Mephisto's personal super important and top secret diary,
Ah, yet another week in Japan. My favorite animes are all continuing to air, except Princess Robot Bubblegum, looks like the writer's taking a hiatus once again. I guess we'll have to do something about that don't we? As far as videogames are concerned, Steel Crank Liquid is coming out next week; I've already reserved that one. In fact, I've managed to persuade the publisher to send me a copy a day ahead of release. All it took was for his family to disappear for a minute, ah, how easy things are nowadays! Oh, I almost forgot! As for movies, I can't wait for Slow and Serious 8, the sequel to Slow and Serious 7! Oh yes, there has been 8 of them! Ah, I can never get enough of that series. It's a good thing I was able to get an early preview of the footage. In fact, the director even mailed it to me himself! I guess it's because I dropped a thousand pound anvil on his car the first time he refused. Or maybe it was that I filled his studio with lizards the second time. Now for True Cross Academy. It seems it's due time for yet another celebration for me, what is it this time? Principle Faust's Inauguration Anniversary? No, I've done that before. How about, the Annual True Cross Animal Lover's Celebration. No, I think we've had that three times this year already. In terms of the Impure King, it seems everything has gone exactly the way it should've. Now, I better pay my little Rin a visit. Hmm, I've sent him a letter last time, and I went in as a puppy just recently. How about I wait until he's using the toilet, and surf the waves up through the drainage pipe. Apart from the mess, it seems like a pretty good idea now! … Strange… it seems that someone has fiddled with the time space barrier recently. I can see multiple cracks, gaps, and cuts through the fabric. Oh, I'm sure someone won't be very happy with this. It also seems to be primarily around Assiah, looks like I'll have to send Amaimon guard the barrier in Gehenna for a while. Not like he has anything else to do, and if he refuses, I'll just have to rip him apart and stitch him back until he accepts. Ugh, what a bother. Hmm, I've also been able to sense something else too… strange… it smells like Okumura… but… a female? … Oh never mind that! I have it! The Annual True Cross Academy Detention Celebration, a day where all the students are put into detention! Yes! We'll have get-out-of-jail cards as prizes, and extra hour cards as punishment! Perfect! – Samael , October 9th, entry# 119,282,763.
True Cross Academy Radio Station – Archive – October 10th
Hello everybody, this is your host, Hazue Hato! And we're here for Hato's Heavenly Weather Forecast! It seems we're having a bit of a climate change coming this week. Cloudy and windy weather coming up this afternoon, with a clear sky approaching nightfall. We're looking at rain tomorrow, and a possible thunderstorm to close out the week. As always, bring an umbrella, and be safe when traveling between classes. Don't go into dark alleyways, and especially be weary of strangers. Wait… sorry everyone, it seems that I was reading from an old script, I just got an update saying clear skies the whole week. Wait… sorry again… it seems the computer is malfunctioning or something, we'll update you again later, as for now, just bring an umbrella anyway, just in case. Remember, Principle Johann Faust's personal umbrella designs are also on sale at the True Cross Gift Shop, so make sure to check them out, they are our sponsors you know. As for Hato's Homely School News Report, Principle Johann Faust V has just announced the Annual True Cross Academy Detention Celebration! He says it is to celebrate all those naughty and unfortunate students that had the misfortune of landing themselves some detention time. I'm not sure if that's worthy of commemorating, but yet again, I don't have any say in the matter. Actually, let's hope Principle Faust didn't hear that, or I'll have myself assigned yet another 24 hour live broadcast to do. Anyway, that rounds out the report for this morning, and I'll be with you again tonight! Thanks again for listening everybody, and enjoy your day!
