Pulled from the shallows of her dream, Yuul moved her sleeping mask up an inch to peer across the room. On her desk, the lit up display cut away a tiny island in the darkness. She waited for a few moments; the ringing didn't stop.
Grumbling to herself, she got off the couch, only to topple, getting tangled in her blanket. The muttering grew more inaudible and annoyed as she crawled towards the desk. Knocking away an occasional can of coffee or slipping on some papers. Many a time she wanted to just sprawl on the floor and drift back to sleep. But the ringing kept spurring her on.
After what seemed to be ages, Yuul made it to the desk and reached for the top. Her hand felt about. A pen got swept off the edge, then a marker, both falling on her head. Finally, she grabbed the accursed phone.
The light from the screen blinded her and she answered the call without checking the name.
"Mhm," Yuul mumbled.
"Oh, thank gods… I thought you wouldn't pick up," a gentle voice said.
"Mhm."
There was a brief pause, then the voice asked, "This is Yuul, isn't it?"
"Yesh…" Yuul managed through a yawn.
"Yuul-chan… did you just wake up?"
"Mmm… maybe?"
The person sighed. "It's nice to know some things haven't changed…"
The voice was so soothing… she found herself curling up, with the phone resting on her cheek.
"Who ish this?"
"Yuzuki Choco."
"Oh… Cho… co… sen… sei… long… time…"
"Yuul-chan, please, get a grip. I need your help. It is a matter of life and death."
Those words, the grave tone – they tugged on Yuul's consciousness as it was drifting off. Her eyelids quivered and lifted slightly.
"Life… and death?" she mumbled. "What…?"
"I'd rather explain it in person, with all of you here…"
All of us? Yuul wanted to ask but as she was getting up the phone slid off her cheek. Though still sluggish, she managed to catch it and put it back to her ear, just in time to catch "… to the Institute?"
"Sorry, what was that?"
"Can you come to the Magi-Tech Institute?" Choco asked. "Right now?"
Yuul rubbed her eyes and slapped her cheek lightly, trying to chase the sleep off. But without coffee that was a difficult task. What time was it anyway? She looked at the screen, still squinting from the light. Three in the afternoon.
Two hours… she thought. As far as naps went, that wasn't so bad.
"Yuul-chan?" Choco called. "Do you, perhaps, not have the time?"
"I do, sensei. I am absolutely free," Yuul said quickly. "The Institute, you said? I will be right there. But… if the situation is that bad, I need to prepare. What should I expect? Please, sensei, you must be able to tell me something."
The silence that followed was heavy, unsettling. It was as if dread was seeping through the phone. All the remaining sleep tailed off.
"Best case, you'd only consult us on… this matter and then go back home. Worst case… you'd have to take part. But what would that require? I cannot imagine. At the very least, the Institute would provide their best equipment."
In other words, Yuul didn't need to take anything, really. There possibly couldn't be any magical tool or resource that Magi-Tech didn't have in abundance.
So, just my wand, drawing kit and… She touched her sleeping mask. And a few things for personal comfort.
"Very well. I'm on my way."
"Please, hurry," Choco urged and hanged up.
Yuul gave herself a couple of seconds to digest everything. A life at risk… maybe several. Magi-Tech was involved, but somehow they absolutely needed her expertise. And the distraught tone of Choco's voice.
Just what did I sign up for?
Ten minutes later, having barely bothered with washing and brushing up, Yuul got in her minivan and put her bag down. Old and worn, it sagged in the passenger seat. She put her phone in the holder on the dashboard and started the car.
"AZKi," she called.
The phone lighted up. A girl peeked out of the bottom. "Yes, ma'am?"
"I need the shortest, quickest route to the Magi-Tech Institute."
AZKi blinked and the city's map popped on the display. "Plotting…" the AI said as a yellow line stretched out from their location.
Watching it closely, Yuul said, "The shortest, AZKi. Include the alleyways."
The AI adjusted the course.
"All the alleyways, even if we can only barely squeeze through."
AZKi frowned ever so slightly. "You'll tear the side-mirrors off."
"I can afford new ones. What I can't afford is to let Choco-sensei down. I need to get to Magi-Tech as soon as possible. That means no dilly-dallying. And no stops. Monitor the traffic, avoid any potential jams."
"Ma'am…"
"This is an emergency."
