Izuku sat in the valley of his core, arms wrapped around his knees and his eyes focused on his Hollow. It shimmered softly, and he smiled slightly at the welcoming sensation of its magic running through him. These last few nights, he had spent his time connecting with the magic he unlocked, trying to better understand what he could already reach, knowing that those efforts would clear the path for the rest of the cores to connect with him.
A gentle stirring in the core told him his body was about to wake up, and that it must be morning. He pulled himself to his feet, taking a sweeping look around Requiem's landscape. …And did a double-take when he saw a flash of yellow.
Brows furrowing, Izuku stared at the handful of sparse sunflowers sticking up in a distant part of the lavender fields. A quick jog put him by the flowers, and he stopped as a sweet scent of rain and soil hit him, not unlike what existed in Ochako's dream. He looked around in confusion, before a gentle caress of wind hit him from above. He lifted his head, eyes wide at seeing an opening with a beautiful blue sky instead of the starry green night of his core.
Had he somehow done this? He always started his nights off in Ochako's dream, walking through the fields of sunflowers before he inevitably found his way to Requiem. He'd not had a nightmare since, but…
He chewed at his lip, uncertain of what this meant. A quick glance behind him indicated no other part of his core looked like this, and when he looked back, the portal between the two spaces had disappeared, leaving only a lingering trace of Ochako's magic and a few scattered petals in the wind.
Any further musings were rudely interrupted by a rough tongue dragging across his cheek.
XX
Ochako chuckled as she watched Izuku scrunch up his face and try to escape the cat bathing him. It was a moot effort, and after a moment, one eye opened to give Dragon a sleepy, disgruntled look.
He shouldn't have looked that adorable while being annoyed, and she jumped slightly when she realized she had overfilled the teapot with water, some of it spilling onto the table. Swiping at the spilled water with a towel, she set the kettle to boil while she finished preparing breakfast.
Not a minute later, Izuku was standing by the hearth, his hair and robe disheveled and a hand rubbing at his eye. "Want help?"
Ochako spared him a look, her lips quirking upward at his appearance, before she returned her attention to the food. "No, I'm good. The tea should be ready in a couple of minutes, and breakfast shortly after."
He nodded, then walked back to his corner, grabbing his clothes and disappearing onto the veranda to clean up and change.
She watched him go, and inevitably, her mind went back to yesterday morning. She hadn't planned to kiss his cheek. She hadn't even really thought about what she was doing until she saw the surprised look on his face as she pulled away. Part of her felt guilty for her impulsive actions. That hadn't been the right time or place for such an act, and it further instilled that worry that she was manipulating their situation for her own interests. The other part, equally as loud, and far more comforting, clinged to how he responded to her:
How he admitted he liked it. How he kissed her cheek in return. How, over time, he had evolved from flinching and shying from touch to being openly receptive of it, and almost, at points, actively seeking it.
She sighed almost longingly at those thoughts. Perhaps she was a little touch-starved, too. Too many years living alone in the woods, with her only regular connections being magical beings with their own social rules certainly played into why she loved the warm feeling of his hands in hers, and how comforting it was when he held her close. Just remembering how calming and enjoyable those moments were had her wanting nothing more than to walk up behind him and hug him. To press her head between his shoulder blades and simply exist with him in the moment.
How was it all spiraling so fast?
Shaking her head, she pressed her palms to her cheeks, trying to refocus. The food wouldn't finish preparing itself, and Izuku had another big day ahead of him. He would get to see his mother again, spend time with her, and start to catch up on so many years lost. But this would also be the first time he would be in the city like this, in the merchant's plaza and surrounded by people. It was likely to be stressful, and she would have to do her best to monitor the situation and ensure it didn't become overwhelming. Hopefully the excitement of being with his mother would trump the anxiety of being in this kind of environment.
Her musings were interrupted a moment later as Izuku reappeared, dressed, and his face damp from having washed it. Now looking far more awake, he crossed the small room and took down two clean cups with his magic to pour tea, the tendrils coiling around the room like wisps of smoke. He spoke as he worked, his voice soft, thoughtful.
"Ochako, I think… I might have messed up."
