Magister Negi Magi is owned by Ken Akamatsu and Kodansha Ltd. Tokyo in Japan, and by Funimation and Ballantine - DelRey in the United States, NOT by me.

Gwen Springfield is a creation of Kafka'sdragon, and is used here with his permission.

While I wound up not using the actual idea I discussed with quigonkenny of the AQS Forums, he still deserves credit for inspirational help with this chapter.

SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.

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"Kurt'Wa Cae Ffynnon and Kush'Na Norista Teotanasia first met when he came to teach at her school..."
-Author unknown. From the surviving fragmentary text of a history of the 'First Crisis.'

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Ala Alba in the World of Magic: Tales From the Fireside.

Chapter Thirty-two: Bodyguard for an Empress. (Day three.)

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After the first several morning practice sets were completed, a summons for Shirabe and Homura arrived. Promising they would return as quickly as possible, the lead singer and acting lead guitar of Damashi departed.

Left alone with Koyomi and Tamaki, Damashi's keyboard operator and drummer, Ako Izumi absent-mindedly plinked at her borrowed bass guitar and tried not to stare too much at the two girls. Even though she couldn't remember most of a day, she was doing her best to be worthy of the opportunity Shirabe had given her. Koyomi and Tamaki had both played terribly in the previous night's practice, and despite a strongly worded dressing down by Shirabe, were barely playing in a passable manner now.

Absentmindedly playing scales on her keyboard, Koyomi Carenda's tail began switching back and forth angrily as she let her mind drift back to the ultimately failed attempt to contain Jack Rakan.

Master Fate was right. The man was an idiot. As well as being as annoying as a buzzing insect that just wouldn't go away. She and Tamaki could have dealt with his panty-pinching and skirt-flipping, but the use of sixteen jars of fruit jam had been all together too much to take. In the end, they had not so much contained Rakan, as been toyed with by him until he became bored. Even then, Tamaki had refused to release the former member of the Ala Rubra from their trap, so he had simply bulled his way out. Doing so with such ease it became painfully clear he could have done so at any time.

Master Fate had received their shame-faced report in a somewhat distracted manner, thanking them for holding Rakan as long as they did, then dismissing them to go prepare for the next day's concert.

Suddenly bringing her hand down and sounding a discordant note, Koyomi shook her head. If she couldn't get herself together, they might have problems with the next part of the spell they were preparing for Master Fate.

"Koyomi? I know we're not that close, but, are you okay?"

Black-furred tail puffed up to twice it's normal size from her irritation, Koyomi turned on Ako, who suddenly backed away because of her upset look. "Huh?"

Slowly reaching out to an 'angry cat' like she'd seen Sakurako Shiina do, Ako gently placed her hand on Koyomi's. With just that, the bristling Nek-Jin slowly began to relax. "I said; 'Are you okay?' You've been distracted since last night..."

Jack Rakan's laughing face tried to intrude into her thoughts, but Ako's genuine concern and calming touch caused such thoughts to quickly fade in prominence. Koyomi realized what was happening might not be something Ako was doing consciously, but she could feel her confidence returning nonetheless. Eventually, she was able to pull her hand free and give the pale-haired debt-slave a look of thanks. "Yes. I was just a little upset. Tamaki and I had some things to deal with the last two nights, an obsessive fan, and some other work, and we haven't had the chance to get much sleep."

Walking over to Tamaki, Ako reached out and gave the Ryu-Jin girl's hand the same reassuring squeeze she'd given Koyomi. "Well, I guess I can't really know everything a professional group like yours goes through. All I can do is be as supportive as I possibly can!" Tamaki nodded in thanks, then gave a big yawn Ako had to fight to resist repeating. "I have to say though, if you can get Shirabe to leave you alone, you two should try to get some sleep before the concert tonight."

Considering the irony of Ako's good intentions, since she was in effect, if not in deed, an enemy, Koyomi could not help giving her a smile. "Thanks, Ako." Taking a deep breath, she turned to include Tamaki in her gaze. "Well then! Even without Shirabe and Homura, why don't we go through that last set once more!"

With nods of agreement, Ako and Tamaki prepped themselves to start playing again. After a short pause, the sounds of much higher quality music were soon drifting from behind the practice studio's closed door.

(-)

Theodora Hellas, Third Princess of the Hellas Empire, proceeded with all due solemnity towards her private arena suite for the start of the second round of the Nagi Springfield Cup Prize Fighter's Tournament.

Pomp and Circumstance had left her bored beyond belief. Other than the chance to see old friends during the opening ceremony, and at that thinly disguised attempt to rally support for severing ties with the Normal World at the Argyre Legation last night, there was little else to excite her in New Ostia. The one exception to that, and the thing that kept her from making some excuse not to come, was an exciting young prize fighter from Granicus City.

Even if he hadn't shared a name and good looks with a deceased friend, his youth and meteoric rise to success would have been worth following. By word of mouth and Maho-net blog, rumors were circulating that he might even be more than he appeared. Wilder rumors said he was like a Black Knight from the old tales, fighting to right some tremendous wrong. Other rumors that he was simply fighting to free his friends from debt-slavery. Either way, two illustrated books being sold by some artist girl in the arena's vendor area were certainly helping to feed those rumors.

Really, to think that kid had defeated the blood-thirsty 'Dark Evangel' made for great reading, but it had to be a fiction. Single-handedly defeating a giant ogre was more believable!

That such an unknown had come from the wilds of Elysium to win so many matches and qualify for the Nagi Springfield Cup was enough to pique her interest. Another old friend she'd not seen in over ten years had once been a gladiator, and despite the thinking of her ministers and more frumpy ladies-in-waiting that doing such was undignified, she was an avid watcher of prize fighting, and followed the careers of several fighters with the eye of an expert.

Nagi Springfield, as the youngster called himself, was proving to be a winner. His next fight was the first on this, the third day of the War's End Celebration in New Ostia. Though she had to attend other matches, so as to not show any kind of favoritism, she made sure to schedule time to watch his match before any of the others.

Just before reaching the entry to the private suite, a tall person walking in the opposite direction suddenly pulled down his cloak's hood and stared at her in seeming surprise.

"Theo? Is that really you?"

Instantly alert, Theodora's twin, deceptively child-like Hu-Jin attendants and Mastiff Inu-Jin bodyguard moved to protect their charge.

Not making any overt moves, the mousse-haired person remained at a prudent distance, holding his hands out to indicate his desire not to seem a threat. Both his glasses and thin beard confused Theodora for a moment, until a smile she remembered well brought back memories of an unsure young boy from twenty years past...

"TAKA!"

Reacting swiftly, Theodora's Inu-guard managed to keep his charge from pushing out of her protective envelope. "Please Princess! How do you know this person is who he seems?"

With a look of exasperation, Theodora held up a hand with her thumb and forefinger touching.

"Fidelis Visum Era Imperator!"

When nothing happened and Gateau Kagura von Vandenburg's protege remained unchanged within her lens, Theodora pushed past the guard. "Of course he's who he seems!" Moving quickly, she reached out and took Takamichi T. Takahata's hand. "How have you been? If I'd know you would look this good all grown up, I would have insisted you stick around twenty years ago!"

Theodora, Third princess of the Hellas Empire, betrayed nothing by her expression, but Takamichi felt her grip change at the touch of the Ala Rubra badge he held concealed within his palm. Letting his own expression drop, he shook his head. "Too much happened back then, and recently. You know it never would have worked out."

Patting his hand with her own, Theodora nodded, then turned to indicate the entrance to her private suite. "Come on in, and we'll talk some more."

