A/N: (December 11th)
Very, very early post today, lol.
This was mostly because I feel bad about the late chapters before, so I decided to make up for it by the last entry being a few days early.
Alright, we've come to the end of a second story. How do I feel? Well…
When I was first drafting The Second French Incident, I actually intended for it to be only a short introduction into a larger, overarching story. While I do think it could still be somewhat called that (it is 1/4 the chapters and 1/4 the words of the previous story, Heaven's Fall), I actually planned it to be only three chapters, lol. And Arcueid wasn't even supposed to show up! XD
This story went through a few draft rewrites, until I finally landed on this ten-chapter narrative that I think is comfortably good.
Do I think it's as good as Heaven's Fall? Mm…probably not. That story I still consider to be my "magnum opus", per se. But I do think that The Second French Incident still told a decent, action-focused narrative, as well as introduced the world of Tsukihime into this Type-Moon/To Aru crossover.
That all being said, I hope you enjoyed this journey.
My goal coming into it was to make a better Avignon story— for some reason, OT14/the first three episodes of Index III left an unsatisfactory taste in my mouth, lol.
Plus, I got to finally write about Arcueid and Altrouge, both of whom I've been very excited to introduce ever since I started writing Heaven's Fall.
Which, by the way, I do recognize that Arcueid seems a bit…different than she is in-canon. Well, I think the best explanation is: in this world, she hasn't met Shiki. He is a very large reason why she has a pep in her step, and acts happy-go-lucky a lot of the time. It's an oversimplification, but there's a reason why Arcueid acts a lot different from say, Archetype-Earth, if you compare them in Melty Blood and Fate/GO.
Here, Arcueid is a bit like Rin in this story: different pasts means slightly different personalities. Rin grew up with Caren, so she's way less aggressive and tsundere (although it's still somewhat there); Arcueid hasn't met Shiki and some To Aru lore affected her job, so she acts a bit different too.
The core of their characters though, I intend to keep the same. I hope you enjoy how she acted here, and in the future.
And don't even get me started on Altrouge, lol. Nasu hasn't introduced her properly in any works (thank you Nasu, very cool), so I'm just going off of hints and my own subjective opinion of how she would be. I hope you like her; she's going to be a big influence for future stories, when I get to them. I love her fanart, few and far between they may be. She's cute. Reminds me of a black haired Illya.
Tsukihime 2 better come soon. I'm desperate, Nasu. I need my gothic smol vampire.
In any case, I've rambled on long enough. I thank you all for reading this second entry into this little Type-To Aru universe I've created.
I'll see ya when I see ya. Happy Holidays, and (early) Happy New Year.
Enjoy~!
The Second French Incident: Epilogue
After that absolute shitshow of yesterday, it was no surprise that Accelerator just wanted to sleep.
The ride back to Academy City was not exactly the most comfortable, and it took considerably longer to arrive back; no thanks to the jet stream, as well as the plane not having the same supersonic tech as the bomber he arrived in Avignon in the first place.
After landing, and getting an immediate chauffeur back to Yomikawa's apartment thanks to the GROUP subsidiaries, the first thing on his mind was to get a damn nap in.
'…Oh for fu—"
He tapped his choker as he realized he needed to replace the batteries.
Unfortunately, he was already in front of his front door. Shrugging off this minor mishap, and chalking it up to him being forgetfully exhausted, he swiped his key card and walked inside.
'I still have a few hours left in the battery, anyway. I'll just do it when I wake up.'
He didn't really know if Yoshikawa or Yomikawa were home. Though to be fair, he didn't care much for how their schedules worked. As long as there was an adult in the house to keep an eye on the kid, he didn't mind.
Walking inside the apartment, however, he didn't hear the TV playing any soap operas, nor the rice cookers steaming food that really shouldn't be in a rice cooker. That was pretty much evidence enough that they weren't home for the time being.
Instead, turning toward the kitchen table, he blinked at a couple pairs of eyes he didn't expect to see today. At least, not this early.
"Hey there, Accelerator."
Dressed in a cream colored school uniform, with roughly combed almond brown hair, waved one of the four members of GROUP.
Sitting across from him was another member, her pigtailed scarlet head of hair focused on the Jenga tower stacked meticulously in front of her. She only gave a passive wave, as the girl next to her turned her head and—
"You're back!"
The third member of the table jumped out of her seat, her bright brown eyes blinding the Level 5 as she zipped over to him faster than a roadrunner.
'Damn. Shoulda gone to the hospital, first. At least Frog Face is quiet.'
"'How was your one-day vacation in France?' Misaka Misaka asks, genuinely curious on your escapades overseas!"
"It was fine." He grumbled.
"'Didya meet any cute French girls?' Misaka Misaka inquires, wondering if you'll finally be getting a date—?"
"Absolutely not."
"Aw. Musta not been a fun trip then, huh?"
"It really wasn't."
Patting Last Order on the shoulder to at least acknowledge her, his eyes focused upon the two teenaged students sitting at Yomikawa's table. One of GROUP's unwritten rules was to keep their normal lives and their dark side jobs separate; so the fact that they were here, in Accelerator's living space, meant there must have been something major going on to break said rule.
"Musujime. Unabara." The Esper said succinctly. "Seeing you two here is…rare."
They both nodded quietly. The fact that they agreed, and without any sheepishness, told him that this really was an exception.
'Yep, somethin's definitely going on. Dammit, and I just got back, too.'
"'Are they your friends? They told Misaka they were your friends.' Misaka Misaka says, excited that you finally actually managed to find companionship.
Oh! But it better not be anything like that Esther girl, or I swear that I'll—!"
The white-haired Esper groaned. "Do you or do you not want me to find a date? Make up your mind. And the answer is no, to everything you just said."
"Darn. And here I thought we were friends." Unabara chuckled.
Musujime blew her bangs out of her eyes, her arms tightly crossed. "I think it's better if we're not. We work better that way."
"Aw." Accelerator watched as his miniature roommate slumped her shoulders, then immediately popped them back up as she twirled on her heels back toward the dining table and Jenga tower. He didn't even know they had one of those. "'Guess I'll be their friend instead! Musujime-san, let's finish our game!' Misaka Misaka exclaims, excited to beat you!"
Surprisingly, the ordinarily cold-shouldered teleporter slowly loosened up her arms, her face growing into a small, gentle smile as she leaned in toward their game. "Sure. I think it's your turn, Misaka."
"'Misaka Misaka.' Misaka Misaka corrects."
"D-Do I really have to say it twice?"
"Yes."
Unabara clapped his hands together, mostly to get Accelerator's attention as he stood up from his chair. "Alright, while those two are having fun doing that, how about you and I go out to the balcony for a drink, hm?"
He made his way over to the kitchen, and started carefully searching through the liquor cabinet.
"Ignoring the fact that this isn't your home, aren't you a bit young to be drinking, Unabara?"
"Hm? Of course, I'm just looking for sweeteners." He replied, pulling out a half-full bottle of grenadine. "How about a Shirley Temple?"
