to Egypt on a quest of discovery, curiosity and experimentation. Accompanied by a few other Puella Magi, she and her allies discovered a new source of power known as 'Dycic energy'. This unstable energy is capable of being converted into two more variants and is the very liquid that flows in me as my blood and power source."
Tateyama took notice of the liquid that was bleeding from under Sanbey's bandages.
"And those two variants are?" Mamoru further inquired.
"Recicio' and 'Obscurum' energy," Sanbey answered. He stomped his paw again and the image of Egypt faded with the sandy wind. A projection of the sun now hovered above their heads, burning bright enough to hurt their eyes as the softer image of the moon materialized below their feet, "These two energies are opposite to each other - like two ends of a magnet - they can only be affected by each other alone and when mixed with Dycic energy, they can be either nullified or boosted."
"Like how a diamond can only be scratched by another diamond," Hideki commented.
"Somewhat similar," Sanbey mused and turned his gaze to the boy, "Recicio energy is what gives you your powers, Hideki. Powered by your positive emotions, it allowed you to fight on equal ground with that Warlock in that fight earlier. But from what I saw, a sort of self-defense mechanism had taken over your body and did the fighting in your stead, am I wrong?"
"No. I definitely don't remember doing any of the fighting myself," Hideki ruefully shook his head, "I just lost control. When I saw that thing in front of me, everything just went dark. All I thought of was protecting Homura, and that was it."
"Does Homura know all of this?" Tateyama asked.
Sanbey paused, and then shook his head, "Unlike the contractor for the girls, I am but a mere replica and a variation. I am the only one capable of converting Dycic into Recicio and Obscurum energy, so I did not tell her any of this. Not even the power I show you now. I only did just now, after I treated her wounds," Sanbey hung his head and his voice lowered to a small whisper, "I... I had been alone for all these years and my powers have never been put to use until now. My only objective in this world was to survive, and when I saw Homura having trouble, I couldn't say everything I wanted to tell her," he paused again and then raised his voice, "But, the return of a faction that was dead long ago have made my actions a severe mistake."
Sanbey looked back at them and grimly explained, "This faction... They're the ones who manipulate Obscurum energy to their will. They had mainly caused Homura's memory loss, attacked us at the hospital and are responsible for the reported disappearances of many people in this city - or even possibly other cities outside Mitakihara. They are called the 'Warlocks'."
A cold shiver went up Takuya's spine upon hearing that dreaded name. Mamoru narrowed his eyes slightly, and both Hideki and Tateyama shared an uneasy look. They all knew this name only from story books they read as kids; often referred to as the male equivalent of the witches in tales and also deemed as demons by others. If one Warlock alone could do so much, the thought of an army of them was unbelievable.
"And that thing earlier was a Warlock?" Mamoru piqued, crossing his legs.
"Yes, it was," Sanbey stomped his paw once more and a projection of a ghostly-looking figure appeared above Sanbey. It bore dark, shadowy looks, it had long, flowing cape and wide, blood-curling glowing smile on his mask that frightened the boys, "These 'Warlocks' are not like Witches. They are a result of a failed experiment done by the Puella Magi had I mentioned earlier. They were thought to be long dead after a special military group had been formed to hunt them down, and from what I knew, their leader, Phantom, had plans for the fated arrival of a super-powerful, omnipotent Witch in this world: Walpurgisnacht."
Tateyama raised a hand, hesitantly asking, "What happened to the Puella Magi?"
Sanbey gulped and grimly answered, "The Warlocks killed them when they broke free of their binds."
"And this 'Puerum Magi' was what caused your wounds?" Phantom gestured to the burn marks on Clyde's body as hot smoke rose from them and snorted derisively, "I assume Sanbey must have had assistance in finding recruits. The 3rd Generation Incubator had made a difficult, but daring move to try and find those who would sell their souls for a wish," the Warlock leader chuckled in amusement at that notion. He clapped his hands and levered himself up from his throne.
Walking pass Clyde, he stomped his feet on the first step of a flight of stairs that lead to the upper floors and placed an open, smoking hand over his face. The smoke surrounding his body curled in the air, hissing and crackling like a burning fire, "It does not matter. Now that we have the info we need and the Dycic energy from Sanbey, we can finally begin. Finally... after all these years of being hunted down like animals, we can finally show Humanity that we are Gods. That we are the next stage in human evolution; the ones at the top of the food chain."
"But, Lord Phantom," Clyde protested, rising up and clenching his broken arm, "These Puerum Magi should not to be underestimated. Their Recicio energy clashes with ours and like Obscurum, it acts like a shield and weapon for them to use. One of them alone was enough to do this to me."
Phantom's outstretched arm cut through the air and pointed a black finger at Clyde, who then knelt again and apologized, "No," Phantom disagreed, "With most of Sanbey's energy extracted, he should not have enough left to contract an army's worth to us. We are many. The moment I awakened, the energy released should have emitted a beacon to every surviving Warlock in the world. They will come, the Puerum Magi will die," he chuckled darkly again and returned to his make-shift throne, "The reason you lost was because your skills are rusty, Clyde. Heal up and sharpen your skills once more. In the end, the result justifies the means."
