It is difficult to describe it all in words, if not just plain impossible.
To begin with, any notion of common sense, physics, or grounded beliefs must be discarded in favor of anime- ah, no, just fantasy will do. Yes. Fantasy.
Elves, humans, and the natural medieval sort of world. It's all here.
However, discard any notion of technological advancement being too outdated. What they lacked in science, they appear to have in magic.
Therefore, think of everything as a fantasy where impossible is merely a measure of the limits of one's own perspective.
What is a vehicle if not a mount?
What are wheels if not wings?
You think I'm bullshitting, don't you?
Well, Kuribayashi should be able to turn in her video feed when the unit returns to Alnus Hill. It's easier to see than to believe in mere words.
Just as pokemon evolve, so too can a Toyota become Llamrei II.
I'm really not joking.
With a quick tilt of her wheels, a Toyota learned to fly. There was no gas-combustion mechanism nor were there any innovative methods of energy storage and release.
None of that.
'If you are truly fit for service, then overtake this baptism of fire!'
All it took were words of encouragement like coaxing an animal, and the Toyota roared and was no longer Toyota, but Llamrei II.
Llamrei II, yeah it's still ridiculous even now.
I can't explain it. I really can't. All I can do is observe.
Energy- magic, yeah I'll call it magic. It's easier.
Anyway, magic energy transformed the Toyota and covered it in a regal coat-of-arms particularly of medieval motifs. Further inspection and symbols match perfectly with Arthurian legend such that it's not even funny.
God I don't wish to be you, but I can already picture you all frowning about formal reports and all that, but I'm fresh out.
I'm just writing whatever comes to my mind because there's no way to formally explain how our Toyota did what it did. It was the first time I felt thankful to be back on the ground. A Toyota was not meant to fly…
Code Name: Arthur was likely the cause no doubt.
Kurata should be able to provide a more detailed report, but everyone's still in shock. As the commander of the team, I've ordered a retreat back to base to recover from injuries.
And no. It wasn't because of Llamrei II or how we took down a dragon by ramming a legendary lance and a car over its head.
This was different. It was what happened after, when a witch appeared and demanded the corpse of the big red lizard.
No casualties to report, but more of a solemn warning.
Magic is amazing to look at and experience, but that's only when it's not directed at you.
Bullets and steel can still do the trick against a magic user, but that's assuming that they connect or have time to even fire.
I'm not in a good mood. Sorry.
'Arthur' and the girl with the magic lantern said it might have to do with the enemy they fought.
Curse magic was the easiest way to describe it. Something about negativity and anger, drawing the worst out of anyone.
I suppose in my case, a usually laid back attitude and negativity mixes into something passive aggressive.
In any case, that's not what's crucial.
Rather, it's to understand that we may not be as infallible in this new world as previously thought through the battles in Alnus Hill and the primitive tactics of the locals. Wave tactics died out in the world war, but not here. They don't understand the lethality of hot weapons.
In the same vein, us running into magic may lead to the same tragic result.
Just as we have specializations in soldiers and equipment, I fear that these 'Magi' hint at an association of walking tactical missiles. Maybe nukes given what the Witch called Arthur.
'Heroic Spirit.'
Now here me out. I'd be stupid if I didn't recognize that name, but I have a feeling the brass won't take well to indulging my personal sentiments.
It's not verified, but I have a feeling that 'Arthur,' just might be Arthur.
Still, 'Arthur' wasn't too indulging with information, let alone the lantern girl who glared at him to keep quiet.
Please consider…
The magic of the new world beyond the Gate may be comparable if not greater than modern arms in variability and effectiveness.
The unit will stand by at Alnus Hill to recuperate and to provide hospitality for Code Name Arthur and the lantern girl.
Ps.
I have a hunch…and if the lantern girl's name is Gray, I really might give into my inner fanboy.
/-/
-Itami Yoji
-1st Lieutenant and Commander of Recon Three
-Days earlier
/-/
"I'm alive," Itami muttered absently as if he wasn't sure himself. He was sandwiched between several heavy crates that had gotten dislodged within the inside of the Toyota and was aching all over.
Groaning could be heard from all around him, but Itami wasn't quite sure if that was jut himself.
The elves were better off as their lithe bodies denoted their light weight. Their seat belts held while Itami, who had been trying to make his way to the mounted gun turret, was jostled around by inertia like a ragdoll.
Then there was Gray who was somehow unscathed in the chaos as if the light of the attack was being considerate of her.
