Episode 2: And So It Begins
"It's about Revenant Beasts."
"M-Mary-" Cooley stammers, his eyes brimming with unshed tears as he reaches out to touch Mana/Mary's face.
Mary shakes her head, pushing his hand down. "Not now, Papa." she says quietly. "When that 'doctor', um, merged Mana and I, it did something to her." she says. "When I regained consciousness, I was inside of her head. After a while, I noticed something. She just stopped aging. I don't think it was instant but after about a week or so, I don't know what it was, but I just felt some sort of shift."
The revelation catches both Nadine and Cooley off guard. "What?" Cooley chokes out.
"I didn't think anything of the feeling at first but I noticed that Mana stopped growing. She wasn't changing psychically in any way. I thought it was just malnutrition but…" Mary trails off.
"What made you realize that it wasn't?" Nadine asks.
"I've been merged with Mana since I was eleven and she was eighteen. She can't see it but she hasn't changed at all in nine years." Mary says. "It's like she's trapped in an adolescent stasis." she says. "I'm not exactly sure how we were merged or what else they did to Mana, the Magic they used on her to mess with her memories affected me too."
Cooley groans. "I don't get what you're saying, Mary. You said Mana was younger than you."
"I said technically."
"...You get that sass from your mother."
"Mana is physically eighteen years old but, counting the memories she can't recall, she has twenty-seven years worth of memories all together." Mary continues. "However, she still needs regular nutrition and exercise like everyone else. She hasn't received that in years, that's why she - we're - so weak."
Nadine frowns. "And what about you, Mary?" she says.
"I don't know...I think I'm growing but I'm not one hundred percent sure. I get the same nutrition Mana does, though, so I'm probably s-skinny as hell." Mary tries to joke but she chokes on her last few words, wincing and rubbing her temples. "We got off-track."
"But I -" Cooley starts but Mary cuts him off.
"We'll have time to talk again later, Papa." Mary reassures. "Mana is trying to keep me in control for a while longer." she says. "Our well-being aside, I think I know what Revenant Beasts were trying to do with Mana and I. Their Master is a power-hungry man, like all good villains are." she scoffs. "The 'doctor' who merged Mana and I was talking about soldiers and different types of Magic. I think...I think...they're..." Mary suddenly drops, falling against Cooley.
"Mary!" Cooley pushes Mana/Mary up by the shoulders. Her head lolls to the side, eyes closed. "Mary, c'mon, I just got you back." he says, gently shaking her. "Kid? Are you there? Which one of you is it!?" Cooley asks desperately.
Nadine puts a hand on Cooley's arm, stopping him. "Cooley, Mana's actual age aside, she's physically and mentally still a child." she reminds him. "Be gentle."
"She's eighteen, that means she's an adult." Cooley argues. "I just want my kid back-"
"I know, Cooley." Nadine sighs. "But Mana is physically and mentally still coming into adulthood. Like Mary said: Mana stopped growing. Mary may not have a physical body but she still grew more than Mana did." Nadine reminds him.
Before Cooley can respond, Mana/Mary groans, raising her head. Her eyes flutter open: both are green.
"I'm sorry." Mana says, looking downcast. She shrugs Cooley's hands off her. "I could feel her getting weaker and she just passed out."
Cooley stiffens. "But she's okay, right?"
Mana nods. "Just sleeping."
"...And what about you?" Cooley asks.
Mana blinks, raising an eyebrow. "I'm...okay. Exhausted but okay."
Cooley nods and stays silent, crossing his arms and looking down.
Nadine clears her throat. "Mana, did you hear everything Mary had to say?"
Mana nods, her expression falling. "Yeah." she says. "I don't care about what they did to me. I just want to see my siblings."
"You heard what Mary said." Cooley speaks up. "You're both weak so you're not going anywhere until you're strong enough to defend yourself and my daughter." he says, standing up and crossing his arms again.
"You can't tell me what to do." Mana scoffs. "Mary said I'm physically eighteen so that means I'm an adult." she says, sticking her tongue out at him.
"You sure don't act like it." Cooley sneers.
Mana stands up and mirrors Cooley's pose. "And you don't act like someone who should be in charge of children you damn alcoholic." she shoots back.
"Who have you been talking to? Was it Acro? I knew he started that whole Trials of Terror bullshit-"
"Trials of-" Mana shakes her head, backing off. "No. I'll train but I'm not doing anything Trials of Terror-y." she says, looking to Nadine pleadingly. "You let him train the kids?"
Nadine shrugs. "He's responsible when I tell him to be."
"I also made S-Class during the latest trial." Cooley brags, picking at his nails.
Mana's eye twitches. "I don't know what that means but I'm still not letting you train me."
An hour later, back at the Phoenix Fire guildhall, Mana now knows what that means but that only made her even more fearful of what Cooley could do to her.