From behind Clyde, Ares marched out of the shadows, a pint of fresh blood dripping from the tip of his sheathed rapier. The armored Warlock knelt beside Clyde and stated clearly, "The deed has been done. I have sent both remaining Hunters to the chambers below for interrogation and have put an end to the life of Kobayashi Kosaku," his helmet elevated slightly, "What shall be our next move, my lord?"
"We shall wait for the other Warlocks," Phantom answered, kneeling back in his throne, "As I am now, I am a mere manifestation of my mental physique without any of my previous powers intact. From what Clyde has reported, Ares, a new enemy has appeared to challenge us and they are far more powerful than the Hunters. I am not speaking much when comparing this new enemy to the vermin that hunted us down, but if they were to find us, I prefer that we not take them head-on by ourselves in our current condition."
"Agreed," Clyde said.
"If we instead send allied Warlocks to defeat this enemy, a major obstacle will be cleared without us having to lift a single finger. And if they were to fail, Clyde can simply retrieve their remains and use them to replenish my need for power," Phantom's fingers curled into a fist, "With the Dycic energy to stabilize our bodes and powers, any volunteering Warlock would be an ordeal to the Puerum Magi. Clyde, go rest in the healing chambers; you deserve a reward for completing your mission. Ares, I appoint you as the guard to this house's doors. I expect you to carry out your duty without hesitation this time."
His voice was stern and Ares accepted the task with no complaints, "Yes, my Lord."
"Now all that's left besides the Puerum Magi is Walpurgisnacht. I expect things to go smoothly before that day, my dear servants. We have been waiting years for the Witch's arrival and I will not tolerate failure when it comes," with that said, Phantom's ghostly figure slowly vanished into a thick cloud of smoke, trailing back to the coffin on the stage like a vampire retreating to its slumber. His two servants got up from the dusty floor and Clyde left for the chambers below without any word uttered between him and Ares.
As Sanbey hopped back up onto the table, the mental projections vanished in a flash of light and the boys' surroundings eventually returned to their original positions like pieces of a puzzle coming together. Sanbey had cleared up everything he had wanted to say and was now giving the boys a few minutes to process all of this in their heads. All this talk of magic, Puerum Magi, Puella Magi, Warlocks and Witches was not easy to take in so fast. But, they had to. It was the world they now know and lived in. The moment they encountered Homura, their fates had been unknowingly entangled in the world of magic. It was not fate that brought them here, but there was definitely a possibility for this to happen.
"Now, do you understand?" Sanbey rested on the glass table, wincing from his wounds, "The day Walpurgisnacht arrives in the world, this city would be the first location to suffer from its immense power. And with the reappearance of the Warlocks, this city has also become a much more dangerous place to live in. Walpurgisnacht is a Witch no Puella Magi had taken on alone before and won, but I fear Phantom may know a way to beat it. This may be the reason the Warlocks have suddenly been reappearing the past few days."
The shadow of the bladed pendulum above continued to sway back and forth, whooshing through the quiet air. Tateyama stared down on the floor, deep in thought, Mamoru brought his hands to his mouth and breathed into them for warmth, Takuya rubbed on his injured legs and Hideki held the Soul Gem on his chest with a soft grip. Their wet clothes clinging onto their skin made them shiver from the room's chilly temperature.
"From the way it sounds," Mamoru spoke, "We don't have much of a choice, do we? As I assume that only a few people know of the Warlocks' existence, their power and the threat they carry."
"I am not forcing you all to contract with me; it is of your own free will," Sanbey promised him with a formal bow, "Like the Puella Magi, you all have the incentive of making any wish you desire before making a contract with me. I will not decide whether you contract or not. If you really want to become a Puerum Magi in exchange for a wish, you may. On the other hand, you can simply decline and go back to your normal lives, even if you now have to live with this knowledge."
"One thing in exchange for something else, huh?" Takuya uttered.
With the exception of Hideki, who remained quiet in all this, the boys looked hesitantly at each other with their doubts visible. This was no simple wish-and-enjoy contract and nor would it lack any sort of impact in their life. The instant they make a wish, they all will be involved in the fight against the Warlocks and will likely face a handful amount of ordeals as they grow up. They would have to live with the possibility of being killed in any day of their life as teenagers, and all of them have yet to even reach the age of 16. It was life or death.
"I'll do it," Takuya suddenly declared. His friends shot him astonished looks as he rolled forward in his wheelchair.
"Are you sure about this, Fujimaki Takuya?" Sanbey prompted, leaping down from the table and asking him a cryptic question, "Do you have the resolve to fight without any sort of fear in your heart? Do you have the will to take a life with your hands?"
