Author's Notes: Boy am I tired... finals exams are coming right around the corner in December but November is full of projects and papers. Nonetheless, I'll still try my best to keep updating this story as best as I can.
Once again, all feedback is appreciated - if there's something on your mind about the story, feel free to say it! Aside from that, please enjoy Chapter 7! I enjoyed writing it, so I hope you enjoy reading it too!
Oh, and I just added my new 'Acts' system based on recommendations from some of my readers. Hope you like it!
Magia, Pacem, Bellum Terrarum
Is It Too Much To Hope?
Act XI – Edificio Gumamela
Serafina Larivenko sauntered out the alleyway and into Manila's refilling crowds. Behind her were the eager Audrey Burnham and the apprehensive Ligaya de la Cruz with Kyuubey trotting beside them leisurely.
It was only moments ago when the Ukrainian girl said that her organization, 'Salvae, Terrae Magicae', may be able to supply the cornered USAFFE with food and even the most modern weapons from around the world. Now, the Americana and Filipina were being led to the organization's Philippine headquarters. It was an offer that the two girls found hard to refuse, or at least refuse to investigate. As impressed as Audrey was with Serafina's claim, she wanted to see Salvae's food and weapons for her own eyes. Serafina happily obliged, now leading them through Manila to the headquarters of Salvae.
"So now, comrades." Serafina asked with a confident grin as the girls agreed to follow her, "Take a guess – where do you think our HQ is."
Audrey and Ligaya's brows wrinkled in thought.
"Outside of Manila?"
Serafina shook her head.
"Wrong." Serafina laughed, stopping with a dramatic twirl in the middle of the Calle Escolta. To their right was a four-storey concrete building with a Spanish stone façade attached to a storage house made up of galvanized iron – all in all, it spanned about three quarters of an entire block. A copper plate by the door read out in Spanish, "Edificio Gumamela" or "Gumamela Building". A concrete roof standing on sturdy wooden columns shaded the sidewalk from the hot morning sun, a small water tower sat atop the roof and light smokestacks shot up from the storehouse portion. "The Philippine branch operates from right here in the Escolta."
"Seriously?" Audrey scrutinized, wondering if the Ukrainian was joking. "Manila is crawling with Japs – they'll find out about an organization of girls meeting in the city easily… especially with a building this big!"
"Is that so?" Serafina asked with a crafty smile. "Have you ever heard of the saying 'the best place to hide is out in the open'? That's what we're doing here in Manila."
A patrol of Japanese soldiers then passed by the building, grumbling amongst themselves and peering curiously in through the building's windows, unable to see past the closed curtains. With heavy hearts, the patrol went on their way.
"Salvae isn't afraid of the Japanese government – or any national government for that matter." Serafina explained, "See that patrol that just passed by? They have direct orders from their local command unit to not enter, search or damage this particular building in the Calle Escolta."
"Eh~?" Audrey questioned, "Why is that?"
"The reason is simple." Serafina said, walking towards the entrance of the building with Kyuubey and the girls. "Whether it be a tax or a tribute or whatever a country charges its constituents, Salvae pays it threefold. In return, we have unofficial yet strictly-followed agreements to leave our organization, its properties and its members alone. In other words, they can't touch us."
Serafina then took out her maroon Soul Gem and smirked,
"And even if the Japanese decides to fight us, they'd have a hell of a lot of Puella Magi to deal with - Though we try to keep that part a secret. We aren't here to promote bloodshed, after all. Not at all…"
The Ukrainian's confident eyes suddenly drooped. She then took a deep breath and sighed.
"But enough of that, comrades." Serafina said, "Come on, I'll show you inside."
The three of them walked on to the dual doors right at the center of the building. The mahogany doors, grand and dignified, each bore carvings of a sea lion superimposed over two crossed swords and a rook chess piece. The letters S, T and M were carved onto a wooden name ribbon as well as the name 'Las Islas Filipinas'. Circular peepholes sat atop these carvings. Serafina walked up to the door with the two girls then knocked. A pair of eyes, inquisitive eyes, faintly appeared through the peephole. Some unknown signal seemed to pass between Serafina and the person behind the door before the eyes disappeared from sight. Moments later, heavy sounds of turning mechanisms then echoed from behind the door and a loud metal click. The rattling sound of sliding iron grills being pushed to the edges followed and the door swung open, revealing a young girl about fifteen years old in everyday Manila clothes with a shiny trench gun slung carelessly over her shoulder.
The girl faced Serafina as if asking for an explanation, but Serafina just smiled. Finally, the girl nodded.
"Understood." The girl said in Filipino, now turning to Audrey and Ligaya. "Welcome to our humble home."
The two girls thanked the watch girl and stepped inside. The foyer that greeted them easily took Audrey and Ligaya's breaths away. Sturdy floors of smooth, waxed wood covered with long strips of Persian carpets formed a corridor stretching all the way to the end of the building interior. Posh wooden benches and armchairs whose quality rivaled those of the office of the Philippine Commonwealth President decorated the long hall. Ceramic-potted palms, paintings of landscapes dating back to the 18th Century and cast-iron candle chandeliers that hung from the high ceiling filled the hall too. Audrey wondered if they had actually been brought to the famed Manila Hotel – while Ligaya thought they had died and gone to heaven. With fascination in their eyes, Audrey and Ligaya lost their breath to the sight.
The watch girl seemed to find their reaction quite amusing and smiled.
"I'll go inform the Carissima." The watch girl said, showing the girls to one of the wooden benches "Are you three going to wait here?"
"Actually…" Serafina fumbled through her small Filipino vocabulary "I was thinking of showing them around a bit – if that's alright. That way, I won't disturb the guard duty."
"But you know the rules Bb. Larivenko." The watch girl complained in Filipino, "Prospects have to be presented to the Carissima,"
"Oh don't sweat it, dear." Serafina shakily assured, letting out an almost nervous laugh. "They'll get to meet Carissima Elise soon enough at lunchtime!"
"Lunch?" Ligaya asked, "That's very nice of you, Bb. Serafina, but I don't think Audrey and I…"
"In Salvae, we have a policy to always try to eat together whenever possible – to better promote camaraderie, you know. We're one big family here after all." Serafina explained, in English again "And you two seem to be hankering for a nice meal – you'll have lunch with us, won't you? You can't negotiate business terms on behalf of the USAFFE on an empty stomach."
Audrey and Ligaya's stomachs grumbled, as if on cue.
"It's settled then." Serafina laughed, "I'll take you two around the HQ - keep up the good work at the watch, comrade."
"Thank you Bb. Larivenko." The girl at the door said, holding up her trench gun happily. "And please do visit Manila more often – the wares you bring are top-notch as always!"
