Hey, author here!
First of all, I'm really happy to see how much attention the fic got these past few days. Thank you all so much for all the comments and support you gave this fic. I'm also happy to see all the familiar faces from two years ago. I'll try not to disappoint you guys as much as I did back then.
Anyways, usually in this section, I would bring a few comments from readers as a form of interaction, but in my opinion, the fic just started and I saw a few people having a misconception about what I want to do with it, so I'll be skipping it this time, so as to not accidentally over explain what my vision is for this fic.
With everything said. Hope you enjoy the chapter!
*Chapter start*
Looking at the expressionless girl in front of him Ector hesitates, that expression only appears on her face when she has had some kind of contact with that man. Ironically when doing so she perfectly mirrors the face of that same person, an uncaring detached expression that shows no feelings or emotions, no doubt her own way to deal with the man she seems to despise while also mocking him… but this time…
"Are you sure about this Artoria?" Ector asks, still a bit uncertain about what to think. This decision was so sudden that he couldn't think of a single reason as to why she would make it, other than watching the U.A festival yesterday, but even then why? What made her take that decision?
"Yes, I'm sure about it." The girl replies firmly, lacking any apparent emotion in her eyes.
"But… but why now? Even if you were to enroll now you would have to start all over, they won't let you go directly to the graduating year. You would be throwing your efforts from the past three years away and you also have many more options here in the UK, you've almost finished high school and with your grades, you can go almost everywhere you want to go, you can easily pursue a hero career here even if you don't want to get in contact with that man." Ector tries to reason with her.
"I've already made my decision I want to enroll at U.A." Once again the girl replies without blinking.
Seeing her unwavering determination in her eyes Ector sighs." Can't we at least wait for the end of the year? It would be a waste to drop out of school in the la-"
"Huh? You are still here Artoria?" Interrupting their conversation Kay walks into the living room with messy hair and dead-faced, having just woken up. He goes to the fridge to take something to drink but does a one-eighty-degree turn as he sees Artoria's face.
"Umm? Did something happen?" Kay asks uncertainty. He already knows the meaning of that face and usually means the girl is not in a good mood, but seeing that she missed school for some reason, something she never did… that means things are really serious this time.
"Did dad do something?" Kay asks tentatively.
Ignoring Kay's words Artoria says directly to Ector."I intend to enroll at U.A next year, and I'm doing it one way or the other."
Hearing the emotionless but powerful voice both Ector and Kay get stunned. Her words carried by her voice left no room for argument, what she says is law, or at least that's how they felt, as if an invisible force was compelling them to obey her order. Gone was the amiable girl they knew, now her entire being shifted as she stared at her uncle almost like she was ready to behead them at any moment.
Being the target of the stare Ector flinches for a second almost falling on his old hero habits and preparing to engage the person in front of him. But that is only his girl, the girl he raised since she was a baby, taking deep breaths to recompose himself, Ector looks at the girl he raised with a myriad of emotions before saying in a soft tone."Okay… I'll see what I can do."
Taking his cell phone out he prepares to make a quick call and then says to Artoria."Get your thing ready. We are going to school to talk to the principal."
Artoria nods as she goes to her room, passing Kay without saying a word.
"Dad?" Seeing the incomprehensible situation developing in front of him Kay turns to his dad looking for some kind of explanation.
Ector sighs as he says to his son."Things are going to get a bit busy from now on. I don't have much time to talk right now, I have to make some calls. When things calm down a bit we can talk."
*Scene break*
Walking down the hallways of Orleans Academy with Artoria turned out to be quite an odd experience. He knew that the girl would be quite recognizable, and she indeed grew to become a beautiful woman, with high grades and good morals. She did ascend to the position of student council president after all… but I didn't think she was that famous in this school. Every single student they passed in the hallways turned their head to look at them like they were some kind of bizarre animal that shouldn't be there.
'It seems her reputation in school is much bigger than I imagined. By the way they are reacting they probably never saw Artoria making this expression, and the fact that I'm accompanying her this way… maybe they are thinking she did something wrong and the school called her father to attend?'
"Artoria, knowing you, you should have made some preparations in advance. You can do your things while I talk to the principal. we probably won't need you there, for now." Ector says taking his attention away from the students.
