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.
Regina Karkolova and Mifune Hayase are creations of Kafka'sdragon, and are used here with his permission.
SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.
(-)
"Imagine my surprise when I found out WHY it was safer next to the cliff."
- Captain Joe Clark of the Koi ship Crescent Hawk. As told to Kazumi Asakura. Author of: "One Million Steps : A Journey to Megalo-Mesembria and the World Beyond."
(-)
Ala Alba in the World of Magic: Tales From the Fireside.
Chapter Thirty-four: ...and Enemies. (Day four.)
(-)
Leading inland from the Bay of Ostia, Ostia Fjord remained wide and steep-sided for most of its length. Just before joining with the river giving it a name, the fjord narrowed considerably for a short length, then opened up onto a flat, sloping shelf containing the ruins of the ground port for the old floating city of Ostia.
Towards the crumbling remnants of that once thriving trade center came the Koi ship Crescent Hawk.
Watching carefully for any obstacles which might cause potential damage, Joe Clark was about to land his ship in the central dock area near the water's edge when the maid-outfitted girl named Setsuna started talking to someone back in the cabin. Turning to look, he saw her holding something to her ear, and speaking into some kind of device being held by the squint-eyed girl. After nodding several times, she replaced the earpiece on the device, and then came forward. Leaning out between his and Kys'shira's controls, she spent a few moments looking around outside the cockpit, then pointed out a narrow area still close to the water, but up against the cliffs ringing the ruined city.
"Land over there."
Leaning out to examine the indicated area, Clark started shaking his head as he looked back at Setsuna. "That's too close to the cliff, and it's hemmed in by an overhang! If I need to take off fast I won't be able to!"
Without batting an eye, Setsuna pointed at the small area again. "Trust me. I can't say why, but you'll be safer over there than out in the open."
Looking over at his first mate, Clark watched as the Ryu-Jin shrugged and shook her head. Sighing, he began maneuvering to land in the indicated place.
Thirty minutes later, he and Kys'shira stood on the Crescent Hawk's upper deck, watching as the three young girls and one old Tiger-man vanished over the rim of the shelf, and down into the valley containing the ruins of Old Ostia. "Think they'll make it back Kys'shira?"
Though the movement of her tail indicated worry, Kys'shira remained non-committal with her facial expression. "Well, I'm not sure about that old man, but those girl's are tougher than they look. If you'll recall, the one named Setsuna survived the detonation of an Anti-army Lightning Mine."
"I suppose so..."
A few moments passed in silence, then Kys'shira bowed her head and began chanting a prayer of her people for luck and a safe journey. Finishing, she gave a long, slow stretch, then turned and went back inside the Crescent Hawk's cabin.
Remaining outside, Joe Clark walked around the edge of the open deck, looking for anything unusual on the ground or nearby. Finishing that, he began looking for any other possible threats in the area. In the distance, beyond the place where his four passengers had vanished, he could just make out the floating islands of New Ostia. Turning to look out into the fjord, he saw nothing unusual in that direction. Turning to go inside, something began nagging at him, so he decided to take one more look. Shielding his eyes, he began to make a more careful examination of the far wall of the fjord. Everything seemed normal, but he just couldn't shake the feeling there was something he was missing.
"Hey Captain Clark! You going to stay out there all day or what?"
Sighing, Clark gave up his search. After stopping at the bridge to set the ship perimeter Sprite alarms, he retreated into the welcome comforts of the Crescent Hawk's cabin.
(-)
Having seen their destination before, Setsuna and Professor Bagera were both ready to hurry on towards their objective. Kaede and Ku Fei though, after clearing the rim of the shelf containing the old ground port, were stunned into silence by the spectacle lying in the valley before them.
"Not even seeing dragon for first time compare to this..."
Nodding in agreement, Kaede tried to think of something that was the equal to the destruction spread out before them. "The only thing close I've ever seen are pictures of cities destroyed in World War Two, or of those devastated by natural disasters... Even so, they hardly compare to this..."