The statement was abrupt, and without context, Ochako found herself confused. Frowning, she placed two plates of food on the table. "What do you mean?"
Some tiny, nagging part of her screamed he wanted to take back what he said by the lake yesterday. She squashed it, knowing very well this was something different. Sure enough, he continued, his brows furrowed and face pensive. "Right before I woke up this morning… I saw something strange inside my core." He paused, taking his seat at the table and cradled his cup in his hands. "I saw sunflowers, and for a brief moment, I could see inside your dream from my core."
Ochako sucked in a soft breath, sitting across from him. "So you saw it, too?"
Izuku looked up at her, confused. "Too?"
She nodded, tapping a finger on the surface of the table. "I… a couple of nights ago, I went into my dream and was able to see the inside of Requiem from it. Like looking into a window. I could see you sitting by your cores, but you couldn't see or hear me. I kept meaning to tell you, but any time I thought about it, it wasn't the right moment."
She paused, before adding carefully, "Why do you think you messed up?"
He chewed on his lip, eyes falling to his cup. "I-I don't know. The only connection between your dream and my core is… me. But I–I don't know what I could have done to cause that. I… didn't get a chance to ask Requiem before I woke up, but I'm going to tonight. I'm just worried it's a bad thing."
Ochako huffed softly, reaching forward and holding out her hand on the table. Izuku's eyes fell to it before he reached out and placed his in hers, fingers curling around her palm. "I think… if it was something to worry about, Requiem would have already told you. Most likely, it's an effect of you moving between my dream and your core while you sleep. Try not to worry, okay? I know there's so much going on, and it's hard to keep calm with it all, but I don't think this is anything that needs to add to it."
She honestly had no idea if she was trying to convince him or herself with those words. She had been startled by it, too, but surely Requiem would say something if it was bad, right?
After a moment, his eyes flickered up to meet hers, and he offered her the tiniest of smiles. "Thank you, Ochako. For everything. I mean it."
She met his smile with one of her own, feeling warmth roll across her at the sincerity in his voice. "I stand by what I told your mother. You deserve good things."
His smile widened, and she was weak for it.
XX
The early morning light shone down on the damaged slate courtyard outside the Reliquary, highlighting the cracks and chips in the flagstone, and casting a pale glow on the damaged columns that decorated the entryway. Piles of burnt bodies were stacked across the stone floors with no respect for the lives they once held. The stench of charred flesh had not abated since the bodies appeared, and now it mingled with decay, forcing those nearby to cover their noses with cloth, lest they wretch.
Deep inside the Reliquary, past the arcade decorated with ripped tapestries and damaged paintings, beyond the great halls filled with ancient texts, and amongst the display cases that held old treasures, many of which were damaged, Tomura of the Fallen Kingdom stood, the golden glow of the Time Bubble encasing the cursed hourglass before him. A look of concentration was on his face, eyes glowing a deep, menacing red, and there was a tremor in his hands.
That tremor increased, moving up his arms, and with a frustrated snarl, he pulled his hands away as the bubble collapsed, and the hourglass returned to its normal speed. The holder of the Blackened Core glared down at his shaking hands, at the angry red fingertips and the blistering joints. He knew that time magic was the most difficult type of magic to control and manipulate, but now he had first-hand experience in understanding how true that was. Even with all the knowledge of the core within him, even with every ancient text in the Reliquary's expansive library, and even with so much practice in using every adjacent magic he had at his fingertips…
He was barely able to keep up the Time Bubble for more than a minute before he had to break and wait for the magic to stop burning his hands.
Pulling water out of the atmosphere, he condensed it and washed it over his hands, soothing the angry burns as he glared forlornly at the damage. He now realized he'd missed an opportunity to simply curse the Dragoirian mage with an obedience charm and have her keep the spell going for him. He grit his teeth, knowing there was no way he could fix it now. Even if he wanted to return the core to her, she was certainly dead by this point, nothing more than ashes scattered on the dead winds. So he would simply have to chip away at this damned curse and hope his control over the magic improved as he went along.