ACT: TWO
SCENE: ONE
Once again, we open with Rin and Yukio Okumura's dormitory room. The room still looks the same, Rin's half is as dirty and unorganized as always, and Yukio's half is clean and tidy. However, the atmosphere of the room has changed severely. This time, both boys sit at their tables, and the room is silent. A tense and melancholic mist shrouds the entire place, with neither person willing to speak the first word. Rin is at his table, with his palms together, eyes closed, replaying the previous events in his head over and over again, as if hoping to find something that he had missed before. Yukio is sitting, looking at his papers once again, but this time, he is no longer focused on his papers, but using them instead as a façade for his true thoughts. He also is replaying the previous events in his head, as well as thinking forward to find any solutions. The two are so focused on their thoughts that they do not realized Shiemi had already entered the room with a giant Nee. Nee, the moss and grass covered Greenman, who is Shiemi's familiar, is carrying an unconscious Yomi in his arms. As Nee walks forward, a wood floor plank creaks, and the two twin brothers look up in surprise.
RIN: (Completely caught off guard)Whoa! Where did you two… uh… three? Come from?
YUKIO: (Breathing a sigh of relief) *sigh* Oh, it's just you Shiemi, come in and sit down. Would you like a drink, sorry about before- wait… who is that?
SHIEMI: (Clearing her throat) *ahem* You guys wouldn't believe what just happened! I-I mean, I-I'm still mad about b-before, and I didn't even want to come back to be honest… but something really, really big just happened downstairs!
YUKIO: (Getting out of his chair) Shiemi, before you go into details, who is that!?
SHIEMI: (Confused, then takes a look at Yomi) Huh? Oh her? I don't really know, but Ciri told me to-
YUKIO: (Interrupting her) This is a very serious matter Shiemi! How do you know she's not a threat to us? We have to make sure to-
RIN: (Interrupting Yukio) Wait! I think she's waking up!
Yomi, still in Nee's arms, is starting to wake, opening her eyes slowly. At first, she doesn't notice anything out of place, but a second later, she sees Nee's smiling face in front of her, and jumps out of Nee's arms with a bloodcurdling shriek. She staggers backwards, and falls down, but is then quickly comforted by Shiemi who gets down on her knees and puts her arms around Yomi.
SHIEMI: (In a compassionate tone) I-It's okay! You're safe here! Don't worry!
YOMI: (Looking all over the place) H-Huh? W-What happened? What happened to me? Where's Mato?
SHIEMI: It's alright… you were unconscious when it happened. I think you were kidnapped by someone, a weird looking person was standing over you when we first found you. And then you were saved by a nice woman named Ciri! She had to go after your kidnapper, so she told me to watch over you until she comes back.
YOMI: W-What? B-But? What is this place?
SHIEMI: (Comforting her) Don't worry! It's going to be alright! Ciri told me that when she comes back, she'll take you back to your world.
YOMI: W-What!? My world!?
RIN: (With a very confused expression) What? I thought she was like a new student or something! But then again, judging by her clothes, she doesn't look like she's from True Cross. Huh… she's still pretty c-c-cute though…
YUKIO: (Shaking his head) You don't waste anytime do you? Now onto more pressing matters-
RIN: (Interrupting Yukio) Hey! You want something to eat? We still got a bit left over from breakfast this morning. It's my special Sukiyaki! Yeah… I know what you're thinking… Sukiyaki for breakfast!? But yeah… that's us…
YOMI: (Not sure how to react) Umm… Huh?
SHIEMI: (Giggling) Ha ha ha! Rin is always like this! Hee hee! Sorry, it's a lot to take in right now, so you should probably get some rest first. Oh, I know! I know a special plant recipe that'll make you feel better. Nee, give me some Ginny, Galia, and Lavvy! Oh wait! I meant some Ginger, Garlic, and Lavender leaves.
NEE: (Popping up the ingredients out of thin air and handing them to Shiemi) Nee!
SHIEMI: (Blending the ingredients in her hands to produce a very soothing aroma) Here you go, that should-
YUKIO: (Getting angry) Wait! Is anybody even listening to what I am say-
RIN: (Interrupting Yukio) Wait a minute Shiemi! Garlic? She's not a vampire right!? Why are you giving her garlic?
SHIEMI: (Turning a little red) Oh you dummy! It's not just garlic; it's only a little bit mixed with the other ingredients to produce a special scent when it all comes together. My mother taught me this mixture; she made it for me once when I was unconscious after one of the missions.
