"I'm Kyoko Sakura," Kyoko replied to the girl as she tried to take in everything that she had just seen. A girl around the same age that she was had just killed a dangerous monster with apparent ease. All in a frilly yellow and white outfit while using some sort of Magic that was unlike Magecraft. The closest comparison to her guns was Archer's abilities to create blade, but even that wasn't very similar
"You're a magical girl?" Kyoko asked.
"Yes I-" Mami suddenly jumped back and transformed as a figure in red and black fell in front of her.
Archer immediately positioned himself in front of Kyoko while Mami immediately conjured a gun to point at him. If he was surprised by her transformation and magic, then he didn't show it.
"Who are you?" the magical girl asked with an uncertain edge in her voice.
A twin pair of blades, one black and one white, suddenly appeared in the hands of Kyoko's servant much to Mami's shock.
"Master, what is your command?" Archer ignored the girl.
Kyoko grabbed her Servant's arm. "She's not going to hurt me. She saved me from those weird dog monsters."
"Dog monsters?" Archer immediately scanned the area. There's nothing here are you sure it wasn't an illusion she created?
The dents on the pipe I had to use as a weapon says otherwise, Kyoko informed him.
"They were familiars," Mami replied as she stared at Archer warily though she at least lowered her gun. "Creatures created by a witch to feast on people."
"What are witches?" Kyoko asked.
"They are creatures born of darkness that cause death and destruction wherever they go. It is the duty of magical girls to fight them," Mami explained.
Tch… It's always something. Archer muttered in her head.
Archer?
There is clearly much we don't know about this world.
"How did one end up here?" Kyoko asked. "How many are there?"
"They appear in places wherever people gather. Large cities will often teem with them."
"If these creatures do exist then why haven't we noticed them?" Archer asked.
"Witches and familiars hide themselves within labyrinths, where they are nearly impossible to detect by conventional means. Any people they kill will disappear leaving no traces. Only magical girls are able to track down and find these labyrinths in order to hunt them down."
"Fighting a monster on their own territory," Archer said. Kyoko when you entered that labyrinth did it feel like that Bounded Field I showed you?
Kyoko resisted the urge to shake her head. No something else, it was like the world had cracked and I had stepped into another dimension altogether.
A Reality Marble?
What's that?
If that is the case, Archer seemed to be ignoring her, and all of these creatures have access to one then it would make sense why I wouldn't have been aware of their existence if I wasn't looking for them.
"Who are you two by the way?" Mami asked cautiously. "You're certainly not Magical Girls, but you're still capable of magic."
Tell her we're both Mages and keep your glove on at all times. Archer commanded. Don't reveal that we are Master and Servant.
Kyoko gripped the back of her hand and rubbed the black leather gloves that she wore. Understood.
"We're Magi," Kyoko told the magical girl.
"Magi?" Mami asked.
"Those who practice Magecraft."
"Magecraft?"
The artificial reenactment of Mystery, a cutesy voice suddenly invaded Kyoko's mind.
Archer flinched as a figure suddenly jumped from a nearby building and down into the nearby alleyway. It was some strange white cat, if cats had large bunny ears with piercings and a red circle on their back. It was actually really cute all things considered, especially with that voice of its, and Kyoko might've squealed at the sight if the situation wasn't so tense.
It was an art that was supposed to have died out in this world, the creature continued. My name is Kyubey.
Be careful. Archer warned. I can't sense a single thing from this creature. It could've been watching us all this time.
"Died out?" Mami asked the creature. She seemed rather comforted by its presence and had calmed down considerably.
Yes. Kyubey replied. During the Age of Gods Magecraft was ever-present and powerful. However, with the Age of Man it had declined up to the point where it had become extinct. Or so I thought, it seems that a few practitioners still exist.
"We have kept to yourselves," Archer replied. "And avoided trouble."
Are there others?
"Not that we are aware of."
A shame. Magical Girls with the ability to use Magecraft were always very powerful in the distant past, though I will have to be satisfied with the one in front of me.
Kyoko pointed to herself. "Are you talking about me?"
Yes. You have the potential. Make a contract with me and become a Magical Girl!
Did we suddenly end in some sort of anime? Kyoko asked her servant. There's even a cute mascot.
Honestly? I wouldn't be surprised at this point. Archer replied. And you consider that thing cute?
"So, you want me to be a Magical Girl, frilly costume and transformation and all that?" Kyoko asked.
Yes. Kyubey replied.
"Even though I already know Magecraft?"
By becoming a magical girl, you would be given a new power and type of magic in addition to the one you already have. By mixing the two together you would be quite powerful.
Careful, Archer warned.
I'm not agreeing to anything just yet, Kyoko replied. Just asking a few questions.
"And how would I become a Magical Girl?"
By forming a contract with me, Kyubey replied. In exchange for fighting witches you will be given power and have a wish granted to you.
Kyoko's eyes went wide. "A wish?"
Master. This has gone beyond suspicious at this point.
Just shut it Archer! Let me talk to it.
Her servant stayed silent, but she could practically feel the disapproval emanating from his body.
"Any wish I want?" Kyoko asked.
