The cursed queen of the Heart Kingdom
"This bows-woman of the forest is tough!" Kenzan shouted in her head as she dodge another arrow from Cortana.
"What are those runes though?" The swords-woman of the winds muttered, noticing the set of runes that have been surrounding the fired arrow.
"...Shouldn't you be aware of your surroundings at all times, swords-woman?" Cortana questioned, causing Kenzan to become confuse before sensing an attack heading towards her.
Spinning around, Kenzan cut the a rune-covered arrow.
"What?! Can you fire home-seeking arrows or something?!" Kenzan asked, becoming shock as she realize that it was the same arrow.
"...Not through my own internal power." Cortana responded before dashing forwards, the blade parts of Eien No Midori ready.
The swords-woman of the wind managed to block the bladed attacks that the bows-woman of the forest throw at her before moving about so that she's behind Cortana.
Unfortunatly, Cortana spun around and fired an arrow, but this time Kenzan caught the arrow whilst having Hayate in it's single blade form.
"Such fast reaction!" Cortana thought in her head, her eyes widening as she quickly moved back.
"Those who wield the Holy Sword of the winds are known to possess hightened reflexes..." A second voice spoke within Cortana's head, yet the bows-woman of the forest kept her gaze fixed on Kenzan.
With the swords-woman of the winds, she dashed forwards.
"Why is she moving forwards? She's just making herself an easy target." Cortana thought as she prepared to fire a third arrow.
However, when it would seem that Kenzan would run into the bows-woman of the forest, the swords-woman of the winds changed directions.
"Where is she preparing to strike me?" Cortana thought as she eyed Kenzan quickly moving about, jumping off solidfied air.
After a few seconds of moving about through the air, Kenzan throw the Shuriken-formed Hayate.
Cortana attempted to avoid the attack, but wasn't fast enough as the Shuriken-formed Hayate managed to graze her leg.
"Ghe!" Cortana grunted as she felt pain flaring up through her leg.
"Yes!" Kenzan shouted in a pleased tone of voice.
"You do know that you've just made yourself weaponless." Cortana pointed out as she dash forwards and swing the bladed parts of Eien No Midori, with Kenzan only being able to dodge the attacks until Hayate returned to her hands.
"Not anymore!" Kenzan said in a confident tone of voice as she split Hayate into it's two-sword form.
"Hmph. Let's see if your so confident after this." Cortana said as she pressed a button which is located just behind the Wonder-Ride book slot.
Finishing Page!
The voice announced just as Cortana pulled back the arrow-piece of Eien No Midori and Mana started to gather at the tip.
The bows-woman of the forest then released her hold on the arrow-piece.
Flora Elk!
Finishing Strike!
The voice announced just as the arrow flew straight towards the swords-woman of the winds.
"This...is going to hurt." Kenzan thought as she stared at the incoming attack.
"Hffff…...Hffff….." Joyeues took deep breaths whilst keeping her eyes fixed on Gajah, she having put a lot of Mana within the previous attack.
"What do you think he will do next?" Espada asked as she kept a firm grip on Ikazuchi.
"…" Mimosa has became silent, gaining a worried expression on her face.
Gajah was about to move, but stop when he spotted something heading towards them.
Joyeues, Espada and Mimosa looked in the same direction and their eyes widened as they saw Rin flying straight towards them.
"Rin!" Espada shouted as she moved so that Rin would land on the golden carpet.
"What happened?!" Joyeues asked, becoming worried just as Mimosa began to heal Rin.
"Just got...struck by a powerful...attack..." Rin responded, sounding slightly breathless.
Everyone began to sense a presence heading towards them and when they looked, they saw Cortana approuching them
"What did you to her!?" Joyeues demanded, becoming angry just as Espada raised Ikazuchi.
"She's not too badly injuried. I made sure to keep the attack as blunt as possible." Cortana responded in causual tone of voice.
"Blunt? Really?" Rin questioned whilst raising an eye-brow.
"Just what is going on? Why are we getting attacked in the first place..." Espada thought before noticing that Gajah is getting onto one knee.
"I apologize to you all. We forced this battle upon you in order to test your magic level." Gajah explained whilst Cortana remained standing next to him.
"Huh?" The Clover Kingdom Magic Knights said at the same time, already confused with Gajah's actions.
"Within the Heart Kingdom, we measure a Mages strength through a tier system with ten levels, nine to zero. The lower you level is, the stronger you are. It doesn't matter how many dozens of people group up together against one lone Mage, they wouldn't stand a chance." Cortana explained, causing the four Clover Kingdom Magic Knights to glance at each other.