Looking decidedly upset, Theodora's Inu-guard made a move to interpose himself. "Princess! If this 'Taka' is Takamichi Takahata, he's under suspicion of attacking Praetorian's in Megalo-Mesembria!"

Pleasant would be how any outside observer would describe the smile of the Hellas Empire's Third Princess as she turned to face her bodyguard. Wisps of smoke as lone hairs began to burn from the Inu-Jin's ear tips said the smile was anything but.

"What are you? A dog of the Magic Council? Is the Hellas Empire subordinate to Megalo-Mesembria and the Northern Alliance now?"

Backing away, the Inu-Jin held out his hands defensively. "NO, Princess Theodora!"

Anger quickly turning to genuine pleasantry, Theodora's smile became one of triumph. "Good! Now, as your punishment, you can guard me from outside the suite!"

Shocked, the Inu-Jin watched as Princess Theodora's friend held open the door to the suite, then followed her inside.

Used to such behavior, the twin attendants shrugged and moved to position themselves on either side of the entry to Princess Theodora's suite.

"Princess Theodora sure is troublesome, isn't she, Sora Mea?"

"Yes. Most troublesome indeed. Fratele Meu."

Staring at the platinum-haired twin attendants, who's angelic faces belied the stories he'd heard about them, the Inu-Jin bodyguard couldn't believe what he was hearing. "How can you be so calm? Princess Theodora could be alone in there with a dangerous criminal!"

Turning to face one-another in perfect unison, both attendants smiled and giggled briefly in stereo.

"He sure is troubled! Sora Mea."

"Yes. He must be new, and not familiar with Princess Theodora's eccentric ways! Fratele Meu."

Watching as the two attendants giggled once more before falling into emotionless, statue-like poses, the Inu-Jin wanted to break the door down and go to Princess Theodora's rescue. The barest hint of a move towards doing so brought an instant reaction from the two attendants. Both had cold, hard eyes that didn't belong on faces so young locked on to his before he'd gone even a step. Pitiless and intense, they didn't relax until he himself did so. Sighing in defeat, he walked over and assumed a watchful look more appropriate to an arena bouncer, than a bodyguard of royalty.

"He's learning. Sora Mea."

"Perhaps he will fit in nicely after all. Fratele Meu."

Happy the faint flush he felt couldn't be seen beneath the fur on his muzzle, the Inu-Jin groaned inside while giving a passing arena employee a baleful glare. ("Vizier Tokai of the Hellas Royal Guard told me there'd be days like this...")

Moving quickly to the viewing balcony of the private suite, Theodora Hellas stood briefly at the railing to allow the various arena media services to notice her presence. After the required time wearing the solemn face of her station, she paused to wave briefly at a pair of children shouting greetings from just below the railing, then finally took her seat and relaxed. "I heard you had a bit of trouble in Megalo-Mesembria. There was also another rumor about an attempt on the life of Donnet McGuinness..."

Raising his hood so any casual observer would think him just a bodyguard, Takamichi stepped up and took an appropriate place beside and slightly behind Theodora. "Praetorians illegally tried to intercept me. They were dealt with. An attempt was made on Miss McGuinness life..." Looking down at one of his oldest friends, he gave her an amused grin. "...it failed."

Preceding it with a warm, barking laugh, Theodora returned Takamichi's grin with one of her own. "Wonderful! I wish I could have been there to see that!" Giving a bored sigh, she then leaned against the support of one of her arms. "Being a princess is so terribly dull! It's hard to find anything amusing to do that some well meaning servant, Vizier, or governmental politician doesn't object to."

Out in the arena, a sudden increase in the level of background noise heralded the entry of the announcer for the mornings first match. When the noise quieted slightly, the female U-Jin began introducing the members of the teams from Granicus City and Shangri-La.

Shifting her posture once more to secure a better view, Theodora made several discrete hand gestures and the suite's anti-eavesdropping spells snapped into place. "I can't imagine you've come all this way to accept my proposal from twenty years ago Taka..."

Wearing the same garb they'd used since Granicus City, Nagi Springfield and Kojirou Oogami came out to face off against the Jester-esque clothed team from Shangri-La.

"You always were the kidder Theo!" A glance down at a slightly irritated expression revealed to Takamichi that Theodora, Third Princess of the Hellas Empire, was most certainly NOT kidding. Giving a cough, he turned away to hide his slight blush. "In truth, I'm here at the request of Magus Dilane and Konoemon Konoe. Mostly I've just been visiting people they wished me to speak with."

At the signal to start, Nagi Springfield leapt forward alone, while Kojirou Oogami stayed behind with his arms crossed.

Watching the harshness of Nagi's impact with the Shangri-La team's mage, Takamichi felt a slight twinge of sympathy for the person. "My secondary purpose is to help out that young man down in the arena right now."

Takamichi's comment was enough to draw Theodora's attention away from Nagi's pummeling of his opponent. Torn with indecisiveness, the mage's Ministra didn't seem to be able decide to defend his mage and thus leave himself open to Kojirou, or to just go after Kojirou. Sitting up, she gave Takamichi a serious look. "His resemblance to the Thousand Master from the time after the war is amazing... Just who is he?"

Below, Nagi dispatched his opponent with a series of point-blank lightning attacks, then turned on the man's sword wielding Ministra.

"That's Nagi's son Negi."

Eyes wide with sudden shock, Theodora nearly missed the conclusion of the fight as Nagi backed his Ryu-Jin opponent up against the arena wall and forced the man's surrender. "Really now..."

Returning to the arena floor, the U-Jin announcer waited for Negi to help his opponents up, then declared the team from Granicus City the winner. As soon as the short award ceremony was complete, she began promoting the fights still scheduled for that morning, and later on in the evening.

When Nagi and Kojirou finally passed back into the passage to the gladiator waiting areas, Takamichi turned to look down at Theodora. "Considering how things happened twenty years ago, I expect something significant is going to happen during, or just after the conclusion of the War's End celebration. That may include an attempt on your and Ricardo's lives."

Standing up, Theodora gave herself a long stretch. "Taka, I'm not so helpless as I was back then, and I wasn't that helpless back then either!"

Smiling like a parent amused by a child's empty boasting, Takamichi gave the Third Princess of the Hellas Empire a knowing look. "Oh? The little girl who Nagi had to rescue along with Ricardo from their prison in the Noctis Labyrinthus?"

Flushing enough to have it seen even with her dark skin, Theodora glared menacingly at Takamichi. "I was caught off-guard!" She then showed him her feral grin. "Besides! There were half a dozen Total World Mooks who went down before they finally got me!"

Keeping up his own smile and resisting the urge to ruffle Theodora's hair, Takamichi watched as her grin swiftly softened back into the still young woman's normal, bright-faced smile. "I know. Still, it might not hurt if you had some, unconventional, protection."

Having started towards the entrance to the suite, Theodora turned back to face Takamichi. "Are you offering? I might not let you go again, if you are..."

Straightening to attention, Takamichi folded an arm across his torso and made a respectful bow. "Third Princess Theodora of the Hellas Empire. Please permit me, Takamichi T. Takahata, to assist in the protection of your person until I am assured of your safety."

Remaining still, Theodora regarded Takamichi with a neutral look for several moments, then turned back towards the suite's door, canceling the anti-eavesdropping spells as she did so. "I'm sure you'll wish to do so discreetly. Come with me and I'll make the arrangements at once."

(-)

Having finished her morning duties as Mama's assistant, Akira Okochi thanked her team for asking, but deferred their calls to join them for lunch, saying she had to go see a friend during the break.

Professor Springfield's victory in his match that morning had advanced him to the Semi-Finals on day five, so it seemed likely he would become increasingly distracted by that, despite his promise to them. Running through her mind again and again a proposal that might ease his worries, she headed towards Negi's suite, hoping he was resting there after the fight.