Looking from the maps Yue had loaded onto his Personal Data Device, Professor Bagera shook his head. "Actually, this doesn't compare to that. The scale of destruction seems more massive at first glance, but is contained within a relatively small area. World War Two in your world was much more wide spread. In terms of percentages of population, the number of persons involved in both wars was similar, but by raw numbers the Normal World has the Magic World beat by several orders of magnitude. That's why the separatist movement is so strong. People are afraid the scale of destruction and death that seems to exist over there will contaminate this world."
Unable to remain impressed after the Tiger man's 'matter-of-fact' downplaying of the vista before them, Kaede and Ku moved to join Bagera and Setsuna.
Noticing the Tiger man was now looking at a different display, Setsuna watched as several vertical bars changed positions in response to his movements. "What are you looking at now, Professor?"
Signaling Kaede and Ku to come closer, Bagera changed his grip on the PDD so everyone present could examine the screen at once. "In the mode I'm using right now, it's a device for visually showing the levels of Mana within its detection radius. Here, watch." Turning back the way they'd come, the device showed two significant bars sitting right next to each other. "Well, this is a bit odd, but one of these bars is the ship we came here on. The other must be some kind of buried artifact, or maybe something that fell into the waters of the fjord twenty-years ago. In any case, look at this..." Turning to face old Ostia, the display changed, showing a single, very bright bar. "This is the magical energy flowing into the Ostian gate, then dispersing into the Normal World. With twelve gates open, this much energy isn't usually a problem. With everything funneling through one gate path... it wouldn't surprise me to learn that it's starting to effect the weather over there."
Not really seeing or understanding any difference in what the bars indicated, Ku stared at the display in confusion. "They both look same, to me..."
Shaking his head, Bagera gave Ku a sad look. "If only that were true..." Using his thumb, he made several adjustments to the display until two smaller bars became visible next to a now larger, brighter bar that was too long to be contained wholly on the screen. "These are the two sources behind us. Hopefully that makes everything clear."
Baka Yellow or not, Ku gulped and nodded.
Bagera quickly readjusted the display until once more, only a single bar was visible. "This actually only shows a general measurement. I'm also recording certain other data not really useful except for laboratory analysis. In any case, at the bottom of this bar is the gate port. If Miss Ayase's maps fail us for any reason, this device should hopefully still lead us were we want to go."
Hiking her small backpack into a more comfortable position, Setsuna tightened the straps, then moved to help everyone else do the same. "Enough class. Two days we couldn't afford to lose are gone, and there's no telling who or what we might run into."
Nods of acknowledgement were the Shinmei-Ryu girl's only answers. When everything was ready, Kaede lead the way into the valley, with Ku escorting Professor Bagera, and Setsuna following last of all to watch and guard everyone's backs.
(-)
Fate Averruncus could only shake his head as he watched King Enteofushia scramble about the Argyre Legation making final preparations for the departure to Old Ostia. Cosmo Entelecheia had been known for its skill at infiltration, information control and deception during the last war, but few really understood the true depths to which that extended. King Enteofushia was a perfect example of that. He had been saved from prosecution after the war, not because of his competence as an organizer, or position in the bloodline of the Entelecheia as the Sire of Princess Enteofushia, but simply for the convenience with which someone such as he could be made to lead a movement which by it's very existence was a distraction to those who held power within the Magic World.
Too bad for him he would be most likely die when the real purpose of the direct descendants of Zensekai Entelecheia was finally fulfilled.
Known only to a very few as 'Tertium,' Fate had no intention to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor. 'Death in service to the cause,' was not in his plans. He was NOT 'Secondus.' When the time was right, he would escape with his Ministra and his Elemental Mage through the collapsing Old Ostian Gate port. Tsukuyomi he was willing to take as well, but her obsession with dueling the Shinmei-Ryu Setsuna Sakurazaki probably meant she would be in no position to come along. Stay and die, or escape and live, it didn't matter to him. She was not one of his Ministra. Another he no longer cared about was the Demon Mage. Despite being a survivor of the last war, and his role in the initial actions needed to summon the Life Giver, his loss of the Sukunai no Kami while fighting the Witch from Ariadne, and his failure to find a spirit apparently summoned by someone in the Ala Alba, had called his continual usefulness into question. When combined with the difficulty his kind had in maintaining their existence in the Normal World, well, if he didn't make it through with Fate, that would be no great loss.
