Author: For those of you that are here for the fun stuff, this is the last chapter to have them. The rest of them is serious, plotty things (that don't make sense since I'm still trying to make sense of them myself), just a heads up.
XXX
"You've been acting strange today Kamijou," Lilian tells the boy as their large double decker boat speeds across the water.
The school is treating everyone to a trip to a coral reef, where they all will be allowed to swim in the water.
"I think I'm still tired from yesterday," Touma tells her. "I'll be fine."
"If you say so..." Lilian turns away and looks at the sea. "Hey Isolde, I think something's wrong with Kamijou."
(...)
"Isolde?"
(Huh? Sorry, did you say something?)
"I said something might be wrong with Kamijou."
(What do you mean?)
"He doesn't seem like he normally is, like he's thinking about something."
(He's probably just worried about something back in his apartment.)
"Like what?"
(I managed to see some cans of cat food while you inviting him for the trip.)
"Are you sure? I didn't see a cat anywhere in there."
(I'm sure, that's probably just all it is. Don't think about it too much.)
"If you say so. Hey Isolde..."
(Yeah?)
"You've been acting weird yourself."
(You said that yesterday.)
"But its different today. Yesterday you were really happy, today... I don't know. You've been way too quiet. Did something happen last night while I was sleeping?"
(... It's nothing...)
"What? Wait, did something really happen?"
(No, nothing happened. Trust me.)
"..."
(Lilian?)
"Isolde, because you like to keep secrets from me all the time, I'd normally just leave it right there. Right now though, you're not yourself. Or at least your usual self."
(...)
"Is your real self a secret that you're keeping from me too?"
(...)
"Isolde, promise me something. Whatever it is that's bothering you right now, you're clearly extremely concered about it. So if you can't handle it on your own, let me help you."
(...)
"Isolde..."
(... I'll think about it. But promise or not, you'll be dragged into it anyway. I can't get away from you after all. I've tried.)
"Hey!"
(Hehehe... In all seriousness though, you'll likely find out very soon. For now though, just enjoy yourself here. I won't let this problem of mine bother anyone. So have fun.)
"Alright."
Lilian takes a quick look around the boat and sees Rutile and Sachya. Sachya was looking tired, lying back with her head on top of the chair with her eyes closed. The cat girl was poking her cheek.
"Nngh, stop that," Sachya waves her arm to get Rutile away.
"What happened to you?" Rutile asks. "You look tired, really."
"I am tired," Sachya replies. "More like wasted, I had too much to drink last night."
"Last night?" Rutile tilts her head confused. "What did you drink? I didn't see anything that could make you like this, really."
"You're too young to know."
"What's that supposed to mean? You're only a couple years older than me, really."
Sachya pushes her body and leans forward, she turns slowly to face Rutile and puts a finger on the cat girl's forehead. "I wasn't talking about physical age."
"Wha-?"
Sachya smile and leans back again. "Just a kid. I really need some rest."
"But we're about to reach the reef..." Rutile looked concerned. "You don't want to swim? Really?"
"I'd rather sleep."
"I know! You can sleep with the fishes! Really!"
Nearby, Kongou suddenly spit out the drink she was drinking.
"Hehehe... Hahaha!" Sachya laughs. "You crack me up. I'd laugh more but I'm tired."
"..."
"You were joking, right?"
"Um," Wannai taps Rutiles shoulder. "Miss Sopheria..." Wannai whispers something into the cat girl's ear.
"REALLY?!" Rutile jerks back in shock.
"Just a kid..." Sachya sighs and resumes resting.
(You know what?) Isolde talks to Lilian. (Let me take over, just sitting around here is boring.)
"W-what are you going to do?" Lilian closes her eyes.
"You'll see," Isolde smiles.
"I wonder what kind of fish we'll see?" Uiharu asks enthusiastically.
"I hope they're colorful," Saten adds.
"I can't wait to try and catch some of them," Edasaki twiddles her fingers.
"Don't," Kuroko warns. "There are fish and coral that are poisonous. Even to the touch."