A polite knock at the door produced no response. Having been granted permission to enter the suite any time it might be necessary, she took out the key she'd been given and quietly opened the door. Quite oddly, even though several lights were on, and a few of her classmates personal effects were lying around, no one seemed to be there. A discrete glance into the bathroom and bedroom produced no results, leaving her confused. Walking back out into the main room, she saw that nothing had changed. Disappointed about wasting her free time, she was turning to leave when a rustle of cloth sounded behind her.

Like something out of a B-Grade horror movie, a shadowy mass reached out to envelope her...

...then deposited her with an undignified 'thud' in the entry way of a Japanese Wood and Paper home.

"Welcome to the Ala Alba's secret hideout, Akira."

Looking up, Akira beheld the smiling visage of her classmate Kaede Nagase. Accepting a proffered hand, she allowed the tall girl to pull her up from the floor. After rubbing at a sore bottom and straightening her maid uniform's skirt, she gave the calm-looking Kaede a questioning look. "What's going on? Where is this place?"

Opening one eye slightly, Kaede reached up to scratch at a cheek while trying not to look directly at Akira. "Remember when Asakura showed you her artifact card and said she was the eighth person to kiss Professor Springfield, and you got so upset?"

Feeling hot suddenly, Akira glared at Kaede. "I understand Ako knows about Negi being a mage now, so it's not such an issue any more, but are you telling me you're number NINE?"

Turning away to hide the slight color now tinting her cheeks, Kaede placed her hand on the handle of the entryway's Shoji door. "It was a matter of practicality. It also made a big difference in something Professor Springfield asked Sayo and I to do. You'll understand when you find out why."

Kaede opened the Shoji, and Akira beheld most of those who had come with Professor Springfield to the Magic World.

"Yuuna and Makie's bodyguards are keeping an eye on Ako's kidnapper, and Anya's crew is watching Collet. Professor Bagera is here because he's become so involved through Bookstore. Rakan is away chasing old mercenary buddies apparently, so with you, that means everyone is here except Ako and Natsumi."

Nodding at Kaede's words, Akira watched as Chachamaru, full-sized again for the moment and dressed in a Kimono, set out tea before a cushion that had obviously been prepared for her newly arrived classmate. As everyone looked up expectantly, she and Kaede walked inside, and the Shoji door closed behind them.

Standing, Negi indicated for Akira to take the place prepared for her. "Thank you for coming by, Miss Okochi. I would have made sure to let you and the others know what was going on later, but you being here now simplifies things."

As soon as Akira had settled on her cushion, Negi took all those present in with a glance. "For those of you who don't know, I sent Kaede and Sayo to confirm something I learned just last night." Struggling to control his emotions, Negi paused to take a breath. "Asuna is alive. There are strong indications she may be under some form of compulsion, but she IS alive."

Stunned disbelief was Negi's only answer at first. Finally, the silence was shattered by exclamations of relief and shouted questions. When everyone finally calmed and stopped pressuring him for answers he didn't have at the moment, he turned to face the one person who's face was hot from shame. "Setsuna. This isn't your fault. You just made the same conclusion anyone else would have."

Leaning forward, Setsuna put a balled fist on the floor without looking up. "I've caused everyone so much grief by listening to Tsukuyomi! How could you ever forgive me?"

As Konoka, her own relief showing as silent tears, leaned forward to console Setsuna, Negi took out Asuna's blood stained Pactio card. "Even with all she's done, I don't think Tsukuyomi lied to you, Setsuna."

Now Setsuna did look up. "But she told me Asuna was betrayed by her blood! She..."

A smile came to Negi's face, even as an expression of realization appeared on Setsuna's. "She never told you Asuna was dead, did she Setsuna?"

After concentrating on memories of her encounters with Tsukuyomi for a moment, Setsuna looked up and slowly shook her head.

With a slight shift of his fingers, Negi's unstained original of Asuna's card fanned out from where it had been hiding behind the copy. "What does 'Betrayed by her blood,' mean to you Miss Sakurazaki?"

Responding subconsciously to Professor Springfield's 'classroom' voice, Setsuna straightened her posture. "That she became exhausted in body, mind, or both, couldn't continue fighting, and was killed as a result."

Nodding, Negi began to turn towards where the chalkboard would be in his classroom, but managed to check the movement before doing so. "Correct, and in this case, it may still be close to the truth. However, the definition I'm considering is one partly unique to me by culture and native language."

When no one from his class offered to guess what he meant, Negi put both hands behind his back and began to pace. "Within Western culture, and European culture in particular, 'Betrayed by her blood,' would mean a person like our Asuna was betrayed by someone in her family. The specific application of the definition is most often associated with betrayals within the families of royalty. If you would like to read an excellent example of such, then I suggest you take a look at Shakespeare's 'Richard the Third,' or 'King Lear,' when we return to Mahora."

Beside Nodoka, Professor Bagera gave a sudden start, but while his helper from Dracogenia leaned over to ask if he was okay, Negi failed to notice.

"I know next to nothing about Asuna's past, and it isn't polite to inquire about such things unless someone offers answers. It may be that she did encounter some unknown relative. What I do know is that Tsukuyomi, most likely on Fate's orders, gave you that card so I would be unable to use it to contact Asuna. While this is supposition, it may be that her choice of words was meant to be a subtle hint to let you know Asuna was still alive."

After shaking her head in disbelief, Setsuna gave Negi a confused look. "Why would she do that?"

Taking a deep breath, Negi released it as a long sigh, then put Asuna's Pactio cards away. "Think about what Tsukuyomi told you in the library; 'Sempai... you need to come find me to fight before the festival's over... Otherwise, it will be too late to matter...' I believe she gave you a clue as to our enemy's plans. As for why she would do such a thing?" Turning slightly, Negi focused his gaze on Setsuna. "What do you think?"

Feeling like giving a derisive snort, Setsuna held off, seeing in Negi's expression that he wanted her to give a serious answer. "She's obsessed with dueling me. Almost crazy in her desire to do so..."

Negi gave Setsuna a curt nod. "Consider now that Tsukuyomi might be working under orders that don't permit her complete freedom to act as she sees fit. What do you think about the things she's said and done then?"

Looking down for a moment, Setsuna mentally reviewed her recent encounters with the Shinmei-ryu Twin-blade before meeting Negi's gaze again, her eyes wide with realization. "She's desperate to fight me! Something's going to happen one or both of us might not survive, and she wants to settle things before then!"

Not feeling good about the implications of Setsuna's realization, but happy someone else had reached the same conclusion he had, Negi allowed his shoulders to fall slightly in relief. "That is most likely true. Unfortunately, I still have no clue as to what that plan might be, or as to why Asuna's Pactio card says she's dead, when we know her to be alive..."

"Pardon me."

Surprised at the unexpected voice, Negi turned to face the Tiger man sitting next to Nodoka. "Professor Bagera?"

Pulling himself to his feet, Bagera bowed respectfully to Negi. "If I may take the floor, Professor Springfield?"

Feeling a slight bit of pride over being addressed as an equal by an older professor he hardly knew, Negi indicated for Bagera to proceed, then moved to stand near his cushion beside Chisame Hasegawa.

Moving into the center of the circle of students, Professor Bagera took everyone in as Negi had done, then slipped into an 'at ease,' posture, with one hand at his side, and the other across his chest, as if holding a piece of chalk. "My colleague Professor Springfield is closer to the truth than he knows."