Though he hoped it would not be required, considering the investment of time and effort in recruiting and training his Ministra, there was one thing that would make their sacrifice, as well as that of ALL his companions completely worth while, should such become necessary. Energy would spill through to the Normal World from the effects of the Life Giver's actions. That energy, according to notes he had discovered while researching his predecessor, was something he intended to benefit from to the fullest extent possible. Such concentrated energy could be manipulated and focused for use in maintaining his body. If he could absorb enough of that energy, an annoying dependence on his current employers, and the need to follow their 'absolute orders,' would be eliminated forever.
Simple logic demanded the removal of any and all threats to the plans of Cosmo Entelecheia. Unfortunately, those in control seemed obsessed with thoughts of interference by Nagi Springfield, should he still live. To hopefully eliminate that possibility, by not giving the man an excuse to get involved, made not killing his son an important consideration.
Most of the Ala Alba posed no real threat to his own person, so they would all be left to his subordinates, and those working for King Enteofushia. Negi Springfield however, with the exception of how close the dark-skinned Chinese martial artist had come, was the only person who had ever laid hands on him.
That the plans of Cosmo Entelecheia might be spoiled, especially now that the Life Giver was all but awakened in it's host, was not an issue. That he personally might be defeated by the Thousand Master's son before his other plans came to fruition... Fate grinned slightly. For him, that was where the real thrill was.
"Mister Averruncus?"
Turning towards the sound of approaching footsteps, Fate saw one of King Enteofushia's servants approaching with a small tray holding a sealed message envelope.
Bowing, the servant stopped a few paces away and held out the tray. "Sir, this was delivered for you by a courier just moments ago."
Taking the message, Fate quickly opened and read the coded contents. According to the sender, a ship with unassailable permits had gone out to Old Ostia less than an hour ago. Considering the almost unnatural luck that seemed to follow Negi Springfield and those around him like a faithful puppy, it was probably several of the boy's companions, going out to the ruins to look for the old gate port.
Because of an ongoing part of his employers plans, Fate knew he and his Ministra needed to remain in New Ostia until day seven of the festival. Tsukuyomi was doing amazingly well keeping the partially possessed Princess Enteofushia calm, and couldn't be spared. That left only the Demon Mage and a few others with interest in certain of Springfield's friends available to deal with those who had gone into Old Ostia. Hopefully, without any need to be held back by niceties, the Demon Mage would manage to kill or disable those he would face. If not? His usefulness was nearly at an end anyway.
Even as he dismissed the servant and moved to go issue the necessary orders, Fate let his thoughts turn towards the interesting potential he'd seen in of one of Negi Springfield's students.
Ako Izumi, even without considering whatever other abilities she might have, showed promise as someone who could use magic created through music. If the pale-haired girl could be recruited and trained in the same manner as the five girl's in 'Damashi,' she would make a useful addition to his provisional Ministra. Being able to fill Shiori's place with someone equally skilled as a musician would free the Eru-Jin girl to concentrate her efforts as a specialist dealing with information,
If only there were a way to remove that annoying slave collar...
(-)
Kaede Nagase had battled an older, intelligent dragon, Setsuna Sakurazaki one no better than an animal...
...the creature they and their companions now crouched within the shelter of a partially collapsed wall to hide from was also a dragon, but of a very disagreeable type.
Dull black eyes, set in a heavy head attached to a long, immensely muscled body, scanned back and forth, searching for prey the creature could sense, but didn't have the intelligence to find. Finally loosing interest, it moved slothfully away on its stubby legs, heading towards some other dimly perceived destination that could just as easily be forgotten as the tiny morsels now being left behind.
When the creature's tail was long gone from sight, Kaede turned back to where Professor Bagera sat, panting slightly and contemplating his extended claws. "What was that smelly thing?"