"That's why wars between magic nations, military strength is measured by magic level. The amount of Mages a country has nearing level zero represents the country's strength. Even fighting against Devils requires Mages of at least level one or greater." Gajah added, and the mention of "Devil" caused the Clover Kingdom Magic Knights to become tense.
"Why did you….?" Mimosa began to say before trailing off, not sure if she speak her thoughts.
"Come. Your friends will be waiting at the palace." Gajah said, causing the Clover Kingdom Magic Knights to perk up.
After continuing the journey by boat, the group of five entered the palace of the Heart Kingdom where they spotted Rintaro and Secre.
"Rintaro! Secre! Are you two okay?!" Donna asked as she and the other three approached the two.
"Yes. We're good thank you." The wielder of Nagare responded with a reassuring smile on his face.
"I was wondering where you were. You followed Rintaro, didn't you?" A fully healed Rin asked, making Secre nod her head in response.
It was at that moment that Rintaro notice something.
"What's wrong with Domi? She seems….different." Rintaro pointed out, noticing how a more calm expression is present of Domi's(?) face and her eyes have changed to blue.
"No idea. She certainly has become a different person." Donna responded, a slight worried expression has appeared on her face.
"The queen has arrived." Gajah stated, causing everyone else to turn towards the direction of where footsteps can be heard and saw Lolopechika coming through a door, carrying a sceptre and no longer wearing glassess.
"She's absolutely stunning…" Mimosa thought, she, Donna, Noelle and Rin becoming stunned.
"And such an unfathomable Mana…." Noelle thought seemingly continuing with Mimosa's thoughts.
"Citizens of the Clover Kingdom, please lend me you pow-" Lolopechika began to speak before her foot caught the end of her dress, resulting in the Heart Kingdom's queen to crash onto the ground.
"What the!?" Everyone thought with mainly Noelle, Mimosa, Donna and Rin become shock.
"Ahhh, please Lolopechika! You must comport yourself with dignity, like a queen." Undine said as she appeared next to Lolopechika and helped her up.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow..." Lolopechika muttered, her nose starting to bleed.
"That's why I said that it wasn't advisable to meet her in person…." Gajah said whilst sighing deeply with Domi(?) nodding her head in agreement.
After a few minutes, Lolopechika is sitting on the throne, her nose covered in water
"S-so. Why do you need our power?" Donna asked, she and everyone else trying to keep the image of a dignified queen in their heads.
"I want to form an alliance…...to invade the Spade Kingdom." Lolopechika responded in a serious tone of voice, causing the Clover Kingdom Magic Knights to become shock.
"Invade the Spade Kingdom?!" Rin asked with widened eyes.
"Yes. That's correct." Lolopechika said, nodding her head slightly.
"But….why?" Mimosa asked, seeing how the Heart Kingdom is a peaceful nation.
"Some time ago, a Mage from the Spade Kingdom attacked the Heart Kingdom…..and placed a curse on me." Lolopechika explained before starting to lift the stomach area of her grown.
"L-Lolopechika! What are you doing?!" Undine asked, gaining a shock expression on her face.
"What? I need to show them the curse, don't I?" Lolopechika asked with a questioning expression on her face.
"Well….I suppose, bu-." Undine began to say, but was interrupted as Lolopechika continued to raise her gown.
The Clover Kingdom Magic Knights became tense as they saw a spiral-like mark on Lolopechoka's stomach, glowing in a dark purple colour.
"What sort of curse is that?" Mimosa asked in a horrified tone of voice.
"One that originates from a Devil, a Devil known as Megicula. As far as we're aware, I have a year left until the curse claims my life." Lolopechika responded as she let go of her dress.
"A Devil!" The Clover Kingdom Magic Knights thought at the same time an image of Zagred appeared within Mimosa's and Secre's head.
"So you want the Heart Kingdom to form an alliance with the Clover Kingdom in order to slay this Devil." Secre summarised, causing Lolopechika to nod her head.
"That's correct. Going back to the magic tier system, a Mage with a level below one have no chance against fighting a Devil, but even tier zero can't fully finish them off. We of the Heart Kingdom are able to draw magic from natural Mana for divine protection, yet your usage of magic is different as you are able to manifest things like chains and steel. These unnatural forms of magic do possess the possibility of slaying Devils like Megicula. Even Holy Swords are able to purify the Demonic Mana of Devils, although those who wield Saikou, Kurayami and Rekka have a much easier time to draw on that purifying power than the other Holy Swords, apologies by the way." Lolopechika explained, saying the last part to the Sword of Logos Magic Knights.