"Mana!" she hears a familiar voice call her. She looks up from her giant plate of food (courtesy of Cooley), finding Rina and Emile approaching her. "Did you give any thought to what I said?" Rina asks.
"Yeah," Emile nods. "I know that wasn't the best introduction but we're all relatively sane, I promise." he says with a wink. "Akane takes some getting used to but deep down, she's really nice." he says.
"I HEARD THAT!"
Emile flinches and Rina rolls her eyes. "I told you to be nicer to her." she scolds him.
"I was joking!" Emile insists.
"Whatever." Rina says, turning back to Mana. "I don't want to pressure you but we'd all really like you to join. We haven't gotten a new member in a while, Acro is the newest - he joined a few months ago - and it's been even longer since we've gotten a girl. Everyone's excited to meet you." she says and smiles. "They're only leaving you alone because Danate and I told them not to bother you until you've made a decision."
"..." Mana looks down, thinking. "Ask me again in an hour." she says.
"Hm?"
"I need to finish this plate or Cooley's gonna kill me." Mana says with a weak laugh. "I'm gonna take a walk after." she says. At Rina's unsure expression, Mana adds "I promise I'll come back no matter my decision. I owe you that much." she smiles.
Rina and Emile smile back. "Alright. One hour." she nods.
"We'll be waiting for you ever so eagerly." Emile says teasingly.
Mana zones out, staring out into the ocean as a memory surfaces to her mind.
"Manami c'mon just let me play-"
Mana cringes, "Please don't call me that."
"That's your name."
"Okay, Magnuson." Mana shoots back.
Before Magnus can respond, a feminine voice interrupts them. "Children, please." a woman with a blurry face says, approaching the bickering siblings.
Mana frowns. "- - -, he started it!" she accuses her brother.
"No, you started it by not letting me play with you!"
There's a vague hint of a smile on the woman's blurred face. She crouches down to Magnus' and Mana's height. "I'm sure we can resolve this peacefully?" she proposes. "What exactly won't Mana let you play with, Magnus?"
"I just want to read her book." Magnus pouts.
Mana sticks her tongue out at him. "Well I'm reading it now so go away."
"...Magnuson you want to 'play' with a book your sister is currently reading?"
"W-Well-"
"Dummy." the woman says, bonking him on the head. "Leave her alone, go play with your brother and sisters who are actually playing a game."
Mana smirks at his punishment and turns to the woman. "- - -, where are - - - and - - -?"
"Yeah," Magnus says, still by Mana's side. "I thought - - - and - - - would only be away for a second."
"They should be-"
CRASH!
Mana snaps out of her reverie, her heart dropping.
Did they-?
Mana whips around, her eyes wide with fear. She sighs in relief when she's only met with a broken cart.
There's no way they'd find me. I'm being paranoid, I was running for...for a long time before Emile found me. At least I think so. I could be on the other side of the country for all I know. she thinks to herself, approaching the man's broken cabbage cart and offering to help him.
Mana stews on her situation as she helps gather the merchant's cabbages. Who was that woman with me and Mags? I can't remember her name or her face...that was a memory, right?
It was.
Mana jumps slightly, smiling awkwardly at the cabbage man when he gives her a weird look.
Mary?
Is there another girl stuck in your head that I need to know about? Mary replies sassily.
Mana rolls her eyes, picking up another cabbage. So Cooley wasn't kidding about the sass. Good to know.
I haven't had anyone to talk to for nine years, it's gonna come out whether we like it or not.
Right. I'm sorry about that.
It's not your fault. That food Papa gave you earlier helped me out too, by the way. I don't know how long I'll be awake but we can talk for now. You heard everything I said earlier, right?
Yeah. Mana replies, smiling at the merchant as she hands him his cabbages. He starts to thank her profusely and Mana quickly makes her exit, finding his sheer, genuine joy at having his cabbages back a little weird. She starts heading back to Phoenix Fire. I'm apparently twenty seven years old, which is fucking crazy.
Watch your mouth.
Mary, I am literally seven years older than you.
No, you're physically eighteen and mentally still eighteen because you have amnesia.
…Whatever.
That's what I thought. Mary says haughtily. Anyways, I went through your memories earlier to find out what I missed when I lost consciousness. Rina and the others really want you to join that guild, huh?
Yeah. I like them, they all seem nice. Even your dad seems like he could be nice, although I'm not sure he likes me very much.
He'll get over it. We are one in the same, after all...I know I can read your thoughts and memories but have you made a decision?
I was kinda hoping I could get your input. Where I go, you go after all. What do you think?
Seeing Papa again was amazing and I'd love to spend more time with him but I'm merely taking up space in your head, Mana. It's ultimately up to you. Mary says. However, if you do decide to stay and join, I have one request...
When Mana reenters the guildhall, she's immediately swarmed by the guild members.