"You have healers, right?" Haruue asks.
"That doesn't mean you can go around touching random marine life," Kuroko retorts.
"Besides, they're only for emergency," Mikoto adds. "They can't really get rid of the poison, just keep it in check. You'll need actual specialists for treatment."
"Oh," Edasaki slumps. "Well, at least we'll be able to see an actual coral reef."
"We're meeting up with the other half of the school right?" Haruue asks. "I wonder how Miss Wannai and Miss Awatsuki are doing?"
"They should be doing fine," Mikoto smiles. "I wonder if they invited anyone tough."
"I don't think they know many people outside of the school," Kuroko informs.
"You're right about that," Mikoto replies as she looks behind the boat to see the other boat following them. "Huh?"
"What is it Sissy?"
"There's something behind the other boat," Mikoto leans forward to try and get a better view.
The other girls turn to look at the boat behind them. They manage to see... something behind it.
"Now I'm curious," Mikoto mentions. "Kuroko?"
"On it," Kuroko puts a hand on Mikoto's shoulder. They teleport away towards the other boat.
They land on the top deck, behind the crowd of people looking out back.
"What's going on here?" Mikoto asks.
"Ah, Miss Misaka," one of the students with a cat hat greets her. "We're just watching Miss Sterling."
"Lilian? Or is it..."
"Eh?" Kuroko turns to Mikoto in disbelief. "Sissy, how are you on a first name basis with Miss Sterling? And so quickly?"
"Huh? O-oh, that..." Mikoto scratches her head. "It's... complicated. But let's just say that we really got to know each other, kay?" Mikoto smiles and pushes through the crowd.
(Th-that scratching head pose!) Kuroko is distraught. (I'm certain it was his! And... Miss Sterling 'really got to know' Sissy? What does that mean? Is she... could she be... after my Sissy?!) Kuroko pushes trough the people to follow Mikoto.
Down below, Rutile suddenly gets a familiar feeling and her head starts glancing around.
"Something up? You're missing the show," Sachya asks.
"I just have a feeling... Hey, aren't you supposed to be asleep? You're awake now? Really?"
"And miss this? Not a chance. I'll sleep later."
Mikoto makes it through and looks down at the back end of the boat. What she saw was a long pole of ice sticking out from the boat and towards Lilian, who was on a makeshift board of ice. A closer look at the ice chunk on the boat shows a bunch mist spewing out. The ice refreezes as soon as it breaks from the turning of the pole.
Looking out at Lilian, she's bouncing around the water and the waves. The ice girl tries getting into various poses, one handed, the other handed, bobbing up and down waves while holding on with one hand. Several minor jump tricks, switching between a board and skies.
"I didn't think she's the type to do this sort of thing," Kuroko mentions.
"She's not."
"What do you mean?"
"W-well…" Mikoto tries to come up with an excuse. "L-look at her swim wear! Eeeh?!"
"A white, frilly two piece with rainbow dots?" Kuroko observes. "How… childish."
"Y-yeah…" Mikoto nervously agrees. (Why is she wearing THAT?!) "A-and she's way too shy and introverted to do something like this."
"Are you sure?" Kuroko sighs as Lilian pulls off another stunt. "Anyway, she looks like she's having fun. But we're almost there. Let's get back."
"Not yet," Mikoto tells her. "Let's see if she does something."
(Isolde, the other boat is slowing down, I think we've made it.)
"Then, let's finish big!" Isolde launches a large blast of mist ahead. The mist quickly forms into a tall ramp. The ice girl edges herself towards the jump. "Boost!" Isolde jets mist out from her ice board to increase her speed.
She lets go of the ice handle, letting her ice jets push her. The board hits the ramp, Isolde soars up into the air. She spins around like she's in a tube, and her board bounces off the water until it comes to a stop. Isolde sprouts her wings and starts hovering before she sinks.
"Oooh YEAH!" Isolde stretched out her limbs in joy. "That was totally wicked!"
(It really was, heeheehee...)
"It feels great to do something like that every now and then," Isodle starts hovering back to the boat.