"I'll try to fit it into my schedule." Serafina winked. She then turned to Audrey and Ligaya. "Alright then, let me show you around."
With wings on her feet, the Ukrainian girl took the Americana and Filipina with her down the posh main hallway of the Gumamela Building. They were not the only ones walking through the hallway. Many girls – Puella Magi, as Audrey would realize, as she caught the gleams of Soul Gems in their ring form – also hurried to and fro. Some of them, like the watch girl, wore rifles or submachine guns while the others held on to brooms, mops and curious things like what people called 'vacuum cleaners'. Some of the girls looked at Audrey and Ligaya without any particular interest, but most of them welcomed them with bright, wide smiles and stopped to introduce themselves.
"Uhm, Bb. Larivenko." Ligaya suddenly piped up, "Who was that 'Carissima' person you were talking about? You mentioned Carissima at the foyer a while ago."
"Ah, I forgot to explain, didn't I?" Serafina smiled, "In Salvae, the Carissima is essentially the caretaker of an entire branch – think of her as like the Mother Superior in a convent or something like that. This is Manila's Carissima, comrade Elise de Lamarliere."
Serafina then showed them a portrait hanging on the wall of a stern young lady with locks of curly red hair flowing down to her shoulders and fair skin dotted with freckles.
Serafina laughed a bit as she folded her arms and shook her head, "She's quite the disciplinarian, I'll tell you."
"Is that why you were so nervous when the guard said the Carissima had to meet us?" Audrey asked with a raised brow.
"Ehehe, naw…" Serafina denied, waving her hand around, "Moving on~"
As they continued on, the three reached a corridor running parallel to the main hall and turned left to find a set of doors and another sentry post at the very end. The sentry post was unmanned and the log book atop the post table said that the last guard had taken a short break – a new guard was going to relieve her in fifteen minutes.
"This shouldn't be a problem…" Serafina said, taking a pen and writing a new entry on the log book, "Come on, let's go on through."
"Where exactly are you taking us?" Audrey asked, wondering what was behind the metal doors. Rather than reply, the Ukrainian turned the door handles then pushed the metal doors wide open.
A small warehouse with concrete floors and galvanized iron walls and roofs filled with metal shelves, boxes and light machinery reminiscent of a basic modern assembly plant. Gasoline-powered forklifts were parked around and pallets of metal boxes sat around on the floor and on the shelves – some bearing the markings 'U.S. Army' and some with the Iron Cross of the German Wehrmacht.
"This place is my sanctuary." Serafina said with great pride, "In our organization, I am called a 'Maultier' – I'm the person who travels around the world to move around things for the organization. It's a ways down in the food chain from 'Carissima', but at least I get to travel between branches quite often."
"The Maultiers of Salvae still travel even now?" Ligaya asked, "But a World War is raging everywhere, isn't it?"
"The World War is raging, yes, but we Maultiers still do our work." Serafina assured, "That's why Puella Magi with the ability to use illusions are chosen to be Maultiers. Regular logistics around the world may have ground to a halt, but you'll still find the most modern weapons and equipment from all over in this small warehouse."
Serafina then started pointing around at the different boxes on the metal shelves.
"Over there are the Browning Automatic Rifles… the Lewis Guns are over there… MP40 submachine guns, Mark II Grenades, M1 Garands, Webleys, Arisakas you name it – we've probably got it!"
"The Garand?" Audrey gasped, catching up to Serafina with great curiosity, "You really have Garands in this warehouse?"
"Oh, of course!" Serafina nodded. "Let me go get some for you."
She grabbed a steel ladder, set it near one of the shelves then climbed up to pick up a box near the top. When she went down, Audrey and Ligaya huddled around Serafina and watched her unfasten the locks of them metal box with expectation. The box popped open and inside was about ten M1 Garand rifles in mint condition.
"The United States Rifle, Caliber .30 M1 – a semi-automatic rifle." Serafina introduced, handing Audrey one of the rifles. "Unlike the Enfields the USAFFE (I believe) uses, you don't need to pull on the breech to eject a spent round and load the next one – the gun does that for you. Amazing, no?"
Audrey eyes combed over every detail of the gun – from its stock to its barrel – with keen interest.
"The magazine come in sets of eight shots, a little more than the five of the Enfield." Serafina continued, holding up eight fingers. "Then, once the last bullet in the magazine goes, the gun ejects the old magazine itself. That way, you'll know when you're out of shots during a gunfight – but so will the enemy."
Audrey took the gun from Serafina in a concentrated silence. She raised the gun up to aim it on a Japanese flag flying outside through the small, reinforced windows. With a practiced hand, she pulled the trigger. A slight click echoed through the storehouse. Audrey lowered the gun, cold sharpness in her brown eyes.
"Someday… we'll win the Philippines back…"
"You've got some strong ties to the United States, comrade." Serafina said, casually working the rifle off Audrey's hands, "That tone of yours was a little scary… maybe even vicious."
"Of course I have strong ties to the United States! Or rather, the Philippines which is part of the United States…" Audrey argued, returning the rifle, "This archipelago only just became my home and now it is under siege by those goddamned Japs!"
Serafina's voice then suddenly became sympathetic. "I do understand what you mean – you can imagine how I felt when the Ukraine 'became part' of the U.S.S.R."
Warm emotion slowly crept into Serafina's voice.
"But that's why Salvae is my new home. I'm no longer that young girl in the bloody streets of Kiev crying, lamenting my own powerlessness… I'm a Puella Magi now. With an organization like Salvae helping me taking me under its wing, I overcame that woeful past. Now, I have the power to carve my own future."
Audrey seemed to sober up and lowered her eyes to the ring on her finger.
"You know…" Audrey mumbled, "That sounds kinda nice, actually…"
"I think it's very nice too." Ligaya smiled softly, "To have a group like this supporting you, I mean."
"Ain't it?" Serafina smiled, closing the box of Garands, "I don't want you to rush anything of course – but remembering our humble group in your considerations will suffice."
"I'll definitely keep this group in mind." Audrey agreed, "But I still have some things to deal with, and a family to take care of over at Bataan – and Ligaya and her father too."
Audrey patted Ligaya's shoulder supportively, causing a shy smile to creep onto Ligaya's face.
"Fair enough." Serafina conceded, sealing the gun box then putting it back to the top shelf. She stepped down from the ladder, wiped her hands on her skirt then smiled, "So where should I take you girls next?"
Before the Ukrainian could think of a place, the delightful smell of food wafted from the main building and the two girl's mouths quickly watered. Serafina caught Ligaya's hopeful gaze toward the smell of the food.
"I guess it can't be helped." Serafina laughed, "Let's go to the dining hall – you can probably go meet the Carissima there."
Neither Audrey or Ligaya protested Serafina's proposal, much to Serafina's relief. She then led the two girls through the metal doors then to the dining hall of the Gumamela Building.