"So?" Acro asks. "What'd you decide?"
"Goddess, give her some space guys-"
"Are you gonna join us?"
"Please?"
"You're so cute-"
"Dude she looks like she's sixteen, you're literally forty-"
"Leave her alone." a new voice speaks up above the rest, making the group quiet down. Someone pushes their way to the front of the crowd. "Master wants to see you." he says blandly.
Her rescuer is a man with spiky brown hair and red eyes who looks like he hasn't smiled in years. His clothes are rather simple compared to some of the other outfits she's seen around the guild. He's wearing a simple black shirt, blue jeans, and brown boots.
"O-Oh, okay." Mana says, following him. "How did she know I was back?" she asks when they're free from the crowd.
"Window in her office faces the street." the man says shortly.
Mana doesn't say anything else.
He silently leads them upstairs but suddenly stops in the hallway before Nadine's office.
"Everyone says you escaped from a Dark Guild and have a bit of amnesia." he says.
Mana nods slowly. "Yeah…" she says, waiting to see where he's going with this.
The man pulls something out of his pocket. It looks like a wrinkly, folded up piece of paper. He stares at it, an oddly intense look on his face, and gently offers it to Mana. "Do you remember if you've seen the two younger boys in this picture?" he asks when Mana unfolds it. "They could be a bit older or…" he trails off.
It's a picture of three boys, one a bit older than the other two. The younger two look like smaller versions of the boy in the middle, it's pretty clear the three are brothers. All three have happy smiles on their faces and Mana wistfully thinks back to her missing siblings before refocusing, studying their faces.
The older boy looks like the man in front of her but she can't recall seeing any smaller versions of him in Revenant Beasts' dungeons with her and her brothers and sisters.
She shakes her head, smiling apologetically at him as she hands the picture back. "I'm sorry. I don't know if it's the amnesia or if I've really never met them before but they don't look familiar at all." Mana says. "What are their names?"
"Maddox and Mason." the man says. "Bickerstaff." he adds quickly.
Mana shakes her head again. "It doesn't ring a bell. I'm sorry."
"...It's okay." the man says with a sigh, gently folding the picture back up and putting it back in his pocket. He leads them the rest of the way down the hall and knocks on Nadine's door. "...I'm Alistair." he introduces himself.
Mana gives him a small smile, thinking he's finally gonna warm up to her. "I'm Mana."
Silence.
"Come in." Nadine's voice calls from within her office.
Alistair simply nods at Mana and walks away.
Alrighty then.
Mana opens the door to and steps into Nadine's office. Inside, Nadine, Cooley, Danate, Rina, and Emile are waiting for her.
"Well?" Emile asks, raising an eyebrow.
"What's your answer?" Rina asks eagerly.
"Guys, don't pressure her-" Danate starts but is swiftly cut off.
"Kid, whatever you do I do as well." Cooley says. "You're stuck with me so long as you're stuck with Mary."
"All of you," Nadine sighs, "please shut up and let her speak."
Everyone goes silent, patiently waiting for Mana to answer.
…
…
…
…
…
...
"I'm in as long as Cooley takes a vow of sobriety." Mana shrugs.
Cooley's eye twitches. "Damn brat-"
"Mary woke up for a bit and we both agreed that you reek of alcohol. If you insist on training me, neither of us want to smell that." Mana says cheekily, wagging a finger at him.
Cooley groans, "I swear Morrigan gave Mary that sass and she's rubbing it off on you." he says. "Fine. Whatever. I'll try to tone down the alcohol." he reluctantly agrees.
Rina grins excitedly. "Yay! It's been too long since we've gotten another member, let alone a girl." she says, practically bouncing in place.
"You literally just said Acro joined a couple of months ago-"
Rina elbows Emile in the gut, her smile never facing. "We're happy to have you." she says with a smile.
Emile groans, doubling over. He takes a second to recover and turns to smile weakly at Mana. "And," he coughs. "that offer I made earlier is still open. Akane and I would love to expand our duo into a trio."
Danate smiles, stepping forward and patting Mana's shoulder. "Welcome to Phoenix Fire, Mana. I know we're no substitute for your actual family but I promise we'll eventually feel like one."
"A family, that is." Rina chimes in. "Not a complete replacement, but just a family."
Nadine clears her throat, getting their attention. She cracks a smile. "I'll do my best to train you as well. Cooley, however, will be in charge of training until I'm free again." she says. "Have you decided where you would like your mark?"
Mana nods, showing her the back of her right hand and telling her the color she'd like as well.
Nadine steps out from behind her desk and moves beside Mana. She grabs Mana's wrist to steady it and uses her other hand to cover the back of Mana's hand. Nadine whispers an incantation under her breath and Mana's hand is enveloped in a familiar warmth; not unlike the one she felt when Nadine used her Magic to calm her down earlier today.