Accelerator sighed. It had been a while since he indulged in anything. "Fine."
xXx
Leaning against the brick railing, Accelerator set down the glass of red soda as he overlooked the sprawling metropolitan of District 7. Just ten days ago, this whole District was about to be drowned in black hellfire— but now, with the clear blue skies, pale white and blue buildings, and the ever spinning wind turbines, it was as if nothing had happened in the first place.
Unabara stood next to him, taking a moment to absorb the view from thirteen stories up. Passively, Accelerator was reminded of when he was accompanied by a two-meter tall green-haired Greek instead.
Those were interesting times, to say the least. 'Wonder if the kid wonders where Rider's been, all this time.'
"So? How's the drink?"
The Esper took a sip through the bougie metal straw. Apparently it was better for the environment, and for keeping the liquid cold as it passed through. "It's fine."
'Too sweet. Why the hell did I agree to a sweet drink? Next time I'm just gonna pour myself a damn ginger ale.'
"Well that's good." Unabara laughed quietly, relieved. "Glad at least something good happened today."
Accelerator blinked at him. 'Well shit. Now I feel kinda bad for judging it so harshly.'
"Oh? Shit hit the fan for you too, huh?"
"Yyyep." He sighed. "…Let's hear your side first, though. How was France?"
The Level 5 found himself taking another quiet gulp as he recalled the events of yesterday.
It was carnage. An absolute, utter shitshow. From the destroyed bombers, which most certainly must have cost Academy City possibly billions of dollars of damage, to the destruction of the entire city of Avignon, which Accelerator just learned about on the way back from Europe…
'…To those damn vampires.'
"Not good. At all." Accelerator finally replied. "I'm sure you know how Avignon's become scorched earth, at this point. Gave it my best shot, but even I can't do fuckin' everything."
"No one expects you to." Unabara consoled. "You're not…blaming yourself, are you?"
He took a silent drink in response. "Who the hell knows. Is Tsuchimikado on the way back, too?"
Accelerator was supposed to be his backup— he, as well as the bombers, were planning to box Avignon in, in order to hunt town Terra of the Left and the artifact he was using to control billions of people around the world. Unfortunately, that whole situation seemed very, very, very small in comparison to what had transpired.
Not only was Terra of the Left most likely dead, and the item he was used destroyed, but so was the entire town. A hundred thousand lives, just gone like that.
'…'
He grit his teeth, just for a second. That amount of dead bodies was large to him…but it wasn't unfathomable.
"He should be." His coworker said, checking through the text messages on his phone. "Yeah, I called him earlier, he said he just got on a plane back about an hour ago. Considering how fast Academy City's jets fly, I'd say he'll be back by maybe one or two, tops."
Glancing back at the clock inside, it was half past ten in the morning. He guessed that whatever crisis was going on needed their field leader to fully start mobilizing against— meaning that after he'd be briefed here, it left him enough time to go and visit Frog Face nad recharge his batteries.
For the time being, though, he decided to hear Unabara out.
"Oh, he also said he's coming along with an acquaintance of his. He told me that you should know who she is…Index, I think her name was?"
He tilted his head. That name immediately caught his attention, in-part due to how unique it was.
'That girl that saved the kid…and me, for that matter, although she didn't know it.'
The silver-haired, nun-looking young girl that he had met during the Holy Grail War. She had freed Last Order from the virus infecting her mind…not to mention, Accelerator had used her song to unlock the new clearance he had accessed.
He still didn't know how to pull out those wings without some sort of instinctual, emotional response, but he knew he had to start working at it.
If he didn't, then he wouldn't have a good shot at those damn Dead Apostles again.
In any case, he took his mind back to the girl at hand. "Index…yeah, I know her. So she was in Avignon too, huh?"
"Seems like it. Normally we would just drop a civilian like her off at her home, but…" Unabara scratched his chin as he pulled a few folded documents out from his pocket. He handed them to Accelerator, who promptly opened them.
On the first paper was a quick report on the girl in question, Index Librorum Prohibitorum. At the top left corner was an image of her; her smiling face, and flowing silver hair was already enough for Accelerator to confirm that she was who he was thinking about.
On top of that, her name was a dead giveaway that she was not exactly from around here, if her clothes weren't an indication already.
"…according to Tsuchimikado, she knows quite a bit about the Magic side of the world. And we're going to need her if we're going to get through this upcoming conflict."
He scanned through a bit of her report.
'Fifteen years old…likely from England…eidetic memory…103,000 what, now?'
"…So what, is she a part of GROUP now, or…?"
His ally shrugged. "Temporarily, it seems. Tsuchimikado wants her for intel purposes. That's half the battle, after all."
Accelerator groaned quietly into his straw. He missed when it was all just about Espers and corrupt scientists. Two weeks ago, that was all that it was about.
Then two weeks ago, it got bigger. A lot bigger.
Bigger than he could have ever imagined. To be honest, he was a little grateful that someone knowledgeable about the side he was ignorant about seemed to be willing to lend a hand. "Great. So the other half of the battle is…?"
"Right. Who we're up against." Unabara gestured for him to look at the other paper.
Upon flipping it open, he immediately caught the brief, succinct report from the Academy City Board of Directors.
'So it's from the top-top, huh? Crap.'
"Attention, relevant Dark Side Organizations.
An invader from outside Academy City has infiltrated our walls.
Their name: "NRVNQSR"
The threat they pose may be as large, if not larger, than the 10/13 and 09/30 Incidents.
Neutralize them, and all of their members promptly.
The organization that we see has contributed the most to this task shall be rewarded handsomely.
Thank you for your cooperation."
Accelerator read the name of the infiltrator over and over again. It seemed to be all capitalized and rather vague, like all of the other dark side organizations in the city, but…
"…How the hell do you say that name?"
"Apparently it's pronounced Nero."
"Huh." Accelerator blinked. "Wouldn't have guessed that."
"Funny naming convention aside…" Unabara pointed to the bottom of the page. "…it's already looking grim."
xXx
BLOCK*
Blue Blood*
Freshmen*
Full Course*
GROUP
Hound Dog*
ITEM
MEMBER*
Scavenger
SCHOOL
Spark Signal*
xXx
The second half seemed to be a list of multiple Dark Side factions. Most were marked with an asterisk, and a few were underlined, as if to highlight them.
"Tch." The Level 5 scowled at the names. "I'm guessing the ones you asterisked are already gone?"
"…Yep. According to our intel, anyway. The ones underlined are what we think are the only notable ones left. As you can see…there's not really many of us left to deal with this new threat."
"No shit. So are we gonna try and offer an alliance, or something?"
Unabara shook his head. "No can do. The way that the Board of Directors framed this was more like a bounty hunt…working together just means that we're gonna fight at the end for the prize. Sure, more hands on deck, the better— but we're better off not getting chummy with factions that are just gonna end up stabbing us in the back later."
"Right. Stupid question, anyway. Here's some not stupid questions, though…"
He set down his drink and looked directly at Unabara.
