Uraninite watched from under a tree as Phosphophylite destroyed the core of a Lunarian platform with their sword, causing it to begin to dissolve into nothingness. It was an impressive feat because they were atop a thin and almost bramble like growth of their gold allow that had lifted them all the way up to the platform and protected them from the arrows. As they turned away, a Lunarian who had fallen off the platform posed their knocked arrow at Phos.
Phos moved their head and dodged it easily, but doing so shifted their balance and made them lose it, falling over and plummeting down toward the ground, only to be caught by Kongou while Antarcticite soared into the air and cut the Lunarian in two.
"Very good. You understand how to feel and manipulate your alloy, now you must work on keeping your balance while doing so," Kongou said as he put Phos gently down on the snow.
"I'll work on that, Sensei," Phos replied quietly.
"Considering your not a blob in only a few months, you're doing very well!" Uraninite exclaimed as they walked over with a smile. "It took me almost three decades to fully understand my abilities and even longer to get to the skill I have with them."
"Please do not forget those few decades of almost melting everyone with those beams of yours, myself included," Antarcticite spoke up as they walked over, a large crack running across the left side of their face.
"Antarc are you okay? Did you get hit?" Phosphophylite exclaimed in worry as they ran up to Antarcticite.
"Their fine, it's just too warm," Uraninite said as they looked at Antarcticite with a slightly sad look. "Isn't it?"
"Yes, spring seems to be coming stronger and faster this year," Antarcticite said with a nod, clearly confusing Phosphophylite.
"You may have forgotten with the loss of your original arms, but Antarcticite has a unique makeup in that the colder it becomes, the more solid they become. The inverse is also true, and the warmer it gets, the harder it is for them to maintain their shape," Kongou explained simply.
"Oh. So what happens to you when it gets too warm?" Phosphophylite asked curiously.
"My body will lose much of its density and turn into a liquid , during which time I am asleep. I will then awaken when it gets cooler again," Antarcticite explained as a crack suddenly, and very audibly formed across the length of their right arm from the elbow down.
"Uh Antarc, your cracking more!" Phosphophylite said in worry.
"It is warming quick, it seems this season's winter is a small bit shorter than normal. Let us return to the school, there is much to do," Kongou said as he turned and began leading the walk back to the school.
The trip back was uneventful, what with the sky being clouded, though light would occasionally shine through to pierce the snow or the quickly muddying ground. Once at the school however they had to get to work.
Windows and their shutters had to be checked to make sure they were not iced shut, halls had to be made sure they had little to no water anyone could slip on in them, and the supplies cupboards had to be checked. All this was in addition to the usual jobs of pushing the snow, what little remained, away from the school entrances.
Doing all of this took nearly three days to do properly, all the while the weather getting warmer as the snow continued to melt, along with Antarcticite's ability to keep up their usual speed.
"So, what happens now?" Phosphophylite asked Antarcticite as the two of them sat on a bench in the school, all the before spring repairs and setup complete.
"Normally I would now consult with Sensei to make sure there is nothing else to be done. Then, if it is time I would go wake up Jade before going to sleep myself, or I would just go to sleep and Sensei would wake everyone up if the temperature is too warm for me to continue being up," Antarcticite stated simply before sighing. "Which is looking to be the case this season."
"That, sounds pretty boring," Phosphophylite stated, causing an uncomfortable silence to reign for a few moments. "So, it's like this every winter for you? Just working in the snow and the floes, and then going to sleep without seeing anyone?"
"Yes, though the times when Uraninite is around they stay awake during the winter as well."
"Why? I mean, why do they stay up with you when they could sleep? I think I only couldn't because the energy my legs gave me after all."
"Yes well, Uraninite cannot sleep during the winter. They wake up every few days all on their own they've told me, because their body creates most of the energy they need. You noticed how they have less difficulty in the deep snow than either of us did, right?"
"I did wonder about that. I mean, they walked so fast and made such a perfect path for us!"
"Their energy creates heat, so in the winter they allow a bit to escape and it melts the snow around them. That's why from some angles in the cold they look like they would glow, because they were and the glow was from their ability and the heat it generates."
"I see," Phosphophylite said as they leaned their head back against the wall and stared up at the ceiling. "Its strange."