"As the Guild Master of Phoenix Fire, I welcome you to our Guild." Nadine says, releasing Mana's hand. "I'll be sure to keep my schedule free so I can take over training for a bit and help you and Mary get that Magic under control."
Mana makes a small o with her mouth, stretching her arm out and looking at the red mark emblazoned on her hand. She looks at her new guildmates, friendly smiles on all of their faces (even Cooley. Just a small one though.) and she thinks that maybe Emile was right about Phoenix Fire being a place to start anew.
The rest of Phoenix Fire, like Rina said, was ecstatic to hear that Mana agreed to join. They declared that it was time for a party the second Mana revealed her emblem and she was sucked into meeting every single member currently in the building.
The next person to whisk her away is, surprisingly, Akane. She is very drunk and is using her chains (just one, wrapped around Mana's ankle) to take her away.
"Akane, c'mon, where're we goin'?" Mana slurs (admittedly, she is also a bit drunk) as she's dragged across the floor.
"T-Team meeting." Akane hiccups. "To tell you why you should join our party of two."
Mana groans, "I'm too drunk for this." she whines. "Goddess, Mary's gonna kill me." she says. "Am I even allowed to be drunk? I'm mentally underage but legally I am twenty-seven…" she wonders aloud.
Akane either doesn't hear or doesn't acknowledge Mana's rambling and brings her over to Emile who is also very clearly drunk. "Oi, Em, I got 'er." she says.
Emile perks up, turning towards the girls. "Manaaa!" Emile beams. "Are you ready to join Crusaders?" he asks.
"Em I told you we're not calling ourselves that." Akane says with a frown.
Emile nods in understanding, "Oh, right. Yeah. We're Code Black." he corrects himself.
"No-" Akane starts.
"Saboteurs?" Emile offers.
"No."
"Tsunami?"
"No."
"White Walkers?"
"I thought winter was months away."
"What."
"...No." Akane sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Gods I think your stupidity sobered me up." she scowls, dropping Mana's chain. It disappears into Ethernano particles before it even hits the ground. "We've had this team for almost a year now, why do we have to have a name?"
"Because we're expanding!" Emile says excitedly.
Mana gives them a confused look, still laying on the ground. "I don't remember agreeing to that." she says.
"Hush, the adults are speaking." Akane says, waving her off.
"I did the math, I was born in X766, I am literally older than both of you."
"Irrelevant."/"I've always wondered what it'd be like with an older woman." Akane and Emile say simultaneously.
Mana just sighs and closes her eyes. "What have I gotten myself into?"
Mana awakes to the sound of obnoxious knocking on her door, the sound not at all helping her pounding headache. She nearly forgets where she is for a minute, thinking it's him rattling her cell door. Then she remembers that she's in a bed, her own bed, in her new room at the Phoenix Fire guildhall.
Mana didn't put two and two together when Rina was helping her clean up yesterday but the entirety of the guildhall's layout was explained to her when Nadine showed her to her new room late last night.
Phoenix Fire is a three story building. The first floor houses the girls dorms and the second floor has the boys dorms. The dorms are only available for the members with nowhere else to go (Mana's started a mental list of who she knows stays at the guild. So far she only knows about Rina, Acro, and Akane).
When Nadine saved Mana from Team No Name and showed her her room, she took the opportunity of everyone being passed out and went out again to see where everything is for herself. She takes a minute to try and remember everything she noticed.
The first floor, of course, had the main hall where everybody hung out. It looked like something out of one of her old picture books: pristine wooden flooring and expensive looking walls (Mana will later be informed that the walls and flooring are indeed very expensive and magically enchanted so that they don't break. There were one too many accidents and Nadine decided to invest in the building's future). There weren't too many arches or other decorations on the first floor, probably because of how rowdy the guild could get. They had a few simple wooden tables and chairs scattered around but that was pretty much it.
There's of course the archway off to the left side with the hall containing the girls' dorms and there's another archway on the right that led to the infirmary and the guild's storehouse. In between the two stairways leading to the second floor were doors that lead to a kitchen.
On the second floor, the first thing she's greeted with is a smaller version of the main space downstairs. There are fewer tables scattered about but more decoration than the first floor: potted plants, a few paintings, and it had the Request Board.
The left hall contained the boys' dorms and the right hall contained Nadine's office, a few other rooms she hasn't explored, and the stairs leading to the third floor. She hasn't gone up there yet but she was told it's just a large, empty space dedicated for 'normal' training.
(What qualifies as abnormal training, Mana has yet to find out. She isn't sure if she wants to.)