Relaxing the hand and letting the claws withdraw, Bagera pulled himself into a standing position behind Kaede. "Basilisk. Slow and dumb as rocks. They're normally carrion eaters, hence the smell, but they've got a kind of primitive, powerful mind control that can freeze potential live prey in it's tracks. That's what makes them really dangerous."
Shaking her head, Ku Fei let out a low, impressed whistle. "Remind me of Komodo dragon from Normal World."
After easing her way out of their hiding place to carefully look around and make sure the loathsome creature was well and truly gone, Kaede signaled her companions to follow.
Last in line as Kaede lead the way deeper into old Ostia, Setsuna turned to walk backwards for several minutes, making sure the dragon hadn't decided to follow them anyway. When she was convinced they were safe, she trotted forward to stand next to Professor Bagera. "Are those things very common?"
Without looking up from the PDD, Bagera shook his head. "Not really. It's a bit unusual to find one moving around so openly, but they're not very numerous."
As Setsuna backed away to her normal position, Ku caught Bagera's eye. "They have any vulnerability?"
Pausing to consult Yue's maps, then to look around at the surrounding terrain, Bagera shook his head. "I've heard of them being covered in wounds, stabbed through both eyes and with limbs hacked off, and still managing to kill people. They're such simple, primitive creatures, that if you don't have artillery class spells, then your best bet is to just avoid them." As Ku began shaking her head, Bagera turned toward where Kaede stood a patient, watchful guard. "Miss Nagase."
Glancing away from her scan of the area briefly, Kaede saw Bagera pointing off in a new direction.
"While I am sure the circles you have been occasionally leading us in have some higher purpose, we need to change the general direction of our travel." Not intending any insult, and seeing none taken in her nod, Bagera returned to consulting the map on his PDD while Ku looked on. "That big island we've been moving towards is the location of the old capitol complex and the Grand Tower, but the Arician District and the gate port complex are on that small island off towards the left."
Nodding once more, Kaede shifted to begin moving in the indicated direction, but a sudden tensing of Setsuna's body caused her to match the Shinmei-Ryu girl's posture with her own. "See something?"
Responding to Setsuna and Kaede slowly scanning the area, Ku and Bagera faced outward to form a small protective circle.
"I'm not sure... I just had a sudden feeling we were being watched..." Seeing nothing overtly threatening, Setsuna gave Kaede a hand signal to proceed. "Let's hurry. Unless we want to spend the next three days in these ruins, we need to find the temple quickly and get back to the ship."
(-)
From the ruins of a crumbling tower, someone who considered the four explorers as nothing more than future prey, and one, most disagreeably, as escaped prey, watched the change in direction and felt just a tiny bit of grudging admiration.
Joined by another who's focus was the cat-eared explorer dressed as a maid, the Demon Mage remained silent and watchful until the tall focus of his attention rounded a corner and vanished from sight.
"Where are they going? Shouldn't they keep moving towards the Grossartige Turmstrasse until they reach the capitol, then start their search from there?"
Annoyed at having to work with someone he considered a lesser being, the Demon Mage abandoned his perch and began moving into the tower's interior. "The Ala Alba isn't a group of common thieves, as well you should know, 'leader' of the Crow Tribe. It's likely they've discovered some clue revealing the actual location of that which interests them."
Rushing to keep up, the Crow Tribesman matched his stride with the Demon Mage. "Are you sure you'll be able to deal with the Hanyo's companions?"
Stopping suddenly, the Demon Mage gave the Crow Tribesman a contemptuous look. "Are you sure you can take care of the Hanyo when she's alone? You had two-dozen of your warriors before, just to deal with two minimally magical blade-users and a barely trained healer, and you failed! Maybe you should double the four-score you have now before you try again!"
Taken aback, the Crow Tribesman finally raised his fists in anger. "That little twin-blade was your ally! Why was she helping the Hanyo?"
Unblinking, the Demon Mage resumed walking. "You obviously choose very poorly when to attack. Tsukuyomi's ultimate loyalty and motivations might be her own, but her usefulness and ability to carry out Master Fate's orders is unquestionable. If not for his needing her someplace else, perhaps you could ask that SHE come here to deal with the Hanyo and her companions, since she was able to do so, ALONE, once before!"
