"She's called the Devil for a reason. You so much as touch a hair out of place on someone, anyone, you can bet she'll be right on top of you like a polar vortex: quiet, raging, like a storm."

-Vivio Takamachi in regards to a question asked by a conscripted civilian, TSAB Calendar Year 0081

Chapter Four

Into the Gulch

"There it is," Ixpellia shouted over the howl of the wind, pointing at the collection of buildings appearing at the forest's edge. "That must be the place those men were talking about."

"Good eye," said Nanoha. "Hang on, I'm bringing us down. Don't want to risk getting shot again." She absently touched the wound on her chest, cauterized by Raging Heart's magic. Ixpellia noticed but didn't say anything.

Their descent through the canopy went more smoothly. Here the trees thinned out and gave way to a dirt path flattened by the passage of time and countless footsteps. It fled behind them where they landed and continued ahead toward a tall wooden palisade in the distance.

"What did they say it was called?" Ixpellia asked.

Nanoha made a face that made her think she had tasted a particularly sour lemon. "Devil's Gulch. And the forest we had just passed is known as the Devil's Wood."

"I wonder why that is?"

Nanoha pursed her lips together. "Maybe it's just a coincidence," she mumbled to herself.

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh! I mean to say, maybe it's because they think it's really inhabited by devils." Nanoha laughed. "Although why they named it that is anybody's guess. We didn't see any devils, now did we?"

Ixpellia smiled. "No, but I think those bandits saw one in you."

"Well said!" Nanoha indicated the wall with a nod, where two men stood by the entrance. "Right, let's go make ourselves welcome. Stay close."

She could feel their progress being watched. From her periphery she saw guards hunkered in their towers, sensed the invisible bull's-eye painted on her and Ixpellia as the barrels of their long-range shooters tracked them from the shadows of narrow embrasures. The ones up front stayed where they were, trigger fingers poised and ready.

Nanoha raised her hand to the men in greeting, if only to show she was unarmed and meant no ill will. "Good afternoon, gents! Fine day we're having."

The first guard, a big, burly fellow garbed in a flowing Barrier Jacket, nodded in return. "Aye, same as any other we've had. What brings you to the Gulch…and from the Wood, no less?"

"My friend and I are looking to check in at a clinic and get patched up; ran into a bunch of punks on the way here."

"No kidding, lady," said the second of the pair, tall and lanky and long-limbed, gesturing at her. "You look like shit."

"It's been quite the trek. Although I'm afraid we don't have much to offer in payment, but there are a few items I'd be willing to sell to the right buyer to cover the cost."

"That depends. The Wood is ripe for pickings, but that don't mean they're easy to come by. You ever wonder why it's called Devil's Wood? It ain't because it's named after that chick the loonies on the town go out to see, that's for sure."

"I'm not sure I follow."

"He means the Spire on the other side of the forest," said Guard One. "Plenty o' folk young and old take it upon themselves to go on a journey, pay their respects or touch it for good luck or pray to it—whatever strikes their fancy. But the Wood is…the Wood is strange. Whenever someone returns from that place, they come back different. Changed."

Nanoha swallowed dryly. "How so?"

"Wild magic. There have been numerous reports of dimensional distortions randomly popping up and people getting caught in them. Doesn't always kill 'em but…well, it's difficult to explain. You'd have to see for yourself."

"We didn't come across any distortions," Ixpellia spoke up from behind Nanoha. "We flew here. We would've sensed it right away if we did."

"'S that so? Then where'd that—" Guard Two pointed a finger at Raging Heart "—come from? Huh?"

Nanoha stared at the ruby orb. Unlike Ixpellia's Jewel Seed it sank into and fit comfortably around her skin and left the flesh relatively unblemished, almost as if it was meant to be there all along. It made her heart pick up speed. "I…I don't know. It was like that when I…." When what? When she was resurrected from a death spanning ten thousand years by the Flame King of the Dead? "I don't know. You have to believe me."

He scoffed. "Yeah, and I'm the Sankt Kaiser of the Cradle. Don't bullshit us, lady, that thing's a parasite. It's gonna keep suckin' the life out o' you until there's nothing left, an' when there's nothin' left it eats you from the inside, and after that it—"

"Raging Heart isn't a parasite!" Nanoha exclaimed. "She's my Device!"

"Well I've never heard of an Intelligent Device bein' attached to someone." He turned to his buddy. "Can ya believe that? She even gave the thing a name! This chick's crazy."

"I'm not!" She shook her head violently. "Look, I don't know how else to explain it, but take my word for it! I've had her for years!"

"Won't you at least admit her into the clinic for an evaluation?" Ixpellia asked Guard One. "There must be someone in there who can determine the validity of her claim!"

