Hey guys. Here's the new one.
I would really want to increase posting speed but tertiary level education don't leave much for free time. that and tertiary level equipment too. I blame my laptop and Steam.
Still, a quite a bit of thinking went into this. A bit of a return to my original objective, of showing the worlds outside the games. Maybe you'll like it, maybe you'll don't. Leave a review if you may so please.
Thanks goes to Ban3 as usual for the hard work.
After the fall of the project, the more militant of the candidates were left floating free. Most quickly took security jobs in the company, where they could apply their training. For the rest, an atmosphere of 'now what?' hung over us all. A well to do company didn't need people adept in anarchy or any of the more destructive fields of warfare. Physically, all needs were provided for by the people in charge. Mentally, we are bored out of our minds.-Personal notes of Nora Murray.
Vault
Time.
It was the one thing that the Vault had in seeming abundance.
The self-contained world broke all feeling of the passing seconds. Realms outside seemed subservient to the mind of the beholder, subject to whatever he imagined them to be.
One could lose his sense of time here.
It's master wondered if it was so bad a thing. He had far too much recent experience with the fast pace of combat. Some change would be nice.
And he was content as he was. Lying on a comfortable bed, a beautifully unique girl resting next to him with sleep painted on her face and a gentle feeling drifting from her. Dutch knew he could spend hours just being next to her.
He probed their bond, resisting the urge of sleep pulling through and focusing on the feeling.
It just was. He simply couldn't describe properly the emotions that formed it. A hint of everything good along with fulfillment was his closest guess. It was a therapeutic feeling that defied satisfaction, no end to the amount that he felt.
His finger brushed away an errant lock from her eyes, continuing on to feel the skin of her cheek. A happy mumble resonated with the bond, causing Dutch to smile.
"She's unique, isn't she?"
He faced the hovering orb. "That barely covers her." He returned.
"How far are you willing to go?" Vault probed.
"As far as it takes."
Vault glowed red. "Then choose wisely Vault Master. For now, a misstep will mean that shattering of her trust.. Perhaps forever."
A huge sigh raked his body. "I know. I don't know what's going on. It's like having two different personalities for different worlds. It's difficult."
"Perhaps. Tread carefully then. You walk a thin line." Vault finished, fading away just as Vale yawned awake.
Sleepy eyes focused on the man next to her, drowsiness disappearing with each blink. A happy smile quirked her lips as she moved in close.
'You're awake.' She purred in greeting, moving herself on top him and nuzzling his neck. The entity sniffed his neck, taking in his personal scent and drawing a content mumble from him.
Happy at his reaction, Vale shifted higher, staring straight into him. She weighted down on him comfortably, his arms instinctually looping around her waist. Pressing her forehead against his, they sunk into the moment, eyes closed, touch their only sense.
Finally, she let her emotions flood their bond, an all-powerful surge of love that demanded a physical release. Grabbing his head, she drew hers close, drawing their lips together in a slow kiss.
After what seemed to be an eternity, they broke apart, slow breaths mixing.
'I don't think I will ever get used to that.' He admitted.
Vale giggled. 'I don't want to.' She announced, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"You'll be able to leave here soon."
Vale smiled at Dutch's statement, as she sat watching him first disassemble and then mechanically reassemble his carbine at a separate table.
'You know I won't leave you.' She returned, standing up and walking over to him, her hands wrapping around his neck.
Dutch grinned. "I wouldn't even think of it." He breathed pleasantly as hers brushed against his neck. Letting his head drop onto her shoulder, he closed his eyes and smiled contently.
'I love you.'
"I know."
Vale's hold tightened ever so slightly. 'Promise that you will stay safe.'
"Didn't I promise that I will always come back to you?" Dutch teased.
She tightened her hold again, her wings enveloping him.'Please.'
"I promise. To the best of my ability."
Vale's answer was to hold him tight, a silent answer.
Dutch smiled inwardly as he leaned on the wall.
He delved into their bond to probe Vale's emotions, a quick sample to judge their feeling.
He felt her love foremost, a welling of emotions that spoke of adoration for him and him only. He also felt her fear, a combination of dark anxieties that burned in her mind. This, he sought to quell, sending a wave of assuring calm to smother it.
Her answer was a brush of that adoration, fleeting in its passing but just as emotional in meaning. He smiled and retreated back into his own mind, letting her concentrate on her task. She was safe.
"Dutch?"
He opened his eyes, keeping his smile as Tenma faced him. Her eyes spoke volumes, a seemingly envious focus in them...
"Are you leaving soon?" And then that focus was gone, replaced by concern.
"In about half an hour. Too much traffic right now." He noted.
"What are you seeking the magician for?"
"...A promise. To help grant freedom to one that never had and for one that has never seen it." He cryptically revealed.