"What is?" Antarcticite asked, having barely heard Phosphophylite's mumbling.
"Uraninite. I mean, they are so . . . . .," Phosphophylite paused and sighed. "they are strong, confident and have such useful and powerful abilities, yet before this winter, I had never heard their name even muttered by anyone. It's just strange I mean. Why would no one even mention them at all over all those years of my life? Was it worry I'd tried to emulate them or something?"
"No, I don't think its like that," Antarcticite said as they leaned forward, placing their arms on their lap. "I think it's more like how most of them don't like to mention those who get taken by the Lunarians."
"What?"
"When someone gets taken, it makes everyone feel differently, but the reality is that they are gone. Uraninite, they have the odd strangeness that they disappeared at random for uncertain amounts of time, as I mentioned before. I think, it makes it hard to mention them, because no one knows when they could come back, or if they will."
"Oh. . . That, makes sense I guess. Where are they anyway?"
"I believe they asked Sensei to speak to him in private for some reason."
"Oh? Now I'm curious! Let's sneak over and try to listen in on them!" Phosphophylite exclaimed with a devious grin.
"We are not spying on Sensei," Antarcticite said seriously.
"Fine, then I'll do it myself!" Phosphophylite pressed with a grin as they stood up. Only to get bopped on the top of their head by a bundle of tied together sticks.
"That would be difficult as we are done talking," Uraninite said with a grin, holding the sticks and resting it over their shoulder. Coming up behind them was Kongou, wearing his ever present neutral expression.
"Darn it," Phosphophylite muttered as they rubbed their head. "What are the branches for?"
"Just something I'm going to bring up with Obsidian after everyone is awake," they explained with a shrug, right as the sound of cracking echoed out from Antarcticite's direction.
"I think I'll need to sleep, Sensei," Antarcticite stated as they held their disconnected left hand in their right.
"It would seem so. Is there anything else you need to do?" Kongou asked calmly.
"No, everything aside from the wake up chores are done. So, uh, may I?"
"Of course," Kongou replied as he spread his arms out, prompting Antarcticite to move up and hug him.
"Good night, Sensei."
"Good night. Sleep well, and I will see you next winter," Kongou said as they parted.
"Of course," Antarcticite said before turning to Uraninite.
"Hold that thought Antarc, I'll walk you to your room," Uraninite said abruptly, surprising Antarcticite and Phosphophylite. Though Antarcticite simply nodded before the two of them began walking off.
Narrowing their gaze at them, Phosphophylite moved to follow them, only stopping when Kongou placed his hand on their shoulder. "What Uraninite is speaking to Antarcticite about is about their past disappearances and is a topic that is difficult for them to speak of. They plan on telling everyone when they are awake."
"So why can't I go listen then?"
"They are telling Antarcticite first because they will be asleep when the others are awake, but also to prepare themselves for telling everyone else. It is something they have kept secret since their first day among us, and are both anxious and worried about doing so."
Phosphophylite looked at Kongou curiously for a moment. "You know what they are talking about?"
"I do."
"So what are they talking about?"
"I have kept their secret as long as they have. Be patient Phosphophylite, you will learn it when they tell everyone."
"Fine!" Phosphophylite said with a long drawn out pout.
"It is warm outside, so I believe waking everyone today would be prudent. Could you go to Red Beryl's room and bring down the box of everyone's spring clothing?"
"Okay. Will you be waking everyone while I'm getting them?" Phosphophylite asked.
"Not as of yet. It will need to be decided whom is to awaken everyone due to your changes, and Uraninite's Intentions," Kongou said as Phosphophylite ran off.
It did not take long for Phosphophylite to come back with the crates of everyone's spring clothing, and just as they finished changing their own clothes Uraninite came back with an oddly content and relieved look on their face.
"I assume your talk with Antarcticite went well?" Kongou asked politely.
"Yes it did," Uraninite said with a smile. "I believe I am as ready as I can be to tell everyone the truth,"
"I see. Would you like to awaken everyone then? You have historically left the waking to myself or Antarcticite, but if you would like to you may."
"I," Uraninite stopped and seemed to think to themselves for a moment before looking at Phosphophylite. "Do you want to wake everyone, or would you rather not so you can talk with Kongou about your arms?"
