Chapter Restructured & Expanded: 04-03-23.

CHAPTER VII
Cargēst (Spirit)

VII • CM Monandæg of Sawanmōnaþ
(The 6th Night of Sowing Month, Moon's Day, 900)

Transfixed upon the massive statue looming above her, Natsuki couldn't believe what she's witnessing. This woman—no, statue—is speaking to her, but how? Under its frightful stare, Natsuki warily absorbs her surroundings. There is no entrance within this vertical funnel. Perhaps this is all but a dream? A nightmare.

"Kruger?" She eyed the decaying statue carefully. It had the appearance of a maid and is heavily damaged. Rust scattered the entirety of its body, whilst vines coated its dull, eroded body. 'What is this place?' She couldn't fathom this, and it scares her.

"T-T-T-T-T-THHAAAt's yo-ur name, C-C-C-COOORRect? Establishing d-d-d-DDAAAAta. Ple-e-e-e-e-eeeease wait." The statue's torso limped forward, its arms following suit by its sides.

W-what the...?! Natsuki's heart persisted to hammer inside her chest as she jumped back. Disbelief stormed her mind as she stared at the thing. Paranoia is gargantuan as she glanced over her shoulder every few seconds. Is she more terrified of the horse—whatever it is—would return or this statue? None of this makes sense!

The statue suddenly bursts back into life, startling Natsuki who jumped in shock. The feminine—thing—though attached to its altar still, threw itself forward. She towered over the Ánhere, an eyelid twitching to and fro. "Planet Earl has sust-t-t-t-TAINED an unprecedented loss of kno-W-W-W-W-LEEEEEEDGE to the ages. Immediate action is recommended for M-M-M-M-MEEEEEIIIIster."

Unable to pull her gaze from the monstrous face, Natsuki is hardly able to follow the statue's statements. Knowledge lost to the ages? ...Meister? What is a 'Meister'? Stepping back to regain her comfort zone, Natsuki swallowed tightly. "Mei...ster?"

"MEE-I-I-I-I-Ister are graduated Otome who have successfully undergone Ga-a-a-a-AAAAAAAAAARRRRRR-derobe's training. Natsuki Kruger, I advise that y-y-y-you visit the infirmary. I detect symptoms suggesting amnesia."

...An Otome is? Garderobe training? Amnesia? Natsuki's mind spun as she in vain attempted to piece together the statue's riddles. "Who… Whois Natsuki Kruger?"

"Natsuki Kruger graduated 323 years ag-g-g-g-g-g-gggggo with honours. Appointed Headmistress by the F-F-F-F-F-FFFFOOOOunder, she is responsible for the administration of Meister, st-t-t-t-t-tudents and the safety of the public body."

Who in the hell did this statue think she is?! This couldn't be real! This whole palaver makes no sense at all! Edging further backwards, she is stopped in her tracks as the statue accelerates closer.

"R-R-R-R-e-establ-SH-SH-SH-SH-SHing the O-O-O-O-O-O-Otom-m-m-me Programme is vital. Natsuki K-K-R-Kru-ru-G-GA, Earl is in grave danger. Its structure no l-onger exists. The Ha-rmonium must be dealt with. The tears in reality have decomposed the c-ca-capitals."

If it made any sense before, it certainly doesn't now. Forcing herself to twist around, she is mid-step through the dim light when the statue continues. Its statement sent a chill down Natsuki's spine.

"Warning—entity detected. U-u-u-nn-unable -t-t-o conf-irm ne-arest GE-M c-c-oord T.M. Fire St—"

The lights flicker erratically until the power shuts off. The Ánhere is left in nothing but total darkness. Just as Natsuki starts panicking again, the hum of power grinded back into life and the lights reengage. Whirling around, she stares at the now motionless statue; its body now solidified in place.

Why… Why did this statue's final words terrify her so much? What is the 'T.M. Fire St'?

The grinding of metal makes Natsuki's ears twitch. Casting her attention behind herself, she sees a door rolling upwards. Bolting for this chamber's exit, her flight or fight instincts have kicked in.

What she next finds is an oddly familiar expanse. Wait… this looks almost identical to the laboratory in Guadeloupe Palace? Coming to a sharp halt within the cylindrical dome's centre, Natsuki tried finding an exit. Gods', her heart just doesn't want to settle.

She still can't comprehend what had just happened. Is this still the Garderobe Ruins? Had that horse teleported her underground?

Catching sight of metallic stairs, she threw herself towards them. Now is not the time to be thinking about this!