"I see." Tenma whispered, moving up to him. Skillful fingers found his chin and held it there as she went for her own kiss, just as deep as her rival.
Dutch could offer no resistance to the actions of the youkai woman. In fact, he returned it. His own inhibitions broke down to her actions, giving her complete and unbridled control over him. He conformed to her movements, letting her press herself against him, her hands to find his.
Eventually, they broke away breathing heavily.
"I could never resist you, you know that? You are far too attractive, too exemplary for me to deny you this." Dutch whispered, more to himself then her.
"I know." Tenma returned, leaning in to continue. Between a wall and a woman again, Dutch lost himself in the myriad of sensations. Her body pressed onto his, her unique scent and most of all, her tongue, almost needy in the way she toyed with his.
It's ended slowly, with reluctant partings. Tenma blushed a satisfied red.
"Stay safe." She breathed.
"I promise." Dutch repeated.
"Okay, this just complicates my job." Jack complained, annoyed eyes glaring at the man opposite him.
"Look, I'll be fine. There's no need to send someone with me." Dutch returned.
"That's not the issue. The problem is that you are heading back into the forest without a guide from the village and people are going to see that the wrong way. Do you really want the villagers' mistrust of you to worsen?"
"I already have a guide waiting for me in there. I'll be okay."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "Is that guide human?"
Dutch kept silent.
"See? My problem exactly." His counterpart growled. "The guards are wary of tengu. They have the skills to match their age and the power too. Now you want to head out into feral youkai territory with no way of us knowing what you are going to do."
"I know this sounds fishy..." Dutch started.
"Good, at least you know half of it. Look, I have no problems with you rambling off but the guys here are twitchy. A mere peep and they will riddle you."
"I see."
Jack sighed. "Alright, just go on ahead. I'll tell the guards to give you a pass when they see you."
"And you better come back before dark, unless you want alarm bells to go off in the guards' heads." He glared.
"Thanks."
"Now go, before I change my mind."
Dutch nodded, departing from the guard post. Eyes followed his back as he headed away from the village. He kept his casual saunter, knowing that those eyes could aim iron sights quickly.
At the forest edge, out of sight of the guards, he relaxed. He wondered which opponents were less stressful, ones that kept the danger over his head constantly or those that struck suddenly.
No matter where he was, old truths stayed strong.
Honestly, he didn't know if his guess was correct. Indications of future events weren't confirmations.
If he was right, then Vale would be one step closer to leaving.
If he was wrong...the forest had many predators.
Still, he hoped that he had guessed right. With the situation as it was, he couldn't trust his fellow kind. With unsure hope, he pushed forward.
It only took at least five minutes of walking before he detected the presence of another. A quick glance answered his query, as Kaimi walked alongside him, in graceful silence. A light grin played at her lips, the Snail Princess gliding along seamlessly.
So he was right. Now he had to get her approval first.
"I have an offer." He started, Kaimi's impassive grin his only guide to her reactions.
"I need a guide to a puppeteer magician living in the forest. Thus I humbly request if you could provide such a service." He continued.
"And your payment?" Kaimi sang softly.
"My company, until we reach the destination."
The Snail Princess giggled. "Then we are in agreement." She cooed, her hand already holding his arm.
They set off, Dutch finding Kaimi's pace easy to fit in with.
"Why do you seek her?" She questioned softly.
"A promise. For someone precious to me."
She gave him a light grin. "I like promises. They show...commitment."
"I don't know. Some promises aren't meant to be kept." Dutch returned.
"Then it requires commitment not to keep it."
"Perhaps...or luck." He returned thoughtfully.
Kaimi's eyes tracked his. "You have seen the promise of death, haven't you?" She whispered.
"Too many."
"But you are so gentle." She continued.
"Gentle? That's just my outer shell. You should see what happens when I start fighting. I like being...efficient."
Kaimi shook her head slowly. "No, you are you. That shell is you. I can see it."
"It's...detachable." Dutch returned."It's the part of me that hides who I truly am. I have no illusion, I know what I am. Anything different would be fooling myself."
Kaimi simply shook her head at him.
Human Village
Tenma felt...uncomfortable.
Then again, heading into the residential area of a village that wasn't accepting of your nature would draw such a feeling. She could feel the eyes of families all centered on her.
A slight breeze wafted past her, flowing along the road and in alley ways. She had picked up a retinue, it seemed. The armed guards followed along alleys, keeping out of sight.
Definitely not out of mind. She redirected her power, commanding the air to flow around the guards she detected. Where they moved, she would know.
All this was masked behind a stoic face. She preferred to show no emotions, give no hint to those around her. In the lands of the Other, it was best not to give off too many signals.
A disturbance in the air made her glance into an alleyway, eyes searching.