"Understood." Artoria says in an almost robotic voice as she walks away from Ector.
Taking out her phone she opens a group chat.
Student committee chat group
Alan: Hey Elise do you have any clue what happened to the prez?
Elise: I've been trying to talk to her all morning but I got no response.
Escaan: Really, what happened? I've never seen prez miss a single day.
You: We need to talk. Come to the student committee room.
Having sent the message Artoria calmly walks to the student committee room with a bag full of different stacks of paper encased in plastic bags.
Reaching the student council door she grabs the doorknob and turns it pushing the door to enter the room. Looking to the right, Artoria turns her eyes to Lilian sitting on the couch. Before the girl could say any word Artoria says in a commanding tone.
"Wait for everyone, I will explain then." She passes the bewildered girl and sits at the student president's desk closing her eyes, waiting for the rest to come.
As every member of the committee arrives and meets the uncomfortable vibe of the room, they choose to wisely remain silent and quietly sit on their respective chairs.
"Now that you are all here we can start." Opening her eyes Artoria says in a tone of voice that scares all the people in the room into not saying a word."My absence this morning is related to what I'm going to talk about, so refrain from asking anything for now."
"I've decided this morning that I'll be dropping out of this school." Giving a second to let her words set in Artoria opens her mouth once again, ignoring the shocked expressions of her friends."I've made this decision due to personal reasons, just know that there is something I must do no matter what, and staying in this school will only hinder accomplishing it. Due to its urgency, I won't be able to finish this school year and probably won't be here tomorrow. All the duties of the school president will be passed over to Elliot."
Pausing once more, Artoria brings her bag over to her and starts taking stacks of papers from inside."To not disrupt the functions of the committee any more than I already have, I decided to make a detailed guide of my duties and yours for the rest of the school year. It would be within your interest to read them." Passing the papers to everyone Artoria says one last thing."If you have any doubt or if any kind of unforeseen problems arise you may call me for help. The next months will be very busy for me, but I should still have time to give some bits of advice if necessary. If there is anything you want to ask, do it now."
Artoria finishes her words with a look that almost dares anyone to even breathe in her presence. As the seconds pass and no words come from their mouths Artoria gets up from her desk and walks out of the room leaving everyone behind.
The ones left in the room stay silent not really knowing what to say in this unprecedented situation. Many absently start to look at the papers in their hands while others still in shock look at the room's door almost as if waiting for their president to come back and say that everything is just a bad joke.
With a troubled expression, the first and only to open his mouth for the next few minutes is Elliot with an empty chuckle."Hahaha, I have so much work to do."
*Scene break*
Sitting near the dispatch area of the airport Artoria looks up to Ector as he says."I will take in your luggage, you can wait here for the flight."
Despite hearing Ector's voice Artoria remains quite seemingly lost in thought.
"Are you going to stay quiet the entire time Artoria?"
Artoroa turns her head as she hears her best friend's voice by her side, sitting one bench away from Artoria since her handbag was in between the two. Looking at the eyes glaring at her, Artoria says."I've already said everything I wanted to say back in the committee room."
"Everything… everything you say? How can that bullshit be everything? You said nothing. You just walked into the room, said that you were leaving, left us with a stack of meaningless papers, and left like it was none of your business. What do you mean you said everything? Why are you leaving? What is so important for you to drop out of school right before graduation? Why aren't you saying anything right now?" As Elise speaks her loud voice and glaring eyes subside, Bringing her knees over to her face she hugs her legs as she mutters quietly."What Am I supposed to do?"
The expressionless mask over Artoria's face cracks for a second, as the fierceness of Elise's voice fades leaving tinges of sadness and resignation."You don't have to worry I've already made my decision and it is not like I'll be dead you can still call or text me at any time."
Elise slowly removes her head from between her knees and looks directly into Artoria's eyes with tears threatening to fall over from hers, she makes eye contact for what feels like an eternity before saying."Am I not your friend Artoria?"
Without breaking eye contact with Elise, Artoria replies flatly."Yes, you are my friend."
"Then why?" Elise almost cried her words."Why are you treating me like this? Why are you talking to me like I'm some dirt in the road? Why are you ignoring me every time I try to understand what is happening?"