He was certain it would. He was chosen, after all. The holder of the most powerful magic in the entire world. The man who would recreate this plane of existence in his own image, to serve his own rules. The Blackened Core would see to that, and he would enjoy eternity as the highest power, above all others who might seek to tear him down.
Above those who trapped him here in the first place. They would see.
Footsteps interrupted his musings, and he turned his crimson gaze on the person approaching.
Touya inclined his head in greeting as he stepped into the vault, leaning against the ornate column and folding his arms across his chest. The light from the torches and chandeliers gave the illusion of color to his deathly pale skin and cast an orange hue over his snow white hair. Turquoise eyes fell on Tomura, briefly lingering on the hands that still trembled, regarding him with cool apathy. "Garaki's returned with the Hollow. They're out in the courtyard."
Tomura's expression twisted into something simultaneously delighted and cruel. "Good. He's right on time. Ensure the others are ready."
"Sure," Touya replied almost dismissively, watching him as he walked by before turning to follow him. "You might want to cover your nose. I've been told it stinks out there."
Tomura hummed, chapped lips pulling into a smile. "It'll be gone shortly. Then you can breathe a breath of… fresh air."
"I don't breathe, but whatever."
Tomura said nothing in response, a cold smile still on his face. His frustrations with the Time Bubble were gone, replaced now with an eagerness coupled with cruel delight.
The hourglass's curse could wait. They had an Echo to catch.
XX
Inko waved as Katsuki disappeared through the regal gates of Ultra, leaving her by the entrance. It was a fairly busy morning, with peddlers and caravans passing through, and she stood off to the side, keeping her eyes on everything except the people. It was the best way to keep her magic tamable, after all. Still, she periodically glanced up and around, hastily roving her eyes over those approaching, hoping to spot the person she wanted to see more than anything else in the world.
He was alive. Her baby, her little boy. He was alive.
It felt like a surreal dream, and yet, holding her son in her arms, feeling the soft curls between her fingers as she stroked his hair, hearing him sigh happily as he leaned on her, all of it was just… wonderful. For the first time in ten years, the world started to feel right again. Worth living again. Izuku came back into her life and brought with him so many things. Warmth. Color. Joy. She had forgotten how it felt to have more than just pain in her heart. With Izuku back, she could finally start healing.
She sighed happily, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of green. Her eyes lifted, and she smiled at seeing Izuku walking down the road, dressed in the rich green tunic from before and holding an empty basket in one hand. The young witch, Ochako, walked beside him, wrapped in a heavy red cloak that hid a lot of her features from view. An empty bag was over her shoulder.
With her eyes on them, their emotions came rolling through, and Inko sucked in a breath, her heart fluttering. Now, with the heavy feelings from yesterday no longer prevailing, she was able to see what was really going on in her son's heart. At the forefront was bubbling excitement and eagerness, and it was easy to decipher the source of those emotions was the knowledge he was getting to spend the day with her. That made her heart swell, and she fought back the tears that formed in response. Behind it, deep down, fear and anxiety still lingered, weaving around his heart in thick spirals. Something was going on that she was unaware of, something pressing enough that Izuku, Ochako, and Katsuki were all on edge about it.
Her brow furrowed, but before her own worries could escalate, Izuku turned his head to the woman walking beside him, and Inko pressed her fingers to her mouth in surprise. The emotion that surged up when his eyes landed on the witch was earnest and pure, uncolored by other feelings that often accompanied it. There was no bitterness or jealousy. No regret or guilt. It was young and innocent, growing without anything impeding it.
Her son had fallen in love.
And when her eyes moved back over to the witch who had captured her son's heart, she could feel a similar emotion budding inside of her. However, where Izuku's was unfiltered, hers was tempered. Woven through that affection were threads of guilt. Hiding in the love she felt for him was a fear, not of him, but for him. It seemed Ochako feared she might hurt Izuku with her feelings.
Any further observations on the feelings the two had for each other was put to a stop when Izuku lifted his head, did a sweeping gaze over the people in front of the gate, and locked eyes with her. Despite the distance, she could see the flash of teeth as he smiled widely, and she bit back a smile of her own as she watched him grab Ochako's hand and dash forward, closing the gap between them. "Mom!"