Stepping forward, Bagera held out one of his paw-like hands. "May I see the Princess... I mean, Miss Asuna's Pactio card Professor Springfield?" After receiving the bloodstained card and an odd look from Negi, he examined it closely, then held it out for everyone to see. "As Professor Springfield has no doubt mentioned, certain missing information on this card indicates this 'Asuna' should be dead. Would anyone care to speculate why this is so, when you know her to be alive?"

Expecting Nodoka to answer him, Bagera smiled with delight when another of Springfield's obviously well taught students, the brown haired girl with a single pony-tail from two nights ago, held up her hand first. "Yes, Miss?"

Doing as was expected in class with a new teacher, Yuuna stood up. "Akashi, Yuuna. Student number two, Sir."

Makie and several others suddenly laughed at Yuuna's formality, but Professor Bagera just smiled and made a slight bow. "Akashi... I think I may have once known an Akashi... at any rate, please proceed."

Still a bit red, Yuuna kept herself from changing what she wanted to say, and nodded towards Nodoka. "Perhaps because she is being controlled, like Nodoka said Ako was?"

"Correct. While it isn't very common, that and the actual death of a partner are two of the most obvious reasons for a Pactio card to change like this one has." Holding the card out, he handed it back to Negi. "It isn't well documented, but there is a third reason why a card might change." Turning slightly, Bagera focused on Ku Fei. " Miss, could you please show us your Pactio card?"

Shaking her head, Ku focused intently on a spot on the floor just in front of her seat cushion. "No! I... I no have contract with Negi..."

Showing slight surprise, Bagera gave a sigh. "Ah... well, you seem to be someone quite well grounded with regards to control of your spiritual 'self.' You would have been best suited for what I want to demonstrate. Well then..." Turning again, Bagera focused on Setsuna. "Miss Sakurazaki, do you have a Pactio card?"

Reaching inside the suit-coat she wore as Konoka's Nek-Jin bodyguard, Setsuna pulled out her Pactio card.

A wave of Bagera's hand answered Setsuna's question when her look asked if he needed to directly examine the card. "That won't be necessary. Just hand your card to Miss Konoe." That done, Bagera returned his attention to Setsuna. "When a temporary or permanent partnership is established, a link is formed between the Magister and the Ministra. This is what allows telepathia and summoning of the Ministra, as well as various other things which are a part of the contract. All of which are available, even without any exchange of energy between the partners."

Most everyone present nodded, with Makie and Yuuna looking the most lost.

"Now, Miss Sakurazaki, I want you to deliberately think about cutting that link." At the sound of several gasps, Bagera waved his hand. "Not to worry. This won't be permanent, as will be shown. In any case, even if you must use some form of meditation, please sever the link."

Unsure where this might be leading, Setsuna sat back and closed her eyes. Her breathing began to slow, and after several moments of silence, the card in Konoka's hand seemed to loose it's luster and became a 'dead' card.

Yelping in shock, Konoka nearly dropped the card.

Setsuna reacted to the cry and was instantly alert. As soon as she opened her eyes, the card in Konoka's hand gave off a faintly visible flash and returned to normal.

Looking up at Bagera, Konoka could tell the big Nek-Jin sensed she understood the implication of his demonstration.

"Thusly, you see the third way a card might become dead is for one of the partners to intentionally block the link. Now, should a Magister form a permanent partnership with a Ministra, any provisional contracts they have are voided as a secondary effect of that ceremony. All the cards are then is just a number of pretty souvenirs. Otherwise, permanent termination of a provisional partnership without a presumably 'accidental' death requires a ceremony equal to that used to establish the contract. In any case, why would someone deliberately wish to cut the link they held with their partner... Professor Springfield?"

Eyes facing the floor and streaming tears, his shoulders shaking with tension, Negi forced himself to look up at Bagera. As an English Literature teacher, he'd read more than enough books to give him a clear understanding of what Bagera was saying. "Because the person severing the link wants their partner to think they are already dead. The reason being, that they are so far along towards death, or are in such a bad situation, that they don't want their partner to think there is any reason to attempt a rescue."

As much pain as Negi seemed to be in, Bagera wasn't anywhere close to being done with him yet. "Correct. The reason Miss Miyazaki's Telepathia spell works seems to be the nature of her artifact. I believe the appropriate way to describe it would be the Normal World analogy of 'radio versus telephone.' A radio uses electronic waves, a telephone hard lines. One is easy to block or intercept, the other not so much. Miss Miyazaki's artifact seems to operate on the depth of telephone hard lines. Nothing except a physical severance, such as death, or perhaps also great distance, can block it once she's established a link. Mind control can prevent anything from being read, but it can't block the link. Another way to look at it, would be to say that Miss Miyazaki called me, and I picked up the phone, but that I refused to speak to her. That makes for an open link, and a very one-sided conversation."

Next to Nodoka, Yue Ayase watched as her friend ran a hand across the surface of the Diarium Ejus. From the expression she could see on the girl's face, the Ala Alba telepathia specialist looked like she was having dangerous thoughts.

In the center of the group, Bagera could see a look of resolve slowly forming on Negi Springfield's face. ("Well, if he can take what I'm about to tell him, and still maintain that commitment, then things are going to get quite interesting!") "I would imagine, Professor Springfield, that you intend to try and save your student, Miss Asuna, even though she might not want you to?"

Suddenly clenching both his fists, Negi gave Bagera a look that said the man was a fool for even asking. "Of course! I swore I'd get my students home safely! She's one of my students! More importantly, Asuna's the first friend I made after coming to Mahora, and my first partner..."

("...my first partner...") Bagera felt a slight tightening in his chest. He remembered his own first partner, a fine, white-furred tigress who was now twenty years dead. Killed in service to an organization, and a set of beliefs, he no longer held any dedication to. "There's something I need to tell you, Professor Springfield. A story dealing with the history of the Magic World. It relates directly to what you propose to do, and might effect how you choose to proceed..."

Following Bagera's hand gesture indicating for him to sit, Negi did so. Accepting a tissue from Chisame, he dried his face as the Tiger man looked around at the circle of students.

"I think it might be for the best, if everyone moved to where I could see all of you at the same time."

That accomplished, Bagera settled once more into his relaxed pose. "I should think by now, all of you have seen the statue of the Mage and her Protector, in one form or another?" A round of nods told Bagera everyone had. "That statue is of the mage Kush'Na Norista Teotanasia, and her Minister Kurt'Wa Cae Ffynnon. Together, the two were single handedly responsible for averting what eventually became known as the 'First Crisis.'"

Suddenly coming to attention, Bagera's eyes focused beyond Negi Springfield and his students, seeing only what had once been an unquestioningly clear path to him.

"In the Beginning, there was the Life-Giver, who in munificent benevolence brought This World into existence. In expression of It's multifaceted self-image, the Life-Giver also brought into existence all the creatures of the world; those who flew through the air, who swam in the sea, and those who walked upon the earth. Seeing what It had wrought, the Life-Giver was content.

However, not satisfied with what had been created in their behalf, those of The World rebelled. Thinking to challenge the Life-Giver, they seized and built upon that which the Life-Giver held as It's own. In this way, they corrupted the Life-Giver's work, going so far even as to create paths to other worlds, so that they might corrupt those as well.

Saddened by what had become of It's Creation, the Life-Giver descended upon It's World, to determine what must be done.

All about It, the Life-Giver saw nothing but the corruption of those poisoning It's World, and determined that everything must be cleansed. In that way, that which was before would be restored, and The World made whole once more.

In full knowledge of what they had wrought, those of the corrupt world put forth two who would challenge the Life-Giver. In contravention to the fullest application of It's Will, the two prevented The Cleansing from taking place, and in their arrogance, sealed the Life-Giver away.

