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.

SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.

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"It was a day of rest for the gladiators..."

-Kazumi Asakura. Author of: "One Million Steps. A Journey to Megalo-Mesembria and the World Beyond."

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

Chapter Thirty-seven: Calm Before the Storm. Part One. (Day Six.)

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After taking care of Misora Kasuga and Cocone Rosa, Konoka Konoe left them in Nodoka Miyazaki's bed and went out into the main room of Chisame Hasagawa's suite. The hacker had left earlier with Chachamaru Karakuri to go stay with Takane Goodman, and nearly everyone else except Anya's crew, who were going to stay as the sick girl's guards for the night, had left as well.

Waiting patiently as she closed the door and turned around were Negi Springfield, Yue Ayase, and Kazumi Asakura. "It was the same as before. She was suffering from magic poisoning. I caught it earlier this time, so Misora should recover quickly enough."

Arms crossed as she contemplated the floor, Yue Ayase wore a worried look when she finally raised her head. "Once is coincidence. Twice is something deliberate, Professor."

Before Negi could respond to the comment, Konoka reached out to touch him on the chest. Closing her eyes, she sought out something she hoped not to see, and finding it, exerted the healing energy needed to correct the flaw in her Magister's defenses. "Misora wasn't the only one, Professor." Turning to Yue, she repeated the process. "Everyone I've checked so far has had the same weakness as Misora. Her natural resistance to magic energy must be weaker than average to begin with, so that's why she's been so sick."

Not liking what he was hearing, Negi focused his attention on Konoka. "What are you saying? That someone is deliberately lowering our resistance to magic? How would that be possible without our knowing it?"

"Because it's been happening right under our noses, Professor."

Both Negi and Konoka gave Yue questioning looks in response to her declaration.

Maintaining her confident look, Yue switched her attention between Konoka and Negi. "Think about it! Chisame said it seemed like Damashi was connected to the people who took down Kasayo McDowell's blog. Misora and the others with her have been to two of the Damashi concerts. What if there's something in the music that lowers the magic resistance of anyone who hears it?" Seeing that Negi seemed unsure, Yue pressed on. "Kazumi told me that the mage in Antigone's prize-fighter team, Raiel Taylor, uses music to cast spells. Apparently he's mute, but that hasn't stopped him and his partner from advancing to the quarter-finals in the tournament, so there must be something to the idea that music can be used as a catalyst for casting spells!"

Still unsure, Negi closed his eyes as he struggled to recall a fleeting memory. "Maybe... It didn't specifically have to do with music, but I once read a graduate thesis in the classified spells library at Meldiana... it was about tens years old when I found it, but the student put forth that multiple mages could work together to cast spells stronger than any of them could handle by themselves... Music is all about harmony between the participants, so if the girls in Damashi are all mages, then it might be possible..."

Eyes suddenly growing wide, Konoka and Yue stared at each other for a moment as Negi continued to think.

"Professor..."

Looking up, Negi saw the expressions on his two student's faces, before he could ask what was wrong; the shock of realization hit him. "AKO! Miss Izumi has been playing with Damashi!"

Yue's expression became grim. "I doubt she knows anything. She may not even be a part of casting any kind of spell, but they've kept her for nearly a week, so she must be doing something they like."

Looking like he wanted to run off and 'do' something himself, Negi was stopped when Konoka reached out to take him by the wrist. "You can't do anything professor!"

Upset by the idea of having to leave a friend in possible danger, Yue nodded in agreement. "I hate to say it, but she's right. They probably know we've figured out they're an enemy, but we can't let on we know something's going on, or they might change their plans."

Looking over at the suite's couch, Negi saw that Anya and Collet had fallen asleep against each other after T'fa and R'th had gone outside to keep watch. The Beagle girl was holding on to his staff possessively as she dozed, so he turned back to Yue and gave a resigned sigh. "May I please borrow your broom, Yue? I'd like to go take a look to see if there are any residual signs of spell-casting in the arena, and I'd rather not walk through the halls."

Holding out a hand, Yue whispered; 'Mea Virga,' and the broom leapt into her grip from its place against the wall. Negi started to reach out, but an almost visible 'SNAP!' of magical energy combined with a sudden bristling of the brush caused him to jerk the hand back. As the other girls looked on with wide eyes, Yue glared at the broom. "Behave, you!"

Much to Negi's surprise, the brush actually compressed in a manner that reminded him very much of how a scolded pet might react.

Chibi Sayo was whispering in Kazumi's ear, and after a moment of listening, the Mahora Paparazzi gave Negi an amused grin. "Sayo says Yue's broom is quite the jealous type, and isn't very happy someone besides its Master wants to use it!"

After raising an eyebrow at the blushing Yue, Negi finally sighed and made a formal bow. "Might I please borrow your broom, Miss Ayase?"

Responding with equal formality, Yue held out the broom with both hands. "I would consider it an honor to have you do so."