There was a barely audible sigh. "Very well."
Yuul frowned. When had the AI gotten so expressive? Granted, she had rarely used it but the responses used to be dry, without any arguing. But then AZKi drew a new line that already started changing before it was even finished. Keeping track would be challenging and she found herself smirking at that thought as she put on her seatbelt.
"Been a while, eh?" Yuul murmured patting the wheel.
Then she drove off. Slowly at first, but the further she got, the more she pushed down on the pedal, until the gauge's hand reached the speed limit. Yuul kept it there, ignoring AZKi's concerns. Focusing solely on the directions the AI supplied.
The van sped through the streets. Slipping by cars and centaurs, diving into alleyways. Passing lights just a second before they turned red. All with surgical precision. So close to breaking the law at every turn, yet standing firmly on the edge, secured by her skill. Any shortcut there was, Yuul took it. No stops, no slowdowns.
Yet Choco's words crept from the back of her mind.
It's a matter of life and death.
Who was in danger? What sort of danger was it? And why would they call for Yuul? One would guess it had something to do with her profession. But she was hardly the only expert on artifacts in V-city. Especially when Magi-Tech was involved.
I'd rather explain it in person, with all of you here…
And then there was that. So sensei had asked other people for help. Perhaps, a certain stout blacksmith? Or a green explosion maniac? Both, maybe? Yuul knew it was unlikely. But still, her old friends were the first ones she thought of.
Even though she didn't know if they could ever work together again. If they would talk to her. If she could look them in the eye…
"Danger!" AZKi yelled.
Yanked out of her thoughts, Yuul hit the brakes. The tires screeched and her body pulled forward, then, just before her face smashed into the wheel, she was thrown back into the seat. She hissed rubbing the back of her head, yet all the curses stumbled on her tongue when she saw the rows of cars ahead.
"Traffic jam," the AI said.
"Why didn't you warn me?!"
"I did." A note of exasperation slipped through the calm voice. "Several times."
Yuul wanted to argue, but there was no reason for it to lie. So, she must've gotten too absorbed by her worries to pay attention to the directions. She scolded herself, then glanced left and right for a way out, only to groan. There already were cars lined up all around her.
With a long sigh, she dropped her head on the steering wheel, eyeing the road ahead. The vehicles remained painfully still, despite all the honking and yelling. If only she could push them all aside with a flick of her wand… But alas, only a mage with a natural gift would be able to do it with such ease. People like Yuul had to use crutches and draw a whole circle by hand.
Just for laughs, she started calculating the power and arranging symbols in her head, but her eyes were getting heavier and heavier…
A honk jolted her awake. Far ahead, at the intersection, the light had switched to green. Cars were snailing forward and Yuul drove along to catch up. A few lucky people got to break out of the traffic and sped off into the distance. She kept praying for the light to stay green as her minivan was getting closer to freedom.
But then it switched to red. The traffic halted and Yuul slumped back in her seat. It was honestly aggravating. Even with all the magic and technology, V-city still suffered from such trivialities.
"Come on!" she exclaimed and hit the horn, making the centaur next to her jump and almost get on his hind legs.
"Did you have to do that!?" he growled.
"Sorry," Yuul muttered.
The centaur studied her, then huffed and let her be. There might've been a note of pity in his voice, and Yuul wondered what it was about. She glanced at the mirror. Well, her face was a little worn out… and those dark circles under her eyes… and…
Sighing, she pulled the mask off and put it into her bag. Her fingers ran through the other items while she was at it. Markers, chalks, erasers, notepad… a glasses case… a couple of snow white feathers… a piece of tinfoil folded into a hat… She couldn't help but chuckle. The last two would confuse any person, not just a magician. But Yuul trusted them more than the modern mass-produced artifacts.
The lights switched. Once more, there was snailing, praying, some relief and then a whole lot of frustration when the traffic came to another stop. Many sounded their horns and even the centaur next to Yuul hit his hooves against the pavement.
I will be here forever… Yuul lamented. I better call sensei, let her know… so that they can find someone else… someone more suited… Yes, that would be best for everyone…
She picked her phone and made the call.
Choco answered almost immediately. "Yuul-chan? Are you here already? Come right in, they'll…"
"No, sensei. I'm stuck in traffic and I don't think I can get out any time soon. I'm afraid…"
"Give me a moment," Choco cut her off and in the background there was a muffled exchange. "Where are you right now?" she asked Yuul.