RIN: (Impressed) Wow really!? Hey, maybe it might go well if I combine it with one of my meals!
YOMI: (Caught in the moment, and temporarily forgetting the previous events) Oh wow! It does smell really good!
SHIEMI: Right? It's supposed to clear your mind, and let your other senses take over.
YOMI: Yeah, I can feel it working already. It'll be great for when I'm taking a break after studying for a test.
RIN: Haha! Tell me about it, in fact, I'll probably want to smell it everywhere I go from now on. I wonder if you can put it in tea?
SHIEMI: Ew! Rin! That's disgusting! Why would you want garlic in your tea!?
RIN: Hey! I'm just saying it could work! And you said it yourself! It's not JUST garlic.
YOMI: (Laughing delightedly at their conversation) Ha ha ha! Maybe it could work? Who knows?
YUKIO: (Getting frustrated) IS ANYONE EVEN LISTENING TO ME!?
RIN: Hey, chill out four-eyes, have a little bit of a sense of humor now, would ya?
YOMI: Hey! I have glasses too y'know!
RIN: Oops! Well, you look way better in them than Yukio does by the way.
YOMI: (Blushing) Oh! Ha ha! Thanks!
YUKIO: (Pulling out his gun and pointing at Yomi) ENOUGH! Everyone just stop talking for a moment!
RIN: (Reaching for Yukio's arm) Hey! Wait! W-What are you-
YUKIO: (Brushing Rin's hand away) Did you not hear what I just said!? Just let me talk for a second! How do you know who she is! What if she's a threat to us!? Do you not remember the events with Igniculus!? It's not just demons that are a threat anymore! What about Todo!? We aren't safe from anyone! Especially not humans!
RIN: (Getting angry) Hey! Aren't you overreacting just a bit here!? She's clearly friendly!
YUKIO: It's not that simple! You always trust others too much! You think too straightforward!
YOMI: (Worried) W-Wait! It's not his fault! I-I'm Yomi, I'm here b-becau-
YUKIO: (Pointing his gun directly at Yomi) You! Tell me who you are this instant! Why are you here!? What do you want!?
SCENE: TWO
Only a feeling of weightlessness can be felt through the portal, there is no sound, no smell, and all the images are blended into a bright blue swirling color, as the girl known as Black Rock Shooter drifts away in a mixture of time and space. She knows not what awaits her on the other side, but it is not the first time she has been in such mysterious and complicated situation. All she knows now is that whatever happens to her, she must find her best friend Yomi on the other side. The portal bends the continuum of all events, as she falls through; she gets momentary glimpses of the past in memories, as well as the future in visions. Soon, the space distorts into a spiral in front of her, and a great force pushes her out into the real world. She gasps for air, and looks around her as she slowly gets on her feet. Her long boots make several steps with the cold wood floor as she walks forward. A gust of wind follows her from the portal, swaying her long black coat and dark blue hair to a side. She walks forward a bit, and takes one last look at the crack in space.
SHOOTER: (Quietly) Strange… it will dissipate soon… I must hurry.
The determined girl navigates the halls of the old, decaying building. She figures that she is on the bottom floor of the structure, and heads upward after making sure that no one else was present. She checks the rooms on the second floor, and once again found no one there. But this time, she notices long-abandoned rooms with bunk beds, tables, and closets in them.
SHOOTER: Did people once… live here?
She continues navigating through the building, until she reaches the top floor. The second she steps out of the staircase, she hears a girl's laughter from the distance.
SHOOTER: Yomi…
As the girl walks closer to the sound of a conversation nearby, she notices a big hole in the floor planks in front of her as well as several cracks in the wall, as if a battle had just recently took place. She then makes a motion, which summons a long black steel sword to her side.
SHOOTER: (Holding the sword in front of her) She is here…
MEPHISTO: (A voice from out of nowhere) Oh ho ho… this will be interesting!