Act XII – Carissima Elise
Sets of long wooden tables and about thirty or so posh, cushioned dining chairs filled the wide, stone-floored dining room. Dozens of hungry young girls sat at the tables, chatting amongst themselves and waiting for the food to be served. The entrance of Serafina drew almost everyone's attention, as if a celebrity had just entered the room. The Ukrainian laughed dryly at the chorus of greetings and waved, gesturing the girls to carry on with their chatter. The three found some seats at a table in the center of the room and sat together.
"You seem to be pretty popular around here, Miss Larivenko." Audrey whispered curiously. "Everyone here seems to like you."
"It's because I'm not always around." Serafina explained, "As a Maultier, I travel quite often from branch to branch – I stay in a certain country for a month at the very most. A Maultier's work is never done, you see. Not only do I bring the highest quality weapons around… I also bring around the best ingredients from all over the world!"
The cooks, also Puella Magi of the branch, then came in with trolleys laden with large platters of food. The delightful smell grew heavenly to Audrey and Ligaya as their table's trolley approached. Fresh lamb mutton encircled with mint, lobster tails cracked open and dipped in lemon-butter sauce, mixed greens of every kind and bottles of home-made dressings to go with them, hearty bowls of Chinese egg-noodle soup – it was magical compared to the poor fare the girls ate at the Mariveles camp.
"Whoa…" Audrey said, half-dazed by the sight, "D… devilled eggs? And tomato soup! I want some of that!"
"I'm glad you like it." Serafina smirked, watching Audrey hastily filling her plate from the platters "But wait – there's more coming."
The Ukrainian pointed to the kitchen doors and almost as if on cue, another trolley rolled in with a large fire-roasted pig sitting atop a bed of banana leaves. Ligaya's eyes widened merrily.
"LECHON!"
Some of the nearby girls started giggling as Ligaya nearly jumped out of her chair, her heart bursting with joy. A bemused Puella Magi with honey brown eyes served the young Filipina her favorite parts – the lean meat and bits of the crunchy toasted skin. Her excited hands seemed ready to pick at the food on her plate when Serafina halted her.
"We use utensils here at the branches." Serafina explained kindly. She then pointed to the small table with a, large, intricate chair centered at the far end of the dining room overlooking the other large tables. "Plus… we usually start eating when the Carissima gets here. And speak of the devil… she's here."
The doorways of the dining room slowly opened and three girls walked in – the freckled, red-haired girl with a Puella Magi accompanying her at each side. Her stern gaze swept over the room which had fallen nearly silent under the spell of the aura of power and strength that hung around the Carissima. The girl's grey eyes soon settled on Audrey and Ligaya- Ligaya felt herself shrinking down despite her attempts to remain calm under her steely glare- but then the Carissima looked away.
"I am sorry for being late – please start eating at your pleasure." She said, parting with her guards and walking to the distant table.
Cooks quickly came with their trolleys to attend to the Carissima as the other girls started to eat. All she asked for before sending the cooks away, though, was a plain bowl of tomato soup. She looked like she had a lot on her mind and didn't seem very hungry. Her stormy eyes now seeemed troubled.
"Uhm, Serafina…?" Ligaya asked, turning to the Ukrainian girl with concern, "Is Bb. Elise usually like this?"
Serafina frowned slightly as she slowly picked at her baked potatoes, "Comrade Elise, strict as she is, is usually much more cheerful than that… Something must have happened."
Audrey's spoon stopped halfway up to her mouth. "So... do you think now would be a bad time to negotiate?"
The three watched the Carrisima slowly sip at her soup before setting aside her spoon. With a somber air about her, she stood up from her seat and clapped once. The dining hall fell deathly silent. The girl gracefully sliped out of her seat and turned to face the girls at the dining hall whose eyes were now all on her.
"Dear friends, I apologize once again for the interruption, but I bear bad news that cannot wait until the end of lunch." Elise said with a quietly dignified tone, "You are all aware of the rumors of the recent killings of Puella Magi, are you not?"
Worried voices slowly started to fill the room. Audrey's eyes narrowed as she remembered the two girls who she had to fight in the Sunka witch's barrier, but she and Ligaya stayed silent.
"I only just received a report – we've lost one of our sisters this morning to the killers. The rumors are true…"
Voices filled with fright rose and built up amongst the girls, but the Carissima silenced them quickly with another clap.
"The loss of our sisters is nothing new to us – the casualties we have when fighting Witches, as is our honorable duty, are unavoidable. To protect the world we live in, we must risk our lives - a sad reality we must all learn to bear." Elise continued, "But having Puella Magi blatantly kill other Puella Magi is something we should not tolerate!"
Angry sounds of agreement filled the room. Suddenly, the Carissima lifted something out of the pocket of her heavy black dress- and the room gasped as one. The empty shell of a Soul Gem rested gently in Elise's hands.
"We at the Manila Branch must be vigilant now more than ever." Elise now said, lowering the battered remains of the Soul Gem and cradling it to her chest, "We will not fall victim to those who have the gall to fight their own sisters. We must continue to rid the world of Witches. Salvae, Terrae Magicae will not fall to these vagrants' tricks – and we will crush them completely along with the Witches!"
The Puella Magi in the dining hall roared their approval as the Carissima gracefully sat down again. The girls pounded their weapons or their utensils against their tables as Elise looked on, bringing a small smile to the Carissima's face.
"Wow…" Ligaya mumbled to Audrey, feeling her heart beat faster, "She really knows how to work up a crowd."
"You said it." Audrey agreed, scratching her face, "For a moment, even I felt like joining in on the murderer hunt."
"She's pretty good at it, don't you think…?" Serafina said, sipping a cup of tea calmly as if she was used to this commotion, "Among the Carissimas, she is the one known as 'The Orator'. Her talent to rally others to her cause is unrivalled."
"So this Elise girl holds a lot of power, then." Audrey watched the Carissima hurriedly finishing her soup, as if she was itching to get back to work.
"You two ought to hurry up with your meals." Serafina advised, stuffing her face as fast as she could, "If you don't, you might not catch the Carissima again – she'll be the one you have to talk to about the supply deal."
Quickly, Audrey and Ligaya cleaned their plates then stood up to meet with the Carissima who was just about to stand up to leave as well. Serafina led the two again and brought them to Elise's table.
"Good afternoon, Maultier Serafina." Elise said plainly, "You've finally brought the strangers to me - the two prospects the 11AM watch girl was talking about, i presume."
Serafina froze up immediately.
"Ahehe… yeah." Serafina admitted, scratching the back of her head, "I probably should have sent them to your office directly, huh? But then..."