Yuul blinked, lost for words for a moment. "Err… AZKi, where are we?"
The AI promptly gave the address and Choco said, "Den-chan is sending his assistant to pick you up."
"But… I can't just leave my van in the middle of the road!"
"Don't worry, there will be someone to drive it to the Institute."
Choco hung up and Yuul slumped in her seat, staring at the red light in the distance. People kept yelling and sounding their horns; some were blasting music, perhaps to drown out the noise but mismatched melodies and voices only added to the cacophony. She pressed harder into her seat, as if hoping she could fall through it and be teleported back to the peace and quiet of her home.
Where she would only have to worry about drawing circles, not be responsible for someone's life.
Lights kept switching but there was no movement anymore. Yuul was starting to drift off when a shadow passed over the van.
"Doctor Alwright! Doctor Alwright!" a voice called.
"Here!" Yuul said peeking out.
There were two girls flying above the road on a broom. The one at the front wore a lab coat and had steel grey hair with blue highlights. Behind her was a girl in a grey and black camouflage jacket. Her legs were bare – and metallic.
Prosthetics? Yuul thought at first. Then she noticed a strange blank expression, along with ambler eyes that didn't blink. A robot, huh?
The girl in the lab coat beamed with relief. She turned the broom to the sidewalk and landed there. The robot jogged between the vehicles to Yuul's van.
"Doctor Alwright, I am Roboco, android in service of Magi-Tech," she said in a monotone voice. "Please, proceed to Amane-san; she will take you to the Institute, while I take care of your vehicle."
Yuul looked the android up and down a little hesitant. Robots were good for menial tasks, but driving? Her van, no less? Say what you will about their reflexes and adherence to rules, something might still go wrong.
"You need not worry. This unit has been certified for operating all manner of vehicles and crafts, under both normal and extreme conditions," Roboco announced. "Your vehicle will be delivered to Magi-Tech's headquarters safe and sound."
It's the safety of others I am worried about… Yuul thought but then sighed, took her bag and got out of the van.
"Be careful… miss," it said.
"Affirmative. Civilian, law-abiding driver mode has been selected."
Yuul almost stumbled. "Wait, is there a non-law-abiding mode?"
"I am not at liberty to say."
Yuul watched Roboco get behind the wheel and buckle up. The android gripped the wheel firmly, eyes aimed ahead. That small sense of unease Yuul had felt lifted.
"Doctor Alwright!" the girl in the lab coat called.
"Coming!"
Yuul made her way across the road, through all the honking and frustration.
"Good day, Doctor," the girl said with a small smile and bowed. "I'm Amane Kanata, personal assistant of Director Denken."
Waiting for no reply, she sat on her broom and gestured to Yuul. "Please, get on."
Yuul did, though clumsily, and yelped as the broom shot up. Her legs tied around the pole and she clang to Kanata.
"Doctor… please…" the girl croaked. "The broom is charmed. We can't fall off… Unless… you make me crash…"
The broom swayed and Yuul eased her hold. But she didn't let go and her eyes were fixed on the back of Kanata's head.
Kanata sighed in relief. "Don't like flying, I take it?"
"You can say that..."
Be it brooms or carpets, mounts or cars, Yuul never felt comfortable with anything moving more than a couple meters above the ground. The advertisers could go on and on about freedom and mobility, but she would rather stick to her old and trusted van than test if all the safety measures work as intended. The "feather fall" spell could very well gently lower you down, but another vehicle was just as likely to hit you mid-air.
Though Kanata's small frame couldn't obscure all of the view. In the corner of her eye, over the girl's head, Yuul saw other people flying about their own business. Careless youths zigzagging in the air too close to each other, older folks cruising in an orderly manner, to the flapping of wings or purring of engines – up here there was traffic of its own, free and ever moving.
Just catching glimpses of it was making Yuul anxious.
Kanata grunted lightly as her grip tightened again. "I'm sorry but this is the fastest way to get you to the Institute. Please, bear with it."
"Believe me, I am," Yuul mumbled. She took a deep breath and asked, "So, how bad is it there? Is someone's life really in danger?"
"Yes," the girl replied after a pause.
"Whose? And what do they want from me?"