The girl quickly takes a glance behind her, but sees no one there. She looks in front, and into the hole, but the entire place is empty except for her. She chooses to ignore it, and proceeds further. The second she walks into the room, she sees four people, two girls sitting on the floor, one who is comforting the other. She also quickly notices the two boys in the room, one standing a little further back, with a helpless expression, and the other, a boy who is holding a gun in his hand, pointing it, directly at Yomi.
YUKIO: (Pointing his gun directly at Yomi) You! Tell me who you are this instant! Why are you here!? What do you want!?
RIN: (Pointing to Shooter at the door) Wait! Who is that!?
SHOOTER: Yomi… stand back…
In an instant, Shooter dashes toward Yukio, trying to sweep him off his feet. Yukio having great reflexes, saw this coming and jumped backwards, taking a few nonlethal shots at Shooter's feet. Shooter is able to deflect the bullets with her blade.
RIN: (Reaching for his sword lying on the wall) Wait! What's going on here! Let me help!
YUKIO: (Motioning for his brother to stop) No! Stand back! Don't get involved!
Yukio then throws a gas grenade in to the middle of the room, which erupts and blinds everyone in range. Knowing the layout of his room perfectly, he is able to navigate to his desk without having to see. He reaches for a submachine gun under the desk and reloads it. Knowing exactly where Shooter was, and making sure the bullets wouldn't come close to Shiemi, Yomi, or Rin, he takes a few short bursts into the direction where Shooter was. She is able to deflect the first few, but two shots managed to sneak through and glaze her arm and thigh slightly. She falls on the floor, holding her wounds. Yukio quickly takes advantage by reloading another round.
RIN: (Coughing and stumbling through the smoke) *cough* *cough* Damn it Yukio! What were you thinking!? I can't see anything! Is Shiemi and the other girl alright!?
SHIEMI: (Calling from somewhere in the smoke) Me and Yomi are alright Rin! Don't worry about us! Nee is using his spores to neutralize the smoke for us!
YUKIO: (Catching his breath) I think she's down… we can't be sure thoug-
Suddenly shooter stands up, still holding her bleeding wounds. In an instant, she looks up at Yukio through the smoke, and a light blue flame suddenly lights up her left eye. Rin and Yukio are shocked, as they see the burning blue flame illuminate Shooter from the smoke. With the flame lighting her eye, she is able to see everyone clearly through the smokescreen. Before Yukio has time to react, Shooter dashes forward at him and catches him off guard. She kicks his gun out of his hand, then spins and elbows him to the wall. Yukio smashes hard into the wall, and Rin quickly grabs his sword and rushes towards Shooter. Rin tries to draw his sword, but Shooter manages to get to him in time, and knocks the sword out of his hand with her own blade.
RIN: (Surprised and caught completely off guard) Ah! S-She's fast!
In the midst of the chaos, Shooter then goes over to Yomi and grabs her by the arm before she can even react. Shooter pulls Yomi out of the room, who remains confused and disoriented but follows Shooter nonetheless. Shiemi, all tangled up in the mess, does not know what to do but to call after Yomi.
SHIEMI: (Frantically) W-Wait! Yomi! Oh no…
RIN: (Still blinded by the smoke, and is crawling on the floor trying to feel for his sword) H-Hey, are you guys alright!? Yukio!? Are you crazy!? Shiemi!? Damn, what happened!?
YUKIO: (Still recovering from the attack) S-Shiemi. Get Nee to blow the smoke out of the room.
SHIEMI: O-Oh right! Nee! You heard him! Get the smoke away from the room now!
NEE: (Nee takes a big breath, then blows all the smoke out through the door and windows) Nee!
As the smoke clears, a giant Nee is left standing in the middle of the room catching his breath. Shiemi is sitting on the floor besides Nee, still trying to grasp at the events that had just occurred. Yukio is still lying on the wall, holding his sides, which seems to be injured from the previous attack. Rin, who still searching for his sword on the floor, finally finds it and walks over to see if Yukio is alright.
RIN: (Checking over Yukio) Hey… you okay?
YUKIO: (Taking deep breaths) Y-Yeah… ugh… It was my fault they got away! Who knows where they are going to go now?