The outside of the guild reminded Mana of a little castle. There were banners on either side of the entrance bearing the guild's emblem: a phoenix, of course. Mana could tell the building was a bit old. Its brilliant cobblestone walls looked worn and had a few chips here and there but every stone was even and square, as if those who built were set on perfection. They were walls made to house warriors sworn to protect their town, after all. They were made to echo with laughter and be the shelter people would need for millennia to come. From Danate's essential worship and praise she heard on their way here, she thinks it succeeded.
Also around the guildhall are four solid, round towers, one at each corner of the building, that form a sort of protective barrier and are connected by thin walls; also made of cobblestone. The windows are scattered thinly across the walls in a seemingly random pattern (Mana can spy the one Nadine used to spot her return from her walk).
Overall, the castle-like building stood as strong and as tall as ever, as if conjured from the storybook of a child.
It was perfect.
"Hey, um, are you awake Mana?" comes the familiar voice of Acro.
I am now. Mana sighs.
"Acro, please, I'm exhausted." Mana groans, reluctantly getting out of bed and trudging to the door. She opens it, finding an already dressed Acro smiling at her sheepishly. "What's wrong?" she asks.
"Ah, well, yesterday Cooley said that you're training with us now." Acro says.
A thought comes to mind when Acro brings up Cooley.
"Cooley said something about you calling his training regimen 'The Trials of Terror'." Mana says, narrowing her eyes at him. "You call it that but willingly train with him?"
Acro laughs, making Mana's annoyance from being rudely awoken melt away.
Gods he looks so much like Magnus.
"Yeah! It's just a joke anyways. Mostly." Acro says with a mischievous grin. "He's scary as shit but he's strong, y'know?" he continues. "A lotta people don't like him 'cause they think he's just a drunk, lazy bastard but he actually does a lot for the guild when he's not getting trashed at bars." he says with an easy smile, his green eyes gleaming.
Mana sighs. "Okay, fine. Whatever." she says, feeling a bit sick as she thinks back to all the food Cooley made her eat yesterday. "You said something about training?"
"Yeah!" Acro nods. "We train together every two days. Do you know where he is?" he asks.
"Wh-? No, dude you literally just woke me up."
"Oh…"
"You can't find him?" Mana asks and Acro shakes his head. "Doesn't he like training people? Is he usually this hard to find?"
Acro shrugs. "Depends on his mood. If he's drunk then he doesn't show up for training until way later." he says, making Mana narrow her eyes.
"'Drunk'?" she repeats. "He's drunk?"
"Probably." Acro says. "Why?"
"Gods I've been a member for less than twenty four hours and he's already breaking his promise." Mana grumbles, facepalming. "Give me ten minutes to get ready," she says to Acro. "I'll help you look for him."
"Roger that." Acro says with a mock salute. He turns on his heel, taking up a position in front of Mana's door. "I'll guard your door." he says with his back to the door, crossing his arms.
Mana smiles, rolling her eyes. "And what exactly are you going to protect me from?" she asks, amused.
"Emile."
"...Fair point." Mana says, quickly shutting her door.
Mana uses the small bathroom in her room to take a quick shower, brush her teeth, and gets dressed into the clothes Rina gave her yesterday (Rina had also provided her with a set of pajamas).
Mana ties the beige sash around her waist like Rina did for her yesterday and sits down on her bed, pulling her socks and shoes on.
Compared to Rina's very decorated room, Mana's isn't much to gawk at. She only has a bed, a dresser, a closet, and a door leading to her bathroom (which only has a small shower, a toilet, a sink with a mirror, and the little amenities provided to her).
Mana quickly finishes tying her shoes and goes back over to her door. She finds Acro in the same position she left him in. "Anything to report?" she asks jokingly.
Acro turns his head to look at her. "Emile passed by, like I thought he would." he says with a frown. "He said something about you being an adult who can take care of herself, which I don't get because you barely look older than him." Acro says, moving to the side so Mana can exit her room and shut the door.
"So he remembered that conversation, huh?" Mana laughs quietly to herself. "That's a bit of a long story, but I guess I can tell you while we look for Cooley." she says. "Lead the way, Acro."
Acro and Mana searched for Cooley all over the guild, even going into his room on the second floor (Mana added Cooley to her mental list of people living in the building). He was nowhere to be found.
"...so, long story short, I haven't been able to grow physically or mentally for nine years because of whatever spell I'm under and my amnesia." Mana finishes.
Acro hums, frowning. "That sucks." he says, putting his hands behind his head as they head out of the guildhall to search for Cooley elsewhere in Zaflior. "You're pretty strong, y'know?"
Mana scoffs. "When I put that mask on, I lost control and instantly passed out. I don't see that as being strong." she says.
Acro shakes his head in disagreement. "That's just what you can do physically. True strength comes from the heart." he says, pounding his fist over his chest. He gives her a toothy grin. "You 'n Mary are both incredibly strong. I know you can't remember and stuff but you're seven years older than her, yeah? She seems to care about you a lot so I don't doubt that you took care of her while you were both imprisoned. You both went through hell and lived to tell the tale. That's why you're strong." Acro babbles excitedly.