They came to a stop in front of her, and she grinned as Izuku proceeded to sweep her up into his arms and squeeze her close. Even if it made some of her old injuries ache, she embraced him back, chuckling happily. "Oh, how I've missed your hugs, even if you're no longer my little boy!"
She heard what she thought might have been a tiny giggle, and she clung to it like she clung to him, enjoying the moment. When they finally pulled away, he was smiling at her with childlike adoration. He then paused, looking around. "Where's Kacchan?"
Inko nodded towards the castle. "He couldn't stay. He said last night His Majesty told him he would need to be present at the castle today. So he escorted me here and then disappeared."
Ochako turned towards the castle, her cloak obscuring her face from view. Izuku looked over at her, tilting his head. "Is it a problem?"
The witch inhaled softly, before she shook her head under her cowl. "I don't know. It's probably nothing." Turning back towards them, she offered a smile under the hood of her cloak. "Shall we?"
As the three stepped past the gates into the city, they failed to notice how one guard's attention focused on them from atop the tower. Lowering the spyglass from his face, the guard grinned in cold satisfaction, pocketing away the device. It had taken forever for the Echo to finally show up in the city, but finally she had made an appearance. Unfortunately, Requiem's holder was with her as well.
That was fine.
If Himiko the Forsaken was anything, she was resourceful.
XX
Izuku's eyes were as wide as could be as he took in everything happening in the merchant's quarters of Ultra. The plaza had been repaired, with the statue of King Enji back to its former glory. All around, kiosks and stalls were full of foods and goods of various sorts, and people were haggling or bartering around every corner.
And it was crowded.
The moment he saw how many people were in the plaza, he found himself on edge, because there was so much energy everywhere. Even without looking at all the cores, he could feel the thrumming of magic within everyone congregating in a single place. It was… overwhelming, like a powerful scent or heavy pressure. To his surprise, Ochako seemed to be bothered by it, too. She grimaced under her cowl, and he leaned in, touching her shoulder. "Are you all right?"
The witch nodded, giving him a sidelong glance from under the fabric. "It's… much busier than I was expecting. I can't remember the last time I saw the markets this crowded. It's a lot of magical pressure. What about you? How are you faring against it?"
Izuku offered a weak smile. "I think it's the same for me. It's… hard. And everything is–is so much."
"So much?" Inko echoed, looking between the two. "What do you mean? Is it something about the people?"
Ochako shrugged a little. "The more powerful one's magic is, the more susceptible one is to sensing magical energy in the area, regardless of the source. So, your average person won't be bothered by a crowd like this, but in our case…" She hesitated, waving a hand towards the crowd. "It can be overwhelming."
"Not just that…" Izuku added, wincing as something nearby assaulted his ears. "I… one of my magics gives me heightened senses, and I've not mastered how to control it. So, um… every sound and every scent is very strong for me. It's– it's uncomfortable."
"Perhaps now's a good time to practice," Ochako offered softly, giving him a supportive smile. "We can also do our best to mitigate it. Stick to the quieter areas. Most of the vendors I need to visit are not in the main plaza, either."
Her eyes fell to the basket Izuku still held for her. She gestured towards it, and he passed it over to her. "Why don't we split up? I'll go quickly get what I need and you and Inko can find a quiet store to step into. You can keep an eye on my core the whole time, and I promise I'll hurry back as soon as I'm done. Then we can spend the rest of the day outside of the city."
Izuku frowned, looking between the two women. "Are you sure?"
"We're both already sweating from the atmosphere," Ochako replied with wry amusement. "Besides, if you go down this side street, there is an amazing pastry shop and I bet you've not had anything like that in a long time."
"Oh!" Inko said, her eyes bright. "Izuku, let's do that. I'd love to buy you some treats."
Izuku shifted, glancing at his mother, before looking back to Ochako. "Be safe?"
"I will," She replied warmly, reaching up and tapping his nose with her finger. "See you soon."