"Oh, I never thought about that," Phosphophylite admitted as they seemed to think on the idea for a few seconds. "How would I explain this?"
"Uraninite, perhaps it would be best for you begin waking everyone up and greeting them, so that I may speak to Phosphophylite and help them decide how to explain their situation?" Kongou suggested.
"Alright, I'll go do that," Uraninite agreed as they walked off toward the hibernation room, leaving Phosphophylite to Kongou's tender words. It didn't take long to get to the hibernation room, as it was one of the largest rooms on the bottom floor and also had the largest door in the entire school. Actually it was one of the only doors, but that was because Gems did not feel the need for privacy like humans did. The only Gems that actually had doors on their rooms where Obsidian, Red Beryl, Peridot and themselves, and the only reason they did was in case of accidental radioactive discharge in their sleep.
Not that that had happened in a long time.
Reaching the, quite admittedly oversized doors to the Hibernation room, Uraninite pushed one of them open until it was wide enough for them to enter through. The hibernation room was dark, the windows covered by their shutters and then covered by the huge lengths of cloth that hung down from the ceiling and across the floor in all directions. Pillows and extra layers of blankets and sheets were all over the floor, not to provide comfort but to make sure no one broke anything if they turned while hibernating, or rolled into someone else.
Taking a look around at everyone in their very overblown works of Red Beryl, Uraninite silently thanked the fact she couldn't hibernate due to her radiation, and then walked to the side. There, where she recalled it being mentioned in the past, was a thick rope that was tied to a system of pulleys that then connected to the sheets on the wall and the shutters as well. Without any hesitation they yanked on it until it came loose, causing the upper most curtains to fall from place to the floor, and the shutters to open up.
Light spilled into the room like the water from a broken dam, illuminating every piece of white cloth and clothing to such an extent that it was almost blinding.
"uuhhnn, is it spring? Antarcticite?" Jade asked as they hesitantly sat up and looked toward the door, still apparently rather sleepy, yet first to awaken.
"Spring has come a bit early, so Antarcticite went to sleep earlier today." Uraninite said, figuring their voice would be recognized, but walking over to the door and pushing it open a bit more with their foot so some more light could come into the room.
"Uraninite, is that you?" Jade asked, clearly not sure if they were awake or not.
"Yeah, I'm back," Uraninite said before smiling. "For good this time!"
"What?! What does that mean?" Jade demanded to know as they climbed up from the ground, their sleeping clothes making it clearly more difficult to do even with now being fully awake.
"Well, it'd be hard to explain quickly, so I'll explain when everyone is up," Uraninite said as they took a step back from Jade, who was glaring at them.
After a few seconds Jade relented and let out a sigh. "Alright, help me wake-"
"Ura!" Uraninite and Jade turned to see Obsidian struggling to get up due to being tangled in both their clothing and a wrap of cloth and pillows. Their face was a cross between livid and ecstatic as they tried to free themselves, only to fall forward onto a pillow and groan in frustration.
"Hehehe, here, let me help," Uraninite said with a laugh as they walked over and knelt down beside Obsidian, pulling away the wraps of cloth to help them get untangled.
"300 years. You were gone for almost 300 years this time, Ura," Obsidian said solemnly as they sat there while Uraninite untangled them.
"Yeah, it was . . . A long time this time," Uraninite replied quietly, slowing their pace of untangling a bit. "Sorry, it won't happen again. And now, I can explain it. All of it," Uraninite added.
"You mean, why you disappear?"
"Yeah. It won't happen again, and I can explain it. All of it. I'm not keeping any secrets anymore from anyone, especially not you Sidi," Uraninite declared seriously as they finished unwrapping Obsidian.
" . . . .no more disappearing?" Obsidian asked quietly.
"No, not anymore," Uraninite restated with a nod.
Obsidian said nothing as they lunged forward and began hugging Uraninite tightly, as only they could. Normally gems suddenly colliding was bad for both parties unless they were twinned Gems, but the two of them did it often, and while it looked like Obsidian had collided into Uraninite, they in reality had not collided hard at all.
"Did Phosphophylite wake up early? I don't see them," Jade spoke up while Uraninite hugged Obsidian.
"Err, well, Phosphophylite was awake and working with Antarcticite when I came back. And some stuff happened."