(I don't know why, but you're right. I mean, you can fly, and yet this felt more exhilarating.)
"Its because we weren't in total control," Isolde answers. "Some of the best moments in life are those where you try to stay in control amidst the chaos."
(That sounds really dangerous. I don't want to do that too often.)
"You won't."
(But you will!)
"Ahahaha!"
(Muuu... Hm? Is that Miss Misaka?)
"Where?"
(Up there.)
"She must've seen us from the other boat somehow," Isolde suddenly has an evil smile on her face. "Hee..."
(Oh no...)
"Looks like it's over Sissy," Kuroko tells Mikoto.
"Yeah, let's go back," Mikoto is just about to reach for Kuroko.
"Heeey Kamijooouuu!" Isodle calls as she floats closer. "How'd I look?"
"WHAT?!" Mikoto and Kuroko screamed out simultaneously.
Isolde was waving to the boat.
"Here's here?" Both Mikoto and Kuroko ask.
Mikoto rushes to the bottom level of the boat. "YOU!"
"Eh?" Touma reels a bit from surprise. "Misaka?"
"What the hell are you doing here?" Mikoto instinctively launches an electric bolt at him.
Touma blocks it easily. "What do you mean what am I doing here? What are you doing here?"
"Are you following me?!"
"Following you? You're the one that keeps chasing after me!"
"Wha-? I-I'm not-!"
"Besides, I'm not here for you."
"W-W-W-WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!" Mikoto launches another electric attack.
Touma blocks the blast. "Pretty much what I said."
"You want to go?! Right now?!"
"Sissy! Calm down!" Kuroko tries to talk to Mikoto. "You're going to get into trouble. And we're in the middle of the ocean! You could hurt somebody!"
"Umm, Miss Misaka," Wannai intrudes on their argument. "He was invited by Miss Sterling."
"Invited?" Mikoto calms down. "By who? Wait, don't tell me."
"Hiiiii!" Lilian(?) waves as she hovers just outside, in a comfortable seated position. Her face showed a kind of confident, in your face, taunting look with her red eyes.
"Y-you!"
Lilian(?) hovers back onto the boat and closes her eyes. They open blue. "H-huh?" Lilian looks around quickly in panicked confustion.
(Have fun!)
"Augh..." Mikoto palms her face after seeing Lilian's panicked face. "Let me guess..."
"Y-yeah..." Lilian answers.
"Now I'm even more irritated," Mikoto says freely. She walks closer to Lilian. "I should have known you'd invite him of all people. But why that swimsuit?"
"H-huh?" Lilian looks at herself. "Is something wrong with it?"
"N-no," Mikoto is now nervous about the conversation. "I'm just wondering."
Lilian continues to look at herself. "Does look bad on me?" She asks Touma.
"H-huh? Why are you asking me?"
"You seemed to like it when you saw Miss Misaka wear it."
"WHAT?!" Kuroko screamed out.
Mikoto jerked back, her face all red.
"When was that?" Touma ponders.
Those words petrified Mikoto. "Are you saying..." Mikoto's sparks intensify. "That I'm FORGETTABLE?!"
Touma's body is suddenly flung towards the electric girl. Mikoto is too surprised to react and both of them collapse, sprawled on the floor of the boat.
"Ugh..." Mikoto tries to bring her head up. "What the...?" She finds herself underneath Touma. "Get off of me!" She violently kicks him off of her body.
"Oof."
"What do you think you're doing to Sissy?!" Kuroko rages.
"It wasn't me!" Touma sits up.
"Sorry," Rutile apologizes. "But you were going to scare away the fishes, really."
"The fishes?" Mikoto looks puzzled for a bit. "Oh, right... the trip." She gets up with help from Kuroko. "I forgot."
"You should get going soon," Awatsuki tells her. "Before you get in even deeper trouble. I'm pretty sure they could see your electricity."
"Haaa..." Mikoto sighs. "This is going to be hard to explain. They might even keep me from going in the water now. Let's go Kuroko. I'll deal with you later." Mikoto glares at Touma.