In the corner of his eyes, he could see the tower that the kid and Musujime made suddenly collapse and crumble all across the table.
"…What's the prize that they're offering, that so many factions would want to agree to a slaughter like this? And more importantly…what the hell is Nero?"
The wind shifted slightly at his verbalization of that word. Unabara ran his hand through his hair as he overwatched the bustling metropolis of Academy City.
If things didn't go well the next few days…it may very well become a nightmare again.
'…And I can't protect Misaka like that.' Unabara inwardly sighed.
Resolving on his answers, he met Accelerator's serious tone with a grim scowl himself. "…Remember what you saw, that night of September 30th? That's the prize that's being offered.
It's the Holy Grail. Any wish that you want…if we defeat NRVNQSR, and prove ourselves to the Board, we can get our wish granted."
Accelerator's grip on the balcony became so hard, he felt his fingers begin to bleed.
'…This bullshit again. Of course. Of fucking course.'
If it wasn't Vampires, it was this damn Holy Grail conflict. One after another…he didn't know when it would just end.
"As for the enemy…" Unabara mumbled. "…Believe me when I say that it's only a rumor. No one that's encountered the enemy, has apparently survived to tell any others what it was. But…you may be familiar with what they are, Accelerator.
Do you know the term…Dead Apostle?"
xXx
(OST: "Shinai" — Hideyuki Fukasawa)
It wasn't supposed to be this way.
It wasn't, it wasn't…why?
Why?
I can't move. My body…it can't…I can't move a single muscle.
My eyes can't look away from…it. Him. That.
That man, with a wolf's mouth coming out of his stomach.
Get him away from me. He already killed Seike and Yakumaru…what else…what else does he want…?
I try backing away, but I can't.
His white, white face turns to me.
Something black, black, black and blacker seeps into the ground.
Yakumaru's legs lay at my feet.
Her head and body are over there. Somewhere.
Black dogs. Black dogs. They're eating her. I can hear their ravenous growls and the ripping and ripping of flesh and bone.
Seike is…is…all that's left is her hair. She was swallowed whole.
Why? Why did it turn out this way? I thought all that the worst we ever had to go through was Accelerator, but—
"Little girl."
His voice rumbles through my bones. My legs are shaking. My arms are trembling.
I feel wet. Something warm and wet seeps down my thighs.
At some point, I must have fallen to my knees.
He's right there. He's right next to me.
"Where. Is. The. Grail?"
My mouth tries to eke out a response.
Grail? What Grail? What the hell is a Grail?
Is he looking for it? Why did he have to kill us to find it?
"I…I…"
I have to get him to stop.
If I tell him that I don't know, maybe he can spare me. Maybe then I can take Naru and run. Wait, where's Naru?
Ahhhh. Ahhhh. Aaaaaaaaaaaa—
"I don't…know…"
My mouth said those words out of instinct.
It's all I can do to survive.
"P-Please…st…stop…"
"…You don't know? You're useless, then. Like all the others."
The black wolf in his stomach opens wide. I can see nothing but nothing between its teeth.
It's going to eat me. I'll be just like Seike.
Maybe then this pain can stop. Maybe then I won't have to hurt anymo—
"LEADER!"
Wait. No.
I look to my right, and I see Naru. Her paper bunny swings wildly at him.
Stop. Stop it. You're not going to do anything.
You can't…you can't save m—
"Guhh—!"
I blink.
Something warm and thick and wet and red splashes onto my face.
When I open my eyes, all I can see is pink and red.
Everywhere.
Organs spill out. I think that's Naru's intestines and liver.
Her nude lower body splats into the blood pool.
Those beasts that were feasting on Seike begin to feed on her.
"Ghhhh…hhhhh…Lea…"
For some reason, I choose to look up.
Naru. My dear friend, Naru.
Why did you protect me? Why didn't you run?
Now you're just like Seike and Yakumaru. It didn't have to be this way. You could have been the one to survive.
But now…now…
"Lea…der…"
Her eyes roll to the back of her head.
The wolf chomps down on her torso and arms and swallow their contents.
Half her head splats onto the red concrete. A fox-shaped beast tears it apart.
After several seconds…she was completely gone. All that was left was the crimson on the ground and on my face.
All of the beasts' eyes turn to me now.
The man gives me a look of pity.
Don't pity me. I don't need it.
I just want this all to stop. Maybe if it does, I'll see them again.
I close my eyes as I see the wolf open its mouth.
I guess this is it. I'll see you soon, Seike. Naru. Yakumaru.
Scavenger wasn't apart for very long. Now…we can be together again.
Chomp.
xXx
"…"
The grey-haired man turned away as his beast chomped down.
He paid no mind to the carnage that lay upon his feet, and to the blood he had spilled upon this measly facility.
"…Disappointment."
All he was concerned about was his goal— to which he was not a single step closer to solving. Not a single human had been able to tell him the location of the objective he had been given.
He thought about trying some other option, but given his nature, intimidation would have to be the only factor. Besides, his accomplices had their own means that they were likely executing themselves.
As long as one of them found the Grail, their job would be done, and he could return to the shadows.
Yet even so…he was disappointed. Not just at this new failure, but at Academy City as a whole.
"…A city of advanced science? Please. Atlas has years on this damn place."
He stepped his boot onto a stray kidney. It burst like a red balloon.
'Guess this faction is a failure. Let's see…'
Out from his midnight coat, he pulled out a short list of organizations he was asked to…interrogate.
'…ITEM…SCHOOL…GROUP…hmph. Three more. That's perfect, then…looks like our job's actually almost done.'
One of those factions was bound to know where the Grail was. Even if they didn't, and he and his allies were forced to kill them, it didn't matter.
'Those are the factions with the Level 5s, I believe. Finally, an actual test, and not these damn small fry.'
After all, Level 5s were apparently the rarest of the rare within Academy City. Currently, out of 2.3 Million citizens, only seven of them hold the rank of Level 5 Esper.
They were Academy City's strongest. This also meant…they were the city's greatest defense.
'And if we kill them, well…'
He closed his eyes, and continued on to his next meal.
The beasts around him bowed their heads as they collapsed back into his shadow.
'…He'll just be forced to hand it over.
Come, Aleister. Show me why you were once called the greatest mage in existence.
Show me why this city has a right to exist…or if it should bow before the Crimson Moon, like all others.'
(OST: End)
xXx
Location: Somewhere High in Academy City…
Today was supposed to be the day he rebelled.
October 9th— Academy City's Independence Day from Japan. In celebration of its autonomy…SCHOOL was supposed to become fully independent, itself.
It was the day that he, the Second-Ranked Esper, would slay the First, and claim himself as the strongest.
Instead…all the young man could do was laugh. Things never really did turn out the way he expected.
Just yesterday, they had received an order from the Board of Directors themselves, to hunt down a new, invading faction called NVRNQSR.
Seeing as how it had already destroyed much of Academy City's dark side, the one named Dark Matter had to put away his selfish ideals for now…at least, in the way he was previously planning.
For now, he would play along with the Board's game. Watching outside the SCHOOL hideout window, he overlooked the midday view of Academy City.