"What do you mean?" Jade asked seriously. "What happened?"
"It would be best for them to explain it," Uraninite said as they gently unwrapped Obsidian from them, though they still looked like they were going to cry. Not that Gems could. "Let's wake everyone up, then both myself and Phosphophylite can explain everything."
Both Obsidian and Jade nodded before the three of them began the arduous process of waking everyone else. Sometimes it was easier than others. Sometimes everyone woke up easily, other times it took longer, and sometimes some would wake up suddenly, awkwardly, or accidentally violently. This was one of those times, and after almost being decked in the head by three Gems, one of them being Bort who immediately began yelling at Uraninite, finally everyone was awake, changed into their spring uniforms and met in the main hall.
Normally when waking up everyone met Kongou in the main hall to hear if anything of interest had happened during the winter, and that did happen. However Uraninite's words, having passed quickly among everyone as they woke up, and Phosphophylite's strange appearance as they stood partway behind Kongou, had everyone anxious to discover what exactly was going on. After all, Phosphophylite was usually first to sleep and last to awaken, yet they had supposedly been awake all in winter, and their arms looked, strange.
Unsurprisingly the situation pertaining to Phosphophylite's arms was the first topic to be brought up. How they lost their arms to the flies and gained gold alloy was simple to explain, while having everyone not acting very leery and nervous about the arms was more of an issue, as they way their arms could move was very different than Gems were used to seeing in their fellows.
"Calm yourselves please, " Kongou spoke up, causing the spooked gems to return promptly, though they still kept some distance from Phosphophylite or were clumped in groups. The only ones who did neither were Yellow diamond and Obsidian, the latter as they stood by Uraninite. "Phosphophylite merely has had some change but it is no reason to be afraid. It will take time to get used to their new arms, just as it has taken time for them to get used to it."
"Of course, there's no reason us to fear one another!" Diamond stated seriously, making many look a bit downcast by their actions, despite Diamond having done the same and moved away when Phosphophylite had showed off the morphing ability of their arms.
"Sensei, I have a question. Was Antarcticite responsible for helping choose what would become Phosphophylite's new arms?" Rutile asked curiously as they took a few steps closer to Phosphophylite and leaned over to look at their arms. Though from almost a meter away.
"They did assist in the search, yes," Kongou answered simply.
"Then I have no issue with it," Rutile said as they stood straight up and smirked. "As long as I can look into their ability of course."
Phosphophylite shifted behind Kongou more and glowered at Rutile. "Quack doctor."
"Oh? Perhaps I should grind away that attitude the next time you break yourself," Rutile said with a grin as they pulled a large File from somewhere in their clothing and held it like one would a knife.
"Sensei, Uraninite mentioned something odd, are you going to explain it?" Benitoite asked curiously.
"I will provide confirmation to their words, but will not explain it myself unless they wish it. This is something that Uraninite wishes to tell everyone together, and on their own," Kongou said as they looked to Uraninite and gestured for them to step forward.
Giving a reassuring nod to Obsidian, Uraninite stepped forward and turned around to face everyone but Kongou. "Hey, I'm back, again. I know my disappearances have always been, odd or strange and, hard to deal with, but they won't happen again. I know just saying that won't mean much on it's own, so, I'm going to explain, everything, and I know some parts of what I am going to say may sound, outlandish or even absurd, but all I ask first is to explain everything before I answer any questions. Okay?"
Almost everyone gave nods of confirmation, varying in intensity, aside from Bort and Rutile, who stared on awaiting the information. Something they began giving immediately.
Uraninite began right at the start, telling how they had been living as a human in another world, how they were living two lives, and so much more. Magic, culture, their work to make themselves stay on the island over their human life, they went over all of it leading up to the now, and when they finally were finished, silence, and the odd stares of the other Gems reigned.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Yellow Diamond spoke up first. "So, you were a human, a flesh and blood being that could be our ancient ancestor, and you used that, magic, to make sure you could stay here with us, where you were happiest, right?"
"T-that's right," Uraninite confirmed, worried about what Yellow Diamond could say next.
"Then it's fine,"
"Yellow, are you sure? I mean, uh," Alexandrite began to say, stopping as Yellow Diamond nodded and spoke again.