She caught the glimpse of hungry eyes. A clenched mouth was her answer, the furthest she would go. It seemed that some people were willing to look past her nature. If only they continued beyond her looks.
Still, a promise was binding. She had to deliver the knife to the man's family, if not for Dutch, then for herself, it was only courtesy.
The directions she acquired from the tavern keep seemed simple enough. If they were right, she was close to her destination.
She entertained the thought of using her power to double check the directions and squashed it immediately. It would disgrace her former role of scout captain if she couldn't even follow simple directions.
The mention of her old position made her pause. It had been a lengthy time since the events of the lunar invasion and her ascension into the role of tengu lord. Even for long lived beings like herself, she still felt the fateful events of that invasion closely.
The effects still resonated in Gensokyo. The Onis' fall from their position of power and the drastic reduction in youkai population were effects born from that ill-fated invasion. She remembered a time when the youkai numbered among the animal as equals. Now? The only time humans feel truly threatened was when the full moon was up.
How things had changed...
Her movements stopped as she faced one particular building. She palmed the knife, feeling it slide out of its sheath. A simple tool and the consequences of it.
"How may I help you?"
Tenma turned to face the speaker, a pair of experienced eyes gazed back at her from a weathered face, framed by hazel locks.
"Ah...I have an item for the owner of this house." Tenma informed her, a slight unsureness in her voice.
The woman smiled. "I am. What do you have for me?"
Tenma stretched out her hand, the knife partly exposed from it's sheath. She saw the sequence of emotions in the woman's eyes.
Pure undiluted loss. Infinite sadness. And rather unexpectedly, closure.
"Did you..." The woman questioned, tears falling.
"No. I found him in the forest. The feral youkai had gotten to him already." Tenma whispered.
The now widow smiled through her tears. "Wo-would you like to come in?" She choked."He would have wanted that."
The tengu nodded solemnly.
"Ah geez! Everyone's got something to do and here we are lazing around." Renko complained.
Maribel giggled, a slight hint of derision in her tone. "Shall we go find something to do then?"
"Heck no! I'm not leaving this place without a clue and wandering around aimlessly! The ghostly field club always has a plan!"
"Very well then. What do you suggest?"
Renko stopped. "I...don't know." She answered slowly, staring at the table. "This isn't our world. There's no world wide web to research from, no train timing to catch."
She looked up. "No special powers anymore. Everyone's got their own power here. We aren't unique."
"That's not a bad thing Renko." Maribel returned.
"Still, do you remember why we made this club Mary?" Renko continued. "When we swore that we would get to the place in your dreams together?"
"Well, we're here now. And we have been running around being dragged along. But now? Now it's been left to us. And I don't know what to do Mary. I really don't." She finished, glancing at her silent friend. "Mary?"
The blonde woman smiled. "Things change, don't they?"
"Yeah but..."
She giggled. "Then we change along with it. Dutch has already changed. Now, it's up to us."
"But what if we can't change back? What about home?" Renko worriedly questioned.
"We'll know when it comes. We may never reach home..." Maribel faltered, her voice slowing at the implications of her words.
'Mary..."
"...so we should make the best of it." The woman finished, adopting her smile again.
Renko staring at her. "Together?"
"Together."
The brunette closed her eyes, arranged her thoughts, released her breath and opened her eyes. What once showed turmoil was calm again.
"Alright. There has to be some kind of information center here, maybe a school or records building that we can learn from. I'll go ask the tavern keep."
Maribel nodded. "I'll follow. In case you forget."
Renko grimaced, standing up. "That was just once. And my guess was close enough the last time."
"Close but not exact." Maribel reminded, following her friend.
"Fine fine."
The time was probably noon, if Dutch guessed correctly. The sun seemed at its zenith, but he was where he wanted to be.
He surveyed the house. A simple, elegant two story affair, with a clear western design. The building seemed occupied, if the open windows were any indication.
"Thanks for the guidance." He said. "You won't need to be around for the return trip. I've got the route memorized."
Kaimi laughed. "Oh dear, now that would be poor etiquette. I must take you back. It would be a poor guide that only leads for half of the journey."
"...I'm not sure that there's a set time when I'll finish. You might have to wait for quite a while."
The snail princess giggled. "The forest knows. Just depart when you are ready and I will find you."
Dutch nodded. "Fine. I guess I'll see you when I do then?"
"Indeed. You are an interesting person Dutch. I will be happy to see you again." Kaimi finished, giving him a wink before leaving.
Dutch turned back to the building, taking even breaths. He felt assailed by an unexpected sensation of nervousness, holding him back. Thoughts of the overtly paranoid ran through his head.
'Come on now you idiot. It's only a house.'He thought, taking tentative steps. 'Isolated houses in the forest shouldn't pose any threats.'
He tapped on the Hazelwood door, a loud impact of bone on wood. For a long while, there was no answer, the house silent.