Mana smiles and ruffles the tufts of hair shaped like little horns on Acro's head. "Thanks, Acro." she says softly.
Acro swats her hand away and smiles. "I mean it." he says, his smile slowly dropping. He frowns, deep in thought for a moment. "Your whole 'being stuck as an age you're not' thing kinda sounds like what happened to those Mages from Fiore, except they were only stuck for seven years."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, apparently someone trapped a bunch of their members or something and they completely disappeared for seven years. They came back two years ago looking exactly the same as they did in X784." Acro explains. "I don't know the whole story because I was a kid when they disappeared and Fiore's on the other side of Ishgar, so…" he shrugs.
Mana just nods, thinking about how she could've turned out if she had disappeared instead of being stuck as an eighteen year old kid for nine years.
And if Mary could be her own person…
It's fine, Mana. Mary speaks up for the first time today. If I had to be stuck in anyone's head, I'm glad it's yours. she jokes.
Whatever. Mana says, biting back a smirk.
Also, we'll be speaking about the drinking you did yesterday.
...Yes ma'am.
Acro looks at her, intrigued. "Mary wake up?" he asks.
He seems nice. Can I say hi? He seems to know Papa well too, I wanna ask him some questions. Mary says.
Mana winks at a confused Acro and closes her eyes, concentrating.
It was a bit easier than yesterday, maybe because she has a bit more strength in her, and she gives control of herself to Mary.
When Mana/Mary opens her eyes, like yesterday, she has one blue and one green. She smiles at an impressed Acro. "I'm Mary Brown, Cooley's daughter." she says. "I'll be walking with you for a bit while we look for Papa. Can you tell me about him while we search for him?" Mary asks.
Acro nods, taking Mana and Mary's sudden transference in stride. "Sure! What do you want to know first?"
About half an hour later, Acro and Mary stare down at a collapsed Cooley, both unimpressed.
"Papa." Mary says, glaring at him. "What are you doing?"
"M-Mana, Acro!" Cooley hiccups. "Just the kids I was looking for. It's time for training." he says, pushing himself up off the ground.
Acro bites back a laugh and Mary scowls. "Papa, Mana has two green eyes, remember? It's me, Mary." she says as Cooley shakily stands up on his feet. "Did you really forget the promise you made to Mana and I or do you just not care?" Mary asks, crossing her arms.
Cooley frowns. "Of course I didn't f-forget!" he says. "I promised I would tone down the alcohol," he reminds her, wagging a finger in her face. "I said nothing a-about the vow of sobriety Mana mentioned." Cooley says with a drunken laugh.
"That's not funny."
Acro nods, clearing his throat and taking the smile off his face. "Mary is right, Cooley." he says. "You made a promise less than a day ago and you didn't stick to it." he says, sticking up for the girls.
Cooley rolls his eyes. "Wh-What makes you think I didn't? I said I would tone it down, you don't know how much I drank."
Acro and Mary exchange a look. "I don't want to talk to him when he's like this. Can you and Mana bring him back to the guildhall?" Mary asks.
"Bu-" Cooley starts but Acro cuts him off.
Acro nods. "Sure thing." he agrees.
Mary closes her eyes and a small, almost non-existent burst of Magic, leaves Mana/Mary. When she opens her eyes, again, they're both green.
"Hi Mana." Acro greets cheerfully.
Mana smiles. "Acro." she turns to Cooley and frowns. "Cooley." she glowers at him.
"Mana." Cooley says mockingly.
Mana rolls her eyes, looking at Acro tiredly. "How're we going to get him back?"
"Beats me." Acro says sheepishly. "I doubt he'd agree if we asked him to come with us."
Mana thinks for a moment.
...Do you think that'll work? she asks Mary.
It might, considering how I didn't pass out to give you control again. There's only one way to find out, though.
Mana looks back up, studying Cooley. "How drunk would you say you are right now?" she asks him.
"I dunno."
"About as drunk as you were before Master Nadine gave you that concoction yesterday?"
"Nah," Cooley shakes his head. "I was ab-about half-way sober by then."
"So would you say you're more drunk right now?"
"Uh, I guess."
"Acro." Mana says, giving him a look. Amazingly, Mana thinks he understands what she wants and he nods. "On three." she says, covering her face in the same way Mary told her she did when she blacked out.
"What's going on?" Cooley asks.
"Training is starting." Mana says. "One." she starts, red Magic Power starting to emanate from her hand. She curls her fingers like a claw and makes a slashing motion over her face. "Two" Mana says. Acro moves to the other side of Cooley as the red energy solidifies over Mana's face. It clears and that same twisted looking skull covers her face like a mask, turning her sclera and pupils black.