Taking the broom, Negi made a quick examination of its construction. "A fine broom, Miss Ayase. Excellent work. I will make sure to give it the best of care."

Turning away to spare Yue his witnessing her blush, Negi went over to the room's balcony, whispered his flight mantra, and was off. A quick, climbing turn and he was hovering above the New Ostia Arena. After another minor spell to invoke enhanced Mage-sight, he leaned over to look down at the partially darkened arena.

Composed of a huge central matrix, with eight outside focal points matching the main arena and its eight smaller satellites, the faintly glowing spell-circle Negi beheld was the biggest of its kind he could ever remember seeing. The size of the magic circle and the complexity of the runes told him it had to have been built into the arena during its construction. Damashi had come along and was apparently providing the energy for what seemed from the runes to be a combined boosting and summoning spell.

Feeling helpless, Negi began clenching his fists around the broom-handle. Disabling the spell-circle would be easy enough. All he would have to do would be to smash one of the outer focus points. Whatever energy had been placed in the circle would feed back on those who had provided it, and it would cease to function. Unfortunately, he could sense the energy Ako Izumi had given to establish whatever those behind Damashi intended to do. He had no issues with what might happen to them, but the possibility one of his students might be harmed meant smashing the circle was not an option.

Whatever was going to happen in New Ostia... there was nothing he could do about it unless he was willing to give up going after Asuna... However... If he could convince Jack Rakan to help... perhaps it would be possible to leave the city to the Mercenary, his Ministra who were staying, and all their allies...

Shaking his head at the swirling complications of his new worries, Negi took one more look at the main runes of the huge spell-circle. Noticing something unusual, he flew down into the central arena for a closer look. Starting in the exact center of the circle, where the main glyphs for the summoning functions were placed, a network of magical spider-web 'cracks' was radiating outward from that point in all directions for a significant distance. The part of the spell circle responsible for its summoning functions was visually intact to casual observation, and might even stand up to the initial energy flow needed to start casting the spell, but it was functionally worthless. As soon as the full energy was applied, the runes would shatter.

Smiling to himself, Negi wondered if that had been Von Herrmann's plan all along, or if it were just a secondary effect caused by his breaking through from the Demon Realm with Kotaro. In any case, this spell circle wouldn't be summoning anything. Now if he could just figure out what kind of spell it would be used as a booster for...

Climbing back out of the arena, Negi could see in the distance the visible manifestation of the energy swirling and gathering around the gate port in Old Ostia. That Asuna would be there was all but certain. Why then was there any need for such a huge spell-circle in new Ostia? What was in the city that might require its use?

"Young Negi. Haven't you ever wondered how all those competent mages in Dewin Ilan were taken out so easily?"

Recollection of von Herrmann's parting words made Negi look up and around the stadium at the illumination of night-time New Ostia. Filling the city and its surroundings were many of the strongest fighters, important government officials, and elite military units from the multitude of nations and independent city-states making up the Magic World. If something similar to what happened in Dewin Ilan were to happen here... It would be impossible to organize any effective resistance to what would be going on in Old Ostia. Still, even if the boosting circle were used for some kind of petrification attack to disable as many people as possible, the effect would be spread over such a wide area it would be too weak... unless the ability of its intended victims to resist magical attacks had been reduced first...

Misora Kasuga had been to two Damashi concerts and become ill both times... Chamo had spoken to him of Zo Connel's involvement in the attack on Dewin Ilan, and the man's Magic book might hold further clues. Turning Yue's broom back towards the balcony of Chisame's suite, Negi found his thoughts drifting towards the one other Dewin Ilan survivor who was with him now...

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"...ya! Anya! Wake up!"

Roused from a sound sleep, Anya Cocorowa sat up, letting Collet fall behind her on the couch as she did so. Rubbing her eyes, she saw a worried Negi kneeling on the floor, and the completely irrational thought that he intended to propose nearly caused her to faint. Negi stood and grabbed her by the shoulders, and with his now serious look and painful grip as motivation, she managed to shake off her lethargy enough to focus. "Wha... What's wrong Negi?"

Kneeling once more, Negi took Anya's hands into his own. "Anya. I know you're just a year older than me, but it's very important that you try to answer this; 'Were there any outside musicians in Dewin Ilan before the attack?' I've found clues hinting at such in Zo Connel's magic book, but it would really help if someone could directly confirm it."

Confused, Anya shook her head. "That was over six years ago Negi! How can you expect me to rememb...?"

"I wanna' do it!"

Outside a hostel for visiting mages, Anya had begged her mother to be permitted to give the coins to a young violin player the two of them had stopped to listen to. Even considering the attention span of a normal six-year-old, she had been enthralled by the blind girl's playing, and wanted to be a part of presenting the money her mother gave in appreciation of the performance...

"...actually, there was one... a blind violin player. I don't remember how long she was there, but I do remember she was on the same bus leaving Dewin Ilan when mother sent me off to school a week later."