He rumbled thoughtfully, a low sound in the back of his throat. "If she does speak the truth, then—"

"She don't need no validation!" said Guard Two. "Just cap the bitch an' take the kid inside. After all," he leered at Ixpellia, "we don't discriminate when it comes to payment—"

"I should like to see you try," Raging Heart chirped suddenly, her light blinking on and off. "Perhaps you need to cool your head."

"Sankt Kaiser, it talks!" He reached for his gun, but Guard One was faster. In one fluid motion he drew out the shooter and pulled the trigger. A beam of energy rocketed from the barrel toward Nanoha-

"Protection."

-only for Raging Heart's autoguard to appear in front of her and bounce the shot off it, slamming into the space of the wall above his head. "Shit!" He jumped.

There was a clatter of safeties being clicked off and an overpowering stench of ozone as mana cartridges were primed, locked and loaded into chambers from the towers. Nanoha pulled Ixpellia close and activated Skirmish Mode, hand raised and ready to call up the necessary defense spell. "Do you believe us now?" she asked the men.

Guard Two growled. Guard One, his mouth hanging open at Raging Heart's lightning-fast reaction, closed it and lowered his weapon. He sighed and waved up at the line of rifles pointed down at them, to which they retreated cautiously back inside. "Proof enough," he said. "You won't cause any trouble?"

"We don't intend to," Nanoha replied. "And Raging Heart knows better. Don't you, girl?"

The synthesized voice didn't sound the least bit contrite. "Yes, my Master!"

"So you'll let us through?" Ixpellia asked.

"If you can keep yore hands to yourself and that"—he coughed politely, almost saying 'parasite'—"Device…on a leash, so to speak, then we won't have any problems. As for the clinic, you can find it in the center o' town at the crossroads."

Nanoha bowed. "Thank you. We'll be sure to stay out of trouble." She smiled sweetly, venomously, at Guard Two.

He sputtered indignantly and opened his mouth to protest, but a glare from his companion quelled him into silence. Simmering and humiliated, he helped lift the crossbar off the entranceway.

"That guy flipped you his middle finger," Ixpellia said once they were well out of earshot. "Is that supposed to mean anything?"

"It does, but it no longer matters," said Raging Heart. "He will think twice crossing you again."

"But was that really necessary?" said Nanoha. "I appreciate the protection, but your little stunt almost got us killed. My mana's low as it is and I don't think I would've been able to call up a spell fast enough to shield us."

"They were threatening our ward. We do not let those under our protection come to harm, my Master."

Nanoha grimaced. "You're right, but—"

"Then I rest my case," said Raging Heart. "Master," she added gently, as an afterthought.

"Well...don't do it again." She heaved a weary sigh. Her feet dragged behind her.

Ixpellia looked at her; Guard One was right, it seemed as though Nanoha could barely keep herself standing. The way she walked made it seem like her body was one giant weight she was hauling by sheer will and muscle memory still working out the kinks, a machine waking from an overlong dream covered in rust. There were no dark circles under her eyes, but the weariness was there, deep and faraway as low tide. It couldn't be from lack of sleep. "Hey, are you alright?" She reached out and brushed the skin around Raging Heart with her fingertips.

Nanoha started, but when she saw who it was at her side she simply smiled. Ixpellia thought it looked hollow…forced. "Oh, me? Of course I am. Just a little tired is all. Nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure? You look like something's bothering you."

"I'm alright, but I'm more worried about you." Nanoha looked down at her bandaged feet.

She winced. "It doesn't hurt as bad as it looks," she lied, following her gaze, "And I don't have to discharge another core for a while yet."

"Ah, that's good, that's good," Nanoha said brightly. "We'll get better, you and I." She stopped and took in their surroundings. The dirt road wound ahead of them, dipping into a bowl-shaped valley where the remnants of a large and wide riverbed ran its course. Trees had given way completely to wild clumps of shrubbery and sedimentary rock; what few could be from seen towered above adobe buildings as a provision for shade or chopped into pyramid stacks of lumber. People crossed the roads on foot or on horse-drawn wagons, minding their own business from here to what lay beyond the horizon.

"It looks like a decent place," Ixpellia said, stepping up beside her. "I hope we can manage everything."

She noticed the slight dampening of the older woman's features, the way the light in her eyes dimmed and the natural confidence on her mouth at the corners retreating south, just shy of a frown. The façade retained its strength as soon as this displacement occurred. "I think we will. Right, Raging Heart?"

"Yes, my Master."

Nanoha held out her hand toward Ixpellia. "Shall we get going?"

Ixpellia nodded.