Heaving up the steps, Natsuki soon burst through into a long corridor. But… she froze, for outside the nearest window, she saw something impossible. A single crimson star loomed beside the glowing Moon. It was not azure.

The following few seconds were completely unanticipated as Natsuki's thrown onto her back with great force. Sent colliding into the chipped marble, the wind is knocked from her lungs harshly. She might've reacted, but her shock is disproportionate as the white wolf from before towered over her. Stunned, she immediately snatches for the canine's snout in an attempt to disarm its deadly teeth.

'I'm going to die out here.'


VII • CM Wigesdæg of Sawanmōnaþ
(The 7th Day of Sowing Month, Warrior's Day, 900)

The sound of gentle birdsong is what awakens Natsuki.

Woozy and confused, she remained still as she stared up at the rotting ceiling skywards What had… Happened? Launching herself up swiftly, her heart hammered inside of her ribcage and sent surging nausea inside her gut. Cupping her head, she groans as she hesitantly laid back down against the freezing marble.

'Relax. Think about what's happened first.' Now. What had she experienced and had any of that been real?

Cursing as her overstimulated brain refused to behave, the Ánhere covered her eyes. She had seen things last night that shouldn't exist, this much is obvious. However, could she currently distinguish between what is reality and hallucination? Multiple times there had been a large wolf seemingly guiding her to this derelict hellhole. Why? Is she delirious? Had that inventor drugged her when she hadn't been paying attention? Far too many scenarios spiralled out of control inside of her head as Natsuki prised herself into a sitting position.

Staring down the ruined corridor, there is an amass of vines and plant life growing through. The windows had long ago been smashed, and many were left wide open. They were uselessly carried by the wind, occasionally clanging against their rusted latches.

It next becomes evident over just how stupid the Ánhere had been last night. Her attention moved to the gigantic hole in the floor not ten feet away from her. If it hadn't been for that wolf, she would ha—

—the wolves!

This time the Ánhere did vault up onto her feet. Her head swam sickly upon the notion, materialising stars within her eyes. Staggering to the nearby window, she leaned her body against the wall in recovery.

She needed to find the others before the wolves returned.

Once her malady had dissipated, Natsuki cautiously edged towards the collapsed floor. Leaning over, she caught sight of old pipes and wires sprawled to and fro. Many were completely torn apart—well, that explained the lack of power. Though the fact that the laboratory still held onto its fuel source baffled the technophobe.

Not wanting her fragile mind to advance into a migraine, she pushed past the impaired floor.

Once reaching the door, Natsuki worriedly glanced behind her. The terrifying hallucination—or is it?—from the previous night haunted her. The paranoia is swiftly taking residence as she hesitantly nudged a mouldy door open. The wood creaked awfully, spiking into Natsuki's mental health like that of a waggon-wreck.

Instead of a monster greeting her on the opposite side, sunbathed foliage took its place.

The incredibly green overgrowth clogged the doorway; soon, upon squeezing through, she realises something. These plants had been pushed back by something—an animal? It did nothing to settle her frayed nerves as she crept through the brambles, wondering whether she is sane still. There is no dismissing it; animals definitely took this route. It made her wonder if she had shared the night with something as dangerous as a bear. Whatever these animals were, she hoped she wouldn't cross their path.

...As she takes such a trail.

She is going to get herself killed at this rate.

Easing out from the bushes, Natsuki entered a clearing by the building's side. Looking around, she realised that the night hadn't helped her navigation in the slightest. Great, she has absolutely no idea where she is whatsoever.

Linking her fingers together, she hooked her palms behind her skull and sighed in defeat. It isn't like she could stay here. But she at least knew which general direction she had arrived from.

Some minutes into her journey, Natsuki's anxiety started to bottle up. No matter how much she persuaded herself, it remained. Is she going to find her way back to the Palace? Would she endure an eternity inside this forest? Perhaps an animal would leap out at her and maul her to death? Why had the wolf not done so before? Is it just a figment of her imagination? Gods' only knew as Natsuki aimlessly trekked through the forest, attempting to ignore the birdsong encircling her.

Maybe an hour into the hike, Natsuki stopped in her tracks.

There's a cliff which she is sure she recognised from last night! Kicking her limbs back into action, the Ánhere hurried towards it. Here there is no sign of the wolves, and she realised this is definitely the place. The only difference is that she is atop the cliff this time.

Surveying the environment, she managed to spot the derelict site in the distance. It is faded thanks to the horizon, surprising her. Has she truly walked this far already? As the sun bore down on her, she winced. Shielding her eyes with a hand, this time she searched for her destination.