"Clay-Make: Gloves!" Mana watches as Acro's hands glow with Magic Power that quickly gets replaced by clay shaped into boxing gloves.
...Cool.
"Three." Mana says.
Mana and Acro deliver a swift punch to Cooley's stomach: Mana's strength boosted by dark red energy and Acro's boosted by his rock hard gloves.
Cooley winces. "Ow." he says and promptly collapses to the ground, unconscious.
"Oh." Mana says, looking at Cooley and then her hand, eyeing the swirls of dark red energy circling her hand - Darkness Magic, maybe? "Didn't know it did that." she mumbles to herself, flexing her fingers. The energy still circles her hands, not showing any signs of disappearing. "Note to self, get Cooley wasted and punch him in the stomach if you want him to shut up." she says out loud.
Acro stares at her in awe. "That mask is seriously creepy, Mana."
"Gee, thanks." Mana says sarcastically. "That was totally the vibe I was going for when I willingly learned this Magic." she deadpans.
"I-It was a compliment!" Acro insists. "Could I paint it sometime?" he asks.
Mana raises an eyebrow (not that Acro can tell), "You're an artist?"
Acro nods, beaming. "I paint and-" he waves his clay covered hands around. "sculpt with clay."
"I don't mind but we should carry Cooley back before doing anything." Mana says. She circles Cooley's unconscious body, looking down at him with a frown. "I'll get the arms, you get the legs." she says.
Acro sends another wave of his Magic through his hands and the clay covering his hands crumbles away. "Alright," Acro says, cracking his fingers. "let's do this."
It takes them well over an hour to carry Cooley back to the guildhall. Even with Mana's Magic boosted strength, she's still in the middle of getting her regular strength back and Acro's just a kid - he's not that strong either. Fortunately, when they get into the guild, they manage to successfully pawn him off on Alistair after he silently weighs the options in his current situation (listening to Emile try and flirt with Rina again or carry Cooley upstairs to his room).
Acro bids Mana a farewell and runs off to do who knows what. Mana sighs, ripping her mask off and dropping it to the floor. Like Mary said it would, it disappears into particles of Ethernano when it hits the floor. A wave of exhaustion hits Mana when the mask is completely gone and she realizes just how hungry she is.
Mana doesn't know where to get breakfast though. Last night Cooley just sat her down at a table and brought the food to her.
Do I just go into the kitchen, or…?
"You look lost." a masculine voice says from behind Mana, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Can I help you?"
Mana jumps, shrugging the hand off and turning around with a frightened look on her face. "Dude, don't sneak up on me like that." she says, her face pale.
The 'dude' who snuck up on her is a young man with suntanned skin and short, fluffy pink hair with bangs that he keeps tied up into a little ponytail on top of his head. He has bright blue eyes and, well, for the lack of a better word, dresses like a pirate in Mana's opinion. He wears a baggy white poet shirt tucked into loose dark green trousers. He also has a wide, black linen sash tied around his waist and wears brown leather cavalier boots.
Pinky gives her a small smile. "Sorry about that. You do look lost, though." he says. "Are you the new member Master spoke of?" he asks.
Mana nods. "I'm Mana."
"Genesis Adrestia." he introduces himself. "I returned to Zaflior early this morning, that's why we haven't met yet." Genesis explains. "My partner should be around here somewhere…" he trails off. "I was transporting him back from the other side of Valiance. He was getting some repairs done, you see-"
"Genesis." another masculine voice speaks up, getting both Genesis' and Mana's attention.
It's a young man who looks to be around Mana's (physical) age. He has rather pale skin - which greatly contrasts with his jet black hair and neon green eyes. He wears a black and red, sleeveless hoodie with a furred collar and appears to be wearing a bunch of necklaces, the possible pendants being hidden under his hoodie. His arms are fully wrapped in black sports tape. A pair of black-tinted, circular goggles are placed atop his head, and a half-face gas mask is placed loosely around his neck. Alongside this, he wears white pants and gray boots.
"Who's this?" the young man asks. Mana takes a step back when she spots slightly jagged, sharp teeth when he speaks.
"This is Mana, the new member Master was speaking about." Genesis introduces her with a smile and a pat on the back. "Mana, this is Reo, my partner in crime." he introduces 'Reo' with a grin.
'Reo' looks her over, giving Mana a look that appears almost hostile. "Nelio Reonard, you can call me whatever you like." he says. "I spoke with Master about you a bit more after Genesis left." Nelio says to Mana. "She says you have amnesia?" he asks.
"Nine years, all gone." Mana nods.
Nelio yawns. "I kind of have amnesia too. Not nine years worth, though. The doctor's say it's just PTSD preventing me from remembering correctly but," he shrugs. "what can ya do? Get knocked in the head again?" he says blankly.
'Just' PTSD?