SHIEMI: (Suddenly looking up) Oh! I have an idea of where they went!
Shiemi quickly runs out of the room, to chase after the two girls. Nee turns small again and quickly jumps on her shoulders as she runs out. She is already outside and at the stairs, before the boys even have time to react. Rin tries to go after her, but realizes that Yukio is still in dire pain, and decides to stay and help Yukio recover first.
RIN: Damn it Shiemi! Why did you run off like that…
YUKIO: (Trying to get up but falls back down) Ugh…
RIN: Hey! Stay still, you're like a doctor right? Shouldn't you know that you need a little rest first? C'mon, let's get you to the bed. I'm sure Shiemi is alright… yeah… she'll know what to do, I'm sure of it.
SCENE: THREE
Shooter leads Yomi back to the bottom floor of the building, neither saying a word as they both understand the tenseness of the current situation. As they navigate through the bottom floor, Yomi breaks the silence.
YOMI: (Nervously) Um… how did you… manage to take that form here? I thought it could only appear in our minds?
SHOOTER: (Calm and quietly) This world… is different…
YOMI: Huh? How so?
SHOOTER: (Expressionlessly) The barrier… is broken… we are free to take whichever form we choose.
YOMI: Oh! You mean… that I can do it too? Like this place isn't like our world where we can't do that in real life?
SHOOTER: Precisely…
YOMI: That's… good to know… I guess.
They approach the room where Shooter had emerged from when she first arrived in this world. However, the portal had already been destabilized and had disappeared. With the portal nowhere to be found, Shooter looks around, trying to see if there's another way, while Yomi stands worried.
SHOOTER: Strange… it seems that… someone else had come through before it closed.
SCENE: FOUR
Ciri, the Ashen-haired woman, with green eyes, and a scar on her cheek, travels through the portal that she followed Incensia through. However, unlike how Shooter was trapped in the flow of the portal, and ended by having to drift along to where ever the portal led, Ciri is able to travel the fabric of space and time with ease. She retains her body and soul while traveling, and has full control of her movements through the inter-dimensionary plane. As she walks through the distorted space, she is able to take in her surroundings, despite all the images and senses of the plane being in a disorderly fashion.
CIRI: (Speaking to herself) Hmm… something is amiss… where did that woman go?
Ciri continues to walk forward, looking all over the place, trying to find another portal that would lead to Incensia.
CIRI: (Crossing her arms across her chest) Well, this doesn't happen often. Her trace is completely gone, and there isn't a crack present that she could've escaped from either… Ah… staying here is no use, I have to get back and take that girl back to her world.
As Ciri turns back, she notices that the portal she had come in through had already closed. Now being stuck in the inter-dimensionary plane without a way out, Ciri takes the broad steel sword from her back, and cuts the space and time fabric herself. She then takes a step through the gap in space she had created. When she gets out, she notices a completely different world than the one she had been in before. This world didn't have buildings or people, but rather, it was a dark, deserted wasteland with no sun. The ground was composed of a dark red rock, and the only things that could be seen in the distance were ominous looking trees whose leaves were dried up long ago, and the trunk and branches were curled up into gruesome faces. In the far distance, a gigantic mountain could be seen, with gleaming red lava flowing down its sides, towering over the land. Ciri, confused about where she has landed, takes a few steps forward, before being ambushed by beasts with horns and bat wings. These creatures, resembling gargoyles, have been hiding in the trees, flying and swooping down on to Ciri. As they drop down towards her, Ciri parries the first demon's attack, and with a swing of her blade, sends it tumbling away. The second one tried to attack Ciri from behind, flying full speed close to the ground towards her. Ciri suddenly disappears in a flash of bright green light, then reappears on top of the demon, and stabs her sword down at it, impaling the demon into the ground. Two demons then swoop to both her right and left, trying to team up on her. Ciri ducks the first demon, and jumps to avoid the attack from the second one, cutting its wing off in the process. The injured demon falls to the floor, and Ciri finishes it off by decapitating it. Seeing the carnage that Ciri had inflicted, the other demon flies off towards the mountains. Ciri regains her breath and takes a rest on the floor, but not for long, as another demon pops up from the ground and jumps high into the sky, before crashing down on his two feet. This demon is different from the others, as he has a human-like complexion, and resembles a young teenage boy. His green hair sharpens into a spike on his head, and he seems to wear an old, ragged suit of some kind with chains all over his body. Ciri, intrigued by his appearance, stands up, and puts her sword to the side.