Grasping Anya suddenly, Negi gave the surprised girl a hug, then stood up and went back over to Konoka, Kazumi and Yue. "I imagine the team from Argyre is also involved with the people who have Asuna. They intend to advance to the final round and use a mass petrification attack against New Ostia. That way, no one will be in any position to do anything when they make their move in Old Ostia."

Yue nodded in grim approval at Negi's words while Konoka's expression became worried. "What about all the people in the city? Shouldn't we try to warn them somehow?"

Shaking his head, Negi gave Konoka a hard look. "I know the possibility of people getting hurt upsets you, but it's already too late to even think about getting anyone to believe us. I'll do my best to find Jack Rakan and get him to help here in the city, but our best bet is to stop the real danger, then deal with what happens in New Ostia afterwards."

Having seen the dozens of petrified 'survivors' of the attack on Dewin Ilan, Konoka shuddered at the thought of an entire city full of such victims... There was just one way she would be able to put such a thing out of mind... "I'm going with you."

Knowing what Konoka meant, Negi started to object, but the healers determined look brooked no argument. "Okay then. We'll ride out with Yue and Collet after the morning match on day seven."

Smiling first with relief, Konoka quickly changed her expression to one of seriousness. "Professor Springfield. As your friend, Ministra, and healer, I'm telling you to go to your room and go to bed. I don't know when the last time you slept was, but you've been rubbing your arms like your muscles are sore, and you look exhausted. Even if things go like we hope, you need to rest before it all gets started. I'll stay here with Anya and her crew for now, so there shouldn't be any need to worry about our safety."

With so many people in the room or close by, Negi realized Konoka was probably right. With Chamo having attached himself to Anya for the time being, and with Kotaro already having gone back to their room, all that was left was for him to do as he'd been told. "The less time you have, the more important it is to use it wisely."

At Negi's soft words, Konoka gave her Homeroom professor a curious look. "What was that from?"

Turning to go, Negi shook his head. "Oddly enough, from something a Japanese student at Meldiana once showed on a movie night. A group of people were in a desperate situation, had lots of problems, and were facing imminent destruction."

When Negi reached for the door handle, Konoka took a step forward. "Professor... what happened?"

Showing an aggressive look that served to buoy Konoka's confidence, Negi turned back once more before passing through the door.

"They used their time wisely. And they won."

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Standing on the upper deck of the IECS Argonauta, Lieutenant Vigdis Hild of the Ariadne Valkyrie Brigade gazed out at the wilds surrounding New Ostia as the morning sun began to warm her face.

Somewhere out in those mist-shrouded, creature infested badlands, two girls who were her personal responsibility were lost, possibly hurt, hopefully not dying or dead. Cadets though Emily Sevensheep and Beatrice Monroe might be, Valkyrie Brigade Honor and Tradition demanded that nothing be spared in an attempt to find them.

That no member of the Valkyrie Brigade should ever be left behind on the field of battle dated back to the units founding. Some of its most violent and celebrated battles had occurred as a result of upholding that article of faith between the unit and its members.

Captain Komaki had intended to send the entire unit at New Ostia out to search for the two girls, but she had suddenly fallen ill. Upon going to inform the Argonauta's Commanding officer of her intention to continue with that mission, Lt. Hild had been shocked to be told in no uncertain terms that would not be permitted. Argonauta's commander had gone further by saying that any Valkyrie who left the ship without permission would be subject to arrest. Returning the following morning to argue the case again, the Captain had ordered her to drop the matter, or be thrown in the ship's brig for insubordination.

("I'm missing something here... I must be... otherwise, even though the Argonauta's Commander isn't a former Valkyrie, confining the Valkyrie unit to the ship doesn't make any sense...")

Behind Lt. Hild, Jei Fon Katz and Sachi du Sha came out on deck.

"Lieutenant Hild, is the Captain going to let us go out?"

Facing the two worried Nek-Jin cadets, Hild remained thoughtful for a moment; then shook her head. "I'm afraid not. However, I think it's time for 'Armor-up' and 'Deployment-Preparation' drills. That way we'll be ready to go as quickly as possible when the time comes."

Coming to attention, the Valkyrie cadets saluted before following Lt. Hild back down into the ship.

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"All hands. Stand-down from battle stations. Resume normal watch routine."

Looking down from bridge of the Estimated Prophet, Katrina Adenaur watched as the close-in Sagita projector crews secured their weapons from the alert they'd been on since before sunrise. Late the previous night, Negi Springfield had contacted her through the Oculus Coirvinus golem on the ship to report the presence of a huge spell circle centered on the New Ostia arena. His suspicion was that it would be used as a booster for some kind of mass petrification attack on day seven of the War's End Celebration, but he still had no clue as to when exactly that would occur.

After a pause, her nephew had gone on to explain everything he knew about the plans of Cosmo Entelecheia, including their intention to use the Imperial Princess of the Twilight. After a short pause, Negi had thanked her for everything she'd done, and said he could no longer in good conscience ask her and the Estimated Prophet's crew to stay.