'Well, I guess I'll just turn on back...'
"Coming!"
'...or not.'
The clicking of the lock made him focus in the door, the knob turning. The barrier swung open but there was no one on the other side. Instead, a doll floated midair, it's western maid clothing echoing the design origin of the house.
The doll bowed to Dutch before motioning him to enter. Surprised by the reception, he followed as the door swung shut behind him. He followed the doll, the human model leading him on silently. He passed open doors, filled with the tidy mess of a meticulous busy person.
Dolls lined the walls too, in neat rows on ledges. Dutch wondered how many would spring into action if he did something dangerous.
The doll lead him into a lounge, the room bright and cozy from the sun. Motioning him to sit, it flew out, just like the maids it emulated. He took the invitation, noting the comfortable clothing-like texture of the seats. He traced the weave, also noting the handmade feel of it.
"Good afternoon."
He gazed up at the speaker, a young woman who greeted him. She wore a blue dress, simple but elegant. A white capelet covered her shoulder, the ends colored red, with sleeves of the same color reaching to her wrists from under the capelet. Various red and white ribbons dotted her attire, finishing the graceful look.
"You aren't my normal fare of houseguest. What brought you here?" She inquired.
"I was...pointed here by someone who believed that you could help me. It regards a magical sequence that I am working on."Dutch returned.
The Magician smiled."I could help you with that. But I'm sure that even you would think such an arrangement would be unfair. I would need some sort of equal answer for the services that I will provide."
"Indeed. I do have an equal answer. This." Dutch answered, taking off his Vault glove and placing it on the table.
Alice examined the crystal. The material holding it seemed of little importance but the object itself was of great significance. Her adept eyes revealed information from its surface, noting the minute emissions of massive power contained within and the telltale signs of boundaries that shielded across multiple layers of reality.
Yes, it would be an equal answer. Actually unequal, she corrected herself. The man before her had given her an artifact whose likes she hadn't seen in a long time.
Not since she left Makai.
Keeping her thoughts down, she spoke.
"Do you have any idea of its nature?"
Dutch nodded."It's a device that can store, modify and replicate anything I want apparently. If it helps, I had a magician called Marisa almost abduct me for it."
Marias tried to seize it for herself? Alice allowed herself a ghostly grin. A loss was her gain.
"How much of an extent does the artifact replicate?"
"Far enough that I was able to replicate and modify magical processes."
The puppeteer nodded. "Very well. We have an agreement then."
"How long would it take?"
"It depends. I would need to see this sequence first." She continued.
Dutch tapped the crystal. It hummed, before displaying a screen of energy, the magic sequence laid out on it.
Alice let out a small grin at the sight. It appeared that even if she hadn't asked for anything, she would have gotten access to the artifact. Either way would have given her the same ending.
At least he knew how to maximize his resources.
"I'll have to take a preliminary test before I can give you a definite answer. Until then, make yourself at home," She finished, sending out a array of dolls, each holding refreshments.
Tenma surveyed the house.
It was well-kept. The place was kept relatively clean, with only the mess of slight activity and that left by children piled on the floor. Space seemed a premium, the living room appearing to be the only wide space in the house.
It was modest. None too shabby or extravagant. The house was the epitome of daily life, colored with a myriad of emotions.
Now...only sadness would fill these walls. For a long time to come.
The clink of cups returned her eyes to her host. The widow sat opposite her, a broken smile on her face.
"Pardon my rudeness but you are a tengu?" She questioned.
"Yes, yes I am."
"Ah, my husband always admired your people." The widow continued.
"He had an uncommon belief then." Tenma returned.
Her host laughed. "Indeed he had. He always said 'If only we were more united like the tengu'." She recalled. "My husband never did believe the danger that our neighbors saw. He saw the good side of people."
"He seemed a good man."
"He was. I don't think anyone hated him, even for his ideas."
"You...don't seem that hurt." Tenma said gingerly.
The widow smiled robotically. "When he never came back yesterday, we assumed the worst. We hoped for his return but we prepared for it. Such a neutral word, prepare." The widow laughed.
"So thank you. Thank you for bring me proof of his passing, at least we will never be plagued by false hope. Thank you for bringing us closure." She finished, halting her tears to bow slightly to Tenma.
Tenma returned the gesture, the movement reminding her of another object.
She grabbed the small bag Dutch gave her. "He also had this on him." She noted, handing it over.
The widow looked inside, almost apprehensively and gasped. Tears flowed once more as she laughed humorlessly.
"You fool. You died and left a fortune. Why couldn't you just do it properly and leave us with sadness? Now how am I going to spend this properly?" She cried.
Tenma kept silent, a sympathetic comfort as the widow cried her loss out.
"It's here?" Maribel questioned, looking up.