The two girls teleport away.
XXX
A majority of the students and guests play in the water, around the fish and coral reef. Except Mikoto. They considered her too risky to put in the water with everyone else. She's currently sulking in the boat.
"Having fun Misaka?" Misaki taunts from another seat.
"Just be quiet," Mikoto tells her. "It's all his fault."
"Who, Kamijou?"
"How did you know?!" Mikoto stands up.
"I have my ways," Misaki smiles mischievously. "Too bad I can't meet him though."
"I thought you had your ways," Mikoto taunts.
"Right now, I'd rather see him in person," Misaki answers. "So that he could see me too."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Weeellll, you are remarkably unimpressive. Why, I bet he didn't even give you a second glance." Misaki giggles.
"You-!" Mikoto starts to spark up.
"Now now, do you really want to cause even more trouble for yourself?"
"Ugh!" Mikoto stops. "So is there any reason that you're not in the water right now?"
"I have no need, I can see and feel the ocean quite fine."
"So you can't swim."
"What?! I didn't-"
"I knew it."
Misaki face palms, "I can't believe I fell for that."
"Hey, how's everyone doing down there?"
"Are you talking about your friends?" Misaki concentrates for a moment. "They're fine. But I can't find that teleporter."
"Huh?"
"SISSY!"
Mikoto is groped from behind. Mikoto grits her teeth and she kicks Kuroko away. The teleporter crashes into the seats. Mikoto calms down. "Haaa... What do you want Kuroko?"
"I thought... that I could keep you company..."
"I'm fine Kuroko, there's no need to worry about me." Mikoto holds out her hand.
"Are you sure?" Kuroko takes the electromaster's hand and is helped up.
"Yeah, it was my own fault anyway. We're supposed to be having fun here anyway right?"
"How can you have fun knowing that that monkey is here?"
"He's with Lilian, with the other half of the school. There's no need for us to really bug each other."
*SPLOOSH!*
A giant splash send water a couple stories high.
"What was that?" Mikoto asks.
"Is that a shark?" Misaki puts a hand over her eyes for a better view.
There's a shark that flew higher than the water. A blue mist flies towards it and surrounds it completely, then it turns into an ice cube. The ice cube hits the water with a splash.
"Kuroko?" Mikoto turns to her partner.
"I'm on it," the teleporter replies.
"No need," Misaki taps a button on her remote. "Apparently one of the guests noticed the shark and panicked. Kamijou tried to stop it."
"Eh?!" Mikoto's eyes widened.
"Miss Sopheria and Miss Sterling managed to save him in time."
"Is he alright?"
"He just hurt his hand, Miss Sterling is taking care of him now."
"I see..." Mikoto sighs a breath of relief.
Kuroko is internally raging.
"You're crazy, you know that?" Lilian took a look at Touma's hand. "Punching a shark? You're lucky me and Rutile were nearby."
"I had to do something," Touma replies.
One of the assistant medics walks in with lotion and wrapping. "Can I do it? The injury is nothing, right?" She asks the medic.
"He just hurt his hand, but shark skin if full of scales, hence the wounds and pain. He'll be fine, here, just apply a little bit around the wound and wrap it up."
Lilian takes the lotion and wrapping, following the directions.
"Hey Lilian!" Rutile waves from the water.
"What's up Rutile?" Lilian waves back quickly before going back to wrapping Touma's hand.
"The teachers said they won't reprimand us since we protected everyone. Also! They said that we're going to have shark for dinner! Really!"
"Hahaha," Lilian laughs at her enthusiasm.
"Is she really a Tokiwadai student?" Touma asks quietly as Lilian finishes wrapping his hand.
"Surprising isn't it?" Lilian smiles.
"I've never had shark before! Really!"
"Neither have I," Lilian calls back. "I hope it's good."
"Ugh..." Sachya groans. "Can you keep it down?"
"I'm going back in the water," Lilian tells Touma. "What about you?"
"I think I'll stay here, I don't want to be a bother," Touma waves his bandaged hand.