However, The Life Giver is patient. It is the creator of This World. It is eternal to This World. It will return again and again until at last It's W ill shall be carried out."

Deflating after his recitation of a creed not spoken for twenty years, Bagera closed his eyes to take a moment to rest. Before him, none of Professor Springfield's students spoke, and a sneeze from the pink-haired Sasaki girl was angrily, though quietly chastised.

Mentally preparing himself, he slipped back into 'teacher' mode and opened his eyes.

"Now then, shortly after the 'First Crisis.' there came into existence a group of fanatics dedicated to the carrying out of the Life-Giver's will. Always though, one of Kush'Na's blood would arise to stop resurrection of the Life-Giver, and thus prevent those of the cult from bringing forth the desired cleansing of the world;

Marlone Eastonia Teotanasia...
Elphir Sous Teotanasia...
Arujent Wespatatia Teotanasia...

Eventually Zensekai Entelecheia, descendant by blood in the family line from which the Life Giver was said to have first chosen a physical form, arose as leader of the cult after claiming to have received an epiphany from the Life-Giver itself. Under his direction, the futility of direct confrontation was abandoned, and after a brief internal conflict over such a drastic change of direction, the followers of the cult began working to suborn the blood-line of Teotanasia to that of the Entelecheia.

Through the example of their countless failures previous to the change, the cult had learned patience. Slowly but surely, over the course of many generations, the bloodline of the Teotanasia was absorbed by that of the Entelecheia. As they no longer strived openly to the fulfillment of the Life-Giver's will, their efforts had the welcome side-effect of weakening the collective memory of who the Teotanasia were, until eventually they were known simply as a family with an affinity to produce a particularly rare magic-related ability."

Mention of rare Magic Abilities caught the attention of Yue Ayase, and Bagera could tell by the thin girl's expression that she knew which ability he was speaking about.

"Finally, there came to be born Aricia Anar'Shia Teotanasia. Third to hold that name and first since the time of Zensekai Entelecheia to hold it's associated title, 'Imperiosus Procer Crepusculum,' or, 'The Imperial Princess of the Twilight.' As such, Aricia was expected by the Entelecheia to be the culmination of over a millennium of effort.

Unfortunately, as she grew, Aricia showed no inclination of an ability for manifestation of the Life-Giver, or of that rare ability of the Teotanasia.

Upset, but with patience long ingrained, the descendants of Entelecheia resigned themselves to another generation or more of waiting. Through previous arrangement, Aricia Anar'Shia Teotanasia was married to Mifuzu Saseru Enteofushia, member of a branch of the Entelecheia, and Governor-General of Ostia at that time. Not expecting any surprises out of this joining, those of the Entelecheia sat back to wait."

Pausing for a moment, Bagera made a gesture with his arm to indicate everything 'outside' of where he now stood.

"Long ago, Ostia itself was the capitol city of the Magic World, established soon after the 'First Crisis' by Kush'Na Norista Teotanasia herself. Over the many years since Zensekai Entelecheia, Ostia lessened in prominence through deliberately fostered neglect. Long before the consolidation of what would become the Hellas Empire and the Northern Alliance, Ostia, though still rich in history, was a shell of it's former self. Through the further machinations of the Entelecheia, even the Teotanasia themselves, traditionally rulers of Ostia, had been placed in virtual exile in the remote city of Argyre."

Konoka Konoe nodded, giving Bagera the impression she'd seen some of what he'd just said during her research in New Ostia's library.

"Within a year of her marriage to Mifuzu, Aricia bore a daughter. Since the girl was not expected to be a viable host for the Life-Giver, she was ignored by the Entelecheia.

However, the Entelecheia had made a mistake. The child's potential as a host for the Life-Giver, as well as for manifestation of the gift of the Teotanasia where the highest since the time of Zensekai Entelecheia himself. Through her mother's tremendous efforts, this was kept as a closely guarded secret for just over two years. When Mifuzu Enteofushia, who knew only of the child's usefulness as a Teotanasia, discovered the deception, he had the tiny princess's mother poisoned. Though the 'accident' was openly acknowledged as suspicious, no serious investigation was ever pursued. Aricia's daughter inherited her title, Governor General Enteofushia declared himself regent over Ostia and it's associated holdings, and not privileged to know the full Will of the Entelecheia, proceeded to set in motion plans of his own.

By the time the Entelecheia itself discovered their error, it was nearly too late within the window of opportunity required to summon the Life-Giver to transfer their original plans for Aricia to her daughter. Despite having to advance their plans more rapidly than they would have preferred, the Entelecheia fermented war between the two dominant political blocks of the Magic World, The Hellas Empire and the Northern Alliance, and in the ensuing chaos, carried out their plans for the summoning of the Life-Giver.

This time, they expected no interference, since the bloodline of the Life-Giver and the Teotanasia were one-and-the-same, how could there be anyone to stop them?"

Realizing he was beginning to raise his voice, Bagera took a deep breath to calm himself down.

Seeing the professor was growing winded, Chachamaru swiftly handed him a cup of warm tea.

Nodding gratefully for the chance to rest, Bagera took three sips of the tea, bowed to express his thanks, then retuned the cup to Chachamaru.

"However, there was someone to stop them. Though it had not been seen openly since the time of Zensekai Entelecheia, the blood of Kurt'Wa Cae Ffynnon still flowed strongly, and after many generations now resided within one who's prowess as a mage knew no bounds...

...I expect you know of whom I speak... 'Son of Thousand Master.'"

Negi's eyes grew wide. "My father..."

Setsuna jumped up, the first few inches of her Nodachi coming out over worry they had somehow allowed an enemy into their midst. "How do you know all this?"

Sparing Setsuna only a single, unworried glance, Bagera shifted slightly to face Nodoka, who sat clutching her artifact and trembling with self-doubt, then focused once more on Negi Springfield.

"That's for later. what is important now is that Thousand Master and his companions in the Ala Rubra came to Ostia and prevented King Enteofushia from using Aricia's daughter for the furtherance of his personal ambitions."

Near Kazumi Asakura, Kaede and Ku Fei slowly began to relax from the state of readiness they had assumed along with Setsuna. Bagera continued displaying none of the aggression or fear they might have expected from an enemy, so for the moment, it still seemed likely he was not a threat.

Watching Nodoka once more, Bagera could see by the look in the girl's wide eyes that she was torn between using her artifact on him to determine the truth his words, and believing in her previous decision to trust him. Willing to wait for her to make the choice, he gave a small nod of thanks and a smile when she finally let her free hand fall to the side, the Diarium Ejus still unopened.

"To continue; Upset over the actions of the Thousand Master and the Ala Rubra, but with the conviction their plans would finally come to pass, the Entelecheia sought to remove that last potential interference. With that done, they would finally bring about the culmination of a generations long effort reaching back into the time of the Life-Giver itself.

Nagi Springfield and all those of the Ala Rubra were discredited. They were implicated in terroristic activities, interference in military operations, murder, and the kidnapping of important personages.

Labeled as outlaws of the lowest order, hunted by all and with very few friends, the Thousand Master and the Ala Rubra were forced into a journey still told in movie and song, even after the passage of more than twenty years.

Along the way, they rescued two of the persons they had been accused of kidnapping and returned them to their home countries. Once there, Third Princess Theodora of the Hellas Empire and Cordoba Ricardo of the Northern Alliance began working tirelessly to rally support for the Ala Rubra.

Finally able to return to Ostia, Nagi Springfield and the Ala Rubra fought a magnificent battle to stop the plans of the Entelecheia. Though they suffered grievously, they were victorious. Unfortunately, they were unable to save Aricia's daughter. Through her sacrifice, and the loss to the inhabitants of Ostia of nearly their entire city, the threat of the Entelecheia was at long last thought to be ended...