"By protocol, yes." Elise said, setting aside her utensils neatly, Even if I were occupied - I would have tried to make time to meet with prospects. Though I must admit, today has been quite busy..."
"So it works out, then!" Serafina hastily cheered
"Did I say that, Maultier Serafina?" Elise asked
Serafina awkardly smiled.
"It is true - today it somehow 'worked out'. But please... please try not to dance around the rules too much, dear." Elise asked, "Just because you are a vital part of our supply lines doesn't mean punishment will always be waived."
"I gotcha." Serafina grinned, "I'll try not to do it again."
"Do, not try, Maultier Serafina." Elise smiled a little. She then turned to Audrey and Ligaya, "I believe by now you know who I am; tell me who you are."
"Audrey Burnham." Audrey introduced, pulling Ligaya to stand beside her, "And this person with me is Ligaya de la Cruz."
"A Puella Magi…" Elise hummed, seeing the ring on Audrey's finger, "Then, one with potential."
Elise ran a hand through her curly locks of red hair then leaned back into her chair.
"So then, what is your business here? I assume you came here for more than lechon or devilled eggs."
"I want to negotiate a supply deal between Salvae and the United States of Armed Forces in the Far East." Audrey explained, pulling out official documents and giving them to Elise. The Carissima scanned through them quickly before returning them to Audrey. "The situation in Bataan is dire and we need…"
"Food." Elise automatically said. "Weapons. And I would presume, some medicine too."
"Uhm, yes." Audrey shakily confirmed, "Would it be possible?"
"What are you willing to give in return?" Elise asked, her tone careful and calculating. "You are proposing trade with our organization. In such a transaction, something is given and something is received."
"I… don't know what would be suitable payment." Audrey thought out loud, "Serafina said your organization deals in Grief Seeds, but I don't know the value of one and whatnot…"
"We will handle that, don't worry." Elise replied, "Now then, which of our wares do you wish for us to supply the USAFFE?"
"For food… uh… rice and canned meat and vegetables would be a good start – enough for seven infantry divisions. We could use some medicines too; anti malaria ones, antibiotics and some penicillin." Audrey said, remembering what the American and Filipino soldiers might need, "Then for weapons – .50 caliber machineguns, M1 Garands, Browning Automatic Rifles and their corresponding ammunition."
"That's a tall order." Elise raised a faint eyebrow. "You have to understand that equipping an army of that size would take a year at the very least."
"Then why not have the food and medicine sent first – those are our immediate needs." Audrey bargained, "For the weapons, we can take them in installments."
"Logical." Elise praised, "Yes, that sounds a little more feasible. And, for a Puella Magi like yourself, we can cut you a really good deal; twelve Grief Seeds paid over a year."
"Twelve…" Audrey pondered, checking the satchel at her hip. Exactly four Grief Seeds were carefully hidden inside. She then faced the Carissima determinedly. "That sounds fair to me – I'll do my best to pay in full."
"Very well." Elise agreed in a calm, businesslike tone, "Maultier Serafina can definitely handle an order of that volume – pay her after the delivery is done."
"You can count on me!" Serafina smiled at Elise's subtle praise.
"Um... but why don't you want us to pay in full immediately?" Ligaya asked, "Shouldn't debts be settled as quickly as possible?"
"You could if you really wanted to." Elise admitted, "But, if ever something happens – such as the receiving party coming to a state where they can no longer receive the requested goods – the payment will be discontinued. That way, the loss won't be a complete loss – and you'll be able to save your grief seeds for another time."
"We'll be able to fight better with the food and these weapons." Ligaya then argued, "Like the Katipuneros of old, we will fight the Japanese tooth and nail until we achieve victory!"
"Did not the Katipuneros lose to the Americans, though?" Elise asked with a raised brow.
"That doesn't matter!" Ligaya continued stubbornly, her face turning a furious shade of red "As long as people like my father are still alive, there will always be a chance! If a person believes in himself or herself, that person will surely be able to make a difference no matter how high the odds are stacked against them!"
An approving gleam crept into Elise's eyes.
"I like your spirit." Elise then smiled, her eyes scrutinizing the Filipina from the top of her short black hair down to the new shoes she had bought at the store by the Jones Bridge. "Indeed, you have potential. It is settled then."
The Carissima stood up and extended her hand.
"If the price I suggested earlier sounds fair to you, the first batch of goods you requested will be delivered by this afternoon."
"It's a deal." Audrey said, shaking Elise's hand. "W-wait a second… this afternoon?"
"Yeah." Serafina yawned lazily, "I don't really have a lot of deliveries scheduled today so I might as well get your order through while I have free time."
"Uh- really? That's excellent!" Audrey gasped, "But… I'll have to inform Mr. de la Cruz about this…"
"We have a shortwave radio transmitter in the third floor." Elise said, handing a set of keys to Serafina "Usually only I have access to it, but I'll have Serafina bring you to if you need it."
"Thank you very much!" Audrey said with a bright smile.
"So then, I have some work to do and I must be leaving soon." The Carissima said, nodding to Audrey and Ligaya, "Before I leave though, I certainly do hope that you two would consider becoming part of Salvae. We would surely love to have dedicated girls like you on board."
At her nod, the two guards who had accompanied her into the dining hall sprung to her side and walked her out.
"Oh, and there's one last thing I want to say before I go." The Carissima said, her back facing Audrey and Ligaya, "Remember this - human conflicts start and end in but a heartbeat; The war we as Puella Magi fight, however, is eternal."
The two girls then watched the door close behind Elise and her guards. Serafina and the two girls were left dumbfounded – especially Audrey.
"What… did she mean about that?"
Act XIII – Hope and Despair
A few hours later, at the shores of Mariveles, Nicanor de la Cruz and Audrey's uncle waited facing the bay. Under the share of a quiet grove, they sat on some rocks by the sand. In the distance, a small stripped-down short PT boat came into view and grew larger and larger as it approached. Audrey and Ligaya waved to the two cheerfully while Serafina leisurely stood before the captain's wheel, their hair flying in the sea breeze. The two men couldn't believe their eyes. They stood up and waved back, much to the delight of the Filipina and Americana.
Serafina brought the boat as near to the beach as she could without damaging her boat's propellers then threw the heavy anchor out to the water to hold the boat in place. Audrey and Ligaya helped themselves off the boat then called the two men to come over. Serafina unloaded Audrey's order, metal boxes full of guns, sacks full of rice, cases of medicine and knapsacks full of canned goods while the four took turns and brought them to the shore. This was the first of the significant resupply the USAFFE would receive straight from Manila with deliveries coming in by boat once every week.
Once the last of the items had been loaded, a decent stack of sacks, bags, cases and boxes were piled up neatly at the beach and the five exhaled in great relief.
"Hey, anak." Nicanor asked, turning to the three girls resting beside him, "How exactly did you three get here in that boat with all of that food and equipment?"