Renko nodded. "Should be. He did say that the place would be different from the normal buildings." She responded, checking a map she had obtained.
Normal seemed a distant description, as the duo faced a simple door, a manor behind it. They could hear the hubbub of work behind the gate, the distinct sounds of people managing an estate.
"Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained." Maribel whispered, pushing the door.
The barrier opened onto a courtyard, where attendants traveled around involved with their duties. Gingerly, the duo stepped inside, curious of how such a place could help them.
"Ah, how may I help you?" An attendant inquired, diverting from her path to receive them.
"We were told that we should come here if we needed information." Renko returned.
The attendant smiled. "You are in luck. Lady Akyuu just came back and is willing to accept visitors.
She motioned for them to follow, turning towards the immediate building. The pair trailed behind her, passing well-kept sections of garden, each a myriad of plants in co-existence.
The attendant brought them in and shut the door behind her, instantly drowning out the noise with silence.
"The manor has to be silent for Lady Akyuu to do her work." She explained.
Carrying on, they continued into the interior, where rooms displayed shelves of scrolls. Silent scribes worked on them, copying their contents.
"We copy the records by hand and keep them safe for time to come. Almost all of them come from Lady Akyuu herself." She proudly whispered.
"What is her role here?" Maribel probed.
The attendant smiled sadly. "Lady Akyuu is the child of Maire. Her purpose is to create the Gensokyo chronicle. Past that, she doesn't have long to live."
"8 editions of the chronicle have been made and recorded. Hers shall be the ninth." She finished.
"That's so cruel..." Maribel whispered.
"It's a price that must be paid for this land. I have seen one generation pass. Hers shall be my second."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Renko continued.
The attendant smiled again. "Don't be. The Lady inherits the memories of her pasts. She understands and is at terms with it."
They let the silence of the hall return, as the trio continued into the rear of the mansion.
"Lady Akyuu would be delighted to greet visitors, especially outsiders. She is very interested in the matters of the outside." The attendant continued.
"As are we in the realm." Maribel returned.
"Then we are in agreement."
The voice made the trio jump, swivelling to face the unexpected voice. A young woman in her teenage years beamed at them, short cut purple bangs trailing above a pair of smiling eyes.
"My lady." The attendant bowed.
"As you were, Yuki. I'll lead them from here on." The woman instructed.
"Thank you for your help."
The attendant nodded before leaving. Renko and Maribel followed the woman as she lead them into a bright room, a wide door presenting a silent garden.
"Relaxing, isn't it? I like silence." Akyuu smiled as she sat down.
"So I heard that you desire knowledge?" She prodded.
"Yes."
"Very good. So do I. Shall we have an equivalent exchange?" She continued. The glances that her two counterparts exchanged made her panic,
"I'm not trying to be overbearing or anything." She babbled." It's just that I really want to know about events in the outside and you two are the newest arrivals."
"Oh. That's fine then." Renko smiled, relief evident.
Akyuu grinned. "Excellent. I think you will need something to keep your mind active, anyhow, with the amount of information that you need to learn." She noted, pulling a large stack of books.
Renko and Maribel grinned at each other.
Alice examined the crystal with great interest.
Her initial suspicions were correct. The artifact held immense magical power, enough to raze the majority of Gensokyo and it's neighbours should it become unstable. Yet it was a simple characteristic, a property of it's nature.
What the artifact truly had was an artificial reality. A magically created universe, crammed into a solid crystal. She couldn't even begin to guess at the amount of spell work that went into the creation of this item. The scale and intricacy of it meant that it had to have taken several centuries before it was complete.
It rivaled her mother in terms of nature. Just like Makai, whoever controlled it had the power of creation, formed using raw magical energy.
The research gleaned from it would benefit her greatly.
Smiling to herself, Alice got to work. A light tap revealed the sequence once more, suspended by beams of light.
She followed the path of the sequence, frowning the further she went.
It wasn't...wrong, she concluded but it had a strange series of mistakes. Every time a value had to be placed, it was at the maximum or the minimum, never something in between.
It would be be a simple matter to adjust it to the correct settings but she decided not to. It would be of better use to impart some knowledge through self-correction, she viewed, than to simply correct the problem.
It would be a better payment.
She sent Shanghai to a shelf and pulled out a book. It's contents were hopelessly basic for her but she believed it would be a good start for her counterpart.
She then focused on her actual task.
She called forth a magic circle and placed the glove in it, both lighting up. A twitched finger sent a probing tendril of magic along its surface, curling around the object.
A flick made it enter the crystal, an infinitesimal entry of power. Alice increased the amount, sending more energy to disappear into the crystal. She pulsed the tendril, seeking an answer.
She was rewarded with an equivalent answer.
A different tendril pulsed back in answer. It spiraled around hers, never touching but close enough..