Lelei and Cato were somehow floating, and Rory had gripped onto the vehicle so hard that her fingers had pierced through and crunched steel.
Yeah. No.
It must be a concussion.
Itami groggily stumbled out of the vehicle, dry heaving from the sense of vertigo yet thankful to be on the ground on all fours. He raised a hand, unclipped the latch over his helmet, and then tried to steady his gaze. Everything still felt as if it were wobbling despite knowing he was utterly still.
Behind him, he heard the Toyota's doors creak open before Gray stepped out, followed by the others.
Up ahead, the roar of an engine made Itami weakly crane his head up to see his fellow JSDF members drive close in the other vehicle. They stopped within a few meters of him before jumping out.
Mari came with a med-kit prepared and an expression that wasn't quite as calm or taciturn as it usually was.
"Captain!" Kurata yelled in relief, reaching Itami first and patting him on the shoulders. "You're alive!"
"Not now." Itami got dizzy, a hand hurriedly pushing Kurata back while another covered his mouth. "Give me a bit-ugh."
Kuribayashi came next, her arms crossed and firearm holstered over a strap on her shoulder.
"What even was that?" She whispered softly, staring beyond Itami. "Is this what they call magic?"
Kuribayashi shuddered at the massive crater in front of her. It was like someone poked a charred hole though cheese, melted on the ends and bubbling from remnant heat. At the very bottom, the unmoving form of a red lizard could be seen. Its scales and body were durable enough to endure the blow, but from the blood seeping through its mouth, its internal organs must have turned into mush.
"I don't even know anymore- captain, let me take a look at you," Mari muttered, pointedly ignoring the damage in favour of focusing on Itami.
Mari had already glanced over at Tuka, Caila, and the others, but only Itami seemed inebriated despite not consuming alcohol. He must have hit his head at one point which was concerning.
She opened the med kit, and began wiping off small cuts and bruises with a cotton ball and disinfectant.
Curiosity and questions could be asked later. Mari was trained to prioritize patients first.
Though, that didn't mean Kuribayashi and Kurata couldn't dig for answers. Just that…both of them were too nervous and tentatively holding onto their weapons to put their mouths to much use. Granted, it was a knee-jerk reaction from a fear of the unknown.
Shirou was still standing upon Llamrei II, staring at Itami and the others with an alert demeanor.
Only Rory, Tuka, and Caila looked delighted.
The rest were in varying levels of deep contemplation, and Shirou had to snap them out of it quickly.
His nose twitched from corpse-like scent that was only growing stronger and stronger.
"This isn't the time to relax," Shirou said while jumping down from Llamrei II.
As soon as Shirou's feet left Llamrei II's roof, it quickly reverted into Toyota form, the magic energy Arturia was supplying it, cut off.
Gray agreed with Shirou's words and tentatively took Add back from Shirou to arm herself. The spear of light transformed back into a talking scythe.
"What's wrong now?" Kuribayashi tensed, glancing towards Itami to help make a decision, but realizing her leader was still concussed.
"She's coming." Gray answered.
"Ooh?" Rory hummed as she sensed it. She turned her head in a direction that she noticed Shirou was already staring at and continued to observe things play out. Tonight's recent stimulus had been far more exciting than anything she'd experienced in the past few years.
"Who?" Mari asked, helping Itami back onto his feet.
"Her." Lelei pointed, her head tucking in between her shoulders as she and Cato sensed an ominous magic fill the air.
A woman was standing just by the edge of the crater. No, it was more accurate to say she was considering jumping into the crater, but was hesitating due to the proximity of Shirou and the others.
The woman, a magus, looked nervous, but increasingly determined.
Her clothes were a mix of an old Victorian frock, trousers, and boots, while a shawl was wrapped over her head. Contrary to the beautiful features of her face, her skin was deathly pale and rigid like a corpse.
The woman's attention was entirely focused on Shirou, not even questioning Itami and the existence of the others.
That was how much importance the magus placed on the largest threat.
Unlike Shirou, most magi were well educated and strove for knowledge. Few if any were like Shirou in that his focus was on practicality rather than research. It was no wonder, he'd always be considered a third-rate by his peers, but nonetheless.
The woman was sure that what she saw Shirou use was a Noble Phantasm. Then there was also the presence he currently exuded that fit more with a magic entity than a human.
"A Heroic Spirit?" The woman speculated aloud. She swallowed down her unease before shaking her head. "Just give me the corpse."