Unable to answer the insult, the chastened Crow Tribesman followed the Demon Mage out of the tower. I'll need to go move my warriors, since they've changed directions."
With a single thought, the Demon Mage activated his flight mantra. "You do that." Leaving the Crow Tribesman behind, he moved off down the street in pursuit of his own goals.
(-)
Wiping the sweat from her brow, grateful that the sun was finally going down, Kaede passed through a wrecked gate and was confronted with a temple complex spanning an area equal to or greater than that of the Tatsumiya Shrine at Mahora. Bagera and Ku followed, with a still nervous Setsuna watching their backs. Sweat poured from Ku's dark skin, and Bagera's tongue lolled limply as his feline physiology struggled to cool him down.
"Why so hot? Near river we need jacket, now is like desert part of Eva resort!"
Still facing the faintly perceived, but still unseen dangers lurking beyond the ruined temple gate, Setsuna tried to resettle the wilting lace of her uniform before giving Professor Bagera a quick glance. "Does it have anything to do with why we haven't encountered many creatures?"
Taking a strained, deep breath, Bagera nodded, then pulled out his PDD and made several adjustments to the display. "Mana levels here are nearly off the scale. I expected as much, but to actually see how high they are is most disturbing. Unless you insist on a direct examination of the gate, we should turn back now. Very much longer and we'll risk Mana poisoning." Leaning on his knees, he worked to catch his breath, then looked back towards Setsuna. "In direct answer to your question, Miss Sakurazaki, yes. Most small creatures have fled or gone into hibernation. Dragon's of all types thrive on excesses of such energy, so that's why we've still seen them moving around."
Wavering in her purpose, Kaede looked from Bagera's obvious suffering to the main temple building, then up at the eerie glow starting to become visible in a darkening sky. Every lesson she'd ever learned from her cousin, every instinct honed during training, and since coming to the Magic World, shouted at her not to lead everyone into what could become a trap. However, every bit of information she could obtain would make the Ala Alba's endgame that much easier. "Professor, do you have any idea how far inside the gate platform is?"
Realizing where the question lead, Bagera set his PDD to auto-record mode and put it away. "If there are no complete blockages, and everything follows the standard layout, then maybe ten or fifteen minutes, one way, and yes. If it follows the 'standard layout,' then there's only one way in or out of the main chamber."
Understanding the danger, Kaede reach up to raise the thin facemask waiting patiently around her neck. "We'll go in. If Setsuna's right, and we're being followed, I've got an idea that should shake them off." Looking over at Bagera, she saw the suffering, panting Tiger man nod in acquiescence. "We need to know what's in there, if for no other reason than Negi not being surprised when he shows up in three days."
Reaching inside the sleeve of her uniform, Setsuna pulled out several Ofuda talismans until they were just visible to Kaede. "I had Ojou-sama prepare something we might find useful as well..."
Raising an eyebrow, Kaede grinned through her mask at the symbols she could see on the Ofuda. "Is that what Kotaro used back in Kyoto?"
Slipping the Ofuda back into their protected storage, Setsuna gave an anticipatory grin. "Kotaro and Negi came up with the idea while we were training with Eva. Yue looked up the actual creation procedure on her Orbis Sensualium Pictus. It took Ojou-sama several tries, but she eventually perfected it. I had her make these just before we left New Ostia."
Wondering what her two conspiratorial companions had up their sleeves, Ku shifted her attention to Bagera. "You okay?"
Looking up at Ku, Bagera nodded. "I think I know what Miss Nagase has planned. Hopefully it will shield me enough to catch my breath before the trip back."
Putting Bagera's arm around her shoulder, Ku helped him along as Kaede lead the way into the temple, with Setsuna watchfully bringing up the rear.
(-)
When the explorers from the Ala Alba entered the main building of the Chandika Temple complex, Fate's Demon Mage remained non-committal as the Crow Tribesman enthusiastically exclaimed that the four were now trapped. His own desires called for him to revel in the thought of trapped prey, but that pony-tailed girl's resourcefulness in escaping a previous 'inescapable' trap gave him pause. If she were good enough to do that, as well as to hide all but a faintly sensed presence in the empty alley where the spirit he had chased out of the Argyre Legation had vanished, then why would she let herself enter an obvious trap?