"N-no worries." Donna said, although she, Rintaro, Noelle and Rin felt their bodies "breaking" slightly, even Domi(?) flinched slightly.
"…" Secre glanced to the side, she not fully hurt.
"You, Secre." Lolopechika began to say, causing the Sword of Logos sealing Mage to snap her head back to the Heart Kingdom's queen.
"Even though you're considered to be a tier six Mage, but due your corrupt form of sealing magic, you can be grouped into a tier known as Arcane tier, a stage where Mages possess a magic that defies standard conventions. The same can be said with darkness magic and the Mana that Saber has gain through Primitive Dragon, which has been refined with the apperance of his newly gained Elemental Dragon form." Lolopechika explained with the last part causing everyone to become wide eyed.
"How…..do you know that?" Donna asked, starting to become tense, along with everyone else.
"Well…..I am known as the "All-Knowing Priestess". Plus, I have been receiving reports about the Clover Kingdom dealing with a….angry dragon." Lolopechika explained, knowing that this is a sensitive topic.
"I know that this is insensitive, but we had Mages on standby just in case Saber wasn't able to be brought to Wonder World and the rampage of Primitive Dragon started to spread to the Heart Kingdom. I'm certain that that is possible future that the new Calibur foresaw." Undine explained in calm tone of voice, making the Clover Kingdom Magic Knights to nod their heads in understanding, although not liking what they heard.
"Anyway!" Lolopechika said with the eagerness of wanting to move the conversation on.
"Please allow the Clover Kingdom to lend their strength to the Heart Kingdom and in exchange, I shall supply you with any knowledge that you people desire." Lolopechika explained, causing the Clover Kingdom Magic Knights to glance at each other.
"That's….something we can't agree on, we need to contact the Wizard King and Magic Knight captains first." Mimosa said, making Lolopechika nod her head.
"Shall we contact Vice-Captain Ogami?" Noelle asked as she raised her communication device.
"Yes, he and Mr Daishinji will be interested about hearing the existence of the bows-woman of the forest." Donna responded, making the silver hair girl to nod her head before turning on the communication device.
Meanwhile, Domi(?) was giving the swords-woman of lighting a blank expression.
After a few seconds, a screen appeared with Ryo appearing.
"Hm? It's you guys. Are you enjoying the Heart Kingdom? Learning anything new?" Ryo asked with a smile on his face, yet slightly becoming concerned.
"Well….." Noelle began to say before trailing off, not sure how to began the conversation.
Luckily, Donna took over and explained the situation to the vice-captain of the Sword of Logos, minus mentioning about the Queen of the Heart Kingdom being cursed.
"Okaaaaaay. How did the opportunity of relaxation turned into the negotiation of joining forces and invade the Spade Kingdom?" Ryo questioned with a raised eye-brow.
"I apologise for the inconvenience of how this turn out, but this is of grave importance." Lolopechika responded, making the wielder of Gekido to nod his head.
"I understand, but I will need to contact Sir Julius who will then arrange a captains meeting where we will make the final decision." Ryo said, making Lolopechika to nod her head this time.
"Is there anything else I should be told?" Ryo asked, becoming curious.
"Actually, talking about learning something new, we learn the existence of a…"Holy Sword" in the Heart Kingdom." Rintaro responded, making Ryo to become a wide eyed.
"A Holy Sword wiel/Did someone say "Holy Sword"!?" A voice shouted, interrupting Ryo and everyone watched as the vice-captain of the Sword of Logos got knocked to the side and replaced with Tetsuo.
"Where did Mr Daishinji came from, his workshop?" Everyone thought, sweat-dropping.
"Holy Sword?! Where?!" Tetsuo demanded, a slight crazed expression in his eyes.
"There's no need to push me to the side, Tetsuo. And where did you appear from in the first place?" Ryo asked as he got up off the ground and picked up the fallen chair.
"Wow. Someone's keen." Lolopchika commented with a sheepish smile on her face, making Undine to nod her head in response whilst Gajah simply sighed.
"Here she is, the wielder of Eien No Midori." Rin responded as she guided Domi(?) to allow Tetsuo and Ryo to properly see the wielder of Eien No Midori.
"I can move by myself, thank you very much." Domi(?) said in a harsh tone of voice to the wielder of Hayate.
"S-sorry." Rin said whilst backing away.
"Can you show me the Holy Sword." Tetsuo said, almost on the verge of excitement.
This cause Domi(?) to sigh in exasperation before taking out Eien No Midori.
"….." the appearance of the bow caused both Tetsuo and Ryo to become.
"Well? Say something?!" Domi(?) demanded, gaining an angry expression on her face.