"If you say so," Lilian sounded slightly disappointed.
"Have fun," Touma smiles as he tells her.
"Come on Lilian! There's still a lot more fishes to look for, really!" Rutile calls from the water.
"Coming!" Lilian calls back and rushes to the water.
Touma sits near Sachya.
"Hey," Sachya calls for Touma.
"Huh? Aren't you trying to sleep?"
A large splash of water sprays into the boat.
"That's not fair Miss Wannai!" they hear Lilian shouting.
"If you're going to that...!" they hear Rutile. Then another large splash of water hits the boat.
"Let's see you try sleeping through that."
Touma smirks.
"Now, how do you know Lilian and the Railgun?"
"Why are you asking that?"
"You seem to have some kind of stupid magnet on you. I'm just preparing myself in case I get affected."
"Huh?"
"So, how do you know them?"
"I-I... can't really say."
"So much for small talk. Actually, what was your power again?"
"My right hand can negate any power."
"That's it? What's your level?"
"0."
"Really?" Sachya fired a small gravity ball at Touma, whom blocked it perfectly and the gravity ball disappeared. "Wow, huh. Well there goes that conversation too." She lays back down in the chair.
Touma looks over the ocean with everyone playing around it.
"What the hell?!"Sachya suddenly sits up, shocked. "That's you?!"
"H-huh?"
"Some rumours I heard from the streets," Sachya starts. "There's one where a Tokiwadai student tends to rough up some punks, with electricity, but in one story some guy tried to get in her way and managed to block her attack. Another was a group of Level 0s and a Tokiwadai ice Esper beating a well known street gang, and one of the Level 0s can disable powers somehow."
"Um... I don't know about the first one, but the second one is true."
"There's one more..." Sachya stops herself. "No, it's too ridiculous, even for you." (A Level 0 beating a Level 5? No matter what kind of power he has, that's just impossible.)
XXX
Everyone (except Mikoto and Misaki) had fun in the water whenever they could until time was up. Lilian and Rutile rode the ice cube shark right beside the school boats. Rutile either sitting as an excited kid, or pretend surfing as Isolde jets mist out behind them. It made for an amusing sight.
"Wheee!" Rutile enjoys herself immensely, so much so that even Isolde can't help but crack a smile.
(Heeheehee... her enthusiasism's contagious isn't it?) Lilian giggles inside Isolde's head.
"Yeah..."
(Isolde...) Lilian's voice suddenly become concerned. (You've been really quiet today.)
"I told you that I wasn't going to let my problems mess with your fun, didn't I?"
(...)
"Actually, I'm surprised that you managed to keep your cool around Kamijou."
(What are you talking about?)
"You weren't stuttering, uncontrollably blushing, or stumbling all over the place around him when you bandaged his hand. I think that you've gotten used to him."
(W-what do you mean by that?)
"Annnd there it goes, heehee."
(Isolde!)
"Well, they're giving us free time after this. Got any plans?"
(No. Do you think that he might?)
"Does he look like the kind of guy to have a plan?"
(Well... no.)
Isolde couldn't help but smirk.
(What about you?)
"I've got nothing either. Though I remember seeing a temple when I was flying around last night. It could be worth checking out."
(You were flying around last night?)
"Not now Lilian," Isolde tells her. "But what do you think? Do you want to check it out?"
(We should bring some other people with us, like Kamijou and Rutile.)
"I don't mind, it'll be fun."
XXX
Everyone took a short break after returning to shore. Several groups decided to explore the town, Sachya among them. Touma is getting dragged around by Mikoto (supposedly to make up for her not being allowed into the water), much to Kuroko's ire. Lilian and Rutile walk through the small forest with red temple archway gates.
"So this is a Japanese Temple," Rutile is wowed by the sight. "I've never seen one with my own eyes before. Really."
"It really is something, isn't it?" Lilian smiles. "Though I still get confused on what kind of temples are what. I wonder if this is one of those ones where you can make a wish."
"It is," a nearby woman answers. The woman had short bright violet hair, and looks like any regular visitor, with an exposed navel piercing. She points to a place in the shrine. "Over there."