Underneath, he knew it was already dripping with blood— moreso than what the Dark Side usually provided.
And once the sun set, and the moon rose…he knew it would only get worse.
"…I have a report."
A female voice spoke out behind him. He glanced at the pink-dressed, blonde haired reflection in the glass. He nodded for her to continue.
"I've just gotten word from our scouts that Scavenger was destroyed."
The Second-Ranked Esper hummed. He half-expected that group to fall too— but not that fast. From what he understood, they did have considerable abilities.
Nothing at his level, of course…but it seemed as if they didn't even put up a fight.
"…All of it?" He asked.
"All four field members: Rita Iizumi, Taroumaru Seike, Naruha Sakuragi, and Itsuki Yakumaru, as well as many of their subsidiaries. They are effectively out of commission."
"Good." He replied. "One less horse in the race for us, then. Thank you."
He saw the girl in the dress nod at his approval. "Oh, another thing. We've somewhat pinpointed the location of the Gemstone you requested."
At that news, his eyes widened with surprise. He didn't expect her to work so fast— he had only asked her to start searching an hour ago. "And she is…?"
"District 7." The girl explained. "She goes to a high school there, right next to the Family Side apartments."
She walked up next to him, and put the tablet she was carrying in his periphery. Turning his head, he glanced up and down at the girl that his coworker had put on the screen.
She had long black hair and neatly-cut bangs, as well as a strangely traditional white kimono and red hakama pants. Definitely out of the ordinary to be wearing in a futuristic, modern place like Academy City, but he wasn't one to judge.
All he cared about was her powers.
"Aisa Himegami, right?" The girl asked. "The Gemstone with the ability Deep Blood?"
He grinned. "That's her, alright. If we can get our hands on her…then we'll win this competition with the other factions, guaranteed."
"…"
The girl set the tablet back in her hands, and looked out to the same cityscape as him.
The sun beamed down brightly, hiding the bloodred shadows amongst the towering white skyscrapers of science.
"…Do you really think they're real?" The girl asked. "Vampires, I mean?"
The Level 5 chuckled darkly. "Didn't you see the War that happened two weeks ago? Where heroes from the past became real in the present? Where that weird black wolf came out of that hole, then that redheaded kid cut it in half? Don't even get me started on that fucking dragon."
"Language, Kakine-san."
"Since when did you care about…? Never mind. Point is, if all of that can be real, then…"
He pressed his fingers against the glass. "…of course, Vampires can be real, too. There's no way that a Gemstone that can kill vampires exists, but vampires themselves don't, don't you agree?"
"Hmmm…" the girl pondered on that logical thought for a second. She herself was skeptical about a lot of non-science supernatural phenomena, but… "…I guess you have a point. We'll be on the search for Aisa Himegami, then."
"Thank you."
Through the reflection in the glass, he watched as the girl in the dress walked away without another word.
He turned his attention back to the cityscape. In the distance, he spotted the ever-towering Windowless Building, standing above all others.
Teitoku Kakine grasped the tower within his hand.
'…Just you wait. I'll use Deep Blood…and slaughter these invaders myself.
Then I'll get that damn Grail. I won't even need to negotiate with you, Aleister. Nor do I need to kill the Accelerator. All I have to do…
…is to wish to be the strongest.'
xXx
Location: Joseph's Coffee and Restaurant
She had only been a part of this group for a week, now.
A few days after the end of that massive, city-wide conflict that was now known as the 09/30 Incident, Fujino Asagami was released from Azaka Kokutou's facility and transferred to an apartment complex in District 18. A short time after, she was offered a job to help pay for the bills.
A job that, deep within, she didn't want to have— but resolved on it when she learned about the Fourth-Rank's untimely death.
"You were her backup, I heard." She remembered Kokutou-sensei saying. "ITEM is the Board of Director's cleanup crew…and their most valuable member just passed. I heard the pay is good, and the girls you'll work with are nice.
Just…the job itself…I know, it'll be hard for you, Asagami-san. Especially since you worked so hard to make your Esper power non-lethal. However…if you want to survive in this world, you're gonna have to be a bit taboo, don't you think?"
Taking her doctor's words in stride, she opened her eyes to the sight of her three new companions, sitting with her at a certain family diner.
"Asagami!" The blonde-haired, beret-waiting European exclaimed her name, holding up a steaming can of mackerel. "Wanna try some? It's curry flavored, this time~!"
"Frenda-san…" Fujino reprimanded lightly, picking up her chopsticks before her bento box laid before her. "Isn't it a little rude to be eating outside food when inside a restaurant?"
"Hmmmph…you have a point, but wanna try some anyway?"
"Later, perhaps."
She broke off a piece of salmon as she looked across the table. The short, brown-haired girl in front of her was reading through a light novel she was familiar with— Kokutou-sensei had her read it when she was in her laboratories.
"These mechs are ultraaaa cool." The girl, ostensibly named Kinuhata, gawked at the images within the book. "Takitsubo, look at these robots, they kinda remind me of spiders. This guy is quite the looker, too."
"…Detecting signal, north north-west."
"…I see. Never mind then, I'll read this ultra-cool book all on my own."
Fujino scanned over to the quietest of the quartet— which was a surprise, considering she herself was rather reclused— Rikou Takitsubo. Apparently, according to Kokutou-sensei, she was a Level 5 candidate, just like she was in the past.
'I wonder if she were to go through the doctor's training…maybe she could become a Level 5 like I am.
Hmmm…that may be able to help this group out greatly in the future, too.'
Despite only knowing these girls for a little over seven days, they were already…unique enough for her to be familiarized with their personalities. She didn't mind the quirks, in any case.
A tray of multicolored drinks set on the table in front of her. Peering up, Fujino met the brown eyes and dirty blonde hair of ITEM's other newest recruit.
Smiling kindly at him, she gestured to the rest of the girls, who she caught before they managed to abruptly grab their drinks. "What do we say to Hamazura-san, everyone?"
She heard each of them lightly groan, before they sighed and gave their answer.
"Ultra-thanks."
"A-All told, you did go out of your way to snag these for us, so…"
"Thank you, Hamazuraaa. Strawberry's my favorite flavor."
Approving of their sufficient answers, Fujino nabbed the final drink with her own gratitude. "Thank you very much. How much was it, Hamazura-san? We'll pay you back."
Surprisingly, the young man seemed actually sheepish at the girls' thank yous. "E-Erm…nothing much…and besides, it was bought with company money, so…"
"Hmm…I see. I suppose I'll just pay you back with a drink later, then."
Shrugging and nodding at the kind offer, he squatted down next to the table as he pulled his phone from his pocket. "After lunch, we should get on the move, though."
"Eh?" Kinuhata protested. "I haven't even gotten my food yet."
"I don't mean now, but within the hour. We should get back to our hideout…did you guys seriously not read the report I sent?"
They all shook their heads.