She couldn't see it.

Sitting herself down onto the cliffedge, she leaned her elbows into her thighs. She is utterly lost, isn't she? Sliding her hands against her face, she incoherently mumbled into the pale skin. What is she going to do? There is literally no civilization for miles! What is she supposed to do, become a crazed hermit?

Time passed and if it couldn't have gotten worse, miserable grey clouds loomed in the area. They would add rain to the already chilled air and having not seen a soul, Natsuki supposed she had no choice. She is going to have to either stay another night at the derelict site, continue her haphazard journey, or shelter inside the forest. None of those options sounded desirable, but it isn't like she had another choice in the matter.

Maybe she could make a fire? It would keep her warm and would fetch attention. Or maybe—a drawn out sigh escaped from the Ánhere's lips. "What am I supposed to do?!" Loosely crossing her forearm atop the other, her elbows angled against her knees. Lulling her head downwards, she stared into her lap. At least with Viola she felt relatively safe. What had even happened to the group during the chaos? One minute they were searching for the wolves, the next she is separated and running for her life.

As rain spat against her shoulders and head, the Ánhere peered up into the dull sky. Maybe she had been an inconsiderate fool? She had behaved so arrogantly, and for what reason precisely? Viola had saved her! The Wælcyrge isn't going to slice open her gut. Natsuki wondered if she is worried.

Then, as the rain began to crash down against her, she saw it again. The great white wolf is directly below her, staring up. Hurling herself back onto her feet, Natsuki panicked as the wolf turned around. She couldn't believe she is doing this, but she clambered down the safest route and chased after the animal.

Much alike to the previous night, Natsuki desperately searched for the beast as it continually disappeared between the treeline. Freezing, soaked and fatigued, the wolf offered no respite. It is either successfully tail the wolf or potentially remain lost forever.

Isn't it just typical though? She wished that she had learned tracking instead of technology. Elect-something or other. At least that would be practical. But the Ánhere is getting ahead of herself.

'I say, willingly chasing a wolf that took me to some random ruins.'

She's way over her head this ti— '—Oh, for—' "—where did you go now?!" Slipping and sliding in the mud, Natsuki stumbled forward. Hands oozing into sludge, she is about to give up when a stick snapped behind her. Twisting around, much to her disbelief, she stared as Viola pushed through brambles. The woman hadn't noticed her, too busy concentrating on not collapsing in the mud. 'Viola?!' Since when?!

It is at this point that the drenched Arcewælcyrge glanced up. Their eyes interlocked for a long moment within the rain.

"Natsuki..." Shizuru murmured quietly, unsure whether the Ánhere would even hear her. Dragging herself through the mud, she grasped the woman's shoulders. "You are alive."

"O-of course I am!" Forgetting completely about the wolf from before, Natsuki pulled away from the elder woman. "Where is everyone?"

"Half of us retreated back to the Palace. I split up from the rest in search of you."

Mudded up to the eyeballs, soaked and exhausted, Natsuki stared up at the woman. A flood of surprising relief hit her like a brick wall. "Thanks, I…" Closing her mouth, Natsuki stopped before she let slip of any information. She didn't want to look insane in front of Viola. "I hope you know the way back. I'm freezing." Wrapping her arms around herself, Natsuki couldn't wait to get back. She ached all over and desperately yearned to sleep her anxiety away.

"I do." Reaching a hand for the Ánhere, Shizuru paused at the last moment. Lowering her palm, Shizuru mused whether she'd ever be able to touch her Ánhere. Well, nevermind. "Come, the others are not too far."

Wandering closely behind the Wælcyrge, Natsuki's speculation increased as the minutes passed them by. How had Viola conveniently found her? Brushing through the shrubs after her, Natsuki froze as the group appeared inside the clearing. They had been waiting?


"I don't get it, the wolves never even attacked us, they just went after you!" Midori remarked to Natsuki as she handed over her own cloak. "No idea where your cloak went though—nevermind, I guess." The fiery-redhead inspected her attentively before walking to the head of the group. "We'll be back in about thirty minutes! Keep an eye out for any more wolves, we still don't know their numbers."

"How are you feeling?" Viola quizzed, lowering her torch downwards to illuminate their path. Deja vu suddenly greeted her as this action unfolded. Viola couldn't help but feel a little wary that the previous night might repeat itself. No, wolves weren't stupid and usually only attacked when desperate or provoked… Unless something spurred them on to behave like this? Musing, she checked Natsuki who clutched the Huntmaster's cloak around herself. She is soaked to the bone; it amazes Shizuru that her Ánhere isn't sick—yet.