He blushed, watching her disappear down a side street before turning to look at his mother. She had a strange smile on her face that he didn't quite know what it meant. However, she said nothing, taking his arm and guiding him down the street towards the shop Ochako had mentioned. He walked with her, matching her slow pace. It was definitely less noisy with the buildings blocking some of the sound, and his eyes widened when he smelled the delicious scent of baked goods overwhelming everything else lingering in the air.
Before he could really lose himself in the delectable scents, his mother spoke. "Izuku… What is your relationship with Miss Ochako?"
Izuku blinked, looking down at his mother. "What do you mean?"
Inko smiled at him, patting his arm gently with her other hand and changed the wording of her question slightly. "Are you friends?"
His brows lifted, and he nodded eagerly. "Yes! She's my friend! And Tsuyu is my friend, too. And maybe Mina and Toru? Oh, wait, you've not met them. They are the sprites I mentioned yesterday–"
He stopped when he heard Inko laugh, and he tilted his head down at her curiously. She was smiling, not looking at him as they continued down the street. "Would you say your friendship with Ochako is different than with the spirits? Or with Katsuki?"
Izuku hummed, looking up towards the sky. "I–yes. I'm not sure how, but… it's definitely different. Probably because Ochako saved me and took care of me."
"Is that all?" And Izuku wasn't sure what to make of the tone in his mother's question. It was an emotion he couldn't place.
"Mmm, well…" He trailed off, scrunching his nose. "No, but I don't know how to describe it. When I look at her, I feel… very happy, but also intense. Sometimes it feels difficult to breathe, or my heart pounds. When she holds my hand, it– it feels comforting. When I wake up and she is the first thing I see, it makes me happy. I don't feel this way with anyone else."
He paused, looking back down at her. "Why? Did you see something when you looked at me?"
His mother stopped walking, and he stopped with her, realizing they were standing in front of the store Ochako had mentioned. The door was open, and the warm scent of fresh bread and caramelized sugar wafted through enticingly.
"I did," Inko said softly, turning to look up at him. She had a kind, patient smile on her face. Not quite the same look she gave him as a child, but still reminiscent of it. He tilted his head, unsure of what to make of it. Finally, she let go of his arm so that she could take his hands and hold them. With a deep breath, she continued, something warm in her voice. "My sweet Izuku, you're falling in love with Miss Ochako. When you look at her, that emotion shines like the sun on a clear day."
Whatever he thought his mother might say, that hadn't been it. He blinked rapidly, staring down at her. "I–I am?"
She nodded, her smile still on her face. "If I had to guess… when your heart pounds or your chest feels tight, is it after she says or does something you like?"
Izuku thought back to the kiss on his cheek, or when she gave him access to her dream to hide from his nightmares. He sucked in a soft breath, nodding.
"And when she holds your hand, why is it comforting?"
He hummed, thinking. Her hands were small, with slender fingers and calluses. But that wasn't why. It wasn't about how her hands felt in his. It was about how so many times she had sent magic through her fingertips to reassure him. It was about how she locked their fingers together to show him her support. To show him she cared. It was how a squeeze of her palm against his said "I'm here for you."
His brow furrowed as he tried to find a way to articulate his answer. "Because… when her hand is in mine, I feel safe, and–and I know she's safe. It's a reminder that she's there. I– … If I could hold her hand all the time, I think I would."
His mother smiled warmly at him, the crows feet at the corners of her eyes deepening with the action. "See? That's love."
Izuku nodded slowly, his fingers coming up to his chin as he thought. "I had… no idea."
"No… I imagine not," Inko agreed softly, and Izuku wasn't quite sure why she sounded so sad. After a moment, she added, "I can't imagine how lonely you were all those years."
"I'm not alone now," Izuku said thoughtfully, without hesitation. "I have friends and allies. I have you again, and I have Ochako. I am the opposite of being alone now."
She smiled, reaching up to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye. "Yes, you're right. Goodness, look at me getting all worked up." She paused, pressing a hand to her chest as she took in a steadying breath. "Okay. Pastries. We came here for pastries. Let's… let's do that."
Slightly flustered, Inko hurried into the shop. Izuku took a step forward, but paused, looking back out towards the other side of the plaza, in the direction Ochako had left for.