"Asagami told us we shouldn't have our phones out when we eat." Frenda explained. "All-told, while that is the polite thing to do…maybe not when we're on company time…"
"I somehow overlooked that." Fujino admitted. "Apologies, Hamazura-san. What was the news?"
He sighed and began scrolling through his phone.
'How the hell did I get wrapped up in a group like this?'
He took a quick glance at each one. While they all didn't have a full opinion of him yet, and vice versa, he at least could tolerate them, at the bare minimum. 'They seem nice enough, anyway.'
He found the report he was looking for, and sent it to all their phones. Without missing a beat, the three non-Level 5s immediately swung them out and open.
'Wow, they were really dying to use them this whole time, huh?'
"…No way…" Kinuhata blinked a few times at her screen. "That's ultra-bad…did Scavenger really…?"
She looked up to see if everyone else was reading the same report she was. Judging by everyone's faces, they certainly were.
"Yeah…" Hamazura sighed. "We should really be careful. The report said Scavenger was a powerful dark side organization, and it was destroyed just like that."
Frenda furrowed her brow into a scowl. "All told, however…"
She pointed her finger at Fujino. "They didn't have a world-renowned Gemstone Esper with them, did they? We wouldn't go down as easily as they did."
Fujino awkwardly chuckled at her before turning back down to the report. While it was true— she was powerful in her own right— the speed of these dark side factions being destroyed was still concerning to her.
"Level 5 I may be…" Fujino began. "…But, and if you let me be bluntly honest here…
…you girls know better than anyone else that we're not invincible."
…at those words, their faces of enthusiasm darkened. However, it was needed.
Getting into a battle with an unknown enemy, with glaring arrogance…that was a recipe for one's downfall.
"You're right, Asagami-san." Takitsubo said. "We should be more tactical in our approach."
Fujino nodded. "Right. We should play to our strengths, rather than on their terms. Playing it silent and smart is a lot better than going in with the proverbial guns blazing. Hamazura-san, have there been any hints on what these…enemies use?"
She hesitated to use the word vampire, even though that was the most popular rumor of their identity. She had already overheard many, many hushed conversations of Academy City students whispering about those dark, mythical monsters coming to life to hunt people down within city limits.
She would not call them as such until they got absolutely confirmation, however.
Hamazura scratched his head as he kept scrolling through the reports ITEM was receiving from their sub-groups. "Only a few. There's apparently been three areas where eyewitness accounts are at their highest: District 19, District 17, and here, in District 7. Out of those…"
He scrolled a little more. "…District 19's reported strange, red-eyed animals that act rabid and overly aggressive. District 17…water. Lots of water.
And here in 7, there's been reports of strange, green thorns coming from the sewers in the Garden of Learning."
"Alrighty…" Frenda stretched her limbs before taking another bite of her curry mackerel. "…All-told, I think we have our first target, then."
"Right. The closest one to us is the Garden of Learning, so…" Fujino turned her face as serious as she could. She was apparently filling in for their field leader, so she had to act and look the part. "…After our lunch, we head back to base and begin our game plan."
They all nodded in resolute unity. Even Hamazura got roped into doing it.
"Wait, not you, Hamazura." Takitsubo said.
"Eh?" The blonde young man blinked. "Why not?"
"It's where we're going, Hamazura." Kinuhata explained as she finished the last lines of her novel. "The Garden of Learning. Only girls allowed, after all, so you'll just be dropping us off at the gate. That being said…"
Hamazura stepped to the side as a waitress placed Kinuhata's order on the table, finally. Licking her lips, she pulled out a fork and widened her eyes in excitement.
"…Can't wait to do some ultra-vampire hunting."
xXx
Location: District 7, Windowless Building
If Aleister Crowley could sigh in exasperation, he almost would. Not quite, but the events of today made it very, very, very close.
He had put all hands on deck not twelve hours ago. As soon as the conflict in Avignon was wrapping up, he now had this to worry about.
Dead Apostles invading. He internally cursed at how deceptively stealthy they could be. In just a few short hours, the three main ones he could tell were present had supplanted their territories in Districts 19, 17, and 7, and had wiped out all opposing dark side organizations.
'NRVNQSR…'
That name alone at least told him the identity of one of the Apostles…unless they were intentionally using the 10th's name to throw him off.
But as it stood, he only had three organizations that were still strong enough to face them: ITEM, SCHOOL, and GROUP. Fittingly, they were also the factions with a respective Level 5 Esper.
That was a silver-lining, at least. His most powerful assets would need to be put to the test.
That being said…
'…This is quite unfortunate timing.' Aleister thought.
He had already gotten reports that Touma Kamijou had made his way toward the British Fog. While he did intend for that fog to be lifted at some point— he couldn't just ignore the Anglican Church, considering their alliance with Academy City— the fact that Ancestors decided to infiltrate on the one day Imagine Breaker wasn't present was quite unfavorable.
'No, it was most certainly planned.'
Whoever was planning this attack…knew Touma Kamijou would be gone. Even moreso, his Grail Knight had joined Kamijou on his journey through Britain, and the King of Heroes was also away from the city, doing some scouting for Crowley in the Scandinavian countries.
He couldn't rely on any of their strengths. The Railgun was also emotionally rehabilitating, and the Meltdowner had been killed in battle two weeks ago.
And he didn't even want to think about White Princess starting to move, too. He was grateful that his city wasn't exactly on her radar…he could barely handle one Archetype, after all.
'…Well played.' He concluded, closing his eyes in admittance. '…Well played indeed, Miss Eclipse Princess. You even somehow allied with Ortenrosse to get Nrvnqsr on board with your plan, did you not? Well played, indeed. You truly are pulling out all the stops to put my city down and draw me out.
However…I am not exactly down for the count quite yet.'
He lifted his hand, which actually lowered closer to the ground.
Within the orange fluid of his liquid chamber, he focused his eyes on the room before him…
…and its seven circles, scrawled on the ground with chalk, with alchemical and magical markings and designs all drawn with one, specific purpose.
To call to a Throne beyond time and space.
'This is a gamble, indeed. By doing this, I'm making the artifact that she likely desires within her reach.
However…I simply do not have the manpower to deal with these enemies. Even one Ancestor overpowers my available Level 5s…three is simply out of what they can handle.
I must go to desperate measures. I'm even risking the energy of the Imaginary School District to kickstart its activation six decades too early.'
He opened his eyes. The multiple screens orbiting him gave him the go-ahead to begin the ritual.
A scarlet red glow formed across his forearm, as his voice echoed throughout the windowless chamber.
"Let silver and steel be the essence.
Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.
Let my great Master, Aiwass, be the ancestor.
Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall.
Let the four cardinal gates close.
Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom…rotate."
The seven circles burned to life with pure white light, crackling with exorbitant mana.
His call to the Throne reached out beyond time and space.
He knew not of the Servants he would summon. Without a way to summon a specific one, he knew that they would likely be random. If Gilgamesh were here, he would have likely asked for some catalysts.
For now, this had to do. With the Einzbern Grail purified, whomever he brought into existence would have the natural tendency to be heroic, anyway.
He continued the centuries-old mantra.