"Cold, wet… I—sorry." Natsuki mumbled, keeping her eyes pasted to the muddy floor. "I've been an asshole lately." Nor is she exactly sure why. Had something happened in her previous life? Nothing came to mind; only emptiness, and a… vague depression? Natsuki isn't sure why that is. Perhaps she should just bite the bullet and ask Viola about it later.

"I do not blame you. It is no easy task." She had personally gone through the same predicament, after all. It is no wonder that Natsuki is having difficulties, but what could she do to help? Viola is unsure, even when she herself had experienced the same.

The Ánhere said nothing. What else could she say? It didn't quite feel right to ask Viola about herself. At least not yet. The group is still too large to share anything personal, even if it is just a few randoms, the Huntmaster, herself and Viola.

At long last Natsuki is back in the Wælcyrge's quarters. Sat at the table, she is wrapped in an old towel. Having bathed, her hair remained damp. It is both a blessing and a curse, for the water had revitalised her.

Peering into the flame of the oil lamp set before her, Natsuki wondered what her next decision should be.

She felt wary revealing that she had been to the Garderobe Ruins. Had she been previously warned they were off limits? She could not remember, for she had received conflicting information from several sources. On one hand that redhead—Nao, she thinks?—mentioned them in passing. Helene meanwhile? What had she said…

Well… Natsuki frowned, humming silently. It isn't something to worry about for now. She is back and that's all that is important.

On the opposite side of the table sat Viola herself. She is purely focused on rolls of parchment scattering her end of the table. Quill in hand, she stared at the sentence she had written only a moment prior. It's not conceivable to write her report when the information is so limited in the first place.

"...You said that when the wolves stopped chasing, you were lost. Is there anything else that happened?" Lifting her gaze, she watched her Ánhere carefully who hugged herself. "The wolves simply vanished when you disappeared." Surely they were missing something here?

"...No. Nothing at all." Natsuki lied through her teeth. Continuing to stare into the flame, she wondered whether she should make something up. If she hadn't already bathed, she could've avoided this question entirely, but alas, here she is. "Before you found me, I had been waiting at a cliff. I couldn't see the Palace from up there."

It is strange that the cliffs had been seemingly far away, yet they hadn't travelled all that far. Say, an hour? Nevertheless, it is done now, there is no use worrying about it. "There were no wolves, just me being lost, I guess."

"You guess?" Viola's eyebrows lifted slightly. Eyeing the Ánhere, she brushed her quill's feather along her lips in ponderment. Is she lying? Straightening her back against her chair's wooden frame, the Arcewælcyrge placed her quill in its inkwell by her side.

"Natsuki." Brushing the parchment aside, she laced her fingers together. "Is there anything else?" Resting her forearms against the table, she continued; "The Sprites' Forest is not an area to be underestimated. There are lost souls who wander aimlessly there for centuries at a time and marvels we could never understand. Now, did you see anything?"

"..." Natsuki warily watched the woman's hands unlock and slide across the table. Frozen, her mind fogged over as the Arcewælcyrge captured her hands between hers. "N-no—"

"You are lying."

Natsuki's heart leapt. The woman stared into her soul like that hallucination. She had the urge to tighten her hands into fists under the elder's. Clenching her teeth against her inner cheek, she frowned. "...Fine." Averting her eyes, she stared back into the orange flame separating them. The intensity of Viola's scarlet gaze did not relent: No matter how hard she tried, it broke her. "Fine. I saw a great wolf—silver. It is probably a ghost, I don't know."

'A great silver wolf?' Shizuru's mind echoed. That isn't—

The door swung open, interrupting the pair's internal warfare. Standing inside of the doorway, Tomoe eyed them levelly. Without a word spoken, she closed the door and bypassed them. The chilled air from the corridor flickered the gas lamp's flame. Until they were alone once more, Viola released her grip from Natsuki.

Drawing away, the Arcewælcyrge stood from her chair. "Blow out the light when you decide to sleep." Speaking curtly, she pushed the chair underneath the table and gathered the parchments together. "Do not think that I have forgotten about this."

A chill ran along Natsuki's spine as the woman stared at her coldly.

It is only until Viola left for the room that Tomoe had vacated into, that Natsuki's heart started relaxing. Gods' only knew what that was about. Releasing an anxious breath, she realised that she had miscalculated the Wælcyrge.

For some reason, the woman petrified her.