Artoria flinches as she lowers her head breaking eye contact with her friend incapable of looking her in the eyes any longer.
Losing her strength Elise collapses on her body as she once again buries her face in between her knees. Staying just like that for minutes Elise opens her mouth with a saddened voice."I thought we would graduate together. You would probably go to a different Uni, but we would still see each other all the time over some drinks or whatever, then as always I would just complain about everything and you would just stay there listening to me with an amused expression."
Rambling some nonsense Elise cries quietly."But… is it just me who cares about our friendship that much?" Still hearing no response from Artoria, Elise just mutters to herself."What are you even doing?"
Conflict adorns Artoria's face as she quietly says."I don't know."
Elise raises her head and looks over at Artoria, without any emotion on her face."What?"
Artoria keeps her head lowered as she mutters again."I don't know… what I'm doing."
Elise looks at her friend weakly and says."How can you not know? You are abandoning everything right in the most important moment of our lives for something you don't even know."
Raising her head Artoria looks intently in front of her as if she is trying to grasp something. Clenching her fists she turns her head to her friend and says with a firm tone."I… I don't know if what I'm doing is right, I don't even know exactly what I'm doing. For everything I know, what I'm doing right now could very well be nothing but chasing an impossible dream, I could very well be a stupid girl refusing to accept reality…" Artoria's gaze is still fixated on that mental image that seems to be so far away."I'll be abandoning everything I've built, achieved, and worked my hardest to get, even if those are the ten years I've spent distancing myself from that deplorable man, or the countless hours I've spent working on myself making sure I'm at my best, all the career opportunities I'll lose by blundering right at the finishing line and even my most precious moments in this life, the times I spent with you and the others."
Artoria returns her eyes to Elise."I'm sorry Elise." Her eyes even if slightly moist show an undying determination."I'm sorry that I'm letting you down. And I'm sorry that I won't be there when you receive your diploma, I'm sorry that I won't be there during your graduation party or all the other parties for the next few years."
Seeing the hollow eyes of her friend Artoria says."I know this looks like a complete betrayal of everyone's expectations for me." She pauses looking for the correct words to say."And to be completely honest that's the truth. Maybe in a certain way, I've unconsciously done as people expected me to be, maybe that's the only reason I took this persona of a near infallible being."
Artoria lets an amused chuckle escape her lips."I have already lived most of my life like that, not for myself but for what others needed me to be. Well… I probably sound very egotistical right now, like the world is revolving around me and my life is a huge drama, but being honest… I don't care anymore." Artoria looks deep into Elise's eyes as she says."I'm sorry Elise, I know this hurts you a lot, but… I've made a promise… a promise so important and seemingly impossible that even countless lifetimes may not be enough to reach it."
"But even then… I've made it. A promise so important to me that it left a hole in my heart." Bringing her hand to her chest Artoria says with a weak, but tender smile reminiscing of that fateful day."To me, that promise matters more than anything else, I would give everything I have and then some more just so that it could be fulfilled. Even if I'm disillusioned, being tricked into having hope just to have it shatter right in front of me… I'm willing to lose it all, be it just this time or many, many more times… as far as the unreachable dream I once had could be fulfilled. So that I can be my true self, so that the me of tomorrow can bask in the dreams that I so vehemently wished for."
Taking her eyes off Elise Artoria says."I gave up on that happiness once before, but now I won't. I won't let others' expectations, their hope, or even their affection or care for me stop me from reaching the place I want to be. As long as that promise still exists… nothing else matters."
Elise looks at her friend incredulously, almost like this is the first time she has seen her in her life. Never in her life has she seen Artoria acting like that…
"I don't understand. Where is this coming from? I've been with you, your entire life… I've never heard of anything like this." Elise just looks down weakly.
Looking at her friend's download expression Artoria explains."I just never thought it would come to be relevant. I was fully committed to living my life like I did before… but now what I want and what I desire for myself is right in front of me to reach. That's why you only know now." With a small pause, Artoria sighs."But maybe I have blown things out of proportion…"
Elise lifts her head to meet Artoria's eyes. With a smile Artoria says."I may have acted like I would go away forever and ignored your and everyone's feelings… you know it's not like we will never see each other again or that I'm going to start blocking everyone on socials."