CIRI: (With a slight smile) Finally! Another human! Do you happen to know a way out of this place?
AMAIMON: (Cracking his knuckles) Sorry to disappoint you lady, but I'm not a human. Far from it in fact.
CIRI: Well, I should've guessed so when I saw you pop up from the ground and into the sky like that. Maybe I was just a tad too hopeful that I would find a way out. What are you, a Doppler? Or a Godling?
AMAIMON: (Steadily walking forward) What? No, I am Amaimon, one of the eight Demon Kings. I am also known to some as King of Earth. But words don't really matter, only actions.
CIRI: (Surprised at what he said) Really now? A demon? But you look like a young little boy.
AMAIMON: (Chuckling sinisterly) This is just my host body, my true form is much more fearsome. But enough talk! I'm getting bored! I got really pissed off the last time I had to fight someone, big bro didn't let me finish the fight. And I've been thirsty to kill ever since. Na ha ha ha! You will just have to fill in for Rin for the meanwhile!
Amaimon abruptly roars, and he suddenly grows bigger in size, with his arms turning green and into huge fists, and he grew a tail as well. He charges toward Ciri, with intense speed, running with both his arms and legs, like a lion hunting its prey. As he gets close to Ciri, he leaps up and pounces on her. In an instant, Ciri closes her eyes, focuses, as just as Amaimon was about to reach her, she vanishes in a ray of green light, and appears again behind Amaimon. She swings her sword against him, and knocks him rolling far away.
AMAIMON: (On the floor, struggling to get up) Huh? What happened?
CIRI: Your movements are too obvious. You shouldn't charge like that. Anyway, are you alright? I hope you are still alive enough to guide me out of here.
AMAIMON: (Frustrated) Tch… you're gonna get it now! Behemoth!
A monster, with giant limbs similar to Amaimon erupts from the ground. He seems to be Amaimon's familiar, as he tries to bite his head when he jumps on Amaimon, who quickly throws him onto the floor and scolds him. Ciri watches in wonder, as the monster runs circles around Amaimon, who after much yelling and shouting, was finally able to convince the monster to follow him. The monster, Behemoth, jumps on Amaimon's back, and they both charge towards Ciri. This time, he doesn't just charge straight forward, but rather, with Amaimon as a sort of distraction, goes left and right, splitting and regrouping, trying to throw Ciri off course. As they try to get close to her, Ciri immediately realizes that Behemoth had drilled itself into the ground, and dodges as it shoots up from underground. She then slashes at Behemoth with her sword, knock it away. Behemoth proved to be a useful distraction though, as Amaimon was able to get behind Ciri this time, and tackles her to the floor. He almost punches through her head, but she dodges just in time, with his fist cracking the ground as it made its impact. Ciri then manages to kick Amaimon off her, and once again, disappears in a flash of green light. She then appears behind him and slashes him, disappears again and cuts him at a different angle. She would do this repeatedly and rapidly, disappearing and then reappearing with a swing of her blade each time. After she has seen that Amaimon has clearly had enough, she kicks him to the floor, and holds the blade to his throat.
CIRI: (Putting the tip sword closer towards Amaimon's throat) Now, will you please show me the way out of here. I'm in quite the hurry for an urgent matter.
MEPHISTO: (Appearing from a sudden puff of smoke and clapping his hands) Bravo! Bravo! Now this is a nice surprise!
CIRI: (Switches to pointing her sword towards Mephisto) Are you one of them too? A demon of some kind?
MEPHISTO: Whoa now! So hasty! And I haven't even brought you dinner yet!