"I hereby declare.
My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny.
Answer to the beckoning of the Holy Grail.
If you submit to my will and my reason…then answer me."
His eyes widened. The seven pillars of light began to form just the hint of an outline of humanoid bodies within.
The lightning coiled and crackled and split. The entire Windowless Building trembled before the might of whomever had answered his call.
He looked at his right arm, and smirked as he saw twenty-one red command strokes burn into his skin.
He had altered the Grail to do this when he had first stolen it, seventy years ago. However, due to the corruption of Angra Mainyu, he deemed this method worthless, and left the Grail for Imagine Breaker to purify.
Now that it was…he could once again enact his decades-old plan.
The coveted Holy Grail, capable of reaching the Third True Magic…shall be his greatest sword and shield against the forces of the Crimson Moon.
"An Oath shall be sworn here.
I shall attain all virtues of Heaven, and dominion over all evils of Hell.
From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power…"
The light reached an insurmountable zenith.
To combat the Dead Apostle Ancestors, he would use their greatest enemy. So great, in fact, that across endless worlds, only a select few existed where they were not mutually exclusive, this one included.
They were such powerful influences on the world, that one completely denied the existence of the other.
He reached out to the Throne of Heroes.
And in response…seven heroic hands grasped at his fulminating light of freedom.
"Come forth from the ring of restraints—
Guardian of the Scales!"
…
…
…
As the light died down…the Silver Sorcerer laid his eyes upon the figments of the past he had brought into this world.
And he smiled viciously.
'Altrouge Brunestud…
…Shall our game commence?'
xXx
Story III
Collapse of Science: Lumina Royale
(OST: "Avid" — Hiroyuki Sawano feat. mizuki)
Location: Calais, France
Despite the fall of Avignon only happening a few short days ago…they had to move on.
The memorial for all who were lost had passed. The towns where both French Incidents took place…no longer stood.
Even so, they had to move on.
Touma Kamijou stood at the railing of a freshly bought French-brand yacht, bought via Tsuchimikado's credit card.
'I have a feeling that sucker's not gonna survive.' He remembered him saying, a little while ago when they were making the purchase from the dock. 'So we better buy it instead of rent it.'
He watched as the Amakusa Christians began to undo the ropes anchoring them to shore. Looking to his right and left, he made the final headcount for who would be heading into that wall of mist and fog alongside him.
'Rin…Sakura…Kanzaki…Tachie…Ciel. Only six including me, huh?'
He looked down to the Amakusans. Each of their eyes looked red and tired, like that hadn't slept for multiple days straight.
…Considering what happened to whom they must have called their fellow sisters and brothers-in-arms, he didn't blame them in the slightest. It must have been harder for Kanzaki to leave them again, but…
"I'll go with you. I know that if she were here, Itsuwa would want to accompany you all, as well.
So more than anything, I'll stand by your side. Besides…the ones who did that to Avignon may very well be hiding in that fog. If they are…I'll be there."
He gave a look of light concern, but ultimately understanding for the long-haired Saint, who was currently giving a thousand-yard stare southward.
To his immediate left, Ciel assisted in untying the ropes on their side. As soon as they came loose on both the ship and the dock, she pulled them into the deck with a tiny grimace across her face.
She arguably had the most to prove. She was a Burial Agent— and she not only let an entire population of a hundred-thousand be lost, but let not one,
Not two,
But three Ancestors slipped from her fingers.
"My director called me," Ciel had told him, just the night before, "He said he was 'utterly disappointed' in my performance. Heh, reassuring, right? The only reason why I haven't been cut right now is because of my impeccable record before.
In any case, once they rebuild the Seventh Holy Scripture, it won't be going back to me. I'll have to prove myself and hunt down another Ancestor in Britain. There tends to be a few in there at all times for…reasons I'll talk about later, so I have a decent shot of gaining rapport back.
But more importantly, I wish to get Britain out of that fog. We lost, but…that won't happen again."
Turning his head, he gazed up a set of steep stairs, where a certain Grail Knight was prepped and holding the wheel with vigor.
They had agreed that Tachie would be the driver of the yacht— apparently, being a Demi-Servant also gave her an ability to sufficiently operate any mount or vehicle.
"My reason for being here is simple, Touma-san. I was told to protect you. So I will."
A simple enough reason. And considering what they had all gone through the past couple days…some extra protection and manpower was needed.
Besides, Touma knew that Tachie had a good heart. They may have been enemies during the Holy Grail War— but it was clear her intentions were in the right place.
Now, her actions were, too.
'That only leaves…'
He glanced to his right, where a certain pair of mage sisters stood quietly next to him, gripping the steel rails.
"…You alright, Rin?" He asked. "Erm…maybe it's a bit too late to be asking that."
The brunette mage giggled. "Yeah. To both things you said. Even if I wasn't, I'd be coming with you anyway.
If I can help it, I'll always come along. You always want to do the right thing…even if you struggle in doing it. So…I'll lend my hand, too. Lighten the load on you, yeah?"
"Yeah." He nudged her on the shoulder. "Thanks."
"Mm." She nodded, then turned to her still-silent sister, gazing out into the fog-walled seas. About twenty kilometers out from shore was that great wall of fog— the wall that they were willing to drive right into and pass.
"Sakura…are you ready?" Rin asked.
"…"
Touma walked over to the other side of the lilac-haired mage, and patted her shoulder. "…Still wanna prove yourself, right? About…whether you think you deserve to be here, or not?"
Slowly, she gave a hesitant nod at his words. Honestly, Kamijou was just relieved he hit the reason for her melancholy right on the head.
"Well," He patted her again, "you know our answer, Sakura. You don't need to prove anything to us. But I can…we can understand why you still think you fall short.
Avignon kicked our butts. Our enemies have…a lot on us. But we keep moving, no matter what. I got your back, you get mine. Got it?"
He lifted his fist for her to bump.
"…Mm…okay."
She tapped it gently. "I will, Kamijou-san."
With that, they heard Tachie turn the keys and start up the engine. With all ropes detached, the yacht was free to depart.
The Amakusans pushed it off the planks as it idled forward, a frothy, gentle wake building from its rear as it began its short journey toward the mist and fog.
Yet, for one more time, the six upon the ship looked back to who they were leaving behind.
Touma especially smiled and waved at Index, who they made the hard, but logical choice of leaving her in Tsuchimikado's hands.
As she enthusiastically waved back, Touma recalled the words they had exchanged before he boarded.
"You better come back alive, you got that? Not just you…ALL of you. I won't…I won't tolerate any of you dying…
…if you die, Touma, I AM going to bite you on the head. Yes, I know that doesn't make sense, therefore it makes more sense if you live, yeah?! Yeah!"
He chuckled inwardly. Even in this grave situation, she didn't change a beat.
"Bye, Index." He said, quietly. "I'll make you all the food you want when we get home."
He had only known her for a few months…but from all of the crap they had been through together, it may as well have felt like years.
They would meet again. Besides, Tsuchimikado had her under his wing. If anything, he trusted the guy to keep her safe.