Alice fired off a portion of her power, a query in magical terms. She hoped to get an answer, to gauge the intelligence of her counterpart.
She expected an echo or even a return of her query. But what she got was a proper answer, the kind that continued and ended conversations.
Clearly, it was of no feral mind. So Alice fired off a series of probes, slowly increasing in frequency. She tweaked the nature of the probes each time, applying varying power levels.
The artifact returned her salvo just as quickly. Each answer was the equal of each question, her power mirrored by her counterpart.
They continued this exchange, increasing the speed until both were communicating at blistering speeds. Probes were formed and answered in split seconds.
Alice blinked calmly. As fast as it was , this was simply child's play in fast forward. To up the ante, she crafted an actual question and let fly even as she continued her rapid probing.
Who are you?
Her counterpart answered amidst a barrage of her own probes and answers.
I am the Entity of the Vault.
Alice digested the information while answering this new counterattack. Even as she prepared a particularly wide spread barrage of probes, her answer was already on its way.
You are the spirit Of this artifact?
It was better to question the obvious then not question at all.
Yes.
She nodded to herself. Now that she knew who she was talking to, perhaps a read of the owner of this object was in order.
And the man who wields this artifact?
This question generated a short pause, even as the stalemate of probe and answer continued frenziedly.
He is the Vault's master...and more.
It was a treasure trove of information, showing but not telling. Alice decided to cease this line of questioning. What happened between spirit and master was not of her concern.
What role do you play?
Such general powers as storage and replication had to have some serious care taking going on behind the scenes. While she knew that her counterpart was powerful and proficient enough to answer her, the function was pretty much unknown.
I manage all stored objects and ensure the well being of the Vault Master.
That's a start, Alice mused.
Dutch felt...lonely.
Not that the human-like dolls didn't keep him company but without the glove in his hand, Vale's presence seemed distant. Almost gone, even.
And without her presence, his head felt empty and thus, lonely.
That usually wouldn't be a problem. In fact, he once liked empty. With no outside noise blaring its way in, it gave him space to think.
And think he did. In fact, with the constant activity around him, he hadn't had time to actually think alone. He reran the past few days, as a part of him scrutinized it, adopting a neutral position as he told himself his conclusions.
He wished for the moment he could establish contact with Vale again. It was distressing not having her presence in his head...Almost like an addiction, a part of him whispered in warning.
It was such a rapid change from a month ago that he felt somewhat overwhelmed if he thought about it. It had gone from a single sphere of energy to this beautiful girl that he couldn't get out of his head.
And he wouldn't change it in any other way. Vale had gone too deep for him to let her go. She knew his thoughts, his memories and the darkness that dwelled inside him.
And her acceptance, expressed after all that, was beyond his imagination. She never condemned him but received him, his safety her only demand.
He could return her emotions. He not only had to, but indeed wanted to too.
A part of him gave its assent; however that same part of his mind added a quick note of warning about his actions towards her rival.
The sound of footsteps made him look up, as the Magician returned. She had a wide smile, a good sign.
"It is an excellent payment. In fact, I feel obliged to give you something more. A gift of knowledge." She announced, as a doll flew from behind her holding a book.
"Your sequence does have certain errors, however I believe it is of greater benefit to you if you discovered it yourself. I can present a stepping stone for you to fix it yourself." She continued. "If you accept, you will have to return everyday until the process is complete. I will check it for you."
"Or alternatively, should you not have the time, I can fix it for you."
Dutch nodded. He saw her offer as it was, a much better trade then what he gave her. She had just offered him the power of knowledge.
He had to work but he would learn. And that was a very high gift indeed.
"I'll receive your gift gratefully." He answered.
The Magician nodded. "Very well. We shall be seeing each other a lot then Mr..."
He grinned. "Dutch."
"Alice. Alice Margatroid."
Vale smiled in blissful contentment.
The Vault was back in Dutch's hands again and as such, their bond was once again whole.
Just his presence was an added level of comfort to her, knowing that she knew his condition instantly and any changes which had taken place since her "absence".
Still, the conversation with the magician was exhilarating. She had never experienced such active interaction, holding a conversation while firing and answering probes
She had never received such an exercise before. To know that such frantic matches were an easy feat for her was encouraging.
With a proud smile, she looked at her latest project. It's was originally Dutch's but she decided that she would finish it. Her personal contribution to his safety.
Her mind brushed his, drawing a happier smile from her. The person connected to her.
She will protect him. This will protect him.
"Do you have a significant other?"
Tenma blinked in surprise at the sudden question. They were at the door and she was preparing to depart.
"No..." She returned automatically.
The widow smiled. "But there is one you seek."
Tenma slowly nodded. "He's different from me. He's human." She returned.