...that is, until you spoke of your friend Asuna and Royalty within the same breath..."

Suddenly seized with fear, Negi stared at Professor Bagera.

"I have no idea how the Thousand Master managed to save Princess Enteofushia from possession by the Life-Giver, but doing so places him, by itself, among the greatest of all mages..."

Now Yue, Konoka and Anya began to stare with the gaze of someone helpless to stop a terrible accident.

"That girl, descended from both Kush'Na Norista Teotanasia, and through Zensekai Entelecheia, supposedly the Life-Giver itself, was called Asuna, Vesperina, Teotanasia, Enteofushia..."

Before Professor Bagera, Negi and his students sat in stunned shock. The Sasaki girl though, who's countenance seemed a bit slow, gave voice to her thoughts; "Wow! Asuna is a Princess!"

"BE QUIET! Professor Bagera isn't finished yet!"

Everyone settled down as Negi moved out to face them.

Giving Negi a polite bow, Bagera gathered himself once more.

"Considering you have been accused of causing such, I would presume you are aware that all of the Magic World gate ports have been destroyed or sealed except the inactive one in Old Ostia. What anyone except Miss Miyazaki may not know about is the higher than normal level of naturally produced Mana, or magical energy, present at this time within the Magic World.

Because that confluence of events coincides with the normal window of opportunity for resurrection of the Life-Giver, I expect that under the cover of actions by the Magic World separatists, those of Entelecheia who must still exist planned to seal off the Magic World from the Normal World, thus setting in motion an event called 'Azrael's Sword.' Please forgive my lack of explanation as to the specific causes, but Azreal's Sword occurs when magical energy builds to a critcal mass, and is released explosively. Suffice to say, such a release could potentially be so great, it would sear down to dead rock the entire surface of the Magic World, thus bringing about the long-delayed culmination of the Life-Giver's will, even without that entities presence.

By bringing your friend to this world, you have given the Entelecheia the one thing they needed to absolutely assure the Life-Giver's will. The vessel required to summon the Life-Giver itself. I would imagine, since the Gravekeepers Palace was destroyed during the Third Battle of Ostia, the Entelecheia will take your friend to the next best place, the Temple of Chandika in the Arician District of Ostia, and the location of the city's inactive gate port. Once there, at the place which will soon be the location of greatest concentration of magical energy in over a thousand years, the Life-Giver will be summoned, and the Magic World as it is known destroyed forever."

Watching Negi thinking hard and considering what Professor Bagera had said, Kotaro jumped to his feet. "Teotanasia? Life-Giver? Who cares! Asuna is Asuna!"

Several other rose and echoed Kotaro's sentiments, but Bagera ignored them to focus on the angry Inu-Jin boy. "I'm afraid you're wrong. She is a vessel bred intentionally to house the spirit of the Life-Giver. Should that be awakened, your 'friend' will cease to exist."

Finally, Negi returned his attention to Bagera. "You still haven't answered Setsuna's original question. How do you know all of this?"

Now Bagera sighed and shook his head. "I could tell you about a young man, convinced the only way to save a corrupt world was to destroy everything and start over, but that would be meaningless. What is important from that story is that after being condemned to ten years as an ermine for his crimes, that man encountered a young woman by the name of Gwen Springfield."

Most of Negi's students showed expressions of interest at the mention of a 'Springfield' they'd not heard of before, but the looks he received from Negi himself, and his friend Anya Cocorowa told Bagera he might have to tell another story to a much smaller audience in the near future.

"Gwen Springfield had such a positive influence on that man, he became convinced of the error of his ways, and began to turn his life around. He was released earlier than he normally would have been, was given a new life and identity, and was allowed to return to normal society. Once there, he dedicated himself to helping others understand the events from that time, and worked to help make sure such things never happened again."

Standing before Bagera was a determined young man, whose expression mirrored another he had once been on the wrong side of. Considering the outcome that time, he could only hope such would be the case again. Still, only time would tell if Negi Springfield's resolve could match that of his father.

"Negi. To take those of your students who are safe now at your side, and to escape to the Normal World, surely this is within your abilities. What owe you to a world and it's people who condemn you as criminal? Why risk everything you can control, when all you must do to escape is abandon someone who is surely dead to any entreaty you might make anyway?"

Responding to Negi's suddenly angry expression, Bagera maintained a cold demeanor, but still began to allow his fangs to show.

"You would abandon your duties and responsibilities as these children's teacher out of loyalty to one who will not appreciate your devotion? You will risk the loss of all, when it is nearly certain you could escape with what you have now?"

Flushed with her anger, Anya Cocorowa jumped up and shook a fist a Bagera. "I may not be very close with Asuna, I may even be jealous she's so close to Negi, but still; I can't believe you're telling him to abandon her!"

Responding to the outburst, Bagera glared at Anya. "Irrelevant. If the Life-Giver is awakened, Asuna will no longer be anyone's 'friend.' In fact, she would be the enemy of every living thing within the Magic World."

"Anya... SIT DOWN."

Startled to hear Negi speak her name in such a serious tone, Anya did as she was told.

Giving Professor Bagera a hard look, Negi waited until the Tiger-man stepped aside, then took the Professor's place and turned to face his Class 3A students. "Professor Bagera is right. As Asuna's teacher, I have an obligation to help her. However, since the danger is so great, I must insist that everyone else obey my instructions, and go home."

Several of his students started to stand, anger showing on their faces, while the rest sat in disappointed shock. Forestalling any objections with a raised hand, Negi gave all of them a stern look, but had a tiny upturn at the corners of his mouth. "Anyone who disobeys my instructions to go can expect detention when we get home...

...WITH Asuna."

Now his students began to cheer, but Negi could see by the expressions on Kaede, Ku, Setsuna and Yue's faces, that they understood they were about to take a step from which there would be no return without complete success. After holding their gaze for a few moments, he turned to face Bagera. "I'll tell you what I told Fate. A slim chance is not the same as no chance. I believe there is still a chance, and I intend to save Asuna...

...even if it kills me."

Within the body of the boy standing before him, Bagera could sense the beating of the heart of a man. As thrilling and inspirational as that was, there still was a touch of sadness in what he felt. He could only hope being forced to grow up so soon would not ruin the 'boy' forever.

"Well then, I'd best get to work."

Next to Chachamaru, Chisame Hasegawa stood up and approached Negi. "Kaede said Asuna was in the Legation from Argyre, right Professor?" After being given a nod, she turned to Bagera. "Is it possible those Separatists, or Entelecheians, or whatever are based in Argyre?"

Crossing his arms, Bagera gave Chisame an odd look. "Despite his involvement, no charges against King Enteofushia were ever proven. After the war, he went to what had become the home of the Teotanasia in exile, and has lived there ever since. While investigators from the Hellas Empire and the Northern Alliance have never been able to prove as much, it has always been believed that the more radical elements of the Separatists, and by extension, survivors of the Entelecheia, were based there."

With a shrug, as if she were annoyed to have to even think about what she was going to do, Chisame turned to Negi. "If there's anything that might prove useful to us on the servers in Argyre Professor, then I'll take Chachamaru and Ch... I mean, a strong helper we've found, and we'll find it."

Turning to Chachamaru, Chisame jerked her thumb toward the exit from Kaede's artifact. "Let's go. We've got a war to plan."

Chachamaru rose, placed an Age-changing Pastille in her mouth, then after her body changed, followed Chisame out through the Shoji doors.

Now Yue rose. "Professor. Considering you want to save Asuna, and if you still desire to save the Maid Brigade, you may need to be in two places at once on the last day of the festival. Can you trust me to help you do that?"