The woman stubbornly insisted on keeping her pride despite her pale complexion. "If you do me this favour, I will return it two-fold once my research permits."
The woman was bargaining.
A part of Shirou felt a little relief at that.
Most skilled magi would not resort to compromise due to their unwavering belief in their craft. Only the insecure would resort to such measures, but in comparison, they were far more likely to hold no bounds in their experiments.
The woman was a type of magus that would surely thrive in this new world without the regulations of the Mage Association.
Shirou could already predict that if the woman got the corpse of a Dragon, she'd take her research, go into hiding, and then exploit the locals however way she wished.
Unfortunately, Shirou wasn't going to bargain.
"El-Melloi," was all he said, causing a dramatic shift in the woman's expression.
Affiliation. It was something that sat at the core politics of the Association, and most magi presently beyond the gate were third-parties that would rather not be tied down.
No more words were spoken by the woman. Instead, she pulled out a wooden doll, a pulse of magic energy spreading out to envelope everyone.
The scent of alchemical processes permeated through the air like putrid aged meat.
A Ritual Medium.
Shirou was quick to identify what he was seeing.
"Black oaks and pine, a curse of pith, resentment do I bear." The woman enchanted.
Shirou grimaced, glancing at gray before yelling at Itami and the others.
"Keep your promise!" He warned, reminding them not to get involved.
In hindsight, Shirou's reminder was a mistake.
The woman caught onto the fact that Itami and the others were under Shirou's consideration and marked them as enemies.
Shirou hardly flinched when the pulse of a curse passed into him. The curse never affected him to begin with. Arturia's B-Rank Magic Resistance had much to do with that. Any magic of less rank wouldn't even register.
In contrast, Rory Mercury seemed to have her own form of resistance, as she was now watching the proceedings with interest.
The others weren't so lucky.
Shirou hadn't been the only target.
A magus is most dangerous not through random encounters, but when they'd prepared their mysteries beforehand.
The woman focused on Kurata, and then twisted the hand of the wooden doll in her grip.
"Kurata!"
Kurata buckled, veins popping over his neck as his wrist bent at an unnatural angle. He was in shock and didn't even let out a single sound.
"O-Oh my god!" Mari staggered back in horror.
The woman bent the wooden doll to its knees, and Kurata fell with it.
Itami and the others weren't fools.
They could see the correlation between the wooden doll and Kurata. However, if they found it odd why Shirou and Gray weren't doing anything despite all this, there was no time to consider it.
In times of danger, the mind does not think.
Instead, the body reacts.
"Man down!" Itami radioed, snapping out of his daze.
Kuribayashi reacted and raised her gun, her reflexes doing much of the work, but her body's subconscious actions didn't consider Shirou's reminder to stay out of the fight.
"Wait, don't attack!"
Shirou warned to no avail.
Kuribayashi fired a bullet with practiced accuracy and muscle memory.
A lower leg was shot, an area that was non-lethal in a bid to neutralize the woman.
Shirou and Gray had been able to perceive it, but it was different for Itami and the others. The reason they didn't attack yet was simple.
The magus's body was an illusion closer to a magic construct that echoed her craft.
To begin with, the real body would never show herself considering how the woman must have borne witness to the Dragon's defeat.
Therefore, both the wooden doll and the image of the woman herself were just mediums of her mystery.
Both her and the doll were part of a curse.
The principle was Reflection.
-The curse to do upon others what one does to one's self.
An eye for an eye.
An ankle for an ankle.
The illusion of the woman flickered, its foot shattering from the bullet. Not a sound escaped the woman's lips. In contrast…
Kuribayashi screamed in agony. She collapsed to the ground, clutching at her mangled foot whose shape was maintained only by her steel-toed combat boots.
Blood seeped everywhere.
No sooner, a red spear pierced through the illusion of the woman, dispelling it completely, and yet, another reappeared without issue.
Gray tensed.
A battle between magi was never simple.
Thanks for reading and sorry for smaller update. All the latest ones have been rather short as I've been finding less and less time to work recently on writing ever since graduating from University and starting a job. I want to make longer updates, but I also want to maintain an update every 3-4 days. At this point, I can only say I'm trying my best.
Next update: Huntsman V2
P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious
Book links:
Fatedlegacydark. ca
The Lonely Peak
New Book: Out on Amazon (Remove dash on link)
Survivor's Log Reflection: Amazon.c-om/dp/B08VDDGN7Z?