"I'm sure. It doesn't change who Uraninite is, it just explains a bit of their weird word choices over the years."
"I suppose, but how can we be sure they speak truth?" Bort asked as they looked at Uraninite head on.
"I don't believe that Uraninite would lie to us, especially since Sensei knew, right?" Diamond asked as they looked to Kongou hopefully.
Kongou nodded. "Uraninite has long confided in me their situation, and while it took some time, we were able to prove their stories truth in some facets with knowledge I long ago claimed, and that they found in their other life to compare to my own."
"So, does that mean there is another island somewhere? " Zircon asked curiously.
"Not that I have discovered," Kongou answered simply before providing an odd explanation. "The place Uraninite used to reside is a different celestial object, a different world, like our own, but located far away, or perhaps is a dimensionally shifted location."
"Uh, what?" Phosphophylite asked in utter confusion.
"It is in a place that none in these lands, including myself, could reach, so it is of no issue to any of us," Kongou clarified.
"Well, Uraninite could, right?" Morganite asked.
"Uh, no, I can't. The, ability I had in that life is not something I can use in this one," Uraninite answered a bit awkwardly before smiling. "I should be here to stay, and to not disappear ever again!"
"How did you do it though? Coming here and leaving your other life behind I mean," Jade asked, seeming rather calm about the whole thing.
"I used a, magic spell, and made it accurate by carving a number of stones and-"
"Oh, you mean those green stones?" Alexandrite interrupted suddenly.
"Yes, the Malachite I was carving over the years, was all to make me not disappear again," Uraninite explained.
"You were carving those for a long time, how many did you carve?" Obsidian asked next.
"Over the years I successfully carved thirty seven of them, and then buried then all over the island," Uraninite said just before the entire building began to shake for a few seconds, making everyone lose their balance but Kongou, and making a green stone fall out of the stone rafters above them.
"What, what was that?! The whole school was shaking!" Someone called out, though no one was quite sure who.
"An earthquake, the shifting of seismic fault lines, something this world has long since not had," Kongou said as he helped Phosphophylite, who was closest to him, up off the ground.
"But, if their not supposed to happen, then why did that just happen?" Diamond asked as they noticed the green stone that fell from the ceiling and picked it up.
"Small, unnoticeable quakes to most people have heralded Uraninite's return each time," Kongou stated as the stone in Diamonds hands began to glow and hum.
"Wait, that's how you always knew I had come back?!" Uraninite asked in surprise.
"Yes, however-"
"Um, Uraninite, this is one of those pieces of Malachite you carved right? Is it supposed to glow?"
Uraninite turned to Diamond, their eyes widening in horror. "Destroy it!"
"What?" Diamond asked in confusion, likely more confused by Uraninite's tone that their words.
"Toss it up I the air, Bort destroy it!" Uraninite screamed, causing Diamond to throw it as ordered, and Bort to suddenly smash it into fine pieces out of the air, the pieces scattering all across the floor.
"Glowie, explain, now!" Bort ordered.
"Sorry, but it shouldn't have done that! If it glowed like that, then, oh no!"
"What, what's wrong?" Euclase asked.
"I, my memory wasn't perfect in my other life, so I had to write down things to make sure I couldn't forget them, and so the ritual I did would not have mistakes in it. I, I think someone is trying to cast the same spell I did. But that shouldn't even be possible!"
"Because they would have to be a Void mage as you had been, correct?" Kongou asked.
"Yes, but as far as I knew, I was the only one. No one had seen one in thousands of years, and for non-Gems that is a lot of time!"
"You said that time between the two places was different right?" Rutile asked. "Then could not have a much longer space of time passed than you thought? Maybe they became more common?"
"Its possible but," Uraninite stopped as another tremor, smaller and not enough to make anyone fall, but enough to be felt, shook the school. "No, that doesn't matter, the other gems have to be broken! If they are broken the spell will fail!"
"but what will it do if it happens?" Jade asked.
"I, I don't know, it could bring someone here, drag me back or-" Uraninite was stopped as suddenly another shake happened. Only this time it didn't stop after a few seconds, and this time, the floor began to crack with blinding energy. The very stone of the school seemed to scream, and then everything was overtaken by an all encompassing light.