Giving Yue a hard look produced an equally hard response. The proto-witch had explained to him about the golem she'd sent after Fate, and he'd forced her to promise never to use such magic again. Now she was offering a solution to a potential problem involving just that. Reluctantly, he gave her a single, positive nod.

Turning to the rest of the Library Explorers club, Yue pointed at Haruna. "It's back to your booth for you Haruna. Even though it might be a bit distracting while you work, I'm sure we'll still need every Drachma we can get our hands on. Nodoka and I are going back to the library to do more research, but I'll get you the programming information you'll need as soon as I can."

As Nodoka and Haruna stood to go, Yue turned to Setsuna. "Please trust us with the guardianship of Konoka. We could certainly use her help." After a moment of agonized contemplation, the Shinmei-Ryu indicated for Konoka to go.

Finally, Yue moved to stand before Anya. "We could use your help doing our research, Anya. Beyond that, with you, your friend from Ariadne, and those two bounty-hunters, everyone should be safe enough while we're working."

Jumping down from Anya's shoulders, a still disguised, but slowly bleaching out Albert Chamomile turned to point up at Yue. "Go on Anya. You and Collet help out the Library Research club. I'll let Negi know about anything he needs from Connel's books."

Reluctantly, Anya stood, then followed Yue and her crew out the door.

Rising at last from her cushion, Kasumi Asakura gave Negi a wink. "Sayo and I had best get our communications and spying network set up again. Catch-ya later!"

With the closing of the Shoji doors behind the Mahora Paparazzi, only Kotaro, the Old Ostia gate port search team, Yuuna and Makie, and Akira Okochi remained with Negi. "Akira..."

Suddenly rising, Akira approached her homeroom professor. "Negi... Professor Springfield... If you didn't have to worry directly about the Maid Brigade, wouldn't that make things easier for you?"

Uncertain as to Akira's meaning, Negi still nodded.

Steeling herself with a deep breath, Akira straightened up and gave Negi a serious look. "Give me Yuuna and Makie and forget about us. This is all our fault to begin with, so you should let us take care of ourselves."

Obviously he had to refuse, so Negi shook his head. If he didn't concern himself with the Akira and the others, how would he know they were safe, especially from Tosaka and his ilk? "I can't do that..."

"Because you still think your students are 'helpless?'"

Negi cringed slightly, and Akira knew she'd hit the mark. "Professor Springfield. I have saved Ako Izumi's life twice now. The second time was out in the desert after we arrived, and what I had to do is something that still haunts me." When Negi began looking lost, Akira sighed. "I would have expected you to realize I wasn't 'helpless' back when I recovered that ring for you..." Still seeing a lack of understanding in her teacher's expression, Akira threw up her arms in frustration. "Father said in his journal that you full-fledged mages were really thick-headed with how you looked down on my kind!"

A minor reference in one of his classes at Meldiana rushed to the surface of Negi's thoughts, and the light of understanding finally came on in his eyes. "You're an Elementalist! I always wondered where that strength of yours came from! A human body is mostly water, what's tossing or moving one around when you can control most of what it's made of!"

"Looks like it's time for 'that' again Negi!"

At Negi's feet, Chamo stood giving Akira a thumbs-up. After turning to face his Magister, Negi could see a familiar gleam in the panty-thieving ermine's eye. "Oh no..."

Rubbing his paws together in anticipation of another bonus, Chamo switched his gaze back and forth between Negi and Akira. "Oh YES! Now kiddies, what's the best way to give someone an extra little boost? Especially when they already have useful skills and abilities?"

Wondering what Chamo meant, Akira suddenly blushed as she remembered her father's journal entries about how a partnership was formed between a Magister and a Ministra.

Seeing that Akira understood him now, Chamo turned down the thumb screws even further. "I won't ask if you've kissed a boy before Akira, but you shouldn't worry about Negi. Besides, he's only ten! That doesn't even count!" Now he faced Negi. "Come on Negi! If Akira has a Pactio, Yuuna and her Posse, and maybe even Takane and her crew to keep an eye on the Maid Brigade, that leaves you free to concentrate on more important things!"

Resigned to what now seemed inevitable, Negi allowed himself one last question. "What about the slave collar?"

Now Bagera stepped forward. "Miss Okochi. Does your slave collar have a mage restriction spell imbedded in it?"

Akira shook her head. "No. The Chairman thinks I'm a Mundane, like Natsumi and Ako."

Smiling, Bagera faced Negi. "Not an issue then. Without the restriction spell, there won't be a conflict of contracts." Now he gave an amused grin. "Of course, if you fail to pay off Miss Okochi's debt, you won't be able to take your newly minted Provisional Partner back to the Normal World with you!"

Standing near Setsuna, Makie Sasaki watched Akira and Negi blushing as Negi's kitty drew some kind of glowing design on the ground where the two stood. Suddenly realizing Akira was about to kiss Negi, she opened her mouth to object, but imposition of Setsuna's suddenly raised arm stopped her.

Glaring at Yuuna and Makie, Setsuna ignored what was happening in Chamo's magic circle. "I still don't forgive the two of you for what happened. I will tell you this about what's going on though. Each of Negi's Provisional Partners has EARNED that privilege. Including Akira. Understand?" Both girls colored slightly and nodded as Akira leaned down to take hold of Negi's face prior to kissing him. "Even with your recent actions, I still consider you to be troublemakers. If you want Negi to even consider you as potential partners, then EARN IT! Not with any kind of STUPID bravado, but with honest, serious, INTELLIGENT effort. DO-I-MAKE-MY-SELF-CLEAR?"

A flash of light signaled the end of Negi and Akira's kiss. The light faded, and both stood examining cards that seemed to show Akira wearing a Mahora Academy school swimsuit.

Makie whined a little from jealousy, but Yuuna's hand tightening on her wrist quieted the noise.

Upset a little herself, Yuuna gave Setsuna a disappointed, but understanding look. "We have a long way to go just to break even. I don't imagine we deserve anything beyond safe passage home, if even that, considering what might happen with Asuna."

Nodding, Setsuna crossed her arms. Kaede, Ku, and Professor Bagera came over, and the four of them began to discuss their trip into Old Ostia, including the possibility they might encounter someone from Fate Averruncus's organization, while Negi and Chamo began explaining the basics of Pactio Card use to Akira.

(-)

Doyen Cordoba Ricardo of the Megalo-Mesembrian Diplomatic Corps dismissed a waiting valet with a irritated wave of his hand, then proceeded alone into his official residence within the New Ostia Megalo-Mesembrian Embassy. striping off his coat and tie, he tossed both across a chair back, then moved to pour himself a tumbler of Antigoneian relaxation.

Despite all the pleasantry of the opening ceremony, the mess resulting from the destruction of nearly every gate port facility within the Magic World was giving him a tremendous headache. The mere fact that the only surviving gate port happened to be within territory controlled by the Northern Alliance was enough to make even long time allies question Megalo-Mesembria's role in the terroristic attacks. That the facility was located within creature-infested ruins didn't seem to mean anything to those he tried to explain the situation to. Add in a group of seemingly crazy scientists and scholars shouting; 'The sky is falling!' A rumor mongering blogger who'd taken the nascent Maho-Net by storm, and increasingly strident agitation by 'legal' Separatist factions, and it all added up to much irritability and many recent sleepless nights.

As the secondary effects of the smoky-scented liquid began to warm his chest, Ricardo noticed an out-of-place shadow near the curtains framing the doors to his sitting room's balcony. At first it seemed just his imagination, but as he continued watching, the shadow detached itself from the curtains and slowly resolved itself into a tall, dusky-skinned, cloak-wrapped woman. He was tempted to signal for help, but by her reputation in two worlds, from the Black Rose of Macedonia there was no escape.