"Director and Yuzuki-san will explain. I was just told to bring you there. But… the way they spoke about it, you are very important to… solving this issue."
That was the opposite of what she wanted to hear. A sigh escaped her lips. For years, her only responsibility was drawing up magic circles. Sure, messing it up could have some dire consequences. But at least, if something blew up, it would only be her life on the line.
But now they wanted to put someone's wellbeing in her hands…
"Here we are," Kanata announced and, despite herself, Yuul looked down.
The Institute was by no means a grand structure. Just a handful of floors, with a soft sandy exterior and tall windows. Yet a parking lot worthy of a supermarket lay at the front and mighty oaks peeked out from the back. Both should've given some significance to the building but only made it smaller, paler instead.
People often passed by here without giving it much thought. Their awe had long since been stolen by the two wonders towering above any and all buildings in V-city. The Academy of Magical Arts and the Kihara University that molded the brightest minds of the universe. It was as if Magi-Tech would forever remain in their shadow.
On the surface, at least.
Kanata landed right at the entrance. It took Yuul a bit of effort to move her legs and get off the broom. Her glance wandered about the parking lot but she quickly scolded herself. What was she even hoping to see? A truck with a cap saying "Tongs and Thongs" lying on the dashboard? A shopping cart stuffed to the brim with random junk? No matter how many times she told herself it wasn't possible, a faint hope remained.
A faint, stupid hope.
Magi-Tech welcomed them with pristine polished surfaces, a bulky contraption of scanning frames and some kind of ruckus on the other side. Through the frames, she saw figures arguing in the lobby. Well, one of them, at least. A tall, broad shouldered man was barking something while flinging his hands. It didn't seem to bother him that he was holding a long briefcase.
"Doctor Alwright," Kanata called and Yuul joined her at the reception.
A lovely lady behind the armored glass smiled politely. Streams of numbers ran in her eyes and she said, "Welcome to Magi-Tech, Doctor Alwright. You're expected. Please, remove all your electronic and magical belongings and put them on the conveyor, along with your bag."
Yuul set down her bag, then picked one of the plastic trays and put her wand in. Ink and chalk smudges peppered the handle, trying and failing to cover the patches of peeled off varnish. The way Kanata looked at it set Yuul's face ablaze. Her hand jerked to grab the wand and hide it from sight, but she stopped herself.
Avoiding everyone's eyes, Yuul went for her phone – and frowned. She checked both front and back pockets, patted the jacket all over, then rummaged through the bag.
"What's wrong?" Kanata asked.
"I can't find my phone…"
It must be somewhere here, Yuul thought frantically as panic started creeping in. Unless… it fell out while we were flying…
"Maybe you left it in your car?" Kanata supplied.
No, I couldn't have…
But the more Yuul considered it the more likely it seemed. At least, she couldn't remember picking it up from the holder. A long, defeated sigh slipped past her lips. Then she caught Kanata's gaze and the girl gave her a small, awkward smile. Gods only knew what she was thinking.
Today is not my day…
With her belongings settled on the conveyor, Yuul turned to the security frames.
"Don't forget your belt," Kanata suddenly said.
Yuul looked at her confused. "My belt?"
Kanata frowned. "It is enchanted, is it not? The buckle, I mean. I can sense something in it."
Surprised, Yuul took the belt off. The leather of the belt and the holster for her wand had worn out in places, yet the silver buckle remained just as rich and polished as the day Scout had given it to her all those years ago. The enchantment – if you could call it that – was a recent thing and more of an experiment – a failed one, Yuul believed. Honestly, she had forgotten all about it.
She passed the belt on and Kanata studied the buckle for a moment.
"It's so faint… but there is definitely something there," the girl muttered. Her nail traced the horse shoe emblem as she seemed to be pondering something. "What kind of enchantment is it?"
If only I knew, Yuul thought chuckling bitterly to herself.
"It's an experiment, I've not quite worked it out yet," she said.
Thankfully, Kanata left it be and put the belt into the tray. The conveyor took everything away and Yuul stepped into the frame. The first half was metal, with a sensor on top. A wide beam passed over her, from head to toe. When a melodic tune played out, she walked to the wooden half covered in symbols. If there was magic on her, they would've come ablaze, alert like guard dogs. Depending on the quantity and type, there could be a whole light show.
But the symbols remained dormant.