Elise nods weakly, not really knowing what to say to her friend. She is barely able to understand what is happening right now, she is now seeing a completely new side of a person she thought she knew everything, she thought she knew everything there was to know about her friend, she lived her entire life with her… but now she suddenly says she has a something she never shared and said thing is more important than her and everyone else…
Hearing someone approaching Artoria turns her head to see Ector smiling weakly at her as he says."Artoria, I've sent your luggage. You can already go wait for your flight if you want."
Approaching the girl he raised, lowering his knees so that he could be on eye level with her he says."I don't know what is happening right now but… as your caretaker and the person that loves you the most I trust that you have what it takes to live the life you want to live." Smiling from ear to ear he hugs her."You always were the most mature person I ever knew, so unnatural that it scared me… I always thought you would be the first one to leave home and pursue your own life, I just didn't think it would be so soon and in such a way… anyway I just hope that in the future you can try to rely more on your old man, I'll always be there even when you think I'm not."
Separating from her, Ector looks directly into Artoria's eyes as he ruffles her hair a bit."Have a safe trip, and remember to have fun while you're there in Japan." Getting up he looks one last time at Artoria before saying."Oh yeah, and remember to get along with your Sister."
Having said his piece Ector leaves the two alone once more.
feeling her body getting heavy, Artoria lets a long sigh off, washing away all of the heavy emotions with it.
Getting her things in order she gets up from her seat and says to Elsie with a somewhat conflicted emotion."I'll be going know Elise. I'll try to call you once I have some time."
Turning her body to walk away, Artoria is interrupted by Elise's voice talking to her.
"Are you not going to even give a proper goodbye."
Artoria quickly turns around with widened eyes.
Approaching her stunned friend Elise hugs her tightly."You are a real piece of shit. Even when I'm trying my best to understand, you just come up with some cryptic words like the rest of your entire life is at risk here." Letting herself go of her friend, she looks her in the eye with an angry expression."You might not have cared as much about our time together as I did. But that doesn't mean you diminish what I feel for you. You are my best friend whether you like it or not."
Elise takes Artoria's hands as she says."Nobody here is asking you to not be someone you do not want to be or whatever the complicated things you said, I just wished that you trusted me more. If I had known you had this thing going on I would… I would at least support you properly like a friend would." Taking her friend's hands Elise says emotionally."So, please… trust me more next time, okay?"
Hearing Elise's sincere words Artoria lets a rare but honest smile, one without any falsities or second thoughts, feeling genuinely happy after a long time Artoria says smiling radiantly.
"Mmm, I'll."
*Scene break*
Just after exiting the plane, Artoria gets a new message from Ector.
Uncle Ector
Uncle Ector: There should be someone nearby just as you land. I think she said someone would be holding a sign for you.
Checking the message Artoria looks around and sees a brown-haired woman holding a sign with Artoria's name on it above her head.
Approaching the woman with a polite smile Artoria asks."Are you the one my sister sent to pick me up?"
Seeing the Artoria-friendly approach the woman freezes for a moment before getting her bearings again. She smiles at Artoria and says."Wow, you two are nearly identical. Boss did say that I would just need to look for someone who looks like her, but I didn't expect you two to be so similar."
Letting a slightly awkward laugh Artoria replies."Oh yes, I do get that a lot." Pausing for a second Artoria extends her hand and asks."But what was your name again? Miss…"
Looking embarrassed the woman quickly replies as she shakes Artoria's hand."I'm sorry I should have introduced myself properly. My name is Alexia, it is a pleasure to meet you."
Artoria nods her head and says."The pleasure is mine."
Giving the girl in front of her a smile Alexia then asks."Is there anything you wish to do before setting off? If you are feeling tired we could take a small pause, take something to eat before getting in the jet, or perhaps go to the bathroom, after all, you already flew all the way from London to here in Korea."
Artoria shakes her head and says calmly."There was no problem, the flight was comfortable enough for me to take a quick nap while I was at it. If there is no problem with your side we can already depart. I just have to take my luggage back then we can go."
"Oh, yes then we don't have to worry. Your baggage was already taken to the jet when the plane landed, follow me please." Alexia gestures to Artoria to follow her.