Unconcerned with such things, the Crow Tribesman lead his followers down towards the main temple building, were they efficiently surrounded it.
When the sun finally set, and one of the moons rose with no sign of Springfield's companions leaving the temple, the leader of the Crow Tribesman sent several of his followers inside the building. They soon returned, and after a heated exchange, the entire group entered the building.
After a short period of time, the activation of a strong spell caught the Demon Mage's attention. Grinning and preparing a more powerful version of his entrapment spell, he burst out of concealment just as the pony-tailed girl ran from the temple building's entrance. With a emotional rush of triumph, he activated and cast the spell. His target's satisfying look of helplessness before the dark entrapment sphere closed and shrank down to the size of a ball was exceeded in his mind only by the shocked look on her companion's faces. Preparing the spell again, he made ready to seal away the Hanyo sword user. The remaining two he would cripple, then pick apart at his leisure before savoring and devouring the trapped prey.
In the instant before the spell's activation, a stabbing pain lanced into his shoulder. An Ofuda attached to a Bo-spike activated, and a binding Jutsu instantly trussed him up. Straining to turn, he saw a paper shikigami doll, with a cartoon face and the word 'Nin!' written on it, lying on the ground where the entrapment spell, without a real target inside, had collapsed. Standing nearby was the hated ponytail girl.
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
Calmly, Kaede placed further sealing Ofuda around the trapped Demon Mage, increasing the strength of the Jutsu holding him. With one last look of understanding, saying she knew the mage would soon be after her and the others, she lead everyone out of the temple grounds and onto the path back towards the Crescent Hawk.
Gathering his energy, the Demon Mage began burning away the layers of the sealing Jutsu. Finally, the Bo-spike pushed out of his shoulder and clattered to the ground. Reaching up, he quietly sealed the wound with a tiny spark of magic.
("Twice now! A non-magical human brat has escaped me TWICE now!")
Calmness beyond the cathartic release a simple berserk rage would provide possessed his thoughts. Tsukuyomi's previously incomprehensible obsession with dueling the Shinmei-Ryu Hanyo now made perfect sense... He would have the pony-tailed girl, he would shred her soul, even as he rendered the flesh from her body. Desiring it more than he wanted to do such to the now untouchable Princess Enteofushia, he would feed on the pony-tailed girl... even if it were the last thing he ever did.
Inside the temple, the Demon Mage destroyed the 'A Vi Ci' spell of Endless Hell trapping the Crow Tribesmen. The fools were outclassed, but just didn't know when to quit. If nothing else, they would be a useful distraction while he settled things with the pony-tailed girl.
Making too much noise for their own good, the Crow Tribesmen spread out into the ruins and vanished. Arms crossed, waiting for what he knew was inevitable, the Demon Mage stood patient and unmoving outside the entrance to the Temple of Chandika's main building.
A cloud drifting across the face of one of the moons had the effect of causing a shadow to cross the courtyard of the temple.
Before it reached the main gate, the partially collapsed arch was empty. After it passed and the weather-beaten stones were illuminated again, the pony-tailed girl stood there.
Arms crossed as were his, hair and tattered cloak drifting in the wind, the girl now wore a rune-inscribed blindfold in addition to her facemask. Across her back lay an impossibly large, four-bladed weapon.
"I am a Count-Class Demon Mage. To challenge me is your death. I have fought in the service to Kosmo Entelecheia since before the last war. The number of mages and fighters I have defeated no longer bears counting. Control of ogre gods is within my abilities, and though temporarily forced to withdraw, I have stood against the best this world has to offer, in the persons of the Ala Rubra."
While reaching up to scratch her chin, Kaede gave a few seconds thought to the best way to use the anger she sensed simmering within her opponent.