Telling him she and the Estimated Prophet would stay, to give all the support they could, elicited a smile of thanks from Negi just before he signed off.

Unfortunately, the real reason for staying was less noble than the simple desire to help her sister's offspring. Even if Jack Rakan didn't have something going on with Victoria Seras, Cordoba Richardo, and Theodora Hellas he'd asked her to help with while Negi went to Old Ostia, the ship couldn't leave even if its captain had wanted it to. The high-speed, week-long run from Granicus City to Ostia Fjord had caused most of the spells protecting the ship's propulsion machinery from friction to collapse. Her Ku-Jin engineer Voards was working like a mad-man to re-establish them, but it would take at least three more days to do so.

In any case, if the Life Giver was involved, and Negi failed to stop it, what good would running do?

"Captain?"

Responding to his call, Katrina turned to face Jay Cabot. "What's the final damage report?"

"Stevens says there's nothing he can do about the mount we lost in Granicus Gulf without going back to Ariadne. Other than that, everything else is fully functional. If anything happens tomorrow, his crews are ready."

Nodding, Katrina sighed at the thought of the headache she'd have if they had to fire many broadsides similar to the one used in Granicus Gulf. Regular Spell Shots were no problem. Estimated Prophet could fire those until her ammunition was exhausted, but providing magical energy for the anti-spirit spell shots was another matter. Any more than two or three times, and she risked killing herself. "How are Miss Sevensheep and Miss Monroe doing?"

Forcing himself not to reach up and scratch the fading slap mark on his face, Estimated Prophet's Navigator shrugged. "Quite the lively pair of girls. They tried to find their armor last night, as you expected they would, but after failing to do so, Miss Sevensheep's taken to glowering at anyone who comes near her from a corner table in the crew's mess."

Imagining the proud Valkyrie Cadet pouting from frustration brought a smile to Katrina's face. "Well, I suppose I'd best lest the two of them know a bit more about what's going on. Have a Marine show them to my cabin. You have the bridge, Mister Cabot."

"Aye, Aye, Ma'am."

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After what seemed like just a few hours of rest, waking up for Negi Springfield started with blink. Yet instead of the dream where he shared a room at Mahora Academy with Asuna Kagurazaka, Konoka Konoe, and his Ermine familiar Albert Chamomile, Negi Springfield realized he was still in the nightmare reality of New Ostia. Lifting his bedclothes aside, he went over to open the room's curtains and realized from the brightness outside he'd managed to sleep until the sun was well on the way towards its zenith. Ignoring Kotaro's protests about the bright light, he turned and went into the suite's bathroom.

Staring back at Negi after he activated the lights was not the ten-year old who had left Mahora two months ago for a short vacation, but instead the scarred, worn face of someone aged even beyond the fifteen-year-old persona he had adopted in his quest to free the girls of the Mahora Maid Brigade. Most of the scars were visible, like the one encircling his right arm, courtesy of Kagetaro of Bosporus. Others were less visible, like the guilt he felt over choosing the life of one of his students before the potential risk all the inhabitants of New Ostia would face.

Leaning back up after washing his face revealed no change in the reflection. "Well, why should there be? Master and Chao both said there's no turning back once you've decided on your path. Asuna comes first. Nothing else matters."

Taking a towel from its rack, Negi quickly dried his face, combed his hair, and went back out into the bedroom to dress. Kotaro was now up, and the Inu-Jin boy was in the process of tying his roughly kept black hair back into its usual ponytail. "Ready to go see everyone, Kotaro?"

Finishing with his hair, Kotaro sat down on the bed to pull on his boots. "I was born ready! We're going to show Fate and those Separatist fools they messed with the wrong people!" A quick stomp to settle the boots, and Kotaro was back on his feet, clenching a fist.

Smiling at Kotaro's efforts to conceal his own worries, Negi tossed the towel onto his bed, then picked up a shirt and began to pull it on. "Are you really okay with what you'll have to do? You're going to be alone in the arena with just the golem to fight Team Argyre..."

Making a grim face, Kotaro nodded. "You just go save Asuna Negi! Let everyone here at the arena worry about themselves!"

Pausing from tucking in the shirt, Negi held Kotaro's gaze for a moment before resuming his task. Walking over to the room's vanity, he retrieved two pairs of Rakan's sunglasses, handed one to Kotaro, then followed his friend out into the main room, where they picked up and donned their cloaks. "We'll go see Akira Okochi first. If something happens to me, you be sure and back her up, Kotaro."

Mention of Akira's name brought the freckle-faced image of another of the tall girl's fellow debt slaves to Kotaro's mind. "You... you can count on me Negi! I'll make sure Natsumi and the others are safe! YOU just make sure you do the same, so we can ALL go home!"