"Why is Eien No Midori takes the form of a bow…..?" Ryo asked whilst glancing towards Tetsuo.
"W…..what?" The wielder of Suzume said, becoming confused.
"Weren't you told about a Holy Sword got took too much damage that it broke?" Lolopechika asked, making Tetsuo blink his eyes a few times before realization fell upon him.
"Yes! Fiona told me how the previous wielder of Eien No Midori, when it was still in its sword form, was fighting a group of bandits and one of the managed to break it. Damn that bandit! If I get my hands on them." Tetsuo said before a raging aura started to surround him, making Ryo, who is sitting next to him, start sweating.
"He's pretty protective of the Holy Swords, isn't he." Lolopechika commented whilst glancing towards the Clover Kingdom Magic Knights that are standing beside her.
"I'm afraid so. Mr Daishinji is from the family who forged the Holy swords in the first place." Donna explained, making the queen of the Heart Kingdom to nod her head slightly.
"So why does Eien No Midori now takes the form of a bow?" Tetsuo asked, now having calmed down...almost.
"From what I've been told, when Eien No Midori was found after its destruction, the founder attempted to mend it, but eventually ended up transforming Eien No Midori into its current bow form rather than its original sword sword form." Domi(?) explained, causing Tetsuo to regain his raging aura.
"What?! Eien No Midori wasn't mended by a member of the Daishinji family?!" Tetsuo demanded in an angry tone of voice.
"That's it! I'm coming over to the Heart Kingdom and find the person who is responsible for warping Eien No Midori. The sword must be in pain!" Tetsuo said as he seemingly began to leave the office.
"No! We don't want to cause problem with the Heart Kingdom, especially since its keen on forming an alliance with us!" Ryo exclaimed as he held Tetsuo back.
Noelle promptly switched off the communication device.
"I think it's best if we call them back when Mr Daishinji has calmed down." Noelle explained to the confused expressions in the room.
"Yes. That's a good idea." Undine said, nodding her head slightly.
"So what's up with the shift in personality? You seemed shy back on the boat before you transformed into Cortana." Rin asked as she turned her attention to Domi(?), she and the rest of the Clover Kingdom Magic Knights becoming curious.
"…..I'm not Domi, my name is Fillon." Fillon(?) introduced herself.
"…..Huh?" The Clover Kingdom Magic Knight said at the same time, becoming confuse.
"Domi is in fact a vessel the elf known as Fillon." Lolopechika explained, making Fillion move a part of her hair, revealing an ear which is pointy.
"An elf?!" Everyone exclaimed, becoming slightly on guard.
"Really? There's no need to become tense." Fillion said with a slight annoyed expression on her face.
"Sorry. But its just that…" Rintaro began to say before trailed off.
"I understand your shock, considering what the Clover Kingdom has gone through a while back. But don't worry, Fillion isn't a malice-driven soul." Lolopechika said in a reassuring tone of voice.
"…...I'm having doubt about that…." Rintaro muttered, seeing how aggressive Fillon seemed to be acting.
However, the wielder of Eien No Midori heard him.
"What did you say!?" Fillon demanded before throwing a Mana-skinned covered punch towards the wielder of Nagare.
As Fillon's fist flew through the air, her pointy ears and eyes began to change.
Unfortunately, it was too late as Domi's fist made contact with Rintaro's face, causing him to be sent flying.
"I'm sorry!" Domi exclaimed whilst everyone gained shock expressions on their faces.
"O…..owe….." Rintaro muttered in a pain tone of voice.
"T….that's some punch you have there….." Donna said just as Mimosa rushed to Rintaro's side and began to heal him.
"Hehehe, yeah. I guess that what happens when you possess both human and elf Mana." Domi responded, yet still possessing a guilty expression on her face.
"Now then." Lolopechika said, catching everyone's attention.
"Now that's all out of the way for now, why don't you have a proper look at the Heart Kingdom." The queen of the Heart Kingdom suggested, making everyone nod their heads.
And there we have it, Lolopechika explaining her plan on forming an alliance with the Clover Kingdom to invade the Spade Kingdom with the intent of slaying Megicula. This chapter also reveals how Eien No Midori was orginally a sword before it got destroyed and reforged into it's current bow form along with Domi revealing to be a host to an elf called Fillion.
I'm going to be away after this update to the story, so there will be a delay until the next chapter.
TBNRGAMERX: The thought has appeared in my mind, but I'm not sure how to incomperate "Ultimate Bahamut" into the story.
Caballero Lector rojo: It will be a while until Asta makes his reapperance, but he will have a firm grasp on the powers of "Elemental Dragon".
Brave King: I'm good with everything, thank you.