Love. He was… in love. Like how his father had loved his mother.
Like how Ochako had explained Kacchan felt for Prince Shouto.
This revelation didn't frighten him or bother him. In fact, it was comforting. He had a name now for this strange emotion he'd never felt before, and it was something relatable. In a way, he felt othered given he'd spent so much time living alone in the world. He knew he struggled with expressing himself, and he was so behind in social skills and knowledge in anything non-magical. But this? This was a normal, human thing, and knowing that he was experiencing something others felt, something even Kacchan felt, it was like removing an invisible barrier that was between him and the rest of humanity.
He felt a slight smile touch his lips, but it fell off when someone suddenly collided into him. He took a staggering step to catch himself and turned, blinking in confusion. The other person stepped back as well, golden eyes looking up at him under a canopy of blonde bangs. "Oh! My apologies. I was very, very distracted."
The woman offered him a vulpine smile, painted lips stretching to show off sharp teeth, an action which contradicted her body language as she clutched her hands to her chest. Izuku took a step back, brow furrowing. "Um, it's–it's okay."
"Is it, though? What if it isn't okay? What if it's more than okay?" She pressed, taking a step forward to eliminate the distance he'd put between them. Izuku frowned, feeling uncomfortable with her close proximity. Not just because he didn't know who this person was, but something felt… strange. The air around her seemed wrong. He swallowed, and he could taste something astringent on his tongue, and he was certain it wasn't a good thing.
"Miss… are you okay?" He found himself asking, and his eyes were drawn to a subtle movement of her hands. It was then he realized she wasn't just clutching her fingers to her chest so much as she was caressing something underneath her shawl. Something he couldn't see. But when his eyes fell there, he felt a brush of dark energy, and she jerked back, hissing.
"Don't you dare! It is mine to have, not yours!"
"I– I–what?"
His eyes moved back up to hers, and he found her staring at him with teary eyes that seemed both angry and scared. "Don't."
And before he could even question what she meant, she turned around and ran off into the crowd.
"Izuku?"
He turned at the sound of his mother's voice, finding her standing in the threshold of the shop, a small bag in hands. "Who… was that?"
Izuku shook his head, glancing back in the direction the woman had disappeared to. "I… I don't know. Something was wrong though. The magic around her seemed… twisted to me. I only caught it for a moment, but…"
He trailed off, blinking and looking around. None of the cores stood out as unusual, and he had been so confused he didn't think to look at her core before she was out of view.
"Do you want to follow her?"
Izuku looked over at his mother and shook his head. "I didn't see what her core looked like, so I can't track her. I–I think she's gone. But I hope she's okay. She seemed upset."
His mother hummed, frowning. "Well, I hope so, too." She sighed, then put a smile back on her face as she changed topics, holding up the bag. "Should we find a place to sit and eat these? I have a custard filled one and a blackberry filled one. We can split both?"
"I'd like that," Izuku replied earnestly, taking one last look around them before falling into step with her to walk towards the plaza. Just like before, he slowed his pace, matching her as she limped along.
As they approached the market stalls, Inko finally asked, "Now that you know what it is you feel for Miss Ochako, what will you do about it?"
Izuku blinked, looking over at her. "Do I need to do something about it?"
His mother looked taken aback. "I, well, I mean. Don't you want to?"
He tilted his head, confused. "I don't understand–" He stopped short as a sudden, powerful pressure blew through the city gates like a cold wind, rolling over the plaza. It dragged across his senses almost abrasively, and he recoiled slightly at the sensation. As the ancient magic spread throughout the plaza, people began to move aside, the magic urging them to clear a path and let its holder pass.
"Don't step closer," Izuku warned, placing a hand on his mother's arm.
"I… I don't think I can," Inko replied uneasily. "Every part of my body insists I should step back, instead. I don't–"
Izuku didn't wait for her to finish, pulling her close and floating them both into the air with telekinesis, just enough to see past the stalls and the clusters of people moving out of the way. His mother clung to him, alarmed to suddenly find her feet no longer on the ground.
Glowing green eyes swept towards the city gates, and he stared at the small group of people walking past it.