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As she set her work crew to their tasks in preparation for the last day of the War's End Celebration and the Nagi Springfield Cup Prize Fighter Tournament, Akira Okochi reflected on the last few weeks and decided she liked what she'd been doing. Chairman Dolnegus could take Debt Slavery and jump off the arena for all she cared, but the opportunity he'd given her to be a team leader was something else. The work was partly rote, just following Mama's instructions and passing them on to her crew, but as she'd shown increasing acceptance of responsibility, the Ku-Jin woman had started trusting her to get things done with minimal guidance. At Mahora, her swimming coaches had praised her ability to inspire the other girls in the swimming club, and had been encouraging her to consider a career in physical education with an emphasis based on her strong skills as a swimmer. Before this trip to the Magic World, she had been too timid to consider such a thing. Now though, such a future seemed much more likely.

As a red-haired Ma-Jin and her dusky-skinned friend stepped up to get their assignments, Akira heard 'Nagi' Springfield's voice calling to her from the entrance to the service team work area.

"Hello, Miss Okochi!"

After a quick wave to acknowledge his call, Akira turned once more to the two waiting Ma-Jin. "Miss Akumachi, you and En-Zu go down to storage area six and bring up the confection mix to distribute to the concession areas on this level. After that, you'll be working as wait-staff near arena four during challenge matches."

"We're on it!"

Akira watched as the free employee girl lead her companion away on their task. Pam Akumachi treated the boy like a pet, but they worked well together, so she did her best to always have them do so. Shaking her head for a moment as the two began their normal teasing banter, she heard someone else approaching and looked up just as 'Nagi' and 'Kojirou' stopped a polite distance away. "What can I do for you, Mister Springfield?

Understanding needed formality didn't make Negi like it any more. "We came by to make sure you'll be okay tomorrow. Things are going to be busy, and even if we win the money to buy off your debt, it may be a while before it's possible to actually do so."

Relaxing and letting the clipboard she held fall to her side, Akira nodded. "Ako will be with me at the lake as part of Chairman Dolnegus party. Natsumi will be with Paru and Asakura, so we should all be fine."

Still looking worried, Negi gave an upset sigh. "I apologize for having to leave you alone..."

Shaking her head, Akira held up a hand to interrupt Negi. "We won't be alone. Yuuna's Posse will be with us at the lake, so we shouldn't have any problem with taking care of ourselves if something happens."

Stepping forward slightly, Negi gave Akira a questioning look. "Did Konoka come by this morning?"

Hesitating momentarily, Akira allowed a tiny bit of worry to creep onto her face. "She did. She made sure everyone was okay, and after Ako left for her morning practice with Damashi, explained why she was concerned about our health." Now Negi could see shaking in Akira's hand. "My uncle taught me shielding work I should be able to use. As long as I'm near the water, there shouldn't be any problems if something happens."

Recognizing Akira was trying to be strong so he wouldn't worry; Negi gave her a nod, then turned and walked away with out another word.

Wondering if she would ever see her homeroom professor again, Akira watched as he disappeared back through the door. ("Professor Springfield... Negi... you go save Asuna. If something happens to us, then it will only be what we deserve...")

Another of her crews, this time a pair of debt-slaves, retuned just then from their first job of the day. After giving them their next assignment, Akira soon found herself absorbed in the many tasks needed to prepare New Ostia Arena for the last two days of the War's End Celebration.

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For having so recently come into the knowledge of the use of magic, Yuuna Akashi felt little surprise at having such an easy time adapting to its presence. For a while, she had entertained thoughts about being angry at her father for concealing such things from her, but recent experiences, as well as thoughts about what he might do in response to her disobedience in following Professor Springfield, sometimes caused a vain longing for the forever vanished normal life he and her mother had tried to make for their daughter.

"Miss Akashi! You're up!"

"Yes Sir!"

Seeing a Sagita targeting contest listed for arena activities on day six of the War's End Celebration, she had decided on the spur of the moment to sign up. Lynn Garland was able to cover her usual morning shift as a waitress, so with Makie Sasaki and Aisha Coryell in tow, she had taken her magic guns and gone to the perimeter arena where the event was being held.

The contest had seemed simple enough as she waited for her turn. Each contestant went out into a shielded area filling most of the arena, two dozen magical 'targets' were released inside the invisible dome, and they had to eliminate them as fast as possible with single Sagita.

Each target had to be eliminated before the next Sagita could be launched, and with each target eliminated; those that remained began to move faster.

Stepping out to take her turn, she realized everyone else, for all the time she'd spent at shooting games in the Mahora-City arcade, had an advantage she might not be able to overcome... Sagita, to a limited extent, could be guided. Her magic guns were strictly line of sight. It made her feel like what she probably was... a spoiled kid, playing at adult games...

"YOU CAN DO IT, MISS AKASHI!"

Responding to the familiar shout, Yuuna looked up into the spectator stands to see the cloaked silhouette of her disguised Homeroom Professor and Kotaro Murakami. Seeing them there, adding their support to that of Makie and Aisha, gave her a confidence boost. Adjusting the simple holster Craig Caldwell had purchased for her two guns, she continued on out to stand in the middle of the shielded dome.