Any wish you want, Kyubey confirmed.
"And no twists. This isn't like a monkey's paw or a demon tempting me into sin with desire, right?"
Yes
"Quote a bible verse. Any verse."
Not by works, so that no one can boast
"I don't remember that one," Kyoko admitted.
Ephesians 2:9. I can assure that I was not sent by the devil to tempt a sinner.
The devil can still quote the bible to deceive people. Archer commented.
Shut it!
"Well I don't remember talking plushies being mentioned anywhere in the Bible," Kyoko said. "Or the history books for that matter."
We have taken great effort to hide ourselves from most people and Magi. Only magical girls and those with potential should know though, Kyubey glanced up at Archer, we've made an exception for him.
Archer would've definitely made some sort of sarcastic retort if Kyoko hadn't forced him to remain silent.
"Perhaps we should take this conversation elsewhere," Mami suggested as she gestured toward the woman on the ground who was beginning to stir. "I'd like to invite you two to my home… after we've taken this woman to the nearest hospital."
Between Mami's magical girl powers and Archer carrying Kyoko it only took less than an hour to drop off the woman at the hospital and arrive at Mami's apartment even though it was in another city altogether.
Unfortunately for Kyoko, Archer spent all that time complaining.
This is a bad idea.
I'm well aware how you feel about this. Kyoko replied.
We are entering the enemy's home with no knowledge or preparation for what they might have for us there.
Kyubey's weird, but Mami's not an enemy. She saved me!
And she could have done that for any number of reasons.
Look neither Mami or… Kyubey has shown any intention of attacking… Kyoko grinned. At least when you're not flashing them with your tiny swords.
Hmph.
Anyway, we should give them the benefit of the doubt. Besides, you're more than strong enough to take them out if they cause any trouble.
Negligence is the enemy. A single mistake is all it takes; it doesn't matter how strong you are.
And you don't make mistakes.
If only that was true.
All four of them landed on the balcony, where Mami would slide the window open and gesture them inside. After taking off her shoes and placing them on a shoe rack next to the window, apparently Mami used the balcony as an entrance and exit more often than the front door, Kyoko looked around Mami's home.
It was huge.
There was a large living room with a glass table in the center, all sorts of fancy furniture and knick knacks scattered around, stairs that led to her open bedroom above, and a kitchen that even Archer seemed impressed with. Clearly a rich girl who kept everything neat… yet there was only one bed and only one pair of slippers at the front door.
"Do you live alone?" Kyoko asked as she sat cross legged at the table. Archer didn't join her and instead leaned against a nearby wall.
"… Yes," Mami replied hesitantly as she worked in the kitchen. "Do you like cheesecake? I would've made some more cakes for you to choose from, but I wasn't expecting guests."
"Cheesecake is good," Kyoko replied.
Mami came out of the kitchen with three thick slices of cake and three cups balanced in her arms. With grace she carefully placed the plates onto the table and began filling the cups with tea from a kettle.
For a person who said they weren't expecting guests, she was certainly prepared to host them.
Mami took a seat at the table and Kyubey quickly laid itself on her lap. "Would you like to take a seat Mr… Archer? It must not be comfortable standing there like that," she ventured to the Servant.
Archer glanced at Mami and then at Kyoko who was very annoyed. Kyoko began pointing to the back of her hand. He ultimately decided to sit down at the table with them.
Satisfied with this Kyoko immediately took a bit and nearly shivered as the sweet and creamy flavor of the cake flooded her mouth.
"Wow!" Kyoko exclaimed. "Mami might be a better cook than you Archer!"
Mami looked pleased by that comparison. Archer on the other hand looked outright offended for some reason.
"That's… high praise," Archer replied as he carefully picked out a piece with his fork. "Especially when I've never baked you a cake before."
"Can't imagine you beating this though," Kyoko replied.
"You cook?" Mami asked.
"Yes," Archer replied before taking a bite. A thoughtful expression appeared on his face. "Not bad. I can see why my Master would praise it though there's room for improvement."
Mami's eyes squinted. "And what would you do differently then?" she said in a clearly challenging tone. Apparently, she didn't take insults to her cooking lightly.
"Add a bit of sea salt for some contrast with the sweetness and the cream. You know how to follow a recipe, but you also need to leave some room to experiment and build on what's already there," Archer replied in a thoughtful and almost condescending tone.
"Then perhaps you should bake sometime, and we can compare." There was a smile on the magical girl's face though it wasn't entirely pleasant. Kyoko could practically see the sparks being thrown between the two. "I'd like to see how someone who claims to be my better in cooking actually fares."
"I am not just a Baker," Archer replied. "Though the difference in our skill isn't your fault. It is the result of my rather substantial experience compared to a youth."
Mami tilted her head. "Are you calling me a child?"
"Hey! I didn't know you could bake a cake. Why don't you make one for Momo's birthday?" Kyoko butt in before things could get worse. "We should grab some ingredients and find a kitchen for you to work in."
"He's perfectly welcome to work in my kitchen so long as he doesn't make a mess," Mami replied.
Archer continued eating his cake. "I might take you up on that offer. Show you how a real chef works in the kitchen."