The widow took her hand and placed the knife in it, bare of decorations. "Then I wish you luck. Maybe you'll find the ending you wish for." She whispered, closing her hand
Tenma looked at the knife. "But..."
"It's just a tool. The memories it had inhabit the decorations it once wore. Now, let it wear a new set of decorations. Let it hold a new set of memories." The widow smiled shakily.
"He would have wanted it this way." She finished, weeping anew.
"...Thank you." Tenma answered a slightly pitying inflection in her tone.
Dutch stared at the book.
It, surprisingly enough, was readable. The words weren't some faraway language but familiar human words. Taking a quick leaf through, he saw long instructions, spread out by small paragraphs.
Sending the book into the infinite holds of the vault, he looked up at the sky. The sunlight was a brilliant pink hue, a clear indication that dusk was approaching.
Best be on his way.
The memory of his journey earlier made the return trip seem natural. Casual footsteps recounted the ones taken before.
A single pair turned into two.
Kaimi brushed his hand. "How was it?" She inquired.
"Rewarding. That being said, I'm going to have to return again to continue this."
"Oh? Would you require a escort?" She continued.
"That would be nice. For the sake of company."
The snail princess giggled. "Indeed. Though it would be nicer if you had left later..." She sighed.
"Wouldn't later be more dangerous?"
"True. But there is an establishment that opens at night. It's servings are excellent."
Dutch frowned. "I would accept the offer but certain...people find my comings and goings suspicious enough. Anything that would antagonise them any further would be.. inconvenient."
"Oh, I can help you with that." Kaimi offered, resting her hand in his arm.
He thought of it, weighing the cons. "Very well I guess." He gave in.
At least the sentries didn't look like they were going to riddle him in the back this time.
Still, Dutch wondered how Kaimi was going to help him with them. Unless she had some kind of free pass, he didn't see any way that he wouldn't be on the receiving end of intense scrutiny.
Yet what was done was done. He decided to make a note to question her tomorrow. The more he knew, the better.
As he slid the tavern room door open, emptiness greeted him. Shrugging at the lack of occupants, he lay down on the floor and looked at the ceiling.
The sound of the door opening made him look up.
"I thought tengu were fast?" He quipped.
Tenma smiled. "Except when matters demand it."
"I see. How was it?"
Her silent shake was all the answer he needed.
"Yeah.. stupid question." Dutch sighed.
"I'll still return. To pay my respects."
"Yeah, you do that." He smiled warmly.
They lapsed into silence as Tenma sat down next to him.
"You ever thought of it? Dying, I mean?" Dutch questioned.
"Sometimes. It takes a lot to kill a tengu." She mused, plucking a stray feather from her lustrous silver hair.
Her eyes turned thoughtful. "Even then, I have sent off those who lost their lives. Sometimes they were overwhelmed in the heat of battle, others.. stayed behind. Very rarely did we fight an equivalent enemy, by fate or design."
"The moon?" He prodded.
"That was a rare one. We had a powerful army . The Oni still led us and their strength was beyond imagination. That and the raw power of massed youkai made the army almost unstoppable." She remembered.
Then her eyes clouded. "But the Lunarians stopped it. Their rabbits paid the price in blood to do so. Hundreds, thousands died everyday, trying to stop us. For a while they couldn't."
"Then the moon sent its drones. They weren't as numerous as the rabbits but they didn't need numbers. By then, all those different youkai had started to fight amongst each other. Differences in everything drove them to do so."
"And then the Oni saw battle and followed. They wanted a fight and so we had to follow." She whispered, her voice sorrowful.
"The moon knew their desires and provided it. Our entire army charged into a Lunarian army. We were fighting an equal match."
She relived the battle in seconds. "No-one won." She finished.
"I'm sorry." Dutch whispered.
The youkai lord smiled. "There is a song. It's in ancient tengu, to honor the dead for their actions for their people." She answered.
And then she sang. Dutch didn't know the meanings but it was conveyed nonetheless. It was a tribute, one made of pride, reverence and mourning. A simple song, with so much meaning.
As the last words flowed from her lips, Tenma realised she was crying. Her hand reached up, fingers touching one of the falling droplet. A brush from Dutch made her start.
He smiled. "You truly are your people." He whispered as he wiped the tears away.
The silver haired woman laughed sorrowfully.
"The moon..." Maribel breathed.
"Mary?" Renko questioned, turning away from her own book.
"I remember what I saw but to know that such a civilization exists, one even more powerful than our own." The blonde whispered."Unbelievable."
"But it's not helpful to us Mary. We need to know about this land. To know what awaits us onward."
Yet her friend shook her head."You didn't see it Renko. When I unlocked the door, it was two moons, one behind the other. I think it means more than that. I think that the object that he has came from there."
The brunette started. "From the moon? Are you sure?"