Moving out from the airport Artoria follows Alexia and enters a gray car already waiting for them at the entrance."We will have to enter the landing area from outside since they didn't allow us to use the staff entrance, it will take only a few minutes."
'Taking flights nowadays is much more convenient. I remember during the Fourth Holy Grail War the time it took to fly from Germany to Japan took almost a day. Now from London to Korea, it takes only two and a half hours. But still, it is a bit ludicrous to think that it has been three hundred years since the invention of the first plane and technology only got this far. Although it would also be more complicated to make a commercial airplane of that size move any faster without causing serious pressure problems for the passengers'
Exiting the car Alexia guides Artoria to the private jet waiting for them. Entering the jet Artoria sits near the middle of the jet as she hands her bag and other things in her possession to the flight attendant.
Looking around the jet Artoria caught Alexia's absent-minded gaze directed towards her."Is there something bothering you Alexia?"
Artoria inquires as she notices the slight admiration hidden beneath Alexia's eyes.
"Oh? No, I… it's just. You resemble Boss even just by sitting. The way you express yourself and the way that all your actions seem so elegant and deliberate, if it wasn't for your hair and eye colors I would really confuse you with Boss. Oh yes and the way you smile, I can't picture Boss smiling like you."
"Is that so? Well, My sister and I took the same etiquette classes when we were young, so, naturally, our movements and dispositions look similar." Artoria says ignoring the last sentence."Anyways… has she been doing well? We haven't had much contact in the last few years."
Looking puzzled Alexia replies."I guess so, at least she hasn't changed since I first met her, I mean it's not like Boss is the talkative type even if something serious were to happen I don't think I would be on the list of people she would talk to to, after all, I only got to know that Boss had a sister today when she sent me to take you I-Island."
Letting a weak chuckle escape her lips Artoria says apologetically."I'm sorry for being such an inconvenience."
"There is no problem Boss always sends me to do these kinds of tasks randomly, I'm used to it already." Alexia laughs it off just as the private jet turbines start roaring.
*Scene break*
Landing at the biggest man-made structure in the world, Artoria can't help to be marvel at it. Be it in ancient times or nowadays, creating anything near this of this magnitude would be considered an extraordinary feat.
"Welcome to I-Island Artoria." Alexia says with her arms open with the massive artificial island behind her.
Following Alexia as she guides her through the main street of the business island, Artoria can't help but be awed by it. Be it the massive amusement park or the several restaurants, small to big businesses, and many other places of entertainment or leisure, everything mends together to create a stunning picture of what this island is.
'This is without a doubt the pinnacle of technological advancement. Nothing in previous life could come even close to being compared to this, not in Camelot, or at least not in the modern times. No even in ancient times finding something like this would be incredibly rare, I can count on hand the number of people who would have the knowledge and resources to build something like this throughout the times, and that's when we take into account the magic available at the time, if not the gods themselves giving a hand to help.'
Roughly after fifteen minutes of walking Alexia guided Artoria through the main road of the business island, the place everyone lands through. Ironically despite being called an artificial island, I-Island is actually an archipelago of four islands, three octagonal islands encompassing the main island in a triangular shape, whilst the entire archipelago is surrounded by massive walls cutting the line of the horizon. Being divided into business island, residential island, academy island, and finally the research island.
"From here on we will have to take the car, unless we want to spend another thirty minutes to get to our destination." Alexia gestured to a car parked nearby.
Getting into the driver's seat Alexia turns to Artoria and asks."So what do you think of I-Island?"
Artoria praises whiteout restriction."It is an amazing place. It is hard to think that this entire place was envisioned by one man."
"Isn't that right? David Shield truly is an impressive man, even though he didn't build this place alone, the very fact he was able to convince thousands of investors to finance and build this place is incredible."Alexia says while driving through the road connecting the outer island to the central island.
Taking a glance at the car's holographic clock Alexia says."Will be there in five minutes, just in time for the meeting to end."
"Meeting?" Artoria asks curiously.
"Yes, we had a meeting scheduled for today, that's why Boss couldn't come to pick you up." Alexia replies.
'I don't think she would come to pick me up regardless.'
"By the way, you said you were my sister's employee right? What exactly do you two work with?" Artoria asks genuinely curious, she never had much interest in what her not-so-close sister was doing in such a place.