At the front was a tall woman in red, white and gold robes, an ornate staff in her hands. Jewel-encrusted sticks pinned her black hair atop her head, and she walked with her shoulders back and her head held high, confidence oozing from her form. The Creator core in her shimmered brightly, rivaling that of the one that lived inside of Tenya.
Behind her was the woman he had seen at the port, Kyouka, wearing an open cloak of the same colors over her normal clothes. Her core rippled inside of her, its surface like a wobbly mirror.
It was as his eyes fell to the last two members of the travel party that he found the hairs rising on the back of his neck. The one responsible for the magical pressure taking up space in the plaza was at the back, draped in a white robe that dusted the ground as she walked. Her mere presence cast shadows in all directions despite generating no light, and made people scurry away or cover their eyes. In the few seconds it took Izuku to read the core, he understood why.
The spirit was ancient, a power that had accumulated over possibly centuries. She was the embodiment of the wilds, of everything that made up the volatility of nature. The unforgiving elements, and the harshness of the world they lived in. She was frightening, and he suspected only those with a magic equally old or equally powerful could actually bear to gaze upon her. Sure enough, his mother had buried her face in his chest, not willing to try to look at the cloaked spirit as she walked by.
However, equally startling was the woman she flanked. This woman was clearly royalty, judging by her adornments, and each step she took echoed in the plaza, despite its lack of silence. The clicks of her heels sounded over the whispers and murmurs of the crowd. Over the hustle and bustle of those not close enough to be affected. Over the crackling of fires and the sounds of life in the city. Each step announced her presence to the world, but only Izuku understood what it meant.
She was not human, but calling her a spirit was a gross understatement.
He watched as they moved through the plaza, and as the magical pressure began to fade in their wake, he exhaled and lowered himself and his mother back to the ground. However, as he dropped his gaze to their feet, something else caught his eye, and he froze.
Beside him, Inko shuddered, rubbing her hands on her arms. "Oh, my… I always heard the Queen of Dragoir had a spirit as a bodyguard, but I wonder why a spirit would serve a human? Especially one that strong."
Izuku half paid attention to his mother, fingers reaching to hold something invisible in front of his chest, his brow furrowed.
"Izuku?"
He blinked rapidly, looking over at her. After a moment, his brain caught up with what she said, and he shook his head. "Because the Queen's not human. She's a dragon."
Inko pressed a hand to her mouth, staring at her son in shock. "I– Are you sure? They're supposed to be extinct!"
Izuku didn't reply, his attention once again focused on what was in front of him. His eyes glittered softly as he viewed the world around him through the gaze of his Hollow magic…
… And specifically at the golden thread attached to him, trailing off in the direction of the Echo core shining brightly across the city.
XX
Ochako frowned, pocketing her purchase and moving away from the kiosk. Not only was the concentration of magical cores giving her a slight headache, it was affecting her ability to hear the ecosystem. Shortly after she left Izuku and Inko, it began calling to her, trying to communicate with her. When she finally managed to understand its message, a cold shiver ran through her.
Danger.
The warning, fuzzy and unclear, kept her on edge as she moved through the crowds, eyes lingering on anyone who passed by her. No one stood out, and nothing nearby seemed alarming. Still, the soft warnings continued, like a gentle pulse, reminding her every few seconds that something bad was nearby.
It was only when she saw the Queen of Dragoir walk down the main road towards the castle did she realize what was the cause of the recurring message. The spirit that shadowed the queen was old and powerful, and as Ochako looked at her, she found herself having to resist the urge to turn away. That kind of magic was frightening, and so it was understandable that the ecosystem would want her to be aware of it.
However, even as the entourage moved on, the message continued, ringing against the back of her consciousness.
Danger.
Ochako pursed her lips, unsure of what the magic was trying to warn her of at this point, but its insistence was alarming. Tightening her grip on her basket and bags, she decided to double back and find Izuku and Inko. If there really was a threat nearby, then she needed to not be alone.
Turning, she began to walk back the way she came, only to see Izuku walking down the street towards her, smiling brightly as he saw her.
She smiled back, only to have cold wash over her as the ecosystem warned once again.
Danger.
