SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 61 out, this is Chapter 62 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.
Chapter 62: To the Heart Kingdom!
Sometime later, at the Golden Dawn's Headquarters...
"I see." Mimosa noted after Asta and Noelle explained their reason for seeing her. "So, that's why you've come to see me. Yes, I've been to the Heart Kingdom. I went there on an exchange with my brother when I was thirteen, though I hated the fact that it had to be with him. We were only allowed access to a limited area, but their magic techniques are different from the Clover Kingdom's, so I learnt a lot. It's a lovely kingdom with abundant water and lush greenery and its rich natural environment generated so much mana. If what lies at its center is indeed a devil or a curse, that's truly terrifying. Though, it's hard to believe. We weren't allowed to meet her, but the Queen who rules over the Heart Kingdom is apparently as powerful as one of our Magic Knight Squads. She's known as the all-knowing mage who sees everything that happens in her kingdom."
"But we're not going over there to pick a fight." Asta pointed out. "I'm not letting my guard down, though."
"I believe they're recruiting applicants to go there right about now." Mimosa recalled. "I'll apply for permission to enter their kingdom."
A few days later...
"And in the end, it turns into this..." Noelle sighed, she, Asta, Mimosa and Finral were now assigned as Freyja's protection detail.
"Well, I've always wanted to pay a visit to Undine." Rhiannon smiled.
As the ship entered the waters of the Heart Kingdom...
"It got foggy all of a sudden." Asta noted as a thick fog roared in.
"The only ones who are allowed through this fog are those permitted by the Queen of the Heart Kingdom." Mimosa explained.
"That's the Heart Kingdom?" Noelle was astounded by the sheer magnificence of the kingdom.
"Their water sources, the city and the forest are all mixed together?" Finral was dumbfounded.
"Hm..." Rhiannon held out her index finger to get a 'feel' of the mana. "The Heart Kingdom's mana certainly feels more... unified when I was here."
"Please continue sailing forward." Gadjah landed on the ship's deck. "Welcome to the Heart Kingdom. I am the Spirit Guardian Gadjah, and I will act as your guide. It's been quite some time, Mimosa-sama. We met on your previous visit."
"Good day to you, Gadjah." Mimosa returned the greeting. "I'm honored you remember me."
"You were quite popular with those who made your acquaintance, Mimosa-sama." Gadjah stated.
"This is Rhiannon, Asta, Noelle and Finral." Mimosa introduced her companions.
"Undine-sama is right." Gadjah's eyes widened slightly when he turned to Rhiannon. "After 500 years, the Goddess of Magic has been reborn."
Right before the group, the waterfall formed stairs.
"The mist barrier and the water stairs are a product of the Queen's Mana Zone, which covers the whole kingdom." Gadjah explained. "It's been 1200 years since our kingdom was founded. In every generation, the Queen has made a pact with the Water Spirit as a priestess and has used its magic to protect the kingdom. Using the power of the water and trees, this has encouraged the development of a magic civilization with deep mana that does not allow unwanted guests to enter. That has been the case up until now. Though, we do not know what the future holds."
Just then, a cocoon of water encased Rhiannon and Asta before teleporting them away into the underground chamber.
In the underground chamber...
"I'm sorry for inviting you here in such a rough manner." Undine addressed the surrogate siblings. "We were waiting for your devil for the sake of our kingdom."
"Undine, huh?" Rhiannon recognized the Water Spirit's voice as the siblings readied for battle; Asta pulling out his 'Demon-Dweller Sword' and Rhiannon summoning her dual carved blades.
In his 'Black Asta' form, Asta took out the water armors with the 'Black Hurricane' spell.
"So, you negate magic." Undine reformed another water armor. "That's your devil's power. It's quite abominable, but it also seems quite useful." the Water Spirit manifested herself. "It's a pleasure to meet you, devil-possessed boy from the Clover Kingdom. I'm Undine. I'm one of the Four Great Spirits and I'm contracted to the Queen of the Heart Kingdom. You're quite amusing, but you're no match for me."
"Undine, can you please stop with the theatrics?" Rhiannon sighed, charging up a 'Omega Lightning Discharge' with her dual carved blades. "You know very well I can easily electrocute you with my area-of-effect lightning spell, right?"
"You're no fun, Freyja-sama." Undine pouted. "You don't even have a lick of magic in you." she turned to Asta. "Without any magic, you're less than ninth stage."
"Ninth stage?" Asta echoed. "What's that?"
"It's the magic class system put in place by the original Freyja." Rhiannon explained. "The lowest is the Ninth Stage, and then you work your way up to Eighth, Seventh, so on and so forth. And the highest is Stage Zero. Now, will the lady within the water curtain over there release the veil or do I have to dispel it for you?" she turned to Lolopechka who was shielded by the water curtain.
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.