"We are just the design department. Since most of our creations are designed for heroes who have to maintain a certain image or have to impress people with striking visuals, our team works with those demands and tries to accommodate them while not disrupting the function of the device in question." Alexia explains.
"So you guys make things more fashionable for the heroes."
"That's pretty accurate, we are just the bridge between the scientist and the heroes, of course, it goes a bit beyond that since we are required to have multiple areas of expertise, but that is not really a wrong assertion." Alexia replies while looking ahead with a smile.
Towering over all other buildings in its vicinity, the central tower of the island proudly stands."That's the main tower of I-Island. Most of the more important and secretive research is done there, it also serves many other purposes. Did you know this place has over two hundred floors? And that's when we ignore that some floors are dozens of times bigger than your average residential floors in height."
Hearing Alexia's words Artoria looks at the massive tower casually piercing the clouds.
'I wonder just how much that thing alone costs.'
Exiting the car the two walk to the tower entrance directing themselves to the reception area. As they approach a leisure area they see a woman sitting alone in the lobby while busily typing on the holographic screen in front of her.
Approaching the distracted woman Alexia says with a smile."Boss I brought your sister."
Hearing Alexia's words the woman calmly takes her eyes off the screen deactivating the holographic projection. Her eyes move to meet Artoria's figure, and without any clear emotion on them she gets up and says emotionless."It has been a while since we last met Artoria."
Artoria nods, almost mimicking the woman's expression."Yes, it has been eight years to be exact, Morgan."
The woman with a nearly identical face to Artoria shows no emotion to her sister's words, she just casually sweeps her hands through her platinum white hair as she motions with her grayish-blue eyes to be followed to the entrance.
Shaking her head Artoria smiles and says to Alexia."Thank you for guiding me here, it was a pleasure to meet you, Alexia."
Alexia stays rooted in place with a bewildered expression stamped on her face. It was the first time she had seen her boss treating someone so nonchalantly, it is completely normal for her to have no emotions as she interacts with people, but to disregard them completely like that is not something you would normally see happening.
As the two were about to exit the tower a voice called for Morgan's name, prompting the duo to turn back and look at the origin of the voice.
"Oh, is that your guest Morgan?" The voice comes from a short middle-aged man wearing glasses, by his side another man taller with piercing blue eyes not concealed by his pair of glasses.
Approaching Morgan and Artoria the short man introduces himself and the man by his side while extending his hand to Artoria."I'm Sam Stenford, I work here as a biologist, and by my side is David Shield head of the quirk technology development team."
Shaking both Sam and David's hands Artoria says with a polite smile."Artoria Pendragon, Morgan's younger sister, it is my pleasure to meet you both."
The two men look a little surprised at Artoria's smile before replying with a smile of their own."It is our pleasure."
Continuing with the conversation David casually asks."Artoria are you staying at I-Island with Morgan? I haven't heard about anybody coming to work with us, or are perhaps looking to enroll at the academy?"
"I'm not staying here for long actually. Just a month or two before I depart for Japan, I'm just here to receive some help from my sister to settle my accommodations over there on the mainland." Artoria replies.
"Oh? Are you looking for work opportunities over there? You should have contacted us. We surely can offer something better, will you be working in the same line as your sister?"
Artoria shakes her head at the man's misunderstanding."No, I'll not be working any time soon. I am looking to enroll at U.A High School, and yes I'm as old as I look. I'm only enrolling at this time due to personal reasons."
"Ah, so that's the reason." David says a bit awkwardly, coughing in his hand to disperse the atmosphere he gives Artoria a sly smile before saying."Since you are going to enroll at U.A why don't you try your hands at our facilities as a small test?"
"A test?" Artoria asks.
"Here at I-Island, we have the best facilities when it comes to properly measuring heroes' abilities. Even when compared to U.A we are considered the best, and since you are going to be participating in the U.A hero examination why not try our devices first as a way to measure your abilities first." David says, repeating his offer.
'It's not a bad proposition, I haven't seen what I could do in this new body or was ever that curious about what my quirk could do exactly. I have a sensation that I'm as strong as I was while ruling as the King of Camelot, despite not really having any opportunity to push myself to get stronger. I really want to try my hand at it but…'
Looking over at Morgan's expressionless eyes Artoria seems to be asking for her opinion.