"Your highness, I must state again that this is not the time to be dabbling with a little understood spell!" Old Osmomd said as he followed the princess and Agnes into the ritual room again. The attempt from two days before when he had been essentially caught inhibiting the spell was still fresh in his mind, but he still hoped that would be overlooked considering the circumstances.
"I understand your words Headmaster, however this is the perfect time to do the ritual one last time," Henrietta declared as they entered the ritual room, it having been left exactly as it had been the day before when she, instead of doing the ritual, decided to instead reinforce the circle with magic.
"I apologize your highness, but I do need to agree with the headmaster. As important as this ritual is to you, the defence of Tristain is more important. We will only have so long to prepare for Albion's invasion, and the disappearance of Count Wardes will set back our aerial ability as it is," Agnes said, her tone professional the entire time as she walked to her usual position in the room by the door, shutting it tight.
"Thank you for your opinion Agnes, however I know what I am doing. I am sure I will succeed this time, and then we shall gather the army and prepare to defeat Albion and their corruption once and for all!" Henrietta said seriously, her tone hard, with no mercy in it at all.
"Very well, as you command, my Queen," Agnes said, signaling her acceptance, but also making Henrietta flinch slightly at the title.
As soon as war was declared on their country her mother had had enough, and ceded the throne to her. She shook her head, removing the various unkind thoughts of her mother before looking at Old Osmomd. "I will now begin, and you will not touch the circle at all while I am doing the ritual, is that understood Headmaster?"
"Of course your highness. However it is a requirement of my station to inform you that, even with how much power has been out into this ritual circle, a single person powering such a large ritual will be difficult and you may not have-"
"My power will be sufficient," Henrietta stated, stopping Old Osmomd from continuing.
"Of course, your highness," Osmond said with a defeated tone as he took a few steps back so he was clearly away from the circle. Try as he might to stop things from going out of control, it seemed the changed Princess, now Queen, would not allow anything to get in the way of her desires. Osmond was beginning to understand why it could be considered a good thing Void magic had been thus far lost.
"Good. Now the, I shall begin!" Henrietta declared as she slammed her staff into the circle and began channeling her will through it whilst muttering the rituals words under her breath. In bare seconds the whole circle came to life, lit like a golden sun with flames of green licking up away from it, as if trying to torch the very ceiling. It grew greater and greater, far beyond what it had previously, until the very room was quivering with magic power. The floor began to crack, glowing energy of the same color pouring out, the ceiling cracked, dust falling from it, and finally, the Gem of carved Malachite that served as a catalyst cracked and shattered into a pile of dust shaped like a crescent. In that same moment all of the magic power in the room simply disappeared without any discernable effect whatsoever.
Everyone was silent as, for a few seconds it looked like Henrietta was going to scream, but then she simply let out a long breath and turned to Agnes. "Agnes, please send word to the army and those nobles who shall be leading contingents that we shall be leaving Tristania as soon as I have donned my own armour."
"Right away your highness!" Agnes replied as she quickly opened the door and marched out to do as commanded.
"Headmaster Osmond," Henrietta began as she turned to look at Osmond. "Will you be returning to the Magic Academy now that your assistance with this matter is no longer required, or will you be joining the army?"
"I'm afraid such marches would do nothing good to these old bones. I shall return to the Academy to continue teaching the children who have stayed."
"Very well, then I wish you safe travels. I will be leaving to lead our army in victory against the corrupt fools who thought they could attack our fair Tristain and get away with it. And if I find the ones personally responsible for Wales death, I shall make them regret ever being born!" she grimly declared before storming off through the open door.
As she stormed down the halls, heading for the armory where some handmaidens and soldiers would be awaiting her, Henrietta could not help but try to think why the ritual did not work. She had made sure everything was perfect, had practiced the words, and had made sure that Old Osmond could not get in the way this time! The ritual looked perfect, more powerful and awe inspiring than any previous time, yet it still failed, and worse yet, the gem, the catalyst, had turned to dust. She couldn't try it again, she had no more chances, she had failed, herself , the Vallieres, and Louise.
She had had failed them all.
"Founder, why did it fail? Am I not worthy of your magic? If not, then why do I have it? Why did it fail when I-" Henrietta stopped muttering to herself as she noticed a number of servants and a royal guard standing by a window, looking out of it as if something major was occurring outside. "Is something the matter?"