"That would be because of me, Sergeant de la Cruz." Serafina said with pride and a smart salute. "I'm a master of illusions, you see!"
"Master of illusions, huh?" Nicanor laughed heartily, clearly not buying Serafina's honest reply "Nevertheless, what matters is that you're safe."
The sergeant then hugged his daughter tightly as she hugged him back.
"Oh, and dad!" Ligaya said happily, pulling a tin can from her pockets, "Orange juice!"
Nicanor couldn't help but smile, showing his missing front tooth as he patted her daughter lovingly. Ligaya opened the can for him then offered it to him. He obliged and took a long, refreshing gulp of orange juice.
"This is good." He said, giving the can back to his daughter, "You should have the rest of it."
"But, dad…"
Just then, the sound of masses of Japanese planes roared from the distance, reminding the people of the beach of the situation they were in. Nicanor ignored Ligaya's protest as he started to carry boxes of .50 caliber machine guns with Audrey's uncle through the trees to their camp, calling on the platoon to help bring in the pile of goods.
Ligaya turned her eyes from the mostly full can of orange juice up to the red afternoon sky and saw the Japanese planes start dropping bombs over the front lines of the Bataan defenders, each bomb falling loudly and crashing with dreadful booms. She remembered her gutsy reply to the Carissima earlier at the Gumamela Building – she had been so naive, in the safety and opulence of Salvae.
Serafina Larivenko wore a concerned look on her face as she clambered onto her boat to sail back to Manila hidden by her magic. She had considered asking the Americana and Filipina if they truly wanted to stay in Bataan, but the two of them had already started bringing whatever cases or bags they could bring to their camp beyond the thickets. In all honesty, she didn't believe that this weekly resupply would do them much good – it would come too little, too late.
Over the next few weeks, Serafina's fears would be realized. Relentless bombing by the Japanese through land, air and sea would pound the tired USAFFE defenses day and night. Elements of the I and II Corps would shatter and lines that had been considered sturdy just a week ago would be broken like foam, pushed further and further back to the sea. Audrey listened to the radio unit in the Mariveles camp's communications room with a map of Bataan and a lead pencil at her side to chart the Japanese advances as Nicanor and Ligaya watched worriedly. By the third week, the strategic Mount Samat stronghold fell and the Japanese offensive seemed ready to strike at the throat of the defenders. Their days as free men and women would soon be over – they felt it in their guts.
April 7th, 1942, Serafina arrived by boat as she always had, bringing more of the weapons she had been tasked to bring. Audrey stood out at the beach to receive the delivery. Rather than her usual cheerful self, the American was somber and pale as she held on to an empty carton of cigarettes – she had been without tobacco for a few days now. At around that time, she had also started to lose hope. Despite that, she helped the Ukrainian unload the goods she had ordered, hiding her sadness as best as she could.
"Comrade Audrey." Serafina then said weakly, "I told you I only stay in a certain country for a month at the most, right?"
"You're getting re-based." Audrey guessed bitterly. Serafina just gave a shy nod.
"This is my last stop before going to Hong Kong – I'll be there for two weeks." Serafina explained, "After this, I won't be back for a while again."
"What about the orders?" Audrey asked.
"They'll keep coming here to Mariveles." Serafina said, "Another Maultier will come to take responsibility – she'll be the one bringing in the goods next week."
"I see." Audrey said, her plain tone withering somewhat, "Then there's nothing to worry about. Have a safe trip."
Serafina's fists then started to shake. She took a deep breath.
"Next week, I'll get the Maultier replacing me to come pick you and comrade Ligaya up." The Ukrainian said in a serious tone, "I'll tell her to take your families with you too if you want! You just can't stay here any longer!"
"What are you talking about?" Audrey asked stubbornly, "Mariveles is the south most point in the Bataan peninsula – the frontlines are still many miles away. We just need a little more time – the US Pacific Fleet will come… convoys and boats with entire US Army divisions are going to come blazing through the Pacific and beat the shit out of the Japanese. It's our fifth month – the Allies must be preparing to retake Southeast Asia as we speak!"
"But what if you're wrong?" Serafina asked desperately, "What will happen to you and your family then? What about Ligaya's family?"
"I…"
Suddenly, Audrey lost the will to speak back.
"Let me help you, comrade." Serafina pleaded one last time, "I've heard how the Japanese treat their prisoners of war – Maultiers who had come by Singapore and Malaya told me horrendous stories… If you come back with us to Manila, we can give you and your families a fresh start in life! It's better than rotting away in some Prisoner of War camp."
"Fine…" Audrey said, slowly reasoning through the situation she and Ligaya were in, "Next week, we'll go with that Maultier back to Manila."
"Good." Serafina smiled with great relief. "Until then, you take care, you hear!"
Audrey gave her a nod and watched as Serafina's boat disappeared under her magic once again. The American turned around then headed back to camp to announce the delivery to Sergeant de la Cruz. Returning to their Mariveles encampment, a primary school turned into a refugee camp, Audrey looked around to see the poor, poor state they were in.
The crumbling school building, was literally one of the last remaining fortresses of the USAFFE in the peninsula. The flagpole bearing the flags of both the Philippine Commonwealth and the United States was pockmarked and bent awkwardly. The flags themselves were ripped and charred, very quickly resembling soggy rags whenever it rains. The M3 Stuart tank stationed with the platoon had been sent away to the front lines weeks ago and had not been seen since. Soldiers of the platoon were armed with the new Garands and the Browning Automatic Rifles but most of them seemed ready to throw them away and flee at a moment's notice. Audrey could only shake her head. She pressed on, heading straight for the de la Cruz family's quarters.
"Mr. de la Cruz?"
Audrey pushed open the door of the room to see Ligaya sitting alone, watching and listening to a small clock tick the seconds away. The Filipina turned to greet Audrey and welcomed her in.
"Itay's not here yet." Ligaya told her, "A messenger came by a few hours ago asking the officers to meet with the upper brass about something important. He didn't know what it was…."
"Really now?" Audrey asked, "You think they got word from the Pacific Fleet?"
"I sure hope so." Ligaya smiled, "It's almost been six months – they should be here any time now, right?"
"Yeah…" Audrey said, "But Ligaya, let me ask you this… what if the Pacific Fleet doesn't come? What if..."
The American gulped bitterly,
"What if we lose this war- and get captured by the Japs?"
"Eh? You're joking me, Audrey!"
"I'm not joking with you, Ligaya. I'm asking you a serious question. We can't keep deceiving ourselves like this. Did we really think we could last six months against such a determined foe?"
Ligaya frowned, her shoulders drooping sadly.