"HEY GIRLIE! WHAT'S WITH YOU AND YOUR TOY GUNS? ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE WANNA'-BE MAGES FROM ARIADNE OR SOMETHIN'?"

Looking back at the contestant area, she saw several people who had already had their turns laughing it up, and pointing at her out in the arena. Makie was scowling at them with all the fierceness of a kitten, but Aisha, Negi and Kotaro were all giving her looks of confidence. Sticking her tongue out at the hecklers, she gave them a Japanese Raspberry before pointing a finger at the event controller. "Hey buddy! Whenever you're ready!"

With a soft 'pop!' the two dozen targets shot out into the shielded area and began bouncing around.

Bringing out her needle-gun, Yuuna dispatched the first target with an easy shot, then four more in rapid succession before missing her sixth shot due to the already increasing speed of the targets. Grimacing, she took a better lead and made a hit. The next seven target kills took eleven shots. Each missed shot meant a time penalty, and set her to growling under her breath in frustration. Trying to relax, she took a slow breath, then snapped out six more shots for five hits. The next three targets took two shots for each hit, digging her even deeper into a time-hole from which there was no escape.

Sweating and panting, she was about to give up when she noticed a pattern in the movement of the last three targets. With so many misses, she had no chance to win, but the pattern she was seeing provided the inspiration needed to take one last shot at finishing. Placing the Needle-gun back in its holster on her hip, she reached back to remove the grenade gun from its clip in the small of her back.

Standing perfectly still, the Grenade-gun hanging at her side, she waited as the paths of the last three targets slowly converged...

Seeing what was about to happen, Negi held his breath. Yuuna's arm snapped up, there was the loud 'CRACK!' of her Grenade-gun going off, and the last three targets were consumed by the big-gun's spell-shot... which promptly broke through the contest area's shielding spell. As Yuuna cringed in response, the shot detonated in a shower of sparks against the far wall of the arena, scattering a few contest watchers, who were fortunately all far enough away to avoid injury.

Expecting something bad to happen, Negi made ready to rush down and save his student, but after a moment of nervous silence, Yuuna's previous hecklers all ran out and began clapping her on the shoulders. Signaling Kotaro to follow, he worked his way down onto the arena floor. As he approached his surrounded student, he heard several other contestants chattering about; 'The most spectacular finish they'd ever seen!' and; 'I'm amazed she managed to hit all the targets with those old clunkers!'

Stopping near the partially mollified Yuuna, he waited until she noticed him, turned down one last offer by another contestant to be her trainer, then came over with Makie and Aisha in tow.

"Hey Professor, I lost! But at least I managed to impress everyone! Heh... heh..."

Giving Yuuna a smile, Negi turned and lead the way towards the tunnel exiting the arena. "Are you ready for tomorrow, Miss Akashi?"

Her face instantly full of worry, Yuuna nodded. "Akira told me when I saw her this morning that my posse and I are to go with her and Ako to Pinhe Lake tomorrow. She said I'm to listen to her, and if something bad happens, to stick close until we hear from you, one of your other partners, or as a last resort, Mister Rakan."

As they walked through the tunnel, Negi gave Yuuna a quick glance. "Has Konoka come to see you and your posse?"

Thinking about the queasy feeling she'd had since the previous night, and how a simple touch from her classmate had eliminated it, Yuuna nodded. "Yes sir. She and Takane Goodman met up with us just before we went into the employee area and saw Akira."

Coming to the end of the tunnel on out into a contestant prep area, Negi heard the scraping of suddenly stopping feet. Turning, he found Yuuna bowing deeply at the waist. "Miss Akashi..."

After a quick glance up, Yuuna returned her gaze to the floor. "Professor Springfield, even if you never forgive me, please accept my apology for all the trouble I've caused!"

Despite Yuuna's apparent sincerity, Negi still felt a slight flash of anger. "Miss Akashi. Your behavior has improved considerably. Continue to conduct yourself accordingly, and I'll decide about forgiveness later."

Straightening up, Yuuna saw Negi reaching for the door to exit the room. "Professor..."

Negi paused, his hand on the door.

"Negi... good luck."

Without looking back, Negi nodded and lead Kotaro out of the room.

Feeling a tight grip on her arm, Yuuna looked down to find a worried Makie clinging to her.

"Yuuna... what if we never see him again?"

Trying to exude confidence she wasn't sure she really felt, Yuuna raised a clenched fist and stepped slightly away from Makie. "NO WAY! Negi's going to win! Just like his dad did in that movie we saw!"

Failing to sniff back all her tears, Makie pulled herself up against Yuuna once more, sobbing softly into her friend's shoulder as Aisha Coryell watched quietly from nearby.

(-)

From his perch on Anya Cocorowa's Shoulder, Albert Chamomile watched as Chisame Hasegawa and Chachamaru Karakuri wrestled a strange table into the middle of the new spell circle they'd created in the room formerly occupied by Misora Kasuga and Cocone Rosa. "Are you really sure this is a good idea? I mean, if you follow your plan, you'll be by yourself. None of the Ala Alba or its allies will be close enough to protect you..."