The brunette slowly shook his head, but Takuya remained determined, "I don't have that resolve. No. I've used weapons plenty of times for entertainment and shows, but I never took any kind of life with it, I swear. I don't like fighting and I can't even stand up to everyone who bullies me," for once, Takuya's expression hardened, "But, if it's to help the people in need and save lives, I will contract with you, Sanbey," he vowed, his expression softening, "I don't want to just go back and live while my friends puts themselves in danger."
"Takuya... you..." Mamoru had to admire his determination. It was one of the few times Takuya had expressed his true feelings and showed such bravery.
Takuya looked over his shoulder and he gave Mamoru a bright, shining smile, "There's a lot of people out there that deserves a better life. Don't you think? Your father, my brother... They deserve more."
Mamoru nodded in agreement with a proud grin, "Of course."
"You're damn right about that," Hideki agreed with a smirk.
Tateyama nodded and then rose from his seat. Clutching his chest, he solemnly declared, "If that's the case, then I'm joining as well."
"You don't have to if you don't want to do it," Sanbey reminded him, "Only do so if you think this small incentive in exchange for a life of fighting is worth the price, Ikezawa Tateyama."
"I know. But, if this allows me to cure my heart, then I accept," Tateyama's hand clenched his chest tightly and he looked over to Hideki and Takuya, "I'm also not letting them fight alone. What kind of person would I be, if I just sit back and watch my friends fight? I don't want to be a burden. I want to help them and this city."
Tateyama stepped forward and stood beside Takuya, leaving Mamoru the last to decide. All eyes went to him as the green-haired boy adjusted his sleeve and loosened his collar's grip on his neck. He gave a light grin and set his eyes on Sanbey, "My, my, if you all are going to form a team, you all will be needing a leader," he got up to his feet and chuckled mildly, "In that case, I shall join you all, as well. I too have my own wishes and my own desires to protect this city. After all, you all would be lost if I wasn't around to help and guide you."
Hideki gave a friendly scoff, "There you go again, acting all high-and-mighty."
Tateyama shot him a friendly smile and Takuya giggled at Hideki's comment.
"Contractor Sanbey," Mamoru continued with a righteous, diplomatic voice, bringing his hand to his chest, "With my own wish decided, I accept your contract and the burdens that shall come with it. Fulfill your end of the bargain and I shall do the same."
With that, it was finally decided. Everything the boys desired in their hearts, all these were to come true in mere, passing seconds like the flow of time. Sanbey tensed his body and took a deep breath, "If that's what you all truly desire, then so be it. Clasp your hands, shut your eyes and silently make your wish in your hearts," the three boys did so accordingly. Their feet together, the boys titled their heads downward and with unclouded minds & hearts, they mentally voiced out their wishes. The stripes on Sanbey began to glow spectacularly, the same way when Hideki made his own wish hours ago, "With this, I may not have enough energy to make another contract for a few days," Sanbey's breathing became hoarse, his front and hind legs shaking frantically, "But, this contract will not fail. I promise."
For the first few seconds, the three felt a painful sensation in their bodies as they made their wish. Then, it was replaced by a warm feeling arising in their chest, like the heat of a dull fire burning inside of them. Light enveloped their bodies, all slowly accumulating and moving to a specific spot below their collar bones and above their chests. With a jolt of energy coursing through them like lightning, their eyes shot open in shock. They felt their bodies become stronger, their senses sharpen and every other physical attribute in their body having at least doubled - no, tripled.
The accumulating light then formed an emerald diamond below Mamoru's neck, a bronze one for Takuya and a silver one for Tateyama. They appeared, encased with golden trims as they fused into their bodies like permanent decorations below their clothes. Now that the final phase was completed, knife-like blades materialized in front of the boys, akin to their gems in color as they floated and sparkled in the air.
All the boys watched in amazement, even Hideki, who had already gone through the process, could not help but watch the transformation process complete itself. Sanbey nearly lost his footing as his stripes died down. He panted for air, the process having took a heavy toll on him and his body, "I-It's done. The contract is complete," he took in another deep breath and raised his head high, "With those Soul Keys, you all may access the granted abilities and powers you all now posses; granted that you insert those blades into your Soul Gems with an unwavering heart and mind. If not, they will deny you its powers. But, I doubt that is something that will ever happen."
The boys took their Keys from the air and examined the ornate, weapon-like tools in their hands with wide eyes.
Mamoru brushed his finger on his Key's reflective surface and gawked at it, speechless.
Tateyama blinked, twirling the blade in his hand.
Takuya rubbed his finger on the pointed edge of the Key and it didn't even prick his finger, "W-Woah."
Hideki got up from his seat and rested his hands on his friends' shoulders. Staring at Sanbey, he now asked the same question which had been repeatedly shot down by Sanbey minutes ago. His tone lowered, his question made his friends look expectantly at the Familiar as well, "Sanbey, can we see Homura?"
Sanbey gave them a pained look and gazed down on the floor, "Of course."