"I wouldn't know what to do." Ligaya said, her eyes lowering to the concrete floor, "No… actually, I'll go wherever my father goes. Whether or not we lose here in Bataan, if I can be with my father, I know everything will be alright."
Audrey sighed. She had expected this sort of answer from Ligaya.
"I met with Serafina a while ago." Audrey then said, "She offered to send a Maultier next week to pick us up and our families at the shore –we can start anew in Manila."
Ligaya's eyes then rose to meet Audrey's, a small glow shining in them. It made Audrey smile.
"We just need to wait for that boat to come in next week." Audrey said, "In a week, we'll…"
All of the sudden, the door creaked open and a saddened Nicanor dragged his feet through the threshold. There was a paper in his hand given to him during the meeting of officers. It was a notice – a notice that Maj. General Edward P. King, against direct orders from Wainwright, was preparing to meet with Japanese emissaries to surrender the Bataan force. Nicanor and his platoon, as were all of the standing military units scattered all over the peninsula, had been asked to lay down their arms by the next morning and peacefully surrender.
Just like that, in a single heartbeat, Bataan fell.
Act XIV – Kaligayahan
The next morning, Audrey and her relatives and Ligaya and Nicanor walked out of the school building hours later with their hands reaching for the bright blue skies. They watched as the charred pair of flags were lowered, replaced by a flag of the rising sun.
Audrey's aunt and young cousin who had been found in the Mariveles camp's makeshift clinic were told to go. Audrey and her uncle and Nicanor and Ligaya however were rounded up with the troops of the platoon and were stripped of their weapons. All the while, Nicanor and Audrey's uncle furiously complained to their Japanese captors, saying that the two girls should be set free. The captors replied to their complaints with violent beatings broke ribs and jaws, leaving the two men almost lifeless on the floor and the two girls in absolute shock. Ligaya buried her face in Audrey's sleeve, weeping.
"He's a Sergeant, you fucking recruit!" Audrey lashed at the soldiers, still kicking Mr. de la Cruz, "Show some fucking respect!"
"A woman, speak to me like that?" The Japanese soldier asked in terrible English, his tone full of irritation. Without warning, he struck Audrey's stomach with the butt of his Arisaksa rifle, pummeling the American to the ground. Ligaya, who had been holding on to Audrey, followed her into the mud. "Well, bitch, I don't give a damn!"
He then stepped forward and uncaringly tapped Audrey's face with the barrel of his rifle.
"Now get up and get in line before I shoot all four of you!"
Audrey bitterly pushed the rifle away from her face and helped Ligaya up to her feet. They then helped the two men as well, the both of them now barely able to stand. Like that, they walked together to join a long line of men and women marching down the Mariveles provincial highway under the sweltering April heat. In total, there were more than seventy thousand men and women of the USAFFE held by the Japanese as prisoners of war to be transferred to the POW camp set up at the distant Camp O' Donnell. The tired, already sickly and famished prisoners would be forced to endure many miles of walking through rough roads, followed by a short train ride in rail cars that would soon be akin to sardine tins. Based on what Audrey, Ligaya and the two men had seen and would see, they knew the Japanese army did not care if a good deal of the prisoners wouldn't make it to the POW camp – and it wasn't like they were expecting any better.
Walking through those rough roads, seeing men and women fall to their knees in fatigue or hunger, watching Japanese troops pull in one of the prisoners to be beaten up for the sake of beating someone up and witnessing countless merciless executions left and right, the trip was hell on earth.
Luckily, before formal communications had been shut down, Audrey was able to contact Serafina by radio. The Ukrainian cancelled her trip to Hong Kong halfway and cruised back to the Philippines as fast as she could. She then proposed to Audrey a plan of escape.
Along the way to the trains to Camp o Donnell, the POW's would pass through a long stretch of coastal road built close to Manila Bay. It was as close to the water as they were going to get and would be the perfect place for Serafina to pick them up. Audrey's aunt and cousin would meet them there. Before they reach the coastal road though, a two-day march lay ahead of them – a march they had to survive.
"We can do this, itay." Ligaya cheered her father, carrying his heavy arm over her shoulder as they walked together, "As long as we're together, we'll make it."
"Heh…" Nicanor chuckled, his bruised face somehow showing lightheartedness, "Aren't those supposed to be my lines?"
"You've taken care of me all of my life, itay." Ligaya said, "Now, it's my time to return the favor. Things will be alright once we get to Manila."
"I'm looking forward to it." Nicanor smiled, "Maybe I can stop being such a bad father and give you the peaceful life you deserve for once."
"You aren't a bad father, itay." Ligaya argued, "All these years, you've been there to wipe my tears, to calm me down when I'm afraid… to sing me a lullaby for me to fall asleep."
"Ligaya…"
"I wouldn't know what to do without you, itay."
"Don't be foolish, Ligaya. You're a strong girl, a strong… brave girl. You'll do fine even without me."
"I don't know about that…"
"Believe in yourself, Ligaya." Nicanor reminded, "I am very proud to have a daughter like you."
He paused for a moment
"And so was your mother Dolores…"
"Mother was proud of me? Didn't she die giving birth to me?"
"Your delivery was a risky one, Ligaya." Nicanor said, his lips now saying what he had kept hidden from his daughter for many years now, "It had come to the point that the doctor said that your mother and I would have to make a choice – save her life or to save yours… and she chose to save you."
Ligaya fell silent, listening to her and her hobbling father's footsteps against the dusty road. Words that Nicanor had kept to himself now started to seep from his lips.
"Your mother was the most beautiful woman I had ever met." Nicanor reminisced, "Your curly hair, your dark brown eyes – you inherited those from her… but not only that. You inherited her smile too."
"My… smile?"
"Yes, your smile." Nicanor grew tranquil. "Whenever I had problems back in the day, your mother would encourage me with her smile. Just seeing her like that would make me feel like I could take on the world – take on any punishment life dishes to me and fly above my woes… Even until those last moments… When she made that choice, she decided with a smile.
'Gusto kong ituloy ang panganganak (I want to have this baby).' She said without any hesitation, 'Pakiusap Nic… magpakatatag ka. Maaayos din itong lahat. (Please, Nic… be strong. Everything will be alright).'
'Pero ayaw kong mamatay ka! (But I don't want you to die!)' I said back, pleading to her as she lay in the hospital bed 'Baka sakaling mamatay ka! Paano mo nasasasabing maaayos ang lahat ng ito? (You might die! How can you say everything will be alright?)'
Then she said it… the words you and I exchange through our tough times, anak…
'Maniwala ka saakin tulad ng pagkakatiwala ko sa iyo. (Believe in me as I have believed in you).' She said, her smile unwavering even as tears started to trickle down her face, 'Alam mo naman, tiwala lamang ang mayroon tayo – tiwala sa ating sarili, tiwala sa Diyos at tiwala sa isa't isa. (After all, faith is all we have – faith in ourselves, faith in God and faith in each other…)
Kung makaya nating maniwala ng ganito, kahit kamataya'y di tayo mapapaghawi…(With such faith, even death cannot tear us apart).'