"Hmm... It is not my desire to kill. Withdraw now, do not interfere further in the Ala Alba's business, and I will not pursue. Surrender, and you will be treated with dignity and respect." Seeing in the hot flash of the Demon Mage's aura the expected answer, Kaede settled into her fighting stance. "I am Kouga Ninja. I have served with the Ala Alba for a bit more than four months. I have defeated over fifty opponents, including ogres, rogues, and bounty-hunters. Most recently, I was victorious against a black dragon who possessed an impeccable sense of honor."
As casually as she stood, the Demon Mage could tell the pony-tailed girl was ready to fight. An instant move from a dead start followed by a raking of his claws left furrows in the ground, with scattered dirt and crushed rocks flying through the air. There was a slight thump on his shoulder, and the pony-tailed ninja now stood there.
"So slow. Are you sure you're not so old you shouldn't just retire and go home to your grandchildren?"
Another move produced the sound of claws ripping through the air, leaving the Demon Mage's shoulder unoccupied, and Kaede standing on the wrecked entry arch.
Knowing she would not let herself be caught by the entrapment spell, and with the blindfold providing protection against many of his other powers, the Demon Mage knew he would either have to remove the inscribed cloth first, or defeat the girl with brute strength.
A third move wrecked the entry arch, and found the Demon Mage in pursuit as Kaede bounded away through the ruins.
(-)
"I glad we get chance to rest in Kaede artifact, but I still not sure we get back! Especially in dark!"
Trying to watch in every direction as Ku helped Bagera move as quickly as possible towards the Crescent Hawk, Setsuna silently thanked Yue for the maps she'd given to Professor Bagera. Even though the display on his PDD had to be dimmed as much as possible, so it's glow wouldn't give them away, they could still use the maps to navigate rapidly through the ruins. Now if they only didn't have so many pursuers! "If we can get them spread out, then Samurai tactics will suffice to deal with the few we'll encounter at any one time!"
Nostrils flaring, Bagera tripped and dropped to his knees. ("I... I may still be strong... but all this running is for the young!") Raising his gaze, he could see the look of concern on the dark-skinned Ku's face, and started to hold out his PDD. "I... if you must... take this and... leave me..."
Shaking her head, Ku pushed the device back towards Bagera. "No. You help us. We not abandon you now!"
Bagera gave Ku a look that both expressed his thanks, and said Ku was a fool.
"LOOK OUT!"
Reacting defensively, Ku pushed Bagera to the ground just as a massive blade smashed into the wall above their now prone forms. Setsuna leapt past them, and a burst of smoke signaled the dispersal of a Crow Tribesman. Several others tried to attack, and Ku watched as her Shinmei-Ryu friend quickly dispatched them as well.
Sensing no other nearby enemies, Setsuna turned back to help Ku. "Come on! They're starting to catch up! We need to keep moving so they can't concentrate and cut us off from the ship!"
Pulling himself up, Bagera took a moment to consult Yue's maps before pointing off in a new direction. "We should be able to get off the island through the old transit system if we head over that way!"
Looking up to find some landmark illuminated by the starlight she could use as a general guide, Setsuna spotted a crumpled spire and pointed it out. "Let's head for that! As soon as we get close, you can guide us in Professor!"
Leading the way, Setsuna dodged through streets partly choked with rubble, doing her best to avoid the searching Crow Tribesmen, until Bagera finally pointed out a pavilion containing several sets of stairs which lead underground. Rushing down the steps, the three of them reached the bottom and turned a corner just as several Crow Tribesman flew by.
Finally managing to catch her breath, Ku turned to look at Setsuna. "What we tell Negi about Kaede?"
Chancing a look back up the stairs, Setsuna quickly withdrew as another Crow Tribesman, back-lit by the stars, flew by. "That she decided to stay behind and fight one of Fate's mages. What else can we say?" Another extremely cautious glance revealed a Crow Tribesman who paused to look down the darkened stairway, before finally moving on. "All she needs to do is distract it long enough for us to get away. After that, she'll hide in her artifact until we get back with Negi in three days." Pulling back completely, Setsuna looked over at Bagera. "Which way now?"