Speaking of, the blonde, Hawaiian-shirted young man lifted someone on his shoulders, so she could see everyone better.
The girl that they had saved. The only survivor of that fallen city. She, like all the others, gave an outstretched wave as they pushed into the English Channel.
Tsuchimikado gave them a resolute nod. He could hear the words conveyed in that alone.
"Don't forget that you still saved someone. That's already a miracle in this bullshit world."
Nodding back at him, and with the shores of Calais getting smaller and smaller, he finally found the will to turn around toward the future.
Walking a good pace up to the bow of the ship, he stared down the giant, dome-like wall of fog completely ensnaring the British Isles whole.
Within the hour, they would be right up against it. Staring at his right hand, he knew what to do.
"No form of communication can go in and out," Rin explained behind him, "Nor has any vehicle, sea, or air, been able to pass through. It's not just some ordinary fog…it's definitely supernatural. Meaning…"
"…That my right hand is the key to breaking through it." Kamijou finished. "That's been the plan since the start."
He held his right hand out, challenging the grey haze ahead of them. "…You ready, Tohsaka?"
"…Yeah." Her cerulean eyes glinted with determination. "Britain…I know a lot of people there that I care about. I've visited that country since I was a kid, and it's home to one of the greatest magical organizations in the world…so of course, I want to try my hardest to save it. So let's do it, Kamijou.
Us, and everyone else."
There were not many of them.
Yet their hearts burned with a fire that wouldn't go out so easily. Avignon was gone, and so were many of their friends and family.
'But when you're at rock bottom…when your luck is at its lowest…'
Kamijou balled his right hand into an unbreakable fist, as he gazed sharply into the hazed horizon.
Toward the shores of mist and fog, to a kingdom yet unknown…he and his friends would press forward without hesitation.
'…then that's the perfect time to rise back up.'
xXx
Location: A Certain Beach in Calais
"…So it was you."
A bobcut head of blonde hair made her way through the damp sands of Calais's shores. Ahead of her, she could see the twilighting sky and the setting sun to the west. Just ahead was probably the source of the whole world's attention: that grey dome of fog, covering the British Isles.
In the distance, she could spot a tiny, boat-shaped white dot begin to make its way toward the foggy walls. Of course, she knew all-too well who were on that vessel…
…yet more important than that was the figure standing before her.
A dry, tan cloak covered the upper half of their body as well as their head, though Arcueid could easily tell just from their frame that he was a man of large size and musculature. The hood made a gentle flapping noise as the ocean breeze blew past them.
She put her hand on her hip as she sized up the man from behind. It didn't take her long to verify that the presence she felt in Avignon, watching from afar…was the same one standing before her, their eyes peeled to the horizon.
"…Heh." The man scoffed lightly. His voice was deep, yet sprinkled with a touch of youthful idealism. "I thought I hid myself pretty well…but I suppose nothing in this world gets past you, White Princess."
"You could say that." Arcueid replied. "I was wondering…who exactly saved that girl, who otherwise would have died just like everyone else in that town…looks like I found my answer.
Just couldn't help yourself, could you? The fact that you didn't get directly involved meant that Avignon wasn't your job, just like me…but you chose to step in anyway, at least a little."
"…You could say that."
'Ugh, really?' Arcueid slumped her shoulders. 'Throwing my words back at me? This guy…'
"I saw someone I could save. So I did. That was all there was to it."
"And if the Ancestors caught you?" Arcueid asked.
"…Heh. That's what makes it hard, being someone like me. I knew I wasn't supposed to be there…my job wasn't in France, or in Japan, where I had first manifested."
He pointed out to sea, to that grey wall standing two dozen kilometers out from shore.
"…It's in there. I can feel it…it is telling me that's where I'm meant to go."
Arcueid tapped her fingers as she crossed her arms. "Do you really have to be so cryptic? I thought we're supposed to be on the same side. Kinda."
"Exactly. Kinda." The man lowered his arm and explained, still refusing to turn around and look at her. "…The things we work for…the ideals we have…they're slightly misaligned. We do both work to keep the world in order, yes— but for end goals that aren't compatible."
"Hmm." Arcueid hummed. "What if I told you that I want humanity to keep striving forward?"
"Heh. Then you'd be lying to yourself, White Princess." The man solemnly admitted. "Maybe it is what you desire…but it's not what you're destined for. I feel like you and I…both know what that's like."
The breeze picked up.
The hood fell around the man's neck, and Arcueid caught a glimpse of the color of his hair before he hastily pulled it back up.
She blinked. 'Mmm…so that's who you are. I figured as much.'
"Toooo late." The blonde princess teased, her voice lightening up. "I saw what was under there."
"…Whatever." The man sighed. "This is mostly for them. I have a feeling I'll be running into Imagine Breaker and his group within Britain…don't want to cause any unnecessary feelings to be bubbling back up. After all…both he and that red mage are a part of the prophecy."
"Prophecy?" Arcueid tilted her head. "There's a prophecy? Wait, how much do you know about what's in that fog?"
"Not much." He admitted. "Only enough to know that time is dilated in there…and that the girl named Rin Tohsaka, and the boy named Touma Kamijou had to survive to make it to Britain. Now that they're on their way, that job is assured. The rest is just keeping them alive until it's all fulfilled."
"For the love of the Blue Moon, can you please speak normally?"
The man chuckled, letting his arms loosen and relax at Arcueid's jabs at his vagueness. "I'm doing what I've always been doing…protecting others. That's what heroes do, after all."
"…Uh-huh." The princess sighed. He didn't abide by her request at all, and something told her that he was secretly enjoying sloshing her around. "So that's why you kept saving Rin with those weird pink shields, too…guess that mystery's solved."
She clapped her hands together, fixing her mood in a heartbeat as she swiveled on her heels and began her walk away. "Well, I assume you're going into Britain after them. You have fun with that."
"Hm?" The man turned, almost enough for her to see his eyes. "So you're not going in after all?"
"Nope." Arcueid shook her head. "…There's someone I can feel in there that I would like to…not run into, at the moment. It's still too soon to have my rematch with her…with my hair cut, she'd probably smoke me."
"…Ah. Understandable. Where are you off to then, White Princess?"
Arcueid hummed for a second, letting the waves wash past her boots as she gazed up at the reddening, darkening sky.
"Across the world to Academy City, most likely. I've always meant to visit that place ever since its conception, so I may as well take a look around. Science…Espers…it's all new stuff to me, so I wouldn't be against taking a tour."
She didn't see, but she knew the man must have nodded at her answer. "I see. Then this is where we part ways, daughter of Gaia. Hope your journey goes well for you."
Arcueid scoffed as she began her walk. She could hear the man begin to shift into azure glitters, vanishing from this plane of existence to enter the world within the mist and fog.
This may very well be the first, and last time that they would ever speak. 'Guys like him are on an in-and-out sorta basis, after all.'
Waving off with her hand, she reciprocated his goodbye.