("No sense in letting this go to waste.") Downing the remaining liquid in his tumbler, Ricardo set the glass down with a resounding 'clack!' "Well now. I'd heard through the Canis Niger that you were in New Ostia. It seems the Separatists, or perhaps those Total World fanatics, have sent me an appropriate Angel of Death. Would you be so kind as to enlighten me as to which it was before you finish me off, Miss Black Rose?"

Holding out her hand while halving the distance between herself and Ricardo, Mana Tatsumiya displayed for his viewing a small, crimson-colored badge.

Shocked more by the badge itself than the reprieve it represented, Ricardo stared at the tiny wing for a moment, then relaxed and shook his head. "Ah... You were with Takahata at the gate port in Megalo-Mesembria weren't you? I read a report he was accompanied by a dark-skinned woman." Turning back to the suite's small bar, he refilled the empty glass with water. "Nice job on those Praetorians, by the way. Councilor Ran hasn't been keeping them under control, and they've been getting a little full of themselves of late." Pulling out another tumbler, he filled it with ice and water, then turned to offer it to Mana. "If you don't mind my asking, how were you able to get in here anyway?"

Putting the badge away, Mana moved out to accept tumbler with an amused smile. "Because your security is... less than adequate..."

Considering how many levels of defense a potential assassin had bypassed, the Black Rose's polite statement was quite generous. "Yes. I'll certainly have to look into that. What can I do for you?"

"Actually..." Mana politely lowered her hood so Ricardo could see her clearly. "...considering the information I have, it might be better to discuss what I can do for you..."

Later, sitting in an easy chair, staring at his reflection in the amber contents of a refilled tumbler and considering what he'd heard, Ricardo started at the sound of a polite knock on the suite's door. "Yes? Who is it?"

A soft click was the answer, and the chief of embassy security came into the room. "Sir, the security sprites noticed something odd just a moment ago, and I came to make sure you were all right."

Emptying the tumbler, Ricardo stood and gave the nervous security chief an annoyed look. "Yes. I'm quite fine." Setting the glass aside, he moved to place his arm around the man responsible for keeping him safe. "I'm glad you're here, actually. I know it's late, but there's some changes in the security arrangements and personnel I'd like to discuss with you."

(-)

Dracogenia, on the Elysium continent.

Another day at the Library was done, so Hi'Ki Zosho locked up and headed home to go see how Nodoka Miyazaki's friends were doing in the New Ostian Prize Fighting tournament.

Nearing his destination, he noticed Yomiko Yomuoto sitting outside on the porch swing of her home. Since she and her friend Nenene Chosha had not been in to the library in several weeks, he decided to stop in and see if she was okay.

"Hello Miss Yomuoto!"

Looking up at the sound of Hi'Ki's greeting, Yomiko signaled the young Usa-Jin boy to come and join her.

Hi'Ki did so, noticing Yomiko was staring in a melancholy manner at a pair of thick-rimmed glasses after he sat down. "Are you okay, Miss Yomuoto?"

Ignoring Hi'Ki for the moment, Yomiko eventually took several slow, deep breaths, then put the glasses away in a small case. "Hi'Ki, did you tell that young girl how you felt about her?"

Both his ears perking up in surprise at the subject of Yomiko's question, Hi'Ki hesitated momentarily, then gave a vigorous nod. "Yes Ma'am! She may never return my feelings, but I did tell her!"

Giving him a sad smile, Yomiko reached out and lay her hand on Hi'Ki's. "Good." Looking back down at the glasses case, she shook her head. "At least you told the person you love how you feel. I'll never have the chance to... ever again..."

Not knowing what to say, Hi'Ki sat back to watch as the night sky slowly grew darker. Just as he was about to excuse himself, a shadow flashed across one of the glowing moons hanging in the night sky.

Suddenly alert, Yomiko got up and went out into her yard as several more barely glimpsed shadows passed overhead. As Hi'Ki rose to join her, a sudden heavy breeze stirred up all the loose leaves and other small debris lying about, signaling something massive had passed by closely overhead.

A faint rumble, like thunder, sounded in the distance, and Hi'Ki suddenly recognized what the creatures were. "Dragons!"

Looking up as another wyvernic form passed across the moon, Yomiko's expression became grim. "Lots of them..."

Something about what Hi'Ki was witnessing sent a shiver up his spine. "This can't be good..."

Nodding in agreement, Yomiko turned to face Hi'Ki. "The last time so many dragons were on the move out of their territories was twenty-one years ago..."

As a librarian and recipient of his father's stories, Hi'Ki's eyes went wide with genuine fear. "Just before the war started..."

A look that said much, and silence, were Yomiko's only response.

tsuzuku.

(-)

Author's Notes:

Fidelis Visum Era Imperator: 'Faithful vision (of the) Empress.' or more simply, 'True Sight.'

Those who have seen a certain anime wherein the 'Bouganvilla Trading Company' operates will know that Princess Theodora's twin Hu-Jin attendants are ruthlessly willing and quite capable of protecting their charge.

Sora Mea: 'My Sister.'

Fratele Meu: 'My Brother.'

You might also note; Representatives of that company brought Setsuna and Konoka from Nyandom, to just outside New Ostia in Chapter 25.

(Kurt'Wa) Cae Ffynnon: Welsh for: 'Springfield.' (If I worked the translation tool properly!)

Zensekai Entelecheia: 'Whole World/Total World,' or: 'Kosmo Entelecheia.'

Imperiosus Procer Crepusculum: 'Imperial Princess (of the) Twilight.'

Akira Okochi's Pactio Card: Akira is pictured wearing a Mahora Academy school swimsuit.

Card Number: VI.
Tonus: Caerulum. (Blue.)
Virtus: Temperantia. (Temperance.)
Directio: Occidens. (West.)
Astralitus: Neptune.
Artifact: Positus Spiritus. (Poseidon's Breath.)

Akira's artifact permits complete freedom of movement within any water environment by providing a self-contained breathing ability, as well as protection against extremes of temperature and pressure. It also increases the strength and versatility of her abilities as a Water Elementalist.

I chose Positus Spiritus, or 'Poseidon's Breath,' as the title of Akira's artifact because I was looking for something that reflected my intent for the card.

While playing around with a Latin translation tool and Mythological references on Wiki, I was focusing of various possibilities involving various Greek gods related to water. At some point I came across several who were related to Poseidon/Neptune as consorts or offspring. Thinking directly about something related to a female companion of Poseidon produced nothing I found acceptable.

Finally, I decided: 'Okay, I want Akira to have a boost in her water powers, and to be able to breath underwater.' Putting 'Poseidon,' (a water god,) and 'breath,' into the translation tool together produced 'Positus Spiritus.'

That satisfied me, and seemed appropriate, and thus was born the name of Akira's artifact.

See the bottom of my Profile Page for a link to the Pactio card I made for Akira. (Just above the links to my other stories.)

Day three tournament matches and winners who advance to the Semi-Finals on day Five:

Granicus City (Team Nagi.) defeats Shangri-La to advance.
Citramunes defeats Albor, and will fight Granicus City.

Megalo-Mesembria defeats Tempe to advance.
Tristan (Team Rin Tos'Ka.) defeats Phoenicus, and will fight Megalo-Mesembria.

Antigone (Team Aer Kitar.) defeats Tantalus to advance.
Ariadne defeats Brontopolis and will fight Antigone.

Elfenholt (Team Ash'm.) defeats Zephillia to advance.
Argyre defeats Eos, and will fight Elfenholt.

Chapter 33: Old Friends...