CIRI: (She sheathes the sword on her back) Sorry, it's been hectic since I've arrived. This is the third time I've asked, but do you happen to know a way out of here. For some reason I can't seem to be able to travel back out into the dimensionary plane, it's like something is blocking me here.
MEPHISTO: Well, you are lucky then, third time is the charm I guess. Indeed I do know the way out, the closer you get to the core of Gehenna, the more difficult it is to escape from its pull. We will have to move upwards in order to get away.
CIRI: And you can take me? I will be very grateful if you can.
MEPHISTO: Well, yes… Of course I can, but I would like to do something else first. And I see you've met my little brother Amaimon.
Mephisto lightly kicks Amaimon on the floor, who is still moaning and groaning. He laughs, and then looks up towards Ciri again.
MEPHISTO: (Intrigued) Impressive! You were able to dispatch of him so easily. But then again, Amaimon is the weakest of the eight Demon Kings.
CIRI: I assume that since you're his brother, you fall into that hierarchy as well? Just who are you really?
MEPHISTO: (With a devious smirk) My! Ha ha! In such a hurry to cut to the chase now? It's funny because I wanted to ask you the same thing. Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon!
CIRI: (Astonished) H-How do you know my name?
MEPHISTO: Oh my dear Ciri! I know many things. I know that you are not from this world, but you have a very special ability to let you transverse through these different dimensions. Legends in Gehenna have spoken of your race from long ago.
CIRI: You know all this from legends?
MEPHISTO: And I have also been observing you ever since you entered this world.
CIRI: How? Enough secrets! Just who are you?
MEPHISTO: (Getting slightly serious) I am a demon, but not THAT demon. No, this is his world though, and I am merely one of his subjects. I go by many names; the humans refer to me as Johann Faust the Fifth, an entrepreneur who owns the True Cross Academy. The Exorcists call me Mephisto Pheles, one of the supreme Knights of the True Cross. But here, I am known as Samael, the second strongest of the eight Demon Kings. The ruler of time and space.
CIRI: (Astounded and speechless) …
MEPHISTO: That is why I was able to notice you when you came into this world, and was able to keep a watchful eye over you. However, while my abilities allow me to navigate through time and space, unlike you, I can only do so along this plane only, where as you can jump between planes at will.
CIRI: And the legends here say all this about me?
MEPHISTO: No… It is just a mere assumption. However, they do mention something… and I can smell it in you Cirilla… a very strong and distinct smell… the Elder Blood.
CIRI: (Astonished) H-How do you know?
MEPHISTO: Perhaps Cirilla… the reign of your ancestors extended far beyond what you could have imagined. But let's not stray from the events at hand any further. You needed a way out right?
CIRI: That's right. Thank you-
MEPHISTO: (Interrupting her) Don't thank me just yet…
CIRI: What?
MEPHISTO: (Back to his usual joyous self) How about we play a little game my dear Ciri. I wish to test your abilities, just a quick sparring between you and me.
CIRI: (Shaking her head) I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I don't think this is the time.
MEPHISTO: If you want to, I can suspend the movement of time for a little while, just enough for us to play around a tad. Now now… Don't be shy… It'll be fun…
CIRI: (Sensing that she has no way out of this) F-Fine… but I won't hold back!
MEPHISTO: (Pulling out his Umbrella) Which is all the better!
CIRI: (She takes out her sword and zooms forward in a flash of bright green light) Jaskółka!
MEPHISTO: (Opening his Umbrella) Eins! Zwei! Drei!