The moment she walked into the lobby, the tall man strode straight to her. "You that doctor with a stupid name?" he asked in a grizzly voice.
With him towering over her, Yuul stepped back and stuttered.
"Huh? What was that?"
The man leaned closer, but then a woman slipped between them and gently pushed him back. "Easy there, Kotaro-san," she said and turned to Yuul with a warm smile. "I apologize for my… colleague. He has gotten rather impatient; we had to wait for such a long time."
Yuul's eyes darted from one to the other. Next to the man's big stature, the woman appeared short and slender, sporting a radiant, youthful look. In contrast, his face was worn, scraped by age, with grey in his hair. Her pristine white robe and red hakama pants clashed with his attire of black and purple. Both had crests sown on their chests. Cherry blossom petals and a sun.
Yuul's mouth started to dry.
"Let's start over. Nyaha…" the woman cut herself off looking rather embarrassed. "Sorry, that's something I picked from my daughter. One more time… Good day, I'm Sakura Yui and this is Banzoin Kotaro. We were asked to come here because of an urgent matter. Were you as well? Are you Yuul Alwright, doctor of the occult?"
Yuul only managed to nod, and even then it was ever so slightly. Her fear came true.
The Sakuras and the Banzoins were among the most renowned families in the known universe. Exorcists of the highest order. You don't just call them for a simple consultation, especially the Banzoins. While the Sakuras focused on subduing and purifying malevolent entities, the Banzoins sought to destroy them. For good. They were hunters trained from childhood to fight equal with the vicious corruptions plaguing their homeworld.
Unlike the many prominent clans across the universe, the Banzoins didn't have an office in V-city. They considered their time too valuable to waste on the paperwork required on Earth, their skill too high for the wraiths and mischievous spirits. As far as Yuul knew, it took something like a blood-crazed demon to lure a Banzoin to the city.
Yui beamed. "Splendid. Pleased to meet you," she said and bowed.
Kotaro huffed. "Took your damn time."
"Sorry, I got stuck…" Yuul muttered but he was already turning away.
"Hey, what kind of joke is this?" the old exorcist asked someone standing further away. "You can't possibly mean I have to fight alongside this weakling!" He pointed his briefcase at Yuul, almost jamming it in her chest.
Perhaps, Yuul should've gotten offended, but she froze hearing that one word. Fight? Nobody had told her there would be a fight… It had to be some kind of mistake. But then why would there be a Banzoin here?
Yui scowled. "Kotaro-san."
"She sounds weak, she looks weak," Kotaro said in a cold, sharp tone. "What else can she be but weak?"
"Still, that was unnecessary. Kindness costs you nothing and can go a long way."
He man waved it all off. "Leave those fake niceties for the pencil pushers."
Yuul cleared her throat and finally managed to say, "I'm not here to fight. Choco-sensei only asked for my expertise and that's all I will provide. Where is she, anyway?"
"On the lower levels, with the root of our problem," a new voice said and another figure came from behind Kotaro.
It was a man of short but broad build with a thick, bushy beard. A dwarf. An old dwarf, judging by the wrinkles cutting through his face. Compared to him, Kotaro was but a youngster, even though there wasn't a spot of grey in the dwarf's brown hair.
Once more Yuul was lost for words. "Director…"
"Just Denken is fine," said the head of Magi-Tech. His monocle glinted as he sized her up. There was no disappointment in his expression – and no relief. "Yuzuki recommended you three as experts in your field. For everyone's sake, I hope she wasn't wrong."
"How about we get to the business already?" Kotaro grumbled.
"Indeed. Amane, put the broom in storage and join us in the meeting room," Denken told Kanata through the frame.
"Yes, sir."
Then he turned to the exorcists. "This way."
They walked off and it took Yuul a moment to follow, her mind still a little jumbled, only for Kanata to remind her about her belongings. Avoiding everyone's eyes, she picked them up as the puzzle pieces were falling into place in her head.
A priestess, a demon hunter and an expert on artifacts, called to the institute that researched all matter of magic. On the request of a doctor who built hospitals all around the universe. Had Choco come across something dangerous? The presence of a Banzoin already spoke volumes. And the worst cases of possession involved a trinket harboring some ancient evil. Banishing it would often cost somebody their life.
Or at the very least blood.
Much, much blood.