...Maybe stay away from that one. Mary says, also taken aback by Nelio's statement.
"Er…" Mana looks between Nelio and Genesis awkwardly.
"...That was a joke." Nelio states.
"R-Right, of course." Mana forces out an awkward laugh. It gets even more awkward when Mana's stomach growls loudly.
Genesis smiles, amused, and even Nelio appears to crack a slight, slight smile. "Did no one show you how breakfast works around here?" he asks. Mana shakes her head and Genesis once again pats her shoulder. "I'll make you some."
Nelio yawns again and gives a half-hearted wave to Mana and Genesis. "See you around." he says, not at all sounding like he cared whether he saw Mana again or not.
"So…" Mana starts as she and Genesis head towards the kitchen and Nelio heads out of the guildhall. "...what's his deal?" she asks.
Genesis laughs. "Reo means well, I promise. He's just a bit...well, like he said, he has PTSD. He truly is a nice person but it gets in the way of a lot of things." he says.
Mana nods, filing away the information. "How long have you been together?" she asks.
"Huh?"
"You and Nelio."
"Wh - oh, no, we're not together together." Genesis says with a laugh. "I'm not into older people." he says. "We're just each other's occasional teammate when we go out on missions." he says, holding the door open for Mana as they enter the kitchen.
Mana frowns. "'Older'? But he looks like he's my age."
Genesis laughs. "And which age are you referring to?" he asks. At the surprised look on Mana's face, he adds "I stayed with Master long enough to hear the bit about you being an eighteen year old twenty seven year old." he says. "Legally, Nelio is only a year older than you. I'm twenty."
"Oh." Mana blinks. "Is he…'stuck' like me?"
"Not necessarily." Genesis says, "His is a bit of an interesting story that's not really mine to tell." he says.
Mana gets the message. "And what about you?" she asks, changing the subject and watching Genesis gather the ingredients for some sort of breakfast. "You said something about the other side of Valiance." she says.
Genesis explains while he gathers the rest of his ingredients and prepares the two of them breakfast.
Genesis is an S-Class Mage who's taken to transporting Mages all across Earthland when he's not on a mission himself. He has a Magic ship, The Revivescere, that hasn't failed him since he got it four years ago shortly after his S-Class promotion.
"Do you get paid - thank you - do you get paid for sailing everyone around?" Mana asks, taking an offered plate of fruit from Genesis.
("Just to tide you over." he had said.)
Genesis nods and starts mixing together his other ingredients. "Yeah. You take syrup on your pancakes?"
"Obviously. I'm not a savage."
"You're a good kid, Mana. A good kid."
"I'm seven years older than you."
"I stand by what I said."
Genesis made her pancakes with syrup and quickly explained to her how to get breakfast in the future: make it yourself or wake up at nine to get whatever the chef makes that day. He had to leave to attend to something on his ship but he promised they'd talk more later (it sounded more believable than Nelio).
Mana was happy to eat her breakfast in silence and listen to Mary theorize about that weird daydream she had yesterday.
Mana smirks at his punishment and turns to the woman. "- - -, where are - - - and - - -?"
"Yeah," Magnus says, still by Mana's side. "I thought - - - and - - - would only be away for a second."
The woman's face was blurry to her and she couldn't place her voice. Whoever she was, she knew Magnus' full name and appeared to be caring for the quintuplets, as she mentioned Mana's other three siblings.
Mana's and Mary's musings are interrupted by the same duo who insist that she's their new teammate now: Emile and Akane.
"Mana!" Emile greets cheerfully.
"We heard your training with Cooley didn't exactly work out." Akane says, a glint in her eyes.
"Um, that's right." Mana says, finishing off the last of her pancakes.
Akane hums, "What do you say to training with us today instead?" he asks. "Just to get a feel for how we could actually work as a team."
Mana narrows her eyes at them. "...Why do neither of you look hungover?" she asks, changing the subject.
"Emile has...a contact of sorts." Akane says, giving the aforementioned teen a suspicious look. "It took away our hangovers, but…"
"Don't look at me like that. The potions are all perfectly legal!" Emile insists with a frown.
Mana and Akane give him a look.
Emile pouts. "Guys-"
"So, Mana, are you in?" Akane asks, interrupting Emile.
What do you think?
I think they're a weird combo and I have absolutely no idea how they came to be on a team together. Mary says. Take them up on the offer.
Mana stretches and stands up, her now empty dishes in hand. "I'm in."
PF x AH x SS
A/N Episode 2 of the reboot is done and done. This combined the original episode 2 and 3 because they were a bit short on their own, so, here it is.
I don't know if you noticed but I took away the fact that Genesis is waiting for Koz to arrive so I can use them both in some other way first :omaiga: Koz will still be going on that mission, it'll just be later so that his first appearance isn't him leaving, not to be seen for another 50 chapters.