Mephisto was able to summon a giant black bullet instantaneously, and it propels straight towards Ciri. Ciri tries to disappear but the bullet would chase her where ever she would appear again. She finally manages to stay in one place, and cut the bullet in half, in which it then disappears in a puff of smoke. But before Ciri has time to catch her breath, a giant steel anvil appears above her head and she barely dodges it. Ciri once again charges towards Mephisto, but he then summons a giant red rubber boxing glove which knocks her back. As Ciri tries to get back on to her feet, a hundred spears suddenly come lunging down from the sky towards her. She manages to escape out of the trajectory of the spears, but gets glazed on the shoulder. She then takes a charging position, and stands still, waiting for Mephisto's next move. Mephisto snaps his fingers, and a giant teddy bear with an intent to kill jumps at Ciri. Ciri parries the bear's sharp claws, and cuts it to pieces of cotton and threads. Ciri once again runs towards Mephisto, but this time, she blinks behind him midway and tries to cut the umbrella from his hand. Mephisto dodges and disappears in a puff of smoke, and reappears in the sky with a giant drill, plunging towards her. Ciri teleports away just as the drill crashes into the floor. Taking advantage of the moment, Ciri teleports behind Mephisto, knocks the umbrella out of his hand with her blade, and then grabs his white top hat from his head.
CIRI: (Twirling the hat on her finger) And, I think that'll be it for now!
MEPHISTO: (Clapping his hands with a delighted smirk on his face) Not bad! Not bad! You did not disappoint Ciri!
CIRI: (Throws the hat back to Mephisto) And now our deal? You will guide me out of this world?
MEPHISTO: Yes, of course. But I can only guide you back to the world that you had previous came from, Assiah.
CIRI: That's good enough for me. I'll be able to travel again once I'm there. But I wanted to ask something, where did you say we were again?
MEPHISTO: (Beginning to walk forward with Ciri Following) This world is called Gehenna, the home of the demons. It is one of the many worlds in our Dimensional Plane. The world we are going to, Assiah, is a mirror of Gehenna, and the two are directly connected.
CIRI: That's strange, it is very rare for worlds like this to be connected, usually they exist on different planes.
MEPHISTO: Indeed, it is strange, but there is a very good reason for why this occurs.
CIRI: And would you so very kindly explain?
MEPHISTO: It is hard to put into words, but basically the worlds are not only aligned in physical constraints, but in terms of consequences as well.
CIRI: (Confused) What?
MEPHISTO: The worlds are parallel, whatever action happens in this Gehenna can trigger a reaction in Assiah, and vice versa. There are other worlds, but these two especially are bound together, which is one of the reasons why I am able to cross over so easily. Finally, we are far enough from the core of Gehenna. The gravitational force of the core is weaker here, you should be able to cut your way back to Assiah.
CIRI: Just one more question… why are you helping me?
MEPHISTO: Let's just say… that I enjoy such interesting company, and that exciting events will unravel soon! I, wish to be a spectator when it happens, and I have a feeling you will play a very pivotal role on that stage!
CIRI: (Cutting a gap in the empty space) Are you always this mysterious?
MEPHISTO: I thought you said only one question… but yes, it has been said about me, many a times. But before you leave, I have one thing to ask you.
CIRI: (Standing by the portal) Go ahead.
MEPHISTO: You already asked about me, but why are you here? You didn't just happen to wander into the world did you?
CIRI: (Hesitant) No… but to be honest with you… and Avallac'h wouldn't like me revealing this… but I am currently on the run.
MEPHISTO: On the run? My, for even the great Ciri to be on the run from something, this must be quite the threat!
CIRI: I… I am on the run from the army that we call… the Wild Hunt… and I better leave soon too, or else my presence may lead them to target this world as well…
MEPHISTO: How did you stumble across this world in the first place?
CIRI: While I was traveling, I noticed that this particular plane happened to have a lot of cuts and gashes in its fabric. It is strange for something like that to occur; it's almost as if… someone… or something was trying to force itself into your world. Even with my abilities, I had a difficult time navigating through this plane; the cracks would often spontaneously decay. I figured that the Wild Hunt's travelers would have a similar difficulty as I did transversing this dimension. They would probably get caught up, which would buy me some time, so I decided to stay and catch my breath here.
MEPHISTO: Intriguing…
CIRI: (Stepping through the portal) Well… Good bye now. And thank you for your help. I wish to repay the debt sometime.
MEPHISTO: (Watching her step through the portal and the portal closing) Oh, what an interesting character you are Cirilla… and yes… we will meet again… very soon.