I could argue with her no more after that. Escorted by the doctor and the nurses, I left the room and waited outside – listening to what could only have been a most painful cesarean delivery. The doctor came out of the room, his face grim and his white coat bloody. Your mother experienced wide-scale hemorrhaging during the delivery as he had suspected – she had no more than ten minutes to live.
I burst into the room in a cold sweat, feeling my mind go blank, knowing that these were my wife's last moments. The happiness in her face and in her smile seemed to show otherwise – she looked as if her life had only just begun.
'Tingnan mo, Nic! (Look, Nic!)' she declared happily, holding onto you in her arms with utmost care, 'Malusog na sanggol na babae… ang pinakamagandang sanggol na babae sa daigdig! (A healthy baby girl... the prettiest baby girl in the world!)'
'Dolores… huwag kang magpapagod… (Dolores… don't exert yourself too much…)' I warned, 'Sabi ng doctor… (The doctor said…)'
'Alam ko… (I know…)' She replied, 'Sampung minuto na lang ang mayroon ako… (Ten minutes is all I have left…)'
'Edi… (Then…)'
'Edi aalagaan ko siya sa iyong tabi haggang oras ko nang umalis. (Then I will spend every last one taking care of her beside you till it's time for me to go.)' She said with that unwavering smile, 'Nasa kanya na ang aking buhay… siya ang ating kaligayahan. (My life is hers now… she is our happiness).'
'Kaligayahan… (happiness)'
'Oo, siya ang ating Ligaya. (Yes, she is our happiness)'
That was how we decided on your name. Your mother whispered your name to you over and over and over again till she could barely speak any more. When her arms started to grow weak, I picked you up for the first time and held you in my arms. Your mother saw this and smiled – then, she breathed her last."
Ligaya was awestruck by what she had heard, feeling her heart pounding against her chest.
"I couldn't get myself to tell you this story, no matter how many times I've tried…" Nicanor said, shaking his head in disbelief "But now, I just said it straight out. Maybe it was only now that I understand your mother's sacrifice…"
"What do you mean by that, itay?"
"It's nothing." Nicanor smiled, "Let's walk faster – the guards might get angry at us if we lag too far behind."
Act XV –Farewell
Arm in arm, father and daughter carried on like that through the road. By each other's side, the two day's travel did not seem too long. By the morning of the third day of their tiresome journey, they Ligaya, Nicanor and the rest of the POW's made out the coastal road in the distance. They would be crossing it come the afternoon. Having had two days to rest since their beatings, Nicanor and Audrey's uncle were back up on their own two feet but conserved their energy. Their plan for escape centered on every one of them being able to run out to the bay.
"Comrades!" A voice whispered in Audrey and Ligaya's minds, "I can see you two – I'll reveal myself once you start making a run for it, but be quick!. This boat won't be able to take a lot of serious punishment."
"Our pickup is here." Audrey then whispered to Nicanor and her uncle. "She'll be at the bay waiting for us."
"How can you tell?" Nicanor asked the American.
"I just can tell." Audrey smirked, covering the ring on her finger, "Regardless, we'd better get ready."
Ligaya and the two men nodded and they started and Audrey gave a quick signal to her aunt and cousin who had followed them from a distance. Fishing through his shirt pocket, Nicanor pulled out his two medals – the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. The sharp tips of the safety pins that came with the medals shimmered for a moment in he sunlight. Nicanor discreetly handed the Service Cross to Audrey's uncle and held on to the Flying Cross. The moment they neared the waters of Manila bay, the two men rushed at the nearest Japanese soldier near them and stabbed them in the throat.
The frantic commotion that followed was almost immediate. Confused Japanese soldiers were dumbstruck by what they had seen and many of the POW's figured this was their chance to escape.
"Go, go,go!" Audrey cried out at the top of her voice. She and Ligaya then dashed towards the bay and Serafina's small PT boat revealed itself. Audrey's aunt and cousin followed the two girls while Nicanor and the uncle took the pistols off the holsters of the two dead Japanese soldiers and shot at the other dumbstruck troops, allowing many others to escape. They then joined the others headed for the PT boat.
"Quick, get on!" Serafina cried, helping Audrey then Ligaya up onto the boat. The Japanese troops, finally recovering from the initial shock, started to round up some of the POW's and shoot the rest. They then saw the PT boat and started shooting at it. The three girls aboard ducked to take cover.
"Wait a sec… the other's haven't made it yet!" Ligaya screamed. The girls peeked out and saw the most horrifying sight – the aunt and the cousin falling sideways, struck by a hail of bullets from the Japanese on the coastal road.
"No!" Audrey cried hysterically, "God damn it! No!"
The uncle, seeing his wife and child mercilessly shot dashed forward to their sides, only to draw the Japanese fire towards him as well. Audrey gritted her teeth as bitter, bitter tears ran unchecked down her cheeks.
Now, only Nicanor was left on the beach.
"That man's not going to make it." Serafina said desperately, picking up a Thompson submachine gun from the floor of her boat and shooting back at the Japanese, "But if we don't move soon – neither will we!"
"We can't leave him here!" Ligaya pleaded. With all her might, she shouted back, "Itay!"
"Mauna na kayo! (Go on ahead!)" He shouted back in Filipino, "Iwanan niyo na ako! (Leave me here!)"
The man stopped running towards the boat and dove to hide and take cover behind a rock. He checked his pistol and readied himself to shoot. With his back pressed against the sandy rock, he could hear the sounds of Japanese gunfire and the sounds of Japanese boots against the Bataan sand.
"Itay, huwag! (Dad, no!)"
"Mahal kita, Ligaya! (I love you, Ligaya!)" He cried out, standing up from where he stood, "Mabuhay ka AKING LIGAYA! (I want you to live, my happiness!)"
"ITAY!"
Before the sergeant could even fire a single shot, bullets tore through his tattered shirt and through his brown flesh and blood spilled on the sand and water. His body jerked forward, against the force of the bullets and he fell face first into the sand. Ligaya fell to her knees and onto the floor of the boat maroon magic surrounded the light craft. The boat started as bullets still flew, striking against the hull of the boat or into the bay's waters. The coastal road, now a scene of a great panicked escape and a brutal massacre, slowly disappeared into the distance.
"Itay…"
Then, Ligaya wept. Both she and Audrey were shaken, unable to believe what had just taken place before their very eyes. Serafina wanted to comfort them, but she did not know how. She just kept her eyes straight and drove her hidden boat back to Manila, doing her best to steel herself from her passengers' bitter tears.