"Yes. Remember when Yukari said that he drew attention from the more reclusive members of the magical realm? Those that live on the moon hid themselves from view because they wanted to be left alone. It all fits together." She muttered.
"How powerful is the moon?" Renko probed.
"Enough to stop a youkai army. And if they are targeting Dutch because of that thing..." Maribel whispered.
Her friend growled. "Dammit! Why doesn't he tell us these things!"
"He wouldn't. It's not like him to tell us about anything dangerous."
"Still!"
The sound of a door opening made them turn. Akyuu smiled as she entered. "It's almost dusk. Are you leaving soon?" She asked.
"I think we need more time here. Is it possible..."
The child of Maire smiled. "Of course. I would be only too happy to host you while you learn. I'll instruct the attendants to prepare a pair of rooms for you. And don't worry; the tavern you stay at will be informed."
The pair nodded their thanks as their host left. The moment they were alone, both got to the task of learning, feverishly learning about the moon.
One thing was for certain, Dutch couldn't hide this from them anymore.
Dutch touched his lips.
Both of them had decided to have an early sleep, both in bed immediately after dinner. Still, he stayed awake, thinking the time away.
He glanced to his side, where Tenma slept on her own futon.
Just like before, he thought of the hold she placed and her rival's. Either would demand a choice from him.
Just like before, he couldn't. His mind could only accommodate one or the other. Yet to forget either of them seemed impossible.
Something was helping him. He hadn't heard a single word from his soulmate about his action and he knew their bond was deep enough. If she searched, she would know.
He should take this chance. Find out where he stood. And hope that he didn't destroy Vale's heart in the process.
Speaking of her, he closed his eyes, and reopened them in the Vault. There she stood, smiling at him. Waiting for him to return to her.
'You're back.' She whispered.
"Was there any doubt?" He returned equally.
The girl giggled before walking up to him. Her wings unfurled as she took off, a single beat to send her afloat, magic keeping her airborne as she reached around his neck to draw him in.
Their minds melded as their bond flooded with emotions, a heady cocktail of feelings.
She broke away first, smiling proudly. That was when Dutch realized that he was encased in something.
"This is..." He started as he looked at his hands.
'Your armor. Taken from your defeated foes, now changed to protect you.'Vale announced, her hand on said armor.
It was made of the same metallic weave that he used to create his glove, with some additions. Actual plating protected his body and limbs, interlocking with the weave itself to compromise between defense and mobility.
The color was different, a dark hue of blue, almost black.
'My blessing. For you to be safe.' Vale finished, before calling a helmet into her hands and placing it onto his head.
It fit perfectly. A light blue visor surrounded him, completely shutting him in. Then the visor became transparent, revealing what lay beyond the armor. Dutch could see Vale, proudly looking at him.
'Like a knight.' She smiled. Her vision merged with his for a split second and Dutch saw a faceless suit of armor, visor staring at himself, like a silent guardian. 'My knight.'
'Thank you.' He answered.
The vault entity simply held onto him. 'Just be safe.'
Vale mumbled as her wings twitched.
Her partner smiled as he brushed an errant lock from her eyes. He happily watched her sleep, embracing the peace that drifted from her.
She would probably disapprove of him not being in the the same state.
Still, there was work to be done and time had to be wasted only sparingly. Sleep, while essential and comfortable, could be ignored.
He called forth the book that Alice gave to him and flipped through it. Most of it had diagrams and symbols that he didn't understand.
But the words he did, and that was all he needed.
As he settled in for the long read, a groan from her made him sigh. He moved his hand to hers, gripping hers in a strong hold.
With a content smile, Vale pulled his hand closer.
That made him chuckle. And reaffirmed his resolve.
For her freedom, a little sleep could be ignored.
Even with the Sage unaware of his location, the shadow still cast a restless light.
Watching the preparations continue in the trap he made, he stayed still. If the Sage had any inkling of their location, they would know it. The very fact that they had not yet been attacked was good enough.
Heavy footsteps kept him looking straight ahead. The workers ignored the newcomer, out of fear and respect.
"Overseer." The shadow greeted. "Have your prey been found yet?"
His counterpart growled in a clicking manner.
"I see. I trust you will find him soon then?"
A clicking hiss in response.
"Very well. Are your thralls up to it?"
With those words, two pairs of eyes lit up from the darkness. The newcomer growled.
"Excellent. May our mutual benefactor be pleased with your victory." The shadow finished.
The eyes and newcomer disappeared back into the darkness, as the shadow returned to watching.
His plans were coming along. Everything was moving along perfectly and there was no need for alarm.
But restless he stayed, as he watched the key to his plans wheeled into the trap. Years of planning, of festering revenge lay fresh in his mind. The clash was coming and he knew that she would fight his fire with her own...
And he had the brightest fire of all.