"Let's go Lilian!" Rutile rushes forward. "I want to make a wish, really!"
Lilian takes a step, but suddenly stops and turns to have a closer look at the woman.
(Isolde?)
"Sorry, I wanted another look at that piercing."
Lilian retakes control of the body and quickly catches up with Rutile. They find the ema and Lilian teaches Rutile how to make a wish. She makes her own wish. Lilian asks Isolde if there's anything she wants to wish for.
(I do, but having one body make two wishes would look weird.)
"I guess."
"So, what did you wish for? Really?" Rutile asks.
"I didn't have anything to really wish for," Lilian answers. "But I just want to get closer to someone."
"That boy you invited? Oh! Is it? Really?"
"N-no! A-anyway, what about you?"
"I just wished for luck for my clan back home."
"A clan?"
"From my mother's side. It's a small remote village that my dad found while he was chasing a thief for his job. Things have been hard for them the past couple generations, which is why they let my dad raise me when I was old enough to move on my own. Then I only visit like one week each month. Well, until I lost control of my powers and had to be transferred here."
"I hope they get better then."
"So do I," Rutile turns around quietly and maturely walks away.
(Something must be going on back home.)
"Huh?"
(For Rutile, she was... serious.)
"You're right."
(Anyway, we should be getting back, it's a long walk.)
XXX
The entire school and all their guests managed to fit into the great dining hall of one of the hotels that they were staying in. The special dish is shark. Among the celebrations is the announcements for who won the sand sculpting contest.
1st place went to Ms. Rimskaya and her guest Mr. Nanbu, who chose the shiny kimono.
2nd was the duo of Ms. Bosconovitch and Ms. Kliesen, they chose the giant mythical stuffed animal.
3rd place is the trio of Ms. Misumi, Ms. Mishou and Ms. Kiryuu, their chosen prize is the rainbow rock cluster.
4th was Ms. Diamond and Ms. Momoko, they snatch the set of glow in the dark Gekota paperweights. There was a small thud of someone's face hitting a table, it was Mikoto.
5th was the trio of Ms. Kusumi, Ms. Shirogane and their guest Mr. Narukami. They decided to get the cruise tickets.
6th goes to Ms. Hosokawa and Ms. Hayakawa, they collected the moon rock.
"Now for 7th, for their glittering wolf, Ms. Sterling and Mr. Kamijou!"
"I don't believe it..." Lilian's dumbfounded. "We actually won!"
(Heh.) Isolde sounded smug.
"I certainly wasn't expecting that," Touma mumbles.
"Will you two please come up and pick your prize?"
Lilian, nervous as she is, walks up with Touma. She looks at the remaining prizes. The restaurant party tickets, the angel wing pendant, the jewelry set, or the cellphones.
"What do you think?" Lilian asks.
"No idea," Touma scratches his head.
(Just get the pendant, that was our plan anyway.)
"Alright," Lilian picks up the pendant and stares at it.
(What are you doing?)
"Trying to imagine Angel wearing this, heeheehee..." Lilian giggles for a bit then turns to Touma. "Alright, let's go back."
8th place goes to Ms. Marvell and Ms. McGarden, they get the jewelry set.
9th went to Ms. Sunrise and Ms. Amiella, they take the restaurant party tickets.
10th was Elesis and Aisha, all that was left for them was the cellphones.
The rest of the dinner passed by while everyone was full of energy. Some students talked about setting off fireworks at the beach. Lilian decided to head straight for her room ahead of Touma.
At her room, Lilian neatly puts away the angel wing pendant. She then notices an envelope on the table, with nothing written on it. She takes out the letter inside, it had just one line.
"At nobis in templum."
(Meet us at the temple.) Isolde read the line.
"What is this?"
(It's for me, Lilian. We need to go.)
"Isolde?"
(Looks like its time. Let me take over now, and I'll tell you something on the way there. About you, and about me.)
"… Alright."
Touma sees Lilian walk out of the room.