Act XVI – The Decision
At the fourth floor of the Edificio Gumamela in Escolta Manila, Ligaya de la Cruz sits atop the mattress of a single bed with her face towards the window. Her eyes looked to the bright blue sky which had oftentimes cheered up the young Filipina girl. Today, it offered her no solace – and neither did the rich foods served beside her on a tray or the mug filled to the brim with her favorite orange juice. The soft, comfortable bed gave her tired feet no rest. Her clean change of clothes did not please her. The richly decorated room given to her and Audrey did not amaze her as it usually would. Two days had passed since the nightmare at the coastal road, but her heart was still heavy and grieved.
The American girl lay down on the bed lined beside Ligaya's, her arms spread out over the mattress and her hair untied from its usual ponytail fanning out around her back. She had stopped grieving a little earlier on, but did not bother Ligaya. She loved her deceased relatives with all of her heart, but she knew the bond between Ligaya and Nicanor was something special. Perhaps, she thought, if she had a parent who cared for her the way Nicanor did for Ligaya, she would act the same way. She did not have that sort of luxury.
There was a knock on the door. A small metal click was followed by a slight creak.
"Sorry for the intrusion." Serafina said, peeking into the room, "Have you two already settled into your rooms yet?"
Since the day she had brought Audrey and Ligaya back to the Gumamela Building, Serafina had personally asked Elise to let her stay for a few more days. All that time, she served as a sort of caretaker – attending to the needs of the two shaken girls.
"We've settled into the room just fine, Serafina." Audrey said, not moving from where she lay, "It just takes quite a bit of time to let the situation itself settle within us…"
"Comrade Ligaya hasn't touched her food…" Serafina noted the untouched food tray at Ligaya's side. "It must be tough."
The Ukrainian girl then stepped into the room and folded her arms.
"Don't worry though – you two can stay here in the Gumamela Building all you want." Serafina then said, "I've worked out a food and lodging deal with Elise; this room will be yours and your meals will be covered too – I'll be paying your rent, so to speak."
"Is that really alright?" Audrey asked as she sat upright to face Serafina, letting her hair flow down to her shoulders. "I feel like we're asking too much from you."
"No, no. This is the least I can do." Serafina assured, "What happened to you two back there isn't something girls are supposed to have to put up with – I went through a lot of shit in Ukraine too, so I can sympathize."
"Thank you for that… but I really want to do something for you in return." Audrey insisted, "When my aunt and auntie took me in, I made sure I helped them establish their hacienda…"
"Would that mean…"
"Yeah." Audrey nodded, looking at Serafina straight in the eye, "I'll offer my services to Carissima Elise."
"So will I." Ligaya added all of the sudden, drawing the attention of Audrey and Serafina, "I want to work for Salvae too."
"But Ligaya…" Audrey argued, "To work for Salvae would mean…"
"To work with Salvae, one must be a Puella Magi." An authoritative voice suddenly said. The door to the room was pushed open, revealing the Carissima Elise with a Kyuubey perched on her shoulder. She had come by to check on the two visitors and was delighted by the conversation she had overheard. "Ms. Audrey's offer, I can easily accept – but yours is still in doubt. Bb. Ligaya de la Cruz, are you willing to take a leap of faith and become a Puella Magi – one whose life is devoted to fighting Witches?"
"If that's all that needs to be done to be able to help out, then so be it." Ligaya said firmly, turning around to face everyone else "Plus, I think I have something I truly want to wish for now."
Kyuubey immediately fixed its eyes on Ligaya, his odd, vague smile on its face. The Filipina stood up from where she sat and approached Elise and the Kyuubey on her shoulder. Kyuubey hopped off Elise's shoulder then sat instead atop one of the beds. Ligaya took a deep breath.
"My father and mother both loved me to their dying breath, but to what purpose exactly? I don't understand…"
As Ligaya spoke, a gale blew through the closed room. Audrey and Serafina shielded themselves, but Elise and Kyuubey stood still, watching the affair with interest.
"At that coastal road, Audrey vowed to protect everyone – her uncle, aunt, cousin, myself… and even my father… but why was it only me who made it through? Why do I deserve to be defended when I cannot even defend them in return? I want to be able to protect those I love too!"
"What is it you wish for then?" Kyuubey asked calmly, his ears flailing in the wind. Ligaya closed her eyes and remembered the words her father had told her.
"I want to have resolve… resolve to be able to protect those around me from the punishment life is certain to dish out; resolve as strong as steel!"
"Are you absolutely certain?" Kyuubey asked one last time, "Let it be known that contracts are binding and final."
"I am sure." Ligaya declared, "Do it."
Without another word, Kyuubey extended his ears to Ligaya's chest and the young Filipina girl grunted in pain. For a moment, the girl saw fire – molten steel pouring into an arc furnace… then, she saw a giant gear turning and turning and turning without end. Her strange vision disappeared and a green light coalesced into a rough oval floated above her.
"Go on and take it." Kyuubey said to the Filipina who floated down gently on her back to the floor, "This is your destiny."
Ligaya reached up for the green light and caught it with her hand. It then transformed into an olive-green Soul Gem. Rather than gold, though, hers was encased in steel. Dazed, Ligaya looked at the curious object with mild fascination.
"I've done it… I've become a Puella Magi…"
…
.
…
It was that place again – the realm of black and white tiles that stretched as far as the eye could see. Madoka could tell; she had seen this place before. She had seen it many times; a clear, silent space of black and white.
"Hello?" Madoka called out, "Is anyone there?"
Suddenly, chess pieces – white pawns, knights, bishops and rooks - fell from the sky and smashed into the tiles. They all stood upright, standing guard around a white king. A loud thud sounded from behind Madoka and she saw a queen harassed by countless black pawns and a black knight. The queen was struck and toppled lifelessly onto the tiles, but so did the pawns, and the knight that led them.
Then, three figures – girls, not chess pieces – walked across the board towards the defended king. Madoka could not make out their faces, but there was an air of determination about them. The rings on their fingers shone brightly, the only colors in that black and white world. Then, for a moment, she thought she recognized two of them.
"Mami-san!" Madoka cried, "Homura-san!"
But they did not turn to her for it was not them. The realm of black and white then crumbled into an inferno – flaming stone falling and breaking everywhere. Still the three figures pushed forward – Madoka could now only barely make them out through the dust and debris.
Moments later, Madoka awoke with cold sweat in her bed. The girl hastily straightened her back and saw the clock in her room read twelve midnight.
"What was that I just saw…?"
To Be Continued
Episode 8 Preview:
An alliance armed with time and powder,
Blessed with the wisdom of olden times,
We march together to challenge fate.
To fight a glorious battle, together
She and I...
It would have been nice.
-Akemi Homura-