"Ah, your Highness!" the guard said with a salute while the maids bowed respectfully. "There is a strange light outside, and I was simply curious about it. Such a color is not natural, so I was beginning to worry about it."
"Oh, is it truly so strange?" Henrietta asked as she stepped up to the window and looked out of it, her eyes widening as she say the bright green light coming over the buildings of Tristania.
Immediately Henrietta ran off and, instead of heading for the armory, began ascending the stairs and towers of the castle until she arrived at the tallest tower in the whole castle, what was once her father's own personal study. Standing by the window she could see across all of the Capitol of Tristania and across the rolling hills of Tristain all the way to the distant shores. Albion floated ominously in the distance, and to it's right, close to where she imagined the border of Tristain and Germania were, out on the ocean, was an expanding sphere or green and gold light that seemed to swirl and twirl in on itself like some roiling mass of pure confusion. It was growing at a visibly fast rate, but just as it looked like, from a distance at least, that it would touch the landscape itself, it suddenly began shrinking. It became half of its size, stopped for a time, and then to her shock exploded outwards, sending flashing waves of energy out away from it. The energy waves that struck the land kicked up massive blasts of debris, likely tearing the shores asunder, and just as Henriettta thought it could not get more terrifying, a flashing wave of energy struck Albion, and the floating island seemed to crack in half and begin to fall.
Before she could witness Albion hit the water though, the shockwaves began to hit Tristania itself. The whole city shook and buckled. Buildings of wood had their roofs and upper floors ripped right off, buildings of stone had their roofs cracked and their shingles thrown and windows shattered. carriages and horses were thrown down streets, and she could hear the screams of death and pain below her. Her attention however was momentarily fixed on where the sphere of energy had been, for now it was gone, and an entire small island was there in the ocean, looking as if nothing had befallen it.
Louise's notes had mentioned that the place she went to was an island. Had she, not succeeded in bringing Louise back home, but in bringing a whole island to Halkeginia? If that was the case it was both brilliant and terrifying . Brilliant because it meant her prowess with void magic, and her ability to cast it were far greater than she had first realized, and terrifying because it meant all the destruction to the city, no, to the whole country, could be considered her fault at least in part.
Picking herself up off the ground from where she seemed to have fallen to her knees, she descended the tower and headed for the courtyard, knowing it would be the most likely place Agnew would be, and upon finding her there as she figured, spoke up immediately. "Agnes, how many of our forces are here right now?"
"Your highness, thank the founder, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Agnes asked in reply.
"I am fine, but how much of our army is here in the Capitol right now?" Henrietta asked again.
Agnes looked at Henrietta in surprise and shock. "Please forgive me your highness, but I do not believe the war with Albion should be our primary concern right now."
"Of course not, the only concern right now is our people. We need the army to act and help evacuate people out of damaged buildings, to help save people and distribute food and blankets and keep the peace while we discover how much damage the city has taken. And as soon as the city is calmed down we need to send forces out to all of our towns and villages and do the same!"
Agnes smiled for half a second before he serious face emerged. "Understood, I'll gather all who I can find that can lead such operations, please wait here for a few minute till I return, as it would be best if you give the orders yourself."
"No, I'll come with you and give orders as we go, we have to act fast to save as many lives as we can, and sitting here will not help with that!"
"I understand, then this way please!"
"Of course, lead on," Henrietta said as she followed Agnes, but found herself looking toward the sea where Albion had fallen, and to where the new island was. "Don't worry Louise, I will bring you home and fix things soon enough. Just wait a bit longer!"
Kibble notes : So, I finally got it to this point, and it's been a while coming as I have been giving tiny foreshadowing to this, though it may have been too small so that's on me. But yes, I did not just move Louise/Uraninite back, I did not move Henrietta there, I moved the whole damn island with the school on it to Halkeginia!
Because that totally will not utterly shatter the political atmosphere in Halkeginia XD
Seriously though, I hope this isn't too jarring or sudden, both because I really like my future plans, but also because I hope you all like where this is going as well.
Uh, not much else to say with what I've done and what is coming up, so I hope everyone liked the chapter. Till the next one!