Finishing with adjusting the former wine barrel she'd asked the arena staff to deliver to the room, Chisame stood up and wiped her brow. "That's the point, you perverted rat." Taking out her disabled VAIO, she began to arrange it and several other devices on top of the barrel. "I imagine Shiori or her friends have figured out I'm in the arena by now. I WANT them to find this place."

Shaking his head, Chamo realized he just didn't understand the logic of junior high school girls. "Can you at least explain the point of a wine barrel full of water?"

Reaching up, Anya began scratching Chamo's head. "That was my idea, Chamo. I'll be watching this room with R'th and T'fa. Since I'm still not very strong, this water will let me make the best use of what I can do if someone does attack."

Relaxing under Anya's attention, Chamo watched in silence as Chisame continued to work. When the hacker at long last finished, and began getting ready to leave the room, he finally made the connection between the barrel and Anya's words. Snickering, he pressed his head against welcome ministrations of the red-haired girl's hand. "If I wasn't already Negi's familiar, I'd want to hook up with you Anya. I like the way you think!"

A knock on the door brought an aura of tension to the room punctuated by the click of Chachamaru's laser eye lense locking into place. After a just a few seconds though, the gynoid relaxed and moved to open the door. "Welcome, Professor Springfield."

Nodding in response to Chachamaru's courtesy, Negi lead Kotaro into the room. "Is everyone ready?"

Sitting up on Anya's shoulder and crossing his arms, Chamo grinned broadly. "More so than I would have thought, Negi!"

Seeing Chisame and everyone else nodding, Negi relaxed slightly. "Good. What about you Chamo? Are you going to stay here in New Ostia with Anya?"

Sighing, Chamo looked away for a moment before matching his Magister's gaze. "Yeah. She and I worked together against Zo Connel, and since you'll need Yue and Collet to get out to the Hawk, I think it's best if I stay here so I'm available in case she or any of your other Ministra needs help or advice."

"Good enough." Turning slightly, Negi moved over to stand before Chisame and Chachamaru. "Of all my students, the two of you are the only ones I might not have a chance to see again before everything is all said and done." Holding out his hand, he offered it to Chisame. "Good luc...gueah!"

Blushing slightly as Chachamaru began fidgeting nervously next to her; Chisame removed her hand from where it had been used to bop her homeroom teacher on his head. "Silly brat! Luck is made though skill and perseverance, and I'm the best there is at what I do in this world! You worry about yourself and that airhead Asuna Kagurazaka! I'll worry about me!"

Rubbing his head, Negi turned from the flushed Chisame to her Net War partner. "Is that how you feel, Chachamaru?"

Glancing several times between Negi and Chisame, Chachamaru finally seemed to reach a decision, and straightened up. "Yes, Professor. Miss Hasegawa and I are most confident in our skills and abilities. We shall do our duty. You may focus your concern on yours."

With a sigh, Negi dropped the hand he'd been using to rub his head. "Very well then." Turning, he faced Chisame once more. "Even if you don't believe in it, I still say; 'Good luck,' Miss Hasegawa."

Turning away so Negi wouldn't see the flush of her face deepen, Chisame nodded without saying anything else.

Negi and Kotaro departed, and Chamo was left to observe falling tears as three girls with an interest in his Magister finally allowed themselves to break down and openly express their worry.

(-)

Looking up from working on the finishing details of her new Dopple Negi, Haruna Saotome saw her homeroom professor and Kotaro Murakami approaching through the crowd filling the New Ostia Arena vendor's concourse. Closing her Imperium Graphices and setting it aside, she reached over to nudge Kazumi Asakura, who sat dozing in the booth's other seat.

Startled, Kazumi Asakura sat up suddenly, knocking Chibi Sayo from her shoulder and onto the floor. She quickly leaned down to recover the little doll in response to Sayo's indignant protests, then stood just as the two boys stopped before Paru's booth. "Hey Professor, what's going on?"

Holding out a pair of local, Bento-style lunch boxes, Negi set the string-tied packages on Paru's table. "Kotaro thought you might like someone to bring you lunch." Turning to face Paru as both girls nodded in thanks, Negi pointed at the bespectacled girl's closed artifact. "Is everything going to be ready?"

With a grin of anticipation on her face, Paru nodded. "Just a little bit left. There are a few minor details I can't take care of until tomorrow, but I'm ready!" Looking down for a moment, Paru rubbed at the cover of the Imperium Graphices before giving Negi a serious look. "I won't say why just yet Professor, since Yue is still at the library trying to confirm some details, but I will say this; whatever else you do, make sure you bring Asuna's blood-stained Pactio card with you in the morning."

Unconsciously reaching to where all his Pactio cards lay in a recently purchased folio holder, Negi made an affirmative nod. "You've come a long way, Paru. With Takane and Mei, and Anya and her crew, I'm counting on you to keep everyone safe."