"Sterling? Where are you going?"
"Kamijou!" Lilian seemed especially surprised. "I'm going to join the others in setting off fireworks."
"Oh, really? Sorry, but I'm kind of tired from Misaka nagging at me today."
"That's alright," Lilian waves at him. "Sleep well!"
Touma walks into the room and crashes down on the bed. "Hmm?" He sees a mysterious letter on top of the table and picks it up. "What is this?" He examines the letter and envelope again but finds nothing else. Touma can't make out the words written on it at all.
He rushes out of the room and goes in the direction that Lilian went, but couldn't find her. He goes to the shore to try and find her. All he sees are a bunch of other people, but not Lilian. "Damn it."
"Hey!" A familiar voice calls out to him. It was Rutile. "What are you doing here, and where's Lilian, really?"
"I was looking for her too, I thought she'd be here."
"What's that?" Rutile points at the paper in Touma's hand. "A love letter? Really?"
"What? No!" Touma protests and tries to hide the letter, Rutile quickly snatches it.
"Hmm…"
"Er… Can you read it?"
"Nope," Rutile hands the letter back. "But I know that it's written in Latin, really."
"Latin?"
"There's a Latin course at Tokiwadai, I haven't taken it myself but may be you can ask around if any has. Really."
"Tokiwadai has a what?" Touma's disbelief at the statement is clear, though there is something else that's bothering him. "Hold on, how did you know that it's Latin without taking the course."
"Those letters look like the ones that my father uses in his hunting job. Really."
"Huh?"
"It's an old language, the Ancient Romans used it. But it's believed that the language actually came from Atlantis, the legendary city. They also say that magic originated from Atlantis, which is why some of the strongest spells use Latin, or that most spells are more powerful when cast with Latin instead of any other language. Really."
"HUH?"
"What?"
"M-magic? You must be joking."
"… AH!" Rutile jumped back. "I'm not supposed to talk about father's job in Academy City. I'm so sorry. Really!" Rutile bows apologetically furiously.
"I-its okay, I think," Touma tries to calm her down. "Um… Do you know anyone that might know Latin."
"I think you can try Miss Misaka, she is one of our school's best students and you two seem to know each other, really."
"Misaka," Touma's eyes popped up. "Thanks, I'll try calling her."
"If you find Lilian, tell her to come if she can. Really!" Rutile scurries over to the beach.
Touma starts walking away and picks out his cellphone. He dials a certain number and waits for it to be picked up.
"WHO IS THIS HOW DARE YOU CALL SISSY!"
"oi. kuroko, give that back."
"But Sissy!"
"i said give it back!"
"Aiiieeeee!"
Touma wasn't sure what to make of what he just heard.
"Hello?"
"Um... hi Misaka."
"You? What do you want?"
"I'm looking for Sterling, is she with you?"
"Lilian? No, she's not. Why?"
"She disappeared."
"She disappeared?"
"When I saw her come out of the room, she said she was going to the shore and set off some fireworks. But I just checked and she's not there. And I found this strange letter in the room after she left."
"A letter? What does it say?"
"I have no idea. It's in another language."
"Where are you, I'll take a look at it."
"Just outside the hotel at the other beach."
"Alright, I'll try calling her first. If she doesn't answer then I'm on my way."
Mikoto hangs up. She looks back at her friends crowding around a burnt and crispy Kuroko. She finds the number she's looking for. She waits patiently as she hears the phone ring. No answer. She tries one more time. Same result. "Where is she?"
She looks back at her friends again. "Sorry." Mikoto charges herself up and jumps away.
Somewhere else, Isolde looks at the entrance to the hill to the temple. She steps on the path silently and creates a gigantic wall of ice around the entrance.
XXX
Author: Minor cameos in the names of the prize winners. 1st place is from SRW, 2nd is from Tekken, 3rd is from Pretty Cure, 4th from King of Fighters, 5th is Persona, 6th from Samurai Warriors, 8th is Fairy Tail, 9th is Project X Zone (really Sakura Wars and God Eater), and 10th is Elsword.