Hesitating as he examined the PDD, Bagera finally pointed across the stairs leading to the surface and towards the tunnel leading 'up' the incline of the fallen island. "These old tunnels were part of the transit system between and within the floating islands of Old Ostia. The one going 'down' actually takes a longer route to the surface. If we go 'up,' we'll be able to join a cross-tunnel that reaches the island's perimeter faster."
Glancing back up the stairs and seeing no one there, Setsuna rushed across to the other side. After a brief pause, she signaled Ku and Bagera to come across singly. With the faint glow of Bagera's PDD providing the only illumination, she waited for her eyes to adjust, then stepped off into the nearly pitch-black tunnel hopefully leading towards escape.
(-)
Even when he was alone in the office of Councilor Regina Karkolova, Chisame's Sprite Regiment leader Negi remained alert. As an extension of his Mistresses Spiritus Electronicus, it was his job to maintain contact with an ally, while also monitoring message traffic within the offices of the Megalo-Mesembrian government.
Constantly watching for potential threats, or an indication of someone who might possibly be a new ally, nearly caused him to miss a very tiny attachment to a circular inter-council memo.
'D.'
Just a single character expressed through the use of two eight-bit bytes. It held no meaning to him except for the worry it might somehow be part of an infiltration attempt against himself, or against Councilor Karkolova.
Noticing a second attachment on another memo that arrived an hour later, simply a two digit number, '18,' he went back and began to examine all the memos that had come into the councilor's office since his arrival. Nothing unusual was present until one day back. Putting everything together gave him ten bytes of information; 'A, E, D, D, 18.' Searching through his personal archives, there was only one reference that came close to matching.
When another memo with an attachment arrived, Negi wanted to explode with excitement over what it told him. A single number expressed with two bytes; '0.' Put together with the others, it became; 'A, E, D, D, 18, 0.' Or, when converted to normal letters from the hexadecimal equivalents they represented, a name. 'Konnya.'
Of all Mistress Chiu's seven Sprite Regiment leaders, four had been sent out to look for allies who might aid the Ala Alba. Of those four, one, Konnya, had never reported back. Chikuwafu, overall leader of the seven Sprite Mice, had been forced to conclude Konnya had either been captured somehow, or destroyed.
Konnya was alive! Sending their names as hexadecimal code had been a contact method established by Mistress Chiu in the event some ultimate danger or disaster prevented normal means of communication.
Nothing else made sense except to believe Konnya had made contact with someone in a very delicate position, and had not been willing to risk contact until now. Since none of the other regiment leaders had reported anything, Konnya contacting Negi probably meant he was with another council member. If it wasn't Mifune Hayase, whom Councilor Karkolova trusted to a certain extent, then the only other option was someone who was one of her opponents on the council, and quite possibly an enemy of his Mistress and the Ala Alba!
Why though? Why would Konnya choose to make contact with someone obviously hostile, in contravention to his original instructions?
Analyzing the memos produced no further clues, beyond confirming all had originated somewhere within the offices of the Mage Council.
No further message attachments arrived after the last. With no other choice, Negi realized he would simply have to wait until his fellow regiment leader could risk contacting him again.
tsuzuku.
(-)
Author's Notes:
Grossartige Turmstrasse: (German.) 'Grand Tower Street.'
Four-score: Old counting term. One 'score' equals twenty.
'A Vi Ci' Spell of Endless Hell. See v05, c039 - 042 for an example from the manga.
Samurai tactics: When outnumbered, run until your opponents are strung out, then turn back and attack them singly. Or, if running is impossible, put yourself someplace where only one or two enemies can attack you at a time. Ref: Rurouni Kenshin.
Hexadecimal: A method of counting using a base of sixteen, with the numbers '0-9,' and letters 'A-F.' Thusly, for my purposes, the alphabet would be: A(0) B(1) C(2) D(3) E(4) F(5) G(6) H(7) I(8) J(9) K(A) L(B) M(C) N(D) O(E) P(F) Q(10) R(11) S(12) T(13) U(14) V(15) W(16) X(17) Y(18) Z(19).
Chapter 35: Casting Fear Aside.