Meeting eyes with her sister, she says, still without expression."I don't mind."
Nodding her head, Artoria turns to David Shied and accepts his offer."I would like to try."
Smiling, David says."That's good. Sam, can you ask someone to prepare the villain circuit? That should be pretty similar to the examination at U.A."
*Scene break*
Sitting on the stands above the villain circuit arena, Morgan looks at the stage being prepared as several robots move in specific positions on rocky terrain. Her eyes seemingly devoid of any specific emotion, rover to the blonde girl at the center of the circuit getting ready for the test, for a split second a drop of complexity emerges in them, before disappearing.
"Huh? Now that I think about it I didn't ask what her quirk was. Does she have any kind of specialization?" David sitting beside Morgan asks.
"I don't know." Morgan replied flatly.
Confusedly David asks."You don't know?"
"I never saw her using her quirk and never took any interest in whatever her quirk could be. She also never showed interest in pursuing a career that would require her to use her quirk." Morgan explains still flatly before moving her eyes from her sister and turning them to the man by her side.
Looking deep into his eyes a flash of discontent appears in her semblance."But should you be worrying about what my sister can or can not do? Unnecessarily wasting time and money here when the amount of problems in this institution keeps piling up."
Slightly surprised David asks with an awkward smile."Problems keep piling up? I don't understand Morgan, what do you me-"
"Please, don't treat me like an idiot. In the past months, you haven't taken any project, most researchers under you left I-Island and started working for governments all over the world. It won't take long before whatever confidential information they had, starts leaking out, information directly related to you and every scientific achievement connected to this island. Furthermore, the U.K has been sending me some interesting offers, which is a trend given that the city that was supposed to house ten thousand scientists now has less than eight. You aren't fooling anybody here David." A sliver of hostility filters through her voice."And what do you do? Watch an inconsequential child that knows nothing of what she wants to do with her life? Your island is crumbling and you do noth-"
"BOOOOM"
Without care or notice a storm of dust and wind swept the entire arena sending gales with enough strength to lift people off their feet and forcing the security system of the arena to activate shielding the stands, but it was too late, the hurricane in human form already did its course, completely obliterating the villain circuit. The seconds that took to activate the system weren't enough to protect the audience in time, sending the furious winds and dust to Morgan and David, forcing them to hold themselves to the ground with all their might in fear of being taken to the air.
Having received a massive blow out of nowhere the duo struggle to lift themselves off the ground using the railings as support they stand directly facing the absolute chaos that unfolded in the arena below.
This circuit was created with the intention of simulating a mountainous terrain filled with villains, in this case, robots twice the size of a normal human. It is no joke to say that ninety percent of all heroes in the world would struggle to defeat all the robots in less than a minute, the combination of several villains scattered in different directions plus the difficult rock terrain makes it so that, only the top heroes in the world could clear this test with any semblance of quickness.
But the scenario below paints a different picture. Robots lying around distorted, twisted, and broken in uncountable parts, pieces of the rocky hill completely carved out and sent flying in all directions, slashes carved in the hill bigger than any normal human being followed by footprints marks, craters, and generalized destruction and at the very top where the last of the robots stood a girl stands in its place calmly stretching her body.
"I'm pretty rusty, huh…"
*Chapter end*
And that's it for the second chapter. Actually, this chapter was supposed to be the end of the first one, but I thought it would be too long and filled with too many different scenes that don't fit much together, case in point the start of this chapter is a lot different feeling than the later half.
Anyways, a little overview of this chapter.
To begin with, we needed to have several serious discussions and compromises that needed to be made so that Artoria going to Japan did not look strange, in the sense that she had many people that would turn an eyebrow at her actions and she needed to explain herself, or at least she needs to do that to Ector and Elise since they are establish to know and care about her.
Second Artoria goes to I-Island and talks to her sister Morgan, even though it wasn't much of a talk, I pretend to develop their relationship as time goes over culminating in an outside of Japan arc as I talked about on the overview of the last chapter and finally Artoria going all out at the end certainly shocking everyone.
Once again thank you all for the support, after all these years of inactivity I'm happy to see some of the old faces returning to read my fic, despite my poor writing.
Anyway, with everything said there is only one more thing remaining.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!