"So anyway. This is Archer and I'm Kyoko Sakura and we're Mages," Kyoko reintroduced herself and her Servant to their host.
The magical girl began petting the creature on her lap. "I am Mami Tomoe. And this is Kyubey, our patron and the one who contracts Magical Girls." She glanced up at Archer. "Might I ask though if his real name is Archer?"
"It is," Archer replied.
"Might I ask what your relation to Kyoko is then?"
"I teach Kyoko Magecraft." He glanced at her. "Among other things."
"Then why do you call her Master then?"
A familiar and infuriating smile appeared on Archer's face. "Why, because of how demanding my apprentice can be," he shook his head. "There are often times where I feel like the Servant."
That's because you are! Kyoko shouted to him in their mental connection.
"As you can see, she can be a rather… independent person."
"Well…" Mami began sipping her tea. "You certainly trained her well. She was able to hold her own against those familiars and protect that woman."
"What was wrong with her anyway?" Kyoko asked. "She just walked right into those things."
"That would be the witch's kiss. Witches feast on people by putting a spell on them that forces them to kill themselves or wander into their labyrinths."
"Hypnosis and Suggestion Magecraft?" Archer asked.
"Something like hypnosis," Mami replied. "Though it isn't very effective against people with magic like us, which is one of the reasons why magical girls are suited to hunting them."
"You say that magical girls are created to hunt witches. What makes them better at hunting them than the average magus?" Archer asked.
Mami fingered her ring and suddenly a brilliant yellow gem appeared on her hand. "This is a Soul Gem. The source of a Magical Girl's powers. It also allows us to detect and track the signature of witches and their familiars. It was how I ended up in Kazamino. The witch itself is holed somewhere in my territory but its familiars can wander quite far. There are no active Magical Girls in Kazamino that I am aware of so I went to deal with it before it could hurt any people."
"Why not cut it off at the source. Hunt the Witch itself if it's closer?" Archer asked
"Some witches leave familiars behind even after their deaths so I would still have to hunt them before they hurt someone anyway. Fighting the familiars is a good way to discern their signature anyway, thanks to the last group I should be able to track down the witch's labyrinth."
"You're going to be fighting it in its own territory?"
"Yes. Though witches can move their labyrinths they rarely leave it. We have to fight them in their homes."
"Meaning you and other Magical Girls have to fight powerful monsters in their own home. Like dogs being led to slaughter," Archer replied plainly.
Mami paused at that comparison. "I can't deny the danger that us Magical Girls face when hunting witches. And there are those of us that do get hurt in our mission, but I can assure that I'll do my utmost to keep Kyoko safe."
Kyoko, having finished with her cake, began to wipe the crumbs on her sleeve, only to have Archer grab her arm and hand her a napkin instead. "So, in exchange for fighting witches which will kill innocent people if left alone, I'll be given any wish I ask for?" Kyoko asked as she wiped her mouth clean.
"Yes, though I must warn you to take your time and consider what it is you want to wish for. Kyubey might be able to grant you anything you want, but it might not always be for what's best for you… or what you actually wanted once you've given it further thought. It would be a great shame if you were to regret your wish."
"Do you regret yours?" Kyoko asked.
"In a way… My family was caught in a car accident that trapped all three of us in a flaming vehicle. It was then that Kyubey came to offer me a wish… so I wished to be saved." Mami set her teacup down. "However, my wish did not consider my parents… I was the only one who survived."
"I'm sorry," Kyoko replied.
"In the end due to my situation I wasn't given much time to consider my wish. If I did maybe…" the magical girl shook her hood. "You on the other hand have the opportunity to do so. Please make sure to find what it is that you truly want before you make your wish."
Kyoko looked at the magical girl with determined eyes. "I will."
"Master," Archer interjected. "Maybe you should reconsider?"
"I'm not going to be a Magical Girl right now… but I can at least take the time to think about what I would want to wish for."
Archer crossed his arms and remained silent.
"So those monsters I fought were familiars created by witches, right?" Kyoko asked Mami. "Then what is the actual witch like?"
"It is difficult to describe," Mami replied. "It is much easier if I were to show you it myself. I was able to discern a general area as to where the witch is. With some luck I'm sure we'll be able to find it now that I have its signature."
Kyoko turned to Archer who remained still. "We'll be happy to join you then."
A/N
Just had to edit in some information at the end to clarify things. This will be posted in the beginning of the next chapter also in case people missed it.
I've received a few comments asking why Archer can't just use structural analysis on Soul Gems or Magical Girls. That will be answered in the next chapter.
As for why he seems so threatened by the use of Command Seals, it's because being in this world is essentially a vacation from being a Counter Guardian. He wants to hang around for as long as his current Master lives. That means he can't risk Kyoko using all the Command Seals early since he needs her to have them on her for a long time. Rule Breaker is an option, but that would mean finding another person with Magical potential to reestablish his contract with before he fades away. He has yet to find anyone else he would prefer as a Master, and though Kyoko is troublesome and naive, she is at least far from malicious. Also, her being an inexperienced 12 year old makes him a bit more lenient toward her than he normally would be.