"Same to you. I'll see ya when I see ya, then…
…Agent of Alaya."
xXx
Location: A Certain Shore of Dover
It was almost time.
She could feel it. Deep within her hollow beating heart, she could feel it approaching from the world beyond.
She dug her heels into the sandy shores as she gently breathed out, her blue dress and white hair tipped black blowing in the British breeze.
That sensation. That strange, foreign, yet familiar sensation that only she, and she alone could apparently feel.
She felt it twice. Once, from before the fog had befell across the United Kingdom…and once more, just a few short weeks ago.
They were familiar, yet so far away. And she knew it, because…
'…It felt just like me.' She thought. 'Out there…in the world…'
She reached out her thin, delicate-seeming arm— even though her physiology and her origin proved that she was anything but.
"There's someone out there, just like me." She finished aloud.
A part of her was apprehensive. What if this being was harmful? Either to her, or to her adoptive sisters?
Would she be forced to kill them? And if so…wouldn't that mean she'd be alone again?
'…No, stop thinking like that.'
She patted her cheeks. She was thinking too negatively. There was an equal chance that they were virtuous and kind, too.
If so, then maybe they had space to negotiate. Maybe.
'…I hope so.'
She kicked the sand. The situation she was in was a little too…complex for her to make her own decisions. Even though she was one of the most powerful existences in Britain, she still had to answer to the crown within New Camelot.
Ultimately, with this familiar presence closing in on Britain's dimensional wall, their fate would fall to the Queen's word.
'Even so…I hope to see them. I just want to know if…'
She stared at her hand as she effortlessly floated up from the ground to the sky; the part of the planet where her kind was most natural. '…if I really am not alone in this world.'
She loved her found family. Yet even so, she would always be a different species than them.
She hoped, across these waters and across that shimmering wall, there was the one who would give her her answer.
"…Nng."
She winced as the communicative Mystic Code at her ear started ringing. She was so deep in thought, that an abrupt sound like that caught her completely off-guard.
The young woman tapped it twice to get the line to answer. She was about ninety-percent certain who it was.
"Gooooood afternoon, Tessa! E-Erm, Light Knight Lancelot. How are you doing, this fine day?"
The petite, floating woman lightly laughed at her sister's chippy attitude. "I'm fine, Lessar. I hope you are as well…and you know you don't have to call me Light Knight Lancelot, right? That's only for formal stuff."
"Right, right. I'm fine too, by the way. Just calling to pass a message on from the Queen."
Tessa's face fell into a neutral frown. If the Queen herself was asking, then it must have been important. "What did she say?"
"…If I remember correctly…it was something about scanning the forests around Norwich. She said that there have been reports about that appearing again. It has been about fifty days, after all."
Tessa nodded. "Roger that. I'll take a look now, then."
"Thanks, Tessa. Man, you really carry our airforce, huh?"
"Lessar, I pretty much am the airforce." Tessa joked, although not ironically.
After all, being cut off from the outside world meant that a number of natural resources went missing…including the ability to make fuel.
With a loss of planes and helicopters, Tessa really was the only one who could truly patrol the skies.
"Alright, I gotta go." The Light Knight said. "I'll see you in Camelot soon, hopefully."
"See ya!"
The Mystic Code cut off. Tessa took a tiny breath as she looked out to the seas, one more time.
Snapping her fingers, a metallic, shimmering blue set of armor formed on her body, complete with spiky shoulder guards, neon blue gauntlets, and black combat heels.
Setting the mask over her eyes, she readied herself for a quick, three-or-so minute trip through the air. After all, at her speeds, she could circumnavigate all of the British Isles within an hour.
"I can tell…you'll be appearing here pretty soon." Tessa pointed her blade-loaded gauntlet toward the transient wall, which only showed an endless ocean as far as the eye could see; devoid of any European continent. "…Heh. Nothing has landed on the British shores in months aside from various flotsams…but it looks like we'll be getting a real visitor soon.
I look forward to it, fellow Remnant. I hope you can impress me."
And with that, the Light Knight of New Camelot blasted off in mid-air, soaring high into the twilight, ray horizon.
…
…
…
Far below the soaring Knight, a certain dark-cloaked girl trekked quietly through the quiet British fields.
It was daytime, so the Phantasmals that would usually appear at this time were not present, allowing her and her company to traverse safely.
Yet all the same were the dangers from above— that flying Knight being one of them. Upon hearing the fighter jet-like screeches of her hypersonic flight, the girl winced as she peered up at where she could have gone.
A white light streaked through the air, followed by the signature fwsssh of what sounded like a jet engine.
"…Lancelot…" she muttered.
'…One day…I may have to face you.'
"Gray."
A male voice snapped her back to reality, as she lowered her head and held her hood even more around her face.
"It's just a little longer. Keep your head up." The man said, fixing his glasses as they pulled themselves over a small hill.
As they peered over, they spotted it: the coastal town of Dover, only a few kilometers out now. Many of its buildings were starting to become dilapidated from months upon months of lack of maintenance.
A major, country-wide loss of power would do that. However, Britain's infrastructure crises were the least of their concerns.
Right now, it was all about meeting at the right time, and right place.
"Dover…" Gray muttered. "So Lady Stuart is down there somewhere, Sir?"
"I'm certain of it. She's been evading the Queen for this long…so I can trust that she made it here, too. If we're going to turn Britain around for the better, then we need her with us. And besides…"
He eyed down the shimmering wall a few kilometers out from the British shores. "…If the prophecy really is true…then they should be appearing there, soon."
He patted the girl on the shoulder, telling her to continue on. "Lead the way, Gray."
"Y-Yes, sir."
She rushed forward a couple steps as they began their final stretch toward the town of Dover.
Internally, she recalled the words that had been spoken to her, so many times before.
The prophecy that had existed for one-thousand, five hundred years.
The prophecy of a late King…who shall rise once again.
"I speak now of a future. A far, far distant future, that shall not come to pass until the third millennium.
After hundreds of suns and thousands of moons, the Isle will reach its final twilight.
A replica shatters like glass. A bloodied crown rises from slain kin.
The Castle of White shall return. The Round Shield shall shine once again.
Yet, the mistake will not go unnoticed. A fog, representing the great mistake, will enshroud the Isle from hope.
Modernity will fall, and the age of Mystics shall rise upon the parched lands once again.
But fret not, for upon that day, the Isle must only wait a little longer.
Brought on by her fate, the one who would be crowned will stand tall.
A forest of blood. A sea of trees. When the Child is slain within the mediaeval city, her journey shall begin in earnest.
Carrying the Sacred Spear, and guided by the gem and the remnants, the saviour will reach their rightful throne.
She will bring the Isle its salvation. She will anchor the World's balance.
Even if her life started small, she shall be a beacon for those to follow to the end of time.
May the Fourth spare them. May the Third shine its light.
May the imprisoned Seventh never open its eyes.
May the restraints unleash, and blaze the path of the true crown.
Hark, and accept her true regency.
Hark, for the Once and Future King."
xXx
Story IV
Domain of Dragons and Angels: Albion le Draig