Crossing her arms, Paru made a confident nod. "Yue wasn't just researching for tomorrow at the library Negi. She also found several other things that should prove useful if anything happens while you're gone!"

Setting Sayo back on her shoulder, Kazumi moved out from behind the booth. "Konoka's already been by, and has gone back to Nodoka's room with Miss Goodman. Why don't you come and sit in the booth, Professor? You and Kojirou could take it easy for a while, and maybe sign a few autographs for anyone who notices you and has the courage to ask for one."

After giving Kazumi a thoughtful look, Negi sighed and slipped into the booth. As Kojirou and Kazumi went to acquire extra chairs and Paru opened one of the lunchboxes, he sat down and picked up a copy of; 'Nagi Springfield and the Vampire Princess.' The scene where 'Nagi' was cornered on a bridge by the Vampire Princess turned out to be steamier than Haruna's storyboarding back on the Estimated Prophet had lead him to believe. He was saved from being teased by the artist girl only by the return of Kazumi and Kotaro. Quickly putting the book down as the two of them crowded into the booth, he picked up a copy of 'Nagi Springfield's Kyoto Adventures.' to look at it. It turned out to be just as racy to his inexperienced sensibilities. It wasn't an 'adult' book, but the scene leading up to Nagi's Pactio with his second Ministra was decidedly different from what had lead up to the Yue-initiated kiss with Nodoka. Putting that book down as well, he started to give Paru a glare of disapproval, but the approach of a young Nek-Jin girl holding a program book and her Inu-Jin father's hand drew his attention outside the booth.

"Go on Natsuki, you'll never know if it's him unless you ask."

Urged forward by her father, the young girl timidly approached Paru's booth. "Hey Mister... are you Nagi Springfield?"

Leaning forward, Negi smiled at the girl and held out his hand. "Yes I am. Would you like me to autograph your program?"

Squealing with excitement, the little girl looked back at her father, then turned and held out the program book. "Oh please! Would you?"

Taking the book, Negi quickly turned to his profile, took a stylus Kazumi handed him, and autographed the page. Finishing and standing up, he leaned over the table to return the young girl's new prize. Clutching the program protectively to her chest, she bowed repeatedly to Negi, thanking him profusely before turning to run back and take her father's hand. Haruna and Kazumi both gave smiles of approval, while Kotaro just gave him an amused look across the top of his sunglasses.

For the rest of the afternoon, a steady stream of people, mostly children, came up to ask for 'Nagi's' autograph. Some asked 'Kojirou' for his autograph, and a few asked for both.

Just as Haruna and Kazumi began to talk about closing the booth and what they wanted to do for dinner, Negi saw an unwelcome profile approaching along the curve of the concourse. Standing along with Kotaro, he waited until the cocks-comb haired employee of Chairman Dolnegus came to a halt in front of Paru's booth. "Tosaka. What do you want?"

Dislike oozing from every pore of his being, Tosaka used a pinkie to scratch his ear, then pretended to examine the residue that produced before giving Nagi his attention. "Another pair of prize fighters wants to see you. I'm supposed to show you to the meeting room."

At the mention of 'Another pair of prize fighters,' Negi, Kotaro, Haruna and Kazumi all tensed up.

Overwhelmed by the presence of so many suddenly wary auras, Tosaka had to take a step back. Having felt 'Nagi's' wrath several times before, he immediately dropped his arrogant attitude, and began shaking his head and waving his arms. "Hey wooah! I'm just a messenger! That bird chick from Antigone told the Chairman she wanted to meet you, and he sent me to find you!"

Relaxing only slightly, Negi turned to look at Haruna and Kazumi without letting Tosaka out of his sight. "Kotaro and I will go with Tosaka to see what the Antigone team wants. If something happens, do you know what to do?"

Both girls nodded, with Haruna grinning and casually taking hold of her Imperium Graphices. "I think Aniki can take care of this guy, and we'll let everyone else know what's going on."

Showing a polite smile that did nothing to calm Tosaka's nervousness, Negi bowed slightly and indicated for him to lead the way.

Feeling a little resentment that even the young girls who followed Nagi Springfield around thought themselves better than him, Tosaka glared at Haruna for a moment. Seeing that she wasn't going to back down, he snorted, then walked off, not caring if Nagi followed him or not.

tsuzuku.

(-)

Author's Notes:

The quote Negi is paraphrasing is in reference to 'Uchu Senkan Yamato.' Or: Space Battleship Yamato.

IECS Argonauta: 'Independent Educational City State Argonauta.' Valkyrie Unit transport, Ariadne Navy Whaleship combat vessel, and Ariadne Navy representative at New Ostia. Named after a salt water cephalopod (a shell-covered creature with tentacles) found in the ocean near Ariadne.

Pam Akumachi and En-Zu are the property of Kotaro Mori, and are from the manga 'Stray Little Devil.'

Chapter Thirty-eight: Calm Before the Storm. Part Two. (Day Six.)